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Illinois governor tests positive for COVID-19; symptoms mild
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) - Gov. J.B. Pritzker's office announced Tuesday that the Illinois governor has tested positive for COVID-19.
Pritzker is experiencing mild symptoms and has been prescribed the anti-viral medication Paxlovid, according to a statement from his office. He is working from home.
The Democrat undergoes a routine COVID-19 testing regimen and received the positive result after he was notified that several close contacts had contracted the illness.
Pritzker is vaccinated and has received two booster shots. He has long urged everyone to be vaccinated and follow Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines for staying healthy and stopping the spread.
As of last Friday, the Illinois Department of Public Health reported that nearly half of all counties in Illinois are at "high community level" for COVID-19 and of the rest, all but eight counties are at "medium community level." The Public Health Department recommends people use caution and wear a face covering when indoors.
Since early 2020, Illinois has recorded 3.496 million cases of COVID-19. The illness has contributed to 34,257 deaths.
FILE - Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker attends a panel discussion on literacy at the National Governors Association summer meeting, Friday, July 15, 2022, in Portland, Maine. The Illinois governor has tested positive for COVID-19. Pritzker's office made the announcement Tuesday, July 19, 2022, after one of his routine tests for the virus. A statement from his office says the Democrat is experiencing mild symptoms and has been prescribed the anti-viral medication Paxlovid. He is working from home. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty, File) | https://www.dailymail.co.uk/wires/ap/article-11029731/Illinois-governor-tests-positive-COVID-19-symptoms-mild.html?ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490&ito=1490 | 2022-07-19T22:05:55Z | https://www.dailymail.co.uk/wires/ap/article-11029731/Illinois-governor-tests-positive-COVID-19-symptoms-mild.html?ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490&ito=1490 | false |
Mixed Martial Arts-Nate Diaz to face Chimaev after demanding UFC exit
By Philip O'Connor
STOCKHOLM, July 19 (Reuters) - Fan favourite Nate Diaz, who handed Conor McGregor his first defeat in the UFC in 2016, is set to face unbeaten prospect Khamzat Chimaev at welterweight in the final fight of his UFC contract after demanding to be released a week ago.
UFC executive Hunter Campbell confirmed to ESPN that the fight will take place at UFC 279 on Sept. 10 in Las Vegas, with Diaz set to become a free agent after the five-round bout.
The 37-year-old from Stockton, California used an interview on The MMA Hour last week to demand that the UFC find an opponent for him for the final fight on his deal so that he could leave the company, hinting that he had his eye on a future boxing match with YouTuber Jake Paul.
The UFC has now granted that wish but Diaz, an accomplished boxer and jiu jitsu black belt with a professional record of 20 wins and 13 losses, faces the prospect of trying to counter the smothering grappling of Sweden's Chimaev, who is undefeated in 11 pro bouts and one of the most feared fighters in the promotion.
Diaz's two fights against Irish superstar McGregor rank second and fourth in the list of top UFC pay-per-view cards of all time. (Reporting by Philip O'Connor Editing by Toby Davis) | https://www.dailymail.co.uk/wires/reuters/article-11029693/Mixed-Martial-Arts-Nate-Diaz-face-Chimaev-demanding-UFC-exit.html?ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490&ito=1490 | 2022-07-19T22:08:39Z | https://www.dailymail.co.uk/wires/reuters/article-11029693/Mixed-Martial-Arts-Nate-Diaz-face-Chimaev-demanding-UFC-exit.html?ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490&ito=1490 | true |
Charli D'Amelio is enjoying her budding romance with Landon Barker. On Monday night, ET spoke with the 18-year-old entertainer at the MLB party by Fanatics, and she briefly addressed her relationship with the 18-year-old musician.
"He's just very sweet," Charli told ET when asked what she likes most about her new beau, before detailing what it's like to have her personal life be made so public. "I think for a long time it was really difficult but now I kind of live life first and think about what people are going to say after."
While Landon was also in attendance at the big party in celebration of MLB All-Star week -- thrown by Michael Rubin, the MLBPA and Fanatics -- the newly minted couple did not walk the red carpet together. Charli posed solo, wearing an orange crop top and matching pencil skirt, while Landon donned an all-black ensemble for the event.
A source confirmed news of their relationship to ET in late June, weeks after romance rumors began when they were spotted leaving Landon's dad, Travis Barker's, concert. "Landon and Charli are dating and enjoying each other's company," the source said. "Things are new between them, but they have a lot in common and are having a good time together."
Since then, Landon and Charli have been spotted out together on multiple occasions, with the TikTok star even in attendance as her boyfriend took the stage at Machine Gun Kelly's sold out Madison Square Garden show in late June amid Travis' hospitalization for life-threatening pancreatitis.
Charli -- along with her mom, Heidi, dad, Marc, and sister, Dixie -- later sent Travis flowers while he recovered from the health scare. “Sending healing and positive vibes after such a scary situation you all went through!” the card from the family was signed.
Before her relationship with Landon, Charli dated fellow social media influencer Lil Huddy, aka Chase Hudson, whom she split from in April 2020. Charli addressed the breakup in an Instagram post that read, "Since you guys have watched mine and Chase's relationship from the start, I decided I needed to tell you all that we are no longer together. It hurts me to say this, but we've decided that this is what's best for both of us."
"We are still close friends and I would not change that for anything!" she added. "I truly have so much love for Chase and wish him nothing but the best for him. It makes me happy to see all of the great things he has going for him."
RELATED CONTENT: | https://www.kvue.com/article/entertainment/entertainment-tonight/charli-damelio-talks-landon-barker-romance-and-what-she-likes-most-about-him-exclusive/603-7d4764f6-7aef-4e68-97a1-c5a2883d7786 | 2022-07-19T22:12:02Z | https://www.kvue.com/article/entertainment/entertainment-tonight/charli-damelio-talks-landon-barker-romance-and-what-she-likes-most-about-him-exclusive/603-7d4764f6-7aef-4e68-97a1-c5a2883d7786 | false |
WASHINGTON — Multiple members of Congress were arrested by U.S. Capitol Police Tuesday afternoon after protesting for abortion rights. USCP confirmed 35 total arrests for "Crowding, Obstructing or Incommoding," including 17 House Democrats.
The Center for Popular Democracy Action held a demonstration, called "Congressmembers and Constituents Won't Back Down: A Civil Disobedience Mobilization for Abortion Rights." They say more than 150 attendees marched and rallied.
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-NY), Rep. Alma Adams (D-NC), Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN), Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D-MA) and several others all confirmed via Twitter that they had been arrested.
"I will continue to do everything in my power to raise the alarm about the assault on our reproductive rights," Omar said along with the announcement of her arrest.
Maloney also shared a statement expressing her commitment to defending the women whose reproductive rights are being curtailed.
A full list of those arrested, shared by CPDA, can be viewed below:
- Rep. Jackie Speier (CA-14)
- Rep. Katherine Clark (MA-05)
- Rep. Carolyn Maloney (NY-12)
- Rep. Sara Jacobs (CA-53)
- Rep. Barabara Lee (CA-13)
- Rep. Madeleine Dean (PA-04)
- Rep. Cori Bush (MO-01)
- Rep. Rashida Tlaib (MI-13)
- Rep. Jan Schakowsky (IL-09)
- Rep. Nydia Velázquez (NY-7)
- Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12)
- Rep. Ilhan Omar (MN-5)
- Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14)
- Rep. Andy Levin (MI-11)
- Rep. Ayanna Pressley (MA-7)
- Rep. Alma Adams (NC-12)
- Rep. Veronica Escobar (TX-16)
Several leaders of other advocacy groups were also arrested, including CPDA's Co-Executive Director Analilia Mejia, Elizabeth Alex from CASA, Jane Henderson, the executive director of Maryland Communities United, the Executive Director of Step Up LA, Ben Zucker and others.
“Today, the CPDA network and Democratic members of Congress sent a powerful message to Republican lawmakers and SCOTUS: we will not back down,” Mejia said. “Our rights, our freedoms, and our reproductive autonomy matters. Abortion is health care and a human right — and you don’t represent the vast majority of Americans who believe we, not the government, should dictate our own health decisions. We will not stop fighting for the world our communities deserve — one that honors our right to decide our futures.”
Protests have continued over the weeks since the U.S. Supreme Court ruling to overturn Roe V. Wade in June. Demonstrations have spanned the court area to the private residential neighborhoods where justices live.
Days after the decision, two men were arrested outside of the court for the destruction of property after allegedly throwing paint over the fence by the U.S. Supreme Court. Organizers of the Women's March asked anyone planning to participate in a rally held July 9 to be willing to risk arrest during the day of action.
Days ago, Montgomery County Police reminded the public of the county and state laws surrounding protest and assembly in the midst of frequent protests outside the homes of the justices.
However, although the laws have been emphasized by police, the department stated that they will continue to allow peaceful protests near the homes of justices, according to County Executive Marc Elrich.
Elrich accused the Supreme Court’s chief security official and the court's conservative justices of media grandstanding after the court went public with letters to local authorities in Maryland and Virginia demanding they use local ordinances to shut down protests near the homes of justices.
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Sign up for the Capitol Breach email newsletter, delivering the latest breaking news and a roundup of the investigation into the Capitol Riots on January 6, 2021. | https://www.kvue.com/article/news/local/members-of-congress-arrested-while-protesting-for-abortion-rights-center-for-popular-democracy-action/65-0538c23f-80cf-47e8-af06-93e99f9c7585 | 2022-07-19T22:12:34Z | https://www.kvue.com/article/news/local/members-of-congress-arrested-while-protesting-for-abortion-rights-center-for-popular-democracy-action/65-0538c23f-80cf-47e8-af06-93e99f9c7585 | false |
(NewsNation) — Friends and family of Ivana Trump will gather Wednesday at New York City’s St. Vincent Ferrer Church to celebrate her legacy.
At the age of 73, the former model was found dead near stairs in her apartment last week. A medical examiner ruled Trump’s death an accident. She died of “blunt impact injuries” to her torso, according to an official release from the medical examiner’s office.
Ivana was the first wife of former President Donald Trump. The couple was married from 1977 to 1992 and had three children together, as well as nine grandchildren.
Donald and Melania Trump landed in New York City on Monday night and will be in attendance at the funeral, senior story producer Paula Froelich with NewsNation’s “Banfield” confirmed.
There are rumors that Melania won’t attend the funeral.
“If Melania shows, and that’s a big ‘if,’ she’ll be there just to support Donald,” Froelich said.
People magazine also confirmed that Ivana’s three children, Donald Jr., Eric and Ivanka, all plan to attend the funeral.
Froelich believes that the funeral will be “fabulous” and compared it to Joan Rivers’ funeral, which attracted stars including Hugh Jackman, Whoopi Goldberg, Kelly Osbourne and Sarah Jessica Parker.
“Everyone in New York was there. Her coffin was led out by the New York police marching band, and they closed down 5th Avenue for it.”
Before the world knew Ivana as Mrs. Trump, she was a competitive skier, starting as a child, in Czechoslovakia.
During an interview with the New York Post, Ivanka Trump said that her mom Ivana was a “world-class athlete” before marriage.
Instead of bringing flowers to the funeral, the Trump family has requested that guests donate to Big Dog Ranch Rescue.
“Ivana was philanthropically involved with many charities throughout her entire life, but always remained steadfast and passionate in her love for animals. In lieu of flowers, we kindly ask you to support Ivana in her mission to help dogs and donate to Big Dog Rescue Ranch,” the donation page reads. | https://www.mychamplainvalley.com/news/national-news/ivana-trump-funeral-plans-are-set/ | 2022-07-19T22:12:56Z | https://www.mychamplainvalley.com/news/national-news/ivana-trump-funeral-plans-are-set/ | true |
ISLAMABAD (AP) — An earthquake has shaken a remote area of eastern Afghanistan, injuring at least 31 people, a Taliban official said Tuesday.
The quake struck in the same region where an earthquake last month killed hundreds of people and caused widespread devastation. Earlier reports said 10 people were injured.
The U.S. Geological Survey said Monday’s earthquake had a magnitude of 5.1.
Abdul Wahid Rayan, director of the Taliban news agency Bakhtar, said the quake struck two districts of the eastern Paktika province.
He said that 18 people were injured in Gayan and 13 others injured in Ziruk district, “There are women and children among those injured in the quake,” added Rayan.
Dozens of residential houses were destroyed and there have been several aftershocks since Monday evening, he added.
Last month’s more powerful earthquake ignited yet another crisis in the struggling country, further underscoring the Taliban’s limited capabilities and isolation. U.N. officials said at the time that 770 people were killed, while the Taliban put the death toll at 1,150.
Overstretched aid groups already keeping millions of Afghans alive had rushed supplies to victims of the June quake, but most countries responded tepidly to Taliban calls for international help.
The international cut-off of Afghanistan’s financing has deepened the country’s economic collapse and fueled its humanitarian crises. | https://www.wdtn.com/news/u-s-world/ap-international/taliban-says-quake-shakes-afghanistan-injures-31-people/ | 2022-07-19T22:14:40Z | https://www.wdtn.com/news/u-s-world/ap-international/taliban-says-quake-shakes-afghanistan-injures-31-people/ | false |
Despite higher gas prices, Shirley Dutcher makes a weekly drive to the Community Food Club in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
"I'm one of those people that don't get food stamps or anything," she said. "So, I come here to get whatever vegetables and stuff I can get."
She likes to keep food on hand for her ten great-grandchildren when they visit. The higher prices are a challenge for her and the Food Club.
"Back in December, a case of eggs for us was $23," Community Food Club Executive Director A.J. Fossel said. "It's gotten as high as $94 for a case, and we go through six cases of eggs a day here at the food club."
Food banks were starting to feel some relief as people returned to work when pandemic shutdowns lifted. But the surge in food prices came as COVID-19 disaster declarations ended, along with several programs that provided food to people in need. Now food banks are seeing a spike in demand.
"We've seen an increase of about 30% of the members that we serve since December," Fossel continued. "So we're up to a thousand households a month."
"Inflation right now is not only hurting our recipients," San Diego Food Bank CEO Casey Castillo said. "It's hurting our donors and their disposable income and what they can give, and it's impacting us."
"We have seen lower donations," Feeding America West Michigan spokesperson Juliana Ludema said. "That means we need to purchase more food. With the higher food costs and inflation everywhere, that's definitely expensive for us."
While some food banks report steady donations, cash donations don't go as far because of inflation. And higher fuel costs are making food collection and distribution more expensive.
National food bank network "Feeding America" is calling on Congress and the U.S.D.A. to restore hundreds of millions of dollars worth of commodity foods that were lost when temporary food programs ended.
In the meantime, everyone is doing what they can to make ends meet.
"I've been coming here two years, I think now. So, it helps out a lot when you have nothing else," Dutcher said.
Newsy is the nation’s only free 24/7 national news network. You can find Newsy using your TV’s digital antenna or stream for free. See all the ways you can watch Newsy here. | https://www.wmar2news.com/news/national/inflation-and-surge-in-prices-impacting-food-banks-across-us | 2022-07-19T22:16:07Z | https://www.wmar2news.com/news/national/inflation-and-surge-in-prices-impacting-food-banks-across-us | true |
FDA weighs oversight changes after formula, Juul troubles
WASHINGTON (AP) — The head of the Food and Drug Administration has asked for a review of the agency’s food and tobacco programs following months of criticism over its handling of the baby formula shortage and e-cigarette reviews.
Tuesday’s announcement comes as FDA Commissioner Robert Califf attempts to push past several controversies that have dominated his second stint running the agency, including the delayed response to contamination problems at the country’s largest infant formula plant.
“Fundamental questions about the structure, function, funding and leadership need to be addressed” in the agency’s food program, Califf said in a statement. The agency’s tobacco center, which regulates traditional cigarettes and vaping products, is facing challenges navigating policy and enforcement issues from “an increasing number of novel products that could potentially have significant consequences for public health,” he said.
Califf said the Reagan-Udall Foundation — a non-governmental research group created by Congress to support FDA’s work — would convene experts to deliver evaluations within 60 business days of both the food and tobacco operations. The announcement came one day before Califf was scheduled to testify before the Senate about FDA’s oversight of food safety.
More than two dozen consumer groups have called on Califf to appoint one official to oversee all FDA food operations, which are dispersed across multiple centers responsible for nutrition standards, plant inspections and animal food. But Califf told The Associated Press in an interview that he believes more fundamental changes are needed.
“I don’t think structure alone is really the fix, or that leadership alone is the fix,” Califf said. “There’s a consistent concern out there that we need to really fix the fundamentals, which includes all those elements.”
Califf said he agreed with critiques that the food program has been underfunded compared with FDA’s drug program, which receives more than a $1 billion annually in industry user fees. The agency recently sought more food funding and authority to help track supply chains to try to head off future shortages.
Parents and politicians also have expressed frustration over the agency’s handling of a recent decision to ban all e-cigarettes from Juul, the leading U.S. vaping company. A federal court quickly blocked the agency’s order. FDA then backtracked further in court, saying it needed more time to review Juul’s application due to its “unique scientific issues.”
The FDA has also struggled to review millions of other applications from vaping companies, prompting multiple missed regulatory deadlines over the last two years.
Califf again cited funding challenges, pointing out that the FDA cannot collect user fees from vaping companies to review their products. The agency has asked Congress for that authority.
“I don’t think anyone anticipated that there would be 6.7 million vaping product applications that came rolling in during a pandemic that was stressing the entire agency,” Califf said.
Last week, the FDA announced it would miss another deadline to remove thousands of illegal e-cigarettes that use synthetic nicotine. FDA specifically asked Congress to give the agency authority over those products, which had used a legal loophole to skirt regulation.
Sen. Dick Durbin, an Illinois Democrat, suggested Califf should resign if the agency can’t swiftly remove the products.
President Joe Biden tapped Califf for the FDA job largely because of his prior experience at the agency, which he briefly led during the Obama administration. A cardiologist and respected researcher, Califf planned to focus his time at FDA on fighting medical misinformation and streamlining the agency’s data systems.
But those efforts have been eclipsed by newer controversies, including political outrage over the formula shortage, which has forced the U.S. to airlift millions of containers of formula from Europe. Recently, the FDA said it would help foreign manufacturers stay on the U.S. market for the long term, in an effort to diversify the formula supply here.
Califf previously predicted the formula shortage could last until July. He said Tuesday that retail data show that supplies have improved due to increases in both U.S. production and imports.
“What you’re going to see is a gradual climbing out of the current situation as more and more formula becomes available,” Califf said.
In May, Califf testified before Congress about missteps that slowed the agency’s response to contamination problems at the Michigan formula plant. While many happened before Califf started on the job, he struggled to explain who was ultimately responsible for food safety within FDA’s bureaucracy.
FDA’s food program has a byzantine leadership structure in which there is a director for food and a separate deputy commissioner for “food policy and response.” The deputy commissioner has more of a safety focus, but has no direct authority over food center staff nor regional personnel who inspect plants.
“You have serious structural leadership issues,” Rep. Rosa DeLauro told Califf during the hearing.
DeLauro, a Connecticut Democrat, said Tuesday the FDA’s evaluation must contain input from non-FDA experts and interest groups to be credible.
“A report that includes recommendations to preserve the status quo is unacceptable,” she said in an emailed statement.
Responding to multiple crises is a standard part of leading the FDA, which regulates industries that account for an estimated one-fifth of all U.S. consumer spending.
Despite the recent controversies, some experts say Califf has done a good job, considering the increasing polarization surrounding the issues and products FDA oversees.
“Leading the FDA is becoming as complicated as, maybe more complicated than, leading a cabinet-level executive department,” said Daniel Carpenter, a professor of government at Harvard University. “I think Califf has navigated a pretty politically fraught environment and he has done it with remarkable skill.”
___
Follow Matthew Perrone on Twitter: @AP_FDAwriter
___
The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Department of Science Education. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.kmvt.com/2022/07/19/fda-weighs-oversight-changes-after-formula-juul-troubles/ | 2022-07-19T22:21:59Z | https://www.kmvt.com/2022/07/19/fda-weighs-oversight-changes-after-formula-juul-troubles/ | true |
Industrial furnace services and maintenance for reduced furnace downtime
SEYMOUR, Ind., July 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Fives has opened a brand-new North American Construction Services, Ltd. maintenance center. This new facility will allow customers in the area to receive industrial furnace maintenance, repairs, upgrades, servicing and more. Furnace downtime during a scheduled or unpredicted outage means time, money and resources. The North American Construction Services Seymour facility helps minimize this downtime with timely and exceptional customer service. Conveniently located for customers along the Interstate 65 corridor, the maintenance and service center is just 50 miles north of Louisville, Kentucky and 50 miles outside Indianapolis. The 13,000 square foot facility will be equipped to help customers with:
- Precast Refractory Shapes and Dry Out
- Piping Assemblies
- Fuel Train Fabrication and Testing
- Demolition and Relining of Furnace Doors, Transfer Ladles, Launders, & More
- Fabrication of Cleaning Tools
- Combustion System Evaluations and Upgrades
- Equipment Audits
- Hardware and After Market Sales
Matt Owens, General Manager at North American Construction Services is excited to build relationships with nearby customers: "At the Indiana facility, we will be close to the customers to serve their thermal process needs, stock critical parts and materials, train critical resource trades and promote growth within the company. Our resources and integrated solutions are crucial to the sustainability of the industries we serve." Fives' is also reaching out to the community to hire and staff several positions at the Indiana location. To learn more about available job opportunities, Click Here. Positioned as an industry leader for industrial furnace solutions, Fives and the North American Construction Services Seymour facility look forward to providing the most professional services to current customers and new customers into the future.
As an industrial engineering Group with a heritage of over 200 years, Fives designs and supplies machines, process equipment and production lines for the world's largest industrial players in various sectors such as steel, aluminum, forge, heat treat, aerospace and manufacturing industries, like cement, energy, logistics and glass.
The effectiveness of its R&D programs enables Fives to design forward-thinking solutions that anticipate industrials' needs in terms of profitability, performance, quality, safety and respect for the environment.
In 2021, Fives achieved a turnover of €1.7 billion and employed more than 8,200 people in about thirty countries
Press Contact
Elyse Schodowski
elyse.schodowski@fivesgroup.com
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SOURCE Fives North American Combustion, Inc. | https://www.wkyt.com/prnewswire/2022/07/19/fives-opens-new-north-american-construction-services-facility/ | 2022-07-19T22:24:45Z | https://www.wkyt.com/prnewswire/2022/07/19/fives-opens-new-north-american-construction-services-facility/ | false |
Police: Woman dead, 2 suspects hurt in shooting during Gainesville home invasion
GAINESVILLE, Fla. - A woman is dead, and two alleged suspects are hospitalized following a shooting during a reported home invasion in northeast Gainesville Tuesday morning, according to police.
The Gainesville Police Department released a statement on Facebook stating officers responded to the home shortly before 7 a.m. and found three people who had been shot.
MORE NEWS: Rash of road rage incidents has law enforcement warning drivers to stay alert.
GPD authorities at the scene performed "extensive life-saving procedures," on the three people, right before they were taken to a hospital for extensive medical care. Officers said the woman died of her injuries.
"The other two individuals that were shot are the main suspects in the home invasion and are currently under the watch of law enforcement at the hospital," GPD said in a statement.
The identities of three people have not been released at this time.
Anyone who has more information on the incident or people involved, is asked to contact Detective Russano at 352-393-7719 or email at RussanoDB@cityofgainesville.org.
Stay with FOX 35 Orlando for more updates. | https://www.fox35orlando.com/news/gainesville-police-1-dead-and-3-found-hurt-in-shooting-on-a-reported-home-invasion-and-homicide | 2022-07-19T22:25:35Z | https://www.fox35orlando.com/news/gainesville-police-1-dead-and-3-found-hurt-in-shooting-on-a-reported-home-invasion-and-homicide | true |
(AP) — The American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) of 2021 reauthorized and expanded the State Small Business Credit Initiative, providing $10 billion to distribute to states, the District of Columbia, territories and tribes to expand access to capital and promote entrepreneurship, particularly in underserved communities.
The Treasury Department so far has allocated more than $1.5 billion for programs in 14 states. These are the states approved and the maximum amounts they’ll receive:
- Arizona: $111.0 million
- Connecticut: $119.4 million
- Indiana: $99.1 million
- Maine: $62.2 million
- New Hampshire: $61.5 million
- Pennsylvania: $267.8 million
- South Carolina: $101.3 million
- South Dakota: $60.0 million
- Vermont: $57.9 million
- Hawaii: $62 million
- Kansas: $69.6 million
- Maryland: $198.4 million
- Michigan: $237 million
- West Virginia: $72 million
Kansas, approved for up to $69,596,847, will operate a loan participation program, the GROWKS Loan Fund, and an equity program, the GROWKS Angel Capital Support Program, with over 80% of its funds. These programs will expand access to capital for underserved communities by providing companion loans and equity investments with varying levels of SSBCI support. Kansas estimates that approximately 40% of businesses supported will be women-owned, and 20% will be minority-owned small businesses.
Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen called it a “historic investment” that will promote equitable economic growth across the U.S.
A White House report released last month found more Americans are starting businesses than ever. In 2021, they applied to launch 5.4 million new businesses — 20% more than any other year on record. They’re also creating more jobs.
Yet the financial landscape has been challenging.
A survey earlier this year from the Federal Reserve showed about 85% of small businesses experienced financial difficulties in 2021, up nearly 20 percentage points from 2019. Back then, more than half of owners who sought a loan were looking to expand; last year, the majority of applicants needed funds just to cover everyday operating expenses.
Meanwhile, inflation is the highest in decades, with prices soaring for raw materials and finished goods and workers demanding higher wages. The Federal Reserve has raised interest rates, which means the cost of borrowing money is going up.
Even in normal times, it can be tough for small businesses to get loans from traditional banks because they lack the assets and credit histories of bigger companies. During the pandemic, banks have been stingier outside COVID-related programs. Two years in, loan applicants are more likely to get turned down or receive less than they asked for compared to before COVID-19.
The Associated Press contributed to this report. | https://www.ksn.com/news/state-regional/kansas-to-receive-69-6m-in-relief-money-for-small-businesses/ | 2022-07-19T22:26:44Z | https://www.ksn.com/news/state-regional/kansas-to-receive-69-6m-in-relief-money-for-small-businesses/ | false |
Trump's clout tested as primary voters decide elections in Maryland: LIVE UPDATES
Voters in Maryland took to the polls Tuesday to vote in primary elections across the state, with the GOP gubernatorial race serving as a direct test to Trump's strength within the party.
KEY PRIMARY RACES — MD GOP Governor, MD-06, MD-04, MD-01
POLLS CLOSE — Maryland @ 8:00 p.m. ET
Matthew Foldi, a 25-year-old journalist turned Maryland House candidate, is sounding off on his goal to unite the Republican Party and defeat what he considers an incumbent "part-time congressman" ahead of his party's primary election in the Old Line State on Tuesday.
Speaking to Fox News Digital about his efforts to garner the GOP nomination to represent Maryland's Sixth Congressional District in the House, Foldi, who announced his candidacy in the race in May, said Thursday that he and his campaign are working overtime to defeat his challengers, both Democrat and Republican.
"We are doing a massive marathon that we're sprinting," Foldi said, expressing optimism about the election. "Obviously, this has been a short campaign for us, but we've been putting up massive voter contact numbers all across the district."
Discussing his opposition in the race to represent the newly redrawn district that stretches from Germantown through Cumberland, Foldi said he is working to unite Republicans in the state and prove he is the best candidate to defeat incumbent Democratic Rep. David Trone in the November general election.
To read more, click here.
Former President Donald Trump isn’t on the ballot Tuesday in Maryland’s primaries, but he’s front and center as the candidate he’s backing is one of the co-front-runners in the race for the Republican nomination for governor. Also a factor are national Democrats, who’d spent seven-figures to meddle in the GOP primary.
The other marquee contest is the crowded field of contenders vying for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination, which includes a former U.S. Labor secretary who later served as Democratic National Committee chair, a former U.S. secretary of education, the state’s current comptroller, and a best-selling author who can count on Oprah Winfrey as a top supporter.
There’s also a couple of congressional primary showdowns that are grabbing some national attention as voters heads to the polls in blue state Maryland.
To read more from Fox News’ Paul Steinhauser, click here.
Live Coverage begins here | https://www.foxnews.com/live-news/trump-clout-tested-primary-voters-decide-elections-in-maryland-live-updates | 2022-07-19T22:30:54Z | https://www.foxnews.com/live-news/trump-clout-tested-primary-voters-decide-elections-in-maryland-live-updates | true |
Clay Travis: The ACC schools all want out of the ACC
North Carolina and Virginia could be two schools on the way out of the ACC
While most college football media and fans have been chasing Big 12 and Pac 12 expansion and realignment rumors, the truth of the matter is this: the future battles in college football expansion aren’t going to be fought in the Big 12 or the Pac 12, they’re going to be fought in the ACC. Because pretty much every ACC school wants to leave the ACC for the SEC or the Big Ten and unlike the Big 12 and the Pac 12, many ACC schools have substantial expansion value to both the SEC and the Big Ten.
And there are two schools in particular, the University of Virginia and the University of North Carolina, who will help to drive the next generation of college football expansion. I’ll discuss that below in a moment, but first let’s begin here: top ACC schools recognize that the future of college football is the SEC and the Big Ten and they want out of the ACC.
Ever since the Big Ten poached USC and UCLA from the Pac-12, the phones have been ringing off the hook at the SEC and Big Ten offices. Yes, many of those schools calling seeking to join the SEC and the Big Ten are in the Pac-12 and the Big 12, but it’s not a surprise those schools would be scrambling for new homes. What may come as a surprise to many is how aggressively the ACC schools are all attempting to join up with the SEC and the Big Ten.
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Which is why the big story percolating beneath college football’s surface is this: how long is the ACC going to still exist as a major conference? And when will the raid on the ACC officially get underway? Because the ACC’s demise feels inevitable at this point, it’s just a question of when it happens, not if it happens.
In the short term the school with the most power to alter the conference realignment calculus is Notre Dame. If the Irish decide to join the Big Ten then it’s likely the Big Ten would expand further. If the Irish decide to stay independent then there may be a realignment pause for several years. How long could that pause last? A couple of years or maybe even a decade, no one knows for sure. The tectonic plates shifting underneath college football conferences can be difficult to predict. But much like we know earthquakes are inevitable, so too is the ACC’s demise. We just don’t know when it’s going to happen.
And when the ACC officially enters the realignment phase something unique will finally happen, the SEC and the Big Ten, who thus far have respected each others’ geographic territories, will finally square off, head to head. Yes, the SEC took Missouri, a long-rumored Big Ten target. And yes, the ACC took Maryland, but so far that’s nibbling at the geographic edges of each conference. The SEC and Big Ten’s territorial integrity has remained intact to this point.
But the ACC will change all that because the Big Ten wants to come down the southern coast and gobble up schools in North Carolina and Virginia and the SEC wants to prevent that incursion and preserve its geographical ownership of the South. So what comes next? Welp, there’s chum in the water and the SEC and Big Ten sharks are going to eventually start feasting and once that happens the ACC as a major conference will cease to exist.
And here’s a tasty morsel to digest. Yes, the ACC is protected by a grant of rights agreement that extends into the 2030’s — a grant of rights agreement theoretically restricts a school from selling television rights to its sporting events to others and thereby undercuts the primary financial rationale for changing conferences, TV money — but if a majority of the ACC schools vote to end the grant of rights then in theory the ACC’s grant of rights disappears. So all those rumored tens of millions of dollars keeping the ACC from splitting up? It’s dangling over a precarious foundation, as soon as seven or eight schools have better options the ACC as we know it vanishes.
JIM HARBAUGH ON ABORTION: HAVE ‘THE COURAGE TO LET THE UNBORN BE BORN’
So what does that mean for the SEC and the Big Ten? Well, let’s start with major decisions that will have to be made by the University of North Carolina and the University of Virginia. Where do UNC and UVA see themselves in the years ahead? If the answer is the SEC, I think there’s a strong case to be made that the SEC would expand and take UNC and UVa. Maybe also adding NC State and Virginia Tech to the mix. That way a twenty school SEC maintains its territorial integrity and the SEC Network would lock in the valuable states of Virginia and North Carolina. This is something I’ve been writing about on Outkick since all the way back in 2012. The math hasn’t changed that much since then.
But if UNC and UVA picked the Big Ten, then I think the SEC would act quickly to add N.C. State and Virginia Tech and probably then move down the coast and add Clemson and Florida State too. The SEC might even be willing to take UNC, NC State, Virginia, Virginia Tech, Clemson, Florida State and Georgia Tech to keep the Big Ten out of its top markets and states. Yes, that’s half the ACC in one bite. But at that point the only top college football school remaining in an "SEC state" is Miami and there’s a belief that Miami, which lacks a large fan base, is a private school, and ranks behind Florida and Florida State in the state pecking order, isn’t a must have in the conference. Georgia Tech, Clemson, Florida State and schools in North Carolina and Virginia would provide territorial integrity to the SEC going forward, effectively locking down the South for generations to come. (Yes, Louisville is still there too, but the state of Kentucky is basketball focused and a small population state and the Cardinals aren’t worth doubling down in the Bluegrass for the SEC.)
What then would happen to ACC schools like Louisville, Miami, Wake Forest, Duke, Syracuse, Pittsburgh and Boston College? They’d all be desperate to get in the Big Ten. But the wrinkle with the Big Ten is the conference hasn’t taken lower-level academic schools before. (AAU membership, which is restricted to 63 universities in the country right now, has been incredibly important to the Big Ten. Right now the ACC’s UVA, UNC, Georgia Tech, Pitt, and Duke are all members). But the majority of the seven remaining schools are private schools without substantial football fan bases. So how does all of this play out? How many of these schools are elite enough academically that the Big Ten would accept them?
My guess in this scenario is that the Big Ten would take Syracuse, Duke, Pittsburgh and, either, Boston College or Miami, to get to twenty schools (less if Notre Dame joined). And the remaining ACC schools would be left floating in the realignment cosmos, eventually latching on with the Big 12. (Which is why I’d keep my powder dry if I was the Big 12.)
Remember that a huge detail here is that the SEC, unlike the Big Ten at least so far, has a provision in its new TV deal with ESPN that guarantees all new "top" expansion candidates will receive the same pro rata payment in the event of expansion as the current schools receive. So the finances for the SEC when it comes to expansion, at least right now, are less complicated than the Big Ten. That’s how Oklahoma and Texas, whenever they join the SEC, will end up making the same payout as the existing 14 schools in the SEC. And it’s why, at least so far, the Big Ten didn’t expand and add Washington and Oregon alongside USC and UCLA, because the TV dollars don’t work for those schools (The number one lesson of college football expansion is no one takes less money to expand, you have to at least break even).
