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Encrypted Messages, Secret Recording: Inside Week One Of The Oath Keepers Trial And A Look At What https://digitalarkansasnews.com/encrypted-messages-secret-recording-inside-week-one-of-the-oath-keepers-trial-and-a-look-at-what/ WASHINGTON, D.C. — Prosecutors presented encrypted messages, a secret recording and witness testimony in the case against the right-wing militia group Oath Keepers last week, a potential sign of what could be ahead as the trial moves into week two on Tuesday. Leader Stewart Rhodes and four other members of the Oath Keepers — Ohioan Jessica Watkins, Virginian Thomas Caldwell and Floridians Kelly Meggs and Ken Harrelson — face numerous charges in connection with the Jan. 6 Capitol attack; the trial began in federal court last week.  That includes the rare charge of seditious conspiracy. In legal terms, that means conspiring against the government through the use or threat of force in an attempt to prevent the peaceful transfer of power or functioning of the government. That charge alone holds a maximum prison sentence of 20 years. Other counts in the indictment include obstructing an official proceeding and conspiring to obstruct it,conspiring to prevent an officer from discharging duties, destruction of government property, civil disorder and tampering with documents or proceedings. To earn a guilty verdict from the D.C. jury, prosecutors must prove those charges beyond a reasonable doubt.  Here’s everything we learned during the first week of the Oath Keepers’ trial.  Who are the Oath Keepers?: What we know about the right-wing group, members’ trial Both sides lay out roadmaps to cases The prosecution: The government painted members of the Oath Keepers as masterminds behind a long-planned and carefully coordinated plot to stop the peaceful transfer of presidential power on Jan. 6, 2021 – by any means necessary. “Notice the role these five defendants played: leaders,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey Nestler said in the government’s opening remarks.  Stewart Rhodes — the Yale-educated, eye-patch wearing founder of the Oath Keepers — is the leader of them all, the prosecution argued. During the Capitol attack, Rhodes remained outside the building “like a general overlooking a battlefield while his troops stormed inside,” Nestler said.  The defense: Defense attorneys for Rhodes and his four co-defendants say the government’s portrayal of the Oath Keepers and its members is wrong.  “Improper context can mislead and lead to improper conclusions,” Jonathan Crisp, Watkins’ attorney, said in his opening remarks. Oath Keepers trial opening remarks: Prosecutors argue militia members were ‘leaders’ on Jan. 6 The evidence Prosecutors showed evidence that the Oath Keepers began planning for a violent confrontation in D.C. the same day Joe Biden was named president-elect. Rhodes wrote in a Nov. 7, 2020 chat on Signal, an encrypted messaging app, to other Oath Keepers that they must refuse to accept his nomination and get their “gear squared away and ready to fight.” On a Nov. 9 conference call among more than 100 Oath Keepers, secretly recorded by one attendee, Rhodes spelled out plans to travel to D.C. for the Million MAGA March later that month, where thousands gathered to protest purported election fraud. No widespread election fraud has ever been found in the 2020 election. Defendants Watkins and Meggs, also on the call, weighed which weapons could be legally brought into D.C., like pepper spray, tasers and stun guns – “and it doesn’t hurt to have a lead pipe with a flag on it,” Meggs said. Many of the plans discussed on the call were later replicated or refined on Jan. 6, prosecutors alleged. “We’re not getting out of this without a fight,” Rhodes said on the call. Prosecution’s evidence: Messages after 2020 election show plans for armed confrontation in D.C. A Dec. 2, 2020 document titled “OP PLAN D.C. FIRST DRAFT,” created by defendant Caldwell, laid out an early operation plan for the Oath Keepers, the prosecution alleged. In it, Caldwell suggests bringing “striking weapons” and includes a link to a tactical camping tomahawk ax called “Zombie Killer.” “When the battle is joined, apply the striking weapon wherever it will do the most good, including to the head or face area,” Caldwell wrote in the plan. He also suggests burner phones and unregistered weapons,  noting that it would “lend credence to plausible deniability.” Those weapons should be wiped down and discarded as soon as practicable, Caldwell wrote in the document. Novel defense: A 1800s-inspired defense meets most significant Jan. 6 prosecution yet The testimony Six witnesses called by the prosecution have offered insight into the Oath Keepers’ organization, collective psyche and plans ahead of Jan. 6.  FBI Special Agent Michael Palian was sent to the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021 after violence broke out that day. He described the scene as looking like a “bomb had gone off in there.” Much of the prosecution’s message and audio evidence was verified and analyzed by Palian.  Former Oath Keeper John Zimmerman, who led a North Carolina chapter of the group, detailed their plan to travel to D.C. for the Million MAGA March in November 2020. Concerned about violence from “BLM and Antifa,” the Oath Keepers stockpiled 12-15 long guns in his van outside of D.C. in case Trump invoked the Insurrection Act. Abdullah Rasheed, a former Oath Keeper from West Virginia, testified that he recorded the Nov. 9, 2020 call. “The more I listened to the call, it sounded like we were going to war against the United States government,” he told the jury. The defense sought to discredit Rasheed by pointing to a prior felony conviction.  Former Oath Keeper Michael Adams testified that he rebooted and led the Florida chapter of the organization. He said he resigned from his position in December 2020 due to the Oath Keepers’ “posture as a militia group,” which he found “problematic.” U.S. Capitol Police Special Agent Ryan McCamley testified to Rhodes’ presence in D.C. on Dec. 12, where the militia leader later said at a rally that if Trump did not invoke the Insurrection Act, “we’re going to have to do it ourselves later, in a much more desperate, much more bloody war.” McCamley confirmed during cross-examination by the defense that he did not witness Rhodes engaged in anything illegal. FBI Special Agent Byron Cody began testifying Friday about Rhodes’ public pleas to Trump to invoke the Insurrection Act.  What’s next? The Oath Keepers trial will resume after the long weekend Tuesday morning. Though there are sure to be some surprises, here’s what to expect when it picks up again:  FBI Special Agent Byron Cody will retake the stand for cross-examination by Rhodes’ attorneys.  Prosecutors said Friday that two FBI agents who recovered items from defendants Meggs and Watkins’ homes, plus Arizona’s Ernest Hancock, who recorded a video on Jan. 6, could testify next week. That depends on whether Meggs’ attorney, Stanley Woodward, agrees that the evidence recovered by the FBI and Hancock’s video from Jan. 6 are authentic. If he does not, it would require those individuals to testify to the evidence’s authenticity. Hancock has attempted to invoke the Fifth Amendment, prosecutors said, though they do not believe he holds that right under these circumstances. Last week, Judge Amit Mehta weighed in on requiring the individuals to testify: “It’s going extend the length of this trial, and it’s not going to make me happy,” he said. Read More Here

DeSantis Fired Him Over Abortion. Now He’s Firing Back. https://digitalarkansasnews.com/desantis-fired-him-over-abortion-now-hes-firing-back/ Photo Illustration by Thomas Levinson/The Daily Beast/Getty When Florida’s Republican governor fired the Tampa area’s top prosecutor for defying the state’s transgender and abortion crackdown, Ron DeSantis made it clear that he believes his power as governor supersedes the power of voters. But now that prosecutor, Andrew Warren, is suing to get his job back, and the twice-elected state attorney tells The Daily Beast this is more than a fight over his employment; it’s about whether a strongman governor can single-handedly toss a democratically elected local official out of office. “Can a governor just overturn elections in the state of Florida? If the governor has the power to do so, then what’s left of democracy?” Warren said in an interview Friday. DeSantis, whose sycophantic political ads vowing loyalty to then-President Donald Trump got him into office in 2019, followed the president’s lead and turned Tallahassee into a MAGA hot zone that rejected bipartisanship and waged war on progressives. But he did it more effectively than Trump, launching a crusade to ban certain books in schools, halt transgender health care for young people, isolate and bully gay kids, and target transgender athletes in schools. It’s that unrelenting conservative crusade that concerns Warren, who says DeSantis could feel emboldened to next target elected school board members for defying his book bans and punitive crackdowns on gay and transgender kids. Ron DeSantis Knows Surviving in the GOP Means Never Playing Nice “There’s so much more at stake than my job. This is a fight to stop the erosion of our democracy. It’s to ensure our democracy has meaning, so we have elected officials and not a king, so no governor can steal the people’s vote and silence their voice. Regardless of what party you belong to, your vote matters,” Warren said. This particular battle started shortly after the Supreme Court stripped women of abortion rights in June, when Warren and other elected prosecutors across the country sought to temper widespread fears about misogynistic crackdowns. Warren signed a joint statement vowing to not “criminalize reproductive health decisions.” DeSantis, seething over what he called a “woke” resistance, announced with much fanfare on Aug. 4 that he was suspending the Hillsborough County state attorney. The executive order accused Warren of “eroding the rule of law” and “encouraging lawlessness.” Warren sued two weeks later in federal court. Things haven’t gone well for DeSantis so far. For starters, the Warren case landed before U.S. District Judge Robert L. Hinkle, who already had some experience throwing a damp towel on DeSantis power grabs. In 2021, DeSantis and MAGA Republicans tried to throw Trump and extreme right-wing conservatives a lifeline by passing a law forbidding any social media company from deplatforming a political candidate. Hinkle was the judge who blocked them, issuing a preliminary injunction that was eventually upheld on appeal and is currently awaiting input from the Supreme Court. In Warren’s case, the judge has already refused the DeSantis administration’s request to dismiss the lawsuit. On Sept. 29, he issued an order saying that Warren can continue claiming his First Amendment rights were violated when he was fired. And just last week, Hinkle again sided against DeSantis—and hinted at how this case might go. The judge issued an order reiterating how wrong the governor’s legal theory is, namely that public employees’ on-the-job statements aren’t protected by the First Amendment and can be subject to discipline by their employer. The law DeSantis’s lawyers are trying to cite “does not apply to speech of elected officials, who are not subject to employer discipline,” the judge wrote. It shows how the judge is already making a distinction here that Warren was an elected official, not an agency employee the DeSantis administration can target vindictively—as it is accused of doing to Rebekah Jones, the Health Department researcher who claims she was pressured to resign when she wouldn’t fake COVID-19 data to make Florida look good. DeSantis Bizarrely Claims ‘Regime’ Media Wanted a Hurricane to Hit Tampa “The judge ruled quite clearly I’m not an employee of the governor, and I’m accountable to the people,” Warren told The Daily Beast. “If you believe in the principles of conservative government, local control, why is Tallahassee dictating to the voters in Hillsborough who their state attorney should be?” This isn’t the first time DeSantis and this local prosecutor have been at odds. In 2018, when 65 percent of Floridians approved Amendment 4 to restore voting rights to some ex-felons, DeSantis and the GOP scrambled to limit it the following year. Six months later, Warren announced a new program that would make his state attorney’s office part of the process, showing a commitment that was more consistent with what voters actually approved. Then in March 2020, just as the new COVID-19 pandemic was killing 1,000 Americans a day and overwhelming hospitals that still didn’t know how to treat it effectively, Warren cracked down on a conspiracy-spewing pastor putting his congregation at risk. Rodney Howard-Browne kept ignoring new social distancing rules and instead packed his megachurch, where he preached about the threat of the “globalist agenda” and celebrated Donald Trump for supposedly fighting back the “New World Order.” The pastor was arrested and Warren’s office initially prosecuted the case for violating public health emergency orders, but DeSantis relaxed state rules for churches immediately after the arrest, and Warren eventually dropped the case. And in 2021, Warren pushed back on the governor’s ploy to threaten the lives of street protesters. DeSantis signed a so-called “anti-riot” law that gave enraged drivers a green light to run over demonstrators and denied bail for people arrested at a riot. Warren shot back with a statement saying that it “tears a couple corners off the Constitution.” Warren told The Daily Beast he hasn’t thought about what actions he’ll take to counter the DeSantis administration next if he gets his old job again, but he vowed to keep pushing back. “I think he’s abused his power to advance his ambition of running for president. My suspension’s not the only example. He’s pulled other political stunts that just reek of political gamesmanship that don’t do anything to help Floridians,” he said. “I’m not in a position to comment on the legality of all of them. But what we’re doing is holding him accountable for this stunt.” Read more at The Daily Beast. Get the Daily Beast’s biggest scoops and scandals delivered right to your inbox. Sign up now. Stay informed and gain unlimited access to the Daily Beast’s unmatched reporting. Subscribe now. Read More Here

