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Portions of Southern California rumbled momentarily Saturday morning as a 3.6 earthquake struck near Mira Loma, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.
The quake was reported just before 10:05 a.m. with the epicenter near the 60 and 15 Freeways, according to the agency. It had a depth of just over 11 kilometers.
The temblor was felt in portions of Orange, Los Angeles, Riverside and San Bernardino counties.
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We invite you to use our commenting platform to engage in insightful conversations about issues in our community. We reserve the right at all times to remove any information or materials that are unlawful, threatening, abusive, libelous, defamatory, obscene, vulgar, pornographic, profane, indecent or otherwise objectionable to us, and to disclose any information necessary to satisfy the law, regulation, or government request. We might permanently block any user who abuses these conditions. | https://www.pasadenastarnews.com/2022/09/03/3-6-earthquake-near-mira-loma-rattles-parts-of-southern-california/ | 2022-09-03T17:48:23Z | pasadenastarnews.com | control | https://www.pasadenastarnews.com/2022/09/03/3-6-earthquake-near-mira-loma-rattles-parts-of-southern-california/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
After years of singer-songwriter The Weeknd producing stunningly detailed videos and visuals to accompany his already heavily textured music, there was no doubt that his first stadium tour would be a grand spectacle.
The 32-year-old Canadian singer-songwriter, whose birth name is Abel Tesfaye, is out touring in support of two albums: 2020’s successful “After Hours” and his latest, “Dawn FM,” which dropped in January of this year. He masterfully mashed up the mood of both records as his After Hours Til Dawn Tour hit SoFi Stadium on Friday night, Sept. 2 for the first of two sold out shows at the Inglewood venue.
Following DJs Mike Dean and Kaytranada warming up the crowd, The Weeknd presented a nearly two-hour set that included 29 songs and a whole lot of cool effects and emotion. He kicked things off sporting a creepy, flesh-colored mask that covered the top half of his face and launched into “Alone Again,” which gave way to the fiery “Gasoline.”
He stood up on the massive stage, surrounded by what looked like the ruins of a once-thriving city, as about a dozen or so people, shrouded in red fabric from head to toe and wearing black gloves, marched in tune down a lengthy catwalk that split the floor of the stadium. It was a bit ominous, but seemed totally on brand with both the music and the fact that he’ll be debuting his very own dark attraction, The Weeknd: After Hours Nightmare, at Universal Studios Hollywood’s Halloween Horror Nights event next week.
When he slowly peeled the mask off to reveal an excited expression on his face, the audience went wild. Having been to previous concerts and even attending Super Bowl LVI at SoFi Stadium, I can confidently say that this was one of the loudest audiences in recent memory. The sheer volume of enthusiastic screams easily rivaled each time I’ve covered a BTS performance; the one time Justin Bieber showed up to sing at an Ariana Grande show; and one of One Direction’s final sets that I caught at Staples Center (now Crypto.com Arena).
It was an endlessly entertaining, hit-filled concert that kept the fans on their feet, especially down on the floor where they danced and fist pumped along to the one-two-punch of songs like “Can’t Feel My Face” and “Take My Breath.” It was part disco, part rave and an absolute party led by a charismatic performer with smooth vocals and the magical ability to make a packed stadium somehow feel like an intimate club gig.
The Weeknd’s revelers were continuously drenched by lighting that matched the feel of each track. It was a fully immersive experience as the bass shook the floors and the set on stage came to life, billowing thick black smoke during a cover of Kanye West’s “Hurricane” and fully igniting with flames for “The Hills.”
At times, it felt like complete blissful chaos, especially when huge bursts of fire melted the faces of those soaking it all in on the floor. As if it hadn’t already been 100 degrees outside all day, some of the more heated sections of the performance definitely roasted the crowd, and Tesfaye, too. He was sweating up a storm as he ran, essentially the length of a football field, several times throughout the evening without missing a beat.
However, there were a few moments when he stopped to catch his breath and took the time to observe the crowd. After “I Feel It Coming,” he stood on the stage in the middle of the stadium as fans cheered.
There weren’t many big screens that showed what was happening on stage, something that seemed intentional and kept the venue darker and forced people to watch the entire stage setup rather than a single screen throughout the show. But as the cameras panned the singer and zoomed in on his expression, which was flashed on the few smaller available screens, I couldn’t tell if he was tearing up or sweating, but he was definitely in the moment. He put his hand over his heart and as his smile grew wider, the crowd cheered louder and louder, until it was just this single high-pitched squeal that made your ears ring. He broke up the madness with an “Oh my God,” he said, letting out a deep breath. “SoFi Stadium … two nights, sold out, back-to-back, because of you.”
And the screaming resumed.
The set included a total of seven songs from “Dawn FM” and six from “After Hours” and was peppered with previous hits such as the title track from his “Starboy” record and the fan-favorite, “Die For You.” Aside from playing the mega hits — “Can’t Feel My Face” and “The Hills” — off of “Beauty Behind the Madness,” he also busted out, “Often,” which got a huge response from the audience. He threw in a few songs by other artists he’s collaborated with as well, including Drake’s “Crew Love,” Future’s “Low Life” and a bit of “Or Nah” by Ty Dolla Sign.
While the song “Less Than Zero” could have served as a perfect show closer, this crowd knew what was coming. There wasn’t really an encore, just a pause to let “Less Than Zero” get its due, before the familiar notes of the keys intro to The Weeknd’s ’80s-tinged hit “Blinding Lights” kicked in. This was it, this was the moment to let it all loose and both performer and fans seized that opportunity, wrapping up the night with some explosive fun.
The Weeknd: After Hours Til Dawn Tour
When: Friday, Sept. 2
Where: SoFi Stadium, Inglewood
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/2022/09/03/the-weeknd-delivers-an-explosive-hit-filled-dance-party-at-sofi-stadium/ | 2022-09-03T17:48:36Z | pasadenastarnews.com | control | https://www.pasadenastarnews.com/2022/09/03/the-weeknd-delivers-an-explosive-hit-filled-dance-party-at-sofi-stadium/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
BOSTON (AP) — Hackers stole personal data including Social Security numbers, addresses and account numbers of home mortgage holders at KeyBank, the bank reports, in the breach of a third-party vendor that serves multiple corporate clients.
The hackers obtained the information on July 5 after breaking into computers at the insurance services provider Overby-Seawell Company, according to a letter that Cleveland-based KeyBank sent to affected residential mortgage customers.
KeyBank, which operates in 15 states and has close to $200 billion in assets, would not say how many of its customers were affected or answer any other questions about the breach. In a statement, it said it was notified of the data theft on Aug. 4 and KeyBank systems and operations were unaffected.
Overby-Seawell did not respond to phone messages and emails sent to executives seeking comment. In the statement sent Friday to The Associated Press, KeyBank said Kennesaw, Georgia-based Overby-Seawell “suffered a cybersecurity incident that compromised data of its corporate clients.” It did not elaborate.
According to its website, Overby-Seawell’s customers include banks, credit unions, mortgage servicers, finance companies and property investors. Its products include a tracking system for real-time insurance monitoring that can be integrated with other financial industry software platforms.
It is a subsidiary of the Breckenridge Group, also of Kennesaw.
In an Aug. 26 letter shared with the AP by an affected mortgage-holder, KeyBank said the information acquired in the Overby-Seawell breach related to their mortgage includes their name, address, mortgage account number and the first eight digits of their nine-digit Social Security number.
That’s plenty of information for identity thieves to commit serious fraud.
“We take this matter very seriously and have notified all affected individuals,” KeyBank said in the letter.
KeyBank said Overby-Seawell had notified law enforcement and was investigating the breach with the help of third-party cybersecurity experts. It encouraged the mortgage holder to sign up for free fraud monitoring. | https://www.wspa.com/news/business/ap-business/ap-keybank-hackers-of-third-party-provider-stole-customer-data/ | 2022-09-03T17:53:34Z | wspa.com | control | https://www.wspa.com/news/business/ap-business/ap-keybank-hackers-of-third-party-provider-stole-customer-data/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
LONDON (AP) — The U.K. will begin its autumn COVID-19 vaccination campaign in the coming weeks after authorizing booster shots made by Pfizer and Moderna that have been modified to target both the original virus and the widely circulating omicron variant.
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency said Saturday that it had approved the Pfizer vaccine for used in people age 12 and older after finding it was both safe and effective. The agency authorized the Moderna vaccine last month.
The government will offer the vaccine to everyone age 50 and over, as well as front-line health care workers and other groups considered to be particularly at risk of serious illness as the National Health Service prepares for a surge in infections this winter.
“These innovative vaccines will broaden immunity and strengthen our defenses against what remains a life-threatening virus,” Health Secretary Steve Barclay said in a statement. “If eligible, please come forward for a booster jab as soon as you are contacted by the NHS.”
Previous COVID-19 vaccines targeted the initial strain, even as mutants emerged. In the new “bivalent” boosters, half of the shot targets the original vaccine and half offers protection against the newest omicron variants. | https://www.wspa.com/news/business/ap-business/ap-uk-to-begin-rollout-of-new-covid-19-vaccination-campaign/ | 2022-09-03T17:53:56Z | wspa.com | control | https://www.wspa.com/news/business/ap-business/ap-uk-to-begin-rollout-of-new-covid-19-vaccination-campaign/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — Authorities say a man who stole a plane and flew it over Mississippi after threatening to crash it into a Walmart store faces charges of grand larceny and terroristic threats.
Tupelo Police Chief John Quaka said at a press conference that Cory Wayne Patterson didn’t have a pilot’s license but had some flight instruction and was an employee of Tupelo Aviation. Authorities said Patterson stole the plane, took off and then called in the threat to 911.
Quaka said Patterson could also face federal charges. No one was injured in the incident.
THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. AP’s earlier story follows below.
JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — An airplane circled over north Mississippi on Saturday morning, causing panic on the ground as the pilot threatened to crash into a Walmart. Hours later, the plane landed safely in a field, and police took the pilot into custody.
Gov. Tate Reeves announced on Twitter shortly after 10:30 a.m. that the “situation has been resolved and that no one was injured.” He thanked law enforcement agencies that helped in bringing the aircraft down.
The Federal Aviation Administration confirmed that the plane landed northwest of Ripley, Mississippi, with only the pilot aboard. Benton County Sheriff Dispatcher Connie Strickland also said the plane landed and the subject was taken into custody.
Ripley is about 85 miles (137 kilometers) southeast of Memphis, Tennessee, and about 45 miles (72 kilometers) northwest of Tupelo, Mississippi, where the flight originated.
The plane started circling over Tupelo at about 5 a.m., the Tupelo Police Department said. Officers evacuated a Walmart and a convenience store in Tupelo because of the pilot threatened to intentionally crash into the Walmart.
The plane flew over Tupelo more than three hours before flying toward more rural areas. People walked outside and looked toward the skies, some of them taking photos or cellphone videos.
Authorities believe the aircraft — a Beechcraft King Air C90A — was stolen and are working to determine whether the pilot who threatened to crash the plane is an employee of a local airport, two people briefed on the matter told The Associated Press. Multiple federal agencies, including the Department of Homeland Security, were involved in the investigation and are working to discern a motive.
An online flight tracking service showed the plane meandering in the sky for several hours and following a looping path.
Leslie Criss, a magazine editor who lives in Tupelo, woke up early and was watching the situation on TV and social media. Several of her friends were outside watching the plane circle overhead.
“I’ve never seen anything like this in this town,” Criss told The Associated Press. “It’s a scary way to wake up on a Saturday morning.”
Former state Rep. Steve Holland, who is a funeral director in Tupelo, said he had received calls from families concerned about the plane.
“One called and said, ‘Oh, my God, do we need to cancel mother’s funeral?'” Holland said. “I just told them, ‘No, life’s going to go on.’”
The airplane drama unfolded as tens of thousands of college football fans were headed to north Mississippi for Saturday football games at the University of Mississippi in Oxford and Mississippi State University in Starkville. Tupelo is between those two cities.
___
Associated Press writers Michael Balsamo in New York and Kathleen Foody in Chicago contributed to this report. | https://www.wspa.com/news/national/ap-us-news/ap-police-plane-circling-mississippi-city-threatens-to-crash/ | 2022-09-03T17:54:43Z | wspa.com | control | https://www.wspa.com/news/national/ap-us-news/ap-police-plane-circling-mississippi-city-threatens-to-crash/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
(KTLA) – A mobile home suddenly stopped moving in the middle of a California street this week, impacting traffic and forcing police to look for the drivers who abandoned the damaged structure in the road.
Police in Hemet began getting reports of the traffic hazard on Wednesday morning, and arrived to find a double-wide mobile home abandoned near an intersection.
The structure had been atop a motorhome-towed trailer that experienced “a catastrophic mechanic failure, which appeared to originate from the [axle],” the Hemet Police Department wrote in a news release posted to Facebook.
Witnesses said the driver of the motorhome, as well as the driver of a Toyota pickup truck that was assisting with the move, had temporarily stopped after the accident, and helped to direct traffic around the mobile home. They then got back into their respective vehicles and left the scene, witnesses told police.
Police were able to identify the drivers after learning the original site of the mobile home. The two motorists were located in Homeland, where it was determined that they “knowingly abandoned the mobile home trailer once it became immobile.”
Police say the suspects may be ordered to repay the city for costs associated with removing the mobile home.
“There’s definitely a house arrest joke here somewhere,” the Hemet Police Department joked on Facebook. | https://www.wspa.com/news/national/nexstar-media-wire/mobile-home-abandoned-in-the-middle-of-california-street/ | 2022-09-03T17:54:58Z | wspa.com | control | https://www.wspa.com/news/national/nexstar-media-wire/mobile-home-abandoned-in-the-middle-of-california-street/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
(NEXSTAR) – The fight to reduce emissions may be coming into your kitchen. Los Angeles, Seattle, New York, and other progressive cities have already moved to ban most gas appliances in any new homes or apartments.
The logic behind the ban comes down to two main factors: the environment and health.
According to the Environmental Protection Administration, the vast majority of greenhouse gas emissions in residential and commercial settings — about 79% — comes from natural gas use, like combustion in gas heaters and gas ranges. Switching to electric appliances, much like switching to electric cars, can put a significant dent in those emissions.
“Cooking over a natural gas flame is probably the most intimate connection with climate change that we never think about,” Drew Michanowicz, a visiting scientist at Harvard’s public health school, told The Hill in June.
But burning gas in the home doesn’t just pollute city skies, it also pollutes the air in your kitchen. NPR used an air monitor to measure the harmful gas nitrogen dioxide in a kitchen with a gas stove and oven on at the same time, as if they were cooking dinner. After 12 minutes, the journalist found the nitrogen dioxide levels were 60% higher than levels recommended by the World Health Organization.
Research has found the harmful particles emitted by gas stoves can cause asthma and other respiratory issues, especially in children.
Could your city be next?
Gas companies and lobbyists are also responding with ad campaigns reminding people of their attachment to gas stoves — the gas appliance most often highlighted as desirable in real estate listings, too.
“I’d say the industry has put decades of effort and resources into fine tuning their messaging to the American public, and they do it well,” Mejia Cunningham, with the National Resources Defense Council, said in an interview with CNN.
While switching from gas appliances to electric is an effective way to curb emissions, some states are making bans like those in Los Angeles or New York City an impossibility.
Twenty state governments have passed “preemption laws” that prevent cities within the state from implementing natural gas bans, according to CNN. Basically every Southern state has such a law in place, as do places like Utah, Ohio and Iowa.
Those states’ efforts to prevent gas appliance bans is at odds with the federal plan announced earlier this year to offer funding to states, tribes and territories that retrofit homes to be more energy efficient. | https://www.wspa.com/news/why-cities-are-banning-gas-stoves/ | 2022-09-03T17:55:44Z | wspa.com | control | https://www.wspa.com/news/why-cities-are-banning-gas-stoves/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
(iSeeCars) – A vehicle’s Check Engine light can turn any car ride into a harrowing experience. As soon as the check engine light illuminates, it’s hard not to hear the cha-ching sound of a cash register right along with it.
If the engine stops, so does the vehicle. That’s what can make the check engine light warning so scary. However, it’s important to understand that a Check Engine light can often be caused by something very simple. Let’s run through some of the main reasons your Check Engine light might be on so you have a better understanding of what your vehicle is trying to tell you.
What Your Check Engine Light Means
When your check engine light turns on, one or more onboard diagnostic trouble codes are stored in the car’s computer. To diagnose what’s triggering your check engine light, you can retrieve the codes by using an OBD-II scanner. This can be done by a mechanic, or you can purchase a code reader from an auto parts store. Even if you use your own code reader to see what may be causing the problem, you should still get the problem diagnosed by a professional.
Be sure not to confuse your check engine light with other warning lights that may appear on your dashboard. You can refer to your vehicle’s manual for what some other warning lights mean, and what your check engine light will appear as. Sometimes it’s just an image of an engine, while others will have “check engine” along with it. You may also see a warning light that says “Service Engine Soon,” which can easily be confused for the check engine light and simply means that your vehicle is due for routine maintenance such as an oil change, brake inspection, or timing belt replacement. These warnings typically occur at regular mileage intervals such as when your odometer reaches 30,000, 60,000, and 100,000 miles.
What To Do When Your Check Engine Light Comes On
Various problems can change how the check engine light appears. Here are some common scenarios as a guide:
1. The check engine light flickers or appears under certain conditions.
This means that there is only a problem during some driving conditions. Does the vehicle run differently when the light is on? If you notice a difference in performance, take the car to a mechanic immediately. If you don’t notice a change in vehicle performance, you can safely drive home, but it should be seen by a professional as quickly as possible.
2. The check engine light remains on.
If your check engine light stays on continuously and there are no noticeable problems with the car’s performance, there’s likely a problem with the emissions system. You should get the car professionally serviced as soon as possible, but immediate towing is not required.
3. The check engine light stays on with performance problems.
This indicates that your vehicle has a serious problem that likely involves a component or system needed for the vehicle to operate properly. If engine power is clearly reduced the vehicle might have gone into “limp mode”, which essentially means the engine is trying to protect itself by offering a bare minimum of power. In this case, you should pull over to a safe spot and have your vehicle towed to a dealer or repair shop.
4. The check engine light continually blinks in a pattern.
This scenario likely indicates that there’s a severe failure of the vehicle’s emission control system that’s causing the engine to misfire. This could indicate that the catalytic converter is overheating which could lead to a fire under the vehicle. In this case, you should pull over immediately and have your vehicle towed to a dealer or professional mechanic.
Common Causes for a Check Engine Light:
1. Loose Gas Cap
Something as benign as a loose gas cap can trigger your Check Engine light. That’s because the most common reason for a Check Engine light is from emissions system problems. Your fuel system is a pressurized system. The vehicle’s computer is monitoring that pressure at all times when your vehicle is running. If you leave your fuel cap off or loose (even by half a turn) it can trigger an emissions code in your vehicle’s computer. This, in turn, will cause the computer to turn on your Check Engine light. So, the first thing you should do if your light comes on is stop your vehicle somewhere safe, turn it off, and check your fuel cap. If it’s loose, put it back on and off automatically after a few moments. A worn or defective fuel cap can also cause this problem.
2. Malfunctioning Oxygen Sensors
Your oxygen sensors are another emissions system part that will trigger your Check Engine light. Ironically, they aren’t really attached to the engine. They are screwed into your exhaust system in various places to monitor the air coming out of your engine. They tell your computer if your air/fuel mixture is running rich or lean. Most cars today have at least two sensors, one before the catalytic converter and one after (this is to monitor the air on both sides to see if the converter is also doing its job), while some vehicles have several for redundancy’s sake. Each sensor is electronically connected to your computer. If the sensor fails, becomes clogged, or if it gets a reading it’s not supposed to be getting, the faulty oxygen sensor will trigger your Check Engine light.
3. Other Emissions System Parts
With today’s emissions standards, the emissions control systems on most vehicles have become very complex. They are much more complex than a catalytic converter and a couple of sensors. They now consist of filters, canisters, exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) valves, positive crankcase ventilation (PCV) valves, smog/air pumps, bypass valves, and several sensors to monitor the entire system. Should any of these areas fail, it can trigger any of a number of various codes in your computer. These codes all trigger the Check Engine light.
4. Failing Mass Airflow Sensor
Your vehicle’s mass airflow sensor (MAF) measures the amount of air entering your engine to determine how much fuel is required to run properly. If there are any leaks before or after the mass airflow sensor, a light will illuminate. These mass airflow sensors are sensitive to oil, water vapor, or any debris. Sometimes, a simple cleaning can fix the issue. Or, the sensor may need to be replaced. Failure to replace a faulty mass airflow sensor can lead to reduced performance and diminished fuel economy.
5. Faulty Catalytic Converter
Your vehicle’s catalytic converter protects the environment by converting carbon monoxide into carbon dioxide. Oxygen sensors carefully monitor the catalytic converter’s performance, and if something is wrong with the converter a trouble code will appear. A failed catalytic converter is usually a secondary issue and is likely caused because other issues were ignored. If you don’t fix your catalytic converter, you will fail an emissions test, experience reduced performance and fuel economy, and can cause eventual engine failure.
6. Misfires
An engine misfire occurs when something goes awry as the spark plug ignites the air/fuel mixture in your car’s combustion chamber. A misfire can be caused either on one cylinder or on multiple cylinders. Here are some common culprits:
- Defective ignition coil
- Defective fuel injector
- Vacuum leak
- Worn spark plugs and/or wires
- Bad compression
If you don’t address the misfire, your vehicle will have poor performance and reduced fuel economy, and can lead to eventual mechanical failure in the car’s engine.
Bottom Line:
You should never ignore your vehicle’s check engine light. While the scenarios for the light can range from mild to severe, you should always have your vehicle checked by a trusted professional to properly diagnose the issue. The way your check engine light appears can provide clues as to whether your vehicle needs immediate attention, or if you can safely drive home before going to an auto repair shop. Ignoring a check engine light can lead to more expensive repairs down the road and can also present a safety hazard.
More from iSeeCars.com:
- What’s the Cost of Brake Pads and Rotors?
- What is a Powertrain Warranty?
- How Much Does it Cost to Replace a Windshield?
If you’re in the market for a used or new vehicle, you can search over 4 million used cars and new cars, trucks, and SUVs with iSeeCars’ award-winning car search engine that helps shoppers find the best car deals by providing key insights and valuable resources, like the iSeeCars free VIN check report.
This article, Why is My Check Engine Light On? originally appeared on iSeeCars.com | https://www.wspa.com/news/why-is-my-check-engine-light-on/ | 2022-09-03T17:55:50Z | wspa.com | control | https://www.wspa.com/news/why-is-my-check-engine-light-on/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
BRUSSELS (AP) — A British con artist who is the subject of a Netflix documentary has been arrested in Belgium after fleeing from neighboring France, where he had injured two police officers, authorities said
Robert Hendy-Freegard, 51, was expected to appear before a Belgian judge on Saturday, a day after he was arrested on a highway in Groot-Bijgaarden, east of Brussels, Belgian federal police said.
Hendy-Freegard had been on the run since last week, when he hit two officers with his car as he was fleeing a police raid at his home in the village of Vidaillat in central France.
Gilles Blondeau, spokesperson for the Public Prosecutor’s Office of the Halle-Vilvorde disctrict, said Saturday that “about a week ago, the person in question was supposed to undergo a checkup by the police and he fled. He also hit two policemen, one of whom was very seriously injured.”
France had issued a European arrest warrant. The country’s prosecutors have open an investigation for “attempted murder” on police officers.
Blondeau said Hendy-Freegard had been located through the license plate on his vehicle.
“The East Flanders road police were able to intercept the man in Groot-Bijgaarden, and it turned out that it was indeed this person and the wanted vehicle,” he said.
Netflix streaming service released a documentary this year called “The Puppet Master: Hunting the Ultimate Conman” about the life of Hendy-Freegard. In the 1990s and the early 2000s, the con artist ruined numerous lives while posing as an undercover MI5 agent in Europe. He spent 10 years emotionally manipulating his victims into giving him their money, their trust and eventually their freedom by running away with him, according to Netflix.
Arrested in 2002, Hendy-Freegard was convicted of kidnapping, theft and deception and sentenced to life in prison in 2005 in the United Kingdom. He appealed against the kidnapping conviction and got his sentenced reduced to nine years. He was released from prison in 2009.
According to the Netflix documentary, he was living in recent years in France, where he was breeding dogs. | https://www.wspa.com/news/world-news/ap-international/ap-british-con-artist-arrested-in-belgium-wanted-by-france/ | 2022-09-03T17:56:10Z | wspa.com | control | https://www.wspa.com/news/world-news/ap-international/ap-british-con-artist-arrested-in-belgium-wanted-by-france/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — Inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency are used to risky missions — from the radioactive aftermath of the Fukushima disaster in Japan to the politically charged Iranian nuclear program. But their deployment amid the war in Ukraine to Zaporizhzhia takes the threat to a new level and underscores the lengths to which the organization will go in attempts to avert a potentially catastrophic nuclear disaster.
The 6-month war sparked by Russia’s invasion of its western neighbor is forcing international organizations, not just the IAEA, to deploy teams during active hostilities in their efforts to impose order around Ukraine’s nuclear power plants, pursue accountability for war crimes and identify the dead.
“This is not the first time that an IAEA team has gone into a situation of armed hostilities,” said Tariq Rauf, the organization’s former head of verification and security, noting that the IAEA sent inspectors to Iraq in 2003 and to former Soviet Republic Georgia during fighting. “But this situation in Zaporizhzhia, I think it’s the most serious situation where the IAEA has sent people in ever, so it’s unprecedented.”
The IAEA’s Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi highlighted the risks Thursday when he led a team to the sprawling plant in southern Ukraine.
“There were moments when fire was obvious — heavy machine guns, artillery, mortars at two or three times were really very concerning, I would say, for all of us,” he said of his team’s journey through an active war zone to reach the plant.
Speaking to reporters after leaving colleagues inside, he said the agency was “not moving” from the plant from now on, and vowed a “continued presence” of agency experts.
But it remains to be seen what exactly the organization can accomplish.
“The IAEA cannot force a country to implement or enforce nuclear safety and security standards,” Rauf said in a telephone interview. “They can only advise and then it is up to … the state itself,” specifically the national nuclear regulator. In Ukraine, that is further complicated by the Russian occupation of the power station.
The IAEA is not the only international organization seeking to locate staff permanently in Ukraine amid the ongoing war.
International Criminal Court Prosecutor Karim Khan has visited Ukraine three times, set up an office in the country and sent investigators into a conflict zone to gather evidence amid widespread reports of atrocities. National governments including the Netherlands have sent expert investigators to help the court.
Khan told a United Nations meeting in April: “This is a time when we need to mobilize the law and send it into battle, not on the side of Ukraine against the Russian Federation or on the side of the Russian Federation against Ukraine, but on the side of humanity to protect, to preserve, to shield people … who have certain basic rights.”
The International Commission on Missing Persons, which uses a high-tech laboratory in The Hague to assist countries attempting to identify bodies, has already sent three missions to Ukraine and set up an office there.
Grossi, an Argentine diplomat, was previously a high-ranking official at the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, an organization that, after he had left, also was forced to send inspectors to conflicts.
In April 2018, an OPCW team sent to collect evidence of a suspected chlorine attack in Douma, Syria, was forced to wait in a hotel for days because of security concerns in the town, which was at the time under the protection of Russian military police.
When a U.N. security team visited Douma, gunmen shot at them and detonated an explosive, further delaying the OPCW’s fact-finding mission.
The IAEA’s biggest operation to monitor any country’s nuclear program is Iran, where it has been the key arbiter in determining the size, scope and aspects of Tehran’s program during the decades of tensions over it. Since Iran’s 2015 nuclear deal with world powers, the IAEA has had surveillance cameras and physical inspections at Iranian sites, even as questions persist over Iran’s military nuclear program, which the agency said ended in 2003.
But that monitoring hasn’t been easy. Since then-President Donald Trump unilaterally withdrew America from the deal in 2018, Iran has stopped the IAEA from accessing footage from its surveillance cameras. Other online monitoring devices have been affected as well.
In 2019, Iran alleged an IAEA inspector tested positive for suspected traces of explosive nitrates while trying to visit Iran’s underground Natanz nuclear facility. The IAEA strongly disputed Iran’s description of the incident, as did the U.S.
Another risky and challenging mission was in the aftermath of the Fukushima nuclear plant disaster in Japan. About two weeks after the March 11, 2011, earthquake and tsunami that caused reactor meltdowns and hydrogen explosions at reactor buildings, IAEA sent experts to monitor radiation, sample soil and check food safety, but they largely stayed outside of the plant. They returned later in full hazmat suits, masks, gloves and helmets to inspect the remains of the stricken Fukushima Daiichi plant.
The situation in Zaporizhzhia, with Russia and Ukraine trading accusations of shelling the area, has the potential to be just as devastating.
“Any time a nuclear power plant is in the middle of armed hostilities, shelling on its territory and nearby creates unacceptable risks,” Rauf said. “So, you know, any misfired shell could hit one of the reactors or disable some system that can lead to much bigger consequences.”
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Associated Press writers Jon Gambrell in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, and Mari Yamaguchi in Tokyo contributed.
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Follow the AP’s coverage of the war at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine | https://www.wspa.com/news/world-news/ap-international/ap-iaea-visit-to-ukraine-nuclear-plant-highlights-risks/ | 2022-09-03T17:56:31Z | wspa.com | control | https://www.wspa.com/news/world-news/ap-international/ap-iaea-visit-to-ukraine-nuclear-plant-highlights-risks/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
(NewsNation) — A compound in psilocybin, or psychedelic “magic” mushrooms, can help heavy drinkers cut back or even quit drinking entirely, a new study suggests, although experts say more research is needed.
Researchers at New York University recently conducted the first-ever placebo-controlled trial exploring the treatment of alcohol addiction with psilocybin. The new research was published Wednesday in JAMA Psychiatry.
“There had been promising research on the use of psychedelics to treat alcohol use disorder going back to the 1950s and ’60s, but it was abandoned mostly due to the bad reputation that psychedelics developed due to widespread misuse and countercultural associations in those days,” Dr. Michael Bogenschutz, director at NYU Langone Center for Psychedelic Medicine and one of the authors of the study, said on NewsNation’s “Morning in America.” “But when I saw the research on psilocybin, in normal volunteers without any particular disorder, starting to come out in the early 2000s, I became very interested in trying to see if we could harness these effects to treat alcohol use disorder.”
During the study, 93 patients took a capsule containing psilocybin or a dummy drug, then lay down on a couch with their eyes covered and listened to music. They received two of these sessions, one month apart, and 12 sessions of talk therapy.
While many who took a dummy drug instead of psilocybin also succeeded in drinking less, in the eight months after their first dosing session, patients taking psilocybin did better than the other group, the study found. Those who took the real drug drank heavily on about 1 in 10 days on average compared to 1 in 4 days for the dummy pill group.
Bogenschutz said it appears that treating a person’s alcohol use disorder with psilocybin and related compounds shakes up the established patterns of brain activity and thought and behavior, creating a new window of opportunity in which people may be more likely to learn new behaviors, new patterns of thought and responding.
“So in the case of alcohol use disorder, finding new ways to live rather than habitually drinking and damaging their lives in that way,” Bogenschutz said.
Talk therapy was a very important component of the treatment, Bogenschutz said.
During the drug administration sessions, he said people are in a “highly altered state of consciousness,” and are unable to carry on a conversation. In addition, they are given relatively large doses of the drug that are highly mind-altering.
“Most people experience pretty strong effects and require support from trained clinicians in order to safely navigate the experience and benefit,” Bogenschutz said.
Giving people therapy during the study helped provide support and allowed people to see what they could learn from the psilocybin experience.
There are still at least a few years to go before this treatment becomes available for consumers, Bogenschutz said, as there’s a need to replicate this study’s findings and demonstrate to the Food and Drug Administration that psilocybin is a safe and effective medication.
The next study, he said, will be a larger, multi-site trial with 15 sites and over 200 participants.
Currently, only three conventional drugs — disulfiram, naltrexone and acamprosate — are approved to treat alcohol use disorder.
The Associated Press contributed to this report. | https://www.siouxlandproud.com/news/magic-mushrooms-could-help-heavy-drinkers-quit-study-suggests/ | 2022-09-03T17:56:49Z | siouxlandproud.com | control | https://www.siouxlandproud.com/news/magic-mushrooms-could-help-heavy-drinkers-quit-study-suggests/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
WARSAW, Poland (AP) — Ewa Jaworska has been a teacher since 2008 and loves working with young people. But the low pay is leaving her demoralized. She even has to buy her own teaching materials sometimes, and is disheartened by the government using schools to promote conservative ideas which she sees as backward.
Like many other Polish teachers she is considering a career change.
“I keep hoping that the situation might still change,” said the 44-year-old, who teaches in a Warsaw high school. “But unfortunately it is changing for the worse, so only time will tell if this year will be my last.”
Problems are mounting in schools in Poland, with a teacher shortage growing worse and many educators and parents fearing that the educational system is being used to indoctrinate young people into the ruling party’s conservative and nationalistic vision.
It’s very much the same in Hungary. Black-clad teachers in Budapest carried black umbrellas to protest stagnant wages and heavy workloads on the first day of school Thursday. Teachers’ union PSZ said young teachers earn a “humiliating” monthly after-tax salary of just 500 euros (dollars) that has prompted many to walk away.
Thousands of people marched in solidarity with teachers on Friday in Budapest, voicing the view that the teachers’ low compensation is linked to the authoritarian direction of Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s government.
“Free country, free education!” they shouted,
Teacher shortages could hardly come at a worse time, with both countries trying to integrate Ukrainian refugees. It’s particularly challenging for Poland, where hundreds of thousands of school-aged Ukrainian refugees now live.
Nearly 200,000 Ukrainian students, most of whom do not speak Polish, already entered Polish schools after the war began on Feb. 24. The education minister has said the overall number of Ukrainian students could triple this coming school year, depending on how the war unfolds.
Andrzej Wyrozembski, the principal of the high school in Warsaw’s Zoliborz district where Jaworska works, has set up two classes for 50 Ukrainians in his school. He said his Ukrainian students who arrived in the spring are quickly learning Polish, a related Slavic language. The real difficulty is finding teachers, particularly for physics, chemistry, computer science, and even for Polish.
