text string | url string | crawl_date timestamp[ns, tz=UTC] | source_domain string | group string | id string | in_blocksbin int64 | in_noblocksbin int64 | tag string | minhash_count string |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
COLGAN 3, POTOMAC 0: The Sharks improved to 2-0 Wednesday with a Cardinal District victory over the Panthers. The scores were 25-19, 25-4 and 25-12.
Colgan was led by Brielle Kemavor with 11 kills and 6 blocks, Skylar Johnson with 6 kills and Grace Smith with 3 kills and 3 blocks. Alexis Scipione had 24 assists and 3 aces, while Paula Sigurani chipped in 9 digs.
Colgan travels to the Richmond Volleyball Showcase Friday. | https://www.insidenova.com/sports/prince_william/aug-31-high-school-roundup-colgan-volleyball-tops-potomac/article_a58e70a8-29ef-11ed-8cfb-2392fe877a8d.html | 2022-09-01T15:03:03Z | insidenova.com | control | https://www.insidenova.com/sports/prince_william/aug-31-high-school-roundup-colgan-volleyball-tops-potomac/article_a58e70a8-29ef-11ed-8cfb-2392fe877a8d.html | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Roses row over memorial garden for Piper Alpha tragedy victims
Aberdeen councillors have clashed over the planting thousands of pounds worth of roses in the Piper Alpha memorial garden.
Local authority members were asked to allocate £16,400 to keep the Hazlehead spot colourful but the move failed amid uncertainty about the gardens’ future.
The poignant statue of three oilmen is surrounded by beds of roses. It was erected as a lasting tribute to the 167 oil workers who lost their lives when the platform exploded in July 1988.
A recent spat was sparked about revamp plans, with the Pound for Piper Trust plotting a £500,000 makeover.
Most Popular
But families of the fallen oilmen were not consulted on the project, and have since protested against the changes.
The planting of the roses is a separate issue – but is now caught up in the debate about the future of the gardens, which is regularly visited by grieving relatives and survivors of the North Sea’s greatest loss of life.
Labour leader Sandra McDonald urged the use of money from an emergency budget to get the flowers planted as soon as possible.
She was backed by Tory Richard Brooks who said that “doing nothing” might not be “honouring and respectful to the families affected by the disaster”.
But the SNP argued that it would be better for the council to first “liaise with interested parties” on the future of the garden – including in that “the option of the replanting of roses”.
And Lib Dem leader Ian Yuill slammed the previous Conservative and Labour administration for failing to include the £16,400 in the council’s budget this year.
SNP council leader Alex Nicoll, a former police officer who was part of the Piper Alpha investigation, said that part of his duties were “recovery and identification of victims”.
He added: “At the end of the day, this is the final resting place of the men who died that night. We need to clarify what all parties would like and come to a consensus.
“It’s the right thing to do.
“I am hopeful we will see something come back to us within the planting season, but there might be another option the families prefer.” | https://www.scotsman.com/heritage-and-retro/heritage/roses-row-over-memorial-garden-for-piper-alpha-tragedy-victims-3827610 | 2022-09-01T15:05:49Z | scotsman.com | control | https://www.scotsman.com/heritage-and-retro/heritage/roses-row-over-memorial-garden-for-piper-alpha-tragedy-victims-3827610 | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Ravil Maganov: Russian oil chief dies in 'fall from hospital window'
The chairman of the board of Russia's largest private oil company Lukoil has died, with the country's news agencies citing sources saying he had fallen from a hospital window.
A Lukoil statement said Ravil Maganov had "passed away after a severe illness", but did not give further details.
Russian news reports said his body was found in the grounds of the Central Clinical Hospital, where Russia's political and business elite are often treated. He appeared to have fallen from a sixth-storey window, the reports said.
State news agency Tass cited an unnamed law enforcement source as saying Mr Maganov had taken his own life and that he had been admitted to the hospital after a heart attack. The news site RBK also said police were investigating the possibility after he fell from the sixth floor.
Most Popular
Lukoil was one of a few Russian companies to publicly call for an end to the country's military operation in Ukraine, pressing in March for the "immediate cessation of the armed conflict".
After the conflict started, the board of Lukoli, which is Russia's biggest private company, expressed its sympathy to victims of "this tragedy".
Mr Maganov, who started working for the private oil company in 1993, is one of several Russian energy oligarchs who have died in unusual circumstances in recent months.
In April, the body of millionaire Novatek former manager Sergei Protosenya was found alongside his wife and daughter at a Spanish villa.
In the same month, the former vice-president of Gazprombank, Vladislav Avayev, was found dead with his wife and daughter in their Moscow flat.
A month later, Lukoil tycoon Alexander Subbotin died of heart failure. | https://www.scotsman.com/news/world/ravil-maganov-russian-oil-chief-dies-in-fall-from-hospital-window-3827583 | 2022-09-01T15:06:23Z | scotsman.com | control | https://www.scotsman.com/news/world/ravil-maganov-russian-oil-chief-dies-in-fall-from-hospital-window-3827583 | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
In September 1986, a young journalist moved west with the challenge of explaining California’s economy to his audience.
Over 36 years at the Orange County Register — now part of the Southern California News Group — there’s been one universal economic truth: This is a very expensive state.
To mark three dozen years analyzing the Golden State, I’ve used my trusty spreadsheet to grade 36 economic “ingredients” that create the stew that is California’s pricey cost of living. These stats are the most current I could find from government and private industry sources — and I’ve cited in most cases the costs as a household’s yearly expense. On top of goods and services, I also tracked the cost of wages on an annualized basis.
Remember, wages are a business expense that’s passed to consumers. And bigger paychecks give consumers more cash to pay up for pricey items.
When I averaged these 36 price rankings for each state in the union, California’s cost structure was the nation’s most exorbitant. Massachusetts was next, followed by New York, New Jersey and Connecticut. The biggest bargains, by this math, were in Mississippi, Arkansas, New Mexico, Oklahoma and West Virginia.
Now whether any state is worth its price tag is hard to quantify. But it’s never been easy digesting finances for Californians, today or back in 1986. Consider these 36 expenses and how they compare with the 50-state median and their standing vs. other states.
Top shelf
Let’s start with the costs in California that rank highest among the states.
There’s diesel at $6.32 a gallon statewide, or 28% more than the U.S. median. Yes, there are hefty fuel taxes but the price is also partly due to demand from the state’s huge trucking and logistics industry.
Now you’d think a mild climate might cap apparel expenses. But clothing and footwear spending at $4,000 a year is 54% above the U.S. median. That good California climate helps explain high dining and lodging spending of $8,800 spent a year, 49% above the norm.
Ponder top-paid people. California’s information industries have $265,400 annualized pay — 173% above the norm. Manufacturing wages run $139,300 — 90% above par.
And even though California leisure and hospitality wages are low — $47,800 annualized pay — it’s a national leader and 73% above the U.S. mid-point.
Second tier
Next, consider costs ranking No. 2 in the nation.
Another fuel, this time gasoline, costs $5.27 per gallon for the regular blend, 39% above the national median.
Next, California real estate.
Single-family homes fetch $806,000 — 1.5 times the U.S. median. Condos are valued at $677,000, 46% above par. Rent for a typical Golden State tenant is $1,600 a month, 68% above what other U.S. renters pay. And renters of California houses pay $3,000 a month, 75% above the U.S. mid-point.
Oh, and California’s government workers earn $84,000 annually, also the second-highest and 35% above the norm.
More lofty expenses
Food is pricey. Groceries run $10,600 a year, No. 10 among the states and 9% above the median.
So is fun. Recreation is a $ 4,500-a-year expense, No. 4 and 51% above par.
Getting ill can also make a Californian’s finances sickly.
Californians spend $8,000 on physicians a year, No. 3 among the states and 34% above what’s typical. Hospitals cost a typical household $11,300 a year, No. 10 and 11% above usual. Dentistry? $1,300 a year, No. 10 and a 16% premium.
Paying for that California home can stretch a budget even further.
The electric bill runs $1,800 a year, fifth-highest among the states and 24% more than the median. Having cable TV and internet services can go $1,200 yearly, No. 8 and 27% above the norm.
The $3,400 spent yearly on household furnishings ranks No. 8 and 17% more than typical. Don’t forget water and sewer, which runs $1,600 yearly, No. 11 and 64% above the median.
And the car in the garage? It comes with $2,200 annual insurance premiums, No. 6 among the states and 35% above par.
Note that state income taxes equal 3.8% of the typical household’s income, No. 4 and well above the 2.5% U.S. median. That takes a bite out of high-ranking wages.
Professional services offer $129,500 annualized pay, No. 4 and 54% more than usual. And financial services? $154,000 annualized, No. 4 and 70% above par. The booming trade and transportation sectors’ i$67,900 ranks No. 4 and is 23% above the median. And construction’s $88,600 is No. 6 and 16% above the median.
Yet wages in health and education wages at $66,000 rank No. 15 nationally and are only 3% above the industry’s typical salaries.
Bargains?
Yes, some parts of California’s lifestyle cost near or below typical U.S. prices.
College tuition runs $15,100 a year for in-state students, ranking it No. 23 nationally and only 4% above the U.S. median. Used cars cost $34,600, No. 16 among the states but just 2% above the median. And drugs and medical supplies run $3,300 a year, ranking No. 24 — essentially tied with the national norm.
Some taxes may not be as bad as you think.
Thanks to Proposition 13, property taxes are 2.76% of California’s household income. That’s No. 30 among the states and .a smidge below the 2.81% U.S. median. And 3.16% of Californians’ incomes are spent on sales and excise taxes No. 32 among the states and nearly a quarter-point below the 3.39% national norm.
Nursing expenses run $1,379 a year — No. 33 and 8% below the norm. That low level is due, in part, to the state’s relatively youthful demographics.
Home insurance has been moderate at $2,028 on typical $500,000 home — ninth-lowest and 25% below what’s charged elsewhere. Will wildfire risks change that?
And, finally, there’s $768 spent on natural gas. It ranks eighth-lowest nationally — and 28% below the typical expense. Thank mild climate limiting use by many Californians, not affordable utility rates.
Bottom line
So is the “California premium” worth it?
Ponder the headline-grabbing cost indicator — home prices. Tripled in my first 18 years in the state — and doubled since. That’s a warning sign to any youthful dreamer thinking today of a California relocation that I undertook in 1986.
A job opportunity brought me west. California employment, the signature marker of economic oomph and a key population magnet, grew 30% from 1986 through 2004. But the state’s added only 15% more workers in the past 18 years.
And while California has 39 million residents, far more than any other state, this popularity measure is now in reverse. Growth has halted — a sharp contrast to a 30% expansion in residents in my first 18 years in the state.
To me, the “price of paradise” is tolerable. But policy makers better know California costs are fitting fewer budgets these days.
I got one kid in Ohio and the other is thinking about Washington state.
PS: The pricing sources, in alphabetical order: AAA, Bankrate, Bureau of Economic Analysis, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Census, Center for Medicare & Medicaid Service, Economic Policy Institute, Federal Housing Finance Agency, Insurance.com, ISeeCars, Move.org, RentCafe, WalletHub, and Zillow.
Jonathan Lansner is the business columnist for the Southern California News Group. He can be reached at jlansner@scng.com
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/2022/09/01/36-reasons-why-californias-so-darn-expensive/ | 2022-09-01T15:09:17Z | pasadenastarnews.com | control | https://www.pasadenastarnews.com/2022/09/01/36-reasons-why-californias-so-darn-expensive/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Major League Baseball made a giant break from tradition last week with the announcement of its 2023 regular-season schedule. No longer will team travel be bound by the antiquated notions of the American and National League circuits. All 30 teams will play each other, giving fans in each city a chance to see the game’s biggest stars in person.
To one former major leaguer, “breaking from tradition” and “forward-thinking” aren’t necessarily the same.
Chris Dickerson spent parts of seven seasons (2008-14) in the majors with the Cincinnati Reds, Milwaukee Brewers, New York Yankees, Baltimore Orioles and then-Cleveland Indians. The Los Angeles native and former Sherman Oaks High School standout retired after the 2017 season and plunged full-time into his other passion: cleaning up the planet.
Dickerson co-founded Players For The Planet in 2008. A 501(c)(3) nonprofit, the stated goal of PFTP is “focused on bringing professional athletes together to help inspire communities to build awareness of the power we have to reverse the environmental crisis.”
When Dickerson is not raising awareness of his organization, or fundraising, you might find him at the beach. He rallied several retired big leaguers (Kenny Lofton, Ryan Braun, and Jerry Hairston Jr., were among those on the guest list) to join PFTP volunteers in a cleanup at Santa Monica Pier in July in conjunction with the All-Star Game. Four years ago, a video of garbage washing ashore in the Dominican Republic went viral. PFTP gathered 75 volunteers to clean up the beaches at Montesinos and Fort San Gil, removing 416 pounds of debris in the process. Dominican natives Nelson Cruz and Amed Rosario joined in the cause.
“When I got into pro sports, seeing the amount of stuff we consume, particularly with plastic, that was something I wanted to address when I was still in Triple-A,” Dickerson said. “The response was tremendous. That’s really how I got started.”
Progress has been incremental. Rallying players to the cause has been a success, Dickerson said. Forward-thinking initiatives at the team level are becoming less uncommon. The Seattle Mariners claimed to stage an entirely carbon-neutral game in 2015 through carbon offsets, renewable energy credits and water restoration certificates. In March, the Boston Red Sox announced they would purchase enough carbon offsets to turn Fenway Park into the majors’ first carbon-neutral facility.
At the league level, there is still much work to be done.
This brings us to the 2023 schedule.
Only a particular stripe of misanthrope asks, “sure, fans in St. Louis can see Mike Trout and Shohei Ohtani next year, but at what cost to the environment?” Answering that question raises the bar further, but I’ll bite. We can approximate the number of miles teams will add to their travel schedule under the new format next year.
Take the Angels. This season, they will play 10 games each in Oakland and Arlington, Texas, and nine each in Seattle and Houston. Next season, the Angels will play just five games in Oakland, six in Seattle, and seven each in Arlington and Houston. They are losing 13 intradivisional road games while adding trips to Atlanta, Philadelphia, Queens, and St. Louis.
Houston, the most remote city on the AL West itinerary, is 1,353 miles from Anaheim as the crow flies. St. Louis, the closest out-of-division road game against an NL team, is 1,577 miles from Anaheim. MLB’s schedule-makers can reduce the impact of these added distances by lumping the new Eastern road games together, but the bottom line is clear: across the league teams will be flying more, not less, in 2023.
Climate researcher Seth Wynes found that the NBA, NHL and MLB collectively reduced their carbon footprint by 22% per game during their COVID-shortened 2020 seasons – when smaller traveling parties and reduced travel distances became standard. An unbalanced schedule effectively ignores that lesson. It’s a backward-thinking move.
“Looking at stadium operations, particularly with travel, there has to be greater oversight over changes that can be made to not only promote but really make a significant move toward lessening the impact,” Dickerson said.
Via email, an MLB spokesperson highlighted several team-level initiatives: 22 clubs practice e-waste recycling, and 22 have installed LED field lighting. Nineteen clubs operate food donation programs. A dozen ballparks utilize on-site gardens, 10 utilize solar power, 10 feature electric vehicle charging stations, seven have permanently eliminated plastic straws, and six are LEED certified.
On a more macro scale, MLB says its updated television schedule reduced energy consumption by 328 hours during the offseason. And in Susanville, California, the league announced a post-All-Star contribution to One Tree Planted that will lead to 5,000 trees planted as part of “appropriate reforestation projects.”
But Dickerson is skeptical of any initiative that proposes to “off-set” the net negative behaviors by undertaking smaller net positives.
Dickerson has heard similar refrains in the past.
“This is where you get into the weird jargon, and the weird oversight that we’re having with carbon off-sets,” he said. “These large Fortune 500 companies – particularly ones that have a huge carbon footprint – allowing this new phrase of ‘off-setting’ to basically go unchecked … as an excuse to where they can just do whatever they do, go over their emissions goals, and then just say ‘we’re going to plant some trees.’ … That’s not the safety net we need.”
Dickerson said he is planning to meet with MLB deputy commissioner Dan Halem next month to suggest specific initiatives the league can undertake. Dickerson proposed neutral-site playoff rounds, like those staged in 2020, to reduce October travel. Writing in Scientific American, Wynes suggested dropping overseas exhibition games, shortening the regular season, and chartering smaller team aircraft. On Wednesday, the league officially announced the San Francisco Giants and San Diego Padres will play a regular-season game in Mexico City next year.
My suggestion? Abolish the American and National leagues entirely. Put half the teams in the Western Conference, the other half in the Eastern Conference. Or go to a three-league (West, Central, East) format. Some traditional rivalries might be weakened in the process, but un-balancing the schedules would further that aim – and reduce MLB’s carbon footprint.
At some point, the future of the planet ought to outweigh the history of the game. I think that point has arrived.
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/2022/09/01/hoornstra-mlbs-unbalanced-schedule-favors-fans-but-not-the-planet/ | 2022-09-01T15:09:30Z | pasadenastarnews.com | control | https://www.pasadenastarnews.com/2022/09/01/hoornstra-mlbs-unbalanced-schedule-favors-fans-but-not-the-planet/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
A fast-moving brush fire in Castaic had burned through 5,208 acres by Thursday morning, Sept. 1, but firefighters had achieved 12% containment of the blaze overnight as they braced for more dry, hot conditions, authorities said.
The Route fire was reported around noon Wednesday, Aug. 31, near Lake Hughes Road and led to evacuations and a shutdown of the I-5.
The freeway reopened early Thursday, although one northbound lane and two southbound lanes remained closed, according to Caltrans. The freeway has four lanes in each direction.
I-5 Route Fire Update. I-5 between Lake Hughes Road & Templin Highway: northbound left lane closed – southbound right lane & left lane closed. Unknown duration. @CaltransDist7 Maintenance on scene. Lane closure updates at https://t.co/O37Qesrybo #RouteFire pic.twitter.com/a9wynmzKBO
— Caltrans District 7 (@CaltransDist7) September 1, 2022
Evacuation orders were still in place for all structures north of North Lake Hills Elementary School, south of Templin Highway, east of the I-5 and west of Castaic Lagoon, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department said.
According to the American Red Cross, evacuation centers were opened Wednesday night at West Ranch High School, 26255 West Valencia Blvd. in Santa Clarita; and at Frazier Mountain High School, 700 Falcon Way in Lebec.
Temperatures were expected into the triple digits again Thursday.
The fire’s cause was under investigation.
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/2022/09/01/route-fire-in-castaic-grows-to-5208-acres-i-5-partially-reopens-in-both-directions/ | 2022-09-01T15:09:36Z | pasadenastarnews.com | control | https://www.pasadenastarnews.com/2022/09/01/route-fire-in-castaic-grows-to-5208-acres-i-5-partially-reopens-in-both-directions/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
The Mitsubishi Ralliart performance division will return to the United States in 2023, Mitsubishi confirmed Wednesday in a press release.
The automaker said it will launch limited-edition Ralliart versions of each of its models—including the Outlander, Outlander PHEV, Eclipse Cross, Outlander Sport, and Mirage—but it appears the changes for these new Ralliart models will be primarily cosmetic.
Ralliart models will receive “unique body effects, graphics, and other rally-inspired touches,” the release said, with White Diamond paint and a black roof. But there was no specific mention of performance upgrades.
It’s possible these models will echo the Outlander PHEV and Eclipse Cross Ralliart concepts Mitsubishi showed at the 2022 Tokyo Auto Salon, which also featured cosmetic upgrades but no apparent mechanical changes.
Established in the 1980s, Ralliart was responsible for various Mitsubishi motorsports programs, including successful entries in the Dakar Rally and World Rally Championship. Mitsubishi also slapped the Ralliart name on road cars, such as the Lancer Ralliart.
Mitsubishi put Ralliart on ice in 2010 due to the fallout from the global financial crisis. It didn’t disband the division, however, describing the move at the time as a “scale down.” This left the door open for Ralliart’s revival, which Mitsubishi first confirmed in 2021 with teasers for a Ralliart version of the Triton pickup truck (also known as the L200) sold in other markets. Mitsubishi CEO Takao Kate said at the time to expect new performance accessories and a return to motorsports.
Related Articles
- Lincoln Activeglide, Buick Envista, 2023 Mercedes-Benz AMG C63: Today’s Car News
- Buick Envista compact crossover debuts in China
- Toyota BZ3 is a Corolla-size electric sedan coming to challenge the Model 3
- 2022 Bugatti Chiron Super Sport, 2024 Cadillac CT6, Toyota BZ3: Today’s Car News
- 2023 BMW X5 M, Zenvo’s next hypercar, Belgian Grand Prix: Today’s Car News | https://www.wpri.com/automotive/internet-brands/mitsubishi-ralliart-returns-to-us-in-2023/ | 2022-09-01T15:13:27Z | wpri.com | control | https://www.wpri.com/automotive/internet-brands/mitsubishi-ralliart-returns-to-us-in-2023/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
GENEVA (AP) — The number of new coronavirus cases and deaths reported globally continued to fall nearly everywhere in the world in what the World Health Organization described as a “welcome decline” at a media briefing on Wednesday.
The U.N. health agency said there were 4.5 million new COVID-19 cases reported last week, a 16% drop from the previous week. Deaths were also down by 13%, with about 13,500 fatalities. WHO said COVID-19 infections dropped everywhere in the world while deaths decreased everywhere except for Southeast Asia, where they climbed by 15% and in the Western Pacific, where they rose by 3%.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus warned that with the coming onset of winter in the Northern Hemisphere and the possible emergence of a more dangerous new COVID-19 variant, experts expect to see a spike in hospitalizations and deaths. Tedros said vaccination rates, even in rich countries, were still too low, noting that 30% of health workers and 20% of older people remain unimmunized.
“These vaccination gaps pose a risk to all of us,” he said. “Please get vaccinated if you are not and a booster if it’s recommended that you have one.”
In the U.S., the Food and Drug Administration cleared its first update to COVID-19 vaccines on Wednesday, booster doses that target today’s most common omicron strain. Authorities said shots could begin within days.
Until now, COVID-19 vaccines have targeted the original coronavirus strain, even as wildly different mutants emerged. The new U.S. boosters are combination, or “bivalent,” shots. They contain half that original vaccine recipe and half protection against the newest omicron versions, called BA.4 and BA.5, which are considered the most contagious yet.
Earlier this month, Britain decided it would offer adults 50 and over a different booster option from Moderna, a combo shot targeting that initial BA.1 omicron strain.
On Friday, the European Medicines Agency will consider whether to authorize the combination COVID-19 vaccine including BA.1 made by Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna. Another version of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine incorporating the BA.5 subvariant of omicron is also under review by the EU regulator.
___
Follow all AP stories on the pandemic at https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic | https://www.wpri.com/business-news/ap-business/ap-who-new-covid-cases-deaths-keep-falling-nearly-everywhere/ | 2022-09-01T15:14:17Z | wpri.com | control | https://www.wpri.com/business-news/ap-business/ap-who-new-covid-cases-deaths-keep-falling-nearly-everywhere/ | 0 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | 33 |
GENEVA (AP) — The number of new coronavirus cases and deaths reported globally continued to fall nearly everywhere in the world in what the World Health Organization described as a “welcome decline” at a media briefing on Wednesday.
The U.N. health agency said there were 4.5 million new COVID-19 cases reported last week, a 16% drop from the previous week. Deaths were also down by 13%, with about 13,500 fatalities. WHO said COVID-19 infections dropped everywhere in the world while deaths decreased everywhere except for Southeast Asia, where they climbed by 15% and in the Western Pacific, where they rose by 3%.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus warned that with the coming onset of winter in the Northern Hemisphere and the possible emergence of a more dangerous new COVID-19 variant, experts expect to see a spike in hospitalizations and deaths. Tedros said vaccination rates, even in rich countries, were still too low, noting that 30% of health workers and 20% of older people remain unimmunized.
“These vaccination gaps pose a risk to all of us,” he said. “Please get vaccinated if you are not and a booster if it’s recommended that you have one.”
In the U.S., the Food and Drug Administration cleared its first update to COVID-19 vaccines on Wednesday, booster doses that target today’s most common omicron strain. Authorities said shots could begin within days.
Until now, COVID-19 vaccines have targeted the original coronavirus strain, even as wildly different mutants emerged. The new U.S. boosters are combination, or “bivalent,” shots. They contain half that original vaccine recipe and half protection against the newest omicron versions, called BA.4 and BA.5, which are considered the most contagious yet.
Earlier this month, Britain decided it would offer adults 50 and over a different booster option from Moderna, a combo shot targeting that initial BA.1 omicron strain.
On Friday, the European Medicines Agency will consider whether to authorize the combination COVID-19 vaccine including BA.1 made by Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna. Another version of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine incorporating the BA.5 subvariant of omicron is also under review by the EU regulator.
___
Follow all AP stories on the pandemic at https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic | https://www.wpri.com/business-news/ap-business/ap-who-new-covid-cases-deaths-keep-falling-nearly-everywhere/ | 2022-09-01T15:14:17Z | wpri.com | control | https://www.wpri.com/business-news/ap-business/ap-who-new-covid-cases-deaths-keep-falling-nearly-everywhere/ | 1 | 0 | green-iguana-35 | 33 |
The 10th Mountain Division’s Noncommissioned Officer Academy bears the name of the late Command Sgt. Maj. Southern “Buddy” Hewitt, the reactivated division’s first senior enlisted adviser. Friends, family members and colleagues gathered at the academy Aug. 31 for the memorialization ceremony to honor the life and legacy of Hewitt. (Photo by Mike Strasser, Fort Drum Garrison Public Affairs)
This work, Noncommissioned Officer Academy at Fort Drum named after revered 10th Mountain Division senior enlisted adviser [Image 10 of 10], by Michael Strasser, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright. | https://www.dvidshub.net/image/7398152/noncommissioned-officer-academy-fort-drum-named-after-revered-10th-mountain-division-senior-enlisted-adviser | 2022-09-01T15:14:28Z | dvidshub.net | control | https://www.dvidshub.net/image/7398152/noncommissioned-officer-academy-fort-drum-named-after-revered-10th-mountain-division-senior-enlisted-adviser | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
NEW YORK (AP) — The family of a Marine killed in Afghanistan has revived a defamation lawsuit against Alec Baldwin over comments the actor made online.
The sisters and widow of Lance Cpl. Rylee McCollum allege Baldwin subjected them to online threats and harassment after he posted and commented on a photo shared online by one of McCollum’s sisters, Roice McCollum, who had been in Washington during the Jan. 6, 2021 insurrection.
Baldwin had donated $5,000 to the family after learning of the death of Rylee McCollum in a bombing at the airport in Kabul in August 2021, just weeks before his daughter was born. Baldwin had contacted Roice McCollum via Instagram, according to the lawsuit.
In January 2022, Baldwin saw that Roice McCollum posted a picture of demonstrators from former President Donald Trump’s rally taken on the day Congress counted the Electoral College votes from the 2020 presidential election, according to the complaint.
Baldwin sent her a private message and confirmed she had organized the fundraiser for her brother, the lawsuit said. She responded that her participation in the protest was “perfectly legal,” according to court documents.
Baldwin told Roice McCollum he would share her photo with his 2.4 million Instagram followers and wrote: “Good luck,” according to the lawsuit.
In the lawsuit, Roice McCollum said she “did not take part in, nor did she support or condone the rioting that erupted” at the Capitol, and was cleared of any wrongdoing after meeting with the FBI.
The family’s lawsuit was initially filed in Wyoming but dismissed by a judge there in May for lack of jurisdiction because Baldwin made the posts in New York and they weren’t directed specifically at a Wyoming audience.
The current lawsuit was filed in New York on Friday and seeks a combined $25 million in punitive and compensatory damages.
Baldwin had asked for the case to be dismissed in Wyoming, saying he was expressing his political opinion and that claims by McCollum’s sister Cheyenne McCollum and his widow Jiennah McCollum should be dismissed because he did not make any statements about them.
In an email, Luke Nikas, an attorney representing Baldwin, said “Mr. Baldwin donated several thousand dollars to Ms. McCollum to honor her husband, and now she’s suing him for more because she disagrees with his political opinion about the insurrection that occurred on January 6th at the U.S. Capitol Building. We expect to prevail in this lawsuit, as we did the last time they filed it.” | https://www.wpri.com/entertainment-news/ap-entertainment/ap-family-of-slain-marine-revives-defamation-suit-vs-baldwin/ | 2022-09-01T15:14:40Z | wpri.com | control | https://www.wpri.com/entertainment-news/ap-entertainment/ap-family-of-slain-marine-revives-defamation-suit-vs-baldwin/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — California won’t allow teens age 15 and up to be vaccinated against the coronavirus without their parents’ consent.
State Sen. Scott Wiener, the bill’s author, announced Wednesday he won’t put the measure up for a vote in the state Assembly because it doesn’t have enough support to pass.
Minors age 12 to 17 in California already can receive vaccinations for hepatitis B and HPV, which prevent sexually transmitted diseases, without permission from their parents or guardians. The bill would have allowed teens 15 and older to receive any vaccine that has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, even if their parents objected.
Wiener, a Democrat from San Francisco, blamed the lack of support on “months of harassment and misinformation” by “a small but highly vocal and organized minority of anti-vaxxers.”
“The anti-vaxxers may have prevailed in this particular fight, but the broader fight for science and health continues,” he said in a statement.
A coalition of groups opposed to vaccine mandates called it a “blatant, dangerous trampling of California parents’ and guardians’ ability to protect and care for their children.”
A Voice for Choice Advocacy said minors may not know their full medical history and the potential risks. And if they don’t tell their parents that they obtained the vaccine on their own, the group said parents may not know what’s wrong if their child has an adverse reaction.
Vaccine consent ages vary across the country. Alabama allows children to consent to vaccines starting at age 14, Oregon at 15 and Rhode Island and South Carolina at 16. Cities including Philadelphia and Washington, D.C., allow children age 11 and up to consent to COVID-19 vaccines, and in San Francisco the age is 12 and older.
The teen consent bill was one several coronavirus-related bills that faced heavy opposition.
Gov. Gavin Newsom and Democratic Sen. Richard Pan both delayed until next year measures relating to school vaccinations, while Democratic Assemblymember Buffy Wicks withdrew her bill that would have forced all California businesses to require coronavirus vaccines for their employees.
Another Pan bill still moving forward would require schools create COVID-19 testing plans.
Also still under consideration are a bill by Democratic Assemblymember Evan Low that would make doctors spreading coronavirus misinformation or disinformation subject to discipline for professional misconduct, and one by Democratic Assemblymember Akilah Weber that would require health care providers, schools, child care facilities and others to disclose certain patient information to the California Department of Public Health and local health officials. | https://www.wpri.com/health/ap-health/ap-california-wont-expand-teen-vaccines-without-parental-ok/ | 2022-09-01T15:15:02Z | wpri.com | control | https://www.wpri.com/health/ap-health/ap-california-wont-expand-teen-vaccines-without-parental-ok/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
A once obscure Michigan elections panel is back in the spotlight after rejecting a ballot initiative asking voters whether abortion rights should be enshrined in the state’s constitution and another to expand voting in the state.
The Michigan Board of State Canvassers deadlocked 2-2 on party lines on both initiatives Wednesday.
Abortion rights supporters have already said they will ask the state Supreme Court to intervene to place the measure on the November ballot. The organization backing the voting measure is expected do the same.
The board last came under national scrutiny in November 2020 when then-President Donald Trump and his supporters tried to convince Republican members not to certify Democrat Joe Biden’s victory in the state. One GOP member abstained, but the other joined Democrats in voting to certify.
It highlighted the possibility that the panel — charged with largely clerical duties, not investigating elections — could become another hyperpartisan battleground.
The stakes of the abortion rights proposal are particularly high. Its backers are aiming to negate a 91-year-old state law that would ban abortion in all instances except to save the life of the mother.
Michigan’s 1931 law — which abortion opponents had hoped would be triggered by a conservative majority on the U.S. Supreme Court overturning Roe vs. Wade in June — remains blocked after months of court battles.
WHAT IS THE BOARD OF STATE CANVASSERS?
Michigan’s state constitution of 1850 created the board to handle administrative duties before and after an election. The board’s structure has changed over time.
Current law provides for four members — two from each political party that earned the most votes in the latest secretary of state election. Michigan’s 1908 Constitution was the first to mandate that a majority of the board could not be made up of members of the same political party. There’s no process to break a 2-2 deadlock; typically that leads to a court challenge.
Election experts say similar structures arose elsewhere during the Progressive Era as reformers hoped a system of “mutual policing” would cut down on the influence of party machines on election outcomes.
Since then, federal courts have gained more legal authority to examine evidence and question witnesses, and to address claims related to state-level elections, said Kevin Johnson, executive director of the Election Reformers Network. The nonpartisan group advocates for ranked choice voting and independent redistricting among other election reforms.
“Mutual policing is a system that becomes risky in a hyperpartisan environment, so it needs some new thinking,” Johnson said.
WHAT DOES THE BOARD DO?
Michigan courts have repeatedly described the board’s responsibilities as administrative or clerical, while Michigan’s elected secretary of state is the chief election official.
But the board’s potential to dramatically influence elections has come to the fore in recent years.
According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, North Carolina, New York, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Virginia and Wisconsin have a board or a commission that fully oversees elections. Most of those states require a certain numbers of members from each major political party, according to NCSL research.
Key responsibilities of the Michigan board include: canvassing and certifying statewide elections, judicial elections and legislative elections that cross county lines; conducting statewide office recounts; and approving electronic voting systems.
The board meets after elections to determine official results based on reports from local clerks. The board members do not audit election results or investigate accusations of fraud.
The board also has a significant role in statewide ballot proposals. Aided by state elections staff, it reviews petitions seeking to put a proposal on ballots and approves the exact language that voters will see on those ballots.
Christopher Thomas, director of the Michigan Bureau of Elections for 36 years until retiring in 2017, said that process became more heated during his career as attorneys representing battling groups sought to win board members over, largely playing to their political alliances.
“It’s unfortunate,” Thomas said. “I’ve heard board members say they’re there to represent their party, and I found that so antithetical to their purpose.”
Still, prior to 2020, the dynamic rarely captured wide public attention.
WHAT CHANGED?
Following the 2020 presidential election, then-President Donald Trump and his allies targeted Michigan’s Board of State Canvassers as part of a broad and futile attempt to challenge his loss in several states. Trump and his backers, despite no evidence of fraud, demanded that the board refuse to certify the results.
But ultimately, one Republican board member joined two Democrats in certifying Joe Biden’s 154,000 vote victory in Michigan. The other Republican board member abstained from voting.
Election experts worry the unsuccessful attempt has fueled efforts to further politicize Michigan’s canvassing system, pointing to people with a history of backing Trump’s unproven claims of fraud getting appointed to county-level canvassing slots.
That heightens the chance of local canvassing boards deadlocking or members refusing to vote, undercutting voters’ confidence in the system and even risking “agitation or spillover into the streets,” said Johnson, with the Election Reformers Network.
WHO’S ON THE BOARD NOW?
State parties provide a list of potential candidates to Michigan’s governor, who selects a member from those options. Four-year terms are staggered.
Both Republicans who held the party’s seats in 2020 are gone. Aaron Van Langevelde, who voted to certify the results despite pressure from Trump supporters, was not nominated again by the state GOP when his term ended that winter. The board member who abstained from a vote in 2020, Norman Shinkle, resigned in June to run for a state legislative seat.
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer selected Tony Daunt from three nominees submitted by the GOP to replace Van Langevelde. Daunt, a longtime party activist, was an outspoken critic of Trump’s bid to challenge the 2020 results.
Whitmer appointed Richard Houskamp, another longtime activist, to replace Shinkle. Houskamp told the Detroit Free Press in July that he hadn’t seen any evidence of fraud in the 2020 election and that continuing to make those claims “is not healthy for the country.”
One of the two Democrats who voted to certify the 2020 election results is still on the board: Jeannette Bradshaw, an electrician and elected leader within Detroit’s International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers.
The other, Julie Matuzak, resigned in December 2020 after 10 years on the board. Mary Ellen Gurewitz, an attorney who represented Michigan Democrats before the board in 2020, was appointed to replace her. | https://www.wpri.com/news/us-and-world/ap-abortion-vote-returns-spotlight-to-obscure-michigan-board/ | 2022-09-01T15:15:57Z | wpri.com | control | https://www.wpri.com/news/us-and-world/ap-abortion-vote-returns-spotlight-to-obscure-michigan-board/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
SCHOHARIE, N.Y. (AP) — A judge rejected a plea agreement that would have meant no prison time for the operator of a limousine company involved in a crash that killed 20 people in upstate New York. Wednesday’s turnabout drew applause and tears from victims’ relatives and plunged limo company boss Nauman Hussain into legal uncertainty.
State Supreme Court Justice Peter Lynch, who was not presiding over the case when the deal was reached a year ago in Hussain’s case, called the agreement “fundamentally flawed.”
It would have spared Hussain prison time, angering the families of the people killed when brake failure sent a stretch limo full of birthday revelers hurtling down a hill in 2018.
The judge’s rejection caught lawyers and relatives off-guard. Family members who, moments earlier, were testifying about their grief and anger over no one being accountable for the deadly crash clapped and dabbed their eyes after the judge’s announcement.
“I can’t even put into words how I feel. Totally unexpected. Thank God,” said Jill Richardson-Perez, the mother of limo crash victim Matthew Coons, while leaving court. “I’m in a better place now.”
Kevin Cushing, who lost his son Patrick in the crash, said the families “have a hope for a bit of justice to be served in the future, where we didn’t have any justice served in the past.”
Defense attorney Chad Seigel said they were “shocked” and that the judge’s move was “unheard of.”
Hussain, who operated Prestige Limousine, had been charged with 20 counts each of criminally negligent homicide and second-degree manslaughter in what was the deadliest U.S. transportation disaster in a decade.
The agreement had called for Hussain to plead guilty only to the homicide counts, resulting five years of probation and 1,000 hours of community service. Lawyers for both sides said last year the plea agreement assured a resolution in a case that would have faced an uncertain outcome if presented to a jury.
Lynch noted that a state Department of Transportation out-of-service sticker had been placed on the limousine a month before the crash. State police recovered the sticker from Hussain’s personal car after his arrest. Prosecutors have argued that Hussain took the sticker off the limo’s windshield so that he could use it for more jobs.
To the judge, Hussain’s actions showed he knew the risk of putting the limousine on the road the day of the crash, and a guilty plea to only criminally negligent homicide does not reflect that. Second-degree manslaughter charges are filed when a defendant is accused of being aware of the risk of death and disregarding it. Lynch called the deal “completely disingenuous and unacceptable to this court.”
Lynch gave Hussain’s lawyers the choice of accepting a sentence of 1 1/3 to four years in prison or withdrawing his guilty plea. They chose the latter.
Seigel said afterward that the DOT sticker had “absolutely nothing to do with defective brakes.”
“Collectively, we made a decision that it would be in the best of all all involved — not only our client, but the members of the community — to put this matter behind them. A little monkey wrench was thrown in that,” Seigel said. “So the judge forced our hand and we’re ready for trial.”
District Attorney Susan Mallery left court without commenting.
Hussain, who sat with his head lowered for much of the proceeding, declined comment afterward.
While the National Transportation Safety Board concluded the crash was likely caused by Prestige Limousine’s “egregious disregard for safety” that resulted in brake failure, the board said ineffective state oversight contributed.
Attorneys for Hussain say he tried to maintain the limousine and relied on what he was told by state officials and a repair shop that inspected it.
Axel Steenburg rented the 2001 Ford Excursion limousine for wife Amy’s 30th birthday on Oct. 6, 2018. The party group, ranging in age from 24 to 34, included Axel’s brother, Amy’s three sisters and two of their husbands, and close friends.
En route to a brewery, the limo’s brakes failed on a downhill stretch of road in Schoharie, west of Albany. The vehicle blew through a stop sign at over 100 mph (160 kph) and crashed into a small ravine.
The crash killed the limo driver, 17 passengers, and two bystanders outside the store.
Mallery’s office has said Hussain allowed passengers to ride in the limo despite having received “multiple notices of violations” from the state and having been told repairs were inadequate. State police said the vehicle should have been taken out of service because of brake problems identified in an inspection a month before the crash.
The next court date has been set for Sept. 14. Hussain, who had completed a year of interim probation, was allowed to leave the court, but the judge ordered he be subject to GPS monitoring.
Lynch revealed his decision only after several relatives spoke about their enduring pain and sense of loss. Sheila McGarvey told the court that her 30-year-old son Shane McGowan was just beginning his life with new wife, Erin McGowan, who was also riding in the limo.
“I call out my son Shane’s name all the time,” McGarvey said, “but no one answers.” | https://www.wpri.com/news/us-and-world/ap-judge-nixes-no-prison-deal-in-2018-limo-crash-that-killed-20/ | 2022-09-01T15:16:49Z | wpri.com | control | https://www.wpri.com/news/us-and-world/ap-judge-nixes-no-prison-deal-in-2018-limo-crash-that-killed-20/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Which Halloween inflatables are best?
Inflatables have been used in parades and as roadside advertising for many years. Their big advantage is that they weigh so little, they can be made in sizes that would be too heavy and expensive if they were made of solid materials.
Inflatable outdoor displays for Halloween are meant to be scary. Ghosts, skeletons, bats and black cats all make your home and yard spooky. Blow-up Halloween decorations 10 and 20 feet tall are sure to thrill the trick-or-treaters — the bigger, the better.
How do inflatables work?
Inflatables rely on air pressure to fill what is essentially a large party balloon. Just as it does in a balloon, the air pumped into inflatable yard displays causes the ”balloon” to slowly grow to its full size. The air pressure is maintained at a constant level, just enough to keep your display properly inflated.
How do I set up my Halloween inflatable?
- Find a flat space on your lawn and make sure you clear it of all debris, especially sticks and stones that may puncture your inflatable display.
- Attach your fan, connect it and turn it on.
- Pay careful attention as your Halloween decoration unfolds, watching to see it goes smoothly and helping it if it gets stuck. Make sure it does not come into contact with tree limbs or overhead wires.
- Continue until the air in your inflatable is at the pressure specified by the manufacturer.
- Drive stakes into the ground around your display.
- Attach one rope to the inflatable and pull it snugly against the stake. Continue all the way around, attaching one end of the ropes to the display and the other to the stakes.
- Go all the way around again, this time adjusting the ropes so the tension is balanced in all directions.
- Have fun scaring the neighborhood!
Will a Halloween inflatable blow away?
The downside of inflatables is that they are so light, they’re easily blown around by the wind. To fix this problem, tie down your lawn displays and never inflate them in high winds.
Stakes
Not just any stake will do.
- Material: Plastic stakes have the least tie-down strength and metal stakes have the most.
- Length: The longer the stake, the better it will anchor your inflatable.
- Setup: Drive the stakes into the ground at a 45-degree angle for the greatest security.
Tie-down ropes
Ropes should be sturdy and easy to coil and uncoil. They should be attached to the stakes with enough tension to hold your inflatable upright and steady. Ropes with ratchet attachments make it easy to adjust the tension of all your tie-down ropes to get the exact setup you want.
Weights
Weights are sometimes enough to hold down small inflatables, but are better used in conjunction with stakes and tie-down ropes. Sandbags are the best, but you can also use weights from workout equipment.
Static or moving displays?
- Static: Basic Halloween inflatables are blow-up versions of scary creatures.
- Moving: Tube dancers are inflatables in motion. Also called air dancers and tube men, they are built to move about as air is strategically released through special vents.
Best Halloween inflatables
Under $100
ZMHQLPDZ 9-Foot Blow-up Dead Tree with Ghosts and Pumpkins
This clever design is an old dead tree with its leafless branches holding two ghosts, two pumpkins and a black owl, all lit from inside just as the tree is.
Sold by Amazon
BZB 7-Foot Inflatable Skeleton on Ghost Train
This old-time steam engine is made in the traditional black and orange Halloween colors. The skeleton engineer tows a flatcar carrying pumpkins and a ghost riding a tombstone with “R.I.P.” on the front.
Sold by Amazon
Goosh 8-Foot Inflatable Grim Reaper
The Grim Reaper is dressed in black and carries his scythe on his shoulder. The LEDs inside light his wicked red eyes and give a shimmering effect to the flames licking at his robe.
Sold by Amazon
Mortime Inflatable Giant Halloween Black Cat
This black cat with yellow claws stands 6.4 feet tall with its purple witch’s hat. Its yellow eyes are lit from inside by LEDs and it’s got a heavy-duty base for stability.
Sold by Amazon
For $100-$200
Gemmy Animated Spooky Outhouse with Monster and Air-Blown Door
Air provides the power for the animated monster to open and close the door of this 6-foot-tall inflatable outhouse.
Sold by Amazon
Kitbonis 10-Foot Lighted Inflatable Happy Halloween Pumpkin
This huge pumpkin ties down with six ropes and ground plugs. The built-in LED lights flash brilliantly in the dark, revealing the giant spider lurking above.
Sold by Amazon
Mis 1950s Halloween Inflatable Remote Control Giant Eyeball
Use the remote control to make this 2-foot-wide bloodshot eyeball light up, fast flash and gradually change through 13 colors. It even floats in your pool.
Sold by Amazon
Look Our Way 20-Foot Air Dancer
The inflatable tube man is a skeleton in this Halloween version of the ubiquitous air dancer and is compatible with all 18-inch Velcro mount air blowers.
Sold by Amazon
Over $200
BZB Jumbo Halloween Party Decorations Bundle
You get a 7-foot-tall inflatable pirate ship with a skeleton ghost crew and an 11.5-foot-long Grim Reaper pumpkin carriage blowup with lights. These two large decorations include an air blower, stakes and tethers.
