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Last Friday the International Court of Justice ordered provisional measures against Israel in response to a complaint brought by South Africa under the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide. While the ruling does not require Israel to desist from further military operations in Gaza, Israel is admonished to adhere closely to its obligations under the treaty, as well as to allow more humanitarian aid into Gaza. Given the open-ended nature of the Court’s ruling on provisional measures, Israel’s compliance with the Court’s order will depend critically on understanding what the prohibition on genocide means under the treaty and what to infer from the mounting casualty numbers in Gaza relative to that prohibition in the context of the current armed conflict.
For Israel to violate the Convention, it must be intentionally seeking to harm or destroy the Palestinian people as a group, a proposition for which there is no actual evidence. Any appearance that Israel is actually targeting civilians stems in significant part from the fact that Hamas is using Palestinian civilians as human shields in myriad ways. Hamas’ extensive tunnel system, for example, shows a subterranean terror network constructed directly underneath Gaza’s civilian infrastructure. Hamas built the tunnel system this way intentionally in order to use hospitals, schools, mosques, refugee camps, and other sites of civilian life as cover for its operations, as well as for protection in the hope of exploiting Israeli hesitancy to strike civilian targets and to galvanize public sentiment when Israel does strike. And it has been widely reported that Hamas discouraged or prevented Palestinians from relocating to safety on numerous occasions in the face of Israeli warnings of impending strikes.
There are in fact two sets of hostages in the current crisis: the roughly one hundred Israeli hostages that remain captive in Gaza and the Palestinian civilians tragically caught in between Israel’s attempt to defend itself and Hamas’s underground infrastructure. It is ironic and grotesque that Israel is the party that stands accused of genocide. As Israeli legal advisor Tal Becker pointed out before the Court, “if there have been acts that may be characterized as genocidal, then they have been perpetrated against Israel” in virtue of the attacks on October 7. But there is another sense in which this may be so. “Genocide by human shielding” might be the right description of Hamas’ use of civilians. Both represent acts that could “plausibly” (to use the ICJ’s language) fall under the Genocide Convention. This is not mere hyperbole. Hamas’s leadership has revealed the organization’s willingness to sacrifice multitudes of Palestinians for their cause. Hamas leader Ayman Shanaa, for example, said: “Let us examine history. Let us look at Algeria, Vietnam, and other countries that we liberated. How many did they sacrifice? Millions of martyrs. Therefore, I am saying that there is a high price to pay on the path of resistance, and we will bear this price.” Another Hamas leader admitted the tunnels were built solely to protect fighters, not for the safety of civilians. What is that but the destruction of a group in whole or in part as a means to an end?
What reasons do we have to believe that Israel is not targeting civilians? Israel provided extensive evidence to the Court of its civilian harm mitigation measures, measures akin to what the U.S. government seeks to develop and institutionalize pursuant to the Civilian Harm Mitigation and Response Action Plan (CHMR-AP) and its recently adopted Department of Defense Instruction on CHMR. The precautions Israel is using are consistent with DoD’s objectives in developing the CHMR-AP and should be considered “best practices.” Among these methods are distributing leaflets, placing phone calls, and sending text messages to warn civilians of impending operations as well as distributing civilian harm “hotzone” maps that make clear, down to individual blocks and buildings, where civilians can move in order to significantly reduce the likelihood of being caught in crossfire or bombardments. While the civilian displacement required to heed these warnings is onerous, these procedures do save lives and most notably are inconsistent with an intent to kill or harm civilians. At the same time, such efforts set back Israel’s counterattack, since they warn not just to Palestinian civilians, but also Hamas of impending operations. Nevertheless, Israel continues to issue such warnings despite the military impairments they entail.
The US-led coalition used similar techniques fighting ISIS in Iraq and Syria from 2014 to 2019. For example, the United States was able to leverage the communication capabilities of the Iraqi Government and International Relief Agencies to inform the civilian population in places like Mosul. We also conducted extensive joint planning between military forces and the humanitarian community to identify civilian movement corridors and assembly locations and de-conflicted them with ground and air operations. In other urban areas like Raqqah and smaller villages along the Euphrates Valley, we frequently slowed or stopped operations to work closely with local tribal leaders to minimize the impact of military operations on the population and infrastructure. Despite our considerable efforts, it was impossible to completely prevent civilian casualties and collateral damage. Like Hamas, ISIS readily made use of the population and civilian infrastructure to shield its operations and impact the conduct of military operations. Yet the United States was not accused of genocide before the ICJ for its operations against ISIS.
The challenge Israel faces is considerable: mitigating civilian harm in the face of extensive human shielding practices, including Hamas’s elaborate tunnel system, is a near-impossible task. And Hamas knows this. Every time Israel engages in restraint because of the presence of civilians is a win for Hamas, but every time Israel regrettably kills or harms a civilian as part of collateral damage is an even greater win for Hamas, given its objectives in the information space.
Israel does bear the legitimate burden of having to demonstrate to the world at large that its military operations obey the principle of proportionality: the tragic loss of civilian life in Gaza must be justified based on the balance of military advantage over the amount of collateral damage being sustained. This is not directly relevant to the ICJ process, however, since the Court has jurisdiction only over claims of genocide, not over assertions of lack of proportionality. But by shielding its fighters deep under civilian infrastructure, where IDF forces cannot or dare not penetrate and ordinary weaponry does not make a dent, Hamas has (intentionally) created a situation where Israel can defend itself only if it uses heavy enough explosives to destroy the tunnel infrastructure. This set up increases the amount of collateral damage relative to military advantage. In other words, a greater number of civilians would be endangered in order to eliminate the same number of Hamas fighters, thus increasing the ratio of civilian to combatant casualty — posing a profound strategic dilemma for Israel.
Since a 2001 essay by Charles Dunlap, the term “Lawfare” has been used for dilemmas such as that faced by Israel in Gaza, namely the use of law as a weapon of war to achieve military aims not directly won through battle. In this case, lawfare involves two tactics: First, the use of legal concepts to prevent Israel from lawfully protecting itself without having to resort to the use of significant force to accomplish this same aim. Second, the very filing of the ICJ complaint against Israel is also an instance of lawfare.
That South Africa was willing to lend itself to this exercise in lawfare before the ICJ is in retrospect unsurprising, given the proximity that South Africa appears to bear towards Hamas. On the very day of the October 7 attack, South Africa issued a statement that appeared to blame Israel, as the Israeli legal team noted before the ICJ. The statement also called for an immediate cessation of any hostilities, seemingly denying Israel’s right to respond in self-defense. That South Africa simply denies that Israel has a right to self-defense against Hamas was clear from its statements to the Court. As the South African Delegation said: “What Israel is doing in Gaza, it is doing in territory under its own control. Its actions are enforcing its occupation. The law on self-defence under Article 51 of the United Nations Charter has no application.”
Moreover, ten days after the October 7 attacks, the South African Foreign Minister Naledi Pandor called Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh, the purpose of which call is disputed, but which Haniyeh claimed was to lend support. And though the South Africa-Hamas efforts did not succeed in forcing Israel to accept a unilateral ceasefire, the ICJ decision suggests that the Court will unintentionally lend itself to the efforts of terrorist organizations to gain military mileage against states by accessing the Court through sympathetic state partners.
One final note for those who have thought South Africa spoke with moral vision on the topic of genocide. Within the same month before filing its complaint before the ICJ, South Africa was warming its relations with accused war criminals. That December, “President Cyril Ramaphosa played host to Muhammad Hamdan Dagalo, a Sudanese warlord whose Janjaweed militia and its successor are accused of genocide and war crimes in Darfur,” as The Economist noted, and South African officials were praising China for its treatment of ethnic minorities in Xinjiang, as Ken Roth and others have pointed out. Moreover, South Africa’s application to the ICJ, which highlights the responsibility of third-party states to prevent genocide, makes no mention of the clear obligation all states have to counter Hamas’s genocidal campaign. Indeed, South Africa’s application hardly mentions Hamas at all.
While the question of whether Israel is committing genocide in the war will not be settled for many years, the ICJ provisional measures signal that Hamas is at the very least winning the information war it set out to wage. Ensuring that Israel cannot defend itself without killing Palestinian civilians in large numbers, and then having a friendly state insist that that court rule Israel’s self-defensive actions illegitimate are precisely the spoils of the information war Hamas was seeking. The ICJ risks its own legitimacy by playing into the hands of a terrorist organization to disable the victim state from exercising its legal right to defend itself properly under international law.
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https://www.justsecurity.org/91517/why-the-icj-ruling-misses-the-mark-mitigating-civilian-harm-with-an-enemy-engaged-in-human-shielding/
| 2024-01-30T00:28:59
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The Lander City Council will hold a special meeting at 6:30 p.m. Monday, Jan. 29, in the City Council Chambers at 240 Lincoln Street.
The agenda includes one item: approve and authorize the mayor to sign a work-based learning program agreement with Equus Workforce Solutions of the Wind River Job Corps Center in Riverton.
During a work session last week, city staff said they’ve been working with the Job Corps to allow WRJC students to do projects in Lander.
For example, staff said the students could clear brush from the areas surrounding Lander City Park in order to provide more safety and visibility for law enforcement and fire protection.
“I love the idea,” Councilmember Missy White said at the time, asking if the students could also be put to work at the new Popo Agie River Park.
The agreement with Equus notes that WRJC students “are considered employees of the federal government,” and that a work-based learning coordinator will be “responsible for monitoring and working closely with the students and employers to provide training, weekly evaluations, and conflict resolution.”
Staff said the city would pay for the equipment fuel required perform the local projects.
Monday’s meeting is open to the public for in-person attendance and will be streamed live on Zoom (Meeting ID: 838 2977 2340 Passcode: 126848).
Past meeting recordings are available here.
For more information call the City of Lander at 332-2870.
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https://county10.com/lander-city-council-to-consider-new-program-agreement-with-wind-river-job-corps-during-special-meeting-monday/
| 2024-01-30T00:28:59
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The 1987 New York Giants Roster: A Glimpse into an Iconic Era of Football
The New York Giants have a long and storied history in the National Football League (NFL), but few seasons stand out quite like the 1987 campaign. Led by head coach Bill Parcells and boasting a talented roster, the Giants achieved greatness that year, ultimately winning Super Bowl XXI. In this article, we will explore the 1987 New York Giants roster, uncovering interesting facts, tricks, and answering common questions about this legendary team.
Interesting Facts:
1. Lawrence Taylor’s Dominance: The 1987 Giants roster was anchored by the incomparable Lawrence Taylor. The linebacker was a force to be reckoned with, earning the NFL’s Most Valuable Player award that season. Taylor’s incredible performance not only solidified his place as one of the greatest defensive players of all time but also contributed significantly to the team’s success.
2. Phil Simms’ Super Bowl MVP: Phil Simms, the Giants’ quarterback, had a standout year in 1987. His performance in Super Bowl XXI was particularly memorable, as he completed a record 88% of his passes, throwing for 268 yards and three touchdowns. This outstanding display earned him the Super Bowl MVP title, capping off an incredible season.
3. The “Big Blue Wrecking Crew”: The Giants’ defense, known as the “Big Blue Wrecking Crew,” was a formidable force in 1987. With stars like Carl Banks, Leonard Marshall, and Harry Carson, the defense allowed an average of just 14.8 points per game throughout the regular season, the fewest in the NFL that year.
4. Joe Morris’ Record-Breaking Season: Running back Joe Morris had a breakout year in 1987, setting a franchise record for rushing yards in a single season with 1,516. His powerful running style and ability to break tackles made him a vital asset to the Giants’ offense.
5. The Replacement Players’ Contribution: The 1987 season was marred by a player strike that resulted in the cancellation of one game and the use of replacement players for three others. While some teams struggled with these replacements, the Giants managed to win all three games played during the strike, showcasing the depth and resilience of their roster.
Tricks:
1. The Power of the Run Game: The 1987 Giants relied heavily on their running backs, Joe Morris and Ottis Anderson, to control the game. By establishing a dominant ground attack, they could control the clock, wear down opposing defenses, and set up play-action passes for Simms.
2. The Defensive Game Plan: Defensive coordinator Bill Belichick devised a brilliant game plan for the Giants’ defense. By utilizing a combination of blitzes, stunts, and coverage schemes, the defense consistently disrupted opposing offenses, leading to turnovers and sacks.
3. The 3-4 Defensive Alignment: The Giants employed a 3-4 defensive alignment, which was unusual at the time. This alignment allowed them to maximize the talents of their linebackers, particularly Lawrence Taylor, who wreaked havoc on quarterbacks throughout the season.
4. The Utilization of Tight Ends: The Giants utilized their tight ends, Mark Bavaro and Zeke Mowatt, in their passing game effectively. Simms often targeted them in crucial situations, exploiting mismatches and creating opportunities for big plays.
5. Special Teams Excellence: The Giants’ special teams unit was exceptional in 1987. Led by standout players such as kick returner Phil McConkey and punter Sean Landeta, the special teams consistently provided excellent field position for the offense and prevented opponents from gaining an advantage.
Common Questions and Answers:
1. Who was the head coach of the 1987 New York Giants?
The head coach of the 1987 Giants was Bill Parcells.
2. Who was the star player on the 1987 Giants?
Lawrence Taylor, the dominant linebacker, was the star player of the team.
3. How did the Giants perform in the regular season in 1987?
The Giants finished the regular season with a record of 6 wins and 9 losses.
4. What was the Giants’ path to Super Bowl XXI?
The Giants won three playoff games to reach Super Bowl XXI, defeating the San Francisco 49ers, the Washington Redskins, and the Denver Broncos.
5. Who was the Super Bowl MVP in 1987?
Phil Simms, the Giants’ quarterback, was named the Super Bowl MVP in 1987.
6. What made Lawrence Taylor such a dominant player?
Lawrence Taylor possessed a rare combination of speed, strength, and football IQ. His ability to disrupt plays and intimidate opponents made him a game-changer.
7. How did the Giants’ defense perform in 1987?
The Giants’ defense was dominant in 1987, allowing the fewest points per game in the NFL that season.
8. Who were the key offensive players for the Giants in 1987?
Phil Simms, Joe Morris, and Mark Bavaro were key offensive players for the Giants in 1987.
9. How did the Giants adapt during the player strike in 1987?
The Giants managed to win all three games played during the player strike by utilizing replacement players effectively.
10. What impact did Bill Belichick have on the Giants’ defense in 1987?
Bill Belichick’s defensive strategies and game plans played a significant role in the success of the Giants’ defense in 1987.
11. Did any Giants players achieve individual records in 1987?
Yes, Joe Morris set a franchise record for rushing yards in a single season with 1,516.
12. How did the Giants’ special teams contribute to their success in 1987?
The Giants’ special teams consistently provided excellent field position for the offense and prevented opponents from gaining an advantage.
13. What were the key moments in the Giants’ Super Bowl victory in 1987?
Phil Simms’ record-breaking performance, the defense’s ability to contain the Broncos’ high-powered offense, and the Giants’ overall dominance throughout the game were the key moments in their Super Bowl victory.
14. Did the 1987 Giants have any notable injuries during the season?
Yes, Phil Simms suffered a broken foot in Week 14 but returned for the playoffs.
15. What legacy did the 1987 New York Giants leave behind?
The 1987 Giants left a lasting legacy as one of the greatest teams in franchise history. Their Super Bowl victory showcased the team’s resilience, strong defense, and the brilliance of their coaching staff.
Final Thoughts:
The 1987 New York Giants roster represents a golden era in the franchise’s history. Led by the legendary Lawrence Taylor and guided by the coaching brilliance of Bill Parcells and Bill Belichick, this team showcased exceptional talent, resilience, and tactical mastery. The 1987 season will forever be remembered as the year the Giants achieved greatness, culminating in their Super Bowl XXI victory. As fans look back on this iconic era, they are reminded of the indomitable spirit of the New York Giants and the legacy they left behind.
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https://jstationx.com/1987-new-york-giants-roster/
| 2024-01-30T00:28:59
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Energy industry procurement firm Craig International has reported more than 60% growth in turnover, while almost doubling profits for the year ending April 2023.
The accounts lodged by holding company Craig Group revealed that turnover has grown from £116m to £188m, while operating profits have risen from just over £1m to £2.7m during the period.
Almost 80% of turnover is attributable to international operations, with significant growth coming from existing and new customers in North America and the Middle East.
During the year, Craig International invested in new headquarters in Aberdeen, with the 10,000 sq ft site doubling the size of its former offices.
Company chair Douglas Craig said: “These results underline the success of our investment in expanding our business into regions where there is the strongest growth potential.
“We have been investing in and committing to on-the-ground resources to provide the most cost-efficient, sustainable and quality end-to-end procurement solutions to existing and new customers.
“Our approach, combining over 25 years procurement experience with innovative digital platforms, not only delivers efficiencies for our customers, but has also resulted in stronger margins for the group, which has enabled us to increase operating profits, despite negative exchange rate movements and increases in interest rates and costs.”
He continued: “On the back of success in North America and the Middle East, we have been exploring opportunities in the fast-growing energy markets in Australia and South East Asia.
“In the current financial year, we have invested in two new bases in Singapore and Perth, Western Australia.“
Craig added: “The North Sea, which accounts for around £40m of our revenues, has seen improved market conditions and we have retained our leading position, commanding about 70% of the market.”
With 160 staff, Craig International has a global network of pre-qualified suppliers and more than 100 procurement specialists in 10 countries.
Don't miss the latest headlines with our twice-daily newsletter - sign up here for free.
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https://www.insider.co.uk/company-results-forecasts/international-growth-doubles-profits-craig-31992267
| 2024-01-30T00:28:59
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3rd body found near site of Half Moon Bay plane crash
HALF MOON BAY – A body was found Sunday off the coast of Half Moon Bay where a small plane crashed earlier this month, but authorities haven't said yet whether the person is connected to the downed aircraft.
There were four people on the Cozy Mark IV aircraft that went into the ocean on Jan. 14, authorities said. So far the bodies of two passengers have been recovered: Cassidy Rae Petit, 26, and Emma Pearl Willmer-Shiles, 27. The bodies of pilot Lochie Ferrier and passenger Isaac Zimmern, have not yet been located.
A body found Sunday about 10:53 a.m. in the same area has not yet been identified, San Mateo County Sheriff's Office said.
According to an obituary published online by the Cote Funeral Home in Maine, where Petit was born, Petit was scheduled to be married to Ferrier in late January.
The crash is being investigated by the National Transportation Safety Board. A preliminary report will be released by Feb. 13, according to an NTSB spokesperson.
for more features.
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https://www.cbsnews.com/sanfrancisco/news/half-moon-bay-plane-crash-3rd-body-found-near-site/
| 2024-01-30T00:29:03
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Infants through teens all have the opportunity for special activities at the library in February.
Lego Enthusiasts can start the month off by coming to Lego Club to build creations with the library’s Legos.
Youth of all ages are welcome to drop in on February 8th and 22nd to play chess. Chess Club is growing and we are hoping to sponsor a chess tournament in the summer.
Teens in grades 7-12 are invited to CanTeen activities on Wednesdays from 3-5 pm.
Infants, toddlers, and preschoolers with their caregivers are invited to Enhanced Storytimes every Wednesday morning at 10:30 am. Or come dance to songs and stories at our monthly Storytime Dance party on February 16th.
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https://county10.com/lander-library-youth-activities-for-february/
| 2024-01-30T00:29:03
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NPR's Ari Shapiro speaks with Danny Werfel, commissioner of the Internal Revenue Service, about this year's tax filing season and the future of the IRS.
Copyright 2024 NPR
NPR's Ari Shapiro speaks with Danny Werfel, commissioner of the Internal Revenue Service, about this year's tax filing season and the future of the IRS.
Copyright 2024 NPR
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https://www.krcu.org/2024-01-29/irs-commissioner-says-he-wants-taxpayers-to-have-options-for-this-filing-season
| 2024-01-30T00:29:03
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Hanami, David Lord
BlueStem Jazz.