Across central Europe, government wages haven’t kept pace with the private sector, leaving teachers, nurses and others with far less purchasing power.
The situation is expected to grow worse as many teachers near retirement and ever fewer young people choose the poorly paid profession, especially when inflation has exploded to 16% in Poland and nearly 14% in Hungary.
According to the Polish teachers’ union, schools in the country are short 20,000 teachers. Hungary, with a much smaller population, has a 16,000-teacher shortage.
“We don’t have young teachers,” said Slawomir Broniarz, the president of the Polish Teachers’ Trade Union, or ZNP, citing the starting salary of 3,400 zlotys ($720) pre-tax as the key reason.
Polish Education Minister Przemyslaw Czarnek has disputed the figures, saying teacher vacancies were closer to 13,000, adding it isn’t a huge number in proportion to the 700,000 teachers nationwide. He accuses the union and political opposition of exaggerating the problem.
Many educators strongly oppose the conservative ideology of the nationalist government and Czarnek himself, viewing him as a Catholic fundamentalist. His appointment in 2020 sparked protests because he had said LGBTQ people aren’t equal to “normal people” and that a woman’s main role is to have children.
Criticism has recently focused on a new school textbook on contemporary history. It has a section on ideologies that presents liberalism and feminism alongside Nazism. A section interpreted as denouncing in-vitro fertilization was so controversial that it was removed.
In Hungary, Erzsebet Nagy, a committee member of the Democratic Union of Hungarian Teachers, said teachers have been leaving the profession “in droves.”
“Young people aren’t coming into the profession, and very few of those who earn a teaching certificate from high school or university go on to teach,” said Nagy. “Even if they do, most of them leave within two years.”
Hungarian unions have also complained about the centralization of the country’s education system. Curriculums, textbooks and all decision-making are controlled by a central body formed in 2012 by Hungary’s nationalist government.
“Our professional autonomy is continually being eliminated,” said Nagy. “We have no freedom to choose textbooks. There are only two to choose from in each subject and both are of terrible quality. They’ve blocked the possibility for a free intellectual life.”
Worried about their children’s futures, families are rejecting the public schools. New private schools are opening but they still can’t meet the demand.
Polish architect Piotr Polatynski was ready to take a second job just to pay private school tuition for his fourth-grade daughter. But as a new school year began this week, a lack of places in private schools forced him and his wife to send her back to a public neighborhood school, which they feel isn’t providing the kind of education his daughter deserves.
He still hopes a spot might still open up somewhere as he fumes over the state of the education system.
“We don’t believe that the current government is capable of making changes that would encourage young people to enter the teaching profession and bring any kind of meaningful energy to this whole system,” he said.
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Spike reported from Budapest. Bela Szandelszky contributed from Budapest. | https://www.wspa.com/news/world-news/ap-international/ap-teacher-shortages-grow-worrisome-in-poland-and-hungary/ | 2022-09-03T17:56:53Z | wspa.com | control | https://www.wspa.com/news/world-news/ap-international/ap-teacher-shortages-grow-worrisome-in-poland-and-hungary/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
HARARE, Zimbabwe (AP) — Opposition politicians languishing in prison. Journalists and government critics harassed and arrested. Public meetings banned.
Zimbabwe’s general election is several months away but many opposition figures say they are already battling intense government repression similar to the iron-fisted rule of Robert Mugabe, the former president who died in 2019.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government is responding with force to opposition to his rule, stoked by worsening economic conditions including inflation at more than 250% and the emergence of a popular new party.
Among those suffering from the government’s dragnet is opposition member of parliament Job Sikhala, who has been detained in the harsh Chikurubi prison near the capital, Harare, for close to three months on accusations of inciting violence.
The fiery 50-year-old Sikhala has been arrested more than 65 times in his two-decade political career but has never been convicted of any crime, say his lawyers.
Most recently Sikhala was arrested in June with more than two dozen other activists of the opposition Citizens Coalition for Change, known as the CCC, and accused of fanning violence after skirmishes with ruling party supporters. Repeated attempts to get bail for him and the others have failed.
“The reason they have not been given bail is because they (prosecutors) know they will not get convicted. The idea is to make them serve,” said lawyer Beatrice Mtetwa.
“They know they don’t have the evidence to prove the cases,” said Mtetwa, saying the government’s legal tactics are “lawfare” to weaken political opponents.
Criticism of Mnangagwa’s government has been stoked by Zimbabwe’s inflation, currently estimated to be one of the world’s highest and rising numbers of people pushed into informal trade such as street vending. More than two-thirds of Zimbabweans eke out a living in the informal sector, one of the highest rates in the world, according to the IMF.
Few of Zimbabwe’s poor believe the recent introduction of gold coins as legal tender will improve their day-to-day hardships.
The CCC party, launched in January and led by Nelson Chamisa, 44, has attracted considerable attention and followers. In response, police in Harare and other cities have been banning the party’s meetings, as well as gatherings of civic organizations and church groups perceived as government critics.
Dozens of people — including opposition supporters, political activists, journalists, church leaders, trade union members and student leaders — have been arrested and appear in court on various charges that legal experts say are harassment.
Mnangagwa’s strategy to stay in power appears to be to use the police, military, and security forces to keep the opposition in turmoil until elections are held next year, say analysts.
“The current environment has worrying indicators of the possibility of yet another violent and contested electoral period,” noted the Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum in a statement in August.
Zimbabwe is facing “a breakdown in the rule of law and constitutionalism; overt militarization of government, security sector brutality, political polarization, exclusion and violence, shrinking civic space and widespread human rights violations,” said the group.
In recent weeks Mnangagwa has called for peace while at the same time lambasting the opposition and accusing it of being sponsored by Western powers.
It’s similar to the ways of Mugabe, who in his 37 years in power used harsh repression against all opposition. Although Mugabe was forced to resign in 2017, the same party remains in power.
ZANU-PF fought a bitter and bloody war throughout the 1970s, with backing from China, against the white-minority regime of Rhodesia. The guerilla movement won elections in 1980 and has ruled the country ever since, with a strong distrust of the West and multiparty politics.
“The complexities of Zimbabwe politics remain one where there was never a genuine transformation of the liberation movement of ZANU-PF into a political party suiting democratic dictates of the 21st century,” said Alexander Rusero, a Harare-based academic and political commentator.
“Liberation politics is informed by skepticism and binary characterization of citizens as either friends or enemies,” he said. “ZANU-PF continues to classify opposition parties and civil society activists as stooges of the West. It will continue to use its power to crush them, just like what happened during Mugabe’s time.” | https://www.wspa.com/news/world-news/ap-international/ap-zimbabwe-government-harasses-opposition-with-arrests-jail/ | 2022-09-03T17:57:15Z | wspa.com | control | https://www.wspa.com/news/world-news/ap-international/ap-zimbabwe-government-harasses-opposition-with-arrests-jail/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Reaction to Serena Williams’ loss Friday night to Ajla Tomljanovic at the U.S. Open in what was expected to be the final match of her career:
“(at)serenawilliams you’re literally the greatest on and off the court. Thank you for inspiring all of us to pursue our dreams. I love you little sis!!!!!!” — Tiger Woods, via Twitter.
“Congrats on an amazing career, (at)SerenaWilliams. How lucky were we to be able to watch a young girl from Compton grow up to become one of the greatest athletes of all time. I’m proud of you, my friend—and I can’t wait to see the lives you continue to transform with your talents.” — Michelle Obama, via Twitter.
“All heart. So much love.” — Alexis Ohanian, Williams’ husband, via Twitter.
“I think she embodies that no dream is too big and it doesn’t matter where you come from, or the circumstances. You can do anything if you believe in yourself and you love what you do and have an incredible support system and family around you.” — Tomljanovic, in her interview on the court after her victory.
“We just witnessed the last US Open for the greatest of all time, Serena Williams!! Serena has meant so much to sports, the game of tennis, the world, every little girl, and even more to every little Black girl across the globe.” — Basketball Hall of Famer Magic Johnson, via Twitter.
“Serena, THANK YOU. It is because of you I believe in this dream. The impact you’ve had on me goes beyond any words that can be put together and for that I say thank you, thank you, thank you, GOAT!” — Coco Gauff, via Twitter.
“It’s truly been fun to watch Serena not only change the sport of tennis, but more importantly, how she’s helped empower the next generation. Her tennis accomplishments speak for themselves, but one of the things I admire about her is she simply doesn’t quit. On or off the court.” — Olympic swimming gold medalist Michael Phelps, via Twitter.
“I love you (at)serenawilliams. It’s been the pleasure of a lifetime to watch you become what you have. Can’t wait to see what you do next. Thank you my old friend.” — Tennis Hall of Famer Andy Roddick, via Twitter.
“I feel like I really brought something, and bring something, to tennis. The different looks, the fist pumps, the just crazy intensity. I think that obviously the passion I think is a really good word. Yeah, yeah, just continuing through ups and downs. I could go on and on. But I just honestly am so grateful that I had this moment and that I’m Serena.” — Williams, in her press conference.
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More AP coverage of U.S. Open tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/us-open-tennis-championships and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports | https://www.wspa.com/sports/ap-sports/ap-reaction-to-serena-williams-loss-in-her-likely-final-match/ | 2022-09-03T17:57:58Z | wspa.com | control | https://www.wspa.com/sports/ap-sports/ap-reaction-to-serena-williams-loss-in-her-likely-final-match/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
HOUSTON (AP) — The Houston Texans will host the Uvalde high school football team and wear “Uvalde Strong” decals on their helmets when they open the season Sept. 11 against Indianapolis.
A contingent from the team, including coach Lovie Smith and linebackers Christian Kirksey and Kamu Grugier-Hill, visited Uvalde on Thursday night and surprised the team with new uniforms provided by Nike during a team dinner.
“It was just special to see the smiles on their faces because we know this city was impacted drastically,” Kirksey said in a television interview. “Being a leader and not just being a football player but being somebody that can be an extra shoulder to lean on, it definitely warmed something in my heart… (and) we’re just going to be here with the city and let them know that we support them in every way and we’re going to be here for them.”
This is part of the team’s continuing support for the community. The Texans donated $400,000 to the Robb Elementary School memorial fund after 19 children and two teachers were killed in a shooting there in May.
During the visit, the Texans also announced that they were joining with grocery store chain H-E-B to pay for the high school team to travel to the opener and take in the NFL game from a suite.
Kirksey and Grugier-Hill showed the team the decal on a Texans helmet during an interview on ABC’s “Good Morning America.”
“You guys will be with us, and we’ll be with you,” Grugier-Hill told them while holding the helmet. “Words can’t even describe or help anything you’ve been through, so we can only try to empathize (with) you guys and be there for you guys.”
The visit continued Friday when team owners Cal and Hannah McNair joined members of the organization in town and the team hosted football camps and clinics for hundreds of children before attending Uvalde’s home opener.
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More AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl and https://twitter.com/AP_NFL | https://www.wspa.com/sports/ap-sports/ap-texans-to-host-uvalde-high-school-team-at-season-opener/ | 2022-09-03T17:58:12Z | wspa.com | control | https://www.wspa.com/sports/ap-sports/ap-texans-to-host-uvalde-high-school-team-at-season-opener/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
ZANDVOORT, Netherlands (AP) — Max Verstappen produced a brilliant final lap to take pole position for Sunday’s Dutch Grand Prix just ahead of Charles Leclerc.
The Red Bull driver edged Leclerc’s Ferrari by just .021 seconds on Saturday to huge roars from Verstappen’s Orange Army of fans.
But the session was interrupted earlier when a flare was thrown onto the track. Governing body FIA said the culprit was removed from the stands by security.
“It’s just very silly to do. I mean, to hold flares it’s nice but there’s a limit to how much. But to throw it on the track is just stupid,” Verstappen said. “Just don’t do that, it’s no good for anyone. You get thrown out so you can’t see the race and for us the session is stopped because it’s dangerous when there’s stuff on the track.”
The widespread use of flares from Verstappen’s fans has been a concern at some races, particularly at the Red Bull Ring in Austria in July and at last weekend’s Belgian GP — both packed with Verstappen supporters.
Leclerc and his Ferrari teammate Carlos Sainz Jr. also condemned throwing flares on track.
“It’s dangerous, so don’t do these type of things. It’s good that there was a reaction (from) the security guys,” Leclerc said. “Obviously if a car is passing at that time it can create unnecessary risks so hopefully it won’t happen again.”
Sainz, who qualified in third, said there should be better control over when flares are used.
“It’s also important to let the fans know when it’s possible to use the flares and when it’s not. It was good that on the in-lap when Max took pole they used them, but not use them in the middle of the race or Lap 1 when we’re in the middle of fights,” Sainz said. “At 300 kph (186 miles per hour) with these cars you don’t want any kind of distraction from smoke. Hopefully the organization can do a good job in warning when it’s the time to use them, and when it’s not.”
Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton was fourth with Verstappen’s teammate Sergio Perez qualifying in fifth.
Leclerc had the leading time and went even faster on his final run to pressure Verstappen. But a brilliant middle sector helped the Dutchman clinch his fourth pole of the season.
“It was a special qualifying, especially after yesterday which was tough.” Verstappen said. “We had to change the car.”
Moments after Verstappen crossed the line, Perez spun off the track to bring a yellow flag for the closing seconds.
A jubilant Verstappen was lifted up in the air rather easily by Dutch kickboxer Rico Verhoeven as the orange hordes cheered Verstappen’s second straight pole here.
“Yeah, I am enjoying it,” Verstappen said. “It’s just great to see the atmosphere, everyone’s having fun, enjoying themselves.”
Verstappen was quickest in the first qualifying run, known as Q1, just ahead of Hamilton.
Four-time F1 champion Sebastian Vettel (Aston Martin) and Daniel Ricciardo (McLaren) were among the five drivers eliminated. Vettel looked good for Q2 but went wide into gravel near the end of his final run.
“There was dust on the track, which I collected with the left side,” Vettel said. “There’s not much I could have done differently.”
The red flag came out at the start of Q2 after the flare was thrown and the session was halted for several minutes. But Alex Albon, the only driver on track at that point, also complained about “tons of pigeons” around the circuit located next to the beach.
Sainz topped Q2 from the competitive Mercedes of George Russell, but two-time F1 champion Fernando Alonso fluffed his last run and went out.
Russell starts from sixth on the grid ahead of Lando Norris (McLaren) and Mick Schumacher (Haas).
Verstappen won here last year, in front of Dutch King Willem-Alexander and his legions of orange-clad fans at the seaside track outside Amsterdam.
Leclerc led Saturday’s third and final practice by just .066 seconds from Russell and .161 ahead of Verstappen.
Leclerc is hopeful Ferrari can get “up close” to Verstappen in Sunday’s race while Sainz thinks Mercedes “are going to be as quick” as Ferrari.
After struggling in Belgium on the long Spa track, Mercedes looked far more comfortable on the high-banking Zandvoort track, where a gearbox failure limited Verstappen to seven laps in Friday’s first practice. He placed eighth in the second run.
Victory on Sunday would be a fourth straight for Verstappen and 10th of the season — his tally from last year — and push him closer to a second straight world title.
He leads Perez by 93 points and Leclerc by 98 with the Italian GP coming up next at Monza and only six races after that.
___
More AP auto racing: https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports | https://www.wspa.com/sports/ap-sports/ap-verstappen-takes-pole-at-dutch-gp-fan-ejected-for-flare-use/ | 2022-09-03T17:58:26Z | wspa.com | control | https://www.wspa.com/sports/ap-sports/ap-verstappen-takes-pole-at-dutch-gp-fan-ejected-for-flare-use/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
(KTLA) – A mobile home suddenly stopped moving in the middle of a California street this week, impacting traffic and forcing police to look for the drivers who abandoned the damaged structure in the road.
Police in Hemet began getting reports of the traffic hazard on Wednesday morning, and arrived to find a double-wide mobile home abandoned near an intersection.
The structure had been atop a motorhome-towed trailer that experienced “a catastrophic mechanic failure, which appeared to originate from the [axle],” the Hemet Police Department wrote in a news release posted to Facebook.
Witnesses said the driver of the motorhome, as well as the driver of a Toyota pickup truck that was assisting with the move, had temporarily stopped after the accident, and helped to direct traffic around the mobile home. They then got back into their respective vehicles and left the scene, witnesses told police.
Police were able to identify the drivers after learning the original site of the mobile home. The two motorists were located in Homeland, where it was determined that they “knowingly abandoned the mobile home trailer once it became immobile.”
Police say the suspects may be ordered to repay the city for costs associated with removing the mobile home.
“There’s definitely a house arrest joke here somewhere,” the Hemet Police Department joked on Facebook. | https://www.siouxlandproud.com/news/national-news/mobile-home-abandoned-in-the-middle-of-california-street/ | 2022-09-03T17:59:50Z | siouxlandproud.com | control | https://www.siouxlandproud.com/news/national-news/mobile-home-abandoned-in-the-middle-of-california-street/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
(KTLA) – A mobile home suddenly stopped moving in the middle of a California street this week, impacting traffic and forcing police to look for the drivers who abandoned the damaged structure in the road.
Police in Hemet began getting reports of the traffic hazard on Wednesday morning, and arrived to find a double-wide mobile home abandoned near an intersection.
The structure had been atop a motorhome-towed trailer that experienced “a catastrophic mechanic failure, which appeared to originate from the [axle],” the Hemet Police Department wrote in a news release posted to Facebook.
Witnesses said the driver of the motorhome, as well as the driver of a Toyota pickup truck that was assisting with the move, had temporarily stopped after the accident, and helped to direct traffic around the mobile home. They then got back into their respective vehicles and left the scene, witnesses told police.
Police were able to identify the drivers after learning the original site of the mobile home. The two motorists were located in Homeland, where it was determined that they “knowingly abandoned the mobile home trailer once it became immobile.”
Police say the suspects may be ordered to repay the city for costs associated with removing the mobile home.
“There’s definitely a house arrest joke here somewhere,” the Hemet Police Department joked on Facebook. | https://www.wwlp.com/news/national/mobile-home-abandoned-in-the-middle-of-california-street/ | 2022-09-03T18:04:55Z | wwlp.com | control | https://www.wwlp.com/news/national/mobile-home-abandoned-in-the-middle-of-california-street/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
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Keep an eye out for any profit boosts in your ‘Bonus Drawer’ on Caesars Sportsbook. | https://nypost.com/2022/09/03/caesars-sportsbook-promo-code-npbonusfull-college-football-saturday-boost/ | 2022-09-03T18:12:22Z | nypost.com | control | https://nypost.com/2022/09/03/caesars-sportsbook-promo-code-npbonusfull-college-football-saturday-boost/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Principals ousted from schools for misconduct or incompetence often land softly in the city Department of Education bureaucracy — where they make as much money and get the same health and pension benefits as their peers who do the work of running schools.
Chancellor David Banks vowed after taking over the DOE to rid the system of needless bureaucrats. But the system makes it difficult, cases show.
It’s time-consuming and costly to fire a principal who won’t resign or retire — and trying to do so may backfire, insiders say. After a lengthy administrative trial, the state-appointed hearing officers who decide whether to terminate tenured DOE employees may decline to dismiss even those found guilty. Instead, they will impose a fine or suspension, or require some training.
“In their mind, they are balancing at what point do you destroy someone’s career — instead of at what point do you decide this person should not be in front of kids,” said Eric Nadelstern, a deputy chancellor of teaching and learning under ex-Mayor Bloomberg.
“There are obviously people in the system who shouldn’t be there.”
But a trial might also air embarrassing details and counter-accusations against DOE higher-ups – resulting in bad publicity. It becomes “expedient,” Nadelstern said, for the DOE to keep the unfit administrators at a taxpayer-funded desk.
Among recent cases:
- Karen Hambright-Glover, removed from PS 245 in Crown Heights in January after numerous complaints of bullying and verbal abuse of students, parents and staff, including the use of obscenities, the BKReader reported. Hambright-Glover is “currently reassigned away from students,” the DOE said last week. A report by the DOE’s Office of Special Investigations is “under review.” Her salary: $187,530.
- Oneatha Swinton, removed as interim principal of Port Richmond HS in June 2018. She pled guilty to car-insurance fraud. A probe found she improperly funneled $100,000 to a vendor friend, and “failed to safeguard” 600 DOE computers, laptops and printers that vanished when she led John Jay School for Law. Her salary: $187,043.
- Khurshid Abdul-Mutakabbir, ousted from Maspeth HS last August. Investigators confirmed reports in The Post that the school created fake classes, gave credits to failing students, fixed grades to push kids out, and intimidated teachers who objected to fraud. Chancellor Banks let Abdul-Mutakabbir stay on the payroll for seven years until he retires. His salary: $187,043.
- Howard Kwait, removed in May 2018 from John Bowne HS in Queens in May 2018 after the The Post reported the city paid $830,000 to female staffers who accused him of sexual harassment — including crude and explicit remarks. Kwait also was fined $4,500 by the city Conflicts of Interest Board after a school aide he had an affair with paid $10,800 for their trips abroad together. His salary: $198,355.
- Benjamin Sherman, forced to step down from Forest Hills HS in June 2019 after complaints of rampant marijuana smoking and general chaos. A faculty vote of no-confidence alleged odd behavior such as leaving the door to his office and bathroom open while he urinated. His salary: $198,355.
- Astrid Jacobo, pulled from Urban Assembly School for Wildlife Conservation in The Bronx in October 2017, a month after a student was stabbed to death in class by a boy who claimed he was bullied. Her salary: $191,372.
All the exiled educators are entitled to contractual raises, paid vacations and holidays, accrued pension benefits, and health insurance.
The DOE said all have the job title “principal assigned,” but would not describe their duties.
“It leaves so many parents and staff members just awestruck that they do not get rid of these people who are dangerous or problematic in a school setting,” said Adam Bergstein, a teacher at Forest Hills HS who led the faculty opposition to Sherman. “It also undermines the DOE’s credibility, because instead of actually addressing the problem, they just kind of cover it up and protect their own.” | https://nypost.com/2022/09/03/nyc-principals-booted-from-schools-still-rake-in-pay-and-benefits/ | 2022-09-03T18:12:58Z | nypost.com | control | https://nypost.com/2022/09/03/nyc-principals-booted-from-schools-still-rake-in-pay-and-benefits/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Stephen A. Smith is just as upset with the Knicks as everyone else.
After a monthslong buildup to a Donovan Mitchell trade ended in disaster, as Mitchell instead went to the Cavs, the ESPN personality ripped the team’s inability to get a star.
“Every single time, man, something goes wrong,” Smith said in a video he posted on Twitter. “I wanted Donovan Mitchell to New York. I shut my mouth. I didn’t say a word! I didn’t say a word, because I didn’t want to blow it. I didn’t want to get in the way.
“You got about seven or eight first-round picks. You got R.J. Barrett, you got Julius Randle, you got [Obi] Toppin, you got Immanuel Quickley and you still couldn’t get Donovan Mitchell! You still couldn’t get him! So once again, we’re going to turn another season and the New York Knicks are devoid of a star.”
It had long been assumed that Mitchell, a Westchester County native, wanted to play for the Knicks. But Knicks president Leon Rose refused to part with enough first-round picks to satisfy Utah CEO of basketball operations Danny Ainge.
Instead of the two unprotected and three conditional first-round picks plus RJ Barrett that the Knicks offered, per The Post’s Marc Berman, Utah got five first-round picks, Collin Sexton, Lauri Markkanen and Ochai Agbaji to send Mitchell to Cleveland.
“Nothing ever gets done in New York with the Knicks!” Smith opined. “Nothing! Nothing!
“It just never ends with the Knicks. It just never freaking ends.”
That much, at least, is true. | https://nypost.com/2022/09/03/stephen-a-smith-rants-on-knicks-inability-to-land-donovan-mitchell/ | 2022-09-03T18:13:10Z | nypost.com | control | https://nypost.com/2022/09/03/stephen-a-smith-rants-on-knicks-inability-to-land-donovan-mitchell/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
A 26-year-old Falls Church woman has been charged in connection with a chain-reaction incident that left a 62-year-old Maryland man dead in the Seven Corners area.
Following investigation, Fairfax police charged Yansi Martinez Gonzalez with reckless driving and driving without a license in connection with the Aug. 18 incident, police said.
The incident occurred at 8:38 a.m. According to Fairfax police, Martinez Gonzalez made an improper lane change from the left lane of Wilson Boulevard in Seven Corners, hitting the side of a Volkwagen Jetta that also was traveling northbound.
According to police, the collision forced the Volkwagen off the roadway and into a parking lot in the 6200 block of Arlington Arlington Boulevard, where the victim – Albert Sweat – was walking. Sweat was transported to a local hospital but died of his injuries.
Based on initial investigation, detectives do not believe drugs or alcohol were involved. None of the drivers or passengers of the vehicles received injuries.
Martinez Gonzalez was released on a summons and has been scheduled to appear in court.
The Aug. 18 incident marked the 13th pedestrian-related fatality in Fairfax County for 2022. During the same period in 2021, there had been 10 such fatalities.
[https://sungazette.news provides content to, but otherwise is unaffiliated with, InsideNoVa or Rappahannock Media LLC.] | https://www.insidenova.com/news/arlington/charges-levied-in-seven-corners-crash-that-killed-pedestrian/article_b27edeb0-2bac-11ed-84e2-83b36f363fbd.html | 2022-09-03T18:14:54Z | insidenova.com | control | https://www.insidenova.com/news/arlington/charges-levied-in-seven-corners-crash-that-killed-pedestrian/article_b27edeb0-2bac-11ed-84e2-83b36f363fbd.html | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
On Aug. 28 at 6:01 p.m., Arlington officers on patrol were flagged down by an individual who reported that his parked, idling vehicle had been stolen in the area of North Lynn Street and Wilson Boulevard with his child inside.
A lookout was broadcast for the vehicle and child to Arlington officers and those in surrounding jurisdictions.
At approximately 6:20 p.m., officers with the Metropolitan Police Department reportedly located the stolen vehicle, with child inside, in the 2200 block of Fairlawn Ave., S.E., in the District of Columbia, Arlington police said. The child was reported as unharmed.
The suspect is described as black male.
Arlington police issued the vehicle owner, a 38-year-old Falls Church man, a citation for contributing to the delinquency of a minor.
[https://sungazette.news provides content to, but otherwise is unaffiliated with, InsideNoVa or Rappahannock Media LLC.] | https://www.insidenova.com/news/arlington/police-child-ok-after-car-is-stolen-abandoned/article_1f5db33a-2bad-11ed-9db2-1f8dd7f5f983.html | 2022-09-03T18:15:00Z | insidenova.com | control | https://www.insidenova.com/news/arlington/police-child-ok-after-car-is-stolen-abandoned/article_1f5db33a-2bad-11ed-9db2-1f8dd7f5f983.html | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
On Aug. 27 at 8:49 p.m., a juvenile male was running along the Custis Trail near the 4700 block of Washington Boulevard when he was stabbed, according to Arlington police.
Police said the suspect fled the scene on foot. A search of the area was conducted, including use of a police helicopter, but the suspect escaped.
The victim, who was taken to a local hospital with injuries described as serious but non-life-threatening, described the suspect as an Asian or Hispanic male.
[https://sungazette.news provides content to, but otherwise is unaffiliated with, InsideNoVa or Rappahannock Media LLC.] | https://www.insidenova.com/news/arlington/police-youth-stabbed-while-running-on-trail-in-arlington/article_f133ed9e-2bac-11ed-9cca-47fb6e06017d.html | 2022-09-03T18:15:06Z | insidenova.com | control | https://www.insidenova.com/news/arlington/police-youth-stabbed-while-running-on-trail-in-arlington/article_f133ed9e-2bac-11ed-9cca-47fb6e06017d.html | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
On Aug. 30 at 12:50 p.m., officers responded to Cunningham Park Elementary School for a report of a suspicious person who possibly had a gun and was pointing it at students, Vienna police said.
Upon investigation, officers determined that no firearm was present, but that the man had picked up a metal object and pointed it at students.
Officers searched the vicinity for the suspect, and later were dispatched to the Vienna Town Green, where a person matching the description of the suspect was bathing in the park’s water feature, police said.
The suspect, a 42-year-old man of no fixed address, was transported to the Fairfax County Police Department and charged with drunk in public and brandishing within 1,000 feet of a school, police said.
During booking, a fingerprint search revealed that there was an active warrant out for the man (under a different name) in the city of Alexandria, charging him with indecent exposure.
The warrant was served on the suspect, who also was formally banned from all Fairfax County Public Schools property.
[https://sungazette.news provides content to, but otherwise is unaffiliated with, InsideNoVa or Rappahannock Media LLC.] | https://www.insidenova.com/news/fairfax/police-man-acting-erratically-at-elementary-school-didnt-have-gun/article_d3ef8676-2bac-11ed-a493-f3058181f525.html | 2022-09-03T18:15:12Z | insidenova.com | control | https://www.insidenova.com/news/fairfax/police-man-acting-erratically-at-elementary-school-didnt-have-gun/article_d3ef8676-2bac-11ed-a493-f3058181f525.html | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
If you just don’t want to go through all the labor of tipping your roses into a trench, there is an easier way to protect them and your other tender perennials.
For roses, plant the bud union or crown of the plant about two to inches inches below the soil line. This ensures there will be more buds available in case of a regular Minnesota winter, not the wimpy ones we have had the last few years. Adding those inches of soil increases the chance of at least some of the buds surviving if severely damaged. If the rose is quite large, like climbers, make a large wire cage and bend the canes down below the top of the cage. Fill the enclosure with mulch. This can be oak leaves, straw or chopped corn cobs. These mulches won’t get waterlogged like maple leaves or grass clippings. The air pockets between the more porous mulch materials aid in insulation. The root system isn’t disturbed either. You may have more cane dieback but this method is much easier on your back.
Tying long canes as you would do for the Minnesota tip method can be useful here too as it will be easier to get the mulch tucked all around the plant. Exposed canes will probably die so cut those off after summer growth stops. Or you can leave them sticking up for bird perches in the garden. This will encourage the birds to snack on the dead seed heads you deliberately left in the garden for them.
For more protection, mound six to 12 inches of soil around the base of the rose then cover with mulch in October to early November depending on the fall temperatures. We do occasionally have a very warm fall. You want to enjoy your flowers as long as possible as the winters seem 10 months long some years. Just mulch is easier as you don’t have to find and transport soil in fall then remove it in spring. Add a bar of rat poison to each cage so the critters, mice, chipmunks and their like don’t spend the winter holed up in the mulch snacking on the canes.
If you have tree roses, a cultivar grafted to the top of a tree with the trunk being a different rose, you have a real job protecting it. You need to protect both the rose and the trunk. The Minnesota tip method is the best protection for this type of rose. That is, unless it is Polar Joy, a tree rose developed by Baily Nurseries in St. Paul. This rose isn’t grafted like other tree roses. A single stem of the rose is trained to be the trunk then allowed to branch. It was introduced in 2006 and was hardy for the next two years so may be an option if you must have a tree rose and they are still available.
Roses in pots, or your other deck plants can be saved if they are typically hardy planted in the soil. If left in the pot on the deck, the pot will freeze solid and kill the plant. To keep them for next year, bury them sideways, pot and all in the garden. your neighbors may wonder about your sanity when they see you digging holes and sticking pots in them. You can gloat next spring when all you have to do is dig the pots out, wash them off and done. No money spent, no time plodding through the green house looking for just the right plant. You already have them.
Bev Johnson M.G. | https://www.fergusfallsjournal.com/lifestyle/roses-how-far-to-pull-up-the-blanket/article_9a5e818e-2a33-11ed-829e-3b07dcaff331.html | 2022-09-03T18:28:41Z | fergusfallsjournal.com | control | https://www.fergusfallsjournal.com/lifestyle/roses-how-far-to-pull-up-the-blanket/article_9a5e818e-2a33-11ed-829e-3b07dcaff331.html | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
News of the United States planning to land a man on the moon in 2025, after a span of 53 years, hit home with many long-time residents of Battle Lake and also long-time residents throughout Otter Tail County.
That’s because Harrison (Jack) Schmitt, a summer resident at West Battle Lake, was one of two astronauts who walked on the moon during the final U.S. lunar landing in December 1972. They were among only 12 astronauts who walked on the moon in the late 1960s and early 1970s.
Schmitt, who has lived in New Mexico most of his adult life, has enjoyed spending time at the family cabin on the north side of West Battle Lake. The cabin was first purchased by his father, a Minnesota native.
In the fall of 1968, Schmitt was part of NASA, training as an astronaut. Of the 12 United States moonwalkers, Schmitt was the only geologist and scientist to walk on the moon. He flew in space as part of the Apollo 17 crew that explored the moon close to 50 years ago.
Attending the space launch in Florida in December 1972 was the late Daily Journal newsroom editor Jim Gray, a neighbor of Schmitt at West Battle Lake, and the late Daily Journal publisher Charles Underwood.
In recent years Schmitt returned to West Battle Lake, most often during the month of August, and remains a hero to area residents. He’s proud of the accomplishments of Vining native and astronaut Karen Nyberg who flew on two space shuttle missions.
Over the years Schmitt has spoken to students and service groups in Battle Lake, Fergus Falls and in other area communities.
Schmitt left NASA in 1975 to campaign for a U.S. Senate seat from New Mexico. He won and spent one six-year term in Congress. Schmitt served as the ranking Republican on the Senate’s Science, Technology and Space Subcommittee as well as the Appropriations Subcommittee for Health, Human Services and Labor.
A highlight for me was having lunch with Schmitt a few years ago at the Viking Café here in Fergus Falls. He was always modest and gracious when meeting with residents of Otter Tail County.
Renewed interest in baseball cards
One of the big headlines in recent days was a multi-million-dollar purchase of a 1952 Mickey Mantle rookie baseball card.
In the past several months, when people stayed home due to COVID-19, many of those same people went through personal items in attics and basements.
Found by many people were baseball cards which hadn’t been inventoried for many years. This has led to a boost in the baseball card collector business, and increased prices.
The values of baseball cards peaked in the early 1990s, and then went downward.
Demand for old baseball cards is the issue. If there is little demand, then the supply of baseball cards is greater than the demand.
