Digital Arizona News

Marilyn Colby https://digitalarizonanews.com/marilyn-colby/ Marilyn Colby, loving wife, stepmother, and grandmother died Saturday, September 3, 2022, in Mesa, AZ after a well-fought, brief battle with pancreatic cancer. Marilyn taught for most of her life, and before retirement, was a high school counselor. After retirement, Marilyn enjoyed hunting and fishing with her husband Everett “Ev” Colby. Ev died in 2010. Marilyn was then united in marriage to longtime friend Bruce Groves. She and Bruce enjoyed traveling, fishing, and riding their motorcycle. Some will remember Marilyn as the “Motorcycle Mama”. A memorial gathering will be held at a later date. Schoeneberger Funeral & Cremation Service Perham, MN (218) 346-5175 www.schoenebergerfh.com Read More Here

Midterm Primaries Wrap Up With Fresh Test Of GOP's Future https://digitalarizonanews.com/midterm-primaries-wrap-up-with-fresh-test-of-gops-future/ CONCORD, N.H. (AP) — A staunchly conservative retired Army general is vying for the chance to take on Democratic Sen. Maggie Hassan of New Hampshire in a contest many Republicans hoped would be among their best chances to flip a Senate seat this year. But the prospect of Don Bolduc winning Tuesday’s GOP Senate primary has dampened those ambitions. In a state that President Joe Biden carried by more than 7 percentage points, Bolduc has campaigned on a platform that includes lies that Donald Trump won the 2020 election and conspiracy theories about vaccines. That underscores the sense of disappointment among some national Republicans that Gov. Chris Sununu, a relatively popular moderate who likely could have posed more of a threat to Hassan, chose instead to run for reelection. The GOP is grappling with the possibility of again nominating a candidate who is popular with the party’s base but struggles to broaden support ahead of the November general election. Republican primary voters have similarly chosen conservative candidates this year in moderate or Democratic-leaning states including Massachusetts and Maryland, potentially putting competitive races out of the party’s reach. Neil Levesque, director of the New Hampshire Institute of Politics, said Bolduc is a type of candidate who would have struggled to succeed in GOP politics before Trump’s rise. He’s never held elected office and had just $75,000 in cash on hand last week. Still, Bolduc has been able to make inroads by positioning himself as an ally of Trump and his election falsehoods. “That is because the theme of his campaign and messaging is very similar to former President Trump,” Levesque said. “If it mirrors the former president, it’s been effective.” Federal and state officials and Trump’s own attorney general have said there is no credible evidence the election was tainted. The former president’s allegations of fraud were also roundly rejected by courts, including by judges Trump appointed. Known for kicking off the primary season during presidential campaigns, New Hampshire is instead marking the conclusion of the nominating process for this year’s midterms. There are also contests on Tuesday in Delaware and Rhode Island. But the U.S. Senate race in New Hampshire is perhaps most revealing about the direction of the GOP. Bolduc is competing in a crowded field that includes Chuck Morse, the more moderate president of the New Hampshire state Senate, who has been endorsed by Sununu. The governor called Morse “the candidate to beat Sen. Hassan this November and the candidate Sen. Hassan is most afraid to face.” Sununu feels differently about Bolduc, whom he’s called a conspiracy theorist while warning that Bolduc could have a harder time winning the general election. Bolduc doesn’t seem bothered by Sununu’s criticism. He’s called the governor “a Chinese communist sympathizer.” Bolduc hasn’t been formally endorsed by Trump, who propelled many primary candidates to victory in key races throughout the summer. But the former president has called Bolduc a “strong guy.” The final primary contests are unfolding at a dramatic moment in the midterm campaign. Republicans have spent much of the year building their election-year message around Biden and his management of the economy, particularly soaring prices. But Democrats are now entering the final stretch with a sense of cautious optimism as approval of Biden steadies and inflation shows signs of easing. The Supreme Court’s decision overturning a woman’s constitutional right to an abortion may provide Democrats with the energy they need to turn back the defeats that historically accompany a new president’s first midterms. Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell acknowledged the challenge last month, saying his party may be more likely to end Democrats’ narrow control of the House than the Senate. He bemoaned “candidate quality” as a factor that could sway some outcomes in his chamber. Some Democratic groups, meanwhile, have sponsored primary ads promoting Bolduc, predicting he’ll make an easier November opponent for Hassan. That’s consistent with Democratic-aligned organizations backing pro-Trump candidates in key races around the country — a strategy some have criticized, arguing that it could backfire if those candidates go on to win their general elections. Republicans in New Hampshire and around the country scoff at the notion that being a Trump loyalist — or not — could be a deciding general election factor, noting that the still unpopular Biden will be a drag on his party regardless. The New Hampshire Republican Party has tweeted that Hassan “votes with Joe Biden 96.4% of the time.” Many of the same dynamics swirling around the former president are at work in New Hampshire’s 2nd Congressional District, where pro-Trump candidate Bob Burns is among several Republicans vying for the party’s nomination to face five-term incumbent Democratic Rep. Annie Kuster. In New Hampshire’s other congressional district, which encompasses Manchester and the southeastern part of the state, several Republicans are vying to challenge Democratic Rep. Chris Pappas, who could also face a potentially close general election reelection contest — once he learns who his opponent will be. The GOP field includes former TV broadcaster Gail Huff Brown, wife of Scott Brown, a former U.S. senator from Massachusetts and ambassador to New Zealand during the Trump administration. Also running is Matt Mowers, who won the district’s congressional 2020 Republican nomination and was a Trump administration State Department adviser. But the candidate closest to Trump may be Karoline Leavitt, who worked in his White House’s press office and has also campaigned with Republican Texas Sen. Ted Cruz. “Her compass always points to Trump,” said Dante Scala, a University of New Hampshire political science professor. He added, in reference to the former president’s “Make America Great Again” campaign slogan, “She, in a very kind of crisp, sharp, confident way, will say the most MAGA thing that can be said in any situation.” ___ Weissert reported from Washington. Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Read More Here

Stock Market Today: Dow Plunges 700 Points, CPI Report Shows U.S. Inflation Slowed To 8.3% In August https://digitalarizonanews.com/stock-market-today-dow-plunges-700-points-cpi-report-shows-u-s-inflation-slowed-to-8-3-in-august/ About this page Last Updated: Sep 13, 2022 at 10:45 am ET Follow The Wall Street Journal’s full markets and consumer-price inflation report coverage. Read More Here

Justice Department Seizes Phones Of Two Former Trump Aides https://digitalarizonanews.com/justice-department-seizes-phones-of-two-former-trump-aides/ Did you know that you can get Democracy Now! delivered to your inbox every day? Sign up for our Daily News Digest today! Don’t worry, we’ll never share or sell your information. HeadlineSep 13, 2022 The Justice Department has subpoenaed more than three dozen former aides of President Trump this week as it steps up its probe into efforts to overturn the 2020 election. Officials also seized the phones of Boris Epshteyn and Mike Roman, two people in Trump’s orbit who sought to name “alternative” slates of electors in states won by Biden. The original content of this program is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License. Please attribute legal copies of this work to democracynow.org. Some of the work(s) that this program incorporates, however, may be separately licensed. For further information or additional permissions, contact us. Daily News Digest Our Daily Digest brings Democracy Now! to your inbox each morning. Non-commercial news needs your support We rely on contributions from our viewers and listeners to do our work. Please do your part today. Make a donation Read More Here

Ukraine Live Briefing: Russian Retreat In Northeast Fuels Cautious Optimism For Kyiv And Allies https://digitalarizonanews.com/ukraine-live-briefing-russian-retreat-in-northeast-fuels-cautious-optimism-for-kyiv-and-allies/ A Ukrainian counteroffensive and Russian retreat in the northeast have fueled optimism in Kyiv and Western capitals. But Moscow has pledged not to back down. Here’s the latest on the war and its ripple effects across the globe. Return to menu Ukraine’s counteroffensive in Kharkiv could mark a turning point in the war, Western officials said, while Moscow described its pullback as a decision to “regroup.” The lightning advance in the Kharkiv region could raise pressure on Moscow to call up more forces. “The question will be how the Russians will react, but their weaknesses have been exposed and they don’t have great manpower reserves or equipment reserves,” a U.S. official told The Washington Post. Russia said its war in Ukraine will continue “until the goals that have been set are achieved,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Monday. Russia’s ambitions have shifted during the war: After failing to capture the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, Russian forces turned their fire to the eastern Donbas region. The Kremlin said a general mobilization to reinforce troops in Ukraine is not currently on the table. “At the moment, no, it’s out of the question,” Peskov told reporters Tuesday after Russia’s setbacks in northeastern Ukraine. He warned that criticism of military operations in Ukraine should “remain within the framework of law.” As long as it does, “this is pluralism,” he said. “But the line is very, very thin. You have to be very careful here.” Return to menu Fighting is still raging in Kharkiv as Ukrainian forces advance, Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Malyar told Reuters on Tuesday. “It is still early to say full control has been established over Kharkiv region,” she added. See maps of Ukraine’s gains here. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said his forces recaptured more than 2,300 square miles in the country’s south and east this month. Ukraine’s military said Monday it took 20 more towns and villages in 24 hours. The claims could not be independently verified. Photos of Ukrainian flags raised in Bohorodychne and Sviatohirsk, on the banks of the Donets River, circulated widely on social media. The British Defense Ministry said an elite tank unit of the Russian army was “severely degraded” earlier in the conflict and “had not been fully reconstituted” before the Ukrainian counteroffensive in Kharkiv. Oleksandr Shapoval, a renowned dancer at Ukraine’s National Opera ballet, was killed in combat in eastern Ukraine. Shapoval went to battle and served as a grenade launcher, said Anton Gerashchenko, a Ukrainian official. Return to menu Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping are set to meet in Uzbekistan this week, marking their first face-to-face meeting since the start of the war in Ukraine — and Xi’s first trip abroad since the pandemic. According to Chinese state media, Li Zhanshu, Chair of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress said that China was willing to “continue working with Russia to firmly support each other on issues involving core interests and major concerns.” Kyiv and Moscow appear interested in an agreement on a safety zone around Europe’s largest nuclear plant, according to Rafael Mariano Grossi, head of the U.N. nuclear watchdog. While talks have begun, with both sides “engaging,” the details of a potential deal for the Zaporizhzhia plant in Ukraine are still being worked out, he said. Return to menu Faced with war losses, Russian propagandists retreat to anger and patriotissm: Russian state TV pundits painted the war as a “special military operation” achieving its goals of “demilitarizing” and “denazifying” Ukraine, Mary Ilyushina reports. But the battlefield retreat over the past few days has left Kremlin-friendly media struggling to give audiences an explanation. “The result was the broadcast of unusually tense scenes to millions of Russian households, with some uncharacteristically blunt concessions,” she writes. Read More Here

Trilogy® By Shea Homes® Announces New Community Offering And National Consumer Research Initiative https://digitalarizonanews.com/trilogy-by-shea-homes-announces-new-community-offering-and-national-consumer-research-initiative/ News and research before you hear about it on CNBC and others. Claim your 1-week free trial to StreetInsider Premium here. With Potential New 55+ Neighborhoods in Popular Markets in AZ, CA & WA, Shea Homes to Tap Consumers in Designing Innovative New 55+ Trilogy Boutique Community™ Offering , /PRNewswire/ – Trilogy® by Shea Homes® the premier brand in 55+ housing, is planning to give more buyers the opportunity to experience Trilogy’s hallmark lifestyle through an exciting new offering, Trilogy Boutique Communities™. Offering a vibrant 55+ lifestyle in sophisticated, yet laid-back settings that the Trilogy brand is known for, but on a smaller, more intimate scale, Trilogy Boutique Communities are designed for buyers who enjoy the experience of the amenitized lifestyle and community. Trilogy® by Shea Homes® Announces New Community Offering and National Consumer Research Initiative Trilogy Boutique Communities will feature vibrant Clubs that offer much more than just social gathering spaces, and like their larger Trilogy Resort Community counterparts, these communities and their Clubs will be designed to bring neighbors together in the pursuit of fun, wellness, and adventure. Shea is initially targeting several popular 55+ destinations including Phoenix, AZ (west valley), the San Luis Obispo and Paso Robles markets in CA, and the Seattle/Tacoma, WA market for the launch of 5 Trilogy Boutique communities. To match community design with customer desires, Trilogy is embarking on a consumer research initiative seeking input from homebuyers to help shape the future amenities and features of these exciting Trilogy Boutique Communities. Interested homebuyers are invited to participate in this research and share their desires, preferences, and input on the kinds of lifestyle experiences, activities, amenities and homes that resonate with them today and will help shape the features of this new community offering. “The Trilogy lifestyle has been relentlessly focused for over 20 years on helping our homeowner Members achieve their personal goals for transformation and growth by creating a unique lifestyle committed to wellness of mind and body, connection with neighbors who quickly become close friends, and freedom to explore and expand their horizons,” says Jeff McQueen, President of the Shea Homes Active Lifestyle division. “We’re incredibly excited about this new opportunity for our customers and look forward to learning directly from them as they help us to innovate our business and further expand our offering to 55+ buyers. We know from serving tens of thousands of homeowners in our current communities that today’s homebuyers are seeking out new and different ways to spend their precious time. Our homeowners share very common desires to enhance their overall personal wellness; enrich their day to day lives; enjoy a fun and vibrant lifestyle; find new ways to contribute to their communities; and make meaningful connections that create community and kinship. Our goal remains to create communities that tap into those needs and offer exciting new opportunities suited for today’s homebuyers in locations they prefer through the introduction of Trilogy Boutique Communities.” We’re excited to invite interested 55+ homebuyers to help shape these future communities by signing up to participate in Trilogy’s national research initiative. Visit ResearchForTrilogy.com to learn more. About Trilogy® by Shea Homes® The Shea Homes® Active Lifestyle Communities division currently has 55+ and resort lifestyle communities available or currently selling in Arizona, California, Florida, Idaho, Nevada, North Carolina, Virginia, and Washington, having been engaged in selling new homes at numerous award-winning 55+ and resort lifestyle master plans since the division’s inception in 1999. Trilogy communities are designed to create an enriched lifestyle through exploring new interests and activities, focusing on overall wellness, and connecting to a vibrant social life. Homeowners experience a true resort-caliber lifestyle managed by a resort-trained staff. Each Trilogy community is designed to embrace its natural surroundings and provide a variety of experiences, which may include signature restaurants, golf, movement and fitness studios, day spas, pools, culinary classes, hiking trails, sports courts, and more. Trilogy® by Shea Homes® has been named America’s Most Trusted® Active Adult Resort Home Builder in the proprietary Lifestory Research study every year since 2013. Your experiences may vary. Visit lifestoryresearch.com. For more information about Trilogy communities, visit Sheahomes.com/Trilogy. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/trilogy-by-shea-homes-announces-new-community-offering-and-national-consumer-research-initiative-301622482.html SOURCE Trilogy by Shea Homes Read More…

Statement Of President Joe Biden On Consumer Price Index In September – The White House https://digitalarizonanews.com/statement-of-president-joe-biden-on-consumer-price-index-in-september-the-white-house/ Today’s data show more progress in bringing global inflation down in the US economy.  Overall, prices have been essentially flat in our country these last two months: that is welcome news for American families, with more work still to do.  Gas prices are down an average of $1.30 a gallon since the beginning of the summer.  This month, we saw some price increases slow from the month before at the grocery store.  And real wages went up again for a second month in a row, giving hard-working families a little breathing room.   It will take more time and resolve to bring inflation down, which is why we passed the Inflation Reduction Act to lower the cost of healthcare, prescription drugs and energy. And my economic plan is showing that, as we bring prices down, we are creating good paying jobs and bringing manufacturing back to America. ### Read More Here

