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FILE PHOTO: Tom Barrack Speaks With Members Of The Press At Trump Tower In New York City https://digitalalabamanews.com/file-photo-tom-barrack-speaks-with-members-of-the-press-at-trump-tower-in-new-york-city/ 2022 Denver Broncos season preview | Special section SPECIAL REPORT | Tipping Point: The Colorado River in peril College football preview 2022 | Special section Sign up for our newsletters and get news that matters sent to your inbox wire Stephanie Keith Sep 13, 2022 Sep 13, 2022 Updated 11 min ago Comments FILE PHOTO: Tom Barrack speaks with members of the press at Trump Tower in New York City, U.S. January 10, 2017. REUTERS/Stephanie Keith/File Photo Stephanie Keith As featured on Trump ally wins bid to bar photos of ‘lavish properties’ from foreign agent trial By Luc Cohen Popular BBC goes dark: Anchors wear black, logo appears to change amid Queen Elizabeth health fears WATCH: Hillary Clinton trolls Clarence Thomas over ‘retiring’ and mocks Melania Trump Video shows Trump boarding jet with boxes days after being told of missing docs: Report Texas Democrat running against GOP’s Mayra Flores says she ‘stole that last election’ Dispatch from Scotland: A rainy day in the Highlands and the passing of a beloved monarch Online Poll What’s your grade for the Broncos in season-opening loss? The Denver Broncos opened the season with a 17-16 loss against the Seattle Seahawks in quarterback Russell Wilson’s debut with Denver after a long career in Seattle. You voted: A B C D F Sign Up For Free sponsored Covington Homes builds more than houses Covington Homes builds more than houses sponsored What are the Best Crack Repair Options for Your Driveway? What are the Best Crack Repair Options for Your Driveway? sponsored Need more sleep? Suffer from aches & pains? Stressed out? Uncle Bud’s has solutions for you. Need more sleep? Suffer from aches & pains? Stressed out? Uncle Bud’s has solutions for you. Most Read TikTok influencer Tanya Pardazi dies in skydiving incident at 21 BBC goes dark: Anchors wear black, logo appears to change amid Queen Elizabeth health fears Bigfoot sighting deemed ‘credible incident’ at South Carolina park WATCH: Hillary Clinton trolls Clarence Thomas over ‘retiring’ and mocks Melania Trump Video shows Trump boarding jet with boxes days after being told of missing docs: Report Get the Newsletter The latest breaking news, delivered straight to your email! Subscribe Get a Subscription Access all of our premium content, get unlimited digital access and more! Subscribe Follow our Facebook Get real time news updates Follow Read More…

U.S. Christian Majority Could Fade In Coming Decades, Models Find https://digitalalabamanews.com/u-s-christian-majority-could-fade-in-coming-decades-models-find/ The United States has long prided itself on people’s freedom to choose whatever religion they like. The majority has long chosen Christianity. By 2070, that may no longer be the case, according to the Pew Research Center. If current trends continue, Christians could make up less than half of the population — and as little as a third — in 50 years. Meanwhile, the religiously unaffiliated — or “nones” — could make up close to half the population. And the percentage of Americans who identify as Muslims, Jews, Hindus, Buddhists and adherents of other non-Christian faiths could double. Those are among the major findings of a new report from Pew regarding the United States’ religious future, a future in which Christianity, though diminished, persists, while non-Christian faiths grow amid rising secularization. Researchers projected possible religious futures for the United States using a number of factors, including birthrates, migration patterns, demographics including age and sex, and the current religious landscape. They also looked at how religion is passed from one generation to another and how often people switch religions — in particular Christians who become nones, a number that has been increasing in recent years. Researchers projected four different scenarios, based on differing rates of religious switching, from a continued increase to no switching at all. The unaffiliated were projected to grow under all four. Currently, about a third (31 percent) of Christians become disaffiliated before they turn 30, according to Pew Research. Twenty-one percent of nones become Christian as young adults. Should those switching rates remain stable, Christians would make up 46 percent of the population by 2070, while nones would comprise 41 percent. If disaffiliation rates continue to grow but are capped at 50 percent of Christians leaving the faith, 39 percent of Americans are projected to be Christian by 2070, with 48 percent of Americans identifying as nones. With no limit placed on the percentage of people leaving Christianity and with continued growth in disaffiliation, Christians would be 35 percent of the population, with nones making up a majority of Americans (52 percent). If all switching came to a halt, Christians would remain a slight majority (54 percent), and nones would make up 34 percent of Americans, according to the model. Non-Christian faiths would rise to 12 to 13 percent of the population, largely because of migration, in each scenario. Migration does affect the percentage of Christians, as most migrants to the United States are Christians, said Conrad Hackett, associate director of research and senior demographer at Pew Research Center. “Still the greatest amount of change in the U.S., we think currently and in the future, will come from switching,” he said. Researchers stressed that the report contained projections that are based on data and mathematical models, and are not predictions of the future. “Though some scenarios are more plausible than others, the future is uncertain, and it is possible for the religious composition of the United States in 2070 to fall outside the ranges projected,” they wrote. One reason for the decline in the proportion of Christians and the growth among the nones in the models is age. While Christians have more children than nones, they also skew older. Pew estimates that the average Christian in the United States is 43, which is 10 years older than the average none. “The unaffiliated are having and raising unaffiliated children while Christians are more likely to be near the end of their lives than others,” Stephanie Kramer, a senior researcher at Pew, wrote in an email. Using mathematical models, Pew also has projected the future of religion around the world. Those models were adapted for different regions, Hackett said. Muslims, for example, tend to have the youngest population and the highest fertility rates, he said, driving the growth of that faith. But in the Persian Gulf states, migration has brought many Christians from other countries to the region as temporary workers. The current report takes advantage of the amount of data collected about the U.S. religious landscape. Researchers also looked at intergenerational transmission for the first time, Kramer said. “The variables we use to study that were: What is the mother’s religion? And what is the teen’s religion?” she said. “If that was a match, we consider the mother’s religion transmitted.” Researchers also looked at a relatively new trend of disaffiliation among older Americans. Sociologists have long focused on younger people, who are most likely to switch religions. But in the United States and other countries, older people are starting to switch at growing rates themselves. “It’s not as large-scale, but it’s still significant,” Hackett said. “And it’s contributing to the religious change that we have experienced and that we expect to experience in the years ahead.” Hackett said that the projections for the country do not show the end of Christianity or of religion in general, which he expects to remain robust. And most nones, while claiming no religion, do not identify as atheists. Instead, Kramer said, the United States appears to be going through a pattern of secularization that has happened in other countries, though “we may be a bit behind.” Other factors outside the model — such as changing immigration patterns and religious innovation — could lead to a revival of Christianity in the United States, according to the report. But none of its models shows a reversal of the decline of Christian affiliation, which dropped from 78 percent in 2007 to 63 percent in 2020, according to Pew research. In the report, researchers note that “there is no data on which to model a sudden or gradual revival of Christianity (or of religion in general) in the U.S.” “That does not mean a religious revival is impossible,” they wrote. “It means there is no demographic basis on which to project one.” — Religion News Service Read More…

King Charles III May Bring New Approach To ‘Defender Of The Faith’ https://digitalalabamanews.com/king-charles-iii-may-bring-new-approach-to-defender-of-the-faith/ LONDON — At her coronation in 1953, Queen Elizabeth II was anointed with sacred oils by the archbishop of Canterbury and pledged to rule not just according to British laws, but the “laws of God,” in her role as “Supreme Governor of the Church of England” and “Defender of the Faith.” She was true to that vow. Her devotion to “Jesus Christ, Prince of Peace” was a fundamental and defining, though sometimes overlooked, pillar of her life. Now, as her son Charles III takes over, he has by all accounts accepted the responsibilities of his religious titles without reservation. But he will bring a markedly different personal vision of religion and spirituality to the role. “The queen was very explicit about her Christian faith, but Charles’s is of a different nature,” said Ian Bradley, professor emeritus of cultural and spiritual history at the University of St. Andrews, who has written extensively about faith and the monarchy. “His is more spiritual and intellectual. Charles is more of a ‘spiritual seeker.’ ” While the monarch’s authority within the church is largely ceremonial, it still matters. The king will formally approve all new bishops, for example. And pronouncements of the crown, especially on something as personal as faith in God, carry a special weight. Particularly in her later years, Elizabeth was clear about expressing her beliefs, often citing the “guiding light” of Jesus, especially in her annual televised Christmas message watched by millions of people. Many trace her shift in tone to her Christmas address of 2000, when she said, “For me, the teachings of Christ and my own personal accountability before God provide a framework in which I try to lead my life.” The queen was sometimes referred to as the “last true believer,” said Stephen Bates, the Guardian newspaper’s longtime, now retired, religious affairs and royal correspondent. “She is the most religious sovereign since the [Protestant] Reformation” of the 16th century, he said. While public assertions of faith are second nature — if not required — for U.S. leaders, they are unusual in Britain, a highly secular nation, where an aide to former prime minister Tony Blair once quipped, “We don’t do God.” “We have a kind of unease about our politicians and our leaders expressing their faith, and to some extent this extends to the monarchy,” Bradley said. “It’s seen as un-British.” Despite declining church membership and influence in daily British life, the monarch remains a powerful church symbol; British coins feature the queen’s likeness and letters in Latin that stand for, “By the Grace of God, Queen and Defender of the Faith.” As his mother was, Charles is a regular churchgoer and clear that his faith is Christian. In his first address to the nation, on the day after the queen died, Charles cited his “responsibility” to the Church of England, “in which my own faith is so deeply rooted.” “In that faith, and the values it inspires, I have been brought up to cherish a sense of duty to others, and to hold in the greatest respect the precious traditions, freedoms and responsibilities of our unique history and our system of parliamentary government,” he said. It was notable how quickly he placed faith into the context of the more secular “values” and “duty.” In a 73-year lifetime of being a king-in-waiting, when he was able to speak more freely than he now can as monarch, Charles appeared to stake out a less doctrinaire religious and spiritual stance — even giving it its own title. Charles said in a 1994 documentary that he was more a “defender of faith” than “the faith.” He questioned the impulse to prioritize one particular interpretation. “People have fought to the death over these things,” he said, “which seems to me a peculiar waste of people’s energy, when we’re all actually aiming for the same ultimate goal.” Instead, he said, he preferred to embrace all religious traditions and “the pattern of the divine, which I think is in all of us.” When presented with the question again more than two decades later, he clarified his remarks, saying: “It’s always seemed to me that, while at the same time being Defender of the Faith, you can also be protector of faiths.” The “Defender of the Faith” title dates to the 16th century, when it was granted by Pope Leo X to King Henry VIII for his defense of Catholicism. When Henry broke with the Catholic Church, he held on to the title, but now he was defending the Anglicanism of the Church of England. Charles has long been an advocate for environmental causes, with a passion that Bradley described as “eco-spiritual.” In his 2010 book, “Harmony,” Charles issued a call for a “sustainability revolution” to reverse environmental threats to the planet, which he blamed in part on “the spiritual dimension to our existence” being “dangerously neglected during the modern era.” In the book, Charles took issue with “empiricism,” the view that since science cannot prove the existence of God, God must not exist. That kind of thinking, he wrote, “elbows the soul out of the picture.” In an increasingly multicultural nation with a full rainbow of faiths, Charles has long expressed interest in and support for all forms of belief, particularly Islam and Judaism. His mother also crossed new boundaries in that regard. She was the first British monarch to enter a mosque. Unlike predecessors, she met a succession of popes. On her 60th year on the throne, in 2012, she said the church “has a duty to protect the free practice of all faiths in this country.” Pope Francis, as well as British Muslim, Jewish, Hindu and Sikh leaders, have all praised Elizabeth effusively since her death. As the queen was sharing more about her faith, British society was becoming more secular. According to the National Center for Social Research, church membership has dropped sharply over time, with only 12.5 percent of Britons in 2020 considering themselves members of the Church of England, down from nearly 36 percent in 1985. Of those who considered themselves Anglican in 2020, more than 40 percent said they “never” attend services. Similar to the United States, British society has in recent years become less reliant on and structured around institutions that were once bedrocks of daily life. The center’s research showed that people who claimed “no religion” rose from 34.3 percent in 1985 to almost 49 percent in 2020. As the number of worshipers drops, hundreds of historic churches have been taken out of service and turned into apartments, offices, pubs, spas, shops and even sporting centers with rock-climbing walls. The church has changed in important ways, including a decision in 2002 to allow divorced people to remarry in the church. Three years later, Prince Charles and his longtime partner, Camilla Parker Bowles — both divorced — were married in a civil ceremony that was blessed immediately afterward in a chapel at Windsor Castle by the archbishop of Canterbury. Now king, Charles is the first divorced monarch since Henry VIII — although two of Henry’s prolific string of marriages technically ended in annulment, not divorce. It was not until 2018, when Charles’s son Prince Harry married American actress Meghan Markle in the same chapel where his father’s marriage had been blessed, that a royal wedding of a divorced partner happened with the full blessing of the church. Still, Charles’s admitted adultery (with Camilla) during his marriage to Princess Diana before their divorce in 1996 doesn’t sit right with some British people. “Hard to celebrate a man who has been an adulterer and has well-known if arcane religious views,” said Bates, the former Guardian correspondent. “If the monarchy stumbles, where does that leave the established church?” In some ways, Charles’s brand of faith — with greater focus on spirituality than dogma — puts him more in line with the British public. Bradley said a small movement within the church already wants to see it formally uncoupled from the monarchy and the government. In a country with so many faiths, and so many people who don’t identify with any faith, Bradley said critics of the church wonder “if it can really still claim to be the church of the nation.” “He has given us a lot of confidence,” said Zara Mohammed, head of the Muslim Council of Britain, the largest group representing the U.K.’s approximately 3 million Muslims. “We regard him as an admirer of Islam and a friend of British Muslims. It’s brilliant to see how he grasps how the U.K. has changed. He sees a more holistic picture and the power of all faiths and diverse communities working together.” While it’s unlikely that any change in monarch would bring people back into the Church of England, Charles could be a more relatable “Defender of the Faith” for some church members. “He represents those people who perhaps don’t have a vibrant faith, but have a sense that there is loving God,” said Andi Britt, 58. Britt is a human resources executive for IBM in London, who came with his wife, Jane, on Sunday morning to place flowers in the queen’s honor at Buckingham Palace. “He represents a faith and a God who welcomes people, regardless of how close they feel,” said Britt, who described himself as a “committed Christian” and Church of England member. “I think he represents many people who are just not as sure, or who don’t have such strong convictions — people of faith, different faiths, or no faith.” Boorstein reported from Washington. Read More…

