text
string | url
string | crawl_date
timestamp[ns, tz=UTC] | source_domain
string | group
string | id
string | in_blocksbin
int64 | in_noblocksbin
int64 | tag
string | minhash_count
string |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
DETROIT (AP) — A judge on Friday signed off on a fund for more than 1,000 people who said they were sexually assaulted by a University of Michigan doctor, an order that allows victims to start collecting a portion of a $490 million settlement negotiated with the school.
“The University of Michigan offers its heartfelt apology for the abuse perpetrated by the late Robert Anderson. We hope this settlement helps the healing process for survivors,” said Paul Brown, chairman of the school’s governing board.
Anderson died in 2008 after working at the university for nearly 40 years. He was director of the campus Health Service and a physician for multiple sports teams, including football.
Former athletes, students and others who had no connection to the university — mostly men — said they were molested by Anderson during routine physicals or other visits.
The settlement was announced in January, but the final details took months to wrap up. The university said the deal recently got approval from 98% of claimants.
“It’s been a long road,” said Richard Schulte, a lead negotiator for Anderson’s victims. “I’m very happy for the survivors and glad I could get it across the finish line.”
The university will have no role in how the money is distributed. Six percent, or $30 million, of the settlement will be set aside for people who step forward later with claims.
U.S. District Judge Victoria Roberts approved creation of the fund and appointed Houston-based Archer Systems LLC as the claims administrator.
“The process is completely confidential, but we’re hopeful distribution should take place this fall,” Schulte said.
The scandal emerged publicly in 2020, two years after Tad DeLuca, a wrestler in the 1970s, made a complaint that triggered a police investigation, though Anderson was long deceased.
That triggered a wave of men who stepped forward to say they, too, had been assaulted by Anderson; some allegations stretched back decades. Lawsuits followed.
The university, meanwhile, hired law firm WilmerHale to conduct an investigation. The results were devastating: Anderson harassed, abused and assaulted patients on “countless occasions” during his 37-year career.
Coaches, trainers and other staff in the athletic department did not question Anderson’s status, despite complaints, rumors and even jokes among athletes about his behavior, according to the report.
The report said complaints were made to athletic director Don Canham and legendary football coach Bo Schembechler but no action was taken. Both are deceased.
Anderson also was certified by the federal government to give physicals to pilots and air traffic controllers in southeastern Michigan, some of whom count themselves as victims.
“We consider this settlement just one of the steps we have taken in a process we began more than two years ago to fully understand what happened, make amends and enact reforms,” Brown said. “Our work is not done until U-M is considered the leader in creating a campus environment that is safe for everyone.”
Not everyone was satisfied. Richard Goldman, a student broadcaster and Anderson victim in the early 1980s, said Schembechler referred him to Canham but the powerful athletic director didn’t intervene.
“Seriously, fake apologies are not accepted,” Goldman said of Brown’s remarks.
The settlement is one of several by universities following sex abuse scandals. Michigan State University paid $500 million to settle claims from more than 300 women and girls who said they were assaulted by Larry Nassar, a campus sports doctor and a doctor for USA Gymnastics.
___
Follow Ed White at http://twitter.com/edwritez
|
https://www.ktalnews.com/sports/ap-judge-signs-off-on-fund-for-u-michigan-doctors-victims/
| 2022-09-21T08:28:58Z
|
ktalnews.com
|
control
|
https://www.ktalnews.com/sports/ap-judge-signs-off-on-fund-for-u-michigan-doctors-victims/
| 1
| 0
|
green-iguana-35
| null |
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — NASCAR champion Kyle Larson has signed a three-year contract extension through 2026 with Hendrick Motorsports, the team that welcomed him back last season after a nearly one-year suspension.
The extension announced Friday includes sponsor HendrickCars.com, which will sponsor the No. 5 Chevrolet for 35 races a season. Larson’s extension and the sponsorship renewal are concurrent. The original deal for HendrickCars.com to become Larson’s primary sponsor was announced last July when Rick Hendrick’s online automobile site pulled massive traffic spikes whenever it was featured on Larson’s car.
The 30-year-old Larson was suspended for most of 2020 for using a racial slur and lost his job with Chip Ganassi Racing. Hendrick took him when the suspension was lifted, and Larson won 10 races last season and his first Cup title.
“When Kyle joined our team, the expectations were sky high from both inside and outside the organization. To say he’s exceeded them would be an understatement,” Rick Hendrick said. “Not only has Kyle proven himself as a champion driver, he’s performed at a championship level outside of the race car. We’re proud to continue our relationship and to see him represent our team and our brands in such positive ways. The years to come are very bright.”
HendrickCars.com also will continue to support Larson in his non-NASCAR racing.
“I can’t explain how much this opportunity means,” Larson said. “The chance to compete for the top team and best sponsors in racing is something every driver dreams about. I’m humbled to have incredible people in my corner and amazing support from so many fans.”
Hendrick Automotive Group said it has measured a three-to-one return on its marketing investment in NASCAR through HendrickCars.com. The website’s highest-traffic days of 2022 have been associated with NASCAR-related initiatives, and the company also has utilized Larson as a spokesperson for its corporate social responsibility programs.
Larson heads into Saturday night’s elimination playoff race at Bristol Motor Speedway ranked eighth in the standings. The bottom four drivers in the 16-driver field will be eliminated Saturday night.
___
More AP auto racing: https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports
|
https://www.ktalnews.com/sports/ap-larson-signs-3-year-extension-with-hendrick-through-2026/
| 2022-09-21T08:29:05Z
|
ktalnews.com
|
control
|
https://www.ktalnews.com/sports/ap-larson-signs-3-year-extension-with-hendrick-through-2026/
| 1
| 0
|
green-iguana-35
| null |
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — A lawsuit alleging the rampant sexual abuse of underage athletes at a competitive cheerleading gym in South Carolina has been amended to name six more coaches as defendants and three more accusers.
The accusers — now seven female and two male — say in the federal lawsuit amended Thursday that they were sexually abused by coaches at Rockstar Cheerleading and Dance in Greenville, which is in the northwestern corner of the state. The accusers’ lawyers allege that sexual abuse at the gym could date back two decades and that there could be 100 more victims who haven’t come forward.
One of the plaintiffs’ lawyers, Bakari Sellers, likened the case to that of Larry Nassar, the former USA Gymnastics and Michigan State University doctor who is serving a minimum of 40 years in prison after admitting that he molested some of the nation’s top gymnasts for years.
None of the Rockstar coaches have been charged and The Associated Press is not naming them. State and federal law enforcement agencies are investigating the gym and other cheerleading outlets and have seized computers, cellphones and other evidence, one of the accusers’ lawyers, James Bannister, said earlier this month. He said the agencies asked lawyers not to identify them.
According to the lawsuit, the abuse ranged from rape and forced oral sex to molestation and pressuring children as young as 13 to send nude photos of themselves to coaches. The lawsuit also details instances in which coaches gave students alcohol and cannabis at their homes and in hotel rooms during cheerleading competitions.
The allegations first centered on the gym’s founder, Scott Foster, who was found dead in his car on Aug. 22. The coroner determined he died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head.
Kathy Foster, his widow, announced in earlier this month that Rockstar Cheerleading and Dance would close “indefinitely.”
“Although this was a difficult decision, I believe it is the best option under the circumstances,” Foster said in a statement reported by local NBC affiliate WYFF. “Over the past 15 years, our incredible athletes have worked hard to build a winning legacy and I will always be extremely proud of each of them. I ask for privacy for my children and for those personally affected during this difficult time.”
The amended suit details several instances in which it alleges that athletes were abused outside of South Carolina at events sanctioned by Varsity Spirit, which runs competitions, and the U.S. All Star Federation, the country’s cheerleading governing body.
Varsity Spirit President Bill Seely said in a Sept. 1 statement that the accusations detailed “abhorrent criminal, predatory conduct” and were “devastating to hear.” In an Aug. 30 statement, USASF said the organization was “devastated to learn of allegations about potential abuse.” The statement declined to comment on developments while law enforcement investigations are underway and reiterated that members should report any allegations.
The plaintiffs’ attorneys said they expect to file more lawsuits naming other perpetrators at other gyms around the country.
“We’re talking about serious repeated abuse that was reported to everyone including the Greenville County Sheriff’s Department,” attorney Bakari Sellers said in a statement. “For Varsity Spirit, the USASF and Bain Capital, these survivors didn’t matter. Their checks did. They did nothing to stop this abuse then and they’re doing nothing now.”
___
James Pollard is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues.
|
https://www.ktalnews.com/sports/ap-more-coaches-named-in-south-carolina-cheerleader-abuse-suit/
| 2022-09-21T08:29:13Z
|
ktalnews.com
|
control
|
https://www.ktalnews.com/sports/ap-more-coaches-named-in-south-carolina-cheerleader-abuse-suit/
| 1
| 0
|
green-iguana-35
| null |
HENDERSON, Nev. (AP) — The NHL and players remain committed to hosting a World Cup of Hockey in February 2024 even as they work through some unexpected logistical challenges.
Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly, Mathieu Schneider from the Players’ Association and their staffs are working daily to attempt to overcome hurdles related to staging part of the tournament in Europe. The plan is to split games between Europe and North America, once the International Ice Hockey Federation and various national teams get on board.
Even if that doesn’t happen, a World Cup is still possible.
“We’re still planning on this happening,” Daly told The Associated Press on Thursday at the NHL/NHLPA player media tour. “Worst case, even, we think we have the ability to make it happen just ourselves. Even if we don’t have the full cooperation of kind of the European entities that we want to work with, we have the ability to pull this off and execute it ourselves. And if the players want it bad enough, and it seems they do, I don’t see anything getting in the way of that.”
Schneider, NHLPA special assistant to the executive director and a retired defenseman, made it clear players do want the tournament to take place and expressed optimism about getting an agreement done.
“It’s going to take a little bit longer than we had hoped,” he said at the NHLPA rookie showcase last week. “The federations are on board, especially because we haven’t been in the last couple Olympics and I think everybody is just dying for it. It’s just trying to piece it together. We’ll get there. We’ll get there.”
Because the NHL has not participated in the past two Olympics, the best players in the world haven’t faced off since the World Cup in 2016. And that tournament included a Team Europe made up of players from various countries and a Team North America with U.S. and Canadian players 23 and under.
“That was fun and cool to be a part of, but it’s not anything like playing for your country,” said Edmonton captain Connor McDavid, who hasn’t represented Canada since the world championships in 2018. “I think the NHL, and hockey in general, has missed out on a huge chunk of international play and best-on-best play. That would have been really, really special.”
“We need to figure out a way to get an international tournament in as quickly as possible.”
The league and NHLPA need to work quickly to finalize what they envision as an eight-team tournament, which Daly said could include some type of play-in round.
A decision has not yet been made about what to do about Russia amid the country’s war in Ukraine. There is still time before that determination needs to be made.
“I certainly don’t feel like we’re up against a wall today to have to make that decision,” Daly said. “But as a practical reality, at some point prior to February of ’24 we’re going to have to make that decision. I couldn’t tell you sitting here whether it’s in a month or 12 months. At some point in the relatively near future, we’ll start making those decisions.”
The decision has been made to play some games in Europe, which is different than 2016 when the entire World Cup took place in Toronto.
“People want to see games in Europe,” Schneider said. “Players want to play games in Europe. It’s really trying to grow the game and create that excitement.”
February is also the chosen timeframe after the 2016 tournament was in September, a combination of a crowded fall sports landscape and the desire for better play on the ice.
“The quality of the hockey will be better because the players will be in midseason form, and it’s the right time of the year,” Daly said. “Our fans are kind of conditioned to want to see hockey in February. We think from that standpoint, it’s probably the right time. If you add to that our understanding, if not commitment to participate in the Olympics on a regular basis, it fits.”
Players would like to make Olympic participation routine like it was from 1998 through 2014. American center Jack Eichel responded, “Don’t hold your breath” when told of World Cup plans, but he agrees with Team North America teammate McDavid about the benefits of making another international competition happen.
“He’s spot on with that, and I think every guy in the league would probably agree,” Eichel said. “Whether it’s representing your country or having the opportunity to play against the world’s best, everyone wants to do it.”
OUTDOOR FIRST
The NHL plans to have fans on the field around the rink during the outdoor Stadium Series game in Raleigh, North Carolina, on Feb. 18 between the Washington Capitals and Carolina Hurricanes.
The league’s vision involves a DJ, bars and a party scene similar to the infield at auto and some horse races, which has yet to be done during an outdoor hockey game.
___
Follow AP Hockey Writer Stephen Whyno on Twitter at https://twitter.com/SWhyno
___
More AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/NHL and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports
|
https://www.ktalnews.com/sports/ap-nhl-players-remain-committed-to-hosting-feb-2024-world-cup/
| 2022-09-21T08:29:20Z
|
ktalnews.com
|
control
|
https://www.ktalnews.com/sports/ap-nhl-players-remain-committed-to-hosting-feb-2024-world-cup/
| 1
| 0
|
green-iguana-35
| null |
PayPal said Friday that the company will no longer sponsor the Phoenix Suns if owner Robert Sarver remains part of the franchise when his suspension ends.
And the National Basketball Players Association later made its stance clear, with executive director Tamika Tremaglio telling ESPN that NBA players want Sarver banned for life.
PayPal said its current partnership deal with the Suns ends after the coming 2022-23 season, meaning it will expire during Sarver’s one-year suspension from the NBA. Sarver was suspended this week, plus fined $10 million, after an investigation showed a pattern of lewd, misogynistic and racist speech and conduct during his 18 years as owner of the Suns.
In a statement, PayPal President and CEO Dan Schulman pointed to his company’s “strong record of combatting racism, sexism and all forms of discrimination” and said Sarver’s conduct is “unacceptable and in conflict with our values.”
“In light of the findings of the NBA’s investigation, we will not renew our sponsorship should Robert Sarver remain involved with the Suns organization, after serving his suspension,” Schulman said.
Schulman said PayPal will remain supportive of the team, its players “and the experienced and diverse talent now leading the organization,” including coach Monty Williams, general manager James Jones, assistant general manager Morgan Cato and senior vice president of people and culture Kim Corbitt.
Williams, Jones, Cato and Corbitt are Black. The investigation into Sarver showed he “repeated or purported to repeat the N-word on at least five occasions spanning his tenure with the Suns,” though it noted that the independent lawyers hired by the NBA to conduct the probe made “no finding that Sarver used this racially insensitive language with the intent to demean or denigrate.”
PayPal’s statement came one day after Suns vice chairman Jahm Najafi called for Sarver to resign, saying there should be “zero tolerance” for lewd, misogynistic and racist conduct in any workplace. Some players, including Suns guard Chris Paul — a past president of the National Basketball Players Association — and Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James, also have said the NBA’s sanctions of Sarver did not go far enough.
Those statements from Paul and James came Wednesday, hours after NBA Commissioner Adam Silver detailed some of his reasons for deciding a suspension and fine were the proper sanctions. On Friday, Tremaglio told ESPN the union “absolutely” wants Sarver ousted from the league.
“While we understand that there has been a thorough investigation and we’re very pleased that the NBA was able to follow through on that because that’s clearly something that we want to see happen, we also want to make it very clear that we do not want him back in a position where he will be impacting our players and those who serve our players on a daily basis,” Tremaglio said in a televised interview.
PayPal is based in San Jose, California. The technology platform and digital payments company also has been a partner for the WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury and a Spanish soccer team, both owned by Sarver.
___
More AP NBA coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports
|
https://www.ktalnews.com/sports/ap-paypal-says-if-sarver-stays-it-wont-remain-suns-sponsor/
| 2022-09-21T08:29:27Z
|
ktalnews.com
|
control
|
https://www.ktalnews.com/sports/ap-paypal-says-if-sarver-stays-it-wont-remain-suns-sponsor/
| 1
| 0
|
green-iguana-35
| null |
- The global response to the war in Ukraine and the recent US Inflation Reduction Act have raised the chances of a rapid acceleration in the transition to clean energy.
- However, the turbulent political and economic backdrop means momentum is fragile.
- Policy, technology, public opinion and financing decisions will all influence the long-term outcome of this pivotal moment.
LONDON and SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 21, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Generation Investment Management, the sustainable investment management firm, today released its sixth annual assessment of the global state of sustainability. Against a backdrop of a seminal year in the transition away from fossil fuels, The Sustainability Trends Report analyses the core drivers of the shift to sustainability across the global economy – from the power sector and industrial emissions to buildings, land, food and climate finance.
Al Gore, Chairman of Generation Investment Management, said: "We find ourselves at a tipping point in the Sustainability Revolution. Geopolitical events of the past year, including the devastating war in Ukraine, have highlighted the urgent threat that fossil-fuel dependency poses to global security and democracy. We must embrace this moment as a global epiphany – and indeed, this year, world leaders are beginning to rise to meet this moment, with the EU taking critical steps to rapidly scale-up renewable energy capacity and the United States passing ground-breaking investments in climate solutions with the Inflation Reduction Act."
"Amid the reasons for optimism, we cannot afford complacency in our efforts to confront the climate crisis. The report outlines those areas of the global economy, particularly in the most highly-emitting sectors, which still require ambitious leadership, tangible action and robust finance. If progress is to be made, the momentum must accelerate, yet it continues to be threatened by a challenging economic and political environment."
Two major developments this year have raised the chances of a rapid acceleration in the transition to clean energy. The war in Ukraine has thrown the risks of European dependence on Russian fossil fuels into focus, prompting the EU to raise its goals for renewable energy. Meanwhile the Inflation Reduction Act in the United States promises to help cut emissions by as much as 40 percent below 2005 levels.
While these are encouraging signs, the report demonstrates how policy, technology, public opinion and capital allocation decisions could all influence the long-term outcome of this pivotal moment:
A CONVERGENCE OF AMBITION – THOUGH RISKS REMAIN
The war in Ukraine poses a threat to Europe's clean energy transition as urgent investment into fossil-fuel infrastructure independent of Russian supplies risks locking in dependency on dirty energy (e.g., new pipelines and new import terminals for liquified gas). Simultaneously, the dangers of fossil-fuel dependency are more starkly revealed than ever. How Europe resolves the tension between its near-term supply crisis and its long-term interests will determine whether the EU remains a world leader in battling the climate crisis.
Since the invasion of Ukraine, the EU has pledged to accelerate its already ambitious goals to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Meeting the new targets will require a radical, rapid scale-up in renewable energy. This acceleration will be supported in the United States by the Inflation Reduction Act which commits hundreds of billions of dollars to the development and deployment of climate solutions.
RAPID POLICY AND LEGISLATIVE CHANGE IS NEEDED – BUT THE PLAN IS IN PLACE
The sense of urgency means there is a need for speed in the European energy transition. However, barriers remain, even in the roll-out of developed technologies such as onshore and offshore wind projects, where significant regulatory and technological obstacles remain for both. The financing mechanisms to support the development of large renewables projects are a work in progress and require urgent public policy attention. The EU has a plan to solve many of these bottlenecks, and the speed at which these are tackled will show the commitment of the bloc to the energy transition.
POLITICAL & ECONOMIC TURBULENCE REMAIN THREATS TO A JUST TRANSITION
Developments in policy and public climate investment funding are highly encouraging. The energy security crisis in Europe sets the region in a position to develop cost-effective climate solutions that will benefit not only member states but also can be exported, resulting in significant economic gains from becoming a main supplier of the climate solutions the world needs. However, these gains remain fragile. The past has shown that public concern about the environment weakens in times of economic distress. In Europe and the United States, the newfound commitments will need to be defended as the political and economic environment becomes more difficult.
Other accelerating trends highlighted by the report include:
Power: Good news wrapped in bad news
- As emissions from the power sector hit an all-time high, the first and most important task of the energy transition is to clean up the power grid.
- Significant progress has been made in highly developed economies. Meanwhile, in places where emissions continue to rise, they are doing so more slowly than previously.
- The report highlights that emissions from global electricity production are almost certainly going to peak, possibly as soon as 2025, and then begin to fall.
Transportation: Ready for lift-off
- The rising popularity of electric cars might be the single best piece of news for the energy transition in 2022. There is no longer any doubt that the world's automotive fleet will be electrified.
- However, the transition is being slowed by shortages of critical minerals like lithium. Continuing issues around government policies and charging infrastructure remain.
Buildings: Fresh ideas needed
- Buildings are responsible for 6% of global emissions. The building-energy problem has become urgent, if only because so little progress has been made solving it.
- Governments have yet to find the right mix of policies to speed up the transition to a greener stock of buildings. Rates of renovation and energy retrofitting remain low all over the world. For example, at the rate the United Kingdom is installing heat pumps in old homes, the retrofit will be completed in 600 years.
Industry: Building blocks of civilisation
- Emissions from industries like steel, cement and chemicals remain a major unsolved problem, with few government policies in place to speed the transition. The earliest stages of a green transition in steel manufacture are occurring, with plants under construction that will use clean hydrogen as their energy source.
Land & Food: Saving nature
- Rates of forest destruction and species extinction remain at worrisome levels as developed countries fail to come up with suitable financing mechanisms.
- Repeated promises by Western corporations to eliminate forest destruction from their supply chains have delivered little progress.
- To confront the issues of food supply amongst a rising population, and the challenge of reducing emissions from the agricultural sector, the environmental performance of the food system is more important than ever.
Financing the Transition: All the wrong places
- Annual investment in the clean economy will soon surpass $1 trillion. However, to limit global warming to 1.5C will require $2 trillion annually by 2025, and $4 trillion by 2030.
About Generation
Generation Investment Management LLP is dedicated to long-term investing, integrated sustainability research and client alignment. It is an independent, private, owner-managed partnership established in 2004 and headquartered in London, with a US presence in San Francisco. Generation Investment Management LLP is authorised and regulated in the United Kingdom by the Financial Conduct Authority. In the US Generation operates via Generation Investment Management US LLP, a Registered Investment Adviser with the Securities and Exchange Commission. www.generationim.com
For more information, please contact:
Richard Campbell, Kekst CNC
generation@kekstcnc.com
+44 (0) 7775 784 933
View original content:
SOURCE Generation Investment Management
|
https://www.wave3.com/prnewswire/2022/09/21/pivotal-moment-history-generation-investment-managements-6th-annual-sustainability-trends-report-highlights-fragility-progress-toward-an-accelerated-climate-transition/
| 2022-09-21T08:29:32Z
|
wave3.com
|
control
|
https://www.wave3.com/prnewswire/2022/09/21/pivotal-moment-history-generation-investment-managements-6th-annual-sustainability-trends-report-highlights-fragility-progress-toward-an-accelerated-climate-transition/
| 1
| 0
|
green-iguana-35
| null |
FRISCO, TX (Silver Star Nation) – After a very rough first week of the 2022 NFL Season the Dallas Cowboys head into Sunday’s game against the Super Bowl runner up Cincinnati Bengals without five of their starters.
Most notably missing is quarterback Dak Prescott who suffered a broken bone in his throwing hand in last week’s 19-3 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Also gone, safety Jayron Kearse, guard Connor McGovern, and defensive end Tarell Basham, all suffered injuries in the season opener on Sunday night.
Wide receiver Michael Gallup has yet to practice or play with the team this year as he continues to rehab from off-season surgery. Gallup is expected back in the lineup in the next few weeks.
Prescott had successful surgery this week but is expected to miss anywhere from four to six weeks, leaving backup quarterback Cooper Rush at the helm for the foreseeable future.
In his weekly injury report from The Star, Cowboys insider Mickey Spagnola talks about the team Dallas will put on the field Sunday at AT&T stadium.
|
https://www.ktalnews.com/sports/nfl/silver-star-nation/mickey-five-cowboy-starters-wont-play-sunday/
| 2022-09-21T08:29:42Z
|
ktalnews.com
|
control
|
https://www.ktalnews.com/sports/nfl/silver-star-nation/mickey-five-cowboy-starters-wont-play-sunday/
| 1
| 0
|
green-iguana-35
| null |
The cooler mornings and pleasant afternoons have been awesome! But with fall right around the corner, summer is making a hot comeback! Morning low temperatures this morning should be in the low to mid-60s and will stay that way through Saturday. Afternoon highs for today should be in the low to mid-90s and will be found, for the most part, again Saturday. By Sunday through the first day of Autumn, morning lows will range from near 70 to the low 70s followed by afternoon highs in the mid to upper 90s.
Summer is NOT ready to say Buh-Bye!! Here is the reason for the return of summer heat. We will see a surface high-pressure system and an upper-level high-pressure system well to our northeast. That will rule our weather through at least today. By the weekend, the upper high moves into the southeastern U.S., and the surface high moves to the northeastern U.S. Also, a weak trough of low pressure moves south of us with little fanfare and likely no rain.
As we start the new week, an upper high-pressure system forms in our area and takes up residence over East Texas, and sits there all the way through Thursday, the first day of Autumn, 9/22/2022. We should see morning lows in the low 70s and highs soaring into the mid to upper 90s…OUCH! But, take heart! A cold front should move through on the second day of Autumn. This will likely bring much cooler temperatures and a tiny chance of rain. I, for one, will take this cold front with no complaints!
|
https://www.ktalnews.com/weather/summer-goes-out-with-sizzling-temperatures/
| 2022-09-21T08:29:56Z
|
ktalnews.com
|
control
|
https://www.ktalnews.com/weather/summer-goes-out-with-sizzling-temperatures/
| 1
| 0
|
green-iguana-35
| null |
BALTIMORE (AP) — Joey Wentz took a shutout into the sixth inning and Akil Baddoo and Kerry Carpenter homered to lift the Detroit Tigers to a 3-2 victory over the fading Baltimore Orioles on Tuesday night.
Wentz (2-2) allowed two hits and two walks in 5 2/3 innings. It was the third time in five big league starts that the rookie has held the opposition scoreless.
Baddoo's 448-foot home run in the third opened the scoring, bringing home two runs. Carpenter added a solo shot in the seventh.
“I felt good the whole night,” Carpenter said.
Rookie standout Gunnar Henderson hit a two-run homer in the seventh for Baltimore's first runs of the series. The Tigers routed the Orioles 11-0 the previous night.
Austin Voth (5-3) allowed two runs and six hits in five innings for the Orioles, who have lost four of five. Baltimore entered the night five games behind Seattle for the American League's final wild card.
“We’re not the only team that’s played this many games," Orioles manager Brandon Hyde said. "I think the league’s tired. It’s part of being a big leaguer at the end of September and we’ve got to learn how to push through it.”
It was a bit of an adventure for Detroit after Wentz left the game. Alex Lange allowed a walk but struck out Ramon Urias with two on for the final out of the sixth. Joe Jimenez allowed Henderson's two-out homer and then a single by Ryan Mountcastle. Andrew Chafin then came on and walked a batter before striking out Adley Rutschman to end the seventh.
“We felt like we were on our heels,” Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said. "We were just trying to get to the finish line. We had to use a lot of guys to do it.”
Chafin yielded a leadoff single in the eighth, but a double play helped him through that inning. Gregory Soto worked a perfect ninth for his 26th save in 28 chances.
The bottom of Baltimore's order did much of the damage. Jeimer Candelario had four hits in the No. 8 spot, and Baddoo had a homer and a double batting after him.
NEW LEADER
The Tigers held a news conference in Detroit to introduce Scott Harris, their new president of baseball operations. Harris outlined his vision for the organization, which centered around three areas. The first two are acquiring and retaining young players, and getting the most from that talent.
His third topic of emphasis was a little more specific — the strike zone.
“It touches essentially every part of our game, so we're going to start there. We're going to start with the strike zone," he said. “We want to dominate the strike zone on both sides of the ball.”
Detroit is 29th in the major leagues in on-base percentage.
Harris said he intends to hire a general manager to join his front office at some point.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Tigers: Miguel Cabrera, who came back from a biceps injury Monday, had Tuesday's game off.
UP NEXT
Detroit goes for a three-game sweep Wednesday night when Matt Manning (2-2) takes the mound against Baltimore's Jordan Lyles (10-11).
___
More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb and
|
https://www.fox17online.com/sports/wentz-sharp-for-tigers-in-3-2-victory-over-baltimore
| 2022-09-21T08:33:16Z
|
fox17online.com
|
control
|
https://www.fox17online.com/sports/wentz-sharp-for-tigers-in-3-2-victory-over-baltimore
| 1
| 0
|
green-iguana-35
| null |
To provide the best experiences, we use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information. Consenting to these technologies will allow us to process data such as browsing behavior or unique IDs on this site. Not consenting or withdrawing consent, may adversely affect certain features and functions.
These cookies are necessary for the website to function and cannot be switched off in our systems. They are usually only set in response to actions made by you which amount to a request for services, such as setting your privacy preferences, logging in or filling in forms. You can set your browser to block or alert you about these cookies, but some parts of the site will not then work. These cookies do not store any personally identifiable information.
The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user.
The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes.
The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes.
|
https://www.courthousenews.com/insurrectionist-repo-man/
| 2022-09-21T08:33:58Z
|
courthousenews.com
|
control
|
https://www.courthousenews.com/insurrectionist-repo-man/
| 1
| 0
|
green-iguana-35
| null |
To provide the best experiences, we use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information. Consenting to these technologies will allow us to process data such as browsing behavior or unique IDs on this site. Not consenting or withdrawing consent, may adversely affect certain features and functions.
These cookies are necessary for the website to function and cannot be switched off in our systems. They are usually only set in response to actions made by you which amount to a request for services, such as setting your privacy preferences, logging in or filling in forms. You can set your browser to block or alert you about these cookies, but some parts of the site will not then work. These cookies do not store any personally identifiable information.
The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user.
The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes.
The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes.
|
https://www.courthousenews.com/masks-and-emergencies/
| 2022-09-21T08:34:04Z
|
courthousenews.com
|
control
|
https://www.courthousenews.com/masks-and-emergencies/
| 1
| 0
|
green-iguana-35
| null |
HOUSTON (CN) — Moved by a raft of legislation meant to diminish turnout at the ballot box, a bipartisan group of U.S. mayors laid out a goal Tuesday of making voting in America as easy as getting a glass of water.
“It’s about voting, period. … When the basic question of voting comes up, it’s not about Democrat or Republican. It’s about the fact that you’re a United States citizen,” Denver Mayor Michael Hancock said Tuesday at the National Nonpartisan Conversation on Voting Rights. “We’re not supporting any initiative or any candidate. It’s about voting.”
Backed by the National League of Cities, a group comprising leaders from 2,700 U.S. municipalities, Hancock launched the conference last year to counter what he saw as an alarming trend: In 2021’s legislative sessions, more than 400 bills were introduced in 49 states to restrict voter access, according to the Brennan Center for Justice.
Many of them passed in Republican-led states and statehouse efforts to curtail voting have continued this year.
Hancock said he believes voting is an obligation, not a right, because his Black ancestors marched, bled and died for the right to vote.
“It is our foundational value and anything that impedes our full exercise thereof needs to be obliterated as fast as possible,” said the three-term Denver mayor.
Municipal, faith and business leaders joined with the heads of LGBTQ, youth voting and disability rights organizations, sharing ideas on how to increase voter registration, education and turnout in panel discussions for the three-day conference, with many emphasizing the leading role of local government as partisan gridlock in Congress has impeded reforms at the national level.
Headlining the event are three Democratic mayors: Hancock, Sylvester Turner of Houston and Regina Romero of Tucson, Arizona. Beside them stand three Republican mayors: David Holt of Oklahoma City, John Giles of Mesa, Arizona, and Acquanetta Warren of Fontana, California.
Warren said she came to learn ways to increase voter turnout from her peers.
“Best practices are something that every local person always looks at,” she said Tuesday at a press conference touting the gathering.
“Why reinvent the wheel when you can steal from great mayors right here? So these types of discussions become best practices and before you know it, the entire nation is on one page,” she added.
Warren might have oversold the prospects for national unity, as the conference takes place at a time of deep distrust in U.S. elections. Polls show about two-thirds of Republican voters — influenced by former President Donald Trump’s conspiracy theories — do not believe that Joe Biden legitimately defeated Trump in the 2020 presidential election.
Despite their professed wariness of the system, many of Trump’s acolytes are running for office and have prevailed in primary elections. In this year’s midterms, 60% of American voters will have an election denier running for Congress or a statewide office on their ballots, reports the statistical analysis news site FiveThirtyEight.
Expressing puzzlement at how U.S. elections became so partisan, Turner, the conference host, noted that two Texans from opposing parties had a hand in the country’s landmark voting legislation: President Lyndon Baines Johnson, a Democrat, convinced Congress in 1965 to pass the Voting Rights Act, and George W. Bush, a Republican, signed a bill reauthorizing the act in 2006.
Though Trump’s effect on the electorate loomed large over the conference, none of the speakers said his name Tuesday.
Arizona House Speaker Rusty Bowers avoided saying it even as he described Trump contacting him after Biden won the Grand Canyon State by around 10,000 votes in the 2020 election.
Bowers said he got a call from “the president and Rudy” Giuliani, then Trump’s attorney, who together asked him to convene an Arizona House hearing for lawmakers to hear evidence of voter fraud and to back Trump’s efforts to replace the state’s Electoral College electors so they would support him instead of Biden.
|
https://www.courthousenews.com/mayors-aim-to-restore-faith-in-elections-at-bipartisan-conference/
| 2022-09-21T08:34:11Z
|
courthousenews.com
|
control
|
https://www.courthousenews.com/mayors-aim-to-restore-faith-in-elections-at-bipartisan-conference/
| 1
| 0
|
green-iguana-35
| null |
(CN) — Nonprofit group Alianza Americas filed a class-action lawsuit Tuesday against Florida Governor Ron DeSantis Tuesday on behalf of migrants the Republican official deceived into flying from Central Texas to Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts, on Sept. 14.
The lawsuit accuses DeSantis and others of executing a “premeditated, fraudulent and illegal scheme” centered on exploiting the vulnerabilities of migrants for their own personal, financial and political interests.
Among the defendants are Jared Perdue, Secretary of the Florida Department of Transportation, along with five unknown people and the state of Florida, who allegedly coordinated with DeSantis to lure migrants on to private planes with $10 gift certificates to McDonald’s and the promise of employment, housing, educational opportunities and assistance upon arrival.
“Lacking work and shelter, and in desperate circumstances, individual plaintiffs and other class members accepted the offer relying on these promises,” states the lawsuit. “They agreed to board a plane at the invitation of total strangers because they trusted that the defendants would provide what they had promised.”
Instead of receiving what was promised, however, plaintiffs claim they experienced “cruelty akin to what they fled in their home country.” According to the lawsuit, defendants paid $615,000 for aircrafts to transport migrants in Texas to Martha’s Vineyard — aircrafts they were told would take them to Boston or Washington — where they were left with no shelter, food or water.
The next day, DeSantis claimed credit for the deed while those abandoned in Martha’s Vineyard were left to fend for themselves against national press coverage. Many migrants, states the lawsuit, had fled “rampant crime, civil unrest, poor health infrastructure, kidnapping, terrorism and wrongful detentions” and had been undergoing due process of immigrating to the U.S. before they were flown out.
“Defendants manipulated them,” added the lawsuit. “Stripped them of their dignity, deprived them of their liberty, bodily autonomy, due process and equal protection under law and impermissibly interfered with the federal government’s exclusive control over immigration in furtherance of an unlawful goal and a personal political agenda.”
As such, plaintiffs are suing DeSantis and those involved for violating protections afforded through the U.S. Constitution, violating federal statues and engaging in acts that entitles migrants to relief of at least $75,000 per person. According to the complaint, the defendants set aside $12 million from the Florida legislature to continue the challenged conduct.
DeSantis is yet to issue a formal response to the lawsuit. However, his office released a statement on Tuesday morning defending his decision after the sheriff of Texas’ Bexar County, which is seated in San Antonio, announced a criminal investigation into the flights.
“Immigrants have been more than willing to leave Bexar County after being abandoned, homeless, and ‘left to fend for themselves,’” read the governor’s office’s statement. “Florida gave them an opportunity to seek greener pastures in a sanctuary jurisdiction that offered greater resources for them, as we expected. Unless the MA national guard has abandoned these individuals, they have been provided accommodations, sustenance, clothing and more options to succeed following their unfair enticement into the United States, unlike the 53 immigrants who died in a truck found abandoned in Bexar County this June.”
The statement comes days after DeSantis’ communications director, Taryn Fenske, described the flights to Martha’s Vineyard as an effort to “transport illegal immigrants to sanctuary destinations.”
Massachusetts’ Governor Charlie Baker, a Republican, said he was in touch with local officials and that short-term shelter was being provided.
State Representative Dylan Fernandes, who represents Martha’s Vineyard, tweeted: “Our island jumped into action putting together 50 beds, giving everyone a good meal, providing a play area for the children, making sure people have the healthcare and support they need. We are a community that comes together to support immigrants.”
The lawsuit is led by attorneys Oren Sellstrom, Iván Espinoza-Madrigal, Jacob Love and Mirian Albert of Lawyers for Civil Rights in Boston.
Read the Top 8
Sign up for the Top 8, a roundup of the day's top stories delivered directly to your inbox Monday through Friday.
|
https://www.courthousenews.com/migrants-sue-florida-governor-ron-desantis-over-marthas-vineyard-stunt/
| 2022-09-21T08:34:18Z
|
courthousenews.com
|
control
|
https://www.courthousenews.com/migrants-sue-florida-governor-ron-desantis-over-marthas-vineyard-stunt/
| 1
| 0
|
green-iguana-35
| null |
To provide the best experiences, we use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information. Consenting to these technologies will allow us to process data such as browsing behavior or unique IDs on this site. Not consenting or withdrawing consent, may adversely affect certain features and functions.
These cookies are necessary for the website to function and cannot be switched off in our systems. They are usually only set in response to actions made by you which amount to a request for services, such as setting your privacy preferences, logging in or filling in forms. You can set your browser to block or alert you about these cookies, but some parts of the site will not then work. These cookies do not store any personally identifiable information.
The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user.
The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes.
The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes.
|
https://www.courthousenews.com/nba-2k-tattoos/
| 2022-09-21T08:34:24Z
|
courthousenews.com
|
control
|
https://www.courthousenews.com/nba-2k-tattoos/
| 1
| 0
|
green-iguana-35
| null |
SAN FRANCISCO (CN) — A jury finally got some insight Tuesday into ex-Uber security chief Joe Sullivan’s state of mind as he grappled with a serious data breach in 2016.
Randall Lee, a former partner at law firm Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr, testified that Sullivan spoke at length in a late September 2017 interview about his approach to handling the breach.
Lee and his colleagues were brought in by a special matters committee of Uber’s board of directors to scrutinize how Sullivan and his security team dealt with two hackers who infiltrated one of the company's Amazon-hosted web servers and made off with the personal information of 57 million app users.
Lee said Sullivan made it known that he didn't think it was his duty to report the incident to the Federal Trade Commission, a regulatory agency that was investigating Uber’s security practices following a similar data breach in 2014.
Instead, his main concern was finding out who the hackers were and making sure that the data they swiped didn’t end up “out in the wild,” according to notes from Lee’s interviews with Sullivan that were displayed for the jury in court.
“My focus was we had to get to bottom of this and contain it very fast,” Sullivan reportedly told Lee.
Sullivan, who stands accused of concealing the breach from authorities and obstructing the FTC’s investigation, also made it clear he believed that any duty to disclose rested with Uber’s in-house legal team.
“If we couldn't contain, it's legal's job to decide,” said the notes from Sullivan’s interview. “My assumption was they would conclude yes. Depends on where the users are,” he added, referring to users in the European Union, which has more stringent privacy regulations.
Lee said Sullivan indicated he was satisfied that the data had not been dumped. An Uber representative met separately with Vasile Mereacre and Brandon Glover in January 2017, and they both signed nondisclosure agreements with their real names.
"That's the gist of what I understood him to be saying,” Lee said on the stand.
Lee also testified that Sullivan, who previously worked as head of security and as a privacy lawyer at Facebook, said he tried to stay out of legal matters at Uber despite holding the additional title of deputy general counsel.
“I've tried hard at Uber not to wear a legal hat,” Sullivan told Lee. "We talked before I started at Uber that this would be different dynamic. I would not be making legal decisions.”
Prosecutors have raised Sullivan’s past career as a former U.S. attorney in the government’s computer hacking and IP unit, as well as his stints as in-house counsel at Facebook and PayPal, to suggest that Sullivan should have known better regarding the breach disclosure.
Sullivan’s interview with Lee indicates Sullivan saw it differently. “I do not make disclosure decisions. My team always trained to bring in legal,” he told Lee. He later reiterated, “My focus was on operational side, I always try to stay out of legal decisions. We have a good cross relationship with legal.”
Sullivan named in-house attorney Craig Clark as the liaison between Uber's security and response teams. Clark, who previously worked with Sullivan at Facebook, reported to both Sullivan and to a supervisor on the legal team, an arrangement Sullivan disliked.
“I didn't ask for the [deputy general counsel] title,” Sullivan told Lee. “For a period of time Craig reported to me and I didn't ask for that. I didn't have the bandwidth to manage a lawyer. Craig is a great guy but needs mentoring.”
Lee said he understood Sullivan didn’t want the deputy general counsel title and didn't want to manage Clark, "but I don't think he answered the question that was posed about squaring the title with not having a role in the disclosure.”
Sullivan also told Lee he frequently communicated with then-CEO Travis Kalanick, calling him immediately to inform him of the 2016 breach even though Kalanick was in Europe and about to give a speech. By then, Sullivan said it was clear that the breach was serious "because of what the vulnerability was." He also called it "too similar to the 2014 data breach."
"From day one, we had discussions on a regular basis,” Sullivan had said. Notes from Lee's interview with Sullivan show he told the CEO, "the one thing you expected us to handle, we were not doing a good enough job at."