Tucson Unified School District Will Discuss Meal Prices And Meal Accessibility For Students https://digitalarizonanews.com/tucson-unified-school-district-will-discuss-meal-prices-and-meal-accessibility-for-students/ TUCSON, Ariz. (KGUN)  — Tucson Unified School District will meet Tuesday night for their school board meeting. On the agenda is discussing and potentially modifying current meal prices and meal accessibility for students who are not able to pay for meal charges. TUSD has over 35,000 students that qualify for the free and reduced price meals, but because of the Community Eligibility Program (CEP) families do have options.  60 TUSD schools qualify for CEP which means that all meals are given for free to all students. There are 27 non-CEP schools that require an application for free and reduced lunch. Of those 27 non-CEP schools, 500 students currently have a negative balance on their accounts which is totally up $3,000.  TUSD Food Services Director will be giving a presentation to the school board on Tuesday night on the meal charge policy to the school board to see what they want to do with those students who cannot pay for their meals.  “We’re here to feed children, so it’s definitely an awkward moment for all involved if there’s children that come through the lunch line and don’t have money on their account,” said Lindsay Aguilar, Director, TUSD Food Services Department. “Of course, food insecurity and food access in families right now are definitely being hit with increased food costs just as we are operating the meal program.” TUSD’s board meeting will be at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 13 the link to watch is here. ——- Brooke Chau is a reporter for KGUN 9. She was a part of Fresno State’s newscast, Fresno State Focus and interned at KFSN-ABC30 in Fresno, CA before coming to KGUN 9. Share your story ideas and important issues with Brooke by emailing brooke.chau@kgun9.com or by connecting on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. 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 Here

AP News Summary At 8:38 A.m. EDT https://digitalarizonanews.com/ap-news-summary-at-838-a-m-edt/ Ukraine piles pressure on retreating Russian troops KHARKIV, Ukraine (AP) — Ukrainian troops are piling pressure on retreating Russian forces. They’re pressing a counteroffensive that has produced major gains and a stunning blow to Moscow’s military prestige. It was not yet clear if the Ukrainian blitz in the northeast after months of little discernible movement could signal a turning point in the nearly seven-month war. But the country’s officials were buoyant Tuesday. They released footage showing their forces burning Russian flags and inspecting abandoned charred tanks. Momentum has switched back and forth before, but rarely with such a big and sudden swing. Putin’s Russia struggles for response to Ukrainian blitz Ukraine’s counteroffensive in the northeastern part of the country seemed to catch Russia by surprise in the nearly 7-month-old war. The rapid and reportedly chaotic troop withdrawal in the Kharkiv region, in which some weapons and ammunition were left behind, was a huge blow to Russian prestige. It was its largest military defeat in Ukraine since Moscow pulled back its forces from areas near Kyiv after a botched attempt to capture the capital early in the invasion. The Ukrainian blitz appears to have left the Kremlin and President Vladimir Putin struggling for a response. That has angered Russian military bloggers and nationalists, and even exposed some internal political rifts. King Charles in Belfast, queen’s coffin to return to London BELFAST, Northern Ireland (AP) — King Charles III has arrived in Northern Ireland on the latest leg of his tour of the nations that make up the United Kingdom as thousands of people have lined up through the night to pay their last respects to his mother’s coffin in Edinburgh. On Monday night, Charles and his siblings, Anne, Andrew and Edward, their heads bowed, briefly stood vigil around their mother’s flag-draped coffin as members of the public filed past. The British monarchy draws mixed emotions in Northern Ireland, where there are two main communities: mostly Protestant unionists who consider themselves British and largely Roman Catholic nationalists who see themselves as Irish. Trump’s PAC faces scrutiny amid intensifying legal probes WASHINGTON (AP) — Former President Donald Trump is sitting on top of more than $115 million across several political committees. Trump has positioned himself as a uniquely indomitable force in the Republican Party and would almost certainly have the resources to swamp his rivals if he launched another presidential campaign. But that massive pile of money is also emerging as a potential vulnerability. Trump’s chief fundraising vehicle, the Save America PAC, is under new legal scrutiny after the Justice Department issued a round of grand jury subpoenas that have included questions about the political action committee’s fundraising practices. Emmy Moments: A winner’s joy — in song — lifts Emmy night Sheryl Lee Ralph was already in tears on the pre-show red carpet, when presented with a video of support from a beloved aunt. But then came her victory as best supporting actress in a comedy. In the feel-good moment of the night, the 66-year-old first time winner sang the opening of an empowering song, “Endangered Species.” It was an Emmy show that rewarded previous winners in several major categories: “Succession” and “Ted Lasso,” the big winners in drama and comedy, were repeat winners, as were a number of actors. Still, there were new and groundbreaking wins like that of actor Lee Jung-jae of “Squid Game,” the first Asian to win the award. US inflation falls for 2nd straight month on lower gas costs WASHINGTON (AP) — Sharply lower prices for gas and cheaper used cars slowed U.S. inflation in August for a second straight month, though many other items rose in price, indicating that inflation remains a heavy burden for American households. Consumer prices surged 8.3% in August compared with a year earlier. Though still painfully high, that was down from an 8.5% jump in July and a four-decade high of 9.1% in June. On a monthly basis, prices rose 0.1% after a flat reading in July. And excluding the volatile food and energy categories, so-called core prices jumped 0.6% from July to August, higher than many economists had expected and a sign of inflation’s persistence. Anger over past, indifference meets queen’s death in India NEW DELHI (AP) — Just hours before news of Queen Elizabeth II’s death spread, Prime Minister Narendra Modi delivered a fiery speech urging India to shed its colonial ties in a ceremony to rename a boulevard that once honored King George V.  It was a clear sign that once the largest of Britain’s colonies that endured two centuries of imperial rule has moved on. The queen’s death provoked sympathies from some while for a few others, it jogged memories of a bloody history under the British crown. Among most regular Indians, the news was met with an indifferent shrug. Colonial rule is remembered for the extraordinary violence and suffering, from famines and economic exploitation to ultimately an unprecedented level of bloodshed in the partition of India and Pakistan. Armenia says 49 soldiers killed in attacks by Azerbaijan YEREVAN, Armenia (AP) — Azerbaijani forces have shelled Armenia’s territory in a large-scale attack that killed at least 49 Armenian soldiers and fueled fears of even broader hostilities. The hostilities erupted minutes after midnight Tuesday, with Azerbaijani forces unleashing an artillery barrage and drone attacks in many sections of Armenian territory, according to the Armenian Defense Ministry. Azerbaijan charged that its forces returned fire in response to “large-scale provocations” by the Armenian military, claiming that the Armenian troops planted mines and repeatedly fired on Azerbaijani military positions, resulting in unspecified casualties and damage to military infrastructure. Russia moved quickly to broker a cease-fire, but it wasn’t immediately clear whether it was holding. EXPLAINER: Why Twitter’s former security head is testifying Peiter Zatko, the former Twitter security chief who’s accused the company of negligence with privacy and security in a whistleblower complaint will testify before Congress on Tuesday. Zatko is well-respected in the cybersecurity space, which gives his complaints extra weight. But he has little documentary support for his claims — unlike the Facebook whistleblower, Frances Haugen, whose complaint last year included troves of internal documents from the company now called Meta. Twitter calls Zatko’s description of events “a false narrative.” Zatko’s accusations are also playing into Elon Musk’s battle with Twitter to get out of his $44 billion bid to buy the company. Sailor killed at Pearl Harbor to be laid to rest, at last CHICAGO (AP) — A 21-year-old sailor is being laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery more than 80 years after he was killed in the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. Scientific testing that started in 2015 on remains of men whose bodies were pulled from the USS Oklahoma after the attack has led to the identification of Herbert “Bert” Jacobson and more than 350 others. The service scheduled for Tuesday ends decades of questions from survivors of the sailor from Grayslake, Illinois. Nephew Brad McDonald says the burial will give his family closure, knowing “where he is and that he’s being finally laid to rest after being listed as an unknown for so long.” Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Read More Here

Dr. Louis Perron, Political Consultant, Handicaps The U.S. Midterm Elections https://digitalarizonanews.com/dr-louis-perron-political-consultant-handicaps-the-u-s-midterm-elections/ , /PRNewswire/ — “If the attention over the next two months will be on inflation and the Democrats, Republicans will have a very good election night,” says Dr. Louis Perron, an internationally renowned expert in winning elections. “If the focus will be on Trump and MAGA Republicans, however, Democrats have a chance to keep the Senate and to limit the losses in the House.” Dr. Louis Perron Ronald Reagan, Bill Clinton, Barack Obama, and Donald Trump all lost their majority in the House of Representatives during their first midterm elections. According to Perron, who also teaches political marketing at the University of Zurich in Switzerland, history is clear and in the past, the approval rating of the incumbent president has been one of the best predictors for the outcome of the midterm elections. In the realclearpolitics polling average, 43% of the voters approve of the job Joe Biden is doing while 54% disapprove. On the critical issue of inflation, Biden’s job approval is even worse: 32% approve of the job he does on inflation versus 68% who disapprove. But what if Democrats were to defy history? Dr. Perron, who has won dozens of elections in various countries, observes that Democrats have gained some momentum. In the average generic vote for Congress, Democrats are now slightly ahead of the Republicans: 44.5% say they would vote for the Democrat, 44.1% say that they would vote for the Republican. “This is rare for the incumbent party at this stage of the electoral cycle and it’s the first time in basically a year that Democrats are in the lead,” Perron says. What’s the reason? Perron explains that the reason is not because of Biden’s leadership on the war in Ukraine, which he considers to be a side issue for American voters. “It is also not because he is getting quite significant legislation passed despite a small majority and hyper polarization reigning in Washington D.C.,” Perron says. According to Perron, the real reason is because with the FBI executing a search warrant at Mar-a-Lago (and the decision of overturning Roe vs. Wade) the spotlight is back on Donald Trump. “Donald Trump obviously has a very enthusiastic base, which is why his candidates performed well in the Republican primaries. But some of the candidates that the Republican base chose do not seem very viable in a general election,” said Perron, who is also the author of a book on how challengers win elections. “Trump’s base was already mobilized two years ago and despite all the talk about polarization, there still are independents in the U.S.,” Perron says. According to him, Trump got elected in 2016 with a minority of the votes because independents gave him the benefit of the doubt over Hillary Clinton. “After that, he lost the House of Representatives, then the White House, then the Senate for Republicans.” About Dr. Louis Perron Dr. Louis Perron is an internationally renowned political consultant based in Switzerland. He has won dozens of competitive election campaigns in various countries – from big city mayors up to president. He is the author of the book “How to Overcome the Power of Incumbency in Election Campaigns.” For information, go to www.campaignanalysis.com Contact: Perron Campaigns Dr. Louis Perron [email protected] +41 43 488 37 20 SOURCE Dr. Louis Perron Read More Here

Post Politics Now: Biden To Host White House Celebration Of The Inflation Reduction Act https://digitalarizonanews.com/post-politics-now-biden-to-host-white-house-celebration-of-the-inflation-reduction-act/ Today, thousands of supporters from across the country are expected at the White House as President Biden stages a celebration of the Inflation Reduction Act, a sprawling new law that aims to lower prescription drug costs, address global warming, raise taxes on some billion-dollar corporations and reduce the federal deficit. Biden and fellow Democrats are trying to promote the bill in advance of the November midterm elections, citing it as evidence that their party can get important things done in Washington. Hours ahead of the event, the federal government is scheduled to release the consumer price index for August, offering a snapshot of the state of inflation. Both parties are eager to spin the numbers, with Biden arguing that he is trying to rein in inflation, while Republicans counter that it remains unacceptably high. Your daily dashboard 8:30 a.m. Eastern time: The Bureau of Labor Statistics releases the consumer price index for August. 1:35 p.m. Eastern: White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre briefs reporters. Watch live here. 3 p.m. Eastern: Biden hosts a celebration of the Inflation Reduction Act. Watch live here. 6:50 p.m. Eastern: House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) swears in three new members: Mary Peltola (D-Alaska), Pat Ryan (D-N.Y.) and Joe Sempolinski (R-N.Y.). Got a question about politics? Submit it here. After 3 p.m. weekdays, return to this space and we’ll address what’s on the mind of readers. Noted: Senate panel to investigate claims of political interference at Trump Justice Dept. Return to menu The Senate Judiciary Committee is launching an investigation of new claims of political interference at the Justice Department during the presidency of Donald Trump, spurred by a forthcoming book by Geoffrey Berman, the former U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York. As The Post’s Aaron Blake recently noted, the book reportedly details Berman’s jousting with political appointees at the Trump Justice Department — including then-Attorney General William P. Barr, whom he casts as repeatedly pushing Trump’s line in prosecution decisions with political implications. A leaked copy of the book, “Holding the Line,” was obtained by the New York Times and the Guardian. Analysis: Inside Chris Christie’s antiabortion blitz Return to menu In the months before the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, the prominent antiabortion leader Marjorie Dannenfelser started meeting with Republican governors to talk through how the aftermath of the court’s decision might play out. She was joined in many of those meetings by an unlikely ally: former New Jersey governor Chris Christie, The Post’s Theodoric Meyer, Leigh Ann Caldwell and Rachel Roubein write in The Early 202. Per our colleagues: On our radar: A record number of Black candidates for higher offices aim to reshape U.S. politics Return to menu A record number of Black men and women are running for U.S. Senate and governor this fall, with the potential to increase diversity in the nation’s top elected offices, which are still overwhelmingly held by White men. The Post’s Tim Craig writes that since Reconstruction, voters have elected just seven Black senators and two Black governors. This year, 16 Black candidates — 13 Democrats and three Republicans — are major party nominees, from Florida and across the Deep South to traditional Midwestern battlegrounds such as Wisconsin. Per Tim: Noted: Schumer doles out cash to Democrats in tight contests Return to menu As the final primary contests wrap on Tuesday, Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.) is dishing out $15 million from his Friends of Schumer campaign account to Senate candidates and the Democratic Senate Campaign Committee. Writing in The Early 202, The Post’s Theodoric Meyer and Leigh Ann Caldwell note that Schumer’s cash haul is his biggest transfer yet, an aide familiar with the action said. It’s also the first election where he’s trying to maintain his spot as majority leader. Per our colleagues: On our radar: Thousands expected at White House for celebration of Inflation Reduction Act Return to menu Thousands of supporters from across the country are expected at the White House on Tuesday as President Biden stages a celebration of the Inflation Reduction Act, a sprawling new law that aims to lower prescription drug costs, address global warming, raise taxes on some billion-dollar corporations and reduce the federal deficit. In addition to members of Congress and his Cabinet, Biden has invited governors, mayors, climate and environmental leaders, health-care activists, union workers and others to join him on the South Lawn to celebrate what Biden will call “one of the most consequential pieces of legislation in American history,” according to a White House official who spoke on the condition of anonymity to preview the event. On our radar: Voters to cast ballots in final primaries, with heated GOP fights in N.H. Return to menu The 2022 primaries are concluding Tuesday on a familiar note — with voters in Republican races choosing between far-right, election-denying candidates and more moderate rivals, and party leaders divided in contests factoring into the battle for control of Congress. The Post’s Colby Itkowitz and David Weigel report that voters are heading to the polls in three states, marking the end of this year’s nominating process for the two major parties: Delaware, New Hampshire and Rhode Island. Per our colleagues: Analysis: Biden’s flimsy claim he has the ‘strongest’ manufacturing jobs record Return to menu “Right now, I have the strongest record of growing manufacturing jobs in modern history,” President Biden tweeted on Saturday. Writing in The Fact Checker, The Post’s Glenn Kessler says regular readers know we are often wary when a president proclaims success in creating jobs. Per Glenn: Presidential decisions and new laws can certainly impact job creation — over time. But it is hard to disentangle the importance of those factors from broader economic forces that are beyond a president’s control. That’s why it’s often misleading to measure job creation by presidential term — an artificial metric beloved by presidents and the public alike. You can read Glenn’s full analysis, and find out how many Pinocchios he awarded Biden, here. The latest: U.S. sent $1.3 billion in small-business covid aid abroad, raising new fraud fears Return to menu As the U.S. government raced to shore up small businesses’ finances at the height of the pandemic, it may have erroneously awarded more than $1.3 billion to foreign applicants — raising new suspicions that the program might have helped fund overseas crime syndicates. The Post’s Tony Romm reports that the top watchdog for the Small Business Administration, which reported its findings on Monday, said the spending posed a “significant risk of potential fraud.” Per Tony: The latest: Justice Dept. signals it would accept Trump’s candidate for special master Return to menu The Justice Department filed court papers Monday signaling that it would accept a former chief federal judge in New York as a special master charged with reviewing papers seized by the FBI from former president Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago residence and club. The Post’s Devlin Barrett and Perry Stein report that U.S. District Judge Aileen M. Cannon must approve Raymond J. Dearie’s appointment for the document review — which has stalled the Justice Department’s criminal probe — to go forward. Per our colleagues: The latest: Judge rejects ex-Trump aide Navarro’s selective prosecution claim Return to menu A federal judge on Monday rejected former Trump White House trade adviser Peter Navarro’s claim that he is the victim of a Biden administration political vendetta, denying his request to probe why he has been charged with criminal contempt of Congress for refusing to comply with a subpoena from the House committee investigating the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. The Post’s Spencer S. Hsu reports that Navarro asserted that he was selectively prosecuted compared to two other former high-ranking Trump White House aides against whom the Justice Department declined to bring charges — chief of staff Mark Meadows and deputy chief Dan Scavino. Spencer writes: Read More Here

