Digital Alaska News

Georgia To Replace Voting Machines In Coffee County After Alleged Security Breach https://digitalalaskanews.com/georgia-to-replace-voting-machines-in-coffee-county-after-alleged-security-breach/ Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger announced Friday that he intends to replace some election equipment in a south Georgia county where forensics experts working last year for pro-Trump attorney Sidney Powell copied virtually every component of the voting system. Raffensperger (R) said his office will replace machines in Coffee County “to allay the fears being stoked by perennial election deniers and conspiracy theorists.” He added that anyone who broke the law in connection with unauthorized access to Coffee County’s machines should be punished, “but the current election officials in Coffee County have to move forward with the 2022 election, and they should be able to do so without this distraction.” Some election-security experts have voiced concerns that the copying of the Coffee County software — used statewide in Georgia — risks exposing the entire state to hackers, who could use the copied software as a road map to find and exploit vulnerabilities. Raffensperger’s office has said that security protocols would make it virtually impossible for votes to be manipulated without detection. The move comes after Raffensperger’s office spent months voicing skepticism that such a security breach ever occurred in Coffee County. “There’s no evidence of any of that. It didn’t happen,” Gabe Sterling, Raffensperger’s chief operations officer, said at a public event in April. Since then, the fact that outsiders accessed county voting machines — and copied sensitive software and data — has been confirmed by sworn depositions, video surveillance footage from inside and outside of the county elections office and other documents turned over to plaintiffs in long-running civil litigation over election security in Georgia. The plaintiffs argue that the state should replace touch-screen voting machines with hand-marked paper ballots. Raffensperger and other Georgia officials are defendants in that case. They deny that the voting system is insecure. The announcement said that Coffee County would receive new “ballot-marking devices,” the touch-screen voting machines that voters use to make their selections; printers for paper ballots with voters’ selections; ballot scanners used in precincts; electronic poll pads used to check in voters at polling places; and flash cards and thumb drives. Two pieces of equipment that were accessed by the forensic experts in Coffee County — a central ballot scanner and the election management system server used to tally results — had already been replaced by Raffensperger’s office in June 2021. Marilyn Marks, executive director of the Coalition for Good Governance, a plaintiff in the civil litigation, said leaving those two pieces of equipment in place is “wildly ineffective.” They have been used during elections with the “presumably contaminated” devices that are now being replaced, and now could be contaminated themselves, she said. Before the announcement, Susan Greenhalgh, a senior adviser for election security for the nonprofit Free Speech for People and a consulting expert for the Coalition for Good Governance, said that replacing the machines in Coffee County is necessary but not sufficient to stem the risk to election security in Georgia. “You still have the overall problem that the software has been released into the wild to countless individuals who may have ill intent and who may be using it to figure out ways to manipulate an election,” Greenhalgh told reporters at a news briefing earlier this week. Video footage shows that a team from Atlanta-based SullivanStrickler spent about eight hours at the county elections office on Jan. 7, 2021, copying software from Dominion Voting Systems equipment and data from multiple memory sticks and other devices. The county elections supervisor at the time told The Washington Post earlier this year that she allowed the team into the office to help find proof that the election “was not done true and correct.” The video footage also shows that Cathy Latham, then the chairwoman of the county Republican Party, greeted the SullivanStrickler team at the elections office and introduced them to local officials. Her lawyers have denied that she participated in the Jan. 7 copying or did anything improper or illegal. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation has said it is investigating a suspected computer trespass of a Coffee County elections server that day. A special grand jury in Atlanta, which was already examining the “fake elector” scheme to keep President Donald Trump in power using bogus electoral certificates, has recently expanded its inquiry to take in the Coffee County episode. The grand jury has issued subpoenas including to Powell and to SullivanStrickler. The firm said in a statement to The Post that it was not a target of the investigation and that the company and its employees were witnesses in the case. SullivanStrickler has said it believed the attorneys it was working for were authorized to access the voting machines, and that the firm had no reason to think the attorneys would ask it to do anything illegal or improper. “We are confident that it will quickly become apparent that we did nothing wrong and were operating in good faith at all times,” it said in a statement. Read More Here

Justice Department Gears Up For Oath Keepers’ Seditious Conspiracy Trial https://digitalalaskanews.com/justice-department-gears-up-for-oath-keepers-seditious-conspiracy-trial/ (CN) — Prosecutors are gearing up for one of the biggest Capitol riot trials yet as five members of the right-wing extremist Oath Keepers’ group are set to go before a jury next week on seditious conspiracy charges tied to an alleged plan to oppose by force the transfer of presidential power on Jan. 6, 2021. The Department of Justice has obtained some “significant” court wins in the 20 months since the attack, according to extremism expert Jonathan Lewis, “but this is probably one of the biggest tests to show if they can hold domestic violent extremist groups accountable for their criminal conduct on Jan 6.” “Securing convictions in this case would be a body blow to one of the largest anti-government movements in the U.S.,” Lewis told Courthouse News this week, “which is important in itself.” The government’s indictment accuses 11 members of the loosely organized antigovernment militia of communicating about the plan through encrypted chats, stocking up on weapons and traveling across the country to “oppose by force the lawful transfer of presidential power.” Three members have already pleaded guilty. “On paper, the contours of the conspiracy seems fairly straightforward,” according to Lewis, a research fellow at the Program on Extremism at George Washington University. In the government’s case, Oath Keepers’ founder Stewart Rhodes is painted as the ringleader of the group’s purported plan to disrupt the Jan. 6, 2021, ceremony in which Congress would certify that then-President Donald Trump had lost the election to his Democratic rival, Joe Biden. Rhodes, 63, is said to have “outlined a plan to stop the lawful transfer of presidential power, including preparations for the use of force, and urged those listening to participate,” at least one month before the ceremonial certification. A seditious conspiracy charge carries a maximum sentence of up to 20 years in prison and it requires prosecutors to prove to the jury that an actual agreement existed between each of the accused Oath Keepers. “Not just any agreement,” according to extremism expert Brian Levin, “but one aimed at attacking the U.S. government to overthrow it.” Rhodes’ alleged co-conspirators set to stand trial alongside him in the Washington federal courthouse are Thomas Caldwell, 68; Kelly Meggs, 53; Kenneth Harrelson, 41, and Jessica Watkins, 40. “[They] have greater criminal exposure because of the alleged agreement and plan from the leader of a national group on down to participate, allegedly acting as a larger cohesive unit,” Levin said. But actual participation in the purported plan varied on Jan. 6, according to Levin, a criminal justice professor and director of the Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism at California State University. Rhodes, himself, is not accused of physically breaching the Capitol on Jan. 6, rather, he is said to have been standing outside the Capitol with a walkie talkie while his co-defendants breached the building in military formation “stacks.” Other defendants were standing by at a hotel in Virginia as part of a “Quick Reaction Force” ready to be summoned by Rhodes should they need weapons ferried across the Potomac, according to the indictment. Lewis meanwhile said it will be interesting to see how the three defendants who already pleaded guilty to seditious conspiracy — Joshua James, Brian Ulrich and William Todd Wilson — will play into the government’s case at trial, if at all. According to Wilson’s plea agreement, he left the Capitol grounds around 5 p.m. and went to a private suite at the Phoenix Park Hotel where Rhodes gathered him and others and called an unnamed person on speaker phone. “Wilson heard … Rhodes repeatedly implore the individual to tell President Trump to call upon groups like the Oath Keepers to forcibly oppose the transfer of power,” according to his plea. The person reportedly denied Rhodes’s request to speak directly with Trump and after the phone call ended, Rhodes told the group, “I just want to fight.” Court filings show the Oath Keepers are planning to use a public authority defense argument during the trial, but Lewis doubts jurors will be swayed by it. “It’s difficult to see this public authority defense — that the Oath Keepers truly believed that President Trump was about to call them up under the Insurrection Act as some kind of ad-hoc militia, and that is why they engaged in their criminal conduct — working in this jury trial,” Lewis said. The government’s argument, meanwhile, is backed up by the “mountains of evidence the DOJ has presented to date in the public record of this case,” Lewis said. The Justice Department has amassed hundreds of thousands of pieces of evidence, including photos and videos, used to charge more than 870 people so far in connection with the Capitol riot. As of Sept. 6, about 300 people have pleaded guilty to misdemeanors, 80 have pleaded guilty to felonies, and at least 21 people have been sentenced to prison. But the Oath Keepers are the first of hundreds of Jan. 6 defendants to be tried before a jury for seditious conspiracy charges, which are so rare the government has only ever filed them four other times. Lewis brought up the 2020 case against men accused of conspiring to kidnap Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and said the government’s use of undercover FBI agents and informants “seemed to muddy the water” during the trial. Some defendants in the first Whitmer trial were able to use them as “an avenue to claim entrapment in an effort to secure acquittal,” he said, but “there’s far less evidence to date that the Oath Keepers have any standing to push for this kind of defense with credulity.” As an extremism researcher, Lewis said he is looking forward to seeing how the government potentially “entangles other conspiracists whose relationships to the group may be more attenuated but still nonetheless exposed criminally, because they shared a common legally actionable purpose.” According to the indictment, at one point during the evening on Jan. 6, Rhodes and others are said to have gone to an underground parking garage in Washington where they met for about 30 minutes with a group of people including Enrique Tarrio, the former leader of the right-wing Proud Boys group who is also charged with seditious conspiracy in connection with the riot. Jury selection is slated to begin on Monday in the Oath Keepers case. A second jury trial for four of the accused Oath Keepers defendants is set for Nov. 27, roughly one month before the Proud Boys’ will be tried for Capitol riot-related seditious conspiracy. Read the Top 8 Sign up for the Top 8, a roundup of the day’s top stories delivered directly to your inbox Monday through Friday. Read More Here

Liberal Elites Get A Taste Of Their Own Medicine https://digitalalaskanews.com/liberal-elites-get-a-taste-of-their-own-medicine/ Martha’s Vineyard should change its official name to NIMBY — not in my backyard — Island, given its swift deportation of 50 Venezuelan migrants last week. Hoity-toity Democrats who own multimillion-dollar vacation homes on the exclusive enclave that overwhelmingly voted for Joe Biden in the 2020 election “by a margin of 77.7% to former President Trump’s 20.6%” according to Fox News Digital, have now been exposed for what they are: virtue-signaling phonies. These liberal hypocrites pretend to be “pro-diversity” and culturally “inclusive.” They claim to support “sanctuary cities” while placing signs on their well-manicured lawns that say, “No human is illegal” and, “Hate has no home here” in an attempt to virtue-signal they’re morally superior to “deplorable” and “racist” Trump supporters they snootily look down upon. Yet when dozens of desperate migrants showed up on their doorstep recently, they were no more welcoming to these so-called Dreamers than MAGA-hat-wearing Trump supporters chanting “Build the Wall” at a red state campaign rally. The fact is upon arrival of the displaced migrants on NIMBY Island last Wednesday, Martha’s Vineyard residents called it a “humanitarian crisis” and immediately activated the Massachusetts National Guard who transported the undocumented immigrants to Joint Base Cape Cod faster than Biden’s wealthy donors can board their gas-guzzling private jets. No matter how CNN tries to spin it, or other lefty media to help the Democratic Party in the upcoming midterms, the reality is the Hispanic immigrants were not welcome on NIMBY Island. They weren’t offered jobs, a place to live or opportunity to start a new life. They were rounded up and deported to a military base on the mainland in Massachusetts within 48 hours. Now recall that these are the same Democratic voters who called former President Donald Trump every ugly smear in the book throughout his tenure in the White House for simply doing his constitutional duty enforcing U.S. immigration laws and enacting sensible measures to secure the porous border. Despicably, liberals accused Trump’s supporters (half the country) of being “white supremacists” or “white nationalists” for not supporting mass illegal immigration no matter the cost. Yet as soon as these folks were put to the test by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who flew the undocumented immigrants to NIMBY Island last week, Democrats made it clear they appreciate walls as much as their political counterparts do. If it was a political trap set by DeSantis to call Democrats’ bluff as to whether they truly support illegal immigration when it affects their own neighborhoods, liberals walked right into it by deporting the migrants. They missed the moment. Democrats could have opened their doors and homes on the island and offered the migrants needed jobs, friendship and a shot at the American Dream. They could’ve taken the high road. Undoubtedly, with all the millionaires and billionaires on the exclusive island, and vacation rentals available, they certainly had the resources to do so. That includes former President Barack Obama and his family who own a lavish $11.75 million beachfront spread on the island. Why didn’t they offer to erect a tent and build temporary housing on one acre of the nearly 30 acres they own there while the local community secures jobs and permanent housing for those in need? Why didn’t former Secretary of State John Kerry — who also owns a nearly $12 million manse on 18.5 acres on NIMBY Island — step up to help? Or other Democrat Hollywood elites who also own expensive homes there? On Tuesday, Republican Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell weighed in on the recent migrant relocation controversy carried out by frustrated Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, Ron DeSantis and others. During a speech on the Senate floor on Tuesday he said, “Out of desperation, a few governors along our southern border are now giving some Democrat-run states and cities just a tiny, tiny taste of what border communities have been enduring, literally, for years. These well-to-do blue enclaves are finally witnessing the smallest fraction of the challenges that open borders have forced on working-class communities all across our country.” That’s correct! Other border states in Texas, Arizona and elsewhere are having to deal with thousands of illegal migrant encounters per day — not just a few dozen — that NIMBY Island experienced for just a few days. Border states are continuously overrun and overwhelmed by the unprecedented surge of illegal immigrant encounters under the Biden administration, which has already surpassed 2 million this fiscal year. Apparently, liberals don’t care about the immigration crisis until it lands in their backyard. Then these phonies call in the military for help and opt for deportation. You don’t say … — Adriana Cohen is a nationally syndicated columnist with Creators Syndicate. To find out more about Adriana Cohen and read her past columns, please visit the Creators Syndicate webpage at www.creators.com. Read More Here

