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Harris To Be Latest Dignitary To Make https://digitalarkansasnews.com/harris-to-be-latest-dignitary-to-make/ Please try another search World 17 minutes ago (Sep 28, 2022 04:43AM ET) © Reuters. FILE PHOTO: South Korean and U.S. soldiers stand guard in the truce village of Panmunjom inside the demilitarized zone (DMZ) separating the two Koreas, South Korea, July 19, 2022. REUTERS/Kim Hong-Ji/Pool/File Photo By Josh Smith SEOUL (Reuters) – When U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris makes an expected visit to the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) separating the two Koreas on Thursday, she will be the latest in a long list of dignitaries – and tourists – coming to gaze into secretive North Korea. The DMZ is a relic of the 1950-1953 Korean War, which ended in an armistice rather than a peace treaty, and despite its name, is highly fortified from coast to coast with razor wire, heavy armaments and tank traps on either side of a 2 km-wide buffer. It’s a symbol of a divided peninsula, separated families, geopolitical tension, and bloody military clashes. The area has also become a surreal tourist destination, with outlet malls, theme parks, hiking trails, and other attractions, at least on the South Korean side. U.S. presidents and numerous top officials have visited the zone, often wearing military-style jackets and usually arriving with messages of support for the alliance that keeps nearly 30,000 American troops in South Korea. “It’s symbolic in that these guys want to show that they are interested in the DMZ and the security of the peninsula, and it’s a bucket list item as well,” Steve Tharp, a retired U.S. Army officer who spent years facilitating DMZ visits by everyone from politicians and generals to the American comedian Conan O’Brien, who filmed a skit on the North Korean side of the border. Ronald Reagan was the first U.S. president to visit the DMZ, but Bill Clinton and Donald Trump are the only sitting presidents to have visited the Joint Security Area (JSA), a cluster of buildings that hosts talks, and the only spot where troops from both sides stand face to face, he said. When Clinton visited in 1993, he walked to the Bridge of No Return, which spans the Military Demarcation Line (MDL) that forms the border, and got its name when prisoners of war marched across it. Clinton – who once called the DMZ “the scariest place on Earth” – reportedly kept asking whether he’d gone further than any other president, Tharp said. He had. At least until Trump became the first U.S. president to step briefly into North Korea, when he met leader Kim Jong Un on the border in 2019 for hastily arranged talks that ultimately failed to breath life into stalled denuclearisation talks. “He tweeted from Japan on a Saturday about 8 a.m. and he arrived 24 hours later and was in the DMZ by 1:30 p.m. and walked across the MDL to meet Kim Jong Un,” a former senior U.S. defence official said. “That was sporty, but we had a great team and it went off without a hitch.” ‘CLEAR MESSAGE’ George W. Bush had been scheduled to visit on his first trip to South Korea as president in late 2001, but the Sept. 11 attacks derailed the plan and when he finally visited the next year, it was to an observation post set back from the border and protected with a bulletproof glass shield, Tharp said. Harris will be the first senior official from President Joe Biden’s administration to visit the DMZ, and U.S. and South Korean officials said the trip is aimed at underscoring the alliance between Seoul and Washington in the face of any threats posed by North Korea. “It sends a clear message of support for the alliance from the White House,” the former senior official said. Biden visited the DMZ before he became president but decided not to go during his first trip to South Korea as president this year. During the last round of heightened tensions in 2017, then-U.S. Vice President Mike Pence visited the DMZ, calling it the “frontier of freedom” and later saying he visited because he wanted the North Koreans to “see our resolve in my face”. North Korea has isolated itself more than ever since the COVID-19 pandemic began and its border guards at the DMZ rarely venture out, often donning protective suits when they do. Weeds have overgrown the North Korean side of the line between the two Koreas where Trump and Kim stood shaking hands in 2019. Related Articles China repeats call for stability in Korean peninsula By Reuters – Sep 28, 2022 BEIJING (Reuters) – China’s consistent position is to maintain stability in the Korean peninsula, its foreign ministry said on Wednesday, after South Korean media reported that… Pakistan finance minister vows to tame inflation, cut interest rates By Reuters – Sep 28, 2022 By Asif Shahzad ISLAMABAD (Reuters) -Pakistan’s new finance minister, Ishaq Dar, will work to rein in inflation and cut interest rates, he said on Wednesday, calling the rupee… U.S. VP Harris condemns ‘disturbing’ Chinese actions By Reuters – Sep 28, 2022 1 By Trevor Hunnicutt YOKOSUKA, Japan (Reuters) -U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris condemned on Wednesday “disturbing” actions by China in the Pacific while pledging to deepen… Read More Here

GOP Governor Nominee Once Urged Murder Charges For Women Getting Abortions https://digitalarkansasnews.com/gop-governor-nominee-once-urged-murder-charges-for-women-getting-abortions/ Doug Mastriano, a Pennsylvania state senator who is the GOP nominee for governor, said in 2019 that women who violated his proposed abortion ban should be charged with murder. NBC News on Tuesday resurfaced a 2019 interview in which Mastriano, speaking to Pennsylvania radio station WITF, spoke about a bill he was sponsoring in the state legislature that would have outlawed abortion as soon as cardiac activity is detected, around six weeks of pregnancy. Mastriano was asked whether a woman who had an abortion 10 weeks into a pregnancy would be charged with murder under his proposed measure. “Okay, let’s go back to the basic question there,” Mastriano responded. “Is that a human being? Is that a little boy or girl? If it is, it deserves equal protection under the law.” The interviewer asked Mastriano if he was saying that a woman who underwent an abortion at 10 weeks gestation should be charged with murder. “Yes, I am,” Mastriano replied. Mastriano — who was endorsed by former President Trump in May — is a controversial figure in the state. He has been accused of Islamophobic comments, been photographed wearing a Confederate uniform, and was on the U.S. Capitol grounds on the day of the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection by a pro-Trump mob. He has, however, recently walked a fine line on abortion since he won the gubernatorial primary and the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, making the issue one of the most relevant ahead of the November election. While he has attempted to paint his Democratic opponent Josh Shapiro, the state’s attorney general, as “extreme” on the issue, he has also downplayed his past stances on abortion, saying the issue is up to the state’s voters. “If Pennsylvanians want exceptions, if they want to limit the number of weeks, it’s going to have to come from your legislative body and then to my desk,” he told a conservative network. Read More Here

Ukraine Live Briefing: Leaders Blame Russia For Nord Stream 1 Explosions https://digitalarkansasnews.com/ukraine-live-briefing-leaders-blame-russia-for-nord-stream-1-explosions/ European leaders said Tuesday that two explosions that damaged the Nord Stream natural gas pipelines may have been deliberate, with some officials blaming the Kremlin and suggesting that the blasts were meant as a threat. The blasts Monday produced leaks in all three of the underwater Nord Stream pipelines in the Baltic Sea that connect Russia and Germany. As referendums in Russian-controlled areas of Ukraine ended, British intelligence said Russian President Vladimir Putin could announce the annexation of four occupied regions as early as Friday. Here’s the latest on the war and its ripple effects across the globe. Return to menu Staged referendums yield expected result as Russia readies annexations. Putin’s plan to illegally annex four partially occupied regions in Ukraine lurched forward on Tuesday, as Russian officials and Kremlin proxy leaders claimed that staged referendums showed residents in favor of joining Russia by absurd margins of more than 95 percent. Moscow does not fully control any of the four Ukrainian regions, either militarily or politically, The Post’s Mary Ilyushina and Isabelle Khurshudyan write. Moscow’s war against Ukraine has taken another disastrous turn in recent days, as Putin’s declaration of a partial military mobilization has led more than 180,000 Russians to leave the country to escape potential conscription, according to the neighboring countries of Georgia, Kazakhstan and Finland. The total is likely much higher. Read More Here

World News Day: Challenges To Credible News Almost Insurmountable https://digitalarkansasnews.com/world-news-day-challenges-to-credible-news-almost-insurmountable/ September 28, 2022 ISLAMABAD – IN 1896, The New York Times introduced on its masthead the words which went on to become not only its own manifesto but also set the standard by which other newspapers would be judged. The words ‘All the News Fit to Print’ were reportedly chosen in response to the scurrilous content of its two main competitors who were peddling news deemed ‘unfit’ for publishing or what came to be known as ‘yellow journalism’. As World News Day is observed today, it is interesting to note that terms such as ‘yellow journalism’ are now considered belonging to another time, another generation. So is the case with the idea of ‘objective’ reporting. Current news consumers (no longer necessarily readers) are more familiar with the terms ‘fake news’, ‘keyboard warriors’ and ‘trolling’ and all that they entail. So what is the significance of the day in a contemporary context? Organised primarily by the Canadian Journalism Foundation and WAN-IFRA’S World Editors Forum, with over 500 newsrooms participating, the objective of observing this day is to bring the focus back on journalism that is committed to being fact-based and credible. However noble the intentions, the current challenges to credible news seem almost in­­surmountable. At the same time, in today’s crisis-ridden world the need for credible sou­rces of news — and credible voices that convey the news — is greater than ever before. Perhaps even greater than during days of censorship of which journalists in Pakistan have particularly painful memories. While the phenomenon of fake news has been known to be around for over a century, it was Donald Trump who made it part of the mainstream discourse. He accused critics of peddling fake news about him, while at the same time used it as an effective propaganda tool against his opponents, including journalists. His aide, Kellyanne Conway, went a step further by introducing in the lexicon the idea of ‘alternative facts’, which was actually a euphemism for lies. The challenges to credible news seem almost insurmountable. Fake news can only be defeated or countered with fact-based journalism and this is where the importance of professional newsrooms (in newspaper offices or TV/radio channels) is truly felt. However, at a time when social media is overtaking even the traditional electronic media — not to mention print — there is a scramble to be the first to break the news. This often entails compromising on fact-checking. TV channels, in competition for ratings, are also among those peddling fake news even if inadvertently. So why should anyone care about the news? Does truth in journalism and in reporting actually make a difference in people’s lives? Just going by the threats and violence faced by journalists in the line of duty, fact-based and investigative reporting is upsetting the apple cart of corruption and repression in several parts of the world. The extreme response of those thus exposed earns many countries — including Pakistan — the reputation of being among the ‘most dangerous place for journalists’ by organisations promoting press freedom. In a world where populist leaders are increasingly trampling on people’s rights — and not only in Third World countries — the media’s adversarial and watchdog roles assume greater significance. It is not only ground-breaking news that has an impact or makes a difference. Not every investigation on the part of journalists can lead to the resignation of a head of state as was the case with The Washington Post and the Watergate scandal involving Richard Nixon. In the case of Pakistan, for instance, sustained reporting on an issue can achieve far-reaching positive results. We have seen how reports on honour killings (a vile practice unheard of some decades back) helped both in awareness and consciousness raising, leading to human rights groups taking up the issue and campaigning till ultimately the judiciary stop­ped condoning the practice. Si­­milarly, when the first group of agricultural labour managed to escape from the bondage of feudal landlords in Sindh, it was newspaper reporting that helped HRCP campaign for a law against bonded labour that was passed in 1992. Journalists in Pakistan may not have covered themselves in full glory with their stories. However, they have shown resilience and resistance when it has mattered most. During the dictatorship of Gen Ziaul Haq, when journalists were not only imprisoned but also flogged they courageously covered the democratic movements — including the Movement for Restoration of Democracy and the nascent Women’s Action Forum. The pictorial coverage of women protesters in Lahore in 1983 being dragged into police vans has become an iconic part of Pakistan’s news history. However, these are possibly the worst times for those whose jobs it is to convey news. In a highly divisive society and under attack, fairly or not, for being partisan or being a beneficiary of the ‘lifafa’ system, journalists must reiterate their commitment to speak truth to power. The writer is a human rights activist. Read More Here

Biden's Approval Ratings See A Marginal Increase Ahead Of Midterm Election https://digitalarkansasnews.com/bidens-approval-ratings-see-a-marginal-increase-ahead-of-midterm-election/ With just six weeks to go for the November midterm election, US President Joe Biden’s approval rating has edged a touch higher, compared to last week. A two-day Reuters/Ipsos national poll found Biden’s approval rating at 41 per cent, up two per cent from last week’s 39 per cent. Experts analysing the poll data suggested that Biden’s Democrats might be able to hold the Senate but will cede control of the US House of Representatives to the Republicans.  The poll was conducted across the US, amongst 1,004 adults, including 469 Democrats and 367 Republicans.  Read more: Poll: Biden, his party struggle ahead of midterms, as most Dems look elsewhere for 2024 While the growth is marginal, it is still much better than the figures Biden had registered a couple of months back.  As reported by WION, in July, a CNN poll suggested that Biden’s approval ratings fared lower than what his predecessor, Donald Trump, ever managed to achieve during his four tumultuous years in the office, where he was impeached twice. Biden’s approval rating stood at 38 per cent while 62 per cent disapproved of his presidency. Comparatively, Trump’s lowest economic approval rating was 41 per cent which came way back in 2018.  Read more: US President Joe Biden’s approval ratings take a tumble, dip below Donald Trump’s Ever since Biden gained keys to the White House, he has had to tackle a raging pandemic, which has now snowballed into a battered economy, with Americans facing sky-high inflation. Middle-class America is struggling to make the ends meet and is perhaps the biggest reason for Biden not shining bright in the polls.   However, since the July poll, Biden has managed to chalk a turnaround. The White House has brought the ambitious Inflation Reduction Act, a toned-down version of the ‘Build Back Better’ plan and reduced student debt.  The economy remains the top concern for both Republican and Democrat voters. Thus, the next few weeks could very well make-or-break Biden’s poll plans.  (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:  Read More Here

