Digital Alabama News

‘If They Don’t Deliver Bread, What Will We Do’ https://digitalalabamanews.com/if-they-dont-deliver-bread-what-will-we-do/ Published On 3 Oct 20223 Oct 2022 Seemingly abandoned during the day, the damaged factory building in eastern Ukraine comes to life at night, when the smell of fresh bread emanates from its broken windows. It is one of two large-scale bakeries left in operation in the Ukrainian-held part of the Donetsk region, most of which is under Russian occupation. The others had to close down because they were damaged by fighting or because their electricity and gas supplies were cut. The bakery in Kostiantynivka adjusted its working hours according to the rhythm of the war. Employees at the factory come to work at 7pm to start kneading the dough. By dawn, truck drivers arrive to pick up fresh loaves of bread for delivery to towns and villages where the grocery stores are typically open only in the morning, when, on most days, there is a lull in Russian shelling. “We bake more bread at night so we can distribute it to stores in the morning,” bakery director Oleksandr Milov says. The factory bakes about 7 tonnes of bread daily, or about 17,500 loaves. Half of it goes to the Ukrainian military. Another plant in Druzhkivka is still operational, producing rolls, loaves and cookies. But the bakeries in Kostiantynivka and Druzhkivka do not make enough bread for the estimated 300,000 people who remain in the Ukrainian-controlled part of the Donetsk region. In the south of the region, entrepreneurs bring in bread from the neighbouring Dnipropetrovsk and Zaporizhia regions, and some supermarkets have small bakeries. The Kostiantynivka bakery has remained open despite many challenges. In April, it lost its gas supply, but the ovens were reconfigured to run on coal – a system which had not been used at this plant since World War II. The coal-fired boiler is operated by three men. Milov tried six types of coal before he found the right type with high heat output. One advantage of the coal system is that the plant will not need additional heating in winter. There will be no central heating in the region this winter because of the lack of gas. The bakery faced its next problem in June, when Russia occupied the town of Lyman in the north of the region where the mill that supplied flour to the Kostiantynivka bakery was located. Milov had to buy flour from a supplier in the Zaporizhia region, which is 150km (about 90 miles) from Kostiantynivka. The added transport costs increased the price of bread. So has the inflation rate, which is about 20 percent in Ukraine. Another concern is a shortage of grain. In 2021, the harvest in Ukraine exceeded 100 million tonnes of grain. The new harvest, according to preliminary estimates of the Ministry of Agriculture Policy, is 65-67 million tonnes. Since Russia has attacked not only fields, but grain storage as well, some farmers are exporting grain for storage abroad. The bakery in Kostiantynivka has 20 drivers deliver bread daily, not only to cities, but also to half-empty front-line villages. One of them, Vasyl Moiseienko, a retiree, arrives in his car at the factory at 6am and fills it up with still hot loaves. He shows the crack in the windshield that a piece of shrapnel left a few weeks ago during a bread delivery run. “Who else will go? I’m old, so I could drive,” Moiseienko said. He drives along bad roads to the village of Dyliivka, 15km (9 miles) from the line of contact. The driver quickly unloads the bread and drives on to another town on the front line. About 100 people live in Dyliivka, but the village looks empty. Every 10 to 15 minutes, the sounds of artillery can be heard. It is hard to find a mobile phone connection in the area, but the data network functions. The saleswoman of the local store writes in the village’s Viber chat that bread has been brought. And within 15 minutes, the store fills up with people. Liubov Lytvynova, 76, takes several loaves of bread. She says she dries some of it to make breadcrumbs which she keeps in her cellar. She puts one loaf in the freezer to keep it longer. “We only live in fear. And if they don’t deliver bread, what will we do?” Lytvynova said. Read More…

Those Charged With Violent Crimes Are Released And Here’s Why They Must Be https://digitalalabamanews.com/those-charged-with-violent-crimes-are-released-and-heres-why-they-must-be/ DOTHAN, Ala. (WTVY) -Nothing stirs emotions more than when those on bond for one criminal charge are accused of committing another crime, especially when violence is involved. Take the case of Mekhi Telfair, who police charged with Capital Murder last month. They claim that he gunned down Dothan businessman Robert Blount. News 4 reported that Telfair had been charged last year with Attempted Murder in an unrelated shooting. Within hours, a professional surety company posted his $60,000 bond and Telfair walked out of the Houston County Jail. He was still on bond when Blount died. Some claim—perhaps correctly– that had Telfair not been released, Blount would still be alive. Comments on the News 4 Facebook page came in droves. “Who let him out? I hope they can’t live with (themselves).” “Our judicial system is absolutely worthless!!” “Dothan judicial corruption at work!” “(Robert Blount’s) death is on the judicial system!” Though their frustration is understandable, those posters are clueless about the law because in Telfair’s and other cases the system followed it to the letter. Suspect out on bond when Dothan businessman killed He and almost all those arrested have a constitutional right to bond, the bail must comply with Alabama’s bond schedule, and the $60,000 that freed Telfair is the maximum allowed. To go beyond that amount, there must be extraordinary circumstances that did not exist. There is an exception to mandatory bond. Capital murder—Telfair’s most recent charge—has no bond except in unique circumstances and only when a judge approves it. . This time he will almost certainly be kept behind bars. Those unhappy with Alabama’s current laws have a chance to change them. Voters will decide in November whether to give judges discretion to deny bond in these cases of the first degree: · Murder · Kidnapping · Rape · Sodomy · Domestic violence · Human trafficking · Burglary · Arson · Robbery Alabama lawmakers approved the constitutional amendment vote called “Aniah’s Law,” named for a young woman allegedly murdered by a man on bond for other violent charges. Subscribe to our News 4 newsletter and receive the latest local news and weather straight to your email every morning. Get instant notifications on top stories from News 4 by downloading our mobile apps. Copyright 2022 WTVY. All rights reserved. Read More…

Tonix Pharma (TNXP) Announces IND Clearance For TNX-601 ER As A Potential Treatment For Major Depressive Disorder https://digitalalabamanews.com/tonix-pharma-tnxp-announces-ind-clearance-for-tnx-601-er-as-a-potential-treatment-for-major-depressive-disorder/ Get instant alerts when news breaks on your stocks. Claim your 1-week free trial to StreetInsider Premium here. Tonix Pharmaceuticals Holding Corp. (Nasdaq: TNXP) (Tonix or the Company), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company, today announced the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has cleared the Investigational New Drug (IND) application to support a Phase 2 clinical trial with TNX-601 ER (tianeptine hemioxalate extended-release tablets), a once-daily formulation of tianeptine as a potential treatment for major depressive disorder (MDD)1. Tianeptine is a new molecular entity in the U.S. that is being developed under the 505(b)(1) pathway. Tianeptine sodium (amorphous) immediate release (IR) tablets have been available in Europe and many countries in Asia and Latin America for the treatment of depression over more than three decades since it was first marketed in France in 1989. Tianeptine’s activity is mechanistically distinct from traditional monoaminergic treatments for depression available in the U.S. including the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), and tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs). “This is an important milestone as we advance TNX-601 ER into clinical development,” said Seth Lederman, M.D., Chief Executive Officer of Tonix Pharmaceuticals. “TNX-601 ER is a novel, oral, extended-release once-daily tablet. Studies from across the globe conducted over more than 30 years show that immediate-release (IR) tianeptine sodium formulations have comparable efficacy to SSRIs and TCAs, fewer drug-drug interactions, and are associated with a lower incidence of sexual dysfunction compared with SSRIs, SNRIs and TCAs. We expect that our new once-daily formulation will maintain these properties while also providing convenience and adherence advantages over the three-times-a-day dosing of these IR tianeptine sodium products. We expect to initiate the Phase 2 trial in MDD in the first quarter of 2023, with the potential for additional future indications in posttraumatic stress disorder and neurocognitive dysfunction from corticosteroids.” TNX-601 ER is being developed as a monotherapy and first-line treatment for MDD. No tianeptine-containing product has been approved by the FDA. The proposed mechanism of action of TNX-601 ER is distinct from traditional monoaminergic antidepressants, in that its principal mechanism in MDD is believed to be through indirect modulation of glutamatergic neurotransmission. It is notable that in multiple placebo-controlled and comparative studies that tianeptine demonstrates efficacy on par with both SSRIs and tricyclic antidepressants, while showing a more favorable tolerability profile, lacking the sedative, autonomic, cardiovascular and side effects on memory and attention of TCAs and a low incidence of sexual side effects, nausea, and sleep disruption as compared with SSRIs.2,3 In addition to its glutamatergic properties, tianeptine has weak µ-opioid receptor agonist properties and has been linked to illicit misuse at much higher doses than those reported to be effective in the treatment of MDD4. Previously, Tonix was developing a naloxone-containing tablet, TNX-601 CR (tianeptine oxalate and naloxone controlled-release) for MDD, that was designed to mitigate the risk of parenteral abuse. TNX-601 ER is also designed with abuse deterrent properties but without the µ-opioid receptor antagonist naloxone. The abuse-deterrent properties include gel forming polymers which impede extraction for illicit misuse. In addition, the tablet’s hardness makes it difficult to crush, cut or grind to fine particle size, which hinders efforts to misuse by nasal insufflation or intravenous route. 1TNX-601 ER is an investigational new drug and is not approved for any indication.2McEwen, B.S., et al. Neurobiological properties of the antidepressant tianeptine. Molecular Psychiatry 2010, 15, 237-249.3Paparrigopoulos, T.J., et al. Sleep and antidepressant medication. WPA Bulletin on Depression 2007, 11 (33), 7-11.4Lauhan, R., et al. Tianeptine abuse and dependence: case report and literature review. Psychosomatics 2018, 59 (6), 547–553. About the Phase 2 Study Tonix is proposing to conduct a registration-quality, potentially pivotal, Phase 2, 6-week, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group study to evaluate the efficacy, safety, and tolerability of TNX-601 ER monotherapy in male and female subjects aged 18 to 65 years (inclusive), with current MDD as defined by DSM-5 criteria at screening and a Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) total score ≥ 25 at baseline. A total of 300 participants are planned to be randomized to two treatment arms across approximately 30 clinical trial sites in the U.S. The study is expected to have a single unblinded interim analysis for sample size re-estimation when the study has results of the first 50% of efficacy evaluable patients, pending agreement on the comprehensive statistical analysis plan with the FDA. Read More…

Libertarian David Lashar: I Can Overtake Dan Cox — And Help Defeat 'Trumpism' – Maryland Matters https://digitalalabamanews.com/libertarian-david-lashar-i-can-overtake-dan-cox-and-help-defeat-trumpism-maryland-matters/ David Lashar, the Libertarian nominee for governor, greets voters at the Tawes Clambake in Crisfield last week. Photo by Bruce DePuyt. Part of the kabuki dance of being a third party candidate for political office is having to convince skeptical voters and donors that you have even a slim shot at victory. David Lashar, the Libertarian nominee for governor, has dispensed with all that this time. A lifelong Republican and a former top official in the Maryland Department of Health, Lashar quit the party to protest the rise of Donald Trump. In an interview with Maryland Matters, he said he has set a lower — but perhaps more achievable — objective for himself. He’s gunning to outpoll Republican nominee Dan Cox. Finishing behind only Democrat Wes Moore, Lashar said, would send the message “that we do not have to be subject to the dreadful behavior that we’re getting from both of the parties, and that Trumpism is on the wane [and that] Trumpism can be beat.” The 59-year-old Lashar campaigned for GOP presidential candidate Bob Dole in 1988. He then became a policy analyst on Capitol Hill before taking a series of IT jobs in the private sector. After Republican Larry Hogan became governor in 2015, Lashar was appointed to the Maryland Transportation Commission. Restless in a position he viewed as ceremonial, he moved to the Department of Health, first as chief information officer, then as chief operating officer and chief of staff. The rise of Donald Trump pushed Lashar out of the GOP and he became a Libertarian. He took 2.6% of the vote as the Libertarian nominee for Congress in the 3rd District in 2018. For a third party or independent candidate to out-poll a major party candidate is highly unusual. But Cox, a one-term state delegate and conspiracy-mongering acolyte of Trump with a thin resume, is on course to get trampled. In a University of Maryland/Washington Post poll released on Saturday, Cox was the choice of just 28% of voters. Moore was preferred by 60%. (Third-party candidates were not included in the poll.) The Post/University of Maryland poll, which surveyed 810 registered voters, showed that Hogan has the highest job approval rating — 73% — of his eight years in office. That eye-popping number reinforces how wildly unpopular Cox is with the electorate. Another recent poll, conducted by Goucher College poll the Baltimore Banner and WYPR, showed Moore 22 points up on Cox — 53% to 31%. Lashar attracted 4%, Green Party candidate Nancy Wallace drew 2%, and Working Class Party candidate David Harding did not register. When Lashar launched his campaign for governor, he said in an interview last week, his goal was “to push the ideas, contribute to the civic debate, and get 4 or 5%.” But when Cox defeated Hogan’s choice in the Republican primary, former Commerce Secretary Kelly Schulz, and Moore finished first among Democrats, Lashar said he decided to shift strategy. Hogan has pointedly said he would not vote for Cox, and other mainstream Republicans may be reluctant to do so. “With the way the primaries turned out, it opened up 60% of the electorate to me,” Lashar said. “It opened up everybody that’s between a JFK liberal and a Reagan conservative.” “I’m out to beat Dan Cox at this point,” he added. “I want to help put a nail in the coffin of Trumpism.” Finishing second will be tough, said Todd Eberly, a political science professor at St. Mary’s College. Like most third party candidates, Lashar will have virtually no party apparatus to support him and he is destined to trail far behind in fundraising. In addition, he has been excluded from what is shaping up to be the marquee debate of the campaign, Oct. 12 on Maryland Public Television. (Lashar, who will be part of an online candidate forum co-sponsored by Maryland Matters a day later, conceded that he attended the Tawes Clambake in Crisfield for the first time last week because “as a third party candidate, it’s hard for me to throw an event and have people come to me, so our strategy is go to where the people are already congregating.”) While few people give Cox much shot at a win, it’s widely expected that he will attract at least a third of the vote, no matter how badly he is outspent or how outlandish his views. “Polarization has reached the point where there are folks that are going to pull the Republican lever no matter what,” Eberly said. The issues that animate Republican politics today — critical race theory, communism, Marxism, socialism, “the nonsense about indoctrinating our kids in school with the LGBTQ+ mafia” — are, in Eberly’s view “geared toward scaring the hell out of people.” Lashar and his running mate, Christina Logansmith, a Navy veteran and small business owner, have put together a platform at least as broad as Cox’s. Their policies fall under three umbrellas — opportunity, accountability and civility. He frequently retweets a tweet from a political figure or media outlet to spotlight his alternative positions or amplify his views. The challenge will be in communicating with voters. In their most recent campaign finance report, the duo had less than $10,000 cash on hand. Eberly said Lashar is right about one thing. A second-place finish would be a mighty accomplishment. “If a Libertarian candidate wound up coming in second in a gubernatorial contest, even in a state like Maryland, absolutely that would wind up making news,” he said. Read More…

