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People throng streets of Ballycastle for Ould Lammas Fair
30/08/2022
Packed with trading, bargaining, livestock and handmade crafts, young and old thronged the streets of the seaside town to take part in the fair, traditionally held on the last Monday and Tuesday in August.
Events also took place throughout the weekend, with a beach horse race held on Saturday afternoon and a fireworks display on Sunday.
The fair offers a variety of local goods, including the honeycomb sweet yellaman and an edible seaweed called dulse.
Amusements at the seafront, a circus skills workshop, an animal farm and an artisan market also featured as part of this year’s Ould Lammas Fair.
This is the first time the fair has been held in two years, after plans were cancelled in 2020 and 2021 due to the Covid-19 pandemic. | https://www.theirishworld.com/people-throng-streets-of-ballycastle-for-ould-lammas-fair/ | 2022-09-01T01:16:07Z | theirishworld.com | control | https://www.theirishworld.com/people-throng-streets-of-ballycastle-for-ould-lammas-fair/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
President of Ireland Michael D Higgins pays tribute to Gorbachev
The President of Ireland Michael D Higgins said in a statement:
“Among the expressions of sadness at the passing of Mikhail Gorbachev, most painful perhaps will be those who, living in conditions of Cold War, saw his ‘perestroika’ and ‘glasnost’ as instruments of hope.
“Concerned citizens all over the world who saw hope in the agreements he pursued with others on the reduction, rather than the production and dissemination, of the instruments of war when so many global problems of hunger and poverty prevailed.
“For them, he seemed to recognise the power of diplomacy, with its capacity to show even powerful governments the capacity to approach, even resolve, ideological differences, and to bring these to the centre of the places of discourse with discussions based on mutual respect.
“His own deep distress, as given in rare interviews late in life, was that he had underestimated the power and influence of institutional forces raised against this, including military-industrial complexes without borders.
“He spoke of how he had trusted where he should have recognised that there was no basis of trust.
“There were internal and external forces who would never allow the radical reforms to come to be.
“He was a man of good instinct who offered hope and who will be rightly remembered by so many for that most human of instincts.” | https://www.theirishworld.com/president-of-ireland-michael-d-higgins-pays-tribute-to-gorbachev/ | 2022-09-01T01:16:15Z | theirishworld.com | control | https://www.theirishworld.com/president-of-ireland-michael-d-higgins-pays-tribute-to-gorbachev/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Piano Woman
Derry pianist and former Young Musician of the year Ruth McGinley told David Hennessy about being diagnosed with autism, how Women’s Aid saved her life and why she’s uncomfortable with still being called a ‘child prodigy’.
Leading pianist and previous BBC Proms in the Park soloist Ruth McGinley will come to the Southbank Centre’s Unlimited festival, a five day major festival celebrating the extraordinary creative work of disabled artists, in September.
Ruth has performed as a soloist with orchestras such as the BBC Philharmonic, the National Symphony Orchestra and the RTE Orchestra.
She has also been a solo recitalist throughout the UK, Europe and Middle East and regularly broadcasts for BBC Radio 3, Classic FM and BBC Radio Ulster.
But the former child star – who won the piano final of the BBC Young Musician of the Year competition in 1994 and RTÉ’s Young Musician of the Future piano final two years before that- had once completely fallen out of love with music.
Born into a musical family, Ruth won a scholarship to study at the Royal Irish Academy of Music in Dublin at nine years old.
At 18, she was awarded another to continue her studies at the Royal Academy of Music in London.
Although she became well known and had success from a young age, she admits it was too much, too young and that she burnt out.
She would also have to survive an abusive relationship.
In 2004 she returned home to Derry and concentrated on the job of raising her son, putting music far out of her mind.
For a long time, it looked like nothing would coax her back to the stage.
But she would rediscover the joy she got from the piano, record and release her debut album Reconnection in 2016.
In recent years Ruth has been diagnosed with autism which she describes as a life changing experience and makes her support of a festival and organisation promoting diversity more poignant although she was working with them before she got the news.
Ruth told The Irish World: “I’m refinding myself as the young girl who actually just loved playing the piano.
“I started playing when I was about three years old.
“And I started playing professionally from about 13.
“As a young child, I loved it.
“But like everybody in intense careers, I suppose you go through different periods of your life where you really love it, or maybe you get burned out.
“I won the piano final of the BBC Young Musician of the Year when I was 16 which was an amazing experience.
“But I think although I played the piano quite advanced for my age, emotionally I hadn’t really grown up.
“So then when I moved to London, it all fell apart.
“I think that’s the thing, whenever you identify so much at a young age as something- in Northern Ireland, I was known as ‘the piano girl’. I still will be known as ‘the piano girl’- So then you head off to London and there’s a lot of piano girls and piano guys and you can get lost very easily.
“Things just didn’t feel good anymore.
“It was just a little bit too fast, a little bit too intense.
“I think I had got very unwell, my mental health had very much declined. I needed the break, I really totally needed to just stop and just let myself be for a little while.
“I took a number of years off performing.
“I actually became a mum at 23, 24. That wasn’t my plan but was the best thing that happened to me in so many ways.
“I learned through being a young mum how to be a human being away from the piano and what I really wanted to do.
“I was concentrating on being a mother and also to give myself some space just to live a life and I find it very bizarre because my whole childhood had revolved around playing the piano and I did love it.
“People say, ‘Were you pushed into it?’ No, I wasn’t pushed into it, I loved playing from a very young age but things definitely got very out of balance.”
Did you fall out of love with music? “Yeah, very much.
“I did take music pretty much completely out of my life for a number of years.
“I’d lost my passion for it.
“I got diagnosed with autism just a few years ago, before lockdown.
“And that has very much made me see all of this through a different lens, realizing that the piano has always been my safe space and is a very healthy place for me to communicate.
“I chose for years, not to be onstage.
“I actually, I felt for many years that I would never perform again on stage.
“When I went (back) to the piano, it very much scared me.
“I really had to reconnect to that and find that it’s a safe space for me now.
“That’s when I learned to be vulnerable, learned to be okay with being there and showing that you’re just a human being.
“I found I missed the piano, I missed that communication.
“I realize because of my autism diagnosis that actually, I love communicating through the piano, because I’m actually somebody who would be happy not to speak for a number of days.
“You might not think that right now. But after this interview, I may have to lie down for a few hours.
“But playing the piano is where I can just let it be.”
How did it feel to learn you were autistic? Did it answer little questions that you didn’t even knew you had? “It’s not that it was answering questions that I wasn’t asking because I was asking all the questions.
“I have been in therapy for many years.
“Especially females on the spectrum, they present themselves very differently than boys on the spectrum.
“Autism is very much seen as a boys’ diagnosis, but females tend to mask a lot more.
“When I was working with a psychologist she said, ‘I’ve never met anybody that masks as well as you do’.
“I suppose that’s maybe the performance thing from a young age.
“I had already figured out all my questions in a certain way, and I sort of had wrapped it up in a little package.
“And I was like, ‘Okay, so that’s why it was so difficult for those years. That’s why that happened. This is why that happened’.
“Actually, it changed everything for me in a way that it allowed me to be more gentle with myself, it allowed me to not think, ‘Why does my brain not process the way I think it should?’
“It answered a lot of that, ‘Why am I so good at one thing but very simple things in life, I tend to have no common sense?’
“I do lots of silly things that I shouldn’t do.
“Somebody close to me had got a diagnosis, I started reading a lot about it, and then questioning it.
“And it definitely has been life changing.
“For me, it’s such a positive positive thing.
“It definitely has given me a lot more compassion for myself, a lot more acceptance, a lot more understanding of just, ‘Okay, that’s the little quiet, gentle girl I was’.
“And actually, that’s still who I am. And that’s why I am this way.
“And I actually allow myself to be that more now.
“When I got my own diagnosis, I did find it difficult to share with some people.
“Maybe the response wasn’t quite what I needed to hear because people would look at me and go, ‘But you’re so successful, and you’re this and that’.
“I actually stopped sharing it.
“It’s important to challenge diversity and acceptance of people of all different abilities, disabilities, be neurodiverse.
“And just to really be able to express and celebrate diversity of all kinds.
“I think it’s a really, really important thing to do.”
Although it was harrowing, it was an honour for Ruth to write and record the White Ribbon anthem released last year after being commissioned by Northern Ireland Opera in conjunction with Women’s Aid.
The anthem supports the White Ribbon campaign, a global movement by Women’s Aid to end male violence against women.
Ruth penned the song with Duke Special after participating in two months of online workshops with female survivors of domestic abuse.
It was harrowing for Ruth as it brought her own experiences of being in a toxic relationship back to her.
“That was amazing.
“White Ribbon basically said, ‘Domestic violence against women and girls is a man’s problem rather than a woman’s problem’, which is very, very powerful.
“It’s about re-educating our young males and having zero tolerance to all this locker room talk where it all starts from.
“I was very nervous about agreeing to it.
“Number one. I’m not known as a composer at all, although it’s something I’ve been developing more in the time of lockdown.
“So I did the sessions with the women and we all shared our experiences.
“I’d used the services of Women’s Aid when I came home to Northern Ireland in 2005.
“They saved my life, the support that I had from them.
“I was just a shadow of myself as a young woman.
“And you don’t know things are so wrong until you say them out loud to people that know these things.
“So again, it felt like a full circle for me to then be able to feel healed in myself to be back playing the piano on stage.
“And actually to write this anthem for the White Ribbon Campaign and then getting to actually to record it on International Women’s Day at the waterfront in Belfast with Ulster orchestra, wonderful singer Jolene O’Hara, myself on piano.
“So yeah, it was definitely a hard, emotional, but wonderful, wonderful thing to be able to do and to be involved in.”
Did it open old wounds? “I think it’s always going to trigger you, always.
“And I knew that going into the process, but made sure that I had good support.
“And there’s something very beautiful about whenever women that are going through that come together.
“Some of the women that we were working with were in the very early stages of their own recovery or even acceptance, because at the beginning of coming out of an abusive relationship, there’s a long period of even accepting that this has happened, and that you are not wrong because you’ve been told maybe for many years that it’s all your fault.
“And it was a very, very poignant moment and having music to be able to help people on their healing journey like that is very important.
“I remember when I decided to stop playing for years, I remember just really feeling the whole classical solo concert pianist thing, at that time of my life, it felt like a very selfish thing.
“I felt like, ‘I am not helping anybody with this, it’s a very self-absorbed sort of thing’.
“Now I realize it’s not if you share it because music is so healing, but whenever I started wanting to get music back in to my life, I really wanted to be able to do things like that to use music as a healing thing for people as well.”
Although it was once a place of bad memories, Ruth is looking forward to coming back to London: “This feels a little bit like me maybe 20 years ago.
“You know, I was talking to somebody about it the other day and said, I kind of feel like I’m taking the little girl that was me over to do this.
“She said it would be funny if you just thought of yourself in all the different stages of your life. Bring them all over together.”
At 45, it amuses Ruth that the label ‘child prodigy’ has stuck somewhat.
“I’m 45.
“They say, ‘She won Young Musician of the Year’, and I’m like, ‘That was when I was 16. I’m now 45’.
“Or, ‘Child prodigy’. My son knows how much it frustrates me and he’ll throw it in sometimes, ‘You’re a child prodigy’.
“I don’t believe that I ever was.
“What does that even mean?
“But I suppose people hold on to these labels, makes them feel good about themselves for a moment, but I was always very uncomfortable with that.
“And again Northern Ireland is quite small and I am still ‘the piano girl’.
“And I’m like, ‘Okay, so I’m still gonna be the piano girl when I’m like 85?’”
Ruth collaborated with Derry electronic artist Ryan Vail on the single Chrysalism last year.
But even more special, it saw her working with her now 22 year old son Michael, who is a guitarist.
“Ryan said, ‘Would Mike put down a guitar line?’
“I said, ‘I will ask him, I’m sure he’ll say no because it’s really not cool to do things with your mum’. But he surprised me, agreed to it.
“And actually, we had a great time, we recorded a live video, he agreed to come along and play on it.
“So it was a wonderful thing to do.”
Has Ruth been careful to not let her son get too burdened by music’s pressures like she was? “I definitely have done the opposite.
“I could feel that there was a lot of music in him.
“But I very much wanted him to find it for himself.
“He taught himself the guitar and he plays by ear, he has learned music very much in a totally different way than I have learned.
“But I very much admire how he can just pick up the guitar and just go for things where I still love a score in front of me.
“But we’re still able to make music together.”
When Ruth comes for Unlimited, she will play some of the reimagined Irish folk of composer Neil Martin that will feature on the collaboration album to come from Ruth and Neil.
“I do have an album coming out on 29 October.
“It’s being launched here at the Belfast International Arts Festival.
“It’s a collaboration with a Belfast musician Neil Martin, and Neil as a Belfast composer. It’s called Aura and it’s reimagined folk, Irish songs, arranged in a more classical form but hasn’t lost obviously, its trad vibe either.
“It’s a beautiful album.”
Ruth also continues working on her next solo album.
Ruth performs at the Southbank Centre as part of Unlimited festival on Thursday 8 September.
Unlimited festival at the Southbank Centre runs 7- 11 September.
For more information about Ruth, click here.
For more information on the festival, click here. | https://www.theirishworld.com/ruth-mcginley/ | 2022-09-01T01:16:22Z | theirishworld.com | control | https://www.theirishworld.com/ruth-mcginley/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Brendan Behan and the Greek revolution
Playwright Jack Harte told David Hennessy about The Laughing Boy, his new play that explores how a Brendan Behan song became a song of resistance during a time of great upheaval in Greece.
A play coming to the Irish Cultural Centre in Hammersmith this week looks at the connection between revered Irish playwright Brendan Behan and the fall of a Greek dictatorship in the 1970s.
Although many Irish people may not know it, the song The Laughing Boy from Brendan Behan’s play The Hostage, became the inspirational anthem of the political Left in Greece.
Playwright Jack Harte explores the link between Behan and the Greek revolution in his play The Laughing Boy, which sees Alexandra, a political activist from Greece, travel to Ireland in 1963 to seek out the legendary writer of the song- the great Brendan Behan- to get his help for the struggle for socialism but when she finds him, she finds he is not what she was expecting.
As well as a tale of political history, The Laughing Boy is also an imagined portrayal of Brendan Behan at the end of his life.
It is a story Jack was moved to write perhaps because he was in Greece in 1974 to witness the fall of the Military Junta.
Jack told The Irish World how he came to know the historical link between Behan and a country in turmoil: “Back in 2014, I was in Athens for a conference. AThis guy passed me by and he says, ‘Oh, Ireland: Brendan Behan’. And he gave me a thumbs up and he wandered off.
“I collared him later and I said, ‘Are you a fan of Brendan Behan?’
“And he says, ‘Brendan Behan is huge in Greece’.
“So he told me the whole story.
“He said, ‘You know your song, Danny Boy? Well, The Laughing Boy is as well known in Greece as Danny Boy is in Ireland’.
“I said, ‘That’s amazing. What’s The Laughing Boy?’
“He explained it was this song that was in The Hostage when it went to Athens in 1962.
“The whole play was translated into Greek and Mikis Theodrakis (famed Greek composer who scored films like Zorba the Greek and Serpico) composed the music for it.
“It was a big hit and then the songs afterwards became popular in their own right.”
Behan wrote the poem The Laughing Boy when he was 12 years old about Michael Collins.
It would later be incorporated into his hugely successful 1958 play The Hostage about the planned execution of an 18-year-old IRA member.
The play would come to Greece at a very fractious time in history and the song would come to convey a desire for democracy in Greece and the struggle against the dictatorship.
When a right wing dictatorship known as The Colonels seized power in Greece in 1967, the song about an Irish freedom fighter became symbolic for the country.
“So the history of Greece evolved, you had the Colonels seizing power.
“Theodrakis was in prison first and then he was exiled, and he led the opposition to the Colonels.
“And gradually The Laughing Boy, the song that he composed the music for, became the song of resistance.
“It’s a fairly straightforward ballad but what was made of it in Greece was amazing.
“It was a lament for a lost youth who was fighting for freedom so in Greece, they attached the song to all the young men who died, first of all fighting the fascists in the Second World War, then in the Civil War, the partisans were fighting the fascists again and there was considerable casualties there.
“Then the resistance to the Colonels from ‘67 to ’74, all the young fellows who became victims during that period became ‘The Laughing Boy’.”
In November 1973 when students demonstrated against the regime at Athens Polytechnic, it would end in bloodshed.
The song is still sung when commemorations of this atrocity take place.
“For example the students who were killed in the Polytechnic, the big last hurrah of the Colonels’ regime before it collapsed in ‘74.
“They were in revolt and then they sent in the army and killed a whole pile of them.
“So they became ‘the Laughing Boy’.
“So it kind of accumulated all this meaning for people in Greece.
“So after the Colonels were toppled, Theodrakis went back, he was a national hero and remained so the rest of his life.
“And the song became like Danny Boy.
“What your man told me in 2014 was that any child in Greece would be able to sing you The Laughing Boy because they all learn it in school, but they don’t know that it is an Irish song, they don’t know that it has anything to do with Brendan Behan, Michael Collins or anything. It’s their song, it belongs to them.
“When I heard it first from this guy in Athens in 2014, it just struck a chord because I was actually in Greece in 1974, the summer that the Colonels collapsed and Theodrakis’ songs suddenly blared out everywhere, people were dancing in the street.
“I never realized of course until 2014 that one of the songs they were singing was The Laughing Boy by Brendan Behan.
“I did a piece on Irish radio about it and it was news to everyone that this song existed in Greece and the connection with Brendan Behan.
“Gradually I thought, ‘I can make something more out of this’, and I eventually wrote the play.”
The play is set in 1963 and sees a Greek activist find Brendan Behan, the writer of the song that means so much to her country, in his own turmoil.
“In 1963 Behan was on his last legs.
“He was about to die so he was in a really bad state and his popularity was kind of wearing thin.
“He was barred from every pub in Dublin almost.
“Now in Greece, the very same summer of ’63, there was huge upheaval and a politician called Lambrakis was assassinated.
“He was assassinated by right wing thugs really, they battered him to death.”
Lambrakis’ killing provoked mass protests and led to political crisis.
“After his death, there was a huge upsurge of nationalist socialist feeling in Greece.
“So I linked up those two situations and had this girl coming who thought that the ideal way to spur up antagonism towards the regime and get the support for the socialists is to bring back the man who wrote The Laughing Boy, and this would be a huge coup for the left.
“So the play is based on the idea that this girl comes over in the autumn of 1963, just before Behan dies and meets Behan and tries to persuade him to come back to Greece to help the cause.
“But of course, Behan at that stage is far beyond doing anything so dramatic.”
When Jack went looking for permission to use one of Theodrakis’ recordings, he did not expect the play to get the endorsement of the man himself shortly before he passed.
“I wanted to use Theodrakis’ recording of The Laughing Boy from a 1974 concert that he gave when he came back to Athens after being in exile.
“I was looking for permission.
“I could find nobody who would say, ‘This belongs to me, just send on a few quid’.
“I pursued it and pursued it and couldn’t locate anybody.
“I had a play produced in Greece a few years ago and I got onto the theatre there.
“They said they would try and help me so they put me onto somebody who put me onto somebody, who put me onto Mikis Theodrakis himself.
“So I had this lovely correspondence with Theodrakis about the play which to me was like direct communication with God because he was a huge figure, a major figure and one I would admire.
“And then during the first production last year, I think it was the second night, the word came through that Theodrakis had died.
“But it was a lovely feeling to have been in contact with him a couple of weeks before he died and got his blessing on the play.”
The play see two actors playing Brendan Behan with Donogh Deeney playing the celebrity Brendan while Owen O’Gorman plays the writer.
The Irish Independent said: “Donagh Deeney as the Celebrity Brendan is a pub charmer and has an uncanny resemblance to the real man. Owen O’Gorman’s portrayal of Behan creates a much darker and moodier version of the writer, depicting the bitter reality of his alcoholism.
The cast is completed by Michelle Lucey as the Greek idealist.
“It’s a study of Brendan Behan in his last days.
“I kind of thought he’s a very riven character because he ultimately almost committed suicide by drinking himself to death, he was only 41 when he died.
“The Behan of the early stories of The Borstal Boy and that, a really true good writer, was lost subsequently in the whole celebrity status that Behan himself accumulated.
“So the tension between the two Behans is the tension between the celebrity character and the writer character, so it’s almost the earlier character and the later character.
“The last seven or eight years of his life were spent drinking and carousing, living the big life in America and hob nobbing with Marx brothers and Ernest Hemingway and everyone else. He had given up writing at this stage.
“The later books were all dictated.
“And he knew very well that he was betraying his own talent because the talent that he had, as a youngster and as a young man was really substantial.”
Did Brendan know anything about what his song meant to the people of Greece? “I doubt if he was even aware of it. I doubt it.
“One of the aspects I’m playing around with is over there, the song is known but it’s not known who wrote it so he has an anonymous fame.
“And I’m playing around with the idea of the work being more famous than the author in Greece, whereas the author is hugely famous in the English speaking world and the work maybe not so well known.
“I think he would have been amused as well as extremely gratified to know. He certainly would have been amused because he put so much into creating his image in the English speaking world.
“He is a fascinating character, his early work was really substantial brilliance.
“And then he begins to fall apart once he becomes famous.
“His really substantial work isn’t that vast, it’s fairly small, but at the same time he is still there, he’s on the tea towels with Yeats and Joyce and all the rest and everybody remembers him.
“The thing is that he had this immense personality and it impressed on the public image so well that we still remember him today so many years later.”
What does Brendan Behan mean to you, Jack? I get the feeling that, as great as he was, you feel his tale is one of tragedy and wasted talent…
“Absolutely, totally tragic.
“Whether he could have been anybody else is another question.
“His early work was produced under fairly difficult circumstances, he was in and out of jail.
“Of his 40 years, I think he spent seven of them in jail but he certainly had the talent to do something really great.
“He was also quite revolutionary without being conscious of it.
“This girl who comes from Greece when there’s a revolution in Greece points out how radical Behan’s stuff is.
“For example, The Hostage was produced by Joan Littlewood in London.
“I saw her interviewed later and she was saying she had never experienced anything like it outside of Behan, every single performance was unique.
“Something would happen that would make it different from the one the previous night and certainly from the one the night after.
“For example, Behan would get up in the auditorium and shout at the actors they weren’t doing it right or he would get up on the stage and dance a jig or something.
“He was actually banned from the theatre when his own plays were on.
“But when you think about that, and think about subsequent developments in the art field, like performance art, he was probably a herald of all of that.
“The traditional theatre up to his time was pretty conservative, what he did certainly paved the way for a more adventurous approach to theatre shows.
“So I think he was quite radical without necessarily seeing himself as being radical.
“I think he was just being Brendan.
“He was doing his own thing but that proved to be radical and subsequent playwrights have acknowledged that, that he did break ground in terms of opening up the theatre to new ideas and new ways of doing shows.”
Is there a certain responsibility that comes with doing a play about one of Irish literature’s greatest names? “In some ways I think if I thought about it too much, I probably would have baulked at it.
“It kind of grew on me and he grew on me and I felt I could actually write Brendan Behan without quoting him at all, because he had such a strong style about him.
“Okay, I’ve thrown in a few of his old jokes to show what he was reduced to: People remembering him as the person who said such and such.
“But his biographers and everybody say you couldn’t believe a word he said because every time he related a particular incident, he related it differently.
“He exaggerated and he made up stuff and much of it was total fantasy.
“So I felt if I got under his skin, and I read all his work and I read all the stuff about him that I could find, that I could see the world as he saw it, then I could relate the stories and all the incidents in his life in a new way because that’s exactly how he would have done it.
“He would have made it all up.
“Me standing in his place so many years later, could make it all up and it be totally true to him.”
The play has already been staged at the New Theatre in Dublin.
“The reaction was tremendous.
“There were people who came because they were fans of Brendan, some people just wanted to see a play and they were moved by it, and then word got out and the Greek community came in droves.
“And they were all moved by it because it’s true to them as well.
“So I was really pleased with that, that the other dimension of it was portrayed very authentically
“I’m looking forward to bringing it to London.
“It’s the first time I’ve had a presence in London, even though I’ve been over and back there so many times and I was once a bus conductor on London buses.
“It will be lovely to come back with a play.
“And of course it is Behan coming back to London too because that’s where he got the major breakthrough.”
Presented by ‘The New Theatre’ Dublin & Parthalonians Productions, The Laughing Boy is at The Irish Cultural Centre Thursday 1 September and Friday 2 September.
For more information or to book, click here. | https://www.theirishworld.com/the-laughing-boy/ | 2022-09-01T01:16:29Z | theirishworld.com | control | https://www.theirishworld.com/the-laughing-boy/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Two 16-year-old boys die in ‘tragic drowning incident’ in Lough Enagh
A group of teenagers stopped to swim in the water while cycling in the area – with one getting into difficulty while swimming and another while trying to help him.
Two 16-year-old boys have died after getting into difficulty in a lough in Derry.
The drowning unfolded at Lough Enagh on Monday evening when a group of teenagers entered the water at a jetty.
The boys had stopped off at the lough while cycling in the area.
The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) said officers were called shortly after 6.25pm to reports of a number of people in difficulty in the water.
The Northern Ireland Ambulance Service (NIAS) said a rapid response paramedic, five emergency crews, a hazardous area response team and an ambulance officer were dispatched.
NIAS also tasked the air ambulance to attend the bank holiday Monday incident.
One of the boys was taken from the water but later pronounced dead in hospital.
The body of the second youth was recovered late on Monday night following extensive searches by Foyle Search and Rescue and police divers.
Another male was taken to hospital for treatment for injuries not believed to be life threatening, while three others have been left shocked, police said.
Local priest, Father Michael Canny, said the boys who died were from the local Indian community in the Waterside area of Derry.
“The families involved are very well known here in the Waterside area. They are part of the Syro-Malabar community who worship here at St Columb’s (church) in Waterside,” he told BBC Radio Ulster.
“Fortuitously, their chaplain was here yesterday evening and he was able to console them and to be with the families right up into all hours of the night.”
Councillor Rachel Ferguson went to the scene.
“The boys were just out for a cycle. They’d gone down and they stopped off at the local jetty,” the Alliance Party representative told Radio Ulster.
“They were both in the water and it seems that one boy has got into trouble and the other boy has gone to help him and unfortunately they were pulled under.
“The other boys flag down a car and some local residents to try and help. They rang the local services – the emergency services – who were in attendance very, very quickly.
“It’s just a tragic accident that happened within the water.”
PSNI’s Inspector Brogan said: “Enquiries are ongoing into this incident but we believe, at this stage, that this was a tragic drowning incident.
“Our thoughts are with the families of those affected.”
A book of condolences has been opened in The Guild Hall in Derry (opens in new tab) | https://www.theirishworld.com/two-16-year-old-boys-die-in-tragic-drowning-incident-in-lough-enagh/ | 2022-09-01T01:16:37Z | theirishworld.com | control | https://www.theirishworld.com/two-16-year-old-boys-die-in-tragic-drowning-incident-in-lough-enagh/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Welcome return for the Vintage Rally
After a two-year absence due to the pandemic, the London Irish Vintage Club will celebrate its belated 10th Anniversary charity day this Sunday 4 September at Tir Chonaill Gaels’ GAA Grounds at Berkeley Avenue in Greenford.
It will raise funds for charities including Peace Hospice Care (Watford), Dementia Concern (Ealing), Southwark Helping Hands and Wormwood Scrubs Pony Centre (Therapy Horses).
The Peace Hospice cares for people with life-limiting or terminal illnesses, funded by public donations.
Dementia Concern aims to provide a helping hand to those living with dementia and their loved ones.
Southwark Helping Hands Club assists people with learning and physical disabilities.
Wormwood Scrubs Pony Centre is an inner city community riding school for children and young people, many of whom have learning difficulties and physical disabilities.
On the main stage on Sunday will be the hugely popular Irish country music star Nathan Carter.
Singer and broadcaster David James will make a welcome return to the London Irish Vintage Day after appearing there in 2019.
He presents The Jivetime Show on Donegal’s Highland Radio on weekdays.
Highland Radio will be broadcasting live from Greenford between 12 and 2 pm.
There will also be entertainment from popular local London acts, the band Hungry Grass and the singer Mary Rose.
A second stage will be dedicated to traditional Irish musicians and dancers.
This Sunday’s events will start with a Vintage Road Run from Wexham to Greenford where the vintage cars, lorries and tractors will be displayed.
The nostalgic family day out will feature a threshing mill, craft displays, and children’s amusements including wooden swing-boats.
Organiser Brendan ‘Tiny’ Vaughan thanked the extended Irish community for supporting the Vintage Day this past decade.
He said: “It very much is a team effort and the LIVC are thankful to all the companies and individuals who come together to make the event possible, along with the support of Ealing Council.
“After our absence due to Covid we are very much looking forward to celebrating our 10thAnniversary.”
- The Vintage Day runs at Tir Chonaill Gaels Grounds, Greenford UB6 0NZ from 12 noon to 7pm this Sunday 4 September.
Admission is £10 for adults with children under-16 free (Children must be supervised by an adult throughout the event). | https://www.theirishworld.com/welcome-return-for-the-vintage-rally/ | 2022-09-01T01:16:44Z | theirishworld.com | control | https://www.theirishworld.com/welcome-return-for-the-vintage-rally/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
DETROIT (AP) — Ford is recalling more than 277,000 pickup trucks and cars in the U.S. because the rear view camera lens can get cloudy and reduce visibility for the driver.
The recall covers certain F-250, 350 and 450 trucks as well as the Lincoln Continental, all from the 2017 through 2020 model years. The recalled vehicles have a 360-degree camera system.
Ford says the anti-reflective lens on the cameras can degrade, causing a cloudy image. The company says it has more than 8,800 warranty reports in the U.S. due to the problem.
Dealers will replace the camera at no cost to owners. Ford will notify owners by letter starting Sept. 12.
Ford announced earlier this month that it plans to lay off thousands of workers.
The cuts will impact about 2,000 salaried employees and 1,000 agency personnel, according to a Ford spokesperson.
They represent about 6% of the 31,000 full-time salaried workforces in the U.S. and Canada. Ford’s 56,000 union factory workers are not affected. Some workers also will lose jobs in India.
WDAF’s Heidi Schmidt contributed to this report. | https://www.wwlp.com/news/national/ford-recalls-more-than-277000-pickups-cars-to-fix-cloudy-rear-camera-lens/ | 2022-09-01T01:23:32Z | wwlp.com | control | https://www.wwlp.com/news/national/ford-recalls-more-than-277000-pickups-cars-to-fix-cloudy-rear-camera-lens/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
ANAHEIM — In the past month, Touki Toussaint has already shown why the Atlanta Braves gave up on him and why the Angels took a chance on him.
His outing on Tuesday night was an example of the latter. He pitched five scoreless innings against the New York Yankees, allowing just one hit and walking one.
It didn’t help the Angels win a game because he followed Mike Mayers to the mound after Mayers had allowed seven runs, but it demonstrated what Toussaint could be.
“That’s the M.O. on him,” Manager Phil Nevin said. “If he keeps it in the zone, he’s very difficult to hit. There’s so much movement.”
Too often, though, Toussaint doesn’t keep it in the zone. In his previous three outings, he walked nine in 5-1/3 innings, allowing nine runs.
“I’ve been working constantly with (pitching coach Matt Wise) and (bullpen coach Dom Chiti) to kind of clean up my delivery and get me to be able to repeat it,” Toussaint said. “Being an athlete like I am, sometimes it’s easier than others. That’s what makes me able to play at this level, but it’s also what hurts. Just trying to fine-tune things and find that groove.”
Toussaint said he’s gone back to keeping his eyes focused on the ground until just before he goes to the plate, and to breaking his hands over his back knee.
“They are little things that you think don’t matter, but they matter,” Toussaint said.
He added that he’d been feeling better even before Tuesday’s game.
“I feel like I’m in a better place now,” Toussaint said. “Even in the two outings that were kind of bad, I feel like I’m in a better place.”
Toussaint, 26, was selected by the Arizona Diamondbacks with the 16th overall pick in the 2014 draft. He was regularly ranked among baseball’s top 100 prospects from 2015-19, mostly after the Braves acquired him in June 2015. His best season with the Braves was 2021, when he posted a 4.50 ERA in 50 innings. The Braves designated him for assignment in July, with a 6.26 ERA at Triple-A.
The Angels grabbed him and have given him a few opportunities, including two starts. He did not allow a run in an Aug. 10 start against the Oakland A’s. He then gave up four runs in 2-2/3 innings the next time against the Seattle Mariners.
He followed with a few shaky relief outings before putting things together against the Yankees, again giving hope to the Angels.
“I always feel like it’s in there, or I wouldn’t be here,” Toussaint said. “It’s just a matter of repeating my delivery and being consistent day in and day out.”
ROTATION UPDATE
The Angels are not certain what they will do with the sixth spot in their rotation when it comes up again next week in the Detroit Tigers series, but Nevin hasn’t ruled out again giving the ball to Mayers.
Mayers pitched five scoreless innings last week against the Tampa Bay Rays, then he gave up seven runs in four innings on Tuesday.
“I liked what I saw two starts ago,” Nevin said. “Last night was a little different, but I’d like to see another one.”
Two of the runs that Mayers allowed were unearned, because of an error by Luis Rengifo. Three of them scored on a homer by Aaron Judge, and Nevin admitted that he could have just walked Judge.
“I’ll put a little bit of that on myself,” Nevin said. “There was a base open and two outs. I contemplated walking him, but it came back and bit us.”
Right-hander Michael Lorenzen is not a candidate for that start because he’s pitching on Friday at Class-A Inland Empire, his third rehab outing. The Angels would like to see Lorenzen get to 90 pitches.
TRYING TO RETURN
Right-hander Archie Bradley, who broke his arm when he fell leaving the dugout for the Angels’ fight against the Mariners back in June, said he believes the Angels are going to “expedite” his rehab, which would get him back for the last two weeks of the season.
Bradley said it would be “huge,” to come back this season, to show the Angels and other teams that he’s healthy going into free agency.
Bradley also said he tries not to think back too much on the regrettable circumstances that led to his injury.
“It happened and I think the less you try to dive into and just move on from it the better,” Bradley said. “That’s really what I’ve done. It’s unfortunate it happened, but it is what it is.”
SPRING SCHEDULE
Major league baseball released the 2023 spring training schedule on Wednesday, and the Angels will open their 32-game schedule on Feb. 25.
The Angels will play 29 games in Arizona, including 15 at Tempe Diablo Stadium. The Angels are off on March 15 and March 23.
They will return to California for the three-game Freeway Series, with a game at Dodger Stadium on March 26 then games at Angel Stadium the next two days.
UP NEXT
Angels (LHP Reid Detmers, 5-4, 3.47) vs. Astros (RHP Lance McCullers Jr., 1-1, 1.69), Friday, 6:38 p.m., Bally Sports West, 830 AM
Join the Conversation
We invite you to use our commenting platform to engage in insightful conversations about issues in our community. We reserve the right at all times to remove any information or materials that are unlawful, threatening, abusive, libelous, defamatory, obscene, vulgar, pornographic, profane, indecent or otherwise objectionable to us, and to disclose any information necessary to satisfy the law, regulation, or government request. We might permanently block any user who abuses these conditions. | https://www.pasadenastarnews.com/2022/08/31/angels-right-hander-touki-toussaint-shows-his-potential-with-scoreless-outing/ | 2022-09-01T01:26:52Z | pasadenastarnews.com | control | https://www.pasadenastarnews.com/2022/08/31/angels-right-hander-touki-toussaint-shows-his-potential-with-scoreless-outing/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Join Southern California News Group sports reporter Kevin Modesti and assistant sports editor James H. Williams for a Twitter Spaces discussion about the latest in sports across Southern California.
Modesti has covered the Rams and Dodgers during his career as a beat writer. He’s also written columns during the Shaq-Kobe threepeat, the Angels’ World Series title and the USC run under Pete Carroll.
Modesti also hosts a daily sports newsletter that offers something for every L.A. area sports fan. We hope you’ll take a minute to sign up. Find “Game Day with Kevin Modesti” on the newsletter sign-up page on our website.
Williams has covered the UCLA football team since 2019. He’s also covered the Rose Bowl Game, high school sports and the Coachella music festival.
The conversation begins this Thursday, Sept. 1, at 1 pm PT.
Join @KevinModesti and @JHWreporter for a Southern California sports discussion.
Modesti has covered the Rams and Dodgers beat. He also wrote a column during the Shaq-Kobe threepeat, the Angels' World Series title and the USC run under Pete Carroll. ⤵️https://t.co/iBKznegnnR
— O.C. Register (@ocregister) August 31, 2022
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We invite you to use our commenting platform to engage in insightful conversations about issues in our community. We reserve the right at all times to remove any information or materials that are unlawful, threatening, abusive, libelous, defamatory, obscene, vulgar, pornographic, profane, indecent or otherwise objectionable to us, and to disclose any information necessary to satisfy the law, regulation, or government request. We might permanently block any user who abuses these conditions. | https://www.pasadenastarnews.com/2022/08/31/twitter-spaces-with-kevin-modesti-sports-in-southern-california/ | 2022-09-01T01:27:16Z | pasadenastarnews.com | control | https://www.pasadenastarnews.com/2022/08/31/twitter-spaces-with-kevin-modesti-sports-in-southern-california/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Woodland Hills and Anaheim were among cities across Southern California that broke daily high temperature records Wednesday as a scorching, prolonged heat wave settled in across the region, according to the National Weather Service.
Woodland Hills set a daily record of 112 degrees Wednesday, NWS meteorologist Todd Hall said. The previous record for the day was 111 degrees.
