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LOS ANGELES — Uber is partnering with a statewide LGBTQ+ civil rights organization to provide free rides to monkeypox vaccination sites throughout California.
“As vaccines are becoming increasingly available across our state, it’s critical to ensure transportation is not neglected,” said Tony Hoang, executive director of Equality California. “We are immensely grateful for our long-standing partnership with Uber and their commitment to full lived equality for all LGBTQ+ people.”
The offer is good for round-trip rides up to $30 each way.
“Transportation should never be a barrier to getting vaccinated against the monkeypox virus,” said Ramona Prieto, Uber’s head of public policy and communications for the western United States. “Uber has been a proud partner of Equality California since 2018 and is thankful for its leadership on this campaign to ensure equitable vaccine access for all communities.”
While people of any sexual orientation can get monkeypox, it is primarily impacting gay and bisexual men, particularly in Black and Hispanic communities.
People can claim a code for the rides by visiting eqca.org/monkeypox.
As of Tuesday, there were 2,015 confirmed cases of monkeypox in Los Angeles County, and one confirmed death.
People who walk into a vaccination site have to attest to their eligibility to receive a monkeypox inoculation, and the shot will only be provided if the vaccination location has doses available. Those who want to ensure they receive the vaccine should book appointments online at myturn.ca.gov.
A listing of county sites offering walk-up shots is available on the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health website.
According to the county, the vaccine is available for gay or bisexual men, or any men or transgender people who have sex with men or transgender people; people of any gender or sexual orientation who engage in commercial and/or transactional sex; people living with HIV, especially those with uncontrolled or advanced HIV disease; people who have had skin-to-skin or intimate contact with someone with suspected or confirmed monkeypox, including those who have not yet been confirmed by Public Health; people confirmed by the Department of Public Health to have had high- or immediate-risk contact with a known monkeypox patient, and to people who attended an event or visited a venue where there was a high risk of exposure to a confirmed case.
Monkeypox is generally spread through intimate skin-to-skin contact, resulting from infectious rashes and scabs, though respiratory secretions and bodily fluids exchanged during extended physical episodes, such as sexual intercourse, can also lead to transmission, according to the CDC.
It can also be transmitted through the sharing of items such as bedding and towels.
Symptoms include fresh pimples, blisters, rashes, fever and fatigue. There is no specific treatment. People who have been infected with smallpox, or have been vaccinated for it, may have immunity to monkeypox.
According to health officials, the vaccine can prevent infection if given before or shortly after exposure to the virus.
More information is available online at ph.lacounty.gov/monkeypox.
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.
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| 2022-09-20T21:37:43Z
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LOS ANGELES — Running back Zach Charbonnet was a limited participant during the media viewing period for Tuesday’s football practice at UCLA (3-0) and could be a game-time decision for the Pac-12 Conference opener at Colorado (0-3) this Saturday.
Charbonnet was seen wearing full pads at practice but didn’t participate in special teams and individual position drills.
He did have a GoPro camera strapped on his helmet, as he did in prior practices, which could indicate he could have had some level of participation after the viewing period.
“Zach is a warrior and a tough kid,” said UCLA coach Chip Kelly when asked about Charbonnet’s status ahead of Monday’s practice.
The star running back did play in a limited role throughout Saturday’s 32-31 nonconference victory over South Alabama.
Charbonnet had 13 carries but just one in the fourth quarter — a 3-yard gain and a first down on third-and-2 at Alabama State’s 16-yard line that helped extend the eventual game-winning drive.
Backup running back Keegan Jones had seven of his team-high 14 carries in the fourth quarter.
Charbonnet finished with 129 total yards (78 rushing and 51 receiving), recording his fourth consecutive 100-yard game. He has finished nine UCLA games with 100 or more total yards.
Charbonnet fumbled at the 2-yard line, which was recovered by South Alabama’s Zeke Chapman in the end zone, after some miscommunication with quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson.
“(Charbonnet had) seen how close we were to the end zone,” Thompson-Robinson said on Monday. “I think in his mind he’s thinking he can just ram it in there, I’m still trying to go through my read, my read told me to pull it on that play, so yeah, a little bit of miscommunication on that play.”
Charbonnet played in the season opener against Bowling Green but did not play in Week 2 against Alabama State. Charbonnet was in uniform but was not among the six Bruins with a rush attempt in the game on Sept. 10.
NEXT MAN UP
Jacob Sykes was listed as a new starting defensive lineman on Monday evening when the depth chart was released. The move was expected after Kelly announced that sixth-year senior Martin Andrus Jr. suffered a season-ending injury in the South Alabama game.
Sykes is a redshirt senior who transferred from Harvard during the offseason. In 2021, he had 27 tackles (eight for a loss), seven sacks, a forced fumble and two quarterback hurries.
Defensive lineman Gary Smith III, a Duke transfer, was also injured in Saturday’s game and was going to try to practice this week, according to Kelly.
Linebacker Kain Medrano remains listed as a starting linebacker on the depth chart despite missing the last two games with an undisclosed injury. Medrano was spotted in pads during Tuesday’s warm-up stretches at the beginning of practice but went back into the weight room area at the Wasserman Football Center during special teams and individual position drills.
KICKER RECOGNIZED
Kicker Nicholas Barr-Mira had a career-best four field goals, including a 24-yard game-winner as time expired against South Alabama. He also kicked a new career-long 49-yard field goal in the first quarter.
The redshirt junior was voted as the Pac-12 Special Teams Player of the Week for his performance. He was also named as one of three Lou Groza Award “Stars of the Week.”
RANKED OPPONENTS
The Washington Huskies joined three other Pac-12 teams in the Associated Press Top 25 poll this week, following their 39-28 victory over then-No. 11 Michigan State on Saturday. The Bruins now have four ranked opponents on the schedule, with the first of those games coming against the Huskies on Friday, Sept. 30 (7:30 p.m., ESPN).
Games against No. 13 Utah (Oct. 8) and No. 15 Oregon (Oct. 22) will follow the game against the Huskies. The Bruins will host No. 7 USC at the Rose Bowl on Nov 19.
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.
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| 2022-09-20T21:37:49Z
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Highway Patrol sergeant involved in shootout with armed kidnapping suspect
BURKE COUNTY, N.C. (WITN) - Officials say a State Highway Patrol trooper shot an armed kidnapping suspect on Tuesday after being shot at on the side of an interstate.
The Highway Patrol says at about 6:45 a.m. Tuesday, the Highway Patrol was told of multiple hit-and-run traffic crashes between McDowell and Burke counties, as well as a related armed kidnapping on I-40 eastbound near mile marker 114.
Toopers say a report said the suspect was in the bed of the kidnapped victim’s truck traveling on the interstate.
Sergeant Aaron Johnson found the truck that had pulled over to the shoulder of the roadway. WITN is told Johnson saw the suspect, a woman, in the bed of the truck and she shot at him before he returned fire and shot her.
The Highway Patrol says that once the scene was secured, authorities began life-saving procedures until emergency responders arrived and brought the suspect from the scene. She is listed in stable condition.
Johnson, a 19-year veteran stationed in Burke County, was not injured, and has been placed on administrative duty, which is agency protocol in any trooper-involved shooting.
Authorities say they are working to positively identify the suspect. The State Bureau of Investigation will oversee the investigation into the trooper-involved shooting while the Highway Patrol will continue to investigate the suspect’s actions.
The Highway Patrol says charges are forthcoming.
Do you see something needing a correction? Email us!
Copyright 2022 WITN. All rights reserved.
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| 2022-09-20T21:39:33Z
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Any light-duty electric vehicle available in the United States for the 2022 model year will save drivers thousands of dollars over gasoline or diesel vehicles, the Department of Energy said last week in a blog post.
Every U.S.-market EV costs less than $1,000 to “fuel” (meaning charge with electricity) for a year, compared to $2,000 to $7,000 for most gasoline vehicles, according to the Energy Department. Hybrids and plug-in hybrids were in the middle, with estimated annual fueling costs of $1,000 to $2,000.
Those calculations are based on 15,000 miles of driving per year, with 55% city driving and 45% highway driving. They also assume fixed costs of $4.87 per gallon for regular gasoline, $5.76 per gallon for premium, $5.72 per gallon for diesel, and $0.13 per kwh for electricity.
The Energy Department also assumed an average price of $3.54 per gallon for E85, which doesn’t work out to any significant advantage in fueling costs. The availability of E85 is the result of a 2007 law requiring certain quantities of ethanol to be blended with the fuel supply, but demand hasn’t been meeting the targets.
While gas prices have been declining steadily for the past few weeks, recent spikes have made the advantages of EVs even more pronounced. An analysis from the Zero Emission Transportation Association (ZETA) advocacy group based on May’s much-higher gas prices found that internal-combustion cars were three times to five times more expensive to drive than EVs.
And for intenders thinking about jumping to an EV, the cost savings is a very compelling reason. A study published earlier this year by Plug-In America found that intenders were more interested in cost savings than the environmental benefits of owning an EV.
Lower operating costs should also be attractive to businesses—many of which may be able to electrify their fleets quite easily. Another recent study found that, on a fleet basis, nearly half of gasoline trucks could be replaced with electric ones—at an ownership-cost advantage.
Related Articles
- VW and Mercedes look to Canada for North American EV battery supply chain
- Polestar agrees to supply batteries and charging tech to boat company Candela
- 2023 Kia EV6 GT: US details revealed—but not price or range quite yet
- Report: EV tax credit rules might accelerate Hyundai timeline for US-built EVs
- Audi teases rugged Activesphere electric crossover concept ahead of 2023 reveal
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| 2022-09-20T21:41:10Z
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Four-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Jeff Gordon is coming out of retirement for one weekend to compete in a Porsche Carrera Cup North America race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, to be held over Labor Day Weekend.
Gordon, who retired from full-time NASCAR racing after the 2015 season, will be reunited with longtime crew chief Ray Evernham, marking the first time the duo has raced together since 1999, Porsche said in a press release. In Cup Series competition, they won three championships and 47 races (out of Gordon’s career-total 93) together.
“I’m looking forward to getting back in a race car and competing against a talented field of teams and drivers,” Gordon said in a statement. “It’ll be a fun way to spend the holiday weekend and make some new memories.”
The Carrera Cup is a spec series using the Porsche 911 GT3 Cup, operating as a support series to IMSA sports car racing in North America. An entry list of more than 30 cars is lined up for Indy, where drivers will run the Speedway’s 2.4-mile, 14-turn road course. Gordon will reprise his signature number 24 for the race.
This isn’t the first time Gordon has dabbled in sports car racing. He won the 2017 Rolex 24 at Daytona on his second attempt, driving a Cadillac DPi-V.R prototype. He is only the fourth driver to win both the Daytona 24-hour race and the Daytona 500, with three wins in the NASCAR season opener to his credit.
A record five-time winner of the Brickyard 400 on the Indy oval, Gordon first sampled the road course in 2003 when he swapped cars with Formula 1 star Juan Pablo Montoya, taking the Colombian’s Williams-BMW for a test drive.
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- Ruf “Bergmeister” ready for a spirited drive up the hill
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| 2022-09-20T21:41:18Z
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Electric car maker Polestar on Tuesday announced a multi-year agreement to supply batteries and charging systems to electric boat maker Candela.
“The agreement marks one of the world’s first direct battery technology collaborations between companies from the automotive and marine industries,” Polestar said in a press release.
A Swedish firm like Polestar, Candela was founded in 2014, specializing in electric hydrofoils, watercraft with underwater “wings” that lift the hull out of the water at speed. This uses 80% less energy at high speeds than traditional motorboats, Polestar noted. And as with electric cars, greater efficiency translates to more range.
Candela launched its first production model, the C-7, in 2019. It boasted a range of 50 nautical miles (57.5 miles) at 20 knots (23 mph), which is considered impressive for an electric boat. The 32-unit production run ended in 2021.
Candela has since switched to the C-8, which offers similar performance to its predecessor but aims for higher volumes, with 150 units sold to date. It’s also planning to launch an electric water taxi and ferry later in 2022.
This marks the first time Polestar has supplied battery and charging tech to a third party. As the automaker moves ahead with plans to develop its own batteries and motor systems for next-generation EVs, it could find other companies knocking at its door.
In addition to developing batteries in-house, Polestar has invested in StoreDot, in hopes of accelerating the pace of battery advancements. StoreDot aims to mass-produce EV batteries capable of adding roughly 100 miles of range through just five minutes of charging by 2024.
Polestar has hinted that with the Polestar 3 SUV due later this year, it will start to break away from Volvo with some of its EV components. That will accelerate with the Polestar 5, which will be built for 800-volt charging and is due to go on sale in 2024.
Related Articles
- VW and Mercedes look to Canada for North American EV battery supply chain
- Every US EV costs less than $1,000 a year to fuel, according to federal estimates
- 2023 Kia EV6 GT: US details revealed—but not price or range quite yet
- Report: EV tax credit rules might accelerate Hyundai timeline for US-built EVs
- Audi teases rugged Activesphere electric crossover concept ahead of 2023 reveal
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| 2022-09-20T21:41:31Z
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Crawling along on the congested freeway at about 35 mph in a Mercedes-Benz EQS 580, I was cut off by a semi, and later stopped just in the nick of time to avoid contact when the car in front of me suddenly panic-braked. Later, a quick evasive maneuver allowed me to narrowly miss two cars’ sudden lane changes just ahead.
Although this might sound like a typical, pulse-quickening day—or a good day, on the 405 in LA—and I was in the driver’s seat, from some legal standpoints I wasn’t actually driving.
Had an accident occurred in these situations, it would not have been my fault. So said Mercedes-Benz, as it prepares for the U.S. launch, perhaps as soon as next year, of a different kind of automated driving system.
“Conditionally automated driving” is the key phrase real here, and it’s the reason why Mercedes calls Drive Pilot an SAE Level 3 system and not a Level 2 system (or the confounding Level 2 Plus).
(Automakers a level of driver assistance to each car’s capability, with Level 1 being simple cruise control, Level 2 offering some brief moments of driver-attended hands-free motion—and at the top, Level 5 being a completely autonomous self-driving car, able to start, drive, and stop with no driver present.)
It’s a big step forward. Even though Level 3 Drive Pilot doesn’t offer the high-speed operation and hands-free lane-change features of GM Super Cruise, Ford BlueCruise or Tesla Enhanced Autopilot, it does completely hand off the task of driving (and the responsibility) to the car in some very specific conditions, to give drivers some moments to themselves in the car—moments that might not be so nerve-wracking.
Level 3 Drive Pilot is offered now in Europe in the S-Class and EQS, at an extra cost of 5,000 euros and 7,430 euros ($5,100 and $7,600), respectively. For now, it applies only on “suitable motorway sections in Germany” up to 37 mph, and requires one car ahead to engage the system.
The system could be on LA freeways next year, though. Mercedes is aiming to get regulatory approval for its use under similar conditions in California and Nevada by the end of the year, and it’s prepared to extend the same legal backing for liability should something go wrong.
Building on adaptive cruise control with a lot of brains and sensing
It was easy to acclimate to how Drive Pilot operates, but nerve-wracking given the video-game-like rate of potential mishaps a team of experts threw at us on the test course. White lights at the 10 and 2 positions of the steering wheel indicate it’s ready to be engaged, and green lights indicate it’s at Level 3.
So, if you have an accident with a green light on, it’s not your fault; it’s the manufacturer’s fault.
Drive Pilot steers to keep the vehicle in its lane and otherwise functions as an adaptive cruise control system, following vehicles ahead. It’s hyper-aware, though, and ready to perform evasive maneuvers and/or abrupt braking.
The system builds on what’s included in these models’ Driving Assistance Package—a Level 2 system—but it adds a lidar unit in front, additional cameras, and ultrasound and moisture sensors. One of the main purposes of the extra rear camera is to detect emergency lights, and the system taps into the interior microphone to detect sirens.
Another camera keeps an eye on the driver. That’s not foolproof, though. At 6-foot-6, I recently drove an EQS with the Driver Assistance Package on U.S. highways and had trouble getting my seat and steering wheel in the proper position, as the system repeatedly asked me to readjust.
But Drive Pilot’s software is far more advanced. Redundancy in the steering, braking, wheel speed sensors, and more—like an entire second set of wiring for the steering—helps make sure that even if vehicle systems fail, Drive Pilot can provide a 10-second handoff for the driver to take control. The system carries two separate computational layers and has more computational and sensing smarts than an A380 Airbus, according to Matthias Struck, a senior safety engineer at Mercedes-Benz, while drawing less than 50 watts of power. That’s less energy than Audi’s earlier Traffic Jam Assist, which had been U.S.-bound for the A8 but never arrived.
10 long seconds of handoff
If the system encounters a situation in which it wants to hand off control to the driver for any reason. It first issues a prompt requiring an “OK” click of the left steering-wheel toggle. Then three seconds later there’s a haptic buzz of the seat belt, followed by a second buzz a few seconds later. Beyond 10 seconds, it will slowly bring the car to a stop if there’s still no response.
The 10-second handoff is a big deal, requiring additional hardware not just for redundancy but precision and accuracy. A high-precision GPS system is the foundation, digitally fused with anonymized data for lidar, camera, radar, and ultrasound, plus a digital HD map with information on road geometry and more. With it, Mercedes claims accuracy to the centimeter instead of the meter.
Mercedes emphasizes that Drive Pilot hasn’t been developed quickly. In addition to years of engineering, it’s involved data protection officers, ethics experts, lawyers, and various compliance levels. Roughly eight years of data went into the mapping of scenarios, including various studies on what works and what doesn’t for the handoff of control back to the driver.
The system always uses multiple methods to make sure it’s on the proper roadway, adding in camera and lidar data, as well as road marker information, and it doesn’t ever go only by GPS, as it’s feasible that could be manipulated.
Why Mercedes sees Level 3 as a big step forward
In the five SAE levels of driving automation, Level 3 is conditional automation. Many automakers have said that they’ll skip Level 3 automation because they believe the conditions are vague in interpretation, and it may be dangerous to immediately hand all driving functions back to a human that isn’t required to pay attention to the road.
But for Mercedes, those conditions are quite straightforward: The driver has to stay in position and monitor the system. In position means you can’t recline more than about four inches from your normal driving position. You’re allowed to take your hands off the steering wheel, to take your eyes off the road, and even to turn your head to the side. But you can’t take a nap.
As I discovered in my short closed-course test-drive, some flexibility is built into the system. For instance, as long as you’re belted, it’s OK to look back to a child in the back seat for three to five seconds.
You can push it too far, though. After consulting with the engineer in the passenger seat, I closed my eyes completely, and just eight or nine seconds later a prompt popped up asking me to confirm I was still alert. I ignored it, which soon started the 10-second countdown toward disengagement.
But the liability shifts the moment you leave your seat or shift out of position. “If you have Drive Pilot engaged but leave your seat, it’s your fault because you are responsible to sit in your seat and take over control if the car prompts you to do so,” said Struck.
Accountability, taken seriously
Mercedes keeps track of all of this in a few different ways. Firstly, there’s a device that records when Drive Pilot is activated and when it’s deactivated. This is anonymized and stored in the car but not uploaded anywhere. The system also keeps track of incident data, which is car-specific should and incident occur, and the company has a special team watching the market and following data that’s created with every incident or whenever there is a full braking event.
Customers must agree to share this data. As part of the certification process in the U.S., owners will be required to fully watch a video on the infotainment screen, and confirm. The video will also be available on Mercedes me, the brand’s digital platform that includes a smartphone app.
“From a technical standpoint we would be able to go maybe faster, maybe also perform a lane change, but that’s a topic for the future,” said Struck, who called the system “perfectly suited” to the 60-kmh speed, as the company aims to establish customer trust.
The system is now tuned for German regulations, which require that the vehicle stay in a single travel lane. The vehicle isn’t allowed to stay in this mode if it needs to leave the lane for evasive reasons, and it’s not allowed to do lane-changes.
That explains why, when I was cut off by a series of vehicles rather than one and Drive Pilot had steered slightly to the side a bit out of the travel lane to avoid contact, it decided to pass off control to me. With just one car darting at a tangent in front of me, it had instead been able to blip the brakes and remained engaged.
For especially strong braking or a strong lateral maneuver, there’s also a takeover request, though.
Carrying Drive Pilot over to undisciplined American lanes
Things are quite different between the Autobahn and LA freeways. The lane limitations might not apply so strictly in the U.S., where lane markings are a major hurdle because they’re inconsistent and sometimes nonexistent. One engineer also called the intermittent reflectors used in some American highways “very challenging” as they create a need to teach the system a new set of conditions.
Mercedes says it currently has test drivers and test routes around Los Angeles for Drive Pilot. So far it’s only trained engineers and test-drivers, not customers.
Drive Pilot may not be as glamorous as a system that performs lane changes and can make urban journeys with the driver’s hands mostly off the steering wheel, but it’s a fully developed system you can truly trust on a congested freeway. You’re not a beta-tester.
In a slog of slogs, like the 405, you might be able to let your mind wander for a little bit, at least. Just don’t close your eyes.
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- 2024 Mercedes-Benz E-Class spy shots and video: Next-gen mid-sizer hits the ‘Ring
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| 2022-09-20T21:41:38Z
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Toyota has finally ended its fight with California, recognizes the state’s authority to set its own, tougher emissions standards through the California Air Resources Board (CARB) under the Clean Air Act.
The automaker said Wednesday that it had communicated this to CARB and the California state government.
“In our recent communication, we acknowledged CARB’s leadership in climate policies and its authority to set vehicle emissions standards under the Clean Air Act,” according to a Toyota press release. That quickly drew a positive response from the agency.
“Although we’ve had differences in the past, we look forward to advancing #ZEVs together on positive footing,” CARB chair Liane Randolph tweeted later the same day, referring to zero-emission vehicles.
In 2019, Toyota was one of the automakers that joined an attempt to challenge California’s Clean Air Act exemption and right to regulate automotive emissions by the Trump administration. It was represented by Association of Global Automakers lobbying group alongside Hyundai, Kia, Nissan, Subaru, Aston Martin, and Maserati.
General Motors and Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (now Stellantis) also sided with the Trump administration. Both companies previously ended their opposition to California’s emissions authority, while Ford, BMW, Honda, and Volkswagen backed California from the start.
That led the state government to boycott the involved automakers. Toyota may now be eligible for fleet purchases from the California government again, the Los Angeles Times noted.
Toyota is now shifting focus to electric cars, with plans for 30 production models globally by 2030. Still, Toyota said earlier last year that it’s too early to focus on EVs, and it still anticipates that 85% of its new cars will have a tailpipe in 2030.
Related Articles
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- Toyota and Panasonic lead in solid-state battery patents
- Toyota EVs and plug-in hybrids: Full $7,500 EV tax credit will phase out October 1
- Redwood Materials will help Toyota reuse and recycle hybrid batteries
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| 2022-09-20T21:41:44Z
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Last week, Emporia State University fired 33 tenured faculty members after the Kansas Board of Regents unanimously approved the school's justification to suspend tenure.
Max McCoy, a journalism professor who was among those laid off, wrote an opinion piece for the Kansas Reflector opposing the suspension of tenure just before the school's announcement. He says the university gave him no specific reason for his firing, only phrases like "realignment of programs" and "financial need."
KCUR's Up To Date was joined by McCoy, along with economist Richard Vedder, to talk about recent events at Emporia State and the future of tenure in American academia.
- Max McCoy, journalist, novelist, longtime professor at Emporia State
- Richard Vedder, distinguished professor of economics emeritus at Ohio University
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| 2022-09-20T21:41:47Z
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BATON ROUGE, La. (BRPROUD) — LSU says new research shows that the LSU Campus Mounds are the oldest man-made structures in North America — going back as far as 11,000 years ago.
The two mounds on LSU’s campus stand about 20 feet tall and are among over 800 man-made mounds in the state, according to the university.
A study of the mounds says researchers believe that the mounds could have been used for ceremonial or cremation purposes. LSU said scientists are unsure what type of mammals were cremated or why.
Today, LSU has taken measures to protect the mounds with vehicle barriers, signage, temporary fencing, and rules discouraging people from walking on the mounds. There are also plans in the making by a committee to further protect the mounds through design to create a buffer between people and the structures.
The study was led by LSU’s Department of Geology & Geophysics Professor Emeritus Brooks Ellwood. Research of the campus mounds will be presented by Ellwood on Friday, Aug. 26. The presentation will be from 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. at Dalton Woods Auditorium in the LSU Energy, Coast & Environment Building (93 South Quad Drive).
For more information about the LSU Campus Mounds, click here.
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| 2022-09-20T21:41:51Z
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When retired Kansas City, Kansas, police detective Roger Golubski was taken into custody on Sept. 15, he was charged with six counts of violating the civil rights of two women during his time on the force.
Stephen R. McAllister served as the U.S. Attorney for the District of Kansas from 2018 to 2021 when attention was focused on the detective. He offered his thoughts on why state and local authorities have not brought charges against Golubski and explained the grounds on which the U.S. Attorney could.
- Stephen R. McAllister, distinguished professor of law at the University of Kansas
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https://www.kcur.org/podcast/up-to-date/2022-09-20/u-s-attorneys-inquiry-into-roger-golubski-began-in-2019
| 2022-09-20T21:41:53Z
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SHREVEPORT, La. (KTAL/KMSS) – The long-awaited screen adaptation of William Joyce’s book Ollie’s Odyssey made its Netflix premiere Wednesday, and the author shared the real-life story behind this beautiful tale that was 60 years in the making.
Netflix’s “Lost Ollie” is based the true story of a time when author William Joyce lost his favorite toy at the age of five.
The loss inspired Joyce’s novel Ollie’s Odyssey, and now the book is a four-part adaptation for audiences of all ages to experience.
“When you have a favorite toy, and you’re a kid, and that bond is just so powerful. If you lose that toy, and many people do, it’s heartbreaking. It’s like you lost a family member or a best friend,” Joyce said.
“Lost Ollie” is a hybrid of live-action and animation from series creator and executive producer Shannon Tindle, who produced Coraline. Academy Award-winner Peter Ramsey, who produced Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, is the film’s director and executive producer.
The cast includes Frozen star Jonathan Groff as the voice of Ollie, Mary J. Blige as Rosy, Tim Blake Nelson as the voice of Zozo the clown, Gina Rodriquez as Momma, Jake Johnson as Daddy, and Kesler Talbot as Billy, Ollie’s best friend.
“This story started 60 years ago,” says Joyce. “I lost my bear on Christmas Day right after I turned five years- old. Twenty years later, I was up in my parent’s attic, and I found him in a box. I haven’t lost him since. He’s made it through a lot.”
Joyce wrote the book Ollie’s Odyssey during a very difficult time in his life. His daughter Mary Katherine died tragically of a brain tumor, and shortly after her death, his wife Elizabeth was diagnosed with ALS.
Joyce remembers lying next to Elizabeth, who was in her last year of life and could only communicate with her eyes and read his progress on Ollie’s Odyssey to her. “She would light up. She had this radiant look on her face and I knew I was on the right track,” Joyce explains.
The four-part adaptation can be streamed on Netflix.
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| 2022-09-20T21:41:58Z
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(NBC) — “America’s Got Talent” continues live on Tuesday, 11 more acts who made it through auditions will perform and each one is hoping to earn one of this week’s two spots in next month’s finale.
There was one very special “extra” audition for the “AGT” team before last week’s show.
Many performers see dreams come true on “America’s Got Talent,” but for a 6-year-old girl from Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania her “AGT” wish came true as well.
“I was like, I want to go there!” said Rosalyn Miller. “And my mom said that could be your wish after you’re done with treatment.”
Treatment for her acute lymphoblastic leukemia which was diagnosed when Rosalyn was just 3 years old.
“Mom was freaking out,” said Miller. “And was very scared for me. I thought that was my last day to be alive.”
Repeated hospital visits for spinal taps and IV chemo and at-home chemo medication every day.
“I didn’t really like it, but I got through it,” said Miller.
Through it well enough for a final treatment this past March and in April Miller rang a bell, the exclamation point for beating cancer.
“I was very happy,” said Miller.
Smiles continued last week when, thanks to Make-A-Wish, Rosalyn got the chance to sing for the “AGT” judges.
The song that inspired Miller through her fight by Avril Lavigne.
“You know where you’re going when you sing,” said Miller.
And in Rosalyn’s case, singing took her to hallowed “AGT” territory a backstage validation leading judge Simon Cowell to make a prediction.
“The winner of AGT, round about 2027, is Rosalyn,” announced Cowell. “Remember where you heard it!”
And having already beaten the odds once it would be hard to bet against her.
Along with the memories, Rosalyn also came away with a t-shirt signed by the judges and host Terry, a couple of barbie dolls from Heidi and Sofia and, a box filled with that Golden Buzzer confetti.
A new, live episode of “America’s Got Talent” airs Tuesday at 7 p.m., followed by “Password.”
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| 2022-09-20T21:42:06Z
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NEW YORK (AP) — Ani DiFranco has some life thoughts to share — for kids.
Rise x Penguin Workshop, an imprint of Penguin Young Readers, announced Wednesday that the Grammy winning singer-songwriter’s debut picture book “The Knowing” is coming out March 7, 2023. The publisher calls the book an invitation for “young readers to ponder the distinction between outer forms of identity and the inner light of consciousness.”
“I always relish a new challenge and creative adventure in life,” DiFranco said in a statement. “Making a book for young readers was one such. I’m hoping that young people will connect with the message I am sending out in this book — that underneath all the labels and social and cultural signifiers, we are spirit, we are love incarnate, we are one.”
The book includes illustrations by Julia Mathew, who sets her work on “The Knowing” in her native India.
DiFranco, 51, is known for such albums as “Fellow Workers,” “Evolve” and “Educated Guess.” In 2019, she published the memoir “No Walls and the Recurring Dream.”
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| 2022-09-20T21:42:13Z
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SHREVEPORT, La. (KTAL/KMSS) – CHRISTUS Health donated three ballistic bulletproof vests to the Shreveport Fire Department on Tuesday.
In 2019, Captain Barry Seidel of Station 19 proposed acquiring bulletproof vests due to violent crimes. Slidel’s only issue at the time was funding, so he started looking for other resources.
They did not have enough to purchase the vests, and he proposed the idea to the Director of Marketing at CHRISTUS Health, Dana Smelser. When she answered him, they decided to buy the vests for the closest fire station to the hospital instead of Station 19.
COVID put a halt to distributing the vests shortly afterward.
Seidel recently reached out to CHRISTUS because they still needed the bulletproof vests. However, the prices increased from around $900 to around $1400. CHRISTUS Health agreed to give them three more vests despite the increase.
“They were gracious enough to still decide they wanted to give them to us, and here we are today to receive the three vests for Station 19,” said Seidel.
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| 2022-09-20T21:42:50Z
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A federal judge in Idaho has barred the state from enforcing a strict abortion ban in medical emergencies over concerns that it violates a federal law on emergency care.
The ruling Wednesday evening came after a federal judge this week in Texas made the opposite call, barring the federal government from enforcing a legal interpretation of the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act that would require Texas hospitals to provide abortion services if the health or life of the mother is at risk.
In Idaho, the ban makes performing an abortion in any “clinically diagnosable pregnancy” a felony punishable by up to five years in prison. Much of Idaho’s law will still go into effect Thursday, but U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmill ruled Wednesday the state cannot prosecute anyone who is performing an abortion in an emergency medical situation.
That’s because abortions in those cases appear to fall under a federal health care law requiring Medicare-funded hospitals to provide “stabilizing treatment” to patients, Winmill said.
That includes cases when the health of a pregnant patient is in serious jeopardy, when continuing the pregnancy could result in a serious impairment to a person’s bodily functions, or a serious dysfunction of any bodily organ or part.
The pause on enforcement in Idaho will continue until a lawsuit challenging the ban is resolved, the judge said in the written ruling.
The U.S. Department of Justice sued the Republican-led state of Idaho earlier this month, saying the abortion ban set to take effect on Thursday violates the federal Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor (EMTALA) Act . Idaho’s law criminalizes all abortions in “clinically diagnosable pregnancies,” but allows physicians to defend themselves in court by arguing the procedure was necessary to avert the death of the mother.
Idaho Attorney General’s spokesman Scott Graf said his office would not comment on the ruling because the case is still working its way through the courts.
Winmill said the case wasn’t about abortion rights but about whether state or federal law takes precedence in this situation. The judge in the Idaho case said it was clear federal law did.
Winmill said the Idaho law would pose a dilemma for a doctor who felt they had to, under “EMTALA obligations,” perform an abortion to save the life of the mother even though they are banned under state law.
“At its core, the Supremacy Clause says state law must yield to federal law when it’s impossible to comply with both. And that’s all this case is about,” Winmill wrote. “It’s not about the bygone constitutional right to an abortion.”
In Texas, a federal judge took the opposite approach. Texas had sued Department of Health and Human Services and Secretary Xavier Becerra last month, arguing the federal law commonly referred to as EMTALA doesn’t require doctors to provide abortions if doing so would violate a state law.
In a ruling late Tuesday, U.S. District Judge James Wesley Hendrix temporarily blocked the government from enforcing the guidance in Texas, saying it would force physicians to place the health of the pregnant person over that of the fetus or embryo even though EMTALA “is silent as to abortion.”
Performing an abortion creates an “emergency medical condition” in the fetus or embryo, the judge wrote.
“Since the statute is silent on the question, the Guidance cannot answer how doctors should weigh risks to both a mother and her unborn child,” the judge’s order said. “Nor can it, in doing so, create a conflict with state law where one does not exist. The Guidance was thus unauthorized.”
The Department of Health and Human Services said it was reviewing the legal decision to determine its next steps.
White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre called the Texas decision, “a blow to Texans,” saying pregnant women in Texas may now be denied appropriate treatment for conditions such as dangerously high blood pressure or severe bleeding.
“It’s wrong, it’s backwards, and women may die as a result. The fight is not over,” Jean-Pierre said in a statement.
The Department of Health and Human Services issued the guidance in July, weeks after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that abortion is not a constitutional right.
The agency cited EMTALA requirements on medical facilities to determine whether a person seeking treatment might be in labor or whether they face an emergency health situation — or one that could develop into an emergency — and to provide stabilizing treatment.
Texas argued that the EMTALA guidelines also violated the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, which says some laws must be narrowly tailored to serve a compelling government interest if they affect individuals’ religious freedoms.
In Texas, a ban on abortion at all points of a pregnancy is scheduled to take effect Thursday. It has narrow exceptions for saving the life of the unborn child or woman, preventing a serious health condition from being aggravated or caused by the pregnancy, or removing an ectopic pregnancy.