Kennleigh Taylor Lee – The Andalusia Star-News https://digitalalabamanews.com/kennleigh-taylor-lee-the-andalusia-star-news/ Kennleigh Taylor Lee Published 2:46 pm Tuesday, September 13, 2022 Kennleigh Taylor Lee, age 14, of McKenzie, passed away unexpectedly Saturday, Sept. 10, 2022, in Dothan, Alabama. Kennleigh is the daughter of Shane and Leigh Lee. She has a younger sister, Blakeleigh, and a younger brother, Isaac. From a young age, Kennleigh had a love for three things: God, music, and horses. First, her faith in God was unquestionable. She never met someone who didn’t know that she loved Jesus and that she wasn’t scared to talk about him. Second, while it took some time, she became an exceptional piano player; she used that as an instrument for her testimony and outreach for Jesus. She could be found every Sunday morning and Wednesday night playing the piano at church and singing about her Jesus. Third, horses were another of Kennleigh’s favorites. Her horse, Cross, was hers—and she made sure that people knew it! She would ride that horse for hours on end just trying to get better. One thing set her apart in the world of horses and barrel racing, though: When she was in competitions, she didn’t want all the glory. She wanted everyone to win because that’s the kind of person that she was. When she wasn’t running barrels, she was her cousin’s biggest cheerleader. If they walked away with an award, she was just as happy as if she had won. We saw that as evidence that Jesus was shining through her. Kennleigh was a caring and compassionate individual who put others before herself. She would give her last dollar or the shirt off of her back if someone needed it. She was never one to brag on accomplishments, either; she would make sure that others had what they needed before taking care of her needs. This was evident with her younger cousin, Carlie. Kennleigh did anything that Carlie wanted and made sure that she was taken care of. She helped her Aunt Ashley on trips to Birmingham or other places just so that Carlie was taken care of. Kennleigh truly had a “Mary heart in a Martha world.” This quote from Truett Cathy sums our Kennleigh up: “Nearly every moment of every day we have the opportunity to give something to someone else-our time, our love, our resources. I have always found more joy in giving when I do not expect anything in return.” Funeral services will be held Thursday, Sept. 15, 10 am., at Sweet Home Baptist Church. Bro. Zack Campbell, Bro. Allen Joyner, and Bro. Pete Lee will be officiating. Interment will follow in the Sweet Home Baptist Church Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 5 to 8 p.m., Wednesday, Sept. 14, at Keahey Funeral Home. Keahey Funeral is directing. Kennleigh is survived by her parents, Shane and Leigh Campbell Lee; siblings, Blakeleigh and Isaac; grandparents, David and Kathy Campbell and Cathy Lee; great grandparents, Clayton and Lottie Campbell, Voncile and Lester Lee, and Clayton and Betty Terry; aunt, Ashley (Kyle) Nolen; uncle, Zack (Lori) Campbell; aunt, Sherrie (Michael) Sanders; and cousins, Bella, Brylie, Bentley Campbell, Jonathan, Carlie, and Charlie Nolen, Lexie and Breanna Barnes. She is preceded in death by her grandfather, Roger Lee; and great grandparents, Betty Lou and Glenn Lee, and Shan Gibson. Serving as pallbearers are Shane Lee, Michael Sanders, Joe Campbell, Jared Hall, Travis Bush, Kyle Nolen, Junior O’Ferrell, and Ricky Gibson. Serving as honorary pallbearers will be the Lee, Campbell, and Gibson families. The family will accept flowers or memorial contributions may be made to Family Life Ministries 2110 Asbury Church Rd., Georgiana, AL 36033 in honor of Kinnleigh. Read More…

Stubbornly High Rents, Food Prices Boost U.S. Inflation In August https://digitalalabamanews.com/stubbornly-high-rents-food-prices-boost-u-s-inflation-in-august/ Consumer price index rises 0.1% in August Rents, food and healthcare account for increase in CPI Core CPI surges 0.6%; increases 6.3% year-on-year WASHINGTON, Sept 13 (Reuters) – U.S. consumer prices unexpectedly rose in August and underlying inflation accelerated amid rising costs for rents and healthcare, giving the Federal Reserve ammunition to deliver a third 75 basis points interest rate hike next Wednesday. The surprisingly firm inflation readings reported by the Labor Department on Tuesday were despite an easing in global supply chains, which had contributed to a surge in prices earlier in the year. With a resilient labor market supporting strong wage growth, inflation has probably not peaked, keeping the Fed on an aggressive monetary policy path for a while. “The Fed is all but sure to hike rates aggressively next week, likely by 75 basis points, while pushing back strongly against talk of a near-term pause in the tightening cycle,” said Sal Guatieri, a senior economist at BMO Capital Markets in Toronto. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com The consumer price index edged up 0.1% last month after being unchanged in July. Though consumers got some relief from a 10.6% decline in gasoline prices, they had to dig deeper to pay for food, rent, healthcare, electricity and natural gas. Food prices rose 0.8%, with the cost of food consumed at home increasing 0.7%. Food prices surged 11.4% over the last year, the largest 12-month increase since May 1979. Economists polled by Reuters had forecast the CPI dipping 0.1%. In the 12 months through August, the CPI increased 8.3%. That was a deceleration from July’s 8.5% rise and a 9.1% jump in June, which was the biggest gain since November 1981. Inflation has overshot the Fed’s 2% target. Beyond the dilemma the August inflation numbers present to the U.S. central bank, they are a headache as well for the Biden administration and congressional Democrats hoping to limit their losses in the Nov. 8 mid-term elections, which are expected to flip the House of Representatives into Republican hands. The annual CPI has remained above 8% for six straight months. President Joe Biden said on Tuesday it would “take more time and resolve to bring inflation down,” and cited the recently passed Inflation Reduction Act aimed at lowering the cost of healthcare, prescription drugs and energy as steps taken by the White House to ease the burden of higher prices on Americans. Fed officials gather next Tuesday and Wednesday for their regular policy meeting. Financial markets have priced in a 75 basis points rate increase next Wednesday, with potential for a full percentage point, according to CME’s FedWatch Tool. Stocks on Wall Street fell, ending a four-day winning streak. The dollar rallied against a basket of currencies. U.S. Treasury prices rose. BEHIND THE CURVE A person shops in a supermarket as inflation affected consumer prices in Manhattan, New York City, U.S., June 10, 2022. REUTERS/Andrew Kelly “It’s becoming more apparent to market participants that the amount of tightening from the Fed thus far has not been enough to cool the economy and bring down inflation,” said Charlie Ripley, senior investment strategist at Allianz Investment Management in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Fed Chair Jerome Powell reiterated last week that the central bank was “strongly committed” to fighting inflation. The Fed has twice hiked its policy rate by three-quarters of a percentage point, in June and July. Since March, it has lifted that rate from near zero to its current range of 2.25% to 2.50%. Some of the price pressures are coming from the labor market, where the Fed is trying to dampen demand for workers. Data last week showed first-time applications for unemployment benefits at a three-month low. Job growth was solid in August and there were two job openings for every unemployed person on the last day of July. That is supporting strong wage gains, contributing to higher prices for services and keeping underlying inflation elevated. Excluding the volatile food and energy components, the CPI rose 0.6% in August after advancing 0.3% in July. Economists had forecast the so-called core CPI increasing 0.3%. Owners equivalent rent, a measure of the amount homeowners would pay to rent or would earn from renting their property, increased 0.7%. It jumped 6.3% on a year-on-year basis, the largest increase since April 1986. Rents are sticky and account for a significant share of the CPI basket, meaning that inflation will remain elevated for some time. Higher mortgage rates and home prices are reducing affordability for many first-time buyers, driving up demand for rental accommodation. A potential strike by rail workers, which could shutdown the American rail system and hinder the movement of goods as early as Friday could add to the inflation fires. “While private sector measures of rent growth suggest the corresponding CPI categories may be close to peaking on a monthly basis, the slow-moving nature of primary rent and OER in the CPI data suggest housing will continue to provide a sizable boost to core inflation in the coming months,” said Sarah House, a senior economist at Wells Fargo in Charlotte, North Carolina. Underlying inflation was also driven by higher prices for household furnishings and operations as well as motor vehicle insurance and education. New motor prices vehicles increased 0.8%. But there were decreases in the costs of airline fares, communication and used cars and trucks. Prices for hotel and motel rooms were unchanged. Healthcare costs rose 0.7%, with prices for hospital services increasing 0.7% and prescription medication gaining 0.4%. In the 12 months through August, the core CPI increased 6.3% after rising 5.9% in July. “Wages and shelter costs will remain the primary drivers of future inflation,” said Sung Won Sohn, finance and economics professor at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles. “No significant respite in inflation is in sight.” Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com Reporting by Lucia Mutikani; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama and Andrea Ricci Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles. Read More…

Goodman: Is There A Way To Fix Auburn’s Passing Game? https://digitalalabamanews.com/goodman-is-there-a-way-to-fix-auburns-passing-game/ The season is still young, but a worrisome pattern in the SEC already trends foul. Auburn’s passing game is starting to smell like an illegal dumping ground of rotting chicken parts in Winston County. Just imagine the horror. Just imagine if someone were actually paying attention. Auburn coach Bryan Harsin was billed as a quarterback specialist when he was hired, but quarterback is arguably the worst position on Auburn’s team two games into Harsin’s second season. There’s no more hiding behind obscure warm-up opponents and also-ran airtime on ESPNU, though. Auburn plays No.22 Penn State at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday at Jordan-Hare Stadium, and so the glaring light will shine on Auburn’s passing game for the first time this season. The hope is that Auburn has been saving its actual offense for this game. RELATED: Auburn eager for payback against Penn State RELATED: Auburn captains push for orange jerseys RELATED: Trying to make sense of Alabama’s issues at WR RELATED: Alabama in critical condition in latest from SEC Shorts Auburn’s offense in weeks one and two leaves us with concerns, but in college football every week is a new chance to make things right. From that perspective, Auburn at least knows where it is lacking and, theoretically, can correct the problems. When it comes to the passing game, there are many. Penn State and Auburn are both 2-0, but Auburn is a slight underdog (three points, per Vegas) despite home-field advantage. Here’s why. Auburn quarterbacks have combined to throw four interceptions to one touchdown pass against Mercer and San Jose State. Despite the sub-par opponents, Auburn’s passing game rates as one of the worst in the SEC. Hope remains, though, and there are reasons for optimism. Penn State’s passing defense is ranked 12th in the Big Ten behind only Northwestern and Nebraska, and the Nittany Lions’ defense hasn’t recorded a single interception through two games. This could be the perfect scenario for Auburn to shore up its quarterback situation against a quality opponent before the SEC schedule begins. Auburn quarterback TJ Finley is expected to take the majority of the snaps against Penn State. He threw an interception in the first quarter against San Jose State, and backup Robby Ashford had another. It was ugly, but it got better. If you turned the TV off after the frightening first quarter, then you missed some encouraging signs. Finley went 1-of-5 passing to begin the game, but then finished 12 of 15 for 155 yards. Here’s the problem, though. Finley only completed one pass on third down the entire game, and it was his final throw of the game. It’s probably time to scrap the two-quarterback system and get serious about fixing the position, but Ashford’s ability as a runner makes it hard to keep him off the field. Can Ashford catch passes and block downfield? Is there a way to fix Auburn’s passing game, or is this it? Is transfer quarterback Zach Calzada on double-secret probation? To rally against San Jose State, Auburn leaned heavily on its running game in the second half and all but abandoned Ashford’s arm. The Oregon transfer attempted one pass after the first quarter. It was an incompletion on first down in the fourth. Auburn’s offense through the first two weeks of the season has been like a throwback to simpler times in the SEC. That’s not such a bad thing, however, if Auburn can use it as an advantage and hit Penn State with a few new looks. The Tigers’ rushing attack has carried the team through two games, so a few play-action successes could be enough to keep Penn State’s defense off balance. Auburn is tied with Vanderbilt for the most rushing touchdowns in the SEC (eight), and is tied with Vandy behind Alabama for yards per rushing attempt (6.27). That’s the good news. After Penn State, Missouri comes to Auburn in Week 4 for a matchup between the SEC’s two worst passing offenses. Mizzou lost to Kansas State 40-12 in Week 2, and Mighty Mo has thrown five interceptions through two games. Harsin blamed his personnel for the poor passing against San Jose State, and that didn’t really sit well with me. Asked about his receivers’ lack of production, Harsin said, “Yeah, you have got to get the ball to the receivers. It was not their fault. We threw it to the other guys. That’s part of it. You have got to throw it to our guys, and we have to give those guys a chance. We’re trying to get them the ball, it wasn’t that we’re not. Simple as that.” Simple as that, huh? Yeah, no. Harsin then indicated that his receivers could do a better job of finding space against opposing defenses. “Those guys have to get open, too, at the same time,” Harsin said. “You have to have time to do all that. So, you know those things are all, if you look at the film and you go back and study, the opportunities are there. We have to make them count. We really do.” In the end, it’s all on Harsin. This is his fault, and he’s going to take the fall if he can’t fix it. Harsin fired his first offensive coordinator, Mike Bobo, after the 2021 season, and then watched three-year starting quarterback Bo Nix transfer to Oregon. Harsin’s next coordinator, Austin Davis, resigned after six weeks. Harsin then promoted his receivers coach, Eric Kiesau, to the coordinator position. Just watch, Harsin said at SEC Media Days. OK, we’re waiting … patiently. “I’ve challenged our offense and I’ve challenged our team,” Harsin said. “We have opportunities to make plays and we have to go make them. That’s really what it comes down to at the end of the day. We can design all these things and all that and they look pretty and they’re going to work, but you have to execute them. “That’s really what it comes down to. No different than any other game I’ve ever coached, and on this football team you have got to execute; you have to find ways to get yourself open; you have to complete passes; you have to protect. All that stuff goes into the pass game, and we have challenged our guys to do that for the last couple of weeks, and we’ll challenge them again this week to make that happen.” Kiesau was an offensive analyst on Harsin’s initial staff at Auburn, but was promoted to receivers coach during the middle of the 2021 season when Harsin fired his first receivers coach, Cornelius Williams. Williams is now an offensive analyst at Alabama. TRANSFER MARKET No.1 Georgia, clearly the best team in the SEC through the first two weeks, is doing it without any plug-and-play transfers. The SEC’s other top-ranked teams — No.2 Alabama, No.9 Kentucky, No.10 Arkansas and No.15 Tennessee — received major contributions from new transfers in Week 2 victories. Where would Alabama be without transfer running back Jahmyr Gibbs? Gibbs, who transferred to Alabama from Georgia Tech in the offseason, leads Alabama in rushing attempts (18), receptions (10) and yards gained off kick returns (36). In Alabama’s 20-19 victory against Texas, Gibbs led the Crimson Tide with nine receptions for 76 yards, and had Alabama’s only receiving touchdown. — Alabama transfer receiver Jermaine Burton had two catches for 10 yards against Texas. Expect more playing time for Alabama receiver Ja’Corey Brooks in Week 3 against Louisiana-Monroe. Brooks’ first catch of the game was that game-defining 14-yard reception on fourth-and-3 in the fourth quarter. Alabama quarterback Bryce Young then went right back to Brooks for a 16-yard pass on the next play. Brooks’ third and final reception of the game was a three-yard catch that set up the game-winning field goal. — Arkansas middle linebacker Drew Sanders, a transfer from Alabama, is already making a name for himself with the Razorbacks. Sanders led his new team in tackles with 11 in the Hogs’ 44-30 victory against South Carolina. That’s no small thing when sharing linebacker duties with Arkansas hit king Bumper Pool. Sanders forced two fumbles against the Gamecocks, and now leads the SEC in that category. He’s also tied for the lead in sacks (three) in the SEC. — Arkansas defensive back Dwight McGlothern, a transfer from LSU, leads the SEC in interceptions (two) after picking off a throw by South Carolina quarterback Spencer Rattler in the end zone. Rattler, of course, is the transfer quarterback from Oklahoma. He struggled as a freshman with the Sooners, and his first season with the Gamecocks is off to a tough start, too. Rattler is tied for most interceptions in the SEC (three) and has been sacked a league-worst nine times. — Tennessee receiver Bru McCoy, the transfer from Southern Cal, had the Volunteers’ lone touchdown reception in regulation in Tennessee’s 34-27 overtime victory at Pittsburgh. McCoy’s 32-yard catch cut Pittsburgh’s lead to 17-14 in the second quarter. — Kentucky cornerback Keidron Smith, the transfer from Ole Miss, had a 65-yard interception return for a touchdown in the Wildcats’ massive 26-16 road victory at Florida. Smith’s pick-six broke a tie score with 3:25 left in the third quarter. Florida never scored again. Joseph Goodman is a columnist for the Alabama Media Group, and author of “We Want Bama: A season of hope and the making of Nick Saban’s ‘ultimate team’”. You can find him on Twitter @JoeGoodmanJr. Note to readers: if you purchase something through one of our affiliate links we may earn a commission. Read More…