Stocks Tumble, Dollar Soars And Bonds Plunge As Recession Fears Grow https://digitalalaskanews.com/stocks-tumble-dollar-soars-and-bonds-plunge-as-recession-fears-grow/ Dow poised to confirm bear market MSCI All-World index hits 2-year low Dollar reaches new two-decade high Sterling and gilts sell off after UK ‘mini-budget’ NEW YORK/LONDON, Sept 23 (Reuters) – U.S. and European stocks tumbled on Friday, the dollar scaled a 22-year high and bonds sold off again as fears grew that a central bank prescription of raising interest rates to tame inflation will drag major economies into recession. The Dow (.DJI) narrowly missed confirming a bear market as a deepening downturn in business activity across the euro zone, and U.S. business activity contracting for a third straight month in September, left Wall Street wallowing in a sea of red. The British currency and debt prices weakened further after the UK government announced huge debt-financed tax cuts that will boost borrowing, sending UK bond yields vaulting higher in their biggest daily increases in decades. read more Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com The euro plummeted to a 20-year low and sterling to a 37-year low, while the dollar soared after the Federal Reserve this week signaled rates would be higher for longer. George Goncalves, head of U.S. macro strategy at MUFG, said the Fed wanted financial conditions to tighten and high interest rates were the mechanism to deliver a market investors had not seen for a long time. “It’s something we’re not used to, that’s why it’s more surprising for most,” he said. “It’s going to be a long staring contest between the Fed and the markets, and in the middle is the economy which is not responding yet to this tightening.” MSCI’s world stocks index (.MIWD00000PUS) shed 2.07% to almost two-year lows. The pan-European STOXX 600 index (.STOXX) closed down 2.34%, its biggest weekly loss in three months. On Wall Street, the Dow Jones Industrial Average (.DJI) fell 1.62%, the first major U.S. stock index to fall below its June trough on an intraday basis. But the blue-chip index averted confirming a bear market, as it missed closing 20% or more lower than its record high, according to a widely used definition. The S&P 500 (.SPX) and the Nasdaq Composite (.IXIC), already in bear market territory, fell 1.72% and 1.85, respectively. Britain, Sweden, Switzerland, Norway and other countries also hiked rates this week. But the Fed’s signal that it expects high U.S. rates to persist through 2023 sparked the rout in equity and bond markets. Investors are trying to get a handle on inflation and how high rates will go, said Andrzej Skiba, head of the BlueBay U.S. fixed income team at RBC Global Asset Management. “There’s unease in the market about having confidence that we know how inflation will develop and that yields will indeed peak in the mid-high 4s,” he said, referring to a Fed projection of the fed funds rate at 4.6% in late 2023. “People have been reflecting on that uncertainty and it might mean more tightening ahead, it might mean even more tightening of financial conditions that the markets have to go through.” The euro fell for a fourth straight day, sliding 1.49% to $0.9689 after data showed the downturn in the German economy worsened in September. The dollar index rose 1.6%. The Japanese yen weakened 0.68% to 143.34 per dollar, but failed to notch its first weekly gain in more than a month. On Thursday, Japanese authorities intervened to support the currency for the first time since 1998. UK bond prices went into a tailspin, with yields on the five-year gilt leaping 51.4 basis points to 4.052%, the largest one-day rise since at least late 1991, according to Refinitiv data, after the government unveiled tax cuts. A bond’s price moves counter to its yield. Sterling fell 3.49% to $1.0864 in its biggest single-day decline since March 2020 when the COVID-19 pandemic rocked markets. The pound was already under pressure before the tax cut announcement, down 11% since the start of July. “Typically looser fiscal and tighter monetary policy is a positive mix for a currency – if it can be confidently funded,” said Chris Turner, global head of markets at ING. “Here is the rub – investors have doubts about the UK’s ability to fund this package, hence the gilt under-performance.” Cost of insuring UK debt against default soars The dollar hit its highest in two decades and extended its double-digit gains for the year against several currencies. King dollar reigns supreme Yields on the benchmark 10-year U.S. Treasury note have soared as investors ditch inflation-sensitive assets. Global government bond losses are on course for the worst year since 1949, BofA Global Research said in a note. Yields on 10-year Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities (TIPS) , which account for expected inflation and are known as real yields, reached 1.426%, the highest since February 2011. The inversion in the yield curve between two- and 10-year notes reached minus 58 basis points on Thursday, the most inverted in at least two decades, and was last at minus 51.6 basis points, indicating fears about a looming recession. Euro zone bond yields also rose sharply, with the Italian 10-year hitting 4.294% , its highest since late 2013, ahead of Italian elections on Sunday. Oil prices plunged about 5% to an eight-month low. The super-strong dollar made crude more expensive in other currencies and fears of recession hit the demand outlook. Brent crude futures settled down $4.31 at $86.15 a barrel, while U.S. crude fell $4.75 to settle at $78.74. Gold prices fell to their lowest since April 2020 as the rally in the dollar and rising Treasury yields hurt bullion, which pays no interest. U.S. gold futures settled 1.5% lower at $1,655.60. Bitcoin fell 2.57% to $18,904.00. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com Additional reporting by Tom Westbrook in Sydney and Joice Alves in London Editing by Kirsten Donovan, Angus MacSwan, Mark Potter, David Gregorio and Diane Craft Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles. Read More Here

Kodiak Vs. West Valley – Alaska High School Football Live Stream https://digitalalaskanews.com/kodiak-vs-west-valley-alaska-high-school-football-live-stream/ Sep 23, 2022 25 min ago 0 Watch Full Game Here :: https://bit.ly/sportsstu The Kodiak (AK) varsity football team has a home conference game vs. West Valley (Fairbanks. AK) on Friday. September 23 @ 5p. Alaska Boys Football Post a comment as anonymous Welcome to the discussion. Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language. PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK. Don’t Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated. Be Truthful. Don’t knowingly lie about anyone or anything. Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person. Be Proactive. Use the ‘Report’ link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts. Share with Us. We’d love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article. Support Local Journalism Now, more than ever, the world needs trustworthy reporting—but good journalism isn’t free. Please support us by subscribing or making a contribution. By MAISIE THOMAS Fairbanks Daily News-Miner Apr 4, 2022 1 In Alaska, Covid-19 cases are leveling off after reaching record highs during the Omicron surge, but a new and even more highly contagious variant is on the rise. The BA.2 variant of Omicron now accounts for over 50% of new cases nationally, and just under half of cases in Alaska, state epid… LINDA F. HERSEY Fairbanks Daily News-Miner Apr 1, 2022 0 North Pole Rep. Mike Prax was one of eight lawmakers diagnosed with Covid-19 Wednesday in an outbreak that has swept through the Alaska House. By LIV CLIFFORD Fairbanks Daily News-Miner Mar 31, 2022 0 Alaskans lost more than $13 million to suspected internet crimes in 2021, federal data shows. Read More Here

US Forecast https://digitalalaskanews.com/us-forecast-76/ 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;58;44;66;47;Mostly sunny, warmer;SW;10;51%;6%;4 Albuquerque, NM;82;59;83;57;Clouds and sun;NNW;7;30%;1%;6 Anchorage, AK;50;43;51;43;Cloudy;E;8;75%;55%;1 Asheville, NC;74;48;75;52;Sunshine and nice;S;5;48%;36%;6 Atlanta, GA;78;53;80;61;Sunny, low humidity;S;6;47%;5%;6 Atlantic City, NJ;66;50;71;61;Breezy in the p.m.;WSW;13;43%;5%;5 Austin, TX;100;71;96;72;Sunny and hot;SSW;4;56%;4%;7 Baltimore, MD;69;53;74;61;Mostly sunny, nice;SW;6;39%;26%;5 Baton Rouge, LA;94;72;95;72;Very warm and humid;SE;6;58%;15%;7 Billings, MT;75;53;76;49;Clearing and breezy;SSW;14;32%;1%;4 Birmingham, AL;82;58;85;64;Sunny, low humidity;S;6;45%;30%;6 Bismarck, ND;69;49;70;48;Breezy in the p.m.;WNW;11;56%;2%;4 Boise, ID;76;51;81;52;Partly sunny;ENE;7;28%;0%;5 Boston, MA;60;46;69;52;Windy and warmer;W;22;40%;7%;5 Bridgeport, CT;61;46;70;51;Mostly sunny, warmer;WNW;10;44%;5%;5 Buffalo, NY;58;47;64;55;Clouds and sun;S;8;56%;80%;4 Burlington, VT;54;45;66;48;Warmer;W;11;53%;5%;4 Caribou, ME;55;41;60;44;Partly sunny, windy;WNW;19;51%;27%;4 Casper, WY;74;41;74;38;Breezy in the a.m.;ENE;13;34%;2%;5 Charleston, SC;79;60;80;66;Sunny, low humidity;SSE;6;50%;3%;6 Charleston, WV;69;51;74;59;Sun and clouds, nice;S;5;59%;27%;5 Charlotte, NC;76;51;78;58;Sunshine, pleasant;SSW;6;43%;2%;6 Cheyenne, WY;72;47;75;43;Mostly sunny, breezy;NNW;16;22%;2%;5 Chicago, IL;64;56;73;61;A morning shower;WSW;9;56%;76%;5 Cleveland, OH;61;53;69;60;Variable cloudiness;SSE;10;56%;87%;2 Columbia, SC;80;51;82;61;Sunny, low humidity;S;5;42%;3%;6 Columbus, OH;66;52;68;57;Variable cloudiness;S;7;57%;83%;3 Concord, NH;57;39;65;42;Winds subsiding;W;15;51%;6%;4 Dallas-Ft. Worth, TX;97;77;97;74;Hot;S;10;39%;3%;6 Denver, CO;81;50;80;49;Sunny and nice;NNW;5;20%;3%;5 Des Moines, IA;57;54;78;55;Pleasant and warmer;WNW;12;61%;5%;5 Detroit, MI;66;52;66;55;Periods of sun;S;8;57%;87%;3 Dodge City, KS;83;57;88;55;Plenty of sunshine;E;8;49%;1%;5 Duluth, MN;57;48;57;51;Cloudy with a shower;W;6;82%;81%;1 El Paso, TX;92;65;93;68;Sunny and very warm;WSW;6;28%;0%;7 Fairbanks, AK;49;37;50;33;Decreasing clouds;NNE;5;69%;23%;1 Fargo, ND;60;49;66;49;Breezy in the p.m.;NW;12;84%;20%;1 Grand Junction, CO;77;48;80;49;Sunny and pleasant;NNW;6;34%;0%;5 Grand Rapids, MI;64;51;63;55;An afternoon shower;S;9;73%;90%;3 Hartford, CT;63;45;68;49;Mostly sunny;WSW;10;49%;5%;5 Helena, MT;69;50;73;45;Clouds and sun;WSW;8;40%;0%;4 Honolulu, HI;89;75;89;75;Partly sunny, nice;ENE;9;60%;13%;9 Houston, TX;97;75;95;74;Record-breaking heat;S;5;60%;8%;7 Indianapolis, IN;66;58;76;61;Decreasing clouds;SW;9;55%;34%;5 Jackson, MS;88;65;91;70;Sunny and warm;S;3;49%;7%;7 Jacksonville, FL;82;70;85;67;Mostly sunny;ENE;9;55%;2%;7 Juneau, AK;52;48;53;49;Rain and drizzle;ESE;12;88%;99%;1 Kansas City, MO;69;58;86;61;Warmer with sunshine;W;6;58%;5%;5 Knoxville, TN;76;53;80;60;A shower in spots;WSW;6;54%;55%;6 Las Vegas, NV;95;72;97;74;Plenty of sunshine;NNW;6;14%;0%;6 Lexington, KY;70;57;77;62;A t-storm around;SSW;9;54%;55%;5 Little Rock, AR;85;65;95;70;A t-storm around;SW;7;53%;50%;6 Long Beach, CA;87;68;89;68;Sunny and warm;WSW;6;46%;0%;6 Los Angeles, CA;90;67;91;69;Sunny and hot;SSE;6;46%;0%;6 Louisville, KY;69;60;79;64;A t-storm around;SSW;9;51%;55%;5 Madison, WI;61;50;67;55;A morning shower;NW;7;73%;80%;3 Memphis, TN;85;65;92;71;A t-storm around;SSE;8;43%;66%;5 Miami, FL;91;79;87;79;A p.m. t-storm;E;8;70%;76%;7 Milwaukee, WI;64;54;69;57;A morning shower;WSW;10;68%;76%;3 Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN;57;52;67;53;Warmer;NW;8;78%;37%;2 Mobile, AL;92;68;92;70;Sunny and warm;ESE;6;55%;5%;7 Montgomery, AL;84;59;83;63;Sunny, low humidity;SE;6;53%;6%;7 Mt. Washington, NH;25;24;40;32;Windy, not as cold;WNW;28;75%;4%;5 Nashville, TN;76;58;83;65;Some sun, a shower;S;7;49%;81%;5 New Orleans, LA;92;78;92;75;Mostly sunny;SSE;7;54%;8%;7 New York, NY;64;50;70;57;Mostly sunny;W;10;39%;6%;5 Newark, NJ;64;47;71;52;Mostly sunny, warmer;W;9;42%;8%;5 Norfolk, VA;70;55;76;60;Mostly sunny;SW;7;37%;5%;5 Oklahoma City, OK;92;68;92;67;Very warm;SSW;13;43%;27%;6 Olympia, WA;70;51;74;49;Clouds and sun;NE;5;68%;3%;4 Omaha, NE;65;53;81;53;Warmer;NW;12;55%;0%;5 Orlando, FL;90;74;88;73;Breezy in the p.m.;ENE;11;65%;32%;5 Philadelphia, PA;66;49;72;58;Mostly sunny;SW;8;40%;10%;5 Phoenix, AZ;100;81;102;80;Lots of sun, warm;WSW;6;37%;5%;6 Pittsburgh, PA;63;45;69;57;Clouds and sun;SSE;6;54%;58%;5 Portland, ME;58;44;66;48;Windy and warmer;W;19;45%;7%;4 Portland, OR;72;54;79;53;Sunshine and nice;N;7;56%;3%;4 Providence, RI;63;45;67;49;Mostly sunny, windy;W;20;45%;5%;5 Raleigh, NC;73;48;77;59;Nice with sunshine;S;6;44%;3%;6 Reno, NV;77;49;82;52;Plenty of sunshine;WSW;6;28%;0%;5 Richmond, VA;70;49;75;58;Sunshine, pleasant;SSW;6;44%;25%;5 Roswell, NM;91;61;93;63;Sunny and very warm;W;4;36%;4%;7 Sacramento, CA;86;60;93;60;Plenty of sunshine;NW;6;42%;1%;5 Salt Lake City, UT;75;53;81;54;Plenty of sunshine;ESE;7;29%;0%;5 San Antonio, TX;98;70;93;72;Mostly sunny, warm;SSE;6;61%;27%;7 San Diego, CA;78;68;82;69;Mostly sunny, humid;NW;9;65%;0%;6 San Francisco, CA;83;59;79;58;Mostly sunny, nice;WSW;8;60%;0%;5 Savannah, GA;79;60;82;63;Sunny, low humidity;SSE;6;55%;2%;7 Seattle-Tacoma, WA;68;55;71;54;Clouds and sun;NNE;8;61%;3%;4 Sioux Falls, SD;68;51;75;50;Breezy and warmer;NW;14;54%;4%;4 Spokane, WA;70;47;74;46;Sunshine, pleasant;ESE;2;47%;0%;4 Springfield, IL;59;53;80;57;Sunny and warmer;W;8;60%;12%;5 St. Louis, MO;65;57;85;62;Mostly sunny, warmer;WSW;8;60%;39%;5 Tampa, FL;92;75;90;73;Mostly sunny;ENE;8;70%;35%;8 Toledo, OH;64;48;67;54;Partly sunny;SE;5;59%;88%;3 Tucson, AZ;95;72;95;72;A t-storm around;SSW;7;47%;55%;7 Tulsa, OK;92;70;89;67;A shower in the p.m.;WSW;7;51%;57%;5 Vero Beach, FL;93;77;86;76;A stray thunderstorm;ENE;13;76%;91%;3 Washington, DC;70;51;73;57;Sunshine, pleasant;S;7;42%;40%;5 Wichita, KS;81;58;91;58;Mostly sunny, warmer;NW;6;49%;4%;5 Wilmington, DE;66;48;72;56;Mostly sunny, nice;SSW;9;42%;26%;5 _____ Copyright 2022 AccuWeather Read More Here