Texas clinics have already stopped offering nearly all types of abortion because of uncertainty over whether the state’s 1925 ban can be enforced. The state also has a ban on abortions after embryonic cardiac activity can be detected, which is generally about six weeks into a pregnancy and often before a woman realizes she’s pregnant.
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Find more AP coverage of the abortion issue: https://apnews.com/hub/abortion
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| 2022-09-20T21:42:57Z
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Boyd gets nearly 5 years in prison for bail bonds scam
ZANESVILLE − A woman that ran a complex bail bonds scam across five counties has been sentenced to nearly five years in prison.
Rhonda Boyd founded Anytime Bail Bonds in Cambridge in 2014, and operated in several counties across Southeast Ohio. She used the complexity of the bail bond system to scam thousands of dollars from bondsmen and insurance companies she worked with, according to officials. The Cambridge resident was indicted by a Muskingum County grand jury on May 11 on 151 felonies. She was arrested on May 12.
When a person who has been arrested has the opportunity to leave jail on bond, they can pay 10% of the bond in the terms of cash, property or surety. Surety is the promise of someone to pay a debt, usually a bonding agent. The bonding agent in turn hires a bondsman, who in turn has a contract with an insurance company to cover the full cost of the bond should the person out on bond fail to appear in court.
"When someone gets a bond for court, say its $100,000 cash, property or surety, they are supposed to pay 10%, which in this case would be $10,000," said Assistant Muskingum County Prosecutor John Litle, who oversaw the case. If a person needs to use a bond, "the bonding agency pays a bondsman, who gets 10% of that 10%, so in this case $1,000. The bonding agent would also have to pay a premium to an insurance company, which is 17.5% of the 10% the bail bondsman gets, or in this case $175."
The bondsman has a contract with an insurance company to cover the $100,000 if the person out on bond does not show up to court. Bondsmen make their money from the 10%, and bonding agents charge a fee for their services.
The bondsman gives the bonding agent power of attorney from an insurance company. That power of attorney takes the shape of a form issued by the insurance company with specific amounts on it.
The power of attorney forms were the center of the scam. According to Litle, Boyd would bring a form to the Clerk of Courts to bail someone out of jail, but forge the amount on it to more than it was actually worth.
The case that brought Boyd's scam to light was in Muskingum County. In August of 2020, Mitchell Coleman of Orange N.J. was charged with several crimes, including felony trafficking in drugs. He was taken into custody and given a $200,000 bond. Boyd's Anytime Bail Bond bailed him out.
"She came to the clerk of courts office with a power of attorney that was worth $30,000 and forged it and wrote that it was worth $200,000," Litle said. "In addition, she reported to her bondsman and insurance company that it had only been for $10,000."
The scam came to light when Coleman skipped town and the Muskingum County Prosecutor's Office filed a motion to forfeit his bond, meaning $200,000 would be paid by the insurance company to the prosecutor's office.
"When I filed a motion to have the bond forfeited, Lexington Insurance said 'we don't owe you $200,000, we owe you $30,000, because the power of attorney is only for $30,000, not for $200,000.'" That meant that Boyd had paid both the insurance company and the bondsman less than she should have, but would have still collected her fees from Coleman.
That launched a lengthy and complex investigation, headed by John McElhaney of the Zanesville Police Department. "What we found during the investigation was that on 78 occasions, in Muskingum County Common Pleas Court, Zanesville Municipal Court, Coshocton County Common Pleas Court, Coshocton Municipal Court, Guernsey County Common Pleas Court, Cambridge Municipal Court, Noble County Common Please Court and Belmont County Common Pleas Court, she ran this scam where she wrote bonds where the power of attorney was for too little an amount of money," Litle said. That meant she paid out less than she should have to bailsmen and insurance companies.
"In 111 instances, she fraudulently reported (to bail bondsmen and insurance companies) the amount the bond was for," Litle said. "She was responsible for $107,000 worth of underpayments to insurance and bondsmen, and she was responsible for about $170,000 we did not get back when Mitchell Coleman failed to show up to court.
"She was stealing from both sides," Litle said. "She would pay bondsmen less because she underreported to them, and over reported to the court what her power of attorney was. She lied to the court that she had the ability to write a larger bond than she does."
It took two years to complete the investigation, and because of the complexity of the case, prosecutors from each of the counties involved agreed it would be more efficient to prosecute it as one case. Litle was chosen, and saw the case to completion when Boyd was sentenced on Tuesday. In addition to four years and 11 months in prison, she also was ordered to pay $270,000 in restitution.
In another wrinkle to the case, Boyd had her bonding license revoked before the start of the investigation, Litle said, after pretending to be an attorney during a hearing in Guernsey County. She helped her assistant get her bonding license, and started writing bonds through her assistant, continuing her scam. The assistant was not charged, Litle said.
Boyd was caught because Coleman didn't show up for trial and his bond was forfeited, Litle said. But in more than half of Ohio counties, courts do not forfeit bonds "so this would have gone on and on," he said. As it was, the scam took years to unravel, and resulted in a conviction for the type of white-collar crime that often goes unpunished, he said.
"It is very brazen to use felony court as your means to conduct a scam," he said.
After two years on the lam, Coleman was arrested on Wednesday attempting to board a cruise ship.
ccrook@gannett.com
740-868-3708
@crookphoto
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| 2022-09-20T21:43:07Z
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Local News Briefs
Chalk on the Walk set
NEW CONCORD − East Muskingum Local Schools is holding its 31st annual Chalk on the Walk event from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Saturday at Larry Miller Intermediate School, 13125 John Glenn School Road, New Concord.
Students in in kindergarten to eighth grade will being drawing on the sidewalk in chalk with prizes given for first and second place and honorable mention. Contact Stephanie Robinson at 740-439-1645 for more information.
Muskingum U offers Wi-Fi services
NEW CONCORD − Approximately 1,000 students, resident assistants and resident computer lab assistants living and studying at Muskingum University are receiving reliable, high-speed Wi-Fi services from Apogee ResNet services and support.
The university engaged Apogee in July 2021 to deliver ResNet managed services because of the company’s proven experience and solid reputation as a higher education managed technology services provider for more than 350 colleges and universities and more than 1 million students across the United States. Apogee worked alongside Muskingum University housing and IT teams to install and deploy ResNet in less than 30 days in six traditional residence halls along with apartments, townhouses and individual homes.
Campus residents can connect up to 10 devices per student via the Apogee ResNet app. From smartphones to tablets to laptops to IoT devices such as speakers, TVs and personal assistants, Apogee ResNet can accommodate the devices that students want in their living spaces. Getting all these devices online and logging in is easy via single sign-on (SSO) and eduroam support that enables residents to use their school credentials to add devices to the network. Apogee ResNet also delivers a premium “at-home” digital experience with personal area networking (PAN) capabilities that allow students to seamlessly connect all their devices.
Program helps homeowners impacted by COVID-19
ZANESVILLE — The Ohio Housing Finance Agency and MEOAG Community Action Agency of Muskingum County is assisting local homeowners with housing expenses through the Save the Dream Ohio Homeowner Assistance Fund-Utility Assistance Plus program funded by the American Rescue Plan.
Help is available for utilities, utility disconnect fees, utility reconnection fees, real estate property taxes and insurance not escrowed and other homeowner fees. One can receive up to six months or $10,000 of assistance.
One must have experienced financial hardship due to the COVID-19 pandemic and have income at or below 150% of the median income as approved by the U.S. Treasury. One must provide proof of identity, social security numbers for household members, 30-day proof of income for household members and documentation of assistance needed.
For more information, call Brooke Morris at 740-453-5703, ext. 114.
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DeSoto Parish, La. (KTAL/KMSS) CHRISTUS Outpatient Therapy cut the ribbon on Tuesday’s new Stonewall location, bringing high-quality physical therapy to Desoto Parish.
The facility offers treatment for many orthopedic conditions. Patients can receive therapy if they have injured their back, knee, ankle, and other areas.
“We’ve got a great program, great therapists with experience in outpatient therapy treating a lot of conditions, orthopedic conditions. We’re excited for the residents down here to have access to quality healthcare,” said Director of Outpatient Radiology Mike Jones.
The facility is open to student athletic trainers as well. CHRISTUS has partnered with North DeSoto High School to allow student trainers to have a convenient location to practice their skills.
“Part of the CHRISTUS care, we actually provide athletic trainers for some of the local athletic programs, so north DeSoto will have athletic trainers down there. And so football season is ready to kick off, so any of those student-athletes are injured during their play, they can also come for rehabilitation,” said Jones
Director of Outpatient Therapy and Sports Medicine, Nick Huckaby, says he understands the injuries athletes see as a former athlete himself. He hopes they can return patients to their prior level of function and reach their potential.
All ages are welcome.
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| 2022-09-20T21:43:12Z
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MADRID (AP) — Spain’s assisted suicide law is in the spotlight after doctors allowed the death of a former security guard who faced trial for having stormed his former workplace a year ago, shooting and wounding three people and later a police officer.
Eugen Sabau, known in Spain as “the Tarragona gunman,” applied for euthanasia in June, six months after he was left with quadriplegia when police subdued him in a shootout following the attack Dec. 14 in the northeastern city.
Victims had argued that Sabau should not be helped to die before his trial, but two Spanish courts ruled that the accused’s right to seek assisted suicide prevailed. The man died Tuesday in a prison in northeastern Spain.
In March 2021, Spain became the fourth country in Europe to allow physician-assisted suicide for patients with incurable diseases and for people with unbearable permanent conditions.
A Tarragona court ruled that Sabau suffered unbearable pain with no possibility of relief and agreed with the medical commission to delay it until after the trial violated the accused’s dignity and rights.
José Antonio Bitos, a lawyer for the injured police officer, said Wednesday that Spain’s assisted suicide law had been rushed in and should be reformed to prevent similar cases in the future. He said the case set a precedent and could potentially be used by defendants who find themselves in similar circumstances and face lengthy sentences if convicted.
Ramón Riu, an expert in constitutional law, told Spanish National Television that the case “is a precedent and courts will certainly take it into account in the future but they will not be obliged to follow the same criteria.”
Bitos took the case to the European Human Rights Court but was unsuccessful in getting a stay. He said he hopes the court will study the case and urge Spain to make changes.
Sabau, a Romanian with Spanish residency, had problems with the private security firm he worked for and had warned several colleagues that he would take revenge. Bitos said he never apologized for what he had done.
The lawyer said it was now unclear how the four victims who sustained serious injuries may claim compensation given that there will be no trial.
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| 2022-09-20T21:43:19Z
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GENEVA (AP) — The number of coronavirus deaths reported worldwide fell by 15% in the past week while new infections dropped by 9%, the World Health Organization said Wednesday.
In its latest weekly assessment of the COVID-19 pandemic, the U.N. health agency said there were 5.3 million new cases and more than 14,000 deaths reported last week. WHO said the number of new infections declined in every world region except the Western Pacific.
Deaths jumped by more than 183% in Africa but fell by nearly a third in Europe and by 15% in the Americas. Still, WHO warned that COVID-19 numbers are likely severely underestimated as many countries have dropped their testing and surveillance protocols to monitor the virus, meaning that there are far fewer cases being detected.
WHO said the predominant COVID-19 variant worldwide is omicron subvariant BA.5, which accounts for more than 70% of virus sequences shared with the world’s biggest public viral database. Omicron variants account for 99% of all sequences reported in the last month.
Earlier this week, Pfizer asked U.S. regulators to authorize its combination COVID-19 vaccine that adds protection against the newest omicron relatives, BA.4 and BA.5, a key step towards opening a fall booster campaign.
The Food and Drug Administration had ordered vaccine makers to tweak their shots to target BA.4 and BA.5, which are better than ever at dodging immunity from earlier vaccination or infection.
Meanwhile, in the U.K., regulators authorized a version of Moderna’s updated COVID-19 vaccine last week that includes protection against the earlier omicron subvariant BA.1. British officials will offer it to people aged 50 and over beginning next month.
In Germany, Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s Cabinet approved legislation Wednesday that ensures basic protective measures against the coronavirus pandemic are continued during the fall and winter, when more virus cases are expected.
Meanwhile, in the Philippines, millions of students wearing face masks streamed back to primary and secondary schools across the country on Monday for their first in-person classes after two years of coronavirus lockdowns.
Officials had grappled with daunting problems, including classroom shortages, lingering COVID-19 fears, an approaching storm and quake-damaged school buildings in the country’s north, to welcome back nearly 28 million students who enrolled for the school year.
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Follow AP’s coverage of the pandemic at https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic
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| 2022-09-20T21:43:27Z
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(The Hill) — The Biden administration is expected on Wednesday to announce it is canceling a chunk of student debt, even as it faces criticism that going too far could hamper efforts to fight off inflation.
Some progressive Democrats have argued that forgiving student debt could help their party and President Joe Biden in the midterm elections given the crushing debt facing millions of students. Yet there is also reason to think the plan carries some real political risk.
Recent polling shows a majority of Americans are worried about the impact debt forgiveness plans could have on inflation, a huge issue in the midterms.
Under the potential forgiveness plan, borrowers earning less than $125,000 per year could see at least $10,000 in cancellation of their federal student loans. The amount is much lower than many progressives aimed for but would mark the most significant forgiveness in federal student debt for borrowers ever.
The idea has drawn pushback from Republicans, who have strongly come out against Democratic-led proposals for student debt relief in recent months, denouncing them as unfair and inflationary.
“The federal government does not ‘forgive’ or ‘cancel; student loans — they take the debt and give it to every American, including those without a degree. It’s just wrong,” Sen. Mike Braun (R-Ind.) tweeted on Tuesday.
An analysis released by the Penn Wharton Budget Model (PWBM) on Tuesday estimated the plan could run up about $300 billion in costs, with the potential to reach $330 billion if the effort is continued through the next decade for new borrowers and others who could qualify.
Kent Smetters, faculty director for PWBM, said the cost increase to continue the program for subsequent years would be much smaller in magnitude “because the assumption is that this is a one-time forgiveness per borrower.”
As for the impact the plan would have on inflation, Smetters estimated it to be more marginal in size, saying it would “basically barely show up in some sense in the standard inflation metric.” Though he added the plan could have future implications for inflation in higher education costs and “change how people finance college.”
“That could also change how colleges themselves price things,” Smetters said, asking, “Will colleges themselves actually increase tuition and capture a lot of the benefit?”
As for the impact the plan would have on inflation, Smetters estimated it to be more marginal in size, saying it would “basically barely show up in some sense in the standard inflation metric.”
Last month, annual consumer inflation hit 8.5 percent, easing from a four-decade high of 9.1 percent the prior month, though still much higher than what economists say is normal.
Republicans have pinned much of the blame on Democrats, specifically citing stimulus spending passed under the Biden administration as helping fuel inflation, as well as pandemic relief programs like the ongoing student loan pause.
Although experts have said government spending under both the Trump and Biden administrations has had an impact on inflation, they also downplay the effects of the years-long payment freeze on the recent spike in costs.
But the Biden administration is still facing pressure to end the relief as government spending attracts more attention amid rising inflation.
While Marc Goldwein, senior vice president of the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, said the effects of extending a current pause on payments is “not gigantic,” he also said it’s one of the “most direct and instantaneous tools that the administration has” to combat inflation.
“It’s not large relative to the size of the inflation problem. But it’s large relative to the president’s tools to fight inflation,” Goldwein told The Hill last week.
However, advocates and Democrats pushing for forgiveness say rising prices underscore the need for continued relief to borrowers, citing economic hardship faced by lower income borrowers as inflation remains high.
“Inflation is most definitely a problem I think that we should be talking about, and it impacts student loan borrowers tremendously,” said Persis Yu, policy director for the Student Borrower Protection Center. “Especially low income student loan borrowers, who would really benefit from cancellation because they’re the folks who are spending more of their income right now on milk and bread.”
Advocates have also pushed back on plans by the White House to apply income restrictions to who is eligible for student loan forgiveness. But there are questions about whether the current income caps set at $125,000 are too high.
The recent PWBM analysis estimated about 70 percent of the debt forgiven under the proposed $10,000 plan “accrues to households in the top 60 percent of the income distribution.”
Smetters said roughly 30 percent “would go to the bottom 40 percent of the income distribution.” However, he also noted the analysis doesn’t account for racial demographics of borrowers, which advocates say is important to factor in.
Proponents of student loan relief often promote the effort as a means to promote racial equity, while noting the disproportionate burden faced by borrowers of color, especially Black borrowers, who experts say are more likely to borrow at higher rates and struggle with repayment.
“We often conflate income with wealth in that we’re not always capturing everybody who really needs assistance when we do means testing, in particular with income caps,” Yu said.
Yu particularly pointed to the yawning wealth gap between white and Black households, saying Black borrowers need higher incomes “to be able to afford homes, and to build savings, and retirement.”
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| 2022-09-20T21:43:34Z
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Beginning this Friday on NBC stations and COZI TV, “The Blacklist” actor Amir Arison will host a Clear The Shelters live television special celebrating eight years of NBCUniversal Local’s annual pet adoption and donation campaign, which runs through the end of August.
This year’s half-hour special will highlight feel-good stories of animal rescues and adoptions, celebrate the volunteers who go above and beyond to make sure animals find new homes, and check in with some of the famous faces who have made room in their lives for new four-legged friends. Also featured will be heartwarming and humorous viral pet videos and special features from content partner The Dodo.
Arison, a longtime regular on acclaimed NBC drama “The Blacklist” who’s currently starring in “The Kite Runner” on Broadway, is also a passionate animal rescue advocate.
“It might seem like there is nothing cuter than a puppy or kitten, but there is nothing sweeter than saving a life,” Arison said. “Adopt, don’t shop.”
More About Clear The Shelters
Arison spoke about how his own rescue pup, Reina, changed his life for the better.
“When we rescued Reina, my little perfect mutt, my life changed forever and I can’t imagine life without her. Reina makes home feel like home,” the actor said. “With so many sweet souls in need, fostering and adopting pets not only helps shelters, it gives so many dogs and cats new homes. Additionally, it will give your life a whole new dimension of love.”
The 2022 Clear The Shelters half-hour special will air on NBC stations across the country and on COZI TV beginning on Friday, Aug. 26. Check local listings to find out when and how to tune in.
Through this year’s Clear The Shelters campaign, which began on Aug. 1, NBC and Telemundo stations are partnered with more than 1,300 shelters and rescues in all 50 states, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico and Guam to promote pet adoption and raise funds. Since its 2015 inception, Clear The Shelters has helped more than 700,000 pets find new homes.
To learn more about Clear The Shelters 2022 and search for adoptable pets in your area, visit cleartheshelters.com. You can also donate to your local animal shelters and rescue groups by visiting clearthesheltersfund.org.
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SHREVEPORT, La. (Loving Living Local)- Roy’s Kids‘ founder, Mike Powell, collects large delivery of school supplies to help local children in need.
Roy’s Kids partnered with Citizens Bank & Trust Co., KTAL NBC 6, and KMSS FOX 33 to help local kids in need succeed with the CB&T School Supply Drive. Roy’s Kids is a local volunteer-run charity based in Shreveport, Louisiana. Roy’s Kids collaborates with other charities throughout the year on various events to help local underprivileged children. “We’ll do whatever it takes to help as many children as possible have the fun childhood they deserve” the organization states on its website.
Powell was joined in the studio by Mark McKay, station general manager of KTAL NBC 6, and KMSS FOX 33, to receive donations dropped off at the station. “We’ve got a bunch of stuff in the lobby, it’s kind of overflowing,” said McKay. Powell and McKay note how often teachers must spend money out of their own pocket to properly supply their classrooms. Powell encourages teachers who need help or know of students who need help to reach out to Roy’s Kids directly.
The organization is generally known for its Christmas donation drives, Roy’s Kids strive to help families in a variety of ways including collecting school supplies, sponsoring birthday parties, and hosting an annual 5K and Block Party. They are also open to suggestions about other ways to give back to the community.
This year it is estimated that Roy’s Kids collected over $3800 in school supplies plus significant monetary donations. Powell says that this drive will have helped more kids than ever this year.
While the drive itself ended on August 12th, Powell says that he will never turn away donations. You can find more ways to donate or even volunteer your time on the website.
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| 2022-09-20T21:43:55Z
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CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — Years late and billions over budget, NASA’s new moon rocket makes its debut next week in a high-stakes test flight before astronauts get on top.
The 322-foot (98-meter) rocket will attempt to send an empty crew capsule into a far-flung lunar orbit, 50 years after NASA’s famed Apollo moonshots.
If all goes well, astronauts could strap in as soon as 2024 for a lap around the moon, with NASA aiming to land two people on the lunar surface by the end of 2025.
Liftoff is set for Monday morning from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center.
The six-week test flight is risky and could be cut short if something fails, NASA officials warn.
“We’re going to stress it and test it. We’re going make it do things that we would never do with a crew on it in order to try to make it as safe as possible,” NASA Administrator Bill Nelson told The Associated Press on Wednesday.
The retired founder of George Washington University’s space policy institute said a lot is riding on this trial run. Spiraling costs and long gaps between missions will make for a tough comeback if things go south, he noted.
“It is supposed to be the first step in a sustained program of human exploration of the moon, Mars, and beyond,” said John Logsdon. “Will the United States have the will to push forward in the face of a major malfunction?”
The price tag for this single mission: more than $4 billion. Add everything up since the program’s inception a decade ago until a 2025 lunar landing, and there’s even more sticker shock: $93 billion.
Here’s a rundown of the first flight of the Artemis program, named after Apollo’s mythological twin sister.
ROCKET POWER
The new rocket is shorter and slimmer than the Saturn V rockets that hurled 24 Apollo astronauts to the moon a half-century ago. But it’s mightier, packing 8.8 million pounds (4 million kilograms) of thrust. It’s called the Space Launch System rocket, SLS for short, but a less clunky name is under discussion, according to Nelson. Unlike the streamlined Saturn V, the new rocket has a pair of strap-on boosters refashioned from NASA’s space shuttles. The boosters will peel away after two minutes, just like the shuttle boosters did, but won’t be fished from the Atlantic for reuse. The core stage will keep firing before separating and crashing into the Pacific in pieces. Two hours after liftoff, an upper stage will send the capsule, Orion, racing toward the moon.
MOONSHIP
NASA’s high-tech, automated Orion capsule is named after the constellation, among the night sky’s brightest. At 11 feet (3 meters) tall, it’s roomier than Apollo’s capsule, seating four astronauts instead of three. For this test flight, a full-size dummy in an orange flight suit will occupy the commander’s seat, rigged with vibration and acceleration sensors. Two other mannequins made of material simulating human tissue — heads and female torsos, but no limbs — will measure cosmic radiation, one of the biggest risks of spaceflight. One torso is testing a protective vest from Israel. Unlike the rocket, Orion has launched before, making two laps around Earth in 2014. This time, the European Space Agency’s service module will be attached for propulsion and solar power via four wings.
FLIGHT PLAN
Orion’s flight is supposed to last six weeks from its Florida liftoff to Pacific splashdown, twice as long as astronaut trips in order to tax the systems. It will take nearly a week to reach the moon, 240,000 miles (386,000 kilometers) away. After whipping closely around the moon, the capsule will enter a distant orbit with a far point of 38,000 miles (61,000 kilometers). That will put Orion 280,000 miles (450,000 kilometers) from Earth, farther than Apollo. The big test comes at mission’s end, as Orion hits the atmosphere at 25,000 mph (40,000 kph) on its way to a splashdown in the Pacific. The heat shield uses the same material as the Apollo capsules to withstand reentry temperatures of 5,000 degrees Fahrenheit (2,750 degrees Celsius). But the advanced design anticipates the faster, hotter returns by future Mars crews.
HITCHHIKERS
Besides three test dummies, the flight has a slew of stowaways for deep space research. Ten shoebox-size satellites will pop off once Orion is hurtling toward the moon. The problem is these so-called CubeSats were installed in the rocket a year ago, and the batteries for half of them couldn’t be recharged as the launch kept getting delayed. NASA expects some to fail, given the low-cost, high-risk nature of these mini satellites. The radiation-measuring CubeSats should be OK. Also in the clear: a solar sail demo targeting an asteroid. In a back-to-the-future salute, Orion will carry a few slivers of moon rocks collected by Apollo 11’s Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin in 1969, and a bolt from one of their rocket engines, salvaged from the sea a decade ago. Aldrin isn’t attending the launch, according to NASA, but three of his former colleagues will be there: Apollo 7’s Walter Cunningham, Apollo 10’s Tom Stafford and Apollo 17’s Harrison Schmitt, the next-to-last man to walk on the moon.
APOLLO VS. ARTEMIS
More than 50 years later, Apollo still stands as NASA’s greatest achievement. Using 1960s technology, NASA took just eight years to go from launching its first astronaut, Alan Shepard, and landing Armstrong and Aldrin on the moon. By contrast, Artemis already has dragged on for more than a decade, despite building on the short-lived moon exploration program Constellation. Twelve Apollo astronauts walked on the moon from 1969 through 1972, staying no longer than three days at a time. For Artemis, NASA will be drawing from a diverse astronaut pool currently numbering 42 and is extending the time crews will spend on the moon to at least a week. The goal is to create a long-term lunar presence that will grease the skids for sending people to Mars. NASA’s Nelson, promises to announce the first Artemis moon crews once Orion is back on Earth.
WHAT’S NEXT
There’s a lot more to be done before astronauts step on the moon again. A second test flight will send four astronauts around the moon and back, perhaps as early as 2024. A year or so later, NASA aims to send another four up, with two of them touching down at the lunar south pole. Orion doesn’t come with its own lunar lander like the Apollo spacecraft did, so NASA has hired Elon Musk’s SpaceX to provide its Starship spacecraft for the first Artemis moon landing. Two other private companies are developing moonwalking suits. The sci-fi-looking Starship would link up with Orion at the moon and take a pair of astronauts to the surface and back to the capsule for the ride home. So far, Starship has only soared six miles (10 kilometers). Musk wants to launch Starship around Earth on SpaceX’s Super Heavy Booster before attempting a moon landing without a crew. One hitch: Starship will need a fill-up at an Earth-orbiting fuel depot, before heading to the moon.
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The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Department of Science Education. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
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NEW YORK (AP) — Two-time major champion and former No. 1 Victoria Azarenka was dropped Wednesday from a pre-U.S. Open exhibition event raising money for humanitarian assistance in Ukraine.
Azarenka is from Belarus, which helped Russia launch its invasion of Ukraine in February. At least one Ukrainian tennis player, Marta Kostyuk, questioned having a Belarusian player participate in the U.S. Tennis Association’s “Tennis Plays for Peace Exhibition,” scheduled for Wednesday night in Louis Armstrong Stadium at Flushing Meadows.
The USTA issued a statement Wednesday, saying: “In the last 24 hours, after careful consideration and dialogue with all parties involved, Victoria Azarenka will not be participating … this evening. Vika is a strong player leader and we appreciate her willingness to participate. Given the sensitivities to Ukrainian players, and the ongoing conflict, we believe this is the right course of action for us.”
Azarenka and all players representing Russia or Belarus were banned from entering Wimbledon — which was held in June and July — because of the invasion of Ukraine. The USTA announced in June that it would allow those athletes to compete in the U.S. Open.
Azarenka won the Australian Open in 2012 and 2013, and was the runner-up at the U.S. Open in 2012, 2013 and 2020.
Rafael Nadal, Coco Gauff, Carlos Alcarez, Iga Swiatek and Leylah Fernandez were among the other players set to participate in Wednesday’s event, with 100% of proceeds from sales of $25 and $50 tickets going to an international nonprofit organization.
It is part of the USTA’s effort to raise at least $2 million to benefit Ukraine by the end of the U.S. Open, which starts Monday.
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More AP tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports
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HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — A new lawsuit has exposed a deep rift between two of Paul Newman’s daughters and the late actor’s charitable foundation funded by profits from the Newman’s Own line of food and drink products.
The daughters, Susan Kendall Newman and Nell Newman, allege their own charity organizations are both supposed to receive $400,000 a year from the Newman’s Own Foundation under a mandate by their father, but the foundation has cut those payments in half in recent years.
They filed a lawsuit Tuesday in state court in Stamford, Connecticut, seeking $1.6 million in damages to be donated to their foundations for charitable giving.
The daughters say their father, who started Newman’s Own Foundation three years before he died in 2008, allowed the foundation to use his name and likeness — but only on several conditions including giving each of the two daughters’ foundations $400,000 a year.
Susan Kendall Newman, who lives in Oregon, and Nell Newman, of California, worry the foundation is setting the stage to completely remove them from having any say in how some of profits from Newman’s Own products are donated to charities. They also accused the foundation of “contradicting” their father’s wishes and intentions for years.
“No one should have to feel that the legacy of a departed loved one is being dishonored in the way that Newman’s Own Foundation has disregarded the daughters of Paul Newman,” Andy Lee, a New York City attorney for the daughters, said in a statement.
“This lawsuit does not seek personal compensation for Mr. Newman’s daughters, but simply seeks to hold (Newman’s Own Foundation) accountable to the charities they have shortchanged in recent years and would ensure they receive an increased level of support in the future, in line with Mr. Newman’s wishes,” he said.
Newman’s Own Foundation has not yet filed a response to the lawsuit in court but has released a statement.
“Best practices surrounding philanthropic organizations do not allow for the establishment of perpetual funding allotments for anyone, including Nell and Susan Newman,” the statement said. “A meritless lawsuit based on this faulty wish would only divert money away from those who benefit from Paul Newman’s generosity.”
The foundation added, “While we expect to continue to solicit Newman family recommendations for worthy organizations, our funding decisions are made each year and will continue to reflect the clear aim of Paul Newman and our responsibility to the best practices governing private foundations.”
Paul Newman, who lived in Westport with his wife, actor Joanne Woodward, created the Newman’s Own brand in 1982, with all profits going to charities. Today the product line includes frozen pizza, salsa, salad dressings and pasta sauces, as well as dog food and pet treats.
In his will, Paul Newman left his assets to his wife and Newman’s Own Foundation.
Newman’s Own, the products company, is a subsidiary of Newman’s Own Foundation, a nonprofit organization. The foundation says more than $570 million has been given to thousands of charities since 1982.
According to 2020 tax records, the foundation had more than $24 million in income and paid out $11.5 million in contributions, gifts and grants. Operating and administrative expenses totaled nearly $4.5 million.
According to his daughters’ lawsuit, Newman’s Own Foundation wrote to them only four days after their father’s death, saying it would reserve the right to stop allocating funds to charities identified by the daughters. The lawsuit says that contradicted Paul Newman’s explicit instructions to the foundation.
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NEW YORK (AP) — Peloton’s high-end exercise bikes and other gear will now be able to be bought on Amazon in the U.S., a partnership aimed at boosting the fitness company’s sales that have languished since the easing of pandemic lockdowns.
“We want to meet consumers where they are, and they are shopping on Amazon,” Kevin Cornils, Peloton’s chief commercial officer, said in a statement Wednesday.
The collaboration is Peloton’s first with another retailer. Before, its products were sold only through its website, physical showrooms and other channels.
And it comes after the company earlier this month said it was shedding jobs, shifting its delivery work to third-party vendors and significantly reducing the number of stores it has in North America.
The news of the Amazon deal sent shares of New York-based Peloton Interactive Inc. soaring 20% Wednesday. They are still down about 88% in the last 12 months.
Products available at the launch on Amazon will include Peloton’s original bike — listed at $1,445 — its strength-training “Guide” device, as well as its workout mat, dumbbells and glass water bottle.
The company best known for its interactive stationary bikes saw its sales boom during the pandemic, but it has struggled to maintain high demand as COVID-19 vaccines became more widely available and homebound consumers started to go back to the gym.
Amid those challenges, it sought to cut costs and reduce its operating footprint while ramping up prices on some of its popular products. Last month, it said it would outsource manufacturing for its stationary bikes and treadmills.
The company says bike delivery will be available to most of the U.S. As part of the partnership, customers can get an expert to assemble their bikes, the company said.
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A perfect storm of "systemic vulnerabilities" at the US Food and Drug Administration unfolded as the agency investigated contaminated baby formula and slowed its response to the worsening formula shortage, an internal review shows.
FDA Commissioner Dr. Robert Califf told CNN that there wasn't any one problem or person responsible for the crisis.
"There are a number of things, any one of which would probably have just been something to note but not of importance, but when the holes line up, and that's when significant problems occur," he said.
The FDA's investigation of bacterial contamination in formula in January ultimately resulted in a recall of many popular brands, forced the shutdown of a major manufacturing plant and exacerbated shortages caused by supply chain disruptions.
Califf announced earlier this year that he had appointed an agency veteran to lead the internal review, the findings of which were released Tuesday. It found that delays, lack of procedures and limits on the FDA's authority shaped the response.
Based on dozens of interviews with 61 employees, the 10-page assessment highlights major areas where it says improvement is needed: The FDA needs more modern technology; more staff, training and equipment; updated emergency response systems that can handle more than one incident at a time; more scientific knowledge about Cronobacter bacteria, which is found in infant formula; and a better understanding of the formula industry.
"Simply put, if the FDA is expected to do more, it needs more," Dr. Steven Solomon, director of the FDA's Center for Veterinary Medicine, who led the review, said in a statement. "As the agency evaluates its workforce needs related to infant formula regulation and oversight, we recommend that it utilize the appropriations process to help secure the authorities and resources needed."
The baby formula shortage has eased, but it is not over. Numbers from market research firm IRI show that about 21% of powdered infant formula was out of stock the first week of September, roughly double the out-of-stock rate for powdered infant formula in January, prior to the recall.
"Like a plane taking off, we're gaining altitude, but we're not there yet. So it's a lot better than it was, but we still have a ways to go," Califf told CNN.
The report says no single action can explain what happened; "rather the report identifies a confluence of systemic vulnerabilities" that show the need to modernize the agency and invest in better expertise and tools to address public health threats.
Among the shortcomings highlighted in the report:
It says the FDA fumbled the handling of a whistleblower complaint related to the contamination at Abbott Nutrition's manufacturing facility in Sturgis, Michigan. The complaint was sent to the agency in October 2021, but it took two more months for the agency to interview the whistleblower, who was a former Abbott employee.
The report says "inadequate processes and lack of clarity related to whistleblower complaints" might have delayed the FDA's response and describes how a complaint sent by mail "and other delivery systems" was not delivered to those it was addressed to. The report urges the agency to provide training to staff about how to escalate complaints and review its mail delivery procedures.
It also says the agency should evaluate procedures for shipping and testing samples sent to regulatory labs, since some samples from the Abbott facility in Michigan were "delayed in transit by third party delivery companies."
Lack of clear roles also hampered the response to the formula shortage. The agency lacks procedures for coordinating such an intricate response, which involved its Office of Emergency Management, agency leadership, communications staff and subject matter experts.