'Just Being Cruel': ALGOP Chairman John Wahl Responds To Hit Piece… https://digitalalabamanews.com/just-being-cruel-algop-chairman-john-wahl-responds-to-hit-piece/ Last week, Alabama Republican Party Chairman John Wahl was the subject of two attack pieces courtesy of AL.com columnist Kyle Whitmire. On top of accusing Wahl of “refusing to show” a “license to vote,” Whitmire has dragged Wahl’s family into the fray by criticizing their stance on voter ID. On Thursday, Wahl spoke with host Phil Williams on Rightside Radio about the hits on his family and gave his side of the story. Wahl first addressed a time when he voted using a photo ID issued by the state auditor’s office. “For me, there was no big deal made out of it,” he said. “They showed the picture to the probate judge, the probate judge approved it, I voted — no issues.” However, Wahl told Williams there “have been issues” with his family, some of whom belong to the Anabaptist and Mennonite communities. “They’re good people. They’re hardworking. They’re genuine; the kind of people who would give you the shirt off their backs,” Wahl said. He said due to backlash and “attention” he’s gotten from Democrats for some of his policies, several of his family members were “pushed not to vote.” He also said it was a “common belief” among those within the Anabaptist and Mennonite communities to not believe in using photo ID. “Kyle Whitmire was really, to be honest, just being cruel to them and the fact that they were different,” Wahl said. “… Kyle was making this out to be some terrible, crazy thing, but there’s some other people throughout American politics and American figures who have this same background, including Dwight Eisenhower… It’s not that it’s that unusual. It’s that we have a liberal media person who wants to belittle them and make them look weird.” Wahl said he has long believed a “certain amount of respect” should be given to families of politicians and elected leaders. “I am sure that I am not the only person in the world with family members who may believe differently than I do,” Wahl said. Wahl said he had made no secret of supporting former President Donald Trump and being a member of his faith coalition to encourage people to vote. “If you’re going to stand up for stuff, whether it’s Donald Trump, opposing the Biden Administration, whether it’s fighting for school choice or opposing these socialist ideas that are being forced upon us, opposing vaccine mandates, opposing indoctrination of our children with this transgender education system they’re trying to force on us — I’ve been very vocal on those issues… It makes sense that I’ve become a target of this progressive idea that wants to remove anyone who’s going to stand up and say ‘no.'” Wahl said he “dreams” of a time where people debate the issues rather than resort to “trashy, underhanded schemes.” To connect with the author of this story, or to comment, email daniel.taylor@1819news.com. Don’t miss out! Subscribe to our newsletter and get our top stories every weekday morning. Read More…

Election Officials Brace For Confrontational Poll Watchers https://digitalalabamanews.com/election-officials-brace-for-confrontational-poll-watchers-5/ A Republican election challenger at right watches over election inspectors as they examine a ballot as votes are counted into the early morning hours, Nov. 4, 2020, at the central counting board in Detroit. Election officials across the country are bracing for a wave of confrontations in November as emboldened Republican poll watchers, many embracing former President Donald Trump’s conspiracy theories about the 2020 election, flood polling places for the general election. (AP Photo/David Goldman, File) The situation with the poll watcher had gotten so bad that Anne Risku, the election director in North Carolina’s Wayne County, had to intervene via speakerphone. “You need to back off!” Risku recalled hollering after the woman wedged herself between a voter and the machine where the voter was trying to cast his ballot at a precinct about 60 miles southeast of Raleigh. The man eventually was able to vote, but the incident was one of several Risku cited from the May primary that made her worry about a wave of newly aggressive poll watchers. Many have spent the past two years steeped in lies about the accuracy of the 2020 election. Those fears led the North Carolina State Board of Elections in August to tighten rules governing poll watchers. But the state’s rules review board, appointed by the Republican-controlled Legislature, blocked the new poll watcher regulations in late September, leaving election officials such as Risku without additional tools to control behavior on Election Day, November 8. “It becomes complete babysitting,” Risku said in an interview. “The back and forth for the precinct officials, having somebody constantly on you for every little thing that you do — not because you’re doing it wrong, but because they don’t agree with what you’re doing.” Poll watchers have traditionally been an essential element of electoral transparency, the eyes, and ears of the two major political parties who help ensure that the actual mechanics of voting are administered fairly and accurately. But election officials fear that a surge of conspiracy believers are signing up for those positions this year and are being trained by others who have propagated the lie spread by former President Donald Trump and his allies that the 2020 presidential election was riddled with fraud. In Michigan, groups that have spread falsehoods about that race are recruiting poll watchers. In Nevada, the Republican Party’s nominee for secretary of state, Jim Marchant, denies President Joe Biden’s 2020 victory and was a featured speaker at a party poll watcher training. Cleta Mitchell, a prominent conservative lawyer and North Carolina resident, is running a group recruiting poll watchers and workers in eight swing states. Mitchell was on the phone with Trump when the then-president called Georgia’s secretary of state in January 2021 and asked that official to “find” enough votes for Trump to be declared the state’s winner. Chris Harvey, who was Georgia’s election director in 2020 when Trump claimed the election was being stolen from him, recalled how swarms of Trump backers came as self-appointed poll watchers to observe the state’s manual recounts, harassing election workers and disrupting the process. Harvey fears a repeat this year. “The whole tension that we’re expecting to see at polling places is something we’re talking to election officials about, something we’re talking to law enforcement about,” said Harvey, who is advising a group of election officials and law enforcement before November. The laws governing poll watchers vary from state to state. Their role is generally to observe, question any deviations from required procedure and, in some states, lodge formal complaints or provide testimony for objections filed in court. The worries this year are similar to those during the 2020 election when Trump began railing against mail voting, and the Republican National Committee launched its first national operation in decades. It had recently been freed from a consent decree that limited its poll-watching operation after it previously was found to have targeted Black and Latino voters. But voting went smoothly that November. Mitchell said her organization, the Election Integrity Network, is just trying to ensure that everyone follows the law. “We are not a threat,” she told The Associated Press during a text message exchange. “Unless you think elections that are conducted according to the rule of law are a threat. We train people to follow the law.” Risku said there were issues with poll watchers from both parties during the primary in May. But of the 13 incidents, she reported to the North Carolina board from Wayne County, all involved Republicans. In addition to the poll watcher who had to be ejected, Risku said another Republican poll watcher in her district waited after hours in the parking lot of the Mount Olive Train Depot early voting site until Chief Judge Susan Wiley began carrying boxes of marked ballots to her car. On two occasions, the man tried to follow her back to the elections office in Goldsboro, about a 20-minute drive. Recognizing that the job has become “a scary ordeal” in the last year, Risku said she has stepped up security before November and offered raises to entice precinct officials to stay. She expects many won’t return after this year. The North Carolina GOP chairman, Michael Whatley, said that’s not what the party is teaching its poll watchers. “What we saw in terms of some of the activities that were at play may have been coming from Republicans but were not things that we have been teaching people in our training sessions,” Whatley said. “What we want to do is make sure that we have people that are in the room that are going to be very respectful of the election officials at all times, be very respectful of the voters at all times, and, if they see issues, then report them in.” He has declined to allow reporters to attend the training sessions, which he said have trained 7,000 potential poll watchers so far this year. As in many states, poll watchers are only permitted in North Carolina if they have been designated by the major parties. But in Michigan, organizations that register with local election offices also can provide poll watchers. A coalition of groups that have questioned the 2020 election are scrambling to get as many of their members in place as possible in the politically critical state. “The best I can do is put a whole bunch of eyeballs on it to make sure that anything that doesn’t look right gets a further look,” said Sandy Kiesel, executive director of the Michigan Election Integrity Fund and Force, part of a coalition that recruited 5,000 poll watchers for the state’s August primary. Kiesel said several of her coalition’s poll watchers and poll challengers — Michigan law allows one person to observe and another person to formally lodge challenges at precincts — were prevented from observing or escorted out of polling places in August. Michigan election officials are bracing for more confrontations in November. Patrick Colbeck, a former Republican state senator and prominent election conspiracy theorist who is part of Kiesel’s coalition, announced this past week that a comprehensive fall push to scrutinize every aspect of voting would be called “Operation Overwatch.” “They are talking about intimidating people who have the right to vote,” said Barb Byrum, clerk of Michigan’s Ingham County, which includes Lansing, the state capital. In a sign of the importance the state’s Republicans place on poll watchers, the GOP-controlled Legislature last week agreed to let election offices throughout Michigan start processing mailed ballots two days before Election Day — something most states with mail voting allow long before then — but only if they allow poll watchers to observe. The ballots are not actually counted until Election Day. In Texas, a new law allows every candidate to assign up to two poll watchers, raising the potential that observers could pack polling locations, particularly around big cities such as Dallas and Houston, where ballots are the longest. According to records from the secretary of state’s office, more than 900 people in Texas already had received poll watching certification in the three weeks after the state opened required training on September 1. Republished with the permission of The Associated Press. Read More…

Eshleman Guides Tigers Through Day One Of Marquette Invitational – Auburn University Athletics https://digitalalabamanews.com/eshleman-guides-tigers-through-day-one-of-marquette-invitational-auburn-university-athletics/ RIVER HILLS, Wis.– No. 3 Auburn men’s golf sits in fifth place at 12 strokes over par following a near two rounds of play at the Marquette Invitational at Milwaukee Country Club Sunday.   The Tigers carded a 283 (+3) in round one and nearly finished round two before play was suspended due to darkness.   “Today challenged us in a way that we’ve yet to be challenged this year,” Tigers head coach Nick Clinard said. “This course requires a lot of focus, discipline and grit, which is exactly why we’re here playing it. There was a lot that we did well today, but as always, we know there are still things we can tighten up. Tomorrow will be about how we can adjust and punch back.”   Auburn junior Ryan Eshleman leads the lineup after posting a 70 (E) in round one and a 58 (-1) through 15 holes of the second round. Eshleman ranks second on the player leaderboard, three strokes back of the leader, Iowa State’s Luke Gutschewski.   “This is a great, hard, fair, old school golf course that requires a lot of discipline,” Eshleman said, “and for the most part, I’ve played with a lot of good discipline, and that has benefitted me so far. Tomorrow is a new day, and we are going to show up ready to attack and play smart.”   All-American J.M. Butler is another Tiger representative in the top 10. Butler also carded a 70 (E) in his opener and holds a 63 (+1) through 16 holes of round two to place tied for eighth place.   The trio that rounds out the Auburn lineup, junior Carson Bacha and sophomores Brendan Valdes and Evan Vo, shot a 70 (E) and a pair of 73s (+3), respectively, to begin the tournament.   Tigers individual golfer, Alex Vogelsong, carded a 72 (+2) through his first 18 holes and carries a 68 (+2) through 17 in the middle frame.     For Monday’s finale, players will finish remaining round two holes in shotgun start at 9 a.m. CT. before commencing the final round at 10 a.m. CT.   Scores Through Round One Read More…

As Mass. GOP Moves Right, Anthony Amore Runs A Lonely Race As A Moderate https://digitalalabamanews.com/as-mass-gop-moves-right-anthony-amore-runs-a-lonely-race-as-a-moderate/ Republican Anthony Amore was campaigning for state auditor at a recent fall festival in Leominster, when a voter approached with a pressing question. Did Amore support Donald Trump and his movement to Make America Great Again? When Amore said he didn’t, the man refused to shake his hand and walked away. Amore might be the loneliest Republican in Massachusetts. He’s a moderate running in a party dominated by pro-Trump conservatives. And he’s the only statewide Republican candidate who called for Trump’s impeachment after the Jan. 6 insurrection. Most of the Republicans running for statewide office in Massachusetts embrace Trump and his conservative positions. So do many Republican voters, who reject the moderate Republicanism of Gov. Charlie Baker and derisively call him and Amore RINOs, or Republicans In Name Only. “I got a hate-mail yesterday about how I’m ‘Rino-scum’ because Charlie Baker made me his only endorsement,” Amore said, while campaigning on a recent weekend at the Johnny Appleseed Arts and Cultural Festival in Central Massachusetts. Anthony Amore greets voters in Leominster. (Anthony Brooks/ WBUR) In the race for auditor, Amore is pushing against his party’s swing to the right, even if it costs him the support of pro-Trump Republicans voters. “Many people who describe themselves as Trump supporters would rather blank the ballot and have a Democrat,” Amore said. Amore says his 30 years of experience have prepared him to be state auditor, the state’s main fiscal watchdog. He oversees security at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston, and is a private investigator who helped lead the effort to improve security at Logan Airport after the 9/11 attacks. “I’ve been doing investigations, audits and assessments and inspections for the federal government, for the private sector,” Amore said. “It’s just something I do — and I do it really well.” Amore identifies as a fiscally conservative and socially liberal Republican in the mold of Baker and other former Republican governors like William Weld. He says he’s for low taxes and small government, but supports abortion rights. That used to be standard for Massachusetts Republicans. But today, the party’s base is dominated by pro-Trump conservatives who regard some of Amore’s positions as apostasy. Many of them feel the same way about Baker, who is not seeking a third term and who has ducked much of the political fray this year. Baker hasn’t even endorsed Geoff Diehl, the Republican running to replace him, or any other statewide candidate — except Amore. “I think he’s probably the most qualified person who’s run to be auditor in a long time,” Baker said of Amore. Amore says he welcomes the endorsements from Baker and another prominent Massachusetts Republican, former acting Gov. Jane Swift, even if they further alienate the conservative base. And, indeed, some Republicans openly oppose both Amore and Baker. “Anthony, along with Charlie, has only been a Republican in name only,” said John MacDonald, a Republican activist, who claims both politicians have snubbed conservatives across the state. MacDonald is urging voters in his party to either leave the November ballot for auditor blank or write in another Republican. Like some in the conservative wing of the state GOP, MacDonald is particularly aggrieved that Amore called for the impeachment of President Trump, who he said is “still a very popular figure in conservative Republican circles.” Polls confirm that Trump is indeed popular among registered Republicans in Massachusetts, but not among voters overall in the state. Trump lost twice in Massachusetts by 2-to-1 margins against Democrats running for president. In response to attacks from his party’s base that he is insufficiently conservative, Amore said his politics have remained the same for years. But he says the state GOP has left him behind with its shift to the right. The party is now dominated by people like Sydney Walsh, a state Republican committee member from Leominster. “I am a Trump MAGA — Make America Great Again — believer,” Walsh said with a smile. Walsh said she’s not following the auditor’s race. But when it comes to picking political candidates she has one key condition: “I’m for anyone who’s endorsed by President Trump,” she said. So she’s supporting Diehl for governor, but Walsh is one more Republican who probably won’t be voting for Amore. It doesn’t help that Amore is at odds with the chairman of the state GOP, Jim Lyons, who represents the pro-Trump wing of the party. “I don’t feel supported by the state Republican Party,” Amore said. Amore also complained that Lyons declined to post his picture on the party’s website. Lyons said he requested pictures of all the statewide candidates by themselves, but Amore submitted a picture of him with Baker instead. “That’s not what I asked for,” Lyons said, adding that he supports all the statewide GOP candidates. Running as a Republican in such a Democratic state is never easy, even with the full support of the party. At the St. Patrick’s Day breakfast in Boston last March, Amore joked about trying to explain his campaign to voters. “I ask them, ‘Do you know what it means to be the Republican candidate for auditor?’ ” Amore said. “And they say, ‘nope.’ I start to tell them what the auditor does, and they go, ‘no, no, no, no. What’s a Republican?’ “ The joke got him some laughs, but probably few Republican votes. And it summed up the challenge Amore faces winning the general election this fall. Democrats are hopeful they can sweep all the state’s constitutional offices and congressional seats in November, and also retain super-majorities in the Legislature. Amore argues that he would be a check on one-party rule. He says Massachusetts has benefited from a moderate Republican in the governor’s office, and a Republican auditor could offer much needed oversight. His Democratic opponent, state Sen. Diana Dizoglio, disagrees. She said party identity for the state auditor shouldn’t matter. “I think it’s important that we have an independent voice who can stand up, regardless of party affiliation,” she said, adding that she’s challenged the leadership of her own party. Amore said he also wants to transcend party affiliation. “I’m trying to appeal to the electorate writ large, not to a subset of what I think are almost cultists,” he said. It’s always a challenge for Republicans to win in blue Massachusetts — a Republican hasn’t won the auditor’s race in more than 80 years. Still, the split in the state GOP might be making Amore’s uphill climb toward Election Day in November even steeper. Read More…

