More Gunfire In Burkina Faso Capital After Junta Leader Urges Calm
More Gunfire In Burkina Faso Capital After Junta Leader Urges Calm https://digitalalabamanews.com/more-gunfire-in-burkina-faso-capital-after-junta-leader-urges-calm/
Military junta took power in January
Junta leader talks of “confused situation”
West, Central Africa has seen spate of coups since 2020
Islamist militants have killed thousands in recent years
OUAGADOUGOU, Sept 30 (Reuters) – More gunshots rang out near Burkina Faso’s presidential palace on Friday afternoon, shortly after its military leader sought to quell fears of a second coup in eight months.
Residents of the capital Ouagadougou woke to the sound of gunfire at dawn on Friday. Soon after, soldiers and military vehicles took to the deserted streets, cutting off access to administrative buildings.
By mid-morning, the city, usually buzzing with motorbikes and cars, was quiet. Schools, businesses and banks were shut. State television stopped broadcasting.
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But heavy gunfire broke out again near the presidential palace in the early afternoon, two Reuters reporters said.
It was not clear if a coup was underway, but security sources say there has been frustration within the military at a lack of progress in combating Islamist militants.
Colonel Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba, who took power in a coup in January, urged calm in a statement. Certain members of the armed forces overcome by “moods swings” had created a “confused situation,” he said.
His whereabouts are unknown.
“Since he [Damiba] took power, our soldiers die often and this does not sadden him,” said Marcelin Ouedraogo, who joined a protest in the city centre on Friday calling for the end of French military involvement in Burkina Faso, and for collaboration with Russia.
The latest unrest bore the hallmarks of other power grabs that have swept across West and Central Africa since 2020, undoing years of democratic progress.
The coups have been driven in part by violence committed by Islamist groups who have taken over large areas of northern Burkina Faso and parts of neighbouring Mali and Niger.
Civilian populations have cheered military juntas in the hope that they would be more successful at containing the insurgents than their democratically-elected predecessors.
Soldiers block the road to stop the advance of protesters against junta leader Paul-Henri Damiba, on a street in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso September 30, 2022. REUTERS/Vincent Bado
As well as Burkina Faso, Mali, Chad, and Guinea have all seen coups since 2020.
INSECURITY
Friday’s unrest is a “damning indictment for the state of democracy in the region”, said Eric Humphery-Smith, Senior Africa Analyst at risk intelligence company Verisk Maplecroft.
Another coup would mark the “sixth unconstitutional takeover in the Sahel in the past two years,” he said.
Damiba’s takeover was largely celebrated by Burkinabe fed up with the inability of former President Roch Kabore’s government to rein in militants linked to Islamic State and al Qaeda.
Burkina Faso has become the epicentre of the violence that began in neighbouring Mali in 2012 and has spread across the Sahel region south of the Sahara Desert.
The militants have killed thousands of people in Burkina Faso in recent years.
Damiba had pledged to restore security but attacks have worsened. The army is in disarray and frustrated, security sources say.
Militants have blockaded areas of the north, leaving communities stranded. Government convoys and air drops deliver essential goods to trapped civilians.
This week, unknown assailants killed 11 soldiers in an attack on a convoy taking supplies to a town in northern Burkina Faso. Fifty civilians are missing. read more
Many cities and towns not under siege have seen their populations swell as people flee violence in the countryside.
Protests against the military took place across Burkina Faso this week to demand the government do more to improve the security situation. Much of the country has become ungovernable since 2018.
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Writing by Edward McAllister, Bate Felix and Sofia Christensen, Editing by Angus MacSwan, William Maclean and Toby Chopra
Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.
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Liberal Justice Jackson Joins A Rightward-Moving U.S. Supreme Court
Liberal Justice Jackson Joins A Rightward-Moving U.S. Supreme Court https://digitalalabamanews.com/liberal-justice-jackson-joins-a-rightward-moving-u-s-supreme-court/
U.S. Supreme Associate Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson waves during a photo opportunity outside the U.S. Supreme Court following an investiture ceremony for Justice Jackson at the court in Washington, U.S., September 30, 2022. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque
Major race cases loom for first Black woman U.S. justice
Biden attends Jackson’s ceremonial swearing-in at court
Sept 30 (Reuters) – President Joe Biden’s liberal appointee Ketanji Brown Jackson, set to hear arguments for the first time on Monday as a U.S. Supreme Court justice, joins the nation’s top judicial body at a consequential time when its conservative majority has shown an increasing willingness to exert its power on a range of issues.
Jackson, the first Black woman on the court, and her eight new colleagues will consider over the next nine months a slate of important cases. These involve race-conscious admissions policies used by colleges and universities to foster student diversity, voting rights, environmental regulation, LGBT and religious rights, the power of federal agencies – and even a dispute over Andy Warhol paintings.
“Given how the docket is shaping up, there’s no indication this is going to be a quiet term for Justice Jackson to join,” said law professor Allison Orr Larsen of the College of William & Mary in Virginia.
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The court has a 6-3 conservative majority, with Jackson joining a liberal bloc that has been relegated to issuing strongly worded dissents in the most important decisions. For example, the court’s conservative majority powered rulings on back-to-back days in June overturning its 1973 precedent that had legalized abortion nationwide and expanding gun rights by declaring that the U.S. Constitution protects an individual’s right to carry a handgun in public for self-defense.
A Reuters/Ipsos survey conducted after those rulings showed a majority of Americans holding an unfavorable view of the court.
Jackson’s two fellow liberal justices, Elena Kagan and Sonia Sotomayor, during public appearances this summer raised concerns that the court was gambling with its hard-earned legitimacy among the public by appearing political.
“I do not think those sorts of concerns will be enough to persuade five of the right-wing justices in many of these cases to not simply leverage their raw power to obtain the ends that they are looking for,” Boston University School of Law professor Jonathan Feingold said.
Chief Justice John Roberts broke from the other conservative justices – Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito, Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett – by opposing formally overturning the 1973 Roe v. Wade abortion decision even though he voted to uphold the restrictive Mississippi abortion law at issue.
‘WITHOUT FEAR OR FAVOR’
When the court begins its new term on Monday, Jackson will take her seat on the bench for the first time since being appointed by Biden, a Democrat, to succeed now-retired liberal Justice Stephen Breyer. The Senate in April confirmed Jackson, who was serving as a federal appellate judge, despite broad opposition among Republicans. Mitch McConnell, the Senate’s top Republican, called Jackson the choice of the “radical left.”
“I decide cases from a neutral posture. I evaluate the facts, and I interpret and apply the law to the facts of the case before me, without fear or favor, consistent with my judicial oath,” Jackson told the Senate Judiciary Committee during her March confirmation hearing.
Jackson appeared for a ceremonial swearing-in at the court on Friday, taking an oath administered by Roberts. Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris attended along with U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland, several lawmakers, the other current justices and retired Justices Breyer and Anthony Kennedy. Jackson and Roberts also walked down the steps outside the courthouse, with photographers taking pictures, before her husband joined her with an embrace and kiss. Her formal swearing-in took place in June.
The new term’s first month includes arguments in cases that present the conservative justices opportunities to limit the scope of a major environmental law, cripple a major civil rights law’s protections against racial discrimination in voting and end affirmative action admissions policies used by colleges and universities to increase their numbers of Black and Hispanic students.
The affirmative action litigation involves challenges to policies used by Harvard University and the University of North Carolina. Jackson, who earned undergraduate and law school degrees from Harvard and has served on its Board of Overseers, recused herself from the Harvard case but is set to participate in the North Carolina one.
While the liberal justices may play merely the role of dissenters in some major cases, Jackson could help shape some decisions, particularly when her expertise comes to the fore. Her perspective on criminal justice issues is informed by past service both as a trial judge and as a public defender – a job none of the other sitting justices ever performed. Jackson also served on a commission that addressed sentencing guidelines for the federal judiciary.
“Those are all issues I suspect Justice Jackson would care about,” Larsen said.
Jackson joins the court amidst an investigation ordered by Roberts into the May leak of a draft version of the abortion ruling, a disclosure he called a betrayal.
“That’s not a wound that’s going to heal quickly. The reality is that she’s stepping into a court that has endured a particularly difficult circumstance in the leak,” said Megan Wold, a former Alito law clerk now at the law firm Cooper & Kirk.
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Reporting by Nate Raymond in Boston and Jeff Mason in Washington; Editing by Will Dunham
Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.
Nate Raymond
Thomson Reuters
Nate Raymond reports on the federal judiciary and litigation. He can be reached at nate.raymond@thomsonreuters.com.
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Elon Musk's Texts Show How His Relationship With Twitter Went Sideways | CNN Business
Elon Musk's Texts Show How His Relationship With Twitter Went Sideways | CNN Business https://digitalalabamanews.com/elon-musks-texts-show-how-his-relationship-with-twitter-went-sideways-cnn-business/
01:40 – Source: CNN Business
4 ways Twitter and Musk court battle could end, explained
CNN —
Days before publicly announcing his investment in Twitter, Elon Musk texted with Jack Dorsey. The former Twitter CEO suggested he no longer believed in the company he founded, according to new court filings in the legal battle between Musk and Twitter.
Musk had begun quietly building up a large stake in Twitter (TWTR) in January. In a text on March 26, Dorsey told Musk, “a new platform is needed. It can’t be a company. This is why I left.”
Musk, an avid Twitter user who was often seen as friendly with Dorsey, responded by asking what the platform should look like. Dorsey explained his view that it should be “an open source protocol” and not rely on “an advertising model,” as Twitter currently does. Dorsey added that Twitter “should never have been a company,” saying, “that was the original sin.”
Musk expressed interest in advancing the idea. In a later text that day, he said: “I think it’s worth both trying to move Twitter in a better direction and doing something new that’s decentralized.”
The private exchanges between Dorsey and Musk are among the many text messages released in court filings this week, offering new insight into the Tesla CEO’s agreement to buy Twitter for $44 billion and his attempt later to back away from the deal. The messages also offer a unique window into Silicon Valley deal-making, as a rotating cast of billionaires and industry execs — from Larry Ellison and Marc Benioff to members of the Murdoch family — slide into Musk’s text messages to discuss Twitter and, in some cases, casually offer financial backing for the deal.
In the days following his private chat with Dorsey, Musk met with Twitter’s board and leadership. On April 5, Musk agreed to join the company’s board, a move that Dorsey championed publicly and privately. In a text exchange with Musk later that day, Dorsey expressed confidence in Parag Agrawal, his successor as Twitter’s CEO. Agrawal also expressed excitement in private texts about Musk joining the board.
But the relationship between Musk and the Twitter CEO appeared to sour quickly.
On April 9, Musk tweeted a question: “Is Twitter dying?” Agrawal followed up that day with a text letting Musk know such comments would make the CEO’s life difficult.
“You are free to tweet ‘is Twitter dying?’ or anything else about Twitter,” Agrawal said in the text to Musk, “but it’s my responsibility to tell you that it’s not helping me make Twitter better in the current context. Next time we speak, I’d like you to provide [your] perspective on the level of internal distraction right now and how [it’s] hurting our ability to do work … I’d like the company to get to a place where we are more resilient and don’t get distracted, but we aren’t there right now.”
Musk responded tersely: “What did you get done this week?” In two follow-up texts, he rescinded his agreement to join the board, saying, “I’m not joining the board. This is a waste of time.” He added: “Will make an offer to take Twitter private.”
In a separate exchange on the same day with Twitter’s board chair Bret Taylor, Musk said: “Fixing Twitter by chatting with Parag won’t work,” Musk said. He added in a follow up text: “Drastic action is needed.”
Musk and Twitter announced an acquisition agreement on April 25. A little more than two months later, Musk said he wanted out of the deal, citing concerns about the number of bot and spam accounts on the platform. Twitter then sued Musk to compel him to follow through with the deal.
The two sides are set to go to trial over the deal next month.
After Musk’s initial investment in Twitter was made public, and with speculation mounting about a possible takeover deal, the billionaire began to receive input from some prominent outside voices.
In a text on April 23, two days before the deal was announced, the controversial podcast host Joe Rogan said to Elon Musk: “I REALLY hope you get Twitter. If you do, we should throw one hell of a party.”
Musk also messaged with bankers and potential investors such as his brother, Kimbal Musk, and Ellison, the billionaire founder of Oracle, in an effort to line up financing for the deal, as well as potential leaders for the new company if his acquisition bid succeeded. Musk and investor Jason Calacanis discussed the latter becoming a strategic advisor or board member. Someone identified in Musk’s texts as “BL Lee” suggested venture capitalist Bill Gurley as Twitter’s new CEO.
In the days after the acquisition deal was announced, Musk discussed ideas for the platform with a host of characters, including LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella and tech investor David Sacks. Sacks suggested that former Michigan congressman Justin Amash should be involved in Twitter’s content moderation efforts.
Musk’s banker Michael Grimes suggested crypto billionaire wunderkind Sam Bankman-Fried as an investor who could also help advance Musk’s vision of a Twitter built on the blockchain, the technology underpinning cryptocurrencies.
The new filing also includes a text from Musk to Grimes that was referenced in a hearing earlier this month by Twitter lawyers, who claim that Musk exited the deal not because of his worries about bots but because he was concerned about the stock market decline and geopolitical issues, neither of which would be legitimate reasons to terminate the agreement.
In a May 8 message to Grimes, Musk said that the deal process should “slow down just a few days” ahead of a speech by Russian President Vladimir Putin the following day that many worried could escalate the war in Ukraine to other countries. “It won’t make sense to buy Twitter if we’re headed into WW3,” Musk said.
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This Week In HS Sports: Philip Rivers Sees Similarities In Son Gunner
This Week In HS Sports: Philip Rivers Sees Similarities In Son Gunner https://digitalalabamanews.com/this-week-in-hs-sports-philip-rivers-sees-similarities-in-son-gunner/
This is an opinion piece.
Even longtime NFL quarterback Philip Rivers admits watching his son Gunner throw the football is “a little scary.”
Gunner Rivers, an 8th-grader playing for his father at St. Michael Catholic, got his first chance to play in a varsity game two weeks ago in a blowout win at Satsuma.
Wearing No. 17 like his father, Gunner threw a 50-yard touchdown pass and completed a two-point pass late in the Cardinals’ 45-8 victory.
His throwing motion was eerily similar to the unusual motion his father used during his 17-year NFL career.
“It’s a little scary to be honest with you,” Philip Rivers said recently on SportsTalk 99.5 FM in Mobile. “It’s definitely similar. It’s going to be fun, this next stretch, just from a family, personal standpoint. You’ve heard me talk about how special it was to play for my dad (Steve Rivers). We are kind of getting to relive that with me on the other side. Gunner loves it, loves the school and his teammates. It’s a good group coming up.”
Gunner Rivers will have to wait a little while longer before he receives substantial playing time. St. Michael currently has a pair of senior quarterbacks in Josh Murphy and Moe Faiupu.
The Cardinals defeated Orange Beach 49-41 on Thursday night.
MGM renaming football field
Mary G. Montgomery will rename its football field tonight in honor of former coach Charles D. Leverett.
Leverett won 67 games while coaching the team from 1963-1972. He is the school’s all-time leader in wins. He also spent four years as head coach at Washington County (1958-1961) and six years at Shaw (1975-1980).
Family, friends and former players will gather before tonight’s Class 7A, Region 1 game against Davidson. The official name of the football field will be Charles Leverett Field at Emile Grider Memorial Stadium.
Hueytown star ready to make decision
Hueytown quarterback Earl Woods – the reigning Class 6A back of the year – is scheduled to announce his college commitment at 4 p.m. Sunday.
The senior announced a final four of Middle Tennessee, Jacksonville State, Grambling and North Alabama earlier this month.
Woods was named Gatorade Player of the Year in 2021 after leading the Gophers to the Class 6A state title game. The 5-foot-10, 170-pound junior quarterback completed 170-of-300 passes for 3,071 yards and 32 touchdowns with nine interceptions and ran 312 times for 2,120 yards with 35 more scores.
Fyffe being Fyffe
When I chatted with Fyffe veteran coach Paul Benefield in July, he wanted me to think this year’s Red Devil team might not be very good.
Knowing Benefield, I, of course, knew better.
Entering tonight’s home game with Collinsville, Fyffe is 5-0, ranked No. 1 in Class 2A and has outscored its opponents 242-25.
The consistency of the program under Benefield – who was voted the best active coach in the state by his peers this summer – has been amazing.
In the past decade, Fyffe is 138-8 with five unbeaten seasons (six if you count 2022 so far) and five state titles. The Red Devils have scored 600 or more points six times in a season and allowed less than 200 eight times.
In 26 years overall at the school, Benefield is 282-44. Forty-four losses in 26 years? Really? Wow.
The “dumb ol’ country boy” – as he calls himself – is fourth all-time in career victories in the state of Alabama with 327. He trails only Buddy Anderson (346), Terry Curtis (341) and Danny Horn (335).
Big offers rolling in for Westminster star
Westminster junior basketball standout Chase McCarty continues to rake in big time college offers.
