Digital Alaska News

Eaglecrest Ski Area's New Gondola Arrives In Juneau, AK: Design Work Currently On Track – SnowBrains https://digitalalaskanews.com/eaglecrest-ski-areas-new-gondola-arrives-in-juneau-ak-design-work-currently-on-track-snowbrains/ Parts for the new Eaglecrest ski area gondola have arrived to the resort. | Photo courtesy of Eaglecrest Ski Area  Brought to you by Travel Juneau Letter from the GM – Gondola Update  It has been quite the busy summer since the City Assembly allocated a total of $2.5 Million dollars for the purchase, transportation, and initial design of the Pulse Gondola from Austria. Back in April, as soon as the ski area closed we were able to go over to Galsterberg Ski Area with Alan Steffert from CBJ Engineering and Jamie Bunch, a ski lift engineer from SCJ Alliance. While in Austria, we were able to review historical operational records, repair records, and original construction drawings. We rode the lift and performed many operational tests. These inspection trips allow a detailed look at what modifications would need to be made to reinstall the lift at Eaglecrest. The final report provided a road map for the ongoing engineering work. The lift had a long history of trouble-free operation. We were all impressed with the quality of the ride experience. Related: Eaglecrest Ski Area’s New Gondola Begins 8-Week Journey to Juneau, AK The week after our April visit, the Gondola was decommissioned in preparation for loading into open-top containers for transportation to Juneau. The gondola is now fully unloaded into the Lower Nordic Parking Lot. Over the next couple of weeks, parts will continue to be reorganized to maximize parking for the winter season with the equipment being fenced off once the organization is complete. Due to the shortage of Global Shipping containers, it was not an option to leave the parts in the containers that they were transported in. The estimated freight cost for transport was $845,163. Northwind Architects has been contracted as our lead consultant to perform all of the engineering and design work to lead us up to installation and operation. Underneath their leadership are the following subcontractors: SCJ Alliance: Gondola Engineering PND Engineers Inc: Geotechnical/Foundations Structural Corvus Design, Inc: Wetland Delineation RESPEC: Civil, Electrical, Mechanical Engineering 57 North: Professional Land Surveying Estimations Inc: Cost Estimation On Track The design work is currently on track with our desired schedule. The final location and profile for the alignment set with the base station being located behind the Tower Bar Tent adjacent to the bottom of Hooter and the top station at the top of the Stairway to Heavenly on Pitman’s Ridge. The 12 Gondola Cabins will be configured into four pods of three cabins that will rotate the line allowing 45 people to load the Gondola every 3.5 minutes. We will have a mid-way loading and unloading station at the midway point located just below the Avalanche Beacon Park in the flats below Raven. The four-pod configuration will allow all of the cabins to be parked in Terminal buildings during the night to protect them from wind and icing when the lift is not operating. All of the 22 towers and 3 terminal locations have been staked on the ground and Geotechnical work has been completed. This involved digging holes at the tower and terminal location to assess the stability of the ground and help the structural engineers design the proper foundations. We hope to be able to solicit a construction Request for Proposals (RFP) by early January to allow us to engage with a general contractor and source materials needed for constructing the tower foundations by spring. It is currently too early in the stages of construction to know exactly when construction may be completed, however, our best guess is to have the Gondola completed sometime in the summer of 2024. We hope that there may be some opportunities to accelerate the timeline but are currently being conservative based on supply chain slowdowns being currently faced on most commercial construction projects. What’s Next  Discussions continue with Goldbelt Corporation on a partnership agreement for funding for the installation of the Gondola, Summit Lodge, and other activities. We are honored to be in collaboration with our local Native Corporation on this exciting project. Throughout the winter months, we will be following recommendations from the Ski Lift Master Planning firm, the SE Group, and our engineers at SCJ Alliance, and will be refurbishing the major componentry such as the Motor and Gearbox. Other important components will be sourced new and specifically designed for the new alignment and configuration such as the electrical control system and haul rope. The Gondola Cabins will also be refurbished with new windows, paint, and graphics. Once complete the Gondola is going to be something that Juneau and Eaglecrest will be quite proud of. We thank the Assembly for their support in kickstarting this project and creating an opportunity for Eaglecrest to begin a new era of year-round operations and financial sustainability that will allow for continual improvements and upgrades to our other aging infrastructure as well as having the ability to provide competitive wages for our staff. We’re looking forward to seeing you on the slopes in the weeks to come. -Dave Scanlan  This image shows where the Gondola will be positioned relative to the ski area boundary. The existing lifts are shown in the color red, the Gondola in yellow, and the current ski area boundary in blue. | Photo courtesy of Eaglecrest Ski Area Read More Here

With Formal Trump Subpoena Likely This Week, What Next For The Jan. 6 Committee? https://digitalalaskanews.com/with-formal-trump-subpoena-likely-this-week-what-next-for-the-jan-6-committee/ In a dramatic end to what might be its last public hearing, the Jan. 6 committee took the historic step to vote to subpoena Donald Trump. The subpoena will likely be formally issued this week. On Thursday, all nine members of the panel approved the resolution to compel the former president to testify about the Capitol attack, which the committee argues was the violent culmination of Trump’s many efforts to overturn the 2020 election. “He must be accountable,” chairman Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., said before the vote. “He is required to answer for his actions.” There’s been discussion among committee members and staff for months about whether they would want Trump to testify in a live setting. There’s no doubt they want him to testify under oath, as committee members made clear in the hearing. Rep. Bennie Thompson, Chair of the House Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the U.S. Capitol, departs during a break in a hearing, Oct. 13, 2022, in Washington. Jabin Botsford/Pool/Getty Images Some members are hesitant to give Trump a live stage, while others view it as beneficial to their investigation as they would get to question him under oath. And there appears to be more of an openness among committee members to have him appear live. Trump has told advisers he’d welcome a live appearance, according to sources familiar with his thinking, but has yet to say publicly whether he’ll cooperate. The committee would need to negotiate with Trump if he were to offer to testify live in response to the panel’s subpoena, Rep. Adam Kinzinger said Sunday. “I think that’s going to be a negotiation,” Kinzinger, R-Ill., a member of the committee, told ABC “This Week” anchor George Stephanopoulos. “I’ll only address that when we know for sure whether or not the president has tried to push to come in and talk to us live.” “He’s made it clear he has nothing to hide, [that’s] what he said. So he should come in on the day we asked him to come in. If he pushes off beyond that, we’ll figure out what to do next,” Kinzinger said. Trump did not answer whether he would appear in a 14-page memo sent to Thompson Friday, in which he continued his attacks on the panel and continued to make false claims about the presidential race. “This memo is being written to express our anger, disappointment, and complaint that with all of the hundreds of millions of dollars spent on what many consider to be a Charade and Witch Hunt,” he wrote. Some experts are wary the public will ever see Trump testify before the Jan. 6 committee. “Before Donald Trump comes to answer questions about this under oath not only will pigs fly but they will circumvent the globe,” attorney Jeff Robins told ABC News Live anchor Linsey Davis. What if he doesn’t cooperate? If Trump refuses to cooperate, the committee could move to have the full House hold him in contempt and refer the matter to the Justice Department for prosecution. “If they’re not going to do that, then it is essentially symbolic,” Nick Akerman, a former Watergate special prosecutor, told ABC News. Chairman Thompson wouldn’t say when asked after the hearing how the committee planned to handle any eventual litigation or defiance of their subpoena. The House has referred four people to the Justice Department after votes to hold them in contempt — former Trump White House chief of staff, Mark Meadows, Trump’s former social media director Dan Scavino, former Trump White House trade adviser Peter Navarro and form political adviser Steve Bannon. DOJ declined to press charges against Meadows and Scavino. Bannon was found guilty in July for defying the Jan. 6 committee subpoena. Navarro was also indicted on contempt of Congress charges and is scheduled to go to trial next month. Trump could also attempt to run out the clock by fighting the subpoena if the committee took it to court, as he’s done with other investigations and records requests he’s faced over the years. “There are myriad legal and separation of powers issues raised by the subpoena, including whether a congressional committee can compel the president to appear as well as the procedural hurdles in attempting to enforce a subpoena in court which previous court decisions have cast serious doubt upon,” Stanley Brand, a former counsel to the House of Representatives who has represented some of the Jan. 6 witnesses, including Scavino, told ABC News. A video of former President Donald Trump is played during a hearing by the House Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the U.S. Capitol, Oct. 13, 2022, in Washington. Alex Wong/Getty Images “There is also a question of timing given the substantial delays in litigating such a subpoena,” Brand said, pointing to congressional efforts to subpoena testimony from former White House counsel Don McGahn. The case stretched out in court for nearly two years, and ended with a voluntary agreement by McGahn to testify. Brand said this issue, if litigated, could take just as long. Republicans, if they win back control of the House this midterm election cycle as expected, are expected to drop the Jan. 6 investigation and turn to other matters. Top Republicans have already promised investigations into Biden and his son, Hunter Biden. “Time is not on their side,” Akerman said, “considering it’s mid-October and there’s going to be a new Congress coming in Jan. 1, and there’s no guarantee it’s going to be controlled by the Democrats.” Read More Here

Trump Properties Charged Secret Service As Much As $1,185 A Night, Documents Show https://digitalalaskanews.com/trump-properties-charged-secret-service-as-much-as-1185-a-night-documents-show/ Authors on Jan. 6 panel taking “corrective action” Authors say Jan. 6 panel is taking “corrective action” after Trump impeachment trial 08:46 Washington — Properties owned by the Trump Organization charged the U.S. Secret Service rates that far exceeded the government rates during former President Donald Trump’s presidency, Secret Service documents obtained by Democrats on the House Oversight Committee show.  In a letter to Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle, Rep. Carolyn Maloney, chair of the Oversight panel, revealed the rates charged to the agency tasked with protecting the president and his family members were as high as $1,185 per room per night in at least one instance, which Maloney said is more than five times the government rate.  The Washington Post was the first to report the spending.  “The exorbitant rates charged to the Secret Service and agents’ frequent stays at Trump-owned properties raise significant concerns about the former president’s self-dealing and may have resulted in a taxpayer-funded windfall for former President Trump’s struggling businesses,” Maloney, a New York Democrat, told Cheatle. The Trump International Hotel in Washington, D.C. Erin Scott/Bloomberg via Getty Images Records obtained by the committee from the Secret Service show the agency was charged higher than the government rate at least 40 times in the U.S. between Inauguration Day 2017 and Sept. 15, 2021. The Secret Service spent more than $1.4 million at Trump-owned properties throughout the U.S., according to records the committee obtained, although Maloney said those records could be incomplete. Those locations include Trump National Golf Club in Northern Virginia, Trump Hotel Las Vegas, Trump International Hotel in Washington, D.C., and Mar-a-Lago in Florida, among other Trump properties.  In a statement, Trump Organization executive vice president Eric Trump said “any services rendered to the United States Secret Service or other government agencies at Trump owned properties, were at their request and were either provided at cost, heavily discounted or for free.”  “The company would have been substantially better off if hospitality services were sold to full-paying guests, however, the company did whatever it took to accommodate the agencies to ensure they were able to do their jobs at the highest levels – they are amazing men and women,” Eric Trump said. During his four years in office, Trump visited his properties nearly 550 times, including 145 visits to his South Florida property, Mar-a-Lago, according to a report from Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington. After he won the presidency in November 2016, Trump gave control of his company to his two adult sons but did not divest from his business interests while in office. Trump’s Washington, D.C., hotel was the subject of legal scrutiny, as a group of congressional Democrats and the attorney generals of Maryland and the District of Columbia filed separate lawsuits arguing the then-president violated the Constitution’s emoluments clause through his continued financial interest in his company. The emoluments clause prohibits the president from accepting any gift, title or emolument from a foreign state or domestic officials without congressional approval. But the Supreme Court tossed out the cases from the state officials in late January 2021 as moot since Trump was no longer in office.  The Trump Organization put its Washington, D.C., hotel up for sale in October 2019, and the company announced in May it closed on a $375 million sale of the property. Maloney contrasted the spending by the Secret Service at Trump-owned properties with a 2019 claim from Eric Trump that government workers traveling with the then-president “stay at our properties for free.” “If my father travels, they stay at our properties for free,” Eric Trump said during a Yahoo Finance All Markets Summit in 2019. “So everywhere that he goes, if he stays at one of his places, the government actually spends, meaning it saves a fortune because if they were to go to a hotel across the street, they’d be charging them $500 a night, whereas, you know we charge them, like $50.” Sometimes, the Secret Service was charged above the government rate for Secret Service protecting visiting prime ministers, according to the records. Sometimes, the Secret Service was charged above the government rate to protect Eric Trump and other Trump family members, records show. Sometimes, the protectee or reason for a stay at a Trump property is redacted, although it is not clear who redacted the documents.  During one visit from March 8, 2017, to March 8, 2017, for which Eric Trump is identified as the protectee, a Secret Service special agent requested a lodging rate of $1,160 per night at the Trump International Hotel, higher than the rate of $242 set by the General Services Administration (GSA). The government’s rate is based on the average daily rate of hotel properties by location and the time of year. As justification, the unidentified agent wrote that “hotel rooms in the area are limited and per diem rates are difficult to obtain due to low availability.” In another request to the GSA for a lodging variance for Eric Trump and his wife, Lara, in early August 2017, the Secret Service sought approval to spend $650 per night at Trump’s Washington, D.C., hotel. According to the documents obtained by Congress, the justification, part of which was redacted, read, “requested to be located at the Trump International Hotel throughout the duration of the visit. During the dates of the visit, per diem rates could not be obtained.” Months later, in November 2017, when Donald Trump Jr. stayed at the Trump International Hotel, Secret Service records obtained by House Democrats indicate the hotel charged a rate of $1,185 per room per night. The government rate at that time was $201, according to the documents.  Other requests, meanwhile, cited a lack of available hotel rooms because of conferences taking place in the Washington, D.C., area as the justification for seeking approval for the Secret Service to pay rates above the per diem maximum. One instance related to an overnight stay by Trump in mid-July 2017, in which the special agent was requesting approval to pay $225 per night rather than the government’s lodging rate of $172, the justification read: “The entire National Capital Region is sold out in to Northern Virginia and Southern Maryland during the week of July 9-13 due to the Microsoft Convention purchasing 20,000+ rooms.” Thanks for reading CBS NEWS. Create your free account or log in for more features. Please enter email address to continue Please enter valid email address to continue Read More Here