Dow Futures Drop 400 Points After Hot Inflation Report https://digitalarizonanews.com/dow-futures-drop-400-points-after-hot-inflation-report/ Stock futures dropped on Tuesday morning after an August inflation report came in hotter than expected. Dow Jones Industrial Average futures sank 406 points, or about 1.3%. S&P 500 futures fell 1.7% and Nasdaq 100 futures slid 2.3%. The August consumer price index report showed a higher-than-expected reading for inflation. Headline inflation rose 0.1% month over month, even with falling gas prices. Core inflation rose 0.6% month over month. Economists surveyed by Dow Jones had been expecting a decline of 0.1% for overall inflation, with a rise of 0.3% for core inflation. The report is one of the last the Fed will see ahead of their Sept. 20-21 meeting, where they’re expected to deliver their third consecutive 0.75 percentage point interest rate hike to tamp down inflation. The unexpectedly high August report could lead the Fed to continue its aggressive hikes longer than some investors anticipated. The move in futures comes after four straight positive sessions for U.S. stocks, which were bolstered in part by the belief of many investors that inflation had already peaked. “The fact the SPX has rallied so much in the last few days will make the index especially vulnerable to a downdraft. The fact the sources of inflation were so widespread is another negative (it’s hard to pin the upside on any one category),” said Adam Crisafulli, founder of Vital Knowledge. Treasury yields soar after hot CPI report U.S. Treasury yields jumped on Tuesday as investors bet that a hot inflation reading will keep the Federal Reserve aggressive in tightening monetary policy. The yield on the benchmark 10-year Treasury note surged 7 basis points, trading at 3.43%. The yield on the 30-year Treasury bond was up about 4 basis points at 3.55%. Meanwhile, the yield on the two-year Treasury, soared 14 basis points to 3.70%, hitting its highest level since November 2007. Yields move inversely to prices, and a basis point is equal to 0.01%. — Yun Li Inflation rises 0.1% in August even after decline in gas prices The consumer price index unexpectedly rose month over month in August even as gas prices eased, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported. The index gained 0.1% for the month and was up 8.3% year over year. Economists polled by Dow Jones expected a month-over-month decline of 0.1%. Core CPI, which strips out volatile food and energy costs, rose 0.6% from July and 6.3% year over year. — Jeff Cox Stock futures reverse, fall after inflation report A surprisingly hot CPI report led to a quick reversal in stock futures. Dow futures, which were up more than 200 points shortly before 8:30 a.m., were down more 300 points following the release. Nasdaq 100 futures saw a negative swing of nearly 3%. — Jesse Pound Stocks face risks in the short-run as earnings estimates get hit, Bernstein says Economic headwinds and investor pessimism presents downside risk for stocks, especially in Europe, according to Bernstein. Strategists Sarah McCarthy and Mark Diver said in a note to clients on Tuesday that earnings estimates in Europe could be cut another 10% or more, putting pressure on equities. “The European market is up 4% from the start of September, but down 13% year to date (in local currency terms). We expect further downside in the short run as in our view a) the earnings downgrade cycle has further to run and b) we expect more outflows from equity funds. Sentiment measures are not pessimistic enough yet to take a bullish stance on positive short-term returns,” the note said. Europe isn’t the only area showing weakness. The Bernstein note also said that global equity funds have seen three straight weeks of outflows. — Jesse Pound, Michael Bloom Treasury yields slide ahead of CPI U.S. Treasury yields were in retreat on Tuesday morning less than an hour before the release of a key inflation report. The yield on the benchmark 10-year Treasury note and the 2-year Treasury were lower by about 5 basis points each, trading at 3.314% and 3.525% respectively. The yield on the 30-year Treasury bond was down about 4 basis points at 3.477%. Bond yields move opposite of price, and a basis point is equal to 0.01%. Treasury yields have moved higher in September as Federal Reserve officials have pledged to continue their fight against inflation even if it causes short-term damage to the economy. — Jesse Pound Steer clear of Rent the Runway, Barclays says Barclays downgraded shares of Rent the Runway to neutral from outperform, citing concerns over the company’s active subscriber growth. “The significant deterioration in Active Customer trends in the quarter (QoQ active sub growth slowed to -8% in 2Q vs Street +7%, decelerating from +17% in 1Q) suggest that RENT is more susceptible to macro pressure on the aspirational consumer than we expected,” analyst Michael Binetti wrote in a note. Rent the Runway shares fell more than 22% in the premarket after the company announced it was laying off 24% of its corporate workforce. —Sarah Min Dollar falls for fifth day in a row The dollar index, which tracks the U.S. currency’s performance against six others, fell for a fifth straight day, potentially giving stocks a boost. Many large U.S. companies get a big chunk of their revenue from outside the U.S., meaning that a weaker dollar could boost their revenue. The index traded 0.5% lower at 107.76. — Fred Imbert Chinese EV maker BYD can rally nearly 40% BYD, a Chinese electric vehicle maker, could make big gains going forward, according to Barclays. “BYD (Build Your Dream) became the #1 global EV maker in terms of deliveries in 2Q22, dethroning Tesla from that pedestal for the first time, and its triple-digit revenue growth rate is likely to continue for the rest of 2022, despite its already sizable base,” analyst Jiong Shao wrote in a Tuesday note. The analyst also has a $40 per share price target on the stock, implying upside of 38% from Monday’s close. CNBC Pro subscribers can read the full story here. — Sarah Min UK unemployment hits 48-year low while real wages fall sharply U.K. unemployment fell to 3.6% in the three months to July, its lowest since 1974. The economic inactivity rate, meanwhile, rose by 0.4 percentage points to a five-year high of 21.7%. The Office for National Statistics attributed the change to a rise in long-term sickness designations and students leaving the jobs market. The increasing tightness of the labor market may fuel further inflationary pressure and cause headaches for the Bank of England. Annual growth in real wages — taking into account inflation — excluding bonuses fell by 2.8% in the three months to the end of July. “People will understandably be looking to their employers for help during the cost of living crisis while Andrew Bailey will be hoping that businesses don’t up salaries too high too quickly and compound inflation,” said Marcus Brookes, chief investment officer at Quilter Investors. “However, the U.K. must brace for discontent amongst the public sector with strikes over pay continuing as budgets are stretched.” – Elliot Smith UBS plans to boost dividend; shares rise in pre-market UBS Group plans to increase its dividend by 10% to $0.55 per share and expects its 2022 share repurchases to exceed $5 billion, the Swiss bank said on Tuesday. UBS shares were indicated 1.2% higher in pre-market activity after what ZKB analyst Michael Klien called surprise news. Read more here. — Reuters European stocks rise slightly European stocks were cautiously higher on Tuesday morning as global markets geared up for the latest reading of U.S. inflation. The pan-European Stoxx 600 was up 0.3% in early trade, with food and beverage stocks adding 0.8% to lead gains as most sectors and major bourses inched into positive territory. Retail stocks slid 0.4%. – Elliot Smith CNBC Pro: Want to invest in real estate? These REITs are among analysts’ favorites Real estate investment trusts — or REITs — are coming back to the spotlight after a volatile year for many asset classes. Analysts from Morgan Stanley and Citi highlight REITs from two sectors that they say could outperform the wider market, and remain resilient in a recession. CNBC Pro subscribers can read more here. — Weizhen Tan Fed actions this month could be ‘nonevent’ for asset prices, Ameriprise says The upcoming September Federal Reserve meeting, where the central bank is expected to raise interest rates, is likely already priced into the market, according to Ameriprise chief market strategist Anthony Saglimbene. “In our view, central bank actions this month are likely a nonevent for asset prices,” he wrote in a Monday note. “However, incoming economic data over the coming weeks and months and its influence on policy actions next year could play a much more significant role in shaping stock direction over the intermediate term.” Markets now expect the Fed to hike rates by 0.75 percentage point, meaning that assets may not move much if that is the central bank’s decision. A consumer price index report Tuesday that’s in-line with expectations may also not move the needle.” “Unless inflation figures last month changed substantially more than expected, including Wednesday’s update on the August Producer Price Index (PPI), we believe a 75 basis point hike from the Fed is essentially locked in at this point,” he said. —Carmen Reinicke Relief rally is likely bear market bounce, Wells Fargo says The recent relief rally in stocks is likely another bear market bounce and investors should position for more choppiness ahead, according to Wells Fargo. “Year-do-date, the outperformance of defensive, high shareholder payout, high-quality and low-valuation stocks reminds investors of the hallmark of a bear market,” global portfolio and investment strategist Chao Ma wrote in a Monday note. S...

Beat Your Competitors To The Sale With Info On New Restaurants Opening In Your Area From Flhip.com. | RestaurantNews.com https://digitalarizonanews.com/beat-your-competitors-to-the-sale-with-info-on-new-restaurants-opening-in-your-area-from-flhip-com-restaurantnews-com/ Click on this link to see how Flhip.com can get you in the door first ahead of your competitors. (RestaurantNews.com)  Flhip.com has released its latest restaurant openings report, providing restaurant vendors with a sampling of fresh sales and marketing leads that can be found on their website. New York, NY – EVOL Warm up those vocal cords New York, a brand new karaoke bar and restaurant is getting ready to open up on Canal Street later this year. EVOL is a brand new restaurant concept from owner Andy Zheng. Zheng describes the new lounge as a “restaurant and bar offering karaoke and live performances,” and is expected to open up EVOL at 393 Canal Street, on the corner between Thompson and Grand Street, otherwise known as 2 Thompson Street. Venice, CA – Reunion NeueHouse, an upcoming Venice development that provides a collaborative workspace and social spaces, is opening a new rooftop restaurant called Reunion, located at 73 Market St. Tucked away on a historic two-block street just off the beach, the company’s third Los Angeles site will open in Fall 2022. Like its other three locations, including the original site in Madison Square, the space will combine inspiring work and social areas with expanded amenities for the Venice way of life. Such amenities include an exquisite rooftop restaurant, light-filled bar, and expanded activities for the Venice setting. Access to NeueHouse Venice Beach will be highly limited, so memberships are necessary. Germantown, MD – Charleys Cheesesteaks Charleys Cheesesteaks will be opening a location inside of the Germantown Walmart (20910 Frederick Rd), in the space formerly occupied by McDonald’s. The company has created a Facebook page for the new store and representatives from Charleys tell us they expect to open in early November. Tampa, FL – K?sen K?sen, a new omakase restaurant, will join the already impressive roster of restaurants in Tampa Heights in the winter of this year. The restaurant will feature menu by renowned Chef Wei Chen. He comes from the Michelin starred restaurant Masa. The 18-course menu curated by Wei Chen will run $250, and will assuredly be worth every penny. Positioned underneath the Pearl at 307 W Palm Avenue, Kosen will privately host 10-seats at the sushi bar and 25 booth seats in the dining room. Gilbert, AZ – Pasta Joint Weeknight dinners are about to get a whole lot easier thanks to a new restaurant called Pasta Joint. The take-out spot is under construction at 3050 E. Queen Creek Road in Gilbert, where it will take over the former site of The Egg & I. You may see a banner for Pasta Joint go up soon at this address, according to a recent permit found in public records. West Columbia, SC – I Heart Mac & Cheese Mac and Cheese foodies will soon get their appetite quenched as West Columbia will welcome new restaurant I Heart Mac & Cheese to the area. The fast-casual concept specializing in customizable, made-to-order macaroni and cheese bowls and grilled cheese sandwiches, the newest location is scheduled to open Sept. 21 at 2712 Emanuel Church Road. After the grand opening, the first 10 guests in line will receive free mac and cheese for one year. Don’t miss a lead CLICK HERE to keep up to date with Flhip.com offerings. For more information or to view the leads in your area, please visit Flhip.com Contact: Ken Roberts 772-231-5826 ken@flhip.com More from Flhip Read More Here

Valley Mom's Business Thriving With Help From Unlimited Potential https://digitalarizonanews.com/valley-moms-business-thriving-with-help-from-unlimited-potential/ SCOTTSDALE, AZ — As Hispanic Heritage Month kicks off this week, ABC15 is taking a closer look at the many contributions the Hispanic community makes in our state. When it comes to education, it’s not just back-to-school for kids – a Valley-based organization is helping adults achieve their dreams and proving to them it’s never too late. Wendy Munive sells colorful, authentic Mexican designs through her Scottsdale-based business, Azteca Traditions. Her jewelry isn’t the only thing that’s bright these days — so is her future! “My husband tells me, ‘you are persistent,'” explains Wendy. “‘You don’t stop.'” Wendy says her business is booming right now; it’s a life she had no idea even existed, but thanks to the Valley-based nonprofit Unlimited Potential, doors are opening for Wendy and so many others. “I’ve seen my growth and how much I’ve grown, but the truth is I’ve really absorbed everything they’ve offered me.” “We are a bridge,” explains Maricarmen Guzman with Unlimited Potential. “We are the people in this community that have the information first-hand.” Guzman says that information is giving power to the people Unlimited Potential helps in a variety of ways. Wendy earned her GED through the group, took English classes, and even got business training which she says gave her the confidence to branch out on her own. “And my kids say, ‘I never would have imagined seeing you the way I see you now,'” says Wendy. “So now it’s like, wow, they really are watching me.” Many of the people Unlimited Potential helps are immigrants from Mexico. Consul General Jorge Mendoza Yescas says groups like Unlimited Potential are playing key roles in helping people build their own lives and become thriving members of our community. For Wendy, it’s not only about improving her own life, but also proving to her kids that it’s possible at any age. “My hope for them is that they look at me and they don’t see me as the mom who was always at home but that they also see the professional version of me — as a mom who is empowered.” For more information on Unlimited Potential, head to their website. 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 Here