So the big question that’s hanging out there, ultimately, is this: Where do UNC and UVA see their long range futures? Do they want to align with the Southern schools or do they want to join the Big Ten? It’s a cultural, academic and business decision for both institutions. Do they want road trips to Texas, Alabama and Tennessee or do they want to be playing yearly games in Michigan, Wisconsin and, potentially, Los Angeles? Remember, the Big Ten took Maryland several years ago with the idea that taking Maryland was going to lead to Virginia and North Carolina too. That didn’t happen.
So while everyone is looking at the Pac-12 and the Big 12, the two biggest state battlegrounds to come aren’t states located in either of those conferences: they’re Virginia and North Carolina. At some point, if they aren’t already, those schools and states will officially be in play for the SEC and the Big Ten. And when that happens, look out – the ACC will cease to exist.
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Which is why if I were the commissioners of the Big 12 or the Pac-12, I’d be inclined to keep my powder dry. The conference under the biggest long term threat in college sports isn’t the Big 12 or the Pac-12, it’s the ACC, which is set to become the first true battle for college football supremacy between the SEC and the Big Ten, the two 800 pound gorillas of college football. | https://www.foxnews.com/sports/clay-travis-acc-schools-all-want-out-acc | 2022-07-19T22:31:26Z | https://www.foxnews.com/sports/clay-travis-acc-schools-all-want-out-acc | true |
(The Hill) – Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) says former President Trump will face a lot of competition in a Republican primary if he runs for president in 2024.
McConnell, who usually avoids commenting on the former president, predicted that the 2024 Republican primary won’t be a cakewalk for Trump if he runs again.
“I think we’re going to have a crowded field for president. I assume most of that will unfold later and people will be picking their candidates in a crowded primary field,” he told reporters when asked whether he would oppose Trump or stay neutral in the 2024 Senate Republican primary.
The relationship between Trump and McConnell has been strained since McConnell recognized that Joe Biden was elected president by a vote of the Electoral College in December 2020.
Trump routinely attacks McConnell, often using the nickname “Old Crow” and disparaging his leadership of the Senate Republican Conference.
Speculation has mounted in recent weeks that Trump will announce his campaign for president this summer or in the early fall to freeze support for potential rivals, such as Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R).
Trump said recently that he has already made a decision about whether to launch another run for president and now is weighing only whether to announce his decision before or after the midterm election on Nov. 8.
“I feel very confident that if I decide to run, I’ll win,” he told New York Magazine. “Well, in my own mind, I’ve already made that decision, so nothing factors in anymore.”
Talk of Trump launching an early presidential bid has grown as polls have shown his support dipping among Republicans in the midst of a barrage of damaging revelations from the public hearings of the House Jan. 6 select committee, which has examined Trump’s role in inciting the 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol.
The latest example of Trump’s waning support among Republican voters came in Michigan, where a Glengariff Group poll conducted from July 13 to July 15 found that Trump’s favorable rating among Republican voters was 8 points lower than it was in May.
Former Vice President Mike Pence, former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley, Sen. Ted Cruz (Texas), former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Sen. Tim Scott (S.C.) are viewed as potential Republican candidates for president in 2024. | https://www.fox16.com/news/national-news/mcconnell-trump-will-face-crowded-gop-field-if-he-runs-for-president/ | 2022-07-19T22:31:46Z | https://www.fox16.com/news/national-news/mcconnell-trump-will-face-crowded-gop-field-if-he-runs-for-president/ | true |
MEXICO CITY (AP) — The capture of fugitive drug lord Rafael Caro Quintero was hailed by U.S. authorities as an example of cooperation with Mexico in the fight against drugs. But in fact Caro Quintero had been the source of 37 years of tension between the two countries.
Caro Quintero was one of the primary suppliers of heroin, cocaine, and marijuana to the United States in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Mexican marines captured him in the mountains of northwest Mexico Friday.
Mexico had been slow in going after the former leader of the Guadalajara cartel for killing U.S. DEA agent Enrique “Kiki” Camarena in 1985, as well as several other U.S. citizens around the same time.
The U.S. had to nearly shut down border traffic to pressure Mexico to go after Caro Quintero in the 1980s, but even then the Mexican legal system wasn’t able to hold him in jail: in 2013 he walked out of prison on an erroneous decision by a Mexican appeals court, and had returned to his drug trafficking operations.
This time, Mexico has made it clear that Caro Quintero was arrested with the intention of extradition. His lawyers, however, quickly signaled through their court filings that the extradition process will be drawn out and it could be many months before he is seen in a U.S. courtroom.
WHO WAS KIKI CAMARENA AND WHY WAS HE KILLED?
Caro Quintero had blamed Camarena, the DEA agent, for a raid on a huge marijuana plantation that Caro Quintero’s cartel ran in northern Mexico in 1984. The next year, Camarena was kidnapped in Guadalajara, allegedly on orders from Caro Quintero. “What they wanted to do is they wanted to get information from Kiki relative to the investigations that the DEA was conducting in Mexico. They wanted to know who the informants were, that they were handling. They wanted to know the addresses where the agents live,” said Mike Vigil, the DEA’s former chief of international operations. “So they wanted to extract as much information from Kiki through horrific torture. And it was finally a blunt instrument blow to the head that caused Kiki Camarena’s … death.” His tortured form was found a month later.
WHY DID CARO QUINTERO THINK HE COULD GET AWAY WITH ALL THIS?
People today are accustomed to hearing about warring drug cartels in Mexico. It is hard to imagine the first generation of drug lords in Mexico in the 1980s: there was only one big cartel, the Guadalajara Cartel, and Caro Quintero, Fonseca Carrillo and Miguel Angel Felix Gallardo ran it. People like Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman worked for them at that point — as did as many as 4,000 agricultural workers pressed into service growing marijuana on the gang’s 1,350-acre (545 hectare) marijuana plantation. “Given the fact that the cartel was the only cartel in Mexico in the eighties, they operated with complete impunity because they were paying off many, many individuals within the Mexican government for protection,” said Vigil. “So they figured that they could do whatever they damn well please as long as they paid money for protection.”
HOW DID CARO QUINTERO ESCAPE JUSTICE?
In August 2013, an appeals court in Caro Quintero’s home state overturned his 40-year sentence in the killing of Camarena and a Mexican government pilot. The panel of judges argued a state court should have overseen the case, not a federal one, and ordered his immediate release from a maximum-security prison. Mexico’s Supreme Court annulled the order releasing him months later, saying Camarena was a registered U.S. government agent and therefore his killing was a federal crime and had been properly tried. An arrest warrant was issued for Caro Quintero, who was long gone. Questions still swirl around his late-night release: Mexican prosecutors, who by law should have been notified, weren’t notified until hours after he was released in the middle of the night and disappeared in a car that had been waiting for him.
WHAT DID CARO QUINTERO DO WHILE HE WAS ON THE RUN BETWEEN 2013 and 2022?
Caro Quintero was added to FBI’s 10 most wanted list in 2018, with a $20 million reward for his capture. Mexican security analyst David Saucedo believes that the sudden renewed interest in his arrest may have stemmed from the deadly wave of overdoses in the United States from the synthetic opioid fentanyl. “I think that the FBI did that because of the deaths being caused in the United States due to fentanyl consumption,” said Saucedo. “When Caro Quintero got out of prison he takes up drug trafficking again and established the Caborca cartel in Sonora. But his criminal activities include shipping fentanyl.”
WHAT IS LIKELY TO HAPPEN TO CARO QUINTERO NOW?
Caro Quintero was notified this weekend that a process to extradite him to the United States has begun, but his lawyers have already filed for court injunctions that could stretch the legal process out over months, and perhaps years. He will wait out the process in a maximum security prison west of Mexico City. A grand jury in the Eastern District of New York indicted Caro Quintero in 2017 on a number of drug trafficking charges, as well as for conspiring to murder those who posed a threat to his narcotics activities. | https://www.kxnet.com/news/international/ap-international/explainer-37-years-later-mexican-drug-lord-to-face-justice/ | 2022-07-19T22:34:02Z | https://www.kxnet.com/news/international/ap-international/explainer-37-years-later-mexican-drug-lord-to-face-justice/ | true |
Corbin Shrine Club collects Hot Wheels to donate to children
HAZARD, Ky. (WYMT) - The Corbin Shrine Club is collecting Hot Wheels cars that will be given out to children.
Over 1,000 cars have been donated already by various shrine clubs in Kentucky and they are still collecting more.
The Hot Wheels cars will be given to patients at the Shriner’s Children’s Lexington Hospital.
President of the shrine club, Jimmy Hendrickson, said it’s all about giving back to the patients and seeing them smile.
“The greatest thing is when one of them comes up to you and says “Thank you for what you do as a Shriner” and that’s just what it’s all about,” said Hendrickson.
The cars have been collected through a number of means, including drop boxes at Appalachian Regional Hospital (ARH) in Barbourville, Old Town Grill and Northern Contours.
This fall, Knox County schools will also be collecting cars for this case.
Copyright 2022 WYMT. All rights reserved. | https://www.wymt.com/2022/07/19/corbin-shrine-club-collects-hot-wheels-donate-children/ | 2022-07-19T22:35:23Z | https://www.wymt.com/2022/07/19/corbin-shrine-club-collects-hot-wheels-donate-children/ | true |
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By ELLEN KNICKMEYER
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate Foreign Relations Committee gave easy bipartisan approval Tuesday to admitting Finland and Sweden into NATO, as lawmakers aimed for quick Senate passage and a show of congressional support for expansion of the U.S. and European defense alliance in the face of .
Committee members approved the expansion by voice vote. Sen. Rand Paul, a Kentucky Republican and frequent critic of U.S. policy abroad, voted a neutral “present” rather than yes or no.
The vote sets the expansion up for a decision by the full Senate as soon as next week.
“We obviously want to see Finland and Sweden brought into the alliance as soon as possible,” National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told reporters at the White House after Tuesday’s vote.
“These are modern militaries, militaries that we know well,” Kirby said, stressing the strength that supporters say the two countries would bring to the military bloc.
NATO’s 30 members are considering the admission of the two northern European countries against a backdrop of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Russia’s five-month-old offensive against a pro-West Ukraine government has led European and U.S. allies to tighten ranks and strengthen defenses against any further aggression by Russian President Vladimir Putin.
“As U.S. foreign policy priorities evolve to account for a changing world, what is self-evident is the future of the transatlantic partnership will be even more intertwined and integrated thanks to Putin’s recklessness,” Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Bob Menendez, D-N.J., said in a joint statement with ranking Republican committee member Jim Risch of Idaho after his panel’s endorsement.
“Today’s vote is further proof that the answer to aggression is not isolation, but deeper engagement with likeminded democracies,” Menendez said.
Putin’s invasion led Finland and Sweden to abandon longstanding policies of military nonalignment and seek to join forces with NATO, with its joint conventional and nuclear forces.
President Joe Biden encouraged the move behind the scenes and welcomed leaders of the two countries to the White House in May to signal U.S. support.
The NATO expansion proposal marks a rare moment of Republican and Democratic agreement on a substantive issue before Congress. Senate Minority leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said in May that lawmakers were moving the membership applications at a faster pace than is usual for NATO expansion bids. He said he expected full Senate approval this month.
Lawmakers are rushing to approve the matter before the long August break.
The applications by Finland and Sweden initially had been expected to win easy approval from other NATO members as well. NATO member Turkey has rescinded an unexpected early announcement that it would block the two nations’ admission.
But President Recep Tayyip Erdogan warned this week that Turkey could still move to deny the expansion, if Finland and Sweden fail to crack down on members of banned Turkish Kurdish groups in exile there and meet other Turkish demands.
___
Lisa Mascaro and Will Weissert contributed to this report. | https://www.timesleader.com/wire/nation-world/1566240/senate-panel-oks-nato-expansion-rushing-to-full-senate-vote | 2022-07-19T22:35:50Z | https://www.timesleader.com/wire/nation-world/1566240/senate-panel-oks-nato-expansion-rushing-to-full-senate-vote | false |
WASHINGTON (AP) — Federal prosecutors accused former Trump adviser Steve Bannon on Tuesday of willfully ignoring a congressional subpoena in open defiance of the U.S. government.
“It wasn’t optional. It wasn’t a request, and it wasn’t an invitation. It was mandatory,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Amanda Vaughn told jurors in her opening statement of Bannon’s contempt of Congress trial. “The defendant’s failure to comply was deliberate. It wasn’t an accident, it wasn’t a mistake. It was a choice.”
Bannon, a longtime adviser and strategist for former President Donald Trump, is facing a pair of federal charges after refusing for months to cooperate with the House committee investigating the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol insurrection.
But his lawyers argued Tuesday that the charges against him are politically motivated and that Bannon was engaged in good-faith negotiations with the congressional committee when he was charged.
“No one ignored the subpoena,” Evan Corcoran told the jury.
In reality, he said, another one of Bannon’s then-lawyers, Robert Costello, contacted an attorney for the House committee to express some of Bannon’s concerns about testifying.
“They did what two lawyers do. They negotiated,” Corcoran said, adding that Bannon and his legal team believed “the dates of the subpoena were not fixed; they were flexible.”
An unofficial adviser to Trump at the time of the Capitol attack, Bannon is charged with defying a subpoena from the Jan. 6 committee that sought his records and testimony. He was indicted in November on two counts of criminal contempt of Congress, one month after the Justice Department received a congressional referral. Upon conviction, each count carries a minimum of 30 days of jail and as long as a year behind bars.
U.S. District Judge Carl Nichols, a Trump appointee, had previously ruled that major elements of Bannon’s planned defense were irrelevant and could not be introduced in court. He ruled last week that Bannon could not claim he believed he was covered by executive privilege or that he was acting on the advice of his lawyers.
Bannon, 68, had been one of the most prominent of the Trump-allied holdouts refusing to testify before the committee. He had argued that his testimony was protected by Trump’s claim of executive privilege, which allows presidents to withhold confidential information from the courts and the legislative branch.
Trump has repeatedly asserted executive privilege — even though he’s a former, not current president — to try to block witness testimony and the release of White House documents. The Supreme Court in January ruled against Trump’s efforts to stop the National Archives from cooperating with the committee after a lower court judge — Tanya S. Chutkan — noted, in part, “Presidents are not kings.”
___
Follow AP’s coverage of the Jan. 6 committee hearings at https://apnews.com/hub/capitol-siege. | https://www.kxnet.com/news/politics/ap-politics/bannon-contempt-of-congress-trial-to-begin-in-earnest/ | 2022-07-19T22:36:41Z | https://www.kxnet.com/news/politics/ap-politics/bannon-contempt-of-congress-trial-to-begin-in-earnest/ | false |
Ric Flair’s last match has been confirmed for July 31, 2022 during Starrcast V (at 6:05 pm local time, of course) in Nashville, Tenn. Flair will team up with his son-in-law Andrade El Idolo to take on the team of Jay Lethal and WWE Vice President of Live Events Jeff Jarrett.
The buildup to the FITE
Originally scheduled for the Nashville Fairgrounds, the event was promptly moved to a bigger venue in the Municipal Auditorium, which has an overall capacity of 9,700.
Betonline has released odds and prop bets for the controversial match, including “first to bleed,” “Ric Flair move to be performed first” and more. Flair and Andrade are heavy favorites to prevail at -2000 odds, while the odds favor a guitar to be broken in the match (+150). Despite Flair bleeding before lacing up a pair of boots for his final match, Jeff Jarrett opened as the favorite to draw blood first, at +125 odds. This indicates that a successful $100 bet would with win $125. Flair is a close second at +175.
Ric Flair Bleeds in Parking Lot Ahead of Last Match
Flair’s patented knife-edge chop, which elicits “woo’s” from crowds across every promotion, is heavily favored to be Flair’s first move performed. Given Flair’s many physical limitations and health ailments, the knife-edge chop figures to be his bread and butter while surviving this match. Whether or not it will be his first move performed, however, is subject to wager.
Odds are also listed for the color of Flair’s retirement robe, with gold leading the pack at +150 odds. This is a peculiar wager as Flair already appeared to reveal the robe for his final match during a press conference posted to his official YouTube channel on July 2, 2022. Designed by Olivia Walker in 1976, Flair revealed a white robe with purple trim and designs throughout. For what it’s worth, white is listed at a sizable +600 odds. On July 15, Flair tweeted a video of him lacing up a pair of purple boots.
Despite being on death’s door in 2017, pacemaker and all, Flair has been training regularly for his upcoming final match. The 16-time world heavyweight champion and WWE Hall of Famer has released several clips working with Jay Lethal. Despite Lethal and Andrade’s involvement with AEW, WWE has condoned the use of Jeff Jarrett—a current WWE executive who will be appearing as a special guest referee at WWE SummerSlam the night prior. It’s also worth noting that Jarrett is not under a talent contract with WWE, allowing him to compete in what will hopefully be Ric Flair’s final match.
Given the countless risks involved with Flair wrestling a match well into his 70s, many fans and media are concerned about Flair’s ability to get through this match unscathed, even while protected/hidden in a tag team stipulation. It doesn’t help that Flair is currently dealing with the painful foot injury of plantar fasciitis.
Flair’s last match will headline a star-studded pay-per-view featuring talent from WWE, AEW, ROH, MLW, NJPW and IMPACT Wrestling.
Ric Flair’s Last Match Betting Odds | First To Bleed
- Jeff Jarrett (+125)
- Ric Flair (+175)
- Jay Lethal (+240)
- Andrade El Idolo (+400)
Ric Flair Move Performed First
- Knife Edge Chop (-110)
- Elbow Drop (+300)
- Leg Drop (+400)
- Body Slam (+500)
- Figure 4 (+500)
- Suplex (+900)
Ric Flair Robe Color
- Gold (+150)
- Red (+180)
- Blue (+300)
- White (+600)
- Purple (+1000)
- Black (+1200)
- Pink (+2000)
- Green (+2500) | https://www.forbes.com/sites/alfredkonuwa/2022/07/19/ric-flairs-last-match-betting-odds-include-first-to-bleed-robe-color/ | 2022-07-19T22:36:52Z | https://www.forbes.com/sites/alfredkonuwa/2022/07/19/ric-flairs-last-match-betting-odds-include-first-to-bleed-robe-color/ | false |
Eva Sue Hammons, age 84, of Collierville, TN went to be with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on Sunday, July 17, 2022 at home following a lengthy illness. She was born in Falkner, MS on March 26, 1938 to Charles Joseph and Effie Josie Shelton Butler. She graduated from Falkner High School in Falkner, MS and subsequently moved to Memphis where she worked in the proof department of First Tennessee Bank. Her career in banking spanned nearly 30 years before she retired to work with her husband in their family business. She faithfully attended Bellevue Baptist Church for several decades where she served by making coffee for multiple Bible fellowship classes on Sunday mornings. She enjoyed decorating her home, tending to her flower gardens, and could always be found in her kitchen during the holidays preparing meals for family gatherings. Additionally, she enjoyed true crime and home renovation television programs. Sue was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, of 62 years (H.B. Hammons, Jr.); three brothers, Edward Butler, Willard Butler, and Hugh Almos Butler and two sisters, Aileen Duncan and Mattie Rogers. She is survived by her three children, Rocky(Christine) Hammons, Tracy (Mike) George, and Greg (Debbie) Hammons; her five grandchildren, Jennifer, April, Matthew, Morgan and Mackenzie. Mrs. Hammons will be interred at West Tennessee State Veteran Cemetery following a private ceremony. In lieu of flowers, the family requests lasting memorials be sent to Love Worth Finding Ministries.
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Traditions, Rituals, Ceremonies - Without them we are adrift, and the current state of our collective mental health is evidence of the loss. Tune in Tuesday at 2 pm (pst) and join this conversation with the Reluctant Therapist, Elizabeth Barrett about the unintended but expected costs of shredding our social and cultural fabric. Your calls will be welcomed and encouraged. | https://www.kcbx.org/podcast/a-conversation-with-the-reluctant-therapist/2022-07-19/traditions-rituals-ceremonies | 2022-07-19T22:38:47Z | https://www.kcbx.org/podcast/a-conversation-with-the-reluctant-therapist/2022-07-19/traditions-rituals-ceremonies | true |
Nearly four years after a woman ended an unwanted pregnancy with abortion pills obtained at a Phoenix clinic, she finds herself mired in an ongoing lawsuit over that decision.
A judge allowed the woman’s ex-husband to establish an estate for the embryo, which had been aborted in its seventh week of development. The ex-husband filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the clinic and its doctors in 2020, alleging that physicians failed to obtain proper informed consent from the woman as required by Arizona law.
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Across the U.S., people have sued for negligence in the death of a fetus or embryo in cases where a pregnant person has been killed in a car crash or a pregnancy was lost because of alleged wrongdoing by a physician. But a court action claiming the wrongful death of an aborted embryo or fetus is a more novel strategy, legal experts said.
The experts said this rare tactic could become more common, as anti-abortion groups have signaled their desire to further limit reproductive rights following the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, which overturned Roe v. Wade. The Arizona lawsuit and others that may follow could also be an attempt to discourage and intimidate providers and harass plaintiffs’ former romantic partners, experts said.
Lucinda Finley, a law professor at the University at Buffalo who specializes in tort law and reproductive rights, said the Arizona case is a “harbinger of things to come” and called it “troubling for the future.”
Finley said she expects state lawmakers and anti-abortion groups to use “unprecedented strategies” to try to prevent people from traveling to obtain abortions or block them from obtaining information on where to seek one.
Perhaps the most extreme example is in Texas, where the Texas Heartbeat Act, signed into law in May 2021 and upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court in December, allows private citizens to sue a person who performs or aids in an abortion.
“It’s much bigger than these wrongful death suits,” Finley said.
Civia Tamarkin, president of the National Council of Jewish Women Arizona, which advocates for reproductive rights, said the Arizona lawsuit is part of a larger agenda that anti-abortion advocates are working toward.
“It’s a lawsuit that appears to be a trial balloon to see how far the attorney and the plaintiff can push the limits of the law, the limits of reason, the limits of science and medicine,” Tamarkin said.
In July 2018, the ex-husband, Mario Villegas, accompanied his then-wife to three medical appointments — a consultation, the abortion and a follow-up. The woman, who ProPublica is not identifying for privacy reasons, said in a deposition in the wrongful death suit that at the time of the procedure the two were already talking about obtaining a divorce, which was finalized later that year.
“We were not happy together at all,” she said.
Villegas, a former Marine from Globe, Arizona, a mining town east of Phoenix, had been married twice before and has other children. He has since moved out of state.
In a form his then-wife filled out at the clinic, she said she was seeking an abortion because she was not ready to be a parent and her relationship with Villegas was unstable, according to court records. She also checked a box affirming that “I am comfortable with my decision to terminate this pregnancy.” The woman declined to speak on the record with ProPublica out of fear for her safety.
The following year, in 2019, Villegas learned about an Alabama man who hadn’t wanted his ex-girlfriend to have an abortion and sued the Alabama Women’s Center for Reproductive Alternatives in Huntsville on behalf of an embryo that was aborted at six weeks.
To sue on behalf of the embryo, the would-be father, Ryan Magers, went to probate court where he asked a judge to appoint him as the personal representative of the estate. In probate court, a judge may appoint someone to represent the estate of a person who has died without a will. That representative then has the authority to distribute the estate’s assets to beneficiaries.
When Magers filed to open an estate for the embryo, his attorney cited various Alabama court rulings involving pregnant people and a 2018 amendment to the Alabama Constitution recognizing the “sanctity of unborn life and the rights of unborn children.”
A probate judge appointed Magers representative of the estate, giving him legal standing to sue for damages in the wrongful death claim. The case, believed to be the first instance in which an aborted embryo was given legal rights, made national headlines.
It’s unclear how many states allow an estate to be opened on behalf of an embryo or fetus. Some states, like Arizona, don’t explicitly define what counts as a deceased person in their probate code, leaving it to a judge to decide. In a handful of states, laws define embryos and fetuses as a person at conception, which could allow for an estate, but it’s rare.
An Alabama circuit court judge eventually dismissed Magers’ wrongful death lawsuit, stating that the claims were “precluded by State and Federal laws.”
Villegas contacted Magers’ attorney, Brent Helms, about pursuing a similar action in Arizona and was referred to J. Stanley Martineau, an Arizona attorney who had flown to Alabama to talk to Helms about Magers’ case.
In August 2020, Villegas filed a petition to be appointed personal representative of the estate of “Baby Villegas.” His ex-wife opposed the action and contacted a legal advocacy organization focused on reproductive justice, which helped her obtain a lawyer.
In court filings, Villegas said he prefers to think of “Baby Villegas” as a girl, although the sex of the embryo was never determined, and his lawyer argued that there isn’t an Arizona case that explicitly defines a deceased person, “so the issue appears to be an open one in Arizona.”
In a 2021 motion arguing for dismissal, the ex-wife’s attorney, Louis Silverman, argued that Arizona’s probate code doesn’t authorize the appointment of a personal representative for an embryo, and that granting Villegas’ request would violate a woman’s constitutional right to decide whether to carry a pregnancy to term.
“U.S. Supreme Court precedent has long protected the constitutional right of a woman to obtain an abortion, including that the decision whether to do so belongs to the woman alone — even where her partner, spouse, or ex-spouse disagrees with that decision,” Silverman said last year.
Gila County Superior Court Judge Bryan B. Chambers said in an order denying the motion that his decision allows Villegas to make the argument that the embryo is a person in a wrongful death lawsuit, but that he has not reached that conclusion at this stage. Villegas was later appointed the personal representative of the estate.
As states determine what is legal in the wake of Dobbs and legislators propose new abortion laws, anti-abortion groups such as the National Right to Life Committee see civil suits as a way to enforce abortion bans and have released model legislation they hope sympathetic legislators will duplicate in statehouses nationwide.
“In addition to criminal penalties and medical license revocation, civil remedies will be critical to ensure that unborn lives are protected from illegal abortions,” the group wrote in a June 15 letter to its state affiliates that included the model legislation.
James Bopp Jr.,general counsel for the committee, said in an interview with ProPublica that such actions will be necessary because some “radical Democrat” prosecutors have signaled they won’t enforce criminal abortion bans. Last month, 90 prosecutors from across the country indicated that they would not prosecute those who seek abortions.
“The civil remedies follow what the criminal law makes unlawful,” he said. “And that’s what we’re doing.”
The National Right to Life Committee’s model legislation, which advocates prohibiting abortion except to prevent the death of the pregnant person, recommends that states permit civil actions against people or entities that violate abortion laws “to prevent future violations.” It also suggests that people who have had or have sought to have an illegal abortion, as well as the expectant father and the parents of a pregnant minor, be allowed to pursue wrongful death actions.
Under the legislation, an action for wrongful death of an “unborn child” would be treated like that of a child who died after being born.
In one regard, Arizona has already implemented a piece of this model legislation as the state’s lawmakers have chipped away at access to abortion and enacted a myriad of regulations on doctors who provide the procedure.
The state’s “informed consent” statute for abortion, first signed into law by then-Gov. Jan Brewer in 2009, mandated an in-person counseling session and a 24-hour waiting period before an abortion. It allows a pregnant person, their husband or a maternal grandparent of a minor to sue if a physician does not properly obtain the pregnant person’s informed consent, and to receive damages for psychological, emotional and physical injuries, statutory damages and attorney fees.
The informed consent laws, which have changed over time, mandate that the patient be told about the “probable anatomical and physiological characteristics” of the embryo or fetus and the “immediate and long-term medical risks” associated with abortion, as well as alternatives to the procedure. Some abortion-rights groups and medical professionals have criticized informed consent processes, arguing the materials can be misleading and personify the embryo or fetus. A 2018 review of numerous studies concluded that having an abortion does not increase a person’s risk of infertility in their next pregnancy, nor is it linked to a higher risk of breast cancer or preterm birth, among other issues.
The wrongful death suit comes at a time of extraordinary confusion over abortion law in Arizona.
Until Roe v. Wade was handed down in 1973, establishing a constitutional right to abortion, a law dating to before statehood had banned the procedure. In March, Gov. Doug Ducey, a Republican who has called Arizona “the most pro-life state in the country,” signed into law a bill outlawing abortions after 15 weeks, and said that law would supersede the pre-statehood ban if Roe were overturned. But now that Roe has been overturned, Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich, another Republican, said he intends to enforce the pre-statehood ban, which outlawed abortion except to preserve the life of the person seeking the procedure. On Thursday, he filed a motion to lift an injunction on the law, which would make it enforceable.
Adding to the muddle, a U.S. district court judge on Monday blocked part of a 2021 Arizona law that would classify fertilized eggs, embryos and fetuses as people starting at conception, ruling that the attorney general cannot use the so-called personhood law against abortion providers. Following the Supreme Court decision in Dobbs, eight of the state’s nine abortion providers — all located in three Arizona counties — halted abortion services, but following the emergency injunction some are again offering them.
In the wrongful death claim, Martineau argued that the woman’s consent was invalidated because the doctors didn’t follow the informed consent statute. Although the woman signed four consent documents, the suit claims that “evidence shows that in her rush to maximize profits,” the clinic’s owner, Dr. Gabrielle Goodrick, “cut corners.” Martineau alleged that Goodrick and another doctor didn’t inform the woman of the loss of “maternal-fetal” attachment, about the alternatives to abortion or that if not for the abortion, the embryo would likely have been “delivered to term,” among other violations.
Tom Slutes, Goodrick’s lawyer, called the lawsuit “ridiculous.”
“They didn’t cut any corners,” he said, adding that the woman “clearly knew what was going to happen and definitely, strongly” wanted the abortion. Regardless of the information the woman received, she wouldn’t have changed her mind, Slutes said. Slutes referenced the deposition, where the woman said she “felt completely informed.”
Martineau said in an interview that Villegas isn’t motivated by collecting money from the lawsuit.
“He has no desire to harass” his ex-wife, Martineau said. “All he wants to do is make sure it doesn’t happen to another father.”
In a deposition, Villegas’ ex-wife said that he was emotionally abusive during their marriage, which lasted nearly five years. At first, she said, Villegas seemed like the “greatest guy I’ve ever met in my life,” taking her to California for a week as a birthday gift. But as the marriage progressed, she said, there were times he wouldn’t allow her to get a job or leave the house unless she was with him.
The woman alleged that Villegas made fake social media profiles, hacked into her social media accounts and threatened to “blackmail” her if she left him during his failed campaign to be a justice of the peace in Gila County, outside of Phoenix.
Villegas denied the allegations about his relationship but declined to comment further for this story, Martineau said.
Carliss Chatman, an associate law professor at Washington and Lee University in Virginia, said certain civil remedies can also be a mechanism for men to continue to abuse their former partners through the court system.
“What happens if the father who is suing on behalf of the fetus is your rapist or your abuser? It’s another way to torture a woman,” Chatman said.
Chatman added that these legal actions can be a deterrent for physicians in states where abortion is banned after a certain gestational period, because the threat of civil suits makes it harder for doctors to get insurance.
The lawsuit has added to the stresses on Goodrick, who has been performing abortions in Arizona since the mid-1990s, and her practice. She said that since the lawsuit was filed, the annual cost of her medical malpractice insurance has risen from $32,000 to $67,000.
Before providers in Arizona halted abortions following the Supreme Court decision, people would begin lining up outside Goodrick’s clinic at 6 a.m., sometimes with lawn chairs in hand, like “a concert line,” Goodrick said.
“Every year there’s something and we never know what it’s going to be,” Goodrick said recently at her Phoenix clinic. “I’m kind of desensitized to it all.” | https://wcfcourier.com/news/national/her-ex-husband-is-suing-a-clinic-over-the-abortion-she-had-four-years-ago/article_2b2356e5-ae6e-52f5-a721-b3a584cd0e50.html | 2022-07-19T22:41:28Z | https://wcfcourier.com/news/national/her-ex-husband-is-suing-a-clinic-over-the-abortion-she-had-four-years-ago/article_2b2356e5-ae6e-52f5-a721-b3a584cd0e50.html | false |
LONDON (AP) — Britain shattered its record for highest temperature ever registered Tuesday amid a heat wave that has seared swaths of Europe, as the U.K.’s national weather forecaster said such highs are now a fact of life in a country ill-prepared for such extremes.
The typically temperate nation was just the latest to be walloped by unusually hot, dry weather that has triggered wildfires from Portugal to the Balkans and led to hundreds of heat-related deaths. Images of flames racing toward a French beach and Britons sweltering — even at the seaside — have driven home concerns about climate change.
The U.K. Met Office weather agency registered a provisional reading of 40.3 degrees Celsius (104.5 degrees Fahrenheit) at Coningsby in eastern England — breaking the record set just hours earlier. Before Tuesday, the highest temperature recorded in Britain was 38.7 C (101.7 F), set in 2019. By later afternoon, 29 places in the UK had broken the record.
As the nation watched with a combination of horror and fascination, Met Office chief scientist Stephen Belcher said such temperatures in Britain were “virtually impossible” without human-driven climate change.
He warned that “we could see temperatures like this every three years” without serious action on carbon emissions.
The sweltering weather has disrupted travel, health care and schools. Many homes, small businesses and even public buildings, including hospitals, in Britain don’t have air conditioning, a reflection of how unusual such heat is in the country better known for rain and mild temperatures.
The intense heat since Monday has damaged the runway at London’s Luton airport, forcing it to shut for several hours, and warped a main road in eastern England, leaving it looking like a “skatepark,” police said. Major train stations were shut or near-empty Tuesday, as trains were canceled or ran at low speeds out of concern rails could buckle.
London faced what Mayor Sadiq Khan called a “huge surge” in fires because of the heat. The London Fire Brigade listed 10 major blazes it was fighting across the city Tuesday, half of them grass fires. Images showed several houses engulfed in flames as smoke billowed from burning fields in Wennington, a village on the eastern outskirts of London.
Sales of fans at one retailer, Asda, increased by 1,300%. Electric fans cooled the traditional mounted troops of the Household Cavalry as they stood guard in central London in heavy ceremonial uniforms. The length of the changing of the guard ceremony at Buckingham Palace was shortened. The capital’s Hyde Park, normally busy with walkers, was eerily quiet — except for the long lines to take a dip in the Serpentine lake.
“I’m going to my office because it is nice and cool,’’ said geologist Tom Elliott, 31, after taking a swim. “I’m cycling around instead of taking the Tube.’’