Russia Strikes Kyiv And Cities Across Ukraine After Crimea Bridge Attack https://digitalarkansasnews.com/russia-strikes-kyiv-and-cities-across-ukraine-after-crimea-bridge-attack/ KYIV, Ukraine — A series of blasts rocked Kyiv on Monday morning, with some strikes landing in the heart of the Ukrainian capital’s downtown during rush hour, and rocket attacks hit cities across the country, as Russia apparently sought to take revenge for an explosion Saturday on the Crimean Bridge. Suspected Russian missiles caused heavy explosions around 8:15 a.m., and vehicles were in flames near Taras Shevchenko Park — on a road often jammed with rush-hour traffic. At least five people were killed, and at least a dozen others were injured in the strikes, the Kyiv police department reported on its Telegram channel. Explosions were reported across other major Ukrainian cities on Monday, including in Zaporizhzhia, Dnipro, Kharkiv and Lviv, as Moscow unleashed a barrage of missiles in waves. In Kyiv, the strikes came in two waves, the first attack on the city since June. But even when Russian forces were on the outskirts of the capital in the early months of the war, no attack had hit so directly in the city center. Russia’s strikes in the heart of the capital raised questions about the strength of Ukraine’s air defenses, which officials have been pushing Western countries to bolster through additional security assistance. Ukraine’s foreign minister, Dmytro Kuleba, said Kyiv was reaching out to its Western allies to organize a response to Monday’s strikes. “I am in constant contact with partners since early morning today to coordinate a resolute response to Russians attacks,” Kuleba posted on Twitter. “I am also interrupting my Africa tour and heading back to Ukraine immediately.” Monday’s strike appeared to be retribution for Saturday’s attack on the bridge across the Kerch Strait, which has partially reopened, including to rail traffic. The Crimean Bridge is a strategic link between mainland Russia and Crimea and a symbol of President Vladimir Putin’s ambitions to annex Ukrainian territory. Putin blamed Ukrainian special services for the attack. “There is no doubt that the attack was aimed at destroying critical civilian infrastructure of the Russian Federation,” Putin said in a video released by the Kremlin on Sunday. The 12-mile span, while used by civilians, is a crucial military logistics conduit for Russia’s military, the only direct road and rail route from mainland Russia to Crimea, which the Kremlin invaded and illegally annexed in 2014. Monday’s attacks followed Russia’s announcement on Saturday that Gen. Sergei Surovikin had been named overall commander of the war in Ukraine. Surovikin is a veteran officer who led the Russian military expedition in Syria in 2017. Monday’s missile strikes shattered the sense of relative peace that Kyiv has experienced since April, when Ukrainian troops pushed Russian forces to retreat from the northern edges of the region. Reports of explosions occurring throughout the country over several hours harked back to the first day of the war, when Russia attempted to wipe out Ukrainian military installations to set the stage for the invasion. On Monday, however, the targets appeared to be mostly civilian. About 90 minutes after the first explosions rocked the capital, emergency workers and military personnel were arrayed around an intersection that was hit in central Kyiv. The site is next to a major university complex and Taras Shevchenko Park, which is popular with families. One of the missiles landed in the park’s playground. The burned-out hulls of several cars remained, and at least one body bag was visible on the pavement. Glass from shattered building windows littered the sidewalk. Another missile hit a glass pedestrian bridge in downtown Kyiv that had been a popular site for tourists. Kyiv has come back to life in the months since Russia failed to seize the capital and topple the government. People routinely ignored air-raid sirens while sitting at outdoor cafes and walking around town. Foreign diplomats, who had evacuated the city in the early days of the war, have all returned, and many were posting reports about the strikes on Monday while urging their teams to seek safety. In the western city of Lviv, a refuge for thousands of displaced Ukrainians because it is far from the front line, missiles struck a power plant and knocked out electricity and hot water in some places, the mayor, Andriy Sadovyi, said on Twitter. “They are trying to destroy us and wipe us off the face of the earth,” Zelensky said in a statement on Telegram. “Destroy our people who are sleeping at home in Zaporizhzhia. Kill people who go to work in Dnipro and Kyiv.” Khurshudyan reported from Kryvyi Rih, Ukraine. War in Ukraine: What you need to know The latest: Russian President Vladimir Putin signed decrees Friday to annex four occupied regions of Ukraine, following staged referendums that were widely denounced as illegal. Follow our live updates here. The response: The Biden administration on Friday announced a new round of sanctions on Russia, in response to the annexations, targeting government officials and family members, Russian and Belarusian military officials and defense procurement networks. President Volodymyr Zelensky also said Friday that Ukraine is applying for “accelerated ascension” into NATO, in an apparent answer to the annexations. In Russia: Putin declared a military mobilization on Sept. 21 to call up as many as 300,000 reservists in a dramatic bid to reverse setbacks in his war on Ukraine. The announcement led to an exodus of more than 180,000 people, mostly men who were subject to service, and renewed protests and other acts of defiance against the war. The fight: Ukraine mounted a successful counteroffensive that forced a major Russian retreat in the northeastern Kharkiv region in early September, as troops fled cities and villages they had occupied since the early days of the war and abandoned large amounts of military equipment. Photos: Washington Post photographers have been on the ground from the beginning of the war — here’s some of their most powerful work. How you can help: Here are ways those in the U.S. can support the Ukrainian people as well as what people around the world have been donating. Read our full coverage of the Russia-Ukraine war. Are you on Telegram? Subscribe to our channel for updates and exclusive video. Read More Here

State Sports Briefs https://digitalarkansasnews.com/state-sports-briefs/ WOMEN’S SOCCER ASU unable to extend winning streak Louisiana-Monroe scored twice in a 15-minute span during the first half Sunday afternoon at Brown Stadium in Monroe, La., holding off Arkansas State for a 2-1 victory. The Warhawks got the game’s opening goal from Lena Goppel in the 30th minute off a Inge Konst free kick. Louisiana-Monroe (10-3-2, 2-3-1 Sun Belt Conference) doubled its advantage before halftime with the same tandem, as Goppel slotted her second goal into the bottom right corner. Abigail Miller pulled the Red Wolves within a goal in the final 10 minutes and McKenzie Robinson put a shot on goal during the final 20 seconds for ASU (6-5-2, 4-2-0) as the visitors were unable to draw level, snapping the Red Wolves’ four-game winning streak. — Mitchell Gladstone Peel’s equalizer helps UALR women to draw Bronte Peel pulled the University of Arkansas-Little Rock level minutes out of halftime and Peyton Urban made five saves in the Trojans’ 1-1 draw against Southern Illinois-Edwardsville Sunday afternoon at Korte Stadium in Edwardsville, Ill. UALR (5-6-3, 2-3-1 Ohio Valley Conference) trailed 1-0 at the break, but Peel sent one past the Cougars’ goalkeeper in the 47th minute off an assist from Colleen Gilland to tie the game. Southern Illinois-Edwardsville (4-5-4, 3-1-2) outshot the Trojans 14-6, but Urban pitched a second-half shutout to earn UALR a point with just two league games remaining. — Mitchell Gladstone SOCCER UCA scores early, holds on at home University of Central Arkansas (5-8-3, 3-3-2 ASUN) forward Taylor Lassiter scored her third goal on the season Sunday in the ninth minute to put the Bears ahead 1-0, a lead the Bears would keep until the end in a victory over Kennesaw State at the Bill Stephens Track and Soccer Complex in Conway. The goal was Lassiter’s lone attempt at the Kennesaw State (4-8-2-, 2-3-1) goal, but freshman forward Nina Mazzola kept the pressure on with four shots of her own. UCA outshot Kennesaw State 9-4 and captured the three points in the ASUN standings. — Sam Lane Read More…

NKorea Confirms Simulated Use Of Nukes To 'wipe Out' Enemies https://digitalarkansasnews.com/nkorea-confirms-simulated-use-of-nukes-to-wipe-out-enemies/ SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Korea’s recent barrage of missile launches were the simulated use of its tactical battlefield nuclear weapons to “hit and wipe out” potential South Korean and U.S. targets, state media reported Monday, as its leader Kim Jong Un signaled he would conduct more provocative tests. The North’s statement, released on the 77th birthday of its ruling Workers’ Party, is seen as an attempt to burnish Kim’s image as a strong leader at home amid pandemic-related hardships as he’s defiantly pushing to enlarge his weapons arsenal to wrest greater concessions from its rivals in future negotiations. “Through seven times of launching drills of the tactical nuclear operation units, the actual war capabilities … of the nuclear combat forces ready to hit and wipe out the set objects at any location and any time were displayed to the full,” the North’s official Korean Central News Agency said. KCNA said the missile tests were in response to recent naval drills between U.S. and South Korean forces, which involved the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan for the first time in five years. Viewing the drills as a military threat, North Korea decided to stage “the simulation of an actual war” to check and improve its war deterrence and send a warning to its enemies, KCNA said. North Korea considers U.S.-South Korean military drills as an invasion rehearsal, though the allies have steadfastly said they are defensive in nature. Since the May inauguration of a conservative government in Seoul, the U.S. and South Korean militaries have been expanding their exercises, posing a greater security threat to Kim. The launches — all supervised by Kim — included a nuclear-capable ballistic missile launched under a reservoir in the northeast; other ballistic missiles designed to launch nuclear strikes on South Korean airfields, ports and command facilities; and a new-type ground-to-ground ballistic missile that flew over Japan, KCNA reported. It said North Korea also flew 150 warplanes for separate live-firing and other drills in the country’s first-ever such training. Cheong Seong-Chang at the private Sejong Institute in South Korea said the missile launches marked the first time for North Korea to perform drills involving army units tasked with the operation of tactical nuclear weapons. The North’s public launch of a missile from under an inland reservoir was also the first of its kind, though it has previously test-launched missiles from a submarine. Kim Dong-yub, a professor at Seoul’s University of North Korean Studies, said North Korea likely aims to diversify launch sites to make it difficult for its enemies to detect its missile liftoffs in advance and conduct preemptive strikes. KCNA said when the weapon launched from the reservoir was flying above the sea target, North Korean authorities confirmed the reliability of the explosion of the missile’s warhead, apparently a dummy one, at the set altitude. Kim, the professor, said the missile’s estimated 600-kilometer (370-mile) flight indicated the launch could be a test of exploding a nuclear weapon above South Korea’s southeastern port city of Busan, where the Reagan previously docked. He said the missile tested appeared to be a new version of North Korea’s highly maneuverable KN-23 missile, which was modeled on Russia’s Iskander missile. North Korea described the missile that flew over Japan as a new-type intermediate-range weapon that traveled 4,500 kilometers (2,800 miles). Some foreign experts earlier said the missile was likely North Korea’s existing nuclear-capable Hwasong-12 missile, which can reach the U.S. Pacific territory of Guam. But Kim, the professor, said the missile tested recently appeared to be an improved version of the Hwasong-12 with a faraway target like Alaska or Hawaii. North Korea released a slew of photos on the launches. One of them showed Kim and his wife Ri Sol Ju, both wearing ochre field jackets, frowning while covering their ears. Some observers say the image indicated Ri’s elevated political standing because it was likely the first time for her to observe a weapons launch with her husband. Worries about North Korea’s nuclear program deepened in recent months as the country adopted a new law authorizing the preemptive use of its bombs in certain cases and took reported steps to deploy tactical nuclear weapons along its frontline border with South Korea. This year, North Korea carried out more than 40 missile launches. Some experts say Kim Jong Un would eventually aim to use his advanced nuclear arsenal to win a U.S. recognition of North Korea as a legitimate nuclear state, which Kim sees as essential in getting crippling U.N. sanctions on his country lifted. Kim Jong Un said the recent launches were “an obvious warning” to Seoul and Washington, informing them of North Korea’s nuclear attack capabilities. Kim repeated that he has no intentions of resuming the stalled disarmament diplomacy with the United States now, according to KCNA. “The U.S. and the South Korean regime’s steady, intentional and irresponsible acts of escalating the tension will only invite our greater reaction, and we are always and strictly watching the situation crisis,” Kim was quoted as saying. Kim also expressed conviction that the nuclear combat forces of his military would maintain “their strongest nuclear response posture and further strengthen it in every way” to perform their duties of defending the North’s dignity and sovereign rights. South Korean officials recently said North Korea maintains readiness to perform its first nuclear test in five years. Some experts say the nuclear test would be related to an effort to build warheads to be mounted on short-range missiles targeting South Korea. “North Korea has multiple motivations for publishing a high-profile missile story now,” said Leif-Eric Easley, a professor at Ewha University in Seoul. “Kim Jong Un’s public appearance after a month-long absence provides a patriotic headline to mark the founding anniversary of the ruling Workers’ Party.” “Pyongyang has been concerned about military exercises by the U.S., South Korea and Japan, so to strengthen its self-proclaimed deterrent, it is making explicit the nuclear threat behind its recent missile launches. The KCNA report may also be a harbinger of a forthcoming nuclear test for the kind of tactical warhead that would arm the units Kim visited in the field,” Easley said. Read More Here

7 Most Beautiful Cities In Arkansas https://digitalarkansasnews.com/7-most-beautiful-cities-in-arkansas/ Arkansas is one of the nation’s most naturally-beautiful states, with mountains, lakes, rivers, and forests surrounding exciting cities. These cities boasting vibrant history, entertainment, and unique attractions amongst modern comforts for all budgets, are the seven most beautiful in the state.  Hot Springs Aerial view of Hot Springs, Arkansas. The city, nestled cozily within the Ouachita Mountains, is most known for its thermal hot springs. It is a top tourist destination for its central location, many lakes and parks, and wellness procedures. The renowned Hot Springs National Park is set strategically in the heart of the downtown district. Other exciting attractions in the town include theme parks, annual festivals, and Oaklawn Park, home to the Arkansas Derby. One must take a stroll through the beautiful and serene Garvan Woodland Gardens, followed by a visit to one of the city’s many bathhouses. The active will enjoy hiking in the fresh air at the wildly-scenic Ouachita State Forest, as well as the Lake Ouachita Vista Trail and the Lake Catherine State Park, with water access and recreation. The Grand Promenade is a popular gathering place for strolls and people-watching, with many outdoor terraces at restaurants, cute cafes, and bars. For entertainment, there is the scenically-renowned Bathhouse Row, the Oaklawn Racing and Gaming, a visitor center, and lavishly-decorated hotels for memorable stays. Hot Springs ranks fourth on the top 100 Small Art towns in America, with a historic district full of beautiful architecture, including old hotels and motor courts in Art Deco style. There is also the popular Hot Spring Music festival and a documentary film festival in October at the historic Malco Theater. The kids love seeing animals at the Arkansas Alligator Farm or the Petting Zoo with cougars, wild boars, emus, deer, and more. Bentonville Sunset over Beautiful downtown Bentonville in spring. Editorial credit: shuttersv / Shutterstock.com The thriving city of 50,000 in the northwest corner of the state is the headquarters of three Fortune 500 companies of Walmart, Tyson Foods, and J.B. It is a naturally-beautiful city with green scape, parks, and surrounding forests. Bentonville boasts rich history and culture along the architecture-laden steers, with attractions and vibrant events. The city is most known for fabulous art pieces at venues with paintings and sculptures, outdoor art, an art studio, and an outdoor concert arena. Notable heritage sites include the renowned, free-entry Crystal Bridge museum with works by Kohn Singer Sargent, Georgia O’Keefe, Gilbert Stuart, and Andy Warhol. One must also take a free tour of Frank Lloyd Wright’s house and visit Walmart’s original five-and-dime store, while the 21 c Museum Hotel offers the most atmospheric staying experience. There is exciting nightlife, an interesting culinary scene, and many sporting events. The active will enjoy hiking and mountain biking through the immense, scenic outdoors. It is little known that thanks to Walmart, some of Bentonville’s citizens are amongst the world’s richest people, who continue to invest in the city’s development through their residency. The Northwest Arkansas Regional Airport is under half an hour from downtown, with flights to and from 15 destinations, including New York City, Chicago, and San Francisco.  Conway Toad Suck State Park, Conway, Arkansas. Conway is a quickly-expanding central city with some 65,000 lucky residents living in what is known as the top place to live in Arkansas. It is a fair claim to fame with the city’s thriving proportions and home to Hewlett Packard and Insight Enterprises, along with three higher learning institutions. Conway was founded by Asa P. Robinson, the chief engineer of the Little Rock-Fort Smith Railroad, which helped industrialize and populate the city. The educational hub of the region with a moniker “city of colleges” boasts well-educated and high-earning residents. There is the Hendrix College, Central Baptist College, and the Norbert O. Schedler Honors College, along with two-big Torreyson Library and Bailey Library. The city is bounded by an immense, namesake lake at southeast, and the grand Arkansas River flowing just west. The hot and humid summers and mildly-cool winters are perfect to enjoy the city’s natural privileges through a variety of outdoor pursuits. Conway is also laden with attractions and entertainment, including the Cadron settlement Park, Hogwild Family Fun Center, Escape Mystery Rooms, Jack’s Ultra Sports, and the Baum Gallery. It is home to historic districts with scenic streets, such as the Asa P. Robinson Historic District and the Hendrix Addition Historic District. There are tons of restaurants for any taste and purpose, along with residential parks that host various events throughout the year. The cultured will enjoy the Orchestra, art viewings, regular theater performances, and music at venues and along the streets. Fayetteville Fayetteville, Arkansas. The city, set deep within the beautiful Ozarks, with the Boston Mountains just an easy drive away, brims with natural scenery. Fayetteville spreads scenically along seven hills with a panoramic backdrop of sky-reaching peaks that appear to guard the city. It is known as the “Athens of the Ozarks” for its innovative approach, academia, and historically-charming center. The suburban feel offers s great respite from the bigger cities, with laidback bars, cute cafes, and refreshing parks. Fayetteville is home to the University of Arkansas’s main campus and a popular destination for the lively vibe and youthful spirit on the streets. There are myriad student-geared attractions in entertainment, culinary scene, and shopping experiences. The world-famous Dickson Street Bookstore boasts over 100,000 rare books, while the Cannibal and Craft is known for fabulous cocktail concoctions unlike anywhere in the state. Dickson Street is the city’s beating heart, where public buildings are intermixed with countless boutiques, historical sights, event venues, and nightclubs. The Bordinos is a luxurious restaurant serving delicious Italian cuisine within an impeccable setting known for its service and atmosphere. There is also the purely-American Mockingbird Kitchen, various bars, trendy shops, and art studios. Fayetteville is a city of a prominently artistic and cultured crowd, with live music on the streets, theater, performances, and exciting annual festivities. The marvelous historic downtown square features architectural wonders in the surroundings of beautifully-landscaped gardens. The farmers’ market is a weekly ritual, a gathering place for shopping, mingling, and absorbing the local culture. There is ample wilderness and green scape with well-worn hiking trails and great biking paths waiting for active nature enthusiasts with fun, sights, and adventures.  Fort Smith Fort Smith National Historic Site sign at Fort Smith. Editorial credit: Scott K Baker / Shutterstock.com Fort Smith is a border city and second-largest in Arkansas, with a through-running immense Arkansas River. The city “Where the New South Meets the Old West” boasts a colorful heritage as a frontier town that propelled westward expansion. It was a supply depot and starting point for gold diggers during the Rush on the southern route across the plains. It is a lively and culturally-diverse city, with art and historical heritage showcased proudly on the streets. Fort Smith is renowned for its great hospitality, restaurants, and entertainment scene, along with notable attractions that helped shape the country. The Fort Smith National Historic Site reminisces of the former court for the Federal Government in the Western District of Arkansas. The National U.S. Marshals Museum continues to tell the story of the oldest law enforcement agency and the most dangerous Marshals Service. The beautiful Belle Grove Historic District is great for atmospheric strolls that transport back in time, while a 1930s electric downtown trolley offers a historically-charming ride through the center fare. The active will enjoy hikes and recreation at the immense Lake Fort Smith State Park to the north, whereas the vintage Pullman Railcar through the Ozark foothills offers the most scenic journey with the state’s best natural sights from the window and comfort of one’s seat. Little Rock Aerial view of Little Rock, Arkansas. Little Rock is the “predictable option” to settle for convenience and a highly-desirable destination among tourists for sights and entertainment expected from the state’s capital. There are award-winning restaurants for any taste, populated bars, and diverse shopping opportunities for never-a-dull-moment. Little Rock is known for big ideas, new music, and a strong sense of community which is surprising for the most populous city in Arkansas. One will feel at home in no time on the streets full of cultural attractions, art, and proudly-displayed history. The well-known River Market offers scenic vistas during shopping and lunching on cuisines from around the globe. The market, museums, and restaurants are easily accessible via the landmark Arkansas’ longest walking and biking bridge. The notable local favorites include The Box Turtle, Heifer Village at Heifer International, and South on Main renowned for cocktails. The RiverFest hosts various musical events, while the Stone’s Throw Brewing is a friendly pub with a famous outdoor-garden setting and vegan options. There is an impressive list to dive into the state’s diverse culture, including the Arboretum, Arts center, Repertory Theatre, and the Wildwood parks of arts. The old Central High School, a National Historic site, tells a real-life story about student-body desegregation.  Paragould The Historic Greene County Courthouse in Paragould, Arkansas. The state’s largest city...