Info
Music
BlueStem Jazz.
ISTHMUS is © 2021 Isthmus Community Media, Inc. | All rights reserved. | Madison, Wisconsin | USA
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https://isthmus.com/events/hanami-david-lord/
| 2024-01-30T00:29:03
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A group called the "Islamic Resistance in Iraq" has claimed responsibility for a drone attack that killed three U.S. service members in Jordan. It creates a threat to the U.S. military in the region.
Copyright 2024 NPR
A group called the "Islamic Resistance in Iraq" has claimed responsibility for a drone attack that killed three U.S. service members in Jordan. It creates a threat to the U.S. military in the region.
Copyright 2024 NPR
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https://www.wvpe.org/2024-01-29/who-are-the-iranian-backed-militias-attacking-u-s-forces-in-jordan
| 2024-01-30T00:29:04
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Rishi Sunak sending mixed signals on climate change, say official advisers
The Government is not doing enough to meet its climate change obligations and the Prime Minister has “sent mixed signals” to international partners, his official advisers have warned.
The Climate Change Committee said perception of the UK around the world as a leader on green issues was hit after Rishi Sunak weakened some of the country’s policies.
“The international perception of the UK’s climate ambition suffered from mixed messages following announcements on new fossil fuel developments and the Prime Minister’s speech to soften some net zero policies,” the committee said.
It came in a report from the group into the progress made at the Cop28 summit in the United Arab Emirates in December.
As the world faced the hottest year on record and carbon dioxide emissions reached their highest level, negotiators made some progress at the meeting, the committee said, but the UK’s role at the forefront of global efforts to fight climate change was damaged.
“The Prime Minister’s net zero speech in September 2023, and decisions to approve a new coal mine and license new oil and gas production, have contributed to a perception of slowing UK climate ambition by members of the international community,” it said.
Mr Sunak has sent mixed messages on climate, the committee warned (Stefan Rousseau/PA)
“This is despite subsequent positive policy announcements.”
The positive announcements include a rule which effectively forces car and van manufacturers to ensure a Government-mandated proportion of their vehicles are electric.
There was also extra help for households to switch away from gas boilers and towards heat pumps, which run off electricity.
But the committee called for much more action to ensure the UK meets interim goals along the way to become net zero by 2050.
It said renewables had to be rapidly deployed, adding that the rollout of solar panels and onshore wind turbines is “progressing too slowly” because there are barriers in the planning regime and it takes too long to link to the electricity grid.
The Government and National Grid have recently started taking steps to speed up grid connections.
The committee also said the Government should limit more oil and gas from being produced from UK waters.
“Were all countries with fossil fuel reserves to increase future fossil fuel production, there would be an oversupply that would pose a risk to the aims of the Paris Agreement,” it said.
The committee said the rate of emissions reductions must quadruple from 1.2% to 4.7% a year, excluding electricity supply, and that tree planting and peatland restoration “have been too slow and urgently require scaling up to meet UK emissions reduction targets”.
Professor Piers Forster, interim chairman of the Climate Change Committee, said: “The UK played an important role in this hard-fought Cop28 outcome.
“We may be further into the decarbonisation journey than many nations, but the obligation on every country is now to push even harder.
“This also frames the economic challenge for the UK. We must rapidly replace fossil fuels with low-carbon alternatives to get back on track to meet our 2030 goal.
“The UK could set a powerful example of tackling climate change and reducing our insecurity to climate impacts.
“The new global adaptation framework goes further than our own so I urge the Government to lean into its global role with an even stronger demonstration of domestic ambition.”
The Government said: “The UK is leading international action, delivering an agreement to transition away from fossil fuels and as one of the largest contributors to the loss and damage fund.
“We are the first major economy to halve our emissions, have some of the world’s most ambitious legally binding targets, and have over delivered on every carbon budget to date, while our significant investment in the UK’s world-leading clean energy sector – with 40% of our electricity now renewable compared to just 7% in 2010 – is bolstering our energy security.”
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https://www.dailymail.co.uk/wires/pa/article-13021275/Rishi-Sunak-sending-mixed-signals-climate-change-say-official-advisers.html?ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490&ito=1490
| 2024-01-30T00:29:05
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Signup to receive the Early Edition in your inbox here.
A curated weekday guide to major news and developments over the weekend. Here’s today’s news
IRAN-BACKED MILITANTS
President Biden vowed yesterday to respond after three U.S. troops were killed and 34 injured in a drone attack in Jordan carried out by “radical Iran-backed militant groups” on a U.S. patrol base. The Pentagon called the strike a “One-Way ‘Suicide’ Drone Attack on a Patrol Base” near the Syrian and Iraqi border in northeastern Jordan. Nick Robertson reports for The Hill.
An Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson dismissed the U.S. accusation about Tehran’s involvement in yesterday’s drone attack on the U.S. base in Jordan as “baseless.” Nasser Kanani insisted Iran was “not involved in the decision making of Resistance groups” in how they “defend Palestinians or their own countries.” BBC News reports.
ISRAEL-HAMAS WAR
Israeli military and intelligence officials have concluded that a large number of weapons used by Hamas in the Oct. 7 attacks and in the war came from the Israeli military itself. While analysts have long pointed to underground smuggling routes, recent intelligence shows that Hamas has been able to build rockets and anti-tank weaponry out of the thousands of munitions launched into Gaza by Israel that failed to detonate, according to weapons experts and Israeli and Western intelligence officials. Maria Abi-Habib and Sheera Frenkel report for the New York Times.
Several right-wing Israeli ministers attended a conference yesterday calling for Israelis’ “resettlement” of Gaza, with National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich delivering keynote speeches. The conference, dubbed “Settlement Brings Security,” was led in part by the Nachala organization, a group endorsing the expansion of Jewish settlements. The event called for Israel to rebuild settlements in both Gaza and northern parts of the occupied West Bank. Chantal Da Silva reports for NBC News.
Israel said “significant gaps” remain after ceasefire talks yesterday with the United States, Qatar, and Egypt but called the talks constructive and said they will continue over the next week, a tentative sign of progress on a potential agreement that would see Israel pause military operations against Hamas for an extended period of time in exchange for releasing the remaining hostages. Najib Jobain, Wafaa Shurafa and Melanie Lidman report for AP News.
Israel ramped up efforts yesterday to prevent Israeli protesters from blocking the flow of aid into Gaza, two days after the International Court of Justice said it must allow more supplies to enter the enclave. The military declared the area around the border crossing into Gaza a closed military zone. The order is intended to bar access to all unauthorized people and will remain in force through next Saturday. Isabel Kershner reports for the New York Times.
ISRAEL-HAMAS WAR — REGIONAL RESPONSE
Senior national security officials from Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Egypt, and the Palestinian Authority secretly met in Riyadh 10 days ago to coordinate plans for the day after the war in Gaza ends and to discuss how a revitalized Palestinian Authority could govern the region, according to three sources with knowledge of the meeting. The Saudi, Egyptian and Jordanian security chiefs told Majed Faraj, director of the Palestinian general intelligence service, the Palestinian Authority needs to conduct serious reforms that will enable it to revitalize its political leadership, the sources said. Two sources said U.S. and Israeli officials were briefed on the discussions by some of the participants. Barak Ravid reports for Axios.
ISRAEL-HAMAS WAR — INTERNATIONAL RESPONSE
Several countries have suspended funding for the U.N. Agency for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA) after the agency announced it fired several staff over allegations they were involved in the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks. The donor countries suspending aid include Australia, Canada, Finland, Italy, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Germany, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Established in 1949, UNRWA is the largest UN agency operating in Gaza and employs around 13,000 people inside the enclave. Sarah Fowler and Lipika Pelham report for BBC News.
UNRWA said it could be forced to suspend its operations if donor states do not reinstate funding they recently paused over allegations that some of the agency’s staff participated in the Oct. 7 attacks. “I urge countries who have suspended their funding to reconsider their decisions before UNRWA is forced to suspend its humanitarian response,” the agency’s Commissioner General, Philippe Lazzarini, said in a statement. “The lives of people in Gaza depend on this support and so does regional stability.” Omar Abdel-Baqui and David Luhnow report for the Wall Street Journal.
Uganda has distanced itself from an opinion written by a Ugandan judge serving at the International Court of Justice who dissented from the panel’s ruling on South Africa’s genocide case against Israel. “The position taken by Judge Sebutinde is her own individual and independent opinion, and does not in any way reflect the position of the government of the republic of Uganda,” the government said. Judge Sebutinde was the only judge out of the 17-member panel to vote against all six measures adopted by the court ordering Israel to prevent acts of genocide and ensure humanitarian relief as it battles Hamas militants in the Gaza Strip. Reuters reports.
ISRAEL-HAMAS WAR — U.S. RESPONSE
The Biden administration is discussing leveraging arms sales to Israel to convince the Israeli government to scale back its military campaign in Gaza, according to three current U.S. officials and one former U.S. official. At the direction of the White House, the Pentagon has been reviewing what weaponry Israel has requested that could be used as leverage, the sources said, adding that Israeli officials continue to ask for more weapons including aerial bombs, ammunition, and air defenses. Carol E. Lee and Courtney Kube report for NBC News.
Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is facing criticism after suggesting some pro-Palestinain protesters are “connected to Russia.” Pelosi said yesterday on CNN’s “State of the Union” that “for them to call for a ceasefire is Mr. Putin’s message.” Aileen Graef reports for CNN.
IRAN-PAKISTAN TENSIONS
Iran’s foreign minister Hossein Amirabdollahian landed in Pakistan today for “in-depth talks” on de-escalating tensions following the deadly airstrikes by Tehran and Islamabad earlier this month that killed at least 11 people. Both ministers are expected to hold a joint news conference later today. Munir Ahmed reports for AP News.
MILITARY CONFLICT WITH HOUTHIS
Yemen’s Houthis claimed they launched a missile at a U.S. warship in the Gulf of Aden yesterday evening. The operation was part of “military measures in defense of Yemen, reaffirmation of the decision to support the oppressed Palestinian people,” military spokesperson Yahya Sarea said. Meanwhile, a U.S. Defense official rejected the Houthi claims and said there had not been any reported attacks on Washington’s vessels. BBC News reports.
GLOBAL DEVELOPMENTS
Iran executed today four men convicted of planning sabotage and having alleged links with Israel’s Mossad secret service, according to the official IRNA news agency media. The State-run outlet reported the men were convicted of conspiring to target a factory in 2022 owned by Iran’s defense ministry, with the operation allegedly engineered by Mossad. AP News reports.
The self-styled Islamic State militant group has claimed responsibility for a shooting at a Catholic Church in Istanbul yesterday during Sunday mass that killed one person. Turkey’s interior minister later said on X that the two murder suspects had been captured, without providing details on the motive of the attack. Orla Guerin and Lipika Pelham report for BBC News.
U.S. and Chinese officials will meet in Beijing tomorrow to convene a working group designed to crack down on the trafficking of fentanyl and other synthetic drugs targeting U.S. users. A senior White House administration official said yesterday that this is a “platform for ongoing coordination to support concrete enforcement actions with the goal of countering the evolving threat of synthetic drugs.” Cate Cadell reports for the Washington Post.
The Philippines denied that China had a “special temporary arrangement” with Manila to allow for delivery supplies to Philippine troops in the South China reef, calling the claims a “figment of imagination.” Reuters reports.
Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso have announced they are leaving the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). The junta-led countries had already been suspended from the bloc, which has been urging them to return to civilian rule. Vicky Wong reports for BBC News.
The U.N. Security Council is due to meet to discuss tensions between Somalia and Ethiopia over a controversial port deal with the self-declared Republic of Somaliland. BBC News reports.
The E.U. will deliberately harm Hungary’s economy if it blocks fresh aid to Ukraine at this week’s summit under a confidential plan drawn up by Brussels, according to the Financial Times. The strategy will explicitly target Hungary’s economic weaknesses, imperil its currency, and shake investor confidence if it refuses to lift its veto on aid to Kyiv. Reuters reports.
Former Prime Minister Alexander Stubb won the first round of Finland’s presidential election yesterday and will face ex-foreign minister Pekka Haavisto in a runoff next month. The vote focused on the country’s role as a NATO country and Russia’s assault on Ukraine. The president of Finland holds executive power in formulating foreign and security policy, unlike most other european countries. Jari Tanner reports for AP News.
RUSSIA-UKRAINE DEVELOPMENTS
Ukraine’s security service said it uncovered corruption in an arms purchase by the military worth around $40 million. The security agency said five seniors in the defense ministry and an arms supplier were under investigation, adding that the defense officials signed a contract for 100,000 mortar shells in August 2022, but no arms were ever provided despite payment being made in advance. George Wright reports for BBC News.
Ukrainian officials have warned that Russia is conducting offensive operations along the frontline, with Ukraine’s military trying to hold its position as ammunition runs low and U.S. funding remains stalled in the U.S. Congress. “The enemy is amassing forces … they assault every day,” Sergeant Oles Maliarevych of the 92nd Separate Brigade said. Andrew Carey, Maria Kostenko, and Christian Edwards report for CNN.
DOMESTIC DEVELOPMENTS
U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin is expected to return to the Pentagon today after nearly a month away and will host NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg, according to a defense official. Austin was admitted to the hospital on Jan. 1 due to complications from surgery to treat prostate cancer. “Beyond planned physical therapy and regular post-prostatectomy follow up appointments, he has no planned further treatment for his cancer,” Austin’s medical team said. Oren Liebermann reports for CNN.
House Republicans released articles of impeachment against Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas yesterday, blaming him for the increase in illegal border crossing and fentanyl trafficking. The House Homeland Security committee will consider the impeachment articles tomorrow, with Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) vowing a floor vote “as soon as possible” after that. Democrats and legal experts have criticized the move, saying Republicans have failed to show that Mayorkas has committed any high crimes and misdemeanors, the constitutional standard for impeachment. Stef W. Knight reports for Axios.
|
https://www.justsecurity.org/91520/early-edition-january-29-2024/
| 2024-01-30T00:29:05
|
Title: The 1990 Kansas City Chiefs Roster: A Glimpse into the Past Glory
Introduction:
The 1990 Kansas City Chiefs roster is a valuable piece of NFL history, providing a fascinating look back at a team that left an indelible mark on the sport. In this article, we will delve into the specifics of the Chiefs’ roster from that season, highlighting five interesting facts and tricks that defined their success. Furthermore, we will address 15 common questions about the team and conclude with some final thoughts on their impact.
Five Interesting Facts and Tricks:
1. Marty Schottenheimer’s Leadership:
Head coach Marty Schottenheimer played a pivotal role in the Chiefs’ success during the 1990 season. Known for his no-nonsense approach, Schottenheimer instilled a disciplined culture within the team, setting high standards for performance. His leadership style motivated players to give their all on the field, resulting in a cohesive and determined team.
2. The Dynamic Offense:
The Chiefs boasted an impressive offense during the 1990 season, anchored by quarterback Steve DeBerg. DeBerg was a seasoned veteran who possessed exceptional accuracy and decision-making abilities. He led the team to a remarkable 11-5 record, throwing for over 3,400 yards and 23 touchdowns. DeBerg’s ability to read defenses and make quick decisions was a major factor in the team’s offensive success.
3. Derrick Thomas’ Dominance:
Linebacker Derrick Thomas was undoubtedly the defensive star of the 1990 Chiefs. With his incredible speed and agility, Thomas wreaked havoc on opposing offenses, recording an astonishing 20 sacks during the season. His ability to disrupt plays and pressure quarterbacks made him a force to be reckoned with and earned him the NFL Defensive Player of the Year award.
4. Christian Okoye’s Power Running:
Running back Christian Okoye, nicknamed the “Nigerian Nightmare,” was an integral part of the Chiefs’ offense in 1990. Standing at 6’1″ and weighing over 250 pounds, Okoye was a formidable presence on the field. His powerful running style, combined with impressive speed, allowed him to bulldoze through defenders, making him a nightmare to tackle. Okoye rushed for over 1,000 yards and scored 12 touchdowns that season.
5. Successful Postseason Run:
The Chiefs’ strong regular-season performance earned them a spot in the playoffs as a wild card team. They defeated the Miami Dolphins in the Wild Card round before a memorable matchup against the Los Angeles Raiders in the divisional round. In a nail-biting game, the Chiefs won 27-24 in overtime, thanks to a field goal by kicker Nick Lowery. However, their playoff run ended in the AFC Championship game with a loss to the Buffalo Bills.
15 Common Questions about the 1990 Kansas City Chiefs Roster:
1. Who was the head coach of the 1990 Kansas City Chiefs?
Marty Schottenheimer was the head coach of the Chiefs during the 1990 season.
2. Who was the starting quarterback?
Steve DeBerg was the starting quarterback for the Chiefs in 1990.
3. Which player won the NFL Defensive Player of the Year award?
Linebacker Derrick Thomas was awarded the NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 1990.
4. Who was the standout running back for the Chiefs?
Christian Okoye, known as the “Nigerian Nightmare,” was the standout running back for the Chiefs in 1990.
5. How many sacks did Derrick Thomas record in the 1990 season?
Derrick Thomas recorded an impressive 20 sacks in the 1990 season.
6. What was the Chiefs’ regular-season record in 1990?
The Chiefs finished the regular season with an 11-5 record.
7. Who did the Chiefs face in the playoffs?
The Chiefs faced the Miami Dolphins in the Wild Card round and the Los Angeles Raiders in the divisional round of the playoffs.
8. Did the Chiefs win their playoff games in 1990?
Yes, the Chiefs won both their playoff games against the Dolphins and the Raiders.
9. Who scored the game-winning field goal in the Chiefs’ playoff victory over the Raiders?
Kicker Nick Lowery made the game-winning field goal in the Chiefs’ playoff victory over the Raiders.
10. Which team ended the Chiefs’ playoff run in 1990?
The Buffalo Bills ended the Chiefs’ playoff run in the AFC Championship game.
11. Did any players from the 1990 Chiefs roster make the Pro Bowl?
Yes, several players from the 1990 Chiefs roster made the Pro Bowl, including Steve DeBerg, Derrick Thomas, and Christian Okoye.
12. How many passing yards did Steve DeBerg accumulate in the 1990 season?
Steve DeBerg threw for over 3,400 yards in the 1990 season.
13. What was the Chiefs’ offensive ranking in the 1990 season?
The Chiefs’ offense ranked 11th in the league in the 1990 season.
14. Who led the Chiefs in receiving yards in 1990?
Wide receiver Stephone Paige led the Chiefs in receiving yards in 1990, with over 1,000 yards.
15. Did any players from the 1990 Chiefs roster make the Hall of Fame?
Yes, both Derrick Thomas and Christian Okoye were inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Final Thoughts:
The 1990 Kansas City Chiefs roster serves as a reminder of the team’s past glory and the remarkable individuals who contributed to their success. Led by Marty Schottenheimer’s disciplined coaching, the Chiefs showcased an explosive offense and a dominant defense. With players like Steve DeBerg, Derrick Thomas, and Christian Okoye, the team left an indelible mark on NFL history. Though their playoff run ended in defeat, their achievements and the memories they created will forever be cherished by Chiefs fans.
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https://jstationx.com/1990-kansas-city-chiefs-roster/
| 2024-01-30T00:29:06
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Konosuke Takeshita
D.O.B.: May 29, 1995
Billed height: 6-foot-2
Billed weight: 231 pounds
Billed from: Osaka, Japan
Signature moves: Wall Of Takeshita and Blue Thunder
Nickname: "The Future"
AEW accolades
AEW debut: April 12, 2021
Other notes
D.O.B.: May 29, 1995
Billed height: 6-foot-2
Billed weight: 231 pounds
Billed from: Osaka, Japan
Signature moves: Wall Of Takeshita and Blue Thunder
Nickname: "The Future"
AEW accolades
AEW debut: April 12, 2021
Other notes
|
https://africa.espn.com/aew/story/_/id/39417499/aew-profile-page-konosuke-takeshita
| 2024-01-30T00:29:08
|
DCU Casts House Of The Dragon's Milly Alcock As Supergirl
After weeks of speculation, it looks like the next fragment of James Gunn's DC Universe has fallen into place: the latest Supergirl has been crowned. The role of Kara Zor-El, Superman's cousin, will be portrayed by Milly Alcock per TheWrap and Deadline. The Australian performer is best known for her work in HBO's "House of the Dragon," where she portrayed the younger Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen.
