Happy Earth Day, OnPolitics readers ?! President Joe Biden pledged to cut U.S. greenhouse gas pollution in half by 2030 at a virtual climate summit Thursday. Plus, teen climate activist Greta Thunberg testified on Capitol Hill against tax breaks for the fossil industry. How long do you think you can continue to ignore the climate crisis, the global aspect of equity and historic emissions without being held accountable?" The legislation, which now heads to the House, is one of the few bills to pass this Senate with bipartisan support.

Cop faces charges after tasing man in handcuffsA police officer in Port Allen, Louisiana is facing charges after tasing a man in the back seat of a squad car while handcuffed.

Senate passes COVID-19 hate crimes bill to fight Asian American discriminationThe bill would expedite the review of hate crimes amid an increase in incidents against the Asian American community.

Rep. Raúl M. Grijalva, D-Ariz., chairperson of the House Natural Resources Committee, introduced the original Great Bend of the Gila National Monument Establishment Act in 2013. The ruins are a well-trafficked archaeological site within the current boundaries of the Bears Ears National Monument, which, for the last several years, has been the epicenter of a public lands debate. In 2017, the Trump administration reviewed 24 national monuments for alterations and reductions. The Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance says it has tracked at least 15 new claims on places previously within the national monument. "BLM Utah does not have the authority to modify national monument boundaries, nor do we plan to speculate about any future actions."

CLEVELAND — Myles Garrett helped bring a work of art to downtown Cleveland. “I think we can do a lot,” Garrett, an All-Pro end, said of the revamped defense. The “Cleveland is the Reason” mural by local artist Glen Infante was done in collaboration with the Downtown Cleveland Alliance, Destination Cleveland and the Greater Cleveland Sports Commission and features Cleveland icons of sports, culture and music. With Clowney joining Garrett, the Browns will have the No. As for Garrett, he's under contract with the Browns through 2026 after signing a five-year, $125 million extension in July.

APThe Las Vegas Raiders spent the start of free agency dismantling their expensive offensive line, trading away three high-paid starters for mid-round picks. "I’m excited and energized by what our offensive line room is starting to look like and I’m excited and energized because I think Tom Cable feels the same way. I can’t wait to see how we react.”The Raiders could add to that group next week in a draft rich with possibilities. “I’m excited about both of them," Mayock said. I’m really excited to see them play this year.”___More AP NFL coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL and https://twitter.com/AP_NFL

APLOS ANGELES (AP) — Los Angeles Dodgers slugger Cody Bellinger is still uncertain when he will return from a hairline fracture in his left leg. Bellinger said Thursday that he feels “great,:" but the 2019 NL MVP must wait to return to the defending World Series champions' lineup. “I can’t really do much until the bone heals, which depends on each person,” Bellinger said. The injury was listed as a left calf injury, but the main problem is a hairline fracture in his fibula. The Dodgers' medical team initially saw only bruising and swelling in Bellinger's calf, but the fracture was found by a CT scan after he reported pain in his leg.

APATLANTA (AP) — Atlanta point guard Trae Young will miss the Hawks' home game against Miami on Friday night because of a sprained left ankle. Young was injured Wednesday night in a 137-127 overtime loss at the New York Knicks. Young was ruled out of against the Heat even though the team was awaiting full results from an MRI in Atlanta on Thursday. Young leads Atlanta with 25.3 points per game and he ranks third in the NBA at 9.6 assists. ___More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

APCINCINNATI (AP) — David Peralta hit a three-run triple in a six-run 10th inning to finish with five hits and a career-best seven RBIs, and the Arizona Diamondbacks overcame six Cincinnati home runs to beat the Reds 14-11 on Thursday. Carson Kelly followed Peralta with a two-run homer as the Diamondbacks opened a 14-8 lead. Arizona hung on in the bottom half to complete a three-game sweep that extended its winning streak to four. All of the Reds’ home run came from among the top four spots in the batting order. He hit a two-run homer in the fifth inning, had three singles and finished a double short of the cycle.

Tony Romo, as you likely know by now, is a heck of a golfer, even if he's missed cuts in PGA Tour appearances. Romo, 41, has made four starts on the PGA Tour since his retirement from the NFL, missing the cut and failing to break 70 in each event. His most recent pro start was last July at the Korn Ferry Tour's Price Cutter Charity Championship, where he withdrew with a wrist injury. This week, he's playing in a Korn Ferry Tour event, which means he's still playing with some talented golfers. A field of 156 players, including 21 of the top 25 players from the Korn Ferry Tour points standings, will play for a total prize of $600,000 this week, with a cool $108,000 going to the winner.

Despite attempts by pro-Trump rioters (and the president himself) to overturn the electoral process, American democracy has prevailed. The swearing-in of the president-elect and vice president-elect is one of many affirmations of our system. And this year, after the chaos dies down, Kamala Harris will make history as she raises her right hand to become the first woman to take the vice presidential oath of office. Her African American and Asian American roots are empowering groups whose voices (especially in political circles) are often overlooked. Several women have started a Facebook group encouraging others, no matter their politics, to wear pearls on Inauguration Day.

Christopher J. ScaliaOpinion contributorOf all the questions raised by the Judiciary Act of 2021 — the bill introduced by Democratic lawmakers last week that would expand the Supreme Court to 13 justices — perhaps the most basic is: Why four new justices? Thanks to Congress, the responsibility that Supreme Court justices have for the judicial circuits to which they are assigned is not remotely close to what it was in the 1800s. As Felix Frankfurter (before he became a justice himself) and James Landis explained in "The Business of the Supreme Court: A Study in the Federal Judicial System," “The Supreme Court docket became a record of arrears. These new judges made it possible to also reduce the circuit-riding schedule of Supreme Court justices to every two years. I doubt that the Democratic lawmakers are eager to implement a reform so that these particular justices can better attend to their duties on the Supreme Court.

That’s why, today, we’re launching USA TODAY’s Women of the Year, a yearlong effort to recognize the strong and resilient women who have been leaders and champions, often quietly, but with powerful results. And later this year, we will select – with the help of a diverse panel of judges – 10 honorees as USA TODAY's Women of the Year. Harris is the first of USA TODAY'S Women of the Year. USA TODAY’s Women of the Year follows last year’s successful Women of the Century project, which highlighted achievements of trailblazing women in the 100 years since they won the right to vote. She also is project editor for USA TODAY's Women of the Year.

Where to watch: HBO Max'Mortal Kombat':Who is Sub-Zero and why is he so mad? Getting him out damages a life-support system, and the ensuing issues cause a moral conundrum about who lives and who dies. Where to watch:Apple TV, Vudu, Fandango NowIf you howl for werewolf flicks: 'Bloodthirsty'The old Faustian bargain for fame gets a furry twist with this tale of an indie singer/songwriter (Lauren Beatty) haunted by visions of herself tearing apart and wolfing down an animal. "Vanquish" casts Ruby Rose as Victoria, a mother and caretaker whose daughter is kidnapped by her corrupt retired cop boss (Freeman). There's a faith-based vibe, old-person comedy and an obvious twist in a film that fails to reach so-bad-it's-good levels.

National columnist Suzette Hackney is in Minneapolis for the trial of Derek Chauvin, reporting on the people, the scene and the mood. We can see and hear the desperation in those who tried to save Floyd's life but were rendered powerless. I see how quickly a traffic stop can go left, how quickly a Black man can be killed. And hopefully an even bigger step toward saving the next George Floyd. A weary city that wears George Floyd's face waits for an answer

In many police departments, officers prioritize loyalty to their fellow officers — even when it means ignoring or covering up bad behavior — over just about all else. But the most common reason cited by far to justify their silence is fear of being ostracized. It usually takes inspired leadership and a substantial overhaul to change ethical behavior and convince people not to protect the bad behavior of their friends or coworkers. We can teach good policingOne of the best examples of how police department culture can change — not overnight, but over time — can be found in the New Orleans Police Department. Most importantly, the EPIC program teaches officers that loyalty does not mean joining in on — or ignoring — bad behavior.

But embedded in her statement, aside from the surface-level anger, is something I'm guessing most of Black America has been feeling since this trial began: fear. Column:In face of more police violence, what happened to Biden pledge to have backs of Black America? Those dehumanizing ways of viewing Black America frequently worked their way into the Floyd trial. Black America will celebrate. Those massive summer protests, in the face of a deadly pandemic, marked an incremental change in the country's attitude about the dangers of police to Black America.

National columnist Suzette Hackney is in Minneapolis for the trial of Derek Chauvin, reporting on the people, the scene and the mood. Prosecutors want us to believe Floyd died because Derek Chauvin kneeled on his neck, restricting oxygen flow to his heart and brain. After 44 witnesses over 14 days of testimony, determining the truth is now up to the jury. "To be very clear, this case is called the State of Minnesota versus Derek Chauvin," he said. "There is absolutely no evidence that Officer Chauvin intentionally, purposefully applied unlawful force," Nelson said.

Minneapolis awaits Chauvin verdictMinneapolis holds its breath as a jury deliberates the fate of former police officer Derek Chauvin.

USA TODAYShare your story, experiences and messages about the vaccine and the virus itself on USA TODAY Opinion's coronavirus hotline. Have any tips for coping with being sick or isolated? How have you coped with the loss of a loved one? Please be sure to leave your full name, phone number and email address. We may publish your comments on the USA TODAY Opinion site or in print.

Brian MenellOpinion contributorTo win the battle against climate change, the world must undergo a dramatic shift in how we produce and use energy. On Thursday, President Joe Biden will welcome as many as 40 world leaders to the White House for an unprecedented summit on climate change. The route to meet climate change goals is clear: The mass adoption of electric vehicles and the global transition to renewable energy systems. However, the existing supply of metals needed for clean energy technologies is nowhere near sufficient, not in America nor across the world. Without China, global climate change efforts are futile, and China is far ahead of the U.S. in the race to secure technology metals.

James S. RobbinsOpinion columnistIs the Kremlin testing the Biden administration in Ukraine? On Saturday, Russia and Ukraine mutually expelled diplomats, the latest move in a series of escalations between the two countries. The Ukraine crisis might also be a test for the Biden administration. Putin could see a replay of the 2014 crisis when the Obama administration made no effective response when Russia rolled into Crimea. So far, the Biden team has given mixed messages, strongly warning the Kremlin against aggression but also seeking negotiations.

Walter Mondale, the former vice president, was crushed in his 1984 challenge to President Ronald Reagan. His mentor, Hubert Humphrey, went from a liberal crusader in the Senate to a tormented vice president under Lyndon Johnson, whose conduct of the war disheartened Humphrey. “I was very discouraged by what Humphrey went through,” Mondale told me. ‘I got a shot at vice president but do I want it?’ I asked him. Together we have accomplished so much, and I know you will keep up the good fight.”Rest in Peace, Mr. Mondale.

The country needed a guilty verdict. The guilty verdict validated Floyd as a human being who deserved to be treated with dignity regardless of his past flaws or mistakes. The real meaning and impact of the guilty verdict is complicated. For practical purposes, a guilty verdict means accountability. Perhaps the most important aspect of Tuesday's jury verdict was a signal to the country that it’s time for reform.

Maybe, now that George Floyd’s killer has been convicted of murder, Black people will finally relax and open up and start to trust that the system works for them? Remember that protest chantYears ago, the protest chant was “no justice, no peace; prosecute the police.”That’s what’s happening now. Former officer Derek Chauvin was charged and convicted in Floyd’s death. Derek Chauvin trial:The entire country needed a guilty verdict in Chauvin case. Maybe then Black people will start to relax and believe that the systems can work for them?

The Editorial BoardUSA TODAYFormer police officer Derek Chauvin was convicted Tuesday of murdering George Floyd, a Black man, by kneeling on his neck for 9 minutes and 29 seconds until he was limp and lifeless. Chauvin had 19 years with the department, had been the subject of 18 misconduct complaints and involved in several shootings. He had persevered and was even tapped to be a field training officer for new recruits. "You're going to kill me, man," Floyd pleaded before losing consciousness. Along with that power, however, must come the responsibility of loyalty first to the public the officers serve.

Brown was unarmed when he was fatally shot, said Harry Daniels, the Brown family's attorney. The North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation on Thursday said it was continuing its investigation into the incident but could not release the bodycam video. Reports of more police killings emerged just hours later, including that of Brown and 16-year-old Ma'Khia Bryant, fatally shot by police officers in Columbus, Ohio. "To my understanding, Mr. Brown was not armed, and the bullets entered into the back of the vehicle, as though he was leaving the scene," Daniels, Brown's family attorney, said. Brown had seven children, according to Daniels, and took care of others who were not his biologically.

USA TODAYUSA TODAY's Editorial Board forms the opinions expressed in USA TODAY's editorials. Its members are selected by USA TODAY's opinion editor, with a goal of reflecting the diversity of the nation's conversation. The board operates by consensus and reaches its opinions independently from any other part of USA TODAY or its parent company, Gannett. Previously, he was a USA TODAY editorial writer and assistant forum editor first hired by the newspaper in 1995. Louie Villalobos@louievillalobosLouie Villalobos became the audience development editor for USA TODAY Opinion in 2021, after working for more than two years as a politics editor for USA TODAY.

USA TODAYAs the novel coronavirus spreads — and fears over the virus seem to spread even faster — how do we separate fact from fiction? USA TODAY's Editorial Board has been meeting with leading experts. June 17, 2020Amid concerns about coronavirus spikes caused by reopenings or mass protests, USA TODAY’s Editorial Board spoke Tuesday with Dr. Caitlin Rivers, a senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security, about the state of the pandemic. April 8, 2020As daily coronavirus-related deaths reached new highs in New York and nationally, USA TODAY’s Editorial Board spoke Wednesday with Dr. Marc Lipsitch, one of the nation’s leading epidemiologists, about the state of the pandemic. March 24, 2020Dr. Tom Frieden, one of the nation’s leading experts on public health and infectious disease, spoke with USA TODAY’s Editorial Board on Tuesday as New York Gov.

We know their names: Matthew R. Alexander, Samaria Blackwell, Amarjeet Johal, Jasvinder Kaur, Jaswinder Singh, Amarjit Sekhon, Karli Smith and John Weisert. What is the role of hate? As our country grapples with racist hate that targets various communities, it is critical that we call on our leadership to stamp out hate. Doing so requires our authorities to investigate the role of hate in attacks like this one. Kanwal Prakash "KP" Singh co-founded the International Center of Indianapolis and is an Indianapolis artist, architect and author.

Word spread quickly that former police officer Chauvin had been found guilty on all counts in the murder of George Floyd last May. Minneapolis awaits Chauvin verdict Minneapolis holds its breath as a jury deliberates the fate of former police officer Derek Chauvin. Mike Thompson, USA TODAYGraffiti in George Floyd Square in Minneapolis Mike Thompson, USA TODAYGraffiti on a road construction barrier in George Floyd Square. Graffiti on a road construction barrier in George Floyd Square in Minneapolis. Sign in George Floyd Square in Minneapolis Mike Thompson, USA TODAYFollow Mike Thompson's work at USA TODAY, on Instagram and Twitter.

Sue DucatOpinion contributorOne year ago this week, my husband, Stan Cohen, died of COVID-19. Many who joined me were saying the same prayer for loved ones they had recently lost, so we were united in our collective grief. The personal ones turned out to be less challenging. On the other hand, the one-year anniversary of my husband's March 11 COVID-19 lockdown, proved to be among the year’s darkest days for me. She and Stan Cohen, who died on April 20, 2020, from COVID-19, had been married since 1988.

The rumors are true: Pepsi Blue is coming back. For the first time since 2004, the bright blue beverage will be available for purchase in the U.S., the company announced Thursday. Pepsi Blue will be available at stores nationwide by May 3, according to an email from Pepsi. It will be available for purchase "everywhere that Pepsi products are sold," the company said, calling the announcement "a Throwback Thursday for the ages." Pepsi said "passionate Pepsi Blue fans have been clamoring for the return of their beloved berry cola" for years.

The spike in travel demand, which began in March and shows few signs of slowing down as the summer travel season looms, is welcome news for the battered industry. Southwest's early reservations for summer travel are so strong the airline will operate nearly as many June flights as it did in 2019. Alaska Airlines' average fares for peak summer flights booked to date are higher than 2019, according to Andrew Harrison, the airline's chief commercial officer. Deals could become widespread if there is another surge in coronavirus cases or the CDC and other government entities announce travel restrictions, which could hurt travel demand. Another unknown as summer approaches: Whether airlines get giddy and add too many flights.

For its next update, the free-to-play game "Call of Duty: Warzone" is going back to the '80s. Publisher Activision unveiled the brand new map for "Warzone," called Verdansk '84, following an event culminating in a modern version of the Verdansk map getting nuked. The transition of Verdansk marks the shift of "Warzone to Season 3, as players welcome a colorful return to the destination's more pristine times. "It's a completely different layout, and it feels completely different, but yet it's familiar to players," said Amos Hodge, creative director at Raven Software. The big update arrives as Call of Duty: Warzone, which launched just over a year ago, reaches a key milestone: 100 million players.

Pros High-end build qualityVersatile folding design Cons Small keyboard and trackpadMediocre performanceTerrible battery lifeAbout the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 FoldCredit: Reviewed/Whitson Gordon The X1 Fold is ultra-compact when assembled in laptop mode, but the keyboard costs extra. On its own, the X1 Fold doesn't come with the Lenovo Fold Mini Keyboard, but you can buy a bundle with the keyboard and Mod Pen for a bit more money. In traditional ThinkPad style, the X1 Fold screams "premium" as soon as you take it out of the box. Credit: Reviewed/Whitson Gordon The Fold collapses down within its leather case like a small ledger. Sadly, the X1 Fold only achieved about three hours and 20 minutes, which is disappointing enough to be a deal-breaker on its own.

'Mortal Kombat': Sub-Zero (Joe Taslim) and Scorpion (Hiroyuki Sanada) finally face offHe said he's be back. Scorpion (Hiroyuki Sanada) and Sub-Zero (Joe Taslim) battle in a scene from "Mortal Kombat."

Lenny Harris Nury HernandezThe Bears played at Wrigley Field Wednesday …the Bad News Bears, disguised as the New York Mets. A 16-4 loss isn’t pretty, but the Mets are still 7-6 and in first place in the NL East. To talk about the ugly few games in Chicago and look ahead to the five-game homestand, we bring you a new episode of the “Amazin’ But True” podcast with Nelson Figueroa and me, featuring an interview with former Met, Lenny Harris. Amazin’ But True Podcast with Jake & Figgie:J.D. Catch up on all episodes of “Amazin’ But True,” a New York Mets podcast, by subscribing to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.

WASHINGTON — President Biden will seek new taxes on the rich, including a near doubling of the capital gains tax for people earning more than $1 million a year, to pay for the next phase in his $4 trillion plan to reshape the American economy. Mr. Biden will also propose raising the top marginal income tax rate to 39.6 percent from 37 percent, the level it was cut to by President Donald J. Trump’s tax overhaul in 2017. The proposals are in line with Mr. Biden’s campaign promises to raise taxes on the wealthy but not on households earning less than $400,000. The president will lay out the full proposal, which he calls the American Family Plan, next week. The plan will not include an up to $700 billion effort to expand health coverage or reduce government prescription drug spending.

MINNEAPOLIS — Black-owned businesses at the intersection where George Floyd was killed by police last year — now known as George Floyd Square — say they are in dire straits. “What can we do about it?”A memorial is seen outside Cup Foods in George Floyd Square earlier this month. “In the fight for justice we must not forget the fight of economic justice of (a) once-thriving community,” the page said. “We business owners know that the fight for justice doesn’t just include justice from the legal system, we must also include justice for business impacted.”Families and their children visit George Floyd Square during the Derek Chauvin trial. ReutersThe city barricaded the intersection to allow for the Floyd memorial to be erected.

Smith’s father, Doug, went one step further and said the team “sabotaged” his son’s return from 17 surgeries. “I’d rather have somebody right in my face say, ‘What are you thinking?’” Smith told SI. Alex Smith returned to the Washington Football Team after an injury nearly took his leg. “I was scared to death about putting [Alex] back out there and that is something I struggled with every day,” Rivera told SI in response to Smith’s allegations. Alex Smith suffered a horrific leg injury that almost ended his career.

MINNEAPOLIS — Two days after the streets of Minneapolis were filled with people celebrating the conviction of a police officer for the murder of George Floyd, the city returned to a period of mourning on Thursday for another Black man killed by a police officer. Packed into a church for the funeral of Daunte Wright were politicians, faith leaders and relatives of other people killed by the police, including the boyfriend of Breonna Taylor and the families of Philando Castile and Oscar Grant. Many had come from across the country to pay respects to Mr. Wright, the 20-year-old man who was fatally shot by an officer in the Minneapolis suburb of Brooklyn Center last week during a traffic stop. Also in attendance were relatives of Emmett Till, the 14-year-old Black boy who was lynched in Mississippi in 1955 and whose cousin recently met with Philonise Floyd, one of Mr. Floyd’s brothers. After Derek Chauvin, the former Minneapolis police officer who knelt on Mr. Floyd’s neck for more than nine minutes, was found guilty of murder on Tuesday, Philonise Floyd said he had thought of both Mr. Wright and Emmett Till, whom he called “the first George Floyd.”

Coming tomorrow: SafetyA few months ago, Caleb Farley was at or near the top of any cornerback rankings for the 2021 NFL Draft. Back surgery in March, his second in a little more than a year, has led many to believe Farley will last deeper into this draft than expected. APFarley played the 2019 season with a herniated L5 disk and S1 bulge after injuring himself lifting weights. If a team wants the best corner in the draft, they’ll come find me.”No one can question Farley’s athleticism. The opt-out could hurt his stock with teams going off two-year-old games for their evaluation and the question of how raw he is after just two years at the position.

With a week to go until the draft, Jets general manager Joe Douglas still is not revealing who he plans on selecting No. The entire world seems to believe he is taking BYU quarterback Zach Wilson. It would be an all-time shocker if the Jets took anyone but Wilson at the top of the draft. Jets GM Joe Douglas won’t admit the team’s plan for the No. With the expectation that the first pick will be Wilson, some have suggested the Jets must then focus on supporting him.

