Digital Arkansas News

PTN Faceoff: Which Trophy Game Will Arkansas Win This Year? https://digitalarkansasnews.com/ptn-faceoff-which-trophy-game-will-arkansas-win-this-year/ by: Courtney Mims Posted: Oct 15, 2022 / 11:19 AM CDT Updated: Oct 15, 2022 / 11:19 AM CDT by: Courtney Mims Posted: Oct 15, 2022 / 11:19 AM CDT Updated: Oct 15, 2022 / 11:19 AM CDT FAYETTEVILLE, Ar. (KNWA/KFTA) – For this week’s PTN Faceoff, Arkansas beat writer for the Southwest Times Record Christina Long and The Hawg Talk podcast host Porter Hayes discuss which trophy game the Razorbacks can win this year. Arkansas has two trophy games left this year, the Battle for the Golden Boot with LSU and the Battle Line Rivalry with Missouri. To vote on who you think won the faceoff, click here. You can also head to this link to vote: https://forms.gle/Ykk2sgE7b8bxdnuQ7. Pig Trail Video HOGSCHEDULE SECSTANDINGS Trending Stories Read More Here

AP News Summary At 11:45 A.m. EDT https://digitalarkansasnews.com/ap-news-summary-at-1145-a-m-edt/ Justice Dept. seeks end to arbiter’s review of Trump docs WASHINGTON (AP) — The Justice Department has asked a federal appeals court to overturn a judge’s appointment of an independent arbiter to review documents seized during an FBI search of former President Donald Trump’s Florida estate. The appeal is the latest salvo in weeks of litigation over the scope of duties of the arbiter, also known as a special master. He was assigned last month by a judge to inspect the thousands of records taken in the Aug. 8 search of Mar-a-Lago and weed out from the investigation any that may be protected by claims of legal privilege. Ukraine: Russia hits power site by Kyiv, defends seized land KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — A missile strike has seriously damaged a key energy facility near Ukraine’s capital. The governor of the Kyiv region said Saturday’s strike didn’t kill or wound anyone. The country’s power system operator said repair crews were working to restore power but warned residents about possible outages. The Russian military strove to cut water and electricity in populated areas of Ukraine this week after a truck bomb explosion damaged the bridge that links Russia to the annexed Crimean Peninsula. Regions of southern Ukraine that Russian President Vladimir Putin illegally designated as Russian territory last month remained a focus of fighting on Saturday. New UK Treasury chief: Mistakes were made, tax rises coming LONDON (AP) — Britain’s new Treasury chief has acknowledged mistakes made by his predecessor and suggested that he may reverse much of Conservative Prime Minister Liz Truss’ tax-cutting plans, in order to bring stability to the country after weeks of economic and political turbulence. Jeremy Hunt was brought in Friday to replace Kwasi Kwarteng and restore order in Truss’ administration. He warned of “difficult decisions” to come, saying taxes could rise and public spending budgets would likely be squeezed further in the coming months. Truss had previously insisted that her tax-cutting plans were what Britain needs to boost economic growth. But a “mini-budget” which she and Kwarteng unveiled in September sent the British pound tumbling and left her credibility in tatters. Violent week a grim sign as targeted killings of police rise Read More Here

The Latino Voter Shift Comes Into Focus In South Texas – ABC17NEWS https://digitalarkansasnews.com/the-latino-voter-shift-comes-into-focus-in-south-texas-abc17news/ By Boris Sanchez, CNN What first appeared as statistical noise is now becoming clearer: Historically left-leaning Latino voters are shifting toward the GOP, with the potential to swing major races come November’s midterm elections. And with razor-thin margins determining control of Congress, Hispanic communities where Donald Trump unexpectedly made gains in 2020 are coming into sharp focus, especially the Rio Grande Valley of South Texas. Here, the battle for Texas’s 15th Congressional District between Republican Monica De La Cruz and Democrat Michelle Vallejo is arguably the state’s most competitive House race and may be a test for Republicans’ appeal among Hispanic Americans. Hispanic Americans make up a fifth of registered voters in more than a dozen hotly contested House and Senate races in Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Nevada and Texas. While Democrats are still expected to win a majority of Latino voters, their margins appear to be shrinking — dramatically, in some cases. “What we’re seeing now is that the GOP has stepped in and helped us get our messaging out to show Latinos their values of faith, family and freedom really align with the Republican Party,” De La Cruz said Vallejo argues that the shift is tied to an increase in outside spending by the GOP: “I think the resources and money they’re getting from the outside really does add fuel to their fire. … It’s not deeply connected with the desire from the community to drive up and bring solutions that are specifically from South Texas.” Inspired by Trump For De La Cruz, attending her first Trump rally inspired her to start a career in politics. “I was busy raising a family, raising my business,” De La Cruz said. “(Trump) caught my attention to look at national politics and what was happening in DC and say, ‘Those policies don’t reflect me or my values.’” The entrepreneur insurance agent and mother of two says she’s a former Democrat whose family voted against Republicans for generations, including her “abuelita.” “This area had been under Democrat rule for over 100 years and what we’re seeing here is that Democrats haven’t done anything for us. … (They) just abandoned Latinos and Latinos are seeing that their values of faith, family and freedom just align better with the Republican Party.” Part of a trio of Latina Republican congressional nominees on the ballot in South Texas, De La Cruz is attempting to redefine the region’s political tradition alongside Cassy Garcia, a former Ted Cruz aide who is running in the 28th District, and US Rep. Mayra Flores in Texas’ 34th who became the party’s first representative from the Rio Grande Valley in more than a century after winning a special election earlier this year. The “triple threat,” as some Republicans call them, are part of a record number of Republican Latino nominees this fall, with many taking a page from Trump’s pro-border wall playbook. Asked whether she ever felt insulted by Trump’s rhetoric toward Latino immigrants (“They are bringing drugs. They’re bringing crime. They’re rapists,” the then-candidate said when announcing his first presidential run in 2016), De La Cruz, the granddaughter of Mexican immigrants, said his words didn’t turn her away. “Honestly, I probably wouldn’t have said things the way he said them, but I think people were able to look past those things because they knew he’s not a politician. He didn’t have a political background. He was a businessman,” said De La Cruz. “He stood up against the establishment and put forth policies that worked for American families.” ‘More attention and more respect’ Like her GOP opponent, Vallejo, the Democrat running in Texas’ 15th, is a relatively new to politics and an entrepreneur. She operates the Pulga Los Portales flea market in Alton, which her parents founded some 25 years ago. “Our community deserves more attention and more respect,” Vallejo said of the newly drawn district, which would have voted for Trump by nearly 3 percentage points in 2020. “I think that both national parties were leaving us out.” Vallejo said Republicans have “demonized” Latino immigrants to score political points. “We have pride and dignity and we will not stand for anyone making fun of us, making fun of our community and our culture. We’re deserving and we give a lot back to this country,” she said. Running as a progressive in an area that more often elects moderate Democrats, Vallejo defeated her primary opponent by only 35 votes and is campaigning on guaranteed abortion rights, expanding Medicaid and Medicare, and raising the minimum wage to $15. “There are a lot of issues being ignored,” Vallejo said. “It’s time we see a change for South Texas, and we need progressive, bold policies … so that we finally get a voice at the table.” Vallejo points to outside influence and spending to account for the GOP’s gains in the area, saying, “Outside interests did see an opportunity to swoop in, pouring millions and millions of dollars to pretty much buy up our seat.” As for Latinos who drifted from Democrats to support Trump, Vallejo said she “looks forward to hopefully earning their support.” “I’m fighting for all our families here in South Texas, whether they’re Republican, independent or people who have never felt engaged by the political system before,” she said. Central issues Polling indicates that Latino voters are more likely than any other ethnic groups to cite the economy or inflation as the most important issue facing the country. But other issues, such as immigration and abortion, also loom large. “It’s become so difficult. … Supply chain issues are a big problem. And inflation — we used to pay $19 for a box of eggs. Now, I pay $54,” said Rodolfo Sanchez-Rendon, the owner of Teresita’s Kitchen in McAllen. Sanchez-Rendon also faults Democrats for undervaluing faith, family and small business. “Their values have changed,” he said. “Extremely liberal, where religion becomes an afterthought. … They’ve drifted from our values.” But the economy remains the most important issue to voters like Sanchez-Rendon, who immigrated to the United States in 1986 and said unchecked illegal immigration is out of control across the southern border. Contractor Edgar Gallegos said he plans to vote Republican because of the economy, despite Trump’s rhetoric about Latino immigrants. “I’ll take a mean tweet right about now, over what we have,” Gallegos said. Other voters, like Justin Stubbs, say they feel Democrats lack urgency on the issue of immigration. “It seems like Republicans care and talk about the border issue a lot more. … I just don’t see a lot of Democrats talking about the border crisis and honestly, there’s a lot of people down here that are affected by that,” he said. One voter in nearby Alton, Texas, said he and his wife will remain loyal to the Democratic Party because he believes it will do more to help the community. “We want candidates who will pay attention to our needs,” says Jose Raul Guerrero, who says he’s voting for Vallejo partly because he’s known her since she was a child. “She understands our needs. … and we need a lot of help right now.” ‘The first Hispanic president’ “What people have to understand is that Hispanic Americans have hard working-class values,” said Giancarlo Sopo, a former Barack Obama campaign worker who led Trump’s hyper-local Hispanic advertising in 2020. “Who’s America’s blue-collar billionaire? Donald Trump,” he said. Sopo said part of the Trump’s campaign’s success with Latinos was tied to an ad campaign that “used words and ways of speaking” that were unique to specific nationalities and generations, tailoring ads meant to target Puerto Ricans, for example, with slang and references common to the island. “The reality is there are many Hispanic communities,” Sopo says. “You open the door with culture and engage Hispanics on a policy level.” Pointing to trends over the last decade that show Latinos experiencing gains when it comes to incomes, home purchases and starting new businesses, Sopo said many in the community view Trump aspirationally — adding that among some Latinos, especially men, the former President’s brash rhetoric may have worked to his advantage. “To a lot of Hispanic Americans — the same way that Bill Clinton was the first Black president before Barack Obama — Donald Trump, to them, is the first Hispanic president,” Sopo said. “He’s very charismatic, he’s not politically correct, he’s a successful entrepreneur. … These values really resonate.” The-CNN-Wire & © 2022 Cable News Network, Inc., a Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All rights reserved. Read More Here

“This Is Not A Prop. This Is Real”: GOP Senate Candidate Herschel Walker Fumbles On Georgia Debate Stage https://digitalarkansasnews.com/this-is-not-a-prop-this-is-real-gop-senate-candidate-herschel-walker-fumbles-on-georgia-debate-stage/ At the fiery Georgia Senate debate on Friday night, former NFL running back Herschel Walker pulled out a fake police badge, backpedaled on his views about abortion, and admitted President Joe Biden won the 2020 election. Senator Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.) said that he has supported police officers by holding them accountable, but “I’ve never pretended to be a police officer.”  That’s when Walker whipped out a gold star-shaped badge (the audience broke into laughter and applause). The moderator quickly intervened, saying: “Mr. Walker, you are very well aware of the rules tonight. And you have a prop that is not allowed. Sir, I asked you to put that prop away.” Walker replied: “This is not a prop. This is real.” In 2017, Walker claimed to have worked with the Cobb County Police Department, and two years later, he claimed to have worked for the FBI; the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported that neither are true. Although his assertions of serving in law enforcement have largely stayed out of his campaign until this week, a staple of Walker’s campaign has been his harsh anti-abortion stance. On the debate stage, Walker walked back on his position supporting a total abortion ban, now saying he supports Georgia’s “hearbeat” law, which allows for the exceptions for rape, incest and medical emergencies. Walker inquired about Warnock’s pro-abortion stance as a pastor: “Instead of aborting those babies, why aren’t you baptizing those babies?” Warnock retorted, “God gave us a choice and I respect the right of women to make a decision,” adding that Walker “wants to arrogate more power to politicians than God has.” The former football star previously likened abortions to “a woman killling her baby”—despite the evidence that he paid for a woman to get the procedure in 2009. The hypocritical news exploded for a second time when it was revealed that he actually urged the same woman to get the procedure again in 2011; but the woman refused. Christian Walker, Herschel Walker’s son with his wife, who previously advocated for Walker’s Senate run, took to Twitter with some “fatherly” advice: “Wear a condom, damn.”  In a reversal by Walker, he acknowledged that Biden won the 2020 election; although he didn’t distance himself entirely from the former president, referring to Donald Trump as “my friend” and  offering support for his 2024 election run. Shortly after the 2020 election, in December 2020, Walker doubled down on Trump’s election fraud lies, saying on Fox News: “I can guarantee you, Joe Biden didn’t get 50 million people to vote for him, but yet, people think that he’s won this election.” However, in May 2022, Walker contended that Trump never said the 2020 election was stolen.  According to a recent Quinnipiac poll, Warnock is leading 52% to Walker’s 42%. The general election is on Tuesday, November 8. Read More Here