The pandemic also played a role, the report finds. Covid-19 cases at the Sturgis manufacturing plant delayed the FDA's in-person response, and the agency doesn't have the power to compel companies to share information remotely.
"The agency should continue its evaluation of the additional authorities, tools and resources needed to remotely gather information from firms during public health emergencies when in-person inspections may not be feasible," the report says.
The agency said that a lack of scientific knowledge about Cronobacter also made its investigation more difficult.
Cronobacter infections, which can be severe and even deadly to babies, are not on the list of nationally notifiable diseases. Only one state -- Minnesota -- requires doctors to report Cronobacter infections to state and federal health officials. As a result, the true toll of the disease in the US is unknown.
The list is controlled by state health officials, and the process for putting a disease on the list is a lengthy and sometimes contentious one.
The report calls for the FDA to work with researchers to address gaps in the science and to consider resuming unannounced inspections at infant formula manufacturing facilities.
These findings will not be the last word. A separate review of the agency's food and tobacco programs -- conducted by outside experts -- is still ongoing. The inspector general for the Department of Health and Human Services has also launched a review of the agency's handling of the infant formula crisis that's due in 2023.
In a statement, Califf said that he agreed with the report's findings and that although domestic formula manufacturers "stepped up" to increase production, in the long term, the supply chain needs greater diversity of manufacturers, new facilities and "a commitment by these companies to consistently and continuously adhere to the FDA's quality and safety standards."
"The situation at the Abbott Sturgis facility has highlighted just how little authority the FDA has to compel many companies to 'do the right thing' without intervention," he said in the statement.
"Rest assured that we are committed to implementing the necessary changes to help us avoid future supply shortages and ensure parents and caregivers have access to safe and nutritious infant formula whenever and wherever they need it."
The-CNN-Wire
™ & © 2022 Cable News Network, Inc., a Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All rights reserved.
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In its devastating path of destruction, Hurricane Fiona has killed at least five people across the Caribbean, cut power and water service for most of Puerto Rico's 3.1 million residents and left more than 1 million without running water in the Dominican Republic.
The storm was threatening more deadly flooding Tuesday as it slammed the Turks and Caicos islands.
Fiona, a Category 3 storm with sustained winds of 115 mph, was battering the Turks and Caicos while centered about 40 miles off Grand Turk Island around 2 p.m. ET. Its heavy rains could deliver "life-threatening flooding" through the afternoon in parts of the British territory of about 38,000 people, the Miami-based National Hurricane Center said.
Still dealing with Fiona's ruinous path are the Dominican Republic -- where the storm's outer bands still could cause flooding after it traversed the Caribbean nation Monday -- and Puerto Rico, which Fiona crossed a day earlier, causing a near blackout and leaving damage not seen there since Hurricane Maria made landfall five years ago Tuesday, officials said.
At least two people died in the severe weather in the Dominican Republic, according to Major General Juan Manuel Méndez García, director of the country's emergency operations center. Aurielys Esther Jimenez, 18, was traveling by motorcycle when she was struck by a power pole that fell due to strong winds, the director said. She was taken to a hospital where she was later pronounced dead.
Officials there on Monday also confirmed the death of a man in Nagua, in northeastern Dominican Republic, who died after powerful winds knocked down a tree that hit him. There was also one death reported in the French territory of Guadeloupe, which Fiona hit late last week, and two in Puerto Rico.
In Puerto Rico, a 58-year-old man was swept away by a swollen river behind his home in Comerío and another man in his 30s died in a fire accident that occurred when he was trying to put gasoline in his generator while it was turned on, officials said.
In Puerto Rico, parts of which will have seen rain totals of more than 30 inches, Fiona pushed rivers to overflow and high water to collect in parts of the territory, flooding homes, streets and fields. Rushing waters wiped away a bridge, carrying its structure downstream, one video shows. Mudslides blocked some roads leading from coastal areas to the interior, a CNN crew saw.
The damage is catastrophic in the territory's center, south and southeast regions, Puerto Rico Gov. Pedro Pierluisi said Tuesday.
A large portion of the population should have power by late Wednesday, but greater damage in the southern part of the island means restoration will take longer there, the governor said.
More than 1.17 million of the island's roughly 1.47 million utility customers still were without power as of early Tuesday, according to estimates from PowerOutage.us, which notes updated information on restoration efforts is limited.
Fiona strengthens as it pushes north
Fiona intensified into a Category 3 storm as it moved away from the Dominican Republic's northern coast early Tuesday.
This is the first major hurricane -- Category 3 or higher -- of this year's Atlantic hurricane season.
Heavy rains around the center of Fiona will threaten the Turks and Caicos with "continued life-threatening flooding" through Tuesday afternoon, the hurricane center said.
Those islands could see 4 to 8 inches of rain Tuesday on top of what they received earlier, as well as storm surges -- ocean water pushed onto land -- of 5 to 8 feet, according to the hurricane center.
Hurricane conditions could be seen in Turks and Caicos into Tuesday afternoon, and tropical storm conditions -- winds of at least 39 mph -- were expected to spread over the southeastern Bahamas on Tuesday morning.
Strengthening is expected as Fiona turns from the Turks and Caicos. It could be a Category 4 storm -- with sustained winds of 130 to 156 mph -- by late Wednesday over the Atlantic. It is forecast to pass near or well west of Bermuda late Thursday or early Friday, and could still be at Category 4 when it does, forecasters say.
Over the weekend, Fiona might make landfall in eastern Canada as a hurricane. It is too early to know exactly where or how strong it might be.
Fiona leaves behind devastated Puerto Rico
Tuesday marks five years since Hurricane Maria's catastrophic landfall in Puerto Rico and some who lived through the 2017 crisis say Fiona's flooding destruction could be even more severe.
Juan Miguel Gonzalez, a business owner in Puerto Rico, told CNN that his neighborhood had still not finished its recovery from Maria when Fiona struck. But this time, he says, the flooding brought even more damage to their homes.
"A lot of people -- more than (during) Maria -- lost their houses now ... lost everything in their houses because of the flooding," Gonzalez told CNN on Monday. "Maria was tough winds. But this one, with all the rain, it just destroyed everything in the house."
Water service also was interrupted for most, because river flooding affected filtration processes and must recede before safe treatment can resume, officials said. On Tuesday morning, about 60% of customers on the island had no running water, the territory's aqueduct and sewer authority said.
More than 1,200 people were staying in about 70 shelters on the island Tuesday, Pierluisi said. Emergency crews battled against unrelenting rain to rescue approximately 1,000 people as of midday Monday, said Maj. Gen. José Reyes, adjutant general of the Puerto Rico National Guard.
School buildings will be inspected to make sure they are safe for students to return to class in the coming days, the governor said Tuesday.
In addition to the hundreds of Puerto Rican National Guard members aiding in rescue and recovery efforts, the White House said Monday that President Joe Biden told Pierluisi during a phone call that federal support will increase in the coming days.
"As damage assessments are conducted, the President said that number of support personnel will increase substantially," the White House said.
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul also announced the state would send 100 state troopers to assist relief efforts in Puerto Rico. She also said teams from New York Power Authority are available to help with power restoration.
More than 1 million customers left without water service in Dominican Republic
In the Dominican Republic, where up to 20 inches of rain fell in places, emergency workers brought nearly 800 people to safety, the country's emergency management director of operations, Juan Manuel Mendez, said Monday. At least 519 people were taking refuge in the country's 29 shelters Monday, he said.
As of Monday afternoon, at least 1,018,564 customers across the Dominican Republic had no access to running water as 59 aqueducts were out of service and several others were only partially functioning, according to Jose Luis German Mejia, a national emergency management official.
Some in the Dominican Republic were also without electricity Monday as 10 electric circuits went offline, emergency management officials said. It's unclear how many people are impacted by the outages.
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MILAN (AP) — Italy’s push to rapidly reduce its dependence on Russian natural gas has made the country less vulnerable to an interruption of supplies, Premier Mario Draghi said Wednesday, noting that gas storage is 80% full ahead of winter and on track to hit 90% by October.
Draghi told an annual summertime festival in the Adriatic seaside town of Rimini that Italy has reduced its reliance on Russian natural gas from 40% last year to half that by finding new sources in countries from Algeria to Azerbaijan. The fuel is used to heat and cool homes, generate electricity and run factories.
Italy could be completely independent of Russia by fall 2024 if it installs two new regasification plants, he added.
“Our goal of diversifying from Russian gas was fundamental to giving citizens and businesses greater certainly about the stability of supplies,” said Draghi, who resigned last month after key right-wing parties yanked support for his unity government.
He remains in office until a new government can be formed following Sept. 25 parliamentary elections.
Public resistance is growing to one of the planned offshore regasification plants near the industrial port city of Piombino, in Tuscany, and how plans proceed will be a key indicator of whether parties that win the Sept. 25 vote intend to continue Draghi’s path of reducing reliance on Russian energy.
Taking a swipe at right-wing parties that advocate sovereignty, Draghi said energy reliance on “a country that never stopped pursuing its imperial past is the exact opposite of sovereignty.”
His comments come as Russia’s war in Ukraine has driven natural gas prices to record highs, fueling inflation worldwide. Moscow has reduced gas flows to European countries as they try to bolster their reserves for the winter heating season, and fears are rising that deliveries could be cut off completely. That could lead to rationing by companies and push countries into recession.
Germany said Tuesday that its gas storage is 80% full but warned that Russia’s plan to halt flows through the Nord Stream 1 pipeline for three days next week “could temporarily dampen” the effort.
Patrick Graichen, Germany’s deputy economy and energy minister, said Wednesday that he believes gas markets are already pricing in the possibility that Nord Stream 1 won’t reopen. Russia’s state-controlled energy giant Gazprom said the scheduled downtime from Aug. 31 to Sept. 2 was for “routine maintenance.”
If gas doesn’t flow again through the pipeline, then current prices “are presumably the ones that market participants are already looking toward,” he said.
“And that probably reflects the shortage we are in,” Graichen added. “We’ll need to see how we respond to that appropriately.”
In Italy, Draghi again urged an European cap on natural gas prices, which has faced resistance among other EU member states. He told the audience in Rimini that fears Russia would cut off supplies in reprisal for any price cap were realized nonetheless this summer in periodic shutoffs to countries like Germany, which at the same time continued to pay “exorbitant prices.”
The prime minister also repeated his calls that the price of electricity generated by renewable energy no longer be tied to the higher price of natural gas.
“This relationship doesn’t make sense anymore,’’ he said.
___
AP reporter Frank Jordans in Berlin contributed.
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Ants are tiny in size but not in number. There are about 20 quadrillion ants on the Earth at any given time, a new study has estimated. That's 20,000 trillion individuals.
The estimate is two to 20 times higher than previous ones, according to the study, published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences on Monday.
"We were very surprised about the large number of ants we found," Sabine S. Nooten, an insect ecologist and temporary principal investigator at the University of Würzburg in Germany, told CNN Tuesday. Nooten was a co-lead author of the study.
"We virtually didn't have any expectations because the numbers which floated around beforehand in scientific literatures were basically educated guesses, and they had very little empirical data to work from," she added. "And, so, this is the novelty of our study because we synthesized the data from a lot of empirical studies."
The previous global estimate of between 1 quadrillion and 10 quadrillion ants by renowned biologists Bert Hölldobler and Edward O. Wilson assumed that they made up approximately 1% of the world's estimated insect population of 1 quintillion individuals, according to the study.
However, the research team of this latest study based the new estimate on observational evidence from an extensive data set of globally distributed ant samples. The authors identified and assessed 465 suitable studies, encompassing 1,306 sampling locations, covering all continents and major biomes where ants live.
Scientists could use the study's comprehensive data set, which spans 80 years, to predict what future communities or environments might look like, according to Nooten. For example, the team estimated the number of ground-dwelling ants, which densely populate tropical and subtropical regions, such as South American forests, to be around 3 quadrillion.
"We might be able to already see change over time in our data set," co-lead author Patrick Schultheiss, a temporary principal investigator at the University of Würzburg, told CNN. Schultheiss highlighted that changes in agriculture or the way that forests have been logged could have an impact on the number of ants.
"No one has ever assembled a data set on ants on a global scale," Schultheiss said. He added that while they knew from studies that ant numbers were very high in the tropical forests of West Africa compared with regions in the Arctic, "we didn't know what the picture is -- how many numbers there were."
The estimated abundance of ants exceeds the combined biomass -- that is, the total mass -- of wild birds and mammals and is equivalent to about 20% of human biomass, according to the study.
"A surprisingly common question I get asked is 'How many ants are there on Earth?' and although there are some estimates, none of the numbers being used have felt robust," Adam Hart, professor of science communication at the University of Gloucestershire, England, told CNN. Hart, who is also vice president of UK's Royal Entomological Society, was not involved in the study.
"This new study, based on nearly 500 studies across the world, gives us the best answer yet to this tricky question. The astounding thing is not just the overall number, but the proportion of biomass that ants represent -- a fifth of the biomass of all humans. It really underlines just how important ants really are," he added.
A 'conservative' figure
The estimated overall number is almost unimaginably huge, but the study authors said it is "conservative." This is because they could not gather all the data they wanted to include.
For example, many ants live underground, but there were no studies available that could provide the numbers on how many, Schultheiss said. There are ants in the very far north and the very far south, like the subantarctic region, but there were not enough studies of ants in those areas to make a mathematical estimate.
Citizen scientists could fill these gaps, according to Schultheiss, who said non-scientists, even school students, could contribute to the data set in an impactful way by simply collecting leaf litter, getting all the ants out and counting how many there are.
"We hope to inspire people, first of all to respect nature, to enjoy nature, because it's just amazing what ants can do and on what scale. But, also, if they're willing to contribute to science with a very simple method, even very simple data can have enormous value," he added.
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| 2022-09-20T21:44:55Z
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BERLIN (AP) — German Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s Cabinet approved legislation Wednesday that ensures basic protective measures against the coronavirus pandemic are continued during the fall and winter when more virus cases are expected.
The presentation of the rules — which also include the new obligation to wear N95-type face masks during all long-distance travel by train and bus as well as on planes — coincided with the publication of photos showing the chancellor and German Economy Minister Robert Habeck flying to Canada earlier this week without wearing masks.
The pictures triggered strong public criticism of an alleged double standard for politicians and regular people. Currently, medical face masks are mandatory on planes and public transport though N95-style masks are recommended.
Justice Minister Marco Buschmann and Health Minister Karl Lauterbach told reporters that the specific pandemic rules that apply to the German air force, which operates government flights, were met and that everyone on the flight, which also included German business leaders and reporters, took a PCR test before boarding the plane.
Still, the justice minister conceded that “politically, I would recommend to us as a federal government that we apply the same rules everywhere that apply elsewhere.”
“Because otherwise, of course, the feeling arises that you’re willing to impose something on the citizens that you don’t want to impose on yourself,” Buschmann added. “And that’s why I can also understand to some extent that there’s so much talk about it.”
In addition to the mandatory use of N95-type masks during long-distance travel, the new measures, which will apply from Oct. 1 to April 7, will also include a nationwide obligation to wear masks in and test before accessing hospitals, nursing homes and similar institutions with vulnerable people.
Beyond that, Germany’s 16 states will have the authority to adopt their own rules depending on how severely the virus affects their areas. State governments could decide to require masks on local public transportation, in schools for students in the fifth grade and up, and at public indoor events. If the virus spreads widely again, the number of people at public events can be limited and testing can be demanded.
The justice minister stressed that there would be no more lockdowns or school closures no matter how the pandemic develops during cold-weather seasons.
“Students were certainly the group that suffered the most in the pandemic … especially in terms of exercising their right to education, especially in terms of school closures,” Buschmann said. “And that’s why I’m also glad that we were able to quickly agree that the instrument of school closures is therefore completely disproportionate.”
The new regulations still need to go to Germany’s lower and upper house of parliament for approval, but they are expected to pass.
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The song was unveiled for the first-time during Chief of Space Operations Gen. John "Jay" Raymond's speech at the 2022 Air & Space Forces Association Air, Space and Cyber Conference in Maryland on Tuesday.
The Space Force is the newest military branch, established in 2019. The song was written and composed by two former service members, James Teachenor, a former member of the US Air Force band at the Air Force Academy, and Sean Nelson, a US Coast Guard Band trombonist and staff arranger, according to a news release from the Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs office
"The song was a long work in progress because I wanted it to encompass all the capabilities that the Space Force offers and its vision," Teachenor said in the release.
After coming up with the lyrics and melody of the song, Teachenor's project was sent to "various military bands," the release said. Teachenor then collaborated with Nelson to complete the song.
"I became familiar with the other branches' songs, but I wanted this one to have its own modern spin to reflect what the Space Force is -- modern, new and very advanced," Nelson said.
The song is named after the US Space Force motto, "Semper Supra," which is Latin for "Always Above," the release said.
"This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to establish a Space Force song that will be part of our culture and heritage for years to come," Raymond said in the release. "Our traditions are part of the fabric that weave us all together as we execute our missions side-by-side."
Each military branch has its own song. The songs of each military branch are "part of the services' foundation and represents its values, traditions and culture," the release said.
The US Army's song is "The Army Goes Rolling Along," adopted in 1952. The US Marines' song, "The Marines' Hymn," was first adopted in 1929 and updated in 1942.
The lyrics of the official US Space Force song are:
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US and Canadian warships sailed through the Taiwan Strait on Tuesday following weekend remarks from President Joe Biden that the US would defend Taiwan in the event it is attacked by China.
A US Navy ship, the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Higgins, conducted a "routine Taiwan Strait transit" on Tuesday, US Navy spokesperson Lt. Mark Langford said in a statement.
The US ship conducted the transit "in cooperation with Royal Canadian Navy Halifax-class frigate HMCS Vancouver," Langford said.
The two ships "transited through a corridor in the Strait that is beyond the territorial sea of any coastal State," Lt. Langford said. The transit "demonstrates the commitment of the United States and our allies and partners to a free and open Indo-Pacific," Lt. Langford added.
Tuesday's transit marked the second time in just over three weeks that a US Navy warship had made the voyage. The guided-missile cruisers USS Antietam and USS Chancellorsville did so on August 28.
Since US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's visit to Taiwan in early August, the US has witnessed a dramatic increase in the number of Chinese military ships and submarines around Taiwan, a US defense official told CNN.
Though the US called the transit "routine," it comes after Biden added fuel to tensions between Washington and Beijing over Taiwan, telling CBS's "60 Minutes" that he would use US troops to defend the island if China tried to invade.
The strait is a 110-mile (180-kilometer) stretch of water that separates the democratic self-ruled island of Taiwan from mainland China.
Beijing claims sovereignty over Taiwan -- an island of 23 million people -- despite China's ruling Communist Party never having controlled it. Beijing also claims sovereignty, sovereign rights and jurisdiction over the waters of the Taiwan Strait under Chinese law and its interpretation of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
The US Navy, however, says most of the strait is in international waters, citing a UNCLOS definition of territorial waters as extending 12 nautical miles (22.2 kilometers) from a country's coastline. The US regularly sends its warships through the strait, making dozens of such transits in recent years.
In the CBS interview, Biden was asked whether "US forces, US men and women, would defend Taiwan in the event of a Chinese invasion."
"Yes," the US President replied.
The comments reiterate a pledge to defend Taiwan that Biden has previously made, though Sunday he specified that "US men and women" would be involved in the effort.
Canadian Ministry of Defence Head of Media Relations Daniel Le Bouthillier confirmed Canada participated in the transit on Tuesday.
"Following port visits in Jakarta, Indonesia, and Manila, Philippines, HMCS Vancouver sailed through the Taiwan Strait along with the USS Higgins, as this was the most direct navigational route. This sail was done in full accordance with international law, including high seas navigation rights as outlined in the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea," Le Bouthillier told CNN.
Chinese aircraft and ships were present through "various parts" of the US and Canadian ships' transit, US military confirmed, but "all interactions with foreign military forces during the transit were consistent with international standards and practices and did not impact the operation," Langford said.
Beijing swiftly condemned Biden's weekend comments and repeated its warning that China reserves the "option to take all necessary measures" to defend its territorial integrity and sovereignty.
"The US remarks seriously violate the one-China principle and the provisions of the three US-China joint communiqués. It is also a serious violation of the important commitment made by the US side not to support Taiwan independence," China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Mao Ning said in a briefing Monday.
"It sent a serious wrong signal to the separatist forces of Taiwan independence. China expresses its strong dissatisfaction and firm opposition and has made serious representations to the US side," Mao added.
US and Canadian warships last went through the strait at the same time 11 months ago, when the destroyer USS Dewey and frigate HMCS Winnipeg made the trip.
After that transit, Senior Col. Shi Yi, spokesperson for the People's Liberation Army Eastern Theater Command, said in a written statement that "the US and Canada made provocations with odious nature and stirred up troubles in cahoots, which seriously jeopardized the peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait."
Chinese leader Xi Jinping has said that "reunification" between China and Taiwan is inevitable and refused to rule out the use of force. Tensions between Beijing and Taipei are at the highest they've been in recent decades, with the Chinese military holding major military drills near the island.
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BEIJING (AP) — Hainan island in the South China Sea says it will become China’s first region to ban sales of gasoline- and diesel-powered cars to curb climate-changing carbon emissions.
Sales of fossil fuel-powered cars will be banned by 2030 and electric vehicles promoted with tax breaks and by expanding a charging network, the Hainan provincial government said in a “Carbon Peak Implementation Plan.”
The announcement comes as China struggles through its hottest, driest summer in decades, which has wilted crops and shrunk rivers and reservoirs used for generating hydropower.
“By 2030, the whole province will ban sales of fueled vehicles,” according to the plan, which was released Monday.
A deputy Chinese industry minister said in September 2017 that Beijing was working on a plan to stop making and selling gasoline- and diesel-powered cars, but the government has yet to release details.
Hainan aims to have electric vehicles account for 45% of its vehicles by 2030, the plan said. It said cities would develop “zero-emissions zones” where fossil fuel-powered vehicles would be banned.
The ruling Communist Party is promoting electric cars to help clean up China’s smog-choked cities and gain an early lead in a growing industry. China accounted for more than half of last year’s global electric car sales.
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| 2022-09-20T21:45:17Z
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WASHINGTON (WHNT) — A public health alert has been issued for Perdue’s frozen ready-to-eat chicken breast tenders labeled “gluten-free” over concerns of small pieces of plastic and blue dye, the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced Tuesday.
A recall was not issued for the product since it is no longer available to purchase, according to the USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service.
The following frozen chicken products, produced on July 12, 2022, are affected by the alert: 42-ounce plastic bags of Purdue Chicken Breast Tenders Gluten Free with a “Best if Used By” date of July 12, 2023, and a lot number of 2193 above the use by date.
Affected products will have the establishment number “P-33944” underneath the “Best if Used By” date on the back of the package. These products, according to the FSIS, were shipped to BJ’s Wholesale Club retail locations across the country.
So far, the USDA says there have been no confirmed reports of injuries or adverse reactions from anyone eating the product.
The FSIS encourages anyone with the affected product to throw it away or return it to where it was purchased.
For questions or concerns, you can call the toll-free USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline at 888-MPHotline (888-674-6854) or send an email here.
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An illegal dirt road ripping through protected areas in the Brazilian Amazon is now just a few miles shy of connecting two of the worst areas of deforestation in the region, according to satellite images and accounts from people familiar with the area. If the road is completed it will turn a large area of remaining forest into an island, under pressure from human activity on all sides.
Environmentalists have been warning about just this kind of development in the rainforest for decades. Roads are significant because most deforestation occurs alongside them, where access is easier and land value higher.
On the east side of the new road is a massively-deforested area where Brazil’s largest cattle herd, 2.4 million head, now grazes. This municipality of Sao Felix do Xingu is the country’s second-largest greenhouse gas emitter, thanks to deforestation, according to Climate Observatory, a network of environmental groups. It is roughly the size of Maine and has a population of 136,000.
To the west is an area where three years ago ranchers coordinated the burning of several swaths of virgin forest in an episode famously known as the Day of Fire. This municipality, larger than Maryland, is Brazil’s eighth-largest greenhouse gas emitter.
Wedged in between is the Xingu basin. The Xingu River that runs through it is one of the main tributaries of the Amazon River. It begins in the drier Cerrado biome, surrounded by tens of thousands of square miles of protected areas.
The Xingu River is home to several Indigenous peoples, who are now pressed on both sides by an onslaught of settlers who have built a large network of dirt roads and illegal airstrips. Experts said the stakes could not be higher.
The opportunities for new deforestation “in the center of the corridor of protected areas of the Xingu brings the risk of an irreversible breaking of the Amazon rainforest, dividing it into islands of degraded forest, which does not have the strength to resist climate change. We need to protect and maintain large forest corridors to sustain the resilience of the threatened biome,” Biviany Rojas, the program coordinator of Socio-Environmental Institute, a Brazilian non-profit, told the Associated Press.
Almost half of Brazil’s climate pollution comes from deforestation, according to Climate Observatory. The destruction is so vast now that the eastern Amazon, just east of Xingu basin, has ceased to be a carbon sink, or absorber, for the Earth and has converted into a carbon source, according to a study published in 2021 in the journal Nature.
“They come to deforest, to extract timber and to dig for gold,” Indigenous leader Mydjere Kayapo told the AP in a phone interview. His people, the Kayapo, have suffered invasions from loggers and gold miners, who contaminate rivers with mud and mercury, co-opt leaders and provoke internal division.
The new road was detected earlier this year. According to satellite images analyzed by a network of nonprofits called Xingu+ and reviewed by the AP, it is 27 miles (43 kilometers) long.
The road cuts through two ostensibly protected areas: Terra do Meio (Middle Earth) Ecological Station, a federal unit, and Iriri State Forest, managed by the state of Pará, famous for its deforestation rates.
From January to August, Terra do Meio alone lost 9 square miles (24 square kilometers) of forest, and Iriri lost 6 square kilometers (2 square miles) of rainforest along the illegal road. In July, Xingu+ reported the illegal road-building to Brazil’s attorney general.
The city of Novo Progresso is also west of the new road. In recent days, the city has been covered by thick smoke from wildfires, deliberately set. On Monday alone, satellite sensors picked up 331 outbreaks of fire in the municipality, according to monitoring from Brazil’s National Institute for Space Research. August, which falls in the dry season, is typically the second worst month for both deforestation and fire.
Brazil’s federal agency ICMBio, which manages protected areas, and Pará’s secretary of environment, didn’t respond to AP emails seeking comment about the illegal road. These are the agencies responsible for protecting the areas flanking the road.
Under far-right President Jair Bolsonaro, the area deforested in Brazil’s Amazon has reached a 15-year high, according to official data. The space agency said its national monitoring systems showed the Brazilian Amazon lost more than 5,000 square miles (13,200 square kilometers) of rainforest in the 12 months from Aug. 2020 to July 2021. New data is expected out by the end of the year.
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Associated Press climate and environmental coverage receives support from several private foundations. See more about AP’s climate initiative here. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
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| 2022-09-20T21:45:31Z
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BATON ROUGE, La. (BRPROUD) — Louisiana Senator Bill Cassidy says President Joe Biden’s decision to forgive student loan debt for some Americans, is a spit in the face of Louisiana families struggling to get by.
On Wednesday, the Biden administration said borrowers who earn less than $125,000 a year, or families earning less than $250,000, would be eligible for the $10,000 loan forgiveness. For recipients of Pell Grants, which are reserved for undergraduates with the most significant financial need, the federal government would cancel up to an additional $10,000 in federal loan debt.
Cassidy said all the Biden administration is doing is shifting the burden from one set of Americans to another.
“President Biden didn’t ‘forgive student debt,’ he chose to shift the burden of the well-off onto the backs of the 87 percent of Americans who chose to not go to college, already paid off their loans, or saved to not take them out in the first place,” said Dr. Cassidy. “This decision is a spit in the face of Louisiana families who are struggling to get by. This is spending at least $300 billion we do not have which will make inflation worse. It does nothing to get at the root problem of the high price of education while costing $2,000 per taxpayer.”
Earlier this year, Cassidy helped introduced the Student Loan Accountability Act, which would prohibit the Biden administration from canceling student loan debt at what he says it at the expense of those that chose not to go to college or found a way to pay off any student debt.
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| 2022-09-20T21:45:38Z
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(NEXSTAR) — President Biden’s Wednesday announcement of $10,000 in student debt relief for borrowers came with a new detail: those who received Federal Pell Grants will have $20,000 in debt forgiven.
Now you may be wondering: Do I have a Pell Grant?
Here’s how to check.
- Log into your Federal Student Aid account. This may be a different place than where you typically make payments to your student loans.
- Your official FSA Dashboard should show a visual breakdown of your aid account by “My Aid.” (See below).
- The chart should differentiate between amounts of “Loans” and “Grants.” You can click “View Details” for further information and to learn if your grants are Pell Grants.
Details on further eligibility or next steps for those who did receive Pell Grants will come before student loan repayments resume in January 2023, the administration says. The $20,000 debt forgiveness for Pell Grant recipients and the regular $10,000 forgiveness for other students are both restricted to people who made below $125,000 (single people) or $250,000 (married).
In case you’re wondering — or have forgotten since you graduated — what is a Pell Grant?
A Federal Pell Grant is typically awarded to undergraduate students who display exceptional financial need, the U.S. Department of Education’s Federal Student Aid office explains. Amounts given each year can fluctuate depending on a variety of factors, including school costs, student’s full- or part-time status, and expected family contribution.
The current maximum Federal Pell Grant award amount is $6,895 per academic year. While Pell Grants typically don’t have to be repaid, the department says they do under some circumstances.
Wednesday’s announcement came after months of speculation on what steps the Biden administration would take to address student debt, which totals about $1.6 trillion nationally.
“In keeping with my campaign promise, my Administration is announcing a plan to give working and middle class families breathing room as they prepare to resume federal student loan payments in January 2023,” Biden tweeted Wednesday morning.
Borrowers with undergraduate loans will also be able to cap repayment at 5% of their monthly income, the White House said.
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| 2022-09-20T21:45:45Z
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CASSVILLE, Mo. (KOLR) — An old-school discipline method is making its way back into some Missouri schools.
The Cassville School District in Southern Missouri is bringing back corporal punishment under a new policy that allows students to be punished with a paddle. Administrators say it would be the last resort if other means of discipline do not work.
The superintendent said the change is the result of a survey sent out last year. Parents who responded said discipline was one of their biggest concerns.
“The complaints that we have heard from some of our parents is that they don’t want their students suspended. They want another option,” said Superintendent Meryl Johnson. “And so, this was just another option that we could use before we get to that point of suspension.”
“I do not think it is appropriate,” said Miranda Waltrip, who has three kids in Cassville schools. She said she’d like to see the district try different ways of getting through to students.
“I feel like if they had a different outlet like counseling services in school instead of corporal punishment, that would be the more appropriate answer,” Waltrip said. “At the end of the day, they are having to hold the child down and spank them or use whatever means that they can to make the child submissive when that is not the issue, it is the fact that they need to be heard because children act out for varied reasons.”
Students will only receive the new discipline if parents opt their children in, Johnson said.
“Corporal punishment will be used only when other means of discipline have failed and then only in reasonable form, when the principal approves it,” Johnson said.
Dr. Johnson said he does not anticipate using this punishment often, but if the principal punishes a child this way it will be done by administrators only and only in the presence of another certified employee.
Parents can also opt-in or opt-out at any point in the school year.
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| 2022-09-20T21:45:52Z
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BATON ROUGE, La. (BRPROUD) – Changes are on the way regarding how schools are graded in Louisiana. But many superintendents oppose the new plan.
“We need to do something. We’ve been talking about accountability for 20 years,” said Carolyn Runner, executive director for the Louisiana Association of Public Charter Schools.
Louisiana Superintendent for Education Cade Brumley is demanding to make adjustments to the state’s accountability formula, ultimately changing how schools are graded.
“70% of our high schools are rated A and B, we can’t read, but we are A and B high schools. It does not sync up. It does not make sense,” said Runner.
But superintendents from all over the state have concerns about the proposed plans. The Louisiana Association of School Superintendents President Patrick Jenkins said it leaves too many people behind, and not every child wants to go to college.
“There are some cases where students that will be graduating high school diploma would not get any points at all. Looking at how the alignment is with ACT and other criteria,” explained Jenkins.
Another issue is making sure there is equity for disabled students. However, CEO of Council for a Better Louisiana Barry Erwin believes the new accountability system does exactly that. It gives more people a better chance to learn and go to college.
“We also think it did a good job of trying to put a focus on our lowest-performing kids, provide additional incentives for our schools to grow those kids, and get those kids to the grade level where we know that they need to be. I think the college and career readiness component was also a strong one,” he said.
Many educators agree that there is a need for a new accountability system, but superintendents say this plan is not the best.
“I am ready for people to come to the table with a plan. Don’t tell me what you don’t like about it. Tell me how you’re going to fix the problem that we clearly have,” said Runner.
Educators passed the new accountability system for grades kindergarten through second. It will go into effect in 2024. The board will spend the next two months discussing a better accountability system for grades three through 12. They will reconvene in October.
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| 2022-09-20T21:45:59Z
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SHREVEPORT, La. (KTAL/KMSS) – A Caddo district judge has denied a request for a temporary restraining order filed by Shreveport mayoral candidate Melvin Slack against a woman who asked for and received a similar TRO earlier this week.
In his “Petition for Protection from Abuse,” Slack claims he needs protection from the woman who filed the protective order against him because she “sent a (sic) email to my cellular phone stating she resigned as my campaign manager when I never approved her to be.”
According to court records, the victim filed a petition for a Protective Order Monday alleging Slack threatened her and her stepfather at a forum sponsored by a local organization dedicated to serving the LGBTQ community.
In the document, the victim also claims Slack called her repeatedly on the day of the forum and texted threats as well.
In his reciprocal petition, Slack also claimed the woman “left an article on the web concerning her being my campaign manager,” and that she filed the protective order against him after he had a confrontation with her stepfather at Sunday’s forum.
Although Caddo District Judge Brady O’Callaghan denied Slack’s petition, he did reset the date on the hearing for the woman’s petition against Slack to Sept. 1, rather than Sept. 20, where it was first placed on the docket.
At that time, after hearing arguments from both parties or their attorneys, O’Callaghan will decide whether to make the TRO he issued on Monday permanent.
Although the judge sets the length of time a Permanent Restraining Order is in place, it can be for as long as 18 months, at which time it either goes into effect or is revisited at another hearing.
Slack, one of ten candidates running for Shreveport mayor, on Tuesday denied reports he was dropping out of the race.
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| 2022-09-20T21:46:07Z
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TOKYO (AP) — Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on Wednesday instructed his government to consider developing safer, smaller nuclear reactors, signaling a renewed emphasis on nuclear energy years after many of the country’s plants were shut down.