Mayoral candidate Ray McGuire pitched an ambitious plan to expand New York City’s pre-kindergarten programs to cover toddlers as part of his push to overhaul and improve the public school system — and help fuel the Big Apple’s recovery from the coronavirus pandemic. “I’m doing 0-K. We know from the assessment that we talked about that we have to get our kids early,” said McGuire. “I want the same thing that those who have the resources have for their children — I want the same for all children of New York City,” McGuire said, noting the ability of wealthier parents to pay for preschool for toddlers. Author and attorney Crystal McCrary McGuire and New York City mayoral candidate Ray McGuire on April 18, 2021. mpi43/MediaPunchHowever, he had few answers when pressed on how he would talk the head of the powerful teachers’ union, Michael Mulgrew, into going along with his plan. “The interesting thing about this is the more people hear me — it was all name recognition, right,” McGuire said about the polling.

The next day, Capitol Police Officer Brian Sicknick died in the hospital. On Jan. 8, The New York Times reported that Officer Sicknick had died after being struck in the head with a fire extinguisher by violent Trump supporters. Sicknick died of two strokes, which occurred many hours after the invasion of the Capitol. As leftist journalist Glenn Greenwald notes, the Times didn’t check the facts because the paper needed the story to be true. Unlike Brian Sicknick, whose name was shared everywhere as part of the Times’ misinformation-spreading, the name of the Capitol officer who shot Babbitt has been kept secret.

Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window)Hip-hop star Lil Mosey has reportedly been charged with rape in Washington state — and there’s now a warrant out for his arrest after he failed to appear in court. She then woke up to find Mosey on top of her and forcing her legs apart, TMZ said. She says she blacked out again and woke up later to Mosey’s companion forcing himself on her as well. Lil Mosey is currently wanted for for rape. Reps for Lil Mosey were not immediately available for comment.

CLEVELAND — Aaron Boone said he talked to Gleyber Torres about not running out his check-swing comebacker in Wednesday’s loss to the Braves in The Bronx. “We spoke,’’ Boone said before the Yankees faced the Indians at Progressive Field on Thursday. I’ll leave it at that.”But the manager added he believes Torres’ effort is there. “When we’re not playing well, that understandably gets a lot of attention,’’ Boone said of Torres’ lack of hustle in the seventh inning on Wednesday. “But one thing I’ll say about Gleyber, his care factor is where it needs to be.

Running a small business is a challenge even in the best of times. In New York City, entrepreneurs face high costs, red tape and cutthroat competition. see also New York City businesses are barely hanging on Nearly one year after the COVID-19 pandemic hit New York,... Maybe start by doing the basics well: good services, low crime and high quality of life — and talent, talent and more talent. Small businesses need New York City’s next mayor, but more important, the next mayor needs small businesses.

review mortal kombat Running time: 110 minutes. You’ve gotta hand it to Warner Bros. With their new reboot of “Mortal Kombat,” the studio has given audiences the anti-Oscars. In “Mortal Kombat,” that’s one of the less gratuitous scenes. One of the criticisms of the first “Mortal Kombat” film was that it wasn’t violent enough. “Mortal Kombat” is none of those things.

Kudos to The Washington Free Beacon for pointing out that Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm holds major stock in a company that President Joe Biden keeps promoting as part of his green-energy push. Granholm has up to $5 million of stock in Proterra and served on its board of directors from March 2017 to as recently as six days before her confirmation in February. In her January letter to an ethics official, Granholm promised to quit the board and sell her stock “to avoid any actual or apparent conflict of interest.” But she has yet to let go of any Proterra shares. The White House tried to downplay the conflict of interest, saying Granholm played no part in the decision to promote Proterra and has 180 days from confirmation to sell the stock. So: Did the energy secretary have no say in the plan’s EV provisions, after Biden made it her job to offer EV solutions, or is this huge conflict of interest OK because the cause is so politically correct?

The Issue: A suspect freed without bail after allegedly trying to shove an Asian cop onto the subway tracks. Judge Louis Nock lamented that he could do nothing but sit by and let an attempted murderer walk out his courtroom. If this criminal doesn’t deserve to be held without bail, I really don’t know who does. However, with the high crime plaguing the city, especially the subway attacks, as that was our means of traversing, I have no desire to visit again. The incredibly burdensome job of our police officers becomes more treacherous with the potential for bodily harm a near certainty.

April 20th, of course, has become an international celebration for weed lovers since the 1970s. But some of New York’s sober community are claiming April 24 — which they dubbed Just for 24 — as a day for partying without chemical assistance. “With so many holidays focused on drinking, we wanted a day to have fun and connect with the community,” Martha Duke of Recovering Out Loud told Page Six. “Just for 24 is a day to celebrate your recovery and support your friends in recovery by having fun in the name of sobriety,” she added. “Come join the event and celebrate sobriety and make new friends!,” said Duke.

Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window)Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)A judge granted Kendall Jenner a restraining order against a man who tried to break into her pool and go for a swim naked. The restraining order also protects Kris and Kylie Jenner, because King reportedly returned to their gated Beverly Hills neighborhood after spending six hours in jail for the breach, according to the outlet. Last month, King allegedly started banging on the house’s window and asking for Jenner. He then took his clothes off and tried to get into the pool, before being detained by security guards, TMZ reported. It’s the second time this week that Jenner was granted a five year restraining order against a stalker, the report said.

Cher’s four-year journey to help save an abused elephant from a Pakistani zoo is documented in “Cher & The Loneliest Elephant” now on Paramount+ and premiering May 19 on Smithsonian Channel. “I had been trying to save an elephant here I really loved with absolutely no luck,” Cher told The Post. Can you help me?’ I want to save an elephant in Pakistan.’“A couple of days later he was there in Islamabad,” she said. SMITHSONIANAs viewers will see, Cher and Kaavan bonded over a piece of watermelon, with Dr. Khalil close by. “I’m going to Thailand and then I’m going to stop in Cambodia to see [Kaavan], but not now because it’s too hard,” she said.

“The Biden administration’s insistence in perpetuating Critical Race Theory at every level of our society is incredibly divisive and dangerous,” said Vought, who is now president of the Center for Renewing America. A second plan from the Biden Education Department calls for “promoting information literacy skills” and appears to have been prompted by Trump’s claims of widespread fraud during last year’s election. It calls “effective” civics lessons “vital to protecting the Nation’s democracy — especially at a time when its core institutions and values are threatened by misinformation.”The US Department of Education could start giving financial grants to promote diversity in teaching and learning practices in schools. Dara Gronau via AP“The proposed priorities would help ensure that the American History and Civics Education programs support the development of culturally responsive teaching and learning practices and promote students’ acquisition of critical information literacy skills,” according to the Education Department’s Office of Elementary and Secondary Education. “We believe these benefits would outweigh any associated costs.”It’s unclear how much money could be made available to schools to pursue the Biden administration critical race priorities.

They say Biden’s climate plan is udderly crappy! A group of activists dumped cow poop near the White House Thursday to send President Joe Biden the message that his environmental protection promises are “bullsh-t” and don’t go far enough. The activists wheeling the cow manure down the street in Washington DC on April 22, 2021. But Reilly Polka, of Extinction Rebellion DC, called the promise a weak moo-ve. The president has failed to address the immense scale of the planetary emergency,” Polka told the Washingtonian, adding his climate plan lacks urgency.

“Jersey Shore” star Ronnie Ortiz-Magro is currently in police custody in Los Angeles after an alleged domestic violence incident. TMZ, who first reported the news, quotes law enforcement sources as saying Ortiz-Magro’s arrest was for felony domestic violence, a serious issue for him, given that he’s currently on probation related to a previous domestic violence charge he caught related to his on-again-off-again ex Jen Harley. However, TMZ reports that Harley was in Las Vegas at the time of the incident — Ronnie was taking care of the couple’s daughter Ariana while she was traveling. Ariana is now with Ronnie’s brother and and Jenn is reportedly traveling back from Vegas to Pick her up. The two were also involved in a separate domestic violence incident in January 2020, with Harley allegedly assaulting Ortiz-Magro by poking him in the eye with eyeliner.

Fox News host Sean Hannity just shelled out $5.3 million on a seaside Palm Beach condo, located not too far from pal and former president Donald Trump. Hannity bought the townhouse on Tuesday in an off-market deal via a deed recorded by the Palm Beach County Clerk’s office. Realtor.comThe master bedroom. Realtor.comThe master bedroom is adorned with shaggy green carpet and flower-printed wallpaper, while another bedroom has shaggy brown carpeting. The home’s other furniture also seems a bit outdated, but the tropical blue Atlantic Ocean views make up for it.

The group managed to activate Autopilot without a driver on a closed track and travel at speeds up to 30 mph, it said. Consumer Reports urged people not to repeat the experiment for themselves, citing the extreme danger of doing so on a public road. “It was a bit frightening when we realized how easy it was to defeat the safeguards, which we proved were clearly insufficient.”AdvertisementStory continues below advertisementTesla did not immediately respond to a request for comment about Consumer Reports’ findings. Harris County Precinct 4 Constable Mark Herman told news outlets that police were certain that no one was in the driver’s seat at the time of the crash. But Tesla CEO Elon Musk said in a tweet Monday that “so far” data showed Autopilot was not enabled at the time of the crash.

The Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in the so-called “cursing cheerleader” lawsuit on Wednesday — a First Amendment case that could impact public schools across the country. The case involves a then-14-year-old freshman cheerleader from Mahonoy, Pennsylvania who’d been suspended from the squad because she posted “f—k school, f—k cheer” to her pals on Snapchat during a weekend in 2017. Brandi Levy has explained that she was angry over not making the varsity squad when she sent the post. School administrators counter that they should have the right to intervene in any student speech that disrupts the school environment. So far, Levy has had all the victories in the longstanding case, winning in two lower federal courts and in an appeals court decision.

AdvertisementChildren’s National doctors told D.C. Council members last month at an education hearing that its emergency rooms are experiencing an uptick of children with self-harm-related injuries. They are seeing children experiencing panic attacks and admitting more patients with eating disorders, the doctors said. (Currently in the District, less than a quarter of public school students are regularly attending school in person.) It has not been easy to deliver mental health services virtually, according to Marisa Parrella, director of the school-based mental health program at Mary’s Center, a community health provider in 26 of D.C.’s traditional public and charter schools. Her daughter’s mental health has improved this academic year, and she is laughing and smiling around their home more.

He also said that “taken together,” the “bottom-line promotion statistics” for Black and Hispanic officers seeking the rank of sergeant and lieutenant also had lower rates of promotion. Story continues below advertisementWhite officers also are overrepresented demographically in the mid-level leadership ranks of the department, the lawsuit asserts. Fifty-one percent of sergeants, 61 percent of lieutenants and 81 percent of captains are White, according to data from the plaintiffs. AdvertisementIn a motion to the court, the plaintiffs blame the department’s promotion exam system for the disparities. The department, Chuang wrote, has taken no “meaningful steps” to address the disparities in the promotion system despite having knowledge of the data about disparities and has shown “deliberate indifference” to the inequities.

But I’m naive enough, I guess.”McGinnis said the Rodeo Club’s adviser called her Wednesday afternoon to cancel the event. McGinnis said she feels bad for the high school students because this is the main fundraiser for their club, which operates independently from the high school and provides scholarships and money for events. “We are better than this.”School district officials reached this week said the fundraiser was not an official school event and then hung up the phone. In 2018, a “slave auction” was held as a fundraiser for the Pierre/Fort Pierre High School Rodeo Club, about 125 miles southeast of Faith. If someone calls this cancel culture — why wouldn’t we want to cancel racism and teach the next generation not to hate?” Beaudion said.

“Inside the Democratic strategy to expand voting rights state by state,” by Liz CramptonAutomatic registration, felon re-enfranchisement and other blue-state trends. It was phrased like this: Donald Trump has said the 2020 election was rigged. All of the candidates emphasized the feelings of Trump voters; none offered proof of fraud. There's nothing to keep it whole and keep it secure, and the law doesn't allow it.”Jake Ellzey: “The 2020 election is over. Greg Gianforte, though same-day registration has not been linked to any illegal voting in the 2020 election.

Spinrad, a professor of oceanography at Oregon State University, served as chief scientist at NOAA under President Obama and before that led the agency’s research arm and ocean service. Spinrad continues the long-standing tradition of scientists selected to run the agency, which has responsibilities stretching from the seafloor to low Earth Orbit. Every past NOAA administrator but one, attorney Richard Frank who served from 1977-1981, have held science degrees. It oversees the National Weather Service, conducts and funds weather and climate research, and operates a constellation of weather satellites as well as a climate data center. AdvertisementStory continues below advertisement“I cannot think of a better choice for NOAA Administrator than Dr. Rick Spinrad," wrote Ret.

AdvertisementStory continues below advertisementThe agencies’ decision came after similar rare reports of blood clotting led European nations to temporarily suspend the AstraZeneca vaccine in March. That vaccine uses technology similar to Johnson & Johnson’s, and again its benefits far outweigh the potential dangers. Many developing nations are counting on these two vaccines because they are cheaper than mRNA vaccines and easier to store. Would we agree to make the speed limit 25 miles per hour if it would save half of those deaths? Even now, hundreds of Americans are dying of covid every day, compared to the nine people who got blood clots.

Trump had called climate change a hoax and dismayed allies by withdrawing the United States from its previous pledges to work with its partners, chiefly the Paris Climate accord. “The United States isn’t waiting.”Biden committed the United States to cutting its greenhouse gas emissions as much as 52 percent by the end of this decade. Story continues below advertisementThe event is a milestone for Biden as he makes climate change one of his main international priorities. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson got tangled up as he made the point that combating climate change can offer economic opportunities. “It is so good to have the U.S. back on our side in the fight against climate change,” she said.

On Saturday, the annual day of remembrance for the 1.5 million victims of the genocide, Gregorian would probably have asked the same question that he posed in the March 2018 interview: “What is our duty as Armenians . They will celebrate the affirmation of justice and truth after so many decades of Turkish denial of the horrific events of 1915. Denial of the genocide has wounded Armenians, but it has also damaged Turkey. It takes its name from Aurora Mardiganian, an orphan of the genocide who became a symbol of suffering and survival. AdvertisementStory continues below advertisementJustice is often denied and suppressed, as we know from the United States’ centuries-long struggle against racism.

The trigger for all those comparisons between Biden and previous “paradigm”-shifting Democratic presidents was the $1.9 trillion fiscal relief bill signed last month. With one prominent exception: its revamping of the child tax credit. Previously, ultra-poor families had been excluded from eligibility for the child tax credit, even though they arguably had the greatest need for financial help. AdvertisementStory continues below advertisementFortunately, tons of Democrats (and at least one prominent Republican) have expressed support for making a monthly child allowance permanent. My own reporting suggests Biden settled on a four-year extension of the child allowance for fiscal reasons.

New Zealand, which was one of the first countries to be able to lift intensive coronavirus-related restrictions, may offer an illustrative example. AdvertisementThe number of victims reporting crime to the police decreased from 28,342 in January 2020 to 12,323 in April 2020, when shutdown restrictions were in place. Story continues below advertisementIn the United States, gun violence never actually went away. “Gun violence has been higher than ever,” Champe Barton, a reporter tracking gun violence at the Trace, recently told PBS News Hour. AdvertisementIn fact, many experts suggest reduced access to mental health services — and possible interventions — during the pandemic may have made matters even worse.

Boycotts of products produced by military companies have been widely observed; even sales of its locally produced beer have cratered. Its leaders see their tactics as the only way to force the military to restore the democratically elected civilian government. officials nevertheless have hesitated to move against the military’s biggest cash stream, which comes from the export of natural gas. The companies have offered an array of excuses, including claims that if they cease production, Myanmar’s cities would lose power, and the military would retaliate against workers. These could be tailored to allow Total and Chevron to continue gas production — provided they do not transfer profits.

The vaccines are known to cause side effects — fever, chills, tiredness and headache — especially on the second dose. Looked at more closely, this yearning for vaccine side effects seems like a manifestation of a much larger malaise. The United States has never had a great understanding of leisure, let alone actual rest. We are all tired, but for many, rest is even further out of reach. Still, this is one place where a change in sentiment at the top might yield benefits all the way down.

Like most conservatives, I’ve scoffed at the idea of reparations or a formal apology for slavery. I did not own slaves, so why would I support my government using my tax dollars for reparations or issuing an apology? AdvertisementStory continues below advertisementI remain unconvinced that an apology would have much real value, but the more substantive notion of reparations is worth discussing. As Mullen and Darity write, “white parents, on average, can provide their children with wealth-related intergenerational advantages to a far greater degree than black parents. Supporting reparations simply requires a universal agreement to work toward, as Jayapal said, “righting that wrong.”AdvertisementStory continues below advertisement

AdvertisementStory continues below advertisement“How did officer Potter see Daunte Wright?” Crump said, referring to Kim Potter, the 48-year-old former Brooklyn Center, Minn., officer who shot Wright. I submit to you America, so do we, when we see our children.”The galvanizing speeches were at times overshadowed by the grief in the voices of the Wright family. She said her son’s smile was worth a million dollars and lamented that Wright’s son, 2-year-old Daunte Wright Jr., would grow up without his father. Advocates for Wright’s family have cautioned that while they may be buoyed by the Chauvin verdict, little has changed with policing around Minneapolis since Floyd’s death and that there is a long fight ahead. The family has said they reject the police narrative that Potter shot Wright by mistake and meant to grab her Taser.

Will Cain said,“LeBron James is the most reckless celebrity that I can think of right now. Well, that might not be… Yeah, there’s some tough times with Hollywood celebrities that are complete and utter morons. But LeBron is more influential, actually, than those Hollywood celebrities. And his recklessness we pay a bigger price for he’s selling racial division guy. And I mean that every step of the way he is doing that.”

Listen To The Full Interview Below:Congressman Steve Scalise (R-LA),Joined Fox News Radio’s Guy Benson Show to dispute the FBI’s conclusion about the 2017 baseball field shooting was ‘Suicide By Cop’. Everybody knows that. I mean, we’re very angry that it’s been mischaracterized because that’s not a depiction of what happens and everybody knows it, including the FBI. So my colleague, Brad Wenstrup is one who really brought this to light last week in a hearing with the new FBI director. If you remember back to McCabe, of the FBI, and McCabe is the one who did this classification.

In a tweet last December, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) voiced her support for the decriminalization of prostitution, saying "sex work is work." Prostitution is still technically illegal in Manhattan, and the DA’s office will continue to prosecute other crimes related to sex work, such as sex trafficking. The decision to decriminalize sex work comes as the number of sex trafficking victims in New York State continues to rise from 803 in 2017 to 1,155 in 2019. "Just coming back from the southern border, there's a real issue here, where there is human trafficking, sex trafficking, people being sold into involuntary servitude. Manhattan joins Baltimore and Philadelphia as jurisdictions that have declined to prosecute sex workers.

An old tweet from President Biden’s nominee to be the number three at the Pentagon has resurfaced as the nomination process heads to the Senate floor. Colin Kahl's nomination to be Biden’s undersecretary of policy at the Pentagon barely made it out of Armed Services Committee. The Senate split 50-50 Thursday on the procedural step of moving Kahl's nomination to the floor for a final vote, requiring Vice President Kamala Harris to cast the tie-breaking vote. As the Senate gears up to vote on Kahl’s nomination, however, an old tweet from 2018 has resurfaced where he downplayed news that Israel had nabbed Iran’s nuclear program archive before Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s press conference on the operation. WHAT ARE THE IRAN NUCLEAR TALKS ABOUT?

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COMThe Reds lost their fourth straight, finishing a 2-4 homestand. All of the Reds' home run came from among the top four spots in the batting order. He hit a two-run homer in the fifth inning, had three singles and finished a double short of the cycle. Lucas Sims (0-1) struck out pinch-hitter Asdrùbal Cabrera to strand the potential go-ahead run on second base in the ninth. Reds: RHP Sonny Gray (0-0) takes the mound Friday at St. Louis.

AG Merrick Garland's DOJ investigation into the Minneapolis Police Department is going to impact policing across the entire nation, former NYPD Lt. Joe Cardinale revealed on "Your World with Neil Cavuto" Thursday. They’re looking for every piece of evidence they can get against any cop across the nation and they’re going to use it to try to reform police departments," he said. The former lieutenant expressed that many police departments will choose to shut down "to a degree" instead of taking chances they normally would while on the job. "I don’t think any police officer gets up that morning and says, ‘It’s a great day to kill somebody.’ It never happens that way." With constant anti-police rhetoric and reform taking place, Cardinale said the love for being a police officer "has diminished" across the board.

A New York City father who pulled his daughter out of The Brearley School after seven years says she "recognized" the K-12, all-girls private academy was "trying to make her feel guilty" about her "skin color." She also recognized the school was trying to make her feel guilty for her skin color." Brearley is allowing Gutmann's daughter, who has been learning virtually during COVID-19 but is in "great spirits," to finish the school year, "and her teachers have been terrific," he said. Social media posters applauded Gutmann's letter and passion, even as Brearley Head of School Jane Fried doubled down on its position. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APPFurther, Fried said Gutmann's letter "failed both in content and delivery" to "engage ... with respect for one another."

New York Times columnist Paul Krugman suggested on Thursday that the violence that has plagued cities over the past year was a figment of Republicans' imagination. "You might think that it would be hard to obsess over the deficit when it was actually Trump who blew the deficit up, to zero complaints from his party," Krugman tweeted. "But that would be assuming that R voters know about that, or would even be willing to hear it." In a separate Twitter thread, Krugman argued that the "reality" of Black Lives Matter protests last summer was that they were "overwhelmingly peaceful." Krugman, however, ignored the 18 deaths and nearly $2 billion in property damage in cities across the country that resulted from the unrest.

