Digital Arkansas News

Kremlin Says Annexation And Retreat Are Not A Contradiction Amid Ukrainian Successes https://digitalarkansasnews.com/kremlin-says-annexation-and-retreat-are-not-a-contradiction-amid-ukrainian-successes/ Russian President Vladimir Putin attends a concert marking the declared annexation of the Russian-controlled territories of four Ukraine’s Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions, after holding what Russian authorities called referendums in the occupied areas of Ukraine that were condemned by Kyiv and governments worldwide, in Red Square in central Moscow, Russia, September 30, 2022. Sputnik/Maksim Blinov/Pool via REUTERS Putin signs annexation documents Russian forces battle counter-offensive Putin appoints officials to run regions Kremlin: the territories will be returned LONDON, Oct 5 (Reuters) – As President Vladimir Putin completed paperwork for the annexation of four regions of Ukraine on Wednesday, the Kremlin said there was no contradiction between Russian retreats and Putin’s vow that they would always be part of Russia. In the biggest expansion of Russian territory in at least half a century, Putin signed laws admitting the Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR), the Luhansk People’s Republic (LNR), Kherson region and Zaporizhzhia region into Russia. The conclusion of the legalities of the annexation of up to 18% of Ukrainian territory came as Russian forces battled to halt Ukrainian counter-offensives within it, especially north of Kherson and west of Luhansk. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com Asked if there was a contradiction between Putin’s rhetoric and the reality of retreat on the ground, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said: “There is no contradiction whatsoever. They will be with Russia forever and they will be returned.” The wording of the laws is unclear about what exact borders Russia is claiming for the annexed territories and Peskov declined to give clear guidance. “Certain territories will still be returned and we will continue to consult with the population that expresses a desire to live with Russia,” Peskov said. The contrast between a set of defeats on the battlefield and lofty language from the Kremlin about Russia’s might have raised concerns within the Russian elite about the conduct of the war. Such is the depth of feeling over the retreats that two Putin allies publicly scolded the military top brass about the failings. ANNEXATION Russia declared the annexations after holding what it called referendums in occupied areas of Ukraine. Western governments and Kyiv said the votes breached international law and were coercive and non-representative. More than seven months into a war that has killed tens of thousands and triggered the biggest confrontation with the West since the 1962 Cuban Missile crisis, Russia’s most basic aims are still not achieved. The areas that are being annexed are not all under control of Russian forces and Ukrainian forces have recently driven them back. Together with Crimea, which Russia annexed in 2014, Putin’s total claim amounts to more than 22% of Ukrainian territory, though the exact borders of the four regions he is annexing are still yet to be finally clarified. Moscow, which recognised Ukraine’s post-Soviet borders in the 1994 Budapest Memorandum, will never give the regions back, Putin said on Friday at a grand Kremlin treaty-signing ceremony which brought the partially controlled regions into Russia. Russia’s parliament said people living in the annexed regions would be granted Russian passports, the Russian Central Bank would oversee financial stability and the Russian rouble would be the official currency. In justifying the Feb. 24 invasion, Putin said that Russian speakers in Ukraine had been persecuted by Ukraine which, he said, the West was trying to use to undermine Russian security. Ukraine and its Western backers say that Putin has no justification for what they say is an imperial-style land grab. Kyiv denies Russian speakers were persecuted. Now Putin casts the war as a battle for Russia’s survival against the United States and its allies, which he says want to destroy Russia and grab its vast natural resources. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com Reporting by Reuters; Editing by Guy Faulconbridge and Philippa Fletcher Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles. Read More Here

Trump Asks The Supreme Court To Resolve Mar-A-Lago Document Dispute https://digitalarkansasnews.com/trump-asks-the-supreme-court-to-resolve-mar-a-lago-document-dispute/ Former President Donald Trump is requesting the Supreme Court intervene in the case concerning classified documents taken from his Mar-a-Lago home over the summer. (Chris Seward/AP) The legal battle over documents seized from Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago home in August continues with the former president requesting the Supreme Court intervene in the case. Trump and his team are requesting the Supreme Court review the 11th Circuit of Appeals’ stay order issued in September, which allowed investigators to review the seized classified documents without supervision from a special master. They argue the 11th Circuit lacked jurisdiction to stay the special master’s review of the documents, according to court documents. A three-judge panel issued the stay nearly two weeks ago, siding with the Justice Department and overuling Judge Aileen Cannon’s decision to halt the investigation until the documents could be reviewed by a special master. However, according to documents filed Tuesday, Trump’s team says the special master order was not immediately appealable. “In sum, the Government has attempted to criminalize a document management dispute and now vehemently objects to a transparent process that provides much-needed oversight,” Trump’s team said in the request. “The Government’s attempt to shield the purportedly classified documents from the ambit of a Senior United States District Judge … illustrates precisely why the District Court found a special master was appropriate and necessary under the circumstances.” Trump’s request comes at a time when Americans have begun to question the legitimacy of the high court, which came under intense criticism following the overturning of Roe v. Wade last spring. Copyright NPR 2022. Read More Here

Texas AG Paxton Ordered To Testify In Abortion Case A Week After A Process Server Said He Fled Home To Avoid A Subpoena https://digitalarkansasnews.com/texas-ag-paxton-ordered-to-testify-in-abortion-case-a-week-after-a-process-server-said-he-fled-home-to-avoid-a-subpoena/ Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton speaks to anti-abortion supporters outside the U.S. Supreme Court, November 1, 2021. Evelyn Hockstein | Reuters A federal judge ruled Tuesday that Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton must testify in an abortion lawsuit just a week after a court filing said he fled his home to avoid a subpoena seeking his appearance at a hearing in the case. U.S. District Judge Robert Pitman ordered Paxton, a Republican, to testify in a suit that seeks to block state prosecutors from going after abortion providers for offering financial and other aid to Texans seeking abortion services out of state. Pitman’s order was a reversal of his previous ruling, which had granted Paxton’s request to quash a subpoena in the lawsuit several nonprofit Texas abortion funds and an OB-GYN brought against Paxton and local district attorneys in August. A process server said last week that Paxton fled his home in a truck driven by his wife, state Sen. Angela Paxton, to dodge being served a subpoena to appear at a hearing in the case. In a series of tweets, Paxton said he was avoiding a “stranger lingering outside my home” out of concern for his family’s safety. According to the judge’s order, Paxton had initially challenged the subpoena on the basis that as a high-ranking government official, he could not be compelled to testify in a hearing, especially at the “eleventh-hour.” But Pitman said he was compelled to change his mind when abortion-rights groups filed a new motion last week citing the various attempts they had made to serve him, including repeated emails that went unanswered ahead of the scheduled hearing. “Because the Court was forced to decide Paxton’s motion to quash on a very limited timeframe, without the benefit of Plaintiffs’ response, and because the Court relied on Defendant’s representations as accurate depictions of when Paxton had been served and notified of his expected testimony, the Court issued its ruling on incomplete facts,” Pitman wrote Tuesday. Abortion-rights groups in the case have accused Paxton and others in court filings of efforts to “chill their First Amendment rights to speak about and fund abortion care,” arguing that statements made by Paxton have constrained their ability to facilitate out-of-state abortions. The groups called on Paxton to testify after they argued that his efforts to dismiss their lawsuit led him to contradict some of his earlier statements in news releases, tweets and media interviews about his desire to pursue civil penalties and assist in criminal prosecutions against those involved in performing or attempting abortions. Pitman ordered the parties to agree on the details of Paxton’s testimony by next Tuesday. Paxton, a close ally of former President Donald Trump, has been under indictment on securities fraud charges for seven years and has also faced an FBI probe of allegations by former top aides that he abused his office. In both instances, he has denied any wrongdoing. Read More Here

Ohio Rep. Tim Ryan Joined Most Democrats In Voting To Approve The USMCA, A Trump Trade … – Latest Tweet By PolitiFact | 🔎 LatestLY https://digitalarkansasnews.com/ohio-rep-tim-ryan-joined-most-democrats-in-voting-to-approve-the-usmca-a-trump-trade-latest-tweet-by-politifact-%f0%9f%94%8e-latestly/ The latest Tweet by PolitiFact states, ‘Ohio Rep. Tim Ryan joined most Democrats in voting to approve the USMCA, a Trump trade priority. He supported Trump’s use of tariffs against China, but opposed them when Trump failed to exempt European producers. …’ Socially Team Latestly| Oct 05, 2022 03:19 PM IST Ohio Rep. Tim Ryan joined most Democrats in voting to approve the USMCA, a Trump trade priority. He supported Trump’s use of tariffs against China, but opposed them when Trump failed to exempt European producers. https://t.co/JhCUBTuMpF— PolitiFact (@PolitiFact) October 5, 2022 (SocialLY brings you all the latest breaking news, viral trends and information from social media world, including Twitter, Instagram and Youtube. The above post is embeded directly from the user’s social media account and LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body. The views and facts appearing in the social media post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY, also LatestLY does not assume any responsibility or liability for the same.) Read More Here

Ukraine Takes Back Dozens Of Towns In 'annexed' Regions; Putin Is 'out Of Moves,' Ex-CIA Chief Says https://digitalarkansasnews.com/ukraine-takes-back-dozens-of-towns-in-annexed-regions-putin-is-out-of-moves-ex-cia-chief-says/ Ukrainian soldiers greeted with flowers and tears after liberating village Ukraine’s Ministry of Defense and deputy foreign minister have shared a video of Ukrainian soldiers being greeted by cheering residents of Bohuslavka in the Kharkiv region, after the village was liberated. The footage shows a small crowd of residents gathered with flags and having given flowers for the soldiers, singing the Ukrainian national anthem while wiping tears from their eyes. In the video, one of the soldiers tells residents that Ukrainian forces have pushed back the enemy, with Russian forces having “retreated to a certain distance.” “You are no longer threatened by their artillery fire today,” the soldier says, according to comments translated by NBC News’ Ukrainian fixer Artem Grudinin. “Representatives of the military-civilian administration will arrive here tomorrow and will provide assistance. I hope you have some leaders who can develop a list of questions for them from your community. There is a car with an antenna there, they will give you internet there,” he says, with the crowd replying with “thank you.” — Holly Ellyatt Russian leaders likely concerned as Ukraine’s forces approach Luhansk borders, UK says Russian leaders are highly likely to be concerned that leading Ukrainian units are now approaching the borders of Luhansk region which Russia claimed to have formally annexed last week, the British Ministry of Defense said Wednesday. In its latest intelligence update on Twitter, the ministry said Ukraine continues to make progress in offensive operations along both the northeastern and southern fronts. “In the north-east, in Kharkiv Oblast [or province], Ukraine has now consolidated a substantial area of territory east of the Oskil River,” it said, with its formations advancing up to 12 miles beyond the river “into Russia’s defensive zone towards the supply node of the town of Svatove.” An aerial view of Svatove city, in the Luhansk region of eastern Ukraine. The British Ministry of Defense said Ukrainian formations can now approach the city to strike Russian supplies. Future Publishing | Future Publishing | Getty Images It is highly likely that Ukraine can now strike the key Svatove-Kremina road with most of its artillery systems, the ministry added, “further straining Russia’s ability to resupply its units in the east.” Ukraine’s progress meant it was approaching the borders of Luhansk, one of four regions Moscow “annexed” last week following sham referendums. President Vladimir Putin signed the annexations into law on Wednesday, undeterred by Ukraine’s vow to fight to reclaim all occupied territory. — Holly Ellyatt Putin signs law formally annexing four Ukrainian regions Russian President Vladimir Putin meets the Moscow-appointed heads of four Ukrainian regions, partially occupied by Russia, at the Grand Kremlin Palace on Sept. 30, 2022, in Moscow, Russia. Contributor | Getty Images News | Getty Images Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed laws formally annexing four Ukrainian regions that are partially controlled by Russian forces, Russian state-owned news agency RIA Novosti reported Wednesday. The move comes after sham referendums were held in the regions of Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, Luhansk and Donetsk. The results, widely seen as faked and illegitimate, showed a majority of people wanting to join the Russian Federation. Both Russia’s upper and lower houses of parliament (the Duma and Federation Council, or Senate) approved legislation ratifying the annexations earlier this week, leaving President Vladimir Putin to put his signature to the laws formally annexing the territories. Ukraine and the vast majority of the international community do not recognize the annexation, slamming it as illegal and farcical. Russian forces have varying levels of control over the regions, with Ukrainian forces making gains in the south (around Kherson) and east, and its forces advancing in Donetsk and towards Luhansk. The Kremlin also said it had yet to determine the borders of annexed territory in Kherson and Zaporizhzhia. — Holly Ellyatt Putin is ‘literally out of moves,’ ex-CIA chief says Russian President Vladimir Putin, whose forces look increasingly ill-equipped and outmaneuvered on the battlefield, is running out of options in the war in Ukraine, according to David Petraeus, a former CIA director and retired U.S. Army general. When asked what Putin’s next move could be in Ukraine, whose armed forces are making significant gains in counteroffensives in the south and east of the country, Petraeus told CNBC’s Hadley Gamble he believes Putin is “literally out of moves.” “He’s trying all these different desperate actions. But the fact is the reality that confronts Russia on the battlefield is that Ukraine has a vastly more capable and larger force than the country [Russia] that is more than three times their size. The reality on the battlefield now is desperate for Putin,” he added. “There’s literally nothing he can do. It is irreversible,” he said, noting that even sham referendums staged by Russia in four regions, with the fake votes leading to those regions being “annexed,” had not changed anything. “The Ukrainians are already taking back … The momentum on the battlefield, is very much against Russia, they’re scrambling just to establish new defensive positions.” The former CIA chief warned against getting carried away with Ukraine’s recent advances, warning that Russia is unpredictable. “Don’t misinterpret this, there’s still an enormous amount of damage and destruction that Russia can do, they can punish. And they will continue to punish Ukraine on a daily basis with missiles and rockets and bombs and so forth. But at the end of the day, they cannot reverse the situation on the battlefield, which is going to see Ukraine, taking back the territory that Russia has taken since 24 February, and perhaps taking back everything that Russia has taken from them since 2014,” he said. In 2014, Russia annexed Crimea from Ukraine, an act that accompanied the creation of pro-Russian separatist blocs in eastern Ukraine (with the so-called “people’s republics” in Luhansk and Donetsk) and which led to February’s invasion. — Holly Ellyatt There are signs that Russia is falling apart, says Munich Security Conference chair Christoph Heusgen, chair of the Munich Security Conference, says, however, that it’s difficult to say how long the situation will play out. Lukashenko is a ‘cheap partner’ to Putin, says leader of Belarusian Democratic Movement Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Belarusian counterpart Aleksandr Lukashenko are in a “fake friendship” with both sides just using each other, according to Belarusian Democratic Movement leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya. “They use each other because … Lukashenko is a loyal partner … very cheap partner, I would say, who gives [Putin] territory to attack Ukraine,” she told CNBC’s Hadley Gamble on Tuesday. In February, Lukashenko hosted Russian troops and equipment, and permitted Russia to use Belarus as a staging post for its invasion of Ukraine. The opposition leader described the relationship of the two leaders as a symbiotic one. “Without Putin, Lukashenko won’t survive the events of 2020. So they need each other, and they use each other.” Lukashenko claimed victory in the 2020 Belarusian presidential election, which was contested by Tsikhanouskaya at that point in time. The victory of Ukraine against Russia is “crucial for Belarus,” the democratic leader emphasized, “because this victory will give us opportunity, one movement of opportunity to apprise and to get rid of the [Putin’s] regime.” “That’s why it’s so important for [everyone] to support Ukrainians as much as we can.” — Lee Ying Shan ‘Good news from the front lines’: Ukraine’s forces count significant gains in counteroffensives President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says Ukraine’s military has made swift and significant progress in its counteroffensives in the south and east of the country, recapturing dozens of settlements in regions Russia claims to have annexed. “We have good news from the front lines,” the president said in his nightly address Tuesday, “the Ukrainian army is making pretty fast and powerful movements in the south of our country as part of the current defense operation.” “Dozens of settlements have already been liberated from the Russian pseudo-referendum this week alone. This is in Kherson region, Kharkiv region, Luhansk region and Donetsk region together,” he said, referring to the regions where sham votes on joining Russia were held in late September. Ukrainian soldiers adjust their national flag atop a personnel armored carrier on a road near Lyman, in the Donetsk region, on Oct. 4, 2022. Anatolii Stepanov | Afp | Getty Images Naming a series of settlements that had been liberated in Kherson in southern Ukraine, Zelenskyy said that “this is far from a complete list. Our soldiers are not stopping. And it’s only a matter of time before we expel the occupier from all of our land.” Ukraine’s continuing advances into Russian-occupied territory has prompted concerns that President Vladimir Putin might resort to using nuclear weapons as his army suffers defeats on the battlefield. Those concerns rose Tuesday on reports online that Putin had sent a convoy of vehicles, belonging to the Russian unit in charge of the country’s nuclear arsenal, to Ukraine. But experts have said such reports should be viewed with caution. — Holly Ellyatt World Bank estimates Ukraine’s war-torn economy will sink 35% in 2022 Destruction after an apartment building hit by Russian attack in Kyiv, Ukraine on March 14, 2022. Alejandro Martinez | Anadolu Agency | Ge...