In the past week, McCarty has announced offers from Notre Dame and national champion Kansas.
His other offers include Georgia Tech, Ole Miss, Georgia, Cincinnati, Houston and Alabama.
The 6-foot-6 guard was a first-team ASWA Class 4A All-State selection in 2022. He averaged 19.7 points and 7.2 rebounds.
Valentine’s Day
Former McGill-Toolen women’s basketball player Nya Valentine, now at Shelton State, committed to finish her college career at Clemson this week.
As a freshman at Shelton State last year, the point guard averaged 14 points a game and led the team to a 29-2 record. She is set for her sophomore year at Shelton this season.
Valentine was AL.com’s Coastal Alabama Girls Player of the Year in both her junior and senior years playing for Carla Berry at McGill-Toolen in Mobile. As a senior, she averaged 19.5 points, 2.9 rebounds and 4.9 assists for the Yellow Jackets.
Thought for the Day
“Be a person who finds ways to be selfless, to do something quietly and unexpected for someone else. You are more than your career or accomplishments, especially the things that are lauded publicly. The bulk of your impact will be from those things you do in private.” – Tony Dungy, Uncommon Life Daily Devotional
80s quote of the week
“I’ll be back.” – The Terminator. (1984)
Ben Thomas is the high school sportswriter at AL.com. He has been named one of the 50 legends of the Alabama Sports Writers Association. Follow him on twitter at @BenThomasPreps or email him at bthomas@al.com. His weekly column is posted each Wednesday and Friday on AL.com. He can be heard weekly on the Cooper Restaurants “Inside High School Sports” on SportsTalk 99.5 FM in Mobile or on the free IHeart Radio App at 2 p.m. Wednesdays.
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TikTok Politics: Candidates Turn To It for Better Or Worse
TikTok Politics: Candidates Turn To It ‘for Better Or Worse’ https://digitalalabamanews.com/tiktok-politics-candidates-turn-to-it-for-better-or-worse/
By DAVID KLEPPER, Associated Press
Published: September 30, 2022, 7:39am
3 Photos
FILE – The TikTok app logo appears in Tokyo on Sept. 28, 2020. TikTok may be the platform of choice for catchy videos, but anyone using it to learn about COVID-19, climate change or Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is likely to encounter misleading information, according to a new research report. (AP Photo/Kiichiro Sato, File) Photo Gallery
Wade Herring didn’t know the teenage voter who approached him at a restaurant over the weekend. But she knew Herring, a Democrat running for Congress in Georgia, from his campaign videos on TikTok.
To Herring, a 63-year-old Savannah attorney, it was proof of TikTok’s precision-guided ability to reach young voters — the very reason why he and candidates from both parties have eagerly embraced the platform ahead of the 2022 midterm elections.
“A year and a half ago, I thought it was just dancing videos,” Herring said of TikTok. Young voters, he added, “aren’t watching CNN, or MSNBC or Fox. They’re getting their information on TikTok, and for better or worse, it’s the way to reach them.”
For a number of government officials, it’s worse.
TikTok’s popularity has surged despite worries from policy makers in Washington about TikTok’s handling of user data and misinformation, as well as its ties to China’s government. Those fears prompted the U.S. armed forces to prohibit the app on military devices, and spurred calls to ban it on all government computers and phones as well.
“I have serious concerns about the opportunities that the Chinese communist party has to access TikTok’s data on American users,” Sen. Rob Portman, R-Ohio, said at a hearing this month focused on the national security implications of social media.
Still, its reach is undeniable. TikTok is consumed by two-thirds of American teens , a number that has risen as other platforms have lost popularity. It’s the world’s most downloaded app, and the second-most visited website after Google. And it’s not just about viral dance challenges anymore, but also a place to shop, learn about beauty, fashion or sports, and even find out how to register to vote.
The benefits of using the platform are simply too great to pass up even with concerns about TikTok as a conduit for misinformation or exploiting privacy.
“People are going to use it. It’s a highly effective tool,” said Colton Hess, who created Tok the Vote, a 2020 voter registration and engagement effort that reached tens of millions of young voters. “As long as that’s the game in play, you have to be in the arena.”
TikTok is owned by ByteDance Ltd., a Chinese company that moved to new headquarters in Singapore in 2020. Questions about the company’s ties to the Chinese government have hounded TikTok even as its popularity exploded.
At the Senate hearing earlier this month, members of both parties questioned a TikTok executive about the influence of government officials in China, and whether that country’s authoritarian leaders have control over the platform’s data and content.
TikTok Chief Operating Officer Vanessa Pappas, based in Los Angeles, said the company protects all data from American users and that Chinese government officials have no access to it.
“We will never share data, period,” Pappas said.
TikTok also says it works to stop the flow of harmful misinformation and has created an election center to help users find information about U.S. elections, voting and candidates.
The platform’s defenders also note that TikTok isn’t the only site criticized for failing to stop misinformation. Its rivals — Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube — face their own challenges regarding data privacy too.
A report released this month from New York University faulted all four of those platforms plus TikTok for amplifying former President Donald Trump’s lies about the 2020 election. The study cited inconsistent rules regarding misinformation as well as poor enforcement.
“While TikTok has these very strong sounding policies, the enforcement is extremely erratic,” said Paul Barrett, the professor and researcher who led the study.
Another study this month by NewsGuard, a firm that monitors online misinformation, found that nearly 1 in 5 TikTok videos about key news events contained misinformation. The videos focused on topics like COVID-19, the 2020 election, Russia’s war in Ukraine and the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol.
TikTok’s ties to China set it apart from other platforms, according to Geoffrey Cain, a senior fellow at the Lincoln Network, a conservative-leaning think tank that studies technology policy. The country’s leaders have shown a willingness to spread disinformation that undermines the West, he said, and it would be foolish to think they haven’t tried to enlist TikTok in this work.
“This is not the Cold War where we had hardware, where we had missiles pointed at each other,” Cain said. “Now we have smart phones.”
TikTok is not available in China. Instead, the platform’s parent company offers a similar platform that has the same dance videos, but also promotes educational content about math and science, experts told lawmakers at the recent Senate hearing. Another difference: the Chinese version limits 13- and 14-year-old users to 40 minutes a day. No such limits are included in the U.S. version, which prohibits users under 13.
Concerned about China’s influence over TikTok, the Trump administration in 2020 threatened to ban the app within the U.S. and pressured ByteDance to sell TikTok to a U.S. company. U.S. officials and the company are now in talks over a possible agreement that would resolve American security concerns.
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Sen. Edward Markey, D-Mass., helped write the Children’s Online Privacy and Protection Act when he served in the House, and supports new regulations for data collection and marketing to children that he says will make platforms like TikTok safer.
He’s not waiting for those changes to happen before using the platform, however. Markey emerged as an unlikely TikTok sensation in 2020 when his videos were credited with helping him defeat a primary challenge from former Rep. Joe Kennedy.
“I feel lucky to join them online in pursuit of a better future and a livable planet,” Markey said of young voters, who he said are especially concerned about climate change and other environmental challenges.
While the right video can reach hundreds of thousands or even millions of viewers, TikTok also works in reverse, giving politicians and advocacy groups a window into the concerns of millions of young Americans whose political influence will only grow, according to Ellen Sciales, director of communications for the Sunrise Movement, a youth-led organization that works to address climate change.
“It’s young people talking to other young people. It’s meeting them where they’re at,” said Sciales, 25.
Younger voters will judge candidates based on their stances on issues instead of whether they’re on TikTok or not, Sciales said, adding that those who stay off the platform are missing out on a powerful tool for organizing and communicating with voters.
It’s a gamble some lawmakers say they’re not willing to take.
“I would have a great deal of caution about TikTok at this point,” Democratic Sen. Mark Warner of Virginia said in July. “I would not have TikTok on any of my devices.”
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Stefanik Says She Brings $600M Into NY21. But Some Of Her Claims Are Misleading.
Stefanik Says She Brings $600M Into NY21. But Some Of Her Claims Are Misleading. https://digitalalabamanews.com/stefanik-says-she-brings-600m-into-ny21-but-some-of-her-claims-are-misleading/
Sep 30, 2022 —
Rep. Elise Stefanik at a forum in Moriah in 2018. Photo: Nancie Battaglia
Since the North Country last elected Elise Stefanik to Congress, she’s become one of the highest profile politicians in the Republican Party. She leads the House GOP’s messaging as the Conference Chair, and she’s become one of former President Donald Trump’s most trusted allies.
So as she ascends the national political ladder, how focused has she been on local, North Country issues – what’s known as constituent services?
She told residents on a call in July she’s very focused.
“You always know I’m focused on constituent services, case work like social security, Medicare, VA issues,” Stefanik said. “We will continue to stay on top of all those constituent services.”
We’ve been taking a deep look at Stefanik’s attention to local issues and attracting federal funding. Here’s what we found.
Stefanik says she does a lot of work helping people and local governments. On her website, she claims to have returned more than $600 million to the district through grants and other federal funding. She says she also attended more than a thousand district events and responded to hundreds of thousands of letters.
We wanted to know more about where all that money comes from, and where it all goes. So, we asked around.
“Anytime that we’ve needed assistance or called her office, her staff has been extremely cooperative. I think she’s an extremely bright, very astute individual who has a great future,” said Lake George Mayor Robert Blais.
He credits Stefanik with securing a $500,000 Northern Border Regional Commission grant for a new wastewater treatment plant. “She identified that source for us and [wrote] a letter of support. She also came and made the announcement personally, at local press conference,” Blais said.
In the Village of Dolgeville, there was severe flooding a few years ago. Mayor Mary Puznowski said the help she got from Stefanik made a huge difference. “I believe it was her persistence that helped us to receive that $1.9 million in the FEMA funding,” Puznowski said.
Stefanik wrote letters to FEMA and former Governor Andrew Cuomo, and called on former President Trump to issue a disaster declaration.
We spoke with more than 30 people for this story, mostly Stefanik supporters. They talked about her advocacy for Fort Drum and economic development projects.
A spokesperson for Clarkson University said Stefanik helps them get research grants. SUNY Plattsburgh said Stefanik’s office intervened to make sure their Upward Bound program got funded this year. And Stefanik has helped airports apply for grants.
Rep. Elise Stefanik invited President Trump to Fort Drum in 2018. Photo: courtesy of Watertown Daily Times
But her supporters were not totally uniform in their praise for her work on local issues.
Scott Horton is the town supervisor of Caroga in Fulton County. He likes Stefanik’s record on agriculture and veterans issues. But in his community, a fire damaged the town hall and wiped out another building. He applied for federal grants through her office to help with the repairs, and he got rejected – twice.
“It was not supported by the Congresswoman and I think it should have been,” Horton said.
Horton said he was told his applications were strong, but “didn’t quite make the grade.” He suspects his community wasn’t a priority because it’s too small – only about 1,200 people live there. He says he feels ignored.
“And I don’t think that we’re any different than many other small communities. Not that they’ve had a tragedy like we had, but many, many small communities in her district are suffering just like we are.”
Correction officers at the federal prison in Ray Brook have also said they feel ignored. The local prison workers union has been trying to meet with Stefanik to talk about staffing issues, to no avail.
But many local leaders say she’s responsive and present in the district – even as she’s taken on a new leadership role in Washington. Legislator Jim Nabywaniec from Jefferson County called Stefanik “one of the most hands-on Congress people we have ever had.”
“I don’t think she’s changed,” he said. “Her record to me is putting the district first, which I appreciate very much.”
Our reporting found a lot of leaders who echoed that praise. But we also found that the way Stefanik talks about her work on local issues includes a lot of misleading information.
Take this announcement from a few weeks ago, a press release titled “Stefanik Delivers Over $586,000 for NY-21 Fire Departments.” It lists a bunch of fire companies that won grants for new equipment. Stefanik says she wrote letters of support, and helped them through the grant process.
But in the fine print, the release acknowledges that Stefanik only helped some of the fire departments.
Scott Alexander wrote the grant application for the North Pole Fire Company in Watertown, which was on the list. “I’m just a simple North Country guy. I work hard, write a good grant, and hopefully got it on that basis. I didn’t go seeking any political pull for our grant this time,” he said.
Alexander was applying to the Federal Emergency Management Agency for funding to pay for an industrial washer-dryer system, with a price tag of nearly $20,000. “It’s a specialized piece of equipment that is designed specifically […] for firefighter turnout gear. So it removes the contaminants, the cancer-causing agents, the carcinogens, without doing damage to the fiber,” Alexander said.
He has asked Stefanik for help in the past, he said – but not this time. There was no letter of support, and he didn’t participate in a webinar with the congresswoman. He said the application was strong enough on its own merit.
So that’s about $20,000 that Stefanik took credit for, where she apparently had no direct involvement.
In an email, Stefanik’s senior advisor Alex deGrasse didn’t comment on any specific fire department. But he said the congresswoman supports “all FEMA fund applications from her district.” He said she holds info sessions, works directly with federal agencies, and works “to support fully funding these FEMA programs through appropriations.”
Rep. Stefanik at an event in Saranac Lake this year. Photo: Nancie Battaglia
The day after the press release mentioning the North Pole Fire Company, Stefanik issued another release – more money for more fire departments. She took credit for $126,400 that was awarded to the Potsdam Volunteer Rescue Squad. But in an email, chief Chris Towler said, “We did not solicit any congressional support while applying for this federal grant.”
“This has become a pattern with her over and over again,” said Phyllis Sinclair, a Democratic activist with the group Adirondack Voters for Change. The group has been tracking what Stefanik says about her constituent services. (Thery’re also campaigning for Matt Castelli.)
Sinclair says “it’s hard to trace the money,” making it easy for Stefanik to claim credit. As for the local projects where Stefanik really does have a role: “I mean, that’s great. That’s good if she does that, but that’s her job as a Congresswoman to do that. That’s nothing special or out of the ordinary,” Sinclair said.
North Country Public Radio also found instances of Stefanik touting projects that she voted against in Congress.
Take the American Rescue Plan Covid relief package. Stefanik opposed that last year, describing it as “filled with pork projects, special interest giveaways, and the Far-Left’s policy wish list.”
But later she sent a press release heralding a grant for the St. Regis Mohawk Tribe. The money, over $850,000, came from the Covid relief package that she voted against.
In federal budget negotiations in March, Stefanik worked to include several North Country projects. But ultimately, she fell in line with most of her party and voted against the budget – saying the final bill contained “Far-Left, partisan provisions.” Yet she still took credit for millions of dollars from that same bill.
Congresswoman Stefanik spoke in 2018 with reporters in the Town of Plattsburgh, at the site of a water infrastructure project she helped fund. Photo: Zach Hirsch
Stefanik’s advisor Alex deGrasse acknowledged that she opposed those bills – calling them “unnecessary spending.” But he said “when federal dollars are available, she works to ensure her district has a strong ability to access those funds.”
Mark Henry chairs the Clinton County legislature. He says that approach makes sense.
“There are parts of bills that she has worked on that would be good for her constituents. But oftentimes, sometimes, the entire bill is not good for the constituents,” Henry said. “You can get some of your views into a bill, and you should take credit for that.”
Like Henry, most Republican leaders are fully on board with Stefanik. But there is hesitation among some of them about the way she has embraced former President Donald Trump’s lies.
“It’s probably gonna kill me politically, but you know, I don’t think the election was stolen. And I wish she would drop that,” said Scott Horton, Caroga’s Republican town supervisor.
A few other local Republicans agreed. Lake George Mayor Robert Blais said he’s baffled by Stefanik’s loyalty to Donald Trump.
“As you go up through the ranks, […] through each level of government, you tend to sell yourself a little bit to the people that are your donors, the people that are your backers. And if you hitch your wagon to the wrong individual, then you don’t become that person that you wanna become,” Blais said.
In the last couple of years, Stefanik has carved out increasingly radical positions.
She voted to overturn the 2020 election based on the same lies that inspired a violent attack on the U.S. Capitol....
Trump Wont Have To Say If He Thinks FBI Planted Documents Judge Rules
Trump Won’t Have To Say If He Thinks FBI Planted Documents, Judge Rules https://digitalalabamanews.com/trump-wont-have-to-say-if-he-thinks-fbi-planted-documents-judge-rules/
The Florida federal judge who has repeatedly intervened in the FBI’s investigation of Donald Trump’s hoarding of government-owned documents after his term ended in 2021 has once again stepped in to assist the ex-president’s efforts to delay review of documents seized during the 8 August search of his Florida residence.
Judge Aileen Cannon on Thursday rejected a case management plan put forth by Judge Raymond Dearie, the New York jurist who she appointed as a special master to review the more than 10,000 documents taken from Mr Trump’s Mar-a-Lago property to determine whether any should be shielded from the government under attorney-client or executive privilege.
Judge Dearie had ordered Mr Trump’s attorneys to submit a declaration under oath regarding whether any of the documents listed in an FBI inventory of what was seized from Mr Trump’s property were planted as the ex-president has repeatedly alleged. But Judge Cannon overruled him and said she was doing so because her order appointing him as a special master in the case did not direct him to ask for such declarations.
