Digital Alabama News

Trump Asks CNN To Prove His 'Big Lie' About 2020 Elections Is False https://digitalalabamanews.com/trump-asks-cnn-to-prove-his-big-lie-about-2020-elections-is-false/ Former President Donald Trump, who sued CNN for defamation early this week, said in an interview on Wednesday that the media should prove his allegations about the 2020 presidential election being rigged are false. CNN had termed Trump’s allegations a “big lie,” a term that Trump claimed was coined by anchors to malign his reputation. While talking to hosts John Solomon and Amanda Head on the Real America’s Voice network show “Just The News No Noise” on Oct. 5, Trump said CNN should “prove the big lie.” “They’ll say whatever comes to mind. They talk about the big lie. I said, well prove the big lie. The big lie is not a big lie at all. The big lie is the opposite,” said Trump. “All the stats—we have everything. Unfortunately, we haven’t had judges that want to look at it. They don’t want to change elections.” The former President filed a lawsuit against CNN on Monday, alleging defamation and seeking $475 million in punitive damages. “And so we sued CNN for a lot of money and we’ll see how that goes. I think it should go very well,” Trump said. The 29-page lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, accuses CNN of having “sought to use its massive influence—purportedly as a ‘trusted’ news source” to defame Trump “for the purpose of defeating him politically.” The effort resulted in CNN claiming credit for “[getting] Trump out” in the 2020 presidential election, attorneys for Trump said in the complaint (pdf) adding that the “libel and slander” against Trump has only escalated in recent months because CNN fears Trump’s presidential campaign for 2024. “CNN has been given the dreaded ‘Pants on Fire!’ designation by PolitiFact for its stories comparing Trump to Hitler,” said the attorneys. They were referring to two psychiatrists discussing coverage of Trump on CNN’s now-canceled “Reliable Sources” program. Allen James Frances, the chairman emeritus of Duke University’s department of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, had said on the show: “Trump is as destructive a person in this century as Hitler, Stalin, and Mao were in the last century. He may be responsible for many more million deaths than they were. He needs to be contained, but he needs to be contained by attacking his policies, not his person.” Politifact, a fact-checking website operated by the Poynter Institute of MediaStudies had done a fact-check on the claim and rated it as “Pants on Fire” on its “Truth-O-Meter,” which means “the statement is not accurate and makes a ridiculous claim.” Trump’s attorneys said that “[o]ne of the most pervasive associations between [Trump] and Hitler that CNN has employed is its use of the term the ‘Big Lie’ in relation to the Plaintiff’s stated concerns about the integrity of the election process for the 2020 presidential election.” “The ‘Big Lie’ is a direct reference to a tactic employed by Adolf Hitler and appearing in Hitler’s Mein Kampf,” they wrote. According to a footnote on the lawsuit, Trump’s lawyers had earlier contacted CNN in July with a notice of soon-to-be litigation and had requested that the media stop referring to Trump’s comments on the 2020 elections as “lies.” However, CNN declined his request and said: “You have not identified a single false or defamatory statement in your letter.” In 2019, Trump’s lawyers had also sent a letter to CNN threatening to sue and seek “substantial” payment, but CNN dismissed it as a “PR stunt.” CNN hasn’t responded to The Epoch Times’ earlier requests for comments and the media has yet to offer any public statement on Trump’s recent lawsuit. Follow Venus Upadhayaya reports on wide range of issues. Her area of expertise is in Indian and South Asian geopolitics. She has reported from the very volatile India-Pakistan border and has contributed to mainstream print media in India for about a decade. Community media, sustainable development, and leadership remain her key areas of interest. Read More…

Riot Plea: Proud Boys Member Admits To Seditious Conspiracy https://digitalalabamanews.com/riot-plea-proud-boys-member-admits-to-seditious-conspiracy/ WASHINGTON (AP) — A North Carolina man pleaded guilty Thursday to plotting with other members of the far-right Proud Boys to violently stop the transfer of presidential power after the 2020 election, making him the first member of the extremist group to plead guilty to a seditious conspiracy charge. Jeremy Joseph Bertino, 43, has agreed to cooperate with the Justice Department’s investigation of the role that Proud Boys leaders played in the mob’s attack on the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, a federal prosecutor said. U.S. District Judge Timothy Kelly agreed to release Bertino pending a sentencing hearing, which wasn’t immediately scheduled. Bertino also pleaded guilty to a charge of unlawfully possessing firearms in March 2022 in Belmont, North Carolina. Kelly accepted his guilty plea to both charges during a brief hearing after the case against Bertino was filed Thursday. Justice Department prosecutor Erik Kenerson said estimated sentencing guidelines for Bertino’s case recommend a prison sentence ranging from four years and three months to five years and three months. The Civil War-era seditious conspiracy charge carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. Former Proud Boys national chairman Henry “Ënrique” Tarrio and four other group members also have been charged with seditious conspiracy for what prosecutors say was a coordinated attack on the Capitol to stop Congress from certifying President Joe Biden’s 2020 electoral victory over Donald Trump. Far-right Proud Boys member Jeremy Joseph Bertino, second from left, joins other supporters of President Donald Trump who are wearing attire associated with the Proud Boys as they attend a rally at Freedom Plaza, Dec. 12, 2020, in Washington. Bertino pleaded guilty on Thursday, Oct. 6, 2022, to plotting with other members of the Proud Boys to violently stop the transfer of presidential power after the 2020 election, making him the first member of the extremist group to plead guilty to a seditious conspiracy charge. (AP Photo/Luis M. Alvarez, File) Photo: ASSOCIATED PRESS/Luis M. Alvarez Bertino’s cooperation could ratchet up the pressure on other Proud Boys charged in the siege. A trial for Tarrio, Ethan Nordean, Joseph Biggs, Zachary Rehl and Dominic Pezzola is scheduled to start in December. The charging document for Bertino’s case names those five defendants and a sixth Proud Boys member as his co-conspirators. A trial is going on now in Washington for the seditious conspiracy case against the founder of the Oath Keepers and other members of the antigovernment militia group for their participation in the Jan. 6 attack. More than three dozen people charged in the Capitol riot have been identified by federal authorities as leaders, members or associates of the Proud Boys. Two — Matthew Greene and Charles Donohoe — pleaded guilty to conspiring to obstruct an official proceeding, the Jan. 6 joint session of Congress for certifying the Electoral College vote. Proud Boys members describe the group as a politically incorrect men’s club for “Western chauvinists.” They have brawled with antifascist activists at rallies and protests. Vice Media co-founder Gavin McInnes, who founded the Proud Boys in 2016, sued the Southern Poverty Law Center for labeling it as a hate group. Nordean, of Auburn, Washington, was a Proud Boys chapter president and a member of the group’s national “Elders Council.” Biggs, of Ormond Beach, Florida, is a self-described Proud Boys organizer. Rehl was president of the Proud Boys chapter in Philadelphia. Pezzola is a Proud Boys member from Rochester, New York. Video testimony by Bertino was featured in June at the first hearing by the House committee investigating Jan. 6. The committee showed a clip of Bertino saying that the group’s membership “tripled, probably” after Trump’s comment at a presidential debate that the Proud Boys should “stand back and stand by.” Tarrio wasn’t in Washington on Jan. 6, but authorities say he helped put into motion the violence that day. Police arrested Tarrio in Washington two days before the riot and charged him with vandalizing a Black Lives Matter banner at a historic Black church during a protest in December 2020. Tarrio was released from jail on Jan. 14 after serving his five-month sentence for that case. The indictment in Tarrio’s case alleges that the Proud Boys held meetings and communicated over encrypted messages to plan for the attack in the days leading up to Jan. 6. On the day of the riot, authorities say Proud Boys dismantled metal barricades set up to protect the Capitol and mobilized, directed and led members of the crowd into the building. ___ For full coverage of the Capitol riot, go to https://www.apnews.com/capitol-siege Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Read More…

Aggie QB Has Broken Hand, Out For Alabama Game: Report https://digitalalabamanews.com/aggie-qb-has-broken-hand-out-for-alabama-game-report/ Alabama Football Updated: Oct. 06, 2022, 3:43 p.m.| Published: Oct. 06, 2022, 3:31 p.m. Texas A&M Aggies quarterback Max Johnson runs against Arkansas.(Photo by Matthew Visinsky/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)Icon Sportswire via Getty Images There appears to be some clarity on who’ll be the Texas A&M quarterback Saturday night at Alabama. Starter Max Johnson could miss the rest of the season after breaking his hand last week at Mississippi State, Ian Fitzsimmons of ESPN Radio was first to report Thursday. The news was later confirmed by Brett McMurphy of The Action Network. Johnson, a transfer from LSU, started the last three games and completed 60.6% of his 71 passes for three touchdowns with no interceptions. That opens the door for Haynes King, the starter to open the season who was benched after the Aggies last to Appalachian State. King is 39-for-64 passing for 510 yards and three touchdowns but has thrown four interceptions. RELATED: The comical verbal gymnastics of Alabama-Texas A&M QB mysteries King was the starter to open the 2021 season but was injured before Zach Calzada came off the bench to beat Alabama, 41-39. Calzada has since transferred to Auburn. No. 1 Alabama will kick off with Texas A&M at 7 p.m. CT Saturday in Bryant-Denny Stadium. The status of Alabama starting quarterback Bryce Young remains unknown as he recovers from a sprained shoulder suffered last week at Arkansas. Michael Casagrande is a reporter for the Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @ByCasagrande or on Facebook. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. Read More…

News On Fringe Social Sites Draws Limited But Loyal Fans, Report Finds https://digitalalabamanews.com/news-on-fringe-social-sites-draws-limited-but-loyal-fans-report-finds/ The appeal of platforms like Parler, Truth Social and Telegram is another symptom of the partisan divide in media, according to the Pew Research Center. Send any friend a story As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. Anyone can read what you share. This article is part of our Midterms 2022 Daily Briefing One-third of the people surveyed had heard of Parler, a service popular with fans of former President Donald J. Trump.Credit…Olivier Douliery/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images Oct. 6, 2022Updated 4:50 p.m. ET Alternative social media platforms like Parler, Truth Social and Telegram are often described by progressives as hotbeds for fringe views and by conservatives as havens for free speech. Researchers say there is also another way to think of them: where few Americans go to get their news. A new report from the nonpartisan Pew Research Center found that only 6 percent of adults regularly seek out news from at least one of the seven more prominent alternative social media sites: BitChute, Gab, Gettr, Parler, Rumble, Telegram and Truth Social. No single site drew more than 2 percent of Americans looking for news, according to the report, which was released on Thursday. Of the 10,188 people surveyed, 38 percent had heard of Parler, a service popular with fans of former President Donald J. Trump. More than a quarter knew of Telegram, a fast-growing messaging app that has fueled foreign democracy movements but also attracted extremists and conspiracy theorists. Truth Social, a platform that Mr. Trump started this year and has recently used to promote far-right and conspiratorial ideas, was familiar to 27 percent of the people. Despite the platforms’ limited reach, most of the people who do frequent such places for news — “a small but satisfied community” who largely identified as Republican or Republican-leaning — said they found like-minded company there, according to Pew. Those who do not use the sites often associated them with misinformation, political bias and fringe ideas, the report found. Researchers described the presence of the sites as another symptom of the partisan divide in traditional and online media, calling them “a refuge for some who feel they do not have a home on the more established sites” like Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. “We see evidence of these sites adding to the country’s growing political polarization in people’s choices around where they turn for news and also in what topics to discuss,” said Amy Mitchell, Pew’s director of journalism research. “It’s a relatively small segment of the American public that turns to these sites for news, but most who do are actually quite positive about their experiences there.” Each of the seven sites has explicitly portrayed itself as supporting free speech, with several specifically declaring their opposition to censorship and identifying themselves as alternatives to mainstream tech platforms, according to researchers. The report found that all of the sites except Gab went beyond legal requirements to moderate content by removing posts or by suspending or banning accounts that were deemed offensive or vectors for misinformation. Andrew Torba, chief executive of Gab, said in an email that “corporations shouldn’t decide what people get to say online,” adding that he believed that Gab was a more popular news destination than Pew had found it to be. Gettr said in a statement that it supported free speech and the democratic exchange of ideas online while also taking online harassment seriously. The company said it “has created a positive user experience that is making social media fun again, something the dying Big Tech social media platforms cannot claim.” In a statement, Rumble said that it allows users — 78 million a month as of August, it said — to express themselves and that its “mission is to protect a free and open internet.” The company added that it had strict moderation policies banning the incitement of violence, illegal content, racism, antisemitism, copyright violations and the promotion of groups designated by the U.S. and Canadian governments as terrorists, along with other restrictions. Truth Social described itself as “the leading obstacle to Big Tech’s suppression of dissenting viewpoints on social media” and said it had not expanded to all mobile devices but was still growing fast. Amy Peikoff, the head of policy and legal at Parler, said in a statement that offensive content or hate speech was often removed from the company’s apps hosted by Apple and Google, “as required by those companies’ guidelines.” On Parler.com, users have control over the material in their feeds, although the company removes clearly fraudulent content when it is reported, she said. “We do not generally attempt to do our users’ critical thinking for them,” Ms. Peikoff said. Telegram and BitChute did not respond to requests for comment. The sites themselves, as well as some of their backers, have been subject to bans. Mr. Trump started Truth Social after Facebook and Twitter, citing public safety risks, suspended him after the Capitol riot on Jan. 6, 2021. Parler was one of the fastest-growing apps in the country when Amazon, Apple and Google cut it off last year for hosting calls for violence around the time of the riot, causing it to disappear from the internet for weeks. In March, Brazil’s Supreme Court blocked Telegram in the country over disinformation concerns but lifted the ban two days later after the service took steps to comply with the court’s orders. This year, Pew researchers audited the seven sites and reviewed 1,400 popular accounts across the group, analyzing 585,470 posts published by the accounts. Larger social media platforms had blocked 15 percent of the accounts from earning money or banned them outright, the report found. Researchers found a prevalence of conservative values and identities among the accounts. One-quarter expressed a right-leaning political orientation or support for Mr. Trump, and 6 percent backed the QAnon conspiracy theory, according to the report. A third of the people who consume news on alternative social media said they had participated in person at a rally or other political activity that they learned about on the sites, and even more had donated money to accounts on the sites, researchers found. Read More…

