Former Mobile Resident Talks About Riding Out Ian At Home In Sarasota
Former Mobile Resident Talks About Riding Out Ian At Home In Sarasota https://digitalalabamanews.com/former-mobile-resident-talks-about-riding-out-ian-at-home-in-sarasota/
Jonathan George is used to hurricanes, having grown up in Sarasota and lived in Mobile during college and a few years afterward.
George said Florida residents tend to be blasé about storms because they see so many of them. But he said he and his parents didn’t take Hurricane Ian lightly.
“Floridians always, you know, they always joke about not taking it seriously,” he told FOX10 News. “You know, and it’s always a party and hurricane parties, this and that, you know. But we last minute saw that it was supposed to hit Sarasota, and everybody was kind of freaking out. So we hunkered down; we just stayed in.”
George, who graduated from the University of Mobile in 2017 and lived in the area until a better job brought him home three or four months ago, said this storm was different. He recalled Hurricane Charley wreaking havoc in 2004 when he was 9 years old. But that storm actually could fit inside the eye of Ian.
George and his parents nervously watched the track as the projected path shifted from Tampa to Sarasota and then further south. That spared the George family of the worst.
“I hate to say we were lucky,” he said. “But we really got lucky with this.”
George said a couple of screens blew off the house, and he described downed tree limbs and lots of debris. But the neighborhood fared well other than that, he said. He said the question now is how long the power will be out.
“You know, we haven’t gotten any update, which is odd,” he said. “I actually drove my mom to work yesterday and today ‘cause she works at the hospital, and quite a bit of neighborhoods around us – I think pretty much every neighborhood in our area has power except for us.”
Cell coverage also is spotty. George was able to talk to FOX10 news over the phone but could not text or access email.
George, who works as a sales representative for a sports company, said he has vivid memories of playing an Xbox as Hurricane Charley came in. That storm pummeled his home area. His father was a firefighter; his mother a nurse.
“We hunkered down in my mom’s hospital, and I mean, you know, we’d get up here and there for my dad because he was out working,” he said. “And it was just, I mean, he had seen so many different things that were just so scary.”
Florida will be dealing with the aftermath of Ian for quite some time. Preliminary estimates peg the economic damages as high as $65 billion. George said his family plans to deliver food and contribute money to help people who fared much worse from the storm’s wrath.
“My prayers go out to, you know, people north and south of us, to be honest,” he said.
Copyright 2022 WALA. All rights reserved.
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Charts Suggest Its way Too Early To Expect The Stock Market To Rebound Jim Cramer Says
Charts Suggest It’s ‘way Too Early’ To Expect The Stock Market To Rebound, Jim Cramer Says https://digitalalabamanews.com/charts-suggest-its-way-too-early-to-expect-the-stock-market-to-rebound-jim-cramer-says/
CNBC’s Jim Cramer on Friday warned investors that the stock market is unlikely to recover anytime soon.
“The charts, as interpreted by Mark Sebastian … suggest that this market’s got more downside, and it’s way too early to go really bullish,” he said.
related investing news
“Unlike him, I also believe we could get a sharp spike up, but, for our Charitable Trust, if that happens we’re going to have to do some selling,” he added.
The S&P 500 closed out its worst month since March 2020 on Friday. The Dow Jones Industrial Average tumbled 8.8% for the month, while the Nasdaq Composite dropped 10.5%.
Before getting into Sebastian’s analysis, Cramer first explained that when the S&P 500 goes lower, the CBOE Volatility Index, also known as the VIX or fear gauge, typically moves higher. And when the S&P moves higher, the VIX typically goes lower.
He then examined a pair of charts showing the daily action in the S&P and the VIX:
While the S&P and VIX moved at the same pace in June, things took a turn in August. Sebastian notes that when the S&P started falling in late August, the VIX had a “slow-rolling rally” instead of roaring like it typically would, according to Cramer.
This mismatch in movement between the S&P and VIX’s movements continued through early September but only really exploded this week, Cramer said, adding that the market still is a long way from recovering.
“Sebastian’s waiting for the S&P to go down while the VIX also goes down — that’s a classic tell that a sell-off’s coming to an end,” he said. “That is not happening right now.”
For more analysis, watch Cramer’s full explanation below.
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Alex Drueke Alabama Veteran Held Prisoner In Ukraine: We Were Ready To Die
Alex Drueke, Alabama Veteran Held Prisoner In Ukraine: ‘We Were Ready To Die’ https://digitalalabamanews.com/alex-drueke-alabama-veteran-held-prisoner-in-ukraine-we-were-ready-to-die/
Even after three months of captivity that included execution threats, physical torture, solitary confinement and food deprivation, it was the ride to freedom that nearly broke Alex Drueke, a U.S. military veteran released last week with nine other prisoners who went to help Ukraine fight off Russian invaders.
His hands were bound. His head was covered by a plastic bag, and the packing tape holding it in place was secured so tightly it it caused welts on his forehead. Drueke said he and fellow American prisoner Andy Huynh reached their limit in this state during the transit, which occurred in a series of vehicles from eastern Ukraine to an airport in Russia that was surrounded by armed guards.
“For all we went through and all the times we thought we might die, we accepted that we might die, we were ready to die when it came, that ride was the only time that each of us independently prayed for death just to get it over with,” Drueke told The Associated Press in an interview Friday.
“The mental and emotional torture of those last 24 hours in captivity, that was the worst,” he said.
Drueke, 40, is healing: The swelling is going down on his head and he’s trying to regain some of the 30 pounds (13.6 kilograms) he figures he lost eating a poor diet. But awful memories remain, and he’s unsure what comes next aside from trying to focus attention on fellow prisoners who remain in Russian hands.
“The war has not ended,” he said, speaking at the home he shares with his mother and other relatives in Tuscaloosa.
Drueke and Huynh, a 27-year-old fellow military veteran from Alabama, were among hundreds of Americans who went to Ukraine early on to help in the fight against Russia.
On June 9, they were captured during what Drueke described as a reconnaissance mission associated with Ukraine’s international legion, composed of foreign volunteers.
“Everyone else managed to make it back to the base safe,” he said.
Russian soldiers took the two men to their camp, and then into Russia for “intensive interrogation.” While declining to go into specifics, Drueke said the treatment was brutal.
“Every one of our human rights were violated,” he said. “We were tortured.”
The men were taken back to Ukraine to a “black site” in Donetsk for nearly a month of additional interrogation, he said. They were eventually taken to an isolation cellblock within a former Ukrainian prison. There, Drueke and Huynh were forced to record propaganda statements for a Russian video camera with soldiers in the room.
“On the positive side, there were times they would put us in a closet, bound and blindfolded, … while they were waiting for whatever reporter to show up, and it gave Andy and I just a few seconds to whisper things back and forth to check in on each other,” he said. “It was the first time we had talked in weeks at that point.”
Eventually, after weeks of confinement that included multiple threats, it became apparent that something — either a release, a prison transfer or execution — was in the works, said Drueke, who joined the U.S. Army Reserve after the terror attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, and served two tours in Iraq.
“We knew something was happening because our normal routine was being skewed and they were having us clear all of our personal stuff out of the cell,” he said.
But even then, the mental torture continued, he said. “One of the guards said a couple of times, ‘I’m pretty sure you guys are getting executed,’” he said.
Instead, they were part of a group of 10 men who were released Sept. 21 in a deal brokered by Saudi Arabia. The others who were released with them were from Croatia, Morocco, Sweden and the United Kingdom.
No one relaxed until the plane was in the air and an official from Saudi Arabia explained what was happening, he said. Landing in New York after a flight from Saudi Arabia, Drueke said he and Huynh were met by a Homeland Security official from an office that investigates war crimes.
Press aides with Homeland Security didn’t immediately return an email seeking comment, but the U.N. human rights investigators have said Ukrainian prisoners of war appear to be facing “systematic” mistreatment by Russian captors that includes torture.
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Caesars Promo Code GETFULL: Bet $1250 Risk-Free On Week 5 College Football
Caesars Promo Code GETFULL: Bet $1,250 Risk-Free On Week 5 College Football https://digitalalabamanews.com/caesars-promo-code-getfull-bet-1250-risk-free-on-week-5-college-football/
Catena Media provides exclusive sports betting content to al.com, including picks, analysis, tools and sportsbook offers to help bettors get in on the action. Please wager responsibly.
Week 5 of the NCAA football season is upon us, and when you use the Caesars promo code GETFULL, you can score a risk-free bet on your initial wager if you bet on any game, including these top matchups:
No. 2 Alabama at No. 20 Arkansas
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Auburn vs. LSU
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Caesars promo code: How to claim your Caesars risk-free bonus for college football
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Week 5 NCAA football betting preview
No. 2 Alabama plays No. 20 Arkansas in a ranked SEC West matchup. The Crimson Tide (-17.0) is a heavy favorite over the Razorbacks and will look to air it out in what could be a shootout according to the set over/under total (o/u 61.0).
Alabama has won 15 straight over Arkansas, and while their offense has been the star so far, they’re also ranked first nationally with 20 sacks.
The highest-ranked contest of the week has No. 5 Clemson taking on No. 10 NC State. The Tigers needed OT to finish off No. 22 Wake Forest last week, but are near-TD favorites (-6.5) over the Wolfpack with a weather-affected o/u of 43 points.
No. 7 Kentucky faces No. 14 Ole Miss in another hot ranked affair, with the Rebels favored by a full touchdown (-7.0) over the Wildcats.
This will no doubt be an exciting game with Kentucky’s air attack and Ole Miss’ rushing game keeping this one close in a possible shootout (o/u 54.0).
Auburn faces a tough test against LSU, who is coming off a heartbreaking loss against Florida State last week thanks to a missed kick in the final seconds.
Auburn will be looking to get Tank Bigsby and the running game going this week against favored LSU (-8.5), with an o/u set at 46 points.
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Caesars promo code: NCAAF promotions Week 5
Caesars loads up on promos during the college football season, which is a great perk on top of the welcome bonuses we’ve covered. Every week, you can expect to take advantage of the following offers in the Caesars Sportsbook app:
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If you or a loved one has questions or needs to talk to a professional about gambling, call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit 1800gambler.net for more information.
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Hurricane Ian Downgraded To Post-Tropical Cyclone As Florida Death Toll Rises Live
Hurricane Ian Downgraded To Post-Tropical Cyclone As Florida Death Toll Rises – Live https://digitalalabamanews.com/hurricane-ian-downgraded-to-post-tropical-cyclone-as-florida-death-toll-rises-live/
Hurricane Ian moving up East Coast
Hurricane Ian has been downgraded to a post-tropical cylone after roaring ashore as a Category 1 storm in South Carolina earlier on Friday.
The National Hurricane Center announced that the current storm has winds of 70mps and is moving inland over the Carolinas after wreaking havoc in its wake in Florida.
The storm made landfall shortly after 2 PM local time. Flooding began early in the morning in Charleston and has spread to areas like Myrtle Beach and Pawleys Island as the storm moves onshore. Officials are urging residents not to leave their homes if they don’t have to, as the storm is still very dangerous.
President Joe Biden has issued an emergency declaration for South Carolina.
The storm hit Florida as one of the most powerful hurricanes in Florida’s history, with wind speeds nearly reaching Category 5.
Nearly 2 million people in Florida remain without power – and economic losses could amount to as much as $120bn, according to one estimate.
The state’s death toll also continues to rise as officials survey the damage. On Friday morning, officials reported one confirmed and 20 unconfirmed deaths in three counties. In Lee County, which saw some of the worst impacts, the sheriff has confirmed at least 16 storm-related deaths and five additional deaths.
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New Poll Shows Most Voters Say No To Trump 2024 Run Live The Bharat Express News
New Poll Shows Most Voters Say No To Trump 2024 Run – Live – The Bharat Express News https://digitalalabamanews.com/new-poll-shows-most-voters-say-no-to-trump-2024-run-live-the-bharat-express-news/
Former US President Donald Trump Claims He Can Declassify Top Secret Documents Just Thinking About It
Bad news for Donald Trump this week, as a Yahoo News/YouGov poll shows that the majority of voters don’t think he should run in 2024 given the myriad legal issues he faces. Its support within the Republican Party has also waned due to the bump it received after the FBI search for Mar-a-Lago.
In another lawsuit by Trump’s legal team, it was revealed that he had hoarded about 200,000 pages of federal documents at his Palm Beach home. The submission was intended to argue that a TBEN for scanning and reviewing the documents in early October is unrealistic as they cannot be processed quickly enough. There are reports that Mr Trump is ignoring some of the legal advice he is receiving on this matter.
In his other legal news, Mr. Trump avoided explanation for a long-running class action fraud case by settling in Florida as Hurricane Ian crashed. A statement had to be rescheduled as plaintiffs’ attorneys told a federal judge in New York that the former president would not move the meeting to his home in Bedminster, New Jersey.
The new TBEN for impeaching Trump is October 31.