“There shall be no separate requirement on Plaintiff at this stage, prior to the review of any of the Seized Materials, to lodge ex ante final objections to the accuracy of Defendant’s Inventory, its descriptions, or its contents,” she wrote, adding that her previous order “did not contemplate that obligation”.
Judge Cannon also rejected an accelerated timeline for review of the documents that had been laid out by Judge Dearie, instead choosing to give the Trump team more leeway to delay the proceedings by extending the deadline for completion to 14 December.
Legal experts have panned her ruling as being without basis in law and as showing bias towards Mr Trump, who named her to the bench in late 2020.
Andrew Weissman, an ex-prosecutor who worked on the Justice Department’s investigation into Mr Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign’s alleged ties with Russia, wrote that the Florida judge had “tinker[ed] badly with Judge Dearie’s scheduling order, relieving Trump of obligation to say whether docs were planted, even though she had wanted a clear inventory of what was found”.
“She is such a disgrace,” he added.
Harvard Law School emeritus professor Laurence Tribe said on Twitter that she was “clearly wrong” in her order, but he also called her a “sideshow” because her previous injunction against using the classified documents seized from Mar-a-Lago to further the DOJ’s probe has been lifted by the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals.
Another law professor, University of Texas Law School professor Steve Vladek, wrote: “Everyone has a point past which it’s hard to believe that a particular person is acting in good faith. If we weren’t there already for Judge Cannon…”
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5 Questions And A Prediction With An LSU Beat Writer
5 Questions And A Prediction With An LSU Beat Writer https://digitalalabamanews.com/5-questions-and-a-prediction-with-an-lsu-beat-writer/
Auburn (3-1, 1-0 SEC) hosts LSU (3-1, 1-0), seeking to build on last week’s 17-14 overtime win against Missouri at Jordan-Hare. Head coach Bryan Harsin’s squad plays the last of five consecutive home games.
Auburn comes into the game against LSU with wins against San Jose State, Mercer, and Missouri. Auburn lost against Penn State by 29 points the week before the Missouri win.
LSU lost its season-opener against Florida State and is on a three-game winning streak, including a victory over Mississippi State and a 38-0 win against New Mexico State. LSU enters as a 9.5-point favorite on several sportsbooks in Vegas.
Read More Auburn Football: Koy Moore brings life to Auburn’s WR room
What Bryan Harsin said on Tiger Talk to preview the LSU game
Sources: Bryan Harsin hasn’t been told he’s out despite AJ McCarron claim
Ahead of Saturday’s game, we reached out to Brody Miller of the Athletic for insight on LSU and to answer five critical questions about the game. You can follow Miller on Twitter (@BrodyAMiller) for more news and updates on LSU.
Let’s get to the questions:
1. Where has QB Jayden Daniels improved the most so far?
The most improvement has definitely come in decisiveness as a passer. The running ability is there, and it’s unique, but the challenge has been finding a balance of getting the most out of that running while not having Daniels take off too early and miss chances for open receivers if he’d go through his progressions first. It hurt LSU against Florida State and early against Mississippi State. In the last two weeks, there’s been improvement with Daniels going through those progressions and making confident, decisive throws downfield while still taking off running when the situation calls for it. But I want to see it against a tougher defense to believe it, and Auburn might be that.
2. What is covering Brian Kelly like on a day-to-day basis?
It’s a lot different than most think. He’s given far more access than LSU has allowed in the 23 years since Nick Saban took over, giving us full practices and scrimmages during the offseason and interviews with coordinators. Sure, some of that might be the new coach sucking up thing, but he’s also interesting to cover because he is very insightful and glad to explain complicated things that we might not know or understand. Does he have a “relationship” with the media? No. I don’t think he wants to or cares about that. But so far, he’s been good to cover.
3. What has been the key to what seems to be a dynamic offense for the Bayou Bengals?
The key so far has been whether or not they use tempo. It’s obviously not that simple, but maybe it is? When LSU goes fast, Daniels looks exponentially more comfortable and in command. LSU gets the ball out quickly with short passes and allows its talented receivers to go make plays. When LSU goes slow, it stalls, and Daniels has trouble making decisions. The tricky thing in the future will be if it can get more efficient with its (non-Daniels) run game. LSU has good running backs, but it needs improvement on its ability to get a push for them. Daniels can’t do it all.
4. Who are some players Auburn fans should be aware of for Saturday’s game?
Most honestly come on the defensive side, as LSU’s defense has looked dominant this season. BJ Ojulari is the top guy, a likely first-round pick edge rusher who thrived against Mississippi State. Same for nickel-safety Jay Ward, a physical, rangy defensive back who can blow up plays at the line of scrimmage. On the other side, Kayshon Boutte is undoubtedly the biggest name at receiver, but also watch out for sophomore receiver Malik Nabers who has been fantastic this year and is poised for a breakout.
5. What’s LSU’s biggest concern about facing Auburn?
It has to be Auburn’s front seven and ability to rush the passer. Florida State demolished LSU’s line, and while it has a new lineup that did great against Mississippi State, facing Auburn is a different test. I think LSU needs to be concerned with how it runs the ball against Auburn and what guys like Derick Hall can do against LSU’s two true freshman offensive tackles. If LSU can’t protect Saturday, this becomes a very interesting game.
6. What’s your prediction for the game and why?
At the end of the day, I think LSU’s defense can keep Auburn in check, even if it’s an ugly game. LSU 24, Auburn 13.
Nubyjas Wilborn covers Auburn for Alabama Media Group
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Trevor Noah Said He Is Leaving The Daily Show. Take A Look At Some Memorable Moments
Trevor Noah Said He Is Leaving The Daily Show. Take A Look At Some Memorable Moments https://digitalalabamanews.com/trevor-noah-said-he-is-leaving-the-daily-show-take-a-look-at-some-memorable-moments/
The Daily Show host Trevor Noah announced he is leaving the show after seven years with the program.
“I found myself thinking throughout the time, everything we’ve gone through – the Trump presidency, the pandemic, just the journey … and I realized that after the seven years, my time is up,” he said on Thursday night’s episode before a shocked audience. Noah gave no timetable for his departure.
Noah first joined The Daily Show as a consultant in 2014, and took over hosting duties from Jon Stewart in 2015.
Here’s a look back at some of Noah’s most memorable moments on the show.
His first episode as host
In his first episode as the official host, he started the show by paying tribute to Stewart and addressed the controversy about him taking over the show.
Noah, a native of South Africa, joked, “Why didn’t they get an American to host? And again, Comedy Central tried, and those people also declined, and so once more a job Americans rejected is now being done by an immigrant.”
His interview with Tomi Lahren
Noah sat down in 2016 with conservative commentator Tomi Lahren, who received backlash at the time for her views on Black Lives Matter and immigration.
“Why are you so angry?” Noah asked her.
“I’m actually not that angry. It’s just there’s things that need to be said, Trevor, and a lot of people are afraid to say them,” she responded.
He went on to address her opinion on Black Lives Matter, saying, “For somebody who is not racist, you have to spend a lot of time saying ‘I’m not racist.'”
“I think [BLM] started with good intentions,” she said. “The minute protesting turned into rioting and looting and burning and militant actions, that’s when I lost respect for Black Lives Matter,” to which Noah reasoned people riot after sporting games and that Lahren is judging the movement on the actions of a few.
The 15-minute interview was seen almost 19 million times.
His interview with Bad Bunny
In his interview with international reggaeton sensation Bad Bunny last year, the Puerto Rican artist talked about his acting role on Narcos:Mexico, how much he loves World Wrestling Entertainment and bending gender norms.
“I’m just trying to unify,” Bad Bunny said. “Every person, everybody can feel comfortable with my music, with my videos, can feel comfortable in the concerts, like create space where everyone can feel comfortable is what I try.”
Bad Bunny also spoke of having mass appeal, even with those who don’t understand his Spanish lyrics: “This is who I am, this is my music, this is my culture. If you don’t like it, don’t listen to me.”
His critique of Donald Trump
Noah often went viral for his critiques of former President Trump, during moments such as Trump’s inauguration, his impeachment and more recently, the lawsuit against him by New York Attorney General Letitia James on fraud charges.
“And here’s the problem that everyone realized about Donald Trump, almost too late,” Noah said in one episode. “Facts mean nothing to him. Donald Trump has no relationship to facts, none, like no relationship, not even like a distant cousin.”
In one episode, a correspondent gives Trump supporters an ideology test, asking them questions about religion, LGBT rights and if a woman should be president.
Copyright NPR 2022.
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U.S. House Poised To Pass Stopgap Government Funding Bill
U.S. House Poised To Pass Stopgap Government Funding Bill https://digitalalabamanews.com/u-s-house-poised-to-pass-stopgap-government-funding-bill/
WASHINGTON, Sept 30 (Reuters) – The U.S. House of Representatives is expected on Friday to pass a bill funding the federal government through Dec. 16, avoiding an embarrassing partial shutdown less than six weeks before the midterm elections when control of Congress is at stake.
With government funding for federal agencies due to expire at midnight, House lawmakers were set to hold an afternoon vote to pass the stopgap measure and send it on to the White House for President Joe Biden’s signature.
The legislation, which includes an additional $12.3 billion for Ukraine’s war effort against the Russian invasion, passed the 100-seat Senate on Thursday on a bipartisan vote of 72-25. But it faces opposition in the House from Republicans including party leader Kevin McCarthy.
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In addition to Ukraine aid and funding for government agencies, the bill authorizes Biden to direct the drawdown of up to $3.7 billion for the transfer to Ukraine of excess weapons from U.S. stocks.
Amid reports of Russian forces threatening the safety of Ukraine’s nuclear power plants and Russian President Vladimir Putin hinting he might use nuclear weapons against Ukraine, the legislation would appropriate $35 million “to prepare for and respond to potential nuclear and radiological incidents in Ukraine,” according to a bill summary.
The stopgap bill also includes a five-year renewal of Food and Drug Administration user fees being collected from drug and medical device companies to review their products and determine whether they are safe and effective, the bill summary showed.
The law authorizing the collection of fees expires on Friday.
Congress has resorted to this kind of last-minute temporary spending bill in 43 out of the past 46 years due to its failure to approve full-year appropriations in time for the Oct. 1 start of a fiscal year, according to a government study.
The last time Congress allowed funding to lapse was in December 2018, when Democrats balked at paying for then-President Donald Trump’s U.S.-Mexico border wall, leading to a record, 35-day impasse and partial government shutdown.
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Reporting by Moira Warburton, David Morgan and Richard Cowan in Washington; Editing by Scott Malone and Deepa Babington
Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.
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REUTERS WORLD NEWS: Rus Deadly Ukraine Attack Hurricane Ian's Destructive Path Finland Closing Russian Border More The St Kitts Nevis Observer
REUTERS WORLD NEWS: Rus Deadly Ukraine Attack, Hurricane Ian's Destructive Path, Finland Closing Russian Border, More – The St Kitts Nevis Observer https://digitalalabamanews.com/reuters-world-news-rus-deadly-ukraine-attack-hurricane-ians-destructive-path-finland-closing-russian-border-more-the-st-kitts-nevis-observer/
Read More…
An aerial view of damaged boats and buildings after Hurricane Ian caused widespread destruction in Fort Myers, Florida, September 29, 2022
A resurgent Hurricane Ian barreled north toward a second landfall in South Carolina, a day after carving a path of destruction across central Florida that left rescue crews racing to reach trapped residents along the state’s Gulf Coast. The hurricane has left over 2 million people without power in Florida.
The U.S. House of Representatives is expected today to pass a bill funding the federal government through December 16, avoiding an embarrassing partial shutdown less than six weeks before the midterm elections when control of Congress is at stake.
A federal judge ruled that former President Donald Trump does not have to provide the court with a sworn statement attesting to whether he believes the list of items seized by the FBI from his Florida estate is accurate and complete.
Parents of three children who survived the Uvalde, Texas school shooting have sued the school district, several former officials, the company that manufactured the gun used in the rampage and others.
President Joe Biden’s liberal appointee Ketanji Brown Jackson, set to hear arguments for the first time on Monday as a Supreme Court justice, joins the nation’s top judicial body at a consequential time when its conservative majority has shown an increasing willingness to exert its power on a range of issues. Here’s the raft of new cases the court will tackle.
Heavy gunfire rang out from the main military camp and some residential areas of Burkina Faso’s capital and a large blast was heard near the presidential palace, Reuters reporters said. It was not clear yet if this was a coup attempt but it bore the hallmarks of other power grabs that have swept across West and Central Africa over the past two years.
Protests continued in several cities across Iran against the death of young woman in police custody, state and social media reported, as a human rights group said at least 83 people had been killed in nearly two weeks of demonstrations. Rights group Open Stadiums has called on FIFA to throw Iran out of the soccer World Cup finals in Qatar in November because of the country’s treatment of women.
The navies of South Korea, the United States and Japan staged trilateral anti-submarine exercises for the first time in five years, amid tension over North Korea’s series of missile tests.
Thailand’s Constitutional Court ruled Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha had not exceeded the maximum eight years allowed in office, clearing the way for his return from a five-week suspension.
Brazilian leftist Luis Inacio Lula da Silva is within reach of a dramatic comeback in Sunday’s election, four years after the popular two-term president watched from a jail cell as his party was trounced in the last presidential campaign. Turnout will be key if he is to clinch the election in the first round.
Live Updates: Russia's War In Ukraine https://digitalalabamanews.com/live-updates-russias-war-in-ukraine-5/
8 min ago
Putin announces annexation of four areas of occupied Ukraine
Russian President Vladimir Putin has announced the annexation of four areas of occupied Ukraine. (VGTRK)
Russian President Vladimir Putin has announced the annexation of four areas of occupied Ukraine, which make up almost a fifth of Ukraine’s territory.
It comes after Russian-backed authorities held so-called referendums in four occupied Ukrainian territories.
The referendums in the self-proclaimed Donetsk and Luhansk People’s Republics, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia are illegal under international law and were widely condemned as “a sham” by Western nations and Kyiv.
The EU’s chief diplomat Josep Borrell dismissed the ballots as “illegal referenda” earlier this week, while the White House has pledged not to recognize the results.
Russia’s annexation of occupied Ukrainian territories comes swiftly after Putin announced the “partial mobilization” of Russian citizens amid Moscow’s faltering invasion. The strategy has been met with heated protests at home and tens of thousands of people have left the country.
19 min ago
Putin starts speaking at annexation ceremony in the Kremlin
From CNN’s Radina Gigova
Russian President Vladimir Putin gives a speech in Moscow on September 30. (VGTRK)
Russian President Vladimir Putin is delivering a speech at an annexation ceremony in Moscow.
During the ceremony he is expected to sign documents formally annexing four areas of Ukraine — up to 18% of Ukrainian territory.
It comes following so-called referendums held by Russian-backed officials in eastern and southern Ukraine on joining Russia. The votes are illegal under international law and have been dismissed by Ukraine and Western nations as “a sham.”
Addressing attendees, Putin said those taking part in what the Kremlin calls its “special operation” in Ukraine are “heroes.”
“There is nothing stronger than the determination of these people to return to their true historical fatherland,” Putin said.
30 min ago
Separatist leaders join other guests in Moscow for Putin’s annexation ceremony
From CNN staff
The head of the Russian-backed administration in occupied parts of Zaporizhzhia, Yevgeny Balitsky, has shared a photo of himself (far left) alongside (from left to right) Vladimir Saldo, Denis Pushilin, and Leonid Pasechnik, in Moscow on September 30. (Yevgeny Balitsky/Telegram)
Guests have arrived in Moscow ahead of an annexation ceremony hosted by President Vladimir Putin on Friday, with attendees including Russian-backed leaders from four occupied Ukrainian territories.
Yevgeny Balitsky, the head of the Russian-backed administration in occupied parts of Zaporizhzhia shared an image of himself alongside Vladimir Saldo, his counterpart in Kherson, Denis Pushilin, from the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic, and Leonid Pasechnik from the self-proclaimed Luhansk People’s Republic.
Russian parliament deputies and government ministers are among the other guests, according to Russian state channel Russia 24.
Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin are in attendance.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, the chair of Russia’s Federation Council Valentina Matviyenko, as well as Ramzan Kadyrov, the pro-Kremlin leader of Russia’s Chechnya region have also arrived.
Tatyana Golikova, deputy prime minister of the Russian Federation, and former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, who currently serves as deputy chair of Russia’s Security Council, are also there.
Members of the Russian Orthodox Church are at the event, according to the Russia 24 video.
The ceremony follows so-called referendums held by Russian-backed officials in eastern and southern Ukraine on joining Russia. The votes are illegal under international law and have been dismissed by Ukraine and Western nations as “a sham.”
Putin will deliver a speech and meet with Russian-backed leaders of the four occupied regions on the sidelines of the ceremony, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Thursday.