Hurricane Ian Nears Florida: Latest News, Updates And Storm Path https://digitalarkansasnews.com/hurricane-ian-nears-florida-latest-news-updates-and-storm-path/ About this page Last Updated: Sep 28, 2022 at 3:49 am ET Live coverage as Hurricane Ian hits Cuba and approaches Florida’s Gulf Coast. Read More Here

Little Rock Christian Outlasts Mount St. Mary In 5A-Central Volleyball Clash https://digitalarkansasnews.com/little-rock-christian-outlasts-mount-st-mary-in-5a-central-volleyball-clash/ By Jeff Halpern | Photos by Braeden Botts LITTLE ROCK — The No. 8-ranked Little Rock Christian Academy Warriors gradually pulled away from the 12th-ranked Mount St. Mary Belles Tuesday night at Warrior Gymnasium.  The Warriors (12-3, 7-0 5A-Central) took the upper hand in a matchup of teams that entered the contest undefeated in the conference with a 25-23, 23-25, 25-21, 25-16 victory. Mount St. Mary is now 9-4-1 and 6-1 on the season. “The first two games, there was not much separation, and we had a lot of errors,” said LRCA head coach Lacey Rowan. “We were trying to serve hard and place the ball in certain spots and that led to a lot of errors. “We use our serves to set things up, but we had some passing errors and a lot of that has to do with communication and it was loud in here.” In a matchup that saw both school’s student sections show up in strong support, officials twice had to warn LRCA’s student body to back off from the court. The second time when the LRCA student body was warned in the second game, the officials said the Warriors would receive a yellow card if problems persisted. Mount St. Mary head coach Jason Lambert acknowledged his team made too many mistakes which made trying to win on the road difficult. “We have to go back and regroup,” said Lambert. “We have to refocus and get back to work.” Lambert was not happy in the third set when his team was assessed yellow card for unnecessary delay when arguing with the officials over being out of rotation. Lambert claimed the official book was wrong when Samantha Bosley was serving after Wherry with the Belles down 15-10. Lambert said the Warriors had scored a point in between, bringing up Bosley’s turn to serve when the bookkeeper said the Warriors had not scored in between. Mount St. Mary took an early 7-3 lead in the first game before the Warriors went on a 6-2 run to tie the game at 9-9 with Jordan Terry collecting three kills. Neither team led by more than two points for the rest of the game. The game ended when Harbor Williams’ attack went into the net for Mount St. Mary and LRCA’s Isabella Elley had a kill to end the game. LRCA took a 7-4 lead in the second game before Mount St. Mary came back to tie the game at 9-9. Ella Ward had an ace and Wherry, Kaylee Smith and Samantha With had kills to tie the score. Tied 13-all, the Warriors took a 16-13 lead thanks to two kills by Terry and Ward’s attack going into the net. The Belles tied it at 16-16 when Romani Thurman’s serve went long, a net violation on the Warrior and Wherry had a kill. The Belles finally pulled away late. They broke a 20-20 tie when Elley’s serve went into the net, Thurman’s attack went into the net and Warriors’ player went into the net. LRCA closed to 23-22 on two kills by Thurman before a kill by Williams made it 24-22. After Izzy Arnold’s serve went long, Thurman’s attack went long and the Belles won 25-23, trying the match at 1-1. “Romani is strong, but she has learned to take things off and mix things up when hitting the ball,” said Rowan, of the North Carolina commit, who many times hit the ball with authority. In the third game, the Warriors broke open a 14-14 tie by scoring the next five points. Bailee Jeffus and Terry teamed up for a block, attacks by the Belles’ Samantha Smith and Wherry went long, Elley had a kill and Gabby Bozzay had a kill to make it 19-14. The Warriors maintained the lead for the rest of the game, winning 25-21. In the fourth game, the Warriors scored the first five points with Caitlin Skokos picking up three aces. The lead would extend to 13-4 before the Belles closed to 17-13 with Ward and Williams picking up two kills during that span. The Warriors would score 8 of the last 11 points to put the match away. “This was a big win because it was nice to do it in front of our home fans in our gym,” said Rowan. “I know when we go over there, it’s a smaller place with a low ceiling.” Read More…

Australia Politics Live: Government Asks Optus To Pay For New Passports After Data Breach; Albanese Remembers Victims Of Bali Bombings https://digitalarkansasnews.com/australia-politics-live-government-asks-optus-to-pay-for-new-passports-after-data-breach-albanese-remembers-victims-of-bali-bombings/ LIVE – Updated at 07:30 Follow the day’s news. 07:30 Adam Morton A couple of climate-related things have been happening around parliament today that are worth noting. The government has released a consultation paper on a national electric vehicle strategy, which has been promised to lift takeup of zero and low-emissions cars. About 2% of new cars sold in Australia last year were EVs, compared with 9% globally. The paper calls for views on introducing fuel efficiency standards. It makes the point Australia sits with Russia as one of the only major economies that does not have these standards, which would set an emissions target for manufacturers, measured in grams of CO2 released per kilometre and averaged across all the new cars they sell. The target would be gradually reduced to zero. At a press conference today, the climate change minister, Chris Bowen, framed the debate about EVs as being about choice. To those who say we shouldn’t be encouraging electric vehicles into Australia, they’re really saying they want electric vehicles to continue to be the preserve of those who are well off. We want those choices available to all. And that’s the discussion we are having with the Australian people. Separately, the environment minister, Tanya Plibersek, announced legislation to “modernise and streamline” laws that manage gases that deplete the ozone layer and synthetic greenhouse gases. The new legislation builds on laws that were introduced under the Hawke government era to implement the 1987 Montreal Protocol, under which countries successfully agreed to phase down the use of substances that depleted the ozone layer. One of the big issues since then has been the rise of synthetic greenhouse gases, mainly hydrofluorocarbons, that are used in refrigeration and air conditioning, fire protection, aerosols and insulating foam. A significant issue with these gases is they contribute to the climate crisis – they are highly potent greenhouse gases, with many thousand times the heating potential of carbon dioxide (though they are released in much smaller amounts). The government plans to tighten regulations that govern the use and importation of these gases. It also said it would offer support to Pacific countries in reducing their use. You can read the EV consultation paper here. Guardian Australia has previously looked at the issues at play here and here. Submissions will be accepted until the end of October. 07:23 Thank you Amy and good afternoon everyone. I’ll be with you into the early evening. 07:15 The last parliament sitting before budget week is almost done and dusted and MPS are starting to eye off the exits. We will continue to follow what happens as it does – and there is the Australia Live blog which will cover all the news – not just politics – in the meantime. But for now, Stephanie Convery will take you through the afternoon and I will be back when parliament is. But until then – take care of you. And always, if you need to, you can reach me here and here in the meantime. Have fun with Steph x 07:02 Drivers facing fuel price jump of up to 24 cents a litre after end of excise cut Peter Hannam has more on the fuel excise: Australian motorists are already being slugged by “unacceptably high” fuel prices ahead of the end of the fuel excise cut that will lift bowser costs by as much as 24 cents a litre, the NRMA has said. The Albanese government has resisted pressure to extend the six-month halving of the fuel excise, which will expire at midnight on Wednesday. The policy, inherited from the Morrison government, cost the budget $3bn. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has warned service stations that it will be watching for outlets that pass on the increase to customers before running down supplies of fuel that was not fully taxed. Related: Australian drivers facing fuel price hike of up to 24 cents a litre as excise cut expires 06:53 Cross-party senators move to establish inquiry on abortion access in Australia The Greens are moving to establish a senate inquiry looking at abortion access in Australia today, which is also International Safe Abortion Day. Senator Larissa Waters said there needed to be a forensic look at what access was available in Australia: Abortion remains expensive and inaccessible for many, especially those who already face massive healthcare barriers, including First Nations people and people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. In the wake of Roe v Wade, the federal government should look at what it can do to eliminate Australia’s barriers to accessible and affordable abortion. Access to safe, legal abortion remains a postcode lottery in Australia, with different rules, costs and availability depending on where you live. Some people are having to travel for hours at significant expense to access this basic healthcare service. In remote and regional areas like Townsville and Mackay, many women are forced to travel long distances, at significant expense, to access sexual and reproductive health services including long-acting contraception, medical and surgical abortions and counselling. The Greens support calls for national consistency on abortion laws, provided they are best practice, which would be ascertained through the inquiry. Waters, the independent ACT senator David Pocock and the Liberal MP Bridget Archer joined with the advocacy group Fair Agenda to call for more action to address barriers to abortion access: Fair Agenda is calling on the Albanese government to lead a national review of sexual and reproductive health care access, to make a plan to address barriers to abortion care in Australia. And for immediate action to improve abortion access nationwide – by putting medical abortion care on Medicare with an appropriate subsidy of $500. Today is International Safe #Abortion Day and the @australiangreens are calling for a national inquiry into #abortionaccess inequity We support this call for an inquiry & would like to see the harmonisation of abortion laws across Australia #auspol https://t.co/FUIohJS6R3 — MSI Australia (@MSI_Australia) September 28, 2022 06:49 Josh Butler Optus asked by federal government to cover cost of new passports for Australians affected by data breach The federal government has asked Optus to cover the costs of replacement passports for customers caught up in the telco’s data breach, with Anthony Albanese saying “we believe that Optus should pay, not taxpayers”. The foreign minister, Penny Wong, has written to the Optus chief executive, Kelly Bayer Rosmarin, asking for the company to cover the costs of passport replacements. In the letter, seen by Guardian Australia, she wrote: As you will appreciate, this serious incident creates a risk that the personal information of current and former mutual customers of the Australian Passport Office and Optus will be subject to exploitation by criminals. I therefore seek your earliest confirmation that Optus will cover the passport application fees of any customer affected by this breach whose passport information was disclosed and who choose to replace their currently valid passport. We’ve contacted Optus for response. In parliament’s question time today, Albanese flagged further action from the government on data retention and storage, including strengthening privacy laws through a review of the Privacy Act. We need better national laws after a decade of inaction to manage the immense amount of data collected by companies, about Australians and clear consequences for when they do not manage,” he said. Albanese said he had had a briefing from the Optus CEO and the Australian Signals Directorate last weekend. 06:45 Graham Readfearn Queensland government pledges to end reliance on coal by 2035 Queensland will end its reliance on coal by 2035, with the state’s eight coal-fired power plants to be turned into renewable energy hubs, the state government has announced. The coal plants – all publicly owned – will be transformed into renewable energy and storage hubs in what feels like a historic announcement in a state well known for its coal mining. At a speech in Brisbane, the premier, Annastacia Palaszczuk, released a new energy plan and said the climate crisis was already hitting Queenslanders hard. Speaking to the Guardian, the state’s energy minister, Mick de Brenni, said the government had today signed a workforce charter with three unions that represented a “job security guarantee”. He said: This is an incredibly significant day in our nation’s history. We commence the transition [from coal] in an orderly way so there’s no reliance [on coal] by 2035, reducing those emissions. It’s an historic day. 06:40 Graham Readfearn and Ben Smee have been following the Queensland government’s historic announcement today: Queensland will end its reliance on coal-fired power by 2035 under a 10-year $62bn energy plan to create a clean “super-grid” of solar, wind and hydroelectric power. In a historic announcement for a state known for its coal mining, the premier, Annastacia Palaszczuk, said Queensland was facing a “climate emergency” and a bold vision was needed. Palaszczuk said her government was committing an extra $4bn to transform the state’s energy system and by 2030 there would be at least 2,000 more wind turbines and 35 million more solar panels in the state. By 2035, there would be eight times more renewable energy generation than today. Related: Queensland government pledges to end reliance on coal-fired power by 2035 06:39 Independent MP Helen Haines says she will scrutinise integrity commission bill as part of commit...