US Forecast https://digitalalaskanews.com/us-forecast-75/ 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;58;44;66;47;Mostly sunny, warmer;SW;10;51%;6%;4 Albuquerque, NM;82;59;83;57;Clouds and sun;NNW;7;30%;1%;6 Anchorage, AK;50;43;51;43;Cloudy;E;8;75%;55%;1 Asheville, NC;74;48;75;52;Sunshine and nice;S;5;48%;36%;6 Atlanta, GA;78;53;80;61;Sunny, low humidity;S;6;47%;5%;6 Atlantic City, NJ;66;50;71;61;Breezy in the p.m.;WSW;13;43%;5%;5 Austin, TX;100;71;96;72;Sunny and hot;SSW;4;56%;4%;7 Baltimore, MD;69;53;74;61;Mostly sunny, nice;SW;6;39%;26%;5 Baton Rouge, LA;94;72;95;72;Very warm and humid;SE;6;58%;15%;7 Billings, MT;75;53;76;49;Clearing and breezy;SSW;14;32%;1%;4 Birmingham, AL;82;58;85;64;Sunny, low humidity;S;6;45%;30%;6 Bismarck, ND;69;49;70;48;Breezy in the p.m.;WNW;11;56%;2%;4 Boise, ID;76;51;81;52;Partly sunny;ENE;7;28%;0%;5 Boston, MA;60;46;69;52;Windy and warmer;W;22;40%;7%;5 Bridgeport, CT;61;46;70;51;Mostly sunny, warmer;WNW;10;44%;5%;5 Buffalo, NY;58;47;64;55;Clouds and sun;S;8;56%;80%;4 Burlington, VT;54;45;66;48;Warmer;W;11;53%;5%;4 Caribou, ME;55;41;60;44;Partly sunny, windy;WNW;19;51%;27%;4 Casper, WY;74;41;74;38;Breezy in the a.m.;ENE;13;34%;2%;5 Charleston, SC;79;60;80;66;Sunny, low humidity;SSE;6;50%;3%;6 Charleston, WV;69;51;74;59;Sun and clouds, nice;S;5;59%;27%;5 Charlotte, NC;76;51;78;58;Sunshine, pleasant;SSW;6;43%;2%;6 Cheyenne, WY;72;47;75;43;Mostly sunny, breezy;NNW;16;22%;2%;5 Chicago, IL;64;56;73;61;A morning shower;WSW;9;56%;76%;5 Cleveland, OH;61;53;69;60;Variable cloudiness;SSE;10;56%;87%;2 Columbia, SC;80;51;82;61;Sunny, low humidity;S;5;42%;3%;6 Columbus, OH;66;52;68;57;Variable cloudiness;S;7;57%;83%;3 Concord, NH;57;39;65;42;Winds subsiding;W;15;51%;6%;4 Dallas-Ft. Worth, TX;97;77;97;74;Hot;S;10;39%;3%;6 Denver, CO;81;50;80;49;Sunny and nice;NNW;5;20%;3%;5 Des Moines, IA;57;54;78;55;Pleasant and warmer;WNW;12;61%;5%;5 Detroit, MI;66;52;66;55;Periods of sun;S;8;57%;87%;3 Dodge City, KS;83;57;88;55;Plenty of sunshine;E;8;49%;1%;5 Duluth, MN;57;48;57;51;Cloudy with a shower;W;6;82%;81%;1 El Paso, TX;92;65;93;68;Sunny and very warm;WSW;6;28%;0%;7 Fairbanks, AK;49;37;50;33;Decreasing clouds;NNE;5;69%;23%;1 Fargo, ND;60;49;66;49;Breezy in the p.m.;NW;12;84%;20%;1 Grand Junction, CO;77;48;80;49;Sunny and pleasant;NNW;6;34%;0%;5 Grand Rapids, MI;64;51;63;55;An afternoon shower;S;9;73%;90%;3 Hartford, CT;63;45;68;49;Mostly sunny;WSW;10;49%;5%;5 Helena, MT;69;50;73;45;Clouds and sun;WSW;8;40%;0%;4 Honolulu, HI;89;75;89;75;Partly sunny, nice;ENE;9;60%;13%;9 Houston, TX;97;75;95;74;Record-breaking heat;S;5;60%;8%;7 Indianapolis, IN;66;58;76;61;Decreasing clouds;SW;9;55%;34%;5 Jackson, MS;88;65;91;70;Sunny and warm;S;3;49%;7%;7 Jacksonville, FL;82;70;85;67;Mostly sunny;ENE;9;55%;2%;7 Juneau, AK;52;48;53;49;Rain and drizzle;ESE;12;88%;99%;1 Kansas City, MO;69;58;86;61;Warmer with sunshine;W;6;58%;5%;5 Knoxville, TN;76;53;80;60;A shower in spots;WSW;6;54%;55%;6 Las Vegas, NV;95;72;97;74;Plenty of sunshine;NNW;6;14%;0%;6 Lexington, KY;70;57;77;62;A t-storm around;SSW;9;54%;55%;5 Little Rock, AR;85;65;95;70;A t-storm around;SW;7;53%;50%;6 Long Beach, CA;87;68;89;68;Sunny and warm;WSW;6;46%;0%;6 Los Angeles, CA;90;67;91;69;Sunny and hot;SSE;6;46%;0%;6 Louisville, KY;69;60;79;64;A t-storm around;SSW;9;51%;55%;5 Madison, WI;61;50;67;55;A morning shower;NW;7;73%;80%;3 Memphis, TN;85;65;92;71;A t-storm around;SSE;8;43%;66%;5 Miami, FL;91;79;87;79;A p.m. t-storm;E;8;70%;76%;7 Milwaukee, WI;64;54;69;57;A morning shower;WSW;10;68%;76%;3 Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN;57;52;67;53;Warmer;NW;8;78%;37%;2 Mobile, AL;92;68;92;70;Sunny and warm;ESE;6;55%;5%;7 Montgomery, AL;84;59;83;63;Sunny, low humidity;SE;6;53%;6%;7 Mt. Washington, NH;25;24;40;32;Windy, not as cold;WNW;28;75%;4%;5 Nashville, TN;76;58;83;65;Some sun, a shower;S;7;49%;81%;5 New Orleans, LA;92;78;92;75;Mostly sunny;SSE;7;54%;8%;7 New York, NY;64;50;70;57;Mostly sunny;W;10;39%;6%;5 Newark, NJ;64;47;71;52;Mostly sunny, warmer;W;9;42%;8%;5 Norfolk, VA;70;55;76;60;Mostly sunny;SW;7;37%;5%;5 Oklahoma City, OK;92;68;92;67;Very warm;SSW;13;43%;27%;6 Olympia, WA;70;51;74;49;Clouds and sun;NE;5;68%;3%;4 Omaha, NE;65;53;81;53;Warmer;NW;12;55%;0%;5 Orlando, FL;90;74;88;73;Breezy in the p.m.;ENE;11;65%;32%;5 Philadelphia, PA;66;49;72;58;Mostly sunny;SW;8;40%;10%;5 Phoenix, AZ;100;81;102;80;Lots of sun, warm;WSW;6;37%;5%;6 Pittsburgh, PA;63;45;69;57;Clouds and sun;SSE;6;54%;58%;5 Portland, ME;58;44;66;48;Windy and warmer;W;19;45%;7%;4 Portland, OR;72;54;79;53;Sunshine and nice;N;7;56%;3%;4 Providence, RI;63;45;67;49;Mostly sunny, windy;W;20;45%;5%;5 Raleigh, NC;73;48;77;59;Nice with sunshine;S;6;44%;3%;6 Reno, NV;77;49;82;52;Plenty of sunshine;WSW;6;28%;0%;5 Richmond, VA;70;49;75;58;Sunshine, pleasant;SSW;6;44%;25%;5 Roswell, NM;91;61;93;63;Sunny and very warm;W;4;36%;4%;7 Sacramento, CA;86;60;93;60;Plenty of sunshine;NW;6;42%;1%;5 Salt Lake City, UT;75;53;81;54;Plenty of sunshine;ESE;7;29%;0%;5 San Antonio, TX;98;70;93;72;Mostly sunny, warm;SSE;6;61%;27%;7 San Diego, CA;78;68;82;69;Mostly sunny, humid;NW;9;65%;0%;6 San Francisco, CA;83;59;79;58;Mostly sunny, nice;WSW;8;60%;0%;5 Savannah, GA;79;60;82;63;Sunny, low humidity;SSE;6;55%;2%;7 Seattle-Tacoma, WA;68;55;71;54;Clouds and sun;NNE;8;61%;3%;4 Sioux Falls, SD;68;51;75;50;Breezy and warmer;NW;14;54%;4%;4 Spokane, WA;70;47;74;46;Sunshine, pleasant;ESE;2;47%;0%;4 Springfield, IL;59;53;80;57;Sunny and warmer;W;8;60%;12%;5 St. Louis, MO;65;57;85;62;Mostly sunny, warmer;WSW;8;60%;39%;5 Tampa, FL;92;75;90;73;Mostly sunny;ENE;8;70%;35%;8 Toledo, OH;64;48;67;54;Partly sunny;SE;5;59%;88%;3 Tucson, AZ;95;72;95;72;A t-storm around;SSW;7;47%;55%;7 Tulsa, OK;92;70;89;67;A shower in the p.m.;WSW;7;51%;57%;5 Vero Beach, FL;93;77;86;76;A stray thunderstorm;ENE;13;76%;91%;3 Washington, DC;70;51;73;57;Sunshine, pleasant;S;7;42%;40%;5 Wichita, KS;81;58;91;58;Mostly sunny, warmer;NW;6;49%;4%;5 Wilmington, DE;66;48;72;56;Mostly sunny, nice;SSW;9;42%;26%;5 _____ Copyright 2022 AccuWeather Read More Here

Misleading Press Release Costs Boeing $200M https://digitalalaskanews.com/misleading-press-release-costs-boeing-200m/ Fri., Sep. 23, 2022 By Kevin McCauley Dennis Mullenberg Where was the PR pushback?… Boeing has agreed to pay $200M to settle charges that it and former CEO Dennis Muilenburg made materially misleading public statements about its 737 Max following crashes in 2018 and 2019. A press release is at the heart of the matter. According to the SEC, Boeing’s PR team huddled with engineers and lawyers on November 15, 2018 to draft a press release following the crash in Indonesia. The initial draft called the 737 Max either “a safe airline” or that it “continued to be safe to fly.” Certain versions of the release noted that Boeing engineers were working with the FAA to expedite and certify a new flight control software for the plane. At that time, Boeing faced a wave of negative media coverage over allegations that it withheld information from pilots, airlines, regulators and the public about the flight control system. Its stock was tanking. On Nov. 20, Muilenburg complained in an email that “we are spending too much time playing defense. We need to start playing some offense.” Muilenburg on Nov. 21 reviewed the press release and recommended removing the reference to the flight control system. The final press release made no mention of the flight control system and stated that Boeing’s customers and passengers “have assurances that the 737 Max is as safe as any airline that ever flown the skies.” The CEO approved the release on Nov. 27 and emailed: “looks great….factual and sticks to the report while making our key reports. Good to go.” The SEC order says Boeing and Muilenburg knew there was an ongoing safety issue with the flight control system but assured the public that the plane was safe. Chairman Gary Gensler said that it’s especially important that public companies and their executives provide full, fair and truthful disclosures to the markets in times of trouble. “The Boeing Company and its former CEO, Dennis Muilenburg, failed in this basic obligation,” he said. Muilenburg agreed to pay $1M for his role in the cover-up but what about the PR staffers, engineers and lawyers who decided to drop the reference to the flight control system? Shouldn’t they be held accountable? The union label is looking up…. Anybody watching television during the late 70s and early 80s couldn’t dodge the “Look for the Union Label” ad from the International Ladies’ Garment Workers Union. Though the spot, especially its catchy jingle, earned kudos from creatives in adland, it failed to halt the demise of the largely domestic textile industry that was wiped out by an onslaught of cheap imports. While those ladies were urging shoppers to buy American goods, support for unions hovered around the 50 percent mark. Guess what? More than seven-in-ten (71 percent) of Americans approve of labor today, according to a Gallup poll released Aug. 30. That’s the highest level recorded since 1965. The pandemic is among the reasons that support for unions is on the rise as the “worker shortage” emboldened employees to push for better wages and benefits. Though organizing drives at Amazon and Starbucks got a lot of media attention, they resulted in a tiny number of employees actually getting union cards. The bigger impact of those high-profile organizing drives: the National Labor Relations Board reported a 57 percent surge in the number of “under the radar” union elections during 2021. Members of the garment union would have been proud of organized labor’s PR comeback. They also would be wary as the upcoming recession could wipe out any leverage that workers have over their employers. What a difference a new administration makes… The US and Uruguay on Sept. 22 became the 46th and 47th members of the International Partnership for Information and Democracy. The US joined, according to a “signing statement” released by the State Dept., because of the IPID’s emphasis on respecting human rights and the rule of law, including the protection of freedom of expression. America also “recognizes the importance of protecting the freedom of individuals to seek, receive, and impart information through media of their choice.” The IPID was created in 2019 during the presidency of Donald Trump, a guy who considers the media “the enemy of the people.” All bets are off on America’s continued membership in the IPID following the 2024 election. Category: PR Commentary More PR Commentary posts from O’Dwyer’s:  Printer Friendly Return to Sep. 23, 2022 News Return to Latest PR News Read More Here

Trump News – Live: Ex-President Promises To Deport 'millions And Millions' If Re-Elected In 2024 https://digitalalaskanews.com/trump-news-live-ex-president-promises-to-deport-millions-and-millions-if-re-elected-in-2024/ Donald Trump’s attorneys have been ordered to say one way or the other whether they actually believe the FBI planted incriminating evidence in the documents seized from Mr Trump’s home — or whether the former president is merely bluffing to save face. Read More Here

Prep-Segue https://digitalalaskanews.com/prep-segue/ By Oscar Wells Gabriel II FANS RUSH TO NIA LONG’S DEFENSE AFTER FINANCE SUSPENDED BOSTON (AP) — The suspension of Boston Celtics head coach Ime Udoka (EE’-me you-DOH’-ka) for the full NBA season has Twitter buzzing. But much of that buzz has little to do with sports. Most celebrity watchers posting about the suspension couldn’t care less about how it affects the Boston Celtics’ chances of returning to the NBA Finals. Instead, they’re worried about how it affects Udoka’s longtime fiancee, Nia Long. Many posts say they can’t believe Udoka cheated on one of the most beautiful and popular actors in Hollywood. One of the funniest tweets said Udoka’s future as a coach is in jeopardy — but not because of the scandal. The post says after hearing Udoka cheated on Long, no NBA player would want to hear anything he had to say. CELTICS SUSPEND NIA LONG’S FINANCE FOR IMPROPER RELATIONSHIP BOSTON (AP) — After the Boston Celtics fell two games short of winning the NBA title, coach Ime Udoka (EE’-me you-DOH’-ka) declared, “The future is bright and we’re just getting started.” But now, the team’s future isn’t so bright — and Udoka may already be at the end of his Boston coaching career. He was suspended for the 2022-23 NBA season for violating team rules. The team gave no details, but insiders say he had an improper personal relationship with a team employee. In announcing the news, the Celtics hinted that Udoka might not return, even after serving his suspension. YE SAYS HE’S NOT DONE WITH POLITICS UNDATED (AP) — Recording artist and business mogul Ye says he’s not done with politics. That’s what he told ABC’s “Good Morning America.” When asked if he still has political aspirations after a failed presidential bid, he responded “absolutely.” Ye says his run apparently wasn’t in God’s timing. He also says he finds “media propaganda” about his mental health offensive and an assault on those who “color outside the lines.” TRUMP’S HANNITY INTERVIEW SKEWERED BY LATE NIGHT HOSTS UNDATED (AP) — When former President Donald Trump took to the friendly airwaves of Fox News for an interview with Sean Hannity this week, he thought it will give his backers some talking points in his fight with the FBI over documents seized from his Florida home. Instead, he gave late night shows comedic fodder. On “The Daily Show,” Trevor Noah blasted Trump’s claim that he could declassify documents with his brain. Noah cracked that Trump “can’t even read with his brain.” And Jimmy Kimmel on ABC joked that if Trump really could manipulate things with his mind, “Don Jr. would have turned into a Big Mac 30 years ago.” APPLE MUSIC TO SPONSOR SUPER BOWL HALFTIME SHOW NEW YORK (AP) — Pepsi is out and Apple Music is in when it comes to the Super Bowl halftime show. The NFL says Apple Music will be the new sponsor of the show between halves of the league’s title game. The Apple era begins Feb. 12 in Arizona. Pepsi did the halftime show the past 10 years. Terms of the new deal weren’t announced. But analysts expect the NFL will get at least $50 million per year for halftime rights. Last year, 120 million viewers saw the mid-match mini-concert, starring Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Eminem, Mary J. Blige and Kendrick Lamar. EARLY STREISAND CLUB RECORDINGS REMASTERED NEW YORK (AP) — A series of 1962 performances by Barbra Streisand at a Manhattan nightclub before she became a superstar have been remastered and will be released this fall “Barbra Streisand — Live at the Bon Soir” features songs from a three night stint at the Bon Soir nightclub in Greenwich Village. The singer-actor sessions led to her first record deal. Columbia Records and Legacy Recordings announced Friday that the remastered sessions would be released on Nov. 4. The performances were intended to become Streisand’s first album, but instead many of the songs were redone as studio recordings and released as her Grammy-winning self-titled debut album in 1963. Read More Here