Family Council Organizes Campaign Against Legalization Of Recreational Marijuana In Arkansas https://digitalarkansasnews.com/family-council-organizes-campaign-against-legalization-of-recreational-marijuana-in-arkansas/ FILE – In this Aug. 15, 2019 file photo, marijuana grows at an indoor cannabis farm in Gardena, Calif. A conservative political organization announced plans Tuesday for a statewide campaign opposing marijuana legalization in Arkansas that will include holding meetings in 25 cities and towns across the state. The Family Council Action Committee said its campaign against Issue 4 will also involve a radio campaign, the mobilization of hundreds of churches, a social media campaign and a potential coalition between organizations who disapprove of marijuana legalization. Jerry Cox, executive director of the Family Council Action Committee, said the group’s campaign will focus on the negative aspect of the marijuana industry being included as part of the Arkansas Constitution if the measure is passed, the low tax on marijuana, the dangers of THC and how the amendment is bad for children and families. “Enough is enough. Arkansas does not need another drug problem,” Cox said during the news conference. “Their entire business model depends on creating more people who are drug dependent in the state of Arkansas. That is the last thing we need.” Cox said the statewide tour will take place over the span of two weeks and will include news conferences, meetings with community leaders and literature distribution urging voters to vote against the amendment. “When you have the far right, the far left and just about all the businesses and other organizations in between saying they don’t like it, then people ought to pause and take a look to see what this is really all about,” he said. Cities where stops are expected to be made include Arkadelphia, Batesville, Bentonville, Benton, Camden, Fayetteville, Fort Smith, Hot Springs, Jonesboro, Little Rock, Pine Bluff, Texarkana and West Memphis. “There will be team of us that will be doing the tour stops, so there will be six of us altogether working different cities,” Cox said. “Another part that we are working on is producing a number of short videos that will be pushed out over social media.” The Responsible Growth Arkansas’ proposed constitutional amendment would limit the sale of cannabis to people 21 or older and prohibit advertising and packaging designed to appeal to children. It would provide regulatory oversight by limiting the number of licensed businesses and would not allow homegrown cannabis. It would limit the number of cannabis licenses to 20 cultivators and 120 dispensaries statewide, which includes existing medical marijuana licenses. In 2016 Arkansas voters approved Amendment 98, the constitutional change that legalized cannabis for medical use. The first dispensaries in the state opened in 2019. Eddie Armstrong, chair of Responsible Growth Arkansas, a pro-marijuana legalization group, said he wasn’t surprised to hear about the opposition campaign and that he doesn’t believe Responsible Growth Arkansas needs to change its approach in response to Tuesday’s announcement. “We have been campaigning statewide for over a year now,” Armstrong said. “It started with us going across the state getting almost 200,000 signatures, and it shows in recent polling that emphasizes the statewide support that is twice as high as the opposition.” A Talk Business-Hendrix College poll of 835 likely Arkansas voters conducted September 12 showed 58.5% of the respondents were in support of the proposed constitutional amendment that would legalize recreational marijuana, 29% were against the proposed ballot measure, with 12.5% undecided. The poll’s margin of error was plus- or minus-3.8 percentage points. “We see support for the measure across a variety of demographics suggesting that opponents will have a tough time peeling off votes to defeat the proposal,” Talk Business and Politics Editor in Chief Roby Brock said Sept. 15. Armstrong said Responsible Growth Arkansas plans to continue to get its message out to the public. “We will continue with the message of supporting cancer research, creating a better economy, creating new jobs and supporting law enforcement,” he said. “The campaign has never stopped. I am not tired. I am more fired up.” Armstrong said the group has been running television ads in support of Issue 4 for about three weeks. “I would say the 200,000 signed petitions to get this on the ballot and the over 100,000 patients with medical marijuana cards speaks a lot to the fact that Arkansas voters would like to see legalization happen now,” he said. Cox said the amendment would allow the marijuana industry to write itself into the state’s constitution. He said Issue 4 doesn’t allow for the Legislature to regulate, tax, zone or change the marijuana amendment. “Whatever it is, we will be stuck with it,” Cox said. “Even if it’s fatally flawed, even if it turns out to be train wreck, we will be stuck with it from now on because that is the way they wrote it.” “I think it’s important to realize this is an amendment crafted by the marijuana industry for their own benefit. I would say it’s an uncontrollable monopoly, and that is the first thing that is wrong with it.” Cox also attacked the proposed tax benefits the legalization of marijuana would bring to the state. “It only taxes marijuana at about half the rate they do in Colorado,” he said. “The idea there will be lots of money for police and lots of money for hospitals and drug courts is not true.” The Arkansas Economic Development Institute, which studied the economics of legalizing recreational cannabis, said new revenues from legal marijuana would total $460 million over five years. Legalization would bring $210 million to the state’s general revenue funds, create around 6,400 new jobs and increase Arkansas’ gross domestic product by $2.36 billion over five years, according to the study. Cox said nobody can convince him that legalizing marijuana is going to lead to fewer people being addicted to drugs. “Our highways will be more dangerous, our schools will have a lot more problems, and our government will have to get a lot bigger to clean up all the problems this will create,” he said. “It’s simply not worth it. All the promises are not worth it because Arkansas does not need another drug problem.” Armstrong, however, said he hopes people will take a look at the amendment for themselves. “The people of Arkansas will pay attention to the issues, not the rhetoric,” he said. Read More Here

No-Contest Pleas Entered In Code Violations At Little Rock Apartments https://digitalarkansasnews.com/no-contest-pleas-entered-in-code-violations-at-little-rock-apartments/ The Big Country Chateau Apartments on Colonel Glenn Road in Little Rock on Wednesday, July 27, 2022. .(Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/Thomas Metthe) A southwest Little Rock apartment complex targeted by regulators over reports of $200,000 in unpaid water bills and more than 300 city code safety violations moved closer to resolving its differences with the city on Monday. Representatives of Apex Big Chateau AR LLC, the Newark, N.J.,-based owner of the 151-unit Big Chateau apartments, 6200 Colonel Glenn Road, entered no-contest pleas to 34 code safety citations, each a misdemeanor, in the city’s environmental court. The citations, filed in August, represent inspection findings from 18 apartments and two buildings on the 4.9-acre property near the intersection of Asher Avenue and South University Avenue by the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. City officials and Big Chateau representatives are due back in court on Nov. 14 to report on progress on the property. A July inspection by police, fire and code inspectors went through 149 of the 151 units, documenting 337 life safety violations and 975 lesser violations. Some units were found without working furnaces, with inspectors also reporting instances of improper electrical receptacles installed in kitchens and bathrooms. Many apartments were found to have no smoke/carbon monoxide detectors, and no fire extinguishers were seen. Separately, the 57-year-old apartment complex, which sold in 2019 for $6.4 million, is fighting a consumer-protection lawsuit filed by the attorney general’s office in response to the city’s findings and complaints by tenants that the water and electrical services they had paid for as part of their rent were at risk of being shut off. State regulators found that the complex owed $222,932 in water bills as of August because the complex had not been paying regularly since January 2020, court filings show. According to the lawsuit, apartment operators deliberately rented apartments knowing they could be unsafe and further accepted payment from tenants to pay for water and electrical services but failed to use the money for utilities. Court records show that Big Country was charging as much as $800 per month in rent in 2021, which was supposed to cover electric, gas, water and trash pickup. Read More…

Tuesday Volleyball Results Include MH Sweeping 4 Matches Over Harrison https://digitalarkansasnews.com/tuesday-volleyball-results-include-mh-sweeping-4-matches-over-harrison/ Tuesday was a good night for Mountain Home volleyball as they swept Harrison in four matches. The Lady Bombers took the varsity match in straight sets with scores of 25-21, 25-20 and 25-10. Lindsay Jensen led Mountain Home with eight kills, 17 assists and four digs; Carson Schmitz had eight kills, 15 assists, four aces and six digs; Anna McCarn recorded eight kills and two blocks; Lauren Wehmeyer finished with five kills; Ali Czanstkowski ended up with four kills and eight digs; Addison Martz added 13 digs; and Emma Wilber had four kills and three blocks. The Lady Bombers improve to 15-4 on the season. Mountain Home also won the junior varsity match in straight sets by scores of 25-19 and 25-20. Czanstkowski dished out 11 assists for the J.V. Lady Bombers, McCarn recorded six kills, and Mia Jones finished with four kills. Another straight-set victory came for Mountain Home in the freshman match as they topped Harrison 25-22 and 25-17. The Junior Lady Bombers are now 12-5 on the year. Mountain Home’s eighth graders started the night by beating Harrison in three sets with scores of 18-25, 25-18 and 15-10. The Eighth Grade Lady Bombers’ record is now 5-2. Mountain Home Christian Academy ended up splitting a pair of matches at Cotter. The high school match needed all five sets, and the Lady Eagles beat the Lady Warriors 26-25, 17-25, 25-27, 25-13 and 19-17. Mountain Home Christian was led by Caroline Robinson with seven kills, Carolyn Rogers ended up with six blocks, Kenna Riley added five blocks and three digs, and Maddy Simmons dished out nine assists. For Cotter, Katlynn Wagoner had 15 digs; Morgan Zick recorded seven aces, nine digs, six kills and four blocks; Kylee Chastain chipped in three aces, 17 digs and three kills. The Lady Eagles improve to 16-9 on the season, and the Lady Warriors fall to 2-13. It was a different results in the junior high match as Mountain Home Christian fell in straight sets. Cotter posted scores of 25-17 and 25-14. Gracyn Jackson led the Junior Lady Warriors with eight digs and five kills, Kenna Collins had five kills and four aces, Zaylor Brotherton ended up with five aces. Mountain Home Christian will wrap up the regular season next Tuesday by hosting Bakersfield for Senior Night. WebReadyTM Powered by WireReady® NSI Read More Here

OPEC+ Heads For Deep Supply Cuts, Clash With U.S. https://digitalarkansasnews.com/opec-heads-for-deep-supply-cuts-clash-with-u-s/ VIENNA/LONDON, Oct 5 (Reuters) – OPEC+ looks set for deep cuts to its oil output targets when it meets on Wednesday, curbing supply in an already tight market despite pressure from the United States and others to pump more. The potential OPEC+ cut could spur a recovery in oil prices that have dropped to about $90 from $120 three months ago due to fears of a global economic recession, rising U.S. interest rates and a stronger dollar. OPEC+, which includes Saudi Arabia and Russia, is working on cuts of 1-2 million barrels per day, sources told Reuters, with several sources saying cuts could be closer to 2 million. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com The United States is pushing OPEC not to proceed with the cuts arguing that fundamentals don’t support them, a source familiar with the matter said. read more Sources said it remained unclear if cuts could include additional voluntary reductions by members such as Saudi Arabia or if cuts could include existing under-production by the group. OPEC+ fell about 3.6 million bpd short of its output target in August. WASHINGTON REACTION “Higher oil prices, if driven by sizeable production cuts, would likely irritate the Biden Administration ahead of U.S. mid-term elections,” Citi analysts said in a note. “There could be further political reactions from the U.S., including additional releases of strategic stocks along with some wildcards including further fostering of a NOPEC bill,” Citi said, referring to a U.S. anti-trust bill against OPEC. JP Morgan also said it expected Washington to put in place countermeasures by releasing more oil stocks. Saudi Arabia and other members of OPEC+ – which groups the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and other producers including Russia – have said they seek to prevent volatility rather than to target a particular oil price. read more Benchmark Brent crude traded flat at below $92 per barrel on Wednesday after rising on Tuesday. The West has accused Russia of weaponising energy, creating a crisis in Europe that could trigger gas and power rationing this winter. Moscow accuses the West of weaponising the dollar and financial systems such as SWIFT in retaliation for Russia sending troops into Ukraine in February. The West accuses Moscow of invading Ukraine while Russia calls it a special military operation. Part of the reason Washington wants lower oil prices is to deprive Moscow of oil revenue while Saudi Arabia has not condemned Moscow’s actions. Relations have been strained between the kingdom and the administration of Biden, who travelled to Riyadh this year but failed to secure any firm cooperation commitments on energy. “The decision is technical, not political,” United Arab Emirates Energy Minister Suhail al-Mazroui told reporters. “We will not use it as a political organisation,” he said, adding that concerns about a global recession would be one of the key topics. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com Editing by David Gregorio and Jason Neely Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles. Read More Here