Sullivan also told Lee that Kalanick favored negotiating with the hackers. Rob Fletcher, a security engineer, took on the task of trying to stall for time by emailing back and forth with Mereacre, who was operating under the pseudonym John Doughs.
According to notes from the interview, Sullivan said Kalanick “likes negotiations so where we were going through the back and forth, the emails Rob was sending to the guy and trying to figure out who he was, trying to play out and slow roll things — TK was really into that back and forth and negotiating and even dollar numbers and stuff like that.”
Uber ultimately paid the hackers a $100,000 ransom in bitcoin through its “bug bounty” program with HackerOne.
Sullivan was fired not too long after the interview with Wilmer Hale, but bounced back quickly, becoming chief security officer of Cloudflare in July 2018. In 2020, he was arrested and charged with obstruction and concealment of a felony.
Prosecutors told U.S. District Judge William Orrick at a status conference Tuesday afternoon that they plan to wrap their case in chief on Wednesday.
Read the Top 8
Sign up for the Top 8, a roundup of the day's top stories delivered directly to your inbox Monday through Friday.
|
https://www.courthousenews.com/ubers-ex-security-chief-on-data-breach-disclosure-to-ftc-its-legals-job-to-decide/
| 2022-09-21T08:34:32Z
|
courthousenews.com
|
control
|
https://www.courthousenews.com/ubers-ex-security-chief-on-data-breach-disclosure-to-ftc-its-legals-job-to-decide/
| 1
| 0
|
green-iguana-35
| null |
Read the ruling here.
Read the Top 8
Sign up for the Top 8, a roundup of the day's top stories delivered directly to your inbox Monday through Friday.
MILWAUKEE — A federal judge in Wisconsin questioned the Seventh Circuit’s wisdom on remand, complaining he was tasked to determine whether any party in this dispute between a Catholic school and a superintendent over public transportation services is owed damages or relief on state-law claims that have been abandoned for constitutional ones that the higher court opted not to consider. The court found in favor of the superintendent but expects immediate appeal of the issue.
Read the ruling here.
Sign up for the Top 8, a roundup of the day's top stories delivered directly to your inbox Monday through Friday.
|
https://www.courthousenews.com/wait-whats-the-question/
| 2022-09-21T08:34:39Z
|
courthousenews.com
|
control
|
https://www.courthousenews.com/wait-whats-the-question/
| 1
| 0
|
green-iguana-35
| null |
OAKLAND, Calif. (CN) — Oakland’s negotiations with the Oakland A’s around a $12 billion baseball stadium have hit another snag: there’s no deal on the table and no financial analysis of the project, which is required for the proposal to move forward.
Oakland residents and the City Council expected a full financial review of the controversial proposed Howard Terminal ballpark for West Oakland at a Tuesday meeting. But the city’s staff admitted in a Sept. 16 update that the Tuesday discussion was being reduced to an oral report on the project’s status.
That means the city and the team are running out of time to reach any kind of agreement, and some think a deal is unlikely to happen at all, given years of delays.
The Howard Terminal site was selected by the A’s in 2018 as the preferred location for a new ballpark rather than staying at East Oakland Coliseum, which led to years of negotiations with the city. The A’s propose a ballpark, 3,000 units of housing, a Bay trail and a 400-room hotel at the site.
The San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission, which protects use of the San Francisco Bay, recently cleared the way to receive future proposals for a future ballpark permit proposal at the Port of Oakland terminal.
However, negotiations and the project details have continue to hit obstacles.
All but two members of Oakland City Council turned down a ballot measure that would have given residents a chance in November to decide whether the city should use public funds on the site proposed by the Oakland A’s. City staff have been negotiating a term sheet with the A’s for over a year amid ongoing criticisms of the proposal.
Critics cite potential impacts on West Oakland and port and waterfront capacity as well as the project’s high cost. Several lawsuits alleging the project’s environmental impact report is flawed and violates state environmental laws are being reviewed in Alameda County Superior Court. And the A’s president Dave Kaval admitted the team has not stopped exploring other options near the Las Vegas strip.
Before giving a report to the City Council on Tuesday, Oakland staff promised last week to provide an updated memorandum to the public ahead of time — but it was not uploaded until 2 p.m. Tuesday, after the council meeting began.
Assistant City Administrator Elizabeth Lake wrote that an independent analysis of the fiscal impacts of the proposed project will only be presented to the council and the public once a final deal has been reached.
The city has secured about $321.5 million, or more than 90% of the original cost quote the A’s proposed in 2021, for offsite infrastructure to develop the project. Because these costs have significantly increased within the past year, the city is exploring new funding sources such as applying for a grant from the federal Department of Transportation and securing funds from developer 500 Kirkham.
“Obviously, the city’s receipt of these funds and the time at which the funds might be received remains highly speculative,” Lake said. She also said there is still a risk that the city could be required to fund any cost overruns.
A major question has been whether the housing proposed at Howard Terminal will fit criteria to be “affordable” housing. The city wants 15% of all new units on the site offered with affordable rent or ownership to households with extremely low, low or moderate income — earning up to a maximum of 110% of Oakland’s median income, which is about $80,000 per household. One-third must be units affordable to very low-income households, earning up to a maximum of 50% of that median income. The A’s have not promised this caveat.
Many residents spoke out Tuesday demanding the city provide a transparent report on the negotiations. Scott Taylor criticized the city’s history of missteps with its other sports teams, the Raiders and the Golden State Warriors.
“As we all know, residential and industry just don’t mix,” Taylor said. “At a time when every port in the US is trying to add space, Oakland is the only port willing to give up space. When are we going to say enough is enough?”
Another speaker, William Dow, agreed.
“Don’t endanger the maritime industry because of a billionaire real estate project,” Dow said. “The city of Oakland can put that money for that infrastructure into a lot more than to support a billionaire.”
To the council, City Administrator Ed Reiskin said, “We’re not going to bring you a deal that repeats the mistakes of the Raiders [deal]. That’s why it’s taken some time to make sure the city is protected.”
He said some grant applications could take another year to know whether they win any fund awards. And any deal with the A’s would have to be made in one week in order to have a financial analysis provided to the council during November — at the earliest.
“The big picture is the developer is on the hook to pay for the ballpark, all of the buildings on the site and the onsite infrastructure,” he said.
Among those supporting a deal with the A’s was Vice Mayor Rebecca Kaplan, who reminded the public the city wants a fair deal with a full financial report, promising, “We are in no way backing down from our commitment to doing that.”
But Councilmember Dan Kalb said using future tax revenue for offsite infrastructure is concerning because that revenue could always fall short, or costs for infrastructure could go up.
“This all should have been done by now,” he said. “To the people, I say, go lobby the A’s. They’re the ones that need to be lobbied.”
Councilmember Carroll Fife, who represents the district where the ballpark could be built, asked why the new report came to the council during the meeting, without time to review it. She said increasing costs and a lack of transparency leave her very concerned about a possible deal.
“We just had a shooting in front of City Hall today. I find it really difficult to move forward with this type of expenditure, with so many needs that are being faced by the city of Oakland right now,” Fife said.
The A’s president Dave Kaval did not attend the meeting, and his spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment before deadline.
Read the Top 8
Sign up for the Top 8, a roundup of the day's top stories delivered directly to your inbox Monday through Friday.
|
https://www.courthousenews.com/with-no-deal-in-sight-oakland-takes-heat-on-as-ballpark-proposal/
| 2022-09-21T08:34:45Z
|
courthousenews.com
|
control
|
https://www.courthousenews.com/with-no-deal-in-sight-oakland-takes-heat-on-as-ballpark-proposal/
| 1
| 0
|
green-iguana-35
| null |
The Chrysler 300 is about to be killed off, again. But the full-size sedan will go out with a bang.
On Tuesday, the 2023 Chrysler 300C limited edition was announced with big V-8 power as a last hurrah for the iconic nameplate before production winds down at the end of the model year.
Originally introduced in 1955, the 300C nameplate returned in 2005 before quietly disappearing after the 2020 model year. The sedan will follow countless others into the great automotive beyond, including its V-8 muscle car siblings, the Dodge Charger and Dodge Challenger.
The special edition packs a 6.4-liter V-8 engine rated at 485 hp and 475 lb-ft of torque. An 8-speed automatic transmission with a final drive ratio of 3.09 sends power to the rear wheels via a limited-slip differential. A dual-exhaust system with electronic baffles will make sure the 300C is heard before it’s seen.
Chrysler said the 300C will run from 0-60 mph in 4.3 seconds and run the quarter mile in 12.4 seconds on its way to a top speed of 160 mph.
Active dampers will help control body roll while red four-piston brake calipers at all four corners grab 14.2-inch front and 13.8-inch rear vented rotors.
It’ll take a keen eye to spot the differences between the 300 Touring, 300S, and the revived 300C, which will be available in three colors: Gloss Black, Velvet Red, and Bright White. Exterior modifications are limited to a new tri-color 300C badge, blacked-out chrome accents and trim, and model-specific 20-inch forged aluminum wheels.
Interior upgrades include Laguna black leather seats with an embossed 300C logo on the front seat backs. The dashboard is wrapped in black leather. Silver stitching and carbon fiber accents are found throughout the cabin while the gauge cluster receives a piano black bezel. An 8.4-inch touchscreen infotainment system and 19-speaker Harman/Kardon sound system come standard along with heated front seats and a heated steering wheel.
Every 300C will feature automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitors, and active lane control.
Production of the 2023 Chrysler 300C will be capped at 2,200 units at a price of $55,000. Reservations are being taken now.
Related Articles
- 2023 Lincoln Corsair SUV refreshed with more tech and a hands-free driving system
- Nissan discontinues Rogue Sport small crossover
- Genesis prices 2023 G80 electric car at $81,000, expands EVs to more states
- New car buyers paying record prices, taking on record loan payments
- Test drive: 2022 BMW i4 puts electric moves in 4-Series body
|
https://www.ktalnews.com/automotive/internet-brands/2023-chrysler-300c-with-485-hp-v-8-marks-end-of-the-road-for-iconic-nameplate/
| 2022-09-21T08:54:43Z
|
ktalnews.com
|
control
|
https://www.ktalnews.com/automotive/internet-brands/2023-chrysler-300c-with-485-hp-v-8-marks-end-of-the-road-for-iconic-nameplate/
| 1
| 0
|
green-iguana-35
| null |
The redesigned 2023 Honda CR-V compact crossover starts at a much higher price than the outgoing model, but it also comes with a much better-equipped base model. Honda ditched the LX grade on its bestseller, and the new base EX starts at $32,355, including a $1,245 destination fee, Honda announced Tuesday.
The dinky 5.0-inch dash display gets taken out with the LX in favor of a standard 7.0-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility (as well as a physical knobs for volume and tuning), heated front seats, dual-zone climate control, heated side mirrors, 18-inch wheels, and LED headlights.
Every 2023 CR-V comes with standard driver-assist features such as automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitors, adaptive cruise control that works down to a stop, active lane control, and a driver attention monitor.
The 2023 CR-V EX carries at least an $1,800 price increase over the 2022 Honda CR-V EX.
The EX and EX-L use the same 190-hp 1.5-liter turbo-4 from last year’s model and it is mated to a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT). It comes in front-wheel drive, and available all-wheel drive adds $1,500 to either model. The CR-V has grown larger by 2.7 inches but Honda hasn’t released final specs to show the change in vehicle weight. It has the same EPA rating as last year of 28 mpg city, 34 highway, 30 combined. AWD costs it 1 mpg combined.
The $35,005 EX-L adds more creature comforts and upgraded tech. It comes with a 9.0-inch touchscreen, wireless smartphone compatibility with a wireless charger, and an 8-speaker audio system.
The big news for the 2023 Honda CR-V is the revised hybrid model, which Honda expects to account for more than 50% of CR-V sales.
Sport and Sport Touring grades use a hybrid powertrain with a refined 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine and a pair of electric motors. The system outputs 204 hp and 247 lb-ft of torque, an improvement of 3 hp and 15 lb-ft of torque over last year’s Hybrid model. Honda says it does a better job of mimicking the stepped acceleration feel of a gas drivetrain. Front-wheel drive is standard on all trims except for the Sport Touring with AWD. The Hybrid can tow up to 1,000 lb, which is a first, and hill descent control and a snow mode have been added for 2023.
The 2023 CR-V Hybrid improves where it matters most: the EPA rating increases to 43 mpg city, 36 highway, 40 combined. The 2022 CR-V Hybrid was rated at 40 mpg city, 35 highway, 38 combined.
The 2023 CR-V Sport starts the hybrid bidding at $33,695. All-wheel drive adds $1,500. It comes with EX features as well as blacked-out trim pieces, black 18-inch wheels, and a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob.
The Sport Touring hybrid tops the lineup with standard AWD and a $39,845 starting price. AWD lowers the efficiency to 40/34/37 mpg. Sport Touring features 19-inch wheels, Bose 12-speaker audio, navigation, and a wi-fi hotspot.
Built in the U.S., the sixth-generation 2023 Honda CR-V goes on sale September 22, followed by Hybrid models in October.
Related Articles
- Off-road grades: SUV trims muddle the line between off-road intenders and soft-road pretenders
- 2023 Nissan Pathfinder SUV price increases $1,735, Rock Creek crests $44,000
- 2022 Toyota Tundra, 2022 Lexus NX recalled for parking brake issue
- 2023 Lincoln Corsair SUV refreshed with more tech and a hands-free driving system
- VW Tiguan vs. Toyota RAV4: Compare Crossover SUVs
|
https://www.ktalnews.com/automotive/internet-brands/2023-honda-cr-v-starts-at-32355-hybrid-costs-1650-more-and-gets-40-mpg-combined/
| 2022-09-21T08:54:50Z
|
ktalnews.com
|
control
|
https://www.ktalnews.com/automotive/internet-brands/2023-honda-cr-v-starts-at-32355-hybrid-costs-1650-more-and-gets-40-mpg-combined/
| 1
| 0
|
green-iguana-35
| null |
Alpine is developing a trio of electric vehicles that will be introduced starting in 2024. A preview of one of them could come as early as the 2022 Paris auto show starting Oct. 17.
The French performance marque announced last week plans to showcase a concept described as the embodiment of its future product strategy and a new stage in its transformation into an EV company.
No further details were mentioned, but Alpine’s planned EVs are expected to include a crossover, a hot hatchback, and an A110-replacing sports car.
The hot hatch will come first. It’s due in 2024 and is thought to be a tuned version of parent company Renault’s upcoming modern 5 hatchback inspired by the original 5 of the 1970s, sold in the U.S. as the Le Car.
The crossover, to be called the GT X-Over, is due in 2025 and is already out testing in prototype form.
The sports car is due in 2026. It’s being developed alongside Lotus’ spiritual successor to the Elise, and will use a Lotus platform known as the E-Sports.
Joining the Alpine concept at the Paris show will be a modern interpretation of the Renault 4 hatchback, also known as the 4L. In production for more than 30 years, the 4 is a significant vehicle in Renault’s history, just like the 5, so it’s no surprise Renault is resurrecting the car.
Renault also plans to show an electric version of its Kangoo compact van in Paris, as well as a concept thought to be related to the modern 5 project.
Related Articles
- Electric Audi R8 successor reportedly due mid-decade
- Piech hires former bosses of Aston Martin, Genesis for electric sports car project
- Volkswagen shows rugged ID.4 concept
- BMW promises 30% improvements in range, charging speed with next-gen battery
- Mullen acquires Bollinger, will resurrect B1 and B2 off-roaders
|
https://www.ktalnews.com/automotive/internet-brands/alpine-concept-modern-renault-4-set-for-2022-paris-auto-show/
| 2022-09-21T08:55:05Z
|
ktalnews.com
|
control
|
https://www.ktalnews.com/automotive/internet-brands/alpine-concept-modern-renault-4-set-for-2022-paris-auto-show/
| 1
| 0
|
green-iguana-35
| null |
Prices paid for R34 Nissan Skyline GT-Rs have soared recently, and this Bayside Blue example is unlikely to reverse that trend. Offered by GT-A International, it was driven by Paul Walker in “Fast and Furious 4.”
Walker was an avid GT-R fan, which is one of the reasons why his character Brian O’Conner appeared behind the wheel of GT-Rs on multiple occasions. It started with a silver R34 GT-R in “2 Fast 2 Furious”—and almost didn’t make it on screen. The studio wanted to use a Dodge Neon SRT-4 instead.
The “2 Fast 2 Furious” GT-R featured elaborate graphics, which weren’t to Walker’s liking. He reportedly asked to skip the graphics for the “Fast and Furious 4” GT-R, leaving it with a cleaner look than most previous cars in the franchise. Now showing just 3,278 miles, the car is presented with a copy of its Universal Studios rental contract to prove its authenticity.
Like all R34 GT-Rs, the car has a 6-speed manual transmission, all-wheel drive, all-wheel steering, and the legendary RB26 2.6-liter twin-turbocharged inline-6. The engine is officially rated at 276 hp and 260 lb-ft of torque, but that’s generally thought to be an understated figure to meet a gentleman’s agreement between Japanese automakers to limit output to 276 hp in the interest of safety.
This car has also been modified with a Turbonetics front-mounted intercooler, NISMO lowering springs and NE-1 exhaust, a roll cage, ARC titanium strut tower bar, 19-inch Volk Racing RE30 wheels, a Rotora brake system with 6-piston front and 4-piston rear calipers, and a NISMO Version II front bumper and side skirts.
The interior features an Alcantara-clad Momo steering wheel, OMP front seats with 5-point harnesses, and a Windows PC linked to an MFD Xenarc display, which generates digital gauge readouts as seen in the film.
The listing claims this car has a Florida title, but ordinarily an R34 GT-R wouldn’t qualify for the 25-year importation rule until 2024 at the earliest. That rule already allows R32 and R33 models to be imported into the United States. These earlier GT-R generations have a similar mechanical setup to the R34 GT-R, and typically sell for a lot less, but none has the star power of this particular GT-R.
Related Articles
- Princess Diana’s 1985 Ford Escort RS Turbo S1 sold at auction for $846K
- Review: The 2023 Nissan Z digs into the past to exceed expectations
- Lewis Hamilton is now part owner of the Denver Broncos
- Nissan Maxima dies after 2023, may return for electric era
- Keanu Reeves may be working on an F1 docuseries for Disney+
|
https://www.ktalnews.com/automotive/internet-brands/bayside-blue-r34-nissan-gt-r-driven-by-paul-walker-for-sale/
| 2022-09-21T08:55:13Z
|
ktalnews.com
|
control
|
https://www.ktalnews.com/automotive/internet-brands/bayside-blue-r34-nissan-gt-r-driven-by-paul-walker-for-sale/
| 1
| 0
|
green-iguana-35
| null |
Interest in purchasing an EV is high among communities of color, which are also more burdened by air pollution than white communities. Yet significant barriers exist to greater EV adoption, according to a new study from Consumer Reports, EVNoire, GreenLatinos, and the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS).
Communities of color are most harmed by vehicle-generated air pollution, but currently purchase and lease EVs at disproportionately low rates, the study’s authors noted, citing 2018 research. It’s not due to lack of interest in EVs, but rather issues that tend to affect people of color more than white people, according to the study, which is based on a national survey of 8,027 United States adults conducted by Consumer Reports between January 27, 2022 and February 18, 2022.
That survey showed broad interest in EVs. Of those surveyed, 33% of white respondents, 38% of Black respondents, 43% of Latino respondents, and 52% of Asian American respondents said they would “definitely” or seriously consider” purchasing or leasing an EV for their next vehicle.
However, the study highlighted several issues that might limit EV adoption in communities of color. Home charging is currently the most affordable way to charge an EV, but it’s not always possible for renters and residents of multi-family dwellings, Consumer Reports noted. The study recommends specifically boosting charging accessibility for these living situations, as well as increased affordable public charging.
Incentive programs accessible to all consumers are another important component to equitable EV adoption, the study said.
That isn’t off to a great start. The federal EV tax credit, which was recently re-upped, requires a certain amount of tax liability in able to claim the benefits. Meanwhile, because of the way it was just restructured, EV leases have become more expensive. The revamped EV tax credit does at least include a $4,000 credit on used EVs up to $25,000.
California has also considered refocusing it incentives toward “gasoline superusers“—although that doesn’t necessarily align with low-income families or communities of color.
The study also calls for increased education efforts, including loaner, test drive, or car sharing programs that let people experience EVs. Across racial groups, experience with an EV “strongly correlated” with interest in purchasing or leasing one, according to Consumer Reports. And a larger percentage of Black (13%) and Latino (10%) respondents than white (5%) and Asian American (2%) respondents said they didn’t know enough about EVs to purchase or lease one.
As has been covered for EVs, and for trucks and buses specifically, air quality issues disproportionately affect communities of color, and it’s likely they will benefit in quality of life from greater rates of EV adoption.
Related Articles
- Nissan Leaf EV batteries’ long lifetime is pushing recovery and recycling farther off
- Vinfast delivers first 100 VF 8 electric SUVs in Vietnam, US arrival still set for this year
- Ford Mach-E EV, Lincoln Corsair plug-in hybrid among first to get automated lane-change feature
- VW ID.Xtreme concept turns the ID.4 into a rugged off-roader
- Nissan approves first US bidirectional charger for Leaf, use won’t affect warranty
|
https://www.ktalnews.com/automotive/internet-brands/communities-of-color-affected-by-air-pollution-lag-in-ev-adoption-study-looks-at-how-to-fix-this/
| 2022-09-21T08:55:20Z
|
ktalnews.com
|
control
|
https://www.ktalnews.com/automotive/internet-brands/communities-of-color-affected-by-air-pollution-lag-in-ev-adoption-study-looks-at-how-to-fix-this/
| 1
| 0
|
green-iguana-35
| null |
Magna Steyr, an Austrian contract manufacturer and engineering firm owned by Canadian automotive supplier Magna International, wants to establish an electric vehicle plant in the U.S. and is on the search for a location, Kurt Bachmaier, the company’s vice president, told Automobilwoche (subscription required) in an interview published last week.
While he didn’t mention a location shortlist, he said a windy and sunny location is crucial as the company wants the plant to run on renewable energy. He also ruled out California as a potential candidate.
Magna Steyr has been considering a U.S. plant for years, but there’s now extra emphasis with the recent passing of the Inflation Reduction Act, which requires EVs to now be built in North America to qualify for tax credits ranging up to $7,500. It means automakers will be looking to build more EVs in the region, and a contract manufacturer like Magna Steyr could offer a flexible solution.
Magna Steyr already builds the Jaguar I-Pace at its main plant in Graz, Austria, and starting later this year it will build the Fisker Ocean. Both EVs will miss out on the tax credit under the new rule. Magna Steyr also builds the G-Class for Mercedes-Benz and will likely build the EQG electric version due around 2024.
Magna Steyr isn’t the only contract manufacturer with eyes on the U.S. Foxconn, the Taiwanese company that specializes in manufacturing electronics under contract, including iPhones for Apple, recently expanded into manufacturing vehicles. Last October it agreed to purchase a former General Motors plant in Ohio, which it will use to build Fisker’s Project PEAR and the Lordstown Endurance.
Related Articles
- Cruise robotaxi service to expand to Austin, Phoenix in 2022
- Alpine concept, modern Renault 4 set for 2022 Paris auto show
- Ineos signing US dealers for rugged Grenadier SUV
- Electric Audi R8 successor reportedly due mid-decade
- Piech hires former bosses of Aston Martin, Genesis for electric sports car project
|
https://www.ktalnews.com/automotive/internet-brands/contract-manufacturer-magna-steyr-plans-us-ev-plant/
| 2022-09-21T08:55:27Z
|
ktalnews.com
|
control
|
https://www.ktalnews.com/automotive/internet-brands/contract-manufacturer-magna-steyr-plans-us-ev-plant/
| 1
| 0
|
green-iguana-35
| null |
Cruise, a self-driving technology company majority owned by General Motors, will expand its fledgling robot taxi service to two more U.S. cities before 2022 is out, CEO Kyle Vogt said Monday during a Goldman Sachs conference, Reuters has reported.
Cruise’s taxi service currently operates in San Francisco, where the company is headed, but will expand to Austin and Phoenix later this year, Vogt said. Phoenix is where Alphabet’s rival Waymo self-driving technology company has been operating a service for the past three years.
Vogt also said he expects Cruise to earn $1 billion in revenues as early as 2025, though that’s still about half what GM annually invests in the company, according to Reuters.
Cruise has been offering rides to the public in San Francisco since February and was granted permission to start charging for rides in June, though the service is limited to between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. The taxis are also limited to 30 mph and cover only certain parts of the city. Cruise’s service will also be rolled out in a limited fashion in Austin and Phoenix, Vogt said.
Cruise has about 70 of the taxis in operation in San Francisco but is on track to double or even triple the number by the end of the year. The taxis are based on the Chevrolet Bolt EV, though Cruise plans to eventually add a dedicated vehicle known as the Origin.
It hasn’t been all smooth sailing for Cruise. One of its taxis was involved in a crash in June, resulting in minor injuries. The company later recalled its fleet and made updates to the software.
Cruise’s self-driving system ranks at Level 4 on the SAE scale of self-driving capability, as it is limited in areas in which it operate. The final goal is Level 5, where a self-driving car is able to operate at the same level as a human. While Level 5 might be a decade or more away, companies are already offering commercial services involving Level 4 cars. The Waymo One service has been running successfully in Phoenix for the past three years and is currently testing in San Francisco, and China’s Baidu continues to expand its Apollo Go service in Chinese cities.
Related Articles
- Ineos signing US dealers for rugged Grenadier SUV
- Piech hires former bosses of Aston Martin, Genesis for electric sports car project
- Porsche, Red Bull F1 talks end without deal
- Mullen acquires Bollinger, will resurrect B1 and B2 off-roaders
- Mercedes-Benz and Rivian to partner on European electric van factory
|
https://www.ktalnews.com/automotive/internet-brands/cruise-robot-taxi-service-to-expand-to-austin-phoenix-in-2022/
| 2022-09-21T08:55:35Z
|
ktalnews.com
|
control
|
https://www.ktalnews.com/automotive/internet-brands/cruise-robot-taxi-service-to-expand-to-austin-phoenix-in-2022/
| 1
| 0
|
green-iguana-35
| null |
Cruise, a self-driving technology company majority owned by General Motors, will expand its fledgling robotaxi service to two more U.S. cities before 2022 is out, CEO Kyle Vogt said Monday during a Goldman Sachs conference, Reuters has reported.
Cruise’s taxi service currently operates in San Francisco, where the company is headed, but will expand to Austin and Phoenix later this year, Vogt said. Phoenix is where Alphabet’s rival Waymo self-driving technology company has been operating a service for the past three years.
Vogt also said he expects Cruise to earn $1 billion in revenues as early as 2025, though that’s still about half what GM annually invests in the company, according to Reuters.
Cruise has been offering rides to the public in San Francisco since February and was granted permission to start charging for rides in June, though the service is limited to between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. The taxis are also limited to 30 mph and cover only certain parts of the city. Cruise’s service will also be rolled out in a limited fashion in Austin and Phoenix, Vogt said.
Cruise has about 70 of the taxis in operation in San Francisco but is on track to double or even triple the number by the end of the year. The taxis are based on the Chevrolet Bolt EV, though Cruise plans to eventually add a dedicated vehicle known as the Origin.
It hasn’t been all smooth sailing for Cruise. One of its taxis was involved in a crash in June, resulting in minor injuries. The company later recalled its fleet and made updates to the software.
Cruise’s self-driving system ranks at Level 4 on the SAE scale of self-driving capability, as it is limited in areas in which it operate. The final goal is Level 5, where a self-driving car is able to operate at the same level as a human. While Level 5 might be a decade or more away, companies are already offering commercial services involving Level 4 cars. The Waymo One service has been running successfully in Phoenix for the past three years and is currently testing in San Francisco, and China’s Baidu continues to expand its Apollo Go service in Chinese cities.
Related Articles
- Contract manufacturer Magna Steyr plans US EV plant
- Ineos signing US dealers for rugged Grenadier SUV
- Piech hires former bosses of Aston Martin, Genesis for electric sports car project
- Porsche, Red Bull F1 talks end without deal
- Mullen acquires Bollinger, will resurrect B1 and B2 off-roaders
|
https://www.ktalnews.com/automotive/internet-brands/cruise-robotaxi-service-to-expand-to-austin-phoenix-in-2022/
| 2022-09-21T08:55:42Z
|
ktalnews.com
|
control
|
https://www.ktalnews.com/automotive/internet-brands/cruise-robotaxi-service-to-expand-to-austin-phoenix-in-2022/
| 1
| 0
|
green-iguana-35
| null |
Ferrari on Tuesday revealed the Purosangue, the brand’s first nod toward the popularity of SUVs.
The Purosangue, Italian for “thoroughbred,” is more of a low-slung crossover than a true SUV. As revealed in Pisa, Italy, it more closely resembles a taller version of the GTC4 Lusso hatchback, the model it directly replaces, though it should still prove popular thanks to practical elements like four doors (a first for a production Ferrari), 2+2 seating, and ground clearance that isn’t set at a pavement-scraping low.
Those things matter, even among shoppers of exotic brands like Aston Martin, Lamborghini, and Porsche, where high-riding models vastly outsell sports cars. And the same will likely be true for Ferrari and its Purosangue which is slated to reach the U.S. in the third quarter of 2023.
Underpinning the Purosangue is a new front mid-engine platform Ferrari has developed for grand touring models. The platform complements the new mid-engine architecture that debuted in the SF90 Stradale and has since appeared under the 296 GTB, and it features its transmission mounted at the rear to help deliver a near-ideal 49:51 weight distribution.
A mechanical all-wheel-drive system is also included. Unlike most AWD systems with a center differential, Ferrari’s setup, known as 4RM, relies on a 2-speed transmission that mounts to the front of the engine and takes power directly from the crankshaft to the front wheels. Here, power is directed to the wheels that can use it best, in this case using a set of clutches that can vary torque between the front wheels. A normal torque tube at the other end of the engine directs power to the rear-mounted transmission, in this case an 8-speed dual-clutch automatic.
The engine is a newly developed 6.5-liter V-12. It generates a peak 715 hp and 528 lb-ft of torque, or enough for 0-62 mph acceleration in 3.3 seconds and a top speed of over 192 mph. Those numbers are impressive considering the Purosangue weighs a hefty 4,480 lb—dry. Helping to motivate the heavy horse is the engine’s ability to generate 80% of the peak torque from just 2,100 rpm.
The Purosangue could have been even heavier, but Ferrari used high-strength aluminum alloys in the spaceframe chassis to help reduce weight while maintaining rigidity. Carbon fiber for some of the body panels, including the roof, was also employed to help reduce weight. Customers can choose to have the carbon roof swapped for electrochromic glass, though.
The styling of the body follows a handsome theme first introduced on the Roma coupe, but new to the design are the four doors, with the two rear doors mounted as rear-hinged suicide-style doors similar to those used on the Mazda RX-8 sports car. This allowed the design team to preserve a sporty coupe-like side view.
Inside, there are four individual seats, though the rear seats are still smaller than what you find in a typical SUV. Cargo space in the trunk is 16.7 cubic feet, though the rear seats fold flat in case more space is needed. The design of the dash is similar to that in the SF90 Stradale and features dual cowls, with the front passenger cowl stocked with its 10.2-inch touchscreen display.
There are also a lot more luxury goodies in the Purosangue than your typical Ferrari, where performance tends to be the main focus. For its SUV, Ferrari adds items like a premium Burmester audio system, massaging seats, cabin air filtration, and carbon-fiber trim with copper weaving. In a nod to most customers likely using their mobile phones for navigation, the Purosangue relies on Android Auto and Apple CarPlay smartphone integration as a substitute for a traditional built-in navigation system.
U.S. pricing will be announced closer to the local launch but in Ferrari’s home market, prices will start at 390,000 euros (approximately $391,000). To help maintain exclusivity, Ferrari plans to cap production at around 3,000 units per year, or roughly 20% of the automaker’s 15,000-unit total annual capacity. That means finding an example at list will likely be next to impossible.
Related Articles
- Review: 2023 Lexus RX cuts the luxury crossover in quarters
- Ineos signing US dealers for rugged Grenadier SUV
- Preview: 2023 Lincoln Corsair debuts with automatic lane change-capable Activeglide system
- Specialty Vehicle Engineering gives the 2023 Tahoe and Suburban the Yenko/SC treatment
- BMW promises 30% improvements in range, charging speed with next-gen battery
|
https://www.ktalnews.com/automotive/internet-brands/ferrari-purosangue-revealed-as-v-12-powered-suv-with-715-hp-suicide-doors/
| 2022-09-21T08:55:50Z
|
ktalnews.com
|
control
|
https://www.ktalnews.com/automotive/internet-brands/ferrari-purosangue-revealed-as-v-12-powered-suv-with-715-hp-suicide-doors/
| 1
| 0
|
green-iguana-35
| null |
Lucid Motors calls its motor design miniaturized, and it’s long boasted that the light and “impossibly compact” motor in its Air electric sedan is lean enough to fit into an airplane carry-on.
Lean and small is only one aspect, however. Lucid’s motors weigh just 67 pounds each and are capable of generating 670 hp—yes, that’s 10 hp per pound.
Further, Lucid’s silicon carbide inverter, reduction gearset, and differential, packaged together, weigh about 163 pounds.
It is very, very power-dense. And in a tech talk released by the company on Tuesday, Lucid CEO and CTO Peter Rawlinson and Powertrain VP Emad Dlala ran through the priorities the motors were designed around, and how power and efficiency, through low resistance and thermal management, have been part of the plan from the start—along with ease of manufacturing.
You’ll want to watch the entire presentation—more than an hour—for the physics lesson within, and you’re bound to learn a lot not just about this unit but motors in general. But these four slides, comparing Lucid’s motor to motors from Tesla and Porsche, get to the gist of it.
Rawlinson notes that the project included going back to the physics and looking at the whole powertrain as a single holistic inertial system.
The two spend much time discussing the design of the stator—the static outer portion of the motor that, with the current shaped by the inverter, creates the magnetic field that rotates the rotor in the middle.
For instance, the stator for Lucid’s six-pole permanent-magnet synchronous motor doesn’t use copper-wire windings like many such motors, and it doesn’t use hairpins either. Instead, for lower power losses plus ease of assembly, Lucid looks to a continuous-winding assembly that wraps into the stator with a limited number of welds. It’s made with a CNC-controlled machine and a process that resembles weaving. Then a CNC-controlled mandrel helps align and insert the woven mesh.
The pair even poke a little fun at the workaround that Tesla resorted to in its motors for the Plaid—a carbon-fiber shell that Rawlinson notes is the same sort of technology used in hydrogen storage for fuel cells, to hold tremendous pressure in. To scale that to high volume is going to be very expensive, Dlala speculates.
Lucid also cools its motor differently than Tesla, Porsche, or any other designs we’re aware of. Lucid’s strategy extracts whatever heat it can super-close to the slots rather waiting until the heat reaches outward. A middle channel in the stator functions as a manifold, running ATF (automatic transmission fluid) through narrow channels, helping extract heat through that mesh.
The busbars connecting the motor to the inverter are also the shortest possible, to reduce resistance (and thus heat). It’s an advantage of the motor as it was designed in a single unit with the inverter.
Bottom line: Lucid emphasizes that its drive units are light, compact, efficient, power-dense, and can be scaled up.
Although Lucid doesn’t actually lay out an efficiency analysis of the motor unit versus the unit from the Taycan and Model S Plaid, it implies based on the whole presentation that its motors also make a huge contribution to efficiency.
To that point, Rawlinson ventures that the motor itself weighs so little—just 11% of the overall battery-pack mass—that if they can achieve that gain in efficiency from the unit’s design it is essentially a “zero mass drive unit.”
That may be the point to help enable an advantage for Lucid in the future, as it produces EVs that go farther with smaller battery packs and, perhaps, a scaled-down version of this unit.
Related Articles
- Communities of color affected by air pollution lag in EV adoption; study looks at how to fix this
- Nissan Leaf EV batteries’ long lifetime is pushing recovery and recycling farther off
- Vinfast delivers first 100 VF 8 electric SUVs in Vietnam, US arrival still set for this year
- Ford Mach-E EV, Lincoln Corsair plug-in hybrid among first to get automated lane-change feature
- VW ID.Xtreme concept turns the ID.4 into a rugged off-roader
|
https://www.ktalnews.com/automotive/internet-brands/how-lucid-leaps-past-tesla-with-smaller-motors/
| 2022-09-21T08:55:57Z
|
ktalnews.com
|
control
|
https://www.ktalnews.com/automotive/internet-brands/how-lucid-leaps-past-tesla-with-smaller-motors/
| 1
| 0
|
green-iguana-35
| null |
Nissan Leaf batteries are lasting a long time, according to an executive with the automaker, and that may push mass reuse and recycling further into the future.
“Almost all of the batteries we’ve made are still in cars,” Nissan UK marketing director Nic Thomas said last month in an interview with Forbes (via Charged EVs). Recall that Nissan was among the first automakers to launch a modern electric car, delivering its first Leaf hatchbacks in the U.S. in December 2010.
This follows comments made by Nissan in 2019 when, based on then-current charging and degradation data, the automaker predicted that most battery packs would easily outlast the vehicles—and not just the ones that are crashed.
Nissan doesn’t have a stockpile of batteries to be recycled or converted to other uses, Thomas said in the interview.The automaker has used EV batteries as stationary power sources in a handful of demonstrations, and Thomas said a new UK factory currently under construction will use EV batteries to store power generated by solar panels and wind turbines.
But it seems Nissan EV batteries are mostly still being used for their original purpose. Anecdotally, the same might be true for original Tesla Model S vehicles, which had water-cooled battery packs that arguably kept the cells more thermally protected than early Leaf batteries, although the battery management system (BMS) plays a strong role in the long-term health of the pack as well.
The auto industry continues to weigh whether to reuse or recycle older battery packs. The predicted lifespan of packs in vehicular use is just one of the factors in calculating which approach is better.
Second-life energy-storage uses remain attractive as a way to increase use of renewable energy sources like wind and solar by storing excess power and discharging it whenever peak demand might be. The auto industry’s EV ramp-up, and accompanying concerns about the cost and environmental impact of sourcing battery raw materials, has led to increased interest in recycling.
Over the past several years, large-scale recycling companies—like Redwood Materials—have emerged. Redwood has now partnered with Ford, Volkswagen/Audi, Toyota, and others.
Some are predicting the market for battery recycling won’t heat up until 2030. And by then, solid-state batteries may have been introduced, hopefully with lower resource and materials demands. That means that the Biden administration’s push to develop a local supply chain and a battery-recycling ecosystem might actually be well ahead of the curve.
Related Articles
- Vinfast delivers first 100 VF 8 electric SUVs in Vietnam, US arrival still set for this year
- Ford Mach-E EV, Lincoln Corsair plug-in hybrid among first to get automated lane-change feature
- VW ID.Xtreme concept turns the ID.4 into a rugged off-roader
- Nissan approves first US bidirectional charger for Leaf, use won’t affect warranty
- BMW battery shift targets 30% more range, faster charging with cylindrical cells and cell-to-pack tech
|
https://www.ktalnews.com/automotive/internet-brands/nissan-leaf-ev-batteries-long-lifetime-is-pushing-recovery-and-recycling-farther-off/
| 2022-09-21T08:56:05Z
|
ktalnews.com
|
control
|
https://www.ktalnews.com/automotive/internet-brands/nissan-leaf-ev-batteries-long-lifetime-is-pushing-recovery-and-recycling-farther-off/
| 1
| 0
|
green-iguana-35
| null |
The Rev. Matt Curry’s parents were children of the Great Depression, just like “The Waltons” — the beloved TV family whose prime-time series premiered 50 years ago.
When Curry was growing up on a farm in northern Texas, his carpenter father and teacher mother often argued playfully over who had a poorer childhood.
“The Depression was the seminal time of their lives — the time that was about family and survival and making it through,” said Curry, now a 59-year-old Presbyterian pastor in Owensboro, Kentucky. “My dad used to talk about how his dad would go work out of town and send $5 a week to feed and clothe the family.”
So when “The Waltons,” set in 1932 and running through World War II, debuted on CBS on Sept. 14, 1972, the Currys identified closely with the storylines. Millions of others felt the same, and the Thursday night drama about a Depression-era family in rural Virginia became one of TV’s most popular and enduring programs.
At a time when the networks generally avoided “dangerous” content, “The Waltons” was notable for taking on difficult topics — religion, in particular — said Robert Thompson, director of Syracuse University’s Bleier Center for Television and Popular Culture.
“I think it was an important show, and I think it actually doesn’t get the attention that it deserves,” Thompson said.
“‘The Waltons’ really did get down and roll around in some very, very serious spiritual themes,” he added. “For example, an atheist comes to town, and we get this whole discussion between atheism and spirituality.”
“The Waltons” ran for nine seasons and 221 episodes, ranking as high as No. 2 in the Nielsen ratings. A half-century later it still stirs nostalgia among loyal fans who can’t resist taking in cable TV reruns, binging episodes via streaming apps and keeping up with former stars through social media.
Based on the life of its creator, the late Earl Hamner Jr., the show followed a large extended family living in a white, two-story farmhouse and running a sawmill in the fictional Blue Ridge foothills town of Walton’s Mountain. The parents, grandparents and seven children — John Jr., Jason, Mary Ellen, Erin, Ben, Jim-Bob and Elizabeth — were depicted wearing overalls and dresses, praying at meals and overcoming adversity through hard work and grace.