Anaheim checked in at 106 degrees, topping its previous record for the day by four degrees. The temperature also marked the hottest August temperature ever for the city.
Burbank also saw its daily record broken at 112 degrees, also four degrees higher than the city’s previous record for the day.
Southern California’s chart-topping heat isn’t likely to end there, as high temperatures can be expected until early next week.
Temperatures are considered record-breaking after maintaining a two-minute average, Hall said.
Even cooler coastal regions aren’t expected to get much reprieve from the heat, with daily averages in the high eighties and nineties.
This heat wave is shaping up to be the hottest of the summer, according to Hall, who attributed it to a high-pressure system from Nevada. Weakened off-shore flow off the ocean compounds the heat, meaning inland areas don’t receive as much cooling, Hall added.
High temperatures also bring elevated fire weather conditions, Hall said, explaining that several regions across Socal have reached a “critically dry threshold” and that any ignition can lead to a large fire spread.
As Southern California scrambles to keep cool, the state issued a Flex Alert to mitigate potential power grid issues resulting from increased demand.
Hall recommended those across Southern California reconsider their outdoor activities and find air-conditioned spaces.
“This is going to be an extended heat wave,” Hall said. “Keep cool.”
Join the Conversation
We invite you to use our commenting platform to engage in insightful conversations about issues in our community. We reserve the right at all times to remove any information or materials that are unlawful, threatening, abusive, libelous, defamatory, obscene, vulgar, pornographic, profane, indecent or otherwise objectionable to us, and to disclose any information necessary to satisfy the law, regulation, or government request. We might permanently block any user who abuses these conditions. | https://www.pasadenastarnews.com/2022/08/31/woodland-hills-burbank-hit-112-degrees-breaking-daily-records-as-prolonged-heat-wave-settles-in/ | 2022-09-01T01:27:22Z | pasadenastarnews.com | control | https://www.pasadenastarnews.com/2022/08/31/woodland-hills-burbank-hit-112-degrees-breaking-daily-records-as-prolonged-heat-wave-settles-in/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Federal employees awaiting word from President Joe Biden about pay raises for next year got it on Wednesday.
In a customary letter to Congress, Biden declared his intent to submit an overall average increase of 4.6% for civilian federal employees, consistent with estimations in the 2023 budget.
This includes an across-the-board base pay increase of 4.1% and a locality pay average increase of 0.5%. Unless Congress raises an issue, Biden’s rate will be final upon issuing an executive order and will go into effect on Jan. 1.
“This alternative pay plan decision will allow the federal government to better compete in the labor market to attract and retain a well‑qualified federal workforce,” said Biden.
The federal budget proposal unveiled by the White House in March included an average pay increase of 4.6% for civilian federal workers, matching a planned military pay raise. This figure would mark the largest annual increase for both troops and civilian workers in 20 years, Military Times previously reported.
“As Americans face unprecedented price increases for food, fuel, housing and other staples, this pay raise demonstrates an understanding of the value of these hard-working civil servants and the jobs they do, as well as displays the administration’s commitment to recruitment and retention of talented federal employees,” said Ken Thomas, national president of the National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association, in a statement to Federal Times.
By law, federal employees’ salaries are set at a level “equitable and comparable” with similar levels of work in the private sector, unless the president proposes alternative federal pay rates, which he did this week just ahead of Labor Day.
Normally, under the Federal Employees Pay Comparability Act of 1990, law requires an adjustment across the board and for locality pay each year. However, the president has authority to circumvent the automatic rate set by the Pay Agent, which includes the directors of the White House Office of Management and Budget and Office of Personnel Management, as well as the secretary of labor.
Some have said rising costs of living and private sector wages warrant an even larger raise.
“We will continue to urge Congress and the administration to consider changing economic conditions and the 22.47 percent pay gap between federal employees and their private sector counterparts before making any final decisions on the 2023 federal pay increase,” said Tony Reardon, president of the National Treasury Employees Union, in a statement.
Last year, President Biden exercised this authority to propose his own rate and set an overall 2.7% pay raise for federal workers.
Molly Weisner is a staff reporter for Federal Times where she covers labor, policy and contracting pertaining to the government workforce. She made previous stops at USA Today and McClatchy as a digital producer, and worked at The New York Times as a copy editor. Molly majored in journalism at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. | https://www.federaltimes.com/management/pay-benefits/2022/08/31/biden-declares-46-pay-increase-for-federal-civilian-workforce/ | 2022-09-01T01:31:17Z | federaltimes.com | control | https://www.federaltimes.com/management/pay-benefits/2022/08/31/biden-declares-46-pay-increase-for-federal-civilian-workforce/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Head here for perfect British sunsets
Staycationers in search of the perfect UK sunset have been told exactly where to head thanks to new research.
By Sue Wilkinson
Thursday, 1st September 2022, 12:00 am
Staycationers in search of the perfect UK sunset have been told exactly where to head to this summer thanks to new research.
Travel experts from LeaseCar.uk have identified the ten top spots for admiring stunning sunsets across Britain. | https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/lifestyle/staycation/head-here-for-perfect-british-sunsets-3819347 | 2022-09-01T01:31:50Z | scotsman.com | control | https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/lifestyle/staycation/head-here-for-perfect-british-sunsets-3819347 | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
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Barbara (Woolsey) Williams 1932-2022 Barbara Ann (Woolsey) Williams, 90 of Cheyenne went home to be with the Lord on August 26, 2022. She was born April 21, 1932, and lived in Cheyenne her entire life. Her grandparents, Christian and Bertholine Christensen immigrated to the US from Denmark and started the Plains Dairy in north Cheyenne where she lived as a child when her father took over the dairy. Barbara and her husband, Billy Williams were high school sweethearts at Cheyenne High School and married following graduation on September 8, 1950. She was a loving wife and mother of five children. Although that is what she would want to be known for, she also worked outside of the home in various jobs to help support her family; Marietta's Arts and Crafts, Memorial Hospital, Hobbs Elementary School, and she even drove an escort vehicle for Billy when he was a truck driver. She loved music and taught piano lessons for many years in addition to playing the accordion. Barbara and Billy loved square dancing and polka dancing, and because of this, she seldom missed watching Molly B's Polka Party on a Saturday night. Her friends and family will always remember her for giving the world's best hugs. She was preceded in death by her husband, Billy; parents, Kenneth and Kristine Woolsey; brother, George Woolsey; sister, Lena Wulf; daughter, Cynthia McGeehee; and a grandson, Stephen Knox. She is survived by her children, Janet DeGroat, David (Wendy) Williams of Warrenton Virginia, Cheryl Porter, Sharon (Al) Auzqui; grandchildren, Edward (Erin) Miller of Emsworth Pennsylvania, Robert (Katie) DeGroat of Moses Lake Washington, April (Mike) Matthie, Malissa DeGroat of Anchorage Alaska, Tommy (Jennifer) Porter of LaGrange Wyoming, Stephanie (Greg) Trujillo, Joseph (Shannon) Williams of Shelton Washington, Jennifer (Fred) Pillivant, Becky Bracewell of Warrenton Virginia, and 23 great grandchildren who lovingly referred to her as Grandma Great. She was a member of Northwoods Presbyterian Church. She loved crafting, sewing and making quilts and was a member of the Archer Friendly Club, Applique Club and S & B Club. A Viewing will be Thursday, September 1, from 10-4:00 p.m. Services will be Friday, September 2, at 2 pm at the Northwoods Presbyterian Church, 4723 Griffith Avenue. Friends who wish may contribute to Northwoods Presbyterian Church or Urban Redemption Chicago at P. O. Box 803466 Chicago IL 60680
To plant a tree in memory of Barbara Williams as a living tribute, please visit Tribute Store. | https://www.wyomingnews.com/milestones/obituaries/williams-barbara/article_04ff6034-8189-5025-9b0e-15a2beee82c0.html | 2022-09-01T01:32:52Z | wyomingnews.com | control | https://www.wyomingnews.com/milestones/obituaries/williams-barbara/article_04ff6034-8189-5025-9b0e-15a2beee82c0.html | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
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Vanity Rose Rooted Skin Deep brings care to postoperative clients and owner Jennifer Black’s mission is providing a relaxed environment filled with comfort. Her vow is ensuring patients receive top-notch post-op lymphatic drainage massage after cosmetic or health-related surgery.
Black understands the importance of quality care because she has experienced the impact of an operation.
“What we go through, through surgery you have to dig deep to get through the recovery,” said Black.
While her business is known for post-op care for cosmetic surgery patients, Black said her calling is caring for breast cancer patients and people who suffer from lymphedema, a condition that causes swelling in the body from an abnormal accumulation on a lymph node.
“Breast cancer survivors are close to my heart because my dad’s mother had breast cancer,” Black said.
So how did the Vanity Rose owner get her start? Like many entrepreneurs, she felt pushed to the limit at a former job. Black was working at BioMerieux as a production operator and data entry specialist. Feeling unappreciated, overworked, and underpaid, she decided to jump into the beauty industry as an eyelash stylist.
“This ain’t me,” she said of her work at BioMerieux.
I see myself as more, I prayed for two years and I did a lot, but I still needed confirmation from God,” said Black.
Black credits her grandmother for giving her the push she needed, when she told her she should have quit her job much earlier.
She put in her two-weeks notice and pulled all her money out of a 401k, which totaled $35,000. She paid her rent for one year and went back to school. Black received her certification as a licensed esthetician from Salon Professional Academy and opened her business Lashing Avenue in May of 2017.
Everything was going great, and then boom, the COIVD-19 pandemic hit.
Black says she had to pause like so many others. But she didn’t sit idle. She got on her laptop and started researching and planning her next move.
“I have two boys. I have to make sure they have a roof over their head,” said Black.
Black decided to rebrand her business. She wanted to provide a service where she could connect with people, and offer a service “that has substance and is meaningful.”
“I think the pandemic pulled the soul out of everyone; [it enabled them] to put their mind at pause [and] create things that they already had in them,” said Black.
She went to Atlanta where she trained under Dr. Andrew Jimerson commonly known as Dr. Curves and received her certification in postoperative care. The massage therapist was now trained and qualified. It was time to find a location for her new business.
“It was really scary to find a location in the middle of the pandemic,” said Black.
She moved to a rental space in Bridgeton and gave her new location a complete makeover. Lavender paint and a gold asymmetrical design accent walls and give Vanity Rose “a perfect sophisticated, yet girly touch,” Black said.
With a little grit and sweat equity, Vanity Rose Rooted Skin Deep was open for business. Black connected with local plastic surgeons and medical doctors. Several said they heard of the care she was providing and began sending her postoperative patients. From there, “things just took off.”
“It went from an ant to elephant overnight,” Black says. “It was non-stop”.
Her staff sees about 20 patients a day, providing specialized massages that ease pain and help release fluid buildup that is common after surgery.
“I ask God to please keep humble,” she said.
Vanity Rose also offers post-surgery compression garments, to help with the healing process and swelling.
In January 2022, she received a phlebotomy license, which is the process of making a puncture in a vein, usually in the arm, for the purpose of drawing blood, and she is planning to go back to school to become a paramedic.
The entrepreneur plans to open a second location in the Kansas City area in 2023.
“Whatever your goals are, do them. Life is too short not to go after what you want out of it,” she said.
For more information visit Vanity Rose Rooted Skin Deep at www.vanityrosersd.com. | https://www.stlamerican.com/business/business_news/deep-rooted-care-for-deep-rooted-skin/article_04aa945a-27ce-11ed-b019-7b74dd5101a6.html | 2022-09-01T01:33:39Z | stlamerican.com | control | https://www.stlamerican.com/business/business_news/deep-rooted-care-for-deep-rooted-skin/article_04aa945a-27ce-11ed-b019-7b74dd5101a6.html | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
While a pair of voter protection lawsuits have been filed against the state of Missouri and Attorney General Jay Ashcroft, St. Louis’ first election under now-challenged state law is Tuesday, September 13, 2022.
The Special Primary Municipal Election will fill the vacant President of the Board of Alderman position. Lewis Reed resigned the post and has pleaded guilty to federal corruption charges.
Alderwoman Megan Green, who is endorsed by Mayor Tishaura Jones, and Alderman Jack Coater are running for the open seat.
The St. Louis Board of Election Commissioners has created a pilot program that will offer 15 Vote Centers for residents, as well as 5 no-excuse absentee voting locations through September 12. Voters are reminded that they must have a photo identification.
Any city voter can cast a ballot, regardless of their registered precinct, at the following locations. These will be the only polling places on Election Day for the September 13 Special Primary.
Lexington School (5030 Lexington Ave)
Nance Elementary School (8959 Riverview Blvd)
Herbert Hoover Boys and Girls Club (2901 N. Grand Ave)
Missouri School for the Blind (3867 Magnolia Ave)
Salvation Army Temple Corps located (2740 Arsenal St)
Betty Wheeler Classical Junior Academy (5031 Potomac)
Carondelet Library located (6800 Michigan Ave)
Woodward School (725 Bellerive Blvd)
Buder Library (4401 Hampton Ave)
Schlafly Library (225 N. Euclid)
Metro Academic (4015 McPherson Ave)
Froebel School (3709 Nebraska Ave)
Friendly Temple MB Church (5544 ML King Dr)
Walnut Park Library (5760 W. Florissant)
Julia Davis Library (4415 Natural Bridge)
Voters can vote absentee without an excuse, and for the Special Primary Municipal Election, eligible voterswill be able to cast an in-person “no excuse” absentee ballot at the Board of Elections and four libraries across the City:
St. Louis City Election Board (300 N. Tucker Blvd)
Buder Library (4401 Hampton Ave)
Carondelet Library (6800 Michigan Ave)
Julia David Library (4415 Natural Bridge Ave)
Walnut Park Library (5760 West Florissant Ave)
Hours for the St. Louis City Election Board are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through
Friday. Absentee voting will be open 9 a.m. to 1 pm, Saturday, Sept. 10.
Library Absentee Centers voting will take place Noon to 4 p.m. Monday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, and 1 p.m. to 5pm on Saturdays. All locations will be closed Labor Day, September 5.
Voters can approve of either, both, or none of the two candidates on the ballot. The candidates will then both be on the ballot in the November 8, 2022, Special General Municipal Election.
If a voter does not have a State of Missouri or federally issued photo ID, the voter can still vote at the voter’s polling place by casting a provisional ballot.
After Election Day, a bipartisan team of election judges will compare the signature on the voter’s provisional ballot envelope to their voter registration signature on file at the Election Board. If the signature matches, their vote will count.
For more information on voting and upcoming elections, visit the Board of Election Commissioners webpage.
For a list of acceptable forms of voter ID, visit the Secretary of State’s website. Free photo IDs for voting are available from the Missouri Department of Revenue. | https://www.stlamerican.com/news/local_news/voting-centers-to-open-for-board-of-aldermen-president-race/article_5ab2b7be-296e-11ed-a816-4764df477a4d.html | 2022-09-01T01:33:46Z | stlamerican.com | control | https://www.stlamerican.com/news/local_news/voting-centers-to-open-for-board-of-aldermen-president-race/article_5ab2b7be-296e-11ed-a816-4764df477a4d.html | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
After an early back-and-forth match, St Louis CITY2 (15-4-2, 48 pts), Major League Soccer’s (MLS) inaugural MLS NEXT Pro team in St. Louis, broke away in the second half and came away with three points over Portland Timbers2 (1-16-3, 9 pts) in a 5-3 victory on Saturday night at Hillsboro Park. CITY2 move into first place in the Western Conference and tops in MLS NEXT Pro.
A clash of the top two teams in the Frontier Division between CITY2 and Houston will kickoff Saturday, September 3 at 7 p.m. CST. With a win or a draw and a shootout win over Houston next week, St. Louis will clinch the Frontier Division.
Follow the team at stlcitysc.com/city2 | https://www.stlamerican.com/sports/local_sports/st-louis-city2-soccer-team-in-first-place/article_c8346382-2973-11ed-8cd2-13d532a601a2.html | 2022-09-01T01:33:52Z | stlamerican.com | control | https://www.stlamerican.com/sports/local_sports/st-louis-city2-soccer-team-in-first-place/article_c8346382-2973-11ed-8cd2-13d532a601a2.html | 0 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
After an early back-and-forth match, St Louis CITY2 (15-4-2, 48 pts), Major League Soccer’s (MLS) inaugural MLS NEXT Pro team in St. Louis, broke away in the second half and came away with three points over Portland Timbers2 (1-16-3, 9 pts) in a 5-3 victory on Saturday night at Hillsboro Park. CITY2 move into first place in the Western Conference and tops in MLS NEXT Pro.
A clash of the top two teams in the Frontier Division between CITY2 and Houston will kickoff Saturday, September 3 at 7 p.m. CST. With a win or a draw and a shootout win over Houston next week, St. Louis will clinch the Frontier Division.
Follow the team at stlcitysc.com/city2 | https://www.stlamerican.com/sports/local_sports/st-louis-city2-soccer-team-in-first-place/article_c8346382-2973-11ed-8cd2-13d532a601a2.html | 2022-09-01T01:33:52Z | stlamerican.com | control | https://www.stlamerican.com/sports/local_sports/st-louis-city2-soccer-team-in-first-place/article_c8346382-2973-11ed-8cd2-13d532a601a2.html | 1 | 0 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Tournament officials announced today that five of the PGA TOUR Champions top-ranked players have committed to compete at the second annual Ascension Charity Classic presented by Emerson. Steve Stricker, Ernie Els, Retief Goosen, Darren Clark, and Charles Schwab Cup leader Steven Alker join the world-class field for next week’s official PGA TOUR Champions stop—September 6–11—at Norwood Hills Country Club in St. Louis, MO. Also set to tee it up for the Ascension Charity Classic is recent Payne Stewart Award winner Billy Andrade and fellow Ascension Ambassador Jay Williamson.
The list of top-10 players competing in the 2022 Ascension Charity Classic from the Charles Schwab Cup Money List has now grown to seven, featuring Alker (1), Jerry Kelly (3), Stricker (5), Stephen Ames (6), Thongchai Jaidee (7), Bernhard Langer (8), and Els (9). The field also includes preSt. Louis native Jay Williamson, 55, made his first PGA TOUR Champions start in February of 2017 after a successful PGA TOUR career that accounted for 18 top-10 finishes and nearly $6 million in earnings. The Ascension Ambassador has also logged 86 Korn Ferry Tour starts as a professional, including 12 top-10 efforts and a victory at the 2007 Fort Smith Classic. This will be Williamson’s second Ascension Charity Classic start.
Tickets for the tournament can be purchased at ascensioncharityclassic.com. Two types of weekly admission options are available, a Clubhouse Ticket as well as a Grounds Ticket. Daily tickets are also offered. Tickets start at $20, and kids 16 and under can attend for free with a ticketed adult. | https://www.stlamerican.com/sports/local_sports/top-ranked-players-commit-to-second-annual-ascension-charity-classic-which-is-next-week/article_52b6ff42-2974-11ed-8e00-fb5328003dce.html | 2022-09-01T01:33:58Z | stlamerican.com | control | https://www.stlamerican.com/sports/local_sports/top-ranked-players-commit-to-second-annual-ascension-charity-classic-which-is-next-week/article_52b6ff42-2974-11ed-8e00-fb5328003dce.html | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) — Students and Bond Elementary School will soon be able to be in class and outdoors at the same time.
That's thanks to a new outdoor classroom, just unveiled Wednesday morning.
The new space features landscaping, picnic tables, a whiteboard, a portable podium, storage and a much needed power supply.
In addition to being a space students and teachers can use when social distancing is needed, Sunrise Rotary Club of Tallahassee Grant Chair Danielle Irwin says it can also enrich students' learning.
"So great space to provide learning, especially about the natural environment around us, so sciences work really well out here. Lots of different subjects can be taught here, and the school is already utilizing the space just to help create variety and diversity of the learning environments the students get to experience," Irwin said.
Sunrise Rotary Club of Tallahassee contributed more than $20,000 to put the outdoor classroom in place.
They also provided personal protective gear and thermometers for Bond's students and teachers. | https://www.wtxl.com/community/outdoor-classroom-unveiled-at-bond-elementary-school | 2022-09-01T01:35:23Z | wtxl.com | control | https://www.wtxl.com/community/outdoor-classroom-unveiled-at-bond-elementary-school | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Drummer for The Monkees and the only surviving member of the band, Micky Dolenz, has filed a lawsuit against the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to obtain any records the bureau has that pertain to him and investigations on him.
A complaint filed by Dolenz said the band was investigated by the FBI for alleged anti-Vietnam war activities in 1967 after they showed images during a concert protesting the war.
Another matter the band was investigated about was redacted according to the complaint. A portion of the FBI file was previously released publicly over 10 years ago, but 77-year-old Dolenz wants to see more of the report.
The FBI said, "References to the band appear in two places in FBI files: a 1967 Los Angeles Field Office memorandum on anti-Vietnam war activities and a second document redacted entirely."
The lawsuit says, "Mr. Dolenz has exhausted all necessary required administrative remedies with respect to his request," via his Freedom of Information Act/Privacy Act rights. | https://www.wtxl.com/news/national/only-surviving-member-of-the-monkees-sues-fbi | 2022-09-01T01:35:29Z | wtxl.com | control | https://www.wtxl.com/news/national/only-surviving-member-of-the-monkees-sues-fbi | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
(NEXSTAR) – We’ve seen some stunning shots from space courtesy of NASA’s $10 billion James Webb Space Telescope since July. But have you heard them?
Yes, you read that right – you can actually listen to some of the images the Webb Telescope has captured.
Scientists and musicians have teamed up to offer a different view at the images and data from Webb. On Wednesday, NASA released two track maps of the landscapes of the Cosmic Cliffs in the Carina Nebula and two views of the Southern Ring Nebula. A third track was also released – it is comprised of notes of a transmission spectrum, graphing “the atmospheric characteristics of hot gas giant exoplanet WASP-96 b.”
These tracks – or sonifications – not only give space lovers a new view of these far-off sights but allows those who are blind or low-vision to experience the magic of Webb’s exploration.
“Similar to how written descriptions are unique translations of visual images, sonifications also translate the visual images by encoding information, like color, brightness, star locations, or water absorption signatures, as sounds,” said Quyen Hart, a senior education and outreach scientist at the Space Telescope Science Institute in Baltimore, Maryland. “Our teams are committed to ensuring astronomy is accessible to all.”
It’s important to note: the sounds you’ll hear in these sonifications aren’t sounds recorded in space. Instead, according to NASA, Webb’s data is mapped to sound, with music carefully composed to represent details researchers want you to focus on.
The Chandra X-ray Center leads these data sonifications as a partner of NASA. According to the Center’s website, sounds in the sonifications represent the position and brightness of the source.
“In a way, these sonifications are like modern dance or abstract painting – they convert Webb’s images and data to a new medium to engage and inspire listeners,” NASA explained in a release.
That being said, NASA notes it’s a common misconception that there is no sound in space due to it being essentially a vacuum. Instead, NASA points to galaxy clusters that have gases that can produce a medium for sound waves to travel in.
You can listen to each sonification here: Cosmic Cliffs in the Carina Nebula, Southern Ring Nebula, and exoplanet WASP-96 b.
Earlier this year, NASA and the Chandra X-ray Center released a recording of sounds made by a black hole. More specifically, the sonification uses sound waves previously found by astronomers and makes them audible. To do this, the sound was scaled up 57 and 58 octaves above their original pitch, making it roughly 144 quadrillion to 288 quadrillion times louder than their original frequency.
Other sonifications, like those of supernova Cassiopeia A and the ‘Whirpool Galaxy’ of Messier 51, can be found on the Chandra X-ray Observatory’s website. | https://www.wspa.com/news/national/nexstar-media-wire/youve-seen-the-webb-telescopes-stunning-images-but-have-you-heard-them/ | 2022-09-01T01:35:48Z | wspa.com | control | https://www.wspa.com/news/national/nexstar-media-wire/youve-seen-the-webb-telescopes-stunning-images-but-have-you-heard-them/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) – New protection against the latest COVID variants should be available soon. The Food and Drug Administration approved variant-specific booster shots on Wednesday, but there are some concerns about the rollout.
The shots are specifically built to protect people from the dominant Omicron strains.
“These updated boosters present us with an opportunity to get ahead of the next predicated wave of covid-19,” FDA Commissioner Dr. Robert Califf said.
Once the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention gives its approval, the shots could start going out as soon as next week.
It isn’t clear how effective they’ll be, because they haven’t been through human trials. However, that’s the same process used to update yearly flu shots.
“We’re very confident in the data used to support today’s actions,” FDA official Dr. Peter Marks said.
While many health officials are hailing this as an important step forward, there are concerns about the rollout.
The Biden administration says it’s running out of money for masks, tests and vaccines. White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre says that’s because Congress didn’t pass more COVID funding.
“We’ve warned that the congressional inaction would force unacceptable trade-offs and harm our preparedness and response,” Jean-Pierre said.
Dr. Greg Poland with Mayo Clinic says that could have consequences for availability of the vaccine.
“If it moves to private pay or private insurance, that likely will decrease accessibility,” Poland said.
He also says one of his biggest concerns is that people aren’t using precautions anymore. He points to how many people rarely mask anymore and have continued to gather in crowds.
There’s also uncertainty about who will get the latest booster shots. Only about half of vaccinated Americans got the first booster shot.
Dr. Poland predicts coronavirus is here to stay.
“We will continue to have surges with yet newer variants,” Poland said.
Even now, hundreds of Americans are dying from COVID each day.
“With a highly contagious disease like this, none of us is safe until everyone is safe,” Poland said. | https://www.wspa.com/news/washington-dc/concerns-raised-about-rollout-of-new-variant-specific-covid-vaccine/ | 2022-09-01T01:35:56Z | wspa.com | control | https://www.wspa.com/news/washington-dc/concerns-raised-about-rollout-of-new-variant-specific-covid-vaccine/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Oregon state economists on Wednesday delivered their most serious warning in years: The state’s surging revenue growth is about to end.
Even if the state and country don’t experience a recession in the next year — a possibility economists say is extremely plausible — recent tax receipts that officials have variously described as “shocking,” “unbelievable” and “stunning” are about to come back to earth, state economist Mark McMullen told lawmakers.
“Even if we don’t go into a recession, unfortunately not all of this revenue boom is sustainable,” McMullen said. “We are due for a hangover.”
According to McMullen and another state economist, Josh Lehner, that hangover has not yet arrived.
In their quarterly presentation, the pair diverged from their typical practice of offering lawmakers only a “baseline” forecast that they feel is most likely to play out in coming years. On Wednesday they also delivered a picture of what a recession might look like. McMullen told lawmakers it’s virtually a “coin flip” for which scenario comes to pass — and warned a recession, if it arrives, could be deeper than economists have supposed.
But in either scenario, the state’s short-term revenue outlook is positive. Taxes on business income and gains realized in the stock market have not slowed, and personal income taxes are still strong.
Under the more optimistic “baseline” forecast, economists say Oregon will see $600 million more in the current two-year budget cycle than they anticipated just three months ago, an increase largely driven by personal income taxes. That would result in Oregonians receiving a record $3.46 billion back in the form of the kicker, the unique Oregon policy that returns personal income taxes if they come in at least 2% higher than initial forecasts.
“The numbers to date have not weakened whatsoever,” McMullen told lawmakers of corporate taxes. “But this is terrifying. Along with capital gains, this is our most volatile part of the revenue forecast.”
The more optimistic scenario is less bullish in future years when it predicts revenue growth will be much slower than expected in May. Economists now say each of the next three two-year budget cycles could see revenues more than $600 million lower than projected earlier.
Just as likely, economists said, is the possibility that Oregon will enter into a “mild recession” toward the end of 2023. The risk, Lehner said, is that surging wages driven by an unsustainably hot labor market will continue to drive inflation, which could prompt the federal government to further increase interest rates, triggering a downturn and a big increase in the state’s low unemployment rate.
“We need to see the labor market cool,” Lehner said.
If Oregon does enter into a recession, economists say Oregon will still see roughly $50 million more than previously expected in the budget cycle that runs through June 2023. But they say revenues for the next two biennial budgets come in at $1.2 billion and $1.4 billion lower than previous estimates.
“Should this unfold, it would mean large program cuts,” McMullen said. “It would be unavoidable.”
The question for lawmakers, who will craft a new two-year budget in next year’s legislative session, is how to incorporate the competing forecasts. McMullen and Lehner suggested they operate under the more optimistic version for now, reasoning that unnecessarily chopping state services is not ideal.
“We kind of have to wait until we see the white of the recession’s eyes before we put in these kinds of drastic revenue reductions,” McMullen said.
But underestimating a potential revenue cliff brings its own risks. Long-time State Sen. Lee Beyer said the looming scenario reminded him of 2002 when lawmakers met in five special sessions to continuously revise the budget amid a tanking economy.
“From past experience, I think it’s time that people who will be there need to take a cautionary look at it,” said Beyer, who is retiring when his term expires at the end of the year.
Oregon is better shielded against the bruises of a downturn in 2022 than it was two decades ago. The state holds record budget reserves that are expected to top $2 billion by June 2023. And Oregon is currently sitting on $3.7 billion in revenue that it held off spending in the current budget. If lawmakers leave that money untouched, it could help offset future downturns.
Democrats on Wednesday reacted to the deeply uncertain forecast by emphasizing that the economy is currently strong.
“Thanks to the fiscally responsible decisions the State of Oregon has made over the last several years, we are well positioned with significant reserves to weather any economic challenges that lie ahead,” Gov. Kate Brown said in a statement. “Now, we must continue to make investments to benefit Oregon’s working families, so that all Oregonians can feel the benefits of our strong economic recovery.”
“We should invest in our communities carefully… and stay on our toes,” Senate President Peter Courtney, D-Salem, said in a statement. “If there is a downturn, Oregon will be ready.”
House Speaker Dan Rayfield, a Corvallis Democrat and former chief budget writer, said the Legislature would keep investing in things like housing, mental health and addiction and abortion access.
Republicans, meanwhile, signaled they are ready to take out the budget knives.
“The Legislature must be prepared to make the same difficult choices to reduce wasteful spending and reform broken government,” Senate Minority Leader Tim Knopp, R-Bend, said in a statement. “Senate Republicans are prepared to make prudent, fiscally responsible choices that focus on protecting core government functions Oregonians rely on every day, instead of growing government beyond our means.”
Which approach the state takes will depend not only on how severe a pinch is coming to Oregon’s coffers but whether Democrats can maintain their grip on the Legislature and governor’s office in an election year that presents their party with some significant challenges.
Copyright 2022 Oregon Public Broadcasting. To see more, visit Oregon Public Broadcasting. | https://www.klcc.org/klcc-business-and-economy-news/2022-08-31/economists-say-oregons-financial-good-times-may-be-ending | 2022-09-01T01:44:48Z | klcc.org | control | https://www.klcc.org/klcc-business-and-economy-news/2022-08-31/economists-say-oregons-financial-good-times-may-be-ending | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Updated August 31, 2022 at 9:16 PM ET
Democrat Mary Peltola will represent Alaska's lone U.S. House seat, after winning a special election that was determined by a ranked-choice voting tabulation on Wednesday. She will become the the first Alaska Native in Congress.
In the final round of the count, Peltola, a former state lawmaker, edged Sarah Palin, a former Alaska governor and the 2008 Republican vice presidential nominee, by 3 percentage points, 51.5% to 48.5%.
This is how the candidates finished after initial voting:
Peltola's victory denies the controversial Palin, an ally of former President Donald Trump, an immediate return back onto the national political scene.
The special election in Alaska was held earlier this month but it took until Wednesday to tabulate all the mail-in votes and calculate the winner with the state's new ranked-choice voting system.
Republican Nick Begich III came in third in the election, so voters who had put him as their first choice (or who had written in another candidate) had their ballots reallocated to the candidate who was their second choice.
The special election was to replace Rep. Don Young, who died earlier this year at the age of 88. Peltola will complete the term and then she, Palin and Begich will face off again in November for the next two-year term.
Peltola and Palin served together as state legislators.
Though Palin had sharp words for her fellow Republican Begich, she refrained from attacking Peltola during the campaign, calling her a sweetheart. Peltola also did not badmouth Palin, telling NPR, "The region where I'm from, there is a big premium on being respectful, on not using inflammatory language or harsh tones."
Copyright 2022 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org. | https://www.klcc.org/npr-politics/npr-politics/2022-08-31/democrat-mary-peltola-tops-sarah-palin-to-win-u-s-house-special-election-in-alaska | 2022-09-01T01:45:07Z | klcc.org | control | https://www.klcc.org/npr-politics/npr-politics/2022-08-31/democrat-mary-peltola-tops-sarah-palin-to-win-u-s-house-special-election-in-alaska | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
DETROIT (AP) — Ford is recalling more than 277,000 pickup trucks and cars in the U.S. because the rear view camera lens can get cloudy and reduce visibility for the driver.
The recall covers certain F-250, 350 and 450 trucks as well as the Lincoln Continental, all from the 2017 through 2020 model years. The recalled vehicles have a 360-degree camera system.
Ford says the anti-reflective lens on the cameras can degrade, causing a cloudy image. The company says it has more than 8,800 warranty reports in the U.S. due to the problem.
Dealers will replace the camera at no cost to owners. Ford will notify owners by letter starting Sept. 12.
Ford announced earlier this month that it plans to lay off thousands of workers.
The cuts will impact about 2,000 salaried employees and 1,000 agency personnel, according to a Ford spokesperson.
They represent about 6% of the 31,000 full-time salaried workforces in the U.S. and Canada. Ford’s 56,000 union factory workers are not affected. Some workers also will lose jobs in India.
WDAF’s Heidi Schmidt contributed to this report. | https://www.wpri.com/news/national/ford-recalls-more-than-277000-pickups-cars-to-fix-cloudy-rear-camera-lens/ | 2022-09-01T01:45:12Z | wpri.com | control | https://www.wpri.com/news/national/ford-recalls-more-than-277000-pickups-cars-to-fix-cloudy-rear-camera-lens/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
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United States of America US Virgin Islands United States Minor Outlying Islands Canada Mexico, United Mexican States Bahamas, Commonwealth of the Cuba, Republic of Dominican Republic Haiti, Republic of Jamaica Afghanistan Albania, People's Socialist Republic of Algeria, People's Democratic Republic of American Samoa Andorra, Principality of Angola, Republic of Anguilla Antarctica (the territory South of 60 deg S) Antigua and Barbuda Argentina, Argentine Republic Armenia Aruba Australia, Commonwealth of Austria, Republic of Azerbaijan, Republic of Bahrain, Kingdom of Bangladesh, People's Republic of Barbados Belarus Belgium, Kingdom of Belize Benin, People's Republic of Bermuda Bhutan, Kingdom of Bolivia, Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina Botswana, Republic of Bouvet Island (Bouvetoya) Brazil, Federative Republic of British Indian Ocean Territory (Chagos Archipelago) British Virgin Islands Brunei Darussalam Bulgaria, People's Republic of Burkina Faso Burundi, Republic of Cambodia, Kingdom of Cameroon, United Republic of Cape Verde, Republic of Cayman Islands Central African Republic Chad, Republic of Chile, Republic of China, People's Republic of Christmas Island Cocos (Keeling) Islands Colombia, Republic of Comoros, Union of the Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, People's Republic of Cook Islands Costa Rica, Republic of Cote D'Ivoire, Ivory Coast, Republic of the Cyprus, Republic of Czech Republic Denmark, Kingdom of Djibouti, Republic of Dominica, Commonwealth of Ecuador, Republic of Egypt, Arab Republic of El Salvador, Republic of Equatorial Guinea, Republic of Eritrea Estonia Ethiopia Faeroe Islands Falkland Islands (Malvinas) Fiji, Republic of the Fiji Islands Finland, Republic of France, French Republic French Guiana French Polynesia French Southern Territories Gabon, Gabonese Republic Gambia, Republic of the Georgia Germany Ghana, Republic of Gibraltar Greece, Hellenic Republic Greenland Grenada Guadaloupe Guam Guatemala, Republic of Guinea, Revolutionary
People's Rep'c of Guinea-Bissau, Republic of Guyana, Republic of Heard and McDonald Islands Holy See (Vatican City State) Honduras, Republic of Hong Kong, Special Administrative Region of China Hrvatska (Croatia) Hungary, Hungarian People's Republic Iceland, Republic of India, Republic of Indonesia, Republic of Iran, Islamic Republic of Iraq, Republic of Ireland Israel, State of Italy, Italian Republic Japan Jordan, Hashemite Kingdom of Kazakhstan, Republic of Kenya, Republic of Kiribati, Republic of Korea, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Republic of Kuwait, State of Kyrgyz Republic Lao People's Democratic Republic Latvia Lebanon, Lebanese Republic Lesotho, Kingdom of Liberia, Republic of Libyan Arab Jamahiriya Liechtenstein, Principality of Lithuania Luxembourg, Grand Duchy of Macao, Special Administrative Region of China Macedonia, the former Yugoslav Republic of Madagascar, Republic of Malawi, Republic of Malaysia Maldives, Republic of Mali, Republic of Malta, Republic of Marshall Islands Martinique Mauritania, Islamic Republic of Mauritius Mayotte Micronesia, Federated States of Moldova, Republic of Monaco, Principality of Mongolia, Mongolian People's Republic Montserrat Morocco, Kingdom of Mozambique, People's Republic of Myanmar Namibia Nauru, Republic of Nepal, Kingdom of Netherlands Antilles Netherlands, Kingdom of the New Caledonia New Zealand Nicaragua, Republic of Niger, Republic of the Nigeria, Federal Republic of Niue, Republic of Norfolk Island Northern Mariana Islands Norway, Kingdom of Oman, Sultanate of Pakistan, Islamic Republic of Palau Palestinian Territory, Occupied Panama, Republic of Papua New Guinea Paraguay, Republic of Peru, Republic of Philippines, Republic of the Pitcairn Island Poland, Polish People's Republic Portugal, Portuguese Republic Puerto Rico Qatar, State of Reunion Romania, Socialist Republic of Russian Federation Rwanda, Rwandese Republic Samoa, Independent State of San Marino, Republic of Sao Tome and Principe, Democratic Republic of Saudi Arabia, Kingdom of Senegal, Republic of Serbia and Montenegro Seychelles, Republic of Sierra Leone, Republic of Singapore, Republic of Slovakia (Slovak Republic) Slovenia Solomon Islands Somalia, Somali Republic South Africa, Republic of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands Spain, Spanish State Sri Lanka, Democratic Socialist Republic of St. Helena St. Kitts and Nevis St. Lucia St. Pierre and Miquelon St. Vincent and the Grenadines Sudan, Democratic Republic of the Suriname, Republic of Svalbard & Jan Mayen Islands Swaziland, Kingdom of Sweden, Kingdom of Switzerland, Swiss Confederation Syrian Arab Republic Taiwan, Province of China Tajikistan Tanzania, United Republic of Thailand, Kingdom of Timor-Leste, Democratic Republic of Togo, Togolese Republic Tokelau (Tokelau Islands) Tonga, Kingdom of Trinidad and Tobago, Republic of Tunisia, Republic of Turkey, Republic of Turkmenistan Turks and Caicos Islands Tuvalu Uganda, Republic of Ukraine United Arab Emirates United Kingdom of Great Britain & N. Ireland Uruguay, Eastern Republic of Uzbekistan Vanuatu Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of Viet Nam, Socialist Republic of Wallis and Futuna Islands Western Sahara Yemen Zambia, Republic of Zimbabwe | https://www.kitv.com/news/crime/police-seize-gambling-machines-weapons-and-cash-in-makiki/article_245303a8-2992-11ed-8e8d-af95e9badca9.html | 2022-09-01T01:47:09Z | kitv.com | control | https://www.kitv.com/news/crime/police-seize-gambling-machines-weapons-and-cash-in-makiki/article_245303a8-2992-11ed-8e8d-af95e9badca9.html | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
The gold landed safely in Kerala 24 hours before its scheduled arrival through two female carriers. The capsules were hidden in their bodies, and they boarded the flight to take it back home to the right persons.