Donald Trump: Kanye West Is So Crazy Even I Can't Handle Him! https://digitalalaskanews.com/donald-trump-kanye-west-is-so-crazy-even-i-cant-handle-him/ When Kanye West revealed himself to be a Donald Trump supporter some fans of the rapper seemed shocked. But they really shouldn’t have been. After all, Trump and Ye are kindred spirits, two narcissistic peas in a pod who will say and do whatever it takes to remain in the spotlight. Not surprisingly, Trump welcomed Kanye’s support, and the two of them bonded during a bizarre Oval Office meeting in which West described 45 as the father he’d never had. Kanye West is a big, big fan of Donald Trump. But it seems that these days, the feeling is not mutual! (Photo via Getty Images) (Which is weird for a ton of reasons, not the least of which is that Kanye’s dad is alive and well, and the two of them are quite close.) These days, however, it seems that even the Donald is distancing himself from Ye, as the rapper’s outlandish behavior becomes more problematic by the day. Yes, we didn’t think it was possible for anyone to earn the title “too crazy for Trump,” but Kanye has surprised us once again. Kanye West gave another bizarre interview this week. This time, he repeated a wild claim about Drake and Kris Jenner. (Photo via Instagram) As you’ve no doubt heard by now, Kanye is in the throes of what appears to be some sort of breakdown. We say that not to excuse his actions in any way, but just out of a desire to understand what could drive this man to set fire to his own career and legacy by spewing hate and vitriol to anyone who will listen. West has outed himself as an anti-semite who believes in bizarre conspiracy theories about how Jews are secretly manipulating world markets and mainstream media. Kanye West was recently in Paris for the city’s fashion week. (Photo via Getty Images) That sort of hateful insanity is usually right up Trump’s alley, but it seems that even the Donald wants nothing to do with Ye’s latest ramblings. The first sign of trouble came when Trump withheld comment on Kanye’s recent stunts, including the rapper’s decision to wear a “White Lives Matter” shirt to a Paris Fashion Week event. Trump comments on just about everything that appeals to his base, and since the ex-president has described Kanye as “a friend of mine for a long time,” the silence was deafening. Former president Donald Trump addresses a crowd of his supporters. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images) Now, insiders are telling Radar Online that Trump is not a fan of Kanye’s recent behavior. They say Trump has complained that Kanye is acting “crazy” and needs professional “help.” It’s uncommon for 45 to distance himself from any public figure who has supported him, and no one has praised Trump as effusively as Kanye. Earlier this mont, West sat down with Tucker Carlson and told the Fox News host that he “started to really feel this need to express myself on another level when Trump was running for office and I liked him.” West claimed he was cautioned by friends “that if I said I liked Trump that my career would be over, my life would be over.” Kanye West sat down with Fox News host Tucker Carlson this week. And the conversation was as bonkers as you would expect. (Photo via Fox News) “They said stuff like people get killed for wearing a hat like that, they threatened my life,” West added. “They basically said I would be killed for wearing the hat.” Yes, Kanye risked it all for Trump, and now the guy won’t even take his calls. As if 2022 weren’t bizarre enough already, now we have billionaire rappers getting treated like Steve Bannon! Read More Here

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

Wall Street Rallies After BofA Results, UK Reversal https://digitalalaskanews.com/wall-street-rallies-after-bofa-results-uk-reversal/ Traders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in New York City, U.S., September 7, 2022. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid/File Photo Bank of America, BNY benefit from rising interest rates Growth stocks jump as Treasury yields fall Goldman Sachs up on report of major business overhaul Dow up 1.86%, S&P 500 up 2.65%, Nasdaq up 3.43% NEW YORK, Oct 17 (Reuters) – U.S. stocks kicked off the trading week on Monday with a rally after Britain reversed course on an economic plan, while Bank of America was the latest financial company to post solid quarterly results, which lifted optimism about the corporate earnings season. Britain named Jeremy Hunt finance minister, and he immediately dispelled many of Prime Minister Liz Truss’ fiscal measures, which had unnerved markets in recent weeks. Bank of America Corp (BAC.N) shares surged 6.06% as the lender’s net interest income was buoyed by rising interest rates in the quarter, even though it added $378 million to its loan-loss reserves to buttress against a softening economy. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com Fellow financial Bank of NY Mellon Corp (BK.N) also benefited from higher interest rates, and its shares climbed 5.08%. Overall, higher rates boosted interest incomes for lenders in the third quarter, giving investors hope the current earnings season will be able to hurdle a lowered bar of expectations. The earnings growth estimate for the quarter is 3%, according to Refinitiv data, down from 4.5% at the start of the month and 11.1% on July 1. “In a fragile market like this, any type of good news in the margin can go a long way,” said Emily Roland, co-chief investment strategist at John Hancock Investment Management in Boston. “There is better sentiment around what is happening in the UK, financials earnings are being supported by a number of factors, better net interest margins are one key element, higher rates are going to be good for the banks so Q3 earnings maybe are looking a little less bad than feared, I would put it, maybe not necessarily better than feared.” The S&P 500 banks index (.SPXBK) was up 3.48%, while each of the 11 major S&P 500 sector were higher. The Dow Jones Industrial Average (.DJI) rose 550.99 points, or 1.86%, to 30,185.82, the S&P 500 (.SPX) gained 94.88 points, or 2.65%, to 3,677.95 and the Nasdaq Composite (.IXIC) added 354.41 points, or 3.43%, to 10,675.80. U.S. equities remain mired in a bear market, after struggling through September, historically a tough month. Analysts said to better stock valuations entering what is traditionally a stronger period for stocks were also supporting Monday’s rally. Aggressive Federal Reserve interest rate hikes could be a stumbling block though. Valuations have come down sharply but still above the 20-year average “Right now the Fed owns the market, Fed policy is the key driver, they are implementing the most aggressive tightening in the shortest amount of time that we have seen in our generation and it is important to remember that Fed policy, it works with a lag,” said Roland. Data on manufacturing in the New York region was weaker than expected, adding fuel to expectations a pivot by the Fed may be on the horizon. Shares of Goldman Sachs (GS.N), which will post results on Tuesday, advanced 2.24% following reports of a plan to combine its investment banking and trading businesses. Major megacap growth stocks like Apple Inc (AAPL.O), Meta Platforms Inc (META.O), Amazon.com (AMZN.O) and Tesla Inc (TSLA.O) all rallied, helping to lift the S&P 500 growth index (.IGX) by 3.42%, its biggest daily percentage jump since July 27. Tesla Inc (TSLA.O), Netflix (NFLX.O) and Johnson & Johnson (JNJ.N) are among companies expected to report results later in the week. Volume on U.S. exchanges was 10.65 billion shares, compared with the 11.52 billion average for the full session over the last 20 trading days. Advancing issues outnumbered declining ones on the NYSE by a 4.79-to-1 ratio; on Nasdaq, a 2.98-to-1 ratio favored advancers. The S&P 500 posted no new 52-week highs and 2 new lows; the Nasdaq Composite recorded 83 new highs and 146 new lows. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com Reporting by Chuck Mikolajczak; Editing by David Gregorio Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles. Read More Here

US Forecast https://digitalalaskanews.com/us-forecast-150/ City/Town, State;Yesterday’s High Temp (F);Yesterday’s Low Temp (F);Today’s High Temp (F);Today’s Low Temp (F);Weather Condition;Wind Direction;Wind Speed (MPH);Humidity (%);Chance of Precip. (%);UV Index Albany, NY;56;43;55;34;Sun and some clouds;S;6;60%;8%;3 Albuquerque, NM;54;42;64;47;Sunshine and warmer;S;7;56%;0%;5 Anchorage, AK;47;37;44;35;Cloudy;NE;7;77%;70%;1 Asheville, NC;68;32;46;28;Breezy and colder;NW;15;48%;2%;4 Atlanta, GA;74;38;56;34;Sunny, but cooler;NNW;12;36%;2%;5 Atlantic City, NJ;66;48;56;41;Cooler;W;12;46%;8%;4 Austin, TX;71;51;68;43;Mostly sunny;NNE;8;30%;2%;5 Baltimore, MD;71;43;57;39;Cooler with sunshine;W;9;44%;18%;4 Baton Rouge, LA;76;47;64;34;Mostly sunny;N;10;35%;4%;5 Billings, MT;71;44;77;46;Sunny and very warm;WSW;8;41%;2%;3 Birmingham, AL;72;35;56;31;Sunny, but cooler;NNW;10;37%;1%;5 Bismarck, ND;43;16;49;25;Plenty of sunshine;SSE;7;37%;0%;3 Boise, ID;76;45;78;44;Mostly sunny, warm;ENE;7;26%;0%;3 Boston, MA;59;56;62;43;Occasional a.m. rain;SW;9;67%;60%;1 Bridgeport, CT;64;47;57;38;Sun and some clouds;W;9;47%;11%;4 Buffalo, NY;53;39;46;38;Rain/snow showers;SSW;16;72%;98%;1 Burlington, VT;58;45;55;37;Sun and some clouds;SE;9;69%;36%;3 Caribou, ME;62;50;62;56;Showers;SE;13;85%;100%;1 Casper, WY;66;34;72;37;Sunny and warm;SSW;7;31%;0%;4 Charleston, SC;82;56;67;42;Partly sunny, cooler;NW;10;42%;12%;5 Charleston, WV;57;34;46;34;Colder with a shower;WSW;8;71%;72%;2 Charlotte, NC;78;40;58;32;Sunny, but cooler;NW;8;37%;4%;4 Cheyenne, WY;62;32;66;38;Sunny and pleasant;W;10;31%;0%;4 Chicago, IL;43;33;45;34;Mostly cloudy, windy;NW;20;58%;28%;1 Cleveland, OH;48;41;46;40;Afternoon showers;WSW;21;72%;100%;1 Columbia, SC;82;48;62;36;Sunny, but cooler;NNW;8;39%;10%;4 Columbus, OH;48;36;46;36;Rain and snow shower;WSW;12;65%;89%;1 Concord, NH;54;50;60;32;A shower in the a.m.;WSW;7;70%;60%;2 Dallas-Ft. Worth, TX;70;45;64;40;Sunshine;NNE;11;28%;2%;5 Denver, CO;65;40;69;43;Plenty of sun;SW;6;32%;2%;4 Des Moines, IA;43;20;42;22;Sunny, but chilly;NW;12;39%;2%;4 Detroit, MI;46;38;45;38;Rain/snow showers;WNW;19;73%;98%;1 Dodge City, KS;61;25;57;30;Sunny, but cool;ESE;7;29%;0%;4 Duluth, MN;36;25;42;29;Mostly sunny, chilly;NNW;12;57%;2%;3 El Paso, TX;62;49;66;47;Partial sunshine;ESE;8;65%;0%;4 Fairbanks, AK;39;22;39;27;Partly sunny;NNE;4;79%;9%;1 Fargo, ND;36;15;39;18;Sunny, but chilly;NNW;8;47%;2%;3 Grand Junction, CO;70;42;73;43;Sunny and pleasant;ENE;5;33%;0%;4 Grand Rapids, MI;46;37;44;40;Rain/snow showers;NW;20;80%;97%;1 Hartford, CT;58;50;59;36;Sun and some clouds;WSW;7;55%;15%;3 Helena, MT;70;35;70;39;Sunny and mild;WSW;4;40%;0%;3 Honolulu, HI;87;71;87;71;Nice with some sun;ENE;7;57%;16%;7 Houston, TX;73;54;70;45;Sunshine and nice;N;11;35%;7%;5 Indianapolis, IN;46;32;46;32;Mainly cloudy, cold;WNW;14;59%;17%;2 Jackson, MS;71;40;59;31;Sunny and cooler;NNW;10;31%;1%;5 Jacksonville, FL;83;63;76;46;Partly sunny;NNW;9;41%;24%;5 Juneau, AK;55;46;52;48;Breezy with rain;SSE;14;93%;100%;0 Kansas City, MO;51;26;47;25;Sunny, but chilly;NW;9;33%;1%;4 Knoxville, TN;67;33;51;30;Sunshine and cooler;WSW;7;48%;3%;4 Las Vegas, NV;85;61;88;61;Sunny and warm;NNW;5;25%;0%;4 Lexington, KY;55;33;50;31;Partly sunny, cold;W;15;56%;9%;3 Little Rock, AR;66;36;56;30;Sunny, but cooler;NNW;9;31%;0%;4 Long Beach, CA;78;63;84;66;Partly sunny;WNW;6;58%;0%;4 Los Angeles, CA;78;63;86;67;Partly sunny;ENE;6;55%;1%;4 Louisville, KY;53;36;51;34;Breezy in the p.m.;W;12;53%;5%;4 Madison, WI;40;30;45;28;Clouds and sun, cold;NW;15;55%;3%;3 Memphis, TN;60;35;54;33;Cool with sunshine;NW;10;36%;0%;4 Miami, FL;85;75;86;70;Some sun, a t-storm;W;7;77%;90%;4 Milwaukee, WI;45;34;45;35;Mostly cloudy, windy;NW;19;58%;32%;1 Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN;39;23;43;26;Sunny, but chilly;NNW;13;42%;2%;3 Mobile, AL;82;48;65;37;Partly sunny;N;12;37%;3%;5 Montgomery, AL;79;41;58;32;Sunny and cooler;N;10;39%;4%;5 Mt. Washington, NH;36;33;39;24;Windy;S;34;96%;85%;2 Nashville, TN;59;30;53;29;Mostly sunny, cool;WNW;10;43%;1%;4 New Orleans, LA;80;57;66;46;Breezy;N;15;37%;5%;5 New York, NY;68;47;57;40;Sun and some clouds;W;9;41%;9%;4 Newark, NJ;67;44;56;37;Partly sunny;W;8;44%;10%;4 Norfolk, VA;76;48;60;40;Partly sunny, cooler;W;9;42%;19%;4 Oklahoma City, OK;61;34;57;31;Sunny and cool;NNE;10;29%;1%;4 Olympia, WA;68;45;71;43;Low clouds breaking;NNE;5;74%;4%;3 Omaha, NE;46;19;44;18;Sunny, but chilly;NW;10;37%;2%;4 Orlando, FL;86;70;82;57;Partly sunny;NNW;9;61%;29%;5 Philadelphia, PA;69;45;56;38;Partly sunny, cooler;W;8;43%;8%;4 Phoenix, AZ;84;67;88;68;Sunshine;E;8;33%;0%;5 Pittsburgh, PA;53;35;44;36;Rain and snow shower;SW;10;68%;89%;1 Portland, ME;55;54;61;42;A couple of showers;SSW;11;82%;87%;1 Portland, OR;73;51;75;49;Low clouds breaking;N;5;60%;4%;3 Providence, RI;65;54;61;37;A bit of a.m. rain;SW;7;61%;59%;2 Raleigh, NC;78;43;58;35;Sunshine, but cooler;NW;8;42%;14%;4 Reno, NV;77;42;78;40;Clouds and sun, warm;W;4;30%;0%;4 Richmond, VA;70;40;59;37;Mostly sunny, cooler;WNW;8;42%;18%;4 Roswell, NM;55;48;63;43;Mostly sunny;SSW;6;64%;10%;4 Sacramento, CA;78;54;84;55;Partly sunny;NNW;6;50%;1%;4 Salt Lake City, UT;74;48;75;48;Sunny and warm;ESE;7;34%;0%;4 San Antonio, TX;69;56;69;45;Nice with some sun;N;10;32%;11%;5 San Diego, CA;74;63;80;65;Partly sunny;NNE;7;66%;0%;5 San Francisco, CA;69;55;72;57;Clouds and sun;WSW;6;67%;1%;3 Savannah, GA;83;54;68;41;Cooler but pleasant;NW;10;35%;10%;5 Seattle-Tacoma, WA;70;52;70;51;Low clouds breaking;NNE;6;63%;4%;3 Sioux Falls, SD;43;13;42;15;Sunny, but chilly;NNW;8;34%;2%;3 Spokane, WA;76;41;75;41;Plenty of sun;E;4;45%;1%;3 Springfield, IL;47;28;47;26;Sunny and cold;WNW;15;49%;1%;4 St. Louis, MO;48;30;50;28;Sunny, but cold;WNW;13;44%;1%;4 Tampa, FL;87;72;82;54;Partly sunny;NNW;8;69%;37%;5 Toledo, OH;45;37;45;40;Showers of rain/snow;WNW;19;71%;97%;1 Tucson, AZ;80;61;82;61;Breezy in the a.m.;ESE;13;42%;0%;5 Tulsa, OK;63;32;53;26;Sunny, but cooler;NNE;9;33%;2%;4 Vero Beach, FL;86;70;85;63;A p.m. t-storm;N;9;78%;88%;4 Washington, DC;69;43;57;39;Partly sunny, cooler;W;9;44%;16%;4 Wichita, KS;57;28;53;26;Sunny and cool;N;10;29%;1%;4 Wilmington, DE;67;42;57;36;Some sun and cooler;W;9;48%;6%;4 _____ Copyright 2022 AccuWeather Read More Here