Today in ‘Reality Disconnected Statements’: Hurricane Ian Was Made to Punish DeSantis
Alex Woodward reports the latest from the conspiracy theories:
While Florida residents and emergency services are investigating the devastation from Hurricane Ianwhich continues to flow down the East Coast, two former far-right congressional candidates floated a baseless conspiracy theory that the federal government created the storm to “punish” and “target” Republicans.
Lauren Witzke, a QAnonSupporting conspiracy theorist who was the GOP nominee for the U.S. Senate seat in Delaware in 2020, said she has “no doubt” that “technology exists to manipulate the weather” that could be used to appoint Florida’s governor fall Ron DeSantis.
“We know the technology exists,” she told former GOP congressional candidate Deanna Lorraine on her far-right conspiracy theory streaming channel, over a caption that read “Biden is building a transhuman cyborg army using immigrants.”
Former GOP Candidates Push QAnon Conspiracy Theory Hurricane Ian Was Manufactured
Two far-right former Republican congressional candidates bolster baseless conspiracy theory that ‘deep state’ triggers storms to attack Republicans
Oliver O’ConnellSeptember 30, 2022 22:10
Poll: Majority of Americans want Trump blocked from 2024
A new poll shows that the majority of Americans do not believe Donald Trump will be allowed to serve as president again, given “what we know about the ongoing investigations” into him.
The Yahoo News/YouGov poll of 1,566 registered voters found that 51 percent would oppose the former president by 2024.
Another 14 percent are unsure and just over a third (35 percent) say he can serve again.
Majority of Americans want Trump blocked from 2024, polls show
Bump in Republican support after search for Mar-a-Lago also disappear
Oliver O’ConnellSeptember 30, 2022 9:40 PM
Mar-a-Lago Papers: Trump Reportedly Ignored Lawyer’s Advice He Paid $3 Million Advance
Weeks after paying a respected Florida attorney a $3 million commission to represent him in Justice Department relations following the Aug. 8 search of his home, former President Donald Trump is reportedly ignoring the attorney’s advice. in favor of tactics that are much more combative but put him at greater legal risk.
According to The Washington Post, Mr Trump has largely sidelined ex-Florida Attorney General Chris Kise after the veteran trial attorney advised him to “turn the temperature down” at the Justice Department.
Andrew Feinberg has the latest.
Trump reportedly ignores $3 million lawyer’s advice in Mar-a-Lago documents case
According to The Washington Post, Trump has largely sidelined ex-Florida Attorney General Chris Kise because the veteran trial attorney advised him to “lower the temperature” at the Justice Department.
Oliver O’ConnellSeptember 30, 2022 21:10
GOP Pursues Legal Challenges Against North Carolina’s Election Law
A week before North Carolina election officials begin processing mail ballots in the closely watched Southern Swing State, the GOP is pursuing its latest legal challenge against election procedures set by the Democrat-led State Board of Directors. Elections.
The Republican Party of North Carolina filed two motions this week in the Wake County Superior Court asking the court to block the board from enforcing the ban on checking signatures on absentee voting documents.
GOP seeks court order over rejected signature check motion
The GOP continues its latest legal challenge against North Carolina electoral procedures set by the Democrat-led State Board of Elections
Oliver O’ConnellSeptember 30, 2022 8:40 PM
DeSantis: from provocateur to crisis manager
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has pushed his way through the national conversation this month, first putting migrants on planes or buses to Democratic strongholds, then shifting to a more traditional crisis manager role as one of the strongest hurricanes. that ever hit the US in its state.
DeSantis shifts from provocateur to crisis manager after Ian
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has pushed his way through the national conversation this month, first putting migrants on planes or buses to Democratic strongholds, then shifting to a more traditional crisis manager role as one of the strongest hurricanes. that ever hit the US in its state
Oliver O’ConnellSeptember 30, 2022 20:10
Jury Selected for First Incendiary Conspiracy Trial on Capitol Riot
On Thursday, a jury was selected in the seditious conspiracy case against the founder of the extremist group Oath Keepers and four associates in the top prosecution following the Capitol riots to reach a trial.
A panel of 12 jurors and four deputies was chosen after three days of questioning about their feelings regarding the January 6, 2021 uprising, and possible prejudice against the far-right group accused of conspiracy to use force to transfer the presidential election. power to stop.
Opening statements are expected to begin Monday in federal court in the case against Stewart Rhodes and his associates — the first Jan. 6 defendants to appear in court on charges of inflammatory Civil War conspiracy charges.
Jury of Capitol Riot Selected for First Incendiary Conspiracy Trial
A Washington jury has been selected in the inflammatory conspiracy case against the founder of the extremist group Oath Keepers and four associates
Oliver O’ConnellSeptember 30, 2022 19:40
Trump begged for political donations from Mar-a-Lago as hurricane hit Florida
Donald Trump turned to social media to advocate for donations to his political campaign as parts of Florida began rescue and recovery efforts after Hurricane Ian.
Speaking in a video on Wednesday from his Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, South Florida, the former president pleaded for donations to his Save America PAC ahead of a fundraising TBEN.
Trump begs for donations from Mar-a-Lago amid Hurricane Ian
Call for Political Funds During Hurricane Devastation Follows TBEN’ $3.2 Billion Estimated
Oliver O’ConnellSeptember 30, 2022 19:10
Can Trump Control His QAnon Supporters?
Among the hordes of supporters at Donald Trump’s latest rally in Wilmington, North Carolina, were supporters of the QAnon conspiracy — the right-wing movement that postulates the former president was trying to thwart a satanic pedophile gang that has since developed several other baseless ideas.
Can the former president keep them under control, Eric Garcia asks.
Can Donald Trump Control His QAnon Supporters?
Trump has promoted more and more overt QAnon conspiracy theories in recent weeks, Eric Garcia and Alex Woodward report
Oliver O’ConnellSeptember 30, 2022 6:40 PM
Still no date for the next hearing on January 6
January 6, Select Committee Chair Bennie Thompson and Vice Chair Liz Cheney just emerged from a meeting in the office of Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi
They told waiting reporters that a date has still not been set for the next hearing, but Mr Thompson says it will be “definitely” not next week, but “definitely” before the midterm elections.
The interim report will also be published before voting day in early November.
Speaker Pelosi said the meeting was “strictly for me to thank them for their service”.
Oliver O’ConnellSeptember 30, 2022 6:28 PM
ICYMI: Trump Told Maggie Haberman She Was ‘Like His Psychiatrist’
Donald Trump told New York Times reporter Maggie Haberman she was “like my psychiatrist” during a post-presidency interview for her new book trust man.
According to an excerpt published in The Atlantic Ocean, the former president turned to two aides during their interview in Mar-a-Lago, saying: “I love being with her; she is like my psychiatrist.”
Trump told Maggie Haberman she was ‘like his psychiatrist’
“The reality is that he treats everyone as if they were his psychiatrists,” New York Times reporter Ms. Haberman writes in a new book.
Oliver O’ConnellSeptember 30, 2022 18:10
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New Book Reveals Top Democrat Opposed First 'Impeachment' Against Trump El American
New Book Reveals Top Democrat Opposed First 'Impeachment' Against Trump – El American https://digitalalabamanews.com/new-book-reveals-top-democrat-opposed-first-impeachment-against-trump-el-american/
Esta entrada también está disponible en: Español
On January 20, 2017, Donald Trump placed his hand on Lincoln’s bible and his personal bible and proceeded to take the oath to become the 45th president of the United States. Possibly 5 minutes later, the Democrats were already thinking about the impeachment trial they conducted at the end of 2019. More than two years later, a new book reveals that a leading Democrat never agreed with the procedure and even labeled it “unconstitutional.”
Unchecked: The Untold Story Behind the Congress’s Botched Impeachments of Donald Trump“, written by Rachael Bade (POLITICO) and Karoun Demirjian (The Washington Post), will be released on October 18. As the name implies, the text contains the untold stories behind the two impeachments against the former president.
Trump’s impeachment is “unfair, unprecedented and unconstitutional”
Fox News detailed some revealing excerpts from the book, evidencing disagreements among Democrats during the early impeachment process. Specifically, it was Jerry Nadler (D-NY), New York’s historic representative and chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, who had many doubts about the case.
According to the book, Nadler argued with both Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and Adam Schiff (D-CA) and reportedly told them that such impeachment of Trump “it’s unfair, and it’s unprecedented, and it’s unconstitutional.”
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The veteran congressman was not comfortable with the idea of not being able to cross-examine witnesses and, therefore, that President Trump would not enjoy the due process. “If we’re going to impeach, we need to show the country that we gave the president ample opportunity to defend himself,” Nadler reportedly added.
“I don’t appreciate your tone. I worry you’re putting us in a box for our investigation. “I don’t really care about your resentment. Neither the Speaker nor I agree,” Schiff reportedly responded to Nadler’s objections.
Of course, Pelosi and Schiff got their way and Jerry Nadler had to settle for the cards he was dealt at that time. Finally, the first impeachment proceeding against Donald Trump fell in the Senate.
Author profile
Joaquín Núñez es hincha de Racing Club de Avellaneda y licenciado en comunicación periodística por la Universidad Católica Argentina. Se especializa en el escenario internacional y en la política norteamericana // Joaquín Núñez is a fan of Avellaneda’s Racing Club and has a degree in journalistic communication from the Universidad Católica Argentina. He specializes in the international scene and American politics.
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Alabama Sets Execution In Murder-For-Hire Of Pastors Wife Despite Jurys Recommendation
Alabama Sets Execution In Murder-For-Hire Of Pastor’s Wife, Despite Jury’s Recommendation https://digitalalabamanews.com/alabama-sets-execution-in-murder-for-hire-of-pastors-wife-despite-jurys-recommendation/
The state of Alabama is set to execute another inmate just two months after having to call off an execution minutes before the death warrant was set to expire.
Kenneth Eugene Smith is set to die at William C. Holman Correctional Facility on November 17, according to an order from the Alabama Supreme Court.
Smith, now 57, will be executed for the slaying of Elizabeth Dorlene Sennett, a 45-year-old grandmother and pastor’s wife who was killed inside her north Alabama home. Her husband paid to have her killed.
In 1996, Smith was convicted of capital murder for his involvement in the killing. The jury in Smith’s case recommended 11 to 1 that he receive a life sentence without the possibility of parole, but the trial judge overrode the jury’s verdict and sentenced Smith to death.
If that situation unfolded in 2022, Smith would not be eligible for the death penalty. In 2017, Alabama amended its capital-sentencing laws to say a jury, not a judge, has the final say on whether to impose the death penalty in capital murder cases. The law did not allow for the new rule to be applied retroactively to prisoners already on death row.
According to a 2021 order from the U.S. 11th Circuit Court of Appeals that detailed the crime, Reverend Charles Sennett, a minister in the Church of Christ, recruited Billy Williams to kill his wife. Williams then recruited Smith and another man named John Parker. In return for the killing, Charles Sennett agreed to pay each of the three men $1,000.
The plan was to kill Elizabeth Sennett in the family’s home and stage her killing as a burglary gone wrong, according to the court’s order.
Elizabeth Sennett was killed on March 18, 1988 inside her Colbert County home by Smith and his accomplices, according to the order. The county coroner testified during Smith’s trial that Elizabeth had been stabbed eight times in the chest and once on each side of the neck, and had also been beaten.
Smith also stole a video cassette recorder from the Sennett’s home and kept it in his Lauderdale County house. Law enforcement later found the VCR—a detail that has been argued in multiple of Smith’s appeals, which have focused on the validity of the search warrant used when the electronic was discovered.
“(Charles) Sennett was involved in an affair, had incurred substantial debts, and had taken a large insurance policy out on Elizabeth,” the appeals court’s order stated. “One week after the murder, when the murder investigation started to focus on him as a suspect, (Charles) Sennett committed suicide.”
Smith admitted his involvement in Elizabeth Sennett’s slaying to police, court records show, and was initially convicted of capital murder and sentenced to death. That verdict, however, was overturned by the Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals.
At his second trial, prosectors brought into evidence both Smith’s confession and the VCR. “Other than that, the State had little evidence supporting its case against Smith,” the 11th Circuit wrote.
Smith was again convicted of capital murder, but the second jury voted to recommend a life without parole sentence.
The judge disagreed, and handed down a death sentence.
Parker was executed in 2010.
In Smith’s confession, detailed in court records, Smith gave this account of the night of the murder:
“I knocked on the door and Mrs. Sennett came to the door. I told Mrs. Sennett that her husband had told us that we could come down and look around the property to see about hunting on it. Mrs. Sennett asked my name. I told her I was Kenny Smith. She went to the phone and called her husband and came back and told us it was okay to look around…
I stood at the edge of the kitchen talking with Mrs. Sennett. Mrs. Sennett was sitting at a chair in the den. Then I heard John coming through the house. John walked up behind Mrs. Sennett and started hitting her. John was hitting her with his fist. I started getting the VCR while John was beating Mrs. Sennett. John hit Mrs. Sennett with a large cane and anything else he could get his hands on. John went into a frenzy. Mrs. Sennett was yelling just stop, we could have anything we wanted.