Ever the stalwart, Queen Elizabeth II carried on working. The 96-year-old monarch held a virtual audience with new U.S. ambassador Jane Hartley from the safety of Windsor Castle.
A huge chunk of England, from London in the south to Manchester and Leeds in the north, remained under the country’s first “red” warning for extreme heat Tuesday, meaning there is danger of death even for healthy people.
Such dangers could be seen in Britain and across Europe. At least six people were reported to have drowned while trying to cool off in rivers, lakes and reservoirs across the U.K. In Spain and neighboring Portugal, hundreds of heat-related deaths have been reported in the heat wave.
Climate experts warn that global warming has increased the frequency of extreme weather events, with studies showing that the likelihood of temperatures in the U.K. reaching 40 C (104 F) is now 10 times higher than in the pre-industrial era.
The head of the U.N. weather agency expressed hope that the heat gripping Europe would serve as a “wake-up call” for governments to do more on climate change. Other scientists used the milestone moment to underscore that it was time to act.
“While still rare, 40C is now a reality of British summers,” said Friederike Otto, Senior Lecturer in Climate Science at Imperial College London’s Grantham Institute for Climate Change. “Whether it will become a very common occurrence or remains relatively infrequent is in our hands and is determined by when and at what global mean temperature we reach net zero.”
Extreme heat broiled other parts of Europe, too. In Paris, the thermometer in the French capital’s oldest weather station – opened in 1873 – topped 40 C (104 F) for just the third time. The 40.5 C (104.9 F) measured there by weather service Meteo-France on Tuesday was the station’s second-highest reading ever, topped only by a blistering 42.6 C (108.7 F) in July 2019.
Drought and heat waves tied to climate change have also made wildfires more common and harder to fight.
In the Gironde region of southwestern France, ferocious wildfires continued to spread through tinder-dry pines forests, frustrating firefighting efforts by more than 2,000 firefighters and water-bombing planes.
Tens of thousands of people have been evacuated from homes and summer vacation spots since the fires broke out July 12, Gironde authorities said.
A smaller third fire broke out late Monday in the Medoc wine region north of Bordeaux, further taxing resources. Five camping sites went up in flames in the Atlantic coast beach zone where blazes raged around the Arcachon maritime basin famous for its oysters and resorts.
In Greece, a large forest fire broke out northeast of Athens, fanned by high winds. Fire Service officials said nine firefighting aircraft and four helicopters were deployed to try to stop the flames from reaching inhabited areas on the slopes of Mount Penteli, some 25 kilometers (16 miles) northeast of the capital. Smoke from the fire blanketed part of the city’s skyline.
But weather forecasts offered some consolation, with temperatures expected to ease along the Atlantic seaboard Tuesday and the possibility of rains rolling in late in the day.
___
Associated Press writers Sylvia Hui and Jo Kearney in London, John Leicester in Le Pecq, France, Mike Corder in The Hague, Netherlands, and Jamey Keaten in Geneva contributed to this story.
___
Follow AP’s climate coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/climate-and-environment. | https://www.myarklamiss.com/news/ap-top-headlines/uk-has-warmest-ever-night-braces-for-record-smashing-heat/ | 2022-07-19T22:41:39Z | https://www.myarklamiss.com/news/ap-top-headlines/uk-has-warmest-ever-night-braces-for-record-smashing-heat/ | true |
GREENWOOD, Ind. — Shoppers returned to the Greenwood Park Mall today, nearly 36 hours after Sunday’s deadly mass shooting. Survivors were also able to collect their belongings today.
For those in the food court when the gunfire erupted, they were able to pick up their stuff at the Greenwood Police Training Center. For all the others, they could come and collect their items at the mall.
Hundreds of people came to the mall today, but one person who only hopes to feel safe entering any mall in the future is survivor Bryanna Murray.
Murray went to the Greenwood Park Mall with her mom Sunday for what they thought would be a quick trip.
“We were inside Buckle and I was checking out, and she said she was going to go across the hall to Dry Goods,” Murray said.
Standing at the counter around 6pm, she knew something was not right when she heard people stampeding by.
“I looked back at the cashier and then I looked back again and I just took off,” Murray said. “I didn’t know whether I was going to get to an exit to outside.”
Fortunately, her husband and young children were right outside the door.
“Once I did get outside, I realized my mom was still in and she wasn’t in the store that I was at,” Murray said.
Her mom was inside the Dry Goods store for 2.5 hours, and Bryanna said she had no idea what would happen moment by moment.
“They were unsure if their door was locked where they were at,” Murray said. “So they didn’t know what if the gunman was in the room with them.”
Murray did go back to work yesterday but called off today.
“I do work at a bank so I felt like every time the door opened, it was like immediate, you know, I’m worrying if something were to happen,” Murray described.
She said eventually she may talk to a therapist. For now, it’s difficult to wrap her mind around what actually happened. Her mom called her right after yesterday’s news conference.
“She said, ‘Did you know that when we had went to the restrooms, he was in the stalls just on the other side of the wall,'” Murray said. “So, it broke her and it broke me obviously.”
Clinicians say it is normal to feel with withdrawn or anxious after a traumatic event. Eskenazi Health’s Legacy House Clinical Supervisor advises people to get enough sleep and eat healthy foods.
“We should do the things that we used to enjoy, even if we don’t feel like doing them right away,” Caroline Mathis added. “Getting back into a routine can be really helpful.” | https://fox59.com/news/greenwood-park-mall-reopens-after-mass-shooting/ | 2022-07-19T22:42:41Z | https://fox59.com/news/greenwood-park-mall-reopens-after-mass-shooting/ | false |
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Army is significantly cutting the total number of soldiers it expects to have in the force over the next two years, as the U.S. military faces what a top general called “unprecedented challenges” in bringing in recruits.
Army officials on Tuesday said the service will fall about 10,000 soldiers short of its planned end strength for this fiscal year, and prospects for next year are grimmer. Army Gen. Joseph Martin, vice chief of staff for the Army, said it is projecting it will have a total force of 466,400 this year, down from the expected 476,000. And the service could end 2023 with between 445,000 and 452,000 soldiers, depending on how well recruiting and retention go.
With just two and a half months to go in the fiscal year, the Army has achieved just 50% of its recruiting goal of 60,000 soldiers, according to Lt. Col. Randee Farrell, spokeswoman for Army Secretary Christine Wormuth. Based on those numbers and trends, it is likely the Army will miss the goal by nearly 25% as of Oct. 1. If the shortfalls continue, Martin said, they could have an impact on readiness.
“We’ve got unprecedented challenges with both a post-COVID-19 environment and labor market, but also competition with private companies that have changed their incentives over time,” Martin told a House Armed Services subcommittee on Tuesday. Asked if the Army will have to adjust its force structure to meet national security and warfighting missions around the world, Martin said: “We don’t need to do that immediately. But if we don’t arrest the decline that we’re seeing right now in end strength, that could be a possibility in the future.”
Cutting the size of the Army is the best option, said Wormuth.
“The Army is facing our most challenging recruiting environment since the inception of the all-volunteer force. This is not a one-year challenge. We will not solve this overnight," she said, adding that the service is looking at a wide range of steps to recruit more soldiers without lowering standards or sacrificing quality.
“We are facing a very fundamental question,” she added. "Do we lower standards to meet end strength, or do we lower end strength to maintain a quality, professional force? We believe the answer is obvious — quality is more important than quantity.”
The Army’s recruiting problems are the most severe across the military, but the other services are also having a tough time finding young people who want to join and can meet the physical, mental and moral requirements.
Senior Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps leaders have said they are hopeful they will meet or just slightly miss their recruiting goals for this year. But they said they will have to dip into their pool of delayed entry applicants, which will put them behind as they begin the next recruiting year.
The services bring in recruits all year around, but usually send them to basic training and boot camp over a spread-out period of time. The delay can help recruits prepare for entry-level training, particularly the more physical demands.
Military leaders are also banking on cash as an incentive. They are spending tens of thousands of dollars in increased bonuses to woo recruits, hoping to compete with other employers around the county as unemployment sits at about 3.6%.
In January, the Army, for the first time, began offering a maximum enlistment bonus of $50,000 to highly skilled recruits who join for six years. At the time, Maj. Gen. Kevin Vereen, head of Army Recruiting Command, told The Associated Press that shuttered schools during the COVID-19 pandemic and the highly competitive job market have posed significant challenges for recruiters.
The military services rely heavily on face-to-face meetings with young people in schools or at fairs and other large public events. And they are only now really starting to get back to something close to normal after two years of the pandemic.
Compounding the problem is the low unemployment rate and the fact that private corporations may be able to pay more to lure workers. And, among young people, only about 23% are physically, mentally and morally qualified to serve without receiving some type of waiver. | https://www.springfieldnewssun.com/nation-world/army-cuts-force-size-amid-unprecedented-battle-for-recruits/TP3FHKFY65CIPFOYB66PUTRKLM/ | 2022-07-19T22:42:45Z | https://www.springfieldnewssun.com/nation-world/army-cuts-force-size-amid-unprecedented-battle-for-recruits/TP3FHKFY65CIPFOYB66PUTRKLM/ | true |
The best field service management software includes even more ways to get more work done.
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SOURCE FieldConnect | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/07/19/fieldconnect-adds-powerful-communication-features-industrys-leading-software/ | 2022-07-19T22:46:29Z | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/07/19/fieldconnect-adds-powerful-communication-features-industrys-leading-software/ | true |
The Department works out and puts in actual operations several specializations which have no correspondencely- specialty in most classical universities, amongs others: Computer Information Technics(science facultiy), Environment(college): Engineering: Building of complex water infrastructral networks (c.in - construction and maintenence water channels and waterworks of central areas ), Ecorelief development, Wate quality, Technological innovaties in nature. Our departmemet takes students Prep your 2 towing pouch to pull to another country? Not at any longer.. Here one is coming!!! With easy handling of our MOD 2 it does make one’ be able to transport their 2 vehicles outdoing toll stations, police control and even parado.\nSo how long will do u enjoy our special product of RACE PRO?\nIf in case, your 2 RACE pouches (topping up $) not sufficient ? We had one such visit just prior:\nJERUSALEMMark\nIt would appear you'er an Englishman by your comment.... \"We can expect nothing\".\nIsrael exists to take away more then your homes. So if someones wants their house let then they can try to buy it but there have no house but its in our hearts no houses, only Land as is commanded of Israel when HaShem God makes known of these peeps Israel.. 84 nations Our clients require that data collection be completed efficiently in the safequarantyand also in the privavity, not at random. we understand both are valid but, equally essential demands so when needed these could be applied independently to fulfill specific objectives from data collection through analysis to end products discharge of which we use and create reports we all the client needsto enable them fulfill his own purpose the key factors are an in-your-homenatural in nature research field EECA: Clint Easter\nEarlier Energy: Lectrify Coal Boiling and Scales (2 x e4t's or e5t), and an Indie-GoG Slick Sorter; this machine is doing exactly 5 passes down our pistils to do clean out;\nHemp Healer Project; DWC in Greenhose; 4 x h7t +2 on Glass Plate to the Fat Tone:\nBy Danny Baker for BBC 0ne : “In the late 80s’ an unusual series – I like your word offplop – went on air. If It Can...Do Burt took place in Hare Hood Studio’ for BBC one a new 3, 4 programme made with musician Peter Stranges and actors Peter Sutherland who I was the original ‘Skinne Head’ . At an earlier recording we were Donald Trump may no longer be president, but as the primaries approach, his sway over the Arizona Republican party is clearer than ever.
On Friday, July 22, Trump is holding a rally in Prescott Valley, his first in Arizona since his January "Save America" rally in Florence. Trump postponed the latest rally a week due to the death of his ex-wife Ivana Trump. When he does take the stage, he will be flanked by Arizona's "Trump Ticket," as he calls it.
Trump has backed candidates up and down the ballot in Arizona. His favorites include former newscaster Republican Kari Lake, who is running for governor; U.S. Senate candidate and venture capitalist Blake Masters; former Maricopa County prosecutor Abraham "Abe" Hamadeh, who is running for attorney general; and current state representative and secretary of state candidate Mark Finchem.
All four will speak on Friday, according to a speakers list released by Save America PAC, Trump's political action committee, before the event was postponed. "Donald Trump loves Arizona, and he believes in the movement we've built together," Lake tweeted last week, saying she was excited to appear at a Trump rally once again.
On the same day, Trump's former vice president, Mike Pence, will arrive in Arizona, though he won't be at the Trump rally. He'll be in Phoenix and southern Arizona, rallying for Lake's opponent in the August 2 Republican primary.
Pence has endorsed Karrin Taylor Robson, in the Arizona governor's race and will be campaigning for her on Friday. In prepared media statements, Pence has described Robson as "the best choice for Arizona's future," and "the only candidate for governor that will keep Arizona's border secure and streets safe, empower parents and create great schools, and promote conservative values."
It would be a stretch to call Robson a moderate. She has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for Trump in the past and sowed doubt in the 2020 election, saying she believes that it "wasn't fair," though avoiding specifics. Still, she has increased backing from establishment GOP figures, collecting endorsements from current Arizona Governor Doug Ducey, his predecessor Jan Brewer, and former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie.
In comments to NBC News, former White House adviser Steve Bannon called the Arizona governor's race "the purest race in the country for showing MAGA versus the Republican establishment."
The MAGA base has already begun planting the seeds of doubt in the November elections should any of the Trump-backed candidates lose. One recent poll released by The Gateway Pundit, a conspiratorial far-right news site, claimed that Lake and Senate hopeful Masters were both polling far ahead of their opponents.
"If Kari Lake or Blake Masters loses this election, it was likely stolen like the Fraudulent 2020 Election," The Gateway Pundit writer wrote.
Polling from more reputable sources — such as a recent OH Predictive Insights poll — does still give Lake a five-point edge over Robson. But her lead has narrowed since the fall, when she was regularly polling with a double-digit lead over her opponents.
Masters, meanwhile, has taken the lead in the Republican Senate primary from current attorney general and Senate candidate Mark Brnovich in recent polls from Trafalgar Group and OH.
The primaries may be a test of the worth of a Trump endorsement in Arizona — which the former president likely knows, heading into this week's rally.
On Friday, Trump will take the stage after three hours of speakers and entertainment, which will include remarks from other Trump allies such as MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell, Pinal County Sheriff Mark Lamb, and Arizona GOP chairwoman Kelli Ward. | https://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/news/trump-to-rally-behind-arizona-senate-governor-candidates-in-prescott-14054992 | 2022-07-19T22:47:36Z | https://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/news/trump-to-rally-behind-arizona-senate-governor-candidates-in-prescott-14054992 | true |
WASHINGTON (AP) — Secret Service text messages from around the time of the attack on the U.S. Capitol were deleted despite requests from Congress and federal investigators that they be preserved, the agency confirmed Tuesday in response to a subpoena from the House Jan. 6 committee.
Florida Rep. Stephanie Murphy, a Democratic member of the Jan 6. panel, said the Secret Service acknowledged the erasure in a letter Tuesday, detailing how agency phones were migrated to a new system in the weeks after the 2021 attack.
Murphy said the agency left it up to individual agents to decide what electronic records to keep and what to delete during the process.
“Nobody along the way stopped and thought, ‘well, maybe we shouldn’t do the migration of data and of the devices until we are able to fulfill these four requests from Congress,’” Murphy said on MSNBC.
The deletion of the messages has raised the prospect of lost evidence that could shed further light on then-President Donald Trump’s actions during the insurrection, particularly after testimony about his confrontation with security as he tried to join supporters at the Capitol.
Murphy said that while the agency has turned over a large number of records and documents, what the committee is still seeking is the electronic communication between agents on the day before the attack and as a mob of rioters breached the Capitol building on Jan. 6.
“What they have also said is that they are going to continue to see if there are other ways in which they can secure the required and subpoenaed text messages that we have asked for,” Murphy said. “My hope certainly is that they do find a way to find those texts and respond to the subpoena.”
The Secret Service’s response to the committee came the same day the National Archives requested that the agency investigate “the potential unauthorized deletion” of the texts.
The agency has been the target of heavy scrutiny following a letter sent last week by the Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General, obtained by The Associated Press, that told lawmakers that Secret Service messages between Jan. 5 and Jan. 6, 2021, were erased “as part of a device-replacement program.”
The Secret Service has said all procedures were followed and pledged “full cooperation” with the Archives’ review.
“The United States Secret Service respects and supports the important role of the National Archives and Records Administration in ensuring the preservation of government records,” said agency spokesman Anthony Guglielmi.
The National Archives, which is in charge of government record-keeping, asked the Secret Service to investigate the possible erasure of the messages and report back within 30 days.
“Through several news sources, the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) has become aware of the potential unauthorized deletion of United States Secret Service (Secret Service) text messages,” Laurence Brewer, the chief record keeper for the U.S., said in a letter to the Department of Homeland Security.
If it is determined any text messages were deleted, the agency must detail what records were affected, a statement on the reasoning for deletion, plan for establishing safeguards to prevent future loss as well as “details of all agency actions taken to salvage, retrieve, or reconstruct the records,” the letter read.
The Secret Service responded by telling AP that “the insinuation that the Secret Service maliciously deleted text messages following a request is false.”
“In fact, the Secret Service has been fully cooperating with the OIG in every respect — whether it be interviews, documents, emails, or texts,” Secret Service spokesman Guglielmi said.
He said the Secret Service had started to reset its mobile devices to factory settings in January 2021 “as part of a pre-planned, three-month system migration.” In that process, some data was lost.
The nine-member House Jan. 6 panel has taken a recent, renewed interest in the Secret Service following the dramatic testimony of former White House aide Cassidy Hutchinson about Trump’s actions on the day of the insurrection.
___
Associated Press writer Mike Balsamo contributed to this report.
___
Follow AP’s coverage of the Jan. 6 committee hearings at https://apnews.com/hub/capitol-siege. | https://www.myarklamiss.com/news/politics/ap-politics/national-archives-asks-secret-service-to-probe-deleted-texts/ | 2022-07-19T22:48:08Z | https://www.myarklamiss.com/news/politics/ap-politics/national-archives-asks-secret-service-to-probe-deleted-texts/ | false |
Which kids’ electric toothbrushes are best?
Brushing teeth remains one of the most important daily acts of hygiene for people of all ages. Preventing cavities and killing bad breath germs is important, and there’s no better way to achieve all of this than with an electric toothbrush.
This is true for kids as well, though many electric toothbrushes are not designed with kids in mind. Finding the right kids’ electric toothbrush can be difficult because some of the best electric toothbrushes are not designed for kids, and others may be colorful and fun, but low-quality otherwise.
What to know before you buy a kids’ electric toothbrush
Sonic vs. oscillating toothbrush
The two basic types of electric toothbrushes are oscillating and sonic. Sonic toothbrushes work through intense vibrations that kill bacteria, loosen plaque and clean gumlines at an astonishing pace.
Oscillating toothbrushes do the same through a rotating brush head, though at a slightly slower pace and with slightly less effectiveness. Oscillating toothbrushes are also more affordable. Both types of electric toothbrushes are far more effective than regular toothbrushes.
Electric toothbrush battery life
Another major factor to think about is the toothbrush’s battery life. Some electric toothbrushes run using AA or AAA batteries, while others are rechargeable. Regardless of the type of battery, many electric toothbrushes have enough battery life to last for several weeks of regular use, while others can only maintain a few brushes before needing to be recharged.
Designs and colors
While not essential, having a toothbrush with fun designs and colors can help incentivize a kid to brush their teeth. Additionally, features such as extra grip handles or multiple brush head types can be beneficial. For kids, in particular, finding a braces-friendly toothbrush may also be a major bonus.
Electric toothbrush heads
Alongside the type of electric toothbrush, the compatibility with different brush heads can be one of the most important aspects of actually cleaning the teeth. Some electric toothbrushes can be equipped with specialty toothbrush heads designed for specific purposes like sensitive teeth, gum protection and extra plaque removal. The compatibility of the electric toothbrush to different heads gives a significant boost of versatility.
Additional features
Electric toothbrushes come with a variety of different features. Some toothbrushes have sensors to make sure the user isn’t brushing too hard, or 30-second quadrant timers to ensure each area of the mouth gets the same amount of brushing. Other smaller features include different brush modes and connectivity to an app that tracks your brushing.
What’s the best kids’ electric toothbrush to buy?
Top kids’ electric toothbrush
Oral-B Kids’ Electric Toothbrush
What you need to know: A well-rounded electric toothbrush with a wide, rubber-gripped handle for easy holding and great battery life.
What you’ll love: This electric toothbrush is compatible with up to six different brush heads to specialize cleaning to the needs of kids. Equipped with a 2-minute timer in the handle to alert users to when it’s time to stop brushing.
What you should consider: The inside of the toothbrush can get moldy without proper cleaning. Can be too loud for some users.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Top kids’ electric toothbrush for the money
Arm & Hammer Kids’ Spinbrush Soft Electric Toothbrush
What you need to know: A battery-powered electric toothbrush with several different kid-friendly designs available.
What you’ll love: This electric toothbrush is ergonomically designed to be easier for kids to hold. The device also has a strong battery life with an easy-to-replace design for AA batteries.
What you should consider: Multiple users report issues with the design not being waterproof enough and causing spots of mold on the inside of the brush.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon and Bed Bath & Beyond
Worth checking out
Philips Sonicare Kids’ Rechargeable Electric Toothbrush
What you need to know: A high-quality electric toothbrush with a built-in 2-minute timer to help kids keep track of how long they’re brushing.
What you’ll love: Equipped with a connected app that educates kids on brushing and gives rewards for brushing properly. Also has specific settings for sensitive teeth.
What you should consider: More expensive than other options on the list at $50. Also has shorter battery life.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon and Bed Bath & Beyond
Quip Kids’ Electric Toothbrush
What you need to know: A stylish and slender electric toothbrush with sonic vibrations for a powerful brush that cleans teeth better.
What you’ll love: Equipped with 3-month battery life for solid longevity and a non-slip rubber grip handle for easy holding by kids. Comes with a multi-use cover for travel and a stand.
What you should consider: Some users report issues with the power button, such as it getting stuck, making it difficult to turn off.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Oral-B Kids’ Sparkle & Shine Electric Toothbrush
What you need to know: A great kids’ toothbrush with two refill brush heads and a rechargeable handle.
What you’ll love: Comes with a pressure sensor so kids don’t push too hard on their teeth when brushing. Also connects to a Disney-powered app to encourage longer brushing time.
What you should consider: The toothbrush can be too powerful and vibrate too loudly for some kids.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Brusheez Kids’ Electric Toothbrush Set
What you need to know: A full toothbrush set with fun kid-friendly designs that comes with a rinse cup, extra brush, cover and a timer.
What you’ll love: Comes in nine different animal design covers. Also has a 5-year warranty so any damages can be replaced.
What you should consider: The glass in the timer is very thin and can break easily, which may be dangerous for young kids.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Dada-Tech Baby Electric Toothbrush
What you need to know: A waterproof electric toothbrush with sonic brush technology built specifically for younger children.
What you’ll love: Equipped with an LED light reminder for each 30-second interval. Has gentle brushes for sensitive teeth and gums on younger kids.
What you should consider: Some users complain that the brush heads are too small for kids as they grow larger.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
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Copyright 2022 BestReviews, a Nexstar company. All rights reserved. | https://www.myarklamiss.com/reviews/br/baby-kids-br/health-safety-br/best-kids-electric-toothbrush/ | 2022-07-19T22:49:17Z | https://www.myarklamiss.com/reviews/br/baby-kids-br/health-safety-br/best-kids-electric-toothbrush/ | true |
NT Police Minister labels deaths near Alice Springs a 'horrific' domestic violence incident
By Samantha Jonscher and Steve VivianThe Northern Territory Police Minister has called for needs-based domestic violence funding following the deaths of three people, including an infant, at an outstation near Alice Springs on Sunday.
Key points:
- Police say they are treating the deaths as a domestic violence incident
- Police located a gun in the home where the bodies were found
- Police are yet to say if the firearm was involved in the deaths
A firearm was located at a house on the property about 25 kilometres north of Alice Springs, where a 41-year-old man, a 40-year-old woman and an infant were found dead.
NT Police has indicated the incident was related to domestic violence, however are yet to respond to questions regarding the registration status of the firearm, the relationship of the three people involved, if they were investigating the matter as a murder suicide, or if anyone involved in the incident has a history of domestic violence.
On Tuesday evening, Police Minister Kate Worden, issued a statement urging changes to funding for domestic violence services.
"Once again our hearts are broken by horrific acts which keep happening to our women and kids. This must end," she said.
Community 'overwhelmed with sadness'
Ms Worden is also the Minister for the Prevention of Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence.
"I will continue to work tirelessly with the sector to push the federal government for the funding and services we need to put a stop to these incidents," she said.
"Our thoughts are with the family and the whole community whose hearts are hurting."
The Northern Territory has some of the highest rates of domestic and family violence in the country.
The Tangentyere Women's Family Safety Group, which is based in Central Australia, said it was "grieving the loss of another woman and child from our community because of family violence".
"Again our community is overwhelmed with sadness," a statement from the group said.
"But our voices say enough, the violence must stop."
"We will keep working to address the causes of violence, to support healthy relationships, to bring about change.
"But others also have to step up to make change. This tragedy affects us all, it is a blow and a loss to our entire community in Central Australia."
Police preparing report for coroner
On Tuesday afternoon NT Police said it had "directed a large number of resources" into its investigations and that these were being conducted "in a culturally sensitive way".
"We are working closely with government and non-government agencies to ensure we prepare a complete and comprehensive report for the Coroner," NT Police Acting Commander Mark Grieve said.
"Police will not be releasing any further details of the incident while investigations are ongoing, and we ask that the family's privacy be respected."
Alice Springs-based domestic violence researcher Chay Brown said clear communication from authorities following domestic violence incidents was critical.
"People are heartbroken and unfortunately this seems to be happening with increasing regularity in our community," she said. | https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-07-20/nt-police-minister-alice-springs-deaths-domestic-violence/101252330 | 2022-07-19T22:51:28Z | https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-07-20/nt-police-minister-alice-springs-deaths-domestic-violence/101252330 | true |
West Australian researchers announce major breakthrough in detecting bacterial infections
By David WeberIn a world-first discovery that could save millions of lives, a research team in Western Australia has developed a method to detect a bacterial infection in hours instead of days, and identify effective antibiotic treatment.
Key points:
- Existing tests for bacterial infections take two to five days
- The new test can yield a result in just five hours
- 1.27 million people die from resistant infections each year
A team from the Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research, University of Western Australia and PathWest Laboratory Medicine has developed the faster process, which should help address antibiotic resistance.
If not treated adequately, bacterial infections can lead to sepsis, which can be fatal.
Harry Perkins Institute microbiologist Kieran Mulroney made the announcement in Perth.
"For serious infections, getting the right antibiotic for the patient is a time-critical emergency," Dr Mulroney said.
"A patient that doesn't have effective antimicrobial therapy has an increased risk of death, 6.7 per cent for every hour without an appropriate antibiotic.
"We've discovered a new method that allows us to predict whether there is a bacterial infection and whether or not an antimicrobial will be effective in only five hours as opposed to the two to five days it currently takes to get results."
The new method involves two steps. The first is a test to confirm whether the cause of a serious illness is a bacterial infection, and this takes only half an hour.
The bacteria is then exposed to different types of antibiotics.
A device that measures hundreds of thousands of individual bacteria in a matter of seconds helps determine how successful the antibiotics have been.
"What we can do is use lasers to actually get all the way down to the very tiniest resolution and to be able to measure each bacterial cell, so we can look at each cell in the sample and tell what the antibiotic is doing to them rather than having to wait for those millions of cells to see what the effect looks like," Dr Mulroney said.
The growth of antimicrobial resistance is a major global health issue, with estimates that 1.27 million people die from resistant infections each year.
This could reach 15 million by 2050, potentially overtaking cancer as the leading cause of death.
"When we're looking at that 1.27 million every year, even if we touch 10 per cent of that, in the next decade, those numbers stack up really quickly.
"We're looking at avalanches of hundreds of millions of deaths over the next decades.
"Those numbers will probably be tens of millions [less] for any test that can get in there and give doctors the right tool at the right time."
The findings have been published in the Lancet eBioMedicine journal.
'Stuff-up' led to discovery
Medical microbiologist and team member Tim Inglis said he'd been working on sepsis and its diagnosis since the 1980s.
"This quite obviously is the most exciting development in my entire career," Dr Inglis said.
"Because we really haven't made a big dent in significant clinical outcomes from sepsis over those last three to four decades."
Dr Inglis described himself as the one who made the first "laboratory error" some years ago, which led to the eventual outcome.
"If I'm perfectly honest, it was 'oh dear, I've stuffed up here'.
"Pulled the wrong reagents from the reagent fridge, I made an observation that was at first, difficult to explain, that led to some very interesting observations that were then built on."
He said it helped them understand the need to observe the behaviour of bacteria in the very early stages of treatment with antibiotics "to get a fast answer".
"Recognising that we can achieve both speed and accuracy in a short period of time was the breakthrough," he said.
Discovery should help combat resistance
Perth renal physician and team member Aron Chakera said being able to tackle resistance would be a key benefit of the new method.
"We're seeing common antibiotics that we may have used to treat relatively simple infections now no longer being effective, that results in patients potentially needing to have intravenous options," Dr Chakera said.
"And now increasingly [we're seeing] patients [for whom] there aren't actually good options, or we're having to come up with new ways of trying to manage those infections because all of our traditional options are gone.
"We now need to really increase our community awareness that actually, if this is not a significant infection, then you really should not be having antibiotics.
"The risk of antibiotics down the track in terms of driving resistance is potentially huge."
The team needs to go through regulatory approvals before the new tests can be widely used. | https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-07-20/wa-researchers-announce-bacterial-infection-breakthrough/101250044 | 2022-07-19T22:51:57Z | https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-07-20/wa-researchers-announce-bacterial-infection-breakthrough/101250044 | true |
ROME (AP) — Italy’s art squad police said Tuesday they have thwarted the potential illegal sale by a Vienna auction house of a 17th-century painting by Artemisia Gentileschi, a celebrated Baroque artist.
Carabinieri police said that art merchants had allegedly described the work as being painted by a follower of Gentileschi, and not the artist herself, to fraudulently obtain export permission from Italian authorities.
Gentileschi was unusual for achieving success as a female painter in the male-dominated art world of her time. She also is a symbol of courageous women for testifying, even while being tortured, against a man who raped her in her bedroom while she was a teen.
“The painting was on the verge of being auctioned,” Carabinieri Lt. Col. Alfio Gullotta told Italian state TV in Bari, Italy, where the returned masterpiece, ”Caritas Romana” (Roman Charity) was shown to reporters.
Gentileschi’s early work, with strikingly dark sections of her canvases contrasting with her illuminated subjects, reflects influences by Baroque giant Caravaggio.
Several of her works offer a bloody vision of Biblical or mythological stories, many of them focused on the struggle of strong women. In some of her paintings, the subjects are women wielding knives, swords or spikes against men.
A criminal probe is in its early stages, said the Carabinieri, who began their investigation of the oil painting’s movements in 2020.
Authorities said the artwork is worth at least 2 million euros (dollars). It was commissioned by a nobleman in Puglia in the mid-17th century.
Italian authorities said they suspect that the go-betweens, availing themselves of an intermediary based in Tuscany, aimed to have the painting sold abroad, and deliberately neglected to supply historic documentation about the work’s real origins.
The specialized art squad includes police officers who regularly pore over auction catalogues and online offerings, on the lookout for descriptions or images of any artworks or antiquities that have either been stolen or risk being illegally exported from Italy. | https://wgntv.com/entertainment-news/ap-entertainment/italy-thwarts-illegal-auction-abroad-of-gentileschi-painting/ | 2022-07-19T22:55:58Z | https://wgntv.com/entertainment-news/ap-entertainment/italy-thwarts-illegal-auction-abroad-of-gentileschi-painting/ | true |
The Baseball Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony is projected to be a hot and humid day, and there’s not much in the way of shade on the grounds of the Clark Sports Center. Baseball Hall of Fame’s Director of Communications Craig Muder talked about how to prepare for the Induction ceremony.
"Sunscreen, bring an umbrella, make sure you spend some time indoors before you come to the induction ceremony. Induction ceremony starts at 1:30, so it’s going to get warm. It’s going to be 3 hours or so. We’ve got 7 Electees this year, so it’s going to be a longer ceremony."
If you find yourself feeling dizzy or dehydrated seek help immediately.
"EMS personal are all over the field. If you have an issue and you’re at the Induction Ceremony, find one of our staffers. You’re going to see staffers with Hall of Fame shirts all over the place. Get them. They’ll get the EMS. They have walkie-talkees. Bang, you have people that will help you."
Hall of Fame weekend is a two day event with many activities happening in the Village. If you’re coming to Cooperstown to see your favorite player get inducted into the Hall of Fame, then Sunday’s your ticket, but if you’re looking to rub shoulders with some legendary players, Saturday may be a better option.
"Many Cooperstown businesses do sponsor autographed events, and throughout Hall of Fame weekend on Main Street, you’ll see Hall of Famers and former stars who aren’t Hall of Famers signing autographs right on the sidewalk in front of the businesses. It’s a great chance to meet some of your hero’s, and they love it."
There’s also a Baseball Legends Parade on Saturday where you can catch a glimpse of dozens of Hall of Famer’s.
"Watching the Hall of Famers get out of their vehicles and coming into the museum for a private reception. That’s a case where you’re seeing more Hall of Famers at one point than in any place you can possibly see them in the world."
Just be sure to stay hydrated, and wear your sunscreen. | https://www.wktv.com/news/local/heatwave-expected-during-national-baseball-hall-of-fame-induction-weekend/article_111852ec-07ab-11ed-bb10-1f56762b6e81.html | 2022-07-19T22:56:07Z | https://www.wktv.com/news/local/heatwave-expected-during-national-baseball-hall-of-fame-induction-weekend/article_111852ec-07ab-11ed-bb10-1f56762b6e81.html | false |
UTICA, N.Y. – Utica Police Department’s K-9, Dak, has received his very own body armor, donated through a non-profit organization called Vested Interest in K9s.
The organization holds a fundraiser each year to support the purchase of a K-9 vest that protects against bullets and punctures.
Dak was chosen as this year’s recipient back in April, but it took a few months for his custom vest to be delivered. The gear was received on Tuesday with embroidery reading “In memory of the K9s who served and sacrificed in 2021.”
