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Jimmy Carter, the 39th US president, has died at 100 ATLANTA (AP) — Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter has died. He was 100 years old and had spent roughly 22 months in hospice care. The Georgia peanut farmer served one turbulent term in the White House before building a reputation as a global humanitarian and champion of democracy. He defeated President Gerald Ford in 1976 promising to restore trust in government but lost to Ronald Reagan four years later amid soaring inflation, gas station lines and the Iran hostage crisis. He and his wife Rosalynn then formed The Carter Center, and he earned a Nobel Peace Prize while making himself the most internationally engaged of former presidents. The Carter Center said he died peacefully Sunday afternoon in Plains, Georgia, surrounded by his family. Jimmy Carter: Many evolutions for a centenarian ‘citizen of the world’ PLAINS, Ga. (AP) — The 39th and longest-lived U.S. president, James Earl Carter Jr., died Sunday at the age of 100. His life ended where it began, in Plains, Georgia. He left and returned to the tiny town many times as he climbed to the nation’s highest office and lost it after four tumultuous years. Carter spent the next 40 years setting new standards for what a former president can do. Carter wrote nearly a decade ago that he found all the phases of his life challenging but also successful and enjoyable. The Democrat's principled but pragmatic approach defied American political labels, especially the idea that one-term presidents are failures. Jet crash disaster in South Korea marks another setback for Boeing WASHINGTON (AP) — A machinists strike. Another safety problem involving its troubled top-selling airliner. A plunging stock price. 2024 was already a dispiriting year for Boeing, the American aviation giant. But when one of the company’s jets crash-landed in South Korea on Sunday, killing all but two of the 181 people on board, it brought to a close an especially unfortunate year for Boeing. The cause of the crash remains under investigation, and aviation experts were quick to distinguish Sunday’s incident from the company’s earlier safety problems. Alan Price, an airline consultant, said it would be inappropriate to link the incident Sunday to two fatal crashes involving Boeing’s troubled 737 Max jetliner in 2018 and 2019. South Korean authorities seek warrant to detain impeached President Yoon in martial law probe SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korean law enforcement officials have requested a court warrant to detain impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol as they investigate whether his short-lived martial law decree this month amounted to rebellion. The Corruption Investigation Office for High-Ranking Officials, which is leading a joint investigation with police and military authorities into the power grab that lasted only a few hours, confirmed it requested the warrant on Monday. Investigators plan to question Yoon on charges of abuse of authority and orchestrating a rebellion. Tornadoes in Texas and Mississippi kill 2 and injure 6 as severe weather system moves east HOUSTON (AP) — A strong storm system is threatening to whip up tornadoes in parts of the U.S. Southeast, a day after severe weather claimed at least two lives as twisters touched down in Texas and Mississippi. Strong storms moving eastward Sunday are expected to continue producing gusty, damaging winds, hail and tornadoes through Sunday. That is according to National Weather Service meteorologist Frank Pereira. So far, the line of severe weather has led to about 40 tornado reports from southeastern Texas to Alabama, Pereira said, but those reports remain unconfirmed until surveys of damage are completed. Israeli hospital says Netanyahu has undergone successful prostate surgery TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — An Israeli hospital says Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has undergone successful prostate surgery. Jerusalem’s Hadassah Medical Center said his prostate was removed late Sunday and that he was recovering. Netanyahu’s office had said Justice Minister Yariv Levin, a close ally, would serve as acting prime minister during the procedure. Doctors ordered the operation after detecting an infection last week. Netanyahu is expected to remain hospitalized for several days. With so much at stake, Netanyahu’s health in wartime is a concern for both Israelis and the wider world. Azerbaijan's president says crashed jetliner was shot down by Russia unintentionally Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev says the Azerbaijani airliner that crashed last week was shot down by Russia, albeit unintentionally. Aliyev told Azerbaijani state television on Sunday that the aircraft was hit by fire from the ground over Russia and rendered uncontrollable by electronic warfare. He accused Russia of trying to “hush up” the issue for several days. The crash on Wednesday killed 38 of 67 people on board. Russian President Vladimir Putin apologized to Aliyev on Saturday for what he called a “tragic incident” but stopped short of acknowledging Moscow’s responsibility. Croatia's incumbent president gains most votes for re-election, but not enough to avoid a runoff ZAGREB, Croatia (AP) — Croatia’s incumbent President Zoran Milanovic has swept most votes in the first round of a presidential election, but will have to face a runoff against a ruling party candidate to secure another five-year term. With 99% percent of the vote counted Sunday, Milanovic won 49% while his main challenger Dragan Primorac, a candidate of the ruling HDZ party, trailed far behind with 19%. Pre-election polls had predicted that the two would face off in the second round on Jan. 12, as none of the eight presidential election contenders were projected to get more than 50% of the vote. A fourth infant dies of the winter cold in Gaza as families share blankets in seaside tents DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — A fourth infant has died of hypothermia in Gaza, where hundreds of thousands of Palestinians displaced by nearly 15 months of war are huddled in tents along the rainy, windswept coast as winter arrives. The baby's father says the 20-day-old child was found with his head as “cold as ice” Sunday morning in their tent. The baby’s twin brother was moved to the intensive care unit of Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital. Their father says the twins were born one month premature and spent just a day in hospital, which like other Gaza health centers has been overwhelmed and only partially functions. Syria's de facto leader says it could take up to 4 years to hold elections BEIRUT (AP) — Syria’s de facto leader has said it could take up to four years to hold elections in Syria, and that he plans on dissolving his Islamist group that led the country’s insurgency at an anticipated national dialogue summit for the country. Ahmad al-Sharaa, who leads Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, the group leading the new authority in Syria, made the remarks in an interview Sunday. That's according to the Saudi television network Al-Arabiyya. It comes almost a month after a lightning insurgency led by HTS overthrew President Bashar Assad’s decades-long rule, ending the country’s uprising-turned civil war that started back in 2011.
