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Mike Lee Tries To Distance Himself From Trump In Utah Debate https://digitalalabamanews.com/mike-lee-tries-to-distance-himself-from-trump-in-utah-debate/ By SAM METZ Associated Press OREM, Utah (AP) — Fending off attacks from his independent challenger, U.S. Sen. Mike Lee of Utah worked to distinguish himself from former President Donald Trump in a contentious debate Monday evening. “I stood against my party time and time again to oppose reckless spending. I will do it again and again and again. We need people who say no,” the second-term Republican said. Lee repeatedly pointed to his voting record and twice told the audience at Utah Valley University that he voted less in line with Trump than all but two Republican senators — Rand Paul and Susan Collins. “To suggest that I’m beholden to either party, that I’ve been a bootlicker for either party is folly. And it’s contradicted by the plain facts,” Lee said. Lee faces a challenge from Evan McMullin, a former Republican known most for his long-shot bid for president six years ago, when as an independent he won 21.5% of voters in Utah, including Lee. McMullin has remained a pillar of the anti-Trump movement, attacking the former president as an authoritarian who poses a threat to democracy. Lee’s attempts to draw a distinction with Trump reflect the peculiar dynamics emerging in Utah this election cycle. In the red state’s marquee race, one candidate is running as an independent and the other is attempting to emphasize his independent streak. The race has taken shape as one of the nation’s many referendums on the direction Trump has taken the GOP. McMullin is attempting to harness anti-Trump sentiment that has distinguished Utah from other Republican strongholds. Lee’s last minute efforts to put space between his voting record and Trump’s stances depart from his past messaging as Election Day nears. “I don’t think he’s trying to distance himself from Trump. What I think he’s trying to do is draw that contrast,’” Utah Republican Party Chair Carson Jorgensen said. “No, he’s stood up for what he believed every time, even when it came to Trump,” he added. Utah is a reliably Republican state, however its religion-infused politics are idiosyncratic. The majority of residents belong to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which places a high value on manners and eschews alcohol and foul language. Members of the faith lean Republican, yet polling has shown Trump commands less robust support among them than other prominent GOP politicians. Trump failed to win support from a majority of Utah voters in 2016 and Joe Biden performed better with Utah voters in 2020 than any Democrat since 1964. Lee’s emphasis on his willingness to stray from Trump comes as McMullin attempts to paint him as one of the former president’s most loyal disciples. McMullin recently released an attack ad based on Lee’s 2020 remarks comparing Trump to Captain Moroni, a scriptural hero in the Book of Mormon. Monday’s debate was McMullin’s first chance to directly confront Lee about the text messages he sent to Trump Chief of Staff Mark Meadows in the lead-up to the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol, which he’s made a centerpiece of his campaign. The texts show Lee asking for advice on how to contribute to efforts to challenge the 2020 election results. Lee has defended his actions by saying he merely intended to look into the legal arguments and rumors about swing states putting forth slates of fake electors, noting that he ultimately voted to certify the results. On Monday, Lee demanded an apology from McMullin and said his version of events exhibited a “cavalier, reckless disregard for the truth.” Though the messages suggest Lee researched the legality of alternate elector slates in the lead-up to Jan. 6, Lee said they showed no evidence that he would have supported such a scheme. He said he wouldn’t have and noted that he voted to certify the election results. A raucous crowd made up mostly of Lee supporters jeered and booed when McMullin called Lee’s actions “a travesty.” “Senator Lee, that was the most egregious betrayal of our nation’s Constitution in its history by a U.S. Senator. I believe it will be your legacy,” McMullin said, wagging his finger at Lee. Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Read More…

Trump Charged Secret Service ‘exorbitant’ Hotel Rates – Live https://digitalalabamanews.com/trump-charged-secret-service-exorbitant-hotel-rates-live/ Related video: Trump blasts Jan. 6 committee subpoena in 14-page letter The Department of Justice has recommended that former Trump advisor and far-right agitator Steve Bannon should be given a custodial sentence and a fine after being found guilty of contempt of Congress. Like several key figures from the Trump circle, Mr Bannon refused to testify to the 6 January select committee despite a subpoena, instead trying in vain to claim his conduct after the election was covered by executive privilege. He was found guilty of contempt in July. Meanwhile, Donald Trump is facing criticism for his comments about American Jews, whom he suggested should be more grateful for his decision to move the American embassy in Israel to Jerusalem. “No President has done more for Israel than I have,” Mr Trump claimed on Truth Social on Sunday morning. “Somewhat surprisingly, however, our wonderful Evangelicals are far more appreciative of this than the people of the Jewish faith, especially those living in the US.” “Those living in Israel, though, are a different story –Highest approval rating in the World, could easily be PM! US Jews have to get their act together and appreciate what they have in Israel – Before it is too late!” Mr Trump added. Many reacting on social media viewed his comments as a threat to the community. Registration is a free and easy way to support our truly independent journalism By registering, you will also enjoy limited access to Premium articles, exclusive newsletters, commenting, and virtual events with our leading journalists Email Please enter a valid email Please enter a valid email Password Must be at least 6 characters, include an upper and lower case character and a number Must be at least 6 characters, include an upper and lower case character and a number Must be at least 6 characters, include an upper and lower case character and a number First name Please enter your first name Special characters aren’t allowed Please enter a name between 1 and 40 characters Last name Please enter your last name Special characters aren’t allowed Please enter a name between 1 and 40 characters You must be over 18 years old to register You must be over 18 years old to register Year of birth I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent.  Read our Privacy notice You can opt-out at any time by signing in to your account to manage your preferences. Each email has a link to unsubscribe. Already have an account? sign in Registration is a free and easy way to support our truly independent journalism By registering, you will also enjoy limited access to Premium articles, exclusive newsletters, commenting, and virtual events with our leading journalists Email Please enter a valid email Please enter a valid email Password Must be at least 6 characters, include an upper and lower case character and a number Must be at least 6 characters, include an upper and lower case character and a number Must be at least 6 characters, include an upper and lower case character and a number First name Please enter your first name Special characters aren’t allowed Please enter a name between 1 and 40 characters Last name Please enter your last name Special characters aren’t allowed Please enter a name between 1 and 40 characters You must be over 18 years old to register You must be over 18 years old to register Year of birth I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent.  Read our Privacy notice You can opt-out at any time by signing in to your account to manage your preferences. Each email has a link to unsubscribe. Already have an account? sign in Read More…

NFL Monday Night: Broncos Follow Prime-Time Pattern https://digitalalabamanews.com/nfl-monday-night-broncos-follow-prime-time-pattern/ Another prime-time game for Denver, another low-scoring nail-biter for the Broncos. Denver has played in prime time four times in the first six weeks of the NFL’s 2022 season. The Broncos lost to the Seattle Seahawks 17-16 in the Week 1 Monday night game, defeated the San Francisco 49ers 11-10 in the Week 3 Sunday night game, lost to the Indianapolis Colts 12-9 in overtime in the Week 5 Thursday night game and, in the Week 6 Monday night game, lost to the Los Angeles Chargers 19-16 in overtime. MORE NFL: · IS BAILEY ZAPPE THREATENING MAC JONES’ JOB AS PATRIOTS’ TOP QUARTERBACK? · JALEN HURTS CONDUCTS ‘QUARTERBACK 101′ FOR COWBOYS · STATE ROUNDUP: TYREEK HILL RINGING UP BIG STATS The Broncos never trailed on Monday night until Dustin Hopkins’ 39-yard field goal with 2:38 left in overtime ended the game. Hopkins made four field goals even though he had a hamstring injury that had punter JK Scott on standby to do Denver’s kicking. In addition to holding for the game-winning field goal, Scott figured in the pivotal play of the game. On Los Angeles’ second possession of overtime, Scott got off a 48-yard punt that Broncos wide receiver Montrell Washington couldn’t handle – because Los Angeles’ Ja’Sir Taylor shoved Denver’s P.J. Locke into him a split-second before the football arrived. The Chargers recovered the muff at the Broncos 28-yard line, and Hopkins kicked the winning field goal four snaps later. Nine players from Alabama high schools and colleges got on the field during the Denver-Los Angeles games: · Broncos outside linebacker Christopher Allen (Alabama) is on injured reserve and not eligible to play. · Chargers tight end Gerald Everett (UAB/South Alabama) caught five passes for 29 yards. · Chargers long snapper Josh Harris (Auburn) handled the snaps on four field goals, four punts and one extra-point. · Kareem Jackson (Alabama) started at strong safety for the Broncos. Jackson made eight tackles, recorded a tackle for loss and broke up a pass in his 174th NFL start. That tied Lee Roy Jordan for the fourth-most by an Alabama alumnus. Jackson trails the 204 starts of Cornelius Bennett, 191 starts of Ozzie Newsome and 183 starts of John Hannah. · Jerry Jeudy (Alabama) started at wide receiver for the Broncos. Jeudy caught three passes for 54 yards, including a 37-yard reception. · Chargers punter JK Scott (Alabama) averaged 44.0 yards on four punts, with a net average of 44.0. Scott had an 18-yard punt for a fair catch at the Denver 21, a 52-yarder that was muffed and recovered by the Broncos at the Denver 16, a 54-yarder for a fair catch at the Denver 31 and a 48-yarder that was muffed and recovered by Los Angeles at the Denver 28. · Patrick Surtain II (Alabama) started at left cornerback for the Broncos. Surtain broke up a pass. According to the NFL’s Next Gen Stats, Surtain did not allow a completion while in coverage during the game. · Broncos punter Corliss Waitman (South Alabama) averaged 46.1 yards on seven punts, with a net average of 40.6 yards. Waitman had a 54-yard punt for a fair catch at the Los Angeles 12-yard line, a 58-yarder returned 19 yards to the Los Angeles 28, a 43-yarder returned 9 yards to the Los Angeles 30, a 22-yarder for a fair catch at the Los Angeles 17, a 41-yarder downed at the Los Angeles 25, a 58-yarder returned 11 yards to the Los Angeles 19 and a 47-yarder for a fair catch at the Los Angeles 19. · Broncos wide receiver Montrell Washington (Samford) caught one pass for no gain, returned a kickoff 26 yards and returned two punts for zero yards. Washington was charged with a muff on each punt return. He recovered the first one. Denver dropped to 2-4 even though the Broncos defense has yielded six touchdowns this season, the fewest in the NFL. Los Angeles improved to 4-2. On Sunday, each team will play at home, with the Chargers facing the Seattle Seahawks and the Broncos meeting the New York Jets. Denver Broncos safety Kareem Jackson tackles Los Angeles Chargers tight end Gerald Everett during an NFL game on Monday, Oct. 17, 2022, at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif.(Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) FOR MORE OF AL.COM’S COVERAGE OF THE NFL, GO TO OUR NFL PAGE Denver Broncos cornerback Patrick Surtain II breaks up a pass to Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Mike Williams during an NFL game on Monday, Oct. 17, 2022, at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif.(AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill) Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at @AMarkG1. Denver Broncos wide receiver Jerry Jeudy runs after a reception during an NFL game against the Los Angeles Chargers on Monday, Oct. 17, 2022, at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif.(AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill) If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. Read More…

Kanye West Acquires Parler. Musk: Twitter. Trump: Truth Social. https://digitalalabamanews.com/kanye-west-acquires-parler-musk-twitter-trump-truth-social/ Kanye West, now known as Ye, has acquired the social media network called Parler. In doing so, he joins the mogul alum who are all doing the exact same thing. Are they all fighting censorship? Parler sells itself as a free speech platform where you cannot be censored for your thoughts. And now, it is a new shiny toy in Ye’s treasure chest. But what has driven the ex-Mr Kardashian to make such a huge purchase? Ye had his Twitter and Instagram accounts shut down this week, for what the platform deemed to be anti-Semitic statements. Ye maintains that there is a secret cabal of Jewish people who are conspiring to control the global media, governments, and banks. And he shared these thoughts on his social media accounts. After being suspended for his initial comments, Ye said he would go “death con 3 on Jewish people,” which led to him being permanently de-platformed. Kanye West and Other Recent Controversies This news is hot on the heels of Ye wearing a “White Lives Matter” T-Shirt to Paris Fashion Week. Ye told conservative media personality, Tucker Carlson, that the T-Shirt provoked such a huge backlash because he was acting in a way that the media disapproved of. “Because the same people that have stripped us of our identity and labeled us as a color, have told us what it means to be black.” Of his social media bans, Ye says that Zuckerberg and friends, “have toyed with me and tried to blackball anyone whoever opposes their agenda.” In fact, instead of being big mad about it, Ye has decided to take action. Parler CEO George Farmer doesn’t seem to support Ye’s ramblings about a Jewish cabal. But he still thinks people should be allowed to air potentially faulty opinions. “In all worlds, the only cure for wrong ideas is more ideas. It’s more speech, not less speech. Censorship in any format is never a good thing. And this is what we and he agree on.” Media Mogul Buy Ups It seems Ye is not alone in wanting to say whatever thought comes into his mind without censorship. Many hugely wealthy moguls have been buying up social media platforms like they are about to face scarcity. Elon Musk has famously taken over Twitter, after being annoyed by their censorship and what he considers to be an infestation of bots. Trump has decided to start his own platform, called Truth Social. The social media site says they encourage “open, free, and honest global conversation without discriminating against political ideology.” Truth Social is currently unavailable to users of Android phones, thanks to Google not allowing it on their app store. While Apple is the smartphone leader in the USA, Android is dominant in a global sense. Many have accused Google of maintaining a monopoly over both ideology and the app market. Other moguls are at it as well: Peter Thiel and J.D. Vance have acquired Rumble, an alternative to YouTube. Rumble say they fight cancel culture. Thiel, a German-American billionaire, was a co-founder of PayPal. He was also the first outside investor in Facebook. So, he has had an interest in social media for a very long time. James David Vance is an American lawyer and venture capitalist, and a critic of Donald Trump. Ye and Parler Parler CEO George Farmer told Fox Business News that the Parler app needs Ye in many ways. “What motivated this for him was, of course, his banning from other social media platforms. And this is a trend that we’ve seen with so many different people. Instagram and Twitter closed down his accounts, expressing discontent with ‘wrong thinking’ on his part – or at least tweets they weren’t happy about. And of course, this motivated him like many other influencers and celebrities of high caliber stature to come across to us and to have this conversation with us.” Parlement Technologies, the parent company of Parler, said in a press release that they have “entered into an agreement in principle to sell Parler, the world’s pioneering uncancelable free speech platform, to Ye (formerly known as Kanye West). Ye has become the richest black man in history through music and apparel and is taking a bold stance against his recent censorship from Big Tech, using his far-reaching talents to further lead the fight to create a truly non-cancelable environment.” Ye said, “In a world where conservative opinions are considered to be controversial, we have to make sure we have the right to freely express ourselves.” On Parler, Ye can be found here. Kanye West and Free Speech The agreement in principle says that the parties will enter into a definitive purchase agreement and finish up by Q4 2022. Parlement will provide ongoing technical support and the use of private cloud services. This is important, as Amazon previously booted the company from its web-hosting site, meaning Parler went offline until it could find an alternative. Farmer told Fox Business News, “Ye said that free speech is an inalienable right, free speech is something that we all must strive towards. He’s very excited about this. The deal came together in short order, and we’re very excited about the potential that he can bring to the platform in terms of the growth profile.” Businesses Fear Being Cancelled Farmer said that growth in Parler is connected to businesses who have been subject to cancellations from other platforms. “We are already hosting several enterprise clients. We continue to expand that universe.” The company has also acquired a storage company, so their business customers don’t have to rely on Amazon for storage. “We can beat Amazon in terms of our pricing structures. We want to grow into this space. And we want to provide the plumbing of the internet both to agnostic clients in terms of their political outlook, but also in terms of businesses that are afraid of that cancellation factor, that so many businesses out there are now thinking about when they come to corporate planning.” Censorship Extends to Banks This week, Kanye West was papped while wearing a Satoshi Nakamoto hat. This is after he was “de-banked” by JPMorgan. This news of the debanking came via Candace Owens, who is an American conservative influencer and author. She is also the wife of Parler CEO George Farmer. Earlier today I learned that @kanyewest was officially kicked out of JP Morgan Chase bank. I was told there was no official reason given, but they sent this letter as well to confirm that he has until late November to find another place for the Yeezy empire to bank. pic.twitter.com/FUskokb6fP — Candace Owens (@RealCandaceO) October 12, 2022 Was Ye thrown out of his bank for his (sometimes crazy) opinions? And if so, should we all be worried about this? At the end of the day Will Ye be the voice for Bitcoin and crypto for the foreseeable future? Like all industries as a whole, cryptocurrency has some serious garbage strewn across it. There are some mind-blowing cryptos out there with amazing uses. There are also some rugpulls and scams too. Ye wearing a Satoshi Nakamoto hat is a massive statement, and could incite massive changes, both to the financial world and to politics. Interestingly, there is even a Yeezy coin, name after Ye’s fashion brand. Of course, it is not associated with Ye himself. If only everyone in this story knew that a whole crop of social media platforms already exist on the blockchain that solve a lot of the problems that are spoken about above. Welcome, Web3. While celebrity stories can be seen as superfluous and unnecessary, they are a microcosm of the world’s problems, and the fixes. For anyone who believes in the promise of crypto and the potential freedom of it, Ye’s struggles are the struggles of us all, whether you be left, right, center or have no interest in politics at all. Got something to say about Kanye West, Parler or anything else? Write to us or join the discussion in our Telegram channel. You can also catch us on Tik Tok, Facebook, or Twitter. Disclaimer All the information contained on our website is published in good faith and for general information purposes only. Any action the reader takes upon the information found on our website is strictly at their own risk. Read More…

