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Biden Praises Braves https://digitalarizonanews.com/biden-praises-braves/ By AAMER MADHANI and COLLEEN LONG Associated Press WASHINGTON – President Joe Biden said Monday the Atlanta Braves will be “forever known as the upset kings of October” for their improbable 2021 World Series win, as he welcomed the team to the White House for a victory celebration. Biden called the Braves’ drive an “unstoppable, joyful run.” The team got its White House visit in with just over a week left before the 2022 regular season wraps up and the Major League Baseball playoffs begin again. The Braves trail the New York Mets by 1.5 games in the National League East but have clinched a wildcard spot for the MLB playoffs that begin Oct. 7. Chief Executive Officer Terry McGuirk said he hoped they’d be back to the White House again soon. In August 2021, the Braves were a mess, playing barely at .500. But then they started winning. And they kept it up, taking the World Series in six games over the Houston Astros. Biden called their performance of “history’s greatest turnarounds.” “This team has literally been part of American history for over 150 years,” said Biden. “But none of it came easy … people counting you out. Heck, I know something about being counted out.” Players lined up on risers behind Biden, grinning and waving to the crowd, but the player most discussed was one who hasn’t been on the team in nearly 50 years and who died last year: Hall of Famer Hank Aaron. Hammerin’ Hank was the home run king for 33 years, dethroning Babe Ruth with a shot to left field on April 8, 1974. He was one of the most famous players for Atlanta and in baseball history, a clear-eyed chronicler of the hardships thrown his way – from the poverty and segregation of his Alabama youth to the racist threats he faced during his pursuit of one of America’s most hallowed records. He died in January at 86. “This is team is defined by the courage of Hank Aaron,” Biden said. McGuirk said Aaron, who held front office positions with the team and was one of Major League Baseball’s few Black executives, was watching over them. “He’d have been there every step of the way with us if he was here,” McGuirk added. The president often honors major league and some college sports champions with a White House ceremony, typically a nonpartisan affair in which the commander in chief pays tribute to the champs’ prowess, poses for photos and comes away with a team jersey. Those visits were highly charged in the previous administration. Many athletes took issue with President Donald Trump’s policies and rhetoric on policing, immigration and more. Trump, for his part, didn’t take kindly to criticism from athletes or their on-field expressions of political opinions. Under Biden, the tradition appears to be back. He’s hosted the NBA champion Milwaukee Bucks and Super Bowl champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers at the White House. On Monday he joked about first lady Jill Biden’s Philadelphia allegiances. “Like every Philly fan, she’s convinced she knows more about everything in sports than anybody else,” he said. He added that he couldn’t be too nice to the Atlanta team because it had just beaten the Phillies the previous night in extra innings. Press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre was later questioned about the team’s name, particularly as other professional sports teams have moved away from names – like the Cleveland Indians, now the Guardians, and the Washington Redskins, now the Commanders – following years of complaints from Native American groups over the images and symbols. She said it was important for the country to have the conversation. “And Native American and Indigenous voices – they should be at the center of this conversation,” she said. Biden supported MLB’s decision to pull the 2021 All-Star Game from Atlanta to protest Georgia’s sweeping new voting law, which critics contend is too restrictive. Read More Here

Appeals Court Blocks California Ban On For-Profit Prisons https://digitalarizonanews.com/appeals-court-blocks-california-ban-on-for-profit-prisons/ SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — A larger panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Monday again blocked California’s first-in-the-nation ban on for-profit private prisons and immigration detention facilities, finding that it is trumped by the federal government. A three-judge appellate panel last year rejected the 2019 state law that would have phased out privately run immigration jails in California by 2028. The law would have undermined a key piece of the nation’s detention system for immigrants. California Attorney General Rob Bonta had asked the larger appellate panel to reconsider a ruling. The law signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom was one of many efforts to limit California’s cooperation with the federal government as then-President Donald Trump imposed hardline policies on immigration enforcement. But the Biden administration continued the U.S. government’s opposition to the law on constitutional grounds. The 11-member appellate panel said the state law is preempted by the federal government under the U.S. Constitution’s “supremacy clause.” It sent the case back to the trial court for a decision on other legal arguments. The Geo Group Inc., which operates two such facilities in California, sued to block the law. Neither Geo nor U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement immediately commented on the ruling. “AB 32 would prevent ICE’s contractors from continuing to run detention facilities, requiring ICE to entirely transform its approach to detention in the state or else abandon its California facilities,” Circuit Judge Jacqueline Nguyen wrote for the panel’s eight-member majority. “California cannot exert this level of control over the federal government’s detention operations.” Bonta wrote the law when he was in the state Assembly. His office said it is still reviewing the decision but is “deeply disappointed” by the decision. The law “was enacted to protect the health and welfare of Californians and recognized the federal government’s own documented concerns with for-profit, private prisons and detention facilities,” his office said in a statement. Two of the eight judges agreed with Nguyen on only part of the majority’s ruling. And three of the panel’s 11 members dissented from the majority ruling, with Chief Judge Mary Murguia holding that the law is valid “because it neither directly regulates nor discriminates against the federal government.” Both she and Nguyen are appointees of President Barack Obama. The Dignity not Detention Coalition, which sought the California law, in a statement called the Biden administration’s support for the lawsuit “another grim marker of the administration’s descent into Trumpian immigration policy.” It urged the administration and Congress to not only end the contracts but to entirely end funding for immigration detention. Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Read More Here

Biden’s Student Loan Cancellation Plan To Cost $400B, Congressional Budget Office Estimates https://digitalarizonanews.com/bidens-student-loan-cancellation-plan-to-cost-400b-congressional-budget-office-estimates/ WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden’s plan to forgive $10,000 in federal student debt for most borrowers will cost the government about $400 billion, the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office said in an estimate released Monday. The CBO’s evaluation of the administration’s policy said the price tag is “a result of the action canceling up to $10,000 of debt issued on or before June 30, 2022.” The president’s plan covers borrowers with income below specified limits and an additional $10,000 forgiven for those who also received at least one Pell Grant, CBO Director Phillip Swagel said. “Reduced cash inflows to the Treasury will increase the amounts that the federal government borrows over time,” he said Monday. As of the end of June, 43 million borrowers held $1.6 trillion in federal student loans and about $430 billion of that debt will be canceled, the CBO estimated. The White House, borrowing language from the CBO analysis, responded by focusing on the agency’s own assessment that its $400 billion estimate was “highly uncertain.” “CBO called its own estimate ‘highly uncertain.’ We agree,'” the White House said in a memo. “By law, the federal budget computes the complete cost of student loan relief over the lifetime of the loans, and then records that cost in the year the loans are modified,” the memo continued. “But that’s not how this program will affect the bottom line in reality. The cost to the government is not the long-term score, but rather, the annual lost receipts.” In a joint statement, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., argued the CBO’s estimate made clear that middle-class Americans will have “more breathing room.” “In contrast to President Trump and Republicans who gave giant corporations $2 trillion in tax breaks, President Biden delivered transformative middle class relief by cancelling student debt for working people who need it most — nearly 90% of relief dollars will go to those earning less than $75,000 a year,” they said. “We don’t agree with all of CBO’s assumptions that underlie this analysis, but it is clear the pandemic payment pause and student debt cancellation are policies that demonstrate how government can and should invest in working people, not the wealthy and billionaire corporations,” the two Democrats added. However, the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, a group that advocates for lower deficits, said the CBO’s predictions confirm “the outrageous cost” of Biden’s student loan plan. “As CBO’s estimates help confirm, the President’s student debt plan would wipe out the ten-year savings from the Inflation Reduction Act twice over, worsen inflationary pressures, and deliver benefits to millions of Americans with advanced degrees in upper-income households,” said its president, Maya MacGuineas. “This might be the most costly executive action in history. It’s unacceptable that the President would implement it without offsets and without Congressional approval.” The administration’s plan, which also calls for extending a pause on payments through the end of the year at an estimated cost of $20 billion, has drawn equally sharp criticism from Republicans who argue it will add to inflation. GOP lawmakers highlighted the added cost to taxpayers just a few weeks out from the midterm elections amid historically high inflation. “The Biden Administration’s student debt bailout is even more expensive than we initially thought,” tweeted Rep. Andy Biggs, R-Ariz. “The current bailout will cost Americans $420 BILLION, according to the CBO. This is likely the most expensive executive action in American history.” Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks, R-Iowa, tweeted, “President Biden isn’t forgiving student loans—he’s charging hardworking Americans $400 billion.” Rebecca Shabad is a politics reporter for NBC News based in Washington. Julie Tsirkin Julie Tsirkin is a producer and reporter for NBC News’ Capitol Hill team.  Zoë Richards contributed . Read More Here

How The Far Right Is Surging In Europe | CNN Politics https://digitalarizonanews.com/how-the-far-right-is-surging-in-europe-cnn-politics/ A version of this story appears in CNN’s What Matters newsletter. To get it in your inbox, sign up for free here. CNN  —  Voters in Europe have veered to the far right. In Italy, Giorgia Meloni’s Brothers of Italy political party is described in CNN’s report as “the most far-right government since the fascist era of Benito Mussolini.” That description, invoking Mussolini, raises the frightening specter of World War II, although it’s important to consider where the comparison starts and stops. Meloni, troubling though her rhetoric might be, is a 45-year-old mother from Rome preparing to lead a coalition government, not a dictator in a military uniform overseeing a fascist regime. She is set to claim victory after targeting immigration, the favorite issue of nativist and populist politicians the world over. Where former US President Donald Trump rose to power promising to build a wall between the US and Mexico, Meloni repeatedly suggested a “naval blockade” to stop the flow of people into Europe from the Mediterranean. In Sweden, a party described as having “neo-Nazi roots” has tapped into anti-immigrant sentiment and won more than 20% of the vote in elections earlier this month, enough to give it some influence over the new government being formed there. In Italy’s parliamentary system, Brothers of Italy, which got a little more than a quarter of the vote, will take control of the government as part of a right-wing coalition with other parties. While anti-immigrant policies that could be forthcoming from Meloni in Italy are troubling, the parliamentary system, which fosters multiple parties and coalition governments, provides guardrails. I talked to Trygve Olson, the president of Viking Strategies, an international political risk firm. He’s worked as a consultant in multiple countries and argued that Meloni could evolve in office. “The mere fact that they have gained power doesn’t necessarily mean that their democratic systems are broken,” Olson told me in a phone conversation. “It’s troubling. And it says that there’s a whole lot of European voters who are feeling desperate in terms of some of their concerns not being addressed by the traditional parties.” But the traditional parties are still there to provide checks against the far-right politicians, who now have an opportunity to try to build consensus. European officials have suggested they could cut funding for Italy if Meloni’s policies violate the rule of law. “If things go in a difficult direction – and I’ve spoken about Hungary and Poland – we have the tools,” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said recently. She was asked about Italy, but also included Hungary and Poland, where more entrenched far-right leaders have won and kept power. Rafaela Dancygier is a professor of politics and public and international affairs at Princeton University, and she has studied both the radical right and the issue of immigration in Europe. She told me in a phone conversation that while Americans might view the success of far-right parties as an abrupt shift, it is not, and that far-right positions have been normalized in Italy in recent years. “I know that there’s sort of a temptation to paint this as a radical shift,” she said. “And it’s definitely radical, but I just don’t think it’s a shift. This is the continuation of a trend.” Dancygier also noted that while the right motivated voters, turnout was down compared with previous elections, which created an opening for Meloni’s coalition. “It’s also a failure of the left,” she said. The EU parliament recently declared Hungary to no longer be a “full democracy.” Hungary is led by Viktor Orban, the darling of American conservatives. He spoke at the Conservative Political Action Conference in Texas this summer. CNN’s Michael Warren reported at the time that Orban sounded a lot like Trump during the speech. “The right-wing European leader hit guaranteed applause lines – including telling the Texas crowd that ‘Hungary is the Lone Star State of Europe’ – and criticizing liberals, the news media and the Democratic Party,” Warren wrote, also noting that Trump hosted Orban at his Bedminster, New Jersey, golf club. Poland’s president is Andrzej Duda, who narrowly won reelection in 2020 with a focus on anti-LGBTQ sentiment. Duda is another favorite of Trump’s. There is a lot of evidence that far-right politicians have been gaining in Europe in recent years. The far-right candidate in France, Marine Le Pen, lost her race against President Emmanuel Macron earlier this year, but she got more than 41% of the vote in a runoff, far more than she got in 2017, which suggests that her anti-immigration message is growing in France. That year – 2017 – was the same one when the anti-immigrant party Alternative for Germany, AfD, first gained seats in Germany’s parliament, the Bundestag. AfD has since been put under official surveillance by the country on “suspicion of trying to undermine Germany’s democratic constitution,” according to a Reuters report. AfD lost some seats in Germany’s parliament last year, but it maintains a foothold. “It feels as though a rejection of the manifestly failing pan-European orthodoxy is taking hold among our citizens,” Gunnar Beck, a Member of the European Parliament representing AfD, told CNN’s Luke McGee for his story, “The conditions are perfect for a populist resurgence in Europe.” McGee writes that Meloni’s policy platform will feel familiar to anyone who has paid attention to far-right rhetoric. “She’s openly questioned LGBTQ+ and abortion rights, aims to curb immigration, and appears obsessed with the idea that traditional values and ways of life are under attack because of everything from globalization to same sex marriage,” according to McGee. The positions of far-right politicians are similar throughout Europe, Dancygier said: “They’re against liberal democracy and prefer democracy of a more populist or authoritarian type.” “They very much often emphasize Christianity and the importance of Christian nationalism, as well as the role of the family.” “They openly campaign against what they call the LGBTQ lobby.” The Trump wing of the American right has a lot to like in Meloni’s victory. She’s received vocal support from Steve Bannon, the former Trump White House adviser who was indicted in New York earlier this month for his role in a scheme to privately fund a wall on the southern US border. When I asked how the rise of far-right parties in Europe differs from the power of far-right politicians in the US, Dancygier argued that the American system really only allows for two parties. Many state party platforms in the US would be very similar to a far-right party in Europe. Read More Here

PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN—DAY614—SECOND YEAR DAY249—EVENING-SHADE-Monday https://digitalarizonanews.com/president-joe-biden-day614-second-year-day249-evening-shade-monday/ W E L C O M E TO THE SHADE YOU WILL FIND in the DIARIES a LOT of POLITICS AND EVEN MORE CATS     THE PERSON who MAKES the FIRST COMMENT WILL GET TWO CATS EVERY PERSON WHO COMMENTS WILL GET A CAT     RULES IN THE DIARY WHEN YOU FIND SOMETHING in the DIARY that you LIKE YOU CAN REPOST IT AS COMMENT in the DIARY PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN Breaking: The Jan. 6 Committee subpoenaed Wisconsin's House Speaker Robin Vos, a Republican, over the weekend for testimony about a July phone call with Trump. The panel is demanding his testimony by TODAY. https://t.co/ZxYpBXBfI8 — Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) September 26, 2022 ‘ readability=”6.8409893992933″ x Breaking: The Jan. 6 Committee subpoenaed Wisconsin’s House Speaker Robin Vos, a Republican, over the weekend for testimony about a July phone call with Trump. The panel is demanding his testimony by TODAY. https://t.co/ZxYpBXBfI8 — Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) September 26, 2022 UKRAINE Democratic Senate nominees raked in the cash on ActBlue in August — making the best online fundraising month yet for many top candidates. The platform overall saw a 40% increase from July. Val Demings raised $7.8 million Raphael Warnock raised $6.7 milhttps://t.co/z7HkavA9te — Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) September 25, 2022 ‘ readability=”6.5625″ x Democratic Senate nominees raked in the cash on ActBlue in August — making the best online fundraising month yet for many top candidates. The platform overall saw a 40% increase from July. Val Demings raised $7.8 million Raphael Warnock raised $6.7 milhttps://t.co/z7HkavA9te — Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) September 25, 2022 REPUBLICAN SEN. JOHN BARASSO Rep. Jamie Raskin tells @NBCNews the Jan. 6 Committee is "aware of" a call between the White House switchboard and a rioter during the Capitol attack. — Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) September 26, 2022 ‘ readability=”5.6674876847291″ x Rep. Jamie Raskin tells @NBCNews the Jan. 6 Committee is “aware of” a call between the White House switchboard and a rioter during the Capitol attack. — Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) September 26, 2022 REPUBLICAN PAUL LAPAGE Tucker Carlson recently went on a 20-minute rant about @JohnFetterman, in part over what Tucker called his “stupid little fake tattoos.” John has nine dates tattooed on his right forearm— each one commemorates a day when someone died violently in Braddock, PA, while he was mayor. — Jon Cooper (@joncoopertweets) September 26, 2022 ‘ readability=”7.7″ x Tucker Carlson recently went on a 20-minute rant about @JohnFetterman, in part over what Tucker called his “stupid little fake tattoos.” John has nine dates tattooed on his right forearm— each one commemorates a day when someone died violently in Braddock, PA, while he was mayor. — Jon Cooper (@joncoopertweets) September 26, 2022 OATH KEEPERS New details about the Jan. 6 rioter who received a call from the White House during the insurrection: The cell phone belonged to a 26-year-old Trump supporter from Brooklyn, New York named Anton Lunyk. The call last 9 seconds. https://t.co/7eqXOe472X — Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) September 26, 2022 ‘ readability=”6.4851485148515″ x New details about the Jan. 6 rioter who received a call from the White House during the insurrection: The cell phone belonged to a 26-year-old Trump supporter from Brooklyn, New York named Anton Lunyk. The call last 9 seconds. https://t.co/7eqXOe472X — Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) September 26, 2022 Trump’s “Special Master” delay Is already BACKFIRING big time. The unintended consequence is that it’s actually SPEEDING UP the review of the 11,000 documents that Trump illegally had in his possession at Mar-a-Lago. — Jon Cooper (@joncoopertweets) September 26, 2022 ‘ readability=”7.0143884892086″ x Trump’s “Special Master” delay Is already BACKFIRING big time. The unintended consequence is that it’s actually SPEEDING UP the review of the 11,000 documents that Trump illegally had in his possession at Mar-a-Lago. — Jon Cooper (@joncoopertweets) September 26, 2022 GOOD EVENING ! THERE are NOW !! 614 DIARIES !!! Since JOE BIDENS INAUGURATION !!!! YOU can FIND THEM  !!!!! UNDER the HASHTAG !!! !!! New-Evening-Shade !!! !!! !!!      SOMETIMES the DIARY starts with the FIRST COMMMENT and THEN TWO CATS ! SOMETIMES I will MAKE the FIRST COMMMENT !! IN THIS CASE the PERSON who makes the NEXT COMMMENT will GET the 2 CATS !!! ELECTION 2022 JOE BIDEN !!! SENATE  PA ! SENATE !! JOHN FETTERMAN !!! Let’s not forget to thank the men and women in uniform who are putting their lives on the line for our safety. Thank you to all of our first responders. — Val Demings (@valdemings) September 26, 2022 ‘ readability=”5.9264705882353″ x Let’s not forget to thank the men and women in uniform who are putting their lives on the line for our safety. Thank you to all of our first responders. — Val Demings (@valdemings) September 26, 2022 OH ! SENATE !! TIM RYAN !!! You have to ask yourself: what makes Doug Mastriano so appealing to white supremacists, antisemites, and extremists? He speaks their language and empowers their hate — and he's recruiting them to join his campaign. He's too dangerous to be Governor of Pennsylvania. — Josh Shapiro (@JoshShapiroPA) September 26, 2022 ‘ readability=”8.9639498432602″ x You have to ask yourself: what makes Doug Mastriano so appealing to white supremacists, antisemites, and extremists? He speaks their language and empowers their hate — and he’s recruiting them to join his campaign. He’s too dangerous to be Governor of Pennsylvania. — Josh Shapiro (@JoshShapiroPA) September 26, 2022 HOUSE  REP. ! KATIE PORTER !!!

Worker Protests At Airports Spread Nationwide Over Staffing And Pay https://digitalarizonanews.com/worker-protests-at-airports-spread-nationwide-over-staffing-and-pay/ Cashiers, baristas, bartenders, cooks and lounge attendants at San Francisco International Airport launched an open-ended strike Monday over staffing levels and wages, shutting down most of one of the nation’s busiest airport’s food concessions. Flight attendants at United and Southwest airlines on Tuesday are expected to demonstrate at 21 airports around the United States, including Guam, as well as in London, to draw attention to workplace problems made worse by understaffing. Across the country, flight attendants and airport workers are responding to a hailstorm of workplace issues related to pay and staffing levels. Airline travel during the pandemic recovery has been marred by hundreds of thousands of canceled and delayed flights, attacks on flight attendants and widespread desperation among airport workers and travelers. While neither the strike by airport concession workers nor the protests by flight attendants are expected to disrupt air travel this week, they’re the latest signs of upheaval in the nation’s transportation sector, coming just weeks after rail workers narrowly averted a strike fueled in large part by nationwide labor shortages. In the airline industry, the airlines and air traffic controllers keep pointing at each other, to fend off blame for disruptions as demand for air travel has rebounded. Airlines in particular are struggling to attract workers in a red-hot labor market where less-grueling jobs are easier to come by, and federal data shows that airlines are responsible for the high rate of cancellations. The air transportation industry is still down 54,000 workers compared to February 2020. Lucinda To is among the 1,000 workers on strike at San Francisco International, where she has worked for 20 years. She prepares buffets, washes dishes and clears tables at restaurants and the United Club lounge for weary travelers. It is draining work that has only gotten harder this year, she said. With inflation at 40-year-highs, To said she has to work 60 hours a week at two food service jobs at the airport for $16.99 an hour to afford a two-bedroom unit in the Bay Area. Her mortgage is $2,800 a month. “Right now, on my wage, I make so little that I couldn’t even buy one meal at this airport, where hamburgers are $22,” To said. “I need to work two jobs to support my family, and I’m always working double shifts.” To, 61, regularly spends the night in her car at the airport, to save on gasoline and pass the time between shifts that stretch late into the night and start early the next day. The strike at San Francisco International is expected to shut down “virtually every food and beverage outlet within the airport,” Unite Here Local 2 union leaders said, and the union is urging travelers to bring their own food. The food service workers are employed by more than 30 companies at 84 food and beverage outlets. “The San Francisco International Airport advises travelers that a labor action by airport food workers is impacting staffing [at] restaurants and lounges,” said Doug Yankel, a spokesperson for the airport. “Some food and beverage outlets are closed, while others remain open with limited hours and offerings.” Additional protests among food service workers are being planned, union officials said. Flight attendants for United and Southwest will demonstrate on Tuesday amid drawn-out contract negotiations over wages, staffing levels and rescheduling of workers when flights are delayed or canceled. The protests will happen outside airports in Chicago, Denver, San Francisco, Atlanta, Los Angeles, Washington and other cities. At United, flight attendants said their lives have been upended by cancellations and delays, which routinely force them to spend hours, unpaid, waiting on the phone with the airline’s scheduling services. Some attendants slept on cots in airports this summer because hotels were overbooked. The workers said the delays are caused by understaffing within the scheduling division. Scott Pejas, a United flight attendant in Chicago and president of his local chapter of the Association of Flight Attendants, said disruptions to schedules have become the norm for flight attendants. “We are mentally and physically exhausted, because instead of getting rest, we’re on hold, on the phone, trying to find out where we’re going to spend the night or layover,” Pejas said. “Flight attendants will land somewhere at 10 p.m. and have to wait until 1 a.m. on the phone to find out where they’re going to sleep. We’re not getting rest.” Joshua Freed, a spokesperson for United, said the company is eager to reach a contract agreement with the union to address flight attendants’ concerns. “We’ve worked hard to reduce wait times for flight attendants to talk to a crew scheduler, including more hiring and adding digital options for some items,” he added. Lynn Montgomery, the president of TWU Local 556, which represents 18,000 Southwest flight attendants nationwide, said flight disruptions have become so routine that “workers are constantly working outside their normal schedule.” “I’ve never seen flight attendants so disheartened,” said Montgomery, who has also worked as a Southwest flight attendant for 30 years. “They feel like they’ve given and given, and the company isn’t giving back to them. It’s way more investor-focused these days than employee-friendly.” A spokesperson for Southwest said the airline encouraged employees to express their opinions. “Informational picketing is common during contract negotiations, and we do not anticipate any disruption in service resulting from the demonstration planned by off-duty flight attendants,” the spokesperson said. Read More Here

Knights Crush Rams, 78-20 https://digitalarizonanews.com/knights-crush-rams-78-20/ September 26, 2022 by Laura Fellows, Gilbert Christian High School The defensive team doing a great job protecting the quarterback Zach Hohmann, senior, as he sets up a pass. (Photo credit: Brandon Lang) Laura Fellows is the media advisor for Gilbert Christian’s Student SID program that contributes content on behalf of the school to AZPreps365.com. Coach Danny Norris contributed to this article. This past Friday, September 23rd, the GCHS Knights traveled three hours to Wellton, AZ to take on the Antelope Union High School Rams and won by a score of 78-20. Notable performances include: Sophomore, Sam Webb, 10 carries for 277 yards and 2 TD’s Sophomore, Tyler Burr, 6 for 9 passing for 164 yards and 4 TD’s Freshman, Bennett Juve, 4 catches for 76 yards and 2 TD’s Senior, David Russell, 2 catches for 88 yards and 2 TD’s Seniors Ezra Gonzales, Peyton Johnson and Gavin Biesterfeld all had rushing TD’s Freshman, Hyatt Lang, had a pick 6 on defense as well as a forced fumble sack that led to a scoop and score by Junior, Jesse Morales The Knights look forward to playing in front of a big crowd this Friday, 9/30, for the Homecoming Game v. Arete Prep Chargers! Please join us at 5:00PM for our pregame Tailgate activities filled with fun and games and then stay for the game at 7:00PM. Food and drinks will be available for purchase. Go KNIGHTS! (Photo credit: Brandon Lang) (Photo credit: Brandon Lang) Read More Here

Nessel Maintains Big Fundraising Lead Over DePerno In AG Race https://digitalarizonanews.com/nessel-maintains-big-fundraising-lead-over-deperno-in-ag-race/ Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel maintains a commanding fundraising lead against her opponent Matthew DePerno, according to the last round of fundraising reports before absentee ballots start going to voters. Nessel, the incumbent Democrat, reported raising $435,000 between Aug. 6 and Sept. 9. DePerno, a Republican attorney from Kalamazoo, reported raising about $186,000 from Aug. 12 through Sept. 16 − including a $50,000 contribution from himself. The latest haul puts Nessel at nearly $4.2 million raised this election, more than five times the $763,000 brought in by DePerno. DePerno has about $238,000 still in the bank, while Nessel has roughly ten times that amount, $2.4 million. “She supports the right to reproductive freedom, upholding the will of voters, and fighting for our most vulnerable, including women, children and seniors,” said Nessel campaign spokesperson Sarah Stevenson. More:AG Nessel declines debate with GOP’s DePerno, says his words could spark violence More:Michigan attorney general race: Dana Nessel significantly outraising Matthew DePerno The DePerno campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment. While candidates who raise the most campaign dollars can lose, money typically translates to more messaging. For Nessel, that means spending millions on television advertisements around the state. She unveiled two ads recently: one focusing on her work in office while pledging to protect abortion rights and the second attacking DePerno over his opposition to abortion access. A recent poll showed Nessel up nine percentage points on DePerno. This is one of the largest polling advantages for Nessel to date, in a race that has trended a bit closer in voter surveys than the contests for governor and secretary of state. The poll, commissioned by the Free Press and conducted earlier this month by Lansing-based firm EPIC-MRA, found 76% of people surveyed did not recognize DePerno’s name. Typically the way candidates increase their identification with voters is through television advertising, campaign events and interviews with media. DePerno has often declined interview requests with mainstream media outlets and lacks the money necessary for an advertising blitz. With fewer than 45 days until the general election, and absentee ballots set to go out broadly later this week, DePerno faces a challenge connecting with voters as soon as possible. A rally this weekend in Warren with former President Donald Trump could help DePerno, Republican secretary of state candidate Kristina Karamo and other GOP candidates get in front of voters who may only recently started learning about election candidates. “Money certainly talks,” said Anna Heaton, a former press secretary for Michigan Republicans, including ex-Gov. Rick Snyder. “Video ads are the best way to get a candidate’s name and face in front of voters, and those ad buys are also the most expensive way to do that. At the end of the day though, the Trump name ID is the one that matters here, and both Karamo and DePerno are using it to their advantage.” More:Election 2022 in Michigan: Key races, issues to watch this November More:‘It makes me sick’: Drag queens become target of increased political attacks in Michigan DePerno continues to blast Nessel on a number of fronts, from her office’s handling of criminal cases related to the Flint water crisis to a joke she recently made about drag queens in schools. The general election is Nov. 8, but absentee ballots start going to voters Thursday. Contact Dave Boucher: dboucher@freepress.com or 313-938-4591. Follow him on Twitter @Dave_Boucher1. Read More Here