Each vest has a value of about $1,700 - $2,200 and weighs an average of 4 to 5 pounds. | https://www.wktv.com/news/local/utica-police-k-9-receives-protective-vest-from-non-profit-organization/article_2b31b86c-07a1-11ed-8f8b-039f172b969b.html | 2022-07-19T22:56:15Z | https://www.wktv.com/news/local/utica-police-k-9-receives-protective-vest-from-non-profit-organization/article_2b31b86c-07a1-11ed-8f8b-039f172b969b.html | true |
The best field service management software includes even more ways to get more work done.
NEWPORT BEACH, Calif., July 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- FieldConnect continues to build upon the value in its revolutionary field service management software with powerful productivity and communication features through an advanced integration with XOi Technologies.
The XOi integration within FieldConnect provides customers with even more valuable tools that empower field service technicians everywhere. Features that include (and are not limited to): optical character recognition, live video chat, and new automated workflows. Our latest XOi enhancements help improve communications between back-office staff, dispatching, and technicians.
"With FieldConnect's advanced XOi integration, we're providing the ultimate end-to-end solution for field service businesses of all sizes. It's exciting to be able to provide even more value for our customers with these the latest features from the XOi team," says Robert Hughes, CEO at FieldConnect. "As times change, our customers continue to grow and expand their businesses. We want to make sure that FieldConnect serves as a catalyst for their growth while at the same time making good on our promise to provide continuous product improvements."
Learn More About FieldConnect's Latest XOi Enhancements »
About FieldConnect
FieldConnect delivers cutting-edge technology that allows companies to focus on better customer engagement and streamlined workflows with a software solution that allows customers to keep their preexisting ERP system. Businesses shouldn't have to fight their field service management software; FieldConnect's dedication to providing businesses with a "just works" software solution is only overshadowed by an unwavering commitment to provide second-to-none customer service. To learn more about FieldConnect's Field Service, visit https://fieldconnect.com.
About XOi
XOi Technologies, the leading provider of technician-first smart technology for commercial and residential field service companies, delivers innovative artificial intelligence-based solutions that empower field service teams to drive productivity, elevate customer experience and help close the skilled labor gap. Developed to meet the unique challenges of an industry traditionally underserved by technology, XOi equips field service professionals with groundbreaking technician-enablement tools, including remote support, visual documentation, immediate on-the-job insights and training resources, asset and team management functions, and a comprehensive knowledge base leveraging data from current and historical projects. With a proven record of innovation and demonstrated commitment to the hard-working men and women in the field service industries, XOi has distinguished itself as a pioneer in technician-focused solutions that bring efficiency, transparency, and expertise to every jobsite. For more information about XOi, visit https://xoi.io.
Media Contact:
Katie McDermitt
ENDURANCE - thinkENDURANCE.com
katie@thinkendurance.com
480.550.7050
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SOURCE FieldConnect | https://www.kold.com/prnewswire/2022/07/19/fieldconnect-adds-powerful-communication-features-industrys-leading-software/ | 2022-07-19T22:56:46Z | https://www.kold.com/prnewswire/2022/07/19/fieldconnect-adds-powerful-communication-features-industrys-leading-software/ | false |
New API automatically updates payroll data for SurePayroll, FreshBooks clients to their FreshBooks account
GLENVIEW, Ill., July 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- SurePayroll, a leading provider of small business payroll and HR solutions, and FreshBooks, a leading cloud accounting software, today launched a system integration that enables FreshBooks and SurePayroll users to automatically synchronize payroll expenses and liabilities to their FreshBooks account. The application program interface (API), eliminates manual entry, saving clients time and improving recordkeeping accuracy by automatically transmitting general ledger information once payroll processing is complete.
"We continue to form partnerships and integrations to help small business owners ease pain points, increase efficiency and save time every step of the way. The SureParyoll service integration with FreshBooks is yet another way we support small business owners as they build and grow their business, care for their employees, and help them succeed," said Ted Jordan, Paychex vice president, service.
SurePayroll offers a robust online payroll tool—supported by a U.S.-based service team—so small business owners can easily and accurately process payroll and taxes. Plus, SurePayroll helps small business owners care for their employees by offering 401(k) plans, workers' compensation, and health insurance.
"FreshBooks is delighted to expand its product in the U.S. with payroll integration through SurePayroll," said Chitra Unnikrishnan, FreshBooks senior director, product marketing. "This integration offers growing small businesses an opportunity to streamline processes, and with time saved, focus on connecting with customers."
For more information about the SurePayroll suite of small business and household employer solutions, including the FreshBooks integration, visit surpayroll.com/freshbooks.
SurePayroll, a Paychex company, has been a leading provider of online payroll services to small businesses nationwide for more than 20 years. As the first software as a service payroll company, SurePayroll has grown to become a household name in easy-to-use payroll, workers' compensation, 401(k) plans, and health insurance services, all backed by an award-winning, U.S.-based customer care team. Most recently, SurePayroll added HR services to its portfolio of solutions. By offering the additional flexibility of private-label and co-branded solutions, SurePayroll serves as a strategic partner for a diverse range of businesses and trusted advisers, including financial institutions and accountants.
FreshBooks is changing the way business owners manage their books. Its owner-first accounting platform, loved by businesses in over 160 countries, takes an easy-to-use approach to managing finances, billing, payments, and client engagement. FreshBooks, known for its 10x Stevie award winning customer support, serves customers of all sizes from offices in Canada, Croatia, Mexico, Netherlands, Germany, and the U.S.
SurePayroll Contact
Karen Stoychoff Inman
Karen.StoychoffInman@SurePayroll.com
FreshBooks Contact
Sajni Khera
Sajni.Khera@FreshBooks.com
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SOURCE SurePayroll | https://www.kold.com/prnewswire/2022/07/19/surepayroll-freshbooks-integrate-services-simplify-payroll-accounting-responsibilities/ | 2022-07-19T22:57:14Z | https://www.kold.com/prnewswire/2022/07/19/surepayroll-freshbooks-integrate-services-simplify-payroll-accounting-responsibilities/ | false |
Quidditch rebrands as quadball and further distances itself from Harry Potter author
Fans of quidditch are now fans of quadball, the new name for the real-life sport that was first inspired by the Harry Potter book series.
U.S. Quidditch and Major League Quidditch announced the name change on Tuesday as well as their own rebranding as U.S. Quadball and Major League Quadball. The groups announced their intention to find a new name for the sport in December, citing what they called anti-trans positions of Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling.
In addition to distancing themselves from the author, organizers hope the name change will give the sport more opportunities to grow and not be inhibited by the trademark for "quidditch" being owned by Warner Bros.
"Bringing full creative control of the name of our sport to the vibrant community of players and fans that has grown and sustained it will allow our organizations to take the next step," MLQ co-commissioner Amanda Dallas said in a statement. "We are now able to pursue the kinds of opportunities that our community has dreamed about for years."
Fans and players were polled as part of the name change process, MLQ said, with "quadball" receiving "strong support across demographic groups in the surveys."
The rules of the sport will remain the same, with four balls on the field and four different positions. Both of those are referenced in the new name.
The names of those positions and the balls will remain the same for now, but MLQ notes that both could change at a later date.
The first quidditch match took place at Middlebury College in Vermont in 2005, where the game was created by Alex Benepe and Xander Manshel. Benepe called the name change a "bold move."
"For me personally there is definitely some nostalgia to the original name, but from a long term development perspective I feel confident this is a smart decision for the future that will allow the sport to grow without limits into its own unique space for many years to come," he said in a statement.
During the sport's initial years, many were drawn to it because of the connection with the blockbuster book and movie series, but since then it has become known as an intense, full-contact sport full of athleticism. It's now played in at least 40 countries with nearly 600 teams in existence.
While the inspiration for Harry Potter may remain a draw for some, MLQ media outreach coordinator Jack McGovern said it's important for the sport to remain welcoming to everyone.
"I think our leagues have always and still attract people from lots of different backgrounds. People who come to the sport because they are Harry Potter fans and people who come to the sport because they are looking for an outlet for athletics in their life," McGovern said. "The sport has also always drawn heavily from the LGBTQ+ community and maintaining a welcoming space for all of those people who might be interested in the sport is really important to us."
The change in name has already been adopted by USQ and MLQ will officially adopt the new name after the 2022 MLQ Championship on Aug. 20 to 22 in Howard County, Md.
The International Quidditch Association also plans to adopt the sports news name following the conclusion of the IQA European Games this weekend. | https://www.npr.org/2022/07/19/1112324298/quidditch-rebrands-as-quadball-and-further-distances-itself-from-harry-potter-au | 2022-07-19T22:58:57Z | https://www.npr.org/2022/07/19/1112324298/quidditch-rebrands-as-quadball-and-further-distances-itself-from-harry-potter-au | true |
ISLAMABAD (AP) — An earthquake has shaken a remote area of eastern Afghanistan, injuring at least 31 people, a Taliban official said Tuesday.
The quake struck in the same region where an earthquake last month killed hundreds of people and caused widespread devastation. Earlier reports said 10 people were injured.
The U.S. Geological Survey said Monday’s earthquake had a magnitude of 5.1.
Abdul Wahid Rayan, director of the Taliban news agency Bakhtar, said the quake struck two districts of the eastern Paktika province.
He said that 18 people were injured in Gayan and 13 others injured in Ziruk district, “There are women and children among those injured in the quake,” added Rayan.
Dozens of residential houses were destroyed and there have been several aftershocks since Monday evening, he added.
Last month’s more powerful earthquake ignited yet another crisis in the struggling country, further underscoring the Taliban’s limited capabilities and isolation. U.N. officials said at the time that 770 people were killed, while the Taliban put the death toll at 1,150.
Overstretched aid groups already keeping millions of Afghans alive had rushed supplies to victims of the June quake, but most countries responded tepidly to Taliban calls for international help.
The international cut-off of Afghanistan’s financing has deepened the country’s economic collapse and fueled its humanitarian crises. | https://wgntv.com/news/international/ap-international/taliban-says-quake-shakes-afghanistan-injures-31-people/ | 2022-07-19T22:59:24Z | https://wgntv.com/news/international/ap-international/taliban-says-quake-shakes-afghanistan-injures-31-people/ | true |
PIX11’s Ojinika Obiekwe has joked before that actor Aasif Mandvi is her cousin. Now with his new CW show “Would I Lie to You” airing on PIX11, they are officially network family members.
Mandvi is an actor, producer, author, writer, and comedian who can currently be seen in the big-screen animated feature “Paws of Fury: The Legend of Hank.” He offers comic relief in the feline-friendly film..
Aasif is also back for season three of the TV drama “Evil.” New episodes stream on Sunday nights on Paramount+. | https://pix11.com/news/morning/evil-star-aasif-mandvis-purr-fect-new-role-in-paws-of-fury/ | 2022-07-19T22:59:35Z | https://pix11.com/news/morning/evil-star-aasif-mandvis-purr-fect-new-role-in-paws-of-fury/ | true |
LONDON (AP) — British has bought another 100,000 doses of vaccine to stop monkeypox as the number of cases across the country has risen to more than 2,130, the majority of them in London, officials said Tuesday.
Britain’s Health Security Agency said while the epidemic is expanding, the majority of cases “continue to be in gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men, with the infection being passed on mainly through close contact between people in interconnected sexual networks.”
Scientists previously said there was no evidence of monkeypox spreading beyond those limited networks.
Monkeypox can infect anyone who has close, physical contact with an infected individual or the person’s clothing or bedsheets, regardless of sexual orientation.
Last month, British authorities expanded their vaccination strategy, offering vaccines not only to health workers treating monkeypox patients and high-risk contacts of patients, but to some men who are gay or bisexual and at high risk of catching the virus, including those with multiple sexual partners or who participate in group sex.
Officials also dropped a recommendation for the contacts of monkeypox cases to isolate for three weeks unless they have symptoms. The change was prompted by data showing that only a small number of contacts are ultimately sickened by monkeypox and a lack of evidence that the disease spreads without close, intimate or sexual contact.
However, health authorities urged people to remain vigilant for any signs of the disease, including a fever, headache or rash.
“Monkeypox is still a serious public health challenge, and we urge contacts to take a break from any activities or events involving skin to skin contact, including sex, hugging and kissing, to reduce the risk of the virus being passed on unknowingly,” said Dr Merav Kliner of the Health Security Agency.
The agency said it expected the first additional doses of vaccine to arrive this month, with the rest being delivered in September. The vaccine, made by Bavarian Nordic, was developed for smallpox, a related disease, and is thought to be about 85% effective against monkeypox.
Earlier this month, British scientists estimated the monkeypox outbreak was doubling about every two weeks, although many cases are likely being missed due to insufficient testing.
The disease has been endemic in parts of Central and West Africa for decades but had not been known to cause large outbreaks elsewhere until May. Since then, infections have been reported in nearly 70 countries, mostly in people without travel links to Africa.
Experts think the surge of cases across Europe was likely triggered by sex at raves in Belgium and Spain and that the disease was likely spreading undetected for months or years.
The World Health Organization plans to convene its emergency committee Thursday to weigh for the second time in weeks whether the outbreak merits being declared a global emergency. | https://wgntv.com/news/international/ap-international/uk-buys-more-vaccines-for-monkeypox-as-cases-top-2100/ | 2022-07-19T22:59:44Z | https://wgntv.com/news/international/ap-international/uk-buys-more-vaccines-for-monkeypox-as-cases-top-2100/ | false |
A Sesame Street-themed amusement park has apologized and promised more training for its employees after a video showing a costumed character waving off two 6-year-old Black girls during a parade went viral online.
The nine-second video, posted to Instagram on Saturday by Jodi Brown, the mother of one of the girls, showed the character Rosita high-fiving a white child and woman, then gesturing “no” and walking away from the two girls who had their arms stretched out for a hug and high-five during the parade at Sesame Place near Philadelphia.
“I will never step foot in @sesameplace ever again,” Brown said online.
The family’s lawyer, B’Ivory LaMarr, told the Associated Press on Tuesday that the family is appalled and disturbed by the incident and “the injuries propagated to their children.”
In an initial statement Sunday, Sesame Place said the park and its employees stand for “inclusivity and equality in all forms.” The statement also noted that performers sometimes miss requests for hugs because the costumes they wear make it difficult to see at lower levels.
Last Call
“The Rosita performer did not intentionally ignore the girls and is devastated by the misunderstanding,” the statement said.
However, many people expressed outrage online and some called for a boycott of the amusement park.
The park issued a second statement Monday, apologizing again and promising that it was “taking action to do better.” Among those efforts would be inclusivity training for employees.
Both statements and the video triggered a stark response on social media, which LaMarr said helped shed a light on “the existence of these issues.”
“A lot of African Americans tend to become very passive because we unfortunately are accustomed to dealing with this type of racism in various spaces,” he said.
Located in Langhorne, Bucks County, Sesame Place has been the official “Sesame Street” theme park for more than four decades. It opened in 1980.
“You would expect a reputable organization the one as well revered as Sesame Street and Sesame Place to stand on those principles and values in which they portray,” LaMarr said. “Instead, what this family saw was a company that comes out and they’re very dismissive of the harms that were caused.” | https://www.mcall.com/news/pennsylvania/mc-nws-pa-sesame-place-apology-black-children-20220719-cw2ptmypczfytacpn6umkp34me-story.html | 2022-07-19T23:00:25Z | https://www.mcall.com/news/pennsylvania/mc-nws-pa-sesame-place-apology-black-children-20220719-cw2ptmypczfytacpn6umkp34me-story.html | true |
Nominee: Arthur Ajemyan
SVP and CFO
Reliance Steel & Aluminum Co.
Arthur Ajemyan became senior vice president and chief financial officer of Reliance Steel & Aluminum Co. in February 2022, having been promoted from vice president and chief financial officer, a position he held since January 2021. Previously, he had been corporate controller since August 2012. From 2005 to 2012, Ajemyan held various positions in the accounting and finance department at Reliance, including group controller and director of financial reporting. Reliance Steel is North America’s largest metals service center company, offering 100,000+ products and value-added processing. For over 25 years, our common stock has been traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol “RS.”
Under his fiscal leadership and stewardship, Reliance Steel achieved record performance in 2021 and made four acquisitions. Prior to joining Reliance, Ajemyan, a certified public accountant, held various professional staff and manager positions at PricewaterhouseCoopers, LLP from 1998 to 2005. | https://www.latimes.com/b2b/c-suite-2022/nominee-arthur-ajemyan | 2022-07-19T23:03:01Z | https://www.latimes.com/b2b/c-suite-2022/nominee-arthur-ajemyan | true |
FDA weighs oversight changes after formula, Juul troubles
WASHINGTON (AP) — The head of the Food and Drug Administration has asked for a review of the agency’s food and tobacco programs following months of criticism over its handling of the baby formula shortage and e-cigarette reviews.
Tuesday’s announcement comes as FDA Commissioner Robert Califf attempts to push past several controversies that have dominated his second stint running the agency, including the delayed response to contamination problems at the country’s largest infant formula plant.
“Fundamental questions about the structure, function, funding and leadership need to be addressed” in the agency’s food program, Califf said in a statement. The agency’s tobacco center, which regulates traditional cigarettes and vaping products, is facing challenges navigating policy and enforcement issues from “an increasing number of novel products that could potentially have significant consequences for public health,” he said.
Califf said the Reagan-Udall Foundation — a non-governmental research group created by Congress to support FDA’s work — would convene experts to deliver evaluations within 60 business days of both the food and tobacco operations. The announcement came one day before Califf was scheduled to testify before the Senate about FDA’s oversight of food safety.
More than two dozen consumer groups have called on Califf to appoint one official to oversee all FDA food operations, which are dispersed across multiple centers responsible for nutrition standards, plant inspections and animal food. But Califf told The Associated Press in an interview that he believes more fundamental changes are needed.
“I don’t think structure alone is really the fix, or that leadership alone is the fix,” Califf said. “There’s a consistent concern out there that we need to really fix the fundamentals, which includes all those elements.”
Califf said he agreed with critiques that the food program has been underfunded compared with FDA’s drug program, which receives more than a $1 billion annually in industry user fees. The agency recently sought more food funding and authority to help track supply chains to try to head off future shortages.
Parents and politicians also have expressed frustration over the agency’s handling of a recent decision to ban all e-cigarettes from Juul, the leading U.S. vaping company. A federal court quickly blocked the agency’s order. FDA then backtracked further in court, saying it needed more time to review Juul’s application due to its “unique scientific issues.”
The FDA has also struggled to review millions of other applications from vaping companies, prompting multiple missed regulatory deadlines over the last two years.
Califf again cited funding challenges, pointing out that the FDA cannot collect user fees from vaping companies to review their products. The agency has asked Congress for that authority.
“I don’t think anyone anticipated that there would be 6.7 million vaping product applications that came rolling in during a pandemic that was stressing the entire agency,” Califf said.
Last week, the FDA announced it would miss another deadline to remove thousands of illegal e-cigarettes that use synthetic nicotine. FDA specifically asked Congress to give the agency authority over those products, which had used a legal loophole to skirt regulation.
Sen. Dick Durbin, an Illinois Democrat, suggested Califf should resign if the agency can’t swiftly remove the products.
President Joe Biden tapped Califf for the FDA job largely because of his prior experience at the agency, which he briefly led during the Obama administration. A cardiologist and respected researcher, Califf planned to focus his time at FDA on fighting medical misinformation and streamlining the agency’s data systems.
But those efforts have been eclipsed by newer controversies, including political outrage over the formula shortage, which has forced the U.S. to airlift millions of containers of formula from Europe. Recently, the FDA said it would help foreign manufacturers stay on the U.S. market for the long term, in an effort to diversify the formula supply here.
Califf previously predicted the formula shortage could last until July. He said Tuesday that retail data show that supplies have improved due to increases in both U.S. production and imports.
“What you’re going to see is a gradual climbing out of the current situation as more and more formula becomes available,” Califf said.
In May, Califf testified before Congress about missteps that slowed the agency’s response to contamination problems at the Michigan formula plant. While many happened before Califf started on the job, he struggled to explain who was ultimately responsible for food safety within FDA’s bureaucracy.
FDA’s food program has a byzantine leadership structure in which there is a director for food and a separate deputy commissioner for “food policy and response.” The deputy commissioner has more of a safety focus, but has no direct authority over food center staff nor regional personnel who inspect plants.
“You have serious structural leadership issues,” Rep. Rosa DeLauro told Califf during the hearing.
DeLauro, a Connecticut Democrat, said Tuesday the FDA’s evaluation must contain input from non-FDA experts and interest groups to be credible.
“A report that includes recommendations to preserve the status quo is unacceptable,” she said in an emailed statement.
Responding to multiple crises is a standard part of leading the FDA, which regulates industries that account for an estimated one-fifth of all U.S. consumer spending.
Despite the recent controversies, some experts say Califf has done a good job, considering the increasing polarization surrounding the issues and products FDA oversees.
“Leading the FDA is becoming as complicated as, maybe more complicated than, leading a cabinet-level executive department,” said Daniel Carpenter, a professor of government at Harvard University. “I think Califf has navigated a pretty politically fraught environment and he has done it with remarkable skill.”
___
Follow Matthew Perrone on Twitter: @AP_FDAwriter
___
The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Department of Science Education. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.wbrc.com/2022/07/19/fda-weighs-oversight-changes-after-formula-juul-troubles/ | 2022-07-19T23:03:18Z | https://www.wbrc.com/2022/07/19/fda-weighs-oversight-changes-after-formula-juul-troubles/ | false |
How to keep mosquitoes away
The warm summer months signal the return of one of the most despised pests –– the mosquito. While mosquito bites are undeniably annoying and even painful at times, these pesky insects can also transmit dangerous diseases to humans. That is why it is increasingly important to protect yourself and others from itchy bites.
Several effective methods can help prevent being swarmed by mosquitoes, whether you’re relaxing around your home or spending time outdoors during the morning and evening hours. From insect traps to netting to beneficial plants and flowers, a combination of these solutions can help lead to a bite-free summer.
What attracts mosquitoes?
While it may not be practical to completely avoid all of these scenarios, trying your best to reduce and minimize attractors can be highly beneficial.
Standing water
It has long been known that shallow standing water can be a breeding ground for mosquitoes, as their larvae need the water to grow and survive. Therefore, if your home has planters, birdbaths, gutters or any other places where stagnant water can collect, it is best to empty and clean them often to prevent mosquitoes from laying eggs and multiplying.
Tallgrass or bushes
Tallgrass, damp leaves or cool shrubs can attract mosquitoes during the heat of the day as they attempt to escape the hot sun. By keeping your yard or outdoor areas tidy, you can cut down on the number of mosquitoes attracted to your home.
Sweat and heat
Have you ever noticed that mosquitoes seem to be drawn to your skin after a run, hike or other forms of outdoor exercise? This is because the moisture from your sweat, the heat produced from your body and the buildup of lactic acid are major attractors for them. Avoid spending prolonged periods outdoors in the early morning or late evening if you want to minimize your interactions with mosquitoes.
Carbon dioxide
Every time we breathe, we release carbon dioxide into the air. When exercising or exerting ourselves, we tend to breathe heavier, releasing more carbon dioxide. Mosquitoes are drawn towards areas with increased CO2, which is why reducing strenuous activity during peak mosquito hours can help prevent bites.
Specific fragrances, food and drinks
People who wear floral-scented perfume and cologne, or even those who use scented soap and body wash, can actually attract mosquitoes. In addition, eating sweet or salty foods as well as drinking alcohol is associated with a potential increase in mosquito bites. However, some foods, such as garlic and onion, have been shown to help repel mosquitoes.
Clothing color
Whenever possible, wear light-colored clothing as it is less likely to attract these pests. Darker and bolder colors allow them to more easily see your shape, letting them zero in on their next meal.
While thinking of getting rid of mosquitoes in the easiest and fastest way possible, check out the mosquito killers buying guide from BestReviews.
Top 10 ways to avoid mosquito bites
Use a fan
A reliable way to repel mosquitoes when trying to spend a relaxing evening outdoors is to create a breeze. By using an outdoor fan, like this oscillating tower fan, you can not only keep yourself cool but also create enough airflow to keep the bugs at bay. The weather-resistant design also makes it safe to use in a variety of conditions.
Sold by Amazon
Buy a bug zapper
Bug zappers may not be the most aesthetically appealing option for a patio, porch or yard, but they can get the job done. This electric zapper is a budget-friendly option with a powerful 4,200-volt electric grid, offering plenty of outdoor protection.
Sold by Amazon
Set up insect traps
Though similar to bug zappers, insect traps are significantly quieter, using a UV light and fan to trap mosquitoes inside. This insect trap has an impressive ½-acre coverage zone to silently and effortlessly rid the area of mosquitoes and other biting insects. The removable cage makes for easy cleanup and won’t leave the ground littered with dead bugs.
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Change your lighting
BlueX Yellow LED Bug Light Bulbs
Outdoor lighting matters when it comes to repelling insects. Studies have shown that mosquitoes are less likely to be attracted to LED lighting, especially ones with a yellow glow. However, this two-pack of yellow-light bulbs can turn your outdoor area from a bug magnet into a mosquito-free zone.
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Burn a citronella candle
Citronella candles aren’t necessarily the most foolproof mosquito repellent option, but they can definitely be effective, especially when used alongside other prevention methods. This insect repellent candle has a 40-hour burn time and can be used on a deck, patio or while sitting around a campsite.
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Wear a mosquito net
Ben’s Head Net for Insect Protection
Wearing a mosquito net isn’t the most fashionable option, but it can keep you well protected. While mosquito nets may not be needed at home or around your neighborhood, when camping or hiking in mosquito-infested woods, they can be a lifesaver. This Ben’s model uses fine mesh to keep bugs out without reducing your visibility.
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Plant certain flowers
Gaea’s Blessing Seeds – English Lavender Seeds
Some flowers may indeed attract mosquitoes, but others do a good job at keeping them far away. Consider planting flowers such as lavender or marigolds, which have distinct scents and oils unfavorable to mosquitoes. Other common mosquito repellent plants include lemon balm, citronella grass, catnip, rosemary and more.
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Utilize mosquito dunks
Not everyone has heard of mosquito dunks, but those living near areas of standing water may want to look into this convenient solution. Mosquito dunks are designed to be placed directly in water in order to kill mosquito larvae before they reach the adult stage. Safe for use around fish and other aquatic life, these small circular repellents are unique and effective.
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Grab the bug spray
Sawyer Products Picaridin 20 Percent Insect Repellent
When all else fails, sometimes the best solution is to simply apply some bug spray. This fragrance-free topical insect repellent with 20 percent Picaridin is a great and effective alternative to sprays containing DEET. Though, for those times when nothing seems to be working against the most voracious biters, this Ben’s 100 maximum formula spray can do the trick.
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Prevent the itch
Even when we do our best to prevent bites, there are bound to be the occasional mosquitoes that just can’t be deterred. In the event that you get bit, After Bite Itch Eraser can reduce and soothe the annoying, painful and bothersome side effects.
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Matthew Young writes for BestReviews. BestReviews has helped millions of consumers simplify their purchasing decisions, saving them time and money.
Copyright 2022 BestReviews, a Nexstar company. All rights reserved. | https://wgntv.com/reviews/br/camping-outdoors-br/gear-br/how-to-prevent-mosquito-bites-with-these-10-unique-solutions/ | 2022-07-19T23:03:27Z | https://wgntv.com/reviews/br/camping-outdoors-br/gear-br/how-to-prevent-mosquito-bites-with-these-10-unique-solutions/ | true |
Nominee: Chitra Balasubramanian
Chief Financial Officer
CircleCI
With more than 20 years’ experience accelerating business growth through data analysis, Chitra Balasubramanian is best known for scaling technology start-ups. As one of two females on the C-suite at CircleCI, her decisionmaking skills and poised, resilient leadership style have led the company through major wins to establish itself as a leader in its space. CircleCI specializes in CI/CD (continuous integration and continuous deployment), which is critical to software delivery, yet an extremely obtuse and complex subject matter. Despite that challenge, Balasubramanian has it covered. She served as a critical component in investor relations and fundraising alongside CircleCI’s CEO and has led the company through multiple rounds of financing, raising more than $215 million throughout her tenure.
Over the past couple of years, Balasubramanian has had a significant impact on the business, including leading the company through multiple $100 million funding rounds, bringing the company’s valuation to $1.7 billion. | https://www.latimes.com/b2b/c-suite-2022/nominee-chitra-balasubramanian | 2022-07-19T23:03:33Z | https://www.latimes.com/b2b/c-suite-2022/nominee-chitra-balasubramanian | true |
Why outdoor water fountains enhance your backyard
An outdoor water fountain may be pleasant to look at, but that is not the only reason you should consider purchasing one. It can also benefit your emotional and physical health and provide easy access to life-sustaining water for nature’s most important creatures, such as bees. To help you choose a fountain, here’s some information about different types and their features.
Benefits of outdoor water fountains
Aesthetically, an outdoor water fountain is a backyard upgrade. But it is also so much more. Here are just a few benefits that are associated with these items.
Outdoor fountains are easy to install
Since fountains are often displays of opulence, you might think they require complex plumbing and an electrical engineering degree to install. With most modern options, however, this is not the case. All you need to do is add water and plug the fountain into an outdoor outlet. Additionally, installation will probably take less time than unboxing. Some outdoor fountains are solar powered, so you don’t even need an outlet to make them work.
Adds a focal point to your environment
The key to making any space work is to have a focal point. A focal point adds purpose and cohesion to any design or decor. Not only does a backyard fountain look beautiful, but since the water is constantly trickling, it creates interest. It makes the fountain a natural focal point that enhances your backyard’s aesthetics.
Creates a pleasant background sound
Many people find the constant trickling sound of flowing water to be pleasant. It can be used to meditate or to help redirect your focus from less pleasant sounds. These beneficial effects will vary by individual and are dependent on other factors, such as time. But once installed, the tool is there whenever you want to take advantage of it.
Attracts and sustains wildlife
Animals need water to survive. Running water is safer to drink than still water. Animals know this instinctively. Plus, running water is audible, which makes it easier for animals to find. If you add an outdoor fountain to your yard, you will attract a variety of thirsty animals. This will give you ample opportunity to observe and enjoy the wildlife that inhabits your neighborhood.
Outdoor water fountain considerations
Before purchasing an outdoor water fountain, there are two things to ask yourself.
How cold do your winters get?
Most outdoor water fountains are seasonal — you should only use them when the weather is above freezing. If the water freezes in the fountain, it will expand and crack it, making the fountain unusable next season. If you want a year-round model, it needs to have a built-in heater that will keep the water from freezing, no matter how cold the temperatures get.
How will you power the fountain?
Since they use a reservoir and a pump that circulates the same water round and round, the majority of outdoor fountains only need to be plugged in to operate (no plumbing is required). This means you must position the fountain near a power source because it is not safe to use an extension cord permanently. Alternatively, if your yard gets ample direct sunlight throughout the day, you could try a solar-powered water fountain.
Best outdoor water fountains
Alpine Corporation Rain Forest Waterfall Fountain
This easy-to-install option has a natural stacked wood look. The constantly trickling water mimics the sounds of a flowing stream. It’s weather-resistant and has an interior pump for durability. Sold by Home Depot
Alpine Corporation Four-Tier Rock Water Fountain
The three LED lights in this fountain give it a beautiful glow as the water cascades down four tiers of artificial rocks. The four-gallon reservoir means this fountain can run for days without refilling. Sold by Home Depot
Sunnydaze Curved Plinth Outdoor Water Fountain
The classic design of this outdoor water fountain will add a touch of elegance to any backyard. It has a wide and heavy base to prevent tipping, while the polyresin and fiberglass materials provide durability. Sold by Amazon
John Timberland Modern Sphere Curve Outdoor Water Fountain
If you are looking for a more modern piece, this outdoor water fountain will fit your needs. It is ideal for a patio, holds up to six gallons of water and features LED lights for a dynamic appearance. Sold by Amazon
Naturefalls Modern Outdoor Fountain
This fountain has beautiful curved lines that can add a pleasing aesthetic to any backyard decor. It has four crocks and an adjustable water speed so you can customize its operation. Sold by Amazon
Tub Indoor/Outdoor Water Fountain
The unique design of this rustic, metal tub fountain can enhance the aesthetics of your farmhouse decor. It’s designed for either indoor or outdoor use and has a durable stainless steel finish. Sold by Kohl’s
Teamson Home Four-Tiered Bowls Stacked Stone Waterfall Fountain
There’s something magical about this four-tiered LED fountain. The glowing bowls of water nestled on the faux-stone shelves have a natural and intriguing look that inspires wonder and fascination. Sold by Amazon
Alpine Corporation Three-Tier Birdhouse Water Fountain
The two-in-one design of this outdoor fountain gives you both a scenic waterfall and a functioning birdhouse. It arrives ready to go, just plug it in and start enjoying the serenity. Sold by Amazon
This popular water fountain features a little angel holding a leaking bucket over a rock pool. The vintage aesthetics make it an elegant focal point for your backyard or patio. It features six LED lights, so you can enjoy the fountain during both the day and night. Sold by Amazon, Kohl’s and Staples
Simrah Ceramic Solar Water Fountain
If you just want a small fountain that can be placed anywhere there is sunlight for easy installation, this is the model to get. It is an eco-friendly outdoor model that features a ceramic koi and a pump that runs off of solar energy. Sold by Amazon and Wayfair
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Copyright 2022 BestReviews, a Nexstar company. All rights reserved. | https://wgntv.com/reviews/br/home-br/decor-br/10-outdoor-water-fountains-to-bring-more-calm-to-your-backyard/ | 2022-07-19T23:04:47Z | https://wgntv.com/reviews/br/home-br/decor-br/10-outdoor-water-fountains-to-bring-more-calm-to-your-backyard/ | true |
FOXBURG, Pa. (WHTM) – When you think of golf in the United States, places like Augusta National and Pebble Beach usually come to mind. In Clarion County, there is a golf course with a connection to the home of golf, Scotland.
Along the banks of the Allegheny River, the small borough of Foxburg was an oil and gas town back in the 1800s. In 1874 Joseph Mickel Fox, the grandson of the borough’s founder, traveled to England for a series of cricket matches.
During the trip, Fox visited The Old Course at St Andrew’s and befriended Scottish golfer Old Tom Morris, one of the game’s greatest pioneers who designed clubs, golf balls, and courses, and also helped create The Open.
Morris made Fox a set of clubs that he brought back to Pennsylvania and in 1884 Fox had an eight-hole golf course at his estate. In 1887 he started to build a course designed after Saint Andrews that is now known as Foxburg Country Club.
In those days the game was limited to the wealthy who played in suits and dresses, but a lot has changed in 135 years. Now, the nine hole Foxburg Country Club, the oldest in the United States, is open to the public.