“We all learned in our college economics class that when that happens, the price of a particular item will decrease,” says baseball author Steve Rosen.
The opposite can also take place. An example is the high demand for Mickey Mantle baseball cards from the 1950s and 1960s.
“Here’s a teachable moment to share with kids on the laws of supply and demand,” says Rosen. “It turns out that Topps baseball cards did not flood the market with Mantle cards in 1952. Add in the fact that Mantle remains a fan favorite, long after his death, and the math becomes simple.”
Younger readers may not know that, in the early 1960s, Mantle and his team, the New York Yankees, attracted close to 120,000 fans for a three-game weekend series at the old Metropolitan Stadium in Bloomington, home of the Minnesota Twins.
A teammate of Mantle was Fargo native and home run slugger Roger Maris. | https://www.fergusfallsjournal.com/opinion/battle-lake-tied-to-moon-landing/article_e76ea2ce-2a2e-11ed-b7c2-eb66269e900b.html | 2022-09-03T18:28:47Z | fergusfallsjournal.com | control | https://www.fergusfallsjournal.com/opinion/battle-lake-tied-to-moon-landing/article_e76ea2ce-2a2e-11ed-b7c2-eb66269e900b.html | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Recently, I was going through some storage tubs in my she-shed. I need to make some space. Much to my amazement, I found captivating treasures! Over the next several months bits and pieces of family history that was buried in those tubs will wiggle their way into my stories. Among the buried treasures were stories my dad wrote, along with aging documents. One document harvested memories for me like a farmer in the fall: it was a certificate of stock. Dad owned one share of capital stock of the Lake Region Pioneer Threshermen’s Association. Value, $10.
George Melby and his brother Ralph, along with their nephew, Kenneth Bratvold, held their own old time threshing bee on October 8, 1954, with six stacks of grain using George’s Minneapolis steam powered separator. Although not advertised, over 500 people came to observe the event on George’s 10-acre field. It has been an annual event ever since. In 1960 it was moved to the present site on 40 acres of leased land on the southeast side of Dalton. LRPTA, also known as the ‘Dalton Threshermen’s Association” purchased the land in 1973 and the reunion continues each year the weekend after Labor Day. When dad became involved through the encouragement of his cousins and friends, I discovered my own fascination with farming history. There is so much to see, learn and enjoy! Yesterday I was told that my grandkids are going this year for the very first time. I’m so excited for them!
One of my favorite activities is to ride on the World War I, French steam locomotive train. I would love to cruise around and around on that train, but they are usually very busy and I have to allow others a chance. Manners you know! So I grab an ice cream cone, and ride around one time to see the entire Threshermen’s grounds. Then I can plan my strategy for how I’m going to tackle my visit and which areas I have already seen enough of. For example, I love the historical buildings and the steam run lumber mill, but I don’t need to visit every collectable tractor on the grounds. There are tons of tractors in a plethora of colors: red, red and white, blue, green, yellow and orange. From my perspective, seeing them from the train is enough. On the other hand, when they crank up those monster steam engines, I want to get up close and personal. There are some great stories from the men and women who work with those gentle giants. To think of going to all the work of restoring and using them is mind boggling. The parade is a great way to see the steam engines in action, but I like to talk to the people who run them.
The grounds include fascinating historical buildings including pioneer log cabins, a one-room schoolhouse, church, general store, printing office and many more. Each building has been restored and furnished with period furnishings, tools, housewares, etc. I like to think about what it would be like to live like that. Maybe for a weekend, then give me my hot and cold running water, central heat and electric refrigerator.
I enjoy watching the saw mill. They have a steam driven crane that places huge logs on the mill conveyor which is also steam driven. They cut up lumber that is used in buildings on the premises. The craftsmen and women also intrigue me. They are happy to visit with guests, explaining what they’re making whether it is a furniture spindle or a barrel, or if they are making rope or ice cream. Speaking of ice cream, who doesn’t love the Sawmill Café and the Church Lunch Stand? Those ladies really know how to make pies from scratch and top it with yummy ice cream. If you are more into fast food and carnival type treats, there are fast food stands throughout the main drag.
If you prefer shopping, there is an outdoor flea market that keeps growing and crafts in the quonset building. From time to time, I find a treasure I can’t live without. There’s also time for chatting and asking questions about the curiosities on the tables.
If that’s not enough to keep you busy for a weekend afternoon, there is entertainment and events. This year they offer two live bands, one each day, the blue ox tractor pull, a kid’s pedal pull and the Queen of Steam Pageant.
The Steam Threshers Reunion, held this year Sept. 9-11, in Dalton, is one of the best buys in town. A daily pass is only $10, with a full three day pass a bargain at $15. The kids can come all weekend for 4 bucks apiece. A family of four can spend the entire weekend for just $38! Now that is a bargain. I recommend you carve out time next weekend to visit the Dalton Thresherman’s Reunion, experience living history and make lasting memories with your family. What a great way to take a backward glance!
Good news readers. I have finally opened a dedicated gmail account for my column. Now you can email me with your corrections, comments and questions. I can’t wait to hear from you! My account is abackwardglance17@gmail.com.
Discuss the news on NABUR, a place to have local conversations The Neighborhood Alliance for Better Understanding and Respect ✔ A site just for our local community ✔ Focused on facts, not misinformation ✔ Free for everyone | https://www.fergusfallsjournal.com/opinion/beginning-in-1954-the-threshers-reunion-keeps-on-threshing/article_1fe98e68-2a37-11ed-a8c2-cface3e00e24.html | 2022-09-03T18:28:54Z | fergusfallsjournal.com | control | https://www.fergusfallsjournal.com/opinion/beginning-in-1954-the-threshers-reunion-keeps-on-threshing/article_1fe98e68-2a37-11ed-a8c2-cface3e00e24.html | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
The Best of Otter Tail County votes are in and the winners will be announced at a special awards event on Sept. 27, at the VFW in Fergus Falls. The doors open at 5:30 p.m. with live music from the Blue Red Roses band and the awards start at 6:30 p.m. My good buddy, Don Mollerud, is the MC for the evening so it should be a fun and entertaining time for all. Tickets are only $35 and are available at the Daily Journal and at the door on the night of the event.
As mentioned above we will be announcing the winners at the event and this year no one will know who won until the night of the event when it is announced. To facilitate this we are inviting the top three vote getters from each category to attend the event to see who won. If your business made the cut to the top three you will be contacted by our team here at the Daily Journal or if you wish you can contact the Daily Journal to find out as well.
This is our third year of producing the Best of Otter Tail County and it has grown dramatically each year. This year we have 124 categories and they harnessed more than 12,500 nominations and 46 thousand votes. This is amazing and is a direct testament to the popularity of the Best of Otter Tail County. It is good for businesses because people want to know who the best is and even if a business did not place first they are still voted as “one of the best” in the county. This is significant because many of the categories were highly contested and to make the top three it took a lot of votes which came from the support of their patrons/customers.
Businesses and their messages are also exposed to an audience that is at its peak height during the nomination and voting phases of the campaign. This helps to build top of mind awareness and branding which is exactly what every business needs and wants.
Lastly, the results will be published in a special section that is set to come out in the Daily Journal on Sept. 28 (the day after the awards event). They will again be published in our annual Resorter that will publish in May 2023 where area tourists will then know who the Best of Otter Tail County are. You asked for the Best and you will get the Best (on Sept. 27, at the VFW at 5:30 p.m.).
Discuss the news on NABUR, a place to have local conversations The Neighborhood Alliance for Better Understanding and Respect ✔ A site just for our local community ✔ Focused on facts, not misinformation ✔ Free for everyone | https://www.fergusfallsjournal.com/opinion/best-of-otc-votes-are-in/article_8667c89a-2af9-11ed-9719-27ea4169b87a.html | 2022-09-03T18:29:00Z | fergusfallsjournal.com | control | https://www.fergusfallsjournal.com/opinion/best-of-otc-votes-are-in/article_8667c89a-2af9-11ed-9719-27ea4169b87a.html | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Right off the bat it should be noted that this column will have nothing contained within it that could be related to actual horses.
I am talking about children and adults alike engaging in humorous activities.
We all do it sometimes. Things that really have no point and things that some would call a complete waste of time.
In the times we live in, it is very easy to get overwhelmed and depressed with all that is going on.
My grandfather once told me that it is pointless to sit and worry yourself to death over things you have no control over. How much of what we worry about do we actually have control over?
The only ones we have control over are ourselves. How we react and what decisions we make.
Do we let others’ decisions and actions affect us? Yes. It is unavoidable unfortunately.
The effect of humor can, however, help us control how we react.
Humor is also in the eye of the beholder as they say. My idea of what I find humorous, might not be your cup of tea, or vice versa.
People have used humor and horseplay since time began to help break the tension of a serious situation.
According to a Mar. 30, 2015 article that appeared in Time magazine, “When President Ronald Reagan was shot, it was anything but funny. The assassination attempt required the President to undergo surgery and seriously wounded three others, but Reagan knew it was also important to convey to the country that he was going to be okay and before he was told that others had been injured — he knew that humor could get that message across, perhaps better than any other official reassurance. The very first thing he said to the First Lady Nancy Reagan when she arrived at the hospital was, ‘Honey, I forgot to duck,’ a reference to a one-liner used by boxer Jack Dempsey.”
We must never forget that humor is always an option.
However, it can also be true that in some situations it can be assumed that it may not be appropriate, but can also lighten a load or mood.
I remember attending a memorial service a few years ago for an old acquaintance. It was a somber affair to say the least, as they had touched the lives of so many people. They were not particularly old when they passed, but not really young either.
The gathered mourners one after another got up and told about all the good work the person had done and how many people they had helped along the way. Others talked about how much they loved and cared for their family.
But the highlight of the service that changed the whole direction of the proceedings, was an older gentleman who got up and recollected how the person told some really funny jokes and how he made so many people happy with laughter. After that, the cloud of sadness over the service seemed to dissipate. As people were leaving, after paying their last respects, you could hear them laughing and remembering as well.
Does everything have to be so serious all the time? Do we have to walk around with sour looks on our faces?
I say no. | https://www.fergusfallsjournal.com/opinion/horseplay/article_9ad01fc4-2ae2-11ed-a3b9-1319d260c83a.html | 2022-09-03T18:29:06Z | fergusfallsjournal.com | control | https://www.fergusfallsjournal.com/opinion/horseplay/article_9ad01fc4-2ae2-11ed-a3b9-1319d260c83a.html | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
I know a lot of busy people.
They use calendars to remind them of their appointments and commitments. They pull out their phone to see if they have 15 minutes of free time anytime in the upcoming week, or maybe month. They talk about the business of busyness because it’s important stuff. It’s all-encompassing, sometimes. Oftentimes because there is no escaping it. It’s the price of success, prestige, happiness, self-esteem and fulfillment in life; busy leads to all these and more.
It’s all good. Or maybe not.
Take it from someone who used to think she was one of the busiest of the busy — and damn proud of it, thank you very much. I know, because I’ve been there. I was there — for eons.
A very, very, very busy person.
I used to color code my calendar with highlighter markers — one color for each kid and one for my husband and me. I think maybe even the dog and cat had their own highlighter colors, but I’m not sure. I was too busy to commit that to memory.
Some days — most days — looked like a rainbow because of all the activities, meetings, commitments and veterinary appointments. And I’ll be honest: That calendar stood as a source of pride.
I was drinking the Kool Aid without paying attention to calories, sugar content or artificial colors and ingredients. I was buying into that brand of cool without even glancing at the label.
I thought busy was cool.
And it was, in a sense, but not in the way I thought at the time.
My brightly colored rainbow calendar pages were cool because they illustrated happenings in the lives of the people (and perhaps animals) I loved. They showed my priorities were defined by family.
Love and family is cool.
Busy, perhaps, may not be.
My comfortable, busy, recently vacuumed carpet got yanked out from under me less than two years ago when a major life circumstance marched in and forcibly grabbed busy from my anxious grasp. I was left holding nothing, standing in nothingness and unable to move anywhere beyond that.
In that moment, I discovered the opposite of busy. I discovered the nothingness of freedom. The value of unencumbered time. The beauty of a day without commitments.
It redefined my life.
And it made me realize I have a choice. That we all have a choice. Busy is a choice.
It is also an illusion. We tell ourselves we are busy, because It somehow serves our psyche. I’m not sure how, exactly. I think perhaps “busy” serves different purposes for different people. It can alleviate loneliness; it might hide insecurity; it can give value to time spent working at a job, parenting kids or helping aging parents.
Again, that is okay. Busy worked for me for many years.
But right now, honestly, busy is too complicated for my life. I don’t have the time to be busy.
And all I ask is for your understanding and non-judgement. I don’t judge you for being busy; please don’t judge me for the opposite.
I don’t have the drive to be busy right now. I don’t have it in my heart. I just want to be.
Be calm. Be at peace. Be in the here and now. Be me.
And you can be you, as busy as you wish.
Just realize it isn’t for everyone. At least not anymore.
Jill Pertler is an award-winning syndicated columnist, published playwright and author. Don’t miss a slice; follow the Slices of Life page on Facebook. | https://www.fergusfallsjournal.com/opinion/the-opposite-of-busy/article_3e2119b8-2a38-11ed-8ef6-133607cc3add.html | 2022-09-03T18:29:12Z | fergusfallsjournal.com | control | https://www.fergusfallsjournal.com/opinion/the-opposite-of-busy/article_3e2119b8-2a38-11ed-8ef6-133607cc3add.html | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Amazon Prime Video to bad faith internet trolls: You shall not pass!
The streaming giant has taken action against disingenuous “review bombers” on their own platform, Variety has reported. A 72-hour delay now exists for user-generated reviews, time enough for a confirmation that the opinion expressed is a genuine, and not part of a larger culture war forgery or (to put it in science fiction terms) the work of a “bot.” Whether or not this evaluation is done by a human being or an elite AI (if any company has one, it would be Amazon) is currently unknown, making this all even more strange.
For people who are not extremely online, the above paragraph may sound like baffling, so let’s take a step back. Internet trolls with nothing constructive to do with their time have taken to posting negative reviews on shows and films, oftentimes without even watching the material, because they feel it violates how the property oughta be. More often than not, the anger stems from diversity in the casting. With Amazon’s Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, for example, there has been much consternation about actors of color being cast as elves and harfoots (which, it's worth pointing out, are make-believe.)
This sort of thing is not new in “fandom” circles—indeed, some bottom-feeders actually manage to eke out a living out of complaining on YouTube that their television shows are “too woke.”
Amazon’s move to take the time to differentiate between actual criticism from the gripes of trolls comes after Rotten Tomatoes’s decision in 2019 to prevent audience ratings until a movie was out in theaters. Prior to this, trolls and computer-scripted bots had been targeting films well in advance, and almost always because women or minorities were prominent in the project. Currently, however, once a film or show is “out” the troll armies are able to storm RT's castle.
The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power currently has an 84 percent from critics and an audience score of 36 percent. While discrepancies are not unheard of, one need not have Eye of Sauron-level vision to see what’s going on here.
In June of this year, Ewan McGregor fought back against those who were criticizing the Black actress Moses Ingram, saying, “you're no Star Wars fan in my mind” in a video. McGregor’s move, in addition to official tweets from the Star Wars franchise account, was seen as an important move, considering how Star Wars was, in the eyes of many critics, wishy-washy in their defense of John Boyega and Kelly Marie Tran when they were subjected to racist online commentary.
In an interview with Inverse, Morfydd Clark, who plays LOTR: TROP's Galadriel, smacked down so-called fans who think they speak on behalf of J.R.R. Tolkien. “[Tolkien] was a really complex person who wrote a really complex world,” she said, “and this idea that anyone could know exactly what he would've wanted or what he would've liked is, I feel, nonsense.” | https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2022/09/amazon-prime-video-sends-lotr-trolls-back-to-their-cave | 2022-09-03T18:30:22Z | vanityfair.com | control | https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2022/09/amazon-prime-video-sends-lotr-trolls-back-to-their-cave | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
The Artemis I space mission is delayed once again after NASA was unable to resolve fuel leaks on Saturday, and after a constellation of problems prevented the launch last Monday.
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This uncrewed mission is the first step of the Artemis program, which plans to send humans back to the moon, for the first time since 1972, to prepare to send them to Mars eventually. If the mission is successful, four astronauts will travel on Artemis II and fly around the moon.
NASA engineers gave a “no go” for launch recommendation on Saturday morning, hours before the scheduled launch. The Space Launch System and Orion–the rocket and its capsule–were scheduled to take off between 2:17 and 4:17 p.m. E.T from the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla., but it is facing issues again, as the rocket is leaking liquid hydrogen. The rocket didn’t take off Monday after a sensor indicated that one of the rocket’s engines was not sufficiently chilled, a necessity for a safe liftoff.
According to NASA’s blog, the leak recurred on Saturday when “engineers increased the pressure on the flow of liquid hydrogen into the core stage…Engineers will attempt to reseat the seal in the quick disconnect cavity where the leak has been detected.” NASA said the team was on its third troubleshooting attempt of the day.
In 2019, the Trump administration had pledged to put people back on the lunar surface by 2024; NASA now projects astronauts could return to the moon in 2025. Although President Joe Biden rolled back an abundance of Donald Trump-era policies when he took office, Biden kept Trump’s space initiatives–the Artemis program and Space Force–in place.
“It's a future where NASA will land the first woman and the first person of color on the moon. And on these increasingly complex missions, astronauts will live and work in deep space, and will develop the science and technology to send the first humans to Mars,” said NASA Administrator Bill Nelson last month.
If the 38-day Artemis I mission goes to plan, Orion will splash down in the Pacific on October 11. | https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2022/09/artemis-i-launch-delayed-again | 2022-09-03T18:30:28Z | vanityfair.com | control | https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2022/09/artemis-i-launch-delayed-again | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
As the Justice Department continues to shed light on the trove of documents stashed at Mar-a-Lago, several high-profile former President Donald Trump allies are no longer coming to his defense.
On Friday, after the DOJ unsealed the court filing detailing the inventory of documents discovered in the FBI raid, Trump’s former attorney general Bill Barr said on Fox News that the government was being “jerked around” by the former president when it tried to obtain classified material from the Florida estate.
In response to Republicans criticizing the “unprecedented” nature of searching a former president’s property, Barr retorted: “It’s also unprecedented for a president to take all this classified information and put them in a country club.”
The unsealed filing described boxes containing classified documents strewn with books and clothes; it also mentioned 48 empty folders with “classified” banners, and an additional 42 empty folders marked with “return to staff secretary/military aide.” It is unclear at this point if the documents missing from the folders were moved to a recovered box, or are located elsewhere, unfound.
Andrew Weissmann, a lead prosecutor in the Mueller investigation, said on MSNBC on Friday: “Ever since we learned that there was a search warrant and learned that there were classified documents, what was in the back of everyone's mind was the fear that these didn't all stay at Mar-a-Lago, and was there any dissemination…And when you see how many folders were empty, that is the thing that causes you to take a deep breath and really be concerned about what happened to them.”
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On Tuesday, the Justice Department released a court filing offering insight into the attempts it took to retrieve the government documents before the FBI search on August 8. The filing said that the government suspected “that government records were likely concealed and removed from the Storage Room and that efforts were likely taken to obstruct the government’s investigation.” A lawyer for Trump had previously said that all records taken from the White House were being held in one location only: the storage room at Mar-a-Lago.
Friday’s unsealed filing effectively confirmed the suspicion, revealing that some of the material was recovered from Trump’s office, not a storage room.
The filing also said that some of the documents were so sensitive that “even the FBI counterintelligence personnel and DOJ attorneys conducting the review required additional clearances before they were permitted to review certain documents.” | https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2022/09/former-ag-bill-barr-defends-fbi-search-warrant-mar-a-lago | 2022-09-03T18:30:34Z | vanityfair.com | control | https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2022/09/former-ag-bill-barr-defends-fbi-search-warrant-mar-a-lago | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Serena Williams, considered by most experts to be the greatest player in modern tennis, kicked off her retirement Friday night after failing to advance at the US Open. The loss to Croatian-Australian Ajla Tomljanovic, 11 years younger than Williams, represents her career's final Grand Slam match.
“It’s been the most incredible ride and journey I’ve ever been on in my life,” Williams said, a little misty-eyed, during an on-court interview from Arthur Ashe Stadium in Queens, New York. She also gave a touching shout-out to her sister, Venus Williams, and good luck watching this without getting a lump in your throat.
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Serena came out strong at the beginning of the match, but ultimately fell in three sets. Prior to facing off Tomljanovic, she defeated the 27-year-old Montenegran Danka Kovinić and 26-year-old Estonian Anett Kontaveit. Williams turns 41 later this month.
The Michigan-born, Compton, California-raised icon has won the US Open singles tournament six times (Wimbledon and the Australian Open seven times, the French Open three times, since we’re counting) and has accrued other trophies at Arthur Ashe for doubles and mixed doubles.
The 42-year-old Venus Williams has not announced an official retirement and entered this year’s US Open as a wild card, losing to 28-year-old Belgian Alison Van Uytvanck. The sisters played their final round of doubles this week, losing to the Czech duo of Lucie Hradecka and Linda Noskova.
While Serena's exit from the court marks the end of an era, fans on social media marked the occasion with messages of admiration and respect.
Among those serving the Twitter equivalent of an ace on behalf of the tennis great were Michelle Obama, Oprah Winfrey, and Bernice King.
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This content can also be viewed on the site it originates from. | https://www.vanityfair.com/style/2022/09/celebrity-reactions-as-serena-williams-takes-final-bow | 2022-09-03T18:30:40Z | vanityfair.com | control | https://www.vanityfair.com/style/2022/09/celebrity-reactions-as-serena-williams-takes-final-bow | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Cook Out Southern 500 starting lineup at Darlington Raceway
Speedway Digest Staff
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Latest from Speedway Digest Staff
- Alberto Naska extends his championship lead at Most
- CHEVROLET NCS AT DARLINGTON: Chase Elliott Press Conference Transcript
- NCS: Joey Logano to start on pole for Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway
- NXS: What to watch for in the VFW Help a Hero 200 at Darlington Raceway
- Sport Clips Haircuts VFW Help A Hero 200 starting lineup at Darlington Raceway | https://www.speedwaydigest.com/index.php/news/nascar-cup-series-news/72601-cook-out-southern-500-starting-lineup-at-darlington-raceway | 2022-09-03T18:34:31Z | speedwaydigest.com | control | https://www.speedwaydigest.com/index.php/news/nascar-cup-series-news/72601-cook-out-southern-500-starting-lineup-at-darlington-raceway | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Alberto Naska scored his fourth career NASCAR Whelen Euro Series win at Autodrom Most thanks to a strong overtaking maneuver on reigning EuroNASCAR 2 Champion Martin Doubek on lap 2 and extended his championship lead. The driver of the #88 CAAL Racing Chevrolet Camaro will keep the red Whelen banner on his windshield and open the gap on Liam Hezemans, who crashed his car on lap 11.
Several incidents forced race control to deploy the safety car three times during the 14-lap race at the 4.2 kilometer Bohemian track. Naska fended off all attacks by the local hero and sped to victory. Naska leads the championship now with 30 points ahead of Hezemans, while Vladimiros Tziortzis ended up third to score his 5th podium in the 2022 NWES season.
“I was truly going to vomit inside the car because we spent half an hour warming up the tires!” joked Naska in the Victory Lane. “It was really hard to keep focus because even though it was a long race, I think I have the better pace so there was no problem in that but four restarts, it’s really hard! I spent the entire race with Doubek, who was always starting better than me, so that was really hard but the car was great. The team did an incredible job because yesterday we were struggling a lot and today the car was amazing.”
Naska and Doubek fought all race long for the lead, but the Hendriks Motorsport driver never found the space to attack the championship leader. When the checkered flag waved, only 0.585 seconds separated the two contenders who had clashed at the NASCAR GP Italy in Vallelunga before the summer break. Naska also topped the standings in the Rookie Trophy.
Finishing fourth was Speedhouse driver Paul Jouffreau, who battled his way to the front with a damaged car as he also took second in the Rookie Trophy. The Frenchman took advantage of a frantic last lap to overtake several cars in a couple of corners.
Marko Stipp Motorsport’s Yevgen Sokolovskiy also snuck into the top-5 for the first time in his NASCAR career and took the win in the Legend Trophy for drivers aged 40 and more. Claudio Cappelli was sixth overall, third in the Rookie Trophy and second in the Legend Trophy. Gil Linster fell back at the start but climbed back to seventh in an eventful race.
Aliyyah Koloc, another local driver for the Czech top team Buggyra ZM Racing, topped the standings in the Lady Trophy by finishing eighth overall. The driver of the #29 Ford Mustang edged Tuomas Pontinen, who drifted through the gravel trap and grass several times during the race. Alina Loibnegger fought her way into the top-10 for the first time in her career and took second in the Lady Trophy ahead of Arianna Casoli, who ended up 16th overall. Matthias Hauer completed the Legend Trophy podium in 11th place.
Hezemans suffered a heavy setback as he crashed into the car of Doubek and fell back to 18th overall, 6 laps down after his retirement. The young Dutchman was visibly upset with the outcome of his race. Patrick Schober, Michael Bleekemolen, Kasparas Vingilis and Luli Del Castello also had to retire after being involved in a crash in EuroNASCAR 2 Round 7.
The NASCAR Whelen Euro Series will return to action on Sunday for another day of exciting racing at the NASCAR GP Czech Republic. While the EuroNASCAR 2 race will go live at 10:35 am CEST, the EuroNASCAR PRO drivers will hit the track at 2:30 pm CEST. All races will be broadcast live on EuroNASCAR’s YouTube channel, Motorsport.tv and several TV services from all around the world.
NWES PR | https://www.speedwaydigest.com/index.php/news/nascar-cup-series-news/72604-alberto-naska-extends-his-championship-lead-at-most | 2022-09-03T18:34:35Z | speedwaydigest.com | control | https://www.speedwaydigest.com/index.php/news/nascar-cup-series-news/72604-alberto-naska-extends-his-championship-lead-at-most | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
PUKALANI, Maui (KITV4) - According to the National Weather Service in Honoluu, light to moderate trades are expected today, allowing localized sea breezes to develop in the more sheltered leeward areas.
An area of enhanced moisture will move from east to west through the islands today into early Sunday, bringing showery conditions to many windward areas at times, and sending some showers into leeward communities as well.
Drier conditions and moderate trades will return on Sunday and hold through Sunday night.
Another round of increased showers appears to move from east to west through the islands Labor Day through early Tuesday, with drier more typical trade wind weather then returning Tuesday afternoon through late next week.
Temperatures will climb into the upper 80's and low 90's today. It could get hot and humid in some spots.
Winds are expected out of the east from 10-15 mph.
SURF - According to the NWS Honolulu office, surf along south facing shores will remain small through next week with mainly reinforcing shots of south and south-southwest background level swells moving through. The next small source will arrive tonight into Sunday out of the south, that will lead to an upward trend that should hold through Monday before easing. For the extended, a decent south-southwest swell could arrive locally next weekend (around the 10th), depending on how the source evolves as it passes south of the Tasman Sea and New Zealand this weekend.
Surf along north facing shores will remain small through next week.
Surf along east facing shores will remain well below the seasonal average into next week.
North: 1-3'
West: 1-3'
South: 2-4'
East: 1-3'
No weather alerts are posted at this time.
Do you have a story idea? Email news tips to news@kitv.com
Weekend Meteorologist and Maui County correspondent
Malika has been at KITV since July 2020. She graduated from the University of Hawaii and attended Mississippi State University for her certification in Broadcast Meteorology. Malika started her career in the Hawaii news industry in 2007. | https://www.kitv.com/news/local/labor-day-weekend-weather-forecast-enhanced-showers-winds-pick-up-sunday/article_61bc88fa-2b99-11ed-bb26-13190345bc12.html | 2022-09-03T18:34:51Z | kitv.com | control | https://www.kitv.com/news/local/labor-day-weekend-weather-forecast-enhanced-showers-winds-pick-up-sunday/article_61bc88fa-2b99-11ed-bb26-13190345bc12.html | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Orange barrels moved aside on Michigan roads during Labor Day weekend
This Labor Day weekend, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) is moving orange barrels to the side of the road and removing lane restrictions on 96 road and bridge projects statewide to ease traffic delays for holiday travelers.
“Across Michigan, we are moving dirt and fixing the damn roads to save drivers time and money. But this long weekend, we are suspending work and lifting traffic restrictions so Michiganders can get where they need to go safely and on time,” Whitmer said. “As we celebrate Labor Day and soak up our Pure Michigan summer, I hope you stay safe on the roads. Since I took office through the end of 2022, we will have invested 70% more in our roads than the previous four years to fix over 16,000 lane miles of road and 1,200 bridges, supporting nearly 89,000 jobs. On Tuesday morning, the work will continue, and we will roll up our sleeves and keep getting things done."
From Friday, September 2 through the morning of Tuesday, September 6, drivers will see lane restrictions removed on 96 out of 162 projects statewide. While motorists will see suspended operations in most MDOT work zones for the weekend, drivers are advised that equipment and certain traffic configurations may remain in place, like temporary shifts or shoulder closures.
MDOT oversees I, M, and US routes and is responsible for nearly 10,000 miles of state highways, which carry more than 50 percent of all traffic and approximately 70 percent of commercial traffic in Michigan. This list is current as of Aug. 31. For the most up-to-date information on MDOT projects, go to the Mi Drive website at www.Michigan.gov/Drive.
Travelers are also reminded that, for safety and security, the Mackinac Bridge will be closed to public traffic on Labor Day from 6:30 a.m. to noon during the Annual Bridge Walk. Southbound I-75 and US-2 traffic will be stopped at Exit 344 on the north side of the bridge; northbound I-75 traffic will be stopped at Exit 337 on the south end. For more information, visit the Mackinac Bridge Authority (MBA) website at www.MackinacBridge.org/Walk or call the MBA at 906-643-7600.
Detailed information on work zones that will remain active or have lane restrictions during Labor Day weekend can be found here. If necessary, detour routes will be posted at the project location. | https://www.monroenews.com/story/news/local/2022/09/03/orange-barrels-moved-aside-on-michigan-roads-during-labor-day-weekend/65467753007/ | 2022-09-03T18:41:37Z | monroenews.com | control | https://www.monroenews.com/story/news/local/2022/09/03/orange-barrels-moved-aside-on-michigan-roads-during-labor-day-weekend/65467753007/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Local Sports: SMCC falls in finals of Bedford End of Summer Tourney
TEMPERANCE – St. Mary Catholic Central’s volleyball team made it to the finals of the Bedford End of Summer Tournament Friday before falling 25-17, 25-20 to Ann Arbor Skyline.
The Kestrels (7-3) swept Utica, Hanover-Horton, Petoskey in pool play, then stopped Mount Morris 25-17, 25-17 in the quarterfinals and handled Bedford 25-9, 25-16 in the semifinals.
Jessica Costlow led SMCC in kills (61) and digs (39) and also logged 5 blocks. Mackenzie Niedermeyer racked up 139 assists. McKenna Payne showed versatility with 46 kills, 34 digs and a team-high 8 aces and Lauren Conant recorded 14 kills and a team-best 8 blocks.
Other standouts for the Kestrels were Raelyn Turner, Jillian Anderson and Ashley Ruhlig.
Bedford (12-4) beat Plymouth Christian, Blissfield and Monroe in pool play and knocked off Bronson 25-10, 25-17 in the quarterfinals.
Ida finished 2-2 defeating Bronson and Petoskey and losing to Hanover-Horton in pool play, then was eliminated by Blissfield 25-22, 25-18 in the quarterfinals.
Ellie Jones rang up 20 kills and 16 digs, Gabby Gobrecht contributed 11 kills and 6 blocks, Mia Karl 13 kills, and Kylie Grieser 12 kills hitting 0.306. Ryleigh Eyler added 26 digs and 48 assists and Kylee Burkey logged 22 digs,
"This is the best we’ve played so far this season," Ida coach Ashley Begeman said. "I was very happy to see things click and the pieces of the puzzle start to come together."
Monroe lost all four of its matches Anna Tedora led in digs and aces, Alana Aulph in assists and Sydney Button in kills.
PREP TENNIS
Bedford doubles shine
TEMPERANCE – Tough wins from the first two doubles teams propelled Bedford to a 7-1 win over Monroe Thursday.
Jack Nigh-Gavin Regalado won 2-6, 6-2, 13-11 at No. 1 and Carter Ryan-Taylor Burgermeister slugged out a 7-5, 6-3 victory at No. 2.
Azariah Duran won 5-7 6-2, 10-3 at No. 1 singles for Monroe.
PREP GOLF
Saline tops Mules, Trojans
Saline shot 197 to beat Bedford (201) and Monroe (220) at Carrington Golf Club Thursday.
Lauren Werbiansky shot a season-low for nine holes 48 for Bedford.
PREP VOLLEYBALL
Milan tops Vikings
MILAN – Malea Wourman (11 kills, 2 blocks), Madison Slack (34 assists, 6 aces) and Amanda Gregorio (16 digs) led Milan (1-1) past Dundee 25-13 21-25 25-22 21-25 15-11 Wednesday.
“It was a great match,” said Milan coach Kathy Bradshaw. “The girls really played well and fought hard to win this match.”
PREP SOCCER
Huron wins with sub
New Boston Huron blitzed Jefferson 8-0 Wednesday with assistant Alex Lividini standing in for his father Matt as Huron’s coach.
Tyler Toth and Andy Traster each scored twice for Huron while Drew Slane, Luke Hamilton, Carson Downey and Jack Maxwell had the other goals.
Assists went to Toth, Traster, Hamilton, Sebastian Horvath and Aidan Dolencic.
Monroe ties Dexter
DEXTER – Shorthanded Monroe tied Dexter 2-2 Thursday as Brian Palmer and Ashton Walker scored.
Austin Dunn, Lucis Rzepa and Logan Janes played well for the 2-2-3 Trojans.
CROSS COUNTRY
Davis leaves Mules
TEMPERANCE – Jeff Davis has resigned as coach of Bedford’s girls cross country team.
“We are very saddened to lose Coach Davis, but the team, the district and entire community supports his need to spend more time with his young family,” Bedford athletic director Mark German said of Davis, who was in his 15th season with the Mules. “His positive impact on so many young athletes will be greatly missed.”