Biden Launches Student Loan Forgiveness Application | CNN Politics https://digitalalaskanews.com/biden-launches-student-loan-forgiveness-application-cnn-politics/ CNN  —  President Joe Biden on Monday announced the formal launch of the federal application for Americans seeking student loan forgiveness, the latest phase of his plan that is expected to provide debt relief to as many as 43 million borrowers. “Today, I’m announcing millions of people working and middle-class folks can apply and get this relief. And it’s simple and it’s now. It’s easy,” Biden said in remarks from the White House alongside Education Secretary Miguel Cardona. “This is a game changer for millions of Americans … and it took an incredible amount of effort to get this website done in such a short time.” Individuals seeking to apply for student debt relief can now fill out the form in English or Spanish at Studentaid.gov. The form includes information on the debt relief, who qualifies for it and how it works. It asks applicants for information including their full name, Social Security number, date of birth, phone number and an email address. Borrowers have until December 31, 2023, to submit an application. Biden in August announced his decision to cancel up to $10,000 in student loan debt for individuals making less than $125,000 a year or as much as $20,000 for eligible borrowers who were also Pell Grant recipients. Borrowers must have federally held student loans to qualify. In addition to federal Direct Loans used to pay for an undergraduate degree, federal PLUS loans borrowed by graduate students and parents may also be eligible if the borrower meets the income requirements. The Biden administration has said that applicants who are “more likely to exceed the income cutoff” will be required to submit additional information, like a tax transcript. And while borrowers will not have to pay federal income tax on the student loan debt forgiveness, it’s possible that some borrowers may have to pay state income tax on the amount of debt forgiven. The Department of Education has also said it already had income information for nearly 8 million borrowers, likely because of financial aid forms or previously submitted income-driven repayment plan applications. Those borrowers will automatically receive the debt relief if they meet the income requirement, unless they choose to opt out. The department has said it will email borrowers who will be considered for debt relief but don’t need to apply. The formal launch of the application marks the next phase of a massive technical undertaking for federal agencies and student loan servicers to provide broad relief to tens of millions of borrowers. A beta version of the website was launched on Friday evening and Biden said over 8 million Americans used the website over the weekend to fill out their applications. The President credited “a talented group of data scientists and engineers across the federal government” who “built and tested and launched this new application in just weeks.” In the few days of beta testing the application, Biden said, the website “handled more than 8 million applications without a glitch or difficulty.” “As millions of people fill out the application, we’re going to make sure the system continues to work as smoothly as possible so that we can deliver student loan relief for millions of Americans as quickly and as efficiently as possible,” he added. The Department of Education is facing several lawsuits challenging the student loan forgiveness policy. A US district judge could soon decide whether to temporarily block the program from taking effect after hearing a motion for a preliminary injunction last week. That could put student loan cancellation on hold until the judge issues a final ruling on the case. Asked at the end of his remarks about litigation challenging the plan, Biden said he thinks the administration’s plan will hold up in court. He also took aim at Republican critics of his student debt relief plan, calling their outrage “wrong” and “hypocritical.” “I will never apologize for helping working Americans and middle-class people as they recover from the pandemic. Especially not the same Republicans who voted for a $2 trillion tax cut in the last administration, mainly benefited the wealthiest Americans and the largest corporations and didn’t pay for a penny of it and racked up the deficit,” he added. Borrowers whose federal student loans are guaranteed by the government but held by private lenders, many of which were made under the former Federal Family Education Loan program and Federal Perkins Loan program, are currently excluded – unless a borrower applied to consolidate those loans into Direct loans by September 29. The Education Department initially said these privately held loans would be eligible for the one-time forgiveness action – but reversed course in September when six Republican-led states sued the Biden administration, arguing that forgiving the privately held loans would financially hurt states and student loan servicers. Asked by CNN’s MJ Lee about those with privately held loans being ineligible for the mass relief, Cardona said the administration is “moving as quickly as possible to provide relief to as many people as possible.” This story has been updated with additional reporting. Read More Here

US Forecast https://digitalalaskanews.com/us-forecast-149/ City/Town, State;Yesterday’s High Temp (F);Yesterday’s Low Temp (F);Today’s High Temp (F);Today’s Low Temp (F);Weather Condition;Wind Direction;Wind Speed (MPH);Humidity (%);Chance of Precip. (%);UV Index Albany, NY;56;43;55;34;Sun and some clouds;S;6;60%;8%;3 Albuquerque, NM;54;42;64;47;Sunshine and warmer;S;7;56%;0%;5 Anchorage, AK;47;37;44;35;Cloudy;NE;7;77%;70%;1 Asheville, NC;68;32;46;28;Breezy and colder;NW;15;48%;2%;4 Atlanta, GA;74;38;56;34;Sunny, but cooler;NNW;12;36%;2%;5 Atlantic City, NJ;66;48;56;41;Cooler;W;12;46%;8%;4 Austin, TX;71;51;68;43;Mostly sunny;NNE;8;30%;2%;5 Baltimore, MD;71;43;57;39;Cooler with sunshine;W;9;44%;18%;4 Baton Rouge, LA;76;47;64;34;Mostly sunny;N;10;35%;4%;5 Billings, MT;71;44;77;46;Sunny and very warm;WSW;8;41%;2%;3 Birmingham, AL;72;35;56;31;Sunny, but cooler;NNW;10;37%;1%;5 Bismarck, ND;43;16;49;25;Plenty of sunshine;SSE;7;37%;0%;3 Boise, ID;76;45;78;44;Mostly sunny, warm;ENE;7;26%;0%;3 Boston, MA;59;56;62;43;Occasional a.m. rain;SW;9;67%;60%;1 Bridgeport, CT;64;47;57;38;Sun and some clouds;W;9;47%;11%;4 Buffalo, NY;53;39;46;38;Rain/snow showers;SSW;16;72%;98%;1 Burlington, VT;58;45;55;37;Sun and some clouds;SE;9;69%;36%;3 Caribou, ME;62;50;62;56;Showers;SE;13;85%;100%;1 Casper, WY;66;34;72;37;Sunny and warm;SSW;7;31%;0%;4 Charleston, SC;82;56;67;42;Partly sunny, cooler;NW;10;42%;12%;5 Charleston, WV;57;34;46;34;Colder with a shower;WSW;8;71%;72%;2 Charlotte, NC;78;40;58;32;Sunny, but cooler;NW;8;37%;4%;4 Cheyenne, WY;62;32;66;38;Sunny and pleasant;W;10;31%;0%;4 Chicago, IL;43;33;45;34;Mostly cloudy, windy;NW;20;58%;28%;1 Cleveland, OH;48;41;46;40;Afternoon showers;WSW;21;72%;100%;1 Columbia, SC;82;48;62;36;Sunny, but cooler;NNW;8;39%;10%;4 Columbus, OH;48;36;46;36;Rain and snow shower;WSW;12;65%;89%;1 Concord, NH;54;50;60;32;A shower in the a.m.;WSW;7;70%;60%;2 Dallas-Ft. Worth, TX;70;45;64;40;Sunshine;NNE;11;28%;2%;5 Denver, CO;65;40;69;43;Plenty of sun;SW;6;32%;2%;4 Des Moines, IA;43;20;42;22;Sunny, but chilly;NW;12;39%;2%;4 Detroit, MI;46;38;45;38;Rain/snow showers;WNW;19;73%;98%;1 Dodge City, KS;61;25;57;30;Sunny, but cool;ESE;7;29%;0%;4 Duluth, MN;36;25;42;29;Mostly sunny, chilly;NNW;12;57%;2%;3 El Paso, TX;62;49;66;47;Partial sunshine;ESE;8;65%;0%;4 Fairbanks, AK;39;22;39;27;Partly sunny;NNE;4;79%;9%;1 Fargo, ND;36;15;39;18;Sunny, but chilly;NNW;8;47%;2%;3 Grand Junction, CO;70;42;73;43;Sunny and pleasant;ENE;5;33%;0%;4 Grand Rapids, MI;46;37;44;40;Rain/snow showers;NW;20;80%;97%;1 Hartford, CT;58;50;59;36;Sun and some clouds;WSW;7;55%;15%;3 Helena, MT;70;35;70;39;Sunny and mild;WSW;4;40%;0%;3 Honolulu, HI;87;71;87;71;Nice with some sun;ENE;7;57%;16%;7 Houston, TX;73;54;70;45;Sunshine and nice;N;11;35%;7%;5 Indianapolis, IN;46;32;46;32;Mainly cloudy, cold;WNW;14;59%;17%;2 Jackson, MS;71;40;59;31;Sunny and cooler;NNW;10;31%;1%;5 Jacksonville, FL;83;63;76;46;Partly sunny;NNW;9;41%;24%;5 Juneau, AK;55;46;52;48;Breezy with rain;SSE;14;93%;100%;0 Kansas City, MO;51;26;47;25;Sunny, but chilly;NW;9;33%;1%;4 Knoxville, TN;67;33;51;30;Sunshine and cooler;WSW;7;48%;3%;4 Las Vegas, NV;85;61;88;61;Sunny and warm;NNW;5;25%;0%;4 Lexington, KY;55;33;50;31;Partly sunny, cold;W;15;56%;9%;3 Little Rock, AR;66;36;56;30;Sunny, but cooler;NNW;9;31%;0%;4 Long Beach, CA;78;63;84;66;Partly sunny;WNW;6;58%;0%;4 Los Angeles, CA;78;63;86;67;Partly sunny;ENE;6;55%;1%;4 Louisville, KY;53;36;51;34;Breezy in the p.m.;W;12;53%;5%;4 Madison, WI;40;30;45;28;Clouds and sun, cold;NW;15;55%;3%;3 Memphis, TN;60;35;54;33;Cool with sunshine;NW;10;36%;0%;4 Miami, FL;85;75;86;70;Some sun, a t-storm;W;7;77%;90%;4 Milwaukee, WI;45;34;45;35;Mostly cloudy, windy;NW;19;58%;32%;1 Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN;39;23;43;26;Sunny, but chilly;NNW;13;42%;2%;3 Mobile, AL;82;48;65;37;Partly sunny;N;12;37%;3%;5 Montgomery, AL;79;41;58;32;Sunny and cooler;N;10;39%;4%;5 Mt. Washington, NH;36;33;39;24;Windy;S;34;96%;85%;2 Nashville, TN;59;30;53;29;Mostly sunny, cool;WNW;10;43%;1%;4 New Orleans, LA;80;57;66;46;Breezy;N;15;37%;5%;5 New York, NY;68;47;57;40;Sun and some clouds;W;9;41%;9%;4 Newark, NJ;67;44;56;37;Partly sunny;W;8;44%;10%;4 Norfolk, VA;76;48;60;40;Partly sunny, cooler;W;9;42%;19%;4 Oklahoma City, OK;61;34;57;31;Sunny and cool;NNE;10;29%;1%;4 Olympia, WA;68;45;71;43;Low clouds breaking;NNE;5;74%;4%;3 Omaha, NE;46;19;44;18;Sunny, but chilly;NW;10;37%;2%;4 Orlando, FL;86;70;82;57;Partly sunny;NNW;9;61%;29%;5 Philadelphia, PA;69;45;56;38;Partly sunny, cooler;W;8;43%;8%;4 Phoenix, AZ;84;67;88;68;Sunshine;E;8;33%;0%;5 Pittsburgh, PA;53;35;44;36;Rain and snow shower;SW;10;68%;89%;1 Portland, ME;55;54;61;42;A couple of showers;SSW;11;82%;87%;1 Portland, OR;73;51;75;49;Low clouds breaking;N;5;60%;4%;3 Providence, RI;65;54;61;37;A bit of a.m. rain;SW;7;61%;59%;2 Raleigh, NC;78;43;58;35;Sunshine, but cooler;NW;8;42%;14%;4 Reno, NV;77;42;78;40;Clouds and sun, warm;W;4;30%;0%;4 Richmond, VA;70;40;59;37;Mostly sunny, cooler;WNW;8;42%;18%;4 Roswell, NM;55;48;63;43;Mostly sunny;SSW;6;64%;10%;4 Sacramento, CA;78;54;84;55;Partly sunny;NNW;6;50%;1%;4 Salt Lake City, UT;74;48;75;48;Sunny and warm;ESE;7;34%;0%;4 San Antonio, TX;69;56;69;45;Nice with some sun;N;10;32%;11%;5 San Diego, CA;74;63;80;65;Partly sunny;NNE;7;66%;0%;5 San Francisco, CA;69;55;72;57;Clouds and sun;WSW;6;67%;1%;3 Savannah, GA;83;54;68;41;Cooler but pleasant;NW;10;35%;10%;5 Seattle-Tacoma, WA;70;52;70;51;Low clouds breaking;NNE;6;63%;4%;3 Sioux Falls, SD;43;13;42;15;Sunny, but chilly;NNW;8;34%;2%;3 Spokane, WA;76;41;75;41;Plenty of sun;E;4;45%;1%;3 Springfield, IL;47;28;47;26;Sunny and cold;WNW;15;49%;1%;4 St. Louis, MO;48;30;50;28;Sunny, but cold;WNW;13;44%;1%;4 Tampa, FL;87;72;82;54;Partly sunny;NNW;8;69%;37%;5 Toledo, OH;45;37;45;40;Showers of rain/snow;WNW;19;71%;97%;1 Tucson, AZ;80;61;82;61;Breezy in the a.m.;ESE;13;42%;0%;5 Tulsa, OK;63;32;53;26;Sunny, but cooler;NNE;9;33%;2%;4 Vero Beach, FL;86;70;85;63;A p.m. t-storm;N;9;78%;88%;4 Washington, DC;69;43;57;39;Partly sunny, cooler;W;9;44%;16%;4 Wichita, KS;57;28;53;26;Sunny and cool;N;10;29%;1%;4 Wilmington, DE;67;42;57;36;Some sun and cooler;W;9;48%;6%;4 _____ Copyright 2022 AccuWeather Read More Here