With some of the tiniest greens probably in the country, it’s only 3400 yards for the nine holes. There are two sets of tees so you play it twice and you get your 18 holes.
“It has some unique features of the mounds in front of number seven,” said Ron Foust, a member of Foxburg Country Club, “and they have the big sand traps on a couple of the holes.”
Tom Johnson came from Ohio to play the course using old fashion clubs with sheepskin grips and no lines on the club face.
“It’s absolutely the proper place to use them it’s one of the few places in this country that was available for that type of equipment pre-1900 equipment.”
Inside the clubhouse in the American Golf Hall of Fame with a variety of golf balls and clubs that were made by Old Tom Morris.
“This is where golf in the United States began, so it’s very historical,” said member Dick Leavy. “When you think of that fact this is where it started.” | https://www.binghamtonhomepage.com/news/destination-pa-foxburg-country-club-nations-oldest-golf-course/ | 2022-07-19T23:05:14Z | https://www.binghamtonhomepage.com/news/destination-pa-foxburg-country-club-nations-oldest-golf-course/ | true |
Updated July 19, 2022 at 5:47 PM ET
The Biden administration is trying to decide whether to make a second COVID-19 booster more widely available to protect more people against the latest surge driving up infections and hospitalizations this summer.
Anyone age 50 and older — and anyone 12 and older with a weak immune system — has been eligible for a second booster since March. But most people younger than 50 couldn't get one. That could now change. NPR learned that federal officials are currently debating the move.
Proponents of expanding booster eligibility say the nation urgently needs to boost as many people as possible because of the threat posed by the most contagious version of the coronavirus to emerge yet, known as BA.5.
Skeptics doubt another booster of the same vaccine will provide much added protection to most people. Some also worry another shot could backfire, by training the immune system to only fight the original strain of the virus. There's also concern getting another booster now may interfere with efforts to roll out the next generation of boosters that target omicron in the fall. For most people younger than 50,the protection they got from their first three shots has been wearing off. In fact, a new study released Tuesday indicates the antibody response fades substantially within three months. So with infections surging again amid widespread transmission of the BA.5 variant, federal officials have been debating whether to open up eligibility to protect more people through the summer.
"What else can we do to reduce the likelihood of serious illness?" asks Michael Osterholm, a University of Minnesota epidemiologist who has been urging federal officials to loosen booster eligibility. "Boosters are, I think, the obvious answer."
Some other infectious disease experts agree.
"There is as much COVID around now as almost at any time. People are no longer being as careful as they were. We know that immunity wanes over time. We have a variant that is capable of evading immune system. We have good evidence that a second booster lowers the probability of a severe case," says Dr. Robert Wachter at the University of California, San Francisco. Wachter thinks the government should offer second boosters to all adults. Others think boosters should just be offered only to those at high risk. "I don't think it would make much sense for a perfectly healthy 25-year-old person to necessarily get a boost now," says Dr. Anthony Fauci, the White House chief medical adviser. "There's a difference between a perfectly healthy 25-year-old person and a 43-year-old with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease."
But other infectious disease experts argue there really isn't good evidence that a second booster would enhance protection much for most otherwise health people. And, they argue, three shots are still protecting most people from getting severely ill and dying.
"The goal of this vaccine is to protect against serious illness. If we're going to try to protect again mild illness for years then we're going to have boost a couple times a year and that doesn't make sense from a public health standpoint," says Dr. Paul Offit, who heads the Vaccine Education Center at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.
And there is concern that if people get the same shot too many times it could be counter-productive — by kind of training their immune systems to only try to fight off the original strain instead of protecting against new variants. Although this remains a theoretical risk, some say the evidence that it might be real is growing.
"There's this phenomenon of imprinting also known as original antigenic sin where if you continue to give doses of the same vaccine you could in a sense trap the immune system of wanting to respond to the original virus and not adapting as well to future variants," says Dr. Céline Gounder, an infectious disease specialist and a fellow at Kaiser Health News.
A final concern concerns public messaging: Giving people another booster now may confuse things in the fall when the government plans to roll out the next generation of vaccines. Those will likely be bivalent vaccines, meaning that have been updated to target omicron along with the original strain of the virus. The idea is to try to protect people against what could be another bad winter surge.
And if people get boosted now, in mid summer, there may not be enough time in between the shots — since people may have to wait months in between boosters for them to work. (There's disagreement about this and no good evidence for what is the optimal interval.) "The spacing between boosters is important," says John Moore, an immunologist at Weill Cornell Medicine. "One reason is that the response to a vaccine dose is impaired when the level of antibody in the blood is too high."
Some also argue the country should focus vaccination outreach efforts on getting more people to get their first shots and first boosters. One-third of adults remain unvaccinated and only half of those who have gotten vaccinated have gotten their first booster.
Copyright 2022 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org. | https://www.wksu.org/npr-news/npr-news/2022-07-19/u-s-debates-a-summer-booster-for-people-under-50 | 2022-07-19T23:06:27Z | https://www.wksu.org/npr-news/npr-news/2022-07-19/u-s-debates-a-summer-booster-for-people-under-50 | false |
MENOMONEE FALLS, Wis. (WFRV) – Police are trying to identify a man who attempted to break a glass display in a southern Wisconsin jewelry store last month.
The Menomonee Falls Police Department reports the man tried breaking the glass with a brick at a Kay Jewelers in early June.
In video released by the police department, the man can be seen throwing the brick at the case nine times. The brick repeatedly cracks the glass and bounces off, but doesn’t break through until his final attempt. By then, a store employee can be seen walking toward the man.
The man then turns, kicks open the door, and runs out of the jewelry store. The employee then chases the man out of the store with some sort of store fixture and momentarily follows his car through the parking lot.
Police are still searching for the man. As the video shows, the man was wearing a red T-shirt, a black baseball hat, tan cargo shorts, and red/white Jordan shoes. He is described as being between 5’07”- 6′ tall, medium build with tattoos on his right arm/forearm, and a beard.
Images courtesy Menomonee Falls Police
The video shows the man got into a tan, 2013-2015 Chevrolet Malibu that didn’t have registration on it. | https://www.pahomepage.com/uncategorized/video-man-tries-repeatedly-to-smash-wisconsin-jewelry-store-case-with-brick/ | 2022-07-19T23:07:45Z | https://www.pahomepage.com/uncategorized/video-man-tries-repeatedly-to-smash-wisconsin-jewelry-store-case-with-brick/ | false |
Boulder County is in the early stages of determining how to spend money it is being awarded from a number of opioid litigation settlements.
The county, otherwise known as Region 6, is set to receive about $13 million in opioid settlement funds over 18 years, with about $1.8 million — the largest allocation — coming in the first year.
Colorado’s proceeds from the settlements include $300 million from Johnson & Johnson and three major drug distributors; at least $50 million from Purdue Pharma and the Sacklers; $25 million from Mallinckrodt; and $10 million from McKinsey & Company. Some of those funds will remain with the state, and some are being dispersed to regions such as Boulder County.
Municipalities in Boulder County have until the end of July to determine whether or not they’d like to pool resources as part of the Boulder County Regional Opioid Council, which will guide the strategic ways in which the county’s portion of the money is spent through collaboration between the Boulder County government and local municipalities.
Thus far, it appears that most municipalities are interested in working together as part of the joint regional council, according to Jim Adams-Berger, strategic initiatives division manager for Boulder County Community Services.
Boulder City Council, for example, last week agreed that the city should sign on to an intergovernmental agreement that forms the council and directs its work moving forward.
For Boulder, it made sense to work alongside the county since the county has the staff and the infrastructure equipped to address substance use disorders, Deputy Director of Housing and Human Services Elizabeth Crowe said. The city does not have a public health department and instead works alongside Boulder County Public Health.
Further, the county and its municipalities are facing similar challenges.
“These issues really are regional,” Crowe said. “It’s not as if the city of Boulder’s challenges are completely different from the county.”
Because of the way in which the money is flowing in, with federal funds going to the state going to various regions, official decisions must be made by government officials.
Boulder County Administrator Jana Petersen will represent the county on the regional council, for example, while City Manager Nuria Rivera-Vandermyde will represent Boulder and City Manager Harold Dominguez will represent Longmont.
However, the intergovernmental agreement between the council members also acknowledges the importance of those with direct experience with substance use disorders.
For that reason, the agreement stipulates that the county will seat an opioid operations board that includes people with lived experience as well as behavioral health providers, health care providers, recovery and treatment experts. The board has largely been seated with members sourced from the county’s previously established Substance Use Advisory Group.
The advisory board, which has been meeting since May, will make project recommendations for the funding.
The memorandum of understanding with the Colorado Attorney General’s Office stipulates a number of ways in which the money can be spent, separated into categories such as treatment and prevention, each of which has a number of subcategories related to criminal justice, intervention and more.
Once all members of the council are official later this month, the group will then work to come up with recommendations organized within the two-year plan required by the state.
Given the tight timeline — the first iteration of the plan must be submitted this year — Boulder County is considering the funding in two separate stages.
The initial plan will outline projects that can begin immediately as well as existing programs worthy of further investment.
Moving forward, however, the regional council will consider more long-term projects.
“The second phase, when we have a little bit more breathing room, is to go into … more of a deeper planning process so that we’re actually building something more strategic,” Adams-Berger said.
Once the two-year plan is submitted in the fall, there will be an amendment period the following spring, where the initial plan can be revised.
“The global goal is to really build out the infrastructure and the care continuum — everything from harm reduction to treatment and recovery — where we have already identified known gaps,” Kelly Veit, strategic implementation manager for Boulder County Community Services, said.
Ahead of the amendment period, the regional council will spend the additional months analyzing data and collecting anecdotal evidence in order to determine the best path forward to address the gaps identified, Veit noted.
While Veit acknowledged she is not a subject matter expert, she said treatment and recovery is a known gap in Boulder County.
“We know that treatment resources are just not at the point where supply is meeting demand,” she said. | https://www.dailycamera.com/2022/07/19/boulder-county-regional-opioid-council-to-guide-use-of-opioid-settlement-funds/ | 2022-07-19T23:09:30Z | https://www.dailycamera.com/2022/07/19/boulder-county-regional-opioid-council-to-guide-use-of-opioid-settlement-funds/ | true |
WASHINGTON — The U.S. House overwhelmingly approved legislation Tuesday to protect same-sex and interracial marriages amid concerns that the Supreme Court ruling overturning Roe v. Wade abortion access could jeopardize other rights criticized by many conservative Americans.
In a robust but lopsided debate, Democrats argued intensely in favor of enshrining marriage equality in federal law, while Republicans steered clear of openly rejecting gay marriage. Instead leading Republicans portrayed the bill as unnecessary amid other issues facing the nation.
Tuesday's election-year roll call, 267-157, was partly political strategy, forcing all House members, Republicans and Democrats, to go on the record with their views. It also reflected the legislative branch pushing back against an aggressive court that has sparked fears it may revisit apparently settled U.S. laws.
“For me, this is personal,” said Rep. Mondaire Jones, D-N.Y., who said he was among the openly gay members of the House.
“Imagine telling the next generation of Americans, my generation, we no longer have the right to marry,” he said. “Congress can't allow that to happen.”
Wary of political fallout, GOP leaders did not direct their lawmakers to hold the party line against the bill, aides said. Dozens of Republicans joined Democrats in voting for passage.
The Respect for Marriage Act is almost certain to stall in the evenly split Senate, where most Republicans would likely join a filibuster to block it. It's one of several bills, including those enshrining abortion access, that Democrats are proposing to confront the court's conservative majority. Another bill, guaranteeing access to contraceptive services, is set for a vote later this week.
The Biden administration issued a statement of support for the marriage bill.
Polling shows a majority of Americans favor preserving rights to marry whom one wishes, regardless of the person's sex, gender, race or ethnicity, a long-building shift in modern mores toward inclusion.
A Gallup poll in June showed broad and increasing support for same-sex marriage, with 70% of U.S. adults saying they think such unions should be recognized by law as valid. The poll showed majority support among both Democrats (83%) and Republicans (55%).
Approval of interracial marriage in the U.S. hit a six-decade high at 94% in September, according to Gallup.
“The extremist right-wing majority on the Supreme Court has put our country down a perilous path,” said Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon, D-Pa., in a floor speech setting Tuesday’s process in motion.
“It’s time for our colleagues across the aisle to stand up and be counted. Will they vote to protect these fundamental freedoms? Or will they vote to let states take those freedoms away?”
But Republicans insisted Tuesday that the court was only focused on abortion access in June when it struck down the nearly 50-year-old Roe v. Wade ruling, and they argued that same-sex marriage and other rights were not threatened.
In fact, of all the Republicans who rose to speak during the morning debate, almost none directly broached the subject of same-sex or interracial marriage.
"We are here for a political charade, we are here for political messaging,” said Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio, the top Republican on the Judiciary Committee.
As several Democrats spoke of inequalities they said that they or their loved ones had faced in same-sex marriages, the Republicans talked about rising gas prices, inflation and crime, including recent threats to justices in connection with the abortion ruling.
Even as it passed the House with Republican votes, the outcome in the Senate is uncertain.
“I’m probably not inclined to support it,” said Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo. “The predicate of this is just wrong. I don’t think the Supreme Court is going to overturn any of that stuff.”
For Republicans in Congress the Trump-era confirmation of conservative justices to the Supreme Court fulfilled a long-term GOP goal of revisiting many social, environmental and regulatory issues the party has been unable to tackle on its own by passing bills that could be signed into law.
But in a notable silence, Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell declined to express his view on the bill, leaving an open question over how strongly his party would fight it, if it even comes up for a vote in the upper chamber.
“I don’t see anything behind this right now other than, you know, election year politics,” said the GOP whip, Sen. John Thune of South Dakota.
The Respect for Marriage Act would repeal a law from the Clinton era that defines marriage as a heterogeneous relationship between a man and a woman. It would also provide legal protections for interracial marriages by prohibiting any state from denying out-of-state marriage licenses and benefits on the basis of sex, race, ethnicity or national origin.
The 1996 law, the Defense of Marriage Act, had basically been sidelined by Obama-era court rulings, including Obergefell v. Hodges, which established the rights of same-sex couples to marry nationwide, a landmark case for gay rights.
But last month, writing for the majority in overturning Roe v. Wade, Justice Samuel Alito argued for a more narrow interpretation of the rights guaranteed to Americans, noting that the right to an abortion was not spelled out in the Constitution.
In a concurring opinion, Justice Clarence Thomas went further, saying other rulings similar to Roe, including those around same-sex marriage and the right for couples to use contraception, should be reconsidered.
While Alito insisted in the majority opinion that “this decision concerns the constitutional right to abortion and no other right,” others have taken notice.
“The MAGA radicals that are taking over the Republican Party have made it abundantly clear they are not satisfied with repealing Roe,” said Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., referring to Trump's backers.
He pointed to comments from Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, who said over the weekend that the Supreme Court’s decision protecting marriage equality was “clearly wrong” and state legislatures should visit the issue.
But Schumer did not commit to holding a vote on the bill.
Jim Obergefell, the plaintiff in the landmark ruling legalizing same-sex marriage and now running as a Democrat for the Ohio House, said after the court's ruling on abortion, "When we lose one right that we have relied on and enjoyed, other rights are at risk.” | https://www.5newsonline.com/article/news/nation-world/house-passes-same-sex-marriage-bill/507-9fa52c48-9937-46d5-90a8-6bd63c101792 | 2022-07-19T23:09:30Z | https://www.5newsonline.com/article/news/nation-world/house-passes-same-sex-marriage-bill/507-9fa52c48-9937-46d5-90a8-6bd63c101792 | true |
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The MLB All-Star festivities conclude with the All-Star Game on Tuesday night, and all teams will be back in action by Friday. There are a variety of baseball clubs that should compete for the World Series this Fall, but our experts think there are three squads ahead of the pack. Let’s dive into the odds at FanDuel Sportsbook for each MLB team to win the World Series this season, and explain why we think the New York Yankees, New York Mets and San Diego Padres’ odds to win it all may be worth a wager.
FanDuel Sportsbook will let you make a no sweat first bet on any of our experts’ World Series predictions above! Click here to risk up to $1,000 on the Yankees, Mets or Padres to win it all.
Current World Series odds for every MLB team at FanDuel Sportsbook
A few teams are leading the pack for the odds to win this year’s World Series, and the New York Yankees are +300 favorites at FanDuel Sportsbook. An entire list with every team’s odds to win the 2022 World Series at FanDuel can be found below:
- New York Yankees (+300)
- Los Angeles Dodgers (+350)
- Houston Astros (+450)
- New York Mets (+700)
- Atlanta Braves (+900)
- Toronto Blue Jays (+2000)
- Milwaukee Brewers (+2500)
- San Diego Padres (+3000)
- Tampa Bay Rays (+3500)
- Chicago White Sox (+4500)
- Minnesota Twins (+5000)
- Boston Red Sox (+5000)
- San Francisco Giants (+6000)
- Cleveland Guardians (+10000)
- Baltimore Orioles (+30000)
- Miami Marlins (+40000)
- Los Angeles Angels (+50000)
- Texas Rangers (+100000)
The Oakland Athletics, Cincinnati Reds, Chicago Cubs, Kansas City Royals, Pittsburgh Pirates, Arizona Diamondbacks, Detroit Tigers, Colorado Rockies and Washington Nationals round out the bottom of the MLB, and they all share +500000 odds to win this year’s World Series.
A $10 bet on the Yankees profits $30 if they win their first World Series since 2009, while a $10 stake on San Diego returns $300 of winnings if the Padres can get hot in the second half of the season. We’ll break down our experts’ three best bets and why it’s worth betting on the Yankees, Mets and Padres to win it all this Fall.
2022 World Series favorites and best bet: New York Yankees (+300 at FanDuel Sportsbook)
This is the best Yankees team assembled in quite some time, and they are the rightful favorites to win the World Series heading into the second half of the season. Aaron Judge leads a lineup that scores 5.40 runs per game, and he posted a ridiculous 0.982 OPS and 33 home runs before the All-Star break. Since Judge and fellow slugger Giancarlo Stanton have missed time in the first half of the season, we only expect New York’s lineup to improve as we approach the postseason.
New York has historically come up short in recent years for a World Series because of their lack of contact hitters and an unreliable bullpen. These issues haven’t continued in 2022 as the Yankees are 1st in OPS and slugging percentage and 2nd in OBP through the All-Star break. Additionally, their bullpen carries the 2nd best ERA in baseball, while their starting rotation has the 3rd best in the MLB. It finally feels like the Yankees have all the pieces to win the World Series, and we have them as our first best bet to win it all at +300 odds with FanDuel Sportsbook.
World Series dark horse: New York Mets (+700 at PointsBet Sportsbook)
Although we predict the Yankees are the best team to bet on in the American League, there are two National League teams worth wagering on. The New York Mets would be the perfect suitor to take on the Yankees in the World Series, and although the Dodgers have shorter odds than New York, we believe the Mets have the pieces to make a postseason push.
Do you think the Mets can win the 2022 World Series? Make up to a $500 risk-free wager with promo code RFPICKS14 on our experts’ best bet PointsBet Sportsbook today!
New York has a higher RPI than Los Angeles this season and posts the fourth-best run differential in the MLB. Additionally, they’re 28-12 in a competitive National League East that includes the Atlanta Braves and Philadelphia Phillies and will only get stronger as the season progresses. Cy Young winner Jacob deGrom will return near the end of the month, which may turn the Mets into the best rotation in baseball. A combination of deGrom and Max Scherzer will be tough to take down in the postseason, and their hitters will not make it easy either, as they carry the 3rd lowest strikeout rate in baseball (20.0%).
Although the Mets have 7-1 odds to win the World Series, we believe these odds present great value and will back them as our dark horse.
World Series longshot: San Diego Padres (+3000 at FanDuel Sportsbook)
Our third and final World Series prediction is a long shot, and we believe the San Diego Padres have the pieces to surprise teams in October. The Padres suffered multiple injuries this season, and star SS Fernando Tatis will finally return in August. Fans shouldn’t forget how much he means to this lineup, and in addition to getting Tatis back, San Diego is rumored to be in trade talks for Washington’s Juan Soto. Soto won the Home Run Derby on Monday night, and his bat would immediately add a new dimension to their lineup.
The Padres’ pitching staff struggled in the second half of last season, but they are in a much better position this year. Joe Musgrove has been one of the best pitchers in baseball, and a rotation of Musgrove, Yu Darvish, Mike Clevinger and Blake Snell is good enough to make a postseason run. Finally, the Padres have been fantastic in close contests this season and are 17-9 in one-run games and 9-3 in extra innings. Both of these factors will be instrumental to postseason success, and every game could come down to one run in the playoffs. A combination of a healthy pitching staff, the return of Tatis and the possibility of landing Soto from Washington all factor into our longshot prediction of the San Diego Padres winning the 2022 World Series.
How to bet on MLB Futures odds and where you can bet on the World Series winner online
If you want to bet on the New York Yankees, New York Mets or San Diego Padres to win the 2022 World Series, click this link to register a new account at FanDuel Sportsbook. You can make a no sweat bet on any of our experts’ predictions up to $1,000, and if it loses, FanDuel will refund you in free plays.
If you want to place a $1,000 no sweat bet on any of our experts’ World Series predictions, click here to register a new account at FanDuel Sportsbook!
If you or a loved one has questions or needs to talk to a professional about gambling, call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit 1800gambler.net for more information.
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DraftKings MLB promo code: Residents in MI, CO, IN and more can unlock $200 in free MLB bets | https://www.mlive.com/betting/2022/07/2022-world-series-favorites-odds-like-the-yankees-but-our-experts-like-a-3000-longshot.html | 2022-07-19T23:16:27Z | https://www.mlive.com/betting/2022/07/2022-world-series-favorites-odds-like-the-yankees-but-our-experts-like-a-3000-longshot.html | true |
(The Hill) – The House passed a bill on Tuesday to protect marriage equality, a direct response to an opinion from Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas last month that called for reversing multiple decisions that enshrined LGBTQ rights.
The legislation, titled the Respect for Marriage Act, passed in a 267-157 vote, with 47 Republicans joining all Democrats present in supporting the measure. Seven Republicans did not vote.
The measure, which faces a shaky future in the 50-50 Senate, calls for the repeal of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), a bill former President Clinton signed into law in 1996 that recognized marriage as “only a legal union between one man and one woman as husband and wife.” The measure referred to the word spouse as “a person of the opposite sex who is a husband or a wife.”
DOMA had passed through both chambers of Congress with bipartisan support.
If passed by the Senate and signed into law, the Respect for Marriage Act would also require that individuals are considered married if they were wed in a state where marriage was legal. The provision, according to the House Judiciary Committee, ensures that same-sex and interracial couples are treated equally to other married individuals on the federal level.
Additionally, the bill gives the attorney general authority to launch civil action against any individuals who violate it and allows any individuals to take civil action if their rights as laid out in the bill are breached.
House passage of the bill comes less than one month after the Supreme Court issued a ruling overturning Roe v. Wade, the 1973 landmark case that protected access to abortion as a constitutional right.
Thomas penned a concurring opinion to the decision that called on the court to reconsider all substantive due process precedents established by the bench, including Lawrence v. Texas, the 2003 case that barred states from outlawing consensual gay sex, and Obergefell v. Hodges, the 2015 ruling that made same-sex marriage a constitutional right.
In the majority opinion, however, Justice Samuel Alito said that by striking down Roe, the bench was not calling for reversing other rulings.
House Democrats introduced the Respect for Marriage Act and brought it to the floor for a vote as a preemptive step to protect LGBTQ+ rights in case the court moves to chip away at the two cases in the future.
Last week, the House cleared two bills to protect access to abortion in the wake of the Supreme Court ruling. | https://www.wjhl.com/news/house-passes-bill-protecting-marriage-equality-with-47-gop-members-voting-yes/ | 2022-07-19T23:16:33Z | https://www.wjhl.com/news/house-passes-bill-protecting-marriage-equality-with-47-gop-members-voting-yes/ | true |
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Police took three people into custody Tuesday in the fatal shooting of a pastor and leader of the United Methodist Church during a carjacking in Memphis, Tennessee.
Eason-Williams was taken to a hospital, where she died, Memphis police said on Twitter. Police searched for three men who were in a four-door hatchback car.
At a news conference Tuesday, Memphis Police Director Cerelyn “CJ” Davis said three juveniles had been taken into custody as people of interest in what she called a “heinous killing.” Police were interviewing them, but it was not immediately clear if they would be charged.
The killing rocked the United Methodist Church community in Memphis. Church members attended a vigil for Eason-Williams on Monday night.
“We all are shocked and saddened by this senseless act,” the conference said in a statement.
Eason-Williams was a wife and the mother of four children, according to a biography posted on her website. She was superintendent of the conference’s Metro District.
She also was the pastor of Capleville United Methodist Church and a graduate of the Memphis Theological Seminary.
“Autura was a real light and a well of deep care,” seminary president Jody Hill said in a Facebook post.
Hill added that Eason-Williams would embrace people “with a warm smile, gentle hug, or encouraging word.”
Eason-Williams entered the ministry full-time in 1997 and has served under appointment in the United Methodist Church since 2002, according to her biography. She was commissioned Provisional Elder in 2003 and Ordained Elder in 2006, the biography said.
She led youth camps, retreats and women’s events, and she preached for local church, district, and conference events.
Eason-Williams also served on several boards and on planning committees that created My Sister’s Keeper — an outreach that addresses health disparities of African American women — and The Congregational Health Network — a network of 600 churches that address health disparities and build relationships between hospitals, the faith community, and neighborhoods, according to the biography. | https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/united-methodist-church-leader-killed-in-memphis-carjacking/2022/07/19/97974294-07b3-11ed-80b6-43f2bfcc6662_story.html | 2022-07-19T23:17:42Z | https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/united-methodist-church-leader-killed-in-memphis-carjacking/2022/07/19/97974294-07b3-11ed-80b6-43f2bfcc6662_story.html | true |
Updated July 19, 2022 at 6:27 PM ET
Reports that the Secret Service deleted text messages related to the Jan. 6, 2021 Capitol attack have caught the attention of the chief records officer of the U.S. Government.
That officer, Laurence Brewer, said in a letter to the Department of Homeland Security on Tuesday that the National Archives and Records Administration "has become aware of the potential unauthorized deletion of United States Secret Service (Secret Service) text messages" that were dated Jan. 5 and Jan. 6, 2021.
If the department determines any messages were improperly deleted, then Homeland Security must send the National Archives a report describing the messages as well as why they were deleted and how the agency attempted to salvage them, Brewer wrote.
The inspector general for the Department of Homeland Security, who is looking into the Capitol insurrection, has notified Congress that after requesting records of texts for the day before and the day after the attack he learned that "many of these texts were erased as part of a device-replacement program." That has raised serious questions of whether the Secret Service, which protects the president, has destroyed federal records or the Department of Homeland Security obstructed oversight.
Anthony Guglielmi, chief of communications for the Secret Service, has disputed the IG's account.
"The insinuation that the Secret Service maliciously deleted text messages following a request is false," Guglielmi said in a statement last week. "In fact, the Secret Service has been fully cooperating with the OIG in every respect – whether it be interviews, documents, emails, or texts."
On Tuesday, Guglielmi said the National Archives "will have our full cooperation in this review and we will complete the internal review of our information as directed and promptly respond to their inquiry."
Gugliemi also said the Secret Service has handed over thousands of pages of documents to the Jan. 6 committee in response to a subpoena the panel issued Friday. But it was not able to fully comply with it.
"We are exhausting all options," Guglielmi told NPR.
He said that while it is conducting a forensic analysis on devices with erased text messages, it is likely the agency will not be able to recover them.
"We are taking all feasible steps to identify records responsive to the subpoena, to include forensic examinations of agency phones and other investigative techniques," he said in a statement issued Tuesday.
Copyright 2022 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org. | https://www.wdiy.org/npr-news/npr-news/2022-07-19/the-national-archives-is-looking-into-reports-that-the-secret-service-deleted-texts | 2022-07-19T23:19:13Z | https://www.wdiy.org/npr-news/npr-news/2022-07-19/the-national-archives-is-looking-into-reports-that-the-secret-service-deleted-texts | true |
BARCELONA, Spain — Barcelona said Tuesday the fee to acquire striker Robert Lewandowski could reach 50 million euros ($50.2 million)
He is set to sign the contract on Wednesday in Miami, where Barcelona is starting its U.S. tour.
The final agreement comes three days after the clubs announced a preliminary deal for the striker who was voted FIFA player of the year in 2020 and 2021.
He arrives to boost a Barcelona team that did not win any titles last season following the departure of Argentina great Lionel Messi. The club has been slowly rebuilding its squad after enduring financial struggles in recent seasons.
Lewandowski said after joining his new teammates in Florida that he hopes “to put the team back at the top of European football.”
He passed his medical on Monday, a day after arriving in the United States for the team’s preseason tour. His official signing and presentation were originally scheduled for Monday but it was delayed without an official reason given by Barcelona.
Barcelona’s tour in the United States includes matches against Miami in Florida, Real Madrid in Las Vegas, Juventus in Dallas, and the New York Red Bulls in New Jersey.
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More AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports | https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/soccer/barcelonas-deal-for-lewandowski-could-surpass-50-million/2022/07/19/115f7394-07b4-11ed-80b6-43f2bfcc6662_story.html | 2022-07-19T23:19:15Z | https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/soccer/barcelonas-deal-for-lewandowski-could-surpass-50-million/2022/07/19/115f7394-07b4-11ed-80b6-43f2bfcc6662_story.html | true |
Updated July 19, 2022 at 6:58 PM ET
WASHINGTON — The U.S. House overwhelmingly approved legislation Tuesday to protect same-sex and interracial marriages amid concerns that the Supreme Court ruling overturning Roe v. Wade abortion access could jeopardize other rights criticized by many conservative Americans.
In a robust but lopsided debate, Democrats argued intensely in favor of enshrining marriage equality in federal law, while Republicans steered clear of openly rejecting gay marriage. Instead leading Republicans portrayed the bill as unnecessary amid other issues facing the nation.
Tuesday's election-year roll call, 267-157, was partly political strategy, forcing all House members, Republicans and Democrats, to go on the record with their views. It also reflected the legislative branch pushing back against an aggressive court that has sparked fears it may revisit apparently settled U.S. laws.
"For me, this is personal," said Rep. Mondaire Jones, D-N.Y., who said he was among the openly gay members of the House.
"Imagine telling the next generation of Americans, my generation, we no longer have the right to marry," he said. "Congress can't allow that to happen."
Wary of political fallout, GOP leaders did not direct their lawmakers to hold the party line against the bill, aides said. Dozens of Republicans joined Democrats in voting for passage.
While the Respect for Marriage Act is expected to pass the House, with a Democratic majority, it is almost certain to stall in the evenly split Senate, where most Republicans would likely join a filibuster to block it. It's one of several bills, including those enshrining abortion access, that Democrats are proposing to confront the court's conservative majority. Another bill, guaranteeing access to contraceptive services, is set for a vote later this week.
The Biden administration issued a statement of support for the marriage bill.
Polling shows a majority of Americans favor preserving rights to marry whom one wishes, regardless of the person's sex, gender, race or ethnicity, a long-building shift in modern mores toward inclusion.
A Gallup poll in June showed broad and increasing support for same-sex marriage, with 70% of U.S. adults saying they think such unions should be recognized by law as valid. The poll showed majority support among both Democrats (83%) and Republicans (55%).
Approval of interracial marriage in the U.S. hit a six-decade high at 94% in September, according to Gallup.
"The extremist right-wing majority on the Supreme Court has put our country down a perilous path," said Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon, D-Pa., in a floor speech setting Tuesday's process in motion.
"It's time for our colleagues across the aisle to stand up and be counted. Will they vote to protect these fundamental freedoms? Or will they vote to let states take those freedoms away?"
But Republicans insisted Tuesday that the court was only focused on abortion access in June when it struck down the nearly 50-year-old Roe v. Wade ruling, and they argued that same-sex marriage and other rights were not threatened.
In fact, of all the Republicans who rose to speak during the morning debate, almost none directly broached the subject of same-sex or interracial marriage.
"We are here for a political charade, we are here for political messaging," said Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio, the top Republican on the Judiciary Committee.
As several Democrats spoke of inequalities they said that they or their loved ones had faced in same-sex marriages, the Republicans talked about rising gas prices, inflation and crime, including recent threats to justices in connection with the abortion ruling.
Even as it passed the House with Republican votes, the outcome in the Senate is uncertain.
"I'm probably not inclined to support it," said Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo. "The predicate of this is just wrong. I don't think the Supreme Court is going to overturn any of that stuff."
For Republicans in Congress the Trump-era confirmation of conservative justices to the Supreme Court fulfilled a long-term GOP goal of revisiting many social, environmental and regulatory issues the party has been unable to tackle on its own by passing bills that could be signed into law.
But in a notable silence, Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell declined to express his view on the bill, leaving an open question over how strongly his party would fight it, if it even comes up for a vote in the upper chamber.
"I don't see anything behind this right now other than, you know, election year politics," said the GOP whip, Sen. John Thune of South Dakota.
The Respect for Marriage Act would repeal a law from the Clinton era that defines marriage as a heterogeneous relationship between a man and a woman. It would also provide legal protections for interracial marriages by prohibiting any state from denying out-of-state marriage licenses and benefits on the basis of sex, race, ethnicity or national origin.
The 1996 law, the Defense of Marriage Act, had basically been sidelined by Obama-era court rulings, including Obergefell v. Hodges, which established the rights of same-sex couples to marry nationwide, a landmark case for gay rights.
But last month, writing for the majority in overturning Roe v. Wade, Justice Samuel Alito argued for a more narrow interpretation of the rights guaranteed to Americans, noting that the right to an abortion was not spelled out in the Constitution.
In a concurring opinion, Justice Clarence Thomas went further, saying other rulings similar to Roe, including those around same-sex marriage and the right for couples to use contraception, should be reconsidered.
While Alito insisted in the majority opinion that "this decision concerns the constitutional right to abortion and no other right," others have taken notice.
"The MAGA radicals that are taking over the Republican Party have made it abundantly clear they are not satisfied with repealing Roe," said Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., referring to Trump's backers.
He pointed to comments from Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, who said over the weekend that the Supreme Court's decision protecting marriage equality was "clearly wrong" and state legislatures should visit the issue.
But Schumer did not commit to holding a vote on the bill.
Jim Obergefell, the plaintiff in the landmark ruling legalizing same-sex marriage and now running as a Democrat for the Ohio House, said after the court's ruling on abortion, "When we lose one right that we have relied on and enjoyed, other rights are at risk."
