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Atos Makes $5 Billion Offer to Buy Gemalto | PARIS—French IT services firm Atos SA is making an unsolicited bid to buy smart-card maker Gemalto NV for €4.3 billion ($5.06 billion), part of a broader wave of deals in the payment space as rivals join forces to cut costs.
Atos, which offers such services as infrastructure and cloud applications for businesses, said Monday that it had made a “friendly” all-cash offer for Gemalto two weeks ago. The offer was for €46 per share, representing a premium of 36% over Gemalto shares at Monday’s close and 42% over the company’s one-month... |
Davy Fitzgerald facing potential ban from coaching duties | Contrary to much speculation, Wexford manager Davy Fitzgerald is facing a more stringent punishment than simply being banished from the dugout in the aftermath of Sunday’s AHL semi-final defeat to Tipperary.
An eight-week suspension – the prescribed term for ‘physical interference with an opposition player’ – would keep him off the sideline for two championship matches, including the anticipated meeting with provincial champions Kilkenny, but would also require him to play no role in the preparation of the team.
According to Rule 7.5 (e), anyone not subject to match suspensions, which apply to players, shall be suspended from “all functions, privileges and competitions under the association’s control, but not from membership of the association”.
This is a clearly a more severe sanction than the general perception of banishment to the stand for matches and would take Fitzgerald away from training in the run-up to the championship just after he has completed a hugely successful league campaign, which saw Wexford promoted to Division One A for the first time in six years.
In a subsequent high point in the league quarter-finals they also defeated Kilkenny in Nowlan Park for the first time in 60 years.
Suspensions for players run from the day of their last match, generally the fixture in which the infraction occurred, but for non-players any punishment dates from the time it is accepted by the individual or the date of any subsequent imposition.
That can’t be any earlier than this Tuesday when the matter is likely to be considered by the Central Competitions Control Committee at a scheduled meeting to decide on a venue for the last All-Ireland under-21 football final between Dublin and Galway at the end of this month.
Dim view
It is likely the committee will take a dim view of what happened in Nowlan Park, in a match that was broadcast live, despite Fitzgerald’s undertaking that he “wouldn’t do it again”.
He is seen on the field jostling with Tipperary’s Jason Forde after running on in the aftermath of Tipp’s 18th-minute second goal during the build-up to which Wexford’s James Breen was clearly fouled.
Seen by a wide audience the pitch incursion has attracted negative publicity for the GAA and Fitzgerald has arguably made matters worse for himself by appearing to suggest that the action was calculated.
“When Tipp start to get a blitz on you, you just have to – just try to make sure I could lift my lads a small bit. I was hoping they might respond a small bit more. They responded after that which was no harm with a bit of fight.”
He refused to criticise referee Diarmuid Kirwan for the decision but it has been widely remarked that Tipperary got just one free in the remaining 50 minutes of the match.
There is an infraction of ‘discrediting the association’ but it has been made clear by the GAA’s independent tribunal the Disputes Resolution Authority that they won’t stand over any use of this provision as catch-all device for punishing more heavily behaviour that is already dealt with in the rule book.
Precedent suggests that the punishment will be for eight weeks in respect of Fitzgerald’s incursion onto the field in Sunday’s AHL semi-final against Tipperary in Nowlan Park. That was the penalty handed down to Derry football manager Damien Barton after an incident in last year’s McKenna Cup final.
During the match against Tyrone, Barton was permitted to enter the pitch as he was Derry’s designated maor foirne under Rules of Control 1.4. But he became involved in a physical altercation with opposing player Cathal McCarron. Both of them were red carded by Cavan referee Noel Mooney.
McCarron’s one-match suspension meant he missed the first match of his county’s title defence the following year whereas Barton as manager was suspended from the sideline for nearly all of Derry’s league campaign.
The infraction is covered by Rule 7.2 (c) IIa: Any type of physical interference with an opposing player or team official.
Shouldering players
If the CCCC impose the eight-week ban, Fitzgerald will miss Wexford’s opening championship match against one of the Leinster round-robin qualifiers, scheduled for Saturday 27th May and also should they win, the semi-final against provincial champions Kilkenny, scheduled for 10th June.
Should a suspension be recommended it would be open to Fitzgerald to opt for a hearing before the Central Hearings Committee.
Speaking on Monday’s RTÉ GAA Podcast Tomás Mulcahy, who captained Cork to the 1990 All-Ireland title, was critical of the Wexford manager’s actions.
“You cannot enter the field of play. You cannot be squaring up to opponents. You cannot be shouldering players. Maybe the disappointment was from the referee, that he actually let him go back on to the sideline.
“I thought he should have been put up into the stand. It could have been a serious free-for-all if other players had joined in.
“There were frees given against Tipperary where everyone felt they were harsh frees. You didn’t see Michael Ryan running in off the field. He’s not allowed to cross the white line to go in and challenge a player.
“It’s not good enough. He’s a linesman beside him, he can air his grievances to the linesman, there’s a fourth official behind him, but all he wanted to do was go in to Diarmuid Kirwan and it could have turned out to be pretty nasty. When he sees it again he’ll agree he was out of order.” |
Georgia Waffle House waitress loses job after firing gun during robbery | A Waffle House waitress in Georgia says she was fired for shooting her gun at three fleeing robbers.
Heather (Shorty) Burkinshaw-Stanley said she was only trying to defend herself and her co-workers, The Newnan Times-Herald reported Sunday.
“I was in fear for my life, my co-workers’ lives, and I did what I thought was right,” she told the paper.
Three men ate at Burkinshaw-Stanley’s Waffle House early Thursday. Instead of paying for their meal, the men gave the cashier a note threatening to shoot everyone if their demand for money from the register wasn’t met, the paper reported.
Police said they left after another waitress gave them $200.
Burkinshaw-Stanley said her gun was in her car.
“I safely fired a round in the air in an attempt to scare the robbers who were in the process of getting in their vehicle, not knowing if they were retrieving their weapon to return to the Waffle House,” she said on GoFundMe. “My shot must have gotten their attention as they rapidly drove off.”
The paper reports that Burkinshaw-Stanley was told she was fired on Friday. She had worked at the Waffle House for two years.
A Waffle House spokesman declined to discuss the matter, the paper reported.
Burkinshaw-Stanley said she was seeking donations because she is raising three kids and her husband is disabled. |
Aching joints? Why your parents could be to blame | Arthritis was once thought to be a disease caused by age or injury, with the muscles weakening and the joints slowly wearing out over time.
But a new study suggests the condition may actually be hereditary.
Scientists at the Wellcome Sanger Institute and Sheffield University have found nine genes which are associated with arthritis, suggesting some people are simply more naturally susceptible to aching joints than others.
Eleni Zengini, joint first author from the University of Sheffield, said: “These results are an important step towards understanding the genetic causes of osteoarthritis and take us closer to uncovering the mechanisms behind the disease.
“Once we know that, it opens the door to developing new therapies for this debilitating disease.”
Some 8.5 million people in Britain suffer from osteoarthritis, a degenerative disease where joints become damaged, painful and stiff. There is currently no treatment aside from surgery to replace worn out knees and hips or managing the pain with drugs.
In the largest study of its kind, which was published in the journal Nature Genetics, scientists investigated how genes, diseases and other traits, such as obesity. |
New G&Tea room opens at county beauty spot Foxton Locks - serving tea, cakes, cocktails and gin | Get Daily updates directly to your inbox + Subscribe Thank you for subscribing! Could not subscribe, try again later Invalid Email
A new tea room has opened at Foxton Locks - and it sounds wonderful.
G & Tea Leaf has been launched at the south Leicestershire beauty spot by The Boathouse Group of pubs, which also runs the Foxton Locks Inn.
Described as 'a tea room with a twist', G & Tea Leaf aims to provide a relaxed atmosphere where customers feel comfortable visiting on their own or with friends, to take in the waterside views and try something new.
Guests can enjoy afternoon tea, specialist loose leaf teas, cakes, traybakes and savouries, as well as cocktails and gin – including the company's very own gin, The Boathouse Blend, which has been made by Union Distillers of Market Harborough.
Loose leaf teas are provided by Leaf of Liverpool, while local businesses supply the cakes, traybakes and chutneys.
Other venues run by The Boathouse Group include the Fox and Goose at Illston, The Waterfront at Market Harborough, The Swan at Kibworth and No.76 at Desborough.
You'll find G & Tea Leaf in The Old Boathouse next to the Foxton Locks Inn, just over the bridge from the short stay car park. |
Amber Davies Is 'Back With' Her Ex-Boyfriend After Kem Cetinay Split | Just last week Love Island fans' hearts broke a little bit at the news that this year's winners, Amber Davies and Kem Cetinay, had called it quits after four months.
And now it looks like Amber is back with her ex, Sonny Hall, after she took to Instagram over the weekend to share some clips of them enjoying a night out together on her story.
Take a look at the video to see Selena Gomez, Megan McKenna and all the celebs who went back to their ex...
Of course, just because the pair hit Sugar Hut in Essex together on Saturday night doesn't mean they are officially an item, but according to The Sun, the reunion is a little more than friendly.
Instagram/Amb_d
A source told the publication: "Whether Sonny is just a rebound for Amber is unclear at the moment but the two couldn’t keep their hands off each other at Sugar Hut nightclub in Essex on Saturday."
They added: "Amber didn’t seem to mind who knew as she was posting videos on Instagram of her cuddling up to his little white puppy while still at his home on Sunday morning."
Getty
"That can’t have been easy for Kem to see," they continued.
The Love Island winners announced their split last Sunday night in a joint statement, citing their hectic schedules as the reason.
Kem, who is currently busy with Dancing On Ice rehearsals, personally addressed the breakup for the first time just a few days ago.
It’s been a tough week, but I just wanted to thank everybody who has been so kind and supportive, the messages have proper kept me going. Unfortunately things didn't work out but I know Amber will do amazing and I'll always be proud of her x — Kem (@KemCetinay) December 6, 2017
Would just like to say I am incredibly overwhelmed by everyone's lovely messages and comments. The love and support from you all has been absolutely heartwarming. Thank you so much ❤️ — Amber Davies (@Amber_Davies7) December 4, 2017
Taking to Twitter, he wrote: "It’s been a tough week, but I just wanted to thank everybody who has been so kind and supportive, the messages have proper kept me going. Unfortunately things didn't work out but I know Amber will do amazing and I'll always be proud of her x."
Some things just aren't meant to be. |
A's offensive struggles continue in loss to Rays | OAKLAND Chad Pinder slammed his bat against the dirt near home plate in frustration after swinging through a 1-2 slider from Blake Snell for strike three to end the sixth inning with Jed Lowrie on third base. Thats just the way things are going for the As offense these days.
A shake up of the lineup didnt help much as the As continued to struggle without slugger Khris Davis available in a 4-3 loss to the Tampa Bay Rays Tuesday night in front of just 7,521 fans at the Coliseum.
The As did manage to scratch across two runs against Sergio Romo in the ninth inning on a pair of ground outs after Matt Olson and Stephen Piscotty led off with a single and double, but Marcus Semien grounded out to second, ending the rally and the game.
We were better tonight, As manager Bob Melvin said. Snells tough. Hes throwing 98 and hes got four pitches. We rallied at the end and got some really good at-bats. I was encouraged by what I saw at the end.
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Pinders inability to bring home Lowrie from third in the sixth wasnt even the most frustrating failure of the night. That came in the eighth.
Semien drew a lead off walk and was moved over to third after a bad throw from Carlos Gomez on Matt Chapmans single, putting runners on second and third with no outs. Trailing 3-1 at the time, it was yet another golden opportunity for the As. But as has been the norm on this home stand, the As failed to bring home a run.
Lowrie and Mark Canha struck out back-to-back, and Pinder grounded out to end the inning. The As left seven runners on base as they went 0 for 9 with runners in scoring position
Through eight games of their current 10-game home stand, the As (28-27) have scored just 15 runs in 73 innings. Theyve hit just two home runs on this home stand after hitting 16 in their previous 10-game road trip to New York, Boston, and Toronto.
The way the As offense had been going, Daniel Gossett was going to have to be nearly flawless on the mound. He wasnt bad, but a nightmarish sequence in the third dug him in a deep hole.
After striking out the first two batters of the third, Gossett surrendered three consecutive home runs to C.J. Cron, Joey Wendle, and Wilson Ramos to put the Rays (27-26) ahead 3-0.
This is a pretty tough game we play. Sometimes it comes around to get you and sometimes you skate out, Gossett said. It was just a few bad pitches in a row and they were ready for them and on them. I wasnt lucky enough to get weak contact on a bad pitch. Were facing the best of the best, and when youre feeding up bad pitches here, youre gonna pay for it.
Gossett finished his outing allowing three runs on eight hits and two walks with three strikeouts over five innings of work in what was his second start back up from the minors.
Having felt great command of all his pitches while throwing seven innings of one-run ball his previous start, Gossetts stuff on the mound Tuesday was more of what has plagued him this season. He is now 0-3 with a 6.05 ERA in four big league starts this season.
I didnt feel very good at all. I think it could have been a whole lot better. It also could have been a whole lot worse, Gossett said. Defense bailed me out of a few tough situations with some really great plays. And Bruce (Maxwell) hung with me all night knowing I wasnt very sharp and command wasnt going very well.
Daniel Robertsons solo home run off Ryan Dull in the top of the ninth proved to be an important insurance run for the Rays, putting them ahead 4-1 at the time. |
'Looks like Mother Nature is finally getting her house in order' | Guptill's gone again! Black Caps opener felled by another hamstring injury, set to miss T20, first two ODIs against Proteas
The strain is unrelated to the one that caused him to miss the final ODI against Australia last month. |
Jets linebacker Dylan Donahue was arrested for DUI in May 2017 | Late last month, Jets linebacker Dylan Donahue was arrested at 2 a.m. after police said he caused a wrong-way crash inside the Lincoln Tunnel. He was charged with reckless driving and DWI as a result of the head-on collision.
As it turns out, that incident was only one of at least two drunken-driving arrests for Donahue in the past year.
Donahue, 25, was arrested for DUI on May 9 of last year in Billings, Montana, according to multiple reports. And that run-in with the law came only 10 days after the Jets drafted Donahue in the fifth round of the 2017 draft.
Donahue reportedly recorded a blood-alcohol level of .137, nearly twice the legal limit, and was arrested after police found his SUV flipped over. Donahue reportedly told police that he'd "consumed several alcohol drinks earlier in the evening."
Dylan Donahue was reportedly arrested for DUI in May 2017. (Julio Cortez/AP)
"We do not have a comment as it is a legal matter," the Jets said in a statement.
Donahue still faces a misdemeanor DUI charge stemming from the arrest. He played in four games last year before suffering a season-ending elbow injury. Donahue is reportedly expected back in court April 11 in Weehawken, New Jersey for a hearing related to his February arrest.
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कागजों पर ही भरा दिए गए तालाब, पशु पक्षी बेहाल | Read the latest and breaking news on amarujala.com. Get live Hindi news about India and the World from politics, sports, bollywood, business, cities, lifestyle, astrology, spirituality, jobs and much more. Register with amarujala.com to get all the latest Hindi news updates as they happen. |
Life Esidimeni compensation too late for one mother | Retired Deputy Chief Justice Dikgang Moseneke is announcing the decision on how much the families and victims of the Life Esidimeni tragedy should be compensated, based on findings of the inquiry into the ill treatment and deaths of vulnerable patients. Watch. WATCH
Johannesburg – For Allina Mngomezulu, 72, the more than R1m that families of the victims of the Life Esidimeni tragedy are set to receive as compensation is too late.
"She died a heartbroken mother due to the Life Esidimeni tragedy," her sister, Lydia Dikgale, told News24 on Monday.
Mngomezulu's daughter, Thembisile Nkosi, 18, died at an unlicensed NGO to which she was moved as part of a marathon project by the Gauteng department of health.
READ: Moseneke gives government 3 months to pay more than R1m each to Life Esidimeni families
Dikgale, 57, from Diepkloof, was present when retired deputy chief justice Dikgang Moseneke announced that each family - whose loved one was among 144 people who died when patients were moved between facilities by the department - should be compensated with more than R1m.
"I am happy that her two children will get compensation and they have a better chance in life," said Dikgale about her sister. The mother of two died three weeks ago while waiting for the outcomes of the Life Esidimeni arbitration alternative dispute resolution hearings.
Dikgale said she used to travel to attend the arbitration hearings using her savings to help her sister find closure after Thembisile's death at an unlicensed NGO.
One of the lucky few
"My niece was moved from Life Esidimeni and taken to Cullinan Care and Rehabilitation Centre and she died there.
"They said people were being ill-treated. They were not feeding them. They were not bathing, and they were left walking around naked at the NGO."
Releasing his report on Monday, Moseneke ordered the government to pay an agreed amount of R20 000 to each of the claimants in respect of funeral expenses, R180 000 to each of the claimants in respect of the shock and psychological trauma and R1m to each of the claimants for the government's breach of the Constitution.
The payments are to be made in no later than three months or June 19, 2018, said Moseneke.
Quanita Mlotshwa considers her family one of the lucky few.
Her sister was transferred to a facility where they took good care of her.
Vindication
"I am very happy because we stuck together as families. We did not allow anything to come between us. I am also grateful that, in the end, the government humbled itself and came to us," said Mlotshwa.
Mlotshwa said she was also happy that the survivors would continue being cared for by the government.
Recounting her ordeal, she said her sister, Aeysha Boswell, who is currently being cared for at Life Esidimeni Waverly, was in Kliptown for 20 years, before being moved.
"She has been at Waverly and she has always been well treated."
She said her sister was moved but she survived.
"Luckily she was taken to a place where they took good care of her."
Andrew Peterson, who sat on the family committee, said he was exhilarated.
"We feel vindicated and that this has been an equitable redress and we are very excited."
Peterson said the families of those who died in the Life Esidimeni tragedy told government to stop the project but their cries fell on deaf ears.
Watershed moment
"It sends a message to all communities not to stigmatise mental health problems. Those family members matter and this is sending a powerful signal. I hope it will change the way we see mental healthcare users."
Peterson said criminal action should be taken against those responsible for the deaths.
"People must be held accountable and must be charged with premeditated murder because they knew what they were doing and they still went ahead and did it. They knew people were going to die," said Peterson.
The executive director of Section 27 Mark Heywood said he was glad the process was over and he was sure the families shared his sentiments.
"It is a profoundly important judgment... The order of damages on a scale of R1m per person who died or who was a victim of the move is almost a first in South Africa."
Heywood said it was undoubtedly a watershed moment in the history of South African human rights and the country's Constitution.
'We cannot bring back lives'
Health Ombudsman Malegapuru Makgoba said Moseneke's orders were fair.
"To use his (Moseneke's) words, this was supposed to be an equitable redress in order to contribute to the journey of healing, but not everybody is going to heal at the same time.
"Some people will find that this will give them closure, but for some, it is the beginning of their journey because you know, we cannot bring back lives."
Makgoba said the aim was to create a system or award that shows that the country respects the Constitution and the dignity of people. More importantly, he said, to show that the country respects the vulnerable in society.
"If you look at the litany of human rights abuses in this project, they defy description. Every section in the Bill of Rights of the Mental Care Act and National Care Act were all violated."
Makgoba said these were public officials who are senior and should have known better.
'Relentless impunity'
"They had the power to change the course of what ultimately happened, but they did not."
While investigating and compiling his report into the deaths of mental healthcare users, Makgoba said he was in disbelief at what he had found.
"I have practised as a doctor for many years and I have never seen people being so abused.
"In all the three people that identified in my report, they seemed to have done this relentlessly with impunity and they did not seem to see the magnitude of what they were doing."
Makgoba said former Gauteng health MEC Qedani Mahlangu was more concerned about politics than the lives of people and the truth.
He slammed the government, particularly Mahlangu, former head of department Barney Selebano and department of health director Makgabo Manamela for the manner in which they handled the marathon project. |
Nurse fractured skull of Eva Amurri's baby | Susan Sarandon’s actress daughter Eva Amurri Martino had a heartbreaking end to 2016 after a nurse dropped her son Major on his head and fractured his skull.
The Saved star has detailed the horror following the accident in a post on her HappilyEvaAfter website, revealing it happened at the end of November.
A nurse hired to look after the three-month-old and his two-year-old sister Marlowe Mae overnight fell asleep while holding Major and dropped him on his head.
Amurri Martino and her husband Kyle Martino were awoken by the thud of their son hitting the hardwood floor and his “hysterical piercing screams.”
Happy New Beginnings! ✨❤🙏🏼 A very honest letter I wrote about some personal struggles is on my blog today. https://t.co/zg9JiMNkjA pic.twitter.com/9M9SNS2dRa — Eva Amurri Martino (@TheHappilyEva) January 1, 2017
“He suffered a fractured skull and bleeding on his brain, and was transported by ambulance to Yale Medical Center where I spent two harrowing days with him to receive emergency care and further testing,” the actress reveals. “To say these were the most traumatic and anxious two days of my life is an understatement.”
But little Major survived the scare and has been “healing well” and “hitting milestones.”
His relieved mum reveals he is “cooing, smiling, and generally showing us that he is and will be ok as he grows and develops.”
Amurri Martino admits she waited a month to open up about the scare because she feared people would frown on the idea of her hiring a night nurse to take care of her kids when she was asleep.
“Let me tell you, the guilt I bore in the days and weeks after this accident was more intense and more damaging than anything I would wish upon my worst enemy,” she writes. “I wept in the hospital, telling anyone who would listen that it should have been me. That I was to blame.
“Even though I finally made peace with the fact that this freak accident could not have been avoided by me, it has continued to effect me to my core and in all aspects of my daily life.”
“It’s nearly impossible for me to trust anyone but myself to take care of Major now,” she added. “Hearing Major cry hard immediately triggers my memories of the moments after the accident and instigates an immediate panic attack - my heart races and tears spring to my eyes.”
And now Amurri Martino is a mum on the edge during trips to the park with her daughter - something she realized during a recent day out when little Marlowe fell over and started crying.
“Within ten minutes she was totally fine and normal - but I stood there while Kyle held me, sobbing and shaking, while my scared two-year-old watched,” she wrote. “I think I need to take some things off of my plate. It’s time to really face this all and find a solution.”
The actress is now seeking help from a therapist to help her combat “some form of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, possibly linked to some form of Postpartum Depression.” |
Body Smart: Can a week of wearables improve your health? | I’ve hit 10,000 steps! My Fitbit is vibrating and digital fireworks are shooting across the tiny screen on my wrist. The only problem is I haven’t even arrived at my office yet.
I hit the gym before I go to work, and think heck, if I’ve already logged that many steps, why not kick back and chillax the rest of the day? This is the first sign that something is awry on my quest to find out if wearable technology, or wearables, can actually make us healthier.
To find out if that’s true, I’m strapping three wearables in particular to my body for a week-long experiment.
Motivation to move
On top of my Fitbit, I’m also putting the “brain sensing” meditation headband Muse on my head five minutes a day.
I’m also trying out the CheckMe health monitor, a small device which can check for more things than I ever care to know I may have. Among its capabilities is its role as a sleep monitor, thermometer and even an electrocardiogram (ECG) monitor.
To get some real perspective on all this, I enlisted the help of a medical professional. Given my routine includes a morning workout, the first thing I want to know is whether I can take the elevator instead of the stairs for the rest of the day, now that I’ve hit my 10,000 steps … even if it is only 11 a.m.
“I think there is negative reassurance,” Dr. Ellie Cannon, a general practitioner in the UK, tells me about these devices. “You’ve done your 10,000 steps and that will make you think ‘OK, great, I’m going to have a donut for breakfast,’ and it’s that sort of reassurance that is actually not particularly positive.”
Nevertheless, Cannon and the other medical professionals I speak to are cautiously optimistic about wearables.
Even with some studies contradicting how effective they are, obesity is a global epidemic, so doctors are generally keen for people to try anything reasonable to help us get off the couch.
A recent study found that more than 2 billion adults and children globally are overweight or obese and suffer health problems because of it.
“There is no doubt about it that we need to move more,” Cannon says. “So anything that gets us moving, gets us counting steps, tells us to stand up and sit down, I think is going to be good,” said Cannon.
Guess I’ll keep taking the stairs.
Calming your brain — by reading it
Next, I strap the Muse to my head which, from the outset, was the device I was most skeptical about. I have a hard time believing this headband can really read my brain waves.
The device claims to guide you through meditation by reading your brain activity. It connects to your phone via an app while you meditate and changes sounds being played, such as wind or waves, based on how calm or active your brain is. Sounds are made louder and more harsh when your mind is not clear, or calm.
I push start, roll my eyes and start thinking about everything I need to get done.
The waves start crashing with intensity! OK, OK. I’ll try and focus on not focusing on anything!
Surprisingly I start letting go and the waves stop crashing.
Over the week, I find this to be the most rewarding of all the wearables I test. I have no idea if it’s a placebo effect or not, but in the end I stop caring about that.
Just taking the five minutes to meditate with this device each day is starting to become a relaxing pattern. Or maybe I just like the sounds of nature. Either way, I am more relaxed.
A digital check-up
I’m the most intimidated by the large CheckMe monitor I now carry around with me. It seems like it can check me for nearly everything a nurse would screen me for before the doctor comes in the room for my annual check-up.
Right now, it says my temperature is fine and my pulse is normal. But it does so much, including checking blood pressure and oxygen levels, that I get the sense it might be better for someone who has serious medical concerns.
I’m mostly overwhelmed by all the data this device gives me. Some of the heart data it gives while doing my ECG even makes my mom nervous, making her insist I go to the doctor — a real one.
“People need to be aware that the data isn’t necessarily 100% accurate and not something that you need to be diagnosing yourself from,” Cannon reassures me. “I don’t think it can be interchangeable with me taking your pulse or me taking your blood pressure, but I think they can be a useful way for you to empower your own exercise regime,” she says.
After all that, with so many capabilities to check for so many potential problems, I may keep CheckMe in mind if I ever have serious health issues.
The challenge to stay inspired
For now, I have stopped wearing my Fitbit. In the end, it’s just too much hassle keep both it and my phone charged.
And even though the “brain sensing” Muse is the device that most surpassed my expectations, I haven’t used it after my week of experimentation.
In the end, the best wearable I’ve found are my pants. When they stop fitting, it will give me an alert I need to boost my activity levels and weight loss regimen.
But for others, the more technological route may indeed the best source source of inspiration.
“They really make it easier for people to work out and that’s ultimately what we want,” said Dr. Tara Narula, a cardiologist at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York. “[We want] people to find ways to incorporate working out and exercise into their daily lifestyle and routine so it becomes habit.”
While some devices suggest seeing a doctor before using them, Narula believes this is not necessary for everyone.