Talk Of ‘civil War,’ Ignited By Mar-A-Lago Search, Is Flaring Online https://digitalalabamanews.com/talk-of-civil-war-ignited-by-mar-a-lago-search-is-flaring-online/ Rioters loyal to President Donald Trump rally at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, in Washington. The House committee investigating the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol has scheduled its next hearing for Oct. 13, 2022, pushing the investigation back into the limelight less than three weeks before the midterm election that will determine control of Congress. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana, File) Soon after the FBI searched Donald Trump’s home in Florida for classified documents, online researchers zeroed in on a worrying trend. Posts on Twitter that mentioned “civil war” had soared nearly 3,000% in just a few hours as Trump’s supporters blasted the action as a provocation. Similar spikes followed, including on Facebook, Reddit, Telegram, Parler, Gab and Truth Social, Trump’s social media platform. Mentions of the phrase more than doubled on radio programs and podcasts, as measured by Critical Mention, a media-tracking firm. Posts mentioning “civil war” jumped again a few weeks later, after President Joe Biden branded Trump and “MAGA Republicans” a threat to “the very foundations of our republic” in a speech on democracy in Philadelphia. Now experts are bracing for renewed discussions of civil war, as the Nov. 8 midterm elections approach and political talk grows more urgent and heated. More than a century and a half after the actual Civil War, the deadliest war in U.S. history, “civil war” references have become increasingly commonplace on the right. While in many cases the term is used only loosely — shorthand for the nation’s intensifying partisan divisions — observers note that the phrase, for some, is far more than a metaphor. Polling, social media studies and a rise in threats suggest that a growing number of Americans are anticipating, or even welcoming, the possibility of sustained political violence, researchers studying extremism say. What was once the subject of serious discussion only on the political periphery has migrated closer to the mainstream. But while that trend is clear, there is far less agreement among experts about what it means. Some elements of the far right view it literally: a call for an organized battle for control of the government. Others envision something akin to a drawn-out insurgency, punctuated with eruptions of political violence, such as the attack on the FBI’s Cincinnati field office in August. A third group describes the country as entering a “cold” civil war, manifested by intractable polarization and mistrust, rather than a “hot” war with conflict. But talk of political violence is not relegated to anonymous online forums. At a Trump rally in Michigan on Saturday night, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., said that “Democrats want Republicans dead,” adding that “Joe Biden has declared every freedom-loving American an enemy of the state.” At a recent fundraiser, Michael Flynn, who briefly served as Trump’s national security adviser, said that governors had the power to declare war and that “we’re probably going to see that.” On Monday, federal prosecutors showed a jury in Washington an encrypted message that Stewart Rhodes, founder of the Oath Keepers armed extremist group, had sent his lieutenants two days after the 2020 presidential election: “We aren’t getting through this without a civil war.” Experts say the steady patter of bellicose talk has helped normalize the expectation of political violence. In late August, a poll of 1,500 adults by YouGov and The Economist found that 54% of respondents who identified as “strong Republicans” believed a civil war was at least somewhat likely in the next decade. Only about a third of all respondents felt such an event was unlikely. A similar survey conducted by the same groups two years ago found nearly 3 in 5 people feeling that a “civil war-like fracture in the U.S.” was either somewhat or very unlikely. “What you’re seeing is a narrative that was limited to the fringe going into the mainstream,” said Robert Pape, a political science professor at the University of Chicago and founder of the Chicago Project on Security and Threats. The institute’s researchers tracked tweets mentioning civil war before and after Trump announced the search on Mar-a-Lago. In the five preceding days, they logged an average of roughly 500 tweets an hour. That jumped to 6,000 in the first hour after Trump published a post on Truth Social on the afternoon of Aug. 8, saying “these are dark times for our Nation.” The pace peaked at 15,000 tweets an hour later that evening. A week later, it was still six times higher than the baseline, and the phrase was once again trending on Twitter at month’s end. Extremist groups have been agitating for some sort of government overthrow for years and, Pape said, the most radical views — often driven by white supremacy or religious fundamentalism — remain marginal, advanced by no more than 50,000 people nationwide. But a far larger group, he said, are the people who have been influenced by Trump’s complaints about the “Washington swamp” and “deep state” forces working against him and his allies. Those notions, stirred in a smoldering crucible with QAnon conspiracy theories, anti-vaccine views and election denialism, have fueled a growing hostility toward the federal government and rising talk about states’ rights. Social media platforms are rife with groups and boards dedicated to discussions of civil war. One, on Gab, describes itself as a place for “action reports,” “combat vids” and reports of people killed in action in “the civil war that is also looking to be a 2nd American Revolution.” In August, a single tweet stating “I think civil war has just been declared” managed to reach over 17 million profiles despite coming from an account with under 14,000 followers, according to Cybara, an Israeli firm that monitors misinformation. “Ideas go into echo chambers and it’s the only voice that’s heard; there are no voices of dissent,” said Kurt Braddock, an American University professor who studies how terrorist groups radicalize and recruit. Braddock said he did not believe these posts indicated any planning for a war. But he worries about what academics call “stochastic terrorism” — seemingly random acts of violence that are, in fact, provoked by “coded language, dog whistles and other subtext” in statements by public figures. Trump is adept at making such statements, said Braddock, citing Trump’s April 2020 tweet reading “Liberate Michigan!” Less than two weeks later, mobs of heavily armed protesters occupied the state Capitol in Lansing. He also pointed to Trump’s speech before the Capitol riot on Jan. 6, 2021, when he encouraged thousands of supporters to march to the U.S. Capitol and, later in the same remarks told them, “if you don’t fight like hell, you’re not going to have a country anymore.” “The statements Trump makes are not overt calls to action, but when you have a huge and devoted following, the chances that one or more people are activated by that are high,” Braddock said. A spokesperson for Trump did not respond to requests for comment. After Biden delivered his speech on democracy, Brian Gibby, a freelance data entry specialist in Charlotte, North Carolina, wrote in a Substack post that he believed “the Second Civil War began” with the president’s remarks. “I have never seen a more divisive, hate-filled speech from an American president,” Gibby wrote. Asked by The New York Times to explain his views, Gibby said he believed Biden was “escalating a hot conflict in America.” He worries something will happen around the November elections that will be “akin to Jan. 6, but much more violent,” where armed protest groups from both sides of the political spectrum come to blows. “Plan ahead, stock up, stay safe, get out of cities if you can,” he wrote. This article originally appeared in The New York Times. Print Headline: Talk of ‘civil war,’ ignited by Mar-a-Lago search, is flaring online Read More…

Republican Sen. Ben Sasse Expected To Resign From Congress https://digitalalabamanews.com/republican-sen-ben-sasse-expected-to-resign-from-congress/ WASHINGTON — Sen. Ben Sasse, R-Neb., who frequently clashed with former President Donald Trump but won a second term in 2020, is expected to resign before the end of the year, a source familiar with the move confirmed to NBC News on Thursday. Sasse is expected to exit the Senate to take a new job leading the University of Florida, the source said. The senator and the university confirmed that Sasse is in talks for the top job there after news broke on Thursday. The news was first reported by KFAB talk radio host Ian Swanson, a former Sasse staffer, who opened his show Thursday by announcing that his former boss would soon be resigning to take a job in academia. Sasse won re-election in 2020, and his term is set to expire in 2026. But Sasse has been at odds with Trump and his own party for years. After the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol, Sasse was one of seven Republican senators who voted to convict Trump for his role in the deadly riot. In a statement, Sasse called Florida “the most important institution in the nation’s most economically dynamic state.” “Washington partisanship isn’t going to solve these workforce challenges new institutions and entrepreneurial communities are going to have to spearhead this work,” Sasse said. “If UF wants to go big, I’m excited about the wide range of opportunities.” Senate Republican leadership has been alerted of the news, a leadership aide told NBC News. On Thursday afternoon, the University of Florida formally announced that its presidential search committee has unanimously selected Sasse as the “sole finalist” to lead the university. “This is right for the University of Florida, right for the state of Florida and right for the Sasse family,” said Rahul Patel, chair of the university’s Presidential Search Committee. “Ben brings intellectual curiosity, a belief in the power and potential of American universities, and an unmatched track record of leadership spanning higher education, government and the private sector.” The announcement kicks off a process, spelled out in Florida state law, that includes meetings between Sasse and officials in Gainesville. After three weeks, the college’s board of directors will vote on the search panel’s recommendation, then the Florida board of governors will vote to approve the pick. “We anticipate that will be accepted by the end of the year, and then he would resign before the end of the year and the Nebraska governor would select the replacement,” the source said. Sasse, 50, the former president of Midland University who served in the George W. Bush administration, was elected to the Senate in 2014. Frank Thorp V Frank Thorp V is a producer and off-air reporter covering Congress for NBC News, managing coverage of the Senate. Scott Wong is a senior congressional reporter for NBC News.  Julie Tsirkin contributed . Read More…

Federal Agents See Chargeable Tax, Gun-Purchase Case Against Hunter Biden https://digitalalabamanews.com/federal-agents-see-chargeable-tax-gun-purchase-case-against-hunter-biden/ Federal agents investigating President Biden’s son Hunter have gathered what they believe is sufficient evidence to charge him with tax crimes and a false statement related to a gun purchase, according to people familiar with the case. The next step is for the U.S. Attorney in Delaware, a Trump administration holdover, to decide on whether to file such charges, these people said. The investigation into Hunter Biden began in 2018, and became a central focus for then-president Donald Trump during his unsuccessful 2020 reelection effort. Initially, the investigation centered around Hunter Biden’s finances related to overseas business ties and consulting work. Over time, investigators with multiple agencies focused closely on whether he did not report all of his income, and whether he lied on gun purchase paperwork in 2018, according to the people familiar with the situation, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss an ongoing case. Agents determined months ago they had assembled a viable criminal case against the younger Biden. But it is ultimately up to prosecutors at the Justice Department, not agents, to decide whether to file charges in cases where prosecutors believe the evidence is strong enough to lead to a likely conviction at trial. Given the intense political interest in a criminal probe involving the son of a sitting president, Attorney General Merrick Garland has made clear that the U.S. Attorney in Delaware, David C. Weiss, who was nominated by Trump in late 2017, is supervising the case. Garland has vowed there will be no political or otherwise improper interference in the Hunter Biden case, and has not moved to push Weiss to make a decision, the people familiar with the matter said. It is not uncommon for Justice Department investigations to take years to finish. Justice Department policy would require any criminal tax charges to be approved by the department’s tax division. A spokeswoman for Weiss declined to comment, as did spokespeople for the Justice Department, and the FBI and the IRS, the two primary investigative agencies. Asked about the case, Chris Clark, a lawyer for Hunter Biden, accused investigators of leaking information. “It is a federal felony for a federal agent to leak information about a Grand Jury investigation such as this one,” Clark said in a written statement. “Any agent you cite as a source in your article apparently has committed such a felony. We expect the Department of Justice will diligently investigate and prosecute such bad actors. As is proper and legally required, we believe the prosecutors in this case are diligently and thoroughly weighing not just evidence provided by agents, but also all the other witnesses in this case, including witnesses for the defense. That is the job of the prosecutors. They should not be pressured, rushed, or criticized for doing their job.” Any charging decision involving the Biden case is especially fraught because Trump and his allies have made accusations of corruption in Hunter Biden’s business dealings a key line of attack against Democrats, both before and after the 2020 presidential race. At the height of the election campaign, Trump allies revealed that a Delaware computer shop owner had turned over to the FBI a laptop that had apparently belonged to Hunter Biden. Trump and others argued the data on the laptop showed evidence of unethical and possible illegal business deals; Joe Biden and his supporters denounced the efforts as a smear. In March, The Washington Post reported that two computer security experts had reviewed thousands of the emails purportedly from Hunter Biden’s computer and found they were authentic communications, based on cryptographic signatures from Google and other technology companies. It could not be determined for this article whether the laptop and its contents were useful in the Justice Department investigation. The Biden probe has proceeded with relatively little fanfare in recent months amid the much larger and more public Justice Department and FBI investigation into whether Trump mishandled classified material at Mar-a-Lago — and a separate federal investigation into efforts to overturn the 2020 election results. Trump and his allies have sharply criticized federal law enforcement over both those cases. Questions about the younger Biden’s foreign business ventures have long dogged his father’s political life. Trump and his GOP allies specifically cite as ethical conflicts Hunter Biden’s past work for a Ukrainian gas company while his father was vice president, as well as his China-related business affairs. In a July 2019 phone call, Trump urged Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky to investigate both Joe and Hunter Biden — part of a pressure campaign that led to the first of Trump’s two impeachment trials in Congress. In December 2020 federal agents sought to interview the younger Biden, leading him to publicly acknowledge that he was under investigation. “I take this matter very seriously but I am confident that a professional and objective review of these matters will demonstrate that I handled my affairs legally and appropriately, including with the benefit of professional tax advisors,” Hunter Biden said in a statement at that time. Clark, Hunter Biden’s lawyer, said in his statement Thursday that he has “had no contact whatsoever with any federal investigative agent. Therefore, a rendition of the case from such an ‘agent’ is inherently biased, one-sided, and inaccurate. It is regrettable that law enforcement agents appear to be violating the law to prejudice a case against a person who is a target simply because of his family name.” Republicans have pressed the Biden administration to appoint a special counsel to take over the investigation into the president’s son, arguing the step was needed to ensure public confidence in the probe’s outcome. Under Justice Department regulations, any special counsel would still answer to the attorney general, however. Garland chose not to make such an appointment, instead keeping the case with Weiss, whose previous career as a federal prosecutor stretches back decades and includes violent crime and white-collar cases. In the early days of the Biden administration, a Justice Department official said removing Weiss as U.S. Attorney as he was overseeing the Hunter Biden case would likely spark significant political backlash. In April, after White House chief of staff Ron Klain said Biden “is confident that his son didn’t break the law,” Garland was asked at a Senate hearing about how the Justice Department is handling the case. Weiss “is in charge of that investigation. There will not be interference of any political or improper kind,” Garland answered. “We put the investigation in the hands of a Trump appointee from the previous administration.” The primary focus of the tax investigation has been whether Hunter Biden did not declare income related to his various business ventures, including overseas. The gun paperwork part of the investigation stems from 2018, a time period in which Hunter Biden, by his own account, was smoking crack cocaine. In October of that year, Biden purchased a handgun, filling out a federal form in which he allegedly answered “no” to the question whether he was “an unlawful user of, or addicted to, marijuana or any depressant, stimulant, narcotic drug, or any other controlled substance?” According to a book Hunter Biden later wrote about his struggles with substance abuse, he was using drugs heavily that year. Prosecutions for false statements on gun-purchase forms are relatively rare, but they do happen. In the fiscal year that Hunter Biden purchased that handgun, Justice Department records show prosecutors received 478 referrals for lying on the forms. Of those, charges were filed in 298 cases, or about 60 percent of the time. Federal agents refer to such cases as “lying and buying.” Historically, prosecutors have significant discretion to decide which ones are worth federal resources. “A prosecutor can say they have bigger fish to catch, or they can decide to seek a deal,” said Joseph G. Green, a retired agent from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. “As agents, we would always include as many charges as we could, but it’s ultimately up to the prosecutor to decide which ones they will bring.” Ann E. Marimow contributed to this report. Read More…

Death Of 16-Year-Old Protester Adds New Fuel To Iran Uprising https://digitalalabamanews.com/death-of-16-year-old-protester-adds-new-fuel-to-iran-uprising/ The death of a 16-year-old girl during Iran’s ongoing anti-government protests — and the apparent attempt by authorities to cover it up — has given demonstrators another rallying cry. Nika Shakarami disappeared in Tehran on Sept. 20 after burning her headscarf in protest and being followed by security forces, her family told BBC Persian, citing the account of a friend who was with her at the time. The government then refused to disclose her whereabouts, stole her body for a secret burial and pressured relatives to make false statements about how she died, the family alleges. Her story is eerily similar to that of Mahsa Amini, the 22-year-old Kurdish woman whose death on Sept. 16 in the custody of Iran’s “morality police” provided the first spark for the largest demonstrations Iran has seen in several years. Authorities said Amini had a heart attack after being arrested for an alleged violation of Iran’s strict dress code, releasing edited footage as evidence. But her family believes she was abused, and at her funeral, mourners yelled, “Death to the dictator” — a taboo reference to Iran’s supreme leader — before being attacked by police. The protests now sweeping the country are a formidable challenge to Iran’s clerical leadership, reflecting decades of pent-up fury over poverty, repression, gender segregation and human rights violations. Iran’s leaders blamed the West for the popular uprising and have launched a violent crackdown, cutting internet access and killing at least 80 people, according to rights groups. Authorities have also threatened the families of those arrested and killed, seeking to intimidate them into silence. Despite the danger, Shakarami’s aunt, Atash Shakarami, shared news of the teen’s disappearance on social media. Soon, her story began to circulate online and gain attention in Iran. A video of Shakarami wearing black baggy pants and a black T-shirt, her jet-black hair cut short, while singing a Persian love song went viral. For days, Iranian authorities did not publicly comment on the case, but the family says they were privately pressured to keep quiet. Shakarami’s aunt told BBC Persian that the teenager left the house on Sept. 20 with a water bottle in her bag, supposedly to visit her sister. The family later realized she was going to protest and probably took the water to rinse tear gas from her eyes. They lost contact with her around 7 p.m. Sept. 20, the aunt said, and her Instagram and Telegram accounts were deleted that night. Security forces often demand detainees give them access to their social media accounts. The family filed a missing persons report and searched for her in hospitals and police stations. But they heard nothing until 10 days later, when they found her body in a morgue. “When we went to identify her, they didn’t allow us to see her body, only her face for a few seconds,” Atash Shakarami told BBC Persian. As a condition for releasing the body, authorities demanded that the family bury her privately — a common tactic to avoid the funeral turning into a protest, as in the case of Amini. The family brought her body to Shakarami’s father’s hometown in the west of Iran on Sunday, but they never got the chance to hold a funeral. That same day, authorities took back Shakarami’s body and buried her in a village about 25 miles away. They also arrested her aunt, Atash Shakarami. Realizing they could no longer ignore her case, Iranian authorities finally commented Tuesday on Shakarami’s death, claiming that her body was found Sept. 21 in the backyard of a building after she had fallen to her death. Authorities also said they had arrested eight workers allegedly at the building when she died, according to Tasnim News. The news agency is close to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corp whose police force, the Basij, have been a key part of the crackdown on protesters. Fars News, which is also IRGC-affiliated, released video footage Wednesday that it said showed Shakarami entering the building, though the person is not identifiable. State television also aired footage Wednesday of Shakarami’s aunt corroborating the government narrative, saying that the teen fell from the roof of the building. Her uncle appeared as well and criticized the protests. But as he spoke, a shadow appeared and someone seemed to whisper in Persian, “Say it, you scumbag!” Iran’s government has long made use of forced confessions, according to rights groups, and on Thursday, Shakarami’s mother told Radio Farda, the Persian arm of U.S.-funded Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, she was also being intimidated. “They killed my daughter, and now they are threatening me into a forced confession,” she said. Read More…