Morning Digest: McConnell Hoping N.H. GOP Won't Nominate Conspiracy Theorist In 2022's Last Primary https://digitalarizonanews.com/morning-digest-mcconnell-hoping-n-h-gop-wont-nominate-conspiracy-theorist-in-2022s-last-primary/ Both parties will be closely watching the GOP primary for New Hampshire’s Senate seat, where a win for retired Army Brig. General Donald Bolduc could badly weaken the party’s chances against Democratic Gov. Maggie Hassan. Deep-pocketed Republicans launched a late effort to help state Senate President Chuck Morse get past Bolduc, whom Gov. Chris Sununu has slammed as a “conspiracy-theory extremist,” while Democrats are spending to weaken Morse. A survey released Friday by the Democratic firm Public Policy Polling showed Bolduc ahead 33-23, but with a hefty 25% undecided. We also have a big Democratic primary for governor of Rhode Island as Dan McKee, who was elevated from the office of lieutenant governor to the top job in March of last year when Gina Raimondo resigned to become Joe Biden’s commerce secretary, tries to keep his new job. McKee’s main foe in this five-way race appears to be Secretary of State Nellie Gorbea, though former CVS executive Helena Foulkes has used her connections and personal wealth to far outspend the rest of the field. The winner will go up against self-funding businessman Ashley Kalus, who faces no serious opposition of her own in the GOP primary. If McKee loses, he’d be only the second Rhode Island governor to fall in a primary: The first was Bruce Sundlun, a fellow Democrat who lost his 1994 primary in a landslide. McKee is also trying to avoid joining the small group of six state governors who have lost their party’s nomination during the 21st century: 2004: Utah Gov. Olene Walker (R) 2004: Missouri Gov. Bob Holden (D) 2006: Alaska Gov. Frank Murkowski (R) 2010: Nevada Gov. Jim Gibbons (R) 2014: Hawaii Gov. Neil Abercrombie (D) 2018: Kansas Gov. Jeff Colyer (R) Two members of this group were, like McKee, running for the first time since they ascended from the lieutenant governor’s office: Walker failed to advance out of her party’s 2004 convention, while Colyer lost by 343 votes in his 2018 race against Trump-endorsed foe Kris Kobach. No matter what, though, McKee is very unlikely to come close to exceeding Abercrombie’s record for the worst primary defeat for a sitting governor in American history.   We’ll also be keeping a close eye on the GOP primaries back in New Hampshire to take on each of the state’s Democratic House members, 1st District Rep. Chris Pappas and 2nd District Rep. Annie Kuster. Finally, Democrats have a crowded field of their own in Rhode Island’s 2nd to succeed retiring Democratic Rep. Jim Langevin. You can find out more about each of these contests in our preview. The first polls close in parts of New Hampshire at 7 PM ET. Our live coverage will begin at 8 PM ET at Daily Kos Elections when polls close in the remainder of the state, as well as in all of Delaware and Rhode Island. You can also follow us on Twitter for blow-by-blow updates. Senate ● AZ-Sen: Politico reports that Sentinel Action Fund, which is aligned with the conservative Heritage Foundation, has booked $3.5 million in TV time to aid Republican Blake Masters and will spend another $1.5 million on get-out-the-vote-efforts. The move comes days after Saving Arizona PAC launched its own $1.5 million buy to help Masters: These new arrivals, though, are still well short of making up for the $11.5 million worth of reservations that the NRSC and Senate Leadership Fund canceled last month.   ● OH-Sen, OH-Gov: Suffolk University’s new survey for USA Today gives Democrat Tim Ryan a narrow 47-46 edge over Republican J.D. Vance in Ohio’s Senate race even as GOP Gov. Mike DeWine posts a 54-39 advantage over Democrat Nan Whaley. Suffolk’s May poll showed Vance and DeWine up 42-39 and 45-30, respectively, and almost every Ohio survey we’ve seen in the intervening time has come from a partisan firm. Governors ● NY-Gov: The Republican firm co/efficient shows Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul fending off Republican Lee Zeldin 49-43, which is very different from the 55-31 Hochul lead that SurveyUSA found a few weeks ago. House ● AZ-04: Democratic Rep. Greg Stanton has unveiled a crossparty endorsement from Mesa Mayor John Giles, whose city is home to just under half of the new 4th District’s denizens. Giles, who leads what the 2020 census also says is America’s 36th-largest city (those numbers placed Mesa just ahead of Atlanta, Georgia in population), also backed Democratic Sen. Mark Kelly in July. A local Republican Party responded by censuring Giles and calling for party members to “cease recognition” of him, though the mayor was far from sorry. “I am an unapologetically Republican,” he said, “(But) I’m going to vote for and support the best candidate regardless of party affiliation.” ● MI-07, NM-Gov: Tom Barrett’s latest commercial in Michigan’s 7th District attacks Democratic incumbent Elissa Slotkin over inflation even though Republicans have largely moved on to other topics as the economy improves. Indeed, the Washington Post ran an article over the weekend quoting Donald Schneider, the GOP’s chief economist on the House Ways and Means Committee, saying that while the GOP once saw the issue as “our big arrow in the quiver,” now “it’s a private concern among Republicans: ‘Are we going to lose this thing, or are we okay?'” The story also notes that talk about gas prices has largely faded from Team Red’s campaign ads as costs have dramatically dropped since this spring’s high. The Post writes, “About 1 in every 6 ads mentioned ‘gas prices’ in July, but only 1 percent of ads mentioned the words in early September, according to AdImpact data.” Barrett’s newest commercial doesn’t directly mention gas prices either, though it opens with a woman refilling her car as she complains about inflation. Unsurprisingly, the GOP has recalibrated by spreading fear about public safety. The Post says that “‘crime’ has become a central message of Republicans, with the word being used in 29 percent of ads, up from about 12 percent in July.” At least one of these spots, however, has generated the wrong type of attention for the Republican airing it. Mark Ronchetti, who is trying to unseat Democratic Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham in New Mexico, last week ran a commercial where his wife talks about calling 911 during what she thought was a home invasion before the candidate insists the incumbent is making the state less safe. However, the local media quickly reported that the incident occurred in 2012 when Republican Susana Martinez was in the early years of her governorship. While Democrats were quick to blast Ronchetti for focusing on something that happened over six years before Lujan Grisham took office, some of the harshest criticism also came from a fellow Republican. “Whoever put this home invasion ad out should have done just a little bit of homework” said Sandoval County Commissioner Jay Block, who badly lost the June primary for this post. “Mistakes like this make it easy for MLG to make our side look like idiots.” ● NY-19: Democrat Josh Riley has publicized an internal from Garin-Hart-Yang Research Group that shows him edging out Republican Marc Molinaro 47-44, which makes this the first poll we’ve seen of this contest. Molinaro last month lost the special election in the old boundaries of the 19th District in a 51-49 upset against Democrat Pat Ryan, and the redrawn version of this seat could be even tougher for the Dutchess County executive to flip. Biden, according to new calculations from Daily Kos Elections, would have taken the new seat 51-47, while he won the old constituency only 50-48. Only 43% of the residents of the new 19th also live in the seat that Molinaro just lost, and none of them are his current Dutchess County constituents. (Most of that county is located in the new 18th, where Ryan is seeking re-election, while the balance is in the 17th.) ● TX-34: House Majority PAC is tying Republican Rep. Mayra Flores to the attack on the Capital in a commercial that faults her for supporting “conspiracy theories that resulted in the armed attack on Jan. 6, leaving 150 police officers beaten and five dead.” CNN reported just after Flores’ June special election victory that, while she later denied having anything to do with QAnon, she repeatedly used its hashtag in 2020. Flores also spent the weeks after that election denying Trump lost, including on Jan. 6 itself when she tweeted, “If we allow the Democrats to steal THIS election, they will steal EVERY election moving forward!” She wrote later that day that the riot “surely was caused by infiltrators” and falsely insisted that one rioter was a Black Lives Matter member. HMP’s commercial also faults Flores for having “sponsored an extreme abortion law that prohibits access to abortion in case of rape and incest, or even when an innocent mother’s life is at risk.” The congresswoman faces her fellow incumbent, Democratic Rep. Vicente González, in a constituency in the eastern Rio Grande Valley that would have supported Biden 57-42. ● Independent Expenditures: Daily Kos Elections is pleased to bring you the second installment of our spreadsheet tracking spending by the “Big Four” House groups—the DCCC, House Majority PAC, NRCC, and Congressional Leadership Fund—which we’re updating weekly from now through Election Day. Since our chart first went live just after Labor Day, the playing field as these organizations see it has almost doubled, with spending showing up in 19 new districts, on top of the 20 in our initial update. The new districts are highlighted in bold and include battlegrounds across the country, from Arizona’s 2nd (where the NRCC just dumped in $900,000 to oust Democratic Rep. Tom O’Halleran) to Wisconsin’s 3rd (where the CLF has now deployed $130,000 to flip this Democratic-held open seat). This week’...

A Far-Right Politician Is Poised To Become Italy’s First Female Leader https://digitalarizonanews.com/a-far-right-politician-is-poised-to-become-italys-first-female-leader/ ROME — The favorite to be Italy’s next prime minister has rocketed almost from out of nowhere. Her party, until recently, was on the fringes. She was overlooked for years by Italy’s male-dominated political class. She is an unmarried mother with a heavy Roman accent, always casual and blunt, gesturing with hands to the sky, lambasting “woke ideology” and cancel culture. By any account, Giorgia Meloni’s rise is astonishing. In a matter of weeks, if all goes as expected, she stands to become Italy’s first female leader. She’s also set a benchmark for a far-right politician in Western Europe, earning a level of power that’s been out of reach for her counterparts in Germany and France, and doing so even after the forces propelling nationalism on the continent — a migration backlash and Euroskepticism — have waned. But Meloni’s profile is distinctive, as is the path she’s found for political success. Amid war in Europe, she has notably avoided the pitfalls of nationalist figures elsewhere. She’s a strong NATO supporter and shows no affinity for Russian President Vladimir Putin. She has pledged not to disrupt Italy’s stability and Atlantic alliances. The country, she says, won’t take some authoritarian turn. What will surely change, though, is Italy’s tone. Meloni takes shots at the “LGBT lobby” and the “globalist” left. She highlights anecdotes about immigrant crime. She has said that “everything we stand for is under attack” — Christian values, gender norms. Some of her stances — like opposition to gay adoptions, for instance — don’t get much traction among Italian voters, but she cites them as evidence that she cares more about principles than popularity. “In a political world where everyone’s saying one thing and doing another, our [party’s] system of values is pretty clear,” Meloni said in an interview with The Washington Post. “You may like it or not, but we aren’t misleading.” If Meloni, 45, prevails, she’ll wind up with a hard job: running a country in a generation-long economic decline that is somewhat wary of her powers. Those on the left have sounded the alarm, saying that Meloni could push Italy into Europe’s illiberal bloc, alongside Hungary and Poland, fighting against diversity and agitating against Brussels. Her opponents argue that her views can veer into the extreme. They cite past remarks — such as a speech from 2017 — in which Meloni said mass-scale illegal immigration to Italy was “planned and deliberate,” carried out by unnamed powerful forces to import low-wage labor and drive out Italians. “It’s called ethnic substitution,” Meloni said at the time, echoing the far-right “great replacement” conspiracy theory. Her allies, on the other hand, say Meloni has the kind of serious plans her predecessors have lacked, and that she chiefly wants to address Italy’s economic woes. Her stump speech is theatrical, but it deals mostly with ideas about boosting investment and curbing welfare. Her party’s recently released platform has 25 proposals — everything from extending high-speed rail lines to jump-starting university research. Voters inclined toward Meloni tended to cite, in interviews with The Post, her perceived honesty and coherence as the reasons for their support. For now, Meloni’s Fratelli d’Italia party — the Brothers of Italy, a name that echoes lyrics in the national anthem — is the most popular in the country, favored by roughly one-quarter of voters. It has a coalition agreement with other parties on the right, giving it overwhelming odds to prevail against a fractured and reeling left. The right-wing bloc has said that the premier job should go to the leader of the party with the most votes. Still, following the Sept. 25 general election, the president, Sergio Mattarella, has final say on who gets the mandate. Meloni acknowledged in her Post interview that Italy is facing extraordinary challenges. She mentioned the rising cost of energy and raw materials, uncertainty about whether the pandemic might come roaring back, and Italy’s towering public debt — which perpetually leaves the country several missteps away from crisis. There’s a reason Italy has had 11 governments in the past 20 years. “I cannot say that, faced with such a responsibility, my hands aren’t shaking,” she said. “Because we’d find ourselves governing Italy during what’s perhaps one of the most complex situations ever.” A savvy campaign strategy Meloni’s ascent owes something to the fading star of another far-right politician, Matteo Salvini. Salvini, as recently as several years ago, was seen as Italy’s political dynamo — holding raucous rallies, banning the docking of immigrant ships and echoing former president Donald Trump with his pledge to put “Italians first.” From his perch as interior minister in 2018 and 2019, Salvini dominated the national discourse, and his League party had grown so popular that he thought he could vault into the prime minister’s seat. But his plan backfired. When he broke apart his government coalition to force new elections, other parties joined hands to freeze him out. He tumbled into the opposition. He lunged for new ways to stand out and contradicted himself with shifting positions. Eventually, Salvini took his party back into government, supporting former European Central Bank President Mario Draghi, the embodiment of the European establishment. “Salvini had won the lottery ticket,” said Giovanni Orsina, director of the school of government at Luiss Guido Carli University in Rome. “Then he lost it and Meloni got it.” Even those who disagree with Meloni’s politics concede that she strategized wisely. As Salvini tumbled, she built ties with like-minded parties in Europe — including Spain’s Vox and Poland’s Law and Justice party — and she made trips to address Republicans in the United States. To Italians, she framed her party’s perpetual opposition role as a matter of principle: The Brothers of Italy would only join a government if elected, as opposed to entering a majority through backroom deals. Meantime, she tried to show that her party would still be constructive players if it believed in a cause. Meloni, while speaking with The Post, mentioned supporting Draghi on handling aspects of fallout from the Ukraine war amid division in the prime minister’s coalition. “When help was needed, we offered it,” Meloni said. Especially as it pertains to her positions on Europe, she has moderated more noticeably than the other Western European nationalist who earlier this year made a run for power, France’s Marine Le Pen. While Le Pen’s platform had ideas that would have led to standoffs with Brussels — like prioritizing national law over E.U. law — Meloni’s does not, said Luigi Scazzieri, a senior research fellow at the Center for European Reform. “This kind of sanitization and Europeanization has gone a lot further in Meloni’s case than in Le Pen’s,” Scazzieri said. The catch now for Meloni is that to enter government, she’ll need Salvini, whose party is part of the right-wing coalition. On the trail, Salvini — who once wore a Putin T-shirt while touring Red Square — has suggested that the West should rethink sanctions against Russia, arguing that the measures are causing pain in Europe and failing to change the Kremlin’s calculus. Analysts say there’s already reason to wonder about the durability of any Meloni-led coalition, given the potential for competition and rivalry with Salvini. In theory, Salvini could complicate Meloni’s trajectory even before she gets the top job, by suggesting the party leaders stand back and pick an alternative representative. Enrico Letta, the president of Italy’s center-left party and Meloni’s chief sparring partner on social media, made the point in an interview with The Post that Italy isn’t in the midst of a sudden far-right surge. In European elections in 2019, Salvini’s League got 34 percent of the vote. Meloni’s party got 6 percent. As then, roughly two-fifths of Italians still favor the far-right parties; the difference is that Meloni has siphoned off much of Salvini’s support. “It’s not a wave — it’s her,” Letta said. “Part of the country is betting on her, because she is young and new.” He predicted that her honeymoon would “end soon,” and that the inevitable compromises would sully her reputation. Meloni, and those around her, said she has built her party up with no shortcuts. “We took the longer route,” she said. “Italians today understand that we’re a very reliable party.” Well prepared for confrontation Meloni says she learned at a young age the importance of having enemies. Her childhood in the Roman outskirts was difficult. She was abandoned by her father, who sailed off to the Canary Islands. She was raised by her mother, a right-winger who wrote romance novels. Playing with candles, she accidentally burned down the family home. And she was bullied for being overweight. In her autobiography, she recounts the story of being called a “fatso” when trying to get into a volleyball game. She dieted and slimmed down. “Years later I’m grateful to those rednecks,” Meloni wrote. All these years later, Meloni references her adversaries all time, sometimes with glee. On Facebook, she cites skeptical or critical news headlines. On the trail, she talks about how the left is obsessed with trashing her and is doing “everything to stop us.” Even in a video she released last month, rejecting any party ties with Italy’s fascist past, she noted that suggestions to the contrary had been “inspired by the powerful media circuit of the left.” In her interview with The Post, she explicitly cited the “globalist” left as an enemy, and said the West is “paying for the weakness” of its ideology, which she said seeks to flatten differences in identity. Italy has had all so...