WOR Announces American Invasion Tour https://digitalarizonanews.com/wor-announces-american-invasion-tour/ North Carolina-based groove metal warriors, WoR, have announced that they will be hitting the road for the American Invasion Tour with Hemlock, Summoner’s Circle, Casket Robbery, Scars Of Atrophy, Fused By Defiance, and Squidhammer. The tour kicks off in Nashville, TN on September 25 and will see the band trek across 18 US states until ending it in Richmond, VA on November 11. The supporting bands will be playing on selected dates listed below. “We are extremely excited to be heading out on the American Invasion tour, a six week trek across the United States with some amazing bands! We’ve got a couple surprises in the set including playing some brand new songs from our upcoming second album!,” says guitarist Ben Kaiser Tour dates: September 25 – Nashville, TN – The End # 26 – Knoxville, TN – Brickyard Bar # 27 – Chapel Hill, NC – Local 506 # 28 – Spartanburg, SC – Ground Zero # 30 – Jacksonville, FL – Jack Rabbits* October 1 – Tallahassee, FL – The Warrior On The River* 2 – Crestview, FL – Jimmy’s Jukebox # 3 – Metairie, LA – The Twist Of Lime # 7 – Lawton, OK – The Railhead Saloon* 10 – Haltom City, TX – Haltom Theater $ 2 – San Antonio, TX – Fitzgerald’s $ 13 – Houston, TX – Acadia Bar & Grill $ 15 – Albuquerque, NM – Warehouse 508* 16 – Mesa, AZ – The Nile Theater & 17 – Spring Valley, CA – Bancroft Bar & + 18 – Anaheim, CA – Doll Hut & + 22 – Lynnwood, WA – The Vessel Taphouse + 26 – Denver, CO – Your Mom’s House + 30 – Des Moines, IA – Lefty’s Live Music = 31 – Lombard, IL – Brauer House = November 1 – New Haven, IN – Carl’s Tavern = 2 – Maple Heights, OH – Maple Grove Tavern = 3 – Turtle Creek, PA – Sub Alpine Society = 4 – Winchester, VA – The Monument = 5 – Richmond, VA – Another Round Bar & Grill = * – WoR Only # – Hemlock (9.25 – 10.3) $ – Summoner’s Circle (10.10 – 10.13) % – Casket Robbery (10.10 – 10.13) & – Scars Of Atrophy (10.16 – 10.18) + – Fused By Defiance (10.17 – 10.26) = – Squidhammer (10.30 – 11.5) Read More Here

Jimmy Garcia Obituary (2022) https://digitalarizonanews.com/jimmy-garcia-obituary-2022/ Jimmy Durazo Garcia, 68, of Hayden, AZ passed away on Friday, September 23, 2022, peacefully at home surrounded by family. Jimmy was born on October 23, 1953, to Ramon and Maria Piedad Garcia in Casa Grande, AZ, and was the eldest of 11 children. Jimmy graduated from Ray High School in 1971 and received his Associates of Arts degree from Central Arizona College Coolidge Campus in 1973. Upon graduation, Jimmy went to work, beginning his 46-year career in mining. He worked for Kennecott/ASARCO, Greens Creek in Alaska and Freeport-McMoRan. While working for Kennecott, Jimmy completed his Instrument Repairman apprenticeship on October 14, 1980. Jimmy retired in March 2019. On January 25, 1975, he married Rosalie Chavez. They raised a daughter, Leticia, and two sons, Steven and Jaime, whom he was extremely proud of. Jimmy enjoyed golfing, watching sports and dancing in his spare time, but most of all he enjoyed spending time with family and friends. Jimmy was preceded in death by his father and mother, Ramon and Maria Piedad, foster parents, Reynaldo and Julia Flores, son James, brothers Frank and Chris and sister Kathy and foster brother Rey Flores and foster sister Ana Meza. He is survived by his wife, Rosalie, of 47 years, daughter Leticia, sons Steven (Emily) and Jaime; six grandchildren, Analisa, Mariela, Javier, Fabian, Noah, and Ryan and three great-grandchildren, Anevay, Miguel, Davian, and two more on the way; sisters Norma, Nora, Lupe Yolanda, Grace and foster sister Viola; brothers Paul and Alfonso, as well as many nieces and nephews. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that gifts be made in honor of Jimmy to the HonorHealth Foundation-Virginia G. Piper Cancer Center. Donations may be mailed to HonorHealth Foundation, 8125 N. Hayden Road, Scottsdale, AZ 85258-4530 or online at https://honorhealthfoundation.org. To plant Memorial Trees in memory of Jimmy Garcia, please click here to visit our Sympathy Store. Published by Legacy on Sep. 26, 2022. Legacy.com reports daily on death announcements in local communities nationwide. Visit our funeral home directory for more local information, or see our FAQ page for help with finding obituaries and sending sympathy. Read More Here

Craig John Holmes Obituary (2022) https://digitalarizonanews.com/craig-john-holmes-obituary-2022/ Obituary of Craig John Holmes Craig J. Holmes, age 77, passed away unexpectedly on Sunday, September 18, 2022. He was born in Danville, Illinois. He is predeceased by his parents, Jeanne and Wallace Holmes, his brother Jerry Holmes his mother and father-in-law, Louis and Stella Leal. He is survived by his son Bryon and his wife of 32 years, Theresa, plus many nieces, nephews, and in-laws. Craig was very proud to have served in the United States Army. He began his law enforcement career with the Danville Police Department, later retiring as a sergeant from the Tucson Police Department. Craig loved old cars, music, and electric beer signs and could fix anything. He said his greatest accomplishment was having his son Bryon, who filled him with pride and joy. He considered his son his closest friend. Bryon’s middle name Francis was chosen after St. Francis of Assisi because of Craig’s passion for all animals, especially dogs. He fostered dogs but could never give an animal back after we got them. He is survived by his canine buddies Diamond, Meeko, and Scooter. He was surrounded by his family when he slipped away. He will be missed beyond words, obviously gone too soon. Craig loved his family above all else. Besides his family in Illinois, his bonus family in Tucson was a big part of his life. He considered his niece Meryl to be his child as well. During his illness, she would often serenade him with her beautiful voice and her guitar. When she asked Uncle Craig if he wanted another song, he would say, ‘put another quarter in the slot”. Stories about time spent with his band buddies in Danville and his friends in Tucson, still make us smile today. Craig had a wicked sense of humor and had fun with the many friends we were privileged to interact with along the way. His friend Bill Mains, his son’s godfather, though separated by so many miles, always kept in touch and was a beacon in Craig’s life. Craig was a constant in family gatherings and spent much quality time with his in-laws who considered him a son. They often joked that they liked him better than their daughter. Though Craig didn’t enjoy dancing, he could never refuse his mother-in-law Stella to take a spin. Craig always remembered our wedding anniversary but was amused that his wife did not. He will be laid to rest on what would have been our 32nd anniversary, making sure I don’t forget now. We hope you join us after the burial services at The Culinary Dropout at the old Grant Road Lumber location, 2543 East Grant Road, to share stories and laughter with his friends and family. Bryon would love to hear stories about his dad. In lieu of flowers, Bryon has asked that you consider supporting (Arizona K9 Heroes) A heartfelt thank you to the ICU and ER nurses and staff at Northwest Hospital, especially Santana, Charity, and Michael. Edgar and Traci, your understanding and assistance to Bryon were beyond your medical calling and a blessing. Father Richard Rivera, you brought us peace. Published by Legacy on Sep. 26, 2022. Legacy.com reports daily on death announcements in local communities nationwide. Visit our funeral home directory for more local information, or see our FAQ page for help with finding obituaries and sending sympathy. Read More Here

Fact Check: Donald Trump Did Not, Cannot File https://digitalarizonanews.com/fact-check-donald-trump-did-not-cannot-file/ The claim: Nancy Pelosi is set to resign as Trump files an impeachment lawsuit against her As speaker of the House and a member of Congress since 1987, Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., has long been a target for conspiracy theorists. One of the latest comes from a Sept. 12 Facebook video that claims former President Donald Trump is forcing Pelosi from office. “Nancy Pelosi set to resign from Congress as Trump files impeachment lawsuits against her,” says the title of a video that was viewed 13,000 times in a few weeks. But, the claim is false for several reasons. Pelosi is not resigning. The representative of California’s 12th Congressional District is currently running for reelection. And members of the House of Representatives cannot be impeached. Trump cannot initiate an impeachment proceeding against anyone, as only the House can do that. An “impeachment lawsuit,” as the post claims, is “nonsense,” said Frank Bowman, law professor at the University of Missouri. A lawsuit implies involvement with the courts, and courts have no authority over impeachments, Bowman said. The video attached to the post provides no evidence of this claim, showing only a compilation of unrelated footage. Follow us on Facebook! Like our page to get updates throughout the day on our latest debunks USA TODAY reached out to the users who shared the claim for comment. Only the House of Representatives has the power to impeach The post claims Trump filed an “impeachment lawsuit” against Pelosi. Bowman said this contains a contradiction because the courts are not involved in impeachment procceedings, contrary to what the term “lawsuit” implies. “There is no such thing as an ‘impeachment lawsuit.’ Courts have no role to play in initiating an impeachment or reviewing it once it’s done,” Bowman said.  Members of Congress cannot be impeached, Bowman said. Instead, each legislative body can expel members, the rules of which are determined by the respective chamber, according to the Senate’s website. The Constitution gives the House the sole power of impeaching the president, vice president and officials “commissioned by the president,” according to the Congressional Research Service. Historically, this has been interpreted to refer to officials of the executive and judicial branches.  Fact check: Supreme Court did not, cannot rule to impeach Nancy Pelosi Members of the House can begin an impeachment proceeding by introducing a bill, or the full body can pass a House resolution, according to the House’s website. If the impeachment articles get a simple majority vote from the House, the impeachment moves to a Senate trial. No evidence Pelosi is resigning There is no evidence that Pelosi is resigning, as she has made no statement to that effect, nor has any reliable media outlet reported it. The longtime lawmaker is currently running for reelection, which shows her intention to remain in office. Her future as House speaker, though, is unclear. Pelosi said in November 2020 she would only serve one term as leader of the House. But she “has since distanced herself from that timeline,” according to the Los Angeles Times. USA TODAY reached out to Pelosi’s office for comment. Additionally, the video in the post is unrelated to the claim and does not mention Pelosi or impeachment. The video primarily shows Trump talking about crime, voter identification and critical race theory at the 2021 Conservative Political Action Conference, a gathering hosted by the American Conservative Union. It’s followed by a clip from Tucker Carlson Tonight, in which conservative influencer Candace Owens talks about crime in cities. PolitiFact and Lead Stories also debunked the claim. Our rating: False Based on our research, we rate FALSE the claim that Pelosi is set to resign as Trump files an impeachment lawsuit against her. There is no evidence Pelosi has plans to resign. There is no such thing as an “impeachment lawsuit,” and members of the House cannot be impeached. Our fact-check sources: Frank Bowman, Sept. 22, Phone interview with USA TODAY Ballotpedia, accessed Sept. 22, Nancy Pelosi The Library of Congress, accessed Sept. 22, ArtI.S2.C5.1 Impeachment Overview House of Representatives, accessed Sept. 22, Impeachment Senate, accessed Sept. 22, About Impeachment The Los Angeles Times, Sept. 1, What the end of the Pelosi era could cost California PolitiFact, Sept. 14, No, Pelosi isn’t resigning because Trump initiated impeachment proceedings against her Lead Stories, Sept. 13, Fact Check: Pelosi Is NOT ‘Set To Resign’; Trump Did NOT File ‘Impeachment Lawsuits Against Her’ Thank you for supporting our journalism. You can subscribe to our print edition, ad-free app or electronic newspaper replica here. Our fact-check work is supported in part by a grant from Facebook. Read More Here

Dementia Scare As Trump Falls Apart At Latest Rally https://digitalarizonanews.com/dementia-scare-as-trump-falls-apart-at-latest-rally/ Donald Trump held a rally in Wilmington, North Carolina over the weekend, ostensibly to promote the Republican candidates running in the midterms. There were so many bizarre moments during the speech that the Drudge Report ran the headline “DEMENTING DON.” In one such strange moment, Trump declared that he’s “not a terrorist, but you know what, there’s great anger in this country right now.” Trump glitched at another point during the speech, saying “we have to keep our country gay.” The ex-president stuttered trying to collect himself and clarified, “it’s not great anymore.” Trump then started to talk about “the n-word” which he had to clarify to mean “nuclear” once the crowd got excited and wanted to blurt out a different “n-word.” Even once the midterm season comes to a close, the rallies will likely continue since then it will be time for Trump to announce his next run for president. The David Pakman Show is a news and political talk program, known for its controversial interviews with political and religious extremists, liberal and conservative politicians, and other guests. Missed an episode?  Check out David Pakman on our Youtube Channel  anytime or visit the show page for the latest clips. #FreeSpeechTV is one of the last standing national, independent news networks committed to advancing progressive social change.  #FSTV is available on Dish, DirectTV, AppleTV, Roku, Sling and online at freespeech.org  #davidpakmanshow Donald Trump Drudge Report North Carolina The David Pakman Show Trump Wilmington Read More Here