The world almost knew Elizabeth Olsen by a different name. While she’s built up an impressive acting resume, Olsen is known for something else as well: Her family. The close association with her sisters made Olsen think about using her middle name, Chase, in place of her given last name when she began acting. 'AVENGERS' STAR ELIZABETH OLSEN EXPLAINS WHY WE NEED 'ALL REPRESENTATIONS OF SUPERHEROES'The actress admitted that her realization stemmed from her own "insecurities," leading her to tell herself: "I'm going to be Elizabeth Chase when I become an actress." People say 'Just say no to drugs,' but truly, you can just say no whenever the hell you want!

Online bottomfeeders have dreamt up a devious way to bypass TikTok’s graphic content ban — by posting violent and sexual videos to their profile pics. The horrific clips, denoted by the hashtag "don’t search this up," racked up 50 million views before getting banned. Unfortunately, the TikTok loophole allows users to set videos as their profile pic, which are infinitely more difficult to monitor than clips posted to their feed. Often, the offending accounts boast no actual TikTok content aside from the clips in their avatar slot. Last summer, their click-coveting formula infamously allowed a series of Nazi-themed videos to amass over 6.5 million views before they were pulled.

HENNINGER: "I think its very upsetting, Martha, to hear the spokesman for the president of the United States engage in what I can only describe as mindless woke-ism. By the time she said that, many people had seen the police footage, the body camera [footage] of what actually happened. It was clearly a situation in which this woman, 16-year-old, was trying to kill two people with a knife. It was a case study and a situation in which the police were called to deal with a highly deadly situation. ...For Jen Psaki, speaking for the president of the United States to say "this is an example of police abuse and systemic racism in society," I think diminishes the idea of that.

"The Columbus police are called in after a young Black girl repeatedly attempts to stab not one, but two people," Lahren began. "She is fatally shot before she is able to fatally stab another young Black girl and the Left cries 'racism'? She was indeed a Black child, a Black child who was charging at another Black child with a knife," Lahren responded to Psaki. Fox Nation programs are viewable on-demand and from your mobile device app, but only for Fox Nation subscribers. Go to Fox Nation to start a free trial and watch the extensive library from your favorite Fox News personalities.

Twitter is remaining mum over whether a controversial tweet by NBA superstar LeBron James violated its policies, since the tweet has been taken down. LEBRON JAMES ACCUSED OF INCITING VIOLENCE WITH 'YOU'RE NEXT' TWEET TARGETING COLUMBUS POLICE OFFICERCritics accused James of inciting violence, with many of them alleging that his tweet violated Twitter's policies. However, Twitter has refrained from taking a stance on the tweet because it has been deleted by the athlete. James returned to Twitter to explain the "ANGER" he felt when he sent the tweet. LEBRON JAMES NOW-DELETED TWEET TARGETS OFFICER IN OHIO POLICE SHOOTING: 'YOU'RE NEXT'He added, "I’m so damn tired of seeing Black people killed by police.

The officer who fatally shot 16-year-old Ma'Khia Bryant as she lunged at two people with a knife is a 23-year-old who had been on the force for 16 months, according to a personnel file obtained by Fox News. The Columbus Police Department identified the officer involved in the shooting as Nicholas Reardon on Wednesday. COLUMBUS POLICE SHOOTING 911 CALLER SAID SOMEONE 'TRYING TO STAB US' BEFORE OFFICER KILLED KNIFE-SWINGING TEENOn Dec. 14 of last year, Reardon's probationary status ended. Bryant then turns and lunges at a second woman with the weapon raised, at which point Officer Reardon fired four shots, fatally striking her. The identity of this person is redacted in Reardon's personnel file.

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailHere's how China's new digital currency worksChina is testing its digital currency in several cities around the country. The move from the People's Bank of China comes as investor interest in cryptocurrencies has skyrocketed in 2021. CNBC's Eunice Yoon reports from Shanghai.

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailChipotle's digital sales prowess leads strong first quarterCNBC's Kate Rogers explains Chipotle's latest earnings report and how the company's investment in online ordering led to strong year-over-year growth.

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailOptions Action: The next Reddit target? Trader Bonawyn Eison on a hot gaming stock stock that options traders are betting will be the next target of Reddit investors.

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailHow companies are reducing their environmental impactDiana Olick joins 'The News with Shepard Smith' to report on Grove, a company that aims to reduce environmental impact, and how businesses are tackling climate change.

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailNestle CEO: Business case is emerging for sustainable investing"Today's consumer asks even more than before for sustainability," Nestle CEO Mark Schneider said during an interview on Earth Day.

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailN.C. sheriff says more than one deputy fired shots in killing of black manAnother black man, Andrew Brown, Jr., was shot by police in North Carolina. People are demanding transparency and accountability. Shepard Smith reports.

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailCramer's lightning round: Align Technology is the 'quintessential selfie stock'"Mad Money" host Jim Cramer rings the lightning round bell, which means he's giving his answers to callers' stock questions at rapid speed.

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailPeople call for justice and police reform at Daunte Wright's funeralDaunte Wright, a 20-year-old black man, was shot by police in Minneapolis on April 11, 2021. People are calling for justice and police reform. Ali Velshi joins 'The News with Shepard Smith' to report.

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailSenate overwhelmingly passes anti-Asian hate crimes billThe Senate overwhelmingly passed the Covid-19 hate crime bill today. It incentivizes the police to keep track of hate crimes and works with local agencies to raise awareness on the issue. Shepard Smith reports.

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailNew York magazine deputy editor-at-large says U.S. should be 'leading' in tackling climate changePresident Biden committed to cutting U.S. emissions in half by 2030. David Wallace-Wells, deputy editor at New York magazine, joins 'The News with Shepard Smith' to discuss what the U.S. and world leaders need to do to tackle climate change.

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailMattel CEO discusses 'record quarter' for the maker of iconic toy brandsMattel's results from the first quarter reflect the company's multi-year transformation strategy that put the toy manufacturer in position to accelerate growth, CEO Ynon Kreiz said.

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailJim Cramer shrugs off fears that Biden could raise capital gains tax"The idea that Biden has 50 senators who'll vote for this is just fanciful, frankly," the "Mad Money" host said.

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailIntel CEO on first quarter earnings: 'Intel is back'Intel CEO Pat Gelsinger joined Jim Cramer on "Mad Money" to discuss the computing giant's first quarterly report since he began leading the company in February.

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailWatch Thursday's full episode of Fast Money — April 22, 2021"Fast Money" is America's post-market show. Hosted by Melissa Lee and a roundtable of top traders, "Fast Money" breaks through the noise of the day, to bring you the actionable news that matters most to investors.

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailMattel CEO on Q1 earnings, transformation strategy and iconic brandsToymaker Mattel is in the best position its seen in years after posting a record quarter, CEO Ynon Kreiz said in a "Mad Money" interview.

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailIntel CEO: The world needs a more balanced semiconductor supply chainAs the world becomes more digital and relies on semiconductors, Intel CEO Pat Gelsinger said the company is investing in new foundries to help bolster the U.S.'s position in the chip market.

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailNestle CEO talks Q1 earnings, sustainable investing and consumer trendsNestle CEO Mark Schneider joined Jim Cramer on "Mad Money" to discuss 7.7% organic growth the food company reported for the first quarter of 2021. He also discussed the company efforts toward fighting climate change.

On today's show, Kate Rogers breaks down Chipotle's blockbuster first quarter and massive digital sales growth. Bloomberg News reported Thursday afternoon that Biden is planning a capital gains tax hike to as high as 43.4% for wealthy Americans. Chipotle earnings smash estimates as online sales overtake in-person ordersChipotle Mexican Grill is hanging on to recent gains in digital sales as its online orders overtook those made inside its restaurants for the first time. That means same-store sales growth is expected to surge as much as 30%. The successful March launch of quesadillas may have been a factor in Chipotle's digital sales growth.

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailChipotle stuns Wall Street with quesadilla-fueled earnings win: CNBC After HoursCNBC.com's Pippa Stevens brings you the day's top business news headlines. On today's show, Kate Rogers breaks down Chipotle's blockbuster first quarter and massive digital sales growth. Plus, Eunice Yoon is on the ground in Shanghai testing out China's new digital currency.

David Wallace-Wells, author of "The Uninhabitable Earth," questioned if the U.S. had the ability to actually meet President Joe Biden's climate pledge of reducing the country's greenhouse gas emissions by 50% to 52% by 2030. "The question for me is whether we can even meet these targets because they are unbelievably ambitious given where we are today, and I don't think we yet have the policy tools or investments necessary to get us there," said Wallace-Wells. Biden convened a global summit to urge international cooperation on climate change. Biden's new target more than doubles the Obama administration's prior commitment under the 2015 Paris climate agreement. Nations under the Paris agreement are set to unveil updated emissions targets for the next decade at the U.N. climate conference in Glasgow, Scotland, in November.

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailJim Cramer reacts to reports of Biden's capital gains tax proposal"The idea that Biden has 50 senators who'll vote for this is just fanciful, frankly," the "Mad Money" host said.

Oscar Health: "I don't need Oscar Health ... because UnitedHealth reported an unbelievable quarter the other day that had no flies on it. Align Technology: "I've been saying that it's too late for a long time, and it's not ... because this is the quintessential selfie stock ... All people want is to look good and feel good, and Align does that." I'm not saying buy, but not selling it down here." Luminar Technologies: 'I'm a little gunshy, given the fact that we can't seem to get the technology right. Tattooed Chef: "I'm not going to be against it.

A New York woman, who was attacked in her driveway, is hoping for answers, as police are searching for the man who threw a cup of acid in her face.

SINGAPORE — Stocks in Asia-Pacific looked set to see opening declines on Friday morning following an overnight drop on Wall Street. Futures pointed to a lower open for Japanese stocks. The Nikkei futures contract in Chicago was at 28,940 while its counterpart in Osaka was at 28,900. Shares in Australia also looked poised to slip, with the SPI futures contract at 7,010, compared with the S&P/ASX 200's last close at 7,055.40. Investors will continue to monitor the coronavirus situation in India, on Friday, after more than 310,000 new daily infections were registered on Thursday.

Investors selling stocks in reaction to the Biden administration's rumored plan to hike taxes on investments are making a mistake, CNBC's Jim Cramer said Thursday. Stocks fell after a Bloomberg News report said that President Joe Biden could propose raising capital gains taxes on millionaires. Convinced that the situation is creating discounts in the market, Cramer is taking the other side of the trade. Cramer advised investors to not sell the news, given the hurdles Democrats have to push the policy through a Senate with a slim majority. As reported, the plan would increase the capital gains tax to 39.6%, up from 20%, for wealthy Americans.

A measure that would restore the voting rights of people on parole was delivered Thursday to the desk of New York Gov. The bill, passed earlier this year by the state Senate, was approved by the state Assembly on Wednesday. In most states, felons lose their voting rights during their incarceration and for some time afterward. Last year, Californians voted to restore voting rights to more than 50,000 people on parole with the passage of Proposition 17. Jay Inslee, a Democrat, signed a bill that automatically restores voting rights to people who have been released from prison after committing felonies, even if they are still on parole.

In January, Musk announced his intention to offer $100 million in prizes and set out the contest rules on Thursday, Earth Day. While countries are working to reduce emissions, scientists say carbon removal technology will also be crucial to the goal of getting emissions to net zero by 2050. Musk's $100 million XPRIZE Carbon Removal is aimed at finding a viable solution for taking 1,000 tonnes out of the atmosphere annually, with potential to scale up dramatically. The United Nations has said carbon removal technology is needed to limit increase in planetary warming and avoid catastrophic climate impacts. But some environmentalists have argued that focusing on carbon removal reflects a lack of resolve to end the use of fossil fuels.

Lourdes Martinez drags her son Angelito while he rides his donkey with water tanks to take to his family for daily use as Mexico City and the metropolitan area is running out of water as drought takes hold of the city of almost 22 million people in the municipality of Xochimilco in Mexico City, Mexico April 19, 2021. REUTERS/Carlos JassoUnusually low rainfall around Mexico City has left aquifers and reservoirs depleted, leaving some residents without tap water and reverting to older ways of distributing water - transporting containers on donkeys' backs. As water levels drop, authorities have responded by reducing the flow from the reservoirs, disrupting tap water supplies. Addressing reporters the day before Earth Day, Mexico City Mayor Claudia Sheinbaum said she expected the drought to continue to affect water supplies and warned there could also be an increased danger of wildfires. Researchers have estimated natural water availability for the city could fall by 10-17% by 2050 as temperatures rise.

Stock Exchange is seen over an entrance to the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) on Wall St. in New York City, U.S., March 29, 2021. REUTERS/Brendan McDermidWhile it’s still early in the earnings period, a record percentage of first-quarter profit reports from major U.S. companies are coming in above analysts’ expectations. With results in from 110 of the S&P 500 companies as of Thursday, 85.5% have beaten analysts' estimates for earnings per share, according to Refinitiv's data. If that trend continues through the reporting season, it would be the highest beat rate on record going back to 1994. An average of 78% of companies have beaten earnings estimates in the past four quarters.

Recent sightings of fish, ducks and herons in a stretch of the infamously polluted Pinheiros river in São Paulo have raised hopes that wildlife in the city's main waterway may finally be returning. Brazil's most populous city has an ambitious project to clean up Pinheiros by the end of 2022. São Paulo Governor João Doria told Reuters that the clean-up of the Pinheiros river was the largest environmental project in the country in terms of investment, costing some 4 billion reais ($735 million). Doria said 30,000 tons of surface garbage had already been removed from the river. "When I see fish in Pinheiros river, I see life.

Reverend Al Sharpton joins The ReidOut to talk about the police killing of Daunte Wright. He says the families of victims are saying, “We need the federal government to step in … We need a police act at the federal level.”

Republicans are continuing to spread the myth that there was widespread voter fraud. Joy says, “That was on full display during Tuesday’s Senate hearing on voting rights … But the absolute worst of them was Senator John Kennedy, who thought he could get the best of Stacey Abrams.”

The ruling angered many conservatives by frustrating Trump’s immigration policies and decreasing pressure on Congress to negotiate with the administration, but conservative legal activists are now trying to leverage the legal precedent to challenge Biden’s efforts to reverse various Trump-era policies. A Justice Department spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the suit. Court records show that it was indeed assigned to one of those jurists, Trump appointee Mark Pittman. America First’s attorney on the case, Gene Hamilton, served as a top Trump administration adviser on immigration policy at the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Justice. Biden has appointed top regulatory lawyers, such as former Obama administration regulatory chief Cass Sunstein, as part of a bid to ward off legal challenges like the one filed Thursday.

And it's partly because clean electricity will magnify the climate benefits of electrifying sectors like transportation in the future. “The power sector still has the lowest-hanging fruit,” said Ed Crooks, vice chair for the Americas at the energy consultancy Wood Mackenzie. The U.S. has had remarkable success with the first part, eliminating more than a third of its electricity emissions since 2005 by retiring more than half its coal plants. Transportation emissions decreased just 5 percent before the pandemic, industry emissions barely budged, and emissions from buildings and farms slightly increased. “It’s like steering an ocean liner,” said climate scientist Zeke Hausfather, director of climate and energy at the Breakthrough Institute.

Environmental advocates, like the left-leaning Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy, say the White House needs to address both sides of that equation to make a dent in global warming. “It’s difficult to make concrete pledges in terms of using ag as a carbon sink,” said Ben Lilliston, the institute’s director of rural strategies and climate change. The White House blueprint specifically calls for “incentives” to reduce methane and nitrous oxide emissions through new farm practices and technologies. While farmers and ranchers make up a small fraction of the population, agriculture remains central to the rural economy and politics. “They’re definitely taking a non-confrontational, non-regulatory approach.”Morning Agriculture A daily briefing on agriculture and food policy — in your inbox.

Ellison, a prominent ally of Bernie Sanders during both of the Vermont senator’s presidential bids, has received accolades from both flanks of the Democratic Party for his role in Chauvin’s trial. Jesse Jackson, the civil rights leader, also singled out Ellison for his role. Despite Ellison’s 2018 victory and current momentum, his future political options are somewhat limited. And given the hits the governor has taken from progressives over his handling of criminal justice, Ellison actually did Walz a favor by securing the conviction of Chauvin. On Tuesday, Ellison said he would not call the verdict in Chauvin’s case “justice.”“Because justice implies true restoration,” he said.

A low flying Russian military aircraft is seen repeatedly harassing U.S. fishing boats in the Bering Sea in a video obtained by NBC News. Coast Guard Rear Admiral Matt Bell stresses the need for vigilance.

With the country now well on its way towards vaccinating adults, experts say vaccinating children is critical to building herd immunity.

Staff writer for The New Yorker Jelani Cobb describes the complicated emotions he experienced as a Black man while in Minnesota this week, after hearing the conviction of Derek Chauvin on Tuesday and today attending Daunte Wright’s funeral

Country music legend Brad Paisley shares the struggles of musicians and performers during the pandemic and urges all Americans to trust the science and get vaccinated

The new guilty verdict for the murder of George Floyd is renewing calls to pass a criminal justice reform bill named after him. MSNBC's Chief Legal Correspondent Ari Melber traces the origins of America's justice system by explaining everything from the racist Jim Crow framework to the bipartisan 1994 crime bill. Melber warns of the importance of remembering recent history and paying attention to the facts.

The Texas Department of Criminal Justice’s decision to not allow clergy in the death chamber was criticized by death penalty opponents as well as religious leaders and advocates of religious freedom. The ban followed the high court’s March 2019 ruling staying the execution of Patrick Murphy, a member of the “Texas 7” gang of escaped prisoners. Texas previously allowed state-employed clergy to accompany inmates into the chamber, but its prison staff included only Christian and Muslim clerics. On Wednesday, the director of the prison system’s Correctional Institutions Division signed a policy allowing an approved spiritual adviser or agency chaplain to be present in the execution chamber, said TDCJ spokesman Jeremy Desel. In Smith’s case, Alabama also later changed its procedures to allow spiritual advisers in the execution chamber.

Last year, more than 1,400 people in the area were temporarily housed, according to the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority. His ruling came on the heels of an announcement earlier this week by Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti promising to pour $1 billion towards solving the crisis, which has plagued California and especially Los Angeles for generations. Of those, more than 66,000 people live in Los Angeles County, according to local officials. That started to change in the following years as more people descended onto skid row looking for cheap rent and train access. Today, Black people account for roughly 8 percent of Los Angeles County’s total population but 34 percent of its unhoused, according to the 2020 Greater Los Angeles Homeless Count.

In 2021, lawmakers in 34 states have introduced more than 80 anti-protest bills, the vast majority of them drafted by Republicans. And so far, four Republican governors have signed the measures into law, including in the state of Florida.

Hundreds of theater workers marched down Broadway on Thursday, rallying to demand more inclusion for minorities and the disabled, and to call for greater transparency from their union, Actors' Equity Association. Hundreds of theater workers marched down Broadway on Thursday, rallying to demand more inclusion for minorities and the disabled, and to call for greater transparency from their union, Actors' Equity Association. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)NEW YORK (AP) — Hundreds of theater workers marched down Broadway on Thursday, rallying to demand more inclusion in the industry, protesting producer Scott Rudin and to call for greater transparency from the Actors’ Equity Association union. They demanded greater inclusion for transgender, nonbinary and gender-nonconforming artists and urged efforts to improve diversity within the labor union’s council. “This must change before we return to work.”ADVERTISEMENTActor Ryan J. Haddad lamented that disabled and deaf actors are often invisible in the theater community.

The Oregon Health Authority learned of the probe on Tuesday, two days after the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention began the investigation, the agency said. Health officials did not release any further details, including the date the woman got the vaccine or where in Oregon she lived. ADVERTISEMENTFederal and state agencies paused the J&J vaccine rollout on April 13 due to concerns about blood clots. The CDC also told Texas health authorities Thursday that a woman in that state was hospitalized with possible blood clots associated with J&J vaccine recipients. A government advisory committee on vaccines is expected to meet Friday and could make a recommendation soon after on whether and how to resume use of the J&J vaccine.

Ned Lamont said Thursday the state is beginning to see a slowdown in demand for vaccinations, prompting his administration to look for new ways to encourage people to get the shot and move closer toward herd immunity in the state. Maybe they’re doing 15 doses in a day.”Some 60% of the adult population in the state has received at least one dose. About $3.7 million would be used to extend the operating hours of ten Connecticut Technical Education and Career System programs. “We’re providing free child care for each and every one of these people taking the opportunity to re-skill themselves in one of these certificate programs,” Lamont said. He said they are partnering with the state to develop a pipeline to those jobs for Connecticut students, especially those in underrepresented communities.

Unlike the vote on the spending bill, four Democrats joined the GOP in opposing the tax legislation. The panel on Thursday also advanced a bill that would establish a state health insurance option, another proposal Lamont does not currently support. — Imposes a new gross revenue tax on digital advertising services. — Establishes a new $600 per child tax credit against the personal income tax for residents with qualifying incomes. — Makes permanent a 10% surcharge on the state’s corporate business tax, while eliminates a 6% tax on ambulatory surgical centers on gross receipts and imposes the state’s 6.35% sales tax on services instead.

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Federal health officials have informed state officials that a Texas woman has been hospitalized with possible blood clots associated with Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine recipients, a state spokesman said Thursday. Federal and state agencies have paused the J&J vaccine rollout due to concerns about blood clots . Federal officials already were examining six reports of the unusual clots, including a death, out of more than 6.8 million Americans given the one-dose vaccination so far. New COVID-19 cases in Texas returned to below-average levels as 2,990 cases were reported Thursday, compared to the seven-day rolling average of 3,350 calculated by Johns Hopkins University researchers. The CDC said that the percentage of the Texas population receiving at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine had topped 36%, while the percentage of those fully vaccinated was almost 24%.

Republican Idaho lawmakers are concerned federal authorities could force belief systems on Idaho students through schools. Republican lawmakers as a result have been holding up crucial education budget bills until some type of bill addressing what can be taught in schools is passed. The House earlier this month killed a $1.1 billion teacher pay bill for that reason. Opponents of the measure said Idaho already has antidiscrimination protections in place, and all the measure will do is stifle classroom discussions about difficult topics that will leave Idaho students lacking knowledge and understanding. Opponents of the measure said critical race theory isn’t even defined in the measure.