Death Toll Rises To 41 In Turkey Coal Mine Explosion https://digitalarkansasnews.com/death-toll-rises-to-41-in-turkey-coal-mine-explosion/ AMASRA, Turkey (AP) — Funerals for miners killed in a coal mine explosion in northern Turkey began Saturday as officials raised the death toll to at least 41 people. Desperate relatives had waited all night in the cold outside the state-owned Turkish Hard Coal Enterprise’s (TTK) mine in the town of Amasra, in the Black Sea coastal province of Bartin, hoping for news. There were 110 miners working several hundred meters below ground at the time of the explosion on Friday evening. Their wait turned to devastation by Saturday noon. Women cried at the funeral of miner Selcuk Ayvaz, whose coffin was wrapped in the red and white Turkish flag. Another miner, 28-year-old Aziz Kose, held his newborn baby just days ago. They mostly came from working-class families and went underground to the coal mines to make a living. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan arrived at the scene and said the body of one missing miner had finally been reached, confirming 41 were dead. Erdogan was flanked by officials, miners and rescuers, as he vowed to bring an end to mining disasters, while saying he believes in “fate.” “We don’t want to see deficiencies or unnecessary risks,” Erdogan said, and added that an investigation would reveal if anyone is responsible for the blast. He then joined funeral prayers for Rahman Ozcelik, 22, at a village where Turkish media said three other miners were also being mourned. Eleven were injured and hospitalized, with five in serious condition, while 58 others managed to get out of the mine on their own or were rescued unharmed. Energy Minister Fatih Donmez said rescue efforts were complete. Earlier, he had said that a fire was burning in an area where more than a dozen miners had been trapped. Preliminary assessments indicated that the explosion was likely caused by firedamp, which is a reference to flammable gases found in coal mines, Donmez said overnight. Three prosecutors were investigating the blast. A miner who works the day shift said he saw the news and hurried to the site to help with the rescue. “We saw a frightful scene, it cannot be described, it’s very sad,” said Celal Kara, 40. “They’re all my friends … they all had dreams,” Kara, who has been a miner for 14 years, told The Associated Press after exiting the mine, his face covered in soot. Ambulances were on standby at the site. Rescue teams were dispatched to the area, including from neighboring provinces, Turkey’s disaster management agency, AFAD, said. Dark smoke rose from the entrance of the mine, which is surrounded by forests. A mining technician from TTK told broadcaster NTV that his team of rescue and occupational safety personnel arrived at the site Friday night. Ismail Cetin said they went down into the mine and walked about 2½ kilometers (1½ miles) with their kit and stretchers. They recovered nine bodies, whom he called “mine martyrs.” Countries across the world offered their condolences to Turkey. Greece’s prime minister offered rescue assistance even though relations between the two neighbors have recently been particularly tense. Separately, Turkish police said in a statement that legal action would be taken against 12 people who allegedly shared provocative content about the mine explosion to incite hate on social media. Turkey’s worst mine disaster was in 2014, when 301 miners died after a fire erupted inside a coal mine in the town of Soma, in the west of the country. Five months later, 18 miners were killed in central Karaman province after a flood in a coal mine. The head of DISK, a left-wing trade union, said in a statement they were “sad and angry” because deaths were preventable and the union’s safety suggestions were overlooked. Even though more inspections were mandated after the Soma tragedy, DISK’s leader Arzu Cerkezoglu claimed some precautions were ignored for profitability, calling Friday’s explosion a “massacre.” ___ Zeynep Bilginsoy reported from Istanbul. Read More Here

ATU Recognizes Outstanding Recent Graduates – Arkansas Tech University https://digitalarkansasnews.com/atu-recognizes-outstanding-recent-graduates-arkansas-tech-university/ Photographed: (front row, left-to-right): Dr. Robin E. Bowen (Arkansas Tech University president), Emery Gower, Sarah Jo Reynolds, Hannah Oyler, Robert Moore, Miles McDonnell, Abbey Eddy; (back row, left-to-right) Jason Geiken (ATU vice president for advancement), Ben Hollaway, Rebecca Karnes, Tyler Tuskey, Kody Griffin, Meagan Robinson and Caroline Kitchens (ATU director of alumni relations). Arkansas Tech University recognized its 19 of the Last 9 award winners during an ATU Homecoming 2022 reception on Saturday, Oct. 15, at the Doc Bryan Student Services Center. The 19 of the Last 9 award is named in honor of ATU’s founding year, 1909. It is presented each year to 19 ATU alumni who have graduated within the last nine years. According to the ATU Alumni Association, criteria for the 19 of the Last 9 award include: Alumnus of the university and graduated with in the last nine years of the award year An emerging leader through profession and/or community achievements Attained increasingly responsible positions within their organization, business or field of work Received recognition for significant professional contributions, discoveries or creative work through honors, awards and/or media attention Served as an outstanding young role model for current and future ATU students To learn more about the award and the nomination process, visit www.atualumni.com/19of9. The 2022 recipients of the ATU 19 of the Last 9 award, listed with the class year and major field of study associated with their nomination as well as their current career information, are: Tamara Bell of La Paz, Mexico Class of 2017 (Management and Marketing) BioSplice Therapeutics Senior Clinical Research Associate Bailey Devane of Springdale Class of 2020 (Broadcast Journalism) KFSM Channel 5 Television News Reporter Katy Dodd of Charleston Class of 2014 (English) ATU-Ozark Campus Instructor of English Abbey Clark Eddy of Russellville Class of 2013 (Political Science) Gordon and Caruth PLC Associate Attorney Emery Gower of Fayetteville Class of 2014 (Psychology) University of Arkansas Assistant Director for Investigations Kody Griffin of Conway Class of 2014 (Agriculture Business) Tucker Creek Veterinary Clinic Associate Veterinarian Ben Hollaway of Fort Smith Class of 2020 (Business Data Analytics) ArcBest Corporation Senior Pricing and Supply Chain Engineer Chris Hoover of Van Buren Class of 2019 (Emergency Management) Office of Senator Tom Cotton Projects Director Rebecca Brannon Karnes of Van Buren Class of 2015 (English) Jernigan Law Group Attorney Miles McDonnell of Little Rock Class of 2017 (Emergency Management) AEDI Emergency Management Specialist Robert Moore of Charleston Class of 2017 (College Student Personnel) Northwest Arkansas Community College Academic Advisor for Business and Computer Information Systems Hannah Oyler of Fort Smith Class of 2013 (Accounting) Landmark CPAs Accountant Eric Perez of Green Forest Class of 2019 (Spanish Education) Green Forest School District High School Spanish Teacher and Head Boys’ Soccer Coach Stacey Phillips Pipkins of Austin Class of 2019 (Professional Studies-Child Development) Early Impressions Childcare Centers Owner and Director Sarah Jo Reynolds of Little Rock Class of 2012 (History and Political Science) Republican Party of Arkansas Executive Director Meagan Robinson of Russellville Class of 2013 (Hospitality Administration) RNR Endless Owner Joshua Sperry of London Class of 2014 (Emergency Management) Tracer Communications Inc. Owner and Chief Executive Officer Tyler Tuskey of Texarkana Class of 2019 (Mathematics) Murphy USA Enterprise Analyst Kelby Wiles of Fayetteville Class of 2015 (Economics and Finance) JB Hunt Senior Manager, ICS Finance Read More Here

This 23-Year-Old Pays $1,100 A Month In Rent To Live In An Apartment The Size Of An Average Parking Spot https://digitalarkansasnews.com/this-23-year-old-pays-1100-a-month-in-rent-to-live-in-an-apartment-the-size-of-an-average-parking-spot/ In 2020, Alex Verhaeg moved into a 95 sq. ft. apartment in Manhattan’s East Village. He pays $1,000 a month. “People might call this place just a room or a closet, but to me, it is home,” Verhaeg told CNBC Make It. The 23-year-old barber, bike messenger, and content creator found the apartment on Zillow and only got to see the space in photos before he moved in. “It was a little bit of a shock when I saw how small it was, but I really wanted to try living in this area,” he said. “Any space can be made into a home, no matter how big or how small that space is. You just gotta put some love into it.” Verhaeg’s mom co-signed his lease, and the upfront costs for his move were $2,000: $1,000 for the first month’s rent and $1,000 for the security deposit. His rent has since increased to $1100 a month. Verhaeg’s 95 sq. ft. apartment is about 16 feet x 8 feet or about the size of an average parking spot. Mickey Todiwala. Photo by CNBC Make It Verhaeg’s tiny apartment doesn’t come with bathroom. Instead, the five-story building has residents share the three bathrooms and two showers that are located on each floor. “Living here can sort of feel like you’re in the college dorms because of the shared amenities,” he said. “Sometimes you’ll see your neighbors in a towel or a bathrobe. You sort of just get used to it.” In addition to not having a bathroom, the apartment also lacks a traditional kitchen. Verhaeg has an electric cooktop that lives on top of a dresser that he uses for food storage. The apartment has a sink in the corner with medicine cabinet, which Verhaeg refers to as his bathroom area. It also has one closet and a small loft space where he stores his clothes and barber tool kit. “The main benefit of living in such a small space is that it makes you appreciate your things and be a minimalist,” he said. “You really can’t just go out and buy random things because you don’t have the space to store them.” Verhaeg’s apartment doesn’t have a traditional kitchen or bathroom setup. Mickey Todiwala. Photo by CNBC Make It Read More Here

Live Updates: Raleigh Shooting Suspect May Be Tried As An Adult; Brother Among Victims https://digitalarkansasnews.com/live-updates-raleigh-shooting-suspect-may-be-tried-as-an-adult-brother-among-victims/ READ MORE Raleigh shooting coverage Seven people were shot in Raleigh, NC, near the Neuse River Greenway Trail. Five were killed, including a Raleigh police officer. Check back for the latest updates from The N&O’s breaking news team. Expand All One day after the deadly shooting in Raleigh that injured two and claimed five lives, including an off-duty police officer, a suspect is in custody and the city reels from the losses. The shooting Thursday was one of the worst in North Carolina history. Friday morning, Raleigh Police Chief Estella Patterson named the victims at the press conference. Raleigh Police Officer Gabriel Torres, 29 Nicole Conners, 53 Susan Karnatz, 49 Mary Marshall, 34 James Thompson, 16 READ MORE: What we know about the victims of the Raleigh shootings The Raleigh Police Department confirmed that a 15-year-old boy was in custody with life-threatening injuries, as of 9:37 p.m. Thursday night. More details about the identity of the shooter have not been released but sources have confirmed to The News & Observer that the suspect is Austin Thompson, the younger brother of James. In total, the suspect shot seven people Thursday in the Hedingham neighborhood in northeast Raleigh near Osprey Cove and Bay Harbor just after 5 p.m. Two other victims shot in the incident were treated for injuries at a local hospital. One of those victims was a Raleigh police senior officer who had non-life threatening injuries, according to Raleigh Police. Another, Marcille Lynn Gardner, is still in the hospital in critical condition. As of Saturday morning, the investigation remains active. Check back here for live updates on the latest news. GoFundMe pages for victims Updated 9:37 a.m. A GoFundMe page organized by Back the Blue North Carolina, a non-profit that supports law enforcement, has garnered almost $35,000 in donations as of Saturday morning. The proceeds from the page will be given to the surviving family members of Raleigh Police Officer Gabriel Torres, according to the group. The 29-year-old officer was on the job for 18 months when he was shot and killed Thursday, on his way to work. Another fundraiser for Marcille Lynn Gardner has raised almost $8,000. Gardner was shot and severely injured in the incident and is in the ICU but is in stable condition, according to the GoFundMe page for her. The donations are intended to help with medical bills and her recovery as she has “many surgeries ahead of her,” according to the GoFundMe page. Gardner turned 60 years old on Saturday. A call for gun control Updated 7:04 p.m. Friday. Leaders of local civil rights and gun safety groups renewed calls on state lawmakers and city officials Friday to take action to prevent gun violence after Thursday’s mass shooting left five people dead. Becky Ceartas, executive director of North Carolinians Against Gun Violence, said she grieved with the families who had lost their loved ones. She said it was also important to remember other kinds of gun violence that impact cities like Raleigh every day, including community gun violence, homicides, suicides and domestic violence. “Gun violence is incredibly tragic because of the lives that are stolen, and because there are policies and programs that we know work, and we know must be put in place now,” Ceartas said at a press conference Friday afternoon. Ceartas and other advocates called on city officials to invest in community violence intervention strategies, which include direct intervention to help resolve conflicts and stop violence before it happens, and support services for survivors of gun violence. Advocates also called on state lawmakers to pass a red flag law, which enables authorities to temporarily confiscate an individual’s guns if they are deemed a threat to themselves or others. Such legislation has been introduced by Democratic lawmakers but hasn’t advanced in either chamber of the Republican-controlled General Assembly. “This evening, we will do what I know every parent in America will do, which is hug our children a little tighter, and we’ll tell them we love them. And we’ll remind each other how much deeply we love each other,” said Gerald Givens Jr., the president of the Raleigh-Apex NAACP. “But some Raleigh families don’t get to do that tonight.” Givens also urged gun owners to make sure their firearms are stored securely, especially during the upcoming holiday season. “We have suffered too much from these tragedies over the years,” Givens said. —Avi Bajpai, @avibajpai_ Billy Graham chaplains to come to Raleigh Updated 5:53 p.m. Friday. Chaplains from Billy Graham Ministries are headed to Raleigh in response to the mass shooting. A mobile ministry center will be set up at the Hedingham Community Pool on Grand Traverse Drive as “a hub for prayer and conversation with locals.” The news release did not say when the center would be set up or how long it would stay. All of the victims lived in the neighborhood, which is adjacent to the Neuse River Greenway trail. —Anna Johnson, @Anna_M_Johnson ‘We heard them screaming’ Updated 4:08 p.m. Friday. In 911 calls received to the Raleigh Police Department Thursday night, callers are heard describing the scene to the dispatcher. Those who saw the shooter say he was dressed in camouflage and carrying a long gun that looked like a shot gun. One caller was the friend of slain Raleigh police officer Gabriel Torres who said Torres was “bleeding from his chest.” Another said she heard the incident happen and saw people on the ground: “We heard the shots, and we heard them screaming. And so we got down because we heard it was a gun.” —Richard Stradling, @RStradling & Kimberly Cataudella, @kcataudella Knightdale High postpones homecoming Updated 3:58 p.m. Friday. Hours after learning 16-year-old James Thompson, a junior at Knightdale High School, was shot and killed in Raleigh, the school postponed their homecoming events that were scheduled for Friday night. The school’s football game, against Rolesville High School, is rescheduled to Monday night. The homecoming tailgate party, and homecoming court and dance are rescheduled for Oct. 28. —Martha Quillin, @MarthaQuillin Suspect identified as victim’s brother Updated 3:42 p.m. Friday. Sources have confirmed for The News & Observer that the suspect in Thursday night’s mass shooting is 15-year-old Austin Thompson, a sophomore at Knightdale High School and the brother of 16-year-old shooting victim James Thompson. Austin Thompson is hospitalized in critical condition at WakeMed, where he was taken after being captured by police Thursday night. —Anna Johnson, @Anna_M_Johnson Potential charges Updated 3:28 p.m. On Friday afternoon, Wake County District Attorney Lorrin Freeman told The N&O that she has begun the process of moving this case from juvenile court to Superior Court. Her office has filed petitions for a probable cause hearing, the first step in transferring the case to Superior Court. Because these petitions were filed in juvenile court, Freeman’s office has not released the suspect’s name. Pending the suspect’s health, Freeman said a probable cause hearing is typically held within 15 days of the incident. If probable cause is determined, the case will automatically be moved to superior court, per a North Carolina law that elevates Class A felonies to superior court under these circumstances. “In this situation, there’s no question the mass loss of life, in my opinion, this case be transferred and tried in superior court,” Freeman said. —Colleen Hammond, @colleenchamm ‘Enough’ President Joe Biden released a statement Friday afternoon regarding the deadly shooting in Raleigh saying, “Enough. We’ve grieved and prayed with too many families who have had to bear the terrible burden of these mass shooting.’ “Too many families have had spouses, parents, and children taken from them forever,” he said. “This year, and even in just the five months since Buffalo and Uvalde, there are too many mass shootings across America, including ones that don’t even make the national news.” The president also renewed his call for a ban on assault weapons. Raleigh Police have not confirmed if the weapon used Thursday was an assault weapon. Several elected officials released statements about the tragedy mourning the losses and some, calling for action. “Now more than ever, it’s clear we have to make real, tangible progress and make sure our communities are safe from gun violence,” said N.C. Sen. Jay Chaudhuri. —Kristen Johnson, @kristensuzettee Section of Neuse River greenway closed The City of Raleigh closed the Neuse River Greenway Trail between Buffalo Road and Anderson Point Park while the area is under investigation. The trail stretches across 27.5 miles in Wake County. The remainder of the greenway will remain open, according to a statement. The Neuse River Greenway Trail is closed between Buffaloe Road and Anderson Point Park until further notice to support the ongoing investigation, according to the City of Raleigh Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources office. Andrew Carter Andrew Carter —Kristen Johnson, @kristensuzettee What we know about the victims Updated 3:14 p.m. According to the Wake County Public School System, James Thompson was a junior at Knightdale High School. WCPSS sent a message from Lindsay Mahaffey, the board chair, and Catty Moore, the superintendent, to parents in the school system with information about how students can get help to cope with the traumatic event. “Like you, we are shocked, saddened and broken-hearted,” the message read. “Our hearts go out to the victims’ loved ones, and our community continues to seek answers around this tragedy and solutions to prevent such unspeakable events in the...

