Digital Arkansas News

Post Politics Now: Congress Angles To Avert Shutdown Before Lawmakers Hit Campaign Trail https://digitalarkansasnews.com/post-politics-now-congress-angles-to-avert-shutdown-before-lawmakers-hit-campaign-trail/ Today, the Senate is angling to pass a stopgap funding bill that would keep the government open for 2½ months. Some details remain to be worked out. The House must also pass the measure by midnight Friday to avert a partial government shutdown. Getting the bill to President Biden is among the final pieces of business before lawmakers turn their full attention to campaigning for the November elections. Meanwhile, Biden is scheduled to receive a briefing on Hurricane Ian, now a tropical storm, which has left more than 2 million people without power in Florida. Later Thursday, Biden is hosting a first-of-its-kind gathering of more than a dozen Pacific Island leaders. Your daily dashboard 10 a.m. Eastern: House Republican leaders hold an event on their “Commitment to America” agenda at the Capitol. Watch live here. Noon Eastern: Biden receives a briefing at the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s headquarters in Washington. 3 p.m. Eastern: Biden speaks at the U.S.-Pacific Island Country Summit at the State Department in Washington. 6:45 p.m. Eastern: Biden hosts a dinner at the White House for the Pacific Island leaders. Got a question about politics? Submit it here. After 3 p.m. weekdays, return to this space and we’ll address what’s on the mind of readers. Noted: Historically low ratings for the Supreme Court, federal judiciary Return to menu Forty seven percent of U.S. adults say they have “a great deal” or “a fair amount” of trust in the federal judiciary, headed by the Supreme Court — a 20 percentage point drop from two years ago and the lowest number since Gallup started asking the question in 1972. Another 53 percent in the latest poll say they have “not very much” trust in the federal judiciary or “none at all.” When asked about the Supreme Court itself, a majority of Americans also express dissatisfaction. In the new poll, 40 percent of U.S. adults approve of the way the Supreme Court is handling its job compared to 58 percent who disapprove. The disapproval is a record high in Gallup polling. Analysis: Electoral Count Act changes become latest Trump loyalty test Return to menu The bill to update the Electoral Count Act is on a surprisingly easy path to Senate passage as support among Republicans continues to grow. Writing in The Early 202, The Post’s Leigh Ann Caldwell and Theodoric Meyer say that while the bill appears likely to be a major bipartisan win, the split among Republican lawmakers on the bill is spotlighting the continued tensions in the GOP over the party’s leader, former president Donald Trump, and his attempt to overthrow the 2020 election. Per our colleagues: On our radar: White House hosts first Pacific islands summit as China makes inroads Return to menu President Biden on Thursday is welcoming to the White House for the first time more than a dozen Pacific island leaders whose countries are receiving fresh attention and resources as China asserts its own influence in the region. The Post’s Ellen Nakashima reports that the high-level wooing — including meetings with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo — coincides with the unveiling of the first Pacific island strategy that is aimed at addressing the nations’ top concerns. Those include climate change, recovery from the coronavirus pandemic, illegal fishing and technology investments. This is an excerpt from a full story. On our radar: Congress moves toward funding government, averting shutdown Return to menu Congress is poised to pass stopgap legislation to avert a government shutdown, a rare bipartisan compromise on the eve of hotly contested midterm elections. The Post’s Jacob Bogage reports that the Senate is set to advance a continuing resolution — a bill to sustain government funding at current levels, often called a “CR” — on Thursday that would keep the government running through Dec. 16. The House will probably take up the measure Friday. Jacob writes: Once Sen. Joe Manchin III (D-W.Va.) agreed to remove language from the legislation that would have overhauled federal rules for permitting large energy projects, the bill easily overcame a procedural vote in the evenly divided Senate on Tuesday, signaling a probable glide path to final passage. The legislation includes $12.4 billion in military and diplomatic assistance for Ukraine in its now seven-month-long war with Russia but does not include money the Biden administration requested for vaccines, testing and treatment for the coronavirus or monkeypox. … “We’re going to work quickly and work fast to finish the process here in the Senate and send a CR to the House so they can send it to the president’s desk,” Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.) said Wednesday. “With cooperation from our Republican colleagues, the Senate can finish his work as soon as [Thursday].” Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) also signaled his expectation that the CR will soon clear the chamber. The latest: Harris visits DMZ after North Korean missile tests Return to menu Vice President Harris toured the demilitarized zone between North and South Korea on Thursday, becoming the most senior Biden administration official to inspect the demarcation line during a four-day trip to Asia that has been dominated by Indo-Pacific security concerns. The Post’s Cleve R. Wootson Jr. and Michelle Ye Hee Lee report that as Harris stood just a few feet from the North Korean side of the border in the Joint Security Area, North Koreans working in a building on the other side peeked out from behind a curtain. Per our colleagues: Analysis: Stacey Abrams’s rhetorical twist on being an election denier Return to menu In 2018, Stacey Abrams lost a bitter election for Georgia governor to Brian Kemp, then the state’s secretary of state, and refused to concede after suggesting that Kemp used his position to manipulate his way to victory. Now, Abrams is in a rematch with Kemp, fending off questions from reporters that she is little different from former president Donald Trump, who has falsely claimed that election fraud led to his defeat by Joe Biden, The Post’s Glenn Kessler writes in The Fact Checker. Per Glenn: In recent weeks she has subtly adjusted language to argue that, unlike Trump, she “never denied the election” and “never denied that I lost.” “The difference [with Trump] is very stark when I did not win my election in 2018,” she told Yahoo News in August. “The first thing I said was that I acknowledged the outcome — that the new governor was Brian Kemp. I was not the governor, but I did say the system was broken.” … Abrams, in her non-concession speech, did acknowledge Kemp “will be certified as the victor of the 2018 gubernatorial election.” But a review of numerous interviews shows that Abrams subsequently used language denying the outcome of the election that she now appears to be trying to play down. You can read the full analysis here. Read More Here

Opinion | Biden’s Chances Of Being The 2024 Democratic Nominee Are Rising Dramatically https://digitalarkansasnews.com/opinion-bidens-chances-of-being-the-2024-democratic-nominee-are-rising-dramatically/ President Biden won the Democratic nomination in 2020 largely because of his electability and ability to unite the full spectrum of Democrats. His success thus far in delivering on his center-left agenda reiterates the best argument for him to run in 2024: It avoids a brutal primary and the risk of a candidate too far left to win in the general election. Biden’s higher approval rating in recent weeks is largely a function of his improved standing among Democrats. The Associated Press, for example, reported earlier this month that “78% of Democrats approve of Biden’s job performance, up from 65% in July. Sixty-six percent of Democrats approve of Biden on the economy, up from 54% in June.” Follow Jennifer Rubin’s opinionsFollow Add The most recent Morning Consult-Politico poll confirms the trend and shows the party is warming to the possibility of a reelection campaign. “Roughly 3 in 5 Democratic voters (59%) said Biden should run for reelection in 2024, up from a 51% low set in early July before Congress passed the Inflation Reduction Act, the president’s signature legislative achievement of the year,” the poll found. “Over the same time period, separate Morning Consult surveys have found the share of Democratic voters who said Biden has been keeping his promises rose — from 50% in a July 7-9 survey to 69% now.” Among Democrats, there is a 20 percentage point increase in those who have heard positive news about Biden. It’s not hard to figure out the reasons for Biden’s improved standing. Democrats increasingly credit the president for delivering on campaign promises, including the appointment of an African American woman to the Supreme Court (plus more than 80 diverse lower-court judges); a massive infrastructure plan; a historic investment in green energy; gun safety reforms; and measures to reduce health-care costs (e.g., capping prices for insulin, allowing Medicare to negotiate drug costs, addressing the Affordable Care Act’s “family glitch”). To a large extent, Biden has proved the adage: If progressives want to advance their agenda, vote for a moderate. Democrats who might prefer a fiery figure or more inspirational speaker should find little to complain about when it comes to Biden delivering on the party’s agenda — especially given that he has no room to spare in a 50-50 Senate. Certainly, Biden did not prevail on the his ambitious Build Back Better plan or on his voting-rights reforms. But he has arguably delivered more for Democrats in two years than any president since Lyndon B. Johnson (who, in little more than a year surrounding the 1964 election — with the benefit of huge congressional majorities — signed into law the Voting Rights Act, the War on Poverty’s cornerstone Economic Opportunity Act, federal aid to education, an expansion of Medicare and Medicaid, and legislation to create the National Endowment for the Arts). At a moment when many in the mainstream media narrative insist that former president Donald Trump has consolidated his hold on the party, it is actually Biden who has reaffirmed his broad support. If this persists, it is hard to imagine Biden turning down the chance to run for a second term, provided his health remains strong. Before LBJ decided against running for reelection after his relatively weak showing in the 1968 New Hampshire primary (because of the increasingly unpopular Vietnam War), the last president to voluntarily give up the chance for a second term was Rutherford B. Hayes. Biden likes to say, “Don’t compare me to the Almighty, compare me to the alternative.” For Democrats, Biden currently looks much better than the alternative — a highly contentious primary with an untested national standard-bearer. Accordingly, his chances of being the nominee in 2024 have risen dramatically. Read More Here

Biden Hits Campaign Trail But Doesn https://digitalarkansasnews.com/biden-hits-campaign-trail-but-doesn/ September 29, 2022 06:50 AM President Joe Biden may be less of a political liability to Democrats in competitive midterm elections than previously thought, but he’s still letting them keep him at arm’s length. Biden and the White House‘s midterm strategy amid the president’s improving poll numbers has been to travel to battleground states to promote his own agenda and Democrats more broadly instead of specific candidates. That tactic has provided his party’s candidates with a polite excuse not to attend, depending on the needs of their own campaign. MISSED OPPORTUNITY? BIDEN AND DEMOCRATS DOWNPLAY COURTS ON CAMPAIGN TRAIL Biden’s trip to Florida this week, part of a promise he made at the start of the year to support Democrats this cycle, was canceled because of Hurricane Ian. The president’s scrapped itinerary included a speech in Fort Lauderdale on healthcare and social programs, such as Medicare and Social Security, as well as a Democratic National Committee rally in Orlando. Rep. Val Demings (D-FL), who wants to unseat Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL), had planned on skipping the Orlando event, though gubernatorial nominee Charlie Crist (D-FL) was going to join him The Demings example is another instance of “Biden Democrats” distancing themselves from Biden “despite voting with him nearly 100% of the time,” according to Republican National Committee spokesman Nathan Brand. “Whether it is his low approval ratings, the rising costs he caused, or the recession he created, Democrats know Joe Biden is toxic,” Brand told the Washington Examiner. “Unfortunate for them, voters know congressional Democrats voted in lockstep with Biden to send our nation in the wrong direction.” Former Democratic consultant Christopher Hahn underscored Biden’s average 42%-52% and 42%-53% approval-disapproval, according to FiveThirtyEight and RealClearPolitics, respectively. Biden’s popularity ticked up over the summer after Democrats passed the $430 billion Inflation Reduction Act, a compromise bill based on his 2020 climate and healthcare spending proposal, and the Supreme Court overturned abortion precedent Roe v. Wade. “The president’s best strategy is to be presidential and keep racking up wins,” Hahn said. “The Supreme Court and [former President Donald] Trump’s insistence that he be the center of political attention have made this a choice election.” The Aggressive Progressive podcast host added of Trump, “By wrapping their arms around the comically incompetent and potentially criminal ex-president, the GOP has squandered their opportunity to make big gains this year.” For political analyst Costas Panagopoulos, the White House and the DNC are being “calculated” by focusing on Biden’s legislative achievements and future political priorities. “In the end, it’s likely the indirect impact of this approach will help Democratic candidates more than any joint appearances, which always come with some risk of backfiring and distracting attention from the candidates themselves,” the Northeastern University politics chairman said. Biden’s Florida trip was similar to his midterm visits to Massachusetts, Michigan, and New York in that they combined official business with a fundraiser or rally. His Maryland itinerary incorporated two DNC events, while his trips to Pennsylvania and Ohio were supposed to be nonpolitical. Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D), who is seeking a second term against political commentator Tudor Dixon (R), was photographed holding hands with Biden at the Detroit Auto Show. Ohio Rep. Tim Ryan (D), who is hoping to replace retiring Sen. Rob Portman (R) over venture capitalist and author J.D. Vance (R), was with Biden at Intel’s groundbreaking ceremony after the $550 billion Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and the $280 billion CHIPS and Science Act became law. And although Pennsylvania Lt. Gov. John Fetterman (D), who is running against doctor and television personality Mehmet Oz (R) to represent the state in the Senate, was not at Biden’s Safer America Plan rally, he did go to a Labor Day event with him the following week. As Biden focuses on the big picture as president, it is not certain he will mount another campaign for himself in 2024. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER “In terms of election laws and it’s much too early to make that kind of decision,” Biden told CBS’s 60 Minutes. “I’m a great respecter of fate. And so what I’m doing is I’m doing my job. I’m gonna do that job and, within the time frame that makes sense after this next election cycle here, going into next year, make a judgment on what to do.” Read More Here