Arizona GOP Chair https://digitalalaskanews.com/arizona-gop-chair/ BOB CHRISTIE, Associated Press Sep. 23, 2022Updated: Sep. 23, 2022 1:22 p.m. PHOENIX (AP) — A federal judge has rejected an effort by Arizona Republican Party Chair Kelli Ward and her husband to block a subpoena of their phone records issued by the House committee investigating the Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. The ruling from U.S. District Judge Diane Humetewa issued late Thursday said none of the reasons the Wards cited for blocking the congressional demand passed legal muster. She noted that Congress is generally immune from lawsuits, and none of the exemptions applied to the Wards’ case. Their attorneys appealed the decision to the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals on Friday. Ward did not immediately respond to a request for comment, and a request for comment from the committee was also not immediately returned. The House committee is seeking phone records from just before the November 2020 election to Jan. 31, 2021. That would include a period where Ward was pushing for former President Donald Trump’s election defeat to be overturned and while Congress was set to certify the results. Kelli Ward and Michael Ward were presidential electors who would have voted for Trump in the Electoral College had he won Arizona. Both signed a document falsely claiming they were Arizona’s true electors, despite Democrat Joe Biden’s victory in the state. The Wards argued the subpoena should be quashed because it violated their First Amendment rights, violated House rules and exceeded the authority of the Jan. 6 committee. Humetewa rejected each argument in turn, and noted that the federal appeals court in Washington has rejected similar arguments raised by Trump during his unsuccessful effort to block a committee subpoena. The U.S. Supreme Court let those rulings stand. Ward and her husband, who are both physicians, also argued that turning over their phone records could compromise the private health information of their patients. But Humetewa said the records are being sought from a phone provider not covered by health care privacy laws. She did encourage the Wards and congressional investigators to discuss how to protect any patient information that might be revealed. Kelli Ward is a staunch Trump ally who has aggressively promoted the false claim that the election was stolen from him. In the days after the election, she pressured Republicans on the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors to investigate unsupported claims of fraud before election results were certified, according to text messages released by the county. Read More Here

Live – Quebec Election: CAQ Candidates Hounded Out Of Montreal Climate March https://digitalalaskanews.com/live-quebec-election-caq-candidates-hounded-out-of-montreal-climate-march/ Legault, Duhaime trade barbs over pandemic restrictions. CAQ leader compares Duhaime to Trump. Conservative leader calls Legault “divisive.” Publishing date: Sep 23, 2022  •  4 minutes ago  •  9 minute read  •  6 Comments Thousands of people took part in a climate protest in Montreal on Friday September 24, 2021. Photo by Dave Sidaway /Montreal Gazette Updated throughout the day on Friday, Sept. 23. Questions/comments: ariga@postmedia.com Advertisement 2 This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Montreal Gazette Headline News Sign up to receive daily headline news from the Montreal Gazette, a division of Postmedia Network Inc. By clicking on the sign up button you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. You may unsubscribe any time by clicking on the unsubscribe link at the bottom of our emails. Postmedia Network Inc. | 365 Bloor Street East, Toronto, Ontario, M4W 3L4 | 416-383-2300 Top updates CAQ candidates hounded out of today’s climate march in Montreal Opinion: An impressive performance by Dominique Anglade Duhaime dismisses Trump comparison, accusing Legault of ‘dividing Quebecers’ Quebecers have eight days to vote. Today is Day 1 Opinion: Quebec marching toward a climate crossroads Duhaime isn’t fit to lead a political party, much less Quebec, Legault says Duhaime says he wouldn’t have imposed pandemic restrictions QCGN urges anglophones to understand implications of Bill 96 before they vote Amid pandemic, Duhaime tried to ‘profit from peoples’ suffering,’ Legault says Conservative candidate files complaint after receiving threat: report Experiencing flu symptoms, PQ leader suspends campaign Debate analysis: Barbs fly as Legault goes on the attack to keep his job Final debate: A blow-by-blow account of the last televised confrontation What are the five major parties taking part in Quebec’s provincial election? Election Guide: What you need to know about the campaign and voting Sign up for our free Quebec election newsletter Advertisement 3 This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 1:55 p.m. CAQ candidates hounded out of Montreal climate march Several Coalition Avenir Québec candidates were hounded out of today’s climate march in Montreal. Here’s a report from La Presse Canadienne, followed by some tweets showing the scenes: A press conference by outgoing Environment Minister Benoit Charette ended chaotically on Friday as the candidate prepared to take part in a demonstration on climate change in Montreal. Accompanied by a few outgoing ministers and candidates, including Pierre Fitzgibbon and Chantale Rouleau, Charette was insulted and interrupted by demonstrators, including some organizers of the demonstration. Several protesters chanted, “You are not welcome”, “Get out, CAQ” as Charette tried to address reporters assembled at Jeanne-Mance park, at the start of the demonstration, just after noon. Advertisement 4 This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. A strong police presence surrounded the politicians who left the scene still around 1:20 p.m., amid shouts and jeers. Several demonstrators then chanted “Na, na, hey, hey, goodbye.” The organizers of the demonstration had earlier warned politicians that those who do not share the climate demands of the coalition demonstrating on Friday in Montreal should not show up at the march. “If these politicians do not share our demands, no, they are not welcome,” said François Geoffroy, spokesperson for Workers for Climate Justice, which is part of the coalition. Campaigning politicians from different parties were planning to join thousands of students and workers demonstrating on Friday to demand sweeping policy changes in the fight against climate change. Advertisement 5 This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Advertisement 6 This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Après avoir été sévèrement critiqué par des manifestants, le ministre Benoit Charette a quitté la marche pour le climat de Montréal, et ce, avant même le début de la manifestation. @LeDevoir #polqc — Alexandre Shields (@AShields_Devoir) September 23, 2022 Advertisement 7 This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Advertisement 8 This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Advertisement 9 This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 1:50 p.m. Opinion: An impressive performance by Dominique Anglade In this Thursday’s debate, anglophone community concerns were articulated loudly and passionately by the Liberal leader. Skeptics may see it as a political move, but it certainly was nice to hear that message on that stage. Read Robert Libman’s full column. 1:20 p.m. Duhaime dismisses Legault’s Trump comparison Éric Duhaime isn’t happy that François Legault is comparing him to former U.S. President Donald Trump. “The day after the second leaders debate, François Legault led a frontal attack on our leader, whom he clumsily compared to Donald Trump,” the Conservatives said via Twitter. “The reality is that Éric Duhaime came to the defence of Quebec’s young people, parents, families and all those who were confronted with the democratic deficit imposed by François Legault, who divided the population.” Advertisement 10 This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. For more on Legault’s attack on Duhaime, see my item below, time-stamped 11 a.m. La réalité, c’est qu’Éric Duhaime s’est porté à la défense des jeunes, des parents, des familles du Québec et de tous ceux qui étaient confrontés au déficit démocratique imposé par François Legault, qui lui, divisait la population. #PCQ #LibresChezNous https://t.co/2tKh3tciEp — Parti conservateur du Québec (@PconservateurQc) September 23, 2022 Advertisement 11 This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 1:15 p.m. Quebecers have eight days to vote. Today is Day 1 Quebecers who vote in person will have eight days to cast their ballot. Their first chance comes today. There will be five days of voting at the offices of returning officers: Friday, Sept. 23 (9:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.) Saturday, Sept. 24 (9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.) Tuesday, Sept. 27 (9:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.) Wednesday, Sept. 28 (9:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.) Thursday, Sept. 29 (9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.) There will be two days of advance voting at polling stations: Sunday, Sept. 25 (9:30 a.m. and 8 p.m.) Monday, Sept. 26 (9:30 a.m. and 8 p.m.) The last chance to vote comes on Monday, Oct. 3, election day, when polls will be open from 9:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. For more on how to vote, visit this page on the Elections Quebec site. Advertisement 12 This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. To check if you’re on the electoral list, click here. Advertisement 13 This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Vous préparez votre vote? Voici les pièces d’identité admissibles: Carte d’assurance maladie du Québec Permis de conduire du Québec Passeport canadien Certificat de statut d’Indien Carte d’identité des Forces canadiennes Infos: https://t.co/t1aEMexZGL #qc2022 — Élections Québec (@electionsquebec) September 23, 2022 Advertisement 14 This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 1 p.m. Opinion: Quebec marching toward a climate crossroads “Three years ago, with a crucial federal election as a backdrop, half a million Montrealers took to the streets for a historic demonstration led by Swedish schoolgirl activist Greta Thunberg, demanding urgent action to fight climate change. “It was a watershed moment in Quebec that showed political leaders at all levels of government that the climate crisis had become a mainstream concern. “On Friday, the protesters will be back — gathering again at the Sir George-Étienne Cartier monument on Parc Ave. at 1 p.m. — with an even more desperate plea as an equally critical Quebec election campaign nears the home stretch.” Read Allison Hanes’ latest column. Advertisement 15 This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Greta Thunberg raises her climate strike sign while sharing the front row of climate march with native youths in Montreal on Friday, Sept. 27, 2019. Photo by John Mahoney /Montreal Gazette 12:50 p.m. Duhaime isn’t fit to lead a political party, much less Quebec, Legault says Following up on my earlier live coverage of François Legault’s press conference, here’s a Presse Canadienne story about what he had to say. Noon Duhaime says he wouldn’t have imposed pandemic restrictions Quebec Conservative Leader Éric Duhaime, a vocal critic of pandemic measures, today said he would not have imposed any restrictions, instead relying on Quebecers to decide how to act amid the spread of COVID-19. In an interview on 98.5 radio, he was asked what he would have done as premier if, at the start of the pandemic, public health officials had told him he should close stores and bring in other measures In response, Duhaime said he would have looked at “the advantages and disadvantages” of following that advice. Advertisement 16 This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. He said Quebec’s premier would have to consider the virus “but he must also take into consideration the undesired secondary effects on children, on business bankruptcies, on the public’s psychological health, etc.” Duhaime said it’s not the public health department’s role “to know how many people will go out of business – that’s really the role of politicians. The violation of individual rights is impo...

Elton John Playing White House Lawn As Part Of Farewell Tour https://digitalalaskanews.com/elton-john-playing-white-house-lawn-as-part-of-farewell-tour/ FILE – Elton John performs during his “Farewell Yellow Brick Road,” tour, Friday, July 15, 2022, at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia. The White House will become a concert venue Friday, Sept. 23, when Elton John performs. The event is called A Night When Hope and History Rhyme, a reference to a poem by Seamus Heaney that President Joe Biden often quotes. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke, File) (Matt Rourke, Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.) WASHINGTON – Elton John was all in on a plan to perform at the White House before the world-famous rockin’ piano player hangs it up — he says — for good. John was swinging by the South Lawn on Friday night for a show he’s calling “A Night When Hope and History Rhyme,” a reference to a poem by Irishman Seamus Heaney that President Joe Biden often quotes. It will be John’s first White House gig since he performed with Stevie Wonder at a state dinner in 1998 honoring British Prime Minister Tony Blair. At age 75, John is on a farewell tour after performing for more than 50 years. A giant open-air tent and stage were set up on the White House lawn for the show,. The 2,000-person guest list includes teachers, nurses, frontline workers and LGBTQ advocates, plus civil rights advocate Ruby Bridges and Jeanne White-Ginder, an AIDS activist and mother of Ryan White, who died from AIDs-related complications in 1990. The president was expected to give remarks. The show came together after A+E Networks and the History Channel, which are footing the bill, asked the White House and John if they’d be up for a collaboration honoring “everyday history-makers” as well as John himself, according to people familiar with the discussions who spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity to discuss internal planning. It’s not clear whether the show will be broadcast beyond the live performance, though eager viewers can tune into the White House livestream to catch the president’s remarks, at least. John has worked with A+E in the past on his global HIV/AIDS charity, the Elton John Foundation, which has raised more than $525 million to combat the virus around the world. The History Channel is hosting a new episode of its series “HistoryTalks” in Washington on Saturday, and John will be in town playing Nationals Park as part of his final tour. He opened the final leg of his North American farewell series in Philadelphia in July. The president and first lady are big fans. Biden wrote in a 2017 memoir about singing “Crocodile Rock” to his two young boys as he drove them to school, and again later to son Beau before he died of cancer at age 46. “I started singing the lyrics to Beau, quietly, so just the two of us could hear it,” Biden wrote. “Beau didn’t open his eyes, but I could see through my own tears that he was smiling.” Biden’s predecessor, Donald Trump, was also a fan of John. He tried to get John to perform at his 2017 inauguration but John declined, saying he didn’t think it was appropriate for a Brit to play at the swearing-in of an American president. The White House insisted Friday’s show wasn’t an effort to troll Trump, who has praised John in his books and has often featured John’s music — including “Rocket Man” and “Tiny Dancer” — in his pre-rally playlists over the years. Trump nicknamed North Korean leader Kim Jong Un “rocket man” for his record of test-firing missiles. Sir Elton — he was knighted in 1998 by Queen Elizabeth II — has sold over 300 million records worldwide, played over 4,000 shows in 80 countries and recorded one of the best-selling singles of all time, his 1997 reworking of “Candle In The Wind” to eulogize Princess Diana, which sold 33 million copies. Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Read More Here

