Digital Arizona News

Relaunched Scottsdale Tequila Company Is ‘bringing People Together’ – The Business Journals https://digitalarizonanews.com/relaunched-scottsdale-tequila-company-is-bringing-people-together-the-business-journals/ Relaunched Scottsdale tequila company is ‘bringing people together’  The Business Journals Read More Here

Rashard Lawrence Takes Young Cancer Patient On Top Golf Trip https://digitalarizonanews.com/rashard-lawrence-takes-young-cancer-patient-on-top-golf-trip/ Rashard Lawrence’s wife works with the Arizona Cancer Foundation for Children in Scottsdale, and the disease touches the Cardnals’ defensive tackle on a personal level. When Lawrence’s nephew was diagnosed with cancer in his eye, he felt the urge to help other families in similar circumstances. Lawrence and his wife hosted a family on Monday at Top Golf for Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. The celebration was for Nathan, a 6-year-old he didn’t previously know. Nathan was able to ring the bell to celebrate the end of his treatment two weeks ago. Nathan sported a red Cardinals jersey and a wide smile during the outing. That was the result Lawrence hoped to see. “We wanted to touch a family battling chemo,” Lawrence said, “so we wanted to do something for him to bring him a little happiness.” Nathan’s family, including his two teenage older brothers, Isaiah and Matthew, younger sister Jocelyn and younger brother Andrew, also attended the event. Nathan posed for photos with Lawrence, Big Red, and a couple of Cardinals cheerleaders. Before everyone began to golf, Lawrence provided an autograph jersey for Nathan and a goodie bag. “Chemo is not easy,” Lawrence said. “It’s hard on the kid and families. To give them a happy night meant the world to me.” Read More Here

Legal Experts See More Challenges For Trump In Records Dispute https://digitalarizonanews.com/legal-experts-see-more-challenges-for-trump-in-records-dispute/ “It’s really hard to lose an appeal more decisively than Trump just did,” one legal expert said. (CN) — Former President Donald Trump’s court battle over presidential records he claims to have declassified was dealt another blow by the Eleventh Circuit this week and some legal experts doubt the former president will get the legal recourse he seeks. Former Acting U.S. Solicitor General Neal Katyal said he thinks the Eleventh Circuit decision granting the government’s motion to keep using the roughly 100 records it identified as classified in its criminal probe while the appeal plays out is “extremely strong.” “It’s really hard to lose an appeal more decisively than Trump just did,” Katyal said. The ruling, he said, is “not only a straight repudiation of every legal claim Trump has made since Mar a Lago [was] searched, it’s a boomerang.” Katyal highlighted the appellate panel’s finding that Trump has not even tried to show he has a “need to know” the information contained in the purportedly classified documents, and that “even if he had, that, in and of itself, would not explain why plaintiff has an individual interest in the classified documents.” He said the circuit judges “powerfully” explain in their ruling why criminal and national security implications related to the records dispute “are so massive.” And he notes that the 29-page opinion was unanimously agreed upon by an Obama appointee and two Trump-appointed judges. Wednesday’s Eleventh Circuit ruling comes after the FBI raided Trump’s Mar-a-Lago compound on Aug. 8 and seized more than 11,000 documents, including at least 103 documents with classification markings, according to records unsealed by the court last month. The former president brought a motion for judicial oversight of the government’s review of the seized materials last month and U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon granted his request for a special master on Sept. 5 — prompting a swift appeal to the Eleventh Circuit by the Department of Justice, which also filed a motion to stay part of her order. Trump argued in court filings that the Atlanta-based appellate court lacks jurisdiction over the appeal. But the circuit judges agreed with the government’s argument that Cannon likely erred in her finding that the southern Florida federal court had jurisdiction over Trump’s motion for judicial oversight. “The absence of this ‘indispensab[le]’ factor,” the circuit judges wrote, “is reason enough to conclude that the district court abused its discretion in exercising equitable jurisdiction here.” Laurence Tribe, a professor emeritus at Harvard Law School, said it was “refreshing” to read the Eleventh Circuit opinion. “It reads a lot like a stern but polite reprimand of a child caught red handed who needs to be read the riot act,” he said. Katyal highlighted part of the Eleventh Circuit’s ruling, in which the judges found that Cannon erred when she determined Trump had an interest in some of the seized materials because it included “medical documents, correspondence related to taxes, and accounting information.” The appellate panel found that “none of those concerns apply” to the approximately 100 purportedly classified documents at issue. “In any event, at least for these purposes, the declassification argument is a red herring because declassifying an official document would not change its content or render it personal,” the judges wrote. “For our part, we cannot discern why plaintiff would have an individual interest in or need for any of the one-hundred documents with classification markings.” Katyal said the circuit judges’ ruling “says what all of us have been saying, the whole declassification thing is a red herring.” Former federal prosecutor Neama Rahmani told Courthouse News last week the classification dispute was a red herring that would not impact potential charges under the Espionage Act or Presidential Records Act. “Attorney General Merrick Garland will … need to make the ultimate decision of whether to charge Trump or not,” Rahmani said. As Katyal sees it, the appeals court ruling “justified a prosecution.” Trump is under investigation for removing government records from the White House at the end of his single term as president on Jan. 20, 2021, and storing them at his 12-acre Mar-a-Lago estate in West Palm Beach.  Trump, for his part, denies any wrongdoing and he told Fox News’ Sean Hannity on Wednesday night that, “if you’re president of the United States, you can declassify just by saying ‘it’s declassified,’ even by thinking about it because you’re sending it to Mar-a-Lago or wherever you’re sending it.” Katyal meanwhile said, “Trump can try to go to the U.S. Supreme Court but it’s a loser every day of the week.” Read the Top 8 Sign up for the Top 8, a roundup of the day’s top stories delivered directly to your inbox Monday through Friday. Read More Here

Former President Donald Trump's Response To Legal Battles https://digitalarizonanews.com/former-president-donald-trumps-response-to-legal-battles/ Former President Donald Trump’s response to legal battles Former President Donald Trump’s response to legal battles Read More Here

Biden Spox Jean-Pierre Busts Out Laughing At Trump’s Psychic Declassification: ‘We All Wish We Had Magical Powers!’ https://digitalarizonanews.com/biden-spox-jean-pierre-busts-out-laughing-at-trumps-psychic-declassification-we-all-wish-we-had-magical-powers/ By Tommy ChristopherSep 22nd, 2022, 12:38 pm The View host Whoopi Goldberg cracked up White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, who played along with a bit mocking President Donald Trump‘s claim he can declassify a document by “thinking about it.” On Thursday’s edition of ABC’s The View, Goldberg opened the show by mocking a moment from Trump’s Hannity interview in which he told Hannity he can declassify a document “by thinking about it.” “I’m thinking him into jail!” Goldberg cracked. Goldberg called back to that joke later when she introduced Jean-Pierre, who came closer than she ever has to commenting on the Mar-a-Lago probe by playing along with the gag — but managed to keep in the clear: WHOOPI GOLDBERG: Please welcome back. White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre. I wonder if Joe Biden has developed the ability to think things into existence now. I wonder if it’s something that happens once you become president, or whether you. Because he can, he could think a lot of folks out of there. He could just think about this. Does this happen to… KARINE JEAN-PIERRE: (laughing) I didn’t know where you were going to go with that question… SUNNY HOSTIN: Can he un-classify things by thinking about it. KARINE JEAN-PIERRE: Yeah, just thinking about it, just thinking about it… JOY BEHAR: Magical powers! KARINE JEAN-PIERRE: We all wish we had magical powers. I’m sure! Well, as you know, I can’t say much about any investigation, but of course, the president believes that it is important to properly handle classified information. That is something that is important to do. And as it relates to this case, I’m not going to comment on it, going to let the experts do their thing. WHOOPI GOLDBERG: Let’s do this. Let me do this to you. (pantomimes psychic projection) KARINE JEAN-PIERRE: (laughing) Yeah, I, you know, I got you, (gestures at head) it’s right in here! Watch above via ABC. Have a tip we should know? tips@mediaite.com Read More Here

It’s Common To Charge Electric Vehicles At Night. That Will Be A Problem. https://digitalarizonanews.com/its-common-to-charge-electric-vehicles-at-night-that-will-be-a-problem/ As electric vehicles hit the road around the country, hundreds of thousands of Americans are beginning to learn the ins and outs of car charging: how to install home chargers, where to find public charging stations, and how to avoid the dreaded “range anxiety.” But as EV owners plug in their cars, there is a looming problem: pressures on the electricity grid if most drivers continue to charge their electric cars at night. According to a new study from researchers at Stanford University, if EV sales grow rapidly over the next decade — and most drivers continue to charge their electric cars at home — vehicle charging could strain the electricity grid in the Western United States, increasing net demand at peak times by 25 percent. That could be a problem as the West struggles to keep the lights on amid heat waves and rising electricity demand. The first thing to know about EV charging is that it’s nothing like filling a car with gasoline. Charging an electric car takes time — while the fastest chargers can charge an EV battery by 80 percent in 20 to 30 minutes, most chargers are slower, taking somewhere between two and 22 hours to get to a full charge. That means that around 80 percent of EV charging happens at the owner’s home, overnight — when the driver doesn’t need the car and can leave plenty of time for a charge. But that charging pattern is at odds with how electricity is increasingly being generated. The largest demand for electricity happens in the evening, between about 5 to 9 p.m. People come home from work, turn the lights on, watch TV and do other activities that suck up power. Solar panels, meanwhile, produce their energy during the middle of the day. The highest electricity demand, then, happens just when solar has begun to shut off for the day. In the Stanford study, researchers modeled charging behavior of residents of 11 Western states, and then analyzed how that behavior would impact an electricity grid that is switching increasingly to renewables and other clean energy sources. “Once 30 or 40 percent of cars are EVs, it’s going to start significantly impacting what we do with the grid,” said Ram Rajagopal, a professor of civil and environmental engineering at Stanford University and one of the study’s authors. Even if drivers wait until after peak hours and set their cars to charge at 11 p.m. or later, they will be using electricity at exactly the time when renewable energy is not readily available. That could lead to increased carbon emissions and a need for more batteries and storage in the electricity grid. One solution, the researchers say, is if more EV owners shift to daytime charging, charging their cars at work or at public chargers. If electric cars are charged in the late morning and early afternoon, when the grid has excess solar capacity that’s not being used, there will be less pressure on the electricity system and less need for storage. According to the study, under a scenario where 50 percent of cars are electric, a shift from mostly home to a mix of home and work charging could almost halve the amount of storage needed on the grid. Adding workplace and public chargers has an added benefit of also helping renters or those who don’t own homes access EVs. Siobhan Powell, a postdoctoral researcher at ETH Zürich in Switzerland and the study’s lead author, says that the time to plan for expanding public and workplace charging is now. “We’re not saying, ‘Don’t have any more home charging’ or ‘limit home charging,’ ” she said. “We don’t want to discourage any charging because that’s really important for adoption. But there’s a lot of money going into charging, and we could make it as convenient to charge at work or in public as it is at home.” The authors also recommend shifting electricity price structures to better incentivize charging in the middle of the day. At the moment, some utilities offer super-low electricity rates to consumers for charging their cars overnight. PG&E, for example, a California utility, offers EV owners electricity for 25 cents overnight between midnight and 7 a.m. and 36 cents between 7 a.m. and 2 p.m. Ideally, Rajagopal and Powell say, the cheapest rates should be in the middle of the day to incentivize charging when the sun is out. Gil Tal, the director of an electric vehicle research center at the University of California at Davis, who was not involved in the paper, said that current EV owners don’t need to worry about their charging patterns. “We don’t need to tap the brakes on adoption of electric cars,” he said. As more clean energy and storage is added to the grid, he argues, many of these issues will be resolved. But he agrees that one of the benefits of EVs is the flexibility of when they can charge. Shifting to day charging will be helpful, whether that is through charging at home during the day (for those who work from home) or providing workplace chargers. Policymakers need to “put the chargers where the cars are during the day,” he said. Read More Here