“The Waltons” focused on John Jr., known as John-Boy, played by Richard Thomas and modeled on Hamner. The oldest sibling, he aspired to be a writer and experience the world beyond his humble upbringing.
Now 71 and starring as lawyer Atticus Finch in a touring production of “To Kill a Mockingbird,” Thomas said he still hears fans call “Good night, John-Boy!” after each performance. The familiar catchphrase pays homage to the Emmy-winning role that made him famous.
“It’s kind of astonishing that we’re still talking about a show 50 years later,” said Thomas, who narrates “A Waltons Thanksgiving,” a made-for-TV movie airing this fall on the CW network.
“To have that kind of longevity and then have it mean enough for people to want to do a new version of it — I’m not sure exactly why,” he added. “I know it affected a lot of people’s lives. But I think primarily Earl Hamner’s writing was just so great and the cast loved each other so much and we were so committed.”
John-Boy had a lot to do with the show’s popularity — and inspired many a crush back then among fans like Jerri Harrington, now 67, of Centreville, Virginia.
Harrington still watches an episode every night with her husband of 47 years. During the frightening early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, she said, its characters — particularly grandma Esther, played by the late Ellen Corby — brought a sense of comfort and return to childhood.
“It just feels familiar,” said Harrington, a grandmother herself.
Another lifelong fan, Carol Jackson, like Curry the daughter of Depression-era parents, sees her own family’s story reflected.
She became a fan as a kindergartner and as an adult placed “Waltons” DVDs in the resort cabins that her family operated in the Ozarks of northern Arkansas. The homespun stories still connect with the 55-year-old mother of three.
“I just told my kids, ‘One day when I’m old and in my wheelchair … just wheel me in front of ‘The Waltons’ on a continual loop, and I’ll be happy,’” Jackson said.
Kami Cotler, who was 6 years old when she first starred as youngest sibling Elizabeth in a 1971 holiday TV movie that launched the series, still interacts regularly with such fans via her Facebook page, which has nearly 150,000 followers.
Cotler said “The Waltons” shared “universal truths” that help explain its lasting popularity.
“The show frequently told really simple human stories that resonate with people because that’s what life is like,” said Cotler, now an educator in Southern California. “People will joke that it was very saccharine sweet, but I don’t think that it actually was.”
On the show, parents John Walton Sr. and Olivia Walton — played, respectively, by the late Ralph Waite, an ordained minister in real life, and Michael Learned — frequently clashed over their differing approaches to God. Olivia was a devout Baptist, but John Sr. was not a churchgoer.
“I’ve always looked for God in my own way,” he said in one episode.
An ongoing theme was the appearance in Walton’s Mountain of an outsider — a Jewish family fleeing Nazi persecution, a Black boxer and preacher raising money for a new church, a Hollywood actress who smoked and drank — who met a mixed reception.
In 1972’s “The Sinner” episode, a young pastor played by the late John Ritter arrived preaching fire-and-brimstone Bible verses. But he inadvertently became intoxicated after drinking too much of the “secret recipe” served by the Baldwin sisters, two prim and proper recurring characters who didn’t seem to realize they were bootleggers.
After the mishap touched off something of a scandal, John Sr. made a rare appearance at church and pointed to Jesus’ words from John 8:7: “Let him who is without sin cast the first stone.”
“The religious aspect of the show had to do with the fact that Earl Hamner was talking about a time and a place … where those issues were very much in play,” said Thomas, now a grandfather of four. “I mean, in a small community in the mountains of Virginia in the Depression, if you don’t deal with the church aspect of things, then you don’t deal with things as they were.”
Over the show’s long run, the Waltons and their neighbors learned valuable lessons about overcoming differences and treating everyone with love and respect. Those lessons, Cotler said, “are perhaps even more relevant today.”
On a personal note, Cotler, a secular Jew, credits grandpa Zeb, played by the late Will Geer, with teaching her how to sing church songs on the show.
Curry, the Kentucky pastor, said “The Waltons” reflected how Jesus often rebukes religious people for hypocrisy in the Bible, while commending an unexpected person — such as a Samaritan who helped a stranger — for showing love and grace.
The show “talked about religion and faith … in a way that does not demean people,” Curry said. “There’s something in there that we are missing today, and it’s the sense of community, of unity, of battling through hard times.”
___
Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the AP’s collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content.
|
https://www.ktalnews.com/entertainment-news/ap-at-50-tvs-the-waltons-still-stirs-fans-love-nostalgia/
| 2022-09-21T08:56:12Z
|
ktalnews.com
|
control
|
https://www.ktalnews.com/entertainment-news/ap-at-50-tvs-the-waltons-still-stirs-fans-love-nostalgia/
| 1
| 0
|
green-iguana-35
| null |
NEW YORK (AP) — A compilation of radio commentary by the late Rush Limbaugh, from his early years on the air to his decades as a bombastic and influential voice in conservative politics, will be published Oct. 25.
Threshold Editions, a conservative imprint of Simon & Schuster, announced Wednesday that “Radio’s Greatest of All Time” will include contributions from former President Donald Trump, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas. The book was curated in part by Limbaugh’s widow, Kathryn Adams Limbaugh, and his brother, David Limbaugh.
“This book is written in appreciation of the millions of listeners who Rush considered to be his extended family and ‘the greatest audience in the world,'” Threshold’s announcement reads in part.
Limbaugh died of lung cancer in 2021 at age 70. In his lifetime, he published the bestsellers “The Way Things Ought to Be” and “See, I Told You So.”
|
https://www.ktalnews.com/entertainment-news/ap-book-of-limbaugh-radio-commentary-to-be-published-oct-25/
| 2022-09-21T08:56:19Z
|
ktalnews.com
|
control
|
https://www.ktalnews.com/entertainment-news/ap-book-of-limbaugh-radio-commentary-to-be-published-oct-25/
| 1
| 0
|
green-iguana-35
| null |
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Country music as a genre has always been a melting pot of influences and cultures, often shifting and morphing to reflect popular sounds and trends. BRELAND’s debut full-length album “Cross Country” builds on that history, interpolating and sampling older songs and bringing in his background in gospel, R&B and hip-hop under the expansive umbrella of country music.
“I’ve gone on and on about cross country being the intersection of country and all these other genres,” said the 27-year-old New Jersey native. “But when you zoom out from that definition a little bit, and in practice, in reality, cross country is a movement.”
Since his breakout viral hit, “My Truck,” landed in 2019, BRELAND has quickly immersed himself in Nashville’s songwriting rooms, taking over as the king of country collabs. He’s had songs with Keith Urban, Sam Hunt, Thomas Rhett, Jimmie Allen, Dierks Bentley, Tennille Townes, Lauren Alaina and Chase Rice, just to name a few. With each co-writing session, he’s building on his brand of a more fluid and inclusive genre.
“We live in a world where there are a lot of different divisions,” said BRELAND. “They pop up everywhere, whether it’s political or not, people don’t really agree on a lot. And music is one of the unifiers that we have. It’s one of the only things that we have that really brings people together.”
The Georgetown University grad grew up in a very musical family, which he jokingly referred to as the Von Trapps. His parents met in a gospel choir and they have continued their musical ministry. After singing in a cappella in college, BRELAND moved to Atlanta to write songs for other artists. But his goal has always been to be a singer, and after seeing positive reaction on social media to a demo for “My Truck,” he took the leap.
He got early support from Urban, a similarly minded country artist who brought him into the studio to work on tracks for Urban’s 2020 record “Speed of Now, Pt. 1.” Since then, BRELAND has been hopping from one collaboration to the next. Those collabs also led to his first CMA nomination for musical event of the year on the Bentley No. 1 song “Beers on Me” with HARDY.
“When I’m in those types of rooms, I’m not really worried about what the outcome is going to be. I just want to try to make the best song possible,” said BRELAND. “I think musically I bring so many different sounds and possibilities on a record that if I’m on a more country-leaning song, I might be the hip-hop element as a feature. If I’m on a more hip hop-leaning song, I might be the country element.”
His album has even more features with other artists: a country trap song anchored by Urban’s banjo and vocals, a poppy duet with Ingrid Andress, a slow jam drinking song with country group Lady A and the title track with Mickey Guyton.
Together with his producers Sam Sumser and Sean Snell, BRELAND also reinterprets samples and interpolations of older country songs to bridge his music to country’s past, most notably songs by female artists. In a homage to Shania Twain, BRELAND’s “Natural” mimics the distinctive guitar riffs from “Man! I Feel Like a Woman,” while the song “County Line” uses the jingly keyboard from the No. 1 crossover hit “Nobody” by Sylvia, which came out in 1982.
Co-written with Hunt and country singer-songwriter Ernest, BRELAND raps about small town characters with tongue-in-cheek lyrics over a beat built over the distinctive ’80s sounding “Nobody” melody. Ernest said that Sumser brought them the sample, and the writers immediately started vibing on its throwback sound.
“Trends come back around,” Ernest said of reworking the song. “I think we’re just all tipping our hat and paying homage to the stuff that had the sauce before us.”
BRELAND said, “Both of those songs can exist under the umbrella of historical country music.”
Given that gospel was his family’s cornerstone, BRELAND said his parents ideally would have wanted him to continue that path of religious music. But he found a different way to preach a unifying message.
“Whether or not it’s a directly religious message, I do think that there is a God message in the music, which is being positive,” said BRELAND. “I want people to feel good. I want people to be positive. I want people to love each other.”
___
Online: https://www.brelandmusic.com/
___
Follow Kristin M. Hall at https://twitter.com/kmhall
___
For more AP music news, visit: https://apnews.com/hub/music
|
https://www.ktalnews.com/entertainment-news/ap-breland-king-of-collabs-invents-the-sound-of-cross-country/
| 2022-09-21T08:56:27Z
|
ktalnews.com
|
control
|
https://www.ktalnews.com/entertainment-news/ap-breland-king-of-collabs-invents-the-sound-of-cross-country/
| 1
| 0
|
green-iguana-35
| null |
NEW YORK (AP) — Carolina Herrera breathed spring back to life at Monday’s New York Fashion Week show with a romantic portrayal of nature and beauty, accentuating that the brand’s modern and striking feminine aesthetics work for every woman throughout the seasons and decades.
Inspired by one of his favorite childhood novels, “The Secret Garden” by Frances Hodgson Burnett, designer Wes Gordon said that “in a world that can be dark and scary and unpredictable, it’s okay for some things to just be pure joy and beauty.”
“That’s what this morning was about,” he added.
The Plaza Hotel ballroom’s grand elegance boomed with Barbara Streisand’s classic “Funny Girl” hit “Don’t Rain on My Parade,” complementing the romantic bliss emanating from the maximalist hand-painted tea roses and peonies gowns, mini-dresses and matching bucket hats and denim jumpsuits worn by models adorned with a classic crimson red lip and, in some cases, chunky, droopy earrings.
“I really created a palette of five beautiful floral prints, that I reimagined in lots of different scales and colorways,” Gordon said. “I view this collection as a garden.”
Gordon and his team skillfully handcrafted a multitude of looks starting with the opening gown, a striped cotton blouse paired with a taffeta ball skirt, illustrating a whimsical high-class gardener vibe in line with true Herrera fashion.
Models Stella Maxwell and Karlie Kloss each had two separate looks. Maxwell shined in a mini yellow taxicab-colored floral dress while Kloss’ height accentuated her second look, a long sleeve, yellow peony trench gown.
Sitting in the front row were Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour, Martha Stewart and singers Ellie Goulding, Sabrina Carpenter and Becky G.
Standout pieces included a bold dramatic body-hugging column dress with a large rosette sleeve, which was seen on actress Kate Hudson the previous night at the Toronto Film Festival. Another eye-catching moment featured a mini yellow tent dress that almost looked like it was floating on the model.
But the showstopper was Precious Lee’s closing gown, a strapless, bodysuit black silk chiffon dress trimmed with tulle. Lee held the extravagant train with her hands as she closed the show.
Gordon emphasized that Herrera’s ability to evolve each season is because of the brand’s ability to listen, specifically to women.
“It’s not hard to evolve with the times if you just pay attention to women who wear your clothes,” Gordon said.
|
https://www.ktalnews.com/entertainment-news/ap-carolina-herrera-unveils-secret-garden-at-ny-fashion-week/
| 2022-09-21T08:56:35Z
|
ktalnews.com
|
control
|
https://www.ktalnews.com/entertainment-news/ap-carolina-herrera-unveils-secret-garden-at-ny-fashion-week/
| 1
| 0
|
green-iguana-35
| null |
TORONTO (AP) — Jessica Chastain and Eddie Redmayne’s careers were, perhaps, always on a collision course. Their similar red-haired, fair-skinned appearances have long been compared. At the 2017 Golden Globes when they presented together, host Jimmy Fallon introduced them by rapping “Chastain and the Redmayne” to the beat of Cypress Hill’s “Insane in the Membrane.”
Since meeting at a children’s film festival in Italy years ago, they’ve been friends, too. Even if they’ve occasionally verged on being rivals.
“I think we needed ‘The Danish Girl,’ because everyone always talks about how we look alike,” Chastain says. “I took a picture of him in costume in character and I emailed Eddie and I said, ‘Stop taking my roles, (expletive).’”
“The Good Nurse,” which premiered over the weekend at the Toronto International Film Festival, brings Chastain and Redmayne together on screen for the first time. It’s a deft, chilling true-life drama that revolves around the case of Charles Cullen, a nurse at East Coast hospitals who murdered at least 29 patients. The film is directed by Tobias Lindholm and adapted by screenwriter Krysty Wilson-Cairns (“1917,” “Last Night in Soho”) from Charles Graeber’s 2013 book, “The Good Nurse: A True Story of Medicine, Madness and Murder.”
Chastain plays Amy Loughren, a New Jersey single-mother nurse who befriends Cullen (Redmayne), after he’s newly hired. In an interview together at a Toronto hotel ahead of the film’s premiere, their easily apparent chemistry in the film was even more effusive in person.
“We play friends,” Chastain says, over-emphasizing “play.” “That was hard.”
“It was a joy,” beams Redmayne, causing Chastain to laugh and sigh: “He can’t even pretend.”
The film, which Netflix will release in theaters Oct. 19 and stream Oct. 26, deals with not just with a stealthy serial killer but the for-profit health care system that allowed him to go undetected for so long. Nnamdi Asomugha and Noah Emmerich co-star as police detectives.
“For me, the script was a complex story, a mixture of this very intimate friendship, a story of heroism by Jessica’s character, Amy,” says Redmayne. “But in some ways, it was a questioning of a system, and how that system worked or failed.”
“The Good Nurse” was initially set up several years ago, but Lindholm, the Danish writer of several Thomas Vinterberg films including the Oscar-winning “Another Round” and “The Hunt,” committed to making a sprawling Danish miniseries, “The Investigation,” about the death of 30-year-old Swedish journalist Kim Wall. The actors discussed their options and elected to wait for Lindholm.
“We had so many conversations before we even started. So we knew what we wanted with the film, and we were looking forward to it,” Lindholm says. “We came in with an extremely caring and loving energy. The three of us would be the core. My idea was that the three of us would create this film together.”
“They’re a dream, the two of them,” he adds. “They look alike. They have the same humor. They have the same energy. And yet they’re so different.”
For Chastain, 45, and Redmayne, 40, making “The Good Nurse” came with some trepidation. Working with friends, they note, can mean seeing a different side of someone. Redmayne’s character, too, is a deeply damaged person who puts up a gentle and warm facade. Redmayne’s slightly hangdog physicality in “The Good Nurse” is different than anything he’s done.
“I respect that he doesn’t need to torture other people around him to believe his performance,” says Chastain, who adds she respects any actor’s process. “I’d be talking to Eddie just as easily as this, and then ‘We gotta roll,’ and here comes Charlie. It wasn’t like we were having to work with Charlie. I was like, ‘Phew. I still like you, thank God!’”
“The Good Nurse” is Chastain’s first film since she won best actress at the Academy Awards earlier this year for “The Eyes of Tammy Faye.” Promotions have highlighted that the two leads of the film are Oscar winners; Redmayne won best actor for his Stephen Hawking in 2014’s “The Theory of Everything.”
“I have to say when I saw the trailer of our film and it was like both of us had it, I was like, ‘Yes,’” says Chastain.
“That’s almost the best feeling,” Redmayne responds. “Because you don’t really believe it when it happens.”
Chastain had previously had a superstition about holding an Oscar, and once refused to touch Redmayne’s award.
“But now,” she says, laughing, “I’ll hold your Oscar and you can hold mine.”
___
Follow AP Film Writer Jake Coyle on Twitter at: http://twitter.com/jakecoyleAP
|
https://www.ktalnews.com/entertainment-news/ap-chastain-and-redmayne-on-teaming-up-for-the-good-nurse/
| 2022-09-21T08:56:42Z
|
ktalnews.com
|
control
|
https://www.ktalnews.com/entertainment-news/ap-chastain-and-redmayne-on-teaming-up-for-the-good-nurse/
| 1
| 0
|
green-iguana-35
| null |
CHICAGO (AP) — A federal jury in Chicago convicted R. Kelly on Wednesday of producing child pornography and enticing girls for sex after a monthlong trial in his hometown, delivering another legal blow to the Grammy Award winning singer who was once one of the world’s biggest R&B stars.
Prosecutors won convictions on six of the 13 counts against him, with many of the convictions carrying long mandatory sentences. But the government lost the marquee count — that Kelly and his then-business manager successfully rigged his state child pornography trial in 2008.
Both of his co-defendants, including longtime business manager Derrel McDavid — who had told jurors that testimony from four Kelly accusers had led him to change his mind about Kelly’s believability — were acquitted of all charges.
The trial was, in ways, a do-over of Kelly’s 2008 child pornography trial, with a key video critical to both. Kelly, who shed tears of joy when jurors acquitted him in 2008, gave a thumbs-up sign to spectators after Wednesday’s verdict but otherwise showed little emotion.
Before Kelly was returned to federal lockup, McDavid hugged Kelly, who rose from poverty on Chicago’s South Side to become a superstar.
Asked by reporters later outside court how Kelly felt after the verdict, his lead attorney, Jennifer Bonjean, said: “Mr. Kelly is used to bad news.”
“He’s still got many fights to fight,” she said. “But what he did say is that he had a sense of relief that this particular case was in the past now.”
The verdict comes months after a federal judge in New York sentenced Kelly to 30 years in prison in June for racketeering and sex trafficking. Based on that sentence, the 55-year-old won’t be eligible for release until he is around 80.
And two sexual misconduct trials still await Kelly — one in Minnesota and one in state court in Chicago.
After deliberating for 11 hours over two days, jurors convicted Kelly of three counts each of producing child pornography and enticement, while acquitting him of obstruction of justice, one count of production of child porn and three counts of receiving child porn.
Among the charges McDavid was acquitted of was conspiring with Kelly to rig the 2008 trial. Milton Brown, the other co-defendant, was acquitted of receiving child pornography.
Chicago-based U.S. Attorney John Lausch expressed satisfaction with the verdict. He told reporters that, when you add up the potential punishments on the six guilty counts, Kelly was staring at at least 10 years and up to 90 in prison.
Judge Harry Leinenweber did not set a sentencing date. He could order that Kelly serve whatever sentence he imposes simultaneously with the New York sentence or only after that one is fully served. The latter would, for practical purposes, mean a life sentence.
Prosecutors at the federal trial in Illinois portrayed Kelly as a master manipulator who used his fame and wealth to reel in star-struck fans, some of them minors, to sexually abuse then discard them.
Kelly, born Robert Sylvester Kelly, was desperate to recover pornographic videos he made and lugged around in a gym bag, witnesses said. They said he offered up to $1 million to recover missing videos before his 2008 trial, knowing they would land him in legal peril. The conspiracy to hide his abuse ran from 2000 to 2020, prosecutors said.
Some dozen Kelly fans regularly attended the trial. On at least one occasion during a break, several made hand signs of a heart at Kelly. He smiled back.
Bonjean, Kelly’s attorney, told jurors in her closings that the government had relied, in some cases, on liars and and blackmailers as witnesses. She earlier implored jurors not to see Kelly as “the monster” she said prosecutors so badly wanted them to see.
In her closing rebuttal Tuesday, prosecutor Jeannice Appenteng cited testimony that Kelly’s inner circle increasingly focused on doing what Kelly wanted as his fame boomed in the mid-1990s.
“And ladies and gentlemen, what R. Kelly wanted was to have sex with young girls,” she said.
All four Kelly accusers who testified went by pseudonyms or their first names: Jane, Nia, Pauline and Tracy. Some cried when describing the abuse but otherwise spoke calmly and with confidence. A fifth accuser, Brittany, didn’t testify, and jurors acquitted Kelly of the one charge related to her.
Four of his six convictions were tied directly to Jane and relied largely on her testimony.
She was the government’s star witness and also pivotal to the trial fixing charge, of which he was acquitted, and which accused him of using threats and payoffs to get her to lie to a grand jury before his 2008 trial.
A single video, which state prosecutors said was Kelly abusing a girl of around 14, was the focal point of that trial. Three of the child porn charges that Kelly was convicted of Wednesday were related to that video and others depicting Jane.
Jane, 37, said publicly for the first time at the just-ended trial that the girl in the video was her at age 14 and that the man was Kelly, who would have been around 30.
Some jurors in the 2008 trial said they had to acquit Kelly because the girl in the video didn’t testify.
Asked on the witness stand how many times Jane and Kelly had sexually abused her before she turned 18, Jane answered quietly: “Uncountable times. … Hundreds.”
Jane, who belonged to a teenage singing group, first met Kelly in the late 1990s when she was in junior high school. Soon after that, Jane told her parents Kelly was going to be her godfather.
Jane testified that when her parents confronted Kelly in the early 2000s he dropped to his knees and begged them for forgiveness. She said she implored her parents not to take action against Kelly because she loved him.
Defense attorneys suggested a desire for money and fame drove some government witnesses to accuse Kelly, and they accused several people of trying to blackmail him.
Prosecutors played jurors excerpts from three videos that Jane said featured her. Court officials set up opaque screens around the jurors so spectators couldn’t see the videos or the jurors’ reactions.
But the sound was audible. In one video, the girl is heard repeatedly calling the man “daddy.” At one point she asks: “Daddy, do you still love me?” The man gives her sexually explicit instructions.
Prosecutors have said Kelly recorded the video that was also evidence in the 2008 trial in a log cabin-themed room at his North Side Chicago home around 1998.
Another accuser, Pauline, said Jane introduced her to Kelly when they were 14-year-old middle school classmates in 1998. She told jurors she still cares for Kelly. But, as a 37-year-old mom, she said she now has a different perspective.
“If somebody did something to my kids,” she said, “I’m killing ’em. Period.”
___
Joey Cappelletti is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues. Follow Michael Tarm on Twitter at https://twitter.com/mtarm and find AP’s full coverage of the R. Kelly trial at https://apnews.com/hub/r-kelly
___
This story has been updated to correct the spelling of Derrel McDavid’s first name.
|
https://www.ktalnews.com/entertainment-news/ap-day-2-of-jury-deliberations-at-r-kellys-child-porn-trial/
| 2022-09-21T08:56:50Z
|
ktalnews.com
|
control
|
https://www.ktalnews.com/entertainment-news/ap-day-2-of-jury-deliberations-at-r-kellys-child-porn-trial/
| 1
| 0
|
green-iguana-35
| null |
As a kindergarten teacher on “Abbott Elementary,” she can get an unruly class to sit up and listen. And that’s exactly what Sheryl Lee Ralph did at the Emmys — capturing the attention of a packed theater and a global TV audience with a stirring acceptance speech for the ages.
It was the first Emmy (and nomination) for stage and screen veteran Ralph, at 66, and she made the most of it, delivering the ultimate feel-good moment of an Emmy show that sometimes felt flat or uneven, despite the well-known comic talents of host Kenan Thompson and the return of a pre-pandemic crowd.
It was a show that rewarded previous winners in several major categories. “Succession” and “Ted Lasso,” the big winners in drama and comedy, were repeat winners, as were a number of actors.
Still, there were new and groundbreaking wins like that of actor Lee Jung-jae of “Squid Game,” the first Asian to win the award and a major breakthrough for a foreign-language show along with Hwang Dong-hyuk’s prize for directing. There was Ralph’s acting prize and Quinta Brunson’s writing award for “Abbott Elementary.” And then there was winner Lizzo, crying as she reminded her audience of the urgency of young people being able to see people who look like them represented in media and culture.
A few notable moments of the night:
A TEACHER SCHOOLS HER AUDIENCE
Sheryl Lee Ralph had already broken into tears before the show, when she’d been handed a tablet on the carpet with a recorded message of support from a beloved aunt. She declared that no matter what happened inside, she’d already won. Luckily, Ralph had more winning to do. Declared the victor for supporting actress in a comedy, she ascended the stage and sang the powerful opening to “Endangered Species” by Dianne Reeves: “I am an endangered species but I sing no victim’s song. I am a woman, I am an artist, and I know where my voice belongs.” She then admonished anyone watching who’d ever had a dream, to not give up. “This is what believing looks like,” she said. Sometimes it’s not clear early on what the big moment of an awards night will be. On this Emmy night, it was clear.
NO ‘CROWN,’ BUT A SUCCESSION
Two actresses have already won Emmys for playing the late Queen Elizabeth II on the same show, “The Crown.” Will there be a third, when Imelda Staunton takes over, after Claire Foy and Olivia Colman? In any case, “The Crown,” last year’s drama winner, was not in contention this year, and “Succession” was able to win its second prize, after winning in 2020. It was not the only repeat winner, by far. “Ted Lasso” repeated last year’s win as best comedy, as did its star, Jason Sudeikis, and supporting actor Brett Goldstein. Other repeats: Zendaya of “Euphoria,” repeating her prize from 2020, and Jean Smart, who won her second comedy actress award for “Hacks.” There had been thoughts of an “Abbott Elementary” upset in the comedy category, but it was not to be.
LIZZO’S POIGNANT REMINDER
She was visibly blown away by Ralph’s speech, but soon Lizzo was onstage for her own emotional win for her competition series, “Lizzo’s Watch Out For The Big Grrrls,” in which contestants vie to be her backup dancers, beating out frequent winner “Ru Paul’s Drag Race.” The singer gave a compelling lesson on how crucial representation is in our pop culture. “When I was a little girl, all I wanted to see was me in the media,” she said. “Someone fat like me, Black like me, beautiful like me.” She said she eventually did, but SHE had to be that person. Lizzo gave a shout-out to her dancers up in the balcony. “This is for the big girls!” she said.
MARTIN SHORT GETS IN A DIG
There wasn’t a lot of politics mentioned in Monday night’s show, but “Only Murders in the Building” star Martin Short managed to get in a dig at a favorite target on some awards nights, Donald Trump. “Really, what an audience you are,” Short said. “I wish I could box you up and take you home, like classified White House documents.” Co-star Steve Martin decided to get things back to the main reason for the evening. “Have you or someone you love ever considered a reverse mortgage?” he quipped.
HEADING HOME
When Jerrod Carmichael won best writing for a comedy special with his “Jerrod Carmichael: Rothaniel,” he decided to end the evening then and there on a high note, saying he was going home. “I made something that was of great personal consequence to me and this definitely contributes to the meaning of it,” he said of his very personal special. “I’m not like a sore winner, but I’m gonna go home because I can’t top this right now.”
ABOUT THOSE THANK-YOU CAPTIONS
It seemed like a good idea — leading up to the Emmys, nominees were told to send in written lists of people they’d like to thank, to be used in captioning, so their eventual speeches could be more creative, unencumbered by all those names. In reality, though, only some winners had the captioning, and even those who did proceeded to thank a long list of people anyway, making it all feel rather moot.
IF YOU’RE GONNA GET PLAYED OFF, DANCE!
Jennifer Coolidge was a sentimental favorite to win for “The White Lotus,” and when she did, regaling the audience about a lavender bath she’d taken that day that had an unforeseen effect, she quickly ran out of time with more to say. When the music wouldn’t stop despite her pleading “Wait, hold on!,” she just decided to smile and boogey along with it. The crowd roared.
OR NOT:
Matthew Macfadyen of “Succession,” winner for supporting actor in a drama, was also played off, but he didn’t dance. No, this is Tom Wambsgans, so he’s no doubt quietly humiliated and enraged and who knows what’ll happen next season.
___
For more on this year’s Emmy Awards, visit: www.apnews.com/EmmyAwards
|
https://www.ktalnews.com/entertainment-news/ap-emmy-moments-a-winners-joy-in-song-lifts-emmy-night/
| 2022-09-21T08:56:57Z
|
ktalnews.com
|
control
|
https://www.ktalnews.com/entertainment-news/ap-emmy-moments-a-winners-joy-in-song-lifts-emmy-night/
| 1
| 0
|
green-iguana-35
| null |
GENEVA (AP) — Jean-Luc Godard, the iconic “enfant terrible” of the French New Wave who revolutionized popular cinema in 1960 with his first feature, “Breathless,” and stood for years among the film world’s most influential directors, died Tuesday. He was 91.
Godard died peacefully and surrounded by loved ones at his home in the Swiss town of Rolle, on Lake Geneva, his family said in a statement. The statement gave assisted suicide, which is legal in Switzerland, as the cause of death.
A medical report recently revealed the director had “multiple invalidating pathologies,” according to the family statement, which did not specify the conditions.
Over a long career that began in the 1950s as a film critic, Godard was perhaps the most boundary-breaking director among New Wave filmmakers who rewrote the rules for camera, sound and narrative — rebelling against an earlier tradition of more formulaic storytelling.
For the low-budget “Breathless,” Godard relied on a mobile, lightweight camera to capture street scenes and reach moviegoers in a new way.
He dispensed with contrived backdrops and the “artifice” of Hollywood cinema of the time, said one film expert. The impact was immediate — “Breathless” arrived like a cinematic thunderclap when it was released in 1960 — and lasting.
“There’s a bit of Godard in nearly all films today,” said Frederic Maire, president of the Swiss Cinematheque. “Nearly all directors who have gone to film school today, or learned movie-making at cinematheques, have seen Godard’s films — and were amazed, jolted and shocked by his way of telling stories.”
French President Emmanuel Macron paid tribute, saying: “We have lost a national treasure, the eye of a genius.”
Godard worked with some of the best-known actors in French cinema, such as Jean-Paul Belmondo, who was propelled to stardom through the director’s films, and Brigitte Bardot, who starred in his acclaimed 1963 work “Contempt.”
Beyond that, he profiled the early Rolling Stones, gave a voice to Marxist, leftist and 1960s-era Black Power politics, and his controversial modern nativity play “Hail Mary” grabbed headlines when Pope John Paul II denounced it in 1985.
While many of his works were lauded, Godard also made a string of films that were politically charged and experimental, and pleased few outside a small circle of fans, while frustrating many critics who saw them as filled with overblown intellectualism.
Cannes Film Festival Director Thierry Fremaux said by phone he was “sad, sad — immensely so” at the news of Godard’s death.
Born into a wealthy French-Swiss family on Dec. 3, 1930 in Paris, Godard grew up in Nyon, Switzerland, and studied ethnology at the Sorbonne, where he was increasingly drawn to the cultural scene that flourished in the Latin Quarter “cine-club” after World War II.
He became friends with future big-name directors Francois Truffaut, Jacques Rivette and Eric Rohmer, and in 1950 founded the short-lived Gazette du Cinema. By 1952 he had begun writing for the prestigious movie magazine Cahiers du Cinema.
After working on two films by Rivette and Rohmer in 1951, Godard tried to direct his first movie while traveling through North and South America with his father, but never finished it.
Back in Europe, he took a job in Switzerland as a construction worker on a dam project. He used the pay to finance his first complete film, the 1954 “Operation Concrete,” a 20-minute documentary about the building of the dam.
Returning to Paris, Godard worked as spokesman for an artists’ agency and continued to hone his writing.
He also began work on “Breathless,” based on a story by Truffaut.
The movie stars Belmondo as a penniless young thief who models himself on Hollywood movie gangsters and who, after he shoots a police officer, goes on the run with his American girlfriend, played by Jean Seberg.
Godard’s cinematic creations were suffused with the gritty, sassy tones of a resurgent postwar France — known domestically as the “Glorious 30” years through to the late 1970s — and they served up some of the most poignant images and lines from what was then a rich, avant-garde heyday of French filmmaking.
The images in “Breathless” of an ingenue Seberg traipsing along Paris’ Champs-Elysées loudly hawking “New York Herald Tribune” newspapers in a tight T-shirt, and close-ups of a cigarette-smoking, fedora-wearing Belmondo running a thumb methodically, pensively across his lips could be enshrined among the most memorable images of French cinema.
Along with Truffaut’s “The 400 Blows,” released in 1959, Godard’s film set a new tone for French movie aesthetics. Godard rejected conventional narrative style and instead used frequent jump-cuts that mingled philosophical discussions with action scenes. He spiced it all up with references to Hollywood gangster movies and nods to literature and visual art.
Godard also launched what was to be a career-long participation in collective film projects, contributing scenes to “The Seven Deadly Sins” along with directors such as Claude Chabrol and Roger Vadim. He also worked with Ugo Gregoretti, Pier Paolo Pasolini and Roberto Rossellini on the Italian movie “Let’s Have a Brainwash,” with Godard’s scenes portraying a disturbing post-Apocalypse world.
Godard, who was later to gain a reputation for his uncompromising left-wing political views, had a first brush with French authorities in 1960 when he made “The Little Soldier.” The movie, filled with references to France’s colonial war in Algeria, was not released until 1963, a year after the conflict ended.
His work turned more starkly political by the late 1960s. In “Weekend,” his characters lampoon hypocrisy in bourgeois society even as they demonstrate the comic futility of violent class war. It came out a year before popular anger at the establishment shook France, culminating in the iconic but short-lived student unrest of May 1968.
Godard harbored a life-long sympathy for various forms of socialism depicted in films from the early 1970s to the 1990s.
Some of global cinema’s greatest directors counted Godard’s boundary-breaking work as an influence, including Quentin Tarantino, Bernardo Bertolucci, Brian De Palma and Jonathan Demme.
“Black Swan” director Darren Aronofsky tweeted: “learned a lot from my vhs copy of breathless… thank you maestro.”
Godard took potshots at Hollywood over the years.
He remained home in Switzerland rather than travel to Hollywood to receive an honorary Oscar at a private ceremony in November 2010 alongside film historian and preservationist Kevin Brownlow, director-producer Francis Ford Coppola and actor Eli Wallach.
His lifelong advocacy of the Palestinian cause also brought him repeated accusations of antisemitism, despite his insistence that he sympathized with the Jewish people and their plight in Nazi-occupied Europe.
Though the academy received some complaints about Godard being selected to receive the award, academy President Tom Sherak said the director was recognized solely “for his contributions to film in the New Wave era.”
Godard married Danish-born model and actress Anna Karina in 1961. She appeared in a string of movies he made during the remainder of the 1960s, all of them seen as New Wave landmarks. Notable among them were “My Life to Live,” “Alphaville” and “Crazy Pete” — which also starred Belmondo and was rumored to have been shot without a script. Godard and Karina divorced in 1965.
Godard married his second wife, Anne Wiazemsky, in 1967. He later started a relationship with Swiss filmmaker Anne-Marie Mieville. Godard divorced Wiazemsky in 1979, after he had moved with Mieville to Rolle, where he lived with her for the rest of his life.
___
Adamson reported from Paris. Former AP correspondent John Heilprin contributed biographical material to this report.
|
https://www.ktalnews.com/entertainment-news/ap-french-media-iconic-director-jean-luc-godard-dead-at-91/
| 2022-09-21T08:57:12Z
|
ktalnews.com
|
control
|
https://www.ktalnews.com/entertainment-news/ap-french-media-iconic-director-jean-luc-godard-dead-at-91/
| 1
| 0
|
green-iguana-35
| null |
TORONTO (AP) — Since he was a high school student, Hugh Jackman wanted to play the roguish traveling salesman Professor Harold Hill in “The Music Man” on Broadway. He’s fulfilled that dream — but all things must come to an end.
On the red carpet at the Toronto Film Festival, Jackman told The Associated Press that the revival will play its last performance at the beginning of the new year,
“Jan. 1 is going to be the last show. So we’ve got another three and a half months. So if you haven’t seen it, please come and see,” Jackman said after conferring with his publicist.
Jackman said he had a blast doing the show, which has double Tony Award winner Sutton Foster playing his love interest. “I love it. I love the cast. I love everything about the show. The audiences have been incredible and I’m going to be sad,” he said.
The musical tells the simple story about Harold Hill, a traveling con man who in 1912 convinces a small Iowa town into forming a band and selling them instruments until love changes him. It’s got classic songs like ″Seventy-Six Trombones,” ″Goodnight My Someone,” ″Gary, Indiana” and “Till There Was You.”
The musical revival was delayed several times due to the pandemic, finally opening in February. It has been a box office juggernaut, regularly exceeding $3 million a week, even if it got little love at the Tony Awards.
Jackman was at Toronto for the world premiere of “The Son,” which is the second part of the Florian Zeller trilogy of plays adapted for film. Anthony Hopkins, along with Zeller and Christopher Hampton took home Oscars for “The Father.”
|
https://www.ktalnews.com/entertainment-news/ap-hugh-jackman-eyes-the-end-of-the-the-music-man-on-broadway/
| 2022-09-21T08:57:20Z
|
ktalnews.com
|
control
|
https://www.ktalnews.com/entertainment-news/ap-hugh-jackman-eyes-the-end-of-the-the-music-man-on-broadway/
| 1
| 0
|
green-iguana-35
| null |
LaQuan Smith used the spectacular setting of a historic aircraft carrier for his fashion show exploring the female form.
At a Monday evening soiree on the USS Intrepid, the famed tourist attraction docked on the Hudson River, Smith launched his spring ready-to-wear collection. Milling among wartime relics like the Avenger bomber, fashion insiders, music industry celebrities and social media influencers sipped cocktails and posed for photos while they waited for the show to get under way. Frequent New York Fashion Week muse Julia Fox caught up with friends like Lourdes “Lola” Leon — Madonna’s daughter — while posing for photos in a fur-trimmed mini skirt from Smith’s fall show last year.
“It’s the IT factor,” Fox said in an interview. “You can’t describe it, but LaQuan has it, and he understands women and what makes women feel good.”
Swedish model Elsa Hosk opened the show in a refreshing neon pink bodysuit and sporty skirt combo. With long ponytails swinging behind them to the beat, models followed one after the other in barely-there bright fluorescent jewel toned outfits with translucent jewelry and wrap-around heels.
After the show, Smith said his influence for the collection came from his travels including a recent trip to Morocco, which he said left him feeling overwhelmed with ideas. He then came back to New York and applied his city sensibilities to his sketches.
His ideas played out in the romantic elegance of silk chiffon scarves wrapped around the model’s necks to utility pants fit for a fashionable day out.
“This collection was all about sensuality, female formality and really having a sense of freedom and fluidity,” Smith said. “This season was a great creative challenge for me because I kind of had to think much lighter, much softer.”
As with several other designers showing this season, semi-nudity was on display. When models were not baring it on the runway, Smith had crafted structured bodices to adorn their chests.
Norwegian model Frida Aasen sported a bralette made of silver wings and a matching silver waist sash over a sheer black figure-hugging skirt.
Since Smith’s debut in 2013, he has taken his brand to new heights. Most recently, Beyoncé wore one of Smith’s snug dresses for her campaign with jewelry brand Tiffany.
“I’m living my dream, and it didn’t play out the way that I thought that it would, but sometimes I have to pinch myself and realize, ‘Oh my god Beyoncé wore LaQuan Smith on the billboard of Tiffany and Co,’” he said.
|
https://www.ktalnews.com/entertainment-news/ap-laquan-smith-displays-his-fashions-on-an-aircraft-carrier/
| 2022-09-21T08:57:27Z
|
ktalnews.com
|
control
|
https://www.ktalnews.com/entertainment-news/ap-laquan-smith-displays-his-fashions-on-an-aircraft-carrier/
| 1
| 0
|
green-iguana-35
| null |
ROCHESTER, Minn. (AP) — Singer and actor Darius Campbell Danesh, who went from a British reality television show to a stage and music career, died from inhaling chloroethane and suffocating, a Minnesota medical examiner found.
The 41-year-old singer and actor was found unresponsive in his apartment in Rochester, Minnesota, on Aug. 11, the Southern Minnesota Regional Medical Examiner’s Office said. The medical examiner ruled that the death was accidental. Investigators said there were no signs of “intent or suspicious circumstances.”
Danesh’s family said in a statement that he had taken chloroethane for chronic pain that he suffered from since a 2010 car crash in Spain that left him with a broken neck.
“The results of medical examinations have confirmed that Darius’s death was an accident caused by chloroethane, which is used to treat pain and that tragically led to respiratory arrest,” said the family.
Chloroethane, commonly known as ethyl chloride, is a colorless, flammable gas or refrigerated liquid. In addition to its medical uses, it has also been used as an inhalant street drug.
Born in Glasgow, Scotland, to a Scottish mother and Iranian father, Campbell Danesh appeared on the reality show “Popstars” in 2001 and made a splash with his intense interpretation of Britney Spears’ “…Baby One More Time.”
He had more success later that year on “Pop Idol,” an early Simon Cowell reality-talent show hybrid that aimed to find a new singing star. He came in third place behind Gareth Gates and Will Young. In 2002, he topped the U.K. charts with the single “Colourblind,” from his debut album “Dive In.”
Campbell Danesh went on to major roles in musicals, including West End productions of “Chicago” and “Guys and Dolls.” And he starred as Rhett Butler in a musical stage adaptation of “Gone With the Wind.”