US Forecast https://digitalalabamanews.com/us-forecast-60/ City/Town, State;Yesterday’s High Temp (F);Yesterday’s Low Temp (F);Today’s High Temp (F);Today’s Low Temp (F);Weather Condition;Wind Direction;Wind Speed (MPH);Humidity (%);Chance of Precip. (%);UV Index Albany, NY;75;55;65;38;Cooler;WNW;11;69%;59%;2 Albuquerque, NM;64;53;68;54;A shower and t-storm;SE;7;59%;95%;3 Anchorage, AK;59;47;54;46;A little p.m. rain;NW;6;75%;96%;0 Asheville, NC;73;47;76;47;Mostly sunny, nice;NW;7;54%;9%;5 Atlanta, GA;79;52;84;55;Mostly sunny;NNW;7;46%;10%;5 Atlantic City, NJ;69;59;76;50;Breezy in the p.m.;NNW;12;59%;31%;4 Austin, TX;90;64;92;65;Partly sunny;ENE;5;40%;3%;6 Baltimore, MD;79;57;77;49;Breezy in the p.m.;NNW;11;50%;28%;4 Baton Rouge, LA;87;58;88;62;Partly sunny, warm;NNE;6;51%;11%;6 Billings, MT;59;41;64;43;Mostly sunny;SW;6;70%;3%;4 Birmingham, AL;83;52;84;52;Mostly sunny;N;7;47%;9%;5 Bismarck, ND;48;22;54;32;Plenty of sun;SW;7;45%;0%;3 Boise, ID;82;52;82;51;Mostly sunny, warm;ENE;7;30%;0%;4 Boston, MA;71;57;75;45;Breezy in the p.m.;WNW;12;62%;30%;4 Bridgeport, CT;75;56;73;43;Breezy in the p.m.;NW;11;60%;26%;4 Buffalo, NY;69;48;53;39;Cooler with a shower;NW;15;70%;66%;1 Burlington, VT;75;56;65;37;Afternoon showers;WNW;13;72%;100%;1 Caribou, ME;72;49;66;37;Afternoon rain;W;6;73%;91%;1 Casper, WY;70;39;60;37;Partly sunny;E;7;65%;4%;4 Charleston, SC;76;59;81;61;Plenty of sunshine;SSW;6;57%;4%;5 Charleston, WV;73;49;69;42;Breezy;NNW;14;71%;22%;3 Charlotte, NC;80;52;82;55;Mostly sunny;W;5;52%;10%;5 Cheyenne, WY;67;36;55;36;Partly sunny, cooler;SSW;7;60%;7%;4 Chicago, IL;73;46;54;39;A couple of showers;NW;15;58%;85%;1 Cleveland, OH;73;51;54;44;Breezy and cooler;NNW;15;71%;66%;1 Columbia, SC;82;53;85;58;Sunny and pleasant;SSW;4;50%;4%;5 Columbus, OH;76;49;58;36;Breezy and cooler;N;15;62%;15%;2 Concord, NH;75;49;72;36;Breezy in the p.m.;WNW;11;69%;29%;4 Dallas-Ft. Worth, TX;90;65;88;62;Mostly sunny;NE;7;36%;9%;5 Denver, CO;72;44;61;42;Partly sunny, cooler;ENE;7;57%;35%;5 Des Moines, IA;68;39;55;33;Partly sunny, cooler;ENE;9;52%;4%;4 Detroit, MI;79;45;54;35;A sprinkle, cooler;NNW;15;57%;31%;2 Dodge City, KS;80;43;64;41;Cooler;ENE;12;47%;43%;5 Duluth, MN;50;34;47;35;Partly sunny, chilly;WSW;8;58%;3%;3 El Paso, TX;74;60;77;60;A t-storm around;ESE;9;53%;58%;2 Fairbanks, AK;56;42;50;38;Rain and drizzle;NE;6;72%;91%;0 Fargo, ND;48;28;50;33;Mostly sunny;SW;8;52%;3%;3 Grand Junction, CO;75;49;77;49;Sunny and beautiful;E;7;36%;0%;5 Grand Rapids, MI;68;40;52;36;Partly sunny, cooler;NNW;15;61%;17%;2 Hartford, CT;75;55;74;44;Breezy in the p.m.;NW;11;65%;18%;4 Helena, MT;65;44;67;44;Partly sunny, nice;W;5;62%;0%;4 Honolulu, HI;88;72;86;72;A couple of showers;NE;7;64%;86%;8 Houston, TX;90;64;90;67;Partly sunny;SSW;6;49%;10%;5 Indianapolis, IN;76;46;59;38;Breezy and cooler;N;15;58%;7%;4 Jackson, MS;86;56;86;58;Partly sunny;NNE;7;50%;6%;5 Jacksonville, FL;85;58;87;60;Mostly sunny, warm;SE;6;49%;7%;6 Juneau, AK;59;44;58;48;Partly sunny;ENE;5;75%;65%;2 Kansas City, MO;80;44;59;38;Partly sunny, cooler;NNE;8;48%;8%;4 Knoxville, TN;78;49;78;47;Partly sunny;N;6;56%;12%;5 Las Vegas, NV;93;68;93;68;Sunny and hot;NW;5;20%;0%;5 Lexington, KY;78;50;67;37;Not as warm;N;9;61%;19%;4 Little Rock, AR;90;57;85;51;Nice with sunshine;NNE;8;49%;7%;5 Long Beach, CA;80;65;84;66;Turning sunny;S;6;67%;0%;5 Los Angeles, CA;79;63;86;64;Abundant sunshine;S;6;69%;1%;5 Louisville, KY;79;53;68;38;Not as warm;N;10;55%;15%;4 Madison, WI;62;37;52;32;Partly sunny, cool;WNW;8;57%;1%;2 Memphis, TN;85;60;81;51;Sunny and pleasant;NNE;9;49%;10%;5 Miami, FL;84;75;86;75;Mostly sunny, breezy;NE;14;60%;62%;7 Milwaukee, WI;71;42;52;36;Cooler with a shower;WNW;15;60%;40%;2 Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN;57;37;51;34;Periods of sun, cool;WSW;8;50%;4%;4 Mobile, AL;86;58;87;63;Partly sunny;NW;5;52%;10%;6 Montgomery, AL;85;52;85;56;Mostly sunny;N;5;50%;5%;5 Mt. Washington, NH;53;41;44;22;Cooler;W;12;82%;83%;2 Nashville, TN;84;51;77;42;Sunny and nice;N;9;54%;13%;5 New Orleans, LA;84;66;86;68;Partly sunny;W;7;54%;13%;6 New York, NY;76;60;74;47;Breezy in the p.m.;NW;11;52%;27%;4 Newark, NJ;75;56;74;45;Breezy in the p.m.;NW;11;55%;27%;4 Norfolk, VA;78;57;79;58;Partly sunny;SSW;7;57%;9%;5 Oklahoma City, OK;85;56;75;49;Not as warm;NE;11;51%;44%;3 Olympia, WA;75;49;79;47;Sunny;NE;5;68%;5%;3 Omaha, NE;70;37;57;34;Partly sunny, cooler;NE;7;51%;5%;4 Orlando, FL;84;64;87;65;Sunny and pleasant;E;7;52%;4%;6 Philadelphia, PA;77;56;77;48;Breezy in the p.m.;NNW;11;51%;27%;4 Phoenix, AZ;94;73;93;75;A t-storm around;ESE;7;34%;64%;5 Pittsburgh, PA;72;52;58;41;Breezy and cooler;NW;15;70%;60%;2 Portland, ME;73;53;68;40;Breezy in the p.m.;WNW;11;71%;30%;3 Portland, OR;82;55;84;55;Abundant sunshine;NNE;6;54%;5%;3 Providence, RI;75;54;75;41;A passing shower;WNW;11;59%;82%;4 Raleigh, NC;80;54;81;57;Mostly sunny, nice;SW;6;55%;5%;5 Reno, NV;83;47;84;47;Sunny and very warm;W;6;27%;0%;5 Richmond, VA;78;52;82;52;Partly sunny;N;6;52%;14%;4 Roswell, NM;73;56;73;55;Mostly cloudy;NE;7;62%;44%;2 Sacramento, CA;91;57;93;58;Sunny and hot;SSW;6;40%;1%;4 Salt Lake City, UT;79;53;79;52;Sunny and warm;ESE;7;35%;0%;4 San Antonio, TX;90;65;89;66;Periods of sun;SW;6;49%;3%;5 San Diego, CA;72;66;76;67;Turning sunny;W;7;77%;1%;5 San Francisco, CA;70;55;71;56;Fog to sun;WSW;9;72%;1%;4 Savannah, GA;84;55;83;59;Sunny and pleasant;SSE;5;53%;4%;5 Seattle-Tacoma, WA;74;56;78;57;Mostly sunny;NNE;7;58%;5%;3 Sioux Falls, SD;56;29;53;27;Mostly sunny, cool;W;6;49%;4%;4 Spokane, WA;81;49;79;48;Partly sunny, warm;ENE;6;50%;1%;3 Springfield, IL;76;46;59;31;Partly sunny, cooler;N;15;58%;5%;4 St. Louis, MO;79;51;63;38;Sunshine and cooler;N;10;51%;6%;4 Tampa, FL;86;63;89;63;Plenty of sun;E;6;58%;5%;6 Toledo, OH;76;44;55;32;Breezy and cooler;NNW;16;58%;9%;2 Tucson, AZ;85;66;83;65;A stray p.m. t-storm;ESE;10;50%;65%;3 Tulsa, OK;86;55;76;48;Not as warm;NNE;10;50%;6%;5 Vero Beach, FL;84;64;84;68;Mostly sunny;NE;9;54%;5%;6 Washington, DC;78;55;77;50;Breezy in the p.m.;NNW;11;55%;24%;4 Wichita, KS;83;49;65;43;Cooler;NNE;13;48%;16%;4 Wilmington, DE;75;54;76;49;Breezy in the p.m.;NNW;12;56%;27%;4 _____ Copyright 2022 AccuWeather Read More…

Sasse Expected To Resign From Senate https://digitalalabamanews.com/sasse-expected-to-resign-from-senate/ AdRemove Malware Hiding on Your Computer Most Edge users don’t know this one security tip. Run a Free Scan (Do it Now) The Daily Beast Court Screwup Reveals Mar-a-Lago Judge’s Latest Legal Absurdity in Trump Case Photo Illustration by Erin O’Flynn/The Daily BeastFirst, she stopped FBI special agents from even glancing at the classified documents they recovered from Mar-a-Lago. Then she appointed a special court referee that former President Donald Trump wanted to slow down the investigation over his mishandling of classified documents.But now, it’s clear District Court Judge Aileen Cannon already knew the Department of Justice was ready to hand Trump back a ton of personal records six days before she cla AdPrime Is Now $139, But Few Know This Saving Trick Amazon Prime has millions of subscribers, but only few know about this amazing savings trick! Bloomberg DOJ Wins Faster Schedule for Mar-a-Lago Special Master Appeal (Bloomberg) — A federal appeals court granted the US Justice Department’s request to expedite its challenge to the appointment of a so-called special master to review thousands of White House documents seized from Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate.Most Read from BloombergTrump Says US Agency Packed Top-Secret Documents. These Emails Suggest Otherwise.Nord Stream Leaks Caused by Detonations in Sign of SabotageSecretive Chip Startup May Help Huawei Circumvent US SanctionsMass Shooting in Thailand AdPut A Bottle On Your Car Tire When Parking Alone Always Place A Plastic Bottle On Your Car Tire When Traveling Alone, Here’s Why Reuters U.S. House Speaker raises ‘serious concerns’ about $5.4 billion Tegna deal WASHINGTON (Reuters) -U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Frank Pallone on Thursday raised serious concerns about the proposed $5.4 billion acquisition of U.S. broadcaster Tegna Inc. Last week, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) asked investment firm Standard General to produce further information about its takeover bid for the broadcast news company that manages 64 stations in 51 U.S. markets. “We are concerned that this transaction would violate the FCC’s mandate by restricting access to local news coverage, cutting jobs at local television stations, and raising prices on consumers,” the two Democrats wrote to FCC Chair Jessica Rosenworcel. AdA Regular Mistake For Cars Used Under 50 Miles/Day Florida drivers are surprised they never knew this new tip. If you live in Florida, you better read this. The Daily Beast Putin’s Dueling Foot Soldiers Are Now Apparently Killing Each Other Off AFP via GettyWhile Ukraine’s military has been successfully chasing Russian troops out of one territory after another, Vladimir Putin’s foot soldiers have apparently been turning their weapons on each other as the Russian leader’s “special military operation” continues to come apart at the seams in spectacular fashion.The Kremlin’s flailing bid to get an edge on the battlefield by deploying mercenaries from the Wagner Group—which now includes hundreds of prison inmates—has reportedly backfired a The Hill House Democrats propose end to US troop protection in Gulf after OPEC cut Three House Democrats have introduced legislation to end U.S. troop protection in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in response to news this week that OPEC and its allies will slash oil production. Saudi Arabia and the UAE, which together comprise about 30 percent of global crude oil reserves, have some 5,000 U.S.… AdWhat Eating Avocado Toast Does To Your Body Board-certified internal medicine and obesity specialist reveals what happens after eating 1 avocado toast. The Daily Beast Fox News CEO’s Own Words Used Against Network in Election Lies Lawsuit Alexi RosenfeldImmediately following Fox News’ pivotal 2020 election night call of Arizona for Joe Biden, the network’s CEO Suzanne Scott warned colleagues that “we can’t give the crazies an inch” as then-President Donald Trump tore into the conservative cable giant and some of the network’s stars publicly undermined the projection.Scott’s words are now being used against Fox News by voting software firm Dominion Voting Systems in its $1.6-billion defamation lawsuit accusing the network of peddl Ad8 Senior Benefits Approved In All 50 States Most people have never claimed these benefits & discounts simply because they don’t know about them. Here’s a list of top benefits. Read More…

