Digital Arkansas News

Arkansas High School Football Statewide Rankings For Week 6 https://digitalarkansasnews.com/arkansas-high-school-football-statewide-rankings-for-week-6/ The following are the overall top 10 high school football teams in Arkansas and the top five in Classes 7A, 6A, 5A, 4A, 3A, 2A, and the top three in the two 8-man divisions as voted by a panel of sports media from around the state for the week ending Oct. 1. The ranking is given with first-place votes received, records, total points, and last week’s ranking: OVERALL Record Points Last Week 1. Bryant (20) 4-0 200 1 2. Conway 5-0 176 2 3. Bentonville 4-1 136 3 4. Pulaski Academy 5-0 131 5 5. Cabot 4-1 120 4 6. Greenwood 5-1 93 7 7. Lake Hamilton 6-0 80 8 8. Rogers 5-0 60 — 9. LR Catholic 5-0 46 9 10. Fayetteville 3-2 27 6 Others receiving votes: Bentonville West 12, Arkadelphia 4, Benton 4, Joe T Robinson 4, LR Parkview 3, Magnolia 2, Harding Academy 1, West Memphis 1. WEEK 5 TOP FOOTBALL PERFORMERS:The top performers for Week 5 football in Arkansas and Oklahoma from Fort Smith area CLASS 7A Record Points Last Week 1. Bryant (20) 4-0 100 1 2. Conway 5-0 78 2 3. Bentonville 4-1 51 3 4. Cabot 4-1 48 4 5. Rogers 5-0 17 — Others receiving votes: Fayetteville 4, Bentonville West 2. BARRIENTOS HELPS LEAD OFFENSIVE LINE:How Northside’s Eric Barrientos helped the offensive line dominate Southside CLASS 6A Record Points Last Week 1. Pulaski Academy (15) 5-0 95 1 2. Greenwood (3) 5-1 72 2 3. Lake Hamilton (2) 6-0 65 3 4. LR Catholic 5-0 42 4 5. LR Christian 3-2 14 5t Others receiving votes: Benton 10, West Memphis 2. BULLDOGS ERASE DEFICIT:How Greenwood high school football erased 2-touchdown deficit in last 1:19, beat Northside CLASS 5A Record Points Last Week 1. Joe T. Robinson (10) 4-1 82 1 2. LR Parkview (8) 3-2 75 2 3. Magnolia (1) 5-0 40 4 4. Shiloh Christian 4-1 38 3 5. LR Mills (1) 6-0 30 5 Others receiving votes: Wynne 21, Camden Fairview 11, Farmington 2, Batesville 1. AIREDALES TRUSTS JOE:Alma football ends losing streak to Van Buren behind quarterback Joe Trusty CLASS 4A Record Points Last Week 1. Arkadelphia (19) 4-0 99 1 2. Ashdown (1) 5-0 66 2 3. Harding Academy 5-0 62 3 4. Warren 4-1 33 4 5. Malvern 4-1 22 5 Others receiving votes: Star City 11, Clinton 2, Gentry 2. Stuttgart 2, Haskell 1. LAST WEEK’S TOP PERFORMERS:Fort Smith area top performers in high school sports for the week of Sept. 26 CLASS 3A Record Points Last Week 1. Prescott (19) 5-0 98 1 2. Booneville (1) 4-1 65 2 3. Melbourne 5-0 50 4 4. Rison 4-0 48 3 5. Charleston 4-1 32 5 Others receiving votes:  Gurdon 2, Fordyce 2, Camden Harmony Grove, Newport, Lavaca 1. LEARNING FROM THE LOSS:Despite loss, Peyton Tatum embraces his chance to lead Booneville offense CLASS 2A Record Points Last Week 1. Hazen (20) 5-0 100 1 2. Marked Tree 5-0 67 2 3. Carlisle 5-0 50 3 4. East Poinsett County 5-0 34 5 5. Mount Ida 3-1 32 4 Others receiving votes: Bigelow 14, Mineral Springs 2, Clarendon 1. GOLDEN ARROWS FACE TESTS:‘The next six weeks are going to be a war’: Fischer Martin, Lavaca football facing tests 8-MAN (4A-3A) Record Points Last Week 1. Mountain View (15) 5-0 55 1 2. Fountain Lake (5) 4-1 45 2 3. Subiaco Academy 3-2 16 — Others receiving votes: Genoa Central 6. WEEK 4 TOP FOOTBALL PERFORMERS:Top performers in Fort Smith-area football for Week 4 in Arkansas and Oklahoma 8-MAN (2A-1A) Record Points Last Week 1. Mountain Pine (20) 5-0 59 1 2. Spring Hill 6-0 30 2 3. Woodlawn 4-0 21 3 Others receiving votes: Brinkley 8, Izard County 1. WEEK 3 TOP FOOTBALL PERFORMERS:Top performers for Week 3 from Fort Smith-area in Arkansas and Oklahoma football Read More Here

What To Know About The Oath Keepers Trial https://digitalarkansasnews.com/what-to-know-about-the-oath-keepers-trial/ The trial against Oath Keepers founder Stewart Rhodes and four of his associates began on Monday as the Department of Justice (DOJ) seeks to convict them on the rarely used charge of seditious conspiracy in a Washington, D.C., court. In opening statements, Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey Nestler told jurors that Rhodes and the Oath Keepers sought to capitalize on the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol. “Their goal was to stop by whatever means necessary the lawful transfer of presidential power, including by taking up arms against the United States government,” the attorney said, according to The Associated Press. “They concocted a plan for armed rebellion to shatter a bedrock of American democracy.” Here’s what to know about the high-stakes trial, which could last several weeks. Rhodes, four other leaders are charged Rhodes, 56, from Granbury, Texas, is a former U.S. Army paratrooper who attended Yale Law School and volunteered on Republican political campaigns before 2009, when he founded the Oath Keepers, a far-right anti-government militia group. Members of the Oath Keepers joined other supporters of former President Trump who stormed the Capitol in a bid to stop the certification of the 2020 election, the DOJ said in charging documents earlier this year. The House committee investigating Jan. 6 revealed over the summer that Rhodes held a secret meeting with Proud Boys leader Enrique Tarrio in a parking garage the night before the Capitol riots. Rhodes is also accused of leading Oath Keepers members onto the Capitol grounds and directing followers to meet him in the restricted area. Eleven Oath Keepers face seditious conspiracy charges, but on trial this week, in addition to Rhodes, are Kelly Meggs, the leader of the Florida chapter of the Oath Keepers; Kenneth Harrelson, who assisted Meggs; Thomas Caldwell, a retired U.S. Navy intelligence officer from Virginia; and Jessica Watkins, the leader of a militia group from Ohio. Harrelson, Meggs and Watkins are among the Oath Keepers who led a stack formation up the Capitol steps and into the building on Jan. 6, the DOJ charges. Seditious conspiracy charge is rooted in months of alleged planning While more than 900 rioters have been charged and hundreds convicted in the Capitol attacks, the DOJ is attempting to convict defendants of a seditious conspiracy charge for the first time in three decades. A seditious conspiracy charge carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. The last time the DOJ secured a seditious conspiracy conviction was in 1995, when Egyptian cleric Omar Abdel-Rahman was convicted on the charge for his role in the 1993 World Trade Center bombing. The DOJ alleges Rhodes began planning to stop the certification of the presidential election in December 2020. According to charging documents, on Nov. 5, 2020, two days after the presidential election, Rhodes sent a message to followers on Signal that “we aren’t getting through this without a civil war.” On Nov. 9, the DOJ alleges Rhodes held a conference call with leaders to discuss stopping the presidential transfer of power. Communications and messaging between leaders — including Meggs, Watkins and Harrelson — involving the use of force to stop Biden’s certification continued through early January, the DOJ says. Watkins and Meggs allegedly helped coordinate separate teams, weapons and equipment, while Caldwell allegedly organized a base of operations for the Oath Keepers at a hotel Arlington, Va., where they allegedly stashed firearms. Rhodes also spent $7,000 on night-vision equipment and weapon sights and $5,000 on firearms, equipment and ammunition, including a shotgun, according to charging documents. After the Capitol rioters dispersed, Rhodes and other leaders continued to meet, discussing how they could keep fighting to stop the transfer of power, the DOJ says, and Rhodes continued to purchase equipment. “Patriots entering their own Capitol to send a message to the traitors is NOTHING compared to what’s coming,” Rhodes allegedly wrote on Signal on Jan. 6, 2021, according to the DOJ. Rhodes is relying on tough defense case Rhodes is expected to argue that on Jan. 6, he and the Oath Keepers were awaiting Trump to invoke the Insurrection Act, an 1807 law that authorizes the president to call up an armed militia or the military to quell a domestic rebellion. The defense will assert that Rhodes cannot be found guilty of seditious conspiracy because the actions he took were in preparation for Trump’s invocation of the law, although the orders never came. James Lee Bright, an attorney for Rhodes, told The Associated Press the legal defense is an “incredibly complicated defense of theory.” “I don’t think that it’s ever played out in this fashion in American jurisprudence,” he said. The defense team faces a high hurdle, as they will have to prove to the jury that Rhodes and the Oath Keepers were there to defend the government and not overthrow it. The last time the Insurrection Act was used was in 1992, when President George H.W. Bush invoked it amid deadly rioting in Los Angeles. The defense team will have to prove why they believed the act was going to be invoked while addressing DOJ documents showing the Oath Keepers planned for violence to stop the certification of the 2020 election. Read More Here

GoLocalProv | Politics | Former Top Patrick Kennedy Aide Running For Congress In MA As Pro-Trump Candidate https://digitalarkansasnews.com/golocalprov-politics-former-top-patrick-kennedy-aide-running-for-congress-in-ma-as-pro-trump-candidate/ Monday, October 03, 2022 GoLocalProv Political Team View Larger + Former RI Congressman Patrick Kennedy PHOTO: file In 2002, then-Rhode Island Congressman Patrick Kennedy (D-CD2) was forced to push his chief of staff out the door due to a controversy about lobbying and proper reporting.Dean Martelli resigned after Kennedy’s campaign opponent Republican Dave Rogers questioned Martilli’s failure to disclose his congressional salary and previous work as a lobbyist. That same Martilli is now running for Congress in Western Massachusetts as a pro-Trump Republican against one of the most powerful members of Congress — 32-year House veteran Richard E. Neal, (D-CD1) and chair of the Ways and Means Committee. GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE — SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLAST Kennedy Controversy Rogers, a former Navy SEAL, criticized Kennedy and Martilli for an arrangement under which Martilli was paid $97,300 by Kennedy’s congressional office — just under the threshold that required members of Congress and aides to file public statements disclosing their personal finances. And, another $40,000 was paid to Martilli from Kennedy’s campaign fund, according to a syndicated news story at the time. View Larger + GOP House Candidate Dean Martilli PHOTO: Campaign Pro-Trump, Anti-FBI Martilli, who has repeatedly stated he is a strong supporter of former President Donald Trump, recently wrote, “This raid by the FBI is unprecedented in the treatment of a former president. It is beyond appalling to see this type of weaponization of the DOJ [Department of Justice]. This is beyond shameful. Again, we see the FBI being politicized under the guidance and leadership of President [Joe] Biden, Director [Christopher] Wray and Attorney General [Merrick] Garland.” “Recall that the Russian Misinformation Steele Dossier was the catalyst for the FBI to spy on then-candidate President Trump, was set into action it was by the Obama administration with Biden’s involvement. Segway [sic] to the Mar-a-Lago FBI raid, it is the Biden administration with Obama influence front and center. Coincidence or a pattern? If a president of the United States can be spied on then what about us? If a president’s family can be threatened and harassed then what about us?” “The government has unlimited amounts of money to investigate private citizens but do you have the money to defend yourself? By going after the DC establishment President Trump has endeared himself to the hearts of many Americans who have felt the overreach of local, state, and federal governments. As President Trump has said, ‘They are not coming after me, they are coming after you,’” Martilli added. In his bio, he acknowledges his time working for Kennedy. “Martilli served in Washington DC as Chief of Staff to a Congressman, Patrick Kennedy (D-RI). After years of seeing the Democrat party’s policies move further and further away from the American worker and American family, he had enough. He couldn’t agree with policies that don’t align with protecting American Families and appreciation of their hard work,” according to his website. Outside of his run for Congress, he runs a consulting firm, Martill and Associates. Related Articles NEW: Patrick Kennedy to Campaign with David Cicilline Former Congressman Patrick Kennedy to Stump for James Diossa in Central Falls NEW: Patrick Kennedy is a Father LIVE PRIMARY UPDATE: Patrick Kennedy, James Langevin in Warwick (VIDEO) Field Narrows in the Race to Replace Patrick Kennedy NEW: Patrick Kennedy Opposed to Legalization of Marijuana NEW: Patrick Kennedy in the Middle of Super Bowl Marijuana Fight “We’re Pushing for More Accountability” — Patrick Kennedy on Latest in Mental Health Parity Fight NEW: Patrick Kennedy’s Wife Running for Congress in New Jersey Guest MINDSETTER Stewart: Patrick Kennedy Should Learn from Family History NEW: Patrick Kennedy Endorses De Ramel Kennedy Wins Democratic Primary for NJ Congressional Seat – Wife of Patrick Kennedy Enjoy this post? Share it with others. Read More Here