NEW YORK , Dec. 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- It is with profound sadness that TGM mourns the death of its Co-founder and Managing Principal, Steven C. Macy (1949-2024). Steve, real estate executive, husband, brother, uncle, friend, mentor, proud parent and grandparent, and oracle of wisdom who told endless anecdotes, died in New York on December 2 nd . Steve was a dynamic leader with a breadth of interests and knowledge that matched his energy, enthusiasm, and drive. He was born and raised in Dayton, Ohio . Steve co-founded TGM Associates L.P. ("TGM") with Thomas Gochberg in July 1991 . TGM provides an integrated suite of asset and property management services to large, global institutions, including state pension funds, sovereign wealth funds, corporate pension plans, and high-net-worth individuals. Prior to co-founding TGM, Steve worked at Smith Barney Real Estate and its successor company, Security Capital, where he first met Thomas Gochberg . Steve also worked for Integrated Resources, where he headed Integrated's national portfolio of 32,000 apartments. Steve was responsible for overseeing Smith Barney's nationwide property management operations and is recognized by some as one of the principal creators of the national property management business. Prior to his tenure at Smith Barney, real estate investment was predominantly a local and regional business, and Steve was responsible for creating an organization that was national in scope and capable of efficiently managing a portfolio stretching from coast to coast. He replicated this process twice more while at Integrated Resources and TGM. Steve was profiled in Bloomberg Businessweek's Executive Profile Directory for multiple years. He was also awarded the Institute of Real Estate Management's Certified Property Manager designation and was instrumental in TGM's designation as an Accredited Management Organization by that same institution. Steve's Real Estate affiliations included being a member of the Institute of Real Estate Management, the National Multi Housing Council (he served on the Board of Directors from 1990 to 1991), the National Apartment Association, and the Pension Real Estate Association. Steve was a member and patron of numerous New York social and cultural institutions and was an active member of the New York City Catholic Diocese. He accompanied Cardinal Dolan and his predecessor, Cardinal Egan, as members of their entourage on several visits to the Vatican, where Steve met sitting Popes. Steve was also an active member of St. Ignatius Loyola's congregation on the Upper East Side of Manhattan . Steve also enjoyed traveling with his Jesuit friends, including attending several silent retreats and several trips to Israel . Steve and his wife Emi had a plethora of shared interests that included volunteering, cooking, and good food (Steve was an excellent cook and enjoyed preparing meals for all), and was an adventurous traveler. Steve had an amazing rolodex of excellent restaurants from all the places he visited and usually a good story or two from the times he frequented them. Steve dedicated significant time to mentoring young minds in search of wisdom. He once published his feelings on how to lead a "successful life" which reflected those tenets that resonated deeply with him and were evident to any person that he came in contact with. In short, Steve stated that if you wanted to change the world: Steve is survived by his wife Emi; children Christopher, Tiffany, Alexa, and Akane; grandchildren Todd Jr., Tess, Tanner and Tom; his sister Karen; and many cousins, nieces and nephews. He will be missed by all. About TGM Founded in 1991, TGM is an investment advisory firm organized to provide an integrated suite of asset and property management services to its investors through a series of fully integrated operating companies. Through its vertically and horizontally integrated operating companies, TGM specializes in acquisitions, property management, leasing, construction, property maintenance and asset management services. An affiliate of TGM provides property management services under the brand TGM Communities. As of September 30, 2024, TGM has invested in 141 multifamily properties throughout 28 states. To learn more about TGM please contact John Gochberg , Managing Principal, Chief Executive Officer, and President. Phone: (212) 830-9312, E-mail: jgochberg@TGMAssociates.com View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/tgm-mourns-death-of-co-founder-and-managing-principal-steven-c-macy-302326734.html SOURCE TGMBroadridge Announces First-of-its-Kind AI-Powered Algorithm Insights ServiceInterview: Bloody Axe Wound’s Hilarie Burton Morgan on Creating Practical Gore for New Horror Movie By ComingSoon Senior Editor Brandon Schreur spoke to about Bloody Axe Wound. She discussed her experiences producing the , creating practical gore, and more. “Abbie Bladecut is a teenager torn between the macabre traditions of her family’s bloody trade and the tender stirrings of her first crush. In the small town of Clover Falls, Abbie’s father, Roger Bladecut, has built an infamous legacy by capturing real-life killings on tape and selling them to eager customers, but as Abbie delves deeper into the grisly family business, she begins to wonder if it’s time to take the family tradition in a new direction,” the synopsis reads. Bloody Axe Wound will be released in select United States theaters on December 27, 2024. It’s weird! My husband [Jeffrey Dean Morgan] and I have been producing things separately for about a decade. It was the pandemic, we were watching movies. We had kind of gone through all the things that everyone else was watching. Then there was this weird, little independent movie called Uncle Peckerhead by a writer/director named Matthew John Lawrence. We watched it and were like, ‘What the f— did we just watch?’ Right? Like it was so weird and so funny, the practical effects were so appealing to me because the CGI thing is a lot for me. Jeff is like, ‘I’m not used to you liking this genre, this is special.’ We reached out to Matthew on Twitter and were just like, ‘What else do you have?’ He sent us a stack of scripts. We read this one and it really was the perfect marriage of all of Jeffrey’s horror genre, blood and guts, killing zombies, gross stuff. And my teen drama years, where I was in high school for like a decade! Being able to do a project that appealed to both of us, our histories, and our fanbases was exciting. We signed on and just hit the ground running, trying to call up all our friends that cared about it as much as we did. Yeah. That was something that was important to me because that’s what I liked about Uncle Peckerhead. That’s what I like about vintage slasher movies. I like a practical effect because it’s artistry, right? I like knowing there’s a person mixing blood behind the scenes. I just like the backstory of a practical effect. With this, we were really lucky. Our head special effects artist came from The Walking Dead world, he works on Dead City with Jeffrey. He’s just incredible. Having someone from within the family come in and take the lead on this movie was great. There were certain parts of the script where we were like, ‘How is this going to work? We don’t know!’ Our team was so great. We teamed with Mary Stuart Masterson, who is a very dear friend of ours in the Hudson Valley. In terms of telling the story about cool, leather jacket-wearing girls, she’s the OG from Some Kind of Wonderful. I got to do it on One Tree Hill, and now we’ve got this new crop of cool girls that we got to bring in. So Mary Stuart was also incredibly important to understanding our budget, what we could do, and how to shoot it so that it made sense. I think we ended up with a really fun story that’s kind of gross. Aren’t they? We play fast and loose, man, that’s us! Sari and Molly were names that were floated very, very early on. We knew that we wanted them, but we didn’t know if we could get them. So a lot of the casting process was kind of working on contingencies — like, if we can’t get them because they’re so great, what else can we do? We had a great casting agent, here, in the Hudson Valley. And we got to incorporate some lovely actors. It was a great opportunity for me to meet them and see what they’re capable of. Molly is working with Christian Slater right now on Dexter, and his son is one of the kills in this movie. Yeah, he’s the guy who is killed at the lake. That’s Christian Slater’s son. So it was cool to have this small little world where everyone was playing nice in the sandbox. You’d hang out on set and everyone was so happy to be there. So the casting process was pretty easy. Once we had Billy Burke in place and Sari and Molly, like, what a dream. Because Sari has such a great friendship with Eddie [Leavy], having Eddie join was also like, this was our wish-list. We really felt very lucky that, as one person signed on, it opened the door for another person, and then another person. It speaks to the reputations of all the people involved, you know? When you read all those names, you’re like, ‘Oh yeah. I want that.’ I mean, I wouldn’t be surprised if there was, the world is a f—ed up place. But as someone who was not born in the 90s, there were certain video rental places we could go to in high school that weren’t Blockbuster. Erol’s was also another one that predates your lifespan. They weren’t chains. They were just independent, mom-and-pop rental places. That’s really what this space was based on. And I liked that Matthew grew up in the same world that I did, where you’re a kid in the suburbs and those video rental places are your escape. That’s your one outlet to see what it looks like on the outside. We found the sh—iest little corner, strip mall place. And it’s great! It’s a place that I would have hung out in high school. It might be! Who knows? Yeah, no, for me, the social and political undertones of the story were really important. Because if we’re telling the story of misogyny in the genre, but also violence against young people in our country, yeah, you’re right, super touchy issues. When people have asked, ‘Oh, this is a fictional world?’ I’m like, ‘No, this sh— is happening every day.’ Crazy, awful things are happening every day. So we’re going to address it and we’re going to have a sense of humor about it so you guys see how ridiculous it is that it keeps happening. It wasn’t the comedy that I was worried about. It was the violence against women that I was worried about. We needed our kills against the boys to be every bit as grotesque as the kills against women are. So, no, make sick jokes all day. Just be careful about how you cut someone on screen, that was my concern. Everyone needs a trophy. I wish we could just send trophies to everyone in a gift box who is watching this movie, like the screeners. . Brandon Schreur has been writing about comics, movies, television shows, and all things pop culture for roughly five years. He's a lifelong cinephile who spends way, way too much money buying Blu-rays and trade paperbacks. You can find him on twitter at @brandonschreur. Share article