1 hr 16 min ago
Entry of Russian citizens to Finland closed only for tourist visa holders, ambassador says
From CNN’s Tim Lister and Radina Gigova
Finnish border guard officers look at cars queueing at the Vaalimaa border crossing between Finland and the Russian Federation on September 30. (Alessandro Rampazzo/AFP/Getty Images)
The entry of Russian citizens to Finland is closed only for tourist visa holders, but other types of trips are still possible, according to the Russian ambassador to Helsinki.
“From today, the Finns prohibit the entry of Russians for tourist purposes. Other trips are still allowed — these are visits to relatives, work, study, treatment, business trips and so on,” Pavel Kuznetsov said on Russian state TV channel Russia 24 on Friday.
Finland’s government said on Thursday that the country will close its borders to Russian tourists starting Friday at midnight (local time) until further notice.
Following Russian President Vladimir Putin’s announcement earlier this month of “partial mobilization,” the country saw nationwide protests and an exodus of citizens fleeing the country.
Some context: On Sunday, 8,314 Russians entered Finland via the Finnish-Russian land border — double that of the previous Sunday, the border guard’s head of international affairs tweeted at the time.
Including Saturday’s numbers, 16,886 Russians arrived in total, with “many in transit to other countries,” Matti Pitkäniitty added.
39 min ago
Ukrainian forces take key village in Donetsk region as they encircle Russian units
From CNN’s Tim Lister, Victoria Butenko, Olga Voitovych and Sarah Dean
Ukrainian troops said they have taken the village of Yampil in the eastern Donetsk region, a significant objective in their efforts to encircle Russian and pro-Russian forces in the town of Lyman.
“Yampil is ours,” a soldier said in a brief video posted by Ukrainian troops. He is standing in front of a building with a sign that says: “Yampil school complex.”
Pro-Russian Telegram channels have described a bleak situation for the approximately 2,000 remaining troops in the area.
One prominent channel with more than 800,000 subscribers commented on Friday that Russian Armed Forces “withdrew from Yampil to Lyman.”
“The Armed Forces of Ukraine managed to break through the defensive orders of the RF (Russian Federation) Armed Forces and force the Russian troops to retreat to the city (Lyman),” the channel, which goes by the name of Rybar, wrote.
“The Lyman defensive line has narrowed to the administrative boundaries of the city itself. If emergency measures are not taken in the near future to release the Lyman and transfer a significant part of the reserves, then the city, together with its defenders, will fall, and nothing will stop Ukrainian formations from developing an offensive deep into Russian territories,” Rybar added.
The head of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic later conceded that Yampil and the nearby village of Drobysheve “are not fully under our control.”
Denis Pushilin called the news from Lyman “disturbing” in a Telegram post.
“Our guys are fighting, we are pulling up reserves, we must hold out, but the enemy has also deployed serious forces,” Pushilin added.
1 hr 57 min ago
Moscow will recognize all of Donetsk and Luhansk regions as Russian territory, including areas controlled by Ukraine
From CNN’s Tim Lister and Anna Chernova
Russia will recognize the entirety of the self-proclaimed Donetsk and Luhansk People’s Republics within their declared borders of 2014 as part of its territory, the Kremlin told CNN on Friday.
The laws of the self-declared republics state that their borders are those of the whole Donetsk and Luhansk regions of Ukraine. Ukrainian forces currently control about 40% of the eastern Donetsk region.
When asked if the territories of the Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR) that are currently under Ukraine’s control will be considered as part of Russia as well, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said: “De jure yes. By joining the Russian Federation, a state that has been recognized by us within the boundaries of 2014 is joining.”
The territory of the DPR that is not currently controlled by the Russian army “will have to be liberated,” Peskov added.
Peskov could not immediately provide an answer about Kherson and Zaporizhzhia, the two other areas where so-called referendums were held, adding: “I need to confirm this.”
The announcements come after people in four occupied areas of Ukraine supposedly voted in huge numbers in favor of joining Russia, in five-day polls that were illegal under international law and dismissed by Kyiv and the West as a sham.
Some context: Russian President Vladimir Putin will preside over the start of the process to formally annex more Russian-occupied areas of Ukraine at the Kremlin on Friday. Agreements will be signed on absorbing the four occupied territories to the Russian Federation.
On Thursday, Putin signed decrees recognizing the independence of the occupied regions of Kherson and Zaporizhzhia — a necessary formality before they are annexed.
Western leaders saw Putin’s decision to identify Donetsk and Luhansk in early February as an attack on Ukrainian sovereignty that served as a pretext for war. Days later, Moscow launched its military assault on Kyiv.
2 hr 11 min ago
Kremlin will consider attacks on newly annexed territories as aggression against Russia
From CNN’s Anna Chernova
The Kremlin has reiterated that any attacks on Ukrainian territory annexed by Russia will be considered as acts of aggression against the country itself.
When asked whether, after annexation documents are signed, Russia would perceive attacks by Ukrainian forces on annexed territories as an act of aggression against Moscow, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said: “It won’t be anyt...
EU Countries Approve Energy Windfall Levies Turn To Gas Price Cap
EU Countries Approve Energy Windfall Levies, Turn To Gas Price Cap https://digitalalabamanews.com/eu-countries-approve-energy-windfall-levies-turn-to-gas-price-cap/
EU approves energy windfall profit levies
Countries eye gas price caps as their next move
States split over how to contain sky-high prices
BRUSSELS, Sept 30 (Reuters) – European Union countries agreed on Friday to impose emergency levies on energy firms’ windfall profits, and began talks on their next move to tackle Europe’s energy crunch – possibly a bloc-wide gas price cap.
Ministers from the 27 EU member countries met in Brussels on Friday, where they approved measures proposed earlier this month to contain an energy price surge that is stoking record-high inflation and threatening a recession.
The package includes a levy on fossil fuel companies’ surplus profits made this year or next, another levy on excess revenues low-cost power producers make from soaring electricity costs, and a mandatory 5% cut in electricity use during peak price periods.
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With the deal done, countries began talks on Friday morning on the EU’s next move to contain the price crunch, which many countries want to be a broad gas price cap, though others – most notably Germany – remain opposed.
“All these temporary measures are very well, but in order to find the solution to help our citizens in this energy crisis, we need to cap the gas price,” Croatian economy minister Davor Filipovic said on his arrival at Friday’s meeting.
Fifteen countries, including France, Italy and Poland, this week asked Brussels to propose a price cap on all wholesale gas transactions to contain inflation.
The cap should be set at a level that is “high and flexible enough to allow Europe to attract the required resources”, Belgium, Greece, Poland and Italy said in a note explaining their proposal seen by Reuters on Thursday.
The countries disputed the Commission’s claim that a broad gas price cap would require “significant financial resources” to finance emergency gas purchases should market prices break the EU’s cap.
Belgian energy minister Tinne Van der Straeten said only 2 billion euros ($1.96 billion) would be required, as most European imports fall under long-term contracts or arrive by pipeline with no easy alternative buyers.
That would be a fraction of the 140 billion euros the EU expects its windfall profit levies on energy firms to raise.
Czech Republic’s Deputy Prime Minister Jozef Sikela and European Commissioner for Energy Kadri Simson hold a news conference after a European Union Energy Ministers meeting on high energy prices, in Brussels, Belgium September 30, 2022. REUTERS/Yves Herman
But Germany, Austria, the Netherlands and others warn broad gas price caps could leave countries struggling to buy gas if they cannot compete with buyers in price-competitive global markets.
A diplomat from one EU country said the idea posed “risks to security of supply” as Europe heads into a winter with tight energy supplies after Russia slashed gas flows to Europe in retaliation for Western sanctions against Moscow for invading Ukraine.
The European Commission has also raised doubts and suggested the EU instead move ahead with narrower price caps, targeting Russian gas alone, or specifically gas used for power generation.
“We have to offer a price cap for all Russian gas,” EU energy policy chief Kadri Simson said.
Brussels suggested that idea earlier this month, but it hit resistance from central and eastern European countries worried Moscow would retaliate by cutting off the remaining gas it still sends to them.
By introducing EU-wide measures Brussels hopes to overlay governments’ uneven national approaches to the energy crunch, which have seen richer EU countries far outspend poorer ones in handing out cash to ailing companies and consumers struggling with bills.
Germany, Europe’s biggest economy, set out a 200 billion euro package on Thursday to tackle soaring energy costs, including a gas price brake.
Luxembourg energy minister Claude Turmes urged Brussels to change EU state aid rules to stop the “insane” spending race between countries.
“That’s the next frontier, to get more solidarity and to stop this infighting,” Turmes said.
($1 = 1.0182 euros)
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Reporting by Kate Abnett and Gabriela Baczynska; Additional reporting by Philip Blenkinsop, Bart Meijer and John Chalmers; Editing by Jan Harvey
Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.
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Meet Katherine Webb: All About AJ McCarron's Wife The Teal Mango
Meet Katherine Webb: All About AJ McCarron's Wife – The Teal Mango https://digitalalabamanews.com/meet-katherine-webb-all-about-aj-mccarrons-wife-the-teal-mango/
Katherine Webb is the wife of American football quarterback AJ McCarron. These two lovebirds have been happily married for nearly 8 years now. Katherine and McCarron tied the knot in the year 2014 and they have been together ever since then.
Keep reading further to catch deep insights into the personal and professional life of AJ McCarron’s wife Katherine Webb including her age, job, and early life.
What does Katherine Webb do for a living?
For those of you who are unaware, let us tell you, Katherine Webb is a model by profession. She was born on April 24, 1989, in, Montgomery, Alabama, the United States to Alan and Leslie Webb.
In the past, the beauty queen has participated in many beauty pageants. She took part in the Miss Georgia USA 2008 pageant and ended her run in the contest as a semi-finalist. After a while, she was crowned Miss Alabama USA in 2012, then she competed in the Miss USA 2012 competition and finished in the top 10.
When did Katherine Webb come into the limelight?
At the moment, Katherine is 33 years old. She caught the eye of the viewers during the 2013 BCS National Championship Game telecast, at that time she was AJ’s girlfriend. Then, announcer Brent Musburger talked about Webb, and soon afterward, the camera rolled on her as she watched the game while sitting in the audience.
During the broadcast of the game, Brent described Katherine as a “lovely lady” and “beautiful”, he also told his broadcast partner, former quarterback Kirk Herbstreit, “You quarterbacks get all the good-looking women.” Then, he received a lot of backlash for his comments.
Due to the news, the number of Webb’s Twitter followers skyrocketed to 150,000 overnight. Following the incident, many media outlets criticized Brent and referred to his remarks as ‘sexist.’ Soon afterward, he issued an apology.
In a media interaction with Matt Lauer, Katherine stated that she was not offended by Brent’s remarks. She said, “I think the media has been really unfair to [Musburger]. But the fact that he said we were beautiful and gorgeous, I don’t see why any woman wouldn’t be flattered by that.”
When did Katherine Webb and AJ McCarron get engaged?
Katherine and AJ revealed that they were engaged in March 2014. At that time, Webb shared the piece of great news on the social media platform Instagram. She posted a sweet snap of herself and her then-fiancé on Instagram. She simply captioned the picture, “WE’RE ENGAGEDDDD!!!!!”
The picture from their special day showed Katherine and McCarron hugging each other. Katherine also gave her fans a clear glimpse of her sparkling engagement ring in a separate post. She wrote, “Can’t wait to marry my best friend ,” in the caption of the post. We must say AJ did a great job when it comes to the engagement ring.
Katherine and AJ McCarron got married in 2014
Webb and AJ said their vows on July 12, 2014, in Orange Beach, Alabama. For her big day, Katherine opted to wear a custom white gown by fashion designer Sherri Hill. On the other hand, AJ wore a black pantsuit with a black tie.
Then, Miss Alabama USA, posted a few monochromatic pictures from her wedding day on the social media platform Instagram as well.
How many kids do Katherine and AJ McCarron have?
Katherine and AJ McCarron share 3 children, all boys. In December 2015, Katherine announced that she was pregnant on Instagram. Then, she posted a picture of herself and her husband in which her baby bump was pretty visible.
Webb captioned the snap, “AJ and I feel beyond blessed and grateful to FINALLY announce after 4 months we have been keeping a secret! We are having a BOY! Thank you all so much for your prayers for us as it hasn’t been an easy journey. We thank God everyday for this wonderful blessing and can’t wait to share this journey with all of you!! .”
The couple welcomed their first child, a baby boy in May of 2016. Katherine and AJ named their son Tripp McCarron. They added another member to their clan in the year 2018. Their second son Cash Carter McCarron joined them earthside in December of 2018.
Webb gave birth to her and McCarron’s third child last year. Their third son Gunnar Cruz McCarron came into the world in April of 2021.
Katherine Webb is pretty active on Instagram
Like most models in the entertainment world, Katherine Webb also has a profile on the social media platform Instagram. She is pretty active on Instagram. Up until now, she has 770 posts on her Instagram feed.
As of now, Katherine has more than 200k followers on the social networking platform Instagram. Her bio reads, “Miss AL USA 2012, SI Swim 2013.” She is a proud wife as she has also mentioned that she is married to football star AJ McCarron in her Instagram bio.
When we scrolled through the Instagram feed of the model, we found a couple of stunning pictures of her from her trips all over the world, some photos of her from professional photoshoots, and a series of photographs with her husband AJ McCarron and the pair’s three children.
Katherine’s latest Instagram post saw the light of the day in August. Then, she posted a black and white bikini picture of her on Instagram. “33 and thriving (not my bday but I’m 33 and needed a good caption) ,” she wrote alongside the picture.
Her latest Instagram post gained a lot of attention from other social media influencers as well. Rachel Bush, the wife of American footballer Jordan Poyer, stopped by the comments section of the post and wrote, “Hot Mamma”.
Model Amanda Brew dropped a couple of fire emojis on the Instagram post. The Courtney Loves Dallas star Courtney Kerr added, “Thriving is damn right.” YouTube star Jilly Anais commented, “My mf girl & this mf boy .”
We must say AJ McCarron and his wife Katherine Webb make for one beautiful couple. Do let us know your thoughts on the pair in the comments section below. Don’t forget to stay tuned with us for the latest updates from the world of showbiz.
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How To Get Started In Elder Law https://digitalalabamanews.com/how-to-get-started-in-elder-law/
Experienced elder lawyer Chip Nation outlines the current landscape of elder law in this feature, sharing advice gained from his own active practice.
To begin with, what is defined as ‘elder law’ and what areas does it cover?
Elder law can be defined as broadly or narrowly as one would like. In the broadest sense, elder law is any area of the law that pertains to the older population and their families and to people with disabilities, regardless of age. This may include anything from personal injury cases specific to the elderly, such as falls and other injuries in assisted living settings and nursing homes, all the way to basic estate planning, which includes drafting wills, trusts, powers of attorneys, living wills, and so forth. Many elder law practitioners narrow the definition – and their practice – to simply helping people who are interested in protecting assets in case they need long-term care in the future, or to helping those in crisis situations who need immediate care and need to qualify for Medicaid as soon as possible, while trying to preserve as many assets as they can.
The National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys defined elder law well when it set forth that elder law is defined by the clients that the lawyer is serving. I am paraphrasing their definition, but that puts it succinctly. The needs of our older or disabled clients basically make the elder law practitioner a broad-based general practitioner, unless one defines and narrows one’s intake to certain types of cases.
For lawyers looking to practice elder law, what should they be most mindful of when setting out?
Lawyers considering elder law or just getting into elder law should be mindful that if you do narrow your practice to help clients protect their assets, plan for the potential of long-term care or help in crisis Medicaid planning situations, there are a lot of good resources available that you should utilize to help you learn the practice area. For instance, joining the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys is a good way to network, learn from the educational opportunities offered, and meet others in your jurisdiction who may also be elder law practitioners and who may be able to mentor you.
If you do not find a mentor, it is a good idea to at least have an experienced practitioner that you can either co-counsel with on your first couple of cases or at least be able to call and ask for specific guidance. One thing I learned quickly after transitioning from litigation is that people in this field are often very willing to help if you just ask. I also learned that I was much more comfortable when I asked for assistance or had an opportunity to bounce ideas off someone.
The needs of our older or disabled clients basically make the elder law practitioner a broad-based general practitioner, unless one defines and narrows one’s intake to certain types of cases.
Also, companies like ElderCounsel offer hands-on workshops, continuing legal education programs and drafting software. ElderCounsel is not the only option available, but companies like them can take you from day one of declaring your intention to practice elder law all the way through being an experienced elder law attorney churning out trusts and other documents that provide the foundation of many elder law practices. Again, if you do not have experience in this area of law, it is well worth the time and expense to learn what you are doing as you get started.
What ethical considerations need to be taken into account while working in elder law?
Ethical considerations are of utmost importance in elder law. The main reason for this is – unlike in most other areas of law – the most basic question of “Who is my client?” is not always easy to ascertain in an elder law matter.