WCEL Obituaries For Oct. 5, 2022 https://digitalarkansasnews.com/wcel-obituaries-for-oct-5-2022/ photo: meyer, putnam, curry, MOORE flag: putnam, whited Anthony Glen Curry (Tony) Anthony Glen Curry (Tony), age 68, of Lincoln, Arkansas, passed away at Willard Walker Hospice House in Fayetteville, Arkansas, on September 27, 2022. Tony was born August 14, 1954, in Fort Worth, Texas, the son of David Glen Curry and Glenda Sue McMillen. He was the first of four children. Tony moved to Salem Springs, Arkansas, in 1968, at the age of 14 where he met his wife Jachita Curry and was together 4 years before they moved to Forth Worth, Texas. They married at First Baptist Church of Kennedale, Texas. on June 12, 1972. He and Jachita had two daughters, Sheila in 1974 and Mandi in 1975. They wanted to raise their girls in Arkansas so in 1981 they came home. Tony and Jachita opened Burger Land on May 3, 1983. They watched many teenagers that worked for them grow and become wonderful moms and have success in their lives. We have received many notes that talked about what a good role model Tony was. He showed them what is was to love his wife and his daughters as well as his friends. He ran the business for 25 years and sold it October of 2008. Tony always loved the food business and in July of 2015 he opened a concession wagon named Tony’s in Lincoln, AR. He sold it and we are happy to see that both Burger Land and Tony’s are thriving with great owners. Tony then went to work for our good friends Bobby and Linda Umberson at Grassworks in Lincoln, Arkansas. He worked there for approximately 10 years before retiring due to his failing health. Tony’s hobbies were fishing (when he had the time), playing cards and woodworking. He had a passion for working with his hands and it showed through the work he put out. He was preceded in death by his father, David Glen Curry, and mother, Glenda Sue Curry; two brothers, Scotty Lynn Curry and Mark Allen Curry. He is survived by his wife of 50 years, Jachita Ann Curry, two daughters, Sheila Ann Brewer and her husband Jonathan of Dutch Mills, Arkansas, and Miranda Rae Kester and her husband Jay of Lincoln, Arkansas; eight grandchildren, Justin Alan Brewer and his wife Ashtyn of Dutch Mills, Arkansas, Sydney RaeAnn Brewer of Dutch Mills, Arkansas, Adria Brooke Kester of Fayetteville, Arkansas, Kayleigh Paige Kester of Shawney, Oklahoma, Sterling Neil Morphis and Lincoln Ray Morphis, both of Lincoln, Arkansas, Tessa Danielle Kester of Tahlequah, Oklahoma; one sister, Suzie DeAnn Kyle and her husband Stew of Winslow, Arkansas, and many nieces, nephews and a host of long-time friends. Funeral service was held September 30, 2022, at Liberty Baptist Church in Dutch Mills, Arkansas. Burial was in the Dutch Mills Cemetery in Lincoln, Arkansas. Online guest book, www.luginbuel.com. Gerda Meyer Gerda Meyer, age 84, a resident of Odell, Arkansas, passed away Monday, September 26, 2022, at Willard Walker Hospice Home in Fayetteville, Arkansas. She was born January 31, 1938, in Babice, Czech Republic, the daughter of Josef and Emilie (Mohr) Skrabal. She was preceded in death by her husband, Orvil “Ted” Meyer; her parents; one brother, Adolf Skrabal; and one sister, Erika Syktus. Survivors include one son, Orvil Meyer Jr. “Poncho” of Odell, Arkansas; four daughters, Scherron Love of Farmington, Arkansas, Janet Roy and her husband Edwin of Lincoln, Arkansas, Carol Meyer of Farmington, Arkansas, Lorie Meyer of Fayetteville, Arkansas, and Emilie Gore and her husband Darwin of Bentonville, Arkansas; two sisters near Frankfurt, Germany, Edeltraud Watz and Veronika Kron and her husband Norbert; six grandchildren, Craig Roy and his wife Sheryl, Brian Roy, Megan Luttrell and her husband Chris, Amy Smith and her husband Bryan, Joe Love and his wife Elizabeth, and Caleb Gore and his wife Krystal; fifteen great-grandchildren, Addison Roy, Mason Roy, Brooklyn Roy, Mikey Roy, Payton Roy, Westin Luttrell, Waylin Luttrell, Brynlee Luttrell, Bryley Luttrell, Brooks Smith, Hadleigh Love, Wyatt Love, Peyton Gore, Maci Gore and Colton Gore. Funeral service was held Thursday, Sept. 29, 2022, at Luginbuel Chapel in Prairie Grove. Burial was in the Bethesda Cemetery. Online guest book, www.luginbuel.com. Billie Nicole Moore Billie Nicole Moore, 49, of Prairie Grove, Ark., passed away on Monday, September 26, 2022, in Springdale, Ark. She was born on December 15, 1972, in Fayetteville. Nicole was the only child of Billy Clark, and Vickie (McDaniel) Clark, of Winslow, Ark. Nicole was raised in Winslow. She is a graduate of Fayetteville High School and obtained her medical assistant certificate from American Allied Health, Inc. Upon graduation, she worked for Dr. Mark Miller, and the Washington County Health Department. She enjoyed attending church, playing games, spending time with family and friends, and spoiling her nieces and nephews. She was a devoted mother to her son, Cole, and her fur baby, Bruno. Nicole is survived by her husband, Ryan; son, Cole (Baley) McClellan; her parents; aunts, Laura, Dianna, Cheryl and Tracie; nephews, Jaxon Beare and Blaine Barker; nieces, Averee and Addi Beare and Brylee Barker, along with numerous aunts, uncles, and cousins. She is preceded in death by her uncle, Randall Barker, her paternal grandparents, Cecil and Ella Rhodes; maternal grandmother, Thelma Homan, and maternal grandfather, Lloyd Eugene McDaniel. Funeral services were held Monday, October 3, 2022, at Luginbuel Funeral Home in Prairie Grove, Arkansas. The family would like to thank the Prairie Grove Fire Department, Central EMS, and the SICU staff at Northwest Medical in Springdale, for their care and support over the years. Charles William Putnam Charles William Putnam, age 97, a resident of Springdale, Arkansas, passed away Sunday, September 25, 2022, in Prairie Grove, Arkansas. He was born June 15, 1925, in Powersville, Missouri, the son of Frank and Bessie Mae (Pauley) Putnam. Charles served in the United States Army. He was preceded in death by his parents; four brothers, George Putnam, Estress Putnam, Elbert Putnam and John Putnam. Survivors include four sons, Bob Putnam of Rogers, Arkansas, Dan Putnam of Des Moines, Iowa, Dennis Putnam of Spokane, Washington, and Jeff Putnam of Prairie Grove, Arkansas; two daughters, Mari Slinker of Fayetteville, Arkansas, and Amy Graham of Strafford, Missouri; fifteen grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. Funeral service was held Thursday, September 29, 2022, at National Cemetery in Fayetteville, Arkansas. Online guest book, www.luginbuel.com. Willard Eldon Whited Willard Eldon Whited, age, 88, a resident of Prairie Grove, Arkansas, passed away Monday, September 26, 2022, in Prairie Grove, Arkansas. He was born June 23, 1934, in Morrow, Arkansas, the son of Walter Palmer and Matilda Jane (Hurst) Whited. Eldon served in the United States Army and retired from Elkhart Product Corporation. He was preceded in death by his wife, Velma Whited; one daughter, Pat Whited; two sisters, Kemah Raines and Clara Hurst; one brother, Arthur Whited; and one granddaughter, Heather Cornett. Survivors include one daughter, Cheryl Cornett and her husband Daryl of Prairie Grove, Arkansas; one son, Randy Whited and wife Jeni of Tulsa, Oklahoma; his companion of six years, Sue Ryan; five grandchildren, Dennis Thurman, Derek Hill, Jason Talley, Chris Cornett and Sydney Sloan; twelve great-grandchildren; numerous nieces and nephews. Funeral service was held Thursday, September 29, 2022, at Luginbuel Chapel in Prairie Grove, Arkansas. Burial was in the Hall Cemetery in Natural Dam, Arkansas. Online guest book, www.luginbuel.com. Putnam Curry Moore Read More Here

14-Year-Old’s Arthritis Meds Denied After Ariz. Abortion Ban, Doctor Says https://digitalarkansasnews.com/14-year-olds-arthritis-meds-denied-after-ariz-abortion-ban-doctor-says/ For years, Deborah Power, a rheumatologist in Tucson, had prescribed methotrexate to manage her 14-year-old patient’s rheumatoid arthritis. But just two days after the state’s abortion ban took effect last month, a pharmacy denied the teen’s refill. The reason: In a higher dosage, methotrexate — a drug used to treat some cancers, arthritis and a slew of autoimmune diseases — can also induce abortions and terminate ectopic pregnancies, though that’s not its most common use, Power told The Washington Post. Emma Thompson was ultimately able to get her prescription filled, but the delay highlights the medical complications some patients are facing in states with strict abortion rules. Even if the medications are not prescribed to end a pregnancy, the reversal in June of Roe v. Wade has thrown pharmacists, patients and physicians into a “constant juggling act,” Power said, balancing medical care with changing policies and potential legal consequences. “I don’t think everyone understands what the ramifications of such a broad, sweeping antiabortion law are and how many other women are affected by this,” she added. “Like how can we decide that women can’t have this medicine that men can? That’s discriminating on gender. And how can you make a law that doesn’t allow me to provide standard of care for my patients?” Throughout Emma’s life, rheumatoid arthritis — an inflammatory disorder that causes the body’s immune system to attack healthy tissue in the joints — had resulted in prolonged hospital stays, clinical trials and simply “too much pain to have a normal life,” said her mother, Kaitlin Preble. For 10 years, her daughter’s physicians had experimented with different doses of methotrexate, finally landing about a year ago on just the right amount that allows Emma to thrive, attend school and “simply be a normal teenager,” Preble said. All of that seemed to be at risk on Sept. 25, when Preble checked her Walgreens app to see whether Emma’s prescriptions were ready. Instead of a green light indicating they could be picked up, a message popped up saying her methotrexate refill had been denied. “It didn’t even give the reason why,” Preble said. “It just said that I had to call my doctor.” Still, Preble said she had an inkling that the state’s new abortion ban — one that dates back to the 19th century and prohibits the procedure, except to save the pregnant person’s life — had something to do with it. Her suspicions were confirmed the next day, when Preble drove to the pharmacy “and made a big deal inside,” she said. Arizona is one of several Republican-controlled states that is pointing to a century-old law as the rationale to roll back access to abortions. (Video: Julie Yoon, Joshua Carroll/The Washington Post) At first, no one would explain why her daughter wasn’t able to get a medication that’s “crucial to her health,” Preble said. Then, she urged a pharmacy technician to get some answers. “The pharmacist said she denied it because Emma is 14 years old,” which is considered a childbearing age, Preble said. “The pharmacy tech then asked, ‘Well, did you look at her history? She’s been getting this medication for a long time,’ and the pharmacist said, ‘No,’ which I think was very crucial.” Through it all, Preble was shaking and in tears: “I understand that pharmacists are scared because they don’t want to be liable to anything. But it’s extremely unfair to put a child through this unpredictable situation. And we shouldn’t have to jump through all these hoops to get a medication.” In a statement to The Post, a spokesperson for Walgreens said that, while the company couldn’t discuss individual patients, “new laws in various states require additional steps for dispensing certain prescriptions and apply to all pharmacies, including Walgreens.” “In these states, our pharmacists work closely with prescribers as needed, to fill lawful, clinically appropriate prescriptions,” the spokesperson said. “We provide ongoing training and information to help our pharmacists understand the latest requirements in their area.” Patients across the country face similar situations as more drugs are scrutinized. Many of the medications are teratogens, or drugs that can result in fetal abnormalities and miscarriages if taken by someone who is pregnant. In some cases, women have to prove they’re on birth control or submit pregnancy tests for pharmacies to fulfill prescriptions for drugs that can terminate pregnancies, The Post previously reported. When it comes to methotrexate — which is used or has been used by nearly 60 percent of rheumatoid arthritis patients — medical groups have already said there are increasing challenges in accessing the drug. In Texas, for example, pharmacists are allowed to refuse to fill prescriptions for misoprostol and methotrexate under the state’s “heartbeat bill.” The American College of Rheumatology in July urged pharmacists across the nation to provide the medication “without delay and with the assumption that they are not being used to terminate a pregnancy.” “Methotrexate must remain accessible to people with rheumatic diseases, and legal safeguards must protect rheumatology professionals, pharmacists, and patients from potential legal penalties,” the medical group said in a statement. The new laws have also affected patients with other conditions, such as Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. In August, the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation said it “vehemently opposes” policies that inhibit patients’ access to approved treatments. “The decision on what the most appropriate therapy for their illness is should be made as a shared decision between a patient and their healthcare professional, following medical evidence,” the organization wrote in a statement. Although her daughter’s next refill isn’t scheduled for another month, Preble said she is already dreading the possibility of another denial. “These laws are just too extreme and don’t take into account all the different scenarios that people are going through,” she said. Read More Here

“Trump Destroyed Objectionable Documents In The White House Toilet!” https://digitalarkansasnews.com/trump-destroyed-objectionable-documents-in-the-white-house-toilet/ The book about former US President Donald Trump, written by a journalist after talks with many names close to him, has been released today. In this book, which contains interesting information about Trump, there are also very strange claims about the White House period. A new book that has been released has been on the agenda with interesting claims from the White House period of former US President Donald Trump. It was alleged that Trump tore up some official documents and threw them into the toilet while he was serving in the White House. In the book, it was noted that White House staff, who discovered that the toilet was periodically clogged with printed papers, believed that Trump flushed these papers down the toilet. The book titled “The Man of Confidence: The Birth of Donald Trump and the Fall of America”, written by journalist Maggie Haberman about Trump, is published in the New York Times today. The book, which Trump allegedly destroyed, sometimes by tearing up official documents in violation of the Presidential Records Act, contains information about the FBI raid on the President’s Mar-a-Lago mansion in Florida. The book also points to the ongoing investigation into the alleged lost documents of the National Archives in the White House, which has been on the agenda for a long time. The Presidential Records Act mandates that all official documents created or obtained by a president during his term are the property of the US government and to be handled by the US National Archives after the presidency has expired. ‘DO ANYTHING YOU WANT, INCLUDING CRAZY JOBS’ Haberman’s book also contains interesting notes on the 2020 Presidential election results. In the book, Trump, who realizes that he will lose the elections against his rival Joe Biden, called the former Mayor of New York and his special lawyer Rudy Giuliani to his side and said, “Rudy, okay, you have the authority, do anything you want, including crazy things, I don’t care.” allegedly said. Arguing that Trump’s request to reverse the election results, other lawyers, except Giuliani, did not accept it for fear of going too far, and Trump said, “My lawyers are terrible.” It is alleged that he complained. In the book, it is also evaluated that Trump was looking for new lawyers because he thought that his advisers were deceived and that he was deeply involved in conspiracy theories at that time. ‘TRUMP FEARED TO DIE FROM COVID-19’ In the book, which also includes notes on the period when the former president caught the Covid-19 virus in October 2020, it is stated that Trump was afraid of death when his condition worsened. In the book, it is recorded that Deputy Chief of Staff Tony Ornato at one point warned Trump that if his health deteriorated further, he would have to take action to ensure the continuity of the government. It is also claimed that although Trump is afraid of death due to the virus, he is worried that coronavirus negatively affects his image and political motivations, and therefore he asks his aides to remove their masks. HE WAS FIRE OF WORK ON TWITTER WITH HIS DAUGHTER AND GROOM Focusing mostly on the Trump presidency, the book also includes allegations about how the former president resisted rejection of white racists and wanted a drug-producing factory in Mexico to be bombed. In the book, the first copy of which was announced last week, it was reflected in the headlines that Trump was considering dismissing his daughter Ivanka Trump and son-in-law Jared Kushner, who were his chief advisers while he was serving in the White House, almost via Twitter. It was recorded that John Kelly, who was the Chief of Staff of the White House at the time, blocked Trump from this act and asked for permission to talk to his daughter and son-in-law before such a post, and it was reported that this issue was not brought up again after that day. It was also alleged that Trump often belittled and mocked his son-in-law Kushner, seeing him as “inefficient”. Trump’s spokesman Taylor Budowich, on the other hand, described the book as “full of errors and boring” and said, “President Trump is focused on saving America and there is nothing he can do about fake news.” had used the phrase. It is shared that Haberman interviewed more than 250 people, including Trump three times, and some of her aides and advisers, for his 607-page book. Read More Here