Stephanie Wistinghausen will serve as the interim head coach.
JV FOOTBALL
Monroe wins on road
Monroe moved Thursday's home game against Ypsilanti Lincoln to Bedford due to work on the track and Bill Bunkelman Field and won 20-14.
Antonio Carr returned the opening kickoff 70 yards for a touchdown and Jax Jones and Keoni Snavely ran for TDs. Jones and Donovan Howard led the defense for 1-1 Monroe. | https://www.monroenews.com/story/sports/2022/09/03/local-sports-smcc-falls-in-finals-of-bedford-end-of-summer-tourney/65470530007/ | 2022-09-03T18:41:43Z | monroenews.com | control | https://www.monroenews.com/story/sports/2022/09/03/local-sports-smcc-falls-in-finals-of-bedford-end-of-summer-tourney/65470530007/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
(NerdWallet) – Most health insurance plans cover birth control without requiring you to pay anything out of pocket. Some employers are exempt, and federal law makes exceptions that allow health plans to cover limited forms of birth control. But there are ways to appeal to your insurance company if you’re forced to pay for birth control prescribed by your doctor.
Is birth control free?
If you have health insurance, specified types of birth control should be free to you because your plan is required to cover the full cost.
Birth control is a type of preventive care. Under the Affordable Care Act of 2010, most health insurance plans must cover the total cost of preventive care, meaning they don’t charge you coinsurance or a copayment. Besides contraceptives, preventive care that’s fully covered by insurance under the ACA includes annual wellness checkups, disease screenings and immunizations.
The ACA’s requirements apply to birth control methods approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and prescribed to women (so procedures like vasectomies aren’t included). Insurers must cover at least one form of each birth control method without charging out-of-pocket fees to patients.
FDA-approved birth control methods fall into six groups:
- Patient education and counseling.
- Hormonal methods, including birth control pills and vaginal rings.
- Implanted devices, such as intrauterine devices, or IUDs.
- Barrier methods, including diaphragms and sponges.
- Sterilization procedures.
- Emergency contraception.
When your insurance doesn’t cover birth control
Even if you’re insured, a number of exceptions in the ACA may prevent you from getting birth control for free. Here are the factors:
- Who sponsors your health plan. Employers can be exempt from covering contraceptives for employees if they have religious or moral objections.
- When your health plan was established. “Grandfathered” plans — or those that predate the ACA and remain basically unchanged — don’t have to follow all the federal regulations. Employer health plans typically change from year to year, which would mean they’ve lost grandfather status.
- Where you get medical care. Insurance likely requires you to access preventive care through an in-network provider to have it fully covered.
- How your insurance company manages care. The ACA allows insurers to set reasonable rules around the medical care they’ll cover so companies can control costs and encourage efficiency.
In practice, medical management tactics can steer you toward generic drugs and devices by making you pay out of pocket for brand-name options or jump through hoops to get your contraceptive of choice covered. If your prescribed form of birth control isn’t fully covered, you should talk to your doctor and go through your insurer’s waiver process.
Getting birth control without insurance
If you don’t have health insurance or your insurance doesn’t cover birth control, there are other options for obtaining contraceptives for little or no cost.
People earning low incomes who qualify for Medicaid can get free family planning services. In most states, those services include birth control, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation.
Some health clinics provide family planning and preventive health services at little or no cost. These Title X clinics receive federal funding through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Title X Family Planning program. | https://www.wpri.com/news/national/does-insurance-cover-birth-control/ | 2022-09-03T18:54:29Z | wpri.com | control | https://www.wpri.com/news/national/does-insurance-cover-birth-control/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
The Newly Conferred Honorary Doctorate Degree Holder by Prowess University, Dr Kehinde Bankole, has urged the Federal Government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) to reach an amicable resolution on the prolonged strike.
Bankole, who is the Managing Director, KAB Constructions, made this known at the Conferment ceremony held on Saturday at the University of Ibadan.
The MD said they both need to immediately proffer a lasting solution to the stop-gap in the Academic system as a result of the strike.
According to him, the Federal Government and the Union need each other for the betterment of the country’s educational system.
The Managing Director noted that the students have to go back to school to continue their education.
He prayed that the almighty God will give divine wisdom to Nigerian leaders to be able to lead the country aright.
Alex, therefore, beseeched other awardees to keep up the good works that made them earn the honorary degree.
This was just as he expressed optimism that Nigeria specifically and the world will be a better place.
ALSO READ FROM NIGERIAN TRIBUNE
“I want to use this opportunity to urge the Federal Government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) to sheath swords.
“Both of them need to immediately proffer a lasting solution to the stop-gap in the Academic system as a result of the strike.
“The Federal Government and the Union need each other for the betterment of the country’s educational system.
“The students have to go back to school to continue their education.
“I pray that the almighty God will give divine wisdom to Nigerian leaders to be able to lead the country aright,” he said.
Dr Kehinde Alex Bankole’s professional career began with the defunct Oceanic bank, from where he proceeded on the entrepreneurial journey of architecture that birthed KAB Constructions Limited in 2009.
He equally has his hands in the Oil and Gas industry to the benefit of the nation and expansion advantage of the company.
Alex is a prince from Ekan Meje, Oke Ero Local Government Area of Kwara State.
FG, ASUU should sheath swords on strike — Dr Bankole | https://tribuneonlineng.com/fg-asuu-should-sheath-swords-on-strike-dr-bankole/ | 2022-09-03T18:58:50Z | tribuneonlineng.com | control | https://tribuneonlineng.com/fg-asuu-should-sheath-swords-on-strike-dr-bankole/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
CSU football vs. Michigan highlights
Robb Hibbard
Fort Collins Coloradoan
The Colorado State football team faced No. 8 Michigan in each team's first game of the 2022 NCAA season at 10 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 3, at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, Mich.
CSU football mailbag:Clay Millen expectations, what’s a ‘win’ vs. Michigan and more
The CSU Rams finished the 2021 season at 3-9, including 2-6 in the Mountain West.
On the rise: National experts predict CSU football to start turnaround in 2022
The Michigan Wolverines finished the 2021 season at 12-2, including 8-1 in the Big 10, losing the Orange Bowl 34-11 to Georgia Dec. 31.
CSU football: 8 CSU football players who need to shine for a successful 2022 season
View highlights from the game below. | https://www.coloradoan.com/story/sports/csu/football/2022/09/03/csu-football-highlights-vs-michigan-wolverines-colorado-state-rams-score-video/65465471007/ | 2022-09-03T19:00:50Z | coloradoan.com | control | https://www.coloradoan.com/story/sports/csu/football/2022/09/03/csu-football-highlights-vs-michigan-wolverines-colorado-state-rams-score-video/65465471007/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
If you’ve been busy for the past week, then you’ve come to the right place with another busy cruise news update. We’ve got coverage across the major cruise lines, as Carnival gets strict, Norwegian makes a huge switch, and plenty of changes from Royal Caribbean.
Cruise News Update
In this week’s roundup, we’ve got a mixture of news across the major cruise lines, but one of the most significant stories is about Carnival Cruise Line starting to get strict with guests, which we will go into shortly.
There’s also coverage on a new thrilling ride for the new MSC cruise ship, plenty of changes from Royal Caribbean, including the huge development with Starlink. Norwegian Cruise Line makes a major switch, and Virgin Voyages prepares for a new loyalty program.
In This Article…
MSC Reveals New Robotic Ride
MSC Cruises has revealed the first-ever robotic arm ride at sea for its new cruise ship, the MSC Seascape.
The amusement ride named ROBOTRON, which has three seats suspended from a robotic arm, will propel guests in all directions and flip them upside down while flying at 175 feet above sea level hanging over the edge of the deck.
Riders can select their own thrill level and speed, from family-friendly fun to the ultimate high-intensity thrills. Guests can also set the mood with their choice of music, lights, and much more.
Behind them will be a giant video screen where the rhythm and bass are visualized while the robotic arm bounces and twists with the music.
MSC Cruises announced even more thrill rides besides ROBOTRON, focusing on virtual reality, 3D, and simulation-type games. The flight simulator will be a 360-degree virtual reality ride, where guests can choose from various worlds.
The VR Motorcycles will be a VR experience where guests can ride a motorbike, complete with special effects such as wind and water splashes. There’s also the MSC Formula Racer and an Immersive XD 3D Cinema.
The 169,000 gross ton MSC Seascape will be setting sail on November 19 from Italy. Her first cruise will be a 17-night Grand Voyage, which ends in New York City for her inauguration. The ship will eventually be operating year-round Eastern and Western Caribbean cruises from PortMiami from December 7, 2022.
Carnival Cruise Line Gets Strict
In a surprising change to its Minor Guest Policy that applies to passengers under 21 years of age, Carnival Cruise Line has instituted an onboard youth curfew fleetwide. The curfew will only apply to guests 17 years of age and younger, and goes into effect immediately.
This means that “Guests 17 years of age and under who are not accompanied by an adult in their traveling party, 21 years of age or older, must be clear of all public areas by 1:00am each evening unless involved in a Club 02 or Circle C teen activity.”
Carnival Cruise Line brand ambassador John Heald clarified the consequences of violating this new policy, Heald said, “Any guest in violation of the curfew or whose behavior contradicts our rules could be disembarked in the next port at their own expense and not be allowed to have a cruise with us again.”
This change comes just days after Carnival Cruise Line updated its “Know Before You Go” information that is sent to guests before their cruise. In the documentation, the cruise line reminds guests to respect others onboard, noise in the hallways is kept to a minimum, guests follow queues, and that a spirit of community and neighborliness is shown by all.
Carnival is putting its foot down indeed, and it comes after some highly reported altercations on ships in recent weeks. In June and July, separate incidents occurred aboard Carnival Magic from New York and Carnival Elation from Jacksonville, Florida. Such incidents, however, are not confined to Carnival Cruise Line. Royal Caribbean Navigator of the Seas had a similar incident in early July.
Royal Caribbean Moves Forward With Starlink
Royal Caribbean Group is the first cruise company worldwide that will fully implement the SpaceX Starlink Maritime high-speed internet onboard cruise ships.
Starting immediately, the company will start installation onboard cruise ships sailing for Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises, and Silversea.
Royal Caribbean has been extensively testing the system onboard Freedom of the Seas over the last weeks, insights the company is taking onboard for the rest of the fleet.
Celebrity Cruises has already provided an update on when it plans to implement the new systems on its ships. Celebrity’s newest ship, Celebrity Beyond, will receive the new system on September 5.
All of the Celebrity Edge Series ships will have been updated by the end of this year. The installation will then continue into 2023 and be complete by May.
According to Royal Caribbean, the feedback from guests has been extremely positive, and by the end of the first quarter of 2023, the cruise line hopes to have the rollout complete for the entire fleet.
Not only does the speed far exceed the current norm, but SpaceX reports speeds up to 350 Mbps. The low-orbit satellite connection also means extremely low latency, which in effect means that faster connections actually work as they would at home.
New Virgin Voyages Perks Program
In 2023, Virgin Voyages will launch its official loyalty program. Ahead of the launch, the Richard Branson-owned cruise line has released details on several perks available to guests this year. These perks, and previous onboard purchases, will help guests propel themselves to elite status in 2023.
Virgin Voyages will offer two different perks in the coming months, aimed at helping guests achieve a higher status once the official loyalty program launches next year.
The first one, ‘Deep Blue Extras,’ will give guests that book a massive amount of extras once they set foot onboard, elevating them to VIPs.
The second perk is the Red Hot Booking Bonus Months. Running between August 30 and November 15, 2022, any booking made in this period will qualify guests for special onboard spending perks and chances to win extraordinary experiences across the Virgin family.
As a thank you to trailblazing guests who were the first to sail onboard Scarlet Lady and Valiant Lady, the cruise line is also introducing Tokens. These Tokens track all qualifying spending onboard to ensure Sailors are positioned for benefits in 2023.
Those who sailed in 2021 with Virgin are called Sea-Blazers. Amongst other perks, they will receive a $125 Bar Tab Bonus for life. Anyone who has sailed with Virgin Voyages twice in 2022 is a Sea-Rover. They will earn a $100 Bar Tab Bonus for two years.
There is a lot of information about the new perks program from Virgin Voyages over on cruisehive.com.
Norwegian Cruise Line Switches to Coca-Cola
Following earlier reports and sightings of drink offerings onboard various ships, Norwegian Cruise Line has officially announced the switch from PepsiCo soft drinks to Coca-Cola products.
This change is in conjunction with the inaugural sailing of the cruise line’s newest vessel, Norwegian Prima, which is already serving Coca-Cola beverages.
The new Norwegian Prima is the first vessel in Norwegian’s 18-ship fleet to carry Coca-Cola as its official soft drink. The remaining NCL ships will all be fully switched over to Coca-Cola products by December 2022.
Guests onboard different vessels have already reported the expanding availability of Coca-Cola drinks, including on Norwegian Breakaway, Norwegian Epic, and Norwegian Joy.
Additional ships will begin offering Coca-Cola beverages as bars and lounges can be adequately supplied, but there has been no calendar announced of which ships will have which drinks when.
It can be a challenge to make the switch even on a single ship since each vessel has many different bars, lounges, and restaurants that all need to be equipped with adequate supplies and new branding to promote the new partnership.
Royal Caribbean Updates Transatlantic Protocols
As protocols for different cruise itineraries, embarkation ports, and destinations have been shifting rapidly in the past few weeks, guests booked on the upcoming transatlantic crossings from Europe to North America will be relieved to finally have updated guidance for their cruise travel.
According to the updated protocols, all guests ages 5 and older are required to be fully vaccinated prior to embarkation. The final dose of the primary vaccine series must be administered at least 14 days before sailing.
All guests for these sailings must submit a negative result from a pre-cruise test. Guests who are fully vaccinated and up-to-date on their vaccination, including the booster shot when their primary vaccine series was completed more than 9 months before sailing, may take a supervised PCR or antigen test up to three days before boarding.
Unvaccinated guests do not need to take two tests, but must be sure their tests are administered within the appropriate time frame prior to embarkation to be valid.
No unsupervised self-test will be accepted for any pre-cruise testing, regardless of vaccination status or the timing of the test.
More Cruise Headlines!
It was just another busy week across the ever-changing cruise industry, we’ve got all the coverage, including crew members getting a new lounge at a cruise port, exclusive dining options coming to the new P&O cruise ship, an itinerary change for a Royal Caribbean vessel, worker strikes impacting cruise operations in Vancouver, the Artemis 1 launch causing delays at Port Canaveral, a former Celebrity cruise ship arrives for scrapping and so much more. | https://www.cruisehive.com/cruise-news-update-september-3-2022/80458 | 2022-09-03T19:02:24Z | cruisehive.com | control | https://www.cruisehive.com/cruise-news-update-september-3-2022/80458 | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
LOS ANGELES (AP) — When Juliana Macedo do Nascimento signed up for an Obama-era program to shield immigrants who came to the country as young children from deportation, she enrolled at California State University, Los Angeles, transitioning from jobs in housekeeping, child care, auto repair and a construction company.
Now, a decade later at age 36, graduate studies at Princeton University are behind her and she works in Washington as deputy director of advocacy for United We Dream, a national group.
“Dreamers” like Macedo do Nascimento, long a symbol of immigrant youth, are increasingly easing into middle age as eligibility requirements have been frozen since 2012, when the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program was introduced.
The oldest recipients were in their early 30s when DACA began and are in their early 40s today. At the same time, fewer people turning 16 can meet a requirement to have been in the United States continuously since June 2007.
The average age of a DACA recipient was 28.2 years in March, up from 23.8 in September 2017, according to the Migration Policy Institute. About 40% are 30 or older, according to fwd.us, a group that supports DACA.
As fewer are eligible and new enrollments have been closed since July 2021 under court order, the number of DACA recipients fell to just above 600,000 at the end of March, according to government figures.
Beneficiaries have become homeowners and married. Many have U.S. citizen children.
“DACA is not for young people,” Macedo do Nascimento said. “They’re not even eligible for it anymore. We are well into middle age.”
Born out of President Barack Obama’s frustration with Congress’ failure to reach an agreement on immigration reform, DACA was meant to be a temporary solution and many saw it as imperfect from the start. Immigration advocates were disappointed the policy didn’t include a pathway to citizenship and warned the program’s need to be renewed every two years would leave many feeling in limbo. Opponents, including many Republicans, saw the policy a legal overreach on Obama’s part and criticized it as rewarding people who hadn’t followed immigration law.
In a move intended to insulate DACA from legal challenge, the Biden administration released a 453-page rule on Aug. 24 that sticks closely to DACA as it was introduced in 2012. It codified DACA as a regulation by subjecting it to potential changes after extensive public comment.
DACA advocates welcomed the regulation but were disappointed that age eligibility was unchanged.
The rule was “a missed opportunity,” said Karen Tumlin, an attorney and director of Justice Action Center. DACA, she said, was “locked in time, like a fossil preserved in amber.”
The administration weighed expanding age eligibility but decided against it, said Ur Jaddou, director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, which administers the program.
“The president told us, ‘How do we preserve and fortify DACA? How do we ensure the security of the program and how best to do that?’ and this was the determination that was made after a lot of thought and careful consideration,” Jaddou said Monday in Los Angeles.
The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, which is considering a challenge to DACA from Texas and eight other states, asked both sides to explain how the new rule affects the program’s legal standing.
Texas, in a court filing Thursday, said the rule can’t save DACA. The states conceded that it’s similar to the 2012 memo that created the program but that they “share many of the same defects.”
The executive branch has “neither the authority to decide the major questions that DACA addresses, nor the power to confer substantive immigration benefits,” the states wrote.
The Justice Department argued the new rule — “substantively identical” to the original program — renders moot the argument that the administration failed to follow federal rule-making procedures.
DACA has been closed to new enrollees since July 2021 while the case winds its way through the New Orleans-based appeals court but two-year renewals are allowed.
Uncertainty surrounding DACA has caused anxiety and frustration among aging recipients.
Pamela Chomba, 32, arrived with her family from Peru at age 11 and settled in New Jersey. She worries about losing her job and missing mortgage payments if DACA is ruled illegal. She put off becoming a mother because she doesn’t know if she can stay in the U.S. and doesn’t want to be a “burden” on her children.
“We’re people with lives and plans, and we really just want to make sure that we can feel safe,” said Chomba, director of state immigration campaigns for fwd.us.
Macedo do Nascimento was 14 when she arrived with her family from Brazil in 2001. She has not seen a brother who returned to Brazil just before DACA was announced in 10 years. International travel under DACA is highly restricted.
Like Biden and many DACA advocates, she believes legislation is the answer.
“Congress is the ultimate solution here,” she said. “(Both parties) keep passing the ball between each other.
The uncertainty has affected her, the eldest of three siblings.
“The fear of being deported has come back,” Macedo do Nascimento said, because “you never know when this policy is going to end.”
___
Sainz reported from Memphis, Tennessee. | https://www.siouxlandproud.com/news/ap-top-headlines/ap-no-longer-young-dreamers-uneasily-watch-a-legal-challenge/ | 2022-09-03T19:07:26Z | siouxlandproud.com | control | https://www.siouxlandproud.com/news/ap-top-headlines/ap-no-longer-young-dreamers-uneasily-watch-a-legal-challenge/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
BRUSSELS (AP) — A British con artist who is the subject of a Netflix documentary has been arrested in Belgium after fleeing from neighboring France, where he had injured two police officers, authorities said
Robert Hendy-Freegard, 51, was expected to appear before a Belgian judge on Saturday, a day after he was arrested on a highway in Groot-Bijgaarden, east of Brussels, Belgian federal police said.
Hendy-Freegard had been on the run since last week, when he hit two officers with his car as he was fleeing a police raid at his home in the village of Vidaillat in central France.
Gilles Blondeau, spokesperson for the Public Prosecutor’s Office of the Halle-Vilvorde disctrict, said Saturday that “about a week ago, the person in question was supposed to undergo a checkup by the police and he fled. He also hit two policemen, one of whom was very seriously injured.”
France had issued a European arrest warrant. The country’s prosecutors have open an investigation for “attempted murder” on police officers.
Blondeau said Hendy-Freegard had been located through the license plate on his vehicle.
“The East Flanders road police were able to intercept the man in Groot-Bijgaarden, and it turned out that it was indeed this person and the wanted vehicle,” he said.
Netflix streaming service released a documentary this year called “The Puppet Master: Hunting the Ultimate Conman” about the life of Hendy-Freegard. In the 1990s and the early 2000s, the con artist ruined numerous lives while posing as an undercover MI5 agent in Europe. He spent 10 years emotionally manipulating his victims into giving him their money, their trust and eventually their freedom by running away with him, according to Netflix.
Arrested in 2002, Hendy-Freegard was convicted of kidnapping, theft and deception and sentenced to life in prison in 2005 in the United Kingdom. He appealed against the kidnapping conviction and got his sentenced reduced to nine years. He was released from prison in 2009.
According to the Netflix documentary, he was living in recent years in France, where he was breeding dogs. | https://www.siouxlandproud.com/news/international/ap-british-con-artist-arrested-in-belgium-wanted-by-france/ | 2022-09-03T19:08:30Z | siouxlandproud.com | control | https://www.siouxlandproud.com/news/international/ap-british-con-artist-arrested-in-belgium-wanted-by-france/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Stars and Royals join crowds at return of Braemar Gathering
The Braemar Gathering has returned after a Covid absence, with Royals and celebs joining the crowds.
While the Prince of Wales, Camilla, and the Princess Royal attended, the Queen, who has been suffering from mobility problems since last autumn remained at nearby Balmoral.
The gathering takes place just a short distance from Balmoral, the royals’ summer residence. Stars including Dame Judi Dench and actor Hugh Bonneville were spotted in the crowds.
Page 1 of 2 | https://www.scotsman.com/news/people/stars-and-royals-join-crowds-at-return-of-braemar-gathering-3830392 | 2022-09-03T19:09:32Z | scotsman.com | control | https://www.scotsman.com/news/people/stars-and-royals-join-crowds-at-return-of-braemar-gathering-3830392 | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
LONDON (AP) — The U.K. will begin its autumn COVID-19 vaccination campaign in the coming weeks after authorizing booster shots made by Pfizer and Moderna that have been modified to target both the original virus and the widely circulating omicron variant.
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency said Saturday that it had approved the Pfizer vaccine for used in people age 12 and older after finding it was both safe and effective. The agency authorized the Moderna vaccine last month.
The government will offer the vaccine to everyone age 50 and over, as well as front-line health care workers and other groups considered to be particularly at risk of serious illness as the National Health Service prepares for a surge in infections this winter.
“These innovative vaccines will broaden immunity and strengthen our defenses against what remains a life-threatening virus,” Health Secretary Steve Barclay said in a statement. “If eligible, please come forward for a booster jab as soon as you are contacted by the NHS.”
Previous COVID-19 vaccines targeted the initial strain, even as mutants emerged. In the new “bivalent” boosters, half of the shot targets the original vaccine and half offers protection against the newest omicron variants. | https://www.siouxlandproud.com/news/international/ap-uk-to-begin-rollout-of-new-covid-19-vaccination-campaign/ | 2022-09-03T19:09:41Z | siouxlandproud.com | control | https://www.siouxlandproud.com/news/international/ap-uk-to-begin-rollout-of-new-covid-19-vaccination-campaign/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
HARARE, Zimbabwe (AP) — Opposition politicians languishing in prison. Journalists and government critics harassed and arrested. Public meetings banned.
Zimbabwe’s general election is several months away but many opposition figures say they are already battling intense government repression similar to the iron-fisted rule of Robert Mugabe, the former president who died in 2019.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government is responding with force to opposition to his rule, stoked by worsening economic conditions including inflation at more than 250% and the emergence of a popular new party.
Among those suffering from the government’s dragnet is opposition member of parliament Job Sikhala, who has been detained in the harsh Chikurubi prison near the capital, Harare, for close to three months on accusations of inciting violence.
The fiery 50-year-old Sikhala has been arrested more than 65 times in his two-decade political career but has never been convicted of any crime, say his lawyers.
Most recently Sikhala was arrested in June with more than two dozen other activists of the opposition Citizens Coalition for Change, known as the CCC, and accused of fanning violence after skirmishes with ruling party supporters. Repeated attempts to get bail for him and the others have failed.
“The reason they have not been given bail is because they (prosecutors) know they will not get convicted. The idea is to make them serve,” said lawyer Beatrice Mtetwa.
“They know they don’t have the evidence to prove the cases,” said Mtetwa, saying the government’s legal tactics are “lawfare” to weaken political opponents.
Criticism of Mnangagwa’s government has been stoked by Zimbabwe’s inflation, currently estimated to be one of the world’s highest and rising numbers of people pushed into informal trade such as street vending. More than two-thirds of Zimbabweans eke out a living in the informal sector, one of the highest rates in the world, according to the IMF.
Few of Zimbabwe’s poor believe the recent introduction of gold coins as legal tender will improve their day-to-day hardships.
The CCC party, launched in January and led by Nelson Chamisa, 44, has attracted considerable attention and followers. In response, police in Harare and other cities have been banning the party’s meetings, as well as gatherings of civic organizations and church groups perceived as government critics.
Dozens of people — including opposition supporters, political activists, journalists, church leaders, trade union members and student leaders — have been arrested and appear in court on various charges that legal experts say are harassment.
Mnangagwa’s strategy to stay in power appears to be to use the police, military, and security forces to keep the opposition in turmoil until elections are held next year, say analysts.
“The current environment has worrying indicators of the possibility of yet another violent and contested electoral period,” noted the Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum in a statement in August.
Zimbabwe is facing “a breakdown in the rule of law and constitutionalism; overt militarization of government, security sector brutality, political polarization, exclusion and violence, shrinking civic space and widespread human rights violations,” said the group.
In recent weeks Mnangagwa has called for peace while at the same time lambasting the opposition and accusing it of being sponsored by Western powers.
It’s similar to the ways of Mugabe, who in his 37 years in power used harsh repression against all opposition. Although Mugabe was forced to resign in 2017, the same party remains in power.
ZANU-PF fought a bitter and bloody war throughout the 1970s, with backing from China, against the white-minority regime of Rhodesia. The guerilla movement won elections in 1980 and has ruled the country ever since, with a strong distrust of the West and multiparty politics.
“The complexities of Zimbabwe politics remain one where there was never a genuine transformation of the liberation movement of ZANU-PF into a political party suiting democratic dictates of the 21st century,” said Alexander Rusero, a Harare-based academic and political commentator.
“Liberation politics is informed by skepticism and binary characterization of citizens as either friends or enemies,” he said. “ZANU-PF continues to classify opposition parties and civil society activists as stooges of the West. It will continue to use its power to crush them, just like what happened during Mugabe’s time.” | https://www.siouxlandproud.com/news/international/ap-zimbabwe-government-harasses-opposition-with-arrests-jail/ | 2022-09-03T19:10:03Z | siouxlandproud.com | control | https://www.siouxlandproud.com/news/international/ap-zimbabwe-government-harasses-opposition-with-arrests-jail/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Former NFL Linebacker Robert Lyles in Need of Heart Transplant Receives Outpouring of Support
Robert Lyles could always been counted on to give his heart out to those in need, those who know him well say. Now, the former NFL linebacker needs support as he awaits a much-needed, but very costly, heart transplant, loved ones say.
It’s been more than 40 years since Robert Lyles played football at Belmont High School in Los Angeles, which put him on track to play in the NFL, but his classmates and teammates haven’t forgotten him.
“You know, he couldn’t even get through the door, because his afro was so big,” former teammate James Bolden recalled.
And as current players for the Belmont Sentinels took the field for their first home game of the school year, Lyles wasn’t far from their minds either.
The former linebacker is currently in a Texas hospital and in need of a new heart, according to friends.
“Robert has been hospitalized in critical condition at Baylor St. Luke's Hospital since July 12, 2022. The medical staff and other employees have given Robert the most extraordinary care available. However, his medical insurance has expired and did not cover a fraction of the costs,” Lyles’ close friend Randy Carodine wrote on a GoFundMe campaign created to help him. “A heart transplant, as you can imagine, is an astronomical cost. Robert has been through several life-saving procedures thus far. The current life sustaining measures are only temporary. Robert needs a new heart immediately.”
He’s also in need of $100,000 to pay for medical expenses.
“I know him personally. Robert will give you anything. And he’ll give you his heart,” Bolden said.
That’s why Bolden and other alumni who knew Lyles gathered at the field where he used to play, hoping to collect donations to help their friend.
Their hope is to one day see him back on this field where it all started.
“Bobby, when you get better man, come on down. Come on down. We want to talk to you. Want to put some love on you, alright?” one well-wisher said.
“It’s been many years, but we never forgot you. You’re a good guy. You’re a big man on campus, and you’re still a big man,” another said. “So, we love you and we want you to get better and we’re pulling for you!”
As of Friday, the GoFundMe campaign created to help Lyles had raised about $55,700.
“Robert continues to fight and maintain his positive attitude towards reaching his goal of a new heart. He continues working hard in therapy. Captain Video still carries that ‘House of Pain’ attitude in his therapy sessions,” Carodine wrote on GoFundMe last Sunday. “Sure, he gets depressed at times from being in the hospital so long, not being able to visit with friends and loved ones or not being able to physically perform as he is used to. It doesn’t last long.
“His competitive mindset always shines through. As well, he can see the condition of those around him, as he once was a few weeks ago, while taking longer walks through the hospital hallway,” Carodine continued. “We ask you to pray along with us that next month Robert will receive an artificial heart that will enable him to go home and rehab while waiting on a transplant. I can’t thank you enough on behalf of Robert. He appreciates all that you have done.”
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Human Interest | https://www.insideedition.com/former-nfl-linebacker-robert-lyles-in-need-of-heart-transplant-receives-outpouring-of-support-76756 | 2022-09-03T19:23:29Z | insideedition.com | control | https://www.insideedition.com/former-nfl-linebacker-robert-lyles-in-need-of-heart-transplant-receives-outpouring-of-support-76756 | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Rare Pink Diamond Expected to Fetch $21 Million at Auction
An 11-carat pink, cushion-cut diamond called the Williamson Pink Star is not just another piece of jewelry; it’s practically a natural wonder.
An 11-carat pink, cushion-cut diamond called the Williamson Pink Star is not just another piece of jewelry; it’s practically a natural wonder.
It also is sure to stun bidders when it goes up for auction in October.
"They are exceptionally rare in nature,” Sotheby’s Kristian Spofforth told Reuters. “If you look at diamonds, we all know as diamonds as being beautiful, wonderful, natural beauties, of diamonds, only five percent of them are colored diamonds.
“Of colored diamonds, only three percent of those are pink,” Spofforth continued. “You then add in the extra factors like it being over 10 carats, internally flawless and Type IIA, and you get right down to the pinnacle, something that is truly, truly, phenomenally rare in nature."
Sotheby’s says it was mined in Tanzania just like a similar diamond that sold for $71 million in 2017.
This diamond is about half the size of the 2017 gem, but it is still expected to fetch around $21 million when it hits the block in Hong Kong.
“There is always going to be a demand for rarity. We see over the lockdown crisis and the COVID crisis that there is always demand for the rare and the beautiful in the world, and this is something exceptionally rare, I think we will have plenty of bidders on the day,” Spofforth said.
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Prosser quarterback Kory McClure looks for an opening during the game against Sunnyside at Sunnyside High School in Sunnyside, Wash., Friday, Sept. 2, 2022.
Prosser’s Kory McClure spent years preparing for his first start as the Mustangs’ quarterback Friday night at Sunnyside.
The junior began throwing as a little kid and learned a lot from watching a long list of successful Prosser quarterbacks, especially CWAC offensive player of the year Kaiden Rivera, who graduated last spring. When McClure’s time finally arrived, it didn’t take long for all of his work to pay off in a hard-fought 20-12 win.
“It’s a really different experience from practice and what we’ve been doing,” McClure said. “But once I got used to it, we started rolling.”
Prosser quarterback Kory McClure looks for an opening during the game against Sunnyside at Sunnyside High School in Sunnyside, Wash., Friday, Sept. 2, 2022.
Prosser quarterback Kory McClure hands off the ball to Cade Harris during the game against Sunnyside at Sunnyside High School in Sunnyside, Wash., Friday, Sept. 2, 2022.
Sunnyside quarterback Brent Maldonado searches for an open receiver during the game against Prosser at Sunnyside High School in Sunnyside, Wash., Friday, Sept. 2, 2022.
Sunnyside's Jade Sanchez, right, celebrates Cody Diddens' touchdown with him during the game against Prosser at Sunnyside High School in Sunnyside, Wash., Friday, Sept. 2, 2022.
Sunnyside's Noah McNair runs through defenders during the game Friday against Prosser at Sunnyside High School in Sunnyside, Wash., Friday, Sept. 2, 2022.
Prosser quarterback Kory McClure looks for an opening during the game against Sunnyside at Sunnyside High School in Sunnyside, Wash., Friday, Sept. 2, 2022.
Prosser quarterback Kory McClure hands off the ball to Cade Harris during the game against Sunnyside at Sunnyside High School in Sunnyside, Wash., Friday, Sept. 2, 2022.
Sunnyside quarterback Brent Maldonado searches for an open receiver during the game against Prosser at Sunnyside High School in Sunnyside, Wash., Friday, Sept. 2, 2022.
Sunnyside's Jade Sanchez, right, celebrates Cody Diddens' touchdown with him during the game against Prosser at Sunnyside High School in Sunnyside, Wash., Friday, Sept. 2, 2022.
Sunnyside's Noah McNair runs through defenders during the game Friday against Prosser at Sunnyside High School in Sunnyside, Wash., Friday, Sept. 2, 2022.
He felt the pressure for the first four drives, as a physical Grizzlies defense forced a sack and an interception while allowing only one first down. Coach Corey Ingvalson said he expected those early struggles with the Mustangs air raid offense, which asks quarterbacks to look all over the field to find open receivers.
Sunnyside jumped out to a 12-0 lead, but McClure said he remained confident and told his teammates to stay positive. They returned the favor and on its fifth drive, Prosser’s offense started clicking.
It began slowly. McClure hit Neo Medrano on a short pass and the strong senior powered his way forward for a 20-yard gain that turned out to be Prosser’s longest reception of the night. Then after a sack, McClure completed four of his next five passes, capped off by a one-yard touchdown to Chris Veloz in one-on-one coverage near the sideline.