Three Forks History: Choctaws Coined The Phrase “Trail Of Tears” https://digitalarkansasnews.com/three-forks-history-choctaws-coined-the-phrase-trail-of-tears/ The government policy of Indian Removal had existed in some form from the time of the presidency of George Washington. The policy became a real possibility when President Jefferson completed the Louisiana Purchase and doubled the size of the U.S. It was under President Andrew Jackson that the Indian Removal Act of 1830 made this policy a law. Even before 1830, government officials were working to induce the Five Tribes of the southeastern states to sign removal treaties. The Choctaws of Mississippi had signed such a treaty in 1820 and were ceded land between the Arkansas and Red Rivers in what was then Arkansas Territory. A small number of that tribe moved west, but the majority of Choctaws remained in Mississippi. In 1830, the Choctaws signed a second removal treaty at Dancing Rabbit Creek. By the following winter, the Mississippi tribe was moving west in large groups of around 1,000 people each. One such group was caught in a freak blizzard in Mississippi as they walked across that state. Dozens succumbed to the cold and to disease and they were forced to bury their dead along the trail marked with bloody footprints. The Arkansas Gazette newspaper, published in Little Rock at that time, quoted a Choctaw leader who called their march “a trail of tears and death.” This is the first known recorded use of the term “trail of tears.” Some of the Choctaw groups migrating west walked most of the way while others were crowded onto steamboats well beyond safe capacities. All of the Five Tribes suffered great loss on their journeys west. The Choctaws lost around 2,500 individuals to death from exposure and disease. The first agency for the Choctaws was established at the abandoned garrison at Fort Smith. By this time, all of the soldiers had been transferred from Fort Smith to Fort Gibson or Fort Towson down on the Red River. Major Francis Armstrong was appointed the government agent to the Choctaws. He established his agency at a location about 20 miles farther west on the south side of the Arkansas River. Here he distributed the supplies and annuity payments owed the Choctaws. They called the agency Skullyville – a term derived from the Choctaw word for money. Choctaw leader David Folsom had sent a plea to the mission society that had placed missionaries among them in Mississippi. Folsom asked that these missionaries accompany them west, and several of them did. Folsom understood the strength the neighborhood churches and schools could offer the Choctaw people. Thus, churches and schools were quickly re-established in their new homeland in Indian Territory. These familiar institutions helped the people recover from their long and difficult “trail of tears.” Reach Jonita Mullins at jonita.mullins@gmail.com. Read More…

Trump's Subpoena And What's Next For The Jan. 6 Panel https://digitalarkansasnews.com/trumps-subpoena-and-whats-next-for-the-jan-6-panel-2/ WASHINGTON — In an extraordinary step, the House Jan. 6 committee has voted unanimously to subpoena former President Donald Trump — a final effort to get the full story of the Capitol insurrection as the panel wraps up its work by the end of the year. Trump still does not acknowledge the “former” in front of “president,” and he has been relentlessly hostile to the investigation. He called it a “charade and a witch hunt” in a letter to the committee on Friday — but notably did not mention the subpoena or say whether he would comply with the demand for his appearance. The attempt to compel Trump’s testimony comes as the committee is tying together multiple investigative threads and compiling its final report. The panel is only authorized through this Congress, which ends on Jan. 3. A look at what’s next as the panel sprints to its finish: THE TRUMP SUBPOENA The nine-member committee has interviewed more than 1,000 witnesses, including many of the former president’s top White House aides. And they have laid out a detailed timeline of Trump’s efforts to overturn his 2020 election defeat — including his inaction as his supporters stormed the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. But they still want to hear from Trump himself. Now that a subpoena has been authorized — on Thursday — it must be delivered in writing to Trump. That step, expected early next week, will set a date for an interview and lay out requests for documents. Trump and his lawyers will then decide how to respond. He could comply, negotiate with the committee, announce he will defy the subpoena or ignore it altogether. He could also go to court and try to stop it. If Trump doesn’t comply, the panel will have to weigh the practical and political implications of a vote on holding him in contempt of Congress. If the full House voted to recommend such a charge, the Justice Department would then review the case. The committee has taken that step with some of Trump’s allies who refused to comply with subpoenas, including Steve Bannon, who was convicted of contempt in July. But holding a former president in contempt would be another matter, an exceptional step for any Congress. In his letter on Friday, Trump repeated his false claims of widespread election fraud and said he was writing to express “anger, disappointment and complaint” that the committee wasn’t investigating his claims. He also took the opportunity to boast anew about the size of the crowd that gathered for his speech near the White House on the morning of Jan. 6, before he sent them marching to the Capitol. He included aerial photographs. He said nothing about the subpoena. Even if he does comply, there’s reason to doubt that Trump’s appearance would help the investigation. He did respond to some written questions from special counsel Robert Mueller during the probe of Russian cooperation with his 2016 campaign. But his answers produced little or nothing to advance the investigation. More recently, he appeared for a deposition by the office of New York State Attorney General Letitia James — but invoked his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination more than 400 times in refusing to answer questions. WHAT ABOUT PENCE? The committee is still talking to lawyers for former Vice President Mike Pence, as it has been for months. But it is unclear whether the lawmakers will subpoena the vice president or ask him for testimony. Several of Pence’s aides have talked to investigators, some providing great detail about his movements and state of mind as he resisted Trump’s pleas to object to the certification of electoral votes that day and try to overturn their defeat to Joe Biden and Kamala Harris. Video shown Thursday at the committee’s final hearing before the midterm elections showed Pence coordinating with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer for help as the rioters were inside the building, some of them calling for Pence’s execution. The leaders were working with security officials to ensure that they could return to the Capitol and certify Biden’s victory. A CRIMINAL REFERRAL? The committee will also have to decide whether to refer any allegations of crimes to the Justice Department. While federal prosecutors are conducting their own investigations into Jan. 6 and Trump’s efforts to overturn the election, the congressional committee has its separate, massive trove of evidence. Lawmakers on the panel have hinted multiple times over the past year that they will issue criminal referrals. At the hearing on Thursday, Wyoming Rep. Liz Cheney, the committee’s Republican vice chairwoman, said that the panel “may ultimately decide” to do so. She said they have “sufficient information to consider criminal referrals for multiple individuals.” While such a referral would not force any action, it would amplify the political pressure on Attorney General Merrick Garland as the department pursues its own probes. SECRET SERVICE The committee recently received more than 1.5 million pages of documents from the Secret Service. But lawmakers say they still don’t have everything they want. The panel is working to verify the accounts of White House aides who described Trump’s actions on Jan. 6 as he tried to go to the Capitol and accompany his supporters, hundreds of whom eventually broke in. Security officials, along with many White House aides and GOP members of Congress, were vehemently opposed to the idea. Trump was livid and tried, ultimately unsuccessfully, to go to the Capitol anyway, according to several accounts aired by the committee. California Rep. Pete Aguilar, a Democratic member of the panel, said the lawmakers “will be recalling witnesses and conducting further investigative depositions” based on the Secret Service material. The agency has not turned over text messages that it says were deleted. FINAL REPORT The panel’s expected final action will be a massive report laying out evidence, findings and legislative recommendations to ensure nothing like Jan. 6 ever happens again. But it’s unclear how much of its investigative material will be released to the public. In one of eight hearings last summer, Maryland Rep. Jamie Raskin, another Democratic member, said, “We have only shown a small fraction of what we have found.” Lawmakers have made clear that the report will lay out what they view as the stakes for the country as many Republicans still believe, falsely, that the 2020 election was stolen and as Trump considers another run in 2024. “With every effort to excuse or justify the conduct of the former president, we chip away at the foundation of our republic,” Cheney said at the hearing. (Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.) Sign up for the Headlines Newsletter and receive up to date information. Read More Here

Biden’s Pot Pardons Could Boost States’ Legalization Drives https://digitalarkansasnews.com/bidens-pot-pardons-could-boost-states-legalization-drives-2/ LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — There are few surprises expected on Election Day in solidly Republican Arkansas, where Donald Trump’s former press secretary is heavily favored in the race for governor and other GOP candidates are considered locks. But one big exception is the campaign to make Arkansas the first state in the South to legalize recreational marijuana. A proposal to change the state’s constitution is drawing millions of dollars from opponents and supporters of legalization, with ads crowding the airwaves. President Joe Biden’s recent announcement that he will pardon thousands of people for simple marijuana possession has shined a new spotlight on the legalization efforts in Arkansas and four other states. Voters in Maryland, Missouri, North Dakota and South Dakota are also taking up measures on recreational marijuana. Biden’s step toward decriminalizing the drug could provide a boost for legalization in some of the most conservative parts of the country, experts say. “The most powerful elected leader in the world has publicly declared it was a mistake to criminalize people for using cannabis and I think that will go a long way with regard to voters who may be on the fence,” said Mason Tvert, partner at VS Strategies, a cannabis policy and public affairs firm. Biden’s announcement only covers people convicted under the federal law. But he has called on governors to issue similar pardons for those convicted of state marijuana offenses, which reflect the vast majority of marijuana possession cases. The president also directed his health secretary and attorney general to review how marijuana is scheduled under federal law. The moves come as opposition to legalization has softened around the country, with recreational marijuana legal in 19 states, despite resistance at the federal level. Advocates say it shows that states are ahead of the federal government on the issue. “I think it’s an example of state level leadership and citizens pushing the federal government in the right direction,” said Eddie Armstrong, a former state legislator who leads the Responsible Growth Arkansas group campaigning for legalization. In 2016, Arkansas became the first Bible Belt state to approve medical marijuana, with voters approving a legalization measure. More than 91,000 people have cards to legally buy marijuana from state-licensed dispensaries, which opened in 2019. Patients have spent more than $200 million so far this year, the state says. An ad by Responsible Growth Arkansas points to benefits such as the thousands of jobs it says legalization would create. The main group opposing the measure is running an ad that urges voters to “protect Arkansas from big marijuana.” The proposal faces opposition from Republican Gov. Asa Hutchinson, a former head of the federal Drug Enforcement Administration who criticized Biden’s pardon announcement. Former White House press secretary Sarah Sanders, the Republican front-runner to succeed Hutchinson, has said she will vote against the measure. Her Democratic rival, Chris Jones, said he supports it. In neighboring Missouri, a proposed constitutional amendment would legalize recreational marijuana for adults 21 and older and expunge records of past arrests and convictions for nonviolent marijuana offenses, except for selling to minors or driving under the influence. Supporters said they do not expect Biden’s pardon announcement for some federal marijuana offenses to have much of an impact on the Missouri measure, which could expunge several hundred thousand state marijuana offenses. “There is some danger of confusion, but I think most people understand the distinction of the federal and state processes,” said John Payne, campaign manager for Legal Missouri 2022. Missouri Gov. Mike Parson, a Republican and former sheriff, opposes the ballot measure but has not aggressively campaigned against it. He has no plans to emulate Biden’s pardon announcement. Parson has granted pardons “to individuals who demonstrate a changed life-style, commitment to rehabilitation, contrition and contribution to their communities – rather than as a blanket approach to undermine existing law,” said Parson spokesperson Kelli Jones. Similarly, North Dakota’s legalization campaign does not expect to incorporate Biden’s pardons into its messaging. Mark Friese, treasurer of the New Approach Initiative backing the legalization ballot proposal, said he doubts Biden’s pardon will have much of an impact in North Dakota or sway the legalization effort. “The number of North Dakotans convicted in federal court is small,” said Friese, a prominent North Dakota lawyer and former police officer. “Small amounts of marijuana are typically and historically not prosecuted in North Dakota.” Matt Schwiech, who is running South Dakota’s ballot initiative campaign to legalize recreational marijuana possession for adults, said the president’s pardons may hand the campaign a boost with older Democrats. It also underscores the campaign’s message that convictions for pot possession hurt people on job or rental applications, as well as that enforcing pot possession laws are a waste of time and resources for law enforcement, he said. South Dakotans, including a sizable number of Republicans, voted to legalize marijuana possession in 2020, but that law was struck down by the state Supreme Court in part because the proposal was coupled with medical marijuana and hemp. This year, recreational pot is standing by itself as it goes before voters. It remains unclear whether Biden’s pardon move will inject party politics into an issue that supporters say crosses partisan lines. For example, Arkansas voters in 2016 approved medical marijuana the same year they overwhelmingly backed Trump. All of the states with recreational marijuana on the ballot next month, except for Maryland, voted for Trump in the 2020 presidential election. And the issue is going before voters as GOP candidates have been stepping up their anti-crime rhetoric. “From our perspective the people of Arkansas, they didn’t vote for Biden initially and so we don’t anticipate this really having any sort of influence over anybody’s decision,” said Tyler Beaver, campaign manager for Safe and Secure Communities, the main group campaigning against the proposal. Associated Press writers David A. Lieb in Jefferson City, Missouri; Stephen Groves in Sioux Falls, South Dakota; and James MacPherson in Bismarck, North Dakota; contributed to this report. Invalid username/password. Please check your email to confirm and complete your registration. Use the form below to reset your password. When you’ve submitted your account email, we will send an email with a reset code. Read More Here