“If you’re beginning a low to more moderate exercise and you’re a relatively healthy person, then you don’t really need to see a doctor and have a stress test,” she said. “If you have a heart disease or history of other risk factors and you’re planning to do a moderate or vigorous exercise, then see your doctor for an evaluation first.” |
MemeVideo To Introduce Two New Video Advertising Tools | MemeVideo launches Robocop 2.3 and Outstream Hybrid, to help marketers and publishers improve video ad performance
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Media Contact
Ronen Menipaz
+1-347-418-0769
***@memevideo.com Ronen Menipaz+1-347-418-0769
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Jarvis: Highway 3 twinned 'within two years,' Horwath says | An NDP government would begin twinning the rest of Highway 3 within two years, leader Andrea Horwath promised at a campaign stop in Leamington on Wednesday.
“We’re going to get to the work right away,” Horwath said at the TSC Stores off Highway 3. “We expect within a two-year time frame we should be able to be well underway with construction.”
Widening the rest of the highway is in the party’s Southwestern Ontario platform.
Horwath seemed much better briefed on this key local issue than Conservative Leader Doug Ford when he was in Lakeshore last week. She cited three collisions since the campaign began.
We’ve heard loudly and clearly the need for more concrete barriers, so we’re going to take a hard look at that
She also referred to the Ontario Ministry of Transportation’s letter to Essex County council this month stating that improvements planned between 2019 and 2021 include resurfacing but not widening.
“That’s not good enough,” she said. “Highway 3 needs to be twinned now.”
The problem will worsen as the greenhouse industry grows, she said.
“We talk a lot about encouraging more agricultural activity, so the very least we should be doing is making sure transportation routes that help products get to market are ones that are safe,” she said.
“That gives us a time frame we can work on,” said Essex County Warden Tom Bain.
Horwath also promised “a real commitment” to increasing safety on Highway 401 between Windsor and London, saying her government would consider measures such as concrete barriers along the median and widening the highway from two lanes in each direction to three.
“We’ve heard loudly and clearly the need for more concrete barriers, so we’re going to take a hard look at that,” she said. “We’re going to have transportation experts look at what the best solutions are.”
She also promised to work with communities on what infrastructure is needed.
Bain called the stretch of the 401 by Tilbury, where there are only two lanes in each direction and no barriers, “very dangerous.”
“We know we have a high volume of accidents,” he said, saying he was in a collision there several years ago. He also called it “really depressing” when senior governments “just go ahead and we don’t have a voice.”
Horwath was also asked about the current government’s plan to invest $105 million a year for 19 years in horse racing. Rural residents and people in the industry weren’t consulted, a man complained.
Horwath promised to review the plan and work with the industry “to breathe more life into the industry.”
Horse racing, which accounted for about 2,000 jobs in this region, was devastated when the government pulled slot machines out of race tracks in 2012. Windsor Raceway and farms closed.
Now, the same class of horses race for double the money in London than in Leamington, Sarnia and Dresden, said Bain, who fought to preserve racing here. He wants to see “some equality.
“I think there’s a real future for horse racing in this area,” he said.
Before going to Leamington, Horwath visited Debby and Santparkash Aujlay in Forest Glade to talk about the party’s plan for dental care. Two-thirds of seniors, or 1.5 million retired people, don’t have dental benefits, she said. Under the NDP, they could use their OHIP cards to pay for dental appointments.
The Aujlays pay almost $500 a month for drug and dental insurance, but it only covers teeth cleaning. He had to have root canal treatment, and she needs a crown. Neither is covered.
The NDP would pay for the plan by increasing taxes on the richest and corporations and operating deficits for at least five years.
The NDP “won’t give up on” the auto sector and manufacturing, Horwath said but was vague about the party’s plan.
“We have a strategy that’s outlined — lightly, but outlined — in our platform,” she said. “We need to have a co-ordinated approach. We need to engage more investment in the auto and manufacturing sectors. We need to make sure we have the skilled workforce that’s needed.”
She acknowledged the “vigorous debate” about the location of the planned new hospital, but said “the location is something that the local community has to hammer out. What my priority would be is to get the hospital built and up and running to ensure people have access to that service.”
Related
If the NDP is elected provincially and re-elected in Windsor and Essex County, there is “more than a chance” that at least one of the three local MPPs will be named a cabinet minister, Horwath said.
Horwath travelled to Sarnia later Wednesday. Ford was also in Lambton County and London on Wednesday and will be in Windsor on Thursday for a rally at the Fogolar Furlan Club.
Both leaders have made several trips to Southwestern Ontario. There are fewer seats here than in other regions, but there’s opportunity. The NDP holds all three seats here and two in London, and the Conservatives hold the four rural ridings between. There’s one vacant seat in London.
Many of the ridings have both urban areas, where there is NDP support, and rural areas, which are often Conservative. Races in three ridings, including Chatham-Kent-Leamington, are expected to be close.
[email protected] |
BRIEF-Cobalt 27 Capital Announces Purchase Of Additional Cobalt | Dec 11 (Reuters) - Cobalt 27 Capital Corp:
* COBALT 27 CAPITAL- ENTERED INTO AGREEMENTS TO PURCHASE AN ADDITIONAL 80 METRIC TONNES OF PHYSICAL COBALT FOR TOTAL PURCHASE PRICE OF ABOUT $6.2 MILLION Source text for Eikon: Further company coverage: ( [email protected] ) |
Autistic 12-year-old shares inspirational story on football succ - WBRC FOX6 News - Birmingham, AL | He may be only 12-years-old, but Drew Hurst has turned heads. A fine defensive lineman with the Over The Mountain League’s Hoover team, Drew has helped his team finish unbeaten - and having autism has not slowed him down.
Joel and Shannon Hurst say that while Drew has had a steep learning curve, their son has now settled into a tough sport thanks to his fine coaches and supportive teammates. I spent some time with Drew as the nose guard hopes to be on his way to someday playing for the mighty Hoover Bucs varsity team!
Copyright 2017 WBRC. All rights reserved. |
Surplus engines available for transfer to Washington fire districts; deadline July 1 | This 1991 engine is just one of 17 that is available for qualified fire districts. Photo DNR
Local fire districts face many challenges – one of the most significant is the purchase and acquisition of vehicles and equipment.
DNR can now transfer depreciated firefighting vehicles and related equipment to local fire districts in wildfire-prone areas around the state.
The 2017 Washington State legislature authorized DNR to transfer ownership of its surplus engines to fire districts in wildfire-prone areas within counties that have a median income level below the state average. This opportunity will contribute to local fire districts being better prepared to fight wildfires in their districts. Taxpayers will benefit too. By transferring these resources to fire districts in fire-prone areas, we can together reduce initial attack response times to wildfire starts, and thereby, reduce the potential for large, costly and catastrophic fires.
Fire districts can view photos and information about the 17 engines available this year and submit a surplus engine request form on DNR’s Fire District Assistance webpage. Fire districts also can view the engines in person by appointment Monday through Friday from June 14 – June 30 at DNR’s Compound located at 801 88th Avenue SE, Tumwater. To schedule an engine viewing or inquire about specific engines, please contact DNR Equipment Services at 360-902-1219 or 360-902-1380.
See OFM median income data for 2016 to see if your county falls below the state average and is eligible.
Questions regarding the transfer process should be directed to DNR Fire District Assistance at 360-902-1300.
DNR will review requests beginning July 1and begin to notify districts of the results as soon as July 21, 2017.
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ड्राइवर पति की मौत के बाद महिला ने खुद चलानी शुरू की बस, सोशल मीडिया पर हो रही तारीफ | Read the latest and breaking Hindi news on amarujala.com. Get live Hindi news about India and the World from politics, sports, bollywood, business, cities, lifestyle, astrology, spirituality, jobs and much more. Register with amarujala.com to get all the latest Hindi news updates as they happen. |
Doctor sees healing power in psychedelic plant as Peru investigates death of B.C. man | Peru’s attorney general has ordered the arrest of two suspects in the killing of 41-year-old Sebastian Woodroffe
A retired doctor who spent years treating drug addiction says he has seen the healing powers of a psychedelic plant that a Vancouver Island man was studying in Peru before he was killed by a mob that blamed him for a shaman’s death.
Dr. Gabor Mate said ayahuasca grows in the jungle and is brewed with other plants into a thick concoction people drink at ceremonies in countries such as Peru, Costa Rica and Brazil.
The drug is illegal in Canada. Health Canada said in a statement that ayahuasca is a controlled substance that is considered to have no medical benefit.
Mate said the hallucinogenic medicine is used as part of ancient aboriginal practices to help people tap into childhood trauma with support from a leader, and he has seen its power at work in Peru, and Costa Rica, from where he returned two weeks ago after facilitating ceremonies involving the plant.
“I’ve known people whose addiction has stopped,” he said, adding he has worked with ayahuasca for 10 years. “I know people who’ve recovered from medical diseases that otherwise they got little help for. I know a woman who tried to kill herself 17 times, who is no longer suicidal.
“It’s not like a drug you give to somebody. It’s more that it opens up portals into yourself, understanding self in a new way and having a deeper vision of reality. It’s that understanding of the self and a clearer view of reality that helps you heal.”
RELATED: Vancouver Island man killed in Peru
Peru’s attorney general has ordered the arrest of two suspects in the killing of 41-year-old Sebastian Woodroffe, who had travelled to the Amazon rain forest to study hallucinogenic medicine. Officials said forensic experts were studying Woodroffe’s body to determine whether he had any involvement in the death of Olivia Arevalo, an octogenarian plant healer from the Shipibo-Konibo tribe in northeastern Peru.
A Canadian Institute for Substance Use Research study published in 2013 in Canadian Drug Abuse Reviews says ayahuasca-assisted therapy delivered in 2011 in a B.C. rural First Nations community experiencing substance use appeared to show improvements in outlook, hopefulness and empowerment and that more research was warranted.
Mark Haden, adjunct professor at the University of British Columbia’s school of population and public health, said the plant helps people gain insight and works toward healing but problems occur in impoverished communities where shamans aren’t accountable.
“I think psychedelic drugs should be legalized in Canada and North America within a context that allows for people to experience psychedelic medicines in a supervised setting and the supervisors need to be part of an accountable professional body,” said Haden, who is also executive director of the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies.
Mate is an author and international speaker on repressed trauma and the emotional and physical effects of hidden stress. He said many of the illicit drug users he treated in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside became addicted in response to unresolved traumatic experiences in childhood.
The ayahuasca concoction isn’t a take-home remedy and isn’t for people with a history of psychosis, mania, seizures or heart issues, Mate said, adding he couldn’t speculate on what set off the events leading to Woodroffe’s death, but alcohol and stimulants, such as crystal meth, are more apt to cause violence.
“I’ve participated in multiple ceremonies and I’ve seen the occasional person freak out, but rarely. I know people who’ve done or led hundreds, maybe thousands of ceremonies and never had any acts of violence.”
RELATED: Peruvian authorities arrest two suspects in killing of Vancouver Island man
In December 2015, a Winnipeg man fatally stabbed a fellow tourist from England after the two drank ayahuasca together in a spiritual ceremony a few hours’ drive from where Woodroffe was killed. The men drank the hallucinogenic brew before the British tourist grabbed a butcher knife, leading the Canadian to fatally stab him in what British authorities later determined was self-defence.
Mate said that a decade ago, he led a ceremony involving ayahuasca with members of an Indigenous band in British Columbia who’d experienced multigenerational trauma.
Health Canada told him he would have to do a clinical study on the effects of the plant, but Mate said that would have cost millions of dollars.
“It’s a completely different entity,” he said of the plant. ”What I wish they would do is look at it realistically and objectively based on international experience.”
Health Canada did provide an exemption to the drug several years ago for a Montreal chapter of a Brazilian religion for sacramental use of the plant.
Rhonda Nelson of Athabasca, Alta., said she went on a life-changing retreat led by Mate in 2015 to deal with anxiety and depression related to childhood trauma before attending similar ceremonies in Peru in January 2017 where she again drank ayahuasca.
“It would be akin to 10 years of psychotherapy. I was able to get in touch with that deep suffering and what the root of it was,” she said.
Nelson, 45, said she also experienced physical healing and no longer has symptoms of congenital myasthemic syndrome, a neuromuscular disorder.
“When I ingested the plant, it brought up emotion in me that I’d been familiar with me all my life but in such a way that the intensity was similar to the intensity that I experienced when it first originated in early childhood,” she said.
The Canadian Press |
Labour accused of wrongly claiming firm was 'on the ropes' | The Government hit out at Labour and stressed Capita is 'solvent and not at immediate risk'.
Economy: Capita's share price crashed earlier this week after the firm issued a profits warning.
The Scottish Government has accused Labour of an embarrassing blunder after the party claimed an outsourcing giant was "on the ropes".
The party said taxpayers in Scotland were facing hundreds of million of pounds in liabilities if Capita collapses.
The outsourcing firm has been awarded multi-million pound public contracts in Scotland in the past five years, according to the European Procurement Database.
These include a £325m deal for IT services and a £76m contract for a modern apprentices training programme for Skills Development Scotland on behalf of the Scottish Government.
It also has contracts with councils, the Scottish Police Authority and the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service.
Capita's share price crashed earlier this week after the firm issued a profits warning, prompting fears about its future.
Chief executive Jonathan Lewis said the company had become "far too complex" but was on the "road to recovery".
'This is an embarrassing blunder from Labour, who have got their numbers wrong and should withdraw their claims.' Keith Brown
Capita's woes come after construction group and outsourcing rival Carillion collapsed into liquidation earlier this month, leaving the taxpayer on the hook for billions of pounds of projects and pension liabilities.
Scottish Labour urged the Scottish Government to review the outsourcing of public contracts.
The party's economy spokeswoman Jackie Baillie said: "Nobody wants firms to fail and it is essential they receive all necessary support to protect jobs and our economy - but we cannot afford another Carillion.
"The reality is that, in the same month as the collapse of Carillion, we have another outsourcing firm on the ropes."
"Capita has significant engagement in Scotland, having been issued with hundreds of millions of pounds of contracts from the SNP since 2013."
Ms Baillie called on the party to take urgent action.
She added: "We cannot continue with such uncertainty - and the SNP is currently at risk of sleep-walking into another outsourcing crisis."
But a spokesman for Economy Secretary Keith Brown said the firm was not at immediately at risk.
He said: "This is an embarrassing blunder from Labour, who have got their numbers wrong and should withdraw their claims.
"Capita is solvent and not at immediate risk, but in any case contract values don't equate to any payments which would be required in the unlikely event the company did become insolvent - something Labour should understand.
"The reality is that Scotland has far less exposure on these issues than elsewhere in the UK.
"This is because we have not entered into the wholesale use of private firms to deliver public services in the same way the UK Government has, under successive Tory, Labour and Lib Dem administrations."
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AP News in Brief at 6:04 a.m. EST | 1:26 Auburn QB Sean White describes injury, health ahead of Sugar Bowl Pause
1:42 Vacant midtown building gets facelift by artists,community volunteers
1:51 Judge sentences Harris to serve two consecutive sentences of life without parole
2:06 Meet the chef and owner of Trevioli Artisan Pasta Company
2:11 Area animal rescue in dire need of financial assistance
0:47 Raw video: Shooting at Modesto Costco
1:19 Pokemon Go player slams car into Baltimore police cruiser
1:03 How to keep your Facebook Newsfeed full of news
1:43 Roaming bear tranquilized after two nearby schools put on lockdown |
Heavy rains, landslides kill 18 in Rwanda - govt | KIGALI, April 24 (Reuters) - Eighteen people died overnight on Monday when heavy rains ripped through several parts of Rwanda, causing landslides, the government said.
The East African nation, dubbed a country of a thousand hills, has recently been affected by landslides as a result of heavy downpours flattening houses on mountain slopes.
"Eighteen people passed on due to disasters caused by heavy rains in the night of 23rd April," Rwanda´s ministry in charge of disaster management said on Twitter.
Seven people died in Rwanda´s north, eight in the capital Kigali and three in Gatsibo in the east, with 79 houses and 56 hectares of crops destroyed, it said. The ministry was still assessing the extent of damage from the heavy rain.
The government has in the past urged Rwandans who live on mountain slopes to move to areas less prone to disasters.
Monday's toll follows the deaths of 51 people in heavy rains and lightning between January and mid-April, the ministry said. That toll included 16 people who died when lightning struck a church in March. (Reporting by Clement Uwiringiyimana; Writing by George Obulutsa, Editing by William Maclean) |
Coroner identifies victims in possible murder-suicide | 2:15
Carlton Gary executed: "The only thing that I wanted to see was legal justice, and that's what I saw tonight" |
Bob Dylan documentary set to be screened in Newcastle as music legend is celebrated | Get what's on updates directly to your inbox + Subscribe Thank you for subscribing! Could not subscribe, try again later Invalid Email
Bob Dylan remains one of the most influential musicians in the world.
Awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature last year, he is still a music icon, and is embarking on a UK tour later this month.
To celebrate 50 years since the release of D.A Pennebaker’s film ‘Don’t Look Back’, documenting Dylan’s 1965 tour, the movie is being toured across the UK.
Following the same path as Dylan’s original tour, the movie is being screened at the Tyneside Cinema in Newcastle on Saturday May 6, and to celebrate this we are taking a look at some of the historic links between our great city and the man himself.
Dylan’s visit to Newcastle, as part of his 1965 tour, is immortalised in the film.
As well as showing a conversation between Dylan and then-Councillor Theresa Russell, in which he gives her a harmonica in exchange for her offer of staying at Mansion House the next year, it also shows him visiting a clothing shop.
The footage shows him trying on a jacket and tie at Marcus Price on the Groat Market, and it is even reported that he wore the jacket on stage at Newcastle City Hall at his gig later that evening.
Dylan returned to the city in 1984 for a gig at St James’ Park.
Following a season that saw the Magpies earn promotion back to the top flight, 25,000 people gathered in the stadium to see the music legend play some of his best-known hits.
Supported by Santana and North-East favourites Lindisfarne, tickets for the show cost just £11, with touts forced to sell them at below face value to make a sale.
In more recent years, artwork produced by Dylan has gone on sale in Newcastle.
Castle Fine Art, on Grey Street, had eight limited edition prints from Dylan’s Drawn Blank Series for sale in 2014.
Priced from £1,750, the works were signed by Dylan himself and were based on drawings he made while touring between 1989 and 1992.
And if you fancy a drink following the screening of the film, Dylan is rumoured to have visited the Bridge Hotel, on Castle Square, in the early 1960’s. |
Celebrity Big Brother 2018 - Emma Willis red-faced over Ann Widdecombe gaffe | The presenter was stunned when the former politician revealed that she had been provided the wrong information about her living arrangements.
Emma noted: “Normally you live on your own so what was it like living with 15 other people?”
“Terrible, absolutely terrible,” Ann replied. “There was noise all the time. I was woken up in the morning by loud pop music played by big brother.”
The brunette beauty then asked: “How do you think you’re going to fare now to just you with and your lovely cats that you adore?”
“Well I don’t have any cats thats misinformation,” Ann snapped back. |
Bruins re-sign forward Sean Kuraly to 3-year deal | BOSTON (AP) The Boston Bruins have re-signed forward Sean Kuraly to a three-year deal.
The contract has an annual cap hit of $1.275 million, the team said.
Kuraly scored six goals last season, his first full season in the NHL. He had two goals and a pair of assists in the playoffs.
Also Tuesday, the Bruins signed forward Anton Bildh to a two-way contract that would pay him $650,000 in the NHL. He had 11 goals and 15 assists with Providence of the AHL last season.
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More AP NHL: https://apnews.com/tag/NHLhockey |
The Terrible Podcast - Talking Steelers Ravens Game Recap, AFC Playoff Picture, Injury Recap & More | Season 8, Episode 58 of The Terrible Podcast is now up and in this Monday show, David Todd and I get right to talking about the Pittsburgh Steelers Sunday night win over the Baltimore Ravens that resulted in them clinching the AFC North.
David and I jump all over the place early on in this podcast but finally settle on talking about the play of the Steelers offense against the Ravens. We talk a lot about the play of quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, wide receiver Antonio Brown and the two tight ends, Jesse James and Vance McDonald.
Running back Le’Veon Bell was also a huge contributor in the passing game Sunday night and we discuss a few of his touchdowns Sunday night.
We make sure to save plenty of time to talk about the play of the Steelers defense Sunday night which wasn’t great at all. We go over how the Steelers tried to cover up for the loss of inside linebacker Ryan Shazier and how safety Sean Davis had a miserable night.
The officiating wasn’t great Sunday night and thus David and I recap a few calls and non-calls that happened during the game. We also go over a few questionable play calls and coaching decisions that took place late in the game.
We give you an update on the Steelers injury situation following their win over the Ravens and discuss a roster move that will likely take place on Tuesday.
David and I close the show by resetting the AFC playoff picture and start taking a small look ahead to the Steelers week 15 home game against the New England Patriots. We also talk briefly about the NFL playoff picture as Week 14 comes to a close.
As always, several other smaller talking points are mixed in throughout the show that are not highlighted here in this post.
Thanks for listening and don’t forget to call or email with questions or comments and please pass us along to your friends!
The new message hotline is (814) 429-YINZ
Direct download link: The Terrible Podcast – Talking Steelers Ravens Game Recap, AFC Playoff Picture, Injury Recap & More
As always we love talking football, particularly Steelers football. We hope you enjoy listening! We hope you listen weekly and give us your feedback of two Daves talking Steelers football. Download it to your iPod or mp3 player and listen anytime.
We invite feedback and questions and they can be sent to theterriblepodcast[[AT]]gmail.com and follow the show on Twitter @TerriblePodcast. You can follow David on Twitter @DavidMTodd and me @Steelersdepot You can also call our new hotline at (814) 429-YINZ (9469) to weigh in with your thoughts or ask us questions for future podcast.
You can find us on iTunes here: http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/id405990739 & here is the RSS feed to subscribe to: http://feeds.feedburner.com/TheTerriblePodcast
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Jury sides with 3M in trial over patient-warming device | MINNEAPOLIS — Federal jurors have sided with 3M Co. in a lawsuit brought by a South Carolina man who contended a surgical infection he suffered was caused by the Minnesota company’s patient-warming device.
The jury in Minneapolis decided Wednesday that 76-year-old Louis Gareis had not shown that 3M’s Bair Hugger device caused his problem during hip-replacement surgery in 2010.
Gareis’ attorneys said an appeal will be filed. 3M says the company “is grateful that the jury put science first.”
The Star Tribune reports the case was the first of thousands of individual lawsuits pending against Maplewood-based 3M to go to a jury.
The Bair Hugger is used in more than 80 per cent of U.S. hospitals during surgery to maintain the patient’s normal body temperature before, during and after a surgery.
——
Information from: Star Tribune, http://www.startribune.com |
Trump, GOP face referendum in Georgia; Dems aim for upset | ALPHARETTA, Ga. (AP) - Republicans are trying to prevent a major upset stoked by opposition to President Donald Trump in a conservative congressional district in Georgia.
Tuesday's jungle-style primary lumps all 18 candidates on one ballot. The leading Democrat, 30-year-old Jon Ossoff, needs to clear 50 percent to avoid a June runoff.
Polls put Ossoff in the lead but short of that margin. Four of the 11 Republican candidates are fighting for the No. 2 spot, limiting their ability to focus on Ossoff.
In a Monday, March 27, 2017 photo, Democratic Congressional candidate Jon Ossoff greets supporters outside of the East Roswell Branch Library in Roswell, Ga., on the first day of early voting. President Donald Trump is attacking the leading Democratic candidate for a special election in a typically conservative Georgia congressional district, with Republicans bidding to avoid a major upset. On Twitter, Trump said Monday April 17, 2017, that "The super Liberal Democrat in the Georgia Congressional race tomorrow wants to protect criminals, allow illegal immigration and raise taxes!" (AP Photo/Alex Sanz)
Both national parties have paid field staffers working the race for the seat Tom Price resigned to become Trump's health secretary. Ossoff supporters have contributed more than $8 million. A political action committee backed by House Speaker Paul Ryan has spent more than $2 million attacking Ossoff.
In a Monday, March 27, 2017 photo, Democratic congressional candidate Jon Ossoff is seen with supporters outside of the East Roswell Branch Library in Roswell, Ga., on the first day of early voting. President Donald Trump is attacking Ossoff, the leading Democratic candidate for a special election in a typically conservative Georgia congressional district, with Republicans bidding to avoid a major upset. On Twitter, Trump said Monday April 17, 2017, that "The super Liberal Democrat in the Georgia Congressional race tomorrow wants to protect criminals, allow illegal immigration and raise taxes!" (AP Photo/Alex Sanz)
The post election dominoes of President Donald Trumps administration picks and a California Democratic appointment have created five openings in the U.S. House of Representatives, including in the 6th Congressional District in suburban Atlanta. Eighteen candidates, including the ones seen in this compilation of campaign advertisements, are running in a special election on Tuesday, April 18, 2017. Democrats believe they have a shot, based on Trumps underperformance and the early fundraising success of Jon Ossoff. (AP Photo/Alex Sanz) |
BRIEF-Concentric wins order worth around SEK 45 mln over 5 years | March 28 Concentric Ab
* Concentric awarded contract with leading global OEM of material handling equipment
* Says production has already started in Q1 of 2017 and is estimated to generate total worldwide revenues of approximately MSEK 45 over a 5 year period
* Says awarded contract from a leading global OEM of material tele-handlers, boom and vertical lifts to produce hydraulic power units (HPUs) for their next generation of material handling equipment. Source text for Eikon: Further company coverage: (Reporting by Stockholm Newsroom) |
Stepantsminda-Lars highway closed for all types of vehicles | YEREVAN, APRIL 14, ARMENPRESS. Georgia’s Ministry of Infrastructures and Territorial Development told Armenia’s Ministry of Transportation, Communication and Information Technologies on April 14, as of 11:00, the Stepantsminda-Lars highway is closed for all types of vehicles, the Ministry told Armenpress. |
Portsmouth MP raises question on funding for schools | SCHOOLS are asking teachers to provide basic classroom materials, ministers heard.
Portsmouth South Labour MP Stephen Morgan told the Commons school staff in the city had to buy materials.
He said: ‘Glue sticks are being brought in by hardworking staff, with this in mind does the minister still maintain Portsmouth schools have enough money and resources?’
Education minister Nick Gibb said it was not right people had to pay for basic school needs, adding: ‘We are spending record amounts on our school system, £41bn this year rising to £42.5bn by 2019/20.’
Leader of Portsmouth City Council Donna Jones said: ‘The startling announcement made by Stephen Morgan doesn’t reflect the situation of schools across the city. They are sitting on reserves of £11m meaning no teacher should have to buy stationery.’