The Latino Shift To The Right Is Real https://digitalalabamanews.com/the-latino-shift-to-the-right-is-real/ OPINION: This week former President Donald J. Trump kicked off Hispanic American Heritage Month as a keynote speaker at the Hispanic American Leadership Conference in Miami, an event organized by the America First Policy Institute and Bienvenido, a Latino pro-liberty group. Mr. Trump’s comments, which received rousing cheers from an audience, addressed the Latino shift to the right as Hispanic Americans continue to defect from the Democratic Party and tilt more Republican. “We’re here this afternoon to celebrate one the fastest-growing groups in the entire country — proud Hispanic conservatives,” Mr. Trump said. “The media and the Washington establishment, they never saw it coming. You never saw it coming, did you, CNN? But today, Hispanic Americans are joining our movement by the millions and millions. Hispanics are rallying to our cause for a simple reason — because they love America, and you believe in America and you know the time has come to stand out and defend America and everything it stands for.” Mr. Trump’s comments could not have been more apropos in the city of Miami. In 2016, Hillary Clinton carried the Hispanic American community in Miami-Dade County by a whopping 30 points, but after four years of the Trump presidency, that number took a catastrophic tumble as 2020 candidate Joe Biden carried the area by only 7 points — a downturn of 23 points. While some mainstream media outlets deny the Latino shift to the right, arguing that the majority of Hispanic Americans still support Democrats, that assertion is a misleading oversimplification as several polls prove an exodus from the left is underway. A recent poll from NBC News and Telemundo found that while 54% of Hispanic American voters still want Democrats to retain control of Congress versus 33% who want Republicans in charge, that gap shrunk 5 percentage points in the last year since October, and is 13 points less than it was in November 2018. It was 17 points less than it was in October 2016, and 21 points less than it was in October 2012.  Simply put, the Latino shift to the right is real, and it’s expanding every election cycle.  “While Latinos continue to lean toward the Democratic Party and prefer Democratic control of Congress, Republicans have a higher share of the vote than we’ve measured previously,” one of the pollsters, Aileen Cardona-Arroyo, told NBC. While the NBC poll also says that 51% of Hispanic Americans approve of President Biden’s performance, a July Quinnipiac poll places that number at a dismal 19% with 70% saying they disapprove, and 57% saying they strongly disapprove.  The reasons for this dramatic shift transcend Latino disapproval of the way Democrats have governed. It is because their political priorities are now aligned with Republican priorities and values. In September, a tracking poll released by the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials Educational Fund (NALEO) revealed that inflation and the rising cost of living are the primary areas of Latino concern.  And why wouldn’t they be? As Mr. Trump rightfully pointed out, Hispanic Americans have a lot invested in the United States because they’ve been an integral part of the nation it has become.  “Generations of Hispanic citizens have helped built forge our communities, found our churches, build our small businesses, police our streets, teach our children, protect our borders, serve in our military and lift up our nation in a million different ways,” Mr. Trump said. “There is no industry that Hispanic Americans have not made stronger and better. … There’s no city Hispanics have not made better, and there’s no part of America that has not been uplifted by Hispanic Americans and not made better.” Other issues Latinos rank as priorities are abortion, rising crime and immigration. Although a June Axios-Ipsos poll found that more than half of second- and third-generation Hispanic Americans believe abortion should be legal, 41% of first-generation Latinos disagree. And while only 1 in 5 Hispanic Americans actually own a firearm, the post-pandemic period saw an incredible 49% spike in Latino gun purchases, according to a Nov. 4, 2021, ABC News report. UNIDOS U.S. polls from September showed that Latinos in the key battleground states of Arizona and Florida consider violent crime their No. 2 issue. No one understands the dangers of leftism and how it can destroy once-flourishing nations such as Cuba, Nicaragua and Venezuela like Latinos. Latinos from otherwise free market countries now shifting to the left such as Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Mexico and Peru have similar concerns. We agree with Mr. Trump. The Latino shift to the right is real — and with the help of patriotic Hispanic Americans, we will indeed get our country back.  Read More…

Austin Approves Plan To Drop Confederate References From DoD Property https://digitalalabamanews.com/austin-approves-plan-to-drop-confederate-references-from-dod-property/ The services are about to get underway on a plan to rename nine Army posts, two Navy ships and remove or modify a host of monuments and tributes to the Confederacy, per recommendations from an independent commission approved Thursday by Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin. Austin has convened a working group that will oversee the removal and replacing of tributes to the Confederacy and Confederate military starting in December, after a mandatory 90-day waiting period, he wrote in a memo. “I thank the Commission for its tremendous work and dedication, its determination to respond to the directives of our elected representatives in Congress, and its sensitivity to the concerns and emotions raised by this important discussion,” he wrote. “The Commission’s thorough and historically informed work has put the Department on a path to meet Congressional intent — and to remove from U.S. military facilities all names, symbols, displays, monuments, and paraphernalia that honor or commemorate the Confederacy.” The list of military ‘items’ named for Confederacy is more than 750 long Among the forthcoming changes are: The renaming of Forts Lee, Pickett and A.P. Hill in Virginia; Fort Bragg, North Carolina; Forts Gordon and Benning in Georgia; Fort Rucker, Alabama; Fort Polk, Louisiana; and Fort Hood, Texas. The renaming of the cruiser Chancellorsville and the oceanographic survey ship Maury, at the discretion of the Navy secretary. Renaming of buildings and street names, as well as removal of artwork, monuments and other tributes at the U.S. Military Academy and U.S. Naval Academy. The commission has drawn the ire of many who believe that the rebranding paints over U.S. history and undoes the reconciliation with the South that many of the original names intended. Former President Donald Trump was a vocal critic of the effort, though Congress overruled his veto of the 2021 National Defense Authorization Act, with an overwhelming majority, to put the commission into law. “The Commissioners do not make these recommendations with any intention of ‘erasing history,’ “ commissioners wrote in the second of three recommendation reports. “The facts of the past remain and the Commissioners are confident the history of the Civil War will continue to be taught at all Service academies with all the quality and complex detail our national past deserves.” DoD has until Jan. 1, 2024, to complete all renaming and removals. Read More…

The Alabama Trail That Leads To A Stairway Waterfall Is Heaven On Earth https://digitalalabamanews.com/the-alabama-trail-that-leads-to-a-stairway-waterfall-is-heaven-on-earth/ Who doesn’t love waterfalls? If you’re one of the many people who do, you’re in luck because Alabama has plenty of them. While some of the waterfalls are natural, many others are man-made. An Alabama waterfall that’s as unique as it is beautiful is Chewacla Falls, which is located in Chewacla State Park. For information about this state park and its stairway waterfall, take a look below. Chewacla State Park, which covers only 696 acres, is located in Auburn, Alabama. Its main feature is 26-acre Lake Chewacla (pictured). With that being said, Lake Chewacla isn’t the only feature that attracts numerous people each year to Chewacla State Park. Another feature is Chewacla Falls, which can be reached via the Chewacla State Park Trail. This scenic trail is a 2.5-mile loop trail with a moderate level of difficulty rating, which means almost anyone can hike it. During your hike, you’ll encounter everything from beautiful wildflowers to… …large boulders. You might even come across some wildlife, so be sure to always stay aware of your surroundings. It won’t take long before you see Chewacla Falls in the distance. Formed by a dam, this is one of Alabama’s most beautiful, little-known waterfalls. The way the water flows over the rocks of this man-made waterfall in a stairway motion is truly breathtaking. If you enjoy chasing waterfalls, the next time you’re in the Auburn area, be sure to stop by Chewacla State Park and hike to Chewacla Falls. You’ll love it! For more information about Chewacla State Park, including hours and other activities offered, you can take a look at the Alabama State Parks website. Have you ever hiked to Chewacla Falls? If so, please share your experience with us in the comments below. Following your hike, consider grabbing a bite to eat at Acre, one of Auburn’s award-winning restaurants. For information about Acre, be sure to take a look at the following article: This Is The Best Restaurant In Alabama And You’ve Got To Try It. Address: Chewacla State Park, 124 Shell Toomer Pkwy, Auburn, AL 36830, USA Read More…

Ian Is Florida’s Deadliest Hurricane Since 1935. Most Victims Drowned. https://digitalalabamanews.com/ian-is-floridas-deadliest-hurricane-since-1935-most-victims-drowned/ FORT MYERS BEACH, Fla. — The water was rising quickly, so the women ran to the top floor of the vacation house they had rented for Nishelle Harris-Miles’s 40th birthday and huddled together on a bed. But Hurricane Ian’s storm surge gushed through the floor, lifting the mattress higher and higher until the four were smashed against the ceiling. Then the roof collapsed, lodging a nail into the neck of the woman they affectionately called Nene. “Nene died right there with us,” said Chanel Maston, 48, sobbing as she recounted the ordeal. “She took her last breaths with us.” As stories of death emerged from the destruction in southwest Florida, President Biden, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and local authorities have clashed over Ian’s casualty toll. Lee County Sheriff Carmine Marceno told “Good Morning America” that deaths could range into the hundreds. Biden warned that Ian could be the “deadliest hurricane in Florida’s history.” The governor has downplayed deaths in daily briefings, saying the tropical cyclone’s numbers will not come near the 1928 hurricane that killed a record 2,500. Yet Ian already is shaping up to be the deadliest storm to pound Florida since 1935. State authorities have documented 89 deaths thus far — a number that is slightly higher than Hurricane Irma’s toll in 2017, according to the National Hurricane Center. County sheriffs have reported dozens more, pushing the total to at least 117. That makes Ian more fatal than Hurricane Andrew in 1992. Ian’s storm surge has claimed the most lives, according to the Florida Medical Examiners Commission, which is tallying direct and indirect deaths. Sixty percent of the nearly 90 victims for whom a cause of death has been provided drowned, underscoring what experts call a frequently overlooked reality: Water usually kills more people than wind. Storm surge as high as 18 feet blasted through homes, trapping some people inside while sweeping others into brownish rivers. One woman was found tangled below her house in wires. Many of those who drowned were elderly. “I don’t want to scare people, but they need to understand: The leading cause of death is going to be drowning,” said W. Craig Fugate, former head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Florida Division of Emergency Management. “Storm surge doesn’t sound inherently deadly unless you understand it.” One week after landfall, rescue teams continue to wade through wrecked communities — often with only a vague idea of who might be buried in the rubble. Lee County Manager Roger Desjarlais admitted at a news conference Monday that officials do not know how many people they are searching for. First responders are relying on cadaver dogs. “We don’t have anything,” Virginia Task Force 2 leader Brian Sullivan said Tuesday as his team scoured Red Coconut RV Park in Fort Myers Beach, the storm’s ground zero. “The sheriff’s office was trying to work to compile a missing persons list. We haven’t received any information regarding that area.” Counting the dead is an imprecise science — there is no certain tally from Hurricane Katrina, for instance — and throughout the years, officials have debated what qualifies as a storm death. Hurricane Maria’s toll was initially in the dozens, with officials including only drownings and blunt force trauma. But an analysis of excess deaths later pushed the total into the thousands. Many elderly people died in Puerto Rico as the island’s blackout continued for months and medical care was hard to reach. DeSantis at first indicated that indirect deaths might not be counted. “For example, in Charlotte County, they recorded a suicide during the storm,” he said the day after the storm. “They also had somebody pass away from a heart attack because you don’t have access to emergency services.” But the agency tasked with cataloguing the deaths, the Florida Medical Examiners Commission, adheres to a broader definition. “We include motor vehicle accidents if someone is trying to evacuate and they hydroplane,” spokeswoman Gretl Plessinger said. “If someone had a heart attack when medical services were down. … If there was any suspicion it was related to a hurricane, that’s a storm death.” Water — storm surge, rainfall, inland flooding and surf — directly cause 90 percent of tropical cyclone deaths in the United States, according to the National Hurricane Center. The top indirect killers: car wrecks, carbon monoxide poisoning, electrocution and heat. And the lethal danger persists after the skies have cleared, said Jay Barnes, a hurricane historian in North Carolina. “Deaths often occur during cleanup,” he said. “Everything from carbon monoxide poisoning and chain-saw victims to people falling off roofs.” Many Americans underestimate the power of hurricane torrents, disaster experts say. They tend to picture powerful gusts and falling trees — perhaps because the nation’s best-known categorizing scale measures wind. Some in harm’s way choose to hunker down at home. Critics have slammed Lee County authorities for not ordering Fort Myers Beach residents to evacuate more swiftly. “There’s a saying in the industry that you run from water and hide from wind,” said John Renne, the director of the Center for Urban and Environmental Solutions at Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton. “We need to do a much better job of conveying the risk in storm-surge areas.” Mitch Pacyna, 74, a resident of Fort Myers Beach, had weathered 27 years of tropical storms. His social life was so packed that Pacyna’s friends jokingly referred to him as “the mayor.” On Facebook, he documented the storm’s approach, noting that the forecast had suggested Ian would veer toward Tampa. When county officials ordered his barrier island to empty before the hurricane struck, Pacyna opted to stay behind. “Oh my God … wrong decision,” he lamented in a video as water swept his street. Soon enough, the tide crashed into the home he shared with his partner, Mary, and wiped away the bar he’d built in his garage. Pacyna’s last post: “WE’RE TERRIFIED.” His family announced his death the next day. “Everyone loved him,” said Scott Safford, co-owner of the Sea Gypsy Inn, a lemon-yellow hotel that once stood near Pacyna’s home. Now it doesn’t exist. For rescue crews, the search for victims is stymied by a lack of information on who stayed behind and where the storm surge might have carried them. The Red Coconut RV Park, once a beachfront oasis, was crushed into pieces of roof, walls and knickknacks. Dozens of members of Virginia Task Force 2, one of the urban search-and-rescue teams deployed to Florida, dug through the debris Tuesday as three cadaver dogs detected a possible human scent. They found only household items, including an errant refrigerator filled with beer. “It’s just total destruction,” said Sullivan, the team’s leader. There was little left of the vacation house that Nishelle Harris-Miles’s friends and family had booked for her birthday. The women from Dayton, Ohio, had heard Ian was barreling toward Tampa Bay and figured the airline or rental owner would cancel on them if the storm posed a real threat to Fort Myers Beach. They had arrived the Tuesday before Ian struck and tried to make the most of it: dancing indoors, snapping silly photos, singing “Happy Birthday.” “We were smashed against the ceiling,” Maston said of what came next. “We were fighting the ceiling, and there was water everywhere. Next thing you know, the roof went down, and we went with it.” They were stranded in the debris for 14 hours, she estimated. Eventually, someone heard their cries, built a makeshift plank and pulled them out. A rescuer who descended from a helicopter confirmed what Maston already knew: Nene was dead. “We didn’t want to leave her behind,” she said. Nene was the mother of two sons and two daughters. A home health aide who cared about her patients. A tourist who had saved up for that trip. “We could never have imagined,” Maston said. “I saw bodies hanging out of windows. I’d never seen stuff like this — only on TV.” She wept. “We didn’t know,” she said. “We just didn’t know.” Lenny Bernstein contributed to this report. Paquette reported from Washington. Read More…

Dominion Lawsuit Alleges Fox News CEO Warned Staffers About ‘The Crazies’ After 2020 Election https://digitalalabamanews.com/dominion-lawsuit-alleges-fox-news-ceo-warned-staffers-about-the-crazies-after-2020-election/ According to Dominion Voting Systems, which is seeking $1.6 billion from Fox in a defamation lawsuit, Fox News CEO Suzanne Scott told staffers “we can’t give the crazies an inch”, after the network called Arizona for now-President Joe Biden during the 2020 Presidential election. Fox News was the first network to call the state for Biden, which eventually propelled him to the Presidency. A report from NPR details that Dominion’s lawyers claimed the company should receive the employment contracts of 13 Fox News executives, including Scott. A Delaware Superior Court Judge agreed. Justin Nelson, Dominion’s lead attorney, claims Fox News executives tried to block Lou Dobbs and Maria Bartiromo from featuring Trump attorneys Sidney Powel and Rudy Giuliani from appearing on network shows to repeat false claims that the election was stolen from Trump. Fox’s attorney did not dispute or refute either the claims made by Nelson. An upcoming book, The Divider, claims Fox News anchor Bret Baier shared he was receiving “intense pressure” from the Trump campaign to reverse the network’s call that Biden had won Arizona. The book alleges Baier asked Fox News President Jay Wallace to retract the call, which he has denied. In a statement given to Barrett News Media by a Fox News spokesperson, Baier said “The full context of the e-mail is not reported in this book. I never said the Trump campaign ‘was really pissed’ – that was from an external email that I referenced within my note. This was an email sent AFTER election night. “In the immediate days following the election, the vote margins in Arizona narrowed significantly and I communicated these changes to our team along with what people on the ground were saying and predicting district by district. I wanted to analyze at what point (what vote margin) would we have to consider pulling the call for Biden. I also noted that I fully supported our decision desk’s call and would defend it on air.” Read More…