Donald Trump Net Worth Is Explored As He Sues CNN With A $475 Million Defamation Lawsuit – TheRecentTimes https://digitalarkansasnews.com/donald-trump-net-worth-is-explored-as-he-sues-cnn-with-a-475-million-defamation-lawsuit-therecenttimes/ Former president Donald Trump has decided to sue CNN for defamation. As per a lawsuit filed on 3rd October, Donald Trump has asked the cable news goliath to pay $75,000 in compensatory damages and reportedly more than $475 million in punitive damages. Donald Trump guarantees that CNN has harmed his reputation with bogus, slanderous, and inflammatory misrepresentations of him and his thoughts. He claims that this demonstration of CNN will influence his political career negatively. Donald Trump said that the cable news CNN used the term ‘Big Lie’ for him. As per the former president’s lawyers, the term ‘Big Lie’ is an immediate reference to Adolf Hitler’s Mein Kampf. It was a strategy or mind game embraced by the dictator to rule. Purportedly, CNN had said that Donald Trump’s arguments and words are against the election integrity of the 2020 races. The claim likewise says that CNN’s slanderous comments and use of defamations for Donald Trump have expanded because of the fear that he could run for the Official decision Presidential elections in 2024, once more. Donald Trump believes that the 2020 official races were uncalled for. After numerous claims and recounts, the former president actually believes that he was the true winner of the last election. Donald Trump Sues Cable News CNN With A $475 Million Defamation Lawsuit Former US president Donald Trump sued CNN for defamation on Monday, seeking for $475 million in punitive damages and guaranteeing that the network had carried out a ‘campaign of defamation and criticism’ against him. Donald Trump claims in his lawsuit, filed in US District Court in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, that CNN had capitalized on its significant leverage as the main news organization to defeat him politically. Donald Trump, a Republican, claims in the 29-page lawsuit that CNN had a long history of reprimanding him, however, had sloped up its assaults as of late on the grounds that the network feared that he would run again for president in 2024. ‘As a part of its deliberate work to shift the political balance to the left, CNN has attempted to taint the Plaintiff with a progression of scandalous, misleading, and defamatory labels of ‘racist,’ ‘Russian lackey,’ ‘insurrectionist,’ and eventually ‘Hitler,’ the lawsuit claims. The lawsuit records a few occurrences in which CNN seemed to compare Donald Trump with Hitler, including a January 2022 speci al report by host Fareed Zakaria that included footage of the German tyrant. The lawsuit comes as the 76-year-old former president faces significant legal woes, including a criminal investigation by the US Justice Department for holding government records at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida subsequent to leaving office in January 2021. Donald Trump was sued last month by New York State Attorney General Leticia James, who has blamed him for misleading banks and insurers over the worth of his assets. What’s more, a congressional committee is investigating the 6th January 2021, attack on the US Capitol by Donald Trump allies, focusing in on the former president’s role in the attack. Donald Trump’s Net Worth The net worth of Donald Trump isn’t publicly known. Different news organizations have endeavoured to assess his riches. Forbes estimates it at $3 billion with Donald Trump persistently making a lot higher cases. Trump acquired wealth from his dad, and he has likewise brought in cash from fundraising, real-estate ventures, hotels, club, gold courses and Trump-marked items including neckties and steaks. As per a The New York Times report in 2018, Trump got something like $413 million (in 2018 prices) from his dad’s business empire. Drawing upon in excess of 100,000 pages of tax returns and monetary records from Fred Trump’s business and interviews with previous advisors and employees, the Times found 295 distinct streams of income that Fred Trump made for more than five decades to channel his wealth to his son. At the point when Trump discussed the money he got from his dad, he typically downplays the actual amount. He likes to have a reputation as an independent man. Trump is the recipient of a few trust funds set up by his dad and paternal grandmother starting in 1949 when he was three years of age. As per The New York Times, he ‘ was a millionaire by the age of 8. In 1976, Fred set up trust funds of $1 million ($4.8 million out of 2021 bucks) for every one of his five kids and three grandkids. Trump got $90,000 in 1980 and $214,605 in 1981 through the asset. Donald Trump was likewise engaged in various allegedly fraudulent tax schemes. Also read: Fans want Pete Davidson to date Gisele Bundchen, after divorce rumors with Tom Brady Continue Reading Read More Here

George Smith: Civil War Coming? Just Say No! https://digitalarkansasnews.com/george-smith-civil-war-coming-just-say-no/ Do you foresee a civil war is in our future? You know, the left vs. right, liberal vs. conservative, generational and cultural gaps, pro-life vs. pro-choice, MAGA vs. “woke” culture, us vs. them? Some Americans do, you know. In fact, some citizens are betting on it, planning their strategy, egging on the events that could ensure that a battle royale for political supremacy is inevitable. The idea is rolling, downhill, and picking up speed. A recent conversation with a staunch Republican, a person I admire for his/her education, intellect, professionalism, leadership and dry sense of humor, convinced me that, at some point in the next decade, someone, some leader, some organization, or some “cowboy/cowgirl” will push a “hot button” at the right/wrong time and the world as we know it will implode. This time around, it’s not simply “North” vs. “South,” but “South/North/Midwest” vs. the “East Coast/West/Upper North” contingents. Red vs. blue with purple caught in the middle. The arguing points are prickly: Women’s rights, LBTGQ rights, immigration, rich vs. poor, and the states — Deep State and the rights of states against federal mandates. At loggerheads are MAGA cultists, hardshell GOPers and anyone proclaiming Donald Trump is a tyrant, liar, grifter and leader of the January 6, 2001 insurrection. Why would any resident, citizen or immigrant, want to see this nation involved in civil war, a war in which only losers would emerge? Of course, the top losers will declare themselves winners… but what will they have won? This nation is already broken; can it be broken-er? Some folks, including elected officials, activists on both sides, and ne’r-do-well pot-stirrers, are toe-tapping to the “Insurrectionists’ Reel,” a catchy tune ostensibly about “freedom.” The “freedom” theme, however, has a chorus heavy in “control at any costs.” In a recent New York Times poll, 46 percent of Americans believe the U.S. is heading toward civil war. Are almost half of Americans seriously looking at internal conflict as a means to whatever “ends” they think may be more meaningful than what now exists? Seriously? Is this country headed down that path? For the record, the U.S., today at this very minute, is what some analysts call a “backsliding democracy.” What do the “aginners” want to see in the future? Theocracy. Dictatorship? Socialistic society? Oligarchy? Monarchy? Totalitarianism? Autocracy? Aristocracy? What we have now (look it up if you doubt it) is a democratic republic, with socialistic tendencies. If you don’t want to participate in the “socialistic” part of our system, then do not accept police or fire protection or expect government assistance in any form, including in education, Social Security, Medicaid or Medicare. In the U.S. there are more guns than residents, so a new version of a civil war is not beyond the realm of possibility. The 2021 attack on the Capitol to halt a time-honored tradition of peaceful transfer of power following a presidential election (five people died as a result of that attack, remember?) was more than a warning shot across the bow of an intruder; it could be akin to the first shot at Fort Sumter. One cannonade. One war. Did we learn nothing from the April 1861 start of civil war until April 1965 with Gen. Lee’s surrender? More than 600,000 citizens — soldiers and civilians — died during those 1,456 day, an average of 412 fatalities per day. And that was in a time of grapeshot-firing cannons and flintlock rifles and pistols, not the military style weapons with expanded magazines available today. Putting it in perspective, the Civil War killed two percent of the population (31,500,000); extrapolated that percentage to 2020 population (330,000,000), if a civil war occurred today, the death total could easily surpass 6,600,000 — AND, that does not take into the fact that today’s weapons are much, much more deadly. So, you see no reason to worry? Are you in the “Can’t happen here, not today” clique of positive thinkers? Have you not read about the various militias labeled “domestic terrorist groups”? Did you not see the intense violence on law enforcement officers by citizens supposedly “backing the blue” on the attack on the Capitol? There are crazies on both sides of the political spectrum who are chomping at the bit for a serious confrontation. Federal elected officials are getting serious threats daily simply because of their ideological stance on hot button issues. And, yes, some, are encouraging confrontation. It is, unfortunately, in the cards for someone, at some point in time, to take a “thought” about taking out an ideological enemy and turning it into action. That is not a fatalistic thought, but a real possibility; the wire is stretched that tight; the fuel is on the brush pile and just waiting to be ignited. Those that stoke that fervent passion — politicians and pundits alike — only care about votes and ratings, not what is best for this nation, our system of government or U.S. residents. If any elected politician is not preaching calm in the face of this real threat, that person needs to be excommunicated from holding office; any TV or social media creamer or schemer not talking about the nation coming together needs to be shut down by a simple twist of the knob or flick of the wrist. Look in the mirror. You are better than this. We all should be better than this. What are you doing to ensure this nation does not split according to so-called red and blue states? You, and all other residents, are part of the United States of America. United States. May that simple phrase ring true to each of us… today and always. — George S. Smith is a former publisher of the Marshall News Messenger. Read More Here

OPEC Members And Russia Set To Meet As Europe Faces Energy Crisis https://digitalarkansasnews.com/opec-members-and-russia-set-to-meet-as-europe-faces-energy-crisis/ Image A Lukoil refinery in Italy last month. Italy has increased its imports of Russian crude despite the European Union’s efforts to cut ties to Russian energy.Credit…Gianni Cipriano for The New York Times OPEC and its allies, including Russia, are widely expected to approve a sizable cut in oil production in order to bolster prices when officials meet in Vienna on Wednesday. Among those likely to attend the meeting is Russia’s deputy prime minister, Alexander Novak, who has played a key role in fostering cooperation with the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries. The presence of Mr. Novak, who is subject to U.S. sanctions, could come as an embarrassment to European officials when their citizens face what could be a tough winter because of Russia’s war in Ukraine. Analysts say a very large cut on the order of two million barrels a day, or about 2 percent of world supplies, could be on the table. The gathering of the group, known as OPEC Plus, is the first to be held in person since the early days of the pandemic. That signals an intention to make a strong statement to energy markets about the group’s cohesion during the fighting in Ukraine and its willingness to act quickly to defend prices, analysts say. But the meeting also comes amid swirling political intentions and economic factors. In the push for higher oil prices, the Kremlin may be using OPEC’s de facto leader, Saudi Arabia, whose ministers want future cooperation from Moscow on energy matters, to make it more costly for the West to take measures against Russia. “To the extent that prices rise, it will make it that much more challenging for Europe to proceed with its sanctions on Russian oil in December,” said Bhushan Bahree, an executive director of S&P Global Commodity Insights. A substantial cut in production would be a blow to the Biden administration, which has lobbied the Saudis to increase output. Saudi officials have expressed concern that oil demand could weaken because of a flagging world economy. “They are looking for ways to surprise the market or deliver at least as much as the market is anticipating,” said Richard Bronze, the head of geopolitics at Energy Aspects, a research firm in London. Expectations of a big move by the producing countries have in recent days helped lift futures prices of Brent crude, the international benchmark, to about $92 a barrel from about $83. The group may also announce that it is extending the overall cooperation agreement among OPEC, Russia and other producing countries, which is set to expire in December. Image The M142 HIMARS, or High Mobility Artillery Rocket System, has been a key part of the U.S.’s military support for Ukraine. This is one such unit, deployed during military exercises in Latvia last month. Credit…Gints Ivuskans/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images WASHINGTON — The United States will send four more mobile rocket launchers to Ukraine, along with guided munitions for them to fire, as part of a $625 million military aid package announced Tuesday. The four rocket launchers, known as HIMARS, will be taken from Pentagon stockpiles, making them available right away. Last week, the Pentagon said it was giving Ukraine financing to build 18 more of the rocket launchers, a process that could take years. The new arms shipments were discussed by President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris in a phone call with President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine earlier in the day, the State Department said. The aid package is the 22nd the U.S. military has dedicated to Ukraine since August 2021. The Defense Department has already sent 16 M142 HIMARS — or High Mobility Artillery Rocket System — launchers to Ukraine, which officials in both countries have credited with destroying hundreds of Russian command posts, arms depots and other high-value targets. An unspecified number of guided rockets for them to fire, each of which carries a warhead containing 200-pound explosives to targets 50 miles away, will be included, according to an email sent to reporters on Tuesday afternoon. In a briefing at the Pentagon on Tuesday afternoon, Laura Cooper, the deputy assistant secretary of defense for Russia, Ukraine and Eurasia, told reporters that even more rocket launchers would be coming from other allies. Ukraine has asked the United States to provide long-range missiles, known as ATACMS, which can reach targets 190 miles away, for the purpose of striking Russian targets in Crimea, which Russia illegally invaded in 2014. Asked about those missiles, Secretary Cooper said that Ukrainian troops already can attack “the vast majority of targets, including Crimea” with the guided rockets that the U.S. is already providing. Traditional howitzers will be sent to Ukraine as well, including 16 more 155-millimeter howitzers and ammunition for them — 75,000 shells, plus 500 more precision-guided 155-millimeter shells and 1,000 155-millimeter shells that dispense anti-tank mines. The U.S. will also send 16 105-millimeter howitzers and 30,000 rounds of ammunition for 120-millimeter mortars. The U.S. has already sent 126 155-millimeter howitzers to Ukraine, along with 806,000 155-millimeter shells, 2,000 precision-guided shells and 1,000 anti-tank mine-dispensing shells; 20 105-millimeter howitzers and 200,000 rounds of 105-milllimeter ammunition; and 20 120-millimeter mortars with 80,000 rounds of 120-millimeter ammunition. All of these weapons, Ms. Cooper said, are ones Ukraine has already been given in the past and learned to use effectively in combat. Tuesday’s announcement also said that the United States would send 200 Mine-Resistant Ambush-Protected armored vehicles to Ukraine. The MRAPs are designed to survive explosive blasts from land mines and improvised bombs. Last Wednesday, the Pentagon announced that it would provide $1.1 billion worth of military aid to Ukraine, including the 18 HIMARS vehicles to be ordered from Lockheed Martin, though defense officials have said that shipment would take a few years to deliver. Image The Russian Embassy in Tokyo. Relations between Japan and Russia have been deteriorating.Credit…Carl Court/Getty Images Japan has ordered a Russian diplomat to leave the country in retaliation for Russia’s expulsion last week of a Japanese consul general, as relations between the two countries deteriorate. Calling Russia’s move “an indisputable and serious violation of international laws,” Japan’s foreign minister, Yoshimasa Hayashi, said Tuesday that a diplomat at the Russian consulate in Sapporo had been declared persona non grata and ordered to leave within six days “in an equivalent response.” Last week, Russia accused a Japanese diplomat in the far-eastern city of Vladivostok of what it called “illegal information-gathering activities.” The diplomat was detained, blindfolded and interrogated before he was ordered to leave the country within 48 hours, according to Japanese officials, who denied that the official broke any laws. The Japanese diplomat, whom local news reports have identified as Tatsunori Motoki, returned to Japan on Friday, according to the foreign minister. Russia’s state news agency, Tass, said the consul had attempted to pay for classified information relating to Russia’s relations with an unidentified country in the Asia Pacific, an accusation Japan has denied. Image A photo from Russian state media showed Tatsunori Motoki arriving at an airport outside Moscow on Sept. 28.Credit…Alexey Filippov/Sputnik, via Associated Press Japan was quick to join the United States and Europe in imposing sanctions against Russia in the immediate aftermath of Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine in February. The government has continued to harshly criticize the war while supplying Ukraine with military aid including drones, bulletproof vests and helmets. In April, Japan expelled eight diplomats and officials from the Russian Embassy and trade office in Tokyo in protest of the killing of Ukrainian civilians by Russian forces, calling the mass deaths a war crime. Last week, Mr. Hayashi denounced Russia’s declaration that it was annexing four regions of Ukraine and said Japan would not recognize the illegal seizure of territory. Japan has its own a long-simmering territorial dispute with Russia, over islands to the northeast of Hokkaido, seized by Soviet Union from Japan at the end of World War II. Hard-line nationalists in Russia have bristled at the prospect of returning the islands to Japan, something Tokyo has long sought. Image An apartment building was heavily damaged by Russian bombs in Bakhmut in September. Local residents said that at least two Ukrainian civilians, a mother and son, were killed.Credit…Tyler Hicks/The New York Times GENEVA — United Nations investigators in Ukraine say they are receiving accounts of Russian forces torturing civilian and military prisoners — sometimes to the point of death. At the same time, people are disappearing frequently in areas controlled by Russia and its proxies. Most of the documented cases of torture involved Ukrainian prisoners, Christian Salazar Volkmann, director of United Nations field operations, told the Human Rights Council in Geneva on Tuesday. In two cases, he said, members of the Ukrainian military were tortured to death. Drawing on more than a thousand interviews with victims and witnesses conducted by the United Nations monitoring mission in Ukraine, the U.N. investigation also documented the deaths of three Ukrainian men who were found dead in a cellar in the Kyiv region with their hands and legs tied, and with knife wounds and severed fingers. Ukrainian troops have also tortured and abused prisoners of war during their capture or transit to detention sites, but “on a lesser scale,” Mr. Volkmann said. U.N. investigators h...

