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NoneDana Hull | (TNS) Bloomberg News Jared Birchall, Elon Musk’s money manager and the head of his family office, is listed as the chief executive officer. Jehn Balajadia, a longtime Musk aide who has worked at SpaceX and the Boring Co., is named as an official contact. Related Articles National Politics | San Francisco’s fentanyl deportations show rare unity with Donald Trump National Politics | Biden will decide on US Steel acquisition after influential panel fails to reach consensus National Politics | Calmes: A peaceful transfer of power — you can thank Biden National Politics | Biden vetoes once-bipartisan effort to add 66 federal judgeships, citing ‘hurried’ House action National Politics | Bill Clinton is hospitalized with a fever but in good spirits, spokesperson says But they’re not connected to Musk’s new technology venture, or the political operation that’s endeared him to Donald Trump. Instead, they’re tied to the billionaire’s new Montessori school outside Bastrop, Texas, called Ad Astra, according to documents filed with state authorities and obtained via a Texas Public Information Act request. The world’s richest person oversees an overlapping empire of six companies — or seven, if you include his political action committee. Alongside rockets, electric cars, brain implants, social media and the next Trump administration, he is increasingly focused on education, spanning preschool to college. One part of his endeavor was revealed last year, when Bloomberg News reported that his foundation had set aside roughly $100 million to create a technology-focused primary and secondary school in Austin, with eventual plans for a university. An additional $137 million in cash and stock was allotted last year, according to the most recent tax filing for the Musk Foundation. Ad Astra is closer to fruition. The state documents show Texas authorities issued an initial permit last month, clearing the way for the center to operate with as many as 21 pupils. Ad Astra’s website says it’s “currently open to all children ages 3 to 9.” The school’s account on X includes job postings for an assistant teacher for preschool and kindergarten and an assistant teacher for students ages 6 to 9. To run the school, Ad Astra is partnering with a company that has experience with billionaires: Xplor Education, which developed Hala Kahiki Montessori school in Lanai, Hawaii, the island 98% owned by Oracle Corp. founder Larry Ellison. Ad Astra sits on a highway outside Bastrop, a bedroom community about 30 miles from Austin and part of a region that’s home to several of Musk’s businesses. On a visit during a recent weekday morning, there was a single Toyota Prius in the parking lot and no one answered the door at the white building with a gray metal roof. The school’s main entrance was blocked by a gate, and there was no sign of any children on the grounds. But what information there is about Ad Astra makes it sound like a fairly typical, if high-end, Montessori preschool. The proposed schedule includes “thematic, STEM-based activities and projects” as well as outdoor play and nap time. A sample snack calendar features carrots and hummus. While Birchall’s and Balajadia’s names appear in the application, it isn’t clear that they’ll have substantive roles at the school once it’s operational. Musk, Birchall and Balajadia didn’t respond to emailed questions. A phone call and email to the school went unanswered. Access to high quality, affordable childcare is a huge issue for working parents across the country, and tends to be an especially vexing problem in rural areas like Bastrop. Many families live in “childcare deserts” where there is either not a facility or there isn’t an available slot. Opening Ad Astra gives Musk a chance to showcase his vision for education, and his support for the hands-on learning and problem solving that are a hallmark of his industrial companies. His public comments about learning frequently overlap with cultural concerns popular among conservatives and the Make America Great Again crowd, often focusing on what he sees as young minds being indoctrinated by teachers spewing left-wing propaganda. He has railed against diversity, equity and inclusion efforts, and in August posted that “a lot of schools are teaching white boys to hate themselves.” Musk’s educational interests dovetail with his new role as Trump’s “first buddy.” The billionaire has pitched a role for himself that he — and now the incoming Trump administration — call “DOGE,” or the Department of Government Efficiency. Though it’s not an actual department, DOGE now posts on X, the social media platform that Musk owns. “The Department of Education spent over $1 billion promoting DEI in America’s schools,” the account posted Dec. 12. Back in Texas, Bastrop is quickly becoming a key Musk point of interest. The Boring Co., his tunneling venture, is based in an unincorporated area there. Across the road, SpaceX produces Starlink satellites at a 500,000-square-foot (46,000-square-meter) facility. Nearby, X is constructing a building for trust and safety workers. Musk employees, as well as the general public, can grab snacks at the Boring Bodega, a convenience store housed within Musk’s Hyperloop Plaza, which also contains a bar, candy shop and hair salon. Ad Astra is just a five-minute drive away. It seems to have been designed with the children of