Oath Keepers Trial Live Updates: Prosecutors Outline Alleged Jan. 6 Plotting https://digitalarkansasnews.com/oath-keepers-trial-live-updates-prosecutors-outline-alleged-jan-6-plotting/ Stewart Rhodes, founder of the citizen militia group known as the Oath Keepers. (Susan Walsh/AP) Updated October 3, 2022 at 12:55 p.m. EDT|Published October 3, 2022 at 10:17 a.m. EDT Opening statements are underway in the trial of Oath Keepers leader Stewart Rhodes and other members of the extremist group who face seditious conspiracy and other charges in the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. Rhodes and four co-defendants — Kelly Meggs, Kenneth Harrelson, Jessica Watkins and Thomas Caldwell — have pleaded not guilty to felony charges alleging that they conspired for weeks after the 2020 presidential election to unleash political violence to oppose the lawful transfer of power to Joe Biden. The defendants came from Texas, Florida, Ohio and Virginia, and allegedly led a group that traveled to Washington and staged firearms nearby before forcing entry through the Capitol Rotunda doors in combat and tactical gear. Rhodes attorney corrected by judge as defense openings begin Return to menu Phillip A. Linder, one of Stewart Rhodes’s attorneys, started the defense opening statements to the jury by telling them they were hearing “one of the most important jury trials in modern day history.” But he soon started making comments that Judge Amit P. Mehta found improper, even without objection by prosecutors, resulting in a conference at the bench just minutes into the statement. Linder told the jury that the five defendants on trial today were facing “substantial prison sentences,” which prosecutors objected to as inappropriate, because juries do not impose sentences in federal court and aren’t told about sentencing ranges. Mehta sustained the objection. Oath Keepers patch and other far-right symbols seen at the Capitol riot Return to menu The Oath Keepers logo and patches were among many far-right symbols seen at the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. The yellow logo reportedly is inspired by the U.S. Army Ranger tab. For a look at other right-wing symbols that appeared at the U.S. Capitol riot and what they mean, read more here. After Jan. 6, prosecutors say, Oath Keepers still sought to stop transfer Return to menu After the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the Capitol ended, members of the Oath Keepers gloried briefly in their actions, sending out videos of themselves in the Capitol, according to prosecutors. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey S. Nestler said defendant Kelly Meggs distributed a video of Oath Keepers and wrote, “Florida OK takes the Capitol.” Defendant Jessica Watkins messaged someone that “We were in the thick of it. Stormed the Capitol. Forced our way into the Senate and House. Got tear gassed and muscled the cops back like Spartans.” Oath Keepers described as splitting up in Capitol to take chambers, prosecutors say Return to menu Florida Oath Keepers leader Kelly Meggs had a three-way call with founder Stewart Rhodes and “operations leader” Michael Greene on the steps of the U.S. Capitol on the afternoon of Jan. 6, 2021, prosecutor Jeffrey Nestler told jurors in his opening statement. Then, he said, Meggs led 14 Oath Keepers who “pushed their way past Capitol Police officers” into the building. “The crowd cheered for them, yelling ‘Oath Keepers, Oath Keepers’ — they were the leaders,” Nestler said. It was 2:40 p.m., and staff and members of Congress were still evacuating. Guns, ammunition, grenades stored in Va., with quick boat access to D.C., prosecutors say Return to menu As part of the Oath Keepers’ preparation to interrupt the congressional proceedings on Jan. 6, 2021, they stashed weapons, ammunition and hand grenades in a Comfort Inn in Arlington County, Va., the day before, as a “Quick Reaction Force” to be summoned as needed, federal prosecutor Jeffrey S. Nestler said. After Nestler played a video of Florida members of the group taking target practice with various weapons, he said they had received “training on unconventional warfare” with a man not on trial Monday, Jeremy Brown. Nestler said Brown drove an RV with hand grenades inside to D.C., alongside other Florida Oath Keepers, and “sure enough the FBI later recovered grenades from Jeremy Brown’s RV.” Prosecutor dismisses ‘magic words’ of Insurrection Act Return to menu Defendants in the Oath Keepers trial are arguing that they were only armed and at the Capitol in the expectation that President Donald Trump would call on them to legally prevent what they viewed as a Democratic coup. The Insurrection Act says that the president can deploy military forces domestically to quell rebellions. Trump never invoked the law, and prosecutors argue that he could not have legally deputized militias to attack their fellow citizens on Jan. 6, 2021. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey Nestler said Stewart Rhodes, who had the “impressive pedigree” of Yale Law School, was only claiming to rely on the Insurrection Act as “magic words” that hid illegal actions. The Insurrection Act was “a code, or a shorthand,” for keeping Trump in office by force, Nestler alleged. Prosecutor explains ‘weird quirk’ of presidential elections Return to menu After sketching out the alleged Oath Keepers conspiracy, prosecutor Jeffrey Nestler told jurors a brief legislative history that, until the 2020 election, was obscure. It’s “a weird quirk” of our system, he said, that the winner of the presidential election isn’t officially the winner when ballots are done being counted in November. “Under the Constitution, it is not official until Congress says so, and Congress has to say so on Jan. 6.” Moreover, “the vice president of the United States must be the person to preside over the session.” Prosecutors begin outlining Oath Keepers’ alleged roles in conspiracy Return to menu As part of the planning to interrupt the congressional proceedings on Jan. 6, 2021, the Oath Keepers staged weapons in a hotel across the river from D.C., in a hotel in Arlington, “to physically prevent members of Congress from certifying the election,” federal prosecutor Jeffrey S. Nestler said in his opening statement. Making an agreement to do that, even if it wasn’t in writing or spoken specifically, qualifies as a conspiracy, Nestler said. Nestler pointed out each of the five defendants in the courtroom to the jury, starting with Oath Keepers leader Stewart Rhodes. Nestler explained that Oath Keepers recruits largely from former members of the military and law enforcement. He said that “the term Oath Keepers derives from soldiers’ oaths to defend the constitution against all enemies, and the idea that oath must be kept for life. But Rhodes perverts that oath. He says they should disobey orders that he says are unconstitutional.” Prosecution: Oath Keepers tried ‘to shatter a bedrock of American democracy’ Return to menu The Oath Keepers tried “to stop by whatever means necessary the lawful transfer of presidential power, including by taking up arms against the U.S. government,” federal prosecutor Jeffrey Nestler said in his opening statement Monday. Nestler began by invoking history, saying that “ever since our government transferred power from George Washington to John Adams,” one president has peacefully given way to another. “These defendants tried to change that history,” he said. He then briefly introduced the five defendants, starting with Oath Keepers founder Stewart Rhodes. Rhodes “preaches to his followers they should disobey orders that he says are unconstitutional,” Nestler said. The entire group is not on trial, he said — “many did nothing wrong.” But these defendants “concocted a plan for an armed rebellion to shatter a bedrock of American democracy,” Nestler said. Judge denies last-minute bid to avoid jury trial Return to menu Just before the trial session began Monday, Judge Amit P. Mehta denied multiple motions filed over the weekend in which defendants tried to keep a D.C. jury from determining their guilt or innocence. Defendant Kelly Meggs asked for Mehta to decide his fate rather than the jury, saying through his attorney that the jury could not be “fair and impartial” because “the majority of those questioned” as part of the jury pool “had negative feelings about the events of January 6, 2021.” He and the other four defendants also asked for the trial to be moved to a federal court in Virginia, for similar reasons. What new info could the Oath Keepers sedition trial reveal about Jan. 6? Return to menu The trial of Oath Keepers founder Stewart Rhodes could reveal new information about the quest to subvert the 2020 presidential election results as prosecutors continue to probe President Donald Trump’s conduct and that of his inner circle. Prosecutors’ challenge will be to prove that Rhodes, one of the most visible figures of the far-right anti-government movement, and his group intentionally conspired to use force to prevent President Biden’s swearing-in. Whether the government tips its hand in court about the Oath Keepers’ ties to other political figures, the trial is an important step in the wider probe, analysts said. Jury selected after three days of vetting Return to menu A jury of 12 members and four alternates was selected Thursday in the trial of Oath Keepers leader Stewart Rhodes and other members of the extremist group who face seditious conspiracy and other charges in the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. Opening statements are set for Monday. Painstaking vetting over three days revealed a political and cultural clash that posed tests both for the Justice Department — led by prosecutors with the U.S. attorney’s office in Washington — and defense attorneys for the leaders of the right-wing anti-government Oath Keepers, whose movement recruits members willing to prepare themselves for eventual battle to prevent federal tyranny. Read More Here

Arkansas Residents Among Most Eager In US To Move Houses, Study Shows https://digitalarkansasnews.com/arkansas-residents-among-most-eager-in-us-to-move-houses-study-shows/ FILE – In this June 14, 2006 file photo are U-Haul trucks sit on a dealer lot in Des Moines, Iowa. U-Haul has a New Year’s resolution: cut down on… FILE – In this June 14, 2006 file photo are U-Haul trucks sit on a dealer lot in Des Moines, Iowa. U-Haul has a New Year’s resolution: cut down on hiring people who smoke. The moving company said that it won’t hire nicotine users in the 21 states where it is legal to do so, saying that it wants to ensure a “healthier workforce.” The new policy will start Feb. 1, 2020. and won’t apply to those hired before then. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall, File) by: Jacob Smith Posted: Oct 3, 2022 / 11:47 AM CDT Updated: Oct 3, 2022 / 11:47 AM CDT LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA) — A new study has named Arkansas as the state with the third most residents who are wanting to move houses in 2022. Reasons residents might be interested in moving include rising home prices, inflation costs, and more. Texas Real Estate Source conducted the study, examining Google trends of search terms frequently used by people interested in moving houses. Terms were then combined to give each state a ‘total search score’ to discover which states have been the most interested in moving house so far this year. The study listed South Carolina as the highest state most interested in moving houses with a total search score of 522. According to the release, South Carolina ranked highly on the list for its population having high search levels for the phrases ‘sell house’, ‘move home’ and ‘move house’ across America. Another Carolina, North Carolina, came in second for residents most interested, with a search score of 521, followed by Arkansas. The Natural State reportedly has the highest level of searches for the terms “move house” and “move home.” Their search score came in at 518. The study also indicates the state Arkansans want to relocate most to is Texas. Georgia and Alabama rounded out the top five, followed by Delaware, Texas, and Ohio. To view the study’s full findings, visit TexasRealEstateSource.com. Read More…

Black Women Holding Trump Accountable https://digitalarkansasnews.com/black-women-holding-trump-accountable/ By Ben Jealous (Trice Edney Wire) – Former President Donald Trump has spent a lifetime getting away with things. Rich and willing to use an army of lawyers to defend his abuses and bully people he has wronged into submission, Trump is a prime example of the inequities in our justice system. But that could all be changing, thanks to two courageous Black women who are not intimidated by his insults and public bullying. One of them is New York Attorney General Letitia “Tish” James. She has been leading an investigation into a “staggering” amount of financial fraud she charges that Trump has committed over the years. After trying everything he could to avoid it, Trump appeared in her office in August to answer questions. But the only question he answered was about his name. For every other question—more than 400 other times—he invoked his right under the Constitution’s Fifth Amendment to avoid incriminating himself. In September, after interviewing dozens of people and reviewing millions of pages of documents, James’s office filed a lawsuit against Trump and his three adult children who have been in business with him—Ivanka, Don Jr., and Eric. The suit asks them to forfeit $250 million in ill-gotten gains and seeks to prevent them from doing business in New York for the immediate future. She told a reporter that the lawsuit shows how Trump repeatedly lied about the value of his properties “to unjustly enrich himself and to cheat the system, thereby cheating all of us.” Trump responded in his typical fashion. He called James a “racist.” He called her investigation “the greatest witch hunt in the history of the country.” Now, anyone who has followed Trump’s interactions with Black women who call him on his…stuff…knows that this is part of a pattern with Black women who see through him and aren’t afraid to speak truth. Trump’s disgusting record of insulting and smearing activists like Stacey Abrams, public officials like Vice President Kamala Harris, Rep. Maxine Waters and Washington, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser—and journalists like April Ryan, Abby Phillips, and Yamiche Alcindor—was recently reviewed by Kaly Holloway for The Daily Beast, which said that James’s lawsuit “is bringing the ex-president’s racism and sexism back into the spotlight.” James is not the only fearless Black woman seeking to hold Trump accountable. In Georgia, Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis is conducting a criminal investigation of Team Trump’s efforts to overturn the results of the presidential election in Georgia. Remember that phone call a few days before the attack on the Capitol? Trump was desperately trying to overturn his defeat by Joe Biden. Trump, his chief of staff Mark Meadows, and a bunch of Trump attorneys got on the phone with Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger. Trump demanded that Raffensperger “find” him enough votes to flip the election to him. Unethical? Definitely. Illegal? Very likely. It’s against the law in Georgia to solicit election fraud. And that phone call was just part of the Trump team’s efforts, which included the creation of a fake set of pro-Trump electors. Trump’s efforts in Georgia included false charges of election fraud against two Black women election workers. When Trump and his allies repeated those smears, the women’s lives were disrupted by threats and harassment. According to news reports, Willis’s investigation could lead to a multi-defendant racketeering case. Trump, predictably, has called the Georgia investigation a “witch hunt.” But Willis has taken on murderers and drug gangs, and she is not afraid of Trump or his insults. Trump’s record in business and politics suggests that the truth means nothing to him. He acts as if he believes the law does not apply to him. He acts as if his wealth and power and lawyers will continue to let him get away with anything. It is important that we as Americans affirm the principle that no person—even the country’s most powerful person—is above the law. There is good news on that front. There are multiple investigations into Trump’s wrongdoing. I am grateful for the work being done by Tish James and Fani Willis, by the House select committee investigating Jan. 6, by staff at the U.S. Department of Justice, and by journalists who are willing to dig for the truth. Truth is the first step toward accountability, accountability that in Trump’s case is long overdue. Ben Jealous serves as president of People For the American Way and Professor of the Practice at the University of Pennsylvania. A New York Times best-selling author, his next book “Never Forget Our People Were Always Free” will be published by Harper Collins in December 2022. Read More Here

Obituaries In Fort Smith, AR | Times Record https://digitalarkansasnews.com/obituaries-in-fort-smith-ar-times-record-60/ Cindy L. Robinson, age 74, of Fayetteville passed away Saturday October 1, 2022, after a strong and graceful battle with cancer. She was born March 31, 1948, in Atkins, Arkansas to Patrick “Pat” and Jean Scroggins Lemley. She is a member of Central United Methodist Church in Fayetteville. She was preceded in death by her parents and her brother, John Lemley. Cindy loved life and lived it to the fullest each day. You could often find her working in the garden, cooking a wonderful meal to include signature desserts like Lemon Meringue pie for John, cream puffs for Kirk, bunny cake for Kari, and Brett got leftovers. She loved water of all kinds be it the beach, lake, or a pool. She was also such a gifted seamstress and made countless dresses for her beloved granddaughters, as well as both her daughter Kari’s and granddaughter Sydney’s wedding dresses. She was a friend to so many and loved going to events or parties. Her devotion to those she loved was evident by the words she would share through her encouraging words, snippets from a book she would make a copy of or by printing pictures from a post found on Facebook. She will be greatly missed. She is survived by her husband John Robinson; her daughter, Kari Robinson Abbott and her husband Todd of Cave Springs, Arkansas; two sons, Kirk Robinson and his wife Katie of Fayetteville and Brett Robinson and his wife Helen of Siloam Springs, Arkansas; one brother, Keith Lemley of Fort Smith; seven grandchildren, Sydney Abbott Currin, Will Abbott, Drew Abbott, Turner Robinson, Lemley Robinson, Ember Robinson, Arden Robinson and one great granddaughter, Ophelia Currin. Memorial service will be 2:00 pm Tuesday October 4, 2022, at Central United Methodist Church in Fayetteville under the direction of Moore’s Chapel in Fayetteville. Memorial contributions may be made to The American Cancer Society, https://www.cancer.org/involved/donate.html or Al Anon, https://al-anon.org/contributions/ To place an online tribute, please visit www.bernafuneralhomes.com Posted online on October 03, 2022 Service Information Memorial Service Central United Methodist Church 6 W Dickson St. Fayetteville, AR 72701 October 04, 2022 at 2:00 PM Read More Here