Are You ‘looked Down Upon’? Do You Care? https://digitalarkansasnews.com/are-you-looked-down-upon-do-you-care/ It’s a commonplace gripe in Trump world and aligned planets that “elites look down on me.” The elites are usually described as college-educated liberals living in big cities. The complainers are not always wrong, but they exaggerate how much their alleged “betters” are even thinking about them. When they do, they’re more likely scratching their heads in bewilderment rather than looking downward. They see whiners swimming in self-pity. These alleged salts-of-the-earth are kept going by the Affordable Care Act, Medicare and checks from Social Security — but keep voting for those who would threaten these comforts. Not only do Democratic parts of the country support such programs; their richer residents pay for them. I know several very well-to-do liberals who don’t buy into a single item on the Republican menu of social resentments, but come Election Day, they vote for Republicans to cut their taxes — then drive off to join their liberal friends at the country club. There was the interesting case of Gary Cohn. Although he was a lifelong Democrat, Donald Trump made him chief economic adviser. (Cohn had been president of Goldman Sachs, so all was forgiven.) Cohn pushed through the 2017 tax cut bill that mainly enriched the already rich, while adding something like $1.5 trillion to the deficit. The ink had barely dried when Cohn was out the door and back in New York. Florida Sen. Rick Scott, chair of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, is now terribly worried about deficits. As a remedy, he’s calling for all federal legislation to be sunsetted in five years. That would include Medicare and Social Security. “If a law is worth keeping,” Scott said, “Congress can pass it again.” As for these two programs, Scott says he just wants to “fix” them. What can you say to those who depend on Social Security and Medicare or expect to depend on them? “Don’t make long-term plans.” Just about anyone can build a case for being looked down upon. Lower-level lawyers at big firms may feel lorded over by the partners. Book editors at fancy publishing houses have senior editors breathing down their necks. A small shopkeeper might feel judged as inferior by the superstore operator down the road. In some expensive urban centers, people with $3 million in assets are referred to as the “merely affluent.” As financial writer William Cohan wrote in Vanity Fair, “In the circles that Cohn travels, a $250 million fortune is merely the table stakes necessary to catapult oneself into the land of the billionaires.” There’s no denying that people who are rich are often fawned upon, and it helps greatly if they’re famous, as well. But look at their lives and you often find personal tragedies that no amount of money or privilege can overcome. Children’s drug overdoses. Deadly disease. Loneliness. When big money is involved, you often see messy divorces leading to loveless marriages with a “trophy wife.” Sociologists have long held that the key to happiness is community — having friends and family who care about you. Past a certain level of subsistence, wealth doesn’t make much of a difference. That’s assuming one has the security that comes with guaranteed health care. It helps to avoid politicians who rub salt into wounds we should not have. Stoking anger, resentment and jealousy doesn’t cost them anything. But it does distract the public from their plan to cut real valued services. As one of the dukes in Shakespeare’s “Henry VIII” advised another duke, “Heat not a furnace for your foe so hot that it do singe yourself.” And a related piece of advice: Keep an eye on what matters, not what you imagine others think of you. Follow Froma Harrop on Twitter @FromaHarrop. She can be reached at fharrop@gmail.com. Today’s breaking news and more in your inbox Read More Here

AP News Summary At 1:47 A.m. EDT https://digitalarkansasnews.com/ap-news-summary-at-147-a-m-edt/ Cuba in the dark after hurricane knocks out power grid HAVANA (AP) — Cuba remains in the dark after Hurricane Ian knocked out the power grid and devastated some of the country’s most important tobacco farms when it hit the island’s western tip as a major storm. Authorities were working to gradually restore service overnight to the country’s 11 million people, according to a statement from Cuba’s Electric Union. Ian hit a Cuba that has been struggling with an economic crisis and has faced frequent power outages in recent months. It made landfall as a Category 3 storm on the island’s western end, devastating Pinar del Río province, where much of the tobacco used for Cuba’s iconic cigars is grown. Hurricane Ian nears Florida coast, threatening floods, winds ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Hurricane Ian is bearing down on Florida as a menacing major hurricane, and many residents have heeded orders to flee from its path. The U.S. National Hurricane Center says Ian could become a dangerous Category 4 hurricane before slamming into southwest Florida on Wednesday. At least 2.5 million people were ordered to evacuate in anticipation of powerful storm surge and flooding rains. One couple from England, Glyn and Christine Williams, got stuck and planned to ride out the storm at a shelter. They said the Tampa hotel where they had been staying closed amid evacuation orders and the airport shut before they could fly home. Kremlin announces vote, paves way to annex part of Ukraine KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Pro-Moscow officials say that residents in all four occupied areas of Ukraine voted to join Russia. The Kremlin-orchestrated votes have been dismissed by the U.S. and its Western allies as illegitimate. According to Russia-installed election officials, 93% of the ballots case in the Zaporizhzhia region were in support of annexation, as were 87% of ballots in the southern Kherson region and 98% in Luhansk. The preordained outcome sets the stage for a dangerous new phase in Russia’s seven-month war in Ukraine because it is expected to serve as a pretext for Moscow to annex the four areas. That could happen within days. Churches defend clergy loophole in child sex abuse reporting Clergy in 33 states are exempt from laws requiring professionals such as teachers, physicians and psychotherapists to report information about alleged child abuse to police or child welfare officials. That loophole has resulted in an unknown number of predators being allowed to continue abusing children for years despite having confessed the behavior to religious officials. An Associated Press review finds that over the past two decades, more than 130 bills have been proposed in state legislatures to create or amend child sex abuse reporting laws. After intense opposition from religious groups, the clergy privilege remained unchanged. Often, legislative efforts to close the loophole run up against lawmakers who are also church members. Pollution from Florida mining a concern with Hurricane Ian ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Environmental groups say the polluted leftovers of Florida’s phosphate fertilizer mining industry are at risk for leaks or other contamination triggered by Hurricane Ian. More than 1 billion tons are in “stacks” that resemble enormous ponds. Florida has 24 such phosphogypsum stacks around the state, mostly in central mining areas. About 30 million tons of this waste is generated every year, according to the Florida Industrial and Phosphate Research Institute. A March 2021 leak at one stack called Piney Point resulted in the release of an estimated 215 million gallons of polluted water into Tampa Bay, causing massive fish kills. State officials, overseen by a court-appointed receiver, are working with a $100 million appropriation to shut down the location. Progressive Democrats frustrated with 2022 primary losses NEW YORK (AP) — Progressive Democrats are facing a test of their power in November’s midterm elections. Their party is heading into the final stretch of the campaign with a robust set of legislative accomplishments. Those include long-term progressive priorities on issues ranging from prescription drug prices to climate change. But the left has also faced a series of disappointments during the primary season. Democratic voters from Ohio to Illinois to Texas rejected high-profile progressive challengers to moderates or incumbent members of Congress. Progressive leaders are urging against reading too much into those losses, particularly in New York, where some voters have been left disoriented or disengaged. Biden keeps US target for refugee admissions at 125,000 SAN DIEGO (AP) — President Joe Biden is formally keeping the nation’s cap on refugee admissions at 125,000 for the 2023 budget year, despite pressure from advocates to raise it even higher to meet the need after falling far short of that target this year. Refugees advocates had been pushing the Biden administration to do more to restore the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program. The program suffered deep cuts under the Trump administration, which slashed admissions to a record low of 15,000. Biden has raised the cap to four times that amount this year, but so far fewer than 20,000 refugees have been admitted. Top Pakistan diplomat urges flood aid, patience with Taliban WASHINGTON (AP) — Pakistan’s foreign minister is recommending cooperation with the Taliban even though many U.S. officials say Afghanistan’s ruling faction have proved unworthy of it. Pakistan’s top diplomat, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, tells The Associated Press that the international community should work with the Taliban, not around them, when it comes to combatting foreign extremist groups and Afghanistan’s economic and humanitarian crises. Zardari attended the U.N. General Assembly in New York last week and visited Washington to try to draw more world attention and assistance to unprecedented flooding that has one-third of Pakistan underwater. VP Harris seeks computer chip partners in Japan meetings TOKYO (AP) — Vice President Kamala Harris has highlighted a new U.S. law boosting support for computer chip manufacturing as she met with Japanese technology executives on Wednesday. The meeting on her last full day in Tokyo reflects the administration’s focus on boosting semiconductor manufacturing and expanding the supply chain for critical materials. At the same time, Japan is looking to rejuvenate its own computer chip industry, and there could be opportunities for new partnerships as the allies work together to counter China’s own technology investments. Millions of Americans will save on Medicare fees next year WASHINGTON (AP) — For the first time in a decade, Americans will pay less next year on monthly premiums for Medicare’s Part B plan, which covers routine doctors’ visits and other outpatient care. The rare 3% decrease in monthly premiums — a savings of $5.20 for most — comes after millions of Medicare beneficiaries endured a tough year of high inflation and a dramatic increase in those premiums this year. Most people on Medicare will pay $164.90 monthly for Part B coverage starting next year. The decrease in Medicare fees comes as many older people await news about big increases next year to their Social Security checks, which are often used to pay for Medicare premiums. Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Read More Here

Today In History: September 28, Penicillin Is Discovered https://digitalarkansasnews.com/today-in-history-september-28-penicillin-is-discovered/ Today in History Today is Wednesday, Sept. 28, the 271st day of 2022. There are 94 days left in the year. Today’s Highlight in History: On Sept. 28, 1928, Scottish medical researcher Alexander Fleming discovered penicillin, the first effective antibiotic. On this date: In 1781, American forces in the Revolutionary War, backed by a French fleet, began their successful siege of Yorktown, Virginia. In 1841, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow completed his poem “Excelsior.” In 1850, flogging was abolished as a form of punishment in the U.S. Navy. In 1920, eight members of the Chicago White Sox were indicted for allegedly throwing the 1919 World Series against the Cincinnati Reds. (All were acquitted at trial, but all eight were banned from the game for life.) In 1924, three U.S. Army planes landed in Seattle, having completed the first round-the-world trip by air in 175 days. In 1939, during World War II, Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union signed a treaty calling for the partitioning of Poland, which the two countries had invaded. In 1958, voters in the African country of Guinea overwhelmingly favored independence from France. In 1962, a federal appeals court found Mississippi Gov. Ross Barnett in civil contempt for blocking the admission of James Meredith, a Black student, to the University of Mississippi. (Federal marshals escorted Meredith onto the campus two days later.) In 1995, Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin and PLO chairman Yasser Arafat signed an accord at the White House ending Israel’s military occupation of West Bank cities and laying the foundation for a Palestinian state. In 2000, capping a 12-year battle, the government approved use of the abortion pill RU-486. In 2019, voters in Afghanistan went to the polls to elect a president for the fourth time since a U.S.-led coalition ousted the Taliban regime in 2001; the vote was marred by violence, Taliban threats and widespread allegations of mismanagement. (After a series of delays, the country’s independent election commission announced months later that Ashraf Ghani had won a second term as president.) In 2020, the worldwide death toll from the coronavirus pandemic topped 1 million, according to a count by Johns Hopkins University. Ten years ago: Citing national security risks, President Barack Obama blocked a Chinese company from owning four wind farm projects in northern Oregon near a Navy base where the U.S. military flew unmanned drones and electronic-warfare planes on training missions. Five years ago: The Trump administration said its relief efforts in Puerto Rico in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria were succeeding, though people on the island said help was scarce and disorganized. House Majority Whip Steve Scalise returned to the House chamber for the first time since he was wounded three months earlier by a gunman who opened fire at a Republican baseball practice. One year ago: Testifying before the Senate Armed Services Committee, Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, called the 20-year war in Afghanistan a “strategic failure,” and said he had favored keeping several thousand troops in the country to prevent a collapse of the U.S.-backed government and a rapid takeover by the Taliban. Barack and Michelle Obama dug shovels into the ground during a celebratory groundbreaking for the Obama Presidential Center along Lake Michigan in Chicago, near the Obama family home. A man who shot and killed five people at a newspaper in Maryland in 2018 was sentenced to more than five life sentences without the possibility of parole. Today’s Birthdays: Actor Brigitte Bardot is 88. Actor Joel Higgins is 79. Singer Helen Shapiro is 76. Actor Vernee Watson is 73. Movie writer-director-actor John Sayles is 72. Rock musician George Lynch is 68. Zydeco singer-musician C.J. Chenier (sheh-NEER’) is 65. Actor Steve Hytner is 63. Actor-comedian Janeane Garofalo (juh-NEEN’ guh-RAH’-fuh-loh) is 58. Country singer Matt King is 56. Actor Mira Sorvino is 55. TV personality/singer Moon Zappa is 55. Actor-model Carre Otis is 54. Actor Naomi Watts is 54. Country singer Karen Fairchild (Little Big Town) is 53. Singer/songwriter A.J. Croce is 51. Country singer Mandy Barnett is 47. Rapper Young Jeezy is 45. World Golf Hall of Famer Se Ri Pak is 45. Actor Peter Cambor is 44. Writer-producer-director-actor Bam Margera is 43. Actor Melissa Claire Egan is 41. Actor Jerrika Hinton is 41. Neo-soul musician Luke Mossman (Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats ) is 41. Pop-rock singer St. Vincent is 40. Comedian/actor Phoebe Robinson is 38. Rock musician Daniel Platzman (Imagine Dragons) is 36. Actor Hilary Duff is 35. Actor Keir Gilchrist is 30. Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Read More Here