Musk’s employees — if not Musk’s own offspring — in mind. Musk has fathered at least 12 children, six of them in the last five years. “Ad Astra’s mission is to foster curiosity, creativity, and critical thinking in the next generation of problem solvers and builders,” reads the school’s website. A job posting on the website of the Montessori Institute of North Texas says “While their parents support the breakthroughs that expand the realm of human possibility, their children will grow into the next generation of innovators in a way that only authentic Montessori can provide.” The school has hired an executive director, according to documents Bloomberg obtained from Texas Health and Human Services. Ad Astra is located on 40 acres of land, according to the documents, which said a 4,000-square-foot house would be remodeled for the preschool. It isn’t uncommon for entrepreneurs to take an interest in education, according to Bill Gormley, a professor emeritus at the McCourt School of Public Policy at Georgetown University who studies early childhood education. Charles Butt, the chairman of the Texas-based H-E-B grocery chain, has made public education a focus of his philanthropy. Along with other business and community leaders, Butt founded “Raise Your Hand Texas,” which advocates on school funding, teacher workforce and retention issues and fully funding pre-kindergarten. “Musk is not the only entrepreneur to recognize the value of preschool for Texas workers,” Gormley said. “A lot of politicians and business people get enthusiastic about education in general — and preschool in particular — because they salivate at the prospect of a better workforce.” Musk spent much of October actively campaigning for Trump’s presidential effort, becoming the most prolific donor of the election cycle. He poured at least $274 million into political groups in 2024, including $238 million to America PAC, the political action committee he founded. While the vast majority of money raised by America PAC came from Musk himself, it also had support from other donors. Betsy DeVos, who served as education secretary in Trump’s first term, donated $250,000, federal filings show. The Department of Education is already in the new administration’s cross hairs. Trump campaigned on the idea of disbanding the department and dismantling diversity initiatives, and he has also taken aim at transgender rights. “Rather than indoctrinating young people with inappropriate racial, sexual, and political material, which is what we’re doing now, our schools must be totally refocused to prepare our children to succeed in the world of work,” Trump wrote in Agenda 47, his campaign platform. Musk has three children with the musician Grimes and three with Shivon Zilis, who in the past was actively involved at Neuralink, his brain machine interface company. All are under the age of five. Musk took X, his son with Grimes, with him on a recent trip to Capitol Hill. After his visit, he shared a graphic that showed the growth of administrators in America’s public schools since 2000. Musk is a fan of hands-on education. During a Tesla earnings call in 2018, he talked about the need for more electricians as the electric-car maker scaled up the energy side of its business. On the Joe Rogan podcast in 2020, Musk said that “too many smart people go into finance and law.” “I have a lot of respect for people who work with their hands and we need electricians and plumbers and carpenters,” Musk said while campaigning for Trump in Pennsylvania in October. “That’s a lot more important than having incremental political science majors.” Ad Astra’s website says the cost of tuition will be initially subsidized, but in future years “tuition will be in line with local private schools that include an extended day program.” “I do think we need significant reform in education,” Musk said at a separate Trump campaign event. “The priority should be to teach kids skills that they will find useful later in life, and to leave any sort of social propaganda out of the classroom.” With assistance from Sophie Alexander and Kara Carlson. ©2024 Bloomberg News. Visit at bloomberg.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 23rd Nov, 2024) Minister for Information, Broadcasting, National Heritage, and Culture, Attaullah Tarar, on Saturday stated categorically that no negotiations are being held at any level with Tehreek-e-Insaf ( ). Addressing a conference, Tarar said that Mohsin Naqvi, following ( ) orders, contacted Chairman Barrister Gohar to convey that protests or sit-ins in the federal capital were illegal. Tarar warned that those participating in violent protests would be arrested and held accountable for any damage, as the would not tolerate actions jeopardizing public safety. The minister said protests are illegal and disrupting public life will have consequences, stressing the ’s commitment to . He said that aims to create divisions between friendly countries. It’s baffling that a is called on the day a friendly country seeks to enhance cooperation with , he maintained. He stated that and the country’s enemies the goal of hindering economic . He mentioned that is ’s close ally, and preparations have been finalized to welcome the president of in . He noted that similar protests and sit-ins occurred during the 2014 of the president and the summit. He said and are planning to jointly manufacture tractors. "While the administration