That would be one of several times McClure’s receivers helped him by coming up with catches in traffic, but more often he found targets in open space. As he became more comfortable, the standout guard on the Mustangs’ basketball team showed off his ability to take his time, accept short gains and find whoever put themselves in the best position, connecting with eight different receivers on 11 first-half completions.
“It’s nice,” McClure said. “I get everyone the ball. It’s hard to stop when everyone’s weapons like that.”
First-team All-CWAC receiver Isaac Kernan caught a six-yard touchdown to put Prosser in front and Havic Prieto extended the lead on another short pass. McClure finished his debut 19-of-29 for 139 yards and three touchdowns in somewhat limited time, since Sunnyside’s offense spent so much time on the field despite struggling to score after reaching the red zone.
McClure’s longest drive of the night resulted in no points, when he started at the two-yard line and completed his first five passes for 40 yards to set up a fourth and one at the Grizzlies’ 32. McClure overthrew Cade Harris by about half a step down the right sideline on a play Ingvalson said nearly sealed a win.
“You’ve just got to find some open grass and at times we did when we really needed it,” Ingvalson said. “We’re going to look back on the film and probably hope and wish that we had maybe a little bit more, but that’s part of getting some Friday Night Lights and getting it underneath us and I think we’ll be better long term.”
He’s looking forward to more growth from McClure, who’s drawn plenty of praise from his coach for the work he put in over the offseason. If he’s anything like his predecessors, big numbers and plenty more wins will be coming soon.
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accounts, the history behind an article. | https://www.yakimaherald.com/sports/prep_sports/cwac/prosser/mcclure-ready-to-become-prossers-next-great-quarterback/article_db99378e-2bb4-11ed-9113-ebf743a81d8e.html | 2022-09-03T19:23:45Z | yakimaherald.com | control | https://www.yakimaherald.com/sports/prep_sports/cwac/prosser/mcclure-ready-to-become-prossers-next-great-quarterback/article_db99378e-2bb4-11ed-9113-ebf743a81d8e.html | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
At least eight migrants were found dead in the Rio Grande after dozens attempted a hazardous crossing near Eagle Pass, Texas, officials said Friday.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection and Mexican officials made the discovery Thursday while responding to a large group of people crossing the river following days of heavy rains that had resulted in particularly swift currents. U.S. officials recovered six bodies, while Mexican teams recovered two others, according to a CBP statement.
The agency said U.S. crews rescued 37 others from the river and detained 16 more, while Mexican officials took 39 migrants into custody. Officials on both sides of the border continue searching for any possible victims, the CBP said.
CPB did not say what country or countries the migrants were from and did not provide any additional information on the rescue or search. Local agencies in Texas that were involved did not immediately respond to requests for additional information.
The Border Patrol's Del Rio sector, which includes Eagle Pass, is fast becoming the busiest corridor for illegal crossings. Agents stopped migrants nearly 50,000 times in the sector in July, with Rio Grande Valley a distant second at about 35,000.
The area draws migrants from dozens of countries, many of them in families with young children. About 6 of 10 stops in the Del Rio sector in July were migrants from Venezuela, Cuba or Nicaragua.
The sector, which extends 245 miles (395 kilometers) along the Río Grande, has been especially dangerous because river currents can be deceptively fast and change quickly. Crossing the river can be challenging even for strong swimmers.
In a news release last month, CPB said it had discovered bodies of more than 200 dead migrants in the sector from October through July.
Surveys by the U.N. International Organization for Migration and others point to rising fatalities as the number of crossing attempts have soared. In the last three decades, thousands have died attempting to enter the United States from Mexico, often from dehydration or drowning.
In June, 53 migrants were found dead or dying in a tractor-trailer on a back road in San Antonio in the deadliest tragedy to claim the lives of migrants smuggled across the border from Mexico.
Copyright 2022 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org. | https://www.klcc.org/npr-top-stories/2022-09-03/border-patrol-says-8-migrants-were-found-dead-in-the-rio-grande | 2022-09-03T19:27:34Z | klcc.org | control | https://www.klcc.org/npr-top-stories/2022-09-03/border-patrol-says-8-migrants-were-found-dead-in-the-rio-grande | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
JACKSON, Miss. — eZra Brown, owner of Soulé Coffee and Bubble Tea, starts his day differently than most other restaurant operators in the nation — traveling to neighboring cities for water and ice to serve his customers.
When Brown opened his cafe less than a month ago in Jackson, Miss., the city was entering the third week of a boil-water notice because of low pressure at the O.B. Curtis Water Plant. Then flooding at the Pearl River in early August caused the plant's pumps to fail.
Officials don't know when the health alert will end.
"If you have a boil alert, we have to get our ice from another city," Brown said. "We're rolling through 100 plus pounds of ice every single day. One-hundred-plus pounds, not including water. If you want a lemonade, if you want a green tea, that's all bottled water that we have to have.
More than 40 Jackson restaurant owners wrote a letter to Mississippi's governor and Jackson's mayor in early August, telling them that the repeated boil water orders and outages were costing them hundreds of dollars a day.
On Monday, the city's water pressure dropped so low that many people didn't have access to water at all. That prompted the city, state and federal governments to declare a state of emergency.
Pat Fontaine, executive director for the Mississippi Hospitality and Restaurant Association, said many of the 500 area restaurants are experiencing issues with the water.
"There is some fear of the water supply being fit for consumption, so they chose to go to outlying cities that do not have the boil water notice," Fontaine said.
Some owners have reported rising costs of supplies, such as canned drinks and disposable packaging, reaching thousands of dollars above normal operating costs each week. Those come on top of diminishing sales as customers aren't eating in the city as much as before.
Few have closed their doors for now, but Fontaine hopes that the state's emergency management teams as well as federal aid can solve the problem that's been threatening to occur for years: Jackson has been struggling with a crumbling city water system.
Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba estimated it will cost billions of dollars to fix.
During a news conference Wednesday, Lumumba said it's not clear when people in Jackson will be able to use their water without boiling it.
"That all will be dependent upon a few things," Lumumba said. "First and foremost, restoring the pressure, the circumstance that initially led to the boil-water notice, long before we dealt with the flood waters and the challenge there was because of turbidity."
Lumumba said they fixed that problem of turbidity, or how cloudy or clear water is, but then had to do hundreds of tests on the water to make sure it was safe to drink.
"Then we had the rain, then we had the flood," he said. "Now we have low water pressure as a result of the flood. "
The city installed a temporary pump at its main water-treatment facility, Lumumba said, and once water pressure returns to normal, they'll be able to start testing the water quality again.
As of Thursday, half of the water tanks had begun filling up, and some homes and businesses closer to the plant were seeing water pressure return. Those further away remained affected.
For Brown, solutions can't come soon enough. He opened Soulé Coffee as a hub for local creatives to collaborate and dream, but he's grinding. He's the sole employee, and he said the hiring process has been slower than he expected.
Right now, he works more than 12 hours a day to make sure his first months are successful. He wants city and state government officials to cooperate so Black-owned businesses like his can thrive.
"Now I need y'all to do your job," Brown said. "Get me clean water."
Copyright 2022 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org. | https://www.klcc.org/npr-top-stories/npr-top-stories/2022-09-03/unsafe-water-challenges-jackson-miss-restaurant-owners-who-must-look-elsewhere | 2022-09-03T19:27:40Z | klcc.org | control | https://www.klcc.org/npr-top-stories/npr-top-stories/2022-09-03/unsafe-water-challenges-jackson-miss-restaurant-owners-who-must-look-elsewhere | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
WASHINGTON — It’s been more than a decade since President Barack Obama and his wife, Michelle, welcomed back George W. Bush and his wife, Laura, for the unveiling of their White House portraits, part of a beloved Washington tradition that for decades managed to transcend partisan politics.
President Joe Biden and his wife, Jill, are set to revive that ritual — after an awkward and anomalous gap in the Trump years — when they host the Obamas on Wednesday for the big reveal of their portraits in front of scores of friends, family and staff.
The Obama paintings will not look like any in the White House portrait collection to which they will be added. They were America’s first Black president and first lady.
The ceremony will also mark Michelle Obama’s first visit to the White House since Obama’s presidency ended in January 2017, and only the second visit for Barack Obama. He was at the White House in April to mark the 12th anniversary of the health care law he signed in 2010.
Portrait ceremonies often give past presidents an opportunity to showcase their comedic timing.
“I am pleased that my portrait brings an interesting symmetry to the White House collection. It now starts and ends with a George W,” Bush quipped at his ceremony in 2012.
Bill Clinton joked in 2004 that “most of the time, till you get your picture hung like this, the only artists that draw you are cartoonists.”
Recent tradition, no matter the party affiliation, has had the current president genially hosting his immediate predecessor for the unveiling — as Clinton did for George H.W. Bush, George W. Bush did for Clinton and Obama did for the younger Bush.
Then there was an unexplained pause when Donald Trump did not host Obama.
Two spokespeople for Trump did not respond to emailed requests for comment on the lack of a ceremony for Obama, and whether artists are working on portraits of Trump and former first lady Melania Trump.
The White House portrait collection starts with George Washington, America’s first president. Congress bought his portrait.
Other portraits of early presidents and first ladies often came to the White House as gifts. Since the 1960s, the White House Historical Association has paid for most of the paintings.
The first portraits financed by the association were of Lyndon Johnson and Lady Bird Johnson, and John F. Kennedy and Jacqueline Kennedy, said Stewart McLaurin, president of the private, nonprofit organization established by first lady Kennedy.
Before presidents and first ladies leave office, the association explains the portrait process. The former president and first lady choose the artist or artists, and offer guidance on how they want to be portrayed.
“It really involves how that president and first lady see themselves,” McLaurin said in an interview with The Associated Press.
The collection includes an iconic, full-length portrait of Washington that adorns the East Room. It is the only item still in the White House that was in the executive mansion in November 1800 when John Adams and Abigail Adams became the first president and first lady to live in the White House.
Years later, first lady Dolley Madison saved Gilbert Stuart’s portrait of Washington from almost certain ruin. She had White House staff take it out of the city before advancing British forces burned the mansion in 1814. The painting was held in storage until the White House was rebuilt.
President and first lady portraits are seen by millions of White House visitors, though not all are on display. Some are undergoing conservation or are in storage.
Those that are on display line hallways and rooms in public areas of the mansion, such as the Ground Floor and its Vermeil and China Rooms, and the State Floor one level above, which has the famous Green, Blue and Red Rooms, the East Room and State Dining Room.
Portraits of Mamie Eisenhower, Pat Nixon, Lady Bird Johnson and Lou Henry Hoover grace the Vermeil Room, along with a full-length image of Jacqueline Kennedy. Michelle Obama’s portrait likely will join Barbara Bush, Hillary Clinton and Laura Bush along the Ground Floor hallway.
The State Floor hallway one floor above features recent presidents: John F. Kennedy, Lyndon B. Johnson, Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush. Gerald Ford’s portrait and the likeness of Richard Nixon — the only president to resign from office — are on view on the Grand Staircase leading to the private living quarters on the second floor.
Past presidents’ images move around the White House, depending on their standing with the current occupants. Ronald Reagan, for example, moved Thomas Jefferson and Harry S. Truman out of the Cabinet Room and swapped in Dwight Eisenhower and Calvin Coolidge.
In the Clinton era, portraits of Richard Nixon and Reagan, idols of the Republican Party, lost their showcase spot in the Grand Foyer and were replaced with pictures of Franklin D. Roosevelt and Truman, heroes of the Democrats. Nancy Reagan temporarily moved Eleanor Roosevelt to a place of prominence in the East Room in 1984 to mark the centennial of her birth.
One of the most prominent spots for a portrait is above the mantle in the State Dining Room and it has been occupied for decades by a painting of a seated Abraham Lincoln, hand supporting his chin. It was placed there by Franklin Roosevelt.
Bill Clinton’s and George W. Bush’s portraits hang on opposing walls in the Grand Foyer.
Clinton’s would be relocated to make room for Barack Obama’s if the White House sticks to tradition and keeps the two most recent Oval Office occupants there, McLaurin said.
“That’s up to the White House, to the curators,” he said.
The association, which is funded through private donations and the sale of books and an annual White House Christmas ornament, keeps the portrait price well below market value because of the “extraordinary honor” an artist derives from having “their work of art hanging perpetually in the White House,” McLaurin said.
Details about the Obamas’ portraits will stay under wraps until Wednesday.
Biden will be the rare president to host a former boss for the unveiling; he was Obama’s vice president. George H.W. Bush, who held Ronald Reagan’s ceremony, was Reagan’s No. 2.
Betty Monkman, a former White House curator, said during a 2017 podcast for the White House Historical Association that the ceremony is a “statement of generosity” by the president and first lady. “It’s a very warm, lovely moment.”
The White House portraits are one of two sets of portraits of presidents and first ladies. The National Portrait Gallery, a Smithsonian museum, maintains its own collection and those portraits are unveiled before the White House pair. The Obamas’ unveiled their museum portraits in February 2018.
Linda St. Thomas, chief spokesperson for the Smithsonian Institution, said in an email that a $650,000 donation in July from Save America, Trump’s political action committee, was earmarked for the couple’s museum portraits. Two artists have been commissioned, one for each painting, and work has begun, St. Thomas said. | https://www.lockportjournal.com/news/big-reveal-biden-to-help-unveil-obama-white-house-portrait/article_4874e44e-2b19-11ed-b341-bb658166f405.html | 2022-09-03T19:29:41Z | lockportjournal.com | control | https://www.lockportjournal.com/news/big-reveal-biden-to-help-unveil-obama-white-house-portrait/article_4874e44e-2b19-11ed-b341-bb658166f405.html | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
While gas prices are declining, GasBuddy predicts this Labor Day gas prices will be the highest they have been for the holiday in the past 10 years, averaging $3.72 per gallon.
Comparatively, Alabama prices decreased by 2.4 cents per gallon, with an average of $3.42, as of Aug. 29.
Jimmy Duwain Nelson, retiree and pastor of Chandler Mountain Baptist Church, said the gas prices are way too high.
“It takes [money] away from a lot of working people. It's often more of going back and forth to work,” he said. “A lot of families, you know, they are not making that much money – prices and groceries and everything else going up… and they just can’t afford it nowadays.”
According to a survey by GasBuddy, 58 percent of Americans said they plan to go on a road trip this summer and 33 percent reported a planned road trip for Labor Day weekend. Nelson said the gas prices can make it more difficult to enjoy vacation and family time.
“I think the government has a lot to do with it,” Nelson said. “I think they shouldn’t have shut down that blasted pipeline. They should keep that pipeline open.”
Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy, said going forward something to consider that may affect prices is the shutdown of the largest refinery in the Midwest and hurricane season.
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Martina Navratilova is the WTA’s all-time leader with 167 titles. Additionally, she won a total of 59 Grand Slam titles (18 singles, 31 doubles and 10 mixed doubles). Recently, she discussed the legacy of Serena Williams, who Friday night at the US Open, played her final match.
You won your first Grand Slam title at Wimbledon in 1978 and your last 12 years later, also at Wimbledon. Serena’s first was 1999 and her last was the 2017 Australian Open (while pregnant), a span of 18 years. What does that say about her longevity and commitment to the game?
Navratilova: She’s got an amazing body that’s very, very strong. And she worked hard to improve on that body. Obviously, these days the training and recovery is so much more sophisticated than it was in my day. It’s easier for players to have that longevity. But surfaces are still hard and everybody’s hitting the ball hard. Serena hasn’t played as many matches as we did, but she paced herself really well.
In your mind, where does Serena rank among the all-time greats?
Navratilova: Everybody talks about the GOAT, but you cannot compare generations. There are a handful of people, all-time greats that belong in there. For the maybe the last two generations, she is that. Of all time? It depends how you measure it. It’s really hard for me to say because, obviously, I’m not impartial.
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But neither was I thinking Steffi Graf was the greatest when she won 22 majors. You have to look at the whole body of work. We weren’t even playing the Australian Open or even the French Open for a bunch of years. The big one for us was the year-ending championship, which I won eight times. These days, Serena’s the greatest in terms of most majors [23].
At the 1999 US Open, Serena became the first African American woman to win a major singles title in the Open Era and the second ever (Althea Gibson, 1958). In your mind what was the significance of that breakthrough?
Navratilova: I mean, look how much more diversity we have in the game today. It’s fantastic. It used to be just Europe and English-speaking countries for the most part.
All the other countries were like the poor cousins, and so the game became much more international. And more diversified, color-wise. Tennis is not a welcoming sport for people of color. Althea broke the color line in the 50s when Jackie Robinson was doing it in the major leagues.
Althea wasn’t allowed to use the regular locker room, so we’ve come a long way. Let’s put it this way: Serena not only pushed the color barrier. She just blew through that door.
In 1999, at that US Open, at the age of 17, Williams defeated Kim Clijsters, Conchita Martinez, Monica Seles, Lindsay Davenport and Martina Hingis to win the title. How impressed were you?
Navratilova: It would have been a great run for Serena, but she was unseeded and smashed through the field. She was probably slightly underestimated, unknown at the time to some people. And of course, no pressure.
Playing with a freewheeling attitude, like [Emma] Raducanu last year at the US Open. She came of age. It’s the same as other sports -- you improve a little bit, and then you make a big jump. And then you improve a little bit, and you make another big jump. That second big jump came for Serena at the US Open.
How important for women’s tennis was the first CBS primetime match, the 2001 US Open final between Serena and Venus?
Navratilova: It was massive. Tennis wasn’t available to the masses, really. Today you see these people on TV all the time so you really feel you know them. Most of the tournaments weren’t even televised. It was great that they did that.
If they had done it 10 years earlier, it would have been the same result. These two had fan awareness already, people were paying attention to them. But this put tennis over the top.
Fun Fact: They were 14-0 in major doubles finals. How amazing is that?
Navratilova: Oh, phenomenal. I played against them a couple of times. They just overpowered you. They just hit the ball so much harder than everybody. And were very aggressive at the net. When you combine their skill and consistency, that’s what happens. Some teams might have played better tactically, but Serena and Venus were just too strong.
Like the old Green Bay Packers -- run it up the middle. You know what’s coming and you still can’t stop it. I hope they play at the US Open, but I don’t see it happening.
Ultimately, what will her legacy be?
Navratilova: Bridging so many chasms in the world of sport. She was just a powerful Black woman kicking ass. It really came down to that. Not just transcending tennis, but all of sport. Not too many can claim that. And bringing a new generation to the sport. Also, motivating young girls -- and boys, too -- to not be scared to dream big. She paved the way for so many more. | https://www.wtatennis.com/news/2768528/navratilova-on-serena-a-big-dreamer-an-even-better-competitor | 2022-09-03T19:35:16Z | wtatennis.com | control | https://www.wtatennis.com/news/2768528/navratilova-on-serena-a-big-dreamer-an-even-better-competitor | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
BOSTON (CN) — Millions of children are headed back to the classroom this fall and finding themselves in Ground Zero of a furious culture war that has produced a torrent of legislative skirmishes over what teachers can say about race and gender — but may be getting in the way of addressing students’ more serious problems.
Many children need mental health support as a result of pandemic isolation, said Marie Wright, a former school board member in Colorado, and there’s a high rate of suicide attempts, but as a result of partisan bickering “anyone who brings up a serious concern about this gets shut down."
“We have people who want to eliminate all school counselors because they believe they’re converting kids to LGBTQ and Marxism,” Wright said. “And on the other side you have people who want more services — but only for transgender kids, who are a tiny fraction of the population.”
As a result, “teachers are afraid to talk to kids and ask them how they’re doing because they’re afraid they’re going to get targeted. We can’t even teach kids that you need to be polite to each other.”
The political battle has often pitted teachers — and especially their unions — against parents, which poisons the educational atmosphere for everyone.
In New Jersey, the state teachers’ union recently released an ad that shows scary, threatening images of parents and condemns them as “extremists” who are “attacking our schools.” Meanwhile in Wisconsin, a county Republican party funded an ad claiming teachers are indoctrinating students that “all white people are racist” and “all people should have equal outcomes.”
Ordinary citizens who don’t have a dog in the ideological fight are unhappy about the conflict. More than two-thirds of Americans in political battleground states now rate public schools as a top issue, according to a poll by a Democratic research firm. And the biggest complaint isn’t about class size, teacher shortages or online learning; it’s that schools have become “too politicized.”
The controversy began in the spring of 2021 with the deluge of news stories — often amplified by conservative media — about critical race theory, sexually explicit materials and transgender discussions in elementary school. Republican lawmakers started backing bills to clamp down on such practices, and the following laws have been enacted in the interim:
- It’s now illegal to teach that white people are inherently racist. (Alabama, Florida, Iowa, Montana, New Hampshire, Oklahoma, South Carolina and Tennessee)
- It’s illegal to teach that America is a racist country. (Georgia, Iowa, North Dakota and Tennessee)
- It’s illegal to teach that white people living today are morally responsible for slavery. (Idaho, Kentucky, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Utah)
- It’s illegal to teach that one race is morally superior to another. (Georgia, Idaho, Mississippi, New Hampshire, Oklahoma, South Carolina and Utah)
- Florida and Virginia prohibit the teaching of critical race theory, Montana prohibits asking students to reflect on their privilege, and Oklahoma doesn’t allow teaching that meritocracy and a work ethic are racist concepts.
Similar bills are actively being considered by lawmakers in Michigan, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania and other states.
In North Carolina, the legislature passed a bill that would have outlawed teaching that one race is superior to another, that white people are inherently racist or oppressive, and that meritocracy is a racist idea. But the bill was vetoed by Democratic Governor Roy Cooper.
And in Wisconsin, Democratic Governor Tony Evers vetoed a bill that would have outlawed training for public school teachers that encourages "race or sex stereotyping."
A large number of bills have also been introduced relating to gender issues, although these have not been quite as successful. The one that has garnered the most attention is Florida’s statute that prohibits classroom instruction on sexual orientation or gender identity before the fourth grade, which has been derided by critics as a “Don’t Say Gay” law. | https://www.courthousenews.com/back-to-school-and-back-to-the-culture-war/ | 2022-09-03T19:35:16Z | courthousenews.com | control | https://www.courthousenews.com/back-to-school-and-back-to-the-culture-war/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
No.21 seed Petra Kvitova returned to the fourth round of the US Open for the seventh time after saving two match points to beat No.21 seed Garbiñe Muguruza 5-7, 6-3, 7-6[10] in 2 hours and 38 minutes.
The clash of two-time Grand Slam champions, the seventh edition of a rivalry dating back to 2015, was a barnburner to the end. Muguruza served for the match at 5-3 in the third set and held two match points on Kvitova's serve at 6-5, but the Czech escaped both situations to eventually convert her own fourth match point in the super-tiebreak.
Kvitova's best US Open performances to date are a pair of quarterfinals in 2015 and 2017, and she will get the opportunity for a third against No.8 seed Jessica Pegula. The American rebounded from missing a match point in the second-set tiebreak to defeat qualifier Yuan Yue 6-2, 6-7(6), 6-0 in 2 hours and 3 minutes. Kvitova has won both of their previous meetings in straight sets, including a 6-4, 6-3 victory in the 2020 US Open third round.
Petra 🆚 Pegula for a spot in the quarterfinals! pic.twitter.com/XgiI3sr3TQ
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 3, 2022
Here are the key takeaways from Kvitova and Pegula's wins:
Form and history won out: Midway through the grass swing, Kvitova's 2022 record was in the red at 10-13. But a title in Eastbourne has turned her season around: since then, the 32-year-old has gone 15-3, also including a runner-up showing in Cincinnati two weeks ago.
By contrast, Muguruza came into New York in somewhat catastrophic form, having compiled a 9-14 season record. Since winning the 2021 WTA Finals Guadalajara, the Spaniard had neither defeated a Top 30 opponent nor strung together three consecutive victories -- both of which were on the line for her here.
A pair of wins over two highly-touted teenagers, Clara Tauson and Linda Fruhvirtova, had arrested Muguruza's slide this week, to an extent. But though she fought to the bitter end, ultimately the dénouement saw Muguruza falter ever so slightly while Kvitova came up with the biggest shots.
The result was also in line with the pair's history. Kvitova has now won six of their seven meetings, with Muguruza's only win in the series being their first encounter at the 2015 WTA Finals.
Pure joy for @Petra_Kvitova! pic.twitter.com/YBXafdanT0
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 3, 2022
Explosiveness won over steadiness: Kvitova's highs were breathtaking, but the oscillations in her level were also far greater than her opponents. The two-time Wimbledon champion struck 43 winners to Muguruza's 21, and at times seemed unplayable -- such as the three consecutive forehands with which she sealed the match's first service break for 4-2 in the first set.
But in the blink of an eye, Kvitova also seemed able to throw the match away. Two double faults and two forehand errors gave that break back immediately, and another disastrous trio of double faults at 5-5 gifted Muguruza another break. Kvitova would ultimately tally 12 double faults.
Amidst Kvitova's wild swings in form, Muguruza remained consistent. The former World No.1 ticked off the majority of her service games with little fuss, landing 67% of her first serves and winning 65% of those points. She backed this up by judicious forays to net, with the backhand drive volley key to closing out the first set.
A single service break decided the second set, with Kvitova nailing a bullet of a forehand winner to go up 4-2. But at the same stage of the third, that stroke let her down again to put Muguruza up 4-2.
Muguruza blinked on serve only once -- when she stepped up to close out the match at 5-3. She started with a double fault of her own, was lured into error by Kvitova's sudden strategic use of the slice, and was broken on a forehand shank.
The climax of the match saw Kvitova successfully walk her game's tightrope. She survived a 10-minute game to force the super-tiebreak, saving one match point with an ace and the second as a Muguruza forehand found the net. She was unable to take her own first three match points, but a spectacular running forehand winner brought up a fourth, converted as Muguruza netted another forehand.
👌@JLPegula defeats Yuan in 3 sets, setting up a mouth-watering R4 clash against our friend beneath this tweet! 😊#USOpen https://t.co/w0wOpW4jHc pic.twitter.com/W5CXsZ5NBk
— wta (@WTA) September 3, 2022
Pegula proves reliable again, but Yuan is one to watch: The lowest-ranked of the record four Chinese women in the US Open third round, 23-year-old qualifier Yuan faced a mismatch on paper. The World No.142 had never faced a Top 20 opponent before, let alone a player with Pegula's proven consistency at the biggest tournaments: two Grand Slam quarterfinals, one WTA 1000 final and two WTA 1000 semifinals this year alone.
The first set went as expected. Yuan's ferocious hitting garnered her four winners, but also buried her with 11 unforced errors. Meanwhile, smartly contained aggression saw Pegula tally eight winners to five unforced errors.
But Yuan began to display greater patience to hit her spots in a high-quality second set. She powered out to a 4-1 lead, and even when Pegula inched her way back into the set held firm at its climax. Yuan overturned a 5-2 deficit in the tiebreak, saving a match point with a terrific backhand winner on the line and swatting away a drive volley on her first set point -- her 12th winner of the set.
Pegula was able to reset for an efficient third set, though. The World No.8's serve had been the lynchpin of her success, and she only dropped one point behind it in the decider. Indeed, Pegula only lost 10 points on serve in total -- four of which came in Yuan's break to love in the second set. | https://www.wtatennis.com/news/2778910/takeaways-kvitova-saves-mps-vs-muguruza-to-meet-pegula-at-us-open | 2022-09-03T19:35:22Z | wtatennis.com | control | https://www.wtatennis.com/news/2778910/takeaways-kvitova-saves-mps-vs-muguruza-to-meet-pegula-at-us-open | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
PISMO BEACH, Calif. (CN) — In a 1957 Merrie Melodies cartoon, a feverishly tunneling Bugs Bunny bursts through the soil, raises his arms, and gleefully announces, “Well, here we are — Pismo Beach and all the clams we can eat!”
While that episode has long provided a source of pride for Pismo Beach locals, the clam that inspired the city’s name actually vanished in the 1980s, its harvesting marking yet another cautionary tale of human overconsumption. But now the bivalve mollusk has mysteriously returned, and city officials are — wait for it — happy as a clam.
“We started seeing an explosion in population,” said Jorge Garcia, assistant city manager. “That was something the community hadn’t seen in 30 years.”
Once a main source of food for the native Chumash along the California coast, the clam is a vital part of Pismo Beach’s identity. While the clam can be found along beaches throughout the California coast, historically it was especially abundant in Pismo Beach — dubbed the Clam Capital of the World in the 1940s.
If it can avoid sharks, otters, crabs, humans and other predators, the Pismo clam can live as long as 50 years and grow to seven inches.
“The Pismo clam is pretty distinct,” said Derek Stein, an environmental scientist with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. “It has such a shiny, pretty shell. They’re super thick, almost like a rock.”
As San Luis Obispo County historical photos show, clamming was a popular activity at the turn of the 20th century. While commercial clamming ceased in the 40s, recreational clamming continued for decades, thinning the population.
“The clams dispersed in the late 80s,” Stein said.
Even as the Splash Café — one of Pismo’s most popular eateries — had to rely on imported clams for its chowder, the Pismo clam remained a crucial part of the city’s brand. The parade at the annual Pismo Beach Clam Festival features locals in clam costumes, gift shops sell clam-themed items, and clam art adorns the city, including large concrete statues that are painted by local artists.
“I think it’s part of what makes Pismo unique,” Garcia said.
Knowing how important the clams were to the beach town’s hearty tourism industry, in 2016 the city sponsored research conducted by a biology professor and his students at nearby California Polytechnic University, hoping they might find a way to resurrect the clams by spawning them with science. But then, as the research was ongoing, something unexpected happened: The clams just returned.
Perhaps millions of them.
It started three or four years ago. Then, in the fall of 2021, people started seeing them on the beach. And this summer, the clams were so abundant, surfers shuffling in the water could feel them under their feet like cobblestones.
“There are different theories on what happened,” Garcia said.
Otters love to dine on clams, but an increase in shark population has affected the otter population. Big waves disrupt clam populations, but a lack of El Niño winters have limited storm events. And, of course, climate change is always suspect.
But sometimes the ocean is just a mystery.
“We’re not sure why there were no clams, and then suddenly there’s this major recruitment event,” said Sean Bignami, a professor and researcher at Concordia University Irvine.
While Ben Ruttenberg and his Cal Poly students have been studying Pismo clams on the Central Coast, Bignami and his students have Southern California covered.
The clams have made a comeback in parts of Southern California as well, particularly around San Diego.
“This is good news for the clams,” Bignami said.
Researchers are cautiously optimistic the populations will thrive.
“Once these clams get to legal size, people are going to be out there digging for them,” Bignami said.
Actually, they already are.
“We have arrested people with over a thousand harvested clams at a time, and that is a travesty,” Garcia said.
There’s a 10 clam-per-day limit, and you need a license even if you only plan to cook up a few clams. The law — clearly marked in Pismo Beach — has long held that clams have to be at least 4 ½ inches in order to harvest.
“The clams are about an inch in their first year, and they get to about three inches in the second year,” Bignami said.
It takes about three to five years for clams to reach the size where they can be harvested, he added. But that’s not far off.
“We are probably months from seeing our first legally sized clam in 30 years,” Garcia said.
Technically, you’re not even supposed to unearth a Pismo clam before it reaches maturity. And if you do, you’re encouraged to rebury it.
Fish and Wildlife is enforcing the law with fines. But only about 5% of poachers get busted. Meanwhile, the city is working its social media to raise awareness of illegal harvesting and how to rebury clams (two inches in the sand, vertical, hinge facing the ocean).
The city doesn’t want to lose the clams again.
While Bugs Bunny found a pearl inside one of his Pismo clams, the city has reaped its own rewards.
This year’s Pismo Clam Festival (Oct. 15-16), which normally features stories about the history of clamming, will be afforded all new chapters — and an opportunity to see clams once visible only in old photos.
“It’s been a great educational opportunity for us as a community,” Garcia said.
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Sign up for the Top 8, a roundup of the day's top stories delivered directly to your inbox Monday through Friday. | https://www.courthousenews.com/once-vanished-the-pismo-clam-is-back-and-pismo-beach-is-thrilled/ | 2022-09-03T19:35:22Z | courthousenews.com | control | https://www.courthousenews.com/once-vanished-the-pismo-clam-is-back-and-pismo-beach-is-thrilled/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
THE HAGUE, Netherlands (CN) — When the trial of an ex-police chief from Mali opened before the International Criminal Court in 2019, the defendant protested his innocence in Arabic. Three years earlier, the former commander of a Christian extremist group in Uganda denied the charges against him in Acholi. Their legal teams argued in French and English.
Under the Rome Statute, the 2002 treaty that created the ICC, anyone on the docket at the court in The Hague must have proceedings presented in a language they “fully understand and speak.” Lawyers and judges are required to present in either English or French. In proceedings with dozens of witnesses, this creates a complicated system of interpretation and translation.
“Translation is text, interpretation is speech,” said Ahmed El Khamloussy, who interprets French, English and Arabic at the ICC.
International courts also need thousands of pages of written documents translated, from transcripts to evidence. But translation has the benefit of time, while interpretation must be simultaneous for hearings to proceed.
Humans have needed interpreters since separate groups speaking different languages have needed to interact. Political leaders have long relied on “whisper interpretation,” where an interpreter speaks directly into the ear of whomever they are interpreting for.
War crimes tribunals
The post-WW2 Nuremberg trials are cited as the first courtroom process to see the extensive use of broadcast interpretation. For nearly a year in1945-46, the International Military Tribunal tried 21 of the most prominent surviving Nazi leaders. The proceedings were simultaneously translated into English, Russian, German and French to ensure the legal representatives from the Allied countries understood what was being said as the trial was taking place.
Because of its worldwide mandate, the ICC faces specific challenges with interpretation, but all international courts rely on interpreters to function.
At the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia – the United Nations tribunal established to prosecute the war crimes during the Yugoslav wars of the 1990s – the working languages were English and French, but proceedings had to be available in Bosnian-Croatian-Serbian, Albanian and Macedonian for defendants.
“Interpretation is a very stressful occupation,” said Christina Pribićević-Zorić, who headed the translation and interpretation department at the ICTY. The International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda, the Special Tribunal for Lebanon and others have similar structures.