DPS Reports Multiple Deadly Weekend Accidents https://digitalarkansasnews.com/dps-reports-multiple-deadly-weekend-accidents/ by: C.C. McCandless Posted: Oct 3, 2022 / 11:21 AM CDT Updated: Oct 3, 2022 / 11:22 AM CDT SCOTT COUNTY/BENTON COUNTY, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA) — The Arkansas Department of Public Safety reported that a trio of wrecks involving fatalities occurred in the River Valley and Northwest Arkansas from September 30-October 2. On Friday, two vehicles were traveling north on US 71 near Needmore in Scott County shortly before 5:15 p.m. As one vehicle, a Toyota Corolla, began turning into a driveway, the second, a Yamaha motorcycle, attempted to pass it on the left and crashed into the driver’s side of the car. The bike came to a stop facing west on the west side of the road and the motorcycle’s rider, Rodney Joe Emry, 50, of Mena, was killed in the crash. The driver of the Toyota was injured and taken to Mercy Hospital in Waldron. On Saturday, October 1, Jose Efrain, 29, of Houston, Texas, was killed attempting to run across Highway I-49. According to a DPS report, Efrain was struck by a southbound vehicle just before 10 p.m. I-49 following the accident on October 1 The driver and passengers of the car were unharmed. Larry Carpenter, 63, of Rogers, died following a multi-vehicle accident on October 2. Carpenter was northbound on a motorcycle on I-49 at approximately 12:45 a.m. when a car rear-ended him, causing both vehicles to spin out of control into a cable barrier. He was thrown off the bike and killed. There were no other injuries from the accident. Trending Stories Read More Here

Russian Woman Behind On-Air War Protest Reportedly Escapes House Arrest https://digitalarkansasnews.com/russian-woman-behind-on-air-war-protest-reportedly-escapes-house-arrest/ Russia has put Marina Ovsyannikova, the former state TV editor who interrupted a news broadcast to protest against the Ukraine war, on a wanted list after she reportedly escaped house arrest. The Ukrainian-born Ovsyannikova, 44, gained international attention in March after bursting into a studio of Channel One, her then employer, to denounce the Ukraine war during a live news bulletin, holding a poster reading “no war”. At the time she was fined 30,000 roubles (£460) for shunning protest laws. Ovsyannikova continued protesting against the war and was charged in August with spreading false information about the Russian army for holding up a poster that read “Putin is a murderer, his soldiers are fascists” during a solo protest on the Moskva River embankment opposite the Kremlin. She was subsequently placed under house arrest to await trial and was facing up to 10 years in prison if found guilty. On Saturday, Ovsyannikova’s ex-husband said she had escaped house arrest together with her young daughter. “Last night, my ex-wife left the place that the court assigned her, and disappeared with my 11-year-old daughter in an unknown direction,” Igor Ovsyannikov, who is employed at the state-run news outlet RT, said. Ovsyannikova’s whereabouts are unknown and she did not immediately respond to a request for comment. On Monday, she was added to the interior ministry’s online list of fugitives, accompanied by a photograph. Since the start of the war in Ukraine, Russia has launched an unprecedented crackdown on protesters, independent news outlets and foreign social media networks. In early March, the president, Vladimir Putin, signed off on a draconian law imposing a jail term of up to 15 years for spreading intentionally “fake” news about the military, in effect criminalising any public criticism of the war. Hundreds of leading Russian independent journalists and activists have fled the country, fearing a wave of government repression. But the war in Ukraine also resulted in a steady stream of resignations from Russia’s tightly controlled state-run television channels. Last month, Zhanna Agalakova, a former Channel One newsreader who at the time of her resignation in March was the station’s correspondent in Paris, announced she was returning the two state medals she received from Putin for her work at the channel. “Mr President, your leadership is leading the country to the abyss,” Agalakova said in a handwritten note posted on her Facebook page. “I consider your awards unacceptable.” Read More Here

Experts’ Judgment On The Much-Hyped Tesla Bot: Elon Musk Speedruns Robotics 101 https://digitalarkansasnews.com/experts-judgment-on-the-much-hyped-tesla-bot-elon-musk-speedruns-robotics-101/ Elon Musk has finally unveiled a prototype of the much-hyped Optimus robot — a bipedal machine that the Tesla CEO imagines will one day be sold as a “general purpose” bot that’s cheaper than a car and equally capable of working in factories and doing chores at home. The presentation of Optimus at Tesla’s AI Day was laced with the usual Musk intoxicants of hype and misdirection. But it also offered roboticists an admirably detailed look at some of the machine’s actual capabilities. Their judgment? That Tesla’s engineers have done incredible work in such a short space of time but that Optimus is still more hype than reality: a research robot that will take many years to develop into anything meaningful. Before we dive into the experts’ opinions, though, let’s recap what we saw on the day. Two robots were shown. The first, named Bumble C, was a “rough development robot” seen walking across the stage and carrying out tasks in prerecorded demos like picking up a watering can and moving boxes. The second robot was described by Musk as “fairly close to what will go into production” and had an external covering. But it was only used as a prop, wheeled about behind Musk and only shown waving its hands. Musk repeated his ambition to create “a useful humanoid robot as quickly as possible,” one that can be “made in very high volume, ultimately millions of units” and that will “cost much less than a car — much less than $20,000.” He later claimed that inventing such a machine will allow for “a future where there is no poverty” and a “fundamental transformation of civilization as we know it.” Elon Musk admitted that “last year, it was just a person in a robot suit” but showed off two models this year. Image: Tesla We got some basic specs for Optimus (but, as with the concept bot, it’s unclear if they’ll be true next time we get an update). It weighs 73kg, has 28 degrees of freedom in its limbs, and is powered by a 2.3kWh battery that Tesla claims lasts for a full day of work. The stand-out mechanical feature is hand modeled after a human’s, and Tesla showed how it’s been porting over the software used to power itself-driving cars for navigation and control. In a Q&A at the end of the presentation, Musk repeated speculation that the bot could “be like a friend” one day and said customers will be able to order one “within three years, probably not more than five years” (though it’s not clear if he meant businesses or individuals). So, that’s the bare facts about what was said and shown on stage. But what did the experts have to say? Here’s some of their reactions, from interviews with The Verge and judgments shared on social media. “Am I blown away? No. Am I laughing? No.” Christian Hubicki, a robotics professor at Florida State University, offered his thoughts in a Twitter thread, noting, like many others, that the Tesla team “came a long way in about a year” but that the capabilities of Optimus actually shown on stage “seems standard (but not mind-blowing) for humanoids.” In his thread, Hubicki notes that the Optimus bot seems to use a walking method known in robotics as zero moment point, or ZMP (though this is not confirmed by Tesla). This is a method of locomotion that’s been in use for decades, deployed in famous bots like Honda’s Asimo. (When you watch Optimus, you can certainly see the resemblance in how its knees are bent in a semi-crouch, and it shifts its weight cautiously from one foot to another.) Hubicki notes that this method of walking is “pretty safe, but not mindblowing in 2022.” He also points out that another big question not answered by the presentation is reliability. “How often does it fall down? You can’t tell from a cool video — or even a live demo,” he says. Obviously, when it comes to putting robots in factories, reliability is a massive factor, as downtime anywhere in an assembly line can have a significant knock-on effect. “An extraordinarily brave live demonstration of a herculean effort that sadly lacks novelty and imagination” Will Jackson, CEO of Engineered Arts, told The Verge the first two prototypes of the Optimus bot were “decidedly lacking” with “no novelty” in their design.  “They are very similar in concept to Honda’s Asimo robots, the development of which is now abandoned,” said Jackson. “The overall design is heavily built, clumsy and power inefficient — the hands are very basic, the only redeeming feature is a clutch mechanism in the finger actuation. If you want to know how far they are from human level motion and capabilities, compare last year’s reveal — a man in a robot suit — to this year’s actual hardware.” The Optimus robot was seen performing basic functions like grasping a watering can but only in prerecorded demos. Image: Tesla Jackson praised Tesla’s AI work in general and the dedication of the company’s engineers, but questioned the very idea of building a humanoid robot for menial labor in the first place. “I am amazed that Musk can address an audience so rapturously enamoured with the idea of a humanoid and totally fail to recognise that their desire to interact with a robot is the killer application. Did he think they were applauding because finally the world will have a humanoid robot that can lift a pipe in a car factory?” He concluded that the demo showed “an extraordinarily brave live demonstration of a herculean effort that sadly lacks novelty and imagination” and that “hopefully we will see a course correction by the time of next year’s event.” An impressive display but lots of unanswered questions Jonathan Aitken, a roboticist and teacher at the University of Sheffield in the UK, told The Verge that it was an “interesting demo” and that the “biggest thing is the progress they’ve made in the time that they’ve been working on things.” But he also noted that there were lots of unanswered questions about the robot’s capabilities and the exact nature of the demos. There’s always a big difference between prerecorded demos and actual work Aitken points out that the prerecorded videos of Optimus showed an “umbilical cord” attached to the robot, for example. “That for me asks two big questions, power and communication / control.” Was the cord there for safety? Or for power and instructions? (It was noted on stage that it was the first time the robot had walked without a tether.) “From the presentation, it was good to see the range of activities that the robot was working on,” says Aitken. “Although they were relatively limited.” He notes that footage of the robot moving components in a Tesla factory workstation were impressive but lacked context that would explain how meaningful the work was. “I would like to see more information on how big a component and how general this is in their manufacturing process.” Prerecorded demos of the Optimus prototype showed it walking with an “umbilical cord.” Image: Tesla “Are you launching features for the sake of features or to actually solve problems?” Cynthia Yeung, head of product at robot logistics firm Plus One Robotics, live-tweeted her thoughts about the presentation, questioning the company’s focus on copying the human form so closely and its planned future business model (which Musk says will involve selling the robots outright rather than selling their services like many robot startups do). “I think @elonmusk seems to be enamored of the @BostonDynamics approach toward robots (form over function) as opposed to what a lot of other folks are working on (function informs form),” tweeted Yeung. Yeung noted that the presentation focused a lot on how the team had made Optimus walk but that solving this challenge wouldn’t necessarily solve real-world problems. She also pointed out that the robot’s five-fingered hand was not necessarily as good as simpler two or three-finger pinchers or vacuum systems. “There’s a reason why all the warehouse startups don’t use hand-like manipulation mechanisms,” tweeted Yeung. Elsewhere, Yeung praised Musk for sharing the spotlight with his team of engineers and said the company made some “cool” actuators and simulators. But her overall judgment on the technical achievements was damning. “None of this is cutting edge. Hire some PhDs and go to some robotics conferences,” tweeted Yeung. “So far they have built a nice platform for doing the research.” Speaking to The Verge via email, robotics professor Henrik Christensen of the University of California San Diego said the mechanical design and walking skills of Optimus were “solid” but that “there is little innovation” in Tesla’s approach. “There is no real evidence that it can do basic navigation, grasping, manipulation.” Like Yeung, Christensen points out that Optimus’ five-fingered hand design was probably unnecessary (“not sure you need 5 fingers … I did not see a solid argument here beyond hand waving”). And he notes that there was a lot missing simply from Tesla’s presentation: “There is no real evidence that it can do basic navigation, grasping, manipulation.” “It is a good initial design and it is impressive how far they have come in 9 months, but the innovation beyond Boston Dynamics and Agility is very limited,” said Christensen. “So far they have built a nice platform for doing the research […] The good news is that Musk is not afraid of thinking big and investing. As such I expect to see real innovation here in the future.” A number of experts questioned Tesla’s decision to replicate human biology, as with building a five-fingered hand. Image: Tesla What Musk can really offer: attention and funding Animesh Garg, an assistant professor in AI at the University of Toronto, offered a response that focused a lot on the more broader challenges facing the field — that is, why develop a general-purpose humanoid robot ...