MH Man Recalls Time With LR Nine: Theo Rowe Was A Federalized Guardsman In 1957 https://digitalarkansasnews.com/mh-man-recalls-time-with-lr-nine-theo-rowe-was-a-federalized-guardsman-in-1957/ Theo Rowe was a federalized Guardsman in 1957’s Little Rock Crisis Scott Liles sliles@baxterbulletin.com Posted 10/5/22 Sixty-five years ago, one Mountain Home resident had a front-row seat to history. Read More…

The White House Is In A Panic To Stop The OPEC+ Production Cut | OilPrice.com https://digitalarkansasnews.com/the-white-house-is-in-a-panic-to-stop-the-opec-production-cut-oilprice-com/ The White House is up in arms to try and prevent a potentially major production cut in OPEC+ just a month before midterm elections when the current administration least needs higher prices at the pump. According to a CNN report, all available human resources in the administration have been mobilized, with the White House “having a spasm and panicking,” per one unnamed official. According to the latest reports on OPEC+, the extended cartel is considering a production cut as deep as 2 million barrels daily. This would be the biggest cut in production since the first pandemic year when lockdowns destroyed demand. “It is hard to overstate how anxious the Biden administration is about a potential resurgence in oil prices,” Bob McNally, of Rapidan Energy, told Bloomberg ahead of the OPEC+ meeting, which is taking place later today in Vienna. “A large OPEC+ cut would antagonize the White House though officials may wait to see how prices respond afterward before pulling the trigger on policy responses.” Indeed, CNN reports that some of the talking points drafted in a state of urgency by the White House had suggested the OPEC+ production cut is viewed as “a hostile act”. Figures such as Amos Hochstein, Janet Yellen, and BrettMcGurk have been tasked with making the case for no cuts with Gulf nations, with the CNN reporting noting that the Treasury Secretary’s talking points would focus on potential reputational damage in the West for the Gulf OPEC members that support the cut. “There is great political risk to your reputation and relations with the United States and the west if you move forward,” CNN cited a talking points draft as saying. The main argument that is being put forward in the lobbying effort, however, is the one about the adverse effect tighter oil supply would have on the global economy right now. By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: High Energy Prices Push UK Construction Industry To The Brink DoE Scientists Reveal New Process At Tokamak Fusion Reactor Central Banks Are Stocking Up On Gold Read More Here

Stockton Serial Killings: Everything We Know And Don't Know So Far https://digitalarkansasnews.com/stockton-serial-killings-everything-we-know-and-dont-know-so-far/ Five recent shooting deaths in Stockton — and one in Oakland last year — appear to be connected, prompting police to call the incidents a “series of killings.”Along with the five deaths in Stockton and one in Oakland, the shooting of a woman in Stockton last year who survived is also linked in connection with the serial killings.| MORE | 2 more shootings linked in Stockton serial killings; woman survived 2021 attackHere’s everything we know so far about the shootings:Who was killed? Six men were killed — five in Stockton this year and one in Oakland last year. The victims were identified by police as:35-year-old Paul Alexander Yaw43-year-old Salvador William Debudey Jr.21-year-old Jonathan Hernandez Rodriguez52-year-old Juan Cruz52-year-old Lorenzo Lopez The victim in Oakland was a 40-year-old Hispanic man. Affiliate KTVU reported that the coroner identified the man as Juan Miguel Vasquez Serrano.| MORE | What we’re learning about victims of the Stockton serial killingsWho was wounded? A 46-year-old Black woman is the only known survivor of the shootings. Stockton Police Chief Stanley McFadden said the woman biked to an encampment at Park and Union streets in Stockton where she was shot on April 16, 2021, at around 3:30 a.m. The woman was by a tent when she saw a man, dressed in all dark clothing, wearing a dark face mask and a dark jacket. She said the man was anywhere between 5 foot 10 inches to 6 foot 2 inches.The woman told police that no words were exchanged between them and that she tried defending herself by advancing toward him. She was hit multiple times by gunfire. Where did the shootings happen? Most of the deadly shootings happened in Stockton within a four-mile radius of one another. The shooting where the woman survived happened to the south of the five deadly shootings. Here’s a map with more information: When did the shootings happen? The five deadly Stockton shootings that happened this year ranged from July 8 to Sept. 27. The shooting in Stockton where the woman survived happened April 16, 2021. The Oakland deadly shooting happened April 10, 2021. McFadden noted an inconsistent span of time between each attack. The time spent between the first attack on April 10, 2021, and the next one was six days. The time spent between that second attack and the third was 448 days.From the third attack to the fourth attack, 34 days passed, McFadden said. From the fifth attack to the sixth attack, 22 days passed. And from the sixth attack to the last known attack on Sept. 27 was six days.Is anyone being targeted?It’s unclear if anyone is being targeted, but it’s notable that five victims out of the seven shootings were Hispanic men. Stockton police don’t believe that there is any indication that these are hate crimes.What do the shootings have in common? McFadden said in a press conference that the shootings tend to have a pattern: They happen when it’s dark, late at night, and when people are by themselves in badly lit areas. The victims also appear to have been caught by surprise, he said. Why do police think the shootings are connected?Stockton police have confirmed that ballistics tests have linked the shootings to one another, but police are not saying if all shootings are linked to the same gun.At some point, McFadden during a Tuesday briefing said he had “absolutely no answer as to why that pistol went dormant for over 400 days” in reference to the time spent between the second attack and the third one. They also have video footage of a person of interest from some of the incidents. Are there any suspects or arrests made? No arrests have been made and no suspects have been identified, but McFadden said they were looking into a person of interest and released video on Oct. 4. At this time, it’s unclear if the person of interest is a suspect or witness, he said.How many people are believed to be involved in the killings?Police are not sure how many suspects could be involved, and officials believe there may even be multiple people involved in the shootings. “To be honest, we just don’t know,” Stockton Police Officer Joseph Silva told the Associated Press. “This person or people who are out doing this, they are definitely very bold and brazen.”Is there a tip line set up for police? How to report information? A $125,000 cash reward has been offered to anyone who can bring information that leads to an arrest in any of the investigations, police said.A tip line was also opened for people to submit information at 209-937-8167. People can email tips to at policetips@stocktonca.gov. Video surveillance can be submitted to Stocktonpdca.evidence.com. STOCKTON, Calif. — Five recent shooting deaths in Stockton — and one in Oakland last year — appear to be connected, prompting police to call the incidents a “series of killings.” Along with the five deaths in Stockton and one in Oakland, the shooting of a woman in Stockton last year who survived is also linked in connection with the serial killings. | MORE | 2 more shootings linked in Stockton serial killings; woman survived 2021 attack Here’s everything we know so far about the shootings: Who was killed? Six men were killed — five in Stockton this year and one in Oakland last year. The victims were identified by police as: 35-year-old Paul Alexander Yaw 43-year-old Salvador William Debudey Jr. 21-year-old Jonathan Hernandez Rodriguez 52-year-old Juan Cruz 52-year-old Lorenzo Lopez The victim in Oakland was a 40-year-old Hispanic man. Affiliate KTVU reported that the coroner identified the man as Juan Miguel Vasquez Serrano. | MORE | What we’re learning about victims of the Stockton serial killings Who was wounded? A 46-year-old Black woman is the only known survivor of the shootings. Stockton Police Chief Stanley McFadden said the woman biked to an encampment at Park and Union streets in Stockton where she was shot on April 16, 2021, at around 3:30 a.m. The woman was by a tent when she saw a man, dressed in all dark clothing, wearing a dark face mask and a dark jacket. She said the man was anywhere between 5 foot 10 inches to 6 foot 2 inches. The woman told police that no words were exchanged between them and that she tried defending herself by advancing toward him. She was hit multiple times by gunfire. Where did the shootings happen? Most of the deadly shootings happened in Stockton within a four-mile radius of one another. The shooting where the woman survived happened to the south of the five deadly shootings. Here’s a map with more information: When did the shootings happen? The five deadly Stockton shootings that happened this year ranged from July 8 to Sept. 27. The shooting in Stockton where the woman survived happened April 16, 2021. The Oakland deadly shooting happened April 10, 2021. McFadden noted an inconsistent span of time between each attack. The time spent between the first attack on April 10, 2021, and the next one was six days. The time spent between that second attack and the third was 448 days. From the third attack to the fourth attack, 34 days passed, McFadden said. From the fifth attack to the sixth attack, 22 days passed. And from the sixth attack to the last known attack on Sept. 27 was six days. Is anyone being targeted? It’s unclear if anyone is being targeted, but it’s notable that five victims out of the seven shootings were Hispanic men. Stockton police don’t believe that there is any indication that these are hate crimes. What do the shootings have in common? McFadden said in a press conference that the shootings tend to have a pattern: They happen when it’s dark, late at night, and when people are by themselves in badly lit areas. The victims also appear to have been caught by surprise, he said. Why do police think the shootings are connected? Stockton police have confirmed that ballistics tests have linked the shootings to one another, but police are not saying if all shootings are linked to the same gun. At some point, McFadden during a Tuesday briefing said he had “absolutely no answer as to why that pistol went dormant for over 400 days” in reference to the time spent between the second attack and the third one. They also have video footage of a person of interest from some of the incidents. Are there any suspects or arrests made? No arrests have been made and no suspects have been identified, but McFadden said they were looking into a person of interest and released video on Oct. 4. Stockton Police Department At this time, it’s unclear if the person of interest is a suspect or witness, he said. How many people are believed to be involved in the killings? Police are not sure how many suspects could be involved, and officials believe there may even be multiple people involved in the shootings. “To be honest, we just don’t know,” Stockton Police Officer Joseph Silva told the Associated Press. “This person or people who are out doing this, they are definitely very bold and brazen.” Is there a tip line set up for police? How to report information? A $125,000 cash reward has been offered to anyone who can bring information that leads to an arrest in any of the investigations, police said. A tip line was also opened for people to submit information at 209-937-8167. People can email tips to at policetips@stocktonca.gov. Video surveillance can be submitted to Stocktonpdca.evidence.com. Read More Here

AP News Summary At 2:33 A.m. EDT https://digitalarkansasnews.com/ap-news-summary-at-233-a-m-edt/ Ukraine nuclear workers recount abuse, threats from Russians ZAPORIZHZHIA, Ukraine (AP) — Workers at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant are recounting fears of being abducted and tortured or killed by Russian forces who seized control of the facility and the city of Enerhodar. Ukrainian officials say the Russians sought to intimidate the staff into keeping Europe’s largest nuclear plant running, through beatings and other abuse. but also punish those who express support for Kyiv. The head of Ukraine’s state nuclear company says that among those seized was the plant’s director, who was abducted Friday on his way home from work and released Monday after being forced to make false statements on camera. Seoul’s reprisal blows up after North Korean missile success SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — A malfunctioning South Korean ballistic missile blew up as it plowed into the ground during a drill with the United States that was a reprisal for North Korea’s launch a day earlier of a weapon that flew over Japan and has the range to strike Guam. The explosion panicked and confused residents of the coastal city of Gangneung. Their concern that it could be a North Korean attack only grew as the military and government officials provided no explanation about the explosion for hours. The short-range Hyumoo-2 missile that crashed inside an air force base in the outskirts of Gangneung is key to South Korea’s preemptive and retaliatory strike strategies against the North. Big Brazilian gold refiner delisted amid Amazon mining probe MIAMI (AP) — One of Brazil’s biggest gold refiners, which processes gold suspected of being mined illegally in the Amazon rainforest, has been stripped of an important industry seal of approval that global manufacturers from Apple to Tesla rely on to root out abuses in their supply chains. An investigation by The Associated Press in January revealed how Sao Paulo-based Marsam shares ownership links and processes gold on behalf of an intermediary accused by Brazilian prosecutors of buying tarnished gold from Indigenous territories and other protected areas. With a lawsuit underway against that partner, Marsam this month was quietly removed by the Responsible Minerals Initiative from a public list of smelters and refiners deemed to follow best sourcing practices. Biden to focus on hurricane victims in Florida, not politics WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden is traveling to hurricane-ravaged Florida with a pledge that federal, state and local governments will work as one to help rebuild homes, businesses and lives. Biden plans to put politics on mute for now to focus on those in need during his tour Wednesday afternoon of Fort Myers, Florida. Biden plans to meet with residents and small business owners, and to thank government officials providing emergency aid and removing debris. Joining Biden in Florida will be two of his most prominent Republican critics, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and Sen. Rick Scott. EXPLAINER: Musk Twitter turnaround reflects legal challenges WASHINGTON (AP) — News that Elon Musk has agreed after all to proceed with his $44 billion deal to buy Twitter may have felt like a stunning surprise from the brash billionaire who loves to shock. It sent shares of the social media platform soaring and stoked alarm among some media watchdogs and civil rights groups. But it wasn’t surprising to expert observers of the monthslong rollercoaster of the Twitter vs. Musk legal battle, as Twitter tried to compel the world’s richest man to consummate the buyout. A combination of gambles or missteps by Musk and potential advantages that didn’t pan out made his hand appear weak in the looming trial. GOP optimistic about Senate chances despite Walker turmoil NEW YORK (AP) — A dramatic family fight has clouded the GOP’s hopes in Georgia’s high-stakes Senate contest. Republican Senate candidate Herschel Walker is drawing criticism from his own son as Walker denies a report that he paid for a girlfriend’s abortion. But as the midterm campaign speeds into its final full month, leading Republicans believe the Senate majority remains firmly within their reach. Democratic strategists privately concede that their party’s own shortcomings may not be outweighed by the GOP’s mounting challenges. Democrats have no margin for error as they confront the weight of history, widespread economic concerns and President Joe Biden’s weak standing. Trump asks Supreme Court to intervene in Mar-a-Lago dispute WASHINGTON (AP) — Lawyers for former President Donald Trump have asked the U.S. Supreme Court to step into the legal fight over the classified documents seized during an FBI search of his Florida estate. The Trump team asked the court Tuesday to overturn a lower court ruling and permit an independent arbiter, or special master, to review the roughly 100 documents with classified markings that were taken in the Aug. 8 search. A three-judge panel last month limited the review to the much larger tranche of non-classified documents. A veteran Brooklyn judge, Raymond Dearie, is serving as special master. Ian deals blow to Florida’s teetering insurance sector Florida’s home insurance market was already on shaky ground. It now faces an even mightier struggle after the damage caused by Hurricane Ian. Wind and storm-surge losses from the hurricane could reach between $28 billion and $47 billion, making Ian Florida’s costliest storm since Hurricane Andrew made landfall in 1992, according to one property analytics firm. The storm destroyed a record number of homes in Florida, the firm said. The wreckage comes at a time when Florida’s home insurance market was already dealing with billions of dollars in losses and ever-increasing costs from a string of natural disasters, rampant litigation and increasing fraud. Yankees star Judge hits 62nd homer to break Maris’ AL record ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Aaron Judge has hit his 62nd home run of the season to break Roger Maris’ American League record. Judge hit a 1-1 slider from Texas right-hander Jesús Tinoco into the first row of seats in left field when leading off the second game of New York’s day-night doubleheader on Tuesday. The 30-year-old Judge had homered only once in his past 13 games. That was when he hit No. 61 in Toronto last Wednesday to match Maris. While Maris’ 61 for the Yankees in 1961 had been exceeded six times previously, all were tainted by the stench of steroids. That includes Barry Bonds’ 73 for the the San Francisco Giants in 2001, though he has denied knowingly using performing-enhancing drugs. ‘Best Before’ labels scrutinized as food waste concerns grow “Best before” labels are coming under scrutiny as concerns about food waste grow around the world. Manufacturers have used the labels for decades to estimate peak freshness. But “best before” labels have nothing to do with safety, and some worry they encourage consumers to throw away food that’s perfectly fine to eat. Major U.K. chains like Waitrose, Sainsbury’s and Marks & Spencer recently removed “best before” labels from prepackaged fruit and vegetables. The European Union is expected to announce a revamp to its labeling laws by the end of this year. In the U.S., there’s no similar push to scrap “best before” labels. But there is growing momentum to standardize the language on date labels to help educate buyers about food waste. Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. For Related Stories: Hurricane Ian Read More Here