Margaret Margie Corinne Rachal Measday Obituary (2022) Yuma Sun https://digitalarizonanews.com/margaret-margie-corinne-rachal-measday-obituary-2022-yuma-sun/ Margaret Margie Corinne Rachal Measday July 13, 1933 – September 7, 2022 Margaret Margie Corinne Rachal Measday, longtime resident of Yuma, Arizona, passed away on September 7, 2022 at 89 years old. Margaret was born in Ft. Stockton, Texas on July 13, 1933, to Guy Scott Rachal and Elizabeth Cage Lane Rachal, both members of pioneer Texas families. She was raised in Ft. Stockton and on her parents sheep and cattle ranch in Pecos County thirty miles from town. Margaret graduated from Ft. Stockton High School and attended Gulf Port College for Women for two years after graduation. On February 19, 1955, she married Wesley (Wes) Cyril Measday in Ft. Stockton, Texas. After working on the family ranch for six years, Margaret and Wes settled in Yuma, Arizona in 1965. A member of the St. Paul Episcopal Church for over 50 years, Margaret served on the Altar Guild and Vestry, played bells and piano, sang in the church choir, and dedicated the last decade of her life to sewing hundreds of quilts for Prayers and Squares distributed to people in need of prayers and comfort. Church was an important part of her life and a top priority. She was an avid piano player spending many hours at her beloved baby grand piano handed down from her aunt. Margaret was a long time employee of Texas Hill Farms until her retirement. Margaret was preceded in death by her husband, Wes Measday; her parents, Guy and Elizabeth Rachal; and her siblings, Guy Rachal, Mignon Pearson, and Elizabeth Bybee. She is survived by her three daughters and son-in-laws, Donna and Gary Bryant of Ft. Stockton, Texas; Paula and Rick Sims of Tucson, Arizona; and Kayla Yancey and Doug Rivera of Yuma, Arizona. Her grandchildren and spouses are: KC (Michael) Pospisil, Rebecca (Ryan) Anderson, Scott Sims, Ryan Sims, Megan Pearson (Ben Kite), Colin Yancey, Cameron Yancey, and four great-grandchildren: Kingsley, Carly, Lilymay, and Maggie. She is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews. Services will be held at St. Pauls Episcopal Church in Yuma, Arizona on October 1, 2022 at 10:00 am. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Paul’s Episcopal Church Prayers and Squares Ministry. http://www.saintpaulsyuma.org/site/donate.asp?sec_id=180014216. Please sign the guestbook at www.legacy.com/obituaries/yumasun Published by Yuma Sun on Sep. 13, 2022. Read More Here

Senate Panel To Probe Claims Trump’s DOJ Targeted His Critics https://digitalarizonanews.com/senate-panel-to-probe-claims-trumps-doj-targeted-his-critics/ By John Harney and Chris Strohm The chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee vowed to investigate allegations in a new book that President ’s Justice Department demanded that critics of the president be prosecuted. “These reported claims indicate astonishing and unacceptable deviations from the department’s mission to pursue impartial justice, which requires that its prosecutorial decisions be free from political influence,” Senator of Illinois wrote in a letter Monday to Attorney General , asking for information regarding the allegations. Durbin’s concerns center around the book “Holding the Line” by , the former US attorney for the Southern … To read the full article log in. © 2022 The Bureau of National Affairs, Inc. All Rights Reserved Read More Here

What Photos Of Donald Trump On Golf Course Reveal https://digitalarizonanews.com/what-photos-of-donald-trump-on-golf-course-reveal/ Photos of Donald Trump at one of his golf courses have emerged, amid speculation about an unannounced visit to the Washington, D.C. area. There were several unsubstantiated rumors, ranging from the former president about to be arrested, to a visit the Walter Reed hospital for health reasons after Trump’s plane landed at Dulles Airport in Virginia on Sunday evening, an airport frequently used by those heading to the nation’s capital. Trump eventually wrote on Truth Social on Monday that he was working at his Trump National Golf Club Washington, D.C. resort in northern Virginia. Photos from the Associated Press news agency emerged showing Trump and several other people, including his son Eric, gathering at the course. Donald Trump, his son Eric Trump, and several other people were pictured talking at the Trump National Golf Club Washington, DC. on Monday. AP The photos show the former president and Eric Trump riding together in a golf course, with at least four carts containing others present at the gathering alongside. Other pictures show Trump, his son, and seven other men appearing to have a conversation on the course. There had been reports that Trump arrived at his resort to play golf, although none of the photos show him or any of the people he was with holding clubs or actually playing. It is unclear if Trump or anyone else he was with teed off on Monday. There were also rumors that those who joined Trump at the course were House Minority leader Kevin McCarthy, Fox News host Sean Hannity and former congressman turned CEO of Truth Social Devin Nunes. However, none of these men were at the course with Trump on Monday. Some of those who are reported to be among the group of men pictured along with Trump include Larry Glick, executive vice president for development at the Trump Organization, Brad Enie, the director of grounds for the Trump National Golf Club, and the course’s general manager, Joe Roediger. There are no indications as to what the apparent meeting between the former president and those who work at The Trump Organization and his courses was about. Donald Trump and Eric Trump rode golf a golf cart together, followed by others who work at the resort and The Trump Organization. While Trump often played at the course just outside D.C. while president, he has only returned to Washington on one occasion since he left the White House in January 2021. In July, Trump gave a speech at the end of the America First Policy Institute‘s two-day “America First Agenda” summit. Speculation that Trump was traveling to D.C. to face indictment grew as he is currently under a federal investigation into claims he mishandled classified documents seized by the FBI from his Mar-a-Lago resort. He also faces a number of other charges in relation to the January 6 attack and his alleged attempts to overturn the 2020 election results. The Walter Reed hospital could not confirm or deny the former president was checking in, citing patient privacy. The Trump Organization has been contacted for comment. Read More Here

Trump's PAC Faces Scrutiny Amid Intensifying Legal Probes https://digitalarizonanews.com/trumps-pac-faces-scrutiny-amid-intensifying-legal-probes-2/ WASHINGTON (AP) — Sitting on top of more than $115 million across several political committees, Donald Trump has positioned himself as a uniquely indomitable force in the GOP who would almost certainly have the resources to swamp his rivals if he launched another presidential campaign. But that massive pile of money is also emerging as a potential vulnerability. His chief fundraising vehicle, Save America PAC, is under new legal scrutiny after the Justice Department issued a round of grand jury subpoenas that sought information about the political action committee’s fundraising practices. The scope of the probe is unclear. Grand jury subpoenas and search warrants issued by the Justice Department in recent days were related to numerous topics, including Trump’s PAC, according to people familiar with the matter who requested anonymity to discuss an ongoing investigation. The subpoenas seek records as well as testimony and ask at least some of the recipients about their knowledge of efforts to engage in election fraud, according to one of the people. The subpoenas also ask for records of communication with Trump-allied lawyers who supported efforts to overturn the 2020 election results and plotted to line up fake electors in battleground states. A particular area of focus appears to be on the “Save America Rally” that preceded the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection at the U.S. Capitol, the person said. The investigation is one of several criminal probes Trump currently faces, including scrutiny of how documents with classified markings wound up at the former president’s Mar-a-Lago club in Palm Beach, Florida. Regardless of Save America’s ultimate role in the investigations, the flurry of developments has drawn attention to the PAC’s management, how it has raised money and where those funds have been directed. Trump spokesman Taylor Budowich slammed the subpoenas, saying a “weaponized and politicized Justice Department” was “casting a blind net to intimidate and silence Republicans who are fighting for his America First agenda.” Representatives for the Justice Department have declined to comment. While Trump has more than $115 million held across various committees, the vast majority of it is stored at Save America. The PAC ended July with more than $99 million cash-on-hand, according to fundraising records — more than the Republican and Democratic national campaign committees combined. Trump has continued to shovel up small-dollar donations in the months since, frustrating other Republicans who have been struggling to raise money ahead of the November midterm elections. Save America is set up as a “leadership PAC” designed to allow political figures to fundraise for other campaigns. But the groups are often used by would-be candidates to fund political travel, polling and staff as they “test the waters” ahead of potential presidential runs. The accounts can also be used to contribute money to other candidates and party organizations, helping would-be candidates build political capital. Much of the money Trump has amassed was raised in the days and weeks after the 2020 election, which he lost to Democrat Joe Biden. That’s when Trump supporters were bombarded with a nonstop stream of emails and texts, many containing all-caps lettering and blatant lies about a stolen 2020 election, soliciting cash for an “election defense fund.” But no such fund ever existed. Instead, Trump has dedicated the money to other uses. He’s financed dozens of rallies, paid staff and used the money to travel as he’s teased an expected 2024 presidential run. Other expenses have been more unusual. There was the $1 million donated last year to the Conservative Partnership Institute, a nonprofit that employs Cleta Mitchell and former Trump chief of staff Mark Meadows, both of whom encouraged Trump’s failed attempt to overturn the 2020 election. There was the $650,000 “charitable contribution” in July to the Smithsonian Institution to help fund portraits of Trump and the former first lady that will one day hang in the National Portrait Gallery, according to the Smithsonian spokesperson Linda St. Thomas. Much of the money has also funded a different sort of defense fund — one that has paid the legal expenses of Trump confidants and aides who have been called to testify before the Jan. 6 committee. Overall, Trump’s sprawling political operation has spent at least $8 million on “legal consulting” and “legal expenses” to at least 40 law firms since the insurrection, according to an analysis of campaign finance disclosures. It’s unclear how much of that money went to legal fees for staffers after a congressional committee started investigating the origins of the attack. But at least $1.1 million has been paid to Elections LLC, a firm started by former Trump White House ethics lawyer Stefan Passantino, according to campaign finance and business records. An additional $1 million was paid to a legal trust housed at the same address as Passantino’s firm. Passantino did not respond to a request for comment Monday night. Payments have also been made to firms that specialize in environmental regulation and real estate matters. As of July, only about $750,000 had been doled out to candidates for Congress, with an additional $150,000 given to candidates for state office, records show. Trump is expected to ramp up his political spending now that the general election season has entered full swing, though it remains unclear how much the notoriously thrifty former president will ultimately agree to spend. Trump has long played coy about his 2024 plans, saying a formal announcement would trigger campaign finance rules that would, in part, force him to create a new campaign committee that would be bound by strict fundraising limits. In the meantime, Trump aides have been discussing the prospect of creating a new super PAC or repurposing one that already exists as gets he closer to an expected announcement. While Trump could not use Save America to fund campaign activity after launching a run, aides have discussed the possibility of moving at least some of that money into a super PAC, according to people familiar with the talks. Campaign finance experts are mixed on the legality of such a move. Some, like Richard Briffault, a professor at Columbia Law School and an expert in campaign finance, said he didn’t see a problem. “There may be some hoops he has to jump through,” he said. But “I don’t see a problem with it going from one PAC to another … I don’t see what would block it.” Others disagree. “It is illegal for a candidate to transfer a significant amount of money from a leadership PAC to a super PAC. You certainly can’t do $100 million,” said Adav Noti, a former Federal Election Commission attorney who now works for the Campaign Legal Center, a Washington-based good governance group focused on money and politics. And whether or not Trump would face any consequences is a different matter. For years, the FEC, which polices campaign finance laws, has been gridlocked. The commission is split evenly between Republicans and Democrats, and a majority vote is needed to take any enforcement action against a candidate. Indeed, legal experts say Trump has repeatedly flouted campaign finance law since launching his 2016 White House run, with no consequence. More than 50 separate complaints alleging Trump broke campaign finance laws have been filed against him since his 2016 campaign. In roughly half of those instances, FEC lawyers have concluded that there was reason to believe that he may have broken the law. But the commission, which now includes three Trump-appointed Republicans, has repeatedly deadlocked. The list of dismissed complaints against Trump is extensive. In 2021, Republicans on the commission rejected the claim, supported by the FEC’s staff attorneys, that a Trump orchestrated hush-money payment by his former lawyer to pornographic film star Stormy Daniels amounted to an unreported in-kind contribution. In May, the commission similarly deadlocked over whether his campaign broke the law by hiding how it was spending cash during the 2020 campaign. And over the summer, the commission rejected complaints stemming from Trump’s threat to withhold $391 million in aid for the Ukraine unless the Ukrainian officials opened an investigation into the relationship President Joe Biden’s son Hunter Biden had with a Ukrainian gas company called Burisma, which the FEC’s attorney’s determined was a potential violation of campaign finance law. “There is no legal basis whatsoever for believing that Congress intended the FEC to police official acts of the government that may be intended to assist an officeholder’s reelection,” the commission’s three Republicans said in a written statement late last month. That means any enforcement action would likely have to come from the Justice Department. “He has nothing to fear from the Federal Election Commission until either its structure is changed or there is turnover among the FEC Commissioners,” said Brett G. Kappel, a longtime campaign finance attorney who works at the Washington-based firm Harmon Curran and has represented both Republicans and Democrats. “That doesn’t mean he doesn’t have anything to fear from the Justice Department, which is already apparently investigating Save America. From what I can see, there are multiple wire fraud allegations that could be the subject of a Justice Department investigation.” In the meantime, Trump and Save America continue to rake in contributions from grassroots supporters, blasting out fundraising solicitations with aggressive demands like “this needs to be taken care of NOW” and threatening donors that their “Voter Verification” canvass surveys are “OUT OF DATE,” even as some of the Republican Senate contenders Tru...

Monkeypox Fatality Confirmed In Los Angeles | First Thing https://digitalarizonanews.com/monkeypox-fatality-confirmed-in-los-angeles-first-thing/ Good morning. A Los Angeles resident with a compromised immune system has died of monkeypox in what is believed to be the first US fatality from the virus. The Los Angeles department of public health reconfirmed the death on Monday, and said that the individual was severely immunocompromised and had been hospitalized. No other information on the person was released. The department and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) made the determination that the death was due to monkeypox. A CDC spokesperson confirmed the cooperation but did not immediately respond when asked if this was the first US death. It is the second known death of a person diagnosed with the disease in the US. Texas last month reported the first death in a severely immunocompromised person who was diagnosed with monkeypox. However, that case is still under investigation to see what role monkeypox played in the death. What are the symptoms of monkeypox? It can cause a rash, fever, body aches and chills but relatively few people require hospitalizations and only a handful of deaths worldwide have been directly linked to the disease. Is the spread of the disease getting worse? No. Cases in some large US cities do appear to be declining, matching trends seen in Europe, and experts are cautiously optimistic the outbreak may have peaked in places that were hit hardest. Emmys 2022: Succession, Ted Lasso, The White Lotus triumph Lizzo, who created Watch Out for The Big Grrrls, won for best competition series and underscored the importance of representation in an emotional speech. Photograph: Mario Anzuoni/Reuters The Emmys offered few surprises but plenty of truncated speeches on Monday evening, in an awards-packed telecast that mostly handed out repeat trophies to established favorites with a few spoilers mixed in. During the three-hour telecast held at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles, the Emmys once again crowned Succession, the 2020 best drama winner and most nominated series of the evening with 25, as best drama, and Apple TV+’s Ted Lasso as best comedy series. HBO’s limited series The White Lotus, tied with Ted Lasso for second with 20 nominations apiece, swept all the awards for which it was nominated. The bit-packed show, hosted by Saturday Night Live veteran Kenan Thompson, included several back-to-back wins – Hacks’ Jean Smart for comedy actress, Ted Lasso’s Jason Sudeikis for comedy actor and co-star Brett Goldstein as supporting – as well as repeat nods from previous years, while Zendaya, already the youngest best drama actress winner, became the youngest two-time acting winner in history for the second season of Euphoria. Sheryl Lee Ralph, a 40-plus year veteran of the screen and first-time winner, provided arguably the emotional highlight of the evening with a rendition of Endangered Species by Dianne Reeves when she won best supporting actress for her role in Abbott Elementary. Who else won? Here’s a full list of all the winners. Revealed: how UK targeted American civil rights leader in covert campaign Stokely Carmichael at an anti-Vietnam war rally at the UN in New York, circa 1967. Photograph: Images Press/Getty Images The British government targeted the American civil rights leader Stokely Carmichael and sought to weaken the Black Power movement with covert disinformation campaigns, recently declassified documents have revealed. The effort was the work of a secret unit known as the Information Research Department, based in London and part of the Foreign Office, which created and distributed literature from fake sources as part of a broader effort to destabilise cold war enemies. Though focused primarily on the Soviet Union and China, leftwing liberation groups and leaders the UK saw as threats to its interests, the discoveries reveal that the IRD from the late 1960s sought to counter more diverse targets too. “We can see a large-scale attempt to shape events overseas, but one that was moving away from communism and targeting whole new areas. This shows the breadth, scope and scale of British covert information operations,” said Rory Cormac, an expert in the history of subversion and intelligence who found the material when researching his recent book, How to Stage a Coup: And Ten Other Lessons from the World of Secret Statecraft. Why did the British government want to weaken the Black Power movement? The smear campaign came amid rising concern in Whitehall about the Black Power movement in Africa and elsewhere in the world. The IRD was particularly worried by the movement’s potential influence in the Caribbean. In other news … The radical director, Jean-Luc Godard, who was a key figure in the French Nouvelle Vague, has died. Photograph: Miguel Medina/AFP/Getty Images Jean-Luc Godard, the French-Swiss director who was a key figure in the Nouvelle Vague, the film-making movement that revolutionised cinema in the late 1950s and 60s, has died, French newspaper Libération reported. The radical director of Breathless and Alphaville was 91. The justice department has indicated it is willing to accept one of Donald Trump’s picks for a so-called special master to review documents seized during the FBI’s search of Mar-a-Lago last month. The accommodation on the agency’s part could clear the way for a neutral arbiter to review the material. Britney Spears fans hoping the pop star will perform live again, now she is free from an infamous conservatorship that governed her life for more than a decade, might not want to hold their breath. In an Instagram post, Spears said she was “pretty traumatized” from her work onstage under the conservatorship. Clashes have erupted between Azerbaijani and Armenian troops, according to Russian news agencies, in a resumption of decades-old hostilities linked to the disputed territory of Nagorno-Karabakh. Azerbaijan acknowledged casualties among its forces while Armenia said clashes persisted overnight. Air quality has plummeted as smoke from roaring wildfires is choking the US west. California firefighters are battling large blazes across the state as fire season heats up, covering swaths of Oregon, Washington, California and Canada in heavy smoke that has also traveled across the US. Stat of the day: US issues 40 subpoenas about Trump’s failed bid to overturn the 2020 election The US Justice Department has issued 40 subpoenas seeking information on the failed plot by Donald Trump and his allies to overturn the 2020 election. Photograph: Tom Brenner/Reuters The US Justice Department has issued about 40 subpoenas over the past week seeking information about efforts by Donald Trump and his allies to overturn the 2020 election, the New York Times reported on Monday. Boris Epshteyn, a longtime Trump adviser, and Mike Roman, a campaign strategist for Trump, had their phones seized last week as evidence, the Times said, while Dan Scavino, Trump’s former social media director, was also among those who were subpoenaed. The subpoenas seek information on a failed bid to overturn the results of the 2020 election by submitting alternative slates of fake electors. Don’t miss this: how Bill Gates is staying optimistic despite the biggest strain in his lifetime Covid and Ukraine war were major setbacks in pursuit of global development goals, philanthropist admits, but cutting back on aid would be ‘tragic’. Photograph: Kazuhiro Nogi/AFP/Getty Images The figures are bad, progress has stalled and all the trends that had been building hope in the world becoming a fairer place are showing sharp about-turns. Yet Bill Gates, who has poured billions of his own dollars into eradicating poverty, remains “optimistic”. In an exclusive interview ahead of today’s publication of the annual Goalkeepers Report from the foundation he co-chairs, he told the Guardian: “It would be awful to turn away just because we’re getting bad grades due to unexpected setbacks.” Climate check: megadrought in the American south-west – a climate disaster unseen in 1,200 years A formerly sunken boat rests on a now-dry section of lakebed at the drought-stricken Lake Mead, Nevada. Photograph: Mario Tama/Getty Images When the Nasa climatologist James Hansen testified before Congress in June 1988 about a warming planet, the temperature in Washington DC hit a record 100F. It was a summer of unprecedented heatwaves, and 40 states were grappling with drought. His warning was seen as a historic wake-up call – but instead of heeding the existential smoke alarm, the US removed the batteries and kept on cooking. Nearly four decades later, the consequences of a sweltering Earth are hitting home in the US south-west and mountain west. Last Thing: bear crashes Connecticut birthday party to steal cupcakes Connecticut’s bear population has increased in recent years, with more than 8,000 sightings reported this year. Photograph: SL/Getty Images/iStockphoto A birthday picnic ended in a big surprise for a Connecticut family when a black bear emerged from the woods and made a beeline for their cupcakes. Rauf and Laura Majidian captured video of the bear as it raided a table of goodies laid out for their two-year-old son Cyrus’s party at their West Hartford home. The eager ursine scoffed several of the cakes before sauntering off again, ignoring a number of juice boxes and a basket of bread. “We’ll be talking about it for a long time,” Laura Majidian told local station WTNH News. Sign up First Thing is delivered to thousands of inboxes every weekday. If you’re not already signed up, subscribe now. Get in touch If you have any questions or comments about any of our newsletters please email newsletters@theguardian.com Read More Here