Kishida made the comment at a “green transformation” conference on bolstering the country’s efforts to curb emissions of greenhouse gases. Japan has pledged to reach carbon neutrality by 2050.
Anti-nuclear sentiment and safety concerns rose sharply in Japan after the 2011 Fukushima nuclear plant disaster, but the government has been pushing for a return to nuclear energy amid worries of power shortages following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and a global push to reduce greenhouse gases.
The government, however, previously insisted it was not considering building new plants or replacing aged reactors, apparently to avoid stoking criticism from a wary public. Kishida’s comment on Wednesday represents a sharp change from that stance.
He said the panel presented proposals for the development and construction of “new innovative reactors designed with new safety mechanisms.” He called on the government to speed up its examination of “every possible measure” and reach a decision by the end of the year.
“In order to overcome our imminent crisis of a power supply crunch, we must take our utmost steps to mobilize all possible policies in the coming years and prepare for any emergency,” Kishida said.
“It is extremely important to secure all options to redesign a stable energy supply for our country,” Economy and Industry Minister Yasutoshi Nishimura told reporters. “From that perspective, we will also consider all options regarding nuclear power.”
Most of Japan’s nuclear power plants were taken off line following the Fukushima accident for safety checks under tightened standards.
A magnitude 9.0 earthquake and tsunami destroyed key cooling functions at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant in March 2011, causing three reactors to melt and contaminating the region with massive radiation that still keeps some areas uninhabitable.
Japanese utilities have since set more than 20 reactors for decommissioning, largely because of the high cost of safety measures. Of the 33 workable reactors, 25 have been screened for safety checks by the Nuclear Safety Authority. Seventeen have been approved so far, but only 10 have restarted after gaining consent from local communities, including three currently off line for regular safety inspections.
The government has already announced plans to speed up restarts and have up to nine reactors restarted by winter to cope with the energy crunch. It aims to restart seven other reactors after next summer and to further prolong the operational life of aging reactors to beyond 60 years from the initial 40 years.
Some energy experts say so-called next-generation reactors, such as small modular reactors, could be costly and add a financial burden to plant operators.
Toyoshi Fuketa, commissioner of Japan’s nuclear watchdog, the Nuclear Safety Authority, told reporters on Wednesday that his agency’s safety standards are not affected by the government’s nuclear energy policy. Japan does not yet have safety standards for next-generation reactors and it would take more than a year to set such guidelines, while the safety of aging reactors needs to be carefully examined individually, he said.
Critics say the true cost of nuclear energy would be much higher if the expense of radioactive waste management and final storage facilities are included, and that there are long-term environmental hazards of another Fukushima-like accident. They also say Russia’s attacks on a nuclear plant in Ukraine show they are a potential security risk and need to be better protected.
Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings, the operator of the Fukushima Daiichi plant, has come under fire over lax safeguards at another plant, Kashiwazaki-Kariwa, where it is seeking to restart two reactors. The reactors are among the seven that the government wants to quickly restart.
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Follow Mari Yamaguchi on Twitter at twitter.com/mariyamaguchi
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| 2022-09-20T21:46:13Z
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SHREVEPORT, La. (KTAL/KMSS) – At its Tuesday regular meeting, the Shreveport City Council addressed several issues that included local liquor sales, retiree health insurance, as well as other healthcare concerns.
Liquor sales were back on the agenda and up for a vote at the meeting. Over the past few months, the council has gone back and forth regarding the rules on how businesses can sell liquor. The ordinances were postponed or failed to pass in July. After the council added amendments, five ordinances were passed that relate to the Shreveport City Charter’s Chapter 10 liquor ordinances.
The ordinances aim to clean up the Code’s language regarding the kinds of permits a liquor store can apply for and ABO cards. They also address the Shreveport Police Department’s authority to shut down a liquor store if it “poses an imminent danger to the community.” The ordinances passed with the support of the police department.
However, the ordinance that has been an ongoing issue relates to repealing the physical separation of hard liquor sales. Several local liquor store owners said that removing it would hurt their business, favor big box stores and expose children to hard alcohol. One owner brought products as an example.
“It’s called Snowball. Pink gum flavored vodka. It even has a baby in a diaper on it. The alcohol industry has changed a lot since we were young. It’s now geared towards the younger generation; peanut butter whiskey. Do we want 8, 9, 10-year-old kids going up and down the grocery store looking at peanut butter whiskey,” Michael Labban, a Shreveport store owner, asked.
The council did away with separate entrances and repealed the physical separation.
Members of the council also discussed concerns with the insurance for retired employees in the meeting.
Jaf Fielder, president and CEO of Willis-Knighton Health Systems addressed the council as he did during Monday’s work session. Fielder said the proposed new retirement plan for 2023 put Willis-Knighton under a narrow network plan that will limit access for current employees and retirees.
Shreveport Mayor Adrian Perkins and CFO Kasey Brown told Fielder that Gallegher Consulting oversees the insurance plans process. They said employees would not lose access to their Willis-Knighton doctors. Mayor Perkins invited representatives from Blue Cross to explain their reasoning behind the contract negotiations to make it transparent for the public.
The council also addressed a dispute over a Request for Proposal (RFP), which the city says was sent through Aetna Health Insurance Company. Willis-Knighton representatives said they did not receive the RFP and were left out. Councilman Grayson Boucher pressed further, saying he wanted to see the RFP himself. He expressed concern that one of the area’s largest health care providers was allegedly left out.
“Councilman, really quick because we have to be careful when we’re putting words out there like that, Perkins said, asking, “Or are you implying impropriety because you’ve never asked for documents from the Health Care Trust Fund Board?”
“You don’t sit on the board, so that’s just unorthodox. That’s why I’m asking,” the Mayor explained.
Boucher answered, “No. We’re a seven-member board up here that oversees the finances with the city. I think that I have the right when I have constituents calling concerned about their health care.”
Perkins said he didn’t deny that but Boucher countered that it’s within his rights to see the document. Perkins then assured Boucher that the administration would send over any documents he requested and was not hiding anything from the council or the public. He added that the board also has hundreds of documents from every meeting, and the RFP went through Aetna to area providers.
The Health Care Trust Fund Board will hold a special meeting on Sept. 7 to discuss the insurance plans. Then the measure will go before the city council for their approval.
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| 2022-09-20T21:46:20Z
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(NEXSTAR) — A 61-year-old woman has died after being mauled by multiple dogs in Putnam County, Florida, over the weekend.
Pamela Jane Rock, an employee of the U.S. Postal Service, was working in the rural town of Interlachen on Sunday afternoon when the attack occurred. Witnesses contacted the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office shortly before 1 p.m. after hearing Rock’s screams and seeing the victim in the road, being attacked by five dogs belonging to a nearby resident.
As neighbors attempted to scare the dogs away by firing a gun, though the attempt was “unsuccessful,” said Colonel Joseph Wells, the Chief Deputy of the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office, at a press conference Wednesday morning.
Deputies arrived to find Rock bleeding in the street, at which point they administered first aid and applied three tourniquets. By this point, the dogs had already been restrained by their owner and a neighbor, Chief Wells said.
Rock was transported to a local medical center, experiencing cardiac arrest on the way to the medical center. She was later transported to a hospital in Gainesville, where she died Monday evening.
At Wednesday’s press conference, Chief Wells confirmed that animal control officers and sheriff’s deputies had previously been called to the area at least four times over the past three years. Two of those times, the deputies had responded to the same address where the dogs’ owner lived, but Chief Wells could not confirm whether they had responded to concerns over those same dogs.
He added that the dogs had been fenced in, but were able to “move some rocks that the bottom of the fence was lined with” and escape the property.
The owner of the dog could also “possibly” face criminal charges, pending an investigation, Chief Wells added.
The five dogs, meanwhile, will be euthanized according to Florida state law, he said.
A representative for the United States Postal Service said the agency was “deeply saddened” by Rock’s death.
“A postal family member lost her life in a dog bite attack,” reads a statement shared with Nexstar. “The U.S. Postal Service is deeply saddened at the loss of our employee. Our thoughts and prayers are with her family and her co-workers at this time.”
USPS added that employees are instructed to use their mail bags as a “soft shield” and are “equipped to carry pepper spray” in the event of dog attacks, but urged homeowners to be responsible for their pets when mail carriers are nearby, suggesting they move dogs to another room, refrain from taking mail directly from a carrier if the dog is close by, or enroll their dog in obedience training.
Pet owners may also be instructed to pick up their mail at a post office if the mail carrier “feels threatened,” according to USPS.
“Unfortunately attacks such as this provide the Postal Service an opportunity to remind dog owners that it is their responsibility to restrain their pet in order to avoid attacks against our employees while they are in performance of their duties,” USPS writes.
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| 2022-09-20T21:46:28Z
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NEW YORK (AP) — Twenty years ago, scientists discovered a 7-million-year-old skull that they concluded belonged to a creature who walked upright and was our earliest known ancestor. Not everyone was convinced. Now, the researchers are back with more evidence they say strengthens their case.
Their new study published Wednesday analyzed arm and leg fossils found near the skull in Africa, looking for signs of walking on two feet instead of on all fours. When early humans started walking upright, it marked a key moment in our split away from apes
In the paper in the journal Nature, researchers again place the creature just on the human side of that evolutionary divide. The fossil species, named Sahelanthropus tchadensis, walked upright while still being able to climb around in trees, they reported.
The species has been dated to around 7 million years ago, which makes it the oldest known human ancestor, by a long shot. That’s about a million years older than other early known hominins.
But it’s been a source of fierce debate since the fossils were first unearthed in Chad in 2001.
Researchers — also led by scientists at the University of Poitiers in France — initially looked at the fossil creature’s skull, teeth and jaw. They argued that the creature must have walked on two feet and held its head upright, based on the location of the hole in the skull where the spinal cord connects to the brain.
Other experts weren’t swayed by the early evidence.
The latest work includes a thighbone that was not linked to S. tchadensis at first and went unstudied for years. Other researchers at the French university found the bone in the lab’s collection and realized it probably belonged to the fossil species.
Compared to bones from other species, the thighbone matched up better with upright-walking humans than knuckle-walking apes, according to the study.
“There is not one feature. There is just a total pattern of features,” co-author Franck Guy said of their analysis at a press briefing.
Still, the debate over the species is likely to continue.
Ashley Hammond, a scientist at the American Museum of Natural History in New York said more research is needed to find the creature’s place on the evolutionary tree.
“I’m not fully convinced yet,” Hammond said. “This could still also be a fossil ape.”
Another researcher at the French university, Roberto Macchiarelli, had previously examined the thighbone and determined the species was probably an ape. Looking at the new study, Macchiarelli said he still doesn’t believe the species was a hominin, though it might have walked on two legs at times.
Rick Potts, director of the Smithsonian’s Human Origins Program, said the thighbone puts the species on “better footing” as a possible early human ancestor. But the real confirmation comes down to a common saying in the field: “Show me more fossils.”
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The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Department of Science Education. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
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| 2022-09-20T21:46:35Z
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AUSTIN (KXAN) — After an Amber Alert was issued Wednesday morning in Austin for a 1-year-old girl, police said the child had been found safe and a person of interest is in custody.
Police said 22-year-old Jessica Skelton was a person of interest in the child’s disappearance. Skelton was found early Wednesday evening and arrested on unrelated charges, according to the Austin Police Department.
According to APD, the child was previously last seen at 8 p.m. Tuesday in the 4700 block of White Elm Ct.
Texas Department of Family and Protective Services confirmed to KXAN that the child was “in the state’s legal custody, and had been placed with relatives.”
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| 2022-09-20T21:46:43Z
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Soon after the Russian invasion, the hoaxes began. Ukrainian refugees were taking jobs, committing crimes and abusing handouts. The misinformation spread rapidly online throughout Eastern Europe, sometimes pushed by Moscow in an effort to destabilize its neighbors.
It’s the kind of swift spread of falsehoods that has been blamed in many countries for increased polarization and an erosion of trust in democratic institutions, journalism and science.
But countering or stopping misinformation has proven elusive.
New findings from university researchers and Google, however, reveal that one of the most promising responses to misinformation may also be one of the simplest.
In a paper published Wednesday in the journal Science Advances, the researchers detail how short online videos that teach basic critical thinking skills can make people better able to resist misinformation.
The researchers created a series of videos similar to a public service announcement that focused on specific misinformation techniques — characteristics seen in many common false claims that include emotionally charged language, personal attacks or false comparisons between two unrelated items.
Researchers then gave people a series of claims and found that those who watched the videos were significantly better at distinguishing false information from accurate information.
It’s an approach called “pre-bunking” and it builds on years of research into an idea known as inoculation theory that suggests exposing people to how misinformation works, using harmless, fictional examples, can boost their defenses to false claims.
With the findings in hand, Google plans to roll out a series of pre-bunking videos soon in Eastern Europe focused on scapegoating, which can be seen in much of the misinformation about Ukrainian refugees. That focus was chosen by Jigsaw, a division of Google that works to find new ways to address misinformation and extremism.
“We have spent quite a bit of time and energy studying the problem,” said Beth Goldberg, Jigsaw’s head of research and one of the authors of the paper. “We started thinking: How can we make the users, the people online, more resilient to misinformation?”
The two-minute clips then demonstrate how these tactics can show up in headlines, or social media posts, to make a person believe something that isn’t true.
They’re surprisingly effective. Subjects who viewed the videos were found to be significantly better at distinguishing false claims from accurate information when tested by the researchers. The same positive results occurred when the experiment was replicated on YouTube, where nearly 1 million people viewed the videos.
Researchers are now investigating how long the effects last, and whether “booster” videos can help sustain the benefits.
Earlier findings have suggested that online games or tutorials that teach critical thinking skills can also improve resiliency to misinformation. But videos, which could be played alongside online advertisements, are likely to reach many more people, said Jon Roozenbeek, a Cambridge University professor and one of the authors of the study.
Other authors included researchers at the University of Bristol in the U.K. and the University of Western Australia.
Google’s effort will be one of the largest real-world tests of pre-bunking so far. The videos will be released on YouTube, Facebook and TikTok, in Poland, the Czech Republic and Slovakia. All three countries have accepted large numbers of Ukrainian refugees and their citizens could be vulnerable to misinformation about refugees.
Jigsaw CEO Yasmin Green said the work on prebunking is intended to complement Google’s other efforts to reduce the spread of misinformation: “As the scourge of misinformation grows, there’s a lot more we can do to provide people with prompts and features that help them stay safe and informed online.”
While journalistic fact checks can be effective in debunking a particular piece of misinformation, they’re time and labor intensive. By focusing on characteristics of misinformation in general instead of specific claims, pre-bunking videos can help a person spot false claims on a wider variety of topics.
Another method, content moderation by social media companies, can often be inconsistent. While platforms like Facebook and Twitter often remove misinformation that violates their rules, they’re also criticized for failing to do more. Other platforms like Telegram or Gab boast a largely hands-off approach to misinformation.
Social media content moderation and journalistic fact checks can also run the risk of alienating those who believe the misinformation. They might also be ignored by people who already distrust legitimate news outlets.
“The word fact checking itself has become politicized,” Roozenbeek said.
Pre-bunking videos, however, don’t target specific claims, and they make no assertions about what is true or not. Instead, they teach the viewer how false claims work in general — whether it’s a claim about elections or NASA’s moon landings, or the latest outbreak of the avian flu.
That transferability makes pre-bunking a particularly effective way of confronting misinformation, according to John Cook, a research professor at Australia’s Monash University who has created online games that teach ways to spot misinformation.
“We’ve done enough research to know this can be effective,” Cook said. “What we need now is the resources to deploy this at scale.”
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| 2022-09-20T21:46:57Z
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BERLIN (AP) — German officials launched what they say is the world’s first fleet of hydrogen-powered passenger trains Wednesday, replacing 15 diesel trains that previously operated on nonelectrified tracks in the state of Lower Saxony.
The 14 trains use hydrogen fuel cells to generate electricity that powers the engines. The German government has backed expanding the use of hydrogen as a clean alternative to fossil fuels.
State governor Stephan Weil said the 93-million-euro ($92 million) project was an “excellent example” for Lower Saxony’s efforts to make its economy greener.
The trains manufactured by French company Alstom are operated by regional rail company LNVG on routes between the northern towns of Cuxhaven, Bremerhaven, Bremervoerde and Buxtehude.
Alstom says the Coradia iLint trains have a range of up to 1,000 kilometers (621 miles) and a maximum speed of 140 kph (87 mph). By using hydrogen produced with renewable energy the trains will save 1.6 million liters (more than 422,000 gallons) of diesel fuel a year.
The hydrogen is currently produced as a byproduct in chemical processes, but German specialty gas company Linde plans to manufacture it locally using only renewable energy within three years.
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| 2022-09-20T21:47:05Z
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MILLER COUNTY, Ark. (KTAL/KSHV) – Leaders in Miller County hope to make some additions and updates to Alex Smith County Park.
On Monday, the county’s quorum court met and approved applying for a grant that would go towards the 60-year-old nature park. The funding would provide a new pavilion and playground equipment for the park’s south side.
The park covers 300 acres of land along the Sulphur River.
Deryl Jones with the Southern Miller County Rural Development Authority says they’re hoping the improvements will continue to drive in locals and bring in more visitors to the area.
“We have all kinds of gatherings out here, and we have campers from all over the United States out here. We’ve had people as far away as from Canada,” said Jones. “This is just a local park that everybody can use, and it’s really an educational park. We’ve got walking trails, we have all the trees identified, and it’s been over 50 different varieties of trees identified in the park.”
The Parks and Tourism Committee will review the application. Jones says they could have approval as soon as October.
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| 2022-09-20T21:47:12Z
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BEIJING (AP) — Tropical Storm Ma-on was gaining strength as it headed for Hong Kong and other parts of southeastern China on Wednesday after displacing thousands in the Philippines.
Several cities in Guangdong province suspended high-speed rail and ferry service and evacuated workers on offshore projects. The airport in Shenzhen, a Chinese tech center that borders Hong Kong, canceled all flights from 3 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Thursday.
The Hong Kong Observatory raised its No. 8 signal Wednesday evening, warning that winds with mean speeds of 63 kilometers per hour or more were expected. A No. 8 signal is typically raised when a gale or storm is expected to hit Hong Kong.
The observatory also warned of flooding in low-lying areas and advised people to stay away from the shoreline, though Ma-on is not forecast to make a direct impact on the southern Chinese financial hub with its population of 7.4 million.
The storm is expected to make landfall around noon Thursday on the coast of Guangdong, about 200 kilometers (120 miles) southwest of Hong Kong, and weaken as it moves inland toward the Guangxi region, Yunnan province and northern Vietnam, China’s National Meteorological Center said on its website.
The storm’s arrival comes as many parts of central and western China are facing severe drought brought on by temperatures that broke records for August, withering crops and endangering drinking water supplies.
In the key agricultural province of Sichuan, cloud seeding is being used to try to promote rainfall. Hydropower plants that generate around 80% of the province’s electricity have operated at far-reduced capacity, forcing rolling brownouts and the cutting of factory work hours.
Ma-on weakened slightly after barreling across mountainous northern provinces in the Philippines, where at least three people were left injured by trees knocked down by the high winds. Classes were suspended and government offices closed in the capital Manila.
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| 2022-09-20T21:47:18Z
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TIRANA, Albania (AP) — An Albanian court on Wednesday ordered two Russians and a Ukrainian to remain in custody while authorities conduct an espionage investigation into the suspects’ activities at a former military weapons manufacturing plant.
Judge Pajtime Fetahu ruled in favor of prosecutors, who requested that the trio be kept in detention over accusations of “securing secret information of military or any other character in order to be supplied to a foreign power, which violates the country’s independence.”
But Fetahu, who presides at a court in Elbasan, 40 kilometers (25 miles) south of Tirana, dropped another more serious charge of actually providing any of the information they collected to a foreign country.
The hearing was held behind closed doors, and no details were given on why the suspects may have been interested in the site.
The two Russian suspects are 25-year-old Mikhail Zorin, and 33-year-old Svetlana Timofoeva, while the Ukrainian was identified as Fedir Alpatov, authorities said. Alpatov’s age wasn’t provided.
They were arrested on Saturday inside or near the former military plant in Gramsh, 80 kilometers (50 miles) south of the capital Tirana. The suspects had taken photos of the plant.
Authorities said that Zorin, who had entered the plant, used pepper spray on two military guards trying to capture him. Timofoeva and Alpatov were arrested outside the complex.
Police said they seized their Chevrolet vehicle, two drones, a laptop, cash and other evidence.
The three suspects denied the charge of espionage. It wasn’t immediately clear when a trial would be held. If they are eventually convicted, they face up to 10 years in prison.
The Gramsh military plant opened in 1962 to produce AK-47, or Kalashnikov, rifles and other weapons. It stopped production after the fall of communism in 1990, and began to dismantle the weapons.
The plant is still used to repair other military weapons, but there is no longer any production there.
Local media reported that the three suspects entered Albania from different border entrances and then stayed near the plant. An Ukrainian Embassy official, who was present at the hearing, said the Ukrainian suspect was innocent, claiming that Alpatov only served as the Russians’ driver.
Albania, a NATO member since 2009, has harshly denounced Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and has implemented all of the sanctions against Moscow by the European Union and the United States.
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Follow all AP stories on the war in Ukraine at https;//apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine
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KHAN YOUNIS, Gaza Strip (AP) — They fan out along the tense frontier with Israel in the pre-dawn darkness, setting traps and training their eyes on the other side of the separation fence — where the parakeets are.
Dozens of Palestinian men and boys have taken up bird trapping in recent years. It’s a rare if meager source of income in Gaza, which has been under a crippling Israeli-Egyptian blockade since the militant Hamas group seized power 15 years ago.
Their quarry is ring-necked parakeets, an invasive species of tropical bird that has proliferated in Israel and the Palestinian territories in recent years, most likely after being brought there as pets. In Gaza, the bright green birds with red beaks are sought-after as caged songbirds.
“It’s a beautiful bird, and everyone loves it,” said Khaled al-Najjar, a trapper and father of two. “I catch them to make a living and feed my children.”
The birds nest on Israeli farms on the other side of the fence but fly into Gaza when workers head into the fields to tend crops. The Palestinian bird catchers on the other side lure them with chirping played on portable speakers and catch them in nets and other traps.
It can be a dangerous occupation.
Israel has imposed a 300-meter (yard) buffer zone along the fence and forces closely monitor the border, looking for any Palestinians suspected of trying to sneak into Israel, plant explosives or dig attack tunnels. Israel and Hamas have fought four wars and several smaller battles over the years, and earlier this month Gaza saw three days of heavy fighting between Israel and the smaller Islamic Jihad militant group.
A bird-catcher was shot dead by Israeli forces last year, and Palestinian rights groups say several trappers have been shot at.
Once they’ve netted their quarry, the trappers return to Gaza’s crowded cities, where they sell the parakeets to pet shops. Al-Najjar says he gets 30 shekels (around $10) for a pair of parakeets. At some pet stores in Gaza, a pair is resold for twice as much.
There’s little if any regulation of the bird trade in Gaza, where unemployment hovers around 50%. The trapping of migrant birds like swallows and quail, as well as native species like goldfinches, has severely depleted the local population.
But by trapping the parakeets, they might be doing the region a favor. The population of invasive parakeets and myrnas — a bird of the starling family — has exploded over the past 15 years, driving a decline in the populations of local species like the house sparrow and the white-spectacled bulbul.
A 2019 study by Israeli researchers found that 75% of the most common bird species in Israel have declined over the last 15 years, while the population of invasive species has grown at rates between 250% and more than 800%.
Abdel Fattah Abd Rabou, an environmental science professor at the Islamic University of Gaza, said the parakeets threaten native birds like hoopoes because they occupy their nesting areas. They can also be a pest to farmers by feeding on grapes and figs, he said.
For the trappers, and a smaller group of recreational bird-catchers in Gaza, it’s a way to pass the time.
The blockade severely limits movement into and out of the narrow coastal strip, which is home to more than 2 million Palestinians. Israel says the closures are needed to contain Hamas, while the Palestinians and human rights groups view it as a form of collective punishment.
“There is no work and there is nothing to fill my time other than hunting,” al-Najjar said as he inspected a parakeet tied to dry branches that he planned to use as bait.
“In the morning, my children ask me ‘where are you going?’ I tell them to hunt. Pray for me and thank God, who responds to their prayers and provides a living for me.”
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| 2022-09-20T21:47:33Z
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LUANDA, Angola (AP) — Angolans are voting in an election in which President Joao Lourenco is seeking a second term and longtime opposition party UNITA is trying to unseat the ruling MPLA party which has held power for 47 years.
Some voters lined up at dawn Wednesday, two hours before polling stations opened at 7 a.m. local time.
Lourenco and opposition candidate Adalberto Costa Junior of the Union for the Total Independence of Angola, UNITA, cast their ballots in Luanda, the capital city on the Atlantic Ocean.
About 14 million of the country’s more than 33 million people have registered to vote. In the previous election in 2017, the turnout was 57% of those who registered.
Ordinarily busy marketplaces and street stalls have been closed to encourage people to go to the polls and the government has urged all employers to allow workers to have time to vote.
At the more than 26,400 polling stations across the country and abroad, the country’s ruling party, the Peoples Movement for the Liberation of Angola, has 53,000 representatives to monitor the voting and counting. UNITA has not announced how it will monitor results but it has called on its supporters to sit at polling stations after voting to observe the counting and posting of the tallies.
Official results are not expected for several days, as recent elections have seen delays in announcements by the National Electoral Commission, whose director is seen as partisan to the ruling party.
The election is being watched by about 2,000 international observers including from the European Union, the African Union, the Southern African Development Community and the Community of Portuguese Language Countries.
As the threat of COVID-19 has reduced, people are permitted to vote without face masks.
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| 2022-09-20T21:47:40Z
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PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — Brown University has acquired a trove of records, writings and artwork from Mumia Abu-Jamal, a political activist and journalist who spent decades on death row for the shooting death of a Philadelphia police officer in the 1980s.
The Ivy League university in Providence, Rhode Island, says the collection documents Abu-Jamal’s trial, prison and death row experience, which gained him global recognition as a face of the movement against the death penalty.
Abu-Jamal is serving a life sentence without the possibility of parole after Philadelphia prosecutors agreed to drop their death penalty case in 2011.
But the former Black Panther Party member has for decades maintained his innocence in the killing of Philadelphia Police Officer Daniel Faulkner, who witnesses testified was fatally shot by Abu-Jamal as he was arresting his brother during a traffic stop.
Brown University says that the collection was acquired through a trust and that the purchase price is confidential. It includes more than 60 boxes of materials spanning the years 1981 to 2020.
Among its items is a pair of glasses Abu-Jamal wore for years; journals filled with his personal thoughts, poems and legal arguments; and part of the visitor list Abu-Jamal is still required to maintain, the university said.
Brown has also obtained related personal papers from Johanna Fernández, a Brown graduate and longtime advocate for Abu-Jamal whom he has entrusted with storing his papers.
Together, the materials will anchor a new collecting focus at the university’s John Hay Library called “Voices of Mass Incarceration.”
The university says the effort will help researchers understand how the “expanding carceral system has transformed American society” by giving them “unprecedented access” to first-person accounts of incarcerated people.
“This collection will give scholars a rare chance to peer inside prison walls and understand how incarcerated people live, think and advocate for themselves,” said Kenvi Phillips, director of library diversity, equity and inclusion at Brown.
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| 2022-09-20T21:47:47Z
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SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — Persistent power outages and threats from Puerto Rico’s government prompted a company that operates the island’s transmission and distribution system to announce Wednesday that it would dedicate more resources and crews to improve service.
The move came just hours after the U.S. territory’s Senate launched a hearing to analyze the government’s contract with Luma Energy — a consortium made up of Calgary, Alberta-based Atco and Quanta Services Inc. of Houston — amid calls to cancel it.
Among the top officials demanding that the government revoke the contract is Puerto Rico’s Senate President José Luis Dalmau, of the main opposition party, and Jenniffer González, Puerto Rico’s representative in Congress and a member of the governor’s party, who said power outages have become “our daily bread.”
Luma said Wednesday that it would increase response brigades by 25% in the next month, remove vegetation covering 20 of the most critical transmission lines, increase inspections of substations — eight of which have caught on fire in the past year — and increase aerial inspections of remote transmission lines.
“We have made mistakes. We recognize our faults,” said Duke Austin, president and CEO of Quanta Services.
He said Luma has reduced the duration of outages by one-third, but added that the company can do better.
“I’m not asking for forgiveness or patience,” he said. “I am out of both myself.”
Luma has stressed it is dealing with a power grid whose maintenance the local government neglected for decades and that was razed by Hurricane Maria in September 2017, with reconstruction efforts having started just months ago. Prior to Luma, Puerto Rico’s Electric Power Authority, which is more than $9 billion in debt, managed the grid’s transmission and distribution.
The ongoing outages have angered many who note that power fluctuations have fried costly appliances and forced them find alternatives to keep life-saving medication cold as Puerto Rico’s Energy Bureau has approved seven electricity rate increases so far this year at Luma’s request.
A day before Luma made the announcement, Gov. Pedro Pierluisi said the company would face consequences if it doesn’t improve its service, although he didn’t provide details of what action he would take.
“Time is going by, and my patience is running out,” he said. “Basically, they have to act, and act with a sense of urgency.”
Pierluisi first spoke out against Luma last Thursday, a turnaround for a governor who had persistently defended the company ever since its contract began in June 2021. He said he became upset last week after learning that one recent outage was a result of not pruning vegetation around a main transmission line.
“That is completely unacceptable,” he said.
Meanwhile, Puerto Rico’s Energy Bureau issued a report late last week noting there’s been an overall increase in the duration of outages per customer every month since January, lasting more than 21 hours at a time. In addition, it stated there has been no improvement in the frequency of interruptions.
The bureau gave Luma and Puerto Rico’s Electric Power Authority until Sept. 1 to explain the drop in those and other metrics as it threatened to impose penalties.
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| 2022-09-20T21:48:02Z
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OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt on Wednesday rejected clemency for a man facing execution this week for the 1997 hammer killing of a Choctaw man, despite a recommendation from the state’s Pardon and Parole Board that his life be spared.
James Coddington was convicted and sentenced to die for the beating death of his friend and coworker, 73-year-old Albert Hale, inside Hale’s Choctaw home. Prosecutors say Coddington, who was 24 at the time, became enraged when Hale refused to give him money to buy cocaine.
Coddington’s execution is scheduled for Thursday morning.
“After thoroughly reviewing arguments and evidence presented by all sides of the case, Governor Kevin Stitt has denied the Pardon and Parole Board’s clemency recommendation for James Allen Coddington,” Stitt’s office said in a statement.
During a clemency hearing this month before the state’s five-member Pardon and Parole Board, an emotional Coddington, now 50, apologized to Hale’s family and said he is a different man today.
“I’m clean, I know God, I’m not … I’m not a vicious murderer,” Coddington told the board. “If this ends today with my death sentence, OK.”
Mitch Hale, Albert Hale’s son who had urged the parole board not to recommend clemency, said he feels a sense of relief with Stitt’s decision.
“Our family can put this behind us after 25 years,” Hale, 64, said. “No one is ever happy that someone’s dying, but (Coddington) chose this path … he knew what the consequences are, he rolled the dice and lost.”
Hale said he, his wife, goddaughter and a friend were en route to McAlester to attend the execution.
Coddington’s attorney, Emma Rolls, told the panel that Coddington was impaired by years of alcohol and drug abuse that began when he was an infant and his father put beer and whiskey into his baby bottles.
Rolls said Coddington doesn’t have any pending appeals that would delay or stop his execution on Thursday.
“While we are profoundly disheartened by this decision, we appreciate the pardons board’s careful consideration of James Coddington’s life and case, Rolls said in a statement following Stitt’s announcement.
“The Board’s clemency recommendation acknowledged James’s sincere remorse and meaningful transformation during his years on death row,” Rolls said.
The Rev. Don Heath, chair of the Oklahoma Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty said “there is no mercy or forgiveness” in Stitt’s heart.
“I am surprised, and, quite honestly, angry at Gov. Stitt’s rejection of clemency for James Coddington. Stitt’s statement does not give a reason for his denial — it simply states that a jury convicted Coddington of first-degree murder and sentenced him to death,” Heath said in a statement.
“We have 25 executions scheduled over the next 29 months. I am afraid that the Pardon and Parole Board hearings will be moot exercises,” Heath said.
The parole board had voted 3-2 to recommend Coddington for clemency.
Stitt, a Republican, had said he planned to meet with Hale’s family, prosecutors and Coddington’s attorneys before making his decision.
Coddington was twice sentenced to death for Hale’s killing, the second time in 2008 after his initial sentence was overturned on appeal.
Stitt has granted clemency only one time, in November, to death row inmate Julius Jones just hours before Jones was scheduled to receive a lethal injection. The first-term governor commuted Jones’ sentence to life in prison without parole.
Jones’ case had drawn national attention after it was featured in “The Last Defense,” a three-episode documentary that cast doubt on Jones’ conviction, and there were numerous protests in Oklahoma City in the days leading up to Jones’ scheduled execution date.
Stitt said in an interview with The Associated Press earlier this month that had he allowed Jones’ execution to go forward “that would have definitely torn our state apart.”
Coddington’s execution would the the fifth since Oklahoma resumed carrying out the death penalty in October.
The state had halted executions in September 2015 when prison officials realized they had received the wrong lethal drug.
It was later learned the same wrong drug had been used previously to execute an inmate, and executions in the state were put on hold.
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| 2022-09-20T21:48:09Z
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KANSAS CITY, Mo. (WDAF) – Kansas City Chiefs legend and Pro Football Hall of Famer Len Dawson has died at the age of 87, according to his family.
Nexstar’s WDAF spoke with his son, Len Dawson Jr., who confirmed the news.
With wife Linda at his side, it is with much sadness that we inform you of the passing of our beloved Len Dawson. He was a wonderful husband, father, brother and friend. Len was always grateful and many times overwhelmed by the countless bonds he made during his football and broadcast careers.
Dawson Family
Dawson joined the Dallas Texans in 1962 and followed the franchise to Kansas City, where he led the renamed Chiefs to a championship in Super Bowl IV. He also worked as a TV sportscaster long after his playing days were over.
Dawson was inducted into the Hall of Fame as a player in 1987 and a broadcaster in 2012.
Chiefs chairman Clark Hunt called Dawson “a part of every major moment in Chiefs history.”
Dawson’s playing career started as a standout quarterback at Purdue before he joined the Pittsburgh Steelers as a first-round draft pick. He was quickly traded to the Cleveland Browns.