Copyright 2022 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org. | https://www.wlrn.org/news/2022-07-19/bill-to-protect-same-sex-and-interracial-marriage-passes-overwhelmingly-in-the-house | 2022-07-19T23:23:20Z | https://www.wlrn.org/news/2022-07-19/bill-to-protect-same-sex-and-interracial-marriage-passes-overwhelmingly-in-the-house | true |
What will your day look like in terms of health, romance, finance and fortune? Read everything here.
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Lucky numbers: 2 and 6
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ALSO READ| Horoscope Today, July 20, 2022: Cancer, Leo, Libra, Gemini, Virgo, Scorpio, Capricorn, Pisces, Sagittarius, Aries, Aquarius, Taurus | https://www.indiatoday.in/horoscopes/cancer/story/horoscopes-cancer-story-cancer-horoscope-today-daily-for-20-july-2022-think-big-and-strive-to-achieve-your-goals-1977557-2022-07-19-1977557-2022-07-20 | 2022-07-19T23:26:23Z | https://www.indiatoday.in/horoscopes/cancer/story/horoscopes-cancer-story-cancer-horoscope-today-daily-for-20-july-2022-think-big-and-strive-to-achieve-your-goals-1977557-2022-07-19-1977557-2022-07-20 | true |
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) _ Equity Bancshares Inc. (EQBK) on Tuesday reported second-quarter profit of $15.3 million.
The Wichita, Kansas-based bank said it had earnings of 94 cents per share. Earnings, adjusted for gains related to mergers and acquisitions, came to 91 cents per share.
The bank holding company posted revenue of $53.3 million in the period. Its revenue net of interest expense was $49.2 million, which topped Street forecasts.
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This story was generated by Automated Insights (http://automatedinsights.com/ap) using data from Zacks Investment Research. Access a Zacks stock report on EQBK at https://www.zacks.com/ap/EQBK | https://www.expressnews.com/business/article/Equity-Bancshares-Q2-Earnings-Snapshot-17315757.php | 2022-07-19T23:27:49Z | https://www.expressnews.com/business/article/Equity-Bancshares-Q2-Earnings-Snapshot-17315757.php | false |
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred defended the sport’s treatment of minor leaguers, prompting immediate criticism from the players’ advocacy group.
“I kind of reject the premise of the question that minor league players are not paid a living wage,” Manfred told the Baseball Writers’ Association of America before Tuesday’s All-Star Game.
“I think that we’ve made real strides in the last few years in terms of what minor league players are paid, even putting to one side the signing bonuses that many of them have already received. They receive housing, which obviously is another form of compensation.”
MLB raised minimum salaries in 2021, increasing Class A pay from $290 to $500 per week, Double-A from $350 to $600, and Triple-A from $502 to $700 over the roughly five-month season. Players are only paid in-season.
Amateur players residing in the United States and Canada who are selected in this week’s amateur draft have slot values for their signing bonuses, which clubs use as guidelines, ranging from $8.8 million for the first pick to just under $150,000 for the last selections of the 10th and final round. MLB says it spends about $450 million each year on signing bonuses for first-year players.
Last November, MLB announced it was requiring teams to provide furnished accommodations, with a single bed per player and no more than two players per bedroom. Teams are responsible for basic utility bills.
“Most minor league baseball players work second jobs because their annual salaries are insufficient to make ends meet,” Harry Marino, executive director of Advocates for Minor Leaguers, said in a statement responding to Manfred. “His suggestion that minor league pay is acceptable is both callous and false.”
Papers filed Friday in federal court revealed MLB agreed to pay $185 million to settle a lawsuit by minor leaguers. MLB agreed in the deal to rescind any prohibitions against teams paying wages to minor league players outside of the season.
An early estimate is that perhaps 23,000 players could share the money with an average payment of $5,000 to $5,500, with $55.5 million going to the players’ lawyers.
Leaders of the Senate Judiciary Committee have asked Manfred to explain by next Tuesday the impact of potential legislation stripping the sport’s antitrust exemption from covering the sport’s relationship with minor league players.
While players with major league contracts are unionized, players with minor league contracts are not. The Major League Baseball Players Association gave Advocates for Minor Leaguers $50,000 last November, according to a federal disclosure statement.
“It is exciting to see players recognizing and appreciating the power of their collective voice in effecting positive change in things that they live day to day,” union head Tony Clark, a former first baseman, told the BBWAA in a question-and-answer session prior to Manfred’s. “Harry Marino and the Advocates for Minor Leaguers have done a tremendous job in engaging and educating the the minor leaguers and helping them to find their voice. … We are watching. We are providing support when and where possible.”
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More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports | https://www.ksn.com/sports/ap-sports/manfred-rejects-that-minor-leaguers-not-paid-living-wage/ | 2022-07-19T23:28:55Z | https://www.ksn.com/sports/ap-sports/manfred-rejects-that-minor-leaguers-not-paid-living-wage/ | false |
Putin says Ukraine did not make good on preliminary peace deal
July 20 (Reuters) - Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday said Moscow did not see any desire from Ukraine to fulfil the terms of what he described as a preliminary peace deal agreed to in March.
Putin, speaking to reporters in televised comments after a visit to Iran, said Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates were offering to mediate between Russia and Ukraine, which Moscow's forces invaded in late February.
There was no immediate response from the Ukrainian government to Putin's remarks in the early hours of Wednesday.
Putin, asked about a possible meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, said Kyiv had not stuck to the terms of a preliminary peace deal he said had been "practically achieved" in March.
"The final result of course... depends on the willingness of the contracting parties to implement the agreements that were reached. Today we see the powers in Kyiv have no such desire."
Negotiations took place in March, with both sides making proposals but without a breakthrough. At the time, Zelenskiy said only a concrete result from the talks could be trusted.
Putin met Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in Tehran on Tuesday, deepening ties between the two countries who are both under Western sanctions.
During the visit to Iran, Putin also met Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan to discuss a deal that would resume Ukraine's Black Sea grain exports, now blockaded by Russia.
Russia was ready to facilitate Ukrainian grain exports by the Black Sea, but also wanted the remaining curbs on Russian grain exports to be removed, said Putin, who was shown by Rossiya state TV answering questions from media at the end of his visit to Iran.
On Tuesday the Russian leader had said that not all the issues had been resolved yet on grain shipments, "but the fact that there is movement is already good."
It was Putin's first in-person meeting with a NATO leader since Russian troops invaded and was a pointed message to the West about Russian plans to forge closer strategic ties with Iran, China and India to help offset Western sanctions imposed over the invasion.
ISOLATED
The trip shows how isolated Russia has become, said White House national security spokesman John Kirby.
Kirby also said the United States was preparing to unveil another weapons package for Ukraine. Citing U.S. intelligence, he accused Russia of laying the groundwork to annex Ukrainian territory.
The Kremlin has said there is no time limit to a conflict it calls a "special military operation" to ensure its own security. Ukraine and the West condemn it as an unprovoked war of aggression against its neighbour.
Russia was trying to "drag" Ukraine into a protracted conflict into the winter, Zelenskiy's chief of staff Andriy Yermak said in a magazine interview published on Tuesday.
"It is very important for us not to enter the winter. After winter, when the Russians will have more time to dig in, it will certainly be more difficult" for any Ukrainian counter-offensive, Yermak said.
More than two weeks have passed since Russia's last major territorial gain - capturing the eastern Ukrainian city of Lysychansk. But in a now familiar pattern, Russian missiles slammed into targets across Ukraine on Tuesday.
Ukraine's air force said in a Facebook post that it had shot down a Russian fighter jet with a missile over Nova Kakhovka, to the east of the city of Kherson, which is occupied by Moscow's forces. Reuters could not immediately verify the Ukrainian account.
GAS EXPORTS
As the war drags on, concerns that Russia may halt supplies of natural gas to Europe have risen.
In response, the European Union is considering a voluntary 15% cut in natural gas use by its member states beginning next month, Bloomberg reported on Tuesday, citing EU diplomats.
Brussels is expected to publish plans on Wednesday for how the 27 EU members can reduce gas use. The exact number for the reduction target was not specified in a draft document of the plan seen by Reuters.
Kremlin-controlled energy giant Gazprom was ready to fulfil its obligations on gas exports, Putin said, and was not to blame for a reduction in gas transit capacity, including shutting down one of the routes via Ukraine to Europe by Kyiv.
(Reporting by Reuters bureaux; writing by Grant McCool; Editing by Rosalba O'Brien) | https://www.dailymail.co.uk/wires/reuters/article-11029929/Putin-says-Ukraine-did-not-make-good-preliminary-peace-deal.html?ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490&ito=1490 | 2022-07-19T23:41:28Z | https://www.dailymail.co.uk/wires/reuters/article-11029929/Putin-says-Ukraine-did-not-make-good-preliminary-peace-deal.html?ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490&ito=1490 | true |
WASHINGTON – The Army is significantly cutting the total number of soldiers it expects to have in the force over the next two years, as the U.S. military faces what a top general called “unprecedented challenges” in bringing in recruits.
Army officials on Tuesday said the service will fall about 10,000 soldiers short of its planned end strength for this fiscal year, and prospects for next year are grimmer. Army Gen. Joseph Martin, vice chief of staff for the Army, said it is projecting it will have a total force of 466,400 this year, down from the expected 476,000. And the service could end 2023 with between 445,000 and 452,000 soldiers, depending on how well recruiting and retention go.
With just two and a half months to go in the fiscal year, the Army has achieved just 50% of its recruiting goal of 60,000 soldiers, according to Lt. Col. Randee Farrell, spokeswoman for Army Secretary Christine Wormuth. Based on those numbers and trends, it is likely the Army will miss the goal by nearly 25% as of Oct. 1. If the shortfalls continue, Martin said, they could have an impact on readiness.
“We’ve got unprecedented challenges with both a post-COVID-19 environment and labor market, but also competition with private companies that have changed their incentives over time,” Martin told a House Armed Services subcommittee on Tuesday. Asked if the Army will have to adjust its force structure to meet national security and warfighting missions around the world, Martin said: “We don’t need to do that immediately. But if we don’t arrest the decline that we’re seeing right now in end strength, that could be a possibility in the future.”
Cutting the size of the Army is the best option, said Wormuth.
“The Army is facing our most challenging recruiting environment since the inception of the all-volunteer force. This is not a one-year challenge. We will not solve this overnight," she said, adding that the service is looking at a wide range of steps to recruit more soldiers without lowering standards or sacrificing quality.
“We are facing a very fundamental question,” she added. "Do we lower standards to meet end strength, or do we lower end strength to maintain a quality, professional force? We believe the answer is obvious — quality is more important than quantity.”
The Army’s recruiting problems are the most severe across the military, but the other services are also having a tough time finding young people who want to join and can meet the physical, mental and moral requirements.
Senior Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps leaders have said they are hopeful they will meet or just slightly miss their recruiting goals for this year. But they said they will have to dip into their pool of delayed entry applicants, which will put them behind as they begin the next recruiting year.
The services bring in recruits all year around, but usually send them to basic training and boot camp over a spread-out period of time. The delay can help recruits prepare for entry-level training, particularly the more physical demands.
Military leaders are also banking on cash as an incentive. They are spending tens of thousands of dollars in increased bonuses to woo recruits, hoping to compete with other employers around the county as unemployment sits at about 3.6%.
In January, the Army, for the first time, began offering a maximum enlistment bonus of $50,000 to highly skilled recruits who join for six years. At the time, Maj. Gen. Kevin Vereen, head of Army Recruiting Command, told The Associated Press that shuttered schools during the COVID-19 pandemic and the highly competitive job market have posed significant challenges for recruiters.
The military services rely heavily on face-to-face meetings with young people in schools or at fairs and other large public events. And they are only now really starting to get back to something close to normal after two years of the pandemic.
Compounding the problem is the low unemployment rate and the fact that private corporations may be able to pay more to lure workers. And, among young people, only about 23% are physically, mentally and morally qualified to serve without receiving some type of waiver. | https://www.wsls.com/news/politics/2022/07/19/army-cuts-force-size-amid-unprecedented-battle-for-recruits/ | 2022-07-19T23:43:24Z | https://www.wsls.com/news/politics/2022/07/19/army-cuts-force-size-amid-unprecedented-battle-for-recruits/ | true |
New API automatically updates payroll data for SurePayroll, FreshBooks clients to their FreshBooks account
GLENVIEW, Ill., July 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- SurePayroll, a leading provider of small business payroll and HR solutions, and FreshBooks, a leading cloud accounting software, today launched a system integration that enables FreshBooks and SurePayroll users to automatically synchronize payroll expenses and liabilities to their FreshBooks account. The application program interface (API), eliminates manual entry, saving clients time and improving recordkeeping accuracy by automatically transmitting general ledger information once payroll processing is complete.
"We continue to form partnerships and integrations to help small business owners ease pain points, increase efficiency and save time every step of the way. The SureParyoll service integration with FreshBooks is yet another way we support small business owners as they build and grow their business, care for their employees, and help them succeed," said Ted Jordan, Paychex vice president, service.
SurePayroll offers a robust online payroll tool—supported by a U.S.-based service team—so small business owners can easily and accurately process payroll and taxes. Plus, SurePayroll helps small business owners care for their employees by offering 401(k) plans, workers' compensation, and health insurance.
"FreshBooks is delighted to expand its product in the U.S. with payroll integration through SurePayroll," said Chitra Unnikrishnan, FreshBooks senior director, product marketing. "This integration offers growing small businesses an opportunity to streamline processes, and with time saved, focus on connecting with customers."
For more information about the SurePayroll suite of small business and household employer solutions, including the FreshBooks integration, visit surpayroll.com/freshbooks.
SurePayroll, a Paychex company, has been a leading provider of online payroll services to small businesses nationwide for more than 20 years. As the first software as a service payroll company, SurePayroll has grown to become a household name in easy-to-use payroll, workers' compensation, 401(k) plans, and health insurance services, all backed by an award-winning, U.S.-based customer care team. Most recently, SurePayroll added HR services to its portfolio of solutions. By offering the additional flexibility of private-label and co-branded solutions, SurePayroll serves as a strategic partner for a diverse range of businesses and trusted advisers, including financial institutions and accountants.
FreshBooks is changing the way business owners manage their books. Its owner-first accounting platform, loved by businesses in over 160 countries, takes an easy-to-use approach to managing finances, billing, payments, and client engagement. FreshBooks, known for its 10x Stevie award winning customer support, serves customers of all sizes from offices in Canada, Croatia, Mexico, Netherlands, Germany, and the U.S.
SurePayroll Contact
Karen Stoychoff Inman
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The U.S. Senate on Tuesday confirmed the nomination of South Carolina jurist Michelle Childs — recently under consideration for a slot on the U.S. Supreme Court — to sit on the federal court typically seen as a proving ground for the nation’s highest bench.
Senators, including a number of Republicans, voted 64 to 34 to approve Childs’ nomination to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. The Senate Judiciary Committee voted 17-5 earlier this year to advance her nomination.
Childs, 56, has been a federal judge on South Carolina’s District Court for more than a decade. Earlier this year, she was on a short list of candidates being considered by President Joe Biden for an upcoming vacancy on the U.S. Supreme Court, given the pending retirement of Justice Stephen Breyer.
Childs had a litany of high-profile advocates, including U.S. House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn, on whose advice Biden pledged during the 2020 campaign to nominate a Black woman to the high court.
Childs’ supporters also included Republican U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham, who said then he was certain Childs “would have been a reliable vote for the liberal bloc of the Court” but applauded her “open mind and balance that all Americans are looking for.”
On Tuesday, she got support from some Republicans including both Graham and his fellow South Carolinian, U.S. Sen. Tim Scott.
Graham, who went on to oppose eventual Supreme Court nominee Ketanji Brown Jackson in a party-line Judiciary Committee vote, added that he felt Childs “would have received a strong bipartisan vote in the Senate.” Three GOP senators ultimately came out in favor of Jackson’s nomination, assuring her eventual confirmation as the high court’s first Black female justice, given unified Democratic support.
During Childs’ recent appellate confirmation hearing, Graham again noted his likely disagreement with some positions from a nominee put forth by a Democratic president but called the position “consequential” and said he hoped people “can rally around the accomplished woman who has worn the robe well and has potential to serve at the highest level of the judiciary.”
At that same hearing, Clyburn pointed to Childs’ “ordinary upbringing that has helped shape her life’s work and made her an example for so many young people in similar circumstances.” It was reminiscent of his promotion of Childs for the Supreme Court, when he pointed to her legal training at the University of South Carolina School of Law — rather than an Ivy League institution — as a characteristic that would help Americans identify with the high court, currently populated almost exclusively with Harvard and Yale graduates.
Last year, Biden nominated Childs for the D.C. Circuit slot, but her hearing was postponed while she was also under consideration for the Supreme Court. Previously serving as a state trial court judge, worker’s compensation commissioner and deputy director of South Carolina’s labor department, Childs also practiced employment law at Nexsen Pruet, where she became the firm’s first Black female partner.
___
Meg Kinnard can be reached at http://twitter.com/MegKinnardAP. | https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/nation-politics/senate-confirms-michelle-childs-to-dc-appeals-court/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_all | 2022-07-19T23:49:23Z | https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/nation-politics/senate-confirms-michelle-childs-to-dc-appeals-court/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_all | false |
Purple Daily By skornorth | July 19, 2022 Minnesota Vikings training camp preview: Offensive line confidence ratings Share: With Minnesota Vikings training camp a week away, is the Vikings offensive fixed? Judd ranks his confidence at each of the … | https://www.skornorth.com/minnesota-vikings-training-camp-preview-offensive-line-confidence-ratings/ | 2022-07-19T23:52:19Z | https://www.skornorth.com/minnesota-vikings-training-camp-preview-offensive-line-confidence-ratings/ | false |
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — Police took three people into custody Tuesday in the fatal shooting of a pastor and leader of the United Methodist Church during a carjacking in Memphis, Tennessee.
The Rev. Autura Eason-Williams was shot Monday afternoon outside of her home, the Tennessee-Western Kentucky Conference of the United Methodist Church said.
Eason-Williams was taken to a hospital, where she died, Memphis police said on Twitter. Police searched for three men who were in a four-door hatchback car.
At a news conference Tuesday, Memphis Police Director Cerelyn “CJ” Davis said three juveniles had been taken into custody as people of interest in what she called a “heinous killing." Police were interviewing them, but it was not immediately clear if they would be charged.
The killing rocked the United Methodist Church community in Memphis. Church members attended a vigil for Eason-Williams on Monday night.
“We all are shocked and saddened by this senseless act,” the conference said in a statement.
Eason-Williams was a wife and the mother of four children, according to a biography posted on her website. She was superintendent of the conference’s Metro District.
She also was the pastor of Capleville United Methodist Church and a graduate of the Memphis Theological Seminary.
"Autura was a real light and a well of deep care,” seminary president Jody Hill said in a Facebook post.
Hill added that Eason-Williams would embrace people “with a warm smile, gentle hug, or encouraging word.”
Eason-Williams entered the ministry full-time in 1997 and has served under appointment in the United Methodist Church since 2002, according to her biography. She was commissioned Provisional Elder in 2003 and Ordained Elder in 2006, the biography said.
She led youth camps, retreats and women's events, and she preached for local church, district, and conference events.
Eason-Williams also served on several boards and on planning committees that created My Sister’s Keeper — an outreach that addresses health disparities of African American women — and The Congregational Health Network — a network of 600 churches that address health disparities and build relationships between hospitals, the faith community, and neighborhoods, according to the biography. | https://www.ourmidland.com/news/article/United-Methodist-Church-leader-killed-in-Memphis-17315823.php | 2022-07-19T23:55:30Z | https://www.ourmidland.com/news/article/United-Methodist-Church-leader-killed-in-Memphis-17315823.php | false |
The death of a First Nations man who died by suicide after a family member called the RCMP for help in Williams Lake was a “needless tragedy,” said Grand Chief Stewart Phillip, Union of BC Indian Chiefs (UBCIC).
Phillip was speaking at a joint media conference where the UBCIC and Williams Lake First Nation (WLFN) announced Tuesday, July 19 they are calling for a full public and independent inquiry into the role of the RCMP in the man’s death, beyond an investigation already underway by the Independent Investigations Office BC.
Rojun Alphonse, 36, a member of WLFN, died in his home on Sunday, July 10, hours after a family member made a call at approximately 3:40 a.m. Sunday to RCMP that he was in possession of a weapon and was contemplating self-harm.
Police arrived and established a perimeter around the threeplex in a residential neighbourhood where Alphonse had lived with his wife and children for many years. By mid morning Sunday, the North District Emergency Response Team (ERT) arrived with an armoured vehicle.
A police negotiator spoke over a loudspeaker asking two people in the house to come out with their hands up.
ERT officers deployed several canisters of tear gas into the home through a window they had smashed.
“We are extremely disappointed with how police interactions with Indigenous peoples often result in tragedies like these and we are demanding immediate action and police reform,” Phillip said.
Issues such as these have come forward multiple times in the past, he added.
WLFN Chief Willie Sellars said what should have resulted in a welfare check with properly trained individuals escalated into a “swarm of ERT personnel with automatic weapons, armed vehicles, body armour and tear gas.”
He said it was in the midst of the police ‘violence’ that Alphonse took his life.
“We are all in shock and mourning. When is it common practice that an ERT team is deployed to a situation where a person is threatening suicide?”
Sellars said the situation was escalated by social media presence of onlookers and “immediately branded as a gang situation and treated as such.”
As they await further details of the incident, Sellars said they are asking if the incident had involved a non-Indigenous person would the police response have been the same.
“This is not just an Indigenous issue. This is a issue for all Canadians,” he said, noting the incident has impacted the community’s confidence in the system. “We are sitting here today in union with the family and the UBCIC because everyone deserves justice.”
Struggling to speak through her tears and sobs, Alphonse’s widow June North said her husband was a dedicated family man who will be missed.
“We call for justice on how our RCMP have followed through on this call when our daughter was still home and still had gas-bombed our family home.”
North described how her daughter exited the home and was taken away in a police car and questioned without a family member present.
“We are very lucky our daughter was not harmed,” she said. “The fear of the RCMP will always be there for our daughter and us all.”
Hazel and Gregory Alphonse spoke about their son and how his death has impacted them.
“Just imagine yourself with all the cops around you and with all the rifles that they had. Just imagine my son was scared. I keep putting myself in Rojan’s home, me being there with my daughter,” Hazel said. “We know our son. He wasn’t a dangerous man. He was a loving person.”
Legal counsel for UBCIC Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond, joined the conference by telephone.
She said the tragedy has “laid bare” serious concern for public safety in community and in particular when a person has a crisis.
“When families call for support, they need support. Culturally, safe support. They don’t need tear gas and escalation and police emergency response coming to cause so much distress that an individual acts in a way in response to that situation and harms themself in this tragic way,” she said. “It seems very much to us that this was preventable and should not have occurred.”
Sellars said they want the request upheld and will be looking for a response from the government in the coming days.
When contacted by Black Press Media, Williams Lake RCMP Acting Insp. Darren Dodge said they could not provide further comment as the matter is under investigation by the IIO.
Read more: VIDEO: Williams Lake city councillor sorry for sharing video of fatal police incident
Read more: One man found dead in Williams Lake home with weapon, IIO BC investigating
news@wltribune.com
Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter | https://www.kimberleybulletin.com/news/in-shock-and-mourning-indigenous-leaders-demand-inquiry-into-fatal-rcmp-incident/ | 2022-07-19T23:55:40Z | https://www.kimberleybulletin.com/news/in-shock-and-mourning-indigenous-leaders-demand-inquiry-into-fatal-rcmp-incident/ | true |
U.S. to request dispute talks with Mexico over energy policy-sources
MEXICO CITY, July 19 (Reuters) - The United States will request dispute settlement consultations with Mexico under a regional trade deal over what it considers discriminatory Mexican energy policies, according to two Mexican sources and a draft announcement seen by Reuters on Tuesday.
The consultations relate to measures taken by Mexico which the U.S. Trade Representative argues undermine American companies in Mexico and U.S.-produced energy in favor of Mexican state-owned power utility Comision Federal de Electricidad (CFE) and oil firm Petroleos Mexicanos (Pemex).
USTR did not immediately reply to a request for comment on the announcement, which was shared by the sources in Mexico and was set to be made public on Wednesday. (Reporting by Dave Graham and Anthony Esposito Additional reporting by Steve Holland in Washington D.C.) | https://ca.sports.yahoo.com/news/u-request-dispute-talks-mexico-234553421.html?src=rss | 2022-07-19T23:57:51Z | https://ca.sports.yahoo.com/news/u-request-dispute-talks-mexico-234553421.html?src=rss | true |
Ivana Trump loved dogs — and her legacy of care for animals will continue after her death
The CEO of Big Dog Ranch Rescue in Florida tells Fox News Digital, 'I feel Ivana is in heaven now, helping me save lives'
The Trump family reportedly has a special request of those who wish to honor the remarkable life and legacy of Ivana Trump as her family and friends lay her to rest on Wednesday in New York City.
Funeral guests and others — in lieu of flowers — will be asked to donate to Big Dog Ranch Rescue (bdrr.org) in Florida and to help save the lives of dogs that are in desperate need.
Lauree Simmons, CEO of Big Dog Ranch Rescue in Loxahatchee Groves, Florida, told Fox News Digital on Tuesday in a phone interview about the need to help dogs that are running out of time — and about the Trump family’s strong and enduring interest in supporting the efforts of this rescue organization.
IVANA TRUMP'S BOOKS INCLUDED THIS DEDICATION: ‘TO DONALD, THE KIDS’ FATHER AND MY DEAR FRIEND'
"Eric and Lara [Trump] and Kimberly [Guilfoyle] and Don [Trump, Jr.] have been very supportive of our dog rescue and the growth that we've had," said Simmons.
"They are involved and helping us," she said.
Simmons noted that all three of Ivana Trump’s children are "huge dog lovers and rescue supporters."
Simmons said she met Ivana Trump several times, but has worked more extensively with Ivana Trump’s children on her organization's canine rescue efforts.
IVANA TRUMP'S 10 NOTABLE QUOTES, INCLUDING THIS: ‘THE MOTHER MAKES THE CHILD’
"I feel Ivana would have loved this idea," said Simmons, referencing the donations to the dog rescue in lieu of flowers.
Calling her organization "honored and blessed" that the Trump family chose them for donations, Simmons said the Trumps are "all so charitable."
In a press release announcing the call for donations in place of flowers, Simmons said of Ivana Trump, "Ivana was a survivor. She fled communism, embraced America and raised three exceptional children, who also devote their time and resources to many charities, including Big Dog Ranch Rescue."
Calling her organization "honored and blessed" that the Trump family chose them for donations, she said that the Trumps are "all so charitable."
Many people enjoy the unconditional love of a dog and the steady support these animals bring.
"Dogs give a blend of love and companionship, and a dog will never let you down," emphasized Simmons.
"They will always be by your side through thick and thin."
She added, "No matter what happens to them, they will always be there for you."
KENTUCKY POLICE ASKING FOR HELP TO NAME THEIR BULLDOG MASCOT
Founded in 2008, Big Dog Ranch Rescue has saved at least 50,000 dogs during its existence.
It is the largest cage-free, no-kill dog rescue community in the nation, according to its website.
"Right now, we have 747 dogs in care at our rescue — and 600 are at our facility in Palm Beach County," said Simmons.
She said that 150 of the dogs "are in foster [care]," she continued, "and we rescue all over the Southeast, from high-kill shelters."
Simmons explained that Big Dog Ranch Rescue saves dogs from euthanasia that are "family-adoptable but out of time."
"We have a lot to do," said Simmons, calling the number of dogs that are in dire straits "the worst it's ever been in my lifetime."
Or they might have a medical condition that is treatable — and yet they are "going to be euthanized just because there is no room at county shelters."
"My mission is to end homelessness through legislation, education and sterilization," she explained.
"We have a lot to do," said Simmons, calling the number of dogs that are in dire straits "the worst it's ever been in my lifetime."
Simmons cited rising costs and inflation as two factors that are contributing to the explosion of pets in shelters.
FAMILIES ARE RETURNING THEIR PETS TO ANIMAL SHELTERS DUE TO INFLATION AND RISING RENTS: ‘SO SAD’
She said her organization is rescuing dogs that once were almost guaranteed a home.
"These are wonderful one-year-old golden retrievers, six-month-old shepherds that we’re picking up — we picked up something like 45 puppies just today."
Simmons is committed to helping as many dogs as she possibly can before their time runs out.
And she is thankful to the Trump family for their generosity during their time of enormous grief.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
"I feel that Ivana is in heaven now, helping me save lives," she said.
For more information or to donate, visit www.bdrr.org. | https://www.foxnews.com/lifestyle/ivana-trump-loved-dogs-legacy-animals-continue-death | 2022-07-20T00:01:53Z | https://www.foxnews.com/lifestyle/ivana-trump-loved-dogs-legacy-animals-continue-death | true |
WFO BURLINGTON Warnings, Watches and Advisories for Tuesday, July 19, 2022
_____
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
The National Weather Service in Burlington has issued a
* Severe Thunderstorm Warning for...
West central Franklin County in northern New York...
St. Lawrence County in northern New York...
* Until 630 PM EDT.
* At 529 PM EDT, severe thunderstorms were located along a line
extending from 9 miles northwest of Lisbon to near Ogdensburg to
near Morristown to near Jacques Cartier State Park, moving east at
45 mph.
HAZARD...60 mph wind gusts and quarter size hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Minor hail damage to vehicles is possible. Expect wind
damage to trees and powerlines.
* Locations impacted include...
Potsdam, Ogdensburg, Canton, Norfolk, Lisbon, De Kalb, Parishville,
Colton, Morley, Degrasse, Carry Falls Reservoir, Waddington,
Richville, Madrid, Rensselaer Falls, Norwood, Edwardsville, Hermon,
Chipman and Heuvelton.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a
building.
Large hail and damaging winds and continuous cloud to ground
lightning is occurring with these storms. Move indoors immediately.
Lightning is one of nature's leading killers. Remember, if you can
hear thunder, you are close enough to be struck by lightning.
_____
Copyright 2022 AccuWeather | https://www.beaumontenterprise.com/weather/article/NY-WFO-BURLINGTON-Warnings-Watches-and-17315772.php | 2022-07-20T00:02:44Z | https://www.beaumontenterprise.com/weather/article/NY-WFO-BURLINGTON-Warnings-Watches-and-17315772.php | true |
WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) — The U.S. House is voting on the Respect for Marriage Act on Tuesday, which would enshrine protections for same-sex marriage nationwide.
Democrats say the bill is necessary to protect marriage equality but it’s unclear if it will pass in the U.S. Senate.
Congressman Sean Maloney (D-N.Y.) said he and his husband were engaged for 22 years before they could get married. Democrats say Congress must protect the right of all Americans to marry the person they love.
“Every member of Congress will get to stand and be counted today and you can choose between equality or discrimination,” Maloney said. “When I was elected as a member of Congress in 2012, my husband Randy couldn’t have health insurance through this body.”
In 2015 the Supreme Court legalized same-sex marriage nationwide, but Democrats fear the court could reverse that decision, just as it did with abortion.
“Justice Clarence Thomas explicitly called on the court to reconsider its decisions protecting other fundamental rights, including the right to same-sex marriage,” said Congressman Jerry Nadler (D-N.Y.).
Republicans argue a new law isn’t needed because same-sex marriage isn’t threatened.
“It’s unnecessary, it’s divisive and it’s misleading,” said Congressman Mike Johnson (R-La.).
But Democrats say they don’t want to wait to find out.
“We will not allow this right-wing obsession to impose their personal religious views on people’s private lives to go any further,” said Congresswoman Silvia Garcia (D-Tex.).
After passage in the House, the Respect for Marriage Act will head to the Senate, where Republican Susan Collins is a sponsor. | https://cw33.com/news/washington-dc-bureau/u-s-house-voting-on-marriage-equality-protections/ | 2022-07-20T00:07:07Z | https://cw33.com/news/washington-dc-bureau/u-s-house-voting-on-marriage-equality-protections/ | true |
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NASCAR to hit the streets of Chicago with downtown race
CHICAGO (AP) — Ben Kennedy is thinking big. As in big cities, big ideas and big plans.
That’s how NASCAR and Chicago got together.
Kennedy played an instrumental role in NASCAR bringing an unprecedented street race to downtown Chicago next year during its 75th season in yet another radical change to its once staid schedule.
“We want to be bold and innovative as we think about new venues and new concepts that we’re going to,” said Kennedy, the 30-year-old great-grandson of NASCAR founder Bill France. “This is No. 1 on the list for us right now, and it’s certainly going to be the most anticipated event of our season and one of the biggest sporting events in our country in 2023.”
The Cup Series will race against the backdrop of Lake Michigan and Grant Park next July 2 as part of a three-year deal with the city of Chicago. It will be paired with an IMSA sports car race the day before, as well as music and entertainment options located along the 12-turn, 2.2-mile street course.
“The opportunity to bring something so unique as NASCAR to the city of Chicago, and I think it’s going to be one of those iconic race courses ... we couldn’t pass up that opportunity,” Mayor Lori Lightfoot said Tuesday during an outdoor press conference announcing the event.
The course will include Lake Shore Drive, Michigan Avenue and South Columbus Drive, where the start/finish line and pit road will be located directly in front of Buckingham Fountain. It will pass through Grant Park and approach the northern edge of Soldier Field — site of the only other Cup Series race to take place in downtown Chicago, in 1956.
Kennedy said NASCAR will be the promoter, which typically means the party responsible for all costs of producing the race. Asked about the price tag for the city, Lightfoot responded: “We’ll be working out the details on this with NASCAR. Once we have those specifics, we’ll be happy to share them with you.”
The Chicago announcement comes after NASCAR’s successful January exhibition race inside the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum that will return for a second running in 2023. Kennedy told The Associated Press he began working on both the Coliseum and Chicago street race in 2019.
It’s part of NASCAR’s sweeping changes to its oval-heavy schedule, first by adding both a dirt race at Bristol Motor Speedway and additional road courses and now a completely new concept. It sounds as if it plans to keep going, too.
“We want to continue to explore new markets,” Kennedy said. “We’ve talked a lot about the Pacific Northwest. We’ve talked a lot about the Northeast area. That’s an important market for us. But even internationally as well.
“I don’t know that they’ll be a day, at least in the short term, that we’ll go necessarily overseas. But there might be an opportunity for us sometime in the future to go north of the border up to Canada or go to Mexico.”