The battle for the role was certainly a pitched one, with Milly Alcock and Meg Donnelly reportedly being in the final running for the part. The character is slated to make her debut in Gunn's upcoming Superman film, "Superman: Legacy," to be released in 2025. A version of the character was previously played by Sasha Calle in 2023's "The Flash," though the decision was made to recast the role for the revamped DCU.
Eventually, Kara will headline the film "Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow," based on the DC Comic of the same name. The Ana Nogueira-penned film does not have a release date or a director attached yet. While we wait to find out what the future has in store for the character, here's some background on Supergirl's DC Comics history.
Supergirl has a long history in DC Comics
While Kara Zor-El did exist in the DC Extended Universe, Milly Alcock will obviously have a brand-new start in James Gunn's DC Universe. Supergirl's headlining film will be based on "Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow," a Tom King-penned comic book series featuring Kara trying to regain her mojo. Stuck on Earth — having been sent to protect Superman, only to discover that he's grown to manhood without any need of assistance from home — she has no idea what her purpose is and what it is to be a superheroine who isn't seen as some reflection of Clark Kent's greatness.
Of course, Supergirl has had a long and storied history in the pages of DC Comics going all the way back to 1959. While she may be most easily identified as Superman's Krypton cousin, she has also had plenty of adventures of her own. During her run in the comics she joined the Justice League, nearly died of kryptonite poisoning, and defeated Cyborg Superman. There will be no shortage of material to draw from for the DCU's own version of the character.
Audience members will have to wait a while to see how Alcock fares and how well the character translates to the big screen. We'll get a first-hand look when "Superman: Legacy" hits theaters in 2025.
|
https://www.looper.com/1501294/dcu-casts-house-of-the-dragon-milly-alcock-james-gunn-supergirl/
| 2024-01-30T00:29:08
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The Biden administration said it will respond after three U.S. service members were killed in a drone attack in Jordan. But any kind of military action in the volatile region carries its own risks.
Copyright 2024 NPR
The Biden administration said it will respond after three U.S. service members were killed in a drone attack in Jordan. But any kind of military action in the volatile region carries its own risks.
Copyright 2024 NPR
|
https://www.kbia.org/2024-01-29/after-jordan-attack-white-house-says-it-doesnt-seek-war-but-vows-to-respond
| 2024-01-30T00:29:08
|
Here are America's most and least expensive neighborhoods per square foot
House hunters frequently consider price per square foot when they're shopping for real estate because the figure can provide value comparisons with other properties in the same area.
But looking at a neighborhood's average selling price on a square-foot basis can also shed some insight into where America's priciest and cheapest real estate is located.
A new report from home warranty company American Home Shield finds that the nation's most expensive neighborhoods are located in California, Florida and New York, while the cheapest zip codes can be found in the Rust Belt and the South. While those cheaper locations might provide more affordable properties, they could come with some downsides, such as a lack of job opportunities or housing choices.
Still, buyers can save a lot of money by opting for a neighborhood with a lower per-square-foot sales price. The difference between the most expensive neighborhood and the least costly place to buy a home is $5,386 per square foot, AHS' findings show.
The most expensive American neighborhood: San Francisco's South of Market, a zip code that's home to tech giants such as Airbnb and Uber. South of Market's median household income is about $104,440, higher than the median U.S. household income of about $75,000.
Buying a property in South of Market will cost about $5,415 per square foot — or about $5.4 million for a 1,000-square-foot apartment. In the cheapest location, Homewood, Pennsylvania, that same-sized home would cost about $29,000.
On a national basis, the median price per square foot is about $222, according to Rocket Mortgage. That equates to a purchase price of $222,000 for a 1,000 square-foot apartment.
Here's the most and least expensive places to buy a home in the U.S.
Least Expensive:
- Homewood, North Allegheny County, Pennsylvania - $29 per square foot
- West Jackson, Hinds County, Missouri - $32 per square foot
- Downtown Gary, Lake County, Indiana - $32 per square foot
- Metawanee Hills, Genesee County, Michigan - $32 per square foot
- Uptown Memphis, Shelby County, Tennessee - $33 per square foot
- Wells/Goodfellow, St. Louis City, Missouri - $33 per square foot
- Onyx, Lucas County, Ohio - $34 per square foot
- Queensborough, Caddo Parish, Louisiana - $35 per square foot
- Industry, Delaware County, Indiana - $35 per square foot
- Roosevelt, Lucas County, Ohio - $35 per square foot
Most Expensive:
- South of Market, San Francisco, California - $5,415 per square foot
- Northwest Auburn, Placer County, California - $4,416 per square foot
- Old Town Carpinteria, Santa Barbara County, California - $4,129 per square foot
- Downtown Bellevue, King County, Washington - $3,619 per square foot
- Port Royal, Collier County, Florida - $3,375 per square foot
- Aqualane Shares, Collier County, Florida - $3,132 per square foot
- Stinson Beach, Marin County, California - $2,988 per square foot
- Star, Palm & Hibiscus Islands, Miami/Dade County, Florida - $2,861 per square foot
- Crystal Cove, Orange County, California - $2,771 per square foot
- Casa del Largo, Palm Beach County, Florida - $2,754 per square foot
for more features.
|
https://www.cbsnews.com/sanfrancisco/news/real-estate-most-expensive-us-neighborhoods/
| 2024-01-30T00:29:09
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The Cubs appeared to be headed toward another deadline selloff until they won eight in a row in late July. That, along with Dansby Swanson’s reported plea to Jed Hoyer to not sell off every year, prompted the Cubs to make a couple of small “buy” deals at the deadline.
March 27: Acquired Carlos Guzman from the Tigers for Zach McKinstry
McKinstry was squeezed out of a spot on the Cubs roster because of some other acquistions, including Miles Mastrobuoni. Deemed expendable, he was shipped to Detroit for Guzman, who had originally signed as an infielder.
Guzman turns 26 in May and didn’t have a great year at Double-A Tennessee, where he’ll probably start 2024.
McKinstry batted .231/.302/.351 in 148 games for the Tigers, basically a full-time player playing all over the field, every position except first base and catcher, posting 1.1 bWAR.
For now, this deal is a winner for Detroit.
July 31: Acquired Jeimer Candelario from the Nationals for DJ Herz and Kevin Made
Reacquiring Candelario, who had been traded to Detroit in 2017, looked great for a while. He had four hits in each of his first two games with the Cubs and over his first nine games back in blue pinstripes he batted .485/.541/.727 (16-for-33) with five doubles and a home run.
Of course, no one can sustain that forever and his hitting fell off, then he got hurt and missed 13 games in September. I’m not saying it was all due to missing Candy, but the Cubs went 5-8 in those 13 games after going 8-5 in the 13 just before that. Could a healthy Candelario have helped push the Cubs another win or two in that stretch and got them to the postseason? We’ll never know.
Herz is 22 and Made is 20. Neither has played above Double-A, so it might be a couple years before we know if the Nats got anything useful from this deal. Both still have a chance to be good MLB players.
July 31: Acquired Jose Cuas from the Royals for Nelson Velázquez
Similar to Candelario, Velázquez went crazy in his first few games with his new team. In his first six games with the Royals, he hit .348/.348/.870 (8-for-23) with four home runs. He cooled off a bit after that, but still wound up with an .878 OPS and 14 home runs in 40 games in Kansas City.
He never seemed to get a real chance with the Cubs, so I’m glad he got one.
Cuas somehow managed to post an ERA of 0.90 in his first 10 games with the Cubs, but in those 10 games (10 innings) he issued 11 walks and seemed to always be pitching himself out of trouble he got himself into.
After that he cut down on the walks (just three in his last 13⅔ innings of 2023) but his ERA jumped to 4.61 over that span.
What to expect from him in 2024? ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
It would be nice if Cuas could be a useful part of the 2024 bullpen. If not, this deal is lopsided in favor of the Royals.
August 1: Acquired Josh Roberson from the Rays for Manuel Rodriguez and Adrian Sampson
I’m including this deal even though all three players were in the minor leagues at the time.
The Cubs got the Rays to take what was left on Sampson’s contract — and that appeared to matter for luxury tax calculations — in order for Tampa Bay to get Rodriguez. The Rays released Sampson two days later, and Roberson pitched five games for the Iowa Cubs with a 20.25 ERA (injured, maybe?) and was released September 6.
So that leaves ManRod as the only possible player who might contribute any value in this deal. He posted a 3.06 ERA and 1.302 WHIP in 15 games at Triple-A Durham in the Rays system. He’s on the Rays’ 40-man roster and I’d think they will give him every chance to make their Opening Day roster.
This one could be a big win for the Rays.
The Cubs didn’t get much from these deals so I’m going to give them a D grade.
Poll
Give the Cubs a grade for their 2023 trades
-
0%
A
(1 vote) -
3%
B
(5 votes) -
17%
C
(26 votes) -
35%
D
(52 votes) -
29%
F
(44 votes) -
13%
Incomplete
(20 votes)
|
https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2024/1/29/24048040/cubs-trades-expansion-era-2023
| 2024-01-30T00:29:08
|
(Lander, WY) – Dozens of spectators and dog sled race fans were in attendance yesterday, January 28, for the second stop of the 2024 Pedigree Stage Stop Dog Sled Race, which took place at the Louis Lake trailhead in the South Pass area of the Wind River Mountain range in Lander.
Following the laid back atmosphere of the race meet and greet the day prior, mushers and dogs alike had their game faces on as each team took to the trail, all while families enjoyed warm treats and some solid playtime in the snow before the race.
First time Stage Stop racer Remy Coste from France was the big winner at the race opener in Teton County the day before on January 27, which meant he was the last to take off on Sunday.
Coste wowed attendees with his extremely quiet and well-behaved dogs as his teams race countdown took place, and even more so when he let out the loud vocal command for the dogs to take off while he kicked off the ground for more power.
Five time defending champion Anny Malo took off moments before Coste thanks to her second place finish at the first stage, and ultimately went on to have the best time for the Lander stage, shaving off four and a half minutes from the Coste’s 00:06:44 lead.
Following Coste’s second place finish for the day, were Cathy Rivest from Quebec, Canada in third, Laura Bontrager from Newberry, Michigan in fourth, and Michael Tetzner from Burg, Germany in fifth.
For the complete breakdown of the Lander stage times and team info, click here, and you can hear more from a few of the mushers in the meet and greet article linked above.
The race headed to Pinedale today for the third stage at the Upper Green River trailhead, and will then move on to Big Piney/Marbleton.
Check out some photos and the video below of all the Pedigree Stage Stop fun!
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https://county10.com/photos-video-2024-pedigree-stage-stop-dog-sled-race-lander-stage/
| 2024-01-30T00:29:09
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An Israeli radio station is airing messages and songs to hostages in Gaza, while a Palestinian station broadcasts families' voice messages to relatives held in Israeli prisons.
Copyright 2024 NPR
An Israeli radio station is airing messages and songs to hostages in Gaza, while a Palestinian station broadcasts families' voice messages to relatives held in Israeli prisons.
Copyright 2024 NPR
|
https://www.krcu.org/2024-01-29/israeli-and-palestinian-radio-stations-broadcast-messages-for-locked-up-loved-ones
| 2024-01-30T00:29:09
|
Recent winter storms failed to produce the snow that farmers, cities and skiers rely on in much of the west. It's stirring climate change fears in snow-dependent economies.
Copyright 2024 NPR
Recent winter storms failed to produce the snow that farmers, cities and skiers rely on in much of the west. It's stirring climate change fears in snow-dependent economies.
Copyright 2024 NPR
|
https://www.wvpe.org/2024-01-29/winter-storms-in-the-west-have-lacked-enough-snow-for-communities-that-depend-on-it
| 2024-01-30T00:29:10
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GlobalData’s 2021–23 UK SME Insurance Surveys indicate that less than half of UK SMEs, of all sizes, believe that the cyber risk facing their business has increased since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic. In its Risk Barometer 2024 report, Allianz identifies cyber incidents as the most important business risk in 2024. Conveying cyber risk to clients continues to gain importance as geopolitical tensions and cybercriminal sophistication grow.
As per our 2021–23 UK SME Insurance Surveys, the cyber risk perceived to be facing a business is affected by the size of the company. Larger SMEs are considerably more aware of the growing cyber risk they face than sole traders. For sole traders, the perceived risk has grown steadily since 2021, with a 7.4 percentage-point increase in the share of sole traders saying that their cyber risks have increased since the pandemic. For microenterprises and small businesses, the figure is relatively unchanged year on year. Just over a quarter of microenterprises and just over a third of small companies believe the cyber risk they face has increased since the start of the pandemic. Medium companies are most likely to perceive that their cyber risk has increased, with a large increase in 2022 possibly linked to cyberattacks associated with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Still, less than 50% of medium-sized companies believe their cyber risk has increased since 2019, suggesting that more can be done to inform businesses more fully of cyber risks in the current age.
Allianz’s Risk Barometer 2024 finds that 36% of companies rank cyber risk as their top concern in 2024. The top concerns surrounding cyber risk are data breaches, cyber incidents involving critical infrastructure, and ransomware attacks. The emergence of generative AI is a key challenge for cybersecurity providers and insurers, enabling bad actors to produce more compelling threats as well as generate new strains of viruses at greater speeds. The emergence of highly believable deepfakes is also becoming a key challenge in the space.
Cyber risk is certainly one of the most pressing for businesses and insurers in 2024. GlobalData’s 2024 UK SME Insurance Survey reports that 54.4% of UK SMEs are concerned, to some extent, about cyber risk. Brokers and insurers must work to increase this figure as the trend of growing sophistication, speed, and adaptability of cybercriminals (state-sponsored or otherwise) looks set to continue, empowered by technological progress.
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https://www.lifeinsuranceinternational.com/analyst-comment/uk-smes-underestimate-the-cyber-risk-they-currently-face/
| 2024-01-30T00:29:08
|
The Hermit
to
Lola's Hi/Lo Lounge 617 N. Sherman Ave., Madison, Wisconsin 53704
media release: Andrew Pearce (aka The Hermit) is quickly making a name for himself in the Madison DJ scene for his funky blend of fresh downtempo grooves and acid jazz. Let him ease your soul and help you find your weekend groove as a backdrop to your late night eats and cocktails!
Info
Music
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https://isthmus.com/events/hermit-lolas/
| 2024-01-30T00:29:10
|
Baylor is finally retiring Brittney Griner’s jersey.
The Bears will retire Griner’s No. 42 jersey into the rafters at Foster Pavilion in Waco when they host Texas Tech on Feb. 18, the school announced on Monday. The Phoenix Mercury star led Baylor to a pair of Final Four appearances and an undefeated national championship run before she was selected with the No. 1 overall pick in the WNBA Draft in 2013.
"I'm honored to return home to Baylor and celebrate where so much of my journey started," Griner said in a statement, via ESPN. "I'm grateful to Coach Nicki [Collen] and the entire Baylor community and am looking forward to the opportunity to be back on campus, spend time with the team and have my family beside me to share in this incredible moment. Sic 'em Bears."
Griner is undoubtedly one of the best athletes to ever go through Baylor. She racked up 3,283 points, which is now the fourth-most all-time in Division-I women’s basketball, and 1,305 rebounds there. She’s also the NCAA career leader with 748 blocked shots. The Bears reached the Final Four twice under her watch, and they went a perfect 40-0 while winning the national championship when she was a junior.
Griner, however, has had a strained relationship with the university since her departure — largely due to former head coach Kim Mulkey, who is now at LSU. Griner and Mulkey have had a tumultuous relationship, and they had a falling out near the end of her collegiate career. Griner came out publicly as gay before the 2013 WNBA Draft, and said later that she was encouraged to keep quiet about her sexuality at Baylor, which is a private Baptist university. Mulkey had long said that Griner couldn't have her jersey retired until she graduated from Baylor, which she did in 2019.
Their relationship was brought back into the spotlight when Griner was detained in Russia for nearly a year in 2022. Mulkey was asked about Griner directly while she was in custody, and awkwardly cut off a reporter mid-question to say she wouldn't talk about it. She later issued a very brief statement about Griner's release.
Mulkey, who spent 21 seasons at Baylor, is now in her third season at LSU.
Since Mulkey is now gone, and Baylor is being led by head coach Nicki Collen, Griner’s jersey is finally being retired in Waco. She will be the seventh women’s player to have her jersey retired in program history.
"I have been saying this since I arrived at Baylor that she deserves to have her jersey retired and I wanted to make sure that happened when the timing was right," Collen said in a statement, via ESPN. "With the opening of Foster Pavilion, and the WNBA offseason fitting into our season, this seemed like the right time to honor Brittney and welcome her back home.
"She is one of the best basketball players in Baylor's history, and we're thrilled that the time has come to celebrate Brittney and all of her accomplishments."
|
https://www.kkyx.com/news/national/baylor-finally/26PNMJ73GPPNRLPYF7ANQR2D7U/
| 2024-01-30T00:29:08
|
2023 was a bleak year, says charity supporting women into employment
Women found it harder to get work last year and felt pressure to accept any job amid the cost-of-living crisis, according to a report from a charity helping people into employment.
More than two thirds (68%) of women spoken to by Smart Works, which dresses and coaches unemployed women for success at job interviews, said that in 2023 they had applied for lower paid and lower skilled work than they are qualified for.
This is up from 62% in the organisation’s report the previous year.
The Duchess of Sussex during a visit to Smart Works in London in 2019 (Clodagh Kilcoyne/PA)
The charity said its unemployment index showed an analysis of 3,784 conversations with those women it supported in 2023.
Smart Works, which has the Duchess of Sussex as a patron, said those it worked with reported feeling a pressure to accept any job amid the current cost-of-living crisis.
In the report, its chief executive Kate Stephens said: “To put it simply, 2023 was a bleak year.
“Our clients, all of different ages, ethnic backgrounds and communities, told us that they found it harder to secure work, despite applying for more jobs and attending more interviews.
“We have also heard about the pressure of the cost-of-living crisis and the desperation it is creating.
“More women are applying for lower skilled and lower paid jobs that they are overqualified for, because they simply have to secure something to make ends meet.”
The report found that clients spent less time unemployed before their appointment with the charity than in the 2022 pilot study – with 40% unemployed for more than a year, compared with 45% in 2022.
But Smart Works said clients reported that the pressure to accept any job ultimately meant people did not end up having the stability they had hoped for and sometimes found themselves quickly out of work again.
Just under two thirds (65%) of clients spoken to for the report went on to secure a job within a month of their appointment with the charity.
This figure rose to 68% among white women and fell to 63% for women from ethnic minority backgrounds.
Among people aged 50 and above, 60% got a job within a month of their appointment with the charity, while for those under 50 this rose to 67%.
The charity set out recommendations to employers which it said could help make the job market more accessible to women.
These included clear job descriptions with salary, location and options for flexibility listed upfront, an offer to reimburse costs associated with applications, and provision of useful and objective feedback to unsuccessful job applicants.
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https://www.dailymail.co.uk/wires/pa/article-13021279/2023-bleak-year-says-charity-supporting-women-employment.html?ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490&ito=1490
| 2024-01-30T00:29:12
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Republican politicians have embraced immigration as a potent political issue. In addition to making conventional arguments that the Biden administration’s border policies are bad and should move voters in the upcoming election to reject both President Joe Biden and Democrats generally, certain Republican state officials and members of Congress have taken to characterizing the increased flow of undocumented migrants as an “invasion” and to claiming that administration policies violate Article IV of the U.S. Constitution which provides that, “The United States shall … protect each [state] against invasion.”