DeSantis Migrant Flight Funding Revealed – Live https://digitalarizonanews.com/desantis-migrant-flight-funding-revealed-live-2/ Massachusetts lawmaker: Migrant families ‘incredibly grateful’ following move to Cape Cod shelter Massachusetts state representative Dylan Fernandes, who represents Martha’s Vineyard, told The Independent that the Venezuelan immigrants who arrived on the island are “incredibly grateful” for the community support, and are in good health following a move to a larger Cape Cod shelter. “Everyone’s needs are more than met,” he told The Independent on Thursday, one week after their surprise arrival in the state. “Every person … has their own space, families have their own space. There’s a lot of access to health care, and including dental health and other types of care, like crisis management and mental health,” he said. Caseworkers from housing organisations are helping them with longer-term housing solutions, and immigration attorneys also are assisting with their asylum cases and navigating their legal status and resource while in the US. “The people who are there are in good spirits and good health and are deeply appreciative,” he said. Alex Woodward22 September 2022 17:25 Beto O’Rourke slams Greg Abbott’s ‘cruel and unkind’ migrant ‘stunts’ During an appearance on The Daily Show, Democratic candidate for Texas governor Beto O’Rourke slammed Greg Abbot’s ongoing scheme to send hundreds of migrants in the state to Democratic-led states and cities. He condemned the Republican governor’s “cruel and unkind” “stunts” that have bused migrants and families hundreds of miles from where their asylum cases have originated, largely stranding them at the mercy of local aid groups in the cities where they have arrived. “What if Texas led the way in rewriting our immigration laws to reflect our values, our interests and our needs, and we said, ‘Look, [if] you want to come to this country, you must follow our laws,’ but our laws will follow our values,” Mr O’Rourke said. Alex Woodward22 September 2022 16:30 Jared Kushner condemns DeSantis’s migrant flights Trump’s son-in-law and former aide Jared Kushner said he was “very troubled” by Governor DeSantis’s plans to fly migrants from the US-Mexico border to Martha’s Vineyard. Mr Kushner appeared on Fox News’ Outnumbered in the aftermath of last week’s scheme, while Texas Governor Greg Abbott and Arizona Governor Doug Ducey continue to sending migrants who crossed the border to cities like Washington DC and New York. “I personally watch what’s happening, and it’s very hard to see at the southern border, I also – we have to remember that these are human beings, they’re people, so seeing them being used as political pawns one way or the other is very troubling to me,” Mr Kushner said. Jared Kushner condemns DeSantis’s migrant flights The Florida governor is seen as a potential challenger to Donald Trump in 2024. Alex Woodward22 September 2022 16:00 Texas sheriff faces ‘influx’ of threats for investigating migrant flights Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar’s office has reportedly received numberous “hateful emails” and threats after announcing an investigation into migrant flights out of San Antonio, coordinated by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis’s administration, several states away. Texas sheriff threatened for investigating DeSantis’s migrant flights The Florida governor claims that the migrants boarded the flights willingly Alex Woodward22 September 2022 15:30 False promises, a legal investigation and a mystery woman: Unanswered questions about Ron DeSantis’s migrant flights After two nights in a church shelter, migrants who arrived in Massachusetts were moved to a larger shelter operation on the mainland, with separate rooms and medical and legal support. State officials report that the families are in “good health and good spirits,” with access to legal services, humanitarian aid and interpreters. But so much remains unclear about the migrants’ journey, how Florida officials are identifying and collecting migrants in other states as part of the Republican governor’s state-sanctioned plans to send them to Democratic-leading states and cities, and how funding earmarked for his scheme is paying for it from several states away. Alex Woodward22 September 2022 15:00 Holly Baxter: ‘Ron DeSantis and Greg Abbott seem to be using migrants to put across their extreme views’ Writing for The Independent Premium, US editor of Voices Holly Baxter writes how two Republican governors are ramping up political stunts ahead of the midterms at the expense of vulnerable migrants and their families: DeSantis and Abbott using migrants to put across their extreme views | Holly Baxter Republican governors are ramping up political stunts ahead of the midterms, thinks Holly Baxter Alex Woodward22 September 2022 14:24 Migrant says he was paid to recruit migrants for Florida’s controversial Martha’s Vineyard flights A 27-year-old Venezuelan migrant says he was given $200 to entice his fellow asylum-seekers to board planes or buses bound for Democrat-held areas chartered by Florida’s governor. And he was instructed to do so with promises of aid that never materialised or was ever real to begin with, he now says. If true, it would prove that Florida officials used deceptive practices to lure migrants thousands of miles across the United States for purely political reasons. John Bowden22 September 2022 13:00 DeSantis leads Trump in purple-red Florida amid migrants controversy Florida Gov Ron DeSantis now leads Donald Trump in a hypothetical head-to-head matchup among voters in Florida, according to a new Axios poll. The development comes as Mr DeSantis has become a hero on the far right for his effort to use state funding to transport migrants from Texas to Democrat-held areas, even as he admits that large groups of migrants entering his state remain nonexsistent. The performance in the poll is notable, too, because Donald Trump won the Florida primary against Sen Marco Rubio, the state’s senior senator, during the 2016 primary in what was one of his last moves to eliminate his rivals in the GOP presidential contest. John Bowden22 September 2022 11:00 Donald Trump rages that Ron DeSantis’s Martha’s Vineyard stunt was his ‘idea’ Donald Trump is privately raging at fellow Republican Ron DeSantis over the governor’s decision to authorise flights carrying roughly 50 migrants last week from the southern border to Martha’s Vineyard, Rolling Stone reported. The magazine reported that two inside sources close to the twice-impeached president had heard him vent about the Republican governor taking the limelight off Trump and accused him of using the migrant flights to prop up his national profile ahead of a potential bid for the White House. Read more in The Independent: Trump rages that DeSantis’s Martha’s Vineyard stunt was his ‘idea’ The former president accused the Florida governor of stealing the limelight from his platform John Bowden22 September 2022 09:00 More than $1m in Florida funding steered to GOP donor amid migrants controversy A contractor owned by a Republican donor is seeing a massive windfall thanks to Ron DeSantis’s efforts to fly migrants from Texas to Massachusetts, and to other Democratic strongholds. New analyses of state records indicate that more than $1m in funding for the flights was given to the company as it carries out Mr DeSantis’s efforts to embarrass the Biden White House. Read more from Alex Woodward in The Independent: Ron DeSantis chartered migrant flights from GOP donor, report finds An aviation company hired by the administration donated thousands of dollars to Republican causes, including the governor’s campaign and a state lawmaker central to his legislative agenda John Bowden22 September 2022 07:00 Read More Here

DOJ Can Resume Criminal Probe Of Classified Documents From Mar-A-Lago, Appeals Court Says | CNN Politics https://digitalarizonanews.com/doj-can-resume-criminal-probe-of-classified-documents-from-mar-a-lago-appeals-court-says-cnn-politics/ CNN  —  A federal appeals court is allowing the Justice Department to continue looking at documents marked as classified that were seized from former President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago home and resort. The emergency intervention upends a trial judge’s order over those documents that had blocked federal investigators’ work on the documents, and is a strong rebuke of the Trump team’s attempt to suggest without evidence that materials were somehow declassified. Trump’s options to block the criminal investigation are now dimming with one of his only remaining possibilities being an emergency request to the Supreme Court. The ruling was issued by a three-judge panel of the 11th US Circuit Court of Appeals – two of whom were nominated by Trump. A special master’s review of that subset of about 100 records, which would’ve allowed Trump’s legal team to see them, is now partially stopped. The special master, Judge Raymond Dearie, is able to continue his work reviewing the rest of the material seized from Mar-a-Lago, to make sure records belonging to Trump or that he may be able to claim are confidential aren’t used by investigators. Those records – which prosecutors have said contain highly sensitive national security information – are at the heart of the criminal investigation into the mishandling of federal records after the Trump presidency. Concern over them was a major factor that prompted the Justice Department and a court to authorize the unprecedented search of the former President’s home. 02:39 – Source: CNN Hear how Hillary Clinton thinks DOJ should treat Trump Altogether, the 29-page opinion was a major boost to the arguments the Justice Department has made throughout the dispute over the Mar-a-Lago documents, while undermining several claims that Trump had made about the materials the FBI seized. “It is self-evident that the public has a strong interest in ensuring that the storage of the classified records did not result in ‘exceptionally grave damage to the national security,’” the three-judge panel stated. “Ascertaining that necessarily involves reviewing the documents, determining who had access to them and when, and deciding which (if any) sources or methods are compromised.” In acknowledging what may be the biggest problem for Trump as the investigation continues, the appeals court noted that even former presidents shouldn’t have classified information without the federal government’s approval. “For our part, we cannot discern why the Plaintiff would have an individual interest in or need for any of the one hundred documents with classification markings,” the appeals court wrote, noting that classified records are controlled by the current government and only should be shared on a need-to-know basis. “This requirement pertains equally to former Presidents, unless the current administration, in its discretion, chooses to waive that requirement.” Throughout the litigation, Trump’s lawyers have raised vague questions about whether the materials are in fact classified. But they have not straightforwardly asserted in court that the former President declassified them, even as Trump himself has claimed outside of court that he did. Wednesday night, the appeals court panel called Trump’s legal team out. “Plaintiff suggests that he may have declassified these documents when he was President,” the court wrote. “But the record contains no evidence that any of these records were declassified. And before the special master, Plaintiff resisted providing any evidence that he had declassified any of these documents.” Trump’s lawyers had also sought to put off making any specific disclosures about whether the documents had been declassified while the special master initially reviews the materials. The appeals court included an extensive takedown of the logic US District Judge Aileen Cannon put forward for ordering the special master review and for denying the DOJ’s request that the classified documents be exempted from it. The panel dissected the rationale Cannon had presented to justify her intervention, saying she had put forward an “untenable” approach for letting an intelligence community assessment of the documents continue while the criminal probe into them was on pause. The government had “sufficiently explained how and why its national security review is inextricably intertwined with its criminal investigation” – a claim that Cannon had dismissed. “The records’ classification markings establish that they are government records and that responsible officials previously determined that their unauthorized disclosure would cause damage – including ‘exceptionally grave damage’ – to the Nation’s security,” the prosecutors had told the 11th Circuit in a Tuesday night filing. The Justice Department had asked for the 11th Circuit’s intervention in the Mar-a-Lago documents dispute after Trump successfully sued to obtain the appointment of a special master – an independent attorney – to pour through the roughly 11,000 documents the FBI had obtained in its search. Cannon previously declined a Justice Department request that she pause the parts of her order that applied to the 100 documents identified as classified. None of the three criminal statutes the FBI cited when it obtained the Mar-a-Lago search warrant hinge on the materials being classified, DOJ argued. In an interview with Fox’s Sean Hannity on Wednesday, Trump claimed that he is not sure what was in the boxes taken by the FBI. Pressed further about the classification of the documents found at Mar-a-Lago, Trump reiterated theories that legal experts say hold little merit and are irrelevant to the case at hand. The three-judge panel that issued the unanimous ruling Thursday is made up of three judges, two of whom were appointed by Trump. Judges Britt Grant and Andrew Brasher were appointed by Trump in 2018 and 2020 respectively, while Judge Robin Rosenbaum was appointed by President Barack Obama in 2014. Before serving on the 11th Circuit, Grant – who was confirmed 52-46 in the Senate – was a Supreme Court justice for the state of Georgia and served as the state’s solicitor general from 2015 to 2016. Brasher served as a district court judge in the middle district of Alabama before being appointed by Trump and was confirmed with vote of 52-43. Rosenbaum was confirmed on a 91-0 vote in the Senate and served as a District Court judge in the Southern District of Florida before being appointed to the 11th Circuit. In seeking to restart its criminal investigation into the documents, the Justice Department argued that Cannon’s order was hindering investigators from taking steps to assess and mitigate national security risks posed by how the documents were handled. Cannon said that a national security assessment of the materials being conducted by the intelligence community could proceed. However, the Justice Department argued that that assessment could not be decoupled from the criminal investigation. The appellate judges found that the federal government and national security could be harmed by the pause in its investigation, and Trump’s team didn’t have good enough reason to review potentially classified records. The court also didn’t dispute the Justice Department saying it couldn’t divorce the intelligence review of the documents from its criminal investigation. 03:14 – Source: CNN Watch New York AG announce lawsuit against Trump “An injunction delaying (or perhaps preventing) the United States’ criminal investigation from using classified materials risks imposing real and significant harm on the United States and the public,” the court wrote. “Courts should order review of such materials in only the most extraordinary circumstances. The record does not allow for the conclusion that this is such a circumstance,” the ruling added. The 11th Circuit resoundingly rejected Trump’s arguments that he may have an interest in classified records that could keep them from federal criminal investigators. Trump “does not have a possessory interest in the documents at issue, so he does not suffer a cognizable harm if the United States reviews documents he neither owns nor has a personal interest in. Second, we find unpersuasive Plaintiff’s insistence that he would be harmed by a criminal investigation,” they wrote. “Because of the nature of the classified materials at issue here and based on the record, we have no reason to expect that the United States’ use of these records imposes the risk of disclosure to the United States of Plaintiff’s privileged information,” they wrote. Cannon on Thursday altered aspects of her order requiring a special master review in accordance with the 11th Circuit’s ruling. She also struck parts of her order laying out the security protocols for how Trump’s counsel can view the documents identified as classified, as well as an instruction that the special master prioritize those documents in his review. This story has been updated with additional details. Read More Here

East Valley High School Football Schedule, Picks For Sept. 22-24 https://digitalarizonanews.com/east-valley-high-school-football-schedule-picks-for-sept-22-24/ Another week of high school football is here with several high-caliber matchups in store for the East Valley.  Below is a look at the teams in action with picks in bold. All games are at 7 p.m. unless noted.  6A Thursday, Sept. 22 Perry at Dobson Desert Ridge at Williams Field Friday, Sept. 23 Mountain View at Basha Highland at Brophy Casa Grande at Casteel Saguaro at Chandler Desert Mountain at Chaparral Sunnyslope at Corona del Sol Verrado at Desert Vista Horizon at Hamilton AZ College Prep at Mesa Campo Verde at Mountain Pointe Red Mountain at Marana Mountain View ALA Queen Creek at Queen Creek Valley Vista at Westwood 5A Gilbert at Mesquite McClintock at Notre Dame Skyline at West Point 4A Poston Butte at Coconino Bradshaw Mountain at Combs Amphitheater at Marcos de Niza ALA Gilbert North at Prescott Ben Franklin at Seton Catholic 3A Mohave at Eastmark Tempe at Fountain Hills ALA ironwood at San Tan Foothills Payson at Valley Christian 2A  Thursday, Sept. 22 Sequoia Pathway at Arete Prep Glendale Prep at Scottsdale Christian Friday, Sept. 23 Gilbert Christian at Antelope Union Santa Cruz Valley at Chandler Prep Coronado at San Tan Charter Scottsdale Prep at Trivium Prep 1A Thursday, Sept. 22 Cicero Prep at Lincoln Prep Friday, Sept. 23 Hayden at Tempe Prep Have an interesting story? Contact Zach Alvira at (480)898-5630 or zalvira@timespublications.com. Follow him on Twitter @ZachAlvira.  Read More Here