As John was beating up Mrs. Sennett, I messed up some things in the house to make it look like a burglary. I took the VCR out to the car.
The last place I saw Mrs. Sennett she was lying near the fireplace covered with some kind of blanket… When John got back to the car we drove back to Billy’s apartment to get our money.”
Smith also said he did not stab Elizabeth Sennett. During his trial, Smith’s attorneys argued Smith participated in the attack, but did not intend to kill Elizabeth.
“[Smith] agreed… to go beat Elizabeth Dorlene Sennett, to rough her up, to make it look like a robbery for fast cash. That is the terms they used. It was not to kill Mrs. Sennett. It was not to take her life. As shameful and as vile, it was nothing more or nothing less than to beat her up and to take [sic]. And that plan, what they agreed to… that as evil as that plan was, that is all it was.”
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DeSantis Drops Provocations For Now In Response To Ian
DeSantis Drops Provocations — For Now — In Response To Ian https://digitalalabamanews.com/desantis-drops-provocations-for-now-in-response-to-ian/
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has whipsawed his way through the national conversation this month, first by putting migrants on planes or buses to Democratic strongholds and then shifting to a more traditional role of crisis manager as one of the strongest hurricanes to ever hit the U.S. barreled into his state.
Facing a reelection in November that could be a precursor to a presidential campaign, the approach has been awkward at points. Navigating one of his state’s darkest moments, DeSantis, a Republican, must partner with a Democratic president he has spent the better part of two years demeaning. He’s also gladly accepting the type of federal disaster aid and assistance he rejected as wasteful while he was a member of Congress.
But together, the developments over the past two weeks offer insight into how DeSantis might govern if he wins another term as governor or advances in a 2024 presidential contest. He’s willing to use — and potentially exceed — the raw executive power of his office to pick at America’s most sensitive divides on issues like immigration. In a sudden moment of disaster, however, he’s capable of striking a more unifying tone in a way that former President Donald Trump — once a close ally and now a potential 2024 rival — rarely demonstrated.
“At the end of the day, I view this as something that you’ve got folks that are in need, and local, federal and state, we have a need to work together,” DeSantis said at a briefing late Thursday, taking a far more conciliatory tone toward an administration he bitterly criticized just days earlier. He expressed appreciation that FEMA has approved every request for aid he has made, and said he welcomed the agency’s director to travel with him to view destruction.
The shift in tone is almost certainly temporary. When a 12-story condo building in Surfside, Florida, collapsed last year and killed 98 people, DeSantis appeared with local officials, including Democrats who praised his assistance. He sat next to President Joe Biden during a briefing with first responders and local officials in Miami. Within months, however, he returned to partisan brawls.
Gov. Ron DeSantis, R-Fla., left, prepares to enter a vehicle, Thursday, Sept. 29, 2022, in Punta Gorda, Fla. Hurricane Ian caused damage in the area. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)
Photo: ASSOCIATED PRESS/Wilfredo Lee
Facing another tragedy, DeSantis didn’t answer questions this week about whether he would meet with Biden, saying he wasn’t sure about the president’s travel plans. At a FEMA briefing on Thursday, Biden also aimed to set aside hostilities, saying he would visit Florida when conditions allow and meet with DeSantis “if he wants to meet.”
Biden and DeSantis both said they have spoken more than once. And at DeSantis’ request, Biden on Thursday declared a major disaster in parts of Florida, freeing up additional federal assistance to state and local governments and individuals.
“We’re going to build it back with the state and local government,” Biden said.
White House Press Secretary Karine Jean Pierre tweeted that Biden and DeSantis spoke again by phone on Friday, as the FEMA administrator is on the ground in Florida.
DeSantis’ embrace of federal help is a shift from his early days as a congressman, when he voted against a federal relief package for New York and New Jersey after Hurricane Sandy. That drew criticism this week from some New York-area officials and other Democrats who described the turnaround as a move from cruel to hypocritical.
Richard Conley, a University of Florida political science professor, said DeSantis is doing what he needs to do, pragmatically and politically. While DeSantis is popular in the reliably Republican area of southwest Florida that was hardest hit by Hurricane Ian, he said people will inevitably become frustrated if it takes too long to get help, and will look for someone to blame.
“He’s just got to get the job done,” said Conley. “The question will be: Going forward, does he look very statesmanlike? Does this help him with an eventual 2024 run? I don’t know, it remains to be seen.”
Since his early years running for governor, DeSantis has been linked to Trump. DeSantis was a relatively obscure third-term congressman when he announced his 2018 bid for governor — and a Trump endorsement — on Fox News. He echoed some of Trump’s favorite lines as he campaigned, pledging, for example, to “drain the swamp” in Tallahassee. Trump took credit for the victory, though their relationship is said to have chilled amid the 2024 talk.
As governor, DeSantis has elevated issues that excite the conservative base and used his resources and the power of his office to get things done his way, even if it pushed the limits of his legal authority.
During the COVID pandemic, DeSantis insisted Florida would remain open. He shunned guidance from federal health experts and once said of Dr. Anthony Fauci that someone should “chuck him across the Potomac.” He also stripped funding from school districts that implemented mask mandates.
This spring, DeSantis signed legislation stripping Disney of a special agreement that allowed the theme park to govern itself, after the company criticized a new state law that critics called “Don’t Say Gay. ”
DeSantis also suspended an elected Democratic prosecutor in Tampa from office over statements about not pursuing criminal charges in abortion, transgender rights and certain low-level cases. The prosecutor has since filed a federal free speech lawsuit against the governor.
In recent weeks, Florida under DeSantis’ direction paid for two flights of migrants from Texas to Martha’s Vineyard. DeSantis was the latest GOP governor, frustrated over the federal government’s response to policing the southern border, to transport the migrants to Democratic cities.
DeSantis defended the move as a way to make immigration a “front-burner issue” ahead of the midterms. Critics questioned the legality, and his Democratic opponent for governor said it represented a new low level of shrewdness.
“It’s amazing to me what he’s willing to do for sheer political gain,” Charlie Crist, his gubernatorial challenger, said.
Conley, who wrote a book about Trump and populism, said he understands the comparisons between the two men, both often provocative Republicans. But he noted key differences, including that DeSantis is more disciplined and restrained with statements on social media.
“He may say controversial things, but I don’t think he’s going to sit around at 3 or 4 in the morning and contemplate how to get back at (Senate GOP Leader) Mitch McConnell or something” as Trump would do, Conley said.
Trump also drew criticism for his responses to natural disasters, which often failed to convey empathy.
After Puerto Rico was flattened by Hurricane Maria, he flew to San Juan and threw paper towels into the crowd, withheld aid and questioned whether a death toll in the thousands was contrived by Democrats to make him look bad. On a trip to Houston after Hurricane Harvey, he was criticized for not meeting with storm victims. When he returned days later, Trump urged those at a shelter to “have a good time.”
Natural disasters have historically put U.S. politicians in predicaments.
Years earlier, President George W. Bush left the impression of overlooking Hurricane Karina’s devastation in New Orleans when he flew over the city while returning to Washington from vacation. He later praised FEMA Director Michael Brown as doing “a heck of a job.”
Both New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, a Republican, and Democratic President Barack Obama felt political effects of a friendly greeting after Hurricane Sandy. The image may have helped Obama project a moderate, bipartisan front days before his election for a second term but conservatives derided Christie for what they called a “hug.”
At Thursday’s afternoon briefing, DeSantis spoke of surveying the damage, from a wiped out causeway between the mainland and Sanibel Island off Fort Myers to destroyed homes and hundreds of people rescued.
“These are resilient folks,” he said. “They will bounce back, but we just want to make sure that we can kind of pave the way for them.”
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
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White House Restores Arts Commission Dissolved Under Trump
White House Restores Arts Commission Dissolved Under Trump https://digitalalabamanews.com/white-house-restores-arts-commission-dissolved-under-trump/
Arts|White House Restores Arts Commission Dissolved Under Trump
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/09/30/arts/arts-humanities-commission-biden.html
The move rolls back the outcome of one of the stormier episodes in the former president’s mutually antagonistic relationship with artists and cultural figures.
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A protest in 2017 against President Donald J. Trump’s proposed cuts to federal arts funding. President Biden is now re-establishing the President’s Committee on the Arts and the Humanities.Credit…Albin Lohr-Jones/Sipa, via Associated Press
Sept. 30, 2022, 4:40 p.m. ET
President Biden on Friday issued an executive order re-establishing the President’s Committee on the Arts and the Humanities, an advisory board that was dissolved five years ago after its members resigned in protest over President Donald J. Trump’s reaction to the deadly white nationalist rally in Charlottesville, Va.
The announcement reverses the outcome of one of the stormier episodes in Mr. Trump’s mutually antagonistic relationship with artists and cultural figures.
In a group resignation letter in August 2017, the committee, whose 17 members included the artist Chuck Close, the novelist Jhumpa Lahiri and the architect Thom Mayne, decried what it called Mr. Trump’s “support of the hate groups and terrorists who killed and injured fellow Americans,” saying “the false equivalencies you push cannot stand.” In response, the White House issued a statement saying Mr. Trump had already been planning to dissolve the group, describing it as “not a responsible way to spend American tax dollars.”
In Friday’s executive order, Mr. Biden, who noted that October is National Arts and Humanities Month, struck a notably different tone.
The arts and humanities “are essential to the well-being, health, vitality and democracy of our nation,” the executive order declared. “They are the soul of America, reflecting our multicultural and democratic experience.”
The President’s Committee on the Arts and the Humanities was founded in 1982 during the Reagan administration, to advise the president on cultural matters. It was known for spearheading efforts like Turnaround Arts, described as the first federal program aimed at supporting arts education in the nation’s lowest-performing schools, as well as collaborating with other organizations on projects like Save America’s Treasures.
The newly recreated committee, according to a news release, will be charged with supporting initiatives that “promote excellence in the arts, humanities and museum and library services and demonstrate their relevance to the country’s health, economy, equity and civic life.” The release also cited the importance of the arts and humanities in tackling “the greatest challenges of our time, such as the climate crisis and the scourge of hate-fueled violence.”
The committee’s members will include the heads of the National Endowment for the Arts, the National Endowment for the Humanities and the Institute of Museum and Library Services, along with up to 25 leaders from those fields. None of those nonfederal members have been named yet, and no details of the committee’s budget — which will be administered through the library institute, a federal agency — have been released.
The arts and humanities endowments, established in 1965 under President Lyndon B. Johnson, have long been culture war footballs, with Republicans criticizing the arts endowment in particular for promoting what they saw as indecent art.
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Expensive Homes On The Market In Auburn And Cayuga County
Expensive Homes On The Market In Auburn And Cayuga County https://digitalalabamanews.com/expensive-homes-on-the-market-in-auburn-and-cayuga-county/
Expensive homes on the market in Auburn and Cayuga County
These are some of the most luxurious homes on the Auburn and Cayuga County market.
4 Bedroom Home in Jordan – $599,000
This custom-built 4 Bedroom Colonial is situated on a private road with 10 acres, a pond and a Beautiful 40×70 insulated out building — built to the nines! Features include an open floor plan, 9′ ceilings on both floors, gleaming hardwood floors, a chef’s kitchen with cherry cabinets, large island, solid surface counter tops. A butler’s pantry divides the kitchen from the formal dining room and a first floor laundry/mud room. Upstairs offers a primary bedroom with ensuite, large walk in closet, 3 addtl bedrooms, a full bath, and a 22 x 22 BONUS ROOM which makes for a perfect play area or a Trendy Media Room. This bonus room has an egress to the garage perfect for card night! Your choice of patio or deck to sit and enjoy a private yard and watch the horses and wildlife. There is an Artesian well that supplies an abundant, constant flow of excellent water! This is a one of a kind, truly remarkable home in the country and a must see. OPEN HOUSE SUN 7/24 11-1
4 Bedroom Home in Baldwinsville – $550,000
Welcome Home! This fabulous custom built home offers a quiet setting on almost 2 acres with nearly 5500 square feet! The main house is 3032 sf & the finished lower level is~ 1500 sf. The main level features an office, living room, formal dining room, beautiful kitchen w/large breakfast bar, reverse osmosis system at sink & opens to large family room. Also on the main level is an expansive room with fireplace & soaring ceilings….perfect for entertaining a large group. The upper level features the primary suite w/ bright sitting room, large soaking tub, & walk-in shower. Two additional bedrooms and full bath are just down the hall. Lower level offers a large, open living space, full kitchen, full bath & bedroom. Laundry room features 2 separate hook ups. The outside grounds present a large patio, heated in-ground pool & extensive gardens. Additional living space off the pool area that offers full kitchen, living area & full bath. Additionally, this home features radiant heat in all floors of main house. Located 1/2 mile from the Beaver Lakes Nature Center and situated on a country road, you’ll find peace and quiet here! Showings begin Saturday August 27,2022
3 Bedroom Home in Weedsport – $875,000
This is an incredible, once in a lifetime opportunity to own TWO homes on nearly 100 acres, just outside the village of Weedsport! Both homes are fully turn-key, each with three bedrooms and two full baths. The first home features a beautiful den with wood stove, vaulted ceilings in the living and dining rooms, a wrap around deck, in-ground pool, a newly remodeled kitchen, and so much more!! Next door (close, but not TOO close!) is a beautiful ranch with a three car garage, sunroom with wood stove, and large master suite. The land itself has unlimited potential: 25+ acres of tillable land (currently leased!), woods for hunting, walking the dogs, riding ATV’s/snowmobiling. Enjoy the trails in your own backyard, or connect to the local trail system right from your own property. And let’s not forget the massive 48×60 ft pole barn for all of your toys, equipment, and workshop space. The barn has full electrical service with water available to be connected. You’ll feel like you’ve left the world behind when you enter through the gates, and yet you’re still conveniently located to Syracuse, Auburn, the Finger Lakes, etc. This is it….You just found your not-so-little slice of Heaven!!