Texas Woman Who Charged U.S. Capitol Dressed As Captain America Gets Jail Sentence https://digitalarkansasnews.com/texas-woman-who-charged-u-s-capitol-dressed-as-captain-america-gets-jail-sentence/ By Sarah Bahari 10:41 AM on Oct 3, 2022 CDT A Texas woman who charged the U.S. Capitol dressed in a Captain America costume, then fought law enforcement officers trying to clear the scene, was sentenced to six months of jail. Micki Larson-Olson, 53, of Abilene, was convicted by a jury of unlawful entry onto public property, a misdemeanor. Authorities say a costume-clad Larson-Olson, wielding two flags, joined an enormous crowd on the west side of the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. Officers with the Metropolitan Police Department, called to assist the U.S. Capitol Police, repeatedly asked Larson-Olson to leave the premises. She refused, lowered herself down and clung to the scaffolding with her arms and legs. As six officers worked to physically remove her from the scaffolding, Larson-Olson screamed, swore and called them traitors, the Department of Justice said in a statement. Superior Court of the District of Columbia Judge Michael O’Keefe handed down Larson-Olson’s sentence. This marked the Washington, D.C. court’s first Jan. 6 trial. Larson-Olson is a frequent and hard-to-miss presence at Trump rallies across the country, where she dresses in red, white and blue Captain America-style costumes and drives a red car covered in conspiratorial and Trump-supporting stickers. The believer of the QAnon conspiracy theory was one of hundreds of members of a cult-like group who gathered in Dallas last year to wait for John F. Kennedy and his son, John F. Kennedy Jr., — both of whom are long dead — to reveal themselves and usher in the beginning of a new Trump presidency. QAnon followers believe that Trump is fighting a group of Satan-worshipping elites who run a child sex ring and are trying to control our politics and media. More than 870 people have been arrested for their roles in the U.S. Capitol breach, including some 265 charged with assaulting or impeding law enforcement. The House committee investigating the Jan. 6 insurrection said that Trump’s election lies emboldened and mobilized many of his supporters. Committee members said Trump asked them in a tweet to gather in Washington, D.C., that day, writing “Be there, will be wild!” That infamous prompt “electrified and galvanized” his followers, a committee member said. Michael Williams contributed to this report. Read More Here

Poll: Partisan Latinos More Likely To Back Trump, Biden Than Broader Electorate https://digitalarkansasnews.com/poll-partisan-latinos-more-likely-to-back-trump-biden-than-broader-electorate/ Oct. 3, 2022, 3:37 PM UTC By Ben Kamisar Latino Republicans and Democrats have been more likely than voters nationally to consider themselves supporters of former President Donald Trump and President Joe Biden respectively, according to data from the new national NBC News/Telemundo poll of the Latino electorate. The new numbers show affinity for both men are higher among Latinos partisans than what was found in the NBC News September national poll of the broader electorate. Forty percent of Latino Republicans (and leaners) say they are primarily a supporter of Trump over the national party, while 55% call themselves party-first Republicans, a 15-point edge for “party Republicans.” Trump had stronger support among Latinos aged 65-and-over as well as those with “blue collar” jobs and those with both parents born in the mainland U.S. By comparison, registered voters who identify or lean Republican more broadly backed the party over Trump by a margin of 58% to 33% in the September national poll, a 25-point edge for the “party Republicans.” Among Latino Democrats and Democratic leaners, 52% say were supporters of Biden during the 2020 primaries, with 26% saying they backed Vermont Independent Sen. Bernie Sanders, 8% saying they backed Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren and 9% naming another candidate. That’s significantly more support for Biden among Latino Democrats than from all registered voters who identify with or lean toward the party. In the September national poll, 40% named Biden, 31% named Sanders, 12% named Warren and 13% named another candidate. Biden’s 2020 support among Latinos is more pronounced with Democrats who are older, those in the middle/upper class, and those who consider themselves more moderate or conservative. The NBC News/Telemundo poll was conducted Sept. 17-26 of 1,000 Latino registered voters, 75% of whom took the survey in English and 25% who took it in Spanish.  Respondents were contacted via landline, cell phone and text message. And the poll has an overall margin of error of plus-minus 3.1 percentage points.   Ben Kamisar Ben Kamisar is a deputy political editor in NBC’s Political Unit.  Read More Here

Digital World CEO Urges Donald Trump To Push Shareholders To Vote On Merger Delay https://digitalarkansasnews.com/digital-world-ceo-urges-donald-trump-to-push-shareholders-to-vote-on-merger-delay/ Posted Monday, October 3, 2022 11:35 am Jack Stebbins | CNBC Patrick Orlando, the CEO of the shell company set to take Trump Media and Technology Group public, on Friday urged Donald Trump and Trump Media CEO Devin Nunes to promote an upcoming vote to extend the merger deadline for the two companies. ″@realDonaldTrump @DevinNunes let’s get the vote awareness up,” the Digital World Acquisition Corp. chief wrote in a Truth Social post that attached information about the shareholder vote. Click here to read more. Comments No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here Scroll the Latest Job Opportunities From The Media Job Board Read More Here

U.S. Air Force Reserve Command Signs First-Of-Its-Kind Agreement To Train Reservists At A Dozen Mercy Hospitals | Mercy https://digitalarkansasnews.com/u-s-air-force-reserve-command-signs-first-of-its-kind-agreement-to-train-reservists-at-a-dozen-mercy-hospitals-mercy/ ST. LOUIS – Mercy and the U.S. Air Force Reserve Command recently signed a first-of-its-kind training affiliation agreement giving Air Force reservists access to vital training at 12 Mercy hospitals. The deal offers Air Force Reserve medics from across the U.S. the unique opportunity to train at Mercy hospitals including in Arkansas: Fort Smith and Rogers; in Missouri: Crystal City, Joplin, Springfield, St. Louis, Troy and Washington; and in Oklahoma: Ada, Ardmore and Oklahoma City. In the past two decades, government hospitals have transitioned to outpatient clinic spaces, leaving acute care to civilian hospitals. This shift left a gap in important medical training needed to keep military personnel, especially reservists, ready for deployment. “Unlike on active duty, where a service member does the same job every day, reservists live dual lives – serving as teachers, construction workers, truck drivers – and don’t get the hands-on training and opportunities that active-duty airmen would receive,” said Lt. Col. Ed Hubbell, 932nd Aeromedical Staging Squadron officer-in-charge of consolidated training and Mercy Technology Services vice president of business partnerships. “While this distinction brings new perspectives, skills and ideas, it also means reservists may not always get the training or experience they need to be effective in a deployed setting.” The unique agreement with Mercy creates training opportunities for the Air Force reservists and gives extra hands-on assistance for co-workers in hospitals and clinics, which in turn improves the quality of care provided to the community and to military personnel in the deployed environment.  Air Force reservists have trained at Mercy since 2003, beginning at Mercy Hospital St. Louis and expanding in scope and locations through the years. Leaders from both organizations recognize the value of the training and have worked to make it more widely available. “Having the agreement in place with Mercy truly opens the doors of opportunity for our citizen airmen to gain the training and real-world experience they desperately need,” said Col. Karen Steiner, Air Force Reserve Command chief nurse, who recently traveled to St. Louis for a site visit. “They work in the emergency department, the intensive care units and various other areas building skills that will help them be effective when deployed.” Mercy provides certification courses the service members need to provide care. During their training rotations, reservists work side by side with Mercy co-workers delivering patient care in almost every clinical setting and augment support staff as they hone their skills. “This collaboration benefits our troops, our co-workers and our patients. Many of our own co-workers are also reservists, including Ed Hubbell, who helped shepherd the program from its infancy at Mercy St. Louis, and it’s important we support them,” said Steve Mackin, Mercy president and chief executive officer. “I saw firsthand the impact it makes. We’re able to serve those who serve our country by providing training in a cost-effective manner for the Air Force Reserve and at the same time, our caregivers get an extra set of hands to help provide quality patient care. It’s a winning combination for everyone involved.” To become a medical technician, Air Force reservists go through approximately nine months of technical school, learning skills needed in the battlefield. Senior Airman Hailey Boyer with the 932nd Airlift Wing located at Scott Air Force Base, Illinois, is a legal assistant in her civilian life who concluded her Air Force technical schooling more than a year ago.  “If called to active duty, our unit would be deployed in a red zone and be tasked with building a field hospital from the ground up,” Boyer explained. “We would care for patients in the field, keeping them stable until they could be transported to a larger hospital.” She recently finished her refresher training at Mercy Hospital South in St. Louis and was happy to be able to do it only 20 minutes from Scott Air Force Base. “I hadn’t touched a patient since technical school, so I was a little nervous I wouldn’t be prepared if I was deployed,” Boyer said. “Training at Mercy South in the ER was a great opportunity, where the doctors let us get hands-on in real situations. All the skills I learned in 2021 came back to me. The training provided is truly mission essential.” Read More Here

Arkansas Supreme Court: October Is Access To Justice Month In Arkansas https://digitalarkansasnews.com/arkansas-supreme-court-october-is-access-to-justice-month-in-arkansas/ (File: Getty) (File: Getty) by: Alex Kienlen Posted: Oct 3, 2022 / 09:52 AM CDT Updated: Oct 3, 2022 / 09:52 AM CDT (File: Getty) (File: Getty) by: Alex Kienlen Posted: Oct 3, 2022 / 09:52 AM CDT Updated: Oct 3, 2022 / 09:52 AM CDT LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – The importance of having fair and complete legal representation is being acknowledged in Arkansas throughout October. In a unanimous decision by the Arkansas Supreme Court filed Sept. 29, October is designated Access to Justice Month in Arkansas. The month is to acknowledge those attorneys who provide no-cost service to clients in need and encourage other attorneys to join in that service. “We join the Arkansas Access to Justice Commission in designating October as Access to Justice Month to recognize the valuable contributions made by legal aid and pro bono attorneys throughout the year and to encourage pro bono participation to address the legal needs of low-income Arkansans,” the court stated. The court also encouraged judges to advocate for pro bono services. The 20-member state Access to Justice Commission works to improve access to justice for Arkansas residents. It is holding an Access to Justice Month kickoff on Oct. 29 in Little Rock. Trending Stories Don’t Miss Read More…

Supreme Court Will Hear Social Media Terrorism Lawsuits https://digitalarkansasnews.com/supreme-court-will-hear-social-media-terrorism-lawsuits/ The Supreme Court said Monday it will hear two cases seeking to hold social media companies financially responsible for terrorist attacks. What You Need To Know The Supreme Court said Monday it will hear two cases seeking to hold social media companies financially responsible for terrorist attacks Relatives of people killed in terrorist attacks in France and Turkey had sued Google, Twitter, and Facebook, accusing the companies of helping terrorists spread their message and radicalize new recruits The Supreme Court also said Monday it won’t take up two cases that involved challenges to a ban enacted during the Trump administration on bump stocks And the high court said it won’t intervene in a lawsuit in which Dominion Voting Systems accused MyPillow chief executive Mike Lindell of defamation for falsely accusing the company of rigging the 2020 presidential election Relatives of people killed in terrorist attacks in France and Turkey had sued Google, Twitter, and Facebook. They accused the companies of helping terrorists spread their message and radicalize new recruits. The court will hear the cases this term, which began Monday, with a decision expected before the court recesses for the summer, usually in late June. The court did not say when it would hear arguments, but the court has already filled its argument calendar for October and November. The Supreme Court also said Monday it won’t take up two cases that involved challenges to a ban enacted during the Trump administration on bump stocks, the gun attachments that allow semi-automatic weapons to fire rapidly like machine guns. And the high court said it won’t intervene in a lawsuit in which Dominion Voting Systems accused MyPillow chief executive Mike Lindell of defamation for falsely accusing the company of rigging the 2020 presidential election against former President Donald Trump. One of the social media cases the justices will hear involves Nohemi Gonzalez, a 23-year-old U.S. citizen studying in Paris. The Cal State Long Beach student was one of 130 people killed in Islamic State group attacks in November 2015. The attackers struck cafes, outside the French national stadium and inside the Bataclan theater. Gonzalez died in an attack at La Belle Equipe bistro. Gonzalez’s relatives sued Google, which owns YouTube, saying the platform had helped the Islamic State group by allowing it to post hundreds of videos that helped incite violence and recruit potential supporters. Gonzalez’s relatives said that the company’s computer algorithms recommended those videos to viewers most likely to be interested in them. But a judge dismissed the case and a federal appeals court upheld the ruling. Under U.S. law — specifically Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act — internet companies are generally exempt from liability for the material users post on their networks. The other case the court agreed to hear involves Jordanian citizen Nawras Alassaf. He died in the 2017 attack on the Reina nightclub in Istanbul where a gunman affiliated with the Islamic State killed 39 people. Alassaf’s relatives sued Twitter, Google and Facebook for aiding terrorism, arguing that the platforms helped the Islamic State grow and did not go far enough in trying to curb terrorist activity on their platforms. A lower court let the case proceed. Bump stocks The justices’ decision not to hear the bump-stock cases comes on the heels of a decision in June in which the justices by a 6-3 vote expanded gun-possession rights, weakening states’ ability to limit the carrying of guns in public. The cases the justices declined to hear were an appeal from a Utah gun rights advocate and another brought by the gun rights group Gun Owners of America and others. As is typical the justices made no comments in declining to hear the cases and they were among many the court rejected Monday, the first day of the court’s new term. The Trump administration’s ban on bump stocks took effect in 2019 and came about as a result of the 2017 mass shooting in Las Vegas. The gunman, a 64-year-old retired postal service worker and high stakes gambler, used assault-style rifles to fire more than 1,000 rounds in 11 minutes into the crowd of 22,000 music fans. Most of the rifles were fitted with bump stock devices and high-capacity magazines. A total of 58 people were killed in the shooting and two died later. More than 850 people were injured. The Trump administration’s move was an about-face for the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. In 2010, under the Obama administration, the agency found that bump stocks should not be classified as a “machinegun” and therefore should not be banned under federal law. Under the Trump administration, officials revisited that determination and found it incorrect. The high court previously declined a different opportunity to take a case involving the ban. MyPillow CEO As is typical, the high court did not say anything Monday about the Lindell case in rejecting it among a host of others.  Lindell is part of a case in which Dominion also accused Trump allies Sidney Powell and Rudy Giuliani of defamation for falsely claiming that the election was “stolen.” The Denver, Colorado-based Dominion has sought $1.3 billion in damages from the trio. A lower court judge in August of last year declined to dismiss the case and instead said it could go forward. Lindell had appealed that determination, but a federal appeals court said his appeal was premature. The Supreme Court declined to take up that issue. Powell and Giuliani, both lawyers who filed election challenges on Trump’s behalf, and Lindell, who was one of Trump’s most vocal public supporters, made various unproven claims about the voting machine company during news conferences, election rallies and on social media and television. There was no widespread fraud in the election, which a range of election officials across the country, including Trump’s attorney general, William Barr, have confirmed. Republican governors in Arizona and Georgia, key battleground states crucial to Biden’s victory, also vouched for the integrity of the elections in their states. Dominion machines tabulated ballots in 28 states. In September, a judge in Minnesota declined to dismiss a separate defamation lawsuit by a different voting machine maker, Smartmatic, against Lindell. Smartmatic’s machines were used only in Los Angeles County during the 2020 election. MyPillow is based in Minnesota. Read More Here