Cuba Suffers Total Electrical Outage As Hurricane Ian Roars Through https://digitalarkansasnews.com/cuba-suffers-total-electrical-outage-as-hurricane-ian-roars-through/ Government crews in Cuba were working to restore electricity Tuesday night after Hurricane Ian knocked out power to the entire island, authorities said. At least two people died in the cyclone, which crossed western Cuba as a Category 3 hurricane Tuesday en route to Florida, authorities said. Buildings and infrastructure in the western province of Pinar del Rio, where Ian made landfall early in the day, suffered major damage. The U.S. National Hurricane Center said the region experienced “significant wind and storm surge impacts,” with top sustained winds of 125 mph. Authorities initially reported 1 million people without power. Later Tuesday, they said the entire island of 11 million was out. “The SEN has an exceptional condition, 0 electricity generation (the country without electrical service), associated with the complex weather system,” the Ministry of Energy and Mines tweeted at 8:42 p.m., using the Spanish acronym for the national power grid. The Electrical Union of Cuba said crews would work through the night to restore power. Failures appeared in the western, central and eastern links. “It’s a process that is going to take a while,” union chief Lázaro Guerra Hernández told state television. Yamilé Ramos Cordero, president of the Provincial Defense Council of Pinar del Río, confirmed at least two deaths from collapsing buildings. A woman in the Pinar del Río municipality of San Luis was killed when a wall fell in her home, he said. A man in a different municipality died when a roof collapsed. Cuban President Miguel Díaz Canel visited Pinar del Río after the storm passed. “The damages are great, although they have not yet been accounted,” he tweeted. “Aid is already pouring in from all over the country.” Estuvimos en #PinarDelRío. Los daños son grandes, aunque aún no se han podido contabilizar. Ya está saliendo ayuda de todo el país. Confiamos en los pinareños, pueblo noble, trabajador y con mucha experiencia en estas situaciones. Tengan la certeza de que nos vamos a recuperar. pic.twitter.com/zg5VNKA9sN — Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez (@DiazCanelB) September 27, 2022 Eleazar Moreno Ricardo, the electrical union’s network director, told the Communist Party newspaper Granma that brigades from throughout the island began moving to the western provinces to begin restoring power as soon as the weather permitted. “The work of evaluating the damage has already begun, and in some areas of the Isla de la Juventud, the first territory to feel the force of the hurricane, it has already been possible to reestablish electrical service,” Granma reported shortly after 9 p.m. Isla de la Juventud — the Island of Youth — lies some 30 miles off the Cuban mainland. “The most complex situation is in Pinar del Río, where all transmission networks are out of service, and there is much damage to transformers and secondary networks,” Granma reported. CNN Havana bureau chief Patrick Oppmann tweeted a video of himself driving down the Malecón, Havana’s storied waterfront esplanade, now flooded. Some lights were visible in the distance. Before Ian made landfall, officials in Pinar del Rio set up 55 shelters, evacuated 50,000 people, and took steps to protect crops in the nation’s main tobacco-growing region. Cuba has long experience preparing for hurricanes, but it’s also suffering food and electricity shortages. The economy has been hobbled in part by the lingering effects of the coronavirus pandemic and in part by new U.S. sanctions imposed by the Trump administration and partially maintained by the Biden administration. Read More Here

Experimental Alzheimer’s Drug Slows Cognitive Decline In Trial, Firms Say https://digitalarkansasnews.com/experimental-alzheimers-drug-slows-cognitive-decline-in-trial-firms-say/ An experimental Alzheimer’s drug slowed cognitive and functional decline by 27 percent in a closely watched clinical trial, the sponsors of the medication said Tuesday, increasing the therapy’s chance for approval as soon as early next year. Japanese drugmaker Eisai and its American partner, Biogen, in a news release said the slowing of deterioration, compared with a placebo, was “highly statistically significant.” They said the drug, called lecanemab, had met the primary and secondary goals of the 18-month late-stage study. The trial results have not undergone peer review. The upbeat news served as a stark contrast to the calamitous rollout last year of another drug, marketed as Aduhelm, sponsored by the two companies. Like Aduhelm, lecanemab reduces abnormal clumps of beta amyloid, a hallmark of Alzheimer’s. But unlike Aduhelm, for which the data was confused and conflicting, the trial results for lecanemab told a straightforward and encouraging story, some experts said. Aduhelm was approved by the Food and Drug Administration, but Medicare refused to cover it broadly, and the drug collapsed in the marketplace. “A 27 percent slowing of deterioration seems like a modest effect, but for patients with Alzheimer’s, this could be very meaningful,” said Gil Rabinovici, a neurologist at the University of California at San Francisco. The trials for Aduhelm were shut down before they were completed, and a post-hoc analysis raised a raft of questions. But the lecanemab trial, called Clarity AD, was “completed according to protocol” and shows that “lowering amyloid at this stage can translate into a slowing of clinical decline,” Rabinovici said. “That is a huge breakthrough.” Some other experts cautioned that the benefits of the drug were likely to be small and said they wanted to see the full data before reaching conclusions. The companies have already applied to the FDA for accelerated approval for lecanemab, based on earlier-stage data. The FDA’s deadline for a decision is Jan. 6. The firms said the FDA has agreed that the results of the Clarity AD trial can serve as the confirmatory study to verify the clinical benefit of lecanemab. That process will continue to go forward. But Eisai officials said Tuesday they will also seek full FDA approval for the drug after they get the expedited approval. Full approval would make it much more likely that the treatment would be covered by Medicare and other insurers. The trial included almost 1,800 patients with mild cognitive impairment caused by Alzheimer’s or early-stage Alzheimer’s. Eisai, which is taking the lead in developing the drug and working with regulatory authorities, said it will present the full results of the study in late November at an Alzheimer’s conference in San Francisco. The results also will be published in a medical journal, the company said. Officials said the clinical trial participants were tested in several areas to gauge the pace of their decline, including memory, orientation and problem solving. Starting at six months, the companies said, the group that received the treatment did better than the placebo group. The treatment was administered intravenously twice a month. The lecanemab group experienced side effects including brain swelling and bleeding — complications of anti-amyloid therapies — but the rates were within expectations, the companies said in the release. Eisai officials also said the results showed that the “amyloid hypothesis” — which holds that removing amyloid plaques can slow the progression of the neurodegenerative disease — is valid. Critics have expressed skepticism about that approach because of multiple failures involving drugs targeting amyloid. The trial results “prove the amyloid hypothesis, in which the abnormal accumulation of [beta amyloid] in the brain is one of the main causes of Alzheimer’s disease,” said Haruo Naito, Eisai’s chief executive officer. Read More Here

Save The Date: Arkansas Biosciences Institute Meeting Oct. 4 https://digitalarkansasnews.com/save-the-date-arkansas-biosciences-institute-meeting-oct-4/ Arkansas Biosciences Institute Arkansas Biosciences Institute Logo The annual meeting of Arkansas Biosciences Institute investigators is scheduled for Oct. 4 on the U of A campus at the Don Tyson Center for Agricultural Science. The program will include speakers from each ABI campus, poster session and time to connect with researchers from across the state. Faculty and students are invited. Please join us for an in-person, one-day meeting of the Arkansas Biosciences Institute. A detailed list of the program is below, with special thanks to the following people for representing our campus: Jorge Almodovar, associate professor in the Ralph E. Martin Department of Chemical Engineering, will deliver an oral presentation on his work in the field of biomedicine, titled “Cell Behavior Enhancement by Collagen/Heparin Layered Coatings” Six posters will be presented by campus ABI investigator laboratories that include: Mahmoud Moradi, Ph.D., associate professor in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry Young Hye Song, assistant professor in the Department of Biomedical Engineering Nicholas Greene, professor in the Department of Health, Human Performance and Recreation Darya Zabelina, assistant professor in the Department of Psychological Science Yuchun Du, associate professor in the Department of Biological Sciences Douglas Rhoads, professor in the Department of Biological Sciences The posters were chosen to represent the research supported through ABI that addresses vaccine development, cancer, smoking behavior and poultry genetics. To learn more about the Arkansas Biosciences Institute, please visit arbiosciences.org. FALL RESEARCH SYMPOSIUM Tuesday, Oct. 4  8:30-9 a.m. — Registration, continental breakfast and poster set-up 9 a.m. — Welcome and introduction Bobby McGehee Executive Director, Arkansas Biosciences Institute Don Bobbitt President, University of Arkansas System Chair, ABI Board of Directors 9:30 a.m. to noon — Scientific Session I: 5 Oral Presentations from ABIT-funded research investigators 9:30 a.m. — Joshua L. Kennedy, M.D., associate professor of pediatric allergy/immunology at ACRI 9:55 a.m. — Jason Causey, Ph.D., assistant professor of bioinformatics at Arkansas State University 10:20 a.m. — Break 10:40 a.m. — Dennis Province, Ph.D., Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences 11:05 a.m. — Fiona Goggin, Ph.D., professor of entomology and plant pathology, U of A Division of Agriculture and Bumpers College 11:30 a.m. — Jorge Almodovar, Ph.D., associate professor of chemical engineering, College of Engineering, U of A 11:55 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. — Investigator of the Year Awards 12:15-2:45 p.m. — Scientific Session II: Poster session and lunch The Don Tyson Center for Agricultural Sciences is located at 1371 W. Altheimer Dr., Fayetteville. From Interstate 49, take exit 66 for Arkansas 112/Garland Avenue. Turn right onto AR-112/Garland Avenue and then right onto West Altheimer Drive. Read More Here

New Web-Based Show To Feature Bishop Taylor, Cathedral – Arkansas Catholic – September 28, 2022 https://digitalarkansasnews.com/new-web-based-show-to-feature-bishop-taylor-cathedral-arkansas-catholic-september-28-2022/ Series will highlight Catholic dioceses, cathedrals and bishops across 42 states Published: September 28, 2022    By Malea Hargett Editor Malea Hargett Msgr. Kieran E. Harrington of Brooklyn, N.Y., interviews Bishop Anthony B. Taylor Oct. 19, 2019, at the Cathedral of St. Andrew for an episode of “The Chair” featuring the bishop, cathedral and diocesan history. A new online series celebrating Catholicism in the United States will feature the Diocese of Little Rock. “The Chair” combines images of the Cathedral of St. Andrew with interviews with Bishop Anthony B. Taylor and national historians who share stories of how the diocese was founded. According to producer DeSales Media, “With exceptional visuals and production values, the program blends the history, architecture and art of the cathedral and diocese, with Bishop Taylor’s example of being a holy man in a modern world. The bishop shares his own faith journey, his current concerns and his hopes for a bright future.” The 22-minute episode takes as its starting point the bishop’s chair, known as the cathedra, where the word “cathedral” comes from. DeSales Media said, “It is the symbolic heart of the diocese, representing the bishop’s authority to sanctify, preach and govern as a true successor of the apostles. From the exquisite details and symbolism of the cathedra chair and the church building, ‘The Chair’ goes on to explore the human side of the diocese.” “This video is beautifully done and rightly highlights the beauty of our Cathedral and its significance as the ‘bishop’s church,’” Bishop Taylor told Arkansas Catholic. “It was also nice to see its focus on the growth of the faith in Arkansas over our 179 years as a diocese and the contribution that each of our bishops has made to that growth over all these years.” As the introduction of each episode explains, the series is “an exploration of what it means to be an apostle in America.” “This video is beautifully done and rightly highlights the beauty of our Cathedral and its significance as the ‘bishop’s church,’” Bishop Taylor told Arkansas Catholic. “It was also nice to see its focus on the growth of the faith in Arkansas over our 179 years as a diocese and the contribution that each of our bishops has made to that growth over all these years.” In 2019 and 2020, Arkansas Catholic and the Diocese of the Little Rock worked closely with DeSales Media, the non-profit Catholic technology and communications ministry in the Diocese of Brooklyn, N.Y., to provide historical photographs of past bishops and religious orders in the state. Host Msgr. Kieran E. Harrington and a video crew visited Little Rock Oct. 18-19, 2019, interviewing Bishop Taylor and recording the inside and outside of the cathedral, downtown Little Rock and during a Saturday vigil Mass celebrated by Bishop Taylor. Msgr. Harrington, vicar for communications of the Diocese of Brooklyn and founder of DeSales Media Group, was named the national director of the Pontifical Mission Societies in 2021. Bill Maier, CEO of DeSales Media and secretary for communications for the Diocese of Brooklyn, said, “We created ‘The Chair’ because we wanted to tell the story of the Catholic Church in America. There is so much to learn about our faith across our diverse nation and the beautiful cathedrals throughout. We are excited to share the perspectives of so many of our bishops, and we hope that the faithful around the country celebrate with us the past, present and future of the Church.” The 85-episode series, which includes visits to cathedrals in 42 states, is available to watch for free at thechair.com. You must sign in to watch the episode, but you can see preview clips at youtube.com/cdolr. Please read our Comments Policy before posting. Article comments powered by Read More…