In 2010, he won the reality show “Popstar to Operastar” and later performed in a production of “Carmen” at London’s O2 Arena.
|
https://www.ktalnews.com/entertainment-news/ap-officials-campbell-danesh-died-of-chloroethane-inhalation/
| 2022-09-21T08:57:34Z
|
ktalnews.com
|
control
|
https://www.ktalnews.com/entertainment-news/ap-officials-campbell-danesh-died-of-chloroethane-inhalation/
| 1
| 0
|
green-iguana-35
| null |
CHICAGO (AP) — Jurors began deliberating Tuesday at R. Kelly’s federal trial in Chicago, sorting through a month of evidence and arguments on charges accusing the singer of producing child pornography, enticing minors for sex and rigging his 2008 child porn trial.
Standing at a podium a few feet in front of jurors, Kelly attorney Jennifer Bonjean told jurors in her closing earlier Tuesday that key government witnesses were admitted liars who testified with immunity to ensure they couldn’t be charged.
At times sounding indignant and raising her voice, Bonjean likened their testimony and other evidence to a cockroach and the government’s case to a bowl of soup.
If a cockroach falls into soup, she said, “you don’t just pull out the cockroach and eat the rest of the soup. You throw out the whole soup,” said told jurors. She said of the prosecution’s case: “There are just too many cockroaches.”
As Bonjean spoke, Kelly, wearing a gray suit and black mask, looked calm at a nearby defense table. As a prosecutor spoke later and repeatedly looked toward Kelly, he often averted his eyes. Later, when the prosecutor described him abusing minors, he shook his head.
Jurors withdrew to start deliberating early Tuesday afternoon, heading home without reaching a verdict several hours later. They were set to pick up where they left off Wednesday morning.
Kelly, 55, was sentenced in June to 30 years in prison during a separate federal trial in New York where he was convicted of racketeering and sex trafficking. Convictions on just a few of the 13 counts Kelly faces at his current trial could add years to his imprisonment.
Delivering the government’s rebuttal after Bonjean’s closing, prosecutor Jeannice Appenteng told jurors to remember the girls and women Kelly allegedly abused.
“When you are in the quiet of the jury room, consider the evidence in light of who is at the center of this case. Kelly’s victims: Jane, Nia, Pauline, Tracy and Brittany,” Appenteng said, referring to five Kelly accusers named in charging documents by their pseudonyms or first names.
Four of them testified. Brittany did not.
The prosecutor also pointed to testimony that as Kelly’s fame boomed in the mid-1990s, his staff and associates increasingly geared everything they did to what Kelly wanted.
“And ladies and gentlemen, what R. Kelly wanted was to have sex with young girls,” she said.
Earlier, Bonjean implored jurors not to withdraw to the jury room with an impression of Kelly informed by media coverage of him in recent years or by prosecutors at the trial.
“They throw around labels like sex predator,” she said about prosecutors. “Labels and sweeping generalizations are distractions meant for you to lose your humanity for this man.”
She described Kelly as a flawed genius who was functionally illiterate since childhood and was ill-equipped to navigate his celebrity and fortune. She said having been abused as a child also deeply affected him.
Bonjean said some witnesses who testified with immunity hadn’t come to the courthouse in Chicago, Kelly’s hometown, to tell the unvarnished truth.
“They came in here to tell the government’s version of the truth,” she said.
Among others, Bonjean cited Kelly ex-girlfriend Lisa Van Allen, who testified about how she stole a sex tape from a Kelly gym bag in the early 2000s. She also pointed to former Kelly merchandizing agent Charles Freeman, who testified that he asked Kelly for $1 million in exchange for returning another, potentially incriminating, video. Both testified with immunity.
During her closing Monday, prosecutor Elizabeth Pozolo told jurors that weeks of evidence proved the singer parlayed his fame to sexually abuse minors and record the abuse on video. She described Kelly as a secret sexual predator.
“Robert Kelly abused many girls over many years,” Pozolo said, referring to Kelly’s full name. “He committed horrible crimes against children. … All these years later, the hidden side of Robert Kelly has come out.”
Bonjean twice called for a mistrial Monday, complaining that closing arguments by attorneys for Kelly co-defendants Derrell McDavid and Milton Brown were grounded in the presumption that “the world now knows Mr. Kelly is a sex predator.”
“The presumption of innocence has been abolished for him,” she said. Judge Harry Leinenweber denied the requests.
Known for his smash hit “I Believe I Can Fly” and for sex-infused songs such as “Bump n’ Grind,” Kelly sold millions of albums even after allegations of sexual misconduct began circulating in the 1990s. Widespread outrage emerged after the #MeToo reckoning and the 2019 Lifetime docuseries “Surviving R. Kelly.”
Kelly and McDavid, the singer’s former business manager, are accused of fixing Kelly’s 2008 trial on state child porn charges by intimidating and paying off witnesses.
Kelly faces 13 counts, including four counts of producing child porn, one count of conspiring to obstruct justice by rigging the 2008 trial, one count of conspiring to receive child porn, two counts of actually receiving it and five counts of enticing minors for sex.
McDavid is charged with four counts, including two counts of receiving child porn, one of conspiring to do so and one count of conspiring to obstruct justice by rigging the 2008 trial.
Brown faces a single count of conspiring to receive child porn.
Pozolo focused much of her closing argument on the government’s star witness, an accuser who went by “Jane” and who said Kelly sexually abused her hundreds of times starting when she was 14.
“He performed degrading acts upon her for his own sick pleasure,” Pozolo said.
She reminded jurors of graphic video footage they had watched, which Jane testified depicted Kelly, at around age 30, abusing her when she was 14. The videos shown included one at the heart Kelly’s 2008 trial. Jurors said later they had no choice but to acquit Kelly because Jane didn’t testify.
“Who uses a 14-year-old child to film a video like this?” she said. “This man. Robert Kelly.”
Before the 2008 trial, Pozolo said, Kelly and his associates scrambled to recover multiple sex videos that had gone missing from a collection he often carried around in a large gym bag.
By doing so, she said, Kelly associates sought “to cover up the fact that … R. Kelly, the R&B superstar, is actually a sexual predator.”
In his closing, an attorney for McDavid said prosecutors had to show that his client actually knew about any abuse of Jane by Kelly in the 2000s — not just that it was likely he knew.
“Did they prove he knew … behind a reasonable doubt?” Beau Brindley asked. “They did not.”
Pozolo balked at the idea that McDavid had no inkling in the 2000s that the abuse allegations might be credible after helping to recover missing recordings and handing bags of cash to people who returned videos McDavid knew could destroy Kelly.
___
Follow Michael Tarm on Twitter at https://twitter.com/mtarm and find AP’s full coverage of the R. Kelly trial at https://apnews.com/hub/r-kelly
|
https://www.ktalnews.com/entertainment-news/ap-r-kelly-lawyer-to-deliver-closing-before-jurors-deliberate/
| 2022-09-21T08:57:49Z
|
ktalnews.com
|
control
|
https://www.ktalnews.com/entertainment-news/ap-r-kelly-lawyer-to-deliver-closing-before-jurors-deliberate/
| 1
| 0
|
green-iguana-35
| null |
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Koreans shared congratulations on social media Tuesday for the multiple wins by “Squid Game” at the Emmy Awards, but the overall reaction was subdued as the country grows accustomed to its increasingly prominent role in global entertainment.
From K-pop sensations BTS and BLACKPINK to the movie “Parasite” that won four Oscars, South Korean pop culture is now a global phenomenon. While it was big news that “Squid Game” became the first South Korean drama to win an Emmy, many South Koreans weren’t as surprised by such triumphs as in the past.
South Korean social media were flooded with messages after the star of the Netflix drama, Lee Jung-jae, won the award for best male actor in a drama series, and its creator, Hwang Dong-hyuk, the award for best drama director on Monday. Both were the first Asians to win in those categories.
President Yoon Suk Yeol congratulated Lee and Hwang, saying the entire nation was celebrating their accomplishments in a show that resonated with viewers around the world.
“(We) hope that (you) will continue to be active with your work and appear in good works that move hearts around the world,” Yoon said in a message to Lee he shared on Facebook.
Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon wrote on Facebook that he was proud that South Korean artists are producing work that is “enthusiastically celebrated and emphasized by the whole world.”
Ordinary citizens also wrote congratulatory messages on social media. But some messages were critical of the drama, and the level of elation was much lower than when Bong Joon Ho’s “Parasite” became the first non-English-language film to win best picture at the Academy Awards in 2020 and won three other Oscars.
The president at the time, Moon Jae-in, and his advisers began a regular meeting by clapping to celebrate the Oscars, and South Korean media extensively played up the news.
Several hours after the Emmy wins by “Squid Game,” the news was still on the front pages of the internet editions of major South Korean media outlets, but not at the top, which was dominated by domestic politics.
“People are getting used to (major awards),” film critic Kim See-moo said. “Bong Joon-ho took home four Oscars for ‘Parasite,’ another one of our actors won an Oscar for ‘Minari’ and then Park Chan-wook won best director at Cannes (for ‘Decision to Leave’). South Koreans no longer think there are any entry barriers for these awards, and they think anyone has a shot at winning if they put in the hard work.”
Kim noted that South Koreans are less familiar with the Emmys than the Oscars, partly because Korean dramas previously didn’t have a large presence in the United States.
“South Korean TV dramas have been huge in Asia for years, especially in markets where people share similar emotional sentiments with South Koreans,” Kim said. “‘Squid Game’ became a broader global hit because it tackled the intense global issue that is inequality, but also took a refreshing approach by telling that story through a brutal and deadly competition of children’s games.”
“As a Korean, I’m very proud of (the drama),” Choi Hyun Sik, a 32-year-old office worker, told The Associated Press. “I once again came to realize how popular ‘Squid Game’ was.”
”(Lee) made an award speech in English but at the end he spoke in Korean and highlighted his fans and people in South Korea, so I was really touched by that,” said Jeong Ye-won, a 22-year-old university student.
Squid Game is a brutal survival drama about desperate adults competing in deadly children’s games for a chance to escape debt. In the drama, Lee stars as the show’s protagonist, Seong Gi-hun, a laid-off autoworker coping with a messy divorce and struggling with constant business failures and gambling problems.
___
Associated Press journalists Yong Jun Chang and Juwon Park contributed to this story.
|
https://www.ktalnews.com/entertainment-news/ap-south-korean-celebration-of-squid-game-emmy-wins-subdued/
| 2022-09-21T08:58:04Z
|
ktalnews.com
|
control
|
https://www.ktalnews.com/entertainment-news/ap-south-korean-celebration-of-squid-game-emmy-wins-subdued/
| 1
| 0
|
green-iguana-35
| null |
ST. LOUIS (AP) — A former star in a St. Louis-based “Welcome to Sweetie Pie’s” reality television show testified Tuesday that he was not involved in the killing of his nephew.
James “Tim” Norman, 43, is accused of hiring two people to kill 21-year-old Andre Montgomery in March 2016 and then trying to cash a $450,000 life insurance policy he took out on his nephew in the months before he was killed.
Norman, 43, told jurors that he helped his nephew move to St. Louis about 18 months before he was killed and supported him financially because he was trying to watch out for Montgomery, The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported.
“This is my brother’s kid, so I tried my best to step in and be a father figure,” Norman told the jury. “I tried my best to show him right from wrong and tried to be a friend at the same time.”
Norman and Montgomery starred in “Welcome to Sweetie Pie’s,” a reality show on the OWN network that was based at a popular soul-food business founded by Norman’s mother and Montgomery’s grandmother, Robbie Montgomery.
Norman is facing two federal murder-for-hire counts and one count of conspiracy to commit wire and mail fraud.
Prosecutors said Norman paid $10,000 to an exotic dancer, Terica Ellis, to lure his nephew to the site where he was shot and paid $5,000 to Travell Anthony Hill to shoot Montgomery.
Ellis and Hill have both pleaded guilty to participating in the scheme.
Norman testified Tuesday that he took out the life insurance policy on his nephew to give a longtime customer of the family restaurants, Waiel Rebhi Yaghnam, some business.
Yaghnam pleaded guilty in July to conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire and wire fraud in the case.
Montgomery left St. Louis after at least $220,000 in cash, jewelry and other items were stolen in a June 2015 burglary at Robbie Montgomery’s home.
Norman told jurors he and his mother hired a private investigator to find his nephew, but he had no intention of hurting him.
He said he flew to St. Louis on March 14, 2016 — the day of Montgomery’s death — as part of regular stops to do jobs for Sweetie Pie’s.
He said he paid Ellis only $1,000 for sex and $2,000 to help her open a boutique in Memphis. He acknowledged he asked Ellis to help him find Montgomery but never paid her to do so.
Norman testified he connected Ellis and Hill to find Montgomery because he wanted to get back items stolen from Robbie Montgomery’s home. He said he never paid Hill to shoot his nephew and didn’t know he was the shooter for years after his nephew’s death.
Robbie Montgomery, the primary figure on “Welcome to Sweetie Pie’s,” attended court Monday and Tuesday during her son’s defense but declined to comment on the case. The defense originally intended to call her as a character witness. But prosecutors successfully opposed her testimony as not relevant to the case.
|
https://www.ktalnews.com/entertainment-news/ap-sweetie-pies-star-says-he-did-not-arrange-nephews-death/
| 2022-09-21T08:58:12Z
|
ktalnews.com
|
control
|
https://www.ktalnews.com/entertainment-news/ap-sweetie-pies-star-says-he-did-not-arrange-nephews-death/
| 1
| 0
|
green-iguana-35
| null |
TORONTO (AP) — When Viola Davis, sculpted and hardened from months of training, first stood in the full garb of the Agojie warrior women, with her bare feet in the African sand, it was the culmination of not just the years-long push to make “The Woman King,” but of a lifelong battle.
“It was sort of metaphoric to not just everything I had done to prepare for this role but everything that I had done as a Black woman to prepare for this moment,” Davis says. “Which is to be a warrior.”
“The Woman King,” which opens in theaters Friday, is a $50 million action epic, set in 1820s West Africa, about the all-female army of the Kingdom of Dahomey. Made largely by women and featuring an almost completely Black cast, it’s powerfully unlike anything Hollywood has ever produced. And just as much as “The Woman King” dramatizes the fierce fighting of the Agojie, the film represents its own struggle.
“Fighting for actors. Fighting for the director. You have to fight for the writer,” Davis, also a producer, said in an interview at the Toronto International Film Festival. “Years and years and years go by and you’re still fighting. You’re fighting for the budget. You’re fighting for even the commercial aspects of the story. You’re fighting for your hair. Fight. Fight. Fight.”
“Whenever you’re doing anything new, it requires the warrior spirit,” says Davis. “What I feel now is: It was worth it.”
“The Woman King,” directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood (“The Old Guard, “Love & Basketball”), began as an idea seven years ago, after a trip to Africa by Maria Bello, the producer and actor. Enamored by the history of the Agojie, she brought the concept to producer Cathy Schulman, the producer of the Oscar-winning “Crash” and the former head of Women in Film.
Schulman knew the film could be a potent portrait of female strength, but she didn’t anticipate that, following the overturning of Roe v. Wade, it might serve as a rallying cry at a time when many consider women’s rights under siege.
“There couldn’t be a more important time for a movie about female courage, about sisterhood, about the complexity of the female experience, not to mention the physicality of our bodies,” Schulman says.
But the producers and Davis, who was attached early on, found it difficult to convince executives and financiers to bankroll “The Woman King” at a budget large enough to provide it the scale it deserved.
“‘Braveheart,’ ‘Gladiator,’ ‘Last of the Mohicans.’ I love those movies,” says Prince-Bythewood. “Now, here was our chance to tell our story in this genre.”
“The Woman King,” a rousing emotional wallop that seamlessly fuses interior drama with action spectacle, was met with universal acclaim at its Toronto premiere as a crowd-pleaser of another kind. But the Hollywood calculus for what might appeal to a broad audience has traditionally really meant “Will white people watch it?”
“Black people did not have to love ‘Thelma & Louise’ for ‘Thelma & Louise’ to get made,” says Davis. “White people have to love ‘The Woman King’ for ‘The Woman King’ to get made — according to Hollywood.”
A pivotal moment came when “Black Panther” was released. Ryan Coogler’s film featured a fictionalization of the Agojie, the Dora Milaje, and its massive worldwide box-office ($1.3 billion) was a wake-up call to the industry.
“We would not have been able to do ‘Woman King’ without ‘Black Panther,’ Davis says. “I’m eternally grateful to ‘Black Panther.’”
To ready for the shoot in South Africa, Davis and fellow cast members Thuso Mbedu, Lashana Lynch and Sheila Atim underwent a grueling monthslong regimen of weight lifting and fight training. The actors later performed their own stunts in the film. Davis, who at 57 refers to herself as “the O.G. warrior” among her younger castmates, says she never felt prouder of her body. “Not just for the way that it looked but for the way it serviced me.”
Lynch, the British actor of “No Time to Die,” would later be astonished watching herself in the film.
“I find it hard to believe that that was really me,” says Lynch. “It really taught me a lot about just what women come with. We have so much to be able to push through pain and birth children and push against the world’s pressures.”
“The Woman King,” penned by Dana Stevens, shot by Polly Morgan and edited by Terilyn Shropshir, was crewed by Prince-Bythewood with women and people of color in most department-head positions.
“It breathes such a more pleasant set,” says Schulman. “Lack of drama. More attitude of the work first. Less hierarchy. I just haven’t seen any job a woman can’t do. That was all a fallacy.”
Lynch, visibly moved by her experience making “Woman King,” for the first time witnessed an Africa-set action drama staged outside of the white male gaze.
“‘The Woman King’ will be its own blueprint that I hope filmmakers and heads of studios can take as an example,” Lynch says.
Some have been skeptical of how “The Woman King” tackles history. Last month, the 1619 Project author Nikole Hannah-Jones wrote on Twitter that “it will be interesting to see how a movie that seems to glorify the all-female military unit of the Dahomey deals with the fact that this kingdom derived its wealth from capturing Africans for the trans-Atlantic slave trade.”
The Agojie were indeed a brutal and bloodthirsty army that participated in slave raids. “The Woman King,” like most historical epics, takes some artistic license. But the slave trade is a central component to its narrative. Schulman says the 1820s were chosen from the 1600-1904 history of the Dahomey kingdom specifically for the backdrop of conflict with the mightier Oyo empire, along with mounting pressure from European colonizers for captives.
“The Woman King” is hoping to make history of its own by blazing a new path for the film industry. The Sony Pictures release will hope to enliven movie theaters after a prolonged late-summer lull at the box office.
“I feel that the film is eventized,” says Schulman. “My anticipation is that we’re ready for this film. We just don’t know how ready we truly are.”
Davis, for her part, feels like she’s been ready all her life. She has taken to calling “The Woman King” her “magnum opus” because her production company produced it, because she fought so hard for it.
“This was a hard-won battle,” says Davis. “And I won it. I feel like I won the battle.”
It’s an accomplishment that sends Davis back to her initial dreams of show business as a young girl growing up poor in Rhode Island. Before encountering the reality of the film industry, her movie dreams were limitless.
“This movie affirms that it’s possible,” says Davis. “That there are no limitations to my dreams. That, actually, I was right.”
___
Follow AP Film Writer Jake Coyle on Twitter at: http://twitter.com/jakecoyleAP
|
https://www.ktalnews.com/entertainment-news/ap-woman-king-viola-davis-and-the-culmination-of-a-struggle/
| 2022-09-21T08:58:27Z
|
ktalnews.com
|
control
|
https://www.ktalnews.com/entertainment-news/ap-woman-king-viola-davis-and-the-culmination-of-a-struggle/
| 1
| 0
|
green-iguana-35
| null |
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (KARK) – A man shot over the weekend at a Little Rock, Arkansas, apartment complex has been identified as the father of a reality television star.
Ronald Dunlap, 49, is the father of Cassadee Dunlap, who starred in the second season of “Cheer.” A police report showed he was shot several times after going into the wrong apartment early Saturday morning.
A family member told Nexstar’s KARK that Dunlap thought it was his apartment, but he actually lived in a different building.
Joshua Womack told KARK he was asleep and heard knocking on the door shortly after 3 a.m., but then the situation escalated.
“I heard a big, loud thud through the front door,” Womack said. “The door was actually knocked off the hinges. With that, he ended up bum-rushing it. It wasn’t like an accidental walk-in.”
Police said Womack shot Dunlap several times after reportedly finding the man in his kitchen.
Womack said he is temporarily living elsewhere while the scene is being investigated. Another person’s apartment door was struck by gunfire, but no other injuries were reported.
A police spokesperson told TMZ Dunlap is believed to have been intoxicated when he came to Womack’s apartment.
Dunlap’s family member said he is now stable and expected to survive.
No charges have been filed as of Tuesday.
|
https://www.ktalnews.com/entertainment-news/cheer-stars-father-shot-after-entering-wrong-apartment-in-arkansas/
| 2022-09-21T08:58:35Z
|
ktalnews.com
|
control
|
https://www.ktalnews.com/entertainment-news/cheer-stars-father-shot-after-entering-wrong-apartment-in-arkansas/
| 1
| 0
|
green-iguana-35
| null |
SHREVEPORT, La. (KTAL/KMSS) – The star of NBC Peacock’s upcoming series “Vampire Academy” visited the morning show to talk about what fans can expect.
Jonetta Kaiser portrays librarian Sonya Karp in the streaming adaptation of the paranormal young adult romance series of the same name by author Richelle Meade.
Wolk asked her how it feels to accomplish so much so young, to which Kaiser laughed.
“I have to make myself take moments to be grateful, and that’s when I’m like, ‘oh, I’m really doing this,” said Kaiser.
She said her Louisiana roots played a part in her career.
“One thing I know about the south is people keep it very real and grounded. And I appreciate that so much because when you get to a certain point, especially as an actor, things are so glamorous. And I just never want to forget where I come from. My roots are in Louisiana. They’ll always keep me grounded.
Her advice to locals who look up to her was, “Don’t give up, no matter how hard it gets.”
“Vampire Academy” premieres Thursday, September 15, on NBC Peacock.
|
https://www.ktalnews.com/entertainment-news/jonetta-kaiser-of-peacocks-vampire-academy-talks-show-premiere-louisiana-ties/
| 2022-09-21T08:58:43Z
|
ktalnews.com
|
control
|
https://www.ktalnews.com/entertainment-news/jonetta-kaiser-of-peacocks-vampire-academy-talks-show-premiere-louisiana-ties/
| 1
| 0
|
green-iguana-35
| null |
Admiring and envying the world’s biggest stars is easy to do on Instagram. From A-list movie stars and major musicians to pro ball players and comedians who landed their own sitcoms, there’s no shortage of evidence of just how good the good life is. They post pictures of themselves with other big shots on rooftop bars, at exclusive clubs, at backstage parties, and at restaurants where regular people can’t get a reservation.
But the vast majority of these celebrities were born and raised outside of Hollywood, finding their way to the bright lights and big money of superstardom from obscure beginnings in regular small towns or cities across the country.
Stacker compiled a list of actors that were born in Arkansas from IMDb’s most popular list. Keep reading to see which favorite actors are from your home state.
Wes Bentley
– Born: Jonesboro, Arkansas (9/4/1978)
– Known for:
— Ricky Fitts in “American Beauty” (1999)
— Seneca Crane in “The Hunger Games” (2012)
— Doyle in “Interstellar” (2014)
Billy Bob Thornton
– Born: Hot Springs, Arkansas (8/4/1955)
– Known for:
— Karl Childers in “Sling Blade” (1996)
— Jacob in “A Simple Plan” (1998)
— Ed Crane in “The Man Who Wasn’t There” (2001)
Josh Lucas
– Born: Fayetteville, Arkansas (6/20/1971)
– Known for:
— Leo Beebe in “Ford v Ferrari” (2019)
— Jake Perry in “Sweet Home Alabama” (2002)
— Don Haskins in “Glory Road” (2006)
Clark Duke
– Born: Glenwood, Arkansas (5/5/1985)
– Known for:
— Jacob in “Hot Tub Time Machine” (2010)
— Thunk in “The Croods” (2013)
— Marty in “Kick-Ass 2” (2013)
Daniel Davis
– Born: Gurdon, Arkansas (11/26/1945)
– Known for:
— Moriarty in “Star Trek: The Next Generation” (1988-1993)
— Niles in “The Nanny” (1993-1999)
— Captain Davenport in “The Hunt for Red October” (1990)
Jacob Lofland
– Born: Arkansas (7/30/1996)
– Known for:
— Neckbone in “Mud” (2012)
— Aris in “Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials” (2015)
— Owen Briggs in “Little Accidents” (2014)
George Newbern
– Born: Little Rock, Arkansas (12/30/1964)
– Known for:
— Charlie in “Scandal” (2012-2018)
— Bryan MacKenzie in “Father of the Bride” (1991)
— Bryan MacKenzie in “Father of the Bride Part II” (1995)
Corin Nemec
– Born: Little Rock, Arkansas (11/5/1971)
– Known for:
— Parker Lloyd Lewis in “Parker Lewis Can’t Lose” (1990-1993)
— Dennis Parnell in “I Know My First Name Is Steven” (1989)
— Jimmy Green in “Sand Sharks” (2012)
Dick Powell
– Born: Mountain View, Arkansas (11/14/1904)
– Died: 1/2/1963
– Known for:
— Philip Marlowe in “Murder, My Sweet” (1944)
— James Lee Bartlow in “The Bad and the Beautiful” (1952)
— Laurence Gerard in “Cornered” (1945)
Frank Bonner
– Born: Little Rock, Arkansas (2/28/1942)
– Died: 6/16/2021
– Known for:
— Herb Tarlek in “WKRP in Cincinnati” (1978-1982)
— Jim Hudson in “Equinox” (1970)
— Herb Tarlek in “The New WKRP in Cincinnati” (1991-1993)
Gil Gerard
– Born: Little Rock, Arkansas (1/23/1943)
– Known for:
— Capt. William ‘Buck’ Rogers in “Buck Rogers in the 25th Century” (1979)
— Bergen Paulsen in “The Nice Guys” (2016)
— Frank Powers in “Airport ’77” (1977)
Laurence Luckinbill
– Born: Fort Smith, Arkansas (11/21/1934)
– Known for:
— Sybok in “Star Trek V: The Final Frontier” (1989)
— Mr. Mooney in “Cocktail” (1988)
— Writer in “Lucy and Desi: A Home Movie” (1993)
Alan Ladd
– Born: Hot Springs, Arkansas (9/3/1913)
– Died: 1/29/1964
– Known for:
— Shane in “Shane” (1953)
— Philip Raven in “This Gun for Hire” (1942)
— Johnny Morrison in “The Blue Dahlia” (1946)
Ben Piazza
– Born: Little Rock, Arkansas (7/30/1933)
– Died: 9/7/1991
– Known for:
— Father in “The Blues Brothers” (1980)
— Mr. Simms in “Mask” (1985)
— Darryl Zanuck in “Guilty by Suspicion” (1991)
William Ragsdale
– Born: El Dorado, Arkansas (1/19/1961)
– Known for:
— Charley Brewster in “Fright Night” (1985)
— Herman Brooks in “Herman’s Head” (1991-1994)
— Gary Hawkins in “Justified” (2010-2012)
Levon Helm
– Born: Elaine, Arkansas (5/26/1940)
– Died: 4/19/2012
– Known for:
— Mr. Rate in “Shooter” (2007)
— Jack Ridley in “The Right Stuff” (1983)
— Old Man with Radio in “The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada” (2005)
Tommy Morrison
– Born: Gravette, Arkansas (1/2/1969)
– Died: 9/1/2013
– Known for:
— Tommy in “Rocky V” (1990)
— Leo in “Cybill” (1996)
— Thanks in “HBO Boxing” (1993-2013)
Rodger Bumpass
– Born: Jonesboro, Arkansas (11/20/1951)
– Known for:
— Squidward Tentacles in “SpongeBob SquarePants” (1999-2021)
— Doctor in “The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of Water” (2015)
— Phil Hilton in “The Running Man” (1987)
Matt Cornett
– Born: Rogers, Arkansas (10/6/1998)
– Known for:
— EJ in “High School Musical: The Musical – The Series” (2019-2022)
— A-Lan in “Z-O-M-B-I-E-S 3” (2022)
— Logan Wills in “Alex & Me” (2018)
Matt Besser
– Born: Little Rock, Arkansas (9/22/1967)
– Known for:
— Dave in “Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story” (2007)
— Pawn Shop Owner in “Drillbit Taylor” (2008)
— Abraham Lincoln – Tour Guide in “Bad Teacher” (2011)
Brandon Keener
– Born: Fort Smith, Arkansas (10/1/1974)
– Known for:
— Garrus Vakarian in “Mass Effect 3” (2012)
— Warren Grass in “The Purge: Anarchy” (2014)
— Tourist Man in “Traffic” (2000)
Arthur Hunnicutt
– Born: Gravelly, Arkansas (2/17/1910)
– Died: 9/26/1979
– Known for:
— Bull in “El Dorado” (1966)
— Zeb Calloway in “The Big Sky” (1952)
— Butch Cassidy in “Cat Ballou” (1965)
Ben Murphy
– Born: Jonesboro, Arkansas (3/6/1942)
– Known for:
— Jed ‘Kid’ Curry (alias Thaddeus Jones) in “Alias Smith and Jones” (1971-1973)
— Sam Casey in “Riding with Death” (1976)
— Ethan Cooper in “Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman” (1993-1995)
Hunter Doohan
– Born: Fort Smith, Arkansas (1/19/1994)
– Known for:
— Adam Desiato in “Your Honor” (2020-2021)
— Tyler Galpin in “Wednesday” (2022)
— Teenage Warren in “Truth Be Told” (2019-2020)
Leon Russom
– Born: Little Rock, Arkansas (12/6/1941)
– Known for:
— Man in the Woods in “A Quiet Place” (2018)
— Victor in “The Midnighters” (2016)
— Sheriff in “True Grit” (2010)
Brent Jennings
– Born: Little Rock, Arkansas (4/13/1951)
– Known for:
— Carter in “Witness” (1985)
— Abdul Elijah in “Red Heat” (1988)
— Ron Washington in “Moneyball” (2011)
Jason Douglas
– Born: Arkansas (2/14/1973)
– Known for:
— Nick Marshall in “Cruel Summer” (2021)
— Tobin in “The Walking Dead” (2015-2018)
— Satan in “Preacher” (2018)
Rudy Ray Moore
– Born: Fort Smith, Arkansas (3/17/1927)
– Died: 10/19/2008
– Known for:
— Dolemite in “Dolemite” (1975)
— Dolemite in “The Human Tornado” (1976)
— Tucker Williams in “Disco Godfather” (1979)
Kyle Dean Massey
– Born: Jonesboro, Arkansas (11/17/1981)
– Known for:
— Wedding Chorus in “Sex and the City 2” (2010)
— Kevin Bicks in “Nashville” (2015-2017)
— Squirrel Nutkin in “Peter Rabbit” (2012-2016)
Roger Clinton
– Born: Hot Springs, Arkansas (7/25/1956)
– Known for:
— Roger Clinton in “Fred Claus” (2007)
— Agent Clinton in “Spy Hard” (1996)
— Prof. Bloom in “Bio-Dome” (1996)
Ne-Yo
– Born: Camden, Arkansas (10/18/1982)
– Known for:
— Cpl. Kevin Harris in “Battle Los Angeles” (2011)
— Andrew ‘Smokey’ Salem in “Red Tails” (2012)
— Soundtrack in “The Princess and the Frog” (2009)
Trevor Bardette
– Born: Nashville, Arkansas (11/19/1902)
– Died: 11/28/1977
– Known for:
— Chief Rivanoak in “The Deerslayer” (1943)
— Vernon Doolin in “Thunder Road” (1958)
— Prof. Arthur Flanders in “The Monolith Monsters” (1957)
Jimmie F. Skaggs
– Born: Hot Springs, Arkansas (12/20/1944)
– Died: 7/6/2004
– Known for:
— Drug Dealer #1 in “Lethal Weapon” (1987)
— Wino in “Hollow Man” (2000)
— Scully in “Cutthroat Island” (1995)
Jay C. Flippen
– Born: Little Rock, Arkansas (3/6/1899)
– Died: 2/3/1971
– Known for:
— Marvin Unger in “The Killing” (1956)
— Skidmore in “Oklahoma!” (1955)
— Sgt. Wilkes in “Winchester ’73” (1950)
Josh Cowdery
– Born: Little Rock, Arkansas (12/23/1978)
– Known for:
— FBI Agent Hubbard in “Wrath of Man” (2021)
— Mike Peters in “Fate: The Winx Saga” (2021)
— Henry Shaw Jnr in “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them” (2016)
John Hancock
– Born: Hazen, Arkansas (3/4/1941)
– Died: 10/12/1992
– Known for:
— Controller #1 in “Airplane II: The Sequel” (1982)
— T Man #1 in “The In-Laws” (1979)
— Mess Sergeant in “Tank” (1984)
Conlan Carter
– Born: Center Ridge, Arkansas (10/3/1934)
– Known for:
— Doc in “Combat!” (1963-1967)
— C.E. Carruthers in “The Law and Mr. Jones” (1960-1962)
— Lyman Frank Baum in “Death Valley Days” (1962-1970)
John Carter
– Born: Center Ridge, Arkansas (11/26/1927)
– Died: 5/23/2015
– Known for:
— MP Capt. Morton in “The Andromeda Strain” (1971)
— Rich Man in “Badlands” (1973)
— Father Gladden in “Celebrity” (1998)
Scott Reeves
– Born: Delight, Arkansas (5/16/1966)
– Known for:
— Ryan McNeil in “The Young and the Restless” (1991-2020)
— Sean Robertson in “Friday the 13th Part VIII: Jason Takes Manhattan” (1989)
— Dustin Nelson in “The Munsters Today” (1988-1989)
Gordon Anderson
– Born: Batesville, Arkansas (8/2/1944)
– Known for:
— Aaron in “A Reflection of Fear” (1972)
— Ratboy in “Ratboy” (1986)
— Self in “The 26th Annual Golden Globe Awards” (1969)
Lil J.J.
– Born: Little Rock, Arkansas (10/31/1990)
– Known for:
— Josh in “Twenty to One” (2019)
— Deshawn in “Tales” (2019)
— Self in “Wild ‘N Out” (2019)
Norman Snow
– Born: Little Rock, Arkansas (3/29/1950)
– Known for:
— Xur in “The Last Starfighter” (1984)
— Springfield in “Manhunter” (1986)
— Mr. Brand in “The Europeans” (1979)
|
https://www.ktalnews.com/entertainment-news/stacker-famous-actors-from-arkansas/
| 2022-09-21T08:58:50Z
|
ktalnews.com
|
control
|
https://www.ktalnews.com/entertainment-news/stacker-famous-actors-from-arkansas/
| 1
| 0
|
green-iguana-35
| null |
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — California launched a publicly funded website Tuesday to promote the state’s abortion services, listing clinics, linking to financial help for travel and lodging and letting teenagers in other states know they don’t need their parents’ permission to get an abortion in the state.
The website is part of Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom’s pledge to make California a sanctuary for women seeking abortions now that the U.S. Supreme Court has overturned Roe v. Wade — the landmark 1973 decision that said states could not ban abortion.
The state budget includes $200 million to strengthen access to abortion in California, including $1 million to build a website promoting the state’s abortion services. That website went live Tuesday, following an announcement from Newsom.
“Abortion is legal, safe and accessible here in California — whether or not you live here, know that we have your back,” Newsom said in a news release.
The website — abortion.ca.gov — includes information on different types of abortion and how to get one. The site has sections devoted to people who live outside of California and immigrants who are living in the country without legal permission, saying federal policies keep immigration officials away from health care facilities.
There is a map showing the location of 166 abortion clinics statewide. People can click to see an entire map, or they can enter a city and get a list of clinics nearby. It says people who live in California might be able to get abortion medication by mail, foregoing the need to visit a clinic.
Anti-abortion advocates have lamented the use of public funds to boost such services, arguing California has a myriad of other problems more deserving of public funding. But they haven’t been able to stop it in a state that is dominated by Democratic lawmakers and where public polls show a majority of voters support abortion rights.
Newsom announced the website the same day Republican U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina introduced a bill that would ban abortions nationwide after 15 weeks of pregnancy. Graham portrayed his bill as a “responsible alternative” to what he says are the permissive laws favored by Democrats.
In a post to his Twitter account, Newsom juxtaposed Graham’s bill with California’s new website, saying Democrats are helping women while Republicans want to control them.
“That’s their agenda,” Newsom tweeted. “CA’s fighting back.”
|
https://www.ktalnews.com/health/ap-california-launches-website-promoting-abortion-services/
| 2022-09-21T08:58:57Z
|
ktalnews.com
|
control
|
https://www.ktalnews.com/health/ap-california-launches-website-promoting-abortion-services/
| 1
| 0
|
green-iguana-35
| null |
PARIS (AP) — French President Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday announced a national debate on end-of-life options that will include exploring the possibility of legalizing assisted suicide.
A 2016 French law provides that doctors can keep terminally ill patients sedated before death but stops short of allowing assisted suicide.
Macron said in a written statement that a panel of citizens would work on the issue in coordination with health care workers over the coming months, while local debates are organized in French regions.
The government plans to hold parallel discussions with lawmakers from all political parties to find the broadest consensus, with the aim of implementing changes next year, the president’s statement said.
Some French patients travel to other European countries to seek further end-of-life options. While campaigning for his successful reelection this year, Macron promised to open the debate in France, suggesting he was personally in favor of legalizing physician-assisted suicide.
Assisted suicide, which involves patients self-administering a lethal dose of drugs, is allowed in Switzerland. Euthanasia, a process in which a medical professional directly gives the drugs, is currently legal in the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg and Spain under certain conditions. .
Macron’s announcement came the day the family of French director Jean-Luc Godard said he died by assisted suicide at his home in the Swiss town of Rolle.
French polls in recent years steadily showed a broad majority of people are in favor of legalizing euthanasia.
The current law allows patients to request “deep, continuous sedation altering consciousness until death” but only when their conditions are likely to lead to a quick death.
Doctors are allowed to stop life-sustaining treatments, including artificial hydration and nutrition. Sedation and painkillers are allowed “even if they may shorten the person’s life.”
|
https://www.ktalnews.com/health/ap-france-to-open-debate-meant-to-broaden-end-of-life-options/
| 2022-09-21T08:59:05Z
|
ktalnews.com
|
control
|
https://www.ktalnews.com/health/ap-france-to-open-debate-meant-to-broaden-end-of-life-options/
| 1
| 0
|
green-iguana-35
| null |
BUDAPEST, Hungary (AP) — Hungary’s right-wing government has issued a decree which will require doctors to present women requesting an abortion with fetal vital signs, an obligation that tightens the country’s relatively liberal abortion rules.
The decree issued on Monday states that health care providers must provide pregnant women with “a clearly identifiable indication of fetal vital signs” before proceeding with any abortion procedure. The regulation enters into force on Sept. 15.
In a statement on Monday, the Interior Ministry said that “nearly two-thirds of Hungarians associate the beginning of a child’s life with the first heartbeat,” and that modern equipment can detect heartbeats early in pregnancy which can provide “more comprehensive information for pregnant women.”
Abortion laws in Hungary are relatively liberal and have remained largely unchanged since the procedure was legalized during the country’s socialist period in 1953.
Hungary’s nationalist government, led by Prime Minister Viktor Orban, portrays itself as a champion of traditional family values and has offered significant tax breaks and subsidies for families that have multiple children in an effort to increase the country’s declining fertility rate.
The government also enshrined in Hungary’s 2011 constitution that “the life of a fetus will be protected from conception,” yet it hasn’t sought to significantly tighten abortion laws.
In a Facebook post on Tuesday, Dora Duro, a lawmaker with the radical right-wing party Our Homeland, took credit for the new requirements, writing that the government had adopted her party’s proposal to require pregnant women to hear a fetal heartbeat before terminating their pregnancy.
“This is the first pro-life move since the regulation of abortion in 1956, breaking a decades-old taboo,” Duro wrote.
|
https://www.ktalnews.com/health/ap-hungarys-government-tightens-rules-regulating-abortion/
| 2022-09-21T08:59:13Z
|
ktalnews.com
|
control
|
https://www.ktalnews.com/health/ap-hungarys-government-tightens-rules-regulating-abortion/
| 1
| 0
|
green-iguana-35
| null |
BEIRUT (AP) — The outbreak of cholera in Syria presents a serious threat to people in the war-torn country and the region, a U.N. official said Tuesday, adding that urgent action is needed to prevent further cases and deaths.
The statement by the U.N. Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Syria, Imran Riza, came after health officials in the country reported at least five deaths and more than two dozen cases in different provinces.
Syria’s infrastructure has suffered severe damage since the country’s conflict began in March 2011 where residents of some areas have no access to clean water. The conflict has killed hundreds of thousands and displaced half the country’s pre-war population of 23 million, many of them living in tent settlements around the country.
Riza said that based on a rapid assessment conducted by health authorities and partners, the source of infection is believed to be linked to people drinking unsafe water from the Euphrates River and using contaminated water to irrigate crops, resulting in food contamination.
“Cholera remains a global threat to public health and an indicator of inequity,” Riza said, adding that the outbreak is an indicator of severe water shortages in Syria.
The statement said chlorination activities to disinfect water are being scaled up and dosing rates are being increased in fragile and highly vulnerable communities to curb the spread of the disease.
On Monday, health officials said hospitals in the Syrian capital have been put on alert after more than two dozen cases of cholera and at least five deaths were reported.
The cases were reported in several provinces including Aleppo in the north, Latakia on the Mediterranean coast and Deir el-Zour along the border with Iraq.
The outbreak was the first since the country’s conflict began 11 years ago.