Football Rankings: Big Central Conference Top 15, Through Week 5 https://digitalalabamanews.com/football-rankings-big-central-conference-top-15-through-week-5/ (record in parenthesis) 1. Phillipsburg (5-0) – last week No. 1 — The Stateliners toyed with another victim early, carrying just a 7-0 lead into halftime Friday night, before turning it on and scoring a 21-7 win over Hunterdon Central. The American Silver Division champs will play host to Bridgewater-Raritan (2-4) this weekend. FOOTBALL: Week 5 roundup and story links in the Big Central Conference 2. North Brunswick (5-0) – last week No. 3 – The Raiders had no trouble with Franklin last weekend, scoring a 34-14 win to wrap up the National Silver Division title. A short trip to New Brunswick (1-5) is set for Friday night 3. Hillsborough (4-1) – last week No. 4 – The Raiders shook off their Week 4 loss to Phillipsburg with a 14-6 win over Union to get back on track. Hunterdon Central (2-4) is due in next weekend. 4. Sayreville (3-2) – last week No. 5 – The Bombers handled East Brunswick 35-21, finally getting a break in the schedule after facing three of the league’s top 6 teams through four games, including the top 2. Winless Franklin (0-5) comes in next weekend. 5. Ridge (3-2) – last week No. 6 – The Red Devils had their way with Bridgewater-Raritan, scoring a 35-0 victory — its second straight win. Ridge heads to South Brunswick (3-2) on Friday night. 6. Edison (4-2) – last week No. 7 – The Eagles took care of business at New Brunswick on Friday night, posting their second straight win, 44-6. Edison heads to St. Joseph (3-2) on Saturday in yet another big game. 7. North Hunterdon (5-1) – last week No. 8 – The Lions mauled previously unbeaten Colonia 33-7 Friday night to remain undefeated at home. North heads to Montgomery (5-1) this weekend with a chance to clinch the Liberty Silver Division title. 8. St. Thomas Aquinas (5-1) – last week No. 9 – The Trojans pulled off a big upset Saturday, topping Hillside 7-1 to stay undefeated against Big Central Conference opponents. St. Thomas plays host to Rahway (3-2) this weekend, a win away from clinching the United Gold Division crown. 9. Watchung Hills (4-2) – last week No. 10 – The Warriors notched another hugely impressive victory, blanking previously undefeated Montgomery 33-0 on Friday night at Cougars Stadium. Watchung Hills plays host to Plainfield (1-4) on Friday night, a team the Warriors have played some crazy games against in recent seasons. 10. Hillside (4-1) – last week No. 2 – The Comets suffered their first loss of the season, succumbing to St. Thomas Aquinas 17-7 on Saturday. Hillside will look to get back on track and wrap up the Patriot Silver Division title when it visits A.L. Johnson (4-1) Friday night. 11. Westfield (4-1) – last week not ranked– The Blue Devils have put their opening-day loss to Watchung Hills well in the rearview, reeling off four straight wins, including Saturday’s 14-10 come-from-behind victory over St. Joseph, which clinched the American Gold Division crown. Tough match up at Somerville (2-4) is on tap for this Friday. 12. St. Joseph-Metuchen (3-2) – last week No. 11 — The Falcons carried a 10-0 lead into the fourth quarter against Westfield on Saturday, but couldn’t hold it, as the Blue Devils scored two late TDs to send St. Joseph to a 14-10 defeat. SJM will look to get righted this weekend against Edison (4-2). 13. Bernards (5-1) –– last week No. 14 — The Mountaineers had no trouble with winless North Plainfield on Friday night, scoring a 37-0 victory. The Patriot Gold Division champs welcome in New Providence (3-2) next weekend. 14. Colonia (5-1) –– last week No. 12 — The Patriots suffered their first loss of the season, 33-7 to North Hunterdon, yet still clinched the Liberty Gold Division title. Colonia looks to get it going again next weekend against Perth Amboy (2-3). 15. Montgomery (5-1) – last week No. 13 – The Cougars’ historic undefeated start ended at the hands of Watchung Hills, 33-0 on Friday night. Montgomery can still clinch at least a share of the Liberty Silver Division title if it can knock off North Hunterdon (5-1) on Friday night. They’d need Watchung Hills to also lose to Plainfield to win the championship outright. ALSO RECEIVING CONSIDERATION:  Brearley (5-0), Cranford (3-2), South Plainfield (5-0). DROPPED OUT: Bridgewater-Raritan (2-4) BIG CENTRAL CONFERENCE WEEK 6 SCHEDULE Friday, Oct. 7 Middlesex at Roselle Park, 6 p.m. Perth Amboy at Colonia, 6 p.m. Rahway at St. Thomas Aquinas, 6 p.m. Ridgefield Park at Roselle, 6 p.m. Ridge at South Brunswick, 6:30 p.m. Belvidere at Manville, 7 p.m. Bernards at Bound Brook, 7 p.m. Brearley at Highland Park, 7 p.m. Bridgewater-Raritan at Phillipsburg, 7 p.m. Dunellen at South Hunterdon, 7 p.m. Elizabeth at Union, 7 p.m. Franklin at Sayreville, 7 p.m. Governor Livingston at Carteret, 7 p.m. Hillside at A.L. Johnson, 7 p.m. Hunterdon Central at Hillsborough, 7 p.m. J.F. Kennedy at Woodbridge, 7 p.m. J.P. Stevens at North Plainfield, 7 p.m. Monroe at Old Bridge, 7 p.m. North Brunswick at New Brunswick, 7 p.m. North Hunterdon at Montgomery, 7 p.m. Piscataway at East Brunswick, 7 p.m. Plainfield at Watchung Hills, 7 p.m. Scotch Plains-Fanwood at Cranford, 7 p.m. South Plainfield at Voorhees, 7 p.m. South River at Delaware Valley, 7 p.m. Summit at Linden, 7 p.m. Westfield at Somerville, 7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 8 Dayton at Spotswood, 1 p.m. Edison at Saint Joseph-Met., 1 p.m. New Providence at Metuchen, 2 p.m. Rankings by Simeon Pincus and Andy Mendlowitz Simeon Pincus has been covering New Jersey sports since 1997. He can be reached at SPincus@GannettNJ.com. Follow him on Twitter @SimeonPincus Andy Mendlowitz can be reached at AMendlowitz@GannettNJ.com. Follow him on Twitter @Andy_Mendlowitz Read More…

Trump Is 'king' To Some In Pennsylvania, But Will It Help GOP On Election Day? https://digitalalabamanews.com/trump-is-king-to-some-in-pennsylvania-but-will-it-help-gop-on-election-day/ The Trump-Pence sign still hangs on the older building off Main Street in this historic town, a lasting vestige of the campaign fervor that roused voters, including many who still believe the falsehood that the former president didn’t lose in 2020 and hope he’ll run in 2024. The enthusiasm for Donald Trump’s unique brand of nationalist populism has cut into traditional Democratic strongholds like Monongahela, about 25 miles south of Pittsburgh, where brick storefronts and a Slovak fellowship hall dot Main Street and church bells mark the hours of the day. Republicans are counting on political nostalgia for the Trump era as they battle Democrats this fall in Pennsylvania in races for governor, the U.S. Senate and control of Congress. “Trump just came along and filled the empty space,” said Matti Gruzs, who stitches old blue jeans into tote bags, place mats and other creations she sells at the weekly Farmer’s Market downtown. “He’s still the king, and the kingmaker.” Against the backdrop of this picturesque place, House Republicans recently released their campaign agenda, hoping their “Commitment to America” can tap into the same political sentiment Trump used to attract not just Republican but independent and former Democratic voters. But it’s unclear whether the support that propelled Trump to the White House will be there on Election Day, Nov. 8. Perhaps even more challenging for the GOP is whether Trump’s false claims of voter fraud will cost the party if people believe, as the defeated president claims without evidence, the elections are rigged. Some may just decide to sit out the election. “It started out as a low-enthusiasm race,” said Dave Ball, the Republican Party chairman in Washington County, which includes much of western Pennsylvania. Ball said enthusiasm has been “building rapidly” — his main metric for voter interest in the elections is the demand for lawn signs. “We were wondering, at one point, you know, we were going to see any,” he said. “Right now, I can’t get my hands on enough.” But Amy Michalic, who was born and raised in Monongahela and works the polls during elections, said she hears skepticism from some voters, particularly Trump supporters, “who think my vote doesn’t count.” Trump’s claims of fraud have no basis in fact. Dozens of court cases filed by Trump and his supporters have been dismissed or rejected by judges across the nation, but he continues to challenge Joe Biden’s victory. In every state, officials have attested to the accuracy of their elections, and Trump’s own attorney general at the time, Bill Barr, said in 2020 there was no voter fraud on a scale to change the outcome. Michaelic reminds skeptical voters in her hometown of the importance of voting and notes that in 2016, no one thought Trump could win. “Look what he did, he took Pennsylvania,” she said. At the Farmer’s Market on a recent afternoon, voters shared concerns that many people in the United States voice this election year — about the high prices of everything, about finding workers and good-paying jobs, about the culture wars. Lisa Mascaro / AP Michelle DeHosse poses for a photo at the farmer’s market in downtown Monongahela, Pa., Sept. 23, 2022. DeHosse runs a custom screen-print and embroidery shop on Main Street but said she has had trouble hiring employees since the COVID-19 crisis. While she said just can’t afford the $20 an hour and health care benefits many applicants demand, she understands that many workers need both. “It’s the economy that’s the biggest concern,” she said. “Where do you start?” said Michelle DeHosse, wearing an American flag shirt as she helped vendors set up stands. DeHosse, who runs a custom-screen print and embroidery shop on Main Street, said she has had trouble hiring employees since the pandemic. While she said just cannot afford the $20 an hour and health care benefits many applicants demand, she understands that many workers need both. “It’s the economy that’s the biggest concern,” she said. Democrats were sparse among the voters, who didn’t seem to have strong feelings for their choices this fall for either of the Senate candidates, Democrat John Fetterman or the Trump-backed Republican Mehmet Oz. Several said they probably would vote party line. “I don’t like either one of them,” said Carolyn McCuen, 84, a Republican enjoying sunset with friends and McDonald’s coffee at a picnic table by the river. “Me either,” said another Republican, Sam Reo, 76, a retired mechanical engineer, playing oldies from the portable speaker he sets up for the group. Both still plan to vote. Support for the GOP candidate for governor, Doug Mastriano, who was outside the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, can be seen in the giant signs along Lincoln Highway, an east-west route across the state. Mastriano is a “folk hero around here,” said Gruzs, who recalled his regular updates broadcast during the pandemic. A history buff who homes-schooled her children, Gruzs hasn’t missed a vote since she cast her first presidential ballot for Ronald Reagan. The same goes for her husband, Sam, a plumber. They moved here two decades ago from Baltimore, for a better life. Now a grandmother, she spends her days working on her crafts and listening to far-right broadcasts – Steve Bannon, Charlie Kirk and others. She is not a fan of House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif. and isn’t convinced he has the toughness needed to push the party’s ideas forward. But she did attend the event at a nearby manufacturing facility where lawmakers outlined the GOP agenda. She was heartened to see far-right Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene at the event with McCarthy, and made sure to shake Greene’s hand. “If she’s behind him,” she said, trailing off. “It looked today he had enough behind him, pushing him.” Trump remains popular, and the sign hanging on the building off Main Street from his 2020 campaign was far from the only one still visible in the state, two years since that election. Several of the voters dismissed the investigations against Trump as nothing more than a “witch hunt” designed to keep him from running again office, despite the potentially serious charges being raised in state and federal inquiries. Some voters said they didn’t believe the attack on the Capitol was an insurrection, despite the violence waged by pro-Trump supporters trying to overturn Biden’s election. Those views stand in contrast to the hard facts of Jan. 6: More than 850 people have been arrested and charged in the insurrection, some given lengthy sentences by the courts for their involvement. Hours before the siege, Trump told a rally crowd to “fight like hell” for his presidency. Loyalists soon broke into the Capitol, fighting in hand-to-hand combat with police, interrupting Congress as it was certifying the election results. Five people, including a Trump supporter shot by police, died in the immediate aftermath. And if Trump runs again? “I wish he would,” said McCuen, a retired church secretary. “But I don’t know if he will.” Read More…

UAE Sets Up Economy Ministry In The Metaverse https://digitalalabamanews.com/uae-sets-up-economy-ministry-in-the-metaverse/ The United Arab Emirates, which already boasts the world’s tallest skyscraper and has launched a bold Mars mission, now hopes to become a pioneer in the depths of the metaverse. In a project launched at Dubai’s gleaming Museum of the Future, it announced that the UAE’s economy ministry was setting up shop inside the immersive virtual world that is now taking shape. For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app. Those who don their virtual reality goggles or use other means to venture within will find a ministry open for business with companies and even ready to sign bilateral agreements with foreign governments, officials said. The metaverse is an online world where users will eventually be able to game, work and study, its proponents say — although it is still in a “test” phase, the UAE’s economy minister conceded. Abdulla bin Touq al-Marri was speaking at the inaugural Dubai Metaverse Assembly, held at the museum whose innovative ring shape decorated with Arabic calligraphy flanks the city’s main thoroughfare. Representatives of tech giants mingled with entrepreneurs and developers exploring the potential of the metaverse, a network of digital spaces intended as an extension of the physical world. “In the last couple of years we’ve seen investments, we’ve seen companies move in, and with the changes of the (visa) regime… we see talent coming in,” al-Marri told AFP in an interview. “We trained our employees to really immerse themselves in the metaverse, use the metaverse and engage with the Generation Z that is going to come,” he added. The UAE, which has a history of bold projects including the 830-meter (2,723-foot) Burj Khalifa, hopes the metaverse can add $4 billion to annual GDP and 40,000 jobs to its workforce by 2030. In its bid to become one of the world’s top-10 metaverse economies, Dubai wants to attract 1,000 companies specializing in blockchain and related technologies, helped by eased visa rules for freelancers, entrepreneurs and creatives. As the coronavirus pandemic pushed more people into the online world, “COVID really accelerated” the trend, al-Marri added. “We thought the metaverse is a phase technology that might take 10 to 20 years to emerge,” he said. “COVID-19 really immersed us so fast and expedited the use of the metaverse.” Virtual Mars trips Unlike the UAE’s oil-rich capital, Abu Dhabi, crude represents just five percent of Dubai’s economy which has pivoted towards business, tourism, real estate and new technologies. The UAE has already introduced a law governing virtual assets and a regulatory body for cryptocurrencies, while welcoming major crypto exchange platforms. One of the UAE’s early private-sector metaverse projects is called 2117, named after the dream of Dubai’s ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid to colonize Mars a century from now. Metaverse users can now buy tickets to join a virtual shuttle carrying settlers to the red planet. “A lot of us won’t live long enough to see this mission with our own eyes,” said Amin Al Zarouni, founder of the Bedu start-up behind the virtual Mars trip. “We’ll try to replicate this experience in the metaverse.” Until now, use of the metaverse is niche and even its architects say widespread adoption is years away. How it will develop is unknown. According to Meta, which owns Facebook and other social media titans, Analysis Group research has shown that the metaverse could add $360 billion to GDP in the Middle East, North Africa and Turkey in 10 years, if it follows the growth pattern of mobile technology. “We also know that when policy supports innovation, it accelerates the adoption of new technologies,” the company said, when asked about Dubai’s prospects of becoming a metaverse hub. “If we look at the context of Dubai, there’s already a clear strategy and goals to accelerate metaverse adoption and investments in the building blocks of the metaverse.” Read more: Recruitment agency enters the metaverse in UAE first Dubai’s space center to simulate life on Mars in the Metaverse With Metaverse strategy in place, Dubai consolidates status as world’s Web3 capital Read More…