4 Bedroom Home in Skaneateles – $1,750,000
Amazing Skaneateles Lake contemporary home on over 3 very private acres with 200 ft. of crystal clear waterfront. The entrance sets the tone of this retreat by guiding you down a tree and flower lined driveway and opens up to a brick lined circular driveway for beautiful curb appeal. The crown jewel of this property lies in the lake view off the large back deck which would be a great spot for entertaining or relaxing. With 3 levels of living, 4 bedrooms, 3 1/2 bathrooms, side deck overlooking a waterfall on the property, there is plenty of privacy and space to spread out. With developments on the waterfront and updates inside, this home has tons of potential and will be an absolute family heirloom for generations to come. Owners just replaced the roof
3 Bedroom Home in Weedsport – $639,900
Impressive Custom built LINDAL CEDAR HOME on 33 acres is a nature lover’s retreat/hunter’s paradise. 4 lamp posts guide you down the tree lined driveway along the paver sidewalk, through the front door as you face a wall of windows bringing a backdrop of nature inside! Beautifully maintained 3 BDR/3 BTH home includes a loft Master Suite with custom California Closet, laundry, large walk-in shower, granite countertops, double sink vanity. First level bathroom tub/shower located next to the bedroom. White kitchen cabinets, solid surface countertops and newer stainless steel appliances compliment the breakfast bar and adjacent breakfast nook with pantry cabinets. The great room boasts a floor to ceiling stone, wood burning fireplace Xtrordinair, 24 ft. prow framing nature’s ever changing landscape. Walkout lower level features family room, gas fpl, huge BDR, full bath with shower adding 1000 sq. ft. of living space. Garage is transformed into a seasonal media room. This is a MUST SEE!
3 Bedroom Home in Skaneateles – $2,395,000
Skaneateles Lake 3 Bd. year-round home with an attached 2 car garage offers a serene private setting located at the very end of an easy access Lane that offers a magical setting with tiered decks, a hot tub, a separate area with a fire pit to gather,2 stairways w/docks, along with a wonderful 2 story summer house built on waters edge with amazing views and sleeping quarters for family and friends. The main house boast of 2 bedrooms on the 1st floor with a bath, laundry room, a Greatroom with a dry bar, with granite counters and plenty of cupboards for stemware and dishes, plus a spacious Chef’s kitchen with a large 6 burner gas stove with grill and ovens, plus 2 built-in wall ovens, large built-in refrigerator, a nice dining area overlooking the lake with decks to accommodate large gatherings. Please note light fixture above the table does not convey. Upstairs offers a large private Suite with a deck overlooking the lake, a large shower bath with a full walk-in closet, and a loft with plenty of room for additional sleeping. The lower level offers additional guests quarters and office space plus a walkout to the hot tub offering a private spot to relax. A very Special Lake Home!
4 Bedroom Home in Skaneateles – $2,595,000
You will be greeted by stunning views of Skaneateles Lake the moment you enter this custom built year round home with private lake frontage on Borodino Bluffs. The open concept main floor opens to one of three expansive decks ideal for entertaining or for relaxing at your own personal retreat. Incredible water views continue in the main floor owner’s suite. An additional bedroom on main level is currently used as private office space. Two bedrooms on second level open to upper lakeside deck. The spacious bonus room over the garage can serve as additional bedroom or recreational space. Soak in the sun from the extra large deck at water level and feel like you are on vacation without ever leaving home. Main floor, garage and basement are equipped with in-floor radiant heat while home also has multiple forced air systems for heating and cooling. Additional .35 acre with shed and gardens is included in sale.
4 Bedroom Home in Memphis – $874,900
Exquisite Contemporary property with beautiful views of Cross Lake with a 4+ car garage and a 1949 boat house. This attractive home is situated on the East side of the lake where the sunsets are breathtaking. The home sits high on the crest and is 25’ above the shoreline and offers over 6,300 sq ft on three levels. Drive up a beautiful wooded lane to a convenient circular driveway and carport. Features include, an open floor plan, cherry hardwood floors, soaring cathedral ceilings, an open loft, operating skylights, 2 gas fireplaces, sunroom with a wall of windows and a very unique, 18’ folding glass door to the great room. 5 beds, 4.1 baths, a gourmet kitchen with granite countertops, cherry cabinets, and a walk in pantry. The partially finished basement is a lovely retreat for guests and has a walkout to the lake. Mechanicals are all top notch including a full house generator, water treatment system with RO, water softener and the entire home is Energy Star Certified. One of the best locations on the lake, no flood insurance required. Must see to appreciate the majestic views from every room.
4 Bedroom Home in Baldwinsville – $675,000
Build your dream home in Baldwinsville! This prime building lot is available and Custom Homes by Ron Merle can customize any floorplan to your liking! This plan features 4 bedrooms and 2.5 bathrooms, an open concept living area, 1st floor laundry, and a 3 car garage! 13 course walkout basement is perfect to finish later on for more living space. The Whispering Oaks neighborhood features public utilities including water, sewer and gas. Pricing subject to change based on floorplan, adjustments and final material selection/availability. Taxes to be assessed. This home is to be built (photos are of other projects), and can start building on this lot immediately.
3 Bedroom Home in Auburn – $725,000
Owner Relocating – This lovely lakefront home nestled in a wooded area of a prime lakeside community on beautiful Owasco Lake is ready to be enjoyed. This three bedroom, three and a half bath home features a private 25′ lake front parcel with a stone firepit, a private picturesque forever...
DeSantis Shifts From Provocateur To Crisis Manager After Ian | News Channel 3-12
DeSantis Shifts From Provocateur To Crisis Manager After Ian | News Channel 3-12 https://digitalalabamanews.com/desantis-shifts-from-provocateur-to-crisis-manager-after-ian-news-channel-3-12/
By SARA BURNETT
Associated Press
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has whipsawed his way through the national conversation this month, first by putting migrants on planes or buses to Democratic strongholds and then shifting to a more traditional role of crisis manager as one of the strongest hurricanes to ever hit the U.S. barreled into his state.
Facing a reelection in November that could be a precursor to a presidential campaign, the approach has been awkward at points. Navigating one of his state’s darkest moments, DeSantis, a Republican, must partner with a Democratic president he has spent the better part of two years demeaning. He’s also gladly accepting the type of federal disaster aid and assistance he rejected as wasteful while he was a member of Congress.
But together, the developments over the past two weeks offer insight into how DeSantis might govern if he wins another term as governor or advances in a 2024 presidential contest. He’s willing to use — and potentially exceed — the raw executive power of his office to pick at America’s most sensitive divides on issues like immigration. In a sudden moment of disaster, however, he’s capable of striking a more unifying tone in a way that former President Donald Trump — once a close ally and now a potential 2024 rival — rarely demonstrated.
“At the end of the day, I view this as something that you’ve got folks that are in need, and local, federal and state, we have a need to work together,” DeSantis said at a briefing late Thursday, taking a far more conciliatory tone toward an administration he bitterly criticized just days earlier. He expressed appreciation that FEMA has approved every request for aid he has made, and said he welcomed the agency’s director to travel with him to view destruction.
The shift in tone is almost certainly temporary. When a 12-story condo building in Surfside, Florida, collapsed last year and killed 98 people, DeSantis appeared with local officials, including Democrats who praised his assistance. He sat next to President Joe Biden during a briefing with first responders and local officials in Miami. Within months, however, he returned to partisan brawls.
Facing another tragedy, DeSantis didn’t answer questions this week about whether he would meet with Biden, saying he wasn’t sure about the president’s travel plans. At a FEMA briefing on Thursday, Biden also aimed to set aside hostilities, saying he would visit Florida when conditions allow and meet with DeSantis “if he wants to meet.”
Biden and DeSantis both said they have spoken more than once. And at DeSantis’ request, Biden on Thursday declared a major disaster in parts of Florida, freeing up additional federal assistance to state and local governments and individuals.
“We’re going to build it back with the state and local government,” Biden said.
White House Press Secretary Karine Jean Pierre tweeted that Biden and DeSantis spoke again by phone on Friday, as the FEMA administrator is on the ground in Florida.
DeSantis’ embrace of federal help is a shift from his early days as a congressman, when he voted against a federal relief package for New York and New Jersey after Hurricane Sandy. That drew criticism this week from some New York-area officials and other Democrats who described the turnaround as a move from cruel to hypocritical.
Richard Conley, a University of Florida political science professor, said DeSantis is doing what he needs to do, pragmatically and politically. While DeSantis is popular in the reliably Republican area of southwest Florida that was hardest hit by Hurricane Ian, he said people will inevitably become frustrated if it takes too long to get help, and will look for someone to blame.
“He’s just got to get the job done,” said Conley. “The question will be: Going forward, does he look very statesmanlike? Does this help him with an eventual 2024 run? I don’t know, it remains to be seen.”
Since his early years running for governor, DeSantis has been linked to Trump. DeSantis was a relatively obscure third-term congressman when he announced his 2018 bid for governor — and a Trump endorsement — on Fox News. He echoed some of Trump’s favorite lines as he campaigned, pledging, for example, to “drain the swamp” in Tallahassee. Trump took credit for the victory, though their relationship is said to have chilled amid the 2024 talk.
As governor, DeSantis has elevated issues that excite the conservative base and used his resources and the power of his office to get things done his way, even if it pushed the limits of his legal authority.
During the COVID pandemic, DeSantis insisted Florida would remain open. He shunned guidance from federal health experts and once said of Dr. Anthony Fauci that someone should “chuck him across the Potomac.” He also stripped funding from school districts that implemented mask mandates.
This spring, DeSantis signed legislation stripping Disney of a special agreement that allowed the theme park to govern itself, after the company criticized a new state law that critics called “Don’t Say Gay. ”
DeSantis also suspended an elected Democratic prosecutor in Tampa from office over statements about not pursuing criminal charges in abortion, transgender rights and certain low-level cases. The prosecutor has since filed a federal free speech lawsuit against the governor.
In recent weeks, Florida under DeSantis’ direction paid for two flights of migrants from Texas to Martha’s Vineyard. DeSantis was the latest GOP governor, frustrated over the federal government’s response to policing the southern border, to transport the migrants to Democratic cities.
DeSantis defended the move as a way to make immigration a “front-burner issue” ahead of the midterms. Critics questioned the legality, and his Democratic opponent for governor said it represented a new low level of shrewdness.
“It’s amazing to me what he’s willing to do for sheer political gain,” Charlie Crist, his gubernatorial challenger, said.
Conley, who wrote a book about Trump and populism, said he understands the comparisons between the two men, both often provocative Republicans. But he noted key differences, including that DeSantis is more disciplined and restrained with statements on social media.
“He may say controversial things, but I don’t think he’s going to sit around at 3 or 4 in the morning and contemplate how to get back at (Senate GOP Leader) Mitch McConnell or something” as Trump would do, Conley said.
Trump also drew criticism for his responses to natural disasters, which often failed to convey empathy.
After Puerto Rico was flattened by Hurricane Maria, he flew to San Juan and threw paper towels into the crowd, withheld aid and questioned whether a death toll in the thousands was contrived by Democrats to make him look bad. On a trip to Houston after Hurricane Harvey, he was criticized for not meeting with storm victims. When he returned days later, Trump urged those at a shelter to “have a good time.”
Natural disasters have historically put U.S. political leaders in predicaments.
Years earlier, President George W. Bush left the impression of overlooking Hurricane Karina’s devastation in New Orleans when he flew over the city while returning to Washington from vacation. He later praised FEMA Director Michael Brown as doing “a heck of a job.”
Both New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, a Republican, and Democratic President Barack Obama felt political effects of a friendly greeting after Hurricane Sandy. The image may have helped Obama project a moderate, bipartisan front days before his election for a second term but conservatives derided Christie for what they called a “hug.”
At Thursday’s afternoon briefing, DeSantis spoke of surveying the damage, from a wiped out causeway between the mainland and Sanibel Island off Fort Myers to destroyed homes and hundreds of people rescued.