prepares to welcome Belarusian guests, it is also ensuring citizen security. Can the system function effectively under such conditions?", he questioned. He warned that officers involved in political activities will face strict action. He said the investment is flowing into , the economy is growing, inflation has dropped 32% last year to 6.9% this year, and foreign remittances totalled $8.8 in the first quarter. The economy is improving due to lower interest rates, and these figures cannot be disputed. He said ’s stock is the second-best performing in the , and its growth reflects improvements in economic indicators. "37 people were killed in , but the did not to console the people. How could the forget ’s pain?", the minister stated adding that said soldiers are sacrificing to protect the people, while need better training against terrorism. He said that the province must focus more on , as terrorism persists, even around Adiala . Responding to a question, he said is divided into the Aleema, Nooreen, and groups. He called it a melodrama between “Nand” and “Bhabhi”. The country they once sought gifts is now speaking against them, the minister said and condemned members for the disgraceful at the Prophet’s (PBUH) , questioning if they remembered Sharia when raising slogans there. In response to another question, he said has continually caused chaos and tried to harm relations with friendly countries. doesn’t even know how to spell “international relations”, the minister remarked. "PWD was closed due to , while we are advancing toward digitization and of rupees have been saved through anti-smuggling efforts", the minister underlined. Responding to another question, he said the Pak is sacrificing in the fight against terrorism, while the shows no concern for . He condemned supporters for setting to trees in and noted that the Apex Committee had warned such actions wouldn’t be tolerated. The minister said that public anger is growing, and one day, people of will hold them accountable. He stressed that if wants to , it should be in , as attacks on the federation won’t be tolerated. He also claimed they aim to drop bodies as part of a plan.
COP29 and the climate crisis: greed versus need
Gojira's performance of the French Revolution-era song was the first by a metal band at an Olympics opening ceremony Gojira have released the official video for ‘Mea Culpa (Ah! Ça ira!)’, the song they performed at the Paris Olympics this summer. READ MORE: Gojira – ‘Fortitude’ review: seismic metal ragers that push heavy rock forwards The band made history in July as the first metal band to ever perform at an Olympics opening ceremony. They performed a song that was popular during the French Revolution, during a segment titled ‘Liberté’ (in reference to France’s famed motto ‘Liberté, égalité, fraternité’) that celebrated one of the most famous events in French history, as well as the nation’s emphasis on freedom. Gojira performed from the windows of the Concierge, accompanied by experimental opera singer Marina Viotti and nearly 300 classical musicians. The song has since been nominated for the GRAMMY Award for Best Metal Performance. In September, it was projected on the Arc de Triomphe in Paris Check out the official video below: The spectacle left viewers asking themselves if they’d just seen “one of the most memorable moments of 2024” or a “freakshow” . As heightened reactions on social media swirled, Gojira were forced to respond to claims their performance was “Satanic” . Frontman Joe Duplantier told Rolling Stone : “It’s French history. It’s French charm, you know, beheaded people, red wine and blood all over the place — it’s romantic, it’s normal. There’s nothing satanic.” Despite the controversy, it massively increased Gojira’s streaming numbers , with their monthly listeners shooting up to just under 2.7million a week after their performance, a growth of almost 50 per cent. In other news, Duplantier recently shared an update on Gojira’s “ambitious” next album , saying: “We’re very ambitious in terms of writing songs and the quality of it. And we wanna take a clear step forward and upward with this album. So we’re putting all our love and energy on it.” Related Topics Gojira Metal
This week on the podcast, Iowa’s Joni Ernst is center stage in the drama over President-elect Trump’s Department of Defense nominee, what Trump’s deportation plans could look like in Iowa, and Area Education Agency discussions are heating up again. On Iowa Politics is a weekly news and analysis podcast that aims to re-create the kinds of conversations that happen when you get political reporters from across Iowa together after the day’s deadlines have been met. Tackling anything from local to state to national, On Iowa Politics is your weekly dose of analysis and insight into the issues affecting Iowa. This episode was hosted by the Gazette Des Moines Bureau Chief Erin Murphy. It features Gazette Deputy Bureau Chief Tom Barton and Jared McNett of the Sioux City Journal. This episode was produced by Gazette Social Video Producer Bailey Cichon. Sen. Joni Ernst and Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks talk about Amazon and its impact on the region after touring the Davenport robotics fulfillment center, which fulfilled its first customer order Feb. 4. Since then, according to Amazon, more than 4 million items have been sorted in the facility and then shipped to Amazon customers.