Career Prosecutors Recommend No Charges For Gaetz In Sex-Trafficking Probe https://digitalalaskanews.com/career-prosecutors-recommend-no-charges-for-gaetz-in-sex-trafficking-probe/ Career prosecutors have recommended against charging Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) in a long-running sex-trafficking investigation — telling Justice Department superiors that a conviction is unlikely in part because of credibility questions with the two central witnesses, according to people familiar with the matter. Senior department officials have not made a final decision on whether to charge Gaetz, but it is rare for such advice to be rejected, these people told The Washington Post, speaking on the condition of anonymity to discuss the deliberations. They added that it is always possible additional evidence emerges that could alter prosecutors’ understanding of the case. Nevertheless, it is unlikely that federal authorities will charge Gaetz with a crime in an investigation that started in late 2020 and focused on his alleged involvement with a 17-year-old girl several years earlier. Gaetz, 40, has repeatedly denied wrongdoing, saying he has never paid for sex. He has also said the only time he had sex with a 17-year-old was when he was also 17. Gaetz’s lawyer, Isabelle Kirshner, declined to comment. A Justice Department spokesman declined to comment. Investigators set out to determine if the congressman paid for sex in violation of federal sex-trafficking laws and have examined his dealings with the then-17-year-old, people familiar with the matter have said. Earlier this year, a federal grand jury in Orlando heard testimony from associates of Gaetz, including an ex-girlfriend. The ex-girlfriend was among several women on a trip Gaetz allegedly took to the Bahamas in 2018 that has been of particular interest to investigators. The 17-year-old at issue in the investigation was also on that trip, though by that time she was already 18 or older, people familiar with the matter have said. She has been a central witness in the investigation, but people familiar with the case said she is one of two people whose testimony has issues that veteran prosecutors feel would not pass muster with a jury. The other is a former friend of Gaetz’s, Joel Greenberg, a former tax collector for Seminole County, Fla. He pleaded guilty last year to sex trafficking of a minor and a host of other crimes as part of a cooperation deal with authorities. Greenberg was first charged in 2020 with fabricating allegations and evidence to smear a political opponent, but prosecutors continued to investigate and added additional charges to his case. He ultimately agreed to plead guilty to six criminal charges, including sex trafficking of a child, aggravated identity theft and wire fraud. In exchange for his guilty plea, prosecutors agreed to dismiss the other 27 counts Greenberg faced and recommend a term within federal sentencing guidelines, which are often far less than the statutory maximum penalties. They also agreed to recommend other possible sentencing breaks. If Greenberg provided “substantial assistance” in building other cases, prosecutors might ask a judge to deviate below the minimum required penalty, according to Greenberg’s plea agreement. His sentencing is scheduled for later this year. It was in exploring Greenberg’s conduct that investigators came upon evidence potentially implicating Gaetz in sex trafficking, people familiar with the matter have said. Prosecutors had been exploring whether Greenberg paid women to have sex with Gaetz and whether the two shared sexual partners, including the 17-year-old girl at issue in Greenberg’s case, these people said. Gaetz, who represents a mostly conservative district in Florida’s panhandle, is known as a strident defender of former president Donald Trump. The investigation into him was opened during the Trump administration and proceeded with the approval of then-Attorney General William P. Barr. Greenberg has been providing investigators information about Gaetz since last year, according to a person familiar with the matter. Greenberg’s credibility would be a significant challenge for any prosecution of Gaetz, in part because one of the crimes Greenberg admitted to was fabricating allegations against a schoolteacher who was running against him to be a tax collector. Greenberg had sent letters to the school falsely claiming the teacher had an inappropriate sexual relationship with a student — a similar allegation to the Gaetz case. Greenberg also pleaded guilty to a host of other crimes, including stealing from the tax collector’s office and defrauding a government loan program that provided relief for businesses affected by the coronavirus pandemic. David Bear, a lawyer for the schoolteacher Greenberg falsely accused, said last year that “nobody’s going to believe anything that Joel Greenberg says by itself.” The Gaetz case took an especially bizarre turn when authorities charged a Florida business executive with trying to extort the congressman’s wealthy father as part of a scheme to secure a presidential pardon for the younger Gaetz amid the ongoing sex-trafficking probe. The business executive, Stephen M. Alford, ultimately pleaded guilty in 2021 to wire fraud. Authorities say he approached Gaetz’s father, Don Gaetz, saying he could “guarantee” his son a pardon in the sex-trafficking case, as part of a convoluted $25 million scheme that also involved an effort to find a long-missing former FBI agent. Instead of paying him, Don Gaetz went to the FBI and secretly recorded the conversations. Last week, The Washington Post reported that Gaetz told a former White House aide, John McEntee, that he was seeking a preemptive pardon from Trump shortly before Trump left office. According to people familiar with McEntee’s testimony to the House select committee investigating the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol, McEntee said Gaetz told him that while he had done nothing wrong, “they are trying to make his life hell, and you know, if the president could give him a pardon, that would be great.” Gaetz said he had asked White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows for a pardon, McEntee testified, according to these people, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss his testimony. Read More Here

Referendums Begin In Russian-Occupied Regions Of Ukraine; Long Lines Form At Borders As Russians Flee Military Call-Up https://digitalalaskanews.com/referendums-begin-in-russian-occupied-regions-of-ukraine-long-lines-form-at-borders-as-russians-flee-military-call-up/ More than 400 bodies exhumed from mass burial site in Izium with many of them showing signs of violent death, Ukrainian official says Forensic technicians uncover a coffin in a forest on the outskirts of Izyum, eastern Ukraine on September 16, 2022. – Ukraine said on September 16, 2022 it had counted 450 graves at just one burial site near Izyum after recapturing the eastern city from the Russians. Sergey Bobok | AFP | Getty Images A Ukrainian official overseeing the Kharkiv region said that 436 bodies were exhumed from a mass burial site in Izium. “Most of them have signs of violent death and 30 have traces of torture,” Oleh Synehubov, head of the regional military administration in Kharkiv wrote in an update on the Telegram messaging app. “There are bodies with ropes around their necks, with bound hands, with broken limbs and gunshot wounds. Several men have amputated genitalia. All this is evidence of the terrible tortures that the occupiers subjected the residents of Izium to,” Synehubov added. He said that most of the bodies that were recovered were civilians and at least 21 were part of the Ukrainian armed forces. Synehubov said that a team of 200 people, including forensic experts and investigators helped exhume the bodies. — Amanda Macias More than 191 vessels carrying grain and other crops have left Ukrainian ports Barbados-flagged general cargo ship Fulmar S is pictured in the Black Sea, north of the Bosphorus Strait, in Istanbul, Turkey August 5, 2022. Mehmet Caliskan | Reuters The organization overseeing the export of agricultural products from Ukraine said that so far 191 vessels have left the besieged country since ports reopened. The Joint Coordination Center, an initiative of Ukraine, Russia, the United Nations and Turkey, said the ships transported a total of 4.35 million metric tons of grain and other food products. In July, three of Ukraine’s ports were reopened to exports under the U.N.-backed Black Sea Grain Initiative. — Amanda Macias Three NATO allies still have to approve Sweden and Finland’s entry into the alliance NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg (C), Finland Ministers for Foreign Affairs Pekka Haavisto (L) and Sweden Foreign minister Ann Linde (R) give a press conference after their meeting at the Nato headquarters in Brussels on January 24, 2022. John Thys | AFP | Getty Images Three NATO member countries have yet to sign ratification protocols for Finland and Sweden to join the military alliance. Out of NATO’s 30 member countries, Hungary, Slovakia and Turkey are the last holdouts to grant Sweden and Finland membership. In May, both nations began the formal process of applying to NATO as Russia’s war in Ukraine raged. All 30 members of the alliance have to ratify the countries’ entry into the group. Last month, U.S. President Joe Biden signed ratification documents following a 95-1 Senate vote to bring Finland and Sweden into NATO. — Amanda Macias Senior Chinese diplomat presses Ukraine foreign minister for ‘peaceful settlement’ China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi at a meeting in Bali on July 9, 2022. China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Monday that the South China Sea is not a “safari park” for countries outside the region or a “fighting arena” for major powers to compete in. Stefani Reynolds | Afp | Getty Images Senior Chinese diplomat Wang Yi told Ukraine Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba that all efforts conducive to peaceful settlement of the Ukraine crisis must be supported, state media reported on Friday. “Sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries must be respected,” he said on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly, adding that China always stands on the side of peace. Both diplomats last spoke to each other on a call in April.  — Reuters World’s largest yacht with ties to Russian oligarch is relocated to dock in Germany by authorities The super-yacht Dilbar is pulled into a covered floating dock of Luerssen shipyards on the Weser river at the harbour of Bremen on September 23, 2022. – The 156-meter-yacht had stayed since October 2021 for repairs in dry dock at a German shipbuilding company at Hamburg’s harbour, northern Germany, and is considered the world’s biggest by tonnage. It is owned the Russian billionaire Alisher Usmanov, 68, who has been among dozens of Russian oligarchs hit by punishing Western sanctions over Russian President Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine. (Photo by FOCKE STRANGMANN / AFP) (Photo by FOCKE STRANGMANN/AFP via Getty Images) Focke Strangmann | Afp | Getty Images The world’s largest superyacht with ties to Russian billionaire and business tycoon Alisher Usmanov was pulled into a dock in Bremen, Germany. The stunning superyacht was initially restricted from leaving its anchorage by German authorities on March 3. Usmanov entered the crosshairs of the U.S. and its allies following coordinated global sanctions on Russian elites with Kremlin ties after Russia invaded Ukraine on Feb. 24. The yacht, named Dilbar after Usmanov’s mother, extends over 500 feet and is equipped with two helipads and the largest indoor swimming pool ever installed on a private vessel. The Department of Treasury estimates that the current value of Usmanov’s yacht is approximately $735 million. — Amanda Macias 436 bodies exhumed from mass grave; 30 show signs of torture, Ukraine says Investigators carry away a body bag in a forest near Izyum, eastern Ukraine, on September 23, 2022, where Ukrainian investigators have uncovered more than 440 graves after the city was recaptured from Russian forces, bringing fresh claims of war atrocities. Sergey Bobok | Afp | Getty Images Ukrainian officials reported that 436 bodies have been exhumed from a mass grave in the eastern city of Izium, 30 of which show visible signs of torture. The site was found shortly after Ukrainian forces recaptured the territory, which had been under occupation by Russian forces for roughly six months. Three additional mass burial sites have been found in areas reclaimed during the Ukrainian forces’ rapid counteroffensive in the northeastern Kharkiv region, the region’s governor Oleh Synyehubov and its police chief Volodymyr Tymoshko told reporters. Numerous mass graves were uncovered earlier this year by Ukrainian authorities around cities and towns that had been occupied by Russian troops. Moscow rejects accusations of its forces being behind the deaths. — Natasha Turak Long lines are building at Russia’s borders as many try to flee mobilization call Cars coming from Russia wait in lines at the border checkpoint between Russia and Finland near Vaalimaa, on September 22, 2022. Olivier Morin | AFP | Getty Images Long lines of cars are building up at Russia’s borders with its neighbors, numerous news agencies have reported, as many Russians try to leave the country following President Vladimir Putin’s call on Wednesday for “partial” mobilization to fight in Ukraine. Some men have waited as long as 24 hours, as governments in European countries debate whether to allow the fleeing Russians into their countries. “I have been waiting in my car since Thursday afternoon,” one man at the Russian-Georgian border was cited by The Guardian as saying. “Everyone is worried that the border will be closed by the time we get anywhere close to it,” he said. Videos posted to social media show some men using bicycles and scooters to cut through the standstill traffic. By Thursday, more than 1,300 people had been arrested in Russia for protesting Putin’s mobilization order. — Natasha Turak Putin backs himself further into a Ukrainian corner after threats of nuclear warfare, experts say Russian President Vladimir Putin talks to the media following the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) leaders’ summit in Samarkand on September 16, 2022. Sergei Bobylyov | AFP | Getty Images Russian President Vladimir Putin’s renewed nuclear threats have raised fears that his plans for escalation in Ukraine may not be limited to mobilizing more troops. While he has issued apocalyptic threats against the West before, Putin’s thinly veiled warnings in a rare national address Wednesday signaled that he was willing to raise the risk of nuclear conflict to avoid an embarrassing military defeat. Whether Kyiv and its allies should now be more concerned about the threat was up for debate, analysts said. Read the full story from NBC News. — NBC NEWS UN records nearly 6,000 killed in Ukraine since start of war, but full death toll likely higher A volunteer places a cross onto a grave of one of fifteen unidentified people killed by Russian troops, amid Russia’s attack on Ukraine continues, during a burial ceremony in the town of Bucha, in Kyiv region, Ukraine September 2, 2022. Vladyslav Musiienko | Reuters The United Nations has confirmed 5,916 civilian deaths and 8,616 injuries in Ukraine since Russia invaded its ex-Soviet neighbor on Feb. 24. The Office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights said the death toll in Ukraine is likely higher, because the armed conflict can delay fatality reports. The international organization said most of the civilian casualties recorded were caused by the use of explosive weapons with a wide impact area, including shelling from heavy artillery and multiple launch rocket systems, as well as missiles and airstrikes. — Amanda Macias China ‘reaffirms respect for Ukraine’s territorial integrity,’ Ukraine’s Kuleba says China has expressed its respect for the integrity of Ukraine’s land, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmitry Kuleba wrote on Twitter after meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi during the UN General Assembly in New York. “I met with State Coun...

West Valley Vs. Kodiak – High School Football Full Game https://digitalalaskanews.com/west-valley-vs-kodiak-high-school-football-full-game/ Sep 23, 2022 25 min ago 0 Watch Full Game Here :: https://bit.ly/sportsstu The Kodiak (AK) varsity football team has a home conference game vs. West Valley (Fairbanks. AK) on Friday. September 23 @ 5p. Alaska Boys Football Post a comment as anonymous Welcome to the discussion. Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language. PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK. Don’t Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated. Be Truthful. Don’t knowingly lie about anyone or anything. Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person. Be Proactive. Use the ‘Report’ link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts. Share with Us. We’d love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article. Support Local Journalism Now, more than ever, the world needs trustworthy reporting—but good journalism isn’t free. Please support us by subscribing or making a contribution. By MAISIE THOMAS Fairbanks Daily News-Miner Apr 4, 2022 1 In Alaska, Covid-19 cases are leveling off after reaching record highs during the Omicron surge, but a new and even more highly contagious variant is on the rise. The BA.2 variant of Omicron now accounts for over 50% of new cases nationally, and just under half of cases in Alaska, state epid… LINDA F. HERSEY Fairbanks Daily News-Miner Apr 1, 2022 0 North Pole Rep. Mike Prax was one of eight lawmakers diagnosed with Covid-19 Wednesday in an outbreak that has swept through the Alaska House. By LIV CLIFFORD Fairbanks Daily News-Miner Mar 31, 2022 0 Alaskans lost more than $13 million to suspected internet crimes in 2021, federal data shows. Read More Here

Jerome Powell Just Warned That The US Housing Market Needs A 'difficult Correction' So That Folks Can Afford Homes Again ⁠— But Here's Why It'll Look Nothing Like 2008 https://digitalalaskanews.com/jerome-powell-just-warned-that-the-us-housing-market-needs-a-difficult-correction-so-that-folks-can-afford-homes-again-%e2%81%a0-but-heres-why-itll-look-nothing-like-2/ Jerome Powell just warned that the US housing market needs a ‘difficult correction’ so that folks can afford homes again ⁠— but here’s why it’ll look nothing like 2008 Real estate investors have largely done well for the past few years. But with higher interest rates, things could be about to change. The U.S. Federal Reserve raised its benchmark interest rates by 0.75 basis points on Wednesday, marking the third such hike in a row. Higher interest rates translate to bigger mortgage payments — not good news for the housing market. But cooling down housing prices is part of what needs to be done to bring inflation under control. Don’t miss What would you do if you had an emergency vet bill worth $2k tomorrow? Too many Americans are still missing out on cheaper car insurance Boomer’s remorse: Here are 5 big purchases you’ll (probably) regret in retirement This investing app turns spare change into a diversified portfolio “For the longer term what we need is supply and demand to get better aligned, so that housing prices go up at a reasonable level, at a reasonable pace, and that people can afford houses again,” Fed Chair Jerome Powell said on Wednesday. “We probably in the housing market have to go through a correction to get back to that place.” “From a sort of business cycle standpoint, this difficult correction should put the housing market back into better balance.” Those words might sound scary, especially to those who lived through the last financial crisis — where the housing market went through a very, very difficult correction. But experts say there are good reasons to believe that regardless of how things play out, it won’t be a return to 2008. Higher lending standards Questionable lending practices within the financial industry were a major factor that led to the housing crisis in 2008. Financial deregulation made it easier and more profitable to give out risky loans — even to those who could not afford them. So when an increasing number of borrowers could not repay their loans, the housing market cratered. That’s why the Dodd-Frank Act was enacted in 2010. The act put restrictions on the financial industry, including creating programs to stop mortgage companies and lenders from giving out dicey loans. Recent data suggests that lenders are indeed more stringent in their lending practices. According to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, the median credit score for newly originated mortgages was 773 for the second quarter of 2022. Meanwhile, 65% of newly originated mortgage debt was to borrowers with credit scores over 760. In its Quarterly Report on Household Debt and Credit, the New York Fed stated that “credit scores on newly originating mortgages remain quite high and reflect continuing stringent lending criteria.” Homeowners in good shape When home prices went up, homeowners built more equity. According to mortgage technology and data provider Black Knight, mortgage holders now have access to an additional $2.8 trillion in equity in their homes compared to a year ago. That represents an increase of 34% and over $207,000 in additional equity that is available to each borrower. Moreover, most homeowners did not default on their loans even at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, where lockdowns sent shockwaves across the economy. Of course, it was those mortgage forbearance programs that saved the struggling borrowers: they were able to pause their payments until they regained financial stability. The result looks great: the New York Fed said that the share of mortgage balances 90 days plus past due remained at 0.5% at the end of Q2, near a historic how. Supply and demand On a recent episode of The Ramsey Show, host Dave Ramsey pointed out that the big problem in 2008 was a “tremendous oversupply because foreclosures went everywhere and the market just froze.” And the crash wasn’t caused by interest rates or the health of the economy but rather “a real estate panic.” Right now, the demand for housing remains strong while supply is still in shortage. That dynamic could start to change as the Fed tries to curb demand by hiking interest rates. Ramsey acknowledges the slowing rate of increase in home prices right now but doesn’t expect a crisis like 2008. “It’s not always as simple as supply and demand — but it almost always is,” he says. This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind. Read More Here