Analysis | Greg Norman, Pitching LIV Golf, Gets Rough Congress Welcome https://digitalarizonanews.com/analysis-greg-norman-pitching-liv-golf-gets-rough-congress-welcome/ Welcome to The Daily 202! Tell your friends to sign up here. On this day in 1776, the British hanged Continental Army Capt. Nathan Hale for spying. On his way to the gallows, the 21-year-old schoolteacher from Connecticut purportedly declared “I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country.” Greg Norman, pitching LIV Golf, gets rough Congress welcome Greg Norman visited Congress this week seeking allies for his Saudi-funded, Donald Trump-connected LIV Golf operation, locked as it is in a legal war with the PGA Tour. But instead of a gimme putt, the famous linksman found himself in something of a sand trap. Sorry. My colleague Rick Maese reported on Norman’s visit to the Capitol, where he met with senators like Joe Manchin III (D-W.Va.) on Tuesday and members of the Republican Study Committee (RSC) on the House side on Wednesday. “While some lawmakers posed for selfies and seemed receptive to Norman, others questioned LIV Golf’s Saudi financing and said Congress shouldn’t spend time intervening in a business dispute between LIV Golf and the PGA Tour. LIV Golf and seven of its golfers have sued the PGA Tour, saying the tour violated antitrust laws, allegations that the Department of Justice is also reportedly probing,” Rick explained. Because so few lawmakers talked after the meetings, it’s not easy to get a full picture of the sort of welcome Norman received. But as a general rule, if you’re working with the Saudis and someone brings up 9/11, things aren’t going flawlessly. And that’s what happened after Politico’s Andrew Desiderio reported Rep. Tim Burchett (R-Tenn.) walked out of the RSC meeting with Norman complaining of “propaganda,” saying he struggled with the golfer’s Australian accent, and that the group should not waste time on “billionaire oil guys” and the Saudis. Burchett quote-tweeted Andrew and added this: Rep. Chip Roy (R-Tex.), who has urged the Justice Department to investigate LIV Golf for not registering under the Foreign Agents Registration Act, was also unimpressed, Rick reported. “Don’t sell us ‘this is just about competition’ when they won’t answer about a billion dollars to buy off PGA Tour players … resulting in a billion dollars of PR for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (quoting President Trump) in likely violation of FARA,” Rick quoted Roy as saying in a statement. A LIV spokesman told Rick that Norman was “very well received, even if a couple members of Congress say otherwise.” Saudi Arabia’s critics see in LIV a blatant attempt at “sportswashing,” the practice of repressive regimes using athletic competitions to polish their image — think the 1936 Olympic Games in Nazi Germany, or subsequent games in places like China or Russia. (Moscow first invaded Ukraine shortly after hosting the 2014 Olympic Games.) “The Olympics and the World Cup in 2018 weren’t just ways to showcase Russia to the rest of the world, but were also ways for Putin to consolidate internal support from Russians for his leadership,” said Jane McManus, the executive director of Seton Hall’s Center for Sports Media. “The internal approval is more impactful sometimes than the external rewards,” McManus told The Daily 202. Athletes can be in a tough spot. Some have trained their whole lives and may never see another Olympics. And wasn’t it worth seeing Jesse Owens collect four gold medals and ruin Adolf Hitler’s garbage race theories in front of the fuhrer himself? Perhaps mindful of this — and of the fact that Olympic boycotts have never worked — President Biden let American athletes compete in the winter games in China but kept U.S. officials away in what amounted to a “diplomatic boycott.” Saudi Arabia and human rights With Saudi Arabia, the question is whether some of the golf world’s brightest stars are lending their popularity indirectly to a government the State Department accuses of “significant” human rights abuses, while the U.S. intelligence community says Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman ordered the assassination of Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi. Tiger Woods reportedly turned down a payday of up to $700 million if he agreed to join LIV. Norman’s visit to Congress came as LIV has yet to land a deal to televise its tournaments, which would increase its earnings and broaden its influence. (If people can’t sports-watch, you can’t sports-wash?) In a November 2021 interview with Golf Digest, just a week after he became CEO of LIV Golf Investments, Norman bristled at the suggestion he was effectively doing PR for the regime in Riyadh but also tried to get some daylight between his funding and the crown prince. The Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund “invested in major U.S. corporations because of commercial reasons. They invested in LIV Golf Investments for a commercial opportunity. They’re passionate about the game of golf,” he said. Norman told Golf Digest it was unfair to criticize the regime in Riyadh “unless you actually go there” before extolling progress on women’s rights: “You walk into a restaurant and there are women. They’re not wearing burkas. They’re out playing golf.” That prompted an editor’s note that quoted from a Human Rights Watch report: “Saudi women still must obtain a male guardian’s approval to get married, leave prison, or obtain certain health care. Women also continue to face discrimination in relation to marriage, family, divorce, and decisions relating to children, including child custody.” Still, whatever happened on Norman’s visit to Washington, he can still count on support from Trump. The former president’s New Jersey golf club hosted one event earlier this summer with plans for more events at the former president’s properties. It usually doesn’t take long for Republicans to follow Trump’s lead. Even if that means landing in the rough. Central banks raise rates again as Fed drives global inflation fight “A host of central banks from across the world raised interest rates again on Thursday, following the U.S. Federal Reserve in a global fight against inflation that is sending shockwaves through financial markets and the economy,” Reuters‘ Francesco Canepa reports. Senate Democrats to press doomed procedural vote on Disclose Act “Democrats in the Senate will try — and probably fail — to advance legislation to provide disclosure of donors to super PACs. None of the bills is expected to reach President Biden’s desk before the midterm elections, but party leaders think that considering them sends an important message,” John Wagner and Azi Paybarah report. No let-up in hostilities in Ukraine despite prisoner swap “Russian and Ukrainian forces exchanged missile and artillery barrages that killed at least six people Thursday as both sides refused to concede any ground despite recent military setbacks for Moscow and the toll on the invaded country after almost seven months of war,” the Associated Press reports. Lunchtime reads from The Post Inside the civil rights campaign to get Big Tech to fight the ‘big lie’ “A coalition of five dozen civil rights organizations is blasting Silicon Valley’s biggest social media companies for not taking more aggressive measures to counter election misinformation on their platforms in the months leading up to November’s midterm elections,” Naomi Nix reports. “Through memos and meetings, the Change the Terms coalition for months had pleaded with Facebook parent Meta, Twitter, TikTok and YouTube to bolster the content moderation systems that it says allowed Trump’s baseless claims about election rigging to spread, setting the groundwork for the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol, according to interviews and private correspondence viewed by The Washington Post. Now, with less than two months before the general election, coalition members say they’ve seen little action from the platforms.” How the NFL blocks Black coaches “In 1989, the Los Angeles Raiders hired Art Shell, who became the first Black head coach in the modern history of the NFL. He is one of 191 people who have been head coaches in the three-plus decades since. A brief uptick of Black coaching hires in the mid-2000s provided hope that racial equity was within reach. But that glimmer of progress was a mirage. In the 33 years since Shell’s hiring, just 24 other head coaches have been Black,” Dave Sheinin, Michael Lee, Emily Giambalvo, Artur Galocha and Clara Ence Morse report. Watchdog group accuses Senate GOP campaign arm of breaking the law “A campaign watchdog group has filed a formal complaint with the Federal Election Commission against the campaign arm of Senate Republicans, accusing the group of breaking federal law by using money that is supposed to be earmarked for legal expenses on campaign ads instead,” the New York Times‘ Shane Goldmacher and Reid J. Epstein report. Biden declares major disaster in Puerto Rico to energize Fiona recovery “President Biden issued a major disaster declaration on Wednesday for Puerto Rico, unlocking additional federal assistance as island residents navigate the aftermath of Hurricane Fiona,” Politico‘s Gloria Gonzalez reports. “The major disaster declaration allows FEMA to directly help individuals pay for temporary housing and home repairs, provide low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses and pay for other programs to help individuals and business owners recover from the storm.” How the gas industry capitalized on the Ukraine war to change Biden policy “The Russian tanks and armored vehicles had barely begun to roll into Ukraine before the fossil fuel industry in the US had swung into action. A letter was swiftly dispatched to the White House, urging an immediate escalation in gas production and exports to Europe ahead of an anticipated energy crunch,” the Guardian‘s Oliver Milman reports. “The letter...

Trump Documents Probe: Court Lifts Hold On Mar-A-Lago Records https://digitalarizonanews.com/trump-documents-probe-court-lifts-hold-on-mar-a-lago-records/ WASHINGTON — In a stark repudiation of Donald Trump’s legal arguments, a federal appeals court on Wednesday permitted the Justice Department to resume its use of classified records seized from the former president’s Florida estate as part of its ongoing criminal investigation. The ruling from a three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit amounts to an overwhelming victory for the Justice Department, clearing the way for investigators to continue scrutinizing the documents as they consider whether to bring criminal charges over the storage of of top-secret records at Mar-a-Lago after Trump left the White House. In lifting a hold on a core aspect of the department’s probe, the court removed an obstacle that could have delayed the investigation by weeks. The appeals court also pointedly noted that Trump had presented no evidence that he had declassified the sensitive records, as he maintained as recently as Wednesday, and rejected the possibility that Trump could have an “individual interest in or need for” the roughly 100 documents with classification markings that were seized by the FBI in its Aug. 8 search of the Palm Beach property. “If you’re the president of the United States, you can declassify just by saying ‘It’s declassified.’ Even by thinking about it…You’re the president, you make that decision,” Trump claimed in a Fox News Channel interview recorded Wednesday before the appeals court ruling. The government had argued that its investigation had been impeded, and national security concerns swept aside, by an order from U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon that temporarily barred investigators from continuing to use the documents in its inquiry. Cannon, a Trump appointee, had said the hold would remain in place pending a separate review by an independent arbiter she had appointed at the Trump team’s request to review the records. The appeals panel agreed with the Justice Department’s concerns. “It is self-evident that the public has a strong interest in ensuring that the storage of the classified records did not result in ‘exceptionally grave damage to the national security,’” they wrote. “Ascertaining that,” they added, “necessarily involves reviewing the documents, determining who had access to them and when, and deciding which (if any) sources or methods are compromised.” An injunction that delayed or prevented the criminal investigation “from using classified materials risks imposing real and significant harm on the United States and the public,” they wrote. Two of the three judges who issued Wednesday’s ruling — Britt Grant and Andrew Brasher — were nominated to the 11th Circuit by Trump. Judge Robin Rosenbaum was nominated by former President Barack Obama. Lawyers for Trump did not return an email seeking comment on whether they would appeal the ruling. The Justice Department did not have an immediate comment. The FBI last month seized roughly 11,000 documents, including about 100 with classification markings, during a court-authorized search of the Palm Beach club. It has launched a criminal investigation into whether the records were mishandled or compromised, though is not clear whether Trump or anyone else will be charged. Cannon ruled on Sept. 5 that she would name an independent arbiter, or special master, to do an independent review of those records and segregate any that may be covered by claims of attorney-client privilege or executive privilege and to determine whether any of the materials should be returned to Trump. Raymond Dearie, the former chief judge of the federal court based in Brooklyn, has been named to the role and held his first meeting on Tuesday with lawyers for both sides. The appeals court ruling appears to substantially narrow the special master’s job description, enabling the Justice Department to avoid providing him with classified documents to review. Instead, Dearie would review the much larger tranche of non-classified government documents. The Justice Department had argued that a special master review of the classified documents was not necessary. It said Trump had no plausible basis to invoke executive privilege over the documents, nor could the records be covered by attorney-client privilege because they do not involve communications between Trump and his lawyers. It had also contested Cannon’s order requiring it to provide Dearie and Trump’s lawyers with access to the classified material. The court sided with the Justice Department on Wednesday, saying “courts should order review of such materials in only the most extraordinary circumstances. The record does not allow for the conclusion that this is such a circumstance.” Though Trump’s lawyers have said a president has absolute authority to declassify information, they have notably stopped short of asserting that the records were declassified. The Trump team this week resisted providing Dearie with any information to support the idea that the records might have been declassified, saying the issue could be part of their defense in the event of an indictment. The Justice Department has said there is no indication that Trump took any steps to declassify the documents and even included a photo in one court filing of some of the seized documents with colored cover sheets indicating their classified status. The appeals court, too, made the same point. “Plaintiff suggests that he may have declassified these documents when he was President. But the record contains no evidence that any of these records were declassified,” the judges wrote. “In any event, at least for these purposes, the declassification argument is a red herring because declassifying an official document would not change its content or render it personal.” Colvin reported from New York. Read More Here

Jan. 6 Committee Announces Its Next — And Possibly Final — Public Hearing Date https://digitalarizonanews.com/jan-6-committee-announces-its-next-and-possibly-final-public-hearing-date/ The House select committee investigating the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol building will hold at least one more public hearing before concluding its work. Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-Mississippi), the chair of the January 6 committee, told reporters on Tuesday that the committee will hold what could be its final public meeting on September 28 at 1 pm Eastern Time. However, the committee may schedule additional hearings if more witnesses come forward with evidence relating to the attack or attempts to overturn the 2020 election, Thompson said. “I can say that unless something else develops, this hearing at this point is the final hearing. But it’s not in stone because things happen,” he explained. According to Thompson, the hearing will include “significant witness testimony” that hasn’t been heard yet, along with previously unaired footage of the attack on the Capitol. Some of the most notable evidence introduced by the committee so far includes behind the scenes footage of former President Donald Trump struggling to condemn the actions of the mob who attacked the Capitol in his name and the testimony of Cassidy Hutchinson, an aide to former chief of staff Mark Meadows who said that Trump was aware that some of the mob was armed as they were marching toward Congress on the morning of January 6. In recent weeks, the work of the January 6 committee has been somewhat overshadowed by the FBI search of Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Florida, last month, which resulted in the retrieval of 11,000 government documents, including more than 100 documents that were marked as classified. But the committee’s work remains ongoing — and the Department of Justice recently requested information obtained by the panel relating to the fake electors plot to overturn the 2020 presidential election, indicating that the committee’s findings have been deemed relevant by investigators within that department. It’s possible that one of the final witnesses to testify in the September 28 hearing will be a critical one: The committee announced on Wednesday that Ginni Thomas, a conservative political activist and wife of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, will soon testify before them. It’s unclear whether Thomas’s testimony will be included in the committee’s final hearing, or, if it is included, whether the testimony will be live or pre-recorded. But it’s likely the committee will inquire about her attempts to convince elections officials in Wisconsin and Arizona to overturn their states’ 2020 presidential outcomes. The committee will also likely question her about text messages she sent to Meadows days after Trump’s loss, encouraging him to press forward with false claims of election fraud in order to overturn the result. Read More Here