Often when an older person is involved, that person’s child or spouse or other family member will be the one contacting you. Of course, the situation and type of matter they present are important, but if you decide the matter is worth your time, you always need to meet alone with the elderly person who is the subject of the issue if at all possible. This must be done to determine if they are competent and aware of what is happening and are able to make their own decisions. There are guides available from the American Bar Association and from the American College of Trusts and Estates Counsel to guide attorneys in determining how to assess the competency of a potential client and how to handle all the ethical situations involved with such representation. In addition, of course, you must always consult the Professional Rules of Conduct in your particular jurisdiction.
In elder law, once you have determined the capacity limitations of your client and gauged the interests of other family members, you must remain vigilant to make sure no coercion or undue influence or even abuse is befalling your client. As the attorney, you may find yourself in situations where you are truly the only person looking out for the wellbeing and welfare of your client. Therefore, you need to get to know your client well enough to pick up on any hints or signs that something is amiss. Then you are ethically bound to act if you do believe someone is taking advantage of your client. There is a lot of responsibility involved in representing the elderly.
Are there any parting pieces of advice that you would give to less experienced lawyers looking to incorporate elder law in their practice?
There are a lot of potential moving parts to representing the elderly, and it can be very challenging. However, it is a very rewarding practice area when you can make someone’s life markedly better. Also, if you are looking for a practice area that is growing and will continue to grow for the foreseeable future, elder law is the perfect area. Anecdotally, I can attest that once people discover that you handle estate planning or elder law matters, they will come up to you at church, at kids’ ball games, or at the store and tell you either they or someone they know needs to talk to you about a matter. It really is uncanny.
In the broader picture, as the US population continues to grow older, there will be a greater need for elder law attorneys. As of 2020, almost six million people over the age of 65 were estimated to suffer from Alzheimer’s disease in the United States. Estimates are that this number will rise exponentially between now and 2050. The same trends are seen worldwide as it is estimated that 50 million people suffer from dementia, with it becoming more commonplace every year.
When other areas of law are subjected to outside factors, such as technology, that potentially threaten the future need for lawyers in those areas, elder law will continue to see a burgeoning need for lawyers due to a burgeoning elderly population. However, elder law also needs new attorneys with new and fresh ideas.
As elder law practitioners, we too face legislative and regulatory changes and even what many deem as setbacks from time to time. As laws dealing with retirement accounts seemingly change every other year and the federal estate tax exemption is due to change soon, it is an interesting time to be an elder law attorney. It should be noted that you do not have to have a tax background to succeed; you can simply be upfront about that and have a referral or two handy if the situation arises. No matter the specialty you land on within elder law, now is the time to learn what you are doing, seek counsel from veteran attorneys, and begin a practice that will care for our parents’ and grandparents’ generations. Today’s new elder law lawyer will be tomorrow’s seasoned expert who will pay dividends for the community.
Chip Nation, Founder
The Law Office of HH Chip Nation, LLC
2918 7th Street, Tuscaloosa, AL 35401, USA
Tel: +1 205-614-8936
E: chip@nationlegal.com
Chip Nation earned an undergraduate degree in Business Administration from the University of Alabama in 1999 and his JD from Cumberland School of Law at Samford University in 2003. He has practiced law exclusively in Alabama since passing the bar exam in 2003 and was a litigator for the first 14 years of his legal career. Chip has been recognised multiple times in the National Trial Lawyers Top 100 and is now poised to enter his twentieth year of practicing law.
The Law Office of HH Chip Nation was founded in 2018. While Chip’s experience in litigation lends itself for the firm to handle the occasional personal injury or small business matter, the firm’s focus is on helping its clients to plan for their future and protect their assets no matter what the future may hold.
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Pringle Says Legislature Followed The Law In Drawing Of Congressional District Lines
Pringle Says Legislature Followed The Law In Drawing Of Congressional District Lines https://digitalalabamanews.com/pringle-says-legislature-followed-the-law-in-drawing-of-congressional-district-lines/
Regardless of the Supreme Court’s decision on Alabama’s new Congressional district map, State Rep. Chris Pringle, R-Mobile, said the Legislature followed the law as he understood it at the time.
Pringle, who shepherded the redistricting legislation in the House, said there’s a conflict between the 14th amendment of equal protection for all and Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act protecting minority individuals, and that the court would have to decide which holds more weight.
Oral arguments in the case will be heard by the U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday, Oct. 4, and Pringle echoed the same argument that the supporting legislators have made since passing the map a year ago.
“We followed what we thought was the current law based on court decisions,” Pringle said. “The lawyers we used are experienced redistricting and reapportionment lawyers and we did exactly what they told us to do. The three-judge (federal) panel decided we should have relied much heavier on race. We thought in the past we couldn’t rely so heavily on race, so we drew the maps race neutral, then turned on race.”
That federal three-judge panel ruled in favor of the plaintiffs, agreeing with the plaintiffs that the remedy is a second majority-minority district.
“… the court concludes that the … plaintiffs are substantially likely to establish each part of the Supreme Court test, including: (1) that Black Alabamians are sufficiently numerous to constitute a voting-age majority in a second congressional district; (2) that Alabama’s Black population in the challenged districts is sufficiently geographically compact to constitute a voting-age majority in a second reasonably configured district, (3) that voting in the challenged districts is intensely racially polarized, and (4) that under the totality of the circumstances, including the factors that the Supreme Court has instructed the court to consider, Black voters have less opportunity than other Alabamians to elect candidates of their choice to Congress,” the ruling read.
Pringle said that his understanding of the Voting Rights Act is that the percentage of a minority population in the state should not factor into the mapping.
“It clearly says ‘nothing in this act shall be construed to be based on percentage of minority population,’” Pringle said. “You don’t ignore contiguous, compact communities to draw minority districts.”
Multiple Alabama organizations including lead plaintiff Evan Miliigan of Alabama Forward will be in D.C. during the oral arguments holding a rally outside of the Supreme Court. A decision to allow the maps to stand, they say, could significantly weaken the Voting Rights Act.
A decision is expected to come in February or March of 2023, right as the Alabama Legislature begins a new legislative session.
Should the Supreme Court uphold the ruling of the federal court, Pringle said legislators will be ready to redraw the maps according to the court’s guidelines.
“We have to do whatever the court asks us to do,” Pringle said.
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55 New & Coming Soon Home Listings Across BirminghamSept. 30-Oct. 2
55 New & Coming Soon Home Listings Across Birmingham—Sept. 30-Oct. 2 https://digitalalabamanews.com/55-new-coming-soon-home-listings-across-birmingham-sept-30-oct-2/
Sponsored
Are you looking for a new home in Birmingham? We’ve got 55 fresh, new and coming soon listings for you to check out this weekend – you’re sure to find the perfect home for you. Enjoy!
416 MCCORMACK WAY HOOVER,AL 35242 (RealtySouth)
Open House: GREYSTONE LEGACY 10/02 13:00-15:00
416 MCCORMACK WAY
HOOVER,AL 35242
sq. ft.
6 bedrooms 5 full/1 half baths
$1100000
For more info, contact Conner Milam Rohm at 205-447-0773 or email crohm@realtysouth.com
5304 MEADOW BROOK ROAD BIRMINGHAM,AL 35242 (RealtySouth)
5304 MEADOW BROOK ROAD
BIRMINGHAM,AL 35242
sq. ft.
7 bedrooms 6 full/1 half baths
$1199999
For more info, contact Luke Goubeaud at 205-388-6457 or email lgoubeaud@realtysouth.com
1366 SCOUT TRACE HOOVER,AL 35244 (RealtySouth)
Open House: TRACE CROSSINGS 10/02 14:00-16:00
1366 SCOUT TRACE
HOOVER,AL 35244
sq. ft.
5 bedrooms 4 full/1 half baths
$788000
For more info, contact Barbara Edwards at 205-862-1370 or email bedwards@realtysouth.com
8331 HIGHWAY 179 BOAZ,AL 35956 (RealtySouth)
8331 HIGHWAY 179
BOAZ,AL 35956
sq. ft.
4 bedrooms 2 full/1 half baths
$765000
For more info, contact Kelly Fair at 832-713-0789 or email kfair@realtysouth.com
308 VESCLUB DRIVE VESTAVIA HILLS,AL 35216 (RealtySouth)
308 VESCLUB DRIVE
VESTAVIA HILLS,AL 35216
sq. ft.
4 bedrooms 3 full/2 half baths
$749900
For more info, contact Liz Cleckler at 205-222-1962 or email lizcleckler@realtysouth.com
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4109 OLD LEEDS ROAD MOUNTAIN BROOK,AL 35213 (RealtySouth)
4109 OLD LEEDS ROAD
MOUNTAIN BROOK,AL 35213
sq. ft.
4 bedrooms 3 full/1 half baths
$699900
For more info, contact Brian Boehm at 205-238-8154 or email bboehm@realtysouth.com
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1909 SAINT IVES DRIVE HOOVER,AL 35242 (RealtySouth)
Open House: GREYSTONE 10/02 14:00-16:00
1909 SAINT IVES DRIVE
HOOVER,AL 35242
sq. ft.
6 bedrooms 3 full/1 half baths
$699000
For more info, contact Julie Kim at 205-222-9000 or email juliekim@realtysouth.com
2214 BROOKSHIRE PLACE MOUNTAIN BROOK,AL 35213 (RealtySouth)
2214 BROOKSHIRE PLACE
MOUNTAIN BROOK,AL 35213
sq. ft.
3 bedrooms 2 full/1 half baths
$599900
For more info, contact Brian Boehm at 205-238-8154 or email bboehm@realtysouth.com
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1836 POLO COURT HOOVER,AL 35226 (RealtySouth)
1836 POLO COURT
HOOVER,AL 35226
sq. ft.
5 bedrooms 3 full/1 half baths
$599900
For more info, contact Toni Overton at 205-907-5090 or email toverton@realtysouth.com
3007 WOODRIDGE ROAD MOUNTAIN BROOK,AL 35223 (RealtySouth)
3007 WOODRIDGE ROAD
MOUNTAIN BROOK,AL 35223
sq. ft.
3 bedrooms 2 full/1 half baths
$579900
For more info, contact Brian Boehm at 205-238-8154 or email bboehm@realtysouth.com
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965 REDHAWK RIDGE SPRINGVILLE,AL 35146 (RealtySouth)
965 REDHAWK RIDGE
SPRINGVILLE,AL 35146
sq. ft.
4 bedrooms 3 full/1 half baths
$569900
For more info, contact Missy Heard at 205-601-0506 or email mheard@realtysouth.com
5286 DREW RUN TRUSSVILLE,AL 35173 (RealtySouth)
5286 DREW RUN
TRUSSVILLE,AL 35173
sq. ft.
5 bedrooms 4 full/0 half baths
$549900
For more info, contact Kevin Sargent at 205-577-2719 or email ksargent@realtysouth.com
2469 NORTHAMPTON DRIVE HOOVER,AL 35226 (RealtySouth)
2469 NORTHAMPTON DRIVE
HOOVER,AL 35226
sq. ft.
4 bedrooms 3 full/0 half baths
$545000
For more info, contact Jason Dailey at 205-600-8682 or email jdailey@realtysouth.com
6113 WOODBROOK LANE MCCALLA,AL 35111 (RealtySouth)
6113 WOODBROOK LANE
MCCALLA,AL 35111
sq. ft.
5 bedrooms 4 full/1 half baths
$523926
For more info, contact Scott Dudley at 205-706-3303 or email sdudley@realtysouth.com
1300 PANORAMA DRIVE VESTAVIA HILLS,AL 35216 (RealtySouth)
1300 PANORAMA DRIVE
VESTAVIA HILLS,AL 35216
sq. ft.
4 bedrooms 3 full/0 half baths
$499900
For more info, contact Buster Leach at 205-520-3894 or email busterleach@realtysouth.com
504 WINDSOR DRIVE HOMEWOOD,AL 35209 (RealtySouth)
Open House: HOLLYWOOD 10/02 14:00-16:00
504 WINDSOR DRIVE
HOMEWOOD,AL 35209
sq. ft.
3 bedrooms 1 full/1 half baths
$499000
For more info, contact Helen Drennen at 205-222-5688 or email hdrennen@realtysouth.com
6736 NATHAN CIRCLE MCCALLA,AL 35111 (RealtySouth)
6736 NATHAN CIRCLE
MCCALLA,AL 35111
sq. ft.
5 bedrooms 4 full/1 half baths
$498850
For more info, contact Scott Dudley at 205-706-3303 or email sdudley@realtysouth.com
4216 WARREN ROAD BIRMINGHAM,AL 35213 (RealtySouth)
4216 WARREN ROAD
BIRMINGHAM,AL 35213
sq. ft.
3 bedrooms 2 full/0 half baths
$489000
For more info, contact Helen Drennen at 205-222-5688 or email hdrennen@realtysouth.com
245 TYBEE DRIVE MADISON,AL 35756 (RealtySouth)
Open House: BRIDGEMILL 10/01 23:00-15:00
245 TYBEE DRIVE
MADISON,AL 35756
sq. ft.
4 bedrooms 3 full/1 half baths
$479850
For more info, contact Scott Dudley at 205-706-3303 or email sdudley@realtysouth.com
3423 WREN ROAD VESTAVIA HILLS,AL 35243 (RealtySouth)
Open House: NONE 10/02 14:00-16:00
3423 WREN ROAD
VESTAVIA HILLS,AL 35243
sq. ft.
3 bedrooms 2 full/1 half baths
$449900
For more info, contact Anna Lu Hemphill at 205-540-6135 or email ahemphill@realtysouth.com
6740 NATHAN CIRCLE MCCALLA,AL 35111 (RealtySouth)
6740 NATHAN CIRCLE
MCCALLA,AL 35111
sq. ft.
5 bedrooms 3 full/2 half baths
$449850
For more info, contact Scott Dudley at 205-706-3303 or email sdudley@realtysouth.com
6109 WOODBROOK LANE MCCALLA,AL 35111 (RealtySouth)
Open House: CARROLL COVE 10/01 23:00-15:00
6109 WOODBROOK LANE
MCCALLA,AL 35111
sq. ft.
5 bedrooms 4 full/0 half baths
$449850
For more info, contact Scott Dudley at 205-706-3303 or email sdudley@realtysouth.com
4417 DOLLY RIDGE ROAD VESTAVIA HILLS,AL 35243 (RealtySouth)
4417 DOLLY RIDGE ROAD
VESTAVIA HILLS,AL 35243
sq. ft.
4 bedrooms 3 full/0 half baths
$449000
For more info, contact Christina Douglas at 205-266-8298 or email cdouglas@realtysouth.com
103 BRIGHTON LAKE COURT NEW MARKET,AL 35761 (RealtySouth)
Open House: MERIDIA 10/01 23:00-15:00
103 BRIGHTON LAKE COURT
NEW MARKET,AL 35761
sq. ft.
4 bedrooms 3 full/1 half baths
$439850
For more info, contact Scott Dudley at 205-706-3303 or email sdudley@realtysouth.com
2235 PEACOCK LANE MOUNTAIN BROOK,AL 35223 (RealtySouth)
2235 PEACOCK LANE
MOUNTAIN BROOK,AL 35223
sq. ft.
3 bedrooms 3 full/0 half baths
$429900
For more info, contact Melissa Robinson at 205-807-6640 or email melissarobinson@realtysouth.com
5319 HARVEST RIDGE LANE BIRMINGHAM,AL 35242 (RealtySouth)
Open House: MEADOW BROOK 10/02 14:30-17:00
5319 HARVEST RIDGE LANE
BIRMINGHAM,AL 35242
sq. ft.
3 bedrooms 2 full/1 half baths
$399900
For more info, contact Lynn Long at 205-999-2593 or email lylong@realtysouth.com
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330 COUNTY ROAD 17 AUTAUGAVILLE,AL 36003 (RealtySouth)
330 COUNTY ROAD 17
AUTAUGAVILLE,AL 36003
sq. ft.
4 bedrooms 3 full/0 half baths
$395000
For more info, contact Pete Bernier at 205-405-6990 or email pbernier@realtysouth.com
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238 STRATHAVEN LANE PELHAM,AL 35124 (RealtySouth)
Open House: BALLANTRAE STRATHAVEN 10/02 14:00-16:00
238 STRATHAVEN LANE
PELHAM,AL 35124
sq. ft.
3 bedrooms 2 full/1 half baths
$389900
For more info, contact Melanie Siow at 205-305-1158 or email msiow@realtysouth.com
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105 BRIGHTON LAKE COURT NEW MARKET,AL 35761 (RealtySouth)
Open House: MERIDIA 10/01 23:00-15:00
105 BRIGHTON LAKE COURT
NEW MARKET,AL 35761
sq. ft.
5 bedrooms 4 full/0 half baths
$379850
For more info, contact Scott Dudley at 205-706-3303 or email sdudley@realtysouth.com
3237 WISTERIA DRIVE VESTAVIA HILLS,AL 35216 (RealtySouth)
3237 WISTERIA DRIVE
VESTAVIA HILLS,AL 35216
sq. ft.
4 bedrooms 2 full/0 half baths
$375000
For more info, contact Denise Hogan at 205-276-8194 or email dhogan@realtysouth.com
436 RAMSGATE DRIVE ALABASTER,AL 35114 (RealtySouth)
436 RAMSGATE DRIVE
ALABASTER,AL 35114
sq. ft.