(AP) — Montana’s governor on Thursday signed a bill that codifies the right of people to challenge government regulations that interfere with their religious beliefs. This law provides a sensible balancing test for courts to use when reviewing government policies that infringe upon the religious freedom rights of Montanans,” the Alliance Defending Freedom said in a statement. “This (law) allows individuals to turn the shield of religious freedom we all hold dear into a weapon to attack LGBTQ and Indigenous Montanans,” said Shawn Reagor, director of Equality and Economic Justice with the Montana Human Rights Network. Greg Gianforte supported the bill and “emphasizes this is not a license to discriminate against the LGBT.”Montana joins 21 states with their own religious freedom restoration acts. The laws are similar to the federal Religious Freedom Restoration Act, signed in 1993 by Democratic President Bill Clinton, which allows federal regulations that interfere with religious beliefs to be challenged.

The U.S. Transportation Department is moving to reverse former President Donald Trump's bid to end California's ability to set its own automobile tailpipe pollution standards. The U.S. Transportation Department is moving to reverse former President Donald Trump's bid to end California's ability to set its own automobile tailpipe pollution standards. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli, File)DETROIT (AP) — The U.S. Transportation Department is moving to reverse former President Donald Trump’s bid to end California’s ability to set its own automobile tailpipe pollution standards. The change, if approved after the agency takes public comments, would allow California and 15 states that follow its standards to set their own rules. President Joe Biden has said he will seek one national standard, as was the case under former President Barack Obama.

BEIJING (AP) _ Sinovac Biotech Ltd. (SVA) on Thursday reported fourth-quarter profit of $108.8 million. The Beijing-based company said it had profit of 96 cents per share. The biopharmaceutical company posted revenue of $327.5 million in the period. For the year, the company reported profit of $110.4 million, or 97 cents per share. Sinovac shares have declined almost 7% since the beginning of the year.

Charlie Baker signed an executive order Thursday aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions across state facilities. The action sets goals to accelerate the state’s decarbonization efforts in state agencies and public institutions of higher education in part by prioritizing electrification of buildings and transportation, the Republican said. The order requires all new construction at state agencies and campuses to meet energy performance standards in part through the installation of high efficiency heating and cooling systems. The air monitoring project will include the installation of 80 air quality sensors across Springfield to collect data on pollution hotspots and inform public health measures. The location of the sensors will be determined by feedback from community members with the goal of having sensors placed around the city, according to the Democrat.

FILE - In this April 2, 2015, file photo, car owner Michael Andretti speaks to a reporter during a news conference in Philadelphia. Michael Andretti understands the team must be better and in an interview with The Associated Press insisted the turnaround has begun. At some point you just are Michael Andretti and his career is much different from that of his famous father. Andretti Autosport will have six cars in the Indianapolis 500, a race Michael Andretti has won five times as a team owner. Rio, Michael Andretti learned as the family spent much of the pandemic in Miami Beach, loves racing and seems drawn to speed.

OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) — The Washington Senate on Thursday refused to concur with changes the House made to a measure to create a new tax on capital gains, which means lawmakers from each chamber will start negotiations to see if they can reach a deal before the legislative session ends Sunday. ADVERTISEMENTThe underlying measure would impose a 7% tax on the sale of stocks, bonds, and other high-end assets in excess of $250,000 for both individuals and couples. Retirement accounts, real estate, farms and forestry would be exempt from the proposed tax. Opponents of a capital gains tax have argued that it’s illegal under state law, and the debate is certain to end up in court if the full Legislature approves it and Gov. Jay Inslee, who supports the tax, signs it into law.

FILE - In this Dec. 14, 2012, file photo, Tracy Stone-Manning, left, is named by Gov.-elect Steve Bullock to run the Montana Department of Environmental Quality, in Helena, Mont. Stone-Manning has been nominated by President Joe Biden to lead an agency that oversees about a quarter-billion acres of public lands in western states. Stone-Manning has been nominated by President Joe Biden to lead an agency that oversees about a quarter-billion acres of public lands in western states. ADVERTISEMENTStone-Manning, 55, spent the past four years at the National Wildlife Federation, where she led the group’s efforts to preserve public lands for wildlife, hiking, hunting and other non-industrial uses. Chief among them was conservative lawyer William Perry Pendley, who before he took the position advocated for selling off federal lands.

This image released by Warner Bros. Pictures shows Mehcad Brooks, left, and Joe Taslim in a scene from "Mortal Kombat." (Mark Rogers/Warner Bros. Pictures via AP)This image released by Warner Bros. Pictures shows Mehcad Brooks, left, and Joe Taslim in a scene from "Mortal Kombat." (Mark Rogers/Warner Bros. Pictures via AP)The first death in the “Mortal Kombat” reboot occurs less than three minutes in, which is actually pretty coy. It may come as no surprise that “Mortal Kombat” swaggers when it comes to hand-to-hand combat: The effects are impressive, from the flips and slashes to the sound of blood gushing and the clunk of metal through bone. “Mortal Kombat,” a New Line Cinema release, is released Friday and is rated R for strong bloody violence and language throughout, and some crude references.

FILE - In this Feb. 19, 2016, file photo, pop star Kesha leaves Supreme court in New York after a hearing involving her producer, Dr. Luke. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer, File)FILE - In this Feb. 19, 2016, file photo, pop star Kesha leaves Supreme court in New York after a hearing involving her producer, Dr. Luke. Requests for comment were sent to lawyers for Dr. Luke, for Kesha and for more than a dozen media outlets and organizations that filed friend-of-the-court papers in the case. But a divided panel of state Supreme Court Appellate Division judges ruled that the lower court was right to decide that Dr. Luke wasn’t a public figure. Nor, it said, could he be deemed a public figure simply because he’s involved in the public conversation about sexual assault in the entertainment world.

They say that for all practical purposes, the maximum he would face is 30 years, and he could get less. If Judge Peter Cahill were to sentence Chauvin to anything above that, he risks having his decision reversed on appeal. If he decides aggravating factors exist, he has to keep them in proportion to the crime. No matter what sentence Chauvin gets, in Minnesota it’s presumed that a defendant with good behavior will serve two-thirds of the penalty in prison and the rest on supervised release, commonly known as parole. Both sides are writing legal briefs on aggravating factors, which Cahill will review before determining whether they exist.

Glenda Brown Thomas displays a photo of her nephew, Andrew Brown Jr., on her cell phone at her home in Elizabeth City, N.C., on Thursday, April 22, 2021. Brown was shot and killed Wednesday by a sheriff's deputy, who was attempting to execute a warrant. Brown was shot and killed Wednesday by a sheriff's deputy, who was attempting to execute a warrant. The 42-year-old Black man from Elizabeth City, North Carolina, was shot to death Wednesday by one or more deputy sheriffs trying to serve drug-related search and arrest warrants. A spokesman for the prosecutor who oversees both Dare and Pasquotank counties, District Attorney Andrew Womble, did not respond to emails asking about the arrest warrants.

Investigators put a military-style rifle into a bag at the scene where a man was shot by the police after a chase, Thursday, April 22, 2021, in Colorado Springs, Colo. Colorado Springs police shot a man accused of accosting a customer at a gas station while armed with the military-style rifle. Police say the suspect ignored commands to drop the rifle and was initially shot with a stun gun before an officer opened fire. (Jerilee Bennett/The Gazette via AP)Investigators put a military-style rifle into a bag at the scene where a man was shot by the police after a chase, Thursday, April 22, 2021, in Colorado Springs, Colo. Colorado Springs police shot a man accused of accosting a customer at a gas station while armed with the military-style rifle. Police say the suspect ignored commands to drop the rifle and was initially shot with a stun gun before an officer opened fire. (Jerilee Bennett/The Gazette via AP)COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (AP) — Police in Colorado Springs shot a man accused of accosting a customer at a gas station while armed with a military-style rifle.

As At-Home Coronavirus Tests Hit Pharmacies, What Role Can They Play In The Pandemic? The Food and Drug Administration authorized Abbott's BinaxNOW and Quidel's QuickVue at-home tests in late March. The BinaxNOW test is currently available and Quidel says it expects to start shipping the QuickVue tests next week. In some cases, antigen tests aren't as reliable as genetic PCR tests, which are often considered the "gold standard" of testing, but the antigen tests do provide rapid results and are helpful for those exhibiting COVID-19 symptoms. Interview HighlightsOn the necessity of at-home COVID-19 testsI think the landscape has shifted dramatically, in a good way.

People With Severe COVID-19 Have Higher Risk Of Long-Term Effects, Study FindsEnlarge this image toggle caption Scott Olson/Getty Images Scott Olson/Getty ImagesThe potential lasting effects of COVID-19 infection are many — and people with more severe initial infections are at greater risk for long-term complications, according to a study published Thursday in Nature. The study, thought to be the largest post-acute COVID-19 study to date, sheds more light on the lingering effects of COVID-19 known as "long COVID." Aftereffects from COVID-19 were seen in the respiratory system, as well as nervous system disorders, mental health problems, metabolic and cardiovascular disorders, malaise, fatigue, musculoskeletal pain and anemia. The findings do not suggest that everyone who gets COVID-19 will have long-term health effects. The study's subjects skewed male, given the veterans who use VA health care.

George Floyd’s death last year and the following mass protests put the spotlight on Black-white inequality in all forms, including the challenges for Black-owned businesses. Since that time, data suggests consumers have increasingly put their money where their mouth is, by spending more at Black-owned businesses and restaurants. Pandemic dug a deep holeThe surging interest is certainly welcome, but the pandemic has dug a deep hole for Black-owned businesses and other minority-owned businesses. Another 92% of Black-owned businesses said they were experiencing financial strain, which was up from 85% in 2019; 79% of white-owned businesses reported financial difficulties, up from 65% in 2019. See also: 5 ways to support black-owned businesses: ‘It’s not rocket science — people just choose not to do it’

So Ray Dalio is thinking folks must be in the mood to have their personalities radically poked, transparently prodded. The billionaire hedge-fund manager turned self-help author is offering up a chance for Regular Joes to take a personality assessment worthy of employees at his $140 billion hedge fund, Bridgewater Associates, for free! Radical transparency has made Dalio a very wealthy man, worth an estimated $20 billion, and helped create the world’s biggest hedge fund. Last month, the hedge fund founder said the “economics of investing in bonds (and most financial assets) has become stupid,” in a LinkedIn blog post. The 10-year Treasury yield BX:TMUBMUSD10Y was at 1.554% Thursday, but still 64 basis points above its Jan. 4 low for this year.

When asked about the report on the potential capital gains rate hike, Psaki said she did not want to comment ahead of Biden’s decisions. Some estate tax changes are a “done deal” in the eyes of Professor Donald Williamson, executive director of American University’s Kogod Tax Policy Center. An increase in estate tax also means the “step up in basis” is on the chopping block, Williamson said. If an asset like long-held shares in a blue-chip company keeps growing in value, that’s a major shield against a major capital gains tax liability. 96% of the tax savings from a pulled-back lid would go to the highest 20% of households, according a 2018 Tax Policy Center analysis.

GENEVA — Athletes who make political or social justice protests at the Tokyo Olympics were promised legal support Thursday by a global union and an activist group in Germany. The Olympic body’s legal commission should clarify what kind of punishment before this year’s games, which open on July 23. In a statement, another athlete group, Global Athlete, encouraged athletes to “not allow outdated ‘sports rules’ to supersede your basic human rights.” It said the survey’s methods were flawed. And the USOPC’s athletes’ group also put out a statement saying it was disappointed to see no “meaningful or impactful change to” Rule 50. In the past, the NOCs have played a major role in sanctioning athletes who run afoul of Olympic rules.

Pearl Gonzalez is the latest MMA fighter to cross over into the bareknuckle boxing world. The former UFC fighter and Invicta FC title challenger has signed a multi-fight deal with Bare Knuckle FC. Following her UFC release, Gonzalez went to Invicta FC, where she went 4-2 and challenged for the flyweight title against Vanessa Porto. Gonzalez was scheduled to return to Invicta this past November for the vacant flyweight title, but was forced to withdraw after getting COVID-19. “I promise to dedicate my life to becoming the next BKFC world champ and couldn’t be happier to start this new chapter in my life.”

Documents (including the contract Song Girls sign), emails and text messages support their claims. An extensive Los Angeles Times report Thursday shone light on the allegedly toxic culture among the USC Song Girls, perpetrated by former coach Lori Nelson. But she isn't the first woman to be accused of this type of abuse, especially in the gymnastics, cheerleading and dance team world. Add Nelson to the list, who seemed to want to control every aspect of the Song Girls' lives, not develop a dance team. The Times reported that a dozen women shared negative experiences with Nelson and the Song Girls, while eight former team members spoke positively about Nelson.

Zymergen is the first biofacturing company to go public, but its CEO expects it won’t be the last. Zymergen (ticker: ZY) shares rose 21.45% from its offer price on its first day of trading Thursday and raised $500 million with its IPO. With biofacturing, Zymergen uses biology as a design inspiration, as a manufacturing paradigm, to make stuff “faster, cheaper and more sustainable,” Hoffman said. These rivals have considerable legacy assets and are constrained by the petrochemical supply chains they use to make products, Hoffman said. This gives us the freedom to build better products,” Hoffman said.

DETROIT — The U.S. Transportation Department is moving to reverse former President Donald Trump’s bid to end California’s ability to set its own automobile tailpipe pollution standards. The change, if approved after the agency takes public comments, would allow California and 15 states that follow its standards to set their own rules. President Joe Biden has said he will seek one national standard, as was the case under former President Barack Obama. Trump’s 2019 decision to end California’s independence was challenged in court by the state and environmental groups. Trump also rolled back Obama-era fuel efficiency and emissions standards, and it’s likely that the Biden administration will reverse those as well, replacing them with more stringent requirements.

Move over Citi Bike, there’s a new docked, shared bike service in town — only this one is all electric. But while Bird, Lime and Veo are restricted to operating in a section of the Bronx, far from any Citi Bike territory, JOCO is under no such constraints. Like Citi Bike, each e-bike can last for about 30 miles on a charge. If you can find an electric Citi Bike, it’ll cost a rider $3.50 to unlock and .18 cents a minute, which comes out to about $5.30. “Citi Bike has been around since 2013 and has done a tremendous job at driving cycling adoption on the streets of NYC,” Monica Wejman, Vulog’s North America managing director, told TechCrunch.

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — The police officer who shot and killed a student in a Tennessee high school will not face criminal charges, a district attorney announced Wednesday. Allen added that she wouldn't press any other charges against the three other officers present at the time of the April 12 shooting at Austin-East Magnet High School in the East Tennessee city. According to the video, four officers responded to the school after a domestic abuse call from the mother of Thompson's former girlfriend. Clabough can be seen removing his weapon and shooting Thompson in the shoulder. Two days later, the TBI changed its statement, saying the student’s gun was fired during a struggle with school resource officer Adam Willson, who was wounded.

She also said that, despite the volatile relationship, she considered Anthony to be a “good kid” who didn’t deserve to die the way he did. On Monday morning, Page called her mother from an assistant principal’s office, upset and wanting to leave early. When she got to the house, Perkins says her daughter had marks on her face and was missing some hair. Perkins said Clabough asked her if Anthony might be armed and she said she didn’t think so. He should still be here.”To be honest, I’m not sure what the moral of the story is here.

Anthony J. Thompson Jr., 17, was fatally shot by police at Austin-East Magnet High School in Knoxville. (Photo: GoFundMe)When officers confronted Thompson at the high school, police said Thompson refused to come out of a bathroom stall. Officer Clabough said he saw fellow officer, Brian Baldwin, drop out of view and believed that Baldwin had been shot. In response, Clabough said he fired his gun twice, hitting Thompson and School Resource Officer Adam Willson in his leg, Allen said. Police, shortly after the shooting, had said that Thompson was the one who shot an officer.

BEIJING (AP) — Around 200 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine have been administered so far inside China, with an emphasis on front-line workers, university students and people living in border areas, health officials said. China has approved five domestically produced vaccines and exported millions of doses, although some scientists believe they provide less protection that those by Pfizer, Moderna and AstraZeneca. China is giving millions of shots a day, and its goal is vaccinating 560 million of the country’s 1.4 billion people by mid-June. Story continuesSince then, China has controlled the virus through stringent border controls and quick lockdowns whenever new outbreaks crop up. ___This story has been corrected to show the number of 200 million applies to vaccine doses administered rather than number of people fully vaccinated.

Stephen Chase Randolph of Harrodsburg, KY was arrested on Tuesday ‘in connection with the violence at the US Capitol,’ FBI Louisville said (FBI)Federal authorities have arrested a Kentucky man over his alleged role in the 6 January Capitol riots by using facial recognition to identify him from his girlfriend’s Instagram. Stephen Chase Randolph, of Harrodsburg, was arrested on Tuesday “in connection with the violence at the US Capitol,” FBI Louisville said on Twitter. According to an affidavit obtained by HuffPost, authorities allege that Mr Randolph and other protesters knocked over a US Capitol Police (USCP) officer while pushing through Capitol barriers. The agency later linked images of the wanted suspect at the riots with photographs of Mr Randolph using face recognition technology on his girlfriend’s Instagram account, the affidavit said. The FBI said Mr Randolph has been charged with assaulting, resisting, or impeding an officer causing bodily injury, obstruction of law enforcement during civil disorder, and obstruction of justice.

In January, Musk announced his intention to offer $100 million in prizes and set out the contest rules on Thursday, Earth Day. Story continuesMusk's $100 million XPRIZE Carbon Removal is aimed at finding a viable solution for taking 1,000 tonnes out of the atmosphere annually, with potential to scale up dramatically. Venture capital-backed carbon removal companies raised $336.5 million last year, according to PitchBook. The United Nations has said carbon removal technology is needed to limit increase in planetary warming and avoid catastrophic climate impacts. But some environmentalists have argued that focusing on carbon removal reflects a lack of resolve to end the use of fossil fuels.

Republicans unveiled a $568 billion counterproposal to President Joe Biden's infrastructure plan on Thursday. The Republican plan —roughly a quarter of Biden's proposal — is more focused on physical infrastructure like the nation's roads, railways and bridges. The package includes:$299 billion for roads and bridges$61 billion for public transit systems$20 billion for rail$13 billion for safety measures$17 billion for ports and inland waterways$44 billion for airports$65 billion for broadband$14 billion for water storageSen. Shelley Moore Capito (R., W. Va.), Sen. Roger Wicker (R., Miss. Republicans have largely rejected Biden's $2 trillion infrastructure plan, saying it's too expensive and includes too many measures unrelated to physical infrastructure. told reporters corporations should help pay for an infrastructure plan.

The sports world celebrated on social media after a Minnesota jury found former police officer Derek Chauvin guilty on Tuesday afternoon. Nearly every sports league issued a statement, too — though they all looked quite different. Sports leagues react after Derek Chauvin verdictThe NHL actually came first just after 5:20 p.m. This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. This content is not available due to your privacy preferences.

By Reuters StaffSYDNEY (Reuters) - Australia's Victoria state on Wednesday unveiled plans to develop an onshore messenger-RNA (mRNA) vaccine manufacturing facility and launched three mass coronavirus immunisation centres to speed up the national inoculation programme. Victoria would spend A$50 million ($39 million) initially to set up the mRNA facility in the state, which authorities said could become the first such centre in the southern hemisphere. The mRNA technology is used in COVID-19 vaccines developed by Pfizer and Moderna. Several countries are trying to procure more COVID-19 vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna Inc, that use the mRNA technology, as no major side effects have been identified so far among vaccine recipients. Victoria, meanwhile, set up three mass immunisation centres in the state on Wednesday to administer AstraZeneca vaccines for anyone above 70 years.

The rollout began in February and so far 1.6 million vaccine doses have been administered nationwide in a population of 25 million. Manufacturing began in March, with the government saying it would soon pump out about one million doses a week. Australia had been largely relying on AstraZeneca's vaccineNovavax, the last vaccine in the rollout mix, is yet to receive regulatory approval. Concerns about the AstraZeneca vaccine - the biggest part of its rollout plan - slowed things down and also contributed to some vaccine hesitancy. The health minister has boasted of a six-fold increase in total vaccinations in roughly a month since the GP rollout began.

This was up from the 100 cases reported last week, when the overall case incidence was 4.9 per million doses. There has been scrutiny of the AstraZeneca vaccine on the issue of the very rare clots and some countries, including Britain, have recommended that only people over a certain age get the shot. Adam Finn, Professor of Paediatrics at Bristol University, said the jump in reported cases was expected. There were 32 reported deaths from clots in total, compared to 22 reported last week, but the fatality rate of the reported clots dropped to 19% from 22%. The preference for under-30s to get a different shot is mainly informed by that age group's low risk from COVID-19, combined with Britain's low prevalence of infection.

216,000 doses of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine it has in stock to Sweden and Iceland, the country's health ministry said on Thursday, enabling the two Nordic neighbours to speed up their inoculation campaigns. Sweden and Iceland will be able to receive the doses from Norway for as long as the AstraZeneca vaccine rollout is suspended. "We will get the doses we lend back as soon as we ask for it," Health Minister Bent Hoeie said in a statement. European Union outsider Norway's participation in the EU's vaccination purchase programme, signed last year, was organised in collaboration with Sweden. Of the total, 200,000 doses will go to Sweden and the remaining 16,000 to Iceland, which has a much smaller population.

COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) — Norway will lend all of its 216,000 doses of AstraZeneca to neighboring Sweden and Iceland as long as its own government regulator has paused the use of the vaccine. On March 11, Norway followed Denmark in deciding to put on hold jabs by the British-Swedish company after reports of very rare blood clots. The Norwegian doses expire in June and July. The Danes, who were the first to pull suspend use of the AstraZeneca vaccine, have not yet decided what will happen with their doses. Norway started its vaccinations on Dec. 27 and 1.1 million people — out of a population of 5.3 million -- have so far been vaccinated.