As previously reported in The News parents of pupils at Mill Rythe Infant School, on Hayling Island, helped provide supplies after the school was hit by cuts. |
BRIEF-Birchcliff Energy announces increase in ownership by Seymour Schulich | April 3 Birchcliff Energy Ltd:
* Birchcliff Energy Ltd. announces increase in ownership by Seymour Schulich
* Seymour Schulich informed Birchcliff that he recently acquired control and direction over an additional 500,000 common shares
* Schulich now beneficially owns/controls approximately 14% of current issued and outstanding common shares of co
* Seymour Schulich acquired additional 500,000 common shares of Birchcliff at a purchase price of $7.67 per common share Source text for Eikon: Further company coverage: |
Kayla Cox Shares a Shocking Secret With Faven Liuget on WAGS Miami: What She Told Me is Crazy As F--k! | Could this be the end?
On this week's episode of WAGS Miami, Kayla Cox and Faven Liuget are finally on good terms after squashing the drama and Kayla feels close enough to let Faven in on a major life secret.
"Eric and I are separating," Kayla reveals. "We're kind of in a trying time. We met when I was 18 years old and I'm growing into a different person." After her bombshell reveal, Faven is reasonably stunned by the announcement. |
Scam parking notices on the Coffs Coast. | HERE'S another one you can delete from your in-box. It might look all official at first but don't be fooled, Coffs Harbour City Council does not email parking infringements.
Council's Facebook page is warning locals to disregard and delete any email alleging to be from them requesting payment for parking fines.
As stated in their post, "If you receive an email claiming to be an infringement notice from Coffs Harbour City Council, please delete it. This is a scam. Council never sends infringement notices or follow-ups via email.”
DELETE: Coffs Harbour City Council does not email parking fines. Wendy Andrews
And if the wording on the email doesn't arouse your suspicions the dollar amount for the penalty should - "$30 for parking longer than permitted.” We wish. The penalty for parking continuously for longer than permitted, and parking without a valid ticket in NSW as determined by the RMS is up around $100.
For more information on current scam alerts visit here |
Cine Creta Maris: An open-air cinema reopens in the center of Hersonissos | The open-air cinema "Cine Creta Maris" opens its doors again.
Contact
Creta Maris Beach Resort
Mrs Faye Papaioannou
***@cretamaris.gr Creta Maris Beach ResortMrs Faye Papaioannou
End
-- 42 years ago, Creta Maris Beach Resort had launched "", the first open-air cinema in the center of Hersonissos, offering the most pleasant memories to local and international audience. On, it reopens, enabling residents of the wider region and tourists to enjoy the best summer movies in a comfortable and delightful environment.Open-air cinema is a space that travels the mind and the soul, while awaking memories from our childhood and the old town of Hersonissos. In recent years, it is considered a culturally protected institution and this is the main reason why Creta Maris decided to reopen it." is located at Creta Maris Beach Resort premises, and has the largest space on a European scale, as well as all the necessary amenities for an ideal movie night. From Thursday, June 15, and throughout the summer, Cine Creta Maris will be one of the best choices for a night out with friends and family. General admission tickets will be priced at 8 euros, while a special ticket price of 5 euros will be also available for children, unemployed and seniors. Moreover, special prices of 6 euros will be available for group bookings of more than 15 people. Cine Creta Maris will present Premier Movies in English with Greek subtitles. A movie will be shown twice a day, while new movies will be shown every Thursday.Creta Maris Beach Resort's open-air cinema aspires to become a favorite summer destination that will surpass the cinematic experience with its beauty and coolness.Creta Maris Beach Resort belongs to Metaxas' Group of Companies and has been operating since 1975. It has a capacity of 680 rooms, suites and bungalows, 6 restaurants, 7 bars, 7 swimming pools, gym, Hammam spa, Asterias Children's Club, and a great space for outdoor and indoor activities.Please find pictures of the Cine Creta Maris on high resolution on the below link:Please find pictures of Creta Maris Beach Resort on high resolution on our site: |
Cardinal Blase J. Cupich, Prof. Jonathan Lear to give keynotes at conference | After more than two years of research with collaboration between philosophers, religious thinkers and psychologists, the Virtue, Happiness & the Meaning of Life project will present its findings at a capstone conference on Oct. 13 and 14, featuring keynote talks by Prof. Jonathan Lear and Cardinal Blase J. Cupich.
The conference culminates a project that brought scholars together from around the world to examine the enrichment of human life. Research in both the humanities and social sciences suggests that people who feel they belong to something bigger than themselves—be it family, a spiritual practice, or work in social justice—are often happier than those who do not. Scholars refer to the feeling as “self-transcendence.”
Panelists throughout both days, including scholars from religious studies, theology, philosophy, psychology, and economics, will discuss whether self-transcendence truly makes people happier and provides deeper meaning in human life.
Speakers from the University of Chicago include Candace Vogler, the David B. and Clara E. Stern Professor of Philosophy and co-principal investigator for the project; Marc Berman, assistant professor in psychology; and Tahera Qutbuddin, professor of Arabic literature.
"This conference serves to share our research with the broader community,” said Jennifer A. Frey, co-principal investigator, assistant professor of philosophy at the University of South Carolina and formerly a scholar at the University of Chicago. “Our scholars from a variety of disciplines have reached similar conclusions about the essential role of self-transcendence in the general account of what makes for potential happiness and meaning in human lives. Our hope is that as this project winds down, we are only at the beginning of a new line of research.”
Lear, the John U. Nef Distinguished Service Professor in the Committee on Social Thought and the Department of Philosophy, will speak at 7 p.m. Oct. 13 at the Oriental Institute. His talk, titled “Gettysburg,” will look at the ethical difficulties of memorializing the dead and in particular the soldiers that died following the bloodiest battle of the U.S. Civil War.
Cardinal Cupich will speak at 6 p.m. Oct. 14 in the auditorium at the Law School. He will deliver a talk considering virtue in the context of building up the common good, titled “A Consistent Ethic of Solidarity: Transcending Self, Transforming the World.” President Robert J. Zimmer will introduce the cardinal.
"Cardinal Cupich has distinguished himself in his fundamental love of and concern for some of the most disadvantaged people in the city of Chicago,” said Vogler. “His call for solidarity is rooted in the genuine practice of solidarity, day in and day out."
The conference is free and open to the public, but registration is required. To learn more, visit the Virtue, Happiness & the Meaning of Life website. |
Illinois museum offers free admission to military families | SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) - The Illinois State Museum is among 2,000 museums across the nation to offer free admission to military personnel and their families this summer.
The Blue Star Museum Program is supported by the National Endowment for the Arts, Blue Star Families and the Department of Defense.
The program is designed to give families the chance to enjoy the nation's cultural heritage. And it helps families after a military move learn more about their new communities.
The Illinois State Museum's program runs until Sept. 3. The museum's "Unsung Heroes" exhibit continues until June 3. Its major exhibition, "Bicentennial and Beyond! The Illinois Legacy Collection" begins June 30. It will showcase the museum's rarest and best pieces.
Active military and veterans always get free admission to the museum. |
SMA Solar targets energy management as competition heats up | FRANKFURT/DUESSELDORF SMA Solar (S92G.DE), Germany's biggest solar company, plans to expand its energy management business, hoping the market will have higher entry barriers for Chinese competitors than its core business of making invertors to feed solar power into the grid.
SMA Solar is the world's largest maker of solar inverters, a key component in solar plants that convert direct current generated from panels into alternating current, where it competes with the likes of SolarEdge (SEDG.O) and ABB (ABBN.S).
But that market has got a lot tougher since China, the world's largest market, has curbed support to its domestic industry, leading local suppliers to flood other regions with their products and pushing down prices.
Among the products in its new drive, SMA will launch software that enables commercial clients such as supermarkets to monitor energy flows from systems based on solar panels, air ventilation, storage and heating, and optimize their costs.
"That is the trend in the energy sector we see over the next three to five years," Chief Executive Pierre-Pascal Urbon told journalists at the group's annual press conference on Thursday.
Prices for inverters have tumbled by an average of 10 percent per year since 2010, SMA said, echoing remarks from panel maker SolarWorld (SWVKk.DE) a day earlier.
"Last year, it was even 17 percent," SMA Chief Financial Officer Ulrich Hadding said.
New energy management products will drive profitability from next year onwards, Urbon said, declining to be more specific about the potential size of the market SMA is targeting.
Urbon said the group was planning to enter into cooperation deals in energy management, where utilities including Innogy (IGY.DE) and E.ON (EONGn.DE) as well as engineers such as Siemens (SIEGn.DE) and General Electric (GE.N) are vying for dominance.
SMA is forecasting falling sales and profits this year, but proposed a dividend of 0.26 euros per share for 2016, almost twice what it paid for 2015 after efficiency gains led its net profit to double to 29.6 million euros ($32 million).
(Editing by Mark Potter) |
Panel sets date to rule on Whiteclay beer store licenses | Four Nebraska beer stores on the border of South Dakota's Pine Ridge Indian Reservation will learn next week whether state regulators will allow them to stay in business. The Nebraska Liquor Control Commission says it will issue a ruling Wednesday on whether the stores in Whiteclay can renew their liquor licenses.
Start the conversation, or Read more at KOTA-TV Rapid City. |
Tube workers announce ANOTHER strike over 'displacement' | Commuters can expect more travel misery on the London Underground after staff announced another strike.
Members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union will walk out on parts of the Central line in a dispute over 'displacement' of staff.
The drivers went on strike last month in the same dispute, disrupting services on the Central and Waterloo and City lines.
Members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union will walk out on parts of the Central line in a dispute over 'displacement' of staff (commuters queuing for a bus during a strike last month)
Staff will now walk out for 15 hours from 9pm on Tuesday next week.
The dispute is over plans to make eight drivers move to different depots which are understaffed.
Mick Cash, RMT general secretary, said: 'RMT negotiators have made strenuous efforts through the Acas machinery to resolve this dispute but the door has been slammed in our faces.
'To up the ante, LU have now written to us confirming that they will be bulldozing through the displacements regardless.
'Let us be in no doubt, if LU are allowed to get away with this move on the Central line they will start shunting drivers around at the drop of a hat regardless of the consequences.
'Our members will be sent out from pillar to post to plug gaps that are solely down to staffing shortages. With massive budget cuts in the pipeline at LU this is a straw in the wind as to how the company expects to operate in the future.
'Staff across London Underground are angry and the company would be wise to recognise that.'
The drivers went on strike last month in the same dispute, disrupting services on the Central and Waterloo and City lines
Steve Griffiths, London Underground's chief operating officer, said: 'This threat of strike action is completely unnecessary.
'Like any responsible transport authority we regularly examine how we can provide the best possible service to customers, and to achieve this sometimes we need to move staff from locations where they are under-utilised, to the places where they are really needed.
'We have agreements with the trade unions that enable us to do this.
'We have identified eight drivers for whom there is not enough work on the Central line, so we have asked them to move to another line where they would make a real difference to the service our customers receive.'
Last month much of the capital was brought to a standstill because of a mass 24-hour strike which affected the tube network.
Talks between the RMT and Southern collapsed yesterday over the role of conductors (commuters last month in queues caused by striking Southern rail workers)
The news come as rail union leaders will meet today to decide whether to announce further strikes on Southern Rail.
Talks between the RMT and Southern collapsed yesterday over the role of conductors.
The two sides blamed each other for the failure to break the deadlocked row.
Union leaders and a senior management team met for over three hours at the conciliation service Acas but it ended without agreement.
Leaders of the drivers’ union Aslef reached a deal with Southern which is being put to a ballot of members. The result will be announced on Thursday.
Strikes affecting British Airways cabin crew have been announced for February 22
Elsewhere, British Airways cabin crew are to stage a fresh wave of four strikes in a long-running dispute over pay.
Unite said its members at the airline were 'piling on the pressure' by walking out from February 22, on top of a four-day stoppage from this Friday.
Members of the so-called mixed fleet have taken 11 days of action so far this year in protest at 'poverty' pay. The mixed fleet work on short and long-haul flights.
The two sides have clashed over pay, with Unite saying the cabin crew earned an average of £16,000 a year, including allowances, but BA insisting no one was paid below £21,000. |
Winning numbers drawn in 'Daily 3 Evening' game | SACRAMENTO (AP) _ The winning numbers in Sunday evening's drawing of the California Lottery's "Daily 3 Evening" game were:
9-8-3
(nine, eight, three)
¶ Ticket-holders with all three winning numbers in the order given win the top prize. Lesser amounts are also awarded to ticket-holders with other varying combinations of the winning numbers. |
Kendrick Lamar gets standing ovation accepting Pulitzer Prize | Manhattan, N.Y. – Rapper Kendrick Lamar officially became the first rapper to receive a Pulitzer Prize on Wednesday.
The Grammy-winning artist accepted his music award at a luncheon at Columbia University for his 14-track album, “DAMN.”
This marks the first time in the organization’s more than 100-year-old history that a non-classical or jazz work was selected for the award.
Dana Canedy, an administrator for the Pulitzer Prizes, greeted Lamar ahead of the ceremony.
“We’re both making history,” Canedy said.
.@kendricklamar is in the building. “We’re both making history,” #Pulitzer Administrator @DanaCanedy told the Pulitzer music award-winner as he entered today’s prize luncheon. pic.twitter.com/Tg3cMQiLOH — The Pulitzer Prizes (@PulitzerPrizes) May 30, 2018
Last month, the organization announced that Lamar’s fourth studio album was selected for the prestigious award. Board members credited his spot-on lyrical content examining the complexity of Blackness through a variety of sounds like hip-hop, jazz and funk.
In a video shared online by an attendee, the crowd gave Lamar a rousing applause and standing ovation. Although Lamar did not deliver an acceptance speech, he called the award an honor.
“I’ve been writing my whole life, so to get this type of recognition…it’s beautiful.” |
Anushka Sharma's character in 'Sanju' inspired by film's writers | Mumbai: The mystery around actress Anushka Sharma's role in "Sanju" was unravelled here as director Rajkumar Hirani revealed that her character as a biographer is modelled on himself and Abhijat Joshi, who have co-written the film.
At the film's trailer launch here on Wednesday, Hirani told the media: "To showcase a biopic like this, you have to compress few parts into one. Similarly, Anushka Sharma's character is derived from myself and Abhijat. She is playing a biographer from London, and she comes to India. Sanjay wants her to write a book on him whereas she doesn't want to.
"We were also sceptical at first whether we should do this character or not. So basically she is us, but not as a filmmaker... (as) a biographer."
The actress sports a messy, curly hair avatar in the movie, which talks about the ups and downs in the life of actor Sanjay Dutt. Ranbir Kapoor plays the central character in the film, which will release on June 29. |
USD/JPY Analysis: puts the down-trend to another test | Pair’s Outlook
Friday ended with the USD/JPY currency pair putting the bearish trend-line to another test, but ultimately leaving it intact. Another attempt was made earlier today, when the pair opened with a bullish gap and tried to reclaim the 114.00 mark. The weekly R1, however, appears to be providing strong resistance, which could cause the Buck to be sold sufficiently, making bears take over the market today. In this case the down-trend will be preserved once again, although risks of a breakout are now high. Either way the second resistance area around 114.30 is expected to hold, whereas any bearish development is to be limited by the 20-day SMA circa 113.38. |
All Hours Plumbing and Drain Cleaning Offers Water Heater Services | All Hours Plumbing and Drain’s skilled and licensed plumbers deliver fast, affordable, and reliable maintenance, repair, and installation of water heaters.
[SANDY, 05/30/2018] – All Hours Plumbing and Drain Cleaning understands how inconvenient it can be to have an inefficient, or worse, a broken unit. As such, the company dispatches technicians right away to provide water heater services.
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With regular tune ups, the company can correct water sediment buildup. This issue can cause several problems and result in slow water flow, bad smell, and noises. All Hours Plumbing and Drain Cleaning wants to ensure that the water heaters of residents run efficiently and that it lasts long as it can.
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The company’s technicians can get a unit up and running again as soon as possible, ensuring customers resume their routines. They make sure that no resident endures cold showers and other inconveniences brought by water heater problems.
If a water heater becomes too cold and goes beyond repair, it may be time for a replacement. All Hours Plumbing and Drain Cleaning can help residents in picking out a new water heater. The company’s contractors also help install the new unit as soon as needed.
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No plumbing issue can be too small or too big for All Hours Plumbing and Drain Cleaning to handle. For more information, go to https://saltlakedraincleaning.com/ today. |
Book review: No Way Out by Major Adam Jowett | When commanding officer Major Adam Jowett faced the battle of a lifetime against a deadly force of Taliban insurgents in Afghanistan in the summer of 2006, it was the culmination of an ambition that was born 24 years earlier.
The Surrey schoolboy was just 11 years old when he saw television images of the ‘grimy, hard-looking men’ in maroon berets, the famous Paras who fought and won a tough campaign in the faraway Falkland Islands, and vowed that one day he would be a soldier and lead his own men into battle.
And when he stepped into the fray in Helmand province at the head of a hastily assembled and under-strength unit of Paras and Royal Irish rangers, Jowett was finally commanding a troop of his own… but against a ferocious, merciless enemy in one of the toughest places on Earth.
The man who had so relished the physical and mental challenges of officer training at Sandhurst College was about to face his sternest and most terrifying test yet in the notorious siege at Musa Qala, a town and district centre in the central western part of Helmand which would become the scene of a heroic struggle.
Twelve years after the heart-thumping events in that summer of 2006, Jowett brings us his raw, honest, hard-hitting, emotional and truly inspirational account of a fight for survival that has been labelled by former war reporter Martin Bell as ‘the Rorke’s Drift of our times.’
Describing in visceral and vivid detail what it was like to have responsibility for the lives of his men as they fought back bravely over 21 days and nights of relentless, nerve-shredding combat, Jowett takes us up close and personal to the heart of war – from the crumps, whumps and booms of attack to the sickening sight of a man down and the sheer exhaustion of almost non-stop fighting.
In charge of a new unit, which took the letter E and soon became known as ‘Easy Company,’ Jowett’s mission had been to hold the district centre at any cost but their base was a ramshackle compound and their defences were weak.
Cut off, outgunned and heavily outnumbered by the Taliban in the town, the British soldiers were a sitting target for their enemy who began launching wave after wave of brutal attacks, including crawling up the compound walls and having to be driven back with hand grenades.
Finally, as they came down to their last rounds and with 80 men left to face 500 of the enemy, death seemed to stare Easy Company in the face. The battlegroup did not have the resources to bring in more ammunition by convoy and the danger of flying in Chinook helicopters made that method of resupply too risky.
‘The statistics weren’t great on paper,’ writes Jowett, ‘but they didn’t take into account that my small number of British soldiers were amongst the best trained infantry in the world, and that they would fight like dogs.’
The night before what many knew could be their last day, Jowett like every other man in the company, marked out his last magazine. ‘When I was down to my last few rounds, I would make sure I died upright and fighting. Better that than the alternative of falling into the hands of the Taliban, which was far worse than death.
‘Tomorrow, our enemy would come and try to kill us, and it was my job – my duty – to see they died instead.’
Surrounded by the enemy and with their backs to the wall and no way out, no one in Easy Company could have foreseen that the siege was destined to take an extraordinary turn…
Gripping, emotionally charged and intensely powerful, No Way Out is a dramatic and yet straightforwardly honest first-hand account of war in all its grim reality; but it is also Jowett’s moving tribute to the gallant men of his unit.
Some were injured and some did not come home alive but it was ‘their courage, their grit, and their sheer unbreakable spirit’ which defied the greatest odds to beat back ‘an unrelentingly barbaric enemy’ and which will forever be a part of the man who led them.
Lest we forget…
(Sidgwick & Jackson, hardback, £18.99) |
Why McConnell hasn't said anything on Trump's Mueller attacks | Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has long believed he does not need to respond in real time or react to every controversial tweet or other action by President Donald Trump, according to people close to the senator.
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While he has complained before about the abundance of tweets, he's withheld revealing publicly the depths of his concerns.
That was the case this weekend when reporters pressed his staff for a response to Trump's slamming of special counsel Robert Mueller that caused many Republicans to worry the President might fire the man heading the Russia investigation.
McConnell's staff would only refer reporters back to a January statement from McConnell when he said he didn't think Mueller needed any special protection because he didn't think the President would fire him. The aide said McConnell's position had not evolved since then.
RELATED: Trump tweets 'WITCH HUNT' following his attacks on Mueller
But while he was silent, the GOP leader knew the Sunday TV talk shows were filled with members of his Republican conference -- from across the ideological spectrum -- urging caution to the President and imploring him not to take the drastic step. McConnell could let his members make the point and hold his fire until his weekly news conference Tuesday when he knows he will be asked about the issue, according to a person familiar with his thinking.
McConnell and Trump speak regularly and have a good working relationship, according to Senate aides, something that could be jeopardized if McConnell came out swinging whenever he had a disagreement with a presidential tweet.
His reticence may also mean that when and if McConnell does speak out on some issue at some time, his words could carry more weight than if he was routinely publicized his concerns.
South Carolina Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham, who was one of the strongest voices Sunday against dismissing Mueller, was asked why GOP leaders haven't been more vocal urging Trump not to fire Mueller.
"They probably feel like they don't need to say it," Graham said. "I just think you spend your capital on issues where you think you get your best return. I don't think anybody in our conference believes Robert Mueller is going to be fired. I don't." |
Ex-carnival worker convicted of molesting boys drops bid to skip sex-offender registration | An elderly ex-carnival worker has withdrawn his request to be exempted from sex-offender registration requirements if he is released from prison.
Joseph Busija, 87, formerly of Penn Township, had written to Westmoreland County Common Pleas Judge Timothy Krieger last month, arguing that his 1997 conviction for molesting two children from Florida and Jeannette predated the state's registration requirement for sex offenders, so he shouldn't have to register when and if he is paroled from his 15- to 30-year prison sentence.
Authorities and witnesses at his trial said Busija met the two victims at carnivals where he worked, and they ended up in his custody before he began molesting them. One victim, from Florida, lived with Busija nearly nine years until they tried to cross the Canadian border with a pet pig; the victim escaped when border agents denied the pig entry, and the boy was sent back to Penn Township with it.
Prosecutors answered in a brief that while parts of the law requiring registration at the time of his conviction were declared unconstitutional in 1999, the registration requirement more generally has been upheld and reinforced by more recent laws.
Busija was scheduled for a hearing Tuesday morning but wrote another letter to Krieger asking to withdraw the motion. He was not present in court, having previously waived being transported from the State Correctional Institute at Laurel Highlands.
Matthew Santoni is a Tribune-Review staff writer. Reach him at 724 836 6660, [email protected] or via Twitter @msantoni. |
LA Dodgers split a pair, beating Padres but losing to Reds | THE GAMES: The Dodgers split a pair of split-squad games Tuesday afternoon, beating the San Diego Padres, 3-1, at Camelback Ranch in Glendale, Ariz., but losing, 9-3, to the Cincinnati Reds at Goodyear Ballpark.
PITCHING REPORT: Vying for the final spot in the Dodgers’ rotation to start the season, left-hander Alex Wood did not perform well. He gave up six runs (five earned) on 11 hits (including two home runs) in six innings against the Reds. … The Dodgers’ first-round pick in the 2015 draft, right-hander Walker Buehler, made his first Cactus League appearance. He walked Joey Votto and gave up a two-run home run to Adam Duvall before retiring the side in the seventh inning. … In the game against the Padres, left-hander Julio Urias made his final start of the spring. He was limited to 2 2/3 innings, allowed two hits but no runs, walked one and struck out one. … Chris Hatcher pitched two scoreless innings in relief, retiring all six Padres batters he faced.
HITTING REPORT: Cody Bellinger hit his second home run of the spring, another towering shot this time off Reds starter Scott Feldman. … In the game against the Padres, catcher Bobby Wilson hit his fourth home run of the spring. Only Joc Pederson has hit more homers for the Dodgers this spring. … Pederson went 1 for 3 Tuesday. Despite his team-leading five home runs, Pederson is batting just .214 this spring.
QUOTE OF THE DAY: “I’m Chase.” – Veteran second baseman Chase Utley to Buehler when he went to the mound to calm Buehler down after the home run to Duvall.
ALSO: Yasiel Puig played in a minor-league camp game Tuesday to work on his swing. Puig is hitting just .234 (11 for 47) with 11 strikeouts this spring.
UP NEXT: The Dodgers conclude their Cactus League schedule on Wednesday with a game in Peoria against the Seattle Mariners (RHP Hisashi Iwakuma). LHP Clayton Kershaw is scheduled to start but will pitch no more than three innings. On MLB Network.
– Bill Plunkett |
Libya captures two oil-smuggling tankers after firefight | TRIPOLI Libyan naval forces captured two vessels suspected of smuggling oil from the North African country after gun battles lasting several hours west of the capital Tripoli, a spokesman for the service said on Friday.
Libyan forces frequently capture vessels smuggling oil and arms off the coast and the North African state has become a haven for migrant smugglers who take advantage of the country's turmoil to ship people across to Europe.
Ayoub Qassem, a spokesman for the Libyan naval forces, said Ukraine-flagged tanker Routa and a vessel with an unspecified African nation's flag named Stark were captured early Friday.
"Clashes lasted for three hours, but the two tankers were successfully seized," Qassem said.
The incident occurred in the Sidi Said area west of Tripoli. Qassem did not report any casualties or give details on what happened to the crew of the vessels or their nationalities.
Six years after the fall of Muammar Gaddafi, Libya is still caught in turmoil among rival military factions who once fought against the former leader but then turned against one another in a multi-sided power struggle.
A U.N.-backed government in Tripoli is struggling to assert control since arriving in Libya more than a year ago. Libya's oil infrastructure is also often targeted by fighting or blockades as rival groups seek to gain wealth or leverage.
(Reporting by Ahmed Elumami; Writing Patrick Markey; Editing by Mark Potter) |
Pink Sari Revolution review - scorching truths from fight against patriarchy | Masculinity is a weapon in Uttar Pradesh, where corruption breathes easily. Based on a book by Guardian journalist Amana Fontanella-Khan, Pink Sari Revolution shows the extent of male violence that goes unchallenged in the Indian state, and the personal cost of taking it on.
The consequences of domestic abuse spill on to the stage as a woman’s body swings from a tree and a bucket of blood is poured down a drain. The acts of brutality might be unseen in this production but the cuts and bruises are clear.
Sampat Pal (played with deafening determination by Syreeta Kumar) tries to disrupt the narrative of women as victims in India. She fights, stick in hand, against injustice. She is the real-life leader of the 400,000-strong Gulabi Gang, known for their blazing pink saris. The colour was chosen, it’s said, because that is the colour of the sky before a storm breaks.