Donald Trump: 'World War III' Is A Possibility Due To Biden's 'stupid' Approach https://digitalarkansasnews.com/donald-trump-world-war-iii-is-a-possibility-due-to-bidens-stupid-approach/ Former United States president Donald Trump has called for an immediate “peaceful end” to the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict, which started this year on February 24 when Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered a “special military operation” in the neighbouring country. Read More Here

Former US President Trump Slams Biden For Nuclear 'Armageddon' Comments At Arizona Rally https://digitalarkansasnews.com/former-us-president-trump-slams-biden-for-nuclear-armageddon-comments-at-arizona-rally/ Former President Donald Trump chastised President Joe Biden for his nuclear “Armageddon” comments at a rally over the weekend. Read More Here

Trump's 'Beginning To End' Has Started, Says His Former Lawyer: This Case Will 'Financially Destroy Him' – Digital World Acq (NASDAQ:DWAC) https://digitalarkansasnews.com/trumps-beginning-to-end-has-started-says-his-former-lawyer-this-case-will-financially-destroy-him-digital-world-acq-nasdaqdwac/ Michael Cohen, who served as a lawyer for Donald Trump between 2006 to 2018, said in a recent interview that he believes it is the beginning of the former president’s end. What Happened: Cohen’s comments were made in an interview with Salon in advance of his upcoming book “Revenge.” “I believe that the beginning to his end started with that incredible statement by Tish James,” said Cohen referring to the attorney general for the state of New York. Last month, James sued Trump and his three children for $250 million. Letitia James alleged fraud by Trump’s companies in a 200-page lawsuit filed before the Manhattan Supreme Court. Cohen also said in the interview that the classified documents recovered from Mar-a-Lago by the Federal Bureau of Investigation were Trump’s “get out of jail free card.” “What he saw in those documents. ‘You want to play with me? Really? I was the former president of the United States. I have documents that are so damaging to this country’s national security. Go ahead, indict me, try to throw me in prison. See what happens,’” said Cohen. See Also: How To Buy TMTG IPO Stock  Why It Matters: Referring to the Manhattan suit filed by James, Cohen said, “That case will financially destroy him,” according to Salon. “A lot of people make the mistake and they say that she’s seeking $250 million. That’s not accurate. What she said was, “There is a baseline of $250 million.” Cohen said that the baseline exists because the prosecutors don’t have the full amount. The former lawyer for Trump said in the interview, “Donald Trump has committed tax evasion, bank fraud, wire fraud, misrepresentation. He will not be able to get past that, and that is criminal.”  Cohen, who pleaded guilty to nine federal crimes that included tax fraud and lying to Congress, was sentenced to three years in prison in Dec. 2018. He was released in May 2020.  He called Trump an “orange-crusted buffoon” recalling the former president’s reaction to his office being raided by the FBI. Cohen said Trump had forgotten his name when the media asked him about the raid. Trump, meanwhile, compared himself on Truth Social with former presidents George H.W. Bush, Barack Obama and Bill Clinton on Sunday and slammed the “double standard” related to confidential papers that he faced. Truth Social is a part of the Trump Media & Technology Group, a company set to go public through a merger with Digital World Acquisition Corp. DWAC. Read Next: Trump Warns US ‘Saying Exactly The Wrong Thing’ On Russia-Ukraine War: ‘We’ll End Up In World War 3’ © 2022 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved. Read More Here

Live Updates: Russia's War In Ukraine https://digitalarkansasnews.com/live-updates-russias-war-in-ukraine-10/ 7 min ago Children’s playground hit in Kyiv attack, Ukrainian official says From CNN’s Angus Watson A children’s playground was among the sites hit by a rocket or missile attack on Ukraine’s capital Kyiv on Monday morning.  Anton Gerashchenko, an adviser to Ukraine’s Minister of Internal Affairs, posted photos on Twitter Monday of what appears to be a playground with the caption: “Children’s playground in the center of Kyiv after the attack.” At least four explosions have been heard by CNN teams in Kyiv on Monday. 11 min ago At least 4 explosions heard in Kyiv Monday From CNN’s Angus Watson and Frederik Pleitgen At least four explosions have been counted by CNN teams in the Ukrainian capital Kyiv on Monday. CNN teams on the ground heard the first two explosions between 8:15 a.m. and 8:20 a.m. local time. Two more explosions were heard in central Kyiv at about 9:30am local time, according to CNN teams on the ground. 29 min ago European leaders condemn Russia’s deadly missile attacks on Zaporizhzhia From CNN’s Mariya Knight  A firefighter looks at a building that was heavily damaged after a Russian attack in Zaporizhzhia on October 9. (Leo Correa/Associated Press) European leaders have criticized Russian missile attacks on residential buildings that have left scores of civilians dead and wounded in the southeastern Ukrainian city of Zaporizhzhia over the past week. Ukrainian officials reported more casualties early on Monday after a Russian missile strike destroyed an apartment block. Top European Union diplomat Josep Borrell said: “The EU condemns Russia’s relentless attacks against civilians all over Ukraine, with dozens of victims every week. All those responsible will be held to account.” The European Commissioner for Crisis Response Janez Lenarcic also reacted to the attacks, saying, “Civilians and civilian infrastructure must not be the target. Never. Nowhere.” Lithuania’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs called the attacks on Zaporizhzhia a “New outburst of Russian evil – a terrible overnight attack by Russia on civilians in Zaporizhzhia.” “As Russia continues its terror, we must continue providing support to Ukraine to be able to defend itself. Russia must stop this war!” the ministry added. The attacks have also been condemned by the foreign ministries of Belgium, Romania, Croatia and North Macedonia. “This is another vicious and inhumane attack against civilians, in violation of international humanitarian law. Those responsible must be held accountable,” Romania’s Foreign ministry tweeted. 12 min ago Explosions heard in Ukraine’s capital Kyiv From CNN’s Angus Watson Mayor Vitali Klitschko gives a speech in Kyiv on July 28. (Oleksii Samsonov/Global Images Ukraine/Getty Images) Two explosions were heard in the center of the Ukrainian capital Kyiv on Monday morning, according to Mayor Vitali Klitschko. “All services are on the location,” Klitschko wrote on Telegram. CNN teams on the ground heard two explosions between 8:15 a.m. and 8:20 a.m. local time. 1 hr 18 min ago Casualties reported after Russian missile attack destroys apartment block in Zaporizhzhia city From CNN’s Jonny Hallam and Josh Pennington Rescuers work at a site of a residential area heavily damaged by a Russian missile strike in Zaporizhzhia on October 9. Reuters Ukrainian officials reported casualties in the southeastern city of Zaporizhzhia early on Monday after a Russian missile strike destroyed an apartment block. In a Telegram post, Oleksandr Starukh, head of the Zaporizhzhia regional military administration said: “Another multi-story residential building was destroyed as a result of a rocket attack in the center of Zaporizhzhia.” “There are some casualties,” he added. “Rescuers, medics, and all corresponding services are working at the scene of the tragedy. All necessary assistance is being provided to the victims.” Some context: Dozens of people have been killed and wounded in Russian missile attacks on residential buildings in Zaporizhzhia over the past week. The city is not far from the front line, and the site of a nuclear power plant that the international community is watching warily. Part of the wider region is occupied by Russian forces and last week Russian President Vladimir Putin signed measures to annex four areas of Ukraine, including Zaporizhzhia, in violation of international law. Moscow denies that it has deliberately attacked civilians. 1 hr 32 min ago Here’s the latest on the Crimea bridge explosion Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a decree strengthening the defenses of the only bridge connecting annexed Crimea to the Russian mainland after a huge blast early Saturday severely damaged the structure. Here’s the background: The blast: A huge explosion severely damaged the only bridge connecting annexed Crimea to the Russian mainland, causing parts of the structure to collapse. At least three people were were killed, according to Russian officials. Putin called the explosions a “terrorist attack” and said the organizers and executors were “Ukrainian special services.” Ukrainian leaders celebrate: While stopping short of claiming responsibility, high-ranking Ukrainian officials publicly celebrated the explosion on the 19-kilometer (about 12 miles) long structure, which is Europe’s longest bridge. Ukraine’s secretary of the National Security and Defense Council posted a taunting birthday message for Putin and the postal service announced stamps commemorating the blast. In Kyiv, residents posed for selfies in front of a billboard depicting the burning bridge. The damage: Maxar satellite images captured the damage to the Kerch Strait bridge Saturday, shortly after an explosion rocked the only direct road and rail connection between annexed Crimea and mainland Russia. The blast caused parts of the bridge to collapse, though Russian transportation officials restarted rail service and allowed vehicles to use some undamaged portions of the roadway by Saturday evening. The blast disrupted major transport links, however, and Russian officials planned to use ferries for trucks. Repair work to begin: On Saturday, Russia’s Deputy Prime Minister Marat Khusnullin said the lights on the Crimea bridge were set to be restored in the next few hours so that repair works could be carried out around the clock. Khusnullin added that divers would start work on Sunday to check all the supports of the bridge. Once all results are received, a decision will be made to open traffic on the bridge for buses and heavy vehicles. Kremlin rules out nuclear response: Russian President Vladimir Putin will hold an operational meeting of his Security Council on Monday following the explosion. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov on Sunday dismissed the possibility of Russia using nuclear weapons in retaliation for the blast. 3 hr 21 min ago Medvedev vows “direct destruction of terrorists” after hit on bridge From CNN’s Katharina Krebs Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said Russia will destroy the “terrorists” responsible for the attack on the Kerch bridge in Crimea on Saturday. In an interview with Russian journalist Nadana Friedrichson Sunday, Medvedev said the hit on the crucial artery was a “terror attack” carried out by “the failed state of Ukraine.” “Russia’s response to this crime can only be the direct destruction of terrorists, just as other countries would react. This is exactly what the citizens of Russia are waiting for,” Medvedev said. “This is a terrorist act and sabotage committed by the criminal Kyiv regime. There was never any doubt about this. All reports and conclusions have been made.” Russian President Vladimir Putin will hold an operational meeting of his Security Council on Monday, following the blast on the bridge. Putin has also called the explosions a “terrorist attack” and said the organizers and executors were “Ukrainian special services.” While stopping short of claiming responsibility, high-ranking Ukrainian officials have publicly celebrated the explosion. 5 hr 25 min ago More than 40 people killed in Russian missile strikes on Zaporizhzhia in past week, Zelensky says From CNN’s Mariya Knight Russian missile strikes on Ukraine’s southeastern city of Zaporizhzhia have killed at least 43 civilians in the past week, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in his nightly address on Sunday. Zelensky added that the death toll from a Russian strike on apartment blocks in the city on Sunday had risen to 14. “Unfortunately, this number may increase. Debris is still being cleared. More than 70 people were injured, including 11 children,” Zelensky said. “It was a deliberate strike. The one who gave the order and those who carried it out knew what they were targeting.” Zelensky also cast doubt on Moscow’s willingness to negotiate a peaceful settlement to the war, saying he sees “a constant terror against the civilian population.” He also repeated calls for an “official designation of Russia as a terrorist state at all levels.” “When someone wants to negotiate, they don’t act this way,” he said. Some context: Russian forces have intensified missile attacks on residential buildings in Zaporizhzhia over the past week. The city is not far from the front line, and the site of a nuclear power plant that the international community is watching warily. Part of the wider region is occupied by Russian forces and last week Russian President Vladimir Putin signed measures to annex four areas of Ukraine, including Zaporizhzhia, in violation of international law. Moscow denies that it has deliberately attacked civilians. 5 hr 56 min ago Kremlin spokesman rules out nuclear response to Crimea bridge blast From CNN’s Katharina Krebs Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov on Sunday dismissed the possibility of Russia using nuclear weapons in retaliation for a massive ...