House Jan. 6 Select Committee Schedules Next Hearing For Oct. 13 https://digitalalabamanews.com/house-jan-6-select-committee-schedules-next-hearing-for-oct-13/ Pence campaigning in key midterm states Pence campaigning in key midterm states as questions loom if he will meet with House Jan. 6 committee 08:57 Washington — The House select committee investigating the Jan. 6 assault on the U.S. Capitol will hold its next public hearing Oct. 13, the committee announced Thursday, less than a month before voters head to the polls for the November midterm elections. The hearing is scheduled for 1 p.m. ET and comes after the House panel postponed a Sept. 28 hearing as Hurricane Ian was barreling down on Florida’s southwest coast. One of the committee’s members, Rep. Stephanie Murphy, is a Democrat whose Florida district includes part of Orlando. Last week, the committee met with Ginni Thomas, a conservative activist and the wife of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, behind closed doors. The panel’s chairman, Rep. Bennie Thompson, told reporters after her more than four-hour-long interview that she answered “some questions,” and said her answers will be included in the next hearing if she provided investigators with “something of merit.” A source familiar with her appearance before the committee told CBS News afterward that Thomas had delivered an opening statement, in which she said that she has “never” spoken to her husband about pending cases before the Supreme Court, calling it an “iron clad rule in our home.” Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-MS), chair of the Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the U.S Capitol, Vice Chair Rep. Liz Cheney (R-WY), and Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-IL) take part in a hearing on Monday, June 13, 2022. MANDEL NGAN/AFP via Getty Images She also told the committee that her husband is “uninterested in politics,” and said in her statement, “I generally do not discuss with him my day-to-day work in politics, the topics I am working on, who I am calling, emailing, texting or meeting.” The committee asked Thomas to appear voluntarily after learning she corresponded with John Eastman, a conservative lawyer who helped craft the legal strategy to pressure former Vice President Mike Pence to unilaterally reject state electoral votes following the 2020 presidential election. Thomas also sent emails to at least two Wisconsin Republican state lawmakers days after the election, pushing them to name an alternate slate of presidential electors to support President Donald Trump. Thomas also corresponded via text message with former White House chief of staff Mark Meadows in the days following the election, urging him to overturn the results. Ginni Thomas denied her husband knew of her texts with Meadows. The delayed Sept. 28 hearing was supposed to be the committee’s ninth and final one and give its members the chance to reveal new information they learned over the summer. The panel planned to draft an interim report in mid-October, Thompson said last month, and finalize its report before the end of the year. The committee held a series of eight public hearings early this summer, across which it laid out what investigators said was a multi-pronged campaign from Trump and his allies to thwart the presidential transfer of power and keep Trump in office. The hearings featured previously unseen footage from Jan. 6, as well as clips from video interviews from Trump’s closest advisers in the White House and outside allies, and in-person testimony from top Justice Department officials, state elections officials and former White House aides. The postponed hearing was expected to feature clips from an upcoming documentary, shot over a three-year period, featuring Roger Stone, a longtime informal adviser and ally to Trump, a source familiar with the committee’s plans told CBS News last month. The source said the filmmaker gave the committee 14 clips from the documentary, called “A Storm Foretold,” which is expected to be released this year. Stone told CBS News in a statement that he challenged the “accuracy and the authenticity of these videos and believe they have been manipulated and selectively edited.” He also called it “categorically false” that he “knew in advance about, participated in or condoned any illegal activity” on Jan. 6.  “The excerpts you provided below prove nothing, certainly they do not prove I had anything to do with the events of Jan. 6. That being said, it clearly shows I advocated for lawful congressional and judicial options,” he said.  Caroline Linton, Jeff Pegues and Nikole Killion contributed to this report Thanks for reading CBS NEWS. Create your free account or log in for more features. Please enter email address to continue Please enter valid email address to continue Read More…

Drowning Pool Release New Album https://digitalalabamanews.com/drowning-pool-release-new-album/ Texas hard rock stalwarts DROWNING POOL’s first record in six years is out now via T-Boy/UMe. Earlier this summer, the band released their first single, the critically-hailed, blistering “Mind Right,” next the melodic and heavy “Choke,” and finally the hammering “A Devil More Damned” single and lyric video. On September 30, the wait was over and the full-length Drowning Pool album Strike A Nerve and title track were released. “In listening, you would believe many of the songs on Strike A Nerve were written about the difficult times we all faced during the lockdown. But the songs were actually written and recorded prior to COVID. That tells me that we were a bunch of isolated, frustrated dudes long before it became trendy!” says bassist Stevie Benton of the long-awaited album, which the band is currently supporting on the road through the end of the year (Tour dates below). “It’s pretty crazy to think it’s been almost seven years between records – so much has happened with the world, the band, our lives, We are so thankful to finally get this thing out there. I hope you all dig it as much as we dig playing these new tunes,” adds drummer Mike Luce. “It really does cover some ground. There’s the heaviest thing we’ve done (to date) with ‘Mind Right,’ some classic, familiar DP-style riffin’ happening with songs like ‘Stay And Bleed’ and ‘Choke,’ Jasen wearing his heart on his sleeve in probably the most intimate song DP has done, ‘Everything But You,’ and all the while you have some slamming-bounce happening in ‘Down In The Dirt,’ then heavy bangers like ‘A Devil More Damned’ and ‘Rope,’ and more. It’s crazy and awesome at the same time to see how this band has evolved over the past 20-plus years. Thank you to the all-core folks that have stuck by us for so long…I and we are truly thankful.” Inspired by wearing life’s battle scars on our sleeves, Strike A Nerve is an 11-song tour-de-force through the torn and battered psyche of a band. Drowning Pool completed recording, mixing and mastering Strike A Nerve just as COVID forced worldwide lockdowns. Written and recorded before the pandemic that halted the world for more than two years, the album became more poignant with its time on the shelf. Long hailed as champions of blue-collar hard rock and metal for their consistently incendiary live shows and vastly impressive catalog, Drowning Pool have become celebrants of the nu-metal movement, their working-class ethos and stubborn perseverance helping them overcome numerous trials while forging a bond few bands could ever realize. Drowning Pool is Jasen Moreno (Vocals), CJ Pierce (Guitar), Stevie Benton (Bass), and Mike Luce (Drums). Strike A Nerve was produced by Shawn McGhee. Listen to the new album here: Watch the new music video here: Tour Dates 10/06 – The Winchester Music Tavern – Lakewood, OH 10/07 – Hard Times Four Mile Fork – Fredericksburg, VA 10/08 – Stage West Penn State – State College, PA 10/09 – Dingbatz – Clifton, NJ 10/11 – The Concourse – Knoxville, TN 10/12 – Shagnasty’s – Huntsville, AL 10/14 – The Wildcatter Saloon – Katy, TX 10/16 – KEGL’s Freakers Ball – Fort Worth, TX 11/04 – Sunshine Studios Live – Colorado Springs, CO 11/05 – Mesa Theatre – Grand Junction, CO 11/06 – The Oriental Theatre – Denver, CO 11/08 – Barnato – Omaha, NE 11/10 – The Rave – Milwaukee, WI 11/11 – St. Croix Danbury Event – Danbury, WI 11/12 – Hard Rock Hotel and Casino – Sioux City, IA 11/13 – The Rust Belt – East Moline, IL 11/15 – Amos Southend – Charlotte, NC 11/16 – Suck Bang Blow – Murrells Inlet, SC 11/18 – Southport Hall – New Orleans, LA 11/19 – The Haute Spot – Cedar Park, TX 12/07 – Reading 3, Tel Aviv, Isreal 12/10 – Waregem Metal Days, Waregem, Belgium Read More…

Top Ally In Trump’s 2020 Election Plot Fights Professional Sanctions https://digitalalabamanews.com/top-ally-in-trumps-2020-election-plot-fights-professional-sanctions/ But Fox said Clark went further by repeatedly seeking to get the Justice Department to send a letter warning of significant signs of fraud and urging state legislatures to reconvene and consider appointing new presidential electors. “He came back and used coercive methods or means to attempt to get the letter sent even though he had no additional information” about fraud, Fox said during the videoconference session. Harry MacDougald, an attorney for Clark, pushed back. “They’re saying it’s OK to make a suggestion, but it’s not OK to persist in a suggestion,” MacDougald said. Merril Hirsh, a veteran D.C. lawyer who chairs a three-member panel to consider the bar complaint, emphasized that this is the key question he is considering as he begins to lay out the process for deciding Clark’s professional fate. Clark was a central figure in Trump’s last-ditch bid to remain in power despite losing the 2020 election. In December 2020, Clark pushed his superiors to issue a letter to state legislatures, encouraging them to convene in special sessions and consider whether to certify pro-Trump electors in multiple states won by Joe Biden. But top DOJ officials resisted, expressing alarm at Clark’s effort and emphasizing that there was simply no factual basis to suggest the election results were tainted by fraud. Trump, who was introduced to Clark by Rep. Scott Perry (R-Pa.), came within an eyelash of appointing Clark as acting attorney general and casting out the band of officials standing in Clark’s way, but the president pulled back amid a mass resignation threat by other DOJ leaders. Clark has been the subject of a torrent of investigations since Trump left office. Clark’s home was raided in June by FBI agents as part of an investigation into efforts to overturn the results, and he’s also been a figure of significant interest to the Jan. 6 select committee. He pleaded the Fifth Amendment when he appeared for a select committee deposition early this year. But lawyers involved in Trump’s 2020 efforts face an additional avenues of accountability: professional consequences. Several, like former Trump attorney Sidney Powell, have been sanctioned for pursuing baseless litigation against the election results in some states. Trump attorney Rudy Giuliani has similarly faced bar proceedings in New York and Washington, D.C. An investigative office of the D.C. Bar Association has lodged a complaint accusing Clark of dishonesty and of attempting to interfere with the administration of justice, both sanctionable offenses for a practicing attorney. If the charges are upheld, Clark faces a range of punishment, from a reprimand to the loss of his law license. The bar proceedings are typically protracted affairs. A three-member committee, overseen by Hirsh, will make initial recommendations after gathering facts. Those recommendations will go to the D.C. Bar’s Board of Professional Responsibility, which then relays its own final determination to the D.C. Court of Appeals, which has the authority to impose discipline ranging from a reprimand to disbarment. Hirsh said he had made no initial determinations about Clark’s culpability and is interested in the line between bad legal advice and sanctionable misconduct. “Where’s the line and how do we draw that line?” Hirsh asked of the parties. Hirsh laid out a schedule for briefings and arguments that stretches through December, while investigators pursue depositions from Clark’s former Justice Department superiors and subpoena Clark himself for documents about his efforts. Meanwhile, Clark’s lawyers are considering calling legal experts to discuss professional ethics. Hirsh also wants to understand how potential privilege issues — from presidential communications to deliberative process privileges — might impede the review, particularly if the Justice Department limits what its witnesses may share. Clark’s lawyers previously fought a secret court battle to block a subpoena from Fox’s office, but the fight was declared moot after the office filed formal charges. MacDougald said Thursday that Clark may resume that court challenge in a bid to head off the proceedings, but Hirsh said he plans to keep the process on track until and unless a court steps in to halt them. Read More…

Obituary: Dennis Keith Evans https://digitalalabamanews.com/obituary-dennis-keith-evans/ Having succumbed to a multitude of illnesses, Dennis passed away at Newport Hospital on September 20, 2022. He was one of eight children of the late Marie V (Holland) Evans of Newport, and the late Chief Fred Evans, USN, (Ret.) Mobile, AL. Dennis was a graduate of Rogers High School. In 1982, he received his BS degree in Journalism from the University of Rhode Island in Kingston, RI. Through his interest in video photography, he founded Creative Television of Rhode Island (CTRI). He was its director until his retirement. He also served in the United States Navy. Dennis was the brother of the late Sgt. Sylvia Francine (Evans) Milton, USAR, (Ret.) of Mobile, AL, the late King Phillip Evans of Kansas City, Mo, and the late SFC Randolph Cedric Evans, USCG, (Ret.) of San Diego, Cal, He is survived by four siblings, Roseanne Juliet Evans, Frederick Evans Jr both of Providence, RI, Neil Otis Evans of Newport, Stephen Christopher Evans of Woonsocket. He will also be missed by his former wife and lifelong loving companion of 45 years, Karen Leonard-Evans of Newport. Dennis Keith Evans was uncle to the following: Lynette Sutman of Shelby Township, MI, Margarita Johnson of Baltimore,MD and Angelique Johnson of Mobile, AL. The late Darshara Lin Evans of Norfolk, VA, TaEsha Lon Evans-Ortega of Hagerstown, MD, Frederick Paul Evans- Inniss of Sanford NC, Stephen, Robert and Tu’Karro Evans of Newport, Antonio Evans of Cranston and Juliet Marie Croom of Hattiesburg, MS. He had 15 grandnieces and nephews, along with a host of other extended family members. The Great Creator has called Dennis Keith Evans home to join his parents and his other siblings at his table. Thus ending Dennis’ torment, pain and anguishof his physical body’s journey, freeing him of all of his pain and suffering. In honoring Dennis’s last wishes, there will be no public nor Military service. Please pray for all of the families. May Dennis Keith Evans rest in peace (RIP). Thank you all This obituary was originally published by Memorial Funeral Home on www.memorialfuneralhome.com. It has been republished here with permission and at no cost. More by Memorial Funeral Home Read More…

Toyota Restarts Output Of First EV After Fixing Safety Issues https://digitalalabamanews.com/toyota-restarts-output-of-first-ev-after-fixing-safety-issues/ TOKYO, Oct 6 (Reuters) – Toyota Motor Corp said it would restart production of its first electric vehicle, the bZ4X, on Thursday after fixing potential safety problems that had halted sales of the new battery-powered model for more than three months. Japan’s largest automaker, a laggard in the EV market, recalled 2,700 bZ4Xs globally in June after discovering that there was a risk the car’s wheels could come loose. Subaru Corp (7270.T), a fifth owned by Toyota, also had to recall units of the related Solterra model that it jointly developed with Toyota. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com A recall notice submitted to Japan’s transport ministry by Toyota in June said that sharp turns and sudden braking could cause a hub bolt to loosen, raising the risk of a wheel coming off the vehicle. The automaker on Thursday said in a filing to the ministry that it would make sure hub bolts were replaced and properly tightened in new versions of the bZ4X. In addition, Toyota said it had identified and fixed a potential problem with airbags in the car. Some airbags had been improperly installed at the factory and were at risk to fail or cause injury because of the placement of a strap inside the airbag assembly. Toyota had not previously disclosed that problem. 2023 Toyota bZ4X all-electric SUV is displayed during the 2021 LA Auto Show in Los Angeles, California, U.S. November, 17, 2021. REUTERS/Mike Blake Masahiko Maeda, Toyota’s chief technology officer, told a briefing the automaker only became aware of the airbag issue in the last month or two. “We apologise again for the concern, anxiety, and inconvenience we have caused to our customers, our dealers and our stakeholders,” Maeda said. He declined to comment on how much the recall had cost. Toyota has faced criticism from environmental groups and investors who want the company to expand faster into battery EVs. Toyota has pushed back, saying it needs to offer car choices to suit different markets and customers. Hybrids such as the Prius remain far more popular in Toyota’s home market. Pure battery-electric vehicles accounted for just 1% of the passenger cars sold in Japan last year, according to industry data. The bZ4X is available for lease only in Japan – a service which will resume on Oct. 26, Maeda said. He did not specify when U.S. sales would recommence. Only 232 units of crossover, pitched as Toyota’s answer to Tesla’s (TSLA.O) Model Y and the Volkswagen’s (VOWG_p.DE) ID.4, have been sold this year in the United States. Last year, the Japanese automaker committed about $30 billion to develop battery electric vehicles. It expects the company’s annual sales of such cars to reach only 3.5 million vehicles by the end of the decade, about one-third of current annual sales of its gasoline-powered cars. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com Reporting by Satoshi Sugiyama and Maki Shiraki; Editing by Kevin Krolicki and Edwina Gibbs Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles. Read More…