'Handsy And Creepy': Joe Biden Slammed For 'leaning Into' Teen And Uttering BIZARRE Words https://digitalarkansasnews.com/handsy-and-creepy-joe-biden-slammed-for-leaning-into-teen-and-uttering-bizarre-words/ ‘Does his behavior around kids ever rise to where their parent could ask police to file charges?’ a user tweeted Joe Biden appeared to make the teen uncomfortable (Twitter/ @fromkalen) IRVINE, CALIFORNIA: President Joe Biden has been called out online after a clip of him went viral. In the footage, he was seen holding a teenage girl’s shoulder before leaning in and speaking to her. As per reports, the incident happened on Friday, October 14. The US leader reportedly visited Irvine Valley College, where he spoke about his government’s work to diminish inflation and cut costs. At the end, he posed with some people including teenagers during which he approached a young woman and apparently told her, “Now, one very important thing I tell my daughters and granddaughters – no serious guy until you’re 30!” as the teen looked uncomfortable. ADVERTISEMENT ALSO READ ‘All very worrying’: Joe Biden sparks concerns as he appears lost and confused while walking off stage at NY ‘Even a broken record is more right than him’: Joe Biden TROLLED for calling himself ‘vice president’ The video of the moment was taken by a reporter named Kalen D’Almeida, who shared it on Twitter. The person also wrote, “President Joe Biden grabs a young girl by the shoulder and tells her “no serious guys till your 30” as she looks back appearing uncomfortable, secret service appears to try to stop me from filming it after Biden spoke @ Irvine Valley Community College | @TPUSA @FrontlinesShow,” before adding, “Note: I took this video of myself with president Biden after his speech at Irvine Valley College during a meet & greet as well as photo ops for those who wanted them.” ADVERTISEMENT President Joe Biden grabs a young girl by the shoulder and tells her “no serious guys till your 30” as she looks back appearing uncomfortable, secret service appears to try to stop me from filming it after Biden spoke @ Irvine Valley Community College | @TPUSA @FrontlinesShow pic.twitter.com/BemRybWdBI — Kalen D’Almeida (@fromkalen) October 15, 2022 Note: I took this video of myself with president Biden after his speech at Irvine Valley College during a meet & greet as well as photo ops for those who wanted them. — Kalen D’Almeida (@fromkalen) October 15, 2022 ADVERTISEMENT D’Almeida’s video attracted a lot of attention with numerous people sharing their thoughts and lambasting the president. A user tweeted, “Does his behavior around kids ever rise to where their parent could ask police to file charges? If a random old man in my town was so handsy and creepy w my kids, I’d be looking into it.” The second user wrote, “Imagine outrage from establishment media if Trump have done same thing.” ADVERTISEMENT Does his behavior around kids ever rise to where their parent could ask police to file charges? If a random old man in my town was so handsy and creepy w my kids, I’d be looking into it. — Sarah (@swagger372) October 15, 2022 Imagine outrage from establishment media if Trump have done same thing — Nil Patel (@npatel1143) October 15, 2022 ADVERTISEMENT The irony is, if Trump said something even remotely like that to a young girl. The left would have attacked him for not using a pronoun, assuming the girl is straight and for suggesting she be a hoe until 30. You were waived off, because he was clearly leaning in for the sniff. — Sandy Hendrick (@OCRSandy) October 15, 2022 The third user shared, “The irony is, if Trump said something even remotely like that to a young girl. The left would have attacked him for not using a pronoun, assuming the girl is straight and for suggesting she be a hoe until 30. You were waived off, because he was clearly leaning in for the sniff.” The fourth one said, “Bro if trump was even within 5 feet of that young girl it would be a wrap.  Breaking news the next day with the same 5 sec clip on repeat on every news station with reactions from panels of like 15 people.” ADVERTISEMENT Bro if trump was even within 5 feet of that young girl it would be a wrap. Breaking news the next day with the same 5 sec clip on repeat on every news station with reactions from panels of like 15 people — ashtonparis (@PurpleNSX) October 15, 2022 Since he very frequently does stuff like this when he knows cameras are around, just think how he must behave when there aren’t any cameras around — Steven Brule (@bruleoncool) October 15, 2022 ADVERTISEMENT How is Biden continuing to get away with this behaviour? I remember all those countless people who constantly called out Trump but seem ok (and silent) with Biden doing stuff like this — Justin Walley (@JustinWalley10) October 15, 2022 What you have to imagine is if it was you. Im 51 its like me firmly putting my arm around a young boy clasping his whole should with my big hand and leaning into his ear and saying something weird…would I do that…no I wouldn’t dream of it. Your turn. He reminds me of Dracular — D N (@DN38252786) October 15, 2022 ADVERTISEMENT A tweet read, “Since he very frequently does stuff like this when he knows cameras are around, just think how he must behave when there aren’t any cameras around.” Another tweet stated, “How is Biden continuing to get away with this behaviour? I remember all those countless people who constantly called out Trump but seem ok (and silent) with Biden doing stuff like this.” “What you have to imagine is if it was you. Im 51 its like me firmly putting my arm around a young boy clasping his whole should with my big hand and leaning into his ear and saying something weird…would I do that…no I wouldn’t dream of it. Your turn. He reminds me of Dracular,” a tweet added. ADVERTISEMENT This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online. Read More Here

Austin Killips Is Making Waves In The Cyclocross Peloton – CyclingTips https://digitalarkansasnews.com/austin-killips-is-making-waves-in-the-cyclocross-peloton-cyclingtips/ Cross isn’t coming – it’s here. The cyclocross season has started not just on the European continent, but also on US soil with the US CX Pro Series kicking off in Roanoke, VA, Rochester, NY and Baltimore, MD mid-September and the first UCI World Cup of the season last weekend in Waterloo, WI. Austin Killips is a constant fixture in the top ten of those US races, and finished 13th in the World Cup. She is now nearing the top 50 of the UCI ranking. “The races so far have been such a positive experience,” she says from Bentonville, AR where she prepares for the second World Cup of the season, on the World Championship course at Fayetteville with her team nice nikes.  “The first World Cup was a doozy,” she smiles. “The pacing against the top pros is very different with those first laps being exceptionally fast. It was a different effort than the races on the domestic calendar but I felt good. I have recovered well and feel ready for Fayetteville this weekend.”  Killips is now 26 and it was only last year that she took the decision to commit to cycling full-time. She is part of the nice bikes team, a manufacturer of steel bikes from Rhode Island. They support six athletes with Killips and Caitlin Bernstein being the highest on the UCI ranking. The mission is to support women and non-binary athletes and staff at the professional level.  “The team is great,” Killips says. “Last year we had a group too but it was mostly just me on the Pratt Racing team so it’s great to be part of a team structure now. They branded the new outfit Nice Bikes and that really resonates with the public. Nice Bikes always gets the conversation going.” Killips came into the sport quite late. She moved from Lake Zurich, Illinois to Chicago to study social sciences and then she went on to work in a bike shop after having completed a mechanic’s degree at a trade school in Oregon. Last year she left the job that got her acquainted with the sport in the first place.  “I always liked cross bikes because they are so versatile. I always liked selling them to people as well. In Chicago we have such a big, thriving scene where many riders show up for the races. There is also good prize money. It developed some strong riders like Lily Williams (Human Powered Health/USA Track Cycling) who also came through the ranks of Chicago cyclocross,” Killips explains. “I liked the job I had, but on the other hand it feels very good to say that bike racing is now my job. I get a smile when I acknowledge this fact. Racing in Namur last year and Waterloo last week were the first weekends where the races felt like an actual pro sport with spectators,” she enthuses. “It was being part of a spectacle which is what pro sports is all about. That really sunk in last weekend.” It was in 2021 that she moved through the ranks from C4 to C2 and C1 races. Based on her results she also got selected for the Jingle Cross World Cup.  “I think last season was important because I really committed to it and treated cyclocross like a part-time job,” Killips explains. “I started netting some UCI points and felt I had a knack for it.” But practice is easier when there’s passion, and that’s a large part of what draws Killips to the sport. “I just really enjoyed this sport from the start. I come from a skiing and action sports background. In cross it’s about finding lines and working around natural features like you do in skiing as well. I have an eye for that sort of thing. I enjoy the technical nature of it.” She treats the sport as a study, watching the footage back of her races every weekend to see where she can improve. But there is also a lot of time involved in preparation for the events that are still so new to Killips. “I approach the sport scientifically. I am a student of the sport. You need to have an affinity and passion for it to be spending so much time watching races and analyzing. Observation is a huge part of getting better. There are many resources like the course previews and years of coverage of racing.” You can apply that methodology to courses and to yourself, but you can also do that for your competitors. “You can watch riders and then sort of decode them,” Killips tells me. “Where do they thrive and where do they struggle. It’s a big part of the sport understanding the other riders in your field. It’s about understanding your rivals and understanding the course. To me it’s a big puzzle, and I try to approach this systematically.” Killips’ next race is this weekend in Fayetteville. Last year there was a lot of talk about boycotting the event due to the extremely restrictive transgender laws in Arkansas. As a trans woman Killips is aware of the political situation, but she won’t let it stop her from doing what she loves and that is being part of the pro peloton to race on both road and dirt.  “I haven’t raced that much abroad so my experience is mostly in the domestic scene. We have a strong sense of community and solidarity in the US pro peloton. Bike racing is so very small in the USA and with a lot of overlap between the road and cyclocross peloton. I feel the solidarity between us all to help progress the sport for women whether those are trans women or not.”  Killips isn’t a natural born activist like Molly Cameron is. Cameron, a cyclocross specialist as well, is a prominent advocate for equality and inclusion. Last year at Fayetteville Cameron she launched a campaign with bracelets.  “You still see the folks with the armbands Molly introduced as an advocacy and awareness tool,” Killips says. “But it’s not a central point of the conversation these days and there is certainly no talk about boycotting. These [anti-transgender] laws are sadly not localized to Arkansas only. It’s half of the country now involved in this culture war. It’s a hot button issue in right wing politics. Thinking in terms of politics, it’s hard to understand how a boycott will result in change.” “There is a political aspect to visibility but activism is a very specific term,” Killips continues. “Molly has really spent time in activist and political work. She is involved in proper politics, engaging with communities and being in the legislative halls. I am not an activist but I can’t divorce myself from my identity and how I will be perceived by others. There are trans athletes and folks that I connect with. There are people coming up to me telling me that what I do is meaningful and matters to them. “At Trek someone came up to me to take a selfie. I take that [role] seriously. I want to be visible and present. I am not hiding anything but I am also not committing huge amounts of time to the political side of it. I know that my profile is getting bigger and my story will be more widely known soon. I don’t dread the public nature of being in sports [as a trans woman] but I am also not super comfortable with the political side of it.” Her clear voice is slightly softer when she speaks of these issues, and her broad smile momentarily disappears when I ask her these hard identity questions. The smile is instantly back when she tells me about her father’s role in her coming out as transgender. “You know about this, but it takes a while to figure it out,” she says about the feelings she had early on in her life. “Many trans folk have this experience. I am lucky to have a great relationship with my dad. When I came out to my dad he was like: ‘I am your dad and I want to support you’. He put time and energy into understanding me. He tried to learn where I come from. I was lucky to have a parent in my corner who is there to support me. There are many who don’t have this, and I feel mindful about that.” Her dad came out to watch her in Waterloo and supports her where he can, although he is not the typical European cross mum or dad getting involved in the racing as a soigneur or mechanic. Killips beams a big smile when she talks about her other family in cycling: her team. “Cyclocross is a family affair but I am fortunate we have a great support team at nice bikes. Max and Caitlin really invested in supporting us and supporting women racing in general. So, we have a different family here who are just as supportive,” Killips explains. “Often, they are volunteers but they love being part of our little team. They accept me just the way I am and that is important.”  After Fayetteville, Killips will be racing some more in the USA with the national championships in Hartford, CT on 11 December as an important goal. Then the nice bikes team will make the journey across the Atlantic for a big block of racing starting in Val di Sole on 17 December and then all the way to the World Championships on 4 February 2023. Killips is a firm believer that a rising tide lifts all boats, and feels that more money and resources are needed to grow women’s cycling in the USA. She finished a short but successful road campaign earlier this year with a third place in the general classifications of both the Tour of the Gila and the Joe Martin Stage Race and holds ambitions in that discipline as well. “I would love to see that more women get the opportunity to make cycling a job. With the Women’s WorldTour more women can do so now – but this has not always been the reality, especially here in the US. With more money and resources allocated the right way we will soon see the level rise even more,” she says passionately.  “I want to do more road and we are putting together a team for road racing and to go to Europe next summer as well. I just love the road races that really empty the tank. I really enjoyed ‘Gila’ and am looking forward to more stage races and more hard stages.” You can see the passion in her eyes and hear the spark in her voice when she talks about the progress women’s cycling can make in the short term. She looks ...