‘Full Chaos’: Over 100,000 Russians Flood Neighboring Countries To Flee Army Call-Up https://digitalarkansasnews.com/full-chaos-over-100000-russians-flood-neighboring-countries-to-flee-army-call-up/ TBILISI, Georgia — Georgia and Kazakhstan said Tuesday that tens of thousands of Russians had flooded into their countries from neighboring Russia since the announcement of a partial military mobilization to fight in Ukraine. Russian President Vladimir Putin last week announced the call-up of thousands of reservists, sparking protests across the country and a rush among Russian men for the borders. Fyodor said he had fled to Russia’s border with Kazakhstan spooked by reports that even the infirm and elderly were being called up to fight. Like other people AFP spoke to, he asked not to provide his full name. “There is full chaos [in Russia],” the 24-year-old said. “We don’t understand what will happen.” Get The Times of Israel’s Daily Edition by email and never miss our top stories By signing up, you agree to the terms He decided to leave for Kazakhstan on Saturday morning “as a precautionary measure” to “take a head start, just in case.” Russians arrive in Kazakhstan outside the railway station in the city of Uralsk (Oral) on September 27, 2022. (AFP) On Tuesday Kazakhstan said around 98,000 Russians had entered the country since mobilization was announced. It took Fyodor about 48 hours, including a five-kilometer (three-mile) walk to the border and a six-hour queue, before he reached the northern Kazakh city of Oral. “It was raining, it was cold, but six hours of wait… well, that was still reasonable given the circumstances,” he said. Vladislav, a 25-year-old bartender, found shelter in the Kazakh capital of Astana on Monday evening. In Russia, he said, “I could go to work or to do the groceries and never come back… I don’t want to die.” “A week ago, I could not imagine I’d be in Kazakhstan,” he told AFP, adding that he “wanted to thank the Kazakh people for welcoming him so nicely.” Russians arrive in Kazakhstan at the Syrym border crossing point on September 27, 2022. (AFP) Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said on Tuesday his country would ensure the safety of Russians fleeing “a hopeless situation.” “This is a political and humanitarian issue,” Tokayev said. “The territorial integrity of states must be unshakeable,” Tokayev added. Kazakhstan has condemned Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine and called for respect of territorial integrity, as Russia held annexation referendums in four Ukrainian regions. The votes were widely derided as a sham. Russians also flocked to the Black Sea nation of Georgia. People carrying luggage walk past vehicles with Russian license plates on the Russian side of the border toward the Nizhniy Lars customs checkpoint between Georgia and Russia near the town of Vladikavkaz, on September 25, 2022. (AFP) On Tuesday, Georgia said the number of Russians arriving each day has nearly doubled since the draft was announced. “Four to five days ago 5,000-6,000 [Russians] were arriving in Georgia daily. The number has grown to some 10,000 per day,” Interior Minister Vakhtang Gomelauri told journalists. Georgia and its neighbor Armenia, which do not require visas for Russians, have been major destinations for Russians fleeing since the war began on February 24. Over the first four months of the war, nearly 50,000 Russians fled to Georgia and another 40,000 to Armenia. On Tuesday, the local interior ministry in a Russian region that borders Georgia said there was a tailback of around 5,500 cars waiting to cross the Georgian border, calling the situation “extremely tense.” Ukrainian soldiers fire a mortar launcher at a position along the front line in the Donetsk region on September 26, 2022, amid Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. (ANATOLII STEPANOV / AFP) The ministry added that a mobile draft office will be set up at the border in the “near future.” The White House said Tuesday that Russians fleeing the war could seek asylum in the US. “We believe that regardless of their nationality, they may apply for asylum in the United States,” White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said. Arrivals will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis, she said. On Monday, a young man shot a Russian military officer at an enlistment office to protest the army call-up. There have also been scattered arson attacks against enlistment offices and protests in Russian cities that have resulted in at least 2,000 arrests. Russia is seeking to bolster its military as its Ukraine offensive has bogged down and sapped its forces, and Kyiv has reclaimed swathes of territory in a blistering counter-offensive. Times of Israel staff contributed to this report. Read More Here

City Works To Keep Water In Ditches, Out Of Streets https://digitalarkansasnews.com/city-works-to-keep-water-in-ditches-out-of-streets/ JONESBORO, Ark. (KAIT) – A Craighead County city is finding ways to keep water in the ditches and out of streets and homes during rainy seasons. Sidewalks are a very important addition to a community, that’s why the city of Jonesboro is working on covering ditches with sidewalks to help with water flow and provide a safe route for those who walk. “That is why these ditches are so critical because so much of Jonesboro technically lies in a flood zone,” said Bill Campbell, director of communications for the city of Jonesboro. The city understands some places are more flood-prone than others and they are working to address these areas, recommending that new builders look for higher ground to help prevent their property from flooding. Campbell says keeping Jonesboro flood-free is a high priority this time of year, saying that the city sees a rise in clogged drainage systems that can cause water to flow back onto the street. Copyright 2022 KAIT. All rights reserved. Read More Here

Overnight News Digest: September 27, 2022 https://digitalarkansasnews.com/overnight-news-digest-september-27-2022/ The Weather Channel: Hurricane Ian Heads Toward Potentially Catastrophic Strike On Florida H​urricane Ian is gaining strength in the Gulf of Mexico and headed for a potentially catastrophic strike on Florida beginning Wednesday. I​an rapidly intensified into a major hurricane overnight Sunday night, then made landfall in western Cuba two hours later. A​ny final preparations for Ian in Florida should be rushed to completion since conditions are deteriorating in South Florida, and will steadily do so in central Florida. H​ere’s a look at the latest status and forecast. L​atest Status Ian’s center is over the southeast Gulf of Mexico after raking across western Cuba. Storm surge flooding, heavy rain and damaging winds lashed Cuba’s western provinces late Monday into Tuesday in what was far western Cuba’s first Category 3 landfall in 14 years. A wind gust to 87 mph was measured in Havana Tuesday afternoon. Bands of rain containing gusty winds are lashing parts of the Peninsula and the Florida Keys. Winds have gusted from 40 to 70 mph in Key West Tuesday. A​ tornado watch is in effect for South Florida and the Keys until 5 a.m. EDT. In Iowa's last 6 home games against AP top-5 foes: 2008 vs. 3. Penn State, W 24-23 2010 vs. 5. Michigan State, W 37-6 2016 vs. 2. Michigan, W 14-13 2017 vs. 4. Penn State, L 21-19 2017 vs. 3. Ohio State, W 55-24 2021 vs. 4. Penn State, W 23-20 This week, No. 4 Michigan — Scott Dochterman (@ScottDochterman) September 26, 2022 ‘ readability=”10.855140186916″ x In Iowa’s last 6 home games against AP top-5 foes: 2008 vs. 3. Penn State, W 24-23 2010 vs. 5. Michigan State, W 37-6 2016 vs. 2. Michigan, W 14-13 2017 vs. 4. Penn State, L 21-19 2017 vs. 3. Ohio State, W 55-24 2021 vs. 4. Penn State, W 23-20 This week, No. 4 Michigan — Scott Dochterman (@ScottDochterman) September 26, 2022 Have a good evening, everyone! Read More Here

Justice Department Wants Psychological Examinations Of Parents Suing After Being Separated From Children At US-Mexico Border – KTVZ https://digitalarkansasnews.com/justice-department-wants-psychological-examinations-of-parents-suing-after-being-separated-from-children-at-us-mexico-border-ktvz/ By Priscilla Alvarez, CNN The Justice Department wants a federal judge to require psychological examinations of some families separated at the US-Mexico border under the Trump administration as part of an ongoing lawsuit against the US government. The request comes after the Biden administration walked away from settlement talks late last year and has raised concerns among attorneys about re-traumatizing parents whose kids were torn away from them under the controversial policy. “This is where the government was headed as soon as the announcement came down,” said Conchita Cruz, co-executive director of the Asylum Seeker Advocacy Project, which is representing separated families in similar cases. “They were headed toward re-traumatizing these families.” In 2018, the Trump administration announced a so-called zero tolerance policy, in which the Justice Department initiated criminal prosecutions of every adult illegally crossing the border. The policy, which was ended after widespread opposition, resulted in the separation of thousands of families, including those with infants, some only a few months old, because children can’t be kept in federal jail with their parents. The Physicians for Human Rights likened it to “torture,” and the American Academy of Pediatrics told CNN the Trump administration’s practice of separating families at the border was “child abuse.” Some families have since filed lawsuits seeking damages for the toll the separations took on them. The American Civil Liberties Union filed a class action lawsuit in 2019 and attorneys representing families have filed separate claims as well. President Joe Biden, who’s condemned the Trump administration’s family separation policy, previously endorsed the idea of the US government compensating migrant families separated at the border, saying the previous administration’s “outrageous behavior” warrants cash payments — but he didn’t go into detail about specific amounts. Last December, the administration broke off settlement talks and went back to court. Now, in a case concerning five asylum-seeking mothers and their children, DOJ submitted its request for psychological examinations, calling it “standard practice” in its filing and citing a similar case pending in Florida where a parent and child were examined. In the filing, DOJ recognizes the anxiety, trauma and emotional distress separation caused on the parents, but says its selected expert should also examine them. “Plaintiffs intend to support their claims of injury through expert testimony and have each submitted to multiple mental health evaluations by their own expert. It is standard practice for plaintiffs alleging severe emotional injury to be examined by the opposing party’s expert; indeed, in a similar family-separation case pending in the Southern District of Florida, the adult plaintiff consented to an examination by the United States’ expert under the same terms that the United States proposes here,” the filing reads. The exam would consist of a clinical interview and a testing portion that includes a personality and emotional function test and a trauma-specific test, according to DOJ. The Justice Department’s response in the case may be a blueprint for similar cases from migrant families against the US government. “It’s bad enough that the Biden administration has not provided a meaningful settlement to the families separated under the Trump administration for the brutal treatment they received, but now the Biden administration is using taxpayer dollars to hire doctors to try and diminish the harm,” said ACLU attorney Lee Gelernt. “That is hardly consistent with President Biden’s statement that the separations were criminal and an historic moral blemish on the nation,” he added. The Asylum Seeker Advocacy Project is representing six families who were separated at the border in similar cases and assisted hundreds of other lawyers who are filing monetary damages lawsuits. Attorneys have warned families who are part of these lawsuits that they may face depositions and potential examinations but viewed it as a worst-case scenario. “This is very aggressive. This is the thing that the Trump administration would’ve done and did do,” Cruz said, citing a case litigated under the Trump administration where a mother was deposed in a similar case. The trauma experienced by families has been extensively documented in studies by outside groups as well as by the federal government. Outside groups and a government watchdog have found over the years that children separated from their families under the “zero tolerance” policy experienced trauma. A 2019 Health and Human Services inspector general report included accounts of facility staff detailing the inconsolable crying of children when they were separated, confused and believing they had been abandoned by their parents. The Biden administration has committed to helping reunite families as part of a family reunification task force and providing services to help those affected by the policy. Since the creation of the task force, 487 children have been reunified with their parents in the United States, according to a September court filing. Attorneys are still searching for the parents of 151 children, the filing says. As part of the effort, the Department of Homeland Security has established a process for accepting parole requests, the Department of Health and Human Services is working on facilitating services to support families and the State Department is developing a streamlined system for processing in-country travel document requests. The-CNN-Wire & © 2022 Cable News Network, Inc., a Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All rights reserved. Read More Here