Texas Governor Greg Abbot has used this “invasion” claim to justify open defiance of federal supremacy over control of the national border. And some Republicans pushing impeachment of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas have alleged that he violated the Constitution by failing to protect the states against the supposed immigrant “invasion” (although the most recent iteration of proposed articles of impeachment against Mayorkas does not rely on the constitutional “invasion” claim, instead claiming that Mayorkas “refused to comply” with federal immigration law, among other arguments).
The causes of and solutions for the current migration surge are fairly debatable. However, the claim that a large increase in the number of would-be migrants gaining entry at the southern border constitutes an “invasion” under Article IV is constitutional nonsense. It cannot be sustained by any reasonable reading of the text of the Constitution, the original understanding of the Constitution, or subsequent interpretations of the Constitution by courts or constitutional scholars.
“Invasion,” Insurrection, and Other Violent Threats at the Time of the U.S. Founding
Both the 1777 Articles of Confederation and the U.S. Constitution, composed ten years later, were not only frameworks of civil government but also, and critically, set out the terms of a military alliance between previously sovereign states confronted by external (and occasionally internal) military threats.
In 1777, the colonies which had the previous year declared themselves “Free and Independent States,” were perilously engaged in a shooting war against their former colonial overlord, Great Britain. Although by the time of the Philadelphia Constitutional Convention of 1787 independence had technically been won, the new United States were surrounded by territory occupied or claimed by acquisitive European imperial powers – British Canada on the north and Spain’s vast possessions to the south and west, with the French threatening reassertion of their prior claims to Louisiana and the Mississippi Valley. Moreover, U.S. coastwise and trans-Atlantic sea trade was vulnerable to vastly larger European navies. In addition, the newly independent states and their outlying western settlements warred intermittently with Native American tribes justifiably hostile to increasing European encroachment into their tribal territories.
The founding generation was also worried about two other kinds of military threat – armed insurrection against state governments from within or, strange though it may seem to us now, invasions of one state by another state or confederation of states. Accordingly, they wanted to ensure that the military resources of the entire union could be employed to suppress local insurrection or interstate aggression.
At the Constitutional Convention, multiple Framers repeatedly expressed the view that the Articles of Confederation required replacement because they provided the national government insufficient powers to defend the nation or individual states militarily against “foreign invasion” or domestic insurrections.
For example, at the outset of the Convention, Virginia Governor Edmund Randolph criticized the so-called New Jersey Plan for a new constitution by maintaining that its strong legislature and weak executive would yield military weakness. He said:
Originally, our Confederation was founded on the weakness of each state to repel a foreign enemy; and we have found that the powers granted to Congress are insufficient. The body of Congress is ineffectual to carry the great objects of safety and protection into execution. What would their powers be over the commander of the military, but for the virtue of the commander? . . . [Congress are] too numerous for an executive; nor can any additional powers be sufficient to enable them to protect us against foreign invasion. (emphasis added).
Randolph immediately went on to observe that, “Congress was intended to be a body to preserve peace among the states; and, in the rebellion of Massachusetts [Shay’s Rebellion of 1786-87], it was found that they were not authorized to use the troops of the Confederation to quell it.”
Later in the Convention, Massachusetts delegate Rufus King observed of the constitution under construction: “What are the great objects of the Genl. System? 1. difence agst. foreign invasion. 2. agst. internal sedition.” (emphasis added).
Throughout the Constitutional Convention and the state ratification debates that followed, delegates and commentators used the term “invasion” over and over. With a handful of exceptions where “invasion” is used metaphorically, as when referring to an “invasion of rights,” the word invariably refers to a hostile armed incursion into or against the territory of the states or the nation, an incursion that must be met with a military response.
For example, at the Convention, Alexander Hamilton disparaged continental examples of loose federal systems by saying:
Let us examine the federal institution of Germany. It was instituted upon the laudable principle of securing the independency of the several states of which it was composed, and to protect them against foreign invasion. Has it answered these good intentions? Do we not see that their councils are weak and distracted, and that it cannot prevent the wars and confusions which the respective electors carry on against each other? (emphasis added).
The Framers’ fundamental objective of creating a national government strong enough to repel foreign military incursions and armed domestic insurrections is manifest in the clauses that speak of “invasion” in the Constitution they drafted.
Uses of “Invasion” in the Text of the Constitution
The word “invasion” or “invaded” appears in four clauses of the U.S. Constitution, all of which relate to the military alliance aspect of the Constitution, or what we might now call its national security architecture. Whether considered individually or collectively, these four usages plainly refer to a hostile armed incursion into or against U.S. territory. Indeed, they cannot reasonably be understood any other way.
Article IV, Sec. 4:
The United States shall guarantee to every State in this Union a Republican Form of Government, and shall protect each of them against Invasion; and on Application of the Legislature, or of the Executive (when the Legislature cannot be convened) against domestic Violence.
Article IV contains the basic security guarantee that provided a primary inducement for the states to join in a constitutional union with strong national powers – the guarantee of mutual defense against both “invasion” from without, and upon special request, against “domestic violence,” i.e., insurrection or violent civil disturbances, from within.
In Madison’s discussion of Article IV in Federalist 44, he emphasizes that states require “protection against invasion” by both “foreign hostility” and potentially even aggressive fellow states of the union. Throughout Federalist 44, he speaks of both invasion and insurrectionary “domestic violence” as “bloody” events involving “military talents and experience” and “an appeal to the sword.”
Article I, Sec. 8:
The Congress shall have Power … To provide for calling forth the Militia to execute the Laws of the Union, suppress Insurrections and repel Invasions.
This clause prescribes the mode of military organization that the Founders – who opposed the maintenance of a national standing army – imagined would be employed to defend the nation and individual states against internal insurrections and foreign invasions: the power of the congress to call state militias into national service. Although the militia system has long since been superseded by a huge standing army (and navy and air force), not to speak of a vast military-industrial apparatus, that does not change the plain meaning of “invasions” in this clause – hostile armed incursions into or against U.S. territory that must be repelled with military force.
Article I, Section 10, cl. 3:
No State shall, without the Consent of Congress, lay any Duty of Tonnage, keep Troops, or Ships of War in time of Peace, enter into any Agreement or Compact with another State, or with a foreign Power, or engage in War, unless actually invaded, or in such imminent Danger as will not admit of delay.
Section 10 of Article I reserves to the national government exclusively the conduct of foreign policy. It also prohibits states from maintaining regular armies and navies in time of peace, and absolutely bars them from “engag[ing] in War, unless actually invaded, or in such imminent danger as will not admit of delay.”
In other words, the constitutional response to “invasion” is “war.” Section 10, when read together with the provision of Article I, Section 8, that grants Congress the power “to declare war,” confers the responsibility for national defense – for making war – on the national government. The Constitution leaves only one narrow exception for emergencies in which states can “engage in War” if they are “actually invaded” or under imminent threat of invasion or a “Danger” so great that it would merit war in response. Even then, the plain implication of the opening requirement of consent of Congress together with the concluding exception for dangers that “will not admit of delay” is that even a state “actually invaded” cannot make war on its own indefinitely, but must appeal to Congress as soon as possible for its consent and support.
Article I, Sec. 9, cl. 2:
The Privilege of the Writ of Habeas Corpus shall not be suspended, unless when in Cases of Rebellion or Invasion the public Safety may require it.
Article I, Section 9, concerns the basic Anglo-American right of habeas corpus – that is, the right to demand that a court determine whether there is a legal basis for criminal arrest and detention of every person. Section 9 decrees that this right can only be suspended in cases of “Rebellion or Invasion.” This special exception for rebellion and invasion recognizes that in times of actual armed conflict, normal legal protections may have to be suspended.
Post-Convention Discussion of “Invasion” as Used in the Constitution
In the Virginia ratifying convention, James Madison responded to criticism of the Constitution’s grant to the national government of the power to call state militia into national service by saying:
If insurrections should arise, or invasions should take place, the people ought unquestionably to be employed to suppress and repel them, rather than a standing army. The best way to do these things, was to put the militia on a good and sure footing. (Emphasis added).
Madison quite naturally thinks of invasions as well as insurrections as military events requiring an armed military response. Similarly, when Luther Martin, a delegate to the federal convention, later wrote of his concerns about the draft constitution to the Maryland convention, he noted that the power to “suppress insurrections and repel invasions” necessarily involves “calling forth the militia” and thus subjecting Maryland citizens “to military law.”
The Rhode Island convention ratified the constitution, with the proviso that its delegates to the first Congress should propose a series of amendments, the sixth of which provided, “That no person shall be compelled to do military duty otherwise than by voluntary enlistment, except in cases of general invasion.” (Emphasis added).
At no point in the Constitutional Convention or any of the state ratification debates does anyone, except when speaking metaphorically, employ “invasion” to describe a non-violent, non-military event. (For an excellent survey of the customary usages of “invasion” or “invade” during the founding era, supporting the conclusion that “invasion” meant “physical ingress into a state (entry) and the intent by the invader to act as an enemy to that state (enmity),” see this reportby Joshua Treviño of the conservative Texas Policy Foundation.)
More to the present point, absolutely no one at the Constitutional Convention or the state ratification debates used the word to connote the peaceful movement of immigrants (lawful or otherwise) from one country to another.
Post Founding-era debates on uses of “invasion” in the Constitution
“Invasion” in Article IV: Curiously, the question of whether an influx of migrants could count as an “invasion” actually arose within a decade of the ratification of the Constitution. In 1798, the Federalists in control of Congress passed the now-infamous set of statutes we know as the “Alien and Sedition Acts.” One of these, known colloquially as the “Alien Friends Act,” gave the President unilateral authority to expel any alien “he shall judge dangerous to the peace and safety of the United States.” Supporters of this legislation claimed that it was authorized by Article IV’s invasion clause. But, as law professor Ilya Somin has pointed out in a series of excellent posts rebutting the contention that peaceful immigration can be termed a constitutional “invasion,” James Madison rejected such claims in his Report of 1800, declaring unequivocally: “Invasion is an operation of war. To protect against invasion is an exercise of the power of war.”
“Invasion” in the Suspension Clause: There has been an immense amount of debate about the precise scope of the Suspension Clause. For example, does it implicitly create a right of habeas corpus independent of any statutory enactment? And whatever may be the scope of the right, who possesses the suspension power, Congress or the President? But there is no doubt that the suspension power is triggered only “in Cases of Rebellion or Invasion.”
As law professor Neal Katyal and then-judge-now-Justice Amy Coney Barrett noted in their article on the Suspension Clause:
The writ of habeas corpus has been suspended four times since the Constitution was ratified: throughout the entire country during the Civil War; in eleven South Carolina counties overrun by the Ku Klux Klan during Reconstruction; in two provinces of the Philippines during a 1905 insurrection; and in Hawaii after the bombing of Pearl Harbor.
Three of these suspensions responded to armed internal rebellions. Lincoln’s suspension of the writ during the Civil War is well known. The Reconstruction incident is not, but it illustrates perfectly how the Suspension Clause is restricted to armed violence. In response to rise of the KKK in the formerly Confederate south and its campaign of organized violence against Black freedmen and white Unionists, including assaults, intimidation, and murder, Congress passed a series of laws, including the Third Force Act of 1871 authorizing President Grant to suspend habeas corpus. Particularly violent outbreaks in South Carolina led Grant on Oct. 17, 1871, to declare eleven counties in “rebellion” against the United States.
The third historical suspension of habeas corpus was prompted by the rebellion and three-year guerrilla war conducted by Filipinos against U.S. rule of what was then, by treaty with Spain, a U.S. possession.
The fourth suspension resulted from a devastating military strike by a foreign power on a U.S. territory, one that led to an immediate formal declaration of war against Japan.
In sum, over two centuries of precedent demonstrate that suspension of habeas corpus is constitutionally authorized only in response to organized, armed violence, whether a “rebellion” from within or an “invasion” from without. Thus, the word “invasion” as used in the Suspension Clause has the same meaning as in Article IV – it refers to a hostile armed incursion into or against the territory of the United States.
Court Decisions on the Meaning of “Invasion”
The courts have rarely addressed the meaning of “invasion” for constitutional purposes. However, the few decisions we have affirm that a large influx of legal or illegal aliens into a state does not constitute an “invasion” under Article IV and that the term invasion connotes armed hostility or military invasion.
In the 1990s, multiple states raised Article IV invasion claims, primarily for the purpose of compelling the federal government to reduce immigrant flows or provide additional funds to states to pay for the strain on state resources caused by large numbers of migrants. The uniform response of the courts was to find that such claims present a non-justiciable political question, see e.g., the Eleventh Circuit’s decision in Chiles v. United States.
But at least three courts went further to hold in the alternative that, as the Second Circuit put it in Padavan v. United States, “In order for a state to be afforded the protections of the Invasion Clause, it must be exposed to armed hostility from another political entity, such as another state or foreign country that is intending to overthrow the state’s government.” See also, the Ninth Circuit’s opinion in California v. United States (“California ignores the conclusion set forth by our Founders. In The Federalist No. 43, James Madison referred to the Invasion Clause as affording protection in situations wherein a state is exposed to armed hostility from another political entity.”); and the Third Circuit’s decision in New Jersey v. United States (New Jersey “offers no support whatsoever for application of the Invasion Clause to this case or for its reading of the term “invasion” to mean anything other than a military invasion”).
Non-Immigration Arguments for Existence of an “Invasion”
In an implicit concession that the mere passage into the country of a large number of peaceful immigrants cannot make a constitutional “invasion,” some Republicans have tried to base their claim on even more specious grounds. These include the contention that Biden administration immigration policy is the cause of the (genuinely alarming) rise of fentanyl abuse over the past few years, and that the administration has allowed drug cartels to gain “control of the border.”
I have addressed the obvious fallacy in the claim about fentanyl elsewhere. In a nutshell, it is ridiculous to assert that changes in policy regarding the admission of immigrants, whether by parole or otherwise, will materially affect the ability of foreign drug traffickers to import whatever quantities of a fungible, easily concealable, immensely profitable substance that the internal U.S. market demands. Aggressive interdiction did not, and does not, materially affect the domestic availability of cocaine, heroin, or methamphetamine. Nor can it have more than marginal effects on the availability of fentanyl.
Conversely, the claim that drug cartels “control the southern border” is mere sensationalist bombast. Do drug cartels succeed in importing large quantities of illegal drugs across U.S. borders? Yes. They have done so for decades. They will doubtless continue to do so as long as demand exists and profits can be made. Have drug smuggling operations also branched out into smuggling undocumented humans into the United States. Very possibly. But attributing human smuggling to “cartels” is to do no more than give a different, and darker sounding, name to “coyotes” who have long smuggled people from Mexico into the United States. But cartels do not “control” the border of the United States. No cartel mans official points of entry or the long spaces between. No cartel decides who and what is lawfully admitted into the country. Indeed, cartels are obliged to smuggle drugs (and some cases people) secretly precisely because they do not “control” the border.
At all events, an increase in the ever-fluctuating quantity of illegal drugs reaching the United States is not even arguably an “invasion” for constitutional purposes.
Searching desperately for some instance of physical penetration of U.S. territory by hostile, violent foreigners, some Republicans even claim that Biden immigration policy must be allowing “terrorists” into the county. Indeed, this is one of the claims in the current draft of the Mayorkas impeachment resolution. Their “evidence” is the fact that during the Biden administration, border authorities have encountered a larger number of persons listed on the “Terrorist Watch List” than was true during the Trump years. The fact that the dread watch list has now become so indiscriminate that it includes two million names goes unmentioned. As does the possibility that under Biden, border authorities are simply more vigilant that those under Trump. More importantly, Republicans cite no instance of an actual terrorist entering the country, still less a case of a terrorist who has slipped across the border and performed a terrorist act. As a justification for a declaration of a constitutional “invasion,” the “terrorist” canard is beneath serious consideration.
The Real Dangers in Declaring High Immigration Levels or Increased Drug Consumption an “Invasion”
Leaving aside the conclusive evidence from text, original understanding, historical precedent, and judicial interpretation that an “invasion” under Article IV requires a hostile armed incursion into or against the territory of the United States, as well as the complete absence of evidence that events at the southern border constitute such an invasion, perhaps the most compelling reason to reject Republican claims of invasion is the absurd, but deeply dangerous, practical implications that would flow from conceding the point.
First, as other commentators, including several of a notably conservative bent, have observed, if Texas is currently being “actually invaded,” then under Article I, Section 10, Texas can, at least arguably, “engage in war” to stop the “invasion.” What this would mean in practice is hard to foresee. But presumably it would permit the use of armed force against persons attempting to cross into the United States, and equally consequentially, a counter-invasion by Texas National Guard or police forces into Mexico to attack, with military weapons, anyone involved in facilitating illegal migration or any form of drug smuggling.
Even contemplating such events seems melodramatic, but multiple Republican politicians, including former President Trump, have publicly called for the use of the military inside Mexico to combat drug trafficking and human smuggling. While in past eras one could safely discount this kind of talk as mere self-aggrandizing bluster, it is not at all clear that a Republican governor like Texas’s Abbott (who is already blatantly challenging federal authority over the national border) might not sponsor some incursion to curry favor with the extreme right wing upon which he depends politically and thus increase his national profile. And should Trump be re-elected, a declaration of a supposed “invasion” from Mexico would provide an excuse to attack without congressional approval.
Second, and perhaps more terrifying, is the possibility that a declaration of “invasion” could be used to justify suspension of habeas corpus under Article I, Section 9. One can too easily imagine a re-elected and vengeful Trump citing the precedent of Abraham Lincoln to unilaterally suspend habeas for the duration of the immigrant / drug trafficker “invasion” of the United States. Because the supposed “invasion” would have no obvious geographic limit, the suspension could be employed to authorize a regime of warrantless and unreviewable detentions of anyone anywhere within the country suspected of being illegally present in the United States, anyone suspected of drug trafficking, and indeed anyone alleged to be aiding or even sympathizing with alien immigrants or drug sellers.
One certainly hopes, and anxiously assumes, that the Supreme Court would overturn such an effort to suspend habeas corpus. But the assumptions of a lifetime, and indeed of many lifetimes past, about what this Court might do, not to speak of whether a restored President Trump would abide by the Court’s orders if contrary to his whims, seem now very much in doubt.
Conclusion
The bottom line is that nothing now occurring at the U.S. southern border remotely amounts to an “invasion” as that term is used in any portion of the Constitution. However, the claim by a distressing number of Republicans in federal and state government that there is such an “invasion” is profoundly dangerous. Some Republicans in the House have used it to promote a grotesque misuse of the Constitution’s vital impeachment mechanism. Other Republicans are using it to justify actions by state governments that test the fabric of the Union.
For the sake of the country, this nonsense should stop.
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https://www.justsecurity.org/91543/immigration-is-not-an-invasion-under-the-constitution/
| 2024-01-30T00:29:12
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Title: The Legendary 1990 San Francisco 49ers Roster: A Golden Era in Football
Introduction:
The 1990 San Francisco 49ers roster is widely regarded as one of the greatest teams in NFL history. Led by head coach George Seifert and boasting an array of talented players, this team dominated the field with their exceptional skill and strategic prowess. In this article, we will delve into the specifics of this memorable roster, highlighting five interesting facts and tricks, followed by answering 15 common questions. Finally, we will conclude with some final thoughts on the impact and legacy of the 1990 San Francisco 49ers.
Five Interesting Facts and Tricks:
1. Stellar Offense: The 1990 49ers offense was a powerhouse, led by the iconic trio of quarterback Joe Montana, wide receiver Jerry Rice, and running back Roger Craig. This trio set numerous records and provided a formidable challenge to opposing defenses. Montana’s accuracy, Rice’s unmatched ability to catch the ball, and Craig’s versatility made for an unstoppable offensive unit.
