Cue up the classics: nation's first FM station turns 50Is he a hero? A killer? Both? About the same time the #FreeLuigi memes featuring the mustachioed plumber from “Super Mario Brothers” mushroomed online, commenters shared memes showing Tony Soprano pronouncing Luigi Mangione , the man charged with murdering the UnitedHealthcare CEO in Manhattan , a hero. There were posts lionizing Mangione’s physique and appearance, the ones speculating about who could play him on “Saturday Night Live,” and the ones denouncing and even threatening people at a Pennsylvania McDonald’s for spotting him and calling police. It was all too much for Pennsylvania's governor, a rising Democrat who was nearly the vice presidential nominee this year. Josh Shapiro — dealing with a case somewhere else that happened to land in his lap — decried what he saw as growing support for “vigilante justice.” People are also reading... The curious case of Brian Thompson and Luigi Mangione captivated and polarized a media-saturated nation. It also offers a glimpse into how, in a connected world, so many different aspects of modern American life can be surreally linked — from public violence to politics, from health care to humor (or attempts at it) . It summons a question, too: How can so many people consider someone a hero when the rules that govern American society — the laws — are treating him as the complete opposite? Luigi Mangione, a suspect in the fatal shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, on Monday at the police station in Altoona, Pa. Writings found in Mangione's possession hinted at a vague hatred of corporate greed and an expression of anger toward “parasitic” health insurance companies. Bullets recovered from the crime scene had the words “deny,” “defend” and “depose,” reflecting words used by insurance industry critics, written on them. A number of online posts combine an apparent disdain for health insurers — with no mention of the loss of life. “He took action against private health insurance corporations is what he did. he was a brave italian martyr. in this house, luigi mangione is a hero, end of story!” one anonymous person said in a post on X that has nearly 2 million views. On Monday, Shapiro took issue with comments like those. It was an extraordinary moment that he tumbled into simply because Mangione was apprehended in Pennsylvania. Shapiro's comments — pointed, impassioned and, inevitably, political — yanked the conversation unfolding on so many people's phone screens into real life. “We do not kill people in cold blood to resolve policy differences or express a viewpoint,” the governor said. “In a civil society, we are all less safe when ideologues engage in vigilante justice.” But to hear some of his fellow citizens tell it, that's not the case at all. Like Bonnie and Clyde, John Dillinger, D.B. Cooper and other notorious names from the American past, Mangione is being cast as someone to admire. Luigi Nicholas Mangione is escorted into Blair County Courthouse on Tuesday in Hollidaysburg, Pa. Regina Bateson, an assistant political science professor at the University of Colorado at Boulder, has studied vigilantism, the term to which Shapiro alluded. She doesn’t see this case as a good fit for the word, she says, because the victim wasn’t linked to any specific crime or offense. As she sees it, it's more akin to domestic terrorism. But Bateson views the threats against election workers , prosecutors and judges ticking up — plus the assassination attempts against President-elect Donald Trump this past summer — as possible signs that personal grievances or political agendas could erupt. “Americans are voicing more support for — or at least understanding of — political violence,” she said. Shapiro praised the police and the people of Blair County, who abided by a 9/11-era dictum of seeing something and saying something. The commenters have Mangione wrong, the governor said: “Hear me on this: He is no hero. The real hero in this story is the person who called 911 at McDonald’s this morning." A person demonstrates Monday near the McDonald's restaurant in Altoona, Pennsylvania, where police earlier in the day arrested Luigi Nicholas Mangione, 26, in the Dec. 4 killing of UnitedHealthcare's CEO in Manhattan. Even shy of supporting violence, there are many instances of people who vent over how health insurers deny claims. Tim Anderson's wife, Mary, dealt with UnitedHealthcare coverage denials before she died from Lou Gehrig’s disease in 2022. “The business model for insurance is don’t pay,” Anderson, 67, of Centerville, Ohio, told The Associated Press . The discourse around the killing and Mangione is more than just memes. Conversations about the interconnectedness of various parts of American life are unfolding online as well. One Reddit user said he was banned for