Oath Keepers Trial: 'Armed Rebellion' Plan, Prosecutor Says https://digitalarkansasnews.com/oath-keepers-trial-armed-rebellion-plan-prosecutor-says/ WASHINGTON — (AP) — Federal prosecutors began Monday to lay out for jurors their case against the founder of the Oath Keepers extremist group and four associates charged in the most serious case to reach trial yet in the Jan. 6, 2021, U.S. Capitol attack. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey Nestler delivered his an opening statement in Washington’s federal court in the trial of Stewart Rhodes and others charged with seditious conspiracy. They are accused of a weekslong plot to stop the transfer of power from Republican Donald Trump to Democrat Joe Biden. “Their goal was to stop by whatever means necessary the lawful transfer of presidential power, including by taking up arms against the United States government,” he said. “They concocted a plan for armed rebellion to shatter a bedrock of American democracy.” Defense attorneys will also get their first chance to address jurors, who were chosen last week after days of questioning over their feelings about the insurrection, Trump supporters and other matters. The judge on Monday denied another request from the defense attorneys to move the trial out of D.C., where they contend the jury pool is biased against them. The stakes are high for the Justice Department, which last secured a seditious conspiracy conviction at trial nearly 30 years ago. About 900 people have been charged and hundreds convicted in the Capitol attack. Rioters stormed past police barriers, engaged in hand-to-hand combat with officers, smashed windows and halted the certification of Biden’s electoral victory. But the Oath Keepers are the first to stand trial on seditious conspiracy, a rare Civil War-era charge that carries up to 20 years behind bars. The trial is expected to last several weeks. Prosecutors will tell jurors that the insurrection for the antigovernment group was not a spontaneous outpouring of election-fueled rage but part of a drawn-out plot to stop Biden from entering the White House. On trial with Rhodes, of Granbury, Texas, are Kelly Meggs, leader of the Florida chapter of the Oath Keepers; Kenneth Harrelson, another Florida Oath Keeper; Thomas Caldwell, a retired U.S. Navy intelligence officer from Virginia; and Jessica Watkins, who led an Ohio militia group. They face several other charges as well. Authorities say Rhodes began plotting to overturn Biden’s victory just days after the election. Court records show the Oath Keepers repeatedly warning of the prospect of violence — or “a bloody, bloody civil war,” as Rhodes said in one call — if Biden were to become president. By December, authorities say, Rhodes and the Oath Keepers had set their sights on Congress’ certification of the Electoral College vote on Jan. 6. The Oath Keepers organized trainings — including one in “unconventional warfare” — and stashed weapons at a Virginia hotel so they could get them into the capital quickly if necessary, prosecutors say. Over several days in early January, Rhodes spent an $15,500 on guns, including an AR-platform rifle, magazines, mounts, sights and other equipment, according to court documents. On Jan. 6, Oath Keepers equipped with communication devices, helmets, vests and other battle gear were seen on camera storming the Capitol. Rhodes is not accused of going inside, but telephone records show he was communicating with Oath Keepers who did enter around the time of the riot and he was seen with members outside afterward. And prosecutors say the plot didn’t end on Jan. 6. In the days between the riot and Biden’s inauguration, Rhodes spent more than $17,000 on firearm parts, magazines, ammunition and other items, prosecutors say. Around the time of the inauguration, Rhodes told others to organize local militias to oppose the Democratic administration, authorities say. “Patriots entering their own Capitol to send a message to the traitors is NOTHING compared to what’s coming,” Rhodes wrote in a message the evening of Jan. 6. Defense attorneys have said the Oath Keepers came to Washington only to provide security at events for figures such as Trump ally Roger Stone before the president’s big outdoor rally behind the White House. Rhodes has said there was no plan to attack the Capitol and that the members who did acted on their own. Rhodes’ lawyers are poised to argue that jurors cannot find him guilty of seditious conspiracy because all the actions he took before Jan. 6 were in preparation for orders he anticipated from Trump — orders that never came. Rhodes’ attorney has said that his client will eventually take the stand to argue that he believed Trump was going to invoke the Insurrection Act and call up a militia, which Rhodes had been calling on him to do to stop Biden from becoming president. Rhodes’ attorneys will argue that what prosecutors have alleged was an illegal conspiracy was merely lobbying the president to use a U.S. law. Prosecutors say Rhodes’ own words show he was going to act regardless of what Trump did. In one message from December 2020, Rhodes wrote that Trump “needs to know that if he fails to act, then we will.” The last successful seditious conspiracy case was against an Egyptian cleric, Sheikh Omar Abdel-Rahman, and nine followers convicted in a plot to blow up the United Nations, the FBI’s building, and two tunnels and a bridge linking New York and New Jersey. ___ For full coverage of the Capitol riot, go to https://www.apnews.com/capitol-siege Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Read More Here

Supreme Court Rejects Trump Ally Mike Lindell's Appeal In 2020 Election Lawsuit https://digitalarkansasnews.com/supreme-court-rejects-trump-ally-mike-lindells-appeal-in-2020-election-lawsuit/ MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell attends a “Save America” rally in Warren, Michigan, on October 1, 2022. Jeff Kowalsky | AFP | Getty Images The Supreme Court on Monday rejected MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell’s bid to fend off a defamation lawsuit the voting machine company Dominion Voting Systems filed over his far-fetched claims about the 2020 presidential election. The justices’ decision not to hear the case means a federal judge’s ruling in August 2021 that allowed the lawsuit to move forward remains in place. Lindell, a prominent TV salesman for the pillows his company makes, is an outspoken supporter of former President Donald Trump. Dominion sued Lindell and MyPillow in February 2021, claiming $1.3 billion in damages and alleging that Lindell purposely pushed the “big lie” that Trump won the 2020 election. Lindell repeatedly echoed baseless claims that Dominion’s machines manipulated vote counts to ensure that Joe Biden defeated Trump. The claims have been widely debunked. In the lawsuit, Dominion argues that Lindell knew his claims were false, while Lindell’s lawyers say he genuinely believes them. “Lindell asserts today, as he did throughout the relevant period, that his statements regarding Dominion, its voting machines, and the integrity of the tabulation were, and continue to be, valid, accurate, and true,” Lindell’s lawyers wrote in court papers. Lindell had unsuccessfully asked U.S. District Judge Carl Nichols of Washington, D.C., to allow him to appeal two legal questions related to the landmark 1964 Supreme Court defamation ruling in New York Times v. Sullivan, which concluded that there must be evidence of “actual malice” for a public figure to pursue a defamation claim. Lindell argues that Dominion is a public figure because it performs a government function in elections and that therefore the “actual malice” standard applies. His lawyers argue that because Lindell genuinely believes in his claims, there was no “actual malice” and that therefore the lawsuit should be dismissed. Dominion also sued Trump allies Sidney Powell and Rudy Giuliani for defamation. Nichols allowed those claims to move forward, as well, but Powell and Giuliani were not involved in Lindell’s Supreme Court appeal. A view of the U.S. Supreme Court building on the first day of the court’s new term in Washington, U.S. October 3, 2022.  Jonathan Ernst | Reuters In a separate case, Nichols in May threw out Lindell’s own defamation lawsuit against Dominion and Smartmatic, another voting machine company. Dominion and Smartmatic have also filed similar defamation lawsuits against Fox News and other conservative media outlets. Two conservative justices — Clarence Thomas and Neil Gorsuch — have suggested that the 1964 defamation precedent, which makes it harder for public figures to bring defamation claims, should be overturned. Read More Here

Markets Cheer Bolsonaro's Strong Showing In Brazil Vote https://digitalarkansasnews.com/markets-cheer-bolsonaros-strong-showing-in-brazil-vote/ SAO PAULO, Oct 3 (Reuters) – Stronger-than-expected support for President Jair Bolsonaro in the first round of Brazil’s presidential election was cheered by financial markets on Monday, as the race went to an Oct. 30 runoff. Brazil’s real was up around 3% against the dollar, while Brazil’s Bovespa index (.BVSP) rose 3%. Bolsonaro’s leftist challenger, former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, fell short of clinching victory in the first round of voting on Sunday. Lula finished ahead of Bolsonaro by 5 percentage points, but it was tighter than most opinion polls had indicated. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com Bolsonaro’s allies also made a strong showing in the congressional vote, potentially limiting Lula’s room for dramatic policy changes if he does return to the presidency. Some market participants anticipated that the result may push Lula to commit to more moderate economic policies, while energizing the campaign of Bolsonaro, who has promised reforms and privatizations welcomed by many investors. “I think people will see reforms as more probable” said Ricardo Lacerda, founder and CEO of investment bank BR Advisory Partners (BRBI11.SA), adding that he thought Bolsonaro might take the lead. Chances of a potential Bolsonaro reelection boosted shares in state-controlled companies, in expectation they could be privatized should he secure a second term. Shares in Banco do Brasil SA (BBAS3.SA) rose 7.8% and preferred shares in oil company Petroleo Brasileiro SA, known as Petrobras (PETR4.SA), were up 7.8%. Results in southeastern states such as Sao Paulo and Minas Gerais also affected some shares with exposure in those regions. Former minister Tarcisio Freitas, seen as a pro-market policy maker, is leading the race for governor in Sao Paulo. Shares in sanitation company Companhia de Saneamento Basico do Estado de Sao Paulo, known as Sabesp (SBSP3.SA), rose 13%. Markets expect Freitas to privatize the company. Shares in power company Cemig (CMIG4.SA), meanwhile, were up 5% after the re-election of pro-market governor Romeu Zema in the state of Minas Gerais. Gustavo Cruz, strategist for RB Investimentos, said the hard-fought race showed that neither candidate was getting a mandate for radical policies. “Whoever is the winner, he will not have a blank check from the electorate,” he said. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com Reporting by Tatiana Bautzer, Andre Romani and Camila Moreira. Editing by Brad Haynes, Chizu Nomiyama and Rosalba O’Brien Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles. Read More Here

When Will Student Loans Be Forgiven? What To Know About Debt Relief Applications. https://digitalarkansasnews.com/when-will-student-loans-be-forgiven-what-to-know-about-debt-relief-applications/ Applications for student debt forgiveness will be available soon. Borrowers should start preparing now to apply to ensure there’s no delay in getting debt relief. Some 8 million people won’t have to do anything to get their debt canceled. Find out if you’re one. On your marks, get set.   Federal student debt forgiveness applications are about to drop, and you don’t want to be caught flat-footed.  People who earned $125,000 or less (or $250,000 for households) in 2020 or 2021 are eligible for at least $10,000 in federal student loan debt forgiveness. Recipients of Pell Grants – usually awarded to low-income undergrads – can receive up to $20,000 in relief.  Roughly 40 million borrowers are eligible for some student debt relief, with about 20 million expected to have their entire balance canceled, the White House says. If you’re one of the lucky ones, here is what you should do to ensure some or all of your debt is forgiven before repayments restart in January. When will the application for student debt forgiveness go live?  The federal government has said early October. On Friday, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said there was “no date set yet” for the release of the application form, but confirmed it would still be released in October. “We’re trying to give relief to everyday Americans,” Jean-Pierre said.  Ensure you’re qualified for student debt forgiveness  Only borrowers with federal loans are eligible for relief if their individual income is less than $125,000 or $250,000 for households. Pell Grant recipients can get up to $20,000 canceled, and everyone else up to $10,000. Public service workers (people working for federal, state, local, tribal government, military, or a non-profit organization) with at least 10 years of service (It doesn’t need to be consecutive.) may be eligible to have all their debt canceled.    The government recently tweaked the requirements for the program to allow more borrowers to qualify for forgiveness, but it’s a limited time offer. Interested borrowers must apply before Oct. 31 if they want to take advantage of the temporary flexibility.   Want student loan forgiveness?: Millions of jobs qualify for updated program — and yours might be one of them. A parent with parent PLUS loans for their child may qualify for debt relief if they meet the income eligibility criteria.  Private loans aren’t eligible for any forgiveness.  How can I tell if I had a Pell Grant?   Create an account (an FSA ID) at StudentAid.gov or log in if you already have one. Make sure your contact information is accurate. If you’ve forgotten your log in information, use the Forgot My Username or Forgot My Password links or go to the tips page for help.  You’re not required to have an FSA ID to apply for forgiveness, but this can be extremely helpful. It’s where for example, you’ll find if you received a Pell Grant while in college. It will also show your loan servicer(s), types of loans you have and what you owe. (If you received a Pell Grant before 1994, that information won’t display in StudentAid.gov, but you’ll still receive the full benefit. The Department of Education has a record of every Pell Grant award.)  The government will send you updates by email and text message, so make sure to sign up to receive text alerts.   At what cost?: Biden’s student loan forgiveness will cost US about $400 billion, CBO estimates Legal landmine: Legal challenges stack up for Biden’s student debt forgiveness plan Alert your loan servicer  Make sure your loan servicer has your most current contact information so they can reach you. If you don’t know who your servicer is, you can log into your StudentAid.gov account and see your servicer(s) in your account dashboard.  Your servicer(s) will process the relief and notify you when the relief has been applied to your account. The White House says most borrowers will see the forgiveness reflected in their accounts within six weeks.  If you still have a balance after debt forgiveness, your monthly payment will be recalculated based on your new balance, potentially reducing your monthly payment. Your loan servicer will let you know what your new payment amount is. The White House says borrowers should apply by mid-November to receive relief before the payment pause expires on Dec. 31. However, the application window will stay open through 2023.   Complete and submit the application  The application for student debt relief is expected to be available this month. Once it is ready, you should receive an email alerting you or you can keep checking StudentAid.gov for updates.   Borrowers won’t need to upload any documentation or have an FSA ID to submit their application. Initially, the application will be available only online. A paper version will be made available later.  As many as 8 million borrowers will receive automatic forgiveness because the federal government already has their income and loan information – if they don’t opt-out. The department uses Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and income-driven repayment application information to identify those borrowers – or, as appropriate, parents – who have submitted income data for tax years 2020 or 2021.    Not enough: President Biden grants some student debt relief. Advocates worry it’s not enough. Too much: ‘Excessive’: Sen. Joe Manchin criticizes Biden student loan forgiveness plan as too much Can I get a refund of past student loan payments?  Yes, borrowers may be eligible for refunds, but only if they made payments during the pandemic that brought their balance below the relief they would be eligible to receive. So if you had $11,000 in debt before March 13, 2020 and paid it down to $9,000, you could receive a $1,000 refund.  Relief for some workers: Want student loan forgiveness? Millions of jobs qualify for updated program — and yours might be one of them. More time for fun: Lazy rivers and college costs: How Biden’s loan forgiveness subsidizes students’ play time Which loans are eligible for forgiveness?  Federally held subsidized loans, unsubsidized loans, parent PLUS loans, and graduate PLUS loans are eligible. Consolidated loans also qualify for relief as long as all the combined loans that are federally held were taken out on or before June 30. Last week, the Education Department said borrowers with Federal Family Education Loans (FFEL) that are commercially held can no longer apply for debt relief by consolidating their loans into the Direct Loan program. But they will be eligible if the loans were consolidated before Sept. 29.  When asked about the FFEL borrowers who no longer qualify for the program, Jean-Pierre said the goal has always been to get relief to borrowers as fast as possible.  “This change helps us achieve that,” she said. Asking forgiveness: Do you have student debt? Here are ways to get loan forgiveness under new federal rules It’s complicated: Student loan forgiveness reality check: Paperwork hurdles, legal challenges could complicate relief Is this for real?  Several lawsuits claim the loan forgiveness plan is harmful or that the president is overstepping his authority. Any one of them has the potential to block the plan or delay it.  Jean-Pierre said she couldn’t say if there would be additional changes to the program that would further winnow the pool of eligible borrowers (and serve to circumvent a lawsuit). She did say it was “unfortunate” that some people in Republican states were making it more difficult to give “a little bit of a breathing room to working Americans.” Read More Here