In 1962, Dawson finally signed with the Dallas Texans, reuniting him with Hank Stram, who had been an assistant coach for the Boilermakers before becoming the AFL franchise’s head coach.
Dawson promptly led the Texans to the AFL title and was the league’s MVP. He then moved with the club to Kansas City the following year. He led the Chiefs to two more AFL titles: once in 1966 and again in 1969, when he came back from a serious injury to help the Chiefs beat Minnesota 23-7 for their first Super Bowl title.
He ranks among the elite forward passers of all time, with an 82.56 rating compiled over 19 seasons.
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| 2022-09-20T21:48:16Z
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(NEXSTAR) – The downtown districts of many larger U.S. cities are struggling to recover to pre-pandemic levels, according to the results of a new study from UC Berkeley.
Using data obtained from mobile phone usage and GPS location services, the study compared the effects of the “initial shock of the pandemic” — i.e., the migration of workers to non-downtown areas or the suburbs — to the rate at which those downtown areas were being visited as of May 2022.
Of the 62 North American cities included in the study, only a handful had shown increased activity in their downtown areas when compared to March 2019. The rest were demonstrating slower recovery trajectories — with some recovering much more slowly than others.
“Early studies suggest that downtowns will struggle to recover from the pandemic, due to their disproportionate share of business closures, the lessening demand for downtown real estate due to remote work, and challenges associated with the loss of business travel and rise of ecommerce,” the study’s authors wrote in a research brief released by UC Berkley’s Institute of Governmental Studies.
San Francisco’s downtown area, for instance, fared the worst of all downtowns with a “recovery quotient” of only 31% — meaning the district was only seeing 31% of the activity observed in March 2019. Cleveland (36%), Portland, Oregon (41%), Detroit (42%) and Chicago (43%) rounded out the bottom five on the list.
On the other end, Salt Lake City’s downtown area exceeded its pre-pandemic activity levels, at 155%. SLC was joined by Bakersfield, California (117%); Columbus, Ohio (112%); and Fresno, California (108%) as the only other cities that managed an increase in downtown-district activity between 2019 and 2022.
The top ten U.S. cities with the highest and lowest recovery quotients, as determined by researchers with UC Berkeley’s Institute of Governmental Studies, are as follows:
Highest Recovery Quotients
- Salt Lake City: 155%
- Bakersfield, California: 117%
- Columbus, Ohio: 112%
- Fresno, California: 108%
- Omaha, Nebraska: 92%
- Baltimore: 91%
- El Paso, Texas: 91%
- San Diego: 89%
- Tampa, Florida: 85%
- Honolulu: 84%
Lowest Recovery Quotients
- San Francisco: 31%
- Cleveland: 36%
- Portland, Oregon: 41%
- Detroit: 42%
- Chicago: 43%
- Indianapolis: 44%
- Minneapolis: 44%
- Raleigh, North Carolina: 45%
- New Orleans: 46%
- Oakland, California: 46%
On the whole, however, the study’s authors found that downtowns in southern U.S. cities generally rebounded better than those in the north. They also found that cities with certain variables — low downtown housing stock, higher education levels, a larger percentage of workers in the tech, information, hospitality and finance industries — were more likely to have slower recovery rates.
The same researchers also analyzed city-wide activity in each of the areas studied — and not just the downtown areas — and found the recovery rate of the entire city was “often higher” than that of just the downtown, “indicating that downtown areas have been consistently lagging behind in activity recovery as remote working and the digitization of services continues.”
The study’s authors cited surveys which predicted that many of the country’s larger downtowns will never fully recover, and that it might be “time to reinvent” these districts with less office space, more residential buildings, and more focus on culture and recreation.
“Most importantly, downtowns should look to diversify their economies to focus on resilient sectors such as education, health, and government,” the researchers suggest.
More information from this study, including the authors’ definition of a downtown area and the methodologies used, can be found at DowntownRecovery.com.
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| 2022-09-20T21:48:24Z
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NEW YORK (AP) — Former New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio is headed to Harvard this fall as a teaching fellow at the university’s schools of government and public health.
De Blasio, a Democrat who served as mayor from from 2014 to 2021, will take part in “a variety of discussions, events, and programming” at the Institute of Politics at the Harvard Kennedy School and will teach classes on leadership and public service at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, the schools said in separate announcements Wednesday.
Kim Janey, the former acting mayor of Boston, will also serve as a fellow at the public health school.
“We are thrilled to welcome Mayor de Blasio and Mayor Janey to campus as Menschel Senior Leadership Fellows,” Dean Michelle A. Williams said.
Williams said both officials grappled with public health crises including COVID-19, homelessness and the opioid epidemic.
“Their insights and their mentorship will be tremendously helpful to students who aspire to public office, as well as to those who are looking to lead in other sectors,” she said.
At the Institute of Politics, de Blasio will be joined by other fellows including former Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Löfven.
Setti Warren, interim director of the institute, said de Blasio’s “decades of experience in local government, federal agencies, national campaigns, and running the largest city in the country will provide invaluable insight to our students and the Harvard community.”
De Blasio said he looked forward to teaching a new generation of leaders and activists. “My key message to them: we CAN make bold progressive change. I know because I’ve lived it,” the former mayor tweeted.
De Blasio, who grew up in Massachusetts and is a die-hard Boston Red Sox fan, was prevented by term limits from seeking a third four-year term as mayor.
After an unsuccessful campaign for the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination, de Blasio flirted this year with running for governor of New York and later mounted a brief run for a congressional district that includes his Brooklyn home. Former federal prosecutor and Trump impeachment counsel Daniel Goldman secured the Democratic nomination for that seat in a primary Tuesday.
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| 2022-09-20T21:48:31Z
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COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) — Finland’s prime minister apologized after the publication of a photo that showed two women kissing and posing topless at the official summer residence of the country’s leader.
The photo came out after a video that showed Prime Minister Sanna Marin dancing and singing with friends prompted a debate about whether the 36-year-old head of government is entitled to party heartily.
Marin confirmed the photo was taken in a bathroom at an official residence of Finnish prime ministers following a music festival in early July. Marin does not appear in the image; the two women featured have their breasts covered with a sign that says, “Finland.”
One of the women, described as a social media influencer, reportedly posted the photo, which was removed shortly after news outlets started reporting about it.
“In my opinion, that photo is not appropriate, I apologize for that. That photo shouldn’t have been taken,” Marin said Tuesday, according to Finnish broadcaster YLE.
She said the post-festival gathering was a private party and the names of all guests were provided to the security detail that monitors the Kesäranta property, located in the northern part of Helsinki.
The two-story wooden villa from 1873 features a seaside sauna, a pavilion, a jetty, and a tennis court.
“We were using the sauna facilities and the garden area, but we did not spend time inside the Kesäranta house, although the downstairs guest toilets were in use,” Marin said, according to YLE.
On Wednesday, the prime minister addressed a crowd in the southern Finland town of Lathi and mentioned the glimpses of her private life that became public.
“I am also human,” Finnish media quoted Marin as saying with a broken voice and red eyes. She added that she had never failed to attend to a single work task because she took time off.
“I do my job. I learn from this,” Marin said. “This week has not been easy. It has been difficult. But I want to believe that people look at the work we do, not what we do in our free time.”
In the video leaked last week, Marin appeared with friends at a different private party. She has acknowledged that she and her friends celebrated in a “boisterous way” and that alcohol — but, to her knowledge, no drugs — was involved.
Marin said she attended the party in recent weeks, but refused to say exactly where and when. She said Friday that she took a drug test to put an end to speculation about illegal substance use. The results were negative, Marin reported Monday, adding she paid for the test herself.
One of Finland’s major newspapers, Helsingin Sanomat, reported that with a general election scheduled next year, frustration is growing among member’s of the prime minister’s Social Democratic Party.
While no one is talking about pressuring Marin to resign and she remains popular within the party, some members interviewed by the newspaper were critical of her judgment amid the war in Ukraine and Finland’s pending bid to join NATO.
One party member Helsingin Sanomat quoted anonymously noted that Finland still is a relatively conservative country, especially outside the capital region.
Marin heads a five-party governing coalition, and it has won praise for guiding the country steadfastly through the COVID-19 pandemic and the NATO application process.
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| 2022-09-20T21:48:46Z
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(The Hill) – First lady Jill Biden has tested positive for COVID-19 days after receiving a negative test in a “rebound” case of the virus.
The first lady tested negative on Tuesday before receiving the positive test result on an antigen test on Wednesday afternoon, her office said.
“The First Lady has experienced no reemergence of symptoms, and will remain in Delaware where she has reinitiated isolation procedures,” Kelsey Donohue, the deputy communications director for the first lady, said in a statement.
Biden first tested positive for COVID-19 eight days ago and was given the antiviral drug Paxlovid. She tested positive while on vacation with President Biden and their family in South Carolina. The first lady had mild symptoms and remained there until receiving a negative test, then joined the president in Delaware where he had continued his vacation.
Rebound cases can happen in patients who take Paxlovid when a patient tests negative for the virus, only to test positive again a few days later.
The president had a similar rebound case after taking Paxlovid for his own COVID-19 infection late last month. He remained in isolation for another week because of the rebound case.
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MOMBASA, Kenya (AP) — In Kenya’s semi-arid Makueni County, 50-year-old Purity Kinyili used to spend most of her time traveling for water and firewood to sustain her family and farmland.
But then the government set up an initiative to install solar energy in rural towns, so she got hold of the easy-to-install panels, set them up and sunk a solar-powered borehole. Now her once dry land has turned a lush green, and she’s even got enough power left over for electricity in her home.
Access to more and cleaner energy while continuing to grow economically will be a top priority for African nations in the upcoming United Nations climate conference in November, top officials and climate experts on the continent said.
As part of Africa’s goal for what’s called a “just transition” — ensuring that the buildout of clean energy is fair and inclusive — the African Union wants to boost access to electricity and clean cooking resources to hundreds of millions of people. It’s estimated that 600 million people out of 1.4 billion living on the continent don’t have electricity, with 900 million lacking access to cleaner cooking fuels.
But some experts argue that improving living standards means that Africa will, at least temporarily, have to increase its output of fossil fuels.
Africa needs longer timeframes and more financial resources to move towards clean energy if it still wants to meet its social and economic growth goals, Harsen Nyambe, the director of sustainable environment and blue economy division at the African Union, told the Associated Press.
He said that while a just transition is “good”, he urged the need to be “realistic” about expectations for African nations as the continent is also trying to develop infrastructure with fewer resources, while already dealing with the effects of a warming climate.
Africa is particularly vulnerable to climate change, with little resources to adapt to hotter and drier temperatures in some areas and extreme downpours in others. The Horn and east of Africa are suffering from ongoing and devastating drought which has left populations with little food and water, while southern nations are battered by deadly cyclones with growing frequency.
“We have different capacities and responsibilities,” Nyambe said, adding that Africa could, for example, be given up to 100 years to transition away from dirty fuels.
Many nations, particularly developed countries like the U.S. and in Europe who are responsible for a larger share of heat-trapping gases in the atmosphere, are looking to achieve “net zero” emissions by 2050. China hopes to achieve the net zero goal by 2060, and India by 2070.
Africa already emits far less carbon dioxide than other continents or individual nations, accounting for just 3% to 4% of emissions despite being home to nearly 17% of the world’s population, said James Murombedzi, who heads the Africa Climate Policy Centre.
To achieve “net zero”, countries would need to dramatically cut down their greenhouse gas emissions while offsetting the remainder with projects that suck carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere. Tree-planting projects have sprung up across the continent, such as in Lufasi Park in Nigeria or Mozambique’s mangrove restoration projects, mostly from private investors looking to counterbalance their own polluting activities.
But experts say local governments are not yet able to invest the required funding for such large carbon-absorbing projects.
“There is pressure for the net zero by 2050. I think as Africa we should not give in to the pressure given our circumstances,” Nyambe said, referring to Africa’s lack of financing and growing infrastructure needs.
He said any emissions targets “should be accompanied by resources. Because how do you transform without capacity, finance and technology?”
Nyambe added that that getting the right financial support at the U.N. climate conference, known as COP27, can help kickstart Africa’s transition to cleaner energy.
The African Union has pointed to natural gas as “transition fuel” for Africa’s energy needs, alongside renewables, hydrogen and nuclear energy, although some experts have questioned whether gas should be used in a move toward cleaner sources. Although natural gas emits less carbon dioxide than other fossil fuels, building up gas infrastructure may slow efforts to move to renewables, they say.
“Africa is embracing a clean energy future but will do so based on its needs and circumstances,” said Linus Mofor, a senior environmental affairs advisor at the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa. “The use of natural gas, which is plentiful in the continent, is critical.”
Algeria, Egypt and Nigeria lead Africa in gas production with countries like Senegal, Mozambique, Tanzania and Angola all expected to become gas producing hubs.
Mofor added that the “transition to renewable energies will require substantial capital investments. By 2030, Africa will need $2 trillion to address its energy transformation.”
Some of the continent’s larger economies have already invested heavily in renewable energy, with megaprojects like Morocco’s Ourzazate Solar Power Station, Egypt’s Kom Ombo solar plant, Kenya’s Menengai geothermal plant and Lake Turkana’s wind farm and the Jasper solar plant in South Africa sprouting up across Africa.
Smaller projects, such as off-grid solar panels to bring electricity to rural areas or rooftop solar panels, are also being installed across the continent, with Kenya, South Africa and Nigeria leading the way.
But a “strong commitment by developed nations” to help cut emissions and assist Africa’s energy transition means even more clean energy projects can arise, said Mouhamadou Bamba Sylla, a meteorologist and lead author of the U.N.’s latest climate assessment.
___
Associated Press climate and environmental coverage receives support from several private foundations. See more about AP’s climate initiative here. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
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(NEXSTAR) – The Biden administration has announced its plan to cancel some of America’s $1.6 trillion in federal student loan debt, fulfilling a campaign promise after months of anticipation.
While the White House says 43 million borrowers can expect to receive relief – roughly 20 million of those are expected to have their remaining federal student loan balance completely erased – that means approximately 2 million borrowers won’t receive any relief.
It’s possible you are among those borrowers who won’t see relief for a number of reasons.
First, if your student loans aren’t federal loans and are instead through a private lender, your loans won’t be forgiven through President Biden’s plan. Private loans don’t fall under the jurisdiction of the federal government, meaning the federal government most likely cannot forgive them.
You’re also excluded from relief if you exceed the income caps set by the Biden administration.
The “targeted student debt cancellation” revealed Wednesday is intended to help “borrowers at highest risk of delinquencies or default once payments resume,” the Education Department said in a release.
“No high-income individual or high-income household – in the top 5% of incomes – will benefit from this action,” the White House said Wednesday.
As expected, student loan forgiveness will be restricted based on income. Borrowers “with annual income during the pandemic of under $125,000 (for individuals) or under $250,000 (for married couples or heads of households)” will be eligible for up to $10,000 in relief, according to the U.S. Department of Education.
Borrowers under the same income caps who received a Pell Grant in college will be eligible for up to $20,000 in debt cancellation.
If your annual income exceeds either income threshold, you won’t qualify for the relief outlined by the Biden administration.
How that relief will be distributed has not yet been made clear.
In a Wednesday release, the Education Department says further details will be announced in the coming weeks. An application will need to be filed and, according to officials, that will be available before the student loan payment pause ends on December 31.
Income data already available to the Department of Education shows nearly 8 million borrowers may qualify for student relief automatically.
Additional details about this student loan forgiveness are expected in the coming weeks, and President Biden is scheduled to deliver remarks about the decision Wednesday afternoon.
In addition to student loan forgiveness, the Biden administration extended the payment pause on loans until the end of 2022, proposed a new rule to change to create a new income-driven repayment plan that will substantially reduce future monthly payments for lower- and middle-income borrowers, and proposed long-term changes to the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program.
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| 2022-09-20T21:49:08Z
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WASHINGTON (AP) — Responding to an increasing number of threats born of conspiracy theories that agents were going to aggressively target middle-income taxpayers, the Internal Revenue Service announced Tuesday that it was conducting a comprehensive review of safety at its facilities.
The climate, healthcare and tax legislation signed into law by President Joe Biden last week included $80 billion in funding for tax collection efforts. Although Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen specifically directed the agency to not focus its attention on taxpayers with middle-class incomes, misinformation spread rapidly online that agents were going to crack down on taxpayers of all earnings levels.
The baseless assertions also said the IRS would distribute firearms to employees authorized to used deadly force, prompting threats to the IRS employees.
Now agency leadership has launched an examination of agency safety.
“We are conducting a comprehensive review of existing safety and security measures,” said Chuck Rettig, IRS commissioner about the agency’s 600 office locations nationwide. “This includes conducting risk assessments,” he said, by monitoring perimeter security, designations of restricted areas, exterior lighting, security around entrances of facilities and other measures.
“For me this is personal. I’ll continue to make every effort to dispel any lingering misperceptions about our work,” Rettig said in a Tuesday letter to employees. “And I will continue to advocate for your safety in every venue where I have an audience.”
Rettig, whose term at the IRS ends in November, is tasked with developing a plan on how to spend the new infusion of funds included in the Inflation Reduction Act.
Along with anonymous online forums, high-ranking Republican politicians have spread falsehoods about the IRS workforce and how the newly allocated funds would be spent.
Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., sent an August 16 open letter to Americans, calling on them not to take any new IRS positions, reinforcing false information about open roles at the agency and their access to firearms.
“The IRS is making it very clear that you not only need to be ready to audit and investigate your fellow hardworking Americans, your neighbors and friends, you need to be ready and, to use the IRS’s words, willing, to kill them,” he said in the letter.
Tony Reardon, president of the National Treasury Employees Union, said members have been vocal about their fears and worries about their safety.
“IRS employees are certainly very hard working and honest, they do the business of funding the government. They’re saying they don’t deserve to be treated as the enemy of the government,” he said.
He added that members who are of retirement age have expressed a greater desire to retire due to the increased attention on their jobs. More than half of the IRS’ enforcement workforce of 80,000 is retirement eligible.
Reardon said several workers have talked about being reminded of the 2010 Austin, Texas suicide attack, where Andrew Joseph Stack III deliberately crashed his single-engine plane into the Echelon office building, killing himself and Internal Revenue Service manager Vernon Hunter.
“The rhetoric we’re hearing now is dangerous,” Reardon said. “It’s putting these patriotic Americans at risk.”
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| 2022-09-20T21:49:15Z
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JERUSALEM (AP) — Archaeologists unearthed a lavish 1,200-year-old estate in Israel’s desert south that offers a unique glimpse of life for wealthy residents of the Negev region, the country’s antiquities authority said Tuesday.
The discovery in the Bedouin town of Rahat dates to the early Islamic period in the 8th or 9th century, the authority said.
The luxury home is built around a courtyard and features four wings with several rooms for its residents. One lavish section features a marble hallway with stone floors and elaborate wall decorations. Archaeologists also found shards of decorated glass serving dishes.
Underneath the courtyard, archaeologists were surprised to discover subterranean vaults made of stone, which they believe were used to store items at cooler temperatures away from the scorching desert sun. The vaults appear to be carefully constructed and sturdy enough to allow people to move between them underground. An opening from the vaulted rooms also leads to a cistern where residents could access cool drinking water.
Experts say the mansion’s owners likely lived a life of prosperity and had plenty to go around.
“The luxurious estate and the unique impressive underground vaults are evidence of the owners’ means,” said the excavation directors in a statement. “Their high status and wealth allowed them to build a luxurious mansion that served as a residence and for entertaining.”
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(The Hill) — The Department of Education has announced that it has provided more than $10 billion in student debt relief for public workers 10 months into a new program.
The relief covers more than 175,000 people, according to a news release the department put out on Tuesday. The relief is provided through the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program (PSLF).
The effort comes as the White House is broadly expected to announce a new forgiveness program on Tuesday that would wipe out $10,000 in student debt for eligible borrowers. The program is expected to have income limits.
The decision has been hotly anticipated but is likely to set off a political storm, which President Joe Biden potentially coming under criticism both from Republicans opposed to the debt forgiveness who say it will raise inflation and liberals who do not think it goes far enough.
The Education Department announced temporary changes to the PSLF program last October. It allowed borrowers to get credit for payments made on loans from different student loan programs, and borrowers who work or worked in the public service field since 2007 to be eligible to receive these benefits.
In a statement, Education Secretary Miguel Cardona said that the PSLF program will be beneficial for public service workers who have seen previous installments of the program not benefit them.
“We’re committed to helping borrowers who choose to pursue careers in education, public health, social work, law enforcement, and other critical fields receive the benefits to which they’re entitled for leading lives of service,” he said.
This comes as Biden is expected to announce on Wednesday the cancellation of student loan debts and an extension of the existing payment pause.
The intended measure will include $10,000 in loan forgiveness for borrowers who make less than $125,000 annually, which would be the largest loan forgiveness of student loans per borrower in history, and an extension of the payment pause for at least four months.
The PSLF program is also a part of the $32 billion of student loans already forgiven by the Biden administration through existing federal programs.
Eligible borrowers have until Oct. 31 to apply to consolidate their loans into a Direct Consolidation Loan and qualify for the PSLF program.
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EL SEGUNDO, Calif., Sept. 20, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Beyond Meat (NASDAQ: BYND) issued the following statement today:
"Doug Ramsey, Beyond Meat's Chief Operating Officer, has been suspended effective immediately. Operations activities will be overseen on an interim basis by Jonathan Nelson, Senior Vice President, Manufacturing Operations."
Contact: shira.zackai@beyondmeat.com
View original content:
SOURCE Beyond Meat
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| 2022-09-20T21:49:35Z
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KINGSTON, Mass. (AP) — Asa Peters marched into a thicket of Japanese knotweed in the woods of coastal Massachusetts this month and began steadily hacking the towering, dense vegetation down to size.
The 24-year-old member of the Mashpee Wampanoag tribe was among a cadre of volunteers rooting out invasive species and tending to recently planted native vegetation on a wide swath of forest acquired on behalf of his federally recognized tribe and other Wampanoag communities.
“It’s hard. You got to keep pulling and pulling. Starting to really sweat, but it’s cool,” he said as he took a quick break in the sweltering August heat. “We’re in the early stages, putting in the work to create a special place where we can do all kinds of great things.”
The Wampanoag Common Lands, as the project is called, seeks to restore a 32-acre (13-hectare) former Catholic summer camp on the banks of the Muddy Pond in Kingston to something closer to what it might have looked like before European colonization transformed it.
The Native Land Conservancy, the local Native group that received the donated land this year, envisions a natural environment filled with indigenous plants and animals where Wampanoags can practice cultural ceremonies and educate new generations in traditional ways.
Ramona Peters, a Mashpee Wampanoag who founded the conservancy, said the effort is all the more meaningful because the land is some 5 miles from where Pilgrims arriving on the Mayflower established the English colony of Plymouth, near the remnants of a Wampanoag community wiped out by European disease.
“This is basically where the first impact of colonization of this country happened,” she said. “It’s very significant that it’s been returned to us.”
The Wampanoag Common Lands is part of a growing movement of Indigenous-led conservation efforts helping to preserve and reinvigorate Native culture and identity, said Beth Rose-Middleton, a professor at the University of California, Davis, focused on Native American environmental policy and conservation.
The efforts are also critical in the face of climate change, which has acutely harmed Native communities, she said. Alaska tribes facing increased erosion, flooding and thawing permafrost have weighed relocating from their coastal and riverside lands. Louisiana bayou tribes still reeling from Hurricane Ida last year are bracing for ever-powerful storms, while across the American West, tribes are contending with a historic drought that has upended their way of life.
“Many of our land and waterscapes have been pressed into extreme uses and depleted,” Rose-Middletown said. “Land stewardship and care work are necessary for creating resilient landscapes.”
In northern California, the Wiyot Tribe has spent more than two decades restoring a badly polluted island that was the site of an 1860 massacre that nearly wiped out the tribe and, more recently, was home to a ship repair facility.
Michelle Vassel, the tribe’s administrator, said the years of environmental work on Tuluwat have contributed to better water quality and marine habitats across Humboldt Bay.
“For us, it’s a responsibility. Indigenous people are tied to a place,” she said. “This work is also healing. The history of the massacre has always been a scar on the broader community. This was a way to change that history.”
Tribes in Wyoming and other Great Plains states, meanwhile, have been reintroducing bison herds brought to near-extinction by European settlers. Those in Washington state and other parts of the Pacific Northwest are focused on protecting glacial rivers vital for migrating salmon from warming waters and the effects of dams and industrial pollution.
And on the Massachusetts island of Martha’s Vineyard, the Native-run Sassafras Earth Education has been teaching youths and families traditional Wampanoag cultivation practices for decades.
The organization’s Land Culture Project seeks to transform roughly 20 acres (8 hectares) of forested land and fields into a “highly productive food forest” of native trees and shrubs beneficial to both people and wildlife.
“It’s not just about restoring the physical land,” said Saskia Vanderhoop, who founded the organization with her husband, David Vanderhoop, an Aquinnah Wampanoag elder. “It’s also about restoring the culture.”
At the nearby Wampanoag Common Lands, old summer camp buildings were torn down and pavement, athletic courts and other hard surfaces scraped away this year.
Even large, nonnative Norwegian spruce trees were uprooted by the prior owners at the conservancy’s request, leaving mostly a bare clearing near the water’s edge.
In their place, conservancy staff and volunteers this summer planted dozens of native species significant to Wampanoag culture, such as white oak trees, blueberry bushes, witch hazel, goldenrod and hay-scented ferns.
Wildlife cameras have been set up to survey and monitor otters, deer and other local fauna. The conservancy is also building bat houses and considering reintroducing threatened and rare native animal species, such as northern red-bellied turtles, said Diana Ruiz, the Native Land Conservancy’s director.
The organization is also exploring other uses, such as traditional Wampanoag lodges for hosting guests or other community functions.
“We’re not looking at it as just this closed system that humans sometimes visit,” she said. “We’re looking at it as a space where the Wampanoag community can reconnect with their ancestral homeland in an active and deep way.”
For Asa Peters, that potential for spiritual revitalization is what he finds most compelling about the land project.
He looks forward to returning years and decades from now not just to see how the plants he helped nourish take hold, but also how Wampanoags use the restored land.
“My hope for it is to be a beautiful, comfortable space,” Peters said. “A place where people can come and it helps fill them back up.”
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| 2022-09-20T21:49:37Z
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ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Greek authorities have prevented some 25,000 people from entering the country illegally in less than a month, a government official said Wednesday, accusing neighbor and regional rival Turkey of channeling asylum-seekers toward Greece.
That figure is more than three times the total number of asylum-seekers who have made it into Greece in the entire year to date, according to data from the United Nations refugee agency, UNHCR.
Takis Theodorikakos, Greece’s minister for public order, said the pressure at the land and sea borders with Turkey “is developing into a very particular threat to Greece’s integrity and security.”
“During the month of August alone so far, 25,000 irregular migrants have tried to illegally enter through the Greek-Turkish borders,” Theodorikakos said in an interview with private Antenna TV. “It’s a very large number.”
Theodorikakos didn’t expand on how Greece stopped the entries, or provide figures for previous months. Turkish officials, and international human rights groups, have repeatedly accused Greece of illegally returning asylum-seekers who make it onto Greek territory without allowing them to make their asylum bids. Athens has denied that.
Theodorikakos spoke a day after the government decided to extend a fence along the land border with Turkey to deal with increased immigration flows.
“It’s obvious that the Turkish side is making use of these unhappy people in a systematic, methodical and complex way,” Theodorikakos said Wednesday.
He added that many of the migrants heading to Greece are Syrians and claimed that they “are forced (to try to enter Greece) as they appear to be presented with a dilemma by Turkish authorities — either to return to Syria or to move on to Greece.”
Relations between Greece and Turkey are tense over immigration and undersea energy exploration rights.
Thousands of people from the Middle East, Asia and Africa seeking a better life in the European Union head to Greece from Turkey — which is host to about 4 million refugees — every year. Most then try to move on to Europe’s more prosperous heartland.
According to the UNHCR, nearly 8,000 people have reached Greece so far this year. Most set off from Turkey.
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| 2022-09-20T21:49:45Z
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PRESTONSBURG, Ky. (AP) — Nearly a month after deadly flooding engulfed their houses, some eastern Kentuckians sheltering at state parks continue to wrestle with the same life-defining question — whether to rebuild at the place they call home or start over somewhere else.
Ivallean Smith, who awoke to rising floodwaters when her chihuahua licked her hand, hopes to return to the parcel of land she owns and loves. If she stays put, she says she’ll have to elevate her new home with blocks to try to protect against the kind of terror she lived through late last month, when the rain never seemed like it would stop.
Cynthia Greathouse has already made up her mind — she and her husband hope to leave soon for Florida. Greathouse was nearly swept away by surging floodwaters. Starting over elsewhere just seems easier.
John Bailey, meanwhile, still isn’t sure what comes next. His family’s home was ruined by the water, and his kids don’t want to go back.
For now, they’re all being lodged in hotel-style rooms at Jenny Wiley State Resort Park, a vacationer’s retreat tucked into the Appalachian mountains. Late last week, 455 people were still being housed in Kentucky state parks, churches, schools and community centers, Gov. Andy Beshear said.
For those displaced by the flood, decisions on whether to stay or leave will be crucial for the future of eastern Kentucky, where the coal industry’s decline has added to the region’s hardships.
Despite his indecision, Bailey sounded upbeat Tuesday, knowing things could have been worse. The catastrophic flooding caused at least 39 deaths in eastern Kentucky.
“We’re a lot better off than some people,” he said. “Some people lost their family.”
Flood victims said they’ve been treated with kindness at Jenny Wiley, known for towering pines, elk-viewing tours and fishing on Dewey Lake. The state parks, American Red Cross and communities have provided meals. But for displaced families, the focus is on the future.
Federal emergency management personnel have been on site. Other services included crisis counseling and help to replace lost driver’s licenses and seek disaster unemployment assistance.
Those at Jenny Wiley lauded the park’s staff for the hospitality extended to them. And they praised Beshear for taking up their cause. The Democratic governor has pushed the Federal Emergency Management Agency to accelerate its approval of requests for help.
In his latest move, Beshear called Kentucky’s legislature into a special session starting Wednesday to take up a relief package for eastern Kentucky. In his video announcement, Beshear talked about efforts to provide intermediate lodging for people displaced by the flooding.
“We’re working to stabilize our people through a travel trailer program, where we already have nearly 100 travel trailers full and more on the way,” he said.
By Tuesday, Smith, 60, had spent four days at Jenny Wiley, making her and her adult son relative newcomers. Since her home collapsed, she spent time with relatives and one night in a car wash.
Her vehicle was destroyed by floodwaters. She was hoping a friend would take her to the courthouse to obtain documents requested by FEMA. Her decision isn’t final but she’d like to return to the land she owns — though she knows she won’t find much there.
“We lost everything,” Smith said.
For Bailey’s family, some normalcy returns Wednesday, when his three children start a new school year. A school bus will pick them up and drop them off at the park, he’s been told.
Asked if he’d like to rebuild on the place he owns, Bailey’s thoughts turned to his 16-year-old son.
“He won’t even go back right now to even look at it,” Bailey said.
He’s not sure where they might move, though he mentioned West Virginia as a possibility. But he won’t do anything without thinking about what the weather might do.
“I definitely want out of the flood zone,” he said.
Floodwaters wrecked Bailey’s home, shifting it at the foundation and leaving the floors looking like “a roller coaster.” When he checked around 4:30 a.m. on the fateful morning, the nearby creek was within its banks, he said. By 7:10 a.m., the water was up to his ankles. About 20 minutes later, it reached his stomach.
Bailey, his girlfriend, her sister and his children made a run for it. They’ve been living at the park ever since.
Bailey said he’s awaiting a decision from FEMA on his request for aid. His family has a “little bit” in savings to fall back on, he said, but “it’s going quick.” Bailey said he used to work in the oil and gas fields but is now disabled.
Greathouse, 54, has no intention of returning to live at her rental trailer. During the deluge, she said, she was rescued by men who attached a chain to her vehicle and pulled it out of the surging floodwaters with their truck.
Unable to get back home, she said she spent several nights sleeping in her car until a church pointed her to Jenny Wiley. She’s been there about three weeks.
Greathouse’s husband is getting out of the hospital Thursday after being treated for a hernia, she said. They’re awaiting approval for FEMA aid, but once that happens they’re planning to move to the Daytona, Florida, area. She has family there, she said.
“Start a new journey and get out of here,” said the lifelong Kentuckian. “There’s nothing really here to offer any of us.”
Reflecting further on the thought, she softened at the notion of cutting ties to her home state.
“I’ll always come home,” she said.
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| 2022-09-20T21:49:52Z
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PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) — Police have arrested a Providence man accused of defrauding a collaborative school out of millions of dollars.
Nathan Kaufman, who worked for the Urban Collaborative Accelerated Program (UCAP) as its director of finance and operations for more than a decade, has been charged with embezzlement and access to a computer for fraudulent purposes.
Kaufman worked for the Providence school up until June 2022, according to Rhode Island State Police. He was taken into custody Tuesday following an investigation into “financial irregularities” at UCAP.
The investigation revealed that Kaufman had access to all of UCAP’s financial accounts while working for the school and had transferred $3 million to his bank account for personal use.
Kaufman was arraigned and released on $15,000 surety bail pending his next court date, which is scheduled for Jan. 4.
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| 2022-09-20T21:50:06Z
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(The Hill) — Authorities say they are investigating a 911 call that claimed a shooting was taking place at Georiga Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene’s (R) home early Wednesday morning.
The Rome Police Department said in a statement that officers responded to a 911 call at 1:03 a.m. claiming an individual was shot multiple times at Greene’s house.
“She assured the officers there was no issue, and the call was determined to be a false call commonly known as ‘swatting,’” the statement read.
Officials said they received a second call from the suspect, who was using a computer-generated voice, saying they were upset about Greene’s view on transgender youth rights.
The lawmaker has been an outspoken opponent of transgender rights and last week introduced a bill to make gender-affirming care a felony.
The Rome Police Department said they are investigating the incident alongside the U.S. Capitol Police. Capitol Police did not immediately return a request for comment.
Greene first revealed the incident in a tweet on Wednesday morning.
“Last night, I was swatted just after 1 am,” she tweeted. “I can’t express enough gratitude to my local law enforcement here in Rome, Floyd County. More details to come.”
When asked for further comment, Greene’s office called it a “political attack.”
“Right now, Congresswoman Greene’s safety is our number one concern,” her office said in a statement. “Late last night, she was a victim of a political attack on her family and home. Whoever who committed this violent crime will face the full extent of the law.”