Riza said the U.N. in Syria calls on donor countries for urgent additional funding to contain the outbreak and prevent it from spreading.
|
https://www.ktalnews.com/health/ap-un-warns-cholera-outbreak-in-syria-is-a-threat-to-the-region/
| 2022-09-21T08:59:20Z
|
ktalnews.com
|
control
|
https://www.ktalnews.com/health/ap-un-warns-cholera-outbreak-in-syria-is-a-threat-to-the-region/
| 1
| 0
|
green-iguana-35
| null |
JERUSALEM (AP) — New research suggests at least 17 million people in the European Union may have experienced long COVID-19 symptoms during the first two years of the coronavirus pandemic, with women more likely than men to suffer from the condition, the World Health Organization said Tuesday.
The research, conducted for the WHO/Europe, was unclear on whether the symptoms that linger, recur or first appear at least one month after a coronavirus infection were more common in vaccinated or unvaccinated people. At least 17 million people met the WHO’s criteria of long COVID-19 — with symptoms lasting at least three months in 2020 and 2021, the report said.
“Millions of people in our region, straddling Europe and Central Asia, are suffering debilitating symptoms many months after their initial COVID-19 infection,” said Hans Henri P. Kluge, WHO Regional Director for Europe, during a conference in Tel Aviv.
The modeling also suggests that women are twice as likely as men to experience long COVID-19, and the risk increases dramatically among severe infections needing hospitalization, the report said. One-in-three women and one-in-five men are likely to develop long COVID-19, according to the report.
“Knowing how many people are affected and for how long is important for health systems and government agencies to develop rehabilitative and support services,” said Christopher Murray, director of the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, which conducted the research for the WHO.
The research, which represents estimates and not actual numbers of affected people, tracks with some other recent studies on the constellation of longer-term symptoms after coronavirus infections.
A U.S. study of veterans published in Nature Medicine in May provided fresh evidence that long COVID-19 can happen even after breakthrough infections in vaccinated people, and that older adults face higher risks for the long-term effects. The study showed that about one-third who had breakthrough infections exhibited signs of long COVID.
A separate report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that up to a year after an initial coronavirus infection, 1 in 4 adults aged 65 and older had at least one potential long COVID-19 health problem, compared with 1 in 5 younger adults.
Most people who have COVID-19 fully recover. But the WHO in Europe report on Tuesday estimated that 10% to 20% develop mid- and long-term symptoms such as fatigue, breathlessness and cognitive dysfunction.
|
https://www.ktalnews.com/health/ap-who-report-17-million-in-eu-may-have-suffered-long-covid-19/
| 2022-09-21T08:59:28Z
|
ktalnews.com
|
control
|
https://www.ktalnews.com/health/ap-who-report-17-million-in-eu-may-have-suffered-long-covid-19/
| 1
| 0
|
green-iguana-35
| null |
AUSTIN (KXAN) — For its “Medical Debt Lawsuits” project, KXAN collaborated with ClearHealthCosts, a national journalism group focused on transparency in the healthcare marketplace. In our research and interviews, two of the main questions we heard were: what do I do if I have been sued by my hospital or doctor, and what should I do if I can’t pay my medical bill?
We compiled a list of tips and resources to help answer those questions for you below.
If you’ve been sued
- Know your rights. If you are the subject of a default judgment in a Texas court – or any other kind of judgment related to a medical bill – the creditor may not be able to take your home, your car or many forms of income including alimony, child support, Social Security, disability payments and others. Find details on your debt collection rights in this toolkit from Texas Appleseed, a public interest justice center. Nationwide, this National Consumer Law Center report shows state-by-state what can and cannot be confiscated in a debt collection case.
- Don’t give in to scare tactics. Collection activities are governed by the federal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. The law limits what tactics may be used, when calls may be made and so on. State laws like the Texas Debt Collection Act are modeled from the federal measure but have other specific provisions.
- Guard your credit. The federal Fair Credit Reporting Act governs how debt collection is reported in credit reports. You can also file a complaint with the Texas Office of Consumer Credit Commissioner or the Texas Attorney General. If a creditor is putting multiple negative reports on your record, they may be skirting the law.
- Do your research. The National Consumer Law Center collects consumer debt advice and expert tips, including articles about medical debt. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau also has consumer tools on debt protection.
- Get legal help. Several Texas organizations offer services and advice to people with medical and other bills in collection. They include:
- Texas RioGrande Legal Aid – (956) 447-4800
- Lone Star Legal Aid – 1-800-733-8394
- Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas – 1-888-529-5277
- Texas Appleseed – (512) 473-2800
You can find more information about what to do if you can’t pay your bill here.
Explore the ‘Medical Debt Lawsuits’ project
- Read the story: Hear from people facing lawsuits and lawmakers and explore interactive charts and multmedia
- Listen to the podcast: A special episode about medical debt challenges across Texas and the U.S.
- Explore behind the scenes: Watch a timeline of lawsuits in Central Texas and learn how this story came together
- Get help: Learn what you should do if you’re sued over medical debt
Catalyst is a specialty unit within the KXAN investigative team focused on “digital-first” storytelling that aims to make a positive change in society. The unit takes a multi-platform, innovative approach to each project and rotates among various investigators.
|
https://www.ktalnews.com/money-matters/get-help-what-to-do-if-your-hospital-sues-you-for-medical-debt/
| 2022-09-21T08:59:57Z
|
ktalnews.com
|
control
|
https://www.ktalnews.com/money-matters/get-help-what-to-do-if-your-hospital-sues-you-for-medical-debt/
| 1
| 0
|
green-iguana-35
| null |
(NEXSTAR) – Some taxpayers are going to see a boost to their bank accounts soon – the IRS has announced that it will be refunding $1.2 billion in tax filing penalties.
Nearly 1.6 million people will automatically get a refund after filing certain 2019 or 2020 returns late, according to the IRS.
Others, however, will have to act quickly in order to take advantage of the program. In order to qualify, you have to file an eligible income tax return on or by Sept 30, 2022.
The refund goes to offset the failure to file penalty, which the IRS says is assessed at 5% per month, up to 25% of the unpaid tax when a federal income tax return is filed.
Who is eligible?
Americans who filed forms in both the 1040 and 1120 series, or a form listed in this news release, are eligible as long as they file their late 2019 or 2020 return by the September deadline.
Along with individuals, the IRS is also offering relief to banks, employers, and other businesses that filed information returns, such as those in the 1099 series. In those cases, eligible 2019 returns will have to have been filed by Aug. 1, 2020, and 2020 returns by Aug. 1, 2021.
Taxpayers who filed a variety of international returns, such as those reporting transactions with foreign trusts, the receipt of foreign gifts, or ownership interests in foreign corporations, are also included in the full guidelines from the IRS. Qualifying international forms must also be filed on or before September 30, 2022.
People who have already paid the penalty will get a refund, while those who have been fined but haven’t yet paid will see their fine dismissed.
When will the refund come?
For the nearly 1.6 million people who already paid the penalty and will be automatically reimbursed, the IRS says they will be issuing refunds by the end of September.
Some people will be disqualified, however, and will not see a payment – fraudulent returns, penalties levied as part of a compromise or closing argument, and court-ordered penalties are all exempt.
“Penalty relief is a complex issue for the IRS to administer,” said IRS Commissioner Chuck Rettig. “We’ve been working on this initiative for months following concerns we’ve heard from taxpayers, the tax community, and others, including Congress. This is another major step to help taxpayers, and we encourage those affected by this to review the guidelines.”
Other penalties, such as failure to pay a penalty, won’t be refunded. You can see the full list here.
Why is the IRS doing this?
The IRS says the $1.2 billion in refunds goes to helping “struggling taxpayers” who were affected during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Throughout the pandemic, the IRS has worked hard to support the nation and provide relief to people in many different ways,” said Rettig. “The penalty relief issued today is yet another way the agency is supporting people during this unprecedented time. This penalty relief will be automatic for people or businesses who qualify; there’s no need to call.”
The IRS also stated that the massive relief measure will help the tax collection agency “focus its resources on processing backlogged tax returns and taxpayer correspondence to help return to normal operations for the 2023 filing season.”
|
https://www.ktalnews.com/money-matters/irs-is-refunding-1-2-billion-who-qualifies-and-when-payments-will-happen/
| 2022-09-21T09:00:05Z
|
ktalnews.com
|
control
|
https://www.ktalnews.com/money-matters/irs-is-refunding-1-2-billion-who-qualifies-and-when-payments-will-happen/
| 1
| 0
|
green-iguana-35
| null |
HOUSTON (CW39) — Higher prices, inflation, and a looming recession have led many consumers to max out on their credit cards. Now it’s starting to show up as more and more are accumulating additional debt.
According to the latest credit card debt study by WalletHub, Texas ranks No. 2 in the U.S. when it comes to the biggest debt increase in the country.
Credit Card Debt Study Key Stats
- Texas Debt: The average household in Texas owes $8,681 in credit card debt, following a $593 Q2 increase.
- Record Q2 Increase. Credit card debt increased by almost $67.1 billion during Q2 2022, an all-time record for the second quarter of the year.
- Bigger-Than-Normal Buildup. Consumers’ Q2 2022 credit card debt increase was 3.5X bigger than the post-Great Recession average for a second quarter.
- Record Annual Projection. WalletHub projects that consumers will end the year with roughly $110 billion more in credit card debt than they started with, which would be close to an annual record.
The study shows during the 2nd quarter of 2022, the country as a whole racked up $67.1 billion in debts. That is an all-time record for credit card debt added during the second quarter of a year, and WalletHub now projects that consumers will add a total of $110 billion in debt during 2022.
And with the Federal Reserve expected to raise its target rate by 75 basis points on September 21, WalletHub anticipates this will cost people with credit card debt an extra $5.3 billion over the next 12 months.
In addition, the rise in debt is not even around the country, as some areas have bigger payment problems than others.
Fed Rate Hike Survey Key Findings
- More Costly Debt. A Federal Reserve interest rate increase on September 21 would cost people with credit card debt an extra $5.3 billion in the next year alone. That’s on top of the $15.3 billion increase already caused by the Fed’s previous rate hikes this year.
- Inflation Concerns. 85% of Americans are concerned about inflation right now.
- Fed Increases Affecting Wallets. 63% of people say their wallets have been affected by the Fed’s rate hikes this year.
- Monthly Expenses Affected. 62% of people say inflation has affected their monthly grocery expenses the most, followed by gas (32%) and housing (6%).
- Government Intervention at the Pump. 71% of people think the government should put a cap on gas prices.
- Not Recession-Ready. 44% of people do not think they are financially prepared for a recession.
- High Inflation Preferable to High Unemployment. 56% of Americans say they would prefer high inflation over high unemployment.
For the full rankings, check WalletHub’s study here.
|
https://www.ktalnews.com/money-matters/report-texas-ranks-second-in-credit-card-debt-increase-in-u-s/
| 2022-09-21T09:00:12Z
|
ktalnews.com
|
control
|
https://www.ktalnews.com/money-matters/report-texas-ranks-second-in-credit-card-debt-increase-in-u-s/
| 1
| 0
|
green-iguana-35
| null |
MEXICO CITY (AP) — A prehistoric human skeleton has been found in a cave system that was flooded at the end of the last ice age 8,000 years ago, according to a cave-diving archaeologist on Mexico’s Caribbean coast.
Archaeologist Octavio del Rio said he and fellow diver Peter Broger saw the shattered skull and skeleton partly covered by sediment in a cave near where the Mexican government plans to build a high-speed tourist train through the jungle.
Given the distance from the cave entrance, the skeleton couldn’t have gotten there without modern diving equipment, so it must be over 8,000 years old, Del Rio said, referring to the era when rising sea levels flooded the caves.
“There it is. We don’t know if the body was deposited there or if that was where this person died,” said Del Rio. He said that the skeleton was located about 8 meters (26 feet) underwater, about a half-kilometer (one third of a mile) into the cave system.
Some of the oldest human remains in North America have been discovered in the sinkhole caves known as “cenotes” on the country’s Caribbean coast, and experts say some of those caves are threatened by the Mexican government’s Maya Train tourism project.
Del Rio, who has worked with the National Institute of Anthropology and History on projects in the past, said he had notified the institute of the discovery. The institute did not immediately respond to questions about whether it intended to explore the site.
But Del Rio said Tuesday that institute archaeologist Carmen Rojas told him that the site was registered and would be investigated by the institute’s Quintana Roo state branch Holocene Archaeology Project.
He stressed that the cave — whose location he did not reveal because of a fear the site could be looted or disturbed — was near where the government has cut down a swath of jungle to lay train tracks, and could be collapsed, contaminated or closed off by the building project and subsequent development.
“There is a lot more study that has to be done in order to correctly interpret” the find, Del Rio said, noting that “dating, some kind of photographic studies and some collection” would be needed to determine exactly how old the skeleton is.
Del Rio has been exploring the region for three decades, and in 2002, he participated in the discovery and cataloguing of remains known as The Woman of Naharon, who died around the same time, or perhaps earlier, than Naia — the nearly complete skeleton of a young woman who died around 13,000 years ago. It was discovered in a nearby cave system in 2007.
President Andrés Manuel López Obrador is racing to finish his Maya Train project in the remaining two years of his term over the objections of environmentalists, cave divers and archaeologists. They say his haste will allow little time to study the ancient remains.
Activists say the heavy, high-speed rail project will fragment the coastal jungle and will run often above the fragile limestone caves, which — because they’re flooded, twisty and often incredibly narrow — can take decades to explore.
Caves along part of the coast already have been damaged by construction above them, with cement pilings used to support the weight above.
The 950-mile (1,500-kilometer) Maya Train line is meant to run in a rough loop around the Yucatan Peninsula, connecting beach resorts and archaeological sites.
The most controversial stretch cuts a more than 68-mile (110-kilometer) swath through the jungle between the resorts of Cancun and Tulum.
Del Rio said the route through the jungle should be abandoned and the train should be built over the already-impacted coastal highway between Cancun and Tulum, as was originally planned.
López Obrador abandoned the highway route after hotel owners voiced objections, and cost and traffic interruptions became a concern.
“What we want is for them to change to route at this spot, because of the archaeological finds that have been made there, and their importance,” said Del Rio. “They should take the train away from there and put it where they said they were going to build before, on the highway … an area that has already been affected, devastated.”
|
https://www.ktalnews.com/news/ap-ancient-skeleton-found-in-mexico-cave-threatened-by-train/
| 2022-09-21T09:00:20Z
|
ktalnews.com
|
control
|
https://www.ktalnews.com/news/ap-ancient-skeleton-found-in-mexico-cave-threatened-by-train/
| 1
| 0
|
green-iguana-35
| null |
MANASSAS, Va. (AP) — In a universe of cloud computing, northern Virginia might be in a perpetual fog.
More of the data centers that feed the cloud are clustered in the region outside the nation’s capital than anywhere else in the world.
As cloud computing — which enables data storage and other services to be delivered over the internet — continues its exponential increase, the appetite for new data centers continues to grow. And increasingly, communities that abut the centers are complaining about their new neighbors, mostly about the noise from constantly whirring fans needed to cool the computers and servers warehoused within.
“It’s just a constant whir at a frequency that’s obnoxious,” said Dale Browne, president of the Great Oak Homeowners Association. Residents there led a protest recently outside a nearby data center in Prince William County, newly built to support Amazon Web Services.
Browne said he preferred the quarry that used to occupy the land over the data center. And he’s worried that the noise will only get worse in winter, when a line of trees that provides something of a buffer sheds its leaves.
Speakers at the protest said they fear Prince William County is on the verge of joining its neighbor, Loudoun County, which is known as the data center capital of the world.
“We are the canary in the coalmine,” Browne said.
Northern Virginia has been a tech hub since the formation of the internet, and now hosts more data centers than the next five largest U.S. markets combined, according to the Northern Virginia Technology Council.
Collectively, the northern Virginia data centers demand about 1,900 megawatts of power, said Josh Levi, president of the Data Center Coalition, an industry trade group. That’s roughly equivalent to the entire output of Dominion Energy’s nuclear reactors at its North Anna power plant.
Browne and his neighbors say noise from the data center regularly exceeds the local limit of 60 decibels for noise — a study by Amazon disputes this — but it’s largely a moot point because the county noise ordinance exempts air conditioning units. Activists say the ordinance was written more than 30 years ago and never anticipated the massive cooling systems used in data centers.
Amazon Web Services, for its part, said it’s installing acoustical shrouds at the site as part of its noise-reduction efforts.
“Addressing our neighbors’ noise concerns in Prince William County is a priority for us,” a company spokesman said in a statement.
Noise is not the only issue. Spencer Snakard, president of Protect Fauquier, worries that more data centers will require more high-voltage transmission lines to deliver the massive amounts of electricity they require, destroying views and posing their own potential health risks.
“I see these noisy monstrosities much like computers of the 1960s and 70’s: massive, bulky, ugly, and in their infant stage,” she said.
Not all residents are opposed to the data centers. In the Gainesville area, a group of property owners proposed having their land rezoned from agricultural use to allow them. County staff recommended approving this ahead of a Sept. 14 planning commission vote.
Mary Ann Ghadban of Gainesville, 68, is one of the property owners who would sell if the area is rezoned. A lifelong county resident, she built what she called her “dream barn” on her 55-acre horse farm.
“All my neighbors, we were all long-timers. We were going to live here until we died,” she said.
But after the electric company built high-voltage transmission lines through her property in 2008, she said her horses suffered ill health effects, and property values dropped. Housing developers took over nearby tracts, and her rural enclave became something else.
“It breaks our heart, but it’s a fact: It’s not rural anymore,” she said. “We should have had this area open to data centers years ago, because you’ve already ruined the property. You’ve already ruined people’s lives by adding massive transmission towers, so put the data centers where the power is already.”
There’s also opposition from the nearby Manassas National Battlefield Park. Superintendent Brandon Bies likened the threat to Disney’s bid 30 years ago to build a theme park near the battlefield — a proposal environmentalists and other activists famously scuttled — and pushed back against the notion that transmission lines have already destroyed the area’s rural character.
“While indeed unsightly, the agricultural and historic nature of the battlefield’s western edge is still largely intact,” he wrote in a letter to the county board.
Counties that snub data centers would be turning down a lucrative source of tax revenue.
Data centers now provide for more than 30 percent of the general fund budget of Loudoun County, a suburb of the nation’s capital with more than 400,000 residents.
While the windfall has been a boon to Loudoun, Phyllis Randall, chair of the county’s Board of Supervisors, has raised concerns about overreliance on the industry.
“I’m not an economist, but even I know that not diversifying your economy to that degree gets a little dangerous,” she said at a February meeting where a board committee considered plans to manage the data centers’ growth.
Levi, with the Data Center Coalition, said northern Virginia remains a particularly attractive site for a number of reasons. He points to the region’s history as an internet hub for starters — in a business where nanoseconds matter, so does proximity to those hubs, Levi said.
In addition, Virginia was one of the first states to establish tax incentives for data centers.
He acknowledged that community resistance has increased as the industry has expanded. The industry is typically tight-lipped because of its security requirements, and needs to do more to promote its beneficial impacts, along with its advances in designing centers to have less environmental impact, he said.
“I think you’ve seen a lot of continuing innovation and design changes in response to community concerns,” he said.
|
https://www.ktalnews.com/news/business/ap-as-data-centers-proliferate-neighbors-knock-the-noise/
| 2022-09-21T09:00:35Z
|
ktalnews.com
|
control
|
https://www.ktalnews.com/news/business/ap-as-data-centers-proliferate-neighbors-knock-the-noise/
| 1
| 0
|
green-iguana-35
| null |
Shares were mostly higher in Asia on Thursday after a wobbly day of trading yielded modest gains on Wall Street.
U.S. futures inched up while oil prices were mixed.
Shanghai’s benchmark lost 1% to 3,204.93 after China’s central bank left its benchmark lending rate unchanged. While other major economies are raising rates to cool inflation, China’s economy has been slowing and inflation remains moderate.
Tokyo’s Nikkei 225 index gained 0.5% to 27,946.20. Japan reported a record trade deficit for the month of August, driven by high costs for imports of energy and other commodities and a weak yen.
But analysts said they expect a rebalancing in coming months.
“Motor vehicle production should continue to normalize as supply chain disruptions ease, while commodity price growth has eased even further,” Darren Tay of Capital Economics said in a commentary.
In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng index was 0.5% higher, at 18,941.04, while the Kospi in Seoul edged 0.1% higher to 2,413.07.
Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 added 0.6% to 6,869.60.
Trading was tentative in New York on Wednesday, a day after the market’s worst drop in two years, which was set off by fears that higher interest rates could cause a recession.
A report on inflation at the wholesale level showed prices are still rising rapidly, with pressures building underneath the surface, even if overall inflation slowed. It echoed a report on inflation at the consumer level Tuesday, which raised expectations for interest-rate hikes and triggered a rout for markets.
The S&P 500 added 0.3% Wednesday to 3,946.01, while the Dow inched 0.1% higher, to 31,135.09. The Nasdaq gained 0.7% to 11,719.68, and the Russell 2000 picked up 0.4% to close at 1,838.46.
Traders now see a one-in-four chance the Fed may hike its benchmark rate by a full percentage point next week, quadruple the usual move, according to CME Group. A day earlier, it was closer to a one-in-three chance. The site puts the probability of a three-quarter percentage point increase now at 76%, up from 69% on Tuesday.
The central bank has already raised its benchmark interest rate four times this year, with the last two increases by three-quarters of a percentage point.
The Fed is taking the aggressive action on interest rates to try and cool the hottest inflation in four decades. Tuesday’s report on high prices jolted the market with signs that inflation is entering a more stubborn phase that could require an already resolute Fed to become more aggressive.
Wall Street is especially worried that the rate hikes could go too far in slowing the economy and send it into a recession. The Fed is trying to avoid that outcome, but the latest inflation reports suggest that is becoming a more difficult task.
The broader U.S. economy has been slowing, but consumers have remained resilient and the job market remains strong. Wall Street will get another update on inflation’s latest impact on spending when the government releases its retail sales report for August on Thursday.
The market is also monitoring U.S.-China tensions and war in Ukraine, while business and government officials are bracing for the possibility of a nationwide rail strike at the end of this week that could paralyze an already discombobulated supply chain.
The railroads have already started to curtail shipments of hazardous materials and have announced plans to stop hauling refrigerated products ahead of Friday’s strike deadline. Businesses that rely on Norfolk Southern, Union Pacific, BNSF, CSX, Kansas City Southern and other railroads to deliver their raw materials and finished products are planning for the worst.
Union Pacific fell 3.7% and Norfolk Southern fell 2.2%.
Biden administration officials are scrambling to develop a plan to keep goods moving if the railroads shut down. The White House is also pressuring the two sides to settle their differences, and a growing number of business groups are lobbying Congress to be prepared to intervene and block a strike if they can’t reach an agreement.
In other trading Thursday, U.S. benchmark crude oil gained 10 cents to $88.58 per barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. It jumped $1.17 to $88.48 on Wednesday.
Brent crude, the pricing basis for international trading, slipped 5 cents to $94.05 per barrel.
The dollar rose to 143.42 Japanese yen from 143.16 yen late Wednesday. The euro weakened to 99.73 cents from 99.77 cents.
|
https://www.ktalnews.com/news/business/ap-asian-shares-fall-tracking-wall-st-dismay-over-price-data/
| 2022-09-21T09:00:42Z
|
ktalnews.com
|
control
|
https://www.ktalnews.com/news/business/ap-asian-shares-fall-tracking-wall-st-dismay-over-price-data/
| 1
| 0
|
green-iguana-35
| null |
Asian markets skidded lower on Wednesday after Wall Street fell the most since June 2020 as a report showed inflation has kept a surprisingly strong grip on the U.S. economy.
Tokyo’s benchmark Nikkei 225 lost 2.8% in early trading Wednesday, to 27,816.58, while Sydney’s S&P/ASX 200 declined 2.5% to 6,834.80. In Seoul, the Kospi lost 2.6% to 2,386.29.
U.S. futures edged higher, with the contracts for the Dow industrials and the S&P 500 up 0.1%. European futures also declined.
On Tuesday, the Dow lost more than 1,250 points and the S&P 500 sank 4.3%. Tuesday’s hotter-than-expected report on inflation has traders bracing for the Federal Reserve to raise interest rates still more, adding to risks for the economy.
The steep sell-off didn’t quite knock out the market’s gains over the past four days, but it ended a four-day winning streak for the major U.S. indexes and erased an early rally in European markets.
The S&P 500 sank 4.3% to 3,932.69. The Dow fell 3.9% to 31,104.97 and the Nasdaq composite closed 5.2% lower, at 11,633.57.
Bond prices also fell sharply, sending their yields higher, after a report showed inflation decelerated only to 8.3% in August, instead of the 8.1% economists expected.
The yield on the two-year Treasury, which tends to track expectations for Fed actions, soared to 3.74% from 3.57% late Monday. The 10-year yield, which helps dictate where mortgages and rates for other loans are heading, rose to 3.42% from 3.36%.
The hotter-than-expected reading has traders bracing for the Federal Reserve to ultimately raise interest rates more than expected to combat inflation, with all the risks for the economy that entails.
“Right now, it’s not the journey that’s a worry so much as the destination,” said Brian Jacobsen, senior investment strategist at Allspring Global Investments. “If the Fed wants to hike and hold, the big question is at what level.
All but six of the stocks in the S&P 500 fell. Technology and other high-growth companies fell more than the rest of the market because they’re seen as most at risk from higher rates.
Most of Wall Street came into the day thinking the Fed would hike its key short-term rate by a hefty three-quarters of a percentage point at its meeting next week. But the hope was that inflation was falling back to more normal levels after peaking in June at 9.1%.
Such a slowdown might let the Fed reduce the size of its rate hikes through the end of this year and then potentially hold steady through early 2023.
Tuesday’s report dashed some of those hopes. Many of the data points were worse than economists expected, including some the Fed pays particular attention to, such as inflation outside of food and energy prices.
Markets honed in on a 0.6% rise in such prices during August from July, double what economists expected, said Gargi Chaudhuri, head of investment strategy at iShares.
Traders now see a one-in-three chance the Fed will hike the benchmark rate by a full percentage point next week, quadruple the usual move. No one in the futures market was predicting such a hike a day earlier.
The Fed has already raised its benchmark interest rate four times this year, with the last two increases by three-quarters of a percentage point. The federal funds rate is currently in a range of 2.25% to 2.50%.
Higher rates hurt the economy by making it more expensive to buy a house, a car or anything else bought on credit. Mortgage rates have already hit their highest level since 2008, creating pain for the housing industry. The hope is that the Fed can pull off the tightrope walk of slowing the economy enough to snuff out high inflation, but not so much that it creates a painful recession.
Tuesday’s data casts doubt on hopes for such a “soft landing.” Higher rates also hurt prices for stocks, bonds and other investments.
Investments seen as the most expensive or the riskiest are the ones hardest hit by higher rates. Bitcoin tumbled 9.4%.
Expectations for a more aggressive Fed also helped the dollar add to its already strong gains for this year. The dollar has been surging against other currencies in large part because the Fed has been hiking rates faster and by bigger margins than many other central banks.
The dollar bought 144.59 Japanese yen, up from 144.57 yen late Tuesday. The euro rose to 0.9973 cents, up from 0.9969 cents.
Oil prices rose. U.S. benchmark crude added 38 cents to $87.69 per barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. It lost 47 cents to $87.31 on Tuesday. Brent crude, the international pricing standard, climbed 38 cents to $93.55 per barrel.
___
AP Business Writers Stan Choe, Alex Veiga and Damian J. Troise contributed.
|
https://www.ktalnews.com/news/business/ap-asian-stocks-gain-ahead-of-us-inflation-report/
| 2022-09-21T09:00:50Z
|
ktalnews.com
|
control
|
https://www.ktalnews.com/news/business/ap-asian-stocks-gain-ahead-of-us-inflation-report/
| 1
| 0
|
green-iguana-35
| null |
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Business and government officials are bracing for the possibility of a nationwide rail strike at the end of this week while talks carry on between the largest U.S. freight railroads and their unions.
The railroads have already started to curtail shipments of hazardous materials and have announced plans to stop hauling refrigerated products ahead of Friday’s strike deadline. Now businesses that rely on Norfolk Southern, Union Pacific, BNSF, CSX, Kansas City Southern and other railroads to deliver their raw materials and finished products have started planning for the worst.
Meanwhile, Biden administration officials are scrambling to develop a plan to use trucks, ships and planes to try to keep the most crucial chemicals and other goods moving if the railroads stop rolling. But the White House is also keeping the pressure on the two sides to settle their differences, and a growing number of business groups are lobbying Congress to be prepared to intervene and block a strike if they can’t reach an agreement.
“We have made crystal clear to the interested parties the harm that American families, business and farmers and communities would experience if they were not to reach a resolution,” White House press secretary Jean-Pierre said Tuesday. She said a shutdown is “not acceptable.”
In addition to all the businesses that rely on railroads to deliver their goods, passenger railroads are also affected because many of them operate on tracks owned by one of the freight railroads. Amtrak has already cancelled several of its long-distance trains because there wouldn’t be enough time for them to reach their destinations before a strike or lockout would be allowed to begin at 12:01 a.m. Friday.
Amtrak already suspended its California Zephyr and Empire Builder lines that run from Chicago to the West Coast, and starting Wednesday it will stop running its City of New Orleans, Starlight and Texas Eagle lines along with several others.
Commuter railroads would also be affected. In Chicago, Metra warned its riders that it wouldn’t be able to run most of its trains if there is a strike.
The railroads have reached tentative agreements with most of their unions, including a ninth deal announced Tuesday, based on the recommendations of a Presidential Emergency Board Joe Biden appointed this summer that called for 24% raises and $5,000 in bonuses in a five-year deal that’s retroactive to 2020. The deal also includes one additional paid leave day a year and higher health insurance costs.
But all 12 railroad unions must agree to prevent a strike. The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen union that represents engineers, and the Transportation Division of the International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers union that represents conductors want the railroads to address some of their concerns about unpredictable work schedules and strict attendance rules in addition to agreeing to the recommended wage increases.
Ron Kaminkow, general secretary of the Railroad Workers United labor coalition that includes workers from a variety of railroad unions, said he doesn’t think the unions are demanding much at this point — just the kind of things most U.S. workers already enjoy like the ability to take time off without being penalized.
“We have attendance policies that have gotten more and more and more draconian. That offer very, very little leeway for workers who need to take time off for doctor’s appointments, for time with family, to be rested,” Kaminkow said.
Starting Monday, all the major railroads put a hold on shipments of hazardous materials to ensure those dangerous chemicals wouldn’t be stranded along the tracks if there is a strike. Norfolk Southern told its customers that it will also stop accepting shipments of intermodal containers full of goods starting Wednesday evening as it prepares “for a controlled shutdown of the network.”
Some businesses would likely be affected more than others by a rail shutdown. For instance, nearly all ethanol and coal and most grain moves by rail.
___
Associated Press Writers Seung Min Kim and Zeke Miller contributed to this report from Washington D.C.
|
https://www.ktalnews.com/news/business/ap-businesses-white-house-plan-for-possible-rail-strike-friday/
| 2022-09-21T09:00:57Z
|
ktalnews.com
|
control
|
https://www.ktalnews.com/news/business/ap-businesses-white-house-plan-for-possible-rail-strike-friday/
| 1
| 0
|
green-iguana-35
| null |
WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. inflation is showing signs of entering a more stubborn phase that will likely require drastic action by the Federal Reserve, a shift that has panicked financial markets and heightens the risks of a recession.
Some of the longtime drivers of higher inflation — spiking gas prices, supply chain snarls, soaring used-car prices — are fading. Yet underlying measures of inflation are actually worsening.
The ongoing evolution of the forces behind an inflation rate that’s near a four-decade high has made it harder for the Fed to wrestle it under control. Prices are no longer rising because a few categories have skyrocketed in cost. Instead, inflation has now spread more widely through the economy, fueled by a strong job market that is boosting paychecks, forcing companies to raise prices to cover higher labor costs and giving more consumers the wherewithal to spend.
On Tuesday, the government said inflation ticked up 0.1% from July to August and 8.3% from a year ago, which was down from June’s four-decade high of 9.1%
But excluding the volatile categories of food and energy, so-called core prices jumped by an unexpectedly sharp 0.6% from July to August, after a milder 0.3% rise the previous month. The Fed monitors core prices closely, and the latest figures heightened fears of an even more aggressive Fed and sent stocks plunging, with the Dow Jones collapsing more than 1,200 points.
The core price figures solidified worries that inflation has now spread into all corners of the economy.
“One of the most remarkable things is how broad-based the price gains are,” said Matthew Luzzetti, chief U.S. economist at Deutsche Bank. “The underlying trend in inflation certainly has not shown any progress toward moderating so far. And that should be a worry to the Fed because the price gains have become increasingly demand-driven, and therefore likely to be more persistent.”
Demand-driven inflation is one way to say that consumers, who account for nearly 70% of economic growth, keep spending, even if they resent having to pay more. In part, that is because of widespread income gains and in part because many Americans still have more savings than they did before the pandemic, after having postponed spending on vacations, entertainment, and restaurants.
When inflation is driven mainly by demand, it can require more drastic action from the Fed than when it’s driven mainly by supply shocks, such as an oil supply disruption, which can often resolve on their own.
Economists fear that the only way for the Fed to slow robust consumer demand is to raise interest rates so high as to sharply increase unemployment and potentially cause a recession. Typically, as fear of layoffs rises, not only do the jobless reduce spending. So, too, do the many people who fear losing their jobs.
Some economists now think the Fed will have to raise its benchmark short-term rate much higher, to 4.5% or above, by early next year, more than previous estimates of 4%. (The Fed’s key rate is now in a range of 2.25% to 2.5%.) Higher rates from the Fed would, in turn, lead to higher costs for mortgages, auto loans and business loans.
The Fed is widely expected to raise its benchmark short-term rate by a substantial three-quarters of a point next week for a third consecutive time. Tuesday’s inflation report even led some analysts to speculate that the central bank could announce a full percentage point hike. If it did, that would amount to the largest increase since the Fed began using short-term rates in the early 1990s to guide consumer and business borrowing.
Even though headline inflation barely rose last month, underlying inflation, which reflects broader economic trends, worsened. A measure that the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland uses to track median inflation, which essentially ignores categories with the biggest price swings, rose 0.7% in August. That was the biggest monthly increase since records began in 1983.
Higher prices have yet to cause much of what economists call “demand destruction” — a pullback in spending that could quell inflation. Though higher gas prices have caused Americans to drive less, there isn’t much evidence of significant cutbacks elsewhere.
Restaurant prices, for example, jumped 0.9% in August and have risen 8% in the past year. But that hasn’t noticeably discouraged people from going out. Restaurant traffic has surpassed pre-pandemic levels on Open Table, an app that tracks reservations, and was still increasing into September.
Overall, consumers have largely kept up their spending, even with rampant inflation, though perhaps through gritted teeth. In July, spending rose 0.2% after adjusting for higher prices.
The spread of inflation into services, such as rental costs and health care, largely reflects the impact of higher wages. Hospitals and doctors’ offices have to pay more for nurses and other staff. And as more Americans find jobs or get raises, they’re able to move out from family homes or split from roommates. Rental costs have increased 6.7% in the past year, the most since 1986.
Wages and salaries jumped 6.7% in August from a year earlier, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta’s wage tracker, the biggest increase in nearly 40 years. And Luzzetti noted that the same data shows a record wage premium for people who switch jobs, compared with those who stay put. That means employers are still offering big raises to try to fill jobs.
Economists had hoped that rising services prices would be offset by falling costs for goods such as new and used cars, furniture, and clothing, after those items spiked in the pandemic. As supply chain backups improved, a better flow of such goods were expected to bring prices down.
Yet so far, that hasn’t happened.
“We’ve seen shipping costs come down, we’ve seen supply chain congestion ease a little bit, production has improved and inventories have risen,” said Laura Rosner-Warburton, senior economist at MacroPolicy Perspectives. “So all of that suggests some supply side improvement. And yet companies are still putting through large price increases for those goods, and that’s problematic.”
Such trends could renew the debate over how much corporations’ ability to raise prices has been fueled by a lack of competition, a phenomenon referred to as “greedflation.” But most economists attribute the ability of companies to still charge more to consumers’ willingness to pay.
“It appears that retailers are now raising prices because they can, not because they have to. Consumer demand is still too strong,” said Aneta Markowska, chief economist at Jefferies, an investment bank, in a research note.
|
https://www.ktalnews.com/news/business/ap-driven-by-consumers-us-inflation-grows-more-persistent/
| 2022-09-21T09:01:04Z
|
ktalnews.com
|
control
|
https://www.ktalnews.com/news/business/ap-driven-by-consumers-us-inflation-grows-more-persistent/
| 1
| 0
|
green-iguana-35
| null |
BUDAPEST, Hungary (AP) — Budget airline Ryanair announced Tuesday that it will cancel several routes through Hungary and cut flights on several more following a months-long dispute with the country’s government over a special windfall tax placed on airlines.
The Ireland-based company’s CEO, Michael O’Leary, said at a press conference in Hungary’s capital that Ryanair had planned to launch 10 new routes through Budapest and base an additional airplane at its airport this winter.
“Sadly, however, those plans have now fallen at the altar of the Hungarian government’s decision to impose a ludicrous and idiotic excess profits tax on the airline sector, which has reported record losses,” O’Leary said.
Instead of expanding its presence in Hungary as planned to more than 5 million passengers next year, Ryanair will eliminate eight of its previously operating 53 routes through Budapest while imposing frequency cuts on seven more, he said.
This will reduce the company’s yearly passenger load in Hungary from 4.5 million to under 4 million, he added.
The decision came in response to Hungary’s government fining the low-cost airline more than 750,000 euros ($753,000) in August for alleged consumer protection violations. The fine came after the company raised ticket prices to cope with a tax on what the government calls “extra profits” of industries ranging from airlines to banks.
The nationalist government argued that such industries have enjoyed windfall profits arising from soaring demand after the COVID-19 pandemic, and should contribute to the country’s economic recovery.
But on Tuesday, O’Leary said Ryanair had posted 1.26 billion euros in losses in the last two years, and that targeting it and other airlines with excess profits taxes was “inexplicable.”
“We cannot get any explanation from the Hungarian government as to why an industry or a sector which is making record losses is being asked to pay excess profits,” O’Leary said.
Ryanair will appeal the “bogus” fine imposed on it by Hungary’s consumer protection authority in Hungarian courts, O’Leary said, adding that “we confidently expect we will lose,” but that the company will then appeal in European Union courts.
He also took a swipe at Hungary’s consumer protection agency, questioning its independence and accusing it of taking political cues from the Minister of Justice in imposing the fine.
“It’s not too late for the Hungarian government to realize the error of their ways,” O’Leary said. “The future of Hungarian tourism and industry lies entirely on making Hungary an attractive destination and a low-cost, competitive destination here in Central Europe.”
|
https://www.ktalnews.com/news/business/ap-ryanair-cancels-hungary-routes-over-windfall-tax-dispute/
| 2022-09-21T09:01:19Z
|
ktalnews.com
|
control
|
https://www.ktalnews.com/news/business/ap-ryanair-cancels-hungary-routes-over-windfall-tax-dispute/
| 1
| 0
|
green-iguana-35
| null |
BRATISLAVA, Slovakia (AP) — Slovakia’s president on Tuesday swore in new ministers who replaced their predecessors from a junior coalition partner that withdrew from the governing four-party coalition, leaving Prime Minister Eduard Heger without a parliamentary majority.
The appointment came after President Zuzana Caputova accepted the resignation of all four ministers from the liberal Freedom and Solidarity party who resigned from their government posts earlier in September.
They included party leader and Economy Minister Richard Sulik, Foreign Minister Ivan Korcok, Justice Minister Maria Kolikova and Education Minister Branislav Gröhling.
Three of them were replaced by experts not affiliated with any political party.
Energy expert Karel Hirman became the economy minister, career diplomat and former Slovak Ambassador to the United States Rastislav Kacer will serve as foreign minister, while Viliam Karas, the head of the Slovak Bar Association, was appointed the justice minister.
Heger temporarily assumed the education minister post.
“The continuity has been ensured,” Heger said.
The current Slovak government has been donating arms to the Ukrainian armed forces while opening its border to refugees fleeing the war with Russia. That is not expected to change, but without a majority support in Parliament, it might be tough for the government to push through its agenda.
Freedom and Solidarity said it wasn’t willing to stay in the government because of disagreements with Finance Minister Igor Matovic, a populist leader whose Ordinary People party won the 2020 parliamentary election.
Sulik has clashed with Matovic on a number of issues, including how to tackle soaring inflation driven by high energy prices amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine, or, earlier, how to respond to the coronavirus pandemic.
|
https://www.ktalnews.com/news/business/ap-slovakia-has-new-ministers-after-party-leaves-coalition/
| 2022-09-21T09:01:26Z
|
ktalnews.com
|
control
|
https://www.ktalnews.com/news/business/ap-slovakia-has-new-ministers-after-party-leaves-coalition/
| 1
| 0
|
green-iguana-35
| null |
Starbucks __ ringing up record sales but struggling with low employee morale __ plans to spend $450 million next year to make its North American stores more efficient and less complex.
The company also said it plans to open 2,000 net new stores in the U.S. by 2025, with an emphasis on meeting the growing demand for new types of service, including drive-thru, mobile ordering and delivery. Drive-thru now makes up 50% of U.S. sales, for example, while delivery demand has grown by 24% so far this year.