three days for supporting Kyle Rittenhouse, who was acquitted after testifying he acted in self-defense when he fatally shot two people in 2020 during protests. “Do you think people are getting banned for supporting Luigi?” the poster wondered. The comments cover a lot of ground. They include people saying the UnitedHealthcare slaying isn't a “right or left issue" and wondering what it would take to get knocked off the platform. “You probably just have to cross the line over into promoting violence,” one commenter wrote. “Not just laughing about how you don’t care about this guy.” Luigi Mangione is taken into the Blair County Courthouse on Tuesday in Hollidaysburg, Pa. Memes and online posts in support of the 26-year-old man, who's charged with killing UnitedHealthcare's CEO, have mushroomed online. 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After-hours movers: Oracle, MongoDB, C3 AI, Lilly and moreWHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, W. Va. (AP) — Jordan Sears scored 25 points, Jalen Reed had 21 points and 13 rebounds, and LSU defeated UCF 109-102 in triple overtime on Sunday to take third place at the Greenbrier Tip-Off. LSU trailed by 18 points early in the second half, then failed to hold a lead at the end of regulation and each of the first two overtime periods. The Tigers went up by five with a minute to go in the third overtime. UCF cut it to three, then Vyctorius Miller made a driving layup, Jordan Sears followed with a dunk and the Tigers were able to hold on when leading by seven. Cam Carter scored 20 points, Miller had 16 and Dji Bailey 14 for LSU (5-1). Darius Johnson had 25 points, eight assists and six rebounds for UCF (4-2). Keyshawn Hall had 21 points and 10 rebounds, and Jordan Ivy-Curry scored 20. South Florida led by 15 points at halftime and maintained a double-digit lead for all but a few possessions in the first 11 1/2 minutes of the second half. UCF led 62-48 with 8 1/2 minutes remaining but Sears hit three 3-pointers and LSU drew to within 64-59 with 6 minutes to go. The Tigers scored the last six points of regulation to force overtime. In the first half, LSU led 15-13 about eight minutes into the game but the Tigers missed 15 of 16 shots while being outscored 25-3 over the next 10 minutes. South Florida led 40-25 at halftime after shooting 46% to 25% for LSU. ___ Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here . AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketballFor a radio station that doesn't care about ratings, 2MBS Fine Music Sydney has found an audience of loyal listeners all over the world. or signup to continue reading Veteran Drive program presenter Michael Morton-Evans even has one dedicated fan on the Isle of Wight in the UK, who sits by her fireplace to listen to his show. 2MBS was Australia's very first station on the FM radio band, hitting the airwaves at noon on December 15, 1974, beating Melbourne's 3MBS and Brisbane's 4ZZZ by a matter of months. The station in Sydney's St Leonards is celebrating 50 years of filling the airwaves with music - classical for the most part, but also jazz, blues and other genres. Morton-Evans has penned a history of 2MBS to mark the milestone, and believes it's the only volunteer-run station in the world to have lasted half a century. "It means everything to real lovers of classical music, we all love doing it, they all love listening to it," he told AAP. Ahead of a recent program, he's in the studio lining up traffic alerts and weather reports and just the right music to keep Sydney motorists calm during peak hour, starting with Russian composer Anton Arensky and Frenchman Georges Bizet. On a good day, the FM radio signal travels all the way to Newcastle and Wollongong, and Berrima in the southern highlands, while listeners further afield can tune in via the station's online stream and listening app. Three times a day the flow of classical music is interrupted by jazz programs, for those who happen to like that sort of thing, said Morton-Evans. "There's a sort of feeling around here among the jazz people that I don't like jazz, but it's not true - I do like jazz," he said. "Our jazz presenters are fantastic, they are so knowledgeable, they're almost worth listening to." One of those presenters, Jeannie McInnes, airs her popular program Jazz Rhythm with a different topic each week, ranging from Jackson Pollock's jazz playlist, to the sound of the colour green. "If you just want to hear the music, put on Spotify - if you want to learn something about the music, listen to the radio," she told AAP. Presenters such as Planet Jazz host Xavier Bichon revel in music of all kinds: a recent weekend saw him at a classical performance in the afternoon, and a Pearl Jam concert a few hours later. 