Jury Begins Deliberations In Case Against ‘Steele Dossier’ ‘collector’ – Deltaplex News https://digitalalabamanews.com/jury-begins-deliberations-in-case-against-steele-dossier-collector-deltaplex-news/ (ALEXANDRIA, Va.) — A federal jury in Alexandria, Virginia, is deliberating the fate of Igor Danchenko, the Russian national accused of lying to federal investigators about information he collected in 2016 for former British intelligence officer Christopher Steele that was compiled in Steele’s now-infamous “dossier” detailing Donald Trump’s alleged ties to Russia. A Washington-based think tank analyst, Danchenko was hired by Steele to contribute intelligence information to Steele’s research. He became a primary source to what came to be known as the “Steele dossier,” which included explosive and unproven claims about Trump. In a November 2021 indictment, prosecutors accused Danchenko of misleading FBI agents about his sources of information. Danchenko has pleaded not guilty. Danchenko’s trial is the final case of three prosecutions secured by special counsel John Durham in his years-long probe into alleged misconduct by the FBI and intelligence community in their investigation of Trump’s ties to Russia. On Monday, Durham himself questioned prosecution witnesses and delivered the prosecution’s rebuttal at the end of closing arguments. Danchenko served as a paid FBI informant from 2017 to 2020, when the bureau was pushed to sever its relationship with him after the Justice Department named him as a source for the Steele dossier. Federal prosecutors have argued during the trail that Danchenko misled the FBI during three days of voluntary interviews in January 2017 about where the dossier’s information came from and about his contact with other individuals. They said Danchenko told a “shifting story” to the agents who were trying to trace the source of the information. The government alleges that false information provided to the FBI by Danchenko was used to renew the bureau’s application to continue its secret surveillance of former Trump campaign adviser Carter Page after Page’s visits to Moscow. After the prosecution rested its case Friday, the defense asked U.S. Judge Anthony Trenga to dismiss all five counts in the indictment against Danchenko, saying that Durham did not prove Danchenko lied to the FBI and obstructed its investigation into Trump’s alleged Russian ties. Trenga dismissed one count: the prosecutions’ accusation that Danchenko falsely told the FBI that he never spoken with “a long-time participant in Democratic Party Politics” about any allegations included in the dossier. The judge ruled that Danchenko’s denial was “literally true” because the communication occurred over email and not via the spoken word. In the defense’s closing argument, Danchenko attorney Stuart Sears accused prosecutors of being on a “mission to prove [Danchenko] a liar” and said they failed to present evidence which “doesn’t support their narrative that he’s a liar.” Sears also pointed to the defense’s cross examination of the prosecution’s FBI witnesses, during which they spoke of the value of Danchenko’s contributions as an intelligence source and said that his outing as a source had damaged U.S. national security. “They didn’t say what [the prosecution] wanted them to say,” said Sears, who contended that the prosecutor’s own evidence “proves the defendant is not guilty.” In the government’s closing argument, prosecutors told jurors that Danchenko’s “own words” in emails from 2016 demonstrate that he provided misleading statements to investigators. “You didn’t check your common sense at the courthouse door. You need to use it,” prosecutor Michael Keilty told the jury. Copyright © 2022, ABC Audio. All rights reserved. Read More…

AP News Summary At 12:36 A.m. EDT https://digitalalabamanews.com/ap-news-summary-at-1236-a-m-edt/ Suicide drones strike fear in Ukraine’s capital, killing 4 KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Waves of explosives-laden suicide drones have struck Ukraine’s capital, setting buildings ablaze and tearing a hole in one of them. The attack sent people scurrying for shelter and came a week after Russia unleashed its most widespread strikes against the country in months. Authorities said four people died. One drone struck a residential building. Energy facilities were also hit by the drones, which appeared to include Iranian-made Shaheds. Separately, Moscow authorities said a Russian Su-34 warplane crashed in a residential area in the Russian port of Yeysk on the Sea of Azov, after an engine failure during takeoff, killing four people on the ground, injuring 25 and setting an apartment building ablaze. Officials said both crewmembers bailed out safely. Democrats who flipped Congress in 2018 face hurdles in 2022 WASHINGTON (AP) — Election Day in 2018 saw Democrats flip more than 40 seats to regain the House majority. Anxiety over Donald Trump’s presidency was a major reason for the strong Democratic showing. But those Democrats elected four years ago are campaigning in a much different political environment this year, with Trump out of office and voters concerned about the economy and crime. Plus, many districts that were once competitive have been redrawn by Republican-dominated state legislatures to become more friendly to the GOP. Those changes are leaving several Democrats in the Class of 2018 facing tough reelections. Small town in southern Mexico hosts thousands of migrants MEXICO CITY (AP) — As migrants, especially Venezuelans, struggle to come to terms with a new U.S. policy discouraging border crossings, one small town in southern Mexico is unexpectedly playing host to thousands of migrants camped far from the U.S. border. San Pedro Tapanatepec had 7,000 migrants, about 75% Venezuelans, when The Associated Press visited at the beginning of October. By Monday, Mayor Humberto Parrazales estimated the number had grown to 14,000. While many Venezuelans had planned to make their way to the U.S. border, the new U.S. policy says border crossers will simply be expelled. That leaves many camped out in the temporary tent shelters wondering what they’ll do next. Student loan forgiveness application website goes live WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden has officially kicked off the application process for his student debt cancellation program. He announced Monday that 8 million borrowers had already applied for loan relief during the federal government’s soft launch period over the weekend. Biden is encouraging the tens of millions eligible for potential relief to visit studentaid.gov and touting the application form, which he says will take less than five minutes to complete. He says an early, “beta launch” version of the online form released late Friday handled the early stream of applications “without a glitch or any difficulty.” House panel: Trump’s bills to Secret Service ‘exorbitant’ NEW YORK (AP) — Donald Trump’s private company arranged for the Secret Service to pay for rooms at his properties in excess of government-approved rates at least 40 times — including two charges for more than $1,100 per room, per night. That is according to documents released Monday by a congressional committee investigating the former president. The House Oversight Committee said the Secret Service was charged more than $800 per night at least 11 times by his properties. The Trump Organization denied anything improper. It said it provided rooms to the Secret Service at cost or deep discount, adding that its business did not profit at all from the presidency. US businesses propose hiding trade data used to trace abuse A group of major U.S. businesses wants the government to hide key import data — a move trade experts say would make it more difficult for Americans to link the products they buy to labor abuse overseas. The proposal obtained by The Associated Press was made by an advisory panel comprised of executives from 20 companies, including Walmart, General Motors and Intel. If adopted, it would shroud in secrecy customs data on ocean-going freight responsible for about half of the $2.7 trillion in goods entering the U.S. every year.  Human rights activists say it flies in the face of government commitments to be more transparent on trade. Mike Lee tries to distance himself from Trump in Utah debate OREM, Utah (AP) — U.S. Senator Mike Lee has used a debate with his challenger Monday evening to try to draw a distinction between his record and former President Donald Trump’s. Lee is locked in a competitive race against independent Evan McMullin, hoping to win a third-term representing Utah in the U.S. Senate. The race has taken shape as a referendum on the direction Trump has taken the GOP. McMullin is attempting to harness anti-Trump sentiment, while Lee is attacking the direction President Joe Biden has taken the nation. Lee’s last minute efforts to put space between his voting record and Trump’s stances depart from his past messaging as the election nears. UK leader in peril after Treasury chief axes ‘Trussonomics’ LONDON (AP) — New U.K. Treasury chief Jeremy Hunt has reversed most of an economic package announced by the government just weeks ago, including a planned cut in income taxes. Hunt said Monday he was scrapping “almost all” the tax cuts announced last month by the Conservative government of Prime Minister Liz Truss, and also signaled that public spending cuts are on the way. It was a bid to soothe turbulent financial markets spooked by fears of excessive government borrowing. The move raises questions about how long the beleaguered prime minister can stay in office, though Truss insisted she has no plans to quit. She vowed to lead the Conservatives into the next general election, but many in the party want her gone. Australia drops recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital CANBERRA, Australia (AP) — Australia has reversed a previous government’s recognition of West Jerusalem as Israel’s capital. Foreign Minister Penny Wong said the center-left Labor Party government Cabinet agreed to again recognize Tel Aviv as the capital and reaffirmed that Jerusalem’s status must be resolved in peace negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians. The former conservative government’s decision in 2018 followed a U.S. decision to move its embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. Then-Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s government was elected out of office in May after nine years in power. North Carolina No. 1 in preseason AP Top 25 men’s basketball North Carolina is No. 1 in the preseason AP Top 25 men’s basketball poll. The national runner-up from last season returns four of five starters and received 47 of 62 first-place votes. Gonzaga is No. 2, followed by Houston and Kentucky. Kansas and Baylor, the last two national champions, are tied for fifth. Duke, led by new coach Jon Scheyer, is seventh with UCLA, Creighton and Arkansas rounding out the top 10. The Big 12 and SEC lead the way with five teams apiece in the Top 25. Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Read More…

More Than 600 Killed In Nigeria's Worst Flooding In A Decade | CNN https://digitalalabamanews.com/more-than-600-killed-in-nigerias-worst-flooding-in-a-decade-cnn/ CNN  —  The death toll from the worst flooding Nigeria has seen in a decade has passed 600 people, the country’s humanitarian affairs ministry tweeted on Sunday. According to the ministry, more than 2 million people have been affected by flooding that has spread across parts of the country’s south after a particularly wet rainy season. More than 200,000 homes have been completely or partially damaged, the ministry added. Earlier this month, Nigeria’s National Emergency Management Agency warned of catastrophic flooding for states located along the courses of the Niger and Benue rivers, noting that three of Nigeria’s overfilled reservoirs were expected to overflow. NEMA said the release of excess water from a dam in neighboring Cameroon had contributed to the flooding. While many parts of Nigeria are prone to yearly floods, flooding in certain areas has been more severe than the last major floods in 2012, a Red Cross official in Kogi told CNN last week. NASA images show decimating reach of worst flood this region has seen in a decade 02:19 – Source: CNN Nigeria’s Minister of Humanitarian Affairs Sadiya Umar Farouq warned Sunday that more flooding was likely and urged regional governments to prepare accordingly. “We are calling on the respective State Governments, Local Government Councils and Communities to prepare for more flooding by evacuating people living on flood plains to high grounds, provide tents and relief materials, fresh water as well as medical supplies for a possible outbreak of water-borne diseases,” the ministry of humanitarian affairs said on Twitter Sunday. The country will soon implement its National Flood Emergency Preparedness and Response Plan, aimed at improving coordination of the flood response efforts. According to the ministry, “relief has gone to every state of the federation,” and “many state governments did not prepare for the floods.” A delegation organized by the ministry will be visiting state governors across the country to suggest strengthening states’ flood response mechanisms. Read More…

Man Dies After Falling On Subway Tracks During Fight In Queens https://digitalalabamanews.com/man-dies-after-falling-on-subway-tracks-during-fight-in-queens/ BREAKING NEWSAccuTrack Radar Live View ABC7 New York 24/7 Eyewitness News Stream THE LOOP | NYC Weather and Traffic Cams WATCH LIVE Welcome, Your Account Log Out JACKSON HEIGHTS, Queens (WABC) — A man has died after falling on the subway tracks during a fight in Queens. Police say Heriberto Quintana, 48, was struck by an oncoming F train at the Roosevelt Ave-Jackson Heights subway station on Monday just before 5 p.m. Police believe Quintana bumped into another man on the platform causing the second man’s cellphone to fall onto the track bed. Then a fight erupted. Quintana then fell onto the tracks as the F train pulled into the station. EMS eventually rescued his body from the tracks and Quintana was later pronounced dead at Elmhurst Hospital. Authorities believe the two men were strangers before the fatal encounter. Detectives are reviewing surveillance videos and interviewing eyewitnesses to determine if Quintana was pushed onto the tracks or if he lost his footing during the fight. “For anyone to lose their life over a fight, what is that?” said Charlton D’Souza. Police say they arrested a 50-year-old man at the scene, believed to be involved in the fight. ALSO READ | Eyewitness News gets exclusive ride-along with NYPD commissioner amid fear over subway crime ———- * More Queens news * Send us a news tip * Download the abc7NY app for breaking news alerts * Follow us on YouTube Submit a tip or story idea to Eyewitness News Have a breaking news tip or an idea for a story we should cover? Send it to Eyewitness News using the form below. If attaching a video or photo, terms of use apply. Copyright © 2022 WABC-TV. All Rights Reserved. Read More…