Bruins beat Capitals 4-1, hold Washington to season-low 11 shots
Maharashtra Assembly Elections Results 2024: MahaYuti Outpaces Maha Vikas Aghadi in Mumbai, Set To Use Electoral Mandate To Win BMC PollsNo. 22 Xavier unbeaten but looking for more effort vs. South CarolinaMissed out on the latest crypto price surges for XRP and Paysenger Ego (EGO)? Don’t worry because a new crypto is keeping savvy investors up at night. They even prefer it over coins like XRP and EGO, two coins that saw 100%+ jumps in the past week. Rollblock’s groundbreaking presale stands out as the best crypto to buy now, combining real-world utility with consistent financial rewards. Rollblock’s GambleFi model: a new era in blockchain gaming Rollblock is revolutionizing the blockchain gaming landscape with its unique GambleFi approach. Rollblock sets itself apart from traditional gaming platforms by utilizing blockchain technology to ensure transparency and fairness. With a library of over 7,000 games, it allows participants to do more than just play—they can actively share in the platform's success by earning from casino profits. Through an innovative revenue-sharing model, token holders receive a direct share of casino earnings, transforming the gaming experience into an investment opportunity. Rollblock’s deflationary model amplifies its appeal: 60% of revenue buybacks are burned to increase scarcity, while 40% is distributed among stakers. These mechanisms create a self-sustaining ecosystem, attracting both casual participants and serious investors. With the crypto price at just $0.036 during the presale and nearly $6 million already raised, Rollblock offers an enticing opportunity for those looking to secure their stake in a new crypto project with long-term growth potential. XRP breaks out of a seven-year pattern Ripple’s XRP is back in the spotlight after an incredible 80% surge that took its price past $1.265, the highest level in three years. Data attributes this rally to a combination of technical breakthroughs and regulatory optimism, including the token’s escape from a seven-year accumulation triangle. The formation of a golden cross—a bullish technical signal—on XRP’s weekly chart has further fueled excitement, suggesting that the token could be on the verge of a historic rally. Some projections place XRP’s next target at $1.75 or higher, although its growth remains closely tied to macroeconomic trends and market sentiment. While XRP’s resurgence is impressive, its speculative nature may leave some traders looking for a more predictable investment. Rollblock’s presale , with its built-in income mechanisms, offers a compelling alternative for those seeking both stability and innovation. The potential of Paysenger EGO to reach $1 Paysenger EGO steadily gains attention for its innovative approach to bridging content creators, fans, and brands through blockchain technology. The price over the last weeks floats around $0.05726. EGO offers significant upside potential, with top traders suggesting it could reach $1 in the near future. Despite recent market dips, EGO maintains strong trading activity, reflecting investor interest. Its unique platform integrates AI-driven personalization and Web3 technologies, enhancing user engagement and monetization. With a modest market cap of $3.24 million and growing adoption, EGO’s ecosystem is poised for growth. Why new crypto Rollblock captures investor attention While XRP and EGO are riding waves of success, Rollblock’s presale is carving out its niche. By combining gaming, DeFi, and a revenue-sharing model, it offers a structured approach to blockchain investment. Unlike projects that rely solely on market speculation, Rollblock provides tangible rewards that align with its long-term growth strategy. As Rollblock continues to gain momentum, it’s clear that this isn’t just another presale—it’s an opportunity to be part of a new era in blockchain investment. Rollblock has one week left on a 50% special bonus offer. Discover the exciting opportunities of the Rollblock (RBLK) presale today! Website: https://presale.rollblock.io/ Socials: https://linktr.ee/rollblockcasino Join our WhatsApp Channel to get the latest news, exclusives and videos on WhatsApp _____________ Disclaimer: Analytics Insight does not provide financial advice or guidance. Also note that the cryptocurrencies mentioned/listed on the website could potentially be scams, i.e. designed to induce you to invest financial resources that may be lost forever and not be recoverable once investments are made. You are responsible for conducting your own research (DYOR) before making any investments. Read more here.