“It’s clear that our physical stores have to change. Our physical stores were built for a different era,” said John Culver, Starbucks’ chief operating officer, at a day-long event for investors in Seattle Tuesday.
Culver said customizable cold drinks __ which now make up as many as 75% of Starbucks’ U.S. beverage orders __ are taxing employees in kitchens designed for simpler hot drinks. Starbucks debuted a new work station that requires less movement and can cut 50 seconds off the process of making a blended iced mocha. It also announced a new patented technology that will cut the time needed to make cold brew coffee from 20 hours to a few seconds.
The introduction of an increasing number of hot food items is also slowing Starbucks’ kitchens. Culver said Starbucks expects to serve 300 million breakfast sandwiches in the U.S. this year, each of which takes up to 85 seconds to warm in its ovens. Starbucks plans to start cooking them in batches and storing them in warmers next to the drive-thru windows.
The company touted other upcoming benefits for workers, including more flexible scheduling, more generous sick time accrual and expanded ability for mobile customers to tip.
Starbucks executives made little mention of a growing unionization effort at its U.S. stores during morning presentations Tuesday. But it has clearly been an impetus for the company to think more deeply about ways to improve employees’ work life. Since late last year, 236 of Starbucks’ 9,000 company-owned U.S. stores have voted to unionize, an effort the company opposes.
“The reality is, we have a trust deficit with our partners,” said Frank Britt, Starbucks’ executive vice president and chief strategy officer. “The work we do in our stores today is too physically hard.”
It wasn’t immediately clear if the new investments and technology would be offered to non-union stores; Starbucks said the company hasn’t yet decided how the investment will be doled out. But in May, Starbucks announced $200 million in additional pay and training but said that benefit would only go to non-union stores.
Starbucks says it is required to negotiate new benefits with union stores. But in August, the Seattle office of the National Labor Relations Board filed a complaint against the company, saying it was violating U.S. labor law by withholding wage increases and other benefits from workers in unionized stores. A hearing in that case before an NLRB administrative judge is scheduled for October.
Starbucks Workers United, the union organizing workers, said around 300 protesters picketed outside the Starbucks meeting on Tuesday.
Culver said the company will respect the unionization process and negotiate with the stores that vote to unionize. But he also reiterated the company’s position.
“There are two paths. We can work together as partners, side by side, or we can have a third party between us,” he said.
Leading the company’s revamp will be Laxman Narasimhan, a former PepsiCo executive who was named Starbucks’ CEO last week. Narasimhan will spend the next six months shadowing interim CEO Howard Schultz, who helped shape the company after buying it in 1987 and has been leading it on a temporary basis since April. Schultz will remain on Starbucks’ board when Narasimhan assumes the CEO position in April.
“It’s an incredible opportunity for me to be learning at the feet of one of the best entrepreneurs in the world,” said Narasimhan, who described himself as a “right-brained” operational expert who also loves art, music and writing poetry.
Narasimhan, 55, who most recently was CEO of the U.K.-based consumer health and hygiene company Reckitt, also said he agrees that Starbucks has to renew its focus on exceeding its’ employees expectations if it wants to serve its customers well.
Schultz said Starbucks notched the best sales week in its 51-year history in August when it introduced its fall drink lineup. But Schultz said Starbucks lost its way during the pandemic, when employee retention tumbled even as customers demanded new service like curbside pickup.
Starbucks shares fell 1.4% Tuesday during a broader market downturn as investors fretted about stubbornly high inflation.
|
https://www.ktalnews.com/news/business/ap-starbucks-to-revamp-stores-to-speed-service-boost-morale/
| 2022-09-21T09:01:34Z
|
ktalnews.com
|
control
|
https://www.ktalnews.com/news/business/ap-starbucks-to-revamp-stores-to-speed-service-boost-morale/
| 1
| 0
|
green-iguana-35
| null |
WASHINGTON (AP) — Twitter’s former security chief told Congress Tuesday there was “at least one agent” from China’s intelligence service on Twitter’s payroll and that the company knowingly allowed India to add agents to the company roster as well, potentially giving those nations access to sensitive data about users.
These were some of the troubling revelations from Peiter “Mudge” Zatko, a respected cybersecurity expert and Twitter whistleblower who appeared before the Senate Judiciary Committee to lay out his allegations against the company.
Zatko told lawmakers that the social media platform is plagued by weak cyber defenses that make it vulnerable to exploitation by “ teenagers, thieves and spies” and put the privacy of its users at risk.
“I am here today because Twitter leadership is misleading the public, lawmakers, regulators and even its own board of directors,” Zatko said as he began his sworn testimony.
“They don’t know what data they have, where it lives and where it came from and so, unsurprisingly, they can’t protect it,” Zatko said. “It doesn’t matter who has keys if there are no locks.”
“Twitter leadership ignored its engineers,” he said, in part because “their executive incentives led them to prioritize profit over security.”
In a statement, Twitter said its hiring process is “independent of any foreign influence” and access to data is managed through a host of measures, including background checks, access controls, and monitoring and detection systems and processes.
One issue that didn’t come up in the hearing was the question of whether Twitter is accurately counting its active users, an important metric for its advertisers. Tesla CEO Elon Musk, who is trying to get out of a $44 billion deal to buy Twitter, has argued without evidence that many of Twitter’s roughly 238 million daily users are fake or malicious accounts, aka “spam bots.”
Even so, “that doesn’t mean that Musk won’t use Zatko’s allegation that Twitter was disinterested in removing bots to try to bolster his argument for walking away from the deal,” said Insider Intelligence analyst Jasmine Enberg.
The Delaware judge overseeing the case ruled last week that Musk can include new evidence related to Zatko’s allegations in the high-stakes trial, which is set to start Oct. 17. During the hearing, Musk tweeted a popcorn emoji, often used to suggest that one is sitting back in anticipation of unfolding drama.
Separately on Tuesday, Twitter’s shareholders voted overwhelmingly to approve the deal, according to multiple media reports. Shareholders have been voting remotely on the issue for weeks. The vote was largely a formality, particularly given Musk’s efforts to nullify the deal, although it does clear a legal hurdle to closing the sale.
Zatko’s message echoed one brought to Congress against another social media giant last year. But unlike that Facebook whistleblower, Frances Haugen, Zatko hasn’t brought troves of internal documents to back up his claims.
Zatko was the head of security for the influential platform until he was fired early this year. He filed a whistleblower complaint in July with Congress, the Justice Department, the Federal Trade Commission and the Securities and Exchange Commission. Among his most serious accusations is that Twitter violated the terms of a 2011 FTC settlement by falsely claiming that it had put stronger measures in place to protect the security and privacy of its users.
Sen. Dick Durbin, an Illinois Democrat who heads the Judiciary Committee, said Zatko has detailed flaws “that may pose a direct threat to Twitter’s hundreds of millions of users as well as to American democracy.”
“Twitter is an immensely powerful platform and can’t afford gaping vulnerabilities,” he said.
Unknown to Twitter users, there’s far more of their personal information disclosed than they — or sometimes even Twitter itself — realize, Zatko testified. He said Twitter did not address “basic systemic failures” brought forward by company engineers.
The FTC has been “a little over its head”, and far behind European counterparts, in policing the sort of privacy violations that have occurred at Twitter, Zatko said.
Zatko’s allegation that Twitter was more concerned about foreign regulators than the FTC, Enberg said, “could be a wakeup call for U.S. lawmakers,” who have been unable to pass meaningful regulation on social media companies.
Sen. Lindsey Graham, a Republican from South Carolina, said one positive result that could come out of Zatko’s findings would be bipartisan legislation to set up a tighter system of regulation of tech platforms.
“We need to up our game in this country,” he said.
Many of Zatko’s claims are uncorroborated and appear to have little documentary support. Twitter has called Zatko’s description of events “a false narrative … riddled with inconsistencies and inaccuracies” and lacking important context.
Still, Zatko came off as a convincing whistleblower who has “a lot of credibility in this space,” said Ari Lightman, professor of digital media and marketing at Carnegie Mellon University. But he said many of the problems he raised can likely be found at many other digital technology platforms
“They avoid security protocols in a sense of innovating and running really fast,” Lightman said. “We gave digital platforms so much autonomy at the beginning to grow and develop. Now we’re at a point where we’re, ‘Wait a minute … This has gotten out of hand.’
Among the assertions from Zatko that drew lawmaker attention was Twitter’s apparent negligence in dealing with governments that sought to get spies a job inside the company. Twitter’s inability to log how employees accessed user accounts made it hard for the company to detect when employees were abusing their access, Zatko said.
Zatko said he spoke with “high confidence” about a foreign agent that the government of India placed at Twitter to “understand the negotiations” between India’s ruling party and Twitter about new social media restrictions and how well those negotiations were going.
Zatko also revealed Tuesday that he was told about a week before his firing that “at least one agent” from the Chinese intelligence service MSS, or the Ministry of State Security, was “on the payroll” at Twitter.
He said he was similarly “surprised and shocked” by an exchange with current Twitter CEO Parag Agrawal about Russia — in which Twitter’s current CEO, who was chief technology officer at the time, asked if it would be possible to “punt” content moderation and surveillance to the Russian government, since Twitter doesn’t really “have the ability and tools to do things correctly.”
“And since they have elections, doesn’t that make them a democracy?” Zatko recalled Agrawal saying.
Sen. Charles Grassley, the committee’s ranking Republican, said Tuesday that Agrawal declined to testify at the hearing, citing the ongoing legal proceedings with Musk. But the hearing is “more important than Twitter’s civil litigation in Delaware,” Grassley said. Twitter declined to comment on Grassley’s remarks.
In his complaint, Zatko accused Agrawal as well as other senior executives and board members of numerous violations, including making “false and misleading statements to users and the FTC about the Twitter platform’s security, privacy and integrity.”
Zatko, 51, first gained prominence in the 1990s as a pioneer in the ethical hacking movement and later worked in senior positions at an elite Defense Department research unit and at Google. He joined Twitter in late 2020 at the urging of then-CEO Jack Dorsey.
___
O’Brien reported from Providence, R.I.; Ortutay reported from Oakland, Calif.
___
Follow Marcy Gordon at https://twitter.com/mgordonap
|
https://www.ktalnews.com/news/business/ap-twitter-whistleblower-brings-his-critiques-to-congress/
| 2022-09-21T09:01:41Z
|
ktalnews.com
|
control
|
https://www.ktalnews.com/news/business/ap-twitter-whistleblower-brings-his-critiques-to-congress/
| 1
| 0
|
green-iguana-35
| null |
UNITED NATIONS (AP) — Food exports from Ukraine and Russia have increased since a July 22 grain deal, but critically needed fertilizer exports from Russia are still down despite being covered by the agreement, with financing and shipping still issues, the United Nations said Tuesday.
U.N. trade chief Rebeca Grynspan, who leads the team trying to facilitate unimpeded global access to Russian food and fertilizer, said Russia reported a 12% increase in food exports from June to July. But while there has been “important progress,” the U.N. is concerned about fertilizer exports needed by October and November, the latest for the northern hemisphere planting season, she said.
Fertilizers now are three times the price they were before the COVID-19 pandemic hit in early 2020, Grynspan said, adding that “the crisis of affordability that we have now will be a catastrophic crisis if we don’t solve the problem of fertilizer.”
As an example, she said the sowing season for new crops in West Africa is over and planting was down by a very high percentage because of fertilizer costs.
Grynspan told a U.N. press conference by video from Geneva that the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization reported that food prices declined globally in August for the fifth straight month. But she expressed concern that this decrease has not been seen in domestic markets, and developing countries especially are still struggling with high food prices as well as inflation, currency devaluations and interest rate hikes.
Amir Abdulla, the United Nations coordinator for the deal to ship Ukrainian grain, said 129 fully laden ships carrying over 2.8 million tons of grain have left the three designated Ukrainian Black Sea ports for different countries.
With grain prices dropping, Abdulla said, the U.N. has seen that people who had been hoarding grain to sell at high prices are now putting it on the market in one or two countries. “Hopefully that will bring some of those local prices down” he said by video from Istanbul.
On July 22, Russia and Ukraine signed separate agreements with Turkey and the United Nations clearing the way for the export of desperately needed grain and fertilizer, ending a wartime standoff that threatened food security around the globe. The deal expires in November after 120 days and can be renewed.
Abdulla said the U.N. has “very positive messages from Turkey” that they want grain shipments to continue, “and we are hoping that with their influence, with U.N. mediation efforts … it won’t really be a matter for discussion.”
Ukraine was one of the world’s largest exporters of wheat, corn and sunflower oil, but Russia’s Feb. 24 invasion of the country and naval blockade of its ports had halted shipments.
Some Ukrainian grain is transported through Europe by rail, road and river, but the prices of vital commodities such as wheat and barley had soared before the grain deal, which U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called an unprecedented agreement between two parties engaged in a bloody conflict.
Although international sanctions against Russia did not target food and fertilizer exports, the war has disrupted shipments of Russian products because shipping and insurance companies did not want to deal with Russia.
Grynspan, who is secretary general of the U.N. Conference on Trade and Development, said there were “doubts” about U.S. and European Union sanctions and the U.N. has been providing clarifications that food and fertilizers have no sanctions so ships can carry them, insurance can be provided, banks can make transactions, and the vessels can go to European ports.
This involves dealing with the private sector, where the Russian invasion and sanctions had “a chilling effect,” she said, “so this is not like one stroke will solve all the problems.”
Grynspan said the U.N. is undertaking “all efforts” to enable Russian exports of ammonia, a key ingredient of fertilizers, to get to world markets.
She was asked to respond to Russian President Vladimir Putin’s statement last week that Russian fertilizers could get to European ports but not to markets in Africa, Asia and Latin America and replied that in the beginning export issues had not been clear. But she said the EU issued a clarification on Aug. 10 and the U.N. is trying to clarify any further questions.
On the issue of insurance, Abulla said war risk insurance has dropped from 2-3% of the value of the hull of the vessel to 0.5% of hull value because the operation of the shipping corridor from the three Black Sea ports has been effective.
But Grynspan said the normal price is about 0.05% so it’s still very high for the insurance market, and costs need to come down to bring food prices down further.
|
https://www.ktalnews.com/news/business/ap-un-food-exports-from-ukraine-are-up-russia-fertilizer-down/
| 2022-09-21T09:01:49Z
|
ktalnews.com
|
control
|
https://www.ktalnews.com/news/business/ap-un-food-exports-from-ukraine-are-up-russia-fertilizer-down/
| 1
| 0
|
green-iguana-35
| null |
LYNN, Mass. (AP) — The largest union representing workers for General Electric Co. said Tuesday it’s reached an agreement with the company to speed up raises for workers at a Massachusetts aviation plant.
Under the deal, workers would be eligible for raises sooner and could reach the top pay rate after six years of work, instead of as many as 10 required under the old system.
Some 540 workers will see their pay go up, or become eligible for raises sooner, if the agreement is approved by workers in a vote set for later this month.
GE implemented an accelerated raise schedule this summer at at plants in Rutland, Vermont, and Hooksett, N.H.
“GE pays its employees competitive wages in every community in which we operate,” a company spokesperson said in a statement emailed to the AP.
IUE-CWA Local 201, the union that negotiated the deal, called it a “massive win” for workers, especially as they are dealing with higher living costs brought on by inflation.
“As we prepare to negotiate our national union contract for GE workers across the country, this sends a powerful message to the company that we can organize effectively against stagnating wages and keep good jobs in our community,” union president Adam Kaszynski said in a statement emailed to the AP.
___
This story has been updated to correct that the accelerated wage schedule has already been implemented at plants in New Hampshire and Vermont.
|
https://www.ktalnews.com/news/business/ap-union-ge-reach-deal-for-faster-raises-at-new-england-plants/
| 2022-09-21T09:01:57Z
|
ktalnews.com
|
control
|
https://www.ktalnews.com/news/business/ap-union-ge-reach-deal-for-faster-raises-at-new-england-plants/
| 1
| 0
|
green-iguana-35
| null |
(The Hill) — Child poverty in the United States fell by 46 percent in 2021, a record low achieved largely by expanding the child tax credit, according to new data released by the U.S. Census Bureau.
The data shows 5.2 percent of children were in poverty in 2021, down significantly from the 9.2 percent of impoverished children the previous year.
The figures reflect an alternate scale developed by the bureau, known as the Supplemental Poverty Measure (SPM), that accounts for noncash benefits like housing subsidies, tax credits and federal nutrition assistance.
Child poverty under the census bureau’s official measure declined by only 0.7 percentage points, but the bureau says the scale reflects a limited analysis solely based on pretax cash income.
The bureau attributed much of the decline to the expanded child tax credit, which Democrats through the American Rescue Plan increased from $2,000 to $3,600 for children under the age of 6 and to $3,000 for children between ages 6 and 17.
Census officials estimate the tax credit lifted 5.3 million people out of poverty in 2021, including 2.9 million children. One million of those children were under the age of six.
“The new data show the significant impact the expansion of anti-poverty programs during the COVID-19 pandemic had on reducing child poverty,” the bureau said in a release.
The expanded credit expired at the end of last year, and a group of six Democratic lawmakers is promoting the new data as a reason to extend the expansion. One study estimated almost 4 million children fell into poverty in January after it expired.
The group includes Sen. Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.), Suzan DelBene (D-Wash.) and Rep. Ritchie Torres (D-N.Y.)
“Today’s Census data confirms that the expanded Child Tax Credit worked: it allowed the hard work of tens of millions of parents to pay off and helped them keep up with the cost of living, dramatically reducing child poverty and hunger,” the lawmakers said.
“We should have never allowed this critical program to lapse, and we should not extend corporate tax breaks at the end of this year without also extending the expanded Child Tax Credit,” their statement continued.
The expanded credit reduced the Black child poverty rate by 6.3 percentage points under the SPM scale, falling to 8.1 percent and lifting 716,000 Black children out of poverty.
The Hispanic child poverty rate fell by 6.3 percentage points as a result of the credit, representing 1.2 million Hispanic children, according to the data. The credit under the SPM scale also lifted 820,000 White, non-Hispanic children and 110,000 Asian children out of poverty.
The recent decline comes after significant strides in reducing child poverty over the past quarter century, according to an analysis by nonpartisan research group Child Trends. The analysis found improvements in unemployment rates, single mothers’ labor force participation and state-level minimum wage laws all contributed to a 59 percent decline in child poverty from 1993 to 2019.
|
https://www.ktalnews.com/news/business/child-poverty-fell-by-46-percent-in-2021-amid-tax-credit-expansion/
| 2022-09-21T09:02:04Z
|
ktalnews.com
|
control
|
https://www.ktalnews.com/news/business/child-poverty-fell-by-46-percent-in-2021-amid-tax-credit-expansion/
| 1
| 0
|
green-iguana-35
| null |
(WXIN) — After a short-lived return earlier this year, Taco Bell is relaunching the Mexican Pizza permanently.
The coveted item will be available to order starting Thursday, though Taco Bell Rewards app users will be able to enjoy the fan-favorite a few days earlier on Tuesday.
Some fans of the taco chain’s tribute to pizza may be reluctant to celebrate the good news since the Mexican Pizza’s return in April lasted a little more than one month before selling out across the country.
But if you take the word of Taco Bell’s top exec, the return is permanent (for real this time).
“It’s going to be relaunched mid-September, and it’s going to be a permanent item,” CEO Mark King told Fortune in July.
In the dark Mexican Pizza-less times that followed the item’s month-long return, Taco Bell claimed the April relaunch was only supposed to last for six months.
Reiterating plans to keep the Mexican Pizza this time, King said he has never received more negative feedback than he had since the removal of the popular menu item.
The Mexican Pizza was first taken off the menu in 2020. The company said the move was to streamline operations during the pandemic since the item is one of the more time-consuming things for employees to make.
Many fans were crushed at the removal, with more than 170,000 signing a Change.org petition calling for the Mexican Pizza’s return.
‘Mexican Pizza: The Musical’
The return of the Mexican Pizza on Thursday will coincide with the long-awaited debut of “Mexican Pizza: The Musical” starring Dolly Parton and Doja Cat.
The musical was written by Abigail Barlow and Emily Bear, creators of the “Unofficial Bridgerton Musical.”
“Mexican Pizza: The Musical” will premiere on Taco Bell’s TikTok on Sept. 15 at 8 p.m. (ET).
|
https://www.ktalnews.com/news/business/taco-bell-brings-mexican-pizza-back-this-week-supposedly-for-good-this-time/
| 2022-09-21T09:02:12Z
|
ktalnews.com
|
control
|
https://www.ktalnews.com/news/business/taco-bell-brings-mexican-pizza-back-this-week-supposedly-for-good-this-time/
| 1
| 0
|
green-iguana-35
| null |
DAVENPORT, Fla. (WFLA) — A Davenport man was arrested early Tuesday morning after stabbing two people after a party, according to Polk County deputies.
The Polk County Sheriff’s Office said it all began at a birthday party celebration Monday night at an apartment on Charo Parkway when suspect Derrick Charles Emery, 32, left the party with two other people.
According to the arrest report, Emery was very intoxicated so the host of the party decided Emery should go home. Meanwhile, his fianceé stayed behind.
Two people, identified as Victims 1 and 2, volunteered to take him home. The sheriff’s office said Victim 1 knew Emery since they were in high school while Victim 2 had just met him.
The arrest report said during the walk home, Emery pulled out a pocket knife and stabbed the two victims for no reason. He then yelled ‘F— you’ to the victims while they made their way back to the apartment to get help.
Deputies said victim 2 had been stabbed in the neck, chest, and left forearm while victim 1 was stabbed in the chest and arm. Both were able to be treated and stabilized without surgery.
The sheriff’s office said Emery told deputies that he admitted to being at the party and being intoxicated.
Emery said that during the walk home, the two victims became “plain” with him, meaning that he was “done and would not be coming back.”
According to the suspect, he believed the victims were going to hurt or kill him, but the sheriff’s office said the victims never threatened him.
“At some point he was reaching into his fanny pack for his phone, however, for reasons unknown to him, he reached into the compartment where his pocket knife was, and before he knew it, he was stabbing the two subjects,” the arrest report said.
Emery said the ordeal was a “blur.” Deputies said the suspect eventually walked into a Publix, still wielding the knife with blood on his shirt, and asked management for help.
Emery was arrested on a charge of attempted second-degree murder.
|
https://www.ktalnews.com/news/crime/blood-covered-man-walks-into-florida-publix-after-stabbing-2-people-deputies/
| 2022-09-21T09:02:27Z
|
ktalnews.com
|
control
|
https://www.ktalnews.com/news/crime/blood-covered-man-walks-into-florida-publix-after-stabbing-2-people-deputies/
| 1
| 0
|
green-iguana-35
| null |
ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — The man who shot and killed John Lennon outside his Manhattan apartment building in 1980 has been denied parole for a 12th time, New York corrections officials said Monday.
Mark David Chapman, 67, appeared before a parole board at the end of August, according to the state Department of Corrections and Community Supervision.
Chapman shot and killed Lennon on the night of Dec. 8, 1980, as Lennon and Yoko Ono were returning to their Upper West Side apartment. Lennon had signed an autograph for Chapman on a copy of his recently released album, “Double Fantasy,” earlier that day.
State officials have yet to make transcripts of Chapman’s latest board interview available, but he has repeatedly expressed remorse in previous parole hearings. Chapman called his actions “despicable” during his hearing in 2020, and said he would have “no complaint whatsoever” if they chose to leave him in prison for the rest of his life.
“I assassinated him … because he was very, very, very famous and that’s the only reason and I was very, very, very, very much seeking self-glory. Very selfish,” Chapman said then.
Chapman is serving a 20-years-to-life sentence at Green Haven Correctional Facility, north of New York City, according to online state corrections records.
He is next due to appear before the parole board in February 2024.
|
https://www.ktalnews.com/news/crime/john-lennons-killer-denied-parole-for-12th-time/
| 2022-09-21T09:02:34Z
|
ktalnews.com
|
control
|
https://www.ktalnews.com/news/crime/john-lennons-killer-denied-parole-for-12th-time/
| 1
| 0
|
green-iguana-35
| null |
LAS VEGAS (KLAS) – Two Las Vegas-based podcasts are teaming up to offer a $100,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person who killed rapper Tupac Shakur.
Tuesday marks 26 years since the death of Shakur, one of the most prolific figures in hip-hop.
On Sept. 7, 1996, Shakur was hit by four bullets in a drive-by shooting at an intersection a block off the Las Vegas Strip while leaving a Mike Tyson fight at the MGM Grand Plaza. He died on Sept. 13, 1996, in the hospital.
He was 25.
The Problem Solver Show and the Action Junkeez Podcast are now offering $100,000 for the arrest and conviction of Shakur’s killer, the shows confirmed Sunday.
The Problem Solver Show’s producer, David Kohlmeier, is a retired Henderson police officer.
In May, Kohlmeier and Daniel Minor said they were offering a reward of $5,000 for finding additional remains in Lake Mead.
Anyone with any information can contact The Problem Solver Show at 702-999-1111. There is also an anonymous hotline: 1-833-TIPSCASH (847-7227).
Police urge anyone with information on the crime to contact LVMPD Homicide at (702) 828-3521, or by email at homicide@lvmpd.com. To remain anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers at (702) 385-5555 or go online to crimestoppersofnv.com.
|
https://www.ktalnews.com/news/crime/las-vegas-based-podcasts-offering-100k-to-find-who-killed-tupac-shakur/
| 2022-09-21T09:02:42Z
|
ktalnews.com
|
control
|
https://www.ktalnews.com/news/crime/las-vegas-based-podcasts-offering-100k-to-find-who-killed-tupac-shakur/
| 1
| 0
|
green-iguana-35
| null |
OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) — A plaintiff in a lawsuit against the Oklahoma County Jail died inside the jail on Sunday.
John Basco and several other inmates sued over alleged torture at the jail involving the children’s song “Baby Shark.”
Basco was arrested Thursday and died Sunday. Now his family and his attorney are demanding answers.
“Imagine this, you call the jail and find out that your only brother, who’s only 48 years old, in good health — you can see from the booking photos is clear-eyed, in good health, clear-eyed — is mysteriously dead,” said Cameron Spradling, John Basco’s attorney.
According to jail officials, Basco was arrested on drug trafficking charges as well as carrying or possessing a firearm as a convicted felon.
“I wasn’t aware that John was even at the Oklahoma County Jail until the late afternoon of the 9th, Friday, the 9th,” Spradling said.
Spradling says Basco’s sisters called him Sunday to deliver the news.
“One was talking to me, and the other one was crying, wailing in the background, truthfully, that John was dead,” said Spradling.
Last year, Basco and other former inmates filed a lawsuit claiming that in 2019, they were pulled out of their cells in the middle of the night, handcuffed, and forced to listen to the song “Baby Shark” — in some cases for hours at a time.
“It’s a known torture device that’s used by CIA,” Spradling said. “In other words, to play it on a loop for hours on end, and they just did it for sport.”
Two former detention officers and their supervisor were charged. Before the end of the year, all three had either quit or resigned.
Spradling wants to know what happened to Basco.
“He’s calm, he’s clear-eyed, he knows what’s up,” Spradling said. “He’s not going to make any trouble. He was a quiet man. He was an intelligent man. That’s John Basco. And John Basco was the best witness the district attorney had on the ‘Baby Shark’ torture case, and now he’s gone.”
The Oklahoma County Jail sent KFOR the following statement:
“Our sympathies are with Mr. Basco’s family and loved ones. The State Medical Examiner’s Office will determine the cause of death and the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigations is assisting in the investigation, but we can confirm there were no obvious signs of foul play. Additionally, we would like to note Mr. Basco’s lawsuit was against the previous jail administration, not against the Oklahoma County Criminal Justice Authority or the current leadership. We remain committed to providing the safest environment possible for detainees and staff.”
Oklahoma County Detention Center Director of Communications Mark Opgrande
District Attorney David Prater says he’s waiting for more information before commenting on Basco’s death.
|
https://www.ktalnews.com/news/crime/man-who-sued-over-alleged-baby-shark-torture-dies-inside-oklahoma-jail/
| 2022-09-21T09:02:49Z
|
ktalnews.com
|
control
|
https://www.ktalnews.com/news/crime/man-who-sued-over-alleged-baby-shark-torture-dies-inside-oklahoma-jail/
| 1
| 0
|
green-iguana-35
| null |
SHREVEPORT, La. (KTAL/KMSS) – After 11 days of testimony in the double murder trial of 37-year-old DeWayne Watson, the prosecution has rested.
Watkins is charged with two counts of first-degree murder in the Nov. 8, 2018, shooting deaths of 32-year-old Heather Jose and her husband, 43-year-old Kelly Jose, who offered him a ride home from Mall St. Vincent.
The Joses’ bodies were found inside their Kia sedan parked under a metal carport in an unoccupied home in the 3400 block of Penick Street. The house in the Queensborough neighborhood is about a block-and-a-half from the home where Watkins was arrested late the following evening, after an almost-six-hour standoff.
The state’s case included a plethora of witnesses that ranged from Kelly Jose’s children, who were the last to see the couple alive, fire investigators, police officers, and experts who analyze DNA, ballistics and digital and phone records. Some witnesses were incarcerated, inside the house where Watson was captured, or had knowledge linking Watson to the crime.
A large part of the state’s case rested on surveillance video strategically placed at several angles atop a jewelry kiosk inside Mall St. Vincent. Footage shows the Joses shopping with Kelly’s children and Watkins milling about.
Surveillance cameras atop a kiosk in Mall St. Vincent allowed Shreveport police to track the Joses family throughout the mall and follow DeWayne Watkins’ movement. Video from the gas station on Jewella Ave. showed Watkins’ face clearly visible as he held a gas pump before neighbors reported the Joses’ white Kia sedan in flames across the street from their house, a block or so from the gas station.
The most poignant surveillance video shows Heather Jose through the camera of a Chase Bank ATM withdrawing cash and speaking to someone in the back seat of her car with Kelly Jose’s body slumped over the console next to her.
Police believe the suspect had already shot Kelly in the back of the head at this point. Investigators believe the killer shot Heather in the metal carport where their killer directed her after she withdrew $800 from the account.
The state rested its case around noon Tuesday. The jury spent the morning looking over hard copies of evidence, photos and power-point presentations that the prosecution introduced on a screen in the courtroom during the past 11 days of testimony.
When court resumed Tuesday afternoon, the defense only called two witnesses. One was a Shreveport Police corporal who drove two men found walking in a liquor store parking lot to the Shreveport Police station for an interview. The lot is near the location officers found the Joses’ burning car. One of those men, Bill Ester, also testified.
Ester is currently in prison, serving an eight-year sentence for a simple burglary committed on Dec. 7, 2018, almost a month after the Joses’ murders. He was in the home in the 3600 block of Penick Street on the day the Joses’ died and gave testimony regarding the other people inside the house where he had taken a friend to buy narcotics.
However, the prosecution disputed Ester’s testimony during its cross-examination because he told different stories in the two interviews by law enforcement after the Joses’ murders and one by a grand jury.
Caddo Assistant District Attorney Bill Edwards read from a transcript from Ester’s grand jury testimony, who said he could not read. Ester denied he said what the transcript revealed.
It is unknown whether the Caddo District Attorney’s office will pursue perjury charges.
After the jury reviews hard copies of any remaining evidence shown on a screen in court and the attorneys agree on the judge’s instructions to the jury, closing arguments are expected. They could come as soon as late Wednesday morning or early Wednesday afternoon.
|
https://www.ktalnews.com/news/crime/state-rests-in-watkins-double-murder-trial-closing-arguments-expected-wednesday/
| 2022-09-21T09:02:58Z
|
ktalnews.com
|
control
|
https://www.ktalnews.com/news/crime/state-rests-in-watkins-double-murder-trial-closing-arguments-expected-wednesday/
| 1
| 0
|
green-iguana-35
| null |
NEW BOSTON, Texas (KTAL/KMSS) – Testimony Tuesday in the trial of the East Texas woman accused of killing a New Boston mother and removing her unborn child from her body detailed a mountain of evidence showing just how far Taylor Parker was allegedly willing to go to fake her pregnancy and come up with a baby in time for her purported due date.
Parker, who was 27 at the time of the murders on October 9, 2020, is charged with kidnapping and capital murder in the deaths of 21-year-old Reagan Simmons Hancock and her unborn baby girl, Braxlynn.
Simmons had been stabbed repeatedly and strangled, all while her three-year-old daughter slept in another room. Her skull also appeared to be crushed by a hammer. Prosecutors have said they are seeking the death penalty due to the heinous and pre-meditated nature of the crime, and because Parker showed no remorse.
Parker confessed to the crime and admitted to pretending to be pregnant in order to claim the baby as her own, according to the affidavit filed for her arrest six days after Simmons’ mother found her daughter’s body and Parker was stopped by a Texas state trooper in De Kalb with the dying newborn in her lap, umbilical cord still attached.
During the first day of testimony Monday, prosecutors brought several witnesses to the stand, including the OBGYN who performed her tubal ligation and partial hysterectomy in 2014, who established that Parker was unable to become pregnant and bear children. The jury also heard from her former best friends, former co-workers, and her ex-husband about lies they said only grew bigger when she was called out on them.
If the first day of the trial was all about Taylor Parker’s alleged lies, faked illnesses, and manipulation, day two was focused on intent. Testimony Tuesday morning left no doubt that Parker knew she was not pregnant, was intentionally pretending to be pregnant, and that she intended to bring a baby home.
Texas Department of Public Safety Special Agent Dustin Estes returned to the stand, continuing his testimony for Monday afternoon, diving into Parker’s social media posts and interactions, Google searches, and YouTube views.
The prosecution highlighted a post celebrating one year of Parker‘s relationship with her boyfriend, Wade Griffin, in early August. But the jury also saw posts by Parker vaguely alluding to turmoil in the relationship and apparent bitterness about perceived mistreatment.
Data gathered under search warrants showed that several contacts between Parker and the victim had been deleted. The data also showed that Parker searched Google to find out, “if I delete a whole conversation on Facebook Messenger, will the other person still see the conversation?”
The search results confirmed that they would.
The data also showed Parker continued to post updates about medical issues she was claiming to have about her fake pregnancy. She ordered baby bedding and purchased a crib through an online Facebook group.
Around the same time, evidence gathered by the special investigator shows Parker searched the internet for “fake pregnancy belly cheap” and ultimately purchased one from fakeababy.com. Parker also ordered a customized fake ultrasound photo, complete with custom gestation, the sex of the baby to a specific degree of certainty, as well as the clinic name and physician.
The prosecution entered the same kind of silicone fake pregnancy belly Parker ordered online into evidence and showed it to the jury, along with a series of Facebook posts showing the purported progression of Parker’s pregnancy, noting in the timeline of those photos as her selfies showed a larger belly that it was after the fake belly would have arrived.
In late August, Parker announced in a Facebook post that she had five weeks to her due date of Sept. 17 and that she would have to have a C-section. The data showed Parker unfriended her mother on Facebook in early August and Hancock’s husband on Sept. 17. On Sept. 28, less than two weeks before she was killed, Simmons sent Parker a Snapchat message wishing her good luck with her pending childbirth. Parker never responded.
Estes noted on the stand that a significant shift in her search history started on September 14, when Parker also began searching for places where pregnant women would be found, such as maternity consignment shops and OB clinics around East Texas and in Shreveport. Estes said Parker made appointments and was seen both inside and outside of these clinics and that Google location data confirmed her location at these clinics, where she also searched Texas license plate numbers. Estes said on the stand that the plate number she searched went back to a young woman who was pregnant.
In early October, eight days before Hancock was killed and her baby removed from her womb, Parker allegedly looked up teen pregnancy support groups in Texarkana and allegedly even went to one of the meetings.
The search data showed Parker searched for information about what the average weight of a fetus would be at 29 weeks, midwifery certification information, and private adoptions. Estes testified that he believes Parker was attempting to get near pregnant women by posing as a midwife.
Parker also searched for and viewed numerous videos about both vaginal and c-section childbirth in the month before the murder, including how to do a C-section and how to deliver and inspect a placenta. Later, as her fake due date approached, began searching for out-of-hospital birth certificate instructions.
Two days before the murder, Parker searched Simmon’s previous and current addresses, as well as the office of Simmon’s Texarkana OBGYN. Parker also viewed a photo of Reagan and Homer Hancock on their wedding day and texted “Reagan?” to a number she believed to be Reagan’s using a spoofed cell phone number to hide her identity, but that it was no longer her number.
Early on the morning of the murder, Parker’s search data shows she searched for information on a 35-week vaginal delivery. Simmons was about that far along when she was killed. Parker also searched how to do a physical exam of a 35-week late pre-term infant.
Brown testified that it all added up to show that Parker faked her pregnancy, took steps to report the baby as her own, lied about an inheritance from her grandmother that she claimed could be used to pay for surrogacy, “and ultimately planned and carried out the murder.”
Testimony Tuesday afternoon focused on data from Parker’s cell phone that showed she downloaded and used several different applications that allow users to call and text without associating the user’s original phone number. Texas Rangers Lt. Jared Brown is the digital forensics expert who analyzed data in this case. He testified that, in addition to trying to contact Reagan two days before the murder, Parker used the apps to fake conversations with her grandmother and her aunt, which she would then screenshot and send to her boyfriend to back up her deceptions. She would then delete the conversations from her phone in an apparent attempt to hide the evidence.
Brown said Parker also used one of those spoofing apps to call in a bomb threat to the Titus County hospital on the morning of her scheduled induction to cover the fact that it would not take place.
The trial will be four-day weeks with Fridays off and is expected to last at least one month. Parker remains held in Bowie County on a $5 million bond.
|
https://www.ktalnews.com/news/crime/taylor-parker-trial-mountain-of-evidence-reveals-crazy-lengths-to-fake-pregnancy/
| 2022-09-21T09:03:06Z
|
ktalnews.com
|
control
|
https://www.ktalnews.com/news/crime/taylor-parker-trial-mountain-of-evidence-reveals-crazy-lengths-to-fake-pregnancy/
| 1
| 0
|
green-iguana-35
| null |
NEW ORLEANS (WGNO) — For the past four months, the New Orleans Task Force “Summer Knights” operation led by the U.S. Marshals Service Eastern District of Louisiana has successfully recovered 14 missing or endangered children across the state.
The operation ran from April 30 through August 31 and ended in the arrest of eight people and the locating of one extra child, according to marshals. New Orleans and Orlando were the first cities to pilot the program starting in 2016 for the Missing Child Unit, and with coordination from state and local agencies, the program continues.
Assistance in the ‘Summer Knights” program included:
- U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) New Orleans Task Force
- New Orleans Police Department
- Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office
- St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office
- Homeland Security (HSI) New Orleans Field Office
- Louisiana Department of Child and Family Services
- National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC)
- Crimestoppers GNO
Listed are some of the program’s highlights:
- 06/23 – arrest and recovery of a 16-year-old male runaway for the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office who was also wanted by the NOPD on a March 2021 felony warrant for 14 counts of Vehicle Burglary in uptown New Orleans. The teen attempted to flee on foot to Interstate I-10 from the back of a residence but was arrested/recovered without incident. He had run away from a facility in Jefferson Parish in February 2021 and, since that time, is believed to be linked to multiple felony criminal activity incidents involving firearms across the metro area. During the investigation, an adult associate of the runaway rammed a USMS enforcement vehicle in New Orleans East and fled, later striking a New Orleans RTA Bus before being apprehended after a foot pursuit.
- 07/02 recovery of a 17-year-old male kidnapped from a residence in Jefferson Parish who was being held for ransom with threats to do the teen harm. Prior to the arrests of three suspects, they fled from law enforcement with the victim in a vehicle, ultimately being stopped on the Causeway Bridge, where the teen was safely recovered. The Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office and USMS New Orleans Task Force participated in this recovery.
- 07/12 recovery of a 13-year-old female for the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office. The teen had run away on 07/10/2022 and was believed to be in contact with an 18-year-old male she met on social media. The teen was recovered in Denham Springs, LA.
- 07/26 recovery of two 12-year-old females for the New Orleans Police Department who had runway together weeks earlier and were known to be in the company of adult males, possibly planning on leaving the state. Both teens were recovered at a residence in the 2000 block of South Salcedo St. New Orleans by the New Orleans Police Department, HSI, and USMS New Orleans Task Force; an adult male was arrested after the recoveries for Contributing to the Delinquency of Juveniles and Performing Sexually Immoral Act.
- 08/24 recovery of a 15-year-old female for the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office. The teen, who claimed to be pregnant and planning on relocating to Texas, was recovered walking on Canal Street with an adult male. The recovery was made by the New Orleans Police Department, Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office and the USMS New Orleans Task Force.
U.S. Marshal for the Eastern District of Louisiana, Enix Smith, released a statement on the program:
“I am very proud of the results of Operation Summer Knights and the profound impact it has had on protecting one of the most vulnerable groups in our community. This work could not be accomplished without the support of our federal, state, and local partner agencies involved in safeguarding at-risk children. The U.S. Marshals Service is proud to be a part of a robust MCU program founded on law enforcement teamwork that took root in New Orleans starting in 2016.”
Information about missing/endangered children should be reported to police or the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children at 1-800-The-Lost, and information on violent fugitives can be reported to U.S. Marshals Service at (504) 589-687 or Crimestoppers at (504) 822-1111.
|
https://www.ktalnews.com/news/crime/u-s-marshals-recover-14-missing-endangered-children-in-louisiana/
| 2022-09-21T09:03:12Z
|
ktalnews.com
|
control
|
https://www.ktalnews.com/news/crime/u-s-marshals-recover-14-missing-endangered-children-in-louisiana/
| 1
| 0
|
green-iguana-35
| null |
Editor’s Note: This story has been updated to clarify the three mass shootings mentioned in the political ad were not all school shootings.