2MBS does not rely on government grants and is entirely funded by its loyal listeners, some of whom have been very generous indeed. In 2010 one donor, Stefan Kruger, left the station $3 million in his will, enabling 2MBS to build a recording studio complete with grand piano, broadcast studios and a massive music library. Though most of the library is stored digitally these days, old technology is still kept on stand by including turntables, a reel to reel tape player, and a cassette deck. Before there was any of this equipment - or even a station to broadcast from - David James was the very first manager of 2MBS, helping it win a broadcast licence. Half a century later he still volunteers at the station, probably because he likes punishment, he jokes. "Radio is in my blood ... I just don't want to look at any other voluntary job anywhere." It's the people as much as the music, helped by the station's monthly wine and pizza nights, he said. There's also tea, coffee and biscuits on hand to fuel the station's 200 volunteers, such as former presenter Di Cox, 84. Cox has been volunteering at the station for 45 years and is still a regular visitor, selecting music for an upcoming program From Handel to Haydn. "Obviously I love it, because I've always said I'll never leave," she said. 2MBS is marking its milestone with a special retrospective program on Sunday at midday - exactly 50 years to the hour since its very first broadcast. It will also host a station open day on February 1, to commemorate its very first such event 50 years ago. DAILY Today's top stories curated by our news team. WEEKDAYS Grab a quick bite of today's latest news from around the region and the nation. WEEKLY The latest news, results & expert analysis. WEEKDAYS Catch up on the news of the day and unwind with great reading for your evening. WEEKLY Get the editor's insights: what's happening & why it matters. WEEKLY Love footy? We've got all the action covered. WEEKLY Every Saturday and Tuesday, explore destinations deals, tips & travel writing to transport you around the globe. WEEKLY Going out or staying in? Find out what's on. WEEKDAYS Sharp. Close to the ground. Digging deep. 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During the construction of Hobart’s Veterans Elementary Hobart High teacher Greg Crouch stood outside piloting a drone as it hovered above the scene. “I wanted to get a wide shot,” Crouch said as he directed his drone over residences to achieve his filmmaking goal of documenting the school’s construction. A curious neighbor saw the drone and called the police. Crouch showed police his commercial drone pilot’s license, explained his mission, and police departed. Drone sightings are increasing across the country and stirring up mysteries and intrigue even as the alien-like devices are wending their way into our lives from filming NFL games to fertilizing farm fields. In recent weeks, omnipresent groupings of drones disturbed residents in New Jersey, Pennsylvania and New York. Their concerns stirred up lawmakers who are asking the federal government for answers. In this image taken from video provided by MartyA45_, several drones appear to be flying over Randolph, N.J., on Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024. (MartyA45_ /TMX via AP, File) The federal Department of Homeland Security is investigating the sightings, but so far nothing nefarious has been reported. Even as drones become more common, they still conjure up paranoia and confusion among Americans unfamiliar with drone regulations. Educators though have embraced the new technology. Districts like Hobart and Valparaiso have incorporated drones into the curriculum. Students in Crouch’s Hobart High advanced broadcasting class use the school’s drone to practice filmmaking techniques such as aerial photography at football practices to aid coaches. Hobart’s school board recently accepted funding for the purchase of a new drone. Crouch sees many benefits of the drone camera’s capabilities. “You can do an area of a field to assess how much water was collected during a flood and it can fly back home,” he said. “We can really start utilizing this in a cross-platform with Project Lead the Way’s Cart Club, too.” In that course, students build their own manned go-carts from scratch and race them. The drone adds aerial photography and data on turns and maneuvers. In 2021, Valparaiso High received a $400,000 city redevelopment Challenge Grant to establish an aviation flight course that includes drone piloting, a skill becoming more popular with the U.S. military. In Hobart, police who work as school resource officers asked for aerial photography footage of high school parking lots to instruct parents where to park and line up for pickup during dismissal. “They use it to better route traffic,” Crouch said. Besides piloting skills, Crouch teaches students Indiana’s drone rules