Jack And Annie Hoffman – Obituary https://digitalarizonanews.com/jack-and-annie-hoffman-obituary/ Edward J. Petner Funeral Home, LTD Obituary Thanks for loving us! Jack and Annie Hoffman October 10, 1930 – April 12, 2002 May 16, 1938 – July 18, 2022 Annie “X” Hoffman climbed the stairway to heaven after a brief battle with adenocarcinoma. “Sis” Hoffman was preceded in death by her husband John L. “Jack” Hoffman by 20-years. This day we will put two God-fearing, hard-working, humble great Americans to rest in ever-lasting peace in our Washington’s Crossing Pennsylvania national cemetery. Anna Marie Hoffman (nee Xibos) was born in Philadelphia Pennsylvania to first generation American immigrants from Greece and Ireland, John and Anna Marie Xibos (nee Fitzpatrick). When she was 10-years old the family moved to Elkins Park Pennsylvania, where Annie attended St James Catholic School, and in 1956 graduated Cheltenham High School. “Sis” was one of nine Xibos children who enjoyed simple pleasures and fine suburban living in the Xibos house at Old York Road and Elkins Avenue in Elkins Park PA. Annie was preceded in death by her brothers, Patrick of Venice FL and Edward of Jamison PA, and is survived by sisters Mary Spencer of Venice FL, Elizabeth “Betty” Seldes of Morrisville PA, and Brothers John Jr., Augustus “Gus,” of Glenside PA and Martin “Marty” Xibos of Philadelphia PA. Annie and Jack’s children are Anne Marie “Chickie” (Laurence) Kozakowski of Philadelphia PA, and USAF CMSgt (Retired) John L. Jr, of Midland TX. Grandchildren Anne Marie (Ray) Quigley of Hatboro PA, Dr. Michelle (Devin) Christman of Alexandria VA, and USAF Captain Laurence (Jordyn) Kozakowski Jr. currently stationed Cannon AFB NM. Great-grandmother to Riley, and Miles Jack Quigley of Hatboro PA. She also had a special love for and shared many giggles with her nieces and nephews – especially Wendy, Cheryl, Denise, Shelly and Jim Cunningham Jr of Trevose PA. A loving Mother, Grand and Great-grand Mother, a proud homemaker and housewife first, she worked part-time as a Revlon cosmetic saleswoman, a waitress, and school bus driver for Cheltenham township. Her volunteer work with hospice caring for and feeding aging family members, friends, neighbors and seniors brought her the most joy. Her closest friends were her fun-loving, line-dancing, boot-scootin’ seniors of the local VFW and American Legion. She also thoroughly enjoyed travelling the world to visit her many relatives and cousins in Greece and Ireland, and often visiting her far-a-flung Airman son John. Even in her death she proved she cared for others more than herself by donating her body to science. John L “Jack” Hoffman also died from cancer, specifically complications from lung cancer in 2002. Jack also was born in Philadelphia to John L, and Ella F Hoffman (nee Frank). His family moved to the McKinley section of Abington township when as a young man tragedy struck, and his father killed in a 1938 automobile accident. A few years later Jack dropped out of the 5th grade at McKinley school to help provide for his family, where he became the hard-scrabble, no-nonsense survivor we all grew to love. Jack was preceded in death by his brothers William of Williamstown NJ and Donald of Hatfield PA, and survived by the now deceased sisters Elizabeth “Rene” (Buckwalter) of Mesa AZ, Mary (Cunningham) of Trevose PA and brother Raymond of Abington PA. Proud father to “Chickie” and John, and Grandfather to Anne Marie, Dr. Michelle and USAF Captain Larry Kozakowski Jr. Jack worked any and all jobs he could to live the American dream and was in his words: “a jack of all trades, master of none!” He was a long-time press operator at the Northwood rubber company in Philadelphia, a 20-plus year employee and eventual Manager of the Old York Road Skating Club in Elkins Park PA, before joining and retiring from the Cheltenham Township School District as a painter and maintenance man. He proudly served 4-years in the US Naval Reserve Willow Grove NAS, before joining the US Marine Corps for 2-years during the Korean conflict. He was formally trained as an aircraft mechanic on the Vought F4U Corsair and honorably discharged as a Corporal USMC in 1952. Jack also served his community for several years as a volunteer firefighter, driver and pump operator for the Ogontz fire company in Elkins Park PA. Annie and Jack simply ask you carry-on, believe-in and spread the good fortune of the American dream; where faith, unselfish hard-work, and love of mankind make our Country like no other on this planet. They watch over and protect us patiently waiting our arrival and wish “God be with you till we meet again.” Relatives and friends are welcome to a brief Honors Ceremony for Jack and Annie prior to their Internment at the Washington’s Crossing National Cemetery, 830 Highland Rd, Newtown PA 18940. Line-up behind the hearse at 11:15 AM for an 11:30 AM sharp ceremony start. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the fight against cancer in their honor. Go to the American Cancer Society webpage The American Cancer Society (acsevents.org) and search for Annie and Jack’s Cancer Fight Fund. Read More Read More Here

David Archuleta Debuts New Single & Holiday Tour Dates https://digitalarizonanews.com/david-archuleta-debuts-new-single-holiday-tour-dates/ David Archuleta who made his first major foray into professional musical theater this summer starring as Joseph in the Andrew Lloyd Weber (Phantom of The Opera) and Tim Rice (Beauty and the Beast) musical, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat has released the official video for his latest single, “Faith in Me.” “Faith in Me” is the first taste of new music from David since having vocal cord surgery earlier this year and by far one of his more personal songs to date as he states here, “”Faith In Me” is about escaping and leaving all your worries behind and just going for a new adventure. Not caring about what anyone thinks- letting go and taking off. We actually re-wrote the song to accommodate where I’m at now as we originally began writing it before I came out. In the end, the main objective was to just go forward with someone and not care what anyone thinks. The sentiment is more than a specific stor.” says David. Video directors Kevin McHale and Justin Thorne stated, “We wanted to create an environment for David to perform freely. To evoke that emotional experience when you’re alone and excited and there’s no one watching. That definitely came out in his performance.” David’s 2021 album Therapy Sessions featured an inside look into David’s internal struggle with himself – a battle he has experienced for most of his life. “I was going through therapy and trying to apply the steps it took to escape the barriers I had created for myself,” he explains. “Whether it was fear, loss, dwelling on the past, or anxiety. There’s a constant battle going on because so much of my mind doesn’t want to budge. The songs are a sort of a back and forth within the inner dialogue I have with myself.” This new body of work represents a transparency that has not been present in previous releases. Music has always been healing for me,” Archuleta goes on to say. “My mission with it is to heal, and then encourage to move forward after the healing takes place. I want people to find answers to their worries and doubts as they listen to Therapy Sessions .” In addition, David has announced he will hit the road his “The More The Merrier” Christmas tour beginning November 18 performing many of the seasonal gems from his two holiday releases, Christmas from the Heart & Winter in the Air. Link to purchase tickets HERE. David will also be featured on award-winning pop-violinst Lindsey Stirling’s forthcoming holiday album, Snow Waltz (Oct. 7). David lends his crystalline vocals on the uplifting ballad, “Magic,” which was sparked from a profound moment of Stirling’s life, when her sisters and mom shared loving and fun memories around her father’s passing. Watch the new music video here: “The More The Merrier” Christmas Tour Dates 11/18/22 Tuacahn Center for the Arts – Ivins, UT 11/19/22 Tuacahn Center for the Arts – Ivins, UT 11/25/22 Capitol Theatre – Salt Lake City, UT 11/26/22 L.E and Thelma E. Stephens Performing Arts Center – Pocatello, ID 11/29/22 Delta High School – Delta, UT 11/30/22 Logan High Auditorium – Logan, UT 12/14/22 Manti Theater – Manti, UT 12/15/22 Blanding High School Theater – Blanding, UT 12/17/22 Artemus W. Ham Concert Hall – Las Vegas, NV 12/19/2022 Antone’s – Austin, TX 12/20/22 Arlington Music Hall – Arlington, TX 12/21/2022 House of Blues – Houston, TX 12/22/22 Rialto Theatre – Tucson, AZ 12/23/22 Chandler Center for the Arts – Chandler, AZ Read More Here

Throwing A Party? Let Az Bounce Bring The Fun And Az Letters Do The Decor! https://digitalarizonanews.com/throwing-a-party-let-az-bounce-bring-the-fun-and-az-letters-do-the-decor/ Az Bounce & Co and Az Letters & Co are paid sponsors of Sonoran Living AZ Bounce & Co is Arizona’s Modern Bounce house company. We offer modern bounce houses for any occasion and stylist celebrations. Serving areas in Phoenix, Scottsdale, Gilbert, Paradise Valley, Chandler & surrounding cities. Our goal is to redefine style, fashion, and luxury at your event by taking creativity to a whole different level. Let our bounce house make a statement at your next event! The Az Letters Co. offers luxury hand crafted marquee letters. Our collection is suitable for all ages and for occasions, weddings, gender reveals, baby showers, bridal showers, holidays, graduations… YOU NAME IT! We do it all! Light up your next event with Az Letters & Co. Az Bounce & Co. Get $25 off your next event (480) 939-1852 or AzBounce.co Az Letters & Co. Get 15% off your event (602) 930-6347 or AzLettersco.com 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…

Trump Docs Probe: Court Lifts Hold On Mar-A-Lago Records – WVUA 23 https://digitalarizonanews.com/trump-docs-probe-court-lifts-hold-on-mar-a-lago-records-wvua-23/ trump investigation WASHINGTON (AP) – A federal appeals court has lifted a judge’s hold on the Justice Department’s ability to use classified records seized from former President Donald Trump’s Florida estate in its ongoing criminal investigation. The ruling Wednesday from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit in Atlanta clears the way for investigators to continue scrutinizing the documents as they evaluate whether to bring criminal charges over the storage of top-secret government records at Mar-a-Lago. The court notes that Trump presented no evidence that he had declassified the sensitive records. And it is rejecting the possibility that Trump could have an “individual interest in or need for” the roughly 100 documents marked as classified. (Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.) 9/22/2022 7:21:56 AM (GMT -5:00) Read More Here