Thailand Massacre: Ex-Cop Kills 24 Children In Knife And Gun Rampage https://digitalalabamanews.com/thailand-massacre-ex-cop-kills-24-children-in-knife-and-gun-rampage/ Total death toll including shooter is 37 – police Attacker kills 24 children, 13 adults in rampage Thai daycare centre was for children aged 2-5 Most child victims were stabbed – police Attacker killed his wife, child, and shot himself NA KLANG, Thailand, Oct 6 (Reuters) – A former policeman killed 34 people, including 23 children, during a knife and gun rampage at a daycare centre in northeast Thailand on Thursday, police said, before later shooting dead his wife and child at home and turning his weapon on himself. In one of the world’s worst child death tolls in a massacre by a single killer in recent history, most of the children who died at the daycare centre in Uthai Sawan, a town 500 km (310 miles) northeast of Bangkok, were stabbed to death, police said. The age range of children at the daycare centre was from two to five years, a local official told Reuters. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com Police identified the attacker as a former member of the force who was dismissed from his post last year over drug allegations and he was facing trial on a drugs charge. The man had been in court earlier in the day and had then gone to the daycare centre to collect his child, police spokesperson Paisal Luesomboon told broadcaster ThaiPBS. When he did not find his child there, he began the killing spree, Paisal said. “He started shooting, slashing, killing children at the Uthai Sawan daycare centre,” Paisal said. “It’s a scene that nobody wants to see. From the first step when I went in, it felt harrowing,” Piyalak Kingkaew, an experienced emergency worker heading the first responder team, told Reuters. “We’ve been through it before, but this incident is most harrowing because they are little kids.” A large van that police said contained bodies of 22 people, mostly children, was seen by Reuters departing from a police station headed towards the city of Udon Thani, 80 km (50 miles) away, where autopsies would be performed. ‘I BEGGED HIM FOR MERCY’ A Reuters photographer also saw late on Thursday the body of the shooter, Panya Khamrapm, being moved in a bodybag from a van to a police station in the province. Photographs taken at the daycare centre by the rescue team and shared with Reuters showed the tiny bodies of those killed laid out on blankets. Abandoned juice boxes were scattered across the floor. “He was heading towards me and I begged him for mercy, I didn’t know what to do,” one distraught woman told ThaiPBS, fighting back tears. “He didn’t say anything, he shot at the door while the kids were sleeping,” another woman said, becoming distraught. Police said the attacker’s weapon was a 9 mm pistol and it had been obtained legally. Thailand’s police chief said the perpetrator had tried to break into the premises and had mostly used a knife in the killings. People gather outside a day care center which was the scene of a mass shooting, in the town of Uthai Sawan, around 500 km northeast of Bangkok in the province of Nong Bua Lam Phu, Thailand October 6, 2022. REUTERS/Athit Perawongmetha “Then he got out and started killing anyone he met along the way with a gun or the knife until he got home. We surrounded his house and then found that he committed suicide in his home,” Damrongsak Kittiprapas told reporters. He said a few children had survived, without giving details. About 30 children were at the facility – a pink, one-storey building surrounded by a lawn and small palm trees – when the attacker arrived, fewer than usual, as heavy rain had kept many people away, said district official Jidapa Boonsom, who was working in a nearby office at the time. “The shooter came in around lunch time and shot four or five officials at the childcare centre first,” Jidapa told Reuters. The attacker forced his way into a locked room where the children were sleeping, Jidapa said. A teacher who was eight months pregnant was also among those stabbed to death, she said. The massacre is among the worst involving children killed by one person. Anders Breivik killed 69 people, mostly teenagers, at a summer camp in Norway in 2011, while the death toll in other cases include 20 children at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown Connecticut in 2012, 16 at Dunblane in Scotland in 1996 and 19 at a school in Uvalde, Texas, this year. The Beslan school hostage crisis in Russia in 2004 saw 186 children killed by a group of hostage takers. Reuters Graphics DRUGS CHARGE Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-Ocha was expected to visit the region on Friday. In a statement on Facebook, he called Thursday’s rampage a “shocking incident”. Prayuth ordered all government departments to fly the national flag at half mast on Friday to mark a tragedy that “had caused grief to the entire nation”, his spokesperson Anusha Burapchaisri said. King Maha Vajiralongkorn and Queen Suthida will visit families of the victims in Udon Thani on Friday, according to a local announcement. The government said it would provide financial aid to the families to help cover funeral expenses and medical treatment. The White House and the United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres both expressed shock at the attack and sent condolences to the victims’ families. Gun laws are strict in Thailand, where possession of an illegal firearm carries a prison sentence of up to 10 years. But ownership is high compared with some other countries in Southeast Asia. Illegal weapons, many brought in from strife-torn neighbouring countries, are common. Mass shootings in Thailand remain rare, although in 2020, a soldier angry over a property deal gone sour killed at least 29 people and wounded 57 in a rampage that spanned four locations. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com Additional reporting by Poppy McPherson and Jiraporn Kuhakan in Na Klang, Orathai Sriring, Panarat Thepgumpanat, Chayut Setboonsarng and Juarwee Kittisilpa in Bangkok; Writing by Kanupriya Kapoor, Robert Birsel and Raissa Kasolowsky; Editing by Kim Coghill, Clarence Fernandez, Mark Heinrich and Gareth Jones Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles. Read More…

—PRECIOUS RODGERS— https://digitalalabamanews.com/precious-rodgers/ Precious Lakia Rodgers, the daughter of Marinda B. Patterson-Rodgers and Ray Anthony Rodgers, was born on Friday, October 11, 1996 at Putnam Community Medical Center, Palatka. She was educated in the Putnam County School District and was a 2016 graduate of Palatka High School. Precious was employed by Walmart, Palatka as a team lead for 5 years and was recently employed by Vivint Security as a Smart Home Technology Field Service Professional. She was a faithful member of Mt. Tabor First Baptist Church under the leadership of Reverend Karl N. Flagg, where she served in the Youth Ministry (as a Youth Leader), Choir Ministry, S.A.L.T. (Audio-Visual) Ministry, Food Service, Usher Ministry, Women’s Ministry, Drama Ministry, and was the official church photpgrapher. She also served as a member of the Tri-County Gospel Chorale. Precious was a former member of the Palatka Police Athletic League (PAL). She enjoyed photography and painting. Precious was a beautiful soul with a loving spirit and infectious smile. Precious La’Kia Rodgers entered the sunset of life at 8:25 p.m., Thursday, September 22, 2022, at HCA Florida Orange Park Hospital. She was preceded in eternal rest by her maternal grandmother, Annie Ruth Patterson; paternal grandmother, Annie Bell Rodgers; paternal grandfather, Simon Rodgers; maternal uncle, Charles Edward Patterson; paternal aunts, Sally Eddins, Geraldine Blue, Annie J. Rayburn, and Linda Grooms; and paternal uncles, Earnest Rodgers, Joseph Rodgers, Grady Rodgers, Willie Rodgers, and Hubert Rodgers. She leaves to cherish her memories: mother, Marinda Patterson Rodgers, father, Ray Anthony (Burnetta) Rodgers; 2 brothers, Jeremaine C. Rodgers, Ramel D. Jones, all of Palatka; 2 sisters, Quentella Owens-Stewart, Montgomery, AL; Yashicia L. Patterson, Orlando; great aunt, Carstella Baker; aunts, Mary P. Harris, Martha Jackson, all of Union Springs, AL; uncles, Jerome C. Patterson, Union Springs, AL; Minister Clinton Rayburn, Palatka; godmother, Minister Brenda Lockhart, Palatka; and a host of other relatives and close friends. To plant a tree in memory of PRECIOUS RODGERS as a living tribute, please visit Tribute Store. Read More…

World Ranking Rejects Last-Minute LIV Golf Bid For Points https://digitalalabamanews.com/world-ranking-rejects-last-minute-liv-golf-bid-for-points/ LIV Golf CEO Greg Norman, left, stands with the 4 Aces GC team, from left, Talor Gooch, Captian Dustin Johnson, Patrick Reed and Pat Perez, after winning the team’s fourth straight tournament at the LIV Golf Invitational-Chicago tournament Sunday, Sept. 18, 2022, in Sugar Hill, Ill. Charles Rex Arbogast – staff, AP The Official World Golf Ranking won’t be awarding points to LIV Golf events this year, denying the MENA Tour’s request to immediately add the Saudi-funded series to its schedule. The OWGR said in a statement Thursday the MENA Tour did not give it sufficient notice and there would not be time to finish the review ahead of the LIV Golf Invitational in Bangkok that starts Friday or the event in Saudi Arabia next week. Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. A celebration of Black business success and opportunity is back for its third year. Black Entrepreneurs Day was founded and organized by “Shark Tank” panelist Daymond John. Venus Williams, Spike Lee, Tracee Ellis Ross, Shaquille O’Neal and Killer Mike are among those set to participate in the Oct. 27 evening event at New York City’s Apollo Theater. It will be streamed live on John’s Facebook page and at BlackEntrepreneursDay.com. Black business owners and entrepreneurs can apply for $25,000 grants from the NAACP Powershift Entrepreneur Grant program created by John. The event website is open for applications through 11:59 p.m. Eastern on Oct. 12. LeBron James came to Las Vegas for a preseason game. And a pitch. James, who has spoken in the past about how he wants to eventually own an NBA franchise — with Las Vegas on his mind — sent a crystal-clear message to Commissioner Adam Silver on Wednesday night, reminding him of his future plans to bring a team to the desert. Though Silver has said he expects expansion at some point, it is believed that wouldn’t happen until the next Collective Bargaining Agreement and television deals are complete. The Green Bay Packers’ schedule for their first-ever international regular-season game doesn’t leave much time for sightseeing. Same goes for the New York Giants. Both teams are scheduled to arrive in the British capital Friday morning ahead of Sunday’s game at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. The Giants have some question marks at quarterback. Daniel Jones sprained his left ankle last Sunday but was showing improvement by midweek. The Packers have won three consecutive games but now must figure out how to contain NFL leading rusher Saquon Barkley. This is the second of three NFL games in London this season. Barcelona’s financial vice president says the club won’t be able to reduce its salary burden to sustainable levels until several veteran players finish their contracts over the next two seasons. Eduard Romeu says that includes the contracts of Gerard Pique, Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba. Romeu says the club wants its total salary burden to reach $491 million from the $644 million it’s at this season. Barcelona finished last season with a profit for the first time in three years. But that was only possible after it sold off part of its television rights and other assets. Barcelona’s financial vice president says the club won’t be able to reduce its salary burden to sustainable levels until several veteran players finish their contracts over the next two seasons. Eduard Romeu says that includes the contracts of Gerard Pique, Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba. Romeu says the club wants its total salary burden to reach $491 million from the $644 million it’s at this season. Barcelona finished last season with a profit for the first time in three years. But that was only possible after it sold off part of its television rights and other assets. Second-ranked Georgia will try to regain momentum when it plays Auburn in a Southeastern Conference game. The Bulldogs fell from the top spot in The Associated Press Top 25 this week after having to rally for a 26-22 win at Missouri. The major scare at Missouri followed a similarly uninspiring 39-22 win over Kent State. Auburn experienced the other side of a big comeback last week, leaving more pressure on embattled coach Bryan Harsin. The Tigers led LSU 17-0 before losing 21-17. Harsin would receive a much-needed boost if Auburn can end a streak of five straight losses in the series with Georgia. Jorge Sampaoli is set to begin his second stint as Sevilla’s coach. Sevilla says the 62-year-old Argentine has agreed to a contract for the remainder of this season plus one more. Sampaoli already coached Sevilla in 2016-17 before leaving to take over Argentina. He replaces Julen Lopetegui a day after he was fired following the team’s poor start to the season. Sampaoli inherits a club that is in 17th place in the Spanish league and winless in three Champions League games. Sevilla hosts a strong Athletic Bilbao side on Saturday in the Spanish league before visiting Dortmund next week. Georgia will try to regain its momentum after trailing through most of last week’s 26-22 win at Missouri and also failing to impress in a 39-22 victory over Kent State the previous week. The Bulldogs fell from the top spot in the AP Top 25. Georgia has won the last five games in the Southeastern Conference rivalry. One week after escaping with an overtime win over Missouri, Auburn led by 17 points against LSU before losing 21-17 last week. Tigers coach Bryan Harsin is 9-9 in his second season and facing pressure. This will be Auburn’s first road game of the season. Jon Rahm has overcome early jitters from playing at home and shot a 7-under 64 in the opening round of the Spanish Open. He’s one shot behind clubhouse leader Ashun Wu. Rahm is trying to win for the third time at home and join the great Seve Ballesteros for the most Spanish Open titles. Rahm says his heartbeat was “definitely a lot more intense on the first few shots and the first few putts” because he is playing in front of the home crowd. Rahm made six birdies, an eagle and a bogey at Club de Campo Villa de Madrid. Xabi Alonso is finally ready for the limelight again. The 40-year-old former Liverpool, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich star was appointed Bayer Leverkusen coach this week after serving a three-year coaching apprenticeship with Real Sociedad’s reserve team. It’s his first senior management job despite receiving plenty of offers before. Alonso says “I felt that I needed to prepare myself and to find the right moment. I feel ready that this is the right moment. And this is a great project.” Alonso is inheriting a team that has won only two games. Leverkusen is second from bottom in the Bundesliga after eight rounds. This Date in Baseball, Oct, 7-Rickey Henderson secures 3,000 hits This Date in Baseball-Week Ahead, Oct. 7-13, Two Takes Today in Sports History, Oct. 7, Walter Payton passes Jim Brown in career rushing Today in Sports History-Week Ahead, Oct. 7-13, Take Two This Date in Baseball-Week Ahead, Oct. 7-13, Take Two Sportlight-Week Ahead, Oct. 7-13, Two Takes Much is at stake for Arsenal and Liverpool at Emirates Stadium in a game that could inform which team is likeliest to mount a challenge to Premier League champion Manchester City. Arsenal is in first place with seven wins from eight matches. Liverpool is tentatively finding its way back to form after a turbulent start to the season. Victory for the London club could establish it as the biggest threat to City’s dominance this season. French team Lyon is struggling like never before with the losses piling up and the delayed sale of the club causing even more havoc. The club won seven straight French league titles from 2002-08 but has lost four matches in a row for the first time since 1991. The sale of the club to an American businessman has been postponed by three weeks to add to those woes. Lyon goalkeeper Anthony Lopes says “the entire squad is affected by this situation.” Lyon qualified regularly for the Champions League for years but the club’s poor run this season looks to be a continuation of last season when it finished in eighth place. The Official World Golf Ranking won’t be awarding points to LIV Golf events this year. The ranking board has denied a request to immediately add Saudi-funded LIV Golf to the MENA Tour schedule. The OWGR says the MENA Tour did not give it sufficient notice and there would not be time to finish the review ahead of the LIV Golf Invitational in Bangkok that starts Friday or the event in Saudi Arabia next week. There are only two LIV Golf events left so some players will be out of the top 50 and find a tough road back to the majors. Oklahoma State got off to a good start in Big 12 play with a 36-25 victory at then-No. 16 Baylor. The seventh-ranked Cowboys are positioned for a run at a playoff spot. Quarterback Spencer Sanders could become a more prominent part of the Heisman Trophy conversation if he continues to perform well. Both possibilities would take a hit with a loss to Texas Tech on Saturday. Tech, which already has wins over ranked opponents Houston and Texas this season, could crack the Top 25 with a victory. No. 1 Alabama hosts Texas A&M in a rematch of a major upset last season. The Crimson Tide are trying to avenge last season’s 41-38 Aggies win that came on a last-play field goal. It was Alabama’s only regular season loss. Both starting quarterbacks are nursing injuries and listed as day to day by their coaches. Alabama Heisman Trophy winner Bryce Young sprained his throwing shoulder against Arkansas. Texas A&M’s Max Johnson hurt his throwing hand in a loss to Mississippi State. Missouri and Florida meet Saturday with both teams looking for their first Southeastern Conference victory. The Tigers are coming off consecutive nail-biters against Aub...