Banda sisters Read more
Sampat becomes embroiled in the case of Sheelu (Ulrika Krishnamurti), a low-caste Dalit girl raped by a high-caste man. Her words against his mean nothing to the authorities. Krishnamurti’s performance scorches the stage as she recounts the rape: she folds into herself, her face contorts with repulsion and the vowel of the word “no” oozes out of her.
Facebook Twitter Pinterest Ulrika Krishnamurti as Sheelu. Photograph: Pamela Raith
Toxic attitudes toward consent sink through the generations as the dutiful wife of the accused instructs her daughter-in-law that sex is just another household chore. To refuse it is to deny your husband something that is rightfully his. Dismantling these expectations, Sampat throws a lifeline of bright fabric across murky waters.
Isla Shaw’s set – dominated by the looming tree from which the first body hangs – begins to crackle with fire, mirroring little steps of change in the girls’ minds. Sampat’s superpower burns slowly, too, her courage relentless. When the police fail and others retreat from fear, she carries on fighting for Sheelu, even when her help is not appreciated.
After the media get involved, Sampat is criticised for hogging the attention. The production is guilty of something similar. Amid the cast of seven, the spotlight continually falls on Sampat and not the women draped in pink behind her. Playwright Purva Naresh’s dialogue doesn’t have the strength to hold its anger for the full running time, and lacks the necessary subtlety, while Suba Das’s staging is not quite ferocious enough for the story it tells. The pink tinge of the storm builds but it never breaks.
• At Curve, Leicester, until 7 October. Box office: 0116 242 3595. Then touring. |
FBI seeks information about Virginia shooting suspect | Quick Facts:
UPDATE: President Trump announced the shooter has died; he was identified as James Hodgkinson- read more about James Hodgkinson HERE
Scalise's office released a statement, scroll down to read
Rep. Steve Scalise, a staffer for Rep. Roger Williams and capitol officers were shot
The shooting happened just after 7 a.m. at a ballpark in Alexandria, Virginia
The shooting suspect was hospitalized after a shootout with police
The FBI has taken over
Scalise was taken to the hospital and listed in critical condition.
FBI officials said Wednesday evening they are seeking the public's help in gathering information about Hodgkinson.
Law enforcement just outside the US capitol began investigation Wednesday morning after a shooting at a congressional baseball practice.
Alexandria Police chief Michael Brown said they received a call around 7:09 a.m. of an active shooter at Eugene Simpson Stadium Park.
WATCH: Rand Paul, Mo Brooks recall chilling details of shooting at GOP baseball practice
Between 15-25 people were at a baseball field, practicing for an annual baseball game scheduled Thursday. Representatives Steve Scalise and a staffer for Rep. Roger Williams were both shot, according to police, along with capitol police serving as security detail to the congressmen.
Scalise was reportedly stabilized and headed to surgery. No other information has been released about victims.
Nearly 2 hours after the shooting, Scalise's office released a statement:
"This morning at a practice for the Congressional Baseball Game, Whip Scalise was shot in the hip. He was transported to MedStar Washington Hospital Center, where he is currently undergoing surgery. He is in stable condition. "Prior to entering surgery, the Whip was in good spirits and spoke to his wife by phone. He is grateful for the brave actions of US Capitol Police, first responders and colleagues."
Witnesses claim the gunman asked about the people on the field before the shooting.
The gunman, later identified as James T. Hodgkinson, died of injuries after a shootout with police.
It was revealed Hodgkinson was a former volunteer with Sen. Bernie Sanders' campaign.
Upon learning that information, Sanders released a statement:
"I am sickened by this despicable act. Let me be as clear as I can be. Violence of any kid is unacceptable in our society and I condemn this action in the strongest possible terms. Real change can only come about through nonviolent action, and anything else runs against our most deeply held American values. "My hopes and prayers are that Representative Scalise, congressional staff and the Capitol Police Officers who were wounded make a quick and full recovery. I also want to thank the Capitol Police for their heroic actions to prevent further harm."
Scalise is the first member of congress to be shot since Gabby Giffords was shot in the head in 2011.
The White House issued a statement from President Trump: Others on Capitol Hill issued statements via social media.
President Donald Trump sent a statement about the shooting:
The Vice President and I are aware of the shooting incident in Virginia and are monitoring developments closely. We are deeply saddened by this tragedy. Our thoughts and prayers are with the members of Congress, their staffs, Capitol Police, first responders, and all others affected.
Other congressional leaders sent out their thoughts via social media: [View the story "Rep. Steve Scalise Shot" on Storify]
Victims are being hospitalized.
The FBI announced Wednesday evening they are seeking the public's help in gathering more information Hodgkinson.
If you have any information concerning this individual, please contact the FBI's Washington, D.C. Field Office at 202-278-2000 or call 1-800-CALL-FBI and select option 1. You may also contact your local FBI office or the nearest American Embassy or Consulate.
FOX23 checked the team roster- nobody from Oklahoma appears to be part of the team.
The team was practicing for a 108-year-old traditional, bipartisan game between Senators and Congressmen as a fundraiser for DC charities.
All house activity has been canceled for the day, except the House Foreign Affairs Committee's hearing with Secretary of State Rex Tillerson.
This is a developing story. Check again or click to watch FOX23 News This Morning for the latest
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With Tristan Jarry sent to AHL, Matt Murray to return for Penguins' Tuesday game | Sign up for one of our email newsletters.
In a sign of Matt Murray's health after he practiced fully for the second time Monday in his return from a concussion, the Penguins re-assigned Tristan Jarry to their American Hockey League affiliate.
Before the roster move and after Murray made it through Monday's practice at the UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex unscathed, coach Mike Sullivan said Murray was "an option" to start Tuesday night's game in Brooklyn against the New York Islanders.
Murray has not played since suffering concussion in practice Feb. 26.
"He had a real strong practice today," Sullivan said early Monday afternoon in Cranberry Township. "We will see how he responds, and we will make the decisions accordingly."
The biggest of those decisions, apparently, was made soon thereafter in the sending of Jarry to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. Jarry had allowed 19 goals in 340 minutes since Murray's injury, posting an .883 save percentage. The 22-year-old who had been with the Penguins on an emergency basis was sent down in time for him to join the AHL Penguins on a three-game roadtrip.
The move hands – for now, at least – the backup job to 26-year-old Casey DeSmith, who has allowed 11 goals in 204 minutes with an .893 save percentage since Murray's injury.
For the season, DeSmith is 4-4-1 with a 2.59 GAA and .914 save percentage; Jarry 14-6-2/2.77/.908.
The Penguins lost the first two games after Murray was injured and are 5-3-1 overall since he was struck in the head by a puck shot by a teammate. After skating on his own several times and gradually facing shots, Murray returned to full practice Saturday.
Video: Matt Murray on the idea of wrapping his head in bubble wrap. (Spoiler: He's against it.) https://t.co/GlRaqrXXd4 — Jonathan Bombulie (@BombulieTrib) March 17, 2018
Zach Aston-Reese, Carter Rowney and Dominik Simon were the only players unaccounted for at Penguins practice Monday.
Chris Adamski is a Tribune-Review staff writer. Reach him at [email protected] or via Twitter @C_AdamskiTrib. |
Where do Man Utd defenders stand after Lindelof signing? | Manchester United made their first move this summer by bringing in centre back Victor Lindelof from Benfica.
The Swede is certain to be first-choice for Jose Mourinho, who forked out a hefty £31million fee to secure the defender's services.
But with so many injuries hampering United's campaign last season, who will the 22-year-old's partner at the back? Sportsmail analyses each defender's situation after Mourinho's first statement of intent in the transfer window.
Manchester United have bought Victor Lindelof, so what does that mean for other defenders?
Eric Bailly
Jose Mourinho will hope this is the preferred partnership in defence all season.
Eric Bailly was United's stand-out centre back last season after his move from Villareal and his assured ball-playing, strong tackling and slick defensive work will make him a shoo-in for a starting berth at the heart of defence next season.
A Bailly-Lindelof axis will also offer dynamism to the back-line. Both young, vibrant, athletic defenders, it will be the pairing the Portuguese will want to see use to mount a serious title challenge — as well as Champions League campaign.
With no Africa Cup of Nations next year, Bailly will want to string together a strong season and shake off any lingering injury problems from last year.
Jose Mourinho will want Eric Bailly to partner Lindelof after a sensational debut season
Chris Smalling
Chris Smalling was given the nod by the manager for the Europa League final — United's biggest game of the season. Mourinho clearly trusts the England international but there is no ignoring the increasing number of errors which have crept into his game.
Mourinho also called out the 27-year-old for being too 'cautious' in his rehabilitation from injury. And although bore out of frustration, the comment may still be a sticking point in the defender's mind.
His performances under Louis van Gaal were promising, and it appeared United had a long-term successor to Rio Ferdinand in their ranks. But his progress has stagnated and with the incoming of Lindelof, Smalling could see his game-time greatly reduced next year.
Perhaps his saving grace, however, is that United will be fighting on all fronts again next season. Champions League, Premier League and all domestic cups.
But if he is to reignite his England career, having fallen down the international pecking with the World Cup looming, he may well seek a move elsewhere.
Chris Smalling will fall another place down the pecking order with Lindelof's arrival
Marcos Rojo
There is no question that Marcos Rojo has an admirer in Jose Mourinho.
Barring the odd rash challenge, Rojo had a stellar season last year and was one of the manager's most trusty soldiers at the back.
He cut out the flamboyant ball-playing and dangerous passing around the box and solely focused on his defensive duties, which improved his game to no end.
Able to play at left back, a problem for United at present, Rojo's place as back-up to the preferred Bailly-Lindelof pairing is firmly cemented next year.
Marcos Rojo has an admirer in Mourinho and will be first back-up to the first-choice pairing
Phil Jones
It is a tricky situation for Phil Jones. Six potential centre backs at Old Trafford does not seem likely come the end of the transfer window but Jones has insisted he is not threatened by the Swede's arrival.
But Jones had a solid run in the side last season — predominantly due to injuries elsewhere in the back-line — and did not do himself a disservice whatsoever.
He clearly stands above Smalling in Mourinho's eyes — despite the Portgueuse's 'cautious' comments also aimed at Jones — and will almost certainly be called upon throughout another game-laden campaign.
But will holding the fourth or fifth-choice centre-back spot be enough to satisfy someone with clear ambition?
He will want to succeed at domestic level as well as book his place to Russia with England next year. If a 'top six' club comes in for him, both United and Jones may listen to what they have to say.
Phil Jones will hold the fourth or fifth-choice centre back spot next season at Old Trafford
Daley Blind
The ultimate utility man at the back — which Mourinho likes for his fluid formations in defence.
Although Blind has alluded to centre back being his preferred role, Mourinho will hope to deploy him as and when needed.
If United opt for a back-three he is the perfect man to slot in on the left-hand side — as is Rojo. But also as an out-and-out left-back he has his merits, especially with Luke Shaw's United career hovering in a difficult place.
There will be more regular football for Blind next season, however in the middle of defence is not looking likely. |
Indian teen rescued from kidnappers in Nepal; 4 arrested | Nepal Police on Tuesday rescued an Indian teenager and arrested four persons for allegedly abducting him for ransom.
Pradeep Kumar Yadav, 16, who hails from Bihar’s Nirmali town, was abducted on April 5. He was rescued early morning from a house in Lahan Municipality-15 of Siraha district, about 242 kms from Kathmandu, The Himalayan Times reported.
Four suspects — Ramesh Lama, Jayaram Yadav, Kishun Yadav and Deep Narayan Yadav — have been arrested. A joint team raided Lama’s house where Yadav was held hostage, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Hira Bahadur Pandey said.
The accused had demanded money from the boy’s father in Bihar for his safe release, the officer was quoted as saying by the report. The boy will be handed over to his family after investigation, police added.
For all the latest India News, download Indian Express App now |
Packers RB Ty Montgomery doubtful for Cowboys game - WAOW - Newsline 9, Wausau News, Weather, Sports | GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) -- Green Bay Packers running back Ty Montgomery is listed as doubtful to play against the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday because of broken ribs.
Montgomery got hurt in last week's win over the Chicago Bears. He appeared to be wearing a flak jacket under his jersey while practicing on a limited basis this week.
Backup running back Jamaal Williams, who hurt his knee in the Bears game, was dropped from the injury report on Friday and should be available against Dallas.
Receiver Davante Adams was listed as questionable. He remains in the concussion protocol following a helmet-to-helmet hit by Bears linebacker Danny Trevathan, though he has been moving around well at practice.
Also questionable are offensive tackles David Bakhtiari (hamstring), Bryan Bulaga (ankle), cornerback Davon House (quad) and defensive tackle Mike Daniels (hip). |
Pets on the Fly? Why Are There So Many Animals in the Skies and at Airports? | If it seems there are a lot more animals in airports — and on airplanes — these days, you're not imagining it.
More than 30 airports around the country now have regular programs that bring certified pet therapy dogs and their handlers into the terminals to mingle with passengers and help ease the stress of traveling.
At both Mineta San Jose International Airport (the first airport to have an official pet therapy program) and Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, they're called the K9 crew. At Los Angeles International Airport the PUP (Pets Unstressing Passengers) team roams the concourses. And at Denver International Airport it's the Canine Airport Therapy Squad (CATS) that welcomes passengers to hug, hang out and get their pictures taken with dogs wearing "Pet Me" vests.
During 2016, some airport pet therapy teams broadened their membership beyond dogs.
Last summer, when passengers were encountering excessively long lines at security checkpoints at many airports around the country, Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport began welcoming miniature therapy horses and their handlers to visit several times a month.
And as the winter holiday travel season went into high gear, two airports announced that pigs were joining their pet therapy teams.
LiLou, a Juliana-breed pig, joined San Francisco International Airport's Wag Brigade to add "more moments of surprise and delight for guests at our airport," said Christopher Birch, SFO's Director-Guest Experience, on LiLou's first day on the job.
Lilou, the pig will be at #sfo on 12/26/16 at 12 pm in T3. Please be patient, give her space, and always ask her mom before touching LiLou. pic.twitter.com/nekpaxYxXh — flySFO (@flySFO) December 26, 2016
And a pot-bellied pig named Bacon Bits is now part of Albany International Airport's Canine Ambassador program.
More animals in the air
Of course, not all the animals you see in airport terminals these days are just there to be petted.
According to the American Pet Products Association, there are around 77 million pet dogs and 85 million pet cats in the United States — and a growing number of their owners take them along when they travel by air.
And when they fly as carry-on passengers in the cabin, those pets need to have tickets.
On Alaska Airlines and JetBlue, the domestic fee for a pet in the cabin is $100 each way. On American Airlines, Delta Air Lines and United Airlines, its $125 each way. Frontier Airlines charges $75 each way, and on Southwest the fee is $95 each way.
In some cases, more than one small pet can travel in a pet carrier (and avoid an extra fee), but some airlines will tack on an extra fee if there's a stopover of more than four hours.
Snakes on a plane?
The costs to take a pet on a plane can add up, which may be part of the reason an increasing number of passengers are claiming that their animals aren't just pets but official service or "emotional support" animals which, by law, get to fly for free.
Like Frontier Airlines, which had an issue earlier this year with a passenger's emotional support marmoset, each airline website lists very specific conditions under which they will accept service animals or therapeutic/emotional support animals on their plane.
An official identification card and/or a written statement from a mental health professional is usually required, but many websites make it easy for pet owners to acquire 'fake' documentation — for a fee.
"It doesn't matter if it's a duck or a mini horse, as long as a passenger has the correct paperwork, they're allowed to fly with an emotional support animal and nobody can say anything about it," said veteran flight attendant Heather Poole, author of Cruising Attitude.
Poole says it's not a flight attendant's job to determine which passengers are flying with true support animals or which ones have simply secured paperwork to avoid paying a fee for their pet to fly, but "I can spot a fake emotional support animal a mile away," said Poole. "It's usually growling or barking at other support animals. That, or it's dressed nicer than its owner."
2017 may bring changes — or at least some clarification — in how airlines and passengers define service or emotional support animals.
While noting that its ACCESS Advisory Committee was unable to reach agreement on updated rules regarding service animals, the U.S. Department of Transportation recently said it intends to draft its own rules.
"The guide dog and animal training groups all agree this is a problem, so does the community," said Eric Lipp of the Open Doors Organization. "One solution floated is to have a national registry and certification for service animals so they are given ID. The DOT could also fine a passenger and make big news. That would help, but who wants to do that?" |
Online fundraisers by Seattle homeless are hit or miss | Miami Herald | Amanda Richer lives in a tent she bought and shares with her dog Rowan on the outer reaches of the "Jungle" in Seattle. She blogs and has more than 20,000 fans on Facebook page.
she requests specific location not to be given) on Thursday Jan 25, 2018. |
'Jessica Jones' Season 2 News: Netflix Releases First Trailer, Announces Premiere Date | Facebook/MarvelsJessicaJones Promo image for 'Jessica Jones' season 2
Netflix has finally unveiled the first trailer for "Jessica Jones" season 2 along with the announcement of its premiere date.
"Jessica Jones" is one of the Marvel franchise series streaming on Netflix. The titular super-powered private investigator is played by actress Krysten Ritter.
The "Jessica Jones" season 2 trailer started off with the private investigator's voice in the background saying: "Everyone has secrets. If not their own, then someone else's." The video teaser also showed snippets of Jessica's spying activities all around New York with her handy DSLR camera as well as her action-packed encounters with some of the upcoming bad guys in the show.
In the middle of the trailer, Jessica was seen in a conversation with Trish Walker (Rachael Taylor) where the latter told the leading character: "Knowing what was done to you might help you." As Trish said this line, the video teaser showed Jessica looking at the report of her family's death where she was described as the "sole survivor."
This part of the trailer supported earlier teasers that season 2 would delve deeper into Jessica's past. That will not be an easy thing to do for the titular character as she said in the trailer: "What if facing it makes me worse?"
A part of the video teaser also featured Jessica being arrested by the police as Malcolm Ducasse (Eka Darville) watched in disbelief.
While Kilgrave (David Tennant) was not shown in the trailer, his return in season 2 has already been confirmed numerous times. In fact, an earlier released teaser photo for "Jessica Jones" season 2 previewed the supervillain standing beside Jessica while psychologically tormenting her.
In a recent interview, showrunner Melissa Rosenberg also explained to Entertainment Weekly what was the importance of bringing Kilgrave back in season 2. She said: "Well, as always, our show is very much about Jessica and her internal life and her struggle, and he's such a part of her construction and her dilemma. I think just having him come back and be that mirror again is really important."
"Jessica Jones" season 2 will premiere on Thursday, March 8, 2018 -- which symbolically coincides with the celebration of International Women's Day. |
Celebs at University Ridge | × Expand American Family Insurance Star power teeing off in Madison this coming week: Brett Favre (left) and Steve Stricker.
Steve Stricker is finally old enough to play in the tournament he hosts. One of Madison’s most famous golfers turned 50 in February , making him eligible for the second annual American Family Insurance Championship on June 19-25 at University Ridge Golf Course. The no-cut, 54-hole PGA Tour Champions event for golfers over 50 once again will feature an 81-player field competing for a $2 million purse.
In addition to Stricker and fellow Madison golfer Jerry Kelly, other high-profile players competing include Vijay Singh, Nick Faldo, Colin Montgomerie, Miguel Angel Jimenez, Tom Lehman and Scott McCarron.
A celebrity foursome of Brett Favre, Derek Jeter, two-time U.S. Open champion (and yet another Madison golfer) Andy North and singer-songwriter Darius Rucker will tee off from the 10th hole on June 24 at approximately 1:30 p.m., following the day’s final tournament group. (Rucker, the former lead singer of Hootie & the Blowfish, also will perform at Breese Stevens Field on June 23.)
Last year, the week-long event raised more than $1 million that was distributed to American Family Children’s Hospital and 33 other local charities. That amount was among the highest ever generated by a first-year PGA Tour Champions event. All told, 56,000 people from 26 states attended the 2016 American Family Championship, bringing an estimated $12 million in economic impact to Madison.
× Expand Crowds flocked to the AmFam event in 2016.
“The community and the fans really support this, so our operational support has to match that level,” says Nate Pokrass, tournament director for the American Family Insurance Championship, one of 27 such events in 19 states and three countries on the 2017 Champions schedule.
To that end, local organizers increased the amount of bleacher seating, added more video boards and expanded the concessions stands — all as a result of lessons learned from first-year growing pains, Pokrass says.
In addition to Rucker’s Friday night concert, other new additions include “Concerts on the Course,” a free family-friendly performance by the Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra at University Ridge on June 21. The Pro-Am golf tournament will be held earlier that day and will be open to the public for the first time.
Stricker is in the middle of a busy month. He is scheduled to tee off on June 15 at the 2017 U.S. Open , held this year at Erin Hills, located about 35 miles northeast of Milwaukee.
“The world is going to be watching golf,” Pokrass says about the next several days. “And everybody will be focused on Wisconsin.” |
McDonald's Opens in Vatican-Owned Building | An aerial view of the Vatican with St. Peter's Basilica is seen in this file photo. The McDonald's opened Friday in the Pio Borgo district of Rome, about 100 yards from the Vatican State, the Catholic Press Agency reported.
A new McDonald's has opened up in a Vatican-owned building and not everyone is lovin' it.
The McDonald's opened Friday in the Pio Borgo district of Rome, about 100 yards from the Vatican State, the Catholic Press Agency reported Sunday.
While the opening was low-key, the move faced criticism when it was first announced. The "McVatican," as has it has been dubbed, will reportedly pay the the Vatican's property supervisor more than $30,000 a month to occupy the building's bottom floor.
Several senior cardinals also live in the building. |
Traffic delays after car flips sideways on major West Yorkshire road | Have your say
Traffic has been delayed in both directions after a car flipped sideways on a major West Yorkshire road.
West Yorkshire Police released this image of a bad accident on the A644 Huddersfield Road, Brighouse.
A spokesman for the force said: "Thankfully only minor injury. Traffic still quite slow going."
Have you seen any other traffic incidents in the area? Tweet us @leedsnews when safe to do so and let us know. |
Photo Flash: First Look at ON YOUR FEET! National Tour, Opening Tonight in Miami | Click Here for More Articles on ON YOUR FEET
The highly anticipated First National Tour of ON YOUR FEET! - based on the life story of seven-time GRAMMY® winning international superstar Gloria Estefan and her husband, 19-time GRAMMY® winning producer-musician-entrepreneur Emilio Estefan - will celebrate its Grand Opening tonight in the Estefans' home city of Miami at the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami-Dade County.
Check out photos from the show below!
Tickets to ON YOUR FEET! in Miami are available through the Arsht Center Box Office in person at 1300 Biscayne Blvd. Miami, FL 33132, by calling 305-949-6722, or online atarshtcenter.org. The engagement runs through Sunday, October 15, and then and travel to 60 additional cities across the country through April 21, 2019 - including Los Angeles, Houston, Philadelphia, Boston, San Francisco, Washington DC and Denver.
Gloria Estefan has sold over 100 million records and sold out stadiums around the world. Emilio and Gloria Estefan together have won 26 GRAMMY Awards® - but their music is only half the story. From the heart of Havana to the streets of Miami came a cultural phenomenon unlike anything the music industry had ever seen. ON YOUR FEET! is the new Broadway musical that follows the Estefans' journey to superstardom, set to their chart-topping, smash hits, including "Rhythm Is Gonna Get You," "Conga," "1-2-3," "Get On Your Feet," "Mi Tierra," Don't Want To Lose You Now," and "Reach," in addition to an original song written by Gloria and her daughter Emily Estefan.
The hit Broadway musical stars Cuban-American Broadway actress Christie Prades as Gloria Estefan, and acclaimed stage and television actor Mauricio Martinez plays Emilio Estefan.
The cast also stars Broadway veteran Nancy Ticotin (West Side Story, In the Heights) as Gloria's mother, Gloria Fajardo; Alma Cuervo (Beauty and the Beast, Wicked) who created the role, as Gloria's grandmother, Consuelo; Jason Martinez (Jersey Boys, The Capeman) as Gloria's father, José Fajardo; Amaris Sanchez and Carmen Sanchez asLittle Gloria; and Kevin Tellez and Jordan Vergara as Nayib/Young Emilio. Rounding out the ensemble are Karmine Alers, Skizzo Arnedillo, David Baida, Danny Burgos,Sam J. Cahn, Natalie Caruncho, Sarita Colón, Jennifer Florentino, Adriel Flete, Devon Goffman, Omar Lopez-Cepero, Hector Maisonet, Claudia Mulet, Jeremey Adam Rey,Joseph Rivera, Maria Rodriguez, Arianna Rosario, Shani Talmor and Claudia Yanez.
Multiple Grammy Award-winning musicians from Miami Sound Machine are also on the road with the National Tour of ON YOUR FEET!, including Music Director Clay Ostwald(keyboards), who is Assistant Music Director of Miami Sound Machine, Theodore Mulet (trombone), Jorge Casas (bass), who is Music Director of Miami Sound Machine, and Edward Bonilla (percussion). The other members of the orchestra include Emmanuel Schvartzman (Associate Music Director/keyboards), Jose Ruiz (trumpet), Michael Scaglione (reeds),Stephen Flakus (guitar), Jean-Christophe Leroy (percussion) and Colin Taylor (drums).
Photo credit: Matthew Murphy
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Devon's Georgia Toffolo slammed for 'patronising working class people' after working at KFC on This Morning | The video will start in 8 Cancel
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Devon’s Georgia ‘Toff’ Toffolo has been slammed by trolls for ‘patronising working class people’ on ITV show This Morning.
The Made in Chelsea star – who was born in Torquay - had been sent by the show to do a number of tasks which were expected to challenge her, such as working a refuse facility.
Toff was first seen in a very fancy hotel, where she was given gifts of three boxes so she could work out where she would be sent.
(Image: ITV)
It would be KFC, and she said she was 'well up for the challenge.'
So as she prepared herself to get acquainted with the deep fat fryer, she changed into uniform, donned the hair net, and went into the kitchen.
She was seen coating chicken with the batter, popping things into the fryer and serving at the till.
At one point the ‘I'm A Celeb’ winner even asked the manager how he gets the smell of chicken and fried food out of his clothes and hair before going out in the evening.
(Image: ITV)
He told her that of course, it was just a shower with shampoo that does the trick.
Fans went on to label Toff as a 'snob'.
(Image: ITV)
The feature on This Morning was part of a segment of the show which followed an interview with a self-confessed "Persian Kardashian" who moved in with a family on the breadline, The Mirror report.
Meanwhile, a Rich Kids Go Skint on 5STAR discussed doing the washing up for the first time and expensive pet grooming was discussed.