Arizona Sonoran Cactus East Drilling Demonstrates Consistency Of Mineralization; Intersects 148.5 Ft Of 2.57% TCu | MarketScreener https://digitalarizonanews.com/arizona-sonoran-cactus-east-drilling-demonstrates-consistency-of-mineralization-intersects-148-5-ft-of-2-57-tcu-marketscreener/ Read More Here Delayed Toronto Stock Exchange  –  03:59 2022-09-12 pm EDT 1.710 CAD   +1.18% 09/13/2022 | 06:31am EDT Arizona Sonoran Copper Company Inc. (TSX:ASCU | OTCQX:ASCUF) (“ASCU” or the “Company”) releases 7 drill holes from the Cactus East, Cactus Mine Project infill drilling program. This new set of assays continue to support the previously defined geological interpretations with thick and high-grade intercepts outlined within the underground Cactus East orebody, immediately to the northeast of the historic Sacaton pit. Infill drilling is targeting 125 ft (38 m) spacing with the goal of generating measured mineral resources (see FIGURES 1-7). Highlights: Thick and high-grade intercepts are consistent with previous wider spaced drilling intercepts and resource model interpretation ECE-067: 148.5 ft (45.3 m) @ 2.57% TCu, 2.53% Cu TSol (enriched) Incl. 10 ft (3.0 m) @ 10.53% TCu, 10.13% Cu TSol ECE-085: 268.0 ft (81.7 m) @ 1.51% TCu, 1.38% Cu TSol (enriched) Incl. 203.0 ft (61.9 m) @ 1.74% TCu, 1.64% Cu TSol 383.3 ft (116.9 m) @ 0.51% TCu (primary) ECE-082: 226.6 ft (69.1 m) @ 1.39% TCu, 1.26% Cu TSol (enriched) Incl. 117.7 ft (35.9 m) @ 1.88% TCu, 1.73% Cu TSol 379.0 ft (115.5 m) @ 0.68% TCu (primary) ECE-066: 244.8 ft (74.6 m) @ 1.26% TCu, 1.14% Cu TSol (enriched) 142.4 ft (43.4 m) @ 1.63% TCu, 1.55% Cu TSol (oxide) ECE-062: 173.0 ft (52.7m) @ 1.60% TCu, 1.49% Cu TSol (oxide) Incl. 100.6 ft (30.7 m) @ 2.28% TCu, 2.15% Cu TSol 258.0 ft (78.6 m) @ 1.01% TCu, 0.91% Cu TSol (enriched) Ian McMullan, Arizona Sonoran Chief Operating Officer commented, “Cactus East assay results continue to build upon and support the previously released assays. The high porphyry copper grades with good thicknesses underpin future mine planning and mine design work for a targeted underground bulk mining scenario at Cactus East. As previously mentioned, drills are currently focusing on Parks/Salyer to build out the known mineralization and will return later in the year to complete the measured category drilling.” Drilling Program Recap The total infill program inclusive of Cactus East and Cactus West (60,000 ft | 18,290 m) is now over halfway complete. A total of 16 HQ drill holes in the heart of the Cactus East orebody were drilled for a total of 31,817.7 ft (9,700 m). Assays are pending on 2 holes and 5 holes remain to be drilled (10,000 ft | 3,048 m). At Cactus West, 25 holes (16,000 ft | 1877 m) have been designed to infill the upper portions of the planned open pit in addition to what was previously infill drilled on the southern side of the pit (see FIGURE 3). An expansionary drill program (12,000 ft | 3,660 m) is planned to follow the Cactus infill program. Due to the successful drilling results at Parks/Salyer (similar grades with greater thicknesses over a greater area), the two available drill rigs have been prioritized to that discovery. Drilling will resume on Cactus later in the year. As shown in Table 1, holes ECE-062, ECE-068 and ECE-069 show solid intercepts of higher-grade oxide mineralization adjacent to historic holes S-145, S-146 and S-149 while adjacent holes from this program show continuity of thickness and grade in the underlying enriched zone over 750 ft (230 m) of strike. Drill holes with pending assay results test extensions of this reported mineralization to the northeast and southwest. Cactus East infill drilling results are consistent with previously drilled results and show thick, high-grade intercepts of both oxide and enriched mineralization. Importantly, the infill drilling continues to support previous geological interpretations and controls on mineralization within the deposit. The mineralization shows grade and mineralization characteristics similar to Parks/Salyer, although it is contained within a more restricted horst fault block structure. These drilling results will provide valuable infill data for localized mine design work. TABLE 1: Drilling Highlights HOLE ZONE Feet Metres TCu Cu TSol from to length from to length % % ECE-059A oxide 1,166.0 1,280.3 114.3 355.4 390.2 34.8 0.86 0.80 including 1,172.3 1,217.0 44.7 357.3 370.9 13.6 1.42 1.35 enriched 1,387.0 1,641.0 254.0 422.8 500.2 77.4 0.63 0.48 including 1,387.0 1,432.0 45.0 422.8 436.5 13.7 0.96 0.95 enriched 1,641.0 1,873.3 232.3 500.2 571.0 70.8 0.41 0.04 including 1,774.0 1,873.3 99.3 540.7 571.0 30.3 0.55 0.04 ECE-060 oxide 1,065.0 1,314.0 249.0 324.6 400.5 75.9 0.96 0.91 including 1,108.0 1,197.3 89.3 337.7 364.9 27.2 1.78 1.71 enriched 1,448.0 1,575.0 127.0 441.4 480.1 38.7 1.29 1.21 including 1,458.0 1,498.0 40.0 444.4 456.6 12.2 1.78 1.63 primary 1,575.0 1,853.2 278.2 480.1 564.9 84.8 0.40 0.04 ECE-062 oxide 1,148.0 1,321.0 173.0 349.9 402.6 52.7 1.60 1.49 including 1,183.4 1,284.0 100.6 360.7 391.4 30.7 2.28 2.15 enriched 1,351.0 1,361.0 10.0 411.8 414.8 3.0 6.20 5.91 oxide 1,432.4 1,452.0 19.6 436.6 442.6 6.0 0.38 0.36 enriched 1,472.0 1,730.0 258.0 448.7 527.3 78.6 1.01 0.91 including 1,489.0 1,499.0 10.0 453.8 456.9 3.0 4.15 3.89 and 1,528.5 1,589.0 60.5 465.9 484.3 18.4 2.38 2.23 primary 1,730.0 1,865.5 135.5 527.3 568.6 41.3 0.29 0.04 ECE-066 oxide 1,472.0 1,614.4 142.4 448.7 492.1 43.4 1.63 1.55 including 1,475.0 1,567.0 92.0 449.6 477.6 28.0 1.99 1.77 enriched 1,614.4 1,859.2 244.8 492.1 566.7 74.6 1.26 1.14 ECE-067 oxide 1,343.0 1,476.8 133.8 409.3 450.1 40.8 0.37 0.34 including 1,350.5 1,380.0 29.5 411.6 420.6 9.0 0.90 0.88 oxide 1,654.0 1,685.0 31.0 504.1 513.6 9.4 1.09 1.07 including 1,667.8 1,685.0 17.2 508.3 513.6 5.2 1.72 1.70 enriched 1,685.0 1,833.5 148.5 513.6 558.9 45.3 2.57 2.53 primary 1,833.5 1,864.5 31.0 558.9 568.3 9.4 0.46 0.04 ECE-082 oxide 1,425.0 1,444.0 19.0 434.3 440.1 5.8 0.47 0.35 oxide 1,474.0 1,486.0 12.0 449.3 452.9 3.7 0.73 0.67 enriched 1,486.0 1,712.6 226.6 452.9 522.0 69.1 1.39 1.26 including 1,486.0 1,603.7 117.7 452.9 488.8 35.9 1.88 1.73 primary 1,712.6 2,091.6 379.0 522.0 637.5 115.5 0.68 0.11 including 1,712.6 1,763.0 50.4 522.0 537.4 15.4 1.02 0.17 and 1,905.0 1,931.3 26.3 580.6 588.7 8.0 1.01 0.28 ECE-085 oxide 1,371.0 1,430.0 59.0 417.9 435.9 18.0 1.04 1.02 enriched 1,430.0 1,698.0 268.0 435.9 517.6 81.7 1.51 1.38 including 1,432.0 1,635.0 203.0 436.5 498.3 61.9 1.74 1.64 primary 1,698.0 2,081.4 383.4 517.6 634.4 116.9 0.51 0.14 including 1,838.0 1,888.0 50.0 560.2 575.5 15.2 0.74 0.06 1. Intervals are presented in core length and are drilled with very near vertical dip angles. 2. Drill assays assume a mineralized cut-off grade of 0.1% CuT reflecting the potential for heap leaching in the case of Oxide and Enriched, or in the case of Primary material to provide typical average grades. Holes were terminated below the basement fault. 3. Assay results are not capped. Intercepts are aggregated within geological confines of major mineral zones. 4. True widths are not known. Table 2: Drilling details Hole Easting (m) Northing (m) Elevation (ft) TD (ft) Azimuth Dip ECE-059A 424,318.7 3,647,124.4 1,512.1 1,906.3 -90 ECE-060 424,283.8 3,647,105.8 1,511.7 1,936.5 -90 ECE-062 424,273.4 3,647,059.0 1,510.4 1,888.0 -90 ECE-066 424,282.2 3,646,978.5 1,493.3 1,947.0 -90 ECE-067 424,319.9 3,646,941.7 1,493.5 1,897.8 -90 ECE-082 424,128.0 3,646,863.3 1,462.9 2,314.1 -90 ECE-085 424,129.5 3,646,899.3 1,464.6 2,117.0 -90 Quality Assurance / Quality Control Drilling completed on the project in 2020 and 2021 was supervised by on-site ASCU personnel who prepared core samples for assay and implemented a full QA/QC program using blanks, standards, and duplicates to monitor analytical accuracy and precision. The samples were sealed on site and shipped to Skyline Laboratories in Tucson AZ for analysis. Skyline’s quality control system complies with global certifications for Quality ISO9001:2008. Technical aspects of this news release have been reviewed and verified by Allan Schappert – CPG #11758, who is a qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101– Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. Links from the Press Release FIGURES 1-7: https://arizonasonoran.com/projects/cactus-mine-project/press-release-images/ Neither the TSX nor the regulating authority has approved or disproved the information contained in this press release. About Arizona Sonoran Copper Company (www.arizonasonoran.com | www.cactusmine.com) ASCU’s objective is to become a mid-tier copper producer with low operating costs, develop the Cactus Project that could generate robust returns for investors, and provide a long term sustainable and responsible operation for the community and all stakeholders. The Company’s principal asset is a 100% interest in the Cactus Project (former ASARCO, Sacaton mine) which is situated on private land in an infrastructure-rich area of Arizona. Contiguous to the Cactus Project the Company is also exploring on its 100% owned Park Salyer property that could allow for a phased expansion of the Cactus Mine once it becomes a producing asset. The Company is led by an executive management team and Board which have a long-standing track record of successful project delivery in North America complemented by global capital markets expertise. Forward-Looking Statements Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and...