Illegal border crossers sponsoring illegal border crossers? Biden admin takes heat
A controversial AI monitoring software designed to track employee productivity and recommend automation replacements has sparked significant backlash on social media. According to an international media outlet, this tool, which tracks detailed metrics of employee performance, has been widely criticised for its invasive and dystopian implications. The uproar began when a post on Reddit described a sales pitch for the AI monitoring software, highlighting its extensive monitoring capabilities. Beyond traditional productivity tools, the AI evaluates employees based on various metrics, such as typing speed, mouse movements, and program usage. It categorises workers, creates detailed productivity graphs, and flags underperformers for management review. The software’s features include keylogging, heat maps of user activity, and real-time monitoring. It also captures periodic desktop screenshots and records interactions with programs, generating comprehensive insights into employee behaviour. If an individual’s performance falls below a certain threshold, an alert is sent to their superiors, requiring an explanation through an internal system. What has particularly alarmed users is the dual functionality of the AI monitoring software. In addition to monitoring employees, it analyses workflows to identify areas for automation. The company behind the software also markets AI automation solutions, creating concerns about job security for those flagged as less productive. The viral Reddit post has attracted widespread criticism, with many social media users describing the AI monitoring software as a harbinger of a toxic work culture. Critics argue that such intense scrutiny could stifle creativity and promote inefficiency by encouraging employees to focus on meeting arbitrary metrics rather than performing meaningful work. The controversy underscores the growing debate around workplace surveillance and the ethical implications of AI monitoring software in employment practices. Many have urged workers to reconsider their career paths if their employers adopt such invasive technologies. Read More: Employees fired for pretending to work through fake keyboard activity Back in June 2024, several employees were fired from their jobs after they were found fooling their company through fake keyboard activity. The incident occurred at US bank Wells Fargo, which terminated the employment of several workers who were found faking keyboard activity to pretend that they were working when they were not, a US media outlet reported. While it was not clear whether the workers sacked were working from home or on office premises, the US bank said staff had been fired after “review of allegations involving simulation of keyboard activity creating the impression of active work”. A spokeswoman for the firm said: “Wells Fargo holds employees to the highest standards and does not tolerate unethical behaviour.”
President-elect Donald Trump on Thursday named former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi as his pick to serve as U.S. attorney general in his incoming administration, after Matt Gaetz withdrew from consideration earlier in the day. “For too long, the partisan Department of Justice has been weaponized against me and other Republicans - Not anymore,” Trump said in a Thursday post announcing the pick on his Truth Social platform. “Pam will refocus the DOJ to its intended purpose of fighting Crime, and Making America Safe Again. I have known Pam for many years — She is smart and tough, and is an AMERICA FIRST Fighter, who will do a terrific job as Attorney General!” Bondi is a longtime Trump ally and was one of his lawyers during his first impeachment trial when he was accused — but not convicted — of abusing his power as he tried to condition U.S. military assistance to Ukraine on that country investigating then-former Vice President Joe Biden. She has been a chair at the America First Policy Institute, a think tank set up by former Trump administration staffers. Bondi is from Tampa and spent more than 18 years as a prosecutor. She was Florida’s first female attorney general. This is a developing story and will be updated. The Associated Press contributed to this report.Super Micro extends last week's gain, wounding short sellersPeopleTools ATT: Enhance Your Business Solutions2024: The year of influencer news sources