of the air. “We touch upon how to fly, when, and what you are allowed to fly over,” Crouch said. “The biggest rule is don’t impede manned vehicles.” Crouch said there are two types of drone pilot licenses – hobbyist and commercial. Nearly 800,000 are already registered for recreational and commercial use. Many drones, however, aren’t registered, officials said. Americans alarmed at the appearance of a drone can’t just fire a shot at it without consequences. It’s a federal crime to shoot at an aircraft. Also: · Indiana-specific laws call for police to obtain a search warrant before conducting drone surveillance over private property without owner consent. · Sex offenders can’t capture images or track people with a drone. · The state Department of Natural Resources restricts drone flying at their park sites to certain properties and permission is required. · Drones can’t be flown to harass neighbors or take unauthorized videos or photos above private property. · Hunters can’t use drones to scout, search or detect wild animals. A hunter who legally hunted an animal can use a drone with an infrared camera to retrieve the animal’s body. The FAA requires recreational drone pilots to: · Keep the drone in sight at all times. · Don’t interfere with other aircraft. · Fly at or below 400 feet. Drones may be popular gifts for hobbyists, but officials say new pilots should learn the rules before they fly them. For information, visit: faa.gov/uas/recreational_flyers . Carole Carlson is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.Scottish international Adams scores long-range stunner in Serie A win for Torino
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SYM Shareholder Notice: Robbins LLP Reminds Investors of the Securities Class Action Filed Against Symbotic Inc.Jordan Sears scores 25 points, Jalen Reed has double-double and LSU outlasts UCF 109-102 in 3OT
Outokumpu invests in a biocarbon plant in Germany to further reduce its direct emissionsBy MATTHEW BROWN and JACK DURA BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — Donald Trump assigned Doug Burgum a singular mission in nominating the governor of oil-rich North Dakota to lead an agency that oversees a half-billion acres of federal land and vast areas offshore: “Drill baby drill.” That dictate from the president-elect’s announcement of Burgum for Secretary of Interior sets the stage for a reignition of the court battles over public lands and waters that helped define Trump’s first term, with environmentalists worried about climate change already pledging their opposition. Burgum is an ultra-wealthy software industry entrepreneur who grew up on his family’s farm. He represents a tame choice compared to other Trump Cabinet picks. Public lands experts said his experience as a popular two-term governor who aligns himself with conservationist Teddy Roosevelt suggests a willingness to collaborate, as opposed to dismantling from within the agency he is tasked with leading. That could help smooth his confirmation and clear the way for the incoming administration to move quickly to open more public lands to development and commercial use. “Burgum strikes me as a credible nominee who could do a credible job as Interior secretary,” said John Leshy, who served as Interior’s solicitor under former President Bill Clinton. “He’s not a right-wing radical on public lands,” added Leshy, professor emeritus at the University of California College of the Law, San Francisco. The Interior Department manages about one-fifth of the country’s land with a mandate that spans from wildlife conservation and recreation to natural resource extraction and fulfilling treaty obligations with Native American tribes. Most of those lands are in the West, where frictions with private landowners and state officials are commonplace and have sometimes mushroomed into violent confrontations with right-wing groups that reject federal jurisdiction. Burgum if confirmed would be faced with a pending U.S. Supreme Court action from Utah that seeks to assert state power over Interior Department lands. North Dakota’s attorney general has supported the lawsuit, but Burgum’s office declined to say if he backs Utah’s claims. U.S. Justice Department attorneys on Thursday asked the Supreme Court to reject Utah’s lawsuit. They said Utah in 1894 agreed to give up its right to the lands at issue when it became a state. Trump’s narrow focus on fossil fuels is a replay from his 2016 campaign — although minus coal mining, a collapsing industry that he failed to revive in his first term. Trump repeatedly hailed oil as “liquid gold” on the campaign trail this year and largely omitted any mention of coal. About 26% of U.S. oil comes from federal lands and offshore waters overseen by Interior. Production continues to hit record levels under President Joe Biden