Analysis | Trump’s All-Powerful Brain Can Reshape His Wealth Or National Security https://digitalarizonanews.com/analysis-trumps-all-powerful-brain-can-reshape-his-wealth-or-national-security/ There are three possible reasons that Fox News host Sean Hannity isn’t embarrassed by how sycophantic and useless his on-air conversations with Donald Trump are.. The first possibility is that he’s simply so mired in the false presentation of the world that he’s helped to create that he doesn’t even realize how all of his jumping-off points for questions to the former president are themselves imaginary. Like Trump, Hannity litters his comments with shorthand references to things that others immersed in the same media world understand without explication: bought-and-paid-for dossier, BleachBit, Hunter Biden’s laptop. Each of those unpacks into its own universe of allegations and fears for Hannity viewers, and he uses them to heighten the conspiratorial flavor of any new topic the way one might compare a disliked boss to Attila the Hun. But, importantly, those shorthands are never reexamined; Hannity’s questions are simply built on top of a foundation of sand. Then there’s the possibility that Hannity knows that he’s simply serving as an appendage of Trump’s communications team. That, fretting perpetually about viewership numbers, he knows he ought to dance with the feller that brung him. He has accepted that his job is not one in true proximity to journalism but, instead, it’s to help push forward this great, sluggish machine that is the Donald Trump worldview. He weaves those shorthands into his patter in the way that the spokesperson for the sanitation department refers to the trash can in his kitchen as a litter basket. Someone once described former NBC commentator Chris Matthews’s interviewing style to me as: “Here’s what I think. What do you think of what I think?” As I’ve noted before, Hannity’s style with Trump is a variant of that: “Here’s what you think. What do you think of what you think?” It served him well for the past four years and he sticks with it. But then there’s the third option: that Hannity is slowly trying to undercut Trump from the inside. That he is keeping his enemy closer. That he manifests as a lunkish hanger-on so that he can get Trump feeling loose and at ease. And then — without Trump or anyone else noticing — he gently leads the former president to the precipice. Gets him to say stuff like this, from Hannity’s interview with Trump that aired on Wednesday night: “If you’re the president of the United States, you can declassify just by saying, ‘it’s declassified.’ Even by thinking about it, because you’re sending it to Mar-a-Lago or to wherever you’re sending it.” This unique explanation of the presidential declassification power came in response to Hannity’s pressing Trump to explain how it worked. This has come up a lot recently, as Trump and his allies emphasize that the dozens of documents with classification markings found at Mar-a-Lago when the FBI searched it last month had, in fact, been previously declassified. This is irrelevant to the legal questions at issue, mind you, but Trump and his allies understand that hoarding classified material is much more immediately tangible to a layperson than questions about the Presidential Records Act. So Trump and his team have said they were declassified, citing various putative mechanisms under which that happened, and Hannity asked. And Trump declared that the act of thinking about sending a classified document to a place where it didn’t belong functionally counted as declassification. For perhaps obvious reasons this is not how it works. There is a process for declassification that needs to be followed simply because it is not the case that the president is the only person using this material. If a president thought declassifies a report on CIA torture programs, that’s technically now available for public consumption, according to Trump. But I suspect that the CIA would prefer there be something in writing before they started handing out copies. Put another way, Trump’s presentation of declassification here is one that is entirely dependent on this particular use case: clearing something that he will have in his possession. There’s no other context in which declassifying-by-mind-control makes sense as a useful governmental function, which is why no one has ever before claimed that this is how it works. But there’s another interesting parallel here worth elevating. The first softball Hannity tossed to the former president dealt with the announcement earlier in the day that the New York attorney general was suing Trump, three of his adult children and his company for fraudulent business practices. The central allegation is that the Trump Organization, with its executives’ blessing, misrepresented the value of different properties depending on who was requesting the information. The idea was that property values, like classification status, depended on what Trump needed them to be in the moment. If he wanted a loan, the lawsuit suggests, he might decide to inflate the value of his properties to imply that he had a more robust base of collateral. If he got caught with material marked TOP SECRET, he might announce that he had the power to declassify that document with his mind. One of the first presentations Trump made to the public as a candidate leveraged this same technique, in fact. When he announced his candidacy for the presidency in 2015, he released a document detailing his net worth. But that document included vague, subjective declarations like that his brand was worth billions of dollars. This comported with his past representations. In 2011, CNN reported that during a deposition Trump had been asked how he determined his net worth. “My net worth fluctuates,” he said, “and it goes up and down with the markets and with attitudes and with feelings, even my own feelings, but I try.” His feelings affect his net worth? Sure, why not. There may be a reason for Trump’s reliance on his own brain to surmount reality. His father was a close friend of Norman Vincent Peale, whose book “The Power Of Positive Thinking” became a bestseller when Trump was young. In 2015, Trump biographer Gwenda Blair outlined how Peale’s rhetoric had seemingly been internalized by Donald Trump. He regularly credited his positive outlook for his success. Mind over matter. Hoping over valuations. Thinking over declassification processes. True to form, Hannity didn’t press Trump on the obviously weird declassification assertion. Anyone else would have noted that this defied both reason and the presentations of people better versed in declassification. But Hannity next interjected not to question the Power of Positive Thinking About Classification Status but, instead, to help Trump over a rough patch in the former president’s riffs. The safest bet on the reason Hannity approaches his interviews with Trump the way he does, of course, remains the first one I listed. Read More Here

US Appeals Court Allows DOJ To Resume Examination Of Documents Seized From Trump Mar-A-Lago Search https://digitalarizonanews.com/us-appeals-court-allows-doj-to-resume-examination-of-documents-seized-from-trump-mar-a-lago-search/ The US Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit Wednesday held that the Department of Justice (DOJ) can resume its examination of classified documents seized from former President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago, Florida, residence. The court’s ruling stayed a September 5 preliminary injunction from a Florida federal district judge overseeing the criminal probe. The court held that the DOJ can resume its examination of the classified documents and is not required to submit the documents to the recently-appointed special master for review. The DOJ’s criminal probe seeks to determine who accessed the classified materials, whether any particular classified materials were compromised and whether additional classified materials are unaccounted for—among other things. In its holding, the court found that the district court erred in determining that Trump had an interest and possession of the classified documents. The court found that Trump “has not even attempted to show that he has a need to know the information contained in the classified documents. Nor has he established that the current administration has waived that requirement for these documents.” The court also dismissed Trump’s claims that he declassified the documents prior to the FBI raid of Mar-a-Lago, finding there was no evidence of declassification. The court also dismissed the district court’s concern over the potential for prosecution if the DOJ continued to examine the classified documents. The court held that such concerns did not rise to a sufficient level to issue an injunction. Additionally, the court noted that the portion of the preliminary injunction that allowed for the DOJ to examine the classified documents for national security, but not criminal, purposes was untenable. The court found that, in this case, national security concerns are inextricably intertwined with the DOJ’s criminal probe into Trump’s possession of the documents. Read More Here

Ukraine Welcomes Home 'heroes' After Prisoner Swap; Russian Mobilization Sparks Anti-War Protests https://digitalarizonanews.com/ukraine-welcomes-home-heroes-after-prisoner-swap-russian-mobilization-sparks-anti-war-protests-2/ Anti-war protests have erupted in Russia after President Vladimir Putin announced a partial mobilization of the country’s military that will see 300,000 reservists sent to war in Ukraine. Ten prisoners of war from five countries, including the U.S. and U.K., have been released after being detained in Russian-held areas of Ukraine on Wednesday as part of a wider prisoner exchange between the warring countries in which several hundred Ukrainian soldiers were exchanged for Russian troops. The prisoner exchange was something of a surprise on a day when tensions between Russia and the West rose even higher after Putin announced the partial mobilization and again blamed the West for the conflict in Ukraine. Following Putin’s announcement, President Joe Biden called on the U.N. General Assembly on Wednesday to stand in solidarity with Ukraine and oppose Russian aggression, condemning the Kremlin’s invasion as an attack on the global body’s founding principles. Blinken to meet with Chinese counterpart at U.N. as Beijing signals discomfort with Russia’s war China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi at a meeting in Bali on July 9, 2022. China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Monday that the South China Sea is not a “safari park” for countries outside the region or a “fighting arena” for major powers to compete in. Stefani Reynolds | Afp | Getty Images U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken will meet with his Chinese counterpart on the sidelines of the 77th United Nations General Assembly. The meeting between Blinken and Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi comes as the Biden administration works to deter governments from providing assistance to the Kremlin for its fight in Ukraine. Washington has long voiced concerns about Beijing’s alignment with Moscow and the possibility that the world’s second-largest economy may attempt to help Russia blunt punishing global sanctions. Russian President Vladimir Putin recently said China, one of the few global powers not to condemn the Kremlin’s aggression, had “questions and concerns” about the war. — Amanda Macias Ukrainian forces find large Russian ammo stocks after troop withdrawals Photos show ammunition belonging to Russian forces after they withdrew from the village of Nova Husarivka in Balakliya, Kharkiv Oblast. Ukrainian forces found a large amount of ammunition belonging to the Russian forces during their searches in the village. ( Metin Atkas | Anadolu Agency | Getty Images A photo shows control point belonging to the Russian forces after Russian forces withdrew at the village of Nova Gusarivka as Russia-Ukraine war continues in Balakliya, Kharkiv Oblast on Ukraine on September 21, 2022.  Metin Atkas | Anadolu Agency | Getty Images  Ukrainian forces found a large amount of ammunition belonging to the Russian forces during their searches in the village. (Photo by Metin Aktas/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images) Metin Atkas | Anadolu Agency | Getty Images A photo shows military uniforms, lunch boxes and a large number of ammunitions belonging to the Russian forces after Russian forces withdrew at the village of Nova Gusarivka as Russia-Ukraine war continues in Balakliya, Kharkiv Oblast on Ukraine on September 21, 2022. Metin Atkas | Anadolu Agency | Getty Images — Metin Atkas | Anadolu Agency | Getty Images UK says Putin’s war call-up likely an admission Russia has exhausted supply of willing volunteers Russian President Vladimir Putin attends a meeting with heads of the country’s leading engineering schools and their industrial partners in the city of Veliky Novgorod, Russia, September 21, 2022. Gavriil Grigorov | Sputnik | via Reuters Britain’s Defense Ministry says Russian President Vladimir Putin’s order to mobilize more troops “is effectively an admission that Russia has exhausted its supply of willing volunteers to fight in Ukraine.” In its daily intelligence update posted via Twitter, the U.K. Ministry of Defense says it expects the Kremlin “to struggle with the logistical and administrative challenges” of mustering an additional 300,000 personnel for the Ukraine war. “Putin is accepting considerable political risk in the hope of generating much needed combat power,” the ministry said. — Sam Meredith Finland says traffic arriving at Russia border increased overnight Cars with Russian number plates wait to cross the Nuijamaa border crossing between Finland and Russia in Lappeenranta, Finland, on September 19, 2022. Lauri Heino | AFP | Getty Images The Finnish Border Guard said traffic at the country’s eastern border with Russia “intensified” overnight, Reuters reported, following President Vladimir Putin’s order to mobilize more troops for the Ukraine war. “The number has clearly picked up,” Matti Pitkaniitty, the Finnish Border Guard’s head of international affairs, told Reuters. He added that the situation was under control and border guards were ready at nine checkpoints. Prices of one-way flights out of Russia surged after Putin announced a partial mobilization of the country’s military and images on social media appeared to show long queues at border posts. — Sam Meredith ‘Our heroes are free’: Ukraine rejoices at release of prisoners Russia and Ukraine exchanged 200 prisoners of war on September 21, 2022 as a result of Turkiye’s mediation and diplomatic traffic conducted with the leaders of the two countries, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced. Security Service of Ukraine | Anadolu Agency | Getty Images Ukraine’s top officials are hailing the release of several hundred Ukrainian fighters as part of a prisoner swap with Russia that took place on Wednesday. “President Volodymyr Zelenskyy set a clear task: to return our heroes.  The result: our heroes are free,” the head of President Zelenskyy’s office Andrii Yermak said on Telegram last night. Over 200 Ukrainian prisoners were swapped for 55 Russian troops and a pro-Kremlin Ukrainian politician as well as 10 foreign prisoners of war who had been fighting in Ukraine. Yermak said that among the Ukrainian prisoners freed there were “soldiers, border guards, policemen, sailors, national guardsmen, territorial defense fighters, customs officers, civilians.” “Among them are officers, commanders, heroes of Ukraine, defenders of ‘Azovstal’ [a steelworks complex in Mariupol defended by Ukrainian fighters during a long seige] and pregnant military women,” he added. Russia and Ukraine exchanged prisoners of war on September 21, 2022. Anadolu Agency | Anadolu Agency | Getty Images “This is a tremendous success and I am grateful to everyone involved in this operation – everyone who has done this titanic work.  I sincerely congratulate our heroes on their return home.  We will provide them with all the necessary help – medical, social and any other,” he said. He added that the 10 foreign fighters were in the city of Riyadh in Saudi Arabia, which helped brokered their release, before they travel home to their respective home countries. — Holly Ellyatt Over 1,300 detained in nationwide anti-war protests Police officers detain a man following calls to protest against partial mobilisation announced by Russian President, in Moscow, on September 21, 2022. Alexander Nemenov | AFP | Getty Images More than 1,300 people have been arrested in Russia following nationwide protests over President Vladimir Putin’s decision to mobilize more troops for the war in Ukraine. Around 1,307 people were detained in 39 cities across the country, according to the independent human rights group OVD-Info. The largest numbers were arrested in the capital city of Moscow (at least 527) and St. Petersburg (at least 480). — Sam Meredith Foreign fighters freed after significant prisoner exchange Ten prisoners of war from five countries, including the U.S. and U.K., have been released after being detained in Russian-held areas of Ukraine on Wednesday as part of a wider prisoner exchange. The prisoner swap came after Saudi Arabia brokered a deal between Russia and Ukraine, the Saudi government said in a statement. The deal saw 10 prisoners of war — Moroccan, U.S., U.K. and Swedish and Croatian nationals — exchanged as part of a larger prisoner swap between Moscow and Kyiv. Some of the POWs had been put on “trial” in courts set up by Russian-backed separatists in Ukraine and had been told they faced the death penalty for fighting in Ukraine. Russia and Ukraine exchanged around 200 prisoners of war on Sept. 21, 2022. Anadolu Agency | Anadolu Agency | Getty Images As part of a wider prisoner exchange also brokered by Turkey, Russia exchanged 215 Ukrainian soldiers, including those who were holed up in the Azovstal steelworks complex in Mariupol in a long-running siege in the early stages of the conflict, for 55 Russian soldiers and a pro-Kremlin Ukrainian politician and oligarch, Viktor Medvechuk. Ukraine’s President Zelenskyy’s Telegram channel hailed the exchange on Thursday, saying “a total of 215 heroes” were finally coming home after being detained by Russian-backed forces in Ukraine. There have been reports of torture and mistreatment while in captivity although Russia denies these. Russia and Ukraine exchanged around 200 prisoners of war on September 21, 2022. Anadolu Agency | Anadolu Agency | Getty Images “Exchange has just finished. We are bringing our people home. This is definitely a victory for our state, for our entire society. And most importantly – for 215 families who will be able to see their loved ones in safety. “We remember all our people and try to save every Ukrainian. This is the meaning of Ukraine, our essence, this is what distinguishes us from the enemy. We value every life! And we will definitely do everything to save everyone...