No. 24 Arizona is coming off consecutive defeats for the first time in the Tommy Lloyd era when it faces undefeated Davidson on Wednesday to begin the Battle 4 Atlantis in Paradise Island, Bahamas. Arizona (2-2) lost at Wisconsin 103-88 on Nov. 15 and followed that with a home loss against Duke 69-55 on Friday. The Wildcats have dropped 15 spots in the Associated Press Top 25 poll in two weeks. Arizona's record is .500 this early in a season for the first time since it was 3-3 to start the 2017-18 schedule. "I've got work to do, so let's get to work," said Lloyd, in his fourth year as Arizona's head coach. "Let's see where we're at in a month, and if we're still struggling, you know what I'll do? I still got work to do, but I'm gonna get to it." Arizona shot 39.6 percent from the field against Duke, and just 26.1 percent (6 of 23) from 3-point range. The Wildcats were outrebounded by 43-30 and their 15 turnovers led to 19 points. Jaden Bradley led Arizona with 18 points and KJ Lewis added 12. Preseason All-American Caleb Love had eight points on 3-of-13 shooting from the field, including 1-of-9 from 3-point range. Arizona made only one field goal in the last 5:39 as Duke pulled away after its lead was trimmed to six points. "We didn't play great," Lloyd said. "Now we need to take a step back and figure out why. Are there some schematic problems? Are there some problems with how our personnel is kind of put together? "We got to figure out what our certainties are, and the things we have to have, and then over the course of the next couple of days, if there's adjustments we need to make, we need to figure out what those are." Davidson is 4-0 after a 15-17 record last season, in which it lost its last six games to put an end to postseason hopes. A 93-66 win over visiting VMI on Friday followed a 91-85 win at Bowling Green and 76-70 victory over visiting East Tennessee State. The two wins by 10 points or fewer are important because Davidson was 6-12 in such games last season. It was 4-11 in games decided by five points or fewer. "The goal (is) to get better," Davidson head coach Matt McKillop said after the season opener. "We talk about fighting to win every possession. I think we had to figure out what that really felt like with the lights on." Davidson made 13 shots from 3-point range in the win over VMI. Reed Bailey had 23 points, eight rebounds and six assists. Bobby Durkin added 19 points, including 17 of them and a career-best five 3-pointers in the first half. Bailey leads Davidson in scoring (19 points per game) and rebounding (7.8). Durkin is shooting 57.9 percent (22 of 38) from the field and 54.2 percent (13 of 24) from 3-point range. By contrast, Arizona's Love is shooting 32 percent (16 of 50) from the field and 21.4 percent (6 of 28) from beyond the arc. Bradley leads Arizona with 15.5 points per game. He is shooting 50 percent (24 of 48) from the field and is 35.7 percent (5 of 14) from 3-point range. --Field Level MediaATLANTA (AP) — Deliberations are underway in Atlanta after a year of testimony in the gang and racketeering trial that originally included the rapper Young Thug. Jurors are considering whether to convict Shannon Stillwell and Deamonte Kendrick, who raps as Yak Gotti, on gang, murder, drug and gun charges. The original indictment charged 28 people with conspiring to violate Georgia’s Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act. Opening statements in the trial for six of those defendants happened a year ago . Four of them, including Young Thug, pleaded guilty last month. The rapper was freed on probation. Stillwell and Kendrick rejected plea deals after more than a week of negotiations, and their lawyers chose not to present evidence or witnesses. Both seemed to be in good spirits Tuesday morning after closings wrapped the previous night. Kendrick was chatting and laughing with Stillwell and his lawyers before the jury arrived for instructions. The jury started deliberating Tuesday afternoon and was dismissed at 5 p.m. Jurors are expected to resume deliberations Wednesday morning. If they don’t reach a verdict by 3 p.m. Wednesday, the judge will send them home for the Thanksgiving weekend and they will return Monday morning. Kendrick and Stillwell were charged in the 2015 killing of Donovan Thomas Jr., also known as “Big Nut,” in an Atlanta barbershop. Prosecutors painted Stillwell and Kendrick as members of a violent street gang called Young Slime Life, or YSL, co-founded in 2012 by Young Thug, whose real name is Jeffery Williams. During closings on Monday, they pointed to tattoos, song lyrics and social media posts they said proved members, including Stillwell, admitted to killing people in rival gangs. Prosecutors say Thomas was in a rival gang. Stillwell was also charged in the 2022 killing of Shymel Drinks, which prosecutors said was in retaliation for the killing of two YSL associates days earlier. Defense attorneys Doug Weinstein and Max Schardt said the state presented unreliable witnesses, weak evidence and cherry-picked lyrics and social media posts to push a false narrative about Stillwell, Kendrick and the members of YSL. Schardt, Stillwell's attorney, reminded the jury that alleged YSL affiliates said during the trial that they had lied to police. Law enforcement played a “sick game” by promising they would escape long prison sentences if they said what police wanted