Shaw Industries Selected For Governor’s Made In Alabama Showcase https://digitalalabamanews.com/shaw-industries-selected-for-governors-made-in-alabama-showcase/ “With the incredible support of our associates and the Andalusia community, we can continue to empower our people to drive next-generation manufacturing initiatives into our facility,” – Brent Floyd, Site Director for Shaw Plant 65 in Andalusia, AL ANDALUSIA, Ala. (PRWEB) October 17, 2022 Shaw Industries Group, Inc.’s (Shaw) Andalusia, Ala. manufacturing facility was one of 14 businesses selected by Governor Kay Ivey to participate in the second annual Made in Alabama Showcase at the Alabama State Capitol in Montgomery on Oct. 14, 2022. Shaw and the other participating businesses were selected for producing exceptional products with exemplary service in Alabama. The event was held in partnership with the Alabama Department of Commerce and attendees included elected officials, state employees, members of the media and the public. “Today’s Made in Alabama Showcase offered an excellent opportunity for some of Alabama’s top companies to demo their products and connect with other businesses,” said Governor Ivey. “A vital part of the community for the last 30 years, Shaw Industries is Covington County’s largest employer and remains dedicated to ensuring its work environment is representative of the top-notch products offered to consumers. I’m proud to have this world-leading company here in Alabama and am thankful for their participation in this year’s Made in Alabama Showcase.” Plant 65, Shaw’s Andalusia facility, creates fiber used to manufacture its residential and commercial carpets. Over the past three years, Shaw has invested in plant upgrades that improve efficiency, production, ergonomics and safety for more than 1,100 associates who work at the plant. Shaw has also made major investments in its people and their health and wellbeing with the recent opening of the on-site Shaw Family Health Center. The Shaw Family Health Center provides primary care, acute care, behavioral health and wellness services to the company’s local associates and their dependents. “As Shaw continues its work to create a better future for our people, customers and communities, we will continue to invest in our associates and our operations in Andalusia,” states David Morgan, Shaw executive vice president of operations. “Our people and their passion for their work is reflected in the innovative products and solutions they create for our customers.” Brent Floyd, site director for Shaw Plant 65, states, “Shaw is proud to be the largest employer in Covington County. With the incredible support of our associates and the Andalusia community, we can continue to empower our people to drive next-generation manufacturing initiatives into our facility. We are honored to be one of the 14 leading companies featured at this prestigious event.” ABOUT SHAW Shaw Industries Group, Inc. supplies carpet, resilient, hardwood, laminate, tile and stone, synthetic turf, and other specialty products to residential and commercial markets worldwide. The company meets its diverse customer needs through an expansive portfolio of brands, including: Anderson Tuftex, COREtec, Floorigami, Patcraft, Philadelphia Commercial, Shaw Contract, Shaw Floors, Shaw Sports Turf, Southwest Greens and more. Shaw is a wholly owned subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway, Inc. with more than $6 billion in annual revenue and more than 20,000 associates worldwide. Headquartered in Dalton, Ga., Shaw has salespeople and/or offices located throughout the U.S. as well as Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, France, India, Mexico, Singapore, United Arab Emirates, and the United Kingdom. Visit http://www.shawinc.com for more information. ### Share article on social media or email: Read More…

Mobile Mother Angry, Says Her Daughter Was Ambushed After Homecoming Prank https://digitalalabamanews.com/mobile-mother-angry-says-her-daughter-was-ambushed-after-homecoming-prank/ MOBILE, Ala. (WALA) – A frustrated Mobile mother wants something done after she says her daughter was assaulted. Britney Dees says her 16-year-old daughter ended up in the emergency room Friday, after several of her classmates threw objects at her, hitting her in the face. It’s now being investigated by Mobile Police. There are no other details outside of that. Dees says someone needs to answer for what happened to her daughter. “It’s an injustice, it really is, and it’s not fair at all,” Dees said. “Because my kid matters and it’s all being brushed away like she doesn’t.” Dees says her daughter’s eye was swollen shut after her school’s homecoming game. She says several of the students were pranking one another that week by tee-peeing houses. But Friday night, Dees says the harmless prank went too far. “Before they actually got to the house the kids jumped out and ambushed them and threw eggs and other things at them,” Dees explained. “And my child got hit in the face. Her eye is swollen shut, it’s still swollen shut, and we had to take her to the emergency room.” Dees says her daughter’s shirt was covered in blood after the ordeal. A report was filed with Mobile Police, and it’s being investigated as suspicious circumstances. Dees says that’s not enough. “Nobody’s taking accountability. Nobody has picked up the phone or talked to me and my husband or said like hey, I’m sorry what can we do? Can we help or anything like that? If anything it’s been the opposite like they shouldn’t have been over here,” Dees said. Dees says no other teens were hurt. FOX 10 News will continue to follow the story and let you know if any charges are filed. — Download the FOX10 Weather App. Get life-saving severe weather warnings and alerts for your location no matter where you are. Available free in the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store. Copyright 2022 WALA. All rights reserved. Read More…

Dateline Rice For Oct. 14, 2022 https://digitalalabamanews.com/dateline-rice-for-oct-14-2022/ NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL Soaring inflation prompts biggest Social Security cost-of-living boost since 1981 — 6 questions answered  John Diamond, the Edward A. and Hermena Hancock Kelly Fellow in Public Finance at the Baker Institute for Public Policy and director of its Center for Public Finance, authored an article. The Conversation (This article also appeared in more than 50 other media outlets.) http://dateline.rice/oct-14-diamond Saudi Arabia and US trade accusations over oil cuts Jim Krane, the Wallace S. Wilson Fellow for Energy Studies at the Baker Institute for Public Policy, is quoted. The New York Times (Subscription is required. This article also appeared in the Oct. 14 print edition of the Times, and it appeared on the front of the World section in The Boston Globe.) http://dateline.rice/oct-14-krane The voting machine hacking threat you probably haven’t heard about Dan Wallach, professor of computer science and of electrical and computer engineering and a Rice Faculty Scholar at the Baker Institute for Public Policy, is quoted. Politico (This article also appeared in Yahoo! News, Yahoo! Finance and MSN.) http://dateline.rice/oct-14-wallach Bulletin highlights risk-limiting audits as efficient means of confirming the accuracy of election results Phys.org http://dateline.rice/oct-14-wallach A conversation with MacArthur Fellow Kiese Laymon Articles and a radio broadcast feature Kiese Laymon, the Libbie Shearn Moody Professor of Creative Writing and English, who has been awarded a 2022 MacArthur Fellowship. He is the second-ever recipient from Rice. WNYC http://dateline.rice/oct-14-laymon ‘Black Information Network’ WWRL-AM (New York) http://dateline.rice/oct-14-laymon (This segment aired 10 times.) This year’s ‘genius grant’ recipients include a Penn State historian and Princeton mathematics professor MSN Lifestyle (This Philadelphia Inquirer article appeared in the Oct. 14 print edition of the Inquirer and the South Jersey issue. This article also appeared in yesterday’s Dateline.) http://dateline.rice/oct-14-laymon Young global pianists to compete at Honens International Piano Competition in Calgary Jon Kimura Parker, professor of piano at the Shepherd School of Music, is featured.  Calgary Herald (This article also appeared in SaltWire.) http://dateline.rice/oct-14-parker   Educator’s TikTok video about white men who take Asian studies because of their love of anime goes viral Graduate student Bianca Mabute-Louie is featured. Yahoo! News (This article originally appeared in NextShark.) http://dateline.rice/oct-14-louie Leggere ‘Lolita’ in Texas: La censura nelle scuole Americane Andrea Bajani, Writer in Residence in Modern and Classical Literatures and Cultures, authored an article about banned books in Texas. La Repubblica (An English translation is not available.) http://dateline.rice/oct-14-bajani HOUSTON/TEXAS  Houston research team snags $2M grant for virus-sensing tech An article features the announcement that a team of researchers from Rice have received a $2 million grant to develop a technology that speeds up the analysis of wastewater for viruses from hours to seconds. Co-investigators include Rafael Verduzco, a professor of chemical and biomolecular engineering and of materials science and nanoengineering; Caroline Ajo-Franklin, professor of biosciences; Jonathan Silberg, the Stewart Memorial Professor of BioSciences and director of the Systems, Synthetic and Physical Biology graduate program; Kirstin Matthews, fellow in science and technology policy at the Baker Institute for Public Policy; and Lauren Stadler, assistant professor of civil and environmental engineering. InnovationMap (This article was also featured in the “Daily Digest” newsletter.) http://dateline.rice/oct-14-innomap Space event explores how Houston is advancing the aerospace industry David Alexander, director of the Rice Space Institute and professor of physics and astronomy, is quoted. Greater Houston Partnership http://dateline.rice/oct-14-alexander Houston wuxia festival celebrates Chinese-language action films An article mentions that Rice Cinema will screen films as part of “Wuxia Cinema: The Magic of Martial Arts,” which runs Oct. 14-23. Houston Chronicle’s “Preview” (Subscription is required. This article appeared in the Oct. 14 print edition and in a previous edition of Dateline.) http://dateline.rice/oct-14-hc Doing what works Rice is mentioned. University of Houston Downtown http://dateline.rice/oct-14-uhd ‘Yellowstone’ creator Taylor Sheridan shares early childhood fears to spotlight Fort Worth nonprofit’s work An article mentions that experts at Rice are collaborating on an economic study of early childhood care centers. Fort Worth Report http://dateline.rice/oct-14-fwr Brazoria County Fair excited for full return An article mentions that Rice’s Marching Owl Band will perform in the Brazoria County Fair Parade Oct. 15. The Facts (Subscription is required. This article also appeared on the front page of the Oct. 14 print and digital editions.) http://dateline.rice/oct-14-mob Community calendar for Oct. 14, 2022 The Facts (Subscription is required.) http://dateline.rice/oct-14-mob BROADCAST  Substantially sinking suburbs, and travel host Rick Steves (Oct. 14, 2022) Vivian Ho, the James A. Baker III Institute Chair in Health Economics at the Baker Institute for Public Policy’s Center for Health and Biosciences, participates in a roundtable discussion of “The Good, Bad and Ugly” of the week’s news. Houston Public Media (This segment also aired on KUHF-FM in Houston.) http://dateline.rice/oct-14-ho Trading in your old Deshaun Watson jersey for a discount: ‘The Good, Bad and Ugly’ of the week Houston Public Media http://dateline.rice/oct-14-ho FOX 26 rates Hidalgo attack ad: ‘Mostly B.S.’ Mark Jones, the Joseph D. Jamail Chair in Latin American Studies, professor of political science and fellow in political science at the Baker Institute for Public Policy, is quoted. Fox 26 Online (This segment also aired on KRIV-TV in Houston.) http://dateline.rice/oct-14-jones KLBJ-AM (Austin) http://dateline.rice/oct-14-jones (This segment aired three times.) Biden administration announces new rules for Venezuelan migrants Francisco Monaldi, fellow in Latin American energy policy at the Center for Energy Studies, the Center for the United States and Mexico and the Latin America Initiative at the Baker Institute for Public Policy and a lecturer in energy economics at Rice, is quoted. Texas Standard http://dateline.rice/oct-14-monaldi With migration rising, US considers easing sanctions against Venezuela Zyri http://dateline.rice/oct-14-monaldi Latino vs. Hispanic: Experts explain the difference between these umbrella terms An article cites research by the Kinder Institute of Urban Research, which found that Hispanics make up 43% of Harris County’s population. ABC 13 Online (This segment aired twice in KTRK-TV in Houston.) http://dateline.rice/oct-14-abc13 Essay: The education and disillusionment of a young Texas reporter in DC Rice is mentioned. KXXV Online (This Texas Tribune article appeared in yesterday’s Dateline.) http://dateline.rice/oct-14-kxxv KERA-AM (Dallas) A broadcast cites Rice research into hospital pricing. http://dateline.rice/oct-14-kera TRADE/PROFESSIONAL Post-hurricane, should Florida rebuild bridges faster or better? Jamie Padgett, the Stanley C. Moore Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering and a researcher at Rice’s Severe Storm Prediction, Education and Evacuation from Disasters Center, is quoted. Governing http://dateline.rice/oct-14-padgett How an Iran nuclear deal would (and wouldn’t) change Gulf security stances Kristian Coates Ulrichsen, fellow for the Middle East at the Baker Institute for Public Policy, is quoted. Breaking Defense http://dateline.rice/oct-14-ulrichsen Winter is coming: Europe’s huge geopolitical blunder on Russian energy An article cites a gas geoeconomics study by experts at the Baker Institute for Public Policy. Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists http://dateline.rice/oct-14-bas Delonia Watson vies to unseat 2nd Appeals Court Justice Elizabeth Kerr in judicial election Alumna Elizabeth Kerr is featured. Law.com (Subscription is required.) http://dateline.rice/oct-14-kerr Los científicos que lograron la temperatura más baja registrada en el universo (y cómo puede servir para desarrollar tecnologías inimaginables) An article features research by alumnus Eduardo Ibarra García Padilla. MDZol.com (An English translation is not available.) http://dateline.rice/oct-14-padilla OTHER NEWS OF INTEREST  Letters A letter to the editor cites 2018 collaborative research by Jim Elliott, professor and chair of sociology. Arkansas Democrat-Gazette (Subscription is required. This letter also appeared in the Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette and on the front of the Voices section in the Oct. 14 print and digital editions of both newspapers.) http://dateline.rice/oct-14-elliott   Virtual volcanic field trip model for bicultural collaboration Alumna Sriparna Saha is featured. The National Tribune http://dateline.rice/oct-14-saha Scientists reanimate dead spiders An article mentions Rice research that repurposed deceased spiders as mechanical grippers. Liberty Voice http://dateline.rice/oct-14-lv ​​​SPORTS  Florida Atlantic vs. Rice prediction, game preview An article previews Rice football’s Oct. 15 game against Florida Atlantic University. Yahoo! Sports (This article originally appeared in College Football News.) http://dateline.rice/oct-14-ys College football underdog picks: Best bets for Week 7 The Philadelphia Inquirer http://dateline.rice/oct-14-tpi Previewing the biggest games on the college football schedule: On the Line FootballScoop.com http://...