Birmingham Ships 115 Pallets Of Water To Jackson, Mississippi https://digitalalabamanews.com/birmingham-ships-115-pallets-of-water-to-jackson-mississippi/ News Updated: Sep. 13, 2022, 2:37 p.m.| Published: Sep. 13, 2022, 2:36 p.m. Santonia Matthews, a custodian at Forest Hill High School in Jackson, Miss., hauls away a trash can filled with water from a tanker in the school’s parking lot, Wednesday, Aug. 31, 2022. The tanker is one of two placed strategically in the city to provide residents non-potable water. The recent flood worsened Jackson’s longstanding water system problems and the state Health Department has had Mississippi’s capital city under a boil-water notice since late July. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)AP The City of Birmingham partnered with the Christian Service Mission last week to gather donated water and supplies to help Jackson, Mississippi, during its water crisis. Jackson remains under a notice to boil tap water before drinking. In three days last week, the city collected 115 pallets of bottled water and supplies, Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin said. In addition to water, the collection included cleaning supplies, paper towels and toilet paper. “To the citizens of Birmingham, because of your generosity, many people in need will be served,” Woodfin said during today’s Birmingham City Council meeting. “Two trucks have already left and they’re headed to Mississippi and another is leaving today.” Running water has been restored, according to the Jackson Clarion-Ledger, but the water is still unsafe to drink and residents are under an order to boil water before drinking. To end the boil-water notice, the city must have two consecutive days of clean test results from the 120 sampling points located throughout the city. Jackson city officials announced Tuesday that the O.B. Curtis Water Plant maintained steady pressure over the past 24 hours, but there is still isolated discoloration of the water. Birmingham’s collection effort was among several across Alabama. See also: Alabama shipping water, supplies to Jackson, still under orders to boil tap Note to readers: if you purchase something through one of our affiliate links we may earn a commission. Read More…

Ex-Yankees Pitcher Jordan Montgomery: ‘not Everyone Can Handle’ Being A Yankee https://digitalalabamanews.com/ex-yankees-pitcher-jordan-montgomery-not-everyone-can-handle-being-a-yankee/ Yankees Published: Sep. 13, 2022, 3:28 p.m. St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Jordan Montgomery has been thriving.AP Jordan Montgomery has adjusted well to his new home with the St. Louis Cardinals. Montgomery has been nothing short of stellar since his trade from the New York Yankees ahead of the Aug. 2 deadline. In the deal, the Yankees acquired Gold Glove outfielder Harrison Bader, who’s rehabbing from a foot injury with the Double-A Somerset Patriots. BUY YANKEES TICKETS: STUBHUB, VIVID SEATS, TICKETSMARTER, TICKETMASTER There seems to be a little less pressure in St. Louis, which may be helping Montgomery thrive. Here’s what he said on CC Sabathia’s Ryan Ruocco’s R2C2 podcast, via the New York Post: “I was always worried about getting booed off the mound in New York. The pinstripes are heavy. Not everyone can handle it. I feel like I handled it OK. I could’ve been better, but there was a lot of things going into that I guess. But here [in St. Louis], I’m just being myself and pitching the way I want to. I guess the fans have kind of embraced me so far.” Want to bet on MLB? See the best NJ Sports Betting sites In seven starts with the Cardinals, Montgomery is 5-0 with a 1.45 ERA. In six of those seven starts, Montgomery has given up no more than one earned run. MORE MLB: – Yankees promote prized prospect to Double-A Somerset Patriots – Ex-Yankees coach is indirect cause of World Baseball Classic infighting – Yankees’ Aaron Judge or Angels’ Shohei Ohtani for AL MVP? CC Sabathia’s controversial pick Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting us with a subscription. Bridget Hyland may be reached at bhyland@njadvancemedia.com. Note to readers: if you purchase something through one of our affiliate links we may earn a commission. Read More…

Louisiana High School Teacher Assaulted By Student While Substitute Recorded Video On Cell Phone https://digitalalabamanews.com/louisiana-high-school-teacher-assaulted-by-student-while-substitute-recorded-video-on-cell-phone/ A substitute teacher says she’s appalled by a recent altercation that she witnessed at L.B. Landry High School. An altercation recorded by a substitute teacher who told WDSU that she only wanted to be identified as “Kourtney” is one of many recent fights at the school that has been caught on video. While it is unclear what lead to the tussle we see when the video opens, Kourtney called it “the most disturbing encounter she has ever seen” in all her years as a substitute teacher. A teacher is seen attempting to restrain a student on the ground. According to Kourtney, the teacher “never hit the student.” As the educator continued to attempt to restrain the student while allegedly asking for help, the student manages to escape from being restrained as both individuals stood up. The sub said that the teacher and the student tussled for at least five minutes with no help or response from either of the two school security guards or the school resource officer. At one point, the student is seen engaging with the teacher for a second time, landing wild punches to his head. Kourtney says the educator was an older man, who seemed disoriented after the incident; she was also alarmed when she realized he was bleeding from his head after falling to the floor. Eventually, someone took the student away but Kourtney told WDSU’s Shay O’Conner that it floored her that absolutely no one was around to help as she “recorded as much as she could.” She also said that “more needs to be done to protect teachers and staff members.” According to WDSU, no charges have been filed and the student wasn’t arrested. O’Conner’s reporting also states that only one Student Resource Officer is assigned to all four schools in the Algiers Charter School Association and that officer was not on campus at the time of the incident. Algiers Charter and L.B. Landry High School are committed to ensuring the safety and security of our school community at all times. Last week, an isolated incident took place between a student and a Staff member at L.B. Landry High School. Our school personnel was immediately notified and quickly de-escalated the matter. We are following the student code of conduct, and the matter is currently under investigation by New Orleans Police Department. NOPD says they are currently investigating and we will update this story when more information is made available. See more details and the latest here via WDSU. LOOK: What major laws were passed the year you were born? Data for this list was acquired from trusted online sources and news outlets. Read on to discover what major law was passed the year you were born and learn its name, the vote count (where relevant), and its impact and significance. Read More…

AP News Summary At 2:40 P.m. EDT https://digitalalabamanews.com/ap-news-summary-at-240-p-m-edt/ Ukraine piles pressure on retreating Russian troops KHARKIV, Ukraine (AP) — Ukrainian troops are piling pressure on retreating Russian forces, pressing a counteroffensive that has produced major gains and a stunning blow to Moscow’s military prestige. As the advance continued Tuesday, Ukraine’s border guard services said the army took control of Vovchansk — a town just 3 kilometers (2 miles) from Russia seized on the first day of the war. Russia acknowledged that it has withdrawn troops from areas in the northeastern region of Kharkiv in recent days. It was not yet clear if the Ukrainian blitz could signal a turning point in the nearly seven-month war. But the country’s officials were buoyant and released footage showing their forces burning Russian flags. Plane carrying Queen Elizabeth II’s coffin lands in London LONDON (AP) — A plane carrying the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II has landed in London where crowds have gathered along a route to Buckingham Palace. The military C-17 Globemaster touched down at RAF Northolt which is an air force base in the west of the city about an hour after it left Edinburgh in Scotland. The queen’s body is making a final journey from Balmoral Castle in northern Scotland, where the monarch died Thursday at age 96 after 70 years on the throne. It will be driven past thousands of people who gathered in the rain along roadsides to pay their last respects. King Charles III and other members of the late queen’s close family will meet it at Buckingham Palace. US inflation still stubbornly high despite August slowdown WASHINGTON (AP) — Lower gas costs slowed U.S. inflation for a second straight month in August, but most other prices across the economy kept rising — evidence that inflation remains a heavy burden for American households. Consumer prices rose 8.3% from a year earlier and 0.1% from July. But the jump in “core” prices, which exclude volatile food and energy costs, was especially worrisome. It outpaced expectations and ignited fear that the Federal Reserve will boost interest rates more aggressively and raise the risk of a recession. Fueled by high rents, medical care and new cars, core prices leaped 6.3% for the year ending in August and 0.6% from July to August, the government said Tuesday. Panel: Archives still not certain it has all Trump records Read More…

AP News Summary At 2:40 P.m. EDT https://digitalalabamanews.com/ap-news-summary-at-240-p-m-edt-2/ Ukraine piles pressure on retreating Russian troops KHARKIV, Ukraine (AP) — Ukrainian troops are piling pressure on retreating Russian forces, pressing a counteroffensive that has produced major gains and a stunning blow to Moscow’s military prestige. As the advance continued Tuesday, Ukraine’s border guard services said the army took control of Vovchansk — a town just 3 kilometers (2 miles) from Russia seized on the first day of the war. Russia acknowledged that it has withdrawn troops from areas in the northeastern region of Kharkiv in recent days. It was not yet clear if the Ukrainian blitz could signal a turning point in the nearly seven-month war. But the country’s officials were buoyant and released footage showing their forces burning Russian flags. Plane carrying Queen Elizabeth II’s coffin lands in London LONDON (AP) — A plane carrying the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II has landed in London where crowds have gathered along a route to Buckingham Palace. The military C-17 Globemaster touched down at RAF Northolt which is an air force base in the west of the city about an hour after it left Edinburgh in Scotland. The queen’s body is making a final journey from Balmoral Castle in northern Scotland, where the monarch died Thursday at age 96 after 70 years on the throne. It will be driven past thousands of people who gathered in the rain along roadsides to pay their last respects. King Charles III and other members of the late queen’s close family will meet it at Buckingham Palace. US inflation still stubbornly high despite August slowdown WASHINGTON (AP) — Lower gas costs slowed U.S. inflation for a second straight month in August, but most other prices across the economy kept rising — evidence that inflation remains a heavy burden for American households. Consumer prices rose 8.3% from a year earlier and 0.1% from July. But the jump in “core” prices, which exclude volatile food and energy costs, was especially worrisome. It outpaced expectations and ignited fear that the Federal Reserve will boost interest rates more aggressively and raise the risk of a recession. Fueled by high rents, medical care and new cars, core prices leaped 6.3% for the year ending in August and 0.6% from July to August, the government said Tuesday. Panel: Archives still not certain it has all Trump records Read More…

Trump Faces New Legal Threats Amid Investigation Into 'Stop The Steal' Fundraising Scheme https://digitalalabamanews.com/trump-faces-new-legal-threats-amid-investigation-into-stop-the-steal-fundraising-scheme/ Read More…