Trump Rips GOP Senate Hopeful O’Dea, Warns MAGA Voters Not To Back ‘stupid People With Big Mouths’ https://digitalalaskanews.com/trump-rips-gop-senate-hopeful-odea-warns-maga-voters-not-to-back-stupid-people-with-big-mouths/ Former President Donald Trump on Monday denounced the Republican Senate candidate Joe O’Dea as a “RINO” or a Republican in name only. Mr. O’Dea, who has mounted a spirited challenge to Democratic incumbent Sen. Michael Bennet in Colorado, drew Mr. Trump’s ire by pledging to “actively campaign” against the former president if he makes another White House run in 2024. “There’s this RINO character in the Great State of Colorado, Joe O’Dea, that is running against the incumbent Democrat for the United States Senate, who is having a good old time saying that he wants to ‘distance’ himself from President Trump, and other slightly nasty things,” Mr. Trump wrote on his Truth Social social media platform. “He should look at the Economy, Inflation, Energy Independence, defeating ISIS, the Strongest EVER Border, Great Trade Deals, & much more, before he speaks. MAGA doesn’t Vote for stupid people with big mouths. Good luck Joe!” In a statement to The Washington Times, Mr. O’Dea doubled down on his opposition to Mr. Trump. “I’m a construction guy, not a politician. President Trump is entitled to his opinion, but I’m my own man and I’ll call it like I see it. Another Biden-Trump election will tear this country apart,” he said. “These elections should be focused on Joe Biden’s failures — supercharged inflation, a broken border, rampant crime, a war on American energy — not a rehash of 2020. America needs to move forward.” Mr. O’Dea reiterated his belief that Republicans such as Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, former U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Nikki Haley, Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina and former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo “would be better choices.”  SEE ALSO: Polling shifts N.Y. governor’s race to ‘toss up’ as incumbent Hochul loses ground to GOP Rep. Zeldin All four of those GOP figures are considering presidential runs. Polls show Mr. O’Dea trailing his Democratic rival, and nonpartisan election forecasters rate the seat as “lean Democrat.” Mr. O’Dea has repeatedly voiced his disapproval of the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol, calling it a “black eye on the country.” “I have been very vocal that I thought [Mr. Trump] should have done more to keep the violence from heading towards the Capitol,” he recently said on CNN. “Anybody that was violent at the Capitol or tore something apart, they should be held accountable. We have got processes in place that hold people accountable. And we need to move the country forward.” Read More Here

'I'm My Own Man': Colorado Republican Senate Nominee Fires Back At Trump – KRDO https://digitalalaskanews.com/im-my-own-man-colorado-republican-senate-nominee-fires-back-at-trump-krdo/ By Manu Raju, Chief Congressional Correspondent Joe O’Dea, the Republican nominee for US Senate from Colorado, fired back at Donald Trump on Monday after the former President slammed him as a “RINO” and suggested Trump’s supporters wouldn’t vote for a “stupid” person like O’Dea. In a statement to CNN, O’Dea, the CEO of a Colorado construction company, didn’t walk away from the criticism he’s been leveling at Trump, including on Sunday when he told CNN’s Dana Bash on “State of the Union” that he would “actively” campaign against Trump and for other GOP candidates if the former President runs again. O’Dea also told Bash that Trump should have done more to prevent the January 6, 2021, attack on the US Capitol. “I’m a construction guy, not a politician,” O’Dea said in his statement to CNN. “President Trump is entitled to his opinion but I’m my own man and I’ll call it like I see it. Another Biden, Trump election will tear this country apart. DeSantis, Scott, Pompeo or Haley would be better choices. These elections should be focused on Joe Biden’s failures — supercharged inflation, a broken border, rampant crime, a war on American energy — not a rehash of 2020. America needs to move forward.” O’Dea, who has taken a more moderate position on abortion rights than other Republicans, is in a competitive race against Democratic Sen. Michael Bennet in the blue-leaning state. Inside Elections with Nathan L. Gonzales rates the race Likely Democratic. Trump attacked O’Dea on his Truth Social platform for his strategy of distancing himself from the former President. Trump’s comments — which included referring to the GOP nominee as a “RINO,” or Republican in name only — came less than a week after the Senate Leadership Fund gave $1.25 million to a pro-O’Dea super PAC and told local media it thinks Bennet is “vulnerable.” The-CNN-Wire & © 2022 Cable News Network, Inc., a Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All rights reserved. CNN’s Gabby Orr and Daniella Diaz contributed to this story. Read More Here

Showdown In Youngstown: Ohio Senate Candidates J.D. Vance And Tim Ryan Face Off In Debate https://digitalalaskanews.com/showdown-in-youngstown-ohio-senate-candidates-j-d-vance-and-tim-ryan-face-off-in-debate/ Ohio Democratic Senate candidate Rep. Tim Ryan, D-Ohio, (left) and Republican candidate JD Vance face off Monday night in their second and final debate. (AP Photo) ORG XMIT: WX417 WASHINGTON – Republican J.D. Vance and Democrat Tim Ryan take the stage Monday at 7 p.m. ET for an hour-long debate in a tight race that could decide which party wins control of the U.S. Senate. The two meet in Youngstown just a week after a first debate in which they clashed over abortion, inflation, Ryan’s support of President Joe Biden, and Vance’s support of former President Donald Trump. The debate kicks off only three hours after a new Suffolk University/USA TODAY Network poll poll showed the race remains a statistical tie with Vance up 47.4% to 45.4% – within the margin of error. New poll: Exclusive: Poll shows close Senate race in Ohio as midterms head into final weeks What’s at stake: Control of the Senate is now a coin flip: These are the midterm election races to watch Vance continued to dominate with Ohioans who are concerned about the economy and inflation, which remains the most important issue for voters in this election cycle, according to the poll. Roughly two-thirds of those who said the economy is top of mind plan to vote for Vance. Like other Republicans, Vance has pinned inflation woes on the leadership of President Joe Biden and other Democrats. Ryan, unsurprisingly, is overwhelming popular among voters concerned about abortion. The congressman has supported legislation that would codify Roe v. Wade and protect the rights of patients to travel out-of-state for abortions. Follow along for live coverage How to watch The debate will be held in the Stambaugh Auditorium in Youngstown, Ohio. 21 WFMJ is hosting tonight’s debate and the event is expected to take an hour. Ryan’s district includes the Youngstown area. The debate is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET/6 p.m. CT/4 p.m. PT. You can tune into the debate here on WFMJ.com – Ken Tran New poll shows Ryan, Vance neck-and-neck A Suffolk University/USA TODAY Network poll released Monday found Republican J.D. Vance and Democratic U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan remain statistically tied with just three weeks until election day. The author and venture capitalist leads Ryan by a razor thin margin of 47.4% to 45.4% after trailing in a previous Suffolk poll. The previous debate: 4 takeaways from first Ohio Senate debate between Tim Ryan, J.D. Vance Ohio governor’s race: Poll: Gov. Mike DeWine leads Democrat Nan Whaley by double digits The results were within the poll’s margin of error of plus or minus 4.4 percentage points. Roughly 6% of voters were unsure who they’ll support. Monday’s poll is in line with other independent surveys that, on average, show Vance with a slight edge in the competitive race to replace retiring GOP Sen. Rob Portman. The money race: Tim Ryan is raising more than J.D. Vance. Can he counter national GOP spending? This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Youngstown showdown: Ohio Senate debate features J.D. Vance, Tim Ryan Read More Here

Up To $1,185 Per Night: Trump Hotels Repeatedly Overcharged Secret Service, House Panel Finds https://digitalalaskanews.com/up-to-1185-per-night-trump-hotels-repeatedly-overcharged-secret-service-house-panel-finds/ Hotels owned by Donald Trump and his family repeatedly overcharged the Secret Secret Service for their rooms, billing up to $1,185 per night, according to documents obtained by a House committee. The findings by the House Oversight and Reform Committee run counter to claims by Trump’s family that use of the properties would save the government money and show that the Secret Service spent at least $1.4 million at Trump properties after he took office.  “The exorbitant rates charged to the Secret Service and agents’ frequent stays at Trump-owned properties raise significant concerns about the former President’s self-dealing and may have resulted in a taxpayer-funded windfall for former President Trump’s struggling businesses,” committee Chairwoman Carolyn Maloney, D-New York, said in a letter to Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle. The committee found that the Secret Service was charged in excess of government rates at least 40 times, between Jan. 20, 2017, and Sept. 15, 2021, according to documents gathered in the panel’s continuing investigation of the former president’s conflicts of interest. Maloney called on Cheatle to provide a more detailed accounting of payments, indicating the records gathered so far are not complete. “The Secret Service has yet to provide the Committee with a complete list of all spending at Trump-owned properties and still does not appear to be able to account for every instance the agency paid excessive nightly rates at the former President’s resorts, hotels, and clubs,” the committee concluded. Stay in the conversation on politics: Sign up for the OnPolitics newsletter More: Secret Service depletes funds to pay agents because of Trump’s frequent travel, large family More: Secret Service overtime bill is moving in Congress Read More Here