Trump Thinking Of Putting Marjorie Taylor Greene In As A Senior Justice Dept. Official If He Wins In 2024: Report https://digitalalabamanews.com/trump-thinking-of-putting-marjorie-taylor-greene-in-as-a-senior-justice-dept-official-if-he-wins-in-2024-report/ Marjorie Taylor Greene on Facebook. Former President Donald Trump hasn’t officially declared whether or not he’s running for office in 2024, but he’s already plotting his nominees to serve in his Cabinet. Rolling Stone reported that Trump is bragging to his close allies that he wants Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) as one of his secretaries. “Wouldn’t she be great?” Trump asked a confident earlier this year, at least two people confirmed to the magazine. It’s unclear what he would appoint Greene to be as she has no real expertise in anything other than CrossFit. Greene would also face off against the U.S. Senate to approve her appointment, which likely wouldn’t happen. However, Trump spent many of his appointments simply appointing people that would never be voted on. A slew of secretaries in Trump’s Cabinet were “acting secretaries” or “acting assistant secretaries” of this or that. But, “he loves MTG and would want her very close in a second term, that much was clear,” the source claims. A second source said that over the past year Trump has been talking about Greene as someone who could be a senior official at the Justice Department. The source was confused, noting, “I don’t think she’s a lawyer.” Greene isn’t a lawyer but it’s just the kind of move that Trump would think of as a way to thumb his nose at “the establishment” that frequently mandates that he hire someone qualified for positions. Greene is beloved by the Republican Party base across the county, far more so than Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA), who expects to become Speaker in November. It’s unknown if Greene intends to mount a challenge. She told Steve Bannon that she would love to lead “the company.” To be a Secretary in Trump’s presidency, Greene would have to step down from Congress. Read the full report at Rolling Stone. Read More…

Stock Futures Rise After Nasdaq Notches Best Day Since July https://digitalalabamanews.com/stock-futures-rise-after-nasdaq-notches-best-day-since-july/ Stock futures rose Monday evening after the Nasdaq Composite posted its best daily performance since July. Futures tied to the Dow Jones Industrial average gained 174 points or 0.58%. S&P 500 futures jumped 0.69% and Nasdaq 100 futures climbed 0.75%. The moves came after a winning day on Wall Street. The Dow Jones industrial Average popped about 550 points, coming off a volatile past week of trading. The S&P 500 also rose 2.65% for the day. The Nasdaq surged 3.43% as tech stocks rebounded, led by names such as Amazon, Meta Platforms and Microsoft. It was the best day for the tech-heavy index since July 27. Solid earnings reports sent stocks higher. Bank of America rose 6.06% after delivering better than expected results, and Bank of New York Mellon gained 5.08% after its own earnings beat. In addition, another pivot from the U.K. bolstered markets. Jeremy Hunt, the new U.K. finance minister, announced Monday that he would reverse nearly all announced tax cuts and walk back an energy subsidy. Investors are watching for any sign that the stock market has bottomed and the new rally may be the start of a new bull cycle. Analysts aren’t so sure that the bottom is in, however, and many see more pain ahead. “I think this is going to be one of those bear market rallies that has people scratching their heads,” said Guy Adami, director of advisor advocacy at Private Advisor Group in Morristown, New Jersey, on CNBC’s “Fast Money,” adding that markets are nowhere near out of the woods when it comes to the bear market. More big bank earnings are on deck. Tuesday morning, Goldman Sachs will report its quarterly results. Johnson & Johnson, Netflix and United Airlines will also announce results that day. Later in the week, Tesla, IBM and American Airlines report. CNBC Pro: Top Goldman Sachs strategist picks the global small-cap stocks he says look cheap Smaller companies have had a difficult year. In fact, according to Peter Oppenheimer, Goldman Sachs’ chief global equity strategist, they’ve had the worst year-to-date since the turn of the century. However, he argued that the segment is starting to look “inexpensive,” and named several global stocks with stable growth and good profitability. Pro subscribers can read more here. — Zavier Ong CNBC Pro: Strategist predicts when the S&P 500 could bottom — and names 3 stocks he likes right now Rob Luna, chief investment strategist at Surevest, says his firm has “started to witness individual stocks outperforming and showing signs of already bottoming.” He predicts when the S&P 500‘s long-term move downward could turn, and names the stocks he thinks look attractive right now. CNBC Pro subscribers can read more here. — Weizhen Tan Monday’s rally saw all sectors close more than 10% from 52-week highs During Monday’s rally, all three major indices climbed and the Nasdaq posted its best day since July. It also closed more than 34% from its 52-week high, while the S&P 500 and the Dow Jones Industrial Average were 23% and 18% from their 52-week highs, respectively. All sectors also closed more than 10% from their 52-week highs, led by communication services that was up more than 40% from the key level. Tech, consumer discretionary and real estate were all more than 32% from 52-week highs, while financials and materials were more than 22% from 52-week highs. —Carmen Reinicke Tuesday earnings on deck Third quarter earnings season continues Tuesday, with a slew of companies reporting results before and after the bell. Here’s what companies are on deck for tomorrow. Before the bell: Goldman Sachs Hasbro Albertsons Johnson & Johnson After the bell: Netflix United Airlines —Carmen Reinicke Stock futures rise after Monday rally Stock futures were higher Monday evening after stocks staged a rally in the regular trading session. Futures tied to the Dow Jones Industrial average gained 161 points or 0.53%. S&P 500 futures jumped 0.58% and Nasdaq 100 futures climbed 0.59%. —Carmen Reinicke Read More…

With Trump Subpoena Likely This Week, What’s Next For The Jan. 6 Committee? – WFIN Local News https://digitalalabamanews.com/with-trump-subpoena-likely-this-week-whats-next-for-the-jan-6-committee-wfin-local-news/ (WASHINGTON) — In a dramatic end to what might be its last public hearing, the Jan. 6 committee took the historic step to vote to subpoena Donald Trump. The subpoena will likely be formally issued this week. On Thursday, all nine members of the panel approved the resolution to compel the former president to testify about the Capitol attack, which the committee argues was the violent culmination of Trump’s many efforts to overturn the 2020 election. “He must be accountable,” chairman Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., said before the vote. “He is required to answer for his actions.” There’s been discussion among committee members and staff for months about whether they would want Trump to testify in a live setting. There’s no doubt they want him to testify under oath, as committee members made clear in the hearing. Some members are hesitant to give Trump a live stage, while others view it as beneficial to their investigation as they would get to question him under oath. And there appears to be more of an openness among committee members to have him appear live. Trump has told advisers he’d welcome a live appearance, according to sources familiar with his thinking, but has yet to say publicly whether he’ll cooperate. The committee would need to negotiate with Trump if he were to offer to testify live in response to the panel’s subpoena, Rep. Adam Kinzinger said Sunday. “I think that’s going to be a negotiation,” Kinzinger, R-Ill., a member of the committee, told ABC “This Week” anchor George Stephanopoulos. “I’ll only address that when we know for sure whether or not the president has tried to push to come in and talk to us live.” “He’s made it clear he has nothing to hide, [that’s] what he said. So he should come in on the day we asked him to come in. If he pushes off beyond that, we’ll figure out what to do next,” Kinzinger said. Trump did not answer whether he would appear in a 14-page memo sent to Thompson Friday, in which he continued his attacks on the panel and continued to make false claims about the presidential race. “This memo is being written to express our anger, disappointment, and complaint that with all of the hundreds of millions of dollars spent on what many consider to be a Charade and Witch Hunt,” he wrote. Some experts are wary the public will ever see Trump testify before the Jan. 6 committee. “Before Donald Trump comes to answer questions about this under oath not only will pigs fly but they will circumvent the globe,” attorney Jeff Robins told ABC News Live anchor Linsey Davis. What if he doesn’t cooperate? If Trump refuses to cooperate, the committee could move to have the full House hold him in contempt and refer the matter to the Justice Department for prosecution. “If they’re not going to do that, then it is essentially symbolic,” Nick Akerman, a former Watergate special prosecutor, told ABC News. Chairman Thompson wouldn’t say when asked after the hearing how the committee planned to handle any eventual litigation or defiance of their subpoena. The House has referred four people to the Justice Department after votes to hold them in contempt — former Trump White House chief of staff, Mark Meadows, Trump’s former social media director Dan Scavino, former Trump White House trade adviser Peter Navarro and form political adviser Steve Bannon. DOJ declined to press charges against Meadows and Scavino. Bannon was found guilty in July for defying the Jan. 6 committee subpoena. Navarro was also indicted on contempt of Congress charges and is scheduled to go to trial next month. Trump could also attempt to run out the clock by fighting the subpoena if the committee took it to court, as he’s done with other investigations and records requests he’s faced over the years. “There are myriad legal and separation of powers issues raised by the subpoena, including whether a congressional committee can compel the president to appear as well as the procedural hurdles in attempting to enforce a subpoena in court which previous court decisions have cast serious doubt upon,” Stanley Brand, a former counsel to the House of Representatives who has represented some of the Jan. 6 witnesses, including Scavino, told ABC News. “There is also a question of timing given the substantial delays in litigating such a subpoena,” Brand said, pointing to congressional efforts to subpoena testimony from former White House counsel Don McGahn. The case stretched out in court for nearly two years, and ended with a voluntary agreement by McGahn to testify. Brand said this issue, if litigated, could take just as long. Republicans, if they win back control of the House this midterm election cycle as expected, are expected to drop the Jan. 6 investigation and turn to other matters. Top Republicans have already promised investigations into Biden and his son, Hunter Biden. “Time is not on their side,” Akerman said, “considering it’s mid-October and there’s going to be a new Congress coming in Jan. 1, and there’s no guarantee it’s going to be controlled by the Democrats.” Copyright (C) 2022, ABC Audio. All rights reserved. Read More…

White House Blasts What It Calls Trump’s ‘antisemitic’ Comments – WFIN Local News https://digitalalabamanews.com/white-house-blasts-what-it-calls-trumps-antisemitic-comments-wfin-local-news/ (WASHINGTON) — The White House on Monday blasted former President Donald Trump for a weekend post on his social media platform telling American Jews to “get their act together.” “Donald Trump’s comments were antisemitic, as you all know, and insulting, both to Jews and to our Israeli allies. But let’s be clear for years, for years now, Donald Trump has aligned with extremist and antisemitic figures,” White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Monday. “It should be called out … just like we called out our Democratic friends and colleagues last week and we will condemn and call this out as well.” “We need to root out antisemitism everywhere it rears its ugly head. We need to call this out,” she said. “With respect to Israel, our relationship is ironclad. And it’s rooted in shared values and interests. Donald Trump clearly doesn’t understand that either.” The rebuke comes after Trump knocked Jews on Truth Social over a perceived lack of loyalty to Israel, hitting on an antisemitic trope of dual loyalty that has plagued Jews across the world for centuries. “No President has done more for Israel than I have. Somewhat surprisingly, however, our wonderful Evangelicals are far more appreciative of this than the people of the Jewish faith, especially those living in the U.S.,” Trump wrote. “Those living in Israel, though, are a different story – Highest approval rating in the World, could easily be P.M.! U.S. Jews have to get their act together and appreciate what they have in Israel – Before it is too late!” Trump added. The comment led to other criticism, including from the Jewish Democratic Council of America, which called the post “more unabashed antisemitism from GOP leader Donald Trump.” “His threat to Jewish Americans and his continued use of the antisemitic dual loyalty trope fuels hatred against Jews. We will not be threatened by Donald Trump and Jewish Americans will reject GOP bigotry this November,” the council tweeted. “We don’t need the former president, who curries favor with extremists and antisemites, to lecture us about the U.S.-Israel relationship. It is not about a quid pro quo; it rests on shared values and security interests. This ‘Jewsplaining’ is insulting and disgusting,” Anti-Defamation League’s CEO Jonathan Greenblatt also said Sunday. “When the president says, ‘before it’s too late,’ it sounds like a threat in an environment where Jews already feel threatened,” Greenblatt added on CNN Monday. “It is bewildering that President Trump, who has Jewish children and Jewish grandchildren, continues to evoke age-old antisemitic tropes.” Monday was not the first time Trump faced criticism over his comments on Jews. He sounded a similar note in 2019 when he said Jewish people who back Democrats are disloyal. “I think Jewish people that vote for a Democrat — I think it shows either a total lack of knowledge or great disloyalty,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office in response to policies from some Democrats to curtail aid to Israel. “There’s people in this country that are Jewish — no longer love Israel. I’ll tell you, the evangelical Christians love Israel more than the Jews in this country,” he added in an interview released in December. “It used to be that Israel had absolute power over Congress. And today, I think it’s the exact opposite,” Trump said. “And I think Obama and Biden did that. And yet in the election, they still get a lot of votes from Jewish people, which tells you that the Jewish people, and I’ve said this for a long time, the Jewish people in the United States either don’t like Israel or don’t care about Israel.” A spokesperson for Trump did not immediately respond to a request for comment regarding Monday’s White House rebuke. Copyright (C) 2022, ABC Audio. All rights reserved. Read More…

Nakia Creek Fire At 1,565 Acres; Evacuation Zones Shrink https://digitalalabamanews.com/nakia-creek-fire-at-1565-acres-evacuation-zones-shrink/ The fire is 5 percent contained Published: October 17, 2022, 1:10pm Updated: October 17, 2022, 7:28pm 7 Photos Clark County Sheriff public information officer Chris Skidmore talks to media Monday, Sept. 17, 2022, during a briefing at Grove Field in Camas. The Nakia Creek Fire ballooned to more than 1400 acres after dry and windy conditions on Sunday. (Taylor Balkom/The Columbian) Photo Gallery Evacuation zones shrank Monday as firefighters worked to bring the Nakia Creek Fire back under control after it grew tenfold over the weekend to 1,565 acres. As of Saturday morning, the fire was smoldering after burning 156 acres and getting progressively more contained by crews, according to Washington Department of Natural Resources spokeswoman Sharon Steriti. That changed on Sunday, when hot, dry and windy weather gave new life to a fire. “It was looking really good, and as you may also know, we had a red flag warning on Sunday,” Steriti said. “And the fire unfortunately got across the line during the evening (Saturday), and on Sunday morning, it was discovered that it was burning over the line. And then the east winds and weather came in, and kind of changed the story.” Steriti was optimistic Monday afternoon that calmer, cooler weather would allow firefighters to get more of a handle on the fire. The high temperature for Camas is forecast to reach 77 degrees Tuesday, the National Weather Service shows. “We’re not going to be getting those winds that we got over the weekend, so the conditions and weather are looking pretty good to make some really good advances in getting this fire under control,” she said Monday. No structures have been destroyed and no one has been injured from the fire, she said. The fire was 5 percent contained Monday, according to the Department of Natural Resources. Evacuation zones grew rapidly Sunday to include nearly 29,000 residences in the areas of Camas and Washougal under a Level 1 “Get Ready” warning. Estimates that night placed the fire at 2,000 acres until crews could get a better look at conditions Monday morning, according to Clark Regional Emergency Services Agency. Clark County sheriff’s Sgt. Chris Skidmore said officials erred on the side of caution when setting evacuation zones. Sheriff’s office Search and Rescue crews knocked on about 600 doors Sunday to notify the residents they were under a Level 3 “Go Now” warning, Skidmore said. But with more favorable weather Monday, authorities hoped to allow some to return home. About 2,500 people were still in warning zones, with 553 of under a Level 3 warning, according to CRESA. Some roads also reopened Monday, including Northeast 53rd Street to Northeast 292nd Avenue and Northeast Blair Road at Washougal River Road to state Highway 500. Closures remained, as of Monday evening, in the areas of Lessard, Ireland, Livingston Mountain, Boulder Creek and Winters. The L1000 and L1400 roads are also still closed. Rumors of rampant looting in evacuated areas are not true, Skidmore said, and deputies have been patrolling neighborhoods and road closure areas. Steriti noted this summer has been one of the driest on record and said it’s not normal to have a wildfire like this so late in the year. Sunday’s extreme weather conditions also sparked new fires, including the Black Hole Fire near Chelatchie Prairie. Officials issued a Level 1 warning for the northeast corner of Clark County and the northwest corner of Skamania County. There’s no indication any new fires nearby sparked from the Nakia Creek Fire, Steriti said. Those in need of help can reach the Emergency Operations Center for Clark Regional Emergency Services Agency at 360-992-9229. People can also sign up for phone and email alerts publicalerts.org/signup. School closures The Washougal School District will operate school with regular bell times Tuesday, the district announced Monday afternoon. The district closed schools Monday due to the fire. As of the updated evacuation map shared Monday morning, no schools within district boundaries remained within evacuation zones. Two of the Washougal district’s schools, Cape Horn-Skye Elementary School and Canyon Creek Middle School, had been previously located in the Level 3 evacuation area and were closed by the fire chief Sunday. Gause Elementary School was open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. to provide on-site meals, support and recreational activities. Schools in the Camas School District will again be open Tuesday. The district has modified several of its bus routes in accordance to fire evacuation zones, according to a district spokesperson. Bus No. 6 will be canceled. Bus No. 3, No. 7 , No. 15, No. 66 and No. 68 will all be running with limited service due to road closures. The district said it will continue to monitor evacuation zones and make further adjustments accordingly. Evergreen Public Schools sent out a message to families Sunday evening to let them know they were monitoring the situation via the Clark Regional Emergency Service Agency’s website. Monday’s evacuation map showed, just a handful of areas in the Evergreen district remain within the Level 1 boundary: Union High School, Frontier Middle School and Pioneer Elementary School. Mount Pleasant schools were closed Monday. There was no word, as of Monday afternoon, if they would reopen Tuesday. Poor air quality Air quality ranged between moderate and unhealthy Monday in parts of Clark County as a result of the wildfire smoke. The Vancouver area is expected to be in the moderate to unhealthy for sensitive groups air quality range for the next few days, while areas closer to the fire, such as Battle Ground and Yacolt, are predicted to be in the unhealthy to hazardous level, according to Uri Papish, executive director of the Southwest Clean Air Agency. The agency is extending its air quality advisory through Thursday when a stronger wind flow is expected to push the smoke east, according to Papish. Papish recommends that people who may be more sensitive limit their time spent outdoors, limit strenuous activity and limit indoor air pollution by not burning candles or incense and keeping doors and windows closed. If you are outside in areas with unhealthy for sensitive groups to hazardous air quality, Papish strongly recommends wearing a snug-fitting KN95 mask. Less-secure medical masks will not do much to help avoid inhaling particulate matter, according to Papish. People at an increased risk for problems from decreased air quality include children, those over 65, people with heart and lung disease, people with respiratory infections, pregnant people and people who smoke, among others, according to a press release sent out by Clark County Public Health. The release did note that “even healthy people can have symptoms or health problems” when the air is smoky. Some symptoms include: sore throat, headaches, burning eyes, coughing, shortness of breath and chest pain. If you are experiencing more severe symptoms, like shortness of breath or chest pain, the release urges individuals to seek medical attention. 13 Photos Nakia Creek Fire, Oct. 17 Photo Gallery “Check the air monitoring network,” Papish said. “Stay indoors and take measures to protect (your health).” For up-to-date information on air quality in your area visit www.swcleanair.gov, airnow.gov or wasmoke.blogspot.com. Read More…