Cryptoverse: Ether Snaps At Bitcoin's Heels In Race For Crypto Crown https://digitalarizonanews.com/cryptoverse-ether-snaps-at-bitcoins-heels-in-race-for-crypto-crown/ Souvenir tokens representing cryptocurrency Bitcoin and the Ethereum network, with its native token ether, plunge into water in this illustration taken May 17, 2022. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com Sept 13 (Reuters) – For years, ether could barely dream of challenging its big brother bitcoin. Now, its ambitions may be becoming more realistic. The second-biggest cryptocurrency is taking market share from bitcoin ahead of an all-important “Merge” software upgrade that could sharply reduce the energy usage of its Ethereum blockchain, should the developers pull it off in coming days. Bitcoin’s dominance, or its share of the crypto market’s market value, has slipped to 39.1% from this year’s peak of 47.5% in mid-June, according to data platform CoinMarketCap. Ether, on the other hand, has climbed to 20.5% from 16%. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com The upstart is still a long way from overtaking bitcoin as the No.1 cryptocurrency, a reversal known to aficionados as “the flippening”. It’s made up ground, though; in January 2021, bitcoin reigned supreme at 72%, while ether occupied a slender 10%. As for price, one ether is now worth 0.082 bitcoin , near December 2021 highs and sharply above the 2022 low of 0.049 in June. “People are now viewing Ethereum as essentially a safe asset because they’ve seen the success of the network, they think it’s not going anywhere,” said Joseph Edwards, head of financial strategy at fund management firm Solrise Finance. “There’s a permanency to how Ethereum is perceived in the crypto ecosystem.” Reuters Graphics CAPRICIOUS CRYPTO The Merge, expected to take place on Thursday after several delays, could lead to wider use of the blockchain, potentially boosting ether’s price – although nothing is certain in a capricious crypto market. read more Ethereum forms the backbone of much of the “Web3” vision of an internet where crypto takes centre stage, powering applications involving crypto offshoots such as decentralised finance and non-fungible tokens – although this much-hyped dream is still unrealised. Bitcoin and ether have both nearly halved this year on concerns about supersized interest rate hikes from central banks. Nonetheless, investors seem to like the look of the Merge, with ether up over 65% since the end of June. Bitcoin has barely budged in the same period. “We’re going to see (ether’s) attractiveness to some investors who are concerned about energy consumption,” said Doug Schwenk, CEO of Digital Asset Research, although he cautioned that ether was still a long way behind bitcoin. THE KING IS STRONG The diminishing bitcoin dominance in crypto’s current bear market is a departure from previous market cycles when investors sold lesser tokens – “altcoins” – in favor of the more liquid and reliable bitcoin. Dethroning the king is no easy feat, though. Bitcoin is still by far the most well-known cryptocurrency. Mainstream investors who have dipped their toes in the crypto market since 2020 have tended to turn first to bitcoin, as the most liquid and widely-traded token. Its market cap of $427 billion is still more than double Ether’s $210 billion, and market participants firmly believe the original digital coin remains the gold standard in crypto due to its limited supply. Some market players say bitcoin’s grip on the crypto crown is still strong, even if it has to accept other contenders. For example, Hugo Xavier, CEO of K2 Trading Partners, said its dominance could improve to 50%-60% range if the crypto market turns bullish but it is unlikely to touch 70% again. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com Reporting by Medha Singh and Lisa Pauline Mattackal in Bengaluru; Editing by Tom Wilson and Pravin Char Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles. Opinions expressed are those of the author. They do not reflect the views of Reuters News, which, under the Trust Principles, is committed to integrity, independence, and freedom from bias. Read More Here

Live Updates: Russia's War In Ukraine https://digitalarizonanews.com/live-updates-russias-war-in-ukraine-4/ 2 min ago “Massive shelling” has targeted Ukraine’s energy infrastructure in recent days, minister says From CNN’s Yulia Kesaieva Russia on Sunday carried out some of the “most massive shelling” of Ukraine’s energy infrastructure since the start of the war, according to the country’s energy minister, Herman Halushchenko. Large parts of eastern Ukraine, including the Kharkiv and Donetsk regions, were left without electricity following the strikes, Ukrainian officials said. “These attacks are nothing more than Russian attempts to take revenge on the civilian population after the success of the Ukrainian Armed Forces on the battlefield,” Halushchenko said Tuesday during a meeting with Bridget Brink, the US ambassador to Ukraine. The two discussed the situation at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant following an inspection by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) two weeks ago. The IAEA called for the “immediate establishment of a nuclear safety and security protection zone” around the plant. According to a statement released after the meeting, Halushchenko told Brink that the only way to ensure nuclear safety was to return the plant to Ukrainian control. 1 hr 17 min ago ‘Everybody was running away.’ Ukrainians in Kharkiv villages describe Russia’s retreat From CNN’s Saskya Vandoorne, Melissa Bell, Olga Voitovych, Victoria Butenko and William Bonnett Ukraine has claimed major territorial gains since the beginning of the month, much of that progress believed to be in the Kharkiv region. This has given an impression that Ukraine is effortlessly pushing Russian forces back from territory they’ve controlled for more than six months. The truth, inevitably for a war zone, is far less clear-cut. CNN was given exclusive access to Kupiansk, just a day after pictures emerged showing soldiers hoisting the Ukrainian flag on the roof of the town’s municipal building. Far from being a town under full Ukrainian control, CNN found one still being bitterly fought for. Further west, some villages have seen calm entirely restored, such as in the Kharkiv region’s Zaliznychne, liberated last week, as the eastern counteroffensive picked up speed. There, the fight appears to have been far less painful. “I didn’t even expect it would be so fast,” says 66-year-old Oleksandr Verbytsky, who witnessed the Russians retreating. “I went to the store and when I came back, everybody was running away. The Russians drove through the cemetery to get away. Can you imagine?” Read the full story here. 2 hr 43 min ago Ukrainian officials say Kharkiv is without electricity due to “insidious shelling” by Russian forces From CNN’s Olga Voitovych and Yulia Kesaieva The entire region of Kharkiv is without electricity, the Deputy Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Kyrylo Tymoshenko said Tuesday, citing “insidious shelling by Russian [forces]” as the cause.  “It has just been reported that Kharkiv and the region are without electricity. The backup line that supplied the settlements failed. Now all forces are directed to eliminate the problem. These are the consequences of insidious shelling by the Russians the day before (Monday),” Tymoshenko said on Telegram.   Local authorities in Derhachi, north-east of the city of Kharkiv, also reported electricity outages across its city center and nearby towns.  2 hr 9 min ago Analysis: The rot runs deep in the Russian war machine. Ukraine is exposing it for all to see From CNN’s Brad Lendon The Ukrainian flag waves after the Ukrainian army liberated the town of Balakliya, on Sunday. (Metin Aktas/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images) For Russia, the numbers are catastrophic. From Wednesday to Sunday, Vladimir Putin’s military forces saw at least 338 pieces of important military hardware — from fighter jets to tanks to trucks — destroyed, damaged or captured, according to numbers from the open source intelligence website Oryx, as Ukraine’s forces have bolted through Russian-held territory in an offensive that has stunned the Russians in its speed and breadth. Ukraine’s top military commander claimed on Sunday that more than 3,000 square kilometers (1,158 square miles) of territory had been retaken by his country’s forces since the beginning of September. And for more perspective, just “since Wednesday, Ukraine has recaptured territory at least twice the size of Greater London,” the British Defense Ministry said Monday. Ukrainian reports say Putin’s troops are fleeing east to the Russian border in whatever transport they can find, even taking cars from the civilian population in the areas they had captured since the start of the war in February. In their wake they leave hundreds of pieces of the Russian war machine, which since Putin’s so-called “special military operation” commenced, has not come close to living up to its pre-war billing as one of the world’s great powers. These Russian losses are the accumulation of a multitude of existing problems that are now colliding head-on with a Ukrainian military that has been patient, methodical and infused with billions of dollars of the Western military equipment that Russia cannot match. Read more here: 3 hr 42 min ago US Secretary of State calls recent gains by Ukrainians in northeast region “encouraging” From CNN’s Ellie Kaufman US Secretary of State Antony Blinken at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, on August 1. (Spencer Platt/Getty Images/File) US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the recent progress Ukrainian forces have made in the northeastern region of their country, taking back land captured by Russians, was “encouraging,” but added “this is early days still.” “So, I think it would be wrong to predict exactly where this will go, and when it will get there and how it will get there, but clearly we’ve seen significant progress by the Ukrainians particularly in the northeast,” Blinken said at a press conference in Mexico City on Monday.  Blinken attributed this progress to both “support” the US and other allies have provided, “but first and foremost, it’s a product of the extraordinary courage and resilience of the Ukrainian armed forces and the Ukrainian people.” “Ukraine does not belong to Russia, it belongs to the Ukrainian people, and that’s the single biggest difference maker, as I’ve said, that I think we’re seeing play out now. Having said all of that, it is too early to tell exactly where this is all going,” he added. Blinken cautioned that Russia still maintains forces and weapons in Ukraine that they continue to use “indiscriminately,” but said he was encouraged by the recent developments. “The brutalization of the country continues by the Russian aggressor, and unfortunately the prospect of this continues to go on, but I think it’s encouraging to see the progress that Ukraine has made,” he said. 4 hr 34 min ago President Zelensky says 6,000 square kilometers of Ukraine liberated since the beginning of September From CNN’s Tim Lister President Volodymyr Zelensky said Ukrainian forces have recaptured 6,000 square kilometers (approximately 2,316 square miles) of land in the east and south of the country since the beginning of the month as he appealed for greater international pressure to isolate Russia. According to analysts, that would amount to nearly 10% of the territory lost to the Russian offensive since it began in February. In his daily video message, Zelensky also asked: “Why can [Russia] wage war so cruelly and cynically? There is only one reason — insufficient pressure on Russia. The response to the terror of this state is insufficient.” One answer, he said, was to “increase aid to Ukraine, and above all speed up the provision of air defense systems.” “There is still no official recognition of Russia as a state sponsor of terrorism. Citizens of the terrorist state can still go to Europe to rest and go shopping, they can still get European visas, and no one knows whether there are executioners or murderers among them who have just returned from the occupied territory of Ukraine,” Zelensky said.  Some European countries have enacted bans on tourist visas for Russians; most have not. Zelensky said Russia was to blame for “energy terror. Residents of many countries around the world are suffering due to the painful increase in prices for energy resources — for electricity, for heat. Russia does it deliberately. It deliberately destabilizes the gas market in Europe.” He added: “Yesterday and today, the Russian army struck the Ukrainian energy infrastructure. Hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians found themselves in the dark — without electricity. Houses, hospitals, schools, communal infrastructure… Russian missiles hit precisely those objects that have absolutely nothing to do with the infrastructure of the Armed Forces of our country.” The President described the attacks on Ukrainian electricity supplies as “a sign of the desperation of those who invented this war. This is how they react to the defeat of Russian forces in the Kharkiv region.” 3 hr 58 min ago Ukraine’s nuclear operator says power units at Zaporizhzhia plant remain in cooling mode From CNN’s Julia Kesaieva in Kyiv The Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant seen on Sunday. (Stringer/AFP/Getty Images) The president of Ukraine’s state nuclear company — Energoatom — told CNN that the power units at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant remain in a cooling state while work continues to restore power lines from the plant. Speaking to CNN via Skype, Petro Kotin, said all seven lines connecting to the plant were damaged, and it had switched to what he called the “island mode” — where the plant supplied electricity solely for itself. “We tried to prolong the operation of one of our power units for as long as possible, even in the conditions when it was operating in island mode. It worked for us for three days,” he told...

Trump Supporters May Be Trying To “destabilize” Midterms With Deluge Of Records Requests https://digitalarizonanews.com/trump-supporters-may-be-trying-to-destabilize-midterms-with-deluge-of-records-requests/ Election officials across the U.S. are facing what many believe appears to be a coordinated effort to overwhelm their offices just as employees are mailing out absentee ballots and preparing for the 2022 midterms. Critics say the deluge of requests hitting election offices is the work of prominent supporters of former President Donald Trump. As the Washington Post reported Sunday, election workers in Michigan, Wisconsin, Arizona and other states have spent much of their time in recent weeks fielding requests for an array of documents related to the 2020 election, which Trump continues to claim was fraudulent. Although many counties have published electronic images of all ballots cast in 2020, election offices are receiving demands for documents including poll books, spoiled ballots, remade ballots, voter registration applications and cast vote records — a record of everything scanned by voting machines, which high-profile election deniers say could help identify ballots that they baselessly claim were switched from votes for Trump to President Joe Biden. Election workers are bound by law to respond to records requests, which government watchdogs agree serve a vital purpose in ensuring a transparent, fair democratic system. “They should not be used to harass or overwhelm a system as these coordinated requests from Trump supporters to local election offices appear intended to do,” said Noah Bookbinder, president of Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW), on Monday. Workers in the Bureau of Elections in Michigan have spent roughly 600 hours processing public records requests this year, while the midterm elections require that they hire poll workers, send out ballots to absentee voters and members of the military, secure polling locations and make other preparations for voting, which starts as early as late September in some states. Officials in Wisconsin told the Post that monthly records requests are coming in four times more frequently than in 2020, and the election office in Brunswick County, North Carolina, has received 10 to 15 since mid-August. Want a daily wrap-up of all the news and commentary Salon has to offer? Subscribe to our morning newsletter, Crash Course. In Maricopa County, Arizona, workers have fielded an unprecedented amount of requests for cast vote records. Trump backer Mike Lindell, the CEO of MyPillow, called on supporters to request the records at an event in August, according to the voting-rights news organization Votebeat. “In 2021, 11 requests came in for the cast vote record,” reported Votebeat last week. “In 2022, up through August 25, the county has gotten more than 90, with more coming in every day.”  In Brunswick County, one official told the Post, a request for absentee ballot envelopes sent a worker to an off-site warehouse for an entire day, cutting down on time to dedicate to setting up polling locations. Some of the requests have included admissions that the constituent is acting at the urging of Lindell and other Trump supporters, according to the Post. Many also include identical language, including threats to sue election bureaus for their “involvement in the fraudulent elections that will soon be proven to have taken place since 2017.” Matt Crain of the Colorado County Clerks Association told the Post that Trump supporters appear to be waging “a denial-of-service attack on local government,” rendering election offices unable to perform their usual work of organizing the election that’s set to take place in just eight weeks. Election officials in dozens of counties across nearly two dozen states have been inundated with the requests. “It is happening all over the country,” tweeted Sara Tindall Ghazal, a state election board member in Georgia. “County officials are drowning. And in some cases, when the requester does not like the response they get, they become belligerent and threatening.” The apparently coordinated attack on election offices comes as election workers face other forms of harassment following the 2020 election, with one in five saying earlier this year that they planned to quit due to the threats. The barrage of requests is straining an already “overloaded system,” said Leslie Proll, senior director of the voting rights program at the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights. Read More Here

Biden's Lucky Streak https://digitalarizonanews.com/bidens-lucky-streak/ President Biden and Democrats have ridden a wave of good news all summer — on an improving economy, big legislative wins, even unlikely gains by Ukraine. Why it matters: Democrats spent the first half of the year looking for a way to break the momentum working against them. Now, they’re praying they can keep their positive momentum — and GOP missteps — going with enough force to hold the Senate and maybe the House. The big picture: Inflation’s fury has been cooling. Gas prices are down. Democrats have enjoyed legislative successes, including passage of the Inflation Reduction Act. The Supreme Court’s decision overturning the constitutional right to an abortion has energized Democratic voters, with women registering to vote at unusually high levels and Republicans losing their advantage in the generic ballot. What we’re watching: At the end of last week, Biden’s team celebrated a small but significant breakthrough in their long-running effort to help Ukraine fight back against the Russian invasion. Elections are rarely driven by foreign policy, but compared with the political impact of last year’s Afghanistan withdrawal, Ukraine showing new fight against Russia is welcome news to the administration. Driving the news: The August Consumer Price Index (CPI) report, out today, will become the newest data point by which to measure their odds. Between the lines: Republicans’ self-inflicted troubles have helped Democrats as well. Donald Trump — perhaps Democrats’ greatest voter-motivator — is again the center of repeated news cycles, giving Dems a powerful turnout machine. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell and his allies have been privately bemoaning the quality of Trump-backed candidates in key Senate races. Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.), chairman of the Republican Senate’s campaign arm, has botched his fundraising strategy and is in an open war with McConnell. Several Trump-endorsed candidates — especially Blake Masters in Arizona — are underperforming Republican expectations. The party’s Senate campaign committee is low on funds after burning through cash in an unsuccessful attempt to recruit online donors. Republican money troubles are compounded by Trump hoarding $100 million in his Save America PAC. McConnell has been indirectly urging Trump to spend this cash on vulnerable Republicans that he helped nominate — like Masters in Arizona — but so far, to McConnell’s chagrin, Trump has kept the money largely to himself. Save America has devoted less than 5% of its nine-figure warchest to backing other Republican candidates, according to Federal Election Commission records. $2 million of that aid has gone toward taking out Republicans in key primary contests—Gov. Brian Kemp in Georgia (he prevailed anyway) and Rep. Liz Cheney in Wyoming (she lost). Reality check: Despite the streak of discouraging news, Republicans still have a clear path to retaking the Senate majority. They only need to net one seat to win back the upper chamber, and there are plenty of paths to get there even if recruits fizzle out. In Georgia, public polling now shows Herschel Walker holding a narrow advantage over Sen. Raphael Warnock. With Gov. Brian Kemp on track for a victory over Democrat Stacey Abrams, Republicans are increasingly optimistic he can pull Walker over the finish line. In Wisconsin, Republicans are blitzing Democrat Mandela Barnes on crime, calling him a “dangerous Democrat.” They predict Barnes’ August lead over Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) will evaporate under sustained attacks. Concerns over Democrat John Fetterman’s health are cutting into his advantage over Mehmet Oz in the Pennsylvania Senate race. Oz is questioning Fetterman’s ability to serve and challenging him to debates. Five state Democratic Party officials “expressed worries about Fetterman’s health and whether Republican attacks were swaying voters,” according to Reuters. The bottom line: If Republicans hang on in Wisconsin and hold the other Trump states, they’d need to win only two of the other six battleground races (Pennsylvania, Nevada, Georgia, New Hampshire, Arizona, Colorado). It’s far from a guarantee, but it wouldn’t take a red wave to accomplish, either. Axios’ Hans Nichols and Lachlan Markay contributed to this report. Read More Here