But Yang told CBS News he would also accept Cuomo's endorsement, if offered, in his bid for mayor. Yang said he thinks current New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio shares blame with Cuomo for "mixed messages" and flaws in New York's COVID-19 response. Andrew Yang talks to CBS News about his campaign for New York City mayor. Yang told CBS News that he supports the investigations and believes Cuomo should now let his lieutenant governor, Kathy Hochul, take over. Yang has no prior experience in government and has never voted in a New York City mayoral election.

Dominic Cummings - Hollie Adams/BloombergDominic Cummings was on Thursday night named by Downing Street sources as the person suspected of leaking text messages sent by the Prime Minister. The newly appointed Prime Minister personally persuaded Mr Cummings to work with him in Downing Street days before he entered office in July 2019. Mr Cummings denied breaking the rules, but Tory MPs were among politicians who expressed their anger over the matter. Mr Cummings’ departure from Number 10 came in the weeks following the furore over the "chatty rat" leaks. A Downing Street source said on Thursday night: “Dom may feel bitter about what’s happened since he left.

Danville officer Andrew Hall is also on administrative leave right now after shooting and killing 33-year-old Tyrell Wilson last month. Officer Hall is a deputy sheriff with the Contra Costa sheriff's office, and was assigned to Danville at the time of the shooting. And due to Officer Hall's unreasonable force used during the 2018 shooting of Mr. Arboleda, the charges also include enhancements, personal use of a firearm. Overall, Officer Hall could face 22 years in state prison, and he would be prohibited from being a Peace Officer if convicted. Ultimately, I am confident a jury of Officer Hall's peers will review this case with great care and consideration, and ultimately hold Officer Hall accountable.

A close-up image highlights perceived differences in Chauvin’s ear shape between his mugshot and images taken during Floyd's murder. In the image from the video of Floyd's death, Chauvin's ear appears pointed. In this mugshot image, Chauvin's ears appear pointed and his hairline shows his widow’s peak, unlike the mugshot in the post. Similar images from those times as well as testimony at his trial confirm the man convicted for killing Floyd is Chauvin. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Fact check: No evidence to support claims Chauvin's trial was staged

The WeekIt sounds like a recent attempt by Andrew Yang to secure an endorsement in his New York City mayoral bid didn't exactly go as planned. The candidate on Wednesday met with the Stonewall Democratic Club of New York City to seek the Democratic LGBTQ organization's endorsement, but he ended up offending its members, The New York Times reports. Yang, according to the report, "cited gay members of his staff as apparent evidence of his openness to the club's concerns, and expressed enthusiasm about the prospect of visiting" the New York gay bar Cubbyhole. But Yang neglected to focus on "substantive issues that our membership cares about" and "came off poorly," the club's president, Rose Christ, told the Times. Christ also told Politico that Yang "came across like he was a tourist in New York," and member Alejandra Caraballo drew a particularly brutal TV comparison.

How’s this for a dream dinner lineup: Rasputin, Fidel Castro and “Real Housewives of Atlanta” star NeNe Leakes. That’s the choice of Lourdes Maria Ciccone Leon, the 24-year-old daughter of Madonna and Carlos Leon, who told Vanity Fair that she would consult the trio for advice before exchanging “some words” with her other picks, Prince Charles and the late Prince Philip. As for late notables Rasputin and Castro? dished on some now-famous actors who were her classmates at Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts in Manhattan. And speaking of Castro, Leon also hopes for more visits to Cuba, homeland to her father’s family.

"Killroy Was Here" director Kevin Smith has become one of the first people to release a full film as an NFT (non-fungible token). The upcoming comedy-horror anthology, also written by Smith and Andrew McElfresh, will be available at auction with the buyer then having the rights to showcase, distribute and stream the movie. "I've always tried to think outside the box and distribute my own movies," Smith, 50, told Liz Claman on Fox Business' "The Claman Countdown." Smith added, "We felt this would be an exciting way to bring attention to the movie." CLICK HERE TO READ MORE ON FOX BUSINESS"Sometimes you just want to try something new and within two years they're going to be able to pack movies into an NFT," Smith explained about why he made this decision.

The Texas men killed in a fiery crash involving a self-driving Tesla Model S were friends who took the car for a spin after dropping off their wives, officials said. Neither man was believed to be driving at the time of the crash. TESLA DRIVERLESS CAR CRASH TO BE PROBED BY US REGULATORSVarner, an anesthesiologist believed to be the owner of the car, was found in the back seat, while Talbot, who ran a financial firm, was in the passenger seat, the Daily Mail reported. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board have said they will send teams to investigate the deadly crash. But Tesla CEO Elon Musk denied on Monday on Twitter that the car was on autopilot.

While countries are working to reduce emissions, scientists say carbon removal technology will also be crucial to the goal of getting emissions to net-zero by 2050. Musk's $100 million XPRIZE Carbon Removal is aimed at finding a viable solution for taking 1,000 tonnes out of the atmosphere annually, with the potential to scale up dramatically. Venture capital-backed carbon removal companies raised $336.5 million last year, according to PitchBook. The United Nations has said carbon removal technology is needed to limit the increase in planetary warming and avoid catastrophic climate impacts. But some environmentalists have argued that focusing on carbon removal reflects a lack of resolve to end the use of fossil fuels.

COVID-19 deaths among people of all ages in the U.S. have plummeted to about 700 per day on average, compared with a peak of over 3,400 in mid-January. According to U.S. government statistics, hospitalizations are down more than 50%, but most dramatically among senior citizens, who have been eligible for shots the longest and have enthusiastically received them. Two-thirds of American senior citizens are fully vaccinated, versus just one-third of all U.S. adults. Over 80% of senior citizens have gotten at least one shot, compared with just over 50% of all adults. In Seattle’s King County, hospital physicians are seeing fewer COVID-19 patients overall, fewer needing critical care and fewer needing breathing machines.

It’s a knockoff of a more famous tradition that Red Wings fans have of throwing celebratory octopuses on the ice, but that’s another story. In 2020 the program completed its eighth season, its popularity renewed by the increase in online relationships created by the COVID-19 pandemic. This was one red flag raised in the case of Flores, whom Toussaint, her podcast co-host, revealed he had never actually met. This is where someone uses an anonymous or lesser-known account to interact on social media without revealing his or her identity. The NBA champion’s ruse was up in 2017 when he accidentally responded to a fan with his verified account.

Jim Cramer explains why investors shouldn't worry too much about the capital gains tax proposals everyone's talking about. Profits are a good thing, after all, and no matter how big the capital gains tax you have to pay, you're still going home with a win. On Real Money, Cramer keys in on the companies and CEOs he knows best. Search Jim Cramer's "Mad Money" trading recommendations using our exclusive "Mad Money" Stock Screener. To watch replays of Cramer's video segments, visit the Mad Money page on CNBC.

Walk-up appointments are being offered at Los Angeles County’s mass COVID-19 vaccination sites through Monday, though officials said supply will dictate how many people they can accommodate. Here are the sites that will take those who have not booked an appointment, while supplies last:Palmdale Oasis Recreation Center3850 E. Ave. S, Palmdale7 days a week, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.3850 E. Ave. S, Palmdale 7 days a week, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. The Forum3900 W. Manchester Blvd., Inglewood7 days a week, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.3900 W. Manchester Blvd., Inglewood 7 days a week, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Advertisement“Although transmission has been slowed in Los Angeles County, people are still dying every day from COVID-19,” Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer said in a statement. If you get vaccinated, your chances of dying from COVID-19 are less than 1 in a million.

In the comics, the mantle of Captain America passed from Steve Rogers to Sam Wilson in 2014. In “Captain America” No. In “Captain America: Sam Wilson” No. “Captain America: Sam Wilson” also engaged with several major political and social issues during its run, including immigration, the border and policing. According to Isaiah, “no self-respecting Black man would ever want to be” Captain America.

In the 1997 franchise-killing flop “Mortal Kombat: Annihilation,” the thunder god Lord Raiden delivers an ominous warning: “What closes can also open again.” He’s talking about the portals that separate Earthrealm (good!) a brand-new “Mortal Kombat” movie — a blood-slicked reminder that, in arcade fighter games and Hollywood blockbusters alike, no fatality is ever truly permanent. AdvertisementJosh Lawson and Jessica McNamee in the movie “Mortal Kombat.” (Mark Rogers)A few differences in dramatis personae aside, the bare-bones mythology is more or less identical to that of the 1995 film “Mortal Kombat,” a campy hoot best remembered as a calling card for the director Paul W.S. Ludi Lin and Max Huang in the movie “Mortal Kombat.” (New Line Cinema & Warner Bros. Pictures)I should note that Sub-Zero, with his lethal ice balls and fittingly black-and-blue ninja getup, was always my favorite “Mortal Kombat” avatar during my ’90s childhood video-game obsession. To that end, this “Mortal Kombat” won’t be greeted by its fan base as a soul-sucking disaster.

AdvertisementBut it’s entirely reasonable and, frankly, rational to relax the outdoor face covering rules as we head into warmer weather. It wasn’t only sick people who were capable of spreading infection. Jha is one of a growing number of public health experts who see the benefit of easing blanket outdoor face mask requirements. It makes you wonder how many people decided at that moment that public health officials just didn’t know what they were talking about and stopped following any of their advice. AdvertisementC’mon, it’s time to ease up on the face mask rules for outdoors.

Why should students attending the University of California and California State University in the fall be any less protected from COVID-19 than those at Stanford or Claremont McKenna? And because of strange wording in the law governing emergency authorization, the government cannot require people to get the vaccine. Fortunately, California’s infection rate is very low overall, and most of the UC and Cal State students come from within the state. They’ll avoid lines and keep the semester free of vaccine side effects that could knock them off their feet for a couple of days. And that includes the health of students at our public colleges and universities.

Babson College in Wellesley breaks ground this fall on a new 200-bed freshman dormitory in the center of campus, designed to allow all first-year students to live in the same area. Architectural renderings of Babson College’s proposed freshman dorm, which features an open design for shared spaces. The new dorm, designed by Sasaki Associates of Watertown, will be built alongside the three existing Park Manor dorms for first-year students to create a freshman quad, said Michael Chmura, a Babson spokesman. “This is just a regular dorm — it’s not a luxury dorm by any means,” Chmura said. Once the new dorm is completed, Forest Hall would be converted into much-needed administrative and faculty space, Chmura said.

Federal health officials are waiting to act until they hear from a committee of outside experts who advise the CDC. The committee is scheduled to meet Friday to discuss whether to recommend lifting, extending, or modifying the pause that was initiated April 13. WASHINGTON — Federal health officials appear to be leaning toward lifting their recommended pause on the use of Johnson & Johnson’s coronavirus vaccine after finding only a limited number of additional cases of a rare blood clotting disorder among recipients. But officials worried that more cases were hidden or could develop shortly as the new vaccine rolled out. Dr. Rochelle P. Walensky, the CDC director, said in an interview Wednesday that federal officials had found “needles in haystacks,” an indication of how thorough the government’s oversight was.

Wright’s funeral came just days after a Minneapolis jury convicted another white former police officer, Derek Chauvin, of murdering George Floyd, 46, who was Black. Some of those who appeared at Wright’s funeral were at Floyd’s, including Floyd’s relatives and attorney Benjamin Crump, who represents both families. The lawyer summoned Floyd’s relatives to the front of the church where they stood, fists raised, as the crowd applauded. Crump led the packed church in chanting, “Daunte’s life mattered!”“How did Officer Potter see Daunte Wright? “We do have to continue to protest and fight, but peacefully,” said Debra Trainor, 64, an administrative assistant from the Minneapolis suburbs, after attending Wright’s funeral.

Steve Owen, 53, was responding to a report of a break-in when he was shot by 31-year-old Trenton Lovell, authorities have said. Trenton Lovell, at center in 2016, faces life in prison without the possibility of parole. (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times)Lovell pleaded guilty to murder, attempted murder, false imprisonment and robbery in connection with the attack on Owen and the chaotic manhunt that followed in October 2016, prosecutors said. After killing Owen, Lovell was shot and wounded by a deputy. As part of his reform efforts, Los Angeles County Dist.

With nine varsity players, the Tigers extended their unbeaten season with a 25-11, 25-16, 18-25, 25-12 victory over visiting East Boston in the Boston City League semifinals Thursday. But in this unique Fall II season, Fisher is grateful for the players that chose to come out and compete during a pandemic. Her girls’ basketball and volleyball teams at the John D. O’Bryant School have a record of success. “This has not been easy [this season], and there is a lot of stress on the girls,” said Fisher. And then we played like we’re capable of playing.”Latin Academy closed out the match, 25-21, earning a spot in Friday’s final against fellow unbeaten O’Bryant.

Soccer fans were loud and clear when it came to their feelings about the proposed Super League. Real Madrid's President Florentino Perez had been the driving force behind the creation of the Super League. On Monday, fans protested against Liverpool's decision to be included amongst the Super League clubs. Inside, team officials leaked the news that Chelsea was exploring ways to exit its Super League contract. The Super League, having lost half its members and its entire foothold in England, was finished.

The FTC in 2012 dramatically ramped up its use of the decades-old provision to recoup money for consumers. The ruling is a triumph for business trade groups, which had urged the court to curb the agency’s powers. The US Supreme Court slashed the Federal Trade Commission’s power to seek monetary awards in court, throwing out a legal tool the consumer-protection agency has used to collect billions of dollars over the past decade. The Supreme Court case involved Scott Tucker, a former race-car driver convicted of running a fraudulent payday-lending empire. Tucker’s case was featured on the Netflix series “Dirty Money.”Slaughter urged senators at a hearing Tuesday to restore the agency’s power to recoup money for consumers in the event the Supreme Court ruled against the commission.

If you are a fan or a follower, you know all the “Mortal Kombat” characters, their interrelationships, their special powers, and their bloody “finishing moves.” If not, then . AdvertisementWhat this “Mortal Kombat” wants to be is a heavily digitized fantasy-action rumble with an overlay of mystical-Asian-martial-arts jive hooey and generous spurts of blood. Lewis Tan in "Mortal Kombat." AdvertisementJessica McNamee in "Mortal Kombat." But that’s the only time “Mortal Kombat” shows a pulse.

Blue Jays outfielder George Springer will play in an intrasquad game Friday, the next step on his return from two strained muscles that have delayed his Toronto debut. “Tomorrow is a great day for George. The injury was listed as a left calf injury, but the main problem is a hairline fracture in his fibula. Peralta’s 7 RBIs help D-Backs top RedsPeralta finished a double short of the cycle in a big offensive day for Arizona. He hit a two-run homer in the fifth inning, had three singles and finished a double short of the cycle.

Impossible to forget, Nicole Hynes’s voice was accented with the French she spoke growing up in Belgium. Mrs. Hynes subsequently took courses at Emmanuel, Lesley, and Wellesley colleges. AdvertisementMrs. Hynes also was a mother figure to many others, notably three Boston Bruins players who were drafted by the team at 18 or 19 and lived for a time with the Hynes family. He recalled how Mrs. Hynes would make lunch for him each game day, a key ritual in what turned out to be a challenging first year with the Bruins. I think of her as royalty, really.”AdvertisementIn addition to her husband, daughter, son, and stepmother, Mrs. Hynes leaves three brothers in Belgium, Frederic, Dominique, and Patrick; a sister in Belgium, Nathalie; and three grandchildren.

For example, TD Garden has been open at 12 percent capacity for Celtics and Bruins games since March 22. The NBA playoffs are fast approaching, with the play-in tournament involving the 7-10 seeds scheduled to begin on May 18. AdvertisementCoach Brad Stevens remains hopeful that the Celtics will be able to welcome more fans into their building in time for the postseason. “It clearly isn’t the same as playing in packed arenas,” Stevens said Thursday. Same thing this morning; wasn’t able to do it.

“We see what’s going on, we see where we’re at, we see what we’re doing,” said Cora. Three weeks into the season, however, the Red Sox manager believes such gamesmanship is no longer necessary, as he’s forged a clearer sense of every pitcher’s role. Advertisement“Right now, if we have the lead in the seventh, those are the guys you’re going to see,” said Cora. Overall, Cora sees a commitment to structured roles as a key to maintaining the health and effectiveness of his relievers. Duran is with the Red Sox alternate site group in Worcester.

“It’s really a can of worms and I think every team will look at those opt-outs a little differently.”2. In early March, Mayock said the Raiders needed Ruggs and Arnette to get bigger and stronger. Stronger, better route runner, finish, get both feet down, all those things, and we think he will,” Mayock said. And how are we going to react if it doesn’t fall that way?,” Mayock said. “I have to stick to my gut after all the information is collected, after everything is in,” Mayock said.

Investigators said they are seeking tips after several businesses in Oakland and Emeryville were burglarized early Thursday by large groups of suspects in apparently related break-ins leading to a lone arrest, authorities said. At 11:37 p.m. Wednesday, officers on patrol saw about 30 vehicles driving westbound on San Leandro Street toward Fruitvale Avenue, Oakland police said Thursday afternoon. Shortly before 12:15 a.m., Oakland police learned of a burglary in progress at Best Buy, 3700 Mandela Parkway. An 18-year-old Oakland man trying to run away was arrested by responding Emeryville officers. Anyone with information about the burglaries may call Emeryville police at 510-596-3700, Oakland police at 510-238-3951 or Crime Stoppers Tip Line at 510-777-8572.

In a dissent, a liberal justice accused her colleagues of gutting earlier decisions that said life without parole sentences for people under age 18 should be rare. In a 6-3 decision that split the justices along ideological lines, the court said no. The ruling followed more than a decade in which the court moved gradually toward more leniency for minors convicted of murder. The court’s three liberal justices dissented, with Justice Sonia Sotomayor writing that the decision “guts” prior cases in favor of minors. Twenty-five states and the District of Columbia bar life without parole sentences for youth.

In other words, it could create new travel opportunities, ease highway congestion, increase transit revenues and add transit jobs. Now that vaccines are available to everyone 16 and older, we should require all such students to be vaccinated prior to returning to school. SB 271 will allow a broader pool of eligible candidates to seek the office of sheriff. This resulted in a small pool of candidates, and once elected practically no competition within the local community. Related Articles Letters: Go electric | Vaccinating restrictions away | Protect kids | ‘Laura’s Law’Letters: Vaccine misinformation | Righting EDD | Policing template | Botching history | Conservative voices | Dooming GOPLetters: CSU vaccines | S.J.

For safety’s sakeget electric appliancesIn honor of Earth Day, remember oil and gas – it served its purpose – for a time. Gas stoves and water heaters emit dangerous carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxide and other dangerous pollutants into your home environment. According to the DA, last year’s COVID-19-related shelter-in-place guidelines resulted in a growing amount of digital child abuse cases. Nevada County and Orange County have adopted Laura’s Law and found that the number of hospitalizations, 911 calls, arrests, trials and incarcerations has declined. Laura’s Law is an important aid to deal with homelessness.

A week after the Raiders cut defensive linemen Arden Key and Maurice Hurst, they’ve headed across the bay, er, across state lines and agreed to join the 49ers. Hurst, a defensive tackle, announced Thursday on Twitter that he was joining the 49ers, a day after Key agreed to a one-year deal. #49ers || #FTTB — Maurice Hurst Jr (@mohurstjr) April 22, 2021Their additions strengthen a 49ers defensive line in which defensive ends Nick Bosa (knee) and Dee Ford (back) are coming off serious injuries. Hurst had a reasonably effective three-year tenure with the Raiders, who drafted him in the fifth round in 2018 out of Michigan. Jones; backups — Ebukam, Ford, Zach Kerr, Kevin Givens, Hurst, Key, Kentavius Street, Jordan Willis, Darrion Daniels, Alex Barrett, Daeshon Hall, Josiah Coatney.

The cleanup was organized by the nonprofit Papahanaumokuakea Marine Debris Project, which partners with the state of Hawaii and federal agencies, including the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the U.S. A NOAA study estimated that the shores of the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands accumulate about 57 tons (52 metric tons) of debris each year. The Kure field crews had about 13 tons (12 metric tons) of debris collected over three years, and it was ready to be picked up when the ship arrived. The marine monument is also a valued Native Hawaiian cultural site, and Hawaiian ceremonies were conducted each day of the trip. “Papahanaumokuakea is one of the most amazing landscapes on Earth, central to many Native Hawaiian narratives — a place where nature and culture are one,” said Athline Clark, NOAA’s superintendent for the marine monument.

Al Sharpton said Thursday during an emotional funeral. The funeral was held just two days after former Minneapolis police Officer Derek Chauvin was convicted in the death of George Floyd and amid a national reckoning on racism and policing. Wright’s mother has said her son called her after he was stopped and told her that was the reason. “We come today as the air fresheners for Minnesota,” Sharpton said, vowing changes in federal law. We’re trying to get the stench of racism out of the atmosphere.

Only one-third of eligible Californians are fully vaccinated, according to the state Department of Public Health. “We’re scrambling, we’re doing more outreach, we’re calling people in to say, ‘Hey, we have vaccines, can you come? San Francisco’s weekly first-dose allocation decreased by about 33% over the past two weeks, according to the department, and interest in appointments has not waned. Likewise, San Mateo County received just over 11,000 doses both last week and this week, said spokesperson Preston Merchant. He expects the county’s first mass vaccination event next week to be “fully subscribed” thanks to high demand.

The entire world faces “a moment of peril” but also “a moment of opportunity,” Biden declared, speaking from a TV-style chrome-blue set for the virtual summit of 40 world leaders. But the summit also marshaled an impressive display of the world’s most powerful leaders speaking on the single issue of climate change. The pandemic made gathering world leaders for the climate summit too risky. The format meant a cavalcade of short speeches by world leaders, some scripted, some not. “We are the least contributors to greenhouse gas emissions, but the most affected by climate change,” said Gaston Alfonso Browne, prime minister of Antigua and Barbuda.

Maybe fully enjoying the new take on “Mortal Kombat” requires a working knowledge of the video game on which it’s based, or of the 1995 film. One bad guy sounds like he's named after a refrigeratorA prologue establishes a centuries-old battle. “Did you make that last part up?” he asks about the tournaments, called, yes, Mortal Kombat. The worst thing about 'Mortal Kombat' is that it's set up for sequelsHe does, actually. In fairness, you can say that “Mortal Kombat” is pretty much exactly what you expect it to be.