“These are resilient folks,” he said. “They will bounce back, but we just want to make sure that we can kind of pave the way for them.”
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Tillis Endorses And Donates To Hines In Competitive Triangle Congressional Race
Tillis Endorses And Donates To Hines In Competitive Triangle Congressional Race https://digitalalabamanews.com/tillis-endorses-and-donates-to-hines-in-competitive-triangle-congressional-race/
RALEIGH, N.C. — North Carolina U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis is throwing his support behind a Republican political newcomer, seeking to bolster Bo Hines’ bid in what is expected to be the closest congressional race in the state this year.
A political action committee affiliated with Tillis recently gave Hines’ campaign $2,900, according to Tillis adviser Jordan Shaw. The total is the maximum contribution allowed by the Federal Election Commission.
The Tillis-aligned group also backed a number of other Republicans, including the two running for a pair of state Supreme Court seats and several General Assembly candidates.
“Senator Tillis knows North Carolina can’t afford more inflation-causing spending sprees from Nancy Pelosi, so he’s doing what he can to get Republicans elected across the state,” Shaw told WRAL News.
Hines’ campaign didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment on the candidate’s thoughts about Tillis’ involvement in the race.
The contributions from Tillis’ group, NC Red, were first reported on Friday in the NC Insider.
Tillis has had sizable sway in North Carolina this year. In the May primary, he helped defeat U.S. Rep. Madison Cawthorn after the bombastic 27-year-old called Tillis a Republican In Name Only. Tillis instead backed state Sen. Chuck Edwards, who narrowly defeated Cawthorn in a crowded GOP primary field.
Hines, another 27-year-old Republican, has embraced similar hardline policies as Cawthorn, but insists he’s more interested in governing than the congressman had been. The two appeared on the campaign trail last year in western North Carolina. Hines and Cawthorn also had speaking slots at an April 9 rally held by former President Donald Trump.
“I don’t know who’s better looking, him or Madison,” Trump told the crowd.
Hines, who has long touted Trump’s endorsement, also joined the former president at a recent event in Wilmington.
Tillis represents a more centrist wing of the Republican Party, which could resonate with more moderate voters in the district Hines is seeking to represent, which includes Johnston County and parts of Wake, Wayne and Harnett counties.
The Cook Political Report, a nonpartisan group that analyzes the political leaning of congressional districts, considers North Carolina’s 13th District a toss-up with a slight Republican bent. It’s one of 30 toss-up seats in the country and is the only such contest in North Carolina.
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Bubba Wallace Takes NASCAR Party Off-Track To Birminghams Railroad Park
Bubba Wallace Takes NASCAR Party Off-Track To Birmingham’s Railroad Park https://digitalalabamanews.com/bubba-wallace-takes-nascar-party-off-track-to-birminghams-railroad-park/
In the post-COVID world of NASCAR, the wave of Cup Series drivers don’t begin to arrive in earnest until the eve of race day.
This weekend at Talladega Superspeedway, Bubba Wallace will follow suit from where he’s been oftentimes before at Superspeedways: ahead of the pack.
With five top-five finishes and his first Cup Series win on the superspeedways, Wallace starts his week early and about 30 minutes west of the 2.66-mil tri-oval.
Announced earlier this week, Wallace will host a community block party Friday at Railroad Park in Birmingham.
According to NASCAR, “Bubba’s Block Party is a community-focused NASCAR initiative that aims to drive awareness, access and engagement to the sport among the Black community while generating excitement around the race weekend.”
The event, which potential attendees are encouraged to RSVP to via the website bubbasblockparty.splashthat.com, will run from 5 to 10 p.m. It will feature Big K.R.I.T, (coincidentally a favorite of Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin), rapper and multi-platinum producer Mannie Fresh and WBHJ 95.7 JAMZ DJ Gorgeous as the host.
While he said the selection of talent has been left up to NASCAR, Wallace said he’s a fan of both rappers, especially DJ Mannie Fresh, who he said he’d listened to “since I was a kid.”
The event is the second for Wallace and company after kicking off the idea earlier this year prior to the running at Richmond Raceway in April.
Bubba Wallace smiles after winning the pole position during NASCAR Cup Series auto race qualifying at the Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn, Mich., Saturday, Aug. 6, 2022. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)AP
“I didn’t really know what to expect or how to expect,” Wallace said of the first event. “I thought everybody involved did a great job.There were some things that obviously we walked in a saw that we could do better, be better at, so, it’s going to be interesting to see how we’ve implemented those changes this go-around. I’m excited to get down there and see it.”
He’s equally excited about Talladega, too.
He returns to NASCAR’s biggest track — the site of his first win, albeit a rain-shortened YellaWood 500 — with a full-fledged win, just a couple of weeks ago at Kansas Speedway at the Hollywood Casino 400.
Wallace led the second-most laps, 58, and took the top spot in front of his co-boss at 23XI RAcing, Denny Hamlin.
“The confidence, for sure, is at an all-time high right now,” he said. “Kansas was really good to us, so it just gets us more motivated to get to Talladega and try to repeat what we did last year.
“It’s a totally different type of win the way we were able to dominate that third of the race was special. Yeah, it’s just an overall different mindset.”
The superspeedways, or as they were formerly known “plate tracks,” always ranked high for Wallace. At Daytona he finished second there early in his career in 2018 for Richard Petty Motorsports and added another top-five finish in 2020 before leaving from 23XI. With his current team at Daytona alone, two of his four starts have been runner-up finishes. At Talladega, last fall has been his only top 10.
Wallace said from his start in Cup with Richard Petty Motorsports, a smaller-budget team, they always concentrated their efforts on the Superspeedways and looked at the tracks as an opportunity to win, something Aric Almirola was able to do for Petty at Daytona in 2014.
Those days at RPM helped lay the foundation for the plate racer he is today.
“Last four or five years of this plate stuff you earn that respect from drivers,” Wallace said. “They see that you’re running well and making the right moves and they want to work with you because you’ve got to have help at this point.
“It’s been fun to kind of grow and go through the ranks of being one of the better plate racers.”
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Live Updates: Hurricane Ian Barrels Into South Carolina After Slamming Florida
Live Updates: Hurricane Ian Barrels Into South Carolina After Slamming Florida https://digitalalabamanews.com/live-updates-hurricane-ian-barrels-into-south-carolina-after-slamming-florida/
4 min ago
Drone footage shows destroyed homes and flooded roads in Venice, Florida
Hurricane Ian ripped off parts of homes in Venice in southwestern Florida, where some roads appear to still be covered with water, CNN drone video shows.
See it here:
14 min ago
Gov. DeSantis will share an update on Hurricane Ian response at 4:30 p.m. ET
From CNN’s Jamiel Lynch
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis will hold a news conference at 4:30 p.m. ET in St. Augustine, Florida, to update on the state’s response in the aftermath of Hurricane Ian.
DeSantis is expected to be joined by FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell and other Florida officials.
8 min ago
Biden pledges continued federal support for Florida, saying it could take “months, years to rebuild”
From CNN’s Nikki Carvajal
This aerial photo shows damaged homes and debris in Fort Myers Beach, Florida, on September 29. (Wilfredo Lee/AP)
President Biden continued to pledge federal support for Florida as it deals with the devastation caused by Hurricane Ian — a storm he said was “likely to rank among the worst… in the nation’s history.”
“We’re just beginning to see the scale of that destruction,” the President said Friday, in remarks at the White House. “It’s going to take months, years to rebuild. And our hearts go out to all those folks whose lives have been absolutely devastated by the storm. America’s heart is literally breaking.”
Speaking directly to the people of Florida, Biden said, “We see what you’re going through and we’re with you. We’re going to do everything we can for you.”
8 min ago
“I can’t do this”: Recorded phone call and photos show a woman’s struggle to survive Ian
From CNN’s Caroll Alvarado
(Courtesy Hope Labriola)
A 45-year-old Fort Myers Beach resident Hope Labriola stood naked on her bed for several hours while inside her mobile park home before she was rescued by the Cajun Navy, the disaster relief volunteer group, early Thursday morning, Labriola told CNN.
Labriola’s struggle to survive the storm surge caused by Hurricane Ian on Wednesday was documented by her friend Lisbeth Whelan, who recorded the last phone call she had with Labriola before Labriola lost phone service.
The phone call happened around 5 p.m. Wednesday evening and lasted about three minutes before it dropped, the recording shows.
“I heard the water enter her phone and then everything went off,” Whelan told CNN.
“She told me that her nose was touching the ceiling and that she was having a hard time breathing. It was torture,” Wheeler said. “She was naked. She had to take her clothes off because the clothes kept getting wetter and weighing her down and she’s only about 100 pounds.”
During the phone call, a crying Labriola is heard repeatedly saying, “I can’t do this” and “I’m so cold.”
Labriola was also in tears during earlier calls as she watched flood waters destroy her family heirlooms, Whelan said.
Seconds before the call dropped, Whelan asks Labriola if there were waves of water nearby that she was hearing over the phone. A crying Labriola then responds with “I love you” and the call drops.
Whelan finally heard back from Labiola on Thursday evening and told CNN she was elated to hear that her friend had been rescued.
Prior to hearing from Labriola, Whelan posted on several Facebook groups begging for rescue groups to check on her friend but was told it was still too dangerous for rescue efforts to begin.
In an interview with CNN on Friday morning, Labriola, who has lived in the area with her cat for about 10 years, said she was rescued by the Cajun Navy around 3 a.m. Thursday morning.
“I saw some flashlights and I started screaming for help through this little crack in my window,” Labriola said. “At this point, the water was up to my shoulders.”
“They couldn’t get into my house. They tried to break the windows, they tried to do whatever they could. Then they finally got me out,” she said.
Labriola told CNN that she stood naked on her bed for several hours as she avoided the gushing waters in her one-story home.
Once she was saved, Labriola said she also witnessed the Cajun Navy rescue 19 other people, including a man who was stuck in a tree.
The residents who were rescued were transported to a hospital around 6 a.m. Thursday morning, according to Labriola, who was suffering from hypothermia when she arrived at the emergency room.
Labriola is still in shock but was released from the hospital Thursday night, she said. She’s currently sheltering at South Fort Myers High School with other displaced residents.
She stayed in her home to look after her cat and weather the storm. Fort Myers Beach was included in Lee County’s mandatory evacuation order before Hurricane Ian came ashore.
Labriola told CNN she does not plan to move back to Fort Myers Beach.
“People are like what are you going to do? And I tell them I’m leaving. You can’t get a house here. The whole place is wiped out,” she said.
Labriola’s home has been completely destroyed but she managed to save her wallet and cellphone before she was rescued. As of Friday morning, she’s still wearing the hospital scrubs she was given but is grateful to be alive.
“That was the scariest thing I’ve been through. I didn’t think I was going to survive,” she said.
33 min ago
Hurricane Ian makes landfall in South Carolina, National Hurricane Center says
From CNN’s Brandon Miller
Hurricane Ian made landfall near Georgetown, South Carolina, at 2:05 p.m. ET, according to the National Hurricane Center. Ian’s maximum sustained winds at landfall were 85 mph.
Hurricane force winds extend up to 70 miles from the center of the storm. Tropical storm-force winds reach up to 275 miles from the center, it said.
After landfall, Ian is expected to rapidly transition into a post-tropical system, and see a decrease in its strongest winds as it pushes inland. Still, heavy rain and gusty conditions will impact millions over the Carolinas and mid-Atlantic states over the next 24 hours.
36 min ago
Biden: The largest search and rescue team in recent history has been deployed to Florida
President Joe Biden speaks at the White House on September 30. (Jonathan Ernst/Reuters)
President Joe Biden claimed that the team of search and rescue experts pre-deployed in Florida at his direction is the largest in recent history.
“At my direction, we pre-deployed the largest team of search and rescue experts in recent history, because so many of the rescuers need to be there in place now, in the water now,” he said Friday.
About 117 people have been rescued by this team on the southwest Florida coast in collaboration with local and state teams, he added.
“The United States coast guard has been deployed as well. Six fixed-wing aircraft, 18 rescue boats and crews, 16 rescue helicopters, which were in the day all day yesterday and are at it again today,” he told reporters.
51 min ago
Biden tells South Carolina residents to heed warning of local officials as Ian targets state
A vehicle drives down a flooded street in Charleston as rain from Hurricane Ian drenches the city on September 30. (Scott Olson/Getty Images)
President Biden urged residents of South Carolina in Hurricane Ian’s path to remain vigilant and follow the advisories from local officials in case of danger.
“My message to the people of South Carolina is simple: Please listen to all of the warnings and the directions from all of the local officials and follow their instructions,” he said.
56 min ago
Biden: I’ve directed that “every possible action” be taken to help impacted Floridians
After devastation caused by Hurricane Ian in Florida and with storm near South Carolina’s coast, President Joe Biden on Friday shared an update on his administration’s federal response.