Ukraine's Forces Make Gains After Recapturing Lyman; Pro-Kremlin Voices Criticize Defeats And Mobilization https://digitalalabamanews.com/ukraines-forces-make-gains-after-recapturing-lyman-pro-kremlin-voices-criticize-defeats-and-mobilization/ Russian-installed official admits Ukraine has made ‘breakthroughs’ in Kherson region Pro-Ukraine volunteers from Chechnya train near Kyiv. The Zelenskyy government has displayed growing confidence in recent weeks, increasingly taking the initiative in a conflict that the Kremlin itself has admitted is stalled. Genya Savilov | Afp | Getty Images Ukrainian forces appear to be making progress in a counteroffensive in the southern Kherson region, one of four regions that Moscow “annexed” last week, with one Russian-installed official conceding that Kyiv’s forces were making gains around Kherson. “It’s tense, let’s put it that way,” Vladimir Saldo, the Russian-installed head of Ukraine’s Kherson region, said on state television, Reuters reported. He said Ukraine’s forces had made some breakthroughs in the region and taken control of some settlements. Ukraine has continued to make advances in both the northeast of the country, in the Kharkiv region, and around Kherson in the south, seemingly undaunted by President Putin’s announcement last week that Moscow was “annexing” four regions in Ukraine: Kherson, Zaporizhzhia and the separatist and pro-Russian Donetsk and Luhansk self-proclaimed “republics” in eastern Ukraine. Ukraine and its allies condemned the move, calling it illegitimate and illegal. — Holly Ellyatt Pro-Russian groups are raising funds in crypto to prop up paramilitary operations Pro-Russian groups are raising funds in cryptocurrency to prop up paramilitary operations and evade U.S. sanctions as the war with Ukraine wages on, a research report published Monday revealed. As of Sept. 22, these fundraising groups had raised $400,000 in cryptocurrency since the start of the invasion on Feb. 24, according to TRM Labs, a digital asset compliance and risk management company. The research revealed that groups, using encrypted messaging app Telegram, are offering ways for people to send funds which are used to supply Russian-affiliated militia groups and support combat training at locations close to the border with Ukraine. Russian paramilitary groups are raising funds in cryptocurrency using messaging app Telegram, according to research published by TRM Labs. Matt Cardy | Getty Images News | Getty Images One group TRM Labs identified raising funds is Task Force Rusich which the U.S. Treasury describes as a “neo-Nazi paramilitary group that has participated in combat alongside Russia’s military in Ukraine.” The Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFCA) has sanctioned Task Force Rusich. On a Telegram channel, TRM Labs discovered this group was looking to raise money for items such as thermal imaging equipment and radios. Read more on the story here The only way to end the war is on the battlefield, lawmaker says Ukraine will not negotiate with Russia unless it agrees to withdraw all its troops from Ukrainian territory — but with that increasingly unlikely, the resolution to the conflict currently lies on the battlefield, one Ukrainian lawmaker told CNBC. “Ukraine is ready for negotiations at any moment, but negotiations about what? About the retreat of Russian troops from our territory? Sure,” Oleksiy Goncharenko, a Ukrainian MP, told CNBC Monday. “But Putin is not going to do this. He claimed that the territories he invaded are Russian … so clearly he has chosen the way of escalation and that’s why the only answer is on the battlefield and Ukraine is doing this.” Goncharenko noted that Putin’s partial military mobilization, in which 300,000 men are expected to be called up to fight in Ukraine, would only prolong the war instead of enabling Moscow to win it. Likening Russia’s army and the state to a dinosaur, he said: “[It has] a massive body, tiny head and very tiny brains inside this head.” “When Russia will realize [it can’t win] we’re ready to negotiate but it looks like Putin will never do it,” he said. — Holly Ellyatt Russian mobilization marked by dysfunction and disorganization, UK says The “partial military mobilization” announced by President Putin two weeks ago is showing itself to be dysfunctional and disorganized, according to Britain’s Ministry of Defense. President Putin announced the call-up on Sept. 21, leading to thousands of eligible fighting men trying to flee the country. Other reports have suggested the men going to fight in Ukraine are poorly trained and ill-equipped for war. There have been multiple reports of men being mistakenly conscripted. Britain’s Ministry of Defense said that even Putin had acknowledged problems with the draft, telling his National Security Council on Sept. 29 that “a lot of questions are being raised during this mobilization campaign, and we must promptly correct our mistakes and not repeat them.” Reservists drafted during the partial mobilization attend a departure ceremony in Sevastopol, Crimea, on Sept. 27, 2022. Stringer | Afp | Getty Images “Putin’s unusually rapid acknowledgement of problems highlights the dysfunction of the mobilisation over its first week. Local officials are likely unclear on the exact scope and legal rationale of the campaign,” the ministry said on Twitter. “They have almost certainly drafted some personnel who are outside the definitions claimed by Putin and the Ministry of Defence. As drafted reservists continue to assemble at tented transit camps, Russian officials are likely struggling to provide training and in finding officers to lead new units,” the ministry added. — Holly Ellyatt Criticism of Ukraine invasion grows in Russia, even from pro-Kremlin figures Ukrainian troops pose for a photo in Lyman, Ukraine, in this picture released on social media Oct. 1, 2022. Oleksiy Biloshytskyi | Oleksiy Biloshytskyi Via Reuters The Russian defeat in Lyman in northeast Ukraine and other parts of the Kharkiv region, combined with the Kremlin’s failure to conduct a partial military mobilization effectively and fairly, “are fundamentally changing the Russian information space,” according to analysts at the Institute for the Study of War. “The Russian information space has significantly deviated from the narratives preferred by the Kremlin and the Russian Ministry of Defense that things are generally under control,” analysts at the defense and foreign affairs think tank said Sunday, noting that Ukraine’s recapturing of Lyman in northeast Kharkiv this weekend is leading to mounting criticism of President Putin’s regime, top officials and the so-called “special military operation” (as Russia calls it) in Ukraine. “Kremlin-sponsored media and Russian milbloggers – a prominent Telegram community composed of Russian war correspondents, former proxy officials, and nationalists – are grieving the loss of Lyman while simultaneously criticizing the bureaucratic failures of the partial mobilization,” the analysts noted in their latest assessment of the war. Ukraine recaptures Lyman, a key logistics hub for Russian forces. Institute for the Study of War “Kremlin sources and milbloggers are attributing the defeat around Lyman and Kharkiv Oblast to Russian military failures to properly supply and reinforce Russian forces in northern Donbas and complaining about the lack of transparency regarding the progress of war,” they added. The ISW noted that it’s becoming more common for even the most pro-Kremlin TV shows in Russia to host guests that are critical of how the conflict is progressing and some have even criticized Putin’s decision to annex four Ukrainian regions last Friday “before securing their administrative borders or even the frontline, expressing doubts about Russia’s ability ever to occupy the entirety of these territories.” “Kremlin propagandists no longer conceal their disappointment in the conduct of the partial mobilization, frequently discussing the illegal mobilization of some men and noting issues such as alcoholism among newly mobilized forces,” the ISW said.  “Some speaking on live television have expressed the concern that mobilization will not generate the force necessary to regain the initiative on the battlefield, given the poor quality of Russian reserves.” — Holly Ellyatt Successes of Ukrainian soldiers not limited to Lyman, Zelenskyy says “This week, the largest part of the reports is the list of settlements liberated from the enemy within the scope of our ongoing defensive operation. The story of the liberation of Lyman in the Donetsk region has now become the most popular in the media. But the successes of our soldiers are not limited to Lyman,” said Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Valentyn Ogirenko | Reuters Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Sunday that the success of Ukraine’s soldiers is not limited to the recapture of Lyman in the northeast of the country, with more towns around Kherson being liberated. “This week, the largest part of the reports is the list of settlements liberated from the enemy within the scope of our ongoing defensive operation. The story of the liberation of Lyman in the Donetsk region has now become the most popular in the media. But the successes of our soldiers are not limited to Lyman,” he said in his nightly address. Ukrainian forces are also liberating the small Arkhanhelske and Myrolyubivka settlements in the Kherson region, he said. Ukraine is continuing its counteroffensive in the northeast of the country as it tries to reclaim more occupied land from Russia, which last Friday announced it was annexing four regions in Ukraine, a move branded as illegitimate and farcical by the international community. Over the weekend, Ukraine announced that its forces had fully taken back control of the town of Lyman, which had been used as a key logistics hub by Russian forc...

Jurors To Begin Hearing Jan. 6 Oath Keepers Sedition Case https://digitalalabamanews.com/jurors-to-begin-hearing-jan-6-oath-keepers-sedition-case-3/ WASHINGTON — Federal prosecutors will lay out their case against the founder of the Oath Keepers extremist group and four associates charged in the most serious case to reach trial yet in the Jan. 6, 2021, U.S. Capitol attack. Opening statements are expected Monday in Washington’s federal court in the trial of Stewart Rhodes and others charged with seditious conspiracy for what prosecutors say was a weekslong plot to stop the transfer of power from Republican Donald Trump to Democrat Joe Biden. Defense attorneys will also get their first chance to address jurors, who were chosen last week after days of questioning over their feelings about the insurrection, Trump supporters and other matters. The stakes are high for the Justice Department, which last secured a seditious conspiracy conviction at trial nearly 30 years ago. About 900 people have been charged and hundreds convicted in the Capitol attack. Rioters stormed past police barriers, engaged in hand-to-hand combat with officers, smashed windows and halted the certification of Biden’s electoral victory. But the Oath Keepers are the first to stand trial on seditious conspiracy, a rare Civil War-era charge that carries up to 20 years behind bars. The trial is expected to last several weeks. Prosecutors will tell jurors that the insurrection for the antigovernment group was not a spontaneous outpouring of election-fueled rage but part of a drawn-out plot to stop Biden from entering the White House. On trial with Rhodes, of Granbury, Texas, are Kelly Meggs, leader of the Florida chapter of the Oath Keepers; Kenneth Harrelson, another Florida Oath Keeper; Thomas Caldwell, a retired U.S. Navy intelligence officer from Virginia; and Jessica Watkins, who led an Ohio militia group. They face several other charges as well. Authorities say Rhodes began plotting to overturn Biden’s victory just days after the election. Court records show the Oath Keepers repeatedly warning of the prospect of violence — or “a bloody, bloody civil war,” as Rhodes said in one call — if Biden were to become president. By December, authorities say, Rhodes and the Oath Keepers had set their sights on Congress’ certification of the Electoral College vote on Jan. 6. The Oath Keepers organized trainings — including one in “unconventional warfare” — and stashed weapons at a Virginia hotel so they could get them into the capital quickly if necessary, prosecutors say. Over several days in early January, Rhodes spent an $15,500 on guns, including an AR-platform rifle, magazines, mounts, sights and other equipment, according to court documents. On Jan. 6, Oath Keepers equipped with communication devices, helmets, vests and other battle gear were seen on camera storming the Capitol. Rhodes is not accused of going inside, but telephone records show he was communicating with Oath Keepers who did enter around the time of the riot and he was seen with members outside afterward. And prosecutors say the plot didn’t end on Jan. 6. In the days between the riot and Biden’s inauguration, Rhodes spent more than $17,000 on firearm parts, magazines, ammunition and other items, prosecutors say. Around the time of the inauguration, Rhodes told others to organize local militias to oppose the Democratic administration, authorities say. “Patriots entering their own Capitol to send a message to the traitors is NOTHING compared to what’s coming,” Rhodes wrote in a message the evening of Jan. 6. Defense attorneys have said the Oath Keepers came to Washington only to provide security at events for figures such as Trump ally Roger Stone before the president’s big outdoor rally behind the White House. Rhodes has said there was no plan to attack the Capitol and that the members who did acted on their own. Rhodes’ lawyers are poised to argue that jurors cannot find him guilty of seditious conspiracy because all the actions he took before Jan. 6 were in preparation for orders he anticipated from Trump — orders that never came. Rhodes’ attorney has said that his client will eventually take the stand to argue that he believed Trump was going to invoke the Insurrection Act and call up a militia, which Rhodes had been calling on him to do to stop Biden from becoming president. Rhodes’ attorneys will argue that what prosecutors have alleged was an illegal conspiracy was merely lobbying the president to use a U.S. law. Prosecutors say Rhodes’ own words show he was going to act regardless of what Trump did. In one message from December 2020, Rhodes wrote that Trump “needs to know that if he fails to act, then we will.” The last successful seditious conspiracy case was against an Egyptian cleric, Sheikh Omar Abdel-Rahman, and nine followers convicted in a plot to blow up the United Nations, the FBI’s building, and two tunnels and a bridge linking New York and New Jersey. Read More…

Oil Jumps Nearly $4 As OPEC+ Weighs Biggest Output Cut Since 2020 https://digitalalabamanews.com/oil-jumps-nearly-4-as-opec-weighs-biggest-output-cut-since-2020/ OPEC+ considers cut of more than 1 mln bpd -sources Interest rate hikes, strong dollar weigh on markets EU ban on Russian maritime oil trader due for Dec. 5 LONDON, Oct 3 (Reuters) – Oil prices jumped almost $4 on Monday as OPEC+ considers reducing output by more than 1 million barrels per day (bpd) to buttress prices with what would be its biggest cut since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Brent crude futures rebounded $3.46, or 4.1%, to $88.60 a barrel by 0915 GMT. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude was up 4.3%, or $3.39, at $82.88. Oil prices have tumbled for four straight months since June, as COVID-19 lockdowns in top energy consumer China hurt demand while rising interest rates and a surging U.S. dollar weighed on global financial markets. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com To support prices, the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and its allies, known collectively as OPEC+, is considering an output cut of more than 1 million bpd ahead of Wednesday’s meeting, OPEC+ sources told Reuters. read more If agreed, it will be the group’s second consecutive monthly cut after reducing output by 100,000 bpd last month. “The backdrop for this week’s meeting is precarious, but the fundamentals of oil are relatively healthy,” said Peter McNally, global lead for energy at investment research firm Third Bridge. “The two biggest question marks are the demand outlook (especially in China) and what happens to Russian supply after the EU ban goes into effect on Dec. 5.” OPEC+ missed its production targets by nearly 3 million bpd in July, two sources from the producer group said, as sanctions on some members and low investment by others stymied its ability to raise output. read more While prompt Brent prices could strengthen further in the immediate short term, concerns over a global recession are likely to limit the upside, consultancy FGE said. “If OPEC+ does decide to cut output in the near term, the resultant increase in OPEC+ spare capacity will likely put more downward pressure on long-dated prices,” it said in a note on Friday. The dollar index fell for a fourth consecutive day on Monday after touching its highest in two decades. A cheaper dollar could bolster oil demand and support prices. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com Reporting by Noah Browning Additional reporting by Florence Tan and Muyu Xu Editing by David Goodman Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles. Read More…

Wonderful Weather Continues All Week https://digitalalabamanews.com/wonderful-weather-continues-all-week/ by: David Nussbaum Posted: Oct 3, 2022 / 03:36 AM CDT Updated: Oct 3, 2022 / 03:36 AM CDT It is a clear and cool to chilly morning across Central Alabama with temperatures in the 40s and 50s. You might want a jacket. More fantastic weather is on tap for today across the Birmingham area. There is a large ridge of high pressure sitting across the Southeast U.S. This will keep us sunny and warm today with highs in the upper 70s to lower 80s. Tonight, we will be clear and cool with lows in the 40s and 50s. Tuesday through Thursday will have more delightful weather with plenty of sunshine each day as the ridge of high pressure sits over the Deep South. Daily high temperatures will be in the lower 80s and lows will be in the 50s. A cold front will move across Alabama on Friday, but we will not have any rain. It will be mostly sunny to partly cloudy. High temperatures will be in the lower 80s. Weekend Outlook: Another ridge of high pressure will build in over Alabama behind the front. We will have plenty of sunshine on Saturday and Sunday. It will be much cooler with highs in the lower to mid 70s. Lows will be in the 40s each night. Another nice weekend!! Tracking the Tropics: Invest 91L is located east of the Caribbean. It is a tropical wave that will move into the Caribbean by mid-week and conditions are favorable for it to develop into a tropical depression. NHC is giving this system a medium chance to develop. There is a large area of low pressure along a tropical wave south of the Cabo Verde Islands. The system is moving to the west and conditions are favorable for some development. A tropical depression could develop by that time. The system will turn to the northwest or north and stay out at sea by the end of the week. NHC is giving this system a high chance to develop. Read More…