West Virginia Democrats Hosting Annual Roosevelt-Kennedy Celebration This Weekend – WV MetroNews https://digitalarkansasnews.com/west-virginia-democrats-hosting-annual-roosevelt-kennedy-celebration-this-weekend-wv-metronews/ CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The West Virginia Democratic Party will host its annual Roosevelt-Kennedy Celebration on Saturday as party leaders look to energize members ahead of the November election. Saturday’s event at the Charleston Marriott Town Center will feature remarks from Democratic leaders and performances from West Virginia artists Sierra Ferrell, John Ellison and the Carpenter Ants. “This is going to be very different from the dinners we’ve had in the past,” State Party Chairman Mike Pushkin told MetroNews affiliate WCHS-AM. “I want it to be fun, and this is going to be a fun event. We’re going to celebrate the Democratic Party, and then have a night of fun. Then, we have a very short period of time to get busy and win some elections.” Kansas Democratic Party Chair Vicki Hiatt will serve as the dinner’s keynote speaker. Her appearance comes after Kansans rejected a ballot measure in August that would have removed abortion rights language from the state’s constitution. Democrats control half of the state’s statewide elected seats — including the seats of governor (Laura Kelly) and lieutenant governor (David Toland) — but have minority power in the state Legislature. “This is a freedom that women and those who can get pregnant have had for nearly five decades now,” Hiatt said about the measure’s defeat during Wednesday’s “MetroNews Talkline.” “Risking that being taken away was something we and many, many, many people here in Kansas felt really passionate about fighting to protect.” Hiatt said Democrats need to embrace abortion rights issues and expand the electorate; she noted an increase in young voters and young voter turnout in the August election. “I think that one of the things that Democrats need to look at is understanding that young voters will probably support Democrats more strongly on a lot of the issues, and we need to help them understand how important their vote is and help them get to the polls,” she said. “We’ve just made a lot of gains in getting our young people active. We’ve got a great Kansas Young Democrat Caucus going and Democrats organizing in high schools and on the college campuses. I think just having those conversations and the direct voter interaction is most important, and that can happen anywhere.” U.S. Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md., will deliver a video message. Raskin served as the lead impeachment manager during the second impeachment proceedings against former President Donald Trump. He also sits on the House committee investigating the Jan. 6, 2021 attack at the U.S. Capitol. Read More Here

Little Carrier That Could https://digitalarkansasnews.com/little-carrier-that-could/ RECENTLY, crammed into a late-night puddle jump from Dallas to Little Rock, we were reminded of what could be considered Arkansas’ greatest, long-forgotten export. This Arkansas airline—yes, Arkansas airline—helped lay the foundation for the growth of commuter airlines in the United States. For a chunk of the mid-to-late 20th century, Skyways was Arkansas’ regional little carrier that could, one of the first operations of its kind in the country and a trailblazer in the operation, management and structure of commuter airlines. Founded as Scheduled Skyways in 1953 by Fayetteville Flying Service owner Ray Ellis, the airline made its hay early on by ferrying University of Arkansas officials between campuses in Fayetteville and Little Rock. According to the Arkansas Aviation Historical Society (AAHS), the first flight of Scheduled Skyways departed Drake Field in Fayetteville and touched down at Little Rock’s Adams Field on Sept. 1, 1953, with Mr. Ellis piloting the Cessna 195. The route map soon expanded to include Fort Smith and Harrison, then Texas and Missouri. Eventually, it touched eight states. Flying mostly Piper Navajos and Beech 99s, Skyways had a fleet of 14 Metroliners when it was merged with Air Midwest in 1985, according to the AAHS. By then, Mr. Ellis’ little airline was servicing 22 cities in Arkansas, Texas, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Louisiana, Alabama, Florida and Missouri. Mr. Ellis indeed was a pioneer of Arkansas aviation—he’s considered by AAHS to have been a major influence on the development of airports and the aviation industry in the state. One of the founding board members of the Arkansas Air Museum at Drake, Mr. Ellis was appointed to the Arkansas Aeronautics Commission by Republican Gov. Win Rockefeller and re-appointed by Democrat Gov. Dale Bumpers, serving as commission chair in 1972. Plus, Mr. Ellis served as president of the Fayetteville Chamber and Fayetteville Rotary Club. His little Sherpa of a commuter carrier delivered sometimes rough-and-tumble rides for those quick daytrippers and others between Adams Field and the Hill, but deliver them it did, safe and sound. Eventually, it did just that across the mid-South. Floating softly down into a comfortable early fall night, south Little Rock’s quarries standing out from the cityscape below like pockets of pitch-black void, we couldn’t help but fondly remember one of Arkansas’ greatest exports, the little carrier that could. Read More Here

Russia Will Move To Take Over Ukrainian Regions On Friday, Kremlin Says https://digitalarkansasnews.com/russia-will-move-to-take-over-ukrainian-regions-on-friday-kremlin-says/ Image Banners read “Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, Kherson — Russia!” in Red Square in central Moscow on Wednesday.Credit…Evgenia Novozhenina/Reuters President Vladimir V. Putin will sign agreements on Friday for the Russian Federation to take over four Ukrainian territories, the Kremlin said on Thursday, outlining plans to annex the regions after referendums that were widely denounced as a sham. Dmitri S. Peskov, the Kremlin’s spokesman, also said Mr. Putin would make a speech at the Kremlin. As the Kremlin prepared a show designed to present a sheen of legitimacy to its annexation, the authorities in Moscow put up billboards and a giant video screen in Red Square and announced road closures for Friday. The annexation move has been greeted with international condemnation, and Ukraine has essentially ignored the Kremlin’s plans. Kyiv’s forces have pressed on with a counteroffensive that has enabled them to retake territory in the northeast of the country this month and make inroads into Donetsk and Luhansk, two of the regions where referendums were held. In a speech late on Wednesday, President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine reiterated his denunciation of the votes and said he was working with foreign leaders to coordinate a strong international response. “Our key task now is to coordinate actions with partners in response to sham referendums organized by Russia and all related threats,” Mr. Zelensky said. The billboards proclaimed: “Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, Kherson — Russia!” naming the regions in southern and eastern Ukraine where Russian proxy officials staged votes in the last week. All four regions are partially occupied by Russian troops and the referendums, put on hastily in the face of the military setbacks for the Kremlin, purported to return big majorities in favor of joining Russia. Governments around the world say the votes lacked democratic legitimacy, given Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the coercion of voters, the absence of independent observers and the flight of many civilians from the areas because of fighting. In addition, the government in Kyiv told its citizens not to participate. The sequence of choreographed steps for a region to join the Russian Federation is laid out in the country’s constitution and is expected to be followed in the coming days. That follows the pattern of a similar vote in Crimea, a region of southern Ukraine that was annexed by Russia in 2014. Following the announcements of vote totals, Russian proxy officials in the four occupied areas appealed on Wednesday to join Russia. Members of Russia’s Parliament, which acts as a rubber stamp for Mr. Putin, were invited to an event at the Kremlin on Friday. After Mr. Putin’s announcement on Friday, the Russian proxy leaders in the territories were expected to sign agreements with Moscow outlining their status once they are made part of Russia. Those agreements would then be ratified, first by the constitutional court and then by the Parliament, or Duma. The Kremlin would then introduce a draft law on the admission of the territories into Russia, which would then be passed into law by the Duma. Once Russia’s Federation Council passes the draft, it would be signed into law by Mr. Putin, completing the process. Russian State Duma speaker Vyacheslav Volodin announced on Wednesday that the Duma should hold its accession sessions to approve the annexation next Monday and Tuesday. — Matthew Mpoke Bigg and Oleg Matsnev Image A High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) produced by Lockheed Martin during combat training at the Yakima Training Center, Wash.Credit…Tony Overman/The Olympian, via Associated Press WASHINGTON — The Pentagon said on Wednesday it would send an additional $1.1 billion in long-term military aid to Ukraine, including 18 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System launchers, or HIMARS, one of the most vaunted weapons of the seven-month war with Russia. But unlike the 16 HIMARS the military rushed to Ukraine from its existing stockpiles over the summer, these new weapons will be ordered from the manufacturer, Lockheed Martin, and will take “a few years” to deliver, a senior Defense Department official told reporters. Shifting the source of Ukrainian military supplies from the Pentagon’s own stockpile, which is large but not limitless, to items newly manufactured by the defense industry indicates that the White House and military leaders are transitioning to a sustainable model Kyiv can depend on for an open-ended war with Russia. Privately, American commanders have also voiced concern that if the United States sends more HIMARS vehicles immediately, the Ukrainians will burn through the rocket ammunition provided by the Pentagon too quickly, potentially jeopardizing American military readiness in coming months. The promise of new military aid comes at a critical time in the war, when Ukraine has the momentum on the battlefield, and has retaken vast stretches of land in the east and is pressing entrenched Russian forces in the south. The Russian president, Vladimir V. Putin, is mobilizing up to 300,000 reservists in an attempt to shore up his forces, and Ukrainian commanders are pushing to try to take back as much territory as they can before the winter freeze forces both sides to slow their operations and dig in. The HIMARs systems have proven effective at cutting Russian supply lines, destroying ammunition depots, bridges, rail links, and troop concentrations far beyond the lines. Asked why the Pentagon didn’t just send more of the advanced rocket launchers from its own inventories — as President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine has repeatedly requested — the senior Defense Department official sidestepped the question, saying the future delivery was to ensure Ukraine “will have what it needs for the long haul to deter future threats.” Pentagon officials have said for weeks that with the American HIMARS and 10 similar rocket systems already delivered to the battlefield — 26 rocket-launchers in all — Ukraine has enough of the weapons to attack the Russian targets it wants. Indeed, the satellite-guided rockets fired by HIMARS have struck more than 400 Russian ammunition depots, command posts and radars. The new shipment announced on Wednesday also includes 150 Humvees, 150 vehicles for towing artillery, radars, counter-drone systems and body armor, which the senior Pentagon official said would be delivered from manufacturers in the next six to 24 months. That brings to $16.2 billion in total military aid that the United States has committed to Ukraine since the war started in February. The $1.1 billion in new equipment will be paid for by the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative, a congressionally approved fund that allows Ukrainian leaders to purchase military goods directly from the defense industry. At the same virtual briefing for reporters on Wednesday, a senior U.S. military official said the first “small group” of Russians from the 300,000 conscripts ordered mobilized had arrived in Ukraine. The official did not provide details on how many new conscripts had been sent to the battlefield or where they were located. But the official, who like the senior Pentagon official spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss operational matters, expressed skepticism that the Kremlin could properly mobilize, train and equip anywhere near that total number of new troops. “Just the mechanics of outfitting that size of a force is very difficult,” the senior U.S. military official said. Image A photo from the Danish military showing gas welling up off the coast of Bornholm island on Tuesday.Credit…Armed Forces of Denmark, via Associated Press BERLIN — Two days after a pair of explosions under the Baltic Sea apparently ruptured giant natural gas pipelines from Russia to Germany, the consensus hardened on Wednesday that it was an act of sabotage. The European Union and several European governments labeled it an attack and demanded an investigation. Experts said it could take months to assess and repair the damage to the Nord Stream 1 and 2 pipelines, which were already being used as leverage in the West’s confrontation with Moscow over Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. News of a possible attack on them heightened already intense fears of painful energy shortages in Europe over the winter. But the central mystery remains: Who did it? “All available information indicates those leaks are the result of a deliberate act,” the European Union’s foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell Fontelles, said in a statement on Wednesday. “We will support any investigation aimed at getting full clarity on what happened and why.” Jake Sullivan, President Biden’s national security adviser, called the episode “apparent sabotage.” But with little evidence to go on — American officials said that explosive gas pouring from the broken pipes made it too dangerous to get close to the breach — the United States and most of its European allies stopped short of publicly naming any suspects. Still, some officials speculated about the many ways that Russia might gain — even though the pipeline carries its gas. Poland and Ukraine openly blamed Russia, which pointed a finger at the United States, and both Moscow and Washington issued indignant denials. Other theories bandied about included speculation over whether Ukraine or Baltic States, which have long opposed the pipeline, might have had an interest in seeing it disabled — and sending a message. “It’s hard to assess, does anybody benefit?” Finland’s president, Sauli Niinistö, told the news outlet Helsingin Sanomat. “That is why this is a mystery so far.” Some European and American officials cautioned on Wednesday that it would be premature to conclude that Russia had been behind the apparent att...