Three New Trustees Elected To Hampton Library In Bridgehampton – 27 East https://digitalarkansasnews.com/three-new-trustees-elected-to-hampton-library-in-bridgehampton-27-east/ Bridgehampton Chilld Care Center Offers Program on Wind Farm Work Opprtunities Currently, three offshore wind projects are slated to be constructed off the eastern end of … by Elizabeth Vespe Express News Group To Sponsor Series of Discussions on Innovations in Health Care The East End may have once been a health care backwater, but not any longer, … by Stephen J. Kotz Mfoniso Udofia Kicks Off ‘Writers Voices,’ a New Series at The Church in Sag Harbor Mfoniso Udofia no longer answers to her westernized nickname, a two-syllable Americanized moniker that never … by Michelle Trauring Why I’m So Cranky I am cranky. Does anyone come to a full stop at a stop sign, or has the law changed? It seems to be the norm to roll on by, or, if you are really in a rush, just speed through. Yield signs are invisible to some drivers, and I assume giving turn signals is now considered passé. I never got the memo. It’s common knowledge that help is hard to find — but does anyone teach cashiers how to give change? I generally bag my own groceries, because I can, and it’s a time saver. But after all the items … 26 Sep 2022 by Denise Gray Meehan On the Move “The water is coming — there’s no longer much doubt about that,” began an article in The Washington Post this month. A just-issued analysis, it reported, done by Climate Central, a Princeton, New Jersey-based nonprofit research group, determined that “hundreds of thousands of homes … and other properties” would “slip below swelling tide lines over the next few decades.” That increased sea level rise is already happening. The Climate Central researchers found, said The Post, that “nearly 650,000 individual, privately owned parcels across as many as 4.4 million acres of land” along the coastlines of the United States “are projected … by Karl Grossman Black Whaleship Captains Prove Their Mettle Besides the wealth that whaling brought to New England and Sag Harbor, the whaling industry also became a unique opportunity for Black sailors, not only to escape slavery but also to be rewarded for their abilities. Author Skip Finley says as many as 20 or 30 percent of the thousands of men who participated in whaling were men of color. Often Black men who shipped out on whaling vessels from Sag Harbor were runaway or freed slaves from Virginia and Maryland. Crewing on a whale ship was hard, but far better than capture and a return to slavery. A further … by Jim Marquardt Questions To Answer I am probably not the only person puzzled by the recent news that the property adjoining Marsden Street and across Division Street from Sag Harbor’s Pierson High School is being considered for purchase, in part by Sag Harbor School District and in larger part by Southampton Town’s Community Preservation Fund. I assume that more about this potential purchase will be made public before it is finalized and approved. It could be a wonderful idea. And it is almost certainly a big improvement on the several very large houses originally proposed by the developer for that land. Sag Harbor could greatly … by Staff Writer Supports Fleming I am writing this letter to support Bridget Fleming, who is running for the U.S. Congress from District 1 on Election Day, November 8. I have had the opportunity to follow Bridget’s career since 2010, when she was elected to the Southampton Town Board. I have continually been impressed by her common sense, intelligence and hard work. Suffolk County is home to a large veteran population, and I personally know veterans who have to choose daily between purchasing food or essential medications. Bridget supports expanded funding for veteran benefits. Bridget Fleming has continuously worked to protect our aquifer, which is … by Staff Writer In Denial What are Democrats running on these days? It would appear that the Trump piñata is their entire purpose. This effort to distract attention from their myriad failures as the party in power is aided and abetted by the mainstream media, who are reporting as if they were blindfolded. But it is impossible to hide from the problems they have visited upon the American people. The destruction of our basis for energy independence was at the top of their agenda. Clinging to their climate change claptrap, Democrats pulled the plug on our fossil fuel abundance in favor of a theoretical boost … by Staff Writer Let’s Keep Hochul Between the pandemic, the precarious economy and the crisis of democracy, New Yorkers are living through unprecedented times. Governor Kathy Hochul has proven willing not only to meet the moment time and again, but she has responded to the people of New York equitably. Opponents of Hochul usually begin by picking apart her previous COVID policies. However, looking at how she really handled things, we see how she listened to everyone, even her critics. She sought out medical experts, teachers, parents, and even students throughout the pandemic by weighing their concerns and doing her due diligence. And in response to … by Staff Writer Read More Here

Youngkin Is 'hugging Everyone' As He Tries To Build A Brand As The GOP's Great Unifier – KTVZ https://digitalarkansasnews.com/youngkin-is-hugging-everyone-as-he-tries-to-build-a-brand-as-the-gops-great-unifier-ktvz/ By Michael Warren and Eva McKend, CNN Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin is crisscrossing the country this fall to stump for the whole gamut of Republican gubernatorial hopefuls — from ardent pro-Trumpers like Kari Lake of Arizona and Tudor Dixon of Michigan to establishmentarians like Jim Pillen of Nebraska. And on Tuesday, Youngkin joined the GOP governor Donald Trump hates the most, Georgia’s Brian Kemp. In a GOP often plagued by factionalism, Youngkin is “hugging everyone,” said a person close to the governor. “No one else in the party is doing that.” As a result, the governor who flipped a Biden state last year has become a sought-after surrogate for Republicans. By November, Youngkin will have campaigned for at least 10 gubernatorial candidates, including in many of what the Republican Governors Association considers top target races. Having kept the former President at a distance during his own campaign, Youngkin is now stumping for nominees who have been boosted by Trump and those, like Kemp and Pillen, who have defied Trump-backed primary challengers. Republicans currently control a majority of governorships, with 36 total seats up this year and more than a dozen competitive. In Georgia, which is home to a competitive rematch for the state’s top job, Youngkin rallied with Kemp while wearing his signature red vest, handing his fellow governor a matching zip-up on stage. (Each candidate he appears with gets a personalized Youngkin-like red vest.) “This is about coming together,” Youngkin said. “Let’s make sure you make a very large Georgia statement that we are going to make sure Brian Kemp has four more years.” Youngkin’s campaign efforts this year come as the Republican Party seeks a path for the future — and the Virginia Republican is putting himself out there as a potential champion. The party’s base remains enamored with Trump, who is moving closer to a potential third White House run, and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis appears to be waiting in the wings should the former President decline to run or stumble along the way. But where both Trump and DeSantis employ a combative approach to winning the hearts of GOP voters, Youngkin tries to strike an ecumenical tone in order to appeal to all stripes of Republican. That’s how he characterizes his 2-point win last year in Virginia, a state that voted for Joe Biden over Trump by 10 points in 2020. “We brought people together that had never been in the same room together: forever Trumpers, Never Trumpers, Tea Party, libertarians, independent moderate voters, and a lot of Democrats,” Youngkin told journalist David Drucker onstage last week in Austin at the Texas Tribune Festival — another out-of-state appearance that suggests the relatively new governor may already have national ambitions. Some Republicans have started to take notice. “One person I don’t think gets enough credit if Trump doesn’t run is Glenn Youngkin in Virginia,” said Terry Schilling, the president of the American Principles Project, a social conservative group. “He’s a red governor in a purple state, who won a tough election against [Terry] McAuliffe, and is doing a lot under the radar on these issues that families and conservatives and Americans care so much about.” On the trail this year, Youngkin’s pitch for a winning Republican message is that voters reward the party for responding to “kitchen-table” issues — not just economic concerns over inflation and taxes but also cultural issues around public schools. Drawing on his winning message last year, he hits the theme consistently as he stumps for Republican candidates — some of whom are better known for pandering to those who deny Biden won the 2020 election or outright repeat election lies themselves. Dixon won her primary in Michigan after expressing her “concerns” about the conduct of the 2020 election and earning an endorsement from Trump. And while Youngkin has not waded knee deep into related conspiracies, he did characterize “election integrity” as a top issue when campaigning last year and also called for an audit of voting machines in Virginia, mirroring a broader Republican push to interrogate the 2020 election results. But when Youngkin spoke on Dixon’s behalf last month at the state GOP convention in Lansing, he avoided touching the false claims and instead focused on his familiar themes about the economy and education. “We are on the side of strong families, low taxes, safe communities,” Youngkin said. “We are on the side of small government, low inflation, American-made products. We are on the side of patriotism, God-given liberties and the limitless opportunities that can lift up all Americans. We are on the side of teaching our children how to think, not what to think. We are on the side of parents — because guess what? Parents matter.” The refrain has become familiar for Youngkin’s political speeches, and it’s one Republicans say speaks to the concerns of their voters. “He’s more conservative than you think, being governor of Virginia,” said one GOP operative who requested anonymity to speak freely. “He can talk really well about parental rights in education, culture creep. Voters want to hear about it. That’s the bread and butter right now.” Governing as a conservative in Virginia Virginia’s unique law that bars governors from serving consecutive terms has tended to limit the state’s chief executives’ national ambitions. But Youngkin has turned that disadvantage on its head, embracing a more conservative agenda than might be expected in a Democratic-leaning state to remain in the national conversation. In particular, Youngkin has become a conservative-movement hero in the fights over the teaching of racial and gender identity concepts in Virginia’s public schools. During his campaign for governor, the Republican successfully rode a broad range of frustration on education from some voters — from Covid-related school closures to curriculum that addressed the legacy of racism in America. And Youngkin’s most recent policy to thrill the right are new draft guidelines from Virginia’s education department requiring parental approval and documentation for schools to recognize a child’s preferred name or pronoun and requiring transgender students to use school facilities that match the sex listed on their birth certificates. The guidelines, which still have to be adopted by individual districts, have prompted backlash from transgender-rights advocates and Virginia students, thousands of whom organized student walkouts this week in protest. Between the national attention to these issues and his appearances in other states, Youngkin has Democrats calling foul. “He is not focused on his day job that he was elected to last November. He was governor for about three seconds before he decided to travel the country to support other right wing cultural warriors,” said Susan Swecker, chairperson of the Democratic Party of Virginia, who blasted Youngkin as having “a mean spirited edge to everything that he does.” Raising questions about 2024 All of this activity has helped Youngkin remain a frequent presence on Fox News, where he is often portrayed as a leader for the Republican Party. In one appearance on the network this week, Youngkin was asked about the GOP’s campaign to win majorities in Congress. The chyron at the bottom of the screen read, “GOP EYES YOUNGKIN’S PLAYBOOK TO TAKE CONGRESS,” as Youngkin hit his talking points. “Voters are really focusing on those issues that they care most about,” he said, listing off inflation, crime and education as top priorities. His ability to command attention has put Youngkin on the radar of those Republicans looking for presidential options outside the Trump-DeSantis dynamic. “Right now, it is Trump vs. DeSantis and, just maybe, Youngkin is the dark horse who could possibly come out of the blue,” said one senior official at a prominent conservative organization in Washington. Kristin Davison, a top political aide to Youngkin, swatted away suggestions this current tour of the country in support of Republican governors and candidates is an early campaign for 2024, arguing Youngkin’s name is “in the mix” because of “the movement” he started in Virginia and the swift way he’s delivered on campaign promises after becoming governor in January. Youngkin himself has also dismissed questions about his presidential ambitions, including when he was asked last week in Austin. “When I see folks step back and ask this humbling question about 2024, it’s just very easy to really, very candidly say, we’re not thinking about 2024,” he said. “We’re focused on 2022.” The-CNN-Wire & © 2022 Cable News Network, Inc., a Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All rights reserved. Gabby Orr contributed to this report. Read More Here