Her Rapists Were Sentenced To Life In Prison. Now They're Free, And She's In Hiding | CNN https://digitalalabamanews.com/her-rapists-were-sentenced-to-life-in-prison-now-theyre-free-and-shes-in-hiding-cnn/ New Delhi CNN  —  Standing in a row outside the gates of Godhra remand center in Gujarat, western India, the 11 middle-aged men could have been mistaken for visiting dignitaries receiving sweets and blessings from local admirers. In reality, they were part of a 2002 Hindu mob who had just been released after serving 14 years of life sentences for one of the most heinous crimes in India’s recent history. Since their release in August – on India’s Independence Day – the men have scattered across the country. But there’s one person who can never escape the repercussions of the attack 20 years ago – Bilkis Bano, who was just 21 years old and pregnant when she was gang-raped by a mob that killed 14 of her family members, including her 3-year-old daughter. Bano was too distraught to speak about the men’s release, but issued a statement through her lawyer, saying she hadn’t been consulted about the decision and it had “shaken” her faith in justice. “My sorrow and my wavering faith is not for myself alone but for every woman who is struggling for justice in the courts,” the statement said. The recommendation to free the men was made by an advisory panel appointed by the Gujarat government, led by Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Critics say the decision was tainted by politics, misogyny and religious discrimination, and exposes what they see as the hypocrisy of BJP leaders who claim to support gender equality and women’s rights. Some lawmakers and activists have petitioned the Supreme Court for the men to be rearrested. “The concept of Article 15 where there will be no discrimination in the Constitution on the basis of sex or religion or gender has just been thrown out the window,” said one of the petitioners, Mahua Moitra, a lawmaker from the All India Trinamool Congress party. Some lawmakers said the decision had political overtones, coming just four months before the BJP hopes to secure re-election in the Gujarat state elections. Subhashini Ali, a former parliamentarian and vice president of the All India Democratic Women’s Association, who has filed a separate petition in the Supreme Court, said if the intent was to polarize voters, it had failed. “For the first time, I’m finding that even BJP supporters are not supporting what they’ve done,” she said. The Gujarat and central governments did not respond to requests for comment. Bano’s fight for justice dates back to 2002, when centuries-old divisions erupted in Gujarat between majority Hindus and Muslims, who according to the latest census figures, from more than a decade ago, made up about 10% of the state’s population, and about 14% nationwide. At the time, Hindu mobs set fire to Muslim homes and shops in retaliation for the firebombing of a train near Godhra, which killed dozens of Hindu activists and was blamed on Muslims. The activists had been campaigning to build a temple on the site of the Babri Masjid mosque in Ayodhya, a city many Hindus believe is the birthplace of Rama, the incarnation of Vishnu, one of Hinduism’s most powerful deities. Muslims were still grieving the 1992 loss of the ancient mosque, destroyed by Hindu nationalists, reportedly with hammers, rods, and shovels. That triggered some of India’s deadliest sectarian violence since independence in 1947. An inquiry found Modi – then Gujarat’s chief minister – wasn’t to blame for the riots in 2002 that killed more than 1,000 people – including Bano’s family. Bano would later tell the court the men ran toward them with swords, sticks and sickles. According to court documents, one grabbed her young daughter and smashed her on the ground. Three men raped her, while the others attacked her sisters, aunts and their daughters. She fell unconscious and woke hours later, surrounded by bodies. In 2008, after a high-profile trial, her attackers were sentenced to life in prison for rape and murder – and that’s where Bano hoped they’d stay. But this August, the state government granted them remission, under a provision in India’s Code of Criminal Procedure that allows prisoners to be freed once they serve 14 years. Moitra, from the All India Trinamool Congress party, was horrified by the idea that Bano, now in her 40s, would once again have to return to court, so she and other activists challenged the release with the Supreme Court on her behalf. “Everyone thinks that Bilkis would be the one to file a review petition. (But) she was exhausted,” Moitra said. “She couldn’t believe that justice would end like this. “So I think it was incumbent upon all of us to do it.” The Supreme Court played a role in the prisoners’ release and will now decide whether it should be upheld or reversed, according to Sanjay Hegde, a senior advocate at the court. He said the court had earlier directed authorities to consider the prisoners’ plea for leniency under a 1992 remission policy. That policy entitled all prisoners to seek remission after serving 14 years, no matter what crime they’d committed. The rules were tightened in 2014, so that some criminals, including rapists and murderers, are ineligible for early release. Gujarat Additional Chief Secretary Raj Kumar told the Press Trust of India (PTI) the men were released under the rules that were in effect at the time of their conviction. National president of the BJP’s women’s wing Vanathi Srinivasan said the Gujarat government followed the law. “They were not released for political reasons,” she said, according to PTI. However, in videotaped comments, CK Raulji, a BJP state legislator and member of the panel that recommended the release, suggested caste may have had something to do with it. “They are good people – Brahmins. And Brahmins are known to have good ‘sanskaar’ (morals). It might have been someone’s ill intention to corner and punish them,” he said, independent news site Mojo Story reported. Though the caste system has long been outlawed in India, the traditional system of social hierarchy holds Hindu Brahmins above other castes – and especially above Muslims. During Modi’s last eight years in power, many Muslims say religious intolerance has become more pronounced and crimes against Muslims more common. “The government is sending out a very clear message – show me your face, and I will show you how the law applies to you,” said Moitra. “Show me your religion, and I’ll show you how the law applies to you. And in a way, show me your gender and I’ll show you how the law applies to you.” Hegde told CNN there was no legal reason why the Supreme Court couldn’t reverse the men’s release and order them to surrender to authorities. “If they refuse to surrender, appropriate action could be taken,” he said. Yakub Rasool, Bano’s husband, agreed to meet CNN beside a highway in Gujarat’s Godhra District, so as not to reveal the location of his wife, who is in hiding. “Bilkis is so upset that she is not talking to anyone,” he said. Rasool said the couple had moved house up to 20 times in the past two decades, and now feared retribution from the men, who lived in the same village when the riots broke out. “Since the incident took place, we had to leave the village, but even today about 150 Muslim families live there,” he said. “All of them are scared. They feel these men will create trouble since they are now free.” Across India, protests were held in support of Bano, condemning the decision as an attack not only on Muslims but women’s rights in a country where government data shows a woman is raped every 17 minutes. Some saw the assailants’ release as a deliberate pitch for votes from BJP supporters ahead of the Gujarat state election. “The message the Gujarat government is sending out to its voters is that we support the men who raped Muslim women in the 2002 riots – vote for us,” activist Kavita Krishnan told supporters at a rally in Delhi in August. Critics say the decision reflects the disconnect between the government’s messaging on women’s rights and the daily reality for most women. The men were released on Independence Day, the same day Modi addressed the nation from a podium at the historic Red Fort in Delhi, urging his countrymen to show women respect. “There should be a feeling of respect for them, and in this, the government, administration, police and justice system will have to perform their duty (100) percent. We have to make this resolution,” Modi said. But Rasool says there was no respect shown to his wife, who fought for justice for many years. The couple want the decision reversed, as do those who have filed petitions with the Supreme Court. “We strongly believe that what happened with Bilkis was wrong and the convicts should be sent back to jail,” he said. Read More…

AP News In Brief At 9:04 P.m. EDT https://digitalalabamanews.com/ap-news-in-brief-at-904-p-m-edt-4/ Suicide drones strike fear in Ukraine’s capital, killing 4 KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Waves of explosives-laden suicide drones struck Ukraine’s capital Monday, setting buildings ablaze, tearing a hole in one of them and sending people scurrying for cover or trying to shoot them down in what the president said was Russia’s attempt to terrorize civilians. The concentrated use of the kamikaze drones was the second barrage in as many weeks — after months in which air attacks had become a rarity in central Kyiv. The assault sowed fear and frayed nerves as blasts rocked the city. Energy facilities were struck and one drone largely collapsed a residential building, killing four people, authorities said. Intense bursts of gunfire rang out as the Iranian-made Shahed drones buzzed overhead, apparently as soldiers tried to destroy them. Others headed for shelter, nervously scanning the skies. But Ukraine has become grimly accustomed to attacks nearly eight months into the Russian invasion, and city life resumed as rescuers picked through debris. Previous Russian airstrikes on Kyiv were mostly with missiles. Analysts believe the slower-moving Shahed drones can be programmed to accurately hit certain targets using GPS unless the system fails. Also Monday, a Russian Su-34 warplane crashed in a residential area in the Russian port of Yeysk, on the Sea of Azov, after an engine failure — killing at least four people on the ground, injuring 25 others and starting a fire that engulfed several floors of a nine-story apartment building, authorities said. UK leader in peril after Treasury chief axes ‘Trussonomics’ LONDON (AP) — The U.K.’s new Treasury chief ripped up the government’s economic plan on Monday, dramatically reversing most of the tax cuts and spending plans that new Prime Minister Liz Truss announced less than a month ago. The move raises more questions about how long the beleaguered British leader can stay in office, though Truss insisted she has no plans to quit. Chancellor of the Exchequer Jeremy Hunt, said he was scrapping “almost all” of Truss’ tax cuts, along with her flagship energy policy and her promise — repeated just last week — that there will be no public spending cuts. While the reversal of policy calmed financial markets and helped restore the government’s economic credibility, it further undermined the prime minister’s rapidly crumbling authority and fueled calls for her to step down before her despairing Conservative Party forces her out. Truss declined to attend the House of Commons to answer a question on the economy from the leader of the opposition, sending House of Commons leader Penny Mordaunt in her place. Mordaunt denied a lawmaker’s suggestion that Truss was “cowering under her desk” to avoid scrutiny. “The prime minister is not under a desk,” Mordaunt said, words hardly likely to inspire confidence in the leader who only came to power last month. North Carolina No. 1 in preseason AP Top 25 men’s basketball North Carolina surprised just about everyone last year when a talented team led by first-year coach Hubert Davis parlayed a No. 8 seed in the NCAA Tournament into a run to the national title game. The Tar Heels won’t be sneaking up on anyone this year. With four starters back from the team that lost to Kansas in New Orleans, the Tar Heels are the runaway pick as the preseason No. 1 in the AP Top 25 released Monday. They earned 47 of 62 first-place votes from a national media panel to easily outdistance Gonzaga, the top preseason team the past two years. “As they opened up their lockers for the first practice of last year, there was a picture of the New Orleans Superdome in there. I wanted them to see where we were headed in April,” Davis recalled last week. “The hard work and preparation, the practice that had to be put into place to put ourselves in position to do that. t’s the same approach this year compared to last year. The only difference this year is the outside noise. “Last year,” Davis said, “the outside noise didn’t think we had a chance. The outside noise this year thinks we do.” Student loan forgiveness application website goes live WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden on Monday officially kicked off the application process for his student debt cancellation program and announced that 8 million borrowers had already applied for loan relief during the federal government’s soft launch period over the weekend. He encouraged the tens of millions eligible for potential relief to visit studentaid.gov and touted the application form that the president said would take less than five minutes to complete. An early, “beta launch” version of the online form released late Friday handled the early stream of applications “without a glitch or any difficulty,” Biden said. “It means more than 8 million Americans are — starting this week — on their way to receiving life-changing relief,” Biden, accompanied by Education Secretary Miguel Cardona, said Monday. The president called his program a “game-changer” for millions of Americans saddled with student loan debt. The number of borrowers who applied during the testing period already amounts to more than one-fourth of the total number of applicants the administration had projected would submit forms, underscoring the popularity of the program and the eagerness of borrowers to receive the debt relief. Some 8 million borrowers who have income information already on file with the Education Department would see their debt canceled without applying. Biden’s plan calls for $10,000 in federal student debt cancellation for those with incomes below $125,000 a year, or households that make less than $250,000 a year. Those who received federal Pell Grants to attend college are eligible for an additional $10,000. The plan makes 20 million eligible to get their federal student debt erased entirely. At Georgia debate, Abrams and Kemp clash on abortion, crime ATLANTA (AP) — Republican Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp and Democratic challenger Stacey Abrams painted different visions for the future of Georgia, clashing on the economy, crime, voting and education as they debated Monday night after more than 100,000 Georgians swarmed to the polls of the first day of early voting. Kemp issued perhaps his clearest commitment yet that he won’t pursue any new restrictions on abortion or birth control, clarifying his position on an issue he’s sometimes avoided as he seeks a second term. Abrams, pushing uphill to unseat the incumbent four years after she narrowly lost to Kemp, told voters that he had delivered little. “This is a governor who for the last four years has beaten his chest but delivered very little for most Georgia. He’s weakened gun laws and flooded our streets with guns. He’s weakened … women’s rights, denied women’s access to reproductive care. The most dangerous thing facing Georgia is four more years of Brian Kemp. We need a governor who actually understands the math and the morality.” Kemp, though, reminded voters that he had delivered billions in tax relief and rebates to millions of Georgians, crediting his decision to reopen Georgia’s economy amid the pandemic for the state’s financial strength and repeatedly blaming Democrats for economic difficulties. House panel: Trump’s bills to Secret Service ‘exorbitant’ NEW YORK (AP) — Donald Trump’s private company arranged for the Secret Service to pay for rooms at his properties in excess of government-approved rates at least 40 times during his presidency, including two charges for more than $1,100 per room, per night, according to documents released Monday by a congressional committee. The Secret Service was charged room rates of more than $800 per night at least 11 times when agents stayed at Mar-a-Lago in Florida, the Trump hotel in Washington, D.C., and other properties, the Democratic-led House Oversight Committee said. It noted that Trump made over 500 trips to his properties while president. The “exorbitant” rates point to a possible “taxpayer-funded windfall for former President Trump’s struggling businesses,” Committee Chair Carolyn Maloney of New York wrote in a letter Monday to the Secret Service requesting more information. The Secret Service said it had received the letter and was reviewing it. The Trump Organization denied that the Secret Service charges were a problem and said it provided rooms and other services at cost, at big discounts or for free. US businesses propose hiding trade data used to trace abuse A group of major U.S. businesses wants the government to hide key import data — a move trade experts say would make it more difficult for Americans to link the products they buy to labor abuse overseas. The Commercial Customs Operations Advisory Committee is made up of executives from 20 companies, including Walmart, General Motors and Intel. The committee is authorized by U.S. Customs and Border Protection to advise on ways to streamline trade regulations. Last week — ahead of closed-door meetings starting Monday in Washington with senior officials from CBP and other federal agencies — the executives quietly unveiled proposals they said would modernize import and export rules to keep pace with trade volumes that have nearly quintupled in the past three decades. The Associated Press obtained a copy of the proposal from a committee member. Among the proposed changes: making data collected from vessel manifests confidential. The information is vitally important for researchers and reporters seeking to hold corporations accountable for the mistreatment of workers in their foreign supply chains. Haiti calls for help at the UN as world mulls assistance UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The United States and Mexico said Monday they are preparing a U.N. resolution that would authorize an international mission to help improve security in Haiti, whose government issued a “distr...