Jury Begins Deliberations In Trial Of Trump-Russia Dossier Source Accused Of Lying To FBI | News Channel 3-12 https://digitalalaskanews.com/jury-begins-deliberations-in-trial-of-trump-russia-dossier-source-accused-of-lying-to-fbi-news-channel-3-12/ By Marshall Cohen The jury in the trial of Trump-Russia dossier source Igor Danchenko began deliberations Monday and will decide if he lied to the FBI about where he got his information. The case was brought by special counsel John Durham, who has a lot riding on the outcome. After more than three years looking for misconduct in the FBI’s Trump-Russia probe, Durham has only secured one conviction. The Danchenko case is the final expected trial before Durham wraps up his investigation. Jurors are now deliberating at the federal courthouse in Alexandria, Virginia. Danchenko was initially charged with five counts of lying to the FBI, but a judge threw out one of the charges Friday, in a major blow to Durham. Danchenko pleaded not guilty to all charges and says he told the truth to the FBI. Danchenko, a Russian expat and think-tank analyst, was the primary source of material for the infamous Trump-Russia dossier. The collection of unverified and salacious allegations was compiled by retired British spy Christopher Steele, whose work was indirectly funded by Hillary Clinton’s 2016 campaign. The largely discredited memos accused Donald Trump of collaborating with the Kremlin to win the election. A guilty verdict would give a major boost to Durham. But an acquittal would be an embarrassing defeat for the special counsel, whose only other trial, against a Clinton campaign attorney, ended in a swift acquittal in May from a federal jury in Washington, DC. A lawyer for Danchenko blasted Durham during closing arguments on Monday, accusing prosecutors of misleading the jury and ignoring key evidence while on a “mission to prove him a liar.” The case against Danchenko revolves around whether he lied to the FBI in 2017 about his sourcing for the so-called Steele dossier. During closing arguments, Danchenko lawyer Stuart Sears said prosecutors brazenly cast aside information that “doesn’t support their narrative that he’s a liar.” Sears pointed out how Durham turned on his own witnesses after they provided evidence that helped the defense. “The special counsel attacked them mercilessly,” Sears said. “They attacked the credibility of the very witnesses they called in here, because they didn’t say what they wanted them to say.” Sears added: “The government’s own evidence in this case proves that the defendant is not guilty.” Durham’s team urged jurors to convict Danchenko on Monday, telling them to “look at his own words” in emails from 2016 that they believe prove that he later misled the FBI about his ties to a possible dossier source. “You didn’t check your common sense at the courthouse door,” prosecutor Michael Keilty said. “You need to use it.” Keilty said Danchenko gave a “shifting story” to the FBI agents who interviewed him in 2017, while they were trying to corroborate the explosive allegations in the dossier that Trump’s campaign was colluding with the Russian government to win the presidency. “The FBI surveilled a US citizen for nearly a year based on those lies,” Keilty said, referring to the wiretaps of former Trump campaign adviser Carter Page. The FBI affidavits used to secure those surveillance warrants included material that came from the Trump-Russia dossier. Danchenko’s lawyer also blasted the Trump-era Justice Department for “exposing” him as an FBI informant and for launching the probe that led to his prosecution. “He was trying to help the FBI, and now they’re indicting him for it,” Sears said. As a paid informant, Danchenko significantly assisted multiple FBI probes between 2017 and 2020. But the FBI was forced to cut ties with Danchenko in late 2020, after the Justice Department indirectly outed him as a dossier source. “He deserved more than to be exposed because a bunch of politicians put politics over national security,” Sears said. Danchenko’s handler, FBI agent Kevin Helson, testified last week that Danchenko’s outing harmed US national security. Internet sleuths identified Danchenko shortly after then-Attorney General Bill Barr publicly released Helson’s notes of his Danchenko interviews. Barr took that action after facing pressure from Trump and Republican lawmakers to release more internal FBI files about the Russia investigation. The-CNN-Wire & © 2022 Cable News Network, Inc., a Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All rights reserved. Read More Here

Trump Charged Secret Service ‘exorbitant’ Rates At His Hotels, Records Show https://digitalalaskanews.com/trump-charged-secret-service-exorbitant-rates-at-his-hotels-records-show/ Former president Donald Trump’s company charged the Secret Service as much as five times more than the government rate for agents to stay overnight at Trump hotels while protecting him and his family, according to expense records newly obtained by Congress. The records show that in 40 cases the Trump Organization billed the Secret Service far higher amounts than the approved government rate — in one case charging agents $1,185 a night to stay at the Trump International Hotel in D.C. The new billing documents, according to a congressional committee’s review, show that U.S. taxpayers paid the president’s company at least $1.4 million for Secret Service agents’ stays at Trump properties for his and his family’s protection. “The exorbitant rates charged to the Secret Service and agents’ frequent stays at Trump-owned properties raise significant concerns about the former President’s self-dealing and may have resulted in a taxpayer-funded windfall for former President Trump’s struggling businesses,” Rep. Carolyn B. Maloney (D-N.Y.) wrote to Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle. The records contradict the repeated claim made by Eric Trump, the president’s son and the Trump Organization’s executive vice president, that the family’s company often gave the Secret Service agents the hotel rooms “at cost” or sometimes free, providing steep discounts for the security team to stay at Trump properties. The Secret Service did not immediately responded to a message from The Washington Post about the new congressional report. Eric Trump disputed that the Trump Organization profited off Secret Service stays at his family’s properties. “Any services rendered to the United States Secret Service or other government agencies at Trump owned properties, were at their request and were either provided at cost, heavily discounted or for free,” he said in a statement. “The company would have been substantially better off if hospitality services were sold to full-paying guests, however, the company did whatever it took to accommodate the agencies to ensure they were able to do their jobs at the highest levels.” While the documents do not cover all Secret Service expenses at Trump properties during his presidency and reflect only a fraction of those expenses since he left office, they offer a more detailed financial accounting than previously known of what taxpayers paid for Trump’s frequent choice to stay at his properties. Trump visited his properties more than 500 times during his presidency. Documents obtained in February 2020 under the Freedom of Information Act revealed the rates the Secret Service paid at then-President Donald Trump’s properties. (Video: Zach Purser Brown/The Washington Post) Maloney, chairwoman of the House Oversight and Reform Committee, obtained the records as part of her investigation into how Trump may have profited off his security agents’ duty to follow him wherever he traveled. She wrote a letter Monday to Cheatle demanding a complete accounting of what taxpayers have paid — and continue to pay — the Trump Organization. “Given the long-standing concerns surrounding the former President’s conflicts of interest and efforts to profit off the presidency, the committee has a strong interest in obtaining a complete accounting of federal government spending at Trump properties,” Maloney wrote. “The Committee continues to examine potential legislation to prevent presidential self-dealing and profiteering, as well as to curb conflicts of interest by ensuring that future presidents are prevented from exercising undue influence on Secret Service spending. ” In 2019, Eric Trump said the Trump Organization was saving the Secret Service agents — and taxpayers who paid the bill — huge sums. “If my father travels, they stay at our properties free,” he said. “So everywhere that he goes, if he stays at one of his places, the government actually spends, meaning it saves a fortune because if they were to go to a hotel across the street, they’d be charging them $500 a night, whereas, you know we charge them, like $50.” In 2020, Eric Trump reiterated that Trump Organization was giving these public servants — and ultimately taxpayers — discounted rates. “We provide the rooms at cost and could make far more money renting them to members or guests,” he said. But the reality was different, the records reveal. During Trump’s presidency, Secret Service supervisors frequently asked for special waivers to let the agency pay far more than the government-approved nightly rate for a hotel in D.C. — usually $195 to $240. Instead, they paid the higher costs the Trump Organization was charging. In April 2017, when Eric Trump and his wife, Lara, were staying at the Trump International Hotel in D.C., the president’s company charged the Secret Service agents $1,160 — more than four times the government rate at the time — the records show. In November 2017, when Donald Trump, Jr., stayed at the same hotel, the government was charged $1,185 a night for his security detail staying overnight at the hotel to protect him — almost six times the government rate, which varies based on time and location. Maloney stressed that the Secret Service continues to pay the Trump Organization while protecting Trump since he left office, and she is concerned by reports of excessive fees the agency is charged for the former president’s travels. Her committee obtained records that stretch over his four-year presidency and continue from President Biden’s inauguration to September 2021. Maloney noted in her letter to the Secret Service director that records turned over to her committee do not include the agency’s payments for a series of visits to Trump’s private club at Mar-a-Lago; some visits to his property at Bedminster, N.J.; and for stays at Trump properties outside the United States during frequent foreign travel by Trump and his family. Read More Here

Trump Organization Charged Secret Service As Much $1,185 Per Night To Stay At Trump D.C. Hotel https://digitalalaskanews.com/trump-organization-charged-secret-service-as-much-1185-per-night-to-stay-at-trump-d-c-hotel/ During Donald Trump’s presidency, Trump hotels charged the Secret Service as much as $1,185 per night, more than five times the recommended government rate, and the high rates continued after he left office, according to an investigation released Monday by the House Committee on Oversight and Reform. Beginning in January 2017 through Sept. 15, 2021, the Secret Service received at least 40 waivers to let it spend more than the recommended per diem rates to stay at Trump properties to protect Trump as a president and former president, and also to protect those around him, the investigation found. In one ledger obtained by the Oversight Committee and published in the report, the Secret Service was charged $1,160 for a room at the Trump International Hotel in Washington, D.C. for agents protecting Eric Trump on March 8, 2017. The government rate for D.C. on that night was $242. On Nov. 8, 2017, another ledger shows that the Secret Service was charged $1,185 to lodge agents protecting Donald Trump Jr. The government rate was $201. In a statement on behalf of the Trump Organization, Eric Trump said, “Any services rendered to the United States Secret Service or other government agencies at Trump owned properties were at their request and were either provided at cost, heavily discounted or for free. The company would have been substantially better off if hospitality services were sold to full-paying guests, however, the company did whatever it took to accommodate the agencies to ensure they were able to do their jobs at the highest levels — they are amazing men and women.” The Secret Service did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Trump Organization properties overall charged the Secret Service more than $1.4 million for agents’ accommodations when traveling to protect former President Trump, according to figures first reported by The Washington Post. But it was previously unknown that a single night’s stay for the agents could cost the government agency, and therefore taxpayers, as much as $1,185. House Oversight Committee Chairwoman Carolyn Maloney detailed the new findings in a letter to Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle on Monday, noting that then-President Trump said federal employees traveling with him would be able to stay in his company’s properties for free or at cost. “The exorbitant rates charged to the Secret Service and agents’ frequent stays at Trump-owned properties raise significant concerns about the former President’s self-dealing and may have resulted in a taxpayer-funded windfall for former President Trump’s struggling businesses,” Maloney said. During his presidency, Trump visited his properties 547 times, including 145 visits to his Mar-a-Lago Club in Florida, the investigation found, citing a study by Citizens for Ethics and Responsibility in Washington. Agents were required to stay at Trump Organization properties in order to protect the president as well as other dignitaries and foreign leaders. The per diem for Secret Service is usually based on a formula that accounts for the season and location, the committee said, and higher rates are generally scrutinized by the agency. “The Secret Service received authorization for additional flexibility for expenses during protective missions, including per diem expenses above the government rate,” Maloney said in her letter to the Secret Service. Maloney said the committee is continuing to seek a full account of Secret Service spending at Trump Organization properties and believes the figure may be larger than the $1.4 million previously reported. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com Read More Here

N https://digitalalaskanews.com/n-96/ Please enable JS and disable any ad blocker Read More Here