Congressional Opponents In 2nd District Both Draw On Past Journalism Experience https://digitalarkansasnews.com/congressional-opponents-in-2nd-district-both-draw-on-past-journalism-experience/ From briefs to press releases, the race for Iowa’s 2nd Congressional district is close between the two former journalists. Ashley Hinson and Liz Mathis spent years as news anchors and now use the skills they learned while competing for the congressional seat. Matt Sindt U.S. Rep Ashley Hinson, R-Iowa, speaks during Ashley Hinson’s BBQ Bash at the Linn County Fairgrounds Sunday, August 28, 2022. Lauren White, Politics Reporter September 27, 2022 Arnold Schwarzenegger and former presidents Donald Trump and Ronald Reagan are just a few who went from the screen to political office. Now, in Iowa’s 2nd Congressional District, both candidates vying for the House seat have backgrounds as television news anchors — and both use this to their advantage. Current Rep. Ashley Hinson, R-Iowa, spent 10 years as a news anchor in Cedar Rapids, and her competitor, Iowa Sen. Liz Mathis, D-Hiawatha, was an anchor for nearly 30 years in the Waterloo and Cedar Rapids areas. Timothy Hagle, a University of Iowa political science associate professor, said being notable figures through their constituents’ television screens means they are already more trustworthy to voters. “They know how to present themselves in a good way in terms of lighting or styling or whatever it happens to be,” Hagle said. Hagle said voters appreciate people with nontraditional political careers because different sectors of the workforce are represented in elected positions. In February, the Public Policy Polling survey revealed the race was neck and neck, with Hinson at 43 percent of the vote and Mathis at 42 percent. Another advantage Hinson and Mathis’ journalism backgrounds present is their understanding of how news works, Hagle said. “With Mathis and Hinson, because they worked in news, they have a better sense of what is newsworthy. They know the kinds of things that might be worth an editor or reporter’s time to come out and do a story,” Hagle said. In an email to The Daily Iowan, Mathis wrote being a journalist gave her name recognition in her area, which she said is important in a challenger. She also wrote the job gave her insights into what problems Congress needs to fix for Iowans. Timeline by Jami Martin-Trainor/The Daily Iowan “From the farm crisis and national disasters to coverage of international incidents and interviewing presidential candidates from Reagan to Obama eras, I gained knowledge across a broad range of issues as well as expanded research and analytical skills important for thorough evaluation of all provisions of a bill,” Mathis wrote. Mathis wrote news broadcasting made her an effective communicator. She added she can use sources to assist her with connecting Iowans to resources. “Having great sources as a journalist helps you land great stories,” Mathis wrote. “But you need to be a great communicator to tell the story.” On Hinson’s campaign website, she touts her journalism career and says she went into politics to help with issues she covered for years. During her campaign announcement for Congress in 2017, Hinson used her background as a reporter as a part of her biography — saying she’s a “recovering journalist.” Hagle said this reference to being a “recovering journalist” is used to downplay how some voters view the media, referring to a lack of trust in publications — particularly among Republican voters. According to polling by FiveThirtyEight, Republican trust in media has declined since 1997, hitting its lowest point during the Trump Presidency. In an email to the DI, Hinson said her news background gave her the opportunity to meet Iowans across the state and really understand the issues they were having. In turn, this helped her throughout her campaign efforts. She also said she uses her journalism background to exercise congressional oversight. Timeline by Jami Martin-Trainor/The Daily Iowan “Before hearings with Biden Administration officials, I do my research, figure out what I need to ask, and execute – just like I would for an interview,” Hinson wrote. When asked in a previous interview with the DI about her opinion on the Iowa law strengthening free speech on college campuses, Hinson supported the law because of her background in journalism. “I think, first and foremost, it comes down to protecting the First Amendment. I’m a former journalist,” Hinson said. “I care about people being able to express how they feel on any issue. And we don’t want to see speech suppressed, especially on college campuses where they are designed to be a beacon of that conversation and a beacon of thought if you can have dialogue, much like we have here in the halls of Congress.” RELATED: 1st District candidates clash on abortion, infrastructure in debate Hinson wrote she holds a press call every week with journalists because she believes the people she represents deserve transparency. Last fall, Cedar Rapids voters overwhelmingly elected Tiffany O’Donnell, another political figure who previously worked as a news anchor, as mayor in a race against incumbent Brad Hart and local activist Amara Andrews. O’Donnell said honesty is extremely important as a public official, and updating your constituents on plans and policies in the media is crucial. “As a journalist, the second I sense someone is trying to hide something for me, I have the instinct to ask more questions. I’m a firm believer, certainly in public office, of transparency, and it’s really just a part of my DNA, coming from a journalism background,” O’Donnell said. O’Donnell said the starkest difference between a career in the media and a political career is having to drop her objectivity. As an anchor, she said she tried to forge a positive relationship with all her viewers. But as mayor, she must expose how she feels about certain issues. “It can be difficult at first to know that you might have disappointed a few people,” O’Donnell said. “But at the end of the day, none of us run for office because we think everything’s running perfectly. We run because we believe that we can effect positive change, and that means that  not everyone’s going to like you.” Vice President of the University Democrats at Iowa Ryan Westhoff said he’s noticed Hinson and Mathis using their background as journalists to connect to voters. While they do not have the traditional background of law or policy making in the past, their approach is still effective because of name recognition. “People recognize them from watching their nightly news. I think there is that aspect of it, to where they are recognized as people that have been around through presenting political issues to them in the past, and that’s how they connect in a local way,” Westhoff said. While a candidate’s background can be important, Westhoff said, it is not the first thing he looks for in an elected official. Instead, he looks at policies and how they would affect his community. The UI does not sit in Iowa’s newly drawn 2nd Congressional District, but it’s still important for students in Iowa City to be familiar with the race, Westhoff said. With some students going back to their home counties in that district and it being a neighboring district, he said, it’s crucial that students stay updated. “It’s a relatively close seat in a really important House election when it comes to protecting a lot of priorities and a lot of right that people find important that are potentially in jeopardy this year,” Westhoff said. Read More Here

Trump-Backed Joe Kent Accused Of Spreading Conspiracy Theories In Testy Debate https://digitalarkansasnews.com/trump-backed-joe-kent-accused-of-spreading-conspiracy-theories-in-testy-debate/ Trump-backed candidate Joe Kent has been accused of spreading conspirary theories after he called the Covid vaccine “experimental gene therapy”, during a testy, sold-out debate in Washington state. Little more than 40 days berfore voters across the country go to the polls in the midterm elections, Mr Kent clashed with Democrat Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, in their first debate in the showdown for Washington’s third congressional district. In a debate held in the city of Vancouver, Washington, located about 150 miles south of Seattle, the pair clashed over abortion rights, whether or not to accept federal funding for local projects and even the war in Ukraine. Mr Kent said Mr Perez was typical of all Democrats who were only interested in securing more “pork” even if it pushed up the cost of overall government spending. Ms Perez accused Mr Kent of being more interested in becoming a Fox News “celebrity”, than he was in meeting the needs of working people in Washington state. Democrat Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (l) and Republican Joe Kent (r) threw jabs in first debate (Facebook screen grab) More follows…. Read More Here

Major Asia Markets Down 2%; Chinese Yuan At Weakest Since 2008 https://digitalarkansasnews.com/major-asia-markets-down-2-chinese-yuan-at-weakest-since-2008/ The logo of the Tokyo Stock Exchange (TSE), operated by Japan Exchange Group Inc. (JPX), is displayed at the bourse in Tokyo, Japan, on Friday, Oct. 2, 2020. Akio Kon | Bloomberg via Getty Images The Dow Jones Industrial Average gave up earlier gains of around 400 points to fall 125.82 points, or 0.43%, to 29,134.99 at the end of the session. The Nasdaq Composite was up 0.25% to 10,829.50. — CNBC’s Sarah Min and Jesse Pound contributed to this report. U.S. 10-year Treasury yield breaches 4% for the first time since 2010 –Jihye Lee CNBC Pro: Credit Suisse says now’s the time to buy two green hydrogen stocks — and gives one over 200% upside Credit Suisse says it’s time to enter the green hydrogen sector, with a number of catalysts set to drive the clean energy powerhouse. “Green hydrogen is a growth market — we increase our 2030 market estimates by [over] 4x,” the bank said, forecasting that green hydrogen production will expand by around 40 times by 2030. It names two stocks to play the boom — giving one upside of more than 200%. CNBC Pro subscribers can read more here. — Weizhen Tan Chinese yuan at weakest since 2008, dollar index strengthens The offshore and onshore Chinese yuan breached 7.2 against the dollar, hovering at weakest levels since early 2008. The U.S. dollar index also strengthened by 0.33%, trading at 114.47. –Jihye Lee Consumer inflation in Japan could decline in 2023: BOJ meeting minutes Consumer inflation excluding fresh food is likely to rise this year, but the rate of increase will slow thereafter on energy prices, minutes from Bank of Japan’s July meeting said. A few members also said inflation, excluding fresh food and energy, is unlikely to reach 2% within its projection period. That CPI reading was 1.6% in August. “These members expressed the view that, unless commodity prices continued to rise, the CPI inflation rate was expected to decline from fiscal 2023 onward,” the minutes said. On the yen, one BOJ board member said downward pressure on the currency could be alleviated if a slowdown in the global economy led to a decline in inflation and interest rates worldwide. Another member said the yen could even appreciate if the global economy faces shocks. — Abigail Ng CNBC Pro: Asset manager reveals what’s next for stocks — and shares how he’s trading the market Neil Veitch, investment director at Edinburgh-based SVM Asset Management, says he expects the macro landscape to remain “quite difficult” for the remainder of the year.   Speaking to CNBC Pro Talks last week, Veitch named the key drivers that could help the stock market to turn “more constructive” and shared his take on growth versus value. CNBC Subscribers can read more here. — Zavier Ong Earnings questions, potential recession mean more selling could be ahead The Dow and S&P 500 have fallen for six straight days, with many of those seeing broad selling typical of so-called “washout” days. That can sometimes be a contrarian buy signal on Wall Street, but many investment professionals are skeptical that the selling is over. One reason is that earnings expectations for next year still show solid growth, which would be unlikely in the event of a recession. “We know that if we start seeing a turnaround in the 2-year yields … and if we start seeing a turnaround in the dollar, that gives us the ability to bounce from these extremely oversold conditions,” said Andrew Smith, chief investment strategist of Delos Capital Advisors in Dallas. “But I have a hard time reconciling in my mind that the earnings story is going to be as good as we expect.” Additionally, the dramatic moves in the bond and currency markets means that “something broke” and it may be smart to wait for that information to shake out, Smith said. On the positive side, Smith pointed to a strong labor market and signs of continued spending on travel as a sign that the U.S. economy may be able to avoid a major recession. — Jesse Pound U.S. 10-year yield closes in on key 4% level The 10-year Treasury yield is edging close to 4%, a level it has not touched since 2010. The U.S. 10-year is the benchmark yield that sets the course for home mortgage rates and other consumer and business loans. It has bounded higher this week, as U.K. gilt yields race higher and on expectations of an aggressive Federal Reserve. The yield was at 3.96% in afternoon trading. The 10-year yield reversed an earlier decline and gained about basis points. (A basis point equals 0.01 of a percentage point) “It’s definitely been impressive, and I just think no one is yet willing to step in and catch the falling knife,” said Ben Jeffery of BMO. He added a lack of liquidity has also been pushing up yields, which move opposite price. Jeffery said the yield was also moving higher ahead of the 1 p.m. auction of 5-year notes. He said the 10-year tested the 4% level in 2010. “The last time we were sustainably above 4% was 2008. There’s another technical level at 4.10% and then there’s not much of note until 4.25%,” he said. — Patti Domm Read More Here

North Little Rock Parks And Rec Committee Votes To End Agreement With Arkansas Tennis Association https://digitalarkansasnews.com/north-little-rock-parks-and-rec-committee-votes-to-end-agreement-with-arkansas-tennis-association/ NORTH LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – The North Little Rock Parks and Recreation Committee has voted to end its contract with the Arkansas Tennis Association. Upon realization that the voting would be taking place, Arkansas Tennis Association reached out asking for more time “to allow the committee to gather the appropriate intelligence before the Commission votes.”  The voting took place on September 19th, it was five to one for termination of the agreement. The agreement will end in August of 2023.  Arkansas tennis players are concerned that their favorite courts won’t be the same without the management and upkeep from the Arkansas Tennis Association. Local tennis player, Rebecca Barr, said her hope is whoever runs it will keep it the same.  The Arkansas Tennis Association has been a part of Burns Park Tennis Center for nearly 20 years. Mike Terrell, President-Elect of ATA Board of Directors, said it disappointed them not to be invited to be a part of the discussions and negotiations of the agreement.  The Arkansas Tennis Association is interested in reconsideration. At this time, there is no further information on who will be taking over in August if that is not applicable.  Read More…

Alabama Vs Arkansas Prediction, Game Preview https://digitalarkansasnews.com/alabama-vs-arkansas-prediction-game-preview/ Alabama vs Arkansas prediction, game preview, how to watch. Week 5, Saturday, October 1 Alabama vs Arkansas How To Watch Date: Saturday, October 1 Game Time: 3:30 ET Venue: Razorback Stadium, Fayetteville, AR How To Watch: CBS Record: Alabama (4-0), Arkansas (3-1) – Sign up and live stream college football on ESPN+ Roundup: Overrated, Underrated, What it all Means CFN 1-131 Rankings | Bowl Projections What 12-Team Playoff Would Look Like Hot Seat Coach Rankings after Week 4 Think, Know, Believe: Football Smack Talk – Contact/Follow @ColFootballNews & @PeteFiutak Alabama vs Arkansas Game Preview Why Alabama Will Win Did Alabama fix the glitch? The lack of a sure-thing star at wide receiver stood out in the close call against Texas a few weeks ago, but Ja’Corey Brooks stepped up against Vanderbilt, Traeshon Holden has been okay, and Jermaine Burton is overdue to bust out. Texas A&M couldn’t do much to get the passing game going against Arkansas – the world was all happy that Max Johnson wasn’t totally awful – but everyone else has been able to throw without a problem. Missouri State’s Jason Shelley – a former Utah Ute – went off. South Carolina’s Spencer Rattler cranked it up, and Cincinnati’s Ben Bryant had a big day. Arkansas won all three games, but Alabama should be able to do more on the ground to go along with Bryce Young being Bryce Young. The Bama wide receivers don’t have to be amazing, but they should be good enough. – NFL Expert Picks, Week 4 Why Arkansas Will Win No, really, did Alabama fix the glitch? No, not the wide receiver one – but that matters, too. Can the defensive backs handle a downfield passing game? Bama wasn’t tested by ULM, Vanderbilt, or Utah State, but Texas was terrific with Quinn Ewers bombing away, WR Xavier Worthy went off – at least he did before Ewers got hurt – and now it’s up to KJ Jefferson to go big right away. The Hogs made things interesting in last year’s 42-35 loss, with Jefferson going crazy on the Bama secondary in the comeback attempt. He has enough weapons to work with to stretch the field, the SEC’s second-best ground attack will power away, and on the other side, the nation’s best pass rush should bother Young. – Schedules, Previews College | NFL What’s Going To Happen No, really, did Alabama fix all the glitches? Beating up on ULM and Vanderbilt might have made everyone feel okay after the Texas game, but now the team gets tested for real. Is the offensive front really fixed after all of the issues last year? Probably not 100%. Can the team really handle life on the road after the first time around didn’t go so well? Sure, it’s Alabama. Arkansas will play well enough to make this interesting. The defensive front really will get to Young, Jefferson really will hit a few big shots, and … Bama will come through, the offensive line will pound away with the ground game when it has to, and the team will get out with a very tough, very good win. – CFN Expert Picks, Week 5 Alabama vs Arkansas Prediction, Line Alabama 34, Arkansas 20 Line: Alabama -17, o/u: 61 ATS Confidence out of 5: 2.5 Alabama vs Arkansas Must See Rating (out of 5): 4 – Predictions of Every Game – Bowl Projections | Rankings – Schedules, Scores For All 131 Teams Read More Here