Oath Keeper Charged In Jan. 6 Attack Texted With Andrew Giuliani About Election https://digitalarizonanews.com/oath-keeper-charged-in-jan-6-attack-texted-with-andrew-giuliani-about-election/ A high-ranking member of the far-right Oath Keepers organization who has been charged in connection with the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol exchanged messages in November 2020 with former Trump White House aide Andrew Giuliani about election issues, NBC News has learned. That same Oath Keeper member, Kellye SoRelle, also tried to text a White House number on Dec. 20, according to a new book from Denver Riggleman, a former Republican congressman from Virginia, and journalist Hunter Walker. That text message went to a White House switchboard line, so it could not be delivered. Riggleman, who lost renomination for his congressional seat after expressing opposition to then-President Donald Trump in 2020, joined the Jan. 6 committee after leaving office. He served as a staffer for the committee from August 2021 to April. Riggleman told NBC News that he had divulged details of the text messages in his book so that “reporters would follow up on some of the crucial evidence that had not been made public.” NBC News has seen a copy of the book, which will be published Tuesday. SoRelle, who was also a volunteer for Lawyers for Trump, a coalition of lawyers that was put together ahead of the 2020 election, told NBC News that she was in touch with Giuliani, who was a White House public liaison assistant during the Trump administration. He is also the son of former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, who was previously a lawyer for Trump. SoRelle said she only recalled being in touch with Andrew Giuliani in November 2020 but said that she could not check because the FBI seized her phone in September 2021. She also confirmed her December attempt to text a White House contact. Image: Andrew Giuliani, the son of the former New York City mayor, speaks to reporters in New York on May 18, 2021. (Lev Radin / Anadolu Agency via Getty Images) Andrew Giuliani, who subsequently ran an unsuccessful campaign for New York governor, was on leave from the White House to work on elections issues in late 2020 before departing the government on Jan. 20, 2021, when Joe Biden was sworn in as president. Andrew Giuliani told NBC News that the last contact with SoRelle on his phone was on Nov. 10, 2020. “Until you mentioned her, until I looked it up, it didn’t really ring a bell,” Giuliani said. He declined to comment on whether the Jan. 6 committee had asked him about his contact with SoRelle. The revelation of the text messages adds to a growing web of links between people close to former President Donald Trump and his advisers and fringe groups charged in connection with the attack on the Capitol on Jan. 6. Oath Keepers founder Stewart Rhodes and several other members are set to go on trial this week in a seditious conspiracy case that is anticipated to last six weeks. SoRelle said that the text messages were focused on election fraud and did not touch on Jan. 6. “None of that was like ‘Hey, we should go storm the Capitol,’” SoRelle told NBC News. “It was like ‘We have this affidavit,’ or whatever.” SoRelle, who was on the grounds of the U.S. Capitol with Rhodes on Jan. 6, was recently charged with four counts in connection with the Capitol attack: conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding, obstruction of an official proceeding, obstruction of justice, and misdemeanor entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds. SoRelle pleaded not guilty to all charges at her arraignment earlier this month. SoRelle’s attempted text message to the White House switchboard on Dec. 20 came in between two open letters the Oath Keepers wrote for Trump: a Dec. 14, 2020, letter that said millions of Americans were ready to “answer your call” if he invoked the Insurrection Act, and a Dec. 23, 2020, letter that said there would be supporters with “mission critical gear” stationed outside of D.C. and ready to respond if Trump called upon the militia for assistance. Federal prosecutors have charged that the Oath Keepers set up “quick reaction forces” — or QRFs — with guns outside of D.C. Several Oath Keepers have already pleaded guilty to seditious conspiracy, one of whom told a judge that he was in a hotel room with Rhodes on the night of Jan. 6 as Rhodes, while on the phone with a Trump intermediary, requested to speak with Trump and implored the person on the phone “to tell President Trump to call upon groups like the Oath Keepers to forcibly oppose a transfer of power.” SoRelle previously told NBC News that Rhodes had asked for her contacts close to Trump in the lead-up to Jan. 6, but that she declined. SoRelle has said she would not testify at the Oath Keeper trial because, she said, “You don’t give the DOJ free shots at your ass.” Riggleman told NBC News, “I wish I could say I was surprised” by the links between Giuliani and the Oath Keepers leader. “The phone data my team compiled makes clear the militant aspect of the Capitol attack and high-level associates of the former president were inextricably linked together,” Riggleman said. “It is so important for the American people to be aware of the direct links between the Trump White House and militant groups including this newfound connection between Kellye Sorelle and a former White House aide.” A representative for the Jan. 6 committee declined to comment on the connection between Giuliani and SoRelle. The panel will hold its next public hearing on Wednesday, the second day of jury selection in the Oath Keeper’s trial. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com Read More Here

Sinema, McConnell Engage In Mutual Admiration — And Some Democrats Seethe https://digitalarizonanews.com/sinema-mcconnell-engage-in-mutual-admiration-and-some-democrats-seethe/ Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.) on Monday engaged in a mutual admiration exchange with the Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), expressed support for restoring elements of the filibuster and suggested that Republicans might win control of the House or Senate in the midterm elections. Several Democrats were unhappy, criticizing not only her remarks but her timing. Sinema made the comments during a speech at the McConnell Center at the University of Louisville, speaking and answering questions at the invitation of McConnell. There, McConnell effusively praised Sinema in his introduction, saying she is the “most effective first-term senator” he’s seen during his 37 years in the Senate. “She is, today, what we have too few of in the Democratic Party: a genuine moderate and a dealmaker,” he said. Sinema, for her part, spoke highly of McConnell. “Despite our apparent differences, Sen. McConnell and I have forged a friendship, one that is rooted in our commonalities, including our pragmatic approach to legislating, our respect for the Senate as an institution,” she said. Since 1993, dozens of Democrats and Republicans, diplomats and foreign leaders have spoken at the McConnell Center. Vice President Joe Biden did in February 2011; Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) spoke in April of this year. But Sinema’s appearance came just weeks before midterm elections as several of her Democratic colleagues are campaigning to help the party hold onto the House and Senate in November. “As you all know, control changes between the House and the Senate every couple of years. It’s likely to change again in just a few weeks” Sinema said. That angered Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.), a potential challenger to Sinema in 2024. Sinema has frequently expressed interest in the kind of bipartisanship that has frustrated her progressive Democratic colleagues, particularly when Republicans used the filibuster to block them from passing climate, abortion and voting rights legislation. Democrats had called for scrapping it to enact key parts of their agenda ahead of the midterm elections, while they control the White House and Congress. The appointment of judges and key administration officials has also been slowed by Republican use of the filibuster. “I have an incredibly unpopular view,” Sinema told the crowd in Kentucky. After saying she supported requiring 60 votes to pass legislation in the Senate — where her party controls only 50 seats — Sinema said she wanted to go even further. “I actually think we should restore the 60-vote threshold for the areas in which it has been eliminated already. We should restore it,” she said, before pausing to let the audience applaud their approval. “It would,” she said, “make it harder for us to confirm judges. And it would make it harder for us to confirm executive appointments in each administration.” Ultimately, that would force compromises and create “more of that middle ground in all parts of our governance,” she said. Democrats led by Senate Majority Leader Harry M. Reid (D-Nev.) eliminated the 60-vote threshold for federal judges in 2013. McConnell, in 2017, scrapped the 60-vote threshold for Supreme Court nominees as the Senate considered President Donald Trump’s nomination of Neil M. Gorsuch. “Frustration” with the filibuster, Sinema said, “represents solely the short-term angst of not getting what you want. And those of you who are parents in the room know that the best thing you can do for your child is not give them everything they want.” She argued that bad laws emerge without the kind of consensus that a filibuster can force. As proof, Sinema pointed to the House where no filibuster rule exists. “When Republicans are in control, they pass a little bit of crazy legislation,” she said. “And when the Democrats are in control, they pass a little bit of crazy legislation. And the job of the Senate is to cool that passion.” She criticized both Trump and President Biden for talking about eliminating the filibuster as well as both parties on immigration and border security. “For my entire lifetime,” the 46-year-old senator said, “the federal government has absolutely failed, absolutely failed in its charter to protect our border. We have not had a secure border my entire life.” But, after the election, Sinema said she would connect with “my good friend” Sen. John Cornyn (R-Tex.) to work on the issue. “The two of us from different political parties, but sharing the same core values. We recognize the crisis that we’re in and we want to solve it.” Cornyn and Sinema were part of a bipartisan group that worked on successful gun control legislation following the deadly mass shooting at a school in Uvalde, Tex. Sinema’s appearance crystallized what her critics have said is the freshman senator’s problematic alliance with the Republicans, whose agenda many Democrats argue is harmful to the country. Keith Olbermann, the former ESPN “SportsCenter” and MSNBC host, went on Twitter to criticize her comments and, in so doing, revealed that they had a personal relationship years earlier. “When we dated, in 2010-11, Kyrsten was a legit progressive, far to my left. Now she has embraced the Political Industry where there is only process, not policy, and never people.” During the question-and-answer session, Sinema was asked whether it was harder to run for statewide office or run a marathon. Sinema — a self-described “avid marathoner”— said they were somewhat comparable and that after completing one recent marathon she “could barely walk in the Senate for the whole following week.” Standing from the podium, she added, “I was walking around —” then slightly gyrated her body with her hands raised into fists, as if gripped on fixtures for support. “But you know, in the Senate that’s fine.” As the crowd laughed, she added, “Most of them struggle with walking anyways.” Read More Here

PolitiFact – Judge Who Allowed Mar-A-Lago Search Represented Epstein’s Alleged Accomplices, Not Epstein https://digitalarizonanews.com/politifact-judge-who-allowed-mar-a-lago-search-represented-epsteins-alleged-accomplices-not-epstein/ Stand up for the facts! Our only agenda is to publish the truth so you can be an informed participant in democracy. We need your help. More Info I would like to contribute This is an aerial view of former President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago club in Palm Beach, Fla., Wednesday Aug. 31, 2022. The Justice Department says classified documents were “likely concealed and removed” from the estate. (AP) Judge who allowed Mar-a-Lago search represented Epstein’s alleged accomplices, not Epstein If Your Time is short Bruce Reinhart, a federal magistrate judge, signed the warrant for the FBI’s Aug. 8 search of former President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida.  Reinhart never represented financier Jeffrey Epstein. Reinhart represented some of Epstein’s employees, including his scheduler, who were accused of abetting Epstein’s alleged sex crimes against underage girls.  A Facebook post focuses on two news stories that have been sources of misinformation on social media: financier and sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and the FBI’s search of former President Donald Trump’s Florida estate.  “Jeffrey Epstein’s lawyer became a federal judge” and “was the person to sign off on the Mar-a-Lago search warrant,” says a Sept. 17 Facebook post.  The post was flagged as part of Facebook’s efforts to combat false news and misinformation on its News Feed. (Read more about our partnership with Meta, which owns Facebook.) Although the judge who signed the Mar-a-Lago search warrant represented people in Epstein’s orbit, he never represented Epstein himself, according to court filings and the judge’s own words, as reported by the Miami Herald in 2019.  Epstein died by suicide in August 2019 in jail as he awaited trial on charges of sex trafficking.  Bruce Reinhart, a federal magistrate judge since 2018, signed a warrant that allowed the FBI to search Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Florida, on Aug. 8, in connection with an investigation into presidential records. The U.S. Justice Department is investigating Trump’s handling of classified documents.  Reinhart previously was a criminal defense lawyer. His clients included some of Epstein’s employees, including his scheduler, who were accused of abetting Epstein’s alleged crimes against underage girls. Reinhart shared an office address with Epstein’s lead attorney, Jack Goldberger, according to a July 2019 Miami Herald article. Before Reinhart became a defense lawyer, he worked as a federal prosecutor in the office that initially investigated Epstein and granted him a nonprosecution deal in 2008 that allowed him to plead guilty to state charges. Reinhart said he was not part of the Epstein investigation, though the Miami Herald reported that his bosses in the U.S. Attorney’s Office filed a document in court that said he had learned confidential, non-public information about the case.  Reinhart’s clients who were Epstein’s employees also received federal immunity, according to the Miami Herald. Reinhart declined to tell the Herald whether he had received payment from Epstein for representing Epstein’s employees.   Since approving the Mar-a-Lago warrant, Reinhart has been the target of misinformation and anti-Semitic attacks. Fact-checkers said an altered photo showing Reinhart with Epstein confidante and convicted sex trafficker Ghislane Maxwell was false.   Our ruling A Facebook post says, “Jeffrey Epstein’s lawyer became a federal judge” and “was the person to sign off on the Mar-a-Lago search warrant.”  The judge, Reinhart, did not represent Epstein. He represented people who worked for Epstein and who were accused of abetting Epstein’s crimes.  We rate this claim False.  RELATED: Photo doctored to look like Ghislaine Maxwell was massaging Judge Bruce Reinhart’s feet Facebook post, Sept. 17, 2022. Accessed Sept. 23, 2022.  Miami Herald, “Deflecting blame, Acosta pointed finger at others. Why they might have some explaining to do,” July 13, 2019. Accessed Sept. 23, 2022.  Politico, “Judge who approved FBI’s Mar-a-Lago search represented clients linked to Jeffrey Epstein,” Aug. 9, 2022. Accessed Sept. 23, 2022.  BBC “Who was Jeffrey Epstein? The financier charged with sex trafficking,” Dec. 29, 2021. Accessed Sept. 23, 2022.  CBS News, “Bruce Reinhart unsealed: The magistrate judge at the center of the Justice Dept’s inquiry into Trump’s handling of classified records,” Aug. 18, 2022. Accessed Sept. 23, 2022.  The New York Times, “Bruce Reinhart, the Magistrate Judge Who Approved the Mar-a-Lago Search,” Aug. 18, 2022. Accessed Sept. 23, 2022. Associated Press, “Justice Dept.: ‘Poor judgment’ used in Epstein plea deal,” Nov. 12, 2020. Accessed Sept. 26, 2022.  In a world of wild talk and fake news, help us stand up for the facts. Sign me up Read More Here

US Expands, Extends Myanmar Immigration Status To May 2024 https://digitalarizonanews.com/us-expands-extends-myanmar-immigration-status-to-may-2024/ MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The Biden administration said Monday it is expanding and extending temporary legal status in the United States for several thousand people from Myanmar after a military coup last year in the Asian country. The decision extends Temporary Protected Status for 18 months for an estimated 970 people of Myanmar until May 25, 2024, and makes an additional 2,290 eligible to live and work until that date if they were in the United States on Sunday. People of Myanmar “are continuing to suffer a complex and deteriorating humanitarian crisis due to a military coup, upheaval, and security forces’ brutal violence against civilians,” said Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas. Myanmar, also called Burma, has been ruled by the military for most of the past 70 years. The army’s takeover interrupted a gradual transition toward democratic civilian government and a more modern, open economy and resulted in a slew of sanctions against the military, which controls many industries as well as army family members and cronies. About 150,000 immigrants from Myanmar lived in the U.S. in 2019, according to the Migration Policy Institute analysis of census data. The largest concentrations were in Marion County, Indiana, with 8,800; Los Angeles County, California, with 7,600; and Ramsey County, Minnesota, with 6,800. Congress created the Temporary Protected Status program in 1990 to provide a safe haven for people unable to return to their countries due to natural disasters or civil strife. About 350,000 people from more than a dozen countries benefit from the status, which can be extended in increments of up to 18 months. People of El Salvador are the largest beneficiaries. The Trump administration attempted to end the status for many countries but faced legal challenges. ___ Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues. Read More Here