I contacted the smuggling racket in Kerala directly and told them that I was keen on investing a considerable amount in gold smuggling. I had to cross many hurdles before I contacted agent Shabeer from Kasargod.
Without beating around the bush, I came straightaway to the point. "My name is Jayarajan from Thaliparamba," I told him. "I have raised the money through the real estate business I did with my friends. I have no difficulty in deploying Rs 4-5 crore in gold smuggling," I told him.
The agent did not doubt it since I had reached him through his established contacts. However, I put a condition: I should be able to witness the various stages and practices of gold smuggling. "Then only I will deploy my money," I told him.
The agent yielded after I put pressure on him.
Finally, I was allowed to be part of the meeting in a hotel room at Al Muteena in Dubai at noon on July 26.
The scenes at the gold market
Shabeer reached the hotel room with the head of the smuggling racket Mr M. We reached an understanding that Mr M and I would form a partnership to transport illegal gold, and Shabeer could be deployed as the main agent.
Shabeer was entrusted to take care of carriers and other matters. The gold will be smuggled by hiding it in the body or dress of the carriers or cardboard boxes.
I was unconvinced. “Words won’t do. Can I see how the gold is concealed?” I asked.
"Different people do all these tasks. They don't show them even to us, then how can you ask to see the process?" one of them asked me.
But I was adamant. And I demanded that I should be allowed to see the process of hiding. Shabeer called someone over the phone. Finally, we headed to the gold market called Dubai Gold Souk. Jewellers, some owned by Malayalis, fill the Gold Souk. Among them are world famous brands as well as small showrooms. The bylanes are also filled with small gold shops.
Shabeer accompanied me. And he took me to jewellery store owned by a Kozhikode native. The ground floor houses the jewellery shop, and the ornament-making unit is on the top floor. This pattern is replicated across most jewellery shops.
When we reached, the jewellery owner was on the top floor. From the corridor, the door to the ornament-making unit opened. I saw seven to eight people engaged in doing something in a cardboard box. Though I wanted to see it in detail, they did not let me. They escorted me out fast and closed the door.
The jewellery owner spoke to me on the veranda. Two people at the jewellery were watching us closely. I also spotted the CCTV camera and decided to keep my mobile in my pocket. The jewellery owner explained how they hide the gold in dresses and cardboards.
I left, but I told them I would come back. The next day Mr M and Shabeer came to my hotel room. “I have seen it and I am convinced. But that’s not enough. I need some evidence to show to my partners,” I told them. Mr M agreed to take photos and video if a big-ticket investment is made. The next night, I received a voice message on WhatsApp: “Reach Gold Souk at 4 pm tomorrow.”
Golden birds that fly ahead
I reached Dubai Gold Souk before 4 pm the next day. Mr M stepped in at 5.30 pm.
From the main road, we walked through the twists and turns of a dingy corridor to the Gold Souk. In between, we entered a tea shop to have tea. The extended exercise was probably to check whether someone was following me.
Again after some twists and turns, we reached the second floor of a building. From there, Mr M purchased one-and-a-half kilograms of gold dust by handing over some currencies.
"How do you dispatch it?” I asked when we got out from there.
“They will be turned into capsules and then concealed in body,” he told me.
“When will you send it?”
“Tomorrow,” he replied.
Suddenly a young man sporting a black T-shirt and pants appeared on a battery-powered scooter. Without uttering a word, Mr. M handed over the two packets to him. In lightning speed, the young man disappeared.
“How long will it take?” I enquired again.
“Half an hour,” he answered.
“Can I see it being turned into capsules?”
“It is not possible. Even we are not allowed to.”
I was not done yet. “How many capsules can one make from 1.5 kg?”
“Six. 250 grams each. Let’s go to the office. The youths will bring the stuff there,” he told me.
By 7.45 pm, youths brought the stuff to the office.
Six black capsules.
Mr. M scanned the capsules using a hand-held scanner. A strong beep sound emerged.
After some time, Mr. M went to the washroom, and I took a photo of the capsules using my mobile. In five minutes, Mr. M left for his residence in his car after packing the capsules in a small bag. He took me along.
“So, we will meet tomorrow,” he said.
“When will it be sent?”
“Tomorrow night.”
I alighted on the way. I was allowed to contact Mr M over the phone only the following afternoon.
“We’re sending the consignment today, right?” I asked.
“The stuff landed last night in Kozhikode, and reached the destination safely. Is the evidence not enough?"
(The 'stuff' crossed the seas 24 hours ahead of schedule, possibly because of a lack of trust in the new 'investor').
On the night of the 28th itself, two female carriers were brought to Mr M's office, and the capsules were set in their body, and then they were sent to the airport.
They carried the capsules to the house in Kozhikode, took them out, and handed them over to the smugglers. On July 29 morning, at a secret location, it was melted, impurities were removed, and the pure gold was handed over to the jewellery in Malappuram. (My source confirmed that it reached Malappuram).
Cost of the smuggling operation (which started at 6 pm on July 28 and ended early morning on July 29):
The price of one and a half kg gold: 3,17,160 dirhams
Crushing cost: 300 dirhams
Cost to make capsules: 600 dirhams
Ticket for carriers: 1080 dirhams
Taxi and other expenses: 500 dirhams
Agent's commission: 2000 dirhams
Total expenditure in Dubai: 3,21,640 dirhams
The total amount of gold recovered in Malappuram after removing impurities: 1497.40 grams
Amount realised from local jeweller: Rs 78,08,940 (at Rs 5215 for one gram)
Remuneration for the carriers: Rs 1,00,000
Melting charge: Rs 6000
Taxi and other costs: Rs 6000
Amount relaised in Rs : Rs 76,96,940
If it is divided by the reverse hawala rate of 22.6244, earnings would be 3,40,205 dirhams
(Hawala and reverse hawala rates are calculated in lakh rupees. Hence four decimal points are considered. This means if Rs 1 lakh is given in Malappuram, one gets 4420 UAE dirhams in Dubai).
Total profit of operation: 18565 dirhams (i.e. 3,40,205 minus the expenses incurred in Dubai 3,21,640 dirhams)
As per the hawala rate in Malappuram, this comes to Rs 4,20,022. This is the net profit from smuggling 1.5 kg of gold. The profit in one kg is Rs 2,80,014. If the agent is excluded and smuggling is held with own carriers, the agent commission can be saved. (There will be differences in profit as per variations in the gold price and hawala rates).
Converting dust into capsule
Gold in the dust form is mixed with maida using castor oil and water and then rolled and filled in a condom to turn it into a 250-gram capsule. Sometimes an insulation tape is strapped over it.
Later they are concealed inside the body.
Gold retrieved from carriers is heated on a gas stove to remove impurities. After some time, maida and castor oil in the capsule burn away. Gold will emerge as a solid roll.
Being a global commercial centre with liberal financial policies, Dubai doesn't have strict rules regarding gold trading. One can take any amount of gold from Dubai to outside countries. The legally purchased gold from Dubai becomes smuggled metal in India and other countries when they are brought in over the permissible limit.
(This is the first part of the investigative series on gold smuggling by Malayala Manorama.) | https://www.onmanorama.com/news/kerala/2022/09/01/inside-gold-smuggling-racket-kerala.amp.html | 2022-09-01T01:47:09Z | onmanorama.com | control | https://www.onmanorama.com/news/kerala/2022/09/01/inside-gold-smuggling-racket-kerala.amp.html | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
The gold landed safely in Kerala 24 hours before its scheduled arrival through two female carriers. The capsules were hidden in their bodies, and they boarded the flight to take it back home to the right persons.
I contacted the smuggling racket in Kerala directly and told them that I was keen on investing a considerable amount in gold smuggling. I had to cross many hurdles before I contacted agent Shabeer from Kasargod.
Without beating around the bush, I came straightaway to the point. "My name is Jayarajan from Thaliparamba," I told him. "I have raised the money through the real estate business I did with my friends. I have no difficulty in deploying Rs 4-5 crore in gold smuggling," I told him.
The agent did not doubt it since I had reached him through his established contacts. However, I put a condition: I should be able to witness the various stages and practices of gold smuggling. "Then only I will deploy my money," I told him.
The agent yielded after I put pressure on him.
Finally, I was allowed to be part of the meeting in a hotel room at Al Muteena in Dubai at noon on July 26.
The scenes at the gold market
Shabeer reached the hotel room with the head of the smuggling racket Mr M. We reached an understanding that Mr M and I would form a partnership to transport illegal gold, and Shabeer could be deployed as the main agent.
Shabeer was entrusted to take care of carriers and other matters. The gold will be smuggled by hiding it in the body or dress of the carriers or cardboard boxes.
I was unconvinced. “Words won’t do. Can I see how the gold is concealed?” I asked.
"Different people do all these tasks. They don't show them even to us, then how can you ask to see the process?" one of them asked me.
But I was adamant. And I demanded that I should be allowed to see the process of hiding. Shabeer called someone over the phone. Finally, we headed to the gold market called Dubai Gold Souk. Jewellers, some owned by Malayalis, fill the Gold Souk. Among them are world famous brands as well as small showrooms. The bylanes are also filled with small gold shops.
Shabeer accompanied me. And he took me to jewellery store owned by a Kozhikode native. The ground floor houses the jewellery shop, and the ornament-making unit is on the top floor. This pattern is replicated across most jewellery shops.
When we reached, the jewellery owner was on the top floor. From the corridor, the door to the ornament-making unit opened. I saw seven to eight people engaged in doing something in a cardboard box. Though I wanted to see it in detail, they did not let me. They escorted me out fast and closed the door.
The jewellery owner spoke to me on the veranda. Two people at the jewellery were watching us closely. I also spotted the CCTV camera and decided to keep my mobile in my pocket. The jewellery owner explained how they hide the gold in dresses and cardboards.
I left, but I told them I would come back. The next day Mr M and Shabeer came to my hotel room. “I have seen it and I am convinced. But that’s not enough. I need some evidence to show to my partners,” I told them. Mr M agreed to take photos and video if a big-ticket investment is made. The next night, I received a voice message on WhatsApp: “Reach Gold Souk at 4 pm tomorrow.”
Golden birds that fly ahead
I reached Dubai Gold Souk before 4 pm the next day. Mr M stepped in at 5.30 pm.
From the main road, we walked through the twists and turns of a dingy corridor to the Gold Souk. In between, we entered a tea shop to have tea. The extended exercise was probably to check whether someone was following me.
Again after some twists and turns, we reached the second floor of a building. From there, Mr M purchased one-and-a-half kilograms of gold dust by handing over some currencies.
"How do you dispatch it?” I asked when we got out from there.
“They will be turned into capsules and then concealed in body,” he told me.
“When will you send it?”
“Tomorrow,” he replied.
Suddenly a young man sporting a black T-shirt and pants appeared on a battery-powered scooter. Without uttering a word, Mr. M handed over the two packets to him. In lightning speed, the young man disappeared.
“How long will it take?” I enquired again.
“Half an hour,” he answered.
“Can I see it being turned into capsules?”
“It is not possible. Even we are not allowed to.”
I was not done yet. “How many capsules can one make from 1.5 kg?”
“Six. 250 grams each. Let’s go to the office. The youths will bring the stuff there,” he told me.
By 7.45 pm, youths brought the stuff to the office.
Six black capsules.
Mr. M scanned the capsules using a hand-held scanner. A strong beep sound emerged.
After some time, Mr. M went to the washroom, and I took a photo of the capsules using my mobile. In five minutes, Mr. M left for his residence in his car after packing the capsules in a small bag. He took me along.
“So, we will meet tomorrow,” he said.
“When will it be sent?”
“Tomorrow night.”
I alighted on the way. I was allowed to contact Mr M over the phone only the following afternoon.
“We’re sending the consignment today, right?” I asked.
“The stuff landed last night in Kozhikode, and reached the destination safely. Is the evidence not enough?"
(The 'stuff' crossed the seas 24 hours ahead of schedule, possibly because of a lack of trust in the new 'investor').
On the night of the 28th itself, two female carriers were brought to Mr M's office, and the capsules were set in their body, and then they were sent to the airport.
They carried the capsules to the house in Kozhikode, took them out, and handed them over to the smugglers. On July 29 morning, at a secret location, it was melted, impurities were removed, and the pure gold was handed over to the jewellery in Malappuram. (My source confirmed that it reached Malappuram).
Cost of the smuggling operation (which started at 6 pm on July 28 and ended early morning on July 29):
The price of one and a half kg gold: 3,17,160 dirhams
Crushing cost: 300 dirhams
Cost to make capsules: 600 dirhams
Ticket for carriers: 1080 dirhams
Taxi and other expenses: 500 dirhams
Agent's commission: 2000 dirhams
Total expenditure in Dubai: 3,21,640 dirhams
The total amount of gold recovered in Malappuram after removing impurities: 1497.40 grams
Amount realised from local jeweller: Rs 78,08,940 (at Rs 5215 for one gram)
Remuneration for the carriers: Rs 1,00,000
Melting charge: Rs 6000
Taxi and other costs: Rs 6000
Amount relaised in Rs : Rs 76,96,940
If it is divided by the reverse hawala rate of 22.6244, earnings would be 3,40,205 dirhams
(Hawala and reverse hawala rates are calculated in lakh rupees. Hence four decimal points are considered. This means if Rs 1 lakh is given in Malappuram, one gets 4420 UAE dirhams in Dubai).
Total profit of operation: 18565 dirhams (i.e. 3,40,205 minus the expenses incurred in Dubai 3,21,640 dirhams)
As per the hawala rate in Malappuram, this comes to Rs 4,20,022. This is the net profit from smuggling 1.5 kg of gold. The profit in one kg is Rs 2,80,014. If the agent is excluded and smuggling is held with own carriers, the agent commission can be saved. (There will be differences in profit as per variations in the gold price and hawala rates).
Converting dust into capsule
Gold in the dust form is mixed with maida using castor oil and water and then rolled and filled in a condom to turn it into a 250-gram capsule. Sometimes an insulation tape is strapped over it.
Later they are concealed inside the body.
Gold retrieved from carriers is heated on a gas stove to remove impurities. After some time, maida and castor oil in the capsule burn away. Gold will emerge as a solid roll.
Being a global commercial centre with liberal financial policies, Dubai doesn't have strict rules regarding gold trading. One can take any amount of gold from Dubai to outside countries. The legally purchased gold from Dubai becomes smuggled metal in India and other countries when they are brought in over the permissible limit.
(This is the first part of the investigative series on gold smuggling by Malayala Manorama.) | https://www.onmanorama.com/news/kerala/2022/09/01/inside-gold-smuggling-racket-kerala.html | 2022-09-01T01:47:15Z | onmanorama.com | control | https://www.onmanorama.com/news/kerala/2022/09/01/inside-gold-smuggling-racket-kerala.html | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Country
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People's Rep'c of Guinea-Bissau, Republic of Guyana, Republic of Heard and McDonald Islands Holy See (Vatican City State) Honduras, Republic of Hong Kong, Special Administrative Region of China Hrvatska (Croatia) Hungary, Hungarian People's Republic Iceland, Republic of India, Republic of Indonesia, Republic of Iran, Islamic Republic of Iraq, Republic of Ireland Israel, State of Italy, Italian Republic Japan Jordan, Hashemite Kingdom of Kazakhstan, Republic of Kenya, Republic of Kiribati, Republic of Korea, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Republic of Kuwait, State of Kyrgyz Republic Lao People's Democratic Republic Latvia Lebanon, Lebanese Republic Lesotho, Kingdom of Liberia, Republic of Libyan Arab Jamahiriya Liechtenstein, Principality of Lithuania Luxembourg, Grand Duchy of Macao, Special Administrative Region of China Macedonia, the former Yugoslav Republic of Madagascar, Republic of Malawi, Republic of Malaysia Maldives, Republic of Mali, Republic of Malta, Republic of Marshall Islands Martinique Mauritania, Islamic Republic of Mauritius Mayotte Micronesia, Federated States of Moldova, Republic of Monaco, Principality of Mongolia, Mongolian People's Republic Montserrat Morocco, Kingdom of Mozambique, People's Republic of Myanmar Namibia Nauru, Republic of Nepal, Kingdom of Netherlands Antilles Netherlands, Kingdom of the New Caledonia New Zealand Nicaragua, Republic of Niger, Republic of the Nigeria, Federal Republic of Niue, Republic of Norfolk Island Northern Mariana Islands Norway, Kingdom of Oman, Sultanate of Pakistan, Islamic Republic of Palau Palestinian Territory, Occupied Panama, Republic of Papua New Guinea Paraguay, Republic of Peru, Republic of Philippines, Republic of the Pitcairn Island Poland, Polish People's Republic Portugal, Portuguese Republic Puerto Rico Qatar, State of Reunion Romania, Socialist Republic of Russian Federation Rwanda, Rwandese Republic Samoa, Independent State of San Marino, Republic of Sao Tome and Principe, Democratic Republic of Saudi Arabia, Kingdom of Senegal, Republic of Serbia and Montenegro Seychelles, Republic of Sierra Leone, Republic of Singapore, Republic of Slovakia (Slovak Republic) Slovenia Solomon Islands Somalia, Somali Republic South Africa, Republic of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands Spain, Spanish State Sri Lanka, Democratic Socialist Republic of St. Helena St. Kitts and Nevis St. Lucia St. Pierre and Miquelon St. Vincent and the Grenadines Sudan, Democratic Republic of the Suriname, Republic of Svalbard & Jan Mayen Islands Swaziland, Kingdom of Sweden, Kingdom of Switzerland, Swiss Confederation Syrian Arab Republic Taiwan, Province of China Tajikistan Tanzania, United Republic of Thailand, Kingdom of Timor-Leste, Democratic Republic of Togo, Togolese Republic Tokelau (Tokelau Islands) Tonga, Kingdom of Trinidad and Tobago, Republic of Tunisia, Republic of Turkey, Republic of Turkmenistan Turks and Caicos Islands Tuvalu Uganda, Republic of Ukraine United Arab Emirates United Kingdom of Great Britain & N. Ireland Uruguay, Eastern Republic of Uzbekistan Vanuatu Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of Viet Nam, Socialist Republic of Wallis and Futuna Islands Western Sahara Yemen Zambia, Republic of Zimbabwe | https://www.kitv.com/news/local/tour-helicopter-makes-hard-landing-in-parking-lot-at-aloha-stadium/article_44e48f4c-2992-11ed-b742-2fb8b18056bf.html | 2022-09-01T01:47:21Z | kitv.com | control | https://www.kitv.com/news/local/tour-helicopter-makes-hard-landing-in-parking-lot-at-aloha-stadium/article_44e48f4c-2992-11ed-b742-2fb8b18056bf.html | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Democrat Mary Peltola is set to make history as the first Alaska Native in Congress -- while thwarting the attempted political comeback of former Gov. Sarah Palin -- by winning a special House election, according to unofficial ranked-choice voting results released Wednesday by the state Division of Elections.
Her unlikely bid for the House was unique to Alaska, where political relationships span decades and voters who have elected independents and write-in candidates to major offices have what Peltola calls a "libertarian bent" that at times defies the partisan label the state has earned by voting consistently for Republican presidential candidates.
She has a warm relationship with Palin, who once gave her family's backyard trampoline to Peltola's family, and she once spent Thanksgiving with the late Rep. Don Young, an old teaching colleague and hunting buddy of her father's whose former seat she and Palin sought to fill for the remainder of 2022. Young died in March after representing Alaska in the House for 49 years.
Despite Peltola's victory on Wednesday, she and Palin will face off again in November to fill the state's lone House seat for the next full term.
Peltola, who turned 49 on Wednesday, is the daughter of a Yup'ik mother and a Nebraskan father who had moved north to teach school and later became a bush pilot.
She had spent a decade in Alaska's House of Representatives, from 1999 to 2009, where she chaired the bipartisan "bush" caucus of rural lawmakers and overlapped with Palin, her leading opponent in the special congressional race, who was governor from late 2006 through mid-2009. Peltola later became a Bethel City Council member, a lobbyist and a salmon advocate as the executive director of the Kuskokwim River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission.
The Yup'ik people, she in an interview with CNN on Wednesday, are "holistic" thinkers.
"Everything is interconnected," Peltola said. "When we talk about community wellness, we talk about the entire community. I do think of things in very broad terms, and I do recognize that in Alaska, even though we have a huge footprint, we are a very small in numbers population, and we are all related."
If she wins when the Alaska Division of Elections tabulates its ranked-choice voting results at 8 p.m. ET Wednesday, she would fill the remaining months of the term started by Young -- who, before becoming the longest-serving Republican congressman in US history, was a close friend of her father.
The two were both teachers in Fort Yukon -- Peltola's father taught 8th grade while Young taught 4th grade -- and were hunting buddies. Once, in the 1960s, Peltola said, the two men bought a bulldozer together and took 12-hour shifts fighting a wildfire.
Each time Young saw Peltola, he told her to razz her father with a story about him not bringing the antlers back from a moose hunting trip.
After a strong commercial fishing year, Peltola's father sent her to a private boarding school near Allentown, Pennsylvania, for her sophomore year of high school. Her family couldn't afford flights home for both Thanksgiving and Christmas, she said, so her father called his old friend Young and asked if Peltola could spend Thanksgiving with his family in the Washington, DC, area.
She visited with Young's family and heard the story of the recent engagement of Dawn Young, one of the congressman's two daughters. The holiday, she said, was when she began to understand Young in a context beyond his friendship with her father.
"I realized at that time how significant Don's position was," Peltola said.
Colleagues before they were rivals
Peltola also has what she describes as a warm relationship with Palin. The two were expectant mothers working at the statehouse in Juneau at the same time. When Palin left Juneau in 2009, she and her then-husband Todd gave their backyard trampoline to Peltola's family.
The two had lost touch, but Peltola said one of the highlights of her run for Congress has been reconnecting with Palin and other former colleagues.
"I love it when Sarah and I are at the same forum. Every time I see her, I give her a hug. I'm always happy to see Sarah," she said.
Because of the small population and interconnected nature of Alaska politics, Peltola said, she views Palin and the third-place finisher in the race, Republican Nick Begich III, as "people I'm going to be working with for the rest of my life, whether I win the race or not."
"I feel camaraderie and a sense of fraternity with both Nick and Sarah," the Democrat said.
Peltola has campaigned as a fishing advocate, a supporter of labor rights and a proponent of abortion rights.
She said the Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade is at odds with Alaska's political instincts.
"We are very much covetous of our freedoms and our privacy," she said.
She also pointed to a dark history of Alaska Native women being the target of forced sterilizations into the mid-20th century.
"Seeing that Dobbs decision is a concern to me, and the other issues that this other radical Supreme Court -- radically conservative Supreme Court -- have signaled, the other personal rights they're talking about infringing upon is a great concern to me," she said.
Peltola was little-known when, in April, she entered the special election.
She was the fourth-place finisher in June's "open" primary, in which Alaska narrowed a field of 48 candidates from all parties down to a final four who advanced to an August special election: Peltola; Palin; Begich, a Republican member of the state's most famous Democratic political family; and independent Al Gross, who had been backed by Democrats in a Senate race less than two years earlier.
When Gross dropped out of the contest shortly after the primary, it created an opening in a state where President Joe Biden had won 42% of the vote in 2020. Peltola could consolidate all of the Democratic votes, while Palin and Begich jockeyed for Republicans' support.
Peltola finished the August 16 special election as the leading vote-getter with 40% support to Palin's 31% and Begich's 28%.
But because no one secured a majority of the vote, the state's new ranked-choice voting process was triggered.
Under the system, which is being used for the first time in the state, the last-place finisher is eliminated and votes are reallocated to voters' next available choice until one candidate exceeds 50% of the vote.
If Peltola wins about one-third of the second-place votes of those who backed Begich earlier this month, she will win the seat.
Win or lose, though, Peltola, Palin and Begich are all set to square off again in November. All three qualified for another ranked-choice showdown to win Alaska's lone at-large House seat for a full term.
The-CNN-Wire
™ & © 2022 Cable News Network, Inc., a Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All rights reserved. | https://www.kitv.com/news/national/mary-peltola-set-to-make-history-as-the-first-alaska-native-in-congress/article_c9cea4fd-11b6-5217-8497-95ed51a61526.html | 2022-09-01T01:47:27Z | kitv.com | control | https://www.kitv.com/news/national/mary-peltola-set-to-make-history-as-the-first-alaska-native-in-congress/article_c9cea4fd-11b6-5217-8497-95ed51a61526.html | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Spanning 830 acres in Windward O'ahu and home to several species of endangered native birds, Kawainui Marsh is the largest wetland across Hawai'i.
But over recent years, the picturesque wildlife sanctuary has become infested with Mongooses.
Experts explained the invasive predators are particularly harmful because they target bird eggs.
"Any of those birds that nest on the ground, mongooses are going to eat their eggs, they're going to eat their chicks while they hatch, and they could even eat the adults while they're nesting and vulnerable," University of Hawai'i wildlife ecologist Melissa Price added.
For years, area senator Chris Lee has been a part of the ongoing effort to restore the marsh.
"If we lose it, it's gone forever, and that's something that I think our community especially doesn't want to see," Lee said.
Knowing the importance of protecting endangered bird species, Lee helped allocate more than $4 million to put up a fence around the first half of the wetland, to shield them from mongooses and other predators.
"It's gonna take a few years, it's a lot of perimeter to fence, so we're going to do it in a couple phases," Lee said.
The senator expects the project will begin in the next few months.
Do you have a story idea? Email news tips to news@kitv.com
'A'ali'i is a reporter with KITV. He was born and raised on the island of Maui and graduated from the University of Southern California with a bachelor's degree in Journalism. | https://www.kitv.com/news/state-dishes-out-millions-to-manage-mongoose-problem-at-windward-oahu-marsh/article_fb51ff6a-2994-11ed-8eaf-7769deaf18ac.html | 2022-09-01T01:47:33Z | kitv.com | control | https://www.kitv.com/news/state-dishes-out-millions-to-manage-mongoose-problem-at-windward-oahu-marsh/article_fb51ff6a-2994-11ed-8eaf-7769deaf18ac.html | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
July 2022 Australian housing finance data
headline Home Loans Value for July -8.5% m/m
- vs expected -3.5% & prior -4.4%
Investor Loans -11.2% m/m
- expected -4.0%, prior -6.3%
more to come
-
Estimate 3 for 2022-23 is $146.4b. This is 11.7% higher than Estimate 2 for 2022-23 | https://www.forexlive.com/news/australian-data-july-home-loans-85-mm-vs-expected-30-20220901/ | 2022-09-01T01:53:47Z | forexlive.com | control | https://www.forexlive.com/news/australian-data-july-home-loans-85-mm-vs-expected-30-20220901/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Plumbing Companies Will Now Be Offered High Performing Digital Marketing Services
CHARLOTTE, N.C., Aug. 16, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Matt Maglodi, founder of the full service digital marketing company Online Advantages, is pleased to announce the launch of Plumber SEO, which is the latest service from his new brand Digital Marketing For Plumbers By Online Advantages.
As Maglodi noted, through his extensive experience with SEO and digital marketing, he has seen first hand how these services have benefited the plumbing industry.
This knowledge inspired him to create the new brand and offer high performing digital marketing services to plumbing companies, including plumber SEO and much more.
To learn more about Digital Marketing For Plumbers By Online Advantages, please click here https://digital-marketing-for-plumbers.onlineadvantages.net/plumber-seo/ to go to the page that will address the following topics and questions:
- Search engine optimization for plumbing companies
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The fact that Maglodi has added new brand and specialized digital marketing service to his company will not surprise the many satisfied clients who have worked with him over the years.
Since Maglodi launched Online Advantages, he has earned a well-deserved reputation for not only offering the best and most effective digital marketing services, but also for being on the lookout for additional services he and his team can offer. Never content to rest on his laurels, Maglodi is always thinking about how he can help his valued clients and their companies succeed.
Even though Maglodi only began offering digital marketing for plumbers quite recently, he and his team are already seeing a great deal of interest from plumbing companies.
"Our customer focused team will improve your Digital Presence and increase sales for your web-based plumbing operations."
Digital Marketing For Plumbers By Online Advantages is a unique full service internet marketing company. Founder Matt Maglodi specializes in all aspects of online marketing from video marketing, to pay per click advertising, organic search and social media. For more information, please visit https://digital-marketing-for-plumbers.onlineadvantages.net.
View original content:
SOURCE Digital Marketing For Plumbers By Online Advantages | https://www.witn.com/prnewswire/2022/09/01/plumber-seo-latest-service-digital-marketing-plumbers-by-online-advantages/ | 2022-09-01T01:55:53Z | witn.com | control | https://www.witn.com/prnewswire/2022/09/01/plumber-seo-latest-service-digital-marketing-plumbers-by-online-advantages/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
The Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) Dr Bashir Jamoh, has stated that the Agency will continue to take deliberate steps to work with critical institutions and professional bodies to reposition Nigeria’s maritime industry.
Speaking during a courtesy call by a branch of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) to the Agency, Jamoh stated that working with the association and the judiciary was sacrosanct to the Agency, given the complex and time sensitive nature of maritime issues and the attendant requirement for prompt resolutions.
“Prompt dispensation of justice is important for achieving success in our drive to elicit a sustained investors’ confidence, and the judiciary is a critical factor in this drive. When there is a delay in a case, investment opportunities are lost.
“Let me therefore use this opportunity to solicit the cooperation of the Nigerian Bar Association to always push for timely dispute resolution for maritime related issues, as we all have one role or another to play in catalysing the Nigerian economy,” Jamoh said.
Speaking further, Jamoh observed that the Suppression of Piracy and Other Maritime Crimes (SPOMO) Act, 2019 has come to stay and it is victory for Nigeria as a whole in the nation’s determination to assume her rightful position in the comity of maritime nations.
He noted that some convictions were secured to date, describing it as a signal that Nigeria is on the right path in the war against piracy and other crimes on the nation’s waterways.
According to the DG, “We will not relent on our efforts to ensure a safe and secure maritime domain in line with our mandate. NIMASA will continue to work closely with other organs of government, the international community, and other stakeholders to achieve improved security in the Nigerian waterways and the Gulf of Guinea.
“With the SPOMO Act, we have secured 23 convictions, out of which 10 were sentenced to 10 years imprisonment, 10 seven years, while three foreigners were fined for their involvement in crime within the Nigerian territorial waters. This will serve as a deterrent to other criminal elements who are still engaged in the nefarious activities on our waterways.”
ALSO READ FROM NIGERIAN TRIBUNE
He opined that notwithstanding the stride being made by the Agency in the area of safety and security of the Nigerian maritime domain, the management of the Agency equally recognises the need for professional development and alignment as well as increased partnership and collaboration amongst all stakeholders, the judiciary inclusive.
He averred that training and development were important components of the Agency’s administrative growth, stressing that NIMASA has a system where officers, including those of the of the Legal Unit of the Agency are trained in various fields and admiralty law respectively, in the World Maritime University (WMU), Sweden, for global competitiveness.
Earlier in his remarks, the Chairman of the NBA branch in the Federal Capital Territory, Mr Adjeh Monday, commended the NIMASA leadership for all the achievements of the Agency, reiterating the need for continuous collaboration with relevant stakeholders to advance the nation’s maritime industry.
He said the Association would continue to seek more value-adding models of collaborating with the Agency to provide necessary assistance to NIMASA in its bid to ensure a safe and secure maritime space. | https://tribuneonlineng.com/effective-judiciary-key-to-success-of-maritime-sector-jamoh/ | 2022-09-01T02:06:52Z | tribuneonlineng.com | control | https://tribuneonlineng.com/effective-judiciary-key-to-success-of-maritime-sector-jamoh/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
The Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) has said that APM Terminals acceptance to renew its workers retirement benefits and pay for child education support amongst other incentives is the major reason the union suspended a three-day warning strike embarked upon at the Lagos container port terminal recently.
Disclosing this exclusively to the Nigerian Tribune, President General of the Union, Comrade Adewale Adeyanju, listed the new conditions reached with the APM Terminals, Apapa before the workers called off the three days warning strike.
According to Comrade Adeyanju, “We are ready to picket any terminal operator that refuses to follow the principle of the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA). The CBA is an agreement between the terminal operator and the workers. If APM Terminals, Apapa did not shift ground concerning our demand, the strike action would have still been on. The terminal would have still been under lock and key.
“But APM Terminals shifted ground and acceded to our request. They accepted to increase the benefits of the workers. Like we used to have 13 per cent for three good years, but now it is 40 per cent. There were areas and other benefits that APM Terminals agreed to implement, which made us suspend the strike.
ALSO READ FROM NIGERIAN TRIBUNE
“The APM Terminal workers retirement benefits which used to be N500,000 is now N1.5 milion. Before our strike, APM Terminals was not supporting its workers with any child education fee. It was after our strike that the agreement was reached that every worker gets child education funding. Now APM Terminal workers will be getting N150,000 each as funding for their children’s education. This is unprecedented. No worker at APM Terminals in the last 15 years ever got money for their children’s education.
“The workers have a savings scheme. Part of our agreement with APM Terminals is that the terminal operator will pay an additional 20 per cent on that saving scheme. This was also part of the reason we suspended our strike. The terminal operator accepted to bear the payment of 20 per cent on that savings scheme.
“We are still going to be asking for more. But for now, since the terminal operator has agreed to implement all the listed agreements, that’s why we agreed to suspend the strike in July this year.”
Recall that angry dockworkers under the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) in July shut down Nigeria’s largest container port terminal, APM Terminals, Apapa, crippling port operations at Nigeria’s premier port, Apapa port. | https://tribuneonlineng.com/why-we-suspended-strike-at-apm-terminals-apapa-mwun/ | 2022-09-01T02:07:25Z | tribuneonlineng.com | control | https://tribuneonlineng.com/why-we-suspended-strike-at-apm-terminals-apapa-mwun/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
NEW YORK — A federal judge declined to put a hold on New York’s new gun rules Wednesday, one day before the law was to take effect.
Despite writing that the arguments for granting a preliminary injunction to stop the rules were persuasive, Judge Glenn Suddaby said the plaintiffs — an upstate New York resident and three gun rights organizations — didn’t have standing to bring the legal action.
The new law would strictly limit where people could carry guns and require applicants to hand over social media account information.
Gov. Kathy Hochul and fellow Democrats approved the law this summer after the U.S. Supreme Court struck down a state law that required people to demonstrate an unusual threat to their safety to qualify for a license to carry a handgun outside their homes.
THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. AP’s earlier story follows below.
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.
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. | https://www.lockportjournal.com/news/local_news/federal-judge-wont-block-new-yorks-new-gun-restrictions/article_c217dc08-2988-11ed-bdf3-cf84c59f3228.html | 2022-09-01T02:09:46Z | lockportjournal.com | control | https://www.lockportjournal.com/news/local_news/federal-judge-wont-block-new-yorks-new-gun-restrictions/article_c217dc08-2988-11ed-bdf3-cf84c59f3228.html | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
The three separate bargaining units represented by 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East voted overwhelmingly Tuesday to ratify a new four-year agreement with Mount St. Mary’s Hospital in Lewiston.
More than 350 union health care workers at the hospital are covered by the new contract, which includes nurses, service and maintenance workers, technical workers and other professional staff.
The new agreement provides market-competitive wages and benefits, a robust staffing proposal and also includes sign-on and retention incentives to help draw more key staff to the hospital — addressing concerns brought on by the pandemic and nationwide staffing shortages.