Must See Photos From LSU's Big Comeback Win Over Auburn https://digitalalabamanews.com/must-see-photos-from-lsus-big-comeback-win-over-auburn/ There hasn’t been an LSU comeback on Auburn this big since 2017. In 2017, LSU was down 20-0 before the Tigers woke up and defeated Auburn by the score of 27-23. The play of the game was a 75-yard punt return for a touchdown by D.J. Chark as LSU completed the largest comeback in series history. While that historic win was against an Auburn team ranked #9 in the country, it was at Tiger Stadium. Saturday’s 17-point comeback win against Auburn was on the road. It was a game of runs as Auburn raced out to a 17-0 lead before LSU’s defense forced a fumble that was scooped up for a score and sparked LSU to 21 unanswered points and the 21-17 win. With the win, LSU is on a 4-game winning streak and now heads into a huge matchup with the #8 Tennessee Volunteers ranked in the Top 25 at #25. Kickoff is set for 11:00 a.m. at Tiger Stadium. While it wasn’t pretty, Saturday night was a huge win for an LSU team that is trying to build momentum going a tough stretch of SEC games. The game against Tennessee kicks off a 5-game stretch against rivals #8 Ole Miss, Florida, #1 Alabama, and Arkansas. Three of those five games will be at Tiger Stadium. These games will tell a lot about just how good this LSU team can be this season. But, for now, let’s take a look at some great photos you have not seen yet from LSU’s big comeback win over Auburn. LSU vs. Auburn 2022 Photo Gallery More LSU vs. New Mexico Photos Getting to Know New LSU Football Coach Brian Kelly, 10 Fast Facts Read More…

AP News Summary At 3:46 A.m. EDT https://digitalalabamanews.com/ap-news-summary-at-346-a-m-edt/ Russia smuggling Ukrainian grain to help pay for Putin’s war BEIRUT (AP) — An investigation by The Associated Press and the PBS series “Frontline” has documented a sophisticated Russian-run smuggling operation that has used falsified manifests and seaborne subterfuge to steal Ukrainian grain worth at least $530 million. The AP and “Frontline” used satellite imagery and marine radio transponder data to track three dozen ships making more than 50 voyages carrying grain from Russian-occupied areas of Ukraine to ports in the Middle East. The ongoing theft is being carried out by wealthy businessmen and state-owned companies in Russia and Syria. Some of them already face financial sanctions from the United States and European Union. Legal experts say the theft is a potential war crime. Relatives mourn those crushed at Indonesia soccer match JEMBER, Indonesia (AP) — Families and friends of some of the 125 people who died in a crush set off by police tear gas after an Indonesia soccer match wailed in grief as the bodies of the victims were returned home. Seventeen children were among the dead. The distraught family members were struggling to comprehend the sudden loss of loved ones at a soccer match watched only by hometown Arema FC fans because the organizer had banned visiting Persebaya Surabaya’s supporters due to Indonesia’s history of violent soccer rivalries. The crush was among the world’s deadliest disasters ever at a sporting event. Brazil’s Bolsonaro and the right outperform, defying polls RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — Jair Bolsonaro considerably outperformed expectations in Brazil’s presidential election, proving that the far-right wave he rode to the presidency remains a force and providing the world with yet another example of polls missing the mark. The most-trusted opinion polls had indicated leftist former President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva was far out front, and potentially even clinching a first-round victory. In the end, Bolsonaro surprised to the upside and came within just 5 percentage points – less than half the margin several surveys showed before the election. He will face da Silva in a high-stakes Oct. 30 presidential runoff. UK scraps tax cut for wealthy that sparked market turmoil BIRMINGHAM, England (AP) — The British government has dropped plans to cut income tax for top earners. The move was part of a package of unfunded cuts that sparked turmoil on financial markets and sent the pound to record lows. Treasury chief Kwasi Kwarteng said Monday he would abandon plans to scrap the top 45% rate of income tax paid on earnings above 150,000 pounds ($167,000) a year. The announcement comes as more lawmakers from the governing Conservative Party turn on government tax plans. The announcement of 45 billion pounds ($50 billion) in tax cuts sent the pound tumbling to a record low against the dollar. The Bank of England had to step in to stabilize the bond markets. In Hurricane Ian’s wake, dangers persist, worsen in parts FORT MYERS, Fla. (AP) — Days after Hurricane Ian carved a path of destruction from Florida to the Carolinas, the dangers persisted, and even worsened in some places. And it was clear the road to recovery from the monster storm will be long and painful. And Ian still is not done. The storm doused Virginia with rain Sunday. It was dissipating as it moved offshore, but officials warned there still was the potential of severe flooding along Virginia’s coast, beginning overnight Monday. Ian was one of the strongest storms to make landfall in the United States. By boat and jet ski, volunteers assist in Ian rescue efforts SANIBEL ISLAND, Fla. (AP) — As authorities in Florida try to reach people who have been trapped by floodwaters or isolated on barrier islands since Hurricane Ian came ashore last week, concerned members of the public have been springing into action to aid the official rescue efforts. One such group, Project Dynamo, has rescued more than 20 people, many of them elderly residents who became cut off when the Category 4 storm washed away a bridge connecting the Florida mainland with Sanibel Island, a crescent-shaped sliver of sand popular with tourists that was home to about 7,000 residents. Others have joined in the rescue efforts, using boats, paddleboards, jet skis and other resources to find people stranded by floodwaters or cut off by damage. ‘We’re with you,’ Biden tells Puerto Rico ahead of visit WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden says the U.S. government will be with Puerto Rico for the long haul as it cleans up and rebuilds after Hurricane Fiona. Biden was flying to the U.S. territory on Monday to survey some of the damage after the Category 1 hurricane hit on Sept. 18. Fiona caused catastrophic flooding, tore apart roads and bridges, and unleashed more than 100 landslides. Biden will visit amid widespread anger and frustration over continued power outages. Tens of thousands of people continue to struggle without power and water two weeks after the storm. Jurors to begin hearing Jan. 6 Oath Keepers sedition case WASHINGTON (AP) — Federal prosecutors are preparing to lay out their case against the founder of the Oath Keepers’ extremist group and four associates. They are charged in the most serious case to reach trial yet in the Jan. 6, 2021, U.S. Capitol attack. Opening statements are expected Monday in Washington’s federal court in the trial of Stewart Rhodes and others charged with seditious conspiracy. Prosecutors allege a weekslong plot to stop the transfer of power from Republican Donald Trump to Democrat Joe Biden. The Oath Keepers are the first to stand trial for seditious conspiracy, which carries up to 20 years behind bars. Black representation in Alabama tested before Supreme Court MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — Congressional districts that a federal court panel said were unconstitutional because they dilute representation for Black voters in Alabama are nevertheless being used for the November election after the U.S. Supreme Court allowed them. The high court hears arguments in the case on Tuesday. The packing of Black voters into just one of the state’s seven congressional districts leaves many of them without a voice and gives Republicans one more seat than they should have based on the state’s demographics and voting patterns. Gerrymandering has reduced the influence of Black voters for decades in a state that is synonymous with the civil rights movement. It’s flu vaccine time and seniors need revved-up shots Doctors have a message for vaccine-weary Americans: Don’t skip your flu shot this fall. And for the first time, seniors are urged to get a special extra-strength kind. There’s no way to predict how bad this flu season will be. Australia just emerged from a nasty one. In the U.S., annual flu vaccinations are recommended starting with 6-month-olds. Because seniors don’t respond as well, the U.S. now recommends they get one of three types made with higher doses or an immune-boosting ingredient. Meanwhile, the companies that make the two most widely used COVID-19 vaccines now are testing flu shots made with the same technology. Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. For Related Stories: Hurricane Ian Read More…

European Stocks Slump, Following Gloomy Sentiment In Asia-Pacific; Credit Suisse Down 9% https://digitalalabamanews.com/european-stocks-slump-following-gloomy-sentiment-in-asia-pacific-credit-suisse-down-9/ European stocks fell on Monday as markets entered the last quarter of the year. The pan-European Stoxx 600 index dropped 1% in early trade, with financial services stocks shedding 1% to lead losses while oil and gas stocks added 1.3%. The decline in Europe comes after a gloomy trading session in Asia-Pacific markets, with sharp moves in the price of oil. Brent crude futures and West Texas Intermediate futures jumped after reports that OPEC+ is considering an oil output cut of more than a million barrels per day, citing sources. Such a move would be the biggest taken by the organization to address weakness in global demand. Stocks on the move: Credit Suisse down 9%, Accelleron down 12% on debut Credit Suisse shares plunged 9% on Monday as market jitters over the Swiss bank’s capital position persist after a spike in credit-default swaps. Reuters reported on Friday that Credit Suisse CEO Ulrich Koerner told staff in an internal memo that capital and liquidity were solid. Credit Suisse is due to announce the outcome of its strategic review on Oct. 27. At the bottom of the Stoxx 600, Accelleron sank more than 12% on its market debut on the SIX Swiss Exchange in Zurich, after the former ABB turbocharging unit was spun off by the Swiss automation company. – Elliot Smith British pound jumps on reports UK government will U-turn on cut to top tax rate The British pound jumped on Monday morning on reports that the U.K. government will reverse plans to scrap the top rate of income tax. Sterling gained 0.8% against the dollar to trade at around $1.1250 shortly after 7 a.m. London time, taking the pound back to the level seen before Finance Minister Kwasi Kwarteng’s announcement of a raft of widely criticized tax cuts on Sept. 23. – Elliot Smith ANZ sees significant chance of an OPEC+ cut as large as 1 million barrels per day Ahead of an OPEC+ meeting on Oct. 5, ANZ sees a “significant chance of a cut” as large as 1 million barrels per day, analysts at the firm said in a note. That move is likely to be made “to counteract the excessive bearishness in the market.” The note added that any production cuts below 500,000 barrels per day, however, would be “shrugged off by the market.” –Jihye Lee CNBC Pro: Investment pro says ETFs are a $10 trillion opportunity — and reveals areas of ‘tremendous’ value Exchange-traded funds offer the benefit of diversification, says Jon Maier, chief investment officer at Global X ETFs. He said the ETF market is “growing exponentially” and estimates it to be worth $10 trillion. He names several opportunities for ETF investors in this volatile market. Pro subscribers can read more here. — Zavier Ong Oil prices jump on reports of OPEC+ mulling production cut Fri, Sep 30 20229:06 AM EDT CNBC Pro: The five global stocks experiencing the de-globalisation trend, according to HSBC New research from HSBC says supply chains, geopolitical tensions, and worsening financial conditions have forced many global companies to “substantially” turn inward in search of resilient revenue and growth. In a tough economic environment with recessionary pressures, the bank said turning inwards is “probably helpful” for these stocks. The report titled ‘A de-globalisation wave?’ said European firms’ foreign sales dipped below 50% in 2021, the lowest level in the last five years. Wed, Aug 17 202212:29 AM EDT European markets: Here are the opening calls European stocks are expected to open in negative territory on Wednesday as investors react to the latest U.S. inflation data. The U.K.’s FTSE index is expected to open 47 points lower at 7,341, Germany’s DAX 86 points lower at 13,106, France’s CAC 40 down 28 points and Italy’s FTSE MIB 132 points lower at 22,010, according to data from IG. Global markets have pulled back following a higher-than-expected U.S. consumer price index report for August which showed prices rose by 0.1% for the month and 8.3% annually in August, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported Tuesday, defying economist expectations that headline inflation would fall 0.1% month-on-month. Core CPI, which excludes volatile food and energy costs, climbed 0.6% from July and 6.3% from August 2021. U.K. inflation figures for August are due and euro zone industrial production for July will be published. — Holly Ellyatt Read More…

Brazil Election Enters Runoff As Bolsonaro Dashes Lula's Hope Of Quick Win https://digitalalabamanews.com/brazil-election-enters-runoff-as-bolsonaro-dashes-lulas-hope-of-quick-win/ Brazil’s President and presidential candidate Jair Bolsonaro speaks after the results of the first round of Brazil’s presidential election, at the Alvorada Palace in Brasilia , Brazil October 2, 2022. REUTERS/Ueslei Marcelino SAO PAULO/BRASILIA, Oct 3 (Reuters) – The second round of Brazil’s presidential campaign kicked off Monday after right-wing President Jair Bolsonaro outperformed polling and robbed leftist former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva of an outright victory in the first round of voting. The unexpectedly strong showing by Bolsonaro on Sunday dashed hopes for a quick resolution to the deeply polarized election in the world’s fourth-largest democracy. With 99.9% of electronic votes counted, Lula had taken 48.4% of votes versus 43.2% for Bolsonaro. As neither got a majority of support, the race goes to a runoff vote on Oct. 30. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com The race has proven tighter than most surveys suggested, revitalizing Bolsonaro’s campaign after he insisted that polls could not be trusted. If he pulls off a comeback, it would break with a wave of victories for leftists across the region in recent years, including Mexico, Colombia, Argentina and Chile. Adding to tensions in Brazil, Bolsonaro has made baseless attacks on the integrity of Brazil’s electronic voting system and suggested he may not concede if he loses. On Sunday night, he sounded confident victory was within reach and avoided criticism of the voting system. “I plan to make the right political alliances to win this election,” he told journalists, pointing to significant advances his party made in Congress in the general election. Bolsonaro’s right-wing allies won 19 of the 27 seats up from grabs in the Senate, and initial returns suggested a strong showing for his base in the lower house. The strong showing for Bolsonaro and his allies, which added to pressure on Lula to tack to the center, led bankers and analysts to expect a boost for Brazilian financial markets on Monday after Sunday’s surprising result. Lula put an optimistic spin on the result, saying he was looking forward to another month on the campaign trail and the chance to debate Bolsonaro head-to-head. Inside his campaign, however, there was clear frustration that he had fallen short of the narrow majority forecast in some polls, along with weak results in state races outside of his party’s traditional northeastern stronghold. “There was a clear movement of votes in the southeast, beyond what the surveys and even the campaign managed to detect,” a campaign source said on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the matter. Support for distant third- and fourth-place finishers also fell short of recent surveys, suggesting some of their backers may have shifted to Bolsonaro when it came time to vote. Centrist Senator Simone Tebet, who got 4% of votes, and center-left former lawmaker Ciro Gomes, who got 3%, both said on Sunday night they would announce decisions about endorsements in the coming days. With the momentum in Bolsonaro’s favor, Lula may need all the help he can get. “Clearly Bolsonarismo was underestimated,” said Senator Humberto Costa, a compatriot of Lula’s Workers Party. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com Reporting by Lisandra Paraguassu in Sao Paulo and Maria Carolina Marcello in Brasilia Additional repoting by Eduardo Simoes in Sao Paulo and Ricardo Brito in Brasilia Writing by Anthony Boadle. Editing by Gerry Doyle Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles. Read More…