Sold by Amazon
BZB Halloween Party Decorations Bundle
This 8.5-foot-tall inflated haunted house is a castle with skeletons, ghosts and a black cat. The separate 8-by-10-foot inflatable black archway to doom surrounds your front entrance with a giant spider crawling overhead and three scary ghosts floating around.
Sold by Amazon
Lvaostt 20-foot Inflatable Pumpkin with Spider
This giant pumpkin fills in about three minutes and the low-noise blower keeps it inflated while the built-in LED lights the pumpkin from inside, as well as illuminating the spider’s spooky eyes.
Sold by Amazon
BZB 20-Foot Inflatable Animated Black Cat
This black cat is 20 feet tall and 20 feet long, too. Lights on the inside glow brightly while the cat swings its head from side to side, black and orange tail stuck straight up in the air.
Sold by Amazon
Want to shop the best products at the best prices? Check out Daily Deals from BestReviews.
Sign up here to receive the BestReviews weekly newsletter for useful advice on new products and noteworthy deals.
David Allan Van writes for BestReviews. BestReviews has helped millions of consumers simplify their purchasing decisions, saving them time and money.
Copyright 2022 BestReviews, a Nexstar company. All rights reserved. | https://www.wpri.com/reviews/br/apparel-br/holiday-br/12-best-halloween-inflatables/ | 2022-09-01T15:18:20Z | wpri.com | control | https://www.wpri.com/reviews/br/apparel-br/holiday-br/12-best-halloween-inflatables/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Where to find the best savings this Labor Day
The end of summer is always a bit of a disappointment, but it’s also the perfect time to do a little shopping for the fall. Many retailers offer excellent discounts for Labor Day. Whether you’re getting ready to head back to school, need to spruce up your wardrobe or need to replace an appliance, you can score serious savings.
This year, we’ve seen impressive sales on a Samsung tablet, a top-of-the-line Casper mattress and fall clothing essentials like this comfy UGG sweater. From back-to-school supplies to end-of-summer must-haves, check out the best Labor Day deals we’ve found, all organized by category to help you shop smarter.
Back-to-school
Under Armour Adult Hustle 5.0 Backpack
Grab this durable, water-resistant backpack for 25% off right now. It has adjustable shoulder straps for a comfortable fit and a lined laptop sleeve that can hold a 15-inch computer. It has a laundry and shoe pocket for gym clothes, too.
Sold by Amazon
With a compact design, this super-fast, multitasking laptop is ideal for students who need to bring their computer back and forth to school. It has an 11th Gen Intel processor and a long-lasting battery. Best of all, it’s on sale for $400 off.
Sold by HP
This lunch bag is made of premium materials and features high-quality insulation to protect your child’s lunch. It comes in 16 kid-approved patterns and offers multiple carrying options. Grab it for $15 off this Labor Day.
Sold by Amazon
Brita Plastic Water Filter Bottle
Stay hydrated during the school day with this plastic water bottle with a built-in filter. It holds 26 ounces and has a leakproof lid. You can wash it on the top rack of the dishwasher, too. Right now, you can get it for 20% off.
Sold by Amazon
Other top back-to-school deals
- This Canon wireless all-in-one printer is on sale for 38% off and is perfect for all the printing, scanning and copying needed for school projects.
- You can score this set of wide-ruled notebooks with durable plastic covers for just $10.80.
- This detailed planner makes it easy to keep track of all your school assignments and is on sale for 15% off.
- These Sharpie gel pens in assorted colors are on sale for 57% off.
Clothing
This cozy knit sweater is the perfect addition to your fall wardrobe. It has a ribbed neckline, cuffs and hemline and striking balloon sleeves to make a bold statement. You can get it on sale now for 67% off.
Sold by Amazon
Patagonia Snap Front Retro-X Jacket
This button-up jacket earns plenty of style points while still warding off the fall chill. It’s made of warm, moisture-wicking sherpa fleece. The dual hand pockets can keep your hands warm, too. Get it on sale this Labor Day for 20% off.
Sold by Backcountry
Nine West Flutter Sleeve Wrap Dress
This flattering dress offers a wrap design that highlights the waist with a tie belt. The short flutter sleeves are perfect for warmer weather or layering with a sweater in cooler months. It’s available in eight color and pattern options and is discounted 30% for Labor Day.
Sold by Kohl’s
The Children’s Place Baby and Toddler Girls Short Sleeve Graphic T-shirt
Send your kids back to school in style with this 100% cotton jersey T-shirt. It has a rib-knit crew neck, short sleeves and a cute school supplies graphic. Right now, you can get it on sale for just $2.99.
Sold by Amazon
Other top clothing deals
- This Vince Camuto tulip-sleeve top can add a fun pop of color to your wardrobe and is on sale for 40% off.
- Grab this comfy, lightweight hoodie with built-in UPF protection for 50% off.
- This fun floral Stormtrooper kids’ graphic tee is perfect for Star Wars fans and is on sale for up to 74% this Labor Day.
- These versatile Levi’s straight-leg cropped jeans are a steal for 59% off.
Electronics
TP-Link Deco Mesh Wi-Fi System
Upgrade your traditional router with this mesh Wi-Fi system that can cover up to 5500 square feet. It’s easy to set up, so you can have your new network up and running in minutes. It also comes with antivirus protection and is currently on sale for 21% off
Sold by Amazon
Roku Streambar 4K Streaming Media Player
Upgrade your streaming experience with this media player that offers 4K HDR picture quality and top-notch sound. It’s easy to set up and includes a voice remote for user-friendly operation. It’s on sale for 23% off this Labor Day.
Sold by Dell
This smart display makes it easy to take video calls, watch your favorite movies, control your smart home devices and more. It has a 10.1 HD screen for clear images and a 13-megapixel camera with auto-framing. It’s on sale for 20% off.
Sold by Amazon
This tablet offers a crystal-clear 10.5-inch LCD and plenty of storage for all your files. It also boasts an extra-long battery life and makes it easy to transfer your data between devices. It’s on sale this Labor Day for 26% off.
Sold by Amazon
Other top electronics deals
- Get 20% off a Blink Video Doorbell, which allows you to see who’s at your door without opening it.
- This Bose portable Bluetooth speaker is on sale for $50 off and offers up to eight hours of play time.
- This 65-inch Sony OLED Smart TV lets you stream directly from your favorite streaming services and is available for more than $500 off this Labor Day.
- Score 25% off this Panasonic digital camera, which has a live viewfinder and a tilting display.
Mattresses
Casper Wave Hybrid Snow Mattress
Casper’s Wave Hybrid mattress features HeatDelete Bands and AirScape 3 to help disperse body temperature to keep you cool all night long. It’s available this Labor Day for up to $600 off, depending on the size.
Sold by Casper
Tempur-Pedic Tempur-Essential Plus Ease Power Base
Tempur-Pedic is a name synonymous with sleeping comfort. This mattress and power base bundle delivers a custom sleeping experience for 40% off.
Sold by Tempur-Pedic
You can save $225 when you purchase Saatva’s Classic mattress this Labor Day. This highly desirable option is supportive, breathable and durable. Plus, it comes with a 365-night home trial.
Sold by Saatva
GhostBed brands itself as “the coolest bed in the world.” You can see if the feels “like you’re sleeping on a cloud” reviews are true, and save 50% on the Luxe queen this Labor Day.
Sold by GhostBed
Other top mattress deals
- This Queen Nectar Memory Foam Mattress has five layers of comfort and is on sale for $799 (regularly $1,498).
- You can save $225 this Labor Day when you purchase Saatva’s popular Loom and Leaf Mattress in the Queen size.
- Serta’s 7-inch Cooling Gel Memory Foam Mattress offers luxurious body-cradling comfort for just $269.10 (regularly $299).
- At just $146.72 (regularly $209.99) the full-size PrimaSleep’s Memory Foam Mattress is a great value that is even better this Labor Day.
Lawn and garden
This gas-powered pressure washer comes with everything you need to get the job done: a five-in-one quick-change nozzle, a 15-inch surface cleaner, a high-pressure hose and an onboard detergent tank. This Labor Day it is on sale for $319 (regularly $379).
Sold by Home Depot
Black and Decker 20-volt Max String Trimmer
Want to get some last-minute yard work done before fall? This two-in-one cordless model functions as an edger and a trimmer. It’s currently on sale for 14% off.
Sold by Amazon
Gorilla Carts Steel Multiuse Dump Cart
This heavy-duty steel dump cart has an impressive 1,200-pound load capacity. You can tow it by hand or attach it to a tractor for convenience. If you buy it this week, you can save $30.
Sold by Home Depot
Sun Joe Electric Convertible Pole Chain Saw
There’s a lot of deadwood cutting that needs to be done in the fall. This versatile chain saw can help you clear your yard for winter. The best part is it’s currently available for 40% off.
Sold by Amazon
Other top lawn and garden deals
- This rugged steel tub wheelbarrow has a 20-gallon capacity and is on sale for $79 (regularly $89).
- This Labor Day you can save 29% on a Ryobi Walk-Behind Lawn Mower.
- Worx versatile Cordless String Trimmer is currently on sale for $107.99 (Regularly $199.99). The battery and charger are included in the purchase price.
- If you need a shovel this weekend, you can save 13% on the Anvil Steel Digging Shovel.
Kitchen appliances
Samsung Over-the-Range Microwave
Samsung’s 30-inch over-the-range microwave has 1000 watts of power, 10 power levels and offers two-stage programmable cooking. If you buy it now, you can save $101.
Sold by Home Depot
Edendirect Indoor Electric Grill Air Fryer
This one appliance can grill, air crisp, bake, roast, broil, make pizza and dehydrate with just a tap on the display. The extra-large capacity can accommodate up to 24 hot dogs or an 8-inch pizza. Normally, it is $292.50, but on Labor Day, you can get it for $260.33.
Sold by Home Depot
Keurig’s K-Classic Coffee Maker has a large 48-ounce reservoir that lets you brew six cups of coffee before refilling. You can make 6-, 8- or 10-ounce cups. It is on sale for 33% off.
Sold by Amazon
Other top kitchen appliance deals
- This versatile Spiralizer 7-Blade Vegetable Slicer is a great addition to your essential countertop appliances. It is currently on sale for 45% off.
- With the 33-pound countertop ice maker, you can have ice on demand. Buying it this Labor day will get you 33% off.
- This six-speed handheld mixer comes with two stainless steel dough hooks and egg beaters. It is on sale for $17.99 (regularly $24.99).
End-of-summer
Jackery Push-Button Start Battery Generator
With no noise or fumes, this 1000-watt continuous/2000-watt peak output power station is perfect for fall camping trips. You can save $104.00 when you buy this eco-friendly model over Labor Day.
Sold by Home Depot
Traeger Pro Series 22 Pellet Grill
Pellet grills offer the best of both worlds: precision temperature control with cooked-on-a-grill flavor. This model has 572 square inches of grilling space and an 18-pound hopper. It is currently on sale for 23% off.
Sold by Home Depot
Solo Stove is one of the best, most efficient fire pits on the market. The Bonfire is a 22-inch, low-smoke, stainless steel, wood-burning stove that is on sale for $309.99 (regularly $469.99).
Sold by Amazon
Other top end-of-summer deals
- This beautiful Round Concrete Propane Gas Fire Pit from Hampton Bay can be used throughout the fall. Even better, it’s on sale for 49% off.
- You can save $50 when you buy this Char-Griller Three-Burner Propane Grill this week.
- A Propane Patio Heater is another way to extend your outdoor season deep into the cooler nights of fall. This model is currently on sale for 40% off.
Contributing author: Allen Foster
Want to shop the best products at the best prices? Check out Daily Deals from BestReviews.
Sign up here to receive the BestReviews weekly newsletter for useful advice on new products and noteworthy deals.
Jennifer Blair writes for BestReviews. BestReviews has helped millions of consumers simplify their purchasing decisions, saving them time and money.
Copyright 2022 BestReviews, a Nexstar company. All rights reserved. | https://www.wpri.com/reviews/br/home-br/the-50-plus-best-labor-day-sales-and-deals-you-dont-want-to-miss/ | 2022-09-01T15:19:04Z | wpri.com | control | https://www.wpri.com/reviews/br/home-br/the-50-plus-best-labor-day-sales-and-deals-you-dont-want-to-miss/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
The university presidents who oversee the College Football Playoff are scheduled to meet Friday to discuss expanding the four-team format, re-opening the possibility that a new model for crowning a champion could be implemented as soon as the 2024 season.
Two people familiar with the situation told The Associated Press on Wednesday that CFP’s Board of Managers, led by Mississippi State President Mark Keenum, is set to convene by video conference.
There is no guarantee the presidents will take any official action or vote to approve an expansion model, but another person familiar with the situation told AP they would like to accelerate a process that had ground to a halt six months ago.
All the people spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the board’s plans were not being made public.
The CFP management committee, comprised of 10 FBS conference commissioners and Notre Dame’s athletic director, is scheduled to meet next week in Dallas.
The management committee is responsible for hashing out a format for the CFP, but the presidents have the final say on what happens with the playoff.
Back in February, CFP Executive Director Bill Hancock announced expansion talks among the commissioners had failed to produce the needed unanimous consensus in time for the format to change before the end of the current contract with ESPN. That deal runs through the 2025.
The CFP recently announced the sites of the championship games for the final two seasons of the current 12-year deal.
Hancock said back in February that expansion talks would resume later in the year with a focus on what the playoff would be starting in 2026.
Since then, the commissioners who opposed the proposed 12-team format have seemingly softened their stances. The commissioners left a June meeting with renewed optimism their differences could be worked out, one of the people said.
Last year, the relatively new commissioners of the Pac-12, Big Ten and Atlantic Coast Conference pushed back against an expanded playoff plan that was unveiled in the summer 2021.
The 12-team model, that included six conference champions and six at-large teams, had been worked on for more than two years by a group of four commissioners, including Greg Sankey of the Southeastern Conference.
Concerns about automatic access for certain conferences, how the Rose Bowl would fit into an expanded format and the health and safety of players competing in as many as 17 games were cited as reasons against the 12-team plan.
Failure to get agreement on expansion left Sankey and others frustrated. Expanding the playoff before the end of the current television deal has been estimated to be worth an additional $450 million in media rights to the conferences.
At the SEC meetings in late May, Keenum said the presidents wanted the commissioners to provide a plan for the next CFP format no later than June 2023.
Keenum also said then that the presidents planned to take a more active role in expansion talks and that he wanted them to meet again before the end of the summer to “continue the dialogue.”
___
Follow Ralph D. Russo at https://twitter.com/ralphDrussoAP and listen at http://www.appodcasts.com
___
More AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/college-football and https://twitter.com/AP_Top25. Sign up for the AP’s college football newsletter: https://apnews.com/cfbtop25 | https://www.wpri.com/sports/ap-sports/ap-ap-sources-presidents-meeting-to-discuss-cfp-expansion/ | 2022-09-01T15:19:34Z | wpri.com | control | https://www.wpri.com/sports/ap-sports/ap-ap-sources-presidents-meeting-to-discuss-cfp-expansion/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
DAVIDSON, N.C. (AP) — Stephen Curry knocked down another huge 3 — one that was 13 years in the making.
The Golden State Warriors point guard was inducted into the Davidson College Hall of Fame, had his No. 30 jersey retired and received his bachelor’s degree in sociology following an elaborate solo graduation ceremony on Wednesday on the school’s campus.
“This is an absolutely amazing day and an amazing moment for myself and my family,” Curry said during the 90-minute ceremony. “The best decision I ever made was to come to Davidson College and pursue an education, join an amazing community and, most importantly, play for an amazing man who has built this program for what it is in (former Davidson coach) coach (Bob) McKillop.”
There were signs scattered throughout Davidson’s campus, congratulating and welcoming Curry back to the school, which is located about 25 miles north of Charlotte where Curry grew up.
Curry walked into a packed house at Belk Arena — where he played from 2006 to 2009 — wearing a graduation cap and gown, exchanging fist bumps with family, friends, former teammates and current students.
The four-time NBA champion and two-time league MVP turned pro after his junior season at Davidson, and only recently finished his final classes remotely to earn his degree.
The school was purposely waiting for Curry to graduate before retiring his number.
Once he did, he became the first Davidson athlete in any sport to have his jersey number retired, meaning No. 30 will never be worn by another Wildcats basketball player.
“To earn this degree you showed determination and perseverance,” Davidson president Doug Hicks said during the ceremony. “It would have been so easy, so straightforward to not complete your college degree. Yet in response to that idea, you did what you did to 29 other NBA organizations — you said, ‘night, night!’”
Curry held back tears as he accepted his degree and, at the urging of the crowd, threw his cap into the air.
His mother, Sonya Curry, spoke at the ceremony, calling it a “dream come true” to see her son graduate.
“Today you can breathe and say, ‘Check, it’s done,’ ” Sonya Curry said. “Today you helped coach McKillop maintain his 100% graduation rate. And you set an example for others, young and old, that it’s never too late to complete your education.”
Sonya Curry said she initially wanted her son to go to a larger Division I school farther from home but changed her mind after watching the Wildcats practice.
“I told him if this is what you want to do, I will support you,” she said.
McKillop talked about how Curry’s unselfishness, saying he mailed postcards to Davidson fans, alumni and supporters thanking them after he was drafted seventh overall by the Warriors in 2009.
“How many young people have the capacity to do that?” McKillop said.
Curry closed his speech by saying, “I’m a graduate, I’m a Davidson alum and I am in the Hall of Fame — and that’s pretty crazy.”
Davidson’s director of athletics Chris Clunie called Curry “Davidson’s most extraordinary scholar-athlete” while inducting him into the school’s Hall of Fame and retiring his jersey number, which was revealed in the rafters of the basketball court.
“Every father hopes their child makes their world a better place,” said Stephen’s father and former NBA player Dell Curry. “With that said, I’m a lucky dad because he’s doing all of that. … If you want to know how to treat people, look at that man right there.”
Dell Curry added: “And the next Hall of Fame, you know where that is going to be.”
___
More AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball and https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://twitter.com/AP_Top25 | https://www.wpri.com/sports/ap-sports/ap-currys-3-joins-davidson-hof-has-jersey-retired-graduates/ | 2022-09-01T15:19:49Z | wpri.com | control | https://www.wpri.com/sports/ap-sports/ap-currys-3-joins-davidson-hof-has-jersey-retired-graduates/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
(The Hill) – President Biden’s approval rating hit 40 percent during the month of August in a new Quinnipiac University poll, a 9-point spike from just one month ago.
The new poll, published on Thursday, found that 40 percent of respondents approve of the job Biden is doing in the Oval Office, rising from the 31 percent low approval rating he received from Americans in the same poll in July.
Fifty-two percent of those surveyed said they disapprove of the job Biden is doing as president.
Along party lines, 83 percent of respondents who identified as Democrats said they approve of the job Biden is doing, an 11 point increase from last month’s poll.
Ninety-two percent of Republican respondents said they disapprove of the job Biden is doing, while 55 percent of Independent respondents also disapproved.
When asked about Biden’s handling of current issues, 50 percent of respondents approve of Biden’s approach toward the COVID-19 pandemic, and 44 percent of respondents approve of his approach toward climate change.
Twenty-seven percent of respondents approve of Biden’s approach to the situation at the Mexican border, the lowest reading he has received in the questionnaire, the poll said.
The poll comes as Biden and his administration have seen a slew of legislative victories in the past month which includes the passing of his climate, health care, and tax package and his announcement last week of his administration’s initiative to cancel student loan debt for millions of Americans.
Fifty-three percent of respondents approve of the administration’s plan to cancel some student loan debt for many Americans, while 43 percent of those surveyed disapprove of the new initiative.
The Quinnipiac University poll was conducted from August 25-29 with a total of 1,419 respondents. The poll’s margin of error is plus or minus 2.6 percentage points. | https://www.wpri.com/hill-politics/biden-approval-rating-up-9-points-since-july/ | 2022-09-01T15:22:09Z | wpri.com | control | https://www.wpri.com/hill-politics/biden-approval-rating-up-9-points-since-july/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
(KTLA) – The intensity of a brush fire near Castaic, California, was captured on KTLA video Wednesday afternoon when a series of “fire tornadoes” or “fire whirls” were spotted.
The fire tornadoes developed around 3:20 p.m. as crews worked to contain the Route Fire, which had forced evacuations and the complete closure of the 5 Freeway.
The largest appeared to reach 20 feet in height.
The U.S. Forest Service defines a “fire whirl” as a “spinning vortex column of ascending hot air and gases rising from a fire and carrying aloft smoke, debris, and flame.”
They can range in size from less than 1 foot to more than 500 feet in diameter.
The Route Fire was initially reported around noon Wednesday near northbound lanes of the 5 Freeway, according to the Angeles National Forest.
Eight firefighters suffered heat-related injuries as crews struggled to contain the fire in 100-degree temperatures amid a heat wave that has developed over much of Southern California.
KTLA captured footage of a much larger fire tornado on Aug. 10 during the Sam Fire in northwestern Los Angeles County. | https://www.wpri.com/news/national/fire-tornadoes-caught-on-video-during-massive-brush-fire-in-california/ | 2022-09-01T15:22:23Z | wpri.com | control | https://www.wpri.com/news/national/fire-tornadoes-caught-on-video-during-massive-brush-fire-in-california/ | 0 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | 22 |
(KTLA) – The intensity of a brush fire near Castaic, California, was captured on KTLA video Wednesday afternoon when a series of “fire tornadoes” or “fire whirls” were spotted.
The fire tornadoes developed around 3:20 p.m. as crews worked to contain the Route Fire, which had forced evacuations and the complete closure of the 5 Freeway.
The largest appeared to reach 20 feet in height.
The U.S. Forest Service defines a “fire whirl” as a “spinning vortex column of ascending hot air and gases rising from a fire and carrying aloft smoke, debris, and flame.”
They can range in size from less than 1 foot to more than 500 feet in diameter.
The Route Fire was initially reported around noon Wednesday near northbound lanes of the 5 Freeway, according to the Angeles National Forest.
Eight firefighters suffered heat-related injuries as crews struggled to contain the fire in 100-degree temperatures amid a heat wave that has developed over much of Southern California.
KTLA captured footage of a much larger fire tornado on Aug. 10 during the Sam Fire in northwestern Los Angeles County. | https://www.wpri.com/news/national/fire-tornadoes-caught-on-video-during-massive-brush-fire-in-california/ | 2022-09-01T15:22:23Z | wpri.com | control | https://www.wpri.com/news/national/fire-tornadoes-caught-on-video-during-massive-brush-fire-in-california/ | 1 | 0 | green-iguana-35 | 22 |
Ashley Erling brings us “Eye on RI” featuring local attractiosn and events!
RI Dragon Boat Races & Taiwan Day Festival- Join the thousands of people who attend each year for great entertainment, exciting competition, family-fun, and a prime opportunity to learn more about Chinese and Taiwanese cultures!!! The Rhode Island Chinese Dragon Boat Races & Taiwan Day Festival is an extraordinary event for the whole family to enjoy! Our races continue to use the fiberglass Taiwanese-style dragon boats gifted to us from the Republic of China (Taiwan) and incorporate the skill of flag-catching in each race. But that’s not all…under our giant tent, the Taiwan Day Festival presents some top-notch entertainment! The day is filled with cultural performances, many art & crafts tables, and the always-popular dumpling eating contests. The festival also has a great selection of vendors, interactive activities, and food trucks!
This event is produced each year by Blackstone Valley Tourism Council.
Open Air Saturdays- Come enjoy programming across the city on the first Saturday of each month, May through October. The family-friendly event will run from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Sept. 3 and Oct. 1. Each Open Air Saturdays event features live music performances, a rotating line-up of food trucks, two beer gardens, two marketplaces, outdoor games and activities, ample outdoor dining at local restaurants, and more. We encourage attendees to make a day of it by visiting multiple locations throughout downtown: Grant’s Block, Aborn Street, Union Street, Biltmore Park, and the BankNewport City Center.
Rhythm & Roots Festival- The festival showcases a wide array of musical styles on three stages such as Cajun, Zydeco, blues, country, bluegrass, Americana and many other genres.
Partial WaterFire Lighting- Waterplace Park 7:15-10pm
Rhode Show Content Disclaimer: The information, advice, and answers displayed in The Rhode Show section of WPRI.com are those of individual sponsors and guests and not WPRI-TV/Nexstar Media Group, Inc. WPRI.com presents this content on behalf of each participating Rhode Show sponsor. Sponsored content is copyrighted to its respective sponsor unless otherwise indicated. | https://www.wpri.com/rhode-show/happening-here/eye-on-ri-labor-day-weekend/ | 2022-09-01T15:22:47Z | wpri.com | control | https://www.wpri.com/rhode-show/happening-here/eye-on-ri-labor-day-weekend/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
KABUL — One of the most striking sights at the National Museum of Afghanistan these days isn't inside the museum, but by its front gates.
Young, armed Taliban guards protect the entrance, searching visitors before they enter the museum grounds.
The last time the Taliban were in power, at the direction of then-leader Mullah Muhammad Omar, they smashed ancient statues and other objects in this museum that they deemed un-Islamic and idolatrous.
That was in 2001 — the same year the Taliban also blew up two ancient, colossal Buddha statues carved into a cliffside in the city of Bamiyan. By the end of that year, the Taliban were toppled.
And so when they returned to power a year ago, many cultural heritage advocates worried about the fate of the museum and its irreplaceable treasures.
"The National Museum of Afghanistan was, once upon a time, the finest museum in Central Asia, and that is not an exaggeration," says Laura Tedesco, a cultural heritage and preservation specialist with the State Department who has worked with Afghan museum staff over the years.
She recalls visiting when the galleries were full of prehistoric figurines, ancient Buddhist artifacts and life-size human figure statues — all of it capturing the country's diverse blend of cultures over millennia.
"The artifacts on display were exquisite and Louvre-worthy in their quality," says Tedesco. "The diversity of culture evidenced in those artifacts is unique to Afghanistan because it was this cultural crossroads, and armies and thinkers and religions and influencers crisscrossed [it]."
Changes at the museum
After the Taliban seized control of the capital last August, the museum closed. Museum staff and others were uncertain the group would honor its pledge months earlier to protect the country's cultural heritage and prevent the looting of ancient artifacts.
When the museum eventually reopened in December, it was a hopeful sign to cultural heritage advocates that things might be different this time under Taliban rule.
The museum used to draw an array of visitors, from foreign dignitaries to busloads of schoolchildren. Now, with Afghanistan's economy in ruins, few seem to come by anymore. In a recent two-hour visit to the museum, NPR encountered no other visitors.
A museum employee says things are going fine, and with the arrival of the Taliban, "there was no obstacle for our work. Everything is going as normal as it was before." NPR is not naming museum employees for their security.
In walking through the museum, NPR saw displays of centuries-old ceramic bowls glazed in vibrant greens and blues, and ancient urns with Quranic verses meticulously etched into the sides.
There are hoards of coins, some so gold they almost glow. One room features wooden totems from a remote part of Afghanistan, and old weapons embellished with intricate mother-of-pearl inlay.
A large sign in English on the third floor reads "Buddhist Heritage of Afghanistan." But there are only three small, plaster Buddhist heads on display, dating back to 2nd and 3rd centuries.
Much of the rest is labeled contemporary, including a marble coffee table with jasper inlay, and the year 2000 carved into it.
Another employee dismisses it all as "kids' art."
He points to a television. "We used to show a film about the Taliban's destruction of the Bamiyan Buddhas on that TV," he says — adding that it's been unplugged since last August.
Ideology isn't the only threat to Afghan cultural heritage
As the Taliban advanced toward Kabul last year, archeologist Gil Stein watched with great trepidation from afar. As the director of the Chicago Center for Cultural Heritage Preservation, he'd had conversations with museum staff over the years about emergency plans, including what to do in case the Taliban took over again.
"One of the first things that [museum staff] did was they took all of the early Buddhist art off display in the galleries, and they put it into the storerooms," says Stein. "The second thing is, they started to be very, very careful in their public communications."
So far, it's hard for experts to know what to make of the Taliban's pledge to protect cultural heritage. In more remote parts of the country, Stein and others worry about the security of less visible sites without the means to take precautions to protect objects.
And ideology may not be the only threat. Looting of ancient sites has caused destruction for decades. And in the case of the massive ancient Buddhist complex at Mes Aynak, about 25 miles south of Kabul, it sits atop a copper deposit believed to be one of the biggest in the world.
This archaeological site was already in danger due to proposed Chinese mining activity that was agreed under a previous Afghan administration. The mining stalled, but this week, the Taliban acting minister of mines and petroleum said officials are "working quickly" to revive and resume the project. For a cash-strapped Taliban government, the lure of business opportunities may overwhelm other considerations.
"One of the biggest risks to Afghan cultural heritage right now is not necessarily the Taliban blowing up or smashing statues, but rather out of the need for economic development, they simply are not going to care about the damage that might be done," says Stein. "It's a perfect storm of risks."
But he says there's reason for hope that heritage can be protected under the Taliban.
"It is possible," he says. "It would be a terrible mistake for the West to write them off completely. There is space to negotiate things. I think that's almost always true in Afghanistan, but we all have to be very cautious on it because, in so many domains, the Taliban have been violating their promises."
Under the Taliban, so far, it seems the museum is being spared the worst from its past. But it's also not clear that it can return to what it once was anytime soon.
Copyright 2022 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org. | https://www.klcc.org/npr-arts-culture/npr-arts-culture/2022-09-01/the-taliban-now-guard-afghanistans-national-museum-where-they-once-smashed-objects | 2022-09-01T15:31:50Z | klcc.org | control | https://www.klcc.org/npr-arts-culture/npr-arts-culture/2022-09-01/the-taliban-now-guard-afghanistans-national-museum-where-they-once-smashed-objects | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
On a steamy morning in late July, a moving truck maneuvers up to a brick office complex in College Park, Md., outside Washington, D.C.
Shrink-wrapped inside the truck are the workings of a clinic that will offer abortions through all trimesters of pregnancy: an ultrasound machine, recovery room chairs, patient gowns, and boxes upon boxes of medical instruments and equipment.
"I'm looking at this and really glad we got the 26-foot truck, 'cause it's a ton of stuff!" says Dr. Diane Horvath, an obstetrician-gynecologist and co-owner of the upcoming clinic, Partners in Abortion Care.
When it opens sometime after Labor Day, Partners in Abortion Care will be one of only a handful of clinics in the United States that offer abortions into the third trimester — in this case, up to 34 weeks' gestation. A full-term pregnancy typically lasts 40 weeks.
The clinic expects to treat an influx of patients coming north from states with abortion bans enacted after the Supreme Court decision in June that overturned Roe v. Wade.
All-trimester abortion care "is a really politicized topic," Horvath says, "and it shouldn't be. Every time we draw a line and we say 'no more abortions after this point,' someone's going to fall on the other side of that line, and they're going to be harmed."
Rehomed equipment at a new clinic
The equipment in the moving truck has come full circle. The Maryland clinic bought all of it second-hand from a clinic in Savannah, Ga., that shut down in June after 40 years providing abortions.
It was one of many facilities that either shut down or stopped offering abortion services in states with bans enacted after Roe was overturned.
Georgia now bans most abortions after about six weeks.
By contrast, Maryland has liberal abortion laws, and in July a law took effect that further expands abortion access. Now, along with physicians, qualified health providers including physician assistants, nurse practitioners, and midwives are allowed to perform abortions.
As they watch volunteers move the equipment into their office space, Horvath tears up and embraces her business partner, Morgan Nuzzo, a certified nurse-midwife.
"Whooh," Horvath says with a sigh. "I was thinking about how Georgia lost access to abortion, like, this week. And we're getting this equipment from them. So — it feels very heavy."
"We're going to take good care of the equipment," adds Nuzzo. "We keep talking about it as 'rehoming.' "
Third-trimester abortions are rare
According to the most recent statistics compiled by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the vast majority of abortions in the United States were performed on or before 13 weeks' gestation. Fewer than 1% were performed on or after 21 weeks.
When their all-trimester clinic opens, Horvath and Nuzzo expect to treat perhaps 10 people each week.
It could be someone whose fetus has serious anomalies, which are often only discovered later in pregnancy.
It could be a patient whose continued pregnancy threatens their health.
It could be someone who didn't discover they were pregnant until after the first trimester.
Also, Horvath says, tightened abortion restrictions will inevitably push patients seeking abortion care later into their pregnancies.
"We're definitely going to be seeing people who wanted an abortion two or three months ago," she says, "and could not navigate the web of restrictions, or could not come up with the funding, or could not get transportation or child care or time off of work.
"That's a really common story," Horvath says. "And it's really sad, because it doesn't have to be this way."
Partners in Abortion Care expects it will be the southernmost facility offering abortions later in pregnancy.
As she anticipates the patients they'll serve, Nuzzo compares it to "opening floodgates."
"Somebody was saying the other day that a clinic in Maryland got 6,000 calls from patients in Georgia," Nuzzo says. "That's a daunting thing, to think that you're just standing there holding the gates closed. And just waiting for a flood of people to come in, in need."
Nuzzo has worked in abortion care for eight years. Many of those she's treated, she says, have been really young.
"They're children, you know?" she says. "And the worst things that you can imagine happening to people, have happened to the people that I've taken care of. Kidnappings, rape, incest, every type of abuse. And then the whole flip side of finding out that something horrible has happened to the pregnancy that you thought was going to be OK."
Nuzzo considers it a "sacred relationship" to be with someone during such an intimate and difficult time.
Bolstering clinic security
Because theirs will be an all-trimester clinic, the owners know it will be high-profile and especially vulnerable as a potential target of violence.
So their offices are being fortified with layers of extra security: Cameras. Heavy doors. Panic buttons.
When NPR visited in July, the front windows were getting coated with a layer of thick, tinted security film to prevent shattering.
According to the National Abortion Federation, there has been a steady rise in harassment and violence against abortion providers in recent years, including assaults, burglaries, and clinic invasions.
And the threat of murder looms, constantly.
Eleven people have been killed in attacks on clinics and providers since 1993.
"It's scary," says Nuzzo. "It's very hard to continue to do work when you think about all the violence that's directed at you. And it's not imagined. It's not made up. They want to kill us. They want to shoot us."
Which is why, Horvath says, they think about security at every step.
"I'm looking around all the time," she says. "I'm making sure that I have an awareness of all of my surroundings. I always look at all the cameras before I leave."
This has been Horvath's life for the 16 years she's worked in abortion care.
"I don't want to normalize it," she says, "'cause it's not normal. But I still come to work and I do this job because it's too important to not do it. I mean, the whole point of terrorism is to make you afraid. And what the anti-abortion folks are doing is terrorism."
A patchwork of funding
To launch their clinic, the partners have cobbled together funding from a variety of sources.
For starters, the women in Nuzzo's book group donated $15,000.
"These aren't people who have gobs of money," Nuzzo says. "These are people who did it because it was important."
A GoFundMe campaign has brought in more than $360,000.
The partners also got a small-business loan and a foundation grant.
All in all, they figure, it's enough to get the clinic fully staffed and off the ground for the first three to six months.
But when NPR visits the clinic again in mid-August, their hopes of opening right after Labor Day are mired in red tape:
They've been stymied by delays getting an updated application from the state of Maryland for their health care facility license. It's a typical bureaucratic holdup, Horvath says — nothing targeted at them specifically. But she's still frustrated.
"This is very time-sensitive for us, as you can imagine," she says. "We have a lot of people that need this care and have very few other options. And so I'm like – 'C'mon guys, like, we really need to get this together.' "
Meantime, they're hiring and training staff, including two nurses, Paige and Kayla, who asked that we use only their first names, out of security concerns.
Previously, they both worked on maternity wards in labor and delivery.
For Kayla, offering abortion through all trimesters means providing basic, essential health care.
"I know that it can be controversial to some people, but it is part of the scope of women's health. And I am very passionate about women's health, and I'm very passionate about safe abortion care," Kayla says.
For Paige, this summer's Supreme Court decision overturning Roe v. Wade was a turning point.
"This June, I walked out of my grandfather's funeral and turned my phone on to the decision, blasted all over my phone," Paige recalls.
"And it was kind of like the slap in the face I needed of like, why am I not doing this? How many people are lucky enough to have the education, have the skills, and have the passion to be able to do something about it in such a personal level?"
The clinic's owners say they feel called to do this work.
Nuzzo would like people to understand this:
"You know, we're not monsters," she says. "We're trying to help people. We're really, really, really trying to help people who are in absolutely unimaginable situations."
By talking about their work, Nuzzo says, maybe it will help dissolve the stigma around later abortion — and the people who seek it.
--NPR's Marisa Peñaloza contributed to this report.
Copyright 2022 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org. | https://www.klcc.org/npr-top-stories/2022-09-01/an-all-trimester-abortion-clinic-prepares-to-open-in-maryland-one-of-few-nationally | 2022-09-01T15:32:33Z | klcc.org | control | https://www.klcc.org/npr-top-stories/2022-09-01/an-all-trimester-abortion-clinic-prepares-to-open-in-maryland-one-of-few-nationally | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
The San Francisco-based ridesharing company Lyft is facing 17 new lawsuits brought by users of its service from around the country, who claim the company failed to protect passengers and drivers from physical and sexual assault.
Of the lawsuits, 14 were from people who said they were sexually assaulted while using Lyft, and three said they were physically assaulted. At a news conference to announce the lawsuits, five of the plaintiffs shared their stories.
Stella Grant, a former Lyft driver from Chicago, described how an intoxicated passenger attacked her after Grant tried to confirm the rider's identity in August of 2020.
"She quickly began abusing me verbally and physically," Grant said. "She was really violent with me while I was driving. She cursed at me and punched at my head and my face and back."
Grant said that, after the assault, she was left bleeding and had to go to the emergency room. Doctors recommended she receive physical therapy, but she said that she couldn't afford it; after losing her job at the start of the pandemic, she had been relying on Lyft to support her family.
Responding to the allegations presented in the lawsuits, a spokesperson for Lyft said the company is "committed to helping keep drivers and riders safe."
"While safety incidents on our platform are incredibly rare, we realize that even one is too many. Our goal is to make every Lyft ride as safe as possible, and we will continue to take action and invest in technology, policies and partnerships to do so," the spokesperson said.
Katherine Rasta, a passenger from Phoenix, said she was sexually assaulted in June of 2021. Her driver made unwanted sexual advances throughout the drive, she said, and once they arrived at her destination, he locked the car doors and sexually assaulted her.
"Then he told me, 'This is our little secret. Don't tell anyone. Remember, I know where you live, and I know where your friends live now. I doubt you'll want any trouble, right?'" Rasta said.
All of the drivers and passengers said Lyft did practically nothing to help them after they reported their assaults, other than telling them they were sorry for their experience and that they would suspend the account of the driver or passenger who assaulted them. Two drivers said Lyft offered them a few hundred dollars after they reported their assaults, but did not follow up with them afterward.
Attorneys and victims called on Lyft to make its service safer by installing cameras inside of all Lyft vehicles, conducting biometric fingerprint scans and background checks for drivers, and eliminating a policy that allows users to order a Lyft ride for someone else.
Adam Wolf, one of the attorneys representing the Lyft users, said it was clear that the company did not care about its passengers or drivers.
"The thing Lyft is most concerned about protecting is its own profit margins," Wolf said.
Attorneys also claimed that Lyft's policy on not sharing user information after an assault without a court order creates a major obstacle to even the most basic criminal investigations or civil protective orders.
"Lyft is on the side of the perpetrators, not the victims," Wolf said.
A Lyft spokesperson accused attorneys at the conference of making false and misleading claims about the company's safety policies. The representative noted that over 99% of rides occur without a safety report, that the company requires yearly background checks for drivers, and that it cooperates with all law enforcement investigations when presented with a valid request. The spokesperson also said all drivers are required to take a community safety education course before driving.
The new lawsuits come three years after 14 women filed a lawsuit against Lyft claiming that, after being sexually assaulted or raped by drivers, Lyft failed to take action even when it was aware of drivers who were accused of assault and purposefully ignored victims' reports.
"Rather than protecting victims attacked in Lyft vehicles, Lyft vaguely attacks sexual survivor advocates. More important is what Lyft didn't say: that it is sorry that passengers and drivers were sexually assaulted and beaten using Lyft's services," Wolf told TPR.
In 2021, Lyft revealed it had received over 4,000 reports of sexual assault from its users between 2017 and 2019. That report also showed that instances of sexual assault increased year after year, and included 360 total reports of non-consensual sexual penetration and 2,300 reports of "non-consensual touching of a sexual body part."
The plaintiffs in these most recent lawsuits said that the physical and psychological toll of their assaults is still fresh. Some said they pulled away from loved ones, and several reported having PTSD.
Amy Collins, a Lyft driver from Napa, Calif., said she was sexually assaulted in March of 2020 and described the outcome she wanted from the lawsuit.
"I hope that sharing my story, and my trauma, will get Lyft to care about the people who use its platform," Collins said.
Copyright 2022 Texas Public Radio | https://www.klcc.org/npr-top-stories/npr-top-stories/2022-09-01/new-lawsuits-say-lyft-failed-to-protect-its-users-from-physical-and-sexual-assault | 2022-09-01T15:32:45Z | klcc.org | control | https://www.klcc.org/npr-top-stories/npr-top-stories/2022-09-01/new-lawsuits-say-lyft-failed-to-protect-its-users-from-physical-and-sexual-assault | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Central Jersey Jazz Festival returns next week, bringing music to three counties
For nearly a decade, the Central Jersey Jazz Festival (CJJF) has spanned three counties. But this year, it’s spanning genres, too.
The 13th annual festival, which takes place Sept. 9-11 with performances in Somerville, New Brunswick, Metuchen and Flemington, will feature various genres of jazz including blues, scat, soul, Latin jazz and Afro-Latin jazz.
“Not many festivals can boast that their events fill three counties with jazz music, food, art and one-of-a-kind experiences over the course of one weekend,” said Natalie Pineiro, executive director of the Downtown Somerville Alliance.
“It’s truly a unique, community-driven ambiance and a fun way to take in travel and tourism in Middlesex, Hunterdon and Somerset counties,” she continued. “We encourage jazz and arts enthusiasts to plan each day — or even their entire weekends — to take in all that these communities have to offer, from music, to history and culture and beyond.”
Jazz fans have a host of local organizations to thank for the collaboration including New Brunswick City Center, the New Brunswick Jazz Project, Metuchen Arts Council, Friends of Metuchen Arts Council, Metuchen Jazz, the Flemington Community Partnership, the Downtown Somerville Alliance, and Arts on Division.
The festival is sponsored by RWJBarnabas Health. But without the late Stephen Jones, the former president and CEO of Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital and the Robert Wood Johnson Health System, that might not be so, as he was instrumental in initiating the relationship between the festival and the health system, said Pineiro. He was also a founding member of the New Brunswick Jazz Project’s Board of Trustees.
This year, the festival is dedicated to him.
“Steve passed away last December and the dedication of this year’s jazz festival in his memory is an acknowledgement of his steadfast partnership and his role in ensuring that jazz music is accessible to those in Middlesex, Hunterdon and Somerset counties through the Central Jersey Jazz Festival,” Pineiro said.
The rain-or-shine, outdoor festival is free in all towns. Visitors are encouraged to bring chairs or blankets.
Here’s what to expect from the festival in every corner of Central Jersey.
Flemington: Friday, Sept. 9
In recent years, Flemington’s Stangl Road has become a hub of art and culture, and it continues to serve as that on Friday, Sept. 9 when CJJF performances take place there 6:30-10 p.m.
As the Flemington performances will focus on theatrical jazz and blues, Marion Cowings featuring AC Lincoln will perform 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. and Blues People will perform 8:30 p.m.-10 p.m. CD sales and signings will follow each performance.
Local news:Flemington's Skunktown Distillery is moving to historic grain station on Stangl Road
Food for purchase from local restaurants, such as Viva Mexico, Theresa's Cafe, Nature's EnerQi and Humdoo Ice Cream, will be available near the outdoor stage. A bar with frozen drinks, seasonal cocktails, wine and selections from Lone Eagle Brewery will also be onsite. Although performances will not start until 6:30 p.m., food and drinks will be served starting at 5 p.m. when the site opens.
VIP seating will also be available for $10 per person.
To reach the stage, take Route 12 to the parking lot entrance near Liberty Village and enter Stangl Road on foot from the south end by the Polo Outlet and Lone Eagle Brewing.
Years ago, the Flemington portion of the jazz festival was hosted on Main Street, but was moved to Stangl Road for the time due to the borough's redevelopment and construction.
"It is much more welcoming to have events on a block where everyone is connected and engaged," said Robin Lapidus, executive director of the Flemington Community Partnership. "Everyone on Stangl has embraced the arts and cultural experience."
Metuchen: Saturday, Sept. 10
As the newest festival location after being added to the schedule last year, Metuchen will host Latin jazz performances on Saturday, Sept. 10 from 6-9:30 p.m.
The Metuchen Dance Centre will perform 6-7 p.m.; the Metuchen High School Jazz Ensemble will perform 7 p.m.-8 p.m. and Bobby Sanabria and Ascensión will perform 8 p.m.-9:30 p.m. at Metuchen Town Plaza.
Street parking is free after 6 p.m., and there is also a parking garage is next to the plaza.
It’s only Metuchen’s second time being a part of the CJJF, but the borough is no stranger to jazz. The Cornerstone on New Street was a popular jazz venue until it closed years ago.