“Union members overwhelmingly voted for ratification, which tells us our associates are happy with the offer we worked so closely with 1199SEIU bargaining committee to finalize,” said CJ Urlaub, president of Mount St. Mary’s Hospital. “This negotiation process was one of the most collaborative I’ve experienced and we are thankful to our colleagues at 1199SEIU for working together with us to create a contract that recognizes and rewards our current associates while being attractive for prospective staff.”
“It’s been a long haul, but we are glad to come together and negotiate an agreement that was in the best interest of all workers at our facility,” said Renee Gueli, respiratory therapist. “We maintained our health insurance. We negotiated a 20-year retention bonus on top of our general wage increases and we secured upgrades to retain existing workers. We are very proud that our service workers are now earning a comparable wage to other facilities in our area and that helps to retain workers, but those wages will also help to bring new workers into the hospital to help with shortages.”
In addition to improved wages and benefits, bonus pay is included in the contract, giving workers the opportunity to earn other salary incentives in addition to their regular hourly and overtime rate. The contract also includes sign-on and retention bonuses for graduate nurses and experienced registered nurses, and an enhanced registered nurse referral bonus for Mount St. Mary’s workers who refer nurses to the hospital – helping to improve staffing at the bedside.
Mount St. Mary’s Hospital and 1199SEIU began negotiations early January. The new four-year contract will be in effect through March 31, 2026. | https://www.lockportjournal.com/news/local_news/health-care-workers-ok-new-contract-at-mount-st-marys/article_59a17e06-2986-11ed-be34-dbd2bfda91a7.html | 2022-09-01T02:09:52Z | lockportjournal.com | control | https://www.lockportjournal.com/news/local_news/health-care-workers-ok-new-contract-at-mount-st-marys/article_59a17e06-2986-11ed-be34-dbd2bfda91a7.html | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Union healthcare workers at Elderwood at Lockport have voted to give the 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East authority to commence five-day strikes at the facility, along with members at five other facilities: Elderwood at Williamsville, Fiddler’s Green Manor, Humboldt House and Gowanda Nursing & Rehabilitation.
In the wake of the union succeeding in ratifying contracts in other Western New York health facilities last week, Grace Bogdanove, 1199SEIU vice president for WNY Home Division was only able to say that, “We will continue to bargain in good faith to reach an agreement that meets the area standards set at other facilities in WNY.”
Successful negotiations at McGuire Group-owned nursing homes in the area resulted in three-year contracts running through April 30, 2025 which include a 10-step wage scale for all jobs, a better pay rate for new workers and raises for caregivers who are long term.
The agreement also placed Juneteenth as a paid holiday.
The contract extended to licensed practical nurses, certified nurse assistants, personal care attendants, housekeeping, dietary aids, cooks, laundry aids and maintenance workers, and left dietary aid Joseph Grotky of Seneca Health Care to say in a union press release that, “This is the best contract I’ve ever seen.”
Elderwood representative Chuck Hayes responded in a statement to questions from the US&J saying that, “To date, we have not received notice of 1199SEIU’s intention to strike and that scenario has not surfaced in recent negotiations.”
The company said it has been working with the union toward a “new labor agreement."
“Our efforts at the bargaining table have been made in good faith and we have engaged in meaningful dialog about the concerns SEIU has put forth to date,” the statement reads. “Steady progress toward a new agreement has been made and we will continue our efforts until an agreement is reached.” | https://www.lockportjournal.com/news/local_news/healthcare-union-gets-votes-for-five-day-strikes/article_c70899da-297b-11ed-8881-a7948c6f2bfa.html | 2022-09-01T02:09:58Z | lockportjournal.com | control | https://www.lockportjournal.com/news/local_news/healthcare-union-gets-votes-for-five-day-strikes/article_c70899da-297b-11ed-8881-a7948c6f2bfa.html | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
In the continuum of raising awareness of women in service and their corresponding contributions, Sailors at Navy Medicine Readiness and Training Command (NMRTC) San Diego observed Women’s Equality Day, Aug. 31.
The observance recognizing Women's Equality Day was established by Joint Resolution of Congress in 1971. Women's Equality Day commemorates the 1920 passage of the 19th Amendment to the Constitution, which gave women the right to vote. The observance has grown to include focusing attention on women's continued efforts toward gaining full equality.
“It is important for all of us — men and women alike — to celebrate how far our nation has come in terms of honoring and respecting women in roles that were inconceivable just a few decades ago,” said Lt. Cmdr. Leticia Banker, Marine Corps Air Station Miramar Branch Clinic department head and guest speaker.
“Within the Department of Defense alone, we have ample examples of women fulfilling and often exceeding their duties in impactful roles. If we narrow it down to NMRTC, our very own commander — Captain Kim Davis — is a women,” expressed Banker. “From the top down, down up and side to side, we have women at NMRTC doing the work that they signed up for, and serving as an inspiration to so many.”
“This year’s theme is: The future is all of us, equality is a human right,” said Capt. Kim Davis NMRTC San Diego commander. “Women’s Equality Day commemorates the struggles of women to be heard as fierce advocates who gained the statutory right to vote. We need to harness the entirety of our diversity as a military. What you see here is a reflection of mutual respect.”
According to a memorandum from the Under Secretary of Defense, date Aug. 17, “Women occupy 25 percent of the Military Department senior leadership positions, and 14 percent of positions in the Combatant Commands and Joint Staff leadership” It goes on to say, “We must continue to increase this integration, as it is through diverse perspectives, experiences, and skillsets that we will keep our Nation secure.”
In order to keep the Nation secure, NMRTC San Diego Sailors remain committed to helping ensure warfighter readiness by capitalizing on the diverse and highly committed talent group that makes up some of the finest military health care professionals.
NMRTC San Diego's mission is to prepare service members to deploy in support of operational forces, deliver high quality healthcare services and shape the future of military medicine through education, training and research. NMRTC employs more than 6,000 active duty military personnel, civilians and contractors in Southern California to provide patients with world-class care anytime, anywhere.
This work, Women’s Equality Day Observed at NMRTC San Diego, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright. | https://www.dvidshub.net/news/428457/womens-equality-day-observed-nmrtc-san-diego | 2022-09-01T02:14:13Z | dvidshub.net | control | https://www.dvidshub.net/news/428457/womens-equality-day-observed-nmrtc-san-diego | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Apple Pay Later raises concerns over lack of BNPL regulations, CFPB says
Apple's plan to expand its fintech footprint into buy now, pay later (BNPL) with its Apple Pay Later product has the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) concerned over what impact big tech’s entrance will have on the space.
Regulators’ top concern is how Apple, and other big fintech companies that are looking to offer BNPL services, would use customer data, CFPB Director Rohit Chopra said in an interview with the Financial Times. The bureau is also looking at how Apple's BNPL play could reduce competition and innovation in the BNPL industry. He added that as large players like Apple entered the space, the U.S. tradition of instilling a barrier between banking and commerce was "becoming murkier and murkier."
Those concerns are also the crux of a report the bureau recently published.
"Big Tech's ambitions when it comes to buy now, pay later are inextricably linked to the desire to dominate the digital wallet," Chopra said in the interview. "Any tech giant that has a lot of control over a mobile operating system is going to have unique advantages to exploit data and ecommerce more broadly."
Apple announced its new service, Apple Pay Later, at its 2022 Worldwide Developers Conference. The service allows users to split the cost of their purchases into four interest-free installments anywhere Apply Pay is accepted. The new buy now, pay later (BNPL) option will be available in the wallet app when Apple releases iOS 16 in September. The company said the offering would require a "soft" credit check and a review of the user's transaction history with Apple.
Are you looking to fund a large purchase but don't want to use BNPL? A personal loan could be a good alternative. You can visit Credible to compare personal loan rates and lenders and find the option that works for you.
BNPL INCLUSION IN CREDIT REPORTS CAUSES GROWING CONSUMER CONCERNS, SURVEY CLAIMS
Calls for BNPL regulation intensify
BNPL providers partner with retailers to allow shoppers the ability to split the cost of their online purchases into multiple installments at checkout. Part of the appeal is that the installment payments, which typically begin within a few weeks of the purchase, are interest free. However, missed payments can result in late fees and other penalties.
There's currently no existing federal-level regulatory framework specifically designed for the BNPL sector, which reached $120 billion globally in 2021, according to a report from GlobalData.
As interest in the financial product heats up, so have calls for more regulations. Last December, Chopra requested information on the industry practices and risks from Affirm, Afterpay, Klarna, PayPal and Zip, all of which are BNPL firms.
And in March, several state attorneys general sent a joint letter to Chopra, urging the CFPB to take a closer look at BNPL policies and practices.
"Innovative financial products promise to democratize the financial industry, but their shiny new packaging may conceal many of the same hallmarks of the predatory loans that have long driven consumers into a never-ending cycle of debt," California Attorney General Rob Bonta said. "The fact is: The Buy-Now-Pay-Later industry is largely unregulated, and we need the CFPB to take a close look at these financial products and take steps to stop vulnerable consumers from being taken advantage of."
If you need help paying for a large purchase and don't want to use BNPL, you could consider taking out a personal loan. Visit Credible to find your personalized interest rate without affecting your credit score.
APPLE’S CONSUMER DATA PROVIDES 'COMPETITIVE EDGE' FOR BNPL, EXPERT SAYS
BNPL space hit by layoffs
Along with facing a potentially tougher regulatory environment, BNPL providers haven’t been immune to the recent economic challenges. In May, Klarna said it laid off 10% of its global workforce and, a few months later in July, its co-founder and CEO tweeted that the company had raised funding at a significantly lower valuation. Affirm, which went public last year, also saw its shares drop 75% year over year in June, according to Business Insider.
However, it seems that investors' sentiment over the BNPL space hasn’t dampened how consumers are using the product. A Morning Consult report from July said that the number of U.S. adults who used BNPL at least once in a month had not dropped below 16% in 2022. And since June 2021, the number of consumers who considered purchasing with Affirm and Afterpay rose 4 percentage points each, while Klarna has held steady at 11%. PayPal’s BNPL product has also maintained purchase consideration among approximately 18% of adults since its release in November 2021, the report said.
"Industry leaders should expect BNPL purchases to remain steady even as consumers' purchasing power and outlook on the economy deteriorate," Charlotte Principato, financial services analyst for Morning Consult, said in the report. "In addition to the current macroeconomic headwinds, there are significant tailwinds that will buoy the payment method through the summer and beyond, to a place of permanence in consumers' wallets."
If you have taken on too much BNPL debt, you could consider using a debt consolidation loan to help you pay it off. You can visit Credible to compare multiple personal loan lenders at once and choose the one with the best interest rate for you.
Have a finance-related question, but don't know who to ask? Email The Credible Money Expert at moneyexpert@credible.com and your question might be answered by Credible in our Money Expert column. | https://www.fox32chicago.com/money/apple-buy-now-pay-later-regulatory-concerns-cfpb | 2022-09-01T02:14:48Z | fox32chicago.com | control | https://www.fox32chicago.com/money/apple-buy-now-pay-later-regulatory-concerns-cfpb | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Bed Bath & Beyond to close stores, lay off workers in attempt to reverse losses
Bed Bath & Beyond said Wednesday that it will shutter stores and lay off workers in a bid to turn around its beleaguered business.
The home goods retailer based in Union, New Jersey, said it will close about 150 of its namesakes stores and slash its workforce by 20%. It estimated those cuts would save $250 million in the company's current fiscal year. It also said it is considering selling more of its stock to shore up its finances and had lined up more than $500 million of new financing.
But it will keep its buybuy Baby chain, which earlier this year it considered selling.
Bed Bath & Beyond's stock fell more than 21% Wednesday and is down 65% in the last 12 months.
Mired in a prolonged sales slump, the company also announced it will revert to its original strategy of focusing on national brands, instead of pushing its own store labels. That reverses a strategy embraced by its former CEO Mark Tritton, who was ousted in June after less than three years at the helm. It said it would get rid of one-third of its store brands, which had started to be rolled out in the last year or so.
"There’s still an incredible degree of love for Bed Bath & Beyond," Mara Sirhal, the newly named brand president of Bed Bath & Beyond, told industry analysts Wednesday. "We must get back to our rightful place as the home-category destination, and our goal is to achieve this by leading with the products and brands our customers want."
As of May, the retailer operated a total of 955 stores, including 769 Bed Bath & Beyond stores, 135 buybuy Baby stores and 51 stores under the names Harmon, Harmon Face Values or Face Values. As of February, it had roughly 32,000 employees.
Time is of the essence for the company heading into the critical holiday shopping season. It said it expects a 26% decline in comparable sales for its fiscal second quarter, which ended Saturday. It burned through $325 million of cash in the quarter.
Sirhal said the retailer wants to get back to being a place where shoppers find innovative items. For example, Bed Bath & Beyond was the first to bring items like the air fryer and the single-serve coffee maker to its customers, she said.
Neil Sanders, managing director at GlobalData Retail, said he applauds the strategic shift. But he said that task is "easier said than done" and will require much closer relationships with suppliers to secure unique offerings.
"If Bed Bath & Beyond simply stocks the same sort of things as can be found at Target, Walmart, or Amazon, then it will struggle to differentiate and will find margins compressed as it needs to match on price, " he said.
Bed Bath & Beyond has been facing lots of turbulence recently. Its shares made a monstrous run from $5.77 to $23.08 in a little more than two weeks in August, in trading reminiscent of last year’s meme-stock craze, when out-of-favor companies suddenly became darlings of smaller-pocketed investors.
But the shares fell back to earth after a deep-pocketed investor, activist Ryan Cohen, the billionaire co-founder of online pet-products retailer Chewy Inc., sold his entire stake i n the company. In March, Cohen had purchased a nearly 10% stake i n Bed Bath & Beyond, giving investors hope he could turn around the company’s finances.
The stock ended Wednesday down $2.58 at $9.53.
The company said that it is still searching for a permanent CEO. Board member Sue Gove took over as interim CEO, replacing Tritton. Chief Operating Office John Hartmann is leaving the company, and it's eliminating that position. | https://www.fox32chicago.com/news/bed-bath-beyond-to-close-stores-lay-off-workers-in-attempt-to-reverse-losses | 2022-09-01T02:15:00Z | fox32chicago.com | control | https://www.fox32chicago.com/news/bed-bath-beyond-to-close-stores-lay-off-workers-in-attempt-to-reverse-losses | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Chicago police work to fill 975 patrol officer vacancies, 105 detective openings: top mayoral aide
CHICAGO - The Chicago Police Department has 975 vacancies for patrol officers and 105 empty detective positions, a top mayoral aide disclosed Wednesday, assuring City Council members that CPD is revving up the police academy to keep pace with retirements.
Earlier this month, the Office of Budget and Management reported 1,408 sworn vacancies after a staggering 814 retirements already this year. That’s compared to 973 all of last year, and 625 in 2020.
On Wednesday, Budget Director Susie Park refined those numbers after delivering a quarterly report on city spending to the Committee on Budget and Government Operations.
Under questioning by Ald. Harry Osterman (48th), Park disclosed there are 975 vacant patrol officer positions "as of today" — and that’s only after "we just had a class of 103 start" their six months of training at the police academy.
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Osterman then asked how many detective positions were vacant, and was told it was 105. That’s 10.4% of an overall 1,016-detective contingent, that, critics claim, is one-sixth the detective force New York City has.
Park then was asked to follow up by providing alderpersons with a written breakdown of all sworn police vacancies by job title, along with the number of recruits in the police academy "so we can look at what the expectation of filling those vacancies is over the next six months," Osterman said.
That includes the training division, which is charged not only with overseeing recruit classes, but also with training veteran officers to comply with the mandates of a federal consent decree.
"We have had 589 [patrol officers] start this year. … I think CPD has held a class every month. So we are working our way up. … If they continue through that, we’re gonna be over 800 new [officers] going through the academy. Then, hopefully, we’ll start seeing that coming out into" neighborhood police districts, the budget director said.
Osterman was unconvinced. He essentially argued CPD is drinking from a firehose, with depressed turnout for police exams that once drew thousands and demoralized officers leaving faster than the city can hire and train replacements.
"As we add folks, we’re losing folks as well. That number is significant," Osterman said.
"If you could give us what the forecast is for the other vacancies, we could also assume what, with promotions, that number is and how long it’s gonna [take] to get to where we need to go."
Ald. Matt O’Shea (19th), whose Far Southwest Side ward is home to scores of Chicago Police officers, was equally skeptical about the hiring pace.
"We’re now looking at nearly 1,800 less police officers than three years ago today, as our class sizes — the last two being 50 and 16 graduating from the academy. Folks, we’re not getting more cops. We’re losing more cops each and every day. We’ve got to lean more on technology. We’ve got to think outside the box," O’Shea said.
"Every major municipality in this country has purchased helicopters. More than a hundred of the top eight major cities. We’re still flying up there with helicopters from when many of us were still in high school. … Are we any closer based on being told by the mayor that we were getting a helicopter. Are we close on that?"
O’Shea was told the Office of Public Safety Administration had worked feverishly to "shift expenditures away from" state and federal grants, thereby freeing up grant money for the long-awaited purchase of new police helicopters.
Park replied the city is "at the purchasing point," and though they must allow time for the craft to be built, "we are moving full-steam-ahead on the purchase of two helicopters."
As the hearing dragged on, retiring Ald. Leslie Hairston (5th) demanded to know why alderpersons are being forced to use their treasured menu money on surveillance cameras when CPD’s $1.9 billion budget is "one of the largest" in city government.
"Menu money" is equal amount of discretionary funds, allocated to each alderperson to spend in their ward as they wish.
"You all are squirreling stuff away and telling everybody to come to our menu money. That is wrong. You’ve got over a billion dollars that you need to be spending on equipment to make sure that our communities are safe. And to the extent that you all want to shirk your responsibility and have the police come to the aldermen to ask them to use their little measly $1 million to do that is reprehensible," the always outspoken Hairston said.
"I need a camera and I need one before somebody else gets killed. And that needs to happen today." | https://www.fox32chicago.com/news/chicago-police-work-to-fill-975-patrol-officer-vacancies-105-detective-openings-top-mayoral-aide | 2022-09-01T02:15:06Z | fox32chicago.com | control | https://www.fox32chicago.com/news/chicago-police-work-to-fill-975-patrol-officer-vacancies-105-detective-openings-top-mayoral-aide | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Cook County officers find loaded gun, knives in Texas man's truck after road rage incident: officials
BARRINGTON TOWNSHIP - A Texas man was arrested in suburban Chicago Tuesday for allegedly punching another man during a road rage incident.
Around 3:50 p.m., a Cook County officer says he witnessed Farid Sagidov assault a motorcyclist in the 1200 block of South Northwest Highway in Barrington Township.
The officer stopped his squad car and immediately took the 40-year-old into custody.
An investigation revealed that Sagidov was involved in a road rage incident with the 49-year-old victim when he wouldn't let the motorcyclist merge in front of his pickup truck.
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After placing Sagidov under arrest, law enforcement searched his truck and allegedly found a firearm with a loaded magazine, two additional loaded magazines, and two knives.
Farid Sagidov | Cook County Sheriff's Office
Sheriff's police say Sagidov does not have a FOID card or concealed carry license.
He was charged with unlawful use of a weapon and battery. His bond was set at $5,000. | https://www.fox32chicago.com/news/cook-county-officers-find-loaded-gun-knives-in-texas-mans-truck-after-road-rage-incident-officials | 2022-09-01T02:15:12Z | fox32chicago.com | control | https://www.fox32chicago.com/news/cook-county-officers-find-loaded-gun-knives-in-texas-mans-truck-after-road-rage-incident-officials | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
MINNEAPOLIS (NewsNation) — A nearly 30-year-old cold case has finally been solved thanks in part to a tiny smudge of DNA found on a napkin.
Jerry Westrom, 56, was found guilty Thursday of first-degree premeditated murder and second-degree intentional murder for the killing of 35-year-old Jeanne “Jeanie” Childs.
“My condolences go out to the victim and her family. They have had to live without justice for her brutal murder for nearly three decades. I hope this brings some closure to them,” Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman said in a press release.
Childs, who was a known sex worker, was found stabbed to death in her Minneapolis apartment back in June 1993. The crime scene was covered in DNA evidence, but technology could not trace it back to anyone at the time.
For 27 years, the case stayed stagnant, with no luck in proving Childs’ killer.
Then in 2018, investigators checked to see if DNA found at the scene matched any on a “commercial genealogy site,” similar to methods used in the Golden State killer case.
Westrom came back as a match.
A self-claimed Minneapolis farmer, officials said Westrom had several run-ins with the law, including instances involving prostitutes, around the time of Childs’ murder.
Investigators began tailing Westrom in 2019. While he was attending a hockey game with his daughter, he threw out napkins he used to clean his face after eating a hot dog.
Investigators dug the napkins out of the trash and were able to match DNA samples to the ones from the murder scene decades earlier.
Once the connection was made, Westrom was arrested and charged with second-degree murder, which holds a maximum sentence of 40 years if found guilty.
Westrom was later indicted in June 2020 for first-degree murder, which, if found guilty of, carries a mandatory life sentence under Minnesota law.
After just two hours of jury deliberation on Thursday, Westrom was found guilty and convicted of both charges in the killing of Childs.
Westrom now faces an automatic life sentence, without the possibility of parole. However, an official sentencing date has not been released. | https://www.wwlp.com/news/national/hot-dog-napkin-leads-to-guilty-verdict-in-29-year-old-cold-case-murder/ | 2022-09-01T02:15:15Z | wwlp.com | control | https://www.wwlp.com/news/national/hot-dog-napkin-leads-to-guilty-verdict-in-29-year-old-cold-case-murder/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
'I've won the lottery': Sisters born to same mother meet for first time in their 50s
Two sisters who did not know the other existed finally found each other after more than 50 years.
Diane Ward, 59, and Mary McLaughlin, 56, were both born in Michigan to the same mother.
They were raised by different families, however — and finally met face-to-face for the first time in June 2022.
TWIN SISTERS HELP SAVE WOMAN WITH MEDICAL EMERGENCY ON FLIGHT FROM BOSTON TO FORT MYERS, FLORIDA
"I’ve won the lottery," Ward told Fox News Digital about meeting her sister. "I couldn’t ask for more."
Ward, who currently lives in England with her husband, was adopted soon after she was born.
McLaughlin, meanwhile, who lives in Paragould, Arkansas, was raised by their mother for a few weeks before her mother's neighbors took guardianship of her, the sisters told Fox News Digital.
Ward knew she was adopted but did not know anything about their biological mother when she was growing up in Pittsburgh.
Mary McLaughlin, 56 (left) and Diane Ward, 59 (right), are half-sisters, who met for the first time in-person earlier this year. (MyHeritage)
However, McLaughlin, who grew up in Michigan, was able to maintain a connection with their mother.
Neither of them knew they had a sister until about four years ago, the women said.
Ward said that in 2018, she decided she wanted to find her biological mother.
For Christmas that year, she got a DNA kit from MyHeritage, a company that helps people research their family history through DNA tests and historical records.
"I was focused on parents," Ward said of her attempt to track down her mother and father. "For some reason, it just never occurred to me that I might have a sibling."
Ward did the test and got her results back within a couple of weeks.
NEW YORK MAN BICYCLING TO ALL 50 STATES MEETS LONG-LOST HALF-SISTER IN LOUISIANA
In those results, Ward saw that she had a second or third cousin — whom she reached out to for more information.
After confirming that McLaughlin was comfortable being connected to Ward, the cousin then introduced the half-sisters to each other online.
Soon after Diane Ward was born in Michigan, she was adopted by a local family. The family moved to Pittsburgh, where Ward was raised. (Courtesy Diane Ward)
They said that soon after that, they were meeting on a video chat for the first time.
"Just talking about it, I still get so excited," Ward said of the sisters' call.
"It was fantastic."
McLaughlin told Fox News Digital that her husband was in the room and was watching her face and her body language to make sure everything was going OK.
"He went, ‘Oh my God, that’s your sister,'" McLaughlin recalled.
Mary McLaughlin was raised by her mother for about five months before neighbors became McLaughlin's guardians. She grew up in Michigan — and continued to have a relationship with her birth mother. (Courtesy Mary McLaughlin)
The sisters talked for three hours, Ward said.
After that call, they continued to video chat and message on WhatsApp daily.
Over time, they discovered their numerous similarities, including "weird pinkies," "webbed toes" and a snarky sense of humor.
TWIN HELPS SISTER START A FAMILY AFTER SAVING HER LIFE: ‘NOTHING I WOULDN’T DO FOR HER’
Ward was also able to learn more about her personal and family history.
She was put up for adoption after birth because her mother was still a teenager when Ward was born.
Meanwhile, their mother cared for McLaughlin for a few weeks before she asked the neighbors to babysit — and never returned, McLaughlin told Fox News Digital.
Social services asked the neighbors to take guardianship of McLaughlin, and they agreed to do so, which is how she was raised by her adopted family.
McLaughlin's mother did eventually return, but the neighbors continued to raise their new little girl.
Their mother died after fighting breast cancer, according to McLaughlin, who said she was unsure of the year their mother died.
Ward said she still does not know who her birth father is — though she is looking for him.
When they were growing up, Diane Ward (pictured) and Mary McLaughlin ended up visiting each other's hometowns. Ward's adoptive mother had family in Michigan, while McLaughlin's adoptive family had relatives in Pittsburgh. (Courtesy Diane Ward)
Ward and McLaughlin said that since they met virtually, they learned that they spent their childhood summers in the same areas.
Though Ward’s adoptive family moved to Pittsburgh, her adoptive mother’s family stayed in Michigan. So Ward and her family would return to the town where she was born to see relatives.
"There were occasions when we were literally, probably, houses away from each other," McLaughlin said. "I would be visiting friends, and she would be visiting family."
"That random piece of it was really mind-boggling," she added.
Mary McLaughlin told Fox News Digital that when she found out she had a sister, she wished she'd been able to grow up with her. "Initially, I really, really was ticked off," she said. (Courtesy Mary McLaughlin)
Similarly, McLaughlin spent some summers visiting Pittsburgh since her adoptive mother had family there.
Even today, McLaughlin lives close to where some of Ward’s adoptive family lives.
"It is so crazy," McLaughlin said.
Ward added, "We’re meant to be in close circles to each other at all times."
Due to the coronavirus pandemic, Ward and McLaughlin were not able to meet face-to-face until June of this year. That is when McLaughlin invited Ward and her husband to join her extended family for a vacation at the beach.
"It’s like the whole family are all wise-cracking and funny smart-alecks," Ward said. "It was just everybody bouncing off each other and just having such a good time."
Though Diane Ward, left, and Mary McLaughlin, right, met virtually in about 2018, they were not able to meet in person until 2022. The sisters are pictured hugging at the airport during their first face-to-face meeting. (MyHeritage)
As Ward was saying her goodbyes, McLaughlin’s daughter, Liza, gave her a hug, then turned to Ward and McLaughlin to make a joke.
Ward recalled, "She looked at both of us, and she goes, ‘Oh great. Now there’s two of you, one on each continent.'"
Mary McLaughlin, left, invited Diane Ward, right, to her family's reunion at the Outer Banks in North Carolina in June 2022. Ward and her husband agreed to travel from their home in the U.K. for the celebration. (MyHeritage)
"And I said, ‘Well, you’d better be careful because we might do another DNA test and find another one,'" Ward added, laughing.
When Ward and McLaughlin first met, McLaughin said she was angry that she did not get to grow up with her sister or have someone to talk to through all the difficulties of life.
"Initially, I really, really was ticked off," McLaughlin said.
Diane Ward, left, told Fox News Digital that finding Mary McLaughlin, right, was a "godsend." (MyHeritage)
Over time, McLaughlin has come to realize that it was perfect timing when she met Ward.
Ward said she had a similar experience. Meeting McLaughlin has "answered a lot of questions that I’ve grown up my whole life wondering," Ward said.
"I don't think I would have appreciated them when I was younger," Ward added.
"I think it would have passed me by and I wouldn't have appreciated Mary the way I do now."
Even though she started her journey with MyHeritage in search of a mother, Ward is so happy to have found a sister — and a friend.
Mary McLaughlin, 56 (left) and Diane Ward, 59 (right), are half-sisters, who met for the first time in-person earlier this year. (MyHeritage)
"Mary and I get on so well, and we think alike, and we have very similar personalities," Ward said.
"And I enjoy spending time with her … In fact, I wish I lived closer."
"To have a sibling instead of a parent … it was a godsend," Ward added. "I think it was what was meant to be." | https://www.fox32chicago.com/news/sisters-born-same-mother-meet-first-time-their-50s-won-lottery | 2022-09-01T02:15:24Z | fox32chicago.com | control | https://www.fox32chicago.com/news/sisters-born-same-mother-meet-first-time-their-50s-won-lottery | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Texas sends buses of migrants to Chicago for first time, dropped off at Union Station
CHICAGO - Two buses carrying migrants from Texas arrived in Chicago on Wednesday night.
The buses arrived at Chicago's Union Station at around 7:30 p.m., carrying migrants who crossed the southern border illegally.
Chicago is the latest city where migrants have been bused to from Texas, following New York City and Washington, D.C., all of which have Democrat mayors.
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Republican Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said in a statement that he looks forward to seeing Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot welcome the migrants since Chicago is a sanctuary city.
"President Biden's inaction at our southern border continues putting the lives of Texans—and Americans—at risk and is overwhelming our communities," Abbott said. "To continue providing much-needed relief to our small, overrun border towns, Chicago will join fellow sanctuary cities Washington, D.C. and New York City as an additional drop-off location. Mayor Lightfoot loves to tout the responsibility of her city to welcome all regardless of legal status, and I look forward to seeing this responsibility in action as these migrants receive resources from a sanctuary city with the capacity to serve them."
A statement from Abbott's office said that Chicago is being added as a "drop-off location" for future migrant buses in response to "President Biden's open border policies overwhelming border communities in Texas."
Mayor Lightfoot's office released the following statement:
"Today, the City of Chicago received confirmation that approximately 60 migrants were traveling to Chicago by way of Texas. Chicago is a welcoming city and as such has collaborated across various departments and agencies to ensure we greeted them with dignity and respect. We understand that many are fleeing violent, traumatic, or otherwise unstable environments. We will respond with essential services while these individuals navigate the next steps of their journey and our community partners have been working diligently to provide a safety net.
"As a city, we are doing everything we can to ensure these immigrants and their families can receive shelter, food, and most importantly protection. This is not new; Chicago welcomes hundreds of migrants every year to our city and provides much-needed assistance. Unfortunately, Texas Governor Greg Abbott is without any shame or humanity. But ever since he put these racist practices of expulsion in place, we have been working with our community partners to ready the city to receive these individuals.
We know that racism, discrimination, and human cruelty have played a pivotal role in how immigrants are received within our borders, and we are still working to recover from the previous presidential administration, which encouraged this behavior. This is such an important moment for Chicago as a city has been a sanctuary for thousands of newcomers. We are welcoming them and we will not turn our backs on those who need our help the most."
Two buses carrying migrants from Texas arrived in Chicago on Wednesday night. (Fox News)
New York City Democrat Mayor Eric Adams, upon meeting the migrants on Aug. 7, said that the actions of Abbott are "horrific."
"This is horrific when you think about what the governor is doing," Adams said.
After sending the migrants to New York, Abbott said that the area is an "ideal destination for these migrants."
"In addition to Washington, D.C., New York City is the ideal destination for these migrants, who can receive the abundance of city services and housing that Mayor Eric Adams has boasted about within the sanctuary city," said Abbott. "I hope he follows through on his promise of welcoming all migrants with open arms so that our overrun and overwhelmed border towns can find relief."
Abbott began sending migrants to Democrat-run cities in April, with the first migrant-buses being sent to Washington, D.C.
Two buses carrying migrants from Texas arrived in Chicago on Wednesday night. (Fox News)
When the first buses arrived in Washington D.C., a spokesperson for Mayor Mayor Muriel Bowser told ABC News that "Our Administration continues to work with NGOs [Non-Government Organizations] who are providing resources to the arriving individuals and families. Our partners were able to triage the first bus, which included individuals hoping to settle outside of the region."
Bowser requested assistance twice from the National Guard to help with the thousands of migrants that have been arriving in the area. Both requests have been rejected.
Two buses carrying migrants from Texas arrived in Chicago on Wednesday night. (Fox News)
She first asked the National Guard for help on Aug. 4, then again on Aug. 11, requesting the deployment of 150 National Guard troops to "help prevent a prolonged humanitarian crisis in our nation's capital resulting from the daily arrival of migrants." | https://www.fox32chicago.com/news/texas-sends-buses-of-migrants-to-chicago-for-first-time-dropped-off-at-train-station | 2022-09-01T02:15:31Z | fox32chicago.com | control | https://www.fox32chicago.com/news/texas-sends-buses-of-migrants-to-chicago-for-first-time-dropped-off-at-train-station | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Titanic: Newly-released 8K video gives up-close look at ship’s decay
It’s been more than 110 years since the Titanic left the world shocked when the behemoth cruise liner struck an iceberg and sank, killing more than 1,500 passengers and crew members amid the ship’s maiden voyage.
Now, newly-released, 8K, super high-definition video of her remains has surfaced thanks to the crew of the 2022 Titanic expedition.
The unprecedented footage highlights details and colors of the sunken ship which premiered on OceanGate Expeditions’ YouTube channel Tuesday. The images are so sharp that crewmembers said they can closely study parts that made up the ship such as the shackles and cranes that held the ship together.
For instance, crews spotted the manufacturer "Noah Hingley & Sons Ltd.," on the portside anchor— a detail never seen before in previous expeditions.
RELATED: How the Titanic was taken down by a mirage
"I can't recall seeing any other image showing this level of detail," Rory Golden, OceanGate Expeditions Titanic expert and veteran Titanic diver, said in a press release.
Researchers also got an up-close look at Titanic’s renowned bow, hull number one, an enormous anchor chain (each link weighs approximately 200 pounds or nearly 91 kilograms), the number one cargo hold, and solid bronze capstans. They can also see dramatic evidence of decay where some of the ship’s rails collapsed and fell away from the ship as it hurled down to the ocean’s bottom.
"One of the most amazing clips shows one of the single-ended boilers that fell to the ocean’s floor when the Titanic broke into two. Notably, it was one of the single-ended boilers that were first spotted when the wreck of the Titanic was identified back in 1985," Golden added.
What is 8K video?
According to PC Magazine, 8K is the next big jump in the television world. It’s a higher resolution than 4K with a resolution of 7,680 by 4,320 pixels. Some describe it as watching a video game.
"The amazing detail in the 8K footage will help our team of scientists and maritime archaeologists characterize the decay of the Titanic more precisely," said Stockton Rush, president of OceanGate Expeditions.
RELATED: Man dies after jumping into water near DC’s Titanic Memorial
Researchers said they will be able to further determine the rate of decay of Titanic with footage from future expeditions that can be compared year after year. They could also identify species that are on and around the ship’s remains.
OceanGate Expeditions plans to launch another expedition in May 2023. Those looking to join are encouraged to reach out to the company.
This story was reported from Los Angeles. | https://www.fox32chicago.com/news/titanic-newly-released-8k-video-gives-up-close-look-at-ships-decay | 2022-09-01T02:15:37Z | fox32chicago.com | control | https://www.fox32chicago.com/news/titanic-newly-released-8k-video-gives-up-close-look-at-ships-decay | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Wydaho cultivates an inclusive festival scene
This Labor Day weekend mountain bikers will once again descend on Grand Targhee to ride trails, practice skills, test next year’s equipment, and celebrate being part of a regional community at the Wydaho Rendezvous Teton Bike Festival.
While mountain bike festivals are common across the west, Teton Adaptive Sports director of mission Joe Stone says that Wydaho may be one of the largest gatherings of adaptive mountain bikers.
Stone, a quadriplegic cyclist, paraglider, and paddler, was first invited to Grand Targhee back in 2013 to test out some of the trails for adaptive accessibility. At the time, the resort had a couple flow downhill trails and some cross country trails that worked for someone riding a wider handcycle or adaptive bike. In 2014, Stone started inviting other adaptive athletes to the Wydaho Rendezvous, put on by Teton Valley Trails & Pathways.
In the few years before Covid put its mark on events, the size of the adaptive crowd had grown to be unmatched. Even better, Stone said, the festival doesn’t cordon off people who are disabled.
“It’s about having a really good time among our peers without disabilities,” he said. “It gives us the opportunity to make the full circle of what inclusivity can look like—it’s just a bunch of people who love riding bikes.”
Tony Ferlisi, TVTAP’s 2022 festival organizer, agreed. “That’s the coolest thing for me, that it creates a truly inclusive mountain bike festival. The group rides are open to everyone, the clinics are open to everyone—there are some segmented pieces because there’s nuance to adaptive technique, but for the most part, everyone’s a part of this big mountain bike community, riding together, having a beer, just hanging out.”
With the addition in 2017 of lift-accessed riding on Shoshone, the world opened up, Stone said. Only experienced adaptive riders could take on the upper mountain accessed from Dreamcatcher, but on Shoshone, people who were unfamiliar with adaptive equipment or new to their disability could still ride an inviting and fun network of trails.
It’s not just the trails that make the event.
“With such a central location, you can pull up, camp, access bathrooms and showers, you don’t have to shuttle a car or gear,” Stone said. “All that you have to do is break off into group rides that fit your ability level, expert downhill or cross country, or intermediate, or total newbies who need one-on-one coaching.”
He added that the resort crew, especially lift operators, go the extra mile to help people, and TVTAP includes disabled people in the planning conversations to make sure nothing crucial gets missed.