GOP Optimistic About Senate Chances Despite Walker Turmoil https://digitalarkansasnews.com/gop-optimistic-about-senate-chances-despite-walker-turmoil/ By STEVE PEOPLES AP National Politics Writer NEW YORK (AP) — Leading Republicans are entering the final month of the midterm campaign increasingly optimistic that a Senate majority is within reach even as a dramatic family fight in Georgia clouds one of the party’s biggest pickup opportunities. And as some Democrats crow on social media about apparent Republican setbacks, party strategists privately concede that their own shortcomings may not be outweighed by the GOP’s mounting challenges. The evolving outlook is tied to a blunt reality: Democrats have virtually no margin for error as they confront the weight of history, widespread economic concerns and President Joe Biden’s weak standing. There is broad agreement among both parties that the Democrats’ summertime momentum across states like Nevada, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin has eroded just five weeks before Election Day. “There’s reason to be apprehensive, not reason to be gloomy,” veteran Democratic strategist James Carville said. “It looked like at the end of August we had a little momentum. I don’t know if we’ve regressed any, but we’re not progressing in many places.” That tepid outlook comes even as Republicans confront a series of self-imposed setbacks in the states that matter most in the 2022 midterms, which will decide the balance of power in Congress and statehouses across the nation. None has been more glaring than Herschel Walker’s struggles in Georgia, where the Republican Senate candidate’s own son accused him of lying about his personal challenges — including a report from The Daily Beast alleging that the anti-abortion Walker paid for a girlfriend’s abortion in 2009. Walker called the accusation a “flat-out lie” and said he would sue, an action his campaign hadn’t taken as of late Tuesday. “Everything has been a lie,” Christian Walker responded Tuesday. The Republican establishment, including the Sen. Mitch McConnell-aligned Senate Leadership Fund, and former President Donald Trump himself remained staunchly behind Walker on Tuesday in his bid to oust first-term Democratic Sen. Raphael Warnock. The Walker campaign also reported a massive fundraising haul that coincided with the latest allegations. “If you’re in a fight, people will come to your aid,” said Steven Law, head of the Senate Leadership Fund and a close ally of McConnell, R-Ky. Law said the Georgia race had grown increasingly competitive despite the Democrats’ focus on Walker’s personal life. And looking beyond Georgia, Law said the political climate was predictably shifting against the party that controls the White House, as is typically the case in midterm elections. “It certainly seems that voters are returning to a more traditional midterm frame of mind,” Law said. Should Republicans gain even one Senate seat in November, they would take control of Congress’ upper chamber — and with it, the power to control judicial nominations and policy debates for the last two years of Biden’s term. Leaders in both parties believe Republicans are likely to take over the House. Even facing such odds, it’s far too soon to predict a Republican-controlled Congress. Democrats remain decidedly on offense and are spending heavily to try to flip Republican-held seats in Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and North Carolina. Voter opposition to the Supreme Court’s decision this summer to strip women of their constitutional right to an abortion has energized the Democratic base and led to a surge in female voter registrations. Republicans are most focused on Democratic incumbents in Arizona, Georgia, New Hampshire and Nevada, although Republican officials believe that underwhelming Trump-backed nominees in Arizona and New Hampshire have dampened the party’s pickup opportunities. “The Republican candidates they’re running are too extreme,” said J.B. Poersch, who leads the pro-Democrat Senate Majority PAC. “I think this is still advantage Democrats.” Meanwhile, conditions in the top battleground states are rapidly evolving. In Pennsylvania, Republican Senate nominee Mehmet Oz faced difficult new questions this week raised by a Washington Post article about the medical products he endorsed as a daytime television star. Another news report by the news site Jezebel detailing how his research caused hundreds of dogs to be killed rippled across social media. Still, Democratic officials acknowledge the race tightened considerably as the calendar shifted to October. And White House officials are concerned about Democratic nominee John Fetterman’s stamina as he recovers from a May stroke. “Senate Republicans had a very bad start to October, but we know each of our races will be tight and we’re going to keep taking nothing for granted,” said Michigan Sen. Gary Peters, who leads the Senate Democrats’ campaign arm. The GOP Senate candidates’ latest challenges in Georgia and Pennsylvania dominated social media Monday and Tuesday, according to data compiled by GQR, a public opinion research firm that works with Democratic organizations. News stories about Walker’s abortion accuser and Oz’s animal research had the first- and second-highest reach of any news stories on Facebook and Twitter since they surfaced Monday, topping content related to the television show “Sons of Anarchy,” another report about Planned Parenthood mobile abortion clinics and news about Kanye West. GQR used the social listening tool NewsWhip, which tracks over 500,000 websites in more than 100 languages roughly in real time. In swing-state Nevada, the rhetoric from Democratic Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto has become increasingly urgent in recent days as she fends off a fierce challenge from former state Attorney General Adam Laxalt. Within the White House, there is real fear that she could lose her reelection bid, giving Republicans the only seat they may need to claim the Senate majority. “We have a big problem, friend,” Cortez Masto wrote in a fundraising appeal Tuesday. “Experts say that our race in Nevada could decide Senate control — and right now, polling shows me 1 point behind my Trump-endorsed opponent.” Democrats and their allies continue to hope that backlash against the Supreme Court’s abortion decision will help them overcome historical trends in which the party controlling the White House almost always loses seats in Congress. Democrats, who control Washington, are also facing deep voter pessimism about the direction of the country and Biden’s relatively weak approval ratings. The traditional rules of politics have often been broken in the Trump era. In past years, Republicans may have abandoned Walker. But on Tuesday, they linked arms behind him. Law, of the Senate Leadership Fund, said he takes Walker at his word that he did not pay for a former girlfriend’s abortion, despite apparent evidence of a “Get Well” card with Walker’s signature and a check receipt. He said voters believe that “Walker may have made mistakes in his personal life that affected him and his family, but Warnock has made mistakes in public life in Washington that affected them and their families.” There were some signs of Republican concern on the ground in Georgia, however. Martha Zoller, a popular Republican radio host in north Georgia and one-time congressional candidate, told her audience Tuesday that the latest allegations require Walker to reset his campaign with a straightforward admission about his “personal demons” and what he’s done to overcome them. “He needs to fall on the sword. ‘I was a dog. … And I have asked forgiveness for it,’” she said, detailing the kind of message she believes Walker must give voters. “It would be so refreshing to have somebody just tell the truth.” Veteran Democratic strategist Josh Schwerin warned his party against writing off the Georgia Republican. “I wouldn’t say Walker is done. Over the last couple of cycles we’ve certainly seen Republican candidates survive things that are not supposed to be survivable,” Schwerin said. “There are a lot of close races, and the dynamics of this election are difficult to predict. Everybody is expecting multiple shifts in momentum between now and Election Day.” ___ Associated Press writers Zeke Miller in Washington and Bill Barrow in Atlanta contributed to this report. Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Read More Here

Can Biden Save Democracy One US Factory Job At A Time? https://digitalarkansasnews.com/can-biden-save-democracy-one-us-factory-job-at-a-time/ By JOSH BOAK Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden is working to create a manufacturing revival — even helping to put factory jobs in Republican territory under the belief it can restore faith in U.S. democracy. The latest development came Tuesday, when chipmaker Micron announced an investment of up to $100 billion over the next 20-plus years to build a plant in upstate New York that could create 9,000 factory jobs. It’s a commitment made in a GOP congressional district that Biden and the company credited to the recently enacted $280 billion CHIPS and Science Act. “Today is another win for America, and another massive new investment in America spurred by my economic plan,” Biden said in a statement. “Together, we are building an economy from the bottom up and the middle out, where we lower costs for our families and make it right here in America.” Biden has staked his presidency on what he has called “a historic manufacturing boom,” hoping to succeed where past presidents, governors and hordes of other politicians have struggled for a half-century. His goal is to keep opening new factories in states such as Ohio, Idaho, North Carolina and Georgia — where Democrats’ footholds are shaky at best. Administration officials say they want to spread the prosperity across the entire country, rather than let it cluster in centers of extreme wealth, in a bid to renew the middle class and a sense of pride in the country itself. The push comes at a precarious moment for the global economy. High inflation in the U.S. has hurt Biden’s popularity and prompted recession concerns. Much of Europe faces a possible downturn due to the jump in energy prices after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, while the International Monetary Fund just downgraded growth in China. The world economy is defined by uncertainty just as Biden has called for investments in clean energy and technology that could take years to pay off. The president is hopeful that whatever good manufacturing can do for the U.S. economy also turns out to yield political benefits for himself and other Democrats in 2022 and beyond. He told Democratic donors on Friday that the manufacturing and technology investments mean “we have an opportunity” to strengthen the U.S. if Democratic governors and lawmakers are elected this year. Going into the midterm elections, Biden is telling voters that a factory renaissance has already started because of him. The administration sees its infrastructure spending, computer chip investments and clean-energy incentives as helping domestic manufacturing in unprecedented ways. Recent academic studies suggest that decades of layoffs due to offshoring contributed to the rise of Republican Donald Trump, with his opposition to immigration and global trade. But many of the authors of the studies doubt that Biden can make these demographic trends disappear through the promise of jobs for skilled workers. Democratic Rep. Ro Khanna of California would like to see the president make a national tour of factory openings, so that his policies could stick better in voters’ minds. Khanna recently attended the groundbreaking of a $20 billion Intel plant in Ohio and laid out his belief that factory job losses helped cause today’s political schisms. The Silicon Valley congressman reasons that too many Americans have lost faith in a government that seemed indifferent to their own well-being, leading them to embrace hucksters and authoritarians who thrive by exploiting and widening divisions in society. “How do you get rid of people’s jobs and expect them to believe in democracy?” Khanna asks. Factory jobs have risen during Biden’s tenure to the most since 2008 at 12.85 million, yet the task of steadying the country’s middle class and its democratic institutions is far from complete. The industrial Midwest has yet to recover the factory jobs shed in the pandemic, let alone decades of layoffs in which the economic challenges evolved into political tensions. Labor Department data show that Ohio is still 10,000 factory jobs shy of its pre-pandemic level and 350,000 jobs below its total in 2000. The numbers are similarly bad in Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin — three states that were key to Biden’s 2020 victory and could help decide control of Congress in November’s elections. The White House says Biden eschews thinking about Americans solely as consumers interested only in the cheapest prices and thus promoting outsourcing. Instead, his speeches are woven with talk about people as workers and the identity that working gives them. What Biden can show with this year’s factory groundbreakings is progress, even if the total number of manufacturing jobs is unlikely to return to the 1979 peak of 19.55 million. Intel’s computer chip plant being built in New Albany, Ohio, would add 3,000 jobs. Hyundai would add 8,100 jobs with its electric vehicle plant in Georgia. Wolfspeed, with plans to produce silicon carbide wafers in North Carolina, would add 1,800 jobs. Jay Timmons, CEO of the National Association of Manufacturers, said the gains in factory jobs reflect five years of effort, starting with the 2017 tax cuts by Trump and including Biden’s investments in infrastructure and computer chips as well as efforts to return jobs to the U.S. after global supply chain disruptions caused by the pandemic. “There’s a commitment by government at all levels to do more here and a desire by manufacturers to do more here,” Timmons said. Massachusetts Institute of Technology economist Daron Acemoglu applauded the president’s plans for spreading factory work across the country. It’s too soon to tell if the administration is succeeding, he said, but Biden is challenging what was once conventional wisdom among economists that little could be done to expand factory work in the U.S. “I believe the president is right,” said Acemoglu, the co-author of the book “Why Nations Fail.” “’Good jobs,’ which pay decent wages, have job stability, offer career-addressing opportunities, and endow a sense of accomplishment and dignity, are important for the middle class and social cohesion.” New academic research released in September suggests that the offshoring of factory jobs led white men to feel like victims and gave way to the rise of grievance politics that helped fuel Trump’s ascendancy among Republican voters. That movement in turn spawned election denialism and political violence that Biden has repeatedly said is “a dagger to the throat of our democracy.” The research covering 3,500 U.S. citizens finds that factory job losses due to automation are less controversial among voters than the offshoring, which triggered a “self-victimization bias” for whites who were more likely to “view offshoring as leading to greater total harm to the American economy, and to the U.S. position in the world.” One of the study’s authors, Leonardo Baccini of McGill University, still expects factory job totals to shrink, though a decline primarily due to automation would be less harmful to Democratic candidates. He still anticipates factory job losses over the long term as advanced economies focus more on productive services to sustain growth. “From an economic standpoint, the decline of U.S. manufacturing is inevitable and it is actually a good thing,” Baccini said. “Any attempt to stop this structural transformation with protectionism and government subsidies is likely to backfire.” J. Lawrence Broz, a political scientist at the University of California San Diego, co-wrote a 2019 research paper that found populist support was strongest in communities that endured long-term economic and social decline, a contrast to the superstar cities where technology, finance and a highly educated workforce were magnets for wealth. “It is unlikely that recent efforts to re-shore manufacturing jobs will produce the intended effects, either economically or politically,” Broz said. “The new factories won’t employ large numbers of less-skilled workers, leaving white industrial workers just as angry as they are now.” That means the underlying test of Biden’s agenda might be whether enough workers can be educated to meet the needs of a manufacturing sector with higher standards than during the heights of its dominance in the 20th century. Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Read More Here