“[The Cornerstone] was across the street from the Metuchen Town Plaza where the jazz festival takes place,” said Lynne Mueller, producer of the Metuchen portion of the festival. “Those major jazz musicians who performed at the Cornerstone years ago would certainly be smiling to know there is now a jazz festival in downtown Metuchen.”
All aboard!Train set created by Metuchen native is debuting at Liberty Science Center
Mueller expects last year’s 300 Metuchen festival visitors to nearly double this year due to increased visibility and the headliners.
The festival arrived in Metuchen last year after the Metuchen Arts Council launched its own jazz festivals at the local high school in 2018 and 2019. The council then realized it could garner a larger audience by hosting the festival at the Metuchen Town Plaza, and decided to approach CJJF organizers to join efforts.
New Brunswick: Saturday, Sept. 10
Four years after the festival’s creation in Somerville, it headed to New Brunswick thanks to the New Brunswick Jazz Project. This year, it will again take place along Livingston Avenue near the New Brunswick Performing Arts Center (NBPAC) from 1-6 p.m. on Sat., Sept. 10.
Lee Hogans Quintet will perform 1 p.m.-2:15 p.m.; Lucy Yeghiazaryan Quintet featuring Houston Person will perform 2:45 p.m.-4 p.m. and Cyrus Chestnut Quartet will perform 4:30 p.m.-6 p.m.
Hogans was a close friend of Jones, and a set will be performed in his honor.
"Steve was a tireless supporter of the arts. His love for jazz music was profound, and his drive and enthusiasm to enrich our community helped springboard the New Brunswick Jazz Project and the Central Jersey Jazz Festival to where we are today," said Michael Tublin, co-founder of the New Brunswick Jazz Project.
Visitors should park in the city's parking decks, the closest being at 60 Bayard St. Livingston Avenue will be closed from George Street to New Street.
No food tents will be onsite, however, visitors are encouraged to purchase food from local restaurants and bring it to the festival. Alcohol will also be served at the NBPAC.
Somerville: Sunday, Sept. 11
The hometown of the festival will host its performances on Sunday, Sept. 11 from 1:30-6 p.m. on the Somerset County Court House lawn on the corner of East Main and Grove streets. With more than 6,000 usual attendants, CJJF is one of the most popular events of the year in the borough.
Lezlie Harrison Quartet performs 1:30 p.m.-2:40 p.m.; Curtis Lundy & Emoja Ensemble perform 3:10 p.m.-4:20 p.m. and Dizzy Gillespie Afro-Latin Experience performs 4:50 p.m.-6 p.m.
Free parking will be available in all municipal parking lots and there is also on-street parking. East Main Street between Grove and Bridge Streets will be closed to cars.
Food and beverage tents will also sell fare on East Main Street.
For the first time, Somerville performances will join forces with another art event in the borough. Art All Day, an Arts on Division festival that includes an artisan market, mural painters, art exhibits from local schools, performance artists, chalk artists, demos and children’s activities, usually takes place the day before Somerville’s run of the jazz festival. But this year, it will be on the same day.
Things to do:Drink your way through Somerset County with this new craft beverage trail
“Understanding the impact that the arts — both visual and performing — have on the local economy and the cultural value of making the arts accessible to the community, we thought combining the events into one arts festival would have a greater impact without fragmenting the audience of people that might not be able to make it out for both events,” said Pineiro.
Go: Sept. 9-11 in Flemington, Metuchen, New Brunswick and Somerville; centraljerseyjazzfestival.com.
Jenna Intersimone has been a staff member at the USA Today Network New Jersey since 2014, after becoming a blogger-turned-reporter following the creation of her award-winning travel blog. To get unlimited access to her stories about food, drink and fun, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.
Contact: JIntersimone@Gannett.com or @JIntersimone. | https://www.mycentraljersey.com/story/entertainment/music/2022/09/01/central-jersey-jazz-festival-schedule-lineup/65464309007/ | 2022-09-01T15:35:09Z | mycentraljersey.com | control | https://www.mycentraljersey.com/story/entertainment/music/2022/09/01/central-jersey-jazz-festival-schedule-lineup/65464309007/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
'Where's our help?' Manville residents frustrated over government’s slow Ida response
MANVILLE – Mayor Richard Onderko, like scores of borough residents, is frustrated a year after the remnants of Hurricane Ida devastated the borough.
"What's taking so long?" the mayor said about the speed of government's relief efforts a full year after the floods and gas explosions that overwhelmed the vulnerable town by the Raritan and Millstone rivers.
Many residents are still waiting for money from the Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery program and are making do with help from family, friends and neighbors. But the projected completion of the New Jersey Disaster Recovery Program is not until September 2023.
The Department of Public Affairs Homeowner Assistance and Recovery Program and the Tenant-Based Rental Assistance for low-income renters do not open for applications until 2023. There is also still a 25.5% unmet housing need following the disaster after all funds are allocated.
A year since Hurricane Ida:Horror, heroism, anxiety awaiting the next catastrophic storm
"We're 12 months from the storm and we haven't received any money for elevations or buyouts," Onderko said.
"President Biden was here, Governor Murphy was here, they walked the street with me, and they said they were going to help," the mayor said. "Twelve months later, I'm still waiting for help."
"What do I tell my residents? We deserve better from our federal government," the mayor continued.
More than 25 borough residents gathered at the home of storm survivor Yaritza Zapata in the Lost Valley section on Sunday to discuss their experiences in the year after Ida and their frustrations with the "broken relief recovery system."
The event was organized by the New Jersey Organizing Project, a grassroots organization started by Superstorm Sandy survivors to help ensure full and fair disaster relief efforts for all those affected.
Manville residents are known for their resilience in the face of adversity, but their survivor spirit can only go so far.
"I love living here! It's a great community," Onderko said. "(Ida) really brought out the community spirit to help others in need."
Onderko said many residents walked away from their homes in Manville but "12 months later they shouldn't be worried about paying their property taxes or mortgages."
But a year later, many are still waiting for answers and resources.
For those who want to ask questions, the Department of Community Affairs has scheduled an in-person public hearing on Sept. 8 at the Manville High School auditorium on how the rest of the recovery meeting should be spent.
The reality a year later
Zapata is still displaced, staying with family; her home is still in need of repair with no running water.
"As soon as I walk in, all I want to do is cry," she said.
She bought her home only three months before Ida almost killed her and her husband.
"Our foundation came down five minutes after we got out of our basement, we never expected this to happen," Zapata said.
Zapata and her husband were rescued by boat hours later.
"Now, we're still waiting for anything from (Federal Emergency Management Agency) and our flood insurance was not enough to fix our home," she said. "To finish repairs, I'd have to pay almost $60,000 of my own money."
"Our property taxes went up $300 more after Ida and we're not even living there but we're still getting charged for sewer bills," she continued.
"It's frustrating and it makes me sad because a lot of families like myself have not been able to come back home," Zapata said.
Walter Bijaczyk, who has lived in Manville since 1958, said, "I've seen it all and survived. We haven't seen much help, really."
"I've seen a few people raising their houses and getting money as of two months ago ... but lots of people have moved," he said.
Onderko said, "some residents have elevated their homes on their own, they got tired of waiting."
Vivian and Walter Blomquist have been renters in Manville for 30 years and said they "didn't get much help with anything we lost."
"We lost our washer and dryer, he lost his plumbing tools and fishing supplies and a whole freezer full of meat," Vivian said.
"We got no help from anybody, even our own renter's insurance," Walter added. "We couldn't get anything."
Debby Josephs, a first-time homeowner who bought her home in Manville in January 2020, and a single mother of two sons, said the real estate agent told her the home had never flooded.
"Unlike most of my neighbors, I was not aware of the possibility of flooding. … I lost everything in the basement and on the first floor, and two cars," Josephs said.
Related:Ida survivors still waiting for $228M pot of money a year after storm. Here's why
She had to pay out of pocket for her two-week stay in a hotel, and her flood insurance didn't cover any of the personal belongings she lost.
"To add insult to injury, I practically begged FEMA for some assistance, but to no avail," Josephs said. "I produced all documentation requested but for some reason, I was not approved and was never told why."
Jose Mercado, who has lived on Boesel Avenue for three years, was one of the lucky ones; his home didn't get too much damage.
"Everything is back to normal," Mercado said. "We used our insurance and (got everything repaired) in March."
"We didn't get any help from FEMA," Mercado added.
His advice for others is "don't get expensive stuff."
Manville is no stranger to floods. The borough has survived major floods from tropical storms in the last half century, Doria in 1971, Floyd in 1999 and Irene in 2011.
And the borough has asked the federal government for help in preventing the next flood.
But the Army Corps of Engineers has rebuffed the request for the type of flood-control measures that were constructed around Bound Brook and saved that borough from Ida's floodwaters. | https://www.mycentraljersey.com/story/news/2022/09/01/manville-nj-frustrated-hurricane-ida-response-flooding-federal-relief/65463978007/ | 2022-09-01T15:35:15Z | mycentraljersey.com | control | https://www.mycentraljersey.com/story/news/2022/09/01/manville-nj-frustrated-hurricane-ida-response-flooding-federal-relief/65463978007/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
A year since Hurricane Ida: Horror, heroism, anxiety awaiting the next catastrophic storm
It was a night to remember that everyone wants to forget.
On Sept. 1, 2021, Central Jersey awoke to a bright, calm late summer day after a nightmare that had lasted for hours.
A freakish convergence of meteorological forces – the remnants of Hurricane Ida and an advancing cold front – conspired to bring record-breaking rains, feeding flash floods that were worse than the catastrophic flooding from Hurricane Floyd in 1999.
The rain totals were Biblical. In just six hours, from about 6 p.m. Aug. 31 to midnight, 9.45 inches fell in Hillsborough, 9.20 inches in Flemington and 8.44 inches in New Brunswick, according to Rutgers NJ Weather Network. The heaviest downpours were concentrated in a narrow band from Hopewell through Hillsborough northeastward to Newark Liberty International Airport. That band also contains the watershed of the Millstone River and the Raritan River, the state’s longest river.
'Where's our help?':Residents frustrated over government’s slow Ida response
Damaging tornadoes were reported in South Jersey and in Central Jersey, many residents huddled in their basements when the National Weather Service issued a tornado warning. In a few hours, many of those basements – dry even in the worst storms – were flooded.
The intensity of the rain overwhelmed stormwater systems. In just three hours, 5.20 inches of rain fell at Duke Farms in Hillsborough, just a few miles from Manville, the community hit hardest in the storm. In one hour alone, 3.33 inches fell.
The rain came with a sudden wicked vengeance as the rush hour was ending and darkness was approaching, setting the scene for heroism and death as motorists on Central Jersey roads found themselves trapped by rapidly rising flood waters.
Some were stranded on major highways like Route 22, and some were trapped on quiet back roads where only hours before, water had barely covered the rocks at the bottom of creeks. The rage of nature took many by deadly surprise.
If the floods were not bad enough, there were natural gas explosions which destroyed houses in Manville and Somerville and leveled Saffron Banquet Hall on South Main Street in Manville.
And Ida arrived just as the COVID-19 pandemic was starting to fade, adding to what seemed to be relentless misery.
President Joe Biden came to Central Jersey and saw firsthand the devastation as he walked the streets of Manville with Gov. Phil Murphy, Mayor Richard Onderko and other elected officials. Some residents cheered Biden; others jeered him.
And now most of the cheers have turned to jeers as the recovery is slow.
More:Bittersweet: How Central Jersey restaurants ravaged by Hurricane Ida are doing a year later
"President Biden was here, Governor Murphy was here. They walked the street with me, and they said they were going to help. Twelve months later, I'm still waiting for help," the Manville mayor told a group of residents at a neighborhood meeting this week.
"What do I tell my residents?" Onderko said. "We deserve better from our federal government."
Horror and heroism
The Ida horror stories, too numerous to remember, defied belief.
Thirty-one-year-old Edison resident Dhanush Reddy was killed when he was swept into a 36-inch storm sewer in South Plainfield. Reddy's body was found the following morning in the next town in a wooded area off Centennial Avenue in Piscataway.
Mark Pavol, a 53-year-old Ringoes resident, drowned when he was swept away by floodwaters after trying to get out of his car on Old York Road in East Amwell because of the flooding of the Neshanic River.
More:Ida survivors still waiting for $228M pot of money a year after storm. Here's why
Barry Snyder, 68, of Upper Black Eddy, Pennsylvania, was found dead in Milford after his truck became submerged in floodwaters near Javes and Miller Park raods in Holland Township. The truck floated about 1.8 miles down the Hakihokake Creek before it came to a rest near Carpenter Street in Milford.
Daphne Francisca Lopez Del Bono, 30, a Santiago, Chile resident who lived in Ringoes, died when her vehicle became submerged in floodwaters at Amwell and North Willow roads in Hillsborough. The location is nowhere near a river.
Hongxia Li, of Bridgewater, and Ping Fang, of Somerville, drowned in the floodwaters of Peter's Brook at Somerset Corporate Boulevard near the Route 22 intersection. They tried to get out of their car after it was disabled by rising waters but were swept away. The two were found dead in the morning after floodwaters receded.
In all, 30 people were killed in New Jersey. There were six fatalities in both Somerset and Hunterdon counties, five in Union County and three in Middlesex County.
For every tragic death, there was a score of acts of unselfish heroism by both first responders and ordinary citizens. Many of these stories remain untold – neighbors helping neighbors with flooded basements, strangers coming to the aid of strangers threatened by floodwaters. But the stories we know are inspiring and restore faith that in the face of adversity, all differences are forgotten.
“With a year to look back on Hurricane Ida, immediately apparent is the importance of having a caring community and a positive relationship with the state and federal governments,” said Piscataway Mayor Brian C. Wahler. “Volunteer first responders whose own homes were threatened by the severe storm quickly sprang into action to rescue the most vulnerable of disaster victims. Governor Murphy and (Federal Emergency Management Agency) were quickly on the ground working in concert with local officials to help put the lives of these families back together.”
Twenty-year-old UPS driver Nick Dirla, a Bridgewater resident, delivered eight people to safety after they became trapped in the rapidly rising flash flood on Route 22. Just four months on the job, he had just a few more packages to deliver and was heading to his base on Chimney Rock Road and Route 28 in Bridgewater when Route 22 had become a torrent.
He thought he was safe in his truck, but he got stuck near Mountain Avenue in Bound Brook. "There was no place to go," he said. "All the exits were flooded.” But his truck became a lifeboat for the eight people suddenly engulfed by the flood on one of Central Jersey's busiest highways.
Jeff Munsey, the supervisor of Building and Grounds for the Delaware Township School District and a father of triplets, was on his way to check out the district's K-8 school, less than 3 miles from his home in Rosemont. He made it as far as the historic Green Sergeant's Covered Bridge when his Dodge Grand Caravan was swept off the road and into a ditch. He managed to get out of the vehicle, but he couldn't fight the current. He hung onto a tree to avoid being swept away.
"I accepted that I was going to die,” he said. “You always wonder how you are going to die. At that moment, I thought I was going to drown, and it would happen any minute. I prayed to God for it to be as painless as possible and to take care of my wife and boys."
He was hugging a telephone pole when his hero arrived. R.K. Cyktor, 35, a landscaper who lives down the street from Munsey, was out in the storm with his front-end loader assessing the situation. As a volunteer first responder, he received an alert for someone in the floodwaters by New Jersey's only covered bridge where he saw Munsey clinging to the pole.
"He wasn't going to last much longer," Cyktor recalled.” We couldn't wait for any backup to come. I had to improvise."
Cyktor pulled up to the pole. The two communicated with hand signals and Cyktor motioned for Munsey to climb into the front-end loader's bucket. Once in, Cyktor reversed the truck and drove to a spot where Munsey could climb out safely and get into the cab.
"He lifted me up and saved my life," Munsey said. "I don't know how much longer I could have held on."
In South Plainfield, Deputy Fire Chief Lawrence DelNegro and police officer Brian Zielinski rescued a mother and her two children after their car became submerged in a waterlogged ditch off Durham Avenue.
There was a foot of water on Durham Avenue. The mother apparently tried to turn around, but the vehicle floated into a ditch which normally doesn't have water, but that night the water was about 4 or 5 feet deep. DelNegro and Zielinski were able to rescue the two children and the mother in chest-deep water.
"It was really a community that came together," Zielinski said. "There were even bystanders helping other bystanders. It was just one of those situations where you had to jump in and do something. We had a job to do and just did it."
The scale of life-saving rescues in Somerset County reached superhero proportions.
Members of the Somerset County rescue and dive team maneuvered around the county's blocked and water-swollen roadways to rescue 70 people and 16 pets.
Green Brook volunteer firefighters rescued more than a dozen drivers in flood waters on Route 22.
Ten New Jersey state troopers used two helicopters to rescue people throughout Somerset County. Troopers airlifted four people stranded at the Wendy's on Easton Avenue in Franklin. Trooper Christopher Finley was lowered onto the roof of the STS warehouse on East Main Street in Bridgewater next to the TD Bank Ballpark where a person was stranded. A rescue basket hoisted the person onto the helicopter and safety. Trooper Roy Rohel was lowered from the helicopter to walk six people through flood waters on Route 206 in Somerville to a rescue boat safety crew. He then rescued a 78-year-old man whose car was being swept away after trying to cross flooded railroad tracks in Bound Brook.
A Hillsborough police officer helped a Montgomery police officer rescue his wife who was trapped on the roof of her submerged vehicle."The hurricane brought unparalleled flooding and destruction to our area" said Jason Dameo, president of the 200 Club of Somerset County, which honored the rescuers. "Without these men and women, there undoubtedly would have been a greater loss of life."
What's next
Lives can never be replaced, and memories can never be erased. But the property damage from the storm was stunning and with the hurricane season now getting into high gear, the anxiety increases that the next area of swirling disturbed weather in the Atlantic or Caribbean could result in another disaster in Central Jersey.
In total, Ida, a Category 4 hurricane when it hit Louisiana, was the fourth costliest Atlantic hurricane in the United States, causing $75.25 billion in damage.
In New Jersey, according to the state, Ida caused about $2.02 billion in damage. State figures say that in Somerset county, 13,228 insurance claims were made for $164.9 million in losses. In Middlesex County, 14,084 claims were filed for $155.3 million in damages.
The average property loss to owner-occupied homes in Somerset and Hunterdon counties was $6,001, based on applications for FEMA assistance, and $6,114 in Middlesex.
More:Ida survivors still waiting for $228M pot of money a year after storm. Here's why
In Somerset County, 1,224 tenants of rental properties filed for FEMA assistance. That number rises to 2,198 in Hunterdon, 2,350 in Union and 3,054 in Middlesex. In Somerville, more than 150 people lost their homes in Brookside Gardens, a garden apartment complex along the usually placid Peter's Brook. In Piscataway, 69 families were displaced from the Birchview Gardens Apartments.
Businesses were also hard-hit. In Somerset County, according to FEMA, 252 businesses applied for Small Business Loans to help with $144.9 million in damages. In Union County, 383 businesses had $83.6 million in damage, 183 Middlesex County businesses had $23.7 million in damages and in Hunterdon County, 33 businesses reported $7 million in damage.
Throughout Central Jersey, the unexpected force of the flash flooding caused millions of dollars of damage to roads.
In Bridgewater, the Middle Brook trunk sewer line ruptured and a retaining wall on Vosseller Avenue eroded. Portions of roads throughout the township, some in areas that had never seen flooding, were washed away.
“In the hours following the storm we had to begin repair and recovery operations immediately – and then sustain those operations through the following days, weeks and months," said Bridgewater Mayor Matthew Moench. "We had roads and portions of roads that were just destroyed in some cases, and unsafely compromised in others."
In Somerville, the borough's Department of Public Works garage on Fifth Street was inundated and equipment damaged.
The borough is still considering plans for rebuilding and upgrading the portions of Brookside Gardens destroyed in the flood.
Are we ready for the next Ida?
Most scientists say another Ida is inevitable, given the impact of climate change and the continuing development boom in Central Jersey.
“The larger lesson though is that because of climate change, Hurricane Ida will not be a rarity,” Wahler, the Piscataway mayor, said. “Communities all along the Eastern Seaboard need to prepare now for more intense weather. That means making upgrades to storm sewer infrastructure to handle excessive water flow and providing effective emergency shelters like the Piscataway Community Center.”
Manville is still fighting for the type of flood control measures that protected Bound Brook, devastated by Floyd floods, from Ida. But the Army Corps of Engineers has rejected a flood control project for Manville, tucked in the elbow between the Raritan and Millstone rivers, because it would not be cost-effective.
Others see a different route to preventing future disasters.
Environmentalists and municipal officials have launched a campaign calling on Gov. Murphy and the state Department of Environmental Protection to fast-track long promised and delayed critical stormwater and flood hazard rules. The new rules are needed because the present regulations, last updated more than two decades ago, have become outmoded because of changes in climate, flooding and rainfall patterns. The rules would affect future development in the state.
During a visit to Lambertville, DEP Commissioner Sean LaTouette acknowledged the changes. “Are we seeing flooding in areas where we haven’t seen it before?" he said. "The answer is a resounding yes. Ida was a remnant of a tropical depression. A really bad thunderstorm wiped out communities. This is the new reality.”
The DEP announced in May it would adopt rules in June to update flood maps and stormwater regulations, but that has not happened as opposition has arisen from a number of business groups, including the state Chamber of Commerce and the New Jersey Business and Industry Association.
In a letter to Gov. Murphy, the groups said they did not agree "that an imminent peril exists to public health and safety" to necessitate an emergency DEP rule updating the standards for flood elevations, mapping and stormwater calculations. They said the rules would have "dire economic consequences on potentially thousands of projects."
But that argument doesn't hold water with the advocates pushing the state to act.
“Flooding is affecting our families and businesses all too often, and we can’t wait any longer to make necessary changes to protect our communities," said Ed Potosnak, executive director of The New Jersey League of Conservation Voters. “This is exactly why we need the NJ Protecting Against Climate Threats (NJPACT) regulations, to stop the building industry from putting profits before public safety.”
“Whether the shore or inland, one thing all New Jersey shares is the destructive effects of more frequent and more violent storms,” said Bill Kibler, director of policy for Raritan Headwaters. “This is already an emergency, and the governor can’t wait for the next life-threatening crisis to take action. We must have new rules to protect us from climate change and we must have them now!”
Contributing: Staff writer Alexander Lewis
Email: mdeak@mycentraljersey.com
Mike Deak is a reporter for mycentraljersey.com. To get unlimited access to his articles on Somerset and Hunterdon counties, please subscribe or activate your digital account. | https://www.mycentraljersey.com/story/news/local/2022/09/01/nj-hurricane-ida-floods-deaths/65418809007/ | 2022-09-01T15:35:21Z | mycentraljersey.com | control | https://www.mycentraljersey.com/story/news/local/2022/09/01/nj-hurricane-ida-floods-deaths/65418809007/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Sayreville names provisional police chief
SAYREVILLE – Capt. Daniel Plumacker has been appointed by the Borough Council to serve as provisional police chief to replace retiring Police Chief John Zebrowski.
Plumacker was selected by the Borough Council at a special meeting on Tuesday. He will start in the position on Thursday. Zebrowski's last day on the job was Wednesday.
Plumacker served as a patrol officer in the department from August 2000 until January 2006, according to his resume. He worked his way up the ranks and most recently served as captain of the patrol division, a position he's held since October 2016. He also serves as Deputy Office of Emergency Management Coordinator, a position he's held since April 2017.
A graduate of Caldwell University with a Bachelor of Science degree in criminal justice, Plumacker received a Master of Arts degree in human resources training and development from Seton Hall University. He also attended the West Point Command and Leadership Academy.
Zebrowski joined the department in 1988, where he served as its top cop for the last 11 years.
A lifelong borough resident, Zebrowski also servef as the borough's OEM director. He recently completed a one-year term as president of the New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police and currently serves as chairman of that organization’s foundation.
Also see:Retiring Sayreville Police Chief John Zebrowski recalls job's greatest challenges, rewards
A traditional walkout and change-of-command ceremony was held Wednesday at police headquarters, which can be viewed on the Sayreville Police Department's Facebook page.
Email: sloyer@gannettnj.com
Susan Loyer covers Middlesex County and more for MyCentralJersey.com. To get unlimited access to her work, please subscribe or activate your digital account today. | https://www.mycentraljersey.com/story/news/local/middlesex-county/2022/09/01/sayreville-nj-police-captain-daniel-plumacker-chief/65465608007/ | 2022-09-01T15:35:27Z | mycentraljersey.com | control | https://www.mycentraljersey.com/story/news/local/middlesex-county/2022/09/01/sayreville-nj-police-captain-daniel-plumacker-chief/65465608007/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Somerset County marks one year since catastrophic Ida flooding
SOMERVILLE – On Thursday’s first anniversary of the historic flooding caused by the remnants of Hurricane Ida, the Somerset County Board of Commissioners honored all who suffered losses, responded during the height of the disaster, and provided support for the recovery.
“A year ago today Somerset County was struck by Hurricane Ida flooding that caused incredible damage to property and, sadly, took the lives of six of our neighbors,” Commission Deputy Director Melonie Marano said in a news release. “As terrible as it was for so many in Somerset County, it could have been worse. We owe a huge debt of gratitude to the coordinated efforts of first responders, emergency management, public works, non-profits, and the residents who offered a bed, a meal, or a hug to a neighbor in need.”
The commissioners encouraged residents to attend a public meeting at Manville High School from 6 to 8 p.m. Sept. 8 to discuss how to most efficiently and effectively allocate an additional $228 million in federal disaster relief dollars provided to the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs. These funds are intended to address unmet housing, infrastructure, planning, and other needs that have resulted from the effects of Hurricane Ida.
More:A year since Hurricane Ida: Horror, heroism, anxiety awaiting the next catastrophic storm
More:'Where's our help?' Manville residents frustrated over government’s slow Ida response
More:Bittersweet: How Central Jersey restaurants ravaged by Hurricane Ida are doing a year later
“It’s fitting this meeting is in Manville, one of the hardest hit communities in the state where many continue to need help recovering from Hurricane Ida,” Commissioner Doug Singleterry said in the release. “We know that those who were affected by the storm have great insight that Trenton and Washington need to hear. Commissioner Marano and I look forward to hearing from many of you at this public hearing.”
Somerset County recently brought on two new leaders for its Public Health and Safety team, adding extensive experience in both disaster preparedness and incident command in Dr. Terry Clancy as the new Director of Public Health and Safety, and Lisa Werner as the new Emergency Management Coordinator and Director.
Clancy comes to Somerset County with more than 25 years of experience, including most recently two decades with the New Jersey Department of Health where she served as the Director of the Office of Emergency Medical Services. Clancy oversaw the state’s COVID-19 vaccination mega sites and was involved in the state’s mobilizations for Hurricane Irene, Superstorm Sandy and Hurricane Ida.
Werner most recently served as Planning Section Chief in the New Jersey State Emergency Operations Center where she managed field operations for the state’s COVID-19 vaccination mega sites, and is an active member of state’s All-Hazards Incident Management Team as the Training Specialist and a credentialed Planning Section Chief.
“Somerset County has great people working in our Public Health and Safety department, and the evidence is our ability to simultaneously manage long-term crises like COVID and rapid response disasters like Hurricane Ida,” Singleterry said in the release. “Adding Dr. Clancy and Ms. Werner’s knowledge and experience in local, state, and federal public health, emergency response, and incident command means residents can be certain Somerset County will be even more prepared in the future.” | https://www.mycentraljersey.com/story/news/local/somerset-county/2022/09/01/hurricane-ida-nj-flooding-somerset-county/65467878007/ | 2022-09-01T15:35:33Z | mycentraljersey.com | control | https://www.mycentraljersey.com/story/news/local/somerset-county/2022/09/01/hurricane-ida-nj-flooding-somerset-county/65467878007/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
A document seen by Reuters outllines an EU Commission proposal to break the link between natural gas and electricity prices. It would introduce a price limit on electricity generation prices from operators that don't use gas generation. The proposals also include measures to reduce demand.
This is a dangerous game they're playing. There's no doubt that anyone selling hydro, wind, solar or coal-fired electricity in Europe right now is getting a windfall. But does this kind of thing diminish incentives to add or invest in supply?
As I wrote last month, there's no longer a functioning energy 'market' in Europe so this kind of thing was inevitable.
As for pricing, there's been some easing in day-ahead pricing for electricity but it's still at extremely punitive levels. Prior to this crisis, €100 was a high price. | https://www.forexlive.com/news/eu-commission-to-propose-electricity-price-limits-on-generators-that-dont-use-gas-20220901/ | 2022-09-01T15:37:23Z | forexlive.com | control | https://www.forexlive.com/news/eu-commission-to-propose-electricity-price-limits-on-generators-that-dont-use-gas-20220901/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
The AUDUSD is trading to the lowest level since July 15 (see weekly chart above). The move to the downside this week has moved below a swing area between 0.6826 and 0.68597 (see chart above) those levels represent some swing lows going back to May 2022. The low price just reached 0.6777.
On the downside, looking at the weekly chart the pair is approaching the 50% midpoint of the move up from the 2020 low. That level comes in at 0.6756. The price just got within 21 pips of that target level. Swing lows from the week of June 26 and July 3 bottomed just above that midpoint level (at 0.6760 and 0.6763 respectively).
During the week of July 10, the price extended lower to a another swing area on the weekly chart down near 0.6656 to 0.66842. The price bounced off that level. That low for the year is an obvious downside target on the break of the 50% midpoint level.
Drilling to the hourly chart below, the price traded above and below a swing area between 0.68521 and 0.6858 on Monday Tuesday and again on Wednesday. Today, the corrective high off of the Asian session low stalled ahead of that swing area (see yellow area in the chart below). I give sellers some added confidence. The higher dollar in the US session has led to the continuation to the downside.
Fundamentally, China news today weaken the pair. The Caixin manufacturing PMI at of China fell back below the 50 level indicative of a contraction. In addition new lockdown measures were in place in Chengdu as China's zero Covid policy continues to pressure businesses and consumers. Australia is geographically tied to China's fortunes.
Stocks declining also leads to risk off flows. The Dow industrial average is down 126 points or -0.4%. The more interest rate sensitive NASDAQ index is down -240 points or -2.04%. The Russell 2000 is down -39 point -2.13%. | https://www.forexlive.com/technical-analysis/audusd-moves-to-lowest-level-since-july-15-20220901/ | 2022-09-01T15:37:35Z | forexlive.com | control | https://www.forexlive.com/technical-analysis/audusd-moves-to-lowest-level-since-july-15-20220901/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
The 2022 Latin Festival lineup has been announced. This year's festival will be on October 1.
Latin Fest will be returning strong with Cimafunk, a former Festival International headliner and favorite, coming all the way from Cuba to light up the night. Also taking stage will be Rumba Buena out of New Orleans, Malentina & the Lafayette Latin Allstars and an all new variety show called Latinos on the Rise.
Tickets are on sale now. ACLA President Pablo Estrada explains the importance of the event and ticket sales.
"ACLA's mission is to promote and preserve the Hispanic Heritage in Acadiana. We invite you to celebrate our culture with us, and by purchasing a ticket you help us to guarantee our contribution stays alive for future generations," he says.
"We are so ready to see Latin Fest take over Parc Internationale again." said Scott Feehan, Executive Director of Festival International. "The musical performances are going to make this year's event a hit. We have seen Cimafunk's effect on crowds, and you don't want to miss them or the other acts we have in store."
Latin Fest is also known for celebrating Latino culture through food, art, traditions and dance. Attendees can expect authentic cuisine, art vendors, children's activities and much more.
Tickets can be purchased for $10 at www.festivalinternational.org/latin-fest or at the event. Children 12 and under are free. The full schedule will be added to the site soon.
Lineup Commercial from Festival International on Vimeo. | https://www.katc.com/news/lafayette-parish/latin-festival-line-up-released-tickets-on-sale-now | 2022-09-01T15:39:25Z | katc.com | control | https://www.katc.com/news/lafayette-parish/latin-festival-line-up-released-tickets-on-sale-now | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
ELYRIA, Ohio — According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 42% of U.S. adults have obesity, and the chronic disease is on the rise.
Traditionally, obesity is defined as a body mass index of 30 or greater. However, BMI is just one way to measure obesity.
Obesity is generally associated with a greater risk of heart disease, Type 2 diabetes, and certain cancers.
Doctors say we need to change the way we talk about and treat obesity and remove the stigma and shame that too many people say they feel after repeatedly failing to lose weight.
That is why Amanda Kiser said she's sharing her story. The Ohio mom says she wanted to feel good, live well, and encourage others. She says if she can do it, you can too.
Kiser is a busy mom of two boys, working a high-stress job in children's services.
"Caregivers typically don't take care of themselves," she said.
Kiser gave 110% to everyone but herself. Until one day, she decided enough was enough and that she wanted and deserved to feel good.
"It was last year," she said. "I was playing with my kids and my knees hurt and I was like, 'I'm in my 30s, my knees shouldn't hurt. I shouldn't be out of breath!' and I stepped on the scale and I was like, 'Oh my God I've let this get so far out of control.'"
Weight, Kiser said, had controlled much of her life. She says she had been dieting since she was 10 or 11 years old.
She said she tried everything except medical help. She had been reluctant to visit a doctor.
"I was like, they're just going to tell me I lack willpower and that I should just stop being fat," she said. "I was prepared for that going in there like, OK, I'm just going to leave crying -- and I didn't!"
Instead, Kiser said a visit to Dr. Reena Bose, certified in obesity medicine at the Cleveland Clinic, changed her life.
"There needs to be more of an awareness, not just by patients but by the primary care docs, that this is a disease state," said Bose. "It's not something that's a choice by the patient. It's not the patient's fault."
Bose said obesity is a chronic and preventable disease that's treatable.
"We have great medications now because we can identify the pathways that are causing us to become obese, and altering those gut-and-brain pathways, altering your disordered eating, altering your behavior, and getting that kind of guidance can really impact how we manage obesity," Bose said.
Managing obesity, she said, is multi-faceted.
For Kiser, it meant working with specialists to learn about nutrition, portions, exercise and medication to help control appetite while learning these new behaviors and implementing them into her everyday life.
"It was just so relieving to hear a medical professional say it's not totally your fault and we're going to help you and not make you feel terrible," said Kiser.
Another important part of managing obesity, says Bose, is something Kiser had already started: Therapy.
Kiser says it helped her see she was using food to treat trauma.
Now, about eight months since her initial visit to Bose, Kiser says she never thought she could get to this point; a place in her life where she truly feels good.
"I thought feeling like crap was the normal thing," said Kiser.
Her new normal is feeling hopeful. She is almost 60 pounds down, maintained and counting -- which she says has never happened.
But for Kiser, it's not about what the scale says.
"No, I want my body to be able to do what I want it to do, go where I want it to go, and being healthy and around for my kids and showing them a good way to grow up," said Kiser.
When it comes to anti-obesity medications, Bose says they're safe and effective. She says the newer-approved meds are getting close to 15 to 20% weight loss over six months or longer compared to the older ones at around 5 to 10%.
The amount of time you're on them varies and the same for the amount you pay for them. Insurance does not universally cover anti-obesity medication. Bose says the monthly cost can range anywhere from $10 to more than $1,000. She says doctors can try to find ways to work around that, but she's hoping it changes soon.
In a statement, The Ohio Association of Health Plans, which represents more than a dozen member plans providing health insurance coverage to more than none million Ohioans, wrote:
"Ohio health plans cover both prevention and treatments for obesity in a variety of ways, including wellness measures such as incentivizing gym memberships and other healthy habits. Plans also cover a variety of medications to address obesity-related illnesses such as diabetes and hypertension. Further, health plans are constantly monitoring the effectiveness of drugs as they gain FDA approval, including potential anti-obesity medications."
This article was written by Katie Ussin for WEWS. | https://www.katc.com/news/national/doctors-use-a-new-approach-to-treat-obesity | 2022-09-01T15:39:38Z | katc.com | control | https://www.katc.com/news/national/doctors-use-a-new-approach-to-treat-obesity | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
People in Jackson, Mississippi are facing a water crisis.
Flooding in the area caused major problems at one of the city's treatment plants.
City officials said the water plant "experienced some challenges" with water chemistry, which caused the depletion of the surface water tanks.
This has caused water pressure to fall to a level where most customers have low to no pressure.
The plant reportedly received a new water pump that has the ability to increase water pressure. City officials said it was installed Wednesday and customers should've started seeing increased water pressure by Wednesday night.
"There are some challenges to navigate over the next 48 hours as the intake water source changes chemistry again," the city said in a press release, "We are monitoring and are prepared to adjust treatment as needed."
A boil advisory is in effect for those who have running water. | https://www.katc.com/news/national/mississippi-capital-grappling-with-water-pressure-and-quality-issues | 2022-09-01T15:39:49Z | katc.com | control | https://www.katc.com/news/national/mississippi-capital-grappling-with-water-pressure-and-quality-issues | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
It is no secret that the U.S. has one of the highest obesity rates in the world and that obesity leads to long-term health issues.
So it should come as no surprise that most Americans do not get the recommended level of physical activity needed to maintain a healthy lifestyle.
According to new data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, just 1 in 4 adult Americans in 2020 performed the recommended amount of physical activity for both aerobic and muscle-strengthening activities.
EXERCISE GUIDELINES:
150-300 MINUTES A WEEK OF MODERATE-INTENSITY AEROBIC ACTIVITY
OR
75-150 MINUTES A WEEK OF VIGOROUS AEROBIC ACTIVITY
AND
2 DAYS A WEEK OF MUSCLE-STRENGTHENING ACTIVITY THAT WORKS THE ENTIRE BODY
The CDC said that 22.7% met only the guidelines for aerobic activity, 6.8% met only the guidelines for muscle-strengthening activity, and 46.3% did not meet the guidelines for either type of activity.
Guidelines call for a minimum of 150 minutes a week of moderate-intensity aerobic activity. Guidelines also call for adults to perform two days a week of activities that strengthen muscles throughout the body.
The CDC data found that income, gender and race all played a factor. The data showed that those who earn at least 200% of the federal poverty level are more than twice as likely to meet exercise guidelines than those making below the poverty level.
Men were also more likely to meet exercise requirements than women. Hispanic men were much more unlikely to meet physical activity guidelines than Black, Asian or white men. White women were more likely to exercise enough than Black, Hispanic or Asian women. | https://www.katc.com/news/national/most-americans-especially-those-who-are-poor-not-exercising-enough-data-finds | 2022-09-01T15:39:55Z | katc.com | control | https://www.katc.com/news/national/most-americans-especially-those-who-are-poor-not-exercising-enough-data-finds | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
The pandemic and virtual learning appear to have hindered students' ability to learn.
According to an assessment from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), students performed worse in math and reading in 2022 than they did in 2020, prior to the pandemic.
Nine-year-old children took the tests. Their scores declined by 5 points in reading and 7 points in math. That's the largest decline in reading since 1990 and the first-ever decline in math, according to the NCES.
"That is very alarming. It's disturbing. But it's not surprising, keeping in mind a year and a half ago over half of our schools were not open for full-time learning," Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona told CNN.
According to the study, 70% of children recalled learning remotely within the last two years. The highest test performers had greater access to a computer and a quiet work environment, the study says.
The NCES says this was the first nationally representative report comparing student achievement from before the pandemic to now. | https://www.katc.com/news/national/students-math-and-reading-scores-fell-during-the-pandemic | 2022-09-01T15:40:01Z | katc.com | control | https://www.katc.com/news/national/students-math-and-reading-scores-fell-during-the-pandemic | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Twitter users have long requested the ability to edit tweets, a feature available on rival social media platforms such as Facebook or Instagram.
Although Twitter has consistently resisted efforts to allow users to edit tweets, it appears the platform is relenting in its position.
On Thursday, Twitter said it is testing a feature, adding that some users may begin seeing edited tweets.
“This is happening and you'll be okay,” Twitter said.
While Twitter has not released details, Bloomberg reported that Twitter will soon offer a paid premium service allowing users to edit tweets up to 30 minutes after publishing. Bloomberg said the premium version will be available for $4.99 a month.
The outlet also reported that users will be able to see previous versions of tweets, meaning those embarrassing typos will still live on. | https://www.katc.com/news/national/will-twitter-finally-give-users-the-ability-to-edit-tweets | 2022-09-01T15:40:03Z | katc.com | control | https://www.katc.com/news/national/will-twitter-finally-give-users-the-ability-to-edit-tweets | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
After August saw multiple celestial events that made the night sky even more fascinating, September is giving you a few more great reasons to look up after dark.
In addition to a gorgeous full moon, the things to see during September’s nights include the closest views of Jupiter and Neptune we’ll get all year. Keep reading to find out when and how to get these awe-inspiring glimpses at what’s in the universe.
When To See The September Full Moon
The 2022 September full moon, also called the Harvest Moon, appears pretty early in the month. You’ll be able to see it best on Sept. 10 at 5:59 a.m Eastern.
While that might sound like an odd time to look for a lunar spectacle, the September full moon reaches peak illumination early in the morning, shortly before setting below the horizon. If you’re not an early riser, the moon will still appear full in the evenings of Sept. 9 and 10. The September full moon is also the last one of the summer season.
Why Is The September Full Moon Called The Harvest Moon?
The names we use for most full moons originate from Native American, Colonial American or other sources and usually relate to the season in which they occur. The Harvest Moon is the only full moon tied to a specific date: in this case, the fall equinox. In 2022, this officially occurs at 9:04 p.m. Eastern on Sept. 22.
The full moon closest to the fall equinox is always called the Harvest Moon, which means it sometimes falls in September and sometimes in October. When the October full moon is the Harvest Moon, then September’s full moon is called the Corn Moon.
The Harvest Moon got its name because it rises around sunset at approximately the same time for several evenings in a row. This gives farmers extended moonlight late into the evening, so they can finish their harvests before the colder weather arrives.
How To See Neptune At Opposition
Another awesome celestial event that will delight stargazers in September is the chance to see Neptune at opposition. Neptune comes closest to Earth’s orbit on Sept. 16, so the desolate planet will appear brighter during the nights leading up to and immediately following that date.
Despite Neptune’s relative “proximity” during opposition, the blue gas giant is still about 2.7 billion miles from Earth, but will be visible even with some basic equipment. Observers will need a telescope or a pair of binoculars to get a chance to see the farthest planet in our solar system and it may still look like a faint star with that magnification.
Still, how often do you get to take a glimpse at Neptune?
If you’re willing to try your luck at seeing this far-off planet, Neptune will appear to rise in the eastern sky around sunset on Sept. 16, climb higher in the sky until about midnight and then set in the west around sunrise.
If you can’t find Neptune at opposition this year, you’ll have to wait another year and a few days before it happens again. That’s because it takes about 165 Earth years for Neptune to make a single revolution around the sun! By the time our planet goes around the sun, Neptune has barely moved.
When To See Jupiter At Its Closest In 60 Years
Jupiter is the closest gas giant planet to Earth, and it will be even closer than it is the rest of the year on Sept. 26, when the planet is at opposition. At a mere 367.3 million miles away, this year’s opposition will be the closest the solar system’s largest planet has been since 1963.
Despite its relatively close approach — and sheer size — observers will still need a telescope or binoculars to get a good look at Jupiter.
During opposition in September, Jupiter will be visible all night. To find it, look low on the horizon in the southeastern sky, just after sunset. It’s the second brightest planet in the night sky, making it much easier to find than the more distant and dimmer Neptune.
Jupiter comes into opposition about every 13 months because it takes the Earth a little over a year to travel once around the sun relative to Jupiter.
There are plenty of celestial events to see in September, and October 2022 will be just as exciting, if not a little busier, with the full Hunter Moon, a couple of meteor showers and a good look at Mercury on the horizon.
Follow meteorologist Jason Meyers on Twitter or watch one of his entertaining and educational YouTube videos.
This story originally appeared on Simplemost. Checkout Simplemost for additional stories. | https://www.katc.com/when-see-september-full-moon-jupiter-neptune | 2022-09-01T15:40:21Z | katc.com | control | https://www.katc.com/when-see-september-full-moon-jupiter-neptune | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
A wonderful week for restaurants in the Tennessee Valley – there is only one failing score to report.
Bugs were back at one restaurant in Cleveland causing a failing score.
Sonic on Stuart Road scored a 64.
The inspector said the manager was not performing their duties as show by the violations.
There was no sanitizer dispensing from the three-compartment sink and no soap in the public restroom.
Lettuce, whipped cream and cold brew were all being stored at the wrong temperature.
Employees were seen not changing gloves and washing hands between touching their clothing and performing food prep, and an employee had nail polish on without gloves.
The inspector saw excessive flies in the kitchen.
There was a wastewater leak below the three-compartment sink and the wall by that sink was very dirty according to the inspector.
The chemical spray bottle was seen by the inspector being stored by cup lids.
The inspector reminded them of the food safety training available through the Bradley County Health Department.
If you have a question about a restaurant, hotel, pool or gym – call your local health department.