Race For Miami-Dade Commission Seat Heats Up As Trump Endorses Candidate https://digitalalabamanews.com/race-for-miami-dade-commission-seat-heats-up-as-trump-endorses-candidate/ Former President Donald Trump is chiming in on a Miami-Dade County Commission race. “Kevin Marino Cabrera, special guy, a friend of mine,” Trump says in a taped endorsement that Cabrera is using in his campaign material. Cabrera was the former president’s state director in Florida. “We helped deliver Florida by a historic margin,” Cabrera said in a recent interview. His opponent for District 6, Coral Gables City Commissioner Jorge Fors, thinks it’s a bad idea for the former firebrand president to get involved in Miami-Dade local politics. “He’s trying to paint himself as a ‘MAGA Republican,’” Fors said. “We don’t really know what he is.” Commission District 6 stretches from the Hialeah area, south down the Palmetto Expressway. It includes Miami International Airport and a portion of Coral Gables. Local Politics All things politics in South Florida and throughout the Sunshine State While their respective brands of conservative politics are on different tracks, both candidates say senior citizens in the district are a priority. “Their incomes clearly are not rising, but their property taxes continue to rise, even those that have a homestead,” Cabrera said. “One of the big issues they are facing is that a lot of them are going to have to sell their homes and move out of the homes after living there for decades, because they just can’t afford to continue living there.”   Fors agrees. “Frankly, over the next three to five years, I think we are going to see a serious problem in where to put these older folks who really don’t know where they are going to go,” Fors said. “We are going to have to add more dwellings for them.”   When it comes to politics, Fors knocks Cabrera — and hard — over his 2018 appearance at a GOP protest attended by members of extremist group The Proud Boys. He also calls out Cabrera’s lack of governing experience and his nasty politics, with Fors filing a lawsuit against Cabrera. “My opponent, frankly, has told a lot of lies during this campaign,” Fors said. “That I was arrested, that I had been investigated for fraud, that I had a history of financial recklessness. He photoshopped me in an orange jumpsuit, handcuffed, behind bars, implying that I had been incarcerated before. None of which is true.”  Inflation, gas prices and the soaring cost of living are major themes of Cabrera’s message. He’s a lobbyist by trade and boasts of impressive endorsements on his website: Miami Mayor Francis Suarez, Hialeah Mayor Steve Bovo and Congresswoman Maria Elvira Salazar. Fors’ lawsuit, says Cabrera, is because he is losing. “It is a frivolous lawsuit, nobody sues anybody when they are ahead,” Cabrera said. “They sue people when they are behind. I know he is losing, he knows he’s losing, the residents of this district knows he’s losing.” District 6 Commissioner Rebecca Sosa, who is retiring, has endorsed Fors. Read More…

Bad Blood In Ohio Senate Debate: 'I Think I Struck A Nerve' https://digitalalabamanews.com/bad-blood-in-ohio-senate-debate-i-think-i-struck-a-nerve/ For the second straight debate, Ryan went after the Donald Trump-endorsed Vance for being too close to the former president. To drive his point further this time, Ryan said that Vance, once a prominent Trump critic, was “calling Trump America’s Hitler. Then he kissed his ass.” Vance responded by linking Ryan as many times as possible to Speaker Nancy Pelosi, arguing that his rival’s image as a moderate in Ohio campaign ads defies a voting record that’s in line with national Democratic leadership. Although Ryan once challenged Pelosi for House Democratic leader, Vance simply repeated the line that Ryan “votes with her 100 percent of the time.” Both Ryan and Vance are unique candidates: The Democrat is a former presidential aspirant who is tacking toward the center and vastly outperforming his party’s gubernatorial nominee, while Vance is a political novice best known as the author of the bestseller “Hillbilly Elegy.” Yet their race has become nationalized as November creeps ever closer, with Trump and Pelosi often taking top billing. With no Vance voting record to attack, Ryan is seeking to cast his opponent as subservient to Trump and GOP donor Peter Thiel, who spent $15 million to get Vance through the primary. Meanwhile, Vance uses Ryan’s Democratic voting record as a cudgel in a state where his rival needs to bring home Republicans to win. Vance contended that Ryan’s “entire campaign is based on sucking up to the National Democratic establishment” and that Ryan “says he’s reasonable, keeps saying he’s a moderate … but when he gets to Washington, he votes the opposite way.” That focus on the House speaker was not lost on Ryan. “You keep talking about Nancy Pelosi,” Ryan said at one point Monday night. “If you want to run against Nancy Pelosi, move back to San Francisco and run against Nancy Pelosi. You’re running against me.” The two men break sharply on a host of issues: Vance endorsed a 15-week abortion ban that some others in the GOP have avoided, while Ryan supports a bill to expand abortion rights; Ryan backed the bipartisan gun safety bill this summer, while Vance opposes its strengthening of so-called “red flag” laws. But it was a question about the racist Great Replacement Theory, which falsely asserts that minorities are an existential threat to white people, that elicited the most heated exchange during the debate. Vance was asked Monday about his past warnings of immigrant influence, replying that Democratic leaders are “very explicit about that, they say they want more and more immigration because if that happens, they’ll ensure that Republicans are never able to win another national election.” Ryan called the theory “nonsense,” then slammed what he called Vance’s embrace of it: “This is who he’s running around with, talking about replacement theory.” Vance responded that Ryan’s attack was “shameful” given that his biracial children would get attacked by “scumbags” online because of the Democrat’s rhetoric. “I think I struck a nerve with this guy,” Ryan said, pausing for effect. Vance replied: “You absolutely struck a nerve!” Then he pivoted back to tying Ryan to Pelosi and Schumer. Vance will clearly be more conservative than Portman, who has supported bipartisan deals on infrastructure, gun safety and even a failed independent commission to investigate the Capitol attack by Trump supporters. Vance has Portman’s support but a harder edge than the genteel incumbent, who won his 2016 reelection campaign by 20 points. Vance praised Portman for his work on mental health, while Ryan — who was endorsed by a former Portman chief of staff — repeatedly invoked the incumbent. “I’m not quite sure why Rob Portman endorsed you,” Ryan told Vance Monday night, “because you don’t agree with any of the compromises he’s been able to make over the last year.” Read More…

Alabama Academy Of Honor Adds 5 Members To Its Ranks https://digitalalabamanews.com/alabama-academy-of-honor-adds-5-members-to-its-ranks/ The Alabama Academy of Honor, created by the Legislature in the 1960s to recognize living Alabamians for accomplishments in business, civil rights, science, politics, education, literature, sports, and other fields, welcomed five new members today. In a ceremony at the Capitol this morning, the academy inducted former Alabama Supreme Court Chief Justice Sue Bell Cobb, construction company executive M. James Gorrie, genetic researcher Richard M. Myers, former University of Alabama gymnastics coach Sarah Patterson, and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama executive Timothy Vines. The academy maintains a membership of up to 100 living members, plus the governor and every living former governor. About 190 people elected to the academy have since died. The members of the academy elect new members. It takes a vote by a majority of the members to elect a new member. Sue Bell Cobb Cobb became the first woman elected chief justice of the Alabama Supreme Court in 2006. Cobb grew up in Evergreen and earned degrees in history and law from the University of Alabama. She was appointed district judge in Conecuh County at age 25 and went on to become the first woman elected to the Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals in 1994. Cobb has championed improvements in the state’s juvenile justice system and programs to help children. She served as president of the Alabama Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges and received the Juvenile Probation Officer Institute Outstanding Service Award, the Children’s Voice Award, and the Child Abuse Lifetime Achievement Award. Cobb is a founding member of the Children First Foundation and helped establish the Alabama Children First Trust Fund, which has directed hundreds of millions of dollars to services for children and families. Cobb now serves as the pro bono executive director of Redemption Earned, Inc., a non-profit organization that provides free legal assistance to help aging and ailing state inmates secure parole and transition to nursing homes. M. James Gorrie Since 2010, Gorrie has been CEO of Brasfield & Gorrie, a general contracting firm founded by his father, Miller, that has grown to have more than 3,500 employees in 13 regional offices and revenues of $4.2 billion in 2021. Gorrie began working for the company during summers in high school and college, learning the basics of the business in the equipment shop and the field. He went to work full-time after receiving a degree in building science from Auburn University in 1984. Brasfield & Gorrie has built hundreds of projects across the state. The company was the Official Construction Partner of the World Games 2022 in Birmingham, where its projects include the BJCC Legacy Arena, City Walk BHAM, and the BJCC Protective Stadium. Associated Builders and Contractors presented Gorrie a Cornerstone Award for lifetime achievement in 2014. He has promoted business growth in the state as director of the Economic Development Partnership of Alabama and the Birmingham Business Alliance. Gorrie serves on the local and national boards of the Salvation Army and on the board of the Alys Stephens Center for the Performing Arts. He is chairman of the board of the Monday Morning Quarterback Club’s Quarterbacking Children’s Health Foundation. Richard M. Myers Myers is a Selma native who earned a bachelor’s degree in biochemistry from the University of Alabama in 1976, followed by a doctoral degree in biochemistry from the University of California, Berkeley in 1982. In 1993, Myers became a professor and chair of the Department of Genetics at the Stanford University School of Medicine. At the Stanford Humane Genome Center, Myers led a team that contributed more than 10 percent of the data to the effort by the Human Genome Project to sequence the first human genome. Myers’ laboratory identified the genetic causes of several inherited diseases, including a form of childhood epilepsy and the most common cause of skin cancer. Myers returned to Alabama in 2008 to become president and science director of the HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology, a non-profit research and teaching institute in Huntsville. Myers was named chief scientific officer and president emeritus of HudsonAlpha in July. HudsonAlpha’s research includes a focus on neurodegenerative conditions including Alzheimer’s disease, Huntington’s disease, and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, as well as neuropsychiatric disorders such as bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and major depression. The goals are to understand the causes, develop therapies, and develop blood-based biomarker tests for early detection and monitoring. Myers has been an avid teacher and mentor during his career. He was named a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science in 2011. The Alabama Academy of Science awarded him the Wright A. Gardner Award in 2020. Myers is senior editor of the journal “Genome Research” published by Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press. Sarah Patterson Sarah Patterson and her husband David in 1978 took over an Alabama gymnastics program that had gone through four years and four coaches without a winning season. They built the Crimson Tide into a national powerhouse in the sport. Alabama won six NCAA championships and eight Southeastern Conference titles during Patterson’s 36 years as head coach. Patterson was the first SEC coach in any sport to win national titles in four different decades, 1988, 1991, 1996, 2002, 2011, and 2012. Patterson was named national coach of the year four times. She coached eight Crimson Tide gymnasts who won the Honda Award, which recognizes the nation’s top gymnast. She coached 189 Scholastic All-Americans. Gymnastics meets became a huge draw for fans during Patterson’s career, drawing sell-out crowds to the 15,000-seat Coleman Coliseum 11 times. Patterson capitalized on her coaching success to spearhead the establishment of the Power of Pink initiative, created in 2004 to raise awareness in the fight against breast cancer. The Power of Pink campaign has contributed $2.1 million to the DCH Breast Cancer Fund to help prevent, detect, and treat breast cancer in uninsured women. Patterson retired from coaching in 2014. She served as fundraising chair for the United Way of West Alabama in 2017 and serves on the boards of Elevate Tuscaloosa and Tuscaloosa Tourism and Sports. Timothy Vines Vines, a native of LaFayette in east Alabama, has served as president and CEO of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama, the largest health insurance provider in the state, since 2018. Vines also serves as board chairman for the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, a national federation of 35 independent and locally operated Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies. Vines graduated from Auburn University with a degree in finance in 1988. He played on the Auburn baseball team and now serves on the university’s board of trustees as well as the board of trustees at Samford University. Vines is on the board of directors or Regions Financial Corporation and is on the boards of the Birmingham Business Alliance, Leadership Birmingham, the Business Council of Alabama, and the Economic Development Partnership of Alabama. Vines is a strong supporter of the work of his wife of 31 years, Antoinette (Toni), who is the founder of Mercy Deliverance Ministries, which provides access to affordable housing, health care, and fresh food in underserved areas. Read more about the Alabama Academy of Honor. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. Read More…