Credit Suisse Pays $495 Mln To Settle Legacy U.S. Case https://digitalalaskanews.com/credit-suisse-pays-495-mln-to-settle-legacy-u-s-case/ Settlement ends bank’s largest outstanding RMBS case Credit Suisse says settlement is fully covered by provisions Bank still has five cases to resolve Expects to resolve outstanding cases in next six months ZURICH, Oct 17 (Reuters) – Credit Suisse (CSGN.S) has agreed to pay $495 million to settle a case related to mortgage-linked investments in the United States, the latest pay-out related to past blunders that have battered the Swiss bank’s reputation. The lender has been paying out billions of dollars to resolve legal cases linked to its residential mortgage-backed securities (RMBS) business in the run up to the 2008 financial crisis. The decline in mortgage payments reduced the value of the assets, leading to huge losses for investors. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com Switzerland’s second biggest bank is trying to move on from these legacy issues which have dogged its performance and cost it billions of dollars. The bank is also trying to recover from other missteps, including losing more than $5 billion from the collapse of investment firm Archegos last year, when it also had to suspend client funds linked to defunct financier Greensill Capital. The latest RMBS case, brought by the New Jersey Attorney General, alleged Credit Suisse had “misled investors and engaged in fraud or deceit in connection with the offer and sale of RMBS.” The attorney general’s office had claimed more than $3 billion in damages in a case filed in 2013. “Credit Suisse is pleased to have reached an agreement that allows the bank to resolve the only remaining RMBS matter involving claims by a regulator,” the bank said in a statement. “The settlement, for which Credit Suisse is fully provisioned, marks another important step in the bank’s efforts to pro-actively resolve litigation and legacy issues.” The logo of Swiss bank Credit Suisse is seen at its headquarters in Zurich, Switzerland February 22, 2022. REUTERS/Arnd Wiegmann The New Jersey case was the largest of its remaining exposure on its legacy RMBS business, Credit Suisse said, with five remaining cases at various stages of litigation. These are expected to be resolved in the next six months, a person familiar with the matter told Reuters. The total cost likely to be much less than $100 million, the source added. RMBS are a debt-based securities, seen as similar to bonds, which are backed by the interest paid on home loans packaged together to sell to investors. But poorly constructed RMBS’s contributed to the financial crisis in 2008 – when wider groups of mortgages defaulted leading to big losses. Credit Suisse, whose share price has more than halved in the last 12 months, has already paid out huge sums to resolve claims related to the products, including a $5.3 billion deal with the Department of Justice in 2017. It said at that time products it sold did not meet underwriting guidelines. It also paid $600 million to MBIA Inc last year after the New York based-municipal bond insurer paid out hundreds of millions to compensate investors. The bank, one of the largest in Europe and one of Switzerland’s global systemically important banks, is scheduled to release details of a much anticipated strategic review alongside third-quarter results on Oct. 27. In June, the bank was convicted of failing to prevent money laundering by a Bulgarian cocaine trafficking gang, while a Bermuda court ruled that a former Georgian Prime Minister and his family were due damages of more than half a billion dollars from Credit Suisse’s local life insurance arm. The U.S. Justice Department is also investigating whether Credit Suisse continued helping U.S. clients hide assets from authorities, eight years after the Swiss bank paid a $2.6-billion tax evasion settlement. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com Reporting by John Revill and Oliver Hirt; Editing by Kirsten Donovan, Mark Potter and Jane Merriman Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles. Read More Here

Body Of Bethel Man Missing Since September Found https://digitalalaskanews.com/body-of-bethel-man-missing-since-september-found/ BETHEL, Alaska (KTUU) – Bethel police have confirmed that the body of a Bethel man missing since September has been found and recovered. Bethel Chief of Police Leonard Hicks confirmed to Alaska’s News Source Monday morning that 33-year-old Valdamire Kinegak, who was reported missing Sept. 22, was found over the weekend by a bystander at the Browns Slough bridge in town. Chief Hicks said the person who made the discovery notified officers with the department, who were able to use an ID card in a wallet on the body to positively identify Kinegak. Hicks said Kinegak’s body would be transferred to the State Medical Examiner’s office in Anchorage on Monday. This is a developing story. Check back for more updates. Copyright 2022 KTUU. All rights reserved. Read More Here

Pence To Campaign For GOP Representative Who Voted To Impeach Trump In 2021 https://digitalalaskanews.com/pence-to-campaign-for-gop-representative-who-voted-to-impeach-trump-in-2021/ October 17, 2022 12:16 PM Former Vice President Mike Pence is throwing his support behind Rep. David Valadao, a Republican from California who voted to impeach former President Donald Trump for his involvement in the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol in 2021. Valadao was one of 10 House Republicans who voted to impeach Trump last year. As of Aug. 14, seven of the 10 will not return to office in 2023. Valadao, who represents the 21st Congressional District, is running against Democratic challenger Rudy Salas for control over the newly drawn 22nd Congressional District. Rep. David Valadao. (AP Photo/Amanda Andrade-Rhoades) Pence is set to headline a campaign fundraiser for Valadao in Fresno, California. He also recently helped campaign for Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp against Trump-backed GOP candidate David Perdue in the primary election, which Kemp won. MIDTERM ELECTIONS 2022: HERE ARE THE ISSUES ARIZONA VOTERS CARE ABOUT THE MOST The former vice president has been outspoken against several Trump-backed candidates, particularly those who continue to deny the results of the 2020 election, such as Arizona’s GOP candidate for governor, Kari Lake. Pence had supported candidate Karrin Taylor Robson, whom Lake beat in the primary. He said in July that Lake wanted to make the 2022 election about the past. “So, let me say, when you get out and vote for Karrin Taylor Robson and this Republican team, you can say yes to a future of freedom for Arizona,” he said that month. On Sept. 14, Arizona Republican secretary of state candidate Mark Finchem accused Pence of attempting to organize a “coup” against Trump after Pence certified the 2020 election results. Finchem will compete against Democratic nominee Adrian Fontes in November. If he loses, he vowed not to concede. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER The Washington Examiner reached out to Valadao’s office for comment. Read More Here

Biden Is Turning To Trump-Era Rule To Expel Venezuelan Migrants https://digitalalaskanews.com/biden-is-turning-to-trump-era-rule-to-expel-venezuelan-migrants/ The Associated Press WASHINGTON — Two years ago, candidate Joe Biden loudly denounced President Donald Trump for immigration policies that inflicted “cruelty and exclusion at every turn,” including toward those fleeing the “brutal” government of socialist Nicolas Maduro in Venezuela. Now, with increasing numbers of Venezuelans arriving at the U.S.-Mexico border as the Nov. 8 election nears, Biden has turned to an unlikely source for a solution: his predecessor’s playbook. Biden last week invoked a Trump-era rule known as Title 42 — which Biden’s own Justice Department is fighting in court — to deny Venezuelans fleeing their crisis-torn country the chance to request asylum at the border. The rule, first invoked by Trump in 2020, uses emergency public health authority to allow the United States to keep migrants from seeking asylum at the border, based on the need to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. Under the new Biden administration policy, Venezuelans who walk or swim across America’s southern border will be expelled and any Venezuelan who illegally enters Mexico or Panama will be ineligible to come to the United States. But as many as 24,000 Venezuelans will be accepted at U.S. airports, similar to how Ukrainians have been admitted since Russia’s invasion in February. Mexico has insisted that the U.S. admit one Venezuelan on humanitarian parole for each Venezuelan it expels to Mexico, according to a Mexican official who was not authorized to discuss the matter publicly and spoke condition of anonymity. So if the Biden administration paroles 24,000 Venezuelans to the U.S., Mexico would take no more than 24,000 Venezuelans expelled from the U.S. The Biden policy marks an abrupt turn for the White House, which just weeks ago was lambasting Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, both Republicans, for putting Venezuelan migrants “fleeing political persecution” on buses and planes to Democratic strongholds. “These were children, they were moms, they were fleeing communism,” White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said at the time. Biden’s new policy has drawn swift criticism from immigrant advocates, many of them quick to point out the Trump parallels. “Rather than restore the right to asylum decimated by the Trump administration … the Biden administration has dangerously embraced the failures of the past and expanded upon them by explicitly enabling expulsions of Venezuelan migrants,” said Jennifer Nagda, policy director of the Young Center for Immigrant Children’s Rights. The administration says the policy is aimed at ensuring a “lawful and orderly” way for Venezuelans to enter the U.S. WHY THE TURNAROUND? For more than a year after taking office in January 2021, Biden deferred to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which used its authority to keep in place the Trump-era declaration that a public health risk existed that warranted expedited expulsion of asylum-seekers. Members of Biden’s own party and activist groups had expressed skepticism about the public health underpinnings for allowing Title 42 to remain in effect, especially when COVID-19 was spreading more widely within the U.S. than elsewhere. After months of internal deliberations and preparations, the CDC on April 1 said it would end the public health order and return to normal border processing of migrants, giving them a chance to request asylum in the U.S. Homeland Security officials braced for a resulting increase in border crossings. But officials inside and outside the White House were conflicted over ending the authority, believing it effectively kept down the number of people crossing the border illegally, according to senior administration officials. A court order in May that kept Title 42 in place due to a challenge from Republican state officials was greeted with quiet relief by some in the administration, according to officials who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity to discuss internal discussions. The recent increase in migration from Venezuela, sparked by political, social and economic instability in the country, dashed officials’ hopes that they were finally seeing a lull in the chaos that had defined the border region for the past year. By August, Venezuelans were the second-largest nationality arriving at the U.S. border after Mexicans. Given that U.S. tensions with Venezuela meant migrants from the country could not be sent back easily, the situation became increasingly difficult to manage. So an administration that had rejected many Trump-era policies aimed at keeping out migrants, that had worked to make the asylum process easier and that had increased the number of refugees allowed into the U.S. now turned to Title 42. It brokered a deal to send the Venezuelans to Mexico, which already had agreed to accept migrants expelled under Title 42 if they are from Guatemala, Honduras or El Salvador. All the while, Justice Department lawyers continue to appeal a court decision that has kept Title 42 in place. They are opposing Republican attorneys general from more than 20 states who have argued that Title 42 is “the only safety valve preventing this Administration’s already disastrous border control policies from descending into an unmitigated catastrophe.” Under Title 42, migrants have been expelled more than 2.3 million times from the U.S. after crossing the country’s land borders illegally from Canada or Mexico, though most try to come through Mexico. The administration had announced it would stop expelling migrants under Title 42 starting May 23 and go back to detaining and deporting migrants who did not qualify to enter and remain in the U.S. — a longer process that allows migrants to request asylum in the U.S. “We are extremely disturbed by the apparent acceptance, codification, and expansion of the use of Title 42, an irrelevant health order, as a cornerstone of border policy,” said Thomas Cartwright of Witness at the Border. “One that expunges the legal right to asylum.” A separate lawsuit from the American Civil Liberties Union also is trying to end Title 42, an effort that could render the administration’s proposal useless. “People have a right to seek asylum – regardless of where they came from, how they arrive in the United States, and whether or not they have family here,” said ACLU lawyer Lee Gelernt. Today’s breaking news and more in your inbox Read More Here

Government Says Former Trump Advisor Steve Bannon Should Get 6-Month Sentence https://digitalalaskanews.com/government-says-former-trump-advisor-steve-bannon-should-get-6-month-sentence/ Politics Oct 17, 2022 12:14 PM EDT WASHINGTON (AP) — The Justice Department said Monday that Steve Bannon should serve six months in prison and pay a $200,000 fine for defying a congressional subpoena from the House committee investigating the Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. The longtime ally of former President Donald Trump should serve a hefty sentence because he “pursued a bad-faith strategy of defiance and contempt” and he publicly disparaged the committee itself, undermining the effort to get to the bottom of the violent attack and keep anything like it from happening again, federal attorneys wrote. He has not yet provided any documents or answered any questions, they said. “The rioters who overran the Capitol on January 6 did not just attack a building—they assaulted the rule of law upon which this country was built and through which it endures,” federal attorneys wrote in court documents. “By flouting the Select Committee’s subpoena and its authority, the Defendant exacerbated that assault.” WATCH: Dissecting Steve Bannon’s contempt conviction and the Jan. 6 committee’s accomplishments Bannon’s defense attorneys didn’t immediately respond to a message seeking comment. His lawyer, David Schoen, has said the case would be reversed on appeal. The Justice Department push comes shortly after the committee took the extraordinary step last week to subpoena Trump himself, something the members said was necessary to get the full story of what happened that day. It’s unclear how Trump will respond to the summons, but a refusal to comply could open up a similar path in court — though holding a former president in contempt would be an unprecedented and fraught process. Bannon, meanwhile, is set to be sentenced Friday on two counts of contempt of Congress: one for refusing to sit for a deposition and another for refusing to provide documents. The committee had sought Bannon’s testimony over his involvement in Trump’s efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election. Bannon initially argued that his testimony was protected by Trump’s claim of executive privilege, but the committee was skeptical because the adviser had been fired from the White House in 2017 and was thus a private citizen when he was consulting with the then-president in the run-up to the riot on Jan. 6, 2021. Trump’s own lawyer, meanwhile, told Bannon’s lawyer in October 2021 that he didn’t believe there was immunity for him, and he should cooperate with the subpoena, according to Monday’s sentencing memo. Federal attorneys are also asking for the maximum fine, saying Bannon refused to cooperate with routine questions about his finances and said he could pay whatever the court imposed. Defense attorneys argued during the trial that he didn’t refuse to cooperate and that the deadline dates “were in flux.” They pointed to the fact that Bannon had reversed course shortly before the trial kicked off — after Trump waived his objection — and had offered to testify before the committee. But that offer came with strings attached, federal attorneys wrote, including the dismissal of the criminal case against him. When it became clear that wasn’t in the cards, the possibility of cooperation faded, court records state. Bannon was convicted after a four-day trial in July. Outside the courthouse, he compared the trial to a battle and said “we’re not going to lose this war,” then referred to members of the committee as “gutless.” It was not the only time Bannon disparaged the committee in “exaggerated and sometimes violent” language in news conferences and on his “War Room” podcast, prosecutors wrote. “The defendant’s statements prove that his contempt was not aimed at protecting executive privilege or the Constitution, rather it was aimed at undermining the Committee’s efforts to investigate an historic attack on government,” federal attorneys said in court documents. “To this day, he continues to unlawfully withhold documents and testimony that stand to help the Committee’s authorized investigation to get to the bottom of what led to January 6 and ascertain what steps must be taken to ensure that it never happens again. That cannot be tolerated.” Left: Former U.S. President Donald Trump’s White House chief strategist Steve Bannon stands to have his handcuffs removed for his arraignment at the New York Criminal Courthouse in New York, U.S., September 8, 2022 in this courtroom sketch. REUTERS/Jane Rosenberg TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY Read More Here