Stock Market News Today: Dow Drops 100 Points; Currencies Swing As Fed Rate Hike Prompts Others To Move https://digitalarizonanews.com/stock-market-news-today-dow-drops-100-points-currencies-swing-as-fed-rate-hike-prompts-others-to-move/ About this page Last Updated: Sep 22, 2022 at 10:45 am ET Follow The Wall Street Journal’s full markets coverage, a day after the Federal Reserve raised interest rates again. Read More Here

Tracking Invest 98-L: Will System Pose Threat To Florida? https://digitalarizonanews.com/tracking-invest-98-l-will-system-pose-threat-to-florida/ Tracking Invest 98-L: Will system pose threat to Florida? Hi there. Thanks for checking out the latest on the tropics here on west dot com. I’m first warning meteorologist eric burris. Let’s get right to invest 98. This is *** storm system that is struggling with *** capital s there It is. Where? Right. Well, last night when I was tracking it on Western news at 11, it came ashore here in South America and spent *** good part of the night over land. It’s starting to come back out around the abc islands around Caracas and little by little. It will make its way into more favorable territory, warm waters, lower wind shear, but about the next 12 to 24 hours time that wind shear will be their latest in the hurricane center. Is that There’s *** high likelihood that this gets going. *** 70% likelihood in two days time. *** 90% likelihood in five days time. Okay, gradual development could become *** tropical depression over the next couple of days and then of course *** tropical storm and then *** hurricane. Speaking of that, here’s the intensity models. Okay, so they’re all really in agreement with through the weekend, keeping it relatively weak. But by Monday Tuesday, that’s when the models are going to start to strengthening. So where is it during those time frames? Well, let’s look at the model comparisons together, shall we on the left, you’re gonna have the european model on the right, You’re gonna have the GFS model. Okay, so there’s saturday. Let’s just roll right through getting you to sunday. Okay, we’ll back it up just *** little bit for for discussion sake. So there’s sunday. I want to point out that the two models are starting to show difference of opinion. The GFS wants to try and develop it *** little quicker. You can see those orange shades are getting in *** strong tropical storm force winds, whereas the european south of Jamaica on sunday says it’s probably still winds of about 30 35 miles an hour. Okay, continuing through time, there’s monday 12 30 both storms gradually increasing the Euro around the Caymans, the GFS *** bit further south. All right, let’s continue through time, Tuesday. Both models showing *** hurricane forming, but the GFS is approaching Cancun, whereas the european is getting up toward cuba. This is obviously where things differ because by 9:30 a.m. On Wednesday, you’ve got the GFS around Mexico, the european leaving cuba and approaching the florida coastline. And then of course from there, 6:30 a.m. thursday florida’s west coast would be tracking *** hurricane. Whereas with the GFS wins out, it’s just re emerging into the gulf of Mexico and then eventually tries to recurve anywhere from about Louisiana off toward the east. So the two models are varying significantly in opinion. This if there’s one thing that I hope to impress upon you, it’s that this is our timeline next couple of days land interaction and wind shear is going to keep it week. So it’s not like it’s going to get explosive and intensity any time soon. Late this week though, like I know we’re in thursday, but like friday saturday, that’s when we’re going to start to see this trying to develop and I would say by sunday given its position expectation sunday, that’s when we should start to have *** pretty decent idea of where it goes. And again, you know, where would it be on sunday if we just use the two models? Let’s just back this up by sunday. That’s when the models are starting to show that intensification. Right? So by sunday you’re talking about *** storm system somewhere past Jamaica around the Caymans. That’s when we’re going to start because computer models really struggle with development and forecasting when there’s nothing there, right? Makes sense garbage data in garbage data out. Okay, so it’s definitely something to watch very closely. What about the timing of this? Let’s take *** look hour by hour at the computer forecast models. Okay, so let’s just roll through time. Here’s the spaghetti plots that everybody loves saturday into sunday. There you go. I’ll back it up just *** little bit to make it *** bit more of *** round number. Here’s saturday morning, 11 am around Jamaica, saturday afternoon, into sunday, there’s two p.m. Sunday around the Caymans, right then from there getting closer to cuba by about monday afternoon and then just kind of continuing from there, here’s Tuesday afternoon emerging into the gulf of Mexico and you can kind of see from there, you know, where do the models take it right there’s Wednesday 10 a.m. Into the gulf. *** lot of the models wanting to make *** hard right turn Wednesday night into thursday and then of course it’s, it’s really *** thursday impact somewhere. Um I I want to pause for *** moment from the actual model data. I saw this meme and I, the idea of sharing *** meme online certainly isn’t *** normal thing, but I think that this really tells the story. If you’re highlighted in yellow, you might get *** hurricane. If you’re highlighted in yellow, you might not get *** hurricane. It’s cheesy. I know, but it’s important to remember that in terms of this storm system, we are still seven days out right? Like the models aren’t no matter what direction they go. The models aren’t showing development and intensification until this weekend and they’re not showing landfall until like next thursday, there’s *** lot of model runs between now and thursday, there’s *** lot that’s going to change. I like to call it the windshield wiper effect on the computer forecast models. They’re going to go left, they’re going to go right, you’re going to see many different solutions and some of them are gonna look more scary than others. Right? But just stay tuned stay dialed into the models okay and we’ll keep you up to date. But for now there it is. The storm system just offshore of south America will be working through the caribbean in some of the most potent energy filled water in the entire basin. From there. When you put *** storm in the Gulf of Mexico, that’s, of course where it gets to be concerning. Stay with the West to around the clock. For updates, I will have *** live update on our social channels at 3:30 PM. Take care. GET LOCAL BREAKING NEWS ALERTS The latest breaking updates, delivered straight to your email inbox. Privacy Notice Tracking Invest 98-L: Will system pose threat to Florida? ABOVE: Take a look at the model comparisons to see when and how this may impact Florida WESH 2 meteorologists are keeping a close eye on a tropical disturbance in the Southeast Caribbean Sea.As of Thursday morning, upper-level winds were inhibiting development, but the upper-level wind pattern ahead of the system is forecast to become a little more favorable in a couple of days.The system is given a 70% chance of development in the next 48 hours and a 90% chance of development in the next five days. “We still need to watch this storm very closely,” WESH 2 meteorologist Kellianne Klass said. “The general path still looks the same: into the Gulf and potentially impacts Florida, but the exact path is still unknown. Our two major models are still swapping between the panhandle and the peninsula. Either way, we are expecting this storm to strengthen. Models are also different on the timing. GFS is now slower, while the Euro is still looking like the mid-week/end of workweek timeframe.”Meanwhile, Hurricane Fiona is drifting through the Atlantic as a major Category 4 storm. And Tropical Storm Gaston is not expected to pose a threat to land.KNOW WHAT TO DO WHEN A HURRICANE WATCH IS ISSUEDStay tuned to WESH 2 News, WESH.COM, or NOAA Weather Radio for storm updates.Prepare to bring inside any lawn furniture, outdoor decorations or ornaments, trash cans, hanging plants, and anything else that can be picked up by the wind.Understand hurricane forecast models and cones.Prepare to cover all windows of your home. If shutters have not been installed, use precut plywood.Check batteries and stock up on canned food, first-aid supplies, drinking water, and medications.The WESH 2 First Warning Weather Team recommends you have these items ready before the storm strikes.Bottled water: One gallon of water per person per dayCanned food and soup, such as beans and chiliCan opener for the cans without the easy-open lidsAssemble a first-aid kitTwo weeks’ worth of prescription medicationsBaby/children’s needs, such as formula and diapersFlashlight and batteriesBattery-operated weather radioWHAT TO DO WHEN A HURRICANE WARNING IS ISSUEDListen to the advice of local officials. If you are advised to evacuate, leave.Complete preparation activitiesIf you are not advised to evacuate, stay indoors, away from windows.Be alert for tornadoes. Tornadoes can happen during a hurricane and after it passes over. Remain indoors, in the center of your home, in a closet or bathroom without windows.HOW YOUR SMARTPHONE CAN HELP DURING A HURRICANEA smartphone can be your best friend in a hurricane — with the right websites and apps, you can turn it into a powerful tool for guiding you through a storm’s approach, arrival and aftermath.Download the WESH 2 News app for iOS | AndroidEnable emergency alerts — if you have an iPhone, select settings, then go into notifications. From there, look for government alerts and enable emergency alerts.If you have an Android phone, from the home page of the app, scroll to the right along the bottom and click on “settings.” On the settings menu, click on “severe weather alerts.” From the menu, select from most severe, moderate-severe, or all alerts.PET AND ANIMAL SAFETYYour pet should be a part of your family plan. If you must evacuate, the most important thing you can do to protect your pets is to evacuate them too. Leaving pets behind, even if you try to create a safe space for them, could result in injury or death.Contact hotels and motels outside of y...

COVID-19 Relief Funds Paid For Crime Surveillance And More In Arizona https://digitalarizonanews.com/covid-19-relief-funds-paid-for-crime-surveillance-and-more-in-arizona/ Mesa allocated $3.3 million of federal pandemic relief funds to create a citywide crime surveillance program called the Real Time Crime Center. The center allows officers to use security cameras on roads and in public spaces to have virtual eyes around the city. How it works: Detective Richard Encinas tells Axios Phoenix the center is used to deliver information to police in real time, allowing them to quickly identify and apprehend criminals and respond to “suspicious activity.” He says center operators witnessed a serious rollover vehicle accident at the intersection of Stapley Drive and Southern Avenue recently and were able to deploy police and fire officials to the scene before a witness called in the accident, saving “precious minutes.” Glendale operates a similar program. Mesa’s Real Time Crime Center. Photos: City of Mesa State of play: Mesa is one of hundreds of cities across the nation, including many others in Arizona, that are using some of the funds they received from the American Rescue Plan Act to supplement their law enforcement operations. Cities and counties across the country received $350 billion total through ARPA and have allocated about $101 billion so far. The money was meant to help alleviate the impacts of the pandemic, but few limitations were put on local governments, so municipalities are using it for a range of projects, Axios Phoenix found through a partnership with the Marshall Project. Zoom in: Many Arizona cities allocated the funds to pay for police officer salaries or bonuses. Phoenix dedicated $29 million for up to $2,000 in bonuses for full-time essential employees, including officers. Chandler allocated $750,00 toward hiring incentives for sworn police officers, detention officers and dispatchers. Scottsdale plans to spend all $29 million it received to pay for police and fire operations. Zoom out: A new Marshall Project report found that localities across the country have allocated around $52.6 billion so far for “revenue replacement,” a vague catch-all category. Nearly half of that went to projects that mentioned police, law enforcement, courts, jails and prisons. Between the lines: President Biden is embracing the law enforcement spending and using it as evidence that Democrats don’t want to defund the police. Of note: Cities and counties also allocated hundreds of millions of dollars on other categories that don’t directly relate to the pandemic. Phoenix will spend up to $10 million on the rehabilitation of its 27th Avenue Recycling Facility. Maricopa County allocated $3 million to improve drinking water infrastructure at county parks. Support local journalism by becoming a member. Learn more More Phoenix stories No stories could be found Get a free daily digest of the most important news in your backyard with Axios Phoenix. Support local journalism by becoming a member. Learn more Read More Here

Trump Claims U.S. President Can Declassify Documents 'even By Thinking About It' https://digitalarizonanews.com/trump-claims-u-s-president-can-declassify-documents-even-by-thinking-about-it/ Trump claims U.S. president can declassify documents ‘even by thinking about it’ | CBC.ca Loaded Trump claims U.S. president can declassify documents ‘even by thinking about it’ Read More Here

Trump Claims Presidents Can Declassify Material By 'thinking About It' https://digitalarizonanews.com/trump-claims-presidents-can-declassify-material-by-thinking-about-it/ Former President Donald claimed on Wednesday that he declassified the material taken during an FBI raid of his Florida home. In an interview with Fox News’ Sean Hannity, Trump claimed that presidents have declassification authority— even without going through a process. “If you’re the president of the United States, you can declassify just by saying, ‘it’s declassified,’ even by thinking about it,” Trump said. Trump is under federal investigation for storing top-secret government documents at his Mar-a-Lago home. On Wednesday, an appeals court said the Department of justice could resume scrutinizing classified material seized from Trump’s home. That part of the investigation had been on hold due to a ruling by a judge in a lower court. According to The Associated Press, the appeals court noted that there was no evidence that Trump had declassified the seized records. Copyright 2022 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Sign up for the Breaking News Newsletter and receive up to date information. Read More Here