Josie Bates Named Rose Law Firm 200th Anniversary Pro Bono Fellow https://digitalarkansasnews.com/josie-bates-named-rose-law-firm-200th-anniversary-pro-bono-fellow/ University Relations Josie Bates Dean Cynthia Nance has named Josie Bates the 2022-23 Rose Law Firm’s 200th Anniversary Pro Bono Fellow at the U of A School of Law.  To keep the importance of public service in the forefront of the School of Law community’s collective mind, the dean selects one or more promising students each year to serve as Pro Bono Fellow during their third year of law school. The title, along with a stipend, recognizes and supports exemplary law students committed to pro bono (legal services performed free of charge or at reduced fees for the public good). Fellows encourage their peers to engage in pro bono and other forms of community service by organizing events, forming partnerships with organizations and through leading by example. In 2020 the men and women of Rose Law Firm underscored the importance of pro bono service by selecting the fellow sponsorship as a part of the commemoration of the firm’s bicentennial. The firm, based in Little Rock, is the oldest firm located west of the Mississippi River. “It is such an incredible honor to be selected as the 2022-23 Pro Bono Fellow,” Bates said. “Giving back to one’s community is of the utmost importance. I would be nowhere close to where I am today without the communities I have been a part of. Due to this, I cannot think of a better way to spend my third and final year of law school than to promote the Pro Bono Program to other law students and to assist them in finding their own ways to give back to our community through this program.” Bates is a 2020 cum laude graduate of the U of A and holds Bachelor of Arts degrees in psychology and English. “Josie’s willingness to use her legal skills to help others is inspiring,” said Sara Gosman, associate professor of law and director of the School’s Public Service and Pro Bono Program. “I look forward to working with her as we continue to build a culture of service at the School of Law. We are very thankful to the Rose Law Firm for funding the fellowship and for recognizing the critical importance of student leadership to our program.” Bates was selected as fellow in recognition of her consistent service, significant leadership potential and performance of substantial pro bono work. She is a member of the 2022-23 executive board of Arkansas Law Review and serves as managing editor. She is active in the Women’s Law Student Association (WLSA) and Outlaw and served as the 2021-22 president of both organizations. Her volunteer activities include working with Legal Aid of Arkansas and as a mentor with Big Brothers Big Sisters. Bates played a critical role in developing the curriculum for the U of A Constitution Day efforts in Pine Bluff and Osceola High Schools, a program designed to encourage students to view law as a rewarding and attainable career path. Pro Bono Fellows serve as student leaders of the school’s Pro Bono and Community Engagement program. A primary duty associated with the position is the planning and organization of the school’s participation in the annual National Celebration of Pro Bono, the American Bar Association’s week-long effort to call attention to the need for pro bono services and to thank those who give their time year-round. The 2022 celebration is slated for Oct. 23-29.  Gosman and Bates have organized events and volunteer opportunities for the week that include a panel discussion of the ways pro bono service can improve access to justice for low-income individuals. Panelist include: Jordan Bates-Rogers, executive director of the Arkansas Access to Justice Commission and Foundation; Greneda Johnson, the school’s director of diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging; and the school’s inaugural Pro Bono Fellow, Tony Jones, who now clerks for Arkansas Supreme Court Justice Robin Wynne. Other activities planned for the week include participation in pro bono events sponsored by Legal Aid of Arkansas and Arkansas Access to Justice, a pro bono opportunities fair in the law school’s Norma Lea Beasley Entrance Hall and a school-wide supply drive, organized with WLSA, for Flo Free Foundation, an organization that helps women in need.    About the School of Law:The law school offers a competitive J.D. as well as an advanced LL.M. program, which are taught by nationally recognized faculty. The school offers unique opportunities for students to participate in pro bono work, externships, live client clinics, competitions, and food and agriculture initiatives. The school strives to identify, discuss, and challenge issues of race, color, ethnicity, and the impact(s) they have on students, faculty, and staff members to achieve a diverse, inclusive, and equitable community. From admitting the Six Pioneers who were the first African American students to attend law school in the South without a court order to graduating governors, judges, prosecutors, and faculty who went on to become president of the United States and secretary of state, the law school has a rich history and culture. Follows us at @uarklaw.          About the University of Arkansas: As Arkansas’ flagship institution, the U of A provides an internationally competitive education in more than 200 academic programs. Founded in 1871, the U of A contributes more than $2.2 billion to Arkansas’ economy through the teaching of new knowledge and skills, entrepreneurship and job development, discovery through research and creative activity while also providing training for professional disciplines. The Carnegie Foundation classifies the U of A among the few U.S. colleges and universities with the highest level of research activity. U.S. News & World Report ranks the U of A among the top public universities in the nation. See how the U of A works to build a better world at Arkansas Research News. Read More…

Vote For Economist – Schultz, Not Seditionist – Stauber https://digitalarkansasnews.com/vote-for-economist-schultz-not-seditionist-stauber/ Ideas and opinions in this letter are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the stance of this paper. The author of this letter has paid for its placement. Pete Stauber received an “F” in Democracy from the Republican Accountability Project because he signed the infamous Texas amicus brief touting Trump’s Big Lie about election fraud. The brief was meant to disenfranchise millions of American voters. His failing grade from the R.A.P. was also due to to his refusal to acknowledge Biden’s win until after the coup attempt failed, his vote against Trump’s impeachment for the insurrection, his vote against creating an independent commission to investigate Jan 6th, and his vote against holding Steve Bannon in contempt of Congress. The MN AFL-CIO rated Pete Stauber’s voting record in 2021 at 23%. Stauber voted AGAINST the Build Back Better bill, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, the Voting Rights Advancement Act, the invest in America Act, the Paycheck Fairness Act, the Equal Rights Amendment, the For the People Act, the American Rescue Plan, the Equality Act, the Raise the Wage Act, and the Protecting the Right to Organize Act, which was written to make it easier to organize and join a union. Pete Stauber downplayed and politicized the pandemic, which killed over a million Americans, while at the same time supporting liability immunity for businesses forcing workers back into pre-vaccination workplaces. Pete Stauber’s support for law-enforcement does not appear to extend to federal law enforcement like the FBI as it investigates Donald Trump and his alleged crimes related to national security. Pete Stauber thinks women should not be free to control their own bodies. Pete Stauber went all-in with the the authoritarian Trump cult, joining his fellow, boot-licking Republicans in lockstep obedience to the Great (con) Man. And accordingly, Stauber joins his party in their obstruction and sabotage of any actions taken by Democrats that might make life better for Americans, again and again putting party before country in the pursuit of political power. The Trump cult is a dire threat to our democracy. In November, MN 8th district voters will choose between an economist – Jen Schultz, or a seditionist – Pete Stauber. Read More Here

AP News Summary At 1:04 A.m. EDT https://digitalarkansasnews.com/ap-news-summary-at-104-a-m-edt/ Seoul’s reprisal blows up after North Korean missile success SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — A malfunctioning South Korean ballistic missile blew up as it plowed into the ground during a drill with the United States that was a reprisal for North Korea’s launch a day earlier of a weapon that flew over Japan and has the range to strike Guam. The explosion panicked and confused residents of the coastal city of Gangneung. Their concern that it could be a North Korean attack only grew as the military and government officials provided no explanation about the explosion for hours. The short-range Hyumoo-2 missile that crashed inside an air force base in the outskirts of Gangneung is key to South Korea’s preemptive and retaliatory strike strategies against the North. Retreating Russians leave their comrades’ bodies behind LYMAN, Ukraine (AP) — Russian troops abandoned a key Ukrainian city so rapidly that they left the bodies of their comrades in the streets. The scene offered more evidence Tuesday of Moscow’s latest military defeat as it struggles to hang on to four regions of Ukraine that it illegally annexed last week. Russia’s upper house of parliament rubber-stamped the annexations Tuesday after “referendums” that Ukraine and its Western allies dismissed as fraudulent. Responding to the move, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy formally ruled out talks with Russia. Meanwhile, the U.S. announced it would provide an additional $625 million in military aid to Ukraine, including more of the advanced rocket systems credited with helping Ukraine’s military momentum. Big Brazilian gold refiner delisted amid Amazon mining probe MIAMI (AP) — One of Brazil’s biggest gold refiners, which processes gold suspected of being mined illegally in the Amazon rainforest, has been stripped of an important industry seal of approval that global manufacturers from Apple to Tesla rely on to root out abuses in their supply chains. An investigation by The Associated Press in January revealed how Sao Paulo-based Marsam shares ownership links and processes gold on behalf of an intermediary accused by Brazilian prosecutors of buying tarnished gold from Indigenous territories and other protected areas. With a lawsuit underway against that partner, Marsam this month was quietly removed by the Responsible Minerals Initiative from a public list of smelters and refiners deemed to follow best sourcing practices. Biden to focus on hurricane victims in Florida, not politics WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden is traveling to hurricane-ravaged Florida with a pledge that federal, state and local governments will work as one to help rebuild homes, businesses and lives. Biden plans to put politics on mute for now to focus on those in need during his tour Wednesday afternoon of Fort Myers, Florida. Biden plans to meet with residents and small business owners, and to thank government officials providing emergency aid and removing debris. Joining Biden in Florida will be two of his most prominent Republican critics, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and Sen. Rick Scott. EXPLAINER: Musk Twitter turnaround reflects legal challenges WASHINGTON (AP) — News that Elon Musk has agreed after all to proceed with his $44 billion deal to buy Twitter may have felt like a stunning surprise from the brash billionaire who loves to shock. It sent shares of the social media platform soaring and stoked alarm among some media watchdogs and civil rights groups. But it wasn’t surprising to expert observers of the monthslong rollercoaster of the Twitter vs. Musk legal battle, as Twitter tried to compel the world’s richest man to consummate the buyout. A combination of gambles or missteps by Musk and potential advantages that didn’t pan out made his hand appear weak in the looming trial. GOP optimistic about Senate chances despite Walker turmoil NEW YORK (AP) — A dramatic family fight has clouded the GOP’s hopes in Georgia’s high-stakes Senate contest. Republican Senate candidate Herschel Walker is drawing criticism from his own son as Walker denies a report that he paid for a girlfriend’s abortion. But as the midterm campaign speeds into its final full month, leading Republicans believe the Senate majority remains firmly within their reach. Democratic strategists privately concede that their party’s own shortcomings may not be outweighed by the GOP’s mounting challenges. Democrats have no margin for error as they confront the weight of history, widespread economic concerns and President Joe Biden’s weak standing. Trump asks Supreme Court to intervene in Mar-a-Lago dispute WASHINGTON (AP) — Lawyers for former President Donald Trump have asked the U.S. Supreme Court to step into the legal fight over the classified documents seized during an FBI search of his Florida estate. The Trump team asked the court Tuesday to overturn a lower court ruling and permit an independent arbiter, or special master, to review the roughly 100 documents with classified markings that were taken in the Aug. 8 search. A three-judge panel last month limited the review to the much larger tranche of non-classified documents. A veteran Brooklyn judge, Raymond Dearie, is serving as special master. Can Biden save democracy one US factory job at a time? WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden is working to create a manufacturing revival. He’s even helping to put factory jobs in Republican territory under the belief it can help restore faith in U.S. democracy. The latest development came Tuesday, when chipmaker Micron announced an investment of up to $100 billion over the next 20-plus years to build a plant in upstate New York that could create 9,000 factory jobs. It’s a commitment made in a GOP congressional district that Biden and the company credited to the recently enacted $280 billion CHIPS and Science Act. Biden’s goal is to keep opening new factories in states where Democrats’ footholds are shaky at best. Yankees star Judge hits 62nd homer to break Maris’ AL record ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Aaron Judge has hit his 62nd home run of the season to break Roger Maris’ American League record. Judge hit a 1-1 slider from Texas right-hander Jesús Tinoco into the first row of seats in left field when leading off the second game of New York’s day-night doubleheader on Tuesday. The 30-year-old Judge had homered only once in his past 13 games. That was when he hit No. 61 in Toronto last Wednesday to match Maris. While Maris’ 61 for the Yankees in 1961 had been exceeded six times previously, all were tainted by the stench of steroids. That includes Barry Bonds’ 73 for the the San Francisco Giants in 2001, though he has denied knowingly using performing-enhancing drugs. ‘Best Before’ labels scrutinized as food waste concerns grow “Best before” labels are coming under scrutiny as concerns about food waste grow around the world. Manufacturers have used the labels for decades to estimate peak freshness. But “best before” labels have nothing to do with safety, and some worry they encourage consumers to throw away food that’s perfectly fine to eat. Major U.K. chains like Waitrose, Sainsbury’s and Marks & Spencer recently removed “best before” labels from prepackaged fruit and vegetables. The European Union is expected to announce a revamp to its labeling laws by the end of this year. In the U.S., there’s no similar push to scrap “best before” labels. But there is growing momentum to standardize the language on date labels to help educate buyers about food waste. Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Read More Here

Trump Asks Supreme Court To Weigh In On Mar-A-Lago Classified Docs Probe https://digitalarkansasnews.com/trump-asks-supreme-court-to-weigh-in-on-mar-a-lago-classified-docs-probe/ Former President Trump is asking the Supreme Court to overturn a federal appeals court ruling to allow the Department of Justice to review classified documents seized from Mar-a-Lago, per a filing. Why it matters: Tuesday’s emergency request by Trump’s legal team marks an escalation in the Mar-a-Lago classified documents probe. The latest: Justice Clarence Thomas, who is assigned to oversee emergency requests in the 11th Circuit, requested the DOJ respond to Trump’s petition by 5 p.m. ET on Oct. 11. Driving the news: Trump’s legal team in the filing asks that the special master be allowed to review the roughly 100 documents marked as classified that were found at Mar-a-Lago during the August search. The former president’s legal team argues that the 11th Circuit lacked the judicial authority to stay the special master order “authorizing the review of seized documents bearing classification markings.” “The eleventh circuit granted a stay of the special master order, effectively compromising the integrity of the well-established policy against piecemeal appellate review and ignoring the District Court’s broad discretion without justification,” per the filing. “This unwarranted stay should be vacated as it impairs substantially the ongoing, time-sensitive work of the special master.” The big picture: The filing comes after an appeals court panel sided with the DOJ last month and said that it could continue its review of the classified documents as part of its criminal investigation into Trump. Worth noting: Thomas has faced calls to recuse himself from cases involving Trump and the investigation of the Capitol insurrection given his wife, Ginni Thomas,’ active involvement in attempting to overturn the election and keep the former president in power. Editor’s note: This is a developing story. Please check back for updates. Read More Here