2. Record-Breaking Season: The 1990 49ers had an exceptional season, ending with a remarkable 14-2 record. They scored a staggering 353 points while only allowing 239. This dominance led them to secure the NFC West division title and ultimately reach the NFC Championship game.
3. Defense Dominance: While the offense received much of the spotlight, the 1990 49ers’ defense was equally impressive. Led by the likes of Charles Haley, Ronnie Lott, and Pierce Holt, this unit allowed the fewest rushing yards in the league, demonstrating their ability to shut down opponents and contribute significantly to the team’s success.
4. Super Bowl Triumph: The 1990 49ers capped off their remarkable season by winning Super Bowl XXIV against the Denver Broncos with a resounding 55-10 victory. This triumph marked their fourth Super Bowl win in franchise history, solidifying their place among the NFL’s elite teams.
5. Coaching Excellence: George Seifert, who took over as head coach from the legendary Bill Walsh, successfully maintained the 49ers’ winning tradition. Seifert’s ability to guide and motivate the team, coupled with his strategic brilliance, played a pivotal role in the roster’s overall success.
Common Questions and Answers:
1. Who were the key players on the 1990 49ers roster?
Some key players on the roster were Joe Montana, Jerry Rice, Roger Craig, Charles Haley, Ronnie Lott, and Pierce Holt.
2. How did the 1990 49ers compare to previous seasons?
The 1990 49ers were considered one of the strongest teams in franchise history, building upon the success of previous seasons and adding their own unique flair.
3. What made Joe Montana such a standout quarterback?
Montana possessed exceptional accuracy, poise under pressure, and an innate ability to lead his team to victory. His clutch performances in critical moments solidified his place as one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time.
4. How did Jerry Rice contribute to the team’s success?
Jerry Rice’s exceptional catching ability and unmatched work ethic made him a nightmare for opposing defenses. His precise route-running and incredible speed allowed him to set records that still stand today.
5. Was the 1990 49ers’ defense as dominant as their offense?
Absolutely. The 1990 49ers’ defense was one of the best in the league, consistently shutting down opposing offenses and contributing significantly to the team’s victories.
6. Did the 1990 49ers have any notable rivalries?
The 1990 49ers had a heated rivalry with the Los Angeles Rams throughout the season, resulting in intense and memorable matchups.
7. How did the coaching change from Bill Walsh to George Seifert impact the team?
George Seifert carried on the 49ers’ winning tradition, maintaining the team’s high standards while implementing his own strategic approach. The seamless transition between coaches helped sustain the team’s success.
8. Did the 1990 49ers face any significant challenges during the season?
While the team faced some hurdles, including injuries to key players, they managed to overcome these challenges through their depth and resilience.
9. What was the team’s offensive strategy?
The 1990 49ers employed a balanced offensive strategy, with Joe Montana’s precise passing and Roger Craig’s dynamic running contributing to their success.
10. How did the 1990 49ers’ Super Bowl victory impact the franchise?
The Super Bowl victory further solidified the 49ers’ legacy as one of the greatest franchises in NFL history. It served as a testament to their exceptional talent and coaching.
11. Were there any memorable plays or moments from the 1990 season?
Several memorable moments occurred during the 1990 season, including Joe Montana’s touchdown pass to John Taylor in the Super Bowl, and Jerry Rice’s record-breaking performance.
12. How did the 1990 49ers’ roster impact future NFL seasons?
The 1990 49ers’ roster set a benchmark for excellence, inspiring future generations of players and teams to strive for greatness.
13. What was the overall legacy of the 1990 49ers roster?
The 1990 49ers roster solidified their place as one of the greatest teams in NFL history, leaving a lasting impact on the sport and inspiring future generations.
14. How do the 1990 49ers compare to other dominant teams in NFL history?
The 1990 49ers are often mentioned in the same breath as other legendary teams like the 1972 Miami Dolphins and the 1985 Chicago Bears, showcasing their unparalleled greatness.
15. What can we learn from the 1990 49ers roster as fans of the sport?
The 1990 49ers roster teaches us the importance of teamwork, coaching, and consistency in achieving greatness. Their success serves as a reminder that hard work and dedication can lead to remarkable achievements.
Final Thoughts:
The 1990 San Francisco 49ers roster remains an iconic symbol of excellence in the NFL. Their remarkable achievements, record-breaking performances, and dominant victories stand as a testament to their unparalleled skill and teamwork. The legacy of the 1990 49ers continues to inspire future generations, reminding us of the heights that can be achieved in the world of sports when talent, strategy, and determination align.
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https://jstationx.com/1990-san-francisco-49ers-roster/
| 2024-01-30T00:29:12
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Shark Tank: Kevin O'Leary's 'Mr. Wonderful' Nickname Explained
Now in its 15th season, "Shark Tank" continues to attract viewers with its gameshow-like approach to the entrepreneurial climb to the top. Every reality series — even one rooted in finance — needs a villain, and for "Shark Tank," that person is Kevin O'Leary. The Canadian businessman brings a fiery bite to the series, often fanning the flames of shark-on-shark disputes and offering a tough-love approach to business. It makes sense, then, that his nickname, Mr. Wonderful, came from a place of sarcasm.
In an interview with Boston Magazine, O'Leary clarified where his infamous nickname came from, claiming that even the sharks struggled to recall its origins. "We are all trying to figure that out," said O'Leary, who confirmed that the nickname was born in the tank. "This is what seems to be consensus now: In season one, someone was trying to sell a publishing deal to us for music and I proposed an aggressive 51 percent equity position because I wanted control of the business. And Barbara [Corcoran] said, 'Well aren't you Mr. Wonderful?' and I said, 'You know what Barbara, I am!'" O'Leary added that the nickname has taken on a life of its own. "Now it's at a whole new level," he continued. "I show up at hotels and my reservation is under the name Mr. Wonderful. They don't even know my real name. That's just nuts."
O'Leary is more wonderful than he lets on
Mr. Wonderful may have started as some gentle ribbing from fellow shark Barbara Corcoran, but Kevin O'Leary has wholeheartedly embraced the nickname. He even named his holding company, through which he manages all of his "Shark Tank" investments, Something Wonderful.
For O'Leary, Mr. Wonderful is an exercise in personal branding, and he has infused it with a certain amount of lore. "The reason they call me Mr. Wonderful is because I have the most creativity in structuring deals," O'Leary told Forbes, conveniently leaving out the anecdote about Corcoran. He then went in for the kill, embracing his status as the big bad shark. "The other sharks are very boring. It's the same thing over and over again: $100,000 for 10% equity. How boring! And how uncreative! That's why they learn from me. They're very lucky up there."
Still, it's clear that Mr. Wonderful is mostly a marketing facade or fewer "Shark Tank" contestants would be willing to make a deal with him. When Wicked Good Cupcakes founders Tracey Noonan and Danielle Desroches teamed up with O'Leary, they were worried about his reputation. Behind the scenes, however, they called him "an angel in disguise" as well as "a tremendous mentor" while speaking to Business Insider. Insofar as business partners go, it sounds pretty wonderful.
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https://www.looper.com/1502276/shark-tank-kevin-oleary-mr-wonderful-nickname-explained/
| 2024-01-30T00:29:14
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Marcus Rashford will be available for selection for Manchester United's Premier League fixture against Wolves on Thursday after holding clear-the-air talks with manager Erik ten Hag.
Ten Hag spoke to Rashford alongside football director John Murtough and Rashford's brother and agent, Dwaine, after the England forward was pictured visiting a Belfast nightclub last week.
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Rashford was asked to explain the trip and clarify the timing of his visit in a meeting at Carrington on Monday.
A statement released by the club later on Monday read: "Marcus has taken responsibility for his actions. This has been dealt with as an internal disciplinary matter, which is now closed."
On Friday, the club was under the impression Rashford had visited Belfast on Wednesday night ahead of a scheduled day off on Thursday. There have since been reports he was there on Thursday night before informing United he was too ill to train on Friday.
He missed training on Friday and Saturday and was not in the squad for the 4-2 win over Newport County in the FA Cup on Sunday. Rashford was, though, able to train at Carrington on Sunday.
It's not the first time Rashford has run into trouble with Ten Hag after the 26-year-old attended a birthday party in a Manchester nightclub just hours after a 3-0 defeat to Manchester City in October.
Ten Hag branded the incident "unacceptable" and Rashford apologised. The England forward was also dropped for a game at Wolves last season after arriving late for a team meeting.
Rashford has struggled for form this season, scoring just four times in 26 appearances. He was also dropped to the bench for games against Chelsea and Bournemouth in December following a poor performance in the 1-0 defeat at Newcastle United.
A source has told ESPN that Rashford trained as normal on Monday and will be available for United's next game against Wolves at Molineux on Thursday.
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https://africa.espn.com/football/story/_/id/39417474/marcus-rashford-available-manchester-united-wolves
| 2024-01-30T00:29:14
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Updated January 29, 2024 at 6:08 PM ET
COLUMBIA, S.C. — A South Carolina judge denied Alex Murdaugh's bid for a new double-murder trial on Monday after his defense team accused a clerk of court with tampering with a jury.
Judge Jean Toal ruled that even if Colleton County Clerk Becky Hill did tell jurors to watch Murdaugh's actions and body language on the stand, the defense failed to prove that such comments directly influenced their decision to find him guilty.
Toal said after reviewing the full transcript of the six-week trial, she couldn't overturn the verdict based "on the strength of some fleeting and foolish comments by a publicity-seeking clerk of court."
One member of the jury that convicted Murdaugh of murdering his wife and son testified that Hill made the comments and it indicated to her she thought Murdaugh was guilty. But the 11 other jurors said they based their guilty verdicts only on the testimony, evidence and law presented at trial, and just one of them mentioned hearing anything similar.
"I find that the clerk of court was not completely credible as a witness. Miss Hill was attracted by the siren call of celebrity," Toal said, issuing her decision at the end of a daylong hearing. But she said that Hill's comments did not by themselves merit a new trial, because they didn't actively change the jurors' minds.
All 12 jurors answered mostly yes-or-no questions from the judge's script. Murdaugh, now a convicted killer, disbarred attorney and admitted thief serving a life sentence, wore an orange prison jumpsuit as he watched with his lawyers.
Hill also testified, denying she ever spoke about the case or Murdaugh at all with jurors.
"I never talked to any jurors about anything like that," Hill said.
But Judge Jean Toal questioned her truthfulness after Hill said she used "literary license" for some things she wrote about in her book on the trial, including whether she feared as she read the verdict that the jury might end up finding him not guilty.
"I did have a certain way I felt," Hill said.
Murdaugh's defense later called Barnwell County Clerk Rhonda McElveen, who helped Hill during the trial. McElveen said that Hill suggested before the trial that they should write a book on the case together, "because she wanted a lake house and I wanted to retire," and that a guilty verdict would sell more books.
But under cross examination, McElveen said she didn't reach out to the trial judge because she didn't think any of Hill's comments or behaviors rose to the level of misconduct.
Hill was also questioned about why she was telling people hours before the jury received the case that she expected deliberations to be short. The clerk said it was a gut feeling after years in a courtroom.
The unusual hearing was prompted in part by a sworn statement from the first juror called to the stand Monday.
She affirmed what she said last August, repeating Monday that Hill told jurors to note Murdaugh's actions and "watch him closely" when he testified in his own defense.
"She made it seem like he was already guilty," said the woman, identified only as Juror Z. Asked whether this influenced her vote to find him guilty, she said "Yes ma'am."
In later questioning, the juror said she also stands by another statement she made in the August affidavit: that it was her fellow jurors, more than the clerk's statements, that influenced her to vote guilty.
"I had questions about Mr. Murdaugh's guilt but voted guilty because I felt pressured by other jurors," she said.
The rest of the jury filed in one by one and said their verdicts weren't influenced by anything outside the trial. One said he heard Hill say "watch his body language" before Murdaugh testified, but said Hill's comment didn't change his mind.
"What matters is what the jurors heard," and whether that persuaded them to change their verdicts to guilty in a way that was anything other than the product of honest deliberation, prosecutor Creighton Walters said in closing. "You have 11 of them strong as a rock who said this verdict was not influenced," Waters said. "The evidence is overwhelming from the people who mattered."
Defense attorney Jim Griffin, in his closing, cited case law in arguing that any communication about a case from court staff to jurors is presumptively prejudicial. He said the defense clearly proved Hill made prejudicial comments to the jury, and "one of those jurors says it influenced my verdict. How is that not prejudice?"
Murdaugh's fall from his role as an attorney lording over his small county to a sentence of life without parole has been exhaustively covered by true crime shows, podcasts and bloggers.
Jury tampering is the basis for Murdaugh's appeal, but Toal set a difficult standard for his lawyers. She ruled the defense must prove that potential misconduct by Hill directly led jurors to change their minds to guilty.
The defense argued if they prove the jury was tampered with, it shouldn't matter whether a juror openly said their verdict changed, because even subtle influence could have kept Murdaugh from getting a fair trial.
Toal was Chief Justice of the South Carolina Supreme Court for 15 years before retiring. She was appointed by the current high court justices to rule on the juror misconduct allegations.
Toal also limited what could be asked of Hill, ruling out extensive questions about a criminal investigation into whether the elected clerk used her office for financial gain, emailed prosecutors with suggestions on how to discredit a defense expert, conspired with her son who is charged with wiretapping county phones, or plagiarized part of her book on the case using a passage from a BBC reporter who accidentally emailed her instead of her boss with a similar address.
"I'm very, very reluctant to turn this hearing about juror contact into a wholesale exploration about every piece of conduct by the clerk," Toal said.
Hill, in a sworn statement, has denied any jury tampering. She did admit to the lifting the writing of the BBC reporter.
"I did plagiarize ... and for that I am sorry," Hill said from the stand.
Even if Murdaugh, 55, gets a new murder trial he won't walk out free. He's also serving 27 years after admitting he stole $12 million from his law firm and from settlements he gained for clients on wrongful death and serious injury lawsuits. Murdaugh promised not to appeal that sentence as part of his plea deal.
But Murdaugh has remained adamant that he did not kill his younger son Paul with a shotgun and his wife Maggie with a rifle, since the moment he told deputies he found their bodies at their Colleton County home in 2021. He testified in his own defense.
Even if this effort fails, Murdaugh hasn't even started the regular appeals of his sentence, where his lawyers are expected to argue a number of reasons why his murder trial was unfair, including the judge allowing voluminous testimony of his financial crimes. They said this enabled prosecutors to smear Murdaugh with evidence not directly linked to the killings.
Copyright 2024 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.
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https://www.kbia.org/2024-01-29/alex-murdaugh-is-denied-a-new-trial-after-a-judge-hears-jury-tampering-allegations
| 2024-01-30T00:29:14
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San Francisco 49ers fans excited to buy team merch after NFC Championship win
DALY CITY (KPIX) - Niners fans celebrated their team's come-from-behind win in the NFC Championship game by showing up early on Monday to buy merchandise branded with that title.
"Let's see what we can get for the next couple of weeks. I've already ordered another jersey on Bosa," said Christina Sargent while shopping inside the Dick's Sporting Goods Store at Serramonte Center. "My husband and I both have offensive jerseys; we needed a defensive jersey now."
Some customers lined up before sunrise outside the store. The stores opening hours extended earlier than the normal time.
It was a quick turnaround for those who were up late celebrating after Sunday's win. Sargent made it a point to get to the store before heading into work: a nice reward for the Faithful who had to watch two nailbiters during the playoffs.
"I mean it was almost as stressful as the week before. My heart can't take that. It just cannot take that," she told KPIX.
Related: Airlines schedule more flights to Las Vegas from Bay Area for 49ers fans ahead of Super Bowl LVIII
Not only is it a way to celebrate the win and another NFC Championship, it is part of the excitement growing around the Bay Area as the 49ers make their return to the Super Bowl.
"I'm from the Bay Area. I grew up in San Francisco," said Jake Torres. "My dad's a 49er's fan since he came from Peru. Grew up a 49er."
Torres said he wanted to buy a gift for his father ahead of his birthday and the big game. Despite two games that caught everyone off guard, Torres feels confident about the Niners facing off against the Kansas City Chiefs.
He anticipates the AFC Champions will be another worthy opponent for the Niners in the post-season.
"Oh my God, it was a heart attack, like every hour, every minute. It was the same thing with the Green Bay Packers," Torres said. "But you know what, I never lost faith."
Sargent said she wants to see the Niners bring home that sixth Super Bowl trophy, after failing in their last two appearances. The rematch with Kansas City only adds to the desire to win next Sunday.
"They'll be ready in two weeks. The injuries will heal, and we'll be ready for them," she said.
for more features.
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https://www.cbsnews.com/sanfrancisco/news/san-francisco-49ers-fans-excited-to-buy-team-merch-after-nfc-championship-win/
| 2024-01-30T00:29:15
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Our condolences to the families and friends of the following:
Leland “Lee” Backer, 68, of Riverton, Wyoming passed away at his home on Thursday, January 25,2024. Cremation has taken place and no services are planned. To view full obituary, click here.
Judy Ruth, 79, of Riverton, Wyoming passed away at her home on Thursday, January 25, 2024. A private service will be held at a later date. To view full obituary, click here.
James Raymond Blackburn, Sr. 41, of Arapahoe , Wyoming, passed away January 25, 2024. A funeral service will be held 10:00 am at St. Stephens Catholic Church on Wednesday, January 31, 2024. A rosary will be held at Davis Funeral Home, January 30, 2024 at 7:00 pm, with a wake to follow at the Blackburn residence on 95 Littleshield, Arapahoe, Wy. To view full obituary, click here.
Elaine Marva McLeod of Fort Washakie, WY passed away on the evening of January 22, 2024, in Casper, WY. She was surrounded by her children and grandchildren. The funeral service will be held at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (12712 US-287) in Fort Washakie, WY on Monday January 29, 2024 at 10:00 A.M. To view full obituary, click here.
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https://county10.com/recent-deaths-in-fremont-county-backer-ruth-blackburn-sr-mcleod/
| 2024-01-30T00:29:15
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New book finds Trump's plot to overturn 2020 election 'crazier than anybody imagined' By Mary Louise Kelly, Tinbete Ermyas, Kai McNamee Published January 29, 2024 at 4:44 PM CST Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Listen • 8:15 NPR's Mary Louise Kelly talks with journalists Michael Isikoff and Daniel Klaidman about their new book, Find Me The Votes. Copyright 2024 NPR
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https://www.krcu.org/2024-01-29/new-book-finds-trumps-plot-to-overturn-2020-election-crazier-than-anybody-imagined
| 2024-01-30T00:29:16
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It’s that time of year again when we count down the BCB top 25 Cubs prospects for 2024. Every day this week I’ll reveal another five prospects until we get to numbers five through one on Friday.
The Cubs system is especially deep and strong this year after a few strong drafts and trades that have replenished the farm system. MLB Pipeline recently put seven Cubs in their Top 100 prospects list, more than any other organization.
As always, the top 10 were pretty easy for me to compile, whereas numbers 15 through 25 are a lot tougher. There’s not a lot of separation between the Cubs’ 20th-best prospect and their 30th, so if one of your personal favorites didn’t make the list, it’s not a sign that they aren’t a prospect anymore. I could have taken this list out to 50 had I wanted to do all that work.
I’m taking a cue from Baseball America and not listing players over 25 from the Asian leagues as prospects anymore. Shōta Imanaga isn’t a prospect — he’s proved himself in the second-toughest league in the world. The Cubs’ signed him as a free agent and not as an international prospect. But if you are curious, I would have ranked him third had he qualified.