Police released footage on Friday of a fatal police shooting in response to a suspected armed robbery that occurred April 3 near 75th Avenue and Indian School Road in Phoenix. In audio and video released by Phoenix police, a 911 caller reported that "there's this guy with ... his gun pointing to people" on Indian School Road and 75th Avenue. Restaurant security footage shows Arenas point his gun at the officer and then ducking behind the booth as police shoots at him and misses. The body camera footage then shows police move toward Arenas, who crouched behind an object and pointed his gun up. Body-worn camera footage shows the officer then shoots Arenas about 10 times.

As the economy reopens more fully, hundreds of businesses around metro Phoenix are seeking to hire employees. Bashas' hiring needs continue even after the company hosted a job fair in Phoenix in early April. The company is looking to hire an unspecified number of people in culinary, spa, retail and front-office jobs, plus servers, hosts and housekeepers. Fidelity hiring digital, other helpFidelity Investments plans to add an undetermined number of “technologists” and other positions in the Phoenix metro area, many of them remote. In addition, Fidelity is adding licensed financial representatives and customer-service staff in metro Phoenix and elsewhere.

Fatal shooting of Jose Arenas in PhoenixPhoenix police release footage in fatal police shooting near 75th Avenue and Indian School Road

But it’s obviously made well, by people who’ve seen more than one Hong Kong kung fu film and know their samurai cinema pretty well, too, which instantly places this “Mortal Kombat” film miles above that 1995 theatrical attempt with the same title. Fights are imaginatively conceived and presented with gratifying punch, framed and edited in ways that showcase the athletic choreography. There, they’re mentored by Lord Raiden (Tadanobu Asano), some kind of thunder god appointed to protect the Earthrealm. But they’re, y’know, better — way better, by any possible cinematic measure. No doubt some fans of crappy video game flicks are going to prefer Paul W.S.

“Texas can and should lead on criminal justice reform,” Phelan, a Beaumont Republican in his first term as speaker said in an interview with The Dallas Morning News. “It shouldn’t be a surprise to anybody that we’re taking this up.”Reaction to packagePhelan’s criminal justice package received plaudits from advocates. “It really runs the entirety of the criminal justice system,” said Derek Cohen, director of Right on Crime, a conservative criminal justice campaign by the Texas Public Policy Foundation. “The bills on this list, with exception of the bail bill, represent significant criminal justice reform,” he said. “That is what Speaker Phelan has done with criminal justice reform, he has placed it at the center, as a major plank,” he said.

Carroll ISD has a new deputy superintendent. According to a news release, Carpenter is known for bringing people together and setting clear goals. Previously, she led Midlothian ISD as interim superintendent and assistant superintendent of administration. “With her years of experience as an administrator, principal and teacher, Dr. Carpenter will be an asset to CISD,” said superintendent Lane Ledbetter in the release. Our district is excited that she will make Carroll her professional home.”As the district continues to navigate controversy surrounding diversity and inclusion, Carpenter’s hiring will play a role.

Should Dallas draft the top linebacker with all that has happened regarding Jaylon Smith and Leighton Vander Esch? Any defender whom the Cowboys draft in the first round should project as both an immediate starter and someone who would facilitate the culture that defensive coordinator Dan Quinn seeks to create. But as early as Day 2 of the draft, I’d look for the Cowboys to bolster their linebacker depth. Do you think the Cowboys will draft a quarterback in the sixth or seventh round? Michael Gehlken: Yes, I could see the Cowboys drafting a quarterback in Day 3 of the draft.

A safe and anonymous way for people to dispose of unused and unneeded prescription drugs will be held this Saturday. National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and the Denver Police Department is partnering with U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration for the event, according to a DPD news release. Prescription drugs can be anonymously dropped off in Denver at district police stations:District One, 1311 W. 46th Ave.District Two, 3921 Holly St.District Three, 1625 S. University Blvd. The program is intended for prescription drugs, not Illegal drugs. National studies show that abused prescription drugs are sometimes obtained from family and friends, often from home medicine cabinets, the release said.

AUSTIN, Texas — The University of Texas has announced that its traditional marching and pep bands will be required to play “The Eyes of Texas” when they return to performing, but a new band will also be created that won’t play the school song with racist elements in its past. The announcement posted Wednesday on the school of music’s web page said the traditional Longhorn Band and pep band will be required to perform a repertoire of songs that include “The Eyes of Texas.” Both the marching band and pep band earn academic credits toward graduation. The school is also creating a “to be named” university band for students for fall 2022 that will not play the alma mater or school fight song. That band will also earn academic credit, but the school did not say where or when it will perform. Gary Bledsoe, president of the Texas chapter of the NAACP and a Texas law school graduate, sharply criticized the decisions to keep playing the song and create a separate band.

The documentary, which was primarily directed, filmed and produced by students from SMU’s Meadows School of the Arts, centers around five tweets posted by Black students using the #BlackAtSMU hashtag in June 2020. The screen before the premiere of #BlackAtSMU film, which documents five Black students' encounters with racism at SMU, at the Dallas Hall Lawn on SMU's Campus on Wednesday, April 21, 2021, in Dallas. The idea to create a film about the tweets came originally from SMU film professor Amber Bemak. In protest, Sanders and other Black students burned confederate flags at the event. One Black student remembered hearing students chanting a racial slur across campus following the election of President Donald Trump.

The Milwaukee County Sheriff's Office and the Milwaukee Police Department responded to a homicide around 5 p.m. Thursday at Sherman Park, 3000 N. Sherman Blvd. An 18-year-old man was fatally shot at the basketball court in the park. The Sheriff's Office Criminal Investigative Division is investigating. Wednesday night, residents of the Sherman Park neighborhood participated in a virtual town hall hosted by County Supervisor Felesia Martin, where residents offered suggestions to help improve the park. Safety and security was a main concern for many, and representatives with the sheriff's office were in attendance.

A three-time state champion at Germantown who led the program to four state finals and six state tournament appearances, he has won 314 games with a .754 winning percentage in his 17 seasons as a head coach. Thursday evening the school announced Showalter as its new boys basketball coach. I’m honored to serve the Dominican community in this capacity as head basketball coach,” Showalter said in a press release. Showalter then spent a season as an assistant coach at Lindenwood University in St. Charles, Missouri. “We are extremely excited to have Coach Showalter lead our boys basketball program.” Dominican Athletic Director Joe Grady said in the press release.

Las Vegas police are asking the public for additional information after a 40-year-old man was arrested Wednesday on suspicion of sexually assaulting a child. Nicholas Collotta (LVMPD)Las Vegas police are asking the public for additional information after a 40-year-old man was arrested Wednesday on suspicion of sexually assaulting a child. Nicholas Collotta was booked into the Clark County Detention Center, according to a statement from the Metropolitan Police Department. He faces felony counts of sexually assaulting or exploiting a child under 14 with substantial bodily or mental harm, and lewdness with a child under 14, court records show. He remained in the detention center on Thursday with $50,000 bail, court records show.

Yoan Moncada talked about it in Boston, reflecting on when the Red Sox traded him and Michael Kopech to the White Sox for Chris Sale. The Red Sox weren’t kicking Moncada and Kopech to the curb, they were trying to win a World Series by putting Sale in their starting rotation, and they did. The Red Sox got their rings and the White Sox got a potential All-Star third baseman for years to come and a pitcher with a sky-high ceiling. The White Sox’ same rebuild mission brought them right-handers Lucas Giolito, Reynaldo Lopez and Dane Dunning from the Nationals for Adam Eaton in a proven player for prospects trade. “Obviously, I wasn’t planning on getting traded,” Dunning said.

I haven’t dealt with those since junior high school, and I don’t plan on doing it now,” Brown said. Rumors that Brown might be resigning were driven in part by his lack of visibility after some recent high-profile incidents. “I am not the kind of leader that chases the camera and says, ‘Look at me,’” Brown said. ... We had to dig ourselves out of a hole.”Still, the department is meeting only slightly more than half of the 72 deadlines being assessed by an independent monitor of the consent decree, Brown acknowledged. He was acting superintendent from November 2019 until April 2020, when Brown was appointed permanent superintendent.

Follow our live blog as Jim Owczarski and Ben Steele provide updates from Bucks game against the 76ers at Fiserv Forum.

Olive-Harvey College marked Earth Day on Thursday by breaking ground on a new greenhouse for growing hemp. The college’s Urban Agriculture program will use the 1,500-square-foot greenhouse to give students hands-on experience — and a path into careers in the booming legal cannabis industry. Students will use hemp from the greenhouse to make a variety of commercial and industrial products. “As the cannabis industry continues to expand, industry experts have shared that optimal growing happens in greenhouse environments,” Kimberly Hollingsworth, president of Olive-Harvey College, was quoted as saying in a news release. “It transformed my career trajectory,” said Angelique Nieves, who recently earned a certificate in the program and spoke at the groundbreaking.

The Cubs have placed outfielder Joc Pederson on the 10-day injured list with left wrist tendinitis, retroactive to April 21. Pederson, 28, has struggled offensively to start the season and after a torrid spring, he’s cooled significantly since the regular season has begun. The Cubs’ left fielder is slashing .137/.262 /.235 with just one homer in 16 games this season. “I think you’re trying as best as you can to mimic game action, or as close as you can to it,” Duffy said. Seeing breaking balls off the machine as well going down and tracking pitchers in their bullpens on the side really helps as well.

(Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @csstevensphotoPeople gather outside for the opening ceremony of the $56 million Las Vegas municipal courthouse in downtown on Thursday, April 22, 2021. (Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @csstevensphotoThe Las Vegas municipal courthouse in downtown on Thursday, April 22, 2021. (Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @csstevensphotoLas Vegas Mayor Carolyn Goodman speaks during the opening ceremony for the $56 million Las Vegas municipal courthouse in downtown on Thursday, April 22, 2021. Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @csstevensphotoThe lobby of the $56 million Las Vegas municipal courthouse in downtown on Thursday, April 22, 2021. (Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @csstevensphotoThe lobby of the $56 million Las Vegas municipal courthouse in downtown on Thursday, April 22, 2021.

Suburban gambling kingpin Rick Heidner and his Gold Rush Amusements Inc. will keep operating his slot machines “in good standing” at more than 600 establishments across the state under the deal approved Wednesday by the Illinois Gaming Board. That agency’s administrator, Marcus Fruchter, moved to revoke Heidner’s gambling license in December 2019, claiming Heidner had offered up a $5 million “illegal inducement” to the owner of a gambling parlor chain that planned to remove Heidner’s slots. State gambling law prohibits “giving anything of value to an establishment as an incentive” to use a company’s machines. But more than a year into the case, new evidence “added clarity and context to the events underlying the disciplinary complaint,” Fruchter said before Gaming Board members unanimously approved the settlement. That summer, federal agents went looking for items related to Heidner and Gold Rush among other entities when they raided the offices of then state Sen. Martin Sandoval and McCook Mayor Jeff Tobolski.

I’m an orphan from the South Side of Chicago!” – The new hero in “Mortal Kombat,” learning his bloodlines make him the new hero in “Mortal Kombat.”As the gory and glossy but often boring reboot of “Mortal Kombat” plays out with fights and exposition, fights and exposition, exposition and more fights, rinse and repeat, one can almost hear the studio executives discussing how to make a movie to satisfy the hardcore fans as well as the newbies. “Let’s make this one more violent and more serious than the 1990s ‘Mortal Kombat’ movies and include plenty of callbacks and Easter Eggs and inside references for the gamers who love the franchise!”‘Mortal Kombat’: 2 out of 4 CST_ CST_ CST_ CST_ CST_ CST_ CST_ CST_ New Line Cinema presents a film directed by Simon McQuoid, and written by Greg Russo and Dave Callaham. “Sounds great, but — and hear me out now — let’s also introduce a brand-new character and make him an MMA fighter who knows nothing about the world of ‘Mortal Kombat,’ so when characters explain things to him, they’re explaining everything to the audience as well!”“Ka-ching!”Maybe. Based on the monumentally successful video game franchise and essentially wiping clean the events of the 1995 “Mortal Kombat” movie and the 1997 sequel, this blood-spattered, hard-R fantasy adventure is a fresh start in what is clearly intended to be a new series of films. One might reasonably surmise longtime fans of “Mortal Kombat” would have a better time playing the latest version of the game than watching this origins story.

The grand jury released its first interim report. It slammed unspecified school districts and the state Department of Education for failing to comply with state safety laws passed by the Legislature as a result of Parkland. These measures include requiring schools to have one armed person in every campus, involving law enforcement in assessments to determine the level of threat certain students pose, and turning in accurate crime and safety reports to the state.

Samuel Gallardo, 52, was arrested in Mexico after escaping Nevada Department of Corrections custody in 1994. Samuel Gallardo (Nevada Department of Corrections)A man who had been on the run for 27 years was extradited to Nevada on Wednesday after being captured in Mexico. Samuel Gallardo, 52, was arrested in Mexico after escaping Nevada Department of Corrections custody, according to a U.S. Gallardo had been working on a fire crew when he escaped in February 1994, according to NDOC. Gallardo was found living in Nayarit, Mexico, in January 2020 and subsequently arrested and extradited back to the U.S. to serve the remainder of his 40-year sentence in NDOC custody.

Because licensed disseminators haven’t been able to negotiate a contract with Churchill Downs, the Nevada Gaming Commission stepped in with a regulatory amendment. Jockey John Velazquez riding Authentic, wins the 146th running of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs, Saturday, Sept. 5, 2020, in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)Horse-racing fans will be able to bet on May 1’s Kentucky Derby, thanks to a unanimous vote of the Nevada Gaming Commission Thursday. Following an hourlong hearing, commissioners agreed to amend an existing regulation to allow the state’s more than 120 sports-betting locations to use a nationally televised broadcast to determine the results of the race instead of licensed disseminators. Las Vegas Dissemination Inc. and Nevada Disseminator Services Inc. have been unable to negotiate a contract with Churchill Downs, the Louisville, Kentucky-based horse-racing track that conducts the Kentucky Derby, horse-racing’s most famous event and the first leg of the Triple Crown of horse racing, to provide race results. Regulation 22 requires that a licensed race book shall determine the winners of or payouts on wagers on horse and other animal races only with information the book receives from licensed disseminators.

Ross said at the start of spring training that he would be less patient managing in his second season at the helm. That hasn’t been apparent yet, but he sat Jason Heyward against a left-hander for the second straight game Thursday night, and team President Jed Hoyer’s much-discussed decision to sign Pederson as a regular left fielder instead of a platoon player could be revisited if Pederson doesn’t show some improvement against left-handers when he returns. He was 1-for-13 versus lefties going into Thursday’s game, while Heyward was 2-for-11.

Cruz has admitted to the shootings at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School on Valentine’s Day 2018. Through his lawyers, he offered to plead guilty to 17 counts of murder and 17 counts of attempted murder in exchange for a life sentence. Because prosecutors are seeking the death penalty, a mental health evaluation is crucial to the defense plans to craft an argument that could convince a jury to spare the gunman’s life.

Suffolk County District Attorney Timothy Sini and Suffolk County Water Authority Chairman Patrick Halpin on Thursday announced a first-of-its-kind partnership to monitor Suffolk's groundwater and combat environmental polluters. Credit: Morgan Campbell

“The locations, which include the United Center site that is run in conjunction with the federal government, will open up access in order to accommodate residents who don’t want to or cannot schedule appointments ahead of time, Arwady said during a Thursday question-and-answer session. The announcement comes after three Cook County mass vaccination sites in the south suburbs — Matteson, Summit and Tinley Park — also opened up to walk-ins this week.”

Lehner, now a Golden Knight, called that a "blatant lie" and argued the league must take players’ mental health into consideration in setting its policies. The NHL countered that it had made no specific promises about post-vaccination changes such as those implemented by the NBA and MLB. Islanders wing Kyle Palmieri acknowledged before Thursday’s game against the Capitals the ongoing challenge of restricted behavior. "I think as hockey players we obviously want to get back to what normalcy is perceived to be." The second line featured Michael Dal Colle, Brock Nelson and Palmieri, followed by Anthony Beauvillier, J-G Pageau and Josh Bailey.

When their injury status report was issued Thursday afternoon, the Nets listed superstar Kevin Durant (left thigh contusion) as "questionable" to face the Celtics Friday night at Barclays Center. "At this juncture of the season, guys are all competing…for position, especially now with play-in scenarios," Harris said. "You’re ideally not playing in the play-in games, so this is a big stretch here to close out the season for a lot of different teams. With 13 regular-season games remaining, the Nets are in position to earn the No. Harris said neither the Nets’ players nor coaches have placed any emphasis on finishing No.

Wild center Ryan Hartman is sticking around for the foreseeable future. He signed a three-year, $5.1 million contract extension ($1.7 million AAV) on Thursday evening and will be under contract through the 2023-24 season. He is among the best penalty killers on the roster and leads the Wild in shorthanded points this season. For his career, the 6-foot, 190-pound Hartman has 127 points (57 goals, 70 assists) in 354 games. He started his career as a first-round pick of the Chicago Blackhawks and has also played for the Nashville Predators and Philadelphia Flyers.

“There is an enormous reservoir of goodwill among the people for the Postal Service. That has to be preserved, it cannot be squandered, it’s the strength of the Postal Service,” said Hajjar. Despite the concerns, more than 99% of ballots were delivered to election officials within five days during the general election, according to the Postal Service. During the hearing, the nominees stressed the need to establish a clear plan to improve delivery service as lawmakers pressed them on delays. “The universal service obligation of the Postal Service requires delivering prompt, reliable and efficient service to all Americans, all over the country,” said Stroman.

A message to all Long Islanders who've been vaccinated:Your help is needed. According to state data, at 45 of 77 Long Island nursing homes, less than half the staff is fully vaccinated. The broader slowdown makes it clear: Long Islanders who've gotten their shots must spread the word. Come Friday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention may restart the one-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccine, perhaps with some restrictions. More than a million Long Islanders have received at least one shot.

"It physically hurts my face," said Ikram, wearing a face shield, outside her home on Thursday before going to a doctor's appointment. Ikram said she thought whatever was thrown at her was a prank, "like warm juice, room temperature." "We have no evidence at this time to say it was a hate crime," Ryder said. "We have no evidence at this time to say it was not a hate crime. Since the attack, Ikram said, she has received support from friends she was in the Girl Scouts with when she was 10 years old.

An identical statehood bill passed the House in 2020, but died in the then-Republican-controlled Senate. Manchin is also one of a handful of Democratic Senators who has not openly supported the D.C. statehood initiative. D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser tied the statehood issue to America’s ongoing reckoning over police brutality and longstanding issues of racial injustice. Ravi Perry, head of Howard University’s political science department, said the events of last summer were a crucial turning point for the perception of the D.C. statehood push, intertwining the issue with the country’s ascendant racial justice movement. “People have started to see D.C. statehood as the racial justice issue that it is,” said Perry, who is also on the board of the pro-statehood group D.C. Vote.

His longest batted ball came Wednesday night, when he hit a home run clear out of Wrigley Field. Unsolicited, Alonso expressed skepticism, saying he got "snubbed" by that distance. "That ball did not go 429 feet," Alonso said unsolicited, noting that it was one of his top-five favorite homers. Roster moveThe Mets called up righthander Sean Reid-Foley, one of the players received from the Blue Jays for Steven Matz in January. Extra basesAlthough it will be a Friday night home game, the Mets will not wear their black jerseys against the Nationals.

MADISON, Wis. — The supply of COVID-19 vaccine in Wisconsin is nearing the point of exceeding demand for the first time, with more than 50% of the eligible population having received at least one dose and nearly 30% of the total population fully vaccinated. The large number of people who have been vaccinated to date also has an impact on lessening demand, she said. “Think about it: 4 million doses have already been given so there’s not going to be as many calls coming for each and every dose,” Willems Van Dijk said. About 1.5 million more people need to be fully vaccinated to reach 80% of the total population, the target for herd immunity, Willems Van Dijk said. “Each person who gets vaccinated is more protection for them and others around them,” Willems Van Dijk said.

The Portland area’s first motel to be converted into a shelter under Oregon’s $65 million program to remake motels into new homes for those made homeless by wildfires or poverty will open in Hillsboro. Washington County has partnered with Bienestar and the Urban League of Portland to provide programming and supportive services to shelter clients. Bienstar predominantly provides housing services to Latino and immigrant families while the Urban League of Portland typically serves Black families. Washington County officials expect to open the shelter quickly, though a specific launch date has not been shared. Besides the new one in Hillsboro, all nine others approved so far lie well outside the Portland area, with the closest in Lincoln City.

A Vancouver man was killed Wednesday afternoon when his vintage aircraft crashed into a hangar on the northwestern end of Grove Field airport north of Camas. His daughter, Rebecca Perala of Vancouver, identified him Thursday as 69-year-old Mark Lewallen. The Federal Aviation Administration registry shows the plane was manufactured in 1941 and had been registered to Lewallen since October 2012. Clark County sheriff’s deputies and East County Fire & Rescue personnel responded at 3:13 p.m. for the aircraft emergency at Grove Field, 632 N.E. Carnes said he was unsure if the plane was connected to the flight school at Grove Field.

EUGENE — Oregon softball is adding to its incoming class via the transfer portal. Kailee Luschar, who spent the fall with Arizona State, will join the Ducks in the fall of 2021. “She will add a strong left-handed bat and will provide power and speed for us.”Luschar was the Nevada Gatorade State Player of the Year for the shortened 2020 season. She had a career .510 average, 90 stolen bases, .580 on-base percentage and 11 home runs at Carson High School.. She will also join her younger sister, Kedre Luschar, as a part of the incoming group of Ducks next season as the younger Luschar signed in November and will be a freshman in the fall.