Who is Lucas Kinney? The British jihadist who is now at the very heart of new Syrian regime By NEIL SEARS Published: 22:31, 9 December 2024 | Updated: 22:47, 9 December 2024 e-mail View comments A British convert may have found himself at the heart of Syria 's rebel ruling force after impressing leaders with his communications skills. Lucas Kinney, from Surrey, became a key player of the extremist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham after proving his worth over social media in a hard-hitting social media campaign. Kinney gained extra notoriety for his online videos because as well as carrying an AK-47 over his shoulder, he had a toothbrush amid the ammo. Viewers joked 'don't forget your toothbrush'. He was the first white British convert known to have joined the jihad in Syria, the only one in the now triumphant group. But there is some doubt about whether he has survived the vicious fighting and his parents back hom in London last night have refused to comment on his whereabouts. Kinney was born in Hammersmith, west London, the son of American Patrick Kinney, now 68 and living in Florida , and British mother Deborah, now 62. Patrick worked with Steven Spielberg on films including Indiana Jones and The Last Crusade and Empire of the Sun. A British convert may have found himself at the heart of Syria 's rebel ruling force after impressing leaders with his communications skills. Lucas Kinney (pictured here age 13) became a key player of the extremist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham Kinney gained extra notoriety for his online videos because as well as carrying an AK-47 over his shoulder, he had a toothbrush amid the ammo. Viewers joked 'don't forget your toothbrush'. Pictured: A still from online propaganda video showing Kinney after he joined Hayat Tahrir al-Sham Kinney's parents divorced when he was at a catholic primary school in Surrey, and his mother, now Deborah Phipps, lives with her second husband in the West Country. Kinney received Holy Communion as a teenage Catholic and talked of becoming a priest while at private school. But he started going to a mosque - then travelled to the Middle East to take up a Kalashnikov against dictator Bashar al-Assad, boasting about it in propaganda videos. The group he joined in 2013 was an offshoot of Osama bin Laden's feared Al Qaeda, the Nusra Front. It changed its name to Hayat Tahrir al-Sham - which on Sunday entered Damascus in triumph as hated Assad fled. Kinney's stepfather, who lives in a honeyed stone cottage on the west country, refused to speak to the Daily Mail about the jihadi convert. But Kinney - who had taken the nom de guerre Abu Basir al-Britani - was last reported to be living in the countryside in Idlib province, north west Syria, in 2018, with a wife and two children. If still alive, he is 35. Kinney's parents divorced when he was at a catholic primary school in Surrey, and his mother, now Deborah Phipps, lives with her second husband in the West Country. This image is from Kinney's old social media account Speaking to the Daily Mail in 2015, Mrs Phipps told of her fears he could be killed by an RAF drone strike or Russian bombardment, saying: 'Lucas is a target. I'm glad he's associated with Al Qaeda rather than Islamic State, but obviously I worry. 'On Mother's Day last year I spoke to his father and he told me he thought our son was dead because there was a picture of him on the internet lying on a bed in Syria and you couldn't tell if he was alive. 'We found out he had been struck by a mortar so his arm basically was hanging off. He had to have a big operation and said he wouldn't be able to fight for 18 months.' She went on: 'I don't get anything for months, then an email, and think, 'Well, at least he's still alive'. 'We just want him home. If he's done something wrong I'd like him to accept the consequences.' After attending a Catholic primary in Surrey, Kinney lived in Cairo, where his stepfather was working, attending the elite private Modern English School. He grew his hair long, dyed it red, played electric guitar in a rock band called Hannah's Got Herpes - and posted pictures of scantily clad girls on Facebook. Kinney - who had taken the nom de guerre Abu Basir al-Britani - was last reported to be living in the countryside in Idlib province, north west Syria, in 2018, with a wife and two children. If still alive, he is 35. This image is another still from a propaganda video Kinney began Middle Eastern Studies with Arabic at Leeds University in 2009 but dropped out after a year. He went to live with his father in Vienna, and there appears to have been radicalised. Mrs Phipps said: 'I don't think he became involved in Islam at university. He liked drinking and smoking and girls, all things they can't do. Read More EXCLUSIVE: British son of Hollywood movie director, 26, is revealed as bloodthirsty star of al-Qaeda propaganda videos after converting from Catholicism and smuggling himself to Syria 'When Lucas went to Vienna - that was where everything changed. 'We used to talk on Skype so we could see him - he had a beard and the robes. 'His father said, 'His religion is very important to him'.' Then Mrs Phipps suddenly heard from her son in Syria, saying of his emails: 'He kept using koranic phrases. and wants everyone to convert. Special Branch has been in touch of course.' In 2016, Kinney was considering volunteering for a suicide mission, telling a western journalist: 'My dream is to make martyrdom operation. God willing.' Two years later however he was reported to still be in Idlib, but with his wife and two children. There were so many Britons there Jaffa Cakes, Maltesers, Smarties and Rolos were stocked in shops. Whether they have kept him alive for the victory he sacrificed his life in the west for remains to be seen. Syria London Share or comment on this article: Who is Lucas Kinney? The British jihadist who is now at the very heart of new Syrian regime e-mail Add comment