15-Year-Old Raleigh Shooting Suspect To Face Charges As An Adult – Live https://digitalarkansasnews.com/15-year-old-raleigh-shooting-suspect-to-face-charges-as-an-adult-live/ Five dead, including police officer, in North Carolina shooting Five people were killed by a shooter who opened fire along a walking trail in North Carolina’s capital city on Thursday and eluded police for hours before he was cornered in a home and arrested, police said. Law enforcement officials identified the victims of the shooting on Friday. An off-duty police officer was among those killed by the suspect, whom police only described as a white, 15-year-old male. The suspect was arrested around 9.37pm after evading capture for hours and hiding inside a home, authorities said. Gunfire broke out around 5pm, along the Neuse River Greenway in a residential area northeast of downtown, Raleigh Mayor Mary-Ann Baldwin said. Officers from numerous law enforcement agencies swarmed the area, closing roads and warning residents to stay inside while they searched for the shooter. Two people, including another police officer, were also taken to hospitals. “Tonight terror has reached our doorstep. The nightmare of every community has come to Raleigh. This is a senseless horrific and infuriating act of violence that has been committed,” Governor Roy Cooper told reporters. Registration is a free and easy way to support our truly independent journalism By registering, you will also enjoy limited access to Premium articles, exclusive newsletters, commenting, and virtual events with our leading journalists Email Please enter a valid email Please enter a valid email Password Must be at least 6 characters, include an upper and lower case character and a number Must be at least 6 characters, include an upper and lower case character and a number Must be at least 6 characters, include an upper and lower case character and a number First name Please enter your first name Special characters aren’t allowed Please enter a name between 1 and 40 characters Last name Please enter your last name Special characters aren’t allowed Please enter a name between 1 and 40 characters You must be over 18 years old to register You must be over 18 years old to register Year of birth I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent.  Read our Privacy notice You can opt-out at any time by signing in to your account to manage your preferences. Each email has a link to unsubscribe. Already have an account? sign in Registration is a free and easy way to support our truly independent journalism By registering, you will also enjoy limited access to Premium articles, exclusive newsletters, commenting, and virtual events with our leading journalists Email Please enter a valid email Please enter a valid email Password Must be at least 6 characters, include an upper and lower case character and a number Must be at least 6 characters, include an upper and lower case character and a number Must be at least 6 characters, include an upper and lower case character and a number First name Please enter your first name Special characters aren’t allowed Please enter a name between 1 and 40 characters Last name Please enter your last name Special characters aren’t allowed Please enter a name between 1 and 40 characters You must be over 18 years old to register You must be over 18 years old to register Year of birth I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent.  Read our Privacy notice You can opt-out at any time by signing in to your account to manage your preferences. Each email has a link to unsubscribe. Already have an account? sign in Read More Here

Biden's Pot Pardons Could Boost States' Legalization Drives https://digitalarkansasnews.com/bidens-pot-pardons-could-boost-states-legalization-drives/ LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — There are few surprises expected on Election Day in solidly Republican Arkansas, where Donald Trump’s former press secretary is heavily favored in the race for governor and other GOP candidates are considered locks. But one big exception is the campaign to make Arkansas the first state in the South to legalize recreational marijuana. A proposal to change the state’s constitution is drawing millions of dollars from opponents and supporters of legalization, with ads crowding the airwaves. President Joe Biden’s recent announcement that he will pardon thousands of people for simple marijuana possession has shined a new spotlight on the legalization efforts in Arkansas and four other states. Voters in Maryland, Missouri, North Dakota and South Dakota are also taking up measures on recreational marijuana. Biden’s step toward decriminalizing the drug could provide a boost for legalization in some of the most conservative parts of the country, experts say. “The most powerful elected leader in the world has publicly declared it was a mistake to criminalize people for using cannabis and I think that will go a long way with regard to voters who may be on the fence,” said Mason Tvert, partner at VS Strategies, a cannabis policy and public affairs firm. Melissa Fults, executive director of Arkansans for Cannabis Reform, talks to reporters at the Arkansas state Capitol in Little Rock, Arkansas on Wednesday, Oct. 12, 2022. Fults is a longtime advocate for marijuana legalization but is opposing a measure on the ballot in Arkansas to legalize recreational marijuana. Arkansas is one of five states with recreational marijuana proposals on the ballot in November. (AP Photo/Andrew DeMillo ) Photo: ASSOCIATED PRESS/Andrew DeMillo FILE – A demonstrator waves a flag with marijuana leaves depicted on it during a protest calling for the legalization of marijuana, outside of the White House on April 2, 2016, in Washington. President Joe Biden’s decision to pardon thousands of people of simple marijuana possession could boost proposals going before voters in five states to legalize the drug. Voters in Arkansas, Maryland, Missouri, North Dakota and South Dakota will take up proposals to legalize recreational marijuana. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana, File) Photo: ASSOCIATED PRESS/Jose Luis Magana Kayla Snedeker, right, assists a customer at The Flower Shop Dispensary, a medical marijuana retail facility, in Sioux Falls, South Dakota on Friday. The dispensary opened after South Dakota voters legalized medical marijuana in 2020. (AP Photo/Stephen Groves) Photo: ASSOCIATED PRESS/Stephen Groves Matt Schweich, center, speaks at a Wednesday news conference in Sioux Falls, South Dakota to launch a statewide voter registration tour. Schweich is managing South Dakota’s ballot campaign to legalize recreational marijuana for adults. (AP Photo/Stephen Groves) Photo: ASSOCIATED PRESS/Stephen Groves PreviousNext Biden’s announcement only covers people convicted under the federal law. But he has called on governors to issue similar pardons for those convicted of state marijuana offenses, which reflect the vast majority of marijuana possession cases. The president also directed his health secretary and attorney general to review how marijuana is scheduled under federal law. The moves come as opposition to legalization has softened around the country, with recreational marijuana legal in 19 states, despite resistance at the federal level. Advocates say it shows that states are ahead of the federal government on the issue. “I think it’s an example of state level leadership and citizens pushing the federal government in the right direction,” said Eddie Armstrong, a former state legislator who leads the Responsible Growth Arkansas group campaigning for legalization. In 2016, Arkansas became the first Bible Belt state to approve medical marijuana, with voters approving a legalization measure. More than 91,000 people have cards to legally buy marijuana from state-licensed dispensaries, which opened in 2019. Patients have spent more than $200 million so far this year, the state says. An ad by Responsible Growth Arkansas points to benefits such as the thousands of jobs it says legalization would create. The main group opposing the measure is running an ad that urges voters to “protect Arkansas from big marijuana.” The proposal faces opposition from Republican Gov. Asa Hutchinson, a former head of the federal Drug Enforcement Administration who criticized Biden’s pardon announcement. Former White House press secretary Sarah Sanders, the Republican front-runner to succeed Hutchinson, has said she will vote against the measure. Her Democratic rival, Chris Jones, said he supports it. In neighboring Missouri, a proposed constitutional amendment would legalize recreational marijuana for adults 21 and older and expunge records of past arrests and convictions for nonviolent marijuana offenses, except for selling to minors or driving under the influence. Supporters said they do not expect Biden’s pardon announcement for some federal marijuana offenses to have much of an impact on the Missouri measure, which could expunge several hundred thousand state marijuana offenses. “There is some danger of confusion, but I think most people understand the distinction of the federal and state processes,” said John Payne, campaign manager for Legal Missouri 2022. Missouri Gov. Mike Parson, a Republican and former sheriff, opposes the ballot measure but has not aggressively campaigned against it. He has no plans to emulate Biden’s pardon announcement. Parson has granted pardons “to individuals who demonstrate a changed life-style, commitment to rehabilitation, contrition and contribution to their communities — rather than as a blanket approach to undermine existing law,” said Parson spokesperson Kelli Jones. Similarly, North Dakota’s legalization campaign does not expect to incorporate Biden’s pardons into its messaging. Mark Friese, treasurer of the New Approach Initiative backing the legalization ballot proposal, said he doubts Biden’s pardon will have much of an impact in North Dakota or sway the legalization effort. “The number of North Dakotans convicted in federal court is small,” said Friese, a prominent North Dakota lawyer and former police officer. “Small amounts of marijuana are typically and historically not prosecuted in North Dakota.” Matt Schwiech, who is running South Dakota’s ballot initiative campaign to legalize recreational marijuana possession for adults, said the president’s pardons may hand the campaign a boost with older Democrats. It also underscores the campaign’s message that convictions for pot possession hurt people on job or rental applications, as well as that enforcing pot possession laws are a waste of time and resources for law enforcement, he said. South Dakotans, including a sizable number of Republicans, voted to legalize marijuana possession in 2020, but that law was struck down by the state Supreme Court in part because the proposal was coupled with medical marijuana and hemp. This year, recreational pot is standing by itself as it goes before voters. It remains unclear whether Biden’s pardon move will inject party politics into an issue that supporters say crosses partisan lines. For example, Arkansas voters in 2016 approved medical marijuana the same year they overwhelmingly backed Trump. All of the states with recreational marijuana on the ballot next month, except for Maryland, voted for Trump in the 2020 presidential election. And the issue is going before voters as GOP candidates have been stepping up their anti-crime rhetoric. “From our perspective the people of Arkansas, they didn’t vote for Biden initially and so we don’t anticipate this really having any sort of influence over anybody’s decision,” said Tyler Beaver, campaign manager for Safe and Secure Communities, the main group campaigning against the proposal. ___ Associated Press writers David A. Lieb in Jefferson City, Missouri; Stephen Groves in Sioux Falls, South Dakota; and James MacPherson in Bismarck, North Dakota; contributed to this report. ___ For more information on the midterm elections, go to: https://apnews.com/hub/2022-midterm-elections Follow AP’s coverage of marijuana at https://apnews.com/hub/marijuana Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Read More…

High Inflation Locked In As Major Campaign Headwind For Dems: 'Motivating Issue' https://digitalarkansasnews.com/high-inflation-locked-in-as-major-campaign-headwind-for-dems-motivating-issue/ Thursday’s inflation numbers said consumer prices rose faster than expected in September, and the inflation rate remained near 40-year highs, likely cementing voter worries about the state of the economy as they head to the polls in November. It was the last report on consumer inflation voters will see before they vote Nov. 8, and election watchers said inflation seems likely to be a major issue for voters, even as other issues like abortion and democracy compete for their attention. “It’s the kind of thing that impacts everyone at every level of our social status and economic status,” Matt Germer, a resident elections fellow for the libertarian R Street Institute, told Fox News Digital.  “We all buy groceries, we buy gasoline, we pay our utility bills. And when those are going up month after month, it’s putting budgets under pressure. And that’s the kind of thing that motivates people in November.” SOARING INFLATION DRIVES MORE AMERICANS TO LIVE PAYCHECK TO PAYCHECK DESPITE 501% INCREASE IN WAGES The Labor Department said Thursday the consumer price index, a broad measure of the price for everyday goods, including gasoline, groceries and rents, rose 0.4% in September from the previous month. Prices climbed 8.2% on an annual basis. Those figures were both higher than the 8.1% headline figure and 0.2% monthly increase forecast by Refinitiv economists. In an even more concerning development that suggests underlying inflationary pressures in the economy remain strong, core prices, which strip out the more volatile measurements of food and energy, climbed 0.6% in September from the previous month. From the same time last year, core prices jumped 6.6%, the fastest since 1982. Republicans have been attacking Democrats on the issue since last year and appear poised to keep hammering their opponents on that issue until Election Day. President Biden and top congressional Democrats backed the “Inflation Reduction Act” earlier this year in an effort to tame rising prices despite debate whether it will actually reduce inflation. (Demetrius Freeman/The Washington Post via Getty Images / Getty Images) “Every American is dealing with the out-of-control price hikes caused by Democrats’ reckless spending. That’s why poll after poll shows inflation is the No. 1 issue headed into the midterms.” National Republican Congressional Committee spokesman Mike Berg told Fox News Digital. Democrats argue that they’ve moved major pieces of legislation aimed at cutting inflation, including a bipartisan infrastructure bill and the Inflation Reduction Act, though Republicans dispute the claim it will actually lower inflation. YELLEN SAYS INFLATION FIGHT REMAINS TOP PRIORITY FOR BIDEN AFTER HOT SEPTEMBER REPORT “The only party with an actual economic plan is the Democratic Party,” Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee spokesperson Tommy Garcia told Fox News Digital. “We’re going to spend every day left in this campaign reminding voters that despite Republican obstruction, Democrats have taken bold action to lower costs, put millions of Americans to work and protect Americans’ reproductive freedoms.” Gas prices displayed at a station in Annapolis, Md., in March 2022 amid a surge in prices tied to the Russian war on Ukraine.  (Jim Watson/AFP via Getty Images / Getty Images) Inflation continues to remain high in voters’ minds, but other issues that may be more favorable for Democrats are registering in recent polls. In a Fox News Poll conducted last month in Arizona, inflation was tied with abortion at 17% for the third most important issue for voters. Two issues tied for first at 18% — border security and the preservation of American democracy. A Fox News Poll in Wisconsin revealed that inflation was the second most important issue among voters in that state, at 20%. The preservation of American democracy ranked first at 24%. Abortion trailed at 16%. AFTER SEPTEMBER’S HOTTER-THAN-EXPECTED CPI REPORT, GOP LAWMAKER PREDICTS ‘EVEN BIGGER TURNOUT’ IN NOVEMBER In Pennsylvania, inflation was tied at 21% for the most important issue, along with the preservation of American democracy. Abortion registered at 15%. A shopper looks at organic produce at a supermarket in Montebello, Calif., Aug. 23, 2022. (Frederic J. Brown/AFP via Getty Images) / Getty Images) But Germer says when voters go to the polls, inflation will likely be the ultimate issue driving how they cast their ballots. “For months now, Democrats have been trying to make abortion the issue in the election cycle. And there are definitely some people out there where that really is the motivating issue for them. But that’s not most people,” Germer said. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE ON FOX BUSINESS “I believe elections are important. I think there are some good ideas for reform,” Germer added. “I care very deeply about it. But that issue isn’t what’s driving people. It’s inflation.” FOX Business’ Megan Henney contributed to this report. Read More Here

“Everybody Is Afraid Of Him”: Paul Ryan's 2024 Prediction For Trump https://digitalarkansasnews.com/everybody-is-afraid-of-him-paul-ryans-2024-prediction-for-trump/ Former Speaker of the House Paul Ryan predicted Thursday that former President Trump will not be the Republican nominee in 2024 and that he only holds power within the Republican Party because “everybody’s afraid of him.” Why it matters: Ryan’s comments come as other potential Republican 2024 candidates wait to hear Trump’s plans for the upcoming election and as GOP lawmakers have growing concerns about the eligibility of the former president. What he said: Ryan said during an interview with the consulting firm Teneo that Trump still has sway within the GOP because “everybody’s afraid of him.” “He’s going to try to intimidate people out of the race as long as he can,” Ryan said. Ryan questioned Trump’s electability for 2024, saying the former president is “much more likely to lose the White House than anybody else running for president on our side of the aisle.” “Whether he runs or not, I don’t really know if it matters,” Ryan said. “He’s not going to be the nominee, I don’t think.” Context: Trump and Ryan had a turbulent relationship, dating back to the 2016 election campaign. The big picture: Republican lawmakers have been reviewing potential new 2024 candidates amid concerns about Trump as a nominee after the Jan. 6 hearings, CNN reports. The former president has also faced a number of legal troubles since he left office. The majority of Republican voters still support Trump, though, Axios’ Ivana Saric writes. What we’re watching: Potential 2024 Republican nominees have held off from announcing their own bids until they know Trump’s plans for 2024. Former adviser Kellyanne Conway told CBS News in October that the former president “would like to” announce he’s running for president after the midterm elections, likely sometime before Thanksgiving. Of note: Utah Sen. Mitt Romney — who had Ryan as his running mate in the 2012 presidential election —told Politico earlier this year that Trump would likely be the 2024 nominee. Go deeper: Trump’s 2024 triumph Read More Here