For some, even the concept of camping is new. Stone recalled one woman who decided to come to Wydaho around five years ago from LA. She had to go to a big box store to buy all new camping gear. Sleeping in the meadow at Grand Targhee and riding bikes with likeminded people was such a transformative experience for her that she now lives full time in her truck camper and travels the country riding.
“It was really the spark that led her to improve her quality of life,” Stone said. “There’s such a community aspect—we provide meals, we hang out, get to know each other. Newbies can gain so much by surrounding themselves with people who are experienced, and then they can take that knowledge and run with it.”
At Wydaho, riders get to talk to vendors and try out next year’s models. That aspect of the festival is even more important to adaptive riders, who want to test equipment that is very specific and often prohibitively expensive.
Bike-On, a large online distributor of handcycles, recumbent and adaptive bikes, and wheelchairs, will be a new presence in the vendor fair, and organizations from across the region are partnering with Teton Adaptive Sports and bringing their own fleets of adaptive equipment. TAS also offers Wydaho festival pass scholarships for people who want to attend but can’t cover the cost.
“The expense is the biggest barrier for people,” Stone said about adaptive equipment. “The variety that we get at Wydaho opens the doors for people with different disabilities and needs. People come every year, try out that variety, take that knowledge, apply for a grant to get their own—then next year they show up with their own piece of new equipment that other people can check out.”
Stone said that he has watched the scene change in the region in recent years, pointing out that Jackson Hole Mountain Resort built a few new downhill trails in 2021 that aren’t designated as adaptive but are accessible to a wide range of riders.
“Instead of just checking a box with one adaptive trail at the bottom of the hill, we’ve got these trails that are wide enough to accommodate everyone and allow line choice, and they become the most popular trails in the area,” he said.
At Wydaho, Stone encourages anyone and everyone to come ask questions, try equipment, or go on a group ride. He usually spends the entire festival riding, talking, or both.
“It’s always great when other people within the festival come up to talk, whether to learn about what we’re doing or to see if we have something that works for one of their friends or family members who is disabled,” Stone said. “It brings about really good awareness and conversations that challenge the stigma around disability, when you’re talking about an active sport like mountain biking rather than talking about the disability.”
“What Joe has put together is just incredible and the response we get from folks all over the west is amazing,” Ferlisi said. “I’ve learned in planning the festival this year that it’s really been ground-breaking. Other festivals have started incorporating an adaptive component and a lot of that began with Joe’s work.”
Grand Targhee is still open to the public during Wydaho. For more information on the festival visit tetonbikefest.org. | https://www.tetonvalleynews.net/news/community/just-a-bunch-of-mountain-bikers/article_a8a850e8-160e-5288-90c1-0f84107426c5.html | 2022-09-01T02:19:42Z | tetonvalleynews.net | control | https://www.tetonvalleynews.net/news/community/just-a-bunch-of-mountain-bikers/article_a8a850e8-160e-5288-90c1-0f84107426c5.html | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
At the Aug. 24 Teton Board of County Commissioners special meeting, Doug Self was formally designated as the Teton County Joint Housing Authority Interim Executive Director.
The TCJHA approved Self’s contract at its Aug. 17 meeting. The BOCC was originally set to approve the contract at its Aug. 22 regular meeting, but delayed its approval after finding that necessary language clarifications had to be made to the contract.
Those clarifications were the result of unclear language pertaining to county oversight, as well as other discrepancies, in the original contract.
“I don’t think the county should be inserted into the role of supervision or be the recipient of things that should go to the housing authority,” said Commissioner Bob Heneage.
The housing authority has been seeking an executive director since February. The application window is currently listed as “open — until filled” on the JHA’s webpage. The full-time position is funded by the Teton Ridge Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Pittsburgh, PA-based billionaire Thomas Tull. In addition, the JHA has around $30,000 set aside for the position in its budget.
According to the application packet, the salary range for a permanent executive director is $81,785 — $104,146 depending on experience and qualifications. The job includes benefits such as remote work flexibility and retirement contributions.
Self, the City of Driggs community development director, has been serving as the housing authority secretary since its formation in 2019. He also guided the housing authority’s predecessor, the affordable housing technical advisory group, and helped draft the Teton County Affordable Housing Strategic Plan.
Since Self will be under contract with the county, rather than an employee of the county, there are no benefits besides the wage ($45/hour). The funds for Self’s interim services will be provided by the housing authority as reimbursement to the county.
The contract stipulates that Self is limited to 10 hours a week serving as the interim executive director. Self will also retain his full-time duties with the city.
Self had been performing the secretarial duties as a city employee via a donation by the city and a donation by himself when he worked overtime. That donation of time ended when the contract for interim services was signed off on by the county.
“I will still be the Driggs community development director, full-time. I will work up to 10 hours per week for the housing authority, performing administrative duties, and also taking on more project and program duties in order to move strategies and projects forward while the search for a full-time permanent ED continues,” said Self. “I will still work on housing issues for the City, but will no longer be able to volunteer time for work solely supporting the housing authority.”
When anticipating what he can accomplish in the role, Self focused on how he will move current and future projects along while the search for a permanent executive director is ongoing.
“I am looking forward to working with the board to move the Sherman Park and Road & Bridge (175 Front Street) projects forward and helping to launch an ADU incentive program, while also hopefully working with Karl Johnson Foundation to finalize a plan for Gemstone, which may or may not involve the housing authority. The authority will also be completing an employee generation study and updating its strategic plan and annual supply plan, although we would all hope a full-time ED is on board soon to lead those efforts,” said Self.
Only one amendment was made to the contract during the JHA discussion on Aug. 17 for Self’s interim services; the contract originally stated that it would automatically renew on Feb. 28, 2023.
In its motion to approve, the JHA elected to cut out that stipulation and re-evaluate the contract if a suitable executive director has not been found by then.
“I would rather have a discussion prior to that becoming a necessity and talking about whether we have to extend that interim service to be more permanent if you’re willing to be permanent and if we’re unable to successfully hire an executive director,” said board member Troy Butzlaff to Self and the rest of the board.
Board member Hallie Porier seconded Butzlaff’s concern stating “both parties may want changes at that time.”
The approved contact can be found inside the Teton County BOCC August 24th meeting agenda packet, beginning on page 8. | https://www.tetonvalleynews.net/news/housing/doug-self-hired-as-interim-housing-authority-director/article_29bbb4f2-4fb6-59ad-a153-aadc83f0e01a.html | 2022-09-01T02:19:48Z | tetonvalleynews.net | control | https://www.tetonvalleynews.net/news/housing/doug-self-hired-as-interim-housing-authority-director/article_29bbb4f2-4fb6-59ad-a153-aadc83f0e01a.html | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
There were 225 calls for service reported to the Teton County, Idaho Sheriff’s Office between August 19 and August 25. Officers performed 55 traffic stops, 15 security checks of local businesses, and two public assists. There were five controlled burns. There were four accidents and three DUIs. There was one ambulance run to Grand Targhee Resort.
8/19 — A driver was cited for DUI after causing a minor fender-bender in Tetonia. They were cited and released into the custody of their family. It was the second offense for the individual who blew nearly twice the legal limit.
8/20 — A resident of Tetonia reported to TCSO dispatch at just past one in the morning that a strange juvenile had fallen asleep on their porch while a suspicious vehicle was parked in their driveway. Deputies responded and took the juvenile into custody. While on the way to the sheriff’s office, the juvenile vomited in the back of the patrol car. The individual was cited for underage consumption. Before being released to the custody of his parents, the individual cleaned his upchuck from the back of the patrol car.
8/20 — A box truck flipped over on Highway 33 near Hatch’s Corner. The vehicle was uprighted and towed away. The occupant was not injured.
8/20 — A man and a woman were involved in a verbal altercation in Driggs. A deputy arrived at the premises and attempted to make contact. Nobody responded. Since there was no emergency, the deputy left the premises.
8/20 —A customer at Broulim’s was trespassed for verbally harassing other customers.
8/21 — An individual at a gathering was hit with an object in Driggs and wanted to press charges. The perpetrator fled and could not be located by a deputy. TCSO is currently investigating the incident.
8/21 — An adult male was released into the custody of his wife in Victor after being cited for first offense DUI. He blew over twice the legal limit.
8/21 — An individual was cited for their first DUI. The subject blew three times the legal limit, which brings a charge of excessive DUI. The driver was stopped by deputies after swerving while driving and nearly causing a couple of accidents. The driver was taken to the sheriff’s office and bonded out.
8/22 — There was a report of illegal dumping of construction materials in Victor. TCSO is currently investigating the incident.
8/22 — Power tools were stolen from a construction site in Tetonia. There have been “a few” incidents of power tool theft this summer according to TCSO dispatch. An investigation is underway.
8/22 — A driver was cited for an open container in Driggs after driving without their headlights turned on.
8/23 — A motorist was involved in a single-vehicle accident when their automobile flew off the roadway and collided with a power transformer. There was significant damage to the car, but no injuries. In addition to TCSO deputies, Fall River Electric responded.
8/23 — Road rage led to one vehicle forcing another off the roadway on the gravel roads east of Hatch’s Corner near the Wyoming border. The reporting party alleges that a male subject in a maroon pickup truck was driving aggressively and brandishing a firearm. After the victim’s vehicle came to a stop, the subject rammed his pickup against the victim’s vehicle multiple times. Deputies were unable to locate the subject and are currently investigating the incident.
8/25 — A loud boom was heard west of Victor near the base of the Big Hole Mountains around 8:30 in the evening. The boom was a result of a suspected lightning strike which may have ignited a small brush fire on Bagley Farms property. One Teton County fire engine responded and quickly extinguished the fire. | https://www.tetonvalleynews.net/news/sheriffs_log/sheriffs-log---august-31/article_cd32d700-27e9-11ed-bb47-1f5b758d1aa7.html | 2022-09-01T02:19:55Z | tetonvalleynews.net | control | https://www.tetonvalleynews.net/news/sheriffs_log/sheriffs-log---august-31/article_cd32d700-27e9-11ed-bb47-1f5b758d1aa7.html | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Brandon Nimmo submitted his entry for catch of the year on Wednesday.
The Mets center fielder went all the way back to the wall in the bottom of the seventh inning to rob Dodgers slugger Justin Turner of a game-tying home run and keep the score 2-1.
Nimmo reacted with an emphatic fist-pump — and got a standing ovation from the Citi Field crowd and Mets ace Jacob deGrom. | https://nypost.com/2022/08/31/brandon-nimmo-makes-mets-catch-of-the-year/ | 2022-09-01T02:21:44Z | nypost.com | control | https://nypost.com/2022/08/31/brandon-nimmo-makes-mets-catch-of-the-year/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
A man was brutally beaten with a baseball bat on a Brooklyn sidewalk last month in an attack that was caught on camera, cops said.
Video footage released on Wednesday showed the savage ambush at Saint Johns’s Place and Ralph Avenue in Brownsville around 3 p.m. on July 31, according to police.
A young man or teen wearing black track pants, a red sweatshirt and a black durag bashed the victim with an aluminum bat twice before his cohorts pummeled him with haymakers and uppercuts to the face, the footage showed.
The victim suffered a severe laceration and swelling to the right side of his face and was hospitalized in serious condition, police said.
The bat-wielding suspect was still on the loose along with a man who was wearing a blue outfit with “Legendary 24” printed on the back and another perpetrator who donned a beard, black sweatpants, a gray shirt and a black durag. | https://nypost.com/2022/08/31/suspects-punch-beat-man-with-baseball-bat-on-nyc-street/ | 2022-09-01T02:22:45Z | nypost.com | control | https://nypost.com/2022/08/31/suspects-punch-beat-man-with-baseball-bat-on-nyc-street/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Ahead of the union’s election scheduled for later this year, the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Oyo State council on Wednesday adopted and inaugurated a five-man credentials/screening committee saddled with the responsibility of organising a hitch-free election.
The committee members who were unanimously nominated by the congress were subesquently adopted by all members’ present and names forwarded to the National Secretariat for ratification at the August’s end monthly congress of Oyo NUJ council secretariat, Iyaganku GRA, Ibadan, the Oyo State capital on Wednesday.
After the members were nominated, Mr Olamide Adeniji of the Information Chapel moved the motion for their adoption, while Mr Dapo Ibikunle of Inspiration FM Chapel seconded the motion.
The committee will be chaired by Comrade Dupe Fehintola of the BCOS Chapel, Comrade Nurudeen Alimi of the Tribune will serve as secretary, while Comrade Remi Afonja of the NTA Chapel, Comrade Temilola Akarah of the Information Chapel and Comrade Khalid Imran of the Oke-Ogun Information Chapel will serve as members.
While performing the official inauguration of the committee, a Trustee of the national body of the union, Mr Bayo Akamo, called on members of the committee to discharge their duties without bias, adding that their appointment is a true test of their integrity which must not for whatever reason be dented.
Charging the committee members, Chairman, Oyo NUJ, Comrade Ademola Babalola, urged them to be dilligent while carrying out the task before them, stating that all eyes are now on them to put together a credible, free and fair election.
Reacting on behalf of other members of the committee, the chairman, Comrade Dupe Fehintola, pledged total commitment to effective delivery of the task before, stating that the confidence repose in the committee will not be taken for granted, while also assuring members of the union of fair and equal treatment of all aspirants.
ALSO READ FROM NIGERIAN TRIBUNE | https://tribuneonlineng.com/oyo-nuj-inaugurates-screening-committee-for-2022-election/ | 2022-09-01T02:24:18Z | tribuneonlineng.com | control | https://tribuneonlineng.com/oyo-nuj-inaugurates-screening-committee-for-2022-election/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Only a few people socialise and make new friends due to their nature and personalities.
Interacting with people around you can be so hard, especially if you are an introvert. Extroverts find it very easy to communicate with people and make new friends.
As an introvert, it is not a crime to be silent. You don’t have to feel bad for being wired that way. Just be assured that you can still make new friends and still maintain your space.
This article will guide you and be of help to you in learning how to socialise and make new friends.
1. Don’t be shy when approaching people first
Being shy is one of the hindrances to socialising. Introverts are usually shy and feel reluctant to approach people most times.
Start up a conversation confidently with people and make them feel comfortable to share their views with you. It is okay to have social anxiety, but the best way to overcome this is to speak to people. The more you communicate with people, the more comfortable you will be.
2. Avoid staying indoors too much
You need to know that new friends won’t come knocking at your door unless you go out to meet them. Attend gatherings that would enable you to socialise with responsible people.
You might feel you can get friends on social media, but you need nearby friends too.
3. Take it a step at a time
Taking huge steps in interacting with people can stress you. Try talking to people around you. You can start by talking to shop attendants or people you meet in a cab. The more you communicate in a simple way, the better you get.
4. Compliment people
Complimenting people is an amazing way to socialise as an introvert. You get noticed through this. Say nice things about the people you meet at work, on a picnic, or at any gathering. This is a good conversation starter. You make the person feel good about themselves. You can go ahead to ask them how they got the nice outfit, shoes, and the other things you see on them.
5. Hangout with your friends and their friends
Go out on dates, to picnics, or get together with your friends. Through this, you get to meet new friends through your friends. Attend responsible parties, weddings, and social gatherings once in a while. You can also render help at any party if you feel bored.
6. Take up responsibilities or jobs that will improve your social skills
Most introverts don’t want a job that forces them to interact with people. They find it hard to meet you with targets that come with their job responsibility.
However, this is the best way to learn fast and helps you connect faster with people. Take jobs that will make you speak in public regularly.
ALSO READ FROM NIGERIAN TRIBUNE | https://tribuneonlineng.com/six-ways-for-an-introvert-to-socialise/ | 2022-09-01T02:24:38Z | tribuneonlineng.com | control | https://tribuneonlineng.com/six-ways-for-an-introvert-to-socialise/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
SPOKANE, Wash. — Despite the growing number of construction workers across the U.S, the Inland Northwest is struggling to keep up with building demands as construction for new housing, hospitals and schools begins to mount.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, construction workers are back to “normal” numbers before the COVID-19 pandemic. The number of construction workers keeps rising, yet companies struggle to keep up with the booming construction projects emerging across the Inland Northwest.
To address this, the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC) Inland Northwest chapter is hosting a fair to introduce their Trade Up 2 Construction initiative.
The fair will showcase data outlining the critical shortage of construction workers. It will also show what businesses are doing to attract new workers to the construction industry. With resources, outreach, and a job fair on the horizon, the AGC plans for Trade Up 2 Construction to be their most comprehensive plan to attract new workers to the construction industry.
“There’s not always one easy entry point to the construction industry,” Inland Northwest AGC Executive Director Cheryl Stewart said in a press release. “This campaign is a bid to streamline that process, share clearly defined pathways with those seeking to kickstart their own construction careers, and take meaningful action to address workforce challenges in our industry and across our region.”
Trade Up 2 Construction will launch on Sept. 5, 2022. For more information, visit the website for more details.
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To report a typo or grammatical error, please email webspokane@krem.com. | https://www.krem.com/article/money/economy/boomtown-inland-northwest/construction-worker-job-fair-inland-northwest-trade-up-2-construction/293-27e66455-03bd-4135-908f-c93b9a315b1e | 2022-09-01T02:28:17Z | krem.com | control | https://www.krem.com/article/money/economy/boomtown-inland-northwest/construction-worker-job-fair-inland-northwest-trade-up-2-construction/293-27e66455-03bd-4135-908f-c93b9a315b1e | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
SPOKANE, Wash. — Sending kids away to college can be hard on parents, and when Tracy Stoddard sent away her daughter to Eastern Washington University (EWU) for her sophomore year, she had no idea it would be the last time she would see her.
"It was really hard when she went away to school. But you know, she was just excited for her future, but it was hard to say goodbye to my best friend," Stoddard said.
While driving back from Cheney to Cashmere, Sierra and her friend were hit head-on by a drunk driver. Sierra’s friend and the other driver survived the accident. However, according to the Washington State Patrol (WSP), Sierra died on impact.
The driver had been going east in the westbound lane for nearly eight miles.
Now, Tracy Stoddard faces living a life without her only child.
"I can't sleep, I can't eat. I've had to go to the hospital because I’ve been having migraines. You know, I'm puking all the time.” Stoddard said. “I don't know what to do without her in my life. She was my only child. So you know, I'll never have grandchildren or anything,"
Sierra was a student worker in EWU’s Africana studies department. Her supervisor said everyone in the department will feel this loss.
"Our program isn't going to be the same. We're going to miss her. We miss her terribly. We lost such an important part and the university lost somebody so amazing," they said. "I have a two-year-old son and I just can't imagine losing a child. Her mom is unfortunate living every parent's worst nightmare, and to lose someone as bright and as wonderful as her. It's just so heartbreaking. So Africana studies honestly send condolences to her family. We wish them the best praying for them."
A GoFundMe for Sierra has raised more than $20,000 dollars in just three days.
According to Stoddard, the money will be used to cover funeral expenses and potentially put towards a scholarship at Sierra's old high school for future students going to EWU.
Tracy hopes this situation serves as a reminder to never drink and drive because you never know how many lives you can affect with one accident.
DOWNLOAD THE KREM SMARTPHONE APP
DOWNLOAD FOR IPHONE HERE | DOWNLOAD FOR ANDROID HERE
HOW TO ADD THE KREM+ APP TO YOUR STREAMING DEVICE
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Fire TV: Search for "KREM" to find the free app to add to your account. Another option for Fire TV is to have the app delivered directly to your Fire TV through Amazon.
To report a typo or grammatical error, please email webspokane@krem.com. | https://www.krem.com/article/news/local/spokane-ewu-sierra-stoddard-drunk-driver/293-8d8cc73c-df15-4989-94a0-2fc9dc5040ad | 2022-09-01T02:28:24Z | krem.com | control | https://www.krem.com/article/news/local/spokane-ewu-sierra-stoddard-drunk-driver/293-8d8cc73c-df15-4989-94a0-2fc9dc5040ad | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
JUNEAU, Alaska — Democrat Mary Peltola won the special election for Alaska’s only U.S. House seat on Wednesday, besting a field that included Republican Sarah Palin, who was seeking a political comeback in the state where she was once governor.
Peltola, who is Yup’ik and turned 49 on Wednesday, will become the first Alaska Native to serve in the House and the first woman to hold the seat. She will serve the remaining months of the late Republican U.S. Rep. Don Young’s term. Young held the seat for 49 years before his death in March.
“I’m honored and humbled by the support I have received from across Alaska,” Peltola said in a statement. “I look forward to continuing Don Young’s legacy of bipartisanship, serving all Alaskans and building support for Alaska’s interests in DC.”
Peltola’s victory, coming in Alaska’s first statewide ranked choice voting election, is a boon for Democrats, particularly coming off better-than-expected performances in special elections around the country this year following the Supreme Court’s overturning of Roe v. Wade. She will be the first Democrat to hold the seat since the late U.S. Rep. Nick Begich, who was seeking reelection in 1972 when his plane disappeared. Begich was later declared dead and Young in 1973 was elected to the seat.
Peltola ran as a coalition builder while her two Republican opponents — Palin and Begich’s grandson, also named Nick Begich — at times went after each other. Palin also railed against the ranked voting system, which was instituted by Alaska voters.
All three are candidates in the November general election, seeking a two-year House term, which would start in January.
The results came 15 days after the Aug. 16 election, in line with the deadline for state elections officials to receive absentee ballots mailed from outside the U.S. Ranked choice tabulations took place Wednesday after no candidate won more than 50% of the first choice votes. Peltola was in the lead heading into the tabulations.
Wednesday’s results were a disappointment for Palin, who was looking to make a political comeback 14 years after she was vaulted onto the national stage when John McCain selected her to be his running mate in the 2008 presidential election. In her run for the House seat, she had widespread name recognition and won the endorsement of former President Donald Trump.
After Peltola's victory was announced, Palin slammed the ranked voting process as “crazy, convoluted, confusing.”
“Though we’re disappointed in this outcome, Alaskans know I’m the last one who’ll ever retreat," Palin said in a statement.
During the campaign, critics questioned Palin's commitment to Alaska, citing her decision to resign as governor in July 2009, partway through her term. Palin went on to become a conservative commentator on TV and appeared in reality television programs, among other pursuits.
Palin has insisted her commitment to Alaska never wavered and said ahead of the special election that she had “signed up for the long haul.”
Peltola, a former state lawmaker who most recently worked for a commission whose goal is to rebuild salmon resources on the Kuskokwim River, cast herself as a “regular” Alaskan. “I’m not a millionaire. I’m not an international celebrity,” she said.
Peltola has said she was hopeful that the new system would allow more moderate candidates to be elected.
e shy away from the really extreme-type candidates and politicians.”
During the campaign, she emphasized her support of abortion rights and said she wanted to elevate issues of ocean productivity and food security. Peltola said she got a boost after the June special primary when she won endorsements from Democrats and independents who had been in the race. She said she believed her positive messaging also resonated with voters.
“It’s been very attractive to a lot of people to have a message of working together and positivity and holding each other up and unity and as Americans none of us are each other’s enemy,” she said. “That is just a message that people really need to hear right now.”
Alaska voters in 2020 approved an elections process that replaced party primaries with open primaries. Under the new system, ranked voting is used in general elections.
Under ranked voting, ballots are counted in rounds. A candidate can win outright with more than 50% of the vote in the first round. If no one hits that threshold, the candidate with the fewest votes is eliminated. Voters who chose that candidate as their top pick have their votes count for their next choice. Rounds continue until two candidates remain, and whoever has the most votes wins.
In Alaska, voters last backed a Democrat for president in 1964. But the state also has a history of rewarding candidates with an independent streak. The state has more registered unaffiliated voters than registered Republicans or Democrats combined. | https://www.krem.com/article/news/nation-world/alaska-house-special-election-results/507-f5528da0-2ef5-4286-b85e-af04f4e821c4 | 2022-09-01T02:28:30Z | krem.com | control | https://www.krem.com/article/news/nation-world/alaska-house-special-election-results/507-f5528da0-2ef5-4286-b85e-af04f4e821c4 | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Goldman Sachs forecasts for US consumer price presures. The Fed will be hoping they are current and that inflation has stopped its climb.
GS:
- We continue to believe that the peak for core PCE inflation is behind us
- We forecast core PCE inflation of 4.2% in December 2022 (vs. 4.5% previously)
- 2.6% in December 2023
- 2.3% in December 2024
Goldman Sachs cite "based on our bottom-up inflation model.”
Perhaps the USD can take a breather? Here's the daily DXy: | https://www.forexlive.com/centralbank/goldman-sachs-reiterate-thier-expectation-that-us-inflation-has-peaked-core-pce-20220901/ | 2022-09-01T02:28:33Z | forexlive.com | control | https://www.forexlive.com/centralbank/goldman-sachs-reiterate-thier-expectation-that-us-inflation-has-peaked-core-pce-20220901/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
What are the lyrics to 'Be still my soul'?
Here are the lyrics to the hymn 'Be still my soul'
Who wrote the hymn 'Be still my soul'?
The hymn 'Be still my soul' started life as the German hymn 'Stille mein Wille, dein Jesus hilft siegen' in the . It was written by Katharina Amalia Dorothea von Schlegel in the 18th century and got translated into English around 100 years later, in 1855, by hymn writer and translator Jane Borthwick.
'Be still my soul' is usually sung to the tune of the 'Finlandia Hymn' (composed by Finnish composer Jean Sibelius), which is often used as Finland's unofficial national anthem.
It is a popular hymn for funerals as it talks about trusting God's guidance.
What are the lyrics to 'Be still my soul'
Be still, my soul: The Lord is on thy side;
With patience bear thy cross of grief or pain.
Leave to thy God to order and provide;
In ev’ry change he faithful will remain.
Be still, my soul: Thy best, thy heav’nly Friend
Thru thorny ways leads to a joyful end.
Be still, my soul: Thy God doth undertake
To guide the future as he has the past.
Thy hope, thy confidence let nothing shake;
All now mysterious shall be bright at last.
Be still, my soul: The waves and winds still know
His voice who ruled them while he dwelt below.
Be still, my soul: The hour is hast’ning on
When we shall be forever with the Lord,
When disappointment, grief, and fear are gone,
Sorrow forgot, love’s purest joys restored.
Be still, my soul: When change and tears are past,
All safe and blessed we shall meet at last.
Authors
Debbie Graham is the senior digital editor for YourHomeStyle, and is passionate about vintage interiors. In her free time she loves nothing better than scouring second-hand and vintage shops for bargains and upcycling projects. Her home is a Victorian house that is a bit of a project and when she's not putting buckets under leaks you can find her painting and patching | https://www.classical-music.com/features/articles/what-are-the-lyrics-to-be-still-my-soul/ | 2022-09-01T02:31:49Z | classical-music.com | control | https://www.classical-music.com/features/articles/what-are-the-lyrics-to-be-still-my-soul/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) — The Democrats battling to be their party’s nominee for Rhode Island governor met Wednesday night for a combative debate, frequently attacking and counterattacking over their records in politics and business.
Incumbent Dan McKee faced challengers Nellie Gorbea, Helena Foulkes, Matt Brown and Luis Daniel Muñoz in a freewheeling one-hour event held at Johnson & Wales University by WJAR. It was the first of two TV debates scheduled in the Democratic gubernatorial primary, with the final one airing Tuesday at 8 p.m. live on WPRI 12.
McKee — who had a three-point lead in this month’s WPRI 12/Roger Williams University poll — was frequently targeted at the debate by his fellow Democrats. He faced the most criticism over the FBI investigation into the state contract his administration gave the ILO Group, a consulting firm with ties to one of his closest advisers.
Brown had the harshest words for McKee, suggesting there is “a very good chance” that the governor could be indicted while in office if he wins another term. (There has been no public indication McKee himself is in any personal legal jeopardy.)
“The governor tried to laugh off this discussion about the FBI investigation — I think it’s the main issue of the night,” said Brown, a former secretary of state. He compared McKee to Buddy Cianci, who remained in office after a federal corruption indictment before finally resigning in 2002 after his conviction.
McKee expressed outrage at Brown’s attacks, and repeated the defense of the ILO contract he has given in the past. He insisted his administration engaged in no criminal wrongdoing and that federal investigators will “come up empty.”
“There’s going to be no charges there, because I know what I did,” McKee said, telling Brown, “Next year I’ll make sure you get my address so you can send me an apology for that statement.” (As their exchanges grew more heated, McKee even teased Brown for visibly sweating on stage.)
McKee also found himself outnumbered over his recent vote to authorize $60 million in taxpayer subsidies for the Pawtucket soccer stadium development known as Tidewater Landing. The other candidates questioned the wisdom of spending the money, as well as whether Pawtucket can afford its eight-figure contribution.
“We have to move away from an economic-development policy that is the shiny object and that benefits the very few, to one where we are investing in local businesses, addressing the housing crisis, education and climate change,” said Gorbea, who is finishing her second term as secretary of state.
McKee accused the other Democrats of being ready to abandon Pawtucket on a project strongly supported by the city’s mayor, and alluded to the blow the city suffered when state leaders failed to clinch a deal to keep the Pawtucket Red Sox in Rhode Island.
“I think they know how to manage their community,” McKee said of Pawtucket. “They do a very good job. Mayor [Don] Grebien does a very good job.”
(Story continues below.)
McKee wasn’t always on defense, however, repeatedly touting his record as governor in the year-and-a-half since he succeeded Gina Raimondo. He cited the state’s successful vaccination drive under his watch, its post-pandemic economy recovery, and the tax breaks he’s been able to dole out due to a state budget surplus.
“Every decision I made was in the best interest of the people who live in the state of Rhode Island, and we got results from that,” McKee said.
Nor was McKee the only candidate who found himself under fire. The WPRI 12/RWU poll showed McKee at 28%, with Gorbea at 25%, Foulkes at 14%, Brown at 8%, Muñoz at 1%, and 21% of voters undecided.
Foulkes, a former CVS executive, lashed Gorbea for proposing a set of business tax hikes that includes increasing the state’s corporate tax rate to 8%. She warned it would lead to higher tax bills for familiar Rhode Island businesses such as Gregg’s and Chelo’s.
“We need to be competitive in this state,” Foulkes said. “We have a state which is at a real disadvantage economically. … We are 49th in this country for GDP growth. We are way behind. The last thing I think we should do is raise taxes, especially coming off a year where we had a $900 million surplus.”
Gorbea suggested she would exempt the brand-name businesses cited by Foulkes from the tax increase, though her campaign has not spelled out how. She also sought to turn the tables, casting Foulkes as a cold-hearted executive who cavalierly ordered layoffs when she was leading the retail chain Hudson’s Bay.
“That is not the kind of leadership that in the public sector we want,” Gorbea said.
Foulkes defended her record in business — even wagging her finger at Gorbea at one point — and highlighted her role in the decision by CVS to stop selling tobacco products.
“I resent Nellie’s statement, that because I was a corporate CEO I don’t understand the power of what good business can do,” she said. Getting out of tobacco sales, she said, “was a very hard decision in 2014. We walked away from $2 billion a year in sales, because we put people over profits.”
When Brown wasn’t targeting the others, he doubled down on his progressive agenda, calling for higher taxes on the wealthy to fund new spending in areas such as education and housing.
“Sometimes up here I feel like I’m at the Republican primary debate for governor, not the Democratic primary debate for governor,” Brown quipped in his closing statement, as he reiterated his critiques of Foulkes, Gorbea and McKee.
But Brown himself took criticism from Muñoz, who is also running on a left-wing platform and who failed to qualify for next week’s debate.
“We need a free health care system,” Muñoz said. “We need mixed low-income subsidized and affordable housing. We need an equitable education funding formula. These things will not happen without political courage.”
Other topics tackled by the candidates included truck tolls — Brown and Muñoz said they would get rid of the tolls, while the other three would not — and the state takeover of Providence schools.
The eventual Democratic nominee will face the winner of the Republican gubernatorial primary between Ashley Kalus and Jonathan Riccitelli. Kalus, a newcomer to Rhode Island, has already mounted a major TV advertising campaign that began back in April.
Ted Nesi (tnesi@wpri.com) is a Target 12 investigative reporter and 12 News politics/business editor. He co-hosts Newsmakers and writes Nesi’s Notes on Saturdays. Connect with him on Twitter and Facebook | https://www.wpri.com/news/elections/mckee-under-fire-in-contentious-dem-primary-debate/ | 2022-09-01T02:31:55Z | wpri.com | control | https://www.wpri.com/news/elections/mckee-under-fire-in-contentious-dem-primary-debate/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
A brush fire in Castaic quickly spread to more than 4,600 acres on Wednesday, Aug. 31, prompting evacuations and the closure of the 5 Freeway in both directions while crews worked to contain the blaze.
DETOURS: NB traffic is being turned around at median gate in #Castaic. Possible alternatives are NB Route 14 or WB Route 126 to NB U.S. 101. SB traffic diverted to EB Routed 138 to SB Route 14 to reach SB I-5 near #SantaClarita. Avoid I-5 in Castaic. @CHPFortTejon @CountyofLA
— Caltrans District 7 (@CaltransDist7) September 1, 2022
The blaze, dubbed the Route fire, was reported around noon near Lake Hughes Road, according to Ruben Munoz, a spokesman for the Los Angeles County Fire Department.
Evacuations were initially ordered for about 100 spaces at the Paradise Ranch Mobile Home Park and all structures south of Templin Highway along Upper Ridge Route Road. They were later expanded for all structures north of Lake Hughes Road, east of the 5, the LA County Sheriff’s Department said.
The LA County Office of Emergency Management posted information on evacuations.
Evacuation update for the #RouteFire: There are now mandatory evacuations north of Lake Hughes and east of I-5. @RedCrossLA is working to set up an evacuation center at @CastaicHigh for residents. @SCVSHERIFF @LACoFDPIO @CaltransDist7
— Supervisor Kathryn Barger (@kathrynbarger) September 1, 2022
The southbound 5 traffic was being diverted at Templin Highway and northbound at the swinging gate north of Lake Hughes Road.
Within an hour of the fire being reported, it jumped to 60 acres, and by 4 p.m. the blaze had grown to 600 acres, according to the Sheriff’s Department. A 6:30 p.m. update from the Sheriff’s Department put the blaze at 3,000 acres. Cal Fire at 7:22 p.m. said the fire was measured at 4,625 acres.
As the evening approached, crews were working amid 103 degree weather, with winds blowing about 11 mph.
Trevor Howard, an employee at Castaic Truck Stop along Castaic Drive, said that smoky air and flames were visible just outside the windows of the business — though he had not received any order to evacuate by the evening.
Around 1 p.m., Howard said that the truck stop’s overnight lot had already reached capacity with truckers planning to stay the night and wait out the road closures. The lot typically doesn’t reach capacity until 6 p.m., but by then many truckers had found themselves stranded in Castaic.
“There’s some frustration,” Howard said. “They can’t keep doing what they are supposed to be doing, which is drive.”
Seven firefighters sustained heat-related injuries amid the triple-digit temperatures, five of whom were taken to a hospital.
An advisory warning of potential health dangers from smoke was issued by air quality regulators.
SMOKE ADVISORY: #RouteFire burning near #Castaic is affecting our air quality: https://t.co/Y158OoPtBX
Información en español: https://t.co/ctPFfWWfN8
South Coast AQMD emite un aviso de humo por el incendio forestral cerca de Castaic pic.twitter.com/PQF1wlXRir— South Coast AQMD (@SouthCoastAQMD) September 1, 2022
The cause of the fire was under investigation.
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NEW YORK — The New York Mets’ status as a postseason threat to the Dodgers rests largely on the potential for Jacob deGrom and Max Scherzer to dominate a seven-game series.
The Dodgers won’t face old friend Scherzer in this three-game possible sneak preview. But they got a full dose of deGrom on Wednesday night. The two-time Cy Young Award winner dominated the Dodgers for much of the night, taking a no-hitter into the fifth inning and holding them to just three over seven innings in a 2-1 victory.
The only Dodger immune to deGrom’s powers was Mookie Betts. He provided the Dodgers’ only run of the night with a solo home run in the sixth inning, jumping on an 0-and-1 slider that rolled over the plate.
It was Betts’ fifth home run in his last five starts, his ninth in August and 32nd of the season. That ties his career-high set in 2018 when he was the American League’s Most Valuable Player.
Other than that, the Dodgers were overmatched by deGrom. He retired 13 of the first 14 Dodgers batters, walking Trea Turner in the first inning and not allowing a hit until Justin Turner bounced a single through the left side with one out in the fifth.
Making just his sixth start of the season due to a stress fracture in his scapula that delayed his season debut until Aug. 2, deGrom went seven full innings for the first time. He struck out nine and got 25 swings-and-misses (15 on his slider alone). Nineteen of his 93 pitches rounded up to 100 mph or higher.
DeGrom didn’t need much help but when he needed it he got it. Mets center fielder Brandon Nimmo went into the wall near the 408-foot marker and reached over to steal a home run from Turner in the seventh inning.
That drive could have tied the score. The Mets’ only offense to that point against Dodgers starter Tyler Anderson was a two-run home run by Starling Marte in the third inning.
That was all they would get against Anderson who went seven innings, scattering eight hits.
More to come on this story.
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NEW YORK -- After advancing to the US Open’s second round, Serena Williams was asked if her opening victory had answered any questions she might have had about her ability to compete at the age of nearly 41.
“I don’t think I had any questions,” she said.
Neither should we.
Williams defeated World No.2 Anett Kontaveit 7-6(4), 2-6, 6-2 on Wednesday night before another raucous, rollicking record crowd at Arthur Ashe Stadium. Again facing the last singles match of her glorious career, she moved better and played freer than she has in recent outings.
For the second straight match, Williams’ opponent seemed more unnerved by the momentous circumstances, particularly in critical moments, than she did. After the high emotions of the opening night spectacle, she was more composed and consistent against a far better player ranked 78 spots higher.