International institutions
Following the Second World War, several judicial bodies were established as part of an effort to prevent the horrors of the conflict from occurring again. The high court of the United Nations, the International Court of Justice, was established in 1945. It operates in both French and English, with simultaneous translation available for both languages. The court can also allow the use of other languages on request.
Other courts created to bring European countries closer together have to account for the linguistic differences of their members. Although the official working language of the European Union’s high court, the European Court of Justice, is French, the court allows lawyers to make their arguments in any of the 24 official EU languages. For the judges, opposing counsel and the audience in the Luxembourg-based courtroom, simultaneous translation is available.
At the European Court of Human Rights, a court created by the post-WW2 European Convention on Human Rights, the working languages are English and French but applications can be made in any official language of the member states. With 46 countries - some with multiple languages, like Switzerland and Belgium - the court must account for more than 50 languages.
A small army of translators
The ICC employs some 50 staff members to cover interpretation and translation, and brings on additional freelancers as needed. The court is currently holding hearings and conducting investigations in around 30 languages.
More than 70 interpreters are employed by the European Court of Justice, which also sometimes hires more freelancers when required. In addition, the court employs some 600 lawyer linguists who are responsible for translating written arguments and court decisions.
During her time at the ICTY, Pribićević-Zorić said juggling all of the interpretation requirements was challenging. She managed some 170 staff for interpretation and translation. The tribunal operated for nearly 25 years, holding 10,800 trial days and generating 2.5 million pages of transcripts.
The work is strenuous. Correct interpretation is crucial for proceedings and any mistake may cause confusion. Interpreters typically work in pairs in 30-minute shifts. They can be given notes or pleadings ahead of time, so they can prepare, but many aspects of legal proceedings are spontaneous. No one knows exactly what a witness will say or what question a judge may ask.
The stress can be even higher for interpreters like El Khamloussy, the ICC interpreter who often must hear witnesses describe violent and horrific acts. Psychological counseling is available for interpreters at the ICC and other courts to help manage the emotional toil.
“It’s a tough but gratifying job,” El Khamloussy said.
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Sign up for the Top 8, a roundup of the day's top stories delivered directly to your inbox Monday through Friday. | https://www.courthousenews.com/translating-justice-interpreters-keep-international-courts-running/ | 2022-09-03T19:35:29Z | courthousenews.com | control | https://www.courthousenews.com/translating-justice-interpreters-keep-international-courts-running/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Darci Luyk, director of physician relations and network development for the Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital in Grand Rapids, Michigan, speaks with Sailors assigned to USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) during a tour of the hospital as part of a namesake visit, September 1, 2022. Twelve Ford Sailors traveled to Michigan for the ship’s annual namesake visit to learn about the legacy of former President Gerald R. Ford and connect with local community members in Grand Rapids, Ann Arbor and Albion, Michigan. (U.S. Navy Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Zack Guth)
This work, USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) Namesake Visit [Image 12 of 12], by PO2 Zachary Guth, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright. | https://www.dvidshub.net/image/7400525/uss-gerald-r-ford-cvn-78-namesake-visit | 2022-09-03T19:42:54Z | dvidshub.net | control | https://www.dvidshub.net/image/7400525/uss-gerald-r-ford-cvn-78-namesake-visit | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Cmdr. Richard Rosenbusch, from New Baltimore, Michigan, USS Gerald R. Ford's (CVN 78) assistant air officer, presents a Ford command ballcap to Navy veteran Kenneth Sooy, during a visit to the Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital in Grand Rapids, Michigan, as part of a namesake visit, September 1, 2022. Twelve Ford Sailors traveled to Michigan for the ship’s annual namesake visit to learn about the legacy of former President Gerald R. Ford and connect with local community members in Grand Rapids, Ann Arbor and Albion, Michigan. (U.S. Navy Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Zack Guth)
This work, USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) Namesake Visit [Image 12 of 12], by PO2 Zachary Guth, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright. | https://www.dvidshub.net/image/7400527/uss-gerald-r-ford-cvn-78-namesake-visit | 2022-09-03T19:43:05Z | dvidshub.net | control | https://www.dvidshub.net/image/7400527/uss-gerald-r-ford-cvn-78-namesake-visit | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
CNN is facing questions from critics after the network was busted altering the lighting for President Biden’s Thursday address, softening the blood-red hues to calmer shades of pink.
The president came in for withering mockery online for the harsh black and red backdrop, with many comparing the optics to “Star Wars” and “V for Vendetta.”
While networks like CNN, MSNBC, CBS and C-SPAN carrying the speech all originally appeared consistent, CNN noticeably altered the color of the background from red to pink in real-time.
Eagle-eyed cable news watchers pounced on the shift. The story was first reported in Mediaite, which put the CNN footage up side-by-side against other networks, showing that the CNN switch was not a technical problem that hit all networks.
“CNN appears to have tweaked the video of Biden’s speech from demonic red to Pepto-Bismol pink. Very helpful, as we needed a lot of Pepto-Bismol to get through this!,” said former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee .
A rep for CNN said the issue was caused by a technical glitch with the CBS pool feed.
Though Biden promised to deliver a unifying speech on the “battle for the soul of the nation,” he was blasted by partisans as divisive and fear-mongering. Many latched on to his claims that “MAGA Republicans” were a threat to the country — something the president later walked back.
“I don’t consider any Trump supporters a threat to the country,” he told Fox News Friday. “I do think anyone who calls for the use of violence, refuses to acknowledge an election … changing the way you count votes, that is a threat to democracy.” | https://nypost.com/2022/09/03/cnn-questioned-after-altering-red-background-of-biden-speech/ | 2022-09-03T19:43:31Z | nypost.com | control | https://nypost.com/2022/09/03/cnn-questioned-after-altering-red-background-of-biden-speech/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
(NerdWallet) – Most health insurance plans cover birth control without requiring you to pay anything out of pocket. Some employers are exempt, and federal law makes exceptions that allow health plans to cover limited forms of birth control. But there are ways to appeal to your insurance company if you’re forced to pay for birth control prescribed by your doctor.
Is birth control free?
If you have health insurance, specified types of birth control should be free to you because your plan is required to cover the full cost.
Birth control is a type of preventive care. Under the Affordable Care Act of 2010, most health insurance plans must cover the total cost of preventive care, meaning they don’t charge you coinsurance or a copayment. Besides contraceptives, preventive care that’s fully covered by insurance under the ACA includes annual wellness checkups, disease screenings and immunizations.
The ACA’s requirements apply to birth control methods approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and prescribed to women (so procedures like vasectomies aren’t included). Insurers must cover at least one form of each birth control method without charging out-of-pocket fees to patients.
FDA-approved birth control methods fall into six groups:
- Patient education and counseling.
- Hormonal methods, including birth control pills and vaginal rings.
- Implanted devices, such as intrauterine devices, or IUDs.
- Barrier methods, including diaphragms and sponges.
- Sterilization procedures.
- Emergency contraception.
When your insurance doesn’t cover birth control
Even if you’re insured, a number of exceptions in the ACA may prevent you from getting birth control for free. Here are the factors:
- Who sponsors your health plan. Employers can be exempt from covering contraceptives for employees if they have religious or moral objections.
- When your health plan was established. “Grandfathered” plans — or those that predate the ACA and remain basically unchanged — don’t have to follow all the federal regulations. Employer health plans typically change from year to year, which would mean they’ve lost grandfather status.
- Where you get medical care. Insurance likely requires you to access preventive care through an in-network provider to have it fully covered.
- How your insurance company manages care. The ACA allows insurers to set reasonable rules around the medical care they’ll cover so companies can control costs and encourage efficiency.
In practice, medical management tactics can steer you toward generic drugs and devices by making you pay out of pocket for brand-name options or jump through hoops to get your contraceptive of choice covered. If your prescribed form of birth control isn’t fully covered, you should talk to your doctor and go through your insurer’s waiver process.
Getting birth control without insurance
If you don’t have health insurance or your insurance doesn’t cover birth control, there are other options for obtaining contraceptives for little or no cost.
People earning low incomes who qualify for Medicaid can get free family planning services. In most states, those services include birth control, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation.
Some health clinics provide family planning and preventive health services at little or no cost. These Title X clinics receive federal funding through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Title X Family Planning program. | https://www.wspa.com/news/national/nexstar-media-wire/does-insurance-cover-birth-control/ | 2022-09-03T19:46:16Z | wspa.com | control | https://www.wspa.com/news/national/nexstar-media-wire/does-insurance-cover-birth-control/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
GRANTVILLE, Pa. (WHTM) – Sitting there on a secluded park bench on the lap of his person, you almost wouldn’t know he’s now a global celebrity.
But you would certainly recognize he’s an alligator.
Wally — the world’s only emotional support alligator, according to Joseph Henney — is already well-known around central Pennsylvania. Nexstar’s WHTM first profiled him back in 2019, following Wally and Henney to a nursing home where residents took delight in petting the gator.
Other times, Wally is visiting sick children at local hospitals, wearing a red vest that identifies him as an emotional support animal.
Ah, but then came last week. Henney and Wally were in Philadelphia for a local TV appearance about the fact that Wally is a finalist in the America’s Favorite Pet competition. With him were Mary Johnson, whom Henney describes as his best friend, and her two children, Eddie, 11, and Emmy, 7.
It was a hot day. The five of them — the four humans and Wally — went to a local splash pad. As tends to happen when Wally shows up, people started calling their friends.
“And they were coming from like a mile, or two miles away, to come get a picture or a hug and kiss from Wally,” Henney said. (That’s right: Wally not only likes — but demands — kisses on the lips.)
Henney and his friends posted a TikTok video from the splash pad. Other folks posted their own. And pretty soon, people from a lot farther than a mile or two were interested.
“Television networks from all over the world: Ireland, Australia, Africa, England, Italy,” Henney said. “They’re all calling, doing Zooms and stuff like that. It’s just, everybody loves Wally. Everybody loves Wally for what he stands for.”
But what is it that he stands for?
“He helps needy people. He puts … smiles on people’s faces,” Henney said, getting choked up.
Henney also hoped that fans take a lesson from Wally, and “try putting a smile on somebody’s face today,” he said. “Tell ’em you love ’em.”
For all the joy Wally now seems to bring to the world, the first person Wally took care of was Henney himself.
“I lost three family members and four lifelong friends,” Henney said. “That all happened in two weeks, and my doctor wanted to give me antidepressants. I refused,” he said.
Instead, Henney adopted a rescue gator from Florida.
“He was just doing things I had never seen alligators do,” said Henney, who runs a reptile rescue organization.
Recued gators can’t be safely returned to the wild; other gators Henney has rescued have gone to zoos or wildlife refuge parks. But Wally, he kept for himself.
“If I’d lay there and fall asleep, he’d cuddle up beside me, put his head on my shoulder, his arm around me, which I really thought was extremely weird,” Henney said. “And he followed me around like a puppy.”
Henney later registered Wally as an emotional-support animal, figuring that Wally supported him through some of his most difficult times.
Wally’s legend grew, and Henney uses Wally’s charm to raise money for expenses — vet bills, food, and so forth — even though the money doesn’t completely cover the expenses.
You don’t get rich rescuing reptiles, Henney said, “but at least we save their lives.”
Henney and Wally also help other nearby organizations, including the Capital Area Therapeutic Riding Association (CATRA), which provides therapeutic horseback riding, and Cocoa Packs, which fights childhood hunger.
In retrospect, hard as it was to believe, Henney knew Wally was special before the two even met based on what he’d heard from Disney officials in Florida who found Wally and other gators — including two others Henney took in — were coming a little too close to humans. The folks who captured him also told Henney something interesting.
“He was the only one who really didn’t try to bite somebody” during the capture, Henney said. “And they couldn’t understand that, which I doubted that myself.”
But then Henney and Wally got to know either other.
“He just he never attempted to bite, and we didn’t understand that,” Henney said. With most gators, “anything you touch inside their mouth is an automatic slam shut.”
But Wally? “I can put my hand and rub his tongue, and he will refuse to bite,” Henney said. “He’ll actually open his mouth wider and move away. He will not close his mouth. He won’t kill anything to eat.”
Really. Henney has tried.
“He just made friends with — he’d swim around with the rats in the pond,” Henney said.
Wally’s story also caught the eye of the production team for the Disney+ series “Loki,” about the fictional Marvel character played by Tom Hiddleston. Michael Waldron, the show’s head writer, told Marvel in July 2021 that he had already come up with an idea to incorporate an alligator into the show — a character which soon came to be known as “Alligator Loki.” But when it came time to choose a real-world animal for the VFX team to model the character after, “Loki” writer Eric Martin confirmed they looked to Wally, ComicBook.com reported.
“While #AlligatorLoki is wholly a creation of @michaelwaldron’s weird mind, we did have a real world visual reference for him,” Martin tweeted in July 2021, along with a video of Wally and his owner. “Meet Wally.”
Lest anyone get any ideas about getting their own emotional-support alligator, Henney reminds the world that the reason Wally gets so much attention is precisely because of how unusual he is.
“Wally is the first in all history,” Henney said. Even the other gators born with and raised alongside Wally turned out like typical alligators.
“And I feel honored with that. But I don’t push that. Do alligators make good pets? Not really,” Henney admitted.
“There’s none other like him” | https://www.wspa.com/news/national/nexstar-media-wire/wally-the-emotional-support-alligator-who-inspired-a-marvel-character-becomes-an-global-sensation/ | 2022-09-03T19:46:23Z | wspa.com | control | https://www.wspa.com/news/national/nexstar-media-wire/wally-the-emotional-support-alligator-who-inspired-a-marvel-character-becomes-an-global-sensation/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Editor’s note: The video included in this article may be graphic to some viewers.
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – Newly released footage shows the moments that a police officer in Beaverton, Oregon, rescued a man who was trapped in a flaming car early Tuesday morning.
Police responded to a rollover crash around 2:30 a.m., finding the car on its side engulfed in flames.
The Beaverton Police Department said the driver, 34-year-old Johan Hermosillo, was trapped inside. Video shows the officer breaking the sunroof and telling Hermosillo to crawl out.
After being pushed back by small explosions, the officer was able to pull an unresponsive Hermosillo out of the car.
BPD said because of the officer’s actions, Hermosillo only sustained non-life-threatening injuries and was taken to a hospital for treatment.
Officers reported seeing evidence of impairment, which they believe contributed to the crash. Hermosillo was released from the hospital and now faces DUI and reckless driving charges. | https://www.siouxlandproud.com/news/watch-oregon-officer-rescues-man-from-burning-car-after-rollover-crash/ | 2022-09-03T19:46:58Z | siouxlandproud.com | control | https://www.siouxlandproud.com/news/watch-oregon-officer-rescues-man-from-burning-car-after-rollover-crash/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Bradly Roder dragged down North Tama’s Gavin Rausch here in AGWSR 28-0 home win Friday night. The 28-0 win over the sixth-ranked in Class A Redhawks moved the Cougars to 2-0 on the season.
An hour-long lightning delay, with 8:52 of the third quarter and all of the fourth remaining to be played, worried AGWSR head coach James Koop. It needn’t have.
Koop’s Cougars were controlling the game before and after the stoppage, beating the North Tama Redhawks 28-0 in Ackley Friday night.
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Iowa Falls-Alden lineman Carter DeBates threw a Bulldog ball carrier for a loss during Friday's 34-7 home defeat to Hampton-Dumont/CAL. The Cadets fell to 0-2.
Iowa Falls-Alden finds itself in the exact same position as one season ago. Two games. Two losses.
The Cadets will enter week three versus area rival South Hardin looking to enter district play with momentum, but there are stark differences in the two seasons.
Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd,
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accounts, the history behind an article. | http://www.timescitizen.com/sports/bulldogs-roll-cadets-keep-possession-of-traveling-trophy/article_e16da504-2b42-11ed-9c05-f3618a3e96f0.html | 2022-09-03T19:48:46Z | timescitizen.com | control | http://www.timescitizen.com/sports/bulldogs-roll-cadets-keep-possession-of-traveling-trophy/article_e16da504-2b42-11ed-9c05-f3618a3e96f0.html | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Caden Steding runs down the South Hamilton quarterback Friday night. The Hawks threw it just three times all game and ran for nearly 400 yards in a 44-14 victory over the Tigers.
Looking for an offensive spark, South Hardin opened Friday’s game with a little trick play. It worked and the Tigers scored from 70 yards out just 21 seconds into the contest against their rivals South Hamilton. Only, S. Hardin stalled out and were just flat the rest of the game. They got punched in the mouth by the Hawk run game and fell by a 44-14 final.
“Yeah, just, tried to have that opening play give us a spark hopefully, that was the point. Didn’t know if it would work or not, just hoping to get a spark and get us fired up, which I was hoping it would get us a lot more fired up,” said Tiger head coach Nick Eller. “It felt like the rest of the game we were just flat. And I have no idea why we would be flat for a game like this. I’m at a loss of words for that.”
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accounts, the history behind an article. | http://www.timescitizen.com/sports/out-toughed-in-30-point-road-loss/article_42b61f30-2b43-11ed-a7e6-334ec4890aed.html | 2022-09-03T19:48:52Z | timescitizen.com | control | http://www.timescitizen.com/sports/out-toughed-in-30-point-road-loss/article_42b61f30-2b43-11ed-a7e6-334ec4890aed.html | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
'Palthu Janwar', directed by debutant Sangeeth P Rajan, is a simple, humourous tale of a group of villagers whose lives revolve around their domesticated animals. Each and every villager takes great pains to raise their animals whom they treat as family. A simple stomach upset or a slight bruise is not treated lightly and if you don’t show the same amount of dedication, there are chances you will be greeted with a frown.
The movie, starring Basil Joseph, who plays a livestock inspector, does not bank upon a very ambitious plot to remind us of our link with these mute creatures. The plotline is simple. Prasoon (Basil) lands a job as a livestock inspector after his father’s death. Initially, he is not keen about taking up the job, especially since he is an animator at heart. However, his failure as an entrepreneur takes him to the village in Kannur, where he is forced to interact with the animals.
The multiple challenges he battles to survive amid a bunch of villagers who eye him with distrust form the crux of the story.
At the outset, it may seem just a feel good story, without much intention to play with our emotions. But as the movie progresses, you know it aims to be much more than that.
There is the veterinary doctor ( Shammi Thilakan) who treats his profession as a side business and a priest (Dileesh Pothen) who feeds on the villagers’ devout nature to survive and these are digs at certain blind beliefs in society. Indrans as a panchayat member who often seems to forget his responsibilities intentionally is a representative of the apathy of people’s representatives to their duties. The humour is spot on with almost every character capable of making us laugh.
The twist in the movie arrives when Prasoon, who is beginning to feel settled at the place, does something to shatter his self-confidence. Basil has been growing with each character he played in various movies and in ‘Palthu Janwar’, he is at his charming best. Johnny Antony, as usual, adds life to the story. At times, it is he who snatches away the limelight. Shammy’s mannerisms remind you of Thilakan, so much that you wish he had more to do in the movie, then just adding to the comic effect.
The natural landscape and the cacophony of the animals lend such beauty and charm to the story, which also has a political undertone. A scene where the butcher and the villager who owns a cow are at odds, make us ponder.
We have had several movies revolving pets and animals, and Palthu Janwar is more or less an attempt at teaching you that animals are also worthy of our emotion and care while reminding you that discussions surrounding animal welfare needs to grow louder, in these present times. | https://www.onmanorama.com/entertainment/movie-reviews/2022/09/02/basil-joseph-palthu-janwar-fahadh-faasil-dileesh-pothen-animals-farm-movie-review.amp.html | 2022-09-03T20:01:43Z | onmanorama.com | control | https://www.onmanorama.com/entertainment/movie-reviews/2022/09/02/basil-joseph-palthu-janwar-fahadh-faasil-dileesh-pothen-animals-farm-movie-review.amp.html | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
'Palthu Janwar', directed by debutant Sangeeth P Rajan, is a simple, humourous tale of a group of villagers whose lives revolve around their domesticated animals. Each and every villager takes great pains to raise their animals whom they treat as family. A simple stomach upset or a slight bruise is not treated lightly and if you don’t show the same amount of dedication, there are chances you will be greeted with a frown.
The movie, starring Basil Joseph, who plays a livestock inspector, does not bank upon a very ambitious plot to remind us of our link with these mute creatures. The plotline is simple. Prasoon (Basil) lands a job as a livestock inspector after his father’s death. Initially, he is not keen about taking up the job, especially since he is an animator at heart. However, his failure as an entrepreneur takes him to the village in Kannur, where he is forced to interact with the animals.
The multiple challenges he battles to survive amid a bunch of villagers who eye him with distrust form the crux of the story.
At the outset, it may seem just a feel good story, without much intention to play with our emotions. But as the movie progresses, you know it aims to be much more than that.
There is the veterinary doctor ( Shammi Thilakan) who treats his profession as a side business and a priest (Dileesh Pothen) who feeds on the villagers’ devout nature to survive and these are digs at certain blind beliefs in society. Indrans as a panchayat member who often seems to forget his responsibilities intentionally is a representative of the apathy of people’s representatives to their duties. The humour is spot on with almost every character capable of making us laugh.
The twist in the movie arrives when Prasoon, who is beginning to feel settled at the place, does something to shatter his self-confidence. Basil has been growing with each character he played in various movies and in ‘Palthu Janwar’, he is at his charming best. Johnny Antony, as usual, adds life to the story. At times, it is he who snatches away the limelight. Shammy’s mannerisms remind you of Thilakan, so much that you wish he had more to do in the movie, then just adding to the comic effect.
The natural landscape and the cacophony of the animals lend such beauty and charm to the story, which also has a political undertone. A scene where the butcher and the villager who owns a cow are at odds, make us ponder.
We have had several movies revolving pets and animals, and Palthu Janwar is more or less an attempt at teaching you that animals are also worthy of our emotion and care while reminding you that discussions surrounding animal welfare needs to grow louder, in these present times. | https://www.onmanorama.com/entertainment/movie-reviews/2022/09/02/basil-joseph-palthu-janwar-fahadh-faasil-dileesh-pothen-animals-farm-movie-review.html | 2022-09-03T20:01:49Z | onmanorama.com | control | https://www.onmanorama.com/entertainment/movie-reviews/2022/09/02/basil-joseph-palthu-janwar-fahadh-faasil-dileesh-pothen-animals-farm-movie-review.html | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
The movie 'Sundari Gardens' directed by Charlie Davis is a triangle love story of individuals who are in the prime of their youth, established, and hold a mature perspective of life.
Set in the backdrop of a school, the movie narrates the tale of three teachers -- Victor (Neeraj Madhav), Sundari Sarah Mathews (Aparna Balamurali) and Lekha (Lakshmi Menon). The narrative sails with some moderate emotional contours.
Aparna portrays the romance of a divorced young woman poignantly. Meanwhile, Neeraj plays an equally complementary part by essaying a down-to-earth and benign young teacher.
A nice story though, the amateurish treatment of sequences robs the movie of the beauty of a garb that could have wrapped the moments with aesthetic qualities and make them more precious.
The dialogues are frank and engaging. The movie, with less filmy cacophony, can be enjoyed like a silent breeze. The mesmerising music and the songs composed by Alphons Joseph make it all the more enthralling.
The enchanting song 'Mayamoham', beautifully rendered by Sithara and Alphons Joseph, is the heart of the movie.
Swaroop Philip's camera has enhanced the beautiful and breathtaking frames.
Binu Pappu, Vijayaraghavan, Sminu Sijo and Jude Anthany, among others, appear in prominent roles. | https://www.onmanorama.com/entertainment/movie-reviews/2022/09/02/sundari-gardens-can-be-enjoyed-like-a-silent-breeze.html | 2022-09-03T20:02:02Z | onmanorama.com | control | https://www.onmanorama.com/entertainment/movie-reviews/2022/09/02/sundari-gardens-can-be-enjoyed-like-a-silent-breeze.html | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Nikki Haley: Biden's speech out of "the depths of hell"
Former U.N. ambassador and former South Carolina governor Nikki Haley called President Biden "the most condescending president of my lifetime" after his primetime speech last week.
Why it matters: Haley is a potential Republican candidate for the 2024 presidential race, which would put her in direct competition with President Biden if he ends up running for a second term.
Driving the news: Haley criticized Biden's speech, and its optics, in an interview with Fox News on Friday.
- "It was one of the most unbelievable things I've seen in a long time. He looked like he was in the depths of hell," Haley said in during an interview on Fox News' "America Reports."
- "He's got military officers behind him, which I hate that they even had to sit behind him as he was talking about how half the country are basically domestic terrorists," she said of Biden's speech.
Flashback: Haley tweeted Thursday, after the president's speech, that Biden was "the most condescending president of my lifetime."
- "He’s done nothing to unite the nation. Nothing to bring healing. Nothing to alleviate the pain millions of Americans feel everyday.
- "He’s been a divider in chief and come November he must hear from all of us."
Catch up quick: Biden criticized former President Trump and "MAGA forces" in a speech Thursday night, speaking outside Philadelphia's Independence Hall.
- The remarks were delivered amid glowing red lights with military members standing behind him.
The big picture: Biden's speech put former President Trump and his supporters in the spotlight. Democrats' decision to turn the midterm elections into a referendum on Trump could help their chances this fall, Axios' Shawna Chen writes.
Go deeper: Trump and "MAGA forces" represent extremism, Biden says in primetime speech | https://www.axios.com/2022/09/03/nikki-haley-fox-news-biden-speech | 2022-09-03T20:22:26Z | axios.com | control | https://www.axios.com/2022/09/03/nikki-haley-fox-news-biden-speech | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Thousands of strollers recalled after reported amputation of child’s fingertip
More than 14,000 UPPAbaby strollers were recalled this week after a child’s fingertip got caught in a brake and was amputated, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.
Driving the news: The recall involves 14,400 UPPAbaby All-Terrain RIDGE Jogging Strollers manufactured between July 2021 and August 2022, and customers are being urged to stop using them immediately.
The details: The $600 stroller model is being sold at retailers including BuyBuyBaby, Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus, Pottery Barn Kids and other children’s stores, per the USPSC.
- All UPPAbaby strollers are designed at the company's headquarters in Rockland, and manufactured in China, per the company website.
What they are saying: "Our top priority at UPPAbaby is the safety of children," the company said in a notice posted on their website. "Despite passing all tests and meeting all standards, UPPAbaby received one report about the all-terrain RIDGE stroller."
- "Based on one consumer report to us, we believe the injury is likely due to consumer misuse," the company said.
USPC is urging consumers to immediately stop using the recalled strollers and contact UPPAbaby to receive free replacement brake discs for both wheels. | https://www.axios.com/2022/09/03/uppababy-stroller-recall-issued | 2022-09-03T20:22:32Z | axios.com | control | https://www.axios.com/2022/09/03/uppababy-stroller-recall-issued | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
SPOKANE, Wash. — The Spokane Valley Traffic Unit is investigating a crash involving a school bus and a young woman that happened last night at 10:25 p.m. on Sullivan Road and 8th Avenue, near Central Valley High School.
She was taken to the hospital with serious injuries, according to the Spokane County Sheriff's Office. She is now in critical condition.
The young woman was crossing the street on 8th Avenue when she was struck by the bus as it was traveling north on South Sullivan.
The bus driver stayed at the scene and is cooperating with the investigation.
Witnesses also say the traffic light for the bus was green when the young woman was hit.
The Spokane County Sheriff's Office do not believe impairment played a role in the incident, and the driver has not been charged.
This is a developing story, we'll continue to bring you the latest as we learn it. | https://www.krem.com/article/news/local/young-woman-in-critical-condition-after-bus-hit/293-6154fb84-1751-414a-97da-185a9c7cce13 | 2022-09-03T20:28:02Z | krem.com | control | https://www.krem.com/article/news/local/young-woman-in-critical-condition-after-bus-hit/293-6154fb84-1751-414a-97da-185a9c7cce13 | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Clarksville-based Marine recruiter facing sex crime charges
CLARKSVILLE, In. (WAVE) - A Clarksville-based U.S. Marine Corps recruiter is facing four sex crime charges.
Our news partner News and Tribune obtained court records and a probable cause affidavit for this case.
News and Tribune reports, 24-year-old Steven Robinson is charged with one count of child seduction, two counts of possession of child pornography and one misdemeanor count of false informing.
Jeffersonville police said that they were called to a hotel on August 16 where officers found Robinson and a minor engaging in sexual activity. At first officers determined that it was consensual but were later tipped off that Robinson might be a USMC recruiter.
Robinson denied being involved with any branches of the military when asked.
News and Tribune reports that officers allowed Robinson, the minor and guardians to leave the scene on August 16.
A Jeffersonville police detective said they received a call from officers on scene who told them Robinson was a Marine recruiter in the office where the minor attends training, which the detective said that qualifies for the child seduction charge under Indiana law.
Officers went to the Clarksville recruitment office and found Robinson. They took his electronic devices and obtained a search warrant to investigate the devices.
Police said Robinson initially tried to hide that he was with the minor and tried to prevent them from having contact with the minor. He also is accused of telling the minor to lie about how they met and their identity and deny he was a recruiter. Officers also found text messages between the minor and Robinson that they said indicated he wanted the minor to lie if they ever caught.
According to that probable cause affidavit, the Department of Children’s Services determined that Robinson used common tactics to groom the minor.
Officers also searched Robinson’s cell and said they found evidence that Robinson used his position of authority as a recruiter over the minor. They also noted that he didn’t use his USMC-issued cell phone but instead his personal cell phone to contact various high school students.
Robinson was in court Wednesday and court records say he entered his cash bond that day.
Copyright 2022 WAVE. All rights reserved. | https://www.wave3.com/2022/09/03/clarksville-based-marine-recruiter-facing-sex-crime-charges/ | 2022-09-03T20:30:47Z | wave3.com | control | https://www.wave3.com/2022/09/03/clarksville-based-marine-recruiter-facing-sex-crime-charges/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
ISP: Evansville man leads troopers on chase, crashes motorcycle
EVANSVILLE, Ind. (WFIE) - An Indiana State Police trooper attempted pulling over a man on a motorcycle late Friday night, but the rider sped off, resulting in a chase.
According to a press release, that incident happened on First Avenue around 11:50 p.m.
An ISP trooper says he attempted pulling the rider over for traveling at 60 mph in a 45 mph zone. The rider instead sped off and turned east on Columbia and reached speeds of around 80 mph before turning north onto Main Street.
Officials say the rider ignored multiple stop signs and eventually turned east on Bob Griese Pass, and then north on Heidelbach Avenue.
According to a press release, the rider eventually crashed in the 7800 block of Darmstadt Road.
The rider was identified as 23-year-old Charles Fairbanks.
Fairbanks was treated for his injuries by troopers on scene and then taken to Deaconess Hospital by ambulance for minor injuries, police say.
After being treated at the hospital, Fairbanks was released and taken to Vanderburgh County Jail where he is being held without bond.
Fairbanks is facing the following charges:
- Resisting Law Enforcement, Level 6 Felony
- Reckless Driving, Class C Misdemeanor
Copyright 2022 WFIE. All rights reserved. | https://www.wave3.com/2022/09/03/isp-evansville-man-leads-troopers-chase-crashes-motorcycle/ | 2022-09-03T20:31:00Z | wave3.com | control | https://www.wave3.com/2022/09/03/isp-evansville-man-leads-troopers-chase-crashes-motorcycle/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Sectaurs Action Figures Return From The Nacelle Company
The ’80s proved such a golden era for action figure lines that a large percentage of them can still warm the nostalgia cockles of grown collectors’ hearts. Beyond the obvious heavy-hitters like Transformers and ThunderCats, toy stores saw the likes of The Bone Age and Sectaurs. That last one now looks like the latest to revive. The Nacelle Company, who produced The Toys That Made Us, are now moving into the business of actually selling new versions of the figures that make them. In this case, Sectaurs, with two figures now available for preorder.
One of several fantasy/sci-fi hybrid lines to pop up in the wake of Masters of the Universe, Coleco’s Sectaurs depicted insect- and arachnid-themed warriors. For the line’s main gimmick, giant bug hand puppets with motorized wings could carry the figures on their backs. And the Hyve playset was one of the largest base sets of the decade. Adding some prestige, a Marvel comics miniseries written by Bill Mantlo expanded on the Sectaurs storyline.
RELATED: Toy Review: Heroclix Galactus the Devourer Premium Colossal Figure
The new figures, in 7-inch scale like the originals, kick off with good-guy leader Prince Dargon and the previously unreleased-but-prototyped Stelara. Both should arrive in 2023, and cost $39.99 apiece.
This is actually the second Sectaurs revival — Zica Toys previously Kickstartered a 4-inch line. The bonus of The Nacelle Company’s versions is they’ll work with ’80s Sectaurs figures and playsets, for anyone who still has them. Take look through the mini-gallery below for images.
Will you build a new hive (or Hyve) with these Sectaurs? Let us know in comments!
Recommended Reading: Sectaurs #1 Newsstand Hasbro Variant 1985 Marvel Comic Book
We are also a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. This affiliate advertising program also provides a means to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. | https://www.superherohype.com/geek-culture/518679-sectaurs-action-figures-return-from-the-nacelle-company | 2022-09-03T20:31:38Z | superherohype.com | control | https://www.superherohype.com/geek-culture/518679-sectaurs-action-figures-return-from-the-nacelle-company | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Darlington Raceway announced today that the grandstands are sold out for the 73rd running of the Cook Out Southern 500® NASCAR Cup Series Playoff race. Infield camping and suites are also at capacity for the Shriners Children’s Darlington Labor Day Race Weekend. This is the first Cook Out Southern 500 without any pandemic restrictions since 2019’s race, which was also sold out.
“As the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs start at Darlington Raceway, we are proud to share that our loyal fans have sold out the crown jewel Cook Out Southern 500,” said Kerry Tharp, Darlington Raceway President. “From NASCAR’s return to race during the pandemic to today, we are immensely grateful to our fans and partners for their overwhelming support of our great sport. When the green flag waves for the first race of the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs, we look forward to sharing another memorable moment with a capacity crowd at the track Too Tough To Tame.”
The Cook Out Southern 500 sellout marks yet another Cup Series sellout this season. Other 2022 sellouts include The DAYTONA 500 at Daytona International Speedway, Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway, and Cup Series races at Watkins-Glen International (grandstands), Worldwide Technology Raceway, and Phoenix Raceway’s spring Cup Series race and fall’s Cup Series Championship race.