By CHRIS MEGERIAN and COLLEEN LONG WASHINGTON (AP) — In the two weeks since Donald Trump won the presidency, he’s tried to demonstrate his dominance by naming loyalists for top administration positions, even though many lack expertise and some face sexual misconduct accusations. It often seems like he’s daring Congress to oppose his decisions. But on Thursday, Trump’s attempt to act with impunity showed a crack as Matt Gaetz , his choice for attorney general, withdrew from consideration. Trump had named Gaetz, a Florida congressman, to be the country’s top law enforcement official even though he was widely disliked by his colleagues, has little legal experience and was accused of having sex with an underage girl, an allegation he denied. After being plagued by investigations during his first presidency, Trump wanted a devoted ally in charge of the Justice Department during his second. However, it was never obvious that Gaetz could win enough support from lawmakers to get confirmed as attorney general. Trump chose for a replacement Pam Bondi, a former Florida attorney general who defended him during his first impeachment trial and supported his false claims of voter fraud. Now the question is whether Gaetz was uniquely unpalatable, or if Trump’s other picks might exceed his party’s willingness to overlook concerns that would have sunk nominees in a prior political era. The next test will likely be Pete Hegseth, who Trump wants to lead the Pentagon despite an allegation of sexual assault that he’s denied. So far, Republicans are rallying around Hegseth , an Army veteran and former Fox News host. Sen. Thom Tillis, a North Carolina Republican who serves on the Senate Judiciary Committee, said the controversy over Gaetz would have little bearing on Trump’s other choices. He said they would be considered “one at a time.” Sen. Richard Blumenthal, a Connecticut Democrat, suggested otherwise, claiming “the dominoes are falling.” “The drip drip of evidence and truth is going to eventually doom some others,” he said. Trump’s election victory was a sign that there may not be many red lines left in American politics. He won the presidential race despite authoritarian, racist and misogynist rhetoric, not to mention years of lies about election fraud and his role in sparking the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. He was also criminally convicted of falsifying business records to pay hush money, and he was found liable for sexual abuse in a civil case. Empowered by voters who looked past his misconduct and saw him as a powerful agent of change, Trump has shown no deference to Washington norms while working to fill his second administration . The transition team hasn’t pursued federal background checks for Trump’s personnel choices. While some of his selections have extensive experience in the areas they’ve been chosen to lead, others are personal friends and Fox News personalities who have impressed and flattered Trump over the years. Several have faced allegations involving sexual misconduct . Hegseth is facing the most scrutiny after Gaetz. Once Trump announced Hegseth as his nominee for Pentagon chief, allegations emerged that he sexually assaulted a woman in California in 2017. The woman said he took her phone, blocked the door to the hotel room and refused to let her leave, according to a police report made public this week. Hegseth told police at the time that the encounter had been consensual and denied any wrongdoing, the report said. However, he paid the woman a confidential settlement in 2023. Hegseth’s lawyer said the payment was made to head off the threat of a baseless lawsuit. Trump’s choice for secretary of health and human Services, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., has faced allegations of misconduct too. A woman who babysat for him and his second wife told Vanity Fair magazine that Kennedy groped her in the late 1990s, when she was 23. Kennedy did not deny the allegation and texted an apology to the woman after the article was published. That isn’t the only hurdle for Kennedy; he’s spent years spreading misinformation and conspiracy theories about vaccines, raising fears about making him a top health official in the new administration. Linda McMahon, chosen by Trump to be education secretary, is fighting a lawsuit connected to her former company, World Wrestling Entertainment. She’s accused of knowingly enabling sexual exploitation of children by an employee as early as the 1980s, and she denies the allegations. Tulsi Gabbard is another person who could face a difficult confirmation battle, but for very different reasons. The former Democratic representative from Hawaii has been a vocal Trump ally, and he chose her to be national intelligence director. But there’s grave concern by lawmakers and national security officials over Gabbard’s history of echoing Russian propaganda. Critics said she would endanger relationships with U.S. allies. Gaetz was investigated by federal law enforcement for sex trafficking, but the case was closed without charges and Republicans have blocked the release of a related report from the House Ethics Committee. However, some allegations leaked out, including that Gaetz paid women for sex. One of the women testified to the committee that she saw Gaetz having sex with a 17-year-old girl, according to a lawyer for the woman. As Gaetz met with senators this week, it became clear that he would face stubborn resistance from lawmakers who were concerned about his behavior and believed he was unqualified to run the Justice Department. “While the momentum was strong, it is clear that my confirmation was unfairly becoming a distraction,” Gaetz wrote on social media when announcing his withdrawal. Sen. Mike Braun, an Indiana Republican, said he believed there were four to six members of the caucus who would have voted against Gaetz, likely dooming his nomination, and “the math got too hard.” He said some of the issues and allegations around Gaetz were “maybe beyond the pale.” “I think there were just too many things, it was like a leaky dike, and you know, it broke,” Braun said. Trump thanked Gaetz in a post on Truth Social, his social media website, without addressing the substance of the allegations against him. “He was doing very well but, at the same time, did not want to be a distraction for the Administration, for which he has much respect,” Trump wrote. Associated Press writers Mary Clare Jalonick, Stephen Groves and Lisa Macaro contributed from Washington. Jill Colvin in New York and Adriana Gomez Licon in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, also contributed.