Crikey, Murdoch Argue On Public Interest https://digitalarkansasnews.com/crikey-murdoch-argue-on-public-interest/ Lachlan Murdoch (left) claims Crikey was motivated by malice in its article. -AP Lachlan Murdoch’s alleged failure to disavow the views of “poisonous” Fox News commentators on the US presidential election forms part of Crikey’s defamation defence against the media mogul. Lawyers for the co-chair of News Corp and chief executive of Fox Corporation have argued in the Federal Court that a new public interest defence isn’t applicable for the online publisher. “The new dawn promised to the media by reason of this defence is not going to happen,” Sue Chrysanthou SC said on Monday, as both parties try to strike out parts of the case against them. Rather than the topic of Crikey’s article, a reasonable belief needed to be shown that the defamatory matter at the time of publication was in the public interest, she argued. Mr Murdoch is suing Crikey over a June 29 opinion piece by political editor Bernard Keane, that was taken down and then posted back online on August 15. It related to US House of Representative hearings into former president Donald Trump and the Capitol riots in Washington, DC, on January 6, 2021. Mr Murdoch alleges it contained defamatory meanings including a false claim he entered an illegal criminal conspiracy with Mr Trump to overturn the US 2020 presidential election and incite a mob with murderous intent to march on the Capitol. The article was titled “Trump is a confirmed unhinged traitor. And Murdoch is his unindicted co-conspirator”. Defence barrister Michael Hodge KC submitted that a trial is the correct place to test a new defence that had not been subject to judicial determination in Australia. The way the Murdoch family was invoked in the Crikey article was as controllers of a global media conglomerate that had backed Mr Trump and the lies he spread about the US election being stolen by mass voter fraud, Mr Hodge said. Keane’s article had associated the Murdochs with the views expressed by a “slew of poisonous Fox News commentators”. “We would say, obviously relevant to the question of whether that kind of publication is in the public interest, is whether or not the Murdochs have disassociated themselves from those views,” Mr Hodge said. “If it was the case that Lachlan Murdoch had said ‘I do not believe any of these things, it is not true that the election has been stolen’ … that would seem to be a fact directly relevant to the question of whether or not my client’s publication is in the public interest. “Conversely, the fact that we say he’s never done that is also in our submission relevant to whether the publication is in the public interest.” But Ms Chrysanthou said there was no matter of public interest that connected her client to evidence from the US committee hearings. The only co-conspirators identified in the article “are persons with my client’s surname” and Fox News commentators.  In the final paragraph Keane “out of nowhere” compared her client with Richard Nixon, an unindicted co-conspirator in the Watergate controversy. The article was about a criminal who had committed an indictable offence and got away with it, Ms Chrysanthou argued. Mr Murdoch is also claiming Crikey’s publisher Private Media, Kean and editor-in-chief Peter Fray were motivated by malice, predominantly acting to harm Mr Murdoch. Private Media has applied to have that claim struck out. Justice Michael Wigney reserved his decision on the pre-trial applications. A nine-day trial is due to start on March 27. Read More Here

AP News Summary At 2:40 A.m. EDT https://digitalarkansasnews.com/ap-news-summary-at-240-a-m-edt/ Explosions rock central Kyiv in apparent missile strikes KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — MUltiple explosions have rocked Kyiv following months of relative calm in the Ukrainian capital. The explosions were heard by AP journalists and appeared to be the result of missiles strikes. Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko reported explosions in the city’s central Shevchenko district. The Shevchenko district is a large area in the center of Kyiv that includes the historic old town as well as several government offices. Local media report people have been killed and injured, though the number of casualties is not yet known. The Ukrainian presidency confirmed strikes in Kyiv and a number of other cities across the country. N. Korea confirms nuke missiles tests to ‘wipe out’ enemies SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Korea says its recent barrage of missile launches were tests of its tactical nuclear weapons to “hit and wipe out” potential South Korean and U.S. targets. Its leader Kim Jong Un has signaled he would conduct more provocative tests. Monday’s North Korean statement released on the 77th birthday of its ruling Workers’ Party is seen as an attempt to buttress a public unity behind Kim as he is struggling to overcome difficulties such as pandemic-related economic hardships. State media say North Korea’s recent missile tests were response to recent naval drills between U.S. and South Korean forces, which involved the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan. ‘Nothing’s left’: Hurricane Ian leaves emotional toll behind FORT MYERS, Fla. (AP) — Survivors of Hurricane Ian face a long emotional road to recover from one of the most damaging storms to hit the U.S. mainland. For those who lost everything to disaster, the anguish can be crushing to return home to find so much gone. Grief can run the gamut from frequent tears to utter despair. The Lee County medical examiner says two men in their 70s even took their own lives a day apart after viewing their losses. Experts say suicides climb after disasters and more funding for mental health should be provided as climate change makes storms and fires more frequent and devastating. 20 years later, Bali bombing survivors still battling trauma JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) — Thiolina Marpaung still panics anytime she smells smoke, immediately recalling the bomb explosion that upended her life 20 years ago. Marpaung, now 48, was in a car with her colleagues on the Indonesian resort island of Bali when the blast shook their vehicle from behind. Marpaung was temporarily blinded as shards of glass pierced her eyes. She remembers calling out for help and someone bringing her to the sidewalk, before an ambulance raced her to a hospital with other victims. She is one of dozens of Indonesian survivors who were outside of Sari Club on the night of October 12, 2002, when a car bombing there and a suicide bombing at nearby Paddy’s Pub killed 202 people, mostly foreign tourists, including 88 Australians and seven Americans. ‘A time bomb’: Anger rising in a hot spot of Iran protests SULIMANIYAH, Iraq (AP) — Anger among civilians is rising in a majority Kurdish district in northwestern Iran that has become one of the hotspots of protests. The Associated Press spoke to six activists in the northern city of Sanandaj, 300 miles (500 kilometers) from the capital Tehran. They described an evolving protest movement that has shifted from mass gatherings to more scattered protests and other signs of civil disobedience amid a harsh government crackdown. Protests erupted after the burial of a 22-year-old woman who died in Iranian police custody and have persisted with protests in neighborhoods, schools, with burning tires and commercial strikes. Nevada Senate race tests potency of abortion focus for Dems LAS VEGAS (AP) — Democrats predicted abortion would be Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto’s saving grace. But on the ground in Nevada, there are signs that the backlash against the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade may not be enough to save the Democratic senator from intense economic concerns and the harsh realities of midterm politics next month. The high-stakes Senate race in the Western battleground may ultimately decide the U.S. Senate majority. Perhaps more than any other state, Nevada’s high-stakes Senate election is testing the extent to which abortion can help Democrats maintain their grip on power in Washington and in key state houses across the nation. From fringe to front row: Congresswoman Greene rises in GOP WASHINGTON (AP) — Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene once was shunned as a political pariah for her extremist rhetoric. Now the Georgia Republican is being welcomed by House Republicans into the fold. Recently, Greene was front and center as Republican House leader Kevin McCarthy unveiled the House GOP’s midterm campaign agenda in Pennsylvania. She joined Donald Trump at a rally in Michigan. Greene spent her first term stripped of committee assignments by Democrats over her rhetoric. But if Republicans win the House majority in the November election, Greene is poised to become an influential player. She tells The Associated Press that impeaching President Joe Biden tops her agenda. UN mulls quick foreign troop deployment to ease Haiti crisis SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — The United Nations Security Council is evaluating options including the immediate activation of foreign troops to help free Haiti from the grip of gangs that has caused a scarcity of fuel, water and other basic supplies. Such a force would “remove the threat posed by armed gangs and provide immediate protection to critical infrastructure and services,” as well as secure the “free movement of water, fuel, food and medical supplies from main ports and airports to communities and health care facilities,” according to a letter U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres submitted to the council on Sunday. As suicides rise, US military seeks to address mental health WASHINGTON (AP) — Rising suicide rates among active service members have forced the Pentagon to review the military’s mental health protocols. But many service members in crisis still fear coming forward and admitting they need help. And those who do seek that help often find themselves fighting through deep-rooted stigma surrounding mental health issues, bureaucratic obstacles and an internal pressure to stay on the job. The Pentagon has created an independent committee to review the military’s mental health and suicide prevention programs. At the same time, a network of military-adjacent charitable organizations has tried to fill the gaps with a variety of programs and outreach efforts. A personal reckoning, and the truth comes out of the closet As a journalist, his job is to report about the truth. But personally, for many years, he had been purposely hiding it to protect himself. His journey out of the closet has taken decades. Now 57, he is still sharing his truth about his sexuality. The journey hasn’t ended; indeed, it’s just beginning as he now lives his life as the man he believes he was meant to be. Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Read More Here

Trump News – Live: Ex-President Accuses George HW Bush Of Keeping ‘documents In Bowling Alley’ https://digitalarkansasnews.com/trump-news-live-ex-president-accuses-george-hw-bush-of-keeping-documents-in-bowling-alley/ Trump says he can declassify secret documents just ‘by thinking about it’ LIVE – Updated at 07:41 Donald Trump claimed yesterday that former president George HW Bush “took millions and millions of documents to a former bowling alley pieced together with what was then an old and broken Chinese restaurant”. “They put them together. And it had a broken front door and broken windows. Other than that it was quite secure,” Mr Trump said, without giving the basis for his claim. He demanded to know why the former president was not prosecuted for ‘hiding’ documents. Mr Trump’s comment drew a sharp response on Twitter from Bush’s son, Jeb Bush. “I am so confused,” he said: “My dad enjoyed a good Chinese meal and enjoyed the challenge of 7 10 split. What the heck is up with you?” During a rally in Nevada over the weekend, Mr Trump said that “every freedom-loving American needs to understand the time to stand up to this growing tyranny is right now in this election”. He also boasted about the size of the crowd that gathered to hear him speak on 6 January during a campaign rally. “You know the biggest crowd I’ve ever seen? January 6. And you never hear that. They were there largely to protest a corrupt and rigged and stolen election.” Key points Donald Trump accuses George HW Bush of hiding classified documents FBI probing whether Trump stashed classified documents at his home Ted Cruz admitted Trump guilty over first impeachment, book claims Kanye West calls Trump ‘my boy’ in Tucker Carlson interview Trump may still be hiding more secret documents, DoJ official believes: report Trump-backed Herschel Walker centers pitch to Republicans on ‘wokeness’ 07:15 , Maroosha Muzaffar Herschel Walker pitches himself as a politician who can bridge America’s racial and cultural divides because he loves everyone and overlooks differences. “I don’t care what color you are,” Georgia’s Republican Senate nominee, who is Black, told an overwhelmingly white crowd recently in Bartow County, north of Atlanta. The United States, he said, “is a good place,” adding that ”a way we make it better is by coming together.” Read the full story here: © Provided by The Independent Herschel Walker centers pitch to Republicans on ‘wokeness’ Donald Trump accuses George HW Bush of hiding classified documents 07:12 , Maroosha Muzaffar Donald Trump claimed yesterday that former president George HW Bush “took millions and millions of documents to a former bowling alley pieced together with what was then an old and broken Chinese restaurant”. “They put them together. And it had a broken front door and broken windows. Other than that it was quite secure,” the former president said. He also questioned why Bush, among other presidents, was not being prosecuted. Bush died in 2018. Mr Trump’s accusation prompted Bush’s son to react to him on Twitter. Jeb Bush wrote: “I am so confused. My dad enjoyed a good Chinese meal and enjoyed the challenge of 7 10 split. What the heck is up with you?” [A 7-10 split is when a bowler strikes all but the two rear pins.] The 45th president of the United States is under investigation for keeping government documents at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida. Russian analyst set to face trial on charges of lying to FBI 06:45 , Maroosha Muzaffar Five years after the term “Steele dossier” entered the political lexicon, a think tank analyst who contributed to research about Donald Trump and Russia goes on trial Tuesday for lying to the FBI about his sources of information. Igor Danchenko is the third person to be prosecuted by Special Counsel John Durham, who was appointed to investigate the origins of “Crossfire Hurricane” — the designation given to the FBI’s 2016 probe into former president Trump’s Russia connections. It is also the first of Durham’s cases that delves deeply into the origins of the dossier that Trump derided as fake news and a political witch hunt. Read the full story here: © Provided by The Independent Russian analyst set to face trial on charges of lying to FBI Can Trump run again in the 2024 election? 06:15 , Maroosha Muzaffar Donald Trump made history in becoming the first president in US history to be impeached twice by the House of Representatives. But while losing to Joe Biden in November 2020 may have dented the one-term president’s pride and fuelled 18-months of lies about rigged ballot boxes, it now seems almost certain that Mr Trump will run again for the White House in 2024. Read the full story here: © Provided by The Independent Can Trump run again in the 2024 election? ICYMI: Trump brags about his crowd size on January 6: ‘The biggest crowd I’ve ever seen’ 05:45 , Maroosha Muzaffar Donald Trump boasted about the size of the crowd that gathered to hear him speak on January 6 during a campaign rally on Saturday night. “You know the biggest crowd I’ve ever seen? January 6. And you never hear that,” the former president told the rally in Minden, Nevada. “They were there largely to protest a corrupt and rigged and stolen election.” Read the full story here: © Provided by The Independent Trump brags about his crowd size on January 6: ‘The biggest crowd I’ve ever seen’ Trump wanted to trade Mar-a-Lago files for ‘sensitive’ documents about 2016 Russia probe: report 05:15 , Maroosha Muzaffar Former president Donald Trump tried to make a deal with the National Archive to trade classified documents he took to Mar-a-Lago in exchange for files that he believed would prove a 2016 investigation into his ties to Russia was a “hoax”, according to a new report. In a piece published on Saturday, The New York Times claimed that Mr Trump discussed the deal with his advisers last year as the National Archives increased pressure on him to return a cache of top secret documents he took when he left the White House. Read the full piece by Bevan Hurley here: © Provided by The Independent Trump wanted to trade Mar-a-Lago files for ‘sensitive’ Russia probe documents Trump accuses Biden of ‘forcing’ Putin into war with Ukraine 04:49 , Maroosha Muzaffar Donald Trump said that US president Joe Biden “almost forced” Vladimir Putin to invade Ukraine. In an interview with the right-wing network Real America’s Voice, Mr Trump stated that “they [Biden administration] actually taunted him [Putin]. If you really look at it, our country [US] then our so-called leadership [Joe Biden] taunted Putin.” He continued: “I would listen, I would say, you know, they’re almost forcing him to go in with what they’re saying. The rhetoric was so dumb.” Trump brags about his crowd size on January 6: ‘The biggest crowd I’ve ever seen’ Sunday 9 October 2022 15:24 , Bevan Hurley Donald Trump boasted about the size of the crowd that gathered to hear him speak on January 6 during a campaign rally on Saturday night. “You know the biggest crowd I’ve ever seen? January 6. And you never hear that,” the former president told the rally in Minden, Nevada. “They were there largely to protest a corrupt and rigged and stolen election.” Bevan Hurley reports. © Provided by The Independent Trump brags about his crowd size on January 6: ‘The biggest crowd I’ve ever seen’ Trump brags about how the ‘biggest crowd’ he’s ever had was on Jan 6 Sunday 9 October 2022 14:19 , Jenna Amatulli Amid reports that he only had 27 people at a rally in Washington DC this week, former president Donald Trump went on a tear on Saturday night about the media never shows the size of his crowds before declaring that his biggest crowd ever was on Jan 6. “These corrupt people will never take a camera and turn it around and show them how many people are here,” said Trump, about the media, to his audience at a rally in Minden, Nevada. “They never do it. They’re corrupt.” He went on to recall his crowd size at his “Save America” rally on January 6, which led to the insurrection at the Capitol. “You know the biggest crowd I have ever seen? January 6. And you never hear that. It was the biggest. And they were there largely to protest a corrupt and rigged and stolen election… It was the biggest crowd, I believe, I have ever spoken to,” he said. Trump boasts about his crowd size on January 6 and his fans cheers pic.twitter.com/EK78sRyRhF — Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) October 9, 2022 Only 27 people showed up to pro-Trump rally in Washington DC Sunday 9 October 2022 09:30 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar Merely 27 people attended a pro-Trump rally in Washington DC this week. Event organisers toldThe Daily Beast that the extremely low turnout at the rally on Capitol grounds was the result of several factors, but it was still a “success.” “We put the word out, literally, about a week ago. We would have liked to have more people, but I would consider it a success,” John Paul Moran, founder of GOUSA, told the outlet. Andrea Blanco reports. © Provided by The Independent Only 27 people showed up to pro-Trump rally in Washington DC Lindsey Graham told former police officer that Capitol rioters should be ‘shot in head’ Sunday 9 October 2022 08:30 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar Republican senator Lindsey Graham told a former police officer who was severely injured in the attack on the Capitol that he should have shot Trump-supporting rioters in the head, according to a new book. The claim is one of a series of stunning revelations contained in former Capitol police officer Michael Fanone’s upcoming memoir Hold the Line. Mr Fanone writes that he met Mr Graham, a key Trump ally, four months after the deadly siege in May 2021. According to Politico, who obtained an advanced copy of the book, the South Carolina senator told him: “You guys should have shot them all in the head. We gave you guys guns, and you should have used them. I don’t unders...