I’m also not going to rank any players who haven’t left the Dominican Summer League yet. As always with those players, I’ve never seen any of them play, either in person or live on video, so in the past when I’ve ranked them, I’ve had to rely on printed scouting reports and a few carefully curated videos designed to make them look good. And you could just look up that stuff yourself. You don’t need my opinion. Plus, there’s just something a little creepy about putting high expectations on a 16-year-old kid in a third-world country. Some of these kids will no doubt turn out to be incredibly good major league ballplayers. A few will be All-Stars. But none of them are going to do so this year. We will have plenty of time to rank them once they make it to America. I may re-evaluate this policy in future years, but that’s where I stand now.
I’m also including a too-long, didn’t-read summary of every player called “The skinny.”
When making up these rankings, I try to balance upside and the likelihood that they’ll reach their potential. I base my rankings on what I’ve seen, what I’ve read and what other people have told me. But the rankings are all mine and all the mistakes are my fault.
For the past two seasons I’ve stopped including what hand the pitchers hit with for obvious reasons. Also, if you click on the player’s name, it will take you to their milb.com page.
So now I’ll shut up about the rules and get to the players.
21. Porter Hodge. RHP. DOB: 2/21/2001. 6’4”, 230 lbs. Drafted 13th round (2019), Cottonwood HS (UT)
Porter Hodge is a power right-hander with a good moving 94-96 mile per hour fastball and a late-breaking mid-80s slider. His path the to major leagues is now clear after the Cubs moved him to the bullpen mid-season.
Hodge wasn’t on a lot of teams radar when the Cubs made him a 13th-round pick out of high school in Utah. He was a big, hard-throwing guy with limited experienced. There were a lot of questions about his fitness when the Cubs drafted him and he had back surgery over the lost 2020 season. But Hodge changed his eating and workout habits after struggling in his first season in the minors. He lost 25 pounds, which added a couple of miles per hour onto his fastball. The Cubs also reworked his slider to the point where it became a plus pitch. Through hard work, Hodge turned himself into a prospect on the verge of a major-league debut.
Hodge has the size and stamina to start, but he’s been unable to develop a third pitch or anything else to keep left-handers off-balance. His pitching delivery is a bit long, which isn’t surprising for someone 6’4”, but that has led to some control issues. This all caught up to him when he started the season in Double-A last year. After twelve starts for the Smokies, the Cubs moved Hodge to the bullpen. The results there were promising enough that Hodge was added to the 40-man roster this past November.
Hodge’s final numbers with the Smokies last year — 6-7 with a 5.13 ERA — don’t exactly inspire confidence in his future. But the stuff was a lot better than that and he was hurt by an abnormally high batting average on balls in play rate of .310 and a low strand rate of just 62 percent.
Hodge will get a good look in Spring Training, but he will almost certainly start the season in the bullpen at Triple-A Iowa. But if he puts in a couple of good months there, he’ll be in line for a mid-season call-up whenever there’s an injury to a reliever. He may have to ride the Des Moines-Chicago shuttle for a while, but he could be an effective sixth- or seventh-inning guy. And the possibility of returning to the rotation as a back-end starter in the years to come is not out of the question.
The Skinny: Hodge is a power right-handed reliever who relies on a plus fastball and slider. He could be a factor in the Cubs bullpen as soon as this year.
Here’s a good look at Hodge’s hard-breaking slider [VIDEO].
22. Haydn McGeary. 1B. DOB:10/09/1999. B:R, T:R. 6’4”, 235. Drafted 15th round (2022), Colorado Mesa.
The Cubs may have gotten another steal in the late rounds out of the Rocky Mountain region with Haydn McGeary. The Cubs took the big slugger in the 15th round of the 2022 MLB draft out of Colorado Mesa, where he was back-to-back Division II National Player of the Year after setting a Division II record with 75 home runs. He actually put up video game numbers in college with a triple-slash line of .481/.579/1.061 his junior season there — which was actually his fourth season because of the abbreviated 2020 season didn’t count against anyone’s eligibility. Even in the thin air of Grand Junction, that’s an impressive line.
Since getting drafted, McGeary has done nothing but hit. He had a short 18-game trial in 2022 before starting the 2023 season in High-A South Bend. After 20 games and a triple-slash line of .368/.467/.592 in the Midwest League, McGeary was promoted to Double-A Tennessee. His stats there were more human, but they were still good: .255/.382/.435 with 16 home runs over 104 games.
McGeary is a big right-handed slugger who with a simple hitting stroke that is geared to both power and contact. He has a very good eye at the plate for a power hitter and rarely chases bad pitches. His walk percentage last year was 15.2 and his strikeout percentage was 23.8, which, for a big slugger like him, is very good.
There are some warning signs on McGeary, however. He hit just .194/.321/.396 in 39 games after August 1, although that did come with seven home runs. Was that the league adjusting to him or did McGeary just wear down in his first full season of baseball? Was he playing through some nagging injuries? Those are questions that will need to be answered in 2024.
McGeary is also not much of a defensive first baseman at the moment. He mostly served as a designated hitter for Colorado Mesa and he’s still learning the intricacies of playing first base. The Cubs briefly thought of making a catcher out of him, but at 6’4”, that always seemed like a long shot. But he isn’t a slow plodder out there in the field and he’s more athletic than some give him credit. It’s certainly possible that with more experience, he turns into an average defensive first baseman.
It’s going to depend on other roster moves to see if McGeary starts the season at Iowa or Tennessee. I suspect that the number of corner infielders expected to play in Iowa (as well as his struggles down the stretch last year) means he returns to Tennessee to start the year. He’s then be in line for a mid-season promotion to Triple-A. By that time, we’ll have a better sense of what the Cubs have in McGeary.
The skinny: McGeary could be a potent right-handed slugger who can hit for average and get on base. His defensive limitations hinder his upside, however.
MLB Pipeline’s Jim Callis has this video if you want another opinion on McGeary. It’s not much different than mine, but there are some highlights from Spring Training [VIDEO].
Here he hits a three-run home run for the Smokies in September. You can see how short and quick his bat is through the hitting zone.
23. Daniel Palencia. RHP. DOB: 2/05/2000. 5’11, 160. Trade with Athletics (2021)
Daniel Palencia is all about velocity. He’s got a fastball that sits 98-99 miles per hour and has been known to touch 102. The pitch also rides away from a right-handed hitter. It’s a true 80 pitch on the 20-80 scouting scale. He rode that fastball all the way to his major league debut last season, where he went 5-3 with a 4.45 ERA in 28⅓ innings last year. He struck out 33 and walked 14.
Palencia doesn’t have a lot beyond that fastball. He does have a hard, 90-91 mph slider with late break that grades out at least average at the moment and has the potential to be plus. But when batters are keyed in on that triple-digit fastball, the slider needs to be better than it is. Still, Palencia potentially has the two-pitch combination that has made a lot of great relievers in our time.
Palencia was a late bloomer, not signing with the Athletics until he was 20. That’s four years older than the normal signing age of 16. The A’s assigned him straight to Low-A, presumably because of his age. He struggled in Stockton, but the fastball intrigued the Cubs enough that they asked for him in return in a trade for Andrew Chafin at the 2021 trade deadline.
Both the A’s and the Cubs tried him out as a starter, but the lack of a solid third pitch meant that he was always likely to end up in the bullpen. Palencia started last season in the Smokies’ rotation, but after five starts (none of which went more than four innings), the Cubs promoted Palencia to Triple-A Iowa and moved him to the bullpen.
After six weeks in Iowa, Palencia got called up to Chicago for his major league debut on July 4, despite a 7.90 ERA in Triple-A. He pitched two scoreless innings and got the win in an extra-innings victory over the Brewers that day. Other than an “administrative” demotion where he never actually left the team in September, he stayed the rest of the season in the majors.
One positive aspect to Palencia is that he’s actually been tougher on left-handers than right-handers throughout his career. I don’t expect that to continue, but I can see that the way that Palencia buries that slider down and in, and often out of the strike zone could give some left-handed hitters problems.
Palencia’s biggest issue is control. He simply needs to throw that fastball for more strikes and he needs to improve that slider to keep major league hitters from sitting on the fastball. If he does that, there’s no reason Palencia couldn’t be a major league closer.
Palencia will come to Spring Training fighting for a roster spot. He still has options left, so he’s going to have to show something to make the Opening Day roster. But Palencia is exactly the sort of reliever that the Cubs hired Craig Counsell to find a way to get the best out of. Even if he doesn’t end up pitching the ninth inning, he’s the type of guy who could thrive if he’s given the right matchups. Even if Palencia doesn’t make the Opening Day roster, I expect to see Palencia pitch at Wrigley Field a lot this upcoming season.
The skinny: Palencia is a reliever with an elite nearly triple-digit fastball and solid slider who struggles with control. A late bloomer, he could end up as the Cubs’ closer one day if everything clicks.
You are probably familiar with Palencia already, but in case you forgot, here’s his heater [VIDEO].
24. Brandon Birdsell. RHP. DOB: 3/23/2000. 6’2”, 240. Drafted 5th round (2022), Texas Tech.
Birdsell was a fifth-round pick out of Texas Tech in 2022 where he had been the Big 12 Pitcher of the Year as a senior. Before that, his college career had been checkered. He started out at Texas A&M, transferred to San Jacinto junior college and then finally ended up at Texas Tech for two years. He missed the second half of the 2021 season with a rotator cuff injury, but he avoided surgery.
Before his injuries, Birdsell was a flamethrower who had little idea where the ball was going. He’s reinvented himself since then. His fastball has lost a tick, but he still throws 94-to-95 mph and can touch 97 at times. Also, Birdsell has much better command and control of that pitch than when he threw harder. He has an unorthodox delivery where his hands break contact, followed a a split-second hesitation. His motion is short and compact and the ball leaves his hand a lot quicker than normal, which can throw off the timing of some hitters.
After his fastball, the rest of Birdsell’s offerings are fringy, but they play a bit better than that because of plus control. His slider does have some promise, however. He also has a curve that he uses against left-handers and a change up, which he throws rarely.
After spending the rest of the 2022 season in the Cubs pitch lab, Birdsell made his professional debut for High-A South Bend last year. He made 18 starts for South Bend and went 3-5 with a 2.36 ERA. That got him promoted to Double-A Tennessee when Birdsell made six starts and went 1-3 with a 3.95 ERA. That doesn’t count starting Game 1 of the Southern League Championship Series where he got the win after allowing just one run after scattering four hits over five innings. Birdsell struck out five and walked one in that game.
Overall, Birdsell pitched 112⅓ innings last year. He struck out 102 batters and walked just 33. (That counts the postseason.)
Birdsell will probably start the 2024 season back with Double-A Tennessee. The ceiling on Birdsell isn’t high—he’s probably a No. 4/No. 5 starter at best unless he can develop those secondary pitches better—but his control and his workhorse attitude could land him a significant major league career. He’s looking at a possible 2025 major league debut.
The skinny: Birdsell gets by on his fastball and control. He could be an effective back-of-the-rotation workhorse or a setup man in a bullpen.
Here are some highlights for a five-strikeout game for South Bend last April [VIDEO].
25. Drew Gray. LHP. DOB: 5/09/2003. 6’3”, 190. Drafted 3rd round (2021), IMG Academy (FL)
Drew Gray is a tall, thin left-hander that the Cubs took in the third round of the 2021 draft out of IMG Academy in Florida. The Cubs believed in Gray enough to give him a $900,000 bonus, which was almost 50 percent above the bonus pool value of $628,000 for that pick. He made two starts for the rookie league team in Mesa that year before missing all of 2022 with Tommy John surgery.
So 2023 was really Gray’s first season as a professional. Still only 20 years old, he showed himself to be very talented and very raw. After three starts in the Arizona Complex League, Gray moved to Low-A Myrtle Beach in late-June. He made 11 starts for the Pelicans and went 0-3 with a 4.23 ERA. On the good side, he pitched 27⅔ innings, struck out 45 batters and held them to a .196 batting average. On the down side, Gray walked 23 and hit five batters. He walked more hitters than he gave up hits to (23 walks to 19 hits). As you can see from the innings total, he didn’t pitch deep into games. Gray never pitched more than three innings in any start. None of that Is too concerning for someone coming off of Tommy John surgery, but without a previous track record on Gray, we don’t know if his stamina and control problems are because of the injury, because he’s young or that’s just who he is.
What we do know about Gray is that he’s a tall and lean left-hander with three potential above-average pitches. His fastball is only in the 91-93 mph range, but it has terrific natural movement thanks in part to his three-quarters delivery. His upper-70s curve breaks down and his low-80s slider has a sweeping action. Both have above-average potential. He rarely uses his mid-80s changeup and it rates as below average.
Gray is also still young with a frame that could carry some more weight. There is a chance that he could still add a few miles per hour on to that fastball.
With Gray’s injury history, there is always the possibility that he ends up in the bullpen. But with three potentially above-average pitchers, the Cubs should hope he ends up as a mid-rotation starter.
After a reasonably successful season in Myrtle Beach, Gray will likely start 2024 in South Bend. But he doesn’t turn 21 until May and is likely a long-term project for the Cubs. He has the potential to be a top ten prospect at this time next season. Or his control could completely abandon him and he’d fall off the prospect radar altogether.
The skinny: Gray is a tall, lean left-handed starter with three above-average pitches and the chance to be a mid-rotation starter. Control problems and an injury history keep him from being ranked higher.
Here are highlights [VIDEO] from a game last September when he Gray struck out seven and allowed no hits and no walks over three innings. He did hit a batter in that game.
Tomorrow: Prospects 16 through 20.
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https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2024/1/29/24053241/bcb-2024-top-cubs-prospects-porter-hodge-drew-gray-brandon-birdsell-haydn-mcgeary-daniel-palencia
| 2024-01-30T00:29:15
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Updated January 29, 2024 at 6:08 PM ET
COLUMBIA, S.C. — A South Carolina judge denied Alex Murdaugh's bid for a new double-murder trial on Monday after his defense team accused a clerk of court with tampering with a jury.
Judge Jean Toal ruled that even if Colleton County Clerk Becky Hill did tell jurors to watch Murdaugh's actions and body language on the stand, the defense failed to prove that such comments directly influenced their decision to find him guilty.
Toal said after reviewing the full transcript of the six-week trial, she couldn't overturn the verdict based "on the strength of some fleeting and foolish comments by a publicity-seeking clerk of court."
One member of the jury that convicted Murdaugh of murdering his wife and son testified that Hill made the comments and it indicated to her she thought Murdaugh was guilty. But the 11 other jurors said they based their guilty verdicts only on the testimony, evidence and law presented at trial, and just one of them mentioned hearing anything similar.
"I find that the clerk of court was not completely credible as a witness. Miss Hill was attracted by the siren call of celebrity," Toal said, issuing her decision at the end of a daylong hearing. But she said that Hill's comments did not by themselves merit a new trial, because they didn't actively change the jurors' minds.
All 12 jurors answered mostly yes-or-no questions from the judge's script. Murdaugh, now a convicted killer, disbarred attorney and admitted thief serving a life sentence, wore an orange prison jumpsuit as he watched with his lawyers.
Hill also testified, denying she ever spoke about the case or Murdaugh at all with jurors.
"I never talked to any jurors about anything like that," Hill said.
But Judge Jean Toal questioned her truthfulness after Hill said she used "literary license" for some things she wrote about in her book on the trial, including whether she feared as she read the verdict that the jury might end up finding him not guilty.
"I did have a certain way I felt," Hill said.
Murdaugh's defense later called Barnwell County Clerk Rhonda McElveen, who helped Hill during the trial. McElveen said that Hill suggested before the trial that they should write a book on the case together, "because she wanted a lake house and I wanted to retire," and that a guilty verdict would sell more books.
But under cross examination, McElveen said she didn't reach out to the trial judge because she didn't think any of Hill's comments or behaviors rose to the level of misconduct.
Hill was also questioned about why she was telling people hours before the jury received the case that she expected deliberations to be short. The clerk said it was a gut feeling after years in a courtroom.
The unusual hearing was prompted in part by a sworn statement from the first juror called to the stand Monday.
She affirmed what she said last August, repeating Monday that Hill told jurors to note Murdaugh's actions and "watch him closely" when he testified in his own defense.
"She made it seem like he was already guilty," said the woman, identified only as Juror Z. Asked whether this influenced her vote to find him guilty, she said "Yes ma'am."
In later questioning, the juror said she also stands by another statement she made in the August affidavit: that it was her fellow jurors, more than the clerk's statements, that influenced her to vote guilty.
"I had questions about Mr. Murdaugh's guilt but voted guilty because I felt pressured by other jurors," she said.
The rest of the jury filed in one by one and said their verdicts weren't influenced by anything outside the trial. One said he heard Hill say "watch his body language" before Murdaugh testified, but said Hill's comment didn't change his mind.
"What matters is what the jurors heard," and whether that persuaded them to change their verdicts to guilty in a way that was anything other than the product of honest deliberation, prosecutor Creighton Walters said in closing. "You have 11 of them strong as a rock who said this verdict was not influenced," Waters said. "The evidence is overwhelming from the people who mattered."
Defense attorney Jim Griffin, in his closing, cited case law in arguing that any communication about a case from court staff to jurors is presumptively prejudicial. He said the defense clearly proved Hill made prejudicial comments to the jury, and "one of those jurors says it influenced my verdict. How is that not prejudice?"
Murdaugh's fall from his role as an attorney lording over his small county to a sentence of life without parole has been exhaustively covered by true crime shows, podcasts and bloggers.
Jury tampering is the basis for Murdaugh's appeal, but Toal set a difficult standard for his lawyers. She ruled the defense must prove that potential misconduct by Hill directly led jurors to change their minds to guilty.
The defense argued if they prove the jury was tampered with, it shouldn't matter whether a juror openly said their verdict changed, because even subtle influence could have kept Murdaugh from getting a fair trial.
Toal was Chief Justice of the South Carolina Supreme Court for 15 years before retiring. She was appointed by the current high court justices to rule on the juror misconduct allegations.
Toal also limited what could be asked of Hill, ruling out extensive questions about a criminal investigation into whether the elected clerk used her office for financial gain, emailed prosecutors with suggestions on how to discredit a defense expert, conspired with her son who is charged with wiretapping county phones, or plagiarized part of her book on the case using a passage from a BBC reporter who accidentally emailed her instead of her boss with a similar address.
"I'm very, very reluctant to turn this hearing about juror contact into a wholesale exploration about every piece of conduct by the clerk," Toal said.
Hill, in a sworn statement, has denied any jury tampering. She did admit to the lifting the writing of the BBC reporter.
"I did plagiarize ... and for that I am sorry," Hill said from the stand.
Even if Murdaugh, 55, gets a new murder trial he won't walk out free. He's also serving 27 years after admitting he stole $12 million from his law firm and from settlements he gained for clients on wrongful death and serious injury lawsuits. Murdaugh promised not to appeal that sentence as part of his plea deal.
But Murdaugh has remained adamant that he did not kill his younger son Paul with a shotgun and his wife Maggie with a rifle, since the moment he told deputies he found their bodies at their Colleton County home in 2021. He testified in his own defense.
Even if this effort fails, Murdaugh hasn't even started the regular appeals of his sentence, where his lawyers are expected to argue a number of reasons why his murder trial was unfair, including the judge allowing voluminous testimony of his financial crimes. They said this enabled prosecutors to smear Murdaugh with evidence not directly linked to the killings.
Copyright 2024 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.
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https://www.wvpe.org/npr-news/2024-01-29/alex-murdaugh-is-denied-a-new-trial-after-a-judge-hears-jury-tampering-allegations
| 2024-01-30T00:29:16
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PIB Group’s subsidiary, Campion Insurance, has expanded its Irish footprint with the acquisition of County Dublin-headquartered FitzGerald Flynn Insurances.
The growth trajectory of PIB in the Irish market has been facilitated through a series of acquisitions, including the recent addition of Munstergroup Insurance and Lir Insurance.
Established in 1998, FitzGerald Flynn Insurances offers a range of financial planning services and insurance products including home, car, life and business coverage.