Stock Futures Fall After Wednesday's Big Market Rally https://digitalarkansasnews.com/stock-futures-fall-after-wednesdays-big-market-rally/ Stock futures slumped Thursday, putting the major averages on track to give back some of the sharp gains seen in the previous session. Futures tied to the Dow Jones dropped 181 points, or 0.7%, while S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100 futures declined 0.7% and 0.9%, respectively. The moves followed a broad rally for stocks a day earlier, as the Bank of England said it would purchase bonds in an effort to help steady its financial markets and the cratering British pound. Sterling has stooped to record lows against the U.S. dollar in recent days. It marked a stark shift from the aggressive tightening campaign many global central banks have undertaken to cope with surging inflation. The Dow on Wednesday gained or 1.9%, while the S&P 500 rose nearly 2% after hitting a new bear market low on Tuesday. Both indexes snapped six-day losing streaks. As stocks rose and the BOE shared its bond-buying plan, the yield on the benchmark 10-year Treasury note dropped the most since 2020 after briefly topping 4%. “If the market had a negative sign in front of it today, and not a positive sign, it wouldn’t surprise me,” said Liz Ann Sonders, Charles Schwab’s chief investment strategist. “The market’s going to do what it does on any single given day. You can attempt to sort of point to what might have sat behind it, but that’s just a parlor game. A lot of it is the market got really oversold and buyers stepped in.” Wednesday’s rally put the major averages on pace to eke out small gains for the week, but they are still on track to cap off their worst month since June. The Nasdaq Composite is leading the monthly losses, down about 6.5%, while the Dow and S&P are on pace to close 5.8% and 5.9% lower, respectively. On a quarterly basis, the Nasdaq is on track to break a two-quarter losing streak, while the Dow is headed for its third consecutive quarterly loss for the first time since the third quarter of 2015. The S&P is on pace for its third negative quarter in a row for the first time since its six-quarter negative streak that ended the first quarter of 2009. Bank of America downgrades Apple, shares slide Apple shares dipped more than 2% after Bank of America downgraded the tech giant to neutral from buy and slashed its price target on the stock. “Shares have outperformed significantly YTD (AAPL down 16%, S15INFT down 29%) and have been perceived as a relative safe haven,” Wamsi Mohan wrote in a Thursday note. “However, we see risk to this outperformance over the next year, as we expect material negative est. revisions driven by weaker consumer demand.” CNBC Pro subscribers can read more here. — Carmen Reinicke Wells Fargo says sell Coinbase Analysts at Wells Fargo initiated Coinbase with an underweight, citing rising macroeconomic pressures among other potential negative catalysts. “Though we believe in the value of COIN’s platform, we see its early-mover advantages gradually being eroded away as the competition increasingly mimics the COIN ecosystem,” analyst Jeff Cantwell wrote in a Thursday note. CNBC Pro subscribers can read the full story here. — Carmen Reinicke European stocks fall as Bank of England boost fades – Elliot Smith U.S. Treasury yields climb in late Asia session, 10-year recovers losses The 10-year yield inched back up to 3.848% after dropping 25 basis points, or the most since 2020 overnight in the U.S. The yields on the 5-year Treasury note and the 7-year Treasury note were up — as high as 4.085% and 3.986% respectively. The yield on the policy-sensitive 2-year Treasury touched 4.227%. Yields and prices have an inverted relationship. One basis point is equivalent to 0.01%. — Jihye Lee CNBC Pro: Oil and gas are making a comeback — and these mutual funds are jumping on the trend, says Morningstar Markets have largely fallen this year, but the S&P 500’s oil and gas sector has advanced nearly 30%. That’s attracted investors who previously shunned the sector as the clean energy push grew in the past 10 years. Morningstar named three funds that have turned positive towards the sector and pointed to one fund manager being “the most notable energy bull.” CNBC Pro subscribers can read more here. — Ganesh Rao CNBC Pro: Analyst says this FAANG stock is an evergreen winner — and investors should buy the dip Tech stocks have had a difficult year so far but a Rosenblatt Securities analyst thinks the sell-off is an opportunity for long-term investors to buy the dip.   “Stay away from the losers,” he said, recommending “winners in the various secular battles and evolutionary battles” in tech. Pro subscribers can read more. — Zavier Ong Stocks may continue this ‘oversold bounce’ over the next few days, Wells Fargo’s Harvey says Wells Fargo’s Chris Harvey expects stocks to continue their upward move. “The spike in short interest, retail selling skew, and BOE’s action all suggest stocks will continue their oversold bounce for the next few days,” he said in a note to clients Wednesday. Stocks hit fresh lows earlier in the week, with the S&P 500 notching a new bear market. The sell-off was triggered by the Fed’s latest rate decision last week, which some investors believe steered the market into oversold conditions. As the cost of capital rises and prices hover near record highs, the consensus is increasingly coming to believe that a Fed-induced recession is unavoidable, Harvey said. “We look at a recession like a car crash,” he wrote. “You never know how bad it will be, but there is almost no ‘better-than-expected’ outcome — so policymakers need to be careful what they wish for.” — Samantha Subin Major averages on pace for a month of losses Just two trading days are left in September and all the major averages are on pace to cap off the month with losses. While Wednesday’s market comeback put the major averages on track for modest weekly gains, the Nasdaq Composite, Dow Industrial Averages and S&P 500 are slated to lose nearly 6% each in September. The end of the third quarter also comes Friday, with the Dow on pace to cap its third negative quarter in a row for the first time since the third quarter of 2015. The S&P is slated to post its third consecutive negative quarter since its six-quarter losing streak that ended the first quarter of 2009. Meanwhile, the Nasdaq is on track to snap a streak of two consecutive down quarters. Here’s where the major averages stand heading into Thursday: Dow Jones Industrial Average: Up 0.32% for the week On track to lose 5.8% this month Down 3.55% this quarter Down 18.31% this year S&P 500 Up 0.7% this week Set for a 5.97% September loss Down 1.75% for the quarter Down 21.97% this year Nasdaq Composite: Up 1.69% this week On pace for a 6.47% September loss Up 0.2% for the quarter Down 29.36% this year — Samantha Subin, Chris Hayes Futures open flat Futures opened flat following a broad market rally during Wednesday’s regular trading session. Futures tied to the Dow Jones rose 10 points, or 0.04%, while S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100 futures were flat. — Samantha Subin Read More Here

Why Donald Trump Is Riding Out Hurricane Ian At Mar-A-Lago https://digitalarkansasnews.com/why-donald-trump-is-riding-out-hurricane-ian-at-mar-a-lago/ Donald Trump has been accused of choosing to stay in his Florida resort of Mar-a-Lago as Hurricane Ian sweeps through the state to delay being deposed in a class action lawsuit, according to court documents. Filings in District Court for the Southern District of New York said the former president is staying at his home in Palm Beach to avoid answering questions from lawyers about a 2018 lawsuit that accuses Trump of using his reality TV show The Celebrity Apprentice and other businesses to promote a fraudulent multi-level marketing company to investors. In a letter to Judge Sarah Cave, John Quinn, one of the lawyers representing the plaintiffs suing Trump, said the deadline for Trump to be questioned under oath as part of the case was Friday, September 30. However, as the Category 4 storm was due to hit the southwest coast of Florida on Wednesday, Quinn sent an email to Trump’s lead counsel, Clifford Robert, requesting that the deposition be moved to Bedminster, New Jersey, where Trump has a golf course. In this combination image, an aerial view, former U.S. President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate is seen on September 14, 2022 in Palm Beach, Florida and Donald Trump (Inset) pictured in September, 2022 Getty Quinn said Robert did not reply to the request, but called him on Tuesday to state that Trump’s legal team was boarding a flight to Palm Beach. “I expressed some surprise—I believe I used the word ‘walloped’—but Mr. Robert indicated they were flying down anyway,” Quinn wrote to Cave. “We reached out to Mr. Robert and his colleague again this afternoon, both by phone and by email, but were not able to get in touch with them. “Accordingly, the last we heard is that Defendants insist the deposition go forward at Mar-a-Lago and on Friday. With all respect, we do not believe that is prudent or safe.” In response, Trump’s legal team filed a response to Cave accusing Quinn of making “disingenuous and misleading” accusations in his letter, and said it was the plaintiff’s lawyers who had given the go-ahead for Friday’s scheduled deposition to still take place at Mar-a-Lago as Hurricane Ian approached. “In actual fact, we thought it absolutely absurd to travel from the New York area to West Palm Beach in the middle of a hurricane and would have been pleased to reschedule the deposition to another date, but Plaintiffs insisted that it proceed,” Robert wrote. “Now that we have all traveled to West Palm Beach, and are currently sitting in the middle of a hurricane while Plaintiffs’ counsel enjoys the comforts of home, Plaintiffs have the gall to request that the deposition for which Defendants spent considerable time and resources preparing be cancelled less than 48 hours prior to its scheduled date and time.” Robert also criticized the suggestion Trump is acting “unreasonable” by staying in Florida and that he is “ready, willing and able to proceed” with his deposition on Friday. Trump’s legal team suggested the hearing could be conducted via Zoom for the safety of all parties. In her ruling, Cave said that as it is still “uncertain” that the deposition could take place even remotely on Friday despite the severity of Ian now being downgraded, the deadline for Trump’s deposition has now been extended to October 31. Three of Trump’s children—Ivanka Trump, Eric Trump and Donald Trump Jr.—have also agreed to sit for a deposition in the lawsuit accusing the family and The Trump Organization of receiving millions of dollars to promote the multi-level marketing group American Communications Network (ACN), reported CNN. Trump’s legal team has been contacted for comment. Read More Here

Search And Rescue Teams Are Scouring Florida's Disaster Zone Amid Massive Power Outages As The Ian, Now A Tropical Storm, Continues Is Ruinous Crawl | CNN https://digitalarkansasnews.com/search-and-rescue-teams-are-scouring-floridas-disaster-zone-amid-massive-power-outages-as-the-ian-now-a-tropical-storm-continues-is-ruinous-crawl-cnn/ CNN  —  Search and rescue teams are working before dawn to respond to hours-old calls for help that came as Ian – downgraded to a tropical storm still marching across Florida – slammed the state’s west coast as a Category 4 hurricane, its surge trapping residents and its monstrous winds and flooding rains leaving millions without power and many without drinkable water. Collapsed buildings, flooding, downed power lines and impassable roads were reported early Thursday by survey crews in the zone around where Ian slammed the shore near Cayo Costa in southwestern Florida on Wednesday afternoon as one of the strongest storms ever to make landfall on Florida’s west coast. Rising ocean water piled up onshore – 12 feet in some places – and 150-mph winds whipped as Ian moved deeper inland. 911 call centers in several counties were inundated. Thomas Podgorny was trapped in his two-story home in Fort Myers with three others, watching vehicles float away outside and worrying about others who did not evacuate, he told CNN. “I’ve lost my house. I have water and gas flowing through my bottom floor,” he said. “My neighbors have very little breathing room in their one-story house.” Nearly 2.5 million homes and businesses across Florida have no power Thursday morning, according to PowerOutage.us, and some drinking water systems have broken down completely or have boil notices in effect. As Ian continues trudging northwest, heavy rain and flooding has been reported in the Orlando metro area, where 8 to 12 inches of rain had already fallen and up to 4 more inches of rain was expected. Here are the latest developments: • Downgraded to a tropical storm: Ian was downgraded to a tropical storm early Thursday with winds of 65 mph, the National Hurricane Center said. The center of the storm was about 40 miles southeast of Orlando at 5 a.m. ET. Ian is tied with 2004’s Hurricane Charley as the strongest storm to make landfall on the west coast of the Florida Peninsula, both with 150 mph winds at landfall. • Hurricane warnings become tropical storm warnings: Hurricane warnings along the east and west coasts of Florida were changed to tropical storm warnings when the system was downgraded. The warnings on the east coast stretched north to Cape Lookout, North Carolina. • Record-high storm surges: The storm surge from Hurricane Ian hit up to 12 feet in some places, while multiple areas, including Punta Gorda, Port Charlotte, Fort Myers and Naples, were facing record-high storm surge of 12 to 16 feet. By Wednesday night, the storm surge along the west coast of Florida was believed to have peaked and was beginning to recede, while officials in Tampa warned residents to stay on guard. • More than a foot of rainfall: Up to 20 inches of rain was expected in some areas, including Lehigh Acres, which received 14.42 inches of rain and Warm Mineral Springs which got 11.05 inches. • Other states brace for Ian’s destruction: The storm is expected to exit Florida and move into the Atlantic Ocean on Thursday, where governors in Georgia, Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina have already declared a state of emergency. With Ian continuing to cut a path of destruction through Florida, the state is planning a “three-pronged” search and rescue response, with crews ready to fan out and help residents from the air, ground and sea once it is safe to do, officials said. Calls for help were coming into several counties Wednesday. In Fort Myers – where about 96% of the city was without power – Fire Chief Tracy McMillion told residents to stay inside, and to stay hopeful. “We’re coming for you, be encouraged,” he told residents. The city’s downtown streets were flooded with almost 4 feet of water Wednesday, Mayor Kevin Anderson told CNN. A couple in Fort Myers said they were trapped in their home when the ceiling caved in, sending water inside. “Something is dripping on me,” Belinda Collins recalled her partner saying. “He got up, and the ceiling – the family room ceiling – caved in.’” The couple said they called 911 and were waiting for a call back about when it would be safe to leave. In Port Charlotte, the roof above an ICU at a hospital was torn off by the storm while there were about 160 patients inside, Dr. Birgit Bodine, an internal medicine specialist at the facility, told CNN. The staff moved patients to a safe place, but they couldn’t evacuate yet because of the conditions outside, the doctor said Wednesday night, adding, “It’s actually pretty terrible.” People in nearby Collier County were also without power and trapped in their homes, calling for help. “Some are reporting life threatening medical emergencies in deep water. We will get to them first. Some are reporting water coming into their house but not life threatening. They will have to wait. Possibly until the water recedes,” a Collier County Sheriff’s Office statement said. Complicating matters further, neighboring Lee County’s 911 system was down and calls were being rerouted to Collier County, Chief Stephanie Spell told CNN. “At this point the majority of our 911 calls are water rescues,” Spell added. Elsewhere, conditions were too severe for first responders to be out. Emergency crews in Charlotte County were not able to respond to 911 calls Wednesday due to dangerous storm conditions, county Emergency Management Director Patrick Fuller told CNN. And in Sarasota, authorities decided Wednesday to withdraw all police officers from the street due to wind speeds and hazardous conditions, Mayor Eric Arroyo told CNN. While other areas began rescue efforts Wednesday evening, authorities in Tampa and Orange County warned residents that the worst of Hurricane Ian had “yet to come” Wednesday night. Curfews were in effect for residents in Collier, Lee and Charlotte counties while severe conditions continued. Photos: Hurricane Ian barrels into Florida NOAA/NASA A satellite image shows Hurricane Ian making landfall on the southwest coast of Florida on Wednesday, September 28. Photos: Hurricane Ian barrels into Florida Marco Bello/Reuters A flooded street is seen in downtown Fort Myers, Florida, after Hurricane Ian made landfall on Wednesday. Photos: Hurricane Ian barrels into Florida Marco Bello/Reuters A woman surveys damage through a door during a power outage in Fort Myers on Wednesday. Photos: Hurricane Ian barrels into Florida Naples Police The streets of Naples, Florida, are flooded on Wednesday. City officials asked residents to shelter in place until further notice. Photos: Hurricane Ian barrels into Florida Ben Hendren/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images A woman is helped out of a muddy area on Wednesday in Tampa, Florida, where water was receding due to a negative storm surge. Photos: Hurricane Ian barrels into Florida Ricardo Arduengo/AFP/Getty Images Strong winds hit Punta Gorda, Florida, on Wednesday. Photos: Hurricane Ian barrels into Florida Pedro Portal/El Nuevo Herald/TNS/Abaca/Reuters Sailboats anchored in Roberts Bay are blown around in Venice, Florida, on Wednesday. Photos: Hurricane Ian barrels into Florida Crystal Vander Weit/TCPalm/USA Today Network Melvin Phillips stands in the flooded basement of his mobile home in Stuart, Florida, on Wednesday. Photos: Hurricane Ian barrels into Florida Bryan R. Smith/AFP/Getty Images Photos: Hurricane Ian barrels into Florida Greg Lovett/The Palm Beach Post/USA Today Network Damage is seen at the Kings Point condos in Delray Beach, Florida, on Wednesday. Officials believe it was caused by a tornado fueled by Hurricane Ian. Photos: Hurricane Ian barrels into Florida Marco Bello/Reuters A TV crew broadcasts from the beach in Fort Myers on Wednesday. Photos: Hurricane Ian barrels into Florida Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel/AP Utility trucks are staged in a rural lot Wednesday in The Villages, a Florida retirement community. Photos: Hurricane Ian barrels into Florida Shannon Stapleton/Reuters Highways in Tampa, Florida, are empty Wednesday ahead of Hurricane Ian making landfall. Several coastal counties in western Florida were under mandatory evacuations. Photos: Hurricane Ian barrels into Florida Wilfredo Lee/AP An airplane is overturned in Pembroke Pines, Florida, on Wednesday. Photos: Hurricane Ian barrels into Florida Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun-Sentinel via AP Zuram Rodriguez surveys the damage around her home in Davie, Florida, early on Wednesday. Photos: Hurricane Ian barrels into Florida Ramon Espinosa/AP People play dominoes by flashlight during a blackout in Havana, Cuba, on Wednesday. Crews in Cuba have been working to restore power for millions after the storm battered the western region with high winds and dangerous storm surge, causing an islandwide blackout. Photos: Hurricane Ian barrels into Florida Yamil Lage/AFP/Getty Images People walk through a flooded street in Batabano, Cuba, on Tuesday. Photos: Hurricane Ian barrels into Florida Chris O’Meara/AP Southwest Airlines passengers check in near a sign that shows canceled flights at the Tampa International Airport on Tuesday. Photos: Hurricane Ian barrels into Florida Ramon Espinosa/AP Maria Llonch retrieves belongings from her home in Pinar del Rio, Cuba, on Tuesday. Photos: Hurricane Ian barrels into Florida Willie J. Allen Jr./Orlando Sentinel via AP Traffic builds along Interstate 4 in Tampa on Tuesday. Photos: Hurricane Ian barrels into Florida Alexandre Meneghini/Reuters A man carries his children through rain and debris in Pinar del Rio on Tuesday. Photos: Hurricane Ian barrels into Florida Alexandre Meneghini/Reuters People drive through debr...