them to say, Schardt said. He theorized that one of those witnesses could have killed Thomas. The truth is that their clients were just trying to escape poverty through music, Schardt said. “As a whole, we know the struggles that these communities have had,” Schardt said. “A sad, tacit acceptance that it’s either rap, prison or death.” Young Thug’s record label is also known as YSL, an acronym of Young Stoner Life. Kendrick was featured on two popular songs from the label’s compilation album Slime Language 2, “Take It to Trial" and “Slatty," which prosecutors presented as evidence in the trial. Weinstein, Kendrick’s defense attorney, said during closings it was wrong for prosecutors to target the defendants for their music and lyrics. Prosecutor Simone Hylton disagreed, and said surveillance footage and phone evidence supported her case. “They have the audacity to think they can just brag about killing somebody and nobody’s gonna hold them accountable,” Hylton said. The trial had more than its fair share of delays. Jury selection took nearly 10 months , and Stillwell was stabbed last year at the Fulton County jail, which paused trial proceedings. Judge Paige Reese Whitaker took over after Fulton County Superior Court Chief Judge Ural Glanville was removed from the case in July because he had a meeting with prosecutors and a state witness without defense attorneys present. Whitaker often lost patience with prosecutors over moves such as not sharing evidence with defense attorneys, once accusing them of “poor lawyering.” But the trial sped up under her watch. In October, four defendants, including Young Thug , pleaded guilty, with the rapper entering a non-negotiated or “blind” plea, meaning he didn't have a deal worked out with prosecutors. Nine people charged in the indictment, including rapper Gunna , accepted plea deals before the trial began. Charges against 12 others are pending. Prosecutors dropped charges against one defendant after he was convicted of murder in an unrelated case. Kramon is a corps member for The Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues. Follow Kramon on X: @charlottekramon
The Positive Pathways Network, spearheaded by Sovereign Network Group (SNG), was inspired by discussions with young people and came into existence in January. The programme's partners include Hampshire Constabulary, Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service and Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council. The group aims to take a preventative, proactive and reactive approach to crime, joining resources to ensure community safety and create positive pathways for residents, particularly young people and their families. A youth panel will be established as part of the programme, providing young people with a platform to voice their opinions and shape the community's activities and opportunities. The panel is open to Basingstoke residents aged between 16 and 25, who will be mentored, trained and supported to share their experiences and help co-design strategies to reduce serious violence in the community. To support this mission, SNG has introduced the Positive Pathways Fund, which will provide grants of up to £5,000 for initiatives that reduce anti-social behaviour and crime affecting young people in Basingstoke and Deane. This includes diversionary activities, support programmes for families, skills-based training and specialised support services. Marta Rios, community investment and partnerships manager at SNG, said: "Anti-social behaviour issues, knife crime and serious violence can have a devastating impact on individuals, families and the wider community. "SNG is committed to using a multi-agency approach to ensure community safety and support our communities at an earlier stage, engaging positively with them and providing them with a holistic package of support, meaningful opportunities and positive pathways." Inspector Charles Ilderton of Hampshire police said: "I am thrilled to be a part of the Positive Pathways Network and excited to have contributed during its planning stages. "Basingstoke police are fully committed to tackling anti-social behaviour and crime, and this initiative will strengthen that commitment by fostering a coordinated approach with our key partners." Schools will also play a significant role in the Positive Pathways Programme. In collaboration with BearFace Theatre, Artswork will deliver an educational programme called Choices, aimed at school teachers and young people aged nine to 12. Using drama techniques, the programme will explore the risks and impacts of knife crime, the dangers of exploitation, and other forms of violence. Chief executive of Artswork, Louise Govier, said: "At Artswork, we believe in the power of arts and creativity to shape happier and healthier children and young people. "We are delighted to be bringing this innovative new programme to schools in Hampshire."