Donald Trump's Triumphant Return To Twitter? Elon Musk Could Be Asking For Trouble By Bringing Trump Back https://digitalalabamanews.com/donald-trumps-triumphant-return-to-twitter-elon-musk-could-be-asking-for-trouble-by-bringing-trump-back/ Twitter has been a relatively peaceful place since the lifetime ban of former President Donald Trump. Article continues below advertisement Relatively – because Twitter is never really peaceful. But political stirrings and public vitriol has slowed to a gentle boil instead of a raging volcano. However, the temporary tranquility may soon be coming to an end. Tesla and SpaceX founder Elon Musk has said in the past that if he owned Twitter, he would rescind Trump’s lifetime ban and allow the FPOTUS back on the platform. Now, it looks like Musk may be in a position to do exactly that – and it could hit him in the pocketbook. Article continues below advertisement If Musk Buys Twitter, Trump Comes Back? Article continues below advertisement It’s been a bitter back-and-forth between Musk and Twitter as they battle over his original offer to buy the social media giant for $44B. Musk tried to walk back his offer and the two camps were poised for a complicated and high-stakes court battle which would have kicked off this week with a deposition by the billionaire. At the 11th hour, Musk sent word to Twitter that he would agree to buy Twitter for the original purchase terms of $44B, and Twitter’s board seems amenable to it, so the sale will likely proceed. Article continues below advertisement That means that Musk will have a chance to literally put his money where his mouth is, and rescind Trump’s ban soon. But should he? The one thing that may slow his roll is advertising. Advertisers know that their brand will suffer if it appears along content that is too controversial or too offensive – two things Trump excels at posting. Article continues below advertisement So if Trump is allowed back, Twitter will need to come up with a system that protects advertisers from having their content plastered alongside content they consider not brand friendly. Yahoo! Finance explains; “‘It’s a much bigger problem to solve,’ Rohit Kulkarni, senior analyst at MKM Partners, said on Yahoo Finance Live (video above) about content moderation at Twitter. ‘Even Facebook and even larger companies have not been able to solve it in a more convincing manner.’ Kulkarni explained that if Musk wanted to keep advertisers on the platform, he would have to install guardrails to protect brands from appearing alongside controversial content. ‘There would need to be a mechanism for advertisers to be able to choose where their ads are being shown and in a way the [advertisers] feel to be next to content they view as brand-safe,’ the analyst stated.” Article continues below advertisement Investors Are Already Shying Away from Truth as Word Spreads Trump May Return to Twitter Trump himself has suggested that he would not return to Twitter, and would rather stick it out with his own ailing platform Truth Social. Article continues below advertisement But investors clearly believe he will return to Twitter, as stocks for the companies running Truth have dropped considerably in the wake of news that Musk will likely be signing on the dotted line to purchase Twitter. CNBC reports, “Shares of Digital World Acquisition Corp., the special-purpose acquisition company seeking to take Trump Media and Technology Group public, slid Tuesday after Elon Musk reversed course and proposed going through with his deal to buy Twitter. Shares of DWAC fell more than 5% Tuesday to $17.10. The stock’s 2022 peak was about $97 in March. Trump Media and Technology Group owns Truth Social, the platform founded by former President Donald Trump after he was banned from Twitter following the Jan. 6, 2021 Capitol insurrection.” Article continues below advertisement It’s a frustrating move for Trump, who has been struggling to get his platform up and running with lackluster investors and a battle with several major app stores over whether or not the social media company has adequate moderation. But investors be damned, Trump said to a crowd in Michigan over the weekend; “If they don’t come with the financing I’ll have it private. Easy to have it private.” Unfortunately for Trump, that ability relies on every lawsuit and criminal investigation currently against him fizzling to nothing – a bet few gamblers would take. Read More…

Aramis Ayala Is Challenging Ashley Moody In An Uphill Bid To Become Florida’s Attorney General https://digitalalabamanews.com/aramis-ayala-is-challenging-ashley-moody-in-an-uphill-bid-to-become-floridas-attorney-general/ TALLAHASSEE — Former Orlando-area State Attorney Aramis Ayala is making a “longshot” bid to unseat Republican Attorney General Ashley Moody, saying a key issue is the independence of Florida’s top legal officer. But as with other contests this year for state Cabinet seats, the race between Ayala and Moody is an undercard to elections for governor and U.S. Senate and has made few waves. During a news conference last month, Moody dismissed the idea of debating Ayala, saying she’d prefer “discussions with those that are serious about being an attorney general that enforces the law, indeed, and works with law enforcement.” A former Hillsborough County circuit judge, Moody, 47, is the favorite in the race for a number of reasons, including incumbency, fund-raising, support from Gov. Ron DeSantis and former President Donald Trump and name recognition from media appearances on Republican-friendly television networks. Ayala, 47, drew attention in 2016 when she became the state’s first Black elected state attorney, winning in the 9th Judicial Circuit in Orange and Osceola counties. She defeated two opponents in the Aug. 23 Democratic primary for attorney general and said the state’s chief legal officer should fight for all Floridians, not to support DeSantis’ political ambitions and Republican “cultural wars.” Ayala is the state’s first Black elected state attorney. (Red Huber/Orlando Sentinel via AP) “This past legislative session, I just saw the trampling on our rights. The conversations were becoming extremely harsh towards the people we should be serving,” Ayala said. “And I realized that you can’t sit and say nothing. … And that’s the job of the attorney general, to be an advocate, to provide for justice and get cover. And we were completely uncovered this entire legislative session, from voting rights to ‘don’t say gay,’ to the attack on teachers, all the way through the attack on women.” University of Central Florida political-science professor Aubrey Jewett, who described Ayala as a “real longshot,” said being progressive helped Ayala win the state attorney’s race in 2016 but puts her out of step with many Floridians. “Even if Florida Democrats at the top of the ticket do better than expected, or even win, it is difficult to imagine they will have coattails long enough to help Ayala beat Moody,” Jewett said. “Ayala’s best hope would be if a majority of Florida voters thought that some of the cases that Moody has gotten involved with — including supporting Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s effort to overturn Joe Biden’s election — were too extreme. But in the present Florida political climate, that does not seem likely.” As state attorney, Ayala created a firestorm by saying she would not seek the death penalty, in part pointing to racial inequities in death sentences. Then-Gov. Rick Scott removed Ayala from handling capital cases. Ayala challenged the decision, but the Florida Supreme Court backed Scott. Ayala did not seek re-election in 2020. When asked how she would handle the death penalty as attorney general, Ayala pointed to creation of a statewide conviction integrity unit to investigate claims of innocence. “We’re spending $51 million every single year in the state of Florida, and we are leading the nation in Death Row exonerations, meaning we get it wrong the most,” Ayala said. “It is incumbent upon us to make certain, number one, that we’re getting it right. With statewide conviction integrity, that would be the starting place for that, as well as to ensure that if we’re going to proceed with a death penalty, that they are the proper use of resources and that we are encouraging public safety and we’re deterring crime.” A Plant City native, Moody worked in civil litigation for the Holland & Knight law firm before being appointed as a federal prosecutor and elected judge in 2006. In 2018, Moody defeated Democratic lawmaker Sean Shaw by 6 percentage points to become attorney general. In office, Moody has drawn headlines as a legal cudgel for DeSantis and national Republicans. As examples, Moody has joined forces with DeSantis to file lawsuits challenging President Joe Biden’s policies on such issues as the handling of the coronavirus pandemic and immigration. Attorney General Ashley Moody, an incumbent, is the favorite in the race. (Cameron Rivera/WUFT News) She also requested that the Florida Department of Law Enforcement investigate former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg for helping Florida felons pay outstanding legal costs so they could register to vote in 2020. The investigation ended without charges in 2021. In addition, Moody signed Florida onto a multi-state brief at the U.S. Supreme Court backing an effort by Texas to challenge 2020 presidential-election results. And lately, she backed DeSantis’ decision to suspend Hillsborough County State Attorney Andrew Warren, who had pledged not to prosecute cases under a new Florida law that bans most abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy. More than 100 legal scholars and dozens of former judges, prosecutors and police chiefs have questioned Warren’s suspension, arguing that the move runs counter to professional standards, sets a dangerous precedent and violates the constitutional separation of powers. During the Warren suspension announcement, Moody said ignoring laws means ignoring the will of the people. “Let me tell you who makes the laws and decides what’s criminal. It’s you. It’s the people of this state through their elected representatives,” Moody said. Moody, who did not respond to an interview request, has a massive financial advantage over Ayala as the Nov. 8 election nears. As of Sept. 23, Moody had raised $8.13 million since the start of 2019 for her campaign account and the political committee Friends of Ashley Moody and had more than $6 million in cash on hand. She pumped $771,462 into media ad time on Sept. 23. Ayala raised less than $30,000 in the first four weeks after her primary victory and didn’t list any assistance from the Florida Democratic Party. She had about $23,000 in cash on hand in her campaign account as of Sept. 23. Among Ayala’s biggest contributors during the campaign has been former former professional basketball player Shaquille O’Neal, who contributed $3,000 shortly after she announced her bid for the office in March. Read More…

Wounded Alabama Iraq Vet Gets Free New Home; Builders Want To Do More https://digitalalabamanews.com/wounded-alabama-iraq-vet-gets-free-new-home-builders-want-to-do-more/ Army Staff Sgt. Michael Brown of Huntsville was fighting in Mosul, Iraq in 2007 when a rocket-propelled grenade took his left leg. He has been fighting to recover fully since. Brown said Wednesday he faced surgeries and therapy and wrestled with self-pity and grief when he thought he would spend his life a wheelchair. It got worse when he finally came home. He walks with the help of a prothesis and uses a wheelchair. “When I got home and realized my hallways and doors weren’t wheelchair accessible and I had a much harder struggle in front of me,” Brown said. “I had a real heart-to heart moment with myself, had to swallow my pride and admit I needed more assistance.” He got a big boost Wednesday. That’s when Helping A Hero foundation and a local business leader handed Brown, his wife Kim and his daughter Alyssa the keys to their new, custom-built, free house in Madison. It’s one of two that local builder Louis Breland and his wife Patti built free for the foundation. The first went to retired Green Beret Sgt. 1st Class Scott Barkalow. Brown is still on active duty based at Huntsville’s Redstone Arsenal. Until recently, he could not except a gift worth more than $250 under Army regulations. But Congress and the Department of Defense created an exception to those regulations for troops ranked sergeant or below and wounded in combat. Singer Lee Greenwood, Lt. Gov. Will Ainsworth and Republican congressional candidate Madison County Commission Chairman Dale Strong were among those taking part in the celebration. The program that led to the Browns’ new home started with a discussion sparked by Greenwood and took off when Bass Pro Shops founder Johnny Morris challenged the group that became the foundation to build 100 free homes for veterans. Morris offered to pay 25 percent of the cost of each one. The building push is officially called 100 Homes Challenge now and foundation President Meredith Iler said Wednesday she wants to build more of those homes in Alabama. “Send me names,” she said, referring to the website’s Nominate a Hero link. Brown called his home “the figurative and literal key to our family’s future” as he talked about life after being wounded in battle. “Life has a funny way of giving you the amount of struggle you need you – not what you can handle but what your path to growth can support,” Brown said. “I know at 22 looking at the newly amputated mess of a thing I call my leg, I was not prepared for the fight ahead.” He thanked his wife Kim saying, “I owe virtually every and anything I am to you for standing by my side as I continue to work through this trauma thing.” Brown said the home – “this blessing” – is much needed and appreciated. He can walk with a prosthesis but also uses the chair. “I may be too proud by half to admit when I need physical assistance,” he said, “but having this accessible home will preempt those worries from this day forward. Thank you.” The event featured Greenwood singing his classic song “God Bless the USA.” Greenwood played a key role in the home by discussing the need for homes with the Brelands at a concert in Huntsville. When they realized there were two applicants from the area, foundation leader Iler said, “We have to do both of them.” “Our veterans are incredible people who have sacrificed,” Breland said. “We wouldn’t be here without them.” Breland said he travels around the world and people always ask what he’s learned from those travels. “What I learned is this is the most incredible place,” he said. “Every person that’s born with a U.S. passport is a very lucky person. You’ve got a fighting chance, and it’s because of our veterans.” If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. Read More…

Challenger To U.S. Rep. Carlos Gimenez Targets Votes Against Certifying 2020 Election https://digitalalabamanews.com/challenger-to-u-s-rep-carlos-gimenez-targets-votes-against-certifying-2020-election/ Robert Asencio (left) is challenging U.S. Rep. Carlos Gimenez in the race for Florida’s 28th congressional district. Tampa Bay Times/Miami Herald Before even getting into why Robert Asencio decided to challenge a Republican U.S. House member with one of the most recognizable names in Miami-Dade County, the former police officer pivots to the biblical story of David and Goliath. “It’s a little tongue-in-cheek. But it’s also reality, right?” he asks, somewhat rhetorically. Asencio certainly lacks the popularity of Carlos Gimenez, a decades-long public servant who ran one of the largest cities in the Southeastern U.S. and parlayed that into two terms overseeing Miami-Dade County before earning a seat in Congress two years ago. Asencio, 59, also trails badly in fundraising in the race for Florida’s 28th congressional district. As of early August, the Democrat had collected just over $27,000, which paled in comparison to Gimenez’s $1.8 million haul. The contest isn’t particularly high-profile, with Gimenez expected to coast to victory. And neither party has thrown much money at its candidate. Still, Asencio isn’t a novice. He spent almost three decades as a Miami-Dade Schools Police Officer and has local union support. In 2016, he parlayed those decades of social service into a state House victory by defeating David Rivera, a well-known but politically-wounded ex-congressman, by a narrow 53 votes. Two years later he lost the same house seat. He followed that up with an unsuccessful run for the Miami-Dade County Commission. He says he’s now up to the daunting task of taking on a local political heavyweight with money and name recognition whose party is widely expected to take back control of the U.S. House of Representatives in November. “It’s not impossible. I live in the district,” Asencio says, taking a slight dig at his opponent’s Coral Gables homestead outside the district, which is permissible in a federal election. “I’m not happy with his votes. Like the vote to not certify the election in 2020,” Asencio said. “He voted against certifying Pennsylvania and Arizona with no proof of any criminal or any kind of wrongdoing. He bought into the ‘big lie.’ The end result is he went against the people’s vote and it’s the most precious right we have.” Robert Asencio, a former veteran Miami-Dade police officer who won a term in Florida’s state house in 2016, is a heavy underdog for the newly-created U.S. House District 28 race. Next month all 435 U.S. House seats are up for election. Like other Democratic challengers, Asencio’s chances could depend on whether the electorate takes enough issue with the Republican House reps who, like Gimenez, voted against certifying President Joe Biden’s victory in the 2020 election. “It should matter,” said Sean Foreman, professor of political science at Barry University. “But I don’t think the election denier position matters much with the Republican base. I’m not sure why. It might just be blind loyalty to the Trump agenda at all costs.” Gimenez says he voted against certifying presidential election results that went Biden’s way in Pennsylvania and Arizona because of pandemic-era rule changes that allowed for late ballot counting that weren’t established law. The congressman also said he knew his vote would not have changed the outcome of the election. “I can count,” he said. But when asked if he would have voted the same way had he believed it would have changed the outcome, Gimenez paused and didn’t give an answer before saying it was “speculation.” The congressman’s early 2020 vote came on the heels of his exit from Miami-Dade, when during a farewell ceremony at PortMiami, he said, “It’s all about collaboration and results. People want their elected leaders to work together for the greater good. They don’t want us to get stuck in partisan, broken potholes.” Republican U.S. Rep. Carlos Gimenez, seen here during a 2021 press conference on the cruise industry, is heavily favored to retain his congressional seat in November’s election. MATIAS J. OCNER mocner@miamiherald.com CENSUS RESULTS LED TO DISTRICT CHANGE Florida’s 28th Congressional District is brand new and one of only seven newly-apportioned districts nationwide to come out of the 2020 Census. Similar to Gimenez’s 26th district, it is a sprawling region that essentially runs from Sweetwater and Kendall south to Homestead and Florida City and through the Florida Keys to Key West. Its 770,000 residents represent a diverse population, from suburban housewives in Kendall to the migrant workers of South Dade, down to the fiercely independent lifers of the Conch Republic. Gimenez won his post two years ago in a close contest against then-incumbent Debbie Mucarsel-Powell. His two-year term began with chaos on Jan. 6, but also with moderate votes that political watchers like Barry University political science professor Sean Foreman said had him on the ropes with some of his base. In one instance, Gimenez sided with the Democratic majority on gun control measures. The other vote was for the creation of a bipartisan Jan. 6 committee to look into the failed insurrection, which was eventually scrapped. Foreman, the Barry professor, said Gimenez quickly got “back in line” after receiving “blow-back.” Since then, Gimenez voted against the election reform act, which failed, and the president’s Inflation Reduction Act, which passed. He has also voted in favor of legal protections for transgender and same-sex marriage. “I’m a fiscal conservative,” the congressman told the Miami Herald. “I believe in equal opportunities for all. But I don’t believe in communism or socialism.” ELIAN SAGA PROPELLED GIMENEZ POLITICAL CAREER Gimenez, 68, married for almost five decades and with three grown children, began his professional career as a Miami firefighter in 1975. He would eventually become chief and later be appointed city manager after Donald Warshaw was fired amid the fallout when young rafter Elian Gonzalez was extracted from his family’s Little Havana home in 2000 by federal agents. That was followed by two terms as a Miami-Dade Commissioner and then a county mayoral victory in the wake of Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Alvarez’s recall. His 2011 mayoral election win came after votes against local funding for the Florida Marlins ballpark in Little Havana and a promise to cut his salary and benefits by 50%. (By 2018, Gimenez received a pay increase that raised his salary to $250,000 a year. He said it was time after earning so little the previous seven years and that the economy had become “strong.”) As mayor of Miami-Dade, Gimenez said he voted for Hillary Clinton in 2016. But he caught the attention of then-President Trump when he ordered the county jails to heed Immigration and Customs Enforcement requests after Miami-Dade was flagged as a sanctuary jurisdiction for immigrants and federal funding was threatened. Then he timed the launch of his congressional campaign with a Trump endorsement and visit to Miami. The mayor parlayed that into a victory over Mucarsel-Powell. Since then, he has become part of a trio of Cuban-American lawmakers often seen together fighting for conservative causes. The group includes District 25 Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart and Disctrict 27 Congresswoman Maria Elvira Salazar. Republican Miami U.S. Reps. Carlos Gimenez, Maria Elvira Salazar and Mario Diaz-Balart, left to right. Miami This week, Gimenez said the biggest concerns for his district mirror what he considers the challenges facing the country: Inflation, skyrocketing gas prices, border control and parental rights. He said Miami-Dade is affected by mass migration because many of the Cubans and Venezuelans entering through Texas and Arizona will eventually end up in South Florida. He said he remains fiscally conservative. “I think my political beliefs have been pretty steady over the years,” he said. “This is just a different job.” Former County Commissioner Katy Sorenson, who sat next to Gimenez on the dais for two terms, believes that the congressman evolved from being an independent thinker to “somewhat of a skeptic, to becoming part of the Trumpian herd.” “He’s going to end up on the wrong side of history,” she said. But not everyone sees it that way. Marc Sarnoff, a lobbyist and former Miami commissioner, said though Gimenez has tacked to the right — a move, Sarnoff said, that’s almost essential in Washington D.C. politics — Gimenez has always been a pragmatist. Sarnoff pointed out the congressman’s votes on gun control and same-sex marriage. “Don’t you find that pragmatic? Especially for the position he’s in,” Sarnoff asked. “He’s bucked the trend — at least to the extent that he can.” Chuck Rabin, writing news stories for the Miami Herald for the past three decades, covers cops and crime. Before that he covered the halls of government for Miami-Dade and the city of Miami. He’s covered hurricanes, the 2000 presidential election and the Marjory Stoneman Douglas mass shooting. On a random note: Long before those assignments, Chuck was pepper-sprayed covering the disturbances in Miami the morning Elián Gonzalez was whisked away by federal authorities. Read More…