Hamilton County
- 97 Brown Middle School 5716 Highway 58 Harrison, TN
- 88 East Lake Elementary School 3600 13th Avenue Chattanooga, TN
- 96 Salvation Army Pool 2140 E 28th Street Chattanooga, TN
- 100 Quality Inn Pool 4833 Hixson Pike Hixson, TN
- 100 Pinnacle Condominium Pool 1131 Stringers Ridge Road Chattanooga, TN (Follow-Up)
- 100 Trails of Signal Mountain Pool 3535 Mountain Creek Road Chattanooga, TN (Follow-Up)
- 100 Saint Ives Pool 11 Ridgerock Drive Signal Mountain, TN (Follow-Up)
- 93 Holiday Inn Express & Suites 3710 Modern Industrial Parkway Chattanooga, TN
- 100 Rain Thai Bistro Bar 6733 Lee Highway Chattanooga, TN
- 99 Buds Sports Bar 5751 Brainerd Road Chattanooga, TN
- 100 North River Pub Bar 1 7001 Middle Valley Road Suite 101 Hixson, TN
- 100 North River Pub Bar 2 7001 Middle Valley Road Suite 101 Hixson, TN
- 100 Chao’s Mongolian Grill 5726 Brainerd Road Chattanooga, TN
- 98 Fazoli’s 2332 Shallowford Village Drive Chattanooga, TN
- 100 Seoul 6231 Perimeter Drive Suite 199 Chattanooga, TN
- 100 Rain Thai Bistro 6933 Lee Highway Suite 40 Chattanooga, TN
- 98 Shogun Japanese Steakhouse 1806 Gunbarrel Road Chattanooga, TN (Follow-Up)
- 95 El Agave Mexican Grill & Cuisine 1832 Taft Highway Signal Mountain, TN
- 98 423 Taco 212 W 8th Street Chattanooga, TN (Follow-Up)
- 98 First Watch 5207 Highway 153 Suite 102 Hixson, TN
- 91 Nineteenth Hole 6801 Middle Valley Road Hixson, TN
- 94 McAlister’s Deli 2288 Gunbarrel Road Suite 124 Chattanooga, TN
- 98 Wendy’s #2973 1868 Dayton Boulevard Chattanooga, TN (Follow-Up)
- 97 Totto Sushi & Grill 330 Frazier Avenue Chattanooga, TN (Follow-Up)
- 99 North River Pub 7001 Middle Valley Road Suite 101 Hixson, TN
- 99 Creeks Bend Golf Club 5900 Hixson Pike Hixson, TN
- 96 Holiday Inn Express Continental Breakfast 3710 Modern Industrial Parkway Chattanooga, TN
- 100 Nut’n But Guac 6940 Lee Highway Suite 103 Chattanooga, TN
- 97 Wings Town 1805 E 23rd Street Chattanooga, TN (Follow-Up)
- 94 Cashews LLC 149 River Street Chattanooga, TN
- 97 Sluggo’s North 505 Cherokee Boulevard Chattanooga, TN
- 95 St. Jude Catholic School 930 Ashland Terrace Chattanooga, TN
- 100 Tasty Heaven Sandwiched 5950 Shallowford Road Suite C Chattanooga, TN
- 95 Blue & Gold Bistrol UTC 615 McCallie Avenue Department 1701 Chattanooga, TN
- 100 Ankar’s Express 5959 Shallowford Road Suite 201 Chattanooga, TN
- 99 Panda Express UTC 615 McCallie Avenue Department 1701 Chattanooga, TN
- 98 Clarion Inn 3641 Cummings Highway Chattanooga, TN
- 94 Hooter’s Restaurant 5912 Brainerd Road Chattanooga, TN
- 100 Moe’s Southwest Grill UTC 642 E 5th Street Chattanooga, TN
- 100 Chick-Fil-A UTC 642 E 5th Street Chattanooga, TN
- 100 UTC Catering 615 McCallie Avenue Department 1701 Chattanooga, TN
- 97 Wendy’s #106 3700 Cummings Highway Chattanooga, TN
- 100 Tennessee Baptist Children’s Home 6623 Lee Highway Chattanooga, TN
- 94 Newton Child Development Center 1301 Grove Street Chattanooga, TN
- 99 Hooter’s Bar 5912 Brainerd Road Chattanooga, TN
- 93 Clarion Inn 3641 Cummings Highway Chattanooga, TN
- 100 Spring Hill Suites 8876 Old Lee Highway Ooltewah, TN
- 92 Douglas Heights 930 Douglas Street Chattanooga, TN
- 98 Common House 1517 Mitchell Avenue Chattanooga, TN
- 96 Girl’s Preparatory School 205 Island Avenue Chattanooga, TN
- 100 The Enclave 1181 Enclave Road Chattanooga, TN
- 100 Ridgeside Apartments 6320 Hixson Pike Hixson, TN
- 100 Overlook Community HOA 3984 Hearthstone Circle Hixson, TN
- 94 Super 8 Motel 6519 Ringgold Road East Ridge, TN
- 100 Monkey Town Brewing Chattanooga 724 Ashland Terrace Chattanooga, TN
- 100 Booker T. Washington State Park 5801 Champion Road Chattanooga, TN
- 100 Wendy's #4012 4500 Highway 58 Chattanooga, TN
- 100 Stay APT Suites 6046 Relocation Way Ooltewah, TN
- 100 Inkd Up 5305 Brainerd Road Chattanooga, TN
- 100 There There Cat, LLC dba Leroy 3054 Cherokee Boulevard Chattanooga, TN
- 96 Krystal CHNF05 3409 Amnicola Highway Chattanooga, TN
- 100 Duck Donuts 2115 Gunbarrel Road Suite A11 Chattanooga, TN
- 100 Dippers UTC 515 Vine Street Chattanooga, TN
- 100 Wrights Old Plantation 1515 Dodson Avenue Chattanooga, TN
- 100 Luigi’s PO Box 2333 Chattanooga, TN
- 100 Einstein Bros. Bagels UTC 515 Vine Street Chattanooga, TN
- 99 Marco’s Pizza 2009 Dayton Boulevard Chattanooga, TN
- 100 The Enclave 1181 Enclave Road Chattanooga, TN
- 100 Ridgeside Apartments 6320 Hixson Pike Hixson, TN (Follow-Up)
- 98 Bright School 1950 McDade Lane Chattanooga, TN
- 99 East Ridge Elementary School 1014 John Ross Road East Ridge, TN
- 100 The Edwin Hotel 102 Walnut Street Chattanooga, TN
- 100 Overlook Community HOA 3984 Hearthsone Circle Hixson, TN
- 99 Marco’s Pizza 2009 Dayton Boulevard Chattanooga, TN
- 100 Vaden Village 6634 Vaden Village Drive Chattanooga, TN
- 97 East Lake Academy of Fine Arts School 2700 34th Street Chattanooga, TN
- 100 Integra Preserve Pool 9100 Integra Preserve Court Ooltewah, TN
- 100 Raccoon Mountain Caverns & Campground 319 West Hills Drive Chattanooga, TN
- 98 Taqueria Jalisco-Ania 1639 Rossville Avenue Chattanooga, TN
- 100 Studio 222 (Piercing) 50 E Main Street Chattanooga, TN
- 96 Motel 6 Pool 7707 Lee Highway Chattanooga, TN
- 99 Westbound Honky-Tonk LLC 24 Station Street Suite 106 Chattanooga, TN
- 98 Skyfall HOA Pool 9284 Skyfall Drive Ooltewah, TN
- 96 Homewood Subdivision Pool 9401 Homewood Circle Ooltewah, TN
- 98 Holiday Inn & Suites 434 Chetnbut Street Chattanooga, TN
- 100 Hawthorne at the Summit Pool 8602 Summit Peak Way Ooltewah, TN
- 96 Fairfield Inn & Suites 1453 Mack Smith Road Chattanooga, TN
- 97 Teen Challenge Kitchen 1108 W 33rd Street Chattanooga, TN (Follow-Up)
- 96 Mulberry Park Pool 9690 Collier Place Ooltewah, TN
- 94 Riverview North Mansion Pool 700 Mansion Circle Chattanooga, TN
- 100 Studio 222 50 E Main Street Chattanooga, TN
- 98 Best Western Heritage Inn 7641 Lee Highway Chattanooga, TN
- 97 Subway 3127 Broad Street Chattanooga, TN
- 100 Fairfield Inn & Suites 40 Starview Lane Chattanooga, TN
- 100 Hawthorne at the Crest 5060 City Station Drive Ooltewah, TN
- 100 Integra Hills Apartments 9198 Integra Hills Lane Collegedale, TN
- 100 Main Line Ink 317 Main Street E Chattanooga, TN
- 100 Primrose School (Food) 5170 Preschool Lane Hixson, TN (Follow-Up)
- 100 Wellesley Subdivision Pool 4228 Wellesley Drive Ooltewah, TN
- 98 East Lake Academy of Fine Arts School 2700 E 3th Street Chattanooga, TN
- 96 Hidden Lake Community Pool 3171 Roundabout Lane Chattanooga, TN
- 99 Fairfield Inn & Suites 1453 Mack Smith Road Chattanooga, TN
- 94 Veranda @ The Ridge Apartments Pool 1408-C Mana Lane East Ridge, TN
- 100 Panera Bread Company 1810 Gunbarrel Road Chattanooga, TN
- 96 Oak Haven Pool 2314 Weeping Willow Drive Ooltewah, TN
- 100 Downing Green at Mulberry Park 9513 Rookwood Circle Ooltewah, TN
- 98 The Village at Apison pike 8605 Trade Wind Circle Ooltewah, TN
- 98 McDonald’s #11662 5440 Highway 153 Hixson, TN
- 99 Subway #31514 8142 E Brainerd Road Chattanooga, TN (Follow-Up)
- 96 Seven Lakes Pool 8658 Seven Lakes Drive Ooltewah, TN
- 98 Barger Academy 4808 Brainerd Road Chattanooga, TN (Follow-Up)
- 100 Taco bell #033643 8522 Hixson Pike Hixson, TN
- 100 Walnut Run Outdoor Pool 8768 Walnut Leaf Drive Ooltewah, TN
- 100 The Champion’s Club 7502 Snow Hill Road Ooltewah, TN
- 94 Super 8 7024 McCutcheon Road Chattanooga, TN
- 96 Belvoir Christian Academy 800 Belvoir Avenue Chattanooga, TN
- 97 Amparos Kitchen 5740 Ringgold Road Chattanooga, TN
- 100 Retreat at White Oak 7138 Sylar Road Ooltewah, TN
- 100 The Legends @ White Oak Pool 9211 Lawford Way Ooltewah, TN
- 97 Kosha Hibachi LLC (Mobile) 6724 Hixson Pike Hixson, TN (Follow-Up)
- 100 Hampton on the Lake Pool 7801 Snow Hill Road Ooltewah, TN
- 94 Barger Academy 4808 Brainerd Road Chattanooga, TN
- 96 Blue Bird Row Apartments 1348 Passenger Street Chattanooga, TN
- 99 Chick-Fil-A 639 Camp Jordan Parkway Chattanooga, TN (Follow-Up)
- 100 River Rock Apartments 382 Cherry Street Chattanooga, TN
- 98 Lakesite Recreation Club 2505 Blue Ridge Road Soddy, TN
- 95 McDonald’s #23381 8601 Hixson Pike Hixson, TN
- 100 River’s Edge HOA Pool 2521 Heron Cove Lane Soddy Daisy, TN
- 94 Mo Mo Hibachi 9332 Dayton Pike Soddy Daisy, TN
- 98 Creekside @ Hampton Meadows 7573 White Pine Drive Ooltewah, TN
- 100 Mill Run Pool 8382 Mitchell Mill Road Ooltewah, TN
- 98 Choo Choo Dive Center 3739 Powers Court Chattanooga, TN
- 98 Passenger Flats 1362 Passenger Street Chattanooga, TN
- 98 Captain D’s #3450 2008 Gunbarrel Road Chattanooga, TN
- 100 Riverwalk @ Cameron Harbor Apartments 726 Fulton Street Chattanooga, TN
- 100 Chuy’s Chattanooga #76 2271 Gunbarrel Road Chattanooga, TN (Follow-Up)
- 100 Mountain Lake Estates HOA-Pool 9506 Balata Drive Ooltewah, TN
- 100 Royal Harbour Homeowners Association Royal Club Drive Ooltewah, TN
- 99 Zaxby’s 5013 Hixson Pike Hixson, TN (Follow-Up)
- 98 Hampton Cove HOA 8098 Chinkapin Court Ooltewah, TN
- 99 Middle Valley Elementary School 1609 Thrasher Pike Hixson, TN
- 100 Enlighten Ink 6743 Ringgold Road Suite J Chattanooga, TN
- 100 McConnell Elementary School 8629 Columbus Road Hixson, TN (Follow-Up)
- 100 Cambridge Square 7092 Chesteron Way Ooltewah, TN
- 100 Spring Valley Community Pool 110 Valley Bridge Drive Chattanooga, TN (Follow-Up)
- 100 Custom Concepts Ink 3823 Ringgold Road Chattanooga, TN
Bradley County
- 88 Oak Spring Pool 3440 Ocoee Street Cleveland, TN
- 86 Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers 688 Paul Huff Parkway Cleveland, TN
- 94 Kentucky Fried Chicken 2720 Keith Street Cleveland, TN (Follow-Up)
- 86 Krystal CLV001 2510 Keith Street Cleveland, TN
- 64 Sonic Drive-In #3885 390 Stuart Road Cleveland, TN
- 98 Faith Haven Christian Academy Kitchen 5053 N Lee Highway Cleveland, TN (Follow-Up)
- 95 McDonalds 4095 Georgetown Road Cleveland, TN (Follow-Up)
- 99 Taco Bell #040162 3089 Pleasant Grove Road SW McDonald, TN
- 94 Mooooorebetterbbq Mobile Unit 410 Seminole Drive Cleveland, TN
- 99 Subway 855 Keith Street NW Cleveland, TN (Follow-Up)
- 99 Tinsley Park Ball Conc. Tinsley Park Cleveland, TN
- 95 Salsarita’s Fresh Mexican Grill 694 Paul Huff Parkway Cleveland, TN (Follow-Up)
- 100 KOA Swimming Pool 648 Pleasant Grove Road McDonald, TN
- 96 Clarion Inn Pool 185 James Asbury Drive NW Cleveland, TN
- 90 Quality Inn Pool 153 James Asbury Drive Cleveland, TN
- 99 Taco Bell #033295 946 Paul Huff Parkway Cleveland, TN (Follow-Up)
- 96 Mrs. Winner’s 2487 Keith Street Cleveland, TN (Follow-Up)
- 94 La Quinta Pool 130 Interstate Drive Cleveland, TN
- 99 Juicy Seafood 138 Paul Huff Parkway NW Cleveland, TN
- 92 Best Western Plus Pool 107 Interstate Drive NW Cleveland, TN
- 96 Holiday Inn Pool 110 Interstate Drive NW Cleveland, TN (Follow-Up)
- 90 Baymont Inn Pool 360 Paul Huff Parkway Cleveland, TN
- 98 McDonald’s 1350 25th Street NW Cleveland, TN
- 95 Wesley Methodist Pre-School 3405 Peerless Road Cleveland, TN
Catoosa County
- 86 Battlefield Campground and RV Park, LLC (Swimming Pool) 199 KOA Boulevard Ringgold, GA
- 91 Thatcher’s BBQ 2929 Highway 41 Ringgold, GA
Dade County
None
Murray County
None
Walker County
- 100 Chattanooga Valley Middle 847 Allgood Road Flinstone, GA
Whitfield County
- 98 The Oakwood Inc. 195 W Cuyler Street Dalton, GA
- 98 Loncheria Los Compadres 1900 E Morris Street Dalton, GA
- 91 Moe’s Southwest Grill 1515 W Walnut Avenue Dalton, GA
- 89 Day’s Inn 1424 W Walnut Avenue Dalton, GA
- 100 Hampton Inn 1000 Market Street Dalton, GA | https://www.local3news.com/local-news/bugs-cause-fast-food-chain-to-fail-restaurant-inspection/article_0166128a-29f2-11ed-894e-270938ce79f9.html | 2022-09-01T15:46:29Z | local3news.com | control | https://www.local3news.com/local-news/bugs-cause-fast-food-chain-to-fail-restaurant-inspection/article_0166128a-29f2-11ed-894e-270938ce79f9.html | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
The number of children experiencing homelessness in the Tennessee Valley continues to rise and is affecting the local food bank.
"COVID hit and at the height of that. We were serving around 1500 to 1700 a month," said Chattanooga Area Food Bank Director Jennifer Fritts.
Fritts saw the effects of the pandemic firsthand at the Chattanooga Area Food Bank.
Now, two years later, she said the number of families in need rose dramatically.
"Right now, we are almost serving 3,000 individuals and families a month," said Fritts. "Right now, that's almost 200 individuals and families a day in our program."
Fritts says it comes from a number of factors.
"Inflation. The sun setting on government benefits," said Fritts.
She said there's also an ongoing increase of fuel and logistic prices to deliver resources, as well as a lack of volunteers.
"We are in an urgent and critical need of volunteers," said Fritts. "With this incredible increase in need, we are beginning to have to hire temp labor."
Fritts said the food bank is preparing for this increase in need to continue.
"Which is causing us to dip into reserve funds in order to meet that need," said Fritts.
Right now, the food bank is working to help schools support students with this increased need.
"In school pantries, our sack pack program and then also community school pantries, in all three of those programs, we have seen a 20% increase," said Fritts.
Fritts encourages anyone to volunteer to help fill the need.
You can find more information here. | https://www.local3news.com/local-news/chattanooga-area-food-bank-sees-a-spike-in-need-from-families-across-the-tennessee-valley/article_77e5a210-29d7-11ed-ab11-6f9e0e8a3a2e.html | 2022-09-01T15:46:35Z | local3news.com | control | https://www.local3news.com/local-news/chattanooga-area-food-bank-sees-a-spike-in-need-from-families-across-the-tennessee-valley/article_77e5a210-29d7-11ed-ab11-6f9e0e8a3a2e.html | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
US life expectancy lowest in decades after dropping nearly a full year in 2021 a historic drop in 2020, life expectancy in the United States took another significant hit in 2021.
According to provisional data published Wednesday by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, life expectancy at birth dropped by nearly a year between 2020 and 2021 -- and by more than two and a half years overall since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Life expectancy at birth fell to 76.1 years, the lowest it has been in the US since 1996, and the biggest 2-year decline in a century.
COVID-19 was the driving factor, with deaths from the virus contributing to half of the decline from 2020 to 2021, according to the report from the CDC's National Center for Health Statistics.
The death rate from COVID-19 was higher in 2021 than it was in 2020, so it wasn't particularly surprising that life expectancy would fall again, Bob Anderson, chief mortality statistician for the CDC, told CNN.
Also, drug overdose deaths reached a record high in 2021, killing about 109,000 people. And deaths from unintentional injuries -- about half of which are due to drug overdose -- was the second-leading cause of the decline in life expectancy.
Dr. Nora Volkow, director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse, also said it wasn't surprising, but it is frustrating.
"It is distressing to see a continuing negative impact of drug overdose on the life expectancy of Americans. These deaths often occur in young adults and therefore represent a tragically high number of years of life lost and devastating impact on individuals, families, and communities," she said. "We have the science and the tools available to help us reverse this trend and reduce the number of overdose deaths in this country. But these tools are not being used effectively."
Even if expected, the scale of the decline is still extraordinary. In 2021, mortality rates due to influenza and pneumonia decreased, and if not for these "offsetting effects," the decline in US life expectancy would have been even greater, according to the report.
"Mortality generally, mainly since the 1950s, has changed rather slowly," Anderson said. Changes of more than a few tenths of a year have been considered substantial.
An 'astounding' decline
The recent decline among American Indian and Alaska Native people is particularly "astounding," Anderson said.
The life expectancy for this group plunged by nearly 2 years between 2020 and 2021 and a startling 6.6 years since 2019 -- more than twice as much as it did for the total US population.
At 65.2 years, the life expectancy for American Indians in 2021 was equal to the overall US life expectancy in 1944.
"When I saw that, in the report, I just -- my jaw dropped," Anderson said.
"It was hard enough to fathom a 2.7 year decline over 2 years overall. But then to see a 6.6 year decline for the American Indian population -- it just shows the substantial impact that the pandemic has had on that population."
Deaths from COVID-19 directly were the leading contributor to the decline in life expectancy among American Indian people in 2021, but deaths due to drug overdose and other unintentional injuries, as well as chronic liver disease, which is often caused by alcohol abuse, were nearly equal contributors for this group.
When it comes to the pandemic, Anderson said, "I'm not just talking about COVID-19 necessarily, but also the other factors that seem to have increased during the pandemic."
Experts say the pandemic exacerbated already existing disparities for American Indians and others.
Dr. Matthew Clark, a chief medical officer with the Indian Health Service, said the findings of the new CDC report are concerning, but it has been known that American Indian and Alaska Native people "suffer disproportionately with regard to health outcomes for a broad variety of conditions."
There are "unique aspects to addressing health outcomes" in these communities, he said, and this data should be viewed as a "call to action, an opportunity to redouble our efforts" to address a broad range of factors that impact the health of these populations and engage with tribal communities to find solutions.
"Even in the midst of a very concerning report like this, I do think that there's hope," Clark said, and "there is an opportunity to move the needle in the other direction."
To do that, the goal should be to explore the root causes of those disparities for American Indians and others, said Ruben Cantu, an associate program director with Prevention Institute, a nonprofit focused on health equity.
"A lot of the talk is going to be around the pandemic," Cantu said. "But we need to think about what has driven the conditions that have allowed certain communities to be more vulnerable" in the first place, like crowded housing, poor access to health care and low-income jobs that don't allow for paid sick leave.
A separate study, published as a preprint in June, found that the decrease in life expectancy in the US over the course of the pandemic was "highly racialized" and substantially larger than it was for a set of comparable countries. In fact, that study found that life expectancy increased slightly between 2020 and 2021 for the set of 21 peer countries.
Demographic differences
The new data from the CDC highlights differences in life-expectancy trends by race and ethnicity, as well as by gender.
In the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic, life expectancy declined least among White people. In the second year of the pandemic, however, this group saw the second-biggest decline in life expectancy -- and deaths due to COVID-19 contributed to the drop among White people more than any other racial or ethnic group.
Once the most vaccinated group, the share of the White population that is fully vaccinated with their initial series now lags behind that of the Black, Hispanic and Asian populations, CDC data shows.
Life expectancy in 2021 was highest among both Asian women (85.6 years) and men (81.2 years), the CDC data shows. Hispanic women were the only other group with a life expectancy greater than 80 years.
In the total US population, life expectancy fell more among men than among women in 2021, widening a gap that has been growing over the past decade. The disparity in life expectancy between men (73.2 years) and women (79.1 years) is now nearly six years.
The life expectancy for American Indian men in 2021 was 61.5 years, lower than any other group. Black men had the next lowest, at 66.7 years.
A recent project by the Prevention Institute focused on the mental health and well-being of men and boys. It found that men and boys of color -- especially Black and Native American men -- "start out with higher rates of trauma and mental health challenges," Cantu said, which can make them more vulnerable to other conditions.
"Over the last five or six years, we've heard a lot more about diseases of despair -- things like substance use, alcoholism and suicide -- and a lot of those things are connected," he said. "It helps to point out how vulnerable certain communities can be to a lot of other conditions."
The-CNN-Wire™ & © 2022 Cable News Network, Inc., a Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All rights reserved. | https://www.local3news.com/local-news/covid-19/us-life-expectancy-lowest-in-decades-after-dropping-nearly-a-full-year-in-2021/article_8e47f786-293e-11ed-95f6-2392b6a5a50e.html | 2022-09-01T15:47:18Z | local3news.com | control | https://www.local3news.com/local-news/covid-19/us-life-expectancy-lowest-in-decades-after-dropping-nearly-a-full-year-in-2021/article_8e47f786-293e-11ed-95f6-2392b6a5a50e.html | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Sen. Lindsey Graham continued to argue in a court filing Wednesday that a Fulton County subpoena for his testimony in the investigation into plots to illegally influence Georgia's 2020 election results should be quashed or, at the very least, heavily limited in scope.
In the filing, Graham, a South Carolina Republican, argued that the topics Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis, a Democrat, wants to inquire about -- namely, calls the senator made to election officials in Georgia, including Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, about reviewing ballots in the 2020 election -- should not be allowed.
"(T)his Court should at least modify the subpoena to prohibit any questions about the above: Senator Graham's phone-call investigation into Georgia's elections process regarding the 2020 election and his motives for undertaking that investigation. Partial quashal, at least, is proper," an attorney for Graham, Brian Lea, wrote.
In the filing, Lea argues that the phone calls were part of Graham's investigation into claims of voter fraud, an investigation Graham has said he made to determine whether he should vote to certify the election for Joe Biden, which the senator ultimately did.
The phone calls, Lea says, were part of Graham's duties as a US senator and were therefore protected by the Constitution's Speech or Debate clause, which shields lawmakers from some law enforcement actions when it comes to their legislative duties.
US District Judge Leigh Martin May previously rejected Graham's efforts to dismiss the subpoena but was ordered by an appeals court earlier this month to consider if the subpoena should be partially quashed to comply with the Speech or Debate clause.
In a court filing last week, the Fulton County District Attorney's office ridiculed Graham for his "extreme position" to quash the subpoena and the Senator's position that the federal court should bar questions "on all topics" Willis has sought.
The-CNN-Wire™ & © 2022 Cable News Network, Inc., a Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All rights reserved. | https://www.local3news.com/local-news/decision/sen-lindsey-graham-continues-to-argue-subpoena-should-be-quashed-says-election-related-phone-calls/article_eec1f06a-2936-11ed-8b92-ff87e827841f.html | 2022-09-01T15:47:36Z | local3news.com | control | https://www.local3news.com/local-news/decision/sen-lindsey-graham-continues-to-argue-subpoena-should-be-quashed-says-election-related-phone-calls/article_eec1f06a-2936-11ed-8b92-ff87e827841f.html | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Donald Trump is considering waiting until after the November midterms to launch a third presidential campaign as he navigates a widening array of legal troubles and mounting concerns that some of his hand-picked Senate candidates may be weaker than he once thought, sources familiar with his thinking tell CNN.
After months of eyeing Labor Day weekend as the target launch date for a 2024 campaign, Trump has spent the past few weeks backing away from that timeline following the FBI search of his Mar-a-Lago estate and an increased panic among Republicans that the party may not be in for the red wave it has long anticipated this November.
While his timeline could shift again between now and November, the onslaught of political and legal concerns has the former President feeling nervous about prematurely diving into the 2024 primary, according to nine former and current Trump aides and allies who requested anonymity to discuss internal matters.
The arguments from advisers wanting him to take his time with a campaign announcement have varied. Believing he will be the undisputed front-runner regardless of when he announces, some have said that if he launches another White House bid too early, he will run out of money around the time Republicans host their nominating convention, leaving him cash-strapped and vulnerable during the general election.
Better to address the legal fallout from the FBI search first, other advisers have told Trump and his team.
"Everyone was operating under the assumption that shortly after Labor Day would be the best possible time to launch, but that has changed and he's being told to deal with the FBI stuff first," said a Trump adviser.
Otherwise, advisers say, the former President is more likely to be blamed for potential losses in the midterms if he becomes a candidate for president before November and his legal troubles distract from the bread-and-butter issues most Republicans -- but especially those running in competitive races -- would prefer to focus on.
As Trump-backed Senate candidates in Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Arizona struggle to eclipse their opponents in fundraising and recent polls, a growing number of Trump confidants have shared concerns with him that a pre-midterm announcement would be weaponized by Democrats, who remain eager to distract from inflation and rising crime and are well-versed already in using Trump as a campaign foil.
"There is a direct tie if Trump becomes a campaign ad in November and Republicans lose the Senate, and the last thing he wants is to be blamed," said a former Trump campaign aide.
Trump himself has started complaining in private about Mehmet Oz's performance in the Pennsylvania Senate contest and a spate of bad press that Georgia Senate hopeful Herschel Walker generated earlier this summer when it became public that he had fathered several children out of wedlock despite routinely criticizing absentee fathers, this aide said.
In the days after federal investigators searched his waterfront residence in early August, Trump was inundated with calls from allies urging him to announce his bid for president immediately.
"It was so hot," said one Trump ally, describing the surging support Trump encountered among both grassroots supporters and top Republicans after he revealed the FBI had searched his home.
But as the legal battle over records seized during the search continues to play out and new details emerge about the sheer volume of classified records Trump was apparently storing haphazardly at Mar-a-Lago, others in Trump's orbit have urged him to put any campaign announcement on hold until he addresses his legal woes. The FBI warrant unsealed earlier this month revealed three possible federal crimes as reason for the search: violations of the Espionage Act, obstruction of justice and criminal handling of government records. In a late Tuesday court filing, the Justice Department said documents were "likely concealed and removed" from a storage room at Mar-a-Lago as part of an effort to "obstruct" the FBI's investigation. Trump, who has not been charged with a crime, has repeatedly denied wrongdoing while boasting that the FBI search has buoyed his 2024 prospects and sent a jolt of energy through his political base.
Another Trump adviser who had previously pushed for a pre-November campaign announcement has since recanted, joining those who believe that waiting until after the midterms is a more prudent approach.
"There's no urgency because he's not going to be outshined by someone else," said former Trump campaign aide Bryan Lanza, pointing to the crowd of potential 2024 rivals who rushed to Trump's defense -- or lobbed sharp criticism at the Justice Department -- after learning that federal investigators had executed a search warrant at his home.
"I personally feel like it's a sign of weakness if he announces before the midterm," said Matt Schlapp, a top Trump ally who chairs the American Conservative Union. Trump had previously considered a pre-midterm announcement as one way to clear the field of prospective challengers, something that Schlapp and others now say he no longer needs to worry about.
Some in Trump world still want him to announce now
Despite Trump being counseled by a growing number of advisers to delay his campaign announcement until later this fall or winter, not everyone in his inner circle has been convinced that that's the right move.
One source close to Trump dismissed the escalating political and legal concerns as "excuses," arguing that the former President is already being blamed for the shifting midterm forecast and putting off a presidential campaign launch is unlikely to inoculate him from further criticism among Republicans if the party either fails to win the Senate or disappoints in its overall gains.
"They are going to blame him no matter what, so he should just announce," this person said.
People familiar with Trump's thinking said he has been more receptive to postponing his campaign announcement until after the midterms in part because of the way Republicans rallied behind him following the FBI search. The former President has recently told allies he doesn't think he will face a formidable challenger in the 2024 GOP primary, according to three people familiar with his comments, one of whom said Trump has been quick to point out how Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis compared the FBI search to "Banana Republic" tactics. DeSantis is widely expected to be a top primary rival if he runs for the nomination against Trump.
"He's up to his eyeballs in legal troubles but that hasn't stopped him from totally relishing this," said a second person close to the former President, who requested anonymity for fear of retribution.
So far, the consensus among Republican operatives two years out from the 2024 election is that Trump is unlikely to face a real primary threat even though he is widely expected to field challenges from a handful of GOP hopefuls. Former Vice President Mike Pence, former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, and Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan are some of the likeliest rivals Trump could face if he does run again.
Schlapp, who believes Trump will indeed attract primary competitors, said none would be "serious in terms of being able to win the nomination." He added that Trump's outrage over the FBI search will give him something to tap into if and when he does announce a third presidential campaign.
"Sometimes I think he's better the more acrimonious he gets," Schlapp said, claiming that Trump's early August appearance at the Conservative Political Action Conference in Dallas was a turning point for some Republicans who were previously on the fence about his desire to mount a comeback bid after losing to Joe Biden in 2020.
Two days before federal investigators conducted their search of Mar-a-Lago, Trump used the speech to complain that he is "always being persecuted."
One of the Trump advisers took it a step further, suggesting that an indictment of Trump by the Biden administration "would be beneficial" to the former President at this juncture.
"It would just appear too partisan at this point," this adviser said.
Biden, who has insisted he had no advance warning of the search, has stressed the independence of the Justice Department. But Trump has frequently taken to his social media platform to blast what he's called a politically motivated "witch hunt" and railed against the FBI and Biden, including in a frenzy of posts on Truth Social on Tuesday alone.
Prioritizing his legal fights
While Trump hasn't made a firm timing decision yet as he mulls a 2024 bid, his lack of planning for a campaign rollout has signaled to those around him that he wants to bide his time.
Until adding former Florida Solicitor General Chris Kise to his legal defense team on Tuesday, Trump had been struggling to navigate the legal jeopardy he finds himself in as federal investigators sift through the classified documents they seized from his residence -- possibly building a criminal case in the process.
Those around him say Trump appears to be putting his political ambitions on the backburner -- if only temporarily -- to give his legal team space to operate and strategize without the time constraints that a presidential campaign would demand. The former President has spent the three weeks since the FBI conducted its search at Mar-a-Lago trying to capitalize on the moment politically, while his attorneys have meanwhile struggled to develop a clear strategy. His legal team waited until weeks after the search, for example, to file a so-called special master request for an independent review of the materials taken from his home, which is the subject of a hearing this week.
"Right now, it's a question of whether he wants to turn everything political or gain some legal stability to make sure everything turns out OK before taking that next step," said one of the Trump advisers.
The-CNN-Wire™ & © 2022 Cable News Network, Inc., a Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All rights reserved. | https://www.local3news.com/local-news/decision/trump-weighs-delaying-2024-decision-as-political-and-legal-troubles-grow/article_a65e3196-2961-11ed-9a11-176cf3ef8848.html | 2022-09-01T15:47:42Z | local3news.com | control | https://www.local3news.com/local-news/decision/trump-weighs-delaying-2024-decision-as-political-and-legal-troubles-grow/article_a65e3196-2961-11ed-9a11-176cf3ef8848.html | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Dolly Parton's latest business venture is going to the dogs.
The superstar singer, actress and author has announced the launch of "Doggy Parton" -- a line of dog apparel and accessories produced in partnership with SportPet Designs.
The line will feature shirts, dresses, squeaky toys and even a blonde wig inspired by Parton. A portion of the proceeds will go to Willa B. Farms, a rescue organization that provides a home for displaced animals.
"'Puppy Love'' was my very first record and 6 decades later, my love for pets is stronger than ever. This inspired me to start my own line of Doggy Parton apparel, accessories, toys and more with a little 'Dolly' flair," Parton said in a statement. "Part of the proceeds will support Willa B Farms, a rescue where animals in need find never-ending love. Don't we all need that?'"
Initially the products will be available via DoggyParton.com and Amazon with more retailers to be announced in the future.
The-CNN-Wire™ & © 2022 Cable News Network, Inc., a Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All rights reserved. | https://www.local3news.com/local-news/dolly-parton-launches-doggy-parton-pet-apparel-line/article_e5e8c91e-2954-11ed-a764-9f7063fcde26.html | 2022-09-01T15:47:49Z | local3news.com | control | https://www.local3news.com/local-news/dolly-parton-launches-doggy-parton-pet-apparel-line/article_e5e8c91e-2954-11ed-a764-9f7063fcde26.html | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
After being delayed for two years due to COVID, a special event for cancer survivors is coming back to Chattanooga.
"You're a survivor the day you're diagnosed. A lot of people think "I have to get through all my treatment before I'm a survivor,'" said Erlanger Cancer Support Manager Janet Kramer-Mai. "Absolutely not, the day you're diagnosed you become a cancer survivor."
Kramer-Mai is a breast cancer survivor for the last 22 years.
"This is just an opportunity to get in front of women at all phases and pick them up and carry them through things they have no idea they'll have to go through," said Kramer-Mai.
She's helping organize Erlanger's Survivin' and Thrivin' Cancer Survivorship Symposium, an event tailored for any woman who has cancer or who has survived it.
She said the symposium is designed to answer questions that aren't typically addressed in a doctor's office.
"You know the question now begs 'What tools are we giving them to get on with their new normal' because their life is never like their life prior to cancer," said Kramer-Mai.
She said topics range from addressing physical, emotional, and mental health to stress relief and nutrition, as well as providing a strong support system of women.
"I think just attending a symposium like this, it's going to answer questions you likely didn't know you had yet," said Kramer-Mai.
She hopes her story, as well as all the women around her, will inspire anyone with cancer to be prepared to overcome whatever is next.
"Being in a room full of women that maybe you think you're the only one that's had this problem, likely not," said Kramer-Mai. "You'll be surrounded by peers and women that have walked through this whole journey."
The symposium will be held on Saturday, Sept. 17th at 9 a.m. at Chattanooga State.
You can get tickets here. | https://www.local3news.com/local-news/erlanger-brings-back-an-annual-tradition-for-cancer-survivors-in-chattanooga/article_3f1072be-293f-11ed-8273-cbc65d9c3638.html | 2022-09-01T15:47:55Z | local3news.com | control | https://www.local3news.com/local-news/erlanger-brings-back-an-annual-tradition-for-cancer-survivors-in-chattanooga/article_3f1072be-293f-11ed-8273-cbc65d9c3638.html | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
HCOEM is recognizing September as National Preparedness month and reminding the residents of Hamilton Co. to be prepared before a disaster occurs in our area. Details: https://t.co/tK4TSnzm6f pic.twitter.com/7Q1LYV6VvC
— HamCoTNES (@HamCoTNES) August 31, 2022
- Develop evacuating procedures for your home for a fire or severe weather
- Create a phone list of family members to contact in the event of an emergency
- Designate a “safe” location to meet after evacuating your home
- Create a phone list consisting of medical providers, insurance carriers or work locations
- Water – at least a gallon per person, per day, for 3-5 days.
- Non-perishable food items (dried fruit, peanut butter, crackers) enough for each person for 3-5 days
- Pet supplies – Food and Water
- Battery powered weather radio with extra batteries
- First Aid Kit – all your prescriptions
- Cell phone
- Additional clothing, blankets | https://www.local3news.com/local-news/hcoem-recognizes-september-as-national-preparedness-month/article_940e2f48-294b-11ed-90e8-f7e7b4c07541.html | 2022-09-01T15:48:13Z | local3news.com | control | https://www.local3news.com/local-news/hcoem-recognizes-september-as-national-preparedness-month/article_940e2f48-294b-11ed-90e8-f7e7b4c07541.html | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
The highly anticipated HBO series House Of Dragons premiered this past weekend. The show is a prequel to the most watched television show of all time, Game Of Thrones.
A local business owner actually owns the rights to manufacture and sell replicated weapons from the show and says his sales have quadrupled since the new series aired Sunday night.
Winter is coming... in about four months, but over at Jalic Blades, you may as well be living in Winterfell.
"I would love to be at the center of a Game Of Thrones world that Warner Bros is producing," said Owner of Jalic Blades, Chris Beasley.
Chris Beasley grew up loving fantasy books and movies like Lord Of The Rings.
After graduating college, he began selling knives and Lord Of the Rings swords online, which turned into Beasley creating his own manufacturing business to sell his own weapons.
"I've upgraded from apartment, to garage, to a barn, to a warehouse," said Beasley.
In 2006 he says he emailed author and creator of the Game Of Thrones books, George R.R. Martin, asking if he could buy the rights to manufacture swords from his books, which Martin agreed to.
Beasley says three months later, HBO bought the rights to produce the TV show.
"I was able to use the relationship with George to get the relationship with HBO, and then when Game Of Thrones blew up and became the most popular television show in the history of television, I'm able to get meetings any where in Hollywood and kind of became the sword guy for Hollywood," said Beasley.
Beasley explained HBO will send him the actual weapons from the show, which he then mass produces and sells around the world. He says the customers he sells to aren't just typical fantasy fans.
"They said, 'I really need this shipped right away because it's the only thing my mom wants for Mother's Day… is a sword,'" said Beasley.
People can buy helmets, wardrobe and of course plenty of swords from the show. Beasley says their most popular item is Jon Snow's Long Claw Sword.
"Of course he fights with his sword a lot, so that gets more use than any other sword on the show, and we sell more of Long Claw than any other product combined," said Beasley.
He says his work with HBO lead to making replica weapons to be used on SNL, Late Night with Seth Myers and a handful of commercials.
He admits his business slowed down after Game Of Thrones ended in 2019, but says he expected things to pick up when House Of Dragons released.
"Our business is going to have something cool and fun to do for the next six years or seven years and that's exciting," said Beasley. | https://www.local3news.com/local-news/house-of-dragons-premier-brings-sales-spike-to-jalic-blades/article_48d73bb8-29a1-11ed-b8d7-cf429485020d.html | 2022-09-01T15:48:19Z | local3news.com | control | https://www.local3news.com/local-news/house-of-dragons-premier-brings-sales-spike-to-jalic-blades/article_48d73bb8-29a1-11ed-b8d7-cf429485020d.html | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
The Rhea County Sheriff's office says a man has been indicted for raping a child.
The indictment says the incidents happened between June 2017 and January of 2018.
Adam Thomas has been indicted with three counts of rape of a child.
The victim's age range is more than three years old but less than 13 years old. | https://www.local3news.com/local-news/rhea-county-officials-indicted-a-child-rape-suspect/article_54a133ce-2968-11ed-bac1-9f1342f2c491.html | 2022-09-01T15:48:31Z | local3news.com | control | https://www.local3news.com/local-news/rhea-county-officials-indicted-a-child-rape-suspect/article_54a133ce-2968-11ed-bac1-9f1342f2c491.html | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Monday night, seven local organizations and houses of worship were honored with the Governor's Award of Excellence for the work they have done in the community.
It's only the third year for this award.
The seven local groups are singled out from thousands of nonprofits and churches throughout the state.
The award recipients include Clinica Medicos, Hope Unlimited, New Covenant Fellowship, Shepherd’s Arms Rescue Mission, Signal Mountain Social Services, Widows Harvest, and Willow Bend Farms.
The Governor's Award of Excellence recognizes and highlights work done by faith communities, nonprofits, and community initiatives across the state, work that effectively changes the lives of citizens of Tennessee.
“It is very important to support nonprofits. In fact, so many of these groups are living on a shoe string and there was a sacrifice to make it happen. They sacrifice their income. They sacrifice their time but they do it willingly and lovingly because they care about the ministries and the nonprofits they are involved with, “ said Sally Worland, chairman of the Governor’s Award of Excellence.
Worland says she excited about what the Governor’s Office of Faith Based and Community Initiatives has done in just three years and to see what's happening across the state. | https://www.local3news.com/local-news/seven-local-nonprofits-churches-receive-governors-award-of-excellence/article_6751f2b8-289d-11ed-b992-0353b1f19e53.html | 2022-09-01T15:48:44Z | local3news.com | control | https://www.local3news.com/local-news/seven-local-nonprofits-churches-receive-governors-award-of-excellence/article_6751f2b8-289d-11ed-b992-0353b1f19e53.html | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Three people were stabbed on East 23rd St. Tuesday night, according CPD.
Officers responded to the incident around 8:12pm after an anonymous caller reported multiple people had been stabbed at that location.
Responders were told a fight had broken out beforehand.
All three victims were transported to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
A suspect is in custody. | https://www.local3news.com/local-news/three-taken-to-hospital-after-stabbing-tuesday-night/article_84a13218-28d7-11ed-a505-47e55baab5bc.html | 2022-09-01T15:49:16Z | local3news.com | control | https://www.local3news.com/local-news/three-taken-to-hospital-after-stabbing-tuesday-night/article_84a13218-28d7-11ed-a505-47e55baab5bc.html | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Chattanooga Mayor Tim Kelly's "One Chattanooga Plan" continues.
Kelly and his administration are now creating more opportunities for minorities in our area.
1.4 million dollars in federal pandemic relief funds were set aside to start up the new Minority Resource Center.
It will be located inside of the Kelley building on MLK in downtown Chattanooga.
“You have a lot of African American small business owners that often times feel like the resources that might be available in the community to help small business owners may not be resources that are easily accessible to them,” Jermaine Freeman said.
Jermaine Freeman is the Senior Advisor of Economic Opportunity for Chattanooga's Mayor Tim Kelly.
He said the center is expected to help change that outlook and serve as a one stop shop for minority small business owners or inspiring ones.
“Whether it's help with accounting, or back office support, or marketing, or technical assistance in terms of how to manage tax liability. Whatever it is that you need help with, we want you to be able to get that assistance at this location,” Freeman said.
Help with designing websites, apps, and more will offered.
Freeman said this will also create access to capital - connecting small business owners with bank representatives and investors.
“I certainly think this could be a cool place for people to hang out, to meet each other, trade ideas, and to network. I certainly hope this is an exciting place where entrepreneurs, regardless of race or ethnicity you can come ask for help and get the help you looking for,” Freeman said.
Kelly's Administration is in the process of picking a local non-profit organization to run the new center.
Freeman said there is hope to have an organization picked within the next couple of weeks.
“That agreement will have to be approved by City Council and then it will take several months of physical renovation work to the building to make it a moderate contemporary office space,” Freeman said. | https://www.local3news.com/new-chattanooga-minority-resource-center-in-the-making/article_6d211ac2-28aa-11ed-a629-6f51e2628a7f.html | 2022-09-01T15:50:28Z | local3news.com | control | https://www.local3news.com/new-chattanooga-minority-resource-center-in-the-making/article_6d211ac2-28aa-11ed-a629-6f51e2628a7f.html | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
After villifying Jonathan, photo ops won’t help you, PDP tells Tinubu, Shettima
•Blames Shettima for Chibok school girls abduction
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has told the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu, that after viciously harassing, constantly insulting, and labelling former President Goodluck Jonathan, his recent visit for a photo opportunity with him is of no use.
The party gave the position in a statement by Hon. Debo Ologunagba, National Publicity Secretary, on Thursday, where asserted that Nigerians are scandalised over what it referred to as the disgraceful and hypocritical attempt by the former Lagos State governor and other APC leaders to distance themselves from President Muhammadu Buhari over “the abysmal failure of the Buhari-led administration in which they are principal actors.”
According to the main opposition party, “in desperate design to whitewash their battered public image, identifying with the obvious successes of the PDP and in an attempt to posture as statesmen, the APC Presidential Candidate, his running mate, Sen. Kashim Shettima and other APC leaders shamelessly orchestrated a photo opportunity with the distinguished and successful former President Goodluck Jonathan of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).”
The PDP added: “This is a patriotic Nigerian leader whose PDP-led purposeful and successful government the APC leaders viciously harassed, constantly insulted, labelled, sabotaged and discredited for their selfish power-grabbing enterprise.