Exclusive: New Book Reveals Trump's Business Practices Included Once Being Paid With Gold Bars – ABC17NEWS https://digitalarizonanews.com/exclusive-new-book-reveals-trumps-business-practices-included-once-being-paid-with-gold-bars-abc17news/ By Jeremy Herb, CNN Former President Donald Trump’s business practices included some eyebrow-raising moments, such as once being paid with gold bars that were wheeled into his Trump Tower apartment, according to reporting obtained by CNN from a forthcoming book by New York Times reporter Maggie Haberman. Haberman reveals new details about Trump’s business dealings in the New York City real estate world and beyond, from a veiled threat to the owner of a magazine preparing to report on his inflated net worth to an acknowledgment that his businesses had to sometimes interact with the mob, according to the reporting obtained by CNN. Separately, Trump’s other business practices are now under renewed and intense scrutiny in the wake of the New York attorney general’s sweeping lawsuit, announced Wednesday, against Trump, some of his children and his company alleging scores of fraudulent financial activities that the former President used to enrich himself. In one striking episode, Haberman writes that Trump would occasionally receive portions of lease payments in cash, including when a leaseholder once sent Trump a box of dozens of gold bricks to cover the cash portion of the lease on the parking garage in the General Motors building in Manhattan, which Trump purchased in 1998. Trump told aides he didn’t know what to do with the gold bars, according to Haberman. He ultimately directed Matt Calamari, a onetime security guard who became chief operating officer in the Trump Organization, to wheel the bars up to his apartment in Trump Tower. It’s not clear what happened to the gold bricks. A lawyer for Calamari declined to comment, and Haberman writes that Trump called it “a fantasy question.” Haberman’s book, “Confidence Man: The Making of Donald Trump and the Breaking of America,” is being released on October 4. It includes an examination of Trump’s journey through the New York business world as well as his presidency and the aftermath of his 2020 loss to Joe Biden. Haberman, a CNN political analyst, is a longtime New York-based reporter who has worked for both of the city’s tabloid newspapers, and she covered Trump’s 2016 and 2020 campaigns and the Trump White House for the New York Times. Haberman writes that Trump’s financial situation at his company was often more precarious than people realized, according to former officials. At one point, Trump was said to have borrowed several million dollars from Trump Organization executive George Ross, according to Haberman. Ross acknowledged to the author that he loaned Trump money, but insisted it was to “cover a situation that was disposed of very quickly” and not for payroll expenses. In another episode, Haberman writes that Trump was said to have threatened to go public with rumors that Malcolm Forbes, the deceased owner of Forbes magazine, was gay, when the magazine was preparing to report that Trump’s net worth was far less than what he was claiming publicly. Haberman writes that officials at the Trump Organization operated in silos, and they often were unaware of what was happening elsewhere in the business. When Trump’s hotel and casino company was rebuked by the Securities and Exchange Commission over a misleading earnings statement, Haberman writes that Trump was more involved than the company let on. Trump’s lawyer at the time, Jay Goldberg, blamed company officials for the misleading projections in 1999 and insisted Trump was not involved, Haberman writes. News stories at the time of the SEC action three years later also stated that Trump did not have a role in the financial statement that overstated the company’s earnings. But Haberman reports that a former company consultant, Alan Marcus, said that Trump personally marked up a draft of the release in question and made existing projections rosier. Trump denied that account, according to Haberman. In an interview with Haberman, Trump acknowledged that his business dealings in New York City meant he would sometimes have to interact with the mob, though he downplayed how aware he was of it. “Well, anybody that built in New York City, whether you dealt with them indirectly, or didn’t even know they existed, they did exist,” Trump said. “Well, you dealt, you had contractors and you don’t know if they were mob or controlled or maybe not controlled, but I will tell you getting bids sometimes is very tough. You’d get one bid, it’d be a high end disappointing bid. And then there was nobody else to bid.” The-CNN-Wire & © 2022 Cable News Network, Inc., a Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All rights reserved. Read More Here

It's That Time Of Year! 20 Fall Events And Festivals Around The Valley https://digitalarizonanews.com/its-that-time-of-year-20-fall-events-and-festivals-around-the-valley/ Many communities around the Valley are welcoming the cooler weather by holding fall-inspired events. ARIZONA, USA — It’s hard to believe, but fall is officially here!  Many communities around the Valley are welcoming the cooler weather by holding fall-inspired events. Check them out below:  Fountain Hills Oktoberfest Sept. 23-24 Fountain Hills Park The first Oktoberfest was organized in celebration of the marriage of the Bavarian King Ludwig I in Munich, Germany, in 1810. This “volksfest” has continued on to this day and is brought to Fountain Hills each year.  Arizona State Fair Sept. 23 – Oct. 30 Arizona State Fairgrounds For over a century, the Arizona State Fair has been a gathering place for residents from the far corners of the state. Guests come here to enjoy the richness and diversity of communities, honor the past, celebrate the current, and explore the future. get out of your daily routine, and immerse yourself in a wonderland of amusement right in their own backyard. 23rd Annual Mariachi & Folklorico Festival  October 1 Chandler Center for the Arts Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month with a Chandler tradition – experience the rich cultural history of Mexico through vibrant music and dance at the 23rd Annual Mariachi and Folklorico Festival, presented in partnership with C.A.L.L.E. de Arizona and Maestra Vanessa Ramirez. The annual event features GRAMMY Award-winning Mariachi Los Camperos and 16-member Mariachi Estrella de Mexico, along with a dazzling array of Folklorico dancers from Ballet Folklorico Quetzalli-AZ. Goldrush Music Festival Oct. 7-9 Phoenix Raceway Step into a world of bright lights and wild west spectacle as Goldrush: Neon Dreams takes over Phoenix Raceway. Phoenix Greek Festival Oct. 8-10 Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral This is a unique opportunity to share Greece’s rich history, culture, and culinary delights. Enjoy Greek food, music, dancing, jewelry, art, grocery items, and activities for children.   Celebrate Mesa  Oct. 8 Red Mountain Soccer Complex 905 N. Sunvalley Blvd Celebrate Mesa and all it has to offer at this free family festival, featuring bounce houses, archery tag, food trucks, a petting zoo, and more. Phoenix Pride Festival Oct. 15-16 Steele Indian School Park This year’s Phoenix Pride Festival will continue to be a two-day celebration designed to bring our diverse LGBTQ+ and allied communities together for a weekend of camaraderie and celebration of our past, present, and future while raising funds for the Phoenix Pride Community Programs and educating the public about the existence and continuing civil rights battle facing Arizona’s community. Kierland Fine Art & Wine Festival Oct. 29-30 Kierland Commons More than 100 artists from around the globe will converge on Main Street, creating a unique outdoor gallery. On display will be a collection of original art representing a wide variety of cultures and artwork in a range of subject matter and media. Subjects include still life, landscape, portraiture, nature, and abstract. Arizona Fall Fest 2022 Nov. 5 Margaret T. Hance Park Started 16 years ago with just 27 vendors at the Duck and Decanter parking lot, the festival was a way to bring local businesses and Arizonans together to build pride in our local community and support our local economy. Now, it has grown to host over 200 vendors – the biggest community event at Margaret T. Hance Park! Fountain Hills Festival of Arts and Crafts Nov. 13-15 Avenue of the Fountains This individual art festival boasts one of the “World’s Highest Fountains” that sends a snow-white jet stream of water 560 feet into the blue desert sky. Water from the fountain bursts into the air fifteen times a day. Every day since 1971. Arizona Taco Festival Nov. 12-13 Bell Bank Park, Mesa Check out more than 50 local taco vendors, tequila, margaritas, Lucha Libre Wrestlers, the Ay Chihuahua Beauty Pageant, Hot Chili Pepper & Taco eating contests, and more at the annual Arizona Taco Festival. Phoenix Pizza Festival Nov. 12-13 Margaret T. Hance Park At the annual Phoenix Pizza Festival, 20+ pizza makers sell all types of pizza slices and full pies. The event also features live music, lawn games, desserts, local market vendors, kid’s activities, and more. Bars will offer a selection of wine, beer, cocktails, and N/A beverages. Schnepf Farms Pumpkin and Chili Party Thursday thru Sunday, Oct. 1 – 31 Queen Creek Schnepf’s annual fall party is fun for both kids and adults. Spend your time playing mini-golf, wandering two corn mazes and riding the roller coaster. Or take a seat on the miniature train—day and night times are available.  Phoenix/Tempe Water Lantern Festival Nov. 12 Kiwanis Park The Water Lantern Festival is filled with fun, happiness and hope. This is a family-friendly event that can be shared by everyone. Friends, families, neighbors, and lots of people that you haven’t met can come together to create a peaceful, memorable experience. Phoenix Flea Market Nov. 26 Heritage Square Phoenix Flea is a modern market showcasing the best makers and curators around! This is not your typical flea market. You’ll find small businesses showcasing handcrafted goods & fine art, curated vintage, modern fashion & design, and delicious food & drinks, Music in the Garden Sept. 30 – November 18 Desert Botanical Garden Desert Botanical Garden presents a spectacular lineup of talent at Music in the Garden’s fall concert series, September 30th through November 18th. Situated at the base of a butte, Ullman Terrace provides an unmatchable backdrop for audiences to experience one of the Valley’s most iconic outdoor concert venues. Movies on the Field  Sept. 30- Dec. 2 ASU Sun Devil Stadium Bring a blanket, sit on the grass and enjoy your favorite films on the big screen under the stars at Movies on the Field at ASU Sun Devil Stadium, September 30 through December 2. Vertuccio Farms Fall Festival Oct.1 – 31 Mesa   Activities on this 25-acre farm include a pumpkin patch, corn maze, zip line, hay climb, “spider web” crawl, giant tube roll, and playground. Tolmachoff Farms Pumpkin Days & Corn Maze Oct. 1 – 31 Glendale The highlights here is the huge pumpkin patch and the farm’s three themed corn mazes: one for kids, another with a hidden puzzle, and a haunted maze (Fridays and Saturdays thru October 31 only). Mother Nature’s Farm Halloween Pumpkin Patch Gilbert Late Sept. – Oct. 31 Visit the Pumpkin Patch, rated Arizona’s best in the New Times. Come pick out that perfect pumpkin, and check out the fall activities. MacDonald’s Ranch Pumpkin Patch Scottsdale October 1 – 31 What: Come horse around at MacDonald’s Ranch! Pick your pumpkin or pan for gold at this family-run and family-friendly ranch. Other activities include a hay-bale maze, petting zoo, photo areas, lawn games, as well as a barrel train and mechanical bull. Up to Speed Catch up on the latest news and stories on the 12News YouTube channel. Subscribe today. More ways to get 12News  On your phone: Download the 12News app for the latest local breaking news straight to your phone.   On your streaming device: Download 12News+ to your streaming device   The free 12News+ app from 12News lets users stream live events — including daily newscasts like “Today in AZ” and “12 News” and our daily lifestyle program, “Arizona Midday”—on Roku and Amazon Fire TV.   12News+ showcases live video throughout the day for breaking news, local news, weather and even an occasional moment of Zen showcasing breathtaking sights from across Arizona.  On social media: Find us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.  Read More…

BANNER HEALTH, SERA PROGNOSTICS TEAM UP TO PROVIDE PreTRM® TEST TO COVERED PREGNANT MEMBERS https://digitalarizonanews.com/banner-health-sera-prognostics-team-up-to-provide-pretrm-test-to-covered-pregnant-members/ News and research before you hear about it on CNBC and others. Claim your 1-week free trial to StreetInsider Premium here. First and only broadly clinically validated test to provide accurate and actionable information to help reduce the morbidity, mortality, and costs associated with preterm birth   , /PRNewswire/ — Sera Prognostics Inc., The Pregnancy Company® (NASDAQ: SERA), focused on improving maternal and neonatal health by providing innovative pregnancy biomarker information to doctors and patients, and Banner Health today announced that Sera’s PreTRM® Test will be available to Banner – University Family Care/ AHCCCS Complete Care (B – UFC/ACC) members. The PreTRM® Test is the only broadly clinically validated, commercially available blood test that provides an early, individual risk assessment for spontaneous preterm birth in asymptomatic, singleton pregnancies. B – UFC/ACC is a Medicaid plan offered by Banner – University Health Plans, which is based in Tucson, AZ, and serves more than 300,000 members in ten Arizona counties. “We are very pleased to work with Banner Health, which shares our commitment to reducing the adverse consequences of preterm birth. This organization is respected nationwide as an innovative leader in new healthcare models designed to optimize its members’ health while reducing the costs of care,” said Gregory C. Critchfield, MD, MS, Chairman and CEO of Sera Prognostics. “Preterm birth is associated with health complications that can affect babies at birth and also throughout the rest of their lives. Prematurity impacts not only mothers and the babies themselves but also their families, healthcare providers, payers, and communities. We developed the PreTRM® Test to help pregnant women and their physicians understand and take actions to mitigate elevated risks of premature birth, with the important goal of improving the health of mothers and babies and, in so doing, reducing healthcare system costs and burden.” A rigorous health economic analysis published in ClinicoEconomics and Outcomes Research (https://www.dovepress.com/cost-effectiveness-of-a-proteomic-test-for-preterm-birth-prediction-peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-CEOR) in September 2021 shows that application of the PreTRM® strategy, consisting of testing and proactive, evidence-based interventions, improves neonatal outcomes and reduces immediate and long-term treatment costs associated with premature birth when compared to routine care. “Value, not volume, is Banner’s driving factor, and our providers are rewarded for high-quality results and providing the latest in evidence-based preventive care,” said Robert Krauss, MD, Medical Director, Banner – University Health Plans. “A growing body of evidence supports the potential for the PreTRM® Test to improve fetal-maternal health outcomes and reduce the costs associated with premature birth. Making this cutting-edge predictive test available to our members advances our goal of improving the health of our member populations overall by providing individualized care that helps each member achieve the highest level of wellness. We are excited to integrate the PreTRM® Test into our fetal-maternal care protocols.”    The PreTRM® Test was developed and validated for prediction of spontaneous preterm birth (sPTB) broadly in the U.S. in the Proteomic Assessment of Preterm Risk (PAPR) study. In a subsequent large prospective U.S. study, the Multicenter Assessment of a Spontaneous Preterm Birth Risk Predictor (TREETOP), the biomarkers were further demonstrated to be predictive of very early preterm birth of any cause, length of neonatal hospital stay, and neonatal morbidity and mortality. Additional new data published in May 2022 showed improved PreTRM® Test predictive performance for women whose due dates are more reliably determined by ultrasound. About Banner Health Banner Health is one of the largest, secular nonprofit health care systems in the country. In addition to 30 acute-care hospitals, Banner also has an academic division, Banner – University Medicine, and a partnership with one of the world’s leading cancer programs, Banner MD Anderson Cancer Center. Banner’s array of services includes a health-insurance division, employed physician groups, outpatient surgery centers, urgent care locations, home care and hospice services, retail pharmacies, stand-alone imaging centers, physical therapy and rehabilitation, behavioral health services, a research division and a nursing registry. To make health care easier, 100% of Banner-employed doctors are available for virtual visits, and Banner operates a free 24/7 nurse line for health questions or concerns. Patients may also reserve spots at Banner Urgent Care locations and can book appointments online with many Banner-employed doctors. Headquartered in Arizona, Banner Health also has locations in California, Colorado, Nebraska, Nevada and Wyoming. For more information, visit bannerhealth.com. About Banner – University Health Plans Banner – University Health Plans (B – UHP) is a nonprofit, regional health plan dedicated to serving the health and insurance needs of the people of Arizona. For more than 20 years, B – UHP has provided access to best-in-class health care with unparalleled compassion and responsiveness to help members live healthy and well. B – UHP’s product portfolio includes Commercial, Medicaid and Medicare Special Needs Plans. B – UHP is the insurance division of Banner Health, one of the largest nonprofit health care systems in the country. B – UHP is based in Tucson, Arizona and serves more than 300,000 members in ten Arizona Counties. For more information, please visit www.BannerUHP.com. About Sera Prognostics, Inc. Sera Prognostics is a leading health diagnostics company dedicated to improving the lives of women and babies through precision pregnancy care. Sera’s mission is to deliver early, pivotal information in pregnancy to physicians, enabling them to improve the health of their patients, resulting in reductions in the costs of healthcare delivery. Sera has a robust pipeline of innovative diagnostic tests focused on the early prediction of preterm birth risk and other complications of pregnancy. Sera’s precision medicine PreTRM® Test reports to a physician the individualized risk of spontaneous premature delivery in a pregnancy, enabling earlier proactive interventions in women with higher risk. Sera Prognostics is located in Salt Lake City, Utah. www.seraprognostics.com About Preterm Birth Preterm birth is defined as any birth before 37 weeks’ gestation and is the leading cause of illness and death in newborns. The 2021 March of Dimes Report Card shows that more than one in ten infants is born prematurely. Prematurity is associated with a significantly increased risk of major long-term medical complications, including learning disabilities, cerebral palsy, chronic respiratory illness, intellectual disability, seizures, and vision and hearing loss, and can generate significant costs throughout the lives of affected children. The annual health care costs to manage short- and long-term complications of prematurity in the United States were estimated to be approximately $25 billion for 2016. About the PreTRM® Test The PreTRM® Test is the only broadly validated, commercially available blood-based biomarker test that provides an early, accurate and individualized risk prediction for spontaneous preterm birth in asymptomatic singleton pregnancies. The PreTRM® Test measures and analyzes proteins in the blood that are highly predictive of preterm birth. The PreTRM® Test permits physicians to identify, between the 18th and 20th weeks of pregnancy, which women are at increased risk for preterm birth, enabling more informed, personalized clinical decisions based on each woman’s individual risk. The PreTRM® Test is ordered by a medical professional. www.pretrm.com Sera Prognostics, the Sera Prognostics logo, The Pregnancy Company, and PreTRM are trademarks or registered trademarks of Sera Prognostics, Inc. in the United States and/or other countries. Safe Harbor Statement This press release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements relating to women not found to be at higher risk of preterm delivery by the PreTRM® Test having extremely high confidence of not delivering a premature infant; and the company’s strategic directives under the caption “About Sera Prognostics, Inc.” These “forward-looking statements” are based on management’s current expectations of future events and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially and adversely from those set forth in or implied by forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: net losses, cash generation, and the potential need to raise more capital; revenues from the PreTRM Test representing substantially all Company revenues to date; the need for broad scientific and market acceptance of the PreTRM Test; a concentrated number of material customers; our ability to introduce new products; potential competition; our proprietary biobank; critical suppliers; the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on our operations, as well as the business or operations of third parties with whom we conduct business; estimates of total addressable market opportunity and forecasts of market growth; potential third-party payer coverage and reimbursement; new reimbursement methodologies applicable to the PreTRM Test, including new CPT codes and payment rates for those codes; changes in FDA regulation of laboratory-develo...