Putin's Nuclear Threats Are Pushing People Like Trump And Elon Musk To Press For A Ukraine Peace Deal. A Nuclear Expert Warns That's 'dangerous.' https://digitalarkansasnews.com/putins-nuclear-threats-are-pushing-people-like-trump-and-elon-musk-to-press-for-a-ukraine-peace-deal-a-nuclear-expert-warns-thats-dangerous/ Growing fear of nuclear war has prompted calls for an immediate settlement to end the war in Ukraine. But abandoning support for Ukraine now could spur Russia and others to make more nuclear threats. “Just giving in at this point would actually be dangerous,” nuclear expert Pavel Podvig told Insider. Loading Something is loading. Thanks for signing up! Access your favorite topics in a personalized feed while you’re on the go. An understandable desire to avoid a nuclear war could actually make the world more dangerous if it means rushing to implement a “peace” in Ukraine that serves Russian interests, an expert told Insider. Such a move, which some influential figures have called for, risks setting a precedent that atomic blackmail is the way to win wars and take territory troops can’t otherwise hold, a model that could be copycatted by even the weakest nuclear-armed states, and may only succeed at delaying another war. Pavel Podvig, an expert on Russia’s nuclear doctrine and capabilities at the UN Institute for Disarmament Research, said in a phone interview from Geneva that such a deal — on terms deemed favorable by Moscow, in the wake of battlefield losses and in explicit response to the Kremlin’s nuclear brinkmanship — could well make the world much less peaceful. “The West supports Ukraine with weapons and financial and moral and political support. Giving that up and saying that, ‘Well, you know, we are too afraid of nuclear threats and so we just want to make a deal’ — that would certainly set a precedent that would not be very positive,” Podvig said. “If you yield to this nuclear threat once, then what would prevent Russia in the future — or others — to do the same thing again?” “Just giving in at this point,” he continued, “would actually be dangerous.” Talk of nuclear Armageddon has grown to a fervor in recent weeks as Russian President Vladimir Putin, his military losing ground in what was originally intended to be a 72-hour regime-change operation, has doubled down on existential threats to Ukraine and partner nations. “If the territorial integrity of our country is threatened, we will certainly use all the means at our disposal to protect Russia and our people,” Putin said in a speech last month, just before nominally expanding Russia’s borders by illegally annexing swaths of eastern Ukraine. “This is not a bluff,” he said. Although experts and intelligence agencies have seen no signs that Russia is preparing to match its leader’s rhetorical belligerence with a nuclear strike, the prospect of such an attack, however minuscule, is nonetheless a source of growing concern given the unpredictability of military conflict and speculation over the mental state of the man who started the war in Ukraine.  Some observers, in good or bad faith, have cited the possibility of the unthinkable as all the more reason to negotiate a ceasefire and have at times criticized the US administration they see as leading the world to the precipice of nuclear conflict with its steady stream of aid to Ukraine. “We must demand the immediate negotiation of a peaceful end to the war in Ukraine, or we will end up in World War III and there will be nothing left of our planet,” former President Donald Trump said at a rally this month, attacking the “stupid people” who “don’t understand the power of nuclear.” The terms of such negotiations are typically left to the imagination. Ukraine has said it will never sign away territory currently occupied by Moscow — after Russia annexed Ukrainian land, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy declared that any peace talks were off the table — while the Kremlin has itself sabotaged previous negotiations with maximalist demands that Ukraine disarm and abandon ties with its European partners to become a de facto adjunct of Russia. Tesla CEO Elon Musk,arguing that allowing the conflict in Ukraine to continue could result in a “nuclear war,” spelled out this month what a potential peace could look like, tweeting out a plan that would see Ukraine swear off its NATO aspirations and allow for the possibility of Russia to hold on to the land it has captured, including Crimea, which Musk said had been mistakenly given to Ukraine in the first place by the Soviet Union. Musk’s proposal was derided by Ukraine, with one Ukrainian diplomat telling him to “fuck off,” but welcomed by the Kremlin amid reports, disputed by the tech billionaire, that it was presented after consultations with Moscow.  Though his plan was met with criticism and few outside Russia took Musk’s proposal seriously, his critics acknowledge his stated motivation — the possibility of nuclear war — is a real concern. In discussions with Insider, Podvig said that Russia could decide to use nuclear weapons if its hold over Crimea were threatened. Political analyst Ian Bremmer said that Musk told him in a recent interview that such a possibility drove his decision to block Ukraine’s access to the Starlink satellite internet service on the peninsula. Podvig also said that instead of a small, “tactical” nuclear weapon, Russia would likely — if the purpose was to make a demonstration of its resolve to Kyiv and the West — elect instead to go big and destroy an entire city to achieve the necessary “shock.” “You really would have to kill a lot of people,” Podvig said. “We are talking about tens, maybe hundreds of thousands of people. And you would have to do that very much in cold blood.” He doesn’t think Russia is anywhere near that point, arguing that it’s not at all a sure thing that the Russian military would carry out an unequivocal war crime on such a scale. He also stressed that we would likely know if it were planning such a move because Moscow would want to broadcast its intentions for the same reason it threatens to go nuclear today: to get the West to back down. Though Podvig argued that a rushed peace agreement tilted in Russia’s favor would only encourage nuclear blackmail and drive home the point that only by possessing and threatening to use of nuclear weapons can a nation achieve it security goals, he also said there are real risks associated with going in the other direction. Direct intervention in Ukraine by the US or other NATO members, such as boots on the ground or planes in the sky, could lead Russia to conclude that it faces an existential threat, providing a clearer rationale for going nuclear. “That’s directly the path to escalation, in my view,” Podvig said. There is an alternative to abandonment or escalation: diplomacy that cannot be misread as surrender, he explained. By maintaining support for Ukrainian resistance, without slipping into the pitfalls of direct intervention, the US and its allies could hold onto the moral high ground necessary to “preemptively mobilize the world community, all states, in condemnation of any even attempt to bring nuclear weapons into this conflict,” Podvig said. Instead of capitulation, dressed up in a universal desire for peace, he argued, “You could in effect show – demonstrate in practice — that nuclear weapons are not a useful instrument of terror and compellence.” Have a news tip? Email this reporter: cdavis@insider.com Read More Here

AP News Summary At 8:43 A.m. EDT https://digitalarkansasnews.com/ap-news-summary-at-843-a-m-edt/ Justice Dept. seeks end to arbiter’s review of Trump docs WASHINGTON (AP) — The Justice Department has asked a federal appeals court to overturn a judge’s appointment of an independent arbiter to review documents seized during an FBI search of former President Donald Trump’s Florida estate. The appeal is the latest salvo in weeks of litigation over the scope of duties of the arbiter, also known as a special master. He was assigned last month by a judge to inspect the thousands of records taken in the Aug. 8 search of Mar-a-Lago and weed out from the investigation any that may be protected by claims of legal privilege. Ukraine: Russia hits power site by Kyiv, guards seized land A missile strike has seriously damaged a key energy facility in Ukraine’s capital region, The governor of the Kyiv region said Saturday’s strike didn’t kill or wound anyone. The country’s power system operator said repair crews were working to restore power but warned residents about possible outages. The Russian military strove to cut water and electricity in populated areas of Ukraine this week after a truck bomb explosion damaged the bridge that links Russia to the annexed Crimean Peninsula. Regions of southern Ukraine that Russian President Vladimir Putin illegally designated as Russian territory last month remained a focus of fighting on Saturday. Ukrainian deminers remove deadly threats to civilians HRAKOVE, Ukraine (AP) — A group of Ukrainian deminers with the country’s territorial defense forces is working to clear an area in the Kharkiv region of dozens of deadly mines and pieces of unexploded ordnance. The brigade is pushing to restore a semblance of safety to the cities, towns and countryside in a region that spent months under Russian occupation. The deminers swept a remote area with metal detectors, searching for mines left behind by Russian forces that retreated from the region at the beginning of September. While many settlements in the region have finally achieved some measure of safety after fierce battles reduced many of them to rubble, Russian land mines remain an ever-present threat in both urban and rural environments. New UK Treasury chief: Mistakes were made, tax rises coming LONDON (AP) — Britain’s new Treasury chief has acknowledged mistakes made by his predecessor and suggested that he may reverse much of Conservative Prime Minister Liz Truss’ tax-cutting plans, in order to bring stability to the country after weeks of economic and political turbulence. Jeremy Hunt was brought in Friday to replace Kwasi Kwarteng and restore order in Truss’ administration. He warned of “difficult decisions” to come, saying taxes could rise and public spending budgets would likely be squeezed further in the coming months. Truss had previously insisted that her tax-cutting plans were what Britain needs to boost economic growth. But a “mini-budget” which she and Kwarteng unveiled in September sent the British pound tumbling and left her credibility in tatters. Biden’s pot pardons could boost states’ legalization drives LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — President Joe Biden’s decision to pardon thousands of people convicted of simple possession of marijuana under federal law could give a boost to Election Day ballot proposals in five states that would legalize the drug. Voters in Arkansas, Maryland, Missouri, North Dakota and South Dakota will take up proposals to legalize recreational marijuana. Experts say Biden’s pardon decision could win over some voters on the fence about the idea. Recreational marijuana is legal in 19 states and opposition to legalization has softened despite federal resistance. Opponents of the measures say they see Biden’s pardons having little impact on the campaigns. Kemp vs. Abrams II: Republican has incumbent advantage now ATLANTA (AP) — The Georgia governor’s race is a rematch of 2018, when Republican Brian Kemp narrowly defeated Democrat Stacey Abrams. But circumstances have changed. This time, it is Kemp who holds a lot of advantages as he seeks reelection. Abrams is trying to rekindle the star power that had people talking about her being president one day. Kemp became the target of Donald Trump’s wrath when the defeated president threatened retribution after Kemp certified Democrat Joe Biden’s slate of presidential electors in Georgia. But not only did Kemp maintain support among most Republican voters while defying Trump, he seems to have only grown stronger heading into his rematch with Abrams. Death toll rises to 41 in Turkey coal mine explosion AMASRA, Turkey (AP) — Funerals for the miners killed in a coal mine explosion in northern Turkey have begun as officials raised the death toll to at least 41 people. There were 110 miners working in the mine when the explosion occurred Friday evening at the state-owned Turkish Hard Coal Enterprise’s mine in Amasra. The town is in the Black Sea coastal province of Bartin. Officials said 11 miners were injured and hospitalized while 58 others managed to get out of the mine on their own or were rescued unharmed. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan arrived at the scene Saturday after tweeting that any neglect would be punished. US shift on Venezuelan migrants fuels anxiety in Mexico TIJUANA, Mexico (AP) — The Biden administration’s policy shift on Venezuelan migrants may pose an enormous challenge to overstretched Mexican shelters. The U.S. has coupled plans to let up to 24,000 Venezuelans apply online to fly to the U.S. for temporary stays with a pledge to immediately turn back Venezuelans who cross the border illegally from Mexico. The rapid expulsions expand a Trump-era policy that denies rights to seek asylum on grounds of preventing the spread of COVID-19. Venezuelans have suddenly become the second-largest nationality at the U.S. border after Mexicans, a growing challenge to President Joe Biden and neighboring allies. Is Alex Jones verdict the death of disinformation? Unlikely NEW YORK (AP) — The award of nearly $1 billion to parents of Sandy Hook shooting victims to compensate for harmful lies spread by fabulist Alex Jones isn’t likely to do much to curb disinformation, experts say. Conspiracy theories have roots too deep in American history and, as Jones proved, there’s a lot of money to be made now in spreading them. Because the ruling involved private citizens and not public figures, many purveyors of disinformation will be able to get around it. Media experts are next looking to a potential trial or settlement in the lawsuit by the Dominion voting system against Fox News for spreading disinformation about the 2020 election. Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Read More Here

Social Security COLA 2023, Live Online Today: Increase, Benefits And Adjustment | SSA Latest News https://digitalarkansasnews.com/social-security-cola-2023-live-online-today-increase-benefits-and-adjustment-ssa-latest-news-3/ 2023 Social Security COLA: Latest News “The higher-than-expected COLA costs could have long term implications for Social Security solvency, and could potentially move the insolvency date, currently around 2034, forward.” COLA 2023 official announcement If you like to hear your communications straight from the financial benefits horse’s mouth, then here you go… How to get Social Security help? The best way for people with access to the internet to get help from Social Security is online at ssa.gov. For those unable to use the website, an 800 Number is available (1-800-772-1213) or call your local Social Security office for help. For quicker access to a representative at the National 800 Number, try calling early in the day (between 8 a.m. and 10 a.m. local time) or later in the afternoon (between 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. local time). Welcome to AS USA 2023 COLA increase updates Hello and welcome to AS USA’s live blog on the 2023 Social Security COLA increase for Saturday, 15 October.  The Social Security Adminstration announced the 2023 Cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for social security benefits, for programs like Supplemental Security Income and Social Security Disability Insurance. Other government pension and benefits programs will also be affected by the 8.7% increase. The COLA offered for next year is historic in size after inflation has plagued markets for basic commodities consumed by most households, including food, shelter, utilities, and gasoline.   Read More Here