After Racist Comments, Los Angeles City Council President Faces Calls To Resign https://digitalarkansasnews.com/after-racist-comments-los-angeles-city-council-president-faces-calls-to-resign/ In a leaked recording of a meeting last year, she mocked Indigenous immigrants and the Black child of a fellow council member. Send any friend a story As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. Anyone can read what you share. Nury Martinez, president of the Los Angeles City Council.Credit…Al Seib/Los Angeles Times, via Getty Images Published Oct. 9, 2022Updated Oct. 10, 2022, 2:17 a.m. ET LOS ANGELES — The president of the Los Angeles City Council faced widespread calls to resign on Sunday after a leaked audio recording revealed racist and disparaging remarks about the Black child of a white council member and also about Indigenous immigrants in the city’s Koreatown neighborhood. The comments, made during a meeting last year with two other council members and a labor official, exposed longstanding racial tensions in the governance of one of the nation’s most multicultural cities as well as fault lines among the city’s Democrats. In the profanity-laced recording, a copy of which was obtained by The New York Times and which was first reported by The Los Angeles Times, the City Council president, Nury Martinez, who is Latina, compared the Black child of a white council member to a “changuito,” Spanish for little monkey. She also called Oaxacan immigrants living in Koreatown “short little dark people.” It was unclear who leaked the recording of the October 2021 meeting, which included Gil Cedillo and Kevin de León, council members representing parts of the city’s East Side, and Ron Herrera, president of the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor. Also unknown was who made the recording, which was initially uploaded to Reddit earlier this month by an unidentified, now-suspended user, and continued to circulate via email after the post was taken down. No one has disputed the recording’s authenticity, and Ms. Martinez and Mr. de León have issued apologies. Although advocates on all sides of upcoming city races are unleashing information to sway voters, the exact motivation behind the release of the recording was not immediately clear. But an unsigned introduction in the Reddit post, shared via screenshot with the recording, denounced the ties between organized labor and some members of the Council, including Ms. Martinez, complaining that “the labor movement is in bed with City Hall.” The four officials in the meeting were strategizing about political redistricting in advance of this year’s election. Mr. Herrera can be heard telling the group that “my goal is to get the three of you elected, and I’m just focused on that — we’re like a little Latino caucus of our own.” A citizen advisory committee conducts Los Angeles’s redistricting process each decade and recommends maps, but the final lines are determined by the Council, which ultimately approved a map far different from the one that was recommended. The conversation focused on those heated negotiations and on the distribution among the 15 council districts of economic and municipal “assets” such as stadiums, universities and airports. Such assets provide jobs to constituents and can enhance an officeholder’s political influence and fund-raising abilities. In the audio, the group echoed long held complaints about Latino representation in the city, where Latinos make up about half of the population but hold only about a third of the seats on the Council. Ms. Martinez complained that the commission had recommended moving key assets, such as the Van Nuys airport, out of her district while claiming to back broader representation for Latinos. “If you’re going to talk about Latino districts, what kind of districts are you trying to create?” she asked her colleagues. “Because you’re taking away our assets. You’re just going to create poor Latino districts with nothing?” Ms. Martinez, who is not up for re-election until 2024, added that Nithya Raman, a council member of South Asian descent, should not represent Koreatown, which is now largely Latino. Ms. Martinez also weighed in on a dispute between two Black council members over whose district would include Exposition Park and the University of Southern California. Rather than fight among themselves, she said, they should demand a map in which one of them gets the massive Los Angeles International Airport. That asset, she noted, is in the district of a white council member, Mike Bonin, whom she referred to with a vulgarity. In the ensuing exchange, Mr. de León referred to Mr. Bonin, a West Los Angeles liberal, as the council’s “fourth Black member” and joked with Ms. Martinez that Mr. Bonin carried his adopted son, who is Black, as if the toddler were a designer handbag. Ms. Martinez complained that on a parade float on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Mr. Bonin had failed to control his son and said that the child’s antics had nearly tipped the float over. “They’re raising him like a little white kid,” Ms. Martinez says. “I was like, this kid needs a beatdown. Let me take him around the corner, and then I’ll bring him back.” She also cursed George Gascón, the Los Angeles County district attorney, saying that “he’s with the Blacks.” News of the audio ricocheted around Los Angeles on Sunday, eliciting shock and fury but also acknowledgment of the complexity of race relations in the sprawling city. The furor extended to the city’s increasingly tight race for mayor between Rick Caruso, a billionaire developer and police commissioner endorsed by Mr. Cedillo, and Representative Karen Bass, who is Black and was endorsed by Ms. Martinez. “This entire situation shows that City Hall is fundamentally broken and dysfunctional,” Mr. Caruso said in a statement. “In a closed-door meeting, leaders at the highest levels of city government used racial slurs and hate speech while discussing how to carve up the city to retain their own power.” Ms. Bass issued a condemnation as well. “Let me be clear about what was on those tapes: appalling, anti-Black racism,” she said in a statement, adding that she had “spent the day speaking with Black and Latino leaders about how to ensure this doesn’t divide our city.” “Homelessness is out of control, crime is on the rise, and Angelenos are being priced out of their hometown,” she said. “The challenges we face already threaten to tear us apart and, now, this hateful and shocking conversation among some of our city’s most powerful leaders could divide us even further. All those in the room must be held accountable.” Eunisses Hernandez, a progressive who in June won Mr. Cedillo’s council seat in an upset, said she was “beyond disgusted.” “We have three sitting council members being explicit about the Black community, and their language exemplifies anti-Blackness,” she said. “How is it we have these people in leadership?” Latinos are by far the largest demographic among the city’s 3.8 million residents. But the Black community in Los Angeles has long wielded greater clout than would be suggested by its 8.8 percent of the population, and the Asian community has become a rising political force with nearly 12 percent of the population. White Angelenos, with more than 28 percent of the population, have long controlled much of the city’s wealth and power. Residents of the city routinely tout their diversity as an asset, and, since the 1992 riots, have expressed pride in the strides they have made in race relations. In polls, Latino residents of the city repeatedly say that their Black neighbors understand them better than do any other ethnic group in Los Angeles, and vice versa, said Fernando Guerra, whose Center for the Study of Los Angeles at Loyola Marymount University regularly surveys the city’s residents. Mr. Guerra said that when he heard the recording, he was appalled, particularly at the remarks about Mr. Bonin’s child. But he also noted that, as in most of California, getting along remains a work in progress and that unlike the county and state, the city of Los Angeles still allows elected officials, rather than an independent commission, to have the final say in their own district maps. That practice, he said, has contributed to ongoing racial tensions. In drawing a fair map, the council “had to talk about race,” Mr. Guerra said. “Although not like this.” Calls for Ms. Martinez to step down as president or resign from the council altogether came from politicians across the state as well as business owners and activists. Ms. Martinez, who did not respond to a question about whether she would step down, did not deny making the remarks, and she apologized for the comments. “In a moment of intense frustration and anger, I let the situation get the best of me, and I hold myself accountable for these comments. For that I am sorry,” she said in a statement. “The context of this conversation was concern over the redistricting process and concern about the potential negative impact it might have on communities of color. My work speaks for itself.” Mr. de León, who also is not up for re-election, apologized as well. “There were comments made in the context of this meeting that are wholly inappropriate,” he said in a statement, “and I regret appearing to condone and even contribute to certain insensitive comments made about a colleague and his family in private. I’ve reached out to that colleague personally. On that day, I fell short of the expectations we set for our leaders — and I will hold myself to a higher standard.” Mr. Cedillo did not respond to requests for comments. Mr. Herrera issued a statement apologizing “for my failure to stand up to racist and anti-Black remarks in that immediate moment,” adding that “there is no justification and no excuse for the vile remarks made in that room.” Lorena Gonzalez Fletcher, who heads the California Labor Federation, conde...

Bank Of England Strengthens Emergency Stimulus To Help Ease Market Turmoil https://digitalarkansasnews.com/bank-of-england-strengthens-emergency-stimulus-to-help-ease-market-turmoil/ Bank of England Governor Andrew Bailey has said that central bank independence “is critically important.” Bloomberg | Bloomberg | Getty Images LONDON — The Bank of England on Monday announced further measures to ensure financial stability in the U.K., building on its intervention in the long-dated bond market. The Bank’s Financial Stability Committee on Sep. 28 announced a two-week emergency purchase program for long-dated U.K. government bonds — known as “gilts” — to restore order to the markets and protect liability driven investment (LDI) funds from imminent collapse. The central bank announced on Monday that it would introduce further measures to ensure an “orderly end” to its purchase scheme on Oct. 14, including increasing the size of its daily auctions to allow headroom for gilt purchases ahead of Friday’s deadline. “To date, the Bank has carried out 8 daily auctions, offering to buy up to £40 billion, and has made around £5 billion of bond purchases. The Bank is prepared to deploy this unused capacity to increase the maximum size of the remaining five auctions above the current level of up to £5 billion in each auction,” the Bank said in Monday’s announcement. The auction limit will be confirmed each morning at 9 a.m. local time, with Monday’s set at £10 billion ($11 billion). The Bank will also launch a Temporary Expanded Collateral Repo Facility (TECRF), which will allow banks to ease liquidity pressures on client funds embroiled in recent market volatility. Following last month’s unprecedented spike in gilt yields, LDIs — which hold substantial quantities of gilts and are owned predominantly by final salary pension schemes — were receiving margin calls from lenders. A margin call is a demand from brokers to increase equity in an account when its value falls below the broker’s required amount. The TECRF will enable banks to run what the Bank called “liquidity insurance operations,” which will last beyond Friday’s deadline and ease pressures on client LDI funds. “Under these operations, the Bank will accept collateral eligible under the Sterling Monetary Framework (SMF), including index linked gilts, and also a wider range of collateral than normally eligible under the SMF, such as corporate bond collateral,” the Bank said. Thirdly, the Bank said it would be ready to use its regular Indexed Long Term Repo operations each Tuesday — which allow market participants to borrow BOE cash reserves for six months in exchange for less liquid assets — to further ease liquidity pressures on LDI funds. “This permanent facility will provide additional liquidity to banks against SMF eligible collateral, including index linked gilts, and so support their lending to LDI counterparties,” the Bank said. “Liquidity is also available through the Bank’s new permanent Short Term Repo facility, launched last week, which offers an unlimited quantity of reserves at Bank Rate each Thursday.” This is a breaking news story, please check back later for more. Read More Here