The green flag for the first race of the Cup Series Playoffs in the Cook Out Southern 500 waves on Sunday at 6:19 p.m. The race will be broadcast on USA Network, MRN Radio and SiriusXM Radio.
For fans looking to buy or sell reserved seats for the Cook Out Southern 500, visit the Official Ticket Marketplace of NASCAR, SeatGeek. For more about information on Cook Out Southern 500 tickets on SeatGeek, visit here.
Stay connected to Darlington Raceway on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and the all-new NASCAR Tracks App.
Darlington Raceway PR | https://www.speedwaydigest.com/index.php/news/speedway-news/72608-darlington-raceway-is-sold-out-for-the-cook-out-southern-500 | 2022-09-03T20:32:17Z | speedwaydigest.com | control | https://www.speedwaydigest.com/index.php/news/speedway-news/72608-darlington-raceway-is-sold-out-for-the-cook-out-southern-500 | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Louisville mother starts nonprofit dedicated to gun violence solutions after daughter shot
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WAVE) - Kenya Wade launched a nonprofit in 2020 called Cyclebreakers Breaking Chains Inc., with the mission to find solutions to stop gun violence in the city.
The nonprofit was created after Wade’s daughter was shot back in 2016. Mentoring, education, and personal growth are all parts of the nonprofit.
“I truly understand how lucky I am as a parent, and [how lucky] she is to be here,” Wade said.
Nearly six years ago on Dec. 8, Wade said her teenage daughter walked up to a man she was friends with to say hello. Wade said the man asked her to go away, threatened her, then shot her several times.
Her daughter’s request after what happened shocked Wade.
”She said, ‘I don’t want him arrested because he doesn’t have the type of parents that I have,’” Wade said. “‘He wasn’t raised like me.’”
“At that time, I wanted him to go to jail for what he did to my daughter,” Wade said.
Since the shooting, Wade said the man reached out to apologize. Wade said she has found it in her heart to forgive.
Recently, Wade said that the man who hurt her daughter was shot and killed.
“I wanted to see him follow up and see him do great things,” she said.
Wade said she wanted the man to be a part of the organization she created.
”I wanted to mirror to the community and to the parents who have also lost children, to have forgiveness,” Wade said. ”Some days it still bothers me. But I understand, I am grateful too.”
Wade said she hopes to have her first meeting soon and relies on donations and volunteers.
To learn more about the nonprofit, click or tap here.
Copyright 2022 WAVE. All rights reserved. | https://www.wave3.com/2022/09/03/louisville-mother-starts-nonprofit-dedicated-gun-violence-solutions-after-daughter-shot/ | 2022-09-03T20:35:14Z | wave3.com | control | https://www.wave3.com/2022/09/03/louisville-mother-starts-nonprofit-dedicated-gun-violence-solutions-after-daughter-shot/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Sharjah: Sri Lankan batters showed enormous tactical acumen in yet another tricky run-chase as they defeated Afghanistan by four wickets in the opening Super 4 game of the Asia Cup here on Saturday.
It was fantastic bowling effort at the death that saw Sri Lanka restrict the Afghans to 175/6 with only 37 runs coming in the last five overs despite a brilliant 84 off 45 balls by Rahamanullah Gurbaz.
In reply, Sri Lanka chased down the target in 19.1 overs with several small but impactful contributions that sealed the issue for them. This was the highest run-chase in a T20I at Sharjah.
Just like great bowing at the death, the overs between 15-18 yielded 51 runs for the Lankans and that proved to be a game-changer.
Kusal Mendis (36 off 19 balls) started from where he had left against Bangladesh the other day as he launched into opposition's best bowler Rashid Khan, depositing him for two successive sixes as 17 runs came in that over inside the Powerplay.
And before that, Mendis had a maximum of Mujeeb ur Rahaman.
All three sixes were in the arc between deep mid-wicket and deep square leg.
His opening partner Pathum Nissanka (35 off 28 balls) also gave solid support as 62 were added for the opening stand.
However, it was Danuska Gunathilaka (33 off 20 balls) and Bhanuka Rajapaksa (31 off 14 balls), whose 32 runs stand of just 2.3 overs changed the complexion of the game.
Their daredevilry had enormous impact in the final outcome of the game as they hit sixes and found the gaps with ease. In the 34 balls that they played, there were six fours and three sixes.
The Afghan bowlers, who are not always used to handling pressure situations, did falter in the end and Rashid's poor day (1/39 in 4 overs) at the office did have its effect.
Put into bat young opener Rahmanullah Gurbaz gave a brilliant exhibition of his dashing strokeplay as his innings was the cornerstone of Afghanistan's competitive total of 175 for 6.
However, Afghanistan will be a bit disappointed as the last five overs yielded only 37 runs and lost five wickets in a jiffy with GUrbaz's dismissal putting some sort of a brake on the run flow.
Gurbaz, the 20-year-old right-hander, who was a part of IPL champion team Gujarat Titans, smashed half a dozen sixes and added 93 in just 10.4 overs with Ibrahim Zadran (40) to take Afghanistan to a more than respectable total at the Sharjah Cricket ground.
The evening belonged to Gurbaz, who did get a slice of luck as Danushka Gunathilaka's foot touched the rope when he went for a successive second six off mystery spinner Mahesh Theekshana, having slog-swept him for his first six.
However, there was no looking back after that even though the right hander didn't use his feet much against the spinner.
The slog sweep off Wanindu Hasaranga over cow corner was a treat to watch and so was the two down-the-ground sixes off Chamika Karunaratne which was all about maximum power with hand-eye co-ordination and minimal feet movement.
There was pull shot off pacer Asitha Fernando among the half dozen of sixes that he hit and once he was out, Sri Lanka bowlers did get a sense of reprieve on a ground where the side boundaries are really short.
Zadran though got a few lusty blows and so did Rashid Khan (9) towards the fag end of the Afghanistan innings to take the score close to 180.
While spinners Theekshana (1/29) and Hasaranga (0/23 in 4 overs) gave away only 52 in their eight overs, it was skipper Dasun Shanaka (0/22 in 2 overs) and Karunaratne (0/29 in 2 overs), who leaked 51 runs in four overs for the "fifth bowler's quota". | https://www.onmanorama.com/sports/cricket/2022/09/03/asia-cup-super-4-sri-lanka-beat-afghanistan.amp.html | 2022-09-03T20:36:30Z | onmanorama.com | control | https://www.onmanorama.com/sports/cricket/2022/09/03/asia-cup-super-4-sri-lanka-beat-afghanistan.amp.html | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
New Delhi: Batting maestro Brian Lara has replaced former Australian cricketer Tom Moody as Sunrisers Hyderabad's head coach for the 2023 IPL season, the team announced on Saturday.
This will be the 53-year-old's maiden assignment as a head coach of a T20 team.
The former West Indies skipper had joined SRH as the strategic advisor and batting coach last December.
"The cricketing legend Brian Lara will be our head coach for the upcoming #IPL seasons," the IPL team posted on its official Twitter handle.
According to a ESPNCricinfo report, Moody and SRH parted ways amicably. The Australian departs after completing two stints with the side.
Moody had a successful stint with SRH between 2013 and 2019 when the team reached the play-offs five times and emerged champions in 2016.
The 56-year-old was replaced by fellow Australian Trevor Bayliss as head coach in 2020 and Moody returned to SRH as director of cricket last year.
However, with the team finishing last with just three wins, Moody was elevated to the coach's position.
Things didn't turn up well for Moody in his second stint as head coach as the Sunrisers finished eighth in 10-team event in 2022 season with six wins and eight defeats.
Moody will now join Desert Vipers, one of the six franchises in the International League T20, after being recently appointed as its director of cricket.
The tournament is scheduled to be held in the UAE in January next year. | https://www.onmanorama.com/sports/cricket/2022/09/03/lara-replaces-moody-as-srh-head-coach.amp.html | 2022-09-03T20:36:42Z | onmanorama.com | control | https://www.onmanorama.com/sports/cricket/2022/09/03/lara-replaces-moody-as-srh-head-coach.amp.html | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
(NewsNation) — A pilot in a plane circling over Tupelo, Mississippi, on Saturday morning — and who allegedly told police he would to crash into a Walmart — landed the aircraft “intact” in a field a few hours later, according to local authorities.
Tupelo Police Chief John Quaka said at a press conference that Cory Wayne Patterson stole a Beechcraft King Air C90A from the Tupelo Regional Airport, took off early Saturday, called 911 and then threatened to crash the aircraft.
Negotiators spoke to Patterson and convinced him not carry out the threat and to land at the airport. Patterson did not have the experience to land and another pilot attempted to coach him through it.
A negotiator re-established contact, and the plane landed safely.
Benton County Sheriff Dispatcher Connie Strickland said the suspect was in law enforcement custody, according to the Associated Press.
Patterson faces charges including grand larceny and making a terrorist threat, according to police. He did not have a pilot’s license, but did work at Tupelo Aviation and had some flight training.
An online flight tracking service showed the plane meandering in the sky before landing.
Citizens were asked to avoid the area during the incident in an abundance of caution.
In a post on social media, police said that the Walmart and a nearby convenience store had been evacuated.
Gov. Tate Reeves tweeted Saturday a thank-you to law enforcement in addition to the news that the plane was “down” and no one was injured.
“Thank you most of all to local, state, and federal law enforcement who managed this situation with extreme professionalism,” Reeves tweeted.
Multiple federal agencies, including the Department of Homeland Security, were involved in the investigation and are working to discern a motive.
Quaka said Patterson, on his Facebook page, posted what was in essence a goodbye message at about 9:30 a.m.
“Sorry everyone. Never wanted to actually hurt anyone. I love my parents and sister this isn’t your fault. Goodbye,” the message read.
Tupelo Mayor Todd Jordan said he hopes Patterson “will get the help he needs” and didn’t intend to hurt himself or others in the hours after the initial threat.
The Associated Press contributed to this report. | https://www.wpri.com/news/national/pilot-slapped-with-charges-after-threatening-to-crash-stolen-plane-into-walmart-police-say/ | 2022-09-03T20:37:43Z | wpri.com | control | https://www.wpri.com/news/national/pilot-slapped-with-charges-after-threatening-to-crash-stolen-plane-into-walmart-police-say/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Every time I listen to Richard Sherman talk on his podcast, I realize that I miss listening to his post-game and mid-week press conferences because they were so enthusiastic and honest.
On his most recent podcast episode, Sherman spoke about the 49ers’ move to keep Jimmy Garoppolo as a backup to Trey Lance this upcoming season. He was emphatic that this was the right move and going to benefit the team in the long run and the locker-room personalities are selfless enough to handle this situation.
Here’s the full quote:
“If you can afford to keep both, then you keep both. Jimmy [Garoppolo]’s happy with it. Trey [Lance]’s happy with it. Only people that aren’t happy with it are the people on the outside. They’re like ‘what if they don’t do well?’ But, what if they do do well. What if they go undefeated in the first five games and he’s not looking over his shoulder and they’re just supporting each other like great teammates. The thing about this 49ers’ team that nobody’s mentioning is that it’s a team full of great people. That’s the part you’re not mentioning. Like these aren’t selfish people, you don’t hear a lot of ‘me, me, me’ from the guys in the locker room and Jimmy’s the last one who would be that way. They think about team, teammate, then self. Some people are like ‘Why isn’t Jimmy saying anything, or why isn’t he getting upset or why isn’t he saying trade me?’ Because the philosophy is team, teammate and self. Self is third. When you teach that philosophy and you have that culture, then guys aren’t thinking me first. If this is what’s best for the team, this is what I’m going to do and I’m going to wait for my opportunity and if my opportunity comes, then I’ll step up and do what I got to do to help my guys get to another Super Bowl.”
“If you can afford to keep both, then you keep both. Jimmy’s happy with it. Trey’s happy with it. Only people that aren’t happy with it are the people on the outside.” — Richard Sherman pic.twitter.com/RsZXT1dgWx
— Akash Anavarathan (@akashanav) September 1, 2022
Nothing like Richard Sherman making it crystal clear about how this move to keep Jimmy Garoppolo should be viewed. Sherman had been around Garoppolo for multiple seasons, and I don’t think there’s a better person to describe how the 49ers’ locker room will handle any potential drama that could ensue in 2022. | https://www.ninersnation.com/2022/9/3/23335328/san-francisco-49ers-richard-sherman-jimmy-garoppolo-trey-lance-keep-both | 2022-09-03T20:46:12Z | ninersnation.com | control | https://www.ninersnation.com/2022/9/3/23335328/san-francisco-49ers-richard-sherman-jimmy-garoppolo-trey-lance-keep-both | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
The 49ers held workouts with three players on Friday, adding one to their practice squad. The Niners worked out offensive lineman Leroy Watson, offensive tackle Jean Delance, and linebacker Buddy Johnson, according to a report by Aaron Wilson of Pro Football Network. Watson’s father tweeted that he has signed a deal to join the 49ers practice squad.
Breaking News Again!!! #LEROYWATSONIV has left New England Patriots to fly to the West Coast. He just signed with the San Francisco 49ers. No bad feelings in Boston. Cali just feels better. pic.twitter.com/5IEkG8th4l
— Bishop Leroy Watson (@BishopLWatson3) September 2, 2022
Watson was a tight end in college at UTSA, hauling in 25 receptions for two receiving touchdowns and 297 receiving touchdowns over three seasons. However, Watson primarily contributed as a blocker. Prior to joining UTSA, Watson played at Hutchinson Community College. In 2017, Watson was teammates with 49ers offensive linemen Jason Poe (who was a fullback at the time) and Spencer Burford. Something tells me Hutchinson Community College had a smashmouth offense that year.
Watson signed with the Falcons as an undrafted free agent and got off to a good start at offensive tackle this preseason. However, Atlanta released Watson in their final round of roster cutdown. Multiple reports suggested he was going to sign a deal with the New England Patriots, something confirmed in his father’s tweet, but he chose to join the Niners practice squad instead.
Delance was a three-year starter at right tackle for Florida and signed as an undrafted free agent with the Bears following the draft. However, he was released with a non-football illness designation at the end of the preseason. The Niners met with Delance at the East-West Shrine Bowl prior to the draft, suggesting they have had some level of interest in him for some time.
Johnson was one of the more noteworthy cuts of the preseason. Drafted in the fourth round of the 2021 draft by the Steelers out of Texas A&M, Johnson never lived up to his draft status in Pittsburgh, recording just two tackles on special teams in four games last season. He could be an interesting reclamation project for the Niners coaching staff if they add him to the practice squad. | https://www.ninersnation.com/2022/9/3/23335863/49ers-workout-jean-delance-buddy-johnson-add-leroy-watson-practice-squad | 2022-09-03T20:46:18Z | ninersnation.com | control | https://www.ninersnation.com/2022/9/3/23335863/49ers-workout-jean-delance-buddy-johnson-add-leroy-watson-practice-squad | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
COSTA MESA — Practice was done, but quarterback Justin Herbert was not.
Chargers players, coaches and staff members began drifting away from the fields at Jack Hammett Sports Complex after the second of two joint practices with the Dallas Cowboys last month. Cold drinks and a snack or two or three awaited them all after a long session under the midday sun.
Herbert stayed put.
One throw followed another, tight spirals to a number of receivers.
Five minutes passed.
Ten minutes passed.
Fifteen minutes passed.
“You see him, he stays, like, an hour and a half after practice just throwing the same route over and over and over,” Chargers wide receiver Keenan Allen said, watching Herbert from afar while others ran pass patterns. “If there’s not a spiral, he’ll just keep throwing the same one.”
Twenty minutes passed.
“He’s not only a tremendous talent, but I think it’s just the way he plays,” Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy had said one day earlier when asked for his assessment of Herbert. “He has a lot of juice, a lot of energy. Both in the pocket and out of the pocket, obviously, he can make any throw on the field.”
Thirty minutes passed.
Finally, Herbert called it quits.
“I need to be the best quarterback that I can be,” Herbert said when asked about his post-practice routine. “I go after practice and if I miss my throws that day, it’s important to me to figure them out and take care of my body, as well. I’m going to go ice and make sure I’m ready to go tomorrow.”
Many minutes earlier, Allen had marveled at Herbert’s commitment.
Sort of.
“It’s crazy,” Allen said
What’s crazy?
“I don’t know,” said Allen, entering his 10th season in the NFL, all with the Chargers and the first eight with longtime quarterback Philip Rivers.
“Philip never stayed after practice to throw the ball. Philip put in the work, but this guy (Herbert) is out here, like, an hour and a half, just throwing the same route over and over and over.”
Rivers, Herbert’s predecessor, completed 65% of his passes for 63,440 yards and 421 touchdowns in 244 career games over 17 years in the NFL, all but one with the Chargers. Rivers never threw for 5,000 yards in a season.
Herbert did last year.
In fact, no one in Chargers history had thrown for 5,000 yards in a season until Herbert threw for 5,014 yards in 17 games last year – not Rivers, not Dan Fouts, not Stan Humphries, not John Hadl and not Drew Brees. Fouts set the team record of 4,802 yards in 16 games in 1981, one fewer than Herbert.
“So impressed with Justin, frankly, last year when we played them,” the Cowboys’ McCarthy said, referring to Dallas’ 20-17 victory on Sept. 19, when Herbert completed 31 of 41 passes for 338 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions. “I think it’s like any player in this league. You watch them on tape and there’s no emotion. You don’t really feel that energy that’s out there.”
It was a different story while watching Herbert live.
“I was just so impressed with him in our game last year,” McCarthy said.
WHAT MAKES HIM GO?
Herbert, 24, was selected to the Pro Bowl in 2021 in his second season with the Chargers, who drafted him sixth overall in the 2020 draft following his stellar career at the University of Oregon. There’s been preseason chatter that he could be an MVP candidate when this season is done.
“My personal goal is just to be the best quarterback and teammate that I can be,” he said on the opening day of training camp July 27. “I try not to look too much into statistics. I think that can kind of skew or throw you off from what you are trying to accomplish. As long as I work hard and do the right things on and off the field, I think we’ll be in good shape.”
Last season, Herbert’s record-setting yardage coupled with a 65.9% completion percentage and 38 touchdowns. They were counterbalanced by 15 interceptions, a 9-8 record, a third-place finish in the AFC West and falling one win short of the playoffs.
Perfection, as a goal unto itself, can be elusive.
Or it can prove to be maddening at best or counterproductive at worst.
So, how does Herbert balance a desire to be the best with inevitable mistakes?
“It’s an interesting thought because I always tell myself that I made it further than I ever thought I was going to,” he said. “At this point, if I just do my best, I can’t complain. I go out there and if I work as hard as I can on every single rep and I go out after practice, I can fail and still be proud of myself.”
Improvement when you’ve reached the peak of your profession can be difficult, too. As a rookie, with a Rose Bowl victory, a golden arm, fleet feet and a sparkling résumé, Herbert still had to prove himself in the NFL. As a second-year player, he had to raise his game to another level, and he did.
Spectacularly, in fact.
What comes next? How many more steps can Herbert take in Year 3?
“He’s pretty good, he’s pretty good,” Chargers wide receiver Mike Williams said, laughing while repeating himself for emphasis. “But, yeah, we can unlock some more stuff this upcoming season. We haven’t gotten to the playoffs or the Super Bowl with him, so, yeah, we’re looking forward to that.”
Herbert has become more vocal, more assertive and more of a leader in his third training camp, according to center Corey Linsley, who is in his second season with the Chargers after seven years snapping the ball to quarterback Aaron Rodgers with the Green Bay Packers.
‘It’s more of an attitude,” Linsley said of Herbert. “Yeah, he says stuff. It’s not like he doesn’t rally the team up. It’s his calm, that sort of confidence where it doesn’t need to be said a whole lot. You just see it in his eyes. This guy is in the zone. That’s what you see day in and day out where we all rally around him.”
Then there’s that arm of Herbert’s. Have we mentioned his strength and accuracy?
“Justin hits you in the chest every time,” Chargers wide receiver DeAndre Carter said. “There’s not too much to get used to – just catch the ball when it comes. It definitely makes it easier. He can throw that thing in there. Probably about 102 miles per hour. If he played baseball.”
THE BACKSTORY
As a matter of fact, Herbert did play baseball while at Sheldon High School in Eugene, Oregon. He pitched Sheldon to the state 6A championship as a senior and earned second-team all-state recognition, which makes one wonder who was picked as the state’s first-team pitcher.
Football runs through the Herbert family like the blood coursing through their veins, so that was the direction Justin headed after high school. He landed at Oregon after initially hoping to join his older brother, Mitchell, at Montana State. His father, Mark, had played at Montana and his grandfather, Rich, played at Oregon.
After Herbert’s record-setting career with the Ducks, the Chargers selected him as the heir apparent to Rivers, who signed with the Indianapolis Colts for his 17th and final NFL season on March 21, 2020, less than a month before the draft. Herbert then started 15 games as a rookie.
Brandon Staley replaced Anthony Lynn as the Chargers’ coach after the 2020 season, and Staley’s union with Herbert has been strengthened with each passing day. Not that Herbert has changed in any great way, mind you, but Staley can’t help but notice his growth and maturity over the past weeks and months.
If there’s increased pressure on Herbert’s 6-foot-6, 236-pound frame to win this season, to march the Chargers into the playoffs for the first time since they went 12-4 in 2018, it wasn’t apparent to Staley as training camp unfolded. Herbert is the same, no different in meaningful ways.
“He’s just so steady,” Staley said. “He’s handling it like he did the first time I met him. He’s a fierce competitor. His intangibles are by far his best quality – the head that he has on his shoulders. There’s nobody’s standards that will ever, ever meet his own. That’s what makes him such a good player and such a good teammate.
“He knows how important it is to be one of the guys. I think that’s why his teammates and his coaches appreciate him so much. Because it’s never about him. He wants it to be about our team, our unit on offense, our fans. When you have a humble superstar like him, it sure helps.”
No question, expectations of Herbert have increased for his third NFL season.
Blame him. He’s the one who set them.
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Matthew Stafford showcased a variety of touchdown throws to his best playmakers in a sharp red-zone period in early August that dazzled the fans in Irvine during training camp.
Stafford had a no-look pass to Cooper Kupp and a jump-ball in the back of the end zone for Allen Robinson, but that wasn’t enough to convince spectators, reporters and others with concerns, as they turned their focus on the sideline to continue watching the Rams’ star quarterback, who held a kettlebell while the rest of the team conducted 11-on-11 drills.
Shoulder rolls and kettlebell raises certainly aren’t as entertaining as Stafford’s throws, but his post-practice routine gained plenty of attention in the summer after Rams coach Sean McVay referred to Stafford’s arm soreness in his throwing arm as “abnormal” and something they’re “learning on the fly” for how to manage.
“General soreness,” Stafford said last month after being asked for a specific name for the dubious injury. “I don’t know. It doesn’t matter.”
Whatever it was, the Rams learned enough about it because Stafford appeared to be his usual self during his limited period, a ramp-up phase and all the way through the joint scrimmages with the Cincinnati Bengals as a full participant. Regardless of how impressive Stafford was in practice, his teammates and McVay continued to receive questions about Stafford’s throwing arm.
“The ball is coming out of his hand really nicely, got the same pepper on it,” Kupp said. “He’s still hauling the ball down the field, so everything looks good from my end.”
It took a massive helmet-swinging brawl between the Rams and Bengals to overtake Stafford’s arm soreness as the story of the summer for the defending Super Bowl champions. The questions have died down and the 34-year-old Stafford is ready for his 14th NFL season, and perhaps all the doubt and concern might be welcomed motivation for a quarterback who finally hoisted the Lombardi Trophy in his first season in Los Angeles after leaving the Detroit Lions without a playoff victory.
“I think when you’re an elite QB like him, there’s a natural fire in the DNA,” Rams general manager Les Snead said earlier this week. “There’s more in elite QBs than probably the normal person. So, that’s always there. I think any time you take a snap, you know, ‘Hey, it’s game on.’
“It’s a very humbling, hard job. When you’re a quarterback and you’ve been a starter for 13-plus years, there’s an element of stress and drudgery there in terms of focus, intensity that’s required just to last that long. That doesn’t go out just with one Super Bowl victory.”
Stafford doesn’t need the extra motivation and he likely didn’t thank McVay for calling his arm soreness abnormal, but that’s just the downside of what McVay likes to call “champagne problems.” There’s more attention on Super Bowl-winning quarterbacks when it comes to off-the-field stories, like opening an Instagram account, or more notably, receiving an elbow injection in the throwing arm during the offseason.
Stafford didn’t throw throughout the offseason program because of the elbow injection and that might explain why there was a sense of concern after he experienced arm soreness following the first week of training camp. Eventually, the Rams learned it was somewhat similar to what Stafford has dealt with in past seasons, including last year.
“He’s had soreness in the elbow,” Snead said. “He’s dealt with that soreness. He had it last year. He’s played with it. He’s been trying to experiment with some different techniques. Is there a way to get to the season less sore to play through the season less sore? And that’s just going to be an experiment that he’s going through.”
Motivation has never been an issue and the soreness didn’t stop Stafford from operating game-winning drives versus the Bengals in Super Bowl LVI and against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the Divisional Round. Stafford also delivered a fourth-quarter comeback against arguably the team’s biggest rival in the San Francisco 49ers during the NFC Championship Game.
Snead was well aware of Stafford’s many comeback victories in Detroit, one of the biggest reasons why the Rams’ GM pushed to acquire him last year. Most of Stafford’s comebacks in Detroit became afterthoughts because they didn’t occur in the postseason, although it’s hard to forget Stafford’s game-winning drive against the Cleveland Browns as a rookie in 2009 after refusing to leave the field with a shoulder injury.
“He was ranked pretty high,” Snead said about Stafford’s comeback victories. “But then to sit there and witness a person actually live through that and actually in terms of the magnitude of the moment, as Sean always says, be your best when your best is required. I mean this is a divisional playoff game, and Tom Brady, who just made one of the great comebacks of all time, but he said, ‘Not so fast, Mr. Brady.’
“Same with the Niners and then that Cincinnati game with all the marbles on the line. You either get to the mountaintop, or you’re gonna end up with a silver medal. To actually execute a comeback, even though he’s known as ‘The Comeback Kid,’ to watch him do that, boy, there’s a respect of ‘Wow, that’s different. That’s special. That’s definitely rare.’”
If Stafford’s track record of toughness and determination isn’t enough to convince doubters he’ll be ready mentally and physically to defend the Rams’ Super Bowl crown, starting against the Buffalo Bills on Thursday night, then maybe the way Stafford pursued Robinson in free agency might serve as a reminder of how badly he wants to return to the mountaintop.
After star edge rusher Von Miller decided at the last minute not to stay with the Rams and instead joined the Bills, Stafford told Snead and McVay that the big-body wide receiver is still available.
“He was definitely a fan of Allen Robinson, like, ‘Hey, what about that guy?’” Snead recalled. “Matthew kind of had let us know, ‘You know what? Sometimes it’s OK to have that big guy out there and we just throw it up and let him go get a rebound.’”
Despite the new weapons and the same competitive fire, Stafford will likely be asked a few times before the season opener: How’s your arm feeling?
Perhaps only a shootout against Bills star quarterback Josh Allen will be enough to convince the doubters – or maybe another kettlebell session will do the trick.
“Yeah, I did it in the weight room after I was done yesterday,” Stafford jokingly said. “You guys just missed it.”
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We invite you to use our commenting platform to engage in insightful conversations about issues in our community. We reserve the right at all times to remove any information or materials that are unlawful, threatening, abusive, libelous, defamatory, obscene, vulgar, pornographic, profane, indecent or otherwise objectionable to us, and to disclose any information necessary to satisfy the law, regulation, or government request. We might permanently block any user who abuses these conditions. | https://www.pasadenastarnews.com/2022/09/03/matthew-stafford-ready-to-defend-rams-super-bowl-crown/ | 2022-09-03T20:51:27Z | pasadenastarnews.com | control | https://www.pasadenastarnews.com/2022/09/03/matthew-stafford-ready-to-defend-rams-super-bowl-crown/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
The presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu, has said the party has the people who have the wherewithal to continue to put Nigeria on the path of progress.
Tinubu stated this on Saturday in Abuja at the flag-off of the APC Northern Speakers Door to Door for Tinubu/Shettima 2023 which was held at the Sheraton Hotel and Towers, Abuja.
According to the presidential candidate, APC as a party of progressive ideas will continue to put Nigeria on the path of progress and sustain its legacy in the transportation sector, the agricultural sector and the education sector for the good of every Nigerian. He said the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) during its 16 years in power was responsible for where Nigeria finds itself today while promising that APC will make Nigeria work and great again.
“We are the party of progressive ideas. We want good education for our children, good development for Nigeria, prosperity for this country, agricultural and agro allied projects to be embarked upon. We have the confidence, we have what it takes, we have the courage, we have the determination, we have the perseverance, we have the foresight to identify Nigeria’s problem and take it headlong and make a solution out of it for the prosperity of your children and tomorrow. The job of your grandchildren and the progress of tomorrow have started right now,” he said.
He however added that with the likes of his running mate, Senator Kashim Shettima, the Director General of the APC Presidential Campaign Council for 2023 election and the governor of Plateau State, Governor Simon Lalong and other stakeholders, the party have a winning team that will deliver victory for the party come 2023. He also commended the APC Northern Speakers Forum for their doggedness and determination by coming out with a laudable project that will not only boost the chances of the APC in 2023 but record victory during the elections.
ALSO READ FROM NIGERIAN TRIBUNE
“If for calculation, we have the calculator, if for measurement, we have a Shettima. If for strategy and thinking, there is a governor here, we have Lalong. Why do we have to worry about them but just wait for the calendar, the day of the voting and we dig their graveyards and dump them there. We need not to worry about the PDP; Poverty Development Party. They spent 16 years and forget that there is a railway infrastructure that can do haulage, human carriage, animal husbandry and carriage, food carriage from length and breadth, from east and west of Nigeria. If they want to pose a problem, we are better at countering them because we are thinkers and doers.
“They got there; they turned the railway to an incubator for chickens and dirty field. I wonder why they still exist as a party. These are people still fighting for leadership of their party looking for the direction of the compass whether there is a rain or shine there. We are not equal at all. We are smarter, we know where to go,
“We know the road, let them follow. I need to see the upgrade and I have seen the upgrade of the winning percentage from the calculator. So, we are very honoured and proud of what you (the Speakers Forum) have done in donations and contributions. We want more men and women of goodwill to do the same for this election,” Tinubu stated.
Meanwhile, the vice presidential candidate of the APC, Senator Kashim Shettima, said 2023 elections should be the payback time for Tinubu for what he has done in the enthronement of democracy back to Nigeria and for his consistent stand for equity, justice and fairness in the country. He said Tinubu is a leader who believes in the unity of Nigeria and without him in 2015; President Muhammadu Buhari would not have become president.
Shettima added that the presidential candidate has deployed his time, made sacrifices and ensured that the likes of Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State, former Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole, former Ondo State Governor, Olusegun Mimiko, former Governor of Osun State and Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, retrieved their stolen mandates through the judiciary. He said the presidential candidate of the PDP for the 2023 election, former vice president Atiku Abubakar benefitted from Tinubu’s gesture when he was harassed and hounded out of the PDP in 2007 by former President Obasanjo and provided the defunct Action Congress platform for Atiku to contest.
“President Muhammadu Buhari wouldn’t have become the president in 2015 if not for Asiwaju Bola Tinubu. This gentleman invested his resources, his time and his goodwill in bringing forth the presidency of this country to another part of Nigeria and this is payback time. We need to build a new Nigeria. We need to build a new nation. And the future of this country rests on the quality of leaders we choose. Posterity will judge us harshly if we miss this opportunity of choosing a leader who possesses the quality of leadership that this country needs.
“He is a simple man with a large heart, a detribalised Nigerian who believes that everyone has a role to play in the Nigerian project. We all remembered the sacrifices that he made to ensure that the likes of Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State, former Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole, former Ondo State Governor, Olusegun Mimiko, former Governor of Osun State and Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, retrieved their stolen mandates through the judiciary,” Shettima added.
The forum of All Progressive Congress APC Northern State House of Assembly Speakers, through its chairman, Rt Hon Yusuf Ibrahim Zailani also assured the party’s presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, of its unalloyed support towards realising his presidential dreams in 2023.
Zailani who is also the Speaker, Kaduna State House of Assembly, said the legislators did not care where the Nigerian president comes from whether Muslim or Christian, Yoruba, Ibo or Hausa but a president that will deliver democratic dividends to Nigerians.
He said with over 205 elected members of the Houses of Assembly from the Northern part of the country, victory for Tinubu/Shettima is assured as the legislators will work assiduously to ensure that APC wins the presidential election in 2023.
“For us legislators, we did not care where Nigerian President comes from, whether he is Ibo, Yoruba or Hausa, whether he is a Muslim or Christian, but a president that will deliver democratic dividends to Nigerians. We want to guarantee you over 70% of votes from the North because we are fully on ground in our different states and constituencies. Don’t mind those sitting in Abuja and making noise, members of the state Houses of Assembly are on ground to support the Tinubu/Shettima ticket.
“We are going to use our little resources and will not collect any money from our presidential candidate or the governors as this is our own way of showing support to our party and our presidential candidate,” he said. | https://tribuneonlineng.com/nigeria-will-work-again-in-2023-tinubu/ | 2022-09-03T21:00:58Z | tribuneonlineng.com | control | https://tribuneonlineng.com/nigeria-will-work-again-in-2023-tinubu/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
The first community health centers were funded in 1965 to provide healthcare to people in vulnerable communities who couldn’t afford to pay. Nearly 60 years later, 11,000 sites around the United States continue to stand in the gap for communities that need accessible, affordable healthcare.
For Black folks, who are more likely than white people to be uninsured, community health centers help eliminate some of the systemic barriers to health care — including lack of insurance and transportation.
I recently interviewed Susan Burton, National Association of Community Health Centers National Grassroots Advocacy director to discuss the role of health centers in local communities, how we can access care, and even have a say in what services are provided.
What are community health centers? And who are they for?