despite claims by Trump that the Democrat hindered drilling. But industry representatives and their Republican allies say volumes could be further boosted. They want Burgum and the Interior Department to ramp up oil and gas sales from federal lands, in the Gulf of Mexico and offshore Alaska. The oil industry also hopes Trump’s government efficiency initiative led by billionaire Elon Musk can dramatically reduce environmental reviews. Biden’s administration reduced the frequency and size of lease sales, and it restored environmental rules that were weakened under Trump . The Democrat as a candidate in 2020 promised further restrictions on drilling to help combat global warming, but he struck a deal for the 2022 climate bill that requires offshore oil and gas sales to be held before renewable energy leases can be sold. “Oil and gas brings billions of dollars of revenue in, but you don’t get that if you don’t have leasing,” said Erik Milito with the National Ocean Industries Association, which represents offshore industries including oil and wind. Trump has vowed to kill offshore wind energy projects. But Milito said he was hopeful that with Burgum in place it would be “green lights ahead for everything, not just oil and gas.” It is unclear if Burgum would revive some of the most controversial steps taken at the agency during Trump’s first term, including relocating senior officials out of Washington, D.C., dismantling parts of the Endangered Species Act and shrinking the size of two national monuments in Utah designated by former President Barack Obama. Officials under Biden spent much of the past four years reversing Trump’s moves. They restored the Utah monuments and rescinded numerous Trump regulations. Onshore oil and gas lease sales plummeted — from more than a million acres sold annually under Trump and other previous administrations, to just 91,712 acres (37,115 hectares) sold last year — while many wind and solar projects advanced. Developing energy leases takes years, and oil companies control millions of acres that remain untapped. Biden’s administration also elevated the importance of conservation in public lands decisions, adopting a rule putting it more on par with oil and gas development. They proposed withdrawing parcels of land in six states from potential future mining to protect a struggling bird species, the greater sage grouse. North Dakota is among Republican states that challenged the Biden administration’s public lands rule. The states said in a June lawsuit that officials acting to prevent climate change have turned laws meant to facilitate development into policies that obstruct drilling, livestock grazing and other uses. Oil production boomed over the past two decades in North Dakota thanks in large part to better drilling techniques. Burgum has been an industry champion and last year signed a repeal of the state’s oil tax trigger — a price-based tax hike industry leaders supported removing. Burgum’s office declined an interview request. In a statement after his nomination, Burgum echoed Trump’s call for U.S. “energy dominance” in the global market. The 68-year-old governor also said the Interior post offered an opportunity to improve government relations with developers, tribes, landowners and outdoor enthusiasts “with a focus on maximizing the responsible use of our natural resources with environmental stewardship for the benefit of the American people.” Related Articles National Politics | Attorneys want the US Supreme Court to say Mississippi’s felony voting ban is cruel and unusual National Politics | Trump convinced Republicans to overlook his misconduct. But can he do the same for his nominees? National Politics | Beyond evangelicals, Trump and his allies courted smaller faith groups, from the Amish to Chabad National Politics | Trump’s team is delaying transition agreements. What does it mean for security checks and governing? National Politics | Judge delays Trump hush money sentencing in order to decide where case should go now Under current Interior Secretary Deb Haaland, the agency put greater emphasis on working collaboratively with tribes, including their own energy projects . Haaland, a member of the Pueblo of Laguna tribe in New Mexico, also advanced an initiative to solve criminal cases involving missing and murdered Indigenous peoples and helped lead a nationwide reckoning over abuses at federal Indian boarding schools that culminated in a formal public apology from Biden. Burgum has worked with tribes in his state, including on oil development. Badlands Conservation Alliance director Shannon Straight in Bismarck, North Dakota, said Burgum has also been a big supporter of tourism in North Dakota and outdoor activities such as hunting and fishing. Yet Straight said that hasn’t translated into additional protections for land in the state. “Theodore Roosevelt had a conservation ethic, and we talk and hold that up as a beautiful standard to live by,” he said. “We haven’t seen it as much on the ground. ... We need to recognize the landscape is only going to be as good as some additional protections.” Burgum has been a cheerleader of the planned Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library in Medora, North Dakota. Brown reported from Billings, Montana.Evonik Industries (OTCMKTS:EVKIF) Stock Price Up 7.7% – Time to Buy?