A Catholic You Want To Know: Paul James – Arkansas Catholic – October 10, 2022 https://digitalarkansasnews.com/a-catholic-you-want-to-know-paul-james-arkansas-catholic-october-10-2022/ Pastoral Council chair an advocate for the Church in Arkansas, society’s marginalized Published: October 10, 2022       By Chris Price Arkansas Catholic Staff Chris Price Diocesan Pastoral Council chairman Paul James, in his Little Rock law office Sept. 29, stands in front of a portrait of St. Thomas More, patron of lawyers, which was given to him by his father when he graduated from the University of Arkansas’ law school. Name: Paul James Parish: Our Lady of the Holy Souls City: Little Rock Age: 65 Family: Wife, Sarah, married 29 years; three children, Frances, Drew and Caroline  Why you want to know Paul: Paul James grew up in West Memphis, where his family were members of St. Michael Church. As a teen, he was president of St. Michael’s CYO and member of the parish council. He received his law degree in 1982 from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville, and for nearly 40 years has practiced in Little Rock. He is a founding member of the St. Thomas More Society of Arkansas and has served as its president and on the board of directors. He is chairman of the Diocese of Little Rock’s Pastoral Council.  IN HIS OWN WORDS What feeds you spiritually?  Weekly Mass and the small prayer groups we have at Holy Souls. We’ve had the same core group going on maybe six years. We meet on a near weekly basis and study the readings for the upcoming Mass and discuss some type of spiritual book that we’ve chosen that we feel is relevant to everyone. What drew you do the legal profession?  My father’s a doctor, my grandfather was a doctor, my brothers are doctors, but I had two uncles and aunts who were lawyers. I was just always better at history than I was chemistry. So, I gravitated to the law as opposed to medicine. How would you describe your career? It’s been fulfilling. When I graduated from law school, I worked with two Catholic lawyers — former U.S. Attorney W.H. “Sonny” Dillahunty and Walter Skelton from Conway. I started my own firm in 1986, four years out of law school, and I’ve really enjoyed having the independence of having my own small law firm and representing individuals. Can you talk about your interest in civil rights?  When I was working with Sonny Dillahunty, we had the opportunity to represent an individual that was wrongfully arrested, wrongfully accused. That was the first civil rights case I had, and we had a very good outcome. We’ve represented minorities that were paid less than the majorities. We’ve represented prisoners who were in a facility that entered into a consent decree, but they weren’t complying with it. An individual was stabbed in the barracks that didn’t have the appropriate guards that they had agreed to have. That was a big civil rights case — Smith v. Norris — and it was really rewarding. And then, we’ve had cases where people were pulled over for minor traffic offenses and strip searched and cases where mentally ill people weren’t treated constitutionally.  What drew you to the pastoral council?  Well, the bishop asked me to be part of it, and I thought it was a really good idea to get a consultative body for the for the bishop to bounce things off of and get a feel for what the needs of his flock were. He created a real geographic, ethnic and population-diverse mixture for him to get feedback from large parishes, small parishes, the Hispanic Church and Black Catholics to serve as a consultative body. What drew you to serve as chair?  Once again, I was asked. To be honest, the chair just keeps the flow of the meetings going and making sure that we keep on the agenda and whatnot. What’s your favorite lawyer joke?  A lot of lawyers don’t like lawyer jokes, but I’ve got a good sense of humor, so I don’t mind it. I have a story though about Abraham Lincoln, who famously said “Don’t ever ask a question you don’t already know the answer to.” He was representing a farmer who got into an altercation with his neighbor and was accused of biting the guy’s ear off in the fight. There was a guy in a tree that witnessed it all. Lincoln was cross-examining the guy that witnessed it and asked how he was sure when he was 150 yards away from the altercation, 50 feet up in the tree full of leaves with the sun shining right in his eyes. Lincoln thought he had him and asked, ‘How can you tell this jury that my client did what you say he did?’ and he goes, ‘Well, because I saw him spit it out.” Please read our Comments Policy before posting. Article comments powered by Read More…

Thousands Attend Republican Rally To Hear From Donald Trump https://digitalarkansasnews.com/thousands-attend-republican-rally-to-hear-from-donald-trump/ MESA — On Sunday, several thousand people showed up for a Republican party rally in Mesa. There were plenty of candidates in attendance but the crowd was there for one reason: to see and hear from former President Donald Trump. It was a rally for Arizona Republicans, but that didn’t stop people from as far away as Illinois, Southern California and Nevada from coming to Mesa. For the first part of his speech, Trump stuck to the script. He spoke on Democats’ impact on the economy, inflation and the border. “We don’t want crime, we want a strong military, no taxes. We want great education and we’re going to eliminate the crazy Nancy Pelosi’s political career once and for all,” Trump said. But as he has done in previous appearances, Trump talked about the ‘stolen election.’ He criticized the FBI raid on his Florida home and the ongoing federal, state and Congressional investigations. “You don’t hear about greatness anymore, all you hear about is investigations. I’ve been investigated now seven years I think,” he said. The races for Arizona Senator, Governor, Secretary of State and Attorney General are tight. Trump says independent voters will make the difference. Copyright 2022 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Sign up for the Headlines Newsletter and receive up to date information. Read More Here

World War III Is A Possibility: Donald Trump On Russia-Ukraine Crisis https://digitalarkansasnews.com/world-war-iii-is-a-possibility-donald-trump-on-russia-ukraine-crisis/ Former US president Donald Trump called for an immediate and “peaceful end” to the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war which started following Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine in February. Speaking at a “Save America” rally in the US state of Nevada on Saturday, Donald Trump warned of the dangers of escalation and nuclear weapons. “Nothing would be left of our earth all because ignorant people didn’t have a clue”, he said. “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,” Donald Trump added. Donald Trump’s remarks come after US President Joe Biden warned of the risk of a nuclear “Armageddon” for the first time in 60 years. “For the first time since the Cuban missile crisis, we have a direct threat from the use of nuclear weapons if, in fact, things continue down the path they are going,” Joe Biden had said referring to the nuclear standoff that took place sixty years ago owing to Soviet Union stationing missiles in Cuba at a striking distance from the US. Joe Biden also warned that the world has “not faced the prospect of Armageddon since Kennedy and the Cuban missile crisis.” On Biden’s chilling remark, the White House later said that president’s warning was not based on any new intelligence suggesting such nuclear use is imminent. ABOUT THE AUTHOR When not reading, this ex-literature student can be found searching for an answer to the question, “What is the purpose of journalism in society?” Subscribe to our best newsletters Read More Here

Michael Cohen Says The DOJ Should Look Into Whether Trump Is Keeping Photocopies Of Classified Documents https://digitalarkansasnews.com/michael-cohen-says-the-doj-should-look-into-whether-trump-is-keeping-photocopies-of-classified-documents/ Michael Cohen (left) once served as then-President Donald Trump’s lawyer and fixer.Getty Images Michael Cohen is urging the DOJ to investigate if Trump kept photocopies of top-secret files. He speculated that Trump has more files out there that the DOJ hasn’t found yet. Cohen accused Trump of using “Art of the Deal” tactics to trade these files for other documents. Michael Cohen, former President Donald Trump’s one-time personal lawyer and fixer, says the Department of Justice should investigate whether Trump photocopied and kept any top-secret files. Cohen made the comment while speaking to MSNBC host Ali Velshi on Sunday morning. During his appearance, Cohen responded to a report from The New York Times on how Trump had been angered by the National Archives and Records Administration’s refusal to provide him documents regarding the FBI’s probe into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election. According to The Times, Trump told advisers he would give NARA the documents he had at Mar-a-Lago if they handed over what he wanted from them. Commenting on Trump’s actions, Cohen said the former president appeared to be using a tactic from his  book “The Art of the Deal” and trying to trade “this for that.” “This whole issue is absolutely crazy. The fact that we have to sit there and play this game with a former president of the United States?” Cohen said, adding that Trump was not “entitled” to the documents he wanted. “First and foremost, they are not his,” Cohen added. “Second of all, we know that he has more documents. We know that because, in the file folder, it would specifically state the number of documents in them. Well, there are more of them obviously out there.” “On top of that, we should find out whether or not he photocopied any of the documents as well,” he added. Cohen also wondered aloud why Trump — after being president for four years — didn’t attempt to get the documents while he was in office. A spokesman at Trump’s post-presidential press office did not immediately respond to Insider’s request for comment. Cohen’s comments on Sunday echoed his remarks in September about Trump likely having kept copies of classified files at his children’s homes, his Bedminster golf course in New Jersey, and Trump Tower in New York. During its search of Mar-a-Lago on August 8, the FBI seized classified documents, including some marked “top secret.” The DOJ is investigating whether Trump broke three federal laws — including the Espionage Act — by keeping the files at his Florida residence. In 2018, Cohen pleaded guilty to felonies, including tax evasion, campaign finance violations, and bank fraud. He was sentenced in December 2018 to three years in prison and was disbarred in February 2019 by the New York Supreme Court. Since his release, Cohen has become an outspoken critic of Trump and has gleefully weighed in on the former president’s many legal troubles. In September, he announced he was selling t-shirts depicting Trump behind bars to “celebrate the fall of the mango Mussolini.” Read the original article on Business Insider Read More Here

Crikey Public Interest Defence Opposed https://digitalarkansasnews.com/crikey-public-interest-defence-opposed/ Lawyers for Lachlan Murdoch are arguing a new public interest defence isn’t applicable for Crikey in the media mogul’s defamation case against the online publication. “The new dawn promised to the media by reason of this defence is not going to happen,” Sue Chrysanthou SC said. Rather than the topic of Crikey’s article, a reasonable belief needed to be shown that the defamatory matter at the time of publication was in the public interest, she argued in the Federal Court on Monday. The co-chair of News Corp and chief executive of Fox Corporation is suing Crikey over a June 29 opinion piece by political editor Bernard Keane, that was taken down and then posted back online on August 15. It related to US House of Representative hearings into former president Donald Trump and the Capitol riots in Washington, DC, on January 6, 2021. Mr Murdoch alleges it contained defamatory meanings including a false claim he entered an illegal criminal conspiracy with Mr Trump to overturn the US 2020 presidential election and incite a mob with murderous intent to march on the Capitol. The article was titled “Trump is a confirmed unhinged traitor. And Murdoch is his unindicted co-conspirator”. “We are saying there was no matter of public interest that connected my client to that evidence (from the hearings),” Ms Chrysanthou told Justice Michael Wigney in a case management hearing. The only co-conspirators identified “are persons with my client’s surname” and Fox News commentators. In the final paragraph Keane “out of nowhere” compared her client with Richard Nixon, an unindicted co-conspirator in the Watergate controversy. The article was about a criminal who had committed an indictable offence and got away with it, Ms Chrysanthou argued. Mr Murdoch is also claiming Crikey’s publisher Private Media, Kean and editor-in-chief Peter Fray were motivated by malice, predominantly acting to harm Mr Murdoch. Private Media has applied to have that claim struck out. Private Media denied the article defames Mr Murdoch as alleged and will argue it didn’t cause serious harm to him. The independent outlet’s defence also includes implied freedom of political communication and failure to accept reasonable offer of amends. The defence also states it believed the references to the Murdochs were “self-evidently hyperbolic” and “no one would read the words literally as suggesting that the Murdochs were guilty of criminal conspiracy”. A nine-day trial is due to start on March 27. Read More Here

Trump Acknowledged Herschel Walker's 'complicated Personal History' But Said It's 'not A Problem' Because 'the World Is Changing' https://digitalarkansasnews.com/trump-acknowledged-herschel-walkers-complicated-personal-history-but-said-its-not-a-problem-because-the-world-is-changing/ Former President Donald Trump speaks as Georgia Senate candidate Herschel Walker listens during his Save America rally in Perry, Ga., on Saturday, Sept. 25, 2021.Ben Gray/Associated Press Trump discussed Herschel Walker’s history during an interview last year with Maggie Haberman. Trump said he didn’t think past allegations of domestic violence would be a problem for the candidate. Walker, an abortion rights opponent, has been accused of paying for an abortion, which he denies. Former President Donald Trump last year acknowledged Herschel Walker had a “complicated personal history” but said he thought it wouldn’t matter — though that was before the latest allegations against the Georgia GOP Senate candidate. Trump made the comments in an interview with New York Times reporter and CNN analyst Maggie Haberman for her new book, “Confidence Man: The Making of Donald Trump and the Breaking of America.” Haberman shared an audio clip from the interview, which took place about a year ago, on CNN Thursday. The clip begins with Trump describing Walker as a great football player, saying he was the “best football player in the history of Georgia.” Walker, a former professional running back, played in the NFL for 12 seasons after winning the Heisman as a college football star at the University of Georgia. Haberman can be heard cutting in to point out Walker has a “complicated personal history.” She clarified on CNN she was referring to past allegations of domestic violence, which Trump acknowledged. “He does but, you know, it’s a personal history that, ten years ago, maybe it would’ve been a problem. Twenty years ago it would’ve been a bigger problem. I don’t think it’s a problem today,” Trump said. When Haberman asked why that is, Trump replied: “Because the world is changing.” CNN host Wolf Blitzer asked Haberman what she thought of Trump’s response. “I think that Donald Trump is aware of his own role in the world changing, as he put it. Which is, he sees it as he survived all kind of scandals, other people can too,” she said. Haberman added that Trump is a “unique figure” and others may not be able to survive scandals the same way the former president has. But she noted that Walker is also a former sports star and could benefit from that. “We’re talking about allegations of domestic violence that were in his past,” Haberman said of Walker, adding: “Trump is essentially saying, ‘It doesn’t matter anymore.’ We’re going to find out if that’s true.” Since Haberman’s interview with Trump, more allegations have emerged against Walker. Prior to this year, Walker, a frequent critic of absentee fathers — especially in Black communities — had publicly acknowledged having only one son, Christian Walker. But The Daily Beast reported this summer that Walker has three other children he never mentioned, which Walker later confirmed. On Monday, The Daily Beast reported that Walker, who is also a staunch opponent of abortion rights, paid for a former girlfriend he had gotten pregnant to get an abortion. The outlet later reported the woman also had a child with Walker. On Friday, The Times reported the woman said Walker had asked her to get a second abortion, but she refused. Walker has denied her allegations, calling The Daily Beast’s reporting a “flat-out lie” and vowing to sue. He did however confirm to NBC on Friday that he dated the woman and that if he did send her a card or money it was not for an abortion, as she claimed. On Tuesday, following the report about the abortion, Trump defended Walker in a post on Truth Social. Walker is up against incumbent Democratic Sen. Raphael Warnock in November in a race that is considered crucial to Republicans’ hopes of flipping the Senate. A representative for Trump did not immediately respond to Insider’s request for comment. Read the original article on Business Insider Read More Here