Hosts Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield also checked out a £1,600 pram among other Royal baby gifts.
Last year, Toff's dad, Gary Bennett revealed the family's working class roots.
Mr Bennett, who lives in Torquay where Georgia grew up, has a background in the scrap metal trade.
He said: “I’ve been proud of her [Toff] all the way.
"I’m just a standard guy, a normal Devon guy who works for himself.
"I’m extremely proud of what she’s doing and where she is at the moment.” |
10 Straight State Championships Puts Mason Soccer in a League of its Own | By Matt Delaney
With a 10th consecutive state title in hand, George Mason High School’s girls soccer team proves to be a one of Virginia’s most storied athletic programs of all-time after it thwarted Graham High School, 6-0, in the semifinal before topping Stuarts Draft High School, 1-0, in the state finals.
The season had been gradually building to this point ever since Mason’s (23-1) lone loss to local 5A team J.E.B. Stuart High School back in late March. From there the team rallied and put together 21 wins in a row and took Conference 35, 2A East region and 2A states by storm. Now, resting firmly atop the competition, all the Mustangs can do is soak up the moment.
Against Graham last Friday, Mason was able to dictate the flow of the game at will. In the first half, the Mustangs were patient and methodical with their approach, carefully dialing up pressure and picking their spots like the experienced veterans of the state tournament they are. Mason did break through eventually on a goal by junior forward Izzy Armstrong, and then again a few minutes later when sophomore midfielder Maura Mann evaded Graham’s back line and sank her shot to give the Mustangs a 2-0 lead at halftime.
Once the action resumed, Mason kicked their offensive advances into high gear. Armstrong got things going when she connected on her second goal of the game and was followed close behind by senior midfielder Rebecca Crouch to lengthen the Mustangs’ lead to 4-0. Graham struggled to keep pace as most of their own offensive chances fizzled out soon after entering the final third due to Mason’s aggressive and efficient defensive front. Swooping in with insurance goals to seal a 10th straight trip to the state finals was junior midfielder Sophie Matton and freshman midfielder Fiona Howard toward the end of the contest.
Squaring off with Stuarts Draft for the second time in eight days, Mason had a tall task on their hands as the Cougars had nearly forced overtime in the region championship. It required a heartier commitment to defending Stuarts Draft’s well-executed runs while, on the offensive end, converting the chances the Mustangs would receive.
Turns out that’s exactly what happened. Armstrong nabbed an early first-half goal for the Falls Church natives, and Mason rode a resilient defense and possession-oriented midfield all the way to the finish and to their 10th straight state championship in the 2A classification.
To recap on the enormity of this 10-year run spanning from 2008-17, here are some statistics showcasing just how dominant Mason was and still is, courtesy of Mason physics teacher Bryan Harris. Over the past 10 years, the soccer team went 211-22-5 (.890) overall and in Conference 35 competition they went 183-5-1 (.970). In the postseason, the Mustangs hold a 75-1 record (.990) with a goals for/against of 1354/154, which per game they averaged roughly six goals in the playoffs. In 10 state title games they’ve outscored opponents 35-7, having only given up multiple goals once and the Mustangs have also recorded four shutouts. They even recorded two perfect seasons in 2014 (22-0) and 2015 (25-0) and have been helmed by two different coaches during this run.
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An emotional Adele gives out hugs during visit to Grenfell Tower area | People attending a vigil on 14 June (Wednesday) for victims of the Grenfell Tower fire were in for a surprise when Adele decided to make a low key appearance in support of those affected by the blaze. The Hello singer and her husband Simon Konecki attended the event, which was held less than 24 hours after the fire began.
According to accounts by those present at the scene, the 29-year-old turned emotional as she met with victims and was "going around hugging everyone she could". Fans immediately took to Twitter to sing praises for the Tottenham native's efforts.
Just spotted @Adele and Simon Konecki visiting the Grenfell Tower, she was dressed in an abaya. Respect to both of you. #Adele #grenfelltower #simonkonecki A post shared by FourMee (@fourmee) on Jun 14, 2017 at 4:31pm PDT
"I'm so proud stunning a humble & genuine human being like you. I love you so much, queen @Adele..." one individual wrote online.
"The fact that Adele has gone to Grenfell tower and not said a word about it just proves how amazingly sincere she is... Adele is an angel, she deserves heaven, biggest heart ever, so proud of her," another Twitter user posted.
Adele is out on the streets of London showing her support and offering her help. We don't deserve her ð pic.twitter.com/oQWGjxfsrK — Shea âï¸ðð¼ (@shealuvsadele) June 15, 2017
Authorities have confirmed that at least 12 people were killed in the horrific fire, but Scotland Yard expects the death toll to go up to 50 as efforts continue to find those still missing.
In the mean time, numerous other English celebrities offered support and funding to the survivors and their families. TV chef Jamie Oliver opened the doors of his restaurant to the families affected by the fire. "You are all welcome to come and hangout at my restaurant and be fed and watered by my Jamie's Italian team," he posted online.
To any of the 100's of FAMILIES effected by this terrible fire at Grenfell Tower Notting hill today, You are all welcome to come hang out in my restaurant and be fed and watered by my Jamies Italian team. We are in the Westfield just around the corner. Food and drink free of charge so just go and speak to my manager Juan and we will sort you out and give you some love .... this is for victims of the fire our thoughts, love and prayers are with you all big love jamie x x x x A post shared by Jamie Oliver (@jamieoliver) on Jun 14, 2017 at 2:27am PDT
Fashion designer Aisleyne Horgan-Wallace offered up her flat in Kings Cross to families in need while singer Lilly Allen offered "a bed, a lift or tea". Other celebrities donated money towards relief efforts and encouraged others to do so as well.
If anyone need a bed or a lift, or tea tweet me and I'll follow back. #NorthKensington — lily #labourtineð (@lilyallen) June 14, 2017 |
Letters to the editor from Belleville, Illinois suspect in GOP baseball practice shooting | facebook twitter email Share More Videos 1:49 Pepper-sprayed inmates allege excessive force, and Sheriff's office faces several lawsuits Pause 0:34 Search for Ghost Ship warehouse fire victims continues in Oakland 1:01 Don't let a text wreck your life 2:17 Dance helps D'Iberville boy overcome ADHD 2:12 Watch baby polar bear Nora grow up fast 0:22 NASA animates the powerful winter storm headed for the Mid-Atlantic 2:32 Vincent the cat gets very rare prosthetic legs 1:03 How to wash your hands 1:08 'Lucky' Turkey to Receive Presidential Pardon 2:59 The Buzz with Buzz: the Koch brothers, money and politics Share Video Video link: Select Embed code: Select
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twitter email Belleville News-Democrat reporter Kelsey Landis was outside the Belleville home of James T. Hodgkinson, the shooter in the congressional shooting in Alexandria, Virginia. Hodgkinson, 66, lived with his wife on Rolling Hills Lane. President Donald Trump announced said that Hodgkinson died during gunfire with congressional security workers. [email protected]
Belleville News-Democrat reporter Kelsey Landis was outside the Belleville home of James T. Hodgkinson, the shooter in the congressional shooting in Alexandria, Virginia. Hodgkinson, 66, lived with his wife on Rolling Hills Lane. President Donald Trump announced said that Hodgkinson died during gunfire with congressional security workers. [email protected] |
Why Trump is linking the MS-13 gang to the Virginia governor's race | Washington (CNN) A poll this week showed Democrat Ralph Northam with a 13-point lead over Republican Ed Gillespie in Virginia's race for governor.
Time for Republicans to make an all-out bid to win over moderates who are still on the fence, right?
Wrong.
President Donald Trump waded into the race for the first time Thursday night on Twitter with a message aimed squarely at the party's conservative base.
The President was parroting an attack that has played on repeat for weeks on Washington and Richmond TV stations. The ads have featured menacing-looking figures purported to be part of the MS-13 gangs and have prominently displayed the gang's "Kill, Rape, Control" motto.
The origin of the attack ad is a tie-breaking vote Northam, Virginia's lieutenant governor, cast in the state senate in January to defeat a GOP bill that would have banned sanctuary cities in Virginia. It was purely a pre-emptive vote -- the state doesn't actually have any sanctuary cities.
It's one of two attacks Gillespie, the former Republican National Committee chairman, is featuring prominently. The other one -- on a mailer this week -- blasts Northam over his position on Confederate monuments, saying he "wants to tear down history while making life easier for illegal immigrants."
Trump's tweet underscores the GOP's desire to turn the nation's most important race of 2017 into a culture war.
Because it happens in a swing state the year after a presidential election -- and because its law limiting governors to a single term means there are always new names on the ballot -- Virginia's governor's race is seen nationally as a useful barometer of a president's support a year into his term.
But the actual electorate is much different than it was a year earlier.
In the 2012 presidential election, 71% of Virginia's registered voters cast ballots. The following year, just 43% voted in the governor's race. From 2008 to 2009, the drop was 74% to 40%. That pattern has repeated itself in election cycle after election cycle, data from the Virginia Department of Elections shows.
Who participates in lower-turnout elections? Typically it's each party's most loyal and committed supporters -- not indecisive moderates.
That's why both campaigns are so focused on turning out their bases in the race's final month.
Trump isn't popular in Virginia, with just 33% of those polled saying they approve of his job performance -- a figure that could prove fatal to any Republican statewide candidate.
But Gillespie also has a Trump problem with his base. Among Republicans, 74% approve of Trump's job performance. But just 57% of Republicans said they believe Gillespie supports Trump a great deal or a good amount.
Among registered voters, 10% said illegal immigration is the biggest issue in the race, and 3% said Confederate monuments -- again, a small but important set of voters. And the vast majority of them are conservative: Among Republicans, 19% identified illegal immigration as the most important issue, while 6% said Confederate monuments. Among Democrats, those numbers were negligible.
The poll found registered voters are relatively unengaged. Only 58% are paying close attention to the race, and one in four said they could change their minds on who they support. Gillespie -- and Trump -- hope they'll catch their die-hards' eyes before November 7. |
Woman sentenced in drug case against Wichita doctor | WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) – A woman who said a Wichita doctor gave her prescriptions for more than 8,000 oxycodone tablets without doing any medical exams was sentenced Monday to 10 years on supervised release.
Kimi Harper, 52, Kansas City, Mo., pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute oxycodone. According to court records, Harper traveled from Kansas City to Wichita and paid co-defendant Dr. Steven Henson to obtain prescriptions for oxycodone pills. Oxycodone is an opioid pain reliever that is regulated as a controlled substance under federal law. She obtained 8,847 tablets of 30 mg each.
According to court records, Harper said Henson did not perform physical examinations or monitor her use of oxycodone through a pain treatment agreement, urinalysis or other medical tests. Harper said she consumed about 75 percent of the pills herself and sold or gave away the rest.
Co-defendants in the case include:
Dr. Steven R. Henson, 56, Wichita, Kan., who is awaiting trial.
Amanda Terwilleger, 34, Topeka, Kan., who is awaiting sentencing.
Jeremy Wojack, 37, Topeka, Kan., who is awaiting sentencing.
Jordan Allison, 29, Shawnee, Kan., who is awaiting sentencing.
Grant Lubbers, 31, Whitewater, Kan., who is awaiting sentencing.
Joel Torres, Jr. 30, Newton, Kan., who is awaiting sentencing.
Keith Attebery, 22, Newton, Kan., who is awaiting sentencing.
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Global Fast-Food Restaurant Chain Nails Their Menu Based on Consumer Insights | Consumer food preferences can vary significantly depending on where they live. As an example, diners in urban areas usually prefer healthy and creative dishes, while consumers in rural areas tend to prefer traditional-style food. For restaurants that want to offer the most profitable foods on their menus, understanding the food preferences of target customers is key.
Analyzing consumer preferences and habits can provide deeper insight into customers’ tastes and help businesses deliver more profitable offerings. For example, by carrying out a consumer insights study, restaurants can know:
Diner food preferences and habits
The quality of their customer services and how they can be improved
What time of the day and occasions are most favorable for specific types of foods
The most preferred accompaniments (sauces, sides, drinks, etc.)
The competitive landscape and the most popular dishes on the competition’s menus
One of the world’s largest fast-food restaurant chains wanted to launch a chicken-based menu in many of its restaurants in Europe. Find out how it identified what would make its menu a hit among customers based on a consumer insights study by Netscribes.
To read the full case study visit: https://www.netscribes.com/case-studies/fast-food-chicken-consumption-behavior/. |
Cuomo urges Congress to reject Trump’s food assistance plan | ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — New York’s governor is blasting a proposal from the White House that he says would devastate funding for food assistance.
Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Friday that President Donald Trump’s plan would reduce Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program benefits for an estimated 2.3 million New Yorkers.
Among other changes, the Republican president has proposed replacing a portion of the assistance with a box of food to be called a “harvest box.”
Cuomo is calling on Congress to reject Trump’s proposal and protect funding for the program. |
Substation Automation Market 2018 with Focus on Competitive Landscape and Growth Factors | Market Scenario:
Companies such as Schneider Electric (France), Siemens AG (Germany), ABB Group (Switzerland), General Electric (U.S.), EATON Corp. (U.S.), Larsen & Toubro Limited (India), Power System Engineering, Inc. (U.S.), Texas Instruments (U.S), Toshiba Corporation (Japan), are the leading providers of substation automation solutions in the global market. The growing demand for retrofitting of conventional substations and smart grid are some of the main driving factors of the Substation Automation Market growth. The smart grid helps in reliability and productivity of power systems. On 03rd April 2017, GE signed a contract to deliver four electricity substations to power infrastructure in Saudi Arabia. This contract includes substation automation to regional control centers via SCADA system.
The advanced smart substation automation system is boosting the demand of substation automation market because it is widely used in the applications of power systems. The implementation of conventional protection is vital for substation. The requirement of these system are used for protection and control of these automation. It monitors the equipment’s condition. These systems are integrated with intelligent electronic devices that can protect and control the system and offer high performance remote functions of power system management.
Get Sample of Report @ https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/1016
Regional Analysis
The global substation automation market is studied in the Asia Pacific, North America, Europe, and Rest of the World. In North America, the substation automation market is gaining high market growth due to the increasing popularity of advanced intelligent electronic device and communication technologies, which is propelling the substation automation market growth. Whereas, the European countries are emerging as substation automation markets due to the increasing demand for smart grids and are expected to grow at the highest CAGR over the review period. Asia Pacific countries such as China, Japan, and India are some of the leading regions in the globe in terms of market share.
Key Players
Some of the prominent players in the global substation automation market are Schneider Electric (France), Siemens AG (Germany), ABB Group (Switzerland), General Electric (U.S.), Tropos Network (U.S.), EATON Corp. (U.S.), Encore Networks (U.S.), Grid Net (U.S.), Cisco Systems, Inc. (U.S.), Cooper Industries (U.S.), Larsen & Toubro Limited (India), Power System Engineering, Inc. (U.S.), Texas Instruments (U.S.), Axiomtek Co. Ltd (Taiwan),Toshiba Corporation (Japan), Ametek (U.S.), SAE IT-systems GmbH & Co. KG (Germany), among others.
Global Substation Automation Market Segmentation
The global substation automation market is segmented into component, module, communication channel, industry, and region. The component is sub-segmented into recloser controller, capacitor bank controller, smart meter, load tap controller and others. The module is sub-segmented into SCADA, intelligent electronic device, communication network and others. The communication channel segment is sub-segmented into Ethernet, copper wire communication, power line communication, optical fiber communication and others. The industry is sub-segmented into utility, transportation, mining, steel, and others. The global market is spanned across North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and rest of the world.
The global substation automation market is expected to reach USD 51 Billion by the year 2023 at a CAGR of 6%.
Competitive Analysis
The global substation automation market appears to be extremely competitive. In order to target, segment, and position their sensors into the global market and to drive the market growth, the companies have to come up with advanced technological solutions to maintain themselves in the competitive landscape. Market leaders are investing in research and development for innovating their products continuously and increasingly seeking market expansion through various strategic mergers and acquisitions, innovation, and cost-effective product portfolio.
Get complete Report @ https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/substation-automation-market-1016
Intended Audience
Associations, organizations, forums, and alliances
Cloud service providers
Customer experience solution providers
Government bodies and departments
Substation automation companies
Substation automation providers
Technical universities
System integrators
Managed Security Service Providers
Professional service providers
Research and development companies
Market research and consulting firms
Solution providers
Technology standards organizations
Technology investors
System Integrators
TABLE OF CONTENTS
LIST OF FIGURES
FIGURE 1 Global Substation Automation Market Segmentation
FIGURE 2 Forecast Methodology
FIGURE 3 Five Forces Analysis Of Global Substation Automation Market
FIGURE 4 Value Chain Of Global Substation Automation Market
FIGURE 5 Share Of Global Substation Automation Market In 2017, By Country (In %)
FIGURE 6 Global Substation Automation Market, 2017-2023,
FIGURE 7 Sub Segments Of Component
FIGURE 8 Global Substation Automation Market Size By Module , 2017
FIGURE 9 Share Of Global Substation Automation Market By Component , 2017 TO 2023
FIGURE 10 Global Substation Automation Market Size By Module , 2017
FIGURE 11 Share Of Global Substation Automation Market By Component , 2017 TO 2023
FIGURE 12 Global Substation Automation Market Size By Module, 2017 TO 2023
FIGURE 13 Global Substation Automation Market Size By Module, 2017 TO 2023
FIGURE 13 Share Of Global Substation Automation Market By Module, 2017 TO 2023
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US states, leery of Russia malware, re-examine cybersecurity | BURLINGTON, Vt. (AP) — Several states around the country on Saturday asked cybersecurity experts to re-examine state and utility networks after a Vermont utility’s laptop was found to contain malware U.S. officials say is linked to Russian hackers.
The Burlington Electric Department, one of Vermont’s two largest electric utilities, confirmed Friday it had found on one of its laptops the malware code used in Grizzly Steppe, the name the U.S. government has given to malicious cyber activity by Russian civilian and military intelligence services.
A Burlington Electric Department spokesman said federal officials have told company officials the threat was not unique to them.
The Department of Homeland Security said it had no information indicating the power grid was penetrated in the cyber operation. A spokesman wouldn’t say whether any other utilities, organizations or entities had reported similar malware on their systems but said any such information would be confidential.
Officials in New York, Rhode Island, Massachusetts and Connecticut said they’re more closely monitoring state and utility networks for anything suspicious.
“We have not detected any activity matching the reported malware at this time,” Connecticut governor’s office spokesman Chris Collibee said.
New Jersey’s homeland security director said the state had no reports of malicious activity associated with Grizzly Steppe at major utility systems.
In New York, Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo directed all state agencies to re-examine their computer systems for security breaches. Nothing had been found.
An attack on a U.S. power grid has long been a nightmare scenario for top U.S. officials. The National Security Agency and U.S. Cyber Command chief Adm. Michael Rogers have previously warned it’s not a matter of if but when attackers target U.S. power systems.
On Dec. 23, 2015, a highly sophisticated cyberattack on the power grid in Ukraine hit three regional electronic power distribution companies, blacking out more than 225,000 customers.
Democratic Vermont Gov. Peter Shumlin said his administration has been in touch with the federal government and the state’s utilities. He said people should be “alarmed and outraged” that Russia “has been attempting to hack our electric grid, which we rely upon to support our quality-of-life, economy, health and safety.”
Burlington Electric noted it wasn’t connected to the grid system and didn’t explain how the malware got onto the computer.
The company said U.S. government authorities alerted American utilities about the malware code Thursday in a report released when Democratic President Barack Obama announced the U.S. response to election hacking. Obama ordered sanctions on Russian intelligence agencies, closed two Russian compounds and expelled 35 diplomats the U.S. said were spies.
A Russian state television channel on Saturday sought to discredit reports linking the malware to the Kremlin.
If Russia is found to be connected to widespread hacking of U.S. utilities, it will make it more difficult for Republican President-elect Donald Trump to soften anti-Russian sentiment on Capitol Hill, where hearings on hacking are scheduled next week.
Rep. Peter Welch, a Democrat from Vermont, said the incident proves Obama’s response was warranted.
“This attack shows how rampant Russian hacking is. It’s systemic, relentless, predatory,” Welch said in a statement. “They will hack everywhere, even Vermont, in pursuit of opportunities to disrupt our country.”
The Washington Post first reported on the Vermont utility’s malware discovery.
The Rossiya state television channel said the Post provided no confirmation Russia was involved. It said the Post report spoke only about the identification of malicious software code that Washington previously concluded had been used by the Russian intelligence services in the cyberattack on U.S. political institutions.
In a report released Thursday, Homeland Security and the FBI provided technical details about the tools and infrastructure they say Russian civilian and military intelligence services have used to compromise and exploit networks “associated with the U.S. election as well as a range of U.S. government, political and private sector entities.”
“This activity by the Russian civilian and military intelligence services is part of an ongoing campaign of cyber-enabled operations directed at the U.S. government and its citizens,” the report said.
___
Associated Press writers Deb Riechmann in Washington, Jacob Pearson in New York, Jennifer McDermott in Providence, Rhode Island, Holly Ramer in Concord, New Hampshire, and Christina Paciolla in Philadelphia contributed to this report.
Copyright 2017 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. |
Misbah will lead Pakistan at SCG | After a week filled with speculation about the future of Pakistan skipper Misbah-ul-Haq the PCB have confirmed that he will play in Sydney and lead the team.
Misbah spoke about the likelihood of retirement being imminent after Pakistan’s stunning collapse in the second Test in Melbourne.
PCB’s director (media) Amjad Hussain said: “Misbah will play at Sydney and he will be captain.”
It seems very likely that Misbah will step down as skipper after the tour of Australia ends, Misbah said: “I always believed that if I couldn’t contribute to the team then it’s no point staying there.
“This is a point where I need to think about that, even before the next game [in Sydney] and after the series. Next couple of days I will think about it and decide what to do. There is no point in hanging around and doing nothing.”
Misbah has had a lean run of form of late and made a duck as Pakistan crumbled on the final day when the draw seemed a lock.
The skipper conceded that he had thought about retirement before adding: “I was thinking about my retirement long ago, even when I was playing against England in Dubai.
“I was thinking then that we had possibly Tests against India, so I would play that and that’s it.
“But then we had difficult tours like England, New Zealand and Australia, I thought that is not right time. I’ve been there for last six-seven years, developing this team.
I have to face these difficult series. That is why I hung around. Even at that stage my plan was not to play for another two-three years. I have to think about that, haven’t finalised it.” |
Suspect arrested after investigation into stolen police gear, theft at Bed, Bath & Beyond | Police have arrested a man accused of taking police gear from a Hot Springs store and later using the items to steal from a Bed Bath & Beyond.
Tommy Gene Gibson, 35, of Jacksonville faces counts of criminal impersonation and theft of property, the Hot Springs Police Department said in a statement.
Gibson’s girlfriend, 34-year-old Ali Marie Cischke, allowed Gibson to use her vehicle to commit the crimes, according to police. She surrendered Tuesday on a charge of hindering apprehension.
Cischke reportedly denied being involved.
Authorities say Gibson entered Yellow Jacket Military, 410 Airport Road, on March 21 and gathered several items, including two black shirts — one with “POLICE” on it and another printed with the word “SHERIFF.”
Authorities said he is then believed to have stolen two fans and a speaker from Bed Bath & Beyond, 1454 Higdon Ferry Road, while wearing the "POLICE" shirt, the Sentinel-Record in Hot Springs reported.
Gibson remained at the Garland County jail as of Tuesday afternoon, records show. Cischke's name did not appear in an online inmate roster. |
Crystal Completes Drill Program | VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Dec. 12, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — CRYSTAL EXPLORATION INC. (the “Company” and “Crystal”) (TSX-V:CEI) (OTCQB:CYRTF) is pleased to announce completion of the gold drilling program and an exploration update for projects located in Nunavut, Canada.
Jim Greig, President & CEO commented, “All completed drill holes intersected significant widths of sulphidic iron formation similar to historical results as documented at the Butterfly Gold Occurrence. The application of modern ground geophysics has expanded the strike length of gold occurrences delineating new targets for drilling during 2018. We are excited about the preliminary results as this shows potential for a significant discovery.”
Three drill holes totaling 198.42 meters (17CEI001-003) of BTW drill core were completed at the Butterfly Gold Occurrence (see Crystal News release dated October 4, 2017). All three drill holes intersected sulphidic, amphibolitic iron formation (“AIF”) within ~50m of surface which was intensely altered, silicified and sulphidized. More specifically, the drill holes intersected 8.2m, 5.14m and 4.8m of amphibolitic iron formation which was silicified and sulphidized. Historic drill logs noted a direct correlation to silicification and sulphidation with gold (Cominco, 1987). Split drill core has been sent to ALS Global Laboratories (Geochemistry Division) in Vancouver, Canada for analysis. Samples will be analyzed for gold by Fire Assay (“FA”) and multi-element Induction Coupled Plasma Spectroscopy (“ICP”). Anomalous samples will also undergo screen fire assays as a check for coarse gold as documented in historic exploration (i.e. 4.86m of 63.09 g/t Au in drill hole 87-13).
Ground geophysical surveying consisting of Horizontal Loop Electromagnetics (“HLEM”) and High-Resolution Magnetics / Very Low Frequency Electromagnetics (“Mag/VLF”) was completed prior to drilling. Both the HLEM and Mag/VLF show compelling images which delineate the sulphidic amphibolitic iron formation. Although the planned 2017 program was not fully completed due to inclement weather, the drill intercepts and geophysics completed to date provide significant support for the continuity of the Butterfly Gold Occurrence. Following the receipt of pending drill results, Crystal will develop a 2018 exploration program with the goal of developing a maiden resource.
About Crystal Exploration Inc.
Crystal owns 100% of the Contwoyto Gold Project located south of the Lupin Gold Mine in Nunavut, Canada. An exploration program is in progress to confirm historic gold intercepts from drilling at the Butterfly Gold Occurrence (see Press Release dated October 4, 2017). In addition, Crystal owns 100% of three diamond projects located near the past producing Jericho Diamond Mine, Nunavut, Canada. Crystal has identified 6 high priority kimberlite targets that remain untested, which have the potential to be new diamond discoveries.
Crystal is a Canadian gold & diamond exploration company with its common shares listed for trading on the TSX Venture Exchange. Crystal is backed by proven and seasoned resource sector professionals, who have a track record of advancing exploration projects from grassroots through to production scenarios. The technical content of this news release has been reviewed and approved by Dean Besserer, P.Geol., the Technical Advisor of the Company and a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101.
ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
s/ “Jim Greig”
Jim Greig,
President and Chief Executive Officer
NEITHER TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICE PROVIDER (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN THE POLICIES OF THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE.