Thursday Football Schedule Includes MH Freshmen Hosting Douglas MacArthur https://digitalarkansasnews.com/thursday-football-schedule-includes-mh-freshmen-hosting-douglas-macarthur/ Thursday’s junior high football schedule includes Mountain Home’s freshmen returning to Bomber Stadium as Douglas MacArthur comes in from Jonesboro. Kickoff is scheduled for 6:30. Elsewhere, Yellville-Summit entertains Melbourne, Salem travels to Newport, and Harrison is home against Prairie Grove. On the eight-man level, Marshall hosts Mountain View. WebReadyTM Powered by WireReady® NSI Read More Here

Fayetteville Man Sentenced For Drug, Gun Charges https://digitalarkansasnews.com/fayetteville-man-sentenced-for-drug-gun-charges/ FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. (WNCN)—A Fayetteville man was sentenced for gun and drug charges in federal court on Tuesday, according to officials. Lamarious Brown, 25, was arrested and charged in 2018 after police were patrolling “the parking lot of the Pool Palace club” on Bragg Blvd. Officers previously said that they saw an “AR style rifle on the rear floorboard of [a] vehicle” and waited to see who came to the car. After Brown approached the car, police said they “approached Brown to talk to him, he ran away from the officers, but was apprehended shortly thereafter.” Brown was sentenced to 90 months imprisonment to be followed by 60 months of supervised release. Read More Here

European Stocks Fall As Bank Of England Boost Fades; Stoxx 600 Down 1.4% https://digitalarkansasnews.com/european-stocks-fall-as-bank-of-england-boost-fades-stoxx-600-down-1-4/ The pan-European Stoxx 600 fell 1.4% by mid-morning, with retail stocks and autos dropping 3.2% to lead losses as all sectors and major bourses slid into negative territory. Sterling has stooped to record lows against the U.S. dollar in recent days, and slid once again on Thursday morning to trade just below $1.08. Global markets saw another volatile trading day on Wednesday, with stocks trading sharply lower as global markets sold off on economic concerns surrounding inflation and the growth outlook. Market turmoil continued to hit the U.K., prompting the Bank of England to suspend the planned start of its gilt selling next week and begin temporarily buying long-dated bonds in order to calm the market chaos unleashed by the new government’s so-called “mini-budget.” That move calmed markets in the U.S. yesterday, and that, in turn, pacified indices in Asia-Pacific overnight. U.S. stock futures inched lower in early premarket trading on Thursday, however. Porsche shares rise in Frankfurt market debut Porsche shares increased almost 2% above its IPO price in its stock market debut on Thursday, in what’s being billed as one of Europe’s biggest ever public offerings. Shares in the luxury carmaker initially traded at 84 euros ($81) at the start of the day. Shares had been priced at the top end of their range late Wednesday, putting the company value up to 75 billion euros. Read CNBC’s full coverage here. — Hannah Ward-Glenton Stocks on the move: Rational up 12%, Barratt Developments down 9% Rational shares jumped more than 12% in early trade to lead the Stoxx 600 after the German combi steamer and oven manufacturer raised its sales revenue and profit forecast for 2022. At the bottom of the European blue chip index, British property developer Barratt Developments fell more than 9%. – Elliot Smith CNBC Pro: Analyst says this FAANG stock is an evergreen winner — and investors should buy the dip Tech stocks have had a difficult year so far but a Rosenblatt Securities analyst thinks the sell-off is an opportunity for long-term investors to buy the dip.   “Stay away from the losers,” he said, recommending “winners in the various secular battles and evolutionary battles” in tech. Pro subscribers can read more. — Zavier Ong Stocks may continue this ‘oversold bounce’ over the next few days, Wells Fargo’s Harvey says Wells Fargo’s Chris Harvey expects stocks to continue their upward move. “The spike in short interest, retail selling skew, and BOE’s action all suggest stocks will continue their oversold bounce for the next few days,” he said in a note to clients Wednesday. Stocks hit fresh lows earlier in the week, with the S&P 500 notching a new bear market. The sell-off was triggered by the Fed’s latest rate decision last week, which some investors believe steered the market into oversold conditions. As the cost of capital rises and prices hover near record highs, the consensus is increasingly coming to believe that a Fed-induced recession is unavoidable, Harvey said. “We look at a recession like a car crash,” he wrote. “You never know how bad it will be, but there is almost no ‘better-than-expected’ outcome — so policymakers need to be careful what they wish for.” — Samantha Subin 10-year Treasury yield drops the most since 2020 The yield on the benchmark 10-year Treasury note dropped the most since 2020 on Wednesday, despite briefly topping 4% earlier in the session, after the Bank of England announced a bond-buying plan to stabilize the British pound. The 10-year Treasury yield last dropped 23 basis points to 3.733%, or the most it’s dropped since 2020. It hit a high of about 4.019%, a key level that was the highest since October 2008, earlier in the day before erasing those gains. Yields and prices move in opposite directions. One basis point is equal to 0.01%. — Sarah Min Wed, Aug 17 202212:29 AM EDT European markets: Here are the opening calls European stocks are expected to open in negative territory on Wednesday as investors react to the latest U.S. inflation data. The U.K.’s FTSE index is expected to open 47 points lower at 7,341, Germany’s DAX 86 points lower at 13,106, France’s CAC 40 down 28 points and Italy’s FTSE MIB 132 points lower at 22,010, according to data from IG. Global markets have pulled back following a higher-than-expected U.S. consumer price index report for August which showed prices rose by 0.1% for the month and 8.3% annually in August, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported Tuesday, defying economist expectations that headline inflation would fall 0.1% month-on-month. Core CPI, which excludes volatile food and energy costs, climbed 0.6% from July and 6.3% from August 2021. U.K. inflation figures for August are due and euro zone industrial production for July will be published. — Holly Ellyatt Read More Here

OP-ED | An Empire Built On Lies, Survival Equipment, And Snake Oil | CT News Junkie https://digitalarkansasnews.com/op-ed-an-empire-built-on-lies-survival-equipment-and-snake-oil-ct-news-junkie/ Credit: Screengrab via Youtube SUSAN CAMPBELL My goodness, but conspiracy theorist Alex Jones is spending quality time with lawyers these days. While he fumes, let’s take a moment to see how we arrived at an epoch where someone with no discernible value can make millions of dollars screaming lies into a microphone. Jones, who has done the heavy lifting on spreading some of the most vicious fake theories, is facing the business end of a series of defamation suits for lying about one of Connecticut’s worst tragedies. In 2012, just hours after a gunman walked into a Newtown school and killed 26 people – including 20 children – Jones told his audience that the atrocity was staged so that the government could take their guns. He made fun of grieving parents, and called them crisis actors. When those absurdities started bringing in more money, he turned up the heat. In fact, according to one forensic economist, at one point Jones was paying himself an average of $6 million a year. And then lawsuits from survivors started cropping up, and Jones began to recant but the lies were off and running, and Jones appeared surprised that his take-back didn’t make the lawsuits go away. He recently snapped in court that he is “done apologizing.”  This is a man who built his empire on lies, survival equipment, and snake oil, and in that, the Texas native created the perfect economic ecosystem. He peddles fear, and then he sells products to allay those fears. Recently in one of my college classes, I showed a PowerPoint about conspiracy theories – how they start, why they gain traction. One of my slides included a guy in a tinfoil hat, with the question, “So who believes this nonsense?” and subsequent slides sought to answer that question. There’s quite a field of study out there, and researchers are adding to the body of knowledge daily. I spent the next class retracting that tinfoil hat slide. It was too dismissive, and I told the class that. It’s easy to feel superior to people who believe that drinking bleach will cure COVID, or that Trump won the ’20 election, but that doesn’t do much to explain how we got here, does it? And that does precisely nothing to avoid arriving here again. We got here because social media algorithms are tuned to advance the most outrageous information. Moral outrage keeps us glued to our screens, and the longer we stay, the more money social media platforms make. I log onto Twitter and see my least favorite politicians spouting off on (or lying about) something, and I devote no small amount of time responding.  Boom. I have just given Twitter more time to gather information about me, which they will then sell to the highest bidder. As they say, if a product is free, you are, in fact, the product, and that is especially true for social media. The more outrageous the content, the better it serves Facebook’s/YouTube’s/Twitter’s coffers, as Max Fisher writes in his new book, “The Chaos Machine: The Inside Story of How Social Media Rewired Our Minds and Our World.” Fisher, a New York Times reporter, paints a troublesome picture of the negative role social media plays in our public discourse. Read the book with the light on. Conspiracy theories spread quickest in tumultuous times. We seek reason in the chaos, and we look for patterns to explain the unexplainable. Conspiracy theories allow people to (erroneously) draw connections between dissimilar events. Our electoral system looks imperiled. The COVID virus hasn’t gone away. The time is ripe for looking for patterns – any patterns. When researchers talk about people who embrace conspiracy theories, they use language similar to that of researchers who talk about gangs. Gang members feel a sense of isolation. They want to belong. They want to feel a part of something bigger than themselves. So, too, with conspiracy theory believers. And in struts Alex Jones, failed radio DJ with a lot of hot air and a big axe to grind. But take heart. Recently, Jones tried to treat the courtroom as he did his studio, and that didn’t work, and we were given a few days’ reprieve from his performance on the stand, which perhaps let his ‘roid rage subside. I actually don’t know if Alex Jones is on steroids, but I read he slugged back some Ivermectin on air, so there’s your pattern. And this, class, is how conspiracy theories start – or not. There’s no need to clog the airwaves with more nonsense. Instead, let’s hope for a legal shellacking that will leave Alex Jones unable to open his mouth, save for eating and brushing his teeth. Read More Here