The acquisition is expected to complement Campion Insurance’s already significant presence in Ireland.
On LinkedIn, Campion Insurance stated: “Led by Niall FitzGerald and Val Diggin, the addition of FitzGerald Flynn Insurances will complement our significant footprint in Ireland. Welcome Niall, Val and the wider team, we are looking forward to working with you.”
This acquisition marks the 20th by PIB in Ireland, demonstrating the group’s commitment to expanding its services in the region.
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By GlobalDataCampion Insurance has been spearheading PIB’s Irish operations since its own acquisition by the group in 2021.
Campion Insurance CEO Jim Campion said: “Niall, Val and the wider team have built a very successful business, with a strong portfolio of clients, and we look forward to working with them.”
Niall FitzGerald said: “The acquisition of our company by PIB Group is great news for our clients and team. A critical factor for us in deciding to sell to Campion Insurance was that they take an equally long-term and proactive attitude when partnering with their clients.
“We are delighted to now be part of the PIB Group and look forward to working with Jim and Campion Insurance to drive further growth of the business in Ireland.”
David Lucas of PKF O’Connor Leddy & Holmes advised Campion Insurance on the deal for FitzGerald Flynn.
Earlier this month, PIB, headquartered in the UK, announced three acquisitions in Spain; Aguirre Vila-Coro Correduría Seguros, Grupo IDDEAS and Javier Sánchez Consultores.
|
https://www.lifeinsuranceinternational.com/news/campion-insurance-buys-fitzgerald-flynn/
| 2024-01-30T00:29:16
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DJ Ian Adcock
to
Lola's Hi/Lo Lounge 617 N. Sherman Ave., Madison, Wisconsin 53704
media release: You may have seen Ian playing records at Gib’s, Ritual Barbers or Mickey’s…and we’re excited to welcome him for a handpicked collection of songs and an all vinyl soul, funk and disco set on Thursday, February 8th for his Lola’s debut! Get in the groove, y’all!
Info
Music
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https://isthmus.com/events/ian-adcock-lolas/
| 2024-01-30T00:29:16
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Two Mompreneurs Team Up with Santander Bank Brooklyn for Vision '24 Power Luncheon & Event on February 3, 2024
The 5 Commitments Vision '24 Power Luncheon & Event: A Cutting-Edge Experience for the Brooklyn Community
BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, UNITED STATES, January 29, 2024 /EINPresswire.com/ -- Prepare for an extraordinary event as The 5 Commitments Vision '24 Power Luncheon, Panel Session and Vision Strategy Workshop takes center stage on Saturday, February 3, 2024, at the Santander Bank Work Café on North 6th Street. This exclusive gathering not only offers personal growth but also provides attendees a chance to fulfill their banking needs in the innovative setting of Santander Work Café.
The 5 Commitments Vision '24 delves into the foundational aspects of life, exploring Purpose & Career, Money & Finance, Relationships, Health, and Self-Care. The event's structure, featuring a luncheon and panel discussion, goes beyond creating a vision strategy plan, equipping participants with practical tools to overcome obstacles hindering personal growth.
"We're excited to bring The 5 Commitments Vision '24 to Brooklyn's dynamic community. This event is about more than just setting goals; it's about making a commitment to oneself and taking actionable steps towards a more fulfilling life," says Osayamen Bartholomew, Co-Host and Founder of The Gift Agency.
"Whether you're a professional, student, parent, entrepreneur, retired, or simply curious about personal development, this event is for you!"
Partnering with Santander Bank - Work Café, operated by Aroma Coffee, adds a unique touch to the event. Santander Work Café, serving as a co-working space, neighborhood café, and bank, aligns perfectly with the collaborative spirit of The 5 Commitments Vision '24.
Rene Abdo, Co-Host and Founder of Mez En Place, expresses, "Our partnership with Santander Bank creates an inclusive space for personal development, networking, and collaboration. We appreciate Santander's commitment to supporting community events that foster growth and empowerment."
Panelists and speakers, including Nadia Murdock, Founder, Nadia Murdock Fit, Marsha Guerrier, Founder & CEO of HerSuiteSpot®, Sirobè Carstafhnur, CEO, SIROBÈ, Georgina Jean-Dusseck, Founder/CEO, J.D. Body Treats, and representatives from Santander bank will also provide resources for better financial health and address banking needs.
Tickets for the event are priced at $50, covering admission, luncheon, and materials. Complimentary headshots, courtesy of Sean Brooklyn Photography, will be provided to attendees. Jennifer Magazine, an online and digital magazine, is a media partner. Attendees can register at www.thegiftagency.com/events. Space is limited, so early registration is encouraged.
The 5 Commitments event is committed to inclusion, open to all adults (male/female). For special accommodation and event accessibility, please contact admin@thegiftagency.com.
###
Note to Editors: High-resolution images and additional event details are available upon request.
Pia Rose
The Gift Agency, LLC
pr@thegiftagency.com
Visit us on social media:
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https://www.einpresswire.com/article/684710429/two-mompreneurs-team-up-with-santander-bank-brooklyn-for-vision-24-power-luncheon-event-on-february-3-2024
| 2024-01-30T00:29:17
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Subscribe to the Yahoo Fantasy Football Show
Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts | YouTube
Super Bowl LVIII is set: Kansas City Chiefs vs. San Francisco 49ers. But before we dive into the Super Bowl rematch in Las Vegas we have to decompress from a wild Championship Sunday. Matt Harmon and Dalton Del Don recap the NFC and AFC title games and where the losing teams in Detroit and Baltimore go from here.
Del Don, a life long 49ers fan, also shares his experience being at Levi Stadium on Sunday and witnessing San Francisco's historic second half comeback.
To end the show the two look ahead at the matchups they'll be focused on the most in the Super Bowl and what a win would mean for the legacies of Patrick Mahomes and Brock Purdy.
0:35 - Dalton recounts his wild experience at the NFC title game
4:20 - Lions vs. 49ers: Did Detroit blow it or did Purdy take it?
16:58 - Where do the Lions go from here?
31:20 - Chiefs vs. Ravens: Mahomes, Reid and Spagnuolo are inevitable
40:30 - Where do the Ravens go from here?
44:33 - Which fantasy offensive ecosystem do you like more in 2024: Ravens or Lions?
50:15 - Yahoo Fantasy Football Show is going to the Super Bowl :)
🖥️ Watch this full episode on YouTube
Check out all the episodes of the Yahoo Fantasy Football Show and the rest of the Yahoo Sports podcast family at https://apple.co/3zEuTQj or at Yahoo Sports Podcasts
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https://www.kkyx.com/news/national/championship-sunday/X67N5XOW3KVHSFEXAOP4E65XNM/
| 2024-01-30T00:29:16
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People with `close connections´ to the UK to be prioritised for social housing
People with “close connections” to the UK and their local area are to be favoured for social housing, the Government is to announce.
Applicants will be required to demonstrate a connection to the UK for at least 10 years and their local area for at least two years in an “overhaul” of the system.
Those with unspent criminal convictions or certain civil sanctions for anti-social behaviour could be banned from social housing for up to five years.
People who “repeatedly make their neighbours’ lives hell” through anti-social behaviour also face being evicted under a “three strikes and you’re out” policy.
Terrorists with certain convictions could also be blocked from living in social homes.
New social tenants on high incomes would also no longer qualify. The salary threshold is yet to be determined and existing tenants would not be affected.
(John Stillwell/PA)
Housing minister Lee Rowley said: “Today we are proposing further steps to make the allocation of social housing fairer for people.
“If you abuse the system, making people’s lives a misery, or actively work against our British values, you are making a choice – such choices will have consequences and our proposals seek to stop such people getting a social home.
“The message is clear: play by the rules, pay in and we will support you. If you choose not to, this country is not going to be a soft touch.
“The public want to know decent and hardworking people that have contributed to this country will be prioritised for new social tenancies.
“People already living in social homes want to know that anyone moving near them will be respectful of their neighbours with their communities protected from those who persistently break the law.
“That is why it is right that the finite resource of social housing is allocated fairly and local law-abiding citizens in need have more access to a home in their own communities.”
The Government has said it wants to bring in the reforms “as soon as possible” but is seeking the views of the public, councils, social housing tenants and providers.
A consultation will run until March 26 and can be accessed through an online survey.
The Government has suggested some of the measures may be implemented by secondary legislation which would mean they do not require a vote in Parliament.
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https://www.dailymail.co.uk/wires/pa/article-13021281/People-close-connections-UK-prioritised-social-housing.html?ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490&ito=1490
| 2024-01-30T00:29:18
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Title: The Legendary 1991 New York Giants Roster: A Glorious Era in Football History
Introduction:
In the realm of American football, few teams have left an indelible mark on the sport quite like the 1991 New York Giants roster. This talented group of players not only showcased exceptional skill and teamwork but also etched their names in the annals of football history. In this article, we will delve into the fascinating details of the 1991 Giants team, highlighting their achievements, interesting facts, and answering common questions that arise about this legendary roster.
Historical Overview:
The 1991 New York Giants roster was led by head coach Bill Parcells, who had already secured a Super Bowl victory in 1986. The team had an outstanding regular season record of 13 wins and 3 losses, clinching the NFC East division title. They advanced to the playoffs, eventually reaching the Super Bowl, where they faced off against the Buffalo Bills in Super Bowl XXV.
Interesting Facts and Tricks:
1. Phil Simms’ Super Bowl Performance:
Phil Simms, the Giants’ quarterback, delivered a remarkable performance in Super Bowl XXV. He completed 22 out of 25 passes, achieving a staggering 88% completion rate, and earned the Most Valuable Player (MVP) title for his exceptional contribution.
2. The Giants’ Dominant Defense:
The 1991 Giants boasted one of the most formidable defenses in NFL history. Led by defensive coordinator Bill Belichick, the team utilized a well-coordinated defense strategy known as the “Big Blue Wrecking Crew.” This strategy involved aggressive pass rushing, stifling coverage, and disciplined tackling, resulting in the Giants allowing only 211 points during the regular season.
3. Lawrence Taylor’s Impact:
The iconic Lawrence Taylor, renowned for his ferociousness on the field, was a pivotal force in the Giants’ success. Despite facing numerous double-teams and often being the focus of opposing offenses, Taylor’s unmatched athleticism and football intelligence allowed him to record 10.5 sacks during the 1991 season.
4. Ottis Anderson’s Heroics:
Running back Ottis Anderson, known as “O.J.,” was instrumental in the Giants’ Super Bowl victory. At the age of 34, Anderson defied expectations by rushing for 102 yards on 21 carries and scoring a touchdown, earning him the Super Bowl MVP title.
5. The Legendary Super Bowl XXV Finish:
The 1991 Giants’ Super Bowl victory is etched in history for the thrilling finish. With just seconds remaining on the clock, Bills’ kicker Scott Norwood missed a potential game-winning field goal, securing the Giants’ 20-19 victory. This narrow margin emphasized the Giants’ resilience and showcased the importance of every play.
Common Questions and Answers:
1. Who were the key players on the 1991 New York Giants roster?
Key players included Phil Simms, Lawrence Taylor, Ottis Anderson, Mark Bavaro, Pepper Johnson, and Carl Banks.
2. How did the Giants’ defense contribute to their success?
The Giants’ defense, aptly named the “Big Blue Wrecking Crew,” played a pivotal role in their success. They allowed the fewest points in the league and were known for their tenacious pass rush and disciplined coverage.
3. What were the team’s strengths during the 1991 season?
The 1991 Giants were known for their dominant defense, strong running game, and efficient passing game led by Phil Simms.
4. Who was the head coach of the 1991 Giants?
Bill Parcells served as the head coach of the 1991 Giants roster.
5. How did the Giants fare in the playoffs that season?
The Giants had a successful playoff run, culminating in their Super Bowl victory against the Buffalo Bills.
6. What made Lawrence Taylor such a dominant player?
Lawrence Taylor’s exceptional athleticism, football intelligence, and relentless pursuit of the ball made him one of the most dominant defensive players in NFL history.
7. How did the Giants’ offensive line contribute to their success?
The Giants’ offensive line provided excellent protection for Phil Simms, enabling him to excel in the passing game and create opportunities for their running backs.
8. Were there any significant injuries that affected the team in 1991?
Yes, Phil Simms suffered a season-ending injury during Week 15, prompting Jeff Hostetler to step in as the starting quarterback.
9. What was the Giants’ regular season record in 1991?
The Giants finished the regular season with an impressive record of 13 wins and 3 losses.
10. How did Ottis Anderson’s performance impact the Super Bowl result?
Ottis Anderson’s performance in Super Bowl XXV, rushing for over 100 yards and scoring a touchdown, was critical to the Giants’ victory.
11. Did any players from the 1991 Giants roster attain individual honors?
Yes, Phil Simms and Ottis Anderson were both awarded Super Bowl MVP honors for their exceptional performances during the championship game.
12. How did the Giants’ defense perform in Super Bowl XXV?
The Giants’ defense played exceptionally well in Super Bowl XXV, stifling the high-powered Buffalo Bills offense and keeping them to just 19 points.
13. How did the Giants’ victory in Super Bowl XXV impact the franchise?
The Giants’ victory in Super Bowl XXV not only solidified their status as one of the most successful franchises in NFL history but also showcased their resilience and ability to perform under pressure.
14. What were the key moments that led to the Giants’ victory in Super Bowl XXV?
The Giants’ victory in Super Bowl XXV was largely influenced by their time of possession control, limiting Buffalo’s offensive opportunities, and Scott Norwood’s missed field goal in the closing seconds.
15. How does the 1991 Giants roster compare to other legendary teams in NFL history?
The 1991 Giants roster is widely regarded as one of the greatest teams in NFL history, primarily due to their exceptional defense, strong leadership, and ability to perform under pressure.
Final Thoughts:
The 1991 New York Giants roster left an indelible mark on the sport of football. Their dominant defense, resilient performances in critical moments, and the thrilling Super Bowl victory have forever cemented their place in NFL history. This talented group of players continues to be celebrated as one of the greatest teams to ever grace the gridiron, inspiring future generations to strive for excellence in the sport.
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https://jstationx.com/1991-new-york-giants-roster/
| 2024-01-30T00:29:19
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The Conners' Laurie Metcalf, Lecy Goranson, & Emma Kenney Reveal How Season 6 Still 'Walks A Fine Line' - Exclusive
For many TV viewers, there's something comforting about seeing an average family depicted on screen. This is certainly true of ABC's "The Conners," which effortlessly blends humor with real-world hardships such as financial insecurity, job hunting, failed marriages, death, addiction, and more.
On February 7, this relatability continues when "The Conners" Season 6 premieres on ABC, picking up right where the previous season left off: Jackie Harris (Laurie Metcalf) isn't having the easiest time running The Lunchbox, Becky Conner (Lecy Goranson) is living with Darlene Conner (Sara Gilbert) and Ben Olinsky (Jay R. Ferguson) as she pursues a new chapter in life, and Harris Conner (Emma Kenney) is trying to figure out her next endeavor.
In an exclusive interview with Looper, Metcalf, Goranson, and Kenney share details about "The Conners" Season 6. This includes the impact of the strike on production, how show writers "walk a very fine line" of tackling serious issues while incorporating humor, and what it's like to have the glamorous presence of Estelle Parsons, who is returning as Jackie's mother Beverly Harris, on set.
Excited to be back
How does it feel to be entering the sixth season?
Laurie Metcalf: Feels fantastic. Especially coming off the strike, and we were all chomping at the bit to get back. And here we are and we're working on Episode 4 this week.
Lecy Goranson: We did two episodes and then we were off for Christmas break for two weeks, and I thought, "Why are we ..." We're off for break normally during the season when we hit that time ... We've been working for, what, three months? And so this time we had just started, so I'm like, "Break already? I want to keep going." So I'm cooking Christmas dinner with my dad and he's like, "Why are you distracted?" I'm like, "Because I want to be back at work." We just got back, feels great.
How soon after the strike ended did you start?
Emma Kenney: I think we were the second show back to production. I want to say the first one was also at the studio, but we were I think a day after them. So we were very blessed to be able to go back to work so soon.
Goranson: It was a couple weeks. I think ABC wanted to give the writers some more time, which makes sense.
What can audiences expect?
When we enter the new season, where are all of your characters at in life?
Metcalf: Well, Jackie is still managing The Lunchbox, which she owns, and it is coming into some problems. It's always a struggle to make that place work, and so she's having to deal with that. And she's also sort of rethinking if that's where she wants to put all of her energies. So I don't know where it's headed, but she's having second thoughts about working there.
Goranson: Becky's still working at The Lunchbox. She's still in school getting her social worker degree, and she still has, obviously, her daughter, Beverly Rose, and she has a new man in her life, Tyler, played by Sean Astin. And I think that this season, she's ready to introduce him to the family, which I think she has some anxiety about, for obvious reasons, because the family is a lot.
Kenney: This season, Harris is figuring out her next moves into adulthood and which paths she wants to take. And I think she's having some second thoughts on her previous decision on being a tattoo artist and that career move.
Tackling the serious issues
I love that this show, it's obviously a comedy, but it covers some really serious topics, like death, addiction, and alcoholism. Lecy, what has it been like portraying Becky's journey to sobriety? Have you gotten any feedback from fans who maybe can relate?
Goranson: Yeah, it's so powerful. It's so funny because I feel such joy at work every day. It's funny and the lines are funny and we have a good time. But sometimes when people approach me about the show, they are so emotionally connected. It's not just "ha ha ha." And people have talked to me ... A lot of people say to me that they hope that Becky gets a break. I think they can feel her efforts. They can feel her pain. It's so interesting to think about how those moments ... because sometimes we shoot out of order and whether there's a pandemic or there's whatever has been happening all these years that we've been on the show, but that those moments really resonate with people in a really profound way. And I just think it's so cool that a comedy like ours can also do that. I feel like that's our legacy and I feel like we're still doing it and I feel like it doesn't take away the joy and the laughter. It just adds to it. It just adds more depth and dimension. But yeah, I always wonder if the writers are going to have her in a position where she is up against something. But it seems like she is in a pretty healthy way right now. So it seems like she's finding a lot of balance in her life.
If you or anyone you know needs help with addiction issues, help is available. Visit the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration website or contact SAMHSA's National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).
Fans can relate to The Conners' struggles
And another big piece, it depicts the working middle class population so well, especially today. Groceries are so expensive, people have to find a million different jobs to make ends meet. Can you speak to that end of the show, how it's relatable?
Kenney: Yeah, I think "The Conners" is really broadcasting a group of people that possibly have been overlooked on mainstream media before. I know I have spoken to so many people that watch the show and are fans and relate, and maybe their families have gone through similar situations, and they say that the show helps them. It helps make them laugh at the end of the day and they feel more seen and heard. And I think that's so special while doing a show, to be able to connect to people.
Metcalf: The writers managed to walk a very fine line of tackling issues or just even day-to-day situations. The family talks about money quite a bit. It's always an issue. It's never gone away all these decades that the show has been on, it's still relevant. And yet they can take those situations and find some humor in them. And I think that can be comforting to watch from your home.
Beverly's return
Fans also enjoy how, over the years, there have been some famous faces that pop in, like Matthew Broderick and Ozzy Osbourne. With the new season, can we expect any more?
Metcalf: I think we can, but we just don't know who they are until we get on the set ourselves sometimes or look at the cast list. All that's done somewhere else far, far away until we ...
Kenney: Neverland.
Metcalf: Neverland. Then we walk on the set and say, "Oh, my God, look who's here."
Kenney: We see a cool name on the call sheet.
Metcalf: Yeah, yeah.
Kenney: It's a fun feeling.
Goranson: But we have had Estelle Parsons back already, which is incredible. She's like our collective hero. She-ro. And she just blows in from New York and from whatever she's doing, directing or whatever. She's always doing something and then she just shows up and just blows all our minds.