Dear Annie: I have friends and family who have traveled for vacations during the COVID-19 pandemic. My husband and I have taken trips during the pandemic, too, but only road trips, and we stay at Airbnb rentals (by ourselves). But my husband is sickened by their behavior, and he’s begun opting out of our weekly family Zoom calls. Thankfully, we live far away from these friends and relatives, and they’re not really part of our regular daily lives. Dear Annie: Your column caught my eye when you printed a prayer for Lent about fasting from negative emotions.

The Oregon Ducks added a pair of in-state preferred walk-on commitments this week. On Thursday, Sunset offensive guard Kanen Rossi completed his commitment flip by announcing his future with the Ducks:The 6-foot-3, 290-pound guard - a 247Sports two-star prospect - had been committed to Valparaiso University, but decommitted last week following a preferred walk-on offer from Oregon, signaling an in-state pledge was likely imminent. According to 247Sports, Jaramillo is rated the No. 52 player in Oregon in the class of 2021, while Rossi is rated No. Given their preferred walk-on status, both players are assured a spot on the roster, but are not on scholarship.

That’s what the Portland Police Bureau says it needs immediately to help meet U.S. Justice Department requirements on reporting and reviewing when officers use force. As the only bureau in the city without the Microsoft subscription software, Portland police have relied solely on staff email to track use-of-force reports and supervisors’ reviews of those reports. But he said, “I believe the pros outweigh the costs, even in these fiscally tough times.”Officers and supervisors currently file the force reports manually and share them through email and email attachments, according to Frome and Buckley. The three-step review, for example, is required for force reports involving officers with the bureau’s crowd control Rapid Response Team. Commissioner Mingus Mapps said he’d support bringing the Police Bureau’s software in line with every other bureau in the city.

In September 2019, the Park Rapids man successfully set the world record for the tallest full Mohican mohawk. Grisamore seeks the title for the tallest mohawk spike. According to Guinness World Record rules, nothing may support the mohawk other than hair-styling products. This is Joe’s second attempt at the tallest spike mohawk. A previous effort in 2007 failed when he didn’t meet Guinness World Records’ newly established official guidelines.

On January 11, the Butler County Regional SWAT team responded to a 911 call from a resident living in the 6800 block of Yoakum Court at Lakota Pointe Townhomes near Liberty Junior High School. The standoff lasted for several hours, according to Gmoser, and eventually, Thomas stopped replying to the negotiators. SWAT decided to use a robot to get a chemical irritant inside the home and conduct video surveillance but Thomas closed the door, according to the release. After Thomas closed the door, SWAT made another attempt to breach the door. That's when, Gmoser states, Thomas appeared at the door with his pistol and pointed his unholstered firearm at SWAT team members.

Former Cincinnati Reds fan favorite Todd Frazier tweeted after making his 2021 debut Thursday for the Pittsburgh Pirates that he was awaiting a "miserable tweet" from a columnist who had suggested last month that the team give Phillip Evans a roster spot instead of Frazier. Frazier had played for the Chicago White Sox, New York Yankees, New York Mets, Texas Rangers and the Mets again since the Reds traded him after the 2015 season. Frazier was mic'd up in March during a television broadcast of a Spring Training game between the Pirates and Baltimore Orioles. Frazier tweeted in February that video shared via Twitter of Frazier celebrating a 2013 home run he promised then-honorary batboy Ted Kremer made his night. The Reds traded Frazier to the Chicago White Sox in Dec. 2015 in a deal that brought Jose Peraza, Scott Schebler and Brandon Dixon from the Dodgers to Cincinnati.

If that description is overly mechanical, well, so is "Mortal Kombat." For a "Mortal Kombat" movie, you could do a lot worse, and probably not too much better. This "Mortal Kombat" is R-rated and proud of it, allowing its characters to lob F-bombs and rip holes through their opponents' stomachs at will. Training and fight sequences ensue, and the catchphrases one would expect to hear in a "Mortal Kombat" movie ("flawless victory," "get over here!") For now, this is the "Mortal Kombat" fans deserve, and that's good enough.

Tigers' Jose Urena on JaCoby Jones' highlight-reel catch: 'He never gave up'Tigers starter Jose Urena has pitched into the seventh inning in his last two starts for the first time in his career.

The prosecutor has charged Tuleya with a criminal breach of secrecy for allowing journalists into his courtroom for a verdict in 2017. Tuleya has said that allowing the journalists in the court was fully permitted under the criminal code and that he revealed no secrets. That is why you can see so many lawyers in front of the court. We are all threatened,” said Michal Wawrykiewicz, a lawyer with Free Courts, a group fighting for the rule of law. Nearly six years later, however, it still struggles to control the lower courts, where independent judges often issue rulings that run counter to the government.

The trust that oversees the troubled Oklahoma County jail is turning to the former administrator of Tulsa County's jail for help. What's happening at the Oklahoma County Jail? "Lives are at stake every single day at the Oklahoma County jail," said Lowe, D-Oklahoma City. He left the Tulsa County jail in November for health reasons. Oklahoma County Jail staffing remains biggest problemJail Administrator Greg Williams told the trust the consultant wanted $110 an hour.

COLUMBUS – Akron-based FirstEnergy is talking with the U.S. Attorney's Office about taking a deal in the bribery investigation linked to House Bill 6's nuclear bailout, the company disclosed in a filing Thursday. First Energy disclosed that the company was in discussions with the federal prosecutor about the state bribery case. Whatever the resolution, it likely would harm the company, FirstEnergy reported. "FirstEnergy believes that it is probable that it will incur a loss in connection with the resolution of this investigation." A FirstEnergy subsidiary contributed most of that money, attorneys disclosed in response to a federal lawsuit.

(AP) — Arkansas lawmakers on Thursday voted to propose constitutional amendments to make passing ballot measures tougher and allow the Legislature to convene a special session without a governor's mandate. The Senate voted 23-6 to place on next year's ballot a proposal requiring a 60% voter majority, rather than a simple majority, to approve proposed initiated acts or constitutional amendments. The new threshold would apply to initiatives placed on the ballot by the Legislature and ones by petition campaigns. The proposed change follows several major ballot initiatives getting approved in recent elections, including medical marijuana and an increase in the state's minimum wage. Currently, only the governor can call a special session.

“Right now we are in this tug-of-war between virus and variants, versus vaccine and vigilance,” Dr. Richard Herman, Brockton’s pandemic consultant, said. There are 48 communities in the high-risk “red” zone this week, down from 59 last week and 77 the week prior, weekly Department of Public Health reports show. Revere briefly dropped out of the red zone as cases receded across the commonwealth after the winter holidays, but has since returned. 1 message is now that everyone’s eligible, get vaccinated.”The number of cities and towns in the red zone has fluctuated in recent weeks after tumbling to just 14 in early March from a peak of 229 in mid-January. The list of high-risk communities then swelled to 77 over four consecutive weeks, before subsiding over the past two.

The city’s coronavirus numbers have taken a turn for the better, with the positive test rate and number of cases both dropping. “We are seeing encouraging trends this week in Boston,” Acting Mayor Kim Janey said in a press conference on Thursday. In somewhat less good news, the city’s testing numbers have not declined two weeks in a row as focus remains on vaccines. Upper Dorchester, Roslindale and South Boston are also above 5%. Janey said the city’s mobile vaccination units would head to Mattapan, Dorchester and South Boston in the coming days to bring more shots to people.

It wasn’t Alex Cora’s decision alone to use Matt Barnes as the closer of the Red Sox this season. Adam Ottavino deserves a lot of the credit. At 35 years old and in his 11th big league season, Ottavino joined the Red Sox with more bullpen experience than anyone on the team. He had everything going for him entering spring training, when Cora implied there’d be competition for the ninth inning. “I know what it’s like to be the longest tenured guy in the bullpen and the psychological component,” Ottavino said.

A new report claims that Massachusetts taxpayers are footing the bill for $25 million in inflated charges to the state’s Medicaid program by pharmacy benefit managers and the insurers that hire them. The report, authored by 3 Axis Advisors LLC, claims that pharmacy benefit managers are charging insurers sometimes upwards of 100% more than the recommended cost of prescriptions. This “spread pricing” serves only to increase PBM profits, the report said, and that cost gets passed along to taxpayers. Greg Lopes, a spokesman for the Pharmaceutical Care Management Association, which represents PBMs, said spread pricing is not unique to pharmacy benefit managers. As part of the fiscal 2020 budget, she said, MassHealth codified requirements on managed care plans to improve PBM transparency.

That’s the gist of a civil lawsuit filed in federal court by Leah Bassett of Skye Lane, which is now scheduled for trial in Boston this summer. Judging from her court filings, Ms. Bassett, the plaintiff, remains quite distraught about her home being used in such an underhanded fashion. I mean, it wasn’t hetero porn, it was gay porn being shot at her house. How can any Social Justice Warrior billionaire hedge funder from New York be offended by gay porn? “And then a male friend made Ms. Bassett aware that he had just seen a gay male porn video that appeared to have been ‘shot’ at her residence!

(AP) — Montana’s governor on Thursday signed a bill that codifies the right of people to challenge government regulations that interfere with their religious beliefs. The legislation, by Republican Sen. Carl Glimm, requires the government to have a compelling reason to violate a person's constitutional right to freedom of religion and to meet its goals in the least restrictive way possible. “Citizens should not be left defenseless when their government attempts to burden their ability to live and worship according to their faith. This law provides a sensible balancing test for courts to use when reviewing government policies that infringe upon the religious freedom rights of Montanans," the Alliance Defending Freedom said in a statement. Opponents fear the law will allow businesses to challenge ordinances in cities that have local ordinances prohibiting discrimination in housing or employment based on sexual orientation or gender identity.

BOSTON (AP) — Gov. Charlie Baker signed an executive order Thursday aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions across state facilities. The action sets goals to accelerate the state’s decarbonization efforts in state agencies and public institutions of higher education in part by prioritizing electrification of buildings and transportation, the Republican said. The order requires all new construction at state agencies and campuses to meet energy performance standards in part through the installation of high efficiency heating and cooling systems. Attorney General Maura Healey also marked Earth Day on Thursday by stopping by Springfield to help launch a new collaborative air quality monitoring project to measure air pollution levels

The state budget also includes money for numerous economic grant programs and construction projects drawing on that federal money, includes $500 million toward a regional economic development grants program, $250 million for broadband internet expansion grants and $160 million for water infrastructure projects. Republicans described the budget plan as focused on helping the state’s economy grow in the coming years and helping to boost Indiana’s lagging teacher pay. Republican House Majority Leader Matt Lehman of Berne called it a “wow budget.”“This says Indiana is going to grow, we’re going to grow rapidly,” Lehman said. “We’re going to put broadband into your communities, we’re going to build water infrastructure in communities. And we are setting the table to grow rapidly.”The projected school funding increases of 4.6% in the budget’s first year and 4.3% in the second follow a decade of Republican-written state budgets that raised that funding by an average of about 1.5% a year, drawing criticism about school spending not even keeping up with inflation.

(AP) — The Montana Legislature voted Thursday to advance a bill that would ban transgender athletes from participating in school and university sports according to the gender with which they identify. The governors of North Dakota and Kansas vetoed similar measures this week. The Montana House and Senate approved the bill largely along party lines, after it was amended to become void if the federal government withholds education funding from the state over gender discrimination and an appeal by the state fails. In the state House, the amended bill passed 60-39. In the Senate, it was advanced with a 27-23 vote, after several Republican lawmakers joined Democrats in voting against it.

He says the state will look to make vaccine access easy, convenient and quick. The governor says three of Colorado’s mass vaccination sites will start offering walk-in and drive-in vaccination in addition to the same-day vaccine appointments that are already available. The announcement came Thursday, hours after India reported a global record of more than 314,000 new infections in the previous 24-hours. Canada’s health minister says half the people who are testing positive for the coronavirus after arriving in Canada by airplane came from India. Flights from India account for about one fifth of the country’s air traffic.

“Nobody wins when we try to codify discrimination like this.”The measure calls for an optional interim study of the impact the bill would have on student athletic events. The findings would be forwarded to the 2023 Legislature. Opponents say the measure discriminates against transgender student athletes and would threaten the hosting of collegiate and club sports events in the state and create legal and economic risks. Supporters say the legislation would ensure fairness in girls sports and support Title IX, a 1972 federal law that protects people from sex-based discrimination in school activities that receive federal money. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.

That's been the case for a long time now,” said Greenwald, who has been helping prepare such lawsuits for more than 20 years. “Usually when we bring these `deadline’ suits, the Fish and Wildlife Service offers us a date and we agree and there’s a settlement. In this case, we felt there was such an emergency here, that immediate action needed to happen. We weren’t willing to settle for some date in the future,” he said. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.

DETROIT (AP) — The U.S. Transportation Department is moving to reverse former President Donald Trump's bid to end California's ability to set its own automobile tailpipe pollution standards. The change, if approved after the agency takes public comments, would allow California and 15 states that follow its standards to set their own rules. President Joe Biden has said he will seek one national standard, as was the case under former President Barack Obama. Trump's 2019 decision to end California's independence was challenged in court by the state and environmental groups. Trump's move split the industry, with most automakers behind him while Ford, Honda, BMW, Volkswagen and Volvo decided to go with California standards.

Shut it down,” the crowd roared during the march into the heart of Times Square after speakers began the march in Columbus Circle. There was also a dance party outside Rudin's offices. The crowd then paused in front of Equity headquarters to air their grievances, including not protecting workers who allege harassment and how the organization, which represents 51,000 actors and stage managers, uses the dues from members. Many vowed not to go back to work and not to pay their dues unless their demands were met. "The union is working to share additional information on spending regarding diversity and inclusion," it said.

Besides the murder charges Alissa was originally charged with, Dougherty said his office has filed more than 40 new felony charges against Alissa, including attempted murder charges involving responding police officers and shoppers. A court document made public Wednesday outlines the new charges and lists 19 new victims — including 11 law enforcement officers — that Alissa is accused of trying to kill during the attack. Dougherty said investigators have determined that nine people in the store were killed before responding police officers entered it. A second wave of officers stormed the store within 30 seconds and took Alissa into custody after he was shot in the leg. At least 115 people were in the store during the attack, and at least 25 more were in the lot where Alissa parked before entering the store, Dougherty said.

In the midst of a respiratory pandemic, residents who were uninvolved in the protest reported feeling the effects of tear gas in their apartments; one couple described dousing their baby's eyes with breast milk to ease the burning. Pedersen said he couldn't imagine continuing to allow police to use tear gas on the public, but the measure's lead sponsor, first-term Rep. Jesse Johnson, D-Federal Way, said he believed it was appropriate to address threats to life — not merely vandalism or property damage. Under the compromise adopted Thursday, officers can deploy tear gas at riots, but only with the prior approval of the highest elected official in the jurisdiction. That would mean the county executive or the chair of the county commission in counties; the mayor in cities, whether the mayor is directly elected or appointed by the city council; and the governor in the case of the Washington State Patrol. “Although I would prefer personally a flat ban, I’m comfortable that, particularly in a situation where tear gas is proposed to be used on members of the public, that there is going to be somebody who has real accountability to the voters for the decision,” Pedersen said.

NEW YORK (AP) — At least 23.2 million Americans watched on television this week as former Minneapolis police Officer Derek Chauvin was convicted of murder and manslaughter in the death of George Floyd. The Nielsen company's estimate came from viewership figures on 11 different networks that carried Tuesday's verdict live. The actual audience was likely higher, however, since Nielsen's count did not include ESPN, which also carried the verdict. Word spread that the verdict was coming some 90 minutes before it was delivered, giving time for an audience to gather. CNN, with an estimated 4.03 million viewers, had the biggest audience, according to Nielsen.

Massive sinkholes large enough to swallow a care formed along farmlands in Turkey, what Hollywood stars have to say about the future of movie theaters, and more of today's top videos.

MARATHON, Fla. (AP) — Staff from the Florida Keys-based Turtle Hospital released a rehabilitated loggerhead sea turtle back to the ocean on Thursday to mark Earth Day. When the endangered reptile arrived at the Turtle Hospital, it was in critical condition and was not expected to survive. Beyond Earth Day, individuals can make a difference regarding the environment, Turtle Hospital manager Bette Zirkelbach said. “I really believe that today with awareness that every day is Earth Day. The Turtle Hospital has been rescuing, rehabilitating and returning turtles to the wild for more than 35 years.

.......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... ..........ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Diners at Albuquerque’s Sawmill Market have a few more options to choose from with the opening of two new restaurant concepts this week. Rush of Prana, owned by Annapurna’s World Vegetarian Cafe’s chef Yashoda Naidoo, follows in the popular restaurant’s footsteps with offerings of juices and bowls featuring ayurvedic ingredients. Also new to the food hall is Kulantro, a Vietnamese street food restaurant owned by Jason Doan. “There’s nothing like it at Sawmill Market, so I believe that … it will be a big hit,” he said. Sawmill Market also announced plans to expand its outdoor area known as The Yard and add five new merchant spaces.

The Texas Department of Criminal Justice’s decision to not allow clergy in the death chamber was criticized by death penalty opponents as well as religious leaders and advocates of religious freedom. The ban followed the high court’s March 2019 ruling staying the execution of Patrick Murphy, a member of the “Texas 7” gang of escaped prisoners. Texas previously allowed state-employed clergy to accompany inmates into the chamber, but its prison staff included only Christian and Muslim clerics. ADVERTISEMENTSkip................................................................On Wednesday, the director of the prison system’s Correctional Institutions Division signed a policy allowing an approved spiritual adviser or agency chaplain to be present in the execution chamber, said TDCJ spokesman Jeremy Desel. In Smith’s case, Alabama also later changed its procedures to allow spiritual advisers in the execution chamber.

.......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... ..........AUSTIN, Texas — Federal health officials have informed state officials that a Texas woman has been hospitalized with possible blood clots associated with Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine recipients, a state spokesman said Thursday. Federal and state agencies have paused the J&J vaccine rollout due to concerns about blood clots. Federal officials already were examining six reports of the unusual clots, including a death, out of more than 6.8 million Americans given the one-dose vaccination so far. New COVID-19 cases in Texas returned to below-average levels as 2,990 cases were reported Thursday, compared to the seven-day rolling average of 3,350 calculated by Johns Hopkins University researchers. The CDC said that the percentage of the Texas population receiving at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine had topped 36%, while the percentage of those fully vaccinated was almost 24%.

Daines, she said, wants to ensure federal lands remain open for both conservation and energy development. “Her track record is really balanced throughout her career, especially over the last 20 years." Chief among them was conservative lawyer William Perry Pendley, who before he took the position advocated for selling off federal lands. Pendley was ordered removed by a federal judge after leading the bureau for more than year without required Senate confirmation and getting sued by Montana's governor. Stone-Manning lined up with Bullock in that fight and sharply criticize Pendley as an illegal appointee who “thumbed his nose at a federal judge” by staying on at the bureau after his authority was removed.

The two public university systems would allow for similar exemptions. The Johnson & Johnson vaccine is on pause due to concerns about blood clots. “We are announcing now so that students and employees have time to receive a vaccination” by fall, when the proposed policy would take effect, she said. The two systems have said they expect the majority of instruction and activities in fall 2021 to be in-person. “The planned COVID-19 vaccine requirement will further enable the campuses to be repopulated,” the statement said.

A police officer extinguished a “significant” fire inside a barrel and recovered a wooden cross, according to the affidavit. One witness told authorities that they saw the fire in front of the home, according to the complaint written by the FBI agent. The person was seen walking across the street to Brown's residence. Another witness said Brown laughed about the burning when asked about it and added an expletive. When asked by the FBI if he had anything to do with the burning of the cross, Brown said “No."

Here's what parking and getting to and from Churchill Downs during Kentucky Derby Week 2021 will look like:What to know about parking for Kentucky Derby 2021All parking at Churchill Downs for Kentucky Derby Week is reserved and sold in advance. Off-site parking for Kentucky Derby WeekThere are several options for off-site parking, but prepare to walk or take a shuttle. On Wednesday of Derby Week, drop-offs and pick-ups will be at Kentucky Derby Drive between Queen and Thornberry. You may like:Here are 15 horses to watch on the 2021 Kentucky Derby trailComing from a hotelHotel shuttles will also drop off and pick up at Jim Patterson Stadium on Kentucky Oaks and Kentucky Derby days. On Wednesday of Derby Week, drop-offs and pick-ups will be at Kentucky Derby Drive between Queen and Thornberry.

© Issam AHMED European Space Agency flight surgeon Adrianos Golemis, in Cape Canaveral, FloridaFrom muscle loss to radiation exposure and the psychological effects of confinement, spaceflight takes a toll on those lucky enough to experience it. European Space Agency flight surgeon Adrianos Golemis, who is responsible for the health of astronaut Thomas Pesquet during the SpaceX Crew-2 mission, shared some insights on the field of space medicine. Before they leave the ISS, we tell astronauts to drink a lot and eat a lot of salt. Eventually I went to Toulouse to Medes, the French Institute of Space Medicine and Physiology. Right now the European Space Agency is recruiting new astronauts and you can apply until the end of May.

April 22 (Reuters) - Unusually low rainfall around Mexico City has left aquifers and reservoirs depleted, leaving some residents without tap water and reverting to older ways of distributing water - transporting containers on donkeys' backs. As water levels drop, authorities have responded by reducing the flow from the reservoirs, disrupting tap water supplies. Addressing reporters the day before Earth Day, Mexico City Mayor Claudia Sheinbaum said she expected the drought to continue to affect water supplies and warned there could also be an increased danger of wildfires. Researchers have estimated natural water availability for the city could fall by 10-17% by 2050 as temperatures rise. (Reporting by Carlos Carrillo and Carlos Jasso, Editing by Rosalba O'Brien and Alistair Bell)Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Whether you love to run, jog or simply take walks around the block, a good pair of running shoes or sneakers can always come in handy. Needless to say, you'll want to shop the huge adidas shoe sale that's going on right now, with 30% off select top-rated pairs—but you'll have to move quickly to get them at a discount. This promotion will work on styles for men, women's and kids' styles. They're also a good buy for Earth Day as well, since they're made in part using recycled materials. The clock is ticking on this sale, however, so grab your favorite styles while they're still hot!