Dow Jumps More Than 600 Points To Kick Off October As It Attempts Rebound From 2022 Lows https://digitalarkansasnews.com/dow-jumps-more-than-600-points-to-kick-off-october-as-it-attempts-rebound-from-2022-lows/ Stocks rallied Monday to start the new month and quarter, as Treasury yields eased from levels not seen roughly a decade. The Dow Jones Industrial Average jumped 646 points higher, or 2.3%. The S&P 500 rose 2.1% after falling Friday to its lowest level since November 2020. The Nasdaq Composite gained 1.6%. Those moves came as the yield on the 10-year U.S. Treasury note rolled over to trade at around 3.7%, after topping 4% at one point last week. “It’s pretty simple at this point, 10-year Treasury yield goes up, and equities likely remain under pressure,” Raymond James’ Tavis McCourt said. “It comes down, and equities rally.” Wall Street is coming off a tough month, with the Dow and S&P 500 notching their biggest monthly losses since March 2020. The Dow on Friday also closed below below 29,000 for the first time since November 2020. The Dow shed 8.8% in September, while the S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite lost 9.3% and 10.5%, respectively. For the quarter, the Dow fell 6.66% to notch a three-quarter losing streak for the first time since the third quarter of 2015. Both the S&P and Nasdaq Composite fell 5.28% and 4.11%, respectively, to finish their third consecutive negative quarter for the first time since 2009. As the new quarter kicks off, all S&P 500 sectors sit at least 10% off their 52-week highs. Nine sectors finished the quarter in negative territory. In the fourth quarter, elevated inflation and a Federal Reserve intent on bringing surging prices to a halt regardless of what it means for the economy will likely continue to weigh on markets, said Truist’s Keith Lerner. Oversold conditions, however, also make the market vulnerable to a sharp short-term bounce on good news, he added. “I think we could be set up for some type of reprieve but the underlying trend at this point is still a downward trend and choppy waters to continue,” Lerner said. Market still not oversold enough, strategists say Monday’s bounce for the market could be a relief rally after the dramatic selling in September, but many Wall Street technical strategists are skeptical that the market decline is over. Though several indicators, such as investor sentiment and the breadth of the selling, suggest the market could be near a bottom, several strategists said in their weekend notes that market probably needs to fall further before the selling is exhausted. “On a near-term basis, more tactical capitulation may be needed,” Bank of America’s Stephen Suttmeier said in a note to clients. Read more technical analysis at CNBC Pro. — Jesse Pound Energy stocks lead the market higher Energy stocks were the top gainers in the S&P 500 Monday morning as oil price jumped, after they’d been slumping since June. The sector was higher by 4.6%. Marathon Oil gained about 7%. APA Corp., Devon Energy and Halliburton rose about 6% each. Diamondback Energy, Conocophillips and Occidental advanced by about 5% each. — Tanaya Macheel ISM manufacturing PMI dips, now teetering on potential contraction A gauge on the U.S. manufacturing sector fell last month, indicating that economic activity in the space is close to contracting. The Institute for Supply Management said Monday that its manufacturing PMI fell to 50.9 in September from 52.8 in August — barely in expansion territory. A print below 50 indicates contraction, and one above that level points to an expansion. The new orders and prices indexes — two key components of the overall PMI —fell to 47.1 and 51.7, respectively. The latter reached its lowest level since June 2020. “The U.S. manufacturing sector continues to expand, but at the lowest rate since the pandemic recovery began,” Timothy R. Fiore, chair of the ISM Manufacturing Business Survey Committee, said in a statement. “Following four straight months of panelists’ companies reporting softening new orders rates, the September index reading reflects companies adjusting to potential future lower demand.” — Fred Imbert Stocks jump at the open to start the month and final quarter of the year. Stocks rose to start the new month, and quarter, on a solid note after capping a brutal September. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 330 points, or 1.1%. The S&P 500 rose 1% after falling Friday to its lowest level since November 2020. The Nasdaq Composite gained 0.6%. — Tanaya Macheel Stocks making the biggest moves premarket These companies are making headlines before the bell: ViaSat – ViaSat rallied 5.9% in premarket trading after the Wall Street Journal reported that the satellite company was close to a deal to sell a military communications unit to defense contractor L3Harris Technologies for nearly $2 billion. Myovant Sciences – Myovant surged 31.3% in the premarket after the biopharmaceutical company rejected a bid by its largest shareholder, Sumitovant Biopharma, to buy the shares it doesn’t already own for $22.75 per share. Myovant said the offer significantly undervalues the company. Box – Box jumped 3.7% in the premarket after Morgan Stanley upgraded the cloud computing company’s stock to “overweight” from “equal-weight,” pointing to strong execution and a favorable competitive landscape.         Check out more premarket movers here. — Tanaya Macheel, Peter Schacknow Stocks will continue to fall without Fed pivot, Morgan Stanley’s Wilson says Morgan Stanley equity strategist Mike Wilson, who has been consistently bearish this year as the market’s comeback attempts have failed, said that stocks still have further to fall unless the Federal Reserve makes a dramatic shift in its approach to fighting inflation. “Bottom line, in the absence of a Fed pivot, stocks are likely headed lower. Conversely, a Fed pivot, or the anticipation of one, can still lead to sharp rallies,” Wilson wrote in a note to clients on Sunday. However, he cautioned that the central bank changing course may be just a short-term fix for equities. “Just keep in mind that the light at the end of the tunnel you might see if that happens is actually the freight train of the oncoming earnings recession that the Fed cannot stop,” Wilson wrote. —Jesse Pound Oil jumps as OPEC+ considers largest output cut since 2020 Oil prices rose Monday as the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC+) considers cutting output by 1 million barrels per day, the largest cut since the start of the pandemic in 2020. Reducing output would boost prices. West Texas Intermediate crude rose 4.15% to $82.79 per barrel. Brent crude futures gained 3.92% to $88.48 per barrel. Oil prices have been slumping since June, weighed down by continued Covid lockdowns hurting energy demand in China. —Carmen Reinicke Citi cuts year-end S&P 500 target Citigroup’s chief U.S. equity strategist Scott Chronert slashed his 2022 S&P 500 target to 4,000 from 4,200 on Sunday. He’s also predicting a down year for the index next year, establishing a year-end target of 3,900. This year’s lowered target still implies an 11% increase as Chronert believes the risk of a recession is already priced in. Citi puts the odds of a mild recession at 60% in the first half of next year. To read the full CNBC Pro story, click here. — Michelle Fox, John Melloy Wall Street divided on Tesla’s future following earnings Shares of Tesla were down 4.3% in premarket trading Monday after the electric vehicle maker reported fewer than expected deliveries during its third quarter. Tesla delivered about 343,000 vehicles, which came in below StreetAccount’s estimate of 364,660 vehicles. Wall Street is split on how the stock will perform going forward as the company navigates an uncertain macroeconomic backdrop that could weigh on demand. CNBC Pro subscribers can read more here. — Alex Harring Goldman Sachs upgrades Wells Fargo Goldman Sachs said Wells Fargo is a buy at current levels, noting that the bank stock can go up nearly 20% from here. “We see WFC as an underappreciated earnings growth story, due to best-in-class revenue upside and efficiency improvement from rates and loan growth-driven NII, and further idiosyncratic expense rationalization potential as it laps regulatory related cost inflation and continues to rationalize the business footprint,” Goldman’s Richard Ramsden wrote in a Monday note. CNBC Pro subscribers can read more here. — Sarah Min British pound rebounds after UK government makes U-turn on tax cuts for high earners The British pound recovered from earlier losses against the U.S. dollar after the U.K. government abolished a plan that would reduce taxes on high earners. Sterling last traded 0.1% higher against the dollar at $1.117. European stocks slump, following gloomy sentiment in Asia-Pacific; Credit Suisse down 9% The pan-European Stoxx 600 index dropped 1% in early trade, with financial services stocks shedding 1% to lead losses while oil and gas stocks added 1.3%. The decline in Europe comes after a gloomy trading session in Asia-Pacific markets, with sharp moves in the price of oil. Shares of Credit Suisse plunged nearly 10% during morning trade in Europe after the Financial Times reported that the Swiss bank’s executives are seeking to reassure major investors about its financial health. – Elliot Smith CNBC Pro: Investment pro says ETFs are a $10 trillion opportunity — and reveals areas of ‘tremendous’ value Exchange-traded funds offer the benefit of diversification, says Jon Maier, chief investment officer at Global X ETFs. He said the ETF market is “growing exponentially” and estimates it to be worth $10 trillion. He names several opportunities for ETF investors in this volatile market. Pro subscribers can read more here. — Zavier Ong ANZ sees significant chance of an OPEC+ cut as large as 1 million barrels per day Ahead of an OPEC+ meeting o...

Rogers Preparing To Host Bikes, Blues & BBQ https://digitalarkansasnews.com/rogers-preparing-to-host-bikes-blues-bbq/ GAS WHILE ON DEPLOYMENT AS WELL AS LOWES AND WALMART GIFT CARDS TO BUY SUPPLIES. THIS WEEK IN ROGERS– BIKES BLUES AND BARBEQUES IS RETURNING AFTER A YEAR-LONG HIATUS. THIS IS THE FIRST YEAR IT WILL BE HELD IN ROGERS… THERE WILL BE LIVE MUSIC, MOTORCYCLE SHOWS AND EVEN A CAR SHOW– A MAJORITY OF EVENTS AS WELL AS VENDORS WILL BE AT THE ROGERS CONVENTION CENTER AND DOWNTOWN– THERE ARE OTHER SMALLER EVENTS THROUGHOUT THE TOWN AS WELL… IT ALL KICKS OFF WEDNESDAY MORNING AND ENDS SATURDAY NIGHT. FOR A FULL LIST OF EVENTS– VISIT THE WEBSITE ON YOUR SCREEN. WITH THE RALLY COMES SOME ROAD CLOSURES– 1ST STREET SOUTH OF CHERRY STREET BY THE BUTTERFLY PARK WILL BE CLOSED FOR THE ENTIRE EVENT STARTING TOMORROW– AND A SECTION OF 1ST STREET BETWEEN CHERRY AND POPLAR STREET WILL BE COSED FROM THE 7TH TO THE 8TH. DO NOTE THAT THERE IS ALREADY CONSTRUCTION ON ARKANSAS STREET BETWEEN POPLAR AND PINE STREET– AS WELL AS ON POPLAR BETWEEN 1ST AND ARKANSAS STREET. THERE WILL OF COURSE BE INCREASED MOTORCYCLE TRAFFIC FOR TH Rogers preparing to host Bikes, Blues & BBQ for the first time Bikes, Blues and BBQ is returning this week, for the first time in Rogers, and that means some roads will need to be closed.First Street south of Cherry Street will close from Oct. 4-9.A section of First Street between Cherry Street and Poplar Street will be closed on Oct. 7 and Oct. 8.There is existing construction on Arkansas Street between Poplar and Pine Street, as well as on Poplar Street between First Street and Arkansas Street.There will also be a heavier motorcycle presence on Highway 12 due to the rally. ROGERS, Ark. — Bikes, Blues and BBQ is returning this week, for the first time in Rogers, and that means some roads will need to be closed. First Street south of Cherry Street will close from Oct. 4-9. A section of First Street between Cherry Street and Poplar Street will be closed on Oct. 7 and Oct. 8. There is existing construction on Arkansas Street between Poplar and Pine Street, as well as on Poplar Street between First Street and Arkansas Street. There will also be a heavier motorcycle presence on Highway 12 due to the rally. Read More Here

New Book Audio: Trump Falsely Claimed He Gave Kim Letters To Archives In 2021 – KVIA https://digitalarkansasnews.com/new-book-audio-trump-falsely-claimed-he-gave-kim-letters-to-archives-in-2021-kvia/ CNN By Jeremy Herb, CNN Former President Donald Trump falsely claimed he had given the letters he exchanged with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un to the National Archives last year when he was interviewed by New York Times reporter Maggie Haberman for her forthcoming book, according to audio of the interview obtained by CNN. Trump also claimed in his interviews with Haberman that he was not watching television while the January 6, 2021, riot at the US Capitol unfolded, which has been contradicted by testimony of White House aides to the House committee investigating the January 6 insurrection. Haberman’s book, “Confidence Man,” is being released on Tuesday. The book, which includes new details about Trump’s time in the White House, chronicles how the former President’s rise in the world of New York City politics and real estate in the 1970s and 1980s ultimately shaped his worldview and his presidency. Haberman told The New York Times, which first reported the audio clips, that she asked Trump in a September 2021 interview “on a lark” whether he had taken any memento documents from the White House. Trump told Haberman, “Nothing of great urgency, no,” before bringing up the Kim letters unprompted. “I have great things though, you know. The letters, the Kim Jong Un letters. I had many of them,” Trump said. “You were able to take those with you?” Haberman asked. “No, I think that has the … I think that’s in the archives, but most of it is in the Archives. But the Kim Jong Un letters, we have incredible things. I have incredible letters with other leaders.” CNN and other outlets have previously reported that Trump, in fact, had kept the Kim letters among the tens of thousands of government documents that he took to his Mar-a-Lago resort after leaving the White House. The letters were among the items in the boxes he turned over to the National Archives in January, which also included classified material that prompted the Archives to refer the matter to the Justice Department. In another audio clip of her interview with Trump, Haberman asked how Trump found out that rioters had breached the Capitol. The former President claimed he wasn’t watching television. “I had heard that afterwards, and actually on the late side. I was having meetings. I was also with (then-White House chief of staff) Mark Meadows and others. I was not watching television. I didn’t have the television on,” he said. Trump continued: “I didn’t usually have the television on. I’d have it on if there was something. I then later turned it on and I saw what was happening.” But there have been multiple accounts that Trump did, in fact, watch the chaos at the Capitol unfolding on television, and it was a focus of one of the January 6 committee’s hearings earlier this year. Haberman told the Times she thought Trump’s lies about what he was doing on January 6 represents two things: “His desire to construct an alternate reality, and his particular sensitivity to anyone suggesting he watches a lot of television, which he associates with people diminishing his intelligence (even though he watches a very large amount of television).” The-CNN-Wire & © 2022 Cable News Network, Inc., a Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All rights reserved. Read More Here