Opinion editor’s note: Strib Voices publishes a mix of guest commentaries online and in print each day. To contribute, click here . ••• I come from a family of qualified women, trailblazers who shattered barriers in their personal and professional lives. My grandmother ran a successful convenience store on Chicago’s South Side, paving the way for my mother, aunts and cousins, who broke through corporate ceilings. Yet, their triumphs came with struggles — navigating a corporate world that often has a predefined “place” for Black women. Family conversations often reveal the painful reality of these glass ceilings, and the extraordinary effort required to overcome them, often at great personal cost. Calls I’ve received after the election, particularly from Black women, reveal their frustration: doing everything right yet being deemed insufficient. This sentiment echoes in the careers of figures like Hillary Clinton, who faced sexism, and Vice President Kamala Harris, who encountered both gender and racial double standards despite her qualifications, work ethic and history of success. African American women like Harris routinely overcome these barriers through brilliance, resilience and persistence. However, even she could not overcome the reality of a political party that has strayed from the roots that once made it a “big tent” coalition. Political parties evolve, and the Democratic Party is no exception. Once a champion of unions and the working class, it also carried a dark history of racism and slavery. However, its commitment to supporting the underdog ultimately prevailed. Milestones like President Lyndon B. Johnson’s signing of the Civil Rights Act in 1964 redefined the party’s identity, aligning it with African Americans, immigrants, women and, later, the LGBTQ+ community. Still, despite low unemployment and crime rates, Democrats saw a decline in support from non-college-educated voters and some minority groups in the latest election. Even in Minnesota, a blue state with a strong economy, prosperity does not reach everyone. Minnesota ranks 20th in GDP, though 22nd in population, and is highly rated for quality of life, yet glaring disparities persist for African Americans, Latinos, Native Americans and low-income whites, spanning urban, rural and suburban areas. Black people in Minnesota face some of the largest racial disparities in the nation. Middle-income white Minnesotans earn significantly more than their Black counterparts, while Black women have lower life expectancies compared to white women and Black women in other states. Latinos experience higher poverty rates than their national counterparts, and low-income white students lag behind their wealthier peers academically. Minnesota also has one of the nation’s largest homeownership gaps between households of color and whites. These inequities contribute to growing disillusionment. While many are nominally better off economically, their quality of life and upward mobility remain limited. Frustration with unaddressed disparities likely explains declining Democratic support, even among historically loyal groups. For example, despite the rhetoric, African American men overwhelmingly supported Harris, but dissatisfaction with entrenched disparities and degradation of the family unit may have contributed to narrowing margins nationwide. Conversations with voters this year frequently touched on uncertainty about the future. African Americans, in particular, are calling for policies that strengthen their communities — not as isolated interest groups but as families and integral parts of society. The African American Family Preservation Act reflects this push, part of a broader trend toward family stability and creating generational opportunities. African Americans in Minnesota, like others nationwide, seek policies that dismantle barriers and uplift families. The Democratic Party has a history of transformative policies, such as Social Security, child tax credits and food stamps, that have lifted millions out of poverty. However, today’s challenges demand more. Voters now call for policies that stabilize families and foster generational wealth. These solutions must empower all families to succeed and thrive as contributors to society. Meeting these demands will be challenging, but the party’s track record of addressing economic realities demonstrates its ability to lead. To move forward, Democrats must re-engage their traditional base thoughtfully and respectfully. Solutions cannot be imposed; they must come from collaboration with those most affected. African Americans, immigrants and working-class families of all backgrounds have clear insights into the challenges they face and the solutions that work. Empowering these communities to lead at the party level will help restore trust and re-establish the party as a coalition for progress. This approach reflects the party’s historical mission and commitment to supporting those striving for a better life. Listening to these communities and amplifying their voices will ensure that policies resonate with voters and address their real concerns. By fostering authentic partnerships, Democrats can strengthen their connection with the people they represent. The road ahead is not without challenges, but Democrats have a legacy of solving the country’s toughest economic issues. By focusing on practical, results-oriented solutions that lift families and strengthen communities, the party can reclaim its role as a champion of opportunity. Returning to its roots and addressing today’s challenges, the Democratic Party can provide the leadership Americans need for a brighter, more prosperous future. Hollies Winston is mayor of Brooklyn Park.Bharat Heavy Electricals Share Price Today Live Updates : On the last trading day, Bharat Heavy Electricals (BHEL) opened and closed at 241.8, indicating no change in price. The stock reached a high of 242.75 and a low of 234.9 during the day. BHEL's market capitalization stands at approximately 81,968 crore, with a 52-week high of 335.4 and a low of 178.75. The BSE recorded a trading volume of 574,689 shares. Bharat Heavy Electricals Share Price Live Updates: Bharat Heavy Electricals volume yesterday was 7 mn as compared to the 20 day avg of 9611 k Bharat Heavy Electricals Share Price Live Updates: The trading volume yesterday was 25.64% lower than the 20 day average. Yesterday’s NSE volume was 6 mn & BSE volume was 574 k. Bharat Heavy Electricals Share Price Live Updates: Bharat Heavy Electricals closed at ₹241.8 on last trading day & the technical trend suggests Bearish near term outlook Bharat Heavy Electricals Share Price Live Updates: The stock traded in the range of 242.75 & 234.9 yesterday to end at 235.45. The stock is currently experiencing a strong downtrend