KHS Tennis Drops 3 To Valley Squads https://digitalalaskanews.com/khs-tennis-drops-3-to-valley-squads/ Staff report Sep 23, 2022 1 hr ago 0 Kodiak spent last weekend in Anchorage playing its competition in preparation for Monday’s Region III Tennis Championships.  The Bears were swept by all three regional schools — Palmer, Wasilla and Colony — at Alaska Club East in Anchorage.  Post a comment as anonymous Welcome to the discussion. Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language. PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK. Don’t Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated. Be Truthful. Don’t knowingly lie about anyone or anything. Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person. Be Proactive. Use the ‘Report’ link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts. Share with Us. We’d love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article. Support Local Journalism Now, more than ever, the world needs trustworthy reporting—but good journalism isn’t free. Please support us by subscribing or making a contribution. By MAISIE THOMAS Fairbanks Daily News-Miner Apr 4, 2022 1 In Alaska, Covid-19 cases are leveling off after reaching record highs during the Omicron surge, but a new and even more highly contagious variant is on the rise. The BA.2 variant of Omicron now accounts for over 50% of new cases nationally, and just under half of cases in Alaska, state epid… LINDA F. HERSEY Fairbanks Daily News-Miner Apr 1, 2022 0 North Pole Rep. Mike Prax was one of eight lawmakers diagnosed with Covid-19 Wednesday in an outbreak that has swept through the Alaska House. By LIV CLIFFORD Fairbanks Daily News-Miner Mar 31, 2022 0 Alaskans lost more than $13 million to suspected internet crimes in 2021, federal data shows. Read More Here

Former Pres. Trump To Speak At ‘Save America’ Event Friday In Wilmington https://digitalalaskanews.com/former-pres-trump-to-speak-at-save-america-event-friday-in-wilmington/ CHARLOTTE, N.C. (WBTV) – Former President Donald Trump will be in North Carolina to rally the Republican base on Friday, September 23, 2022. Trump is set to visit Wilmington for a “Save America” event. He will also be campaigning for Republican Senate candidate Ted Budd who is running against Democratic Senate candidate Cheri Beasley. Sharonne Hayes previewed the event during WBTV News at Noon what supporters could expect this evening if they’re headed to Wilmington. Trump is scheduled to speak at 7:00 p.m. at Aero Center Wilmington at Wilmington International Airport. Event organizers say they are expecting 10,000 people in attendance. This is the first appearance by the former President since the New York Attorney General filed a civil suit against him and three of his children. The suit accuses The Trump Organization of fraudulent business practices. It’s actually not the former President’s first visit to Wilmington, with his visit to the area in 2020. Trump is hoping to build support around Republican candidates ahead of the upcoming midterm elections. The “Save America” event will feature several GOP guest speakers. The Democratic party of North Carolina recently unveiled a billboard highlighting what they call Trump’s “attacks on democracy.” That billboard is located by the entrance of the Wilmington airport and includes quotes from Budd calling the January 6th insurrection “nothing” and “just patriots standing up.” NC Lieutenant Governor Mark Robinson is also scheduled to speak. The “Save America” event kicks off Friday afternoon. Copyright 2022 WBTV. All rights reserved. Read More Here

Trump Allies Launch New Super PAC To Bolster GOP Candidates In Midterms As Former President Eyes 2024 Campaign | CNN Politics https://digitalalaskanews.com/trump-allies-launch-new-super-pac-to-bolster-gop-candidates-in-midterms-as-former-president-eyes-2024-campaign-cnn-politics/ Washington CNN  —  Several top allies of Donald Trump will launch a new super PAC to buoy Republican candidates who have earned the former President’s support in the midterm elections, CNN has learned, following months of minimal spending by Trump-aligned groups that has frustrated party strategists left to fill the void. Called MAGA, Inc., the new group will meld with an existing Trump-sanctioned super PAC that has been mostly overseen by former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi and former US Ambassador to Germany Richard Grenell. As of last month, that group had spent slightly more than $2 million to boost Trump-backed Senate and House candidates in their primary races earlier this year. “President Trump is committed to saving America, and Make America Great Again, Inc. will ensure that is achieved at the ballot box in November and beyond,” Trump spokesman Taylor Budowich said in a statement Friday. Budowich has been charged with running the new super PAC, along with former Trump campaign aide Steven Cheung, who will serve as its communications director; longtime Trump pollster Tony Fabrizio; veteran GOP operative Chris LaCivita, who will become the group’s chief strategist; and Sergio Gor, whose conservative publishing outfit released Trump’s first post-presidential book last year (a collection of White House and campaign trail photographs) and will serve as a senior adviser to MAGA, Inc. Alex Pfeiffer, a former producer for Fox News’ Tucker Carlson, will also join the operation. The newest Trump fundraising vehicle was first reported by Politico. With the November elections fast approaching, Trump has been under pressure to dip into his own mountain of cash to support candidates who he helped prevail in competitive primaries but who are now trailing or running close to their Democratic opponents. The former President, who has complained to allies in recent weeks about the Senate contests in Pennsylvania, Ohio and Arizona, had around $103 million in his coffers at the end of August, according to campaign finance reports from his leadership PAC, Save America, and the Bondi-run group. People familiar with the matter said most of those funds will be transferred to MAGA, Inc., which is expected to start spending as soon as next week in key midterm races. “He’s very concerned about Pennsylvania,” said a person who spoke to Trump recently and requested anonymity for fear of retribution. “We were talking about Pennsylvania and [GOP Senate hopeful Mehmet] Oz had been quoted as saying he would have voted to certify the 2020 election and the President is saying, ‘Now, why would he have done that?’ ” This same person said Trump has also expressed concern about Senate candidate J.D. Vance, who is facing an unexpectedly competitive challenge from Democratic Rep. Tim Ryan in Ohio. “He really likes J.D. but Ohio is a little too close for comfort.” Until now, Trump has refused to open the spigots much to help his handpicked candidates in their general election contests. While Save America gave $1 million to a pro-Oz PAC just before the Pennsylvania primary, the former President has not contributed financially to the Republican Senate hopeful since then. In Ohio, Save America wrote a $5,000 check to the Vance campaign in June. Trump aides have long insisted that his spending is supplemented by the campaign rallies and fundraisers he has held to benefit various Republicans – including recent rallies in both Pennsylvania and Ohio – along with his coveted endorsement, which helped many of his chosen candidates prevail in contested primaries earlier this year. But others say the lack of financial assistance from the former President shouldn’t be discounted. “Trump never went out of his way to help candidates – unless he sees a way that it helps him. His camp says, ‘Well, he’s helping them by doing these events,’ which I would say aren’t actually that helpful because you never know whether Trump is going to insult the candidate,” said Doug Heye, a GOP strategist and former communications director for the Republican National Committee. At his recent rally in Ohio, Trump told the crowd that Vance “is kissing my ass” to maintain his support. Overall, federal records show that Trump’s main fundraising vehicle, Save America, has contributed more than $8.4 million to candidates and committees at the federal, state and local level since January 2021 – a significant sum, but virtually nothing compared to what other major Republican groups have committed and only about $1.4 million more than what the former President has spent on legal fees this cycle (nearly $7 million). The pro-GOP Senate Leadership Fund is spending about $205 million on advertisements in Senate races this cycle, per a CNN analysis, which includes what the group has already spent and its ad reservations over the next month. Meanwhile, the Congressional Leadership Fund, which is aligned with House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, is planning to spend $141 million this fall on ads alone. A person familiar with the new Trump group said it will spend “heavily” in key Senate, ​congressional and gubernatorial races this fall. Trump is likely to give preferential treatment to candidates he’s previously endorsed, and the group will focus most of its spending on TV advertising and get-out-the-vote efforts, said a person close to Trump. The group had been in the planning stages for several months and could become part of his campaign apparatus if he launches a third presidential bid, as is widely expected. ​”I don’t think anyone’s expecting Trump to spend every single penny he has but there will be a significant investment moving forward,” said the person close to Trump. After months of eyeing a pre-midterm launch date for a 2024 campaign, Trump is now waiting to see how Republicans perform in November – hoping to avoid blame if the party’s overall gains prove disappointing. “He’s been convinced there’s no upside to doing it before the midterms and plenty of potential downsides. Right now, the goal is Q1 of next year but, of course, once the election has passed, he could really do it at any time,” a Trump adviser said. Read More Here

NARA Is Withholding Details On The Mar-A-Lago Search To Protect DOJ's “ongoing Work” https://digitalalaskanews.com/nara-is-withholding-details-on-the-mar-a-lago-search-to-protect-dojs-ongoing-work/ The National Archives and Records Administration says the Department of Justice has asked the agency to not share information related to the Mar-a-Lago probe “to protect the integrity of DOJ’s ongoing work.” Driving the news: In a letter dated Thursday, acting archivist Debra Steidel Wall responded to questions from Republicans on the House Oversight Committee about the agency’s previous refusal to turn over records to the lawmakers. “As a general matter, the Department of Justice has requested that NARA not share or otherwise disclose to others information related to this matter at this time in order to protect the integrity of DOJ’s ongoing work,” Steidel Wall wrote. “I also let you know that ‘NARA is preserving all records related to this matter’.” The big picture: In the wake of the FBI’s search at former president Donald Trump’s Florida residence, House Republicans demanded additional information on the lead-up to the search and the materials found at the residence. Rep. James Comer (R-Ky.), ranking member of the House Oversight Committee, and other Republicans on the panel sent a letter at the end of last month seeking to clarify NARA’s role in the FBI search at Mar-a-Lago “and reiterate the request for a briefing and all related documents and communications,” per a statement. In Thursday’s letter, Wall didn’t rule out handing over records in the future. “To the extent that we are able to release any additional records responsive to your request in the future, we will make them available to you,” she said. Go deeper: Top Republicans press DOJ for answers on Mar-a-Lago search Read More Here

McCarthy Unveils House GOP's Midterm Agenda In Pennsylvania https://digitalalaskanews.com/mccarthy-unveils-house-gops-midterm-agenda-in-pennsylvania/ Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., right, listens as House Minority leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., speaks at DMI Companies in Monongahela, Pa., Friday, Sept. 23, 2022. McCarthy joined with other House Republicans to unveil their “Commitment to America” agenda. (AP Photo/Barry Reeger) MONONGAHELA, Pa. — House Republican leader Kevin McCarthy on Friday confronted President Joe Biden and the Democratic majority in Congress with a sweeping midterm election agenda filled with Trump-like promises, hoping not only to defeat Democrats but to hold together the uneasy coalition of his own party and pass actual legislation. McCarthy, who is poised to seize the speaker’s gavel if Republicans win control of the House in the fall, hopes to replicate the strategy that former Speaker Newt Gingrich of Georgia used to spark voter enthusiasm and gain a majority in 1994. Victories in battleground Pennsylvania, where McCarthy announced the agenda, could be a crucial step in November. The House GOP’s “Commitment to America” gives a nod to the earlier era but updates it in the age of Donald Trump, with economic, border security and social policies to rouse the former president’s deep well of supporters in sometimes-overlooked regions like this rusty landscape and rolling farmland outside Pittsburgh. “What the ‘Commitment’ is, it’s a plan for a new direction,” McCarthy said at a manufacturing facility in a historic building near downtown. On Friday, he stood with a wide cross-section of lawmakers — from far-right Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., to less extreme GOP members of Congress — to roll out the party’s agenda, offering a portrait of unity despite the wide range of views that make up the House minority — and the Republican Party nationally. The GOP has shifted from its focus on small government, low taxes and individual freedoms to a more populist, nationalist and, at times, far-right party, essentially still led by Trump, who remains popular despite the deepening state and federal investigations against him. Propelled by Trump’s “Make America Great Again” voters, the Republicans need to pick up just a few seats to win back control of the narrowly split House and replace Speaker Nancy Pelosi. But even so, McCarthy’s ability to lead the House is far from guaranteed. While Republicans and Trump did pass tax cuts into law, the GOP’s last big campaign promise, repealing and replacing the Affordable Care Act, also known as “Obamacare,” collapsed in failure. Republican speakers, including Gingrich, John Boehner and Paul Ryan, have been forced from office or have chosen early retirement, often ground down by party infighting. “House Republicans are really good at running people out of town,” said Matt Schlapp, chair of the Conservative Political Action Coalition. McCarthy, first elected to office in 2006, is among the remaining survivors of those House Republican battles, a leader who, somewhat like, Trump has shown more ability to communicate than to legislate. A key architect of the Republican tea party takeover in 2010, the California Republican personally recruited the newcomers to Congress — many who had never served in public office and are now long gone. McCarthy was an early Trump endorser and has remained close to the former president, relying on Trump’s high-profile endorsements to propel GOP candidates for Congress. He abandoned an earlier bid to become speaker when support from House colleagues drifted. Sign up for our free Journal Election Guide newsletter The “Commitment to America” reflects the strength of McCarthy’s abilities but also his weaknesses. He spent more than a year pulling together the House GOP’s often warring factions — from the far-right MAGA to what’s left of the more centrist ranks — to produce a mostly agreed-upon agenda. But the one-page “commitment” is succinct, essentially what McCarthy called a “pocket card.” The first bill next year would be to repeal funding approved by Democrats to bolster the Internal Revenue Service with more employees. “Long on slogans and short on details,” House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Md., told union workers in Pittsburgh on Friday, according to excerpts of his speech. “That’s because the true details of Republicans’ agenda are too frightening for most American voters.” In traveling to swing state Pennsylvania, a state where Biden holds emotional ties from his early childhood, McCarthy intends to counter the Democratic president’s fiery Labor Day weekend speech, in which he warned of rising GOP extremism after the Jan 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol, with a more upbeat message. The event was more of a conversation with the GOP leader and lawmakers — fielding questions from the community on the inflation, crime and school choices — rather than a stirring address in a contested state. Along with as many as five House seats Republicans believe they can pick up in Pennsylvania in November, the state has one of the most watched Senate races, between Democrat John Fetterman and Trump-backed Dr. Mehmet Oz, that will help determine control of Congress. At the top of the ticket is the seismic governor’s matchup between the GOP’s Doug Mastriano, who was seen outside the Capitol on Jan. 6, and Democrat Josh Shapiro. “If you are a hard-line populist and you really want anger, Kevin’s a little frustrating because he’s not going to be angry enough for you,” Gingrich said. “On the other hand, if what you want is to have your values implemented and passed in the legislation, he is a really good leader and organizer.” Gingrich has been working with McCarthy and his team to craft the style and substance of the proposal. The former speaker, who has been asked by the Jan. 6 committee investigating the Capitol attack for an interview, was on hand Thursday in Washington, joining McCarthy as he unveiled the plans privately to House Republicans, who have been mixed on the approach. Mostly, the GOP “pocket card” as he called it hits broad strokes — energy independence, security and an end to liberal social policies, particularly in schooling. Conservative Republicans complain privately that McCarthy isn’t leaning hard enough into their priorities, as he tries to appeal to a broader swath of voters and hold the party together. Many are eager to launch investigations into the Biden administration and the president’s family, with some calling for impeachment. Legislatively, some House Republicans want to fulfill the party’s commitment to banning abortion, supporting Sen. Lindsey Graham’s bill prohibiting the procedure after 15 weeks of pregnancy. In a sign of the pressures ahead for McCarthy, dozens of House GOP lawmakers signed on to plans from Trump-aligned Greene to prevent many gender reassignment procedures for minors, celebrating the Georgian as courageous for taking such a hard-line approach. She and others, including former McCarthy rival Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio — who vowed to launch investigations including into the COVID-19 crisis — joined Friday’s event, as McCarthy seeks their backing. Republican Rep. Chip Roy of Texas, a member of the conservative Freedom Caucus, has advocated for withholding federal funds as leverage for policy priorities, a tactic that engineered past government shutdowns. “Putting out like, you know, principles about, ‘Well, we’ll secure the border.’ I mean, OK, but what are we gonna do about it?” Roy said. “The end of the day, I want specific actionable items that’s going to show that we’re going to fight for the American people.” It’s notable that McCarthy alone has proposed a plan if Republicans win control of the House chamber. In the Senate, Republican leader Mitch McConnell has declined to put forward an agenda, preferring to simply run against Biden and Democrats in the midterm election. “Kevin’s done a very good job of being in position to become the speaker. And then the question is, what do you do with that? Schlapp said. “This helps as a roadmap.” ___ Associated Press writers Kevin Freking and Farnoush Amiri in Washington contributed to this report. ___ Follow the AP’s coverage of the 2022 midterm elections at https://apnews.com/hub/2022-midterm-elections. Read More Here