Trump News – Live: Trump Brags That Jan 6 Crowd Size Was His ‘biggest’ After Only 27 People Showed Up To Pro-Trump DC Rally https://digitalarkansasnews.com/trump-news-live-trump-brags-that-jan-6-crowd-size-was-his-biggest-after-only-27-people-showed-up-to-pro-trump-dc-rally/ Trump says he can declassify secret documents just ‘by thinking about it’ LIVE – Updated at 04:12 The saga with former president Donald Trump and the classified or sensitive government documents he had in his home or office continues. On Saturday, The New York Times reported that Mr Trump allegedly offered the National Archives a “deal to return the boxes” of documents he had in his possession last year “in exchange for documents he believed would expose the Russia investigation” as an FBI “hoax.” The report notes that Mr Trump didn’t know what the archives had but knew “there were items he wanted.” This allegation would confirm that Mr Trump knew last year that he had documents that belonged to the federal government. The Times also notes that Mr Trump and his representatives did not tell the archives that the boxes contained classified information. On Friday, reports suggested that FBI special agents had interviewed multiple witnesses regarding whether former president has hidden classified or sensitive government documents at his Trump Tower home and office or his golf club in Bedminster, New Jersey. Key points FBI probing whether Trump stashed classified documents at his home Ted Cruz admitted Trump guilty over first impeachment, book claims Kanye West calls Trump ‘my boy’ in Tucker Carlson interview Trump may still be hiding more secret documents, DoJ official believes: report Trump brags about his crowd size on January 6: ‘The biggest crowd I’ve ever seen’ Sunday 9 October 2022 15:24 , Bevan Hurley Donald Trump boasted about the size of the crowd that gathered to hear him speak on January 6 during a campaign rally on Saturday night. “You know the biggest crowd I’ve ever seen? January 6. And you never hear that,” the former president told the rally in Minden, Nevada. “They were there largely to protest a corrupt and rigged and stolen election.” Bevan Hurley reports. © Provided by The Independent Trump brags about his crowd size on January 6: ‘The biggest crowd I’ve ever seen’ Trump brags about how the ‘biggest crowd’ he’s ever had was on Jan 6 Sunday 9 October 2022 14:19 , Jenna Amatulli Amid reports that he only had 27 people at a rally in Washington DC this week, former president Donald Trump went on a tear on Saturday night about the media never shows the size of his crowds before declaring that his biggest crowd ever was on Jan 6. “These corrupt people will never take a camera and turn it around and show them how many people are here,” said Trump, about the media, to his audience at a rally in Minden, Nevada. “They never do it. They’re corrupt.” He went on to recall his crowd size at his “Save America” rally on January 6, which led to the insurrection at the Capitol. “You know the biggest crowd I have ever seen? January 6. And you never hear that. It was the biggest. And they were there largely to protest a corrupt and rigged and stolen election… It was the biggest crowd, I believe, I have ever spoken to,” he said. Trump boasts about his crowd size on January 6 and his fans cheers pic.twitter.com/EK78sRyRhF — Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) October 9, 2022 Only 27 people showed up to pro-Trump rally in Washington DC Sunday 9 October 2022 09:30 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar Merely 27 people attended a pro-Trump rally in Washington DC this week. Event organisers toldThe Daily Beast that the extremely low turnout at the rally on Capitol grounds was the result of several factors, but it was still a “success.” “We put the word out, literally, about a week ago. We would have liked to have more people, but I would consider it a success,” John Paul Moran, founder of GOUSA, told the outlet. Andrea Blanco reports. © Provided by The Independent Only 27 people showed up to pro-Trump rally in Washington DC Lindsey Graham told former police officer that Capitol rioters should be ‘shot in head’ Sunday 9 October 2022 08:30 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar Republican senator Lindsey Graham told a former police officer who was severely injured in the attack on the Capitol that he should have shot Trump-supporting rioters in the head, according to a new book. The claim is one of a series of stunning revelations contained in former Capitol police officer Michael Fanone’s upcoming memoir Hold the Line. Mr Fanone writes that he met Mr Graham, a key Trump ally, four months after the deadly siege in May 2021. According to Politico, who obtained an advanced copy of the book, the South Carolina senator told him: “You guys should have shot them all in the head. We gave you guys guns, and you should have used them. I don’t understand why that didn’t happen.” Bevan Hurley has more. © Provided by The Independent Lindsey Graham told former police officer that Capitol rioters should be shot in head Once hopeful Iowa Democrats running uphill vs Sen Grassley Sunday 9 October 2022 07:30 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar When Michael Franken won the Democratic nomination for the Senate in June, many in Iowa’s disillusioned party thought they landed on a candidate who could maybe — possibly — reverse their humbling slide in the state. After all, the retired Navy admiral won 76 of 99 counties, in every region of the state, notably conservative northern and western Iowa. His hesitancy during the primary campaign to back weapons bans and college loan forgiveness were signs he aimed to appeal to moderate Democrats and even some Republicans tired of incumbent Chuck Grassley after four decades in office. But those ambitions are beginning to fade as Election Day, 8 November, approaches. Franken’s quest to unseat the most senior Republican in the Senate has been wounded by allegations that the Democrat kissed a former campaign aide without permission. Franken’s campaign has denied the claim. Thomas Beaumont reports. © Provided by The Independent Once hopeful Iowa Democrats running uphill vs. Sen. Grassley Michael Flynn and Newt Gingrich may be compelled to testify Sunday 9 October 2022 06:14 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar Donald Trump allies including Michael Flynn and Newt Gingrich may be compelled to testify in a 2020 election probe being carried out by a Georgia prosecutor. Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis filed petitions on Friday seeking to have both men, as well as former White House lawyer Eric Herschmann, testify before a grand jury next month. Mr Trump’s former lawyer Rudy Giuliani testified in August and has been told he could face criminal charges stemming from the investigation. Graeme Massie has more. © Provided by The Independent Michael Flynn and Newt Gingrich may be compelled to testify in 2020 election probe Judge won’t block Jan 6 panel subpoena to Arizona GOP chair Sunday 9 October 2022 05:12 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar A federal judge in Phoenix on Friday refused to put on hold her order requiring phone records of the Arizona Republican Party leader to be turned over to the House committee investigating the 6 January insurrection at the US Capitol, pending an appeal. US District Judge Diane Humetewa said state GOP Chair Kelli Ward had failed to show that she would suffer irreparable harm if congressional investigators for the records. And she again rejected Ward’s claims that her First Amendment rights would be chilled if investigators were able to learn whom she spoke with while trying to challenge former President Donald Trump’s 2020 election defeat. Humetewa said she found Ward’s “alleged concern speculative — and in light of disclosures made during oral argument — dubious.” Bob Christie has more. © Provided by The Independent Judge won’t block Jan. 6 panel subpoena to Arizona GOP chair Only 27 people showed up to pro-Trump rally in Washington DC Saturday 8 October 2022 21:18 , Andrea Blanco Merely 27 people attended a pro-Trump rally in Washington DC this week. Event organisers toldThe Daily Beast that the extremely low turnout at the rally on Capitol grounds was the result of several factors, but it was still a “success.” “We put the word out, literally, about a week ago. We would have liked to have more people, but I would consider it a success,” John Paul Moran, founder of GOUSA, told the outlet. Andrea Blanco reports. © Provided by The Independent Only 27 people showed up to pro-Trump rally in Washington DC A new book says Lindsey Graham told former police officer that Capitol rioters should be shot in head Saturday 8 October 2022 21:00 , Bevan Hurley Republican senator Lindsey Graham told a former police officer who was severely injured in the attack on the Capitol that he should have shot Trump-supporting rioters in the head, according to a new book. The claim is one of a series of stunning revelations contained in former Capitol police officer Michael Fanone’s upcoming memoir Hold the Line. Mr Fanone writes that he met Mr Graham, a key Trump ally, four months after the deadly siege in May 2021. Bevan Hurley reports. © Provided by The Independent Lindsey Graham told former police officer that Capitol rioters should be shot in head Trump proposed deal to trade Mar-a-Lago documents with Russia investigation docs Saturday 8 October 2022 14:17 , Jenna Amatulli At the end of last year, former president Donald Trump reportedly tried to make a deal with the National Archives where he would hand over the boxes of records he had taken from the White House to his Mar-a-Lago home in exchange for documents that would prove his theory that the Russia investigation was a “hoax.” On Saturday, The New York Times reported that the archives applied pressure on the former president to return the “two dozen boxes of original presidential records” that were kept “in the residence of the White House over the...

National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Weekend Honors Fallen Arkansas Fire Heroes https://digitalarkansasnews.com/national-fallen-firefighters-memorial-weekend-honors-fallen-arkansas-fire-heroes/ by: Brandon Ringo Posted: Oct 9, 2022 / 10:50 PM CDT Updated: Oct 9, 2022 / 10:50 PM CDT EMMITSBURG, Md. – Fire hero families from Alaska to the U.S. Virgin Islands, including four from Arkansas attended the 41st annual National Fallen Firefighters Foundation Memorial Weekend this weekend. The national tribute honored the 148 firefighters who died in the line of duty in 2021 and several who died in previous years. Arkansans included in the memorial included fire chief Wesley E. Adams of Sedgwick Volunteer Fire Department who died in December of 2021 after being struck by a car while on the scene of a multi-vehicle accident. Other Arkansans included in the memorial included Lieutenant Aaron Scott Chassells of North Little Rock, Battalion Chief Edward Louis Karriem, Jr. and Assistant Chief Lucas B. Stephenson. Read More…

Hurricane Julia Weakens To Tropical Storm https://digitalarkansasnews.com/hurricane-julia-weakens-to-tropical-storm/ TROPICAL STORM JULIA CROSSED FROM THE ATLANTIC TO THE PACIFIC. IT WAS OVER EASTERN NICARAGUA AND THEN IS IN THE EASTERN PACIFIC AND IS EXPECTED TO HUG THE COAST OF CENTRAL AMERICA TOMORROW BEFORE DISSIPATING. AT HOME, QUIET THROUGH TUESDAY. PASSING SHOWERS. Hurricane Julia weakens to tropical storm Hurricane Julia weakened to a tropical storm on Sunday. According to the National Hurricane Center, portions of Central America could experience flash flooding and mudslides through Monday. As of Sunday night, Julia was 95 miles southeast of San Salvador, El Salvador. Julia had winds of 40 mph, and the system was moving west at 15 mph. “Julia did a rare crossover from the Atlantic to Pacific basin today. The last storm to do that was Bonnie earlier this year in July,” WESH 2’s Cam Tran said. “On the forecast track, the center of Julia will move close to and parallel to the Pacific coasts of Honduras, El Salvador, and Guatemala overnight and on Monday,” the National Hurricane Center wrote. “Additional weakening is forecast, but Julia is expected to remain a tropical storm near the Pacific coast of Central America through early Monday.”Julia is forecast to dissipate by Monday night. This storm is not expected to impact Florida. SUMMARY OF WATCHES AND WARNINGS IN EFFECT:A tropical storm warning is in effect for…* Pacific coast of Nicaragua from Puerto Sandino northward to the Honduras border* Pacific coast of Honduras* Coast of El SalvadorA tropical storm watch is in effect for…* Pacific coast of GuatemalaA tropical storm warning means that tropical storm conditions are expected somewhere within the warning area within 36 hours.A tropical storm watch means that tropical storm conditions are possible within the watch area.KNOW WHAT TO DO WHEN A HURRICANE WATCH IS ISSUEDStay tuned to WESH 2 News, WESH.COM, or NOAA Weather Radio for storm updates.Prepare to bring inside any lawn furniture, outdoor decorations or ornaments, trash cans, hanging plants, and anything else that can be picked up by the wind.Understand hurricane forecast models and cones.Prepare to cover all windows of your home. If shutters have not been installed, use precut plywood.Check batteries and stock up on canned food, first-aid supplies, drinking water, and medications.The WESH 2 First Warning Weather Team recommends you have these items ready before the storm strikes.Bottled water: One gallon of water per person per dayCanned food and soup, such as beans and chiliCan opener for the cans without the easy-open lidsAssemble a first-aid kitTwo weeks’ worth of prescription medicationsBaby/children’s needs, such as formula and diapersFlashlight and batteriesBattery-operated weather radioWHAT TO DO WHEN A HURRICANE WARNING IS ISSUEDListen to the advice of local officials. If you are advised to evacuate, leave.Complete preparation activities.If you are not advised to evacuate, stay indoors, away from windows.Be alert for tornadoes. Tornadoes can happen during a hurricane and after it passes over. Remain indoors, in the center of your home, in a closet or bathroom without windows.HOW YOUR SMARTPHONE CAN HELP DURING A HURRICANEA smartphone can be your best friend in a hurricane — with the right websites and apps, you can turn it into a powerful tool for guiding you through a storm’s approach, arrival and aftermath.Download the WESH 2 News app for iOS | AndroidEnable emergency alerts — if you have an iPhone, select settings, then go into notifications. From there, look for government alerts and enable emergency alerts.If you have an Android phone, from the home page of the app, scroll to the right along the bottom and click on “settings.” On the settings menu, click on “severe weather alerts.” From the menu, select from the most severe, moderate-severe, or all alerts.PET AND ANIMAL SAFETYYour pet should be a part of your family plan. If you must evacuate, the most important thing you can do to protect your pets is to evacuate them too. Leaving pets behind, even if you try to create a safe space for them, could result in injury or death.Contact hotels and motels outside of your immediate area to see if they take pets.Ask friends, relatives and others outside of the affected area whether they could shelter your animal. Hurricane Julia weakened to a tropical storm on Sunday. According to the National Hurricane Center, portions of Central America could experience flash flooding and mudslides through Monday. As of Sunday night, Julia was 95 miles southeast of San Salvador, El Salvador. Julia had winds of 40 mph, and the system was moving west at 15 mph. “Julia did a rare crossover from the Atlantic to Pacific basin today. The last storm to do that was Bonnie earlier this year in July,” WESH 2’s Cam Tran said. This content is imported from Twitter. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site. Julia will hug the Pacific coast of Central America before falling apart tomorrow. Julia did a rare crossover from the Atlantic to Pacific basin today. The last storm to do that was Bonnie earlier this year in July. (before that it Otto in 2016)#Atlantic #Pacific #crossover pic.twitter.com/4Y8TbRUTxf — Cam Tran WESH (@CamTranTV) October 10, 2022 “On the forecast track, the center of Julia will move close to and parallel to the Pacific coasts of Honduras, El Salvador, and Guatemala overnight and on Monday,” the National Hurricane Center wrote. “Additional weakening is forecast, but Julia is expected to remain a tropical storm near the Pacific coast of Central America through early Monday.” Julia is forecast to dissipate by Monday night. This storm is not expected to impact Florida. SUMMARY OF WATCHES AND WARNINGS IN EFFECT: A tropical storm warning is in effect for… * Pacific coast of Nicaragua from Puerto Sandino northward to the Honduras border * Pacific coast of Honduras * Coast of El Salvador A tropical storm watch is in effect for… * Pacific coast of Guatemala A tropical storm warning means that tropical storm conditions are expected somewhere within the warning area within 36 hours. A tropical storm watch means that tropical storm conditions are possible within the watch area. KNOW WHAT TO DO WHEN A HURRICANE WATCH IS ISSUED Stay tuned to WESH 2 News, WESH.COM, or NOAA Weather Radio for storm updates. Prepare to bring inside any lawn furniture, outdoor decorations or ornaments, trash cans, hanging plants, and anything else that can be picked up by the wind. Understand hurricane forecast models and cones. Prepare to cover all windows of your home. If shutters have not been installed, use precut plywood. Check batteries and stock up on canned food, first-aid supplies, drinking water, and medications. The WESH 2 First Warning Weather Team recommends you have these items ready before the storm strikes. Bottled water: One gallon of water per person per day Canned food and soup, such as beans and chili Can opener for the cans without the easy-open lids Assemble a first-aid kit Two weeks’ worth of prescription medications Baby/children’s needs, such as formula and diapers Flashlight and batteries Battery-operated weather radio WHAT TO DO WHEN A HURRICANE WARNING IS ISSUED Listen to the advice of local officials. If you are advised to evacuate, leave. Complete preparation activities. If you are not advised to evacuate, stay indoors, away from windows. Be alert for tornadoes. Tornadoes can happen during a hurricane and after it passes over. Remain indoors, in the center of your home, in a closet or bathroom without windows. HOW YOUR SMARTPHONE CAN HELP DURING A HURRICANE A smartphone can be your best friend in a hurricane — with the right websites and apps, you can turn it into a powerful tool for guiding you through a storm’s approach, arrival and aftermath. Download the WESH 2 News app for iOS | Android Enable emergency alerts — if you have an iPhone, select settings, then go into notifications. From there, look for government alerts and enable emergency alerts. If you have an Android phone, from the home page of the app, scroll to the right along the bottom and click on “settings.” On the settings menu, click on “severe weather alerts.” From the menu, select from the most severe, moderate-severe, or all alerts. PET AND ANIMAL SAFETY Your pet should be a part of your family plan. If you must evacuate, the most important thing you can do to protect your pets is to evacuate them too. Leaving pets behind, even if you try to create a safe space for them, could result in injury or death. Contact hotels and motels outside of your immediate area to see if they take pets. Ask friends, relatives and others outside of the affected area whether they could shelter your animal. Read More Here