5 bedrooms 3 full/0 half baths
$365000
For more info, contact Lannette Thomas at 205-470-9344 or email lthomas@realtysouth.com
3201 SPOOL LANE HUNTSVILLE,AL 35805 (RealtySouth)
3201 SPOOL LANE
HUNTSVILLE,AL 35805
sq. ft.
4 bedrooms 3 full/0 half baths
$354347
For more info, contact Scott Dudley at 205-706-3303 or email sdudley@realtysouth.com
4219 TEXTILE LANE HUNTSVILLE,AL 35805 (RealtySouth)
4219 TEXTILE LANE
HUNTSVILLE,AL 35805
sq. ft.
4 bedrooms 3 full/0 half baths
$349850
For more info, contact Scott Dudley at 205-706-3303 or email sdudley@realtysouth.com
2727 HANOVER CIRCLE HUEYTOWN,AL 35023 (RealtySouth)
Open House: VIRGINIA RIDGE 10/02 14:00-16:00
2727 HANOVER CIRCLE
HUEYTOWN,AL 35023
sq. ft.
3 bedrooms 2 full/0 half baths
$339900
For more info, contact Shelly Wallace at 205-260-5453 or email swallace@realtysouth.com
219 CALUMET DRIVE BIRMINGHAM,AL 35242 (RealtySouth)
219 CALUMET DRIVE
BIRMINGHAM,AL 35242
sq. ft.
3 bedrooms 2 full/0 half baths
$315000
For more info, contact Rachel Kim at 205-837-1415 or email rkim@realtysouth.com
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4097 TEXTILE LANE HUNTSVILLE,AL 35805 (RealtySouth)
Open House: MERRIMACK 10/01 23:00-15:00
4097 TEXTILE LANE
HUNTSVILLE,AL 35805
sq. ft.
4 bedrooms 2 full/1 half baths
$310993
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The Law Firm Protecting Trump And The Extreme Right WhoWhatWhy
The Law Firm Protecting Trump And The Extreme Right – WhoWhatWhy https://digitalalabamanews.com/the-law-firm-protecting-trump-and-the-extreme-right-whowhatwhy/
On this week’s WhoWhatWhy podcast, I’m joined by New York Times investigative reporter David Enrich, also a former Wall Street Journal reporter, and the author of the just released Servants of the Damned: Giant Law Firms, Donald Trump, and the Corruption of Justice.
Enrich’s work on the law firm, Jones Day, is yet another layer of something we looked at several months ago, when we spoke with Rhode Island Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D) who detailed what he calls “The Scheme”: The complex corporate/political web by which extreme conservative forces have moved to control the Republican Party, the Federal judiciary, and Federal regulatory agencies -– all to the benefit of some of the worst corporate interests.
Like any effort of this magnitude, it needs a lot of lawyers. For those engaged in “The Scheme,” they needed their version of Neil Mink or Tom Hagen. For them, as Enrich details, the firm that has taken on this job is Jones Day. Some of its 2500-plus lawyers include (or previously included) Trump White House counsel Don McGahn, former Fox Host Megyn Kelly, GOP Election lawyer Ben Ginsberg, Trump’s Solicitor General Noel Francisco, and even, at one time, Antonin Scalia.
One of the 10 biggest law firms in America, the firm has been the go-to practice for MAGA, Donald Trump, and a client list that includes Purdue Pharma, big tobacco, gun manufacturers, Fox News, an assortment of Russian oligarchs, and even the Catholic Church.
Enrich lays out Jones Day’s close connection to the Federalist Society, the way in which it’s used its political influence and almost mob-like methods to benefit a long list of its Fortune 500 clients, all very much in line with “The Scheme” that Whitehouse describes.
Enrich outlines Jones Day’s involvement in Stop the Steal, its role in trying to overturn ballots in Pennsylvania in 2020, and its ongoing involvement with Trump, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) (whose current chief of staff was a Jones Day partner) and all of its many tentacles in to the Republican party.
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Full Text Transcript:
(As a service to our readers, we provide transcripts with our podcasts. We try to ensure that these transcripts do not include errors. However, due to a constraint of resources, we are not always able to proofread them as closely as we would like and hope that you will excuse any errors that slipped through.)
Transcript Coming Soon…
Jeff Schechtman’s career spans movies, radio stations and podcasts. After spending twenty-five years in the motion picture industry as a producer and executive, he immersed himself in journalism, radio, and more recently the world of podcasts. To date he has conducted over ten-thousand interviews with authors, journalists, and thought leaders. Since March of 2015, he has conducted over 315 podcasts for WhoWhatWhy.org
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Trumps Mar-A-Lago Special Master Gambit Seems To Be Backfiring
Trump’s Mar-A-Lago Special Master Gambit Seems To Be Backfiring https://digitalalabamanews.com/trumps-mar-a-lago-special-master-gambit-seems-to-be-backfiring/
Sept. 29, 2022, 12:47 PM UTC / Updated Sept. 30, 2022, 11:38 AM UTC
By Steve Benen
UPDATE: (Sept. 30, 2022, 7:32 a.m. ET): A federal judge ruled Thursday that former President Donald Trump’s legal team does not need to comply with special master Raymond Dearie’s order for a sworn declaration on whether Trump believes FBI agents lied about the documents seized from Mar-a-Lago during a court-approved search.
As of a few weeks ago, Team Trump’s request for a special master in the Mar-a-Lago case appeared to be going quite well, the underlying merits notwithstanding. The former president and his lawyers had found an apparent ally in U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon — whom Donald Trump had earlier tapped for the federal judiciary — and the Justice Department’s criminal investigation was put on hold.
When federal officials also agreed to the Republican’s choice of arbiters, U.S. District Judge Raymond Dearie, it appeared as if Trump and his defense attorneys had lined up the pieces exactly as they’d hoped to see them.
At least, that’s how things looked earlier this month. Now, as The New York Times’ Charlie Savage explained, the entire effort to involve a special master appears to be backfiring.
Former President Donald J. Trump’s request that a judge intervene in the criminal investigation into his hoarding of government documents by appointing a special master increasingly looks like a significant blunder, legal experts say. “Maybe from Trump’s point of view, creating delay and chaos is always a plus, but this has the feel of a giant backfire,” said Peter M. Shane, a legal scholar in residence at New York University and a specialist in separation-of-powers law.
By some measures, the winds shifted last week, when a unanimous 11th Circuit Court of Appeals panel rejected Cannon’s ruling and allowed the Justice Department to resume using classified documents, retrieved from Mar-a-Lago, in its criminal investigation.
Blocking access to these materials was one of the principal goals of Team Trump’s legal strategy, and the appellate court knocked it down.
So what are the former president and his lawyers left with? An expensive process — that the Republican is forced to finance — featuring a special master who isn’t doing Trump any favors. Savage’s analysis added, “[F]ar from indulging Mr. Trump, as his lawyers likely hoped in suggesting his appointment, Judge Dearie appears to be organizing the document review in ways that threaten to swiftly puncture the former president’s defenses.”
Quite right. As we discussed last week, Trump has repeatedly suggested that corrupt FBI agents might’ve “planted” evidence at Mar-a-Lago. A special master invited the Republican’s lawyers to prove it — and since they won’t be able to, this will cause fresh embarrassment to the scandal-plagued politician who not only initiated this process, but who’s also having to write checks to pay for it, even as the criminal investigation that he hoped to delay continues.
If recent history is any guide, Trump will soon lash out online, targeting the process he requested, the lawyers he hired, and the special master he sought, indifferent to the fact that this mess was his doing.
Steve Benen is a producer for “The Rachel Maddow Show,” the editor of MaddowBlog and an MSNBC political contributor. He’s also the bestselling author of “The Impostors: How Republicans Quit Governing and Seized American Politics.”
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Hurricane Ian Heads For Carolinas; Tensions Flare Over Trump Special Master; Miami QB's Scary Injury KXLY
Hurricane Ian Heads For Carolinas; Tensions Flare Over Trump Special Master; Miami QB's Scary Injury – KXLY https://digitalalabamanews.com/hurricane-ian-heads-for-carolinas-tensions-flare-over-trump-special-master-miami-qbs-scary-injury-kxly/
September 30, 2022 4:30 AM
Associated Press, CNN
Posted: September 30, 2022 4:30 AM
Updated: September 30, 2022 4:51 AM
Today is Friday, Sept. 30, 2022. Let’s get caught up.
Here are today’s top stories, celebrity birthdays and a look back at this date in history:
***
TODAY’S WEATHER
***
TOP STORIES
AP
In 1938, after co-signing the Munich Agreement allowing Nazi annexation of Czechoslovakia’s Sudetenland, British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain said, “I believe it is peace for our time.”
AP
In 1947, the World Series was broadcast on television for the first time; the New York Yankees defeated the Brooklyn Dodgers 5-3 in Game 1 (the Yankees went on to win the Series four games to three).
AP
In 1949, the Berlin Airlift came to an end.
AP
In 1955, actor James Dean, 24, was killed in a two-car collision near Cholame, California.
AP
In 1962, James Meredith, a Black student, was escorted by federal marshals to the campus of the University of Mississippi, where he enrolled for classes the next day; Meredith’s presence sparked rioting that claimed two lives.
AP
In 1972, Roberto Clemente hit a double against Jon Matlack of the New York Mets during Pittsburgh’s 5-0 victory at Three Rivers Stadium; the hit was the 3,000th and last for the Pirates star.
AP
In 1984, the mystery series “Murder, She Wrote,” starring Angela Lansbury, premiered on CBS.
AP
Ten years ago: A U.S. drone airstrike in Yemen killed two American members of al-Qaida, cleric Anwar al-Awlaki and recruiting magazine editor Samir Khan.
Jack Dempsey
Mike Trout of the Los Angeles Angels became the first rookie in Major League history to hit 30 home runs and steal 40 bases in a season as the Angels defeated the Texas Rangers 5-4.
AP
In 2014, the first case of Ebola diagnosed in the U.S. was confirmed in a patient who had recently traveled from Liberia to Dallas.
Invision
In 2017, Monty Hall, the long-running host of TV’s “Let’s Make a Deal,” died of heart failure at his home in Beverly Hills at the age of 96.
AP
One year ago: Authorities in California said they had arrested and charged a man in connection with the shooting earlier in the month that wounded two Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputies as they sat in their squad car. (Deonte Lee Murray has pleaded not guilty to attempted murder and other charges.)
AP
One year ago: Serena Williams’ latest bid for a record-tying 24th Grand Slam title ended when she was unable to play a second-round match at the French Open because of an injury.
AP
One year ago: Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves announced he was ending a statewide mask mandate, but the Republican governor said he would still require people to wear masks in school to curb the spread of novel coronavirus.
Susan Walsh
One year ago: With only hours to spare, Congress passed and President Joe Biden signed legislation to avoid a partial federal shutdown and keep the government funded through Dec. 3.
Invision
Actor Amy Landecker is 52.
Invision
Actor Barry Williams is 67.
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Actor Christopher Jackson is 46.
Invision
Singer Cissy Houston is 88.
Invision
Country singer Eddie Montgomery (Montgomery-Gentry) is 58.
Invision
Actor Eric Stoltz is 60.
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Actor Fran Drescher is 64.
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Actor Jenna Elfman is 50.
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Singer Johnny Mathis is 86.
Invision
Actor Kieran Culkin is 39.
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Actor Lacey Chabert is 39.
Invision
Actor Marion Cotillard is 46.
AP
Former tennis player Martina Hingis is 41.
Invision
Country singer Marty Stuart is 63.
Invision
Actor Monica Bellucci is 57.
AP
Rock musician Robby Takac (Goo Goo Dolls) is 57.
Invision
Actor Stark Sands is 43.
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Singer-rapper T-Pain is 37.
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Actor Toni Trucks is 41.
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Actor Tony Hale is 51.
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Rock singer Trey Anastasio is 57.
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Actor Vondie Curtis-Hall is 71.
AP FILE
1927 — Babe Ruth hits his 60th home run of the season in the eighth inning off Tom Zachary to lead the New York Yankees to a 4-2 victory over the Washington Senators.
In this undated file photo, New York Yankees’ Babe Ruth hits a home-run. (AP Photo/File)
AP FILE
1972 — Roberto Clemente hits a double against New York Mets left-hander Jon Matlack during Pittsburgh’s 5-0 victory at Three Rivers Stadium. The hit is the 3,000th and last for the Pirates’ star, who dies in a plane crash during the offseason.
Pirates right fielder Roberto Clemente, left, gets a hand from Mets’ Willie Mays after he belted his 3,000th hit in Pittsburgh, Sept. 30, 1972. (AP Photo/MB)
AP FILE
1992 — George Brett becomes the 18th player to get 3,000 hits in the Kansas City Royals’ 4-0 win over the California Angels.
In this Sept. 30, 1992, file photo, Kansas City Royals’ George Brett holds the ball he hit as he heads toward the Royals’ dugout after hitting his 3,000th career hit, against the California Angels in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Kevork Djansezian, File)
AP FILE
2006 — Peyton Manning of the Indianapolis Colts becomes the second-fastest quarterback to throw 250 touchdown passes in his career, doing it in 132 games. Only Dan Marino (128) reached that number faster.
Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning delivers a pass during the Colts’ 31-28 win over the New York Jets in NFL football Sunday, Oct. 1, 2006, at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Jason DeCrow)
Jim Mone
2007 — Brett Favre passes Dan Marino to become the NFL leader in career touchdown passes, throwing Nos. 421 and 422 in Green Bay’s 23-16 victory over Minnesota.
Green Bay Packers quarterback Brett Favre carries wide receiver Greg Jennings after completing a 16-yard touchdown pass to him in first quarter, setting the NFL record for career touchdown passes at 421, in a football game against the Minnesota Vikings Sunday, Sept. 30, 2007 in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Jim Mone)
AP FILE
2007 — Detroit scores an NFL-record 34 points in the fourth quarter of a 37-27 victory over Chicago. The Lions combine with Bears for 48 points — also a league record.
Detroit Lions wide receiver Mike Furrey runs for yardage during a football game against the Chicago Bears Sunday, Sept. 30, 2007 in Detroit. (AP Photo/Duane Burleson)
AP FILE
2012 — Europe wins the Ryder Cup with an historic comeback from a 4-point deficit to beat the United States. Martin Kaymer delivers the Europeans finish with 14½ points while the Americans had 13½. The Americans had a 10-4 lead midway through matches. But the Europeans rally to win the final two, then built on the lead by winning the first five matches the next day.
Europe’s Sergio Garcia, left to right, Luke Donald and Justin Rose celebrate after winning the Ryder Cup PGA golf tournament Sunday, Sept. 30, 2012, at the Medinah Country Club in Medinah, Ill. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)
AP FILE
2012 — Greg Zuerlein of St. Louis converts all four-field goal attempts (58, 48, 60, 24 yards) in the Rams’ 19-13 win over Seattle. Zuerlein becomes the first kicker in NFL history to convert a 60-yard field goal and a 50-yard field goal in the same game.
St. Louis Rams kicker Greg Zuerlein (4) is congratulated by Johnny Hekker after kicking a 60-yard field goal during the second half of an NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks Sunday, Sept. 30, 2012, in St. Louis. The Rams defeated the Seahawks, 19-13. (AP Photo/Tom Gannam)
AP FILE
2015 — The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals agrees that the NCAA’s use of college athletes’ names, images and likenesses in video games and TV broadcasts violate antitrust laws but strikes down a plan to allow schools to pay players up to $5,000.
In this April 2, 2015, file photo, NCAA President Mark Emmert answers questions during a news conference at the Final Four college basketball tournament in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings, File)
AP FILE
2017 — Troy’s defense forces four turnovers and the surging Trojans upset No. 25 LSU 24-21. Troy is the first team from outside the Southeastern Conference to win in LSU’s Death Valley since UAB in 2000.
Troy wide receiver Damion Willis (15) and defensive end Seth Calloway (94) celebrate a missed field goal by LSU place kicker Jack Gonsoulin (39) in the first half of an NCAA college football game in Baton Rouge, La., Saturday, Sept. 30, 2017. (AP Photo/Matthew Hinton)
AP FILE
2017 — Notre Dame reaches 900 wins with a 52-17 win over Miami (Ohio).
The Notre Dame mascot takes the field during the first half of an NCAA college football game between Notre Dame and Miami (Ohio) Saturday, Sept. 30, 2017, in South Bend, Ind. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
AP FILE
2017 — Seventh-ranked Georgia hits a big milestone as a program, notching win No. 800 with a 41-0 rout of Tennessee.