Hypocrisy Of U.S. Government, Corporate Media On Display In Reaction To Iran Protests – Liberation News https://digitalarizonanews.com/hypocrisy-of-u-s-government-corporate-media-on-display-in-reaction-to-iran-protests-liberation-news/ Photo: Joe Biden fist bumps Saudi dictator Mohammed bin Salman, who presides over a regime in which women effectively have no rights whatsoever. Credit — Saudi Press Agency Since Sept. 16, protests have been taking place across Iran. Demonstrations began in response to the death of a 22-year-old woman named Mahsa Amini in police custody. She had been detained three days earlier for violating laws regulating women’s dress, which mandate wearing a hijab.  These protests have become the focus of a great deal of attention in the corporate media in the United States and from President Biden himself, who declared at the United Nations, “we stand with the brave citizens and the brave women of Iran”. The New York Times ran an article today hailing Biden’s “tougher approach toward Iran” compared to the Obama administration and even praised Trump, arguing “it will be fair to revisit Trump’s Iran legacy” if the current situation results in regime change. The Biden administration has also taken direct steps to intervene. Modifications were made to the suffocating U.S. sanctions regime the country is subjected to in order to allow technology companies to help protesters circumvent communications outages. It has also given its support to Elon Musk’s offer to make his company’s “starlink” internet service available in the country. This is reminiscent of when Twitter delayed scheduled maintenance and remained operational at the request of then-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton during a previous round of protests in 2009. Women in Iran are subjected to reactionary laws governing their appearance. This sexist legal code is part of the religious system of government that is in place in Iran.  One needs only to look next door at Saudi Arabia to see the hypocrisy dripping from the U.S. government’s proclamations in support of women’s rights in Iran. Under Saudi Arabia’s legal code, women can be executed by stoning for committing adultery or beheaded for practicing witchcraft. Women have virtually no rights whatsoever, and where they can travel or work is controlled by male “guardians” recognized by authorities.  And yet Saudi Arabia is showered in weapons from the United States and given full diplomatic backing. Just last year, the Biden administration gave the green light to a $500 million package of military assistance to the Saudi regime. Saudi Arabia receives 80 percent of its arms from the United States, and the country is the United States’ largest foreign military sales customer. In July, Biden rewarded Saudi tyrant Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman with a personal visit.  While it is difficult to discern exactly what the current state of the demonstrations are, it is clear that the upheaval has been intense. 41 people have died in the protests, according to official reports, including five members of the security forces.  This too is another area where Biden is applying a clear double standard. When the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the right to abortion – something that could potentially lead to the deaths of thousands of women – Biden stated, “First, I call on everyone, no matter how deeply they care about this decision, to keep all protests peaceful. Peaceful, peaceful, peaceful. No intimidation. Violence is never acceptable.” Anti-government protests may continue. Authorities have pledged to conduct an inquiry, with Iran’s president telling Amini’s family that the government would “steadfastly investigate” her death. Counter-mobilizations of government supporters have also taken place. But no matter what course events take in Iran, it is certain that the U.S. government will look for any opportunity to take advantage of the situation to achieve its long-standing goal of controlling the country. Read More Here

S&P 500 Notches New Closing Low For 2022, Dow Falls Into Bear Market As Dollar Surges https://digitalarizonanews.com/sp-500-notches-new-closing-low-for-2022-dow-falls-into-bear-market-as-dollar-surges/ West Texas Intermediate crude settles at lowest level since January West Texas Intermediate crude, the benchmark for U.S. oil, ended the day at $76.71, slipping 2.58%. It’s the lowest settle for the commodity since Jan. 3. Brent crude slipped 2.43% to settle at $86.06. Earlier, it traded as low as $83.81, the lowest level since Jan. 13. Oil prices ran up earlier in the year, fueled by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, but recent declines for the commodity have sharply trimmed its gains for 2022. WTI is up only 1.99% for the year, while Brent is up 8.07%. -Darla Mercado, Gina Francolla Match Group, Organon trade at all-time lows Match Group, the parent company of some of the world’s best-known online dating platforms, is trading at its lowest level since the company went public in 2015. The company behind services such as Tinder, Hinge, OkCupid and Match.com first went public via an initial public offering. It now trades as part of the Nasdaq under the ticker MTCH. Match Group was trading down about 1.2% Monday at $46.75. Shares traded as low as $46.19 — marking its lowest valuation since becoming a publicly traded company. Pharmaceutical company Organon is similarly trading at its lowest since it spun off from Merck in June 2021. The two companies are among the more than 100 stocks in the S&P 500 trading down to levels not seen in a year or longer. Those stocks span industries including telecommunication, financial services, shipping, technology and real estate. — Alex Harring, Chris Hayes Strong dollar is a headwind for U.S. stocks but a tailwind overseas, GMO says Grantham, Mayo and Van Otterloo in a letter to clients says that the dollar’s at “its highest valuation versus other major developed currencies in more than 35 years – and it’s our problem.” The report, written by GMO partner Ben Inker, uses a Bank for International Settlements index measuring the dollar’s real effective exchange rate, in other words adjusted for inflation. Unfortunately for the U.S., “an overvalued currency is a negative influence on the performance of equities in that country,” and “today’s combination of cheaper stocks and cheaper currencies outside the U.S. seems a promising backdrop for a reversal of the U.S. equity dominance of the last decade,” Inker writes. GMO has long predicted better performance someday coming from emerging markets, but this latest currency realignment makes GMO seemingly more positive on developed economies’ markets too. “A cheap currency is a strong equity tailwind in the developed world, leaving developed markets like the Euro area and Japan poised to benefit from their undervalued currencies,” Inker says. In developing markets, meanwhile, “the valuation of currencies in the emerging world today are attractive enough that even allowing for some poor [policy] decision making, they should still be a source of equity market support over the next few years.” — Scott Schnipper U.S. oil tumbles to the lowest level since Jan. 4 Oil accelerated recent losses on Monday, falling once again after posting four straight losing weeks. West Texas Intermediate crude, the U.S. oil benchmark, hit a session low of $76.49 per barrel, a price last seen on January 4. The contract recovered slightly ahead of the close, ending the day at $76.71, for a loss of 2.58%. For the year it’s now up less than 2%. Global benchmark Brent crude slid 2.4% on Monday, ending the day at $84.06 per barrel. The losses were thanks in part to the strengthening dollar, which makes oil more expensive for foreign buyers. — Pippa Stevens Citi’s Scott Chronert says earnings resilience will continue in the third quarter Citi’s Scott Chronert said he expects corporate earnings will remain resilient during the third-quarter reporting period. “[We] will be watching our 3650 level this week,” Chronert wrote in a Sunday note, referring to the firm’s recession scenario level for the S&P 500. “Whether it holds or not, our base view is that earnings resilience will continue during the Q3 reporting period. We don’t see a specific macro catalyst in the immediate future.” Given the current poor sentiment in markets, Chronert wrote he expects a rally in the fourth quarter for the broader market index to hit the firm’s 4200 year end target, according to the note. Investors should buy information technology stocks, recently upgraded to overweight from underweight, as well as shares of health care and materials companies, the note read. “In total, we are shifting further towards a style preference for Growth,” Chronert wrote. A recession in the first half of 2023 remains the firm’s base case. — Sarah Min Treasury yields rising at rapid clip Treasury yields are rising at a rapid clip, as global rates jump and investors anticipate a more aggressive Federal Reserve. The benchmark U.S. 10-year yield rose above 3.9% for the first time since 2010. It was at about 3.75% on Friday. The 2-year yield Monday rose by about 13 basis points to 4.33%. A basis point equals 0.01 of a percentage point. The U.K. 10-year gilt yield was at 4.24%. It was at 3.15% just a week ago. Bond yields move opposite price. A sharp sell-off in U.K. bonds led the selling, as investors weigh the Bank of England’s potential response to a U.K. government plan to cut taxes and raise spending. The pound fell to an all-time low against the dollar, as U.K. rates jumped Monday. The Fed sent shockwaves across global rates markets Wednesday with a more aggressive forecast for interest rate hikes. “I think there’s three things” moving the market, said AmeriVet’s Greg Faranello. “It’s the repricing of the Fed. It’s the global rates story, and it’s a function of liquidity,” he said. Andy Brenner of National Alliance said he sees no signs of support in the chart of the 10-year yield until 4%. “This could also be the bond vigilantes seeing nothing to stop them,” said Brenner. –Patti Domm Bank stocks underperform, Goldman falls more than 2% The conventional wisdom that higher rates are good for bank stocks has been a losing bet for investors this year, and it is no different on Monday. Shares of Goldman Sachs dropped 2.3%, making the investment bank one of the worst performers in the Dow. JPMorgan and Morgan Stanley each dropped nearly 2%, while Citigroup sank 3%. Non-bank financials are also taking it on the chin. American Express fell 2%, while insurance stock Travelers shed 3%. — Jesse Pound Stocks making the biggest moves midday: Wynn, AMC, Lyft and more JPMorgan’s Kolanovic says a market bottom could be close JPMorgan’s Marko Kolanovic believes the market could be close to a bottom after the Fed-triggered sell-off pushed stocks into “very oversold” conditions. “While the market has now settled into a view that Fed will continue with outsized hikes, we don’t believe one should keep extrapolating the hawkish policy stance direction,” the bank’s chief global markets strategist said in a Monday note. Kolanovic, one of the biggest bulls on Wall Street, said he’s seeing some encouraging signs on the inflation front. Still, he noted that volatility will likely stay elevated until the next set of inflation reports. “Some pre-conditions for a market bottom are falling into place: stocks are looking increasingly cheap and approaching deep-value outside of the US, and positioning is extremely depressed,” Kolanovic said. — Yun Li Real estate and utilities are the biggest laggards in the S&P 500 Real estate and utilities were the two biggest laggards in the S&P 500 during Monday trading, with the sectors down 3.1% and 2.5%. Shares of real estate companies Ventas and Kimco Realty were the two worst performing stocks in the broader market index, falling 5% and 4.8%. Utilities companies AES and First Energy declined 4.5% and 3.3% each. — Sarah Min Pound comes off lows after Bank of England hints at rate action The British pound, whose weakness had been weighing on stocks for much of Monday’s session, came off its lows after the Bank of England signaled an aggressive approach to controlling inflation. In a statement released late-morning New York time, the central bank’s Monetary Policy Committee stopped short of an intermeeting interest rate hike. But it said it will “make a full assessment” of the pound’s fall “and act accordingly” at its next gathering. “The MPC will not hesitate to change interest rates by as much as needed to return inflation to the 2% target sustainably in the medium term, in line with its remit,” the statement said. As the market digested the remarks, the pound rebounded to nearly $1.07 against the U.S. dollar after falling as low as $1.04 earlier. A stronger dollar can hit U.S. stocks as it raises costs for multinational companies. —Jeff Cox Consumer discretionary, tech sectors lend support to the market Shares of consumer discretionary and tech companies helped curtail losses in the S&P 500 in morning trading. The consumer discretionary sector added 1.8% around 10:15 a.m., propelled by gains in Wynn Resorts and Las Vegas Sands. Shares of the casino names were up by double digits after news that China would allow group tours in Macau, easing Covid travel restrictions. The tech sector also jumped 1.3%, driven by Enphase Energy and Ceridian. Shares of both companies were up more than 2%. The S&P 500 ticked up by 0.5% in volatile trading. ­-Darla Mercado Fed’s Collins cites need for ‘clear and convincing signs’ that inflation is falling Boston Federal Reserve President Susan Collins said Monday she will need to see concrete evidence that inflation is slowing before easing up on interest rate increases. “Returning inflation to target will require further tightening of monetary policy,” Collins said in prepared remarks. “It will be import...

14. Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ https://digitalarizonanews.com/14-phoenix-mesa-scottsdale-az-2/ If you know of local business openings or closings, please notify us here. PREVIOUS OPENINGS AND CLOSINGS – All-you-can-eat Korean barbecue is on its way, with 88 K-Pot opening perhaps in December near the Wine & Spirits store in the Bethlehem Square shopping center.  – Air Products’ joint venture in Saudi Arabia has acquired an industrial-gas business for an undisclosed price. The Abdullah Hashim Industrial Gases & Equipment venture acquired Khafrah Industrial Gases from Paris-based Air Liquide S.A. – Anatolian Kitchen is still closed for renovations, according to a sign at the Taylor Court, Bethlehem, business.  – After 36 years, the owners of Cavaluzzo’s Pasta, Steaks & Subs in Emmaus are retiring, and the restaurant will close. – The high-tech conglomerate formerly known as II-VI (pronounced “two-six”) has taken on the name of a company it acquired, Coherent Corp.  – Palmer Township’s board of supervisors approved a conditional-use application for four industrial buildings know as “First Park 33” on Tatamy Road, between Newlins Mill and Corriere roads. – The Florida-based chain Fyzical Therapy & Balance Centers plans to open three physical-therapy clinics within two years in the Lehigh Valley. – Radish Republic, a specialty grocery store on North Seventh Street in Allentown, is closing after three years. – The Palmer Township Zoning Hearing Board made the decision to keep a cease-and-desist order against The Reserve at Palmer Pointe apartments, which township officials say were built contrary to designs submitted six years ago. – The Allentown-Based payment-processing company Shift4Payments Inc. introduced SkyTab POS, a point-of-sale system for restaurants.  – The Bethlehem Planning Commission approved three separate “mixed-use” buildings for South Bethlehem, on East Fourth Street, South New Street and West Fourth Street. – Transform Rehabilitation’s physical-therapy clinics in Allentown, New Tripoli and Whitehall are now part of Upstream, which owns or manages more than 1,200 locations in the U.S. – The Lehigh Valley’s newest Wawa opened on the east side of Nazareth Pike/Route 191, just south of the Borough of Nazareth.  – DoubleTree Hotel has expanded its catering to private jets that take off from Reading Regional Airport. – The not-for-profit Kutztown Community Partnership has discussed buying the shuttered Strand Theatre to continue its tradition, but KCP would need grants and donations to keep it going. – A man police say was drunk drove into Budd Lake Bagel & Deli II in Hackettstown, New Jersey, on Sunday night, causing the shop to close indefinitely. Read More Here

14. Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ https://digitalarizonanews.com/14-phoenix-mesa-scottsdale-az/ 90° Killeen, TX (76540) Today Mainly clear. Low 59F. NNE winds at 10 to 20 mph, decreasing to less than 5 mph.. Tonight Mainly clear. Low 59F. NNE winds at 10 to 20 mph, decreasing to less than 5 mph. Updated: September 26, 2022 @ 4:24 pm Full Forecast Shutterstock Sep 26, 2022 17 min ago 0 Photo Credit: Sean Pavone / Shutterstock Weekly hours needed to afford a median-priced home: 70 Median hourly wage: $23.02 Median home price: $478,985 Monthly mortgage payment for a median-priced home: $2,088 Overall homeownership rate: 64.4% Shutterstock As featured on Rising home prices mean that the workers who build homes often cannot afford to buy them. Re… 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. Articles Images Commented Commented ‘Most abusive relationship I’ve been in’: KISD teachers plead for help (15) Hildner: Funding and staffing key to education issues (9) Reader points to GOP candidates, asked what happened to values (6) Buckley: Quality teachers needed; resources available to parents (6) Boyd asks council to name concourse for late general; wants to re-brand Killeen (6) KISD board to consider getting rid of at-large elections (6) Reader says Gov. Abbott’s policies make him dangerous, not O’Rourke (6) Consultant: City must take aggressive but gradual approach to rebuilding north Killeen (5) State Democratic candidates hosting cannabis town hall (5) Killeen reader endorses strategy of arming teachers in Texas schools (5) Price tag for asbestos removal, demolition of old Killeen bank: $618,700 (4) Military parents demand action on special education infractions (4) Killeen election lawsuit: Alvarez wins, Brown must pay $7,500 (4) Reader questions O’Rourke’s values, inexperience in run for governorship (4) Temple reader offers long list of Biden’s accomplishments in office (4) Salado reader criticizes governor’s plan to bus immigrants elsewhere (4) Killeen babysitter raped infants; gets 75 years (3) Consultant: Homelessness in Killeen will worsen without sensible solution (3) Belton reader questions wisdom of arming, training teachers in Texas (3) In just over a year, Killeen exhausts about $30 million in ARPA, grant funding for nonprofits, businesses (3) Killeen ISD bus driver returns to work as monitor (2) Do you think the Killeen Independent School District should change to single-member districts for board representation? (2) Nolanville man sentenced to prison time for assaulting, injuring KISD disabled student (2) Residents’ involvement in downtown Killeen critical to redevelopment, Kizito says (2) Residents at Nolanville mobile home park speak up (2) Kempner reader asks whether Donald Trump is above the law (2) KISD COVID-19 cases skyrocketed in 2021-22, data shows (2) For first time in months, gas dips below $3 per gallon in Killeen (2) Lizard located: never left the house (2) Jury returns not-guilty verdict in Killeen child sex assault case (2) 2 arrested in Milam County after pursuit from Bryan (2) KPD: 2 people shot in south Killeen (1) Nash-King named Texas Woman of Distinction (1) Killeen-area average gas prices dip slightly (1) Reader says vote-buying is now primary function of government (1) Jim Ed Sims (1) Police: Killeen woman shoots at car with children inside (1) Cove PD seeking information about theft suspect (1) Killeen ISD board to discuss special education Tuesday (1) Harker Heights Council to hear HHPD, Animal Services update, will take trip to Chaparral Road (1) BOB MAINDELLE: With abundant rains, why are our lakes low? 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(1) Killeen air numbers miss traditional August boom (1) Killeen crime numbers hard to capture (1) ‘I’m out of time’| KISD bus driver says he’s fighting to keep his job amid cancer battle (1) Cove appoints interim fire chief (1) Ribbon-cutting set for Sept. 12 for new hangar at Killeen-Fort Hood Regional Airport (1) City, council member respond to allegations of indifference, abuse by animal advocates (1) Fort Hood National Bank to change name on Thursday (1) City denies Herald’s request for financial documents on taxpayer-funded events (1) KISD board approves ballistic shield purchase (1) Killeen stabbing case: Was it out of anger or in self-defense? (1) KPD: Soldier arrested in fatal Wales Drive shooting (1) Killeen City Council again reviews water infrastructure, considers supply options (1) Puerto Rican native works toward dream of becoming a classroom teacher (1) Do you think local school districts should go back to providing information on COVID-19 cases on their websites? (1) Hispanic culture celebration Tuesday at Killeen City Hall (1) Read More Here

2022 Arizona State Fair Food: Takis Loco Ramen, Tosti Elotes With Birria And More https://digitalarizonanews.com/2022-arizona-state-fair-food-takis-loco-ramen-tosti-elotes-with-birria-and-more/ PHOENIX, AZ — You may want to head to the Arizona State Fair on an empty stomach because there are lots of new treats to try! Some of the new items you’ll be seeing this year include Tostitos, Cheetos, birria and chicken! Here’s your fair food breakdown: SPICEY AND SAVORY The image below showcases Tosti Elotes with Birria Beef, Takis Loco Ramen Gushers & Hot Cheeto Loco Bowl and Birria Ramen. ABC15| NICOLE GUTIERREZ Left to right: Birria Ramen, Takis Loco Ramen Gushers & Hot Cheeto Loco Bowl, and Tosti Elotes with Birria Beef. Other new treats include Hot Cheeto wings, Hot Nashville Chicken Sandwich and the Hot Cheeto Chicken Sandwich! ABC15 | NICOLE GUTIERREZ Your chicken sandwich cravings at the AZ State Fair A SWEET ENCOUNTER The bellow above showcases, the Cinnamon Toast Crunch Funnel Cake, Cotton Candy Funnel Cake, Cap’n Crunch Funnel Cake, Krispy Kreme Deep Fried Banana Split Sandwich, and Dole Whip Sandía. ABC15 Arizona | Nicole Gutierrez “We’ve also got churros! We got deep-fried everything that’s going to [channel] all of the senses for you- with Snicker bars, Oreos, and Butterfingers,” said Dominic Palmieri, The Midway Gourmet. ABC15 | NICOLE GUTIERREZ Mangonada Limonada, Churros, and a Slushi Snowcone with PRIME. NEW DRINKS Mangonada Limonada and the Slushi Snowcone with PRIME. “PRIME is this new great drink, we’re actually using the PRIME as the snowcone juice and it is super fun- the kids are going to love it,” explained Palmieri. Click here to see the full breakdown of what’s new at the fair! $3 FOOD You’ll be able to enjoy $3 food every Friday from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m., according to event officials. Click here to see the full breakdown of all the DEALS AND PROMOTIONS there are at the AZ State Fair! IF YOU GO Mark your calendar: Arizona State Fair runs from Sep 23 – Oct 30 Gates open at noon, Thursdays through Sundays. Location: 1826 W. McDowell Rd Admission cost General admission- ages 8 and up: $15 Children 7 and under enter for FREE. Copyright 2022 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Sign up for the Headlines Newsletter and receive up to date information. Read More…

Gas From Russia's Nord Stream 2 Pipeline Leaks Into Baltic Sea https://digitalarizonanews.com/gas-from-russias-nord-stream-2-pipeline-leaks-into-baltic-sea/ Security walks in front of the landfall facility of the Baltic Sea gas pipeline Nord Stream 2 in Lubmin, Germany, September 19, 2022. REUTERS/Fabrizio Bensch/File Photo Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com BERLIN/COPENHAGEN, Sept 26 (Reuters) – Danish authorities on Monday asked ships to steer clear of a five nautical mile radius off the island of Bornholm after a gas leak overnight from the defunct Russian-owned Nord Stream 2 pipeline drained into the Baltic Sea. The German government said it was in contact with the Danish authorities and working with local law enforcement to find out what caused pressure in the pipeline to plummet suddenly. Denmark’s energy ministry declined to comment. On Monday evening, the operator of the Nord Stream 1 pipeline, which ran at reduced capacity since mid-June before stopping supplies altogether in August, also disclosed a pressure drop on both lines of the gas pipeline. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com “The reasons are being investigated,” Nord Stream AG said on its website, without disclosing further information. The pipeline has been one of the flashpoints in an escalating energy war between Europe and Moscow since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February that has pummelled major Western economies and sent gas prices soaring. “A leak today occurred on the Nord Stream 2 pipeline in the Danish area,” said Denmark’s energy agency in a statement. The German network regulator president, Klaus Mueller, said on Twitter the pressure drop in both pipelines “underscores the German network regulator’s assessment that the situation is tense.” The regulator said it was currently not known what had caused the pressure drop, adding the event had no impact on security of supply in Germany and that the country’s gas storage levels were around 91%. Danish maritime authorities had issued a navigation warning and established a zone around the Nord Stream 2 pipeline “as it is dangerous for ship traffic”, it added. Nord Stream 2’s operator said pressure in the pipeline, which had contained some gas sealed inside despite never becoming operational, dropped from 105 to 7 bars overnight. The pipeline, which was intended to double the volume of gas flowing from St. Petersburg under the Baltic Sea to Germany, had just been completed and filled with 300 million cubic metres of gas when Germany cancelled it days before the invasion. NO CLARITY “Overnight the Nord Stream 2 landfall dispatcher registered a rapid gas pressure drop on Line A of the Nord Stream 2 natural gas pipeline,” Nord Stream 2’s operator said in a statement. “Investigation is ongoing.” European countries have resisted Russian calls to allow the Nord Stream 2 pipeline to operate and accused Moscow of using energy as a weapon. Russia denies doing so and blames the West for gas shortages. “We are currently in contact with the authorities concerned in order to clarify the situation. We still have no clarity about the causes and the exact facts,” said a statement from the German economy ministry. The Swiss-based operator, which has legally been wound up, said it had informed all relevant authorities about the leak. Russian gas exporter Gazprom (GAZP.MM) referred questions about the incident to the Nord Stream 2 operator. Russia has cut off gas supplies to several countries and also halted flows through the Nord Stream 1 pipeline, blaming Western sanctions for hindering operations. President Vladimir Putin in September chided the West for keeping Nord Stream 2 shut. read more Monday’s gas leak happened a day before the ceremonial launch of the Baltic Pipe carrying gas from Norway to Poland. The project is a centrepiece of Warsaw’s efforts to diversify from Russian gas. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen is due to travel to Poland on Tuesday to mark the occasion. Nord Stream 2 was widely unpopular among Danish lawmakers and the country in 2017 passed a law which allowed it to ban the project from passing through its territorial waters on security grounds. But Nord Stream 2 later changed the original route to steer it through Denmark’s exclusive economic zone, where this veto could not be applied. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com Reporting by Thomas Escritt, Christian Kraemer, Stine Jacobsen, Terje Solsvik, Marek Strzelecki, Matthias Williams, Christoph Steitz and Sarah Marsh; Writing by Matthias Williams; Editing by Andrea Ricci, Mark Potter and Marguerita Choy Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles. Thomas Escritt Thomson Reuters Berlin correspondent who has investigated anti-vaxxers and COVID treatment practices, reported on refugee camps and covered warlords’ trials in The Hague. Earlier, he covered Eastern Europe for the Financial Times. He speaks Hungarian, German, French and Dutch. Read More Here

US Forecast https://digitalarizonanews.com/us-forecast-26/ 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;71;49;67;50;A shower in the p.m.;SSW;8;61%;67%;2 Albuquerque, NM;80;59;82;58;Partly sunny, nice;E;6;37%;9%;6 Anchorage, AK;49;42;51;42;Clouds and sun;E;7;73%;50%;1 Asheville, NC;73;45;66;42;Plenty of sunshine;NW;10;41%;10%;6 Atlanta, GA;79;53;75;50;Sunny and pleasant;N;9;32%;2%;6 Atlantic City, NJ;74;60;73;55;Mostly sunny, breezy;WNW;14;44%;18%;5 Austin, TX;93;63;92;62;Plenty of sunshine;NE;5;28%;3%;7 Baltimore, MD;78;59;73;53;Nice with some sun;WNW;10;39%;16%;5 Baton Rouge, LA;92;61;84;60;Sunshine and nice;NNE;9;39%;0%;7 Billings, MT;81;52;84;56;Sunny and very warm;S;7;38%;4%;4 Birmingham, AL;81;53;75;53;Sunny and pleasant;NNE;9;36%;2%;6 Bismarck, ND;72;41;69;46;Mostly sunny;ESE;10;56%;1%;4 Boise, ID;87;59;91;62;Very warm;ESE;8;20%;1%;4 Boston, MA;73;58;72;54;Clouds and sun;WSW;9;54%;31%;4 Bridgeport, CT;73;56;72;52;Partly sunny, nice;W;11;49%;23%;5 Buffalo, NY;58;55;59;52;A couple of showers;WNW;15;79%;98%;1 Burlington, VT;68;53;65;52;A shower in the p.m.;S;13;68%;92%;1 Caribou, ME;64;53;67;47;Sun and clouds;SSW;8;68%;44%;2 Casper, WY;78;40;81;45;Sunny;SSE;6;36%;5%;5 Charleston, SC;89;65;82;60;Partly sunny;N;7;41%;7%;6 Charleston, WV;74;48;64;43;Sunshine and cool;W;7;56%;20%;5 Charlotte, NC;81;52;75;49;Sunny and pleasant;NNW;6;37%;4%;6 Cheyenne, WY;77;46;75;48;Nice with sunshine;S;10;32%;3%;5 Chicago, IL;63;48;58;47;Breezy;NNW;15;53%;29%;4 Cleveland, OH;63;54;61;54;Heavy showers;NW;18;75%;99%;2 Columbia, SC;88;55;81;55;Sunshine and nice;N;6;32%;6%;6 Columbus, OH;66;47;60;45;An afternoon shower;WNW;9;61%;69%;3 Concord, NH;74;48;70;46;Partly sunny;W;7;59%;26%;4 Dallas-Ft. Worth, TX;88;64;88;65;Plenty of sunshine;ESE;6;29%;2%;6 Denver, CO;81;52;77;51;Partly sunny;S;6;33%;29%;5 Des Moines, IA;69;49;68;39;Plenty of sun;NE;8;47%;0%;5 Detroit, MI;65;49;59;48;Breezy with a shower;NW;15;71%;91%;2 Dodge City, KS;84;53;85;51;Mostly sunny;NE;9;41%;2%;5 Duluth, MN;57;40;54;38;Partly sunny;N;9;60%;0%;4 El Paso, TX;85;64;86;63;Mostly sunny;ESE;9;37%;1%;7 Fairbanks, AK;47;34;44;31;Mostly cloudy;NE;5;81%;29%;1 Fargo, ND;65;39;59;37;Mostly sunny;E;8;53%;0%;4 Grand Junction, CO;83;54;82;54;Sunshine, pleasant;SE;7;32%;1%;5 Grand Rapids, MI;58;47;54;45;Breezy with a shower;NNW;14;79%;66%;1 Hartford, CT;74;54;72;50;Mostly sunny;WSW;8;52%;25%;4 Helena, MT;82;49;83;49;Sunny and very warm;SW;4;41%;0%;4 Honolulu, HI;89;75;89;75;A morning shower;ENE;13;57%;44%;9 Houston, TX;94;67;88;66;Plenty of sunshine;NE;8;34%;4%;7 Indianapolis, IN;67;47;63;47;Mostly sunny;N;10;48%;29%;5 Jackson, MS;85;55;81;57;Sunny, low humidity;NE;8;38%;3%;6 Jacksonville, FL;91;71;85;73;A t-storm around;NE;9;59%;55%;7 Juneau, AK;60;50;54;49;Rain;SE;8;95%;98%;0 Kansas City, MO;74;50;77;49;Mostly sunny, nice;NE;5;44%;0%;5 Knoxville, TN;78;46;71;43;Sunny and nice;N;7;43%;10%;5 Las Vegas, NV;99;73;97;73;Partly sunny;WNW;6;22%;23%;5 Lexington, KY;70;46;66;43;Mostly sunny;NNW;11;46%;12%;5 Little Rock, AR;85;53;83;56;Sunny and beautiful;NE;6;35%;1%;6 Long Beach, CA;89;69;89;69;Some sun;S;6;55%;0%;5 Los Angeles, CA;90;69;95;70;Sunny and hot;SE;7;46%;0%;6 Louisville, KY;71;48;68;44;Mostly sunny;NNW;10;42%;6%;5 Madison, WI;59;41;55;37;Cool with some sun;N;9;57%;5%;4 Memphis, TN;83;55;83;56;Sunny and nice;E;7;34%;2%;6 Miami, FL;87;78;84;80;Some wind and rain;SE;10;84%;100%;2 Milwaukee, WI;62;46;58;44;Breezy and cool;N;15;58%;26%;3 Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN;63;44;59;40;Mostly sunny;N;10;46%;0%;4 Mobile, AL;91;63;85;61;Sunny and not as hot;NNE;10;36%;0%;7 Montgomery, AL;89;56;76;55;Sunny and pleasant;NNE;8;38%;2%;6 Mt. Washington, NH;43;32;39;33;Windy;W;29;90%;52%;1 Nashville, TN;77;47;75;46;Sunny and nice;N;8;37%;3%;5 New Orleans, LA;92;71;84;67;Sunny and not as hot;NE;12;37%;0%;7 New York, NY;74;58;72;54;Partly sunny;W;11;43%;20%;5 Newark, NJ;73;54;71;51;Clouds and sun, nice;W;9;45%;22%;4 Norfolk, VA;83;61;78;57;Sunshine;NW;8;36%;15%;5 Oklahoma City, OK;84;57;88;61;Partly sunny;SSE;11;32%;3%;6 Olympia, WA;84;49;74;52;Mostly sunny;SSW;6;68%;63%;4 Omaha, NE;74;47;73;41;Sunny and pleasant;ENE;8;46%;0%;5 Orlando, FL;92;75;83;75;A shower and t-storm;ENE;7;84%;100%;2 Philadelphia, PA;77;58;73;54;Clouds and sun;WNW;10;41%;20%;5 Phoenix, AZ;103;82;102;81;Sunshine and warm;E;8;24%;14%;6 Pittsburgh, PA;67;49;62;48;Mostly cloudy, cool;WSW;10;62%;43%;2 Portland, ME;71;54;66;50;Clouds and sun;SW;9;69%;34%;3 Portland, OR;85;55;80;56;Mostly sunny;SSW;7;54%;26%;4 Providence, RI;73;56;72;50;Some sun, pleasant;WSW;8;55%;28%;4 Raleigh, NC;82;56;77;51;Sunny and beautiful;NNW;7;34%;10%;5 Reno, NV;87;55;85;53;Breezy in the p.m.;WSW;11;28%;0%;5 Richmond, VA;80;54;75;48;Sunny and pleasant;WNW;8;40%;14%;5 Roswell, NM;85;58;89;58;Plenty of sun;S;7;35%;4%;6 Sacramento, CA;91;57;88;58;Abundant sunshine;S;6;49%;0%;5 Salt Lake City, UT;84;59;88;63;Mostly sunny;ESE;7;26%;0%;5 San Antonio, TX;95;65;92;64;Sunny and very warm;NE;9;29%;3%;7 San Diego, CA;79;68;80;68;Humid with sunshine;WNW;8;68%;0%;6 San Francisco, CA;68;58;69;59;Turning sunny;W;11;68%;0%;5 Savannah, GA;90;63;84;61;Not as hot;NNE;6;47%;8%;6 Seattle-Tacoma, WA;80;55;76;56;Mostly sunny;SSW;8;63%;63%;4 Sioux Falls, SD;71;43;69;38;Mostly sunny;ENE;6;47%;0%;4 Spokane, WA;85;49;89;52;Very warm;SE;2;37%;2%;4 Springfield, IL;67;42;67;37;Plenty of sunshine;N;10;47%;0%;5 St. Louis, MO;71;48;71;42;Mostly sunny;NNE;9;41%;2%;5 Tampa, FL;94;74;82;74;A shower and t-storm;ENE;10;86%;100%;2 Toledo, OH;63;47;59;46;A stray shower;NW;9;66%;90%;2 Tucson, AZ;98;76;96;73;Mostly sunny;ESE;11;31%;14%;7 Tulsa, OK;84;55;87;57;Plenty of sunshine;SE;7;32%;3%;5 Vero Beach, FL;89;75;82;76;Rain and a t-storm;ESE;10;90%;100%;2 Washington, DC;78;56;72;51;Partly sunny, nice;WNW;9;43%;14%;5 Wichita, KS;82;54;87;54;Mostly sunny;ENE;9;33%;2%;5 Wilmington, DE;78;56;72;52;Partly sunny, nice;WNW;11;45%;18%;5 _____ Copyright 2022 AccuWeather Read More Here