NASCAR last month confirmed the Coliseum would return next January, but the rest of the 2023 schedule has yet to be announced. The Chicago street course will replace the road course race at Road America on the Cup schedule.
Road America in Wisconsin hosted the Cup Series the last two seasons on the same weekend. By moving into downtown Chicago, NASCAR keeps a race in the Midwest region while returning to a coveted market. NASCAR ran 19 Cup races at Chicagoland Speedway in Joliet, a 45-mile drive from downtown.
NASCAR had tried to build interest in the market and even made Chicagoland the opening race of the playoffs in 2011. But the track was simply too far from downtown to attract a new audience and NASCAR pulled out after the 2019 season.
“This is a top-three market for us, worldwide frankly, for NASCAR fans,” Kennedy said.
The decision to hold a race in downtown Chicago presents all sorts of logistical challenges for NASCAR, mostly centered around the safety of drivers and fans. Kennedy said NASCAR had design, development, competition and asphalt experts look at the surface, and he felt the roads were in “really good condition” when he drove around Grant Park on Tuesday.
“It’ll be a lot of fun to figure out what it’s going to take to be successful here,” said Bubba Wallace, who drives for 23XI Racing — which is co-owned by former Chicago Bulls star Michael Jordan. “We’re going to be turning left and right, going past iconic landmarks, and just the sounds of the engines roaring and reverberating off the buildings here, it’s going to be a lot of fun.”
___
AP Auto Racing Writer Jenna Fryer contributed to this report.
___
Jay Cohen can be reached at https://twitter.com/jcohenap
___
More AP auto racing: https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.wbtv.com/2022/07/19/nascar-hit-streets-chicago-with-downtown-race/ | 2022-07-20T00:10:40Z | https://www.wbtv.com/2022/07/19/nascar-hit-streets-chicago-with-downtown-race/ | true |
Citation
Huang J, Zhang X. China Saf. Sci. J. 2022; 32(2): 192-199.
Vernacular Title
以南疆为例的区域暴恐袭击风险评估
Copyright
(Copyright © 2022, China Occupational Safety and Health Association, Publisher Gai Xue bao)
DOI
10.16265/j.cnki.issn1003-3033.2022.02.026
PMID
unavailable
Abstract
In order to examine high-risk areas of violent terrorist attacks and promote refined public security management, with southern Xinjiang, China as an example, gridded socio-economic data, remote sensing data, POI data, and other multi-source geospatial data were used to build a risk assessment indicator system of violent terrorist attacks from three aspects, namely occurrence probability of terrorists, preference of their target, and potential consequences of the attacks. Then, weights of geospatial indicators were determined according to AHP-Entropy method and cluster analysis method, and spatial distribution of attack risks on 30″ × 30″ (approximately 1 km×1 km) fine-granulated grids in southern Xinjiang was obtained. The results show that the high-risk grids of violent terrorist attacks in the area are mainly located in some cities and towns in Kashgar, Hotan and Aksu, which are consistent with distribution of historical attack events, therefore indicating the rationality and feasibility of proposed evaluation indicator model. === 为探寻暴恐袭击高风险区域，推进公共安全精细化管理，以南疆地区为例，采用网格化社会经济数据、遥感数据和兴趣点（POI）数据等多源地理空间数据，从暴恐分子出现可能性、暴恐袭击目标选择偏好和暴恐袭击后果3个方面建立暴恐袭击风险评估指标体系，根据层次分析法（AHP）-Entropy、聚类分区等确定地理空间指标权重，最终得到南疆地区30″×30″（约1 km×1 km）细粒度的暴恐袭击风险的空间分布情况。结果表明：南疆地区的暴恐袭击高风险以上网格主要位于喀什、和田及阿克苏地区的部分市区和县城，与暴恐袭击历史事件的分布较一致，证明风险评估指标体系的合理性和可行性。
Language: en | https://www.safetylit.org/citations/index.php?fuseaction=citations.viewdetails&citationIds%5B%5D=citjournalarticle_724094_20 | 2022-07-20T00:13:00Z | https://www.safetylit.org/citations/index.php?fuseaction=citations.viewdetails&citationIds%5B%5D=citjournalarticle_724094_20 | true |
ATLANTA — His motor never stops, constantly churning as if exhaustion doesn’t affect him. It fuels him to push through linemen and past fatigue, an internal engine that causes havoc for offenses. When they get tired in the fourth quarter, Will Anderson looks fresh, and his technique matches his athletic gifts.
“Sometimes you think their defense would be out of it,” Mississippi State linebacker Nathaniel Watson said, “and he makes play after play after play.”
Anderson’s abilities made him one of the most disruptive forces in the country last season. As a sophomore, the outside linebacker led the nation with 34.5 tackles for loss and 17.5 sacks. He also recorded 102 tackles, and somehow the stat sheet didn’t fully capture his impact.
Offensive lines had to account for Anderson on every play, often shifting to his side and using double-teams. Even that didn’t neutralize him. He won the Bronko Nagurski Trophy as the top defensive player in the country.
ATLANTA — Nick Saban described his Alabama program Tuesday as one of college football’s “haves.”
But another award slipped out of Anderson’s lengthy reach. The Heisman Trophy went to his teammate, sophomore quarterback Bryce Young. The other finalists were Michigan defensive end Aidan Hutchinson, Pittsburgh quarterback Kenny Pickett and Ohio State quarterback C.J. Stroud. Anderson finished fifth.
“If you have one of those seasons, I think you should be a Heisman finalist,” Watson said. “He should have been a Heisman finalist in my opinion, but I can't make those decisions. He's most definitely Heisman material.”
No strictly defensive player has ever won the award. If anyone can, consider Anderson. He returned for likely his final year as the top defensive player in the country, and though July favorites rarely turn into winter winners, Anderson should put himself in contention.
Easing into his Heisman campaign Tuesday at Southeastern Conference media days, Anderson told ESPN he wants to change biases around the award that lean toward offensive playmakers.
ATLANTA — The second day of Southeastern Conference Media Days took place Tuesday at the College Football Hall of Fame. Alabama, Mississippi S…
“It’s something to think about,” Anderson said later, “but we got team goals that we’ve got to take care of first.”
Anderson will have to surpass the gaudy stats posted by modern quarterbacks, including his own teammate. The numbers let voters easily see how offensive players control the game. Even in a year defined by defenses, quarterbacks dominated the voting last season. Young won far and away with 2,311 total points. Anderson received the third-most first-place votes with 31.
A player’s effect is less obvious on the other side of the ball. Charles Woodson won the Heisman as a defensive back in 1997, but he contributed on special teams and at wide receiver. Defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh got close. Defensive back Tyrann Mathieu made it to the ceremony. Linebacker Manti Te'o came in second in 2012. Until Hutchinson, no one else finished higher than fourth.
“Defensive players are trying to step in and make sure that's not just an offensive award, that it is a defensive award as well,” Alabama defensive back Jordan Battle said. “We have Will Anderson there last year. Who says he can't win it this year? He has all the abilities to win it this year."
ATLANTA — In the corner of a modest suite high up the Omni Hotel, Brian Kelly reviewed his notes.
He'll try. This offseason, Anderson honed his pass rush moves by watching NFL pros Nick Bosa and Von Miller. He worked on the long arm technique to separate himself from offensive linemen. He also added muscle. Anderson weighs a lean 250 pounds now, filling a suit he wore for the Nagurski ceremony last year.
“I’m surprised I can still fit in it,” he said. “I was a little nervous at first. I’m barely getting through it right now.”
With Anderson and Young, Alabama has two of the best players in the country regardless of position. They’ll carry a team trying to improve the offensive line, replace multiple wide receivers and reload at cornerback as the Crimson Tide aim for another national championship.
“I don't like to compare players,” Alabama coach Nick Saban said, “but to have two players that make such a significant impact on our team as those two guys, I don't recall ever having a circumstance like that.”
Anderson wants the title more than anything, but every year, he writes down individual goals. He keeps one copy on his phone and another laminated on his nightstand. When the season ends, Anderson checks off what he accomplished.
This year, one of them is to compete for the Heisman. | https://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/sports/lsu/article_65ad042e-07a1-11ed-b84b-1ba81f18ef9c.html | 2022-07-20T00:17:40Z | https://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/sports/lsu/article_65ad042e-07a1-11ed-b84b-1ba81f18ef9c.html | true |
Bison have been reintroduced in England for the first time in thousands of years
Bison have been reintroduced in England for the first time in thousands of years
European bison resemble their American cousins. The Guardian says they're eating their way through dense forest near Canterbury. They chew bark, squash plants and open space for new growth.
STEVE INSKEEP, HOST:
Good morning. I'm Steve Inskeep. Bison have gone into forest management. European bison resemble their American cousins. And scientists reintroduced them in England for the first time in thousands of years. The Guardian says they're eating their way through dense forest. They chew bark, squash plants and open space for new growth. The more diverse forest absorbs more carbon. And this reminds me, how did the bison's mother say farewell? Bye, son. It's MORNING EDITION.
Copyright © 2022 NPR. All rights reserved. Visit our website terms of use and permissions pages at www.npr.org for further information.
NPR transcripts are created on a rush deadline by an NPR contractor. This text may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future. Accuracy and availability may vary. The authoritative record of NPR’s programming is the audio record. | https://www.npr.org/2022/07/19/1112219538/bison-have-been-reintroduced-in-england-for-the-first-time-in-thousands-of-years | 2022-07-20T00:25:53Z | https://www.npr.org/2022/07/19/1112219538/bison-have-been-reintroduced-in-england-for-the-first-time-in-thousands-of-years | true |
LOS ANGELES – The Baltimore Orioles aimed high with their 13th-round draft pick.
A full seven feet — and that’s before their new pitching prospect gets on the mound.
The O’s selected 7-foot left-hander Jared Beck from Saint Leo University with the first pick in Round 13 of baseball’s amateur draft Wednesday. If Beck makes it to the majors, he’d pass 6-foot-11 pitchers Sean Hjelle and Jon Rauch as the tallest player in major league history.
Beck struck out 105 batters in 68 1/3 innings for Division II Saint Leo this season, posting a 3.95 ERA. He’s also pitched summer ball for the Savannah Bananas, where he stood out on a minor league club focused more on wacky entertainment than player development.
The O’s see Beck as more than an oddity, citing a fastball they clocked up to 95 mph. Baltimore draft director Brad Ciolek acknowledged Wednesday there’s work to do helping Beck manage his extra-long limbs, and they plan to help him improve his breaking ball and changeup, too.
“Jared’s a really interesting case,” Ciolek said. “Obviously, he’s a little bit of a bigger guy, and that might take a little bit more, I guess, in terms of delivery, refining his mechanics. But we have faith in our player-development staff, our pitching coaches, that they’ll be able to get the most out of his ability.”
There have been at least two minor league baseball players taller than Beck at 7-foot-1. Dutch pitcher Loek Van Mil played 10 seasons in affiliated ball, mostly with Minnesota, and Ryan Doherty pitched parts of three seasons in Arizona’s system before transitioning to professional beach volleyball.
Here are some other selections worth noting from the draft's third and final day, which covered rounds 11-20:
— RHP Marquis Grissom Jr., Washington: Grissom's father was a third-round pick by the Montreal Expos in 1988 and played six seasons as an outfielder for the club, which relocated to Washington in 2005. The younger Grissom was a 13th-round selection for the same franchise after going 4-5 with 57 strikeouts in 61 innings as a starting pitcher at Georgia Tech.
— 3B Jackson Jaha, New York Mets: Jaha, a 15th-round pick, is the son of former big league slugger John, who played 10 seasons with Milwaukee and Oakland. Jackson is a high school player out of Clackamas High School in Oregon and is committed to the University of Oregon.
— RHP Caden Dana and OF Casey Dana, Los Angeles Angels: LA picked Caden, a high school pitcher, in the 11th round, then selected his brother Casey, an outfielder from UConn, in the 16th round. Caden is committed to Kentucky for college and might require a hefty signing bonus. Finding a job for his brother, a fifth-year senior with the Huskies, might help with those negotiations.
— RHP Jared Karros, Los Angeles Dodgers: Eric Karros played 12 seasons in Dodger Blue, winning Rookie of the Year in 1992 as a first baseman. Jared went to UCLA just like his dad, where he had a 3.33 ERA for the Bruins, good enough for the Dodgers to take him in the 16th round.
— RHP/LHP Jurrangelo Cijntje, Milwaukee: Cinjtje is a pro pitching prospect with both arms, reaching 96 mph from the right side and 92 mph from the left. The Florida high school player lasted until the 18th round and might honor his college commitment to Mississippi State. If he decides to sign, he could follow Pat Venditte's path as an ambidextrous big league hurler.
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More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports | https://www.clickorlando.com/sports/2022/07/20/orioles-draft-7-foot-pitcher-would-be-tallest-ever-in-mlb/ | 2022-07-20T00:27:03Z | https://www.clickorlando.com/sports/2022/07/20/orioles-draft-7-foot-pitcher-would-be-tallest-ever-in-mlb/ | false |
Alexis Floyd is staying in Shondaland.
That's right, the breakout star of Shonda Rhimes' Inventing Anna has found her next gig within the Shondaland portfolio: Season 19 of Grey's Anatomy. According to Deadline, Floyd—who played Neff Davis on Inventing Anna—is slated to join the new season's cast as a series regular, playing a new surgical resident at Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital.
The character, named Simone Griffin, is described by the publication as a "funny, whip smart, high achiever with a complicated family dynamic." In fact, it seems Dr. Griffin has ties to the famous Seattle-based hospital. Per the report, the character initially didn't want to be placed at Grey Sloan "because of a painful personal history with the hospital."
This could be in reference to one of the show's many tragedies, including a mass shooting, a Ferry crash, a flooding and two ambulance crashes. We are delighted by this Grey's Anatomy update, as a new surgical resident means the hospital's program is up and running again.
Reminder: The season 18 finale featured Grey Sloan being ordered to shut down their residency program and rebuild it.
Floyd is equally excited about her new role, noting in a statement, "Grey's Anatomy, like all of Shonda's canon, is a genre re-defining show that remains masterfully committed to diversity, relevancy and vulnerability. Joining the cast in its 19th season is an immeasurable honor, and quite simply, it's gonna be wicked fun."
In addition to Inventing Anna, Floyd is known for her work on The Bold Type, The Good Fight and Dickinson.
As for when you can expect season 19 of Grey's Anatomy? The next installment of the medical drama will arrive on ABC Oct. 6 alongside its sister series Station 19.
On bringing back Grey's Anatomy for another historic season, Rhimes said in a statement, "This is a true testament to Krista Vernoff, the cast, the crew and all the writers who keep the audience on the edge of their seat week after week. And it would not be possible without the generations of incredible fans who have supported Grey's Anatomy for so many years."
Looks like Grey's Anatomy isn't facing a code blue anytime soon. | https://www.eonline.com/ca/news/1338654/meet-the-inventing-anna-alum-joining-grey-s-anatomy-season-19 | 2022-07-20T00:28:32Z | https://www.eonline.com/ca/news/1338654/meet-the-inventing-anna-alum-joining-grey-s-anatomy-season-19 | false |
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — Jurors in the penalty trial of Florida school shooter Nikolas Cruz viewed graphic video Tuesday of him murdering 17 people as he stalked through a three-story classroom building at Parkland’s Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School four years ago.
The video, compiled from 13 security cameras inside the building, was not shown to the gallery, where parents of many of the victims sat. Shown later to reporters, it depicts Cruz crouching and stalking, firing at anything that moves, down the halls and into classrooms.
He shoots many of his victims at point-blank range, going back to some as they lay wounded on the floor to kill them with a second volley of shots. In one segment, athletic director Chris Hixon burst through a door to confront Cruz, but was wounded and fell. He crawled behind a pillar. Cruz kills him with a blast as he passes.
The 12 jurors and 10 alternates stared intently at their video screens as it played. Many held hands to their faces as they viewed the 15-minute recording, which has no sound.
Some squirmed. One juror looked at the screen, looked up at Cruz with his eyes wide and then returned to the video.
Cruz did not appear to watch the video, exchanging occasional whispers with one of his attorneys.
The video was played over the objection of Cruz’s attorneys, who argued that any evidentiary value it has is outweighed by the emotions it would raise in the jurors. They argued that witness statements of what happened would be sufficient.
Circuit Judge Elizabeth Scherer dismissed the objection, saying a video that accurately reflects Cruz’s crimes does not unfairly prejudice his case. Prosecutors are using the video to prove several aggravating factors, including that Cruz acted in a cold, calculated and cruel manner.
Cruz, 23, pleaded guilty in October to 17 counts of first-degree murder for the Feb. 14, 2018, massacre. The jury must decide if he should be sentenced to death or life without parole for the nation’s deadliest mass shooting to go before a jury.
Later, jurors heard testimony from Christopher McKenna, who was a freshman. He had left his English class to use the bathroom. He exchanged greetings with two students, Luke Hoyer and Martin Duque, as they crossed paths in the first-floor hallway.
McKenna then entered a stairwell and encountered Cruz assembling his AR-15 semiautomatic rifle.
Cruz, who had been expelled from Stoneman Douglas a year earlier, told McKenna, “Get out of here. Things are about to get bad.”
The video shows Cruz opened fire from behind Hoyer, 15, and Duque, 14. They tried to run into their classroom, but the door was locked. Student Ana Martins testified she went to open the door and could see them through the glass.
“They were scared,” she said. A friend pulled her away before she could open the door and Cruz killed the boys.
McKenna sprinted to the parking lot and alerted Aaron Feis, an assistant football coach who doubled as a security guard.
Feis drove his golf cart to the building, but was fatally shot as he opened the door. Cruz then continued through the second floor, where he fired into classrooms but hit no one.
When he reached the third-floor, the video shows, Cruz found students and teachers in the hallway, preparing to evacuate as the first-floor shots had set off the fire alarm. He fired at them as they ran away. Two girls, 18-year-old Meadow Pollack and 14-year-old Cara Loughran, fell wounded. Cruz shot them again as he past, killing them.
Peter Wang, 15, fell mortally wounded by the door. Jaime Guttenberg, 14, made it through the stairwell door before she fell. A teacher hiding behind the door poked her to see if she was still alive, but she didn’t move.
Cruz would soon run past their bodies, out onto the athletic fields and mingle with the fleeing students, speeding past two girls carrying Valentine’s Day balloons. He would be captured about an hour later in a neighborhood 3 miles (5 kilometers) away.
The jurors also heard testimony from English teacher Dara Hass, who had three students killed and several wounded in her classroom when Cruz fired through a window in the door.
“The sound was so loud. The students were screaming,” said Hass, who wept and dabbed her eyes with tissue as she testified. She thought it might be a drill, but then she spotted the body of 14-year-old Alex Schachter, who had been fatally shot at his desk.
“That’s when I saw it wasn’t a drill,” she said. Two 14-year-old girls also died in the classroom: Alaina Petty and Alyssa Alhadeff.
When police arrived and evacuated her students, Hass said she did not want to leave but officers convinced her.
“I wanted to stay with the students who couldn’t go,” she said, referring to Schachter, Petty and Alhadeff.
One student in her class, Alexander Dworet, said he originally thought the loud bangs were the school’s marching band, but then he felt a “hot sensation” on the back of his head where he had been grazed by a bullet and “I realized I was in danger.” He and other students scrambled away from the window, using Hass’ desk as a barrier.
Dworet’s 17-year-old brother, Nick, was across the hall in his Holocaust studies class. Cruz fired into that classroom, too, killing him.
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An earlier version of this story incorrectly reported that Hass was shown photos of victims’ bodies.
__
Associated Press writer Freida Frisaro in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, contributed to this report. | https://www.fox16.com/news/national/jurors-see-gruesome-video-of-florida-school-shooting/ | 2022-07-20T00:29:44Z | https://www.fox16.com/news/national/jurors-see-gruesome-video-of-florida-school-shooting/ | true |
Iran's Supreme Leader backs an 'independent and strong' Russia in support of Ukraine invasion
Russian President Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine has been backed by Iran, with its Supreme Leader claiming the West opposes an "independent and strong" Russia.
Key points:
- Vladimir Putin's visit is his second trip abroad since the war with Ukraine began
- The trip mirrors US President Joe Biden's visits to Israel and Saudi Arabia
- Iranian officials label Russia Iran's "most strategic partner"
Iranian leader Ali Khamenei said Russia faced an attack from the NATO military alliance if it hadn't sent troops into Ukraine, mirroring Mr Putin's own justification for the war.
His statement reflected increasingly close ties between Moscow and Tehran amid heavy Western sanctions on both countries.
Mr Putin met with Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to talk Syria and a UN-backed proposal to export Ukrainian grain.
It was his second trip abroad since Russian troops entered Ukraine in February.
NATO member Turkey has faced off against Russia previously in Syria and Libya, and has also sold lethal drones to Ukrainian forces, but has not imposed sanctions.
Mr Putin thanked Mr Erdogan for his help to "move forward" the grain deal.
"Not all the issues have been resolved yet, but it's good that there has been some progress," Mr Putin said.
Mr Erdogan praised what he described as Russia's "very, very positive approach" during last week's grain talks in Istanbul, adding he hoped a deal would "have a positive impact on the whole world".
The trip to Tehran had symbolic meaning for Mr Putin as well, emphasising Russia's international presence even as it became more isolated and deeper in conflict with the West.
It also came just days after US President Joe Biden visited Israel and Saudi Arabia, Tehran's primary rivals.
From Jerusalem and Jeddah, Biden urged Israel and Arab countries to push back on Russian, Chinese and Iranian influence that has expanded with the perception of America's retreat from the region.
All countries have agreed on drawing closer to counter Iran and its rapidly advancing nuclear program. Negotiations with Iran have deadlocked.
The Iranian government has ramped up uranium enrichment, cracking down on dissent and grabbing optimistic headlines.
Without sanctions relief in sight, Iran's tactical partnership with Russia has become one of survival.
"Iran is (the) centre of dynamic diplomacy," Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian wrote on Twitter, adding the meetings would "develop economic cooperation, focus on security of the region … and ensure food security".
Fadahossein Maleki, a member of the Iran's committee on national security and foreign policy, described Russia as Iran's "most strategic partner" despite years of animosity between the two.
The US claimed Russian officials recently visited an Iranian airfield at least twice to see Tehran's weapons-capable drones.
Mr Putin said the two countries have worked to "strengthen their cooperation on international security" and offered support to Tehran on the deadlocked nuclear deal.
Mr Erdogan focused on Turkey pushing back US-backed Syrian Kurdish fighters from its borders, part of its plan to create a safe zone along the Turkish-Syrian border.
He said Turkey was determined to "drive out the centres of evil" that targeted Turkey's security.
"The greatest favour that would be made to the Syrian people would be the complete removal of the separatist terrorist organisation from territories that it occupies," Mr Erdogan said.
The three presidents in a joint statement said they "rejected all attempts to create new realities on the ground under the pretext of combating terrorism, including illegitimate self-rule initiatives, and expressed their determination to stand against separatist agendas".
However, Mr Khamenei in a meeting with Mr Erdogan sternly warned against the planned Turkish incursion.
"Any sort of military attack in northern Syria will definitely harm Turkey, Syria and the entire region, and will benefit terrorists," he said, stressing the need to "bring the issue to an end through talks".
Humanitarian issues in Syria have also come into focus since Russia vetoed aid deliveries to 4.1 million people in Syria's rebel-held north-west, forcing them to stop after just six months.
All parties urged expelling American forces from Syria, with Mr Putin denouncing what he claimed was the US military's "attempts to cement unlawful foreign military presence and ferment separatist sentiments".
ABC/AP | https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-07-20/russia-ukraine-invasion-putin-meets-iran-egypt/101252734 | 2022-07-20T00:30:39Z | https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-07-20/russia-ukraine-invasion-putin-meets-iran-egypt/101252734 | true |
No smart motorway safety in fatal crash: Driver died after his car broke down on stretch of road that had no life-saving technology
- In Monday's early hours, a man in his 40s was killed between junctions 16 and 17
- Road bosses are facing questions over whether the tragedy was avoidable
- SVD systems are still not operational nearly five years after stretch opened
- SVD alerts traffic officers and CCTV staff to vehicles marooned in live traffic
A motorist died in a crash after breaking down on a smart motorway where life-saving technology was not up and running – nearly five years after the stretch opened.
Road bosses are facing questions over whether the tragedy on the M1 was avoidable if stopped vehicle detection (SVD) systems had been fitted earlier.
The technology has been installed where the crash happened, but is not yet operational. National Highways said it needs more testing before it can go live.
Road bosses are facing questions over whether the tragedy on the M1 was avoidable if stopped vehicle detection (SVD) systems had been fitted earlier
The stretch in Northamptonshire opened in November 2017, but SVD only began being fitted in October last year. This is despite the roads agency pledging to MPs in 2016 that all smart motorways would be fitted with SVD and be operational within a few years.
The SVD system is designed to alert traffic officers and CCTV staff to vehicles marooned in live traffic, often on ‘all lane running’ (ALR) motorways where the hard shoulder is permanently removed.
In the early hours of Monday, a man in his 40s was killed between junctions 16 and 17 on the M1 after his Mercedes broke down on the inside lane.
Four others were injured when a Toyota Previa smashed into the rear of the Mercedes at around 3.16am.
The development of the smart motorway at Junction 14 of the M1 with the characteristic long purple power cable down the central reservation
An internal National Highways operations log, obtained by the Mail, lays bare how the incident unfolded. It says ‘we were unaware of the vehicle at the time it occurred so no [safety] signs and signals were present’ and adds there were ‘a number of near misses’ before the crash.
The tragedy came as three National Highways chiefs were awarded £60,000 in bonuses last year. Chief executive Nick Harris was given a £20,000 bonus, taking his total remuneration for 2021-22 to £355,124, while his predecessor also pocketed £20,000 despite stepping down a year earlier amid criticism over the roll-out of smart motorways.
And chief financial officer Vanessa Howlison was also handed a £20,000 bonus. | https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11029779/Smart-motorway-safety-absent-fatal-crash.html?ns_mchannel=rss&ito=1490&ns_campaign=1490 | 2022-07-20T00:31:01Z | https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11029779/Smart-motorway-safety-absent-fatal-crash.html?ns_mchannel=rss&ito=1490&ns_campaign=1490 | false |
How to choose the best Dutch oven for baking, braising and more
Crafted from cast iron and covered in beautiful enamel, Dutch ovens are indestructible kitchen workhorses and elegant serving pieces. With the right care, they can become heirloom pieces — but they also tend to come with a hefty price tag. If you’re ready to add a Dutch oven to your cookware lineup, here’s how to choose the most helpful features, the ideal size and the best materials.
Dutch oven features
Cast-iron body
Dutch ovens are usually made from solid cast iron to generate even heat for low and slow cooking. Most are treated with an enamel coating to help prevent food from sticking, but some are left unfinished. If you choose unfinished cast iron for your Dutch oven, you’ll want to season it like you would for a cast-iron skillet.
Some Dutch ovens are made from cast aluminum or even stainless steel. These products tend to be more affordable and lighter-weight than traditional cast-iron Dutch ovens. They also offer similar heat distribution, and with cast aluminum’s enamel coating, they’re display-worthy. However, cast aluminum isn’t as durable as cast iron, and stainless steel Dutch ovens don’t have the classic appearance that some shoppers may desire.
Enamel coating
The enamel on Dutch ovens isn’t just for looks — it extends the life of the metal by protecting it from corrosion. It also helps make cooking easier. Many Dutch ovens use a light-colored enamel for the pot’s interior to help the user gauge the food’s browning and doneness.
Specialized lid
A popular feature for Dutch ovens is found on the underside of the lid. Many Dutch oven manufacturers engineer their lids with dimples or spikes on the underside. This textured surface is intended to capture evaporating moisture and return it to the dish to concentrate its flavor.
What size Dutch oven to get
Dutch oven sizes
Dutch ovens come in sizes as small as one-quarter of a quart (one cup) and larger than 13 quarts. Smaller Dutch ovens are great for single-serving portions or individual desserts, while a Dutch oven that holds 7 quarts or larger is a good pick for large families or a gathering. For most cooks, a 5- to 7-quart Dutch oven is the sweet spot.
Dutch oven shapes
Dutch ovens are available in round and oval shapes. Each shape has its benefits depending on the kind of cooking you like to do.
Generally, round Dutch ovens are more versatile since they fit better on stovetops and provide more even heating. Oval Dutch ovens are a good choice if you plan to use yours for cooking large cuts of meat or whole chickens.
How to care for your Dutch oven
Hand-washing a Dutch oven
Some Dutch ovens can safely go through the dishwasher, but to help yours last for decades, hand-washing is recommended. Once the Dutch oven has cooled down, wash it with warm, soapy water and a plastic scrub brush. Avoid steel wool or other metal implements to avoid scratching the enamel.
Store it carefully
Due to their size and weight, Dutch ovens can be tricky to store. While it may be tempting to save space by storing smaller cookware items inside your Dutch oven, this can scratch or chip the enamel and shorten the Dutch oven’s life span.
Store your Dutch oven on a pot rack, on top of your range or simply keep it in the oven. An unfinished cast-iron Dutch oven should be stored in a dry place, either with a paper towel between its lid and the pot or with the lid off entirely.
Keep in mind that Dutch ovens can weigh more than 20 pounds. It should not only be stored on a sturdy shelf but also at a height that’s safe and comfortable to lift from.
Which Dutch oven to buy
Le Creuset Enameled Cast-Iron 5.5-Quart Signature Round Dutch Oven
The tight-fitting lid helps this Dutch oven trap moisture and flavor, and its light-colored enamel interior helps you see how well your food is browning. It’s compatible with all types of cooktops and is oven-safe to 500 degrees. Le Creuset’s Dutch ovens are made in France and hand-finished with stain-, chip- and crack-resistant enamel.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon and Macy’s
Lodge Pre-Seasoned Cast-Iron Double Dutch Oven
This 5-quart Dutch oven features a lid that doubles as a 10-inch cast-iron skillet. It’s built with double loop handles for extra control, and the unfinished cast iron comes pre-seasoned so it’s ready to cook with.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon and Sur La Table
“Cocotte” is the French term for Dutch ovens. This enameled oval model lets you cook large cuts of meat or roast whole chickens. Its lid features self-basting spikes and the interior has a matte black enamel finish to help food brown more evenly.
Where to buy: Sold by Sur La Table, Amazon and Wayfair
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Laura Duerr writes for BestReviews. BestReviews has helped millions of consumers simplify their purchasing decisions, saving them time and money.
Copyright 2022 BestReviews, a Nexstar company. All rights reserved. | https://www.fox16.com/reviews/br/kitchen-br/cookware-br/which-dutch-oven-should-i-get/ | 2022-07-20T00:33:17Z | https://www.fox16.com/reviews/br/kitchen-br/cookware-br/which-dutch-oven-should-i-get/ | false |
Indiana mall shooting: Gunman fired 24 times in 15 seconds, police say
GREENWOOD, Ind. (AP) - A 20-year-old man who shot five people in a suburban Indianapolis shopping mall, killing three of them, fired 24 times within 15 seconds before he was shot and killed by an armed bystander, authorities said Tuesday.
Preliminary autopsy results show gunman Jonathan Sapirman of Greenwood was shot eight times, the Johnson County Coroner’s Office said Tuesday.
None of the gunshot wounds was self-inflicted, the coroner’s office said.
RELATED: Indiana mall shooting suspect shot dead in food court by armed civilian
Also, Greenwood Police Chief James Ison issued a statement Tuesday saying surveillance video showed Sapirman was shot within 15 seconds of opening fire, not within two minutes as the chief had said at a news conference on Monday.
Ison blamed the timing error on misreading his notes during the news conference.
Sapirman continued shooting people at the Greenwood Park Mall on Sunday until he was shot and killed by 22-year-old Elisjsha Dicken, of Seymour, a city about 45 miles (72 kilometers) south of Greenwood.
Dicken was shopping with his girlfriend at the time, Ison has said, calling Dicken’s quick action "nothing short of heroic."
The Johnson County and Marion County coroners’ offices identified the slain victims as a married Indianapolis couple — Pedro Pineda, 56, and Rosa Mirian Rivera de Pineda, 37 — and Victor Gomez, 30, also of Indianapolis.
A woman shot in the leg and a 12-year-old girl who was hit by shrapnel to her back were wounded in the attack, police have said. | https://www.fox35orlando.com/news/indiana-mall-shooting-gunman-fired-24-times-in-15-seconds-police-say | 2022-07-20T00:34:24Z | https://www.fox35orlando.com/news/indiana-mall-shooting-gunman-fired-24-times-in-15-seconds-police-say | false |
WFO BURLINGTON Warnings, Watches and Advisories for Tuesday, July 19, 2022
_____
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
The National Weather Service in Burlington has issued a
* Severe Thunderstorm Warning for...
Southern Franklin County in northern New York...
East central St. Lawrence County in northern New York...
Northwestern Essex County in northern New York...
* Until 800 PM EDT.
* At 653 PM EDT, a severe thunderstorm was located near Lake Ozonia,
moving east at 30 mph.
HAZARD...60 mph wind gusts and quarter size hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Minor hail damage to vehicles is possible. Expect wind
damage to trees and powerlines.
* Locations impacted include...
Saranac Lake, Adirondack Regional Airport, Carry Falls Reservoir,
Wawbeek, Lake Ozonia, Madawaska, Harrietstown, Stark, Paul Smiths,
Saranac Inn, Ray Brook, Lake Colby, Rainbow Lake, Loon Lake,
Gabriels, Lake Clear, Upper Saint Regis, Onchiota, St. Regis
Mountain and Azure Mountain.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a
building.
_____
Copyright 2022 AccuWeather | https://www.sfchronicle.com/weather/article/NY-WFO-BURLINGTON-Warnings-Watches-and-17315871.php | 2022-07-20T00:34:28Z | https://www.sfchronicle.com/weather/article/NY-WFO-BURLINGTON-Warnings-Watches-and-17315871.php | true |
Leading digital personal finance company earns a top spot for second year
SAN MATEO, Calif., July 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Freedom Financial Network (FFN), a leading digital personal finance company, announced today it was named to "The State of Arizona Top Workplaces 2022" list by azcentral.com and Energage.
Freedom Financial Network was named to the list for the large employer category. Energage and azcentral.com evaluate the companies named to "The State of Arizona Top Workplaces" list based on their corporate policies and practices and their programs and benefits for employees. Additionally, employees from each company are asked to take an in-depth, confidential survey about their organization to assess company culture, communications and other facets of employee sentiment.