NYC Officials Are Investigating The Deaths Of 3 Children Found On A Brooklyn Beach. Here's What We Know https://digitalalabamanews.com/nyc-officials-are-investigating-the-deaths-of-3-children-found-on-a-brooklyn-beach-heres-what-we-know/ New York (CNN)Authorities are investigating the deaths of three children who were found unresponsive along a New York City shoreline early Monday after a family member reported concerns about their safety. The children — a 7-year-old boy, a 4-year-old girl and a 3-and-a-half-month-old girl — were found in Brooklyn’s Coney Island around 4:42 a.m., said New York Police Chief of Department Kenneth Corey. The kids’ 30-year-old mother was questioned by police and then hospitalized after they found her Monday morning in Brighton Beach, adjacent to Coney Island, a law enforcement official said. She was under psychiatric evaluation at a hospital Tuesday morning, that source and another law enforcement official said. The woman has not been charged with a crime, police said, and authorities haven’t disclosed her condition. All three children were pronounced dead at a hospital after first responders conducted life-saving measures, including CPR, Corey added. “We don’t know exactly what happened here,” Corey said Monday during a news conference, stressing the information was preliminary. There is no indication at this time of prior abuse or neglect of the children, authorities noted. As investigators piece together what exactly happened to the children and the woman, here is what we know about how the events unfolded: Search began with a 911 call Police got a 911 call at 1:40 a.m. Monday from someone who was concerned a “family member may have harmed her three small children,” Corey said. The caller asked police to check on the woman’s Coney Island apartment. When police arrived at the apartment, a man who identified himself as the father of one of the three children said he was also concerned, Corey added. The man told police he believed the woman and three children were at a boardwalk on Coney Island. Another call leads to the shore For about 90 minutes, police officers canvassed beaches, streets and a local hospital. Then another 911 call came in directing officers to a specific location — Brighton 6th Street and Riegelmann Boardwalk in nearby Brighton Beach. The caller reported a woman who was despondent, a police spokesperson told CNN. When officers arrived, they found the woman and other family members with her. The children were not there. The search continued via ground, air and harbor units. Around 4:42 a.m., officers found the children unconscious on the shoreline at West 35th Street in Coney Island, Corey said. The Coney Island spot where the children were found is about 2 miles from where the woman was found — and just a half-mile south of her apartment. She was “soaking wet” when investigators made contact with her, said Corey, who noted it was not clear whether she’d been in the rain or in the water off the coast. Mother often was with the baby and girl, worker says By Tuesday morning, the shoreline where the children were found showed no sign of what unfolded a day earlier — no crime scene tape, no police presence — as just a few people walked along the beach and on the boardwalk. The mother’s apartment is in a roughly 20-story building a few blocks to the north, across a street from an elementary school and near a small shopping center, a grocery, a dental implant center and a pharmacy. Leslie Torres, 33, who works near the building, used to see the 4-year-old girl playing outside with others. Torres didn’t know about the boy, but the mother was often with the baby and the 4-year-old, Torres said Tuesday. “We used to (see) them out here playing. We’d give them Popsicles. They were good kids,” said Torres, who works in a school for home health care aides that backs up to the apartment building. A resident of the building, Jessica Joubert, lit a prayer candle there Tuesday and taped onto a wall sign with the children’s names and some artificial flowers. She had seen the children before, she said. “I see them all the time running in and out and, you know, very, very happy kids,” Joubert said. “We’re very heartbroken., you know, because no one wants to see this happen to anybody’s kid.” Boy’s father: He had a special humility The 7-year-old boy was a kind, generous person with a special humility about him, his father told CNN on Tuesday morning. “Anybody who met my son they would know that he is special,” the father, Derrick Merdy, said. He loved the video game character Sonic the Hedgehog. “I think I spent so much money buying him every last one of them,” Merdy said. The boy “had a humility about him that I can’t even imitate, and I’m going to try my best to live like he did because he was so kind and generous,” the father said. “He was going to be great.” CNN’s Liam Reilly and Mark Morales contributed to this report. Read More…

Germany, EU Race To Fix Energy Crisis https://digitalalabamanews.com/germany-eu-race-to-fix-energy-crisis/ Pipes at the landfall facilities of the ‘Nord Stream 1’ gas pipeline are pictured in Lubmin, Germany, March 8, 2022. REUTERS/Hannibal Hanschke Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com Germany plans to expand lending to energy firms EU securities watchdog mulling EU-wide measures Commission to announce broader plans on Wednesday BERLIN/FRANKFURT, Sept 13 (Reuters) – Germany will step up lending to energy firms at risk of being crushed by soaring gas prices, it said Tuesday, as Europe readied proposals to help households and industry cope with an energy crisis. The European Commission will on Wednesday announce targets to cut electricity consumption and a revenue cap for non-gas fuelled plants. Energy ministers will hold an emergency meeting on Sept. 30 to discuss them. read more Separately, the EU’s securities watchdog is considering measures to help energy firms struggling to meet rocketing collateral demands. Firms were caught out by surging prices after Russia cut gas supplies to Europe to counter Western sanctions following Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine. read more Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com The crisis is weighing heavily on Europe’s economy, even before winter when industrial users could face rationing if gas reserves prove inadequate. Industry sentiment in the bloc’s economic powerhouse, Germany, has tumbled. “Of course we knew, and we know, that our solidarity with Ukraine will have consequences,” German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said on Tuesday. He urged Germans to brace for a tough winter as its energy supply shifts from Russian gas. read more Under pressure utilities are in line for further state aid. Germany’s finance ministry wants to boost state loans for energy firms using facilities set up to offer relief during the COVID-19 pandemic, it said. The German cabinet is expected to approve draft legislation on Wednesday. The loan guarantees could amount to 67 billion euros ($68 billion). read more Last week, VNG, one of Germany’s biggest importers of Russian natural gas, became the latest energy firm to ask the government for aid. Uniper (UN01.DE), the country’s largest importer of Russian gas, was bailed out in July. It is weighing legal action in Sweden to claim billions of euros in compensation from Russia’s Gazprom (GAZP.MM), Reuters reported on Tuesday. read more RAFT OF EU PROPOSALS Companies may also benefit from an easing of regulations. The European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) is “actively considering” whether any regulatory measures are necessary to help support energy firms, a spokesperson said on Monday. read more ESMA regulates clearing houses in the EU, which in turn set minimum levels of collateral based on risks from markets and counterparties. Public intervention in this area is rare, especially after the global financial crisis over a decade ago led to tougher margin requirements. A draft of the European Commission’s proposals, seen by Reuters, would cap at 180 euros per megawatt hour the price at which wind, solar and nuclear plants could sell their power in the 27-nation bloc. It would also force fossil fuel firms to share excess profits. read more Governments would be required to use the cash to help consumers and companies facing sky-high energy bills. EU officials said, however, that plans for emergency liquidity support for power firms facing soaring collateral needs were still being drafted, and would likely be published later than Wednesday. NO GAS PRICE CAP Diplomats say there is broad support for a revenue cap for non-gas generators, as well as plans to impose electricity demand cuts. But countries are split over other ideas – including a gas price cap. The EU has also backed away from an earlier plan to impose a price cap on Russian gas. Countries including Hungary and Austria had opposed that idea in case Moscow retaliated by cutting off the supplies it still sends to the EU. Meanwhile, investor sentiment in Germany deteriorated more than expected in September as concerns over its energy supply weighed on the outlook for Europe’s largest economy. read more “The prospect of energy shortages in winter has made expectations even more negative for large parts of the German industry,” said Achim Wambach, president of the ZEW economic research institute. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com Additional reporting by Kate Abnett in Brussels and Andreas Rinke in Berlin; Writing by Ingrid Melander; Editing by Mark Potter, Matt Scuffham and Mark Heinrich Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles. Read More…

Queen Elizabeth's Coffin Lands In London After Final Flight https://digitalalabamanews.com/queen-elizabeths-coffin-lands-in-london-after-final-flight/ (CNN)Queen Elizabeth II’s coffin has landed in London, and will now be taken to Buckingham Palace by car. The coffin was transported from Edinburgh on board a C-17 Globemaster transport plane, Air Chief Marshal Sir Mike Wigston told Sky News Tuesday in an on-camera interview. It’s a “heavily used aircraft, it carried the majority of the 15,000 people that we evacuated from Kabul last summer,” said Wigston. “And, since then, it’s been involved in airlifting humanitarian aid and lethal aid nodes to support Ukraine,” he added. Princess Anne accompanied the Queen on her final flight. The deceased monarch’s only daughter, Anne was also the only one of the Queen’s four children to accompany her coffin from Balmoral Castle to Edinburgh on Monday. The coffin will be driven to Buckingham Palace, where it will be received by her family and then rest in the Bow Room overnight. Mourners had queued outside St. Giles’ Cathedral in Edinburgh on Monday evening for their turn to pay their final respects, before it closed on Tuesday afternoon. The Scottish government said more than 26,000 people got to file past the Queen. Tuesday marked Charles’ first trip to Northern Ireland as the United Kingdom’s new monarch, following in the footsteps of his mother, who was seen as a symbol of the union and was an important figure during Northern Ireland’s peace process. The historic visit saw the King arrive at the royal residence, Hillsborough Castle, where he greeted the public and looked at floral tributes. There he met with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Chris Heaton-Harris, and the leaders of Northern Ireland’s biggest political parties. Charles and Camilla received a message of condolence by the Speaker of the Northern Ireland Assembly Alex Maskey, to which the King replied: “In the years since she began her long life of public service, my mother saw Northern Ireland pass through momentous and historic changes. Through all those years, she never ceased to pray for the best of times for this place and for its people.” King Charles added that he would follow his mother’s example of dedicating “herself to her country and her people and to maintain the principles of constitutional government.” Following the reception at the castle, the King and the Queen Consort arrived at St. Anne’s Cathedral in Belfast for an afternoon service of prayer and reflection. They will be introduced to faith and community leaders from across Northern Ireland. More than 800 people are expected to take part in the religious service, which was also attended by UK Prime Minister Liz Truss. His visit comes at an uneasy moment for Northern Ireland, where political tensions are high and key issues around Brexit remain unresolved. While the majority of the country voted to remain in the European Union in the 2016 referendum, the UK’s ruling Conservative Party signed a Brexit deal that created new customs barriers between Northern Ireland and mainland Britain. Elizabeth was the monarch for 70 years of Northern Ireland’s 101-year history. She was Queen during the 30 bloody years of violence known as “The Troubles,” which pitted UK unionists against Irish nationalists, with the British Crown emblematic of much that divided the province. Unionists are loyal to the Crown and the traditional British values they believe it enshrines. For Irish nationalists, it is the symbol of the British forces who subjugated their ancestors and annexed their land. Louis Mountbatten, the last British Viceroy to India and Charles’ favorite great-uncle, was murdered by the Irish Republicans along with several of his grandchildren in 1979. The Queen publicly put aside those differences during a 2012 visit to Northern Ireland, shaking the hand of Martin McGuinness, one of the republicans most associated with the violence of the past. Charles also shook hands with Gerry Adams in 2015, seen as another milestone in the fragile peace process as Adams had long been associated with the Irish Republican Army (IRA), once considered the armed wing of Sinn Fein which is now the largest party in Northern Ireland. The King and the Queen Consort have now arrived back in London on their return from Belfast. To get updates on the British Royal Family sent to your inbox, sign up for CNN’s Royal News newsletter. CNN’s Nic Robertson and Max Foster contributed to this report. Read More…

Usain Bolt's Bolt Mobility Seems To Have 'Vanished' — What Happened And Why Has It Left Electric Scooters Abandoned In Several U.S. Cities? https://digitalalabamanews.com/usain-bolts-bolt-mobility-seems-to-have-vanished-what-happened-and-why-has-it-left-electric-scooters-abandoned-in-several-u-s-cities/ The world was excited when renowned Olympic gold medalist Usain Bolt launched his own line of electric scooters, but now everyone is wondering what happened to the company now that its products have been scrapped and left abandoned in several U.S. cities. Bolt Mobility electric scooters made up the dockless rental company co-founded by the famed sprinter. Per reports from TechCrunch, the company has halted operations across several U.S. cities including Portland, OR, Burlington, VT, South Burlington, VT, Winooski, VT, Richmond, CA, as well as Richmond, VA. Introducing Bolt Mobility Launched in 2018, the goal of the electric scooter company was to revolutionize “transportation through safe, smart and sustainable transit solutions aimed at reducing traffic gridlock, parking congestion and carbon-footprint impact.” The Vanishing Act Now, with the company’s complete departure from at least eight U.S. cities, folks have been left with unanswered calls and emails. Equipment has also been abandoned throughout several locations. Representatives at Bolt have been unable to reach anyone at the company… not even its CEO Ignacio Tzoumas. It Was All Good About A Year Ago The recent Bolt news comes as a shock because just last year, the company acquired the assets of Last Mile Holdings, the former owner of micromobility companies Gotcha and OjO Electric. In addition to that, Bolt was added to 48 new markets including smaller cities like Mobile, AL, St. Augustine, FL, and Raleigh, NC. After acquiring Last Mile, Bolt made an agreement to continue serving as the bike-share vendor in Chittenden County, VT, as well as in the aforementioned cities in the state. The county’s senior transportation planner even confirmed that the organization renewed its license in 2022. “We learned a couple of weeks ago (from them) that Bolt is ceasing operations,” Bryan Davis told TechCrunch. He also noted that although the company halted operations on July 1, they were not informed until a week later. Has Anyone Heard From Bolt? “They’ve vanished, leaving equipment behind and emails and calls unanswered,” said Davis, according to TechCrunch. “We’re unable to reach anyone, but it seems they’ve closed shop in other markets as well.” At this time, the company has yet to address any questions concerning its decision to pack up and close shop. The last time Bolt Mobility was active on social media was June 2 via Twitter and June 10 on Instagram. Read More…