Georgia running back Elijah Holyfield (13) outruns Tennessee defensive back Justin Martin (8) and defensive back Nigel Warrior (18) in the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 30, 2017, in Knoxville, Tenn. Georgia won 41-0. (AP Photo/Wade Payne)
***
MORNING LISTEN
***
IMAGE OF THE DAY
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Equata James https://digitalalabamanews.com/equata-james/
DANVILLE — Equata James of Danville, AL passed away on September 28, 2022 at Huntsville Hospital, AL after a valiantly fought battle. She was born September 26, 1961 to Harry “Bob” and Peggy James in Tuscumbia, AL. She leaves behind her husband, Tim and daughters, Bailee and Lily Peyton, whom she loved unconditionally.
She is survived by her husband, Tim Ward; daughters, Bailee Madison Ward and Lily Peyton Ward; sister, Pam Marthaler (Terry); brothers, Vance James (Liz) and Kirk James (Amber); nieces and nephews, Drei Marthaler (Taylor), Ryan Marthaler (Jaqualine), Kirstern Marthaler Morris (Peyton), Nicholas, Chloe, and Braden James; mother-in-law, Joyce Ward; sister-in-law, Teresa Ward; god daughter, Taylor Cannon; and Godson, Leonard Hilty.
She was preceded in death by her mother, Peggy James; father, Bob James; and father-in-law, Jim Ward.
Equata was accepted to Auburn University in the school of Building Science, where she excelled. At that time, few women were a part of the Building Science Department. After graduating Auburn University, Equata made her home in Atlanta, GA, she enjoyed an accomplished career, as a leader in her field for 30-plus years in commercial construction.
Equata was a force of nature, whether it was a work project or personal. She was a creative decorator, an avid gardener, she enjoyed traveling and loved cheering for her Auburn Tigers. She also had a heart for animals and animal rescue. Equata touched many lives with her loyalty, kindness, and generosity. If you needed anything, she was there. She had an infectious laugh that could fill a room. She will be missed by so many, but will be forever in our hearts.
As per her instruction, Equata was cremated and a celebration of life will be held at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to Decatur Animal Services, Decatur, Alabama or the Colbert County Animal Shelter, Tuscumbia, Alabama.
You may view the online obituary and sign the online guest registry at www.colbertmemorial.com.
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Names And Faces https://digitalalabamanews.com/names-and-faces/
FILE – Bruce Springsteen performs at Stand Up For Heroes in New York on Nov. 1, 2016. Springsteen’s new album “Only the Strong Survive” will be released on Nov. 11. (Photo by Greg Allen/Invision/AP, File)
• Bruce Springsteen takes on the Four Tops, the Temptations, the Supremes, Jimmy Ruffin and other soul legends in an album of cover songs due out next month. The disc “Only the Strong Survive” is named for the Jerry Butler song, one of the 16 covers to be released Nov. 11. “I wanted to make an album where I just sang,” Springsteen said. “And what better music to work with than the great American songbook of the Sixties and Seventies? I’ve taken my inspiration from Levi Stubbs, David Ruffin, Jimmy Ruffin, the Iceman Jerry Butler, Diana Ross, Dobie Gray and Scott Walker, among many others.” Those who’ve seen Springsteen perform live know that he’ll frequently pull out some soul covers. The disc arrives three months before the beginning of a new tour with the E Street Band. Among the songs he tackles are the Commodores’ “Nightshift,” The Walker Brothers’ “The Sun Ain’t Gonna Shine Anymore” and the Four Tops’ “When She Was My Girl.” Also featured are “I Wish It Would Rain” by The Temptations and “Someday We’ll Be Together” by Diana Ross and The Supremes. Soul legend Sam Moore sings on two of the cuts.
• The husband of U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., has filed for divorce, stating his marriage is “irretrievably broken.” According to the divorce petition filed Wednesday in the Georgia Superior Court of Floyd County, the couple had already separated. Perry Greene, who married Marjorie Taylor in 1995 while they were at the University of Georgia, asks for an equitable division of assets and debt, and that all future filings in the case be sealed — “because the parties’ significant privacy interest in sealing the records outweighs the public’s minuscule interest in access to said records,” the motion says. The lawmaker, one of former President Donald Trump’s top allies, has often stressed her traditional values and angered many for her far-right political leanings. “Marriage is a wonderful thing and I’m a firm believer in it,” she told Fox News. “Our society is formed by a husband and wife creating a family to nurture and protect. Together, Perry and I formed our family and raised three great kids. He gave me the best job title you can ever earn: Mom.” She added, “I’ll always be grateful for how great of a dad he is to our children.” Perry Greene said his wife had been an “amazing” mother and friend. “Our family is our most important thing we have done,” he said. “As we go on different paths we will continue to focus on our 3 incredible kids and their future endeavors and our friendship.”
This cover image released by Columbia Records shows “Only the Strong Survive” by Bruce Springsteen, releasing Nov. 11. (Columbia Records via AP)
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New Lawyer For Jan. 6 Defendant From Yellville Says Plea Offer Being Considered
New Lawyer For Jan. 6 Defendant From Yellville Says Plea Offer Being Considered https://digitalalabamanews.com/new-lawyer-for-jan-6-defendant-from-yellville-says-plea-offer-being-considered/
The new attorney for a Yellville man charged in connection with the U.S. Capitol riot said Thursday that he will decide soon whether his client should take a plea offer or go to trial.
Joseph William Allen of Branson filed a notice Sept. 14 in federal court in the Distinct of Columbia indicating he would be serving as attorney for Jon Thomas Mott, 39, of Yellville.
Mott was previously represented by Michelle M. Peterson, a public defender in Washington, D.C.
Mott faces four misdemeanor charges stemming from the Jan. 6, 2021, breach of the U.S. Capitol: Entering and remaining in a restricted building; disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building; violent entry and disorderly conduct in a Capitol building; and parading, demonstrating or picketing in a Capitol building.
In a teleconference status hearing Thursday from federal court in the District of Columbia, Assistant U.S. Attorney Graciela Rodriguez Lindberg said a plea offer was extended to Mott last year.
“I don’t mind leaving that offer open or at least getting another offer on the table,” she said. “That one has technically expired, but we can work on that.”
Lindberg said that since Allen is new on the case, he may need some time to pore over the extensive discovery related to the Capitol riot.
“Just for the record, as of September 16 of this year … we have over 3.37 million files related to the Capitol riot discovery in the defense Relativity workspace,” Lindberg told U.S. District Judge Royce C. Lamberth during Thursday’s hearing.
She said the video footage alone would take 100 days to watch straight through without taking a break.
“I’m aware of the larger discovery available,” Allen told the judge. “Of course I’m new to the case. However, I’ve been trying to focus on peeling back the layers of discovery as it is specific to Mr. Mott’s case. So I believe that I am pretty well up to speed and I do have access to the discovery.”
Allen said he has spoken extensively with Mott and has been in contact with attorneys for the federal government.
Allen said he needed a little more time, so Lamberth set the next status hearing for Nov. 17. If both sides come to an agreement regarding a plea, a court date can be set earlier, Lamberth said.
If the case goes to trial, Lindberg estimated it would take a week including jury selection.
Last Friday, Allen asked the judge to allow Mott to use his legally owned guns to go hunting.
“For the majority of his life, Defendant has participated in the Conservation efforts of wildlife management by engaging in the practice of subsistence hunting,” Allen wrote in the motion. “This practice also contributes toward supplementing the monies spent by the Defendant toward groceries for an average annual estimate of $5,000.00 in savings.”
Lamberth granted that request Monday, but Mott isn’t allowed to keep firearms or ammunition at his home or workplace. One condition of Mott’s pretrial release was that he not possess firearms.
The Jan. 6 riot escalated from a “Stop the Steal” rally when some supporters of then-President Donald Trump entered the U.S. Capitol and attempted to stop Congress from certifying the Electoral College vote indicating that Joe Biden had won the presidential election.
Richard “Bigo” Barnett, 62, of Gravette, and Peter Francis Stager, 43, of Conway face felony charges in connection with the Jan. 6 riot at the Capitol. Stager remains in the District of Columbia jail. He is the only Jan. 6 defendant from Arkansas still incarcerated.
Mott, Barnett and Stager have all pleaded innocent.
Robert Thomas Snow, 78, of Heber Springs pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge for “parading, demonstrating or picketing in the Capitol building.” He was sentenced to probation and community service.
Print Headline: D.C. riot suspect weighs plea offer
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City Reworks Plans For Bluff Park Pavilion https://digitalalabamanews.com/city-reworks-plans-for-bluff-park-pavilion/
Officials with the city of Hoover continue to revise plans for a new pavilion at the Bluff Park Community Park on Cloudland Drive.
The project has been in the works since at least 2018 but was delayed after bids for the job came in higher than anticipated.
When the city sought bids for pavilion construction in 2019, three companies submitted bids, and the lowest was $467,000 by Construction Services Group, City Clerk Wendy Dickerson said.
The City Council had budgeted $172,912 to demolish the Bluff Park Community Center and build a pavilion. The community center, which had been deemed unsafe due to a deteriorating subfloor, was torn down, but the pavilion has not been built.
Jehad Al-Dakka, who became the city’s chief operations officer in 2021, said an architectural firm (Turner Batson) and a structural engineer this summer have been reviewing the design and layout of the pavilion to try to find a less expensive way to do it.
“The whole design we’re working on is completely different,” Al-Dakka said.
They think they may be able to preserve and use some of the existing slab that was there for the community center, since part of it is in great shape, he said.
The pavilion being planned is roughly 26 feet by 49 feet, but the plan could include some seating that extends outside the pavilion, Al-Dakka said.
The pavilion also will have restrooms and a storage area, but he’s not sure how big the storage area would be yet, he said.
“We are going to move forward with it,” Al-Dakka said. “We’re trying to get the best design first to make it work.”
Read More…
European Markets Climb Looking For Relief Rally After Global Sell-Off; Stoxx 600 Up 1%
European Markets Climb, Looking For Relief Rally After Global Sell-Off; Stoxx 600 Up 1% https://digitalalabamanews.com/european-markets-climb-looking-for-relief-rally-after-global-sell-off-stoxx-600-up-1/
LONDON ― European markets advanced on Friday, gaining some respite from a torrid week as the third quarter drew to a close.
The pan-European Stoxx 600 added 1% in early trade, with oil and gas stocks climbing 2.2% to lead gains as all sectors and major bourses entered positive territory.
Global stocks struggled in recent sessions amid fears over slowing growth and aggressive monetary policy tightening.
The widespread sell-off on Wall Street continued on Thursday, with all three major averages falling sharply as investors assessed the outlook for future rate-hiking decisions from the U.S. Federal Reserve and their impact on the markets. The S&P 500 hit a fresh low for the year. Stock futures were mixed in early premarket trade on Friday.
Shares in Asia-Pacific also retreated on Friday following the overnight plunge stateside, though new data showed Chinese factory activity unexpectedly expanded in August.
Investor focus in Europe on Friday will shift to initial euro zone inflation figures for September, due at 10 a.m. London time, with economists expecting annual consumer prices to have increased by a fresh record high of 9.7%.
Volatility continues in U.K. markets after the Bank of England intervened in the bond market on Wednesday in order to shore up the country’s financial stability, after a historic sell-off in long-dated gilts. Sterling also hit an all-time low on Monday following the new government’s widely condemned fiscal policy announcements, but has staged a significant rally in recent days.
Stateside, several Fed officials are due to speak on Friday afternoon, and the markets will be watching closely for indications as to the pace of future rate hikes from the central bank.
Euro zone inflation soars to record high of 10% in September
Euro zone inflation hit a new record high of 10% in September, Eurostat data showed on Friday, up from 9.1% in August and above consensus projections of 9.7%.
The reading, which also showed price increases broadening out from volatile food and energy prices into nearly all segments of the 19-member bloc’s economy, will exert more pressure on the European Central Bank to hike interest rates aggressively at its October meeting.
– Elliot Smith
Sterling recovers to pre-plunge levels as Bank of England and government act
The British pound rose to fresh one-week highs on Friday against both the dollar and the euro, recovering from the steep losses that send it to an all-time low on Monday.
Sterling gained 1% against the greenback on Friday morning to trade above $1.12 before moderating slightly. During Asian trading hours on Monday, the pound slid to just above $1.03 on the back of a widely-criticized set of fiscal policy announcements from the U.K. government.
The Bank of England on Wednesday intervened in the U.K. long-dated bond market to secure the country’s financial stability after huge sell-offs in the currency and fixed income markets.
Markets are also taking reassurance after news that British Prime Minister Liz Truss and Finance Minister Kwasi Kwarteng will meet with the U.K.’s independent finance watchdog for talks on Friday.
– Elliot Smith
UK economy unexpectedly grew in second-quarter, but remains below pre-Covid levels
The U.K. economy expanded by 0.2% in the second quarter, according to revised data published Friday, up from an initial estimate of a 0.1% contraction.
However, the Office for National Statistics reiterated that the economy continues to slow, and GDP remains below its pre-pandemic peak.
The ONS revised down its estimate for Britain’s Covid-19 recovery, and now says U.K. GDP contracted by 11% in 2020, during the height of lockdowns, sharply lower than the previous estimate of a 9.3% fall.
“The level of real quarterly GDP in the U.K. is now 0.2% below its pre-coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic level in Quarter 4 (Oct to Dec) 2019,” the ONS said.
– Elliot Smith
French inflation eases in September for second straight month
French inflation cooled for a second consecutive month in September, diverging from neighboring Germany on the back of a deceleration of price increases in energy and services.
National statistics agency INSEE said Friday that France’s EU-harmonized inflation rate dropped to 6.2% annually in September from 6.6% in August, defying market projections for a modest acceleration.
– Elliot Smith
British Prime Minister Liz Truss to have emergency talks with budget forecasters
Stocks on the move: Clariant up 6%, Wise down 5%
Clariant shares climbed 6.4% in early trade to lead the Stoxx 600 after Credit Suisse upgraded the Swiss chemicals company’s stock to “outperform” from neutral and upped its price target.
At the bottom of the European blue chip index, London-based fintech company Wise slid 5% following the publication of its earnings report on Thursday.
– Elliot Smith
Here are the opening calls
Britain’s FTSE 100 is expected to open around 13 points lower at 6,869, Germany’s DAX is set to gain around 9 points to 11,984 and France’s CAC 40 is seen around 6 points higher at 5,683.
CNBC Pro: Is the Fed on the right track? Wall Street veteran Ed Yardeni says this is what it should do next
The U.S Federal Reserve announced yet another 75 basis point hike earlier this month, sending the federal funds rate up to a range of 3% to 3.25%. The central bank also signaled it may raise interest rates up to as high as 4.6% in 2023 to control inflation.
Ed Yardeni, the economist who coined the term “bond vigilantes,” gives his take as the Fed’s response to inflation comes under intense scrutiny.
Pro subscribers can read more here.
— Zavier Ong
CNBC Pro: Here’s how to trade the UK’s political and market turmoil, fund managers say
Markets in London have been in turmoil ever since the U.K. government announced its so-called “mini-budget.”
The chaos driven by recent political events has seen the Sterling tank to new historic lows against the dollar as many overseas investors pulled out of the country.
Three fund managers have named stocks and sectors that may benefit from the sell-off in the country’s currency.
CNBC Pro subscribers can read more here.
— Ganesh Rao
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Hurricane Ian Live Updates: Biden Declares Emergency In South Carolina As Storm Intensifies
Hurricane Ian Live Updates: Biden Declares Emergency In South Carolina As Storm Intensifies https://digitalalabamanews.com/hurricane-ian-live-updates-biden-declares-emergency-in-south-carolina-as-storm-intensifies/
Updated September 30, 2022 at 5:46 a.m. EDT|Published
September 30, 2022 at 2:00 a.m. EDT
President Biden declared an emergency in South Carolina hours ahead of Ian’s expected landfall as a Category 1 hurricane near Charleston around midday Friday. The White House will dispatch federal assistance to supplement local response efforts, and the National Hurricane Center warned of “life-threatening flooding, storm surge and strong winds” in the Carolinas.
Ian sustained maximum winds of about 85 mph going into Friday as it veered north of Florida. State officials there were assessing the extent of damage that Ian left behind, with several areas still reeling from its destructive storm surges. Rubble was strewn across Florida’s western coast, and more than 2.1 million customers were still without power as of 3:30 a.m. Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) said there was no confirmed death toll as of Thursday evening but that authorities “absolutely expect to have mortality from this hurricane.” Search efforts continue, with more than 700 confirmed rescues so far.
Here’s what to know
South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster (R) said Thursday afternoon that he was not ordering any evacuations of coastal communities, but he urged residents to prepare as Ian heads for the region.
“Major to record flooding” is expected to continue through next week across parts of central Florida, the National Hurricane Center said. DeSantis said the damage in Charlotte and Lee counties on Florida’s southwestern coast was “almost indescribable,” with homes ripped off their foundations.
Several counties in western Florida urged residents to boil water before use, fearing that storm surges and flooding may have contaminated water lines.
After Ian makes landfall in the Carolinas, the Hurricane Center forecasts that it will “rapidly weaken over the southeastern United States late Friday into Saturday.”
‘This is the worst day of my life’
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FORT MYERS BEACH, Fla. — Rick Lemaster, his girlfriend and their poodle, Tigger, barely survived the storm in their neighbor’s elevated apartment.