Headquartered in San Mateo, California with more than 2,000 employees in Tempe, Arizona and teammates across the country, Freedom Financial Network has served more than 1 million customers and is rapidly growing. "The State of Arizona Top Workplaces" list is in its second year and FFN has appeared on both editions of the list. The azcentral.com website is collaboratively produced by Phoenix newspapers The Arizona Republic and La Voz, and local television station KPNX-TV Channel 12, and is part of the USA Today Network. Energage is a market research and analytics firm specializing in workplace competitive benchmarking and employee engagement.
"It's always a privilege to be recognized for the hard work and dedication of all our employees, as well as the impact Freedom Financial Network has on the Phoenix metro area and the entire state," said Brad Stroh, co-founder and co-CEO of FFN.
Freedom Financial Network helps people make better financial decisions by managing expenses and debt, saving money, and planning. The company provides innovative technology and relationship-driven support for every step of a consumer's financial path, including personal loans, debt resolution and restructuring, home equity lines of credit and financial tools and education.
FFN recently surpassed $15 billion in consumer debt resolved, while bank partners have originated nearly $8 billion in consumer loans on the Freedom Financial Asset Management platform. The company is continually innovating new solutions to expand the depth and breadth of its financial services offerings and is actively hiring for remote and hybrid roles in sales, engineering, technology and product development in California, Arizona and Texas.
"As both one of the largest and fastest-growing employers in the region, we're thrilled to receive this recognition and look forward to welcoming even more professionals from around the Valley to our team," said Linda Luman, executive vice president of human resources at FFN.
Earlier this year, FFN was named to the Phoenix Business Journal's 2022 Healthiest Employers List in recognition of its efforts to motivate employees to achieve and maintain wellness through a strong emphasis on mental and physical health. FFN has also been named to the Phoenix Business Journal's annual "Best Places to Work" list 11 times, including winning first place in the extra-large company category in 2021. The company was also recently named to the 2022 list of the Best Places to Work in the Bay Area by the San Francisco Business Times and the Silicon Valley Business Journal. Last year, FFN was also named one of "Arizona's Most Admired Companies" by AZBigMedia.
Full details on "The State of Arizona Top Workplaces 2022" list can be found here.
Freedom Financial Network is a leading digital personal finance company. We do what traditional banks don't: Put people first. Our solutions help everyday people get on, and stay on, the path to a brighter financial future, with innovative technology and personalized support. By leveraging proprietary data and analytics, our solutions are tailored for each step of a consumer's financial journey and include personal loans (FreedomPlus), home equity loans (Lendage), help with debt (Freedom Debt Relief), and even financial tools and education (Bills.com). Freedom Financial Network has more than 2,600 dedicated employees across California, Arizona and Texas and is recognized as a Best Place to Work.
For information on career opportunities at Freedom Financial Network, visit: https://jobs.freedomfinancialnetwork.com/
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SOURCE Freedom Financial Network | https://www.wlbt.com/prnewswire/2022/07/20/freedom-financial-network-named-the-state-arizona-top-workplaces-2022-list-by-azcentralcom-energage/ | 2022-07-20T00:35:15Z | https://www.wlbt.com/prnewswire/2022/07/20/freedom-financial-network-named-the-state-arizona-top-workplaces-2022-list-by-azcentralcom-energage/ | false |
This morning I met my friend Dana at the pool and had a great conversation about favorite desserts of our childhood. We also discussed how much alike her husband Scott and my John are. Do you think it’s just a coincidence that they share Sept. 13 as their birthday? | https://365project.org/allie912/whatintheworld/2022-07-20 | 2022-07-20T00:35:36Z | https://365project.org/allie912/whatintheworld/2022-07-20 | true |
TUCSON, Ariz. (KGUN) — Updated at 4:30 p.m.
According to University of Arizona Police Department, no threat was found.
Nursing building is clear.
———
The University of Arizona Police Department is responding to a bomb threat.
Officers say the bomb threat was made at the University of Arizona College of Nursing.
Police were dispatched to 1304 N. Martin near Campbell and Speedway.
The UAPD has evacuated the building and advises the public to avoid the area.
Responding officers told KGUN 9's Greg Bradbury people in the building reported hearing a fire alarm before getting instructions to leave.
On-scene police say searching the building could take a while as investigators thoroughly search the college.
No one is allowed in until authorities have declared the area safe.
Please stay with KGUN 9 for continuing updates.
——-
Greg Bradbury is a reporter for KGUN 9. Greg is a graduate of Syracuse University where he studied Broadcast Journalism and Spanish. Greg joined KGUN 9 in February 2021 as a Multimedia Journalist after working at the ABC National Desk as a Digital News Associate. Share your story ideas and important issues with Greg by emailing greg.bradbury@kgun9.com or by connecting on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. | https://www.abc15.com/news/local-news/bomb-threat-being-investigated-at-the-university-of-arizona-college-of-nursing | 2022-07-20T00:39:56Z | https://www.abc15.com/news/local-news/bomb-threat-being-investigated-at-the-university-of-arizona-college-of-nursing | false |
Five firefighters were injured Tuesday as a five-alarm blaze tore into three triple-decker homes in East Boston.
Shortly before 7 p.m., crews were battling fire on all three floors of 316 Princeton St., as well as two neighboring homes, fire officials said.
All the residents were able to get out of the building, officials said. The injured firefighters were treated for minor injuries and four other firefighters were evaluated “but remained at the scene,” officials said.
Crews arrived to see smoke coming from the home; a fourth alarm was ordered within minutes.
3- 3decker homes in E. Boston affected by now 5alarm fire. Exposures # 314 & 318 with 316 main fire building. Searches have been negative, all residents are out. pic.twitter.com/6hM0aHqBZX
— Boston Fire Dept. (@BostonFire) July 19, 2022
Smoke showing upon arrival in E Boston 4th alarm ordered within minutes pic.twitter.com/PjHdGapm93
— Boston Fire Dept. (@BostonFire) July 19, 2022
All companies working hard. First few alarm companies are in need of major rehab at 5 alarm on aPrinceton St pic.twitter.com/ZAhEV7POqv
— Boston Fire Dept. (@BostonFire) July 19, 2022
Matt Yan can be reached at matt.yan@globe.com. Follow him on Twitter @matt_yan12. | https://www.bostonglobe.com/2022/07/19/metro/five-firefighters-injured-east-boston-blaze/ | 2022-07-20T00:42:33Z | https://www.bostonglobe.com/2022/07/19/metro/five-firefighters-injured-east-boston-blaze/ | true |
LeAnn Rimes is ready to look back on her mental health journey over the past decade.
In a new interview, the singer discussed how having risen to fame at the young age of 13 affected her in the future.
"Being in the public eye from the time I was very young and having to override my humanness," she said in a July 15 interview with Insider,"I think it was a huge part of my experience with anxiety and depression and what was triggering it."
In 2012, LeAnn made the decision to seek professional help and checked into a treatment center the day after her 30th birthday, her publicist told E! News at the time.
"I was in a very, very dark place. I had never been alone," she explained in her new interview. "There was always someone around, whether it be a parent or a manager, an agent or a publicist, or a husband, or whatever it was."
She added, "It was time for me to break away from my deep codependency and to figure out what was chemically going on to be able to take care of myself."
Now, LeAnn is reclaiming her life in the spotlight and celebrating her career.
This year marks the 25th anniversary since the release of her debut album Blue. In May, the Grammy-Award winning artist gushed about the accomplishment, and the commencement of her the story…so far tour in an interview with E! News.
"It's really cool to see people instantly relate to the songs," she said at the time. "It's a true celebration of music and life and survival." | https://www.eonline.com/ca/news/1338647/leann-rimes-reflects-on-dark-time-period-before-seeking-treatment-in-2012?cmpid=rss-000000-rssfeed-365-topstories&utm_source=eonline&utm_medium=rssfeeds&utm_campaign=rss_topstories | 2022-07-20T00:46:15Z | https://www.eonline.com/ca/news/1338647/leann-rimes-reflects-on-dark-time-period-before-seeking-treatment-in-2012?cmpid=rss-000000-rssfeed-365-topstories&utm_source=eonline&utm_medium=rssfeeds&utm_campaign=rss_topstories | false |
Police: Indiana mall gunman fired 24 times in 15 seconds
GREENWOOD, Ind. (AP) — A 20-year-old man who shot five people in a suburban Indianapolis shopping mall, killing three of them, fired 24 times within 15 seconds before he was shot and killed by an armed bystander, authorities said Tuesday.
Preliminary autopsy results show gunman Jonathan Sapirman of Greenwood was shot eight times, the Johnson County Coroner’s Office said Tuesday.
None of the gunshot wounds was self-inflicted, the coroner’s office said.
Also, Greenwood Police Chief James Ison issued a statement Tuesday saying surveillance video showed Sapirman was shot within 15 seconds of opening fire, not within two minutes as the chief had said at a news conference on Monday.
Ison blamed the timing error on misreading his notes during the news conference.
Sapirman continued shooting people at the Greenwood Park Mall on Sunday until he was shot and killed by 22-year-old Elisjsha Dicken, of Seymour, a city about 45 miles (72 kilometers) south of Greenwood.
Dicken was shopping with his girlfriend at the time, Ison has said, calling Dicken’s quick action “nothing short of heroic.”
The Johnson County and Marion County coroners’ offices identified the slain victims as a married Indianapolis couple — Pedro Pineda, 56, and Rosa Mirian Rivera de Pineda, 37 — and Victor Gomez, 30, also of Indianapolis.
A woman shot in the leg and a 12-year-old girl who was hit by shrapnel to her back were wounded in the attack, police have said.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.azfamily.com/2022/07/19/police-indiana-mall-gunman-fired-24-times-15-seconds/ | 2022-07-20T00:47:09Z | https://www.azfamily.com/2022/07/19/police-indiana-mall-gunman-fired-24-times-15-seconds/ | false |
‘Traumatic event’: Wife hospitalized after run over with vehicle in carjacking, husband says
ATLANTA (WGCL/Gray News) - An Atlanta woman is recovering after being part of a chaotic scene over the weekend.
Atlanta resident Michael Hill told WGCL about the incident involving his wife, Suzanne. He says she is lucky to be alive. The 59-year-old was leaving her home on July 16 when she was carjacked.
“You expect, in your mind, crime to happen late in the evening or at night, not right in the middle of the day,” Michael Hill said.
Surveillance video showed the 59-year-old getting out of her vehicle at the end of her driveway when a man ran up to her SUV and jumped inside.
A gunshot was heard in the video but Suzanne was not hit. The alleged carjacker is seen knocking her to the ground and then running her over with the vehicle before speeding off.
“It’s so upsetting, just to see how much pain she was in,” Michael Hill said. “My wife won’t ever be able to leave the house the same way again. It’s such a traumatic event.”
A neighbor spoke on the condition of anonymity and said she saw a group of young people with Suzanne’s vehicle shortly after the incident. She and several others waited with Suzanne until EMS arrived.
“I heard them saying they hit her,” the neighbor said. “I went down the street where Suzanne was lying. Several people were on the phone with 911. I was just focused on her and making sure that she kept talking.”
Michael Hill, who was at work, said he felt helpless seeing his wife suffer. She has a fractured skull and shoulder. Her legs, wrists, multiple ribs and hip are also broken.
“There are no internal organs that were damaged,” Michael Hill said. “And she didn’t have any brain trauma, which I’m incredibly thankful for.”
He said his wife likely wouldn’t walk on her own for at least six months and warned others to stay vigilant no matter where you are.
“I know people think the West End is a dangerous place,” Michael Hill said. “It’s not as dangerous as people think. But it can happen anywhere.”
Suzanne’s friends and family said they started a GoFundMe account to help cover her medical expenses as they say she does not have insurance through her bartending job.
The couple said they were planning a trip to Peru later this year to celebrate their 10th wedding anniversary and Suzanne’s 60th birthday. That trip is currently on hold.
According to Atlanta police, two people were arrested in the incident after they led officers on a short chase in Suzanne’s vehicle. One of the people involved was a minor, and the other was identified as 20-year-old Courtney Hall. Both were charged with armed robbery.
Copyright 2022 WGCL Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. | https://www.kfyrtv.com/2022/07/19/traumatic-event-wife-hospitalized-after-run-over-with-vehicle-carjacking-husband-says/ | 2022-07-20T00:47:15Z | https://www.kfyrtv.com/2022/07/19/traumatic-event-wife-hospitalized-after-run-over-with-vehicle-carjacking-husband-says/ | false |
Mo'Nique is coming home to Netflix! On Tuesday, the Oscar- and Golden Globe-winning actress and comedian announced she will soon be shooting a fresh original comedy special for the streamer.
In a video posted to the streamer’s Twitter account and the Strong Black Lead initiative account, the 54-year-old tells fans that she is "so excited to share that I'll be shooting my first Netflix comedy special."
She also reminds viewers that she will be reuniting with friend and director Lee Daniels for the Netflix film The Deliverance. "You won’t wanna miss either of them, so y'all stay tuned,” the GRAMMY nominee continues. “Thank y'all my sweet babies. I love us for real.”
The special is set to film later this year in Atlanta, with additional details to be announced in the coming months.
News of the comedy special marks a surprising, yet happy resolution to the years-long standoff between the star and the streamer. Last month, Mo'Nique -- whose legal name is Monique Hicks -- and Netflix agreed to dismiss the lawsuit she brought against them back in November 2019, claiming racial and gender discrimination. In court documents obtained by ET, the star and streamer agreed to drop the suit "including without limitation all claims alleged therein, with prejudice, with each party to bear her or its own costs, expenses, and attorneys' fees." No further details of the settlement were disclosed.
In the November 2019 filing, the comedian alleged that when she and Netflix began discussions for the comedian to film a comedy special to air on the streamer, they made an offer that she found "biased, discriminatory." It was reportedly an opening offer of $500,000 for a one-hour show that Netflix would have complete control over, including owning the copyright and retaining all audio-only rights to the special.
"Netflix reportedly offered or paid Rock, Chappelle, DeGeneres and Gervais 40 times more per show than it offered Mo'Nique, and it offered Schumer 26 times more per show than Mo'Nique," the lawsuit alleged, according to CBS News. "In short, Netflix's offer to Mo'Nique perpetuates the drastic wage gap forced upon Black women in the American workforce."
"Despite Mo'Nique’s extensive résumé and documented history of comedic success, when Netflix presented her with an offer of employment for an exclusive stand-up comedy special, Netflix made a low-ball offer that was only a fraction of what Netflix paid other (non-Black female) comedians,” the lawsuit continues. "When the talent was not a Black woman, Netflix offered to pay, and did pay, astronomically more than it pays to Black women like it offered to Mo'Nique."
The suit also noted a general pattern of gender and racial discrimination at the streamer, highlighting such instances as when Claire Foy was paid significantly less than Matt Smith for The Crown. It also referenced a $20 million deal for Ellen DeGeneres and a $40 million deal for Ricky Gervais.
At the time, Netflix said in a statement, "We care deeply about inclusion, equity and diversity and take any accusations of discrimination very seriously. We believe our opening offer to Mo'Nique was fair -- which is why we will be fighting this lawsuit."
Clearly, both parties were content enough with the settlement to enter into a new business agreement.
Mo’Nique has entered a particularly healing season as she also recently mended fences with Daniels, whom she has been at odds with since they worked together on the Academy Award-winning film Precious in 2009. After winning the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress in 2010 for her critically acclaimed performance as the titular character's abusive mother, Mary, the 54-year-old comedian made headlines when she claimed she was "blackballed" from Hollywood, naming Daniels as one of the culprits.
Nearly 13 years since they began feuding, the director and star have reconciled and reunited for the’ upcoming thriller, The Deliverance.
Mo’Nique will star as "a social worker who helps a family through a series of exorcisms" alongside Andra Day, Glenn Close, Aunjanue Ellis, Caleb McLaughlin, Tasha Smith, Omar Epps, Demi Singleton, Miss Lawrence and Anthony B. Jenkins. In the film, which is inspired by a terrifying true story, Day plays Ebony, a mother who fights for her life, her faith, and the souls of her children after discovering their new home is haunted by a demonic presence.
RELATED CONTENT | https://www.wfaa.com/article/entertainment/entertainment-tonight/monique-to-shoot-her-first-netflix-comedy-special-after-settling-racial-and-gender-discrimination-lawsuit/603-5d6d0dba-92df-4397-ae90-e1b3f2af441e | 2022-07-20T00:47:37Z | https://www.wfaa.com/article/entertainment/entertainment-tonight/monique-to-shoot-her-first-netflix-comedy-special-after-settling-racial-and-gender-discrimination-lawsuit/603-5d6d0dba-92df-4397-ae90-e1b3f2af441e | true |
Officials say a former East Texas deputy pleaded guilty to a civil rights violation for punching a restrained detainee in the chest repeatedly with a shock gun.
Former Van Zandt County sheriff's deputy David Yager pleaded guilty on Tuesday to a charge arising from a February 2021 assault on a detainee. The man was in a restraint chair with one arm free when he banged his food tray against a cell door, then knocked a shock gun from Yager's hand. Angered, Yager assaulted the detainee until another deputy persuaded him to stop.
He faces up to 3 1/2 years in prison, according to the Associated Press.
Yager, 29, is the second former Van Zandt County deputy to plead guilty this month to using excessive force. | https://www.wrtv.com/news/national/ex-deputy-in-east-texas-pleads-guilty-to-using-excessive-force-on-restrained-detainee | 2022-07-20T00:47:44Z | https://www.wrtv.com/news/national/ex-deputy-in-east-texas-pleads-guilty-to-using-excessive-force-on-restrained-detainee | true |
Islamic veil: Why fewer women in North Africa are wearing it
By Magdi Abdelhadi
North Africa analyst
- Published
Photos of women in full Islamic attire - faces covered and in long dresses - next to old pictures of women in short skirts from the 1950s and 1960s in North Africa and the Middle East are often put together on social media to make a point.
The underlying message is: "Look what has become of Arab societies during the past 50 years or so."
To those who share such photos, it is the most visible sign of how their countries have regressed and abandoned the ideals of progress and modernity, exemplified by adopting a Western lifestyle.
But for the conservative forces that have shaped the region in the past few decades, it is quite the opposite: it is a positive act of asserting Muslim identity in societies that had for long been colonised and had a Western lifestyle imposed upon them first by colonial rulers, and then by Westernised elites out of touch with local culture.
From Morocco to Egypt and beyond, the issue of "Islamic dress code", in particular the veil or hijab, has been one of the most controversial piece of clothing.
By all accounts, its spread within the region has been down primarily to one factor: the emergence and eventual success of political Islam, the phenomenon also known as Islamism.
The whole of North Africa has powerful Islamist movements that either came to power or nearly did as in the case of Algeria in the early 1990s.
Even after they were removed from power, their influence over societies has remained considerable.
But that is beginning to change, according to many observers. And one of the most obvious ways to assess that is by looking at the most potent symbol of the impact of Islamism: the hijab.
Many observers have noted that the past few years have seen a steady decline in the phenomenon in North Africa.
In Moroccan news website Al-Yaoum 24, columnist Said El-Zaghouti recently wrote: "It's not hard to notice that the extent to which the hijab was worn in our Arab world, and in particular in Morocco, has gone down relatively, and that retreat and decline is to a large extent due to the decline and ebb of what is known as the Islamic current."
Young Moroccan women have spoken to local media about the social pressure, even harassment, they have to endure when they take off the hijab. But that has apparently not deterred them.
In Tunisia, where wearing the hijab was once an act of defiance because it was banned by successive autocratic regimes, it became popular for a brief period following the 2011 Arab Spring, but has started to fall off again recently.
Writing in the Arabic Independent, Tunisian journalist Huda Al-Trabulis highlights the complex motives for the appearance of the hijab in the country and its subsequent decline.
The hijab was once an act of resistance and opposition to secularism imposed from above during the rule of the post-independence autocrats, Habib Bourguiba and Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali.
It then became popular in the short period after the revolution in 2011 that saw the rise to power of the Islamist Ennahda movement, to the extent that the veiled woman was promoted as the model to follow for the Tunisian public.
But then it fell out of favour as successive Islamist-dominated parliaments failed to solve the country's many problems and Tunisia plunged into a deep economic and political crisis.
In Egypt too, arguably the birthplace of the hijab as we know it today, the appearance and relative decline is tied up with the political fortunes of the Muslim Brotherhood.
Egyptian women began throwing off traditional face coverings nearly a century ago and by the mid-twentieth century the veil had almost completely disappeared.
But the hijab made its first re-emergence in the mid-seventies when then-President Anwar Sadat gave a green light to the Muslim Brotherhood to operate on university campuses to fight off political rivals from the secular left who had developed considerable influence over society in the previous decades.
The spread of the hijab continued almost unabated until 2013 when the Muslim Brotherhood President Mohammed Morsi was removed from power.
Hostility to Islamist symbols - the hijab foremost amongst them - was palpable.
There were persistent reports of restaurants denying access to women wearing the hijab, or swimming pools refusing entry to women wearing the burkini, the supposedly Sharia-compliant swimsuit.
Today there is palpable decline that is hard to quantify due to a lack of objective surveys. The evidence is largely anecdotal.
Still, the hijab remains one of the country most divisive issues - a cultural and political fault-line not dissimilar to the one surrounding abortion in the US, with cultural and political rows breaking out at regular intervals on the matter.
Most recently in Egypt reactions to the stabbing to death of a young university student in broad daylight by her suitor after she refused to marry him were as shocking as the crime itself.
To everyone the crime was abhorrent and duly condemned. But as soon as it emerged that the victim was unveiled, reactions began to diversify.
A famous tele-preacher urged women to cover their bodies properly to avoid meeting a similar fate. He actually said: "Cover your face with a basket."
And when her university sought to pay tribute to her, it produced a poster of her with her photo apparently doctored so it appeared as though she was wearing the hijab.
Both reactions triggered a barrage of angry responses from the secularised sectors of society.
The young man has been sentenced to death by hanging. But a campaign has swung into action to defend the convicted murderer.
No-one knows for sure who is behind it, but many suspect wealthy Islamists in exile have hired the highest paid lawyer in the country to defend the culprit in the appeal proceedings.
An intervention by al-Azhar - the highest religious institution in Egypt - to calm tension has ironically poured more oil on the fire.
The Grand Imam of al-Azhar, Sheikh Ahmed al-Tayeb, has said that not wearing the hijab does not make the woman a renegade, but simply a woman who disobeyed God.
The statement that was meant to assuage secular sectors of society enraged women's rights and other secular groups even more.
Once again, social media were full of impassioned pleas for the hijab as an inalienable part of the faith and equally vociferous condemnation of the cloth.
Although support for the hijab appear to be waning in the region, especially among the young, the perception that it is inseparable from Muslim identity has become entrenched far and wide.
So much so that whenever any government - especially in Europe - introduces restrictions on wearing it in public institutions, that is usually denounced as a war on Islam itself.
Merely criticising the hijab in Western democracies has also become almost synonymous with "Islamophobia" or attacks on minority rights.
But in Muslim-majority societies it is still regarded as part of a legitimate campaign for the liberation of women from stifling tradition.
You may also be interested in: | https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-62215620 | 2022-07-20T00:49:44Z | https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-62215620 | true |
San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins said Tuesday she will dismiss charges against as many as 17 people recently accused of possessing drug paraphernalia, saying in a statement that the cases were brought “out of accordance with our office’s policy” on prosecuting such crimes.
Her announcement followed a scathing reproach from Public Defender Mano Raju, who in a press release accused Jenkins of risking a regression into the “inhumane, cruel, and costly war on drugs.”
However, Jenkins’ office said the charges represented mistakes and that the cases were filed both just before she took office July 8, under her predecessor Chesa Boudin, and shortly after she was sworn in. All involved either people accused of possessing drug paraphernalia, like pipes.
A senior prosecutor who should have reviewed the cases and ensured the charges were not filed was on extended leave, the office said, so the charges were allowed to proceed.
“I have made no policy changes in regards to charging for simple drug possession and paraphernalia,” Jenkins said in a statement. “My office will immediately withdraw these charges as they were done out of accordance with our office’s policy.”
Jenkins said she was instead focused on holding “serious drug dealers, particularly those dealing fentanyl, accountable and not targeting and incarcerating those suffering from addiction. We will take the appropriate steps internally to ensure that our staff is following our policy.”
Filing criminal charges against people accused of possessing small amounts of drugs or drug paraphernalia is widely seen as a misguided approach that incarcerates people experiencing a health crisis that offers few options for their recovery.
The case withdrawals come as Jenkins has repeatedly stated her intention to crack down on drug crimes, vowing to review and potentially revoke dozens of plea offers extended to defendants in drug-dealing cases under Boudin.
Jenkins, who helped lead the successful recall of Boudin, has decried Boudin’s policies as too lenient. Boudin’s supporters say Jenkins’ approach resembles tactics that led to mass incarceration and excessively punished the poor, people of color and those experiencing addiction.
Supporters of Jenkins and Boudin have clashed in increasingly hostile terms, Last week, Jenkins fired 15 staff members, some of whom had joined the DA’s office to work under Boudin.
Megan Cassidy and Dominic Fracassa are San Francisco Chronicle staff writers. Email: megan.cassidy@sfchronicle.com dfracassa@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @meganrcassidy @dominicfracassa | https://www.sfchronicle.com/sf/article/S-F-D-A-Jenkins-to-dismiss-drug-paraphernalia-17315920.php | 2022-07-20T00:55:56Z | https://www.sfchronicle.com/sf/article/S-F-D-A-Jenkins-to-dismiss-drug-paraphernalia-17315920.php | false |
Rangers eye Besiktas starlet Ridvan Yilmaz, as Jurgen Klopp hails 'top drawer character' Ben Davies after the centre back swapped Anfield for Ibrox in a £4million deal
- Ben Davies failed to make a senior appearance in two seasons with Liverpool
- The defender has now completed his transfer to Rangers for £4 million
- Jurgen Klopp called him an 'accomplished defender' who is 'entering his peak'
- Rangers are also looking to bring in Turkey international Ridvan Yilmaz
Rangers are exploring a potential move for highly-rated Besiktas left-back Ridvan Yilmaz after completing the £4million signing of central defender Ben Davies.
Yilmaz, 21, already has six senior caps for Turkey. He came through Besiktas’ youth system, progressing to a first-team debut in April 2019 and helping them win the 2020-21 league title.
Now entering the final year of his contract with the Istanbul club, he would likely cost in excess of £4m if Rangers pursue a permanent deal.
Ridvan Yilmaz has already broken into the Turkish national team and picked up a league title
With Calvin Bassey poised to complete his £20m switch to Ajax, the Ibrox club have already secured Davies from Liverpool in a switch worth an initial £3m plus a further £1m in add-ons.
That transfer has been given a firm seal of approval by Jurgen Klopp, who believes it’s the ‘perfect’ move for a defender approaching his prime.
Davies was confirmed as Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s sixth summer addition shortly before kick-off in last night’s 3-1 friendly win against West Ham.
Davies, who has signed a four-year contract at Ibrox, didn’t make a senior appearance at Anfield after being signed in a £500,000 switch from Preston and spent last season at Sheffield United.
However, Liverpool boss Klopp delivered a glowing appraisal of his character and backed him to be a major success in Scotland. ‘It’s a smart piece of recruitment from Giovanni van Bronckhorst,’ said Klopp.
‘Perfect for all parties. He has himself an accomplished defender, who is entering his peak years and whose character is top drawer.’
Davies, who previously attracted interest from Celtic before joining Liverpool in February 2021, was delighted to join last season’s Europa League finalists.
He follows John Souttar, Antonio Colak, Tom Lawrence, Rabbi Matondo and Malik Tillman in being added this summer.
Jurgen Klopp called Ben Davies an 'accomplished defender' who is 'entering his peak'
‘I am very excited to join Rangers and I am really looking forward to taking this next step in my career,’ said Davies. ‘It’s a huge club with big ambitions and I can’t wait to get started.’
Van Bronckhorst believes Davies will be a significant signing. ‘First of all, I am happy he joined us,’ said the Dutchman, who expects Alfredo Morelos to return to fitness in the ‘coming weeks’ and before Kemar Roofe.
‘He is a left-footed defender and that is very important for the team. He is very comfortable with the ball, a good passer, a good reader of the game and a good defender.
‘His time at Liverpool didn’t work out how he wanted. But that happens. When we spoke he was very, very excited to start and be part of Rangers and he will also add his qualities. We will see if he can get some minutes at the weekend.’ | https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-11030059/Rangers-eye-Besiktas-starlet-Ridvan-Yilm-J-Ben-Davies-swaps-Anfield-Ibrox.html?ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490&ito=1490 | 2022-07-20T00:56:16Z | https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-11030059/Rangers-eye-Besiktas-starlet-Ridvan-Yilm-J-Ben-Davies-swaps-Anfield-Ibrox.html?ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490&ito=1490 | false |
What will your day look like in terms of health, romance, finance and fortune? Read everything here.
Prediction: It will be better for you to do important work in the afternoon. The beginning of the day will be normal. Relationships will improve. You will impress everyone with modern and creative efforts. Be emotionally strong. Act responsibly. You will be full of confidence. Everyone will come together to celebrate. Long-term plans will gain momentum. Interest in new work will increase. Have a spirit of cooperation. Focus on individual subjects. Traditions will be strengthened.
Monetary gains: You will achieve success in financial matters. Follow the rules. Focus on business and adopt new methods. Power will increase. There will be speed in the best work. There will be a sense of good performance. Have courage. There will be an increase in reputation and respect. The profit will be better than expected.
Love life: Maintain sweetness in speech and behaviour. There will be a feeling of cooperation towards everyone. Mutual trust will increase. Friendship relations will improve. Feel free to move forward. You will spend pleasant moments with your close ones. You will also meet a loved one. Be calm and patient.
Health: Be comfortable in your own skin. You will attract everyone. Discipline will increase. Memory ability will be strengthened. Speed up pending work. Food habits will improve. Morale will remain high. Health will improve.
Lucky numbers: 2 and 6
Lucky colour: Magenta | https://www.indiatoday.in/horoscopes/aries/story/horoscopes-aries-story-aries-horoscope-today-daily-for-20-july-2022-be-emotionally-strong-1977552-2022-07-20 | 2022-07-20T00:57:44Z | https://www.indiatoday.in/horoscopes/aries/story/horoscopes-aries-story-aries-horoscope-today-daily-for-20-july-2022-be-emotionally-strong-1977552-2022-07-20 | true |
Space telescopes are all the rage right now, thanks to the immaculate first images of the cosmos beamed back to Earth by the James Webb Space Telescope. That 'scope is likely to deliver data and scenes from deep space for decades, but the fun doesn't stop there. In just over four years, NASA plans to launch its next next-gen space telescope: The Nancy Grace Roman Telescope.
In a press release on Tuesday, NASA said SpaceX has won the launch contract and Roman will be launching on a Falcon Heavy and the date for go is currently listed as October 2026.
Roman, previously known as the Wfirst telescope, will look at the universe in infrared, just like Webb does. The mission's primary objectives are to probe the nature of dark energy and dark matter in the universe, but it also includes a specialized instrument known as a "coronagraph" that can block out light from distant stars and detect exoplanets in orbit around them. Roman isn't an upgrade over Webb, but it will provide a look at the universe that is, according to NASA, a ten-fold improvement over Hubble.
The telescope will sit at the Lagrange point, L2, a million miles from Earth -- just like Webb does. Basically, the two telescopes will be neighbors.
Entrusted with the task of delivering Roman to L2 is SpaceX's Falcon Heavy, the most powerful rocket currently in operation, chalking up over 5 million pounds of thrust at liftoff.
The monstrous rocket hasn't been used since it's third flight in June 2019, when it launched various Department of Defense satellites to orbit in what the company called "the most difficult launch ever." The rocket contains three boosters -- a core and two side boosters -- that return to Earth for re-use. However, in all three launches so far, the core booster has been lost.
SpaceX's next Falcon Heavy launch will occur in August, with two more launches planned for 2022. | https://www.cnet.com/science/space/nasas-dark-energy-hunting-telescope-will-launch-on-spacexs-falcon-heavy/ | 2022-07-20T01:01:05Z | https://www.cnet.com/science/space/nasas-dark-energy-hunting-telescope-will-launch-on-spacexs-falcon-heavy/ | false |
WFO RENO Warnings, Watches and Advisories for Tuesday, July 19, 2022
_____
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Reno NV
546 PM PDT Tue Jul 19 2022
...Strong thunderstorms will impact portions of southern Mono,
Churchill, Mineral, eastern Pershing, Douglas and Lyon Counties
through 715 PM PDT...
HAZARD...Moderate to heavy localized rain and frequent
lightning, along with winds in excess of 30 mph.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Localized heavy rain may produce ponding and minor
flooding on area roads.
Locations impacted include...
Fallon, Lovelock, Bodie, Chalfant, Crowley Lake, Benton, Lahontan
Reservoir, Toms Place, Mono Lake, Fernley, Hawthorne, Yerington,
Middlegate, Silver Springs, Oasis, Trinity Junction, Benton Hot
Springs, Mason, Mina and Wabuska.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with these storms.
Seek a safe shelter inside a building or vehicle. Avoid flooded
roadways and increase braking distance on wet roads.
LAT...LON 3842 11926 3937 11942 3965 11911 4086 11824
4086 11765 4068 11764 4068 11730 4000 11754
3988 11746 3958 11747 3938 11776 3910 11778
3901 11818 3892 11819 3847 11770 3789 11842
3748 11786 3746 11871
TIME...MOT...LOC 0042Z 240DEG 49KT 3947 11915
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...30 MPH
_____
Copyright 2022 AccuWeather | https://www.expressnews.com/weather/article/CA-WFO-RENO-Warnings-Watches-and-Advisories-17316023.php | 2022-07-20T01:01:53Z | https://www.expressnews.com/weather/article/CA-WFO-RENO-Warnings-Watches-and-Advisories-17316023.php | true |
AP source: Biden holds off on climate emergency declaration
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden will travel to Massachusetts on Wednesday to promote his efforts to combat climate change.
But a person familiar with the president’s plans says he will stop short of issuing an emergency declaration that would unlock federal resources to deal with the issue. Biden has been under pressure to issue an emergency declaration after Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia pulled out of negotiations over climate legislation. Biden has been trying signal to Democratic voters that he’s aggressively tackling global warming at a time when some of his supporters have despaired about the lack of progress.
Biden could announce other steps on climate change but the White House hasn’t released details. | https://www.41nbc.com/ap-source-biden-holds-off-on-climate-emergency-declaration/ | 2022-07-20T01:06:05Z | https://www.41nbc.com/ap-source-biden-holds-off-on-climate-emergency-declaration/ | false |
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