Kandiss Taylor, a Georgia Republican who received 3.4 percent of the vote in the state’s May gubernatorial primary, also said she was swatted last month.
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| 2022-09-20T21:50:07Z
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FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — A psychologist who treated Florida school shooter Nikolas Cruz when he was 8 years old testified Wednesday that Cruz was a “peculiar child” who had many behavioral and developmental issues but his widowed mother seemed overwhelmed and wasn’t consistent in her discipline or in getting him treatment.
Frederick Kravitz said he began treating Cruz in 2007 on a referral from Cruz’s psychiatrist with Lynda Cruz telling him her adopted son suffered from anxiety and nervousness and had trouble controlling his temper. But she also said he was friendly and got along fine with his peers — claims that a neighbor, preschool teachers and an elementary school special education counselor have testified were not true.
Kravitz said that while he suggested weekly sessions for Cruz, his mother only brought him 15 times over a 13-month span, a decade before he murdered 17 people at Parkland’s Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School on Feb. 14, 2018.
He said that was a major issue — Lynda Cruz would agree that her son needed more consistent treatment and she needed to be more consistent in her discipline of him and his younger half-brother, Zachary, but did not follow through. She was 57, depressed from her husband’s sudden 2003 death and dealing with two “tumultuous” young children, he said.
They would yell, throw tantrums and break furnishings, he said.
“They raised it to an art form,” Kravitz said. “Nikolas was easily set off and Zachary seemed to derive some pleasure from pushing Nikolas’ buttons.”
That would set off their mother, something both boys seemed to enjoy.
“She lost her cool frequently and backed down to the boys frequently, which only made the problems worse,” he said. He said he tried to work with her, but she felt embarrassed by her sons’ behavior and felt people were judging her.
Cruz’s attorneys are in Day 3 of their defense, hoping to persuade his jury to sentence him to life without parole instead of death. Cruz, 23, pleaded guilty in October to 17 counts of first-degree murder and the trial, which began July 18, is only to determine his sentence.
The defense is trying to overcome the prosecution’s case, which featured surveillance video of Cruz, then 19, mowing down students and staff with an AR-15-style semiautomatic rifle as he stalked a three-story building for seven minutes, photos of the aftermath and a jury visit to the building.
For Cruz to receive a death sentence, the jury must be unanimous. If one juror votes for life, that will be his sentence.
The defense has focused on the mental and emotional problems Cruz exhibited from his earliest days. Testimony has shown that his birth mother was a street prostitute who abused cocaine and alcohol and as a toddler he was developmentally delayed, often violent towards other children and teased and bullied for his small stature, unusual appearance and odd behavior. When he was 8, he acted like a 6-year-old, at best, Kravitz said.
“He stood out like a sore thumb,” he said.
Steven Schusler, who lived across the street from the Cruzes from 2009 to 2015, said that when Nikolas Cruz was 10, his landlord called Cruz “the weird one” to his face, causing the boy “to curl up” like a salted snail. He once saw Cruz running around the house with an air gun, his limbs flailing wildly — a move he demonstrated for the jury.
Kravitz said Cruz had a fear of abandonment because of his father’s death and his adoption and had an active “bad imagination.”
“He was extremely fearful his mother would forget to pick him up (at school) and he would be stuck there,” Kravitz said, even though that never happened.
He said Cruz had some signs of obsessive-compulsive disorder — for example, he always had to have exactly eight chicken nuggets.
He said he asked Cruz what his three wishes would be.
“Pokemon, a dog and more Pokemon,” Kravitz said.
Lynda Cruz died in November 2017, about four months before the shooting.
Under cross-examination, Kravitz conceded that Cruz’s mother did get him further psychiatric and psychological treatment and might have been reluctant to keep her son’s appointments with him because of the $87 per visit copay her insurance required.
Prosecutor Jeff Marcus asked Kravitz is there was anything about Cruz when he was 8 that would have indicated he would eventually commit mass murder. He said no.
“I’ve worked with some other very damaged kids and certainly to the best of my knowledge none of them have ever acted out like this,” Kravitz said.
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| 2022-09-20T21:50:14Z
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LOS ANGELES (AP) — Serena Williams and Meghan recount challenges they’ve experienced as working mothers on the Duchess of Sussex’s first podcast, including stories of having to work soon after scary incidents involving their children.
Williams, a 23-time Grand Slam champion who said recently “the countdown has begun” to her retirement, recounted on Meghan’s “Archetypes” Spotify podcast Tuesday that she played a match at the 2018 French Open after a nearly sleepless night after her daughter, Olympia, broke her wrist.
“I somehow managed to win, but I was so emotionally spent and just like so emotionally drained that it was, it was crazy. And, you know, and then like every night after that, I just was with her the whole time and was like you’re going to be with me,” said Williams, who has indicated that her final tournament will be the U.S. Open, which starts in New York next week.
The tennis great and Meghan, who are friends, spoke at length on Tuesday’s episode about the challenges of balancing high profile careers in the public eye and motherhood.
“So when you went and played that match the next morning, no one knew what your night had been like the night before. They forgot that human piece of it,” Meghan said about Williams’ French Open experience.
Meghan recounted an incident during a tour of South Africa with her husband, Prince Harry, and their son, Archie, in which a fire broke out in her son’s room and the pair had to leave their baby to continue their official duties. Archie was supposed to be napping in the room at the time, but his nanny had taken him out to get a bite to eat. The incident left everyone shaken, Meghan said.
She said she wanted to spend time with her son, but she and Harry had to go and do another official engagement.
“The focus ends up being on how it looks instead of how it feels,” Meghan said. “And part of the humanizing and the breaking through of these labels and these archetypes and these boxes that we’re put into is having some understanding on the human moments behind the scenes that people might not have any awareness of and to give each other a break.
“Because we did — we had to leave our baby,” she said.
Williams, who turns 41 next month, and Meghan spoke about the tennis star’s recent announcement about stepping away from tennis. Williams said she discussed it with Prince Harry before revealing her decision publicly.
“Obviously I’m retiring professionally, but it’s also an evolution. I’m doing more business things. And I really want to expand my family. And, you know, I’ve been putting it off for so long. And as a woman, there’s only so, so long you can put that off,” Williams said.
Harry and Meghan have a multi-year deal to produce and host podcasts for Spotify under their production company Archewell Audio. Meghan has said the “Archetypes” podcast will focus on harmful labels and stereotypes applied to women.
The Spotify deal is one of several high-profile deals the couple have struck, including one with Netflix. Harry and Meghan stepped away from royal duties in March 2020 over what they described as intrusions and racist attitudes of the British media toward the duchess. They have since relocated to California, where they are raising their children, Archie and Lili.
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| 2022-09-20T21:50:21Z
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KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) — Supporters of Malaysian ex-Prime Minister Najib Razak rallied Wednesday outside the national palace to seek royal pardon just a day after he began a 12-year jail term, while opponents launched an online petition urging the monarch not to.
Najib, 69, was jailed Tuesday after losing the final appeal in a graft case linked to the massive looting of the 1Malaysia Development Berhad state fund. His incarceration comes four years after his election ouster over the scandal and was celebrated by many citizens as justice served.
But Najib’s supporters, echoing his words before he was whisked off to prison, say he wasn’t fairly treated because the top court threw out his bid for a retrial on allegations of judicial bias, and repeatedly refused to delay the hearing to give his lawyers time to prepare.
Some 300 of Najib’s supporters, mostly dressed in black, rallied briefly outside the national palace Wednesday under police watch. Several representatives later handed a memorandum seeking pardon for Najib to the palace.
Parliament House Speaker Azhar Azizan Harun reportedly said Wednesday that Najib must apply for a royal pardon within 14 days or lose his seat in Parliament. There was no word from Najib’s camp if he will seek a royal pardon.
Group representative Syed Mohammad Imran Syed Abdul Aziz also urged Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob, who is from Najib’s United Malays National Organization, to push for a pardon.
Syed Mohamad said he was told by a palace official that King Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah was concerned about the case as the monarch hails from Najib’s home state of Pahang and knows the politician well.
“If there is evidence of conflict of interest, then Najib should be freed immediately,” Syed said.
Najib’s supporters were countered by an online petition launched Wednesday by electoral watchdog Bersih urging the king to let Najib serve his sentence as he has been given due process of a fair trial. More than 30,000 people have signed the petition so far, saying Najib “brought shame” to the country and should be an example to any leaders who think they can abuse their power.
Najib sought a retrial last week alleging the high court judge who convicted him in 2020 may have a conflict of interest due to his previous role at a bank that provided financial services to 1MDB but the top court rejected the request.
The Federal Court upheld Najib’s conviction and sentence, saying the appeal was without merit as the defense was “inherently inconsistent and incredible” and ordered him to begin his sentence immediately. Najib has been freed on bail pending his appeals before this.
1MDB was a development fund that Najib set up shortly after taking power in 2009. Investigators allege more than $4.5 billion was stolen from the fund and laundered by Najib’s associates. Najib was found guilty in 2020 of seven charges of corruption for illegally receiving $9.4 million from SRC International, a former unit of 1MDB.
A scion of one of Malaysia’s most prominent political families, Najib’s prison term cemented his stunning fall from grace. But his woes are far from over as he faces another four graft trials linked to the 1MDB debacle that also sparked investigations in the U.S. and several other countries.
Najib will be brought to court in handcuffs Thursday for the hearing of an ongoing trial on four charges of using his position to obtain 2.3 billion ringgit ($513 million) from 1MDB funds and 21 charges of money laundering involving the same amount.
His incarceration came despite the rebound of his UMNO party, which returned to power after defections caused the collapse of the reformist government that won 2018 general elections. He cannot run in general elections due in September 2023, unless he gets a royal pardon.
UMNO party president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, formerly Najib’s deputy and himself on trial for graft, vowed in a Facebook post Wednesday that the party will stand behind the former prime minister and “ensure he gets real justice and without any political intimidation.”
UMNO has been split after the 2018 polls and Prime Minister Ismail, who is from an opposing camp, told local media before the verdict that he would not interfere in the court process.
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SOFIA, Bulgaria (AP) — A 17-year-old pilot became the youngest person to fly solo around the world in a small aircraft after he landed on Wednesday in Bulgaria, where his journey kicked off five months ago.
Mack Rutherford, a Belgian-British dual national, landed on an airstrip west of Bulgaria’s capital, Sofia, to complete his task and to claim two Guinness World Records. Along with becoming the youngest person to fly around the world by himself, Rutherford is the youngest person to circumnavigate the globe in a microlight plane.
Rutherford said he hoped his achievement would inspire young people to pursue their dreams.
“Just follow your dreams, no matter how old you are – work hard and move forward to achieve your goals,” he said after he stepped out of the aircraft.
His sister, Zara, who finished her own trip global flight in January at age 19, previously held the ultralight record. Mack Rutherford took the age record from Travis Ludlow of Britain, who was 18 when he made a solo flight around the world last year.
The journey, which began March 23, took Rutherford through 52 countries over five continents. He turned 17 during the trip. To set a mark recognized by the Guinness World Records, he crossed the equator twice.
Born into a family of aviators, Rutherford qualified for his pilot’s license in 2020, which at the time, made him the youngest pilot in the world at the age of 15.
His solo trip flying around the world kicked off in Bulgaria because his sponsor, the web hosting company ICDSoft, is headquartered in Sofia and loaned him the plane.
Like his sister, Rutherford flew a Shark, one of the fastest ultralight aircraft in the world with a cruising speed reaching 300 kph (186 mph). Normally a two-seater, it was modified for his long journey by replacing the second seat with an extra fuel tank.
Initially planned to take up to three months, the trip lasted longer because of several unexpected obstacles along his way, including monsoon rains, sandstorms and extreme heat.
But most of the delays were caused by waits to obtain permits and other documents required for further flight or having to alter the scheduled route if they were rejected.
The flight took him through Africa and the Gulf region to India, China, South Korea and Japan. He crossed the northern Pacific and landed after 10 uninterrupted hours in the air on a volcanic island near the Bering Strait.
From there, he headed to Alaska and down the West Coast of the United States to Mexico. Rutherford then headed north again along the U.S. East Coast to Canada, and across the Atlantic Ocean to Europe.
On Wednesday, a huge crowd of people had arrived at the airport to welcome Rutherford and to celebrate his achievements. Among them were the three members of his immediate family.
His father, Sam Rutherford, said he was extremely happy and proud of his children’s achievements. He told reporters that such an event is especially encouraging for children to follow their dreams and parents to support them in their endeavors.
His sister, Zara Rutherford, said she kept in close touch with her younger brother during his journey.
“While he was flying, I constantly tried to keep in touch and help him. Our parents called him every day, and I joined in those conversations. I gave him advice on the route, on the flight, so that I could be useful to him,” she said.
Mack Rutherford said he will now focus on his education.
“The next thing I’m going to do is to go back to school and catch up as much as I can,” he said.
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NEW YORK, Sept. 20, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Hypebeast Limited (HKSE: 00150, "Hypebeast" or the "Company"), the leading global platform for contemporary culture and lifestyle, and a premier destination for editorially-driven commerce and news, and Iron Spark I Inc. (Nasdaq: ISAA, "Iron Spark"), a publicly-traded special purpose acquisition company ("SPAC"), today announced that Patrick Wong, Chief Financial Officer will be participating in the Apparel & Accessories Panel at the Wolfe Research Fall Global Consumer Conference on September 22 at 9:05 AM ET.
A replay of the discussion will be available in the days following the conference on the Hypebeast Investor Relations website at https://hypebeast.ltd/investors.
To schedule a meeting with management, please contact your Wolfe Research representative.
Investor Contact:
ICR
Ashley DeSimone
Ashley.DeSimone@icrinc.com
(646) 677-1827
Media Contacts:
Iron Spark I
Olivia Defechereux Dejah
olivia@ironspark.com
Telephone: (307) 200-9007
Hypebeast Limited
Sujean Lee / Rosita Cheng
media@hypebeast.com
About Hypebeast Limited
Hypebeast is a leading global platform for contemporary culture and lifestyle, and a premier destination for editorially-driven commerce and content. Founded in 2005, it became a publicly listed media company in 2016 and today boasts a global readership across North America, Asia Pacific, Europe and more. The Group has expanded its publishing brands to a wider scope in recent years, encompassing Hypebeast and its multiple content distribution platforms, e-commerce and retail platform HBX, and agency Hypemaker.
About Iron Spark I Inc.
Iron Spark I Inc. is a newly incorporated blank check company incorporated as a Delaware corporation for the purpose of effecting a merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses. Although there is no restriction or limitation on what industry or geographic region our target operates in, it is our intention to pursue prospective targets that are consumer brands. The Company will pay a quarterly dividend of $0.05 per outstanding share of Class A common stock.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of section 27A of the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), and section 21E of the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934 ("Exchange Act") that are based on beliefs and assumptions and on information currently available to Iron Spark and Hypebeast. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by the following words: "may," "will," "could," "would," "should," "expect," "intend," "plan," "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "predict," "project," "potential," "continue," "ongoing," "target," "seek" or the negative or plural of these words, or other similar expressions that are predictions or indicate future events or prospects, although not all forward-looking statements contain these words. Any statements that refer to expectations, projections or other characterizations of future events or circumstances, including projections of market opportunity and market share, the capability of Hypebeast's business plans including its plans to expand, the sources and uses of cash from the proposed transaction, the anticipated enterprise value of the combined company following the consummation of the proposed transaction, any benefits of Hypebeast's partnerships, strategies or plans as they relate to the proposed transaction, anticipated benefits of the proposed transaction and expectations related to the terms and timing of the proposed transaction are also forward looking statements. These statements involve risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. Although each of Iron Spark and Hypebeast believes that it has a reasonable basis for each forward-looking statement contained in this communication, each of Iron Spark and Hypebeast caution you that these statements are based on a combination of facts and factors currently known and projections of the future, which are inherently uncertain. In addition, there will be risks and uncertainties described in the proxy statement/prospectus on Form F-4 relating to the proposed transaction, which has been filed by Hypebeast with the SEC and other documents filed by Iron Spark or Hypebeast from time to time with the SEC. These filings may identify and address other important risks and uncertainties that could cause actual events and results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements. Neither Iron Spark nor Hypebeast can assure you that the forward-looking statements in this communication will prove to be accurate. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including, among others, the ability to complete the business combination due to the failure to obtain approval from Iron Spark's stockholders or satisfy other closing conditions in the business combination agreement, the occurrence of any event that could give rise to the termination of the business combination agreement, the ability to recognize the anticipated benefits of the business combination, the amount of redemption requests made by Iron Spark's public stockholders, costs related to the transaction, the impact of the global COVID-19 pandemic, the risk that the transaction disrupts current plans and operations as a result of the announcement and consummation of the transaction, the outcome of any potential litigation, government or regulatory proceedings and other risks and uncertainties, including those to be included under the heading "Risk Factors" in the final prospectus for Iron Spark's initial public offering filed with the SEC on June 10, 2021 and in its subsequent quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and other filings with the SEC. There may be additional risks that neither Iron Spark or Hypebeast presently know or that Iron Spark and Hypebeast currently believe are immaterial that could also cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements. In light of the significant uncertainties in these forward-looking statements, you should not regard these statements as a representation or warranty by Iron Spark, Hypebeast, their respective directors, officers or employees or any other person that Iron Spark and Hypebeast will achieve their objectives and plans in any specified time frame, or at all. The forward-looking statements in this press release represent the views of Iron Spark and Hypebeast as of the date of this communication. Subsequent events and developments may cause those views to change. However, while Iron Spark and Hypebeast may update these forward-looking statements in the future, there is no current intention to do so, except to the extent required by applicable law. You should, therefore, not rely on these forward-looking statements as representing the views of Iron Spark or Hypebeast as of any date subsequent to the date of this communication.
No Offer or Solicitation
This press release is not a proxy statement or solicitation of a proxy, consent or authorization with respect to any securities or in respect of the potential transaction and does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any securities of Iron Spark or Hypebeast, nor shall there be any sale of any such securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of such state or jurisdiction. No offer of securities shall be made except by means of a prospectus meeting the requirements of the Securities Act.
Important Additional Information Regarding the Transaction Will Be Filed With the SEC
In connection with the proposed business combination, Hypebeast has filed with the SEC a registration statement on Form F-4 containing a preliminary proxy statement and a preliminary prospectus of Iron Spark, and after the registration statement is declared effective, Iron Spark will mail a definitive proxy statement/prospectus/consent solicitation statement relating to the proposed business combination to its stockholders and Hypebeast's shareholders. This press release does not contain all the information that should be considered concerning the proposed business combination and is not intended to form the basis of any investment decision or any other decision in respect of the business combination. Iron Spark's stockholders and other interested persons are advised to read, when available, the preliminary proxy statement/prospectus/consent solicitation statement and the amendments thereto and the definitive proxy statement/prospectus/consent solicitation statement and other documents filed in connection with the proposed business combination, as these materials will contain important information about Hypebeast, Iron Spark and the proposed business combination. When available, the definitive proxy statement/prospectus/consent solicitation statement and other relevant materials for the proposed business combination will be mailed to stockholders of Iron Spark as of a record date to be established for voting on the proposed business combination. Such stockholders will also be able to obtain copies of the preliminary proxy statement/prospectus/consent solicitation statement, the definitive proxy statement/prospectus/consent solicitation statement and other documents filed with the SEC, without charge, once available, at the SEC's website at www.sec.gov, or by directing a request to Iron Spark I Inc., 125 N Cache St
Jackson, Wyoming 83001, Attention: Olivia Defechereux Dejah.
Participants in the Solicitation
Iron Spark and Hypebeast and their respective directors, executive officers, other members of management, and employees, under SEC rules, may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies of Iron Spark's stockholders in connection with the proposed transaction. Information regarding the persons who may, under SEC rules, be deemed participants in the solicitation of Iron Spark's stockholders in connection with the proposed business combination will be set forth in Hypebeast's registration statement on Form F-4, including a proxy statement/prospectus/consent solicitation statement, when it is filed with the SEC. Investors and security holders may obtain more detailed information regarding the names and interests in the proposed transaction of Iron Spark's directors and officers in Iron Spark's filings with the SEC and such information will also be in the Registration Statement to be filed with the SEC by Hypebeast, which will include the proxy statement / prospectus/consent solicitation statement of Iron Spark for the proposed transaction.
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BANGKOK (AP) — Thailand’s government held its first official meetings Thursday under an acting prime minister, after a court ordered the suspension of Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha a day earlier while it considered if he violated the position’s legal term limits.
Prayuth’s removal is likely to only be temporary since the Constitutional Court has generally ruled in the government’s favor in a slew of political cases. Tipanan Sirichana, deputy spokesperson from the Prime Minister’s Office, said the court decision meant Prayuth was suspended until a final decision, though no date was set for that.
Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwan has assumed the role of acting prime minister, taking over Prayuth’s duties. On Thursday, he chaired a meeting of a committee on communications during national disasters that he was previously scheduled to attend.
Prayuth, while suspended from prime minister duties, has kept his other Cabinet position as defense minister, and in that capacity he attended a monthly meeting of the government’s Defense Council, participating via video.
Any court ruling allowing Prayuth to stay on as prime minster risks invigorating a protest movement that has long sought to oust him and reopening deep fissures in Thailand, which has been rocked by repeated bursts of political chaos since a coup toppled then-Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra in 2006.
Since then, Thaksin, a telecoms billionaire whose populist appeal threatened the traditional power structure, has remained at the center of the country’s politics, as his supporters and opponents fought for power both at the ballot box and in the streets, sometimes violently. The 2014 takeover ousted his sister’s government from power.
Spokesperson Anucha Burapachaisri said Prayuth would respect the court’s decision and called on others to do the same. But those who want Prayuth gone don’t want Prawit, a close political ally of Prayuth and part of the same military clique that staged the coup, in power either.
“No Prayuth. No Prawit. No military coup government,” a leading protest group said in a statement after the Wednesday court decision.
The group known as Ratsadon, or The People, issued a new call for protests, but only a small number came in response.
Prayuth’s detractors contend he has violated a law that limits prime ministers to eight years in power — a threshold they say he hit Tuesday since he officially became prime minister on Aug. 24, 2014.
But his supporters contend his term should be counted from when the current constitution, which contains the term-limit provision, came into effect in 2017. Another interpretation would start the clock in 2019, when he won the job legally after a general election.
The case — in which the court is deciding whether a coup leader has stayed in power too long — highlighted Thailand’s particular political culture: Often the soldiers who overthrow elected leaders then try to legitimize their rule and defuse opposition by holding elections and abiding by constitutional restrictions.
By a vote of 5 to 4 on Wednesday, the court agreed to suspend the prime minister from his duties while it considers a petition from opposition lawmakers. The court’s announcement said Prayuth must submit his defense within 15 days of receiving a copy of the complaint, but it did not say when it would rule. The ruling allowed him to stay in his other post as defense minister.
Polls show Prayuth’s popularity is at a low ebb, with voters blaming him for mishandling the economy and botching Thailand’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
In 2020, tens of thousands of people took to the streets to demand that Prayuth and his Cabinet resign, while also calling for the constitution to be amended and the monarchy to be reformed.
Several confrontations between the student-driven protest movement and authorities became violent. A legal crackdown on activists further embittered critics.
Small protests appealing again to Prayuth to step down — and the Constitutional Court to force him to if he didn’t — have been held daily since Sunday, but drew only small crowds.
“I am very pleased. Gen. Prayuth has stayed for a long time and had no vision to develop the country at all,” Wuttichai Tayati, a 28-year-old who works in marketing, said while protesting Wednesday in Bangkok. “At least taking him out for now might make Thailand move forward a bit.”
Even if Prayuth does go, replacing him with Prawit will not resolve the standoff.
In addition to his close association with the military clique that seized power, Prawit, 77, was tainted by allegations he had illegally amassed a collection of luxury watche s he couldn’t possibly afford on a government salary, though a court accepted his explanation they were gifts and cleared him of wrongdoing.
Whether Prawit would or could take the prime minister’s post if the court rules against Prayuth is not clear. He has publicly acknowledged his health is not good and is better known as a behind-the-scenes political organizer.
Some legal scholars think the eventual replacement would have to come from the small pool of candidates that the country’s political parties nominated for the job after the 2019 general election. That list did not include Prawit, though it appears possible he could be nominated in case of a deadlock.
If he is not forced out of office, Prayuth must call a new election by March, though he has the option of calling one before that.
The eight-year term limit was meant to target Thaksin, whose political machine remains powerful. The 2014 coup ousted the government of Thaksin’s sister, Yingluck Shinawatra.
Thailand’s traditional conservative ruling class, including the military, felt that Thaksin’s popularity posed a threat to the country’s monarchy as well as their own influence. The courts have been stalwart defenders of the established order and ruled consistently against Thaksin and other challengers.
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This version corrects that meetings were held Thursday under the acting prime minister, Prawit Wongsuwan, but did not include a Cabinet meeting.
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(The Hill) — A bombshell Twitter whistleblower complaint alleging the company has major security deficiencies is adding fuel to Elon Musk’s core argument in his case against Twitter as he tries to back out of his $44 billion deal to buy the platform.
Former Twitter security chief Peiter Zatko’s complaint, made public Tuesday, complicates the legal challenge for the social media platform. Twitter is suing in an effort to force Musk to complete his acquisition of the company after he walked away from his binding offer over accusations that Twitter breached the agreement by failing to provide him with sufficient data about spam accounts.
Zatko has had no contact with Musk, and the drafting of the complaint predates Musk’s involvement with Twitter, according to Whistleblower Aid, the group representing Zatko.
Nonetheless, key portions of the redacted 84-page complaint, published by The Washington Post, appear to bolster Musk’s accusations, even referencing tweets from Twitter CEO Parag Agrawal to Musk about the number of bots on the platform as a “recent example of misrepresentations.”
Musk’s legal team is already leaning into using Zatko’s complaint as the Musk-Twitter case heads to an October trial.
“We have already issued a subpoena for Mr. Zatko, and we found his exit and that of other key employees curious in light of what we have been finding,” said Alex Spiro, an attorney for Musk.
Twitter’s lawsuit against Musk was filed in July. It marks one of several fronts on which Twitter will have to navigate hurdles in the fallout from the whistleblower complaint, which includes a lengthy list of accusations about security deficiencies that the company denies and will also force Twitter to face scrutiny from Congress and federal regulators that have been increasingly hostile toward tech companies in recent years.
“This throws gasoline into the fire around the bot issue with Musk and Twitter,” Wedbush analyst Dan Ives said. “This alarming story also raises security concerns which will be a major focus of the Beltway on Twitter. For the Musk camp this story is like a kid looking under the tree on Christmas morning heading into Delaware court.”
Twitter is pushing back strongly on Zatko’s allegations — as it has with accusations made by Musk.
“What we’ve seen so far is a false narrative about Twitter and our privacy and data security practices that is riddled with inconsistencies and inaccuracies and lacks important context,” a Twitter spokesperson said in a statement. “Mr. Zatko’s allegations and opportunistic timing appear designed to capture attention and inflict harm on Twitter, its customers and its shareholders.”
The spokesperson said Zatko was fired for “ineffective leadership and poor performance.”
Jeffrey Manns, a professor at the George Washington University Law School, said it is too early to tell how the allegations will impact the case, but they could give Musk more leverage to back out of the deal or renegotiate.
“At least up until this day, I think that conventional wisdom is that Elon Musk doesn’t have a lot to hang his hat on when it comes to backing out of the deal,” Manns said.
In order to boost Musk’s case, there needs to be more substance to back up the whistleblower’s claims, he said.
“The accusations are salacious in terms of misconduct and misrepresentation by leadership concerning both the levels of security and the number of fake accounts. But all we know at this point is we have a former employee who is raising what could be legitimate concerns. Until there’s greater scrutiny to show whether the former employee can back that up, the jury is out,” Manns said.
Musk engaged in a public back-and-forth with Agrawal in May, roughly a month after reaching a deal to buy the company, about the number of bots or spam accounts on Twitter.
Agrawal responded by stating that “we are strongly incentivized to detect and remove as much spam as we possibly can.” Zatko’s complaint calls the response a lie, alleging that the metric Twitter uses to quantify the average number of users on the platform that can view ads — called the mDAU, or monetizable daily active user, metric — incentivizes executives to avoid counting spam bots as mDAU because that figure is reported to advertisers. If the mDAU metric included spam bots that do not click through ads, then it could lead advertisers to shift to other platforms.
The complaint alleges there are “many millions of active accounts” not considered mDAU that include spam bots.
“Therefore Musk’s suspicions are on target: senior executives earn bonuses not for cutting spam, but for growing mDAU. In Fact, Twitter created the mDAU metric precisely to avoid having to honestly answer the very questions Mr. Musk raised,” the complaint states.
Agrawal later followed up his statement about spam removal with what appeared to be a more direct response to Musk, tweeting that an estimate of less than 5 percent of “reported mDAU” every quarter are spam accounts.
The complaint states Agrawal’s expanded explanation doesn’t include “out-and-out lies but they rely on world play to district and mislead Mr. Musk, and everyone else” and that the general public would not understand the difference between the metric Agrawal is using and the overall Twitter user population without insight into Twitter’s calculation for mDAU.
Twitter spokeswoman Rebecca Hahn told the Post that Twitter removes more than a million spam accounts every day, adding up to more than 300 million per year. She told the paper that Twitter “fully stands” by its Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filings and approach to fighting spam.
Others also questioned Zatko’s accusations, according to the Post’s report.
A person familiar with Zatko’s tenure at Twitter told the Post the company investigated Zatko’s security claims during his time there and concluded they were sensationalistic and without merit. Four people familiar with Twitter’s efforts to fight spam told the Post that the company uses extensive manual and automated tools to measure and reduce spam.
Zatko started at Twitter in November 2020 in the security/integrity lead position after being courted by Twitter founder and then-CEO Jack Dorsey, according to the complaint. He was fired in January.
A core part of Zatko’s complaint alleges that Twitter was not complying with a 2011 consent order from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) for the past decade. The FTC ordered the company to create and maintain a security program designed to protect privacy and nonpublic consumer information as part of a settlement agreement over an FTC complaint that hackers were able to gain control of Twitter on two occasions in 2009.
Up until the time of Zatko’s termination, Twitter “remained out of compliance in multiple respects” with the 2011 order, the complaint alleges.
The whistleblower disclosure was reportedly sent to the SEC, FTC and Department of Justice (DOJ) last month.
After being publicly released Tuesday, Zatko’s allegations caused an immediate stir in Washington. Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle have criticized Twitter, and the new accusations are prompting calls for an investigation.
The Senate Intelligence Committee received the complaint and is “in the process of setting up a meeting to discuss the allegations in further detail,” a committee spokesperson said.
“We take this matter seriously,” the spokesperson added.
Top senators on the Judiciary Committee also vowed to take action.
“If these claims are accurate, they may show dangerous data privacy and security risks for Twitter users around the world. As Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, I will continue investigating this issue and take further steps as needed to get to the bottom of these alarming allegations,” the committee’s chair, Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), said in a statement.
Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), the ranking member of the Judiciary Committee, said in a statement that the claims raise “serious national security concerns as well as privacy issues, and they must be investigated further.”
“Take a tech platform that collects massive amounts of user data, combine it with what appears to be an incredibly weak security infrastructure and infuse it with foreign state actors with an agenda, and you’ve got a recipe for disaster,” Grassley said.
Sen. Ed Markey (D-Mass.) sent letters urging the FTC and DOJ to take action in response to the allegations raised by the whistleblower complaint.
Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) sent a letter to the FTC with a similar request.
“These troubling disclosures paint the picture of a company that has consistently and repeatedly prioritized profits over the safety of its users and its responsibility to the public, as Twitter executives appeared to ignore or hinder efforts to address threats to user security and privacy,” Blumenthal wrote.
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| 2022-09-20T21:51:05Z
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KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Russian forces Wednesday launched a rocket attack on a Ukrainian train station on the embattled country’s Independence Day, killing 22 people, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said after warning for days that Moscow might attempt “something particularly cruel” this week.
The lethal attack took place in Chaplyne, a town of about 3,500 people in the central Dnipropetrovsk region, Ukrainian news agencies quoted Zelenskyy as telling the U.N. Security Council via video. The president’s office also reported that an 11-year-old child was killed by rocket fire earlier in the day in the settlement.
“Chaplyne is our pain today,” Zelenskyy said in his nightly video address to the nation.
At one point, Zelenskyy put the number of wounded at about 50. The deputy head of Zelenskyy’s office later said 22 people were wounded in the attack, which hit five passenger rail cars.
Ukraine had been bracing for especially heavy attacks around the national holiday that commemorates Ukraine’s declaration of independence from the Soviet Union in 1991. Wednesday also marked the six-month point in the war.
Days ahead of Independence Day, Kyiv authorities banned large gatherings in the capital through Thursday for fear of missile strikes.
Residents of Kyiv, which has been largely spared in recent months, woke up Wednesday to air raid sirens, but no immediate strikes followed. As the day wore on, Russian bombardments were reported in the country’s east, west and center, with the most serious attack apparently at the train station.
Outgoing British Prime Minister Boris Johnson marked the holiday with a visit to Kyiv — his third since the war broke out — and other European leaders used the occasion to pledge unwavering support for Ukraine, locked in a battle that was widely expected to be a lightning conquest by Moscow but has turned into a grinding war of attrition. U.S. President Joe Biden announced a new military aid package of nearly $3 billion to help Ukrainian forces fight for years to come.
Over the weekend, Zelenskyy cautioned that Russia “may try to do something particularly nasty, something particularly cruel” this week. He repeated the warnings ahead of the train station attack, saying, “Russian provocations and brutal strikes are a possibility.”
Nevertheless, a festive atmosphere prevailed during the day at Kyiv’s Maidan square as thousands of residents posed for pictures next to burned-out Russian tanks put on display. Folk singers set up, and many revelers — ignoring the sirens — were out and about in traditionally embroidered dresses and shirts.
Others were fearful.
“I can’t sleep at night because of what I see and hear about what is being done in Ukraine,” said a retiree who gave only her first name, Tetyana, her voice shaking with emotion. “This is not a war. It is the destruction of the Ukrainian people.”
In a holiday message to the country, Zelenskyy exulted over Ukraine’s success in fending off Moscow’s forces since the invasion, saying: “On Feb. 24, we were told: You have no chance. On Aug. 24, we say: Happy Independence Day, Ukraine!”
Britain’s Johnson urged Western allies to stand by Ukraine through the winter.
“This is not the time to put forward flimsy negotiating proposals,” he said. “You can’t negotiate with a bear when it’s eating your leg or with a street robber when he has you pinned to the floor.”