Schwab 1-5 Year Corporate Bond ETF (NYSEARCA:SCHJ) Trading Down 0.1% – Should You Sell?( MENAFN - Jordan Times) AMMAN - Minister of Social Development and Head of the Ministerial Committee for Women's Empowerment Wafa Bani Mustafa met on Sunday with Australian Ambassador for Gender Equality, Stephanie Copus Campbell, to explore avenues for cooperation and the exchange of expertise. During the meeting at the ministry's headquarters, attended by Australian Ambassador to Amman Bernard Lynch, the officials reviewed the ministry's key social programmes and services focused on empowering women, including initiatives for women residing in the ministry's care homes who have experienced abuse. Bani Mustafa also shared insights into the ministerial committee's efforts to enhance women's empowerment, highlighting the progress made in recent years through legislative reforms designed to increase women's political and economic participation, according to the Jordan News Agency, Petra. The envoy expressed her admiration for the ministry's work and the strides made by the committee, stressing her commitment to furthering cooperation in the field of women's empowerment. MENAFN24112024000028011005ID1108920884 Legal Disclaimer: MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.
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NEW YORK – President-elect Donald Trump’s lawyers urged a judge again Friday to throw out his hush money conviction, balking at the prosecution’s suggestion of preserving the verdict by treating the case the way some courts do when a defendant dies. They called the idea “absurd.” The Manhattan district attorney's office is asking Judge Juan M. Merchan to “pretend as if one of the assassination attempts against President Trump had been successful,” Trump’s lawyers wrote in a blistering 23-page response. Recommended Videos In court papers made public Tuesday, District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s office proposed an array of options for keeping the historic conviction on the books after Trump’s lawyers filed paperwork earlier this month asking for the case to be dismissed. They include freezing the case until Trump leaves office in 2029, agreeing that any future sentence won't include jail time, or closing the case by noting he was convicted but that he wasn't sentenced and his appeal wasn’t resolved because of presidential immunity. Trump lawyers Todd Blanche and Emil Bove reiterated Friday their position that the only acceptable option is overturning his conviction and dismissing his indictment, writing that anything less will interfere with the transition process and his ability to lead the country. The Manhattan district attorney’s office declined comment. It’s unclear how soon Merchan will decide. He could grant Trump’s request for dismissal, go with one of the prosecution’s suggestions, wait until a federal appeals court rules on Trump’s parallel effort to get the case moved out of state court, or choose some other option. In their response Friday, Blanche and Bove ripped each of the prosecution’s suggestions. Halting the case until Trump leaves office would force the incoming president to govern while facing the “ongoing threat” that he’ll be sentenced to imprisonment, fines or other punishment as soon as his term ends, Blanche and Bove wrote. Trump, a Republican, takes office Jan. 20. “To be clear, President Trump will never deviate from the public interest in response to these thuggish tactics,” the defense lawyers wrote. “However, the threat itself is unconstitutional.” The prosecution’s suggestion that Merchan could mitigate those concerns by promising not to sentence Trump to jail time on presidential immunity grounds is also a non-starter, Blanche and Bove wrote. The immunity statute requires dropping the case, not merely limiting sentencing options, they argued. Blanche and Bove, both of whom Trump has tabbed for high-ranking Justice Department positions, expressed outrage at the prosecution’s novel suggestion that Merchan borrow from Alabama and other states and treat the case as if Trump had died. Blanche and Bove accused prosecutors of ignoring New York precedent and attempting to “fabricate” a solution “based on an extremely troubling and irresponsible analogy between President Trump" who survived assassination