Hurricane Ian Live Updates: Over 2.3M Without Power In Florida; Category 1 Storm Still Dangerous, Officials Say https://digitalarkansasnews.com/hurricane-ian-live-updates-over-2-3m-without-power-in-florida-category-1-storm-still-dangerous-officials-say/ Updated September 29, 2022 at 6:00 a.m. EDT|Published September 29, 2022 at 2:00 a.m. EDT Even as Ian weakened into a Category 1 hurricane late Wednesday, officials warned that it remains a dangerous storm and that there are continued hazards as waters begin to recede in some areas. The National Hurricane Center said Ian, which is heading toward Florida’s northeast Atlantic coast, was still capable of “catastrophic storm surge, winds, and flooding.” Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) said that while the storm surge was likely to have peaked, “there is going to be damage throughout the whole state.” Some 2.3 million customers were still without power in the state as of early Thursday, according to the online tracking site PowerOutage.us. Swaths of central Florida, including Orlando, face a high risk of flash flooding Thursday morning. The hurricane center also warned of a potentially “life-threatening storm surge” along the coasts of northeast Florida, Georgia and South Carolina for Thursday and Friday. Here’s what to know The breadth of damage to life and property remained unclear Wednesday evening as strong winds prevented first responders in the most flooded communities from carrying out rescues. DeSantis said the response would probably begin at first light Thursday. Ian battered parts of Florida’s western coast, tearing down trees and power lines and causing dangerous storm surges in parts of the state. Authorities in Fort Myers, which was badly hit, said late Wednesday that parts of the city were between 3 and 4 feet underwater. To the south in Naples, half of the streets “are not passable due to high water,” Collier County warned in a tweet. Hurricane warnings are in effect for parts of Florida’s east coast through early Friday due to Ian’s strength. Several airports across the state suspended commercial operations and canceled flights originally scheduled for Thursday. What Ian means for Georgia and the Carolinas Return to menu After Ian is forecast to exit Florida’s east coast late Thursday, it is expected to enter the Atlantic Ocean before heading north into South Carolina, making a second landfall Friday afternoon. The National Hurricane Center does not forecast that Ian would re-intensify while passing over water. But it may not lose much strength either, potentially coming ashore near Charleston, S.C., as a strong tropical storm with 60 mph winds. Tropical storm warnings are in effect for the coasts of Georgia, South Carolina and southern North Carolina, as well as hurricane watches, because Ian could be close to hurricane strength when it comes ashore again. These coastlines are also under storm surge watches. Flooding could be Ian’s biggest hazard for inland communities Return to menu Packing 155 mph winds, Hurricane Ian is expected to bring serious damage to the coastline of southwest Florida on Wednesday. As the storm moves away from the shore, it could cause an additional life-threatening hazard: inland flooding. Federal Emergency Management Agency Administrator Deanne Criswell and National Weather Service Director Ken Graham said Wednesday that flooding is among their top safety concerns. Historically, water has accounted for the vast majority of all deaths during tropical cyclones that have made landfall in the United States: 83 percent of fatalities during storms from 2016 to 2018 were water-related, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Most were from inland flooding; only 4 percent were from storm surge, the agency said. This is an excerpt from a full story. Tampa residents frolic on the bay after Ian pulled the water away Return to menu TAMPA — One of this city’s most famous streets, just hours before Hurricane Ian was to make landfall some 90 miles south, became the site of an impromptu festival early Wednesday afternoon as residents emerged to witness firsthand something exceedingly rare: the bottom of the bay. In a phenomenon that recalled Hurricane Irma, Ian’s march up the coast appeared to suck the water out of Tampa Bay, revealing its marshy, grassy bottom. For locals who had spent the previous days stocking up on supplies and weatherproofing their homes, the empty bay presented a final, if risky, chance to frolic before the storm drove them inside. In Orlando, residents fear what’s to come as Hurricane Ian approaches Return to menu Residents of Orlando are bracing themselves for yet another potentially ruinous storm as Hurricane Ian is forecast to sweep through the area early Thursday with a high risk of flash floods. “The wind is really picking up. It does get scary sounding,” Mary Black Yarber, a 62-year-old resident of the Orlando metropolitan area, said Wednesday night. “Even if we just have an extended power outage, that makes life miserable.” Yarber has so far prepared for Ian by bringing in any outdoor items, filling containers with fresh water, placing towels in her doorway and stocking up on non-perishable goods, she said. She even borrowed eggs from her neighbors to bake a sheet of brownies, joking that “stress eating is pretty commonplace” during hurricane season. First responders were unable reach stranded residents Return to menu ORLANDO — First responders in the county surrounding where Hurricane Ian made landfall were still unable to reach residents stranded in coastal areas late Wednesday, said Lee County Manager Roger Desjarlais. “We know that there are people at Fort Myers Beach that are stranded. We have been unable to mount search and rescue efforts yet. We are fairly certain there are people in Sanibel in the same circumstance,” Desjarlais said. Videos posted by relatives searching for the missing showed water up to the roofs of homes along Fort Myers Beach on Wednesday. But Desjarlais said late Wednesday county crews had not been able to assess the damage yet “because the storm still has not passed completely. By daylight, hopefully we’ll be able to put crews on the road.” DeSantis, local officials warn of ‘decimated’ communities, hazards Return to menu Officials on Wednesday warned Floridians of potential hazards in coming days, as some local authorities fear their communities will wake to the true devastation of the storm. “We are beginning to get a sense that our community has been, in some respects, decimated,” Lee County Manager Roger Desjarlais said in a news conference. More than 750,000 people live in the county. Lee is one of many counties that ordered mandatory evacuations ahead of the storm and are now fielding calls from people whose homes were flooded when the storm surge swept through communities on Wednesday. Why these Florida residents ignored evacuation orders Return to menu As Hurricane Ian barreled toward the nation’s third-most-populous state, millions were urged to evacuate. Many did, clogging up highways as they fanned out across Florida and beyond. But countless people defied the orders — even in some of the most vulnerable parts of the state, which could get up to 18 feet of storm surge. It happens every storm, and hurricane holdouts are often judged from afar as wrongheaded or naive, but most of the time the crucial decision is carefully calculated. On one brick-paved street in Tampa Bay — an area highly prone to severe flooding — all the reasons that residents stay behind, from money to moxie, were on full display some 24 hours before Ian was set to make landfall. This is an excerpt from a full story. Hurricane center warns of tornadoes, up to 30 inches in total rain Return to menu The National Hurricane Center warned in a 2 a.m. update of potential tornadoes hitting Florida’s northeast and east-central areas Thursday morning, and it added that fierce winds could threaten the coastal Carolinas on Friday. Hurricane Ian is expected to produce rainfall of 12 to 20 inches in parts of central and northeast Florida, with a local maximum of 30 inches. Coastal Georgia is expected to get 4 to 8 inches. Ian’s peak winds have decreased to around 75 miles per hour, and the storm is expected to slow further over the coming hours, the hurricane center said. Still, it warned of “widespread, life-threatening catastrophic flash and urban flooding.” More than 2.2 million without power in Florida Return to menu More than 2.2 million customers in Florida were without power as of 1 a.m. local time on Thursday, according to PowerOutage.us, as Hurricane Ian continued to batter the state’s western coast. Power was almost entirely lost in DeSoto and Charlotte counties, according to the site, which tracks outages across the state, and large swaths of the population generally lost power across counties in the southwest. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) warned the public on Twitter late Wednesday to keep generators “20 feet outside” of their homes. Fear of heavy rain, flooding in Florida as Ian slips to Category 1 Return to menu Hurricane Ian’s fierce winds eased as it moved over the Florida Peninsula, but its torrential rains continue and are the source of major flooding concerns into Thursday. The National Hurricane Center reported at 11 p.m. that Ian’s peak winds were down to 90 mph, making it a Category 1 hurricane. The hurricane center projects additional weakening overnight and for Ian to be a tropical storm by morning, with 65 mph winds. Despite the decrease in winds, flooding from extreme rainfall that spreads northeast over time is still anticipated. Ian pulled water away from shores. Here’s why that happened. Return to menu Just hours before Hurricane Ian thrashed Florida, water from beaches up and down the coast was sucked away. Crashing waves and shallow shoreline were replaced by the ocean’s sandy bottom. Shards of white sea...

Myanmar Court Jails Suu Kyi, Australian Economist For 3 Years – Source https://digitalarkansasnews.com/myanmar-court-jails-suu-kyi-australian-economist-for-3-years-source/ Sept 29 (Reuters) – A court in military-ruled Myanmar on Thursday jailed deposed leader Aung San Suu Kyi and her former economic adviser, Australian Sean Turnell, for three years for violating a secrets law, a source familiar with the proceedings said. Turnell was also found guilty of violating an immigration law, and was ordered to concurrently serve another three-year sentence, according to a second source and media. A former British envoy, an American journalist, and a Japanese filmmaker have also faced charges under the same law. Both Suu Kyi and Turnell had pleaded not guilty to the charges they faced, which carry a maximum sentence of 14 years. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com “Three years each, no hard labour,” said the source, who declined to be identified due to the sensitivity of the issue. Suu Kyi, Turnell, and several members of her economic team are among thousands arrested since the military overthrew her elected government in a coup early last year, including politicians, lawmakers, bureaucrats, students and journalists. Nobel laureate Suu Kyi has already been sentenced to at least 23 years in prison in separate cases, mostly related to corruption charges. She denies all accusations against her. Opponents of the military say the charges against Suu Kyi are aimed at blocking her from ever getting involved in politics again and challenging the military’s grip on power. A junta spokesperson did not answer calls seeking comment on Thursday. The junta insists Myanmar’s courts are independent and those arrested are receiving due process. Turnell, who is also a professor of economics at Macquarie University in Australia, has been in detention since a few days after the coup. His wife, Ha Vu, who is based in Australia, said she and her family were “heartbroken” at the verdict and called for him to be deported. “Sean has been one of Myanmar’s greatest supporters for over 20 years and has worked tirelessly to strengthen Myanmar’s economy. Please consider the contributions … and deport him now,” she said in a Facebook post. Australia called for Turnell’s release. “The Australian government has consistently rejected the charges against Professor Turnell. (It) rejects today’s court ruling … and calls for his immediate release,” Foreign Minister Penny Wong said in a statement. Australian consular officials tasked with assisting Turnell were denied access to the court, Wong said. Thursday’s sentencing took place in a closed court in the capital, Naypyitaw. The defendants’ exact offence under the official secrets act remains unclear, though a source previously said Turnell’s offence “relates to an allegation that he had government documents”. An analyst for the International Crisis Group think tank, Richard Horsey, called the proceedings “a show trial”. “For Sean the hope now must be that – having already been in detention for almost 20 months – he will be released soon from this terrible ordeal and reunited with his family,” he said. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com Reporting by Reuters Staff; Writing by Kanupriya Kapoor; Editing by Ed Davies, Robert Birsel and Kim Coghill Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles. Read More Here

Best Donald Trump Vegas Odds And Prop Bets https://digitalarkansasnews.com/best-donald-trump-vegas-odds-and-prop-bets/ KEN BLEVINS/STARNEWS / USA TODAY NETWORK A number of Donald Trump entertainment props are available online Find the latest odds for divorce, bankruptcy, and Twitter here When it comes to Donald Trump Vegas odds, there are some fascinating markets currently on offer. There are few more controversial people on the planet than Donald Trump. However, given how unpredictable the 45th President of the United States can be, he certainly makes for very interesting betting markets. Some of the most exciting entertainment markets centered around Donald Trump can be found here. Donald Trump Total Characters in First Tweet After Return Vegas Odds Total Characters Vegas Odds Over 19.5 Characters -120 Under 19.5 Characters -120 Donald Trump has been suspended on Twitter since January 2021 after inciting violence with the storming of the Capitol Building. Republican Presidential Nominee Donald Trump is introduced by Rudy Giuliani to a packed house at UNCW’s Trask Coliseum Tuesday August 9, 2016. The former President will be in Wilmington, N.C. Friday Sept. 23, 2022 to campaign for U.S. Senate candidate Ted Budd. KEN BLEVINS/STARNEWS Wlm Trump6 However, many believe that it’s only a matter of time before he returns to the social media platform. The total number of characters in his first Tweet is interesting, but we would potentially lean toward Trump delivering a short message to his followers on his first Tweet after suspension. Free Pick: Under 19.5 Characters Donald Trump To File For Bankruptcy Vegas Odds To File For Bankruptcy? Vegas Odds Yes +1200 Donald Trump has filed for bankruptcy on six occasions throughout his business career. This was an argument that made its way into a debate during his Presidential Election success, with Hilary Clinton rightfully claiming that six of his companies had gone into bankruptcy. However, the odds certainly don’t suggest that he will be filing for bankruptcy for himself personally in the near future. Donald Trump To Get Divorced Vegas Odds To Get Divorced? Vegas Odds Yes +7500 Donald Trump has been married three times, with Melania Trump being the most recent to tie the knot in 2005. ALSO SEE: NFL Predictions Week 4: Titans vs Colts Las Vegas Picks, and Preview (Oct 2) She lived in the White House with Trump throughout his presidency, and it looks incredibly unlikely that they will be getting divorced any time soon. Donald and Melania have one child together- Barron Trump. Donald Trump To Visit China Vegas Odds To Visit China? Vegas Odds Yes +2000 Throughout his presidency, Donald Trump constantly hit back at the relationship between the US and China. He instantly believed that China was taking advantage of the States, before later launching attacks on Communist Party leader Xi Jinping. Trump later praised China for their response to its handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, before launching a campaign of criticism at the start of 2020. Given his ill-feeling toward China by Trump, it looks unlikely that he will be visiting the Asian country anytime soon. Donald Trump To Visit Russia Vegas Odds To Visit Russia? Vegas Odds Yes +2000 When Trump was elected as president, many feared that the relationship between Russia and the US could soar. However, throughout his presidency, Trump and Vladimir Putin’s relationship was a relatively good one. He constantly praised Putin and rarely criticized the Russian president. However, in an interview with Piers Morgan, Trump laid into Putin for his handling of the invasion of Ukraine. However, a visit to Russia could be on the cards, as the former US president announced that he would be happy to help in negotiations with the Russian President. Read More Here