US Open: Scores | Order of play | Draw
Mary Joe Fernandez, conducting the on-court interview, observed that Williams’ evolution away from tennis was taking some time.
“It’s no rush here,” Williams said. “I’m loving this crowd.
“I’m a pretty good player. This is what I do. I love a challenge, and I’m rising to the challenge.”
NO STOPPING #SERENA
— wta (@WTA) September 1, 2022
Six-time champion @serenawilliams defeats World No.2 Kontaveit 7-6(4), 2-6, 6-2 to advance to Round 3 at the #USOpen!! pic.twitter.com/9d9NsLDdMk
And now, the expectations become greater. Serena will be a significant favorite against Ajla Tomljanovic in Friday’s third round. And with a reasonably favorable draw, people will be asking in earnest if she can actually win this thing.
With another record crowd of 29,959 -- including Tiger Woods and sister Venus in her player box -- emphatically behind her, Serena won the first-set tiebreak with two unreturnable serves, the second an ace outside. But, clearly, the effort left her drained. Kontaveit ran away with the second set, winning six of eight games versus the six-time US Open champion.
Williams scored the first big blow of the third set, breaking Kontaveit’s serve when a forehand from the 26-year-old Estonian soared long. After winning the first three points of the third game, Williams seemed positioned to take a 3-0 lead but Kontaveit showed remarkable poise and converted her second break point.
Naturally, Williams broke right back to take a 3-1 lead. This time she backed it up with a tidy service game. And the next time, she saved a break point to take a 5-2 lead, bringing out the double fist pump.
When Williams’ backhand winner sailed inside the line, it was like 1999 -- when she won her first major here at the US Open as a 17-year-old -- all over again.
"I don't have anything to prove. I don't have anything to win. I have absolutely nothing to lose," she said.
"Honestly, I never get to play like this since '98 really. Literally, I've had an X on my back since '99. It's kind of fun. I really enjoy just coming out and enjoying it. It's been a long time since I've been able to do that."
“At this point, honestly, everything is a bonus for me I feel,” Williams said before the Kontaveit match. “I think every opponent is very difficult. I’ve seen that over the summer. The next one is even more difficult. I’m just not even thinking about that. I’m just thinking about just this moment. I think it’s good for me just to live in the moment now.”
Remarkably, Williams now has a 75-2 record in second round at Slams with her only losses coming to sister Venus at 1998 Australian Open and Garbińe Muguruza at 2014 Roland Garros. She still has never lost in the first two rounds of the US Open.
Casual tennis fans might not know the name, but Kontaveit earned her No.2 spot with consistent results beginning at the end of 2021. She leads all WTA Tour players in hard-court wins since the beginning of 2021. All five of her WTA titles came in the past 13 months
Interestingly, the 26-year-old Estonian has lost her last three second-round matches at the majors, at this year’s Australian Open (Clara Tauson), Wimbledon (Jule Niemeier) and US Open (Williams) after having won the previous seven. It was the first time she’s lost to a player ranked outside the Top 100 at a Grand Slam.
“Honestly, after I lost the second set, I said, 'My goodness, I better give my best effort because this could be it,'" Williams said.
Evolution from tennis 𝙙𝙤𝙚𝙨 take time ⏳#Serena #USOpen pic.twitter.com/NPi5rp6yEf
— wta (@WTA) September 1, 2022
“The last couple matches here in New York it’s really come together. There’s still a little left in me. We’ll see.”
As the tributes have washed over the Billie Jean King USTA National Tennis Center, Williams has avoided them for the most part.
“I’ve kept my head super low throughout this whole process, ever since the news came out three weeks ago,” she told reporters Monday. “I’m really good at putting myself in a bubble. That’s kind of what I’ve been doing. Sometimes I’ll hear a snippet of this, a snippet of that.
“But for me, in order to get through it, because it’s not easy, but to just get through the emotions and everything that I’m feeling, I just had to just kind of just go in and just be sort of alone and just off all kinds of media, social media and stuff. Yeah, I’m just trying to deal with that.”
She’ll have to deal with it -- we all will -- for at least a few more days. | https://www.wtatennis.com/news/2773242/-i-have-absolutely-nothing-to-lose-serena-comes-up-big-in-us-open-win | 2022-09-01T02:32:11Z | wtatennis.com | control | https://www.wtatennis.com/news/2773242/-i-have-absolutely-nothing-to-lose-serena-comes-up-big-in-us-open-win | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
ARCADIA — IKEA is going små.
In a departure from the company’s ubiquitous giant blue stores with the big yellow lettering on the front, the Swedish furniture giant on Wednesday, Aug. 31, opened the second of its new, scaled-down planning studios.
The first opened on Monday at the Long Beach Towne Center, and the second one opened in a 9,092-square-foot space at The Shops at Santa Anita – formerly Westfield Santa Anita. Both are the first such stores for the company to open on the West Coast.
But what are they? What do they do?
Conceptually, the goal of the stores is a bit different from what you might be used to at the four big IKEA stores in the company’s L.A. market.
For one thing, you can’t actually buy something and leave with it the same day, and you can’t get those great Swedish meatballs.
Bummer, yes. But here, it’s all about planning, and the concept. Based on what official say is extensive market research, IKEA is banking on the fact that you’re going to want to book appointments and get support from design specialists with planning and ordering home furnishing “solutions” that require a planning studio’s assistance, whether it’s a kitchen, bedroom or a bathroom.
“While customers are unable to take home any products on their shopping day, the IKEA team will make sure that everything a customer orders is transported to their home or to another convenient point of delivery,” officials said in a recent announcement of the studios.
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The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health has lawyered up and is trying to get a lawsuit by a group of parents dismissed before it has a chance to get to the discovery phase, the legal process that enables attorneys to demand documents and sworn depositions.
The lawsuit was filed July 26 by attorney Julie Hamill on behalf of the Alliance for Los Angeles County Parents. It seeks to prevent the county Public Health Department from reimposing a mask mandate that would force children to wear masks in school, stating that the masks are not a harmless precautionary measure but are damaging to children.
“Petitioner members suffered tremendously under previous health orders issued by DPH, which forced children aged two and older to wear masks in school, childcare, and youth sports, among other things for over two years,” the lawsuit states. “Petitioner members suffered speech delays, developmental delays, social isolation, depression, anxiety, learning loss, facial rashes, heat-related illnesses, migraines, and those who could not tolerate masks were forced out of their schools and social communities.”
The county previously defeated restaurant owners who sued over COVID restrictions, but officials may be more concerned about Hamill’s lawsuit. After initially stalling it by refusing to accept service of the documents — Hamill eventually threatened to stake out director Barbara Ferrer’s home and serve her there — the county has now hired a high-powered law firm to defend itself against the parents’ group. Sheppard Mullin’s website says it has “approximately 1,000 attorneys working in 16 offices worldwide,” including locations in London, New York, Brussels, Shanghai, Seoul and Washington, D.C.
The L.A. County Department of Public Health, Director Barbara Ferrer and county Health Officer Muntu Davis are now represented by Kent Raygor, a partner in Sheppard Mullin’s Century City office who specializes in business litigation, intellectual property and media law litigation and “reputation management.”
In a letter dated Aug. 25, Raygor asked Hamill to “meet and confer” about the county’s intention to file a motion to dismiss the case. The letter states that because Ferrer decided in late July not to impose an indoor mask mandate, the lawsuit seeking to stop the mandate is moot.
Hamill responded that the U.S. Supreme Court rejected a similar argument made by the state of New York in the case of Roman Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn v. Cuomo. That case was about New York’s attendance limits on worship services in areas designated as “red” or “orange” to indicate COVID-19 prevalence. Then-Gov. Andrew Cuomo argued that the case was moot because the areas had turned “yellow,” meaning lighter restrictions than when the lawsuit was filed.
A divided Supreme Court sided with the houses of worship. “It is clear that this matter is not moot,” the unsigned opinion concluded, noting that “the applicants remain under a constant threat that the area in question will be reclassified as red or orange.”
The constant threat continues in Los Angeles County. On July 28, Ferrer used the word “pausing” to describe what she had decided to do about a universal indoor mask mandate.
Hamill has offered the county a proposed settlement. “Our objective is not financial,” she wrote, “it is solely to end the harm to children caused by Defendants’ policies.” Hamill is asking the county to “rescind all child mask requirements” including the rules that require children to wear masks for 10 days any time another child in the classroom has a positive COVID test. She also seeks a “promise to refrain from reimplementation of these harmful mandates,” or alternatively, “a public harm/benefit analysis regarding all COVID policies that utilizes “data that accurately reflects numbers of patients hospitalized and dead because of COVID instead of with COVID.”
If the lawsuit goes forward, the discovery process will probably enable the parents’ group to get that data, and then some. A paper published in the journal Nature in February reports that commonly used face masks contain titanium dioxide, a chemical on California’s Proposition 65 list for a risk of cancer if particles are inhaled. “More toxicity and epidemiological research is needed to assess the risk of vulnerable populations, especially children,” the authors concluded.
There’s nothing to worry about. The county has a lawyer who specializes in “reputation management.”
Write Susan at Susan@SusanShelley.com and follow her on Twitter @Susan_Shelley
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The PBS favorite, Antiques Roadshow, has brought many classic moments over the years. Still, one clip recently shared by a PBS station shows that family folklore can sometimes be debunked by historians.
In the segment, which originally aired on PBS on April 12, 2018, a man explained how his Navy father plucked a damaged American flag out of the water shortly after Pearl Harbor was attacked on December 7, 1941 by the Japanese military.
The man said, according to his father's recount, he took the damaged flag out of the water, shook it off, let it dry off, and the family has had the damaged piece of American history in their possession every since that day.
Appraiser Jeff Shrader, who is an expert in Arms and Militaria, said that he was able to verify that the man's father was at Pearl Harbor. His father passed down documentation as a decorated Navy veteran who was awarded "the Navy Unit Commendation for service during the following period: 7 December 1941," according to one verified document that Shrader reviewed and displayed in the televised segment.
But there was one shocking detail discovered during the antique event in Sarasota, Florida, which brought the value of the flag down considerably to just a few hundred dollars.
The flag's manufacture date was stamped with "44," meaning it was made in 1944, around 3 years after the attack on Pearl Harbor.
Shrader said the revelation wasn't meant to "cast dispersion" on his father.
It was comedian and actor Andy Richter, best known as the sidekick on the Conan O'Brien show, who highlighted the comedic moment in the clip, which was shared by Boston PBS station WGBH.
Richter mentioned, jokingly, that he is an "aficionado of family lies and liars," saying he enjoyed the segment.
WGBH reposted his Twitter comment responding with, "When family lore runs face first into a @roadshowpbs appraiser!"
The flag, while still an important piece of World War I and World War II history, had its value drop from hundreds of thousands of dollars, to somewhere between $300 and $500 according to Shrader.
Watch the clip of the Antiques Roadshow episode here: | https://www.fox17online.com/news/national/expert-tells-collector-his-navy-dads-old-pearl-harbor-story-couldnt-be-true | 2022-09-01T02:36:46Z | fox17online.com | control | https://www.fox17online.com/news/national/expert-tells-collector-his-navy-dads-old-pearl-harbor-story-couldnt-be-true | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
CLEVELAND (WJW) – Fill ‘er up! Circle K gas stations will be offering 40 cents off per gallon of fuel for three hours on one day only this week.
On Thursday, September 1, fuel will be available at the reduced price from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. local time.
“It’s been a challenging summer for travel, so we want to thank our customers for their loyalty by offering them additional savings ahead of the busy holiday weekend, ending the summer on a high note,” said Nathan Woodland, Head of North America Category Fuels at Circle K, in a Wednesday release.
The fuel sale will only be available at participating Circle K locations that sell Circle K-branded fuel.
Circle K has over 3,600 locations across the U.S. The company says more than half carry Circle K-branded fuel. You can find your nearest location here.
According to the company, the discount may be lower in some states “in accordance with applicable laws.” The price you see at the pump between 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. local time is the discounted price.
As long as you are in line for gas before 7 p.m., you will be able to receive the discount.
The national average for a gallon of gas in the U.S. is $3.84 as of Wednesday night, AAA reports. | https://www.siouxlandproud.com/news/national-news/circle-k-offering-up-to-40-cents-off-per-gallon-heres-when/ | 2022-09-01T02:40:34Z | siouxlandproud.com | control | https://www.siouxlandproud.com/news/national-news/circle-k-offering-up-to-40-cents-off-per-gallon-heres-when/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
The annual Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition is the most prestigious prize in its field, producing many famous winners and incredible stories for many years.
This year's prize is set to be no different. Ahead of the official prize winners being announced in October, the competition has just released a set of highly commended images that have been submitted for this year's contest.
These are the images that, though spectacular, didn’t quite make it into the final shortlist. Wildlife Photographer of the Year is developed and produced by the Natural History Museum , London, where the redesigned Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition will open on 14 October 2022.
Burrow mates A wild Columbia Basin pygmy rabbit triggers a camera trap near a burrow on the Nature Conservancy-owned Beezley Hills complex between Ephrata and Quincy, Washington, USA. Photo by Morgan Heim/Wildlife Photographer of the Year
Underwater wonderland European perch photographed underwater in a cloud of algae, Honkalampi, Posio, Finland. Photo by Tiina Törmänen/Wildlife Photographer of the Year
The right look New Zealand’s population of southern right whales ( Eubalaena australis), known as ‘tohorā’ in Māori, were hunted to near extinction by European whalers in the 1800s. Now, after huge conservation efforts, their numbers have since recovered. This curious young calf was fascinated by the photographer taking its picture, and kept swimming past to take a closer look. Photo by Richard Robinson/Wildlife Photographer of the Year
The disappearing giraffe Located at the edge of Kenya’s capital, Nairobi National Park is a safe haven for hundreds of species of mammals, birds, reptiles and plants. In 2019, Kenya completed the so-called Phase 2A Standard Gauge Railway (SGR), building a 6km railway stretch on 178 pillars through the middle of the park. Conservationists and environmentalists have warned that the impacts of SGR on the park will be devastating. Nairobi National Park has already been affected by rapid urbanisation, infrastructure development and rising land prices around it. This picture shows a giraffe running between railway pillars because of the noise and the vibration of an approaching train. Photo by Jose Fragozo/Wildlife Photographer of the Year
Sloth dilemma This brown-throated three-toed sloth ( Bradypus variegatus) is being sniffed by a dog after climbing down palm trees at Puerto Viejo de Talamanca, Costa Rica. The dog thankfully only wanted to investigate, before leaving the sloth to carry on their journey. Photo by Suzi Eszterhas/Wildlife Photographer of the Year
The snow stag A red deer stag stands majestically as the snow falls in Richmond Park, London, United Kingdom. Photo by Joshua Cox/Wildlife Photographer of the Year
Wanted! Surrounded by mining tools and the remains of animals, coltan is an important material in the production of laptops and mobile phones. Gorilla bones, all seized by customs authorities, are also displayed and includes a skull, vertebrae and leg bones. Coltan is extracted from the riverbeds of the Democratic Republic of the Congo by poorly paid miners who also hunt wild animals, such as gorillas, for food. Photo by Britta Jaschinski/Wildlife Photographer of the Year
The octopus case A coconut octopus ( Amphioctopus marginatus) photographed in the black sands of Lembeh Strait, Sulawesi, Indonesia. The coconut octopus is one of the worlds most intelligent invertebrates, and one of the sea creatures that has ever been seen using tools. Especially in the sandy slopes of Lembeh, with very few places to hide, it has developed unique survival strategies, which gives it the title of one of the ocean’s most resourceful animals. It can create mobile homes with many different shells, and can carry them around while 'walking' on two of its arms. Photo by Samuel Sloss/Wildlife Photographer of the Year
Just one day’s catch Recently caught marlin and sailfish are laid out on the ground in this aerial image shot by drone, at Kakinada, Andhra Pradesh, India. Sailfish and marlin are top ocean predators, and are thus essential to ecosystems. Globally, 85 per cent of fish stocks are currently overexploited by humans. Without urgent efforts to protect marine habitats and create truly sustainable fishing practices, some species may soon become extinct. Photo by Srikanth Mannepuri/Wildlife Photographer of the Year
More images from Science Focus :
Tree frog pool party A gathering of male gliding tree frogs ( Agalychnis spurrelli) cling to palm fronds while they call to females. At dawn, thousands of females arrived at the pool at Osa Peninsula, Puntarenas, Costa Rica, to mate and lay their eggs on overhanging palm fronds. Here, unmated males search for females to mate with. These spectacular mass-breeding events occur in a few remote locations a few times a year. Each female lays around 200 eggs, creating huge egg masses. Eventually, the tadpoles will drop into the water below. Photo by Brandon Güell/Wildlife Photographer of the Year
Dipper dispute A pair of dippers have a territorial dispute over a spot used for hunting mayflies and small fish. Photographed at Kuusamo, North Ostrobothnia, Finland. Photo by Heikki Nikki/Wildlife Photographer of the Year
The lost floods While experiencing the worst drought in thirty years, Zambezi River Authority station manager Lubinda Lubinda stands in between his old and new house on the Barotse floodplain, one of Africa’s great floodplains. The water that would normally reach the bottom of his old house on the left, stayed several meters lower than in previous years. The Barotse floodplain act as a sponge, structuring much of the Zambezi catchment and providing a much-needed ‘safety-valve’ against climate effects such as droughts and floods for local communities but also for countries downstream. With droughts increasing due to changes in the global climate, the longterm ecological function of the Barotse floodplain is slowly disappearing, threatening not only the livelihoods of approximately 250,000 people and the economic stability of this part of the world, but also the area’s biodiversity. Photo by Jasper Doest/Wildlife Photographer of the Year
Polar frame A polar bear peers out of a window frame in Kolyuchin, in the Russian High Arctic. This settlement was abandoned by humans in 1992. Polar bears are extremely inquisitive, and will investigate abandoned structures for potential food. With climate change reducing sea ice, hunting is becoming increasingly difficult, pushing these bears closer to human settlements to scavenge. Photo by Dmitry Kokh/Wildlife Photographer of the Year | https://www.sciencefocus.com/news/wildlife-photographer-closer-look-highly-commended/ | 2022-09-01T02:41:01Z | sciencefocus.com | control | https://www.sciencefocus.com/news/wildlife-photographer-closer-look-highly-commended/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) – New protection against the latest COVID variants should be available soon. The Food and Drug Administration approved variant-specific booster shots on Wednesday, but there are some concerns about the rollout.
The shots are specifically built to protect people from the dominant Omicron strains.
“These updated boosters present us with an opportunity to get ahead of the next predicated wave of covid-19,” FDA Commissioner Dr. Robert Califf said.
Once the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention gives its approval, the shots could start going out as soon as next week.
It isn’t clear how effective they’ll be, because they haven’t been through human trials. However, that’s the same process used to update yearly flu shots.
“We’re very confident in the data used to support today’s actions,” FDA official Dr. Peter Marks said.
While many health officials are hailing this as an important step forward, there are concerns about the rollout.
The Biden administration says it’s running out of money for masks, tests and vaccines. White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre says that’s because Congress didn’t pass more COVID funding.
“We’ve warned that the congressional inaction would force unacceptable trade-offs and harm our preparedness and response,” Jean-Pierre said.
Dr. Greg Poland with Mayo Clinic says that could have consequences for availability of the vaccine.
“If it moves to private pay or private insurance, that likely will decrease accessibility,” Poland said.
He also says one of his biggest concerns is that people aren’t using precautions anymore. He points to how many people rarely mask anymore and have continued to gather in crowds.
There’s also uncertainty about who will get the latest booster shots. Only about half of vaccinated Americans got the first booster shot.
Dr. Poland predicts coronavirus is here to stay.
“We will continue to have surges with yet newer variants,” Poland said.
Even now, hundreds of Americans are dying from COVID each day.
“With a highly contagious disease like this, none of us is safe until everyone is safe,” Poland said. | https://www.siouxlandproud.com/washington/washington-dc/concerns-raised-about-rollout-of-new-variant-specific-covid-vaccine/ | 2022-09-01T02:41:10Z | siouxlandproud.com | control | https://www.siouxlandproud.com/washington/washington-dc/concerns-raised-about-rollout-of-new-variant-specific-covid-vaccine/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Most Indian Languages Lack the Words to Express Gender Identity. This Complicates Queer People’s Access to Mental Health.
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In the therapy room, Kim* remembers always sitting on the edge of the chair, feeling tense and uncomfortable. As a non-binary person trying therapy for the first time, there was already a lot going on in their mind. But one thing constantly bothered Kim. “I find it difficult to articulate my thoughts in English.”
Kim’s experience resonates with many queer individuals who do not feel that English is the best language for them to express their thoughts.
Growing up in Kerala, Kim was more comfortable speaking in Malayalam. And so, as an 18-year-old exploring their gender identity, they set out to find an open-minded therapist who could converse in Malayalam. However, the only response they received from everywhere was that it was very difficult to find such a professional.
Unnati Bhardwaj, a non-binary person who is a practicing counseling therapist, confirms that queer affirmative therapists conversant in regional languages are hard to come by, as most mainstream training in Psychology (including queer-affirmative therapy) happens in English.
Eventually, when Kim decided to settle for an English-speaking, queer-affirmative therapist, they found that “talking to [the] counselor and thinking about what needs to be shared in the session used to make me feel tense,” Kim says.
According to Arpita Kanjilal, who has a doctorate in Applied Linguistics, “the frameworks are mainstream, the culture is mainstream. So, the terms of references, and everything, therefore, is mainstream. By ‘mainstream,’ I mean the idea of the binary world that we live in.”
Lack of queer-affirmative expressions is graver when it comes to vernacular languages than in English. Most vocabulary to express queer ideas exists only in “certain kind of English” and not in any vernacular languages, says Arpita. The impact of this limitation can be felt acutely in therapeutic settings.
“Talking to someone in a therapeutic setting who seems to get what you’re trying to say and even describes it accurately, can catalyze a shift in our emotional state. Now this is the importance of language in the general sense,” explains Unnati.
A lack of feeling comfortable within a therapeutic setting can lead to queer individuals feeling further isolated and becomes a constant reminder that they live in a world that wasn’t designed for them.
Related on The Swaddle:
Research has found that depression and suicide rates in queer individuals in India are significantly higher. A comparison with the World Mental Health Survey revealed that suicidal rates in the queer population in India is 7–14 times more than that in other developing countries.
Arpita talks about how language, an expensive and elite form of expression, is not a monolithic category. It is enmeshed within intersections of caste, class, and other social hierarchies that determine how people articulate their relationships and experiences with society.
An individual’s socioeconomic condition shapes a large part of their life, including the language they speak. The readily available language system is patriarchal and is confined within mainstream ideological boundaries that restrict everyone. However, these restrictions vary based on an individual’s social hierarchies.
A nationally representative sample survey conducted by Lok Foundation-Oxford University in 2019 found that 41% of people from higher-income categories are able to speak in English as opposed to less than 2% of people from lower-income groups. An upper caste person is more than three times more likely to know English compared to a person from the Dalit or Adivasi communities. These factors directly correlate with an individual’s ability to access mental healthcare.
Jhisha is a Bahujan trans woman from Northern India who did her schooling in a vernacular language. She wonders how she will explain her gender identity to her parents who don’t know English. “Maybe they don’t even know the Hindi words that exist [for queer people], except the abuses and slurs,” she laments.
Jhisha, born in 1996, talks about how she neither knew English nor how to use the internet until 2013. As a result, she only learned how to express her own gender identity when she started using social media in 2016. Sometimes, she uses Google to translate queer vocabulary from English to her native language. But in conversation, these native words often escape her memory and, when she does remember them, people don’t understand. Jhisha feels that is perhaps because the slurs for various gender- and sexuality-related concepts are more popular than the formal words.
But using a slur for herself is not an option for Jhisha and many others like her.
Arpita says that all languages contain explicit forms of transphobia, queerphobia, and other forms of oppression. For example, according to a certain school of psychoanalysis, a transgender person not conforming to the sex that they were assigned at birth is a fantasy and not the truth. Such ideas then filter and morph through systems to take root within everyday language. Thus, the impact of language as a system within the cis-heteronormative structure needs to be challenged, says Arpita.
Related on The Swaddle:
The trans position poses a threat to the normative arrangement of the society, which includes language. “Language in itself is a medium of violence. Language as a system is codified in gender binary and is therefore exclusive and violent,” she says. Violence cannot be separated from language to understand the impact that language can have. “Language is a part of the binary world which reflects all the aspects of it,” she adds.
Unnati says that people with no prior experience of therapy or exposure to a language can be afraid of the humiliation they may face in a therapeutic setting. They say: “It can be life-saving to establish the idea that our clients do know what they’re talking about especially when they’re talking about themselves” – regardless of the language it is expressed in.
For example, when Unnati’s encountered a client who wasn’t aware of the existing vocabulary for what they were trying to articulate, they found that breaking down concepts to confirm that particular terms accurately reflected the client’s feelings have them a sense of relief and helped them feel less like an anomaly.
Similarly, when speaking to a person online who was indicative of being queer but didn’t speak English and had no knowledge of queer vocabulary, Jhisha tried to break things down to help them understand the terms that closely represented them. But she found it “very difficult to explain things to them” in the vernacular language.
Kim experienced something similar too when they had to resort to the vernacular language to speak about gender and sexual identities with a friend and at their workplace.
According to Unnati, given that every language in the country has several distinct dialects, the language barrier can be a “tough nut to crack.”
However, hope lies in the fact that queer communities across the world have always creatively explored the dynamics of language and adapted themselves against cultures that seek to uproot them. Speaking of Hijra Bhasha, a lexicon built by the Hijra community in a world that lacks terminologies and references for them, Arpita explains how this lexicon is used to defend and protect themselves. For instance, the community uses not words but also gestures, like claps, to communicate outside the heteronormative system of language. This lexicon, “which the mainstream world cannot fathom,” has also been used over generations to strengthen the community and overcome societal barriers.
Unnati says that having vernacular, queer-affirmative therapists can make acceptance more accessible to queer people. At the same time, it’s important to note that “Language is a site of struggle, and there is a constant struggle that happens within language,” according to Arpita. Overcoming the barriers of language is a continuous process like any other aspect of our everyday social life.
*Names are changed to protect anonymity. | https://theswaddle.com/most-indian-languages-lack-the-words-to-express-gender-identity-this-complicates-queer-peoples-access-to-mental-health/ | 2022-09-01T02:41:38Z | theswaddle.com | control | https://theswaddle.com/most-indian-languages-lack-the-words-to-express-gender-identity-this-complicates-queer-peoples-access-to-mental-health/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
A 20-year-old Black man is dead after he was fatally shot on Aug. 30 by a Columbus, Ohio, police officer who was attempting to serve a warrant on him. The victim was identified as Donovan Lewis.
Body camera footage showed that Lewis was unarmed and sitting in bed next to what may have been a vape pen. Court records showed that the officers were serving a warrant for improperly handling a firearm, assault and domestic violence.
Officers went to Lewis’ apartment and knocked on his door for around 10 minutes before someone answered and was taken into custody. Officers saw another man in the apartment and detained him as well.
When officers asked the two men if anyone else was in the house, neither answered. They then warned anyone else inside that they were releasing a K9 officer. The dog started barking at a bedroom door, and officer Ricky Anderson moved the dog back to open the door while another officer followed him. Both had their guns drawn.
When Anderson opened the door, Lewis sat up in bed and was immediately shot. After the shooting, Lewis was handcuffed and carried out of the apartment. After trying to treat his gunshot wound, medics took him to Grant Medical Center, where he was later pronounced dead.
Officer Anderson was placed on leave pending an investigation of the shooting. | https://rollingout.com/2022/08/31/black-man-fatally-shot-by-white-officer-during-attempted-arrest-video/ | 2022-09-01T02:54:13Z | rollingout.com | control | https://rollingout.com/2022/08/31/black-man-fatally-shot-by-white-officer-during-attempted-arrest-video/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
On second thought, there are those out there who now say they see why Chris Rock got “the fire” smacked out of him by Will Smith at the 2022 Oscars.
During a comedy performance in Phoenix, the New Jack City star said he was asked to host the 2023 Academy Awards, which he has already done twice.
Rock then told the crowd that he would not go back to the Academy Awards because it would be like asking Nicole Brown Simpson “to go back to the restaurant” where she left her eyeglasses before she was killed, the Arizona Republic reported.
Tanya Brown, the sister of Nicole Brown Simpson, took great umbrage at the fact that Rock would equate a slap with the brutal slaughter of her sister and friend Ronald Goldman in 1994.
Brown told TMZ that Rock’s joke not only failed to be funny but it was extremely offensive, hurtful and gratuitous. Brown conveyed to the entertainment publication that there are family members who still get triggered whenever the killing is brought up.
She is not alone, there are others out there who claim they now understand why Smith marched onstage and delivered the smackdown heard around the world.
The more Chris Rock talks, the more you begin to see why Will Smith smacked fire outta him. https://t.co/d361mdPaU0
— Baker Mayfield Is My Homeboy (@NotoriousVIC007) August 29, 2022
We BET NOT see ANYONE traumatized, upset, shaken, disturbed, outraged etc over Chris Rock’s statement involving Nicole Brown Simpson. It’s just jokes, remember?
— Veronica McDonald🗣 (@Purify_toast17) August 29, 2022
Somebody actually needs to slap Chris Rock now. Maybe Fred Goldman should have the honor. Comparing what happened to him to what happened to Nicole Brown Simpson is truly tasteless and not at all funny https://t.co/n2zOUKopef
— Gregory Anderson (@g_e_anderson) August 29, 2022
Of course, there are others who highlight the hypocrisy of White Americans who basically told Jada Pinkett Smith to get over it after her hair loss was mocked by Rock. Those folks say that it seemed to be OK for Rock to disrespect a Black female like Pinkett Smith but then find Rock contemptible when he makes fun of a White woman.
Disrespect the Black woman, & that's okay. But dammit, disrespect a dead White woman & he's hated. He f*cked around & found out. But, but #ChrisRock's a comedian! 🙄Chris Rock Blasted Over ‘Disgusting’ Joke Making Light of Nicole Brown Simpson’s Murder https://t.co/9f3AMMT0Sc
— Sydney Chandler (@syds180turn) August 30, 2022
So you WW who ran to Chris Rock’s defense after Will slapped the 💩out of him, for insulting and offending Jada, still on Chris Rocks side? I know you didn’t care about Jada’s feelings cause she’s a BW, but will you say “It was only a joke” now that he’s offended Nicole’s Family?
— Here For THEE Comments 1 (@forthecomments1) August 29, 2022 | https://rollingout.com/2022/08/31/nicole-brown-simpsons-sister-slams-chris-rock-for-his-oj-simpson-joke/ | 2022-09-01T02:54:20Z | rollingout.com | control | https://rollingout.com/2022/08/31/nicole-brown-simpsons-sister-slams-chris-rock-for-his-oj-simpson-joke/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Local economic development and political leaders want SL Alabama to apologize for its behavior in allowing children to work in its Alexander City plant.
The company is accused of “employing oppressive child labor” in a complaint filed in the U.S. District Court of the Middle District of Alabama. According to court records, SL Alabama has offered a proposed settlement where it agreed to not hire underage workers, verify the ages of workers hired through a staffing agency and to fire or discipline any managers aware of the use of underage workers.
The proposed settlement hasn’t been approved by federal courts. But local leaders believe SL Alabama needs to do more than just release words in a possible settlement not to hire children under the age of 16 again.
“The violations outlined in the complaint filed by U.S. Department of Labor in Federal District Court, August 22, 2022, admitted by SL Alabama, are violations of the trust and expectations the community put into the company when the Lake Martin Area Economic Development Alliance (LMAEDA) recruited SL to locate to our area,” Alexander City Mayor Woody Baird said. “The City of Alexander City, along with the (LMAEDA), are working to make sure that the infractions are acknowledged, corrected and a strongly worded apology issued for the shame and embarrassment their actions have caused the City of Alexander City and the area.”
Baird said citizens deserve more than the negative spotlight put on the area due to the actions of others.
“The City of Alexander City and (LMAEDA) sent a joint request for a statement on the violations and an apology to the community,” Baird said. “The reported acts in the Department of Labor’s complaint are egregious and unconscionable and demonstrate an utter disregard for the good faith support of all entities who worked to bring SL Alabama to the Lake Martin area. These actions unfairly tarnish the reputations of those who provided incentives to support SL Alabama, leaving SL a daunting task ahead to rebuild the relationships readily granted them and which they intentionally worked to undermine.”
The charges in the complaint alleges the company of employing minors under the age of 16, but the complaint gave no specifics on the charge. Alabama child labor laws prevent minors from working in a manufacturing environment if they are under the age of 16.
“Our future relationship with SL Alabama is fully reliant on their contrition for past misdeeds and commitment to an operation that is fully compliant with labor and all other laws and regulations, and their willingness to be a good corporate citizen in the Lake Martin area,” Baird said.
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Tallapoosa County Commissioner and chairman of LMAEDA T.C Coley said much trust was put in the company and its executives when it decided to come to Alexander City in 2003 to produce headlights, rear combination lights and side mirrors for Hyundai and Kia.
“The leaders and citizens of the City of Alexander City provided the land and incentives to attract this business to the Airport Industrial Park,” Coley said. “We view this as a breach of trust that we unequivocally condemn.”
Coley said while city and economic development leaders agree the practice of hiring children is wrong, the wrongdoing should not be held over the heads of many area residents who found employment at SL Alabama.
“While we find the behavior described in the complaint deeply troubling, we are also here to support the almost 500 fulltime employees that are citizens in our community,” Coley said. “The egregious actions of the few responsible should in no way reflect on our industrious friends, relatives and neighbors who work with honor at the facility.”
LMAEDA Executive Director Chad Odom said LMAEDA will continue to support the local economy by retaining and expanding existing industry.
“While we deplore the actions of SL, we look forward to moving through these dark days, protecting and improving the jobs in our area and moving on to the bright future that lies ahead.” Odom said. “The city and the EDA are united in condemning the actions outlined in the complaint filed by the U.S. Department of Labor, but we encourage our citizens to be mindful that these actions do not reflect the integrity and spirit of all the hardworking people who are currently working with dignity at SL and bear no responsibility for these actions. Together, as a community, we will move through this, remembering that there are innocent people employed at SL Alabama who have done nothing but work hard to provide for their families through gainful employment.”
Baird and Odom said the staff of the City of Alexander City and the LMAEDA will continue to monitor the events relating to SL Alabama’s actions and subsequent corrective actions. | https://www.alexcityoutlook.com/news/breach-of-trust-local-leaders-call-on-sl-alabama-to-speak-on-child-labor-allegations/article_b55e72d8-2965-11ed-9746-031be5c1b665.html | 2022-09-01T02:54:22Z | alexcityoutlook.com | control | https://www.alexcityoutlook.com/news/breach-of-trust-local-leaders-call-on-sl-alabama-to-speak-on-child-labor-allegations/article_b55e72d8-2965-11ed-9746-031be5c1b665.html | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
President Joe Biden has officially declared the clean water crisis in Jackson, Mississippi, an emergency.
With the emergency declaration, the Biden administration ordered federal assistance to help the state in relieving those effected.
Jackson has run out of clean water after recent heavy rainfall that has led to flooding, which on top of the pre-existing sewage issues in the city, has exceeded the infrastructure the city can control. Nearly 200,000 residents in the city lack access to water that is safe to drink, brush their teeth or bathe in.
Demand for bottled water became so high, that retailers were temporarily out of stock.
Jackson State football coach Deion Sanders said the water crisis has made it difficult for his players to shower or have access to ice for recovery.
“The devil is a lie,” Sanders said in video uploaded by his son, Deion Sanders Jr. “You ain’t gone get us today, baby.”
THE DEVIL IS A LIE! Jackson Ms has no water – Here’s how it’s affecting the JSU Football Team https://t.co/DI7H4Cwy72
— COACH PRIME (@DeionSanders) August 30, 2022
Since uploading the video, Sanders and the JSU football program have received donations to help get his players into local hotels to continue to shower.
After a snowstorm in 2021, many Jackson residents went from one to three weeks without water. In the JSU football team’s documentary, there’s a scene of Sanders taking a bath in a hotel pool due to not having clean water.
With the current crisis, the Department of Homeland Security and Federal Emergency Management Agency have coordinated all disaster relief efforts to ” lessen or avert the threat of a catastrophe in Hinds County,” the White House press release read. | https://rollingout.com/2022/08/31/president-biden-calls-jackson-water-crisis-an-emergency-deion-sanders-reacts/ | 2022-09-01T02:54:26Z | rollingout.com | control | https://rollingout.com/2022/08/31/president-biden-calls-jackson-water-crisis-an-emergency-deion-sanders-reacts/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
The PBS favorite, Antiques Roadshow, has brought many classic moments over the years. Still, one clip recently shared by a PBS station shows that family folklore can sometimes be debunked by historians.
In the segment, which originally aired on PBS on April 12, 2018, a man explained how his Navy father plucked a damaged American flag out of the water shortly after Pearl Harbor was attacked on December 7, 1941 by the Japanese military.
The man said, according to his father's recount, he took the damaged flag out of the water, shook it off, let it dry off, and the family has had the damaged piece of American history in their possession every since that day.
Appraiser Jeff Shrader, who is an expert in Arms and Militaria, said that he was able to verify that the man's father was at Pearl Harbor. His father passed down documentation as a decorated Navy veteran who was awarded "the Navy Unit Commendation for service during the following period: 7 December 1941," according to one verified document that Shrader reviewed and displayed in the televised segment.
But there was one shocking detail discovered during the antique event in Sarasota, Florida, which brought the value of the flag down considerably to just a few hundred dollars.