6-Foot-5 James Clemens DE Nathan Jennings Is On Alabama Football's Radar https://digitalalabamanews.com/6-foot-5-james-clemens-de-nathan-jennings-is-on-alabama-footballs-radar/ James Clemens’ (AL)  junior defensive end, Nathan Jennings is on the radar of several D1 football programs, including Alabama. Jennings currently holds an offer from Southern Illinois, but he is receiving interest from Alabama, Louisville, Mississippi State and others. The junior is currently listed at 6-foot-5 and 240 pounds. James Clemens primarily lines Jennings up at defensive end. Alabama football hosted the in-state prospect for camp in June and after an impressive performance, he got to tour Alabama’s facilities and meet Nick Saban. He and his family returned to Tuscaloosa earlier this month to watch Alabama take on Utah State. Jennings said Alabama has always been his dream school. “Alabama has been my dream school since I was a kid,” Jennings said. “When I went to camp there over the summer, I did really well, took pictures and I got to meet Nick Saban. It was an amazing experience for me and my parents because we are true fans, and we got to see it with our own eyes. They also invited me to their home game against Utah State. That was a very good experience, and it was our first ever college football game. It would be a dream come true for me to play at Alabama when I graduate.” At 6-foot-5 and 240 pounds, Jennings has great length. He has a quick get-off and attacks plays that go away from him with impressive backside pursuit. “I feel like I can get off the ball well and use my speed and turn it into power to get by offensive lineman,” Jennings said. Watch Nathan Jennings Early Junior Season Highlights Below: Jennings’ offer list is expected to grow in the near future. GET THE BEST ALABAMA FOOTBALL INSIDER INFORMATION, MESSAGE BOARD ACCESS, AND RECRUITING COVERAGE TODAY! SIGN UP HERE TO UNLOCK OUR SUBSCRIBER ONLY CONTENT!* Read More…

The Sad Part About USC-Oregon State On Pac-12 Network: Bad Games Are On ESPN, Fox, FS1 https://digitalalabamanews.com/the-sad-part-about-usc-oregon-state-on-pac-12-network-bad-games-are-on-espn-fox-fs1/ September 13, 2022 10:05 am PT On Monday, USC fans and Pac-12 football fans were stunned to learn that the huge game between the Trojans and the Oregon State Beavers would be shown on Pac-12 Network. USC-Oregon State is a massive game. The winner takes a big step toward the Pac-12 Championship Game. The stakes are extremely high. Buy Trojans Tickets Arizona-Colorado and Arizona State-Cal are Pac-12 Network games. Low-visibility games should be on the low-visibility network. When USC plays on Pac-12 Network, it should be against a bad team such as Cal, not against a good team. ESPN and Fox want to save their USC games for later in the season, but they’re doing so at the expense of this very important contest. The ultimate problem is that Pac-12 Network is not on DirecTV and is not on a regular (basic) cable tier. It’s not nearly as accessible or visible as SEC Network or Big Ten Network. What makes this development especially infuriating: Bad games are on ESPN and Fox and other high-visibility national television outlets. Look at all the other matchups on ESPN, or ABC, or Fox, or other prime TV outlets. They’re not as good as Trojans-Beavers. Let’s take a look: MISSOURI-AUBURN, ESPN Oct 30, 2021; Auburn, Alabama, USA; Auburn Tigers head coach Bryan Harsin watches his team warm up before the game against the Mississippi Rebels Jordan-Hare Stadium before. Mandatory Credit: John Reed-USA TODAY Sports MARYLAND-MICHIGAN, FOX Michigan Wolverines head coach Jim Harbaugh on the sidelines during action against the Northwestern Wildcats on Saturday, Oct. 23, 2021 at Michigan Stadium. harbaugh happy DUKE-KANSAS, Fox Sports 1 Oct 23, 2021; Lawrence, Kansas, USA; Oklahoma Sooners quarterback Caleb Williams (13) scores a touchdown as wide receiver Jadon Haselwood (11) looks on during the second half against the Kansas Jayhawks at David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports BUFFALO-EASTERN MICHIGAN, CBS Sports Network Eastern Michigan Eagles defensive back David Carter Jr. (27) returns an interception for a touchdown against the Wisconsin Badgers during their football game on Saturday, September 11, 2021 in Madison, Wis. TOLEDO-SAN DIEGO STATE, Fox Sports 1 Dec 4, 2021; Carson, CA, USA; San Diego State Aztecs quarterback Jordon Brookshire (4) runs the ball against the Utah State Aggies during the first half in the Mountain West Conference championship game at Dignity Health Sports Park. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL-WESTERN KENTUCKY, CBS Sports Network Feb 1, 2022; Mobile, AL, USA; American quarterback Bailey Zappe of Western Kentucky (17) sets the play during American practice for the 2022 Senior Bowl at Hancock Whitney Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vasha Hunt-USA TODAY Sports NORTHERN ILLINOIS-KENTUCKY, ESPN 2 Iowa quarterback Spencer Petras (7) gets set to take a snap from center Tyler Linderbaum (65) during an NCAA college football game in the Vrbo Citrus Bowl against Kentucky, Saturday, Jan. 1, 2022, at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Fla. Syndication Hawkcentral IOWA-RUTGERS, Fox Sports 1 Nov 23, 2019; Piscataway, NJ, USA; Rutgers Scarlet Rutgers Scarlet Knights quarterback Johnny Langan (17) throws a pas against the Michigan State Spartans during the first half at SHI Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Noah K. Murray-USA TODAY Sports UNLV-UTAH STATE, CBS Sports Network Sep 4, 2021; Pullman, Washington, USA; Utah State Aggies wide receiver Kyle Van Leeuwen (9) celebrates after a win against the Washington State Cougars at Gesa Field at Martin Stadium. The Aggies, 26-23. James Snook-USA TODAY Sports WISCONSIN-OHIO STATE, ABC Wisconsin head coach Paul Chryst, right, and defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard argue in vain against a Notre Dame touchdown reception during the second quarter of their game Saturday, September 25, 2021 at Soldier Field in Chicago, Ill. MARK HOFFMAN/MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL CHARLOTTE-SOUTH CAROLINA, ESPNU Nov 13, 2021; Columbia, Missouri, USA; South Carolina Gamecocks head coach Shane Beamer reacts to play against the Missouri Tigers during the first half at Faurot Field at Memorial Stadium. South Carolina was an ACC member from 1953-1971. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports STANFORD-WASHINGTON, Fox Sports 1 Sep 10, 2022; Stanford, California, USA; USC Trojans head coach Lincoln Riley (left) shakes hands with Stanford Cardinal head coach David Shaw after a game at Stanford Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Stan Szeto-USA TODAY Sports WESTERN MICHIGAN-SAN JOSE STATE, CBS Sports Network Sep 4, 2021; Los Angeles, California, USA; USC Trojans running back Keaontay Ingram (28) gets a first down before he is stopped by San Jose State Spartans defensive lineman E.J. Ane (91) in the first half of the game at United Airlines Field at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports Read More…

American Couple Pleads Guilty To Trying To Travel To Middle East To Join ISIS https://digitalalabamanews.com/american-couple-pleads-guilty-to-trying-to-travel-to-middle-east-to-join-isis/ An American married couple has pleaded guilty to charges related to their plot to leave the U.S. and join the Islamic State terrorist group. Arwa Muthana, 30, of Hoover, Alabama, and James Bradley aka Abdullah, 21, of the Bronx, pleaded guilty to one count of attempting to provide material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization. Their guilty pleas were secured as a result of monthslong surveillance by undercover law enforcement officers, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York. Bradley had been interested in going overseas to join the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham, or ISIS, and committing a terrorist act against the U.S. since at least 2019, said court documents. In May 2020, he told an undercover officer about his desire to carry out a terrorist attack in the U.S., with a potential target being the U.S. Military Academy in West Point. When meeting with the same undercover officer a month later, Bradley again expressed his interest in attacking a military base to further the cause of the jihad. In January 2021, he told the undercover officer that he and Muthana could use a truck to attack Reserve Officer Training Corps cadets that he saw training at another New York University. Prosecutors said that Bradley and Muthana were married later that same month. Around March 2021, Bradley went to Alabama to see Muthana, and the two traveled back to New York to join ISIS in the Middle East. Bradley contacted the undercover officer about possibly helping them get on a cargo ship to travel to Asia or Africa so they could eventually join ISIS. Federal prosecutors said that the undercover officer put Bradley in touch with a different undercover officer who could make the travel arrangements for them.  Bradley told the second undercover officer that he wanted to travel to the Middle East to “fight among the rank[s] of the Islamic State,” and that his wife had planned to be fighting as well, according to the attorney’s office. Bradley also told the undercover officer that he had a dream where he pledged an oath of allegiance to Abu Ibrahim al-Hashimi al-Qurashi, the former leader of ISIS. He then paid the undercover officer $1,000 in cash to take a cargo ship to Yemen. The couple went to the port in Newark, New Jersey, on March 31, 2021, where Muthana also told the second undercover officer that she was making the trip to fight for ISIS. Federal prosecutors said that the couple was arrested as they were attempting to board the ship. While in custody, Muthana waived her Miranda rights and told authorities that she was willing to fight and kill Americans if it was for Allah. Authorities also found that the couple had each posted content online that was supportive of ISIS. The charges carry a maximum sentence of 20 years. Bradley and Muthana will be sentenced in February. Read More…

MLB Bets At DraftKings Sportsbook: MLB Player Props And Picks For Tuesday, September 13 https://digitalalabamanews.com/mlb-bets-at-draftkings-sportsbook-mlb-player-props-and-picks-for-tuesday-september-13/ This article is part of our MLB Picks series. MLB Picks at DraftKings Sportsbook Tonight: Expert MLB Bets and Player Props for Tuesday, September 13 All 30 teams will be in action Tuesday, and there are even two doubleheaders on the schedule. With so many betting options to wade through on the DraftKings Sportsbook, let’s get right down to business and highlight some to consider. Last Article’s Record: 2-2 (-0.46 units) Season Record: 41-24 (+8.31 units) Sign up at the DraftKings Sportsbook using RotoWire’s DraftKings Promo Code for $200 in free bets.  St. Louis Cardinals vs. Milwaukee Brewers The Cardinals have an eight-game lead over the Brewers in the NL Central and can put a nail in their coffin with a good series here. It helps that the series will be played in St. Louis, where the Cardinals are 47-24. The Brewers are a sparkling 39-27 at home, but they are only 36-39 on the road. Making matters more difficult for the Brewers in this game is that they will have to deploy a bullpen approach with their pitching staff, using Matt Bush as an opener. They are currently down starting pitchers Freddy Peralta (shoulder) and Eric Lauer (elbow), and even potential long-man Aaron Ashby (shoulder) is on the IL. On the mound for the Cardinals will be Jordan Montgomery, who has been as good as it gets since being acquired from the Yankees. He’s made seven starts with his new team, allowing one or no runs in seven of them. That included a matchup against these same Brewers in which he had eight strikeouts over six scoreless innings. It can be risky putting so many of your eggs in one basket, but I love this game for Montgomery props. With regards to his strikeout prop, not only did register eight strikeouts against the Brewers the last time around, but they have struck out the fourth-most times in baseball, overall. With regards to his outs recorded prop, Montgomery has accumulated at least 17 outs in five of his last six starts. MLB Best Bets for St. Louis Cardinals vs. Milwaukee Brewers Jordan Montgomery over 4.5 strikeouts (-150) for 1 unit Montgomery over 16.5 outs (-110) for 1 unit Montgomery to record a win (+185) for 1 unit New York Yankees at Boston Red Sox For the first time in a while, the Yankees and Red Sox find themselves at opposite ends of the AL East standings in the middle of September. It’s been a disastrous campaign for the Red Sox, who have had a myriad of injuries contribute to them falling into last place in the division. Despite their recent struggles, the Yankees still have a five-game lead in the loss column over the Blue Jays and the Rays. Taking the mound for the Red Sox will be Nick Pivetta, who has been one of their few starters who has been able to stay healthy. The problem with this game is, he has not been good at home. He has a 4.76 ERA and a 1.47 WHIP there, compared to a 3.84 ERA and a 1.18 WHIP on the road. Also, he’s had some command problems, issuing at least two walks in 11 of his last 13 starts. Pivetta has been hit hard by the Yankees this season. He has faced them three times, allowing 17 runs over 13.1 innings. He gave up at least four runs and issued at least two walks in all three outings. The Yankees have had their own problems scoring runs of late, but this is an excellent opportunity for them to break out. MLB Best Bets for New York Yankees at Boston Red Sox  Yankees over 4.5 runs (-120) for 1 unit Nick Pivetta over 1.5 walks (-140) for 1 unit MLB Best Bets Today Recap Jordan Montgomery over 4.5 strikeouts (-150) for 1 unit Montgomery over 16.5 outs (-110) for 1 unit Montgomery to record a win (+185) for 1 unit Yankees over 4.5 runs (-120) for 1 unit Nick Pivetta over 1.5 walks (-140) for 1 unit Visit RotoWire all season long for exclusive sports betting picks from our group of handicappers with their expert MLB picks each day of the campaign. Check out what the DraftKings Sportsbook has to offer in terms of MLB player props and be sure to use our MLB odds page for the latest lines as well. Before you place your bets, be sure to use all of RotoWire’s MLB resources, like our MLB Lineups page, MLB Weather page, and the best batter vs. pitcher stats. Read More…