AP Top News At 3:40 A.m. EDT https://digitalalabamanews.com/ap-top-news-at-340-a-m-edt/ Russia smuggling Ukrainian grain to help pay for Putin’s war BEIRUT (AP) — When the bulk cargo ship Laodicea docked in Lebanon last summer, Ukrainian diplomats said the vessel was carrying grain stolen by Russia and urged Lebanese officials to impound the ship. Moscow called the allegation “false and baseless,” and Lebanon’s prosecutor general sided with the Kremlin and declared that the 10,000 tons of barley and wheat flour wasn’t stolen and allowed the ship to unload. But an investigation by The Associated Press and the PBS series “Frontline” has found the Laodicea, owned by Syria, is part of a sophisticated Russian-run smuggling operation that has used falsified manifests and seaborne subterfuge to steal Ukrainian grain worth at least $530 million — cash that has helped feed President Vladimir Putin’s war machine. Relatives mourn those crushed at Indonesia soccer match JEMBER, Indonesia (AP) — Families and friends of some of the 125 people who died in a crush set off by police tear gas after an Indonesia soccer match wailed in grief as the bodies of the victims were returned home Monday. Seventeen children were among the dead. Police said 18 officers responsible for firing tear gas as well as security managers were being investigated and mobile phones owned by victims were being examined to identify suspected vandals. Distraught family members were struggling to comprehend the sudden loss of loved ones at a soccer match in East Java’s Malang city that was watched only by hometown Arema FC fans because the organizer had banned visiting Persebaya Surabaya’s supporters due to Indonesia’s history of violent soccer rivalries. Brazil’s Bolsonaro and the right outperform, defying polls RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — Jair Bolsonaro considerably outperformed expectations in Brazil’s presidential election, proving that the far-right wave he rode to the presidency remains a force and providing the world with yet another example of polls missing the mark. The most-trusted opinion polls had indicated leftist former President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva was far out front, and potentially even clinching a first-round victory. One prominent pre-election poll gave da Silva a 14 percentage point lead. In the end, Bolsonaro surprised to the upside and came within just 5 points. He will face da Silva in a high-stakes Oct. 30 presidential runoff. UK scraps tax cut for wealthy that sparked market turmoil BIRMINGHAM, England (AP) — The British government has dropped plans to cut income tax for top earners, part of a package of unfunded cuts that sparked turmoil on financial markets and sent the pound to record lows. In a dramatic about-face, Treasury chief Kwasi Kwarteng said Monday that he would abandon plans to scrap the top 45% rate of income tax paid on earnings above 150,000 pounds ($167,000) a year. “We get it, and we have listened,” he said in a statement. He said “it is clear that the abolition of the 45p tax rate has become a distraction from our overriding mission to tackle the challenges facing our country.” The U-turn came after a growing number of lawmakers from the governing Conservative Party turned on government tax plans announced 10 days ago. In Hurricane Ian’s wake, dangers persist, worsen in parts FORT MYERS, Fla. (AP) — People kayaking down streets that were passable just a day or two earlier. Hundreds of thousands without power. National Guard helicopters flying rescue missions to residents still stranded on Florida’s barrier islands. Days after Hurricane Ian carved a path of destruction from Florida to the Carolinas, the dangers persisted, and even worsened in some places. It was clear the road to recovery from this monster storm will be long and painful. And Ian was still not done. The storm doused Virginia with rain Sunday, and officials warned of the potential for severe flooding along its coast, beginning overnight Monday. By boat and jet ski, volunteers assist in Ian rescue efforts SANIBEL ISLAND, Fla. (AP) — There was no time to waste. As Hurricane Ian lashed southwest Florida, Bryan Stern, a veteran of the U.S. military, and others began gathering crews, boats and even crowbars for the urgent task that would soon be at hand: rescuing hundreds of people who might get trapped by floodwaters. “As soon as the sun came up, we started rolling,” said Stern, who last year put together a search-and-rescue team called Project Dynamo, which has undertaken operations in Afghanistan, Ukraine and, now, Florida. Project Dynamo has rescued more than 20 people, many of them elderly residents who became cut off when the Category 4 storm washed away a bridge connecting the Florida mainland with Sanibel Island, a crescent-shaped sliver of shell-strewn sand popular with tourists that is home to about 7,000 residents. ‘We’re with you,’ Biden tells Puerto Rico ahead of visit WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden on Monday will survey damage from Hurricane Fiona in Puerto Rico, where tens of thousands of people are still without power two weeks after the storm hit. The Category 1 hurricane knocked out electrical power to the U.S. territory of 3.2 million people, 44% of whom live below the poverty line. Power has been restored to about 90% of the island’s 1.47 million customers, but more than 137,000 others, mostly in the hardest hit areas of Puerto Rico’s southern and western regions, continue to struggle in the dark. Another 66,000 customers are without water. Biden has pledged that the U.S. Jurors to begin hearing Jan. 6 Oath Keepers sedition case WASHINGTON (AP) — Federal prosecutors will lay out their case against the founder of the Oath Keepers extremist group and four associates charged in the most serious case to reach trial yet in the Jan. 6, 2021, U.S. Capitol attack. Opening statements are expected Monday in Washington’s federal court in the trial of Stewart Rhodes and others charged with seditious conspiracy for what prosecutors say was a weekslong plot to stop the transfer of power from Republican Donald Trump to Democrat Joe Biden. Defense attorneys will also get their first chance to address jurors, who were chosen last week after days of questioning over their feelings about the insurrection, Trump supporters and other matters. Black representation in Alabama tested before Supreme Court MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — The invisible line dividing two of Alabama’s congressional districts slices through Montgomery, near iconic sites from the civil rights movement as well as ones more personal to Evan Milligan. There’s the house where his grandfather loaded people into his station wagon and drove them to their jobs during the Montgomery Bus Boycott as Black residents spurned city buses to protest segregation. It’s the same home where his mother lived as a child, just yards from a whites-only park and zoo she was not allowed to enter. The spot downtown where Rosa Parks was arrested, igniting the boycott, sits on one side of the dividing line while the church pastored by the Rev. It’s flu vaccine time and seniors need revved-up shots Doctors have a message for vaccine-weary Americans: Don’t skip your flu shot this fall — and seniors, ask for a special extra-strength kind. After flu hit historically low levels during the COVID-19 pandemic, it may be poised for a comeback. The main clue: A nasty flu season just ended in Australia. While there’s no way to predict if the U.S. will be as hard-hit, “last year we were going into flu season not knowing if flu was around or not. This year we know flu is back,” said influenza specialist Richard Webby of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis. Annual flu shots are recommended starting with 6-month-old babies. Read More…

AM Prep-Cooler Copy https://digitalalabamanews.com/am-prep-cooler-copy/ DEATH TOLL, NUMBER OF PEOPLE W/O POWER FROM HURRICANE IAN BOTH RISE FORT MYERS, Fla. (AP) — With the death toll from Hurricane Ian rising and hundreds of thousands of people without power in Florida and the Carolinas, U.S. officials are vowing to provide a huge amount of federal disaster aid. Meanwhile crews continue efforts to rescue those stranded by the storm. Even as the storm passed north after tearing through Florida and the Carolinas, water levels continued to rise in some flooded areas. Storm water has inundated homes and streets that were passable just a day or two earlier. Yesterday, fewer than 700,000 homes and businesses in Florida were still without electricity, down from a peak of 2.6 million. SUPPLY CHAIN ISSUES MAY SLOW REBUILD EFFORT IN FLORIDA AFTER IAN UNDATED (AP) — Crews are beginning to repair — and in some cases, rebuild — Florida’s power grid after the state was pummeled by Hurricane Ian. Florida Power & Light says it has enough poles, generators and wire to get juice flowing again to those affected by the storm. But power industry officials warn that kinks in the nation’s supply chain could slow the process. They fear if damage from Ian along the Atlantic coast is worse than expected — or if another natural disaster strikes elsewhere in the U.S. — recovery efforts in Florida could be delayed. COMBATANTS FOR NEVADA’S GOVERNOR’S RACE DEBATE RENO, Nev. (AP) — Nevada’s Republican gubernatorial candidate, Joe Lombardo, sought in a debate yesterday to distance himself from former President Donald Trump’s lies about the 2020 election. But Lombardo said Trump’s policies were better than those of President Joe Biden, which he blames for a rise in inflation and rising interest rates. Lombardo’s decision to back away from Trump’s false election claims is likely to produce an awkward meeting next weekend, when Trump is to campaign for Lombardo in Nevada. 3 DIE WHEN PLANE CRASHES INTO HOUSE IN MINNESOTA HERMANTOWN, Minn. (AP) — Three people aboard a small airplane died when it crashed into a house near a northern Minnesota airport. But the two people sleeping inside the house — and their cat — were unhurt. Police in the town of Hermantown say a Cessna 172 hit the second floor of the house late Saturday — and ended up in the backyard. Jason Hoffman tells Minnesota Public Radio he and his wife were asleep when the plane tore through their roof. Hoffman says after grabbing a flashlight, he and and his wife saw an airplane wheel at the end of their bed. Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. For Related Stories: Hurricane Ian Read More…

AP News Summary At 2:39 A.m. EDT https://digitalalabamanews.com/ap-news-summary-at-239-a-m-edt/ Russia smuggling Ukrainian grain to help pay for Putin’s war BEIRUT (AP) — An investigation by The Associated Press and the PBS series “Frontline” has documented a sophisticated Russian-run smuggling operation that has used falsified manifests and seaborne subterfuge to steal Ukrainian grain worth at least $530 million. The AP and “Frontline” used satellite imagery and marine radio transponder data to track three dozen ships making more than 50 voyages carrying grain from Russian-occupied areas of Ukraine to ports in the Middle East. The ongoing theft is being carried out by wealthy businessmen and state-owned companies in Russia and Syria. Some of them already face financial sanctions from the United States and European Union. Legal experts say the theft is a potential war crime. Relatives mourn those crushed at Indonesia soccer match JEMBER, Indonesia (AP) — Families and friends of some of the 125 people who died in a deadly crush after an Indonesia soccer match wailed in grief as the bodies of the victims were returned home Monday. Seventeen children were among the dead. The distraught family members were struggling to comprehend the sudden loss of loved ones at a soccer match watched only by hometown Arema FC fans because the organizer had banned visiting Persebaya Surabaya’s supporters due to Indonesia’s history of violent soccer rivalries. The crush was among the world’s deadliest disasters ever at a sporting event. President Joko Widodo ordered an investigation and the president of FIFA called the deaths “a dark day” for football. Brazil’s Bolsonaro and the right outperform, defying polls RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — Jair Bolsonaro considerably outperformed expectations in Brazil’s presidential election, proving that the far-right wave he rode to the presidency remains a force and providing the world with yet another example of polls missing the mark. The most-trusted opinion polls had indicated leftist former President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva was far out front, and potentially even clinching a first-round victory. In the end, Bolsonaro surprised to the upside and came within just 5 percentage points – less than half the margin several surveys showed before the election. He will face da Silva in a high-stakes Oct. 30 presidential runoff. UK scraps tax cut for wealthy that sparked market turmoil LONDON (AP) — The British government has dropped plans to cut income tax for top earners. The move was part of a package of unfunded cuts that sparked turmoil on financial markets and sent the pound to record lows. Treasury chief Kwasi Kwarteng said Monday that he would not scrap the top 45% rate of income tax paid on earnings above 150,000 pounds ($167,000) a year. The announcement comes as more lawmakers from the governing Conservative Party turn on government tax plans announced 10 days ago. the government’s announcement of 45 billion pounds ($50 billion) in tax cuts sent the pound tumbling to a record low against the dollar. The Bank of England had to step in to stabilize the bond markets. In Hurricane Ian’s wake, dangers persist, worsen in parts FORT MYERS, Fla. (AP) — Days after Hurricane Ian carved a path of destruction from Florida to the Carolinas, the dangers persisted, and even worsened in some places. And it was clear the road to recovery from the monster storm will be long and painful. And Ian still is not done. The storm doused Virginia with rain Sunday. It was dissipating as it moved offshore, but officials warned there still was the potential of severe flooding along Virginia’s coast, beginning overnight Monday. Ian was one of the strongest storms to make landfall in the United States. By boat and jet ski, volunteers assist in Ian rescue efforts SANIBEL ISLAND, Fla. (AP) — As authorities in Florida try to reach people who have been trapped by floodwaters or isolated on barrier islands since Hurricane Ian came ashore last week, concerned members of the public have been springing into action to aid the official rescue efforts. One such group, Project Dynamo, has rescued more than 20 people, many of them elderly residents who became cut off when the Category 4 storm washed away a bridge connecting the Florida mainland with Sanibel Island, a crescent-shaped sliver of sand popular with tourists that was home to about 7,000 residents. Others have joined in the rescue efforts, using boats, paddleboards, jet skis and other resources to find people stranded by floodwaters or cut off by damage. ‘We’re with you,’ Biden tells Puerto Rico ahead of visit WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden says the U.S. government will be with Puerto Rico for the long haul as it cleans up and rebuilds after Hurricane Fiona. Biden was flying to the U.S. territory on Monday to survey some of the damage after the Category 1 hurricane hit on Sept. 18. Fiona caused catastrophic flooding, tore apart roads and bridges, and unleashed more than 100 landslides. Biden will visit amid widespread anger and frustration over continued power outages. Tens of thousands of people continue to struggle without power and water two weeks after the storm. Jurors to begin hearing Jan. 6 Oath Keepers sedition case WASHINGTON (AP) — Federal prosecutors are preparing to lay out their case against the founder of the Oath Keepers’ extremist group and four associates. They are charged in the most serious case to reach trial yet in the Jan. 6, 2021, U.S. Capitol attack. Opening statements are expected Monday in Washington’s federal court in the trial of Stewart Rhodes and others charged with seditious conspiracy. Prosecutors allege a weekslong plot to stop the transfer of power from Republican Donald Trump to Democrat Joe Biden. The Oath Keepers are the first to stand trial for seditious conspiracy, which carries up to 20 years behind bars. Black representation in Alabama tested before Supreme Court MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — Congressional districts that a federal court panel said were unconstitutional because they dilute representation for Black voters in Alabama are nevertheless being used for the November election after the U.S. Supreme Court allowed them. The high court hears arguments in the case on Tuesday. The packing of Black voters into just one of the state’s seven congressional districts leaves many of them without a voice and gives Republicans one more seat than they should have based on the state’s demographics and voting patterns. Gerrymandering has reduced the influence of Black voters for decades in a state that is synonymous with the civil rights movement. It’s flu vaccine time and seniors need revved-up shots Doctors have a message for vaccine-weary Americans: Don’t skip your flu shot this fall. And for the first time, seniors are urged to get a special extra-strength kind. There’s no way to predict how bad this flu season will be. Australia just emerged from a nasty one. In the U.S., annual flu vaccinations are recommended starting with 6-month-olds. Because seniors don’t respond as well, the U.S. now recommends they get one of three types made with higher doses or an immune-boosting ingredient. Meanwhile, the companies that make the two most widely used COVID-19 vaccines now are testing flu shots made with the same technology. Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Read More…

Ex-GOP Strategist Slams Trump For 'assassination Instructions' Against McConnell: 'It's Beyond The Pale. Every Republican Ought To Be Able To Say So.' https://digitalalabamanews.com/ex-gop-strategist-slams-trump-for-assassination-instructions-against-mcconnell-its-beyond-the-pale-every-republican-ought-to-be-able-to-say-so/ Conservative pundit Scott Jennings said Trump had sent “assassination instructions” about McConnell. Jennings said “every Republican ought to be able to say” that Trump’s post was “beyond the pale.” “This is bad for the party,” Jennings said. Loading Something is loading. Conservative pundit Scott Jennings said “every Republican” should be able to disavow former President Donald Trump’s “assassination instructions” against Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell. Jennings, a former GOP advisor and McConnell aide, was referring to a Truth Social post from October 1, in which Trump escalated his long-standing feud with the Kentucky senator. Trump accused McConnell of opposing him because he has a “death wish.” Trump also leveled a racially charged insult at McConnell’s wife, Elaine Chao, the transportation secretary for the Trump administration, calling her McConnell’s “China loving wife, Coco Chow.” Trump’s salvo came after McConnell voiced support for changing the way Congress counts electoral votes. In an appearance on CNN on Sunday, Jennings said Trump’s post contained “assassination instructions” directed at McConnell and “blatant racism” against Chao. “I mean, if you read that whole thing out loud, if you were on the street, and you heard someone muttering that on a street corner, you wouldn’t say, ‘Hmm, let’s hand this person the presidency or the Republican nomination for president,'” Jennings said. “You would say, ‘Call 911.’ Because it sounds like an unhinged, deranged person has gotten loose and is out on the street and may be a danger to themselves and others.” He added that the insults against McConnell were “beyond the pale” and that “every Republican ought to be able to say so.” “This is not good for the party. It’s not good for him,” Jennings said, referring to Trump. Jennings also weighed in on Sen. Rick Scott’s hesitation to condemn Trump for writing the post, saying Scott was likely “unprepared” for the question. During an appearance on CNN’s “State of the Union” on Sunday, host Dana Bash asked Scott if Trump’s comments were acceptable — to which Scott said it is “never, ever okay to be a racist,” but stopped short of slamming Trump. “But there’s something very easy about this. And what’s easy is to say: ‘This is not good. It’s not helpful. It’s not good politically. It’s not good personally. This is bad for the party, bad for the country,'” Jennings said. “And it’s not becoming of a former president and somebody who wants to have the job again.” Representatives for McConnell and a spokesman at Trump’s post-presidential press office did not immediately respond to Insider’s requests for comment. Read More…