Dems Fear Kari Lake Will Be Arizona's Governor, And A Major MAGA Star https://digitalarkansasnews.com/dems-fear-kari-lake-will-be-arizonas-governor-and-a-major-maga-star/ Former President Trump with Kari Lake at a rally in Arizona. Photo: Mario Tama/Getty Images Democratic Party strategists are watching Arizona’s Kari Lake with growing alarm. Why it matters: As some see it, Lake — a 2020 election denier — could easily win the state’s gubernatorial race and threaten its 2024 election processes. And with the talent she’s already displayed even as a political novice, they see her potential to soar to a vice presidential spot or a post-Trump presidential candidacy. Zoom in: Of this year’s midterm elections slate of “ultra MAGA” candidates, Lake has perhaps the best chance of winning. The polls are neck-and-neck. Some Democrats are venting frustration that Katie Hobbs is not presenting a stronger challenge to Lake. Hobbs has refused to debate Lake, which some say signals fear and amounts to “political malpractice.” What they’re saying: David Plouffe, the architect of Barack Obama’s 2008 victory, told Axios that Lake looks like a “plausible presidential candidate.” David Axelrod, another key former Obama adviser, offered this assessment of Lake’s 20+ years in Arizona local TV before her entrance last year into politics: “If you get a candidate who has the performance skills of a major market local TV anchor and the philosophy and thinking of Steve Bannon, that’s a potent and dangerous combination … Look at Italy.” Former President Donald Trump’s advisers view Lake as the most politically potent of the “stop the steal” candidates. She is every bit as hardcore an election denier as Pennsylvania gubernatorial candidate Doug Mastriano, but infinitely more suited to the age of social media videos and quick TV hits. Lake is skilled at creating viral moments by dressing down reporters and eviscerating the mainstream media. The 53-year-old former news anchor left journalism altogether in 2021, saying she didn’t like how much media has changed since she started. Behind the scenes: Lake has other advantages that are less visible. Unlike Mastriano, she has been embraced by top figures in the Republican establishment. She is benefiting from their money and connections. Doug Ducey, Arizona’s outgoing GOP governor and chair of the Republican Governors Association, opposed Lake in her primary. But now, he’s backing her with great energy. Lake has also charmed Arizona GOP donors, including members of the state’s political establishment, according to sources who have witnessed the interactions. In private meetings and on calls with donors, RGA officials have made clear they are prepared to spend aggressively to get Lake across the finish line. “Voters have a clear choice and we’re confident they’ll make Kari Lake their next governor,” RGA spokesman Jesse Hunt told Axios. Between the lines: If Lake wins the governorship, Democrats anticipate that her future endorsements will be sought after, that she will be giving fiery speeches around the country, and that she will have a standing invitation on Fox News. Her absence of governing experience and decades of daily TV experience make her a perfect match for aspects of this political moment. “That’s what’s changed a lot in our politics. There’s a performance aspect to it in both parties,” Plouffe said. “Obama and Trump accelerated that change in many respects, which is that you don’t have to sit around for 20 years building your case,” he said. “If you’ve got something compelling to say and you can organize a campaign online, you’re a plausible presidential candidate.” The bottom line: Former senior Hillary Clinton adviser Karen Finney said Lake represents “a more polished version” of MAGA. “I’m sure a big part of why Trump likes her is that TV experience,” Finney said. (Fact check: True!) “In the same way he understood how to use media and avoid questions that he didn’t want to answer, she certainly has that.” The other side: “Kari Lake is all spectacle and no substance and we’re confident voters will see right through it,” said Josselyn Berry, a spokesperson for the Arizona Democratic Party. Read More Here

US: Trump Backed Candidate Walker Opposes Abortion Without Exceptions https://digitalarkansasnews.com/us-trump-backed-candidate-walker-opposes-abortion-without-exceptions/ With the crucial midterms inching closer, Georgia witnessed a fierce televised debate. It was between Democratic US Senator Rafael Warner and Republican Herschel Walker. Read More Here

AP News Summary At 7:28 A.m. EDT https://digitalarkansasnews.com/ap-news-summary-at-728-a-m-edt/ Justice Dept. seeks end to arbiter’s review of Trump docs WASHINGTON (AP) — The Justice Department has asked a federal appeals court to overturn a judge’s appointment of an independent arbiter to review documents seized during an FBI search of former President Donald Trump’s Florida estate. The appeal is the latest salvo in weeks of litigation over the scope of duties of the arbiter, also known as a special master. He was assigned last month by a judge to inspect the thousands of records taken in the Aug. 8 search of Mar-a-Lago and weed out from the investigation any that may be protected by claims of legal privilege. Ukraine: Russia hits power site by Kyiv, guards seized land A missile strike has seriously damaged a key energy facility in Ukraine’s capital region, The governor of the Kyiv region said Saturday’s strike didn’t kill or wound anyone. The country’s power system operator said repair crews were working to restore power but warned residents about possible outages. The Russian military strove to cut water and electricity in populated areas of Ukraine this week after a truck bomb explosion damaged the bridge that links Russia to the annexed Crimean Peninsula. Regions of southern Ukraine that Russian President Vladimir Putin illegally designated as Russian territory last month remained a focus of fighting on Saturday. Ukrainian deminers remove deadly threats to civilians HRAKOVE, Ukraine (AP) — A group of Ukrainian deminers with the country’s territorial defense forces is working to clear an area in the Kharkiv region of dozens of deadly mines and pieces of unexploded ordnance. The brigade is pushing to restore a semblance of safety to the cities, towns and countryside in a region that spent months under Russian occupation. The deminers swept a remote area with metal detectors, searching for mines left behind by Russian forces that retreated from the region at the beginning of September. While many settlements in the region have finally achieved some measure of safety after fierce battles reduced many of them to rubble, Russian land mines remain an ever-present threat in both urban and rural environments. New UK Treasury chief: Mistakes were made, tax rises coming LONDON (AP) — Britain’s new Treasury chief has acknowledged mistakes made by his predecessor and suggested that he may reverse much of Conservative Prime Minister Liz Truss’ tax-cutting plans, in order to bring stability to the country after weeks of economic and political turbulence. Jeremy Hunt was brought in Friday to replace Kwasi Kwarteng and restore order in Truss’ administration. He warned of “difficult decisions” to come, saying taxes could rise and public spending budgets would likely be squeezed further in the coming months. Truss had previously insisted that her tax-cutting plans were what Britain needs to boost economic growth. But a “mini-budget” which she and Kwarteng unveiled in September sent the British pound tumbling and left her credibility in tatters. Kemp vs. Abrams II: Republican has incumbent advantage now ATLANTA (AP) — The Georgia governor’s race is a rematch of 2018, when Republican Brian Kemp narrowly defeated Democrat Stacey Abrams. But circumstances have changed. This time, it is Kemp who holds a lot of advantages as he seeks reelection. Abrams is trying to rekindle the star power that had people talking about her being president one day. Kemp became the target of Donald Trump’s wrath when the defeated president threatened retribution after Kemp certified Democrat Joe Biden’s slate of presidential electors in Georgia. But not only did Kemp maintain support among most Republican voters while defying Trump, he seems to have only grown stronger heading into his rematch with Abrams. US shift on Venezuelan migrants fuels anxiety in Mexico TIJUANA, Mexico (AP) — The Biden administration’s policy shift on Venezuelan migrants may pose an enormous challenge to overstretched Mexican shelters. The U.S. has coupled plans to let up to 24,000 Venezuelans apply online to fly to the U.S. for temporary stays with a pledge to immediately turn back Venezuelans who cross the border illegally from Mexico. The rapid expulsions expand a Trump-era policy that denies rights to seek asylum on grounds of preventing the spread of COVID-19. Venezuelans have suddenly become the second-largest nationality at the U.S. border after Mexicans, a growing challenge to President Joe Biden and neighboring allies. Is Alex Jones verdict the death of disinformation? Unlikely NEW YORK (AP) — The award of nearly $1 billion to parents of Sandy Hook shooting victims to compensate for harmful lies spread by fabulist Alex Jones isn’t likely to do much to curb disinformation, experts say. Conspiracy theories have roots too deep in American history and, as Jones proved, there’s a lot of money to be made now in spreading them. Because the ruling involved private citizens and not public figures, many purveyors of disinformation will be able to get around it. Media experts are next looking to a potential trial or settlement in the lawsuit by the Dominion voting system against Fox News for spreading disinformation about the 2020 election. EXPLAINER: What to expect from China’s party congress BEIJING (AP) — China’s ruling Communist Party is holding its twice-a-decade national congress starting Sunday. That’s where President Xi Jinping is expected to receive a third five-year term as the uncontested head of the party, government and military of the world’s second-largest economy. The event proceedings are shrouded in secrecy, as is typical in China’s authoritarian one-party state. But the weeklong congress is expected to produce a new set of leaders handpicked by Xi. Xi faces no term limits and has yet to indicate a successor after a decade in the top spot. If past protocols are followed, the new leadership will be unveiled the day after the congress closes. Death toll rises to 40 in Turkey coal mine explosion AMASRA, Turkey (AP) — Funerals for the miners killed in a coal mine explosion in northern Turkey began Saturday as officials raised the death toll to at least 40 people. There were 110 miners working in the mine when the explosion occurred Friday evening at the state-owned Turkish Hard Coal Enterprise’s (TTK) mine in the town of Amasra, in the Black Sea coastal province of Bartin. Officials said 11 miners were injured and hospitalized, while 58 others managed to get out of the mine on their own or were rescued unharmed. The status of one remaining miner was unclear. Parkland shooter’s life sentence could bring changes to law FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — The life sentence about to be imposed on Florida school shooter Nikolas Cruz could bring changes to the state’s death penalty law. Until recently, Florida law allowed the imposition of a death sentence if a majority of the jury agreed. But after the U.S. and state supreme courts rejected those laws, the Florida Legislature in 2017 voted to require jury unanimity for a death sentence to be imposed. That’s why Cruz will get life without parole, even though his jury voted 9-3 Thursday to support his execution. Relatives of Cruz’s victims and others say the law should now be changed. Cruz murdered 17 people at Parkland’s Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in 2018. Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Read More Here

Herschel Walker Denies Abortion Ban Support And Brandishes ‘police Badge’ In Georgia Debate https://digitalarkansasnews.com/herschel-walker-denies-abortion-ban-support-and-brandishes-police-badge-in-georgia-debate/ The Republican Senate candidate Herschel Walker, a staunch anti-abortion politician accused by a former girlfriend of encouraging and paying for her abortion in 2009, used his only debate against the Democratic senator Raphael Warnock on Friday to deny his previous support for an outright national abortion ban. The former college football and NFL star, who is endorsed by Donald Trump, was asked about his support for “a complete ban on a national level”. He said the moderator misstated his position. That contradicted statements made repeatedly on the campaign trail, including in July when Walker said it was “a problem” that no national ban existed. Walker also answered an attack from Warnock about his past claims about being a law enforcement officer by producing what he said was a police badge. Warnock said: “You can support police officers as I’ve done … while at the same time holding police officers, like all professions, accountable. One thing I have not done, I’ve never pretended to be a police officer. And I’ve never, I’ve never threatened a shootout with the police.” Saying “I have to respond to that”, Walker produced his badge. Walker has never been a trained law enforcement officer, though he has law enforcement endorsements. As Walker brandished his badge, the debate moderator said: “Mr Walker, Mr Walker – excuse me, Mr Walker. I need to let you know, Mr Walker, you are very well aware of the rules tonight. And you have a prop that is not allowed. Sir, I asked you to put that prop away.” Walker did not do so immediately. The moderator said: “Excuse me, sir. You’re very well aware of the rules, aren’t you?” Walker said: “Well, let’s talk about the truth.” Walker’s apparent battle with the truth over abortion has become a theme of the midterm elections. On Friday, he said his position was the same as Georgia’s state law, a so-called heartbeat bill that bans abortion at six weeks, before many women know they are pregnant. That law went into effect this year after the US supreme court overturned the right to abortion. The heated exchange on abortion was one of many that highlighted stark differences between Warnock and Walker. Warnock did not directly bring up the allegation about Walker paying for an abortion, leaving moderators to elicit a flat denial. Walker blasted Warnock for being a Baptist pastor who supports abortion rights. “Instead of aborting those babies, why aren’t you baptizing those babies?” he said. Warnock said “God gave us a choice and I respect the right of women to make a decision”, adding that Walker “wants to arrogate more power to politicians than God has”. Warnock and his fellow Democrat Jon Ossoff won their Senate seats in a January 2021 special election, two months after Joe Biden beat Trump in Georgia by fewer than 12,000 votes. It was the first time in two decades Democrats won federal elections in the state, raising questions about whether Warnock can win again as Biden’s popularity falls. In-person voting begins on Monday. The outcome will help determine control of the Senate, currently split 50-50. Onstage, Walker claimed Warnock was a Biden puppet, saying the election was about what they “had done to you and your family” in an inflationary economy. Warnock said the election was about “who is ready to represent Georgia”. Walker blamed Warnock and Biden for inflation but offered little when asked what he would do to fix it. Walker said the first step was “getting back” to energy independence rather than depending “on our enemies”. The US had never been free from fossil fuel imports, some from countries such as Russia. Warnock highlighted Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act, focusing on provisions he sponsored capping insulin and other healthcare costs, the extension of the child tax credit and infrastructure provisions he shepherded with Republicans. He offered few specifics about further steps. Warnock declined to say if Biden, nearing 80, should seek re-election in 2024. Walker deviated from Trump by saying Biden won legitimately in 2020. But he said he would support Trump if he ran in 2024. Both Walker and Warnock said they would accept the outcome of their election. Both men discussed their personal lives. Recent reporting by the Daily Beast disclosed records of an abortion receipt and personal check from Walker to a woman who said he paid for her abortion. Walker’s denials have continued even after the woman identified herself as the mother of one of his four children. Walker acknowledged three children publicly for the first time only after Beast reporting. Other reports have detailed how Walker has exaggerated academic achievements, business success and philanthropic activities, as well as accusations he threatened the life of his ex-wife beyond details acknowledged in a 2008 memoir. In perhaps his most effective debate move, Warnock alluded to such stories. “We will see time and time again tonight, as we’ve always seen, that my opponent has a problem with the truth,” said Warnock. Dismissing reports that a foundation tied to Ebenezer Baptist Church, where he is senior pastor, had evicted tenants from real-estate holdings, Warnock said Walker was trying to “sully the name of Martin Luther King’s church”. Walker pointed to his memoir, in which he detailed a diagnosis of dissociative personality disorder. Walker said he had “been transparent” and “continue[d] to get help if I need help, but I don’t need any help. I’m doing well. I’m ready to lead today.” Walker declined three debates typical in Georgia campaigns. The Savannah debate did not include the libertarian Chase Oliver, who did not meet a polling threshold. Warnock will meet Oliver in a Sunday debate sponsored by the Atlanta Press Club. Walker will be represented by an empty podium. Read More Here