Alaska's Fishing Task Force Contemplates Bycatch Concerns From Struggling Fishing Industry https://digitalalaskanews.com/alaskas-fishing-task-force-contemplates-bycatch-concerns-from-struggling-fishing-industry/ Alaska’s Fishing Task Force Contemplates Bycatch Concerns From Struggling Fishing Industry A special task force is nearing the end of a year-long process to find solutions that satisfy competing interests to the problem of bycatch, as Western Alaska residents call for strict rules to reduce at-sea bycatch. (via @AlaskaBeacon) https://t.co/leHJK7u9Zq — Alaska Public Media News (@AKpublicnews) October 17, 2022 Last year, Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy announced a controversial new fishing task force, which faced a lot of challenges amid contentious feelings and struggles with declining stocks throughout the state’s waters. Now, almost one year in, the Governor’s task force needs to make some decisions on bycatch concerns within the fishing industry. Here’s Alaska Public Media: Many of the mostly Indigenous residents of western Alaska who depend on now-faltering salmon runs in the Yukon and Kuskokwim rivers have said strict rules to reduce at-sea bycatch are needed to help alleviate a crisis. Disasters have been declared for these fisheries. Serena Fitka, the executive director of the Yukon River Drainage Fisheries Association who grew up in the Yup’ik village of St. Mary’s near the Bering Sea coast, said she has not been able to harvest river salmon for three years. It’s not only about lost food, she told the task force at a meeting in Anchorage on Wednesday. “It’s also very important for rural communities because it’s our culture, which includes mental, social consequences,” she told the task force at a meeting on Wednesday. “Every single person in our communities relies on that salmon.” About Author chrisco2 Read More Here

Goldman Plans Major Reorganization To Combine Key Units -Source https://digitalalaskanews.com/goldman-plans-major-reorganization-to-combine-key-units-source/ LONDON/NEW YORK, Oct 16 (Reuters) – Goldman Sachs (GS.N) is planning a major reorganization to combine its biggest businesses into three divisions with its investment banking and trading businesses being merged into a single unit, a source familiar with the matter told Reuters. The plans are expected to be announced on Oct. 18 alongside Goldman’s third quarter earnings. Marcus, Goldman’s consumer banking business, will be absorbed into the wealth unit, the source said, confirming an earlier Wall Street Journal report. A spokesperson for Goldman Sachs declined to comment. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com This is the biggest shakeup since the company’s investor day in early 2020 when it outlined plans for four core units: investment banking, global markets, consumer and wealth management and asset management. “It’s a head scratcher,” said Mike Mayo, a banking analyst at Wells Fargo. “Right now, there are more questions than answers for Goldman Sachs as it relates to this potential restructuring.” The move comes as the Wall Street titan seeks to boost its income from fee-based businesses and cut its reliance on volatile trading and investment banking revenues. The changes also signal Marcus, the consumer unit, is being relegated after Chief Executive Officer David Solomon expressed big ambitions to build a mainstream digital bank. “This may be a way to put Marcus to the back burner as a way to de-emphasize its importance as an investment opportunity,” Mayo said. Solomon, who became CEO in 2018, has sought to expand Goldman’s footprint in retail banking since his early days at the helm. But the consumer banking unit that launched in 2016 has struggled to gain traction and suffered from delays. Marcus has yet to launch a checking account that was scheduled for this year. At mid-year, the bank internally forecast that Marcus’ losses would accelerate to more than $1.2 billion in 2022, for cumulative losses of more than $4 billion, Bloomberg reported. Goldman declined to comment on the loss. Solomon has said the business could generate revenue of over $4 billion by end of 2024. Net revenue in the consumer-banking unit grew by 23% to $1.49 billion in 2021, reflecting higher credit card and deposit balances, the bank said in its annual report. Marcus offers digital banking products such as loans, savings and certificate of deposits. It also provides credit cards via a partnership with Apple Inc (AAPL.O). The consumer business serves more than 14 million customers and had more than $100 billion in deposits with over $16 billion in cards and loans balances, the bank has said. GOLDMAN SACHS’ OVERHAUL KEEPS MANAGEMENT “ON ITS TOES” The combined investment banking and trading group will be overseen by Dan Dees and Jim Esposito, who are currently global co-heads of Goldman’s investment banking, and Ashok Varadhan, now co-head of its global markets division, according to Bloomberg. Marc Nachmann, the bank’s global co-head of the global markets division, will move to help run the combined asset- and wealth-management arm, the report said. Marcus will become a part of the asset and wealth management unit, the report added. “This is a way for Goldman Sachs to keep its management team on its toes and to reinforce the intensity that defines Goldman,” Mayo said. Such an organizational overhaul of the bank comes shortly after its global job cuts in September that could have impacted hundreds of bankers. In the second quarter, Goldman reported a 48% slump in profit that beat forecasts as fixed-income and commodities trading surged. Like its Wall Street rivals, the bank is expected to report a sharp drop in third-quarter net profit as investment banking revenue was badly hurt by a slump in dealmaking. Goldman is expected to deliver a net profit of $2.77 billion in the third quarter, according to analysts’ forecasts compiled by Refinitiv, down from $5.38 billion a year earlier. Given the tough operating environment, Goldman is closely re-examining all of its forward spending and investment plans to ensure the best use of its resources, Barclays said in a recent report. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com Reporting by Pamela Barbaglia in London, Lavanya Ahire and Akriti Sharma in Bengaluru, Selena Li in Hong Kong, Saeed Azhar in New York; Editing by Sherry Jacob-Phillips and Muralikumar Anantharaman Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles. Read More Here

N https://digitalalaskanews.com/n-95/ Please enable JS and disable any ad blocker Read More Here

FBI Agents Searching Bardstown Farm Where Crystal Rogers Was Last Seen Alive https://digitalalaskanews.com/fbi-agents-searching-bardstown-farm-where-crystal-rogers-was-last-seen-alive/ BARDSTOWN, Ky. (WDRB) — FBI agents descended on a Bardstown farm Monday morning to search the site where Crystal Rogers was last seen alive before she disappeared seven years ago.  Agents began searching before sunrise at the farm on Paschal Ballard Lane. The farm is owned by the family of Brooks Houck, the last person to see Rogers alive. It has already been searched multiple times, most recently in 2020.  Rogers was last seen on July 3, 2015. The next day, her car was found on the side of the Bluegrass Parkway with her purse, phone and keys still inside. But there was no sign of the mother of five. Houck was named as the main suspect but has never been charged in relation to the case. #BREAKING: FBI Louisville is conducting judicially authorized activity at 345 Paschal Ballard Lane, Bardstown, KY in relation to the federal investigation into the disappearance of Crystal Rogers. pic.twitter.com/CITH0yeQ8i — FBI Louisville (@FBILouisville) October 17, 2022 As tips continue to be an important part of the investigation, please submit them at https://t.co/MLyP3LMzMu or call 502-263-6000. — FBI Louisville (@FBILouisville) October 17, 2022 Multiple FBI and other law enforcement vehicles converged on the farm Monday. Many of them were in side-by-side ATVs to get in and out of different areas of the nearly 300-acre farm.  A mobile command center and multiple trailers and several tents have also been set up.  The FBI took over the investigation into Rogers’ disappearance two years ago. Since then, the agency has executed several search warrants for the many properties the Houcks own in Bardstown. Last summer, the FBI spent more than a week in a Bardstown neighborhood in search of information in Rogers’ disappearance. Agents said they found “multiple items of interest” that were “potentially relevant” to their investigation after they zeroed in on the driveway of one home, which was built by a construction company owned by Houck.  The FBI is also still investigating the death of Rogers’ father, Tommy Ballard, who was shot and killed five years ago while hunting on his own property more than a year after Rogers went missing. FBI Louisville said the search could take several days, depending on weather and ground conditions.  Sherry Ballard is expected to release a statement later Monday afternoon.  Related Stories: ‘You never forget it’ | Sunday marks 7 years since disappearance of Crystal Rogers FBI spends $28,000 to repair damage after August search in Bardstown in Crystal Rogers case FBI ends search of neighborhood related to Crystal Rogers case FBI uncovers multiple items ‘potentially relevant’ to Crystal Rogers investigation Break in the case? Recapping this week’s FBI search for Crystal Rogers Bardstown community hoping for answers in Crystal Rogers’ case FBI says it recovered an ‘item of interest’ in Bardstown search for Crystal Rogers case FBI spends 3rd day focused on Bardstown neighborhood in search of Crystal Rogers Crystal Rogers’ mother says FBI ‘enthused’ on Day 2 of neighborhood search FBI conducts searches in Bardstown connected to Crystal Rogers investigation Prayer vigil marks 6 years since disappearance of Crystal Rogers 6 years after her disappearance, FBI says it’s in final stages of Crystal Rogers investigation Disappearance of Crystal Rogers nears six years, prayer vigil planned in Bardstown FBI says it’s nearly finished with Crystal Rogers investigation after taking over Bardstown cold case FBI using new resources, fresh eyes in quest to crack Crystal Rogers investigation FBI canvasses Bardstown neighborhood in ongoing investigation into Crystal Rogers’ disappearance Federal agents search Bardstown storage unit of missing mom Crystal Rogers FBI asks for public’s help in Crystal Rogers investigation, seeks surveillance footage from 2015 FBI returns to Bardstown, interviews neighbors who live near Nick Houck Days after FBI takeover of Crystal Rogers investigation, her mother says the progress is ‘overwhelming’ FBI canvasses Bardstown neighborhood after receiving multiple tips in connection with Crystal Rogers investigation FBI retrieves Crystal Rogers’ car from mother’s storage unit on second day of investigation FBI takes over investigation into disappearance of Crystal Rogers TIMELINE | The disappearance and search for Bardstown mother Crystal Rogers Crystal Rogers’ daughter talks about life without her mom during the 5 years she’s been missing 3 years after Crystal Rogers went missing, Brooks Houck speaks to WDRB Copyright 2022 WDRB Media. All Rights Reserved. Read More Here

India News | Congress Presidential Polls Will Strengthen Party: AK Antony | LatestLY https://digitalalaskanews.com/india-news-congress-presidential-polls-will-strengthen-party-ak-antony-latestly/ Get latest articles and stories on India at LatestLY. Senior Congress leader A K Antony on Monday said that the Congress Presidential election would strengthen the party. Agency News ANI| Oct 17, 2022 08:40 PM IST Thiruvananthapuram (Kerala) [India], October 17 (ANI): Senior Congress leader A K Antony on Monday said that the Congress Presidential election would strengthen the party. “This election will strengthen the Congress and we will be able to face the (Lok Sabha) election with more strength in 2024,” Antony said. Also Read | Assam Shocker: Government School Teacher Sexually Abuses Student in Kamrup, Suspended. Launching a scathing attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party and Communist Party of India (Marxist), Antony said that, unlike these parties, there is comradeship and friendship in Congress. “You can see the delegates are coming here and voting without any conflicts. There is no dispute and that is the strength of Congress. You cannot see this in BJP or CPIM,” he said. Also Read | UP Shocker: 15-Year-Old Rape Victim Set on Fire, Dies at Saifai Medical College Hospital in Etawah. “An eye-opener to the people of India, Kerala and even media as no media is prevented here like other parties,” he added. A K Antony cast his vote for the party’s presidential polls. Meanwhile, voting ended for Congress presidential elections on Monday with the delegates casting their vote to choose the party’s next chief between former union ministers Mallikarjun Kharge and Shashi Tharoor. Over 9,000 Pradesh Congress Committee delegates were eligible to cast their vote in the election. Both Kharge and Tharoor campaigned ahead of the polls and Congress will get a leader outside the Nehru-Gandhi family as president after 24 years. The new party chief will have his task cut out with assembly elections having already been declared in Himachal Pradesh and poised to be held in Gujarat. The presidential election has taken place at the culmination of the party’s organisational elections and has come at a time Congress faces multiple challenges. Sonia Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi, Salman Khurshid and many senior leaders cast their votes. “I have been waiting for a long time,” Sonia Gandhi said when she was asked by media persons on the poll. Sonia Gandhi cast her vote at the headquarters of the All India Congress Committee (AICC). Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra also accompanied her mother Sonia Gandhi and cast her vote for the next president of the Indian National Congress in the national capital on Monday. Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot said, “Today is a historic day, the election for Congress president is taking place today after 22 years. This election gives the message of internal harmony in the party. My relation with the Gandhi family will be same even after 19 Oct (day of the counting of votes).” Gehlot was one of the contenders for the top post of the grand old party but eventually decided to “not participate” as his candidature created a political crisis in Rajasthan. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Read More Here