How Much Does Democracy Matter To Voters? https://digitalalabamanews.com/how-much-does-democracy-matter-to-voters/ To The Reader’s Forum: Thanks to Forbes.com for publishing approximately 30 separate investigations AGAINST Donald Trump. Some came before he was elected president, others were initiated while president, but the most serious, those that carry the potential for jail time, occurred after his presidency. Why my concern over Trump? First, it’s hard to understand, much less accept, that there are voters who support Trump. True, he has yet to be indicted for criminal conduct, and any proven or alleged misconduct has “only” been of the civil variety, thus can be described as “political” in nature. The question is, “Would you vote for a family member who has lost several lawsuits and is under criminal investigation?” If not, why Trump and/or his supporters? Second, before Trump alleged “fraud” before, during and since his presidency, did you also believe there was ongoing “widespread fraud” in our elections? I presume the answer is “no”. Thus, it’s hard to support, or vote for anyone who believes Trump lost the 2020 election due to fraud. Simply not winning a second term is usually due to the candidate, not the electoral system, that is, until certain recent states changed voting laws. We’ll see. Third, there is belief that “democracy” in the U.S. is in jeopardy should candidates for Congress who support Trump or Trumpism are elected in 2022 and 2024. In other words, who is to say there won’t be a second assault on the U.S. Capitol, and/or the government in an attempt to force anti-democratic values on the country? Trump has embraced the values of Q-Anon, white supremacists, racists and other “fringe” groups for which many regular, policy-oriented voters have aligned, if nothing more than as enablers. How is it possible that anti-democratic “fringe” groups have become much more “normal”? Thus, if you don’t support “fringe” groups how can you elect their leaders? My overall concern is that, common policy matters aside, people are voting as if “democracy” is a second, or lower, matter to them. During my 54 voting years I have accepted vote counts as a democratic value regardless of who won. “Patriotism” is partially defined as “…”loyalty to the nation and its values but not the leaders if they hold different values.” I feel that by supporting and upholding American “democracy”, I am an American patriot. I hope you feel the same. Jamestown Today’s breaking news and more in your inbox Read More…

Auburn NFL Roundup: Jack Driscoll Steps Up For Eagles https://digitalalabamanews.com/auburn-nfl-roundup-jack-driscoll-steps-up-for-eagles/ The only undefeated team in the NFL heading into the fourth Sunday of the 2022 season fell behind by 14 points in the first quarter. To compound the Philadelphia Eagles’ predicament, left offensive tackle Jordan Mailata got hurt on the first series. Mailata was knocked out of the game by a shoulder injury suffered while trying unsuccessfully to stop Jacksonville Jaguars safety Andre Cisco from returning an interception 59 yards for a touchdown. Jack Driscoll stepped into the offensive line in Mailata’s place. Driscoll had started 13 games, including all nine he played before getting hurt last season, in his first two NFL campaigns, but he came into Sunday’s game not having a played an offensive snap in 2022. But Driscoll was on the field when Philadelphia drove for three touchdowns in the second quarter to overtake the Jaguars on the way to a 29-21 victory that put the Eagles at 4-0 for the season. In the second half, an ankle injury sent right guard Isaac Seumalo to the sideline, and Sua Opeta finished the game in his spot. “I look at Jack and I look at Opeta,” Philadelphia quarterback Jalen Hurts said, “those are two guys that have always kind of, since I’ve been here at least, come in and been able to play at a high level, always been ready when their phone rings and they answer ready to go.” On a windy, rainy day in Philadelphia, the Eagles ran for 210 yards, with running back Miles Sanders getting 134 yards and two touchdowns on 27 carries. “I love that group,” Sanders said of Philadelphia’s offensive linemen. “They are gritty. They are grimy. They are tough. They are physical. And we had to play some guys today. You can see how good of a job that (offensive-line) coach (Jeff Stoutland) does of developing guys and getting guys ready to play that might not play. Jack Driscoll, Sua, those guys stepped in and did a really nice job.” Driscoll was among the 23 former Auburn players who got on the field on the fourth Sunday of the NFL’s 103rd season. Three other former Auburn players were involved in the Jacksonville-Philadelphia game: · Eagles punter Arryn Siposs averaged 44.7 yards on three punts, with a 35.3-yard net. Siposs had a 53-yard punt for a touchback, a 38-yarder returned 8 yards to the Jacksonville 17-yard line and a 43-yarder returned for no gain at the Jacksonville 28. · Jaguars safety Daniel Thomas (Lee-Montgomery) played but did not record any stats. · Jaguars wide receiver Seth Williams (Paul Bryant) is on the practice squad and not eligible to play. In the other Sunday games: Minnesota Vikings 28, New Orleans Saints 25 · Saints safety Smoke Monday is on injured reserve and not eligible to play. Atlanta Falcons 23, Cleveland Browns 20 · Falcons defensive lineman Marlon Davidson (Greenville) is on injured reserve and not eligible to play. · Browns wide receiver Anthony Schwartz played but did not record any stats. Buffalo Bills 23, Baltimore Ravens 20 · Josh Bynes started at middle linebacker for the Ravens. Bynes made two tackles and broke up a pass. Los Angeles Chargers 34, Houston Texans 24 · Chargers long snapper Josh Harris handled the snaps for four punts, four extra points and two field goals. Tennessee Titans 24, Indianapolis Colts 17 · Colts defensive tackle Byron Cowart played but did not record any stats. · Roger McCreary (Williamson) started at cornerback for the Titans. McCreary made seven tackles, including one behind the line of scrimmage. · Braden Smith started at right offensive tackle for the Colts. · Malik Willis dressed for the game but did not play. New York Giants 20, Chicago Bears 12 · Bears defensive tackle Angelo Blackson made five tackles, which tied his career high. Blackson had had five tackles in three previous games. It’s the third time that Blackson has recorded five tackles in his 21 games with Chicago. He had one five-tackle performance in 85 games before joining the Bears. · Giants wide receiver Darius Slayton caught an 11-yard pass for his first reception of the 2022 season. New York Jets 24, Pittsburgh Steelers 20 · Montravius Adams started at nose tackle for the Steelers. Adams made two tackles in his first start of the season. · Carl Lawson started at defensive end for the Jets. Lawson recorded one sack and registered two quarterback hits. · Jets linebacker Jamien Sherwood made one tackle on special teams. · C.J. Uzomah started at tight end for the Jets. Arizona Cardinals 26, Carolina Panthers 16 · Derrick Brown started at defensive tackle for the Panthers. Brown made one tackle and broke up one pass. · Cardinals linebacker Chandler Wooten is on the practice squad and not eligible to play. Green Bay Packers 27, New England Patriots 24, OT · Packers safety Rudy Ford (New Hope) made seven tackles after entering the game with one this season. Ford hadn’t played a snap on defense in 2022 before Sunday, when he finished one short of his single-game career high for tackles. · Jonathan Jones started at cornerback for the Patriots. Jones made five tackles and broke up a pass. Las Vegas Raiders 32, Denver Broncos 23 · Raiders kicker Daniel Carlson connected for field goals of 26, 39, 22 and 30 yards and made two of his three extra-point kicks. The 39-yard field goal came on the final snap of the first half and broke a 16-16 tie. · Raiders quarterback Jarrett Stidham dressed for the game but did not play. Kansas City Chiefs 41, Tampa Bay Buccaneers 31 · Buccaneers linebacker K.J. Britt (Oxford) played but did not record any stats. · Carlton Davis started at cornerback for the Buccaneers. Davis made three tackles and registered a quarterback hit. Davis left the game in the second half with a stinger. · Jamel Dean started at cornerback for the Buccaneers. Dean made two tackles and broke up a pass. · Chiefs offensive tackle Prince Tega Wanogho (Edgewood Academy) played but did not record any stats. Week 4 started on Thursday night, when the Cincinnati Bengals defeated the Miami Dolphins 27-15. Week 4 concludes when the Los Angeles Rams visit the San Francisco 49ers at 7:15 p.m. CDT Monday. ESPN and ESPN2 will televise the game. FOR MORE OF AL.COM’S COVERAGE OF THE NFL, GO TO OUR NFL PAGE Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at @AMarkG1. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. Read More…

Jurors To Begin Hearing Jan. 6 Oath Keepers Sedition Case https://digitalalabamanews.com/jurors-to-begin-hearing-jan-6-oath-keepers-sedition-case-2/ WASHINGTON (AP) — Federal prosecutors will lay out their case against the founder of the Oath Keepers extremist group and four associates charged in the most serious case to reach trial yet in the Jan. 6, 2021, U.S. Capitol attack. Opening statements are expected Monday in Washington’s federal court in the trial of Stewart Rhodes and others charged with seditious conspiracy for what prosecutors say was a weekslong plot to stop the transfer of power from Republican Donald Trump to Democrat Joe Biden. Defense attorneys will also get their first chance to address jurors, who were chosen last week after days of questioning over their feelings about the insurrection, Trump supporters and other matters. The stakes are high for the Justice Department, which last secured a seditious conspiracy conviction at trial nearly 30 years ago. About 900 people have been charged and hundreds convicted in the Capitol attack. Rioters stormed past police barriers, engaged in hand-to-hand combat with officers, smashed windows and halted the certification of Biden’s electoral victory. But the Oath Keepers are the first to stand trial on seditious conspiracy, a rare Civil War-era charge that carries up to 20 years behind bars. The trial is expected to last several weeks. Prosecutors will tell jurors that the insurrection for the antigovernment group was not a spontaneous outpouring of election-fueled rage but part of a drawn-out plot to stop Biden from entering the White House. On trial with Rhodes, of Granbury, Texas, are Kelly Meggs, leader of the Florida chapter of the Oath Keepers; Kenneth Harrelson, another Florida Oath Keeper; Thomas Caldwell, a retired U.S. Navy intelligence officer from Virginia; and Jessica Watkins, who led an Ohio militia group. They face several other charges as well. Authorities say Rhodes began plotting to overturn Biden’s victory just days after the election. Court records show the Oath Keepers repeatedly warning of the prospect of violence — or “a bloody, bloody civil war,” as Rhodes said in one call — if Biden were to become president. By December, authorities say, Rhodes and the Oath Keepers had set their sights on Congress’ certification of the Electoral College vote on Jan. 6. The Oath Keepers organized trainings — including one in “unconventional warfare” — and stashed weapons at a Virginia hotel so they could get them into the capital quickly if necessary, prosecutors say. Over several days in early January, Rhodes spent an $15,500 on guns, including an AR-platform rifle, magazines, mounts, sights and other equipment, according to court documents. On Jan. 6, Oath Keepers equipped with communication devices, helmets, vests and other battle gear were seen on camera storming the Capitol. Rhodes is not accused of going inside, but telephone records show he was communicating with Oath Keepers who did enter around the time of the riot and he was seen with members outside afterward. And prosecutors say the plot didn’t end on Jan. 6. In the days between the riot and Biden’s inauguration, Rhodes spent more than $17,000 on firearm parts, magazines, ammunition and other items, prosecutors say. Around the time of the inauguration, Rhodes told others to organize local militias to oppose the Democratic administration, authorities say. “Patriots entering their own Capitol to send a message to the traitors is NOTHING compared to what’s coming,” Rhodes wrote in a message the evening of Jan. 6. Defense attorneys have said the Oath Keepers came to Washington only to provide security at events for figures such as Trump ally Roger Stone before the president’s big outdoor rally behind the White House. Rhodes has said there was no plan to attack the Capitol and that the members who did acted on their own. Rhodes’ lawyers are poised to argue that jurors cannot find him guilty of seditious conspiracy because all the actions he took before Jan. 6 were in preparation for orders he anticipated from Trump — orders that never came. Rhodes’ attorney has said that his client will eventually take the stand to argue that he believed Trump was going to invoke the Insurrection Act and call up a militia, which Rhodes had been calling on him to do to stop Biden from becoming president. Rhodes’ attorneys will argue that what prosecutors have alleged was an illegal conspiracy was merely lobbying the president to use a U.S. law. Prosecutors say Rhodes’ own words show he was going to act regardless of what Trump did. In one message from December 2020, Rhodes wrote that Trump “needs to know that if he fails to act, then we will.” The last successful seditious conspiracy case was against an Egyptian cleric, Sheikh Omar Abdel-Rahman, and nine followers convicted in a plot to blow up the United Nations, the FBI’s building, and two tunnels and a bridge linking New York and New Jersey. ___ For full coverage of the Capitol riot, go to https://www.apnews.com/capitol-siege Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. Read More…

Election Officials Brace For Confrontational Poll Watchers https://digitalalabamanews.com/election-officials-brace-for-confrontational-poll-watchers-4/ AP Photo/David Goldman, File A Republican election challenger at right watches over election inspectors as they examine a ballot as votes are counted into the early morning hours, Nov. 4, 2020, at the central counting board in Detroit. GOLDSBORO, N.C. (AP) — The situation with the poll watcher had gotten so bad that Anne Risku, the election director in North Carolina’s Wayne County, had to intervene via speakerphone. “You need to back off!” Risku recalled hollering after the woman wedged herself between a voter and the machine where the voter was trying to cast his ballot at a precinct about 60 miles southeast of Raleigh. The man eventually was able to vote, but the incident was one of several Risku cited from the May primary that made her worry about a wave of newly aggressive poll watchers. Many have spent the past two years steeped in lies about the accuracy of the 2020 election. Those fears led the North Carolina State Board of Elections in August to tighten rules governing poll watchers. But the state’s rules review board, appointed by the Republican-controlled Legislature, blocked the new poll watcher regulations in late September, leaving election officials such as Risku without additional tools to control behavior on Election Day, Nov. 8. “It becomes complete babysitting,” Risku said in an interview. “The back and forth for the precinct officials, having somebody constantly on you for every little thing that you do — not because you’re doing it wrong, but because they don’t agree with what you’re doing.” Poll watchers have traditionally been an essential element of electoral transparency, the eyes and ears for the two major political parties who help ensure that the actual mechanics of voting are administered fairly and accurately. But election officials fear that a surge of conspiracy believers are signing up for those positions this year and are being trained by others who have propagated the lie spread by former President Donald Trump and his allies that the 2020 presidential election was riddled with fraud. In Michigan, groups that have spread falsehoods about that race are recruiting poll watchers. In Nevada, the Republican Party’s nominee for secretary of state, Jim Marchant, denies President Joe Biden’s 2020 victory and was a featured speaker at a party poll watcher training. Cleta Mitchell, a prominent conservative lawyer and North Carolina resident, is running a group recruiting poll watchers and workers in eight swing states. Mitchell was on the phone with Trump when the then-president called Georgia’s secretary of state in January 2021 and asked that official to “find” enough votes for Trump to be declared the state’s winner. Chris Harvey, who was Georgia’s election director in 2020 when Trump claimed the election was being stolen from him, recalled how swarms of Trump backers came as self-appointed poll watchers to observe the state’s manual recounts, harassing election workers and disrupting the process. Harvey fears a repeat this year. “The whole tension that we’re expecting to see at polling places is something we’re talking to election officials about, something we’re talking to law enforcement about,” said Harvey, who is advising a group of election officials and law enforcement before November. The laws governing poll watchers vary from state to state. Their role is generally to observe, question any deviations from required procedure and, in some states, lodge formal complaints or provide testimony for objections filed in court. The worries this year are similar to those during the 2020 election, when Trump began railing against mail voting and the Republican National Committee launched its first national operation in decades. It had recently been freed from a consent decree that limited its poll watching operation after it previously was found to have targeted Black and Latino voters. But voting went smoothly that November. Mitchell said her organization, the Election Integrity Network, is just trying to ensure that everyone follows the law. “We are not a threat,” she told The Associated Press during a text message exchange. “Unless you think elections that are conducted according to the rule of law are a threat. We train people to follow the law.” Risku said there were issues with poll watchers from both parties during the primary in May. But of the 13 incidents she reported to the North Carolina board from Wayne County, all involved Republicans. In addition to the poll watcher who had to be ejected, Risku said another Republican poll watcher in her district waited after hours in the parking lot of the Mount Olive Train Depot early voting site until Chief Judge Susan Wiley began carrying boxes of marked ballots to her car. On two occasions, the man tried to follow her back to the elections office in Goldsboro, about a 20-minute drive. Recognizing that the job has become “a scary ordeal” in the last year, Risku said she has stepped up security before November and offered raises to entice precinct officials to stay. She expects many won’t return after this year. The North Carolina GOP chairman, Michael Whatley, said that’s not what the party is teaching its poll watchers. “What we saw in terms of some of the activities that were at play may have been coming from Republicans but were not things that we have been teaching people in our training sessions,” Whatley said. “What we want to do is make sure that we have people that are in the room that are going to be very respectful of the election officials at all times, be very respectful of the voters at all times and, if they see issues, then report them in.” He has declined to allow reporters to attend the training sessions, which he said have trained 7,000 potential poll watchers so far this year. Today’s breaking news and more in your inbox Read More…