Major Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card Changes: Platinum Status & More! https://digitalalaskanews.com/major-marriott-bonvoy-brilliant-card-changes-platinum-status-more/ In the interest of full disclosure, OMAAT earns a referral bonus for anyone that’s approved through some of the below links. These are the best publicly available offers (terms apply) that we have found for each product or service. Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of the bank, credit card issuer, airline, hotel chain, or product manufacturer/service provider, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities. Please check out our advertiser policy for further details about our partners, and thanks for your support! Link: Apply now for the refreshed Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express® Card Huge changes have been made to the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express® Card (review), which is Marriott’s premium personal credit card. The card has added several awesome new perks, including Marriott Bonvoy Platinum Elite status without any sort of a spending requirement… wow! As you’d expect, the annual fee has increased as well. Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card annual fee increases to $650 Let’s start with the bad news. The annual fee on the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card has increased from $450 to $650 (Rates & Fees). This applies immediately for new card applications. For those who opened their account prior to September 22, 2022, the annual fee increase will take effect on renewal dates on or after January 1, 2023. So for a brief period, existing cardmembers can enjoy the new benefits without paying a higher annual fee. Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card gets awesome new benefits While the annual fee on the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card has increased considerably, the card is also getting several new perks. There are positive changes when it comes to the ability to earn elite status, the value of free night awards, and more. Let’s cover the details of what’s changing. Complimentary Marriott Bonvoy Platinum Elite status The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card now offers Marriott Bonvoy Platinum Elite status for as long as you’re a cardmember. This is huge, given the perks of Platinum Elite status, which include room upgrades (up to standard suites), breakfast or lounge access at most brands, bonus points, and much more. This is where status with Marriott Bonvoy really starts to get valuable, and this is the easiest readily available pathway we’ve ever seen to Marriott Bonvoy Platinum Elite status. This will understandably interest many. Even if you’re not a Marriott loyalist, Marriott has a huge footprint, so status with the group comes in handy. Receive Platinum Elite status for being a cardmember 25 Marriott Bonvoy elite nights toward status annually The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card now offers 25 elite nights toward status annually (previously, the card offered 15 elite nights). Now, of course you already receive Bonvoy Platinum Elite status just for having the card, but you don’t earn the elite nights that go along with it. So if you want to earn Marriott Bonvoy Choice Benefits (like Suite Night Awards) or go for Marriott Bonvoy Titanium Elite or Marriott Bonvoy Ambassador Elite status, this could come in handy. With this change, you can now earn up to 40 elite nights annually just for having two Marriott credit cards, as you can earn them from one personal and one business card — you can earn 25 elite nights from this card, and 15 elite nights from the Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card (review). If you’re an existing cardmember, you may have noticed that 10 additional elite nights have already posted to your account. That’s because of this new perk, as you’re going from 15 elite nights to 25 elite nights. Earn 25 elite nights annually for having the card Marriott free night award worth up to 85,000 Bonvoy points The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card now offers an anniversary free night certificate every year, valid at a property costing up to 85,000 Bonvoy points. On top of that, you can always top off the free night award with up to 15,000 points, to redeem at a property costing up to 100,000 points. This is an awesome change, as previously the card’s free night certificate was valid at a property costing up to 50,000 Bonvoy points — that’s a significant difference, and means you’ll be able to redeem this at much more premium properties. The card’s free night award just got more valuable Spend $60K, earn more Marriott Bonvoy Choice Benefits Starting in January 2023, there will be a nice additional incentive to spend money on the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card. If you make $60,000 in purchases on the card in a calendar year, you’ll be able to select an earned Choice Rewards benefit. Specifically, you’ll be able to choose one of the following: Five Suite Night Awards, each of which can be used to confirm a suite upgrade for one night up to five days prior to arrival A free night award, valid at a Marriott property costing up to 85,000 Marriott Bonvoy points $750 off a bed from Marriott Bonvoy boutiques This is in addition to whatever Choice Benefits you’d ordinarily earn for crossing 50 or 75 elite nights in a year. This could be a real incentive to spend money on the card, especially when you consider the opportunity to get a free night certificate worth up to 85,000 points. Earn Choice Benefits for spending on the card Up to $300 per year in restaurant credits The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card now offers up to $300 in statement credits per calendar year for dining purchases at restaurants worldwide. This comes in the form of a $25 credit each month. This replaces the card previously offering a $300 annual Marriott credit. Ultimately this restaurant credit should be easy enough to maximize. Receive a $25 monthly dining credit with the card What’s not changing about the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant While a lot has changed with the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card, several things aren’t changing: The points earning structure on the card remains unchanged, as you can earn 6x Bonvoy points on eligible Marriott hotel purchases, 3x Bonvoy points at restaurants worldwide and on flights booked directly with airlines, and 2x points on all other eligible purchases You can receive a Priority Pass Select membership (enrollment required) You can get a statement credit for the application fee of TSA PreCheck (every 4.5 years) or Global Entry (every 4 years) The card continues to offer a Priority Pass membership Earn 150K points with the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card If you’re interested in picking up the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card, the card is offering a bonus of 150,000 Bonvoy points after spending $5,000 within the first three months. Personally I value Bonvoy points at 0.7 cents each, so to me that bonus is worth a huge $1,050. And of course you can enjoy your Marriott Bonvoy Platinum Elite benefits when you redeem those points. Redeem your Bonvoy points at the St. Regis Venice My take on Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card changes Wow, the changes to the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card are huge. It’s really significant that you can now earn Marriott Bonvoy Platinum Elite status just for holding onto a credit card. Even with the annual fee on this card now being $650, I think the value here is a slam dunk. Just to do some basic “accounting” on the card: Most people should be able to fully utilize the $300 annual dining credit; this could be as simple as spending $25 per month at Starbucks I’m thrilled that the annual free night award is now valid at a property costing up to 85,000 Bonvoy points per year, with the potential to use up to 15,000 Bonvoy points to top it off, and redeem at a property costing up to 100,000 Bonvoy points; I easily value this certificate at $350, and that’s very conservative The way I view it, those two benefits alone justify the annual fee. That doesn’t even account for the value of Platinum Elite status, the 25 elite nights toward status, the Priority Pass membership, and more. As a Marriott Bonvoy lifetime Platinum Elite member, the Platinum Elite status as such doesn’t add much for me. However, I welcome the 25 elite nights toward status annually. Because I also have a Marriott business credit card, that means I’m earning 40 elite nights toward status annually without actually staying a night. That gets me closer to earning Choice Benefits, which I value immensely. This card has a great value proposition Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card FAQs There are some questions that I’ve been getting over and over regarding the changes to the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card, so I wanted to address those in this section. If I missed any, please let me know and I’ll get them added. Does credit card status count toward lifetime elite status? It’s possible to earn lifetime Marriott Bonvoy Platinum Elite status by racking up 600 elite nights and having 10 cumulative years of Platinum Elite status or higher. Elite nights and status earned with Marriott credit cards count toward that requirement, including the Platinum Elite status offered by this card. Are you eligible for the Bonvoy Brilliant Card bonus? Marriott credit card application restrictions can be complicated. In addition to not being eligible for the welcome offer on the Bonvoy Brilliant Card if you’ve already had it, here are the other application restrictions to be aware of: Welcome offer not available to applicants who (i) have or have had The Ritz-Carlton® Credit Card from JPMorgan or the J.P. Morgan Ritz-Carlton Rewards® Credit Card in the last 30 days, (ii) have acquired the Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful Credit Card from Chase, the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card from Chase, or the Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card from Chase in the last 90 days, or (iii) received a new Card Member bonus or upgrade offer for the Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful Credit Card f...

West Valley Vs Kodiak – Alaska High School Football https://digitalalaskanews.com/west-valley-vs-kodiak-alaska-high-school-football/ Sep 23, 2022 18 min ago 0 Watch Full Game Here :: https://bit.ly/3QcVqLL The Kodiak (AK) varsity football team has a home conference game vs. West Valley (Fairbanks. AK) on Friday. September 23 @ 5p. Alaska High School Football Post a comment as anonymous Welcome to the discussion. Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language. PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK. Don’t Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated. Be Truthful. Don’t knowingly lie about anyone or anything. Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person. Be Proactive. Use the ‘Report’ link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts. Share with Us. We’d love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article. Support Local Journalism Now, more than ever, the world needs trustworthy reporting—but good journalism isn’t free. Please support us by subscribing or making a contribution. By MAISIE THOMAS Fairbanks Daily News-Miner Apr 4, 2022 1 In Alaska, Covid-19 cases are leveling off after reaching record highs during the Omicron surge, but a new and even more highly contagious variant is on the rise. The BA.2 variant of Omicron now accounts for over 50% of new cases nationally, and just under half of cases in Alaska, state epid… LINDA F. HERSEY Fairbanks Daily News-Miner Apr 1, 2022 0 North Pole Rep. Mike Prax was one of eight lawmakers diagnosed with Covid-19 Wednesday in an outbreak that has swept through the Alaska House. By LIV CLIFFORD Fairbanks Daily News-Miner Mar 31, 2022 0 Alaskans lost more than $13 million to suspected internet crimes in 2021, federal data shows. Read More Here

$63 Million In Broadband Investments Announced For Alaska | U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski Of Alaska https://digitalalaskanews.com/63-million-in-broadband-investments-announced-for-alaska-u-s-senator-lisa-murkowski-of-alaska/ 09.23.22 Improving High-Speed Internet Affordably in Rural Alaska Washington, DC – U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan (both R-AK) today announced that communities on the North Slope and in Southeast Alaska will receive a total of $63 million for high-speed internet network buildout / deployment projects. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) ReConnect Program grants, awarded to the Alaska Telephone Company and Arctic Slope Telephone, will help improve broadband access, including its affordability, for rural communities. “Having reliable internet has become a basic service that many in urban areas take for granted. In far too many remote communities in Alaska, I’ve seen and heard firsthand accounts of the unreliability and high cost of internet, with some households paying upwards of $300 a month alone for an unstable service. Connectivity means so much—for telehealth, education, our economy and so much more. That’s why I led the infrastructure bill and why I’ve made it a priority to expand broadband infrastructure and accessibility for unserved and underserved areas,” Senator Murkowski said. “I’m pleased to see these grants for Alaska and what it will mean to so many of these rural communities for years to come.” “It’s great to see the USDA continuing to award significant resources to assist with delivering high-speed internet access to rural Alaska—an essential component of 21st century infrastructure,” Senator Sullivan said. “Last month, I hosted a broadband summit in Anchorage with critical stakeholders from federal agencies, including from USDA, state and local governments, Alaska Native communities, industry, and other key partners as Alaska prepares to receive significant funds from the bipartisan infrastructure law. As these federal funds from various agencies come to Alaska, it is critical that all Alaskan stakeholders are coordinated in their response. If we coordinate well and work together, we have the potential to connect every community across our state.” GRANT RECIPIENTS [provided by USDA]: Alaska Telephone Company: $33 million to deploy a fiber-to-the-premises network to connect 211 people and five businesses to high-speed internet in the Haines Borough, the Hoonah Angoon Census Area and the Skagway Municipality. Alaska Telephone Company will make high-speed internet affordable by implementing the FCC’s Lifeline Program, which will serve Skagway and Chilkat Alaska Native Village areas. Arctic Slope Telephone: $30.9 million to deploy a fiber-to-the-premises network to connect 476 people, 15 businesses and a public school to high-speed internet in North Slope Borough. Arctic Slope Telephone Association Cooperative Inc. will make high-speed internet affordable by participating in the FCC’s Affordable Connectivity and Lifeline programs and will serve communities of North Slope Borough and portions of the Anaktuvuk and the Point Lay Alaska Native Village Tribal Areas. Read More Here