U.S. Tourist Smashed Ancient Roman Sculptures At Vatican, Authorities Say https://digitalalabamanews.com/u-s-tourist-smashed-ancient-roman-sculptures-at-vatican-authorities-say/ ROME — Police detained an American tourist at a Vatican museum after he disfigured two ancient Roman sculptures by hurling them to the floor, authorities said Thursday. The man toppled the artwork on Wednesday at the Chiaramonti Museum, which is part of the Vatican Museums and home to one of the most important collections of Roman portrait busts. Italian newspapers reported that the man grew angry because he was not allowed “to see the Pope.” A representative for the Vatican Museums told The Washington Post that his motive was unclear. Photos shared on social media, and confirmed by the museum representative to The Post, showed the damaged busts strewn on the marble floor. One had lost part of its nose and an ear, the museum said. The Vatican police had handed the man over to Italian authorities on Wednesday, Matteo Bruni, director of the Holy See Press Office, told The Post. A police spokesman said the 65-year-old had been in Rome for about three days and appeared to be “psychologically distressed.” He was given an aggravated property damage charge and released, the spokesman said. The man had a paid ticket and appeared to be there alone, one of 20,000 visitors that day, Vatican Museums spokesman Matteo Alessandrini said. “He smashed the two busts to the ground, one after the other,” Alessandrini said. Both of the toppled heads were from the ancient city of Rome, with one depicting an elderly man, and the other, a young man. When the first hit the ground, “the loud bang echoed through the long gallery,” he said. Two Vatican police officers stationed within the museum arrived within minutes and took the man into custody. Technicians are now working to reassemble the damaged sculptures, which had been swiftly taken to the museum’s restoration lab after the incident. The pieces were fixable but would require 300 hours of restoration work, according to Alessandrini. “The scare was bigger than the actual damage,” he said. Rick Steves, who runs a Europe travel business, said that although all artifacts in the museum could be considered precious, the damaged pieces were relatively insignificant. For Steves, the downside of such incidents may also be “the loss of access to beautiful art in general.” To avoid other incidents, the museum could choose to put more security up, as was the case after a notorious artwork assault in 1972. That year, a Hungarian geologist attacked Michelangelo’s Pietà in St. Peter’s Basilica with a hammer, damaging the Carrara marble sculpture depicting the Virgin Mary holding Jesus after the crucifixion. The statue was later repaired and put behind bulletproof glass. “The reality is you can’t even see the Pietà from the angle Michelangelo wanted you to see it,” Steves said. “He wanted you to be up close.” The Vatican museums, where millions of people a year flocked before the pandemic, reopened last year after coronavirus restrictions closed them or curbed opening hours. Francis reported from London. Compton reported from D.C. Read More…

Rock Out To Big Hairdos And Even Bigger Voices At Beehive: The 60's Musical—Oct. 20-30 | Bham Now https://digitalalabamanews.com/rock-out-to-big-hairdos-and-even-bigger-voices-at-beehive-the-60s-musical-oct-20-30-bham-now/ Sponsored From Aretha Franklin to Janis Joplin, Beehive: The 60’s Musical has a soundtrack of rockin’ female singers of the ’60s. (Jacob Blankenship / Bham Now) Are you ready to experience the powerful female voices that defined the swinging sixties in an all-new way? Set to the electric hits of the decade, follow seven coming-of-age youth in Beehive: The 60’s Musical, presented by Virginia Samford Theatre from October 20-30. R-E-S-P-E-C-T, find out why it’s a must-see and grab your tickets. About the show Ready to rock. (Jacob Blankenship / Bham Now) When you think of the ’60s, what comes to mind? While counterculture and the civil rights movement were on the rise, there was also a revolution in modern music—with many generation-defining hits made by female singers. Whether you lived through the ’60s or want to learn more about it, Beehive: The 60’s Musical is an entrancing theatrical journey for all ages. You won’t be able to stop yourself from tapping your feet to the music, or better yet, getting out of your seat to move and groove. Told from the perspective of seven young women who come of age in this enigmatic decade, you’ll laugh, dance and leave inspired. “If you love the queens of the ’60s, a little soul, funk and pop then you won’t want to miss Beehive. You will enjoy every bit of this show as these performers reminisce the greats of the decade!” Taylor Brielle, Cast Member, Beehive: The 60’s Musical From their first Beehive Dance to the challenges faced as a nation, this musical is not only fun to experience but also takes you through important trials and tribulations from the time—some of which have lasted to this day. Carl Dean is the director behind this lively production, along with many other fantastic shows at Virginia Samford Theatre. “Beehive transports us back to a time that is indelibly linked to our collective consciousness. This enduring music, with its multi-generational appeal stirs up nostalgia even in those of us who may not have been around when these songs first hit the airwaves. The soul, narrative and heartbeat of these songs is woven through the very fabric of our American musical tapestry, and in it one can rediscover and identify with the hope, longing and sense of change that was so alive in the ’60s.” Carl Dean, Director, Beehive: The 60’s Musical Why Beehive is a can’t-miss event Behind the scenes. (Jacob Blankenship / Bham Now) Are iconic songs like Natural Woman, My Boyfriend’s Back and One Fine Day on your go-to playlist? Get ready to sing along. Matching big voices with big hairdos, the soundtrack for Beehive is unbeatable. “Audiences will be drawn to this production because obviously, the music is awesome! These songs span a whole decade and reflect the changing of the times, and it’s a lot of fun to go on that journey through a decade. It is also interesting that some of the issues that were prevalent in the 1960s are still happening today, and the music definitely helps reflect that.” Anna Giovingo, Cast Member, Beehive: The 60’s Musical Need more reasons to attend? Take it from the incredible cast who worked on the show, Beehive is a production you don’t want to miss! PS: You have full permission to get up and dance along during the show. “There’s so much nostalgia within this show with some amazing throwback classics, but everyone brings their own fun, unique touch to their performances. It also shows young women growing up in a time that their parents don’t fully understand while finding their own path, which I believe can resonate with many people. This is a show for everyone!” Malena Williams, Cast Member, Beehive: The 60’s Musical Grab your tickets today Get ready for a good time. (Jacob Blankenship / Bham Now) “Beehive is more than just a jukebox musical of fun medleys and big hair, it is a time machine that allows our audiences to experience, and for some to relive, those days, forgetting their troubles as they drift away on a wonderful musical journey through the sounds and sights of the ’60s. With our fantastic cast of women bringing these timeless tunes to our ears, Beehive at the Virginia Samford theatre is sure to be a night of rollicking entertainment that is not to be missed!” Carl Dean, Director, Beehive: The 60’s Musical Ready to rock out, dance and sing along to your favorite anthems? It’s time to get your tickets. Show Dates: Thursday, October 20-Sunday, October 30 Times: Thursdays-Saturdays 7:30PM I Sundays 2:30PM Ticket Prices: Reserved Seating Tickets-$45 I Student Tickets-$23 (available at the box office only) Theatre Location: 1116 26th St S, Birmingham, AL 35205 Like what you see? Consider supporting Virginia Samford Theatre all season long. For only $172, you’ll have tickets to Beehive: The 60’s Musical, Escape to Margaritaville, Steel Magnolias and Peter Pan. Call 205.251.1206 to reserve. Stay up to date with all the exciting productions from Virginia Samford Theatre. Visit their website and follow them on Facebook + Instagram. Sponsored by: Read More…

Week 8 HS Football Picks: Predictions On 20 Key Games https://digitalalabamanews.com/week-8-hs-football-picks-predictions-on-20-key-games/ The picks seemingly are getting tougher by the week. Week 8 brings some crucial high school football matchups across the state including Bob Jones at Sparkman, Fairhope at Daphne and McAdory at Hueytown. RELATED: ASWA prep football rankings RELATED: Don Creasy was a “man’s man” Here is how the AL.com experts picked 20 of the toughest games of the week: Austin (5-2) at James Clemens (2-5) Simone Eli: Austin 21-20 Dennis Victory: Austin 21-17 Randy Kennedy: Austin 30-20 Ben Thomas: James Clemens 24-20 Bob Jones (3-3) at Sparkman (4-2) Simone Eli: Bob Jones 24-21 Dennis Victory: Sparkman 24-22 Randy Kennedy: Sparkman 24-20 Ben Thomas: Bob Jones 28-21 RELATED: Sparkman vs. Bob Jones a family matter Elba (6-0) at Georgiana (6-1) Simone Eli: Elba 33-30 Dennis Victory: Elba 41-20 Randy Kennedy: Elba 40-35 Ben Thomas: Elba 31-21 Enterprise (3-3) at Dothan (5-2) Simone Eli: Dothan 28-27 Dennis Victory: Dothan 28-26 Randy Kennedy: Enterprise 24-23 Ben Thomas: Enterprise 35-30 Fairhope (5-1) at Daphne (3-3) Simone Eli: Daphne 28-27 Dennis Victory: Fairhope 28-26 Randy Kennedy: Daphne 20-18 Ben Thomas: Fairhope 27-21 Fayette County (6-0) at Gordo (6-1) (Thursday) Simone Eli: Gordo 28-27 Dennis Victory: Gordo 44-32 Randy Kennedy: Gordo 31-30 Ben Thomas: Gordo 30-24 Gardendale (4-2) at Minor (4-2) Simone Eli: Minor 28-27 Dennis Victory: Gardendale 32-20 Randy Kennedy: Gardendale 28-24 Ben Thomas: Gardendale 24-17 Hartselle (7-0) at Athens (2-4) Simone Eli: Hartselle 33-24 Dennis Victory: Hartselle 38-20 Randy Kennedy: Hartselle 40-20 Ben Thomas: Hartselle 20-14 Huntsville (4-2) at Florence (5-2) Simone Eli: Florence 30-26 Dennis Victory: Florence 35-27 Randy Kennedy: Florence 30-28 Ben Thomas: Florence 27-25 Leeds (6-0) at Alexandria (3-3) Simone Eli: Leeds 27-21 Dennis Victory: Leeds 28-26 Randy Kennedy: Leeds 42-17 Ben Thomas: Leeds 30-22 Mary G. Montgomery (3-4) at Baker (3-4) Simone Eli: Mary G. Montgomery 24-20 Dennis Victory: Baker 28-25 Randy Kennedy: Mary G. Montgomery 36-35 Ben Thomas: Mary G. Montgomery 24-20 McAdory (4-2) at Hueytown (3-3) Simone Eli: Hueytown 26-21 Dennis Victory: Hueytown 33-32 Randy Kennedy: Hueytown 41-31 Ben Thomas: Hueytown 32-25 RELATED: McAdory D will try to slow down Hueytown McGill-Toolen (4-2) at Spanish Fort (4-3) Simone Eli: Spanish Fort 28-21 Dennis Victory: Spanish Fort 35-31 Randy Kennedy: Spanish Fort 17-10 Ben Thomas: Spanish Fort 20-16 Muscle Shoals (5-1) at Decatur (6-0) Simone Eli: Decatur 28-20 Dennis Victory: Muscle Shoals 29-28 Randy Kennedy: Decatur 24-20 Ben Thomas: Decatur 24-22 Orange Beach (4-2) at Bayside Academy (4-2) Simone Eli: Orange Beach 21-16 Dennis Victory: Orange Beach 31-21 Randy Kennedy: Bayside Academy 20-17 Ben Thomas: Orange Beach 28-14 Patrician Academy (6-0) at Lowndes Academy (5-1) Simone Eli: Patrician Academy 30-28 Dennis Victory: Patrician Academy 39-28 Randy Kennedy: Patrician Academy 25-21 Ben Thomas: Patrician Academy 31-21 Phil Campbell (4-2) at Mars Hill (6-1) Simone Eli: Mars Hill 30-20 Dennis Victory: Mars Hill 42-14 Randy Kennedy: Mars Hill 33-27 Ben Thomas: Mars Hill 27-23 Pinson Valley (4-2) at Center Point (6-1) Simone Eli: Pinson Valley 30-21 Dennis Victory: Pinson Valley 35-21 Randy Kennedy: Pinson Valley 30-20 Ben Thomas: Pinson Valley 21-16 Tuscaloosa County (5-1) at Hoover (6-1) Simone Eli: Hoover 26-24 Dennis Victory: Hoover 38-17 Randy Kennedy: Hoover 24-21 Ben Thomas: Hoover 35-21 Vestavia Hills (3-3) at Hewitt-Trussville (4-3) Simone Eli: Hewitt-Trussville 24-21 Dennis Victory: Hewitt-Trussville 28-14 Randy Kennedy: Hewitt-Trussville 35-31 Ben Thomas: Hewitt-Trussville 28-19 STANDINGS Last week, Overall Simone Eli 18-2, 106-34 Dennis Victory 16-4, 103-37 Randy Kennedy 13-7, 101-39 Ben Thomas 14-6, 100-40 If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. Read More…