Martin Schram: U.S. Military Chiefs Seek To Disarm Politicians https://digitalarizonanews.com/martin-schram-u-s-military-chiefs-seek-to-disarm-politicians/ America’s most recent defense secretaries and military chiefs united behind a bold and unprecedented initiative last week, hoping to prevent our democracy from being shattered by a future president who ignites a full-blown coup. Eight former defense secretaries and five former chairmen of the Joint Chiefs of Staff issued an open letter to the nation Sept. 6 — and posted it on a website known as War on the Rocks. But you may well have missed that big story entirely. After all, the open letter didn’t come complete with videos of explosions, flames and bloodshed. Just a few sound bites from talking heads. So the news was buried on an inside page. Or way down on your news screen list. In their open letter, these former military and defense leaders, who served all the presidents of this century, warned us: “Politically, military professionals confront an extremely adverse environment characterized by the divisiveness of affective polarization that culminated in the first election in over a century when the peaceful transfer of political power was disrupted and in doubt. Looking ahead, all of these factors could well get worse before they get better.” The letter, academic in tone and content, consisted of 16 numbered “core principles and best practices” by which our war machine’s civilian and military chiefs hope to avoid the peril of being exploited by politicians. For starters: “1. Civilian control of the military is part of the bedrock foundation of American democracy … .” And: “2. … Military officers swear an oath to support and defend the Constitution, not an oath of fealty to an individual or to an office … .” Then it specifically reminds all military commanders they must always verify that the order the president gave them is “legal.” While the open letter never mentions Donald Trump, nor the specifics of the Jan. 6 insurrection rioters, it isn’t hard to connect the dots. For example, that bit about military officers not swearing “an oath of fealty to an individual.” Trump famously complained that top officials weren’t sufficiently loyal to him. And he frequently included his generals in that complaint, his top generals — which enraged his chief of staff, former Gen. John Kelly. In a new book, “The Divider: Trump in the White House, 2017-2021,” The New York Times’ Peter Baker and The New Yorker’s Susan Glasser recount a scene where Trump tells Kelly he’d like his generals to be as loyal to him as Adolf Hitler’s generals were to Der Fuhrer. “Why can’t you be like the German generals?” Trump asked. When Kelly tried to explain that Hitler’s generals tried three times to kill him, Trump insisted: “No, no, no, they were totally loyal to him.” After the Pentagon leaders’ open letter received scant initial coverage, Leon Panetta, who was defense secretary in the Obama years, went on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” and explained why all the Pentagon’s former leaders wanted to jointly sign the open letter. “President Trump used the military as his own security force,” Panetta said. “He wanted to deploy them to the border, he wanted to deploy them against protesters. He was actually urged to take over the military following the election. All dangerous, dangerous steps that would undermine the traditional military-civilian relationship that is critical to the operation of our national security. It’s for all those reasons that we felt it was critical to come together and … re-establish the standards — the best practices — of how we are to operate in a military-civilian relationship that is the bedrock of our democracy.” Trump’s defense secretaries, Mark Esper and former Marine Gen. James Mattis, signed the open letter. Both resisted Trump’s impulsive efforts to misuse the military and were fired by Trump. Another signer, Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, who headed the Joint Chiefs of Staff under Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama, told a Washington Post interviewer: “We live in remarkably confusing times, and clarity on this issue is very important. It’s a really dangerous time for us in the military, and the forces are out there to try to politicize us more, so clarity here is really important.” Panetta said he believes this is America’s fork-in-the-road moment. “I honestly believe that America can be an America in renaissance in the 21st century,” Panetta said. “ … But … if we allow our fears, hates, frustrations to divide us — and turn against one another — I think there’s a very good chance that we can follow the paths of past empires. And we can lose our democracy. “If you want to lead in a democracy, you’re going to have to do what is right for the country — not just what’s right for your party or yourself. “But if we have that kind of leadership, I am confident we can have an American renaissance.” Copyright 2022 Tribune Content Agency. Read More Here

Trump’s Lawyers Reveal They’ve Been Backed Into A Corner https://digitalarizonanews.com/trumps-lawyers-reveal-theyve-been-backed-into-a-corner/ The latest response filed by former President Donald Trump’s lawyers in the special master dispute before Judge Aileen Cannon smacks of an extremism and desperation perhaps born of having been maneuvered into a legal corner by Attorney General Merrick Garland’s Justice Department. Instead of filing a concise counter to the DOJ’s carefully tailored ask of Judge Cannon to partially stay her own order just enough to allow investigators access to classified documents, Trump’s legal team begins with a rambling “Introduction” that takes up nearly a quarter of its filing in which it characterizes the entire matter as merely “a document storage dispute” that wrongfully criminalizes Trump’s possession of his own presidential and personal records. Trump’s lawyers use quotes around the word “classified,” implying that the very classification of any documents is suspect, assert that only a special master can start “restoring order to chaos” and argue that the DOJ is trying to “skip the process and proceed straight to a preordained conclusion.” All of that is on the first page. The DOJ’s decision to narrow its legal argument to just seeking access to the classified materials is a smart move because it plays to the strongest part of its argument—namely that it’s not possible to investigate a case involving classified documents without access to the documents—leaving Trump’s lawyers little choice but to attack the DOJ’s very decision to investigate at all. For example, their use of the phrase “preordained conclusion” clumsily tries to mimic the cliched “rush to judgement” language famously used by legendary criminal defense lawyer Johnnie Cochran in his successful closing argument in O.J. Simpson’s murder trial. But the conclusion Cochran was challenging was the conclusion reached by a criminal investigation—namely that O.J. Simpson had committed murder. In contrast, Trump’s lawyers are trying to control the process of the criminal investigation itself. The kerfuffle over classification is another example of forced heavy-handedness on the part of Trump’s lawyers as seen in their dismissive statement: “[t]he government has unilaterally determined they are classified.” The “they” being the classified documents. This derisive assertion rests on the silly assumption that the government cannot be allowed to determine what is and isn’t classified. Their suggestion that judicial intervention is required to determine these issues of national security is a fundamental upending of the powers and duties of the executive branch. These aren’t the usual ways of trying to head off criminal charges. The usual way of defending against criminal investigations is for defense lawyers to do their own investigation and try to convince prosecutors that they are barking up the wrong tree. In violent crimes that means arguing that the government suspects the wrong culprit. In white-collar cases, it usually means convincing the government that no crime has occurred at all. But to all appearances, Trump’s lawyers aren’t arguing the facts to convince the DOJ that there is nothing to investigate. Maybe that’s because its hard to argue against the truth that Trump had in his possession more than 300 documents that included material on a foreign nation’s nuclear capabilities and information that if exposed could potentially endanger the lives of human sources. This is where the special master gambit comes into play. Asking for a special master is an effort to exert some measure of control over what documents the DOJ gets to see, presumably with the hope that the DOJ will not see enough to make a criminal case, for example under the Espionage Act 18 U.S.C. 793 for the unauthorized possession of and refusal to return national defense information. But the DOJ’s clever response out-maneuvered Trump’s team by focusing on the fact that a criminal investigation involving national defense cannot take place without access to the materials implicating national defense and asking simply that the investigation be allowed to continue even as the parties fought over whether a special master was necessary and the exact scope of what the special master might oversee. This focus also offers Judge Cannon a compromise by which she can still preserve a victory for Trump in seeking a special master for the ostensible purpose of promoting public faith in the investigation while also reducing the risk of a humiliating slam-dunk reversal on appeal. Another instance of the DOJ’s tactical shrewdness is reflected in its indicating that one of Trump’s proposed candidates for special master—former federal judge Raymond Dearie—would be acceptable in addition to their own candidates—while noting its objection to lawyer Paul Huck, a lawyer with strong partisan ties. This give and take strategy improves its chances of looking reasonable to Judge Cannon as well as increasing its chances of avoiding the selection of a conflicted and obviously partisan candidate like Huck. Ironically, one of the perceived potential weaknesses of Attorney General Garland is that he has spent the majority of his career as an appellate judge and may have lost whatever combative prosecutorial instincts he might have possessed earlier in his career. But here, as the DOJ navigates uncharted legal territory with historically high stakes, Garland’s 20-plus years’ experience as an appeals judge may give the DOJ a big advantage. After all, who knows better how to fashion a judicial solution than a former judge? Read More Here

Doris Lasselle Obituary (2022) Post-Star https://digitalarizonanews.com/doris-lasselle-obituary-2022-post-star/ Doris Lasselle 1920 – 2022 WILTON – A Celebration of the Life of Doris Lasselle, who was almost 102 when she died this spring at her home in Wilton, NY, will be held at Trinity United Methodist Church, 155 Ballard Road, Wilton, NY, on Saturday, September 17, 2022. The event will begin with an informal calling hour at 1:00 p.m. A 2:00 p.m. celebratory service, officiated by the Rev. Paul Dufford, will be followed by an informal gathering to share memories. Burial will be in South Wilton Cemetery. Born May 27, 1920, Doris was the daughter of Jasper and Sylvia Ellithorpe Putnam. In addition to her parents, Doris was predeceased by her husband, Lawrence Lasselle; brother, Wayne Putnam; sister, Elsie Allen; beloved grandmother, Lizzie March Putnam; a son-in-law, Charles Baker; and close sister-in-law, Thena Brashear. She is survived by a sister, Myrtle Buyce of South Glens Falls, NY, and a brother, Jay Putnam of Chandler, AZ; daughters: Linda Baker of Saratoga Springs, NY, and Sally (Charles) Grigg of Westport, CA; and son Richard (Karen) Lasselle of Groveland, FL; grandchildren: Charles (Pam) Baker of Burlington, VT, Linanne (Tom) Conroy of Rochester, NY, Melissa Allen of Naples, FL, Jeanine Russell of Columbia, SC, and Alexis (Randy) Ross of Alexandria, VA; eight great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews. For more information about Doris’s life and updates on plans for the Celebration of Life, please visit www.compassionatefuneralcare.com. Published by Post-Star on Sep. 13, 2022. 34465541-95D0-45B0-BEEB-B9E0361A315A To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store. Read More Here

Obamas, Trump, Putin And Queen's Beloved Corgis May Not Make It To The Funeral, Here's Why https://digitalarizonanews.com/obamas-trump-putin-and-queens-beloved-corgis-may-not-make-it-to-the-funeral-heres-why/ The royal fans will also keep an eye on whether Meghan Markle will make an appearance at the Queen’s funeral Donald Trump, Vladimir Putin, Barack and Michelle Obama may not attend Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral along with the monarch’s beloved corgis (Matthew Stockman, John Stillwell – WPA Pool, Brandon Bell, Ross Land, Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images) LONDON, ENGLAND: The state funeral of Queen Elizabeth II will be held on September 19 at Westminster Abbey, London, and some of the top world leaders will be marking their attendance. President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden, New Zealand’s prime minister Jacinda Ardern, Japan’s Emperor Naruhito, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, and Turkey’s president Recep Tayyip Erdogan are some of the leaders who will be seen at the Queen’s funeral.  However, there will be a few who won’t be seen at the state honor of the Queen. According to reports, former US President Barack Obama, former first lady Michelle Obama, former US President Donald Trump, and Russian President Vladimir Putin have reportedly not got an invite to the Queen’s funeral. The royal fans will also keep an eye on whether Meghan Markle will make an appearance at Queen’s funeral or not. For the unversed, the Queen will lie-in-state in Westminster Hall for four days to allow the common public to pay their respects. The Queen died on September 8 at the age of 96.  READ MOREQueen Elizabeth II funeral details: Buckingham Palace reveals date, time, and monarch’s final resting place ADVERTISEMENT Medical treatments delayed as hospitals cancel appointments for Queen Elizabeth’s funeral Barack Obama and Michelle Obama The former President Barack Obama and the former first lady Michelle Obama might not make it to the state funeral of the Queen. According to USA Today, the Obamas have not received an official invite for D-Day. Barack’s close pal and US President Joe Biden will be marking his attendance with his wife Jill Biden.  The Daily Beast reported that the UK government has decided only to extend invites to current heads of state and their spouses or partners, as opposed to letting each country send a delegation featuring members of their own choosing. Former Presidents Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton and George W Bush have also not got the invitation.  ADVERTISEMENT Former U.S. President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama participate in the unveiling of their official portraits during a ceremony at the Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery, on February 12, 2018 in Washington, DC.(Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images) Donald Trump Donald Trump is another former world leader who might not be seen at the Queen’s funeral. Rumors are rife that he has been expecting an invite since he paid his condolences to the Queen after she died on September 8. However, just like other former US presidents, Trump too may not get an invitation. On his website, he wrote, as reported by the New York Post, “Queen Elizabeth’s historic and remarkable reign left a tremendous legacy of peace and prosperity for Great Britain. Her leadership and enduring diplomacy secured and advanced alliances with the United States and countries around the world.”   ADVERTISEMENT The State Funeral of Her Majesty The Queen will take place at Westminster Abbey on Monday 19th September. Prior to the State Funeral, The Queen will Lie-in-State in Westminster Hall for four days, to allow the public to pay their respects. — The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) September 10, 2022 Former U.S. President Donald Trump speaks at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) at the Hilton Anatole on August 06, 2022 in Dallas, Texas. CPAC began in 1974, and is a conference that brings together and hosts conservative organizations, activists, and world leaders in discussing current events and future political agendas. (Photo by Brandon Bell/Getty Images) ADVERTISEMENT Vladimir Putin It is not official whether Putin has been extended an invite for the Queen’s funeral or not, but he is likely to miss it due to Russia being at war with Ukraine since February 2022. Also, there have been reports of him facing severe health issues. As for UK leaders, PM Liz Truss and Labour party leader Keir Starmer are expected to attend. The state funeral will also include members of the royal families of Spain, Belgium, Norway, Denmark, Sweden, and the Netherlands. ADVERTISEMENT Vladimir Putin, President of Russia arrives during the Opening Ceremony of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics at the Beijing National Stadium on February 04, 2022 in Beijing, China. (Photo by Carl Court/Getty Images) Meghan Markle An expert via Fox News shared that Meghan Markle might not attend the Queen’s funeral. Prince Harry and Meghan were already in the UK when the Queen died and Harry rushed to be with the rest of his family at Balmoral Castle.  The royal expert believes that Meghan may return to California ahead of the funeral to be with their children, Archie, 3, and Lilibet, 1. “Harry will likely stay in the UK until the funeral. I can’t imagine Meghan won’t attend, but again from a human perspective, Meghan was expecting to leave the kids for six days, not weeks, so [it] may not be possible for her to stay the whole time,” said the expert.   ADVERTISEMENT Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, leaves after attending the National Service of Thanksgiving at St Paul’s Cathedral during the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations on June 3, 2022 in London, England. (Photo by Toby Melville – WPA Pool/Getty Images) Queen’s corgis According to Sky News, the adorable corgis of the late Queen Elizabeth won’t be able to attend the funeral to be held on September 19. Unfortunately, the ‘no-dog’ rule at Westminster Abbey will not allow the adorable pets to bid their Queen the final goodbye. It has been reported that dogs at the event will not be even permitted to walk on the grounds. ADVERTISEMENT Speaking of the Queen’s funeral, King Charles III will host a reception for all the overseas leaders on the evening before the funeral services at Buckingham Palace. The leaders of the state will be able to attend the lying-in-state of the queen’s body and sign the condolence book at Lancaster House. Leaders and their spouses have been advised to arrive on commercial flights. They are banned from using private state vehicles due to high security. ADVERTISEMENT Read More Here