AUSTIN (Nexstar) — Just under two months from the November election, political ads are becoming a bit more personal and more intense. We wanted to begin fact-checking some content to help voters.
A recent ad targeting Gov. Greg Abbott lists a number of claims, blaming him for:
- School shootings
- Strict abortion laws
- Electricity grid mismanagement
- Higher property taxes
- 18 year olds being able to buy rifles
- Border shutdowns causing supply chain issues
Reporter Jala Washington watched the video with St. Edward’s political science professor Brian Smith to analyze and fact-check it.
“Four years of sorrow, tears, anguish,” the narrator said at the beginning of the ad. “Santa Fe School Shooting, El Paso’s Walmart, Uvalde massacre. Our children, teachers.”
“Not all of that can be blamed on Gov. Abbott, nor can all of it be disproven,” Smith said.
So, what can be proven?
The three mass shootings referenced in this particular ad have happened during Abbott’s leadership, and the electricity grid has struggled to keep up with demand, creating issues during the February 2021 winter storm.
But the claim blaming Abbott for an 18 year old’s access to firearms isn’t a fair accusation, Smith said.
“That’s not Abbott at all,” Smith said. “That is a federal judge saying the Second Amendment applies all the way down to age 18.”
Claims that Abbott’s increased Texas Department of Public Safety inspections at the border caused supply chain delays is also not completely true.
“Trying to blame the store shelves and beyond… that is a little specious,” Smith said.
The portion of the ad discussing a “ban on all abortions. Doctor’s choosing between healing and jail. Women’s freedom taken away,” is considered a fair claim.
“We know that’s true,” Smith said.
What about property taxes being higher in Texas than California?
“It all depends on how you look at it,” Smith said. “But in some cases, Texans are paying more than California, just because we have different tax systems.”
The ad was paid for by a group named, Coulda Been Worse LLC. However, we haven’t had any luck so far tracking who’s behind it.
“This is a classic dark money ad, that could be one person with a deep pocket running [it],” Smith said. “And because of that, [it’s] almost untraceable.”
Open Secrets, a nonprofit that tracks campaign money, said this lack of transparency isn’t good.
“It makes it very difficult for voters to be able to really [sift through] the messages that they’re receiving… if they don’t know who is funding those ads,” Anna Massoglia, editorial and investigations manager for Open Secrets, said.
Smith said you’re likely to see more ads like the one paid for by Coulda Been Worse LLC.
“At the end of the day if you say, ‘I remember what that ad was for’… it’s accomplished its goal,” Smith said.
You may be wondering, why do local television stations air political ads if they believe they contain false or misleading information? It’s because they have to.
The Communications Act of 1934 requires broadcasters to air them without censorship. However, the 88-year-old rule only applies to broadcast airwaves.
Cable networks and social media companies don’t have to operate under that rule.
|
https://www.ktalnews.com/news/election/your-local-election-hq/fact-check-what-claims-are-true-in-this-abbott-smear-political-ad/
| 2022-09-21T09:03:20Z
|
ktalnews.com
|
control
|
https://www.ktalnews.com/news/election/your-local-election-hq/fact-check-what-claims-are-true-in-this-abbott-smear-political-ad/
| 1
| 0
|
green-iguana-35
| null |
SHREVEPORT, La. (KTAL/KMSS) – Firefighters worked quickly to help a Shreveport country club after a fire broke out in the basement Tuesday.
Just before 8:30 p.m., an emergency call came in at the Southern Trace Country Club on Southern Trace Pkwy.
Officials say a fire started in a basement storage room where buffet tables and chairs are stored. When the smoke alarm sounded, employees say they quickly evacuated everyone in the building.
As firefighters entered the clubhouse’s lower level, they found it filled with smoke. They say no one was injured in the fire.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation.
This is a developing story. More information will be provided as it becomes available.
|
https://www.ktalnews.com/news/local-news/crews-responding-to-fire-at-shreveport-country-club/
| 2022-09-21T09:03:27Z
|
ktalnews.com
|
control
|
https://www.ktalnews.com/news/local-news/crews-responding-to-fire-at-shreveport-country-club/
| 1
| 0
|
green-iguana-35
| null |
SHREVEPORT, La. (KTAL/KMSS) – Monday, the Shreveport City Council heard from locals looking to stop a demolition already underway.
The demolition of the old baseball stadium at Fair Grounds Field has begun. However, several locals addressed the council during Monday’s work session, asking for a pause on the demolition to preserve the stadium and rebuild it into a new community sports complex.
Real estate company U.L. Coleman is leading the efforts and previously spoke to the mayor’s office about it. The owner asked the council for time to bring in more partners.
“They are going to start the wrecking ball on the concrete. That’s the thing. We’re desperately asking you guys to pause that and give us a chance to put together a concrete plan to satisfy all the elements that this floor is asking about,” said U.L. Coleman owner Linc Coleman.
Some council members said the process might be too late since the City is already under contract for demolition.
The council also discussed the latest updates on health insurance plans for employees and retirees. This comes after the Health Care Trust Fund Board did not approve the three-tier plan that would have affected coverage costs with Willis-Knighton hospitals.
Now, the issue regards an optional Medicare advantage plan through Blue Cross that city officials said offers better cost savings.
The City’s Chief Administrative Officer, Henry Whitehorn, also addressed the ongoing issue of a missing RFP (Request for Proposal). He said the City’s consultant group, Gallagher, sent an email before the meeting that stated the proposal was sent to the insurance company Aetna on July 15.
“The proposal goes to the insurer, not the hospital. Aetna provided their information, and it says Aetna’s proposal was presented to the City of Shreveport on January 1, 2023. We’ve got it. So anyone who keeps saying that they was no proposal is wrong,” Whitehorn said.
Councilmembers asked to have the email and RFP attachment displayed on the screen for everyone to see. Whitehorn declined and said he wanted to wait because the mayor plans to present it at the council meeting tomorrow.
|
https://www.ktalnews.com/news/local-news/efforts-to-halt-fair-grounds-field-demolition-missing-rfp-revealed-at-shreveport-city-council/
| 2022-09-21T09:03:34Z
|
ktalnews.com
|
control
|
https://www.ktalnews.com/news/local-news/efforts-to-halt-fair-grounds-field-demolition-missing-rfp-revealed-at-shreveport-city-council/
| 1
| 0
|
green-iguana-35
| null |
BATON ROUGE, La. (BRPROUD) — The State Fire Marshal is reminding residents of a new law regarding carbon monoxide alarms in Louisiana homes.
State fire officials said Act 458 requires homes sold or leased after January 1, 2023, to have at least one carbon monoxide alarm. Another change that goes into effect on the same date, according to SFM, is an amendment to the state’s residential building code, which requires carbon monoxide alarms to be installed at the same time a whole home stand generator is installed.
“These changes are the direct result of the tragic aftermath of the 2020 and 2021 hurricane disasters across our state that saw more than a dozen carbon monoxide-related deaths and dozens more hospitalizations, all attributed to both portable and standby generator use,” said State Fire Marshal Dan Wallis. “We’re grateful to the housing and real estate industry for being proactive ahead of the law change to ensure everyone is appropriately educated on this effort to save lives well before the law goes into effect.”
Louisianans in need of a smoke alarm can get one through SFM’s Operation Save-A-Life. For more information, click here.
|
https://www.ktalnews.com/news/state-news/louisiana/new-la-law-requires-carbon-monoxide-alarms-in-homes-sold-leased-after-jan-2023/
| 2022-09-21T09:03:42Z
|
ktalnews.com
|
control
|
https://www.ktalnews.com/news/state-news/louisiana/new-la-law-requires-carbon-monoxide-alarms-in-homes-sold-leased-after-jan-2023/
| 1
| 0
|
green-iguana-35
| null |
AUSTIN (KXAN) — A 17-year-old motorist has been arrested in connection with a hit-and-run in Texas, during which a man in an electric wheelchair was struck by a truck and left with life-threatening injuries.
The incident took place on Sept. 3 in a parking lot in Austin. A preliminary investigation determined the victim was crossing the lot in his wheelchair when he noticed a vehicle driving recklessly. He signaled to the driver to slow down right before he was struck.
Police were able to obtain surveillance footage that shows the victim being hit by the truck, falling out of his wheelchair, and going under the vehicle before coming to a rest on the pavement. The truck, a white GMC, keeps traveling toward the exit of the lot, dragging the crumpled wheelchair toward the street before ultimately running it over, as well.
The graphic footage was shared by the Austin Police Department on YouTube. (Viewer discretion is advised.)
The victim was taken to the hospital with severe, life-threatening injuries. Austin police officers, the Austin Fire Department and Austin-Travis County EMS responded to the scene.
This week, the APD announced that 17-year-old Pablo Antonio Avila-Banagas had been arrested in connection with the incident. He was booked into the Travis County jail on Friday.
Avila-Banagas was charged with failure to stop and render aid (serious bodily injury), injury to a disabled person, unlawful carrying of a weapon and failure to identify in relation to the case.
The investigation remains ongoing.
Anyone with information about this case can call the Highway Investigation Tip Line at (512) 974-8111, use the Crime Stoppers tip line at (512) 472-8477 or the Crime Stoppers app.
|
https://www.ktalnews.com/news/state-news/texas/driver-arrested-after-video-shows-him-hitting-running-over-man-in-wheelchair/
| 2022-09-21T09:03:49Z
|
ktalnews.com
|
control
|
https://www.ktalnews.com/news/state-news/texas/driver-arrested-after-video-shows-him-hitting-running-over-man-in-wheelchair/
| 1
| 0
|
green-iguana-35
| null |
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — California will impose first-of-its-kind requirements on social media companies to publish their policies for removing disturbing content including hate speech, with details on how and when they remove that content, under a bill signed into law by Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom.
“California will not stand by as social media is weaponized to spread hate and disinformation that threaten our communities and foundational values as a country,” Newsom said in a statement Tuesday announcing the signing.
A coalition of the bill’s opponents have said companies already have to make their content moderation policies public, and objected to the bill’s requirement that these companies to disclose sensitive information to the state attorney general. Opponents include the California Chamber of Commerce, Computer and Communications Industry Association, Consumer Technology Association, Internet Coalition, Netchoice and TechNet.
But the bill had bipartisan support from lawmakers despite some concerns, and advanced after stalling last year over free speech issues.
The bill’s author, Democratic Assemblyman Jesse Gabriel, said the measure includes the world’s most stringent transparency requirements for companies like Facebook and Instagram to disclose in detail how they remove content including hate speech, disinformation, extremism, harassment, and foreign political interference.
“Social media has created incredible opportunities, but also real and proximate threats to our kids, to vulnerable communities, and to American democracy as we know it,” Gabriel said in a statement. He said the law will “pull back the curtain” on how these companies address problem content.
The bill was sought by the Anti-Defamation League and other groups, which said the measure is key to combatting online hate speech.
|
https://www.ktalnews.com/news/tech-news/ap-california-1st-to-make-firms-disclose-social-media-policies/
| 2022-09-21T09:03:57Z
|
ktalnews.com
|
control
|
https://www.ktalnews.com/news/tech-news/ap-california-1st-to-make-firms-disclose-social-media-policies/
| 1
| 0
|
green-iguana-35
| null |
AUSTIN (KXAN) — The stress an air traveler felt the last 12 days subsided Monday afternoon when the suitcase containing a vital item finally arrived at her Austin home.
Emily Tuite described the days leading to this moment as “traumatic,” because the bright blue bag she checked for her Sept. 1 flight from Austin to San Diego had her waterproof prosthetic leg inside it. She planned to use the costly, custom medical device to do everything from swim in the Pacific Ocean to shower. However, the critical piece of luggage never made it to her final destination, which she said ruined her trip because of all the time she spent unsuccessfully trying to find it.
“It can take over a year to have a leg made. It’s not easy with insurance to have medical devices remade for you,” Tuite said. “I was like I need to do everything in my power to get the bag back somehow, so, yeah, I did a lot to get there.”
She turned to Nexstar’s KXAN Friday for help after exhausting other options. The hours spent calling customer service and talking to employees from Allegiant Airlines resulted in nothing. She said a representative at one point told her the bag never made it onto her Austin flight, even though she received a slip with the tracking number when she checked it at the counter. She assumed someone must have stolen the luggage.
However, a day after KXAN reached a media spokesperson and shared information about Tuite’s situation, she finally got a phone call that the airline found her bag. Somehow, Tuite’s suitcase had another traveler’s information placed on it, so it had been sitting in baggage claim all this time at the airport in Provo, Utah.
“So they were calling that person saying, ‘We have your bag,’ and that person was saying, ‘It’s not mine,'” Tuite said. “Meanwhile, I’m frantic, panicked, thinking that my items are gone, like just stolen from the airport, so I really learned a lesson for sure about flying and tracking your stuff.”
In a statement, Allegiant Airlines extended an apology to Tuite for the mishandling of her bag.
“Our system baggage team works around the clock to ensure customer issues are resolved,” an airline spokesperson said. “We gave Ms. Tuite a refund in the amount of $60, which covers her baggage fees. In addition, we kindly asked Ms. Tuite to submit receipts for compensation and processing.”
According to its statement, Allegiant said it will reimburse travelers with a mishandled bag for “reasonable non-excessive necessities,” like personal hygiene products and clothes.
Tuite said she found it disappointing the airline did not offer to cover the cost of her flight.
“My whole trip was spent on the phone trying to contact them,” Tuite said. “It’s frustrating to think that there’s no other compensation for losing someone’s medical device for 12 days.”
For future trips, she plans to buy some Apple AirTag devices to stick into her luggage, so she can keep track of the location herself. She also intends to carry on her waterproof prosthesis even though it’s heavy.
“As a disabled person, you don’t always want to be carrying your device with you the whole time. You would hope that you could check it,” Tuite said. “But hopefully, if I check it with an Apple AirTag in there, I’ll at least know where it is myself.”
She also suggests whenever other travelers decide to check a bag, they should now ask the airline attendant to see any tags placed on their luggage to make sure the correct information is listed, so no one goes through what she did these last few days.
|
https://www.ktalnews.com/news/u-s-world/airline-returns-womans-lost-bag-containing-prosthetic-leg-after-12-days/
| 2022-09-21T09:04:17Z
|
ktalnews.com
|
control
|
https://www.ktalnews.com/news/u-s-world/airline-returns-womans-lost-bag-containing-prosthetic-leg-after-12-days/
| 1
| 0
|
green-iguana-35
| null |
(NewsNation) — More than a third of working Americans don’t have enough money to cover their most basic household needs, including housing, food and childcare, according to a new study.
Researchers at Brandeis University found that 35% of American families do not meet the “basic family needs budget” — the amount needed to afford rent, food, transportation, medical care and minimal household expenses — despite working full-time year-round.
The situation is dire among working Black and Hispanic families, more than 50% of whom cannot afford the basics. A quarter of white families and 23% of Asian and Pacific Islander families are struggling to make rent and buy food, despite holding down full-time jobs.
Abby Walters, a research associate for the Institute for Child, Youth and Family Policy, is one of three researchers who conducted the study. She said this is a long-standing issue that many working families have known for a long time.
“Our study was conducted using data prior to the COVID-19 pandemic and the historic inflation that we’ve seen. So families were struggling even before this time,” Walters said. “It’s important to note that this basic needs that we consider is higher than the poverty level, but still doesn’t include many things that people consider essential to the American dream, like saving for a house or simpler pleasures, like being able to take your child out for a birthday.”
Walters said many families are now relying on and supplementing their income with government transfers, or facing significant housing and food insecurity while having difficulty making sure that they provide all of the resources needed to support their child’s healthy development.
Walters said resolving this issue is bigger than “just giving people more money.” Here are three things she recommends be done to combat this issue:
- Working families need a raise. This can be done through several mechanisms — employers can start paying their workers more, or Americans can rely on government transfers, like the child tax credit and the Earned Income Tax Credit.
- Another thing that can be done is to help lower the cost of necessary expenses like housing and food.
- It’s important Americans invest in policies supporting work and families, like paid family and medical leave and an affordable childcare system.
Meanwhile, more Americans are turning to payday loans and “buy now, pay later” plans to afford everyday basics.
In March, Klarna, a buy-now-pay-later company, started rolling out payment plans at gas stations, and that trend has continued to grow.
A study by Harvard University found more Americans are using modern versions of layaway to cover the cost of groceries and meals.
Nearly $46 billion in pay-later transactions were made last year — three times the amount in 2020. Last year, food accounted for just 6% of those purchases.
Fast forward to this year, Zip says its seen a 95% growth in grocery transactions.
Klarna says more than half of the 100 most purchased items are grocery and household staples.
Zilch says groceries and restaurant charges make up nearly 40% of all its transactions.
A July report done by Fitch Ratings found that most buy now, pay later customers are economically vulnerable, and around 40% have a poor credit history.
If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is … these companies market themselves as basically an interest-free loan, but missed payments and late fees can even go above and beyond what you’d pay in interest on a credit card.
|
https://www.ktalnews.com/news/u-s-world/americans-turning-to-modern-layaway-to-afford-basics/
| 2022-09-21T09:04:24Z
|
ktalnews.com
|
control
|
https://www.ktalnews.com/news/u-s-world/americans-turning-to-modern-layaway-to-afford-basics/
| 1
| 0
|
green-iguana-35
| null |
WATERBURY, Conn. (AP) — A sister of a teacher killed in the 2012 Sandy Hook massacre and an FBI agent who responded to the school shooting became overwhelmed with emotion Tuesday as they described what it has been like to be accused of being crisis actors by conspiracy theorist Alex Jones and others.
Carlee Soto Parisi and FBI agent William Aldenberg were the first witnesses to testify as a Connecticut jury began hearing evidence in a trial to decide how much money Jones owes for spreading the lie that the 2012 mass shooting in Newtown that killed 20 first graders and six educators didn’t happen.
Soto Parisi said she has been hounded, both in Connecticut and after she moved to North Carolina, by those who believe she was acting. Some of the hoax believers went online and posted photos of grieving women, including an Associated Press photo of a distraught Soto Parisi outside Sandy Hook Elementary School after the shooting, saying they were the same actor.
“I frequently got threatening emails and messages on all social media,” she testified, crying at times. “And it got to a point where they would use the gun emoji. And I spoke with cops in Connecticut and my husband ended up having to speak with cops in North Carolina, because we were scared for our lives.”
Aldenberg also broke down as he described being among the first law enforcement officers to enter the two classrooms where 20 children died. He described watching as the phone next to Vicki Soto’s body lit up with messages from those trying to reach her.
“Was what you saw in that school fake?” asked attorney Christopher Mattei, a lawyer for the plaintiffs.
“No,” Aldenberg said. “It’s awful. It’s awful.”
He also testified about how he and others in the community and law enforcement were targeted with threats and conspiracy theories, including one that claimed he was an actor who also pretended to be the father of a victim.
“It’s one of the worst things that ever happened, if not the worst thing that ever happened here, what happened to them,” Aldenberg said. “And people want to say this didn’t happen? And then they want to get rich off of it? That’s the worst part.”
The trial in Waterbury, less than 20 miles (32 kilometers) from Newtown, was attended by more than a dozen family members of victims, including David Wheeler, the father who conspiracy theorists had claimed was the same person as Aldenberg. Wheeler nodded his head as Aldenberg apologized for what Wheeler had to endure because of their resemblance.
Jones did not attend the trial on Tuesday. He is expected in court next week. Jones and his Infowars brand are based in Austin, Texas.
The Sandy Hook families and Aldenberg say they have been confronted and harassed for years by people who believed Jones’ false claim that the shooting was staged by crisis actors as part of a plot to take away people’s guns.
Some say strangers have videotaped them and their surviving children. They’ve also endured death threats and been subjected to abusive comments on social media. And some families have moved out of Newtown to avoid harassment. They accuse Jones of causing them emotional and psychological harm.
“You know, you can say whatever you want about me, I don’t care,” Aldenberg said. “Just say what you want. I’m a frigging big boy. I can take it. But then they want to make profits, they want to make millions and millions of dollars. They want to destroy people’s lives. Their children got slaughtered. I saw it myself, and now they have to sit here and listen to me say this.”
It’s the second such trial for Jones, who was ordered by a Texas jury last month to pay nearly $50 million to the parents of one of the slain children. Jones was not at the trial Tuesday and is expected to attend next week.
A jury of three men and three women along with several alternates will decide how much Jones should pay relatives of eight victims and Aldenberg. Judge Barbara Bellis found Jones liable for damages without a trial last year after he failed to turn over documents to the families’ lawyers.
The judge also sanctioned Jones on Tuesday for failing to turn over analytic data related to his website and the popularity of his show. She told his lawyers that because of that failure, they will not be allowed to argue he didn’t profit from his Sandy Hook remarks.
In opening statements, Jones was described by Mattei as a bully and by his own attorney as a crank in a town square who should be ignored.
Mattei showed jurors data indicating how Jones’ audience increased as he spread lies about the shooting. He also showed them photos and videos of things Jones had said, and told the panel they already had the tools from their own life experiences to decide what to do in this case.
“What your parents taught you, what your grandparents taught you to know the difference between right and wrong, to know the difference between the truth and a horrible lie, to know the importance of standing up to bullies when they prey on people who are helpless and profit from them and to know unless you stop a bully, a bully will never stop,” he said. “And when it comes to stopping Alex Jones, that will be the most important work that you do.”
Jones’ attorney, Norm Pattis, argued that his client has espoused a number of conspiracy theories over the years, something he has a Constitutional right to do.
“At what point do we regard him as a crank on the village green, a person we can walk away from if we choose?” he asked.
Pattis told the jury that although Jones is liable for damages, any award should be minimal and alleged the families were overstating the harm they say Jones caused them.
On his Infowars web show on Tuesday, Jones portrayed himself as the victim of unfair show trials.
“How am I handling it? We’re at war. This is total tyranny,” he said. “I’ll tell you this, we can appeal this for years. We can beat this.”
The trial is expected to last about a month and feature testimony from more victims’ relatives. Jones also will be testifying, Pattis said.
Jones now says he believes the shooting was real. At the Texas trial, he testified that he realizes what he said was irresponsible, did hurt people’s feelings and he apologized. He continues, however, to insist that his comments were protected free speech. He views the lawsuits as efforts to silence him and put him out of business.
Jones’ lawyers say he intends to appeal the judgment against him in Texas. Jones also will face a third trial back in Texas involving the parents of another slain child.
___
Associated Press writer Pat Eaton-Robb contributed to this story from Hartford, Connecticut.
|
https://www.ktalnews.com/news/u-s-world/ap-alex-jones-faces-second-trial-over-sandy-hook-hoax-claims/
| 2022-09-21T09:04:31Z
|
ktalnews.com
|
control
|
https://www.ktalnews.com/news/u-s-world/ap-alex-jones-faces-second-trial-over-sandy-hook-hoax-claims/
| 1
| 0
|
green-iguana-35
| null |
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — When local school officials voted down a Tennessee charter school linked to Hillsdale College this summer, staffers at the state commission that would soon have to decide whether to let the controversial school open anyway reacted with shock at how things unfolded.
The text messages they exchanged, obtained through a records request by The Associated Press, showed the close attention state staffers paid to the school board’s resounding rejection in the wake of Hillsdale President Larry Arnn’s disparaging comments about teachers. When no one showed up to make the case for the Hillsdale-affiliated charter school application, the alarm among those who would be left holding the bag was palpable.
“What!!!! They invited both schools to speak and (they) did not show!!!” texted Beth Figueroa, the commission’s director of authorizing.
“WHAT,” replied Chase Ingle, commission spokesperson.
“I’m speechless!!!” Figueroa wrote.
Critics ranging from some Democratic lawmakers to educators have argued the Tennessee Charter School Commission was designed to rubberstamp charters that local communities don’t want, with several members tied to pro-charter groups. The nine members are handpicked by Republican Gov. Bill Lee — a vocal charter schools supporter and proponent of Hillsdale College’s charter initiative — and confirmed by lawmakers in the GOP-supermajority General Assembly. The staffers work for the commission.
Hillsdale, a small conservative college in Michigan, holds outsized influence with Republican politicians. Arnn had recently spearheaded the “1776 Curriculum,” inspired by former President Donald Trump’s short-lived “1776 Commission,” as a direct response to The New York Times’ “1619 Project” focusing on America’s history of slavery. Curriculum materials glorify the founders, downplay America’s role in slavery and condemn the rise of progressive politics.
Its prominence has strengthened among conservatives amid the national debate over the role schools should play in teaching race and sexuality. South Dakota, for one, turned to a former Hillsdale politics professor to write proposed social studies standards for its public schools. They align with the “1776 Curriculum.”
Tennessee’s state commission will be put to the test this week during public hearings— run by commission staffers — as board members consider whether to approve applications from three Hillsdale-affiliated charter schools appealing their rejections by local school boards.
The texts were among hundreds of documents the commission provided after the AP requested all conversations relating to Hillsdale College and their charter school affiliates. Most of the records showed commission staffers helping applicants navigate the appeals process, telling them what information was needed and offering appeals training.
But the documents also included texts as staffers watched the fallout of Arnn’s disparaging remarks on teachers as local school boards in Rutherford, Jackson-Madison and Clarksville-Montgomery school board denied the Hillsdale-affiliated applications.
“Are we having fun yet?” texted Tess Stovall, commission executive director, on Aug. 10 after sending a link to a news article on the panel’s independence being tested. “I like my quotes.”
During the Rutherford County school board meeting on July 18, Ingle and Figueroa texted while watching the livestream. When no one showed from the Hillsdale-affiliated school to defend their application, both expressed alarm. Board members voted 6-1 to reject the charter.
Ingle wrote, “Beth, that’s a tough look.”
“This does not help us,” Ingle continued. He said the Rutherford school board member who voted against rejecting Hillsdale calls him “once a quarter.”
The text messages drew further skepticism about the commission from Jim Wrye, a representative of Tennessee’s largest organization representing educators.
“The administration sold the state charter commission to the General Assembly as a neutral appellate body,” Wrye, Tennessee Education Association government relations director, told the AP. “We believed the goal was to undermine local control and drop charter schools on communities that do not want them. That belief is only growing.”
In 2010, Hillsdale began establishing charter schools nationwide. Hillsdale maintains it does not operate or manage them, but instead offers support by licensing their curriculum for free and providing training and other resources to so-called member schools.
Tennessee’s state commission could overrule local decision-makers on Hillsdale-affiliated schools. Or, the panel could spike them after Arnn’s comments, including a declaration that educators are “trained in the dumbest parts of the dumbest colleges in the country.” The governor, who was on stage with Arnn during some of his remarks, has refused to condemn his words.
Asked about the texts, the commission said staffers regularly monitor local school board meetings to stay “fully prepared” for potential appeals.
“(At) the time of these text messages, commission staff was anticipating 16 new start appeals. Of those 16 possible appeals, we are currently handling 13 public charter school appeals, an unprecedented number in Tennessee since the state started hearing appeals in 2002,” Ingle said via email, noting the commission only had three appeals last year, its first year operating.
Any charter school approved at the local level spares the commission from the time and effort required for additional appeals, Ingle said.
Democratic Senate Majority Leader Jeff Yarbro questioned the commission’s logic, saying, “Hillsdale’s poor showing only makes the commission’s job harder if their mandate is to greenlight new schools.”
“The commission shouldn’t have a rooting interest in the charter schools under review,” Yarbro told the AP. “Here, the danger is a commission and staff focused on opening more charters rather than ensuring a fair and independent process.”
Tennessee’s Charter School Commission was formed in 2019. Rep. Mark White, the Republican who sponsored the legislation backed by Gov. Lee, said at the time the proposal would move the charter school appeals process from the state education board — which has a wide variety of oversight responsibilities — to a new charter-focused panel.
White, who joined in widespread outcry against Arnn’s comments, told the AP he still believes the state commission is the best option for vetting and ensuring Tennessee has quality charter schools. He said the text messages show staffers carefully watch the proceedings because it would affect their workload.
“I know where they’re coming from, and I know they’re solid,” he said.
___
This story has been updated to correct the spelling of Tess Stovall’s last name.
|
https://www.ktalnews.com/news/u-s-world/ap-amid-hillsdale-fallout-tenn-staffers-fretted-about-optics/
| 2022-09-21T09:04:38Z
|
ktalnews.com
|
control
|
https://www.ktalnews.com/news/u-s-world/ap-amid-hillsdale-fallout-tenn-staffers-fretted-about-optics/
| 1
| 0
|
green-iguana-35
| null |
YEREVAN, Armenia (AP) — Fighting on the border between Armenia and Azerbaijan killed about 100 troops Tuesday as attacks on both sides fed fears of broader hostilities breaking out between the longtime adversaries.
Armenia said at least 49 of its soldiers were killed; Azerbaijan said it lost 50.
The fighting erupted minutes after midnight with Azerbaijani forces unleashing an artillery barrage and drone attacks in many sections of Armenian territory, according to Armenia’s Defense Ministry. It said shelling grew less intense during the day but Azerbaijani troops were trying to advance into Armenian territory.
Azerbaijan’s Foreign Ministry said it was responding to a “large-scale provocation” by Armenia late Monday and early Tuesday. It said Armenian troops planted mines and fired on Azerbaijani military positions.
The two countries have been locked in a decades-old conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh, which is part of Azerbaijan but has been under the control of ethnic Armenian forces backed by Armenia since a separatist war there ended in 1994.
Azerbaijan reclaimed broad swaths of Nagorno-Karabakh in a six-week war in 2020 that killed more than 6,600 people and ended with a Russia-brokered peace deal. Moscow deployed about 2,000 troops to the region to serve as peacekeepers under the deal.
The Russian Foreign Ministry on Tuesday urged both parties “to refrain from further escalation and show restraint.” Moscow has engaged in a delicate balancing act in seeking to maintain friendly ties with both ex-Soviet nations. It has strong economic and security ties with Armenia, which hosts a Russian military base, while also has been developing close cooperation with oil-rich Azerbaijan.
The international community also urged calm.
U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged Armenia and Azerbaijan “to take immediate steps to deescalate tensions, exercise maximum restraint and resolve any outstanding issues through dialogue” and implement previous agreements, his spokesman said.
The U.N. Security Council scheduled closed consultations Wednesday on the renewed fighting.
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan called Russian President Vladimir Putin and later also had calls with French President Emmanuel Macron, European Council President Charles Michel and Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov spoke by phone with his Azerbaijani counterpart, Jeyhun Bayramov.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke with both Pashinyan and Azerbaijan’s president, Ilham Aliyev. The U.S. has a special envoy in the region, Blinken said, “and my hope is that we can move this from conflict back to the negotiating table and back to trying to build a peace.”
Speaking in parliament early Tuesday, Pashinyan accused Azerbaijan of having had an uncompromising stance at recent European Union-brokered talks in Brussels.
Armenia said the Azerbaijani shelling Tuesday damaged civilian infrastructure and wounded an unspecified number of people.
On Facebook, Aliyev expressed condolences “to the families and relatives of our servicemen who died on September 13 while preventing large-scale provocations committed by the Armenian armed forces in the direction of the Kalbajar, Lachin, Dashkasan and Zangilan regions of Azerbaijan.”
Turkey, an ally of Azerbaijan, also placed the blame for the violence on Armenia. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan expressed support for Aliyev and said in a statement that Turkey and Azerbaijan are “brotherly … in all matters.”
The governor of Gegharkunik province, one of the regions that came under Azerbaijani shelling, said there was a 40-minute lull in the fighting, apparently reflecting Moscow’s attempt to negotiate a truce, before it later resumed. The governor, Karen Sarkisyan, said four Armenian troops in his region were killed and another 43 were wounded by the shelling.
The Armenian government said it would officially ask Russia for assistance under a friendship treaty between the countries, and also appeal to the United Nations and the Collective Security Treaty Organization, a Moscow-dominated security alliance of ex-Soviet nations.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov refrained from comment on Armenia’s request but added during a conference call with reporters that Putin was “taking every effort to help de-escalate tensions.”
___
Vladimir Isachenkov in Moscow contributed to this report.
|
https://www.ktalnews.com/news/u-s-world/ap-armenia-says-49-soldiers-killed-in-attacks-by-azerbaijan/
| 2022-09-21T09:04:46Z
|
ktalnews.com
|
control
|
https://www.ktalnews.com/news/u-s-world/ap-armenia-says-49-soldiers-killed-in-attacks-by-azerbaijan/
| 1
| 0
|
green-iguana-35
| null |
LONDON (AP) — In a country famed for irreverence, some worry a new code of silence has taken hold.
Since the death of Queen Elizabeth II, a handful of people in Britain have been detained by police for expressing — often bluntly — anti-monarchy views.
A woman in Edinburgh holding a sign reading “F—— imperialism, abolish the monarchy” was charged with a breach of the peace. A man faced the same charge after he heckled Prince Andrew as the queen’s hearse traveled through the Scottish capital.
In Oxford, peace activist Symon Hill was put in handcuffs after he shouted his opposition during a ceremonial proclamation of the new king.
Hill said he spontaneously called out “Who elected him?” because he objects to a head of state being imposed on the country.
“I doubt most of the people in the crowd even heard me,” he wrote on his blog. “Two or three people near me told me to shut up.”
Hill said he was put into a police van by officers who told him he was being detained for alleged behavior that could cause “harassment, alarm or distress.” He was later released but could still face questioning.
“The police abused their powers to arrest someone who voiced some mild opposition to a head of state being appointed undemocratically,” he said.
In London, a woman was moved from the gates of Parliament while carrying a “Not my king” sign. Police said she was removed from the spot, where a police officer was stabbed to death by an Islamist attacker in 2017, to allow vehicles in and was not asked to leave the wider area.
Lawyer Paul Powlesland said he was questioned by police outside Parliament on Monday while carrying a blank piece of paper on which he, too, planned to write “Not my king.”
In footage shot by Powlesland, an officer is heard saying “it may offend someone” if he wrote the words.
Powlesland called the police behavior “outrageous.”
The civil rights group Liberty said it was “very worrying to see the police enforcing their broad powers in such a heavy-handed and punitive way to clamp down on free speech and expression.”
Republic, a group that campaigns for the abolition of the monarchy, said it would be complaining to police “in the strongest possible terms,” and would organize protests at the king’s coronation in the coming months.
“Free speech is fundamental to any democracy,” said spokesman Graham Smith. “At a time when the media is saturated with fawning over a king appointed without discussion or consent, it is even more important.”
The arrests come after the government passed a contentious law-and-order bill that toughens police powers to limit disruptive protests. It’s not clear whether any of the arrests involved the new law.
Prime Minister Liz Truss’s spokesman, Max Blain, said that while “this is a period of national mourning, and indeed grief, for the vast majority of the United Kingdom … the right to protest does remain a fundamental principle.”
But he said it is “for the police to decide what is appropriate in individual circumstances.”
The queen’s death has triggered one of the biggest security operations in British history. Some 500 royals, heads of state and heads of government from around the world are expected at the late monarch’s state funeral on Monday. Before that, hundreds of thousands are expected to line up in a queue snaking through central London to see the queen lying in state at Parliament’s Westminster Hall.
Huge crowds have already gathered near Buckingham Palace and other royal residences to leave notes and flowers or simply be part of a moment in history.
London’s Metropolitan Police force said “the overwhelming majority of interactions between officers and public at this time have been positive.”
“The public absolutely have a right of protest and we have been making this clear to all officers involved in the extraordinary policing operation currently in place,” said Deputy Assistant Commissioner Stuart Cundy.
|
https://www.ktalnews.com/news/u-s-world/ap-arrests-of-uk-anti-royal-protesters-spur-free-speech-debate/
| 2022-09-21T09:04:54Z
|
ktalnews.com
|
control
|
https://www.ktalnews.com/news/u-s-world/ap-arrests-of-uk-anti-royal-protesters-spur-free-speech-debate/
| 1
| 0
|
green-iguana-35
| null |
Income inequality in the U.S. increased last year for the first time in more than a decade, but childhood poverty was cut almost in half due to expansion of the federal government’s child tax credit and stimulus payments made in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, according to new survey results released Tuesday by the U.S. Census Bureau.
The income inequality index increased 1.2% from 2020 to 2021, the first time the measurement known as the Gini Index has increased since 2011, according to a report on Current Population Survey results.
Declines in household income among the poorest U.S. residents appears to have driven the widening of the income inequality gap. Households in the 90th percentile of the income distribution, the richest, had income that was 13.5 times higher than households in the 10th percentile, the poorest. That was a 4.9% increase from 2020.
“It is sensitive to extremes at either end,” said Liana Fox, a Census Bureau official. “This suggests that the decline in real income at the bottom drove the increase in the Gini index.”
For the most part, there was little year-to-year change in median household income based on demographic traits like race or ethnic background.
However, people in households headed by someone age 65 or older, those with only some college education and households where family members didn’t live together saw dips in their income from 2020 to 2021. Among the reasons was that the fixed income that many seniors are on didn’t keep pace with rising inflation in 2021, and many of the “nonfamily” households were headed by women whose income lagged those headed by men.
Households headed by people with at least a college degree saw bumps in overall income last year.
Broken down by race and ethnic background, Asian households in 2021 had the highest median income at $101,418, followed by non-Hispanic whites at $77,999 and Hispanics at $57,981. Black households had median income of $48,297.
Median incomes were highest in the West at $79,430 and the Northeast at $77,472, followed by the Midwest $71,129 and the South at $63,368.
The time period in the latest Current Population Survey covered the third round of pandemic-related stimulus payments and expansions to the Child Tax Credit, Earned Income Tax Credit and the Child and Dependent Care Credit. The time period in the survey also saw a 4.7% increase in consumer prices, the largest annual increase in the cost-of-living adjustment since 1990.
The expansion of the Child Tax Credit helped reduce childhood poverty, as measured by the bureau’s Supplemental Poverty Measure, from 9.7% in 2020 to 5.2% last year. It is the lowest since the new measure was implemented in 2009.
“The new data show the significant impact the expansion of anti-poverty programs during the COVID-19 pandemic had on reducing child poverty,” the Census Bureau said in a report.
The pandemic-related stimulus also helped the overall population.
The Census Bureau calculates poverty in two ways — the “official” poverty rate and the Supplemental Poverty Measure, which incorporates government programs designed to help low-income families. The official poverty rate last year was 11.6%, or 37.9 million people, and it wasn’t statistically different from what it was in 2020. The Supplemental Poverty Measure last year was 7.8%, a drop of 1.4 percentage points from 2020 and the lowest in the dozen years that it has been calculated.
The differences between the two rates is attributable to the pandemic assistance from the federal government, with refundable tax credit expansions keeping 9.6 million people out of poverty and stimulus payments doing the same for 8.9 million people, the Census Bureau report said.
___
Follow Mike Schneider on Twitter at https://twitter.com/MikeSchneiderAP
|
https://www.ktalnews.com/news/u-s-world/ap-census-inequality-last-year-grew-but-child-poverty-dropped/
| 2022-09-21T09:05:08Z
|
ktalnews.com
|
control
|
https://www.ktalnews.com/news/u-s-world/ap-census-inequality-last-year-grew-but-child-poverty-dropped/
| 1
| 0
|
green-iguana-35
| null |
BOSTON (AP) — A package exploded on the campus of Northeastern University in Boston late Tuesday, and the college said a staff member suffered minor injuries.
Authorities said another suspicious package was found near a prominent art museum and the FBI was assisting with the investigation.
The parcel that blew up was one of two that were reported to police early in the evening. Boston’s bomb squad neutralized a second package near the city’s Museum of Fine Arts, which is on the outskirts of the Northeastern campus.
NBC Boston reported that the package that exploded went off as it was being opened near the university’s Holmes Hall, which is home to the university’s creative writing program and its women’s, gender and sexuality studies program. It said the FBI was assisting the investigation.
Authorities declined to elaborate, but Northeastern spokesperson Shannon Nargi said in a statement that an unidentified university staff member suffered minor injuries to his hand in the explosion. Felipe Colon, a Boston police superintendent, later described the victim as a 45-year-old man.
Police converged on the campus shortly before 7:30 p.m., and the university asked students who had gathered for an evening journalism class at the hall to evacuate the building.
Northeastern is a private university in downtown Boston with about 16,000 undergraduate students. WCVB-TV said one of its reporters, Mike Beaudet, was teaching a class there at the time. Beaudet told the station his class was moved outside but that neither he nor his students heard an explosion.
Michael Davis, chief of Northeastern’s police force, told reporters the campus was secure. Boston police didn’t say whether any other suspicious packages were found.
“We’re monitoring the situation at Northeastern and we’re ready to work with the university and our law enforcement partners on any prosecutions that may develop,” Suffolk County District Attorney Kevin Hayden said, promising “a comprehensive investigation to determine exactly what occurred here.”
Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, both on the other side of the Charles River separating Boston from Cambridge, said they were increasing patrols on their campuses as a precaution and urging students and faculty to report anything suspicious.
Tuesday’s explosion marked one of the first big scares in Boston since 2013, when two bombs planted near the finish line of the Boston Marathon killed three spectators and wounded more than 260 others.
|
https://www.ktalnews.com/news/u-s-world/ap-college-evacuated-in-boston-1-reported-injured-after-blast/
| 2022-09-21T09:05:16Z
|
ktalnews.com
|
control
|
https://www.ktalnews.com/news/u-s-world/ap-college-evacuated-in-boston-1-reported-injured-after-blast/
| 1
| 0
|
green-iguana-35
| null |
PARIS (AP) — Lights on the Eiffel Tower will soon be turned off more than an hour earlier at night to save electricity, the Paris mayor announced Tuesday, as Russia’s war in Ukraine deepens an energy crisis in Europe.