Fairfield Schools Launches State Program To Help Underperforming Students https://digitalalabamanews.com/fairfield-schools-launches-state-program-to-help-underperforming-students/ Fairfield schools launches state program to help underperforming students AFTERNOON. LOWE’S TONIGHT GETTING INTO THE UPPER 50S. WE WILL TALK ABOUT THE WEEKEND FORECAST IN JUST A FEW MINUTES. SARAH: KNEW THIS MID DAY, A PROGRAM THE STATE HAS PUT IN TO HELP UNDERPERFORMING STUDENTS. KICKING OFF IN FAIRFIELD. OUR MATTIE DAVIS JOINS US LIVE FROM THE BOARD OF EDUCATION. MADDIE WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR THE STUDENTS ? MATTIE: DISTRICT LEADERS TELL US THIS WILL ALLOW EDUCATORS TO SEE PAST THE CHILD’S LACK OF PERFORMANCE TO A DEEPER ISSUE, NOT JUST FOCUSING ON ACADEMICS, BUT THE STUDENT AS A WHOLE. FAIRFIELD CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT WAS RECENTLY SELECTED TO PARTICIPATE IN THE STATES MULTITIERED SYSTEM OF SUPPORT PROGRAM OR MTS ASKED. THE GOAL IS TO HELP THE DISTRICT BETTER MEET STUDENTS WHERE THEY ARE. UNLIKE MANY OTHERS, THIS PROGRAM WILL BE CRAFTED UNIQUELY FOR THE DISTRICT’S NEEDS. IN ADDITION TO FOCUSING ON CORE INSTRUCTION IT WILL ADDRESS SOCIAL, EMOTIONAL AND BEHAVIORAL NEEDS AS WELL AS PROMOTE ENGAGEMENT AND PHYSICAL HEALTH. THE STATE NOW OFFERING THIS NEW LEVEL OF SUPPORT. IT’S REALLY TAKING AN ANALYSIS OF EVERYTHING THAT WE ARE DOING OR EVERYTHING FAIRFIELD IS DOING AND STRENGTHENING WHAT IS REALLY WORKING AND FILLING IN ANY GAPS IN PROVIDING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT TO SUPPORT THEM. HAVING ALL THESE DIFFERENT SUPPORTS BACK AND BRING DIFFERENT IDEAS TO THE TABLE THAT HELP US UNDERSTAND AND MOVE EVEN BETTER. MATTIE: FAIRFIELD IS AMONG AT LEAST TWO DOZEN DISTRICTS IN THE STATE SELECTED T GET LOCAL BREAKING NEWS ALERTS The latest breaking updates, delivered straight to your email inbox. Privacy Notice Fairfield schools launches state program to help underperforming students The Fairfield City School District is among two dozen systems in Alabama selected to participate in a program to close the achievement gap among underperforming students.The district was recently selected to participate in the Alabama State Department of Education’s Multi-Tiered System of Support program, or MTSS. The framework uses data-driven and a team-oriented approach to address the diverse learning needs of the whole student body. Learn more by watching the video above. FAIRFIELD, Ala. — The Fairfield City School District is among two dozen systems in Alabama selected to participate in a program to close the achievement gap among underperforming students. The district was recently selected to participate in the Alabama State Department of Education’s Multi-Tiered System of Support program, or MTSS. The framework uses data-driven and a team-oriented approach to address the diverse learning needs of the whole student body. Learn more by watching the video above. Loading more articles… Read More…

Bankston Motor Homes Inc. Opens NEW Location Friday September 16th https://digitalalabamanews.com/bankston-motor-homes-inc-opens-new-location-friday-september-16th/ New Gadsden/Attalla Bankston Motor Homes Inc. building Largest Family-Owned Dealership in Alabama Builds NEW 49,000 SQ FT Facility near Gadsden! We felt it was important to invest in the future. This building represents our strong commitment to our customers, our employees, and the industry.” — Chase Baerlin- President GADSDEN, ALABAMA, USA, September 13, 2022 /EINPresswire.com/ — Bankston Motor Homes Inc. of Alabama has opened a new location to service their growing customer base of thousands in the Tennessee and Alabama area. The 49,000 square foot facility features two twenty-seven foot wide by fifty-foot long heated and enclosed delivery bays to provide a first-class delivery experience when customers pick up their new RV. This twenty-six-acre location also has two fully covered service drop off lanes, along with twelve fully enclosed service bays that are twenty-five feet wide by fifty-feet long to facilitate the growing service needs due to the RV industry’s explosive growth. The newest location in the Bankston Motor Homes family-owned business represents a fifteen-million-dollar investment. Chase Baerlin, President of Bankston Motor Homes, was recently asked why the company decided to invest in the new building. Mr. Baerlin responded, “We felt it was important to invest in the future. This building represents our strong commitment to our customers, our employees, and the industry. We have always aspired to serve our customers with the highest standards, and we feel this building sets the stage for the future.” When asked his opinion about the building, Colin Baerlin, Vice-President, responded, “I think it’s going to be great for the customers! We always feel like we want more space and now we have more room to grow.” The Attalla/Gadsden location was part of the vision shared by Harrison Bankston, founder and president emeritus. The grand opening celebration on Friday September 16th will be attended by several dignitaries including Governor Kay Ivey and the Mayor of Attalla, Larry Means. In honor of the grand opening, Bankston Motor Homes is giving away a new 2022 Aspen Trail valued at $20,944! This special give-away is for the Attalla location only, as a way to say ‘Thank you’ to the all the people who drive over to check out the gorgeous new building and shop for an RV in the new facility. Bankston Motor Homes Inc. recently celebrated its 52nd anniversary with remarkable accomplishments such as being the #1 dealer in Alabama, and being a Best in Business Award Winner, along with countless industry awards. About Bankston Motor Homes Inc, the largest family-owned RV Dealership in the south east: Bankston Motor Homes has over 900 new & pre-owned RVs in stock for customers to choose from. The RV company currently has locations in Huntsville, AL, Warrior, AL, Florence, AL, Nashville, TN, and Ardmore, TN. The Albertville, AL location has been growing for several years and will be migrating to the new Attalla/Gadsden location since it is so close. Bankston Motor Homes carries many of the nation’s top RV brands such as Tiffin, Forest River, Thor Motor Coach, Winnebago, Keystone, Alliance RV, Dutchmen, Coachmen, Lance, and many others. Tanya Miller Secret Weapon Media Agency Inc. +1 256-460-6872 email us here Visit us on social media: Facebook Twitter Other The Bankston Motor Homes Story You just read: EIN Presswire’s priority is source transparency. We do not allow opaque clients, and our editors try to be careful about weeding out false and misleading content. As a user, if you see something we have missed, please do bring it to our attention. Your help is welcome. EIN Presswire, Everyone’s Internet News Presswire, tries to define some of the boundaries that are reasonable in today’s world. Please see our Editorial Guidelines for more information. Submit your press release Read More…

Trump Ally Pushes For 15-Week Abortion Ban Across US https://digitalalabamanews.com/trump-ally-pushes-for-15-week-abortion-ban-across-us/ Washington, DC – Republican Senator Lindsey Graham has introduced a bill that would ban abortions at 15 weeks of pregnancy across the United States, drawing rebuke from Democrats and reproductive rights advocates. The legislation, announced on Tuesday, has virtually no chance of passing in the Democratic-controlled Congress, but it highlights growing divisions in the country around abortion, just weeks ahead of the crucial midterm elections in November. “If we adopted my bill – our bill – we would be in the mainstream of most everybody else in the world,” Graham, a staunch supporter of former President Donald Trump, said during a news conference, adding that dozens of European countries have similar, if not more stringent, restrictions. Abortion has been a contentious issue in US politics for decades, with Republicans making banning and restricting the procedure a central point of their platform. That debate intensified after the US Supreme Court in June overturned its landmark 1973 Roe v Wade ruling, revoking the constitutional right to abortion in the country. The move allowed conservative-leaning states to ban or restrict the procedure. Currently, there are no federal laws regulating abortion, which means states can pass their own legislation on the matter. Dubbed the Protecting Pain-Capable Unborn Children from Late-Term Abortions Act, Graham’s bill argues that fetuses can feel pain around 15 weeks of pregnancy, “if not earlier” – hence the cutoff for the procedure. The proposal provides exceptions for victims of rape and incest, and it would also allow abortion to save the life of the mother. Meanwhile, Democrats are pushing to protect abortion rights nationally. In July, the US House of Representatives passed a bill to prohibit abortion bans in line with Roe v Wade, enshrining the right to the procedure until fetal viability – around 24 weeks. But like Graham’s bill, the Democratic-led proposal has little chance of being approved in the Senate, where a legislative procedure known as the filibuster requires 60 votes for the 100-member chamber to pass major legislation. Democratic leaders, including President Joe Biden, have vowed to carve out an exception for the filibuster to pass the abortion legislation next year if they gain two seats in the Senate in the upcoming midterms. While Democrats have the thinnest of majorities in the chamber, two more conservative Democratic senators currently oppose abolishing the filibuster. “Imagine if we just elected two more Democrats to the Senate and keep the House of Representatives. We’ll codify Roe v Wade,” Biden said in a speech last week. BREAKING: Lindsey Graham has introduced a NATIONAL abortion ban. Despite knowing bans are unpopular and put people’s lives in danger — this is anti-abortion politicians’ end goal. Let’s show them the hell we’re about to raise in the comments. — Planned Parenthood Action (@PPact) September 13, 2022 Abortion has taken centre stage in the lead-up to the November election, with Democratic candidates accusing their Republican opponents of pushing to violate women’s right to autonomy over their own bodies. In conservative Kansas, where Trump beat Biden by 15 percentage points in the 2020 presidential elections, residents overwhelmingly voted to preserve abortion rights in a referendum in early August. In New York, a Democratic candidate who centred abortion rights in his campaign won a contested special House election. And late last month, a Democratic House candidate won a state-wide election in Alaska, defeating former vice presidential candidate and Trump ally Sarah Palin. Graham said on Tuesday that his bill aims to counter the Democratic proposal, and he called for a debate on the legislation. He stressed that Dobbs v Jackson Women’s Health Organization, the court case that led to the overturning of Roe v Wade, does not ban abortion; rather, it leaves it to elected officials to regulate the procedure. “Abortion is a contentious issue,” he said. “Post-Dobbs, America’s got to make some decisions.” Democrats slam bill Several Democrats criticised Graham’s proposed legislation and rejected its title, which proclaims to target “late-term” abortions. “Republicans are now coming after the right to abortion at the federal level,” Pramila Jayapal, chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, wrote on Twitter on Tuesday. “Overturning Roe was never about giving power back to states — it was about controlling our bodies and our personal autonomy. We cannot let this happen.” Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer called Graham’s proposal “radical”, accusing Republicans of seeking to punish women who seek abortions. “For MAGA Republicans – it’s always been about making abortion illegal everywhere,” Schumer tweeted, referring to Trump’s campaign slogan, “Make America Great Again”. NARAL Pro-Choice America, an advocacy organisation that backs abortion rights, also said the bill shows that Republicans’ true aim is to ban abortion. “Let’s be clear about what a bill like this would do – it could put a ban on abortion in place in every state in our country, including blue states that have laws protecting abortion rights and access on the books,” Mini Timmaraju, the group’s president, said in a statement. “This is about who gets to decide what’s right for our lives and our families. Should it be a person who is pregnant? Or Lindsey Graham and MAGA Republicans?” Republican Senator Graham is pushing a radical bill for a nationwide abortion ban For MAGA Republicans—it’s always been about making abortion illegal everywhere Dems are fighting to protect abortion rights MAGA Republicans want to punish women & doctors for carrying them out — Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) September 13, 2022 The White House also denounced the bill, calling it “wildly out of step” with the views of the US public. “President Biden and Congressional Democrats are committed to restoring the protections of Roe v. Wade in the face of continued radical steps by elected Republicans to put personal health care decisions in the hands of politicians instead of women and their doctors, threatening women’s health and lives,” White House spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre said in a statement. Read More…

House Oversight Committee Asks Archives If Trump Still Possesses Presidential Records https://digitalalabamanews.com/house-oversight-committee-asks-archives-if-trump-still-possesses-presidential-records/ By Zachary Cohen, CNN (CNN) — The House Oversight Committee is asking the National Archives for an assessment of whether there are presidential records still unaccounted for and in Donald Trump’s possession, according to a new letter obtained by CNN. The committee’s chairwoman, Rep. Carolyn Maloney, a New York Democrat, also is requesting in the letter that the National Archives and Records Administration, or NARA, seek a “personal certification” from Trump that he has turned over all presidential records he “illegally removed” from the White House. “In light of the serious risk that Mr. Trump may still be retaining sensitive government records at Mar-a-Lago or his other properties, I urge NARA to seek a personal certification from Donald Trump that he has surrendered all presidential records that he illegally removed from the White House after leaving office,” Maloney writes. “I also ask that the agency conduct an urgent review of presidential records recovered from the Trump White House to assess whether presidential records remain unaccounted for and potentially in the possession of the former president,” she adds. CNN has reached out to a spokesman for Trump. On August 24, NARA staff informed the committee that the agency is not certain whether all presidential records are in its possession, according to Maloney’s letter. As a result, Maloney not only asks NARA to seek from Trump a personal certification in writing that he surrendered all presidential as well as classified materials but also that he “has not made any copies or reproductions of such materials, and has not transferred any records or government documents to any party other than NARA or DOJ since his term ended.” The letter notes that Trump’s former national security adviser, John Bolton, expressed concern the former President “might have transferred classified documents to other clubs, such as Bedminster National Golf Club, where he recently hosted a professional golf tournament sponsored and attended by foreign nationals.” The House Oversight Committee has been conducting its own investigation into Trump’s handling of presidential records, separate from the ongoing Justice Department probe that led to the search of Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate last month and the seizure of thousands of documents, including some marked classified. The-CNN-Wire & © 2022 Cable News Network, Inc., a Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All rights reserved. Read More…