Venezuela Landslide Kills At Least 25 People, 50 Missing | CNN https://digitalarkansasnews.com/venezuela-landslide-kills-at-least-25-people-50-missing-cnn/ CNN  —  A landslide in Venezuela on Sunday has killed at least 25 people and left more than 50 missing in the north central state of Aragua, according to officials. The landslide came down in the Santos Michelena municipality after days of heavy rainfall caused the five streams of the Las Tejerías river to overflow, Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodríguez said. Venezuela’s President Nicolás Maduro tweeted Sunday that he had ordered the “maximum deployment” of the interior ministry and security agencies to respond to the emergency. More than 1,000 officials from the National Risk Management System and police officers are participating in the search and rescue operation, according to Carlos Pérez, Deputy Minister for Risk Management and Civil Protection. The president also declared three days of national mourning starting Sunday, “in solidarity with the families affected,” according to his tweet. Read More Here

Fayetteville Family Wins Top Prize In America's Funniest Home Videos https://digitalarkansasnews.com/fayetteville-family-wins-top-prize-in-americas-funniest-home-videos/ YOU MIGHT HAVE TO. KNOCK IN MY CORNDOG. I’M GETTING CATTY OVER CORN DOGS. THAT’S A STORY HERE. A FAMILY FROM FAYETTEVILLE SHARED THAT VIDEO WITH AMERICA’S FUNNIEST HOME VIDEOS NOT CASE YOU MISSED IT. THE SHOW AIRED TODAY AT 6 P.M. ON ABC. WE GOT TO HANG OUT WITH ROWE, THE GIRL WHO TOOK THAT VIDEO AND HER FAMILY TONIGHT AS THEY WATCH THE CAVS BIG MOMENT ON THE BIG SCREEN. I WAS ABOUT TO COOK MY CORN DOG ON MY PLATE AND I WENT TO GO GET MY PHONE SO I COULD WATCH TV. AND IT JUST DISAPPEARED. AND THEN I SAW HIM WITH IT. SO I STARTED FILMING BECAUSE I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE FUNNY TO SITTING THERE LIKE MY FRIENDS AND FAMILY AND WHEN I GOT TO AFV OR THE VIDEO, IT TOOK FIRST PLACE EARNING THE FAMILY. $20,000 AND MAYBE THEY COULD BUY THEIR CAT Fayetteville family wins top prize in America’s Funniest Home Videos The winning video shows a cat refusing to give up its snatched corn dog A home video showing a cat refusing to give up its snatched corn dog was plenty funny enough for a Fayetteville family to win the $20,ooo first prize in “America’s Funniest Home Videos.”Roe Bartholomew and her mother, Jordan, held a watch party at Grubbs in Fayetteville to watch the “AFV” broadcast which aired Sunday night. The video shows Roe’s cat, Bruiser, hiding under a chair and eating Roe’s stolen corn dog. When Roe tries to get it back, a chase ensues followed by the cat pawing away any effort to reach for the coveted corn dog.The video, titled “Fighting like cats and corn dog,” beat out home videos from across the country to win first prize. FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — A home video showing a cat refusing to give up its snatched corn dog was plenty funny enough for a Fayetteville family to win the $20,ooo first prize in “America’s Funniest Home Videos.” Roe Bartholomew and her mother, Jordan, held a watch party at Grubbs in Fayetteville to watch the “AFV” broadcast which aired Sunday night. The video shows Roe’s cat, Bruiser, hiding under a chair and eating Roe’s stolen corn dog. When Roe tries to get it back, a chase ensues followed by the cat pawing away any effort to reach for the coveted corn dog. The video, titled “Fighting like cats and corn dog,” beat out home videos from across the country to win first prize. Read More Here

Prosecutors Seek Prison For Rioter https://digitalarkansasnews.com/prosecutors-seek-prison-for-rioter/ October 09, 2022 10:51 PM Federal prosecutors on Sunday recommended a prison sentence of approximately four years for a Pennsylvania man who pleaded guilty to assaulting an Associated Press photographer and using a stun gun against police officers during a mob’s attack on the U.S. Capitol. U.S. District Judge Randolph Moss is scheduled to sentence Alan Byerly on Oct. 21 for his attack on AP photographer John Minchillo and police during the Jan. 6, 2021, riot in Washington. Sentencing guidelines recommend a prison term ranging from 37 to 46 months. Prosecutors are seeking a sentence of at least 46 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release. Byerly’s attorney has until Friday to submit a sentencing recommendation. The judge isn’t bound by any of the sentencing recommendations. FILE – In this image from video, Alan William Byerly, center, attacks an Associated Press photographer during a riot at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Jan. 6, 2021. On Sunday, Oct. 9, 2022, federal prosecutors recommended a prison sentence of nearly four years for Byerly, of Pennsylvania, who pleaded guilty to assaulting the AP photographer and using a stun gun against police officers during a mob’s attack on the U.S. Capitol. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez, File) Byerly was arrested in July 2021 and pleaded guilty a year later to assault charges. Byerly purchased a stun gun before he traveled from his home in Fleetwood, Pennsylvania, to Washington for the “Stop the Steal” rally on Jan. 6. Leaving the rally before then-President Donald Trump finished speaking, Byerly went to the Capitol and joined other rioters in using a large metal Trump sign as a battering ram against barricades and police officers, prosecutors said. After that, he went to the Capitol’s Lower West Terrace, where he and other rioters attacked Minchillo, who was wearing a lanyard with AP lettering. Byerly is one of at least three people charged with assaulting Minchillo, whose assault was captured on video by a colleague. Byerly then approached police officers behind bike racks and deployed his stun gun. “After officers successfully removed the stun gun from Byerly’s hands, Byerly continued to charge toward the officers, struck and pushed them, and grabbed an officer’s baton,” prosecutors wrote. Byerly later told FBI agents that he did just “one stupid thing down there and that’s all it was,” according to prosecutors. “This was a reference to how he handled the reporter and nothing more,” they wrote. Byerly treated Jan. 6 “as a normal, crime-free day, akin to the movie, ‘The Purge,’ when he could do whatever he wanted without judgment or legal consequence,” prosecutors said. “He was mistaken,” they added. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER More than 100 police officers were injured during the Capitol siege. Approximately 900 people have been charged with federal crimes for their conduct on Jan. 6. More than 400 of them have pleaded guilty, mostly to misdemeanor offenses. Over 280 riot defendants have been sentenced, with roughly half sentenced to terms of imprisonment ranging from one week to 10 years. Read More Here

Trump Stumps In Arizona For Blake Masters, Kari Lake And Down-Ticket Republicans https://digitalarkansasnews.com/trump-stumps-in-arizona-for-blake-masters-kari-lake-and-down-ticket-republicans/ MESA, Arizona — Former President Donald Trump, looking to boost his Republican picks for U.S. Senate and governor in this former GOP stronghold, on Sunday called on his supporters to flood the polls on behalf of Blake Masters and Kari Lake next month Mr. Trump’s shadow looms large over the 2022 midterm elections, and nowhere is that more true than in Arizona. The state has served as ground zero for Mr. Trump’s stolen election claims, and as a test case for the Biden administration’s shift away from his predecessor’s hardline approach to immigration and border security.  “You can prove that Arizona is still a red state,” Mr. Trump said to the thousands who braved the scorching heat to see him in a dusty lot.  Saying Democratic Sen. Mark Kelly has been a failure, Mr. Trump said, “Arizona you need to vote this extreme radical leftist out of office.” Mr. Trump, meanwhile, praised Mr. Masters. “He is exactly the kind of new blood we need in the United States Senate,” Mr. Trump said. “Blake will make it his mission to restore the sovereign border of Arizona and protect the jobs, safety, and well-being of the people of your state.” “He is a tireless champion for free speech, election integrity and for putting America first,” he said. Mr. Trump’s endorsement of Mr. Masters played a major role in the candidate winning a competitive GOP primary. Mr. Trump also touted Ms. Lake’s gubernatorial bid and urged his supporters to get behind other election-denying Republicans — most notably state Rep. Mark Finchem, the GOP nominee for secretary of state who will oversee Arizona elections if he wins. Mr. Trump said Ms. Lake is going to be a star. Saving his sharpest criticism for President Biden, Mr. Trump played a “Let’s Get Ready to Bumble” video showing various clips of Mr. Biden getting tongue-tied.  Mr. Trump said Mr. Biden has been an embarrassment and accused the administration of turning law enforcement against him, his family, his supporters, and pro-life activists.  Mr. Biden, he said, has “completely obliterated” everything he did to strengthen the southern border, opening the doors for the cartels and human traffickers. “It all happened because of a rigged and stolen election,” Mr. Trump said. “We won it twice and did better the second time.” The race for the U.S. Senate also features libertarian Marc J. Victor.  Mr. Kelly is running for a full-six-year term after winning a 2020 special election contest to fill out the remainder of late Republican Sen. John McCain’s term. He has had a massive fundraising advantage and held a steady, but slim, lead in the polls, which shows Mr. Victor is pulling some Republicans in his direction. “I have a question for you, who is ready to send Mark Kelly back to space?” Mr. Masters said here Sunday after entering the stage to Kenny Loggins’ 80s anthem “Highway to the Danger Zone.” “That is exactly what we are going to do in 30 days’ time.” Mr. Masters, a venture capitalist, is running behind Mr. Kelly in the polls and has faced doubts about the quality of his candidacy. Mr. Kelly has blanketed the television airwaves with attack ads for months. Mr. Masters, though, proved some naysayers wrong in his first — and only — debate with Mr. Kelly last week, winning rave reviews from Republicans after repeatedly putting the Democrat on the defensive over his record. Looking to keep the momentum going, Mr. Masters has accused Mr. Kelly of backing policies that have made inflation and gas prices worse and opened the door for illegal immigrants and drugs to come across the southern border. On Sunday, Mr. Masters told the crowd Mr. Kelly and Mr. Biden “don’t care about our suffering.” “His record is horrible,” Mr. Masters said, before vowing to fight to steer the nation in a different direction if elected. “The future of the country is on the line, so vote like it,” he said. “We are going to make this country great again!” Ms. Lake, meanwhile, is locked in a tightknit race with Katie Hobbs, the Democratic secretary of state. Speaking here on Sunday, Ms. Lake said Ms. Hobbs is out of touch with what voters want. “I don’t need to hire a bunch of out-of-town Washington, D.C., consultants to tell me where Arizona is, I think we are on the same page,” Ms. Lake said.   Ms. Lake said voters are clamoring for the next governor to push for “safe and secure” borders, address homelessness in a more serious manner, and provide kids a “real education — not an indoctrination.” “I think it comes down frankly to one sentence: We want to replace the woke garbage with common sense,” Ms. Lake said, before urging the crowd to vote.  “We can do it together Arizona because God is with us,” she said. “That same God who parted the Red Sea — that is why he has put us all here in this moment in history — to save this country and create a red wave.” Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia also addressed the crowd, along with  Reps. Debra Kay Lesko and Andy Biggs, the Arizona Republicans who represent the 8th Congressional District and 5th Congressional District, respectively. The three Republicans are expected to cruise to re-election this fall. Mr. Biggs said Mr. Biden is “weak sauce” and said Democrats “are the extremists, they are the radicals.” Ms. Lesko said, “I truly believe God has chosen each and everyone one of you and guided you here today — guided you here to save the country.” Ms. Greene, arguably Mr. Trump’s fiercest supporter in Congress, said the “communist Democrats are destroying the very fabric” of the country. She said Mr. Biden’s immigration moves have opened the door for illegal immigrants who are “replacing your jobs and replacing your kids in your school” and “replacing your culture.” “Joe Biden is a loser,” the Georgia Republican said, and later assured the crowd Mr. Trump would be the nation’s next president. Read More Here

Trump Knocks Pelosi Over Stalled Stock Trading Ban https://digitalarkansasnews.com/trump-knocks-pelosi-over-stalled-stock-trading-ban/ Former President Trump on Sunday knocked House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) over Democrats’ failure to bring a bill that would ban lawmakers from trading stocks to the floor before the midterm elections. “Look at her stocks. I mean, she did better than Warren Buffett. I don’t know about her husband. I don’t know who the hell’s running that deal,” Trump said of Pelosi at a rally in Mesa, Arizona. “And now she doesn’t want to change it, where they’re allowed to get inside information.” Pelosi last month hinted that the much-anticipated measure might be brought to the floor for a vote, but after sharing the draft legislation, leaders said more time was needed for members to review the bill. And Pelosi said it didn’t have the votes to pass. Rep. Abigail Spanberger (D-Va.) was among the Democrats who were furious that a vote was not held before the midterms in November. “This moment marks a failure of House leadership — and it’s yet another example of why I believe that the Democratic Party needs new leaders in the halls of Capitol Hill, as I have long made known,” Spanberger said in a statement. Pelosi came under criticism over reports earlier this year that her husband Paul Pelosi sold millions of dollars of shares in a chipmaker company as the House prepared to vote on a bill related to the industry. House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) called on lawmakers to do a “thorough investigation and look at what is the proper role for members of Congress,” and said Pelosi should not be involved in writing the bill. Pelosi had previously supported lawmakers’ participation in stock trading, but changed her position earlier this year and backed a ban. Trump was in Arizona Sunday to stump for GOP gubernatorial candidate Kari Lake and Senate candidate Blake Masters after attending a separate rally in Nevada the night before. “We’re going to end the crazy Nancy Pelosi’s political career once and for all. She is crazy,” Trump said at the rally. Pelosi has indicated that this will be her last session as speaker, regardless of whether Democrats keep control of the House in November, but is still running for re-election. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Read More Here

‘Let’s Get Ready To Bumble’: Trump Roasts Biden With Gaffe Supercut https://digitalarkansasnews.com/lets-get-ready-to-bumble-trump-roasts-biden-with-gaffe-supercut/ A NOTE ABOUT RELEVANT ADVERTISING: We collect information about the content (including ads) you use across this site and use it to make both advertising and content more relevant to you on our network and other sites. Find out more about our policy and your choices, including how to opt-out.Sometimes our articles will try to help you find the right product at the right price. We may receive payment from third parties for publishing this content or when you make a purchase through the links on our sites. Privacy policy Relevant ads opt-out Cookie policy Terms of use Australian News Channel Pty Ltd © 2017 – 2022. All times AEDT (GMT +11). Powered by WordPress.com VIP Read More Here