At the peak of the hurricane, water surged up over their cars and nearly to the door. Lemaster, 54, started timing how fast the water was rising.
“I’m trying to hold the door and watch the water level. We had one step left,” before they were inundated, he said.
Suddenly, the storm shifted.
“The water started receding,” he said.
“But that wasn’t the end of it,” said his girlfriend, Amy Elliot, 57.
‘We absolutely expect to have mortality’ from storm, DeSantis says
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Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) said state officials “absolutely expect to have mortality” from Hurricane Ian, though he said the death toll remained unconfirmed as of Thursday evening.
“I know that people have said certain things — in terms of confirmed, that will be made apparent over the coming days,” he said.
More than 700 people have been rescued by emergency personnel, the governor added, with rescuers still going door-to-door and responding to requests for help.
He spoke at a news conference Thursday evening after touring devastated areas of Charlotte and Lee counties on Florida’s southwest coast. He called the damage there “almost indescribable,” with homes ripped off their foundations and cars floating in the street.
Fort Myers retiree wrongfooted by apocalyptic Ian
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FORT MYERS, Fla. — Kathy Sharp believed she would be safe at the Thunderbird Park, a mobile home community for retirees dotted with palm trees two miles from the Gulf of Mexico. For days, forecasters had indicated Hurricane Ian was heading toward Tampa, further north.
But as the storm shifted and tore through Fort Myers, Sharp looked out a window and noticed pieces of her neighbor’s roof flying into the air. Not long after, her own home started to break apart, the fierce wind casting aluminum paneling into the swirl of airborne debris.
This is an excerpt from a full story.
Ian’s peak winds increase to 85 mph as it approaches South Carolina
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Now that it’s back over water, Hurricane Ian is continuing to strengthen, the National Hurricane Center reported in recent advisories.
The center at 11 p.m. Thursday said Ian’s peak winds had risen to 80 mph — compared with 75 mph at 5 p.m. But, 15 minutes later, it issued a special advisory noting the peak winds had climbed to 85 mph after Hurricane Hunter aircraft sampled winds inside the storm.
The storm, 185 miles south of Charleston, is heading to the north-northeast at 10 mph and is projected to make landfall there around midday Friday.
Collier County enacts night curfew
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Collier County in Florida imposed a 10 p.m. curfew on residents until further notice, the county sheriff’s office announced late Thursday. The curfew will remain active each night until 6 a.m.
“There is much unknown left to face with rising waters, debris in roads and many people have evacuated their homes and businesses,” the sheriff’s office wrote on Facebook. “We do not want criminals preying on our residents and businesses at one of the most vulnerable times in their life.”
Collier County, which has a population of about 386,000 people, suffered serious damage Thursday as storm surges from Hurricane Ian overwhelmed several areas. A fire rescue department in Naples was severely flooded, with station trucks submerged about halfway underwater. Video footage showed fire department members wading through water up to their waist.
More than 2.1 million customers without power in Florida
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More than 2.1 million customers in Florida were without power as of 3:30 a.m. on Friday, according to the PowerOutage.us tracker, after Hurricane Ian battered the state’s western coast.
Power was almost entirely lost in the Hardee, Charlotte and Highlands counties, according to the site, which tracks outages across the state. The southwestern part of the state was particularly badly hit.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) said at a news conference Thursday evening that 200,000 accounts had been restored in southwest Florida. The state staged 42,000 linemen ahead of the storm to repair power lines.
Biden declares emergency in S.C. ahead of Ian’s landfall
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President Biden declared an emergency in South Carolina late Thursday as the National Hurricane Center warned of life-threatening storm surges when Ian makes its projected landfall near Charleston on Friday.
The order authorizes the Federal Emergency Management Agency to “identify, mobilize, and provide at its discretion” the resources needed to aid with the emergency, the White House said in a news release.
Biden also ordered federal assistance to supplement local emergency response efforts in South Carolina, which could sustain a total rainfall of up to 12 inches in some areas, according to the National Hurricane Center.
Fearing contamination, parts of Florida urge residents to boil water
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Lee County Utilities issued a boil water notice Thursday, advising the public to bring water to a “roiling boil” for one minute before using it for drinking, cooking, making ice or brushing teeth.
“If you cannot boil water due to lack of power, use bottled or purify your water first,” the Lee County government said on its website. The county includes the city of Fort Myers and Fort Myers Beach, two areas that have emerged as some of the hardest-hit during Hurricane Ian so far, with video footage showing toppled trees, overturned boats and buildings turned to rubble.
Her mom went missing in Hurricane Ian. She took to Twitter to find her.
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Beth Booker’s mom didn’t want to leave her Fort Myers, Fla., beach house. Carole McDanel, a 78-year-old retiree, had a stocked pantry, hurricane shutters and new impact windows. The worst of Hurricane Ian was supposed to hurtle north toward Tampa, she had told her daughter. Why not tough it out at her home of 24 years?
Then a storm surge swept the island community, which took a direct hit Wednesday, and flooded McDanel’s ground floor. She texted photos to Booker, a 32-year-old publicist in Naples, Fla., of the brown water creeping up her stairs.
This is an excerpt from a full story.
‘We’ve got our lives. That’s the most important thing.’
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Survivors picked through Hurricane Ian’s scattered wreckage at the foot of the bridge leading to Fort Myers Beach on Thursday: massive tour and shrimp boats run aground next to homes; restaurants and trailers ripped open and inundated with rivers of gray-brown mud.
Residents walked among the remains of their homes, stunned.
Shrimp captain Leonard Hunte, 77, survived the storm by clinging to a piece of debris that floated by his mobile home: a plastic foam staircase that then lodged in a tree Hunte and his nephew clung to.
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Dragons Sushi And Jazz! The Auburn University Marching Band Unveils A New Halftime Show Vs. LSU
Dragons, Sushi And Jazz! The Auburn University Marching Band Unveils A New Halftime Show Vs. LSU https://digitalalabamanews.com/dragons-sushi-and-jazz-the-auburn-university-marching-band-unveils-a-new-halftime-show-vs-lsu/
Auburn fans are always on the edge of their seats on game day.
But it isn’t always because the football team is in a fierce battle. Fans are also waiting to see what the Auburn University Marching Band is going to do next.
This Saturday, the band will debut a brand-new halftime show, titled “Uniquely Auburn.”
The three-part performance will celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Southeastern Raptor Center with a song from the hit DreamWorks movie, “How to Train Your Dragon.”
“We’re actually forming an eagle on the field that animates and flies,” said Corey Spurlin, Auburn’s associate director of bands. “It’s a really neat drill effect that we’ve created with the marching formations.”
The Tony and Libba Rane Culinary Science Center will also be showcased with Harry Style’s song, “Music For a Sushi Restaurant.”
“The fans will like the fact that the music is so recognizable to them, especially with the popularity of Harry Styles right now. The Tiger Eyes’ routine to Music For a Sushi restaurant (is) really fun, and they do a great job with their choreograph,” Spurlin said, referring to the band’s visual ensemble, which features three lines: flags, majorettes and dancers.
The third segment relates to the new recording studio that is under construction in the music department, and the band will play a jazz swing song, “Big Noise From Winnetka” with help from two members of the university’s music faculty, saxophonist Khari Lee and high-note trumpeter Mark Zauss. “LSU is a big game, and we thought it’d be entertaining for the fans,” Spurlin said of the new routine.The idea of using halftime shows to highlight important campus programs and initiatives is nothing new. In past shows, the marching band has tipped its hats to the university’s cybersecurity program and the Vapor Wake program, which trains dogs to detect person-borne explosives.
“We believe very strongly in our goal to be good ambassadors for Auburn,” Spurlin said, “and so we try to use our halftime platform from time to time to promote great things about our campus.”
The game against LSU kicks off at 6 p.m. Saturday at Jordan-Hare Stadium.
Other events
Auburn Equestrian Scrimmage: 3 p.m. Friday, Auburn University Equestrian Center, 1235 Wire Road, Auburn. Free.
. Come out and see Auburn’s pre-season scrimmage before the team heads off to Athens, Georgia, next weekend for its first meet.
Football, Fans and Feathers: 4-5 p.m. Friday, Southeastern Raptor Center, 1350 Pratt-Carden Drive, Auburn. $8/ticket. https://www.vetmed.auburn.edu/raptor/. Watch hawks, falcons and eagles as they swoop around the amphitheater in this educational presentation.
Come Home to the Corner: 6-9 p.m. Friday, Downtown Auburn. Free. https://downtownauburnonline.com/. Bring your friends and family to celebrate the night before a home football game with live music, extended shopping hours and more.
Auburn Women’s Soccer Game: 6:30 p.m. Friday, Auburn Soccer Complex, 2340 Wire Road, Auburn. Free. https://auburntigers.com/sports/womens-soccer/schedule/2022. Come out to cheer on Auburn’s Women’s soccer team against Vanderbilt.
10th Annual Haunted Auburn Walking Tour: 8-9:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Toomers Oak’s, 112 S. College St., Auburn. Free. https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100080154851520. Join local paranormal investigators as they lead you through downtown Auburn and talk about spooky experiences.
Play: ‘Detroit ‘67’: 7:30 p.m. Friday, 2:30 and 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Telfair B. Peet Theatre, 350 W. Samford Ave., Auburn. Free-$16/ticket. https://cla.auburn.edu/theatre/productions/current-season/detroit-67/. Watch Auburn University students share the story of a family during the Detroit race riots of 1967. With additional showings at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday.
Saturdays in the Garden: 9 a.m.-noon Saturday, O Grows Community Garden, 1103 Glenn St., Opelika. Free. https://www.facebook.com/opelikagrows/. Join the O Grow’s horticulture staff and learn about gardening and different types of seeds. Oh, and feed the herd of goats!
Play: ‘The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe’: 7 p.m. Saturday and 3 p.m. Sunday, Opelika Center for the Performing Arts, 1700 Lafayette Parkway, Opelika. $7-10/ticket. https://www.facebook.com/OpelikaHighTheatreSociety/. Visit Narnia with this performance by the Opelika High School Theatre.
Rising Gardens Community Market: 1-5 p.m. Sunday, Auburn Montessori School, 231 East Drake Ave., Auburn. Free. https://www.facebook.com/risinggardensllc/. Try out produce and goods from local vendors at this week’s market, as live music and the smell of food fills the air.
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Virginia Updates How It Conducts Risk-Limiting Audits For Election Results
Virginia Updates How It Conducts Risk-Limiting Audits For Election Results https://digitalalabamanews.com/virginia-updates-how-it-conducts-risk-limiting-audits-for-election-results/
By CHARLOTTE RENE WOODS Richmond Times-Dispatch
On Tuesday the Virginia Board of Elections approved a new risk-limiting audit manual ahead of the general election this November. Though election officials were already conducting risk-limiting audits in Virginia, they are now going to happen before state election officials certify election results.
That’s because the General Assembly passed legislation that repealed and replaced previous state code relating to the audits.
Risk-limiting audits are “a type of post-election audit that utilizes statistical methods and a manual review of paper ballots to confirm that the voting equipment accurately reported the correct outcome of an election,” the manual reads.
The audits analyze a random sample of hand-counted ballots to confirm election results along with using auditing software called Arlo. The process helps confirm that voting accurately reported election results.
“Now it’s going to be done prior to the certification of the election, whereas before we did it in the months after the election,” said former elections commissioner Chris Piper.
For instance, the most recent such audit took place this past January – two months after the 2021 elections– and analyzed the results of the 13th and 75th House of Delegates districts.
In District 13, Del. Danica Roem, D-Manassas, defeated Republican Christopher Stone. In District 75, Republican Otto Wachsmann defeated Del. Roslyn Tyler, D-Sussex.
According to the 2022 legislation, every locality must conduct a risk-limiting audit at least once every five years, under the supervision of the Department of Elections.
Also, at least one randomly selected General Assembly contest must be audited. This year, the board will choose an election in one of the state’s Congressional districts to be audited. The manual states that the State Board of Elections will meet the second Wednesday after an election to do this.
Aside from the randomly selected audits, election workers have a detailed process called “canvassing” ahead of certifying election results. This is where election workers upload results to the Virginia Election Registration and Information System, which is the repository for voter records in Virginia.
The state’s Board of Elections later meets on the first Monday of December to ascertain the results.
“Election results are checked at the precinct level, locality level and state level before being certified,” said Susan Beals, commissioner of the Department of Elections. “Virginia voters can have confidence in processes and safeguards in place to protect their vote.”
But some have expressed concerns in recent years—largely members of the Republican Party. President Donald Trump allies claimed that he won the 2020 election and that the contest had been “stolen” from him—assertions that multiple judges rejected. Some of his supporters carried out a deadly insurrection in the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021 in an unsuccessful attempt to prevent certification of Joe Biden’s victory.
In February the Virginia Senate rejected a proposal by Sen. Amanda Chase, R-Chesterfield, to spend $70 million in state tax funds on a “forensic audit” of the 2020 presidential election in Virginia, in which Biden beat Trump by 10 percentage points.
More recently, Attorney General Jason Miyares announced the formation of an election integrity unit. Composed of more than 20 attorneys, investigators and paralegals, the unit will provide legal advice to the Department of Elections as well as investigate and prosecute violations of state election law.
When casting her own vote last week on the first day of early voting, Beals said that she has faith in Virginia’s elections and urged anyone with questions to reach out to election officials.
“Seek out an election official and ask them how the process works,” she told Virginia Mercury at the time. “Because most of them would be very happy to tell you.”
Piper commends Beals for her comment and added that he believes more election workers should speak out about the process and offer to answer questions.
“We’ve always been happy to sink in the background,” Piper said. “We’ve always wanted people to come get their ballot, cast their ballot, go home, watch the results, and now have given a second thought to how elections are conducted—because if we aren’t the story that means that we did our job.”
But amid ongoing questions about legitimacy or how the process works in recent years, he said “it’s incumbent upon election officials to begin to speak out to talk more about the process.”
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LETTER: Trump https://digitalalabamanews.com/letter-trump/
Trump’s America, Nazi Germany have striking parallels
Editor, The Transcript:
I have just “enjoyed” watching the very powerful mini series by Ken Burns, “The USA and the Holocaust.” It is a sad but true story of persecution of Jewish people before, during and after World War II.
Done in the normal style of Ken Burns, it is both educational and damning of people that worked to destroy the Jewish population and of countries that helped or refused to help them.
As I watched, I was struck by the similarities between Germany in the ‘30s and Trump’s America today! First, Hitler courted support by blaming all that troubled Germany on Jews, Catholics, homosexuals, and Gypsies.
Trump did the same by blaming his perceptions of America’s problems on immigrants, Muslims, Mexicans, liberals, LGBTQ people and socialists. In Germany, Hitler led people to believe he could solve all their problems and restore Germany to previous glory and power.
In America, Trump claimed that he and he alone could fix America’s problems and restore us to his perception of greatness.
The Nazi leader promoted bullying, segregation and violence to achieve his ends. Nazi supporters are accused of setting the Reichstag Fire (German Parliament) and blaming it on the Jews.
Trump, here in America, encouraged his supporters to “knock the crap out of them” if anyone heckled him at rallies and gatherings.
A rally in Charlottesville was launched by Neo-Nazis in uniforms carrying tiki torches and weapons, chanting “Jews will not replace us” as they marched.
The next day, at a Unite the Right rally, a radical right-wing nut drove a car into the peaceful gathering of counter protesters, killing one woman and injuring countless others.
When confronted with the tragedy, Trump said, “There are some very good people on both sides.”
Hitler claimed that the newspapers and media were against him and closed all but friendly media when he had the power. He also banned books and held book burnings.
Trump has and is claiming that the media, TV, print, etc. are all against him and are the enemy. He shouts “fake news” to any report that reveals his true activities and beliefs.
Just as Hitler promoted “Kristallnacht, The Night of Broken Glass” when his thugs and soldiers broke the windows of Jewish homes and businesses; Trump stoked the fires of revenge and mayhem on January 6th, to urge the mob he had assembled to march on the Capitol and “fight like hell” to take back our country.
They were trying to stop the counting of electoral votes about to take place.
He wanted his followers to stop the counting, so he could continue to hold on to the Presidency.
When the crowd of insurrectionists tried to find Vice President Mike Pence, they exclaimed, “hang Mike Pence!” Trump later stated, “Well, maybe he had it coming.”
Sadly, here in Oklahoma, far too many Republican candidates — such as Kevin Stitt, Ryan Walters and Markwayne Mullen — have bragged about their close association with the losing president, Donald Trump.
Some of our local candidates support banning certain books and education material.
I think there are many more parallels that could be listed. I was struck by Trump’s comment at his rally in Ohio, when he proclaimed, “God Bless America and God Bless us.”
It made me think of a Bible verse where Jesus was talking to the Pharisees,
He said that many would call his name, proclaiming “Lord, Lord,” but Jesus said, “I don’t know you”!
If that shoe fits, wear it.
WALLACE COLLINS
Norman
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