Art Industry News: A Vanity Fair Editor Is Penning An Unauthorized Biography Of Larry Gagosian + Other Stories | Artnet News https://digitalarkansasnews.com/art-industry-news-a-vanity-fair-editor-is-penning-an-unauthorized-biography-of-larry-gagosian-other-stories-artnet-news/ Art Industry News is a daily digest of the most consequential developments coming out of the art world and art market. Here’s what you need to know on this Monday, October 3. NEED TO READ Biden Restarts Arts Committee Disbanded Under Trump – President Biden signed an executive order reestablishing the President’s Committee on the Arts and Humanities, an advisory group of arts leaders that had been inactive since August 2017, when its members unanimously resigned—with a secret message, no less—in protest of Trump’s handling of the Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville. (Washington Post) Art Institutions Assess Hurricane Damage – Some museums and art spaces in Florida emerged from Hurricane Ian largely unscathed due to a mix of luck and careful preparation. But other hard-hit sites, including museums in Port Charlotte, Punta Gorda, and Fort Meyers, as well as Robert Rauschenberg’s former home and residency on Captiva Island, remain inaccessible to those seeking to survey the damage. (The Art Newspaper) Michael Shnayerson to Pen Gago Bio – The Vanity Fair contributing editor and author of the 2019 tome Boom: Mad Money, Mega Dealers and the Rise of Contemporary Art is turning his attention to the biggest fish of them all: Larry Gagosian. Shnayerson is at work on an unauthorized biography of the dealer from Gallery Books, a division of Simon & Schuster, Inc. (ARTnews) Museum Cancels Drag Show After Proud Boys Appearance – Memphis’s Museum of Science & History was forced to shut down the family-friendly drag show that was a part of its programming for the exhibition “Rise Up: Stonewall and the LGBTQ Rights Movement” after 30 armed protesters from the far-right extremist group turned up. (Hyperallergic) MOVERS & SHAKERS Taipei Fine Arts Museum Renovation Breaks Ground – The $164 million expansion of Taiwan’s oldest modern and contemporary museum commenced on Friday with a groundbreaking ceremony in Taipei Expo Park. The nearly 500,000-square-foot building is expected to be complete in 2028. (Press release) Jewish Museum Leader to Depart – Claudia Gould will leave her post as at the New York museum in June 2023 after 11 years. (ARTnews) Preview the Getty Collection – The 1,500-work-strong collection assembled by Ann and Gordon Getty, ranging from Asian works of art to Impressionist and Old Master paintings, is expected to fetch $180 million at a series of Christie’s sales in New York this month. (TAN) Greek Culture Ministry Backs Contemporary Museum – The government is backing three projects at the National Museum of Contemporary Art (EMST) with €1.7 million ($1.7 million) in funding from the national recovery fund. The money will support digitization of the museum’s archive and the promotion of Greek artists and curators abroad. (Archaeology Wiki) FOR ART’S SAKE Oslo’s Industrial Wasteland Regenerated With New Museums – This year’s opening of the National Museum, designed by the German architect Klaus Schuwerk, and last year’s debut of the Munch Museum, built by Spanish architects Estudio Herreros, have helped complete a nearly 20-year process to revitalize the former port of the Norwegian capital. (Neue Zürcher Zeitung) OSLO, NORWAY- OCTOBER 22: The opening of the new Munch museum on October 22, 2021 in Oslo, Norway. (Photo by Rune Hellestad/Getty Images) Follow Artnet News on Facebook: Want to stay ahead of the art world? Subscribe to our newsletter to get the breaking news, eye-opening interviews, and incisive critical takes that drive the conversation forward. Read More Here

Supreme Court Rejects Gun Rights Challenge To Bump Stocks Ban https://digitalarkansasnews.com/supreme-court-rejects-gun-rights-challenge-to-bump-stocks-ban/ The Supreme Court on Monday rejected a new effort to expand gun rights by declining to hear a challenge to a Trump-era ban on so-called bump stocks, which allow semi-automatic rifles to fire more quickly. The decision not to hear the two related cases, a blow for gun rights activists, leaves the ban in place. The conservative-majority court issued a major ruling in June that expanded gun rights, although the legal issues in the bump stock cases were different. Bump stocks are accessories for semi-automatic rifles, such as the popular AR-15-style weapons. They use the recoil energy of a trigger pull to enable the user to fire up to hundreds of rounds a minute. In a rare example of a Republican administration’s taking action on gun control, President Donald Trump’s administration imposed the ban after the mass shooting in Las Vegas in 2017, when Stephen Paddock used bump stocks to open fire on a country music festival, killing 58 people. Paddock died by suicide as he was about to be apprehended. The ban, implemented by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, went into effect in 2019 after the Supreme Court declined to block it. Since then, the already conservative court has tilted further to the right, with conservative Justice Amy Coney Barrett, a Trump appointee, replacing liberal Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who died in 2020. The court, with its new 6-3 conservative majority, ruled for the first time in the June gun rights decision that the right to bear arms under the Constitution’s Second Amendment protects an individual right to carry a handgun outside the home. The ruling was the most significant expansion of gun rights since the Supreme Court held in 2008 that there was an individual right to bear arms in self-defense at home.   The bump stocks challenge, however, did not deal directly with the scope of the right to bear arms under the Second Amendment. The challengers instead said the government did not have authority to ban bump stocks under the National Firearms Act, a law enacted in 1934 to regulate machine guns. In 1968, the Gun Control Act expanded the definition of machine gun to include accessories “for use in converting a weapon” into a machine gun, and the ATF concluded when it issued the ban that bump stocks meet that definition. The groups challenging the ban said the legal definition of machine gun has been distorted beyond recognition and argue that courts should not defer to the federal agency’s interpretation. The court turned away two related appeals, one brought by Clark Aposhian, a Utah gun lobbyist who had purchased a bump stock before the ban took effect, and another led by Gun Owners of America and other gun rights groups. Lower courts upheld the ban, although judges on the Denver-based 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals and the Cincinnati-based 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals were divided in both cases. In June, some Republican in Congress joined Democrats in enacting the first legislation to reduce gun violence in decades. Momentum was spurred by another mass shooting, this time at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas, a month earlier, in which 19 schoolchildren and two teachers were killed. Lawrence Hurley covers the Supreme Court for NBC News Digital. Read More Here

Britain Reverses Part Of Controversial Tax Policy That Sent Pound Plunging https://digitalarkansasnews.com/britain-reverses-part-of-controversial-tax-policy-that-sent-pound-plunging/ LONDON — The British government said “we get it” as it abandoned plans to abolish the top rate of income tax for its highest earners, a key part of its centerpiece economic plans that spooked the markets and pushed the British pound to an all-time low against the U.S. dollar. In a major U-turn for the British government, Prime Minister Liz Truss said Monday that the proposed scrapping of the 45 percent rate for those earning more than 150,000 pounds ($168,000) had become a “distraction.” Reacting to the news, the pound on Monday morning rebounded against the U.S. dollar, returning to where it was before the announcement of the “mini-budget” sent it plunging. But the climbdown is a huge blow to the authority of the young Truss government, in office for less than a month. Its plans to offer Britain’s highest-paid people a tax cut — at a time when millions face a financial squeeze from a cost-of-living crisis — were widely condemned. Investors, fearing that the moves would worsen inflation, dumped the pound and government bonds. In a highly unusual move, the Bank of England intervened last week to stop a financial market revolt. Some Conservative politicians accused their own government of being tone deaf. We get it and we have listened. The abolition of the 45pc rate had become a distraction from our mission to get Britain moving. Our focus now is on building a high growth economy that funds world-class public services, boosts wages, and creates opportunities across the country. https://t.co/ee4ZFc7Aes — Liz Truss (@trussliz) October 3, 2022 The dramatic U-turn leaves the government hugely weakened and exposes the lack of support for Truss from her own backbenches, said Mujtaba Rahman, an analyst with Eurasia Group. Her critics “now scent weakness,” he said in a briefing note. As recently as Sunday morning, Truss was defending her economic plans, saying that she was committed to the tax cuts. In comments given to journalists overnight, Kwasi Kwarteng, the new chancellor of the Exchequer, or finance minister, was expected to defend the tax cuts in his address to the Conservative Party’s annual conference later Monday. Instead, on Monday morning, he said in a statement: “We get it, and we have listened.” Truss’s government unveiled its hugely controversial economic plans in a “mini-budget” on Sept. 23 that called for the country to borrow billions to pay for tax cuts and spending to insulate consumers from soaring energy bills. Ditching the top tax rate represented just 2 billion pounds ($2.2 billion) out of the 45 billion pounds ($50.3 billion) of cuts promised, but it was by far the most controversial measure. Not only did it prompt stormy financial weather, but the Conservative Party’s popularity plummeted as well. In one breathtaking survey by YouGov, the Conservatives lagged 33 points behind the opposition Labour Party, a gap not seen since the 1990s. The government faced a growing backlash from within its own ranks as well, with several Conservative lawmakers coming out publicly to voice their opposition. “I can’t support the 45p tax removal when nurses are struggling to pay their bills,” tweeted Conservative lawmaker Maria Caulfield, who served as a minister of state for health in the previous government. Michael Gove, a senior Conservative, said that unfunded tax cuts are “not Conservative.” The plans still have to be passed by Parliament, and some commentators have questioned whether they would have made it through. Asked by the BBC if he were scrapping the plans because they would not get support in Parliament, Kwarteng said: “It’s not a question of getting it through; it’s a question of actually getting people behind the measure. It’s not about parliamentary games or votes in the House of Commons. It’s about listening to people, listening to constituents, who have expressed very strong views about this, and on balance I thought it was the right thing not to proceed.” In interviews, Kwarteng said he has not considered resigning, but analysts say that he is not yet out of the woods, and his Monday afternoon speech to the Conservative Party faithful will be closely watched. Truss will also address the party conference this week. In her first address to the conference as prime minister, on Wednesday morning, Truss will seek to calm those who have been furious at how her government has performed in its early days in office. Rahman, the analyst, said there could be fresh revolts on the horizon over the plans to lift the cap on bankers’ bonuses and the very real possibility of steep spending cuts necessary to deal with the dramatic loss of revenue and promised help with energy bills. Rahman said the chaos over the last 10 days will bolster the voices of those calling for a change to the rules for the Conservative Party leadership so that lawmakers, rather than the 160,000 grass-roots members, make the final decision on who becomes leader. Truss became prime minister after receiving the support of Conservative Party members around the country, while a majority of lawmakers supported her rival, Rishi Sunak. Read More Here

Cosmetic Surgery Center In Arkansas To Hold Fall Virtual Open House Event https://digitalarkansasnews.com/cosmetic-surgery-center-in-arkansas-to-hold-fall-virtual-open-house-event/ Board certified cosmetic surgeon Dr. Rhys Branman announces the annual two-day-only open house event with discounts on skincare, dermal fillers, and Botox-type injectables, as well as promotional pricing on select breast and body surgeries. , /PRNewswire/ — Rhys Branman, MD and the team at Cosmetic Surgery Center in Little Rock, Arkansas are pleased to announce their annual Fall Virtual Open House featuring discounts on popular products, treatments, and procedures. This event will be held for just two days: Tuesday, October 4th and Wednesday, October 5th, 2022. Practice director and board-certified cosmetic surgeon Dr. Rhys Branman says he is delighted to be offering his patients the specials that they have come to look forward to every fall during the open house event. Rhys Branman, MD and the team at Cosmetic Surgery Center in Little Rock announce their two-day-only Fall Virtual Open House featuring discounts on popular products, treatments, and procedures. Dr. Rhys Branman has over 30 years of experience in cosmetic surgery and offers a full range of face, breast, and body procedures. All surgical procedures are performed in Cosmetic Surgery Center’s private, on-site AAAHC-accredited surgical suite for patients’ safety. “We are proud to serve our community, and our fall open house is one way in which we express our deep gratitude for our patients,” Dr. Branman explains. “This event is also our way of celebrating the change in seasons: we offer these discounts at the perfect time of year for patients to freshen up their look with a medspa treatment or cosmetic procedure before the holidays.” During the two-day event, patients can call in to claim deals on laser skin resurfacing, breast augmentation, and high-tech VASER liposuction for male breast reduction or body sculpting. They may also call or shop online to receive 30% off spa services and products, as well as special pricing on injectables, offered through the in-house med spa Exhale: The Med Spa. Overseen by Dr. Branman, the Exhale Med Spa team provides premium non-surgical treatments to central Arkansas med spa patients, including Botox® Cosmetic, dermal fillers, HydraFacial MD®, laser treatments, and microneedling. Dr. Branman has over 30 years of experience in cosmetic surgery and offers a full range of face, breast, and body procedures including breast augmentation, tummy tucks, facelifts, and more. All surgical procedures are performed in Cosmetic Surgery Center’s private, on-site AAAHC-accredited surgical suite for patients’ safety. Dr. Branman is a 10-time winner in the category of Little Rock’s favorite cosmetic surgeon in the Arkansas Democrat Gazette’s “Best of the Best” contest, plus has four additional wins for Exhale Med Spa in the “best day spa” category. “Patients come to Cosmetic Surgery Center from central Arkansas and beyond seeking the highest level of safety and the most natural-looking results possible,” says Dr. Branman. “The open house offers a special opportunity to get the top-notch care that we faithfully provide, but at a discounted rate.” The event will take place on Tuesday and Wednesday, October 4th and 5th. Those interested in participating may either shop the online store for discounted skincare products, services, and injectables or phone the practice at (501) 227-0707 between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. to redeem surgical discounts. For a full list of the event promotions and offerings, visit the Cosmetic Surgery Center website. About Dr. Rhys Branman: Dr. Branman is a board-certified cosmetic surgeon in Little Rock, Arkansas, and a member of the Arkansas State Medical Board. Dr. Branman is certified by both the American Board of Cosmetic Surgery and the American Board of Maxillofacial Surgery, and serves as a Board Examiner for the American Board of Cosmetic Surgery. Dr. Branman is beloved by his patients for his caring bedside manner, surgical skill, and commitment to safety. His practice, Little Rock Cosmetic Surgery Center, is located at 10809 Executive Center Drive, Searcy Building Suite 100, Little Rock, Arkansas 72211; (501) 227-0707. For more information, visit www.littlerockcosmeticsurgery.com/. Media Contact: Dr. Rhys L. Branman, Little Rock Cosmetic Surgery Center, (501) 227-0707. SOURCE Little Rock Cosmetic Surgery Center Read More…