Giorgia Meloni And Commonsense https://digitalarizonanews.com/giorgia-meloni-and-commonsense/ Commentary Towards the beginning of “Nineteen-Eighty-Four,” George Orwell has his unhappy protagonist Winston Smith jot down what he describes as an “axiom.” “Freedom,” he writes, “is the freedom to say that two plus two equals four. If that is granted, all else follows.” That seemingly simple, in reality deep, observation is akin to Bishop Butler’s bijou that “everything is what it is, and not another thing.” How much mischief could have been avoided if people, especially people in power, were to take such commonsense wisdom to heart? Italy’s new prime minister, Giorgia Meloni, seems to be a rare member of the genus homo politicus in embracing such commonsensical positions. In a speech three years ago at the World Congress of Families, she listed Orwellian by quoting not him but G. K. Chesterton. “Fires will be kindled,” she quoted, “to testify that two and two make four. Swords will be drawn to prove that leaves are green in summer.” Chesterton’s wise words come from the end of his book “Heretics” (1905). “The great march of mental destruction will go on,” he writes. “Everything will be denied. Everything will become a creed.” Meloni, founder and head of Italy’s Brothers of Italy party, is a eurosceptic. This makes her a heretic. She objects to the effort of the people in charge of Project Europe to turn her into a “perfect consumer,” a “consumer slave.” This makes her a pariah. Meloni refuses to be treated as a cipher, a number. This makes her a threat. She proudly defines herself as “Italian, Christian, woman, mother.” This makes her a fascist. That, anyway, is what the major news networks want you to believe. On the eve of her stunning election victory—in 2018, the Brothers of Italy won only 4.5 percent of the vote—CBS indulged in a hysterical (I do not mean “funny”) bit of rhetorical overkill. “Voters in Italy appear poised to elect a far-right prime minister,” CBS informed viewers. That’s not all. According to CBS, Meloni “leads a neo-fascist movement, reminiscent of Benito Mussolini’s own political party.” Mussolini, eh? Oh yes. This woman wants to reclaim her own identity as an individual, to champion the two-plus-two-equals-four reality that she is Italian, not a global citizen, a Christian, not a “consumer slave,” a mother, not “parent Number 1,” a woman, not a “gender.” All this makes her, if CBS is to be believed, the exponent of a political philosophy that has “roots in neo-fascism.” “Many fear,” intoned a bobblehead called Chris Livesay, that a “particularly ugly” bit of history could soon repeat itself as Meloni is “poised to lead the most hard-right government since World War II.” “Many?” It wasn’t only CBS, of course. CNN was right there, on the case, telling us that Meloni’s victory ushered in “Italy’s most far-right prime minister since Mussolini,” “underscoring Italy’s longstanding rejection of mainstream politics,” i.e., the politics CNN supports. And then there was the president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, who just before Meloni’s victory warned that the EU had “tools” it could use to punish Italy should it vote the wrong way. Such “tools,” she added, were already being deployed against Hungary and Poland. What we are seeing here is a European version of the tactic deployed by the Biden administration against Donald Trump and his supporters. At his speech in Philadelphia earlier this month, President Joe Biden insisted that “Donald Trump and the MAGA Republicans represent an extremism that threatens the very foundations of our Republic.” A week earlier, at a speech in Maryland, Biden explained that the problem was “not just Trump, it’s the entire philosophy that underpins the … semi-fascism” of the MAGA agenda. But what is that “MAGA” (or, even scarier, “ultra-MAGA”) agenda we are supposed to recoil from? It’s a commonsense agenda that stresses policies that encourage American prosperity, American security, and American freedom. It’s an agenda that recognizes that borders are borders, that cheap, abundant energy is a prerequisite of economic prosperity, and that the rule of law must be administered impartially if the coercive power of the state is not to descend into tyranny. It also recognizes that the human race is divided into two sexes, and only two, that race is not determinative of character, and that national sovereignty and private property are necessary to the preservation of individual liberty. In his great essay “Politics and the English Language,” Orwell noted that the term “fascist” had degenerated into a cognitively empty negative epithet that was little more than a term of abuse. You don’t like something. Therefore it’s “fascist.” It’s certainly odd that one has to work overtime to defend Meloni’s assertion of her identity as an Italian, a Christian, a woman, and a mother. Everything is what it is and not another thing. But then we really do live in a time when the assertion that two plus two equals four is disparaged as an example of “white supremacy.” Who knows what tort will be invented to counter the claim that leaves in the summer are green. Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. Follow Roger Kimball is the editor and publisher of The New Criterion and publisher of Encounter Books. His most recent book is “The Critical Temper: Interventions from The New Criterion at 40.” Read More Here

Vos Fights Subpoena From U.S. House Committee Investigating Jan. 6 Attack – Wisconsin Examiner https://digitalarizonanews.com/vos-fights-subpoena-from-u-s-house-committee-investigating-jan-6-attack-wisconsin-examiner/ Assembly Speaker Robin Vos (R-Rochester) is suing the U.S. House Select Committee investigating the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol to block a subpoena that directs him to testify about his phone conversation this July with former President Donald Trump. In his lawsuit, Vos claims the conversation, when Trump urged him to decertify Wisconsin’s 2020 presidential election, is “entirely outside of the Committee’s authorized scope” and has “no bearing on the events and causes of January 6, 2021.” Trump made the call after the Wisconsin Supreme Court ruled 4-3 against the use of drop boxes for voters to return absentee ballots, a longstanding practice in Wisconsin elections that increased in 2020 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Vos described the call in an interview on WISN-TV that aired in July. “After you reportedly told Mr. Trump that what he was requesting is not allowed under the Wisconsin constitution, Mr. Trump posted derogatory statements about you on Truth Social and endorsed your challenger in the 2022 Republican primary,” the subpoena states. “The circumstances and details regarding your interaction with former President Trump related to the 2020 election are relevant to the Select Committee’s investigation and proposed recommendations.” The subpoena directs Vos to give a deposition “concerning your interactions with former President Trump regarding overturning the results of the 2020 election.” In his lawsuit to block it, Vos asserts that the subpoena “imposes an undue burden, seeks to infringe on Speaker Vos’ legislative immunity from civil process, lacks a lawful purpose, and was issued from an unlawful committee.” Vos was served with the subpoena on Saturday and directed to appear for a deposition on Monday. The lawsuit to block the congressional order was filed Sunday in federal court in Milwaukee. The suit challenges the subpoena’s short notice, saying it would divert him from campaigning “in the closing days of a hard-fought reelection battle” and would deprive him of necessary legal counsel in the “nuanced and complex constitutional issues” that the subpoena raises.  “The only explanation for such an extreme timeline is the Committee’s desire to conduct the deposition before its next publicly televised hearing on Wednesday, September 28, 2022, so that clips can be edited out to be used in a multimedia show,” the lawsuit asserts. Press representatives for the U.S. House committee did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Monday. A hearing in the lawsuit is scheduled Tuesday.  GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Our stories may be republished online or in print under Creative Commons license CC BY-NC-ND 4.0. We ask that you edit only for style or to shorten, provide proper attribution and link to our web site. Please see our republishing guidelines for use of photos and graphics. Read More Here

What We Know Going Into The Final Jan. 6 Hearing https://digitalarizonanews.com/what-we-know-going-into-the-final-jan-6-hearing/ The Jan. 6 select committee is convening Wednesday for what is likely its last public hearing before releasing a final report on its findings and recommendations. Why it matters: This week’s hearing will bookend the investigation into the Capitol riot that has spanned more than a year and has included more than 130,000 documents and testimony from more than 1,000 witnesses. The big picture: Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif), a Jan. 6 panel member, previewed the final hearing on Sunday, saying: “I can say that, as this may be the last hearing of this nature — that is, one that is focused on sort of the factual record — I think it’ll be potentially more sweeping than some of the other hearings.” Committee chair Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.) also offered a teaser of the hearing, saying the panel has “substantial footage of what occurred … [and] significant witness testimony that we haven’t used in other hearings.” Wednesday is set to be the last public hearing for Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.), the vice chair of the committee, after she lost an August primary for her reelection to a Trump-backed candidate. Cheney, and Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-Ill.), who is retiring, are the only two House Republicans on the panel. How we got here The select committee in its previous hearings has tried to link Trump directly to the violence of Jan. 6 through witness testimonies and video evidence. Here’s some of what we’ve learned so far … Cassidy Hutchinson, a top aide to former White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows, testified that Trump grew increasingly irate on Jan. 6, reportedly lunging at his former security detail when the Secret Service would not drive him to join protesters at the Capitol. Hutchinson also testified that Trump knew that some rallygoers on Jan. 6 had weapons, but he requested that the metal detectors to enter the Ellipse be removed anyway. Mike Pence’s legal aides testified that the former vice president resisted the “pressure campaign” by Trump to reject electoral votes. Top Trump administration and campaign officials, including former Attorney General Bill Barr, described trying to convince Trump that he lost the election — and the 45th president’s continued commitment to pushing the “Big Lie” anyway. What to watch The panel has requested testimony from a number of Trump allies or individuals who may have knowledge of the events on Jan. 6, including … Conservative activist Ginni Thomas, wife of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, has agreed to sit down for a voluntary interview with the House Jan. 6 select committee, her lawyer confirmed to Axios last week. Steve Bannon, a former Trump chief strategist, told the committee in July that he was willing to testify, per the New York Times. The panel is also seeking an interview with former House Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-Ga.) about his involvement in events leading up to the Capitol riot. It’s not yet clear whether all of the potential witnesses have agreed to testify — and whether the panel will publicly show details of their interviews. Both Thompson and Cheney have also said that the committee has received thousands of materials from the Secret Service in response to a July subpoena of the agency. Cheney, however, said this weekend that communications from around Jan. 6 were largely not recovered. What’s next The select committee has said that it plans to release a final report after the midterm election, but plenty of news could be made before then, Axios’ Andrew Solender and Alayna Treene report. The committee, which has said that the election is not a big factor in planning, also said it plans to release early findings and recommendations before the election. The bottom line: Finally, one question underpinning the panel’s work is whether the final report should include a criminal referral regarding Trump’s conduct. Schiff said Sunday that if a referral is made, it should be unanimous among panel members. “It will be certainly, I think, my recommendation, my feeling that we should make referrals, but we will get to a decision as a committee, and we will all abide by that decision, and I will join our committee members if they feel differently,” he told CNN. Go deeper… Key takeaways from New York AG’s lawsuit against Trump Read More Here