Trump Administration Blocked CDC Transit Mask Mandate, Report Shows https://digitalalabamanews.com/trump-administration-blocked-cdc-transit-mask-mandate-report-shows-2/ WASHINGTON: Former president Donald Trump’s administration at a crucial time in the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 blocked the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) from adopting a federal mandate requiring face masks on airline flights and other forms of transit, a congressional report released on Monday (Oct 17) said. Marty Cetron, a senior CDC official, is cited in the report as saying the federal public health agency began working on the proposed order in July 2020 after its experts determined that there was scientific evidence to support requiring masks in public and commercial transportation. The report was released by a Democratic-led House of Representatives subcommittee examining pandemic-related issues. The proposed order would have required masks on public and commercial transportation modes and hubs like airports, airplanes, trains and ride-sharing vehicles, Cetron said. By July 2020, major airlines, regional transit systems and some airports had taken action on their own to mandate masks to try to curb the spread of COVID-19. But the report stated that CDC had heard from the transit industry that it wanted the federal government to issue a mandate. Cetron, who heads the CDC’s division of global migration and quarantine, said the agency was told by Trump administration officials that a mask requirement on mass transportation “would not happen”, according to the report. Cetron also told the panel that masking requirements “could have made a significant contribution” to saving US lives from COVID-19 in 2020. The report quoted Cetron as saying Alex Azar and Robert Redfield, who at the time headed the US Department of Health and Human Services and the CDC respectively, both had expressed support for the proposed order. With more than a million deaths, the United States leads the world in reported COVID-19 fatalities. Democrats have accused Trump of overseeing a disjointed response to the pandemic. Trump himself was hospitalised with COVID-19 later in 2020. Days after President Joe Biden took office in January 2021, the CDC issued a sweeping order requiring face masks on nearly all forms of public transportation. Cetron, who remains at the CDC, and an agency spokesperson declined to comment on Monday. Reuters reported in July 2020 that the Trump administration had held extensive talks about whether the CDC should issue an order requiring transportation masking. The Trump White House instead announced that it opposed any efforts by Congress to require masks in transit. Trump was seeking re-election at the time. Many US conservatives opposed government mandates requiring masks during the pandemic. Representative James Clyburn, who chairs the House committee, said the report shows that Trump’s administration “engaged in an unprecedented campaign of political interference in the federal government’s pandemic response, which undermined public health to benefit the former president’s political goals”. The Biden administration’s transportation mask mandates were challenged in court. A Florida-based federal judge in April declared the order unlawful and lifted it. The administration has appealed the ruling. A US appeals court has tentatively set arguments in the case for January. The House report also said Trump’s administration rejected a CDC plan to extend a no-sail order for cruise ships through the winter of 2020-2021 and instead issued a conditional order requiring the cruise industry to complete incremental steps before resuming operations. The report cited Redfield as saying then-vice president Mike Pence made the decision not to extend the no-sail order following lobbying from the industry and its allies. Read More…

Trump Calls GOP Senate Hopeful Joe O’Dea ‘stupid’ Over 2024 White House Remarks https://digitalalabamanews.com/trump-calls-gop-senate-hopeful-joe-odea-stupid-over-2024-white-house-remarks/ Former President Donald Trump blasted Colorado GOP Senate hopeful Joe O’Dea as “stupid” after the candidate suggested the ex-commander-in-chief shouldn’t run for the White House again. O’Dea also said on CNN Sunday he would “actively campaign against” Trump if he threw his hat in the ring for 2024, which the 45th president didn’t take kindly to Monday with Election Day less than a month away. Republicans are looking to knock off Colorado Democrat Michael Bennet who has served in the US Senate since 2009. “There’s this RINO [Republican in Name Only] character in the Great State of Colorado, Joe O’Dea that is running against the incumbent Democrat for the United States Senate, who is having a good old time saying that he wants to ‘distance’ himself from President Trump, and other slightly nasty things,” Trump said on his social media platform Truth Social. Former President Donald Trump blasted US Senate candidate Joe O’Dea over Truth Social Monday. William B. Plowman/NBC via Getty Images “He should look at the Economy, Inflation, Energy Independence, defeating ISIS, the Strongest EVER Border, Great Trade Deals, & much more, before he speaks. MAGA doesn’t Vote for stupid people with big mouths,” said Trump. O’Dea didn’t back down Monday, stating he’s his “own man.” “I’m a construction guy, not a politician,” O’Dea said in his statement, according to CNN. “President Trump is entitled to his opinion but I’m my own man and I’ll call it like I see it. “Another Biden, Trump election will tear this country apart. DeSantis, Scott, Pompeo or Haley would be better choices,” he said in reference to Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, South Carolina US Sen. Tim Scott, former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and former US Ambassador Nikki Haley. “These elections should be focused on Joe Biden’s failures – supercharged inflation, a broken border, rampant crime, a war on American energy – not a rehash of 2020. America needs to move forward.” O’Dea panned Trump on CNN’s “State of the Union” Sunday for not doing enough to calm the violence on Jan. 6, 2021 and stressed the country has to move forward with a handful of “really great Republicans” who could retake the White House in two years.  Read More…

For Biden And Trump, 2022 Is 2020 Sequel — And 2024 Preview? https://digitalalabamanews.com/for-biden-and-trump-2022-is-2020-sequel-and-2024-preview/ WASHINGTON (AP) — This year’s midterm elections are playing out as a strange continuation of the last presidential race — and a potential preview of the next one. Donald Trump, who refused to exit the stage after his defeat and continues to rally his supporters with lies about voter fraud, has spent months raging against Joe Biden, reshaping down-ballot campaigns that normally function as a straightforward referendum on the incumbent president. The result is an episode of political shadowboxing with little precedent, as the current president and his immediate predecessor — and possible future challenger — crisscross the country in support of their party’s candidates. Even as he faces multiple investigations, including a criminal probe into the handling of classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago estate, Trump has been holding raucous rallies in battleground states, where he alternates between touting his handpicked candidates and denouncing his enemies. He belittles and excoriates Biden while lying, as he did in Ohio last month, that “we didn’t lose” the last election. Biden has so far steered clear of some of the tightest midterm races, instead focusing on fundraisers and official events where he draws contrasts between Democratic and Republican policy agendas. He often avoids direct references to “the last guy,” but on Saturday in Oregon, Biden warned that “Trump controls the Republican Party.” Sometimes the two men travel to the same places, such as when they visited Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, within days of each other, a reflection of the narrow political map that will determine which party controls the U.S. Senate. “It’s remarkably unusual,” said Jeffrey Engel, founding director of the Center for Presidential History at Southern Methodist University, who strained to think of any comparison in previous election cycles. “Without exception, since the Great Depression” — Republican Herbert Hoover tried to plot a path back to power despite losing to Democrat Franklin Delano Roosevelt in 1932 — “we have not had a former president who believed they still had a viable political career ahead of them,” he said. Neither Trump nor Biden has formally announced they will run again. Trump has come close to declaring his candidacy, and Biden has said he intends to seek a second term. If they face off again, the competition between them could become one of the longest and impactful political duels in American history, spanning several years and multiple elections. Voters seem to have little appetite for a rematch. A recent AP-NORC poll shows only about 3 in 10 Americans want either Biden or Trump to run for president in two years. Just 5 in 10 Democrats want Biden to seek a second term, while 6 out of 10 Republicans hope to see Trump seek the presidency again. Engel said another battle between Biden and Trump would likely prove dispiriting. “What that fundamentally means is our country is not moving forward,” he said. “I have not met anybody who relishes that campaign.” However, it’s clear that both men see their fortunes tied to the other. When CNN’s Jake Tapper asked Biden whether he’s the only one who could fend off his predecessor in another campaign, the president sidestepped the question but expressed confidence about his chances. “I believe I can beat Donald Trump again,” he said. Trump would take issue with the use of the word “again” — he continues to spread the lie that Biden only took office through voter fraud. It’s an integral part of Trump’s political message, and he never fails to bring it up at rallies for Republican candidates who have endorsed his false views on the last election. Sometimes the rhetoric dives even deeper into conspiracies, a reminder that another campaign could represent an even sharper break with reality. In Arizona, during his most recent rally, Trump darkly suggested that Biden is surrounded by “vicious, very smart people” who are “pulling strings.” “No one thought this could happen in our country, and it all happened because of a rigged and stolen election,” he said. The former president has also tightened his embrace of the QAnon conspiracy theory, which portrays Trump as battling sinister, hidden forces. Using his Truth Social platform, Trump shared an image of himself wearing a Q lapel pin overlaid with the words “The Storm is Coming,” referencing his eventual victory over opponents who would be tried — or even executed — on live television. People close to Trump have said they believe a strong performance by Republicans in November will further encourage Trump to run again in two years, as he has been openly teasing for months. In addition to his rallies, which earn candidates local media attention and fire up the Republican base, Trump has been helping candidates in other ways, holding fundraisers and tele-rally calls on their behalf. Most significantly, last week, his new super PAC, MAGA Inc., reserved nearly $5 million in airtime for ads in key states attacking the opponents of his favored candidates. The first round of ads from the group notably do not feature Trump or even mention his name. Republicans have expressed frustration that Trump was hoarding small-dollar donations for himself and refusing to help the candidates he had pushed voters to nominate, despite sitting on an enormous war chest. But Mike DuHaime, a longtime Republican strategist, isn’t sure the outcome of the midterms will make a difference in Trump’s plans for the next presidential race. “He’ll take credit for every win and deflect blame for every loss,” he said. Trump has claimed, as he did in Pennsylvania last month, that the midterms are “a referendum on the corruption and extremism of Joe Biden and the radical Democrat party.” But DuHaime said Trump has prevented that from happening by injecting himself into this year’s races, providing a boost to Biden, whose poll numbers remain underwater as voters express concerns about the economy. “Trump is no ordinary president, nor did he really seem to care about the party,” he said. “He seems to care about himself more than the party that put him in office.” Biden’s circle has a similar view. An adviser, speaking on the condition of anonymity to discuss internal conversations, said those around Biden see the midterms as having become more of a choice than a referendum. Trump’s presence on the trail, the adviser said, is seen as helping make Democratic points for them. Celinda Lake, a Democratic pollster, said the only thing more helpful would be if Trump announced another presidential campaign. “He’s getting dangerously close to that,” she said. Biden has deferred any announcement about his own candidacy until after Election Day, keeping his focus on the midterms. Like other incumbent presidents in an election year, Biden has blended his political and governmental duties as voting begins. He stopped in Colorado on Wednesday to designate the first national monument of his administration, fulfilling the wishes of the state’s senior Democratic senator, Michael Bennet, who is seeking reelection this year. Although Bennet is favored to win, he’s facing a concerted challenge from Joe O’Dea, a Republican businessman. ___ Associated Press writers Jill Colvin in New York and Hannah Fingerhut in Washington contributed to this report. ___ Follow the AP’s coverage of the midterm elections at https://apnews.com/hub/2022-midterm-elections. Read More…

Thousands Evacuated In Washington State As 66 Large Fires Burn In U.S. https://digitalalabamanews.com/thousands-evacuated-in-washington-state-as-66-large-fires-burn-in-u-s/ Firefighters in Ramsey Crossing, Calif., tackle the Mosquito Fire on Sept. 15. The biggest fire in California this year has burned nearly 76,800 acres and has been active for 40 days. Photo: Eric Thayer/Getty Images A wind-driven wildfire exploded to 2,000 acres overnight before diminishing slightly to roughly 1,500 acres in southwest Washington state as authorities ordered evacuations for thousands of homes. The latest: The Nakia Creek Fire remained 5% contained on Monday, though evacuation zones had shrunk since Sunday night, according to the Clark Regional Emergency Services Agency. “Smoke was very heavy yesterday and even grounded aircraft fighting the fire,” the agency said in an update. Thought bubble, via Axios’ Andrew Freedman: The most dangerous wildfire weather conditions, which helped propel several large blazes in Washington state this weekend, have begun to shift. Slightly cooler, more humid air is present in western Washington in particular, helping firefighters to battle the flames. The strong easterly winds that dried out vegetation and yielded extreme fire behavior this weekend have died down. Temperatures are expected to remain milder than average through midweek, and by late this week, much cooler and rainy fall weather is forecast to arrive in the Pacific Northwest. The big picture: There’s an unusually high number of wildfires burning in the Pacific Northwest, Intermountain West and Canada, as much of the Western United States faces “above normal temperatures and minimum relative humidity,” per the National Inter Agency Fire Center. Photo: National Weather Service Seattle/Twitter There are “record high temperatures, dry weather, wildfire concerns and air quality issues across the Pacific Northwest continues,” the National Weather Service said in a forecast update on Monday morning. By the numbers: Washington’s Nakia Creek Fire, near Camas, east of Vancouver, which prompted Sunday’s evacuation orders, is one of 72 large fires in the U.S., according to the NIFC’s latest data. Zoom in: Smoke from that Washington wildfire in eastern Clark County that’s razed some 2,000 acres was “visible throughout the metropolitan area that Vancouver shares with Portland, Oregon,” AP notes. An air quality advisory remained in place for Metro Vancouver and the Fraser Valley in southwestern British Columbia due to wildfires in Washington and Canada, per a Metro Vancouver tweet Sunday evening. Photo: BC Wildfire Service/Twitter Zoom out: 24 large fires were burning in Idaho, 22 in Montana, 14 in Washington and seven in Oregon, per the NIFC data. Oklahoma has four large fires and California one — the monster Mosquito Fire that’s been active for 40 days, but which is now 95% contained. Context: Scientific research shows climate change is a key factor in wildfire risk. Much of the U.S. West is in the grip of a climate change-driven drought, which has exacerbated fire risk, per Axios’ Andrew Freedman. What we’re watching: “The Northwest will remain warmer than normal over the next few days thanks to the continued presence of a staunch upper-level ridge,” the National Weather Service said in an outlook update on Monday morning. “Some records may be tied or broken over the Pacific Northwest and Northern Rockies on Tuesday.” Editor’s note: This article has been updated with new details throughout. Read More…