Mayor Anne Hidalgo said the iconic tower that is normally illuminated until 1 a.m. is only one of the city’s monuments and municipal buildings that will be plunged into darkness earlier in the evening as the French capital — like the rest of France and Europe — faces risks of power shortages, rationing and blackouts when energy demand surges this winter.
Russia has reduced natural gas supplies to several European countries as they support Ukraine, sending prices for gas and electricity surging. It’s fueled inflation and raised fears about shrinking supplies as the heating season draws near, forcing countries to enact conservation measures and relief for consumers and businesses. While some European companies have reduced or halted production as energy prices surge, the European Union is looking to pass proposals to ease the crisis.
Lights on the Eiffel Tower will be turned off after the last visitor leaves at 11:45 p.m., starting Sept. 23, Hidalgo said. Other landmarks operated by the city, such as Saint-Jacques tower and City Hall, will be turned off at 10 p.m.
“It’s a symbolic, but an important step,” Hidalgo said, brushing off criticism that Paris authorities could do more to reduce energy consumption by 10% — the target set in July by President Emmanuel Macron as part of a nationwide “sobriety plan” to conserve energy.
For safety reasons, streetlights will stay on across Paris and the ornate bridges over the Seine River also will remain illuminated at night, Hidalgo told reporters.
To align with France’s savings plan, she said she will press the government to adjust the lighting on national monuments in Paris, such as the domed Pantheon and the Arc de Triomphe, the famous Napoleonic arch that dominates the Champs-Elysees Avenue.
Paris authorities also aim to save energy by moving back when they turn on the heat in public buildings by a whole month, from mid-October to mid-November. They also plan to lower the temperature in public buildings by 1 degree, from 19 to 18 degrees Celsius (66 to 64 degrees Fahrenheit) during office hours, and to 16 C after hours and on weekends.
___
Surk reported from Nice, France.
|
https://www.ktalnews.com/news/u-s-world/ap-eiffel-tower-to-go-dark-earlier-as-paris-saves-energy/
| 2022-09-21T09:05:31Z
|
ktalnews.com
|
control
|
https://www.ktalnews.com/news/u-s-world/ap-eiffel-tower-to-go-dark-earlier-as-paris-saves-energy/
| 1
| 0
|
green-iguana-35
| null |
LAS VEGAS (AP) — An elected official accused of killing a Las Vegas investigative journalist in what authorities allege was retaliation for articles critical of him and his office faced court sanctions two years ago for resisting arrest in a domestic violence case, records show.
Robert Telles, the Clark County public administrator who took office in January 2019, accepted a plea agreement in September 2020 to resolve misdemeanor battery and resisting a public officer charges after his wife called 911, according to Las Vegas Municipal Court and police dispatch records.
The records, first reported by the Las Vegas Review-Journal, show the case was dismissed and closed in March 2021 after Telles paid a $418 fine, attended counseling and stayed out of trouble.
His attorney in that case, Ross Goodman, did not immediately respond Tuesday to telephone and email messages. Efforts to contact Telles’ wife, Mae Ismael, by telephone and email were not successful.
Telles, now 45, remains jailed without bail on suspicion of murder in the Sept. 2 slaying of veteran Review-Journal staff writer Jeff German (GEHR-man).
Telles’ attorney, Travis Shetler, asked during a brief Tuesday court appearance for additional time to prepare for Telles’ arraignment, and prosecutors did not oppose the delay. A local judge reset the hearing for Sept. 20.
Shetler did not immediately respond later to messages about the 2020 incident, in which Telles was accused of “grabbing” and placing his wife in a “‘bear-hug’ position” and of resisting efforts by two police officers to handcuff him.
Telles stood in shackles Tuesday wearing bandages on his forearms and a wry smile as he faced a courtroom crowded with reporters, photographers and television cameras. He did not speak to the judge or his attorney.
Police and prosecutors say he had superficial self-inflicted wounds when he was arrested Sept. 7 after a brief standoff with police at his home.
A criminal complaint filed Monday accuses Telles of “lying in wait” for German, who was stabbed seven times. His body was found the next morning.
Telles was arrested days later, after police issued a plea for public help to identify a person seen on security video wearing an orange work shirt and a wide-brim straw hat toting a shoulder bag and walking toward German’s home.
Police also released images of a distinctive SUV seen on video near German’s home, driven by a person wearing an orange shirt.
A Review-Journal photographer snapped photos Sept. 6 of Telles washing the same type of vehicle in his driveway.
A prosecutor told a judge last Thursday that Telles left his own cellphone at home and waited in a vehicle outside German’s home until the attack. It was characterized as a planned response to articles that German wrote about “turmoil and internal dissension” in the county office that handles the property of people who die without a will or family contacts.
After articles appeared in May airing claims of administrative bullying, favoritism and Telles’ relationship with a subordinate staffer, Telles lost his bid for reelection in the June primary. County lawmakers also appointed a consultant to address complaints about leadership in the office.
Telles blamed “old-timers” for exaggerating his relationship with the female staffer and falsely claiming that he mistreated them.
German, a 40-year Las Vegas journalist who was widely respected for his tenacity, was working on follow-up reports about Telles and the public administrator’s office when he died, his colleagues said.
“The published articles … ruined (Telles’) political career, likely his marriage, and this was him lashing out at the cause,” Chief Deputy Clark County District Attorney Richard Scow told a judge last week.
That judge, Las Vegas Justice of the Peace Elana Lee Graham, called the police report detailing the attack “chilling.” She spoke of apparent defensive wounds on German’s arms and said DNA believed to be from Telles was found under German’s fingernails.
“He was fighting for his life,” Graham said.
Clark County District Attorney Steve Wolfson has called German’s death “brutal and meaningless” and said a decision whether to seek the death penalty will be made in coming months.
Police said a search warrant turned up items at Telles’ home including blood-stained shoes and a straw hat that had been cut up. Authorities said they did not immediately find the weapon used to kill German.
Clark County Sheriff Joe Lombardo, a Republican running for governor in November, said investigators were attempting to enhance security video that he described as “distorted” but that might show the attack.
German joined the Review-Journal in 2010 after more than two decades at the Las Vegas Sun, where he was a columnist and reporter covering courts, politics, labor, government and organized crime.
Telles was a lawyer who practiced probate and estate law before he was elected public administrator in 2018, replacing a three-term predecessor.
Telles’ term in office expires Dec. 31, but Clark County officials said he is suspended and has been banned from county offices or property pending a review of his position as an elected official.
|
https://www.ktalnews.com/news/u-s-world/ap-elected-official-facing-murder-charge-in-journalist-slaying/
| 2022-09-21T09:05:38Z
|
ktalnews.com
|
control
|
https://www.ktalnews.com/news/u-s-world/ap-elected-official-facing-murder-charge-in-journalist-slaying/
| 1
| 0
|
green-iguana-35
| null |
NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — Once home to one of Africa’s fastest-growing economies, Ethiopia is struggling as the war in its Tigray region has reignited and weary citizens far from the front are pleading for peace.
Ethiopians are experiencing the highest inflation in a decade, foreign exchange restrictions and mounting debt amid reports of massive government spending on the war effort. Parliament early this year reportedly approved an additional $1.7 billion budget for defense.
On Tuesday morning, a drone strike hit a university campus in Tigray’s capital, Mekele, causing an unknown number of injuries, according to a media worker there who spoke on condition of anonymity because he didn’t have authorization to speak to other outlets. He said another drone strike also destroyed the station of regional broadcaster Dimtsi Woyane.
Ethiopian officials continue to paint a rosy picture for the country of well over 110 million people. “Our economy has continued to grow amid natural and man-made problems,” the planning and development minister, Fitsum Assefa, said earlier this month.
But the Ethiopian Economic Association’s meeting this month made clear the country is hurting, while international mediators urgently seek progress on talks to end the fighting.
Because of internal conflicts, the destruction of infrastructure and uncontrolled spending are hurting the economy while ordinary Ethiopians face weakening incomes and rising poverty, economist Alemayehu Seyoum told the meeting.
Ethiopia once seared into the global consciousness with a devastating famine in the 1980s. The country has since transformed its economy with mega-projects like the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, the largest in Africa, and large-scale construction projects in Addis Ababa, Africa’s diplomatic capital.
The economy grew at an average of 11% over the past decade.
But the war in the northern Tigray region, which began in late 2020, has caused immense disruption. In June, the International Monetary Fund said growth likely fell to 3.8% for 2021-2022 because of the war and a “sharp fall in donor financing,” among other factors.
The finance ministry has declined to approve the financing of three industrial parks, symbols of Ethiopia’s China-like development, citing “budgetary pressure.”
Instead, the economy has shifted to a war focus.
The finance ministry now pleads with the public and Ethiopia’s large diaspora to contribute to a “national cause” for war reconstruction and aid. Ethiopia’s National Bank introduced changes to give the government all possible access to foreign currency, including requiring foreign residents to convert all in their possession upon entry.
Certain development works continue, including Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s flagship projects like the beautification of the capital.
But some critics such as the spokesman for the outlawed Oromo Liberation Army, Odaa Tarbii, say “vanity projects” are not necessary now.
Anything seen as criticism of the war can be stifled. Last week, authorities blocked 31 local civil society groups from organizing a media briefing calling for peace.
Following criticism that its financial support was enabling the government’s war efforts, the World Bank last week said it will continue its partnership but expressed concern.
Some state-run sectors of Ethiopia’s economy continue to open to investors, as Abiy promised after taking office. The cabinet this month approved the entry of foreign banks, a significant step.
Ethiopia’s ambassador to the United States, Seleshi Bekele, said the “international community should support this initiative by helping to disarm the hostile (Tigray forces).”
U.S. special envoy Mike Hammer was again in Ethiopia last week to “discuss the urgency of immediate cessation of hostilities,” according to the State Department, which said “the Ethiopian people have suffered tremendously from this conflict.”
Ethiopia’s government was unsettled when the U.S. last year removed it from a preferential trade program over its failure to end the war in Tigray that the U.S. said led to “gross violations” of human rights. Addis Ababa is lobbying for a reversal.
Since then, global companies like PVH Corp have left Ethiopia, citing security reasons, and others are laying off thousands of employees.
Ethiopian Airlines, the largest aviation group in Africa, remains one of the country’s few profitable companies but has been accused by Tigray forces of transporting troops and weapons to the war front. The airline has denied it.
Inside Tigray, millions of residents are still largely cut off from the world. Communications and banking services are severed, and their restoration has been a key demand in mediation efforts.
An agricultural survey conducted in several accessible parts of Tigray last month by Mekele University personnel, shared with The Associated Press, found many crops were failing because of the lack of fertilizer. Even traveling had become “tiresome” because of the lack of fuel, the survey said.
Other shortages are deadly. In an email to the AP, the head of the Tigray health bureau said vaccines for children ran out more than a year ago, and women don’t have family planning supplies. Humanitarian deliveries have stopped because of the renewed fighting.
“The list is very long. I just don’t want to bore you with the details,” Amanuel Haile wrote. “The above are just enough.”
|
https://www.ktalnews.com/news/u-s-world/ap-ethiopias-economy-struggles-as-war-reignites-in-tigray/
| 2022-09-21T09:05:46Z
|
ktalnews.com
|
control
|
https://www.ktalnews.com/news/u-s-world/ap-ethiopias-economy-struggles-as-war-reignites-in-tigray/
| 1
| 0
|
green-iguana-35
| null |
BRUSSELS (AP) — European Union lawmakers have backed a proposal for a law that would ban the sale in the 27-nation bloc of agriculture products linked to the destruction of forests.
MEPs gathered on Tuesday in Strasbourg, France, supported and strengthened a plan from the EU’s executive arm with 453 votes to 57, and 123 abstentions.
The EU Parliament will now start negotiations on the final text with EU member states.
Once approved, the law would force companies and producers to give assurances that products are “deforestation-free.” Businesses would be forced to verify that agricultural goods sold in the EU have not bee made on “deforested or degraded land anywhere in the world,” the Parliament said.
“Acknowledging that the EU is responsible for around 10% of global deforestation, we have no choice but to ramp up our efforts to halt global deforestation,” said Christophe Hansen, the lawmaker in charge of the Parliament’s report.
In addition, MEPs proposed that banks and financial institutions should be covered by the law to prevent them from investing in projects linked to deforestation.
“This could be the beginning of the end of the money pipeline that is destroying forests around the world – but only if national governments across the EU step up and support this plan to make European banks deforestation-free in negotiations on the final law,” said Giulia Bondi, from Global Witness campaigning group.
Deforestation in South America, Africa and Asia is driven mainly by agricultural expansion.
Quoting data from the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization, the EU Parliament said that some 420 million hectares of forest were lost to deforestation between 1990 and 2020. This is an area larger than the EU.
The European Commission, which proposes EU laws and supervises the way they are enacted, suggested last year that the legislation covered soy, cattle, palm oil, wood, cocoa and coffee.
Under the position adopted Tuesday, lawmakers also want to include pig meat, sheep and goats, poultry, maize and rubber, as well as charcoal and printed paper products.
“MEPs also want companies to verify that goods are produced in accordance with human rights provisions in international law and respect the rights of indigenous people,” the Parliament said.
Environmental group Greenpeace praised the result of the vote.
“Nobody wants to worry that their weekly shop might be linked to death and destruction – the vote today is a big step towards breaking that link,” said Greenpeace EU forest campaigner Sini Eräjää.
At the U.N.’s climate conference, COP26, last year, over 100 nations representing more than 85% of the world’s forests pledged to halt and reverse deforestation by 2030. Among them were several countries with massive forests, including Brazil, China, Colombia, Congo, Indonesia, Russia and the United States.
___
Follow AP’s climate coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/climate-and-environment
___
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.
|
https://www.ktalnews.com/news/u-s-world/ap-eu-lawmakers-support-ban-of-goods-linked-to-deforestation/
| 2022-09-21T09:05:54Z
|
ktalnews.com
|
control
|
https://www.ktalnews.com/news/u-s-world/ap-eu-lawmakers-support-ban-of-goods-linked-to-deforestation/
| 1
| 0
|
green-iguana-35
| null |
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — One of the nation’s leading fetal alcohol researchers testified Tuesday that Florida school shooter Nikolas Cruz’s birth mother drank more during her pregnancy than any woman he’s ever seen documented.
Dr. Kenneth Jones said medical and other records show Brenda Woodard well exceeded the standards that grossly endanger a fetus: six drinks per week for two weeks or three drinks in a sitting twice. A friend also testified earlier that Woodard, a Fort Lauderdale prostitute, heavily drank fortified wine and malt liquor during her pregnancy with Cruz before putting him up for adoption. She died last year.
“I know I have never seen so much alcohol consumed by a pregnant woman,” said Jones, a former University of California, San Diego, medical school professor who did some of the pioneering research on fetal alcohol abuse 50 years ago.
Cruz, 23, pleaded guilty last October to murdering 14 students and three staff members on Feb. 14, 2018, at Parkland’s Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. His trial, now ending its second month, is only to determine whether he is sentenced to death or life without parole.
His attorneys are trying to show that Woodard’s alcohol abuse during pregnancy put Cruz onto a lifelong path of erratic, bizarre and often violent behavior that culminated in the shootings.
Jones told the jury that while there is disagreement over whether Woodard abused cocaine during her pregnancy — witnesses said she did, tests indicate she didn’t — that wouldn’t have made a significant difference given her alcohol abuse.
“You can take all of the illicit drugs you can think of — heroin, marijuana, methamphetamine, cocaine — and wrap them up in a single bag and they don’t hold a candle to alcohol for its effect on a developing baby,” Jones said.
He said his examination shows Cruz falls into fetal alcohol spectrum disorder — a broad category — but does not have the more narrowly defined fetal alcohol syndrome. He said the latter has certain physical traits that pediatricians can recognize such as thin lips, narrow eyelid openings and a smooth philtrum — the ridge between the nose and mouth.
He said that lack of physical characteristics can actually be detrimental as the child won’t get the proper early treatment for the damage the alcohol has done to the brain. He said adoptive mothers like Lynda Cruz might also be afraid to report to doctors what they know about a birth mother’s alcohol abuse because of the stigma it can attach to their child.
Jones said signs of fetal alcohol damage to a child include irritability, serious temper tantrums and significant behavioral problems. He said like Cruz, they are often diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, lack control at school and are aggressive toward their mothers and teachers. Earlier testimony has shown Cruz demonstrating all those issues. He also said such patients often have difficulty organizing and planning their activities.
Under cross-examination, however, prosecutors showed that Cruz spent months mapping out the massacre.
Jones conceded during questioning by lead prosecutor Mike Satz that he was not aware that Cruz spent months researching other mass shootings, how long it takes police to respond to a school shooting, what kind of gun to use and how he could hide it while entering the school.
Jones’ testimony followed neuropsychologist Paul Connor, who said Cruz through his life has shown indications on tests that he has alcohol-related mental issues.
Cruz’s public defenders are trying to convince at least one of the 12 jurors to vote for life — a death verdict must be unanimous.
They are trying to overcome the prosecution’s case, which focused on Cruz’s massacre as he stalked a three-story classroom building for seven minutes with an AR-15-style semiautomatic rifle. Lead prosecutor Mike Satz played security videos of the shooting and showed the rifle Cruz used. Teachers and students testified about watching others die.
Satz showed graphic autopsy and crime scene photos and took jurors to the fenced-off building, which remains blood-stained and bullet-pocked. Parents and spouses gave tearful and angry statements about their loss.
After the defense concludes its case in the coming weeks, the prosecution will present a rebuttal case before the jury’s deliberations begin.
|
https://www.ktalnews.com/news/u-s-world/ap-expert-school-shooters-mother-drank-heavily-in-pregnancy/
| 2022-09-21T09:06:01Z
|
ktalnews.com
|
control
|
https://www.ktalnews.com/news/u-s-world/ap-expert-school-shooters-mother-drank-heavily-in-pregnancy/
| 1
| 0
|
green-iguana-35
| null |
DENVER (AP) — Police who shot a 22-year-old Colorado man after he called 911 for roadside assistance escalated the situation, needlessly leading to his death, the man’s relatives said in a tearful news conference Tuesday in which they called for accountability.
After Christian Glass’ June 11 death in the small mountain town of Silver Plume west of Denver, the Clear Creek County Sheriff’s office issued a news release saying that Glass was shot after he became “argumentative and uncooperative” and tried to stab an officer when police broke a car window to grab him.
“Christian was experiencing a crisis, and he called 911 for help,” said the parents’ attorney, Siddhartha Rathod, “and yet these officers busted out Christian’s window, shot him six times with bean bag rounds, Tased him multiple times from two Tasers, and then shot him five times.”
The Colorado Bureau of Investigation handles police shootings, including the Glass case, but the family wants prosecutors to file criminal charges, Rathod said.
Heidi McCollum, district attorney for the Fifth Judicial District that includes Clear Creek County, released a statement Tuesday saying her office is investigating the case along with the Colorado Bureau of Investigation. Her office plans to eventually issue a report on the shooting or present the case to a grand jury, which would decide if indictments should be issued, McCollum said.
The videos shared with The Associated Press show Glass refusing to come out of his car while also telling police he’s “terrified” and making heart shapes with his hands to officers. At one point, he also can be seen praying with folded hands and saying, “Dear Lord, please, don’t let them break the window.”
When the officers did break the window, Glass seemed to panic and grabbed a knife.
Police then shot Glass with bean bag rounds and shocked him with a stun gun before the young man twisted in his seat and thrust a knife toward an officer, the footage showed. Then one officer fired his gun, hitting Glass. The recordings then show Glass stabbing himself before he died.
The family said the videos were only edited to blur the body. The AP has requested that police provide any videos related to the case.
Rathod said Glass had no history of mental illness. When asked about Glass’s abnormal behavior, he said “unfortunately we are not ever going to know.”
Rathod released an autopsy report that found that Glass died of gunshot wounds. It said he had THC, a .01% blood alcohol concentration, and amphetamine in his system, the last of which Rathod said is likely from an ADHD prescription for Glass.
The shooting comes amid a national outcry for police reforms focused on crisis intervention, de-escalation and alternative policing programs. In Denver and New York, behavioral health specialists are sent to 911 callers facing crises that police may not be trained to address or could even exacerbate.
Police haven’t said if any behavioral health specialists were called for Glass.
Use-of-force and de-escalation experts who reviewed the footage for The Associated Press said this case is an example of when a behavioral health specialist or crisis response team — programs becoming increasingly popular across the country — may have helped de-escalate the situation and avert Glass’ death.
“There are some real red flags that suggest potential problems,” said Seth Stoughton, a former police officer and leading use-of-force expert who reviewed portions of the footage. Stoughton testified in the trial of Derek Chauvin, the police officer who murdered George Floyd.
While police officers may be justified in using force once a situation has intensified, “it’s everything that we do before that in terms of de-escalation that can make those situations go a completely different direction,” said Tamara Lynn, the executive council president for the National De-Escalation Training Center, who reviewed the footage.
In particular, both Lynn and Stoughton questioned why officers didn’t take Glass up on his offer, recorded by body camera footage, to disarm himself by throwing his knives out of his car window.
While a thrown knife can pose a threat, “officers have plenty of opportunity to maneuver themselves and put themselves in a position that’s not risky,” said Stoughton. “I am kind of astonished that they did not take advantage of what looked like a very clear opportunity to have him separate himself from the weapons.”
Similarly, Stoughton wondered why they needed to break the car window. He said police don’t have all day to spend on one call, but questioned if they needed to.
“It’s not clear to me that it should have gone that far,” he said.
Between tears on Tuesday, Christian’s mother, Sally Glass, displayed a pendant of Jesus recovered from her son’s car that is engraved with the words, “Pray for us.”
“We have to pray for us in America to make this a less violent country,” Sally Glass said. “I think a lot of people now would agree that there is a systemic problem with policing: It’s too aggressive. They escalate at every opportunity, and it looks like they are spoiling for a fight. … They should be protecting us, not attacking us.”
Glass said her son was “petrified” and “paralyzed” by fear the night he was killed.
“I have a hole in my heart, and it will be there until the day I die,” Glass said.
——
Associated Press writer Thomas Peipert contributed to this report.
___
Jesse Bedayn is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues. Follow Bedayn on Twitter.
___
This story has been updated to correct the age of Christian Glass and the date of his death.
|
https://www.ktalnews.com/news/u-s-world/ap-family-of-colorado-man-shot-by-police-wants-accountability/
| 2022-09-21T09:06:09Z
|
ktalnews.com
|
control
|
https://www.ktalnews.com/news/u-s-world/ap-family-of-colorado-man-shot-by-police-wants-accountability/
| 1
| 0
|
green-iguana-35
| null |
BERLIN (AP) — A man in Germany was convicted of murder and given a life sentence Tuesday for fatally shooting a gas station clerk following a dispute over face masks.
The September 2021 killing in the western town of Idar-Oberstein shocked the country. The defendant also was convicted of illegal weapons possession because he didn’t have a license for the gun used in the killing, German news agency dpa reported.
Authorities have said the 50-year-old man told officers he acted “out of anger” while trying to buy beer at the gas station after the 20-year-old clerk refused to serve him without a mask.
At the time, Germany required mask use in stores to stop the spread of the coronavirus.
Police said the suspect, a German citizen identified in local media as Mario N., left the gas station after the dispute but returned a half-hour later and shot the clerk in the head.
He initially fled the scene but turned himself in after police launched a large-scale manhunt.
The state court in Bad Kreuznach found the defendant’s radical right-wing stance and his enmity toward the state were the main motives for the killing, dpa reported.
It said the defendant viewed the clerk as a representative of the state and its coronavirus policy, and decided to “make an example” of him after he insisted on the mask mandate.
Defense lawyers in the trial, which lasted six months, had sought a conviction for manslaughter. They argued that there were limits to how far the suspect, who according to an expert was intoxicated when the fatal gunshot was inflicted, could be held criminally responsible for his actions.
Prosecutors had called for the court to find the defendant “seriously culpable,” which would have effectively barred him from the early release after 15 years that is typical for people in Germany given life sentences. Judges didn’t do so.
|
https://www.ktalnews.com/news/u-s-world/ap-german-man-convicted-of-murder-after-killing-over-mask-rules/
| 2022-09-21T09:06:17Z
|
ktalnews.com
|
control
|
https://www.ktalnews.com/news/u-s-world/ap-german-man-convicted-of-murder-after-killing-over-mask-rules/
| 1
| 0
|
green-iguana-35
| null |
NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — William Ruto was sworn in as Kenya’s president on Tuesday after narrowly winning the Aug. 9 election in East Africa’s most stable democracy, and quickly signaled that his leadership will be a strongly Christian one.
The Supreme Court last week rejected a challenge by losing candidate and longtime opposition figure Raila Odinga of the official results, completing a markedly peaceful election in a country with a history of troubled ones.
The 55-year-old Ruto had been the deputy to outgoing President Uhuru Kenyatta but had a bitter split that left the two not speaking for months at a time. On Tuesday, the audience cheered as the two shook hands, and again as Kenyatta handed over the instruments of power.
Ruto, who had dropped to his knees in tears and prayer when the court upheld his win, knelt on the stage minutes after his swearing-in during an extended sermon.
“A chicken seller to a president,” intoned the pastor, highlighting Ruto’s humble youth. “A village boy has become the president of Kenya,” Ruto said in his speech.
In his first tweet as president, the evangelical Christian quoted Psalms: “This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” His speech praised both the church and Islamic leadership, and he vowed that “we will enhance our partnership, build on our collaboration and enhance our support to them.”
The event began with some chaos. Scores of people were crushed and injured as they forced their way into the packed stadium. Medic Peter Muiruri said a fence fell as people pushed it and about 60 were injured, though the number may rise.
People tried to dodge baton-wielding security forces. Some failed. “I was beaten by the police after trying to get inside,” said a witness, Benson Kimutai.
Ruto takes power in a country heavily burdened by debt that will challenge his efforts to fulfill sweeping campaign promises made to Kenya’s poor, whom he has described as getting by on “stubborn hope.” In his speech, he acknowledged that “clearly, we are living beyond our means.”
He promised cheaper fertilizer as food prices rise and more affordable credit. He also vowed more money for the judiciary, financial independence for the national police from the presidency and efforts to fight a drought in Kenya’s north that brings the threat of famine.
Ruto also asked Kenyatta to continue “chairing discussions” on the regional crises in neighboring Ethiopia, where the government is fighting Tigray forces, and in eastern Congo, where tensions exist with Rwanda. Kenyatta has accepted, the new president said.
“Will come as a big relief to diplomats who worried Nairobi would back out of the two initiatives,” tweeted Murithi Mutiga, Africa director with the International Crisis Group.
But Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed didn’t shake hands with other African leaders afterward, even rejecting his Kenyan Foreign Ministry escort, and went straight to his car.
With the transition, Kenya’s presidency moves from one leader indicted by the International Criminal Court to another. Both Kenyatta and Ruto were indicted over their roles in deadly 2007 post-election violence, but the cases were later closed amid allegations of witness intimidation.
The August election was calm in a country with a history of political violence. Chaos erupted only in the final minutes when the electoral commission publicly split and prominent Odinga supporters tried to physically stop the declaration of Ruto as the winner.
Ruto’s campaign portrayed him as a “hustler” with a humble background of going barefoot and selling chickens by the roadside, a counterpoint to the political dynasties represented by Kenyatta and Odinga. His presidential flag features a wheelbarrow, the symbol of his campaign.
But Ruto received powerful political mentoring as a young man from former President Daniel arap Moi, who oversaw a one-party state for years before Kenyans successfully pushed for multiparty elections.
Ruto now speaks of democracy and has vowed there will be no retaliation against dissenting voices. “I will work with all Kenyans irrespective of who they voted for,” he said in his speech.
But in a warning sign for media, local broadcasters that were accused by Ruto of bias in the past were restricted in their coverage of the inauguration, forced to use a feed from a South African broadcaster in which Kenya’s national broadcaster has a share.
The losing candidate, 77-year-old Odinga, is setting himself up to be a prominent opposition voice once again after former rival Kenyatta backed him in the election. In a statement on Monday, Odinga said he would skip the inauguration and later “announce next steps as we seek to deepen and strengthen our democracy.”
Though Odinga also asserted that “the outcome of the election remains indeterminate,” a spokesperson told The Associated Press it was “highly unlikely” he would seek to declare himself the “people’s president” as he did after losing the 2017 election.
___
Moses Ndungu contributed to this report.
|
https://www.ktalnews.com/news/u-s-world/ap-injuries-in-crush-at-stadium-as-kenya-inaugurates-president/
| 2022-09-21T09:06:32Z
|
ktalnews.com
|
control
|
https://www.ktalnews.com/news/u-s-world/ap-injuries-in-crush-at-stadium-as-kenya-inaugurates-president/
| 1
| 0
|
green-iguana-35
| null |
A teenage human trafficking victim who was initially charged with first-degree murder after she stabbed her accused rapist to death was sentenced Tuesday in an Iowa court to five years of closely supervised probation and ordered to pay $150,000 restitution to the man’s family.
Pieper Lewis, 17, was sentenced Tuesday after she pleaded last year to involuntary manslaughter and willful injury in the June 2020 killing of 37-year-old Zachary Brooks of Des Moines. Both charges were punishable by up to 10 years in prison.
Polk County District judge David M. Porter on Tuesday deferred those prison sentences, meaning that if Lewis violates any portion of her probation, she could be sent to prison to serve that 20-year term.
As for being required to pay the estate of her rapist, “this court is presented with no other option,” Porter said, noting the restitution is mandatory under Iowa law that has been upheld by the Iowa Supreme Court.
Lewis was 15 when she stabbed Brooks more than 30 times in a Des Moines apartment. Officials have said Lewis was a runaway who was seeking to escape an abusive life with her adopted mother and was sleeping in the hallways of a Des Moines apartment building when a 28-year-old man took her in before forcibly trafficking her to other men for sex.
Lewis said one of those men was Brooks and that he had raped her multiple times in the weeks before his death. She recounted being forced at knifepoint by the 28-year-old man to go with Brooks to his apartment for sex. She told officials that after Brooks had raped her yet again, she grabbed a knife from a bedside table and stabbed Brooks in a fit of rage.
Police and prosecutors have not disputed that Lewis was sexually assaulted and trafficked. But prosecutors have argued that Brooks was asleep at the time he was stabbed and not an immediate danger to Lewis.
Iowa is not among the dozens of states that have a so-called safe harbor law that gives trafficking victims at least some level of criminal immunity.
Lewis, who earned her GED while being held in juvenile detention, acknowledged in a statement prior to her sentencing that she struggled with the structure of her detention, including “why I was treated like fragile glass” or wasn’t allowed to communicate with her friends or family.
“My spirit has been burned, but still glows through the flames,” she read from a statement she had prepared. “Hear me roar, see me glow, and watch me grow.”
“I am a survivor,” she added.
The Associated Press does not typically name victims of sexual assault, but Lewis agreed to have her name used previously in stories about her case.
Prosecutors took issue with Lewis calling herself a victim in the case and said she failed to take responsibility for stabbing Brooks and “leaving his kids without a father.”
The judge peppered Lewis with repeated requests to explain what poor choices she made that led up to Brooks’ stabbing and expressed concern that she sometimes did not want to follow rules set for her in juvenile lockup.
“The next five years of your life will be full of rules you disagree with, I’m sure of it,” Porter said. He later added, “This is the second chance that you’ve asked for. You don’t get a third.”
Karl Schilling with the Iowa Organization for Victim Assistance said a bill to create a safe harbor law for trafficking victims passed the Iowa House earlier this year, but stalled in the Senate under concerns from law enforcement groups that it was too broad.
“There was a working group established to iron out the issues,” Shilling said. “Hopefully it will be taken up again next year.”
Iowa does have an affirmative defense law that gives some leeway to victims of crime if the victim committed the violation “under compulsion by another’s threat of serious injury, provided that the defendant reasonably believed that such injury was imminent.”
Prosecutors argued Tuesday that Lewis waived that affirmative defense when she pleaded guilty to manslaughter and willful injury.
|
https://www.ktalnews.com/news/u-s-world/ap-iowa-teen-who-killed-rapist-sentenced-ordered-to-pay-150k/
| 2022-09-21T09:06:39Z
|
ktalnews.com
|
control
|
https://www.ktalnews.com/news/u-s-world/ap-iowa-teen-who-killed-rapist-sentenced-ordered-to-pay-150k/
| 1
| 0
|
green-iguana-35
| null |
LONDON (AP) — The coffin of Queen Elizabeth II returned to Buckingham Palace on Tuesday evening, making its way through a drizzly London as crowds lined the route for a glimpse of the hearse and to bid her a final farewell.
People parked their cars along a normally busy road, got out and waved as the hearse, with lights inside illuminating the flag-draped coffin, made its way into London. In the city, people pressed in on the road and held their phones aloft as it passed.
Thousands outside the palace cheered, shouted “God save the queen!” and clapped as the hearse swung around a roundabout in front of the queen’s official London residence and through the wrought iron gates. Her son, King Charles III, and other immediate family members waited inside.
The coffin traveled to London from Edinburgh, where 33,000 people filed silently past it in the 24 hours at St. Giles’ Cathedral after it had been brought there from her cherished summer retreat, Balmoral. The queen — the only monarch many in the United Kingdom have ever known — died there Sept. 8 at age 96 after 70 years on the throne.
The military C-17 Globemaster carrying the casket touched down at RAF Northolt, an air force base in the west of London, about an hour after it left Edinburgh. U.K. Prime Minister Liz Truss, Defense Secretary Ben Wallace and a military honor guard were among those at the base for the arrival.
One who stood in the rain waiting for the hearse to pass, retired bus driver David Stringer, 82, recalled watching the queen’s coronation on a newsreel as a boy.
“It’s a great shame,” he said. “I mean, I didn’t think about her every day, but I always knew she was there, and my life’s coming to a close now and her time has finished.”
The coffin will be taken by horse-drawn gun carriage Wednesday to the Houses of Parliament to lie in state for four days before Monday’s funeral at Westminster Abbey.
“Scotland has now bid our Queen of Scots a sad, but fond farewell,” said Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon. “We will not see her like again.”
Charles had returned to London from Northern Ireland, where his visit drew a rare moment of unity from politicians in a region with a contested British and Irish identity that is deeply divided over the monarchy.
The new king is making his own journey this week, visiting the four nations of the U.K. – England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Hundreds gathered around Hillsborough Castle near Belfast, the royal family’s official residence in Northern Ireland, in the latest outpouring of affection following the queen’s death. The area in front of the gates to the castle was carpeted with hundreds of floral tributes.
Charles and his wife Camilla, the Queen Consort, got out of their car to wave to the crowd and sometimes used both hands to reach out to villagers, including schoolchildren in bright blue uniforms. Charles even petted a corgi — famously his late mother’s favorite breed of dog — held up by one person, and some chanted “God save the king!”
“Today means so much to me and my family, just to be present in my home village with my children to witness the arrival of the new king is a truly historic moment for us all,” said Hillsborough resident Robin Campbell.
While there was a warm welcome in Hillsborough, the British monarchy draws mixed emotions in Northern Ireland, where there are two main communities: mostly Protestant unionists who consider themselves British and largely Roman Catholic nationalists who see themselves as Irish.
That split fueled three decades of violence known as “the Troubles” involving paramilitary groups on both sides and U.K. security forces, in which 3,600 people died. The royal family was touched personally by the violence: Lord Louis Mountbatten, a cousin of the queen and a much-loved mentor to Charles, was killed by an Irish Republican Army bomb in 1979.
A deep sectarian divide remains, a quarter century after Northern Ireland’s 1998 peace agreement.
For some Irish nationalists, the monarch represents an oppressive foreign power. But others acknowledge the queen’s role in forging peace. On a visit to Northern Ireland in 2012, she shook hands with Sinn Fein deputy leader Martin McGuinness, a former IRA commander — a once-unthinkable moment of reconciliation. On Tuesday the new king shook hands with Sinn Fein Vice President Michelle O’Neill.
In a sign of how far Northern Ireland has come on the road to peace, representatives of Sinn Fein attended commemorative events for the queen and meeting the king on Tuesday.
Alex Maskey, a Sinn Fein politician who is speaker of the Northern Ireland Assembly, said the queen had “demonstrated how individual acts of positive leadership can help break down barriers and encourage reconciliation.”
Charles responded that she had tried to play a role “in bringing together those whom history had separated, and in extending a hand to make possible the healing of long-held hurts.”
He said he would draw on his mother’s “shining example” and “seek the welfare of all the inhabitants of Northern Ireland.”
Still, not everyone was welcoming the new king.
On the Falls Road in Belfast, a nationalist stronghold, several walls are decorated with murals of Bobby Sands, an IRA member who died while on a hunger strike in prison in 1981, and others killed in the Troubles.
“No, he’s not our king. Bobby Sands was our king here,” said 52-year-old Bobby Jones. “Queen never done nothing for us. Never did. None of the royals do.”
Irish leaders attended a service of reflection at St. Anne’s Cathedral in Belfast despite tense relations between Dublin and London over Brexit. Since Britain left the European Union in 2020, the U.K. and the EU have been wrangling over trade rules for Northern Ireland, the only part of the U.K. that shares a border with a member of the bloc.
Before being flown to London, the queen’s oak coffin was carried from St. Giles’ Cathedral to the strain of bagpipes. Crowds lining the Royal Mile through the historic heart of Edinburgh broke into applause as the coffin, accompanied by the queen’s daughter, Princess Anne, was driven to Edinburgh Airport.
“I was fortunate to share the last 24 hours of my dearest mother’s life,” Princess Anne said in a statement. “It has been an honour and a privilege to accompany her on her final journeys. Witnessing the love and respect shown by so many on these journeys has been both humbling and uplifting.”
___
Follow AP stories on the death of Queen Elizabeth II and Britain’s royal family at https://apnews.com/hub/queen-elizabeth-ii
|
https://www.ktalnews.com/news/u-s-world/ap-king-charles-in-belfast-queens-coffin-to-return-to-london/
| 2022-09-21T09:06:47Z
|
ktalnews.com
|
control
|
https://www.ktalnews.com/news/u-s-world/ap-king-charles-in-belfast-queens-coffin-to-return-to-london/
| 1
| 0
|
green-iguana-35
| null |
CANBERRA, Australia (AP) — Lawmakers in an Australian state pledged their allegiance to King Charles III on Tuesday with some using the occasion to call for an Australian republic.
Australia’s center-left Labor Party government wants an Australian president to replace the British monarch as the nation’s head of state. The death of Queen Elizabeth II last week after a 70-year reign is seen by many as an ideal opportunity for change.
Lawmakers from the minor Greens party used their swearing in ceremony in the Victoria Parliament to advocate for an Australian head of state.
“We’re here as Victorian MPs to swear allegiance to King Charles III, a new head of state decided for us, but not by us,” Greens leader Samantha Ratnam told reporters before the ceremony, referring to members of Parliament.
“This is a really important time to reflect on the role of the British monarchy going forward in Australia, the impact of colonization and the need to move forward in this country with a treaty and with a republic,” Ratnam added.
Despite the protest, all four Greens lawmakers fell in with the rest in swearing or affirming their allegiance to the king, whose is head of state of Britain, Australia and another 13 countries that were once part of the British Empire.
Three Greens lawmakers wore clothes with slogans that highlighted that the British colonized Australia without signing a treaty with its Indigenous people.
The ceremony in Australia’s second-most populous state, which is named after the 19th century monarch Queen Victoria, was the result of a legal quirk that underscores how complicated the process of Australia severing its constitutional ties with Britain’s monarch could become.
Lawmakers’ pledge of allegiance in the other five states and in the Australian Parliament roll over from the late queen to her eldest son.
Victoria demands a new oath to a dead monarch’s successor before lawmakers can vote on motions or legislation — a procedure one expert called a “silly quirk.”
“They’ve got a clause in their constitution that shouldn’t be there,” George Williams, a University of New South Wales constitutional lawyer, said.
“Really, you don’t need it. You should have the oath … to the monarch’s heirs and successors” as occurs in the Australian Parliament, Williams said.
Australians voted at a 1999 referendum against Australia becoming a republic and breaking its constitutional ties to its former colonial master.
If that referendum had succeeded in establishing an Australian president, the states were expected to eventually take the same step, Williams said.
Williams did not consider an Australian republic with state monarchies would be sustainable in the long term.
“It would be symbolically fraught and pretty inconvenient and wouldn’t make much sense either to be a republican nation and have state monarchies,” Williams said.
“I don’t think anyone would think it would last very long, but it’s at least a theoretical possibility,” Williams added.
Adelaide University Law Professor Greg Taylor said the potential for states to resist ending their links to monarch was no reason for Australia not to hold a second referendum on becoming a republic.
“There are very good reasons for not doing it, but ‘it’s too hard’ is not one of them,” Taylor said.
He said the German Empire from 1871 until 1918 was an example of a coalition of monarchies and republics.
“So such a thing is possible. I think personally it would be rather odd,” Taylor, said referring to the possibility of state monarchies remaining in an Australian republic.
The British monarch is represented across the Australian nation by a governor-general who is appointed by the monarch on the advice of the prime minister.
The monarch is represented in each state by a state governor appointed on the advice of the state premier.
The Australian Capital Territory and Northern Territory don’t have the same rights as states and their links to the monarch are less direct.
|
https://www.ktalnews.com/news/u-s-world/ap-lawmakers-in-australian-state-pledge-allegiance-to-king/
| 2022-09-21T09:06:55Z
|
ktalnews.com
|
control
|
https://www.ktalnews.com/news/u-s-world/ap-lawmakers-in-australian-state-pledge-allegiance-to-king/
| 1
| 0
|
green-iguana-35
| null |
Subsets and Splits
No community queries yet
The top public SQL queries from the community will appear here once available.