“Nigerians have not forgotten how Asiwaju Tinubu callously vilified and pilloried Dr Jonathan, spewed hate against his administration and reportedly funded a near riotous protest which was inflamed by concocted economic lies, propaganda and false statistics to discredit the Jonathan-led PDP administration.”
The party accused the APC vice-presidential candidate of sabotaging the effort to prevent the 2014 abduction of school girls from Government Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State.
It added: “Nigerians can equally recall how Sen. Shettima as governor of Borno State sabotaged and frustrated Jonathan’s administration in its effort to curb insecurity in Borno State.
“Records still have it on how the APC Vice Presidential candidate as governor of Borno State failed to act on a security report and directive to close schools in remote parts of Borno State and relocate students to the more secure capital of Maiduguri to write their GCE examinations; thus creating the opening for the cruel abduction of school girls in Chibok, Borno State.
“Nigerian will also note how the then Governor Shettima abdicated his duty as a chief security officer and reportedly withheld vital security information in preference to non-state actors including terrorist elements, thereby frustrating the timely rescue of the abducted Chibok girls.
“It can also be recalled that after the infamous abduction, the principal of the school was subsequently appointed as a commissioner in Borno State by the then Governor Shettima; a development many considered as compensation for her alleged role in the abduction.
“It is therefore ironic that these same APC leaders who also spent the last seven years insulting and harassing Dr Jonathan now shamelessly arranged a visit and photo opportunity in an attempt to launder their image and hoodwink Nigerians from the atrocities and monumental evil they brought to our country.
“It is indeed provocative that after turning our nation into a vast killing field by emboldening terrorist elements to massacre our citizens; wrecking our once robust economy, elevating corruption to an official state policy and turning our nation into the poverty capital of the world, APC leader is seeking to beguile Nigerians again.
“We are aware that these APC leaders have lined up several illusory antics to mislead Nigerians ahead of the 2023 general elections, but they must know that Nigerians have moved on and cannot be swayed by propaganda, lies, false promises and photo ops with successful individuals.
“What is expected of APC leaders at this moment is to apologize unreservedly to Dr Jonathan, the PDP and Nigerians for the life-discounting situation they have foisted on our nation in the last seven years. After that they should quietly quit the stage, take valedictory pictures with terrorists, political thugs and election riggers since they cannot have any space among well-meaning Nigerians.”
ALSO READ FROM NIGERIAN TRIBUNE | https://tribuneonlineng.com/after-villifying-jonathan-photo-ops-wont-help-you-pdp-tells-tinubu-shettima/ | 2022-09-01T15:50:30Z | tribuneonlineng.com | control | https://tribuneonlineng.com/after-villifying-jonathan-photo-ops-wont-help-you-pdp-tells-tinubu-shettima/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Few of us want summer to end, but there's some good news coming this winter: holiday discounts. Major retailers including Best Buy and Walmart say the holiday shopping season will be packed with promotions to entice inflation-strained customers.
Here's what you need to know to Get Up to Speed and On with Your Day.
(You can get "5 Things You Need to Know Today" delivered to your inbox daily. Sign up here.)
1. Ukraine
Shelling near the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in Ukraine has prompted the shutdown of one of its two working reactors. The plant, which was disconnected from the country's power grid last Thursday, has six reactors, only two of which have been functioning. If the safety systems at the facility were to fail, the reactor would heat up swiftly and trigger a meltdown. Fighting around the complex has threatened the possibility of a nuclear accident for months, prompting global concerns. The shutdown comes as a team of international experts is traveling to the area for a planned inspection of the facility. A Ukrainian official accused Russian troops of trying to disrupt the inspection, calling the shelling "the actions of a terrorist state."
2. Mar-a-Lago
Former President Donald Trump argued in a court filing Wednesday that the classified material found at Mar-a-Lago were presidential records and should not have been a cause for alarm -- and should not have led to the search of his Florida residence last month. The Justice Department had said that the search was undertaken after the FBI developed evidence that Trump's lawyers had concealed materials after claiming all classified documents had been previously turned over. Meanwhile, Trump's legal team is calling on the government to provide Trump himself with copies of the materials the FBI seized during the search. A federal judge has scheduled a high-stakes hearing for later today to consider Trump's request for a "special master" -- or third-party attorney -- to review documents that the FBI seized from Mar-a-Lago.
3. Covid-19
The FDA has authorized updated Covid-19 vaccine booster shots from Moderna and Pfizer. The new boosters combine the companies' original vaccine with one that specifically targets the BA.4 and BA.5 Omicron subvariants. This is the first time updated Covid-19 vaccines have received emergency use authorization in the US. Pfizer's updated vaccine is a 30-microgram dose authorized for people age 12 and older. Moderna's updated vaccine is a 50-microgram dose authorized for people age 18 and older. Once approved by the CDC, the updated booster shots could be administered within days to certain populations, including people who may have received a booster just a few months ago.
4. Air travel
Major US airlines have updated their customer service agreements to offer meals and hotels when flights are canceled. Carriers tweaked their policies after receiving pressure from the Biden administration to step up consumer rights in the wake of a summer plagued by flight cancellations and delays. American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, JetBlue and Southwest have all published updates to their customer service policies this week. The updates come on the eve of the Labor Day weekend travel rush and as airlines have canceled more than 45,000 flights since the start of June, according to data from FlightAware.
5. China
China has committed "serious human rights violations" against Uyghur Muslims in its northwestern region of Xinjiang, which may amount to "crimes against humanity" according to a long-awaited report released Wednesday by the UN. The detailed 45-page report comes four years after a committee of UN experts called attention in 2018 to "credible reports" that more than 1 million Uyghur and other Muslim minority peoples were interned in extrajudicial camps in Xinjiang for "re-education" and indoctrination. Human rights groups are calling this a groundbreaking moment in the effort to hold the Chinese government to account. China, however, has fiercely denied committing human rights violations.
BREAKFAST BROWSE
Serena Williams marches on at US Open
Williams is reminding the world why she just may be the greatest women's tennis player of all time in what could be her final act. Tonight, she will step on the court with her sister Venus in doubles play.
The 'world's largest food fight'
Thousands of people were covered in tomatoes after a massive food fight in the streets of Spain. Watch the video here.
Microbreaks at work can increase well-being
This is your reminder to get some fresh air during your workday. A 10-minute walk midday can increase vigor while decreasing fatigue, experts say.
Dazzling pink diamond could fetch more than $21 million at auction
At 11.15 carats, this rare gem is described as one of the world's purest pink diamonds.
This care home recruits babies to cheer up elderly residents
Babies are being asked to visit this care home whenever they want -- and they receive baby formula and diapers during their cheerful visits.
TODAY'S NUMBER
21 million
That's how many people in the Chinese metropolis of Chengdu will be impacted by a sweeping citywide lockdown today due to stringent zero-Covid measures. To slow the spread of the virus, businesses will be shut down and all residents in the capital of Sichuan province in southwest China will be ordered to stay at home from 6 p.m. today, except for mandatory Covid testing.
TODAY'S QUOTE
"Thank you to all Alaskans who have put their faith in me as the first woman in Alaska's history to represent our state in the House of Representatives. Tonight, we've shown that we can win as a campaign that is pro-choice, pro-fish, pro-worker, and pro-Alaska."
-- Democrat Mary Peltola, sharing a victory message on Twitter Wednesday after voting results determined she is set to make history as the first Alaska Native in Congress. Despite Peltola's win against former Gov. Sarah Palin, the two will face off again in November to fill the state's lone House seat for the next full term.
TODAY'S WEATHER
Check your local forecast here>>>
AND FINALLY
Water droplets create amazing animations
This looks like CGI... but it's actually 2,500 switches turning water on and off to create a stunning motion visual. (Click here to view)
The-CNN-Wire
™ & © 2022 Cable News Network, Inc., a Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All rights reserved. | https://www.local3news.com/regional-national/5-things-to-know-for-september-1-ukraine-mar-a-lago-covid-19-air-travel/article_9798db43-3ebc-562e-99ea-298dccbe8ae9.html | 2022-09-01T15:50:33Z | local3news.com | control | https://www.local3news.com/regional-national/5-things-to-know-for-september-1-ukraine-mar-a-lago-covid-19-air-travel/article_9798db43-3ebc-562e-99ea-298dccbe8ae9.html | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
A 4-year-old took a loaded handgun Wednesday to his South Texas elementary school, and his father has been arrested after the incident prompted a lockdown, officials said.
School administrators at John F. Kennedy Elementary School in Corpus Christi learned a student had a weapon on campus around 9 a.m., according to a letter sent to parents from West Oso Independent School District Superintendent Conrado Garcia.
The school went on lockdown immediately, and a Corpus Christi police officer on campus took the weapon and secured it, the letter detailed. The handgun was loaded, Corpus Christi Police Department said in a news release. Police and school officials did not say how the weapon was first discovered.
The incident comes as a new school year ramps up across much of the United States, with parents, students and public officials wary over the mass shooting that left 19 fourth-graders and two teachers dead in May in Uvalde, Texas.
In Arizona this week, a second-grader was found with two guns and ammunition at Cochise Elementary School, the sheriff's office there said in a Facebook post. The child's parents were called and a juvenile referral made with charges of misconduct with a weapon and minor in possession of a firearm, according to the sheriff's office.
In the Corpus Christi case, investigators determined the gun belonged to the student's parents, and police arrested the student's 30-year-old father, who has been charged with making a firearm accessible to a child and abandoning or endangering a child, they said. Conviction on the latter charge carries up to two years in prison, police said.
The father was booked Wednesday evening into the Nueces County Jail, and bond information wasn't immediately available, according to the jail. CNN couldn't immediately determine if he has a lawyer.
"While we do not believe that students and staff were in any kind of imminent danger, as a precaution the campus had increased police presence and maintained a higher level of security at the school until the Corpus Christi Police Department gave us an 'all clear' at 10:30 am," Garcia wrote to parents.
District administrators and the superintendent "responded immediately and arrived on campus to assist with monitoring this lockdown," Garcia wrote in the letter.
Corpus Christi police urged gun owners to ensure their weapons are properly secured and the check them frequently.
"We recommend that all guns are unloaded, trigger locked, and in a locked gun safe, or pistol box with the ammunition locked away separately," police said in a news release. "Keys for the guns and ammunition should be located out of reach of children, away from the weapons and ammunition."
The-CNN-Wire
™ & © 2022 Cable News Network, Inc., a Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All rights reserved. | https://www.local3news.com/regional-national/a-4-year-old-took-a-loaded-gun-to-his-south-texas-school-now-his/article_fdccd06f-ee08-55c2-88e8-40544caf1236.html | 2022-09-01T15:50:35Z | local3news.com | control | https://www.local3news.com/regional-national/a-4-year-old-took-a-loaded-gun-to-his-south-texas-school-now-his/article_fdccd06f-ee08-55c2-88e8-40544caf1236.html | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Our Cause: In 2015 over two centuries old land is needed just three kilomete from the most significant cultural institution from Timuera Region “Monaco. (Fundamental building” is 4 m under grade.) It will create space to house contemporary Timuerer artifacts (dronamuseum.pl site & d.w.) at their true source/ place.\nFor all people that believe in this project there are several possibilities connected with project. They Everyone should have access to healthy food, and that's the mission behind Kids' Food Basket. The organization continues to celebrate 20 years of filling bellies and changing lives, and they want the community to help in their mission as well as they kick off the 8th annual Brown Bag Decoration Month.
Throughout the entire month of September, Kids' Food Basket will be hosting multiple events to encourage everyone to decorate bags for the Sack Suppers they provide for kids in need. The goal is to collect 200,000 decorated bags.
Kids' Food Basket is also partnering with Fox 17 to bring the community Battle of the Bags during the West Michigan high school football season! They’ll have everything needed to decorate bags while cheering on teams at four rivalry games in September:
Battle of the Bags High School Football Games
- September 1 – Mona Shores at Rockford
- September 9 – Cedar Springs at GR Catholic Central
- September 16 – Hudsonville at Caledonia
- September 23 – Sparta at Belding
30 schools will be participating in a Brown Brag Decorating Week, where bags will be collected at each school in the last week of September.
Then on Tuesday, September 27, Kids' Food Basket will host a Brown Bag Decorating Community pop-up event at the KFB Kent County location. The event is free and open to the public from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. and 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Community members of all ages are invited to decorate bags alongside local artists and enjoy food and drinks from on site food trucks.
Decorated brown bags can be dropped off at any of our three Kids’ Food Basket locations
KFB - Kent County
1300 Plymouth NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49505
Mondays through Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Fridays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
KFB - Ottawa + Allegan
652 Hastings Avenue, Holland, MI 49423
Mondays through Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Fridays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
KFB – Muskegon County
Central United Methodist Church
1011 2nd St., Muskegon, MI 49440
Mondays through Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Fridays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Learn more about this and other volunteer opportunities by visiting kidsfoodbasket.org or calling (616)-235-4532. | https://www.fox17online.com/morning-mix/kids-food-basket-kicks-off-brown-bag-decoration-month | 2022-09-01T15:50:40Z | fox17online.com | control | https://www.fox17online.com/morning-mix/kids-food-basket-kicks-off-brown-bag-decoration-month | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
The number of shootings involving automatic weapons in the US has skyrocketed in recent years, suggesting a troubling resurgence in the use of machine guns by criminals, according to an analysis provided exclusively to CNN.
Incidents of machine gun fire have exploded by about 1,400% from 2019 through last year, according to statistics compiled by a gunfire detection company that has acoustic sensors placed in about 130 US cities. Last year alone, ShotSpotter, Inc. detected roughly 5,600 incidents of automatic weapons fire, the analysis showed.
The previously unreported figures add to growing evidence that the widespread availability of inexpensive so-called conversion devices -- known as "auto switches" or "auto sears" -- capable of transforming semi-automatic weapons into machine guns in a matter of moments are wreaking havoc on American streets.
There has been a corresponding spike in seizures of conversion devices by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives in recent years, from fewer than 100 in 2017 to more than 1,500 last year.
CNN earlier reported on an ATF effort in 2019 to recover what agents suspected were thousands of such devices illegally imported from China. In the years since, 3D printers have only added to the problem, law enforcement officials said.
"Not since Prohibition have we seen this many machine guns being used to commit crimes," said Tom Chittum, who spent more than two decades with the ATF and retired as its No. 2 official before signing on as an executive with ShotSpotter earlier this year.
Gun laws virtually eliminated automatic weapons from city streets for decades, Chittum said. "But now machine guns are back, and they're everywhere."
Automatic weapons have been used in several high-profile assaults in recent years, including a mass shooting in Sacramento, California, in which six people were killed and a dozen injured, a school shooting in Washington, DC, in which a sniper with automatic rifles unleashed a barrage of more than 200 shots, wounding four, and the slaying of Houston police officer William "Bill" Jeffrey during the service of an arrest warrant last year. The 30-year-veteran officer died in a torrent of gunfire from a convicted felon armed with an illegally converted weapon.
A CNN review of court filings in cities across the US found dozens of cases in recent years involving so-called conversion devices or semi-automatic handguns already converted to fully automatic.
In Chicago, a man prosecutors called "a prolific machine gun dealer" allegedly continued to sell the devices while out on bond and awaiting trial. An alleged associate of the man was recorded telling an undercover ATF agent posing as a buyer that he'd get a better price if he bought in bulk, and that he should act quickly because demand was high.
"People are gonna get them switches," he told the agent, according to a court filing. "It's gonna go to the people who want to go shoot some people, gangbangers and sh*t."
The devices appear to be an emerging commodity on the black market. CNN reviewed cases in which they were allegedly hawked on social media, sold under the table by a licensed gun dealer in Miami, and turned up in the possession of alleged drug dealers distributing methamphetamine, fentanyl and oxycodone. In Los Angeles, a man under investigation for supplying local gang members with guns allegedly sold an ATF informant a Glock conversion device along with a Glock 9mm pistol and a high-capacity magazine. In Washington, DC, investigators looking into a young man who allegedly tossed a converted handgun into a trash can as police approached later found several videos on YouTube in which he rapped about "switches."
The increasing availability of auto switches has been driven in part by the ease with which they can be made using cheap, 3D-printed parts and instructions available online, according to Earl Griffith, the chief of ATF's Firearms and Ammunition Technology Division.
"It's very easy," said Griffith, who explained how he learned to use a 3D printer to make the devices on YouTube. "In a matter of 15 minutes I was able to do it myself the first time." Below, Griffith explains.
A CNN review of YouTube based on key-word search terms revealed multiple such videos that had collectively racked up more than 1 million views. One group of auto-switch instructional videos that remained online until August were linked to a man charged in December by federal prosecutors in Texas for allegedly making, possessing and transferring 3D-printed switches. He has pleaded not guilty.
YouTube removed the videos after CNN asked about them. A company spokesperson said YouTube does not allow "content instructing viewers how to manufacture accessories that convert a firearm to automatic fire, or to sell those accessories on our platform."
Griffith said that despite the growing ubiquity of the devices, many members of law enforcement do not know how to recognize them on firearms they seize from criminals.
"When we tell them about it, they go back into their evidence vault and they look and check and they find this stuff," he said.
Quantifying incidents involving automatic weapons fire is a challenge. The shell casings fired by automatic weapons appear no different than those discharged from a semi-automatic gun.
That is where ShotSpotter comes in. The company has contracts with about 130 cities in which it installs acoustic sensors in designated areas to listen for gunfire. A patented computer algorithm attempts to distinguish between innocuous sounds such a jackhammer or car backfiring and gunfire. Human analysts at the company's headquarters in the San Francisco Bay Area or a satellite office in Washington, DC, listen to what the algorithm flags as gunfire and, if they concur, alert police. The company says its goal is to make such notifications within a minute.
In recent years, suspected incidents of automatic weapons fire have risen sharply from about 400 in 2019 to 1,800 in 2020 to 5,600 last year. Even after adjusting for an increase in the company's coverage area in the US, ShotSpotter said an internal analysis showed that suspected automatic gunfire incidents jumped 14 times in about three years. The upward trend has continued in the first half of this year with roughly 3,800 incidents detected. The company says its designation of an incident as "full auto" is for a police department's "situational awareness" only and is not guaranteed in the same manner as its primary mission of accurately identifying and locating outdoor gunfire.
During a demonstration of the system in June, analyst Kaylan Parker replayed some of the incidents she and others had tagged as "full auto," filling her Washington, DC, listening post with audio from what sounded like some far-off war zone. On a recent day, she said, the company had detected what it determined to be more than 25 incidents of automatic weapons fire, involving some 300 rounds, including a shooting in nearby Baltimore. Baltimore police later issued a press release about the incident, citing the ShotSpotter alert and stating that two people were wounded, including a 14-year-old boy.
Founded in 1996, ShotSpotter bills itself as an important tool for police, providing real-time information about the location and nature of shootings, which the company says often go unreported. The early intel, company officials say, provides a tactical advantage to police and has resulted in both the arrest of shooters and faster medical care for gunshot victims.
But ShotSpotter, a publicly traded company with reported revenue last year of nearly $60 million, has been mired in controversy in recent years. The criticism is centered on the placement of its sensors in predominately minority communities and the use of its information as evidence in court cases as opposed to its primary mission of merely alerting police to the occurrence and location of gunfire. Critics see the placement of the sensors as racially biased, resulting in the increased use of stop-and-frisk tactics by police. Defense attorneys have assailed ShotSpotter's results as both unreliable and impossible to scrutinize because the company has declined to disclose the precise science behind how its system works. Other critics have questioned ShotSpotter's true value as a crime-fighting tool, regardless of how well it detects and locates gunfire, because they say there's no compelling evidence that it reduces gun violence.
ShotSpotter, which touts a 97% accuracy rate -- a figure backed by an audit paid for by the company -- has pushed back against the criticism with a prominent link on its website. It cites studies it says are "proof of its positive impact" and says the location of its sensors is decided in consultation with police and city officials in the communities it serves and is "based on historical gunfire and homicide data."
A case winding its way through federal court in Washington, DC, highlights both the utility of ShotSpotter, and the challenges prosecutors sometimes face when trying to use its information as evidence in court.
Early on the morning of January 20, 2020, ShotSpotter notified police in Washington, DC, of gunfire at a house in the city's southeast quadrant. Police later discovered that footage from a surveillance camera mounted nearby showed a man firing a weapon into the air at 4:45 a.m., the precise time of the ShotSpotter alert, according to court records.
After obtaining a search warrant, police found a twice-convicted PCP dealer alone in the house. They also seized a Glock .40 caliber semi-automatic handgun equipped with a conversion device, and an extended magazine, from a closet, according to prosecutors. The occupant of the house was arrested and charged with possession of a machine gun.
It might appear an open-and-shut case for the efficacy of ShotSpotter. But the use of the company's information as evidence in court has been another matter.
Prosecutors and defense attorneys in the case have been battling for months over who is qualified to provide expert testimony regarding ShotSpotter's findings and address questions big and small about the company, from the science behind how its system works to an explanation of how the estimate of the number of shots fired changed over time in the case at hand.
As of publication, a judge had yet to rule on how the ShotSpotter information would be handled.
In Texas, Lacie Jeffrey, the daughter of the Houston police officer killed last year, said she could not comprehend the proliferation of fully automatic weapons like the one that riddled her father's body with multiple gunshot wounds in an instant. An autopsy report obtained by CNN shows that the veteran officer was struck more than a dozen times during the brief encounter.
Jeffrey said she has reached out to lawmakers in Texas in hopes of enacting a tougher state law regarding so-called conversion devices like the one on the weapon used to kill her dad.
"We do not live in a war zone," Jeffrey told CNN. "There is no need for us to have these automatic weapons on the streets of Houston — anywhere in the United States."
The-CNN-Wire
™ & © 2022 Cable News Network, Inc., a Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All rights reserved. | https://www.local3news.com/regional-national/a-device-that-can-turn-a-semi-automatic-weapon-into-a-machine-gun-in-moments/article_ada80d19-d562-580d-8510-172b3847d910.html | 2022-09-01T15:50:50Z | local3news.com | control | https://www.local3news.com/regional-national/a-device-that-can-turn-a-semi-automatic-weapon-into-a-machine-gun-in-moments/article_ada80d19-d562-580d-8510-172b3847d910.html | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
A Louisville, Kentucky, corrections officer has been terminated after "disparaging" the Louisville Metro Police Department and referencing the death of Breonna Taylor in a video, the Louisville Metro Department of Corrections said in a statement.
The officer, Turhan Knight, was terminated August 25 after the department's director, Jerry Collins, viewed the video and was "disgusted," according to the statement from LMDC. Knight had been employed by the LMDC since 2018, according to the statement.
Knight has since apologized, calling the video a joke.
In the video, posted on an account that was later deleted, Knight introduces himself as an officer with "Louisville Metro" and encourages viewers to join the department.
"Be a part of a great, great police department. Never mind what happened to Breonna Taylor, we killed that (bleep)," he says.
Taylor, a 26-year-old emergency room technician, was shot and killed in her apartment during a flawed forced-entry raid in the early hours of March 13, 2020. Four current and former Louisville police officers involved have been charged with civil rights violations and other counts, Attorney General Merrick Garland said August 12.
In the video, Knight discusses the benefits of working for LMPD, like driving police vehicles and being able to provide for a family. "Do you want to kill people and be able to get off for it?" he says. "Join Louisville Metro Police Department and answer the call."
Louisville Metro Police Department said it had no comment on the video since it is not the investigating agency and referred CNN to LMDC.
In a statement to CNN affiliate WLKY, Knight apologized to Taylor's family and his own.
"I want to first apologize to the Mother, Boyfriend and Family of (Breonna) Taylor because I never meant to compound or further remind them of the tragedy that has taken place," Knight said in the statement. "And I also apologize to my family, friends, the community & my church members because I knew better and I ask them to forgive me."
"I'm in the process of retaining a lawyer, I'm just deeply remorseful and never meant anything bad or against the Breonna Taylor Family because I know the family," Knight added. "It was a joke recorded by another officer about how I felt LMPD admin and some officers handled past situations and I regret it."
Knight told the Courier Journal that he'd submitted his resignation before any action from the department. A statement from the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 77 indicated his last day was set for August 26, the day after he was terminated.
CNN has attempted to reach Knight but has not received a response.
The FOP lodge believes the termination was "absolutely justified" and will not appeal it, according to a statement from its president, Daniel Johnson.
"The video was absolutely horrible and there is no place in public service for anyone that would do something so insensitive," the statement says.
The-CNN-Wire
™ & © 2022 Cable News Network, Inc., a Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All rights reserved. | https://www.local3news.com/regional-national/a-louisville-corrections-officer-is-terminated-after-mocking-the-city-police-departments-2020-killing-of/article_c2dd14ca-9345-51be-8311-6a53407d1027.html | 2022-09-01T15:50:57Z | local3news.com | control | https://www.local3news.com/regional-national/a-louisville-corrections-officer-is-terminated-after-mocking-the-city-police-departments-2020-killing-of/article_c2dd14ca-9345-51be-8311-6a53407d1027.html | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
"Some pain" is on the horizon for Americans, Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell warned last week of the central bank's effort to fight inflation.
Already, more people are struggling to cover their usual expenses, and more lower-income folks are falling behind on their credit card bills.
Meanwhile, many economists are projecting a recession will hit by the end of next year, if it isn't here already.
But don't look to the federal government for a helping hand this time. There's little appetite in Congress to provide support to those struggling if the economy heads further south, experts say.
The US economy is showing growing signs of trouble, even as the job market continues to be strong and household finances remain fairly solid overall.
Some 40% of Americans lived in households that had difficulty paying their usual household expenses in the last seven days, according to the most recent US Census Bureau Household Pulse Survey, which took place in late July and early August. That's up from 31% at the beginning of the year.
The situation is even worse for parents. Nearly half of adults with minor children at home found it somewhat or very difficult to cover the usual expenses in the last week, up from less than 38% at the start of the year, the survey found.
Part of the increase in financial stress stems from the expiration of the expanded child tax credit, said Claire Zippel, senior research analyst at the left-leaning Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. Congress had beefed up the tax credit and paid it to parents in monthly installments in the second half of last year as part of the American Rescue Plan Act.
"While families were receiving those payments, the vast majority were putting them towards just basic expenses," Zippel said. "And so to not have that cushion anymore, combined with prices going up, is certainly putting many families in a pinch."
Likewise, hunger is on the rise. Some 11.5% of adults live in households where there was sometimes or often not enough to eat in the past week, up from 10% at the start of the year, according to the Census survey. Among families with children, the figure is 15.3%, up from 12.5%.
Food prices continue to climb, even as gas prices have retreated for weeks. Grocery prices soared 13.1% over the past year, with nearly every item rising in cost, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. That's the largest annual increase since the year ending in March 1979.
That heightened food insecurity also means that more people are turning to food banks for help. Some 65% of food banks reported an increase in demand for emergency food assistance in June, compared with the previous month, according to the latest survey by Feeding America, a network of more than 200 food banks and more than 60,000 partner agencies, food pantries and meal programs.
"Inflation is devastating to the budgets of families, seniors and people just barely getting by, driving more and more of them to food banks and food pantries," said Katie Fitzgerald, chief operating officer of Feeding America.
Inflation is also helping spur increases in credit card borrowing, as people cope with rising prices for goods and services, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York's most recent quarterly report on debt and credit.
The flood of federal assistance earlier in the Covid-19 pandemic enabled many Americans to stay current on their credit cards. But now, delinquencies are rising among low-income borrowers, with rates approaching pre-pandemic levels, New York Fed researchers found.
"With the supportive policies of the pandemic mostly in the past, there are pockets of borrowers who are beginning to show some distress on their debt," the researchers said.
Although the signals have been mixed, economists don't have a particularly rosy outlook. Some 72% of economists polled recently by the National Association for Business Economics say that the next recession will start by the middle of next year, if it hasn't already begun. They generally don't feel that the Federal Reserve can reduce inflation without sparking a recession.
Congress likely to sit on the sidelines
Typically, when recessions hit, Congress steps in to help those who are struggling.
In every recession since at least the 1970s, Congress has increased unemployment benefits by providing a weekly federal supplement, extending the duration of benefits beyond the typical 26 weeks, or both, according to Chad Stone, chief economist at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities.
During the Great Recession, lawmakers extended unemployment benefits to as long as 99 weeks -- a measure that was in place from July 2008 to the end of 2013. And it provided a $25 supplement for most of 2009 and 2010. In addition, Congress increased food stamp benefits in 2009 and continued the boost through 2013.
And in early 2008, Congress passed the Economic Stimulus Act of 2008, providing $600 tax rebate checks to most individual taxpayers and $1,200 to married couples for those earning below a certain income cap. Then-President George W. Bush called it a "booster shot" for the American economy.
The Covid-19 pandemic caused the economy to crater in the spring of 2020. A record 20.5 million jobs were lost that April alone -- and it took until this July to regain all those positions.
The downturn prompted an unprecedented amount of aid from Congress, including three rounds of stimulus checks, historic unemployment benefits enhancements, more generous food stamps and beefed up child tax credits, among other assistance.
Federal relief measures, particularly unemployment insurance, help both struggling Americans and the overall economy because people typically spend the funds on essentials, which benefits businesses and prevents more layoffs.
"We need fiscal support for the economy, aka money flowing into workers' pockets, so that we can stop that recessionary cycle in its tracks and have workers continue to buy things," said Alix Gould-Werth, director of family economic security policy at the Washington Center for Equitable Growth.
But nearly all of that federal aid has dried up. In its place, several states have used their surplus revenue to issue rebate checks or temporarily suspend gas taxes to help their residents combat inflation.
The massive federal response during the early years of the pandemic drained many lawmakers' will to do more for those in need, even as the economic storm clouds gather once again.
Over the past year, Democrats failed to round up enough votes in the Senate to extend pandemic assistance programs, such as the enhanced child tax credit, or enact new measures, such as help paying for child care. They were stymied by Sen. Joe Manchin, a moderate Democrat from West Virginia, who worried the aid would only further hurt the economy by increasing inflation.
In the end, Democrats were only able to continue the expanded Affordable Care Act subsidies for another three years as part of its budget reconciliation bill that passed in August.
Whether the job market stumbles and the economy weakens further remains to be seen. But experts aren't hopeful that will spur the federal cavalry to come to the rescue if it does occur.
"Should we actually go into a recession, policymakers don't have the appetite to do the standard things we've done in the past," Stone said. "There's not much expectation that Congress will respond."
The-CNN-Wire
™ & © 2022 Cable News Network, Inc., a Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All rights reserved. | https://www.local3news.com/regional-national/a-recession-may-be-looming-but-congress-isnt-likely-to-rescue-struggling-americans-this-time/article_99f2b0da-eefb-594e-8307-c91aa907b503.html | 2022-09-01T15:51:03Z | local3news.com | control | https://www.local3news.com/regional-national/a-recession-may-be-looming-but-congress-isnt-likely-to-rescue-struggling-americans-this-time/article_99f2b0da-eefb-594e-8307-c91aa907b503.html | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
LASTMA seeks mutual working collaboration with Public Complaints Commission
Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), on Thursday, called for mutual working collaboration between it and the Public Complaints Commission for sustainable peace in the state.
General Manager of the Authority, Mr Bolaji Oreagba, made the call during a courtesy visit of the Commission led by his Commissioner, Hon. Hafeez Adekunle Odunewu, to the LASTMA Headquarters, in Oshodi.
The LASTMA boss, in the statement made to newsmen, Mr Adebayo Taofiq, Director, Public Affairs Unit of the Authority commended the Commission for giving hope to the hopeless and making sure complaints were promptly resolved after diligent investigation.
This was just as Oreagba pointed out that most complaints from members of the public particularly motorists against officers of the Authority were frivolous in nature and done to attract public sentiments.
“We are ready to cooperate with the Commission during investigation on any complaints from the public and information sharing where necessary.
“We wish to add by informing well-meaning and concerned Lagos residents and motorists that we have various windows through which complaints can be channelled for prompt action,” he said.
According to Oreagba, the help lines are as listed: 08174722227, 08100565860,
WhatsApp line: 08129928579,
Twitter:@followlastma,
Instagram: EKOLASTMA, and
Facebook: EKOLASTMA, saying that, “such complaints sent via any of the above windows shall be investigated dispassionately with despatch.”
ALSO READ FROM NIGERIAN TRIBUNE
He, therefore, enjoined Lagos road users, in general, to abide by the State Transport Sector Reform Law 2018, warning that anyone caught on the wrong side of the law would be made to face the full wrath of the law.
During his presentation, the Honourable Commissioner, Public Complaints Commission, Hon. Hafeez Adekunle Odunewu, said the Commission aims at correcting administrative anomalies in the discharge of public functions.
According to him, these anomalies are treated as they affect the citizens and residents, and between person (s) to person (s), especially on administrative procedure that can cause injustice within the administrative jurisdiction.
He, therefore, commended LASTMA for effectively discharging its statutory responsibilities. | https://tribuneonlineng.com/lastma-seeks-mutual-working-collaboration-with-public-complaints-commission/ | 2022-09-01T15:51:08Z | tribuneonlineng.com | control | https://tribuneonlineng.com/lastma-seeks-mutual-working-collaboration-with-public-complaints-commission/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
ELYRIA, Ohio — According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 42% of U.S. adults have obesity, and the chronic disease is on the rise.
Traditionally, obesity is defined as a body mass index of 30 or greater. However, BMI is just one way to measure obesity.
Obesity is generally associated with a greater risk of heart disease, Type 2 diabetes, and certain cancers.
Doctors say we need to change the way we talk about and treat obesity and remove the stigma and shame that too many people say they feel after repeatedly failing to lose weight.
That is why Amanda Kiser said she's sharing her story. The Ohio mom says she wanted to feel good, live well, and encourage others. She says if she can do it, you can too.
Kiser is a busy mom of two boys, working a high-stress job in children's services.
"Caregivers typically don't take care of themselves," she said.
Kiser gave 110% to everyone but herself. Until one day, she decided enough was enough and that she wanted and deserved to feel good.
"It was last year," she said. "I was playing with my kids and my knees hurt and I was like, 'I'm in my 30s, my knees shouldn't hurt. I shouldn't be out of breath!' and I stepped on the scale and I was like, 'Oh my God I've let this get so far out of control.'"
Weight, Kiser said, had controlled much of her life. She says she had been dieting since she was 10 or 11 years old.
She said she tried everything except medical help. She had been reluctant to visit a doctor.
"I was like, they're just going to tell me I lack willpower and that I should just stop being fat," she said. "I was prepared for that going in there like, OK, I'm just going to leave crying -- and I didn't!"
Instead, Kiser said a visit to Dr. Reena Bose, certified in obesity medicine at the Cleveland Clinic, changed her life.
"There needs to be more of an awareness, not just by patients but by the primary care docs, that this is a disease state," said Bose. "It's not something that's a choice by the patient. It's not the patient's fault."
Bose said obesity is a chronic and preventable disease that's treatable.
"We have great medications now because we can identify the pathways that are causing us to become obese, and altering those gut-and-brain pathways, altering your disordered eating, altering your behavior, and getting that kind of guidance can really impact how we manage obesity," Bose said.
Managing obesity, she said, is multi-faceted.
For Kiser, it meant working with specialists to learn about nutrition, portions, exercise and medication to help control appetite while learning these new behaviors and implementing them into her everyday life.
"It was just so relieving to hear a medical professional say it's not totally your fault and we're going to help you and not make you feel terrible," said Kiser.
Another important part of managing obesity, says Bose, is something Kiser had already started: Therapy.
Kiser says it helped her see she was using food to treat trauma.
Now, about eight months since her initial visit to Bose, Kiser says she never thought she could get to this point; a place in her life where she truly feels good.
"I thought feeling like crap was the normal thing," said Kiser.
Her new normal is feeling hopeful. She is almost 60 pounds down, maintained and counting -- which she says has never happened.
But for Kiser, it's not about what the scale says.
"No, I want my body to be able to do what I want it to do, go where I want it to go, and being healthy and around for my kids and showing them a good way to grow up," said Kiser.
When it comes to anti-obesity medications, Bose says they're safe and effective. She says the newer-approved meds are getting close to 15 to 20% weight loss over six months or longer compared to the older ones at around 5 to 10%.
The amount of time you're on them varies and the same for the amount you pay for them. Insurance does not universally cover anti-obesity medication. Bose says the monthly cost can range anywhere from $10 to more than $1,000. She says doctors can try to find ways to work around that, but she's hoping it changes soon.
In a statement, The Ohio Association of Health Plans, which represents more than a dozen member plans providing health insurance coverage to more than none million Ohioans, wrote:
"Ohio health plans cover both prevention and treatments for obesity in a variety of ways, including wellness measures such as incentivizing gym memberships and other healthy habits. Plans also cover a variety of medications to address obesity-related illnesses such as diabetes and hypertension. Further, health plans are constantly monitoring the effectiveness of drugs as they gain FDA approval, including potential anti-obesity medications."
This article was written by Katie Ussin for WEWS. | https://www.fox17online.com/news/national/doctors-use-a-new-approach-to-treat-obesity | 2022-09-01T15:51:10Z | fox17online.com | control | https://www.fox17online.com/news/national/doctors-use-a-new-approach-to-treat-obesity | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
1-year-old dies after accidentally shooting himself in the head, police say
ST. LOUIS (KMOV/Gray News) – A toddler has died after shooting himself in north St. Louis City on Wednesday.
Officers with the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department said evidence showed the 1-year-old boy shot himself in the head inside a home.
Police initially said the boy was 2 years old but later clarified he was 1 year old.
The boy was barely conscious and barely breathing when paramedics rushed him to the hospital where he later died from his injuries.
“This is just a terrible tragedy that should have never happened. Guns are inherently dangerous,” Lt. Col. Michael Sack with the police department said. “There are a number of them in our community. All of us who own firearms or who have firearms must be responsible with their care and their use.”
The child abuse unit and crisis response teams were seen outside the house Wednesday afternoon.
No other information was released.
Copyright 2022 KMOV via Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. | https://www.witn.com/2022/09/01/1-year-old-dies-after-accidentally-shooting-himself-head-police-say/ | 2022-09-01T15:51:14Z | witn.com | control | https://www.witn.com/2022/09/01/1-year-old-dies-after-accidentally-shooting-himself-head-police-say/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
‘Tinubu will get 80 per cent of South-West votes in 2023 election’
Presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Bola Tinubu, will get 80 percent of South-West votes in the 2023 election.
Members of the Next Level Consolidation Forum, a Tinubu support group, led by its national coordinator, Mr Oladosu Oladipo, gave this assertion at its meeting held in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.
They hinged their optimism on what they described as the South-West people’s appreciation of Tinubu’s remarkable performance as Lagos governor and his mentorship of several great Nigerians who are resolved to pay him back.
He added that Tinubu has the vision, knowledge, capacity and capability to deliver a better Nigeria.
Addressing the gathering, Oladosu said the South-West people are unique and appreciate the fact that it is turn of the Yoruba to produce the next president.
While amassing huge votes in the South-West, Oladosu avowed that Tinubu will also get huge
number of votes across states of the other five geopolitical zones.
Asked that there are some dissenting voices against Tinubu’s ambition, even in the South-West, Oladipo said no true Yoruba will not support his own.
The event saw Oladosu direct all Tinubu campaign volunteers to take the Tinubu campaign to all units and wards across the country.
Speaking, South-West coordinator of the group, Mr Popoola Adesiyan, said the forum believes that
Tinubu presidency will fix the nation’s problems and put it on the path of greater progress.
Various state coordinators, in their remarks, said they believe in the Tinubu cause because of his track records and show of good understanding of what good governance entails.
YOU SHOULD NOT MISS THESE HEADLINES FROM NIGERIAN TRIBUNE
Wike, Others Were Children When We Started PDP ― Ayu
The National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Iyiochia Ayu, has taken a swipe at Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike and others calling for his resignation, saying they were children when the party was started in 1999…..
Ex-Generals Are Threatening Me With CIA — Wike
Governor Nyelsom Wike of Rivers State on Wednesday accused some unnamed retired generals of threatening him with the Central Intelligence Agency, CIA, if he failed to do their biddings….. | https://tribuneonlineng.com/tinubu-will-get-80-per-cent-of-south-west-votes-in-2023-election/ | 2022-09-01T15:51:14Z | tribuneonlineng.com | control | https://tribuneonlineng.com/tinubu-will-get-80-per-cent-of-south-west-votes-in-2023-election/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Abortion providers filed a lawsuit Tuesday seeking to block Indiana's near-total abortion ban set to take effect next month.
The lawsuit argues that the Indiana law that would ban most abortions at all stages of pregnancy "strips away the fundamental rights of people seeking abortion care in Indiana in violation of the State Constitution."
"It will infringe on Hoosiers' right to privacy, violate Indiana's guarantee of equal privileges and immunities, and violate the Constitution's due course of law clause through its unconstitutionally vague language," the complaint says.
The law, Senate Bill 1, was passed by lawmakers in a special session and signed by Republican Gov. Eric Holcomb earlier this month, becoming the first state to pass a restrictive law against the procedure since Roe v. Wade was overturned in June. It will go into effect on September 15.
The new law provides exceptions for when the life of the mother is at risk and for fatal fetal anomalies, up to 20 weeks post-fertilization. It also allows exceptions for some abortions if the pregnancy was a result of rape or incest.
Current Indiana law allows abortions up to 20 weeks after fertilization (or 22 weeks after the mother's last menstrual period).
The plaintiffs in the suit are abortion providers Planned Parenthood Great Northwest, Hawai'i, Alaska, Indiana, Kentucky, Whole Woman's Health Alliance, Women's Med, Indiana obstetrician-gynecologist Dr. Amy Caldwell, and the nonprofit All-Options, Inc., which operates a pregnancy resource center that includes an abortion fund.
Abortion has been banned or severely restricted in about a dozen states after the US Supreme Court ended a constitutional right to abortion on June 24.
The-CNN-Wire
™ & © 2022 Cable News Network, Inc., a Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All rights reserved. | https://www.local3news.com/regional-national/abortion-providers-sue-to-block-indianas-near-total-abortion-ban-set-to-take-effect-next/article_591e533d-84f7-5b93-8ffa-e3664c8e2aef.html | 2022-09-01T15:51:21Z | local3news.com | control | https://www.local3news.com/regional-national/abortion-providers-sue-to-block-indianas-near-total-abortion-ban-set-to-take-effect-next/article_591e533d-84f7-5b93-8ffa-e3664c8e2aef.html | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
The director at a wildlife park in Florida lost his hand after being bitten by one of his own alligators last week, according to the facility. It was his second serious alligator-related injury in 10 years.
Greg Graziani, wildlife director of Florida Gator Gardens in Venus, Florida, was "seriously injured during a routine interaction with our large alligators" on August 17, said the facility in a Facebook post.
Graziani, a former law enforcement officer, told CNN the bite happened during a routine training session. Graziani was using his hand under the alligator's jaw to give it a command when a leaf from the surrounding foliage came loose, coming between him and the alligator. "Lack of visibility was the problem," he said.
This triggered the alligator to lunge forward. Once his hand was in the gator's mouth, the reptile's instinct was to pull back. There was "no malice," Graziani said.
Luckily, the alligator responded to his command to back off and released his hand, according to Graziani. "Had this been a totally wild alligator with no training, it would've been a lot worse," he said.
At first, doctors hoped they could save Graziani's left arm. The arm was partially amputated and then reattached by surgeons, said Florida Gator Gardens.
But ultimately the damage was too severe: The bite left Graziani's hand connected by just a tendon and some muscle "that the surgeon had to untwist 6 times during the initial surgery," said Florida Gator Gardens in a Facebook post Friday.
On Thursday night, Graziani underwent a below-the-elbow amputation which preserved half of his forearm, according to the facility. His nerves were rerouted in a way to hopefully bypass the phantom pain amputees sometimes experience and also offer the possibility of prosthetics in the future, they said.
Graziani hopes to return home on Wednesday, he told CNN.
"As great as it would have been to preserve the hand, we are thrilled to finally have a date to go home next week and move forward with all of the amazing projects we have been pouring our hearts into these last couple of years," wrote the facility.
Graziani has faced the possibility of limb loss in the past. During a 2013 incident, his arm was seriously injured when he became entangled in the rope attached to an alligator and the animal rolled, bringing him with it. But he "only came back more determined to share his passion for reptiles with the world," said Florida Gator Gardens.
Graziani told CNN he is excited to return home and continue working with alligators, although he acknowledged he'll have to adjust to the limitations of working one-handed. He is driven by a passion to educate the public about the species -- as well as the inexplicable magic of working with an intelligent apex predator.
"They don't have vengeance, they work on instinct," he said. He emphasized the importance of educating the public "that living with these guys is definitely something that can be done safely."
"I was floored the first time I saw someone give a command to an alligator that followed it," he said. "The six alligators in that exhibit all know their names individually."
His team plans to conduct an exhaustive review of their protocols to prevent any further incidents and ensure staff safety, Graziani said. "This was an occupational hazard, not a public safety issue," he added.
The zoo likewise highlighted the importance of safety when working with alligators.
"Every time we work with any of our animals, we never fail to acknowledge the gravity of the situation," they wrote. "We are working with an animal where collaboration and training between species is something that is taught, and it usually goes against quite a few natural instincts."
"As far as the alligator involved, he was uninjured and will continue to stay here with us as a valued member of the zoo."
Florida Gator Gardens offers tours in which visitors can get up-close and personal with reptiles, swimming with alligators and holding massive pythons. It is home to rare albino and black alligators, as well as seven large bull alligators taken in as rescues after being trapped as "nuisance alligators" by Florida officials, according to its event page.