Putin Grants Citizenship To Edward Snowden, Who Disclosed U.S. Surveillance https://digitalarizonanews.com/putin-grants-citizenship-to-edward-snowden-who-disclosed-u-s-surveillance/ Russian President Vladimir Putin granted citizenship on Monday to Edward Snowden, the former security consultant who leaked information about top-secret U.S. surveillance programs and is still wanted by Washington on espionage charges. Snowden, 39, was one of 72 foreigners granted citizenship in a decree signed by Putin. Snowden, who considers himself a whistleblower, fled the United States to avoid prosecution and has been living in Russia, which granted him asylum in 2013. Snowden was granted permanent residency in 2020, and his lawyers said at the time that he was applying to obtain a Russian passport without renouncing his U.S. citizenship. Snowden’s lawyer, Anatoly Kucherena, told the state-run news agency RIA Novosti on Monday that Snowden’s wife, Lindsay Mills, is also now applying for Russian citizenship. Mills joined Snowden in Moscow in 2014. They were married in 2017 and have a son together. Kucherena also said that Snowden would not be subject to the partial military mobilization that Putin decreed last week to help Russia’s flagging war in Ukraine as Snowden never served in the Russian army. Putin said only those with previous experience would be called up in the partial mobilization though there have been widespread reports of summonses going to others, including men arrested at protests against mobilization. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre declined to comment on Snowden’s new passport, and instead referred questions to the prosecutors seeking his extradition. “So, since I believe there have been criminal charges brought against him, we would point you to the Department of Justice for any specifics on this,” Jean-Pierre said. Snowden’s revelations, published first in The Washington Post and the Guardian, were arguably the biggest security breach in U.S. history. The information he disclosed revealed top-secret NSA surveillance as part of a program known as PRISM and the extraction of a wide range of digital information. In 2017, Putin said in a documentary film made by U.S. director Oliver Stone that he did not consider Snowden “a traitor” for leaking government secrets. “As an ex-KGB agent, you must have hated what Snowden did with every fiber of your being,” Stone says in the clip. “Snowden is not a traitor,” Putin replied. “He did not betray the interests of his country. Nor did he transfer any information to any other country which would have been pernicious to his own country or to his own people. The only thing Snowden does, he does publicly.” In 2020, Snowden explained his decision to seek dual citizenship. “After years of separation from our parents, my wife and I have no desire to be separated from our son. That’s why, in this era of pandemics and closed borders, we’re applying for dual US-Russian citizenship,” Snowden wrote on Twitter at the time. “Lindsay and I will remain Americans, raising our son with all the values of the America we love — including the freedom to speak his mind. And I look forward to the day I can return to the States, so the whole family can be reunited,” Snowden added. War in Ukraine: What you need to know The latest: Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a “partial mobilization” of troops in an address to the nation on Sept. 21, framing the move as an attempt to defend Russian sovereignty against a West that seeks to use Ukraine as a tool to “divide and destroy Russia.” Follow our live updates here. The fight: A successful Ukrainian counteroffensive has forced a major Russian retreat in the northeastern Kharkiv region in recent days, as troops fled cities and villages they had occupied since the early days of the war and abandoned large amounts of military equipment. Annexation referendums: Staged referendums, which would be illegal under international law, are set to take place from Sept. 23 to 27 in the breakaway Luhansk and Donetsk regions of eastern Ukraine, according to Russian news agencies. Another staged referendum will be held by the Moscow-appointed administration in Kherson starting Friday. Photos: Washington Post photographers have been on the ground from the beginning of the war — here’s some of their most powerful work. How you can help: Here are ways those in the U.S. can help support the Ukrainian people as well as what people around the world have been donating. Read our full coverage of the Russia-Ukraine crisis. Are you on Telegram? Subscribe to our channel for updates and exclusive video. Read More Here

William Anthon Pike https://digitalarizonanews.com/william-anthon-pike/ William Anthon Pike, 84, longtime resident of Fairbanks, Alaska, passed away on June 15th,  2022 from respiratory failure at Kaiser Westside Medical Center in Hillsboro, Oregon. Bill was born on April 14th, 1938 in Rochester, MN. He was the first of four children born to Roy Edwin  and Gladys Catherine (Flynn) Pike. Bill was raised in Brainerd, MN and graduated from Washington High  School with the Class of 1956. He spent many summers working for his dad at Pike Plumbing Company. Bill was in the Army Reserves. He graduated with his Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering Degree from  the University of Minnesota in 1963. After college, Bill became a member of the Plumbers and  Pipefitters Union. Bill married Mary Catherine Kemper from Perham, MN on June 23, 1962. Bill and Mary along with 3  year-old Cathy and 2-year-old Jeanne, moved to Fairbanks, Alaska in January 1967, where Bill  had a job with Chandler Plumbing & Heating. Sharon and Julie were born in Fairbanks. Bill and  Mary quickly embraced Fairbanks life, joining a curling club, supporting the arts, the Catholic  Church and schools as well as many community activities. Bill converted an old army bus to a  camper, with a folding boat on the side, and they explored as far as it would take them. Bill started his own Mechanical Engineer Consulting Company working on many projects and  mentoring young engineers before retiring after 35 years. Bill met his second wife, Marsha Hickman Wendt, at HIPOW where they both volunteered. They married  in Fairbanks, AK on August 8, 1992. Bill was an avid traveler and lifelong learner. He volunteered in his many passions, Catholic  Schools, soup kitchens for the homeless, Cancer awareness, Alzheimer’s awareness, music  ministry in the churches Bill and Marsha attended and the like. In his 60’s, he received his  Culinary Arts Degree from Arizona Western College. He always loved to enter his baked goods in the  Tanana Valley State Fair and received a multitude of blue ribbons annually and also Best of Show. He  regularly advised his grandchildren to enter things as well. Bill also loved teaching. He was a substitute  teacher at the Catholic Schools in AZ and AK. Baker Bill, as he was affectionately known, taught  baking at Arizona Western College. He enjoyed sharing a “bread baking” class for fundraising  endeavors as well. Bill made friends wherever he was, taking families from the communities under his wing.  Bill was generous with his time, talent and treasure. He loved sharing with family and friends  alike. He was preceded in death by his parents Roy E. and Gladys C. Pike and sister Patricia Ann “Patty” Pike of  MN, his 1st wife, Mary Kemper Pike of AK and sister-in-law Carol Pike of MN. He is survived by his loving wife, Marsha, her sister Judith Hickman Dean of AK, four daughters:  Catherine Hawkins (Morten Hansen) of WA; JeanneMarie (Patrick) Weis with grandchildren Kabrin  (Madeline), Kindi, Anyon, Rowan and Adonis of OR; Sharon (John) Chakuchin with grandchildren  David, Rachel (Royce) Montantes, Daniel and Rosey of AK; Julie (John) Ellis of AK with  grandchildren Tyler, Byron and Hunter of OR. His brothers; Robert Roy “Bob” Pike and Richard John  “Dick” (Judy) Pike of MN and great grandchildren Evelyn Lind-Carlson and Anthony Montantes. The Memorial Service will be held at the Monroe Chapel, 615 Monroe St., Fairbanks, AK on Saturday,  October 1st at 12:00 pm. While flowers are lovely, a donation to Catholic schools, Cancer research, or Alzheimer’s  research makes a lasting impact. Thank you. Read More Here

Gunman Attacks Russian Military Recruiter As Thousands Flee Mobilization https://digitalarizonanews.com/gunman-attacks-russian-military-recruiter-as-thousands-flee-mobilization/ A young man shot and wounded the chief recruitment officer at a military enlistment station in Russia’s Irkutsk region on Monday, local authorities said, as thousands of fighting-age men continued to flee the country to escape President Vladimir Putin’s war in Ukraine. The alleged shooter in the attack on the military commissariat in Ust-Ilimsk, a small town in Irkutsk, was apparently distraught that his close friend had been called for duty despite having no prior military service. When Putin announced a “partial mobilization” last week, he said only experienced servicemen would be summoned. “In other words, only military reservists, primarily those who served in the armed forces and have specific military occupational specialties and corresponding experience, will be called up,” he assured Russians in a national address. But there have been a torrent of reports from across Russia, even from ardent supporters of the war, of people being summoned for duty despite having no military experience, or being too old or physically incapable of serving. Those reports, along with the government’s acknowledgment that thousands of fighting-age men have fled the country to avoid conscription, suggest that the chaotic mobilization is becoming the latest debacle in Putin’s war. A video clip of Monday’s shooting showed the suspect, identified as 25-year-old Ruslan Zinin, firing at least one shot inside the office. “The shooter was immediately arrested, and he will definitely be punished,” Irkutsk regional governor Igor Kobzev wrote in his Telegram blog. “I can’t wrap my head around what happened, and I am ashamed that this is happening at a time when, on the contrary, we should be united.” The recruiter, Alexander Eliseev, has been hospitalized in critical condition, Kobzev said. Zinin’s mother, Marina Zinina, told Russian outlet ASTRA that her son was upset because his best friend got a mobilization summons despite never having served in the army. “They said that there would be partial mobilization, but it turns out that they take everyone,” she was quoted as saying. As local commissariats rushed to fulfill quotas, call-up notices were sent to men who should be legally exempt from service because of their age, health or lack of military experience. Some were sent home after a public uproar. Others, such as 59-year-old Viktor Dyachok, who has Stage 1 skin cancer and is blind in one eye, were called to duty, independent newspaper Novaya Gazeta reported. “He has astigmatism, hypertension, age-related deafness,” his daughter told the newspaper, saying the family had hoped he would be granted a medical dispensation. “[But] no one at the hospital objected to this; everyone follows the plan.” Amid swirling confusion over who would be summoned, thousands of Russians continued to flee the country, fearing the Kremlin would soon move to shut the borders. The attack in Irkutsk was just one in a spate of incidents that show resistance to the mobilization is becoming more widespread — and more unpredictable. In Ryazan, a city in western Russia, a man reportedly set himself on fire at a bus station to protest the war. Local outlet YA62.ru reported that he “started laughing and shouting that he did not want to participate in the special operation in Ukraine,” using the Kremlin-preferred euphemism for the war. A video online showed the man, who did not appear to be severely injured, being led outside the bus terminal by police and ambulance workers. Sporadic protests have also broken out, including in Russian regions populated mainly by ethnic minorities, such as Dagestan, where the majority of residents are Muslim, and the Indigenous lands of Buryatia and Yakutia. Local activists say men in these areas are being disproportionately targeted by the mobilization. More than 2,300 protesters have been detained across dozens of Russian cities since Putin announced the partial mobilization Wednesday morning, according to rights group OVD-Info, which monitors protest activity. Traffic jams stretching for miles have formed at the border crossings with Georgia and Kazakhstan as the departure of Russians continued through the weekend and on Monday. “The jam at the Russian-Georgian border continues to be about 20 kilometers long” — roughly 12½ miles — “and the wait time to cross into Georgia is now up to three days,” Nikolai Levshitz, a Russian-speaking blogger who helps expatriates assimilate in Georgia, wrote in his daily Telegram update. With air tickets to virtually all visa-free destinations long sold out, Russians are fleeing by foot, by car or even by bicycle. Photos and video clips posted on social media have shown piles of abandoned bicycles near border posts. One Russian man who flew into Istanbul on Monday morning said he took a charter flight from Moscow because commercial flights were sold out. He said he paid about $5,000 for his ticket. Reports from Russian independent outlets said that authorities could close the country’s borders to military-age men as soon as Wednesday. The outlets Meduza and Khodorkovsky Live, citing Russian government sources, each reported that Moscow will halt departures as soon as it announces the results of the staged referendums now being carried out in parts of four Ukrainian regions occupied by Russia. There is no doubt that the results of the referendums, which are illegal under Ukrainian and international law, will be reported by the Kremlin as showing overwhelming support for Russian annexation. Western countries have slammed the referendums as a “sham,” and Britain announced a new round of sanctions Monday against more than 90 individuals and companies involved in organizing the process, which is expected to conclude on Tuesday. “Sham referendums held at the barrel of a gun cannot be free or fair and we will never recognise their results,” British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said in a statement. “They follow a clear pattern of violence, intimidation, torture, and forced deportations in the areas of Ukraine Russia has seized.” Putin and other Russian officials have signaled that once Russia annexes the Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions, the Kremlin would consider any Ukrainian attacks there as direct strikes against Russia — creating the justification for stronger reprisals, including the possible use of nuclear weapons, and providing a basis for declaring partial or full-fledged martial law. On Monday, Putin spokesman Dmitry Peskov deflected those rumors, saying that “no decisions have been made in this regard.” But Russia’s international isolation is deepening. Japan announced Monday that it would ban exports to 21 Russian organizations that could be used to produce chemical weapons, and Tokyo warned Moscow against making further nuclear threats. Later Monday, Russia’s domestic security agency detained the Japanese consul general in the eastern city of Vladivostok, Motoki Tatsunori, and accused him of spying. Russian authorities declared him persona non grata, meaning he must leave the country. Thousands of miles from Moscow, Putin met with his closest ally, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, in the sunny Black Sea resort town of Sochi. Lukashenko allowed Putin to use Belarus as a staging ground for the invasion of Ukraine in February, and has remained publicly supportive throughout the conflict, even as Russia has lost ground and momentum. In 2020, Lukashenko claimed he was reelected in an election widely condemned as fraudulent. He then cracked down on protests, subjecting thousands of Belarusians to beatings and harsh prison sentences. In the two years since, up to 200,000 people have left Belarus. In their meeting Monday, Lukashenko told Putin not to “worry” about the Russian men now doing the same. “Let’s say 30,000, even 50,000 left,” Lukashenko told Putin. “So what? If they had stayed here, would they have been our people? Let them run.” Robyn Dixon and Natalia Abbakumova in Riga, Latvia, and Kareem Fahim in Istanbul contributed to this report. War in Ukraine: What you need to know The latest: Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a “partial mobilization” of troops in an address to the nation on Sept. 21, framing the move as an attempt to defend Russian sovereignty against a West that seeks to use Ukraine as a tool to “divide and destroy Russia.” Follow our live updates here. The fight: A successful Ukrainian counteroffensive has forced a major Russian retreat in the northeastern Kharkiv region in recent days, as troops fled cities and villages they had occupied since the early days of the war and abandoned large amounts of military equipment. Annexation referendums: Staged referendums, which would be illegal under international law, are set to take place from Sept. 23 to 27 in the breakaway Luhansk and Donetsk regions of eastern Ukraine, according to Russian news agencies. Another staged referendum will be held by the Moscow-appointed administration in Kherson starting Friday. Photos: Washington Post photographers have been on the ground from the beginning of the war — here’s some of their most powerful work. How you can help: Here are ways those in the U.S. can help support the Ukrainian people as well as what people around the world have been donating. Read our full coverage of the Russia-Ukraine crisis. Are you on Telegram? Subscribe to our channel for updates and exclusive video. Read More Here