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WASHINGTON (AP) — Special counsel Jack Smith moved to abandon two criminal cases against Donald Trump on Monday, acknowledging that Trump’s return to the White House will preclude attempts to federally prosecute him for retaining classified documents or trying to overturn his 2020 election defeat. The decision was inevitable, since longstanding Justice Department policy says sitting presidents cannot face criminal prosecution. Yet it was still a momentous finale to an unprecedented chapter in political and law enforcement history, as federal officials attempted to hold accountable a former president while he was simultaneously running for another term. Trump emerges indisputably victorious, having successfully delayed the investigations through legal maneuvers and then winning reelection despite indictments that described his actions as a threat to the country’s constitutional foundations. “I persevered, against all odds, and WON,” Trump exulted in a post on Truth Social, his social media website. He also said that “these cases, like all of the other cases I have been forced to go through, are empty and lawless, and should never have been brought.” RELATED: The judge in the election case granted prosecutors’ dismissal request. A decision in the documents case was still pending on Monday evening. The outcome makes it clear that, when it comes to a president and criminal accusations, nothing supersedes the voters’ own verdict. In court filings, Smith’s team emphasized that the move to end their prosecutions was not a reflection of the merit of the cases but a recognition of the legal shield that surrounds any commander in chief. “That prohibition is categorical and does not turn on the gravity of the crimes charged, the strength of the Government’s proof, or the merits of the prosecution, which the Government stands fully behind,” prosecutors said in one of their filings. They wrote that Trump’s return to the White House “sets at odds two fundamental and compelling national interests: on the one hand, the Constitution’s requirement that the President must not be unduly encumbered in fulfilling his weighty responsibilities . . . and on the other hand, the Nation’s commitment to the rule of law.” In this situation, “the Constitution requires that this case be dismissed before the defendant is inaugurated,” they concluded. Smith’s team said it was leaving intact charges against two co-defendants in the classified documents case — Trump valet Walt Nauta and Mar-a-Lago property manager Carlos De Oliveira — because “no principle of temporary immunity applies to them.” Steven Cheung, Trump’s incoming White House communications director, said Americans “want an immediate end to the political weaponization of our justice system and we look forward to uniting our country.” Trump has long described the investigations as politically motivated, and he has vowed to fire Smith as soon as he takes office in January. Now he will start his second term free from criminal scrutiny by the government that he will lead. The election case brought last year was once seen as one of the most serious legal threats facing Trump as he tried to reclaim the White House. He was indicted for plotting to overturn his defeat to Joe Biden in 2020, an effort that climaxed with his supporters’ violent attack on the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. But the case quickly stalled amid legal fighting over Trump’s sweeping claims of immunity from prosecution for acts he took while in the White House. The U.S. Supreme Court in July ruled for the first time that former presidents have broad immunity from prosecution, and sent the case back to U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan to determine which allegations in the indictment, if any, could proceed to trial. The case was just beginning to pick up steam again in the trial court in the weeks leading up to this year’s election. Smith’s team in October filed a lengthy brief laying out new evidence it planned to use against him at trial, accusing him of “resorting to crimes” in an increasingly desperate effort to overturn the will of voters after he lost to Biden. In dismissing the case, Chutkan acknowledged prosecutors’ request to do so “without prejudice,” raising the possibility that they could try to bring charges against Trump when his term is over. She wrote that is “consistent with the Government’s understanding that the immunity afforded to a sitting President is temporary, expiring when they leave office.” But such a move may be barred by the statute of limitations, and Trump may also try to pardon himself while in office. The separate case involving classified documents had been widely seen as legally clear cut, especially because the conduct in question occurred after Trump left the White House and lost the powers of the presidency. The indictment included dozens of felony counts accusing him of illegally hoarding classified records from his presidency at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Florida, and obstructing federal efforts to get them back. He has pleaded not guilty and denied wrongdoing. The case quickly became snarled by delays, with U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon slow to issue rulings — which favored Trump’s strategy of pushing off deadlines in all his criminal cases — while also entertaining defense motions and arguments that experts said other judges would have dispensed with without hearings. In May, she indefinitely canceled the trial date amid a series of unresolved legal issues before dismissing the case outright two months later. Smith’s team appealed the decision, but now has given up that effort. Trump faced two other state prosecutions while running for president. One of them, a New York case involving hush money payments, resulted in a conviction on felony charges of falsifying business records. It was the first time a former president had been found guilty of a crime. The sentencing in that case is on hold as Trump’s lawyers try to have the conviction dismissed before he takes office, arguing that letting the verdict stand will interfere with his presidential transition and duties. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s office is fighting the dismissal but has indicated that it would be open to delaying sentencing until Trump leaves office. Bragg, a Democrat, has said the solution needs to balance the obligations of the presidency with “the sanctity of the jury verdict.” Trump was also indicted in Georgia along with 18 others accused of participating in a sprawling scheme to illegally overturn the 2020 presidential election there. Any trial appears unlikely there while Trump holds office. The prosecution already was on hold after an appeals court agreed to review whether to remove Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis over her romantic relationship with the special prosecutor she had hired to lead the case. Four defendants have pleaded guilty after reaching deals with prosecutors. Trump and the others have pleaded not guilty. ___ Associated Press writers Colleen Long, Michael Sisak and Lindsay Whitehurst contributed to this story.Anthony Albanese's nemesis breaks down on live TV - as Greens suffer a major blowDom Amore: Dan Toatley has triumphed over adversity for playoff-bound CCSU football
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Several of Trump's Cabinet picks — and Trump himself — have been accused of sexual misconduct
Games on a college basketball schedule don't contrast much more than the two NC State has this week. The Wolfpack (6-3) host Coppin State (0-10) on Tuesday in Raleigh, N.C., then hit the road to challenge No. 10 Kansas on Saturday. NC State enters its unusual week after snapping a three-game skid with an 84-74 overtime win at home Saturday against Florida State in its Atlantic Coast Conference opener. Transfers Marcus Hill and Dontrez Styles each had their season high, scoring 23 and 21 points, respectively. They scored 13 of NC State's 14 points in overtime. "Dontrez Styles was tremendous," Wolfpack coach Kevin Keatts said. "In the second half, he made play after play." Hill, who was the top scorer last year at Bowling Green (20.5 points per game), and Styles, who was the second-leading scorer last year at Georgetown (12.8 ppg), combined to hit 14 of 25 shots and pull down 11 rebounds. The win followed defeats to then-No. 13 Purdue and BYU, both by double-digit margins, in the Rady Children's Invitational and a 63-59 loss to Texas in the SEC/ACC Challenge. "The little things that impact the game are defending, making free throws and blocking out," Keatts said. "We handled that much better than we did against Texas." Coppin State arrives in Raleigh on a 23-game losing streak dating to January -- the longest current run of futility in Division I. Each of the Eagles' losses this season have come by double-digit margins, though they have been more competitive lately, falling to Baltimore rival Loyola (Md.) 68-57 and at Wagner 65-52 last week. Julius Ellerbe III has been one of Coppin's most reliable players lately, scoring a combined 20 points in the last two games. He had 16 points and 12 rebounds in a loss to George Mason last month. Teammate Peter Oduro recorded a double-double, with 16 points and 10 rebounds, in last month's loss at Saint Joseph's. "These things take time," Coppin State second-year coach Larry Stewart said. "It takes time to establish your culture. It takes time to get the right players in your system." --Field Level MediaSay what you want about Dallas Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy, one of the things he does that I thoroughly appreciate is the fact that he presents a different set of captains on a weekly basis. If you've been around competitive athletes at any level, you know it's exact kind of things that motivates players. That's why I thought it was particularly special when McCarthy announced Monday cornerback Josh Butler, a former UFL player who was on the practice squad just a few weeks ago, is being made a captain for the Cowboys' upcoming Thanksgiving matchup. "Josh Butler had a hell of a day, it was his birthday, he won a game ball for yesterday's game, and he's a captain this week," McCarthy told reporters. "That's a trifecta." Butler, who was filling in for an injured Trevon Diggs during the team's win over the Washington Commanders, was lights out in coverage with three pass deflections and a team high 12 tackles, 10 of which were solo. He also recorded a sack. Ironically, Butler might have a more limited role on Thursday. After all, Trevon Diggs returned to practice on Monday and if he's healthy and ready to go, it'll likely be a heavy dose of him, DaRon Bland, and Jourdan Lewis at cornerback. Even still, you've got to admire Butler's journey from the UFL to the NFL. "There's a negative side and a positive side," Butler told the media on Monday . "You can definitely go down the negative road and let it finish you off, or you can always stay on that positive side. (...) Just don't give up on your dreams." Butler, born in Dallas and a Cowboys fan growing up, has surely bought himself more time on the 53-man roster with his standout performance on Sunday and will continue to battle every time he gets the chance. In a year in which there haven't been a whole lot of bright spots for the Cowboys, it's always terrific to have this kind of stories pop up. Cowboys Nation is rooting for Butler. This article first appeared on A to Z Sports and was syndicated with permission.