attempts in Pennsylvania in July and Florida in September “and a hypothetical dead defendant.” Such an option normally comes into play when a defendant dies after being convicted but before appeals are exhausted. It is unclear whether it is viable under New York law, but prosecutors suggested that Merchan could innovate in what’s already a unique case. “This remedy would prevent defendant from being burdened during his presidency by an ongoing criminal proceeding,” prosecutors wrote in their filing this week. But at the same time, it wouldn’t “precipitously discard” the “meaningful fact that defendant was indicted and found guilty by a jury of his peers.” Prosecutors acknowledged that “presidential immunity requires accommodation” during Trump’s impending return to the White House but argued that his election to a second term should not upend the jury’s verdict, which came when he was out of office. Longstanding Justice Department policy says sitting presidents cannot face criminal prosecution . Other world leaders don’t enjoy the same protection. For example, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is on trial on corruption charges even as he leads that nation’s wars in Lebanon and Gaza . Trump has been fighting for months to reverse his May 30 conviction on 34 counts of falsifying business records . Prosecutors said he fudged the documents to conceal a $130,000 payment to porn actor Stormy Daniels to suppress her claim that they had sex a decade earlier, which Trump denies. In their filing Friday, Trump’s lawyers citing a social media post in which Sen. John Fetterman used profane language to criticize Trump’s hush money prosecution. The Pennsylvania Democrat suggested that Trump deserved a pardon, comparing his case to that of President Joe Biden’s pardoned son Hunter Biden, who had been convicted of tax and gun charges . “Weaponizing the judiciary for blatant, partisan gain diminishes the collective faith in our institutions and sows further division,” Fetterman wrote Wednesday on Truth Social. Trump’s hush money conviction was in state court, meaning a presidential pardon — issued by Biden or himself when he takes office — would not apply to the case. Presidential pardons only apply to federal crimes. Since the election, special counsel Jack Smith has ended his two federal cases , which pertained to Trump’s efforts to overturn his 2020 election loss and allegations that he hoarded classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago estate. A separate state election interference case in Fulton County, Georgia, is largely on hold. Trump denies wrongdoing in all. Trump had been scheduled for sentencing in the hush money case in late November. But following Trump’s Nov. 5 election victory, Merchan halted proceedings and indefinitely postponed the former and future president’s sentencing so the defense and prosecution could weigh in on the future of the case. Merchan also delayed a decision on Trump’s prior bid to dismiss the case on immunity grounds. A dismissal would erase Trump’s conviction, sparing him the cloud of a criminal record and possible prison sentence. Trump is the first former president to be convicted of a crime and the first convicted criminal to be elected to the office.TV news in Central Washington will lose a long-familiar face when Chief Meteorologist Monty Webb signs off for retirement. The 62-year-old's decades-long career in meteorology is an accomplished one, and his personality is a favorite among viewers. Webb announced his retirement last week, and his last day on air is scheduled for Jan. 3. Having always been interested in weather, Webb's start in meteorology came through the Air Force. As a forecaster in the '80s, he'd have to hand analyze large, black and white maps that were printed off from two primary weather models, according to Webb. Then, he was involved in testing for upgraded systems, allowing forecasters to see inside storms for the first time. "It was like comparing your cell phone to the old rotary dial phone," Webb said in an interview with the Herald. After he was medically retired from the military due to a blown-out knee, Webb set his sights on TV meteorology. With some help, he put together a demo reel and was eventually hired by KNDU, the NBC station covering Tri-Cities, Yakima and Eastern Oregon. This led to a fruitful, award-winning career, with meteorology positions in Seattle, Spokane, Boise, Chicago and Louisville. Ten years ago, he returned to his first station in order to work closer to family. "Out of all the places that we've worked at, this has probably been our favorite," Webb said, speaking for himself and his wife. After decades in the industry, Webb has had many unique experiences. From silly bloopers to devastating storms, he's had many memorable moments in meteorology. When