Supreme Court’s Top Cases For New Term, New Justice Jackson https://digitalalabamanews.com/supreme-courts-top-cases-for-new-term-new-justice-jackson/ By The Associated Press The Supreme Court opens its new term Monday, hearing arguments for the first time after a summer break and with new Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson. Already the court has said it will decide cases on a range of major issues including affirmative action, voting rights and the rights of LGBTQ people. The justices will add more cases to their docket in coming months. A look at some of the cases the court has already agreed to hear. The justices are expected to decide each of the cases before taking a summer break at the end of June: AFFIRMATIVE ACTION In cases from Harvard University and the University of North Carolina, the court could end any consideration of race in college admissions. If this seems familiar, it’s because the high court has been asked repeatedly over the past 20 years to end affirmative action in higher education. In previous cases from Michigan and Texas, the court reaffirmed the validity of considering college applicants’ race among many factors. But this court is more conservative than those were. VOTING RIGHTS The court could further reduce protections for minority voters in its third major consideration in 10 years of the landmark Voting Rights Act, which was enacted to combat enduring racial discrimination in voting. The case the justices are hearing involves Alabama, where just one of the state’s seven congressional districts has a Black majority. That’s even though 27% of the state’s residents are Black. A three-judge panel that included two appointees of President Donald Trump agreed that the state should have to create a second district with a Black majority, but the Supreme Court stopped any changes and said it would hear the case. A ruling for the state could wipe away all but the most obvious cases of intentional discrimination on the basis of race. ELECTIONS Republicans are asking the justices to embrace a novel legal concept that would limit state courts’ oversight of elections for Congress. North Carolina’s top court threw out the state’s congressional map that gave Republicans a lopsided advantage in a closely divided state and eventually came up with a map that basically evenly divided the state’s 14 congressional districts between Democrats and Republicans. The state GOP argues that state courts have no role to play in congressional elections, including redistricting, because the U.S. Constitution gives that power to state legislatures alone. Four conservative justices have expressed varying levels of openness to the “independent state legislature” theory. CLEAN WATER This is yet another case in which the court is being asked to discard an earlier ruling and loosen the regulation of property under the nation’s chief law to combat water pollution. The case involves an Idaho couple who won an earlier high court round in their bid to build a house on property near a lake without getting a permit under the Clean Water Act. The outcome could change the rules for millions of acres of property that contain wetlands. IMMIGRATION The Biden administration is back at the Supreme Court to argue for a change in immigration policy from the Trump administration. It’s is appealing a ruling against a Biden policy prioritizing deportation of people in the country illegally who pose the greatest public safety risk. Last term, the justices by a 5-4 vote paved the way for the administration to end the Trump policy that required asylum-seekers to wait in Mexico for their court hearing. In July, also by a 5-4 vote, the high court refused to allow the administration to implement policy guidance for deportations. A Trump-era policy favored deporting people in the country illegally regardless of criminal history or community ties. LGBTQ RIGHTS A new clash involving religion, free speech and the rights of LGBTQ people will also be before the justices. The case involves Colorado graphic and website designer Lorie Smith who wants to expand her business and offer wedding website services. She says her Christian beliefs would lead her to decline any request from a same-sex couple to design a wedding website, however, and that puts her in conflict with a Colorado anti-discrimination law. The case is a new chance for the justices to confront issues the court skirted five years ago in a case about a baker objected to making cakes for same-sex weddings. The court has grown more conservative since that time. NATIVE AMERICAN ADOPTION In November, the court will review a federal law that gives Native Americans preference in adoptions of Native children. The case presents the most significant legal challenges to the Indian Child Welfare Act since its 1978 passage. The law has long been championed by Native American leaders as a means of preserving their families and culture. A federal appeals court in April upheld the law and Congress’ authority to enact it. But the judges also found some of the law’s provisions unconstitutional, including preferences for placing Native American children with Native adoptive families and in Native foster homes. Today’s breaking news and more in your inbox Read More…

Alabama NFL Roundup: Josh Jacobs Has Career Day https://digitalalabamanews.com/alabama-nfl-roundup-josh-jacobs-has-career-day/ Josh Jacobs ran for 144 yards and two touchdowns on 28 carries and caught five passes for 31 yards to power Las Vegas past the Denver Broncos 32-23 on Sunday as the Raiders earned their first victory of the season. In his 10th NFL regular-season game with at least 100 rushing yards, Jacobs reached a career high, surpassing the 132 that he had against the Los Angeles Chargers on Jan. 9. “What’s crazy is I know when I’m in the zone because everything slows down, and it feels almost like I’m running slow,” Jacobs said. “But then I look at the film and I’m like, ‘OK, I did what I was supposed to do.’ But, like, a lot of times I know when I’m in the zone because a guy hits me, I don’t even feel him.” Jacobs scored on a 10-yard run as Las Vegas took a 10-7 lead with 11:46 left in the first half and a 7-yard run to set the final score with 2:02 left to play. “He’s one of the best runners that I’ve ever been around,” Raiders coach Josh McDaniels said. “Take that for what it’s worth. I’ve been around some good ones. He has a great ability to make yards after contact. He has a great ability to make yards even if there’s not a lot there right away.” After Denver scored a touchdown with 7:16 remaining to cut the Raiders’ lead to two points, Las Vegas went on a 10-play, 75-yard touchdown drive. Jacobs carried the football on four of the final five snaps in the series, covering 26 yards to get the Raiders in the end zone. “When it came to the end of the game, I knew we had another possession where we would need to get a first down and do whatever we do,” Jacobs said, “and I just went over there and talked to the guys. I’m like, ‘This is what we do. We ask for this.’ The last few weeks we’d been in this same position and it didn’t go how we wanted it to. It felt good to come together as a unit and accomplish the goal that we set out to do.” Las Vegas started the season with a 24-19 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers, then lost to the Arizona Cardinals 29-23 in overtime and the Tennessee Titans 24-22 before scoring an AFC West win on Sunday. Jacobs has recorded three 100-yard rushing games in his six outings against the Broncos, and four of his nine games with at least two rushing touchdowns have come against Denver. Jacobs has run for 612 yards and nine touchdowns on 131 carries against the Broncos. “They say something about rivals: They bring the best out of you,” Jacobs said. “I guess that’s what it tend to do for me.” Jacobs was among the 48 former Alabama players who got on the field on the fourth Sunday of the NFL’s 103rd season. Six other former Alabama players were involved in the Denver-Las Vegas game: · Broncos linebacker Christopher Allen is on injured reserve and not eligible to play. · Raiders defensive back Anthony Averett is on injured reserve and not eligible to play. · Raiders guard Lester Cotton (Central-Tuscaloosa) played but did not record any stats. · Kareem Jackson started at strong safety for the Broncos. Jackson made seven tackles. · Jerry Jeudy started at wide receiver for the Broncos. Jeudy caught four passes for 53 yards and one touchdown. Jeudy scored on a 20-yard reception as Denver tied the score at 16-16 with 1:24 left in the first half. · Patrick Surtain II started at left cornerback for the Broncos. Surtain made eight tackles and broke up two passes. Surtain reached a career single-game high for tackles, surpassing his previous best of six. In the other Sunday games: Minnesota Vikings 28, New Orleans Saints 25 · Mark Ingram started at running back for the Saints. Ingram ran for 30 yards on 10 carries and caught three passes for 13 yards. Ingram became the 52nd player in NFL history with 8,000 rushing yards. Ingram has 8,006 yards and 65 touchdowns on 1,784 carries in his NFL career. · Vikings tight end Irv Smith Jr. caught three passes for 23 yards. · Dalvin Tomlinson started at defensive end for the Vikings. Tomlinson made four tackles, recorded one sack, registered two quarterback hits and forced one fumble. Tomlinson had a strip sack of New Orleans quarterback Andy Dalton that Minnesota recovered at the Saints 20-yard line with 56 seconds left in the first half. The Vikings got a field goal on the final snap of the first half to take a 13-7 lead. Atlanta Falcons 23, Cleveland Browns 20 · Amari Cooper started at wide receiver for the Browns. Cooper caught a 9-yard pass after recording 101 receiving yards in each of Cleveland’s preceding two games. · Rashaan Evans (Auburn High) started at inside linebacker for the Falcons. Evans made 10 tackles and recovered a fumble. Evans recovered the fumble at the Cleveland 31-yard line to end the Browns’ second series with 2:52 left in the first quarter. Atlanta scored a touchdown two plays later to take a 10-0 lead. · Browns running back Jerome Ford returned two kickoffs for 34 yards. · Browns tight end Miller Forristall played but did not record any stats. · Browns safety Ronnie Harrison made two tackles. · Falcons wide receiver Calvin Ridley is suspended by the commissioner and not eligible to play. · Jedrick Wills Jr. started at left offensive tackle for the Browns. Wills made a tackle after a turnover. Buffalo Bills 23, Baltimore Ravens 20 · Ravens cornerback Jalyn Armour-Davis (St. Paul’s Episcopal) was designated as a game-day inactive. · Ravens wide receiver Slade Bolden is on injured reserve and not eligible to play. · Ravens cornerback Kenyan Drake was designated as a game-day inactive. · Marlon Humphrey (Hoover) started at cornerback for the Ravens. Humphrey made one tackle and intercepted a pass. On the third snap of the game, Humphrey intercepted Buffalo quarterback Josh Allen and returned it 26 yards to the Bills 4-yard line. Baltimore scored two plays later to take a 7-0 lead. Humphrey also intercepted a pass in last week’s game. Dallas Cowboys 25, Washington Commanders 10 · Jonathan Allen started at defensive tackle for the Commanders. Allen made eight tackles, recorded one sack, registered one quarterback hit and broke up one pass. Allen posted his highest tackle total since Oct. 11, 2020, when he made eight in a 30-10 loss to the Los Angeles Rams. · Trevon Diggs started at cornerback for the Cowboys. Diggs intercepted a pass and had three passes defended. Diggs had an interception for the second game in a row by picking off Washington quarterback Carson Wentz at the Dallas 17-yard line with 10 seconds left in the first half as the Cowboys went into the locker room with a 12-7 lead. Diggs has 16 interceptions in 32 NFL regular-season games. · Commanders defensive tackle Phidarian Mathis is on injured reserve and not eligible to play. · Daron Payne (Shades Valley) started at defensive tackle for the Commanders. Payne made five tackles, registered one tackle for loss and broke up one pass. · Commanders running back Brian Robinson Jr. (Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa) is on the reserve/non-football injury list and not eligible to play. · Commanders wide receiver Cam Sims played but did not record any stats. Seattle Seahawks 48, Detroit Lions 45 · Lions defensive tackle Isaiah Buggs made one tackle. · Lions center Ross Pierschbacher is on the practice squad and not eligible to play. · Lions cornerback Saivion Smith is on the practice squad and not eligible to play. · Seahawks long snapper Carson Tinker handled the snaps on six extra points and three field-goal attempts. · Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams is on reserve/non-football injury and not eligible to play. Los Angeles Chargers 34, Houston Texans 24 · Texans linebacker Christian Harris is on injured reserve and not eligible to play. · O.J. Howard (Autauga Academy) started at tight end for the Texans. Howard caught two passes for 27 yards. · Texans wide receiver John Metchie III is on reserve/non-football injury and not eligible to play. RELATED: JOHN METCHIE III: ‘I KNEW GOD HAD A PLAN FOR ME’ · Chargers punter JK Scott averaged 46.3 yards with a 44.3-yard net on four punts. Scott had a 53-yard punt for a fair catch at the Houston 15-yard line, a 46-yarder for a fair catch at the Houston 27, a 36-yarder returned 4 yards to the Houston 13 and a 50-yarder returned 5 yards to the Houston 15. Tennessee Titans 24, Indianapolis Colts 17 · Colts cornerback Tony Brown played but did not record any stats. · Titans defensive end Da’Shawn Hand is on injured reserve and not eligible to play. · Derrick Henry started at running back for the Titans. Henry ran for 114 yards and one touchdown on 22 carries and caught three passes for 33 yards. Henry recorded his 26th NFL regular-season game with at least 100 rushing yards. Six of them have come against Indianapolis. On Sunday, Henry scored on a 19-yard run as Tennessee took a 14-0 lead with 3:46 left in the first quarter. · Ryan Kelly started at center for the Colts. New York Giants 20, Chicago Bears 12 · Eddie Jackson started at safety for the Bears. Jackson made nine tackles and intercepted a pass. Jackson intercepted New York quarterback Tyrod Taylor on the third snap of the fourth quarter at the Chicago 4-yard line. Jackson’s third interception of the 2022 season was the 13th of his career. In the other 12 games that Jackson had recorded an interception, the Bears won. · Bears offensive lineman Alex Leatherwood is on reserve/non-football injury and not eligible to play. · Xavier McKinney started at free safety for the Giants. McKinney made four tackles on defense and one tackle on special teams. · Evan Neal started at right offensive tackle for the Giants. Neal came out of the game with a neck injury. · Aaron Robinson started at right cornerback for the Giants. Robinson made one tackle. Robinson had missed the previous two games after having an appendectomy, and he left Sunday’s game with a knee injury. Philadelphia Eagles 29, Jacksonville Jaguars 21 · Landon Di...

2 Berkeley High School Students Dead Following Oakland Shooting https://digitalalabamanews.com/2-berkeley-high-school-students-dead-following-oakland-shooting/ The Oakland Police Department is investigating a shooting that left two people dead and two others injured, authorities said. The shooting took place in the 950 block of Apgar Street just before 10 p.m. where officers tried to help two injured victims, but they died at the scene. The other two victims were taken to a hospital for medical treatment but no details have been released about their condition. Witnesses told NBC Bay Area the shooting unfolded during a house party where most of the people there were teenagers from Berkeley High School. A GoFundMe identified the two deceased victims as a 15 and 17-year-old brothers. Berkeley High School officials said they were both students there. Martin Opsahl, who lives in the area, said that he noticed young people were hanging out at the home. As the evening went on, more people came. “Kind of gathering and started breaking out into bickering and hostility, And before you know it, two guys just go upstairs and started shooting at each other,” he said. Local Opsahl said the gunshots were unmistakable. “About 19, 20. I counted actually,” he said. Opsahl called 911 and told NBC Bay Area that another neighbor tried to help someone who was hurt as police arrived at the home, apparently rented just for the night. “You never think it will get so close to home,” he said. The Berkeley Unified School District released a statement saying they “are deeply saddened to have learned that two Berkeley High School students and beloved members of the BUSD family lost their lives.” In the statement, the district said counselors, district and school leaders will have resources available for students returning to school Monday. A grassroots community group called “Latinos Unidos” said its members have actually worked with these two teens and their family very closely throughout the years. The group also said it’s asking the Berkeley Unified School District to provide mental health support for students in Spanish for students as well. NBC Bay Area asked the district Sunday night about that and it confirmed there will be counselors at Berkeley High School, who can speak Spanish and bilingual staff in their parent resource center. There will also be a vigil Monday at 7 p.m. at Longfellow Middle School in Berkeley. The public is invited to bring candles, flowers and respect. The shooting is under investigation. NBC Bay Area’s Christie Smith and Alyssa Goard contributed to the report. Editor’s Note: NBC Bay Area has made a decision to not identify the two victims yet, as a consideration to the families, since they may not have notified all of the relatives yet. Read More…