A car bombing outside Moscow that killed the 29-year-old daughter of right-wing Russian political theorist Alexander Dugin on Saturday also heightened fears that Russia might intensify attacks on Ukraine this week. Russian officials have blamed Ukraine for the death of Darya Dugina, a pro-Kremlin TV commentator. Ukraine has denied any involvement.
Russian President Vladimir Putin’s forces have encountered unexpectedly stiff Ukrainian resistance in their invasion and abandoned their effort to storm the capital in the spring. The fighting has turned into a slog that has reduced neighborhoods to rubble and sent shock waves through the world economy.
Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, speaking Wednesday at a meeting of his counterparts from a security organization dominated by Russia and China, claimed the slow pace of Moscow’s military action was due to what he said was an effort to spare civilians.
Russian forces have repeatedly targeted civilian areas in cities, including hospitals and a Mariupol theater where hundreds of people were taking shelter.
But Shoigu said Russia is carrying out strikes with precision weapons against Ukrainian military targets, and “everything is done to avoid civilian casualties.”
“Undoubtedly, it slows down the pace of the offensive, but we do it deliberately,” he said.
On the battlefield, Russian forces struck several towns and villages in Donetsk province in the east over 24 hours, killing one person, authorities said. A building materials superstore in the city of Donetsk was hit by a shell and erupted in flames, the mayor said. There were no immediate reports of any injuries.
In the Dnipropetrovsk region, the Russians again shelled the cities of Nikopol and Marhanets, damaging several buildings and wounding people, authorities said. Russian troops also shelled the city of Zaporizhzhia, but no casualties were reported.
In addition, Russian rockets struck unspecified targets in the Khmelnytskyi region, about 300 kilometers (180 miles) west of Kyiv, the regional governor said. Attacks there have been infrequent.
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Varenytsia reported from Pokrovsk, Ukraine. Associated Press writers Hanna Arhirova in Kyiv and Lolita C. Baldor and Matthew Lee in Washington contributed to this report.
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Follow all of AP’s coverage of the war in Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine
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WASHINGTON (WHNT) — A public health alert has been issued for Perdue’s frozen ready-to-eat chicken breast tenders labeled “gluten-free” over concerns of small pieces of plastic and blue dye, the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced Tuesday.
A recall was not issued for the product since it is no longer available to purchase, according to the USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service.
The following frozen chicken products, produced on July 12, 2022, are affected by the alert: 42-ounce plastic bags of Purdue Chicken Breast Tenders Gluten Free with a “Best if Used By” date of July 12, 2023, and a lot number of 2193 above the use by date.
Affected products will have the establishment number “P-33944” underneath the “Best if Used By” date on the back of the package. These products, according to the FSIS, were shipped to BJ’s Wholesale Club retail locations across the country.
So far, the USDA says there have been no confirmed reports of injuries or adverse reactions from anyone eating the product.
The FSIS encourages anyone with the affected product to throw it away or return it to where it was purchased.
For questions or concerns, you can call the toll-free USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline at 888-MPHotline (888-674-6854) or send an email here.
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Western leaders pledged unwavering support for Ukraine as the war-ravaged country marked its Independence Day on Wednesday, coinciding with the six-month milestone of Russia’s invasion.
Leaders paid tribute to the sacrifices and courage of the Ukrainian people, voiced their resolve to keep supplying Ukraine with weapons and reviled Moscow for its attack on the neighboring Eastern European nation.
In Britain, floral and musical tributes punctuated a show of solidarity as Ukraine commemorated its 1991 declaration of independence from the Soviet Union. The U.K. Ministry of Defense tweeted a video of the Scots Guards Band, which usually provides musical accompaniment for the Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace, performing Ukraine’s winning Eurovision Song Contest entry, “Stefania.”
An arch of sunflowers — Ukraine’s national flower — decorated the entrance to the British prime minister’s Downing Street office. Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who is soon to leave office, urged allies to keep giving Ukraine all the military, humanitarian, economic and diplomatic support it needs.
“We will never recognize Russia’s annexation of Crimea or any other Ukrainian territory,” Johnson said in a Tuesday video address to an international summit on Russia’s seizure of the Crimean Peninsula from Ukraine in 2014.
Like London, Brussels also chose to dress up for the occasion. The Belgian city, which is home to the European Union’s institutions, decked itself out in the colors of the Ukrainian national flag. A giant Ukrainian flag was unfurled in the capital’s historic Grand Place.
U.S. President Joe Biden, marking the day by announcing significant new military aid to Ukraine, noted that the anniversary was “bittersweet” for many Ukrainians, as they continue to suffer but take pride in withstanding Russia’s “relentless attacks.”
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said in a video posted on Twitter that “our hearts go out to those who pay for the Russian war terror with their lives day after day, who are maimed and wounded.”
“We mourn with those who have lost friends or family members, who have had to flee, have been taken from their beloved homeland or by Russian occupiers, who have lost their belongings to Russian bombs, rockets and artillery shells,” the chancellor said.
Scholz had harsh words for Russia, rebuking the Kremlin for its “backward imperialism,” and stressed that Ukraine “will drive away the dark shadow of war because it is strong and brave, because it has friends in Europe and all over the world.”
French President Emmanuel Macron, in a video message bookended with phrases he spoke in Ukrainian, said the defense of Ukraine meant “refusing to allow international relations to be ruled by violence and chaos.”
He said Ukraine’s Independence Day “is a day of pride. But in the place of legitimate festivities, we are thinking of the dead and the fighters today, of the courage and resilience of your people.”
Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin adopted a similar tone, calling Ukrainians “brave and unyielding.” She added: “We stand with you. We won’t look away.”
Ukraine offers a lesson that “freedom and democracy will always win out over coercion and violence,” Spain’s prime minister, Pedro Sánchez, said.
Pope Francis marked the half-year anniversary of the invasion by decrying the “insanity” of war and lamenting that innocents on both sides were paying the price.
The pontiff warned about the risk of nuclear disaster in Ukraine, a reference to the shelling of the Russian-occupied Zaporizhhia nuclear power plant. He also lashed out at those who were profiting from the war, especially weapons manufacturers.
Francis has stepped up his denunciations of the war, though he rarely blames Russia or President Vladimir Putin by name, evidence that the Vatican is trying to keep dialogue open with Moscow.
In Poland’s capital, Warsaw, a few dozen Ukrainians, mostly women and children, gathered before a Ukraine community center and sang the national anthem. Many were dressed in embroidered folk shirts.
Scores of people, including Portuguese politicians, attended a gathering in Lisbon, Portugal, by the city’s statue of Taras Shevchenko, Ukraine’s preeminent poet of the 19th century and a symbol of national renaissance. In Madrid, the 18th-century Cibeles fountain, a city landmark, was due to be lit up with the Ukrainian colors after sunset.
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Follow all of AP’s coverage of the war in Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine
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| 2022-09-20T21:51:35Z
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NEW YORK, Sept. 20, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The world-famous red symbol of excellence is coming to New York City. Taiwan Excellence is an awards label that recognizes the top products coming out of Taiwan annually. As a part of their 2022 world tour, Taiwan Excellence is breaking records by making an awe-inspiring stop at one of the world's most famous landmarks. For the very first time, a creative link made between two Times Square billboard screens, producing a jaw-dropping experience for all visitors. The iconic One Times Square Billboard watched by millions worldwide during the New Year's Eve countdown is seamlessly connected with the ABC Supersign, creating a unique interactive 3D show. (Campaign Video on YouTube)
Dynamic Storytelling with 3D Experience
A gorgeous blue sky with fluffy white clouds sets the scene. Jade Mountain, the quintessential symbol of Taiwan's natural environment sits majestically, while the eye-catching Taiwan Excellence logo is launched into the clouds. The 3D logo weaves its way in and out of different scenes that symbolize the international reach of Taiwan's innovative products. People passing by will marvel at the different 3D animations as they fly between the two panels, symbolizing the friendship between Taiwan and America.
The streets of New York City will be lit up with Taiwan Excellence, along with an excellent concept behind it, bringing everyday excellence to lives of the people. Audiences will leave Times Square with a strong impression for Taiwan's creative power and innovative product design. The campaign will be at Times Square in New York City from September 19 to September 25, with a record-making link-up show on September 19 and September 24.
Achieve Everyday Excellence
Focusing on four major areas of product excellence, the coveted Taiwan Excellence award is given to products that are innovating in research and development, design, quality, and marketing. As an international hub for design and technology, Taiwan is home to many of the world's top brands. With the Taiwan Excellence awards, every year a professional multi-disciplinary team of jurors select the best Taiwanese products.
This October, a selection of the 2022 Taiwan Excellence award-winning products will be showcased in Washington, D.C., at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center. Drift away into an Immersive Future at the very first 'Taiwan Excellence Immersion Pavilion' and discover many top design-oriented lifestyle solutions. For more information, please visit the official website of the Taiwan Expo USA 2022, and the Taiwan Excellence Instagram.
About Taiwan Excellence
The Taiwan Excellence Awards celebrate the ingenuity and innovation of Taiwanese businesses that display outstanding R&D, design, and quality in product development.
The annual event is committed to elevating the creativity of Taiwanese businesses internationally. Please visit www.taiwanexcellence.org for more information.
For more information and campaign visuals and videos, please download it here.
Media Contact:
Sucy Lin
Tiger Party New York
Tel: +1 646.441.8000 | sucy@thetigerparty.com
Brian Lee
Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA)
Tel: +886-2-2725-5200 ext. 1368 | brianlee@taitra.org.tw
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE Taiwan Excellence
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(NEXSTAR) – The Biden administration has announced its plan to cancel some of America’s $1.6 trillion in federal student loan debt, fulfilling a campaign promise after months of anticipation. Up to 43 million borrowers are expected to receive relief, according to estimates from the White House.
Roughly 20 million borrowers are expected to see their entire remaining student loan balance erased.
Plans for “targeted student debt cancellation,” revealed Wednesday, are intended to help “borrowers at highest risk of delinquencies or default once payments resume,” the U.S. Department of Education said in a release.
As expected, student loan forgiveness will be restricted based on income. Borrowers “with annual income during the pandemic of under $125,000 (for individuals) or under $250,000 (for married couples or heads of households)” will be eligible for up to $10,000 in relief, according to the Education Department.
Borrowers under the same income caps who received a Pell Grant in college will be eligible for up to $20,000 in debt cancellation.
How that relief will be distributed has not yet been made clear.
In its Wednesday release, the Education Department said further details will be announced in the coming weeks. Borrowers will need to fill out an application, officials said, which will be available available before the student loan payment pause ends on December 31.
Income data already available to the Department of Education shows nearly 8 million borrowers may qualify for student relief automatically.
Additional details about student loan forgiveness are expected in the coming weeks, and President Biden is scheduled to deliver remarks about the decision Wednesday afternoon.
In addition to student loan forgiveness, the Biden administration extended the payment pause on loans until the end of 2022, proposed a new rule to change to create a new income-driven repayment plan that will substantially reduce future monthly payments for lower- and middle-income borrowers, and proposed long-term changes to the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program.
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| 2022-09-20T21:51:42Z
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WASHINGTON (AP) — Police said two people were killed and three others injured Wednesday in a shooting in front of a senior citizens center and near several schools in the nation’s capital.
The Metropolitan Police Department said Wednesday’s shooting happened in the Truxton Circle neighborhood of Washington in front of a residence for senior citizens and near several high schools.
The shooting happened just before 1 p.m. when a black SUV pulled up in front of the senior residence and two men hopped out and opened fire, Executive Assistant Police Chief Ashan Benedict said. The men fired at least seven shots before returning to their vehicle and driving away.
A total of five men were shot. Two died at the scene and three others were taken to area hospitals and were being treated Wednesday afternoon for their injuries.
Benedict said police were still trying to collect evidence at the scene and working to identify a definitive motive, but he said the area is known to officers as “an open-air drug market.”
Officers routinely make arrests there for the sale of narcotics, and investigators believe the shooting was related to those drug sales, he said.
“This is an ongoing problem,” Benedict said.
The shootings, which took place about one block from a school, continue a violent trend for the nation’s capital. Homicides have risen for four years straight; the 2021 murder count of 227 was the highest since 2003, and the city is on pace to exceed that this year. Mayor Muriel Bowser, who is seeking reelection for a third term this fall, spent much of the Democratic primary race fending off charges that she was mishandling the violent crime situation.
“We need to get these people off the street. We need the criminal justice system to be a part of that,” Benedict said. “We can always be better.”
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| 2022-09-20T21:51:49Z
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WASHINGTON (AP) — First lady Jill Biden has tested positive for COVID-19 again in an apparent “rebound” case, after she tested negative for the virus over the weekend.
President Joe Biden, who spent three days with his wife at their Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, vacation home, continues to test negative, the White House said. He also suffered a rebound case earlier this month after an initial recovery from the coronavirus.
Jill Biden first tested positive for the virus on Aug. 15, when she and her husband were vacationing in Kiawah Island, South Carolina. She isolated in the beach town until she received two negative tests and was cleared to meet the president in Delaware on Sunday.
Biden’s deputy communications director Kelsey Donohue said the first lady “has experienced no reemergence of symptoms, and will remain in Delaware where she has reinitiated isolation procedures.” Donohue said the White House Medical Unit has notified individuals who were in close contact with the first lady.
Jill Biden, 71, and her husband, 79, have been twice-vaccinated and twice-boosted with the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine. She had been prescribed the antiviral drug Paxlovid, which has proven to be highly effective at preventing serious disease and death among those at highest risk from COVID-19, but a minority of those prescribed the drug have experienced a rebound case of the virus a few days after their initial recovery.
The first lady has been in Rehoboth Beach since Sunday and will remain there while she continues to isolate.
The White House said the president was considered a close contact, and would wear a mask “for 10 days when indoors and in close proximity to others” in accordance with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidance. The White House will also increase the frequency of his COVID-19 testing.
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Associated Press writer Darlene Superville contributed to this report.
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Locally-Owned Eatery Yearns to Satisfy the Community's Cravings with its Delicious, Tasty Pizza and More
LEE'S SUMMIT, Mo., Sept. 20, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Marco's Pizza recently opened its newest location in Lee's Summit, MO. Located at 929 NE Woods Chapel Rd., pizza lovers can expect only fresh, high-quality ingredients.
Bringing Marco's pizza-making prowess to Lee Summit are the new owners Jered Jerome and Andy Welch. With 20 years of multi-unit management with a rival pizza brand in Kansas City, Andy Welch is no stranger to the pizza business. Through his previous pizza ventures with this brand, Welch established himself as one of the city's premier leaders in pizza and teamed up with Jerome to bring Marco's Pizza's premium quality product to the people of Lee Summit. Jerome's entrepreneurial journey includes building a successful business with Anytime Fitness and Senior Helpers. He is excited to bring his passion for pizza to the table with Welch as they open their fourth location together with the goal of opening 15 more locations in the Kansas City metro area in the coming years.
"Marco's Pizza is a 'People First' business, and we are passionate about keeping that mentality with our team, customers, and our community," said Jerome. "That community starts with us and our opening team. Our VP of Operations, Matt Waisner, joins us from Andy's previous pizza business, and our GM, Jeremy Dale, started out as a driver at our Shawnee location and has worked his way up for the opportunity to run the show in Lee's Summit."
"We also love that Marco's has something for everyone in the family," adds Welch. "We only use quality ingredients in our recipes and are excited to be serving up only the best of the best to the pizza lovers of the Kansas City area."
The Marco's mouth-watering menu features a mix of classic and original specialty pizzas loaded with fresh toppings, including the White Cheezy, Deluxe, All Meat or Build-Your-Own Pizza, plus a variety of its signature Pizza Bowls. Marco's was the first national pizza delivery brand to offer Pizza Bowls – a crustless pizza baked in a bowl to meet consumers' ever-changing dietary preferences.
Customers can also choose from oven-baked subs, along with creations like the CheezyBread, Chicken Dippers and Wings, salads and desserts. With carryout, delivery, app and online ordering options, Marco's offers the convenience of picking up a quick meal or having it delivered to your door.
Marco's Pizza has carved out a niche in the industry for its high-quality pizza, known for its dough made from scratch for a craveable golden crust, freshly mixed herbs and spices for a sauce worth savoring and three fresh signature cheeses for a perfect, melty bite. Now, Lee Summit pizza lovers can experience the delicious goodness they've been craving.
For more information about the Marco's Pizza location opening in Lee Summit, please visit www.marcos.com, download the mobile app or call (816) 927-0050. If you would like to join the Marco's team as a delivery driver or pizza maker, please visit apply.marcos.com.
Headquartered in Toledo, Ohio, Marco's Pizza is the fastest-growing pizza brand* in the United States. Marco's was founded in 1978 by Italian-born Pasquale ("Pat") Giammarco and thrives to deliver a high-quality pizza experience. Marco's Pizza can be ordered for delivery or carryout by downloading the mobile app, going online to www.marcos.com or by calling each store directly.
*Marco's Pizza is the fastest-growing pizza brand based on year-over-year unit growth, according to 2021 NRN Top 500 U.S. Restaurant Ranking LSR Pizza Segment.
Media Contact: Sally Hamer, shamer@fishmanpr.com, 847-945-1300
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE Marco's Pizza
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HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Dr. Mehmet Oz is taking a sharper tone in attacking the health of Democrat John Fetterman in their Pennsylvania Senate race, with the celebrity heart surgeon’s campaign saying that if the state’s lieutenant governor “had ever eaten a vegetable in his life, then maybe he wouldn’t have had a major stroke.”
And in a phone call Wednesday to The Associated Press, an aide to the Republican nominee questioned whether Fetterman was “too sick to debate” — a suggestion brushed off by Fetterman’s campaign as Oz pushes for a televised debate Sept. 6.
The increasingly pointed and personal barbs come as Oz is trailing Fetterman in polls in the November matchup that could help decide Senate control. Democrats see the contest to succeed retiring Republican Sen. Pat Toomey as among their best opportunities nationally to pick up a seat.
Fetterman’s latest high-profile trolling of Oz on social media has focused on Oz’s effort to spotlight the country’s high inflation by shopping for “crudités” — raw vegetables cut up and served as an hors d’oeuvre — in a state with cities that pride themselves on cheesesteaks and pierogies, potato-filled dumplings.
Oz’s stepped-up claims about Fetterman’s health may reflect a vulnerability for the Democrat as he recovers from the stroke days before the May 17 primary. Party officials had initially been nervous about Fetterman’s disappearance from the campaign for nearly three months while he was on the mend. But they insist they are confident he is fully capable of running — and Fetterman says he wouldn’t be in the race if he weren’t able to campaign and win.
Oz, the former host of daytime TV’s “Dr. Oz Show,” has contended that Fetterman is hiding, refusing to commit to a debate and has conducted just two media interviews since the stroke.
Fetterman and his campaign say the Oz’s camp went too far in blaming Fetterman himself for his stroke.
“I had a stroke. I survived it. I’m truly so grateful to still be here today,” Fetterman said on Twitter. “I know politics can be nasty, but even then, I could (asterisk)never(asterisk) imagine ridiculing someone for their health challenges.”
A Fetterman campaign spokesperson, Joe Calvello, said Fetterman is healthy enough to debate, walks 5 miles to 6 miles a day and has been honest about his recovery, saying he is working with a therapist to deal with some speech and hearing problems.
An Oz campaign adviser, Barney Keller, said Oz and his team are simply giving Fetterman “good health advice” to eat vegetables.
As for the proposed debate at a Pittsburgh TV station, the Fetterman campaign said it’s not up to Oz to dictate the terms of the debate schedule.
Keller said Oz has done no such thing, leaving Oz’s campaign to conclude that Fetterman isn’t being honest about the extent to which he is affected by the stroke.
“Either he’s healthy enough to debate and should debate, or he’s not healthy enough to debate and he should say so,” Keller said. But, he added, “Why lie about it? Why continue to lie about how sick he is?”
Fetterman’s public schedule has been relatively light, although he did speak for four minutes at a steelworkers’ union rally in Pittsburgh on Tuesday.
The Oz’s campaign’s statement about Fetterman’s diet tries to play into the narrative that the Democrat is not being transparent about his health.
“If John Fetterman had ever eaten a vegetable in his life, then maybe he wouldn’t have had a major stroke and wouldn’t be in the position of having to lie about it constantly,” Oz’s campaign said.
It came in response to Fetterman’s latest social media trolling, capitalizing on a video in which Oz tries to highlight rising inflation by pointing out the high prices for ingredients to make “crudités.”
Fetterman took to social media to tell Oz that “in PA we call this a … veggie tray,” a rebuke that slams Oz on two narratives favored by Fetterman’s campaign: that Oz is super wealthy and out of touch, and that Oz is really from New Jersey, not Pennsylvania.
Fetterman’s campaign said it raised more than a $1 million off its campaign to lampoon Oz’s “crudités” video.
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Follow Marc Levy on Twitter at https://twitter.com/timelywriter
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Follow AP for full coverage of the midterms at https://apnews.com/hub/2022-midterm-elections and on Twitter, https://twitter.com/ap_politics
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WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration on Wednesday responded to Iran’s latest offer to resume its compliance with the 2015 nuclear deal, but neither side is offering a definitive path to revive the agreement, which has been on life-support since former President Donald Trump withdrew from it in 2018.
State Department spokesman Ned Price confirmed that the administration completed its review of Iran’s comments on a European proposal. Price did not detail the administration’s response.
“As you know, we received Iran’s comments on the EU’s proposed final text through the EU,” Price said. “Our review of those comments has now concluded. We have responded to the EU today.”
There is now expected to be another exchange of technical details followed by a meeting of the joint commission that oversees the deal. The new developments, including stepped-up public messaging campaigns by both Tehran and Washington, suggest that an agreement could be near.
Despite the forward movement, numerous hurdles remain. And key sticking points could still unravel efforts to bring back the 2015 deal under which Iran received billions of dollars in sanctions relief in exchange for curbs on its nuclear program intended to prevent it from developing an atomic weapon.
Even U.S. supporters of an agreement are no longer referring to the “longer and stronger” deal that they had initially set out to win when indirect negotiations with Iran began last spring. And, on the Iranian side, demands for greater U.S. sanctions relief than the administration appears willing or able to promise could undercut the push to revive the agreement.
In Washington, the Biden administration faces considerable political opposition to returning to the 2015 deal from both Democrats and Republicans in Congress who remain unconvinced that it is in U.S. national security interests.
“I intend to systematically fight the implementation of this catastrophic deal, and will work with my colleagues to ensure that it is blocked and eventually reversed in January 2025,” said Republican Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas.
The recent indictment of an Iranian for plotting to murder Trump’s former national security adviser John Bolton and the attack by an apparent Iran sympathizer on the author Salman Rushdie have further contributed to doubts that Iran can be trusted.
The latest EU proposal does not include Tehran’s demand that the U.S. lift the terrorism designation of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards Corps, and Iran has stepped back from a demand that the International Atomic Energy Agency close its investigation into unexplained traces of uranium at three undeclared sites, according to a senior administration official who requested anonymity to discuss ongoing efforts to resurrect the deal.
But, rescinding the terrorism designation imposed by Trump was never a realistic demand. Not only does it fall outside the scope of the nuclear deal, it was made virtually impossible since the Bolton plot indictment, ongoing Iranian threats to other former U.S. officials, and the Rushdie attack.
And, while Iran may have agreed to a mechanism to eventually return to the deal without the IAEA investigation being closed up front, it has said that its actual compliance with an agreement remains contingent on getting a clean bill of health from the agency.
White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby declined to characterize the administration’s response to the EU, but noted “we are closer now than we were even just a couple of weeks ago because Iran made a decision to make some concessions.”
“We’re not there yet,” Kirby. “And because we’re not there yet, I think we’re just going to be relatively careful here about how much detail we put out there.”
And, Iranian officials on Tuesday bristled at the suggestion that they’ve stepped back from their demands to re-enter the deal.
Seyed Mohammad Marandi, an Iranian adviser to the indirect talks in Vienna, took to Twitter on Tuesday to assert that removing the IRGC from the State Department’s foreign terrorism list was never a precondition and insisted that “no deal will be implemented before the IAEA Board of Directors PERMANENTLY closes the false accusations file.”
Meanwhile, America’s top ally in the Middle East, Israel, has become increasingly alarmed at the apparent movement toward a deal. Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid on Wednesday urged Biden and Western powers to call off an emerging nuclear deal with Iran, saying that negotiators are letting Tehran manipulate the talks.
“The countries of the West draw a red line, the Iranians ignore it, and the red line moves,” Lapid told reporters at a press conference in Jerusalem.
Israeli alternate prime minster Naftali Bennett on Tuesday noted that Israel is not party to the 2015 agreement signed by the five permanent members of the United Nations Security — the U.S., the United Kingdom, Russia, France, and China as well as Germany — but that Israel would be directly affected and reserved all rights to its self-defense.
Israel’s national security adviser Eyal Hulata is in Washington this week for talks with Biden administration officials, including a Tuesday meeting with White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan. Hulata is scheduled to meet with Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman later Wednesday.
National Security Council spokeswoman Adrienne Watson said Sullivan underscored Biden’s steadfast “commitment to ensure Iran never acquires a nuclear weapon” during his conversation with Hulata.
The White House insists that the terms under discussion include the key underpinnings of the 2015 deal. The U.S. would lift hundreds of sanctions the Trump administration re-imposed when it withdrew from the deal in 2018. And Iran would roll back its nuclear program to the limits set by the original nuclear deal, including caps on enrichment, how much material it can stockpile and the operation of advanced centrifuges needed to enrich.
However, it remains unclear what exactly would happen to Iran’s current stockpile of highly enriched uranium and what it would be required to do with the advanced centrifuges it has been spinning. The White House has said both would be “removed” but has not offered details.
As of the last public count, Iran has a stockpile of some 3,800 kilograms (8,370 pounds) of enriched uranium. Under the deal, Tehran could enrich uranium to 3.67% purity, while maintaining a stockpile of uranium of 300 kilograms (660 pounds) under constant scrutiny of surveillance cameras and international inspectors.
In terms of sanctions relief, Iran has been demanding that the administration pledge that a future president not be allowed to re-impose the lifted penalties as Trump did and promise that Congress will repeal statutory sanctions legislation passed initially to force Iran back to the negotiating table. The administration is in no position to guarantee either.
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(NewsNation) — President Joe Biden is canceling some student debt for millions of Americans, delivering at least partially on a campaign promise and hoping to energize younger, college-educated voters ahead of the November midterm elections.
Biden’s plan calls for thousands of dollars in loan cancellations for individuals who earn less than $125,000 a year. For those who went to college on Pell Grants, $20,000 will be forgiven. Those who did not receive that grant will see $10,000 in debt forgiveness.
People with undergraduate loans can cap their repayment at 5% of their discretionary income. After 20 years of monthly payments, people’s undergraduate loan obligation will be fulfilled if it hasn’t already, Biden said.
The move will be the largest forgiveness for individual student debt ever.
“It’s a game-changer,” Biden said during remarks at the White House.
In addition, the student loan payment pause is being extended one final time, Biden said on Twitter, to Dec. 31, 2022. Borrowers should expect to resume payments in January 2023.
The Department of Education estimates that, among borrowers who are eligible for relief, 21% are 25 years and under and 44% are aged 26-39. More than a third are older than 40, including 5% who are senior citizens.
The nation’s outstanding federal student debt now tops $1.6 trillion after ballooning for years, according to the Education Data Initiative. More than 43 million Americans have federal student debt, with almost a third owing less than $10,000 and more than half owing less than $20,000, according to the latest federal data.
“An entire generation is now saddled with unsustainable debt in exchange for an attempt, at least, at a college degree,” Biden said. “The burden is so heavy, that if you graduate, you may not have access to middle-class life that the college degree once provided.”
Now, the relief provided by Biden’s plan means “people can start to finally crawl out from under that mountain of debt, to get on top of their rent and utilities, to finally think about buying a home or starting a family or starting a business,” the president said at a Wednesday news conference.
Also at the conference, Biden said the Education Department proposed changes to fix the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program. The program, which gives federal student debt relief to those in public service fields like firefighters and teachers after 120 payments, is “a great idea” but is currently too inefficient and complicated, Biden said.
The decision to provide debt relief comes after pressure from Democrats and activists to forgive even more in loans. Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders both proposed debt cancellations of $50,000 or more during the 2020 presidential campaign.
“The positive impacts of this move will be felt by families across the country, particularly in minority communities, and is the single most effective action that the President can take on his own to help working families and the economy,” said Sen. Elizabeth Warren on Wednesday in a joint statement with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer.
Beth Akers, a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, said the $10,000 in relief will make a “huge difference” for a lot of loan holders.
“We hear often about these six-figure balances that people get into with graduate and professional degrees, the majority of people have pretty modest balances,” Akers said. “One-third of borrowers with outstanding balances today have less than $10,000 in debt and another 20% have less than $20,000.”
While Biden was initially skeptical, he came to support debt relief during his campaign for the presidency, though his initial proposal had no mention of the income caps. He’s since narrowed that campaign promise as record-high inflation continues to be a drag on his approval ratings.
Republicans have criticized loan cancellations as “unfair” and likely to lead to more inflation. A group of lawmakers this month proposed legislation that would overhaul the federal student loan system, calling their plan an alternative to Biden’s “blanket loan scheme.”
“It will make rising costs worse, rather than address the costs of colleges,” said Rep. Kevin Brady, R-Texas.
Akers said she also fears this move by the Biden administration could raise the cost of college for future students.
“We’re sending the message that dollars that you borrow today are dollars that you won’t necessarily have to pay back, because maybe policy makers will step in again and relieve those debts,” Akers said.
Responding to concerns raised over how the debt forgiveness will be covered, Biden said cutting the deficit will pay for his plan.
“Last year, we cut the deficit by more than $350 billion. This year, we’re on track to cut that by more than $1.7 trillion by the end of this fiscal year,” he said, noting that the recently signed Inflation Reduction Act will cut it by another $300 billion.
Additionally, by resuming student loan payments at the same time as the student debt forgiveness, Biden said the government is taking an “economically responsible course.”
The administration has already canceled $32 billion in loans for more than 1.6 million borrowers. Previous cancellations were given to students who were defrauded by private colleges like ITT Technical Institute and DeVry University.
Student loan payments have also been on pause since March 2020 at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. The moratorium has been extended several times and was originally set to expire on Aug. 31.
Senior administration officials said 8 million borrowers have already submitted forms to the Department of Education, meaning they may be able to receive relief immediately.
The Justice Department released a legal opinion concluding that the Higher Education Relief Opportunities for Students Act gives the Education secretary the authority to reduce or eliminate the obligation to repay the principal balance of federal student loan debt.
Lawsuits are likely nonetheless, the Associated Press said.
In the coming weeks, Biden said the Education Department will lay out a “short and simple form” to apply for student debt relief.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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NEW YORK (AP) — Under a new plan announced by President Joe Biden, many Americans can have up to $10,000 in federal student loan debt forgiven. That amount increases to $20,000 if they qualified for Pell grants. Here’s what we know so far and what it means for people with outstanding student loans:
WHO QUALIFIES FOR STUDENT LOAN FORGIVENESS?
You qualify to have up to $10,000 forgiven if your loan is held by the Department of Education and you make less than $125,000 individually or $250,000 for a family. If you received Pell grants, which are reserved for undergraduates with the most significant financial need, you can have up to $20,000 forgiven. If you are a current borrower and a dependent student, you will be eligible for relief based on your parents’ income, rather than your own.
WILL THE STUDENT LOAN PAYMENT FREEZE BE EXTENDED?
The payment freeze will be extended one last time, until Dec. 31. The freeze started in 2020 as a way to help people struggling financially during the COVID-19 pandemic and it’s been extended several times since. It was set to expire Aug. 31.
Interest rates will remain at 0% until repayments start. Under an earlier extension announced in April, people who were behind on payments before the pandemic automatically will be put in good standing.
HOW DO I APPLY FOR STUDENT LOAN FORGIVENESS?
Details of that have not been announced, but keep an eye on the federal student aid website for more details in coming days.
DOES GRADUATE STUDENT DEBT QUALIFY?
Yes, federal student loans taken out to cover graduate degrees qualify for forgiveness.
WHAT IF MY STUDENT LOAN BALANCE INCLUDES A LOT OF INTEREST?
The interest itself is considered part of the balance for purposes of this program. Forgiveness will remove $10,000 from the total balance you owe.
WILL I HAVE TO PAY TAXES ON THE AMOUNT I’M FORGIVEN?
No. Congress eliminated taxes on loan forgiveness through 2025. It is possible some states could tax cancelled debt, according to the nonprofit Tax Foundation, but it’s not clear yet if that will happen.
DO PARENT PLUS LOANS QUALIFY?
Parent Plus loans are included in the forgiveness plan, subject to the same $250,000 income cap for families that applies to the rest of cancellation.
Parent Plus loans differ from other federal education loans in that they can go towards covering expenses other than tuition, such as books, and room and board for college students. As of March 2022, parents of 3.6 million students owe more than $107 billion in Parent Plus loans, according to the Department of Education. That represents about 6% of the total amount of federal student debt held by Americans.
If a parent received a Parent Plus loan on behalf of a student and the same student received a direct loan, both would receive relief, as the cancellation is on a per-borrower, not a per-student basis. That means that each person who has Education Department-held federal student loans and meets the income requirements qualifies for cancellation.
WHAT’S A PELL GRANT AND HOW DO I KNOW IF I HAVE ONE?
Roughly 27 million borrowers who qualified for Pell grants will be eligible to receive up to $20,000 in forgiveness under the Biden plan.
Pell grants are special government scholarships for lower-income Americans, who currently can receive up to $6,895 annually for roughly six years.
Nearly every Pell Grant recipient came from a family that made less than $60,000 a year, according to the Department of Education, which said Pell grant recipients typically experience more challenges repaying their debt than other borrowers.
Pell grants themselves don’t generally have to be paid back, but recipients typically take out additional student loans.
“This additional relief for Pell borrowers is also an important piece of racial equity in cancellation,” said Kat Welbeck, Civil Rights Counsel for the Student Borrower Protection Center. “Because student debt exacerbates existing inequities, the racial wealth gap means that students of color, especially those that are Black and Latino, are more likely to come from low-wealth households, have student debt, and borrow in higher quantities.”
To find out if you have a Pell grant, check any emails you’ve received that describe your FAFSA award.
HOW MANY PEOPLE WILL THIS HELP?
About 43 million Americans have federal student debt, with an average balance of $37,667, according to federal data. A third of those owe less than $10,000. Half owe less than $20,000. The total amount of federal student debt is more than $1.6 trillion.
WHAT IF I’VE ALREADY PAID OFF MY STUDENT LOANS — WILL I SEE RELIEF?