Arkansas Court Of Appeals https://digitalarkansasnews.com/arkansas-court-of-appeals/ The Arkansas Court of Appeals released opinions Wednesday. The court’s ruling and the names of the cases are reprinted here. The full opinions and other court proceedings, including per curiam decisions, orders and submissions, can be found on the Internet at arcourts.gov. PROCEEDINGS OF Sept. 28, 2022 CHIEF JUDGE BRANDON J. HARRISON CV-21-229. James S. Branscum and Colette R. Branscum v. John Nelson and Whitney Butts, from Perry County Circuit Court. Reversed on direct appeal and remanded with instructions; affirmed on cross-appeal. Whiteaker and Murphy, JJ., agree. CV-22-92. Jodi Bobbitt v. Arkansas Department of Human Services and Minor Children, from Logan County Circuit Court, Southern District. Affirmed. Whiteaker and Murphy, JJ., agree. CV-22-163. Sheila King v. Arkansas Department of Human Services and Minor Children, from Sebastian County Circuit Court, Fort Smith District. Affirmed. Abramson and Hixson, JJ., agree. JUDGE RITA W. GRUBER CV-19-764. Ronald E. Dana and Linda D. Dana v. Diamante Members Club, Inc; and Diamante, a Private Membership Golf Club, LLC, from Saline County Circuit Court. Affirmed. Gladwin and Barrett, JJ., agree. CV-19-767. Phillip Woodward and Katherine Woodward v. Diamante Members Club, Inc.; and Diamante, a Private Membership Golf Club, LLC, from Saline County Circuit Court. Affirmed. Gladwin and Barrett, JJ., agree. CV-19-769. Mark Dana and Diana Dana v. Diamante Members Club, Inc.; and Diamante, a Private Membership Golf Club, LLC, from Saline County Circuit Court. Affirmed. Gladwin and Barrett, JJ., agree. CV-22-167. Shavonna Ford v. Arkansas Department of Human Services and Minor Children, from Van Buren County Circuit Court. Affirmed. Gladwin and Barrett, JJ., agree. JUDGE RAYMOND R. ABRAMSON CR-21-439. Charles Stepp v. State of Arkansas, from Faulkner County Circuit Court. Affirmed. Harrison, C.J., and Hixson, J., agree. CV-20-305. Stroud Production, LLC v. J-Lu Ltd. Co.; J-Roc Ltd. Co.; Ploutos, LLC; Sagely Investments, LLC; Kevin Schmidt; and Monica Schmidt, from Miller County Circuit Court. Rebriefing ordered. Harrison, C.J., agrees. Hixson, J., concurs without opinion. JUDGE ROBERT J. GLADWIN CR-22-66. Shawn Harness v. State of Arkansas, from Boone County Circuit Court. Affirmed. Gruber and Barrett, JJ., agree. CV-19-765. Al Faigin and N.G. Faigin v. Diamante Members Club, Inc.; and Diamante, a Private Membership Golf Club, LLC, from Saline County Circuit Court. Affirmed. Gruber and Barrett, JJ., agree. CV-19-766. John Brunner and Carolyn Brunner v. Diamante Members Club, Inc.; and Diamante, a Private Membership Golf Club, LLC, from Saline County Circuit Court. Affirmed. Gruber and Barrett, JJ., agree. JUDGE BART F. VIRDEN CR-21-427. Robert Jeffries v. State of Arkansas, from Benton County Circuit Court. Affirmed; motion to withdraw granted. Klappenbach and Whiteaker, JJ., agree. JUDGE MARK KLAPPENBACH CV-21-51. Darrell James Brown, M.D. v. Crossett Health Foundation d/b/a Ashley County Medical Center, from Ashley County Circuit Court. Reversed and remanded. Virden and Whiteaker, JJ., agree. JUDGE KENNETH S. HIXSON CV-20-528. Paul Reesnes v. Bridget Reesnes, from White County Circuit Court. Affirmed in part and reversed in part and remanded on direct appeal and cross-appeal. Harrison, C.J., and Abramson, J., agree. JUDGE MIKE MURPHY CV-20-318. Farm Credit Services of America, FCA v. Simmons Bank; Walter Keith Lockley; Walter Keith Lockley, Jr; Walter Lockley Partnership; Lockley & Sons, Inc.; Walter Lockley & Sons; G.L. Morris Farms Limited Partnership; Wilson Family Limited Partnership; Deere & Company; Helena Agri-Enterprises, LLC, f/k/a Helena Chemical Company; Greenway Equipment, Inc.; John Doe Defendants Nos. 1–10; and Jane Doe Defendants Nos. 1–10, from Cross County Circuit Court. Dismissed without prejudice. Vaught and Brown, JJ., agree. JUDGE WAYMOND M. BROWN CV-20-317. Helena Agri-Enterprises, LLC, f/k/a Helena Chemical Company v. Simmons Bank; Walter Keith Lockley; Walter Keith Lockley, Jr; Walter Lockley Partnership; Lockley & Sons, Inc.; Walter Lockley & Sons; G.L. Morris Farms Limited Partnership; Wilson Family Limited Partnership; Deere & Company; Farm Credit Services of America, FCA; Greenway Equipment, Inc.; John Doe Defendants Nos. 1–10; and Jane Doe Defendants Nos. 1–10, from Cross County Circuit Court. Dismissed without prejudice. Vaught and Murphy, JJ., agree. JUDGE LARRY D. VAUGHT CV-22-119. Brandy Huggins v. Arkansas Department of Human Services and Minor Children, from Pulaski County Circuit Court, Eighth Division. Affirmed. Murphy and Brown, JJ., agree. JUDGE STEPHANIE POTTER BARRETT CR-21-486. Gary Chambers v. State of Arkansas, from Clark County Circuit Court. Affirmed. Gladwin and Gruber, JJ., agree. CV-19-768. Jerry Ann Winters v. Diamante Members Club, Inc.; and Diamante, a Private Membership Golf Club, LLC, from Saline County Circuit Court. Affirmed. Gladwin and Gruber, JJ., agree. CV-19-770. George Hunter and Joan Hunter v. Diamante Members Club, Inc.; and Diamante, a Private Membership Golf Club, LLC, from Saline County Circuit Court. Affirmed. Gladwin and Gruber, JJ., agree. Read More Here

West Virginia Democrats To Host Annual Roosevelt-Kennedy Celebration https://digitalarkansasnews.com/west-virginia-democrats-to-host-annual-roosevelt-kennedy-celebration/ CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The West Virginia Democratic Party will host its annual Roosevelt-Kennedy Celebration on Friday night as party leaders look to energize members ahead of the November election. Friday’s event at the Charleston Marriott Town Center will feature remarks from Democratic leaders and performances from West Virginia artists Sierra Ferrell, John Ellison and the Carpenter Ants. “This is going to be very different from the dinners we’ve had in the past,” State Party Chairman Mike Pushkin told MetroNews affiliate WCHS-AM. “I want it to be fun, and this is going to be a fun event. We’re going to celebrate the Democratic Party, and then have a night of fun. Then, we have a very short period of time to get busy and win some elections.” Kansas Democratic Party Chair Vicki Hiatt will serve as the dinner’s keynote speaker. Her appearance comes after Kansans rejected a ballot measure in August that would have removed abortion rights language from the state’s constitution. Democrats control half of the state’s statewide elected seats — including the seats of governor (Laura Kelly) and lieutenant governor (David Toland) — but have minority power in the state Legislature. “This is a freedom that women and those who can get pregnant have had for nearly five decades now,” Hiatt said about the measure’s defeat during Wednesday’s “MetroNews Talkline.” “Risking that being taken away was something we and many, many, many people here in Kansas felt really passionate about fighting to protect.” There will be a gathering of Democrats in Charleston for the annual Roosevelt Kennedy Dinner on September 30th. @VickiHiatt, Kansas Democratic Party Chair, will be the keynote speaker. What will she discuss? She joins @HoppyKercheval. WATCH: https://t.co/yCFQ3nDJuy pic.twitter.com/rkcq2koLpt — MetroNews (@WVMetroNews) September 28, 2022 Hiatt said Democrats need to embrace abortion rights issues and expand the electorate; she noted an increase in young voters and young voter turnout in the August election. “I think that one of the things that Democrats need to look at is understanding that young voters will probably support Democrats more strongly on a lot of the issues, and we need to help them understand how important their vote is and help them get to the polls,” she said. “We’ve just made a lot of gains in getting our young people active. We’ve got a great Kansas Young Democrat Caucus going and Democrats organizing in high schools and on the college campuses. I think just having those conversations and the direct voter interaction is most important, and that can happen anywhere.” U.S. Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md., will deliver a video message. Raskin served as the lead impeachment manager during the second impeachment proceedings against former President Donald Trump. He also sits on the House committee investigating the Jan. 6, 2021 attack at the U.S. Capitol. Read More Here

Trump's High-Profile Deposition Could Be Delayed Because He's Holed Up At Mar-A-Lago As Hurricane Ian Batters Florida https://digitalarkansasnews.com/trumps-high-profile-deposition-could-be-delayed-because-hes-holed-up-at-mar-a-lago-as-hurricane-ian-batters-florida/ Donald Trump could have a high-profile deposition in a class-action lawsuit delayed. This is because Trump is waiting out Hurricane Ian at his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida. The lawsuit accuses Trump of promoting a scam multi-level marketing scheme. Loading Something is loading. Former President Donald Trump’s deposition in a class-action lawsuit, set for Friday, could be delayed as he and his legal team are holed up at Mar-a-Lago as Hurricane Ian continues to batter Florida. Court filings on Wednesday revealed a terse exchange between Trump’s counsel and lawyers representing the plaintiffs in the suit, which accuses Trump of using the reality TV show “The Celebrity Apprentice” to promote a multi-level marketing scam. In a letter to Judge Sarah Cave, one of the plaintiffs’ lawyers, John Quinn, said he was informed that Trump’s team would not move the deposition to Bedminster, New Jersey, despite the storm. Quinn wrote that Trump’s lawyer, Clifford Robert, had called him on Tuesday to tell him that the Trump team was boarding a flight to Palm Beach. “I expressed some surprise — I believe I used the word ‘walloped’ — but Mr. Robert indicated they were flying down anyway,” Quinn wrote in his letter. He added that he could not reach Robert and his colleague by phone or email on Wednesday afternoon. “Accordingly, the last we heard is that Defendants insist the deposition go forward at Mar-a-Lago and on Friday. With all respect, we do not believe that is prudent or safe,” Quinn wrote, appending a map of Hurricane Ian’s predicted trajectory across Florida. Trump’s legal team fired back a response to Quinn and his team on Wednesday, accusing them of making “disingenuous and misleading statements” and attempting to cancel the deposition. Trump’s team also asked that the deposition be conducted remotely to meet the court’s deadline for discovery. “Now that we have all traveled to West Palm Beach, and are currently sitting in the middle of a hurricane while Plaintiffs’ counsel enjoys the comforts of home, Plaintiffs have the gall to request that the deposition for which Defendants spent considerable time and resources preparing be canceled less than 48 hours prior to its scheduled date and time,” Robert wrote. He also claimed that the plaintiffs were attempting to create the false impression that Trump and his team were being “unreasonable,” adding that the plaintiffs would have accused Trump of refusing to appear if the defendants had looked to cancel the deposition. “President Trump stands ready, willing, and able to proceed with his deposition on Friday,” Robert wrote. On Wednesday, Cave granted an extension for the deposition and said in her decision that she did so “out of concern for the safety of the parties, court reporter, videographer, and any other required attendees” at the deposition. The new deadline for Trump to sit for his deposition is October 31. It’s unclear if Trump’s legal team will shift the deposition’s location to Bedminster or if they will ask to hold it at a later date. Robert and a representative at Trump’s post-presidential press office did not immediately respond to Insider’s requests for comment. Earlier this week, Michael Cohen commented that Trump would likely use tactics from his “playbook” to deal with his mounting legal troubles. “This playbook is delay, delay, delay,” said Cohen, who was once Trump’s lawyer and fixer. In October 2020, Insider’s Yelena Dzhanova reported that four plaintiffs were suing Trump, stating that they lost thousands of dollars in a multi-level marketing scheme promoted on “The Celebrity Apprentice,” in which Trump starred from 2008 to 2015. Trump raked in $8.8 million from a multi-level marketing company, ACN, between 2005 and 2015. Per The New York Times analysis of his taxes, the amount was a lifeline that saved Trump from certain financial ruin. ACN and Trump have denied wrongdoing and said the lawsuit has been politically motivated. Read More Here

Australia News LIVE: PM Calls On Optus To Pay For Fresh Customer Passports; Labor Says Federal Budget Set To Face $32b Deficit https://digitalarkansasnews.com/australia-news-live-pm-calls-on-optus-to-pay-for-fresh-customer-passports-labor-says-federal-budget-set-to-face-32b-deficit/ Key posts 1 of 5 5.53pm Gas giants, government strike domestic supply deal to avert looming gas crunch By Mike Foley Major gas producers have promised to offer all available supply to Australian buyers before shipping it overseas in a deal with the federal government to prevent a predicted LNG shortfall on the east coast next year. But Australia’s gas buyers are disappointed the agreement fails to address the soaring gas price, warning high energy costs are pushing some manufacturers to breaking point. The Albanese government has claimed a win under a deal with LNG exporters to supply the domestic market.Credit:AP The competition watchdog last month forecast a shortage of 56 petajoules in 2023 – about 10 per cent of domestic demand – escalating concerns over rising costs for gas-reliant manufacturers, and prompting Resources Minister Madeleine King to threaten unprecedented export controls if the industry failed to boost domestic supply. Loading Queensland producers Origin Energy-backed APLNG, Shell’s QCLNG joint venture and Santos’ GLNG committed on Thursday to offer 157 petajoules to the domestic market before overseas clients over the next 12 months. King, who renewed warnings exporters would face penalties in recent days, hailed the deal as a win, saying it included several measures that would “put downward pressure on prices” for local gas buyers. The agreement requires producers to provide more information to the market on the amount of gas produced and volumes available at any given time. LNG companies have also committed to offering gas contracts to local buyers at no more than the cost of the export spot market less the price of processing and shipping, known as the netback price. Read more here. 5.45pm Half a trillion in wealth wiped from Australian households in three months By Shane Wright High interest rates and financial turmoil have wiped $500 billion in wealth from Australian households, with warnings from Treasurer Jim Chalmers the global economy has become a “pretty dangerous place” that will pull some of Australia’s key trading partners into recession. As official data showed inflation at a 30-year high, Chalmers said it would be “foolish” to believe Australia and the federal budget could be spared from the fallout of the troubling economic conditions emerging around the world. The slowing property market and tumbling share market have delivered the biggest three month hit to Australians’ wealth on record.Credit:Flavio Brancaleone/The Sydney Morning Herald The Reserve Bank board meets next week, with markets and economists expecting it to lift interest rates for a record sixth consecutive month. Markets are tipping another half percentage increase in rates on their way to a peak of 4.2 per cent by the middle of next year. Loading Figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics show the early impact of the interest rate rises in the three months to June, with total household net worth falling by $484.1 billion or by more than $5 billion a day. It was the largest fall on record, although net worth still stands at $14.4 trillion. The bureau said the drop was driven by weakness in the housing market and the superannuation sector. The value of land and buildings dropped by almost $150 billion in the quarter while superannuation shed $294 billion in value. The biggest hit to property was in NSW and Victoria. Read more here. 5.30pm ‘No flooding’: Qld premier’s promise over ‘battery of the north’ hydro project By Fraser Barton Queensland has guaranteed no national parks will be flooded as the government works with affected homeowners to push ahead with the world’s biggest pumped hydro scheme. Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk announced the Pioneer/Burdekin pumped hydro construction on Wednesday as part of the government’s $62 billion 10-year energy plan. With the potential to deliver up to 120 gigawatt hours, the project will be 21 times bigger than Wivenhoe hydro, currently the state’s largest. It is expected to enter the construction phase in 2025, with the completion of stage two scheduled for 2035. The Burdekin pumped hydro will be built primarily on cattle-grazing and sugar-cane land under a new public-owned entity, Queensland Hydro. The premier said no national parks will be flooded as part of the multibillion-dollar scheme. Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk on tour to promote the government’s $62-billion energy plan. “I want to give that reassurance to the people of this region,” she told reporters on Thursday. The government has allocated a $270 million down payment towards detailed planning of the project, with an expected total cost of $12 billion. Energy Minister Mick De Brenni said that about 20 per cent of landowners had been contacted since the announcement and about 50 homes would be affected by construction. He said about 1000 sites were assessed and the area west of Mackay stacks up the best. Read more here. 5.15pm ASX continues its rise following Wall St gains By Carla Jaeger Welcome to your five-minute recap of the trading day and how the experts are seeing it. The Australian sharemarket has added to its early morning gains, buoyed by a healthy session on Wall Street that saw US markets post their most significant gains this month. The ASX200 is up 1.86 per cent, or 117.9 points, to 6,579.9 points per cent at midday. All 11 sectors are in the green, with the energy sector leading the charge, up 3.63 per cent. Financial stocks are up 1.11 per cent, with all big four banks in positive territory. The S&P 500 has snapped a six-day rout.Credit:Bloomberg AGL stocks have rebounded after dropping at the start, up a modest 0.3 per cent after the company announced it would close the Loy Yang power plant a decade ahead of schedule. The brown coal plant generates about 30 per cent of Victoria’s power each year. In other news, financial software company Iress has shed 15.4 per cent after announcing a downgrade in its earning guidance due to increased supplier costs. Meanwhile, Australia’s job vacancies dropped slightly in August to one unemployed person per job vacancy. Despite the ease, job vacancies were still 107.4 per cent higher than they were in February 2020. The numbers indicate continued labour shortages and ongoing disruptions to operations. US stocks and Treasuries rallied on Wednesday on the back of the Bank of England’s decision to stage a market intervention. The move boosted UK bonds and tentatively calmed markets. On Wall Street, the S&P 500 snapped a six-day rout. It rose the most since early last month, and for the first time since the US Federal Reserve boosted rates and dialled up its hawkishness a week ago. The index jumped more than 2 per cent later in the session, bolstered by gains in Amazon.com shares after the company’s annual device event on Wednesday showed it pushing further into wellness, security and the auto industry. Read more here. 4.56pm Fourth leak reported on Nord Stream pipelines in Baltic Sea STOCKHOLM: A fourth leak on the Nord Stream pipelines has been reported off southern Sweden, a Swedish news agency reports. Sweden’s coast guards told news agency TT that they have a vessel on the site of the leak, off Sweden. All four detected leaks are in international waters, two near Sweden and two near Denmark. Leaks from natural gas pipelines running from Russia under the Baltic Sea to Germany may be the result of sabotage.Credit:AP The Nord Stream pipelines run through the Baltic to transport gas from Russia to Germany. Neither pipeline was operating, but both were filled with gas. The Danish and Swedish governments believe that the leaks off their countries were “deliberate actions.” Loading Before the leaks were reported, explosions were recorded. A first explosion was recorded by seismologists early Monday southeast of the Danish island of Bornholm. A second, stronger blast northeast of the island that night was equivalent to a magnitude-2.3 earthquake. Seismic stations in Denmark, Norway and Finland also registered the explosions. Some European officials and energy experts said Russia is likely to blame for any sabotage — it directly benefits from higher energy prices and economic anxiety across Europe — although others cautioned against pointing fingers until investigators can determine what happened. AP 4.46pm Welfare minister blasts pensioner ‘stunt’ By Dominic Giannini Aged pensioners have been dragged into an ugly political brawl over how much they can earn before impacting their payments. The partisan fight erupted after a late-night manoeuvre in the Senate, when a non-controversial government bill to make it easier for seniors to get cheaper access to everyday items was amended. The income threshold for seniors health cards will soon be increased to $90,000 for singles and $144,000 for couples. Minister for Social Services, Amanda Rishworth says the coalition is delaying relief for pensioners.Credit:Alex Ellinghausen But in a surprise move, the coalition and Greens joined forces to tack on an amendment to double the pension work bonus to $600 a fortnight, meaning older Australians could earn an extra $7800 a year. The amended legislation passed the Senate but appears unlikely to clear the lower house when parliament returns in late October. Loading That means older Australians will have to wait longer for cheaper medicines and trips to the doctor. Social Services Minister Amanda Rishworth confirmed the government would strip out the amendment about work bonuses. “The Liberal-National coalition attached an unrelated amendment to the legislation as a political stunt,” Rishworth told AAP...