The-CNN-Wire
™ & © 2022 Cable News Network, Inc., a Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All rights reserved. | https://www.local3news.com/regional-national/an-occupational-hazard-florida-wildlife-director-loses-hand-after-alligator-bite/article_eaf9ab98-91d3-5545-afd7-9640e6929243.html | 2022-09-01T15:51:33Z | local3news.com | control | https://www.local3news.com/regional-national/an-occupational-hazard-florida-wildlife-director-loses-hand-after-alligator-bite/article_eaf9ab98-91d3-5545-afd7-9640e6929243.html | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
10 Things to Love From The Fresh Market During National Organic Month
Published: Sep. 1, 2022 at 11:12 AM EDT|Updated: 39 minutes ago
GREENSBORO, N.C., Sept. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- September is National Organic Month, and The Fresh Market, Inc. is celebrating with 10 food products that are all USDA certified organic– many that are new to its stores. Products will begin rolling into stores on September 1 and throughout the month. While the stores carry a wide variety of organic products year-round, a few on the top 10 list are seasonal and as such, only available for a limited time. That's why guests are encouraged to look for the following products throughout The Fresh Market stores as they shop:
Organic wine grapes: Available in the following varieties for only a few short weeks at the beginning of September and grown in California:
Izzio Take & Bake Breads: Made in small batches using ancient techniques, these oven-ready breads make it easy to experience warm, just-baked bread at home. They bake right in the bag and come in a range of styles, from baguettes to ciabatta.
Farmer Focus Organic & Free-Range Chicken: Plump, healthful and bursting with flavor, this chicken is simple and versatile—perfectly portioned and trimmed by hand, it's ready to cook however you like. Farmer Focus allows consumers to trace its chicken back to the specific farm that raised it.
Carbon Neutral Organic Milk: Neutral works with dairy farmers to implement a number of strategies to drive down the carbon emissions of its milk, and what can't be reduced is offset through the purchase of carbon credits from US dairy farmers who turn cow emissions into renewable energy.
Organic Honeycrisp Apples: September kicks off peak season for these delicious apples from Washington, where the state's arid climate and ideal temperatures make for growing the perfect organic apples.
FOND Bone Broth: Available in chicken and beef varieties, this broth is infused with fresh, organic botanicals to maximize the health benefits and flavor. It's shelf stable, without any preservatives, and slow-simmered by hand for 18+ hours for a rich, hearty broth.
Ocean's Halo Sushi Nori & Sushi Rice: Make your own sushi at home starting with this organic and vegan nori and rice. The rice also makes an excellent base for a poke bowl.
Love Bird Cereal: This is a gut health and immunity boosting organic, grain-free, and no refined sugar cereal (it uses honey and coconut sugar instead). The brand also helps fight childhood cancer by giving 20% of its profit.
De La Calle Tepaches: Low in sugar and less than 40 calories, these naturally fermented probiotic drinks are crafted in Mexico using certified organic pineapples and come in deliciously bold combinations like Mango Chili, Pineapple Spice, and Ginger Manzana.
Pasta Toscana Organic Tortiglioni Pasta: This is made in Tuscany, where premium quality hard wheat is farmed, the spring water used to knead the dough runs, and you'll find the plant where the dough is bronze-drawn. It can be used in a variety of recipes.
About The Fresh Market, Inc.
Voted as the "Best Supermarket in America" by USA Today's 10 Best Readers' Choice Awards 2022 and 2021, "America's Best Customer Service 2021" by Newsweek and Statista and a top 5 most trusted grocery retail brand for specialty and natural/organic foods in the 2022 BrandSpark Most Trusted Awards, The Fresh Market helps guests discover the best with time-saving meal solutions, unique ingredients, and delicious food for any occasion. From fresh produce and exceptional meat and seafood to signature baked goods and thousands of organic options, the specialty grocer has something to please every palate. The Fresh Market currently operates 160 stores in 22 states across the U.S., inspiring guests to discover new flavors and cook with confidence. For more information, please visit www.thefreshmarket.com or follow the company on Facebook,Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest.
The above press release was provided courtesy of PRNewswire. The views, opinions and statements in the press release are not endorsed by Gray Media Group nor do they necessarily state or reflect those of Gray Media Group, Inc. | https://www.witn.com/prnewswire/2022/09/01/10-things-love-fresh-market-during-national-organic-month/ | 2022-09-01T15:51:34Z | witn.com | control | https://www.witn.com/prnewswire/2022/09/01/10-things-love-fresh-market-during-national-organic-month/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
The products and services mentioned below were selected independent of sales and advertising. However, Simplemost may receive a small commission from the purchase of any products or services through an affiliate link to the retailer's website.
Someone’s four-legged friend has apparently lit the Black Flame Candle.
PetSmart has just released a new “Hocus Pocus” product line featuring toys like magic potion catnip plushes and a “Just a Bunch of Hocus Pocus” cat scratcher, plus wearable items including a bandana collar for the most sophisticated felines. The entire collection is Thackery Binx-approved, of course.
The collection is available in stores and online now through Halloween, with prices ranging from $6-$15. Take a look at just some of the products in the collection:
Black Flame Candle Cat Kicker Cat Toy
Priced at $10, this Black Flame Candle Kicker cat toy features chicken feathers as the “flame” and is filled with catnip and crinkle paper.
Binx Crinkle Sack Toy
If your cats can’t get enough of that crinkle sound, this Binx Crinkle Sack Toy is definitely for them. Priced at $13, the sack is shaped like Thackery Binx and says “It’s Just a Bunch of Hocus Pocus.” The sack is great for playing hide and seek with your feline friends, but of course they can also play with it on their own.
Trouble Is Brewing Pop-Up Tent
Priced at $13, this Trouble Is Brewing Pop-Up Tent is great as a cat bed or just for lounging. It features a fun “Hocus Pocus”-themed pattern, including the Sanderson Sisters, a cauldron, the Black Flame Candle and the witches’ modes of transportation, like Sarah’s mop and Mary’s vacuum.
Hocus Pocus Dog Tee
While most of the products are for cats, you’ll find one dog T-shirt, available in five sizes. Priced at $15, it features a cartoon image of the Sanderson Sisters brewing a potion. Thackery Binx and Winifred’s spell book are also pictured.
While not “Hocus Pocus”-themed, both Petsmart and Petco have other Halloween goodies for your fur friends as well, including full costumes.
PetSmart has costumes for all pets, including guinea pigs and reptiles. Costumes for dogs and cats include everything from sharks and dragons to “Ghostbusters” and a “Treat Inspector.”
Petco’s Halloween “Bootique” Collection is full of treats, toys like this haunted house cat scratcher, and costumes, allowing animals to dress like a kissing booth, Marie Antoinette and even a burrito. Petco even has costumes for humans so you can match your furry friend, as with this printed pajama onesie that matches this printed dog or cat outfit.
If you’re only looking for more “Hocus Pocus” fun, however, tons of products this year are out now to celebrate “Hocus Pocus 2,” which begins streaming Sept. 30 on Disney+.
You’ll find everything from a color-changing mug to a candle collection, coffee, Sanderson Sisters inflatable, board game, and a coloring book. Also, a “Hocus Pocus” advent calendar celebrates the countdown to Halloween with 13 gifts like a trivia book, a keychain, a recipe card for Life Potion Punch and more.
Will you be picking up some “Hocus Pocus” toys for your furry friend?
This story originally appeared on Simplemost. Checkout Simplemost for additional stories. | https://www.fox17online.com/petsmart-halloween-collection-is-hocus-pocus-themed | 2022-09-01T15:51:35Z | fox17online.com | control | https://www.fox17online.com/petsmart-halloween-collection-is-hocus-pocus-themed | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Atlanta-area District Attorney Fani Willis is unabashed in using rap lyrics to help prosecute her cases, repeatedly defending the practice in recent months. It's a tactic hip-hop artists have decried as a racist double standard for years.
In May, following the arrests of Atlanta's Young Thug and Gunna, a 56-count indictment showed Willis, who helms the Fulton County prosecutor's office, included the artists' lyrics among sweeping allegations that they violated the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act. Among those cited were the Thugger lyrics, "I'm prepared to take them down" and "I never killed anybody but I got something to do with that body."
This week, Willis, who is African American, again said she would be leaning on lyrics in another RICO case prosecuting 26 alleged members of the Drug Rich Gang, who are charged with kidnappings, armed robberies, shootings and high-profile home invasions.
Among the targeted were singer Mariah Carey, Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Calvin Ridley and Atlanta United goalkeeper Brad Guzan, according to a 220-count indictment.
"I think if you decide to admit your crimes over a beat, I'm going to use it," she said, deflecting criticism. "I'm not targeting anyone, but however, you do not get to commit crimes in my county and then decide to brag on it."
She added, "I have some legal advice. Don't confess to crimes on rap lyrics if you do not want them used."
Lawmakers work to protect expression
Following the Young Thug and Gunna indictments, Willis flatly told reporters she was a believer in the First Amendment, but nothing in the amendment precludes prosecutors from using lyrics as evidence.
She's right, but there is a large contingent of artists, lawyers, professors and politicians working to change that.
"There's a void in the law and the void allows abuse, and we've been trying to fill the void by changing the laws statutorily across the country so that everybody -- which is everybody, and I mean everybody -- gets their right to a fair trial," said attorney Alex Spiro, who represents rappers including Jay-Z, Meek Mill and 21 Savage.
Spiro sent a letter this year to the New York Legislature in favor of S7527, colloquially dubbed the "rap music on trial" bill. The proposed legislation, which passed the Senate in June but has yet to navigate the state Assembly, would limit "the admissibility of evidence of a defendant's creative or artistic expression against such defendant in a criminal proceeding."
Along with his superstar clients, Spiro was joined by Andrea Dennis and Erik Nielson, authors of "Rap on Trial: Race, Lyrics and Guilt in America," who have repeatedly said they know of hundreds of cases where rap lyrics were weaponized against defendants, and they suspect far more did not draw public attention.
California lawmakers passed a similar bill this year requiring courts "to consider specified factors when balancing the probative value of that evidence against the substantial danger of undue prejudice." It awaits the governor's signature.
At the federal level, Reps. Hank Johnson of Georgia and Jamaal Bowman of New York introduced the Restoring Artistic Protection Act in the US House in July, which would limit "the admissibility of evidence of an artist's creative or artistic expression against that artist in court." The bill hasn't reached the floor for a vote.
In a news release, Johnson quoted a federal judge's 2021 finding in a Philadelphia rapper's case: "Freddy Mercury did not confess to having 'just killed a man' by putting 'a gun against his head' and 'pulling the trigger.' Bob Marley did not confess to having shot a sheriff. And Johnny Cash did not confess to shooting 'a man in Reno, just to watch him die.' "
'Accepting a double standard is dangerous'
Spiro previously served as a Manhattan prosecutor and worked with a unit examining potentially wrongful convictions. He's seen lyrics introduced in court many times, including during bail hearings in which prosecutors alleged a defendant must be a gangster because of his lyrics and the way he spoke, "which is mind-boggling and absurd," he said.
"I always worry in this country when the quantum of proof that should be needed in a criminal case, somebody has to try to use music lyrics to bolster that level of proof -- especially with the tortured history in this country of not having people in the system treated the same as others," he told CNN.
Asked if it mattered in the Atlanta cases that Willis is Black, Spiro said, "No." Further queried on whether he'd witnessed cases in which artists from a traditionally White genre such as country or rock had objectionable lyrics leveraged against them, the attorney replied, "Of course not."
Atlanta's Killer Mike, who has been outspoken on the topic, was encouraging his Twitter followers to read Dennis and Nielson's book this week while pointing out what he sees as the double standard at play. Nancy Crampton-Brophy, the rhymesmith noted, was convicted of killing her spouse, but prosecutors had to win the case without a key piece of evidence after the judge barred them from admitting her essay, "How to Murder Your Husband," because it had been written years earlier.
"She was still convicted but her rights upheld. Accepting a double standard is dangerous is all I say," Killer Mike tweeted.
Spiro also took part in petitioning the US Supreme Court to set a standard in the 2019 case, Jamal Knox v. the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, but the high court declined to hear the case. Advocates had hoped justices would accept the case to address what Spiro views as the "void in the law."
Knox and fellow rapper Rashee Beasley were accused of threatening to kill police after being arrested with heroin and a gun. While many cases involve prosecutors tying artists to crimes by citing lyrics in the abstract, Knox and Beasley were pointed, naming the officers and boasting knowledge of their schedules.
"I'ma jam this rusty knife all in his guts and chop his feet/You taking money away from Beaz and all my sh*t away from me/Well your shift over at 3 and I'm gonna f**k up where you sleep," Knox rhymed.
Beasley added he was "strapped nasty" like Richard Poplawski, a reference to the heavily armed man who killed three Pittsburgh police officers in 2009.
One of the officers testified he retired from the police force and relocated because of the song, while the other officer required time off and a security detail, he testified.
Knox was convicted on two counts of terroristic threats and two counts of witness intimidation, which has been upheld by appeals courts. The Pennsylvania Supreme Court cited the rappers' specificity in ruling the song constituted a "true threat to the victims" deserving of no First Amendment protection.
What is a true threat?
The void in the law involves the legal definition of a true threat -- a matter experts say the US Supreme Court left open four years earlier in its Elonis v. the United States ruling.
Anthony Elonis posted threats on social media, in a skit and in rap lyrics targeting former co-workers, his estranged wife and elementary schools. When FBI agents visited his home, he took to Facebook to post, "Little Agent lady stood so close/Took all the strength I had not to turn the b*tch ghost/Pull my knife, flick my wrist, and slit her throat/Leave her bleedin' from her jugular in the arms of her partner."
Amid posting the lyrics, Elonis alluded to a First Amendment battle, saying, "Art is about pushing limits. I'm willing to go to jail for my Constitutional rights. Are you?"
Elonis was convicted on four counts of violating a federal threat statute and sentenced to 44 months in prison. But before the high court, his legal team contended his songwriting was cathartic, comparing his lyrics to those of Eminem, who has repeatedly threatened to kill his wife and others in his music.
The case, considered the Supreme Court's first dealing with true threats on social media, ended with justices ruling 8-1 the lower court had erred in convicting Elonis based on the assertion a reasonable person would consider his posts threatening.
Such a legal standard was too low, the court ruled with Chief Justice John Roberts writing, "Our holding makes clear that negligence is not sufficient to support a conviction."
Yet the high court left open what the standard should be and did not address the larger constitutional issue, which analysts predicted would result in disparate rulings.
Analyst Lyle Denniston wrote for SCOTUSblog that the ruling "was based solely on the premise that (Elonis) was convicted without proof that he knew what he was writing and that the ordinary meaning of his words would be a threat." The 1939 federal law on true threats requires a communication containing a threat must be transmitted, and that the accused must be aware.
Denniston wrote, however, the ruling failed to set a standard, as mentioned in Justice Clarence Thomas' dissent and Justice Samuel Alito's partial dissent.
Alito predicted the ruling would "cause confusion and serious problems" because the majority provided only a partial answer as to what mental state was required for conviction, Denniston wrote. Thomas lamented the ruling left lower courts "to guess at the appropriate mental state" required for conviction. It discarded the approach of the previous appeals court, leaving "nothing in its place," Thomas wrote.
Rappers: Our art is incomparable
The hip-hop community sees it in simpler terms, as evidenced by a legal brief filed in the Knox case four years later by Spiro and joined by Chance the Rapper, Killer Mike, 21 Savage, Meek Mill, Fat Joe and Luther Campbell, whose 2 Live Crew was integral in shaping the nation's obscenity laws in the 1990s.
"Rappers famously rely on exaggeration and hyperbole as they craft the larger-than-life characters that have entertained fans (and offended critics) for decades," the brief said. "A person unfamiliar with what today is the nation's most dominant musical genre or one who hears music through the auditory lens of older genres such as jazz, country, or symphony may mistakenly interpret a rap song as a true threat of violence and may falsely conclude a rapper intended to convey a true threat of violence when he did not."
If Knox's conviction were upheld, they predicted, it would demonstrate different standards are applied to rap music than other forms of entertainment. Spiro sees it no differently today, which is why he has worked with rappers, politicians and think tanks to "lend a voice to various efforts of policy reform," he said.
"There's not any binding precedent that says you can't, right? And so when the law doesn't say you can't do something and you're a prosecutor trying to get a conviction, trouble can ensue," he said.
"Given the gravity of the harm that can come from this and the important artistic rights and First Amendment rights at stake, this is an easy call," the lawyer said. "We should not forget the history of this country and the fact that things that can be used to tilt the scales against some disenfranchised people ... in the criminal justice system should be looked at very skeptically -- and this is one of them."
The-CNN-Wire
™ & © 2022 Cable News Network, Inc., a Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All rights reserved. | https://www.local3news.com/regional-national/atlanta-area-prosecutor-cites-rap-lyrics-as-evidence-which-hip-hop-has-long-decried-as/article_1e40ec95-002e-5fa5-8813-f3a57ff7e627.html | 2022-09-01T15:51:39Z | local3news.com | control | https://www.local3news.com/regional-national/atlanta-area-prosecutor-cites-rap-lyrics-as-evidence-which-hip-hop-has-long-decried-as/article_1e40ec95-002e-5fa5-8813-f3a57ff7e627.html | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Millions of broadband users have been issued an urgent warning over cyber attacks. Households across the UK are about to be overwhelmed by skyrocketing energy prices, which will see some gas and electricity bills rise by an eye-watering 80 per cent increment.
Average energy bills are set to hit an eye-watering £3,549 a year as regulator Ofgem raises its price cap in October. The cap will be almost treble what it was a year earlier last October, when it was raised to £1,277.
And another surge is expected to happen at the turn of the year in January 2023. The Express reports that once the higher cap comes into effect, the average price for electricity will leap from 18p p/kWh to 52p p/kWh.
Read more: Urgent warning issued as Child Benefit payments could be stopped for 1.3 million families this week
Many Britons are worried about the ongoing cost of living crisis amidst staggering levels of inflation, and will be looking for ways to cut down on their expenditure by switching off lights, and unplugging gadgets from walls.
However, before you begin unplugging household necessities such as Wi-Fi when heading to bed, you may want to think again. After the change in pricing, the cost of running a broadband router daily will amass to around 13p per day, which accrues to £50 per year.
And while turning off the flashing black box may shave a few pennies from your daily outgoings, it could also seriously hamper your internet connection. Most of the UK's leading Internet Service Providers (ISPs), including Sky and BT recommend leaving their internet equipment switched on 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
There are a litany of important reasons as to why one should not cut off these devices, including vital security updates - which are usually pumped out overnight. By preventing your router from allowing the latest upgrades and software patches, you may be left exposed to annoying bugs and cyber attacks.
Another issue is that by switching off a router, ISPs may think that there is an instability or fault in your area. Once this has been noted by professionals, suppliers often slow down speeds to ensure customers are connected.
Aman Bhatti, Director of Propositions for Sky Broadband, told the publication: “We know our routers are put through their paces during the day – whether on video calls, streaming the latest show, or online gaming. That’s why our routers run firmware updates during the night, to avoid any unnecessary disruption during the day.
"Switching off your router overnight can affect automatic software updates and optimisations which in turn can impact the overall performance, speed and stability of your Broadband. Other connected devices in the home that are connected to your router will also be disrupted by the delayed updates.
"All our current hubs are EU Eco Design Regulation approved, meaning no excessive energy consumption is being used." BT also offer similar advice to users, with the popular supplier chipping in: "It’s important to make sure that you leave your Hub switched on and connected at all times.
"This will let us give you the fastest and most stable service, and ensure your hub is kept updated. Constantly switching off the hub makes the line look unstable, meaning that your speed may be automatically reduced to improve the reliability of your broadband connection."
If you're looking for ways to cut down on expenditure, then it's a good idea to stop leaving TVs and gaming consoles on standby, and turn them off completely by the wall. Leaving a 4k TV on standby can amount to £24 per year, while a PS5 which is left running can hamper you £12 per annum - even when you're not using it.
Read next:
- Eurostar issues huge blow to holidaymakers travelling to Amsterdam
- Martin Lewis calls on future Prime Minister to discuss cost of living crisis live on his show
- Southeastern rail strike: The exact date train workers will walk out and how to claim a refund
- 'Broke' TikToker shares 'clever hack' to bag cheaper train tickets using Trainline this summer
- Octopus Energy announces update on money saving schemes and £400 energy rebate as price cap rises again | https://www.kentlive.news/news/cost-of-living/bt-virgin-sky-broadband-customers-7534759 | 2022-09-01T15:51:44Z | kentlive.news | control | https://www.kentlive.news/news/cost-of-living/bt-virgin-sky-broadband-customers-7534759 | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Bed Bath & Beyond's stock tumbled in early trading after it announced layoffs, store closures and fresh financing plans as it tries to reverse its business' decline.
The company said it is laying off approximately 20% of employees from its corporate ranks and supply chain, including eliminating its chief operating officer and chief stores officer roles. Its retail footprint is also being reduced, with around 150 Bed Bath & Beyond stores set to close. A list of closures wasn't revealed.
Bed Bath & Beyond shares fell 25% in premarket trading.
"We are embracing a straight-forward, back-to-basics philosophy that focuses on better serving our customers, driving growth, and delivering business returns," said interim CEO Sue Gove. "In a short period of time, we have made significant changes and instituted enablers across our entire enterprise to regain our dominance as a preferred shopping destination for our customers' favorite brands and exciting products."
New funding of $500 million has also been secured, that will help "strengthen our liquidity and secure our path for the future," Gove said.
Its sprawling line of in-house brands is also being reduced, with the company looking to "rebalance its assortment and improve inventory." That means more well-known national brands will be featured more prominently, rather than its own brands. Three of its brands will also face the chopping block, including Studio 3B, Haven and Wild Sage.
The retailer has been in deep trouble over the past few years. It dumped its former CEO Mark Tritton in June after only three years at the helm because he failed to turn around its fortunes. He spearheaded growing its private brands portfolio, a strategy that worked at Target, his previous employer, but failed to catch on at Bed Bath & Beyond.
The-CNN-Wire™ & © 2022 Cable News Network, Inc., a Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All rights reserved. | https://www.local3news.com/regional-national/bed-bath-beyond-lays-off-20-of-its-staff-closing-more-stores/article_166049e6-293c-11ed-a9f6-8f128fad567e.html | 2022-09-01T15:51:45Z | local3news.com | control | https://www.local3news.com/regional-national/bed-bath-beyond-lays-off-20-of-its-staff-closing-more-stores/article_166049e6-293c-11ed-a9f6-8f128fad567e.html | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
The Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) has issued an update on when the disability cost of living payment will hit people's bank accounts. This comes after the news that the October price cap on energy bills will reach £3,549.
Those eligible will receive £150 to help with the rising cost of living. Approximately six million will receive this payment, which is due to arrive on September 20.
The DWP have stated that most should see the payment coming through at the start of October at the latest. It is only intended for vulnerable households containing people on certain disability benefits.
Read more: Martin Lewis shares Tesco and McDonald's free food hack
In its update, the DWP said: "You’ll be paid the £150 Disability Cost of Living Payment automatically from 20 September 2022.
"Most people will receive their payment by the beginning of October 2022. Payments will be made to people who get a qualifying disability from DWP before payments to people who get a qualifying benefit from the Ministry of Defence."
To be eligible, you must have received a payment for one of the following disability benefits in May this year:
Attendance allowance
Constant Attendance Allowance
Disability Living Allowance for adults
Disability Living Allowance for children
Personal Independence Payment
Adult Disability Payment (in Scotland)
Child Disability Payment (in Scotland)
Armed Forces Independence Payment
War Pension Mobility Supplement
The payment is paid per claim, meaning that if two people in a home are applying for the benefit payment, they will each receive separate payments of £150. However, those under both DWP and Ministry of Defence benefits will only receive the £150 cost of living payment from the DWP.
Chloe Smith, Minister for Disabled People, Health and Work, said: "We know disabled people can face additional costs, which is why we are acting to help reduce the financial pressures on the most vulnerable This £150 disability payment is on top of the £1,200 most low-income benefit claimants will also receive and alongside wider support targeted at disabled people, including help with transport and prescription costs."
This scheme does not include the £650 cost of living payment as well as the £400 payment to be deducted over a six-month period from October, and an extra £150 for properties in Council Tax bands A to D.
The government is having pressure placed on it for not doing more to help with the cost of living. It has currently invested a £37 billion package into the crisis. However, experts warn that this will not be sufficient enough to combat the price of energy bills.
READ NEXT:
Price of diesel starting to rise again, says AA
What to do if you've still not had £150 council tax cost of living rebate
Kent school meals: Am I eligible to receive free school meals for my child? | https://www.kentlive.news/news/cost-of-living/dwp-confirms-exact-date-next-7534829 | 2022-09-01T15:51:54Z | kentlive.news | control | https://www.kentlive.news/news/cost-of-living/dwp-confirms-exact-date-next-7534829 | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
The Biden administration is pivoting to a long-term strategy to assist Afghans who worked with or on behalf of the US government, according to a senior administration official.
Last year, amid the evacuation out of Afghanistan, the administration stood up "Operation Allies Welcome," a whole-of-government effort to resettle Afghans to the United States. Since then, around 86,000 Afghan nationals have resettled to the US. That operation is now being renamed "Enduring Welcome," with a focus on helping Afghans and their family members who remain abroad.
The administration is doubling down on existing immigrant pathways, like special immigrant visas (SIVs) and the refugee admissions program, to help Afghans interested in coming to the US.
"This commitment does not have an end date -- the commitment to resettle our Afghan allies," the senior administration official told reporters.
"Under Enduring Welcome, we will focus our relocation efforts on three main eligibility categories," the official said, citing family reunification for the immediate relatives of US citizens and legal permanent residents and those who resettled over the past year, special immigrant visa applicants, and the US refugee admissions program.
It's part of an ongoing effort to provide relief to Afghans and streamline processing.
Senior administration officials previously announced they are eliminating one of two forms for most new SIV applicants, a change in process that they said "will shave about a month off of the adjudication time." Removing the form means that the processing will all be done by the State Department, and no longer through United States Citizenship and Immigration Services. But it will still be a very rigorous process.
As of July, there were more than 74,000 applicants in the SIV pipeline -- more than 16,000 of whom had submitted all the documents required for Chief of Mission approval, according to a State Department spokesperson.
As the administration transitions to a long-term strategy, officials anticipate phasing out parole for Afghans on a large scale, like occurred last year, and ending the use of a facility that served as a final pitstop in the US for those resettling in the country.
Earlier this year, the administration contracted the National Conference Center, located in a neighborhood in Loudoun County, Virginia, to be used as a temporary pit stop for Afghan evacuees. The contract runs through the end of this fiscal year.
"We're now able to assign people to their destination communities directly from overseas and so people can travel without a stopover," the senior administration official said.
The-CNN-Wire
™ & © 2022 Cable News Network, Inc., a Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All rights reserved. | https://www.local3news.com/regional-national/biden-administration-pivoting-to-long-term-strategy-to-assist-afghans/article_a4ec414a-ad25-554c-9ec8-a9a67c8318be.html | 2022-09-01T15:51:58Z | local3news.com | control | https://www.local3news.com/regional-national/biden-administration-pivoting-to-long-term-strategy-to-assist-afghans/article_a4ec414a-ad25-554c-9ec8-a9a67c8318be.html | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Few of us want summer to end, but there's some good news coming this winter holiday: you'll find more discounts than in previous holiday shopping seasons.
Executives at Best Buy, Ulta, Gap and other top chains have said in recent weeks that they are expecting a shopping season packed with discounts. Walmart on Tuesday released its annual top toy list and said it was offering more "rollbacks" — temporary price reductions on items — than in previous years and a wider array of toys for less than $50 and $25.
In addition to toys, shoppers will likely find discounts on clothing, televisions, beauty products, sporting goods and other items.
Some chains have stockpiled too much inventory in recent months and will increase promotions to try to sell the glut of goods during the holiday stretch.
Other companies are also ramping up promotions to give incentives to inflation-strained shoppers who might otherwise be priced out of holiday gifts.
"We expect it to be more competitive, more promotional this year than it was a year ago," Ulta beauty finance chief Scott Settersten told analysts on an earnings call last week.
Best Buy's executives said Tuesday that its own inventory levels are healthy, but competitors carrying excess consumer electronics are discounting them to lure shoppers who are feeling pinched by inflation.
"We're seeing a customer who's more value-oriented, who is definitely moving more towards some of those sale events," CEO Corie Barry said on a call with analysts. Barry expects the holiday shopping rush to start later in the season than a year ago.
"You're going to see a holiday that starts to look a little bit more like what we saw pre-pandemic," she said.
Retailers are not "where they want to be with regards to inventory levels, which will necessitate more discounting," Jonathan Matuszewski, a retail analyst at Jefferies, said in a note to clients Tuesday. He expects a "fiercely promotional holiday."
Although shoppers love discounts, they're unloved by retailers because they eat into profits. Some chains, such as Kohl's and Gap, are instead packing away their excess inventory and plan to sell it in future seasons.
It's unclear whether holiday discounts will be compelling enough to spur inflation-conscious shoppers to buy, however.
A host of retailers in recent weeks have said lower-income customers are shifting their purchases away from discretionary goods toward necessities like groceries and household basics. Some higher-income consumers are tightening their spending as well.
"High income consumers, who generate a disproportionate share of spending, registered large declines in both their current personal finances as well as buying conditions for durables," University of Michigan researchers wrote this month.
The-CNN-Wire™ & © 2022 Cable News Network, Inc., a Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All rights reserved. | https://www.local3news.com/regional-national/big-discounts-are-coming-this-holiday-season/article_09371c6f-0460-5815-80f2-a1e32f2e8796.html | 2022-09-01T15:52:04Z | local3news.com | control | https://www.local3news.com/regional-national/big-discounts-are-coming-this-holiday-season/article_09371c6f-0460-5815-80f2-a1e32f2e8796.html | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Two days of strike action from Arriva bus workers will cause severe disruption to services throughout Kent this month. Industrial action is to take place on Monday, September 5 and Friday, September 16.
These strikes will impact several key areas of Kent, namely: Northfleet, Gillingham, Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells. Such action has been sparked after workers under the Unite union raised complaints relating to ‘low pay’.
Earlier in the month, the union stated that despite "extensive negotiations" with Arriva, the operator has only been prepared to offer a 7.8 per cent pay increase. This is said to be a substantial pay cut, with the real inflation rate currently standing at 11.8 per cent.
Read more: Bomb disposal team carry out 'controlled explosion' in Tonbridge
The union has said that drivers earn as little as £12.12 an hour. Unite general secretary Sharon Graham has said: "Arriva and its parent company, Deutsche Bahn, are fabulously wealthy and can fully afford to make our members a decent pay offer.
“The company is prioritising paying dividends to shareholders over decent wages for workers. Unite will provide its members with the union’s total support until a pay offer which meets members’ expectations is made, which would resolve the dispute."
A spokesperson for Arriva said: “Despite further negotiations with our Union partner this week, we are extremely disappointed for all our customers to confirm that industrial action will take place across Northfleet, Gillingham, Maidstone & Tunbridge Wells on Monday 5th September and on Friday 16th September. We expect to run a limited service in Southend on Monday 5th September and will provide a further update throughout Monday morning.
“Arriva remains committed to resolving the industrial action and would encourage Unite to ballot on this latest pay offer. We will continue to keep our customers and stakeholders updated, we apologise for the inconvenience this will cause across the region, particularly as our schools return for a new academic year.”
Kent bus cuts
The news of the strike action comes not long after bus services across the county have been axed, cancelled or altered. The widespread reduction of services has sent furious shockwaves through the communities they serve, with the main concern being children facing perilous journeys to school and communities being cut off.
Kent County Council said it spent around £6 million each year subsidising bus services and, as KentLive reported, it said it had to make savings as it grappled with rising costs of statutory services. It also warned it could not afford to "intervene to save those services" being stopped by operators who will see Government pandemic support funding end in September.
But the move has been slammed, with objectors saying public transport should be a priority and the cuts would also create congestion and worsen pollution, which the council has pledged to tackle. To see the full list of changes to bus services across Kent, click here.
Read Next:
Time it's expected to rain amid sunny intervals in Kent today
Baby may have developed pneumonia hours after birth at Tunbridge Wells Hospital
Old £20 and £50 notes will no longer be legal tender after this month
DWP: Grandparents can claim up to £3,000 for looking after the grandchildren
Eurostar issues huge blow to holidaymakers travelling to Amsterdam | https://www.kentlive.news/news/kent-news/exact-dates-arriva-strike-action-7535493 | 2022-09-01T15:52:04Z | kentlive.news | control | https://www.kentlive.news/news/kent-news/exact-dates-arriva-strike-action-7535493 | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Promotions include Tyler Rowe to Principal, and Austen Dixon, Graham Kantor and Eugene Kim to Vice Presidents
BOCA RATON, Fla., Sept. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- AE Industrial Partners, LP ("AEI"), a private equity firm specializing in aerospace, defense & government services, space, power & utility services, and specialty industrial markets, announced today that it has promoted Tyler Rowe to Principal, and Austen Dixon, Graham Kantor and Eugene Kim to Vice Presidents, effective immediately.
"AEI is proud to recognize the vital contributions of our talented and committed team, both to our firm's growth and success and to that of our companies," said David Rowe, Managing Partner of AEI. "We congratulate Tyler, Austen, Graham and Eugene on their promotions, which reflect their hard work and dedication to our shared goals."
"Our smart, enterprising professionals bring value to the firm every day, particularly as they help our portfolio companies navigate complex and rapidly changing business environments," added Michael Greene, Managing Partner of AEI. "We look forward to seeing what Tyler, Austen, Graham and Eugene will help us achieve in the future."
Tyler Rowe is a member of AEI HorizonX team, the venture capital investment platform formed in partnership with The Boeing Company, where he. helps identify, evaluate and lead unique venture investments across all of AEI HorizonX's target markets. Focused on early-stage investing for the last 12 years, he holds a BA from the University of Alabama.
Mr. Dixon, who joined AEI in 2019, is primarily focused on financial modeling, due diligence, executing new investments, and monitoring portfolio investments. Prior to joining the firm, he was an analyst focused on M&A for clients across a wide range of industries. Mr. Dixon received a BS in Business Administration from Georgetown University.
Mr. Kantor, who joined AEI in 2019, is primarily focused on financial modeling, due diligence, executing new investments, and monitoring portfolio investments. Prior to joining the firm, Mr. Kantor worked at several investment firms where he focused on communications infrastructure and industrial sector transactions. He holds a BBA from the University of Georgia.
Mr. Kim, who joined AEI in 2018, is a member of the AEI HorizonX team. Prior to joining the firm, Mr. Kim was a Specialist in the Corporate Development group at The Boeing Company, where he focused on M&A and other strategic activities. Prior to Boeing, Mr. Kim was a member of Sandler O'Neill + Partners' Investment Banking Group, where he focused on M&A and capital raising for financial institutions. He received a BA from Northwestern University, and an MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business.
AE Industrial Partners is a private equity firm specializing in aerospace, defense & government services, space, power & utility services, and specialty industrial markets. AE Industrial Partners invests in market-leading companies that can benefit from our deep industry knowledge, operating experience, and relationships throughout our target markets. AE Industrial Partners is a signatory to the United Nations Principles for Responsible Investment and the ILPA Diversity in Action initiative. Learn more at www.aeroequity.com.
AEI HorizonX was formed as Boeing's corporate venture capital arm in 2017 and is now managed by AE Industrial Partners, a private equity firm specializing in aerospace, defense & government services, space, power & utility services, and specialty industrial markets, with $5 billion of assets under management. AEI HorizonX is an active participant in venture capital within its core strategic areas of focus, investing in more than 50 startups globally and building numerous relationships and partnerships across the aerospace, technology, and investing ecosystem.
Media Contacts:
Lambert
Jennifer Hurson
jhurson@lambert.com
845.507.0571
Or
Beth Wiegard
bwiegard@lambert.com
954.494.8261
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE AE Industrial Partners | https://www.witn.com/prnewswire/2022/09/01/ae-industrial-partners-announces-firmwide-promotions/ | 2022-09-01T15:52:07Z | witn.com | control | https://www.witn.com/prnewswire/2022/09/01/ae-industrial-partners-announces-firmwide-promotions/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
A Black pastor in Alabama says he was arrested while watering his neighbor's flowers -- and his attorney has called the incident "irrational, irresponsible, and illegal."
In police body camera footage from May and released last week, an officer is seen approaching the man, Michael Jennings, who tells the officer he has been asked to water the flowers while a neighbor is gone.
In the video that has since gone viral, Jennings, of Childersburg, Alabama, is asked by the officer what he is doing at the house and whose car is in the driveway. He says it's the neighbor's vehicle and identifies himself as "Pastor Jennings" without being asked.
Jennings tells the officer, "I'm supposed to be here. I'm Pastor Jennings. I live across the street."
An officer responds, "You're Pastor Jennings?" And he responds, "Yes, I'm looking after their house while they're gone, looking after their flowers."
The officer then asks Jennings for identification and Jennings says he will not give any identification to the officer. Less than a minute and a half later, as Jennings tries to make a call on his phone, officers handcuff him, the body camera footage shows.
The officers in the video later speak with the neighbor who called 911, who is not identified by name. "They are friends, and they went out of town today, so he may be watering their flowers, and it could be completely normal," she tells the officers about Jennings and the homeowner.
"He would be watering their flowers, this is probably my fault," she says.
Later in the video, Jennings' wife arrives and provides the officer with his identification.
"She does tell us it's a mistake and all that stuff, but at this point he's already collected the charge," the officer tells her.
"Once we place him under arrest we can't unarrest him," the officer says.
He was arrested for "Obstructing Governmental Operations," but charges were later dropped, according to a police statement from June 1, 2022.
Police were responding to a 911 call about a "suspicious" car parked at the residence and a person "the caller did not recognize," Richard McClelland, chief of police for the city of Childersburg, said in the statement. The caller stated that her neighbors who lived at the residence were out of town and advised that the suspicious person might be inside the residence, according to the police chief's statement.
In an email to CNN on Tuesday, an attorney for the city said the audio of the 911 call provides "vital" information for the incident.
CNN has requested a copy of the transcript of this call.
"This video makes it clear that these officers decided they were going to arrest Pastor Jennings less than five minutes after pulling up and then tried to rewrite history claiming he hadn't identified himself when that was the first thing he did," attorney Harry Daniels said in a news release last week.
Midway through the video, officers can be heard discussing charges for Jennings.
"We're here to investigate a call and he wouldn't give us his name, or or any other thing," an officer says.
"He told me he was trying to call the owner, but still I need his name," he says.
"The 911 audio recording from the call and officer body camera footage was reviewed and interviews were conducted with the officers involved as part of my own investigation of the incident," McClelland said in the statement.
"As result of my investigation, I have recommended to the Municipal Judge of The City of Childersburg that the warrant be dismissed with prejudice," McClelland said.
The-CNN-Wire
™ & © 2022 Cable News Network, Inc., a Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All rights reserved. | https://www.local3news.com/regional-national/black-pastor-arrested-while-watering-neighbors-flowers-video-shows/article_1a737aef-3121-59e2-b343-568752a0d6e7.html | 2022-09-01T15:52:10Z | local3news.com | control | https://www.local3news.com/regional-national/black-pastor-arrested-while-watering-neighbors-flowers-video-shows/article_1a737aef-3121-59e2-b343-568752a0d6e7.html | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
With the new school beginning, many parents will already be yearning for their next holiday. Term dates can vary across Kent depending on what type of school your child attends.
But it is worth researching when the breaks are if you want to plan for next year. Parents and children can also look forward to a string of bank holidays, giving everyone a much-needed rest.
In a bid to make your life easier, we've researched the 2022/23 term dates and holidays using Kent County Council's website, so you don't have to. Keep reading to find out more.
Read more: Kent's worst performing secondary schools rated 'inadequate' and 'requires improvement' by Ofsted
School term dates for 2022/23
Term 1
Starts
Thursday 1 September 2022
Ends
Friday 21 October 2022
School holidays
Monday 24 October to Friday 28 October 2022
Term 2
Starts
Monday 31 October 2022
Ends
Friday 16 December 2022
School holidays
Monday 19 December to Monday 2 January 2023
Bank holidays
Monday 26 December and Tuesday 27 December 2022, and Monday 2 January 2023
Term 3
Starts
Tuesday 3 January 2023
Ends
Friday 10 February 2023
School holidays
Monday 13 February to Friday 17 February 2023
Term 4
Starts
Monday 20 February 2023
Ends
Friday 31 March 2023
School holidays
Monday 3 April to Friday 14 April 2023
Bank holidays
Friday 7 April and Monday 10 April 2023
Term 5
Starts
Monday 17 April 2023
Ends
Friday 26 May 2023
School holidays
Monday 29 May to Friday 2 June 2023
Bank holidays
Monday 1 May and Monday 29 May 2023
Term 6
Starts
Monday 5 June 2023
Ends
Friday 21 July 2023
School holidays
Monday 24 July to Thursday 31 August 2023
Bank holiday
Monday 28 August 2023
For more information about Kent's term dates, visit Kent County Council's website.
Read next:
- Eurostar issues huge blow to holidaymakers travelling to Amsterdam
- Martin Lewis calls on future Prime Minister to discuss cost of living crisis live on his show
- Southeastern rail strike: The exact date train workers will walk out and how to claim a refund
- 'Broke' TikToker shares 'clever hack' to bag cheaper train tickets using Trainline this summer
- Octopus Energy announces update on money saving schemes and £400 energy rebate as price cap rises again | https://www.kentlive.news/news/kent-news/kents-school-term-dates-holidays-7535103 | 2022-09-01T15:52:14Z | kentlive.news | control | https://www.kentlive.news/news/kent-news/kents-school-term-dates-holidays-7535103 | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
A woman from Gillingham has been left feeling "shocked" but "proud" after her design for a local town’s sign competition was picked as the winner. Announced earlier this year, Rainham in Medway has held a competition for the creation of a new town sign which will be proudly displayed in the town centre later this year.
Residents across the area were invited to submit their own designs for the new sign as part of this year’s Platinum Jubilee Celebrations. Gillingham resident Natasha Springett has now been crowned the winner of the competition thanks to her colourful and creative design reflecting the very best aspects of Rainham.
This exciting news also comes just before Natasha’s wedding. Her and her partner of four years have eyed up an incredible Medway venue for their big day later this month.
Read more: I had lunch at a pub in Kent's 'poshest village' of Ightham
The Rainham town sign is to find a home outside of Natwest, opposite the main shopping precinct, and will be unveiled later this year. All entries into the competition will also be displayed at an exhibition in Rainham Library running from September 12 until October 29.
'I wanted to capture all the different bits of Rainham'
Natasha spoke to KentLive about winning the competition and how it left her feeling. The 27-year-old mechanical engineer said: “I was pretty shocked to be honest, when I got the call I must have said thank you about 100 times.
“I didn’t expect to do something on this scale and win it. I'm a very arty, very crafty person.
“I’ve always done something extra, I don’t like to do the same as someone else. I always used to enter drawing competitions at school and I always used to win but I’ve never done it as an adult, this is the first one I’ve ever entered really as an adult.”
Discussing the design itself, Natasha continues: “As a Brownie leader, I created my sign with the Brownies because I thought they’d enjoy it too. I wanted to capture all of the different bits of Rainham that make it Rainham.
"So, the church is quite prominent, we’re in the UK so I added the Union Jack, the oast houses you always see. The Cricketers, because it’s such an old building as well, I thought that was quite important.
“Then the orchards because there are quite a few in Rainham and around the area. Obviously the station is also quite iconic with its little conservatory look.”
She went on to discuss the exciting additional news of her wedding later in September which will be held at Chatham’s Historic Dockyard. Talking about this choice in venue, Natasha said: “We’ve both got family links to it, my Grandad worked on the sister ship to the Ocelot. My other half’s Grandad was in the navy and we both went to the University of Greenwich in Chatham.”
Finally she discusses what this win means for her in the bigger picture. Natasha said: “Maybe one day my future great grandchildren will see the sign and know their great nan designed it. How awesome is that?
“Now every time I drive through Rainham I’ll see it and know that I did it which is quite an achievement I think. It just makes you really proud.”
Cllr Phil Filmer, Medway Council’s Portfolio Holder for Frontline Services, added: “I would like to say congratulations to Natasha for her great design. We received some fantastic entries and the new sign is a great way to mark the Platinum Jubilee in Rainham and welcome residents to the town for years to come. I look forward to seeing the sign once it has been installed.”
Read next:
Sarcastic TikToker describes Tunbridge Wells as 'absolute cesspit' in scathing review
Bagpuss: The country's most popular children’s TV show which originated in Canterbury
Southeastern rail strike: The exact date train workers will walk out and how to claim a refund
Kent's best secondary schools rated 'outstanding' and 'good' by Ofsted | https://www.kentlive.news/news/kent-news/medway-woman-shocked-proud-after-7535157 | 2022-09-01T15:52:24Z | kentlive.news | control | https://www.kentlive.news/news/kent-news/medway-woman-shocked-proud-after-7535157 | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Millions of people of state pension age with one of 56 health conditions may be missing out on Attendance Allowance, which can help elderly people pay for additional support and can be worth up to £369 a month. Up to 3.4million people may be missing out on what is the most underclaimed UK benefit, according to figures from the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP).
Eligible people miss out of £15 billion of unclaimed benefits every year, and a large part of this is due to pensioners not claiming Attendance Allowance, The Express reports. Pensioners are one of the groups struggling most with the cost of living crisis, but they are also the most likely group of Brits to be missing out on DWP benefits, according to Age UK.
One reason is that they may not be aware that their health condition means they qualify for this type of support, and that they don't need to have a full time carer to be eligible. However applicants will have to show that they need assistance with washing, moving around or taking medication.