After Hurricane Fiona, Will Puerto Rico Ever Become A State Or An Independent Nation? https://digitalalaskanews.com/after-hurricane-fiona-will-puerto-rico-ever-become-a-state-or-an-independent-nation/ For the second time in five years, devastating infrastructure failure in Puerto Rico after a hurricane has raised the question of governmental status of the Caribbean island, a U.S. territory whose residents can’t vote for president or for voting members of Congress. More than 1 million customers remained without electricity, and nearly half of a major water authority’s customers lacked running water in the aftermath of Hurricane Fiona. The island’s fragile power grid and infrastructure result from a lack of political power because of inadequate governmental representation, critics say. This year, House Democrats introduced a bill that would give Puerto Rico residents, who are U.S. citizens, a self-determination vote. Proposed changes include statehood or independence. What is Puerto Rico’s governmental status? Puerto Rico, acquired by the United States from Spain in 1898 after the Spanish-American War, is a commonwealth, or self-governing state, subject to the authority of Congress. Residents can vote in presidential primaries but not the general election. The island has a nonvoting member of Congress but no voting representatives or senators, as states have.  In contrast, residents of Washington, D.C., which also has been mentioned as a candidate for statehood, have no voting members of Congress but do get to vote for president. The district has three electoral votes. Puerto Rico has given its residents the opportunity to express their opinion on the island’s governmental status, holding various nonbinding votes on its relationship to the United States. In a 2020 ballot measure that asked a single question about statehood, 52.3% of voters said they favored Puerto Rico becoming a state. In three earlier nonbinding plebiscites between 1967 and 1998, a majority of Puerto Rican voters favored remaining as a commonwealth. Other residents favored outright independence. Reminder of Maria: 5 years later, Puerto Ricans are still struggling with Hurricane Maria’s devastation. Then came Hurricane Fiona. Hurricane wreaks damage: Bermuda faces risk of strong waves, damaging winds as Hurricane Fiona intensifies Aid needed: Puerto Rico governor requests major disaster declaration; Fiona grows stronger What does it mean for Puerto Rico to not be a state? Puerto Ricans are still dealing with the repercussions of powerful Hurricane Maria, which ravaged the island five years ago this week. That has aggravated Hurricane Fiona recovery and provides a fresh reminder of Puerto Rico’s disadvantages under the current governmental system, according to those favoring a change in status.  The island’s failed power grid “has become the poster child of the decay of the colonial system, its institutions and a very vulnerable population,” said Cecilio Ortiz García, co-founder of the University of Puerto Rico’s National Institute of Energy and Island Sustainability. The federal response after Maria was considered slow compared with aid provided after similar disasters in U.S. states, according to critics.   Jenniffer Gonzalez-Colon, Puerto Rico’s nonvoting congressional representative and an advocate for statehood, sees “a direct connection” between Puerto Rico’s governmental status and its frayed infrastructure. “Puerto Rico, as a territory of the United States, needs to comply with a lot of federal laws. But we do not receive the same resources as a state,” she told NPR. “And that means that this economic situation on the island, where you have a 47% of poverty rate, it’s higher than any other state. Once Puerto Rico become a state, that will allow the island to normalize our economy, like it happened with Hawaii and with Alaska many, many years ago.” What is being done to try to change Puerto Rico’s status? During the current session of Congress, representatives and senators have introduced bills that would give Puerto Rico an opportunity to reconsider its status with the U.S. At least one House bill, introduced last year, would grant Puerto Rico statehood.  Puerto Rican legislators and its governor, Pedro Pierluisi, a Democrat, were in Washington last week pushing Congress to pass the Puerto Rico Status Act, which calls for a binding 2023 vote by residents of Puerto Rico on the island’s status. “It is time to end colonialism within America. It is time to end the territorial relationship of Puerto Rico with the United States,” Pierluisi said in Washington. What is the likelihood that Puerto Rico’s status will change? Gonzalez-Colon, a Republican, expresses high hope for congressional approval of the self-determination bill, citing passage by a congressional committee and the support of some Republicans. But, in the face of history and current opposition, it faces a high bar. The question of statehood for Puerto Rico highlights significant party divisions. Granting statehood to Puerto Rico and Washington, D.C. – both expected to lean Democratic politically — has been advocated by some Democratic activists as a means of balancing what is considered a Republican structural advantage in the Senate and the Electoral College. Many Republicans oppose statehood, with some saying it is a Democratic ploy to increase the party’s power in Congress. Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., the Senate GOP leader, said in 2020 that Puerto Rican statehood wouldn’t happen if he were the Senate majority leader. Possibility of statehood? Could DC, Puerto Rico become the next US states? Here’s what Congress is considering And, in a 2020 interview, then-U.S. Sen. Martha McSally, a Republican from Arizona, laid out GOP concerns: “They’re going to make D.C. and Puerto Rico a state and get four new Democrat senators. We’d never get the Senate back again.” Contributing: Amanda Pérez Pintado, Grace Hauck, Adrianna Rodriguez and Chelsey Cox, USA TODAY Read More Here

RAC Committee Recommends Roadmap For Future Research And Development Work In Mithun https://digitalalaskanews.com/rac-committee-recommends-roadmap-for-future-research-and-development-work-in-mithun/ Medziphema, September 23 (MExN): ICAR-NRC on Mithun, Medziphema organized its 15th Research Advisory Committee (RAC) meeting to prepare a roadmap for future research and development work in Mithun on September 21. It was presided by the RAC Chairman Prof (Dr) MR Sasendranath, Vice Chancellor, Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Pookode Wayanad, Kerala. ICAR-NRC on Mithun, Director, Dr MH Khan briefed about the progress made by the institute during last three years and highlighted the salient achievements of the Institute.  Action Taken Report of the previous RAC committee was presented by the Member Secretary, Dr Nazrul Haque. Each scientist presented the achievements of their respective sections.  After through discussion about the research work done in the past and ongoing research work, the RAC committee recommended future line of research and development work for the conservation and propagation of Mithun in order to further improve the income generation of Mithun farmers. RAC committee emphasised the need of developing entrepreneurship in Mithun husbandry, skill development of Mithun farmers, popularizing semi-intensive Mithun rearing model developed by the institute, diversified use of Mithun and value addition of Mithun meat and milk etc. The meeting was attended by the RAC members Dr AK Tyagi, Assistant Director General (AN&P), ICAR, New Delhi, Dr MH Khan, Director, ICAR-NRC on Mithun, Medziphema, Dr RB Sharma,  Former National Coordinator, ICAR-NAHEP, New Delhi, Dr SK Pan, Former Professor & Head, West Bengal University of Animal and Fisheries Sciences, Kolkata, Dr PK Singh, Prof & Head, Khalsa College of Veterinary & Animal Sciences, Amritsar, Punjab, Dr AK Sangwan, Head, Department of Veterinary Parasitology, C V.Sc, Jalukie, Peren,  Sambu Siongju, Nafra, West Kameng District, Arunachal Pradesh and Dr Nazrul Haque, Principal Scientist, ICAR-NRC on Mithun, Medziphema. All the scientists and technical officers of the Institute also attended the programme. Earlier, RAC committee visited the Institute Mithun Farm at Medziphema and interacted with the scientists and technical officers of the Institute. Tree plantations were done at the Institute Mithun farm by all the dignitaries.  Read More Here

Trump And Putin Both Had A Bad Week (With Benjamin Wittes) https://digitalalaskanews.com/trump-and-putin-both-had-a-bad-week-with-benjamin-wittes/ Support The Bulwark and subscribe today.   Join Now Episode Notes An ad-free version of Beg to Differ is available exclusively to Bulwark+ members. Learn more here. Read More Here

Why New York State Is Suing Trump Instead Of Charging Him With Crimes https://digitalalaskanews.com/why-new-york-state-is-suing-trump-instead-of-charging-him-with-crimes/ After a three-year investigation, New York Attorney General Letitia James has filed a civil lawsuit against Donald Trump, three of his children and his real-estate company, claiming they “engaged in numerous acts of fraud and misrepresentation” for at least a decade. The suit claims the Trumps knowingly and consistently overstated the value of at least 23 commercial properties, for the purpose of getting lower interest rates and cheaper insurance. James wants the family and the company to disgorge $250 million, the amount they supposedly saved by duping banks and insurers. Um, okay? If Trump’s business practices were crooked, it’s appropriate for the correct authorities to hold him accountable. And there’s widespread evidence Trump has pushed the bounds of legality in his long career as a showman and real-estate developer. A 2018 New York Times exposé, aided by leaks of family documents, claimed that Trump participated in a variety of “dubious tax schemes… including instances of outright fraud.” Trump’s former lawyer, Michael Cohen, has likewise accused Trump of criminal activity, including some crimes Cohen participated in and went to prison for. And yet, the New York AG’s suit seems …underwhelming? The presumed victims in James’s suit aren’t customers Trump defrauded, contractors he stiffed, or shareholders he lied to. The victims are banks and insurance companies that supposedly undercharged Trump for loans and insurance policies, because Trump told them his properties were more expansive and valuable than they actually were. The government doesn’t usually sue on behalf of big businesses that have their own well-staffed legal departments. Financial firms rely to some extent on customers telling the truth. But they also do their own underwriting, for the explicit purpose of assuring they don’t commit money based on bogus information. When ordinary people apply for a mortgage, the bank doesn’t write a blank check with no questions asked. Instead, it does a thorough credit check, values the property and prices the loan according to the risk it believes it is taking. It’s harder to do due diligence on a complex business like Trump runs, but that’s what investment banks and other large lenders do for a living. James’s lawsuit, for instance, argues that Trump’s longtime lender Deutsche Bank repeatedly gave Trump favorable interest rates and other loose lending terms because of “the improper, repeated and persistent use of fraudulent and misleading financial statements.” Terrible. But isn’t that Deutsche Bank’s problem? Shouldn’t the bank be the one suing, rather than the New York AG? What harm did Deutsche suffer? ‘There doesn’t have to be a loss’ James seems to be taking this approach, as opposed to a criminal indictment, because New York law empowers the AG to seek damages caused by fraudulent business behavior as a form of consumer protection. The law doesn’t require the AG to identify a victim or even demonstrate anybody suffered harm. Plus, the burden of proof is lower in civil cases than in criminal ones. “What makes this statute particularly powerful is that there doesn’t have to be a loss,” Will Thomas, a law professor at the University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business, told Yahoo Finance. “This statute has been used to disgorge profits illegally gained. The government can be allowed to claw back all of those profits. Provable nature is lower, and you don’t have to prove intent or willfulness.” A civil suit also prevents James from bumping into the criminal case against Trump’s company that the Manhattan district attorney is prosecuting. Those two offices sometimes work together on criminal cases, as they’re doing on the recent indictment of former Trump adviser Steve Bannon. With regard to Trump, however, they seem to be pursuing complementary approaches instead of overlapping ones. [Follow Rick Newman on Twitter, sign up for his newsletter or sound off.] Trump, of course, claims the AG’s lawsuit is a politically motivated “witch hunt,” his umbrella phrase for every inquiry into crimes or abuses he may have committed. As Trump points out, James is an elected Democrat in one of the most anti-Trump blue states. But that doesn’t mean James is hassling Trump just because she hates him. Prosecutors and other public officials have an obligation to investigate potential wrongdoing if they become aware of it. Media exposés, allegations by former Trump associates and loads of circumstantial evidence provide James plenty of fodder for a lawsuit. Trump’s primary company is based in New York, giving her jurisdiction. James can plausibly say she’s acting on behalf of the New Yorkers who elected her. Putting the pressure on other prosecutors James also seems to be priming the pump for other possible criminal prosecutions of Trump, by other agencies. She’s overt about referring evidence of crimes obtained during the AG civil investigation to federal prosecutors and the Internal Revenue Service. Do they really need the help? The Justice Department already has detailed information on Trump’s business operations, from the Cohen case and other events. Trump was eventually identified as “Individual 1” in documents related to Cohen’s 2018 guilty plea on charges of tax evasion, fraud and campaign finance violations. Individual 1 was complicit in some of the same crimes Cohen went to prison for. In 2019 Congressional testimony that named Trump as “Individual 1,” Cohen further detailed the types of financial shenanigans James is now suing Trump for. The IRS has supposedly been auditing Trump’s taxes for years. How could it not be? Given the many public charges of tax evasion—whether legal or illegal—the agency would be negligent not to look into whether it’s true that Trump is bilking the tax man. Maybe James feels it’s necessary to pressure other prosecutors into doing their jobs. The Justice Department reportedly dropped its inquiry into the campaign-finance violations Trump ordered Cohen to commit. The Manhattan district attorney, Alvin Bragg, has scaled back his criminal probe into Trump. Criminal proceedings against the company will begin in October, but those won’t focus on Trump personally, even though a prominent prosecutor who left the DA’s office has said there’s ample evidence Trump himself committed crimes. Other Trump prosecutions seem to be moving briskly. In Georgia, Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis seems to be on course to bring criminal charges of election fraud against Trump and others working with him to overturn the 2020 election results. The Justice Department has hinted at possible obstruction of justice charges related to its lightning raid of Trump’s Mar-a-Lago property in August, when it recovered troves of classified documents Trump wasn’t supposed to have. Allen Weisselberg, former chief financial officer of the The Trump Organization, has already pleaded guilty to more than a dozen felonies as part of the Manhattan DA’s probe. Weisselberg will testify against Trump’s company—but not against Trump himself—when that trial kicks off on Oct. 24. James could end up settling the civil lawsuit against the Trumps, though she would probably insist they agree to harsh terms that make it look like she won. If there’s no settlement, the case will likely go before a jury. But the suit alone, and the evidence it has produced, may already be a form of victory for prosecutors seeking to punish Trump for years of transgressions. Click here for politics news related to business and money Read the latest financial and business news from Yahoo Finance Download the Yahoo Finance app for Apple or Android Follow Yahoo Finance on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Flipboard, LinkedIn, and YouTube Read More Here

Trump Allies Launch New Super PAC To Bolster GOP Candidates In Midterms As Former President Eyes 2024 Campaign – KRDO https://digitalalaskanews.com/trump-allies-launch-new-super-pac-to-bolster-gop-candidates-in-midterms-as-former-president-eyes-2024-campaign-krdo/ By Gabby Orr, Dan Merica and Fredreka Schouten, CNN Several top allies of Donald Trump will launch a new super PAC to buoy Republican candidates who have earned the former President’s support in the midterm elections, CNN has learned, following months of minimal spending by Trump-aligned groups that has left party strategists frustrated as they work to fill the void. Called MAGA, Inc., the new group will meld with an existing Trump-sanctioned super PAC that has been mostly overseen by former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi and former US Ambassador to Germany Richard Grenell. As of last month, that group had spent slightly more than $2 million to boost Trump-backed Senate and House candidates in their primary races earlier this year. “President Trump is committed to saving America, and Make America Great Again, Inc. will ensure that is achieved at the ballot box in November and beyond,” Trump spokesman Taylor Budowich said in a statement Friday. Budowich has been charged with running the new super PAC, along with former Trump campaign aide Steven Cheung, who will serve as its communications director; longtime Trump pollster Tony Fabrizio; veteran GOP operative Chris LaCivita, who will become the group’s chief strategist; and Sergio Gor, whose conservative publishing outfit released Trump’s first post-presidential book last year (a collection of White House and campaign trail photographs) and will serve as a senior adviser to MAGA, Inc. The newest Trump fundraising vehicle was first reported by Politico. With the November elections fast approaching, Trump has been under pressure to dip into the mountain of cash raised by his leadership PAC, Save America, and the Bondi-run group to boost federal and non-federal candidates who drew his support in their primaries but are trailing or running too close for comfort against their Democratic opponents. The former President had more than $103 million in his coffers at the end of August, according to the most recently available Federal Election Commission data. People familiar with the matter said most of those funds will be transferred to MAGA, Inc., which is expected to start spending immediately in key midterm races. Federal records show that Trump’s main fundraising vehicle, Save America, has contributed more than $8.4 million to candidates and committees at the federal, state and local level since January 2021 — a significant sum, but virtually nothing compared to what other major Republican groups have committed and only about $1.4 million more than what the former President has spent on legal fees this cycle (nearly $7 million). The pro-GOP Senate Leadership Fund is spending about $205 million on advertisements in Senate races this cycle, per a CNN analysis, which includes what the group has already spent and its ad reservations over the next month. Meanwhile, the Congressional Leadership Fund, which is aligned with House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, is planning to spend $141 million this fall on ads alone. Trump aides have long insisted that his spending is supplemented by the campaign rallies and fundraisers he has held to benefit various Republicans, along with his coveted endorsement, which helped many of his chosen candidates prevail in contested primaries earlier this year. But others say the lack of financial assistance from the former President shouldn’t be discounted. “Trump never went out of his way to help candidates — unless he sees a way that it helps him. His camp says, ‘Well, he’s helping them by doing these events,’ which I would say aren’t actually that helpful because you never know whether Trump is going to insult the candidate,” said Doug Heye, a GOP strategist and former communications director for the Republican National Committee. A person familiar with the new group said it will spend “heavily” in key Senate and gubernatorial races this fall but declined to disclose a target amount of which specific contests the Trump-backed super PAC plans to focus on. Another person close to Trump said the group had been in the planning stages for several months and is likely to become part of his campaign apparatus if he launches a third presidential bid, as is widely expected. After months of eyeing a pre-midterm launch date for a 2024 campaign, Trump is now waiting to see how Republicans perform in November — hoping to avoid blame if the party’s overall gains prove disappointing. “He’s been convinced there’s no upside to doing it before the midterms and plenty of potential downsides. Right now, the goal is Q1 of next year but, of course, once the election has passed, he could really do it at any time,” a Trump adviser said. The-CNN-Wire & © 2022 Cable News Network, Inc., a Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All rights reserved. Read More Here