“Last night I received a request for an emergency declaration from Gov. Henry McMaster, which I approved right away just as I did for Florida,” he said. “This allows for immediate federal funding for the state to shelter people and provide other essential support.”
By approving it early, this support can be provided if necessary, he said.
“I’ve directed that every possible action be taken to save lives and get help to survivors, because every single minute counts. It’s not just a crisis for Florida. It’s an American crisis. We are all in this together,” he said, adding that he had spoken to governors of the two states again today.
1 hr 6 min ago
NOW: Biden speaks on federal response efforts for Hurricane Ian
From CNN staff
President Biden delivers remarks from the White House on September 30. (Pool)
President Biden is delivering remarks now from the White House on the ongoing federal response efforts for Hurricane Ian.
Yesterday, Biden visited the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s headquarters in Washington, DC, and announced that those in Florida without enough insurance will be provided individual assistance of $37,900 for home repairs and another $37,900 for loss of property, including “everything from automobile to a lost wedding ring.”
Biden also said that he intends to visit Florida and Puerto Rico, which continues to deal with devastation caused by Hurricane Fiona.
CNN’s Maegan Vazquez contributed reporting to this post.
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Kellyanne Conway: Dems Want Midterms To Be About Abortion Climate And January 6th
Kellyanne Conway: Dems Want Midterms To Be About Abortion, Climate And January 6th https://digitalalabamanews.com/kellyanne-conway-dems-want-midterms-to-be-about-abortion-climate-and-january-6th/
As the midterm elections approach, former counselor to President Trump Kellyanne Conway said Friday that Democrats are out of touch with the issues that Americans care about.
“The Democrats want the entire election to be about abortion, climate and January 6th. They wake up every morning and their calendar says January 6, 2021. By the way, a very dark day in our nation’s history, a terrible day,” Conway told “The Brian Kilmeade Show.“
“And I say about that day … if somebody broke the law, arrest them, prosecute them, let them know what their fate is, and let’s get going here. But every single day on their calendars is January 6, 2021.”
GOP CANDIDATES LEADING AMONG INDEPENDENT VOTERS IN KEY MIDTERM STATE, POLL SHOWS
Conway said voters are most concerned about crime, education, fentanyl, the economy and inflation, especially with energy bills projected to rise this winter.
SUGAR HILL, GA – JANUARY 03: Kellyanne Conway speaks at the SAVE AMERICA TOUR at The Bowl at Sugar Hill on January 3rd, 2021 in Sugar Hill, Georgia. Conway is an American pollster, political consultant and pundit who served as Senior Counselor to President Donald Trump from 2017 to 2020. (Photo by David J. Griffin/Icon Sportswire)
“You know what this country says? No. Every day on my calendar is October 6, November 6, December 6. The rent is due, the car payment is due, the tuition payment is due, the mortgage payment is due and I can’t do it. People are white-knuckled and worried about paying their utility bills, their insurance bills. The gas and grocery conversation is an important one, but it’s a six-month-old example. Now people are looking at this winter with great trepidation,” Conway said, adding that one of the fastest-growing groups becoming newly homeless are single mothers who have a job.
“Let that sink in. … This is the most straightforward, uncomplicated issue set going into a midterm election I’ve ever seen. I’ve been doing this for decades. It’s very straightforward. The Democrats want it to be about abortion and that’s important to many voters, but it’s nowhere near inflation, economy, crime and even education.”
She highlighted the Senate race in Pennsylvania, believing Republican Mehmet Oz is closing the gap on Democrat John Fetterman.
MAJORITY OF DEMOCRATS IN KEY MIDTERM STATE OPPOSE BANNING NONCITIZENS FROM VOTING IN LOCAL ELECTIONS: NEW POLL
“I think Oz has really improved as a candidate. I’m trying to help him as a non-paid adviser. I think he’s done a much better job taking the case to John Fetterman. And my view of that race has always been if the race is about them at Mehmet Oz, he can win, but it will be harder. If the race is about John Fetterman, Oz will absolutely win,” she said.
Conway argued Fetterman’s views on criminal justice reform and support for Black Lives Matter will not play well with suburban women who are concerned about rising crime and education.
CLICK HERE FOR THE FOX NEWS APP
Kilmeade noted that Fetterman removed mentions of Black Lives Matter from his campaign website in the last month.
The “issues” page on Fetterman’s website currently includes sections on inflation ,criminal justice reform, legalizing cannabis, renewable energy, immigration and several other topics, but doesn’t include any section devoted to Black Lives Matter. Archived copies of the page, though, show that as recently as Aug. 22, the same page highlighted Fetterman’s commitment to Black Lives Matter.
Joshua Q. Nelson is a reporter for FoxNews.com. You can find him on Twitter @joshuaqnelson.
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Zelensky Pushes accelerated Application For Ukraine NATO Membership
Zelensky Pushes ‘accelerated’ Application For Ukraine NATO Membership https://digitalalabamanews.com/zelensky-pushes-accelerated-application-for-ukraine-nato-membership/
KYIV, Ukraine — Ukraine is applying for “accelerated ascension” into NATO, President Volodymyr Zelensky said Friday, in an apparent answer to Russia’s move to illegally annex four of the country’s partially occupied regions.
The remarks were more symbolic than practical: The speedy admittance of Ukraine to the alliance would require members to immediately send troops to fight Russia, under collective defense obligations.
Ukraine has long sought NATO membership, but Zelensky conceded in March that Ukraine had to accept that it was not going to be accepted into the Western military alliance, despite receiving security assistance from countries in it.
“De facto, we have already made our way to NATO,” Zelensky said in a Telegram statement. “De facto, we have already proven compatibility with Alliance standards. They are real for Ukraine — real on the battlefield and in all aspects of our interaction. We trust each other, we help each other, and we protect each other.”
In practice, the chances of Ukraine joining NATO have only grown slimmer in the course of the Russian invasion. Member countries, including the United States, have drawn clear lines: They arm Ukraine, but they don’t have their own troops on the ground out of concern for triggering a World War.
Just an hour before Zelensky’s announcement, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced Moscow’s illegal annexation of the Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions, which Russian forces have partially occupied. At the time of Putin’s speech, Zelensky was meeting with his National Security Council. “There will be no negotiations with Russia while Putin is the president,” Andriy Yermak, Zelensky’s chief of staff, said on Telegram. “We are moving forward. To victory.”
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The Feds Preferred Inflation Measure Remains Stubbornly High
The Fed’s Preferred Inflation Measure Remains Stubbornly High https://digitalalabamanews.com/the-feds-preferred-inflation-measure-remains-stubbornly-high/
Inflation stayed far above the Federal Reserve’s goal in August, as prices climbed more quickly than economists expected.
A shopping center in Los Angeles this month. Consumers continued to spend in August, the Commerce Department reported.Credit…Mark Abramson for The New York Times
Sept. 30, 2022Updated 2:21 p.m. ET
The Federal Reserve’s preferred inflation gauge remained elevated in August, data released on Friday showed, further evidence that the central bank is contending with a stubborn problem as it tries to choke off the worst inflation in four decades.
The Personal Consumption Expenditures inflation measure, which is the measure the Fed officially targets as it tries to achieve 2 percent annual inflation, climbed 6.2 percent over the year through August. While that was a slowdown from 6.4 percent in July, it was higher than the 6 percent that economists in a Bloomberg survey had expected.
The details of the report were even more concerning. Price increases have been moderating somewhat on an overall basis, partly because gas prices have been declining. But after volatile fuel and food prices were stripped out to get a sense of underlying inflationary pressures, the index climbed 4.9 percent over the year through August, an acceleration from 4.7 percent the month before. And on a monthly basis, the core index picked up by 0.6 percent, the fastest increase since June.
Consumers also continued to spend in August, particularly on dining, travel and other services, the report showed, though the pace was slowing. Incomes rose, buoyed by a hot job market.
The data underlined the challenging path the Fed faces as it tries to guide the U.S. economy toward slower inflation. Both the economy and price pressures have retained momentum, even as central bankers raise interest rates to try to cool demand. As a result, the Fed has become steadily more aggressive in its efforts to constrain spending and temper inflation, and it is likely to keep raising rates and keep them elevated for a while.
Inflation F.A.Q.
Card 1 of 5
What is inflation? Inflation is a loss of purchasing power over time, meaning your dollar will not go as far tomorrow as it did today. It is typically expressed as the annual change in prices for everyday goods and services such as food, furniture, apparel, transportation and toys.
What causes inflation? It can be the result of rising consumer demand. But inflation can also rise and fall based on developments that have little to do with economic conditions, such as limited oil production and supply chain problems.
Is inflation bad? It depends on the circumstances. Fast price increases spell trouble, but moderate price gains can lead to higher wages and job growth.
Can inflation affect the stock market? Rapid inflation typically spells trouble for stocks. Financial assets in general have historically fared badly during inflation booms, while tangible assets like houses have held their value better.
“Inflation is very high in the United States and abroad, and the risk of additional inflationary shocks cannot be ruled out,” Lael Brainard, the Fed’s vice chair, said in a speech on Friday. She later added that policymakers were “committed to avoiding pulling back prematurely.”
The Fed has lifted interest rates five times this year, including three unusually large three-quarter-point increases, and Ms. Brainard reiterated that it would need to restrict the economy for some time to make sure inflation was back under control. But she also emphasized that future rate increases would depend on incoming data, suggesting that the Fed will keep an eye on the economy as it slows down and calibrate its moves accordingly.
Economists remain hopeful that healing supply chains, a slowing housing market, cooling consumer demand and a moderating labor market will combine to pull inflation lower in the months ahead. Spending on goods fell in August for the second month in a row, which should ease pressure on factories and shipping routes, and overall spending may slow further as consumers draw down the extra savings they built up earlier in the pandemic.
But Russia’s war in Ukraine poses a constant risk to the global supply of food and oil, and some industries, including automobiles, remain severely disrupted. Rents and other service costs have been rising sharply, and labor shortages spanning many industries have pushed wages up, which could feed through to higher prices.
Those factors have informed the Fed’s decision to stage its most aggressive campaign in decades to bring inflation under control.
Fed officials signaled in their latest economic projections that they expect to lift interest rates by another 1.25 percentage points by the end of the year. The report probably keeps them on track for such a plan, said Subadra Rajappa, head of U.S. rates strategy at Société Générale.
The above-expectation inflation number “has to be somewhat troubling, but I don’t think it changes anything for the Fed,” she said. “They have more work to do.”
Still, the Fed’s war on inflation comes at a risk. Higher interest rates take time to filter through the economy, and the Fed is moving so quickly in its bid to choke off inflation that it isn’t waiting to see the effect of its moves before ushering in new ones.
“They have to choose between being forward looking versus backward looking,” said Blerina Uruci, a markets economist at T. Rowe Price. She said the fresh consumption data suggested that consumers were pulling back, but that is taking time to show up in inflation data — so by focusing on the price figures, the Fed could end up raising rates more than is needed.
And other central banks are also raising rates, which could combine with turmoil from the war in Ukraine and other factors to sharply slow the world’s economy. Fed officials themselves have acknowledged that the global situation is in a state of flux.
“The Federal Reserve’s policy deliberations are informed by analysis of how U.S. developments may affect the global financial system, and how foreign developments in turn affect the U.S. economic outlook and risks to the financial system,” Ms. Brainard said on Friday.
As higher rates play through the economy to slow spending and weaken the labor market, they could push up unemployment and even cause a painful recession. While officials are hoping that outcome can be avoided, they admit that the chances of averting a bad outcome have grown slimmer as inflation has remained persistently and painfully high and their policy path has become more aggressive.
Still, central bankers have suggested that it is a necessary gamble. While a recession would be bad for Americans, costing them jobs and most likely slowing their wage gains, today’s inflation is also a burden on many households. Families are finding that it is harder to afford basic necessities like housing, clothing and food, which is a particular burden for consumers with lower incomes who have less room to cut spending from their budgets or to substitute with cheaper options.
As inflation drags on, people and businesses may get used to today’s rapidly climbing prices. If that happens, they may adjust their behavior accordingly, with workers asking for more frequent pay increases and businesses passing those higher labor costs along to customers in the form of higher prices. If that happens, inflation could become a self-fulfilling prophesy.
Fortunately, measures of inflation expectations seem to be relatively stable, and have even declined somewhat in recent months. But Fed officials have been clear that after more than a year of rapid price increases, they do not want to take that stability for granted.
“The longer the current bout of high inflation continues, the greater the chance that expectations of higher inflation will become entrenched,” Jerome H. Powell, the Fed chair, said at his news conference on Sept. 21.
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Mobile Police Department Announces WeTip Crime Tip Hotline Citizens Can Earn Up To $1000
Mobile Police Department Announces WeTip Crime Tip Hotline, Citizens Can Earn Up To $1,000 https://digitalalabamanews.com/mobile-police-department-announces-wetip-crime-tip-hotline-citizens-can-earn-up-to-1000/
MOBILE, Ala. (WKRG) — The Mobile Police Department announced a new anonymous crime tip line, WeTip, for citizens to report crimes, gun violence and “other suspicious incidents fast and easy,” according to a release from the MPD.