More Than Just https://digitalarkansasnews.com/more-than-just/ To the Editor: In a recent televised interview regarding the top secret intelligence documents former President Donald Trump took home to Mar-a-Lago, Trump said: “If you’re the President of the United States, you can declassify just by saying it’s declassified, even by thinking about it.” I’ll bet many Americans right now are thinking about the former president in an orange jumpsuit. Herb Moyer Exeter, N.H. Home delivery and Digital Access customers of The Eagle-Tribune get deals for restaurants, hotels, attractions and other businesses, locally and across the country. Play sudoku, the daily jigsaw, word search and more. By Adriana Morga | Associated Press Stay up to date on COVID-19 Get Breaking News Sign up now to get our FREE breaking news coverage delivered right to your inbox. Read More Here

Pound Sterling Latest Levels Vs. Euro & Dollar After Bank Of England Intervention https://digitalarkansasnews.com/pound-sterling-latest-levels-vs-euro-dollar-after-bank-of-england-intervention/ Image © Adobe Stock The British Pound was rose against the Dollar and steadied against the Euro after the Bank of England spent a little of a billion pounds supporting long-term bond markets, however near-term volatility is expected to remain elevated. The move came amidst an ongoing disruption in UK markets in the wake of tax cuts announced by the UK government last Friday. A section of the UK pension industry were said to have been facing significant difficult following a surge in UK bond yields, with many said to be facing liquidation. The Bank’s intervention proved effective, prompting a rally in long-term bonds and a drop in yields. Falling UK long-term bond yields in turn prompted similar action on U.S. markets, lowering the value of the Dollar. Stability in bond markets have in turn steadied the Pound. Renowned economist and nobel laureate Paul Krugman says there is a need for calm amongst financial market participants. “There seems to be a lot of hyperventilating going on. No, it won’t cause a global crisis — for God’s sake, Britain is only 3.2% of world GDP. And while British markets are a mess, we’re a long way from 1976. Get a grip,” said Krugman. Coming days will be key in ascertaining whether overall sentiment towards the UK has improved. The Pound to Dollar exchange rate rose 1.43% on the day to close at 1.0883, it is at 1.08 at the time of writing. The Pound to Euro exchange rate was flat, despite significant intraday volatility, closing at 1.1181, it is at 1.1151 at thee time of writing. Near-term volatility is likely although the Bank of England’s actions will send a warning shot to investors looking to pile on bets against UK bonds and the Pound. After all, it is futile to fight a central bank in its own currency, says Kallum Pickering, Senior Economist at Berenberg Bank, underscoring the firepower in the hands of the Bank. “The Bank will carry out temporary purchases of long-dated UK government bonds from 28 September. The purpose of these purchases will be to restore orderly market conditions. The purchases will be carried out on whatever scale is necessary to effect this outcome,” said the Bank. The programme is open ended and without limit, suggesting a ‘whatever it takes’ attempt from the Bank. “Gilt yields may be volatile in coming days as the BoE wrestles with market forces to stem selling pressure. But the BoE is the ultimate backer of sterling-denominated paper. Betting against its ability to fix the market disorder – at least in the short term – is futile, in our view,” says Pickering. For the Pound, the outlook nevertheless remains challenging with trends heavily in favour of further decline. However, near-term the catalysts for another sharp move lower might be lacking. Marc Chandler, analyst at Bannockburn FX, explains the mini budget was not a surprise to markets: “Truss had been critical of Sunak’s tax increases. She had campaigned in part on reversing them. Most of the tax cuts including in the last week’s budget announcement were that.” He further explains the policy mix of fiscal stimulus and monetary tightening pursued by the UK is the same policy mix under Reagan-Volcker when Germany had when the Berlin Wall came down and unification was pursued. The U.S. also experienced that mix with Trump’s tax cuts and tighter Federal Reserve policy. “That policy mix is associated with an appreciating currency, even if not immediately. While some have been very critical of the UK efforts, and it is a gamble, but like a losing trade is an orphan and a winning trade has many parents, so too in politics,” says Chandler. “In a favourable turn of event, including lower energy prices and stronger growth, the gamble would pay off.” Read More Here

Column: E-Verify, Not Busing Stunts, Needed On Immigration https://digitalarkansasnews.com/column-e-verify-not-busing-stunts-needed-on-immigration/ Ken Burns’ new documentary explores the relationship between “The U.S. and the Holocaust” in a 9-part series that hits close to home. Street thugs, false claims of victimhood by a group persecuting others, the turn away from democracy, the use of media to perpetuate lies, and the slow and methodical scheme to turn a people into pariahs, mirrors much of what is happening today with the Trumpist Republican party. The day after the first installment of the documentary was aired, former President Trump carried his “big lie” to Ohio, in a 103-minute diatribe which has been described as insane ranting. His conspiracy-ridden poison induced the crowd to join in a Qanon salute reminiscent of the Nazi salute. Read More Here

Hurricane Ian Slams Southwest Florida With “catastrophic” Storm Surge https://digitalarkansasnews.com/hurricane-ian-slams-southwest-florida-with-catastrophic-storm-surge/ Hurricane Ian was flooding some areas of Florida’s west coast with storm surges as high as 18 feet above ground level as it moved across the peninsula after making landfall Wednesday afternoon, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) said. Why it matters: Surge numbers that high — 12 to 18 ft — would be unprecedented for the region and some of the highest on record in the U.S. “Ian battering the Florida peninsula with catastrophic storm surge, winds, and flooding,” the NHC said in a 5pm ET update. Although the hurricane weakened after making landfall near Pirate Harbor in the afternoon, becoming a Category 1 storm by 11pm, storm surge and flooding threats remained on Thursday — as power outages hit more than 2 million customers in the state. What they’re saying: Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) warned at a briefing Wednesday evening there would be damage throughout the entire state. “Overwhelmingly it’s been that surge that’s been the biggest issue and the flooding … as a result,” he said. “In some areas, we think it’s hit 12 feet.” The big picture: Storm surge was battering Florida’s west coast throughout Wednesday, and 8 to 12 ft was expected between Bonita Beach and the small island of Chokoloskee in southern Florida, and 6 to 10 ft from Englewood to Longboat Key. The storm surge was occurring along with high winds, heavy rainfall and considerable flooding. Zoom in: Ian caused over 9 ft of surge in Naples, Collier County, by 1pm ET Wednesday — a new record for the city, according to a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration monitoring station. The Collier County Sheriff’s Office said officers were “getting a significant number of calls of people trapped by water in their homes,” and the Naples fire station was inundated with about three feet of floodwater. In Fort Myers, the city saw a peak 7.26 ft of surge — a record high, per NOAA. Homes in Fort Myers Beach were damaged or destroyed from the surge, while boats were seen floating through streets in Fort Myers. Meanwhile, the Caloosahatchee River, which flows into the San Carlos Bay and the Gulf of Mexico, was experiencing 7.2 ft of “moderate flooding” as of around 6:10pm ET, according to a National Weather Service gauge in Fort Myers. Surge-related flooding was reported on the island of Sanibel and seen on public cameras broadcasting footage of the storm. A National Ocean Service station near Ft. Myers reported a water level greater than 7 ft, per a 7pm EST NHC update. Threat level: The NHC considers storm surge, or an abnormal rise of water generated by a storm, to be the most deadly and destructive aspect of hurricanes. The surge is the result of water being thrust toward the shoreline by the winds moving cyclonically around the storm and can cause “extreme” flooding in coastal areas, especially when it coincides with high tides. Photo: National Weather Service Miami/Twitter Go deeper: Universal Studios, Disney, stores, schools and more closing for Hurricane Ian Axios’ Andrew Freedman contributed to this story. Editor’s note: This story has been updated with additional details. Read More Here

In Minnesota, Abortion Keys Keith Ellison's 2nd Term Hopes – KTVZ https://digitalarkansasnews.com/in-minnesota-abortion-keys-keith-ellisons-2nd-term-hopes-ktvz/ By STEVE KARNOWSKI Associated Press MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Keith Ellison gave up a safe seat in Congress to run for Minnesota attorney general, saying it was his best chance to push back against the policies of Donald Trump. Now locked in a tough reelection fight, he’s arguing that he’s been far less of a partisan warrior than his critics claim. Ellison squeaked into office in 2018, taking a post that Democrats had traditionally won easily. But he was a polarizing figure in the eyes of some voters. The outspoken progressive came from the Bernie Sanders wing of the Democratic Party, and Republicans tried to draw attention to his past associations with Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan, though Ellison had publicly renounced Farrakhan when he first ran for the U.S. House in 2006. His bid for a second term as attorney general comes after four tumultuous years that put Minnesota in the world spotlight over the police killings of George Floyd and other Black men. His Republican opponent, hedge fund lawyer Jim Schultz, says Ellison deserves much of the blame for the surge in violent crime that followed. To fight back, Ellison has used this summer’s U.S. Supreme Court decision rolling back abortion rights to rally Democrats and suburban swing voters. He’s also urged those voters to look at his work on more everyday issues such as affordable health care and prescription drugs, consumer and business fraud protections and protections for workers against wage theft — all things that belie his image, he said. “They think I’m going to be a firebrand and I end up being a fairly pragmatic guy,” Ellison said in an interview. “That’s true of my entire service.” Ellison was already leading a major initiative for greater police accountability when Floyd died under the knee of former Minneapolis Officer Derek Chauvin in 2020. Ellison went on to lead the prosecution team that got Chauvin convicted of murder the next year, a verdict that potentially averted another eruption of violence. Ellison also took a step that his Republican critics are now trying to use against him. He strongly backed a charter amendment in Minneapolis that arose from the “defund the police” movement. It would have replaced the city’s police department with a loosely defined department of public safety, with details to be worked out later. Voters rejected it. On the campaign trail, Schultz depicts Ellison as being “at the forefront of the defund-the-police movement” and blames that movement for the departures of hundreds of dispirited police officers in Minneapolis and elsewhere. And he blames those losses for the spike in gun violence, carjackings and other crimes since the pandemic. “Far left, extreme politicians like Keith Ellison have gotten behind really reckless policies like defunding the police,” Schultz said in an interview. “It’s deeply wrong. It’s immoral.” Violent crime has been rising across Minnesota since the pandemic began, with Minneapolis accounting for much of the increase, while its police force has fallen about 300 officers short of its authorized strength. Minnesota saw a 21.6% statewide increase in violent crime in 2021 from 2020, with violent crime in greater Minnesota rising by 16% and by 23.9% in the Minneapolis-St. Paul metro area. Ellison said he doesn’t regret supporting the charter amendment, but he said he never supported “defunding the police” and said it didn’t accurately describe the amendment. He also dismissed Schultz’s claim that he’s hostile to police, saying he regards policing as a noble profession and that Chauvin did more to invite scorn and demoralize officers than anything he ever did. “I’m the one who prosecuted him for killing George Floyd,” Ellison said. “So I’m the one trying to restore the honor and dignity of policing.” Ellison also led the prosecution of former Brooklyn Center Officer Kim Potter, who said she confused her gun for her Taser when she killed Daunte Wright during a traffic stop last year. She was convicted of manslaughter in December. Schultz has said he would support commuting her two-year sentence. Crime isn’t the only issue that has Schultz, a 36-year-old political newcomer, hopeful of being the first Republican to occupy the attorney general’s office since 1971. He also accuses Ellison of “unbelievable incompetence” for failing to stop a massive fraud scheme in its early stages, with 49 people charged so far with stealing at least $250 million from federal programs administered by the state to provide low-income children with nutritious meals during the pandemic. Ellison has countered that his office helped uncover the fraud. If Ellison is to survive both that attack and the policing criticism to win a second term, abortion rights is likely to be the issue that does it. Schultz vowed this spring to do everything in his power as attorney general to aggressively defend the unborn. After Roe’s reversal, he joined many other Republicans trying to pivot away from abortion and back to crime in a state where abortion rights are protected under the state constitution. Meanwhile, Ellison brought New York Attorney General Letitia James to Minnesota in early September to raise money from abortion rights supporters in the legal community. Soon after, he visited an abortion clinic in Moorhead that moved across the border from Fargo, North Dakota, to escape a trigger ban on abortion. Ellison vowed early on that his office won’t cooperate if other states seek to prosecute women who come to Minnesota for abortions. Ellison said the election is about more than abortion rights or crime. Trump’s rhetoric, the Jan. 6 insurrection, the Supreme Court’s abortion decision and the rise of “MAGA Republicans” have put democracy in doubt, he said. “Here’s what we can’t do,” Ellison said. “We can’t tell people we got this. Quite frankly, I’m glad people see my race as close because it means they’re going to show up.” Read More Here