SB: Community health centers are for everybody. And I mean they are for everybody. We don’t turn away patients [who don’t have] the ability to pay. Doesn’t matter your insurance status. There are people that are insured. There are people that are uninsured.
The kind of official name in law is a federally qualified health center. And it means that there is a significant amount of funding that comes from the federal government — and that’s what helps them get set up. So there’s a base grant that every health center gets through our federal tax dollars. So, it’s bringing federal tax dollars back to local communities.
They have to be in medically underserved communities, which means that there often are not providers in those communities. So, there are a lot of remote locations. There are urban locations where 51% of the board members have to be patients, which means that the patients are informing what kind of care is needed in the community.
What type of care can a person expect to receive at a community health center?
SB: Health centers are known for preventative care…I think that one of the first doctors at health centers was writing prescriptions for fruits and vegetables because they realized that one of the issues that was impacting the patient’s health was not accessing healthy food.
So primary care is part of that, but there are a lot of health centers that have builtin behavioral health. Because again, when the patients define it, they begin saying, “well, wait a minute, it’s great that we’re getting physicals or we’ve got access to make sure we stay healthy, but what happens when we find someone who’s got a substance use disorder or mental health challenge.”
There are some health centers that serve people speaking many, many different languages. And so there are translation services available. So when you walk into a health center, there’s pretty much a guarantee that you’re going to be served, and the things that you need to be healthy are going to be there.
You mentioned that community health centers don’t turn anyone away, regardless of their ability to pay. Are services free, or can patients expect a bill later on?
SB: There’s a sliding scale…There are a couple of things. One is that there’s something called enabling services, which are a whole list of services that are going to wrap around primary care that you might need.
But if someone’s uninsured, they’re going to look to see if they qualify for Medicaid. So, there are people that do outreach and enrollment, because we know that there are a lot of people that are eligible for Medicaid that don’t either know about it, or have a stigma attached to it, or just haven’t gotten enrolled.
While cost is one barrier to accessing healthcare, there are others, such as transportation. Can you give an example of how community health centers are working to eliminate barriers other than coverage?
SB: There’s a community in Tennessee that has no public transportation. So, one of the services they offer is transportation to get their patients to the site. During COVID, we saw — and this was happening before — that there are a lot of community centers that have mobile units that will go to different locations.
There’s a health center that is partnering with the VFWs to make sure that the veterans in their community have access to care. So they’re taking their mobile unit to the parking lot.
To find out if there’s a community health center near you, visit www.findahealthcenter.hrsa.gov.
Alexa Spencer is a reporter and columnist with Word In Black | https://www.stlamerican.com/your_health_matters/health_news/community-health-centers-keep-giving-back/article_411379bc-2b24-11ed-a094-1b552133ae8f.html | 2022-09-03T21:18:29Z | stlamerican.com | control | https://www.stlamerican.com/your_health_matters/health_news/community-health-centers-keep-giving-back/article_411379bc-2b24-11ed-a094-1b552133ae8f.html | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
An estimated 70,000 people protested in Prague against the Czech government on Saturday, calling on the ruling coalition to do more to control soaring energy prices and voicing opposition to the European Union and NATO.
Organizers of the demonstration from a number of far-right and fringe political groups including the Communist party, said the central European nation should be neutral militarily and ensure direct contracts with gas suppliers, including Russia.\
Police estimates put the number of protesters at around 70,000 by mid-afternoon.
“The aim of our demonstration is to demand change, mainly in solving the issue of energy prices, especially electricity and gas, which will destroy our economy this autumn,” event co-organizer Jiri Havel told iDNES.cz news website.
The protest at Wenceslas Square in the city center was held a day after the government survived a no-confidence vote amid opposition claims of inaction against inflation and energy prices.
The vote showed how Europe’s energy crisis is fueling political instability as soaring power prices stoke inflation, already at levels unseen in three decades.
Prime Minister Petr Fiala, who leads the center-right, five-party coalition, told CTK news service on Saturday that the protesters did not have the country’s best interests at heart.
“The protest on Wenceslas Square was called by forces that are pro-Russian, are close to extreme positions and are against the interests of the Czech Republic,” he said. | https://nypost.com/2022/09/03/70000-protest-in-prague-against-czech-government-eu-nato/ | 2022-09-03T21:18:35Z | nypost.com | control | https://nypost.com/2022/09/03/70000-protest-in-prague-against-czech-government-eu-nato/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
This is Iowa football. Painfully so.
The Hawkeyes opened their season with a 7-3 victory at Kinnick Stadium over South Dakota State on Saturday. How did they get the seven, you ask? The hard way.
Iowa’s points came via a field goal and two safeties. The Hawkeyes finished the game with 168 yards of offense, 10 first downs, two turnovers and 10 punts, two of which set up safeties.
The Jackrabbits had 11 punts of their own. So yes, the under hit.
It was a brutal game for offensive coordinator Brian Ferentz, who was the subject of “Fire Brian” chants from the student section in his first game following a $40,000 raise.
Iowa gained just 59 rushing yards, averaging 1.7 per rush, though that number does include sack yardage. Quarterback Spencer Petras was 11-for-25, throwing for 109 yards and an interception against the FCS outfit.
The Hawkeyes won the Big Ten West last year with a 10-2 regular season record, losing the conference title game to Michigan and the Citrus Bowl to Kentucky. Their lack of offense was their downfall, though, as they scored just seven points in each of their two regular season losses and only three against the Wolverines.
No one really expected that to change. This is, after all, Iowa.
After one game, that expectation has been met. | https://nypost.com/2022/09/03/iowa-south-dakota-state-features-over-twice-as-many-punts-as-points/ | 2022-09-03T21:18:41Z | nypost.com | control | https://nypost.com/2022/09/03/iowa-south-dakota-state-features-over-twice-as-many-punts-as-points/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Republican Rep. Lee Zeldin is closing in on incumbent Gov. Kathy Hochul in New York’s tightening gubernatorial race, a poll released Saturday found.
The survey, conducted by the independent Trafalgar Group, found Hochul with just a 4 percent lead over the Long Island congressman — a significant narrowing in a race that has seen Hochul with a lead of up to 24 points.
The poll of 1,091 likely general election voters, conducted on Wednesday and Thursday, pegged Hochul at 47.8% — and Zeldin, at 43.4%, nipping at the Democrat’s heels.
That put the governor’s lead outside the poll’s 2.9% margin of error — but not by much.
An additional 2.7% of respondents said they support Libertarian Larry Sharpe, with 6.7% undecided.
The race’s last poll, released Aug. 23 and conducted by SurveyUSA on behalf of WNYT-TV in Albany, found Hochul with an overwhelming 55% support, compared to 31% for Zeldin and 14% undecided.
“I know the… numbers are surprising,” Robert Cahaly of the Trafalgar Group tweeted Saturday.
“But we at Trafalgar Group have seen a big shift in favor of non incumbents since Biden announced his #studentloanforgiveness package,” Cahaly continued. “No other issue this cycle has enraged middle and working class voters more than this.” | https://nypost.com/2022/09/03/lee-zeldin-trails-gov-kathy-hochul-by-just-4-points-new-poll-finds/ | 2022-09-03T21:18:47Z | nypost.com | control | https://nypost.com/2022/09/03/lee-zeldin-trails-gov-kathy-hochul-by-just-4-points-new-poll-finds/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
There should have been a warmer moment at the net with Ajla Tomljanovic, after the three-hour, three-set battle, than just a cursory handshake. But Serena Williams has never lost politely at the U.S. Open.
Otherwise, it was a perfect sendoff for Serena.
Great run, great week, great match, great career. Three great nights at Flushing Meadows, where the 25,000 fans at 25-year-old Arthur Ashe Stadium never sounded louder.
Williams was an aging, past-her-prime championship boxer who wouldn’t fall to the mat in the end. Down 5-1 and beyond exhaustion, she saved five match-ending, career-ending points against Tomljanovic’s serve. She punched herself out in the thrilling second-set tiebreak win.
“I’ve been down before. I’ve been down like 5-1, I think, before and come back,’’ Williams said late Friday. “I don’t really give up. Yeah, I think in my career I never gave up.’’
She never gave up from the day she was born in Compton, Calif. That final game should be the last memory of Serena on a tennis court — even though it became a loss.
Williams has hedged slightly since her announcement in “Vogue” last month that she was “evolving away from tennis.” On the “Today” show before the tournament, Williams responded, “Never say never,’’ and she repeated it on the court late Friday.
Let’s hope it is never. Let’s hope this is 100 percent the end for Williams, who will turn 41 on Sept. 26 and is only going to get even slower.
Let’s hope she goes out as gracefully as Pete Sampras did 20 years ago when he won the Open at age 31, then retired. We really haven’t heard from Sampras since.
Let’s hope Serena doesn’t pull a Michael Jordan, the NBA GOAT who came back at age 38 and looked as ancient as the Washington Monument.
We’ll certainly hear from Serena, who is addicted to attention. But hopefully it will be just about Serena Ventures, her investment firm.
This won’t be like Tom Brady, but Williams cannot know how she might feel 10 months from now.
If Serena had been crushed in the first round, this would not be an issue. But when Williams, one shy of the Grand Slam record of 24, says, “I think, honestly, what I’ll remember most is that my level was coming back,” there is room to fear an unretirement.
“It makes it easier, but also it makes it a little bit harder,’’ Williams said of her rising play this week. “I was just getting better with each week.’’
This was wonderful sports theater — starting on opening night when the place shook as she walked onto the court. The Open will miss her dearly the rest of the fortnight.
In her post-match, on-court interview, a teary Serena said: “It all started with my parents, and they deserve everything. These are happy tears. And I wouldn’t be Serena if it wasn’t for Venus.’’
Despite all the over-the-top, angelic plaudits she received the past few days and a heroine’s reception, Serena could’ve been a better on-court role model. My colleague Phil Mushnick has dealt with that.
Even in the post-match celebration, you had to listen extremely closely to catch Williams mentioning her gallant foe from Australia. It is always about Serena, and across her career she rarely credited her foe after a defeat.
But credit Williams for being self-deprecating about her past Flushing blowups late Friday.
“I didn’t smash any racquets even, so that was a plus,’’ she said. “And I had a good attitude, even if I didn’t want to.’’
Serena, and Venus, brought reams of electricity and style to tennis during their voyage, so needed in this country because of the utter fail of the American men.
Thank you for that, Serena, Venus and the great Richard Williams — who has been out of the public eye for years because of his ailing health.
“I’m ready to, like, be a mom, explore a different version of Serena,’’ she said.
Hope she really means it. | https://nypost.com/2022/09/03/serena-williams-should-keep-her-word-and-end-career-in-style/ | 2022-09-03T21:19:18Z | nypost.com | control | https://nypost.com/2022/09/03/serena-williams-should-keep-her-word-and-end-career-in-style/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
WASHINGTON — The nation’s job market last month delivered what the Federal Reserve and nervous investors had been hoping for: A Goldilocks-style hiring report.
Job growth was solid — not too hot, not too cold. and more Americans began looking for work, which could ease worker shortages over time and defuse some of the inflationary pressures that the Fed has made its No. 1 mission.
Employers added 315,000 jobs, roughly what economists had expected, down from an average 487,000 a month over the past year. The unemployment rate reached 3.7%, its highest level since February. But it rose for a healthy reason: Hundreds of thousands of people returned to the job market, and some didn’t find work right away, which boosted the government’s count of unemployed people.
The American economy has been a puzzle this year. Economic growth fell the first half of 2022, which, by some informal definitions, signals a recession.
But the job market is still surprisingly robust. Businesses remain desperate to find workers. They’ve posted more than 11 million job openings, meaning there are nearly two job vacancies, on average, for every unemployed American.
And inflation, which began to accelerate alarmingly in the spring of last year, remains close to a 40-year high. That’s a sign that consumers’ appetite for goods and services is still strong enough to allow businesses to raise prices.
The relentless rise in consumer prices has forced the Fed to raise interest rates aggressively to try to slow hiring and wage increases and drive down inflation. It’s aiming to pull off a so-called soft landing — raising borrowing costs enough to slow growth and curb inflation without tipping the United States into a recession.
So far, so good.
“Today’s report answers the persistent recession question, at least for today: We are not in a recession,’’ said AnnElizabeth Konkel, senior economist at the Indeed Hiring Lab. “The U.S. labor market remains strong with employers adding jobs and labor supply coming back online... The sun is still shining on the U.S. labor market.’’
Here are five takeaways from the August jobs report:
MAKING THE FED’S TASK EASIER
Friday’s report from the government suggests that the Fed may find it a little easier to bring the economy in for a soft landing. Key to that daunting task is seeing hiring ease a bit — enough, anyway, to reduce the pressure on employers to raise pay. When they hand out raises, businesses typically increase prices for their customers to offset their higher labor costs, thereby feeding inflation.
Not only did August’s job creation decelerate from July’s breakneck pace — 526,000 added jobs — but the Labor Department also revised down its earlier estimate of the gains for June and July by a combined 107,000. In addition, average hourly pay rose just 0.3% last month from July, the lowest month-to-month gain since April.
“If the Fed were to design the (jobs) report, this is the kind of report they would have designed,’’ said Megan Greene, chief economist at the Kroll Institute.
Fed Chair Jerome Powell has made it clear — notably at a hawkish speech last week in Jackson Hole, Wyoming — that the central bank expects to impose further large rate hikes to try to tame inflation. and he warned that the Fed’s continued tightening of credit will cause pain for many households and businesses as it slows the economy and potentially lead to job losses. The Fed has raised its benchmark short-term interest rate four times this year, including by a hefty three-quarters of a percentage point in both June and July.
Investors are anxiously anticipating what the Fed will do when it next meets Sept. 20-21.
“The slower pace of payroll gains in August, together with a big rebound in the labor force, and the more modest increase in wages, would seem to favor a smaller (half-point) rate hike from the Fed,’’ said Michael Pearce, senior U.S. economist at Capital Economics.
Still, Fed policymakers will be watching to see whether inflation decelerated last month. One major barometer will be the government’s report on consumer prices for August, to be issued Sept. 13.
HUH? HIGHER UNEMPLOYMENT IS GOOD NEWS?
Normally, an uptick the joblessness would be sobering news, even cause for worry. Not now.
The unemployment rate rose last month to 3.7% from 3.5%, which had tied a 50-year low. But the increase in August was welcome: The number of Americans either working or looking for work surged by 786,000 in August, the biggest one-month jump since January. and their share of the population — the so-called labor force participation rate — rose to 62.4% last month, its highest level since March.
To be counted as unemployed, people have to be actively seeking a job. So when they stay on the sidelines, as many have since COVID-19 struck, their absence from the labor force means they don’t show up as unemployed. and the jobless rate can look artificially low.
Last month, the number of Americans who told the Labor Department they had jobs rose by 442,000. and the number who said they were unemployed also rose, by 344,000. That suggests that many people who started looking for a job didn’t find one right away.
“The labor participation rate went up, and I would love to see that number continue to climb even if that means a 3.7%, 3.8%, 3.9% unemployment rate,’’ said Labor Secretary Marty Walsh. “You have potentially 11 million open jobs. Having more people entering the workforce is good for the economy.’’
The idea is that the more Americans there are who are looking for work, the less pressure there is on employers to raise wages to attract applicants, increase prices and contribute to inflation.
BROAD JOB GAINS
Last month’s jobs gains were spread broadly across industries. Retailers added 44,000. Healthcare gained 48,000, including nearly 15,000 at hospitals.
Factories added 22,000 jobs despite a slowing global economy, a consumer shift away from manufactured goods and toward services like restaurant meals and a stronger dollar that makes U.S.-made goods pricier overseas.
But hiring in leisure and hospitality slowed sharply in August — to 31,000, including just 18,000 at bars and restaurants. Both gains were the weakest since December 2020.
FEWER HOURS
The average workweek slipped slightly last month to 34.5 hours. Those figures haven’t changed much this year even as employers have complained about a worker shortage.
So why aren’t they assigning more hours to the workers they have on hand?
Labor Secretary Walsh suspects that employees, especially in high-paying occupations, are more conscious of striking a balance between their work and their personal lives and balk at putting in ever more hours on the job. Employers are wary, having seen “people quitting their jobs because their work-life balance was off,’’ Walsh suggested.
An increase in employees working from home, or splitting time between home and the workplace, may also limit the number of hours worked.
In the leisure and hospitality business, which includes restaurants and hotels, average hours worked peaked in April 2021 and has fallen more or less steadily since then. Thomas Feltmate, senior economist at TD Economics, said the drop might reflect a “softening in consumer demand in recent months for discretionary recreational services.’’
BLACK UNEMPLOYMENT
An increase in the unemployment rate of Black Americans last month couldn’t be explained by an influx into the labor force.
The number of Black people working or looking for work fell by 51,000. and their labor participation rate dipped from 62% in July to 61.8% last month, the lowest point since December. The number of Black Americans reporting that they had jobs fell by 131,000 last month. and the number saying they were unemployed rose by 79,000.
The Black jobless rate rose from 6% in July to 6.4% in August, the highest level since February.
It isn’t entirely clear what caused the uptick in Black unemployment, the second straight increase. The Labor Department’s racial breakdown of employment numbers can be volatile from month to month. But the number of Black Americans in the labor force — and their participation rate — has now dropped for three straight months. | https://www.lockportjournal.com/news/5-key-takeaways-from-the-august-jobs-report/article_7102fcc0-2b23-11ed-b6b9-bffd6b61d662.html | 2022-09-03T21:27:17Z | lockportjournal.com | control | https://www.lockportjournal.com/news/5-key-takeaways-from-the-august-jobs-report/article_7102fcc0-2b23-11ed-b6b9-bffd6b61d662.html | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
DOVER, Del.- Police are looking for two men after they robbed another man in the parking lot of Burlington Coat Factory early Saturday morning in Dover.
Dover Police says a man pulled into the parking lot of the Burlington Coat Factory on N. Dupont Hwy. around 11:45 p.m. after having engine trouble. The man told police after several minutes of working on his car, two black men approached him, one showed a firearm and demanded money. The two men took an undisclosed amount of money and ran southbound from the area.
Through the course of the investigation police learned that the incident happened just after midnight.
The first suspect is described as a black man wearing all black with a face covering. The second suspect is described as a light skinned black man with an afro, wearing a beige long sleeve shirt, blue jeans, and a mask.
The investigation is ongoing and anyone with information is asked to contact the Dover Police Department at (302)736-7111. Callers may remain anonymous. Tips may also be submitted to law enforcement through Delaware Crime Stoppers at 800-TIP-3333 or online at delaware.crimestoppersweb.com; a cash reward is possible for information leading to an arrest. | https://www.wboc.com/news/man-robbed-in-parking-lot-of-burlington-coat-factory-in-dover/article_8cc3dda6-2bc5-11ed-b5b8-2f28ec0818d0.html | 2022-09-03T21:29:50Z | wboc.com | control | https://www.wboc.com/news/man-robbed-in-parking-lot-of-burlington-coat-factory-in-dover/article_8cc3dda6-2bc5-11ed-b5b8-2f28ec0818d0.html | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) - Maryland’s highest court was one vote away from rejecting a map of state legislative districts last April.
The Baltimore Sun reports that rejecting the map could have further delayed the state’s July 19 primary.
In April, the Maryland Court of Appeals rejected complaints by Republican politicians and voters that a map of state House and Senate districts violated the state’s constitution.
The map had been approved by the Democratic-controlled General Assembly.
The court had issued a five-page order and said it would give its reasons later in an opinion. That opinion was released Wednesday. It showed that three of the seven judges opposed the majority ruling written by Senior Judge Robert McDonald.
Republican plaintiffs alleged that some districts were irregularly shaped or wove across rivers or county lines in ways that violated provisions in the state constitution.
But McDonald suggested the court would be overreaching if it sought to insert its “preferred district boundaries” in place of the General Assembly’s. | https://www.wboc.com/news/md-court-was-one-vote-short-of-rejecting-legislative-map/article_63730224-2bc5-11ed-8bef-2f07990b311a.html | 2022-09-03T21:29:56Z | wboc.com | control | https://www.wboc.com/news/md-court-was-one-vote-short-of-rejecting-legislative-map/article_63730224-2bc5-11ed-8bef-2f07990b311a.html | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
DOVER, Del.- Police are looking for two men who stole a man's SUV in the parking lot of a One Stop in Dover early Saturday morning.
Dover Police say a man was approached by a black woman in the parking lot of the One Stop on Whiteoak Rd., around 1:30 a.m. The woman asked the man if he could light her cigarette. While talking with the woman, the man was approached by two black men, one who had a handgun. The victim gave the two men an undisclosed amount of money. The two men also demanded he give them his SUV. The man with a handgun got into the SUV and drove away, while the other man ran northbound.
The SUV is a silver 2004 Chevrolet Suburban with Delaware tags: PC168878
The first suspect is described as a black man wearing a black face-mask and a black coat with silver stripes. The second suspect is described as a black man wearing a black face-mask, black sweatshirt, and black pants.
The investigation is ongoing and anyone with information is asked to contact the Dover Police Department at (302)736-7111. Callers may remain anonymous. Tips may also be submitted to law enforcement through Delaware Crime Stoppers at 800-TIP-3333 or online at delaware.crimestoppersweb.com; a cash reward is possible for information leading to an arrest. | https://www.wboc.com/news/police-looking-for-two-men-in-connection-to-a-carjacking-in-dover/article_953bc56e-2bc7-11ed-9935-7785e840784a.html | 2022-09-03T21:30:02Z | wboc.com | control | https://www.wboc.com/news/police-looking-for-two-men-in-connection-to-a-carjacking-in-dover/article_953bc56e-2bc7-11ed-9935-7785e840784a.html | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
A couple has been satisfying customers' cravings for the kitchen cupboards in the USA through its warehouse business and walk-in store tucked away in Tonbridge for eight years. Whether it is chunky salsa dips or BBQ sauces, flavoured coffee, snacks, gifts or candy you want - you can buy it and plenty more at Taste America.
The independent business was set up 12 years ago by husband and wife Garrie and Debby Deadman, who despite not being American, love the States and travel there around six times a year to check out the latest brands and products on the market.
The couple, who have two grown-up boys, are passionate about the business and so knowledgeable about their stock, they can help you buy the right products to take a culinary trip around the US, whether it's Texas or Alabama, Florida or New York or anywhere else
Read more: I had lunch at a pub in Kent's 'poshest village' near Tonbridge
Garrie said one motorcyclist recently pulled up to the kiosk and warehouse in Sanderson Way off Vale Road to ask if they sold "Baconnaise" after seeing it on a road trip programme. As its name suggests, it is bacon flavoured mayonnaise, which is suitable for vegetarians.
"We had one left. It made his day. He was going off on a 200 mile bike ride and took it with him," said Garrie. Conveying the vast range of groceries in America, Garrie said a supermarket would have whole lengths of aisles dedicated to flavoured coffees, and those flavours would vary between states.
Coffee is one of the couple's biggest sellers and they have 200 flavours including French, vanilla, cinamon, doughnut, Hawaiian hazelnut, and some "really crazy flavours". Their other biggest selling products are tea, BBQ sauces, and seasonings.
"People think we just sell candy. They think an American store is full of sweets. We are a grocery store," said Debby. The couple, who only live "a mile down the road", believe Taste America is the only US grocery store in Kent.
They said the 50 states in the USA each have their own tastes and flavours for cooking and eating, many influenced by neighbouring countries, so that the range of products is immense. To hear the couple talk about some of the dishes is mouth-watering.
'No bartender needed'
And there is plenty for the sweet-toothed, with excellent quality cake mixes, including red velvet, syrups for coffees, candy, seasonal treats such as for Halloween, Valentine's and Christmas and a small chocolate selection from well-known companies such as Reese's.
And you can turn really American or Canadian at home and make treats "s'mores" - little sandwiches of crackers, chocolate and marshmallow. They also sell cereals including "grits", a porridge made from boiled cornmeal which is popular in the southern states, which they have with fruits or even bacon.
Other good sellers are baking and cooking products, such as frosting and icing, cake mixes, cold drinks sachets and the Master of Mixes range of mixers for drinks, so you can make strawberry daiquiris, whiskey sours and mojitos in an instant.
"No bartender needed" said Garrie. And they also stock the social media trending product which is a hit in the USA, Van Holten's Pickle in a Pouch. They are ready to eat pickles in flavoured pickle juice. "They are a popular grab-and-go snack in gas stations in the USA which have now found their way across the pond.
"They're a bit like Marmite, you either love them or you hate them!" said Garrie. They include garlic, spicy, and sour, and you can even have a "freeze pop" one for really hot days.
Explaining how their idea for a business started, Garrie said it was years ago, well before people were buying on the internet. He used to work in construction, and was asked to include a few American things such as Lucky Charms, Skittles and unusual M&M flavours, when he shipped over tools he bought in America. The list of those items from friends and colleagues kept growing.
"I'd come in to work with a delivery and we'd all be eating sweets instead of our lunch" he said with a laugh. The couple started the business at home, then moved to self storage but the hours were not helpful to customers. They moved into the warehouse, office and kiosk eight years ago.
They are open every day, Monday to Saturday, noon to 3pm, but are often there outside those times and will serve. There is a front door and a system "like Argos", so a customer can browse online at the front. Customers have the extra benefit of Garrie or Debby on hand with their vast, up-to-date knowledge.
The couple send parcels across the UK, where there are around 139,000 US-born people living. There is also The American School, an American international boarding and day school in England in Runnymede. But many customers have simply enjoyed products on their holidays and are desperate to source them here.
Garrie said recently he made up a parcel of goodies for a lad who had gone to university, with the order being called in by his dad. Another man was desperate to get some A&W soda sachets and his daughter was given some Nerds Rope candy from Garrie.
Gifts are also a big part of Taste America, including pop culture items, TV series merchandise and move memorabilia from blockbuster moves, cartoons and American TV series. Debby said their cupboards at home are 60 per cent American products. And the couple's personal favourites of all their products?
Debby said: "Pilsbury red velvet baking mix. It's so good, really moist. I make it often - very, very often!" and Garrie's is the Red Lobster restaurant chain's cheddar cheese biscuit mix.
Read next:
Sarcastic TikToker describes Tunbridge Wells as 'absolute cesspit' in scathing review
Fuggles Beer Cafe owner warns rising energy costs will see pubs and restaurants 'rot away'
Tyber's Rum Bar: The new Tunbridge Wells rum bar packing out the dance floor
Foodies open independent Fat Sam's Fried Chicken in Tunbridge Wells | https://www.kentlive.news/whats-on/shopping/taste-america-hidden-gem-american-7537831 | 2022-09-03T21:47:05Z | kentlive.news | control | https://www.kentlive.news/whats-on/shopping/taste-america-hidden-gem-american-7537831 | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Several followers of a social media influencer who calls himself a “god” and leads an abstract spirituality group online have been accused of two separate murders in Alabama.
Rashad Jamal White, known among his followers as Rashad Jamal, is the leader of a group popularized online known as “The University of Cosmic Intelligence,” in which Jamal preaches about a spirituality exclusively for Black and Latino people, whom he says are natural earthly beings while White people are not.
The ‘university’
The group is “geared toward enlightening and illuminating the minds of the carbonated beings, a.k.a. your so called [sic] Black and Latino people of Earth,” the university’s website, which includes links to everything from music to books to an online store for the group, states. Fans can purchase different crystal necklaces and bracelets, which are all listed at $111.11 each, a record for $99.39 or T-shirts for $66.93.
Jamal, a husband and father, is currently charged with three counts of child molestation and two count of child cruelty in Borrow County, Georgia, where he is detained.
In an apparent jailhouse recording uploaded to YouTube by a follower, as tech news outlet Motherboard first reported, Jamal says he has been “detained since May 3.” In the recording, he calls human bodies “avatars” and relays the belief that humans are perfect upon conception but injected with “nanobot technology” at birth and placed under a lockdown with “social programming through sex, violence and drugs and movies and music.”
“I am a god, and all of my people, the Black and Latino people, are gods. And we were made in the image of our creator,” Jamal said in the recording. “Therefore, I am an extension of Her/Them, and I am the creator and destroyer of my reality, so I take full responsibility for all events that I have experienced through this lifetime, for this is what we call shadow work in the spiritual realm.”
Jamal then denied the allegations against him, saying he has “never, and will never, harm an innocent child.” His followers also maintain his innocence.
The video’s description urges followers to contact Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp and South Fulton Councilman Mark Baker, write “peaceful” letters to Borrow County Judge Currie Mingledorff, donate “$9” to his family, purchase items from his website and otherwise support The University of Cosmic Intelligence.
Aside from its website and YouTube pages, The University of Cosmic Intelligence has a presence on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Jamal’s followers — some of whom have tens of thousands of followers themselves on social media — post about his lectures on TikTok, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook and YouTube.
Cults on social media
But three apparent supporters of Jamal’s work online have been accused of two separate murders in Alabama since January.
Alyza Berman, founder and clinical director of The Berman Center, a psychotherapy and mental health treatment center in Atlanta, says that online relationships, because they are “intangible,” often have a “surreal” aspect to them that can then translate into real-life obsession.
“When you finally get the opportunity even to meet that [cult] leader in person, they become this godlike figure to you and you do things that you never thought you would do because you want that acceptance and that approval, and you don’t want to disappoint the reader,” Berman, who has experience working with clients who have been involved in cults, told Fox News Digital.
But even those followers who “don’t live close to the leader” can follow his or her messaging on social media and “follow through with the things that the cult leader” is asking and telling them to do. The cult leader promises of “a better life,” more wealth, or a “closer connection to God” if his or her followers agree to do “heinous things — terrible things, at times — even hurtful to people.”
Cult leaders and followers have something in common, according to Berman: insecurity. Leaders are insecure and thirsty for power while followers are insecure and searching for meaning, which cult leaders provide to them.
“It looks like a mental health issue,” Berman said when asked about the signs of someone following a cult might look like. “…They’re talking about things that really just don’t make sense.”
A son accused of killing his mother
In January, Damien Winslow Washam, 24, was charged with murder, attempted murder, attempt to elude and other crimes after he allegedly killed his mother with a sword on Jan. 16. He also allegedly injured his uncle, who has cerebral palsy, and his brother on the same evening.
Washam fled the scene and refused to stop as authorities chased him, according to the Mobile County Sheriff’s Office. Saraland police set up spike strips that ultimately ended the pursuit. Mobile County Capt. Paul Burch told The Associated Press that Washam “had absolutely no remorse whatsoever and that’s probably the most shocking part of it.”
Washam’s father, Hubert Washam, told Motherboard that his son used to be a normal young man who liked to play a lot of video games until he got caught up in Jamal’s videos after learning about the influencer on a “Call of Duty” chat, but then be started becoming obsessed with getting energy from the sun.
“He was listening to those conspiracy kind of videos and it was dumb as hell,” Washam told the outlet. “It was stupid. I tried to look at some of these videos and I can’t even listen to them, it’s so dumb. Lizard people and aliens.”
At first, Washam was “feeling good because I thought he was done with the gaming,” he told Motherboard. “But I didn’t know that these videos he was watching were as crazy as they are. My son started doing some crazy-ass stuff.”
Two women allegedly kill a college student
Krystal Diane Pinkins, 36, and Yasmine Hider, 20, are charged with first-degree murder in the Aug. 14 killing of 22-year-old Adam Simjee of Apopka, Florida, as well as multiple counts of robbery and kidnapping in Clay County, Alabama. Pinkins is also charged with endangering the welfare of a child.
The pair also reportedly has connections to Jamal’s work through social media, according to Motherboard. Pinkins allegedly has ties to a Memphis real estate agent and self-described “sovereign empress” who closely follows Jamal’s work and shared a letter she wrote to the Borrow County judge in Jamal’s case with Motherboard in which she advocates for his innocence. Hider was also tagged in a photo group with the same Memphis woman and reportedly began sharing Jamal’s content on social media in the months leading up to the alleged crime, according to the outlet.
On Aug. 14, Simjee and his girlfriend, 20-year-old Mikayla Paulus, were driving near the Cheaha State Park while on vacation before the start of a new school year at the University of Florida, according to local news reports at the time.
The pair pulled over when they saw Hider, who appeared to be having trouble with her car. When they could not fix her car after about 30 minutes, Hider allegedly attempted to rob the couple at gunpoint while Pinkins watched from the woods. Simjee, who had his own gun, pulled out his weapon and ordered Hider to drop hers, at which point Hider allegedly fired at Simjee, and he fired back WBRC reported.
“I don’t know how Mikayla didn’t get shot in all of that, but she had taken off her shirt to stop the bleeding, and she called 911 and was giving him chest compressions,” Heather Lambert, Paulus’s mom, told the outlet. “She thinks he was alive for at least 20 minutes, but it took them at least 30 minuets to get there. I don’t know what would have happened if he didn’t have the gun on him.”
Upon further investigation, the Clay County Sheriff’s Office was informed that Hider may have been “living off the grid” with an armed group in the Talladega National Forest. The sheriff’s tracking team eventually located what appeared to be a base camp for the group, where they located Pinkins and her 5-year-old son, who was carrying a loaded shotgun, according to WBMA.
The Clay County Sheriff’s Office, Clay County District Attorney’s office personnel, defense attorneys involved in the case, and witnesses have been barred from speaking to the press about the case due to an Aug. 17 gag order. Clay County Sheriff Jim Studdard was also ordered to remove all social media posts referencing the case.
Social media has given cult leaders a chance to spread their messages farther than they have in the past, when cults were mostly made up of people in the same communities, Berman explained. There are certain signs people can look for in those they believe may be following a cult online.
“They…separate themselves from you in a weird way. They start talking about this leader. They are constantly watching him or on social media. They separate themselves from loved ones and family and friends and … only really hang out with these group of people. It’s very black and white. There’s no moderation. There’s no gray. And they won’t listen to anyone else. They only think this is the word, this is what we have to do.”
Berman suggested that family and friends of people who start to exhibit manic or cult-like behavior seek professional help rather than try to reach out directly to their loved ones, as cult-like behavior often has dangerous consequences. | https://nypost.com/2022/09/03/university-of-cosmic-intelligence-followers-accused-of-2-alabama-murders/ | 2022-09-03T21:49:06Z | nypost.com | control | https://nypost.com/2022/09/03/university-of-cosmic-intelligence-followers-accused-of-2-alabama-murders/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
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