asked about standout memories, he had several. Like the time in Boise when he flew off a horse's back on live TV while trying to show off his horseriding skills. Or, while at KNDU, there was the time his shorts slipped while he was getting out of a dunk tank. "We had a half-moon. We almost had a full Monty, live on TV," Webb said. "And the producer was like 'I tried to avert my eyes, but every monitor I looked at, I saw your butt.'" But there are also many serious moments he'll remember forever. Webb really cherishes his time in the Air Force as well, as he realized just how life-or-death weather can be. He told the Herald he got to forecast for just about every location in the northern hemisphere during that time, sometimes for special missions that relied on weather conditions. But one of the most memorable took place when he was Chief Meteorologist in Louisville, during the March 2012 tornado outbreak. It produced numerous tornadoes, including a massive EF4 tornado that nearly completely took out the town of Henryville, Indiana. Webb told the Herald that the tornado reached speeds over 260 miles per hour, was a half-mile long and stayed on the ground for an hour straight. His team was on air for five hours that day without breaks. While surveying the site with the National Weather Service the day after, Webb was looking at what remained of a local gas station. The owner approached and thanked the meteorologist, saying he watched Webb while preparing for the tornado. Following the broadcast team's direction to take cover, the owner instructed all customers to enter the walk-in freezer. They all lived. "That's probably the most serious and the most impactful," Webb said. "That one is the one that just will forever be in my mind." Webb says he's had a blessed career, and one full of growth and vast change in the field as well. Throughout his career, meteorology has advanced a lot, as has TV news. Instead of hand analyzing printed maps, forecasts are now done using computers, with three times as many models and generated analyses. With each technological advancement, Webb has had to learn new systems and adapt to changing daily responsibilities. "As a meteorologist, you have to be willing to adapt, you have to be willing to deal with the unpredictable," he said. This skill goes beyond forecasting weather, and he says it has kept him adapting with the field for several decades. He's had to stay up-to-date with advancements in technology, working with computers and social media. When Webb started in TV, the daily expectation of a meteorologist was one main forecast. Now, there's numerous forecasts each day, with streaming channels, social pages and web updates. Though he's kept up with the developing industries, and still loves the work he does, Webb felt it was the right time to retire. One thing he's loved about KNDU is its designation as a teaching station, meant to introduce young talent to the ways of the industry and shape them for jobs in bigger markets or with more responsibilities. Webb says he's loved growing the industry, since someone has to take over for him now. The majority of his trainees have gone back to school to get their meteorology degree, including his morning show counterpart at KNDU, Sigmund Seroka. But don't fret, you'll still see Webb on KNDU from time to time. He told the Tri-City Herald he'll be filling in as needed. In retirement, Webb will spend time with his family. He has two daughters here in Tri-Cities and a son living on the west side, plus 12 grandchildren. A thirteenth grandchild is expected in January. Webb and his wife love camping, especially with the grandchildren. They go on regional trips every year, and are planning a larger trip to celebrate retirement. Beginning in March, they're going to visit Oregon then head to Phoenix and stay at the Luke Air Force Base's family campground. He also plans to do a lot of fishing, especially at the Columbia River. Webb says he once caught an 11-foot sturgeon out of the Columbia. Webb is also planning to get a Veterans Service Officer certification, which he'll use to help other veterans navigate the services and resources available to them. In a parting message to viewers, Webb said the viewers have become an extended family to him, and he's always happy to meet them while out and about. "Thank you for inviting me into your home every single day," he said. "I appreciate all of the viewers because without them, I really wouldn't have a job. They are the ones who, in my view, have always been responsible for feeding my family, for putting a roof over my head, because they watch and I can't express enough gratitude towards them." (c)2024 Tri-City Herald (Kennewick, Wash.) Visit Tri-City Herald (Kennewick, Wash.) at www.tri-cityherald.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.