The debt forgiveness is expected to apply only to those currently holding student debt. But if you’ve voluntarily made payments since March 2020, when payments were paused, you can request a refund for those payments, according to the Federal Office of Student Aid. Contact your loan servicer to request a refund.
WILL STUDENT LOAN FORGIVENESS DEFINITELY HAPPEN?
The White House could face lawsuits over the plan, because Congress has never given the president the explicit authority to cancel debt. The Biden administration is tying its authority to the coronavirus pandemic and to a 2003 law aimed at providing help to members of the military. We don’t know yet how any legal action might impact the timetable for student loan forgiveness.
WHAT REPAYMENT PLAN IS THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION PROPOSING?
The Department of Education has proposed a repayment plan that would cap monthly payments at no more than 5% of a borrower’s discretionary income, down from 10% now. Borrowers will need to apply for the repayment plan if it’s approved, which could take a year or more.
For example, under the proposal, a single borrower making $38,000 a year would pay $31 a month, according a government press release.
The amount considered non-discretionary income will also be increased, through the department has not said how much.
Discretionary income usually refers to what you have left after covering necessities like food and rent, but for student loan repayment purposes it’s calculated using a formula that takes into account the difference between a borrower’s annual income and the federal poverty line, along with family size and geographic location.
“What’s tough about income-driven repayment is that it does not take into account your other liabilities, such as your rent payment,” said Kristen Ahlenius, a financial counselor at Your Money Line, which provides financial literacy training. “If someone’s living paycheck to paycheck and their rent is taking up half of their paycheck and then their car payment takes the other, they have to choose. Unfortunately, income-driven repayment doesn’t take that into consideration, but it is an option.”
Student Debt Relief offers a calculator to help determine your discretionary income.
WHAT IF I CAN’T AFFORD TO PAY EVEN WITH LOAN FORGIVENESS?
Once payments resume, borrowers who can’t pay risk delinquency and eventually default. That can hurt your credit rating and mean you’re not eligible for additional aid.
If you’re struggling to pay, check if you qualify for an income-driven repayment plan. You can find out more here.
The plan Biden announced Wednesday also includes a proposal that would allow people with undergraduate loans to cap repayment at 5% of their monthly income. Proposals like this one can take a year or more to be implemented, and it’s not clear what the fine print will be.
If you have worked for a government agency or a non-profit organization, you could also be eligible for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program, which you can read more about here.
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Seung Min Kim, Michael Balsamo, Chris Megerian, Collin Binkley and Zeke Miller in Washington contributed to this report.
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The Associated Press receives support from Charles Schwab Foundation for educational and explanatory reporting to improve financial literacy. The independent foundation is separate from Charles Schwab and Co. Inc. The AP is solely responsible for its journalism.
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| 2022-09-20T21:52:26Z
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WASHINGTON (AP) — Officials in the Trump White House tried to pressure U.S. health experts into reauthorizing a discredited COVID-19 treatment, according to a congressional investigation that provides new evidence of that administration’s efforts to override Food and Drug Administration decisions early in the pandemic.
The report Wednesday by the Democratic-led House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis also sheds new light on the role that television personalities played in bringing hydroxychloroquine to the attention of top White House officials. Investigators highlighted an email from Fox News’ Laura Ingraham and others from Dr. Mehmet Oz, the celebrity heart surgeon who had a daytime TV show and is now the Republican Senate nominee in Pennsylvania. Ingraham attended an Oval Office meeting with President Donald Trump, who himself took the anti-malaria drug.
The FDA originally authorized use of hydroxychloroquine in late March 2020 based on small studies suggesting it could have some effectiveness against the coronavirus. At that time, many researchers hoped that existing antiviral drugs could be used to fight the virus. But by June, FDA officials had concluded the drug was likely ineffective and could cause potentially dangerous heart complications, revoking its emergency use.
Efforts by the Trump administration to control the release of COVID-19 guidance and install political operatives at public health agencies have been well documented.
The report by the House subcommittee investigating the government’s COVID-19 response focused on pressure at the FDA, which serves as gatekeeper for the drugs, vaccines and other countermeasures against the virus.
Much of the information comes from an interview with the agency’s former commissioner, Dr. Stephen Hahn, who was picked for the job by Trump in late 2019. Frustrated by the pace of FDA’s medical reviews, Trump repeatedly accused Hahn — without evidence — of delaying decisions on COVID-19 drugs and vaccines “for political reasons.”
Although FDA commissioners are politically appointed, the agency’s scientists are expected to conduct their reviews free from outside influence. Indeed, the FDA’s credibility largely stems from its reputation for scientific independence.
But Hahn told investigators that he felt pressure due to the “persistence” of Trump aide Peter Navarro’s calls to reauthorize hydroxychloroquine after the FDA’s decision to pull its emergency use.
“We took a different stance at the FDA,” Hahn told investigators. “So that disagreement, which of course ultimately became somewhat public, was a source of pressure.”
The subcommittee chairman, Democrat Rep. Jim Clyburn of South Carolina, said efforts to bend the FDA’s scientific work on treatments and vaccines exemplified how the “prior administration prioritized politics over public health.” But Louisiana Rep. Steve Scalise, the panel’s top Republican, said the report was “further proof” that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., “only set up this sham panel to carry out a political vendetta” against Trump.
Much of the report focuses on actions taken by Navarro and Dr. Steven Hatfill, a virologist and outside adviser described by the subcommittee as a “full-time volunteer” on COVID-19 for the White House.
“Dr. Hatfill and Mr. Navarro devised multiple pressure schemes targeting FDA and federal officials who they contended were wrongly impeding widespread access to hydroxychloroquine,” according to the report.
In his response, Hatfill said: “We never wrongly pressured anyone. We simply followed the science and the overwhelming evidence as detailed in several studies available at the time.”
Navarro, in an emailed statement, said the subcommittee was “wrongly” perpetuating that hydroxychloroquine “was somehow dangerous.” He also said he has chronicled his battles with the FDA in his White House memoir.
Importantly, there’s no evidence that White House efforts ultimately changed the FDA’s decisions on hydroxychloroquine or any other therapies.
Investigators also cited a March 28, 2020, email from Oz to Dr. Deborah Birx, White House coronavirus response coordinator, stating that the drug “appears safe and results are better than expected.”
Birx forwarded the email to Hahn within the hour, saying “we should talk.”
A cancer specialist with no prior political experience, Hahn was widely criticized during the early COVID-19 response for decisions that appeared to cave to White House officials.
According to emails obtained by the committee, Hatfill described “constant fighting with (Dr. Anthony) Fauci and Dr. Hahn” over access to hydroxychloroquine during the summer. Fauci is the nation’s top infectious disease expert.
During this period Hatfill also urged Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., to request a federal investigation into the handling of hydroxychloroquine, according to a letter submitted for the Congressional Record.
There’s no indication such a request was made. But in mid-August, Johnson and fellow Republican Sens. Mike Lee of Utah and Ted Cruz of Texas wrote the FDA seeking an explanation for the denial to reinstate hydroxychloroquine’s authorization. Johnson also chaired a Senate committee hearing in November 2020 on treatment options and complained that doctors who prescribed hydroxychloroquine for COVID had been “scorned.”
In the fall of 2020, the focus of both FDA and White House officials turned to the upcoming authorization of the first COVID-19 vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna.
As previously reported, the White House objected to an FDA requirement that vaccine makers gather two months of safety data before filing their applications, contending that condition would delay the launch of the shots. Trump had repeatedly stated the shots would be authorized before Election Day, despite government scientists signaling that timeline was unlikely.
The committee report suggested that the FDA’s guidance for vaccine manufacturers was delayed more than three weeks — from mid-September until early October — due to White House concerns.
Hahn told investigators the agency faced “pushback about the issue” from multiple officials, including Trump’s chief of staff, Mark Meadows, who told the FDA commissioner on Sept. 23, 2020, that the White House would not sign off on the two-month requirement.
On Oct. 6, the FDA quietly published its vaccine guidelines as part of a larger set of documents for drugmakers. After the materials posted online, Hahn said Meadows called him to indicate that the FDA guidelines were approved.
The online publication drew fury from the president on Twitter.
“New FDA rules make it more difficult for them to speed up vaccines for approval before Election Day. Just another political hit job!” Trump tweeted at his FDA commissioner.
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Follow AP’s coverage of the pandemic at https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic
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| 2022-09-20T21:52:33Z
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(The Hill) — Former President Donald Trump’s resistance to turning over what now appears to be a much larger tranche of documents than previously known could strengthen a potential case from the Justice Department against him and renews questions over whether the delay harmed national security.
A letter released by the National Archives on Tuesday indicates that an initial batch of 15 boxes of documents taken from Mar-a-Lago in January included 100 classified documents totaling 700 pages.
And reporting from The New York Times late Monday indicates that the government has recovered at least 300 classified documents from Trump since he left office.
Both offer insight into the volume of documents Trump took with him as he left office.
But the letter from the National Archives also shows the resistance Trump’s team had to any members of the intelligence community reviewing the documents so they could begin to assess whether there was damage done to any national security partners or methods.
“The volume of the documents and the length of the dispute, I think, makes the case stronger for the government that Donald Trump’s retention of these documents was willful,” said Barbara McQuade, a former U.S. attorney, noting that the charges being weighed by the government require showing intent.
“When you have 300 of them, and you retain them for over a year after repeated requests, and they come down a few times, and you still have them — it seems that the case has become much stronger. And I think it becomes much more difficult for the Justice Department to simply say, ‘We’ve got documents back. We’re going to declare victory and go home,’” she added.
“And charging him is not an easy decision. But man, at some point, how do you decline to charge him when his conduct has been so egregious?”
The letter from the National Archives indicates that Trump’s legal team was aware as early as April that the FBI was eager to obtain the documents so that they could do a damage assessment to determine whether there was any fallout related to their mishandling.
“Access to the materials is not only necessary for purposes of our ongoing criminal investigation, but the Executive Branch must also conduct an assessment of the potential damage resulting from the apparent manner in which these materials were stored and transported and take any necessary remedial steps,” Debra Steidel Wall, acting archivist of the United States, wrote in relaying a message from the Justice Department’s National Security Division.
The exchange revealed that among the materials were those at “the highest levels of classification, including Special Access Program (SAP) materials.” That can include documents that may only be viewed by those with a need to know.
Ryan Goodman, co-director of the Reiss Center on Law and Security at New York University School of Law, said those details could also be of use if the Justice Department decides to proceed with charges under the Espionage Act, one of the statutes listed on the initial warrant to search Trump’s property.
“It very significantly adds to the espionage charge because one of the elements of proving that crime is that the individual has reason to know that it’s the type of material that could injure the United States if released. And the Department of Justice’s National Security Division is clearly informing Trump that it is the kind of material that could have exceptional damage to U.S. national security,” he said.
“It absolutely goes to his knowledge and willfulness.”
There are practical reasons the FBI and the broader intelligence community would want to review the documents.
“It isn’t just that we’re worried that something’s going to happen to these documents, but if they have been disclosed to people who shouldn’t have them, you need to do a damage assessment,” said McQuade, the former U.S. attorney.
“You do a damage assessment to find out have sources been compromised, if people’s lives could be in danger. If we’ve got a source in Russia who’s sharing information with the U.S. government, that person’s life could be in danger. So you have to assess who’s had access to this, and then you go and look on channels and find out has his information dried up,” she said.
The National Archives ultimately waited a month before distributing the documents to the FBI to disseminate to other intelligence agencies.
Kel McClanahan, executive director of National Security Counselors, a nonprofit law firm specializing in national security law, said the delay shows a federal government seeking to carefully balance protecting the intelligence community with the sensitivities of dealing with a former president.
“The accepted viewpoint in the intelligence community is that every day that classified information remains in the wild, there’s an incrementally greater chance that it will be used by someone to hurt the United States,” he said.
Several experts were surprised that Archives and the Justice Department had moved so slowly in recovering the documents and sharing them with the appropriate agencies.
“This is really sensitive stuff. And the idea that they’re sitting around in the basement of a club, with civilians who are walking around – nongovernment employees – with access to them is really disturbing,” McQuade said. “And then it wasn’t until August that they finally used the search warrant. If anything, I would like to have seen them be a little more assertive in getting these government secrets back months ago.”
“It’s a truly remarkable picture of two agencies who desperately wanted to peacefully resolve this hostage situation without pulling the trigger on the nuclear option and a person who just said, ‘Go to hell,’” McClanahan said.
The Trump team has since filed a motion that would once again delay the FBI from accessing the materials collected from Mar-a-Lago, this time asking a judge to assign a special master to the case who would review the evidence to determine whether it contains any privileged information.
A filter team at the Justice Department composed of prosecutors not associated with the case is currently doing a similar undertaking to determine whether any of Trump’s personal belongings were taken during the search.
Goodman said the filing makes weak claims, asserting that some of the documents taken may be protected by executive privilege.
“[That] makes no sense under law, because if it is, in fact, subject to executive privilege, that means it’s a government document, and hence, should be held by the government in the Archives. So that’s why it’s a very, very bad legal argument with no validity to it,” he said.
“The motion is a confession to having material you should not have in your house.”
The judge assigned to the case on Tuesday also seemed to question their legal argument, issuing an order directing Trump’s team to file an additional brief expanding on its legal rationale for the request.
Meanwhile, the letter from Archives came into the public domain after John Solomon, one of Trump’s representatives to the National Archives and a former columnist with The Hill, released it on his conservative news site, Just The News. Archives confirmed its authenticity Tuesday afternoon.
Observers have questioned the decision to publish a letter that shows not only the breadth of classified information held by Trump but also publicizes the extent the Trump team sought to block the FBI’s work.
“This letter was a truly remarkable self-own by a team known by self-owns,” McClanahan said.
“Every single piece of evidence that shows that DOJ tried literally everything they could to get these records back short of the search warrant punctures another hole in the theory that they were just on a witch hunt. They went above and beyond to accommodate an unreasonable individual.”
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| 2022-09-20T21:52:48Z
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PETALUMA, Calif. (KRON) – Police in California are investigating a “suspicious death” after a deceased woman, believed to have been dead for over a year, was found in her home with another woman claiming to be her daughter.
Officers with the Petaluma Police Department responded to the residence just before 11 a.m. on Tuesday, after neighbors said 20-30 packages had accumulated on the porch and no one was answering the door, according to a press release issued Tuesday.
The woman who lived in the home had “not been seen for several weeks,” either, according to police.
Officers eventually entered the home and found the dead woman in the living room. Police said she was in “the advanced stages of decomposition” and estimated that she had been dead for more than a year.
There was also an adult female in the home, who officers found in a bedroom. She claimed to be the dead woman’s daughter, telling officers that the deceased woman had died of natural causes in April 2021. The purported daughter was taken to a hospital for medical evaluation and treatment. Police also said the home they shared was “uninhabitable” based on its interior conditions.
The local coroner’s office has yet to confirm the woman’s cause of death. An investigation into the woman’s death is ongoing, but police said there were “no outstanding suspects or safety concerns in the neighborhood” as of Tuesday.
The Petaluma Police Department Investigations Team and members of the Crime Scene Investigations Team are investigating the death. Anyone with information is asked to contact PPD’s Daniel Boyd at dboyd@cityofpetaluma.org or by phone at 707-778-4334.
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| 2022-09-20T21:52:55Z
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Which corner kitchen sink is best?
If the kitchen is the heart of the house, then the kitchen sink is arguably the beating pulse of that heart. The best corner kitchen sink takes advantage of every inch of space and puts it to good use.
When it is time to shop for a corner kitchen sink, you’ll want one that can be flexibly mounted and accommodate large pots and pans. The Blanco Anthracite Diamond Silgranit Drop-In Or Under Mount is a good choice.
What to know before you buy a corner kitchen sink
Single bowl vs. batwing
A kitchen sink is an important purchase, and a corner sink has some tricky considerations. The first is the type of sink you want.
- Single bowl: Because of the location, these sinks might be narrow in the front and wider in the back. They may also be a plain rectangle, depending on the space. Consider this type when you have a 45-degree cabinet face and more counter real estate to play with.
- Batwing: Batwing (or butterfly) sinks are a type of double sink with two separate bowls that connect in the front and are separate in the back. The faucet sits between the separated bowls. Even with separate bowls, the sink area is small. These are best for very small kitchens with limited counter space.
Materials
Because they are not a high-demand item, you may have fewer materials to choose from. Common sink materials include:
- Stainless steel: This sink is durable and affordable. It’s not too heavy and can be mounted any way you choose.
- Stone: Some granite and quartz sinks mix natural stone with a polymer resin. This lightens them up and makes them more resistant to bacteria and staining. Solid granite and quartz sinks are also available but may require reinforced cabinets due to their weight.
- Enamel or porcelain: This type of sink has a metal core coated with enamel or porcelain. They are traditional and easy to clean, but if the metal core is cast-iron they can be heavy.
- Copper: Copper brings a high-end, luxe feel to any kitchen. It is durable and antibacterial. However, it does require special cleaning to keep it gleaming. Copper is also very expensive.
- Synthetic granite: Silgranit is a durable, lightweight material that gives a sleek look with less weight. It can handle high temperatures and is remarkably resilient.
Mounting style
There are three mounting styles to choose from.
- Top mount: Top mount sinks drop into the countertop and are fastened below. These have a lip that must be caulked to prevent moisture from draining under the sink and into the cabinet below.
- Under-mount: This sink uses the same hole cut for the top mount sink, but it sits either well below the counter or flush with it. Even with a standard sink, this is a tricky installation.
- Cabinet mount: These sinks are popular in farmhouse-style or country kitchens. The sink sits on a shorter cabinet.
What to look for in a quality corner kitchen sink
Cutout template
A cutout template serves as a guide for precise measurements and no-fuss installation. This is especially important for batwing sinks that can be tricky to orient.
Easy cleaning
The last thing you want is a sink that requires a special cleaning regimen. Unless you choose a specialized material, most corner kitchen sinks should clean up easily with standard products.
Accessories
Some corner sinks come with accessories to make food prep and cleanup a breeze. They might include things such as:
- Stainless steel rinse grids
- Strainer baskets
- Cutting boards
- Dish draining boards
How much you can expect to spend on a corner kitchen sink
The price of a corner kitchen sink depends on the size, the type of sink, and the material you choose. Expect to spend $270-$600.
Corner kitchen sink FAQ
Is the installation of a corner sink harder than a traditional sink?
A. It can be trickier to properly orient and mount a corner sink. This starts with the challenge of cutting a hole in the counter that is not rectangular. If this cut is off, everything else will be even more difficult.
Do corner sinks require specialized drains and faucets?
A. No. The sink may be unique, but the faucet and drain can be standard. Even batwing sinks can accommodate a regular, full-size faucet setup.
What’s the best corner kitchen sink to buy?
Top corner kitchen sink
Blanco Anthracite Diamond Silgranit Drop-In Or Under Mount
What you need to know: This sink is sleek, durable and versatile.
What you’ll love: This sink can be mounted as a drop-in or under mount. It resists dents, chips and scratches and can handle temperatures up to 536 degrees. It comes in nine colors and three sizes and is protected by a limited lifetime warranty.
What you should consider: Some people report a white film that develops over time.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon and Home Depot
Top corner kitchen sink for the money
Houzer Legend Series Top Mount Stainless Steel Corner Bowl Kitchen Sink
What you need to know: This economical sink is easy to install and very durable.
What you’ll love: With satin-finished 20-gauge stainless steel, this sink is as durable as it is affordable. It has StoneGuard undercoating and comes with a lifetime limited warranty. Clips for mounting and a basket strainer are also included.
What you should consider: This does not include a cutout template.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon and Home Depot
Worth checking out
Ruvati Undermount Corner Kitchen Sink
What you need to know: This sleek corner kitchen sink is perfect for contemporary or industrial kitchen designs.
What you’ll love: The batwing style is perfect for 90-degree cabinets. It is made of 18/10 premium stainless steel. The satin finish is easy to clean and durable. Sound padding minimizes the noise of the drain. It comes with stainless steel rinse grids to protect the finish of the sink.
What you should consider: Even with two bowls, some people found this sink far too small for their needs.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon and Home Depot
Want to shop the best products at the best prices? Check out Daily Deals from BestReviews.
Sign up here to receive the BestReviews weekly newsletter for useful advice on new products and noteworthy deals.
Suzannah Kolbeck writes for BestReviews. BestReviews has helped millions of consumers simplify their purchasing decisions, saving them time and money.
Copyright 2022 BestReviews, a Nexstar company. All rights reserved.
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Which Samsung dishwasher is best?
Most people lead busy lives, which can make finding the time to clean so much as a bowl and a spoon by hand a difficult prospect. Dishwashers from trusted brand Samsung are loaded with extra features to get your dishes sparkling clean with little time and effort from you.
If you’re in the market for a brand-new one, consider the Samsung DW80R9950US 24-Inch Top-Control Dishwasher. It has the quietest operation of all Samsungs, as well as a roomy capacity and plenty of cycle options. It also has top controls, leaving the front beautifully unblemished.
What to know before you buy a Samsung dishwasher
Top control vs. front control
Samsung dishwashers place the controls on either the top or the front of the door.
- Top controls keep the front of the dishwasher seamless, a priority for those who want a slick and thoroughly modern aesthetic. However, you can’t control the dishwasher unless you open the door.
- Front controls let you make adjustments to your dishwasher while it runs and frequently mean you can better monitor its progress. You do have to live with all the dials and buttons being on full display.
Capacity and configuration
Samsung dishwashers’ capacity and configuration determine how many and what kinds of dishes you can wash.
- Capacity is consistent between Samsung models as most can handle 14 or 15 place settings. A place setting typically includes one large and small plate, a bowl, a cup and saucer, a glass and cutlery.
- Configuration comes down to two aspects: how many racks and if any racks are adjustable. All Samsung dishwashers have at least two racks, but some have a small third rack on the top that fits things like cutlery and measuring spoons. Some Samsungs have adjustable upper racks so you can fit extra-large dishes, pans and the like as needed.
Design
Most Samsung dishwashers use a stainless steel front, plus many are fingerprint-resistant. They come in black, silver, white and occasionally brown. They may also have a handlebar on the front for hanging a towel.
What to look for in a quality Samsung dishwasher
Noise generation
Trying to watch TV or listen to music while your dishwasher thunders in the background is a frustrating experience. As such, the best Samsung dishwashers focus on lowering the average decibel generation. The quietest is 39 decibels while the loudest is 55 decibels, which is a little louder than a library and a little quieter than an average conversation respectively.
Energy Star
Dishwashers use a large amount of water and energy, which is why it’s important to pick one with Energy Star certification. This means the dishwasher has passed a series of independent tests that show a decreased carbon footprint and lower energy bills. Most Samsung dishwashers have this certification but double-check to be sure.
How much you can expect to spend on a Samsung dishwasher
They can cost as little as $600 or as much as $1,200 mostly depending on noise generation. The loudest cost roughly $600-$800 while the quietest cost roughly $1,100-$1,200. The average cost is $700-$900.
Samsung dishwasher FAQ
Do I have to use special dishwasher detergent or can I use regular dish soap?
A. You do need to use a dishwasher detergent, as they’re specially designed not to get sudsy. Using regular dish soap instead can see your dishwasher overflow and leak those suds everywhere.
Do I have to clean my Samsung dishwasher?
A. Yes. Over time, some of the food remnants can back up in the drain or get embedded on the walls. This can cause your dishwasher to not only stink but fail to work as efficiently as it once did. Don’t worry, cleaning is easy.
Start with your drain by digging out any large pieces, using a drain de-clogger or both. Then place a dishwasher cleaning tablet in your dishwasher’s soap dispenser and run a normal cycle while it’s empty.
What shouldn’t go in a dishwasher?
A. There’s a surprisingly long list of things you shouldn’t run through a dishwasher. Some of the most common are:
- Wood
- China and other delicates
- Plastics that aren’t marked dishwasher-safe
- Nonstick pans
- Cast iron
What’s the best Samsung dishwasher to buy?
Top Samsung dishwasher
Samsung DW80R9950US 24-Inch Top-Control Dishwasher
What you need to know: This is Samsung’s quietest and roomiest dishwasher.
What you’ll love: It only generates an average of 39 decibels, which is about as quiet as a calm suburb at night, and it has a small third rack for extra capacity. The door automatically pops open to speed up the drying and cooling process.
What you should consider: A few consumers received damaged parts or exteriors. Others had issues with leaks or the door failing to automatically open.
Where to buy: Sold by Home Depot
Top Samsung dishwasher for the money
Samsung DW80R2031US 24-Inch Top-Control Dishwasher
What you need to know: This budget Samsung dishwasher still has plenty of features.
What you’ll love: It generates an average of 55 decibels which is a little quieter than the average office. The upper rack has an adjustable height so you never struggle to fit your biggest dishes. A digital sensor turns the dishwasher off at the first sign of leaks.
What you should consider: A few customers had issues with the dishes not drying fully. Others found the leak sensor or other components would stop working.
Where to buy: Sold by Home Depot
Worth checking out
Samsung DW80R5060US 24-Inch Top-Control Dishwasher
What you need to know: This is the perfect choice for those who need high capacity for a great cost.
What you’ll love: It generates an average of 48 decibels which is about as loud as regular rainfall. It has a small third rack and the middle rack has an adjustable height, plus it has a mix of 12 total wash cycles and cleaning options.
What you should consider: A few purchasers noted that the third rack doesn’t always get clean. Others reported the rinse cycle needing a rinse aid.
Where to buy: Sold by Home Depot
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Jordan C. Woika writes for BestReviews. BestReviews has helped millions of consumers simplify their purchasing decisions, saving them time and money.
Copyright 2022 BestReviews, a Nexstar company. All rights reserved.
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Choosing the best beach ball for summer fun
Tossing a beach ball from the sandy shore or poolside is as classic as summertime gets. The multi-colored stripes are timeless and playful, evoking nostalgia for all who toss the ball. But with so many varieties available, how do you know which beach ball will last for many summers to come?
Elements such as materials, inflation style and size affect which beach ball is right for you. So do your style, party plans and budget.
What to look for in a beach ball
A few quality features can ensure your water toys stay inflated, suit your play style and are durable enough to withstand lots of tossing and punching.
Material
Most beach balls are made from polyvinyl chloride, or PVC. This lets them stay thin and lightweight while also offering strength and durability. Not all manufacturers use the same level of quality assurance, so check the reviews. Look for reliable beach balls that stay inflated, seal correctly, are thick enough to prevent pops and are weather-resistant.
Design
Beach balls come in a wide variety of designs. From stripes to polka dots and glitter to graphics, you can find many options to complement your decor, preference or party theme. If the design includes premium elements such as loose confetti or LED lights, they may come at a premium price.
Size
Most beach balls list their sizes by deflated measurements. They lose about 30% of their length when they go from flat to round. For example, a 24-inch beach ball measures roughly 17 to 18 inches across when fully inflated.
- Mini: Mini beach balls typically measure less than 9 inches in diameter. They are the lightest option, easy to hold in one hand. Mini beach balls are useful for games like dodgeball, volleyball and catch.
- Regular: Most traditional beach balls measure around 20 inches deflated but can range from 12 to 24 inches. They are ideal for tossing in small groups, at pools or the beach.
- Jumbo: Oversized beach balls are ideal for larger crowds or playing rolling ball games outdoors. Follow safety instructions, as jumbo beach balls are generally designed for laying or sitting on, though they may resemble exercise balls. Since jumbo balls are so large — sometimes larger than a tall adult — it’s best to inflate them with a pump. When deflated, they generally measure 36 inches or longer, up to 12 feet long.
Inflation style
You can inflate beach balls either by blowing air through a mouthpiece or using a hand pump. Smaller balls, naturally, are easier to inflate. Pumps are recommended for larger beach balls, especially jumbo balls.
Best beach balls
Icnice Glow-In-The-Dark LED Beach Balls, 2-Pack
Light up your playtime at night with these remote-operated multicolor LED beach balls. The waterproof 16-inch beach balls offer 13 colors and four lighting modes. Sold by Amazon
4E’s Novelty Beach Balls, 3-Pack
For a traditional aesthetic, opt for these classic beach ball designs. The 20-inch toys feature recognizable rainbow stripes and a simple inflation nozzle. Sold by Amazon
Top Race Mini Beach Balls, 25-Pack
Make sure everyone at the party gets a beach ball with this 25-pack of mini beach balls. These classic designs make great decorations, toys and party favors. Sold by Amazon
Ninostar Star Wars Beach Balls, 3-Pack
Pop culture and sci-fi fans can enjoy themed beach balls too with these detailed “Star Wars” designs. The set of 14-inch balls includes R2-D2, BB-8 and the Death Star. Sold by Amazon
Big Mo’s Toys Beach Balls, 12-Pack
For a multi-pack of medium-sized beach balls, this 12-pack is a great value. It includes a dozen 12-inch beach balls with a classic rainbow design. Sold by Amazon
Intex Jumbo Inflatable Pool Ball, 42 Inches
A jumbo beach ball offers the chance to mix up water play with a larger-than-life toy. This polka-dotted ball measures 42 inches and features multi-colored dots all around. Sold by Amazon
Emoji Party Pack Inflatable Beach Balls, 12-Pack
Introduce even more fun at the beach or at the pool with this 12-pack of emoji-themed beach balls. Measuring 16 inches each, they feature classic emoji faces on bright yellow balls. Sold by Amazon
Pangda Inflatable Globe Beach Ball, 2-Pack
Have fun while learning world geography with this two-pack of inflatable globes. The 16-inch globes feature every continent, ocean, country and capital, with major cities clearly labeled. Sold by Amazon
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Katy Palmer writes for BestReviews. BestReviews has helped millions of consumers simplify their purchasing decisions, saving them time and money.
Copyright 2022 BestReviews, a Nexstar company. All rights reserved.
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The best school supplies deals to start the new school year
Students need so many different items for going back to school that shopping can be overwhelming. When you factor in trying to save money, the search for affordable items makes the effort even more challenging. Fortunately, top retailers are offering many school essentials at budget-friendly prices. With these deals and shopping tips, you can simplify your search for clothes and supplies.
How to shop and save for going back to school
The best way to stock up on back-to-school clothes and supplies is to have a plan. Following a few strategic steps will save you time and money.
Make a checklist
Putting together a list of the items your kids need for going back to school will keep you focused when you shop. In addition to ensuring you purchase the necessary clothes and supplies, it will help you avoid wasting money on items you don’t need. While you and your kids can work together to come up with clothing to buy, finding the right supplies can be more difficult. Fortunately, many schools provide a list of items students will need for the new school year.
Look for sales
It’s common for popular retailers that sell kids’ clothing and school supplies to have sales this time of year. Shopping these sales will save you lots of money on these things.
Assess your kids’ sizes
Every parent knows how quickly kids grow. Even if your kids already have a large wardrobe, summer growth spurts might have occurred that will make some items unwearable. Before you shop for school clothes, it’s a good idea to check clothing and shoe sizes for a perfect fit.
Consider the on-trend styles
Thanks in part to social media, many kids have specific styles in mind that they want to wear to school. Your kids can guide you in choosing the looks they love when it’s time to shop. Some items that are in style this year include stylish backpacks, casual athletic looks known as “athleisure,” denim, casual tees and wide-leg pants.
Stock up on the basics
There are many school supplies that almost every student across different grades will need for the school year. Notebooks, binders, pencils, measuring tools, crayons and glue are just some of the essentials. Because these items are used throughout the year, you’ll save money by buying multiple packs when you find them on sale.
Best back-to-school deals for school supplies and clothing
A well-made backpack with useful features will keep items needed for school safe and organized. This pack has ample pockets including a laptop compartment and side water bottle slots. It has a stylish design that’s available in several colors. Sold by Macy’s
SO Junior’s High-Rise Flare Jeans
Denim is trendy this season, and so are flared-leg pants. These jeans combine the best of both trends and have a high-waist button closure and hem slits for added style. They are made with a cotton-spandex blend for flexible comfort. Sold by Kohl’s
Enday Back-to-School Supply Kit
This value-priced package of supplies will take some of the guesswork out of choosing items for the classroom. It’s packed with items that are suitable for kids in grades kindergarten through fifth, such as pencils, notebooks, scissors, crayons, a ruler and more. They come nicely packaged and ready for class. Sold by Amazon
Nike Kids’ Grade School Star Runner 3 Shoes
From gym class to practice sessions, Star Runner 3 shoes are built to deliver. Reliable traction and flexible materials provide stability and comfort for all of your kid’s activities. They are made with recycled materials, making them an earth-friendly pair. Sold by Dick’s Sporting Goods and Kohl’s
Five Star Back-to-School Bundle
With six four-pocket folders and six spiral notebooks, this bundle is enough to meet the needs of most busy students’ classes for the 2022-2023 school year. The folders come with three holes to fit most binders, and the notebooks have 100 sheets each. Sold by Amazon
Adidas Defender IV Medium Duffel Bag
A duffel bag like the Defender IV is a must-have for toting gym and sports equipment to and from school. The durable waterproof material will stand up to rough conditions and years of use. Sold by Kohl’s
Under Armor Boys’ Outdoor Hoodie
The soft fleece lining and casual design of this hoodie are likely to make it your student’s go-to favorite when the fall weather turns chilly. It’s available in a large selection of sizes and colors. Sold by Amazon
Champion Women’s Boyfriend Sweatpants
Sweatpants are essential for this year’s popular athleisure style. This pair has a relaxed, roomy fit that’s both comfortable and fashionable. They look great paired with an oversized sweatshirt. Sold by Macy’s and Dick’s Sporting Goods
A trim design, speedy processor and plenty of onboard storage make the Aspire 5 an excellent laptop for students. The reasonable price is appealing to parents who are watching their back-to-school budgets. Sold by Amazon
Classic T-shirts never go out of style, so it’s a good idea to stock up when you find them on sale. This one is available in a choice of colorful graphics and works well with jeans and other casual pants. Sold by Dick’s Sporting Goods
Paper Mate EverStrong #2 Pencils
Most students need classic #2 pencils for many assignments. This pack includes 144 pencils — enough to last throughout the current school year and beyond. Sold by Amazon
ID Ideology Big Girls’ Core Polo Shirt
A polo shirt is a wardrobe staple that’s perfect for school days, as it’s casual, comfortable and looks great with numerous types of pants. This one is made of a soft polyester-spandex blend and features a stylish zippered front. Sold by Macy’s
Want to shop the best products at the best prices? Check out Daily Deals from BestReviews.
Sign up here to receive the BestReviews weekly newsletter for useful advice on new products and noteworthy deals.
Jennifer Manfrin writes for BestReviews. BestReviews has helped millions of consumers simplify their purchasing decisions, saving them time and money.
Copyright 2022 BestReviews, a Nexstar company. All rights reserved.
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