“Through WeTip, citizens can play a greater role in partnering with law enforcement to help make their communities safer,” read the release.
Citizens can report a crime one of three ways:
Text 844-251-0644
Call 844-251-0644
Scan the WeTip QR code on the graphic below to access the hotline
The hotline can be also be used to send tips about criminal activity and “report for shootings, gang activity, school threats or any other criminal incidents,” to police, according to the release.
“This is one of our newest tools that will support the efforts of Operation Echo Stop in preventing and deterring crime by providing valuable information. This truly represents our commitment to partnering with the community and working hard toward impeding violence and improving perception. Mobile truly is a great city.”
Commander Kevin Levy, Director of Intelligence for the Mobile Police Department and Gulf Coast Technology Center
The hotline is monitored 24/7. All tips received are processes by the MPD and the Gulf Coast Technology Center’s Domestic Threat Desk.
“In certain cases, citizens can receive up to $1,000 in reward money when they report legitimate crimes and incidents,” read the release. “That reward money will be paid when a conviction is made.”
Stay ahead of the biggest stories, breaking news and weather in Mobile, Pensacola and across the Gulf Coast and Alabama. Download the WKRG News 5 news app and be sure to turn on push alerts.
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GeoCue Makes European Debut Of LP360 Point Cloud Software And The New TrueView 655/660 3D Imaging Sensor At Intergeo 2022 The American Surveyor
GeoCue Makes European Debut Of LP360 Point Cloud Software And The New TrueView 655/660 3D Imaging Sensor At Intergeo 2022 – The American Surveyor https://digitalalabamanews.com/geocue-makes-european-debut-of-lp360-point-cloud-software-and-the-new-trueview-655-660-3d-imaging-sensor-at-intergeo-2022-the-american-surveyor/
The TrueView product line and LP360 software are now available in Europe. See them at Intergeo 2022.
The new TrueView 655/660 3D Imaging System with the RIEGL miniVUX-3UAV and three fully integrated cameras (right, left, nadir)
Huntsville, AL- Making its European debut, LP360 and the all-new TrueView 655/660 will be exhibiting at Intergeo 2022, Europe’s largest geospatial conference. The TrueView 655/660 is GeoCue’s third generation RIEGL integration built with the miniVUX-3UAV and triple mapping cameras (right, left, nadir) for high accuracy mapping with excellent vegetation penetration and wire detection in a lightweight payload package.
TrueView 3D Imaging Systems are known for their dual oblique cameras that help maximize mapping and coverage. The new TrueView 655/660 adds a third Nadir camera, allowing for imagery directly below the sensor to be captured.
Frank Darmayan, CEO of GeoCue explains the added coverage of the third camera. “With our newly released 655/660 the third RGB nadir camera provides a direct view of the ground below. This maximizes data collection for time flown, while improving the quality of photogrammetry and colorized point clouds our customers can provide.
LP360 provides powerful point cloud visualization with multiple and synchronized windows
LP360, an advanced geospatial data processing software, is also now available for European GIS professionals to post-process raw geospatial data into 3D colorized point clouds. LP360 has been updated and now offers two product lines, for all of your LiDAR and photogrammetry data processing needs.
For drone users, LP360 Drone is the core product for drone geospatial data workflow. It can transform LiDAR and imagery data into survey grade deliverables including: visualization, quality checks, classification, 3D editing, and analysis capabilities.
For larger dataset users, LP360 Geospatial can process captured LiDAR data or images from any aircraft or mobile sensor of your choice and analyze and extract value for large LiDAR datasets.
Vivien Heriard Dubreuil, CEO of GeoCue parent company mdGroup, knows that having the right software is key to getting the most out of your LiDAR data. “We are excited to bring LP360 to Europe. This software brings many additional features and resources for our users to produce the right deliverables without having to use any secondary processing software. We’ll be demonstrating the workflow and geospatial tools available in LP360 at our Intergeo booth. We look forward to users of ALL survey equipment, including the DJI L1 to visit us with their system-specific questions and challenges. We are confident our software can help improve their deliverables.”
GeoCue will be exhibiting the new TrueView 655/660 at booth F3.128 in Hall 3, near the Hall 2 entrance and LP360 demonstrations will take place at booth A3.017 in Hall 3, near the West entrance at Intergeo 2022, in Essen Germany.
For those who can’t attend Intergeo, a 2-day LP360 training course will take place in Siegen, Germany, November 9-10. The course will cover a broad range of LiDAR mapping workflows and help you become more efficient with LP360 software and drone mapping tools as well as industry best practices and procedures. Register online.
About GeoCue
GeoCue is a U.S. LiDAR data technology company offering software, hardware, training, support, and consulting services for high accuracy LiDAR and imaging drone mapping to help civil engineering and surveying professionals achieve successful data collection, processing, and management. With its TrueView drone LiDAR/Imaging sensors and LP360 point cloud data processing software, GeoCue is the leader in LiDAR mapping processing in North America. To learn more about GeoCue, visit www.geocue.com
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2022 Midterms: Top 10 States To Watch September 2022 #2 | JD Supra
2022 Midterms: Top 10 States To Watch – September 2022 #2 | JD Supra https://digitalalabamanews.com/2022-midterms-top-10-states-to-watch-september-2022-2-jd-supra/
The 2022 midterm elections kicked off with primaries in Texas on March 1, 2022. Additional high-profile primary elections will be held throughout the summer in Governor and Senate races in Georgia, Pennsylvania, Arizona, North Carolina and beyond. Those contests will tee up Election Day on November 8, when control of the U.S. House and Senate will be up for grabs as well as several high-profile gubernatorial races in key battleground states.
Ten states in particular will play a significant role in deciding the balance of the U.S. House and Senate and shaping the map of governorships going forward.
Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Nevada and Pennsylvania are home to targeted U.S. Senate and House and Governors races.
Kansas has targeted House and Governors races.
New Hampshire, Ohio and Wisconsin each have targeted Senate and Governors races.
In North Carolina, there will be a high-profile, open seat election for Senate as well as targeted House races.
McGuireWoods Consulting is carefully watching the primary election results in these 10 states and will capture the significance of the results as the elections unfold on our website and social media channels.
New Hampshire
Florida
Wisconsin
Arizona
Kansas
Nevada
Georgia
North Carolina
Pennsylvania
Ohio
New Hampshire Midterm Elections Update
The final primary in our series concluded on September 13, 2022, with the New Hampshire primary. The closely watched races were to fill the Republican nominees for Senate and U.S. House. After national Republicans failed to recruit popular Gov. Chris Sununu to challenge Sen. Maggie Hassan, the attention on the Granite State has lessened. However, Republicans are confident that their pick of retired Army Brigadier General Donald Bolduc will be competitive in November.
Bolduc ran as an unabashed supporter of former President Trump and said he believed that President Biden was not the winner of the 2020 Presidential Election. Bolduc edged out more mainstream GOP pick State Senate President Chuck Morse by just shy of 2%. Bolduc ran strong in the rural parts of the state and linked himself to supporters of the former President. Nonetheless, Sen. Maggie Hassan is slightly favored to win the upcoming election due to her large stockpile of campaign funds and is betting on her challenger’s strict view on abortion to sway independents in this largely libertarian state.
In the House, Republicans selected Karoline Leavitt to take on Democratic Congressman Chris Pappas in a Congressional District that many think will be a bellwether in November. Leavitt is a 25-year-old veteran of the Trump Administration and is modeling herself after rising Republican star Rep. Elise Stefanik. In the less competitive 2nd District, GOP nominated Robert Burns will take on Congresswoman Ann Kuster. Kuster has been in the House since 2013 and is seen as the safer of the two seats; although trouble for her on election night could spell trouble for Democrats early in their battle to keep the House.
Florida Midterm Results Update
Republicans dominated turnout in Florida’s primary elections on Aug. 23, 2022, with 195,000 more Republicans voting than did Democrats despite having no competitive statewide races at the top of the ticket. This is not a good omen for Democrats in competitive races throughout the state of Florida, as their turnout lagged significantly behind 2018 off-year election primary turnout. If these turnout trends are similar in November, it will be a tough general election for Florida Democrats trying to make inroads into heavy Republican majorities and statewide offices.
Senate Minority Leader Lauren Book held off a tough primary challenge and will remain a state senator representing Broward County.
With an endorsement from DeSantis, political outsider Kiyan Michael, won the state primary for House District 16.
Former members Bruce Antone, a Democrat, and Republican Kim Berfield won their respective state legislative primaries for seats 41 and 58.
Perhaps the biggest surprise of the night was the defeat of a number of incumbents on various school boards across Florida. Mirroring the issues raised in the Virginia election months ago related to parental rights in education, candidates across the state battled over ideological issues pertaining to teachings in the classroom on race, gender, and political ideology. When the dust settled, DeSantis claimed victory in many of these races, as the overwhelming majority of candidates he endorsed won their races.
These primaries will set up contentious battles in the November general election, with between five and seven state Senate seats and 15 to 20 state House seats expected to be competitive races.
Read the full analysis from the MWC Florida team here.
Wisconsin Midterm Results Update
On Aug. 9, 2022, the polls were open in Wisconsin for the primary races ahead of the midterms in November. There is increased focus in the state races as Republicans in Wisconsin are looking for a state trifecta by holding control of the governor’s mansion, state House, and state Senate. In the Republican primary race for governor, businessman Tim Michels won with 47.2% of the vote. Michels had the endorsement of former President Donald Trump, which helped solidify the lead over former Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch. Kleefisch had the endorsement of former Vice President Mike Pence and former Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker. Michels will face current Democrat Gov. Tony Evers in November.
Republican U.S. Senator Ron Johnson is up for re-election, winning his primary with an 83.7% lead against former educator David Schroder. Johnson will face current Democratic Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes, who received 77.8% of the vote. Barnes won easily following basketball executive Alex Lasry and state Treasurer Sarah Godlewski withdrawing from the Democratic primary.
There has also been national attention surrounding the U.S. House race in Congressional District 3, a small-town, mostly rural district that historically leans Democrat. Incumbent Democratic Rep. Ron Kind is retiring, and following redistricting, Trump would have won the district in 2020. Republicans consolidated around one candidate, retired Navy SEAL Derrick Van Orden. Van Orden will face Democratic state Sen. Brad Pfaff after winning the four-way primary Democratic race.
Arizona Midterm Results Update
On Aug. 2, 2022, Arizona voters took to the polls to decide their primary elections. One key race was the Republican nomination for governor in which another Trump-endorsed candidate fought against a Pence-backed primary candidate. In the end, after several days of counting ballots, Trump-backed Kari Lake, a former television news anchor, won the nomination. Lake will face Katie Hobbs, the former Democratic secretary of state in November.
Blake Masters, who was endorsed by former President Trump and tech-entrepreneur Peter Thiel, won the nomination for U.S. Senate, with 39% of the vote against Mark Brnovich and Jim Lamon. Masters will face incumbent Sen. Mark Kelly, who gained the position after winning the special election in 2020.
The secretary of state position is left open following Katie Hobbs’s decision to run for governor. The Republican primary field for secretary of state included Mark Finchem, Beau Lane, Shawnna Bolick, and Michelle Ugenti-Rita. Finchem won the Republican primary with 41% of the vote following the support of former President Trump. Finchem will face Democrat Adrian Fontes on Nov. 8.
Kansas Midterm Results Update
On Aug. 2, 2022, the Kansas primary election took center stage, with Gov. Laura Kelly, a Democrat, winning the race. Kelly will face a difficult general election after former President Trump won the state by 15 percentage points in 2020. Kelly will face Derek Schmidt, the current attorney general, who took the majority in each county and won by 80.6% of the vote.
Sen. Jerry Moran, first elected to the U.S. Senate in 2010, is up for re-election. Moran will face former Kansas City Mayor Mark Holland, who won the Democratic nomination. Holland won by 38% of the vote; however, the state was divided giving votes to Paul Buskirk and Patrick Wiesner. Buskirk works for University of Kansas Athletics and Wiesner works as a lawyer, each gaining a portion of the state’s support.
Nevada Midterm Results Update
On June 14, 2022, Nevada voters made key decisions heading into the general election on Nov. 8. The key races in the state are the U.S. Senate, U.S. House and governor races. Adam Laxalt won all but one congressional district in the U.S. Senate Republican primary. The former attorney general won the primary with 56.1% of the vote against the retired Army captain with a Purple Heart, Sam Brown. Laxalt became the front-runner following the backing of former President Trump. Laxalt will face the incumbent Democrat Catherine Cortez Masto, the first Latina elected to the Senate, in the general election. Masto won 90.1% of the vote in the primary.
Former President Trump’s pick for governor, Joe Lombardo, won the primary in that race. Lombardo, Clark County sheriff, took 38.4% of the vote after a tight race. Lombardo will challenge current Democrat Gov. Steve Sisolak.