READ MORE:Ten money changes on the way in September as cost of living crisis grips the UK
Unless they are seriously ill, they will need to show that they have struggled with certain tasks for at least six months. Some pensioners say the process for claiming DWP benefits like Attendance Allowance is over complicated and puts them off applying, but people can ask Age UK for help making their claim.
Applicants should clearly write about what support they need and what they do not need, and they should not expect the person making the decision to know about their condition. Another tip is to explain if certain tasks take longer. Experts also say people shouldn't be afraid to repeat information if it is relevant.
The 56 conditions that qualify for Attendance Allowance are:
Multi-System Disorders
Multiple Allergy Syndrome
Skin Disease
Malignant Disease
Severely Mentally impaired
Double Amputee
Deaf/Blind
Haemodialysis
Frailty
Total Parenteral Nutrition
AIDS
Infectious diseases: Viral disease - Coronavirus covid-19
Infectious diseases: Viral disease - precise diagnosis not specified
Infectious diseases: Bacterial disease – Tuberculosis
Infectious diseases: Bacterial disease – precise diagnosis not specified
Infectious diseases: Protozoal disease – Malaria
Infectious diseases: Protozoal disease – other/precise diagnosis not specified
Infectious diseases - other/precise diagnosis not specified
Cognitive disorder - other/precise diagnosis not specified
Terminally Ill
READ NEXT:
DWP confirms grandparents can claim up to £3,000 for looking after the grandchildren
DWP update on Winter Fuel Payment sets up millions to receive £600 boost
Martin Lewis calls on future Prime Minister to discuss cost of living crisis live on his show
TUI offers holiday refund chance to help families amid cost-of-living crisis
Independent shops in West Malling hit hard by soaring cost of energy | https://www.kentlive.news/news/uk-world-news/state-pensioners-could-dwp-benefit-7534773 | 2022-09-01T15:52:34Z | kentlive.news | control | https://www.kentlive.news/news/uk-world-news/state-pensioners-could-dwp-benefit-7534773 | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
A week after winning the Democratic primary for Florida governor, Rep. Charlie Crist will resign from his seat in the US House effective at the end of Wednesday, his campaign confirmed.
Resigning from Congress frees up Crist to focus on his race against Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis. In 2018, DeSantis also resigned his House seat shortly after securing the GOP nomination.
Crist officially announced his plan to resign on Wednesday and said in a statement that serving in Congress "has been an honor and a privilege."
The departure of Crist further narrows the Democratic majority in the House to 219 to 211, with five seats becoming vacant.
Crist was first elected to represent Florida's 13th District, including his hometown of St. Petersburg, in 2016 after a bruising and expensive race against then-Rep. David Jolly, a Republican. He was re-elected in 2018 and 2020 with strong majorities.
Crist's time in the US House marked a return to elected office for the long-time Florida politician after losing statewide races for US Senate in 2010 as an Independent and for governor as a Democrat in 2014. He previously served as a Republican state lawmaker, attorney general and governor.
Crist announced in May 2021 that he would forgo a campaign for a fourth term and would instead set his sights on a return to the governor's mansion. At the time, Crist seemed to be giving up a safely Democratic seat, but the 13th District was dramatically changed during the redistricting process into one that former President Donald Trump would have carried by 7 points in 2020.
Republican Anna Paulina Luna, a conservative commentator, and Democrat Eric Lynn, a former senior defense adviser in the Obama administration, were nominated on August 23 by their respective parties to succeed Crist in Congress.
This story is breaking and has been updated.
The-CNN-Wire
™ & © 2022 Cable News Network, Inc., a Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All rights reserved. | https://www.local3news.com/regional-national/crist-to-resign-from-congress-as-race-for-florida-governor-heats-up/article_e06cccc2-cc69-5dc7-a0ec-f5841e4b6d9d.html | 2022-09-01T15:52:34Z | local3news.com | control | https://www.local3news.com/regional-national/crist-to-resign-from-congress-as-race-for-florida-governor-heats-up/article_e06cccc2-cc69-5dc7-a0ec-f5841e4b6d9d.html | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
The number of shootings involving automatic weapons in the US has skyrocketed in recent years, suggesting a troubling resurgence in the use of machine guns by criminals, according to an analysis provided exclusively to CNN.
Incidents of machine gun fire have exploded by about 1,400% from 2019 through last year, according to statistics compiled by a gunfire detection company that has acoustic sensors placed in about 130 US cities. Last year alone, ShotSpotter, Inc. detected roughly 5,600 incidents of automatic weapons fire, the analysis showed.
The previously unreported figures add to growing evidence that the widespread availability of inexpensive so-called conversion devices -- known as "auto switches" or "auto sears" -- capable of transforming semi-automatic weapons into machine guns in a matter of moments are wreaking havoc on American streets.
There has been a corresponding spike in seizures of conversion devices by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives in recent years, from fewer than 100 in 2017 to more than 1,500 last year.
CNN earlier reported on an ATF effort in 2019 to recover what agents suspected were thousands of such devices illegally imported from China. In the years since, 3D printers have only added to the problem, law enforcement officials said.
"Not since Prohibition have we seen this many machine guns being used to commit crimes," said Tom Chittum, who spent more than two decades with the ATF and retired as its No. 2 official before signing on as an executive with ShotSpotter earlier this year.
Gun laws virtually eliminated automatic weapons from city streets for decades, Chittum said. "But now machine guns are back, and they're everywhere."
Automatic weapons have been used in several high-profile assaults in recent years, including a mass shooting in Sacramento, California, in which six people were killed and a dozen injured, a school shooting in Washington, DC, in which a sniper with automatic rifles unleashed a barrage of more than 200 shots, wounding four, and the slaying of Houston police officer William "Bill" Jeffrey during the service of an arrest warrant last year. The 30-year-veteran officer died in a torrent of gunfire from a convicted felon armed with an illegally converted weapon.
A CNN review of court filings in cities across the US found dozens of cases in recent years involving so-called conversion devices or semi-automatic handguns already converted to fully automatic.
In Chicago, a man prosecutors called "a prolific machine gun dealer" allegedly continued to sell the devices while out on bond and awaiting trial. An alleged associate of the man was recorded telling an undercover ATF agent posing as a buyer that he'd get a better price if he bought in bulk, and that he should act quickly because demand was high.
"People are gonna get them switches," he told the agent, according to a court filing. "It's gonna go to the people who want to go shoot some people, gangbangers and sh*t."
The devices appear to be an emerging commodity on the black market. CNN reviewed cases in which they were allegedly hawked on social media, sold under the table by a licensed gun dealer in Miami, and turned up in the possession of alleged drug dealers distributing methamphetamine, fentanyl and oxycodone. In Los Angeles, a man under investigation for supplying local gang members with guns allegedly sold an ATF informant a Glock conversion device along with a Glock 9mm pistol and a high-capacity magazine. In Washington, DC, investigators looking into a young man who allegedly tossed a converted handgun into a trash can as police approached later found several videos on YouTube in which he rapped about "switches."
The increasing availability of auto switches has been driven in part by the ease with which they can be made using cheap, 3D-printed parts and instructions available online, according to Earl Griffith, the chief of ATF's Firearms and Ammunition Technology Division.
"It's very easy," said Griffith, who explained how he learned to use a 3D printer to make the devices on YouTube. "In a matter of 15 minutes I was able to do it myself the first time." Below, Griffith explains.
A CNN review of YouTube based on key-word search terms revealed multiple such videos that had collectively racked up more than 1 million views. One group of auto-switch instructional videos that remained online until August were linked to a man charged in December by federal prosecutors in Texas for allegedly making, possessing and transferring 3D-printed switches. He has pleaded not guilty.
YouTube removed the videos after CNN asked about them. A company spokesperson said YouTube does not allow "content instructing viewers how to manufacture accessories that convert a firearm to automatic fire, or to sell those accessories on our platform."
Griffith said that despite the growing ubiquity of the devices, many members of law enforcement do not know how to recognize them on firearms they seize from criminals.
"When we tell them about it, they go back into their evidence vault and they look and check and they find this stuff," he said.
Quantifying incidents involving automatic weapons fire is a challenge. The shell casings fired by automatic weapons appear no different than those discharged from a semi-automatic gun.
That is where ShotSpotter comes in. The company has contracts with about 130 cities in which it installs acoustic sensors in designated areas to listen for gunfire. A patented computer algorithm attempts to distinguish between innocuous sounds such a jackhammer or car backfiring and gunfire. Human analysts at the company's headquarters in the San Francisco Bay Area or a satellite office in Washington, DC, listen to what the algorithm flags as gunfire and, if they concur, alert police. The company says its goal is to make such notifications within a minute.
In recent years, suspected incidents of automatic weapons fire have risen sharply from about 400 in 2019 to 1,800 in 2020 to 5,600 last year. Even after adjusting for an increase in the company's coverage area in the US, ShotSpotter said an internal analysis showed that suspected automatic gunfire incidents jumped 14 times in about three years. The upward trend has continued in the first half of this year with roughly 3,800 incidents detected. The company says its designation of an incident as "full auto" is for a police department's "situational awareness" only and is not guaranteed in the same manner as its primary mission of accurately identifying and locating outdoor gunfire.
During a demonstration of the system in June, analyst Kaylan Parker replayed some of the incidents she and others had tagged as "full auto," filling her Washington, DC, listening post with audio from what sounded like some far-off war zone. On a recent day, she said, the company had detected what it determined to be more than 25 incidents of automatic weapons fire, involving some 300 rounds, including a shooting in nearby Baltimore. Baltimore police later issued a press release about the incident, citing the ShotSpotter alert and stating that two people were wounded, including a 14-year-old boy.
Founded in 1996, ShotSpotter bills itself as an important tool for police, providing real-time information about the location and nature of shootings, which the company says often go unreported. The early intel, company officials say, provides a tactical advantage to police and has resulted in both the arrest of shooters and faster medical care for gunshot victims.
But ShotSpotter, a publicly traded company with reported revenue last year of nearly $60 million, has been mired in controversy in recent years. The criticism is centered on the placement of its sensors in predominately minority communities and the use of its information as evidence in court cases as opposed to its primary mission of merely alerting police to the occurrence and location of gunfire. Critics see the placement of the sensors as racially biased, resulting in the increased use of stop-and-frisk tactics by police. Defense attorneys have assailed ShotSpotter's results as both unreliable and impossible to scrutinize because the company has declined to disclose the precise science behind how its system works. Other critics have questioned ShotSpotter's true value as a crime-fighting tool, regardless of how well it detects and locates gunfire, because they say there's no compelling evidence that it reduces gun violence.
ShotSpotter, which touts a 97% accuracy rate -- a figure backed by an audit paid for by the company -- has pushed back against the criticism with a prominent link on its website. It cites studies it says are "proof of its positive impact" and says the location of its sensors is decided in consultation with police and city officials in the communities it serves and is "based on historical gunfire and homicide data."
A case winding its way through federal court in Washington, DC, highlights both the utility of ShotSpotter, and the challenges prosecutors sometimes face when trying to use its information as evidence in court.
Early on the morning of January 20, 2020, ShotSpotter notified police in Washington, DC, of gunfire at a house in the city's southeast quadrant. Police later discovered that footage from a surveillance camera mounted nearby showed a man firing a weapon into the air at 4:45 a.m., the precise time of the ShotSpotter alert, according to court records.
After obtaining a search warrant, police found a twice-convicted PCP dealer alone in the house. They also seized a Glock .40 caliber semi-automatic handgun equipped with a conversion device, and an extended magazine, from a closet, according to prosecutors. The occupant of the house was arrested and charged with possession of a machine gun.
It might appear an open-and-shut case for the efficacy of ShotSpotter. But the use of the company's information as evidence in court has been another matter.
Prosecutors and defense attorneys in the case have been battling for months over who is qualified to provide expert testimony regarding ShotSpotter's findings and address questions big and small about the company, from the science behind how its system works to an explanation of how the estimate of the number of shots fired changed over time in the case at hand.
As of publication, a judge had yet to rule on how the ShotSpotter information would be handled.
In Texas, Lacie Jeffrey, the daughter of the Houston police officer killed last year, said she could not comprehend the proliferation of fully automatic weapons like the one that riddled her father's body with multiple gunshot wounds in an instant. An autopsy report obtained by CNN shows that the veteran officer was struck more than a dozen times during the brief encounter.
Jeffrey said she has reached out to lawmakers in Texas in hopes of enacting a tougher state law regarding so-called conversion devices like the one on the weapon used to kill her dad.
"We do not live in a war zone," Jeffrey told CNN. "There is no need for us to have these automatic weapons on the streets of Houston — anywhere in the United States."
The-CNN-Wire™ & © 2022 Cable News Network, Inc., a Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All rights reserved. | https://www.local3news.com/regional-national/device-that-can-turn-a-semi-automatic-weapon-into-machine-gun-wreaking-havoc-on-american/article_7fbaac8e-2927-11ed-bc53-3bedb286edfe.html | 2022-09-01T15:52:41Z | local3news.com | control | https://www.local3news.com/regional-national/device-that-can-turn-a-semi-automatic-weapon-into-machine-gun-wreaking-havoc-on-american/article_7fbaac8e-2927-11ed-bc53-3bedb286edfe.html | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Twitter has said it is testing out an edit button feature - and the idea has received a mixed reaction. Previously, tweets could not be edited, so any errors that appeared in them could only be changed by deleting the post and sending a new one.
However, a post from the social media platform's own account said that they were now testing out the feature, which had been mentioned by Elon Musk when he attempted to buy Twitter. At one point, Musk even polled followers about whether they would like an edit button feature.
In their post, Twitter said: "If you see an edited Tweet it's because we're testing the edit button. This is happening and you'll be okay."
Read more:Emotional Susanna Reid pays tribute to Bill Turnbull after former colleagues death
The company added in a blog post: "It’s true: Edit Tweet is being tested by our team internally. The test will then be initially expanded to Twitter Blue subscribers in the coming weeks.
"Given that this is our most requested feature to date, we wanted to both update you on our progress and give you a heads up that, even if you’re not in a test group, everyone will still be able to see if a Tweet has been edited."
News of the testing taking place provoked a mixed reaction from followers though, with many saying they did not like the idea. One person simply wrote in a reply: "RIP Twitter."
Another follower added that Twitter was about to lose its "originality". Twitter user Hybee added: "Not having an edit button is what makes Twitter special and tweets reliable."
But some did welcome the idea. One person said: "This is the best feature you have ever added to twitter, all the times that I tweeted wrong and had to delete the tweet to edit again, finally I can edit my tweet."
Others responded along the lines of "thank goodness". Meanwhile, another user posted a picture of Manchester City striker Erling Haaland celebrating scoring a goal against Crystal Palace recently and said: "Finally."
Twitter said it will be testing the feature internally as part of a small group before feedback is given. It will then be expanded out to Twitter Blue subscribers.
Twitter said: "Like any new feature, we’re intentionally testing Edit Tweet with a smaller group to help us incorporate feedback while identifying and resolving potential issues. This includes how people might misuse the feature. You can never be too careful.
"Later this month, we’ll be expanding Edit Tweet access to Twitter Blue subscribers. As part of their subscription, they receive early access to features and help us test them before they come to Twitter.
"The test will be localized to a single country at first and expand as we learn and observe how people use Edit Tweet. We’ll also be paying close attention to how the feature impacts the way people read, write, and engage with Tweets."
READ NEXT
Old £20 and £50 notes must be spent this month before they are no longer legal tender
Drivers warned about a number of new laws set to come into force in September
'Broke' TikToker shares 'clever hack' to bag cheaper train tickets using Trainline this summer
Ten money changes on the way in September as cost of living crisis grips the UK | https://www.kentlive.news/news/uk-world-news/twitters-edit-button-test-sparks-7535262 | 2022-09-01T15:52:45Z | kentlive.news | control | https://www.kentlive.news/news/uk-world-news/twitters-edit-button-test-sparks-7535262 | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
US government documents were "likely concealed and removed" from a storage room at Mar-a-Lago as part of an effort to "obstruct" the FBI's investigation into former President Donald Trump's potential mishandling of classified materials, the Justice Department said in a blockbuster court filing Tuesday night.
More than 320 classified documents have now been recovered from Mar-a-Lago, the Justice Department said, including more than 100 in the FBI search earlier this month.
Tuesday's filing represents the Justice Department's strongest case to date that Trump concealed classified material he was keeping at Mar-a-Lago in an attempt to obstruct the FBI's investigation into the potential mishandling of classified material.
The Justice Department revealed the startling new details as part of its move to oppose Trump's effort to intervene in the federal investigation that led to the search of his Florida resort and his desire for a "special master" to be appointed to the case.
Trump has pushed an "incomplete and inaccurate narrative" in his recent court filings about the Mar-a-Lago search, the Justice Department said.
"The government provides below a detailed recitation of the relevant facts, many of which are provided to correct the incomplete and inaccurate narrative set forth in Plaintiff's filings," prosecutors wrote.
It presents a strong rebuttal of the criticisms of the FBI's unprecedented search of a former President's residence, laying out clearly how Trump had failed to return dozens of classified documents even after his lawyer attested that he had provided all classified material in his possession.
A picture on the final page of the filing showing classified documents arrayed on the floor of Trump's office -- full of classified markings like "HCS," or human confidential sources -- hammered home how sensitive the material Trump had taken was.
At issue is Trump's compliance with a grand jury subpoena, issued in May, demanding that he turn over classified documents from Mar-a-Lago. Prosecutors said Tuesday that some documents were likely removed from a storage room before Trump's lawyers examined the area, while they were trying to comply with the subpoena. The timeline is essential, because Trump's lawyers later told investigators that they searched the storage area and that all classified documents were accounted for.
"The government also developed evidence that government records were likely concealed and removed from the Storage Room and that efforts were likely taken to obstruct the government's investigation," prosecutors wrote. "This included evidence indicating that boxes formerly in the Storage Room were not returned prior to counsel's review."
In the filing opposing Trump's request, DOJ argues that the former president lacks standing over presidential records "because those records do not belong to him," as presidential records are considered property of the government.
The Presidential Records Act makes clear that "[t]he United States" has "complete ownership, possession, and control of them," the DOJ filing states.
Trump has argued that his constitutional rights have been violated and that some of the documents seized earlier this month contain material covered by privilege -- particularly executive privilege.
The Justice Department was ordered to submit the filing by Judge Aileen Cannon, who has already indicated she is inclined to grant Trump's request for third party oversight of documents the FBI seized Mar-a-Lago.
The role of a special master is to filter out any materials seized in a search that don't belong in the hands of investigators because of a privilege. Special masters have been used in high-profile cases before, but usually in cases where the FBI has searched an attorney's office or home and there is a need to filter out materials concerning attorney-client privilege. Trump's request has centered on the need to protect documents concerning executive privilege from his conduct as president.
Signals from Cannon, a Trump appointee, that she is leaning toward appointing a special master in the Mar-a-Lago search have raised eyebrows among legal observers. For one, Trump filed his request for the appointment two weeks after the search of his Florida home, risking the potential that the Justice Department is already done with the bulk of its review. Secondly, Trump and the judge alike have pointed to civil rules concerning special master appointments, when the search warrant is arising in a criminal context.
Since the August 8 search, a number of previously secret court filings the DOJ submitted to obtain the warrant have been made partially public in part because of a bid for transparency filed in court by several media organizations, including CNN.
Those redacted documents have revealed that the search was connected to a DOJ investigation into alleged violations of the Espionage Act, criminal mishandling of government documents and obstruction of justice. According to an FBI affidavit that was released last week, an FBI review of 15 boxes retrieved by the National Archives from Mar-a-Lago in January found 184 documents bearing classification markings -- some of them identified as particularly sensitive government documents.
Trump, in seeking the special master, has stressed in court filings the lack of criminal enforcement in the Presidential Records Act, a Watergate-era law laying out the process for preserving presidential records. He did not mention the three criminal statutes the DOJ cited in its warrant documents. Trump's lawyers have also emphasized his supposedly unfettered ability when he was president to declassify documents, though the statutes in question don't require that the materials be classified.
Trump's attorney limited what DOJ could look at during June visit
A top Justice Department official contends that federal investigators were limited in what they could look through when visiting the resort in June -- contrary to the Trump team's narrative of total cooperation.
Trump's lawyer requested that the FBI come to the resort to pick up the documents after the Trump team had received a grand jury subpoena in May seeking any materials marked classified, according to the Justice Department.
DOJ's account also undermined claims by Trump and his allies that the former President had declassified the materials in question.
"When producing the documents, neither counsel nor the custodian asserted that the former President had declassified the documents or asserted any claim of executive privilege," the filing said. "Instead, counsel handled them in a manner that suggested counsel believed that the documents were classified: the production included a single Redweld envelope, double-wrapped in tape, containing the document."
In the DOJ's account, Trump's lawyer said that all the remaining documents from Trump's White House were being kept in the storage at Mar-a-Lago. "Counsel further represented that there were no other records stored in any private office space or other location at the Premises and that all available boxes were searched," the filing said.
Prosecutors confirmed Trump's assertion that the visiting DOJ and FBI officials were then allowed to visit the storage area.
"Critically, however, the former President's counsel explicitly prohibited government personnel from opening or looking inside any of the boxes that remained in the storage room, giving no opportunity for the government to confirm that no documents with classification markings remained," the DOJ said.
DOJ reveals proceedings related to Mar-a-Lago search happening in DC
The Justice Department confirmed that grand jury subpoenas had been issued in its probe, and in doing so, prosecutors indicated that proceedings related to the search were also unfolding secretly at the federal courthouse in Washington, DC.
Referring to a subpoena issued in May for "[a]ny and all documents or writings in the custody or control of Donald J. Trump and/or the Office of Donald J. Trump bearing classification markings [list of classification markings]," the DOJ said in a footnote that it had been authorized by Chief Judge Beryl Howell in the DC District Court to disclose those grand jury subpoenas. The reference to her suggests that in addition to Magistrate Judge Bruce Reinhart and Cannon in Florida, a third judge is now involved in the DOJ's probe.
"The former President disclosed this subpoena and a subpoena for video footage at the Premises in his filings to this Court," the footnote says. "Thereafter, on August 29, 2022, Chief Judge Howell in the District of Columbia authorized the government to disclose to this Court these grand jury subpoenas and material discussed herein."
The-CNN-Wire™ & © 2022 Cable News Network, Inc., a Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All rights reserved. | https://www.local3news.com/regional-national/doj-says-classified-mar-a-lago-docs-were-likely-concealed-and-removed/article_3c22f84c-2926-11ed-b829-cbd780a12e4a.html | 2022-09-01T15:52:47Z | local3news.com | control | https://www.local3news.com/regional-national/doj-says-classified-mar-a-lago-docs-were-likely-concealed-and-removed/article_3c22f84c-2926-11ed-b829-cbd780a12e4a.html | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
The wireless plan report finds T-Mobile's Magenta and Magenta Max plans lead the industry in overall value
BOSTON, Sept. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Navi, which aggregates the best wireless phone and plan deals for consumers, today released its 2022 US Wireless Plan Report, which evaluates and ranks the best available unlimited postpaid phone plans from across the wireless industry.
Consumers face a litany of options when choosing a wireless plan, with telecom carriers offering seemingly countless combinations of plans, perks, and price points. Carriers also differentiate their plans based on data usage, international capabilities, as well as additional perks like streaming services, among other factors. To make sense of all these nuances and provide consumers with an apples-to-apples comparison of plans, Navi developed its own "Plan Score" and methodology to rate 19 postpaid unlimited plans from the six biggest carriers across six feature dimensions.
The 2022 US Wireless Plan Report used Navi's unique methodology to highlight noteworthy developments in the wireless industry from March through June 2022. The report includes a side-by-side comparison of features at every price point from major wireless service carriers to help consumers evaluate which plans offer the best value for their specific needs.
Key findings from the report include:
- A new category of "value" unlimited plans has emerged over the last few months with AT&T's introduction of Value Plus, T-Mobile's rollout of Base Essentials and, most recently, Verizon's launch of Welcome Unlimited. These plans are tailored towards price-conscious consumers but they all have significant limitations.
- T-Mobile's two top plans, Magenta and Magenta Max, decidedly out-score their equivalents at AT&T and Verizon after adjusting for price.
- At the lower end of the market, Spectrum and Xfinity Mobile have some of the most competitive plans, but selecting a plan from one of these carriers requires that you (a) live in an area where they offer service, and (b) subscribe to their home Internet services.
- Beyond the cellular data component of service plans, carriers try to differentiate themselves by adding streaming services (e.g. like Netflix) and hotspot connectivity (as well as other features). Navi marketplace behavior data shows that consumers place much higher value on hotspot capabilities than they do on streaming services. The carriers (Verizon and AT&T most recently) have recognized this and are adding additional hotspot features to many of their plans.
Navi's 2022 US Wireless Plan Report was compiled using Navi's database of wireless plan and phone deals from the top carriers and OEMs across the telecom industry. Navi's Marketplace is now available for free at yournavi.com where site visitors can search for the best deals on phones or associated phone plans.
"This report illustrates the diversity in offerings from wireless carriers and how many options consumers have to sort through to find the right deal for them," said Patricio Paucar, Co-Founder and Chief Customer Officer at Navi. "We hope that by publishing this report, consumers can more easily understand what makes each plan unique and find the best option for their needs."
To learn more, read the full Navi Q2 2022 Wireless Plan Scoring Report here.
Navi is an independent and unbiased US wireless services marketplace. Founded by industry veterans, Navi offers consumers the most comprehensive, easy-to-use, and rewarding wireless experience. Its flagship products include Phone Navigator, which helps consumers find the right phone at the best price, and Plan Navigator, which matches consumers with the best plan for their needs. For more information and to use Navi's services, please visit www.yournavi.com.
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE Navi | https://www.witn.com/prnewswire/2022/09/01/navi-releases-2022-us-wireless-plan-report/ | 2022-09-01T15:55:47Z | witn.com | control | https://www.witn.com/prnewswire/2022/09/01/navi-releases-2022-us-wireless-plan-report/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Trade professionals and advanced DIYers can apply from Sept. 1 – Sept. 11.
LEBANON, Ind., Sept. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Festool is launching a nationwide search across the United States for trade professionals and advanced DIYers to test its new QUADRIVE TPC 18/4 Cordless Hammer Drill. Festool will select 10 winners who will put the TPC 18/4 to the test and share their product photos and video reviews with Festool. The company may share the testers' reviews on its social media channels so others can get a deeper sense of how Festool power tools are "built better to build better."
Each product tester will receive one TPC 18/4 Cordless Hammer Drill Set that includes the TPC 18/4 Cordless Hammer Drill, two 4.0 Ah batteries, TCL 6 charger, right angle chuck, eccentric chuck, Centrotec chuck, metal chuck, depth stop chuck and socket adapter, valued at $860.00.
The 10 testers will agree to use the tool during their normal day on the jobsite or in the workshop and document their experience.
Interested candidates should register by Sept. 11 by visiting www.festoolusa.com/myfestool. Festool will notify winners by Sept. 19.
Festool launched the QUADRIVE TPC 18/4 Cordless Hammer Drill earlier this year as part of the company's comprehensive and robust cordless lineup. Powerful and versatile with four gears to address nearly any application, the QUADRIVE TPC 18/4 Cordless Hammer Drill is ready for wood, metal, masonry, and more. Next to being a truly multifunctional 18-volt hammer drill, the robust four-speed metal gearbox and the wide selection of chucks make the TPC 18/4 stand out. With its enormous power and high speeds, it can handle even the toughest tasks.
About Festool
Founded in Germany in 1925, Festool is known for its innovative, precision-engineered power tool solutions. Based in Lebanon, IN, Festool USA LLC. offers a comprehensive line-up of power tools and system accessories, designed to boost productivity through efficiency and high performance. For more information, visit https://www.festoolusa.com/
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE Festool USA | https://www.witn.com/prnewswire/2022/09/01/product-testers-wanted-new-festool-quadrive-tpc-184-cordless-hammer-drill/ | 2022-09-01T15:56:31Z | witn.com | control | https://www.witn.com/prnewswire/2022/09/01/product-testers-wanted-new-festool-quadrive-tpc-184-cordless-hammer-drill/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Últimas noticias de la guerra de Rusia en Ucrania del 1 de septiembre Juan Pablo Elverdin Sep 1, 2022 Sep 1, 2022 Updated 15 min ago Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save 🔄 Haz clic aquí para ver las entradas más recientesThe-CNN-Wire™ & © 2022 Cable News Network, Inc., a Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All rights reserved. Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save Recommended for you ON AIR Trending Now Popular Tennessee golf club house destroyed by fire, no injuries thanks to quick evacuation UPDATE: Suspect arrested, charged with arson for fire at Food City New company to bring nearly 400 new jobs to Cleveland and Bradley County Chattanooga police respond to shooting on East MLK Blvd Sunday morning Bear spotted on Council Fire golf course; another in Ooltewah A 3,000-year-old Egyptian artifact was seized by customs officials in Tennessee Officials identify remains found in Tennessee as girl reported missing in 1978 Small Nashville, Tennessee university, president part ways Must See Video Thursday Fastcast Cedric Haynes' Thursday weather House Of Dragons premier brings sales spike to Jalic Blades | https://www.local3news.com/regional-national/en-espanol/ltimas-noticias-de-la-guerra-de-rusia-en-ucrania-del-1-de-septiembre/article_184003d8-9b66-580f-82d2-14e05709d42c.html | 2022-09-01T15:57:11Z | local3news.com | control | https://www.local3news.com/regional-national/en-espanol/ltimas-noticias-de-la-guerra-de-rusia-en-ucrania-del-1-de-septiembre/article_184003d8-9b66-580f-82d2-14e05709d42c.html | 0 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | 1 |
Últimas noticias de la guerra de Rusia en Ucrania del 1 de septiembre Juan Pablo Elverdin Sep 1, 2022 Sep 1, 2022 Updated 15 min ago Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save 🔄 Haz clic aquí para ver las entradas más recientesThe-CNN-Wire™ & © 2022 Cable News Network, Inc., a Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All rights reserved. Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save Recommended for you ON AIR Trending Now Popular Tennessee golf club house destroyed by fire, no injuries thanks to quick evacuation UPDATE: Suspect arrested, charged with arson for fire at Food City New company to bring nearly 400 new jobs to Cleveland and Bradley County Chattanooga police respond to shooting on East MLK Blvd Sunday morning Bear spotted on Council Fire golf course; another in Ooltewah A 3,000-year-old Egyptian artifact was seized by customs officials in Tennessee Officials identify remains found in Tennessee as girl reported missing in 1978 Small Nashville, Tennessee university, president part ways Must See Video Thursday Fastcast Cedric Haynes' Thursday weather House Of Dragons premier brings sales spike to Jalic Blades | https://www.local3news.com/regional-national/en-espanol/ltimas-noticias-de-la-guerra-de-rusia-en-ucrania-del-1-de-septiembre/article_184003d8-9b66-580f-82d2-14e05709d42c.html | 2022-09-01T15:57:11Z | local3news.com | control | https://www.local3news.com/regional-national/en-espanol/ltimas-noticias-de-la-guerra-de-rusia-en-ucrania-del-1-de-septiembre/article_184003d8-9b66-580f-82d2-14e05709d42c.html | 1 | 0 | green-iguana-35 | 1 |
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the union government was focussed on improving connectivity in Kerala. He was addressing a gathering after inaugurating various projects -- including the laying of the foundation stone for phase II of Kochi Metro -- in the state here on Thursday.
However, Modi's speech did not specifically name the 'SilverLine' project that has been proposed by the government of Kerala despite statewide protests over land acquisition. Instead, the PM emphasised the ongoing work on national highways, doubling of railway lines, and redevelopment of three major railway stations in the state.
"The Centre is focussing greatly on improving connectivity in Kerala. Our government is spending Rs 55,000 crore on developing the NH66, which is the lifeline of Kerala, into a six-lane," said PM Modi.
Besides laying the foundation stone for Phase II of Kochi Metro, the PM also flagged off the Pettah-SN Junction line, launched the electrification project for the Kollam-Punalur Railway line at a cost of Rs 76 crore, inaugurated the redevelopment project for three railway stations -- Ernakulam Junction, Ernakulam Town and Kollam Junction -- for Rs 1,059 crore and opened the doubled 27km-stretch between Kuruppanthara and Chingavanam.
"Kerala's rail connectivity has reached a milestone today," said PM Modi. "In June 2017, I inaugurated the Kochi Metro line from Aluva to Palarivattom. Today phase-I extension has been inaugurated and the foundation stone has been laid for the second phase from JLN Stadium to Info Park.
"With the completion of doubling of railway lines at Ettumannur, Kottayam and Chingavanam, Sabarimala pilgrims around the world are happy," he said.
Modi claimed that his government was developing railway stations like airports. "Three railway stations in Kerala are being redeveloped into international standards.
"Besides, works on infrastructure development for over Rs 1 lakh crore is happening in Kerala. This modern infrastructure will create more employment in Kerala," he added.
Care and concern highlight of Kerala
PM Modi who had recently met Mata Amritanandamayi in Haryana hailed Kerala as a state where "care and concern is part of the social life". "As Kerala celebrates Onam, the state is getting projects worth Rs 4,600 crore related to connectivity." He said these projects will help to promote ease of living and ease-of-doing-business in Kerala. | https://www.onmanorama.com/news/kerala/2022/09/01/prime-minister-narendra-modi-kochi-metro-phase2-foundation-stone-laying.html | 2022-09-01T15:58:00Z | onmanorama.com | control | https://www.onmanorama.com/news/kerala/2022/09/01/prime-minister-narendra-modi-kochi-metro-phase2-foundation-stone-laying.html | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Millions of federal student loan borrowers will soon see up to $20,000 of their debt wiped away thanks to a new plan announced by President Joe Biden last week.
Not every student loan borrower is eligible for the debt relief. First, only federally owned student loans qualify. Private student loans are excluded.
Second, high-income borrowers are generally excluded from receiving debt forgiveness.
Individual borrowers who make less than $125,000 a year and married couples or heads of households who make less than $250,000 annually will see up to $10,000 of their federal student loan debt forgiven.
If a qualifying borrower also received a federal Pell grant while enrolled in college, the individual is eligible for up to $20,000 of debt forgiveness. Pell grants are awarded to millions of low-income students each year, based on factors including their family's size and income and the cost charged by their college. These borrowers are also more likely to struggle to repay their student debt and end up in default.
Here's what else borrowers need to know about the new student loan forgiveness plan:
What year is the income threshold based on?
Eligibility is based on a borrower's adjusted gross income for either tax year 2020 or 2021. Adjusted gross income can be lower than your total wages because it considers tax deductions and adjustments, like contributions made to a 401(k) retirement plan.
How will the government know what my income was?
The Department of Education says it already had income information for nearly 8 million borrowers, likely because of financial aid forms or previously submitted income-driven repayment plan applications. Those borrowers will automatically receive the debt relief if they meet the income requirement.
Other borrowers will need to apply for the student loan forgiveness if the Department of Education doesn't have their income information on file.
When will I be able to apply for forgiveness?
The application is expected to be available by early October. You can sign up to be notified when it is available through the Department of Education's subscription page.
After submitting the application, you can expect the student loan relief within four to six weeks.
Will I have to pay taxes on the amount of debt canceled?
Borrowers will not have to pay federal income tax on the student loan debt forgiven, thanks to a provision in the American Rescue Plan Act that Congress passed last year.
But it's possible that some borrowers may have to pay state income tax on the amount of debt forgiven. There are a handful of states that may tax discharged debt if state legislative or administrative changes are not made beforehand, according to the Tax Foundation. The tax liability could be hundreds of dollars, depending on the state.
I'm a current student. Am I eligible for forgiveness?
Yes, some current students are eligible. Eligibility for borrowers who filed the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, known as the FAFSA, as an independent will be based on the individual's own household income.
Eligibility for borrowers who are enrolled as dependent students, generally those under the age of 24, will be based on parental income for either 2020 or 2021.
I have student debt from graduate school. Am I eligible for forgiveness?
Yes, if your income meets the eligibility threshold.
I'm a parent and took out a Parent PLUS loan. Am I eligible?
Yes, if your income meets the eligibility threshold. A parent borrower with federal Parent PLUS loans for multiple children is still only eligible for up to $20,000 of loan forgiveness.
Could Biden's forgiveness plan be struck down in court?
It's hard to say right now what the chances are that a court overturns Biden's action.
The Biden administration says that Congress gave the secretary of education "expansive authority to alleviate the hardship that federal student loan recipients may suffer as a result of national emergencies," like the Covid-19 pandemic, according to a memo from the Department of Justice.
It's unclear who would have standing to bring a case, a procedural threshold requiring that an injury had been inflicted on a plaintiff justifying the lawsuit. It's unlikely to be a borrower who didn't qualify for forgiveness, but could potentially be a student loan servicer or collection agency, legal experts have told CNN.
How will my payments change going forward?
Borrowers who have debt remaining after either $10,000 or $20,000 is wiped away could see their monthly payment amounts recalculated if they are enrolled in a standard repayment plan. Under a standard repayment plan, borrowers pay a fixed amount that ensures loans are paid off within 10 years.
Borrowers who are already enrolled in an income-driven repayment plan are not likely to see their monthly payment amounts change due to the forgiveness, because their payments are based on household income and family size.
Borrowers have not been required to make payments on their federal student loans since March 2020 because of the government's pandemic-related pause. Biden has extended the pause through the end of this year, and payments will resume in January 2023.
What about Biden's new income-driven repayment plan?
Along with Biden's announcement about canceling some federal student loan debt, he also said he would create a new plan that would make repayment more manageable for borrowers.
There are currently several repayment plans available for federal student loan borrowers that lower monthly payments by capping them at a portion of their income.
The new income-driven repayment plan that Biden is expected to propose would cap payments at 5% of a borrower's discretionary income, down from 10% that is offered in most current plans, as well as reduce the amount of income that is considered discretionary. It would also forgive remaining balances after 10 years of repayment, instead of 20 years.
Biden is also proposing that the new plan cover the borrower's unpaid monthly interest. This could be very helpful for people whose monthly payments are so low that they don't cover their monthly interest charge and end up seeing their balances explode, growing larger than what was originally borrowed.
But we don't know when these changes will take effect. The Department of Education has not provided any sense of timing, but has said it will propose a new rule to create the repayment plan. The department's formal rule-making process usually includes soliciting public comments and can take months, if not more than a year.
Can I get a refund for what I paid during the pandemic pause?
Yes. Borrowers have not been required to make payments on their federal student loans since March 13, 2020, because of the pandemic-related pause. But if borrowers did make payments, they are allowed to contact their loan servicer to request a refund.
The-CNN-Wire
™ & © 2022 Cable News Network, Inc., a Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All rights reserved. | https://www.local3news.com/regional-national/everything-you-need-to-know-about-bidens-student-loan-forgiveness-program/article_1a1db483-4cd8-52c1-b3a9-49b49a3e8cd6.html | 2022-09-01T15:59:45Z | local3news.com | control | https://www.local3news.com/regional-national/everything-you-need-to-know-about-bidens-student-loan-forgiveness-program/article_1a1db483-4cd8-52c1-b3a9-49b49a3e8cd6.html | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Millions of federal student loan borrowers will soon see up to $20,000 of their debt wiped away thanks to a new plan announced by President Joe Biden last week.
Not every student loan borrower is eligible for the debt relief. First, only federally owned student loans qualify. Private student loans are excluded.
Second, high-income borrowers are generally excluded from receiving debt forgiveness.
Individual borrowers who make less than $125,000 a year and married couples or heads of households who make less than $250,000 annually will see up to $10,000 of their federal student loan debt forgiven.
If a qualifying borrower also received a federal Pell grant while enrolled in college, the individual is eligible for up to $20,000 of debt forgiveness. Pell grants are awarded to millions of low-income students each year, based on factors including their family's size and income and the cost charged by their college. These borrowers are also more likely to struggle to repay their student debt and end up in default.
Here's what else borrowers need to know about the new student loan forgiveness plan:
What year is the income threshold based on?
Eligibility is based on a borrower's adjusted gross income for either tax year 2020 or 2021. Adjusted gross income can be lower than your total wages because it considers tax deductions and adjustments, like contributions made to a 401(k) retirement plan.
How will the government know what my income was?
The Department of Education says it already had income information for nearly 8 million borrowers, likely because of financial aid forms or previously submitted income-driven repayment plan applications. Those borrowers will automatically receive the debt relief if they meet the income requirement.
Other borrowers will need to apply for the student loan forgiveness if the Department of Education doesn't have their income information on file.
When will I be able to apply for forgiveness?
The application is expected to be available by early October. You can sign up to be notified when it is available through the Department of Education's subscription page.
After submitting the application, you can expect the student loan relief within four to six weeks.
Will I have to pay taxes on the amount of debt canceled?
Borrowers will not have to pay federal income tax on the student loan debt forgiven, thanks to a provision in the American Rescue Plan Act that Congress passed last year.
But it's possible that some borrowers may have to pay state income tax on the amount of debt forgiven. There are a handful of states that may tax discharged debt if state legislative or administrative changes are not made beforehand, according to the Tax Foundation. The tax liability could be hundreds of dollars, depending on the state.
I'm a current student. Am I eligible for forgiveness?
Yes, some current students are eligible. Eligibility for borrowers who filed the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, known as the FAFSA, as an independent will be based on the individual's own household income.
Eligibility for borrowers who are enrolled as dependent students, generally those under the age of 24, will be based on parental income for either 2020 or 2021.
I have student debt from graduate school. Am I eligible for forgiveness?
Yes, if your income meets the eligibility threshold.
I'm a parent and took out a Parent PLUS loan. Am I eligible?
Yes, if your income meets the eligibility threshold. A parent borrower with federal Parent PLUS loans for multiple children is still only eligible for up to $20,000 of loan forgiveness.
Could Biden's forgiveness plan be struck down in court?
It's hard to say right now what the chances are that a court overturns Biden's action.
The Biden administration says that Congress gave the secretary of education "expansive authority to alleviate the hardship that federal student loan recipients may suffer as a result of national emergencies," like the Covid-19 pandemic, according to a memo from the Department of Justice.
It's unclear who would have standing to bring a case, a procedural threshold requiring that an injury had been inflicted on a plaintiff justifying the lawsuit. It's unlikely to be a borrower who didn't qualify for forgiveness, but could potentially be a student loan servicer or collection agency, legal experts have told CNN.
How will my payments change going forward?
Borrowers who have debt remaining after either $10,000 or $20,000 is wiped away could see their monthly payment amounts recalculated if they are enrolled in a standard repayment plan. Under a standard repayment plan, borrowers pay a fixed amount that ensures loans are paid off within 10 years.
Borrowers who are already enrolled in an income-driven repayment plan are not likely to see their monthly payment amounts change due to the forgiveness, because their payments are based on household income and family size.
Borrowers have not been required to make payments on their federal student loans since March 2020 because of the government's pandemic-related pause. Biden has extended the pause through the end of this year, and payments will resume in January 2023.
What about Biden's new income-driven repayment plan?
Along with Biden's announcement about canceling some federal student loan debt, he also said he would create a new plan that would make repayment more manageable for borrowers.
There are currently several repayment plans available for federal student loan borrowers that lower monthly payments by capping them at a portion of their income.
The new income-driven repayment plan that Biden is expected to propose would cap payments at 5% of a borrower's discretionary income, down from 10% that is offered in most current plans, as well as reduce the amount of income that is considered discretionary. It would also forgive remaining balances after 10 years of repayment, instead of 20 years.
Biden is also proposing that the new plan cover the borrower's unpaid monthly interest. This could be very helpful for people whose monthly payments are so low that they don't cover their monthly interest charge and end up seeing their balances explode, growing larger than what was originally borrowed.
But we don't know when these changes will take effect. The Department of Education has not provided any sense of timing, but has said it will propose a new rule to create the repayment plan. The department's formal rule-making process usually includes soliciting public comments and can take months, if not more than a year.
Can I get a refund for what I paid during the pandemic pause?
Yes. Borrowers have not been required to make payments on their federal student loans since March 13, 2020, because of the pandemic-related pause. But if borrowers did make payments, they are allowed to contact their loan servicer to request a refund.
The-CNN-Wire™ & © 2022 Cable News Network, Inc., a Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All rights reserved. | https://www.local3news.com/regional-national/everything-you-need-to-know-about-bidens-student-loan-forgiveness-program/article_9a196bd4-ee9c-5966-83ae-96c33a1a1aaf.html | 2022-09-01T15:59:51Z | local3news.com | control | https://www.local3news.com/regional-national/everything-you-need-to-know-about-bidens-student-loan-forgiveness-program/article_9a196bd4-ee9c-5966-83ae-96c33a1a1aaf.html | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Former President Donald Trump and his representatives have offered up a dizzying flurry of defenses in the wake of the FBI search of his Mar-a-Lago resort and residence in early August -- and some of their claims are false, uncorroborated or sharply disputed.
Here is a look at the facts, as we know them today, around five of the public arguments Trump and his team have made in the wake of the search.
The claim: Trump declassified everything
The Justice Department said in a court filing this week that the search of Mar-a-Lago resulted in the seizure of more than 100 unique documents with classification markings. But in posts on his social media platform, Trump has argued that he had declassified all of the documents in his possession.
"Number one, it was all declassified," he wrote in a post on August 12. "Lucky I Declassified!" he wrote in a post this Wednesday.
Trump's comments about this supposed declassification have been very vague. But conservative writer John Solomon, one of the people Trump named as a representative in his dealings with the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), was more specific in a Fox appearance on August 12. Solomon read a statement, which he said was from Trump's office, claiming that Trump "had a standing order...that documents removed from the Oval Office and taken to the residence were deemed to be declassified the moment he removed them."