Kamikaze Drones Hit Zaporizhzhia As Rocket Strikes Kyiv, Ukrainian Officials Say | CNN https://digitalarkansasnews.com/kamikaze-drones-hit-zaporizhzhia-as-rocket-strikes-kyiv-ukrainian-officials-say-cnn/ Ukrainian commanders show video of drone strikes on Russian targets 03:32 – Source: CNN CNN  —  Ukrainian officials say the southern city of Zaporizhzhia came under attack again from Russian forces early Saturday, in an assault involving kamikaze drones and missiles. The city was struck by “10 or more” C300 missiles Saturday morning, following four strikes by “kamikaze” drones overnight, said Oleksandr Starukh, the head of Zaporizhzhia’s regional military administration. “As a result of the Shahed-136 UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle) attack, infrastructure facilities in the city of Zaporizhzhia were destroyed. Fires broke out, which were contained in time by our rescuers. There are no casualties,” Starukh said. The city’s acting mayor Anatoliy Kurtev also reported what he referred to as an “insidious attack on Zaporizhzhia with kamikaze drones” in a Telegram post. Kamikaze drones, or suicide drones, are a type of aerial weapon system. They are known as a loitering munition because they are capable of waiting for some time in an area identified as a potential target and only strike once an enemy asset is identified. The Ukrainian military and US intelligence say Russia is using Iranian-made attack drones in Ukraine. US officials told CNN in July that Iran had begun showcasing Shahed series drones to Russia at Kashan Airfield south of Tehran the previous month. The drones are capable of carrying precision-guided missiles and have a payload of about 50 kilograms (110 pounds). The city of Zaporizhzhia houses Europe’s largest nuclear plant and shelling in the area has previously sparked fears of a nuclear disaster. The apparent attacks on the city came as Ukrainian officials claimed the capital Kyiv had been hit by an apparent Russian rocket. Civilians in and around the capital, Kyiv were warned to remain in shelters until air raid sirens stopped. “All services are working, rescue teams are on site,” said the head of Kyiv regional state administration Oleksiy Kuleba in a Telegram post. “Stay in your shelters until the air raid sirens stop. Do not record the place of impact and do not post photos and videos on social networks.” Kuleba said no casualties had been reported. A major energy infrastructure facility in the Kyiv region was also left severely damaged after a Russian missile attack early Saturday, according to Ukraine’s energy operator. Ukrenergo warned about the possibility of rolling blackouts on Telegram, urging local residents to save electricity from 5:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. local time Saturday so specialists could carry out essential restoration work. Russian shelling on the frontline killed at least one person and left another three injured over the past day. A 66-year-old civilian was killed by shelling in Kharkiv district close to the Russian border, according to a military official. Moscow also bombarded the settlements of Kharkiv, Izyum, Kupiansk and Chuhuyiv districts, the head of the Kharkiv Regional Military Adminstration, Oleh Syniehubov, said on Telegram. A 74-year-old man was also injured in the Kupiansk district. Houses and commercial buildings were damaged in Vovchansk, where fires broke out due to shelling. Separately, a 65-year-old man was seriously injured when his car ran over a mine in the Chuhuyiv district, Syniehubov added. Further south, Russian shelling in the Dniper-river town of Nikopol left a 35-year-old man and a 42-year-old woman hospitalized, according to a military official. Critical infrastructure including high-rise buildings, a transport company and several shops and offices were struck, according to Valentyn Reznichenko, head of the Dnipropetrovsk Regional Military Administration. Read More Here

Michael Myers Has 1 Big Trump Regret In James Corden Spoof https://digitalarkansasnews.com/michael-myers-has-1-big-trump-regret-in-james-corden-spoof/ Michael Myers Has 1 Big Trump Regret In James Corden Spoof “Halloween” killer Michael Myers shows no remorse for all the murders in a new spoof segment starring “The Late Late Show” host James Corden. Instead, the fictional character’s biggest anguish is getting swept up in former President Donald Trump’s divisive rhetoric and storming the U.S. Capitol as part of the Jan. 6 insurrection. “That was a huge mistake,” Corden says as Myers in the parody video released this week, which documents his journey from Democrat to Trump devotee and back again. “I guess I got caught up with all the other people there wearing masks and costumes, that’s totally my vibe, but it just got so out of hand, so fast,” he explains, later concluding: “People can change — I totally condemn Donald Trump now.” Watch the video here: This article originally appeared on HuffPost and has been updated. Related… GOP Sen. Ron Johnson Booed After Debate Answer Backfires Rep. Lauren Boebert Ripped By GOP Primary Rival In Withering Op-Ed ‘I’m Sorry … Mr. Snowflake’: Trump Gets Stark Reality Check From Rep. Jamie Raskin Read More Here

Senate Candidate Herschel Walker Brandishes 'police Badge' In Georgia Debate – Video https://digitalarkansasnews.com/senate-candidate-herschel-walker-brandishes-police-badge-in-georgia-debate-video/ The Republican Senate candidate Herschel Walker addressed past claims about being a law enforcement officer by producing what he said was a police badge. The former college football and NFL star, who is endorsed by Donald Trump, was accused of ‘pretending to be a police officer’ by his rival, Democratic senator Raphael Warnock, during a debate on Friday. Saying ‘I have to respond to that,’ Walker produced his badge. Walker has never been a trained law enforcement officer, though he has law enforcement endorsements Herschel Walker denies abortion ban support and brandishes ‘police badge’ in Georgia debate Read More Here

U.S. Rep. Liz Cheney Hints At Next Steps For January 6 Committee In Lecture At Notre Dame https://digitalarkansasnews.com/u-s-rep-liz-cheney-hints-at-next-steps-for-january-6-committee-in-lecture-at-notre-dame/ SOUTH BEND — The House Select Committee investigating the January 6 insurrection on the U.S. Capitol will take its next steps in a unanimous way, Vice Chairperson Liz Cheney, R-Wyo., said in a speech at Notre Dame on Friday, a day after the committee voted to subpoena former President Donald Trump. Cheney gave her remarks in response to questions from students at an event sponsored by Notre Dame’s Center for Citizenship and Constitutional Government. During her speech, Chaney spelled out the work of the committee and the threat to democracy she said she believes election deniers pose. The Congresswoman did not give a definite answer on whether the committee plans to make any formal criminal referrals to the Justice Department. Instead, she directed the audience to consider U.S. District Judge David Carter’s March opinion, which found it “more likely than not that President Trump attempted to obstruct the Joint Session of Congress on January 6, 2021.” January 6 recap:Panel subpoenas Trump, reveals new Pelosi video “I don’t want to get ahead of the committee,” Cheney said. “I think you will see the committee’s work in this regard done in a unanimous way and I think there’s no question about the answer.” Some have reported that Thursday’s televised meeting could be the committee’s last public hearing. “It’s not necessarily the last day,” Cheney told a full auditorium at Notre Dame’s Washington Hall. “It’s very important that the investigation be conducted in a way that is rigorous and disciplined and responsible.” Recapping the work of the committee so far, Cheney described its purpose as an effort to hold accountable not only those who stormed the Capitol, but also those who contributed to the rhetoric that led to the events of January 6. “If we don’t do that, then the indefensible conduct becomes defensible,” the congresswoman said. “If elected officials excuse or ignore what happened, then that inexcusable conduct becomes excusable.” She described walking the halls of the Capitol on January 6 and returning to the House floor around 9 p.m. after the building had been secured. Glass was shattered from windows and doors, and plastic hoods from gas masks distributed to members of congress still lied about the chamber, Cheney said. In the days after the insurrection, the Congresswoman said she looked to her sons and came upon a realization. Trump responds:Former president blasts latest Jan. 6 hearing “Even if you disagreed with the outcome of an election, even if you fought that election hard and you understood that your candidate lost, we could count on the people leading us to guarantee a peaceful transfer of power, and I looked to my sons and I thought to myself, ‘Are they going to be the generation that no longer can count on that?'” Cheney said. “I was determined then, I’m determined now, and as long as I am in every way possible, I’m going to fight to make sure that’s not the case.” Cheney’s outspoken support of the January 6 committee comes as other Republican leaders have publicly backed the former president and thwarted attempts to investigate the riot at the Capitol. House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy opposed legislation in May 2021 proposing a bipartisan commission to study the insurrection. And, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell said at that time that the issue had already been litigated through Trump’s second impeachment trial. In February, the Republican National Committee voted to censure Cheney and fellow January 6 Republican committee member Adam Kinzinger for their roles investigating the attack, and Cheney lost an August primary for her Wyoming House seat to a Trump-backed challenger. Trump on Wednesday sent a 14-page memo to the committee calling its hearings a “Show Trial” and “Witch Hunt.” Cheney said it’s important for those following the proceedings to understand a majority of the committee’s witnesses have been Republicans, including some who were very close to the former president. She said she’s heard from some Republicans colleagues who are fearful of speaking up against election deniers and admonished those who still perpetuate the notion of a stolen election. “This isn’t about politics,” Cheney said. “Donald Trump was the one person who could tell the mob to stop. He was the one person who can get people to go home and watch for hours. I want you to think about what kind of human being does that.” Cheney spoke at length about divisions in the Republican Party and acknowledged the difficult conversations now being had at kitchen tables across the country. She called for a return to “respectful dialogue” and a “commitment to the truth.” How to vote:Here’s what to know about St. Joseph County races Cheney’s term as Wyoming’s sole House representative ends in January. Asked about her political future and whether she plans to run for president in 2024, Cheney said she hasn’t made a decision but that she considers it an important year. “It’s going to be crucial that we elect people who defend the constitution,” Cheney said. “We have a lot of excellent candidates. We have a lot of bad candidates.” She encouraged Republicans in the Midterms not to vote for GOP candidates who deny the results of the 2020 election and to instead either write somebody in or vote for a Democrat. “Vote for serious people,” Cheney said. “There are certainly Democrats who are serious. We also have Republicans who aren’t serious. On both sides of the aisle, when you go into vote, think about it in terms of ‘Would I hire this person? Would I trust this babysit my kids?'” Email South Bend Tribune education reporter Carley Lanich at clanich@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter: @carleylanich. Read More Here

Obama Coming To Wisconsin To Stump For Barnes, Evers https://digitalarkansasnews.com/obama-coming-to-wisconsin-to-stump-for-barnes-evers/ MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Former President Barack Obama, who twice won Wisconsin by large margins, is coming to the battleground state in the final days of the campaign to give a boost to the Democratic governor and challenger to Republican U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson. Obama plans to hold an early vote event on Oct. 29 in Milwaukee, the state’s largest city and home to the largest group of African American voters. Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes is taking on Johnson and would be the first Black senator from Wisconsin should he win. Barnes, who is from Milwaukee, has been trying to energize Black voters in a race that a Marquette University Law School poll this week showed Johnson with an apparent lead. Gov. Tony Evers is challenged by Tim Michels, a construction company co-owner who is endorsed by former President Donald Trump. Marquette polls for months have shown that race to be about even. U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin, U.S. Rep. Gwen Moore, who represents Milwaukee, are also slated to appear along with other Democratic candidates for office, including Attorney General Josh Kaul. Obama won Wisconsin in 2008 by 14 points and by 7 points in 2012. Those wide margins in presidential races are unusual in the state that Trump won by less than a point in 2016 but lost to President Joe Biden by less than a point in 2020. Read More Here

Wisconsin Gov. Evers, Michels Display Differences In Debate https://digitalarkansasnews.com/wisconsin-gov-evers-michels-display-differences-in-debate/ MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers tried to cast his Republican challenger Tim Michels as a radical in a Friday debate, while Michels argued that Evers has failed the state and doesn’t deserve a second term. Michels is endorsed by former President Donald Trump, which he touted during the Republican primary, but he did not mention that backing in Friday’s debate. Evers defended his record and made a push for increasing funding for schools and local governments. Polls have shown the race to be about even. Highlights from the debate: ABORTION Michels said Evers and his allies were mischaracterizing his position on abortion, “calling me a radical. I am pro life and I make no apologies for that.” Michels said he would sign a bill creating an exception to Wisconsin’s 1849 near total abortion ban for rape and incest. Before he won the August primary Michels did not support exceptions. Michels said he was not against contraception. When asked if he would make it illegal for people from Wisconsin to travel to other states to obtain an abortion, he said “I’m not going to be this radical guy with checks at the border.” Evers supports codifying Roe v. Wade. “Women should have the ability and the right to make decisions about their health care, including reproductive health care, and that includes abortion,” he said. “My opponent is radical on this position … and not consistent with Wisconsin values.” GUNS Evers voiced his support for so-called red flag laws that would allow for judges to take weapons away from people determined to be a danger and universal gun background checks. He noted that polls have shown broad support among Wisconsin residents for both. Michels said that “crime is running rampant” and “I’m going to fix it.” “And guns? I have a solution for that,” Michels said, without detailing what that solution was. Michels opposes red flag laws and universal background checks. “We need to make sure we uphold the Constitution and law abiding gun owners are not having their guns confiscated,” he said. Evers said that wasn’t a concern. “Responsible gun owners don’t have to worry about red flag laws because it will never be an issue for them,” he said. ELECTIONS Evers defended the 2020 presidential election, which President Joe Biden narrowly won over Trump, saying it was “safe, secure and there was no fraud.” He faulted Michels for raising questions about the validity of the election. Biden’s win over Trump has withstood reviews, audits, lawsuits and recounts. “Voting rights are on this ballot,” Evers said. “It is radical to say ‘I’m not sure how this works out’ or ‘fraud happened’ when it didn’t happen.” Michels vowed to work with the GOP-controlled Legislature to increase faith in elections. He also promised to certify every election as governor. “Under a Gov. Michels administration we will never have questions,” he said. “Of course I will certify the election.” EDUCATION Michels voiced his support for making access to taxpayer funded school vouchers universal. He has previously said he would not increase funding for public schools. “We’re going to spend as much money as any governor has on education but we’re going to spend it wisely,” he said. Evers, a former teacher, school administrator and state superintendent of schools, has released a plan to increase public school funding by $2 billion. He said the Michels plan, which would decrease funding to public schools by 40%, was radical and opposed by a majority of Wisconsin residents. CONFLICT OF INTEREST Michels, who co-owns the state’s largest construction firm Michels Corp., said if elected he will completely divest from the company. State records show Michels Corp. has received more than $1.1 billion from Wisconsin for construction projects since 2014. “There will be no conflict of interest,” Michels said. Evers said even if he divests, Michels Corp. will still be bidding for state projects. “I think it’s going to look kind of fishy,” Evers said. ODDS AND ENDS: — Evers repeated his call for increasing funding for local governments, saying that’s the solution to addressing crime. Michels said Evers has failed to reduce crime and also faulted the state parole commission for releasing convicted murderers and rapists. — Michels described the Evers’ administration as the “Barnes-Evers administration.” Mandela Barnes is currently lieutenant governor but he is running for U.S. Senate. The most recent Marquette University Law School poll this week showed U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson with an apparent lead over Barnes, while Evers and Michels were about even. — In response to a question about climate change, after Michels cast doubt about whether it’s caused by actions of people, Evers responded, “Instead of blah, blah here, I’m going to talk about our clean energy plan.” — Evers, when asked to address attacks made against him in the campaign, said claims that he isn’t a hard worker and spends too much time sleeping “is a bunch of crap.” Read More Here