Matt Stell Announces Headlining https://digitalalabamanews.com/matt-stell-announces-headlining/ RECORDS Nashville chart-topping, Platinum-selling artist Matt Stell will kick off his headlining “Man Made Tour 2022” later this month, playing seventeen dates into December. Tickets are on sale beginning this Friday, September 16 here and kicking off September 30 in Tuscaloosa, AL at Druid City Music Hall. Special guests for the tour include George Birge and Kyle Clark. “The boys and I are fueling up the bus and taking the show on the road this fall,” shares Stell. “The ‘Man Made Tour ’22’ is coming close to you so get your tickets and come party with us!” Stell had the opportunity to hone his own headlining show as a special guest on tour with Miranda Lambert, Old Dominion and Chris Young in recent years. His current single, “Man Made” is the follow-up to No. 1s “Prayed For You” and “Everywhere But On” and is the lead track from a forthcoming new project, due later this year. Written by Brett Sheroky and Ian Christian and produced by Stell and Ash Bowers, “Man Made” pays tribute to how man might have made a lot of things, but it is a woman who made the man. MATT STELL – “MAN MADE TOUR 2022″* 9/30- Tuscaloosa, AL – Druid City Music Hall 10/1- Baton Rouge, LA – The Basin Music Hall 10/7- San Bernardino, CA- The Brandin’ Iron 10/13- Portland, OR- Poderosa Lounge & Grill^ 10/14- Medford, OR- The Rocky Tonk Saloon^ 11/3- Foxborough, MA- Six String+ 11/4- Binghamton, NY – Touch of Texas+ 11/5- Asbury Park, NJ- Asbury Lanes+ 11/10- Fort Myers, FL- The Ranch** 11/11- Tampa, FL – Dallas Bull** 11/12- Sanford, FL – Tuffy’s** 11/16- Wantagh, NY – Mulcahy’s** 11/17- Columbus, OH- The Bluestone** 11/18- Harrisburg, PA- Harrisburg Midtown Arts Center** 12/1- Warrendale, PA – Jergel’s^ 12/2-Hobart, IN- Hobart Art Theater^ 12/3- Medina, OH- Thirsty Cowboys^ *Dates subject to change, please check MattStell.com for the latest information. All shows will comply with local COVID-19 guidelines. **with special guest George Birge +with special guest Kyle Clark ^co-headline with Chase Matthew Read More…

Graham Introduces Bill To Ban Abortions Nationwide After 15 Weeks https://digitalalabamanews.com/graham-introduces-bill-to-ban-abortions-nationwide-after-15-weeks/ Sen. Lindsey O. Graham (R-S.C.) on Tuesday introduced a bill that would ban abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy nationwide, the most prominent effort by Republicans to restrict the procedure since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in June. “I think we should have a law at the federal level that would say, after 15 weeks, no abortion on demand except in cases of rape, incest or to save the life of the mother,” Graham said at a news conference. “And that should be where America is at.” Graham’s measure, which stands almost no chance of advancing while Democrats hold the majority in Congress, comes just weeks after he and most Republicans had defended the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe by arguing that allowing states to decide on abortion rights would be the most “constitutionally sound” way of handling the issue. On Tuesday, Graham vowed that, if Republicans took back the House and Senate in the midterm elections, there would be a vote on his 15-week abortion bill. “Abortion is a contentious issue,” Graham said. “Abortion is not banned in America. It is left up to elected officials in America to define the issue… States have the ability to do [so] at the state level and we have the ability in Washington to speak on this issue if we choose. I have chosen to speak.” Graham was joined at the news conference by Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, along with other antiabortion leaders. The name of his bill — which includes the nonmedical phrase “late-term abortions” — drew sharp criticism from abortion rights activists. Used almost exclusively by antiabortion activists, the phrase is generally understood to refer to abortions between or after 21 and 24 weeks of pregnancy. “15 weeks is not ‘late term,’ particularly given the significant challenges to access around the country,” Christina Reynolds, vice president of communications at Emily’s List, wrote in a tweet. While most people undergo abortions earlier in pregnancy, 15-week and 20-week abortion bans disproportionately affect patients with fetal anomalies, which are often detected at a 20-week anatomy scan, along with those who take longer to realize they are pregnant. These kinds of bans will also affect more people in a post-Roe America as abortion clinics struggle to accommodate a swell of patients from states where abortion is now banned. The White House criticized the bill, saying it is “wildly out of step with what Americans believe.” “President Biden and congressional Democrats are committed to restoring the protections of Roe v. Wade in the face of continued radical steps by elected Republicans to put personal health care decisions in the hands of politicians instead of women and their doctors, threatening women’s health and lives,” said White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre in a statement. Other Democrats swiftly responded to reports of Graham’s efforts with anger, and vowed that the measure would go nowhere. “I will block any efforts in the Senate to advance a nationwide abortion ban — full stop,” tweeted Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), who is locked in a tough reelection bid. “We don’t need any more male politicians telling women what we can and can’t do with our own bodies.” “I will never understand the Republican obsession with what goes on in your bedroom or your doctor’s office, but I do know it belongs nowhere near government. Your right to privacy is fundamental,” Rep. Gerald E. Connolly (D-Va.) tweeted. The timing of Graham’s announcement is curious — two months before the midterm elections, after abortion has already shown to be a galvanizing issue for some Democratic voters. While Republicans generally have praised the ruling overturning Roe, many have preferred not to focus on the issue ahead of the midterms. “There’s a narrative forming in America that the Republican Party and the pro-life movement is on a run. No, no, no, no, no, no,” Graham, who in the past favored a 20-week ban, told reporters. “We welcome the debate. We welcome the vote in the United States Senate as to what America should look like in 2022.” Graham said he had not spoken to Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) about the bill. Last month, Kansas voters soundly rejected a referendum that would have allowed state lawmakers to regulate abortion, the first time state voters decided on such an amendment since Roe was overturned. Last week, South Carolina Republicans fell short in their bid for a near-total abortion ban in the state. Planned Parenthood announced last month that it plans to spend a record $50 million in an effort to elect abortion rights supporters across the country this November, banking on the belief that abortion will help turn out Democratic voters. Moreover, several red states already have stricter bans in place. Abortion is now banned or mostly banned in 15 states, while laws in several others are in various legal limbos. Last month, Indiana passed a near-total abortion ban, the first to do so after Roe was struck down. Before the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in June, many Republican lawmakers and advocates had been pushing for a strict nationwide “heartbeat” ban on abortions, which would have outlawed the procedure after cardiac activity is detected, at around six weeks of pregnancy. Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) had been planning behind-the-scenes to introduce the legislation. But months after the landmark abortion ruling, those plans have quietly fizzled. While that bill has been drafted, there is no timeline for Ernst or any other senator to introduce it, according to several antiabortion advocates close to the situation. Instead, some leading antiabortion advocates are hoping that Republicans will rally around a 15-week ban, long denounced by many in the antiabortion movement because it would allow the vast majority of abortions to continue. Dannenfelser, the president of Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, said she expects that Graham’s bill will be “universally accepted,” offering a path forward that a variety of Republican senators can support. “I think the place to begin is where Graham is beginning,” said Dannenfelser in an interview before Graham’s bill was released. “Graham is the momentum and it will increase when he introduces [his bill].” Some Republicans are not so sure. Since the Supreme Court decision, many have said publicly that they think abortion should be left to the states. Even before an antiabortion amendment was resoundingly defeated in his home state, Sen. Roger Marshall (R-Kan.) told The Washington Post that he doubted that there was a future for any kind of national abortion ban. “I just don’t see the momentum at the federal level,” Marshall said in a July 25 interview. “I think the legislative priority should be at the states.” A nationwide ban would be extremely difficult to pass, requiring 60 votes in the Senate to overcome a filibuster. The measure would encounter resistance from nearly all Democrats in addition to a handful of Republicans who support abortion rights. Neither party is likely to gain in the midterm elections the number of seats necessary for a filibuster-proof majority. Republicans have been forced to reckon with a growing trove of data suggesting that abortion could be a decisive issue in the midterms, motivating Democratic and independent voters far more than was widely expected. Candidates who support abortion rights have overperformed in recent special elections, while key battleground states have seen a spike in Democratic and independent women registering to vote. Some Republicans have grown increasingly hesitant to discuss the subject of a national abortion ban on the campaign trail. In Arizona, Republican Senate candidate Blake Masters removed any mention of his support for a “federal personhood law” from his website, legislation that probably would have banned abortion nationwide after conception. Masters’s website now says he would support a ban on abortions in the third trimester, at around 27 weeks of pregnancy, a far more popular position. Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America applauded the change in a news release, saying that Masters “rightfully centered his position on what is achievable at the federal level.” Abortion rights groups have seized on the looming threat of a national abortion ban, hoping to mobilize voters around the issue all over the country, including those in states where abortion rights are protected. “For anyone who is in a state where abortion is not yet restricted or banned, we especially want to tell those voters, ‘This is everybody’s issue. It could come to your state too if they’re voting against efforts to protect abortion,’ ” said Jacqueline Ayers, senior vice president at Planned Parenthood Action Fund. Rachel Roubein and Marianna Sotomayor contributed to this report. Read More…

Freight Rail Strike Threatens Supply Chains, Prompting White House Planning https://digitalalabamanews.com/freight-rail-strike-threatens-supply-chains-prompting-white-house-planning/ A national railroad strike could derail critical deliveries of chlorine to wastewater treatment plants and coal to utility plants, among other potentially crippling disruptions, prompting senior White House aides Tuesday to review contingency options for protecting the nation’s drinking water and energy supply. White House aides are looking at how to ensure essential products carried by rail — such as food, energy, and key health products — could still reach their final destination even in the event of a potential strike. Senior officials have looked at how highways, ports and waterways can be used to offset any damage caused, while also talking to top officials in the shipping, freight and logistics industries. President Biden was personally briefed on the matter Tuesday morning, after he called the carriers and unions on Monday to press them to accept a deal, a White House official said. Senior officials at the White House are now leading daily meetings with the Agriculture Department, Transportation Department, Energy Department and other top agencies about how to mitigate the impact. Biden aides in particular are working to ensure hazardous materials carried by rail are safely transported without hurting workers. The White House is also studying potential authorities to mitigate any damage but has made no announcement. The White House’s planning was described by multiple people with knowledge of the matter who spoke on the condition of anonymity to describe internal planning. At issue is a contract agreement between railway carriers and two unions, which represent 57,000 conductors and engineers over attendance policies. A federally mandated “cooling-off” period ends Friday, which opens the possibility of a strike, if employees refuse to go to work, or a lockout, if the carriers refuse to let workers do their jobs. Some freight carriers have begun limiting services, suspending hazardous material shipments and parking trains in what appears to be preparations for a lockout. Amtrak, which carries passengers on freight lines, canceled some long-distance routes Monday. Biden appointed an emergency board in July to mediate the dispute, following two years of negotiations between six of the largest freight carriers and 12 unions that represent railroad workers. Nine unions have reached tentative agreements with the carriers based on the board’s recommendations, leaving the two largest unions without a deal in place. A smaller union, the Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen, struck down a tentative deal with the carriers on Monday night and have returned to the bargaining table. Contract negotiations on Zoom between the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen, the SMART Transportation Division and the rail carriers carried late into the day on Monday, without the parties reaching a deal, labor officials from both unions said. The most important issues holding up an agreement are some of the largest carriers’ points-based attendance policies that penalize workers, up to termination, for going to routine doctor’s visits or attending family emergencies. Conductors and engineers say they do not receive a single sick day, paid or unpaid. The National Carriers’ Conference Committee, which represents the railroads in negotiations, has denied that workers do not receive sick time, and it has said that its ability to determine attendance policies is necessary to ensure enough train operators are available to work amid labor shortages. “You may have heard from labor that they get no sick days or paid time off. This is false,” said Jessica Kahanek, a spokesperson for Association of American Railroads, noting that some workers supplemental sick leave benefit, and can take time off for any reason, as long as they maintain a reasonable level of overall availability under carrier attendance policies. While the unions said they have watered down some of their proposals, abandoning requests for paid sick days, they remain steadfast that members should be allowed to attend routine medical appointments without jeopardizing their employment. They said they are willing to accept a contract that addresses these concerns and are ready to strike if the carriers do not budge on it. As of Tuesday morning, the carriers had not made any counterproposals to this offer, the two unions said. Two of the largest rail carriers that mainly operate in the western United States — BNSF and Union Pacific — are the companies with the points-based attendance policies. More than 700 BNSF employees have quit since it rolled out a points-based policy in February. Workers can be terminated if they run out of points, even in the case of a family emergency. Missing work on certain high impact days, or planning ahead for a single doctor’s visit, can result in workers losing half or more of their allotted points. “They have refused to accept our proposals,” said Dennis Pierce, president of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen, one of the two unions in negotiations. “The average American would not know that we get fired for going to the doctor. This one thing has our members most enraged. We have guys who were punished for taking time off for a heart attack and covid. It’s inhumane.” Read More…