Facts First: Trump and his team have not provided any proof that Trump actually conducted some sort of broad declassification of the documents that ended up at Mar-a-Lago -- and, so far, his lawyers notably have not argued in their court filings that Trump did so. Eighteen former top Trump administration officials, including two former White House chiefs of staff who spoke on the record, told CNN in August that they never heard of a standing Trump declassification order when they were serving in the administration and that they now believe the claim is false. The former officials used words like "ludicrous," "ridiculous" and "bullsh*t."
"Total nonsense," said one person who served as a senior White House official. "If that's true, where is the order with his signature on it? If that were the case, there would have been tremendous pushback from the Intel Community and DoD, which would almost certainly have become known to Intel and Armed Services Committees on the Hill."
It's important to note that the laws under which the Justice Department is now investigating possible crimes -- statutes about the willful retention of national defense information, obstruction of a federal investigation, and the concealment or removal of government records -- do not require documents to be classified for a crime to have been committed. (A grand jury subpoena in May and the search warrant in August both sought documents with "classification markings," not specifically documents that are currently classified.) Also, there would be major questions about the legal validity of any broad "standing order" to automatically declassify any document Trump carried out of a certain room.
But first things first: Trump has shown no corroboration for the claim that he did issue such an order.
The Justice Department said in the court filing this week that Trump's representatives never asserted that documents had been declassified either when they voluntarily turned over 15 boxes that included 184 unique documents with classification markings in January (after an extended back-and-forth with NARA) or when responding to the grand jury subpoena in June, when they returned another package of documents that included 38 additional unique documents with classification markings.
-- CNN's Jamie Gangel, Elizabeth Stuart and Jeremy Herb contributed to this item.
The claim: The feds could've just asked for the documents
Trump has argued that the search was unnecessary because the federal investigators could have simply asked for the documents from his team, which he claimed had been fully cooperative.
"They could have had it anytime they wanted—and that includes LONG ago. ALL THEY HAD TO DO WAS ASK," Trump posted on his social media platform on August 12.
Facts First: It is not true that federal investigators could have long ago obtained the government records in Trump's possession just by asking. By the time of the search, the federal government had been asking Trump for more than a year to return records from his presidency. Even when the Justice Department went beyond asking in May and served Trump's team with the subpoena for the return of all documents with classification markings, Trump's team returned only some of these documents -- and then, in June, Trump lawyer Christina Bobb signed a document certifying on behalf of Trump's office that all of the documents had been returned, though that was not true.
In other words: Trump claimed that the Justice Department could have just asked for the documents "LONG ago" even though his team explicitly and inaccurately told the department in June that there were no documents left to ask for. Relatedly, the department has called into question how cooperative Trump's team was.
In its court filing this week, the department asserted that investigators "developed evidence that government records were likely concealed and removed from the Storage Room" at Mar-a-Lago "and that efforts were likely taken to obstruct the government's investigation." They said of the August search: "That the FBI, in a matter of hours, recovered twice as many documents with classification markings as the 'diligent search' that the former President's counsel and other representatives had weeks to perform calls into serious question the representations made in the June 3 certification and casts doubt on the extent of cooperation in this matter."
The claim: It was the bureaucrats' fault
A member of Trump's team has tried to pin blame on the General Services Administration, a federal agency that provides transition office space and assistance services to the outgoing president.
Kash Patel, a former Trump administration official whom Trump named as another representative to NARA, said on Fox on August 12 on that "the GSA has since come out, the Government (sic) Services Administration, and said they mistakenly packed some boxes and moved them to Mar-a-Lago. That's not on the President. That's on the National Archives to sort that material out." Patel said that even if material was classified, which is "highly unlikely," the fact that the GSA boxed the material "should have been the end" of the matter.
Facts First: The GSA has repeatedly rejected Patel's claim. The agency says it had no role in deciding which documents from Trump's outgoing transition office in Virginia would be placed in boxes or which boxes would be shipped to Mar-a-Lago -- and that these decisions were made by Trump's team alone.
A GSA spokesperson said in a statement last week that it was Trump's team, not the GSA, that packed the boxes and that it was Trump's team, not the GSA, that put these boxes on pallets and shrink-wrapped them for shipping from Trump's transition office in Virginia. GSA did enter into a support contract for the actual September 2021 shipping, but "not for the packing of the boxes," the spokesperson said -- and "GSA did not examine the contents of the boxes and, accordingly, had no knowledge of the contents prior to shipping."
It is not clear how many of the government documents recovered at Mar-a-Lago were part of the September 2021 shipments from Virginia. It is theoretically possible that some documents were taken to Mar-a-Lago at other times and in other ways.
- CNN's Kristen Holmes contributed to this item.
The claim: The FBI may have planted evidence
Trump lawyer Alina Habba said on Fox on August 9: "I'm concerned that they may have planted something; you know, at this point, who knows?" The next day, Trump suggested on social media that it was shady that the FBI would not allow witnesses, such as his lawyers, to be in the rooms being searched and "see what they were doing, taking or, hopefully not, 'planting.'"
Facts First: There is zero evidence that the FBI planted anything at Mar-a-Lago. And it is routine, not suspicious, for searches to be conducted without witnesses such as lawyers being in the room; lawyers don't have a right to watch.
The claim about possible "planting" is impossible to definitively debunk at this point. Once more, though, Trump and his allies have not shown even a hint of proof that it is true.
The claim: Obama took tens of millions of documents
The week of the search, Trump turned to a familiar tactic under pressure: confuse the public by making false claims about former President Barack Obama. Trump asserted that Obama had taken tens of millions of documents to Chicago, Obama's adopted hometown and the location of his future library and museum.
In a social media post on August 11, Trump wrote, "What happened to the 30 million pages of documents taken from the White House to Chicago by Barack Hussein Obama? He refused to give them back! What is going on? This act was strongly at odds with NARA. Will they be breaking into Obama's 'mansion' in Martha's Vineyard?" In another statement on August 12, Trump claimed: "President Barack Hussein Obama kept 33 million pages of documents, much of them classified."
Facts First: Trump's claims about Obama are comprehensively untrue -- and the National Archives and Records Administration issued an official statement making that clear. The statement explained that all of Obama's presidential records remain in NARA's "exclusive legal and physical custody"; that it was NARA, not Obama, that took about 30 million records to a NARA facility in the Chicago area; that the records it took to the Chicago-area facility are unclassified; and that classified Obama records are at a different NARA facility.
NARA has more information here about the plan for Obama's presidential records.
The-CNN-Wire
™ & © 2022 Cable News Network, Inc., a Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All rights reserved. | https://www.local3news.com/regional-national/fact-check-trumps-false-and-uncorroborated-claims-in-response-to-the-fbi-search/article_c0fdd54d-f9ef-5047-a94d-3660f0dfed01.html | 2022-09-01T15:59:57Z | local3news.com | control | https://www.local3news.com/regional-national/fact-check-trumps-false-and-uncorroborated-claims-in-response-to-the-fbi-search/article_c0fdd54d-f9ef-5047-a94d-3660f0dfed01.html | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
The House Oversight Committee has reached a deal with former President Donald Trump to end litigation over Trump's financial records, according to a filing obtained by CNN.
In a press release following the filing, the committee claims this deal means that the former President's accounting firm, Mazars, will turn over Trump's financial records, but the filing does not specify the terms of the settlement.
The committee first subpoenaed Trump's financial records in April 2019, which set off a long battle over the documents.
"After numerous court victories, I am pleased that my Committee has now reached an agreement to obtain key financial documents that former President Trump fought for years to hide from Congress" House Oversight Chairwoman Carolyn Maloney said in the release.
"After facing years of delay tactics, the Committee has now reached an agreement with the former President and his accounting firm, Mazars USA, to obtain critical documents. These documents will inform the Committee's efforts to get to the bottom of former President Trump's egregious conduct and ensure that future presidents do not abuse their position of power for personal gain" Maloney added.
"Under the agreement reached by the Committee, former President Trump has agreed not to further appeal the D.C. Circuit's ruling, and Mazars USA has agreed to comply with the court's order and produce responsive documents to the Committee as expeditiously as possible," the press release from the committee said.
The court filing said the two sides reached an agreement on August 30.
This story has been updated with additional information.
The-CNN-Wire
™ & © 2022 Cable News Network, Inc., a Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All rights reserved. | https://www.local3news.com/regional-national/house-oversight-committee-reaches-deal-with-trump-over-financial-records/article_ae6383ca-4b89-59aa-b34f-5bdc5e155de1.html | 2022-09-01T16:00:34Z | local3news.com | control | https://www.local3news.com/regional-national/house-oversight-committee-reaches-deal-with-trump-over-financial-records/article_ae6383ca-4b89-59aa-b34f-5bdc5e155de1.html | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Twenty-five years after her death, Princess Diana's wardrobe continues to inspire new generations. From TikTok users painstakingly recreating her workout outfits to fashion fans sourcing cult items worn by the late royal, her style remains as influential as ever, sparking magazine photoshoots, designer runway collections and reissues of her beloved pieces.
Recent movies and TV shows such as "Spencer," "The Crown" and the HBO Max documentary "The Princess" (HBO Max is owned by CNN's parent company, Warner Bros. Discovery) have reignited interest in Diana, introducing her -- and her story -- both to millennials, some of whom may be too young to remember her, and Gen Zers, who were born after her death in 1997. With "The Crown" in particular, costume designer Amy Roberts' painstaking attention to detail went as far as consulting with David and Elizabeth Emanuel, the original designers of her iconic wedding gown.
However, as with the Netflix series' reinterpretation of that bridal look -- which saw actor Emma Corrin swamped by the gown's heavy 25-foot train, amid ominous music and eerie snippets from the British media's coverage of the wedding -- there has been a shift in the way we perceive Diana's wardrobe today. While the fascination with iconic outfits, such as her famed Christina Stambolian "revenge dress" (pictured above) or the blue velvet gown she wore to the White House in 1985, remain utterly timeless, younger generations are absorbing her looks in the pursuit of specific aesthetics.
Scroll through Pinterest, Instagram or TikTok and you'll notice a particular part of Diana's wardrobe has established newfound popularity amongst Gen Z: sporty, laidback outfits from the '80s and '90s -- the type she was often photographed in while visiting the gym or attending polo matches. The quintessential ensemble includes an oversized sweatshirt, cycle shorts, chunky sneakers, sunglasses, vintage earrings and a designer bag, an effortless juxtaposition of streetwear, athleisure and glamour in a single look.
"My strongest impression of her style was bumping into her at the Harbour Club," British designer Amanda Wakeley recalled in a 2020 British Vogue retrospective of Diana's style. "She was in her exercise kit and she'd thrown on one of my cashmere sweatshirts with the satin cuffs on it. To me that was such a perfect image of her."
In a much-referenced 2019 fashion spread for Vogue Paris, Hailey Bieber paid homage to the trend in logo emblazoned caps, university sweaters and large pearl and gold earrings. "All credit and inspo to the amazingly beautiful and iconically stylish Princess Diana who I've looked to for style inspiration for as long as I can remember," Bieber wrote on Instagram alongside a selection of images from the shoot. "Thank you for leaving behind such an iconic fashion and style legacy."
On Instagram, popular figures like Stephanie Yeboah, Melissa Soldera and Liv Phyland, among others, have also followed suit by recreating Diana's style. "We love an outfit that promotes style as well as comfort," Yeboah told CNN of Diana's workout wear, noting that changes to her fashion choices appeared to reflect her growing sense of self-esteem.
"That growth in confidence being reflected by your wardrobe is something I resonate with immensely, being a plus size person and slowly seeing a change in my (own) wardrobe after getting the confidence boosts I needed," Yeboah said in an e-mail.
And on TikTok, users like Taylor Hage have shared tutorials on how to recreate particular outfits. A recent video from Hage focuses on a much-referenced outfit worn by Diana to the Guards Polo Club in Windsor in 1988.
"We've all seen this Princess Diana look," Hage tells her audience of 1.6 million followers, before offering her interpretation thereof -- straight leg jeans, a neutral crew neck sweater, blazer ("if you don't have one, thrift one, borrow one from your Dad, borrow one from your brother, boyfriend, whatever," she says, "it's essential") and Western boots.
Others have gone further still, with TikTok user @simplesmurf setting up a self-proclaimed "Princess Diana Stan acc" -- in other words, a fan account dedicated to her. Alongside a plethora of vintage-inspired videos, the user reveals a tranche of sweaters and other separates worn or inspired by Diana, while sharing periodic updates about recent finds from thrift stores and vintage clothing sellers as they build out their collection further.
Amid this growing nostalgia for '80s fashion and pop culture, thanks in part to shows like "Stranger Things" and throwback designs from luxury brands like Chanel, it comes as little surprise that Diana's wardrobe has attracted new interest. For fans of the era such as TikTok's @simplesmurf, who refers to Princess Diana as "the blueprint," the princess' outfits are a form of fashion history. "What an icon," the user writes in a recent post.
Elements of Princess Diana's wardrobe have also been absorbed into what TikTokers refer to as the "Old Money" aesthetic -- a tongue-in-cheek, aspirational style blending vintage and preppy pieces that seeks to emulate the wardrobes of those born into wealth and privilege. Princess Diana was perhaps the ultimate "Sloane Ranger" (a British term referring to London's Sloane Square neighborhood and the stereotypically upper-middle-class women who typically live there), making her a natural fit for "Old Money" Pinterest boards and style inspiration videos.
A powerful inspiration
Pieces that exemplified how Diana challenged the British royal family's traditional mold -- in particular, during the years after her divorce from Princes Charles -- are also resonating with fashionable young people looking to assert their individuality.
Speaking to CNN last year, fashion researcher Eloise Moran explained the power of Diana's "revenge dress," which she wore the same day Prince Charles admitted to adultery. "I think that was the line drawn where she was in control, and she was showing that to everybody," Moran said. "You can truly make people afraid of you -- or intimidated by you, or respect you, or whatever it is -- through clothing."
Another outfit that has made renewed waves in recent years is a firetruck red knit sweater, featuring a pattern of white and black sheep, that Diana wore to a polo match In 1980. Widely interpreted as a subtle message that she felt like an outsider -- or the "black sheep" -- the sweater was given new life when clothing brand Rowing Blazers approached its original designers, the heritage label Warm & Wonderful, to relaunch the piece in 2020.
At the time, Rowing Blazers' creative director Jack L. Carson told CNN that sales translated to "three months of sweaters in an hour and a half" after the item went viral online. (The original sweater sits in the permanent collection at the Victoria & Albert Museum in London.) The pattern has since also appeared on tea towels, suitcases and vests.
The enduring fascination with Diana's wardrobe has also been seen on the runway. The late fashion designer Virgil Abloh, for example, cited the late Princess as his muse for Off-White's Spring-Summer 2018 collection. Staged in 2017, to mark the 20th anniversary of her death, the show featured Abloh's takes on some of her most striking "off-duty" looks, including references to specific outfits including a denim jumpsuit and white cowboy boots, '80s-style polo shirts, her staple cycle shorts and oversized blazers.
"She was a strong individual that despite her position had her own personal taste," Abloh told British Vogue in a 2017 interview, "and it came out through the clothes." (That same year, fashion search platform Lyst wrote in its annual trends report that Diana's "style choices influenced us all over again," reporting spikes in searches for her wardrobe staples.)
"Her personal taste was very out of the way from what she was supposed to wear. It's an inspiration," he said. | https://www.local3news.com/regional-national/how-princess-dianas-style-legacy-continues-25-years-after-her-death/article_86ec97fc-295d-11ed-947b-731b2a4bf16e.html | 2022-09-01T16:00:46Z | local3news.com | control | https://www.local3news.com/regional-national/how-princess-dianas-style-legacy-continues-25-years-after-her-death/article_86ec97fc-295d-11ed-947b-731b2a4bf16e.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.local3news.com/regional-national/jackson-mississippi-mayor-says-he-hopes-water-service-can-be-restored-this-week-as-residents/article_d8dbfa3d-8a3d-5592-9d53-21c09dc874f4.html | 2022-09-01T16:00:52Z | local3news.com | control | https://www.local3news.com/regional-national/jackson-mississippi-mayor-says-he-hopes-water-service-can-be-restored-this-week-as-residents/article_d8dbfa3d-8a3d-5592-9d53-21c09dc874f4.html | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
As Mississippi's capital city entered a fourth day Thursday with little or no water flowing from faucets, authorities are scrambling to get a failing water treatment plant plagued by decades of deferred maintenance back online.
The problem -- which comes on top of a boil-water notice in effect more than a month -- has upended life in the city of roughly 150,000 residents, where schools were shuttered this week, businesses are forced to adapt and people have had to wait in long lines for bottled water they can use to drink, cook or brush their teeth.
Jackson Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba is optimistic the water can be restored to residents this week, he told CNN Wednesday. "But there is a huge mountain to climb in order to achieve that," he added.
The problem came to a head Monday, when river flooding nudged an already-damaged main treatment plant to failure, meaning Jackson's faucets deliver barely -- if any -- water. In some cases, the water has been brown.
City residents already had been told to boil their water since late July because of quality concerns, and the water system has been troubled for years.
A rental pump installed Wednesday at the treatment plant will help add 4 million more gallons of water a day into the system, authorities believe. The state also contracted with outside operators to begin work on critical emergency repairs.
"We're flushing bad water out of the system and making mechanical improvements to prevent an even more catastrophic failure," Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves said during a Wednesday news conference.
But even as fixes are made, service has fluctuated, and the governor warned, "There will be future interruptions ... they are not avoidable at this point."
"Our immediate priority is to have running water, even temporarily sacrificing some quality standards where we absolutely have to, to fulfill basic sanitary and safety needs," Reeves said, urging residents not to drink the water without boiling it.
"We are hopeful that we will be able to increase the quantity of the water which will ultimately get the tanks more full and ultimately lead to a scenario in which we can do the proper testing and actually produce clean water," the governor said. "But we're not there yet."
Daily life upended in Jackson
While authorities rush to make repairs, get needed parts and deal with staffing shortages at Jackson's water plants, the crisis is upending daily life.
Residents are seeing cloudy, discolored water coming out of their faucets and being told it should be adequate for sanitation purposes. They can't use the water to drink, cook or wash dishes, but they can shower and wash their hands in it, officials said.
"Please make sure in the shower that your mouth is not open," Jim Craig, senior deputy and director of health protection at the Mississippi Department of Health, told residents Wednesday, adding pets should also not consume the water.
According to the mayor, it's unknown when residents will no longer have to boil water, and that can't be assessed until the water pressure returns to normal.
In the meantime, all Jackson public schools shifted to virtual learning Tuesday. Jackson State University also shifted to online classes this week and set up portable showers and toilets across campus.
"It's like we're living in a nightmare right now," sophomore Erin Washington told CNN. Another student described seeing brown, smelly water coming out of faucets on campus.
Businesses -- many still trying to recover from Covid-19-related setbacks -- are also struggling. Most affected 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.
A father of five, Kehinde Gaynor, said the water shortage has been frustrating for his family.
"It's devastating as a father because we are the providers for the family. Right now, we are just crippled because we have no control over what's happening on the outside of the home," Gaynor said.
Residents have had to endure long lines to get bottled water and non-drinking water at distribution sites operated by the city. Some sites this week ran out of water and turned people away.
"Supersites" will be running Thursday, making more water available to residents with help of the National Guard, the governor said.
President Joe Biden approved an emergency declaration for Jackson, and Reeves said it will allow Mississippi to tap into critical resources to respond to the crisis.
FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell will head Friday to Jackson, CNN has learned.
Longer term fixes are needed
Though Jackson has seen numerous water problems over the years, acute problems have cascaded since late July, when cloudy water was noticed at the city's O.B. Curtis Water Treatment Plant. The state imposed a boil-water notice for Jackson, because the cloudiness carries higher chances that the water could contain disease-causing organisms.
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.
Last week, the governor was warned that Jackson would soon fail to produce running water, Reeves said.
Then, flooding: Heavy rains last week pushed the Pearl River to overflow and flood some Jackson streets, cresting Monday.
Intake water from a reservoir was impacted by the heavy rainfall, creating a chemical imbalance on the conventional treatment side of the plant, Craig said Wednesday. This affected particulate removal, causing that side of the plant to be temporarily shut down and resulting in a loss of water distribution pressure.
Even with installation Wednesday of the temporary pump, substantial mechanical and electrical issues remain due to deferred maintenance, including various pumps and motors that must be replaced and sludge in basins that has accumulated to levels that are "not acceptable," Craig said.
Staffing issues have further complicated matters, officials said.
Jackson's water system also got walloped in February 2021, when a severe winter storm hit, freezing and bursting pipes and leaving many residents without water for a month.
That came after the city's water system in early 2020 failed an Environmental Protection Agency inspection, which found the drinking water had the potential to be host to harmful bacteria or parasites.
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.
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.
Asked Wednesday about claims that the deterioration of the water infrastructure in Jackson is a result of environmental racism, Reeves said the state does not run the water systems.
"In the state of Mississippi, we have a large number of municipalities that run their own water system. We have a large number of rural water associations that run their own water system. Prior to Monday of this week, the state of Mississippi runs exactly zero water systems," he said.
The-CNN-Wire
™ & © 2022 Cable News Network, Inc., a Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All rights reserved. | https://www.local3news.com/regional-national/jackson-mississippi-residents-told-to-shower-with-mouths-closed-as-water-treatment-plant-repairs-continue/article_98947ef5-7d7d-5cb8-ae9f-7592084c1482.html | 2022-09-01T16:00:58Z | local3news.com | control | https://www.local3news.com/regional-national/jackson-mississippi-residents-told-to-shower-with-mouths-closed-as-water-treatment-plant-repairs-continue/article_98947ef5-7d7d-5cb8-ae9f-7592084c1482.html | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
As a water crisis persists in Jackson, Mississippi, where brown water or nothing at all is coming out of residents' faucets, authorities are scrambling to get a failing water treatment plant plagued with issues from decades of deferred maintenance back online.
The issue has upended life in the city of roughly 150,000 residents, where schools are shuttered, businesses are forced to adapt and people have had to wait in long lines for bottled water they can use to cook or brush their teeth.
Jackson Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba told CNN Wednesday he is optimistic the water can be restored to residents this week. "But there is a huge mountain to climb in order to achieve that," he added.
Recent torrential rains and river flooding pushed the city's already deteriorating main treatment plant -- the O.B. Curtis Water Treatment Plant -- to fail, leaving it unable to consistently pump out clean water.
On Wednesday, a rental pump was installed at the facility that authorities believe will help add an additional 4 million gallons of water a day into the system. The state also contracted with outside operators to begin work on critical emergency repairs.
"We're flushing bad water out of the system and making mechanical improvements to prevent an even more catastrophic failure," Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves said during a Wednesday news conference.
But even as fixes are made, there have been interruptions in the system that are causing low water pressure or no water at all for Jackson residents, and the governor warned, "there will be future interruptions ... they are not avoidable at this point."
As operators race to address water pressure issues, there remains a water quality problem. The city has been under a boil-water notice since late July.
"Our immediate priority is to have running water, even temporarily sacrificing some quality standards where we absolutely have to, to fulfill basic sanitary and safety needs," Reeves said, urging residents not to drink the water without boiling it.
"We are hopeful that we will be able to increase the quantity of the water which will ultimately get the tanks more full and ultimately lead to a scenario in which we can do the proper testing and actually produce clean water," the governor said. "But we're not there yet."
Daily life upended in Jackson
While authorities rush to make repairs, bring in needed parts and deal with staffing shortages at Jackson's water plants, the crisis is upending daily life for residents.
They are seeing cloudy, discolored water coming out of their faucets, and are being told it should be adequate for sanitation purposes. They can't use the water to drink, cook or wash dishes, but officials said they can shower and wash their hands in it.
"Please make sure in the shower that your mouth is not open," Jim Craig, senior deputy and director of health protection at the Mississippi Department of Health told residents Wednesday, adding pets should also not consume the water.
According to the mayor, it's unknown when residents will no longer have to boil water and that can't be assessed until the water pressure returns to normal.
In the meantime, all Jackson public schools shifted to virtual learning Tuesday. Jackson State University also shifted to online classes this week and set up portable showers and toilets across campus.
"It's like we're living in a nightmare right now," sophomore Erin Washington told CNN. Another student described seeing brown, smelly water coming out of faucets on campus.
Local businesses, still trying to recover from Covid-19 related setbacks, are also struggling to stay afloat. 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.
Father of five Kehinde Gaynor said the current water shortage has been frustrating for his family.
"It's devastating as a father because we are the providers for the family. Right now, we are just crippled because we have no control over what's happening on the outside of the home," Gaynor said.
Residents have had to endure long lines to get bottled water and non-drinking water at distribution sites operated by the city. The operation saw difficulties this week, with some sites running out of water and people being turned away.
The governor said "supersites" will be up and running Thursday, making more water available to residents with help of the National Guard.
President Joe Biden approved an emergency declaration for Jackson, and Reeves said it will allow Mississippi to tap into critical resources to respond to the crisis.
Longer term fixes are needed
Authorities knew it was only a matter of time before the aging water treatment plant failed. The main pumps at O.B. Curtis were severely damaged earlier this summer and replaced with smaller backup pumps, Reeves said this week without elaborating on the damage.
While improvements were made to the system with the installation of the temporary pump Wednesday, there are substantial mechanical and electrical issues that remain due to deferred maintenance, including various pumps and motors that must be replaced and sludge in basins that has accumulated to levels that are "not acceptable," Craig said.
Additionally, the system has faced staffing issues that are further complicating matters, officials said.
There's also the issue of flooding. Intake water from the reservoir was impacted by recent heavy rainfall, creating a chemical imbalance on the conventional treatment side of the plant, Craig said Wednesday. This affected particulate removal, causing that side of the plant to be temporarily shut down and resulting in a loss of water distribution pressure.
The recent complications only added to longstanding issues in Jackson's water system.
In February 2021, a severe winter storm hit, freezing and bursting pipes and leaving many residents without water for a month.
That came after the Jackson water system in early 2020 failed an Environmental Protection Agency inspection, which found the drinking water had the potential to be host to harmful bacteria or parasites.
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.
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.
Asked Wednesday about claims that the deterioration of the water infrastructure in Jackson is a result of environmental racism, Reeves said the state does not run the water systems.
"In the state of Mississippi, we have a large number of municipalities that run their own water system. We have a large number of rural water associations that run their own water system. Prior to Monday of this week, the state of Mississippi runs exactly zero water systems," he said.
The-CNN-Wire
™ & © 2022 Cable News Network, Inc., a Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All rights reserved. | https://www.local3news.com/regional-national/jackson-residents-are-told-to-shower-with-their-mouths-closed-as-water-quality-issues-continue/article_50835bdb-396e-5d47-b9b7-de55086aee8d.html | 2022-09-01T16:01:04Z | local3news.com | control | https://www.local3news.com/regional-national/jackson-residents-are-told-to-shower-with-their-mouths-closed-as-water-quality-issues-continue/article_50835bdb-396e-5d47-b9b7-de55086aee8d.html | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
As a water crisis persists in Jackson, Mississippi, where brown water or nothing at all is coming out of residents' faucets, authorities are scrambling to get a failing water treatment plant plagued with issues from decades of deferred maintenance back online.
The issue has upended life in the city of roughly 150,000 residents, where schools are shuttered, businesses are forced to adapt and people have had to wait in long lines for bottled water they can use to cook or brush their teeth.
Jackson Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba told CNN Wednesday he is optimistic the water can be restored to residents this week. "But there is a huge mountain to climb in order to achieve that," he added.
Recent torrential rains and river flooding pushed the city's already deteriorating main treatment plant -- the O.B. Curtis Water Treatment Plant -- to fail, leaving it unable to consistently pump out clean water.
On Wednesday, a rental pump was installed at the facility that authorities believe will help add an additional 4 million gallons of water a day into the system. The state also contracted with outside operators to begin work on critical emergency repairs.
"We're flushing bad water out of the system and making mechanical improvements to prevent an even more catastrophic failure," Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves said during a Wednesday news conference.
But even as fixes are made, there have been interruptions in the system that are causing low water pressure or no water at all for Jackson residents, and the governor warned, "there will be future interruptions ... they are not avoidable at this point."
As operators race to address water pressure issues, there remains a water quality problem. The city has been under a boil-water notice since late July.
"Our immediate priority is to have running water, even temporarily sacrificing some quality standards where we absolutely have to, to fulfill basic sanitary and safety needs," Reeves said, urging residents not to drink the water without boiling it.
"We are hopeful that we will be able to increase the quantity of the water which will ultimately get the tanks more full and ultimately lead to a scenario in which we can do the proper testing and actually produce clean water," the governor said. "But we're not there yet."
Daily life upended in Jackson
While authorities rush to make repairs, bring in needed parts and deal with staffing shortages at Jackson's water plants, the crisis is upending daily life for residents.
They are seeing cloudy, discolored water coming out of their faucets, and are being told it should be adequate for sanitation purposes. They can't use the water to drink, cook or wash dishes, but officials said they can shower and wash their hands in it.
"Please make sure in the shower that your mouth is not open," Jim Craig, senior deputy and director of health protection at the Mississippi Department of Health told residents Wednesday, adding pets should also not consume the water.
According to the mayor, it's unknown when residents will no longer have to boil water and that can't be assessed until the water pressure returns to normal.
In the meantime, all Jackson public schools shifted to virtual learning Tuesday. Jackson State University also shifted to online classes this week and set up portable showers and toilets across campus.
"It's like we're living in a nightmare right now," sophomore Erin Washington told CNN. Another student described seeing brown, smelly water coming out of faucets on campus.
Local businesses, still trying to recover from Covid-19 related setbacks, are also struggling to stay afloat. 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.
Father of five Kehinde Gaynor said the current water shortage has been frustrating for his family.
"It's devastating as a father because we are the providers for the family. Right now, we are just crippled because we have no control over what's happening on the outside of the home," Gaynor said.
Residents have had to endure long lines to get bottled water and non-drinking water at distribution sites operated by the city. The operation saw difficulties this week, with some sites running out of water and people being turned away.
The governor said "supersites" will be up and running Thursday, making more water available to residents with help of the National Guard.
President Joe Biden approved an emergency declaration for Jackson, and Reeves said it will allow Mississippi to tap into critical resources to respond to the crisis.
Longer term fixes are needed
Authorities knew it was only a matter of time before the aging water treatment plant failed. The main pumps at O.B. Curtis were severely damaged earlier this summer and replaced with smaller backup pumps, Reeves said this week without elaborating on the damage.
While improvements were made to the system with the installation of the temporary pump Wednesday, there are substantial mechanical and electrical issues that remain due to deferred maintenance, including various pumps and motors that must be replaced and sludge in basins that has accumulated to levels that are "not acceptable," Craig said.
Additionally, the system has faced staffing issues that are further complicating matters, officials said.
There's also the issue of flooding. Intake water from the reservoir was impacted by recent heavy rainfall, creating a chemical imbalance on the conventional treatment side of the plant, Craig said Wednesday. This affected particulate removal, causing that side of the plant to be temporarily shut down and resulting in a loss of water distribution pressure.
The recent complications only added to longstanding issues in Jackson's water system.
In February 2021, a severe winter storm hit, freezing and bursting pipes and leaving many residents without water for a month.
That came after the Jackson water system in early 2020 failed an Environmental Protection Agency inspection, which found the drinking water had the potential to be host to harmful bacteria or parasites.
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.
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.
Asked Wednesday about claims that the deterioration of the water infrastructure in Jackson is a result of environmental racism, Reeves said the state does not run the water systems.
"In the state of Mississippi, we have a large number of municipalities that run their own water system. We have a large number of rural water associations that run their own water system. Prior to Monday of this week, the state of Mississippi runs exactly zero water systems," he said.
The-CNN-Wire™ & © 2022 Cable News Network, Inc., a Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All rights reserved. | https://www.local3news.com/regional-national/jackson-residents-told-to-shower-with-mouths-closed-water-quality-issues-continue-to-plague-mississippis/article_bd190c38-29f9-11ed-8479-1fdbf75e37ce.html | 2022-09-01T16:01:10Z | local3news.com | control | https://www.local3news.com/regional-national/jackson-residents-told-to-shower-with-mouths-closed-water-quality-issues-continue-to-plague-mississippis/article_bd190c38-29f9-11ed-8479-1fdbf75e37ce.html | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Former President Donald Trump's request for a "special master" to oversee the review of evidence gathered in the FBI's search of his Mar-a-Lago estate has thrust one of his own judicial appointees into the middle of his latest legal and political drama.
District Court Judge Aileen Cannon in the Southern District of Florida, who was nominated by Trump to the bench in 2020, is handling the former President's request for the special master, a third-party attorney who would filter out privileged material seized in the search.
Cannon has put both Trump's team and the Justice Department on notice that she had a "preliminary intent" to appoint a special master, though she cautioned that it should not be construed as her final decision on the matter. A hearing is set for Thursday at 1 p.m. ET.
She was nominated to her post by Trump in May 2020 and the Senate confirmed her by a vote of 56-21 just days after the presidential election.
Prior to taking office, Cannon served as an assistant US attorney in Florida, where she worked in the Major Crimes Division and as an appellate attorney, according to written answers she gave to the Senate during her confirmation process.
Following graduation from University of Michigan Law School, Cannon clerked for a federal judge and later practiced law at a firm in Washington, DC, where she handled a range of cases, including some related to "government investigations," according to her statements given to the Senate in 2020.
Before fielding questions at a confirmation hearing with the Senate Judiciary Committee, Cannon, whose mother fled communist Cuba, thanked members of her family and shared the impact of their experience on her on life.
"To my loving mother ... who, at the age of 7, had to flee the repressive Castro regime in search of freedom and security, thank you for teaching me about the blessing that is this country and the importance of securing the rule of law for generations to come," she said.
Already, Cannon is facing some criticism for how she's handled the Trump case. Last week, she identified several shortcomings in Trump's initial request for more oversight for the FBI's review of the evidence seized and asked him to elaborate on the ask. Though his new response filed on Friday appeared to fall short of the elaboration she was seeking, observers have argued that she was being overly generous when she essentially gave his team a second chance to ask for the special master.
Cannon has three distinct choices in the case, Harvard constitutional scholar Laurence Tribe told CNN in a statement. "She could either redeem herself by starting to act like a real federal judge unaffected by the identity of the president who appointed her, or earn the condemnation of national security experts and legal mavens by botching the biggest case most judges ever touch in a lifetime and endangering the lives of our spies abroad," he said.
The judge could also "leave matters in the state of confusion created by her strange interim order," Tribe said, referring to her Saturday order in which she said she was poised to grant Trump's request.
The-CNN-Wire
™ & © 2022 Cable News Network, Inc., a Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All rights reserved. | https://www.local3news.com/regional-national/judge-aileen-cannon-trumps-request-for-special-master-puts-one-of-his-judicial-appointees-in/article_43b313a4-5d76-5d7f-811b-6337e75db373.html | 2022-09-01T16:01:17Z | local3news.com | control | https://www.local3news.com/regional-national/judge-aileen-cannon-trumps-request-for-special-master-puts-one-of-his-judicial-appointees-in/article_43b313a4-5d76-5d7f-811b-6337e75db373.html | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
NEW YORK (AP) — For the first time in three years, the fall movie industrial complex is lurching back into high gear. Festival red carpets are rolled out. Oscar campaigns are primed. Long-awaited blockbusters, like “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” and “Avatar: The Way of Water,” are poised for big box office.
But after the tumult of the pandemic, can the fall movie season just go back to way it was? Many are hoping it can. After two springtime editions, the Academy Awards have returned to a more traditional early March date. The Golden Globes, after near-cancellation, are plotting a comeback. Some movies, too, are trying to recapture a before-times spirit. At the Toronto Film Festival in September, Rian Johnson’s “Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery,” has booked the same theater “Knives Out” premiered to a packed house almost exactly three years ago.
“Seems like yesterday,” Johnson says, laughing. “OK, a few things have happened.”
After an all-but-wiped-out 2020 autumn and a 2021 season hobbled by the delta and omicron COVID-19 variants, this fall could, maybe, just maybe be something more like the normal annual cultural revival that happens every fall, when most of the year’s best movies arrive.
“We’re all, I think, just trying to will it into existence as at least some version of what we knew before,” says Johnson. “As with everything, you kind of just have to dive into the pool and see what the water’s like. I’m really hoping that at least the illusion of normalcy holds. I guess that’s all normalcy is.”
But “Glass Onion,” with Daniel Craig's Benoit Blanc in a new mystery, is also a reminder of how much has changed. After “Knives Out” was a box-office hit for Lionsgate, grossing $311 million worldwide for Lionsgate, Netflix shelled out $450 million to snap up the rights to two sequels. And while exhibitors and the streaming company discussed a larger theatrical release for “Glass Onion” -- a surefire hit if it did -- a more modest rollout in theaters is expected before the films lands Dec. 23 on Netflix.
The balance between theatrical and streaming remains unsettled. But after a summer box-office revival and an evolving outlook for streaming by Wall Street, theatrical moviegoing — with its billions in annual ticket sales and cultural footprint -- is looking pretty good. For the first time in years, moviegoing has a strong wind at its back. Or at least it did until an especially slow August sapped momentum due largely to a dearth of new wide releases.
“If you look at how many movies we had compared to what business we did, we were operating at 2019 levels,” says John Fithian, president of the National Association of Theater Owners. “We had 70% of the supply of wide-release movies in the first seven months and we did 71% of the business we did in the same period in 2019. Moviegoers are back in pre-pandemic numbers, it’s just we still need more movies."
That will be less of an issue as the fall season ramps up. “Wakanda Forever” (Nov. 11) and “The Way of the Water” (Dec. 16) may each vie with the summer smash “Top Gun: Maverick” ($1.36 billion worldwide and still counting) for the year’s top film. Less clear, though, is if the fall's robust slate of adult-driven films and Oscar contenders can once again drive moviegoing. Last year's best-picture winner, “CODA,” from Apple TV+, ran the awards gauntlet without a cent of box office.
Among the most anticipated films hitting the fall festival circuit and theaters are Steven Spielberg's semi-autobiographical “The Fabelmans” (Nov. 23); “Blonde” (Sept. 16), starring Ana de Armas as Marilyn Monroe; Todd Fields’ “TÁR” (Oct. 7), with Cate Blanchett; Sam Mendes' “Empire of Light” (Dec. 9); “The Son" (Nov. 11), Florian Zeller's follow-up to “The Father”; Chinonye Chukwu's Emmett Till saga “Till” (Oct. 14); Martin McDonagh's “The Banshees of Inisherin” (Oct. 21); James Gray's “Armageddon Time” (Oct. 28); and the Cannes Palme d'Or winner “The Triangle of Sadness” (Oct. 7).
Superhero films ("Black Adam," Oct. 21, starring Dwayne Johnson), kids movies ("Lyle Lyle Crocodile," Oct. 7), horror flicks ("Halloween Ends," Oct. 14) rom-coms ("Ticket to Paradise," Oct. 21, with Julia Roberts and George Clooney) and more high-flying adventures ("Devotion," Nov. 23) will also mix in, as will prominent titles from streamers. Those include Amazon's “My Policeman" (Oct. 21), with Harry Styles; and Netflix releases “Bardo” (in theaters Nov. 4), by Alejandro González Iñárritu; “White Noise” (in theaters Nov. 25) by Noah Baumbach; and Guillermo del Toro's “Pinocchio" (streaming Dec. 9).
But if much of the fall movie season is about restoring what was lost the last few years, for some upcoming movies, change is the point. “Woman King” (Sept. 16), directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood and starring Viola Davis, is muscular fact-based epic about a West African army of female warriors. To Prince-Bythewood, the filmmaker of “Love & Basketball” and “The Old Guard,” “Woman King” represents “the chance to reframe what it means to be female and feminine.”
“I don’t think we have ever seen a movie like this before. So much of our history has been hidden or ignored or erased,” says Bythewood. “‘Braveheart,’ ‘Gladiator,’ ‘Last of the Mohicans.’ I love those movies. Now, here was our chance to tell our story in this genre.”
“Bros” (Sept. 30), too, is something different. The film, starring and co-written by “Billy on the Street” comedian Billy Eichner, is the first gay rom-com by a major studio (Universal). All of its principal cast members are LGBTQ. Comedies have struggled in theaters in recent years but “Bros,” produced by Judd Apatow, hopes a new perspective will enliven a familiar genre.
“It’s a historic movie in many ways,” says Eichner. “That’s not something we thought about when we were first developing it. Nobody sits down and says, ‘Let’s write a historic movie.’ We said, ‘Let’s make a hilarious movie.’ It will make people laugh but it’s unlike anything the vast majority of people have seen."
“Bros” and “Woman King” are productions meant to challenge the status quo of Hollywood. That's also part of the nature of “She Said” (Nov. 18), a dramatization of New York Times journalists Jodi Kantor and Megan Twohey's investigation into movie mogul Harvey Weinstein. Sarah Polley’s “Women Talking” (Dec. 2) likewise chronicles a real-life female uprising. It’s based on events from 2009, when Bolivian Mennonite women gathered together after having been drugged and raped by the men in their colony.
Olivia Wilde’s buzzed-about “Don’t Worry Darling,” starring Florence Pugh and Harry Styles as a married couple living in a 1950s-style suburban nightmare-slash-male fantasy, approaches some similar themes through a science-fiction lens.
“I want to make something that is just really entertaining and fun and interesting, but actually is my way of provoking conversations about real issues like body autonomy," says Wilde. "I didn’t know it would be as timely as it is right now. Never in my wildest nightmares did I believe Roe would have been overturned right before the release of this film.”
Other movie production timelines seem to exist almost apart from our earthly reality. James Cameron’s “Avatar: The Way of the Water” will debut 13 years after 2009’s “Avatar” (still the highest grossing film ever), a follow-up originally scheduled for release in 2014. Since then, so many dates have come and gone that the sequels -- four films are now slated to launch in the next five years -- have sometimes seemed like blockbuster Godots that might forever wait in the wings.
Speaking from the New Zealand where “The Way of the Water” was being mixed and scored, producer Jon Landau promised the wait is, in fact, nearly over.
“This is finally happening,” said Landau. “Those delays, as you would call them, were really about us creating a foundation for a saga of movies. It wasn’t about going: ‘Let’s get one script right.’ It was about: ‘Let’s get four scripts right.’”
Measuring the change in the movie industry is even harder when it comes to the span in between “Avatar" installments. When the first “Avatar” was in theaters, 3-D was being billed (again) as the future. Barack Obama was in the first year of his first term. Netflix was renting DVDs by mail.
“A lot has changed but a lot hasn’t," says Landau. “One of the things that has not changed is: Why do people turn to entertainment today? Just like they did when the first ‘Avatar’ was released, they do it to escape, to escape the world in which we live."
___ | https://www.lockportjournal.com/news/fall-preview-is-it-maybe-back-to-normal-at-the-movies/article_2ff38024-29f7-11ed-ae40-af54f94e1639.html | 2022-09-01T16:01:39Z | lockportjournal.com | control | https://www.lockportjournal.com/news/fall-preview-is-it-maybe-back-to-normal-at-the-movies/article_2ff38024-29f7-11ed-ae40-af54f94e1639.html | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
WASHINGTON (AP) — Amid months of mass flight cancellations and delays, the Department of Transportation has launched a customer service dashboard to help vacationers ahead of the travel-heavy Labor Day weekend.
Starting Thursday, travelers will be able to check the dashboard and see what kinds of guarantees, refunds or compensation the major domestic airlines offer in case of flight delays or cancellations. It's designed to allow travelers to shop around and favor those airlines that offer the best compensation.
The dashboard is part of an extended pressure campaign from Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, who has publicly challenged the major carriers to improve service and transparency after a summer marred by cancellations and flight delays. As summer travel returned to nearly pre-coronavirus pandemic levels, airlines struggled to keep pace, with mass cancellations being blamed on staffing shortages, particularly among pilots.
“Passengers deserve transparency and clarity on what to expect from an airline when there is a cancelation or disruption,” Buttigieg said in a statement Wednesday. The new tool, he said, will help travelers to “easily understand their rights, compare airline practices, and make informed decisions."
The dashboard compares all the major domestic airlines' policies on issues such as which offer meals for delays of more than three hours and which offer to rebook flights on the same or different airlines at no additional charge. It focuses on what it calls “controllable” cancellations or delays — meaning those caused by mechanical issues, staffing shortages or delays in cleaning, fueling or baggage handling. Delays or cancellations caused by weather or security concerns do not count.
The Department of Transportation is hoping that the dashboard will encourage competition among airlines to offer the most transparency and the best protections for customers.
So far this year, airlines have canceled about 146,000 flights, or 2.6% of all flights, and nearly 1.3 million flights have been delayed, according to tracking service FlightAware. The rate of cancellations is up about one-third from the same period in 2019, before the pandemic, and the rate of delays is up nearly one-fourth.
Federal officials have blamed many of the disruptions on understaffing at airlines, which encouraged employees to quit after the pandemic started. The airlines have countered by blaming staffing problems at the Federal Aviation Administration, which employs air traffic controllers. | https://www.lockportjournal.com/news/new-online-dashboard-helps-flyers-with-delays-cancellations/article_e6f20e50-29f5-11ed-918b-93da0471bff6.html | 2022-09-01T16:01:45Z | lockportjournal.com | control | https://www.lockportjournal.com/news/new-online-dashboard-helps-flyers-with-delays-cancellations/article_e6f20e50-29f5-11ed-918b-93da0471bff6.html | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Subsets and Splits
No community queries yet
The top public SQL queries from the community will appear here once available.