Web: www.crystalexploration.com
Email: [email protected]
Telephone: 604 260 6977 |
Maryland lines up to sue Trump over new cap on state and local tax deductions | Maryland will sue the Trump administration for capping state and local tax (SALT) deductions in its new federal tax law, the state’s attorney general said Thursday.
The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act signed by President Trump last year contains a provision capping SALT deductions at $10,000, and Maryland Attorney General Brian Frosh said residents across the heavily-taxed state stand to take a hit as a result.
“By eliminating the SALT deductions, Trump’s tax bill will jack up taxes for more than half a million Marylanders,” Mr. Frosh, a Democrat, said in a statement announcing his intent to sue the Trump administration. “It is an attack on state sovereignty and an attempt to cripple our ability to educate our kids, protect the Chesapeake Bay, and build the infrastructure that Maryland needs to be competitive in the world economy.”
Without the $10,000 limit imposed by the new legislation, taxpayers could account for an unlimited amount of money already paid in state and local income and property taxes, effectively reducing their federal tax bill, if used to their advantage.
Under the new federal tax law, however, upwards of 554,000 Marylanders stand to lose an average of $11,800 in deductions, according to a report commissioned by Republican Gov. Larry Hogan and released recently by the state’s Democratic Comptroller Peter Franchot.
The new cap “disrupts the longstanding balance of taxing power between the states and the federal government,” Mr. Frosh said Thursday.
“Essentially what they’ve done is make it harder for states to support themselves,” Mr. Frosh said, The Baltimore Sun reported.
Mr. Hogan suggested he was skeptical of the attorney general successfully suing the Trump administration.
“I have no idea what the legality of that is,” Mr. Hogan said, The Sun reported. “I don’t think it has much of a chance.”
Maryland likely lawsuit makes the state tat least he fourth so far to threaten legal action over the recently signed tax plan, following in the footsteps of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut last month.
“We’re going to be working together to form a multi-state coalition to challenge this in court,” Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo of New York said previously.
Mr. Frosh has sued the federal government more than 20 times since the state legislature broadened his ability to take legal action last year, The Sun reported. |
Correction: Trump-DNC Lawsuit story | NEW YORK (AP) - In an April 20 story about the Democratic National Committee filing a lawsuit over Russian meddling in the 2016 election, The Associated Press reported erroneously that U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz accused former FBI Director James Comey of damaging Hillary Clinton's chances against Donald Trump during a private briefing in January 2017. In fact, she made the accusation on April 16 during an exchange with reporters in her district office in Florida, according to the Sun Sentinel newspaper.
A corrected version of the story is below:
In court, Dems allege conspiracy between Trump camp, Russia
The Democratic National Committee has sued President Donald Trump's campaign, his son, his son-in-law, the Russian Federation and WikiLeaks, saying they conspired to help Trump win the 2016 presidential election
By TOM LoBIANCO and LARRY NEUMEISTER
Associated Press
NEW YORK (AP) - The Democratic Party sued Donald Trump's presidential campaign, Russia, WikiLeaks and Trump's son and son-in-law Friday, accusing them of an intricate conspiracy to undercut Democrats in the 2016 election by stealing tens of thousands of emails and documents.
The lawsuit filed in Manhattan federal court seeks unspecified damages and an order to prevent further interference with computer systems of the Democratic National Committee.
"During the 2016 presidential campaign, Russia launched an all-out assault on our democracy, and it found a willing and active partner in Donald Trump's campaign," DNC Chairman Tom Perez said in a statement. He called it an "act of unprecedented treachery."
The Democrats accuse Trump and his associates of trading on pre-existing relationships with Russian oligarchs tied to President Vladimir Putin and of collaborating with Russia as it worked to undermine Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton.
The president has said repeatedly there was no collusion between his campaign and Russia. On Friday, his campaign scorned the lawsuit as "frivolous" and predicted it would be quickly dismissed.
"This is a sham lawsuit about a bogus Russian collusion claim filed by a desperate, dysfunctional and nearly insolvent Democratic Party," Trump campaign manager Brad Parscale said in a statement.
He said the campaign would seek to turn the tables on the Democrats, using the legal discovery process to try to pry documents from the DNC including any related to a dossier detailing allegations of links between Trump and Russia. The dossier - a collection of memos - was written by an ex-British spy whose work was funded by Clinton and the DNC.
Trump himself tweeted that the DNC lawsuit could be "very good news," saying his campaign "will now counter for the DNC Server that they refused to give to the FBI" as well as Hillary Clinton's emails.
Trump's tweet also referred to "the Wendy Wasserman Schultz Servers and Documents held by the Pakistani mystery man." He appeared to be referring to former DNC Chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz and reports of an IT specialist who once worked for some House Democrats. Wendy Wasserstein was a playwright whose dramas included the Pulitzer Prize-winning "The Heidi Chronicles."
Requests for comment from the Russian Embassy in Washington were not immediately returned.
The Democrats' lawsuit doesn't reveal new details in the sprawling storyline of connections between the Trump campaign and Russian operatives working on behalf of the Kremlin.
Instead it knits many of the threads that have emerged in public over the past two years to paint a picture of an alleged conspiracy between the Trump campaign, the Kremlin and WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange.
The DNC says the "brazen attack on American democracy" began with a cyberattack on DNC computers and phone systems in 2015, allowing the extraction of tens of thousands of documents and emails. WikiLeaks then blasted out many of the documents on July 22, 2016, shortly before Clinton was to be nominated -- upsetting the Democrats' national convention.
That added up to a "campaign of the presidential nominee of a major party in league with a hostile foreign power to bolster its own chance to win the presidency," the DNC lawyers write in the lawsuit.
That conspiracy violated the laws of the U.S., Virginia and the District of Columbia, the lawsuit says, and "under the laws of this nation, Russia and its co-conspirators must answer for these actions."
The DNC accuses Donald Trump Jr. of secretly communicating with WikiLeaks, and blames the president, too, saying he praised the illegal dissemination of DNC documents throughout fall 2016, making it a central theme of his speeches and rallies.
The DNC also fingers Trump son-in-law Jared Kushner as a co-conspirator for his role overseeing the Trump campaign's digital operation.
WikiLeaks responded to the lawsuit caustically.
"DNC already has a moribund publicity lawsuit which the press has become bored of--hence the need to refile it as a 'new' suit before mid-terms," the group said in a tweet. "As an accurate publisher of newsworthy information @WikiLeaks is constitutionally protected from such suits."
Assange, avoiding detention, remains in the Ecuadorean Embassy in London.
Special counsel Robert Mueller has filed charges against multiple former Trump campaign aides stemming from his federal Russia probe. But Mueller has directly accused only former Trump campaign foreign policy aide George Papadopoulos of trying to work with Russian operatives to support the Trump campaign.
Mueller also has indicted 13 Russian individuals working for the Internet Research Agency accused of running an elaborate scheme to meddle in the U.S. elections. The indictment alleges one of Putin's close allies, Yevgeny Prigozhin, oversaw the effort.
The hacking of the DNC has long been a sore spot for Democrats across the board since Clinton's stunning loss in November 2016. The hack and subsequent release of the emails hit the party just before it formally nominated Clinton, and the emails remained a major issue through Election Day.
Wasserman Schultz lost her job as party chairwoman just hours before the nominating convention after emails were released showing the DNC appearing to favor Clinton over Bernie Sanders in the primaries. The emails ripped open fresh wounds and formed a rallying cry for Sanders supporters hoping for a last-minute chance to deny the Clinton the nomination in Philadelphia.
Wasserman Schultz said earlier this month that she believes the way then-FBI Director James Comey handled the investigation into Clinton's emails played a role in Trump winning the presidency, the Sun Sentinel reported. DNC staffers also accused the FBI of not doing enough immediately after the hack was discovered in 2015 to alert them to the problem.
Democrats have similarly been critical of President Barack Obama for not doing enough in 2016 to fight back against Russia. Obama expelled Russian diplomats and shuttered diplomatic compounds in December 2016.
This is the second time in recent history that the DNC has sued a Republican president.
The Democrats sued Richard Nixon's Committee to Re-elect the President in 1973, following the break-in at the DNC's Watergate Hotel headquarters.
__
Associated Press reporter Chad Day contributed to this report from Washington. LoBianco reported from Washington. |
Toronto stocks up, loonie edges lower | TORONTO — Canada's main stock index ticked higher at late morning, helped by broad-based gains on the Toronto market led by the health care and technology sectors.
The S&P/TSX composite index was up 39.93 points to 16,303.09, after 90 minutes of trading.
In New York, Wall Street markets were closed for the U.S. July 4 holiday.
The Canadian dollar was trading at 76.01 cents US, down from an average value of 76.02 cents US Tuesday. |
TDSAT grants temporary relief to Aircel, bars DoT from encashing telco's bank guarantees | NEW DELHI: The telecom tribunal has temporarily barred the telecom department from encashing bank guarantees of Aircel amounting to more Rs 1,200 crore, in a partial relief to the troubled telecom operator.The Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal ( TDSAT ) on Monday extended a stay on encashment of both financial and performance-based bank guarantees of Aircel, saying it will wait till the Supreme Court hears a separate matter on one-time spectrum charges in a case involving Aircel and DoT in two weeks.On Monday, Aircel also apprised the apex court of its bankruptcy filing in the National Company Law Tribunal ( NCLT ), Mumbai."We have been informed that a SLP (civil appeal) 2280 by Aircel against DoT (on one-time spectrum charge) is before the Supreme Court, and today, same has been adjourned for two weeks... we will like to hear this matter after two weeks, when it has been considered by the Supreme Court," TDSAT chairperson SK Singh said on Monday.The matter will now be heard on April 19.Aircel and its units Dishnet Wireless and Aircel Cellular have filed for bankruptcy after over four months of attempts to settle with lenders. The company has debt of about Rs 50,000 crore.Earlier this month, the DoT had sought to encash guarantees given by various banks on behalf of Aircel and its two companies on the grounds that the Chennai-headquartered company had filed for insolvency without giving advance notice to DoT and had not deposited spectrum usage charge and license fee of the last quarter. This, it said, was a "major breach of terms and conditions" of the license.Aircel approached TDSAT, seeking a stay on DoT’s directions, pointing out that the tribunal or other courts had already stayed furnishing of several bank guarantees in other cases.On March 6, TDSAT accepted Aircel’s request, and said, "... no further encashment of bank guarantee of the petitioner (Aircel) shall take place till the next date."The tribunal also asked Aircel and DoT to file affidavits giving details of the issue at hand, including what Aircel owes the telecom department.During arguments on Monday, senior lawyer Dhruv Tamta representing DoT said Aircel owed the government a minimum of about Rs 6,500 crore, including Rs 722 crore in one-time spectrum charges, spectrum usage charge, license fee and other charges."The bank guarantee revocation letter has been issued by the respondent (DoT) as per the terms and conditions of the license agreement... That the petitioner has filed for bankruptcy on 28.2.2018 in NCLT Mumbai, without giving any prior intimation to the respondent," DoT has said in its affidavit filed with the tribunal, parts of which were read out during the hearing. |
Reality show saves the big day for N.J. couple who lost nearly everything just before wedding | A South Jersey couple managed to pull off the wedding of their dreams just weeks after a fire devastated their apartment, thanks to the help of friends, family and the style gurus behind a new reality wedding show.
"Say Yes: Wedding SOS" premiered on TLC late last month. Episodes typically follow couples who have let their appearances go in favor of careers or caring for families, and provide them with makeovers before their big day, according to a news release.
But last fall, the crew took on the case of 27-year-old Brittany McCarson-Bowers and her then-fiance Justin Bowers, 29, who had lost nearly everything in an apartment fire and needed some extra pampering.
The two were both working one night in September just weeks before their wedding -- she as a mental health therapist, and he as a telemetry technician. When each finally got a break to check their phones, they learned their Blackwood apartment had been severely damaged by an electrical fire.
"Our wedding was only three weeks away," McCarson-Bowers said in a phone interview Friday. "We were planning for two years."
Luckily, firefighters were able to save their dog, a six-pound Chihuahua named Tequila, she said. But nearly everything else was lost, and the apartment ruined.
As the days to their October wedding ticked down, the couple struggled to balance typical last-minute wedding snafus along with careers and the aftermath of the blaze.
McCarson-Bowers' hairdresser, who had heard of the new show following a casting call, suggested the couple to producers. A few interviews later, and with just days to spare, TLC selected them and got the cameras rolling.
"It was a lot of mixed emotions," said McCarson-Bowers. "We didn't think it was real, we thought we were being hoaxed again."
But on their scheduled date, October 20, she was walking down the aisle, and two tield the knot as planned.
"Luckily, so many people came together to help us get everything to stay on track," she said.
And with that help, she said, the wedding turned out even better than planned.
For now, the couple is living with Bowers' parents as the house hunt. Despite the setback, McCarson-Bowers said the newlyweds are enjoying their first months of marriage.
"We've never been happier," she said.
The episode featuring McCarson-Bowers and Bowers' wedding will air Saturday at 9 p.m. EST.
Amanda Hoover can be reached at [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter @amandahoovernj. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
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Man who thought he was doing company CEO a favour scammed out of thousands: police | INNISFIL, Ont. — Police say a man is out thousands of dollars after being scammed into thinking he was doing a favour for the CEO of his company.
South Simcoe police say the man received an email from someone claiming to be the CEO of the Innisfil, Ont., company, asking him to purchase a large number of iTunes gift cards to give out to clients.
Investigators say that while he was making the purchases at one store, a clerk asked if this was for Canada Revenue Agency, thinking the man was a victim of a common scam in which victims are asked to pay a fake tax bill with iTunes cards.
After buying more gift cards at two other locations, the man became suspicious due to persistent texting from the suspect.
Once back at work, the man found out it was not the CEO who had made the request.
Police say some of the transactions were cancelled, but the fraud still amounted to several thousand dollars. |
Council Member Costa Constantinides’ State of the District Address | 0 SHARES Share Tweet
ASTORIA – New York City Councilmember Costa Constantinides delivered his State of the District Address at P.S. 17 in Astoria on Jan. 30. He spoke about the accomplishments of the past year and what still needs to be done for the community.
Councilmember Constantinides spoke about the investment in the district, the continuing restoration of Astoria Park, and the efforts for affordable housing. He noted the rising cost of living and rising property taxes and the efforts to address those issues. Councilmember Constantinides said, “Our neighborhood gets more expensive and people struggle to keep their homes.”
He continued, “Tonight I’m announcing my support of Tax Equity New York’s lawsuit to require equity in property taxes across the city. There is simply no valid reason for renters in Astoria and East Elmhurst, or homeowners in Bayside or Rosedale, for that matter, to subsidize the hottest neighborhoods in Manhattan and Brooklyn. Doing what we can to help our fellow New Yorkers is part of what makes us who we are, and I believe that this is the right thing to do.”
Noting the diversity of Queens, Councilmember Constantinides said, “We want to choose the path of community and friendship, not of distrust and fear. We will continue fighting for the Queens of people like Mario Cuomo, Geraldine Ferraro, Jackie Robinson, Roy Wilkins – the Queens of Bablu Sharif – the Queens that truly embodies the idea of unity in diversity. Out of many, one.”
Councilmember Constantinides serves District 22 which includes Astoria, East Elmhurst, Jackson Heights, and Woodside. His complete remarks follow.
“Thank you all for coming tonight. First let me thank Principal Heyward and the wonderful staff here at P.S. 17 for hosting us tonight. I want to give a shout out to my colleagues in government, including Public Advocate Letitia James and Council Member and Queens Delegation Chair Karen Koslowitz. And last but not by any means the least, I want to give an especially warm welcome and shout out to my good friend and colleague, City Council Speaker Corey Johnson! Corey has been a stalwart partner in government over the last few years, and he’s spent almost as much time here in the community as I have, and he loves Greek food, too.
Let me say first that the resounding vote of confidence you gave me, my staff, and our work, last November meant more to us than you can ever know. Every day I am mindful of the charge you have tasked me with and the work that has yet to be done for our community and our city. With everything happening in Washington, it’s only made all the more critical that men and women of integrity and fidelity to the enduring American ideal that there must and will be liberty and justice for all. Indeed, we are at a turning point in our nation’s history, and we are now being presented with stark choices as to which path we take.
One path, that I’m sure you’ll hear more about later tonight during the President’s State of the Union Address, will see us regress as a society in ways that could not have been imagined a year ago. We would see the abdication of our role as a world leader in almost every context, from trade to global security, to the fight against climate change. We would see the virtual pillage of the federal treasury for the benefit of those least in need. And we would see the greatest abuses of power and federal law enforcement resources since the days of J. Edgar Hoover.
The other path takes us along the road that leaders from both sides of the aisle worked so hard to trek over the course of our history. Along this path America gained the confidence it needed to wield its great strength against the forces of tyranny. While walking this path America also learned the value of more fully living up to that timeless creed that ALL – men and women – are created equal, and that each and every one of us has an equal claim to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. And we also learned along this path that only by coming together are we able to triumph against the problems that have confronted us as a people. It’s not coincidence that E Pluribus Unum came into use as this country’s first motto. We learned early in our nation’s history that “out of many, one” is not just a maxim – it is a vital strategy for survival for a nation created as ours was.
This is the path that we must recommit ourselves to, and this more than anything is what I commit myself to in my remaining time in office. I have to admit, it is a bittersweet reality to face that there is now more time behind me as a Council Member than there is ahead of me. In some ways it is now a race against the clock to do as much as I can for western Queens in the time I have left.
First off, however, I am immensely proud of what we have accomplished so far. It seems like such a long time ago now that I was out pounding the pavement every day in the summer of 2013. I knocked on 12,000 doors that year, and at each one I talked about a number of ideas I had for how we can make our neighborhood a better place. Tonight I can report that my office has already completed the bulk of my original plan for a cleaner, greener western Queens. I’m most proud, however, that my three big priorities during that campaign – the expansion of Mount Sinai, getting rid of trailers in our schools, and cleaning up the dirty power plants – have been substantially completed.
After four years of work, the expanded Mount Sinai on 30th Avenue is nearly complete. Already we have seen new state of the art emergency and outpatient imaging facilities, specialized equipment, and top class doctors and surgeons coming to the hospital. This year, Mount Sinai will be adding an upgraded and expanded acute stroke center thanks in part to a $1.8 million investment by the Council’s Queens delegation. Every second counts when it comes to treating acute strokes, so having this facility here in western Queens will literally save lives. In total, the Council invested over $7 million in Mount Sinai Queens in my first term. Even that number, however, pales in comparison to the incalculable value of every moment and memory gained with a loved one that may have otherwise been lost.
We in government must be mindful that these moments in time are ever fleeting and that deferring a project – to us, shifting around budget allocations, for instance – can impose a human cost. For several decades, children all over New York City have had opportunities to play in their schoolyards taken from them because the space was being occupied by a trailer. That’s time they’ll never get back. This was why I fought so hard to get the “transportable classroom units” out of our schoolyards.
Originally built as temporary units to house students due to overcrowding, classroom trailers have become a serious challenge to educators and students. They frequently lack adequate lighting, ventilation, heat, and bathrooms. These trailers were built to be in service temporarily but have become permanent fixtures. In fact, the story my former staffer and now Assemblymember Brian Barnwell tells is a perfect illustration of this. He was still a student at PS 151 when the trailers took over much of the schoolyard, and it wasn’t until after his election to the Assembly at the age of 30 that the trailers will finally be removed!
Borough President Melinda Katz and I repeatedly heard from constituents, parents, educators, and students about the need to remove the trailers from schools in our district. We made their removal a key priority and worked collaboratively with the School Construction Authority over the past few years to accomplish this goal. I’m proud that by the end of my term in office, trailers will be removed from PS 151, PS 70, and PS 2. It’s simply inexcusable that it took this long to get the units out of these schoolyards – and that we still have more units to retire. For the over 250 students that used those trailers, however, this marks a new beginning for their academic career.
Finally, we worked hard to get dirty fuel oils out of our local power plants. I’m thrilled that, several weeks ago, the mayor signed into law the bill to speed up the phaseout of dirty 4 and 6 fuel oil in all New York City power plants. Before, plants were allowed to burn this fuel through 2030. Now, 4 and 6 oil must be phased out by 2025 at the latest. That’s five fewer years of these dirty oils burning in our plants, and five fewer years of the emissions they create. That’s five fewer years of the pollutants that cause children in New York City to develop asthma at twice the national rate. With this bill, the city will see emissions reductions of up to 125,000 tons of carbon dioxide, 3,600 tons of sulfur dioxide, 1,000 tons of particulate matter, and 3,500 tons of nitrogen oxides. I want to thank my colleague Ritchie Torres of the Bronx for his hard work on this bill as well.
I’m so proud that we were able to get results on all of these issues for the district. It’s vital that we in elected office do everything in our power to keep our promises, because we’ve seen what happens when people lose faith with our political process. We’ve seen what happens when people hear the siren song of cheap slogans and slick sales pitches. Now, more than ever, it’s up to us in government at all levels to demonstrate what it means to be responsible and responsive servants of the people.
We also have to show that we can build a track record of getting real results for our constituents. That’s why this fiscal year’s budget was so crucial for our neighborhood – our office was able to secure funding for a number of different initiatives. First and foremost, we were able to continue investing in education, including new and innovative equipment for our schools. Last year, I told you about my Science 2050 Initiative, where I planned to allocate a million dollars a year to science and technology programs in our schools. This year, I’m proud to announce that Phase 2 of this initiative is already underway, and that 900,000 dollars will be invested across all our district schools for new computers, laptops, and SmartBoards, as well as $160,000 dollars each at PS 84 and IS 126 for new hydroponic science labs. Additionally, we’ve allocated $1.1 million dollars towards installing solar panels on PS 122, thanks in part to a generous allocation by Borough President Katz. Finally, I am already hard at work planning Phase 3 of the initiative, and fear not, Principal Heyward, I’ve got you covered – PS 17 is at the top of the list for the next round of schools getting a hydroponic science lab!
Our city must be at the forefront of the burgeoning global knowledge economy. That’s why it’s so important that we invest, not only in our schools, but our libraries as well. I was thrilled when former Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito secured $3 million in funding for the Queens Library Astoria branch on 14th Street and Astoria Boulevard. This is the largest allocation that this branch has received in decades and will go towards making the entire building ADA accessible, improvements to the children’s room, and other upgrades.
Some of the funding for these projects was secured through last year’s participatory budgeting process. It was, without a doubt, our most successful year yet, with a record breaking 3,617 votes cast. The winning projects included the funding for the Astoria library, solar panels for the Steinway library on 31st Street, tech upgrades for both libraries, bus countdown clocks, and new trees. Our participatory budgeting volunteers are finalizing this year’s ballot so stay tuned!
We also continued our investment on Hallet’s Cove Peninsula, including $3 million dollars for improvements at Hallets Cove Playground to upgrade the empty asphalt blacktop into a multi-purpose ballfield, and $1 million dollars for upgrading the lighting at the Astoria Houses parking lot and installing new closed-circuit TV cameras inside the stairwells. Whitey Ford Field will also be upgraded with $2 million in funding thanks in part to Borough President Melinda Katz.
Finally, our commitment to cleaner streets will continue as well. Thanks in part to the Cleaner NYC initiative, we’ve been able to allocate 250,000 dollars to keeping Astoria clean. This will enable us to keep bringing the dedicated men and women from ACE to sweep up our main thoroughfares and remove graffiti where it pops up.
I’m honored to be able to have another four years to work to keep our city cleaner and greener, as I’ve been re-appointed as the chair of the Council’s Environmental Protection Committee. I want to thank Speaker Johnson again for giving me an opportunity to build on the work that the committee has done on sustainability, air quality, and ensuring that our water infrastructure is kept in world class condition without unfairly burdening the water ratepayers. 2017 was one of the most productive years in a long time for the committee – and with good reason! We knew that, with Washington taking a hatchet to the EPA, we had our work cut out for us. With no false modesty, I believe we responded to the challenge, as we passed 16 bills over the course of the year, including legislation on building energy grades, flood mitigation in Southeast Queens, and requiring city buses and ferries to use alternative fuels such as biofuel when practical.
Our proudest moment, however, came when we passed the Environmental Justice Act. Unfortunately, it is often no coincidence that buildings like power plants, factories, and waste facilities are located in poorer, and often non-white, neighborhoods. Asthma rates, developmental delays, and other health problems are much higher in these neighborhoods than elsewhere. Getting these bills passed after a decade of fighting was one of the high points of the term.
Although it is a new term, there is still so much left to do to make our city more green and sustainable. My environmental agenda moving forward has several major components. First, we must continue to cut emissions in our buildings. New York City’s buildings account for around 70 percent of our greenhouse gas emissions, and more than half of all built square footage in the city is in buildings 25,000 square feet and over. Commercial space alone represents 3% of the city’s total buildings, and 29% of the emissions. This is in stark contrast to the city’s stock of one to four family units, which represent 82% of the total floor space but only 19% of the emissions. That’s why we need to start the conversation with these larger buildings.
I will soon introduce a bill to reduce emissions in these buildings. First, it will set a cap for the amount of fossil fuels that can be burned on site. This will not only reduce the greenhouse gas emissions, but will also reduce neighborhood-level air pollution. Secondly, it will also set an overall energy target, including electricity usage, that large buildings must meet. Requiring that large buildings work to reduce their electricity consumption will ease the strain on our grid and lessen the burden on our local power plants.
To be sure, this is an incredibly complex bill, and it will require a great deal of input from different stakeholders from all walks of life. We owe it to you, however, to make sure we get this one right. If done correctly, this legislation could give us up to 10% reduction in our city’s greenhouse gas emissions, the largest in city history from any single policy. That’s millions of tons of carbon dioxide kept out of our atmosphere permanently!
Of course, if we really want to get our buildings on a more sustainable path, we also need to ensure that property owners have all the tools available to them to go green. This means making it as easy as possible to get approval for renewable energy projects such as wind and solar. This year I am reintroducing two bills that will help grow the wind energy sector in New York City. The first bill will set basic standards for small wind turbines that can be installed on buildings. Currently, the lack of standards for wind turbines means that property owners that want to install one must get special permits from the Department of Buildings. As anyone who’s dealt with DOB knows, even the most garden variety projects can often ensnare you in endless strands of red tape. When you add cutting edge technology on top of that, you’re only complicating it further. By setting basic turbine standards, we will give the city a metric by which all wind turbines can be evaluated, making it much easier for DOB and other city agencies to evaluate projects.
We also need to know where the best areas for wind power are in the city, so that property owners will know up front whether the investment is worth it for them. That’s why my second wind bill directs the city to survey the areas that have the best potential for wind power generation. Anyone who is interested in installing a turbine will be able to see this map and determine if wind power is the best renewable system for them, or whether they should go with something else. We already have a good solar map thanks to the hard work of CUNY and other groups, but now it’s time to supplement it with a wind map as well.