Eaglecrest Ski Area – Alaska's Best Kept Secret – SnowBrains https://digitalalaskanews.com/eaglecrest-ski-area-alaskas-best-kept-secret-snowbrains/ Views to the west of various side-country mountains and terrain from the chairlift. Credit: Kristen Strom Brought to you by Travel Juneau and Eaglecrest Ski Area, AK While most of us struggled for snow in the lower 48 last spring, Eaglecrest Ski Area had no such concern. With snowfall continuing for months straight, the fresh lines were plentiful. Juneau, Alaska, hosts a small Alaskan community with a great ski area. A quiet, local mountain with big terrain is one of the signature features of Juneau. And frankly, something that’s faded away in the ski industry in the last few years. Eaglecrest Ski Area in Juneau makes your Alaskan dreams a reality, serving some unique and deep terrain at an accessible rate. An adventure north with views, challenging lines, and solitude is not out of reach. The Eaglecrest Ski Area, on the southern Gulf of Alaska, is accessible and affordable to all shredder types. A short 2-hour plane ride from Seattle is all it takes to get there. Once landing in Juneau, Eaglecrest is a short 35-40 minute drive onto Douglas Island (yes, we said island). Across the only bridge from downtown Juneau, you’re completely isolated, headed towards the heart of Douglas. A short drive up Fish Creek road or what feels like a road to nowhere into the Alaskan wilderness to nowhere, and you’re there. Enjoy the least stressful parking experience ever, with a handful of cars towards the base on your average weekday. *Moment of silence for all the parking lot hikers* Who wouldn’t take this tree line at Eaglecrest?! Credit: Kristen Strom  Another huge bonus to this big, small-town resort is the boarding pass deal Eaglecrest offers, which gives you a free lift ticket with same-day travel. Flash your boarding pass at the ticket office, and they’ll print you off a lift ticket for the day on the spot. So, why not take that early flight to Seattle and make your first day in Juneau one to remember? Correct me if I’m wrong, but there’s no better remedy for jet lag than skiing new slopes. The laid-back vibe continues up the hill towards the lift with zero to minimal lift lines, enhancing that no-rush feeling in the mornings. It’s not uncommon to see familiar and friendly lift-ops greet you and send you on your way. It quickly becomes clear how tight-knit the locals and ski area community are. They’ve built the most welcoming sense of community, hooting and hollering at each other from the lifts and on the slopes. It’s also not rare for a visitor to build similar relationships and happen to run into familiar faces at the grocery store, on the lifts, or out on the town in Juneau. It’s also very easy to make friends at Eaglecrest, where you could be meeting someone while putting your boots on or a fellow hiker on Pittman’s Ridge.  Taking that into account, Eaglecrest is a community-owned resort, and there is no doubt about that strong connection the more time you spend there. The locals are passionate about this place, not just to protect it but want to share the highlights with everyone who visits. They love their days at Eaglecrest, and there’s no doubt why. It’s all classic 2-seaters at Eaglecrest. Credit: Kristen Strom  Eaglecrest Ski Area has steered clear of recent resort pricing structures and remains affordable to locals and visitors at the low day pass price of $68 a day. The resort values the community around it and makes it accessible for all to ski, a rare quality to find these days. Even the local 5th graders get a free season pass to encourage them to get up there and find their love for skiing at an influential age (parents, can I get a heck yeah?).  Related: City of Juneau Board Approves Purchase of $2 Million Gondola for Eaglecrest Ski Area, AK The ski area consists of three main chairs and one bunny hill chair; all original fixed-grip two-seaters from back in the ’70s! The main lift, Ptarmigan, gives you access to virtually the entire resort and is about a 12-minute ride to the top. You could ski Ptarmigan all day and never take the same run twice. It houses some tree runs and powder rollers on either side, not to mention a wacky-fun slalom course and park. Many of the goods remain inbounds at the resort, with stashes lasting long past the previous storm. Only a 10-minute bootpack to 360-degree views of the resort and ocean. Credit: Kristen Strom  If you are looking for more isolated runs, the hike out of bounds is a short boot pack to unlimited lines off both sides of Ptarmigan. It’s a good call to carry your beacon, shovel, and probe pack out there, as ski patrol does not maintain this terrain. It also doesn’t hurt to have a local’s lead, as their experience can help guide you down the best lines, all while prioritizing safety!   This terrain is accessed by a short boot pack, where you can choose one of two ways to traverse. Pittman’s Ridge to the West provides access to tree skiing, steeper lines, and tight chutes. It also presents ocean views, cornices, and surrounding mountain peaks. On the other hand, to the East is access to the Blackbear lift area, which serves wide-open bowls and low-stake powder turns, all leading towards the main chute back to the base. Either side gives you a 360-degree view and builds appreciation for this different type of island resort! It’s up to the shredder which side their favorite is, and get ready to back it up during your apres reminiscing with the locals! Top of Pittman’s Ridge Hike, featuring stunning ocean views. Credit: Kristen Strom  Even days after the most recent storm, it’s not rare that there are still untouched lines at Eaglecrest that are easy to get to. The showboat slopes are to the left of the parking lot and have challenging but manageable terrain above the resort. There’s also outstanding backcountry right out of the Eaglecrest parking lot if you’re still seeking complete solitude. Rumor has it that locals are likely hiking to the goods on nearby summits when the parking lot looks fuller than usual.  Finish off any day with some après and friends (new or old) in the parking lots. Here you can bring or, better yet, probably find friends with fresh salmon and two or three different Alaskan Brewery beverages of choice. Because who doesn’t want to look back on that type of day? That little mom-and-pop sense of ski community is out there and is so fun to experience. Eaglecrest East Bowls are accessible by a short hike or by BlackBear chairlift. This one is ‘Fruit Bowl.’ Credit: Kristen Strom  Read More Here

Get A Front Row Seat To The Northern Lights At These Stunning Hotels https://digitalalaskanews.com/get-a-front-row-seat-to-the-northern-lights-at-these-stunning-hotels/ Viewing the Northern Lights is an experience most travelers dream about, and even though the celestial phenomena is on display all year round, undoubtedly the best times for scoping its technicolor glory is during the winter months—the farther north, the better. And while planning a vacation in the auroral zone may seem like a daunting task, there are plenty of luxe locales just waiting for travelers to set up camp and view the Northern Lights—and the following are some of the very best. With sumptuous accommodations and plenty of activities on the itinerary, these top spots for aurora adventures have everything any intrepid traveler needs for an unforgettable Northern Lights vacation. Norway Knows Northern Lights From late September through late March, Northern Norway is shrouded in darkness from early afternoon through the late morning—making it one of the best places on earth to see the Northern Lights in all their dramatic splendor. Wide open spaces unhampered by light pollution serve as the perfect backdrop for sky viewing, while plenty of winter activities provide more than enough recreation for visitors who want to soak up those Nordic Norway vibes. Sorrisniva Arctic Wilderness Lodge Situated on the banks of the Alta River, this amazing spot offers a number of distinctive experiences for guests who want to scope the Northern Lights in style. Where It’s At: Sorrisniva 20, 9518 Alta Rates: Approximately $280 USD and up/night Amenities: Floor-to-ceiling windows; stunning river and Northern Lights views; balcony; walk-in showers; onsite restaurants; complimentary breakfast; plenty of add-on activities Experiences: Sami and Reindeer Meet and Greet; Husky Visit; Hammocking under the Midnight Sun; Hike to the Alta Canyon Lyngen Experience Lodge Situated on the edge of a fjord on the Lyngen Peninsula, this epic accommodation’s location above the Arctic Circle makes it an amazing place to catch the Northern Lights. And there are plenty of options and experiences for viewing them, too. Where It’s At: Lenangsveien 1656 Leiligheter: Sandnesveien 36 9068 Nord-Lenangen Rates: Inquire directly for room rates and availability Amenities: Onsite bar and restaurant; lodge, apartment, and aurora hut accommodations available; spa area with hot sauna, outdoor jacuzzi; fantastic mountain and fjord views Experiences: Aurora Hut; Northern Lights Tour; Sami Culture and Reindeer Experience; Dog Sledding; Whale Safari; Deep Sea Fishing A Sumptuous Swedish Stay In Sweden, the Northern Lights can be seen in all their vibrantly-hued glory from September through March, and sometimes even in early April. When winter arrives, the long nights in the country’s north, aka Swedish Lapland, become the ultimate backdrop for some of the most stunning light shows in all of Scandinavia. Arctic Bath An immersive and incredibly luxe property surrounded by picturesque natural beauty and unending, unspoiled vistas, Arctic Bath offers guests the chance to stay in a floating(!) cabin on the Lule River or in tucked-away cabins along the shore. Either way, the plethora of activities and wellness options makes this an ideal place to view the Northern Lights. Winter season begins November 18, 2022 Where It’s At: Ramdalsvägen 10, 960 24 Harads Rates: Start at about $687 USD and up/night Amenities: Onsite restaurant with Arctic Culinary Dinner Experience; onsite spa; spectacular views; variety of luxe lodgings; complimentary breakfast Experiences: Snowmobile, Snowshoe, and Hidden Spots Northern Lights Tours; Husky Tours; Cold Baths and Sauna Experiences Northern Lights Lodging, Alaska-Style From late August through April, Alaska’s daylight dwindles as its night skies become awash with vibrant colors. Considered one of the best places to view the Aurora Borealis outside of Scandinavia and Canada, the 49th state is packed with everything an aspiring sky watcher needs. From a myriad of scenic destinations and distinctive experiences to top-notch lodgings with unimpeded views of the colorful natural phenomena. Borealis Basecamp Fairbanks is undoubtedly one of the best spots in Alaska to view the Northern Lights as it’s easily accessible with plenty of tours and accommodations geared toured sky viewers—and Borealis Basecamp offers the best of both worlds. Close to the hubbub and activity of Fairbanks, while also remote and secluded enough to be away from it all, it’s the perfect stay with its dark skies and forested surroundings. Where It’s At: 2640 Himalaya Rd, Fairbanks, AK 99701 Rates: Two nights, three days (igloo stay) starts at $980/person; numerous packages are available Amenities: Igloo and Cube accommodations; amazing Aurora views via clear ceiling (igloo) or floor-to-ceiling windows (cube); onsite restaurant; in-room beverage bar Experiences: Sunset Snow Coach Experience; Private Arctic Circle Drive; Aurora Portrait Adventure; Dogsledding; UTV Tours; Reindeer Hiking Experience Sheldon Chalet Those looking for a truly once-in-a-lifetime Northern Lights viewing experience need look no further than this five-star, ultra-luxe property. Its hefty price tag is definitely worth it for its heart-stopping views of the Aurora Borealis with dramatic Denali as its backdrop and a veritable parade of sumptuous amenities. Where It’s At: Don Sheldon Amphitheater of Denali’s Ruth Glacier, Talkeetna, AK 99676 Rates: Contact property directly for rates and availability Amenities: Round-trip helicopter rides; private world-class chef; all-inclusive experience; use of adventure gear; private sauna; viewing decks; private, hexagonal chalet; oysters and champagne upon arrival Experiences: Guided Trek to Don Sheldon Amphitheater; Sledding; Spelunking; Gourmet Glacier Picnics; Snowshoe Glacier Trekking; Rappelling Canada Is For Sky-Gazing Depending on the area, the Northern Lights can be viewed in Canada all-year long, depending on the location—however, the best months to view the spectacular light show are from October through March (shorter days, longer nights). As for the best viewing spots, the Northern Provinces reign supreme; though those who favor summer traveling can also catch them during periods of high solar activity in the southern provinces. Either way, get ready for a front seat to some of the best Borealis viewing around. Northern Lights Resort & Spa Located in Canada’s Yukon Territory (with its long Northern Lights viewing window), this stunning spot is the perfect chalet stay. And with plenty of Aurora viewing packages and a slew of activities, guests can count on a colorful celestial backdrop to complement an unforgettable trip. Where It’s At: 41 Gentian Ln, Whitehorse, YT Y1A 6L6, Canada Rates: Aurora Viewing & Sightseeing Package starts at about $688 USD/person. See website for additional rates and packages Amenities: Multiple accommodations and packages available; onsite bar and restaurant; onsite spa and wellness options; glass-fronted Aurora chalets Experiences: 1/2 Day Dog Sledding, Snowshoeing, Ice-fishing, and Snowmobiling Adventures; Nordic Hot Springs Visit; Yukon Sightseeing Tours; Guided Wolf Creek Trail Hike Seeing the Northern Lights in all of their multi-hued splendor is undoubtedly a once-in-a-lifetime bucket list experience for most travelers. And while this natural phenomenon occurs all year round, nothing beats scoping the skies when they’re at their darkest—and these hotels offer the best front-row seats available to witness nature’s best light show at its best. Read More Here

House Majority Leader: Trump Will Be Treated Like Any Regular Citizen With Subpoena https://digitalalaskanews.com/house-majority-leader-trump-will-be-treated-like-any-regular-citizen-with-subpoena/ October 17, 2022 10:13 AM House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD) says the subpoena issued by the Jan. 6 committee for former President Donald Trump to testify will be treated just as any other subpoena. During an interview with Al Sharpton on MSNBC’s PoliticsNation on Sunday, Hoyer said that the House would pursue legal action against Trump should he defy the subpoena. MICHAEL COHEN: TRUMP DOESN’T HAVE ‘THE GUTS’ TO TESTIFY TO JAN. 6 COMMITTEE “Well, it’s very difficult because time is short, but we’re going to treat him just as we would any other citizen that refuses to testify: Go to court and ask that that individual be held in contempt and ordered to testify,” Hoyer said. “A former president is not above the law any more than the president is above the law.” When pressed further on if House Democrats would go to court over the subpoena, Hoyer deferred to the Jan. 6 committee for what potential action would look like. “From my standpoint, I haven’t talked to the committee about it. I don’t want to speak for the committee. They obviously don’t want to make a judgment until they know for sure what actions former President Trump is going to take, but yes, I think that is an action which, from my standpoint, ought to be taken,” Hoyer said. The former president was subpoenaed by the committee in a unanimous vote of the nine members Thursday, with Vice Chairwoman Rep. Liz Cheney (R-WY) saying, “We are obligated to seek answers directly from the man who set this all in motion.” CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER Trump denounced last week’s Jan. 6 committee hearing in a lengthy statement Friday, stating the committee was made up of “highly partisan political Hacks and Thugs,” and called the investigation a “Charade and Witch Hunt.” In the 14-page statement, Trump did not say whether he plans to comply with the subpoena. Read More Here