The Hill’s 12:30 Report — Dropping Gas Prices Drowned Out By Continued Inflation https://digitalalabamanews.com/the-hills-1230-report-dropping-gas-prices-drowned-out-by-continued-inflation/ To view past editions of The Hill’s 12:30 Report, click here: https://bit.ly/30ARS1U  To receive The Hill’s 12:30 Report in your inbox, please sign up here: https://bit.ly/3qmIoS9 – A midday take on what’s happening in politics and how to have a sense of humor about it.*  *Ha. Haha. Hahah. Sniff. Haha. Sniff. Ha–breaks down crying hysterically. NEWS THIS MORNING  The good news: Gas prices are down.  The bad news: Food prices are still rising.: Despite gasoline prices dropping significantly, consumer prices rose 0.1 percent in August after remaining steady in July.  What economists had predicted would happen: Economists thought there would be a 0.1 percent *decline* in inflation last month due to the dropping gas prices.  What this increase means for the economy: “While the annual inflation rate still fell to 8.3 percent in August from 8.5 percent in July, sharp increases in prices for food and household staples will likely be a cause of concern for the Federal Reserve and other policymakers.”  Price increases by category, via The Hill’s Sylvan Lane  ‘GET READY FOR A FOOD FIGHT: HIGH GROCERY COSTS ARE HERE TO STAY’:  Via Politico’s Garrett Downs, “As inflationary pressure retreats in some areas, grocery bills have remained high. Republicans have seized on the opportunity, but culinary messaging is awash with pitfalls.” The full read  THE QUESTION WE ALL HAVE — ‘HOW IS THE ECONOMY DOING?’:  The New York Times’s Ben Casselman and Lauren Leatherby give some helpful context as to where the U.S. economy stands.  It’s Tuesday! We have nine days until the official start to fall, so enjoy these last few days of summer! I’m Cate Martel with a quick recap of the morning and what’s coming up. Did someone forward this newsletter to you? Sign up here.  In Mar-a-Lago  I’ll have one slice of cake. And I’ll eat another slice, please.:  “Former President Trump’s legal team is trying to have it both ways — insinuating he declassified the documents stored at his Florida home without directly claiming he did so.”   What Trump’s lawyers are saying: They are saying Trump had the power to declassify documents without explicitly saying that Trump did so.  Some experts say that’s actually worse — here’s why: “Sitting presidents have broad power to declassify documents, but doing so sets off a chain of events, including notification of the many intelligence agencies that produce and manage that information. [Asha Rangappa, a lecturer at Yale University and a former FBI special agent] said a failure to alert the intelligence community shows Trump wanted the information he took to still have value — something that would be lost in the declassification process.”  Why did Trump want to keep roughly 300 classified docs?: It’s unclear. “In court filings, the Department of Justice (DOJ) has noted that Trump’s legal team has never offered an explanation for why he retained the records beyond arguing that he has a right to do so under executive privilege.”   What this could mean legally, via The Hill’s Rebecca Beitsch  THE DOJ LIKES ONE OF TRUMP’S PICKS TO REVIEW THE DOCS:  “The Department of Justice (DOJ) on Monday said in a court filing it would support one of the special master nominees put forward by former President Trump’s legal team to review documents seized during an FBI search of Mar-a-Lago.” Details   In Congress  Interesting read — lawmakers are *loving* remote work:  The Daily Beast’s Sam Brodey reports that “since January, 370 members of Congress, roughly 83 percent of the chamber, have cast a remote vote. Combined, those members have voted remotely 23,154 times—greatly surpassing the 17,263 remote votes that were cast in 2021.”  And taking that one step further: “A sizable minority of the House has voted remotely on a regular basis. Seventy-seven lawmakers—overwhelmingly Democrats—have voted remotely on 100 or more of the year’s 420 recorded roll call votes. That means roughly one in every six lawmakers has not been present in the U.S. Capitol for at least 25 percent of the roll call votes taken in the House this year.”   More from Brodey’s review of the numbers  ‘DEMOCRATS WONDER IF THEY’RE MISSING HARRY REID IN NEVADA’:  Via The Hill’s Alexander Bolton  In Ukraine Ukraine has had quite the week: “The Ukrainian military last week began a counteroffensive that quickly reclaimed territory and pushed Russian troops back to the northeastern border of the country in some places.”   This is bad news for Russian President Vladimir Putin: “For Russia and Putin, it could force some very tough decisions on conscription and the future of a war that Moscow still insists is merely a special military operation.”  Keep in mind: “The lightning advance forced thousands of Kremlin troops to make a quick retreat, leaving behind ammunition stockpiles and equipment.”   Stepping back — why this development is huge: “The Ukrainians’ performance has amplified dissent in Russia, has strengthened President Biden’s hand in rallying support for the country, has opened up new opportunities for Kyiv and is expected to make it harder for Russia to find support from its allies.”   Where the Russian invasion on Ukraine stands, via The Hill’s Alex Gangitano and Ellen Mitchell  ‘THE STRATEGY BEHIND UKRAINE’S RAPID COUNTEROFFENSIVE WAS DEVISED BY U.S., UKRAINIAN AND BRITISH OFFICIALS.’: Via The New York Times’s by Julian E. Barnes, Eric Schmitt and Helene Cooper  ‘PUTIN FACES RARE CRITICISM AT HOME AS UKRAINE’S TROOPS RECLAIM GROUND’:  From CBS News  Spotted in Virginia  *Whisper whisper* *Murmur murmur murmur*:  Former President Trump was spotted by YouTuber Andrew Leyden landing at Dulles airport on Sunday.  Which triggered swarms of media speculation over why he came unannounced: Some of the speculation, via Mediaite’s Colby Hall  Watch the video: Trump deplanes around the 3-minute, 44-second mark. He appears to be wearing golf shoes.  ^ Ah ha!:  AP/Alex Brandon Business Insider’s Rebecca Cohen reports that former President Trump was seen playing golf at his Virginia course on Monday.  VIDEO OF TRUMP ON THE GOLF COURSE:  NBC News’s Kelly O’Donnell tweeted, “Former Pres. Trump at his Virginia golf property today but not appearing to play as he moved about with a large group.  This video was shot at considerable distance.”Watch  In other news  Tidbit from Pence — he was angry, not scared, on Jan. 6:  Former Vice President Mike Pence is publishing a memoir in which he reveals how he was feeling as rioters on Jan. 6, 2021, chanted for him to be hanged.  Excerpt from Axios’s Mike Allen: “I was angry at what I saw, how it desecrated the seat of our democracy and dishonored the patriotism of millions of our supporters, who would never do such a thing here or anywhere else … I was not afraid, but I was angry.”   When will Pence’s book be published?: On Nov. 15  Latest with COVID  ➤ THE COVID-19 NUMBERS  Cases to date: 95 million  Death toll: 1,045,253  Current hospitalizations: 15,457  Shots administered: 610 million  Fully vaccinated: 67.6 percent of Americans  CDC data here. Notable tweets  On tap  The House and Senate are in. President Biden and Vice President Harris are in Washington, D.C.  9 a.m.: Biden received his daily briefing.  6:30 p.m.: First and last votes in the House. Today’s House agenda  All times Eastern. What to watch  1:35 p.m.: White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre holds a press briefing. Livestream  3 p.m.: Biden hosts an event on the Inflation Reduction Act. First lady Jill Biden, Vice President Harris and second gentleman Doug Emhoff attend. Livestream   In lighter news  Today is National Peanut Day.  Here’s your official list of TV shows to watch if you haven’t already: Emmy Awards were announced last night for the past year’s best television shows. Vanity Fair compiled a full list of Emmy winners. And now, I’ll leave you with a totally innocent dog. Nothing to see here. Read More…

Wallace-Dothan President Dr. Linda C. Young Named Yellowhammer News 2022 Women Of Impact Honoree https://digitalalabamanews.com/wallace-dothan-president-dr-linda-c-young-named-yellowhammer-news-2022-women-of-impact-honoree/ PRESS RELEASE (Wallace Community College) – Wallace Community College-Dothan (WCCD) is proud to announce the selection of Dr. Linda C. Young, WCCD President, as a Yellowhammer News 2022 Women of Impact honoree. The 5th annual Women of Impact Awards is a celebration of the “strong women who impact and propel Alabama,” according to Yellowhammer News, and recognizes the personal and professional accomplishments of Alabama women leaders, advisers and mentors “whose powerful contributions have moved the needle across business, government and non-profit sectors, empowering others through the lives they devote and trails they blaze.” “I am truly honored and very humbled to be selected as a part of the 2022 Alabama Women of Impact,” said Dr. Young. “To be recognized in this manner is certainly a highlight of my career, especially knowing that our state is home to so many incredible female leaders who have made and continue to make a difference each and every day. I cannot help but think of the amazing and influential education leaders, such as Dr. Imogene Mathison Mixson, who blazed trails, broke barriers, and inspired a generation of women.  I am grateful for this honor, and I stand in awe of the accomplishments of my peers.” Dr. Young has spent most of her professional career in the Alabama Community College System (ACCS). In 1988, she became the first female to head an Alabama technical college when she was appointed president of Sparks State Technical College in Eufaula. When Sparks and WCCD merged in 1999, Dr. Young was appointed president of the newly united institution. Under Dr. Young’s leadership, WCCD has gained national recognition for instructional programs and initiatives. Some of Dr. Young’s major accomplishments during her professional career include developing special educational programs for adult women that were designated as exemplary models and featured in national publications and conferences as well as in a Congressional hearing. She also chaired a legislative committee of the Alabama Coalition of Women and Girls in Education and was one of five women in the state to be recognized by the American Society for Public Administration for outstanding contributions to public administration and public service by assisting other women to advance professionally. In 2017, Dr. Young was one of 19 college presidents in the nation to be presented the prestigious Shirley B. Gordon Award of Distinction by Phi Theta Kappa, an international honor society for community colleges. In 2016, she was inducted into the Dothan Area Chamber Business Hall of Fame. Over the span of her career, Dr. Young has served in leadership roles for many civic organizations and professional associations. Currently, she serves on Leadership Alabama’s Board of Directors and will assume the role of chair in 2023. She also serves on the Board of Directors for the Dothan Area Chamber of Commerce. She is a member of the Dothan Rotary Club, the Fort Rucker-Wiregrass Chapter of the Association of the U.S. Army (AUSA), the Ozark-Dale County Economic Development Corporation, the Flowers Hospital Board, Wiregrass Forum, and the Economic Development Association of Alabama. In 2017, she was appointed by Governor Kay Ivey to serve on the Southeast Alabama Works! Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) Board. In 2018, she was appointed by the Alabama Community College System Chancellor to the Council of Presidents, an advisory group to the Alabama Commission on Higher Education. Each Women of Impact honoree will be featured individually by Yellowhammer News beginning Sept. 19. For additional information, including a full list of nominees, visit alabamawomen.org Subscribe to our News 4 newsletter and receive the latest local news and weather straight to your email every morning. Get instant notifications on top stories from News 4 by downloading our mobile apps. Copyright 2022 WTVY. All rights reserved. Read More…

World Heading Into ‘uncharted Territory Of Destruction’, Says Climate Report https://digitalalabamanews.com/world-heading-into-uncharted-territory-of-destruction-says-climate-report/ The world’s chances of avoiding the worst ravages of climate breakdown are diminishing rapidly, as we enter “uncharted territory of destruction” through our failure to cut greenhouse gas emissions and take the actions needed to stave off catastrophe, leading scientists have said. Despite intensifying warnings in recent years, governments and businesses have not been changing fast enough, according to the United in Science report published on Tuesday. The consequences are already being seen in increasingly extreme weather around the world, and we are in danger of provoking “tipping points” in the climate system that will mean more rapid and in some cases irreversible shifts. Recent flooding in Pakistan, which the country’s climate minister claimed had covered a third of the country in water, is the latest example of extreme weather that is devastating swathes of the globe. The heatwave across Europe including the UK this summer, prolonged drought in China, a megadrought in the US and near-famine conditions in parts of Africa also reflect increasingly prevalent extremes of weather. The secretary general of the United Nations, António Guterres, said: “There is nothing natural about the new scale of these disasters. They are the price of humanity’s fossil fuel addiction. This year’s United in Science report shows climate impacts heading into uncharted territory of destruction.” The world is as likely as not to see temperatures more than 1.5C above pre-industrial levels, within the next five years, the report found. Governments agreed to focus on holding temperatures within the 1.5C limit at the landmark UN Cop26 climate summit in Glasgow last November, but their pledges and actions to cut emissions fell short of what was needed, the report found. Since Cop26, the invasion of Ukraine and soaring gas prices have prompted some governments to return to fossil fuels, including coal. Guterres warned of the danger: “Each year we double down on this fossil fuel addiction, even as the symptoms get rapidly worse.” The world was also failing to adapt to the consequences of the climate crisis, the report found. Guterres condemned rich countries that had promised the developing world assistance but failed to deliver. “It is a scandal that developed countries have failed to take adaptation seriously, and shrugged off their commitments to help the developing world,” he said. Rich countries should provide $40bn (£34.5bn) a year at once to help countries adapt, he said, and increase that to $300bn a year by 2030. The question of adaptation to the impacts of extreme weather, and the “loss and damage” that vulnerable countries are experiencing, is likely to be one of the key issues at the forthcoming Cop27 UN climate talks in Egypt in November. Leading figures are concerned about the prospects for that conference, as geopolitical upheavals have imperilled the fragile consensus reached at Glasgow. Tasneem Essop, the executive director of the Climate Action Network, said governments must prepare for Cop27 with action plans that reflected the urgency of the crisis. “The terrifying picture painted by the United in Science report is already a lived reality for millions of people facing recurring climate disasters. The science is clear, yet the addiction to fossil fuels by greedy corporations and rich countries is resulting in losses and damages for communities who have done the least to cause the current climate crisis.” She added: “For those already experiencing the climate emergency, particularly in the global south, the Cop27 conference in Egypt must agree to new funding to help them rebuild their lives.” The United in Science report was coordinated by the World Meteorological Organization, and involves the UN Environment Programme, the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction, the World Climate Research Programme, the Global Carbon Project, the UK’s Met Office and the Urban Climate Change Research Network. Separately, researchers from Oxford University said shifting the global economy to a low-carbon footing would save the world at least $12tn (£10.4bn) by 2050, compared with current levels of fossil fuel use. Rising prices for gas have shown the vulnerability of economies dependent on fossil fuels. The study, published in the journal Joule on Tuesday, found that moving rapidly to renewable power and other forms of clean energy would benefit the economy, as the costs of green technology have plummeted. Rupert Way, a postdoctoral researcher at Oxford’s Smith School of Enterprise and the Environment, a co-author of the paper, said: “Past models predicting high costs for transitioning to zero-carbon energy have deterred companies from investing and made governments nervous about setting policies that will accelerate the energy transition and cut reliance on fossil fuels. But clean energy costs have fallen sharply over the last decade, much faster than those models expected.” The United in Science report found: The past seven years were the hottest on record and there is a 48% chance during at least one year in the next five that the annual mean temperature will temporarily be 1.5C higher than the 1850-1900 average. Global mean temperatures are forecast to be between 1.1C and 1.7C higher than pre-industrial levels from 2022-2026, and there is a 93% probability that at least one year in the next five will be warmer than the hottest year on record, 2016. Dips in carbon dioxide emissions during the lockdowns associated with the Covid-19 pandemic were temporary, and carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuels returned to pre-pandemic levels last year. National pledges on greenhouse gas emissions are insufficient to hold global heating to 1.5C above pre-industrial levels. Climate-related disasters are causing $200m in economic losses a day. Nearly half the planet – 3.3 to 3.6 billion people – are living in areas highly vulnerable to the impacts of the climate crisis, but fewer than half of countries have early warning systems for extreme weather. As global heating increases, “tipping points” in the climate system cannot be ruled out. These include the drying out of the Amazon rainforest, the melting of the ice caps and the weakening of the Atlantic meridional overturning circulation, known as the Gulf stream. By the 2050s, more than 1.6 billion people living in 97 cities will be regularly exposed to three-month average temperatures reaching at least 35C. Read More…