Rogers Braces For 300,000 At Bikes, Blues & BBQ https://digitalarkansasnews.com/rogers-braces-for-300000-at-bikes-blues-bbq/ Ben Schons with A&B Distributors in Lowell hangs a banner Friday at Pig Trail Harley-Davidson in Rogers to get ready for Bikes, Blues and Barbecue. The event comes to Rogers on Wednesday through Saturday. Thousands of motorcycle fans from across the nation are expected for the event. In addition to scenic motorcycle rides in Northwest Arkansas and activities for bikers, the event raises funds for several charities. (NWA Democrat-Gazette/Flip Putthoff) ROGERS — Business owners, restaurant workers and rally organizers are “cautiously optimistic” as they prepare for thousands of motorcyclists to enter the city for Bikes, Blues & BBQ. Some downtown restaurants are excited, but also concerned, about the logistical side of the motorcycle rally running Wednesday through Saturday. Julie Yell, general manager at The Rail, said there has been little to no communication to restaurants about what they can expect throughout the week. The restaurant will likely get plenty of customers, but being at full capacity will be a major disruption to the shop’s normal to-go business, according to Yell. She would have liked to have seen the entertainment district hours extended and food trucks brought downtown to alleviate some of the anticipated demand, she said. “According to our occupancy, we are not going to be able to host the third-largest rally in the U.S.,” she said. “For an event of this magnitude, I probably would have expected a bit more planning and a bit more city involvement.” Hannah Cicioni, owner of barbecue restaurant Tx-AR House, said she is concerned about downtown parking and hopes to see better communication from event organizers ahead of next year. Jordan Poole, executive chef and operating partner of OZ Smokehouse, said he hasn’t heard anything about how the parking will work, but he expects all parking will be full. All three are happy the event will showcase the city and recent development downtown. “We’re cautious, but we’re excited. We’re going to crank out as much food and beverage out that door as possible,” Yell said. “With the loss of Frisco Fest, I’d love to see more exciting events come to downtown.” The city announced in November that it was ending a $100,000 contract for event planning with Downtown Rogers Inc., a division of the Rogers-Lowell Area Chamber of Commerce. Frisco Festival, one of the downtown area’s best-known events, ended with the funding, according to Raymond Burns, president and chief executive officer of the chamber. Eleanor Evans, who lives near the intersection of Dixieland Road and Olive Street, said she plans to leave town and avoid altogether the thousands of bikers who will be passing through her neighborhood. Evans said she has never left during the event before, because rally traffic in Rogers was mostly focused on Hudson Road. “I’m always happy when we’re getting tourism dollars. It provides revenue for the city that residents don’t have to provide,” she said. “For me, I think it’s better that I just stay out of it and come back and ask friends how it was.” A REGIONAL EVENT A change of venue for Bikes, Blues & BBQ highlights the transformation and growth of Rogers and Northwest Arkansas as a whole, business owners and city leaders said. Rogers is the event’s host city for the first time in the rally’s two-decade history. Organizers announced in January the move from Fayetteville, which had hosted the rally each year previously. The rally is expected to stay in Rogers for at least a few years. The community, city and rally will discuss this year’s event in a process that will involve “a lot of observation, listening and evaluation,” Burns said. “The purpose of having your first is to find out how to make the second, third and fourth better. We’re going to see if it’s a good fit,” Burns said. Hospitality infrastructure has been developed across town to help Rogers host events like Bikes, Blues & BBQ, he said. Logistical reasons were front and center in deciding to move the rally to a different location, according to Steve Clark, president and chief executive officer of the Fayetteville Chamber of Commerce. Clark has been on the rally’s board of directors for 14 years. With projects under development related to Fayetteville’s cultural arts corridor — like the construction of a parking deck at the corner of Dickson Street and West Avenue — rally organizers knew parts of downtown Fayetteville would no longer be available for the event, he said. The rally hasn’t officially taken place since 2019. It was canceled in 2020 and 2021 for reasons related to the covid-19 pandemic. The festival has become more regional as Northwest Arkansas has grown and developed over the years, Clark said. “The difference between the two communities is at best 20 miles, which is nothing, really. The communities are really one and the same,” he said. “Riders come to ride the state highways, not the streets of our cities.” Though there will be fewer vendors and no demonstration rides in Fayetteville, the city will still see plenty of bikers, he predicted. Bentonville will benefit from the rally’s move north, according to Kalene Griffith, president and chief executive officer of Visit Bentonville. Bentonville has attracted visitors from the rally in previous years, but the city likely will see more people now that the festival is closer, she said. BUSINESS AS USUAL Other than the move from Fayetteville to Rogers, the rally for the most part will remain the same this year, according to Tommy Sisemore, the event’s executive director. Organizers estimate the number of attendees will approach that of the 2019 rally, he said. About 300,000 people — including 170,000 out-of-town visitors — participate in the event each year. The Rogers Police Department has been planning how to handle the rally for over a month and has spoken with Fayetteville about how it approached the event, according to Keith Foster, public information officer. Officers will be at the rally day and night, working on their days off to cover the event, Foster said. “We consider this an ‘all hands’ situation, and we will all work to ensure that everyone is as safe as possible so they can enjoy the event,” he said. Most events will be downtown, in the uptown and Pinnacle Hills area and at the motorcycle dealers along Hudson Road. Vendors will be at the Rogers Convention Center, the Walmart Arkansas Music Pavilion and downtown. Both areas will host stunt riders, according to Sisemore. Parking downtown will mostly be free and available on a first-come, first-served basis, but a few lots will offer paid parking, Sisemore said. Poplar and Cherry streets will both be closed to traffic between First and Arkansas streets. First Street will be closed for bike parking from Cherry Street south to Pine Street, he said. Live music will take place each afternoon and evening downtown on the Butterfield Stage at Railyard Live. A beer garden will be outside TxAR House at the corner of Poplar and First, across the street from the stage, according to Cicioni. Poker runs Friday and Saturday will begin at the Walmart AMP. The rally’s car show will take place in the Pinnacle Hills Promenade parking lot Saturday. The annual Frisco Inferno barbecue competition will be downtown Saturday afternoon, Sisemore said. “It’s the same thing we do every year, but a different ZIP code,” he said. Read More Here

Man Accused Of Killing Mother Dead After Medical Emergency In Cell https://digitalarkansasnews.com/man-accused-of-killing-mother-dead-after-medical-emergency-in-cell/ A Massachusetts man arrested Friday night and charged with murder in the death of his mother suffered a medical emergency in his cell and was later pronounced dead, a spokesperson for the Bristol County Sheriff’s Office said. Adam Howe, 34, was facing murder charges in the death of Susan Howe, his mother. First responders found a body set on fire outside a Truro, Massachusetts home late Friday night while making a well-being check, Cape & Islands District Attorney Michael O’Keefe and Truro Police Chief Jamie Calise said on Saturday.”Howe suffered a medical emergency in his cell this weekend,” the spokesperson said. “He was taken to St. Luke’s Hospital in New Bedford by ambulance. He was pronounced dead at St. Luke’s.””Out of respect for the family, we have no additional comment or details,” the spokesperson said. “That family has been through a lot this weekend; please keep them in your prayers.” Authorities said they responded to the home in Truro around 9:30 p.m. Friday after receiving a request for a well-being check and a separate report of a fire.According to authorities, when they arrived, they found a man outside the house and a fire on the front lawn. “As the emergency personnel realized that it was a body that was burning, the male subject ran into the house and locked the door,” a joint statement from O’Keefe and Calise released Saturday said. Video from the scene located off Quail Ridge Road showed Massachusetts State Police investigators, along with members of Truro and Wellfleet police outside the rural home. Authorities said the Cape Cod Regional SWAT Team responded and ultimately entered the home, placing Adam Howe into custody.The joint statement from O’Keefe and Calise on Saturday said authorities planned to conduct a mental health evaluation of Howe issues following conversations and information from family members.It was unclear if that evaluation was conducted prior to the medical emergency in his cell. TRURO, Mass. — A Massachusetts man arrested Friday night and charged with murder in the death of his mother suffered a medical emergency in his cell and was later pronounced dead, a spokesperson for the Bristol County Sheriff’s Office said. Adam Howe, 34, was facing murder charges in the death of Susan Howe, his mother. First responders found a body set on fire outside a Truro, Massachusetts home late Friday night while making a well-being check, Cape & Islands District Attorney Michael O’Keefe and Truro Police Chief Jamie Calise said on Saturday. “Howe suffered a medical emergency in his cell this weekend,” the spokesperson said. “He was taken to St. Luke’s Hospital in New Bedford by ambulance. He was pronounced dead at St. Luke’s.” “Out of respect for the family, we have no additional comment or details,” the spokesperson said. “That family has been through a lot this weekend; please keep them in your prayers.” Authorities said they responded to the home in Truro around 9:30 p.m. Friday after receiving a request for a well-being check and a separate report of a fire. According to authorities, when they arrived, they found a man outside the house and a fire on the front lawn. “As the emergency personnel realized that it was a body that was burning, the male subject ran into the house and locked the door,” a joint statement from O’Keefe and Calise released Saturday said. Video from the scene located off Quail Ridge Road showed Massachusetts State Police investigators, along with members of Truro and Wellfleet police outside the rural home. Authorities said the Cape Cod Regional SWAT Team responded and ultimately entered the home, placing Adam Howe into custody. The joint statement from O’Keefe and Calise on Saturday said authorities planned to conduct a mental health evaluation of Howe issues following conversations and information from family members. It was unclear if that evaluation was conducted prior to the medical emergency in his cell. Read More Here

Q4 Off To Shaky Start As Stocks Stumble, But Oil Jumps https://digitalarkansasnews.com/q4-off-to-shaky-start-as-stocks-stumble-but-oil-jumps/ Woman holds British pound banknotes in this illustration taken May 30, 2022. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration LONDON, Oct 3 (Reuters) – The final quarter of the year got off to a shaky start on Monday, with world stocks languishing at their lowest levels since late 2020 – when the global economy was still reeling from the COVID-19 pandemic. Oil prices jumped more than 4% as the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and its allies, a group known as OPEC+, said it would consider reducing output, while sterling rallied after the British government said it would reverse a controversial tax cut that had rocked UK markets. But sentiment across markets remained frail given worries that aggressive interest rate hikes from the U.S. Federal Reserve and others raise global recession risks. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com European equity markets were a sea of red, with the STOXX 600 index down 0.4%, pulling back from earlier losses of 1.4% (.STOXX). Shares in beleaguered Swiss bank Credit Suisse (CSGN.S) fell around 10% in early trading, reflecting market concern about the group as it finalises a restructuring programme due to be announced on Oct. 27. Asian stocks mostly fell in holiday-thinned trade although Japanese markets found support on strong energy and semiconductor shares (.N225). U.S. stock futures were mixed and MSCI’s world equity index (.MIWD00000PUS) fell to its lowest level since late 2020. News of the British government’s tax U-turn didn’t appear to lift broader sentiment but probably helps to calm market worries about fiscal excess, said Kallum Pickering, senior economist at Berenberg Bank in London. “Markets seem to have lowered their expectations for the BoE bank rate while gilt yields have fallen further from their recent highs. Less tight financial conditions may ease the near-term shock on economic performance,” said Pickering. MSCI’s 47-country world stocks index rallied 10% between July and mid-August. But aggressive Fed rate hikes soon came swinging back in, and that index has plunged 15% since, leaving it down 25% and $18 trillion so far this year. Central banks in Australia and New Zealand meet this week and are expected to deliver further rate increases. Oil prices rallied on reports what OPEC+ will this week consider cutting output by more than 1 million barrels a day, for its biggest reduction since the pandemic, in a bid to support the market. Brent crude futures rose more than 4% to almost $89 a barrel and U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude was up 4.5%, at $83 a barrel. UK RESPITE Britain’s battered pound was up around 0.4% at $1.12085 and its government bond yields fell, pushing their price up, following the UK policy reversal , . “From a market perspective, it is a good step in the right direction. It will take time for markets to buy the message but it should ease the pressure,” said Jan Von Gerich, chief analyst at Nordea. “Questions still remain and sterling will likely remain under pressure.” London’s FTSE-100 stock index was down 0.5% (.FTSE), falling in line with other markets. Japan’s yen meanwhile briefly fell as low as 145.4 to the dollar even as Japan’s finance minister, Shunichi Suzuki, said that the government would take “decisive steps” to prevent sharp currency moves. It was the first time the yen has fallen through the 145 barrier since Sept. 22, when Japan intervened to prop up its currency for the first time since 1998. Trade across Asia was generally subdued. South Korea had a national holiday and China entered its “Golden Week” break on Monday. Hong Kong is closed for a public holiday on Tuesday. Gold was just 0.4% firmer to $1,665.79 an ounce . Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com Reporting by Dhara Ranasinghe, additional reporting by Sam Byford in TOKYO; Editing by Hugh Lawson and David Evans Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles. Read More Here