As we know, there simply is no debate over the existence of man-made climate change. The science has shown this, the data has shown this, and increasingly, our lived experience has shown this. Over the last decade, nearly every region of this planet has endured an unnatural amount of warmth, chill, storms, flooding, wildfires, or other disastrous weather events. And this comes with a cost – in 2015, Citibank estimated that the cost of inaction could rise as high as $44 trillion by 2060. And while it’s the major storms – Sandy, Harvey, Maria – that understandably get the lion’s share of the public’s attention, millions more will experience climate change not as a single catastrophic event, but as a minor nuisance that grows and grows into a major one. Already, communities from Fort Lauderdale, to Tybee Island, Georgia, to Amityville and beyond, are seeing increased tidal flooding year after year. It’s more than likely that this nuisance flooding will continue to creep inland over the next several decades, which is why we need to plan for it now.
That’s why myself and my colleagues Donovan Richards, Daneek Miller, and Adrienne Adams of southeast Queens will soon be introducing legislation to direct the city to study current and anticipated flood patterns and come up with a comprehensive plan to mitigate it. Northwest and southeast Queens are the front lines in our borough for this flooding and are home to half a million New Yorkers as well as much of the city’s most sensitive infrastructure including airports and power plants.
I also intend to keep up the fight against asthma this term. Late last year, I introduced two pieces of legislation to make it easier to manage asthma in New York City. The first would require the city to report on asthma prevalence and hospitalization rates across different communities and break down the data by age, race, and educational status. While the city Department of Health has done a better job of presenting asthma statistics over the last few years, the fact remains that we need more comprehensive data presented at regular intervals in order to best tailor our policy responses. Knowledge is power, and with this knowledge, we will be able to allocate our resources more effectively.
We also need to ensure that children have access to the asthma medicine they need to function. While some children with asthma can get by with an emergency inhaler, others may need a nebulizer, which administers a larger dose of albuterol over a longer period of time. Unfortunately, most of our schools do not have nebulizers. What’s more, the state legislature passed a law 10 years ago mandating that every school in New York State with a nurse have a nebulizer – and then neglected to appropriate the funding to actually pay for them! If Albany can’t get its act together here, New York City will have to step in and take care of this ourselves. That’s why my second bill on asthma prevention will be to require nebulizers in every city school. I will also be working closely with my co-prime sponsor on this legislation, former Health Committee Chair, and now Speaker, Corey Johnson to ensure that our bill does not fall into the same funding black hole as the state bill did.
Finally, I’ll also be introducing a new bill to require schools to report on whether students with asthma are submitting asthma action plans, where school nurses are given instructions on how to treat a specific student’s asthma symptoms, and whether those students have needed to use their action plans. It’s critical to determine if the system we’ve put into place is actually working for our students – and if not, we need to figure out what we can do differently.
In my first term, I made the restoration of Astoria Park a priority. Two years ago, in my State of the District address, I announced my plan to secure 15 million dollars in funding for the park. Last year, thanks to the Anchor Parks initiative, we were able to secure 30 million dollars for the park that would cover the bulk of the work needed on rebuilding pathways and erosion control, as well as bringing a full size soccer field to Astoria and refurbishing Charybdis Playground.
In this term, however, I want to focus on the pool complex. Opened in July 1936, the sleek, Art Mo-derne facility was one of the finest projects to come out of the collaboration between Robert Moses and FDR’s Works Progress Administration. Like the iconic structures of the New York World’s Fair that opened several years later, the sleek architecture came to symbolize the future, and the promise of a better tomorrow. The pool became an immediate hit. Even now, more than 75 years after its opening, it continues to be one of the best places to spend a summer afternoon in Queens. As with any structure that old, however, the time is fast approaching where a number of renovations will be needed to keep the complex in good condition. That’s what I am committing to tonight as one of the main goals of my second term.
The first thing that needs to be addressed is the locker rooms. While they are certainly functional, it’s fair to say that they could also really use a facelift – and have needed it for some time. That’s why the first thing on the agenda will be a complete overhaul of the locker rooms to bring them up to modern standards. Secondly, we need to start thinking bigger picture. Right now, the pool can obviously only be used during the summer months. With a full overhaul of the pool’s basin and deck, however, the possibility of having the space available for year round programming opens up to us. Now, let’s be clear – this will be a larger capital expense by far than any I have undertaken, and it will not be completed before I leave office. All of us, however, have a responsibility to ensure that we leave things better than we found them, and while it will be daunting, I believe that we can do it.
As I said several years ago, one of the central tasks before us is fighting to ensure that people can go to bed secure in the knowledge that their homes will not be taken from them by rising rents or by rising seas. Throughout my time in government, few problems seemed so daunting and intractable as the fight to keep Astoria affordable. This affordability crisis hits our seniors especially hard. Most of them want to stay in the neighborhood they’ve called home for so long, but thousands simply can’t manage it on a fixed income. What’s more, this problem is almost guaranteed to get worse, as the senior population has grown at twice the rate of the population as a whole over the last decade.
A neighborhood is more than just a particular set of buildings, streets, and storefronts. It is the place where the very foundations of our civic society are rooted. Just as no building could stand on its own without a solid foundation, a neighborhood is not truly a community without those most deeply rooted, and who have borne the burden of supporting everything to come. We are simply not the same community without our seniors, and that is why, tonight, I am announcing my plan to build at least 500 new units of senior affordable housing here in western Queens by the end of my term. I am already hard at work coordinating with potential community partners and non-profits who are looking for opportunities to build. Our office has gotten too many anguished pleas for help finding decent housing, and we have a duty to act now.
Of course, it is also the duty of those of us in government to ensure that the monetary contributions you make – your tax dollars – are spent fairly and prudently. Additionally, we must ensure that, when the tax collector comes around, the process is as painless and as transparent as possible. Unfortunately, when it comes to collecting your property taxes, this is something that we as a city haven’t done all that well. Far too many constituents have come to me with stories of their tax exemptions being mysteriously revoked. They have not been given any explanation as to why their exemption has been revoked, and what they may be able to do to contest it. Anyone that tries to contact the city Department of Finance directly is handed over to a general hotline – there is no system, online or otherwise, for you to verify that your documentation is correct or whether anything you’ve already submitted is being processed.
Here in Queens, where many of our single family homeowners are seniors on fixed incomes, even a single quarter with a miscalculated tax bill can be ruinous. We have hundreds of non-profits, including churches, synagogues, mosques, temples, gurdwaras and others of all sizes who often must operate on slim budgets and need specialized help. That’s why I recently introduced a bill that will direct the Department of Finance to create a website where anyone can view their property tax exemption status. Under this new website, property owners would be able to pay their taxes, directly submit questions to the DOF, and view their records. They’d be able to access specific information regarding their properties including applications for exemptions like the Senior Citizen Homeowners’ Exemption, status of exemptions, date by which they’d need to apply to renew an exemption, or whether anything has expired in their record. If a property owner’s application is rejected, they must tell you why. Property owners will also be able to set up alerts for any changes.
These are simple, common sense things that already exist on other government platforms, and the fact that the Council may have to pass legislation to create this system is very disappointing. But if we’re going to ask you to pay substantial sums of your hard earned money to fund the government, the government needs to uphold its end of the bargain and give you all the tools it can to manage your payments.
We’re committed to the idea of better government, rather than to just blaming government and slashing it – and part of that means ensuring an equitable taxation formula. Our city’s property taxes are calculated in archaic ways that haven’t kept up with the reality of residents. Neighborhoods where property values have increased in the past few decades are still subject to caps while areas with high percentages of renters like Astoria are getting hurt because these rules haven’t kept up with the times. Our neighborhood gets more expensive and people struggle to keep their homes.
Tonight I’m announcing my support of Tax Equity New York’s lawsuit to require equity in property taxes across the city. There is simply no valid reason for renters in Astoria and East Elmhurst, or homeowners in Bayside or Rosedale, for that matter, to subsidize the hottest neighborhoods in Manhattan and Brooklyn. Doing what we can to help our fellow New Yorkers is part of what makes us who we are, and I believe that this is the right thing to do.
Now, with all that said, I’m now going to do something that perhaps no sane politician would ever do, and that is to defend taxes. Don’t laugh! I see some of you looking at me like I have three heads right now – and don’t get me wrong, I certainly can’t blame you for that. I too went through that ancient rite of passage where, upon completing your first day or week of your first job, you pick up your paycheck. How exciting that moment is! The possibilities seem endless. And then you look down… and see how you were shorted a decent chunk of change. What is this? Where did it go? What the heck is FICA? It’s completely natural to feel frustrated by that – especially during times when the cost of living is rising, wages have stagnated for decades, and dollars seem like they must be made to stretch further and further.
It’s critical, however, that in a time when the hard right controls the levers of power in Washington and elsewhere, we remember what we get for our taxes and fees. We have great local schools like the one hosting us tonight. We have some of the best drinking water in the country – 90% of which doesn’t even need filtration because it’s maintained so well. We have social services that are there to pick us up and dust us off when we need it.
Compare this to other places around the country. In Kansas and Oklahoma, some schools had to go to 4 day weeks, pre-K classes could not afford to enroll more children, and some highway police stations couldn’t even afford to fill the gas tanks of their squad cars. In Michigan, the City of Flint could not afford its traditional water supply, so it was forced to switch to the contaminated Flint River as a primary source – with disastrous results that will reverberate for generations. Each of these states fell under an ideology that gamed the system, putting more and more into the pockets of the wealthy and the corporate entities they control, regardless of the human cost. Now, regrettably, we may well see this cycle play out on a national level, as the tax bill passed by the Republican Congress and signed by President Trump creates the same incentives for the wealthiest and most powerful to game the system, leaving the rest of us with the bill.
What’s more, the bill differs from previous Republican tax cuts. With this bill, the GOP has chosen to not just reward their supporters, but punish the opposition. By capping the amount that we can deduct from our state and local taxes, they are attempting to sabotage our city and state programs. That New York only gets back 84 cents for every dollar it sends to Washington, or an estimated $40.9 billion in tax payments in 2016, doesn’t matter in the slightest. As far as I’m concerned, we’re being penalized for believing that it’s government’s duty to care for those who are unable to care for themselves.
Last year, I talked about the resurgence of backlash politics, and the harm likely to come to all of us when these regressive forces are unleashed. Unfortunately, we have now seen exactly what that means when put into practice. “Cutting red tape” has turned into allowing payday loan sharks to operate with impunity and giving pharmaceutical lobbyists carte blanche to rewrite federal regulations. “Draining the swamp” becomes rampant cronyism, nepotism, and a pay to play system unheard of in modern American politics. And, of course, “making America great again” becomes a policy of systematic cruelty towards all those who do not fit in Donald Trump’s vision of America.
You’ll probably hear some of those phrases later tonight. But here’s what you won’t hear. It’s unlikely that you’ll hear about Bablu Sharif, a hardworking father and husband from Woodside who was unceremoniously deported in October. It’s also unlikely that you’ll hear about the thousands of Salvadorans, Haitians, and DACA recipients from all over the world that are our friends and neighbors here in Queens who do not know if they’ll be able to celebrate another holiday season in the land they’ve come to know as their home. You may hear about the Department of Health and Human Services’ new “Conscience” division, but will you hear about the women in need of family planning services or members of the LGBT community who are likely to suffer when doctors can turn them away with impunity? I doubt it.
I began tonight by talking about two paths for this country. There could not be a more stark difference between these paths, and I firmly believe that, as New Yorkers and members of the most diverse community in the country, we know which path we want to take. We want to choose the path of community and friendship, not of distrust and fear. We will continue fighting for the Queens of people like Mario Cuomo, Geraldine Ferraro, Jackie Robinson, Roy Wilkins – the Queens of Bablu Sharif – the Queens that truly embodies the idea of unity in diversity. Out of many, one.
As one, we will look out for our neighbors, and let them know that we will protect them, and that they do not need to be afraid. As one, we will safeguard our natural resources and our public institutions for generations yet to come. And as one, we will show our native son in the Oval Office that it is tolerance and love, not division and discord, that lie at the heart of the Queens we love and that light the path to our future. That is how you create a more perfect district, and a more perfect union. Thank you and goodnight.” |
GOP legislators gather in search of winning 2018 agenda | WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, West Virginia >> Congressional Republicans in sweater vests and fleece gathered at a West Virginia resort Thursday in search of a winning election-year agenda, facing the notion that the best they have to offer in 2018 may be a recitation of the tax cuts approved in 2017 — and well aware of the looming threat of another government shutdown.
The legislators had forums on topics such as infrastructure, national security and the economy — but noticeably not on immigration, the major issue that bedevils them.
They got a pep talk from President Donald Trump reliving passage of the tax bill and highlighting other GOP victories from his first year in office. But the president offered no clear strategy for resolving the immigration-and-spending standoff that produced a three-day government shutdown in January and threatens a second shutdown next week. And he offered no new policy details on infrastructure, prescription drug prices or other items he’s mentioned as ripe for attention in 2018.
As for an immigration strategy, Trump said: “We have to get help from the other side, or we have to elect many more Republicans.” He then proceeded to take jabs at Democrats just days after calling for bipartisan unity in his State of the Union address.
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Trump took a similar tack at a second GOP event Thursday night in Washington.
“You know the Democrats are AWOL. They’re missing in action,” Trump said at the Republican National Committee’s winter meeting at his Washington hotel. “We’re saying, ‘Where are they?’ We have a proposal. We never hear from them.”
Republicans appear headed into the year with the idea that 2017 was when they got bigger items done and that 2018 will be a time to deal with necessary business, including spending and immigration. Infrastructure would likely require a sustained push from the president. The message for the midterms is expected to be the economy and tax cuts.
“Tax reform is working,” said House Speaker Paul Ryan, citing investments by UPS and employee bonuses by Lowe’s as the latest evidence. Take-home pay is going up, while consumer confidence is at a 17-year high and unemployment at a 17-year low, Ryan said.
Rep. Bill Shuster, R-Pa., chairman of the House Transportation Committee, gamely told reporters that Trump’s history as a developer makes him the ideal person to push a major infrastructure plan.
“He understands how to bring projects in on time and under budget,” said Shuster, who added that he brought up the “elephant” in a room full of Republicans: raising the gas tax to pay for more highways.
Shuster acknowledged that a tax increase was a tough sell in an election year but said public-private partnerships such as those used by Connecticut at highway rest stops could be an alternative.
Trump mentioned a “right to try” bill to speed approval of life-saving drugs, but the plan received little or no buzz among lawmakers.
Besides tax cuts and the strong economy, Republicans said they have a not-so-secret weapon: House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi, who said the GOP tax bill would provide mere “crumbs” for many taxpayers.
Trump compared the remark to Hillary Clinton’s 2016 description of his supporters as “deplorables,” and Rep. Steve Stivers, R-Ohio, chairman of the House campaign arm, said Pelosi’s words will be repeated in TV ads around the country.
“Her ‘crumbs’ comment is something I think we can use pretty effectively,” Stivers said.
Amid the optimism were nagging questions about whether lawmakers will enact immigration changes or deadlock over Trump’s calls for a wall along the Mexican border and a path to citizenship for young immigrants here illegally. Meanwhile Congress faces a Feb. 8 deadline to avert another government shutdown.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell promised that wouldn’t happen, saying, “There’s no education in the second kick of a mule.”
Sen. James Lankford, R-Okla., said he doubted there will be a unified Republican approach on immigration, noting that House and Senate Republicans have vastly different visions on the bill. And while there was no formal immigration session on the agenda, Lankford and other lawmakers said the issue has come up frequently in informal talks among lawmakers.
“There’s a lot of dialogue happening in the hallway” on immigration, Lankford said, adding that he hopes the GOP will coalesce around a White House framework Trump outlined last week and reiterated during his State of the Union address.
The White House has proposed creating a path to citizenship for up to 1.8 million young people living in the county illegally in exchange for billions for a border wall and dramatic cuts to legal immigration. Democrats have blasted the plan and called it dead on arrival.
Trump claimed that if Democrats don’t agree to the immigration framework he’s presented, it will be because they want the issue to animate voters in the 2018 midterm elections.
“It’s now an election issue that will go to our benefit, not their benefit,” he said.
In Washington later, he said: “I don’t think they want to solve the DACA problem. I think they want to talk about it. I think they want to obstruct. ... That’s all they do is resist.”
Even later, Trump tweeted that Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer “have to get moving fast, or they’ll disappoint you again.”
Days after calling on both parties to come together, Trump criticized Democrats for the less than enthusiastic reception they gave his 80-minute State of the Union speech on Capitol Hill.
“They sat there stone cold, no smile, no applause,” Trump said, suggesting that “perhaps they’d rather see us not do well than see our country do great.”
Associated Press writers Jill Colvin and Andrew Taylor in Washington contributed to this story. |
Moos tells AP his jab at Meyer, Harbaugh 'tongue in cheek' | OMAHA, Neb. — Nebraska athletic director Bill Moos said Tuesday night his comment about coaches Urban Meyer of Ohio State and Jim Harbaugh of Michigan “running a little bit scared” following coach Scott Frost’s arrival in Lincoln was “a bit tongue in cheek.”
In an appearance at an Omaha Press Club luncheon earlier in the day, Moos said Frost would need time to turn around the Cornhuskers, who were 4-8 last season, but better days are ahead.
Moos added, according to the Omaha World-Herald, “You’ve got Urban Meyer and Jim Harbaugh thinking, ‘We better put a little more into that Nebraska game coming up.’ And that’s the way we want it. They’re running a little bit scared right now. And they won’t admit it. We’ll leave that at that.”
The remark set off a run of sarcastic replies from Big Ten fans and media on Twitter.
Asked in the evening if he stood by his comment, Moos wrote in a text to The Associated Press, “A bit tongue in cheek. Meant to point out that the competition is aware that there’s a renewed energy at Nebraska and we aim to get back in the hunt.”
Nebraska visits Michigan on Sept. 22 and Ohio State on Nov. 3.
The defending Big Ten champion Buckeyes beat Nebraska 56-14 in Lincoln last year and 62-3 in Columbus in 2016.
Nebraska is 2-1 against Michigan since entering the Big Ten in 2011, with the Wolverines coached by Brady Hoke in each of those games.
The Huskers have not won a conference championship since 1999, when they were in the Big 12, and lost 70-31 to Wisconsin in 2012 in their only appearance in the Big Ten title game.
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More AP college football: http://collegefootball.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP–Top25 |
Furious Brexiteers accuse May of plotting to 'cheat' voters with fudge plan | Theresa may (pictured on a visit to Holland yesterday) has been scrambling to assemble a 'third way' plan for trade with the EU that can unite Eurosceptic and Remainer factions - as well as being acceptable to Brussels
Theresa May is desperately trying to hold the Tories together today as furious Brexiteers accuse her of plotting to 'cheat' voters.
The Prime Minister has been scrambling to assemble a 'third way' plan for trade with the EU that can unite Eurosceptic and Remainer factions - as well as being acceptable to Brussels.
But hardline Brexiteers are on the verge of all-out mutiny amid claims the compromise package will leave the UK in much the same position as Switzerland.
The proposals are thought to involve aligning with EU rules on product standards and Britain collecting duties on behalf of the bloc.
Controversially there would also be a powerful role for European courts - which would come dangerously close to breaking one of the government's red lines.
Cabinet members have been complaining about being kept completely in the dark about the latest blueprint - just days before a make-or-break summit at Chequers.
But draft proposals have now started to circulate, with critics claiming they are little more than a rebadged version of the 'customs partnership' that was previously rejected by ministers.
Brexiteers are braced for the PM to attempt to 'bounce' them into major concessions, warning that they will not stand for 'half-baked' plans. One source told The Times that Mrs May's preferred way forward looked a 'lot like Switzerland' - although crucially it does not include free movement.
Failure to break the standoff at Chequers on Friday could trigger resignations by big beasts including Boris Johnson - potentially causing fatal damage to Mrs May's premiership.
Environment Secretary Michael Gove today played down the prospects of anyone quitting, saying: 'The only departures we'll see are more from Heathrow when the third runway is built.'
Senior backbencher Jacob Rees-Mogg - which heads the 60-strong group of Tory Eurosceptic MPs - has made clear they will not back a Brexit deal which 'cheats' Leave voters.
'It's not for me to issue warnings to the Prime Minister. I fully support the Prime Minister, but I cannot guarantee to support a policy that doesn't deliver on the manifesto commitments,' he told Channel 4 News.
'Politicians must be honest. It would be a cheat on the British electorate to do that which was not in the manifesto.
A standoff at Chequers could trigger resignations by figures including Boris Johnson (pictured left in Downing Street). Home Secretary Sajid Javid will also play a key role at the meeting
Chancellor Philip Hammond told the Commons yesterday that the government must respect the views of business - which has been urging the softest possible departure from the EU
Mrs May is thought to have sounded out Dutch PM Mark Rutte on her proposals for a Brexit deal at a meeting in The Hague yesterday
Senior backbencher Jacob Rees-Mogg - which heads the 60-strong group of Tory Eurosceptic MPs - has made clear they will not back a Brexit deal which 'cheats' Leave voters
'It would be a cheat on the referendum result. And I believe in politicians sticking to their word.'
Tory MP Andrea Jenkyns, who quit as a ministerial aide in order to speak more freely about Brexit, urged ministers to stand up for Leave voters.
In a message on Twitter aimed at Mr Johnson, Mr Gove, Penny Mordaunt, Liam Fox, Andrea Leadsom and Chris Grayling, she urged them to 'show your steel on Friday'. 'We know some of you want to be the future party leader,' she said.
The Brexit issue was the elephant in the room at the regular Cabinet yesterday, with Mrs May avoiding bringing it up and Eurosceptic ministers stopping short of demanding answers.
Chancellor Philip Hammond risked inflaming the row by telling MPs he is determined to respect the views of business - which has been urging the softest possible departure from the EU.
He also vowed to set out the potential costs to the economy when the Cabinet holds its make-or-break session at Mrs May's country residence.
As Tory divisions over Brexit escalated again yesterday, former justice minister Phillip Lee - who resigned from the Government over the issue - accused Mr Rees-Mogg of plotting a 'coup' against Mrs May. He said there was 'no doubt' that Eurosceptics were mobilising.
Referring to disputed claims that supporters of Mr Rees-Mogg have amassed a £750,000 war chest, Dr Lee said: 'The last thing we need is a leadership challenge. But when an MP and his supporters have collected £750.000 to do just that, there is no doubt that Brexiteers are planning a coup.'
Mr Rees-Mogg denied all knowledge of the fund and insisted that his interventions were designed to stiffen Mrs May's resolve to stick to her own pledges.
'I am trying to support her against the naysayers, some of whom, unfortunately, are in the Cabinet,' he said.
Meanwhile, European leaders piled pressure on Mrs May to reveal more details of her stance in a long-awaited White Paper on Brexit.
Dutch PM Mark Rutte, who held talks with Mrs May in The Hague yesterday, said: 'We urgently need clarity about every aspect of the future relationship between the EU and the UK.' |
Campaign to drive out migrants slams Beijing's best and brightest | BEIJING (NYTIMES) - With coding skills, a foreign degree, fluent English and an apartment barely big enough for his espresso maker and two cats, Si Ruomu thought he was the kind of go-getting young tech worker that Beijing needs to thrive in the 21st century.
That was before the police arrived at his apartment building and ordered him and hundreds of others to vacate within 48 hours. Like most of his fellow tenants, Si had come from elsewhere in China to find work in the capital, which often treats migrants virtually as second-class citizens.
"One minute you're drinking espressos, the next you're being evicted," said Si, 28, a bespectacled programmer who grew up in northern China and studied computer science in New Zealand. "I'm starting to think whether people like me have a future in Beijing." As Beijing has launched its most aggressive drive in decades to rid itself of unwanted migrants, the brunt of the crackdown has fallen on labourers from the countryside. But it has also hurt a different kind of migrant: educated and ambitious white-collar workers drawn to the city's new economy of tech, finance and hospitality industries.
Beijing is a cultural, technological and commercial capital as well as a political one, and the tenements on its outskirts are home to tens of thousands of hopeful young college graduates who have moved here seeking better jobs and better lives.
These job seekers are treated as migrants in their own capital, because China's biggest cities are fortresses of official privilege, especially Beijing. The government gives residents with permanent residence permits, called hukou, more generous access to housing, schools and health care. But migrants must pay more for many services, and many live on the edges of Beijing, where rents are lower.
Now whole swaths of these neighbourhoods have been emptied and in many cases reduced to rubble as the authorities condemn buildings as unsafe or illegal and order migrants to leave.
That has ignited debate about how Beijing can function without the blue-collar migrants who serve as its cooks, cleaners and vendors, but there are also worries the campaign might harm the city's fast-growing tech sector, which employs armies of migrants for relatively low pay.
"You can find this new displaced class in nearly every sector and business in the city, including manufacturing and IT," said Wu Qiang, a researcher in Beijing who has written about the expulsions. "The growth of a marginalised, unprotected workforce is a global phenomenon, but in China it's especially found in so-called 'villages in the city' where migrants live". When the authorities arrive with eviction orders, many migrants search for newer, safer homes even farther from the city centre. Others say they may abandon Beijing to find work elsewhere.
"This will certainly change my impression of this city. I don't really want to stay in Beijing," Zhang Mi, 25, a web application developer from Hebei, the province surrounding the capital, said as he crammed his bags into a van after being evicted.
Most migrants in Beijing are manual labourers but a growing number are college graduates - nearly 30 per cent, according to a 2015 study. Another study found that the city's software and information technology sectors employed about 346,000 migrants.
"To young tech workers like me, there's really no option - only the big cities like Beijing have more opportunities," said Hu Xianyu, 22, an intern at Baidu, the internet search giant, who moved to Beijing from the northern province of Shanxi and was forced out of his apartment last month.
"Tech workers for the bigger companies can get help from them," he said. "But for those working for small companies or startups, the evictions can be disastrous." Migrant workers have often reacted to the eviction orders with angry resignation. But small confrontations have flared up, and the largest and most organised protest broke out Sunday, when hundreds of people in a neighborhood in northeast Beijing scheduled for clearance gathered and chanted "violent evictions violate human rights".
The effects of the crackdown are evident in Beijing's booming e-commerce sector, which relies on legions of couriers - nearly all of them migrants - to deliver packages and meals on electric bikes.
Last month, five delivery companies warned of delivery delays after the expulsions.
Gan Wei, secretary-general of the China Electronic Commerce Logistics Industry Alliance, said the companies represented by her group would have to raise delivery prices in Beijing about 20 per cent.