Attorney Breaks Down Why Trump Couldn't Declassify Documents By 'thinking About It' – CNN Video https://digitalarizonanews.com/attorney-breaks-down-why-trump-couldnt-declassify-documents-by-thinking-about-it-cnn-video/ In a Fox News interview, Former President Donald Trump claimed the declassification of documents can happen “by thinking about it.” National security attorney Bradley Moss discusses why this is inaccurate. Source: CNN Read More Here

World Leaders Condemn Russia https://digitalarizonanews.com/world-leaders-condemn-russia/ On today’s episode of the 5 Things podcast: World leaders condemn Russia’s invasion The war in Ukraine has been a major theme at this week’s U.N. meetings. Plus, national political correspondent Phillip Bailey explains why Arizona’s secretary of state race is in the national spotlight, a new lawsuit accuses former President Donald Trump of fraud, money reporter Medora Lee looks at the impact of Federal Reserve rate hikes and another powerful earthquake rocks Mexico. Podcasts: True crime, in-depth interviews and more USA TODAY podcasts right here. Hit play on the player above to hear the podcast and follow along with the transcript below. This transcript was automatically generated, and then edited for clarity in its current form. There may be some differences between the audio and the text. Taylor Wilson: Good morning. I’m Taylor Wilson and this is 5 Things you need to know Thursday, the 22nd of September, 2022. Today, the latest from UN meetings as much of the world condemns Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Plus a closer look at rising interest rates and more. Here are some of the top headlines: Hurricane Fiona hit Turks and Caicos yesterday as a Category 3. Puerto Rico is still working to recover with more than a million homes and businesses still without power yesterday. A day after more than 200 whales were found stranded in Tasmania, only 35 were alive earlier today. It’s not clear what led the animals to wash up on the Australian Island. And two people have finally claimed the ticket to the third largest jackpot lottery win in US history. They came forward in Illinois, nearly two months after the mega millions $1.34 billion winning ticket was announced. President Joe Biden yesterday strongly condemned Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and for the world to stand behind efforts against the aggression. In an address to the United Nations, he also called Russian leader Vladimir Putin reckless for making veiled nuclear threats. President Joe Biden: A permanent member of the United Nations Security Council invaded its neighbor, attempted to erase the sovereign state from the map. Russia has shamelessly violated the core tenants of the United Nations Charter. No more important than the clear prohibition against countries taking the territory of their neighbor by force. Again, just today, President Putin has made overt nuclear threats against Europe and a reckless disregard for the responsibilities of the non-proliferation regime. Now, Russia’s calling up more soldiers to join the fight and the Kremlin is organizing a sham referendum to try to annex parts of Ukraine, an extremely significant violation of the UN Charter. Taylor Wilson: Biden’s comments came after Putin accused the West of nuclear blackmail. He said, “Those who are attempting to blackmail us with nuclear weapons must be aware that the prevailing winds may also turn towards their side.” Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy also addressed the UN yesterday. He even got a standing ovation. Volodymyr Zelenskyy: Mankind and the international law are stronger than one terrorist state. Russia will be forced to end this war. We can return the Ukrainian flag to our entire territory. We can do it with the force of arms, but we need time. Taylor Wilson: Zelenskyy said Russia has made no serious effort to negotiate an end to the war, accusations also thrown toward Ukraine. Meanwhile, a pair of Americans fighting for Ukraine have been freed in a prisoner exchange after being captured in June. Saudi Arabia brokered a swap with Russian-backed separatists featuring other prisoners too, including five British nationals. In Russia, protests have sparked this week across the country with more than 1400 arrests made in 38 cities nationwide. Activists are protesting the government’s latest plan to call some 300,000 citizens into military service. Russia passed a law in February that makes it a criminal offense punished by up to 15 years in prison to discredit the military. Russia has used the law to stamp out dissent to its invasion of Ukraine. Arizona’s Secretary of State races are usually sleepy campaigns, but this year’s contest will take the national spotlight when the two major party contenders clash in their first debate tonight. Producer PJ Elliott spoke with national political correspondent, Phillip Bailey for a preview of what’s to come. Phillip Bailey: The past two years, our country has been unusually consumed by the last election, the 2020 presidential election due to these continued and persistent lies about who won the 2020 election. Joe Biden won the 2020 presidential race. Yet we see this growth of election deniers, about more than 300 or so who are running for some pretty serious public offices here in 2022, including secretaries of state. We wrote last year, USA TODAY, about this proliferation and this coalition of “America first” secretaries of state candidates who are running in Arizona, Michigan, Nevada, some really important swing states. People who have denied the outcome of the 2020 election who are now running to oversee the next election, and probably more so than any of them, Mark Finchem of Arizona is the face of that movement. PJ Elliott: So what should people be looking for in this specific debate in Arizona, which takes place tonight? Phillip Bailey: I think look, Mark Finchem, the Republican candidate for Secretary of State in Arizona, is running against the Democrat, Adrian Fontes. The Fontes campaign has leaned heavily into the election denial claims by representative Finchem, they have not shied away from it. If you notice Mr. Fontes’s first campaign ad of this race, he talks about being a Marine and he uses footage from the January 6th riots. He goes after Finchem and calls him a radical and extremist. He’s the first sort of person who’s going to have a debate here where Democrats and others are saying democracy itself is on the line. Now, obviously other issues like inflation, the economy, and abortion have taken the forefront. But in these secretaries of state races, in particular, voting rights and election denialism is going to be at the forefront. What I’m looking forward to see is how aggressive Fontes is and is he going to be sort of a rallying cry to remind Democrats and voting rights advocates around the country of what’s at stake in 2022. PJ Elliott: So how can those that are not living in Arizona watch this? Phillip Bailey: These secretary of state races, PJ, are typically very sleepy affairs. A lot of people even in state don’t necessarily pay attention to their secretary of state race, but this is going to seize national attention. Obviously, the Arizona Republic will be paying attention to this, along with USA TODAY through our websites. Obviously, the Arizona PBS is hosting the debates, so it’s going to be on their website. But for national audiences, C-SPAN is probably the best way to watch. This is going to be nationally broadcast. Like I said, usually, these races are sort of a snooze fest and they’re very anonymous. People are like, “Who’s running for secretary of state.” This year’s going to be different, not just in Arizona, but in Nevada and Michigan and many other key states. Secretary of state races are going to be at the forefront and we’re going to be watching them pretty much in the same way we watch gubernatorial or senate races. Taylor Wilson: You can find Phillip’s full story in today’s episode description. Former President Donald Trump is being accused of mass fraud in a lawsuit this week. New York Attorney General Letitia James yesterday accused him of padding his net worth by billions of dollars and misleading banks about his assets. Letitia James: We are filing a lawsuit against Donald Trump for violating the law as part of his efforts to generate profits for himself, his family, and his company. The pattern of fraud and deception that was used by Mr. Trump and the Trump Organization for their own financial benefit is astounding. Taylor Wilson: Yesterday’s lawsuit filed in state court in Manhattan is the culmination of a three-year civil investigation into Trump and the Trump Organization. His three oldest children, Donald Jr, Ivanka, and Eric, were also named as defendants along with two longtime company executives. In more than 200 pages, the suit alleges dozens of instances of fraud. They include claims made on annual financial statements as proof of his riches as he looked for loans and deals. In one example, he said to have claimed his Trump Tower apartment was nearly three times its actual size and valued the property at $327 million. The Attorney General said no New York City apartment has ever sold for close to that amount. James said the investigation also found evidence of potential criminal violations, including insurance fraud and bank fraud, but she said her office was referring those findings to outside authorities. The Federal Reserve has announced that it’s raising interest rates by three-quarters of a percentage point again for the third consecutive time. So how will that hit your wallet and portfolio? PJ Elliott spoke with money reporter, Medora Lee for some answers. Medora Lee: So when the Fed raises interest rates, it doesn’t actually raise consumer rates, but it raises what is considered its Fed funds rate. It’s a benchmark, interest rate, and all other consumer rates will eventually follow in a ripple effect through the economy. When the Fed raises rates, you should expect mortgage rates to rise. If you’re already locked into a fixed mortgage rate, you probably don’t have to worry, your rate will just remain the same where you locked it in. But if you haven’t bought a home yet, you should expect those rates to be higher, so you’ll have to weigh more carefully whether you can afford this house now because your monthly payments will be bigger and wei...

Trump Argues Presidents Have The Power To Declassify Documents 'even By Thinking About It' https://digitalarizonanews.com/trump-argues-presidents-have-the-power-to-declassify-documents-even-by-thinking-about-it/ Former President Donald Trump speaking at the 2022 Student Action Summit at the Tampa Convention Center in Tampa, Florida (Gage Skidmore) Former President Donald Trump recently suggested that presidents don’t necessarily have to conduct a formal process when it comes to declassifying documents. In fact, the former president claimed documents can be declassified “even by thinking about it.” During a recent interview with Fox News’ Sean Hannity, Trump offered his take on the top-secret documents taken from the White House and transported to his Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Fla. READ MORE: Team Trump refuses special master’s order to list which Mar-a-Lago documents Trump ‘declassified’ “There doesn’t have to be a process, as I understand it,” Trump told Hannity. “If you’re the president of the United States, you can declassify just by saying, ‘It’s declassified.’ Even by thinking about it.” The former president went on to offer more context to his unfounded claim. According to Trump, a president has the power to make any decision he desires even without a formal process. “There can be a process, but there doesn’t have to be. You’re the president. You make that decision. So when you send it, it’s declassified,” Trump added. “I declassified everything.” However, according to The Hill, the process is a bit different than Trump explained. “Though presidents have broad power to declassify records, doing so sets off a chain of events, as the intelligence agencies that manage such records must take additional steps,” READ MORE: ‘Not the case’: Reporters dismantle Trump World’s spurious declassification arguments The former president went on to say that the General Services Administration (GSA) and other members of his White House staff were also involved in the document packing process. However, GSA has pushed back against Trump’s claim about its role. “The GSA also works with the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), as necessary, to provide support to the former Presidents in the establishment and maintenance of their libraries,” the organization stated on its website. “These services are only provided in the event of a change of Administration.” READ MORE: ‘Ultimately irrelevant’: DOJ smacks down Donald Trump’s excuses for hoarding classified documents Read More Here