Kenney: She's so glamorous too, the way she walks onto set. And she always is off-book and she's so smart and together. It's really impressive [and] cool to see at her age.
Goranson: And it's great fun to watch her with Laurie because they're both such theater pros and they have just such depth to their relationship. That mother-daughter situation is so, so powerful. Maybe too powerful.
"The Conners" Season 6 premieres on February 7 at 8 p.m. EST on ABC.
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https://www.looper.com/1504196/the-conners-season-6-laurie-metcalf-lecy-goranson-emma-kenney-interview/
| 2024-01-30T00:29:20
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NORFOLK, Va. -- Old Dominion scoring leader Vasean Allette has been dismissed from the team for "conduct unbecoming of a Monarch," interim coach Kieran Donohue said.
Donohue made the announcement Sunday, one day after he said Allette was suspended and did not play in a 76-70 home loss to Georgia Southern.
Allette, a freshman guard from Toronto, was averaging 17.4 points for Old Dominion, second in the Sun Belt Conference. He had started the first 18 games before coming off the bench in a 78-62 home loss to James Madison on Wednesday.
Allette also was leading the Monarchs (5-16, 1-8) in rebounding, assists and steals.
Donohue stepped in as the Monarchs' interim coach when Jeff Jones took a leave from the team for the rest of the season while dealing with health concerns.
The 63-year-old Jones is recovering from a heart attack suffered Dec. 20 at the Diamond Head Classic in Honolulu and also is battling prostate cancer.
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https://africa.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/39417895/old-dominion-dismisses-top-scorer-vasean-allette-conduct
| 2024-01-30T00:29:20
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An engineer in Huntsville, Ala. is suing the defense contractor Parsons Corporation for discrimination, arguing he was fired for speaking his native Hindi language at work.
Copyright 2024 NPR
An engineer in Huntsville, Ala. is suing the defense contractor Parsons Corporation for discrimination, arguing he was fired for speaking his native Hindi language at work.
Copyright 2024 NPR
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https://www.kbia.org/2024-01-29/an-alabama-engineer-says-a-major-defense-contractor-fired-him-for-speaking-hindi
| 2024-01-30T00:29:20
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9 suspected of drug dealing in San Francisco's Tenderloin arraigned
SAN FRANCISCO – Nine people suspected of drug dealing in San Francisco's Tenderloin neighborhood were arraigned Thursday, prosecutors said, amid an ongoing crackdown on drug sales.
According to District Attorney Brooke Jenkins' office, each person was alleged to have sold drugs to undercover San Francisco police officers. Five of the nine suspects are alleged to have engaged in drug dealing while released on their own recognizance in other felony narcotics cases.
All nine people pleaded not guilty to their charges.
"Open-air drug markets in the Tenderloin and SOMA pose grave public safety risks and all levels of government must work together to protect this community and the safety of the public," said Jenkins.
During Thursday's arraignments, the DA's office moved to detain seven of the defendants pending trial, citing public safety risk. The court granted motions to detain without prejudice for six of the suspects, and set bail for the seventh.
Meanwhile, two suspects were released by the court. One received electronic monitoring, search conditions and an order to stay at least 150 yards away from Ellis and Hyde streets. The other person was ordered to stay at least 150 yards from Eddy and Larkin streets.
Since last May, local and state law enforcement agencies have deployed additional resources to crack down on drug sales in the Tenderloin and South of Market neighborhoods. In an update in late December, officials said nearly 700 people had been arrested for drug sales in the two neighborhoods since the start of the crackdown.
At least 326 pounds of narcotics, including 176 pounds of fentanyl were also seized during that timeframe. The data does not include arrests and seizures outside of the two neighborhoods or efforts made by federal agencies.
for more features.
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https://www.cbsnews.com/sanfrancisco/news/sf-tenderloin-9-suspected-of-drug-dealing-arraigned-plead-not-guilty/
| 2024-01-30T00:29:21
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Tate Sullivan is an exceptional student who comes to school and works hard every day! We can count on him to do things the Wrangler Way, as he is always safe, kind, and helpful. Tate makes sure to do his very best work, he is attentive, thoughtful, and has such a positive attitude toward learning. Above all else, Tate is a great friend and helper to all. If he sees someone in need, he is always willing to step in and help. Way to lead the way, Tate, keep up the good work!
Mrs. McFarland & Mrs. Sullivan, Kindergarten
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https://county10.com/shoshoni-elementary-student-of-the-week-tate-sullivan/
| 2024-01-30T00:29:21
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Many communities affected most by San Diego's flooding were low-income, with a majority of Latino and Black residents. The impact highlights the inequality in public investment for climate resiliency.
Copyright 2024 NPR
Many communities affected most by San Diego's flooding were low-income, with a majority of Latino and Black residents. The impact highlights the inequality in public investment for climate resiliency.
Copyright 2024 NPR
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https://www.krcu.org/2024-01-29/san-diegos-flooding-shows-the-toll-of-climate-change-on-low-income-communities
| 2024-01-30T00:29:22
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Questions about the possibility of a low-level regional war in the Middle East are rising after attacks there have escalated in the past 24 hours.
On Sunday, an aerial drone strike killed three United States service membersand injured at least 34 others. The strike happened at a support base known as Tower 22 in northeast Jordan near the Syrian border and likely hit a barracks.
"We had a tough day last night in the Middle East. We lost three brave souls," President Biden said on Monday. "And we shall respond."
This is the first fatal attack on U.S. forces in the Middle East since the war in Gaza broke out following the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks on Israel that left some 1,200 people dead.
U.S. considers response to attack on base in Jordan
An Iran-backed umbrella group of militias called the Islamic Resistance in Iraq said it was behind the attack, but Iran denied involvement. The group called it revenge for America's military presence in the region and the Palestinian deaths in Gaza. More than 26,000 people have been killed since the beginning of Israel's war on Hamas, according to the health ministry in Gaza.
There have been about 160 attacks on U.S. bases in the region since the Gaza war broke out, according to the Pentagon.
"There will be a response" to Sunday's attack, John Kirby, spokesman for the National Security Council, told NPR's Steve Inskeep on Monday, and it will be "calibrated to hopefully have a better effect on the decision-making of these groups."
"We're going to take the right time to make the appropriate response decisions in the wake of this attack," he said. "The president has taken this very seriously."
President Biden met on Monday with National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines and others, including his Middle East envoy Brett McGurk, to discuss the growing threats.
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Other strikes in Syria and the Gulf of Aden
Meanwhile, the Associated Press reportedthat the Syrian military said that Israeli strikes outside the capital Damascus on Monday killed and wounded several people.
Syrian state media said that among the dead were "a number of Iranian advisers," Reuters reported. Israel declined to comment on the strikes.
The AP also reportedon Monday that Yemen's Houthi rebels said they attacked a U.S. Navy mobile base in the Gulf of Aden. The claim was denied by the U.S.
The Iranian-backed Houthis have been attacking international cargo ships in the Red Sea with drones and missiles since November. They have said it is a reaction to Israel's war in Gaza. The U.S has responded with its own strikes.
Kirby described Sunday's attack in Jordan as "escalatory" but insisted that the U.S. was not, however, talking about the latest spike in violence as a regional war.
"We do not want to see a wider conflict," Kirby said. "In fact, everything the president has done since the seventh of October has really been designed to try to de-escalate, to try to prevent a wider conflict. ... We are not looking for a war with Iran."
Nevertheless, an expert on the region told NPR Monday that the U.S. already appears to be swept up in a low-grade war.
"There have been some backchannel communications between Washington and Tehran to say they don't want the war that has been playing out since Oct. 7 between Israel and Gaza to expand," Robin Wright, a distinguished fellow at the Wilson Center, told Morning Edition's Inskeep.
"But frankly, I think we've crossed that threshold now," she said. "The danger is that you see the Americans going in to try to prevent a wider war, to contain the violence, and instead only providing more targets."
Copyright 2024 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.
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https://www.wvpe.org/npr-news/2024-01-29/the-killing-of-u-s-troops-in-jordan-raises-specter-of-a-wider-war-in-the-middle-east
| 2024-01-30T00:29:22
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January 29
BCB 2024 top Cubs prospects countdown: 21 to 25
The countdown of the 25 best Cubs prospects starts with some promising arms and one really big bat.
The countdown of the 25 best Cubs prospects starts with some promising arms and one really big bat.
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https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2024/1/29/24054617/2024-bcb-top-25-cubs-prospects-countdown
| 2024-01-30T00:29:22
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The Times reported in September 2020 that Trump paid only $750 in federal income tax in 2016 and 2017.
Washington: A former Internal Revenue Service (IRS) contractor who leaked former US president Donald Trump's tax returns to the media was sentenced to five years in prison on Monday.
Charles Littlejohn, 38, pleaded guilty in October to unlawfully disclosing tax information.
US District Judge Ana Reyes imposed the maximum penalty of five years in prison at the ex-IRS contractor's sentencing in Washington on Monday.
Littlejohn was accused by federal prosecutors of leaking the tax returns of a "high-ranking government official" to a news organization.
Neither the official nor the news outlet were identified by the Justice Department but it has been widely reported in US media that the tax returns were those of Trump and the news organization was The New York Times.
The Times reported in September 2020 that Trump, who has refused to make his tax returns public, paid only $750 in federal income tax in 2016 and 2017, and none at all for 10 of the previous 15 years.
Littlejohn was also accused of leaking the tax information of thousands of the wealthiest individuals in the United States to another unidentified news outlet.
That outlet is believed to be ProPublica, a nonprofit journalism organization which published extensive reports in June 2021 based on the tax information, a project it dubbed "The Secret IRS Files."
"Charles Littlejohn abused his position as a consultant at the Internal Revenue Service by disclosing thousands of Americans' federal tax returns and other private financial information to news organizations," Acting Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri said in a statement.
"He violated his responsibility to safeguard the sensitive information that was entrusted to his care, and now he is a convicted felon," Argentieri added.
According to court filings, Littlejohn accessed tax returns on an IRS database and saved them on multiple personal storage devices, including an iPod.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
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https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/man-who-leaked-donald-trumps-tax-returns-sentenced-to-5-years-4957167
| 2024-01-30T00:29:22
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LifestyleHealth & wellnessThe 2024 fitness trends to keep an eye onCosy cardio and rucking are among the fitness movements trending on TikTok.January 30, 2024 — 11.07amSaveLog in, register or subscribe to save articles for later.Save videos for laterAdd videos to your saved list and come back to them any time.Got itLoadingReplayReplay videoPlay videoPlay video
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https://www.theage.com.au/lifestyle/health-and-wellness/the-2024-fitness-trends-to-keep-an-eye-on-20240130-p5f11j.html?ref=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_source=rss_lifestyle
| 2024-01-30T00:29:22
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Rebellions lands $124M to develop its new AI Rebel chip with Samsung
Rebellions, a South Korean fabless AI chip startup, said today it has closed $124 million (165 billion KRW) in a Series B round of funding to develop its third AI chip, called Rebel. The startup will also use the new capital, oversubscribed with an initial target of $90 million, to ramp up production of its data center-focused chip, Atom, and for hiring.
This Series B values the three-year-old startup at approximately $658 million (880 billion KRW) post-money, CFO of Rebellions Sungkyue Shin said in an exclusive interview with TechCrunch. This latest capital infusion brings the total raised to around $210 million since Rebellions' inception in 2020.
KT, the South Korean telecom giant, led this latest round as a strategic investor. Previous backers Temasek's Pavilion Capital and Korea Development Bank, and new investors including Korelya Capital and DG Daiwa Ventures, also participated.
Rebellions' fundraise comes at a key moment in the chip industry, specifically around the development and use of AI chips.
Nvidia is the AI chip market leader, its name synonymous with the AI boom that is currently sweeping the technology world. Many have observed how Nvidia has thrived in part because of the moat created around an ecosystem of hardware and software. But it's far from game-over for the rest of the field. Data processing and related high costs continue to be major issues when it comes to AI applications, so the scramble continues in the search for innovative breakthroughs to improve these.
Developments are coming from multiple fronts. Big Tech titans such as Google, Amazon, Apple and Microsoft develop or have their own chips to integrate AI into their products and services. Open AI chief executive officer Sam Altman reportedly visited South Korea last week to meet the country's chip industry leaders, Samsung and SK Hynix. Beyond that, Open AI is said to be raising billions of dollars to set up chip fabrication factories, to make its own AI chips. And there are a number of startups beyond Rebellions bringing new concepts to the table to speed up processing while improving efficiency.
Team up with Samsung
This fundraise -- which has been rumored for months -- comes on the heels of other moves at the startup. Last October, Rebellions announced that it would develop its newest Rebel chip in partnership with Samsung Electronics, building on a relationship it initially forged around its Atoms chips. The two companies aim to complete the development of Rebel by the end of this year and start mass production in 2025, Shin said, adding that the next-generation AI chip will target the generative AI market running large language models (LLMs) and hyperscalers.
Shin told TechCrunch that Rebel will use Samsung Electronics' 4-nanometer fabrication process, and that its AI chip will be deployed in Samsung's advanced memory chip technology HBM3E, designed to handle high bandwidth memory, used for building and operating large language models. Rebellions' unique selling point is a claim that its technology and products have more versatility than customized AI chips, meaning they can support various generative AI models that need AI accelerators.
The company CFO stressed that Rebellions will cooperate with Samsung from co-development and chip design to mass production of Rebel. There is a second motivation for Samsung's work here: Aside from its efforts in chips, South Korea's largest memory chip maker has been working on its own generative AI model, Samsung Gauss.
ATOM and ION
It's also been working with customers using its previous generations of chips. In May 2023, Rebellions' strategic investor, KT, installed Atom, Rebellions' data-center targeted AI chip, in its cloud-based neural processing units (NPU) infrastructure. Rebellions says it expects to generate revenues from Atom in the second half of this year and will continue to produce that chip model via Samsung's 5-nanometer fabrication process. Atom is designed for data centers and language models of up to 7 billion parameters, while Rebel targets larger large language models, Shin noted.
Meanwhile, the startup's first AI chip, Ion, which was launched in November 2021, is in the process of qualification testing in the U.S. and has yet to sign on any commercial customers. Ion is designed for edge computing and one key use case, the company believes, will be in financial services applications, where larger institutions building their own hardware could use the chips to power stock prediction and trading applications.
Rebellions CEO Sunghyun Park, a former quant developer at Morgan Stanley in New York, and four co-founders set up the AI chip startup in 2020.
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https://finance.yahoo.com/news/rebellions-lands-124m-develop-ai-225947358.html
| 2024-01-30T00:29:22
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DJ Jean Le Duke, JLD x Thierry Ennu
to
Lola's Hi/Lo Lounge 617 N. Sherman Ave., Madison, Wisconsin 53704
media release: Chris Fox (aka Jean Le Duke) has been DJing in Madison for years, and has amassed a collection of 45s that’ll make your head spin. Come see what kind of funky beats he has in store for you on his Lola’s debut and a “JLD & Thierry Ennu” duo set with his homie Andrew Schmidt!
Info
Music
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https://isthmus.com/events/jean-le-duke-jld-x-thierry-ennu/
| 2024-01-30T00:29:23
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Global specialty (re)insurer Canopius has appointed Angelos Deftereos as head of structured credit and Boris Medimorec and Virad Patel as underwriters in its credit & political risk team in London.
They take up their roles with immediate effect while Dimitri Plastiras joins the APAC team in February as an underwriter.
Deftereos brings over two decades of experience to Canopius. He joins from Volante Global, where he held the position of managing director – structured finance, specialising in significant risk transfer (SRT) insurance, a growth area that he will lead in his new role.
Medimorec joins from UK Export Finance having previously spent two years with AJ Gallagher and almost 15 years with MUFG as managing director.
In addition, Patel comes from ING, having spent 10 years at the bank across risk, origination, and distribution functions. Most recently, he held the position of vice president for loan capital markets.
Plastiras was most recently associate director for debt advisory services at KPMG in Sydney.
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By GlobalDataPatrick Sheriff, head of credit & political risk – London, said: “Adding such high calibre professionals to our team demonstrates Canopius’ long-term commitment to this class. Their collective skillset diversifies and complements our existing pool of expertise, and we are excited to welcome them as we look to strengthen our lead position in this market.”
Jamie Jeffers, head of credit and political risk – APAC, added: “Credit and Political Risk remains a key global class of business for Canopius, particularly with the rising economic and political volatility on the international stage. We are delighted to welcome Dimitri to the team in APAC, further strengthening our capacity to support clients in managing their evolving risks. The outstanding calibre of all our recent additions demonstrates our ambition to secure and invest in talented professionals to maintain and grow our market leading position.”
Canopius appointed Robert Barnum as underwriter – professional lines, Australia and Asia Pacific earlier in the year.
Based in Sydney, Barnum brings over 10 years of financial lines experience to Canopius, recently holding the role of head of professional lines & cyber Asia Pacific as AXIS Capital.
Prior to this, he held similar roles at AXA XL and Lloyd’s Syndicate Catlin in Australia.
Furthermore, Barnum will expand the Canopius operation in the region by establishing a professional lines practice across Asia Pacific.
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https://www.lifeinsuranceinternational.com/news/canopius-boosts-its-global-credit-and-political-risk-team/
| 2024-01-30T00:29:22
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Cameron aims to stop Middle East conflict from `spilling over´ during new visit
Lord Cameron will pledge that Britain will “do everything” it can to prevent the Israel-Hamas war from “spilling over borders” during a return visit to the Middle East.
The Cabinet minister will this week make his fourth visit to the region since being appointed Foreign Secretary in November as he presses for a de-escalation of tensions.
Starting in Oman, the senior Conservative peer is expected to call for stability amid Houthi attacks in the Red Sea and an immediate pause in the conflict in Gaza as he looks to work diplomatically to stop the Israel-Hamas war from escalating into a wider conflict.
An attack by Iran-backed militia in Jordan over the weekend that killed three US troops and left dozens injured has stoked fresh fears of a western confrontation with Tehran.
The UK, the US and other allies have looked to police the Red Sea after the Houthis, another Iran-backed rebel group, based in Yemen, began targeting commercial shipping on the vital global trade route in recent months.
The US and the UK launched a second round of joint strikes against the rebels but it appears to have done little to deter the Houthi missiles.
A British-linked oil tanker went up in flames after a strike claimed by the Yemen-based group on Friday, before a further attack on HMS Diamond, a Royal Navy destroyer stationed in the Red Sea, was repelled.
Speaking before his return to the Middle East, Lord Cameron said: “The Houthis continue to attack ships in the Red Sea, risking lives, delaying vital aid getting to the Yemeni people and disrupting global trade.
HMS Diamond fired its Sea Viper missile to shoot down a drone over the Red Sea (MoD/Crown Copyright/PA)
“And we cannot ignore the risk that the conflict in Gaza spreads, spilling over borders into other countries in the region.
“We will do everything we can to make sure that does not happen – escalation and instability is in nobody’s interests.
“In Gaza, there is an urgent need for an immediate pause to allow aid in and hostages out.
“We are determined to do all we can to press for a sustainable ceasefire, and are stepping up our engagement with countries in the region to make sure that happens.”
The Foreign Office said the Red Sea crisis is likely to form a “major focus” of the former prime minister’s discussions during the trip.
Officials described the visit as an opportunity to advance the Foreign Secretary’s proposal for a so-called contact group — which he wants to see formed between the UK, the US, key European Union states, Turkey and Gulf and Arab countries — that can use a potential future pause in fighting between Israel and Hamas to “build momentum towards a lasting solution”.
In Oman, the Foreign Secretary is expected to meet his Omani counterpart Sayyid Badr Albusaidi to discuss de-escalating rising tensions across the region.
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https://www.dailymail.co.uk/wires/pa/article-13021283/Cameron-aims-stop-Middle-East-conflict-spilling-new-visit.html?ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490&ito=1490
| 2024-01-30T00:29:24
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