The flag's manufacture date was stamped with "44," meaning it was made in 1944, around 3 years after the attack on Pearl Harbor.
Shrader said the revelation wasn't meant to "cast dispersion" on his father.
It was comedian and actor Andy Richter, best known as the sidekick on the Conan O'Brien show, who highlighted the comedic moment in the clip, which was shared by Boston PBS station WGBH.
Richter mentioned, jokingly, that he is an "aficionado of family lies and liars," saying he enjoyed the segment.
WGBH reposted his Twitter comment responding with, "When family lore runs face first into a @roadshowpbs appraiser!"
The flag, while still an important piece of World War I and World War II history, had its value drop from hundreds of thousands of dollars, to somewhere between $300 and $500 according to Shrader.
Watch the clip of the Antiques Roadshow episode here: | https://www.katc.com/news/national/expert-tells-collector-his-navy-dads-old-pearl-harbor-story-couldnt-be-true | 2022-09-01T02:54:28Z | katc.com | control | https://www.katc.com/news/national/expert-tells-collector-his-navy-dads-old-pearl-harbor-story-couldnt-be-true | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Average gasoline prices in Alabama have fallen 2.4 cents per gallon in the last week, averaging $3.42 per gallon Monday, according to GasBuddy's survey of 3,348 stations in Alabama. Prices in Alabama are 37.8 cents per gallon lower than a month ago and stand 63.8 cents per gallon higher than a year ago. The national average price of diesel has risen 7.3 cents in the last week and stands at $5.04 per gallon.
According to GasBuddy price reports, the cheapest station in Alabama was priced at $3.14 per gallon Sunday while the most expensive was $4.39 per gallon, a difference of $1.25 per gallon. The national average price of gasoline has fallen five cents per gallon in the last week, averaging $3.81 per gallon Monday. The national average is down 39.8 cents per gallon from a month ago and stands 69.1 cents per gallon higher than a year ago, according to GasBuddy data compiled from more than 11 million weekly price reports.
“The national average has declined for another week, extending the slide for the eleventh straight week. Gas prices are now $1.20 per gallon lower than mid-June with Americans spending $450 million less on gasoline every day as a result," said Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy. "Some issues have developed that we're keeping a close eye on, including the shut down of the largest refinery in the Midwest. While that refinery may get back online sooner rather than later, it's not impossible that down the road the situation could impact prices in the region. For the rest of the country, however, we'll continue to see prices moderate. This is of course subject to hurricane season, and it does appear that the tropics are starting to see some activity, so there's no guarantee the decline will continue."
Historical gasoline prices in Alabama and the national average going back ten years:
August 29, 2021: $2.78 per gallon (U.S. Average: $3.12 per gallon)
August 29, 2020: $1.93 per gallon (U.S. Average: $2.23 per gallon)
August 29, 2019: $2.20 per gallon (U.S. Average: $2.57 per gallon)
August 29, 2018: $2.53 per gallon (U.S. Average: $2.83 per gallon)
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August 29, 2017: $2.16 per gallon (U.S. Average: $2.40 per gallon)
August 29, 2016: $1.98 per gallon (U.S. Average: $2.22 per gallon)
August 29, 2015: $2.09 per gallon (U.S. Average: $2.49 per gallon)
August 29, 2014: $3.19 per gallon (U.S. Average: $3.43 per gallon)
August 29, 2013: $3.35 per gallon (U.S. Average: $3.56 per gallon)
August 29, 2012: $3.62 per gallon (U.S. Average: $3.81 per gallon)
GasBuddy is a source for station-level data on gas prices. GasBuddy's survey updates 288 times every day from a diverse list of sources covering nearly 150,000 stations nationwide.
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Error! There was an error processing your request. | https://www.alexcityoutlook.com/news/gas-prices-still-falling-slowly-in-alabama/article_03d6ee04-2952-11ed-8b8b-934d853fc9b1.html | 2022-09-01T02:54:28Z | alexcityoutlook.com | control | https://www.alexcityoutlook.com/news/gas-prices-still-falling-slowly-in-alabama/article_03d6ee04-2952-11ed-8b8b-934d853fc9b1.html | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Tyrese Gibson has been ordered to pay his ex-wife $10K per month in child support. The Fast and Furiou‘ star was in court in Georgia on Aug. 30 as part of his ongoing divorce case with Samantha Lee Gibson, and matters have finally concluded with the judge insisting the order for the 43-year-old singer-actor to hand over $10,690 a month for the care of 3-year-old Soraya wasn’t “a punishment.”
According to TMZ, the judge said: “This is not a punishment for you. Put that money where it belongs, in the child!”
The judge also advised the former couple not to badmouth each other in front of their daughter and told Tyrese to be happy if Samantha — who had originally asked for $20K per monthin child support — moved into a nicer house because it would mean a better standard of living for their little girl. The child support battle dates back to when Samantha first filed for divorce in September 2020, meaning her ex-husband owes her a lump sum of $209,000. However, the judge reduced the amount by $46,000 after noting the Morbius star had been paying for Samantha’s car for the last two years.
Neither party will pay spousal support, and the judge agreed to Tyrese’s request that he keep a Range Rover and his former spouse was given a Land Rover instead. At the end of the hearing, the judge granted Samantha’s petition for divorce, so both parties are now officially single.
Tyrese and Samantha announced in December 2020 they had split but vowed to remain the “best of friends.” They said in a joint statement at the time: “We have decided to make a statement of a painful and significant development in our lives. After much thought, consideration, and prayer, We unfortunately have made the difficult decision to officially separate and divorce.
“Our intention is to remain the best of friends and strong coparents. We feel incredibly blessed to have found each other and deeply grateful for the 4 years we have been married to each other.
“Our journey together has been a ride of both ups and downs, but it’s a journey that neither of us would have chosen to take with anyone else. We truly have so much love respect for each other.” | https://rollingout.com/2022/08/31/tyrese-ordered-to-pay-his-ex-wife-a-huge-amount-of-child-support/ | 2022-09-01T02:54:32Z | rollingout.com | control | https://rollingout.com/2022/08/31/tyrese-ordered-to-pay-his-ex-wife-a-huge-amount-of-child-support/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
With students returning to school, The Outlookwill spotlight a sampling of the incredible instructors from schools in Tallapoosa County.This will be an ongoing series.
This week, we spotlight Benjamin Russell High School teacher Jeremy Freeman.
What grade-level do you teach?
9th and 10th grade.
How long have you been teaching at Benjamin Russell?
Three years.
How long have you been a teacher?
Twenty-two years.
Where did you go to college?
Alabama State University.
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In a few sentences, please tell us about yourself.
I really enjoy teaching and coaching young men and women. I have been working with young people ever since I was 19 years old. I am passionate about my job and believe in each and every one of my students.
What do you enjoy about teaching?
I just love creating new relationships and focusing on new goals with each student.
What is something most people don’t know about you?
That I love to cook in my spare time.
What is one thing that you want your students to remember about you?
I would want to be remembered as the teacher who always had time to listen.
If you could give advice to other teachers, what would it be?
I would advise each teacher to earn the respect of each student. If the student can be confident with respect, the child will learn even better from the teacher.
Now, more than ever, the world needs trustworthy reporting—but good journalism isn’t free.
Please support our tireless efforts to gather and report your local news by subscribing or making a contribution.
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Error! There was an error processing your request. | https://www.alexcityoutlook.com/news/meet-the-teacher-jeremy-freeman/article_752afb48-294f-11ed-8400-a371377a298a.html | 2022-09-01T02:54:34Z | alexcityoutlook.com | control | https://www.alexcityoutlook.com/news/meet-the-teacher-jeremy-freeman/article_752afb48-294f-11ed-8400-a371377a298a.html | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Registration for most hunts on Alabama’s Special Opportunity Areas (SOAs) opens at 8 a.m. on Thursday, September 1, 2022. The SOA program is offered through the Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries (WFF) Division of the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (ADCNR) in an effort to provide hunters with unique hunting opportunities.
SOAs are smaller than traditional Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs) in acreage and are more suitable to a limited-quota hunting format, which reduces hunting pressure on game species and increases the quality of the hunting experience. The program offers a limited number of slots for successful permit holders and their guest(s) to hunt a dedicated 300- to 400-acre location for a two to four-day hunt.
“The Special Opportunity Area format provides our traditional public land hunters with new and exciting hunting options,” said Chuck Sykes, WFF Director. “It also provides hunters who have always been a bit hesitant about hunting on public land with a great opportunity to test the waters.”
Hunts and registration times for the 2022-2023 season:
Adult dove hunts at Prairie Glades and Portland Landing SOAs – Registration opens at 8 a.m. on September 1 and closes at 5 p.m. on September 4 (for the September 10 hunts at Prairie Glades and Portland Landing) and 1 p.m. on September 14 (for the remaining hunts at Prairie Glades).
Deer hunts at Cedar Creek, Portland Landing, Uchee Creek, Thigpen Hill, Blackwater River, Fred T. Stimpson, Upper State, Crow Creek and Choctaw National Wildlife Refuge SOAs – Registration opens at 8 a.m. on September 1 and closes at 1 p.m. on September 12.
Deer hunts at Oak Mountain State Park SOA – Registration opens at 8 a.m. on September 1 and closes at 1 p.m. on September 12.
Youth and adult dog deer hunts at Geneva State Forest – Registration opens at 8 a.m. on September 1 and closes at 1 p.m. on September 12.
Youth squirrel hunts at Fred T. Stimpson SOA and the adult waterfowl hunts at Crow Creek SOA – Registration opens at 8 a.m. on September 20 and closes at 1 p.m. on October 4.
Small game and/or turkey hunts at Cedar Creek, Portland Landing, Uchee Creek, Fred T. Stimpson, Upper State, Thigpen Hill and Blackwater River SOAs – Registration opens at 8 a.m. on December 1 and closes at 1 p.m. on December 13.
Feral pig hunts at Portland Landing and Thigpen Hill SOAs – Registration opens at 8 a.m. on December 1 and closes at 1 p.m. on December 13.
Youth waterfowl hunts at Crow Creek SOA – Registration opens at 8 a.m. on January 1, 2023 and closes at 1 p.m. on January 10.
Limited quota permits to hunt the SOAs are obtained through an online registration and selection process. Applicants apply online for a preferred SOA property hunt date. The cost to hunt a SOA is the purchase of both a state hunting license and a WMA license. Hunters will also need a Conservation ID Number, which is free. There is a $10 registration fee for each adult dove hunt date at the Prairie Glades and Portland Landing SOAs.
Now, more than ever, the world needs trustworthy reporting—but good journalism isn’t free.
Please support our tireless efforts to gather and report your local news by subscribing or making a contribution.
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Error! There was an error processing your request. | https://www.alexcityoutlook.com/news/special-hunt-registration-begins-september-1/article_bc85d4c6-2955-11ed-9e5c-ebfd39d65804.html | 2022-09-01T02:54:40Z | alexcityoutlook.com | control | https://www.alexcityoutlook.com/news/special-hunt-registration-begins-september-1/article_bc85d4c6-2955-11ed-9e5c-ebfd39d65804.html | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
WASHINGTON (AP) — At first, Republicans were highly critical of the FBI search of Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort, but as new details emerge about the more than 100 classified documents the former president haphazardly stashed at his private club Republicans have grown notably silent.
The deepening investigation into Trump's handling of sensitive government information has disclosed damaging and unsettling new details. With every court filing there is new information about the cache of documents the former president took with him from the White House and the potential national security concerns. While the unprecedented search has galvanized many Republicans to Trump's defense, others in the party are unwilling to speak up, often wary of crossing him.
Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell declined to respond Wednesday when asked about the latest developments in the Justice Department's probe.
"I don't have any observations about that," McConnell told reporters in Kentucky.
The silence speaks volumes for a party whose president won the White House after rousing voters in rally chants of "Lock Her Up!" Trump pilloried Democratic opponent Hillary Clinton for using a personal email account and server during her time as Secretary of State. She quickly complied with investigators and was not charged.
The investigation also is posing a new test of Republican loyalty to Trump from lawmakers who are relying on him for their political livelihoods, particularly ahead of the midterm elections.
Battle lines among Republicans infighting over Trump quickly emerged Wednesday after the latest court filing, in which Justice Department said that the FBI's Aug. 8 search had produced more than 100 documents with "classified markings" at Mar-a-Lago — twice as many as Trump's team had turned over earlier this summer.
In Tuesday's late filing, the Justice Department laid out in stark detail how it had developed evidence "that government records were likely concealed and removed" from a storage room at Trump's Mar-a-Lago.
The filing described the lengthy process of trying to retrieve government documents taken when Trump left the White House in early 2021. The Justice Department explained how Trump's legal team had said documents were only been kept in the storage room, but the search also found documents in the former president's office. It said some of the newly found documents were so sensitive that even Justice Department attorneys and FBI counterintelligence personnel required additional clearances before they could review the material.
The Justice Department said "efforts were likely taken to obstruct the government's investigation." It produced a photograph of some of the classified documents found, as evidence. The filing said flatly that the government believes "obstructive conduct" has occurred.
Republican Rep. Liz Cheney — one of the former president's fiercest critics, who recently lost her own primary for reelection — tweeted the photo: "Yet more indefensible conduct by Donald Trump revealed this morning."
But Republican Sen. Ted Cruz, once a rival to Trump for the White House, has saved his criticizing for federal law enforcement as he defended the former president.
"The FBI's raid was a horrific 'abuse of power,'" Cruz tweeted just before the Tuesday filing. He said "there needs to be 'a complete housecleaning' at FBI."
He was among several Republican lawmakers and congressional candidates who were fundraising this week off their complaints about the Justice Department. Cruz's office did not respond to a request for fresh comments Wednesday.
The Texas senator is not alone in turning his criticism away from Trump and onto the federal authorities conducting the investigation and search. The Republican Party that once stood for law and order has been cleaved by Trump's actions, some in the starkest, most alarming tones.
In the immediate aftermath of the search, Republicans largely rallied around Trump and demanded more information from the Justice Department. House and Senate Republicans, and some Democrats, sought hearings and briefings.
But as new information emerges, including the court's release last week of the federal affidavit supporting the search and Tuesday's Justice Department filing, it may make it more difficult for Trump's allies to defend the former president and his team's actions.
Some Republican supporters of Trump focused on the photograph of classified documents included as evidence in the Justice Department filing. Though the documents were shielded, the critics suggested if the information was so secret it should not have been publicly released. "You people are so bad at this," tweeted Trump ally Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., directing her criticism as much at Democrats and those sharing the image.
The risks of the heated rhetoric against the nation's law enforcement have been been clear. A police shooting of a man who tried to breach the FBI's Cincinnati field office showed the danger. FBI Director Christopher Wray criticized those attacking the agency and urged agents to be cautious in public.
Ahead of the midterm elections, Trump's ability to dominate the political stage is welcomed by House Republicans who are relying on his presence to bolster voter enthusiasm and turnout as they try to win back majority control. Some have encouraged him to swiftly announce his own campaign to run again for the White House.
Senate Republicans, however, are growing concerned that Trump is stealing the focus away from what they would prefer to be an election referendum on President Joe Biden's performance in the White House.
As Biden steps up his own efforts to help his party retain control of Congress, he is focusing on Trump-styled candidates in the Republican ranks, with a more aggressive tone and an emphasis on the risks to democracy that have become a motivating issue for Democrats.
Democratic Rep. Adam Schiff of California, a former federal prosecutor, said the latest court filing was "devastating" for Trump.
"What is most striking are the facts outlining how the former president and his team knowingly put our national security at risk," Schiff wrote on Twitter.
The congressman, who led Trump's first impeachment, urged the Justice Department to continue its probe and "follow the facts."
__
Associated Press writer Mary Clare Jalonick contributed to this report.
___
More on Donald Trump-related investigations: https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump | https://www.katc.com/news/national/republicans-notably-silent-split-as-trump-probe-deepens | 2022-09-01T02:54:46Z | katc.com | control | https://www.katc.com/news/national/republicans-notably-silent-split-as-trump-probe-deepens | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
The United States Postal Service (USPS) commemorates the centennial of the birth of one of the most famous cartoonists in U.S. history with Peanuts forever stamps.
The famed characters were created by cartoonist Charles M. Schulz, and an image of him taken in 1987 will be featured in the middle of the sheets of postage.
The Peanuts debuted in 1950 as a comic, gaining hundreds of millions of readers around the globe, with Charlie Brown taking center stage among the characters with very different personalities.
Designer and art director for the project, Greg Breeding, used Charles M. Schulz's art for the designs, according to USPS.
The forever stamps will always be equal in value to current First-Class Mail's one-ounce price, USPS said.
The postage sheets will contain 20 forever stamps, and selections will feature ten different designs showcasing Snoopy, Charlie Brown, and other characters from the popular comics and cartoons. | https://www.katc.com/news/national/us-postal-service-celebrates-centennial-of-peanuts-cartoonists-birth-with-new-forever-stamps | 2022-09-01T02:54:52Z | katc.com | control | https://www.katc.com/news/national/us-postal-service-celebrates-centennial-of-peanuts-cartoonists-birth-with-new-forever-stamps | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
BEIJING (AP) — Chinese manufacturing contracted in August amid weak export and consumer demand, a survey showed Wednesday, adding to downward pressure on the struggling economy.
A monthly index improved to 49.4 from July’s 49 on a 100-point scale but still was below the 50-point mark that shows activity contracting, according to the national statistics agency and an industry group.
The ruling Communist Party is trying to shore up economic growth that sank to 2.5% in the first six months of 2022, less than half the official annual growth target of 5.5%.
The data “show a further loss in economic momentum,” said Julian Evans-Pritchard of Capital Economics in a report. “The economy will struggle to make much headway during the coming months.
Chinese consumer demand has been dampened by a plunge in real estate activity after Beijing tightened controls on the industry’s use of debt and by repeated shutdowns of factories, shops and neighborhoods to fight coronavirus outbreaks.
Indicators of export orders, overall orders and employment also improved from July but still were in contraction territory. | https://www.siouxlandproud.com/news/business/ap-chinese-manufacturing-weak-adding-to-economic-pressure/ | 2022-09-01T02:59:14Z | siouxlandproud.com | control | https://www.siouxlandproud.com/news/business/ap-chinese-manufacturing-weak-adding-to-economic-pressure/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
220831-N-UA321-1003 CHESAPEAKE, Va. (Aug. 31, 2022) Construction Electrician 2nd Class Sofya Frenkel sorts through baskets in a classroom at Deep Creek Elementary School during Naval Support Activity Hampton Roads' 6th Annual Servicing our Schools initiative Aug. 31. More than 250 military members from various commands supported 28 elementary, middle, and high schools in the city of Chesapeake during the initiative. These military members helped lighten the load for school teachers by volunteering to help them set up their classrooms for the upcoming academic year. This effort allowed the teachers to focus on other responsibilities related to planning, developing, and organizing student instruction.
This work, Military Members Volunteer During 6th Annual Servicing Our Schools Initiative [Image 3 of 3], by Katisha Draughn-Fraguada, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright. | https://www.dvidshub.net/image/7397287/military-members-volunteer-during-6th-annual-servicing-our-schools-initiative | 2022-09-01T03:02:00Z | dvidshub.net | control | https://www.dvidshub.net/image/7397287/military-members-volunteer-during-6th-annual-servicing-our-schools-initiative | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
(The Car Connection) — The names might be new but the spin is the same: automakers keep introducing new crossover SUVs, but now, they’re electric.
Volkswagen just undercut the competition with a new base model of the ID.4 that costs $38,790. Announced Aug. 4, the 2023 Volkswagen ID.4 Standard is powered by a 201-hp motor at the rear wheels and fed by a smaller 62-kWh battery pack than the 82-kWh battery pack in the ID.4 Pro. The range drops from 275 miles in the Pro to 208 miles in the Standard, and the price shaves about $3,200 off the ID.4 Pro. It’s built in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
The 2023 Volkswagen ID.4 undercuts both the newest electric crossovers in the 2023 Toyota BZ4X and related 2023 Subaru Solterra, as well as rival electric cars including the Ford Mustang Mach-E, Hyundai Ioniq 5, Kia EV6, and the Tesla Model Y.
Yet smaller electric cars that have been on sale for years, such as the Nissan Leaf and Chevy Bolt EV hatchbacks, remain the most affordable, if not the most popular body style. The 2023 Bolt EV holds the crown as the most affordable electric car at less than $27,000.
Here’s a look at how these new rivals with the odd names stack up.
Note that for DC fast-charging rates, the automakers of most electric cars slow down the flow of electrons after the 80% threshold is reached to protect the battery from heat stress. It may take just 30 minutes to go from 10-80% of charge, but once past 80% it could take another two or three hours to reach 100%.
The VW ID.4 arrived not long after the Mustang Mach-E to offer a conservatively styled but spacious alternative to the Model Y. The tech falls short, with a touchscreen layout and climate controls that are needlessly complex, but the ID.4 is the least expensive electric crossover in our list, which goes a long way in our book, even if the range trails the leaders.
Powertrain: Single-motor rear-wheel drive or dual-motor all-wheel drive are offered, both with an 82-kWh (77 kWh usable) battery pack. The ID.4 Standard launched for 2023 has single-motor RWD and a 62-kWh (58 kWh usable) battery pack.
Output and range: Single-motor RWD models have 201 hp and 229 lb-ft, while AWD models get a boost to 295 hp and 339 lb-ft of torque, which cuts the 0-60 mph time from the seven-second range to the five-second range. The 2023 ID.4 Standard has a 208-mile range. The 2023 ID.4 Pro gets 112 MPGe and has a 280-mile range, while AWD drops it to 101 MPGe and 251 miles of range. Better-equipped ID.4 Pro S versions with AWD are rated at 95 MPGe and 245 miles of range.
Charge rates and times: Level 2 charging at 50 amps with VW’s 11-kW onboard converter takes about 7.5 hours. Level 3 DC fast-charging to 80% takes 38 minutes at up to 135 kW.
Price: VW charges $38,790 for the base Standard model, $41,955 for the Pro model with the bigger pack, or $45,635 for the Pro AWD. Pro S models start at $46,455 with rear-wheel drive or $50,135 with AWD. VW electrics still qualify for the full $7,500 credit.
Powertrains: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive with a 72.8-kWh pack. Unlike the Toyota BZ4X, it does not have a single-motor option in front-wheel drive.
Output and range: It makes 215 hp and 249 lb-ft, and has a range of up to 228 miles.
Charge rates and times: Level 2 charging at 6.6 kW takes about 13 hours. Level 3 DC fast-charging recoups up to 80% in less than an hour at a peak rate of 100 kW.
Price: The base Premium costs $46,220, including the $1,225 destination charge. The Touring tops the lineup at $53,220. Subaru vehicles qualify for the full federal EV tax credit of $7,500, depending on your tax liability.
Powertrains: Single-motor front-wheel-drive versions have a 71.4-kWh battery pack; dual-motor all-wheel-drive models use a 72.8-kWh pack.
Output and range: Single-motor models have an output of 201 hp and 196 lb-ft of torque, and an EPA-estimated range of 252 miles for the base XLE; dual-motors make 214 hp and 248 lb-ft and have a range up to 228 miles. EPA certification has not been completed yet.
Charge rates and times: Level 2 charging at 6.6 kW takes about 13 hours. Level 3 DC fast-charging on single-motor FWD models recoups up to 80% in 30 minutes at a peak rate of 150 kW; the dual-motor AWD versions take longer because the charge rate peaks at 100 kW.
Price: Single-motor versions start at $43,215, including $1,215 destination (all prices henceforth include destination fees). The AWD XLE costs $45,295, and the Limited tops the lineup at $49,995. Toyota vehicles qualify for the full federal EV tax credit of $7,500 until Q3 2022, then it’s halved to $3,750 until 2023, then halved again before full phase out by Q3 2023.
The Ioniq 5 combines retro hatchback styling cues with futuristic lighting and wheels and excellent packaging on the inside. It’s a rethink of how interior space can be optimized, and its 800-volt charging on 350-kw DC fast-charging is the kind of state-of-the-art tech found on EVs that are twice as expensive.
Powertrain: A 77.4-kWh battery pack and single-motor rear-wheel drive or dual-motor all-wheel drive. A smaller 58-kWh battery variant is planned but has not yet been released.
Output and range: A 168-kW single-motor model makes 225 hp and 258 lb-ft, and has a range of 303 miles and EPA efficiency of 114 MPGe; the AWD model has a 74-kW motor up front and 165-kW motor in the back that make 320 hp and 446 lb-ft, with a range of 256 miles and EPA efficiency of 98 MPGe.
Charge rates and times: Level 2 charging via a 10.9-kWh onboard charger takes less than seven hours for RWD models or 8.5 hours for AWD models. Thanks to the Ioniq 5’s large 800-volt battery system, it can DC fast-charge at a rate of 240 kW, and either battery size charges from 10-80% in just 18 minutes. At a 50-kW fast-charging station, it would take about an hour to recoup 80% of the charge. The Ioniq 5 and Kia EV6 have the fastest charging rates currently on the market, and with bi-directional charging, they can charge another EV or other electric devices.
Price: The base Ioniq 5 SE costs $44,825 (including $1,225 destination) while the top Limited trim costs $51,825; AWD costs $3,500 or $3,900 extra on the top Limited trim. The smaller 58-kWh battery pack model will start at $40,925. Hyundai electrics still qualify for the full $7,500 federal tax credit.
Kia uses the same platform and mechanicals as the Ioniq 5 but packages it in a sleeker, sportier style that looks as much like a fastback European tourer as it does an electric crossover. Unlike the Solterra and the BZ4X, the EV6 and Ioniq 5 will never be mistaken for one another. Unlike Hyundai, Kia sells the EV6 nationwide and offers the smaller battery pack and cheaper base model now.
Powertrains: A smaller 58-kWh battery pack and rear-wheel drive come with the Light model; a larger 77.4-kWh model can be had with single-motor rear-wheel drive or dual-motor all-wheel drive.
Output and range: The 58-kWh model has a 195-kW motor that makes 167 hp and 258 lb-ft, which is the same torque as models with the larger motor and battery pack; it has a range of 232 miles and EPA efficiency of 117 MPGe combined. The 77.4-kWh pack comes with a motor that makes 225 hp and 258 lb-ft; this model has the same efficiency rating but a range of up to 310 miles. Models with the larger pack and dual-motor AWD churn out 320 hp and 446 lb-ft, but performance sacrifices efficiency as the EPA rating falls to 105 MPGe combined and a range drops to 274 miles.
Charge rates and times: Level 2 charging via a 10.9-kwh onboard charger takes less than seven hours for RWD models or 8.5 hours for AWD models. Thanks to the EV6’s large 800-volt battery system, it can DC fast-charge at a rate of about 240 kw and either battery size charges from 10-80% in just 18 minutes. At a 50-kw fast-charging station, it would take about an hour to recoup 80% of charge. The Ioniq 5 and Kia EV6 have the fastest charging rates currently on the market, and with bi-directional charging, it can charge another EV or other electric devices.
Price: The base Light model costs $42,115, including a $1,255 destination fee. The larger pack with a single motor in Wind trim costs $48,225, and adding another motor for AWD adds $3,900. On the top $52,455 GT-Line, AWD adds $3,700. Kia electrics still qualify for the full $7,500 federal tax credit.
The Mustang Mach-E took the iconic muscle car name and was the first affordable electric crossover to face off against the Tesla Model Y. It mimics the touchscreen layout of Tesla, but can’t match the tech sophistication. Yet the Mach-E makes a compelling, rear-drive bridge from one era of accessible sports cars to another, and it has crossover versatility.
Powertrains: A 70-kWh Standard Range battery comes in single-motor rear-wheel-drive or dual-motor all-wheel-drive configurations; a 91-kWh Extended Range battery is also available.
Output and range: Single-motor versions make 266 or 290 hp and dual-motor models make 346 hp in the standard line and 480 hp and 600 lb-ft in the AWD GT. The Mach-E is quick in any form, with 0-60 mph times falling between a swift 6.1 seconds and a blazing 3.5 seconds. The Select RWD has a range of 247 miles, the GT has a range of 270 miles, and the Route 1 Extended Range with RWD has the best range at 314 miles.
Charge rates and times: Level 2 charging at 48 amps takes about 11 hours for RWD models. The Standard Range pack with DC fast-charging at a peak rate of 115 kW can charge at 80% in 38 minutes, and the Extended Range pack at a 150-kW peak takes about 45 minutes.
Price: The base Select model with rear-wheel drive and the Standard Range 70-kWh battery costs $43,995, and adding a second motor for AWD adds $2,700. Buyers have to move up to the $49,200 Premium model to get the Extended Range battery. At the top of the lineup, the Mustang Mach-E GT costs $61,095, and the GT Performance Edition adds another $5,000. Every Mach-E is eligible for the $7,500 federal EV tax credit for now, though Ford is on a similar EV sales trajectory as Toyota, so the phaseout could begin this year.
The electric compact crossover for the masses fulfilled its mission of being first to market, but Tesla betrayed its promise of affordability by increasing the price regularly, including at least a $10,000 jump in the past 18 months. Yet, despite some build quality issues, the brand’s bestseller in the U.S. remains the efficiency leader in its class and has the most sophisticated tech.
Powertrain: Both Long Range and Performance models have dual-motor all-wheel drive, but Tesla doesn’t disclose battery sizes or outputs. The battery pack is estimated to be 75 kWh of usable capacity.
Output and range: The AWD Performance model has been estimated at 480 hp, has a 0-60 mph time of 3.5 seconds, and a range of 303 miles. The AWD Long Range model hits 0-60 mph in 4.8 seconds and has a range of 330 miles.
Charge rates and times: Level 2 with 48 amps and an 11.5-kW converter takes more than seven hours. DC fast-charging at up to 210 w takes about 30 minutes to get to 80%.
Price: Long Range versions start at $64,990 (including a $1,200 destination charge) and Performance models start at $67,990. | https://www.wwlp.com/automotive/affordable-electric-cars-here-are-the-best-ev-suvs-under-50000/ | 2022-09-01T03:03:03Z | wwlp.com | control | https://www.wwlp.com/automotive/affordable-electric-cars-here-are-the-best-ev-suvs-under-50000/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
CLEVELAND (WJW) – Fill ‘er up! Circle K gas stations will be offering 40 cents off per gallon of fuel for three hours on one day only this week.
On Thursday, September 1, fuel will be available at the reduced price from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. local time.
“It’s been a challenging summer for travel, so we want to thank our customers for their loyalty by offering them additional savings ahead of the busy holiday weekend, ending the summer on a high note,” said Nathan Woodland, Head of North America Category Fuels at Circle K, in a Wednesday release.
The fuel sale will only be available at participating Circle K locations that sell Circle K-branded fuel.
Circle K has over 3,600 locations across the U.S. The company says more than half carry Circle K-branded fuel. You can find your nearest location here.
According to the company, the discount may be lower in some states “in accordance with applicable laws.” The price you see at the pump between 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. local time is the discounted price.
As long as you are in line for gas before 7 p.m., you will be able to receive the discount.
The national average for a gallon of gas in the U.S. is $3.84 as of Wednesday night, AAA reports. | https://www.wwlp.com/news/national/circle-k-offering-up-to-40-cents-off-per-gallon-heres-when/ | 2022-09-01T03:03:09Z | wwlp.com | control | https://www.wwlp.com/news/national/circle-k-offering-up-to-40-cents-off-per-gallon-heres-when/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
The Brian D. Allgood Army Community Hospital held a fire drill exercise to allow local fire fighters to get acquainted to the building in case of an emergency. This is the first fire drill of tis type in the facility and will allow the firefighters and hospital staff to be familiar with the procedures to take incase a fire were to occur.
This work, Camp Humphrey's BDAACH Fire Drill, by PFC Nathanial Johnson, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright. | https://www.dvidshub.net/video/855980/camp-humphreys-bdaach-fire-drill | 2022-09-01T03:04:10Z | dvidshub.net | control | https://www.dvidshub.net/video/855980/camp-humphreys-bdaach-fire-drill | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
The Brian D. Allgood Army Community Hospital held a fire drill exercise to allow local fire fighters to get acquainted to the building in case of an emergency. This is the first fire drill of tis type in the facility and will allow the firefighters and hospital staff to be familiar with the procedures to take incase a fire were to occur.
This work, Camp Humphrey's BDAACH Fire Drill, by PFC Nathanial Johnson, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright. | https://www.dvidshub.net/video/855981/camp-humphreys-bdaach-fire-drill | 2022-09-01T03:04:16Z | dvidshub.net | control | https://www.dvidshub.net/video/855981/camp-humphreys-bdaach-fire-drill | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
The Brian D. Allgood Army Community Hospital held a fire drill exercise to allow local fire fighters to get acquainted to the building in case of an emergency. This is the first fire drill of tis type in the facility and will allow the firefighters and hospital staff to be familiar with the procedures to take incase a fire were to occur.
This work, Camp Humphreys BDAACH Fire Drill, by PFC Nathanial Johnson, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright. | https://www.dvidshub.net/video/855983/camp-humphreys-bdaach-fire-drill | 2022-09-01T03:04:29Z | dvidshub.net | control | https://www.dvidshub.net/video/855983/camp-humphreys-bdaach-fire-drill | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Toy Review: Spawn Boxed Figures Series 2 and Bloody Variants
With McFarlane Toys‘ relaunch of Spawn comic-based figures an apparent success, the company continues the line with even more regular and deluxe boxed figures. Some are straight up modern remakes of older, less-articulated figures. Others give new designs to old favorites. With the latest group of Spawn boxed figures McFarlane sent us for review (save Cy-Gor, purchased individually), we get one repaint, one partial resculpt, and three new versions of characters done before. Some work significantly better than others.
The big winner of these five is the bloody version of The Clown. In addition to blood splatter all over his hands, legs, and chest, and a new, physics-defying, chainsaw-on-a-stick weapon, his guns now look like actual cannons and guns. They’re still cartoonishly absurd in proportions, but look much more like lethal weapons than on the original sculpt.
The bloody hands also address the previous figure’s issue that his hands’ flesh tone didn’t match his body’s. Choose splattered versions (above), or full red-drenched swap-outs that look like he’s wearing wet, red gloves (below). The splatter makes a better transition with the forearms.
Violator also gets a bloody variant, though the sculpt remains the same. The body color’s a little darker, though it feels more so because the dark red splatter gives it that feel overall. A fantastically detaield figure with extra gore — what’s not to like?
Bloody Violator also comes with a signed Todd McFarlane print. Todd’s autograph is easy enough to get that it’s likely not worth much, but it always looks cool.
The darker shade and the blood makes this Violator look more and more like a Stranger Things creature. Considering McFarlane made a toy Demogorgon, perhaps Todd got inspired.
RELATED: Toy Review: Spawn Figures Are Back, Bigger Than Before
When McFarlane Toys originally made a Spawn on throne figure, he was, like most at the time, stuck in one pose, with limited articulation. Though he did have a skull to hold, Hamlet-style. The new version ditches the skull, but features the full current McFarlane range of articulation.
That said, he looks best sitting.
The bottom curl of his cape is part of the throne, separate him from it, and only the hood and shoulders area attaches to him, though it’s easily removable if that’s preferred. The shoulder and butterfly joints seem a touch loose on him, and he’s quite light relative to other recent Spawns. But he is a new sculpt, with smoother texture that looks more like superhero spandex than rough symbiote texture.
The throne itself boasts a sculpt that gives a better sense of its component parts, but also makes it feel like a serpent rearing up.
It’s a shame to lose the skull, but the figure massively improves on the original. And that’s certainly not the case with every figure here.
Overtkill, the mafia-produced giant cyborg, was done to perfection in 2001 with a deluxe figure called Overtkill III. The newer figure of him resembles the newer comic version, so it may be a matter of taste. The design style seems to take a page out of Super-Patriot’s book, and the face looks very Resident Evil: Nemesis. A bit more color transition between the torso and the limbs might have helped.
The big surprise with Overtkill? His lightness. Most of him is hard, hollow, rotocast plastic. This makes him easy to pick up, and keeps his waist ball joint pretty loose. He feels almost more part of the RAW10 figure line than a Spawn. Still, with Overtkill III fetching around $100 online these days, fans who’d like an Overtkill now have one to afford. At least the sculpt is cool. It maintains that classic McFarlane aesthetic of detailed and dirty, like an intricate but smudged rough sketch brought into reality.
Finally we have Cy-Gor. An awesome sculpt nearly ruined by a major design flaw. Can you see it?
Look closer:
That waist joint, as they say, is fugly. Thanks to a super-loose crotch piece over elaborate hip articulation, he has a massive waist gap that shows off the figure’s articulation frame inside. It’s a botched attempt to execute the figure so he looks good on all fours and standing upright, but the rubbery crotch piece looks awful in the upright pose. However, hunch him down like a gorilla, and he recovers somewhat. It seriously seemed like a piece came accidentally unglued. But looking around online, you’ll find most folks who reviewed him had the same issue.
That one big flaw’s a shame, because the rest of him’s top-notch.
His articulation is limited somewhat by his size and by cables attaching his right arm to his body, but he does have limited ball joints where needed. Most importantly, the head can move into position for upright or all fours. But damn, McFarlane, if you do a bloody variant, FIX THAT CROTCH. A double ball joint ought to pull it off. It feels like some rushed execution — as does Overtkill, frankly. Violator and Clown just feel better put together and more fun.
Throne Spawn’s body will probably see reuse, as it’s versatile.
One packaging note. Some figures still use wire twist ties; many others sport the much-more annoying plastic shirt ties. Cy-Gor splits the difference with plastic twisties! Which are still better than shirt ties.