Estimates Show $984M In AR Marijuana Sales By 2027, Says TBP https://digitalarkansasnews.com/estimates-show-984m-in-ar-marijuana-sales-by-2027-says-tbp/ JONESBORO, Ark. (KAIT) – Modeling shows that Arkansas marijuana sales could reach $984 million in sales by 2027, with a tax gain of more than $260 million. Content partner Talk Business & Politics said that according to modeling from the Arkansas Economic Development Institute, voter approval in November of recreational marijuana could add $2.4 billion to the state’s economy over five full years of implementation and add up to 6,400 jobs by 2027. In November, Arkansas citizens will vote on amending the existing law for medical marijuana to allow anyone 21 years and older to purchase cannabis from licensed dispensaries. Responsible Growth Arkansas commissioned the AEDI, housed at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, to conduct an economic modeling forecast. This modeling shows legal marijuana sales in Arkansas over five years. The modeling was adjusted based on the state’s medical marijuana industry, real demand and sales data from states that have moved from medical use to adult use, and more. “The impacts implied by the full model are substantial. Looking at the measurable impacts, we see that total employment is predicted to increase by nearly 5,000 jobs in 2023, reaching as high as 6,400 by 2027,” said the report posted Sept. 28. “The contribution to GDP is estimated to rise from $370 million to nearly $543 million over the five-year period, with a cumulative total impact of nearly $2.4 billion.” TBP listed the following key points: The combined sales of medical and adult-use marijuana will more than double in the first year after adult-use implementation, with total sales increasing from approximately $665.6 million in 2023 to $984 million by 2027. There is an estimated increase in state GDP of $2.36 billion over the five-year study period. Increases in employment range from 4,900 jobs in 2023 to 6,400 jobs in 2027. Excluding economic activity “diverted from illicit markets” the GDP growth is revised down to $1.89 billion over the five years, with job growth of 5,200 by 2027. State sales tax receipts are estimated at $163.1 million, plus an additional $303.6 million from the proposed 10% supplemental sales tax on adult-use cannabis, representing an increase of $286.5 million in state sales tax revenue relative to the medical-only baseline scenario. Personal income tax collections would increase by $30.8 million relative to the baseline. County and municipal tax collections could total $92.6 million, representing an increase of $50.3 million over the baseline. Of the $303.6 million in state revenue generated by the supplemental sales tax, earmarked transfers over the five-year period include: The provision of $45.5 million for annual stipends to law enforcement officers; Funding for UAMS totaling $30.4 million; and Support for drug courts of $15.2 million. The report also estimates $162 million in new construction spending, with $32 million for 80 new retail stores Copyright 2022 KAIT. All rights reserved. Read More Here

Man Arrested After Threatening To 'burn Down' Fayetteville Church https://digitalarkansasnews.com/man-arrested-after-threatening-to-burn-down-fayetteville-church/ Man arrested after threatening to ‘burn down’ Fayetteville church Police say the suspect set a fire in the parking lot of St. James Missionary Baptist Church A man is in jail after threatening to burn down St. James Missionary Baptist Church in Fayetteville on Monday, according to a police report. Police said that Dillon McDonald is being charged with terroristic threatening, public intox and criminal trespassing.In the police report, a witness said that McDonald was on the roof of the church and they found that a small fire had been lit around the parking lot. Officers on the scene said that McDonald came down from the roof of a building and that he was talking very rapidly and smelled like alcohol. According to the arrest report, the witness told officers McDonald told her he would burn “this sucker down.” The church said McDonald threatened to burn down the church because it was a predominately black church, according to a Facebook post from Pastor Curtiss Smith.In the post, the pastor said the church has armed security during their Wednesday night Bible Studies and Sunday morning worship. And they’ve requested additional patrolling during the day.”This is personal for me, and I want to reassure you that our church is and will always be a haven for all that enter our doors,” Smith wrote. McDonald is being held in the Washington County Jail on $10,000 bond. FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — A man is in jail after threatening to burn down St. James Missionary Baptist Church in Fayetteville on Monday, according to a police report. Police said that Dillon McDonald is being charged with terroristic threatening, public intox and criminal trespassing. 4029 News Dillon McDonald is facing several charges including terroristic threatening. In the police report, a witness said that McDonald was on the roof of the church and they found that a small fire had been lit around the parking lot. Officers on the scene said that McDonald came down from the roof of a building and that he was talking very rapidly and smelled like alcohol. According to the arrest report, the witness told officers McDonald told her he would burn “this sucker down.” The church said McDonald threatened to burn down the church because it was a predominately black church, according to a Facebook post from Pastor Curtiss Smith. We take these threats seriously. In the post, the pastor said the church has armed security during their Wednesday night Bible Studies and Sunday morning worship. And they’ve requested additional patrolling during the day. “This is personal for me, and I want to reassure you that our church is and will always be a haven for all that enter our doors,” Smith wrote. McDonald is being held in the Washington County Jail on $10,000 bond. Read More Here

MacKenzie Scott, Jeff Bezos' Ex, Seeks Divorce From Teacher Husband https://digitalarkansasnews.com/mackenzie-scott-jeff-bezos-ex-seeks-divorce-from-teacher-husband/ MacKenzie Scott is one of the world’s richest and most influential philanthropists MacKenzie Scott, one of the world’s richest and most influential philanthropists, filed for divorce from Dan Jewett, a science teacher she married following her 2019 split from Amazon.com Inc. founder Jeff Bezos. “We ask the court to dissolve our marriage,” Scott said in a petition filed at King County Superior Court in Washington State on Monday. The document shows the couple have a contract spelling out how to divide real estate and other personal property. “Spousal support is not needed,” it adds. A line on the petition where filers can specify whether they have a prenuptial agreement notes only the existence of a separation contract. Scott, who’s worth $28.9 billion, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, announced her marriage to Jewett last year via her page for the Giving Pledge, a promise the ultra-rich make that they’ll give away the majority of their money in their lifetimes or their wills. Jewett wrote a letter of his own and the two were pictured together at the top of the page. Now, only Scott’s headshot and letter remain. Jewett was also named in a blog post by Scott, 52, on the website Medium, where she has announced large gifts in the past. Those references have also been deleted. “Me, Dan, a constellation of researchers and administrators and advisers – we are all attempting to give away a fortune that was enabled by systems in need of change,” Scott wrote in a June post. Now, it reads, “We are attempting to give away a fortune that was enabled by systems in need of change.” Requests for comment to a Scott representative and Jewett weren’t immediately returned. The New York Times reported the divorce filing earlier. Scott took control of a $36 billion fortune after her divorce from Bezos, when she was left with a 4% stake in Amazon. She’s since given her money away at an unprecedented pace, sending out more than $12 billion since she signed the pledge in 2019. It’s unclear how big of a role Jewett played in the philanthropy of Scott, who has a team of experts and consultants scouting a wide array of nonprofits across the country. Typically, Scott announces her giving in blog posts, the last of which was in March. Earlier this year, Scott said her team is working on building a website that will include a searchable database of her grants. Read More Here

DHS Approves Jones Act Waiver To Increase Fuel Supply To Puerto Rico After Storm https://digitalarkansasnews.com/dhs-approves-jones-act-waiver-to-increase-fuel-supply-to-puerto-rico-after-storm/ The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) on Wednesday approved a “temporary and targeted” waiver of the Jones Act to ease fuel supply constraints in the wake of concerns over a diesel shortage in Puerto Rico after Hurricane Fiona. “In response to urgent and immediate needs of the Puerto Rican people in the aftermath of Hurricane Fiona, I have approved a temporary and targeted Jones Act waiver to ensure that the people of Puerto Rico have sufficient diesel to run generators needed for electricity and the functioning critical facilities as they recover from Hurricane Fiona,” DHS secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said in a statement. “The decision to approve the waiver was made in consultation with the Departments of Transportation, Energy, and Defense to assess the justification for the waiver request and based on input from the Governor of Puerto Rico and others on the ground supporting recovery efforts,” said Mayorkas. The Jones Act, or the Merchant Marine Act of 1920, is a federal law that requires ships carrying goods between U.S. ports to be owned by American companies, built and registered in the United States, and crewed by Americans. The DHS may only grant a waiver to the 102-year law if “proposed shipments are in the interest of national defense and after careful evaluation of the issue,” the department said. In a letter to President Joe Biden on Sept. 27 to waive the federal law, Gov. Pedro Pierluisi warned that a shortage of fuel, particularly diesel, would affect essential services and impact public health, security, and government functions in the U.S. territory. Pedro Pierluisi holds a press conference after being sworn in as Governor of Puerto Rico in San Juan, Puerto Rico, on Aug. 2, 2019. (Eric Rojas/AFP via Getty Images) “Puerto Rico has begun purchasing and distributing diesel to critical facilities including public hospitals, water pumping stations, wastewater treatment plants, and emergency management centers, among others,” the governor wrote. “At the same time, private citizens, businesses, and industries are consuming a significant amount of diesel to generate power, as the public electric grid continues to be repaired.” Tanker With 300,000 Barrels of Diesel Pierluisi’s letter comes after pressure for a Jones Act waiver was building after news circulated that a U.K. tanker with 300,000 barrels of diesel was sitting off Puerto Rico’s southern coast, awaiting entry. The oil company, BP, said in a statement that it originally submitted a Jones Act waiver request to American officials on Sept. 20 to allow for a ship “to be diverted from its original destination into Puerto Rico to assist with hurricane relief efforts,” The Wall Street Journal reported. “We are grateful to the Biden administration for taking this action and will deliver the barrels into Puerto Rico as quickly and safely as possible,” a spokesman for the private supplier said on Wednesday. The category 1 storm with winds of 85 mph caused considerable damage in Puerto Rico as it rolled in on Sept. 18, causing an island-wide power outage for its 3.3 million people and wiping out staple crops like plantains. On Sept. 29, there were still nearly 300,000 customers without power out of 1.468 million total customers, according to PowerOutage.us. Puerto Rican officials, including some federal officials, have long called for a permanent repeal of the Jones Act, arguing that they need whatever help they can get, while also noting that the law has driven up prices and crippled the U.S. territory’s economy. When Hurricane Maria hit Puerto Rico in 2017, the Trump administration approved a temporary 10-day waiver of the Jones Act, which covered all products being shipped to Puerto Rico. An extension of that waiver was deemed unnecessary. From NTD News Follow Read More Here

Trump Threatened Congress With Legal Action Over Impeachment, Book Reveals https://digitalarkansasnews.com/trump-threatened-congress-with-legal-action-over-impeachment-book-reveals/ Former President Donald Trump wasn’t happy when the House of Representatives adopted two articles of impeachment against him, and he threatened legal action in response, according to an upcoming book by New York Times journalist Maggie Haberman. Haberman’s book “Confidence Man: The Making of Donald Trump and the Breaking of America” comes out next week, but media outlets have shared excerpts detailing Trump’s time in the Oval Office. Trump’s alleged call for legal action came after the House adopted articles of impeachment against him in 2019, CNN reported, after a formal House inquiry revealed he had pressured Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to investigate the son of Democratic presidential rival Joe Biden. “I’ll just sue Congress. They can’t do this to me,” Trump said, according to excerpts from Haberman’s book. Former President Donald Trump, shown here at a Sept. 3 rally in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, threatened legal action against the U.S. House, according to a soon-to-be-published book by New York Times reporter Maggie Haberman. Mary Altaffer/Associated Press Other revelations from the book have surfaced this week, including Trump’s reported racist assumption that a group of congressional staff members were waiters and his request for them to grab food, according to Rolling Stone. The book also details comments by Trump during preparation for a debate in which former Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus ― while pretending to be a transgender student ― asked the then-candidate if she could use the girls’ bathroom, CNN reported. “I have a question, cocked or decocked?” Trump reportedly asked before receiving “blank stares” and making a “chopping gesture.” “With cock or without cock?” he continued. The gesture and comments reportedly occurred as Trump geared up for a debate against Democratic rival Hillary Clinton, according to CNN. Read More Here