"Why is takeout food so cheap in Beijing? Because of all the cheap labour from the countryside," said Jia Dayong, 43, a stringy courier from the northwestern province of Shaanxi who was being expelled from Banjieta Village, a migrant neighborhood in northern Beijing.
"Nobody cares whether we have a place to live," he said.
Beijing launched the eviction drive in late November, citing worries about cramped, substandard housing after an apartment fire killed 19 people, all but two of them migrants.
The government says a population of 21.7 million residents, 8.1 million of them classed as migrants, has put too much strain on the city. Urged on by China's president, Xi Jinping, Beijing wants to cap its population at 23 million by 2020, and clear out gritty neighborhoods that do not fit its aspirations to become a spick-and-span capital of monuments, malls and broad motorways.
"If they keep clearing out like this, Beijing will suffer a drought of employees next year," said Wang Le, 29, a hotel manager from the eastern province of Jiangsu.
She was one of about 100 tenants - most of whom worked in finance, technology and hospitality - living in steel shipping containers that had been converted into small, brightly painted apartments. They were being torn down on government orders.
In an attempt to slow the influx of job seekers, Beijing has cut the numbers of university graduates from other parts of China receiving the hukou permits that confer privileged status and benefits. But they have kept coming.
Without permanent residency, they are forced to live precariously. Trying to save money, many find cheap apartments in the same rundown neighborhoods as migrants working menial jobs.
"Even if the industry I'm in is very high-level, as far as the government is concerned, I'm also a peasant worker, a migrant worker," said Zhang Xingwang, 24, who studied automation in college and came to Beijing from Hebei province seeking work as a software programmer.
He had to find new housing after his old apartment near where the deadly fire broke out last month was demolished. "I thought Beijing would be relatively fair and tolerant, and the government would behave better," he said. "But after this happened …"
China's big tech firms have refrained from criticising the migrant crackdown, perhaps out of fear of angering the government. Alibaba, the online commerce giant, said the overall effect on its business "hasn't been significant". But some experts have warned that by choking off the flow of migrants, Beijing risks losing entrepreneurial energy.
Even before the recent expulsions, Yin Deting, a demographer who advises the Beijing city government, warned that heavy-handed clearances of migrants would accelerate the aging of the city's workforce.
"If we place our hopes for reducing the population just in demolishing illegal buildings and low-grade markets, the actual outcomes may well be contrary to what is hoped for," Yin wrote this year.
Si, the programmer who studied in New Zealand, eventually found a place to stay on the eastern edge of Beijing where he could keep his cats. He said he was weighing whether to move to a more tolerant Chinese city, or leave the country again to resume his studies.
"I don't think this will ever work," Si said of the crackdown. "There are job opportunities in Beijing, and government policies can't stop people moving to get jobs. If you do, the city pays a heavy price." |
Global Stuttering Device Market 2018 - SpeechEasy, VoiceAmp, SpeakFluent | Index Markets Research offers a detailed research on Global Stuttering Device Market with the future prospects of the market to provide the current state and emerging trends in the market. The report covers methodical outlook by considering aspects such as market growth, market demands, business strategies, consumption volume, market trends and industry cost structure during the forecast period 2018-2025. New vendors in the market are facing tough competition from established international vendors as they struggle with technological innovations, reliability and quality issues. The Prominent Manufacturers included SpeechEasy, VoiceAmp, SpeakFluent.
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Jim Carrey Gets Hate Messages After Satirical Portrait Of Sarah Sanders | Jim Carrey has found himself in the centre of a social media storm after posting an unflattering portrait supposedly of White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders alongside a bitter message. While political satire is nothing new to the entertainment world, he seems to have really touched a nerve.
Jim Carrey at Venice Film Festival
The 56-year-old comedy actor, a staunch liberal, painted a vivid caricature that looked remarkably like Huckabee Sanders, though he didn't mention her by name, and posted the result on Twitter to a rather mixed response. The caption he wrote alongside it also caused some contention.
'This is the portrait of a so-called Christian whose only purpose in life is to lie for the wicked. Monstrous!' He wrote. He was soon called out by the politician's father Mike Huckabee, the former Governor of Arkansas.
'Pathetic bully, sexist, hater, bigot and 'Christaphobe' Jim Carrey attacks Press Secretary for her faith; what would be hypocritical Hollywood reaction if he called someone a 'so-called Muslim' or 'so-called Jew?'' He wrote.
data-lang="en"> This is the portrait of a so-called Christian whose only purpose in life is to lie for the wicked. Monstrous! pic.twitter.com/MeYLTy1pqb — Jim Carrey (@JimCarrey) March 17, 2018
It's not the first time Jim Carrey has shared some controversial political art. In February, he posted an image of a schoolgirl lying dead surrounded by bullets on the American flag-painted ground, following the Florida school shooting.
'Oh say, can't you see?!' He captioned the shot. It came after his criticisms of the NRA and the president's suggestion that school's need to be more armed - a concept that got its own piece of artwork.
Another painting showed John Kelly being run over by a suited man on a Merry Go Round horse, with the caption: 'All who enter his crooked carnival with integrity are doomed to leave without it. General Kelly has been trampled by his own compromise. Who dares be the next to ride the carousel of fools?!'
More: Jim Carrey cleared in wrongful death lawsuit
Whether you agree with his messages or not, it seems Jim's decision to take a break from acting to focus on a more artistic venture has been rather productive. His ability to find humour and irony in all places has certainly turned him into a talented painter, and we can expect to see a lot more where that came from. |
Outdoor picnic area proposed for high school | The Clinton High School PTSO has proposed construction of an outdoor picnic-garden area for students, faculty and staff and presented the idea to the Board during a work session Thursday night.
Wanda Coleman, PTSO president for the school, submitted the proposal to Dr. Steve Miller, principal of the high school. The proposed location is on a grassy area between the media center side of the high school building and the Dark Horse soccer complex.
“We hope this will create a positive outdoor gathering space for CHS and create positive energy for the community project,” Coleman said.
The total projected cost is $15,000, with funds coming through money allocated from the PTSO, donations from other clubs, sponsorships and fundraisers.
According to Coleman, the project will include a 40X40 concrete slab to house picnic tables, at least 13 picnic tables, conversation benches and trees and shrubs for privacy and beautification.
The idea for development started with the PTSO board discussing ways to give back to the students, faculty and staff. Currently, Clinton High School has no outdoor gathering space, and PTSO members felt the picnic-garden project would be a great benefit to not only the Clinton City Schools family, but visitors from other locations.
During Thursday night’s work session, the board, along with Clinton City Schools superintendent, offered their support for the project.
“The picnic area can be utilized for dual purposes,” Dr. Stuart Blount said.
The PTSO feels the area can be used as a behavioral incentive, possibly allowing students and classes to gather outside during the school day. Teams could gather at the tables for lunch or other meals, as could teachers. Having the outdoor area would also allow for outdoor theater opportunities, as well as after-school events and functions.
“Many parents are very excited about his idea and have pledged their volunteer labor and help to solicit funds,” Coleman stated. “The family of Andrew Warren has verbally stated interest in giving back to Clinton High School for this project and they would possibly like to make a contribution.”
Projected expenses include $4,900 for concrete and grading, $5,200 for picnic tables and benches, $2,00 for trees and shrubs and $2,900 for other expenses.
Now with the blessing of the board, a CHS Picnic-Garden development committee will be formed, and possible fundraisers will be discussed. Once funds are secure, HN Carr will begin the process to lay the concrete slab after removal of part of the sidewalk, a community “work day” will be designated and the area officially opened.
Projected completion date hasn’t been set, but Coleman said the PTSO hopes to complete the project as quickly as possible.
By Kristy D. Carter [email protected]
Reach Kristy D. Carter at 910-592-8137, ext. 2588. Follow us on Twitter at @SampsonInd. Like us on Facebook.
Reach Kristy D. Carter at 910-592-8137, ext. 2588. Follow us on Twitter at @SampsonInd. Like us on Facebook. |
Tight turns at Cariboo Trails carriage event in 70 Mile House | Horses and carriages weaved their way through trees and cones at this year’s event at Huber Farms
Ellen Hockley, of Pritchard, steers her fjord pair Tammy and Indie under a tree during the marathon portion of the Cariboo Trails carriage driving event at Huber Farms in 70 Mile House on Oct. 1. Tara Sprickerhoff photos.
In a dash around obstacles, under trees and trotting through fields, seven carriages competed in the Cariboo Trails Field Driving Trials event at the Huber Farm in 70 Mile House from Sept. 29 to Oct. 1.
Teams of one, or two horse carriages and their driver competed in three events each day: dressage, marathon and cones.
“For the small size of trial we had it went really good,” says Dennis Huber, who hosted and judged the events each day.
While normally the event attracts more teams, the event was one of a few left across British Columbia this summer after cancellations due to wildfires, smoke and other events.
“We wanted to make sure we had something, we could say, ‘Okay, we’re getting started again. The world has not changed on us that dramatically.”
The main Cariboo Trails carriage driving event, set to take place mid-July was cancelled due to wildfires. This fall and spring events hosted by Huber Farms are usually used as training for that event, says Huber.
“It’s just to train people up so they understand what the real event is like. In July you do the competition.”
For the dressage portion, drivers steer through a set pattern and are judged on how they drive it.
“Dressage is the execution. How well you drive a set pattern and use the arena and your hands and your aids and everything else,” says Huber.
During the marathon, horse and driver take a longer route through several obstacles. The animal must take the field portions at a trot without breaking stride to canter. The team loses points if they finish at a slower pace than determined by the size of their animal.
For cones, the route is shorter and horse and carriage must rapidly travel around a set course weaving through the cones in a certain amount of time. They are given penalties if they come in overtime or if they knock down cones.
Drivers could compete in two different levels, based on their experience.
Because the fall event is normally treated as a training event, Huber would talk with each driver when they finished each competition.
“Because I was the judge I would talk to them and say this is what you need to work on and you could see the improvement day to day and it was worthwhile,” says Huber.
“The thing is, this is so much shorter than the July event in distance so people drive it just a little bit differently and try and figure out how they’re going to win, and their figures are always wrong,” says Huber with a chuckle.
Teams came from around the South Cariboo, as well as Alberta, Vanderhoof and Pritchard. Some are newcomers to the event while others are returners, says Huber.
Each of the three events is done daily, with winners for each day.
Huber encourages anyone interested to come check out the Cariboo Trails events when they are happening.
“If people are contemplating driving they should come and maybe they’ll pick it up as a driving sport afterwards.”
Kathy Lemig of Sherwood Park placed first for the Level 1 competition during Day 1. On Days 2 and 3, Laraine Shedden of 108 won. For Level 2, Marion Roman of 70 Mile won all three days of competition.
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Designing the 'Africana Renaissance' | In the post-credit scene of “Black Panther,” the titular character T’Challa wears a scarf made by Walé Oyéjidé.
Oyéjidé, a 2010 Beasley School of Law alumnus, owns an African-inspired clothing line, and his most recent work was featured in the African superhero blockbuster hit.
In his designs, Oyéjidé is known for repurposing prominent historical art to feature people of color, which he describes as “Africana Renaissance.” One of his silk scarves, “Annunciation,” depicts the Christian scene of Mary and the baby Jesus as Black surrounded by angels and shepherds. In the Bible, the Annunciation is the announcement of the conception of Jesus to Mary and has been replicated in many European paintings.
Through his clothing line, named Ikiré Jones, Oyéjidé wants men to embrace fashion that isn’t seen every day in magazines and popular culture.
“In general, men in the West are afraid of being seen as though they care about the way they look, and so they need examples,” Oyéjidé said. “Most of us feel like we need to be led towards an acceptable presentation of ourselves.”
“Black Panther” has made more than $1 billion in global box office sales in the month since its release.
Oyéjidé spoke at a panel last Thursday at the Tyler School of Art. He was joined by curator and historian Shantrelle Lewis, who is also a 2007 African American studies alumna, and Devin Morris, the editor of 3 Dot Zine, a publication that celebrates Black, brown and marginalized people. Their talk focused on Black masculinity in fashion and representation in art and media.
Ikiré Jones is run by a two-man team, with Oyéjidé as the designer and writer, and his partner, Samuel Hubler, as the tailor. The brand focuses on men’s fashion, including items like jackets, scarves, shirts and coats.
“The brand is not just a clothing brand,” said Oyéjidé, who was born in Nigeria before moving to the United States as a teenager. “It’s very much about culture and telling stories that are relevant to people of a certain diaspora and showing us in a noble light.”
The two men use their clothing, as well as a writing series featuring Oyéjidé’s poetry, to tell the stories of the African diaspora.
“Everything we make is intended to show people who haven’t been represented positively in the best possible light, no matter where they’re from,” Oyéjidé told Smith Blog, a quarterly Australian magazine. “It happens to be inspired by my African heritage, but it’s for everybody. Making [garments] for the character King T’Challa is very much the highest apex of what we do every day for ordinary people. We dress people as kings, whether they be refugees or people of immigrant descent.”
Oyéjidé said he wants his art to tell the story of all marginalized populations, especially people who have migrated to Western countries.
Recently, he visited Rome to photograph refugees who are residing there and frequently subjected to persecution.
“[We’re] dressing them up in such a way that they’re regarded as celebrities,” Oyéjidé said at the panel.
He said he hopes to send a portion of his sales to benefit the refugees living there.
During the panel, all three members spoke about the novelty in the U.S. of well-dressed Black men. Oyéjidé hopes to combat this in his work by establishing a Black presence in fashion and in his use of everyday people as models. He added that he wishes to create a world where it’s not a shock to see Africans and African-Americans on stage and celebrated.
“It’s still uncommon to see us pictured in museums, in fashion magazines, on runways as creatives, who are actually owning and running businesses, who are successful and have integrity,” he said.
One of the organizers of the event, Joy Ude, an adjunct fibers and material studies professor, said she was amazed by Oyéjidé’s design work. Because Tyler doesn’t have a fashion design program, she said it was valuable to have the panelists talk to students.
“I hope that they are introduced to subjects they have not thought about before…that they have a new view of it or it opens up their mind [to] the ways of thinking about representation,” Ude said.
Presina Mottley, an undeclared freshman in Tyler, said she loves fashion and African culture. She attended the panel because of Oyéjidé’s work in “Black Panther.”
“I really liked how they glorify the African culture rather than portray us as slaves,” Mottley said about the film. “It’s definitely a game-changer, in not only the comic book industry, but also the movie industry, and obviously you can see that in the sales that they’ve been receiving.”
Oyéjidé hopes that through his work, people who are underrepresented can see themselves in fashion.
“For me, the hope is that the little works that I do is an example for people who have similar or bigger goals and aspirations,” he said. “If anything, it’s just the idea that you can pursue things that you believe in if you put the work in, and you can carve out your own niche in the world.” |
Group unveils $1M plan to address Super Bowl sex trafficking | MINNEAPOLIS (AP) Community leaders have come up with a plan to fight sex trafficking during the Super Bowl in Minneapolis.
The plan unveiled Tuesday includes billboard campaigns, statewide law enforcement stings and training for bus drivers, hotel workers and thousands of volunteers to identify sex trafficking, the Star Tribune (http://strib.mn/2rhteg9 ) reported. The effort is estimated to cost about $1 million.
The 40-member group behind the project is made up of representatives from counties, nonprofits, hospitals, businesses and law enforcement who have spent the past nine months planning. The Women's Foundation of Minnesota, Hennepin County and Ramsey County have been leading the effort.
"We have zero tolerance," said Terry Williams of the Women's Foundation. "We're excited the Super Bowl is coming here so we can highlight our community and the work we're doing here."
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Like other big events, the Super Bowl will likely draw an increase in online sex ads, according to experts at the University of Minnesota's Urban Research and Outreach-Engagement Centers.
Law enforcement agencies are planning to coordinate targeted stings starting 10 days before the Super Bowl and lasting throughout the game, said Minneapolis police Sgt. Grant Snyder.
Along with bus drivers and hotel workers, about 10,000 Super Bowl volunteers will be trained to identify sex trafficking. The effort also includes providing more emergency shelter beds, increased street outreach and a tip hotline for possible trafficking.
The Minnesota Super Bowl Host Committee asked the Women's Foundation of Minnesota in 2014 to lead the efforts. Other organizations and nonprofits have launched their own efforts to reduce sex trafficking, but the Women's Foundation is the only campaign backed by the NFL.
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Information from: Star Tribune, http://www.startribune.com |
Vice Adm. Robert Harward top choice to replace Flynn as U.S. national security adviser | A senior naval officer who served under President Donald Trump’s Defense Secretary James Mattis is the leading candidate to replace Michael Flynn after the national security adviser resigned under pressure over his conversations with a Russian diplomat, two U.S. officials said on Tuesday.
Vice Adm. Robert Harward, who was deputy commander of U.S. Central Command under Mattis, will likely replace Flynn, the officials said, speaking on condition of anonymity as the White House scrambled to contain the fallout from the abrupt departure of one of the president’s top advisers.
Flynn resigned late on Monday after revelations that he had discussed U.S. sanctions on Russia with the Russian ambassador to the United States before Trump took office, in a potentially illegal action, and had later misled Vice President Mike Pence about the conversations.
Flynn’s departure followed days of speculation that he might be forced out.
The retired Army general and former U.S. intelligence official quit the post hours after a report that the Justice Department had warned the White House weeks ago that he could be vulnerable to blackmail over his conversations with Russian Ambassador Sergei Kislyak before Trump took office on Jan. 20.
Losing his national security adviser three weeks after taking office is an embarrassment for the new Republican president, who has made national security a top priority.
Trump, a wealthy businessman, had never previously held public office and his early weeks in the White House have been marked by missteps and controversies, in particular his travel ban on people from seven Muslim-majority countries.
Flynn, an early and enthusiastic supporter of Trump, was a strong advocate of a softer line toward Russian President Vladimir Putin and his departure from the key post could hinder Trump’s efforts to warm up relations with Moscow.
Russia’s aggression in Ukraine and Syria and Republican congressional opposition to removing sanctions on Russia make any White House attempt to embrace Putin problematic.
Democratic President Barack Obama added sanctions on Moscow in December, weeks before leaving office, in response to what his administration charged were Moscow’s efforts to try to influence the 2016 presidential election in Trump’s favor.
U.S. Sen. John McCain, a leading Republican voice on foreign relations, said Flynn’s resignation raised questions about Trump’s intentions toward Russia, “including statements by the President suggesting moral equivalence between the United States and Russia despite its invasion of Ukraine, annexation of Crimea, threats to our NATO allies, and attempted interference in American elections.”
The scramble to replace Flynn began on Monday evening and continued with phone calls and meetings into the early hours of Tuesday in an effort to enable Trump to make a decision and put the matter behind him as soon as possible, said an official involved in the effort.
Also under consideration was retired Gen. David Petraeus, a former CIA director whose reputation was tainted by a scandal over mishandling classified information with his biographer, with whom he was having an affair.
Harward, a Rhode Island native who went to school in Tehran before the shah was toppled in 1979, did a tour on the National Security Council under Republican President George W. Bush working on counterterrorism. He has experience on SEAL teams and served in Iraq and Afghanistan.
“If the president goes in his direction, there would be very little opposition,” said the official. “He’s very highly regarded, and doesn’t have the baggage that Petraeus has.”
Congressional Democrats expressed alarm at the developments surrounding Flynn and called for a classified briefing by administration officials to explain what had happened.
U.S. Rep. Adam Schiff of California, the top Democrat on the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, said Flynn’s departure did not end the questions over his contacts with the Russians.
“The Trump administration has yet to be forthcoming about who was aware of Flynn’s conversations with the ambassador and whether he was acting on the instructions of the president or any other officials, or with their knowledge,” Schiff said.
Flynn’s discussions with the Russian diplomat could potentially have been in violation of a law known as the Logan Act, banning private citizens from negotiating with foreign governments in relation to disputes or controversies with the United States. |
Gallup Daily: Trump Job Approval | Each result is based on a three-day rolling average.
% Approve % Disapprove 08/11-13/2017 34% 61% 08/10-12/2017 36% 59% 08/9-11/2017 37% 57% 08/8-10/2017 37% 56% 08/7-9/2017 36% 57% 08/6-8/2017 36% 58% 08/5-7/2017 37% 59% 08/4-6/2017 38% 57% 08/3-5/2017 38% 56% 08/2-4/2017 37% 55%
Gallup tracks daily the percentage of Americans who approve or disapprove of the job Donald Trump is doing as president. Daily results are based on telephone interviews with approximately 1,500 national adults; Margin of error is ±3 percentage points.
Explore President Trump's approval ratings in depth and compare them with those of past presidents in the Gallup Presidential Job Approval Center.
Get Obama's daily job approval ratings.
Download and export daily, weekly, monthly and yearly presidential job approval ratings in Gallup Analytics. |
Pigs Could Soon Be Considered as an Organ Donor for Humans | HQuality
Pull out your license. Depending on your state’s license design, either on the front or the back there should be some symbol or phrase denoting you as an organ donor. About 45 percent of all Americans fall into this special group, according to the Atlantic. (Like this incredible woman who was a kidney donor—twice.) But what exactly does it take to be a donor?
Eligibility wise, “all adults in the U.S. and in some states people under the age of 18” can designate themselves as a donor, according to organdonor.gov. But soon enough, there might need to be an addendum to those requirements, as new research has opened up the possibility of pigs becoming organ donors in the not-so-distant future.
The experiments, which were documented in Science, involved editing the DNA of cloned pigs so that they would no longer be susceptible to “retroviruses” which could infect humans after the transplant.
The retrovirus issue is only one part of the challenges which face pig-to-human transplants. Although pig organs are appropriately sized for humans and seem to be able to function as needed, they are coated with a layer of carbohydrates which cause other organisms to reject said tissue.
However, steps have been made to address that problem, also through gene editing. Pig organs without carbohydrates were created in cloned pigs and then transplanted into monkeys and baboons successfully. A year later, those monkeys and baboons are still healthy.
According to the New York Times, 33,600 organ transplants were conducted last year (you have to read the amazing story of a man who held his own heart in his hands after a successful transplant), and 21 people die each day while waiting for an organ. If research like this continues to find success, this issue will become a non-issue soon enough.
Source: The New York Times |
Brewers Minor League Affiliates Give Hope for the Future | × Expand Photo Credit: Amy Meredith (Flickr CC)
By almost every measure and no matter where you set the endpoints, the Brewers are hot right now. Sunday’s come-from-behind win to complete a sweep of the Mets finished off a 5-1 homestand, improved their record to 8-4 in May, 11-6 in their last 17 games and 21-17 overall, reaching four games over .500 for the first time since 2014.
The Sports section of the Shepherd Express is brought to you by Miller Time Pub. Miller Time Pub & Grill is a downtown bar and restaurant in Milwaukee that delivers the authentic Miller experience known as Miller Time.
The contending Brewers, however, weren’t supposed to be the story this season. Before spring training there was a common narrative that most of the players on this roster were simply placeholders until the next generation of stars finished navigating their way through the minor leagues and took their place. They may not be receiving as much attention as we expected, but it’s worth noting that the organization’s top prospects are doing their part to keep the rebuild progressing.
While the Brewers were mounting their comeback on Sunday the High-A Carolina Mudcats were working on one of their own: They scored two in the bottom of the ninth inning to walk off with an 11-10 win over Winston-Salem and get back to .500 on the season. With that victory, all four Brewers full-season affiliates enter play on Monday at or above .500:
AAA Colorado Springs: 21-11
Even after a loss on Sunday the Sky Sox still have the best record in all of the AAA level, coming in percentage points ahead of the International League’s Durham Bulls and Lehigh Valley IronPigs. They’re also seven games better than they were at this point a year ago.
Top prospect and outfielder Lewis Brinson had a quiet day at the plate Sunday but is still batting .327 with a .398 OBP and .515 slugging, which is excellent but lags slightly behind teammate and fellow outfielder Ryan Cordell’s .325/.400/.581 start. Similarly, top pitching prospect Josh Hader lowered his 2017 ERA to 4.20 with one run allowed over five innings on Sunday but has had to compete for attention with teammates Brandon Woodruff and Paolo Espino, who have a combined 2.65 ERA over 78 innings of work with 74 strikeouts and 14 walks.
AA Biloxi: 19-18
The Shuckers came up just short on Sunday, trailing 6-0 in the early innings but closing the gap to 6-5 against Mississippi. Nonetheless, they deserve a lot of credit for overcoming a tough start: They fell to 7-13 on April 26 and are 12-5 since.
Offensive numbers are low across the Southern League this season, but Biloxi still ranks near the bottom of the league with their .225 team batting average, .309 on-base percentage and .337 slugging. Their pitching has been very good, however, ranking second in the eight-team league with a 3.24 ERA. Jorge Lopez had a disaster start on Sunday that ballooned his ERA to 4.42, but he’s still struck out 42 in 38 2/3 innings on the season.
High-A Carolina: 19-19
Like Biloxi, Carolina has also endured some hot and cold stretches as a team: They opened the season with six wins in their first ten games but then went just 7-14 in their next 21, including getting swept in a pair of doubleheaders. They’ve now won five straight to get back to .500 for the year.
Infielder Isan Diaz was the Brewers’ Minor League Player of the Year in 2016 and picked up right where he left off in 2017, batting .286 with a .351 on-base percentage and .504 slugging and leading the team with seven home runs. His exploits have been overshadowed a bit, however, by the prospect redemption story of Jake Gatewood. The latter had two hits on Sunday to extend his hitting streak to 23 games, and his .984 OPS (on-base plus slugging) is more than 275 points higher than his best professional season to date.
On the mound 2016 fourth round pick Corbin Burnes has been fantastic, posting a 1.13 ERA through his first 40 innings with 35 strikeouts and 13 walks. Burnes has a 1.55 ERA as a professional to date and has yet to lose a game.
Low-A Wisconsin: 17-16
Like Carolina, the Timber Rattlers are riding a hot streak right now that has propelled them back to (and above) the .500 mark, winning five of six on a road trip through the Midwest League’s Eastern Division that wrapped up on Saturday.
Many of the players that helped Wisconsin reach the postseason in 2016 have moved on, but two holdovers have been a big part of their early successes: Center fielder Monte Harrison has played in 32 of the team’s first 33 games (missing just one contest after being hit in the face by a pitch) and has an .841 OPS while playing excellent defense in center field. Meanwhile, Trey Supak has a 2.40 ERA through his first 30 innings and has recorded 42 strikeouts, setting new single-game professional highs in K’s in each of his last three appearances.
We haven’t been hearing as much about the Brewers down on the farm as we might have expected, as the better-than-expected MLB team rightfully dominates the conversation. It’s worth noting, however, that the prospects down on the farm continue to take steps to ensure that this organization’s best days are yet to come. |