Bloody Clown and Bloody Violator sell exclusively at Gamestop. As of this writing, they sell for around $35 and $50, respectively, which sounds surprisingly reasonable for that particular outlet. Entertainment Earth has the rest for similar pricing. (Superhero Hype is an affiliate partner of Entertainment Earth, and may earn fees from purchase made through site links.)
Take a look through the gallery below for more images. Let us know your thoughts in comments.
Recommended Purchase: Spawn Series 4 Cy-Gor Action Figure
We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. This affiliate advertising program also provides a means to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. | https://www.superherohype.com/geek-culture/518444-toy-review-spawn-boxed-figures-series-2-and-bloody-variants | 2022-09-01T03:07:07Z | superherohype.com | control | https://www.superherohype.com/geek-culture/518444-toy-review-spawn-boxed-figures-series-2-and-bloody-variants | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Members of the P.E.O Chapter L in Rock Springs portrayed The Seven Sisters during a presentation as they celebrated Founders' Day with other Wyoming chapters on Saturday, Aug. 27 at the First Congregational Church. From left to are Dorothy Cook, Lori Grube, Charlese Howe, Sue Kearns (narrator), Teresa Anderson, Brenda Gray, Margaret Kinder and Susan Magnuson.
ROCK SPRINGS -- Chapter L of the Wyoming P.E.O. Sisterhood welcomed members of Chapters L, AE, AY, BC, and BE to the annual observance of Founders’ Day on Saturday, Aug. 27 at the First Congregational Church.
Founders Day is celebrated each year by members in the United States and Canada. A highlight of this year’s observance was the attendance of State President, Sharon Johnson of Chapter BE in Pinedale.
Members went back into time by portraying the seven sisters who founded P.E.O., a philanthropic, educational organization founded on January 21, 1869, at Iowa Wesleyan University.
The seven young women wanted to start a ‘society of our own.’
Each of them pretended to write letters to loved ones, sharing their experiences with the society they created in Mount Pleasant, Iowa in 1869.
P.E.O. Chapter L member Sue Kearns was the narrator.
The following members of the P.E.O Chapter L played the seven sisters during their presentation:
Alice Bird Babb was portrayed by Margaret Kinder
Franc Roads Elliot was portrayed by Susan Magnuson
Mary Allen Stafford was portrayed by Dorothy Cook
Alice Virginia Coffin was portrayed by Brenda Gray
Susie Pearson Penfield was portrayed by Teresa Anderson
Hattie Briggs Bousquet was portrayed by Charlese Howe
Ella Stewart was portrayed by Lori Grube
“It is impossible to know them fully but, in truth, it is by their proof that we know them through P.E.O. and today, our hats go off to the founding sisters of P.E.O.,” said Kearns after the presentation.
A highlight of this year’s observance was the attendance of State President, Sharon Johnson of Chapter BE in Pinedale.
Johnson pointed out that this year’s theme is “Sisterly love inspires.”
According to Johnson, the legacy of P.E.O. has been built on love, faith, purity, justice and truth – their five virtues.
“It’s not just about education, it’s about the relationships among sisters,” said Johnson.
As of April 2022, the organization has provided more than $398 million in grants, scholarships, awards, and loans to help women pursue their educational goals.
In September 2021, Chapter L celebrated its 100th anniversary. Sweetwater County Chapters, L, AE, BC in Rock Springs and AY in Green River, have over 150 members.
Women interested in pursuing educational goals are urged to visit the P.E.O. website peointernational.org | https://www.wyomingnews.com/rocketminer/helping-women-reach-for-the-stars-wyoming-p-e-o-members-celebrate-founders-day/article_db55245a-299c-11ed-a0eb-e7eef1fe5e81.html | 2022-09-01T03:08:08Z | wyomingnews.com | control | https://www.wyomingnews.com/rocketminer/helping-women-reach-for-the-stars-wyoming-p-e-o-members-celebrate-founders-day/article_db55245a-299c-11ed-a0eb-e7eef1fe5e81.html | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
There's a surge of high-profile unionizing and union activity going on in the U.S. workforce, from media to food and retail industries.
A labor union is an organized group of workers who make decisions about working conditions like retirement plans, insurance and wages. They bargain with the employer on behalf of its employees.
A recent Gallup poll found that 71% of Americans approve of labor unions. That's the highest percentage recorded since 1965, and according to data from last year, there was near unanimous approval among Democrat respondents, reaching a record high of 90%.
So, what's behind all this unusual, sudden union activity, and is this really a sign of lasting change?
"Our social welfare system is employer provided, and what I mean by that is we get our health care, we get our private pensions, etc., through our employers," said Lane Windham, associate director of the Kalmanovitz Initiative for Labor and the Working Poor at Georgetown University. "In other countries, a lot of that comes through government, through the state, and that sets up a system in the United States that gives corporations a heavy incentive to stop workers from forming unions."
SEE MORE: Why Are Layoffs On The Rise?
Union membership rates have actually been on a steady decline since the 1960s. At their height, nearly a third of Americans were in a union. By 2021, that's down to about 10%. That drop is particularly stark for the private sector. While about a third of public sectors jobs have consistently belonged to unions, private sector jobs have declined, down to about 6% last year.
There are a few reasons for why this could be. Some industries where unions dominated in the 1950s, like manufacturing, declined over the next few decades. But also over time, employers gained newfound empowerment in disrupting any organizing. Much of that has to do with the changing political winds in the 70s and 80s.
"In the 1970s, employers begin to have to make a profit within a globalized capitalism," Windham said. "They are now competing with corporations all over the globe, and so where are they going to be able to make a profit margin?"
"What you see in the 1970s is that corporations began to bend and break labor law at a whole new level," Windham said. "The number of unfair labor practice charges against employers in the 1970s doubles, and you also see the rise in this time of the anti-union consultant industry."
In 1981, things came to ahead with a strike of federally employed air traffic controllers. There, former President Ronald Reagan threatened to fire the workers and ban them from the industry unless they return to work within 48 hours, saying, "But we cannot compare labor management relations in the private sector with government. Government cannot close down the assembly line."
To be clear, a strike is technically illegal for air traffic controllers in the U.S. without going through the proper steps, and the process to authorize a strike is purposefully complicated to keep airlines from shutting down. But, it wasn't until this moment that those rules were enforced on such a massive scale. Reagan ended up firing and banning more than 11,000 workers who refused to cross picket lines.
"The fact that Ronald Reagan fired the air traffic controllers sent a message that workers both in the public and private sector did not really have a full freedom to form unions," Windham said. "It chilled any radicalism. It chilled any effort to effectively build their movement."
In the following years, the average number of major strikes per year plummeted.
Employers became emboldened to replace striking workers, so the downward trend of union membership continued to the record-lows now showing up in the past couple of years.
So, what turned the tide in recent years?
"Think about the early days of the pandemic," Windham said. "Remember we celebrated essential workers, we banged pots and pans for them, we waved at the delivery truck drivers. Then, we watched as all those essential workers went back to the same kind of dead-end jobs, and people really saw how unjust our system is."
Going into 2021, companies started recording record profits as the economy came roaring back from pandemic lows, growing to the fastest full-year rise since 1984. There was also a historic job shortage, as employers struggled to recruit and retain workers. This combination of things made a perfect storm for unionization efforts: For workers, suddenly, the bargaining ball was in their court.
That's especially true for industries dependent on so-called "essential workers," like retail or food and restaurants.
Though there is a visible jump in the number of workplaces starting to organize — that number doubled from 2020 to 2021 — that doesn't necessarily translate to unionization successes.
SEE MORE: Starbucks Asks Labor Board To Halt Union Votes Temporarily
Earlier this year, two Apple stores filed paperwork to begin organizing. The momentum fizzled out, however, after Apple hired anti-union lawyers, sent out warnings against unionizing and eventually gave a pay raise to retail workers.
Four Amazon warehouses have recently held elections to form a union, but all but one have decisively voted against it. Those losses include a second warehouse on Staten Island in New York.
Starbucks is embroiled in a number of legal battles after allegedly firing workers for organizing unions and being accused of shutting down stores that successfully voted to unionize.
In the U.S., it's a long, long road from generating momentum for union efforts to actually winning that victory.
Newsy is the nation’s only free 24/7 national news network. You can find Newsy using your TV’s digital antenna or stream for free. See all the ways you can watch Newsy here. | https://www.wtxl.com/news/national/a-changing-tide-for-unionizing-in-the-us | 2022-09-01T03:11:23Z | wtxl.com | control | https://www.wtxl.com/news/national/a-changing-tide-for-unionizing-in-the-us | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
GENEVA (AP) — China's discriminatory detention of Uyghurs and other mostly Muslim ethnic groups in the western region of Xinjiang may constitute crimes against humanity, the U.N. human rights office said in a long-awaited report Wednesday, which cited "serious" rights violations and patterns of torture in recent years.
The report seeks "urgent attention" from the U.N. and the world community to rights violations in Beijing's campaign to root out terrorism.
U.N. human rights chief Michelle Bachelet, facing pressure on both sides, brushed aside multiple Chinese calls for her office to withhold the report, which follows her own, much-criticized trip to Xinjiang in May. Beijing contends the report is part of a Western campaign to smear China's reputation.
The report has fanned a tug-of-war for diplomatic influence with the West over the rights of the region's native Uyghurs and other ethnic groups.
The report, which Western diplomats and U.N. officials said had been all but ready for months, was published with just minutes to go in Bachelet's four-year term. It was unexpected to break significant new ground beyond sweeping findings from researchers, advocacy groups and journalists who have documented concerns about human rights in Xinjiang for several years.
But the 48-page report comes with the imprimatur of the United Nations and its member countries — notably including rising superpower China itself. The report largely corroborates earlier reporting by advocacy groups and others and injects U.N heft behind the outrage that victims and their families have expressed about China's policies in Xinjiang.
"Beijing's repeated denial of the human rights crisis in Xinjiang rings ever-more hollow with this further recognition of the evidence of ongoing crimes against humanity and other human rights violation in the region," Agnes Callamard, Amnesty International's secretary-general, said in a statement.
The run-up to the report's release fueled a debate over China's influence at the world body and epitomized the on-and-off diplomatic chill between Beijing and the West over human rights, among other sore spots.
China shot back, saying the U.N. rights office ignored human rights "achievements" made together by "people of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang."
"Based on the disinformation and lies fabricated by anti-China forces and out of presumption of guilt, the so-called 'assessment' distorts China's laws, wantonly smears and slanders China, and interferes in China's internal affairs," read a letter from China's diplomatic mission in Geneva issued in response to the U.N. report.
China released a 122-page report titled "Fight Against Terrorism and Extremism in Xinjiang: Truth and Facts" that defended its record and was distributed by the U.N. with its assessment.
The U.N. report says "serious human rights violations" have been committed in Xinjiang under China's policies to fight terrorism and extremism, which singled out Uyghurs and other predominantly Muslim communities, between 2017 and 2019.
The report cites "patterns of torture" inside what Beijing called vocational training centers, which were part of its reputed plan to boost economic development in region, and it points to "credible" allegations of torture or ill-treatment, including cases of sexual violence.
Above all, perhaps, the report warns that the "arbitrary and discriminatory detention" of such groups in Xinjiang, through moves that stripped them of "fundamental rights … may constitute international crimes, in particular crimes against humanity."
The report called on China to release all individuals arbitrarily detained and to clarify the whereabouts of individuals who have disappeared and whose families are seeking information about them.
The report was drawn in part from interviews with former detainees and others familiar with conditions at eight detention centers. Its authors suggest China was not always forthcoming with information, saying requests for some specific sets of information "did not receive formal response."
The rights office said it could not confirm estimates of how many people were detained in the internment camps in Xinjiang, but added it was "reasonable to conclude that a pattern of large-scale arbitrary detention occurred" at least between 2017 and 2019.
According to investigations by researchers and journalists, the Chinese government's mass detention campaign in Xinjiang swept an estimated million or more Uyghurs and other ethnic groups into a network of prisons and camps over the past five years.
Beijing has closed many of the camps, but hundreds of thousands continue to languish in prison on vague, secret charges.
The report said that reports of sharp increases in arrests and lengthy prison sentences in the region strongly suggested a shift toward formal incarceration as the principal means for large-scale imprisonment and deprivation of liberty — instead of the use of the "vocational training centers" once touted by Beijing.
"This is of particular concern given the vague and capacious definitions of terrorism, 'extremism' and public security related offenses under domestic criminal law," the report said, saying it could lead to lengthy sentences, "including for minor offenses or for engaging in conduct protected by international human rights law."
Some countries, including the United States, have accused Beijing of committing genocide in Xinjiang. The U.N. report made no mention of genocide.
Bachelet said in recent months that she received pressure from both sides to publish — or not publish — the report and resisted it all, treading a fine line while noting her experience with political squeeze during her two terms as president of Chile.
In June, Bachelet said she would not seek a new term as rights chief and promised the report would be released by her departure date on Aug. 31. That led to a swell in back-channel campaigns — including letters from civil society, civilians and governments on both sides of the issue. She hinted last week her office might miss her deadline, saying it was "trying" to release it before her exit.
Bachelet had set her sights on Xinjiang on taking office in September 2018, but Western diplomats voiced concern in private that over her term, she did not challenge China enough when other rights monitors had cited abuses against Uyghurs and others in Xinjiang.
In a statement from her office early Thursday, Bachelet said she had wanted to take "the greatest care" to deal with responses and input received from the Chinese government last week. Such reports are typically shared with the concerned country before final publication, but generally to check facts — not to allow vetting or influence of the final report.
"I said that I would publish it before my mandate ended and I have," she said after the report was published.
Critics had said a failure to publish the report would have been a glaring black mark on her tenure, and the pressure from some countries made her job harder.
"To be perfectly honest, the politicization of these serious human rights issues by some states did not help," said Bachelet, who early on staked out a desire to cooperate with governments.
"I appeal to the international community not to instrumentalize real, serious human rights issues for political ends, but rather to work to support efforts to strengthen the protection and promotion of human rights," she added.
Her trip to the region in May was widely criticized by human rights groups, the U.S. administration and other governments as a public relations exercise for China.
Hours before the publication, the spokesman for U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, Stephane Dujarric, said the U.N. chief had "no involvement" in how the report was drafted or handled, citing his commitment to Bachelet's independence.
Sophie Richardson, China director at Human Rights Watch, said Bachelet's "damning findings explain why the Chinese government fought tooth and nail to prevent the publication of her Xinjiang report, which lays bare China's sweeping rights abuses."
Richardson urged the 47-member Human Rights Council, whose next session is in September, to investigate the allegations and hold those responsible to account.
___
Lederer reported from the United Nations. Ken Moritsugu in Beijing contributed to this report. | https://www.wtxl.com/news/national/un-cites-possible-crimes-vs-humanity-in-chinas-xinjiang | 2022-09-01T03:11:47Z | wtxl.com | control | https://www.wtxl.com/news/national/un-cites-possible-crimes-vs-humanity-in-chinas-xinjiang | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Two dead in apparent murder-suicide in Woodbridge, prosecutor says
From Staff Reports
WOODBRIDGE – Two people have died in an apparent murder-suicide on Soren Street, announced the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office Wednesday night.
Woodbridge police responded at 4:37 p.m. after receiving a 911 call about an unresponsive woman laying on a front lawn of a Soren Street home, according the prosecutor’s office. Arriving officers found two people dead at the scene, the prosecutor’s office said, in what is being investigated as a murder-suicide.
The prosecutor’s office said there is no threat to the public and provided no additional information. | https://www.mycentraljersey.com/story/news/crime/2022/09/01/woodbridge-nj-soren-street-shooting-apparent-murder-suicide-says-prosecutor/65467179007/ | 2022-09-01T03:11:50Z | mycentraljersey.com | control | https://www.mycentraljersey.com/story/news/crime/2022/09/01/woodbridge-nj-soren-street-shooting-apparent-murder-suicide-says-prosecutor/65467179007/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
NJ India Day Parade organizer issues apology for 'blatant divisive symbols'
EDISON – The president of the Indian Business Association has issued a letter of apology to the mayors of Edison and Woodbridge for including a divisive image in the 2022 India Independence Day parade that offended some community members and sparked backlash against the organization.
The organization’s president also pledged to ban similar symbols from parades in the future.
"Our parade should never be about politics and should never include these blatant divisive symbols. Our parade should recognize us as South Asians living in two of the best towns in the country," Chandrakant Patel, Indian Business Association president said, in an Aug. 30 letter to Edison Mayor Sam Joshi and Woodbridge Mayor John McCormac.
McCormac declined to comment, and a message seeking comment from Joshi has not been returned.
"We hereby made the commitment that we will not allow these symbols in the future and that we will work with all different groups of South Asian heritage to make sure that our parade remains the best in the State of New Jersey," Patel's letter states.
Patel said in his letter that the organization offers sincere apologies for certain aspects of the parade that "reflected poorly on our organization and offended the Indian American minority groups, especially Muslims, from the local area and across the state and country,"
On Aug. 14 the Indian Business Association hosted an India Day parade along Oak Tree Road from Edison to Woodbridge, two Central Jersey communities with large Asian Indian populations and business districts. The parade marked the 75th anniversary of India's independence.
This year's parade also featured a piece of construction equipment viewed as a symbol of hate, particularly by the Muslim community. Last week a large group, many from the Asian Indian community, turned out at two different Edison Township Council meetings to voice their opposition on the meaning and use of the symbol. Some council members, who were initially unaware of the meaning behind the construction equipment, called for the Indian Business Association to be held accountable.
"The parade should be and has always been about a celebration of our Indian heritage and inclusion and diversity among our many different cultures and religions," Patel said in his letter. "Unfortunately there was a bulldozer among the floats in the parade which is a divisive image that did not reflect our mission. It was seen quite negatively by many who are deeply impacted and insulted by certain activities that have been happening in India. Many who participated or watched the parade or heard about the activities from social media accounts were offended by this symbol and by comments made by our guest speaker and that was not our intention."
Selaedin Maksut, executive director of CAIR-NJ, the New Jersey chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, said the IBA's apology acknowledged its wrongdoing, which he said is a step toward making future parades representative of the Indian population, including Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Dalits and Tribals.
"We agree that future parades cannot include blatantly divisive symbols and guest speakers and should never be about politics. Such hatred cannot be tolerated. Instead the parade should celebrate India's independence and rich culture and diversity," Maksut said.
He also thanked McCormac for taking the community's concerns seriously and calling for the IBA to issue a public apology.
"The bulldozer is a symbol of intimidation and support for the oppression of minorities in India. Such hateful symbols have no place on our streets," said Maksut, adding McCormac expressed a desire to establish an advisory committee with the objective to ensure that the IBA's commitment is maintained. "This effort meets the need for accountability, going beyond acknowledgment."
Email: srussell@gannettnj.com
Suzanne Russell is a breaking news reporter for MyCentralJersey.com covering crime, courts and other mayhem. To get unlimited access, please subscribe or activate your digital account today. | https://www.mycentraljersey.com/story/news/local/middlesex-county/2022/08/31/nj-india-day-parade-organizer-apologizes-muslim-symbols/65466566007/ | 2022-09-01T03:11:56Z | mycentraljersey.com | control | https://www.mycentraljersey.com/story/news/local/middlesex-county/2022/08/31/nj-india-day-parade-organizer-apologizes-muslim-symbols/65466566007/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) — The Florida State volleyball team (3-1) used an impressive rally in the first set to kickstart a 3-0 win (27-25, 25-19, 25-20) over the Florida A&M Rattlers (0-4) in a cross-town matchup Wednesday night in Tully Gym.
Wednesday’s win marked the eighth consecutive season that the Noles have won their home opener. The Noles also have won 25 consecutive games against the Rattlers dating back to 1982.
In set one, the Noles had to use an impressive rally to fight off the pesky Rattlers. The Rattlers took a 21-15 advantage, but the Noles took five out of the next six points to cut the lead to two. The Rattlers took the next point to take a 23-20 lead, but the Noles rallied again with three points of their own to tie the set. The Noles fought off set point and eventually went on to win 27-25.
The Noles were able to take control of set two after a slow start thanks to a 5-1 run to put the Noles up 16-11. The Noles were able to stay in rhythm to take a 2-0 lead in the match with a 25-19 victory.
The Noles led start to finish in an impressive third set. The Noles held the Rattlers to a .000 hitting percentage while the Noles hit .294 in the match-clinching set.
The Noles held the Rattlers to just a .092 hitting percentage on the while the Noles hit .257. Emily Ryan had a big night for the Noles with 10 kills on 15 attempts. Khori Louis was a force at the net with five blocks to go along with her seven kills.
Brooke Lynn Watts led FAMU with eight kills, Nina Sharpton posted 24 assists, while Brooke Hudson had 16 digs. | https://www.wtxl.com/sports/college-sports/florida-state-tops-florida-a-m-in-indoor-womens-volleyball-match | 2022-09-01T03:11:59Z | wtxl.com | control | https://www.wtxl.com/sports/college-sports/florida-state-tops-florida-a-m-in-indoor-womens-volleyball-match | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
FILE - Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg speaks at Georgetown University in Washington, Thursday, Oct. 17, 2019. Federal regulators, Wednesday, July 27, 2022, took legal action to block Facebook parent Meta and CEO Mark Zuckerberg from acquiring virtual reality company Within Unlimited and its fitness app Supernatural, asserting the deal would hurt competition and violate antitrust laws. (AP Photo/Nick Wass, File)
KAPAA, Hawaii (KITV4) -- A Kauai construction company is suing Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s company for not receiving a payment of more than $130,000 for work it has completed on the billionaire tech titan’s North Shore Kauai property.
The recently-filed lawsuit says that in March 2020, Zuckerberg’s company Pilaa Land LLC contracted Kapaa’s Williams Construction LLC to build a “Jungle House & Cabin,” as well as “Tree Houses” on Zuckerberg’s property in Kilauea.
Williams Construction says it billed and sent a written demand for the payment in the amount of $133,726.47 to ORBT LLC, a company affiliated with Pilaa Land.
However, the Kapaa construction company says ORBT has failed and/or refused to make payment in accordance with its requests.
To that end, Williams Construction has claimed a lien upon the fee simple interest in the property an all of its improvements, according to court documents.
KITV4 News has reached out to Pilaa Land’s spokesperson for comment.
This story will be updated when more information is released.
Duane Shimogawa has more than 15 years of experience in the media industry with stints as a reporter/anchor at several TV and radio stations, as well as newspapers such as Pacific Business News, Hawaii News Now, KNDU/KNDO-TV, and more. | https://www.kitv.com/news/business/kauai-construction-company-sues-facebooks-mark-zuckerbergs-company-over-nonpayment/article_a480b46c-2997-11ed-93a7-ab74ff76cf6c.html | 2022-09-01T03:24:26Z | kitv.com | control | https://www.kitv.com/news/business/kauai-construction-company-sues-facebooks-mark-zuckerbergs-company-over-nonpayment/article_a480b46c-2997-11ed-93a7-ab74ff76cf6c.html | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
As Mississippi's capital faces a third day without reliable water service Wednesday -- pushing some residents to stand in long lines for bottled water and keeping schools and businesses closed -- the mayor says he hopes water service can be restored this week.
The problem came to a head Monday, when river flooding nudged an already-hobbling main treatment plant to failure, meaning Jackson couldn't necessarily produce enough water to flush toilets or even fight fires, officials say. The water system has been troubled for years and the city already was under a boil-water notice since late July.
Officials "are optimistic that we can see water restored to our residents within this week" in the city of roughly 150,000 residents, Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba told CNN Wednesday.
"There is a huge mountain to climb in order to achieve that," he said. Crews "are working persistently to restore the pressure, to refill the tanks across the city," Lumumba said.
Gov. Tate Reeves tweeted Wednesday that an emergency rental pump that will pump an additional 4 million gallons of water is being installed at Jackson's water facility.
"More to be done, but the work is happening at an incredible pace!," Reeves tweeted.
The governor also declared an emergency and activated the National Guard to help distribute bottled water, and said he sent resources for urgent repairs and maintenance at the plant. Some service already has improved, and truckloads of water are coming for distribution to the public, officials said.
President Joe Biden, who signed a major disaster declaration Tuesday triggering assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, spoke to Lumumba on Wednesday to discuss emergency efforts, the White House said.
Lumumba said Wednesday that he spoke extensively with Biden and separately with Harris about the situation in Jackson.
"Both assured me that the eyes of Washington are watching the city of Jackson. They wanted us to know that we should expect the full arm of support from the federal government in every way that they possibly can," mayor said. "And they assured me their support was going to be demonstrated through long-range and long-term efforts through the EPA."
Advocates have previously pointed to systemic and environmental racism as among the causes of Jackson's ongoing water issues and lack of resources to address them. About 82.5% of Jackson's population identifies as Black or African American, according to census data, while the state's legislature is majority White.
The water system has suffered from "deferred maintenance over three decades or more," and the city will need funding help to catch up, Lumumba said earlier this week.
Water crisis upends nearly all aspects of Jackson
While local, state and federal agencies are trying to mitigate the water crisis, it is still upending nearly all aspects of life in the city, where public schools shifted to virtual learning Tuesday.
Cassandra Welchlin, a mother of three, told CNN her kids are out of school and they've had to buy water to cook, brush their teeth and for other basic necessities.
Brown water has been running from her taps, said Welchlin, executive director of the Mississippi Black Women's Roundtable.
"We still would not use that water. We don't boil it to do anything with it because grit is in the water," she said. "It's a really bad public safety issue."
Local businesses are also struggling to stay afloat, Dan Blumenthal and his partner Jeff E. Good, who own Broad Street Bakery & Cafe, BRAVO! Italian restaurant and bar and Sal and Mookie's New York Pizza and Ice Cream Shop, told CNN.
All three businesses are owned by the management company Mangia Bene Restaurant Management Group Inc.
Blumenthal said the restaurants were able to recover after Covid-19, but the current water crisis has brought on similar staffing issues. Tanya Burns, who has managed BRAVO! for the last 12 years, told CNN that she has seen a 10% to 20% decrease in foot traffic since the boiling water advisory started four weeks ago.
"It feels like Covid to me with the way things are going," Blumenthal said. "We had to let all of our staff go after Covid and now we're not letting them go but we're worried they'll jump ship and go to another county where they can make money."
The most affected business sector is the city's hospitality industry, said Jeff Rent, president and CEO at Greater Jackson Chamber Partnership.
"Hotels and restaurants, already on thin margins, either cannot open or they have to make special accommodations including the purchase of ice, water and soft drinks," Rent said.
Even the process of distributing bottled water to residents has had difficulties. At a distribution event Tuesday at Hawkins Field Airport, residents waited in a line more than a mile long -- and some were turned away when the site ran out of its 700 cases of water in just two hours.
Some stores ran thin of supplies. Jackson resident Jeraldine Watts was able to snag some of the last water bottle cases at a grocery store Monday, she told CNN. She and her family have been using bottled or boiled tap water for everything, including cooking and washing dishes.
"I keep saying we're going to be the next Michigan," Watts said, "and it looks like that's exactly what we're headed for."
Watts was referring to Flint, Michigan, which was hit with a water crisis around 2015 when tainted drinking water containing lead and other toxins was detected in homes and residents reported children suffering from mysterious illnesses.
Corean Wheeler, who picked up a case of water at a local church, said she feels "disenfranchised" by the city's water crisis.
"You don't even want to wash your hands in this water," said Wheeler, 72. "You can't drink it, you can't cook with it, you can't even give it to your pet. We are constantly paying water bills and we can't use the water. We feel like we are living in a third world country in America and that's kind of bad."
Jackson's University of Mississippi Medical Center said air conditioning at one facility is not functioning properly because of low water pressure, and portable restrooms are being used at other facilities.
Water crisis interrupts campus life at JSU
At Jackson State University, there is "low to no water pressure at all campus locations," and water is being delivered to students, officials said. The university's head football coach, Deion Sanders, said its football program is in "crisis mode."
Sophomore Erin Washington told CNN, "It's like we're living in a nightmare right now." Washington has already booked her flight home to Chicago.
"The water would be brown and kind of smell like sewage water," said JSU freshman Jaylyn Clarke, who decided to go back home to New Orleans until the water situation is resolved.
The university is working to make provisions for the 2,000 students who live on campus, university president Thomas K. Hudson told CNN on Wednesday. Portable showers and toilets have been set up across campus and classes were virtual for the week.
Hudson said Jackson State has a stash of drinking water that it keeps for emergencies. The university is also bringing in clean water to keep the chillers operating for air conditioning in the dorms, Hudson said.
"It's their frustration that I'm concerned about," Hudson said. "It's the fact that this is interrupting their learning. So what we try to do is really focus on how we can best meet their needs."
What happened, and what officials say is being done
Though Jackson has seen numerous water issues over the years, acute problems cascaded since at least late July, when the state imposed a boil-water notice for Jackson after high levels of turbidity, or cloudiness, were noticed at the city's O.B. Curtis Water Treatment Plant. The cloudiness carries higher chances that the water could contain disease-causing organisms, the city said.
Around the same time, the main pumps at O.B. Curtis -- the city's main treatment plant -- were severely damaged, forcing the facility to operate on smaller backup pumps, Reeves said this week without elaborating on the damage. The city announced August 9 that the troubled pumps were being pulled offline.
The governor said he was told Friday that "it was a near-certainty that Jackson would fail to produce running water sometime in the next several weeks or months if something did not materially improve."
Then, flooding: Heavy rains last week pushed the Pearl River to overflow and flood some Jackson streets, cresting Monday.
O.B. Curtis received additional water from a reservoir because of the flooding, and that changed the way the plant treated the water, causing the plant to produce even less than it was, and that severely lowered the water pressure across the city, Lumumba said Monday.
Some improvements have been made at the plant, but more is needed, state officials have said.
On Tuesday, the plant was pumping about 30 million gallons of a day; it is rated to pump about 50 million gallons a day, Jim Craig, director of health protection at the state health department, told reporters Tuesday.
Reeves previewed the installation Tuesday night, saying a rented pump "will allow us to put at least 4 million gallons" more into the system.
"That is progress and will help," Reeves said Tuesday. It wasn't immediately clear how long the installation would take or how soon it could impact the city's water flow.
Reeves has said the state would split the cost of emergency repairs with the city.
On Wednesday, an additional pump was installed at the plant, Lumumba said. Despite some issues with water pressure -- which is measured in pounds per square inch (psi) -- on Tuesday night, the mayor said the city expects water pressure to increase Wednesday night.
"The goal is to get psi on the surface system to 87psi," Lumumba said, explaining the pressure at midnight was 40psi.
The mayor is still asking residents to continue boiling water.
"It is safe to take baths in, it is safe to wash your hands. However, if you are drinking or cooking with it, we ask you to boil that water. If you're washing the dishes, we ask that you boil the water in that circumstance to make certain that it is safe for you," he said.
As a fuller solution, Lumumba has said it would take $2 billion to fully repair and replace the dated water and sewer systems, and that's money the city isn't close to having.
"I have said on multiple occasions that it's not a matter of 'if' our system would fail, but a matter of 'when' our system would fail," the mayor said Tuesday, adding that the city has been "going at it alone for the better part of two years" when it comes to the water crisis.
Lumumba added that there will be water distributions across the city Monday through Friday starting at 5 p.m., Saturday at 11 a.m. and Sunday at 1 p.m..
"The city of Jackson has brought in tankers to distribute non-potable water to residents in need. Residents are asked to bring a container, such as a garbage can or a cooler to store the water. This is not water to be consumed, this is the water for sanitary needs of flushing toilets and things of that nature," the mayor said.
Beginning Thursday, seven mega distribution sites with 36 truckloads of water will be available each a day for the public, Lt. Col. Stephen McCraney, director of the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency, said Tuesday.
Corporations like Anheuser-Busch, Walmart and Save A Lot, as well as volunteer organizations are also donating water to the city, McCraney added.
The city is also providing flushing water, Jackson City Councilman Aaron Banks told CNN.
"One of the first things that we realized is that people need to be able to flush, because that becomes a problem as far as making sure that people have that quality of life that they need," he said.
"At the end of the day, we need a fix and the same attention that was given to Flint, Michigan, we need that same attention given to Jackson," Banks said.
A local church is also helping to distribute water in the meantime. At New Jerusalem Church in southwest Jackson, Malcolm Pickett was seen Wednesday loading cases of water from a trailer into trunks and backseats. He announced on social media earlier he'd be giving out water at the church led by his father Pastor Dwayne K. Pickett.
"They are scared to use the water and that's the biggest thing," Malcolm Pickett said. "We are all about helping people."
At Jackson State, some students are raising money to buy water for Jackson residents in need, and have created a hotline that those residents can call to ask for help.
Maise Brown, 20, a junior at Jackson State, organized the group of about 20 students, called Mississippi Student Water Crisis Advocacy Team. The group launched a social media campaign Tuesday to raise money and to publicize the hotline.
As of Wednesday morning, the group raised about $2,000 and received about 10 calls asking for help.
"We had disabled residents calling us ... for help," Brown said. "We also had people who live outside the city call us and ask us to help their elderly parents."
The group plans to knock on the doors of homes, hoping to reach people who might not see its social media campaign, Brown said.
Long-standing issues at troubled water system
Jackson's water system has been faced serious issues for years.
In early 2020, the Jackson water system failed an Environmental Protection Agency inspection, which found the drinking water had the potential to be host to harmful bacteria or parasites.
In February 2021, a severe winter storm hit, freezing and bursting pipes and leaving many residents without water for a month.
"Since that time, there has not been a month where we have not experienced no-flow to low-flow in certain areas in south Jackson, and so it's very frustrating," Banks, the city councilman, told CNN.
In July 2021, the EPA and the city entered into an agreement to address "long-term challenges and make needed improvements to the drinking water system." The EPA also recently announced $74.9 million in federal water and sewer infrastructure funds for Mississippi.
The-CNN-Wire
™ & © 2022 Cable News Network, Inc., a Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All rights reserved. | https://www.kitv.com/news/national/jackson-mississippi-mayor-says-he-hopes-water-service-can-be-restored-this-week-as-residents/article_dd5c30f5-4e89-5bbb-919e-c806d045155f.html | 2022-09-01T03:24:32Z | kitv.com | control | https://www.kitv.com/news/national/jackson-mississippi-mayor-says-he-hopes-water-service-can-be-restored-this-week-as-residents/article_dd5c30f5-4e89-5bbb-919e-c806d045155f.html | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
As of August 26, 2022, Celestyal Cruises will further ease its cruise protocols for all of its sailings, adding that masks will no longer be a mandatory requirement onboard.
Although guests 12 and over must continue to be fully vaccinated, guests will now have more time to pre-cruise test. The line will now accept antigen tests taken within 48 hours and PCR tests taken no more than 72 hours prior to embarkation.
Celestyal Cruises Eases Travel Requirements
Following the recent trend amongst major cruise liners, Greece-based Celestyal Cruises released on Wednesday that it will ease its current travel protocols, no longer requiring masks onboard, previously required for all indoor areas.
As the number one choice for those traveling the Greek Islands and Eastern Mediterranean, the cruise line will continue to require guests over 11 years of age to be fully vaccinated; however, Celestyal’s pre-cruise testing timeframe has been relaxed further for added convenience.
Previously, guests were required to test within 24 hours of embarkation. For sailings beginning August 26, 2022, all guests will need to have a negative COVID antigen test result or a negative PCR test result taken within 72 hours of embarkation at hand to board.
Celestyal Cruises’ Chief Commercial Officer, Leslie Peden shared, “In accordance with updated guidelines from the European Healthy Gateways, CLIA and Greek health authorities, we are pleased to announce the further relaxation of our health protocols.”
“The more flexible requirements provide our guests with the option of testing prior to departing for Greece as well as more flexibility when it comes to masking onboard. We will continue to liaise with the European Healthy Gateways, CLIA and Greek health authorities, as well as all destinations we visit on our cruises to ensure that we are in compliance with all of the latest health protocols with the health and safety of our guests, crew and the communities we serve continuing to be our top priority,” he added.
The line will now accept an EU DCC (Digital Covid Certificate) for citizens of EU countries and countries participating in the EU DCC scheme.
Additionally, guests from countries not participating in the DCC scheme, such as the USA, Canada, and Mexico, that have recently recovered from COVID, can provide a doctor’s note with the positive test result and corresponding date positively diagnosed, including the negative test result with recovery date.
Fully vaccinated guests over 17 years old will need proof of a booster, if their vaccine sequence was completed more than 270 days prior to embarkation.
The History Behind Celestyal Cruises
Formed in 2014, Celestyal Cruises was a previous subsidiary of Louis plc, the first travel agency in Cyprus founded in 1963, and in November 2021, Searchlight Capital Partners took a majority share within the line.
The cruise line suspended all cruises on March 13, 2020, due to the global pandemic, and resumed cruising in June 2021 with its Idyllic Aegean itinerary.
In June 2021, a second ship was added to the fleet, Celestyal Olympia, but in August 2021, it was announced the ship would stop cruises at the end of the month.
Read Also: Royal Caribbean Unveils Plan to Rollout Starlink Fleetwide
Currently, the line operates two vessels, 37,584 gross-ton Celestyal Olympia and 14,330 gross-ton Celestyal Crystal, out of the popular travel destination, Athens, Greece. Its ships are medium-sized, with the ability to visit ports that larger vessels may not have access to.
Previously sailing Cuba for five seasons, offerings of the fleet currently include three, four, and seven-night itinerary options exploring unique destinations around the Greek Island, Turkey, and the Eastern Mediterranean. | https://www.cruisehive.com/another-cruise-line-relaxes-its-protocols-for-testing-and-masks/80295 | 2022-09-01T03:28:35Z | cruisehive.com | control | https://www.cruisehive.com/another-cruise-line-relaxes-its-protocols-for-testing-and-masks/80295 | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
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