The key House race was the First Congressional District. Congresswoman Dina Titus was able to hold off a more progressive challenger Amy Viela by winning 82.4% of the votes in the district. Titus will face Republican Mark Robertson in the general election in a redder district following redistricting.
Georgia Midterm Results Update
On May 24, 2022, Georgia voters went to the polls to cast their votes for the nominees they want to see represent their party in the November’s general election. Voter turnout was significantly higher among both parties compared to the previous midterm elections in 20...
Fifth Circuits Ho Wont Hire From Yale Citing Cancel Culture
Fifth Circuit’s Ho Won’t Hire From Yale Citing ‘Cancel Culture’ https://digitalalabamanews.com/fifth-circuits-ho-wont-hire-from-yale-citing-cancel-culture/
US appeals court Judge James Ho said he won’t hire law clerks from Yale Law School in the future citing “cancel culture.”
“I don’t want to cancel Yale. I want Yale to stop cancelling people like me,” Ho said, according to prepared remarks for a keynote address to Kentucky chapters of the conservative Federalist Society Thursday. The written remarks were reviewed by Bloomberg Law.
“Starting today, I will no longer hire law clerks from Yale Law School. And I hope that other judges will join me as well,” he said.
Ho, prominent conservative on the US Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, took issue with how he said the school handled a protest of a panel discussion at Yale earlier this year featuring Kristen Waggoner of Alliance Defending Freedom and Monica Miller of the American Humanist Association.
Ho, a President Donald Trump appointee who graduated from the University of Chicago Law School, criticized Yale’s dean, who he said was present for the event but didn’t take action. “Yale not only tolerates the cancellation of views—it practices it,” Ho said.
Ho said he wasn’t talking about students currently attending Yale or who have already graduated, noting he’s hired from Yale before. He said his decision applies “going forward only.” He encouraged students thinking about law school to think about academic environments “that will help them grow.”
“If they want the closed and intolerant environment that Yale embraces today, that’s their call,” Ho said. “But I want nothing to do with it.”
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Zinke Put On Defensive Over Past Lies In U.S. House Debate
Zinke Put On Defensive Over Past Lies In U.S. House Debate https://digitalalabamanews.com/zinke-put-on-defensive-over-past-lies-in-u-s-house-debate/
Associated Press | Associated Press
BUTTE, Mont. — Former Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke faced sharp attacks for past dishonesty from his Democratic opponent in a Montana U.S. House race debate on Thursday night, as the Republican sought to downplay recent reports from federal investigators who said he lied to them in two separate cases.
Zinke narrowly won the June Republican primary over a lesser-known opponent in his bid to return to Congress after resigning from Trump’s cabinet amid numerous ethics investigations. He’s challenged by Democrat Monica Tranel, a Missoula attorney and Libertarian John Lamb, a farmer from Norris.
The Interior Department’s inspector general, a Trump appointee, said Zinke lied to federal investigators examining a Native American casino proposal in Connecticut that Zinke effectively blocked and his involvement in a real estate project in his hometown of Whitefish.
Zinke sought to turn the tables and accused Tranel of misleading voters about his record when the issue came up just minutes into the live debate at Montana Technological University.
“After five years, hundreds of thousands of dollars spent, you know what the report concluded? That I didn’t follow the employee handbook and had a lack of candor. I don’t know that means. I answered their questions. They just didn’t like my answers,” he said.
Prosecutors declined to pursue criminal charges and Zinke has repeatedly denied wrongdoing. But Tranel encouraged voters to read the inspector general’s reports themselves.
“Don’t take our word for it,” Tranel said. “That’s exactly what they do say — that Ryan Zinke lied to investigators.”
Tranel, a former Olympic rower, cruised to victory in the Democratic primary. But in Zinke she faces a well-financed opponent with wide name recognition from his time in Congress and previously in the state Senate.
Zinke repeatedly linked Tranel to national Democratic policies that he blamed for a sharp increase in inflation since President Joe Biden defeated former President Donald Trump and took office last year. He said Tranel’s legal work at the Montana Consumer Council advocating against utilities such as NorthWestern industry had resulted in higher energy prices that would only get worse if she and other Democrats prevail in November.
“You can’t kill U.S. oil and gas,” said Zinke, a former Navy SEAL, who oversaw a sharp rise in domestic oil and gas drilling at Interior and worked to ease environmental restrictions on the industry.
Tranel said climate change has to be addressed including the role that America’s energy usage plays in it.
The 2020 Census gave Montana a second congressional district for the first time in 30 years.
The district is considered to lean Republican, but Democrats are hoping to win their first U.S. House race in the state since 1997, when former Democratic Rep. Pat Williams left office.
Lamb, a supporter of the anti-government Bundy family, has not reported raising any money for his campaign. He said his candidacy gives voters an alternative to the major parties.
“Big money corrupts,” Lamb said. “It makes politicians corrupt and the people need a grassroots-type candidate to lead this western district and I believe I’m the middle guy.”
The start of the debate was briefly delayed when Zinke complained minutes before it was to start about Tranel bringing notes to the lectern. Zinke said the debate rules said notes would not be allowed, but relented when the event organizers said there had been no such agreement.
Campaign filings show Zinke’s campaign has raised and spent far more money than Tranel, but Democrats have narrowed the gap through outside groups that have spent heavily opposing the Republican.
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Obituaries In Gadsden, AL | The Gadsden Times https://digitalalabamanews.com/obituaries-in-gadsden-al-the-gadsden-times-4/
Parker Alexander Hyatt, age 19 of Cullman may have gained his heavenly wings on September 27, 2022 but left an impact on many during his short time on earth. He was a man of great integrity. He had a kind heart and gentle spirt, some even called him a gentle giant. He will be remembered by many as “quiet” but that quiet was always surrounded with a smile. When Parker did speak everyone would listen because you knew whatever he had to say was going to be good and most of the time funny. Parker graduated from Cullman High School in 2021.
Parker loved the game of football. He played football during his middle and high school years proudly wearing the #75 uniform. He was a big guy, you know the ones that never get much media attention, but he was powerful with a gentle heart. His teammates will tell you that although Parker was quiet, he played hard, practiced hard, and left it all on the field, but he would do it all with a smile and integrity. He left an impact. He taught the lesson of doing the right thing regardless of whether someone was looking. So often, it’s coaches that leave a mark on players. They are father figures and role models, but in Parker Hyatt’s case, he had a valuable effect on one of his high school coaches, Matt Plunkett.
Parker enjoyed watching movies, and pro wrestling. His brother Spencer will always cherish the times they watched Ghost Adventures and Impractical Jokers together. Parker would never admit it but he also enjoyed watching the show, FRIENDS. His favorite director was Zack Snyder but that could change any given day. The Auburn Tigers, Seattle Seahawks and Kansas City Chiefs were his favorite football teams. Parker had a passion for DC comics and classical music especially Mozart and Hans Zimmer. Parker may have been a quiet man with a loving smile, but his heart will leave a loud impact for a lifetime. He earned a black belt in karate at the age of 12 and his strength did not stop there. He was a fighter all his life and never complained at anything even when he was going through the hardest times. He was preceded in death by his grandfather, Joe Marler; and grandfather, Arville Hyatt. Parker is survived by his loving parents, Kelvin and Kim Hyatt; brother, Spencer Hyatt; grandmother, Sarah Marler; grandmother, Marie Hyatt; uncles, Melvin Hyatt, Joey (Beth) Marler, cousins, Samantha Marler and Noah Marler.
Pallbearers will be Cannon Trimble, Jay Knop, Galvin Bush, Noah Marler, Joey Marler, and Spencer Hyatt. Honorary pallbearers will be Cullman Bear Cat Football Team.
Special thanks to Dr. Wadhwa and the oncology team with Children’s Hospital and the ICU Nurses at Children’s of Alabama.
Funeral services will be held on Saturday, Oct. 1, 2022 at 12:00 p.m. at Morgan Funeral Chapel. Visitation for friends will begin at 10 a.m. until service time with burial following at Oak Hill Cemetery in Attalla, AL. Shane Wood to officiate.
Posted online on September 30, 2022
Published in Gadsden Times
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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-2/
(AP) — 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 policymakers 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.
Courthouse News’ podcast Sidebar tackles the stories you need to know from the legal world. Join our hosts as they take you in and out of courtrooms in the U.S. and beyond.
“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 smartphones.”
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.
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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By DAVID KLEPPER Associated Press
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Good Morning News: A Charter Reform Debate Gonzalez Unsuccessfully Tries To Squirm Out Of Fine And Vladimir Putin Is Going Off The Rails
Good Morning, News: A Charter Reform Debate, Gonzalez Unsuccessfully Tries To Squirm Out Of Fine, And Vladimir Putin Is Going Off The Rails https://digitalalabamanews.com/good-morning-news-a-charter-reform-debate-gonzalez-unsuccessfully-tries-to-squirm-out-of-fine-and-vladimir-putin-is-going-off-the-rails/
The Mercury provides news and fun every single day—but your help is essential. If you believe Portland benefits from smart, local journalism and arts coverage, please consider making a small monthly contribution, because without you, there is no us. Thanks for your support!
GOOD MORNING, PORTLAND! Screw off, autumn! Because we can once again expect sunny skies and the objectively perfect temperature of 85 this weekend. (Apologies to your cable-knit sweaters.) Now let’s cable-knit some NEWS!
IN LOCAL NEWS:
• Last night supporters and opponents of the upcoming Charter Reform ballot measure that YOU will vote on in November came together for a debate—and it was co-moderated by the Mercury‘s own Alex Zielinski and the O‘s Shane Kavanaugh! Want to be the smartest person in the room when it comes to Charter Reform? THEN WATCH THIS.
Billionaire Nike co-founder Phil Knight has spent $2 million to help Oregon Republicans retake state Legislature. https://t.co/fXtNOlr3pf
— OPB (@OPB) September 29, 2022
• Bad news for City Council candidate Rene Gonzalez: The city elections office told the candidate that, actually, he DID clearly violate small donor election laws after accepting—and failing to report—a whopping 96 percent discounted rental rate for a campaign office offered by local moneybags Jordan Schnitzer, and (saaaad trommmbone) will have to pay his historic fine. Man, it SUCKS when rules also apply to you!
• According to UCLA researchers, last summer’s extreme heat event in Portland was apparently a once-in-10,000-years (!) incident, but it was even hotter due to… you guessed it… climate change.
Let’s go, smarty pants! It’s time for the newest edition of the super-fun trivia game, POP QUIZ PDX. This week: quizzy Qs about shady Portland tycoons, local killer robots, and the many reasons why autumn BLOWS.https://t.co/NEtIaDQgLI
— Portland Mercury (@portlandmercury) September 29, 2022
• Traffic note! The Portland Marathon will be taking to certain streets this Sunday, so plan your transportation route carefully or do like me and cheer on the runners while passing out shots of bourbon.
Catch “Microphone Fiend” Marlon Wayans on his stand-up tour this December. https://t.co/MDkX3hKiJZ
— EverOut Portland (@EverOutPortland) September 29, 2022
IN NATIONAL/WORLD NEWS:
• Whoooo-wheee, Vladimir Putin really seems to be going off the rails if his latest belligerent speech is any indication; while bragging about his corrupt annexation of parts of Ukraine, he also railed against western “despotism” and “Satanism.” (Takes one to know one?)
• Meanwhile the White House has leveled even more sanctions against Putin’s Russia in retaliation of his illegal annexation of parts of Ukraine.
CBCI congratulates The Honorable Kentaji Brown Jackson on her confirmation to the United States Supreme Court! She has cemented her place in history as the first Black woman to don the robe of an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court since its first assembly in 1790. pic.twitter.com/ast7DS6JCv
— Congressional Black Caucus Institute (@CBCInstitute) April 7, 2022
• President Biden has declared a preemptive state of emergency for South Carolina as Hurricane Ian continues its devastating journey up the coast, flooding the city of Charleston. The full blast of the storm is expected to hit the state Friday night. Meanwhile in Florida, at least 21 people have been reported dead due to the hurricane.
• Trump-appointed judge, Aileen Cannon, has (surprise!) once again sided with Trump in his continuing fight against the FBI’s Mar-a-Lago raid. This time she has rejected the order from special master Raymond J. Dearie who wanted Trump’s lawyers to prove that the FBI had planted evidence, saying, “Naaaaaaah, you guys don’t have to do that. By the way, where are you taking me to lunch today?”
Behold! Our closest view of Jupiter’s ocean moon Europa in 22 years https://t.co/AMvaCrU2bh pic.twitter.com/4Z6fW8j80N
— SPACE.com (@SPACEdotcom) September 30, 2022
• After seven years on the air, comedian Trevor Noah announced he will be leaving The Daily Show to continue his comedy career.
• And finally, gotta go… AND FIND THESE SHIRTS.
Obsessed with these shirts from 1993 pic.twitter.com/64xUi5nQm7
— Becca Lewis (@beccalew) September 29, 2022
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