GOP Optimistic About Senate Chances Despite Walker Turmoil – KRDO https://digitalarkansasnews.com/gop-optimistic-about-senate-chances-despite-walker-turmoil-krdo/ By STEVE PEOPLES AP National Politics Writer NEW YORK (AP) — Leading Republicans are entering the final month of the midterm campaign increasingly optimistic that a Senate majority is within reach even as a dramatic family fight in Georgia clouds one of the party’s biggest pickup opportunities. And as some Democrats crow on social media about apparent Republican setbacks, party strategists privately concede that their own shortcomings may not be outweighed by the GOP’s mounting challenges. The evolving outlook is tied to a blunt reality: Democrats have virtually no margin for error as they confront the weight of history, widespread economic concerns and President Joe Biden’s weak standing. There is broad agreement among both parties that the Democrats’ summertime momentum across states like Nevada, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin has eroded just five weeks before Election Day. “There’s reason to be apprehensive, not reason to be gloomy,” veteran Democratic strategist James Carville said. “It looked like at the end of August we had a little momentum. I don’t know if we’ve regressed any, but we’re not progressing in many places.” That tepid outlook comes even as Republicans confront a series of self-imposed setbacks in the states that matter most in the 2022 midterms, which will decide the balance of power in Congress and statehouses across the nation. None has been more glaring than Herschel Walker’s struggles in Georgia, where the Republican Senate candidate’s own son accused him of lying about his personal challenges — including a report from The Daily Beast alleging that the anti-abortion Walker paid for a girlfriend’s abortion in 2009. Walker called the accusation a “flat-out lie” and said he would sue, an action his campaign hadn’t taken as of late Tuesday. “Everything has been a lie,” Christian Walker responded Tuesday. The Republican establishment, including the Sen. Mitch McConnell-aligned Senate Leadership Fund, and former President Donald Trump himself remained staunchly behind Walker on Tuesday in his bid to oust first-term Democratic Sen. Raphael Warnock. The Walker campaign also reported a massive fundraising haul that coincided with the latest allegations. “If you’re in a fight, people will come to your aid,” said Steven Law, head of the Senate Leadership Fund and a close ally of McConnell, R-Ky. Law said the Georgia race had grown increasingly competitive despite the Democrats’ focus on Walker’s personal life. And looking beyond Georgia, Law said the political climate was predictably shifting against the party that controls the White House, as is typically the case in midterm elections. “It certainly seems that voters are returning to a more traditional midterm frame of mind,” Law said. Should Republicans gain even one Senate seat in November, they would take control of Congress’ upper chamber — and with it, the power to control judicial nominations and policy debates for the last two years of Biden’s term. Leaders in both parties believe Republicans are likely to take over the House. Even facing such odds, it’s far too soon to predict a Republican-controlled Congress. Democrats remain decidedly on offense and are spending heavily to try to flip Republican-held seats in Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and North Carolina. Voter opposition to the Supreme Court’s decision this summer to strip women of their constitutional right to an abortion has energized the Democratic base and led to a surge in female voter registrations. Republicans are most focused on Democratic incumbents in Arizona, Georgia, New Hampshire and Nevada, although Republican officials believe that underwhelming Trump-backed nominees in Arizona and New Hampshire have dampened the party’s pickup opportunities. “The Republican candidates they’re running are too extreme,” said J.B. Poersch, who leads the pro-Democrat Senate Majority PAC. “I think this is still advantage Democrats.” Meanwhile, conditions in the top battleground states are rapidly evolving. In Pennsylvania, Republican Senate nominee Mehmet Oz faced difficult new questions this week raised by a Washington Post article about the medical products he endorsed as a daytime television star. Another news report by the news site Jezebel detailing how his research caused hundreds of dogs to be killed rippled across social media. Still, Democratic officials acknowledge the race tightened considerably as the calendar shifted to October. And White House officials are concerned about Democratic nominee John Fetterman’s stamina as he recovers from a May stroke. “Senate Republicans had a very bad start to October, but we know each of our races will be tight and we’re going to keep taking nothing for granted,” said Michigan Sen. Gary Peters, who leads the Senate Democrats’ campaign arm. The GOP Senate candidates’ latest challenges in Georgia and Pennsylvania dominated social media Monday and Tuesday, according to data compiled by GQR, a public opinion research firm that works with Democratic organizations. News stories about Walker’s abortion accuser and Oz’s animal research had the first- and second-highest reach of any news stories on Facebook and Twitter since they surfaced Monday, topping content related to the television show “Sons of Anarchy,” another report about Planned Parenthood mobile abortion clinics and news about Kanye West. GQR used the social listening tool NewsWhip, which tracks over 500,000 websites in more than 100 languages roughly in real time. In swing-state Nevada, the rhetoric from Democratic Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto has become increasingly urgent in recent days as she fends off a fierce challenge from former state Attorney General Adam Laxalt. Within the White House, there is real fear that she could lose her reelection bid, giving Republicans the only seat they may need to claim the Senate majority. “We have a big problem, friend,” Cortez Masto wrote in a fundraising appeal Tuesday. “Experts say that our race in Nevada could decide Senate control — and right now, polling shows me 1 point behind my Trump-endorsed opponent.” Democrats and their allies continue to hope that backlash against the Supreme Court’s abortion decision will help them overcome historical trends in which the party controlling the White House almost always loses seats in Congress. Democrats, who control Washington, are also facing deep voter pessimism about the direction of the country and Biden’s relatively weak approval ratings. The traditional rules of politics have often been broken in the Trump era. In past years, Republicans may have abandoned Walker. But on Tuesday, they linked arms behind him. Law, of the Senate Leadership Fund, said he takes Walker at his word that he did not pay for a former girlfriend’s abortion, despite apparent evidence of a “Get Well” card with Walker’s signature and a check receipt. He said voters believe that “Walker may have made mistakes in his personal life that affected him and his family, but Warnock has made mistakes in public life in Washington that affected them and their families.” There were some signs of Republican concern on the ground in Georgia, however. Martha Zoller, a popular Republican radio host in north Georgia and one-time congressional candidate, told her audience Tuesday that the latest allegations require Walker to reset his campaign with a straightforward admission about his “personal demons” and what he’s done to overcome them. “He needs to fall on the sword. ‘I was a dog. … And I have asked forgiveness for it,’” she said, detailing the kind of message she believes Walker must give voters. “It would be so refreshing to have somebody just tell the truth.” Veteran Democratic strategist Josh Schwerin warned his party against writing off the Georgia Republican. “I wouldn’t say Walker is done. Over the last couple of cycles we’ve certainly seen Republican candidates survive things that are not supposed to be survivable,” Schwerin said. “There are a lot of close races, and the dynamics of this election are difficult to predict. Everybody is expecting multiple shifts in momentum between now and Election Day.” ___ Associated Press writers Zeke Miller in Washington and Bill Barrow in Atlanta contributed to this report. Read More Here

Police Find Dozens Of Stolen Bicycles In Property Ring Sting https://digitalarkansasnews.com/police-find-dozens-of-stolen-bicycles-in-property-ring-sting/ Navigation for News Categories Some of the bikes that were recovered as part of the police Operation Trump Card. Photo: Supplied / NZ Police Police say they have disrupted a major stolen property ring in Wellington and recovered hundreds of thousands of dollars in illegally obtained property. More than 60 police officers were involved in the execution of 12 warrants across the capital today as part of Operation Trump Card. Two men and a woman have been arrested, and police allege that they are key players in receiving stolen goods. The trio face a variety of receiving-related charges and further charges are likely to follow. Among the many items are high-value bicycles, including mountain bikes or e-bikes, whiteware and other household appliances, high-value tools and construction materials. Many of the pushbikes and e-bikes were reportedly stolen from the central city area. “The offenders have been highly organised and Operation Trump Card has involved months of planning,” Acting Detective Senior Sergeant Anna Grant said in a statement. “The investigation is ongoing and more arrests are likely. “Over the coming weeks there will be a significant amount of work undertaken to find the rightful owners of this property. “If anyone has been the subject of theft of burglary, we urge them to report it to police and give as much detail as possible about the stolen items.” Stolen items can be reported by calling 105 or [www.police.govt.nz/use-105 using an online form.] Get the RNZ app for ad-free news and current affairs Read More Here

Strong Leadership https://digitalarkansasnews.com/strong-leadership/ A friend who supports Trump told me that she thought that Biden isn’t a strong leader. Judging whether Biden “is a strong leader” is fairly subjective, so I’ll compare leadership characteristics of Biden and Trump. Trump employs strong-arm tactics and violence, promotes discontent among otherwise dissatisfied persons, has no respect for the average American citizen, complains about perceived problems more than he seeks meaningful solutions to real problems, supports nationalism and racism, ignores science and expertise, and is a very poor role model for American youth. While Biden has a mild personality, not the demeanor of an angry bully, his moral compass is good and I believe that his political objectives can benefit all of us. I believe that Biden is a strong leader, not in the Trump sense, but in the sense of the democratic leaders of most of the NATO alliance countries and of (most of) the American Presidents of the past few decades. Obviously, I’m not a Trump supporter. I also do not support politicians who, regardless of what their conscience may tell them, support Trump in order to court votes from his base (for example, Mastriano, Oz, Perry, Keller, Kelly, Thompson, etc.). Please be objective as American democracy examines actions by Trump and his supporters that resulted in an attempted coup, and may have damaged America’s security and global reputation, and now show the potential to disrupt or corrupt future elections. Please join me in rejecting Trump/MAGA corruption in the Pennsylvania 2022 midterm elections. MARK RALSTON Centre Hall Submitted by Virtual Newsroom Today’s breaking news and more in your inbox Read More Here

Trump Constantly Talks About Ron DeSantis To His Aides As The Florida Governor Is Poised To Be His Most Formidable Opponent In The 2024 Election, NYT's Maggie Haberman Tells CNN. https://digitalarkansasnews.com/trump-constantly-talks-about-ron-desantis-to-his-aides-as-the-florida-governor-is-poised-to-be-his-most-formidable-opponent-in-the-2024-election-nyts-maggie-haberman-tells-cnn/ Many Republicans consider Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis a likely presidential candidate in 2024. Trump has talked more about DeSantis than other potential GOP candidates, per NYT’s Maggie Haberman. The former president believes “he made” DeSantis, Haberman told CNN. Loading Something is loading. No other potential GOP candidate for the 2024 election is on former President Donald Trump’s mind than Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, according to New York Times reporter Maggie Haberman. “There is no potential candidate in the Republican field who Trump has talked about more to his aides than Ron DeSantis,” Haberman told CNN in an interview on Tuesday about her new book, “Confidence Man: The Making of Donald Trump and the Breaking of America.” “It is a constant running discussion.” CNN also played a recording from one of three interviews Haberman conducted with Trump for her book. In the clip, Trump credited himself for boosting DeSantis to Florida’s governorship after endorsing the latter in 2018. “He came to me, he said, ‘I’d love your endorsement,'” Trump said in the recording. “I said, ‘Ron, you’re at 3%. You can’t win.’ He said, ‘If you endorse me, I can.'” Trump has long claimed credit for DeSantis’ win and even said during a Newsmax interview in June that he was “very responsible” for DeSantis becoming Florida’s governor. In that interview, Trump also said that he did not know if DeSantis intended to run for the White House but said he had a “good relationship with Ron.”  However, reports of the duo’s behind-the-scenes relationship tend to differ from Trump’s characterization of the issue. In September, two sources close to Trump told Rolling Stone that Trump was nervous about DeSantis getting attention from a political stunt he pulled, which involved chartering two planes to transport 50 migrants to Martha’s Vineyard. According to the sources, Trump was irritated about DeSantis getting credit for the stunt and complained to aides that the Florida governor had timed the act to boost his profile among the Republican base.  Trump has also reacted negatively to the implication that DeSantis might run against him to try to secure the 2024 GOP presidential nomination. In July, the former president lashed out at “Fox & Friends” for mentioning a poll that showed DeSantis ahead of him, accusing the show’s hosts of going “to the dark side.” In September, Trump took another swipe at DeSantis, sharing an Insider article about his polling lead over DeSantis. For his part, DeSantis has not publicly rebuked Trump. However, the Florida governor has been fundraising for his war chest and has launched a campaign to sell a gold “Florida First Fighter” card that resembles the Trump Card. While DeSantis and Trump appear to be the leading contenders for the 2024 Republican presidential ticket, neither has made a formal declaration about entering the race. In July, a DeSantis representative told Insider that DeSantis was “focused on Florida and running for reelection as governor this year.” Meanwhile, Trump’s former senior adviser Kellyanne Conway told CBS News on Friday that Trump “would like to” announce that he is running for president again after the midterms and before Thanksgiving.  “I will tell you why he wants to run for president,” Conway said. “Donald Trump wants his old job back.” Represenatives for DeSantis and a spokesman at Trump’s post-presidential press office did not immediately respond to Insider’s requests for comment.  Read More Here

Trump Wondered Aloud To Aides If Ghislaine Maxwell Spoke To Investigators About Him After Her Arrest: Book https://digitalarkansasnews.com/trump-wondered-aloud-to-aides-if-ghislaine-maxwell-spoke-to-investigators-about-him-after-her-arrest-book/ After Ghislaine Maxwell’s arrest, Trump consulted his aides about whether she’d spoken about him. “She say anything about me?” Trump asked his aides, per NYT reporter Maggie Haberman’s new book. Per Haberman, Trump was worried about an article in which he was named in connection with Maxwell. Loading Something is loading. Former President Donald Trump wondered aloud to aides if socialite Ghislaine Maxwell, the girlfriend of Jeffrey Epstein, had said anything about him to investigators following her arrest. According to New York Times reporter Maggie Haberman’s new book, “Confidence Man: The Making Of Donald Trump And The Breaking Of America,” Trump asked his campaign staffers during an Oval Office meeting in July 2020 if they had read an article about Maxwell in the New York Post. “You see that article in the Post today that mentioned me?” Trump asked his staffers, per Haberman. Haberman wrote that Trump was referring to reports about Maxwell that name-dropped him, including an article by the Post’s Page Six editor Emily Smith, which ran comments from Steve Hoffenberg, Epstein’s former associate. Per the outlet, Hoffenberg had said that would be “naming some big names” in an effort to save herself after she was arrested in July 2020 and charged with six counts of grooming underage girls for sex with Epstein. “Ghislaine thought she was untouchable — that she’d be protected by the intelligence communities she and Jeffrey helped with information: the Israeli intelligence services, and Les Wexner, who has given millions to Israel; by Prince Andrew, President Clinton and even by President Trump, who was well-known to be an acquaintance of her and Epstein’s,” he said, per Smith’s article, which was published on July 5, 2020. According to Haberman, being mentioned in the article was one of Trump’s “worries.” “He kept going, to silence. ‘She say anything about me?'” Haberman wrote, describing the former president’s reaction to the news. Maxwell was sentenced on June 28 to 20 years in prison for sexually abusing girls and trafficking them into having sex with Epstein. Trump told New York Magazine in 2002 that he had known Epstein for 15 years, and that he was a “terrific guy.” “He’s a lot of fun to be with. It is even said that he likes beautiful women as much as I do, and many of them are on the younger side. No doubt about it — Jeffrey enjoys his social life,” Trump said at the time. In 2019, Trump told reporters that he and Epstein had a “falling out” and had not spoken in 15 years. As for Maxwell, Trump repeatedly wished her “well” as she waited to be tried for sex trafficking charges, saying he was not “looking for anything bad for her.” “She’s now in jail, so yeah, I wish her well,” the president told Axios’ Jonathan Swan. “I would wish you well. I would wish a lot of people well. Good luck. Let them prove somebody was guilty.” Former Trump associate George Houraney told The New York Times in 2019 that the then-president had once partied with Epstein and around two dozen women at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort. The event took place in 1992, per Houraney’s account, and involved 28 girls being flown to Mar-a-Lago for a “calendar girl” competition. Epstein pleaded guilty to charges of solicitation of prostitution and procurement of minors for prostitution in Florida in 2007. He was known for having an elite circle of contacts that included presidents and Hollywood stars. Epstein died by apparent suicide in a Manhattan jail on August 10, 2020, while awaiting trial on charges of sex trafficking minors. Read More Here