Ian, Now A Major Category 3 Hurricane, Is Growing Stronger In The Gulf Of Mexico https://digitalarkansasnews.com/ian-now-a-major-category-3-hurricane-is-growing-stronger-in-the-gulf-of-mexico/ Hurricane Ian became a major Category 3 storm early Tuesday and will continue to strengthen as it approaches Florida, National Hurricane Center forecasters say. Ian made landfall at about 4:30 a.m. ET Tuesday in western Cuba just southwest of the town of La Coloma in Pinar del Río province, with maximum sustained winds of 125 mph, U.S. officials said. The entire island was without power Tuesday evening because of infrastructure damage, the country’s electricity service said. Crews were working to restore power, which the agency should begin to return overnight and into Wednesday. The hurricane, which is about 80 miles from Punta Gorda, Florida, and 20 miles from the Dry Tortugas, had maximum sustained winds of 120 mph and was moving northeast at 10 mph, according to the National Hurricane Center’s 8 p.m. update. By late evening, winds were beginning to whip the Florida Keys, where a 52 mph gust was recorded at Florida Keys Marathon International Airport. The latest on Hurricane Ian Hurricane Ian made landfall in western Cuba as a major hurricane early Tuesday; by evening, the entire island was without power. Ian is likely to continue to grow stronger as it travels over the warm Gulf of Mexico and reach top winds of 130 mph as it approaches the southwest coast of Florida. Tropical storm-force winds have reached Florida’s southern peninsula. About 2.5 million residents are under some type of evacuation order in Florida. Ian will slow to 3 to 4 mph Thursday and Friday over or near Florida’s west coast, prolonging storm surge, wind and flash flooding impacts. Georgia’s governor has declared a state of emergency. The center of Ian could strengthen into a Category 4 hurricane as it continues to move over the gulf, NBC News forecasters said. Ian will continue to intensify today through Wednesday as it approaches the west coast of Florida on Wednesday “as an extremely dangerous major hurricane,” according to the National Hurricane Center. Models show the storm landing somewhere between Tampa Bay and Charlotte Harbor. The system is forecast to slow down to as low as 3 to 4 mph, prolonging the impacts of heavy rain, strong wind and storm surge. Follow along for NBC News’ live coverage of Hurricane Ian Tornadoes over the Florida peninsula are also possible over the next three days. Storm surge can also affect Florida’s east coast, where a warning has been issued from Marineland to St. Marys River, along Georgia’s coast, according to the hurricane center. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis declared a statewide emergency, saying Ian could bring several feet of storm surge. Charlotte Harbor may get 12 feet of storm surge, and in the Tampa Bay area, 7 feet is expected, according to forecasters. “What we have here is really historic storm surge and flooding potential,” he said at a news conference Tuesday morning. “That storm surge can be life-threatening.” DeSantis encouraged residents to heed evacuation orders in place from Pinellas County to the Fort Myers area. About 2.5 million residents are under some type of evacuation orders, he said. Parts of the state may also be without power anywhere from three days to a week, Florida Division of Emergency Management Director Kevin Guthrie said at the news conference. Boarded-up windows in Indian Shores, 25 miles west of Tampa, had a message for Hurricane Ian on Monday.Ricardo Arduengo / AFP – Getty Images Georgia and South Carolina may also get some impact from Ian. Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp declared a state of emergency for all counties Tuesday that will go into effect 7 a.m. Thursday and expire midnight Friday. As the storm headed for Florida, oil companies evacuated workers from deep-water platforms in the Gulf of Mexico, and airports in Tampa, Orlando and Pinellas County in Florida announced that they would close Tuesday and Wednesday. American Airlines announced travel waivers for people flying to or out of 20 airports in Florida and the Caribbean. Residents on Florida’s Gulf Coast stocked up on food and prepared with sandbags and plywood for their windows. Hundreds of thousands of people were under evacuation orders. Bob Copeland helps fill free sandbags for Wilbur Villamarin, left, and his son Fabian on Monday at an Orange County park in preparation for the arrival of Hurricane Ian.Phelan M. Ebenhack / AP “This storm is trending to slow down, which means it could potentially sit on top of us for 47 hours,” said Cathie Perkins, the director of Pinellas County Emergency Management, NBC affiliate WFLA of Tampa reported. “That’s a lot of rain, and it’s not going to be able to drain out quickly,” she said. Steve McClure, 54, was headed to his parents’ home in a nearby county. “I’d rather be safe than sorry, especially with the track of the hurricane consistently changing,” McClure said. Tim Stelloh is a breaking news reporter for NBC News Digital. Chantal Da Silva Chantal Da Silva is a breaking news editor for NBC News Digital based in London.  Mirna Alsharif is a breaking news reporter for NBC News. Kathryn Prociv Kathryn Prociv is a senior meteorologist and producer for NBC News.  Deon J. Hampton contributed . Read More Here

Nord Stream Pipeline Leaks Spark Sabotage Fears https://digitalarkansasnews.com/nord-stream-pipeline-leaks-spark-sabotage-fears/ Sweden’s national seismic network said Tuesday that it registered two explosions near mysterious leaks on the Nord Stream 1 and 2 pipelines, which have prompted concerns of sabotage. Why it matters: The Nord Stream 1 and 2 pipelines, crucial to delivering Russian natural gas to Germany, have been central to the energy crisis that has enveloped Europe in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. While Nord Stream 2 hasn’t entered commercial operation — its certification was halted on the eve of the invasion — Nord Stream 1 provided a crucial pathway for Russian gas to reach Europe until earlier this month, when Russia closed the pipeline citing maintenance concerns. The latest: “The U.S. is supporting efforts to investigate and we will continue our work to safeguard Europe’s energy security,” White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan said on Tuesday night, noting that he had also spoken to his Danish counterpart Jean-Charles Ellermann-Kingombe. The big picture: Two leaks were detected in the Nord Stream 1 pipeline and one in the Nord Stream 2 pipeline. While neither pipe was operating at the time the leaks were discovered, both were filled with gas, Reuters noted. One blast occurred early Monday and a second occurred later that day, public broadcaster SVT reported, per Reuters. Zoom in: Nord Stream AG confirmed in a statement that “the Nord Stream 1 control center registered a pressure drop on both strings of the gas pipeline,” adding that an investigation is underway. Sweden’s Maritime Authority issued a warning for ships to maintain a five nautical mile distance from the sites of the leaks, which were registered near the Danish island of Bornholm. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said she “cannot rule out” sabotage. The country’s maritime authority echoed Sweden’s warning, noting that ships could lose buoyancy if they’re in the vicinity of the leaks and that there remains a risk of the leaked gas igniting at the water’s surface and in the air, according to AP. Bjorn Lund, a seismologist at Sweden’s National Seismology Centre SVT there’s “no doubt that these were explosions,” Reuters reports. What they’re saying: Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told reporters Tuesday the leaks were a cause for concern and acknowledged the possibility of sabotage along the pipeline. “No option can be ruled out right now,” he said, per Reuters. “It is too early to conclude yet, but it is an extraordinary situation. There are three leaks, and therefore it is difficult to imagine that it could be accidental,” Danish prime minister Mette Frederiksen said Tuesday, the Financial Times reported. Editor’s note: This article has been corrected to note that the leaks began on Monday, not Thursday. This story has been updated with new details on the blasts registered by Sweden’s National Seismology Centre and with comment from White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan. Read More Here

Arkansas Military Hall Of Fame Lands In Fort Smith Airport https://digitalarkansasnews.com/arkansas-military-hall-of-fame-lands-in-fort-smith-airport/ Memorial featured at Fort Smith Air Museum The Arkansas Military Veteran’s Hall of Fame has added their presence to the Fort Smith Air Museum. On Monday, a photograph on canvas was added to the museum to honor the work of Fort Smith’s John Lane, who designed the memorial. The current hall of fame memorial is located outside the office of the state treasurer. The idea for the hall of fame memorial began in 2010. Lane had designed similar works and worked with others to develop the memorial. It currently sits outside the state’s treasurer’s office. EYEING CHICAGO FLIGHTS:‘We’re pretty excited’: The future of flights in Fort Smith may be nonstop to Chicago “It was an honor to be able to do this,” Lane said. “I designed it so it could be expanded as needed, and they can change out the images on display even to show who’s in the current class.” Lane is pleased with how the design for the marble flag bases turned out. “When I told them that we were going to need eight of them, they asked me if I knew how heavy they would be each,” Lane said. “But we needed them to make sure we had one for each of the military services. It will look really neat once all of them get up there.” The first class of inductees was in 2011, with 25 Medal of Honor recipients and 15 others, including Gen. William O. Darby. The 2022 hall of fame class includes the posthumous induction of Fort Smith’s Lt. Commander Thurman O. Jordan. According to Keith Greene, who is part of the hall of fame memorial board, at least 10% of the veterans already inducted are from Sebastian and Crawford Counties. “That’s a big deal, and it speaks volumes about the men and women in this area,” Greene said. “We’re proud of it.” The Fort Smith Air Museum offers exhibits on local pioneers and military aviators from Arkansas and Oklahoma. There are over 60 display cases honoring these aviators located inside the airport terminal of the Fort Smith Airport. Read More Here

Secret Service Seizes 24 Phones From Agents In Jan. 6 Probe, Report Says https://digitalarkansasnews.com/secret-service-seizes-24-phones-from-agents-in-jan-6-probe-report-says/ The Secret Service has reportedly seized 24 phones from agents in connection with a controversial investigation by the Department of Homeland Security inspector general into the storming of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6. The two dozen agents’ phones, which are not believed to include messages from Jan. 6, were handed over to Homeland Security Inspector General Joseph Cuffari in July shortly after he opened a probe into missing text messages from the day of the attack, NBC News reported Tuesday. It’s not clear what information if any Cuffari, a Trump appointee who previously worked for Republican officials in Arizona, has gleaned from the agents’ phones, which are government property. The revelation about the phone seizures does little to clear up puzzling questions about Cuffari’s probe and his oversight of the Secret Service in the months since the attack. He revealed over the summer that text messages from Secret Service agents involved in the response to the Jan. 6 attack were mostly scrubbed in what the agency has described as a preplanned tech upgrade coinciding with the incoming administration of President Joe Biden. Cuffari’s office apparently knew about the lost messages for more than a year before notifying the congressional committee investigating the attack, a delay that has infuriated lawmakers. Any texts sent by agents on Jan. 6 and in the run-up to the attack on the Capitol are of obvious interest to investigators, raising serious questions about the decision by Secret Service brass to scrub the phones just days after the historic effort to prevent the peaceful transfer of power to Biden from former President Donald Trump. The messages took on even greater importance in June when former White House aide Cassidy Hutchinson told a Jan. 6 committee hearing that Trump physically accosted a Secret Service agent when he refused to drive Trump to the Capitol to lead the insurrection in person. Hutchinson said she was told about the incident, which Trump has denied, by deputy White House chief of staff Tony Ornato and the agent who was leading presidential security that day. Ornato, a staunch Trump loyalist and former veteran Secret Service agent, insisted he would contradict Hutchinson’s account under oath, but has since refused to do so. He recently announced his retirement but insisted it was long planned. ——— Read More Here