More U.S. Companies Charging Employees For Job Training If They Quit https://digitalalabamanews.com/more-u-s-companies-charging-employees-for-job-training-if-they-quit/ WASHINGTON, Oct 17 (Reuters) – When a Washington state beauty salon charged Simran Bal $1,900 for training after she quit, she was shocked. Not only was Bal a licensed esthetician with no need for instruction, she argued that the trainings were specific to the shop and low quality. Bal’s story mirrors that of dozens of people and advocates in healthcare, trucking, retail and other industries who complained recently to U.S. regulators that some companies charge employees who quit large sums of money for training. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com Nearly 10% of American workers surveyed in 2020 were covered by a training repayment agreement, said the Cornell Survey Research Institute. The practice, which critics call Training Repayment Agreement Provisions, or TRAPs, is drawing scrutiny from U.S. regulators and lawmakers. On Capitol Hill, Senator Sherrod Brown is studying legislative options with an eye toward introducing a bill next year to rein in the practice, a Senate Democratic aide said. At the state level, attorneys general like Minnesota’s Keith Ellison are assessing how prevalent the practice is and could update guidance. Ellison told Reuters he would be inclined to oppose reimbursement demands for job-specific instruction while it “could be different” if an employer wanted reimbursement for training for a certification like a commercial driving license that is widely recognized as valuable. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has begun reviewing the practice, while the Justice Department and Federal Trade Commission have received complaints about it. The use of training agreements is growing even though unemployment is low, which presumably gives workers more power, said Jonathan Harris who teaches at the Loyola Law School Los Angeles. “Employers are looking for ways to keep their workers from quitting without raising wages or improving working conditions,” said Harris. The CFPB, which announced in June it was looking into the agreements, has begun to focus on how they may prevent even skilled employees with years of schooling, like nurses, from finding new, better jobs, according to a CFPB official who was not authorized to speak on the record. “We have heard from workers and worker organizations that the products may be restricting worker mobility,” the official said. TRAPs have been around in a small way since the late 1980s primarily in high-wage positions where workers received valuable training. But in recent years the agreements have become more widespread, said Loyola’s Harris. Licensed esthetician Simran Bal, who was taken to court by her former employer to repay $1900 in trainings they required her to attend, poses for a portrait outside the King County District Court in Shoreline, Washington, U.S., October 13, 2022. Bal, whose case was dismissed, says she was already licensed for services the trainings covered. REUTERS/Lindsey Wasson One critic of the CFPB effort was the National Federation of Independent Business, or NFIB, which said the issue was outside the agency’s authority because it was unrelated to consumer financial products and services. “(Some state governments) have authority to regulate employer-driven debt. CFPB should defer to those governments, which are closer to the people of the states than the CFPB,” it added. NURSING AND TRUCKING Bal said she was happy when she was hired by the Oh Sweet salon near Seattle in August 2021. But she soon found that before she could provide services for clients, and earn more, she was required to attend trainings on such things as sugaring to remove unwanted hair and lash and brow maintenance. But, she said, the salon owner was slow to schedule the trainings, which would sometimes be postponed or cancelled. They were also not informative; Bal described them as “introductory level.” While waiting to complete the training, Bal worked at the front desk, which paid less. When she quit in October 2021, Bal received a bill for $1,900 for the instruction she did receive. “She was charging me for training for services that I was already licensed in,” said Bal. Karina Villalta, who runs Oh Sweet LLC, filed a lawsuit in small claims court to recover the money. Court records provided by Bal show the case was dismissed in September by a judge who ruled that Bal did not complete the promised training and owed nothing. Villalta declined requests for comment. In comments to the CFPB, National Nurses United said they did a survey that found that the agreements are “increasingly ubiquitous in the health care sector,” with new nurses often affected. The survey found that 589 of the 1,698 nurses surveyed were required to take training programs and 326 of them were required to pay employers if they left before a certain time. Many nurses said they were not told about the training repayment requirement before beginning work, and that classroom instruction often repeated what they learned in school. The International Brotherhood of Teamsters said in comments that training repayment demands were “particularly egregious” in commercial trucking. They said firms like CRST and C.R. England train people for a commercial drivers license but charge more than $6,000 if they leave the company before a certain time. Neither company responded to a request for comment. The American Trucking Associations argues that the license is portable from one employer to another and required by the government. It urged the CFPB to not characterize it as employer-driven debt. Steve Viscelli, a sociologist at the University of Pennsylvania who spent six months training and then driving truck, said the issue deserved scrutiny. “Anytime we have training contracts for low-skilled workers, we should be asking why,” he said. “If you have a good job, you don’t need a training contract. People are going to want to stay.” Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com Reporting by Diane Bartz; Editing by Chris Sanders and Lisa Shumaker Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles. Diane Bartz Thomson Reuters Focused on U.S. antitrust as well as corporate regulation and legislation, with experience involving covering war in Bosnia, elections in Mexico and Nicaragua, as well as stories from Brazil, Chile, Cuba, El Salvador, Nigeria and Peru. Read More…

With Liz Truss’s Agenda Gutted, Brits Ask If Prime Minister Is Still In Charge https://digitalalabamanews.com/with-liz-trusss-agenda-gutted-brits-ask-if-prime-minister-is-still-in-charge/ LONDON — Britain’s brand new finance minister scrapped the remaining elements of Prime Minister Liz Truss’s signature taxation policy on Monday, a move that seemed to successfully reassure markets but left many wondering who is now in charge of the government. Truss stayed on the sidelines while Jeremy Hunt — a political rival who was tapped on Friday for the top cabinet post — announced that the government would not slash taxes, but instead allow them to rise. Truss left it to House of Commons leader Penny Mordaunt, another rival, to defend the government’s U-turns in Parliament, where both opposition lawmakers and some mutinous politicians from the ruling Conservative Party are calling on the prime minister to quit after just six weeks in office. It was another disastrous day for Truss. The first the public heard from her was in a late night BBC broadcast. She said she wanted to “say sorry for the mistakes that have been made” but added that she was “sticking around,” and would “lead the Conservatives into the next general election.” Labour Party leader Keir Starmer pushed the refrain that Truss was “in office but not in power.” “Where is the prime minister?” Starmer asked rhetorically. “Hiding away, dodging questions, scared of her own shadow.” Some commentators are speaking about when she goes, not if. One British tabloid is live-streaming a head of iceberg lettuce placed next to a picture of Truss and asking which will last longer. An editorial in the Sunday Times declared: “Truss has wrecked the Conservative Party’s reputation for fiscal competence and humiliated Britain on the international stage.” “Senior Tories must now act in the national interest and remove her from Downing Street as quickly as possible,” the editorial continued, while also calling Hunt the “de factor prime minister.” Hunt is a moderate Conservative who is considered to be a safe pair of hands, though he has twice lost contests to lead his party. He assured the country that Truss was “in charge.” “It is the most challenging form of leadership to accept the decision you have made has to be changed,” he told Parliament. “And the prime minister has done that, and she has done so willing because she understands the importance of economic stability, and I respect her for it.” Truss was installed at Downing Street as the choice of 160,000 dues-paying members of the Conservative Party — about 0.3 percent of the population. The growth-through-tax-cuts plan that helped propel her candidacy, and prompted admiring comparisons to Margaret Thatcher, has now been thoroughly gutted. Tax cuts for the wealthy didn’t go down well with a public that is facing record inflation and soaring bills. But the government’s about-face had far more to do with bond traders, who were spooked by the level of borrowing the plan would require. Hunt came in after two of the most controversial parts of the plan had already been scrapped. And still he pumped the brakes hard, stressing that the debt and spending would be new watchwords. “We will reverse almost all the tax measures announced in the growth plan three weeks ago,” Hunt said. “There will be more difficult decisions, I’m afraid, on both tax and spending as we deliver our commitment to get debt falling as a share of the economy over the medium term.” Hunt also announced that the government’s popular plan to help with energy bills for households — a “landmark policy supporting millions of people through a difficult winter” — will not continue for two years but last only until April. The government will then move to a “new approach” that will “cost the taxpayer significantly less.” The markets have been receptive to the government’s backtracking. The falling British pound has stabilized. The country’s leading stock index, the FTSE 100, was up. And the cost of government borrowing was coming down — though still higher than it was before Truss took over. But British politics remains in turmoil. Although there is no general election in sight, two polls published Monday showed the Labour Party more than 30 points ahead of the Conservatives. “Who voted for this?” signs have been popping up at protests and in opposition lawmakers’ social media feeds. There is hand-wringing among the Conservatives, too. “Her position politically is utterly untenable,” said Jonathan Tonge, a professor of politics at the University of Liverpool. “In any sensible democracy she would have gone by now.” “She campaigned on a platform of tax cuts, a dash for growth and supply-side reform — every element of that was dismantled by Jeremy Hunt,” he said. If Truss survives, “it’s only because Conservative Party grandees can’t agree on a replacement.” The Conservatives are known for ruthlessly jettisoning their leaders. Boris Johnson won them a landslide victory in the 2019 general election, but after scandals — and a Conservative tailspin in the polls — he was forced to resign. Truss’s personal poll ratings are worse than Johnson’s ever were, and her party’s poll ratings have nosedived. People would look “pretty askance” if the party staged another leadership contest so soon, Damian Green, a prominent Conservative, acknowledged on BBC Radio 4. But asked if he wanted Truss to be leading the party when the next general election happens, Green offered only backhanded support. “If she leads us into the next election, that will mean that the next two years have been a lot more successful than the past four weeks have been.” Getting Conservatives to rally around someone to replace Truss may indeed be a challenge. Although Hunt has taken on a powerful role, he’s hardly a rising star within the party. He was soundly beaten by Boris Johnson in the 2019 Conservative Party leadership contest and was eliminated in the first round of voting this past summer after getting just 18 votes from fellow lawmakers. A wing of the Conservatives would like to see the top job going to former finance minister Rishi Sunak, the runner-up in the summer’s leadership contest. Many of his economic predictions have turned out to be prescient. But he is disliked by Johnson loyalists, who accuse him of leading the revolt that brought down the last prime minister. And Conservative lawmakers may invite other problems if they overrule the party’s grass roots by promoting Sunak. Mordaunt, who is more popular with the grass roots, has been discussed as another contender. She wrote in the Sunday Telegraph, however, that this was not the time to change prime ministers. “Our country needs stability,” she said, “not a soap opera.” Over the weekend, President Biden was asked by a reporter what he thought of Truss’s “trickle-down plan that she had to walk back from.” Usually, U.S. presidents don’t comment on an ally’s budget, but Biden weighed in, saying: “Well, it’s predictable. I wasn’t the only one that thought it was a mistake.” He added: “I think that the idea of cutting taxes on the super wealthy at a time when — anyway, I just think — I disagreed with the policy, but that’s up to Great Britain to make that judgment, not me.” Read More…

Aimbridge Hospitality Grows Select Service Division, Bringing Five Extended Stay Hotels Owned By Three Wall Capital Under Management | Real Estate Weekly https://digitalalabamanews.com/aimbridge-hospitality-grows-select-service-division-bringing-five-extended-stay-hotels-owned-by-three-wall-capital-under-management-real-estate-weekly/ Aimbridge Hospitality, a leading global hospitality company, ​​announced the expansion of its robust portfolio and growth of its Select Service Division with the addition of five extended stay properties recently acquired by Three Wall Capital, LLC (“TWC”). The properties, conveniently located along major thoroughfares in Alabama, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Ohio, bring 603 keys under Aimbridge management to benefit from the operator’s unparalleled industry resources for owners. With the additional five properties, Aimbridge is responsible for the management of more than 70 extended stay, select service, and full-service properties owned by TWC, continuing a partnership first established in 2019. Three Wall Capital plans to acquire and develop an additional 30-plus midscale and upscale extended stay hotels over the next 18-24 months. “As we continue to expand our portfolio, we know Aimbridge will service our owned properties better than anyone, with a commitment to delivering results through their talented team and tremendous resources,” said Alan Kanders of Three Wall Capital. “We find immense value in our partnership with Three Wall Capital, and we are proud to continually be their partner of choice to manage their investments,” said Simon Mendy, Divisional President, Aimbridge Select Service. “Adding these five properties to our portfolio means more opportunities for us to create memorable guest experiences while tailoring our industry-leading service to these properties to drive outstanding results for TWC.”  The properties are: Candlewood Suites Birmingham-Inverness (126 rooms), located at 4686 Hwy. 280, Birmingham, AL 35242 Mainstay Suites Jacksonville Camp Lejeune (96 rooms), located at 2201 N. Marine Blvd., Jacksonville, NC 28546 Extended Stay America Premier Suites Pittsburgh-Cranberry I-76 (127 rooms), located at 136 Emeryville Dr., Cranberry Township, PA 16066 Extended Stay America Premier Suites Cleveland-Independence (127 rooms), located at 6025 Jefferson Drive, Independence, OH 44131 Candlewood Suites Cincinnati-Northeast Mason (127 room), located at 5070 Natorp Blvd., Mason, OH 45040 Read More…

Mobile Mom Charged In Son’s Death Exposed Him To Chemicals: Court Documents https://digitalalabamanews.com/mobile-mom-charged-in-sons-death-exposed-him-to-chemicals-court-documents/ MOBILE, Ala. (WKRG) — A Mobile mother charged in the death of her 6-year-old son, nearly a year after he was found dead. The boy was found last December at the Oak Knoll Apartments on Navco Road. Court documents show the child was exposed to some sort of chemical that caused his death nearly a week before his body was found inside their apartment. On December 1st, 2021, a 6-year-old boy was found dead at the Oak Knoll Apartments. Mobile police found the boy after finding his mother unconscious in the parking lot of a furniture store in West Mobile, 12 miles from the apartment. At the time, police believed the woman was involved in her son’s death. 45-year-old Kristina Rankins was booked into Metro Jail early Sunday morning, charged with chemical endangerment of a child that led to his death. According to court documents, Rankins is accused of knowingly, recklessly, or intentionally causing the child to be exposed to, ingest or inhale, or have contact with a controlled substance, chemical substance, or drug paraphernalia which led to the boy’s death. It’s not clear how the child was exposed, or to what he was exposed. Rankins was on bond for criminal mischief charges at the time of the child’s death. A judge Monday held her without bond. She’s expected to be back in court November 22. Stay ahead of the biggest stories, breaking news and weather in Mobile, Pensacola and across the Gulf Coast and Alabama. Download the WKRG News 5 news app and be sure to turn on push alerts. Read More…

House Panel Says Trump's Bills To Secret Service 'exorbitant' https://digitalalabamanews.com/house-panel-says-trumps-bills-to-secret-service-exorbitant/ NEW YORK (AP) — Donald Trump’s private company arranged for the Secret Service to pay for rooms at his properties over government-approved rates at least 40 times during his presidency, including two charges for more than $1,100 per night, according to documents released Monday by a congressional committee. The Secret Service was charged room rates of more than $800 per night at least 11 times when agents stayed at Mar-a-Lago in Florida, the Trump hotel in Washington, D.C., and other properties, the Democratic-led House Oversight Committee said. It noted that Trump made over 500 trips to his properties while president. The “exorbitant” rates point to a possible “taxpayer-funded windfall for former President Trump’s struggling businesses,” Committee Chair Carolyn Maloney of New York wrote in a letter Monday to the Secret Service requesting more information. The Secret Service said it had received the letter and was reviewing it. The Trump Organization denied that the Secret Service charges were a problem and said it provided rooms and other services at cost, at big discounts or for free. “The Trump Family is likely the first family in American history to have not profited off of the United States government,” said Eric Trump in a statement. He added, “President Trump funded the vast majority of his campaign with hundreds of millions of dollars of his own money and turned away billions of dollars in real estate deals worldwide.” In total, the Trump Organization charged the agency responsible for protecting the president and his family at least $1.4 million, according to Secret Service records released by the committee. The committee said the total bill was likely higher because the panel only got records through September 2021 and payments for trips abroad were not included. The former president has been repeatedly criticized by Democrats, and government watchdogs for what they say were brazen attempts to make money from taxpayer funds during his presidency. In addition to money from the Secret Service when he and his family visited his clubs and hotels, Trump played host to foreign officials at his properties, also requiring lodging for accompanying agents. The president tried to arrange for his Trump National Doral Golf Club in Florida to be chosen as the venue for a Group of Seven meeting of global leaders, only to pull back after an outcry of about self-dealing. Among the documents released Monday was a bill tied to a 2017 trip by Trump’s oldest son, Don Jr., to the Trump International Hotel down the street from the White House. That resulted in a Secret Service room charge of $1,185 per night, more than five times the government-approved per diem rate, the committee said, though the agency is allowed to make exceptions. Copyright 2022 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Sign up for the Morning Headlines Newsletter and receive up to date information. Read More…