Astronomers have reconstructed the 22m-year-long voyage of an asteroid that hurtled through the solar system and exploded over Botswana, showering meteorites across the Kalahari desert. Nasa researchers had tracked the hazardous object from as far out as the moon using telescopes in Arizona and Hawaii. Armed with a good idea of the asteroid’s trajectory, the scientists were able to refine the location of its landing in the game reserve. The ejected space rock wandered the solar system, its surface being battered by cosmic rays, until it fell into the gravitational arms of the Earth and plummeted to the ground. “Knowing where meteorites come from gives us context for how they formed and is really important for understanding the history of our solar system.”

Sign up today for the best stories straight to your inbox Invalid Email Something went wrong, please try again later. Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy noticeElon Musk's SpaceX claims there was no "close call" between Starlink and OneWeb satellites in orbit after reports suggested an incident "almost ended in disaster". (Image: SpaceX Instagram)"SpaceX and OneWeb agreed that they had conducted successful coordination, resulting in a positive outcome. "The probability of collision never exceeded the threshold for manoeuvre and the satellites would not have collided even if no manoeuvre had been conducted." However, OneWeb Chief of Government, Chris McLaughlin, said "they would say that wouldn't they" when questioned about the SpaceX response by MailOnline.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Low-income families with children who are facing eviction can soon receive free legal representation under a new city ordinance. On Thursday, Louisville Metro Council members voted 22-4 in favor of establishing a "right to counsel" program, with services provided by the Legal Aid Society and the Coalition for the Homeless. The program will be funded with $400,000 in federal money from the American Rescue Plan Act and will run for at least a year. Background:Why Louisville might offer free legal services to low-income families facing evictionRelated:Loopholes let landlords force renters from their homesArmstrong said the program would allow tenants to have an advocate who can help them through the process and potentially keep thousands of families housed. "In civil proceedings, like evictions, people have no right to legal representation and they have no one to explain how the legal process works," she said.

The US Senate has overwhelmingly passed a bill that would help combat the rise of hate crimes against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, marking a bipartisan denunciation of the violence that has come into sharp focus during the coronavirus pandemic. The Senate passed the anti-Asian hate crimes bill on Thursday in a vote of 94 to 1, after Democrat Mazie Hirono worked with some of her Republican colleagues to ensure bipartisan support for the legislation. The legislation would create a new justice department position to more quickly review hate crime reports linked to the coronavirus pandemic and provide support to state and local officials responding to hate crimes. The Senate passage of the bill comes amid an alarming increase in reports of hate crimes among Asian Americans. The legislation would require the government to issue guidance aimed at “raising awareness of hate crimes during the pandemic” to address some GOP concerns about policing speech.

EU capitals have been asked by the European commission to back legal action against AstraZeneca by the end of the week over an alleged breach of its contractual obligations to supply member states with its Covid vaccine. The Anglo-Swedish company remains a key supplier from which the bloc is expecting a further 70m vaccine doses in the second quarter of this year. A spokesperson for the commission said no legal action had yet been taken. He said more than 20 member states had indicated they would back a legal claim. AstraZeneca delivered less than 30m of the expected 120m doses to EU member states in the first quarter of this year, and refused to redirect vaccines produced in the UK to make up for the losses.

American showjumper Andrew Kocher has received a 10-year suspension for using electric spurs on his horses after a tribunal by the International Equestrian Federation (FEI). An FEI investigation was opened into Kocher after a whistleblower alleged he used an electric shock device at several competitions. FEI regulations state that subjecting a horse to any kind of electric shock is considered as horse abuse. The United States Equestrian Federation said in a statement that it “unequivocally” supports the FEI tribunal decision. “Horses are our willing and trusted partners in sport and deserve our ultimate care and respect in the pursuit of excellence.

India has registered a record-breaking single-day tally of new Covid cases as a severe shortages of beds and oxygen hit Delhi hospitals and migrant workers made an exodus from the capital. On Tuesday an overcrowded bus that was carrying migrant workers from Delhi to Madhya Pradesh overturned in Gwalior, killing three people and injuring 12. Migrant workers feared losing their livelihoods and being unable to cover the cost of rent and food in big cities, said Richa Prasant, the founder of the Sunaayy Foundation, which supports migrant workers. At least [in their home areas] they have a support system.”Prior to Thursday, the record for the highest number of daily cases registered anywhere in the world was 300,310, set by the US on 2 January. Since the start of the pandemic, India has recorded 15.93m cases, including more than 1m in the past four days.

The new Tesla Model Y is introduced. Consumer Reports said Thursday it took a 2020 Tesla Model Y on a closed test track to see if the electric vehicle could operate on Autopilot, Tesla's automated driving system, with nobody in the driver's seat. Consumer Reports said it tricked Tesla's system by putting a weighted chain on the wheel and keeping the seat belt buckled on the driver's seat. The Consumer Reports engineers found in earlier tests that Tesla's Autopilot — like many automated driving systems — can operate where there are no lane lines. Read about Consumer Reports' testing here — including how they were able to keep their Tesla Model Y moving with nobody in the driver's seat.

He urged the college to apologise, saying: "Forcing students to remove posters which criticise the college on pain of eviction is truly awful. "Being able to criticise institutions, express one's identity and political beliefs are the core features of British academia. "[This is] now being trampled by coercion and threats of homelessness/eviction by a Cambridge college. A spokesman for the college said the rules on displaying any flags, banners or posters are "a long-standing clause in our license agreement". He added: "We encourage all community members to express themselves and their views, as long as it doesn't break their license agreement or the law.

SIR – Arriving at Heathrow recently, I imagined the Border Force would be ready to process passengers’ Covid paperwork quickly and efficiently. What concerns me about Covid is that it is almost “too perfect” a pathogen: highly transmissible, deadly and ever-evolving. Hamish de Bretton-GordonTisbury, WiltshireNational parks’ futureSIR – I disagree with Norman Cowling (Letters, April 16) about the proposed changes to national park management. Joss HibbsYelverton, DevonBank v customerSIR – I have sympathy with Brian Symonds (Letters, April 21) and his experience with Metro Bank. John DinnisPetersfield, HampshireSIR – In the good old days, the Paris Metro was completely 3G – garlic, Gauloises and Gitanes.

Manchester City midfielder Ilkay Gundogan has voiced his opposition to the revamped Champions League, saying it is only a marginal improvement on the much-derided European Super League. While that is now off the table as far as the Premier League clubs are concerned, Uefa announced alterations to the Champions League on Monday which are now coming under similar scrutiny. “With all the Super League stuff going on... can we please also speak about the new Champions League format?” he tweeted. “More and more and more games, is no one thinking about us players? It is likely that players, along with supporters, would once again have to speak out en-masse if any significant changes are to happen with the Champions League reforms.

Boss Brendan Rodgers has called for complete focus in Leicester‘s race for the Champions League. Jamie Vardy scored his first goal for two months as the Foxes inched towards a Champions League return after victory over West Brom. Strikes from Jonny Evans and Kelechi Iheanacho wrapped up a 3-0 win inside 40 minutes at the King Power Stadium on Thursday. The Foxes, third in the Premier League, are now four points clear of fifth-placed West Ham. Victory came after Leicester reached the FA Cup final for the first time in 52 years following Sunday’s semi-final win over Southampton and Rodgers wants no distractions.

An additional drop on a par with the Globes show in February would put the Oscars audience in the catastrophic single-digit millions. The organisation, which generates about $90m a year in after-expenses income from the Oscars telecast, has handed the show to one of Hollywood’s most celebrated directors, Steven Soderbergh. It’s the Academy Awards. “It’s the Academy Awards. The Oscars telecast, on the other hand, saw its ratings peak in 1998, when 57.2 million people tuned in to see the box-office juggernaut Titanic sweep to best picture victory.

Disgraced actor Kevin Spacey is currently facing a number of legal issues, more than three years after allegations of sexual harassment and assault were levelled against him. In turn, Spacey reportedly brought a counterclaim against MRC. “Like everything in the new bizarre world of Spacey, this legal proceeding turned surreal quickly," the Reporter writes. The two-time Oscar winner was hit with multiple allegations of sexual assault between 2017 and 2018, initially by the actor Anthony Rapp, and then by more than 30 individuals. The assault allegations ranged from harassment to attempted rape.

Britain is no longer in a pandemic, experts have said, as new data showed the vaccination programme is reducing symptomatic Covid infections by up to 90 per cent. In the first large real-world study of the impact of vaccination on the general population, researchers found that the rollout is having a major impact on cutting both symptomatic and asymptomatic cases. Sarah Walker, Professor of Medical Statistics and Epidemiology at Oxford and Chief Investigator on the Office for National Statistics Covid-19 Infection Survey, said that Britain had ‘moved from a pandemic to an endemic situation’ where the virus is circulating at a low, largely controllable level in the community. The new research, based on throat swabs from 373,402 people between December 1 last year and April 3, found three weeks after one dose of either the Pfizer or AstraZeneca jab, symptomatic infections fell by 74 per cent and infections without symptoms by 57 per cent. By two doses, asymptomatic infections were down 70 per cent and symptomatic by 90 per cent.

Best pictureNicholas Barber: Chloé Zhao's Nomadland is a small, personal, year-in-the-life narrative, but it's also an epic road movie that boasts breath-taking desert scenery, and a state-of-the-nation treatise on growing old in the US today. Most of the nominees are in with a chance, but it's easy to see why Nomadland has been the frontrunner ever since it won the Golden Lion at last year's Venice Film Festival. Caryn James: Nomadland has been the frontrunner all season, and will win. All it has going against it at this point is inevitability. If voters want to shake things up, they could surprise us with Minari, the eloquent story of a Korean family, which should win, edging out the fiery political drama Judas and the Black Messiah in a terrific year.

He was the first prospective heir to the throne to attend a private nursery, in a move reported at the time to have been influenced by his mother, Diana, Princess of Wales, who worked at a nursery school before her marriage to the Prince of Wales.

Duante Wright was a prince, the prince of Brooklyn Center. Minneapolis is stopped today to honour the prince of Brooklyn Center.”These have been fraught days in the Twin Cities. Mr Crump said there would become a time when Daunte Wright’s son, Daunte Wright Jr, would “get old enough to watch that video of how his father was slain so unnecessarily. She said she and Daunte Wright had been friends, and spoke by text message. Diamond Hurd, 20, pulled out a cell phone to show the last message from the young man, one she had not answered.

Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene resorted to name-calling on Thursday as she continued to challenge Rep Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez to a debate on the Green New Deal . “I’m glad I ran into you today @AOC to plan our debate about the Green New Deal,” Ms Greene wrote in the caption. On Thursday – Earth Day – Ms Greene continued her assault on the plan. Ms Greene has expressed support on social media for a number of conspiracy theories, including QAnon. Ms Ocasio-Cortez has not yet responded toThe Independent’s request for comment.

Davidson recently served as a commentator on the Triller Fight Club pay-per-view over the weekend, where Paul was fighting against Ben Askren. During his commentary, Davidson mocked Paul, calling him “a piece of s***”. Davidson also sniped that Paul and Askren “both suck, but at least somebody’s gonna get hurt”. Paul later pushed back back at Davidson on the Impaulsive podcast this week, saying that Davidson wouldn’t be invited back. “I told you I was going to do it in the first round,” Paul told Triller.

The figures show that in 2004, there were just over 51,200 women working in these sectors. That had risen to nearly 87,000 by 2018 (the last year for which data is available).

"Nothing is quite the same as being in a room with an actor, there's something magical that happens... which is when two people click and the actor understands what the director is really looking for. I am really looking forward to things returning to normal."

"We will maintain the traditional values of Biak, but [people there] may no longer need to depend on the land as a hunting ground, or a place to grow crops. The use of the land may change with the entry of more advanced industries," he said.

More than 11 million people in the UK have now had both doses of a coronavirus vaccine, new figures show. Data shows 117,909 people had their first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine on Wednesday, taking the UK's total to 33,257,651. AdvertisementThursday's figures compare with Wednesday's 22 deaths and 2,396 new infections and last Thursday's 30 deaths and 2,672 cases. I'm delighted that the percentage of over-50s vaccinated has hit 95% in England. Rushmoor in Hampshire and Stratford-upon-Avon in Warwickshire, Worcester, and South Oxfordshire have all vaccinated 100% of the over-50s, new figures reveal.

The doctors, who have been denied access to Navalny, say their conclusions are based on the results of Tuesday's medical tests - described as more or less independent. The tests were carried out at a hospital in the city of Vladimir, just east of Moscow.

There's growing interest in the UK in a different model of football club ownership, following anger over the proposal to create a European Super League. The founding members of the league came from three countries - England, Spain and Italy. But, despite Germany being home to some of Europe's biggest clubs, no German teams were involved. This has been widely seen as linked to the role German supporters have in the running of their clubs. Plans for the creation of the European Super League are on hold, after several of the teams involved announced their withdrawal.

Paulina Porizkova has revealed that her sex life has been given a boost by a vibrating chair that stimulates the pelvic floor muscles in a way that is equivalent to doing thousands of Kegel exercises in just one session. This "chair" I’m sitting on in @drhalaas office has been quite wonderful for my sex life. (Self pleasure included in "sex life"),' she wrote. 'The Emsella chair strengthens your pelvic floor muscles — it’s like doing thousands of Kegels in thirty minutes. I do this on every visit to the office and my sex life thanks me.'

A further 55 cases of the coronavirus "double mutation" variant first detected in India have been discovered in the UK in the week to 21 April, Public Health England (PHE) has said. It takes the total number of B.1.617 infections to 132, according to the latest figures. One of the concerning mutations, called L452R, has also been found in a variant circulating in California, though there is no link between the viruses, as the Indian variant has evolved independently. The Indian variant is driving the current sharp surge in cases in India, where hospitals are being overwhelmed and oxygen supplies are running low. There are now 60 cases of the Brazilian, or Manaus, variant in the UK, the figures reveal, up 20 on the previous week.

Melissa Rivers has claimed that her mother, the legendary comedian Joan Rivers, is one of the inspirations behind Amazon's hit series The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel and feels disappointed that she hasn't been properly acknowledged for it. 'Everybody's saying, "Oh, it's Joan, it's Joan, it's Joan, it's Joan" and yet I never hear from the people that make it or the actors,' Melissa, 53, said during an appearance on the Behind the Velvet Rope with David Yontef podcast on Thursday. Speaking out: Melissa Rivers claims mother Joan Rivers inspired The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel... but feels 'violated' over the 'lack of acknowledgment' from the Amazon show (pictured 2013)However, Melissa admits that she has never seen an episode of the show, but was moved when Jane Lynch mentioned her late mother in her Emmy acceptance speech for a role she played in the series. Melissa explained that although she sent Lynch flowers for the nod to Joan, she still has difficulty bringing herself to view an episode. Joan is inarguably considered to be a pioneer of women in comedy, in the same way that the character of Maisel is groundbreaking for that period of time.

Sebastian Payne, Whitehall editor at the Financial Times, and Anne McElvoy, senior editor at the Economist, review Thursday night's papers.

A prop axe used by Jack Nicholson in horror film The Shining has gone on sale for a whopping £45,000. In the classic 1980 movie the actor's character Jack Torrance slams the axe into a door and declares 'here's Johnny' after chasing his terrified wife Wendy. Up for grabs: A prop axe used by Jack Nicholson in horror film The Shining has gone on sale for a whopping £45,000As well as the foam axe, buyers will also receive an authenticated signed photo of Jack Nicholson from the film. The dealer's website explained: 'This prop stunt axe was substituted for the original wooden axe as a safety measure and for ease of use during filming. They also claimed that another foam prop, similar to the one now up for grabs, sold for a £41,600 ($57,600) that same year.

A new photograph of Prince Louis has been released by his parents to mark his third birthday on Friday. Louis wore a jumper, shirt and shorts, with a rucksack on his back, and was seen smiling on his bike. Pic: Duchess of CambridgeImage: This picture was released by Kensington Palace to mark Louis's second birthday. Pic: Duchess of CambridgeImage: Louis is pictured on his first birthday in 2019. The duchess has released a new picture of each of her children on their birthdays.

Russell Crowe has confirmed his role in the upcoming Marvel blockbuster, Thor: Love and Thunder, after much speculation. New role: Russell Crowe has confirmed his role in Thor: Love and Thunder'Now, I'm gonna get on my bicycle, I'm gonna ride up to Disney-Fox studios... and round about 9:15, I shall be Zeus in Thor 4,' Russell said. Rusty invited the hunk and his wife Elsa Pataky to his private box at the South Sydney Rabbitohs vs Sydney Roosters game. The Australian production of Thor: Love and Thunder was made possible by a $24million location incentive by the NSW and Australian Governments. Thor: Love and Thunder sees Portman's character, astrophysicist Jane Foster, take up the mantle of Thor after transforming into a female version of the Norse god.

Jack Osbourne reached 18 years of sobriety on Wednesday, which he commemorated with an Instagram post. The 35-year-old reality television personality's post showed a screenshot from the 12 Steps Companion app that showed the actual length of his time without substance abuse. The MTV star's Instagram post comes just days after his sister Kelly publicly admitted that she had fallen off the wagon in a video that was shared to her Instagram Story. Osbourne concluded his message by noting that he genuinely appreciated the help of everyone who was involved in his recovery process. After going through several years of recovery, the reality television star eventually found himself in a good place and has maintained his sobriety ever since.

Rapper Lil Mosey has been charged with rape and a warrant has been issued for his arrest. The 19-year-old is wanted in Washington state after failing to appear in court for a scheduled hearing, TMZ reported Thursday. He had been ordered to attend a hearing on Wednesday after being charged several weeks ago with second-degree rape, the outlet said. She told authorities she had consented to have sex with Lil Mosey in a vehicle but later, when in a cabin together, she had blacked out after drinking White Claw and champagne. If convicted of second-degree rape, Lil Mosey faces a maximum sentence of life in prison.

Star Falynn Guobadia, 31, and her husband Simon, 56, announced their decision to end their marriage after two years on Thursday. Falynn has three children from a previous relationship - with the eldest being 14 - while Simon has five. Blended family: Falynn ended the message by thanking all of her supporters for showing her family so much love. Falynn teased the split on social media earlier this month, with an ominous caption alongside a stunning solo bathing suit snap. Freeing yourself: Falynn teased the split on social media earlier this month, with an ominous caption alongside a stunning solo bathing suit snap: 'Freeing yourself is one thing.

A teaser for the upcoming Dexter revival was posted to the series' official Twitter account on Thursday. The upcoming 10-episode revival of the wildly popular crime drama series was first confirmed in October of last year, with Michael C. Hall set to reprise his role as the titular character. Dexter was based on the 2004 novel Darkly Dreaming Dexter, which was written by Jeff Lindsay. The upcoming revival will be spearheaded by the show's original showrunner, Clyde Phillips. The upcoming revival of Dexter currently does not have a set release date, although it is tentatively set to premiere this coming fall.

Jersey Shore star Ronnie Ortiz-Magro has been arrested on suspicion of felony domestic violence, according to reports Thursday. The reality star, 35, is currently in police custody in Los Angeles, according to TMZ, following an incident earlier in the day. His attorney Scott Leemon told TMZ: 'We have just learned of the new allegations against Ronnie and need some additional time to further investigate. Jersey Shore star Ronnie Ortiz-Magro has been arrested on suspicion of felony domestic violence and is currently in police custody in Los Angeles, according to TMZRonnie was previously charged with felony domestic violence after a physical altercation with on/off girlfriend Jen Harley on October 4, 2019. Jen has also been arrested in the past for scuffles with Ronnie but charges were dismissed.

Film bosses have reportedly shelled out on a 'massive security unit' in anticipation of their star singing, Harry Styles, filming scenes on Brighton's seafront in a fortnight. Hollywood star: Film bosses have reportedly shelled out on a 'massive security unit' in anticipation of Harry Styles filming scenes on Brighton's seafront in a fortnightA film insider told The Sun: 'Harry always commands security because he's such a superstar, but this is going to be on another level. 'So they are really shelling out for a massive security unit to ensure filming can go ahead without a hitch.' An insider said: 'Harry will be having sex on screen and they want it to look as real as possible. The plan is to shoot two romps between Harry and David, then another scene where Harry is naked on his own.'

Lindsay Lohan recently enjoyed a lavish getaway to the Maldives, which she happily shared with her fans on social media. But the 34-year-old actress appeared to be back to work on Thursday as she uploaded photos from the set of an upcoming project to Instagram. 'Into the groove,' captioned Lohan, followed by a film camera emoji - suggesting the star may be working on a video shoot of some kind. Lindsay radiated joy as she smirked for the camera, while rocking a black sleeveless shirt and a pair of high-waisted trousers. Along with a portrait from her dressing room, Lindsay also snapped a few photos of the camera equipment and backdrop set-up for the day's shoot.

And Kim Kardashian was at it again on her Instagram page this Thursday even while studying for her law degree. The 40-year-old superstar flaunted her taut hourglass figure in a barely-there white bikini while poring over her schoolwork at a patio table. 'Studying in the Sun,' wrote Kim, who is currently in the midst of a highly publicized divorce from her third husband Kanye West. On the show Kim discussed the difficulty of having her children fly off to see Kanye in Wyoming while she has to stay on the west coast studying law. For her split from Kanye, Kim has hired top showbiz divorce lawyer Laura Wasser who also represented her in her divorce from her husband of 72 days Kris Humphries.

And Emily Ratajkowski reminisced on her pregnancy with a stunning set of nude photographs shared to Instagram on Thursday afternoon. The 29-year-old model revealed her pregnant belly in the moody black-and-white snaps captured by famed photographers Inez & Vinoodh. Beauty: Emily Ratajkowski reminisced on her pregnancy with a stunning set of nude photographs shared to Instagram on Thursday afternoonEmily proved to be the perfect model as she showed off her pregnant stomach in the gorgeous snaps taken before her son was born. She made sure to take a moment to herself with a hydrogel face mask from her Loops beauty line. The Inamorata designer shared a few intimate photos when she was in the throws of labor with her little one.

Disturbing body cam footage was released on Thursday showing the March 27 arrest of Izell Richardson Jr in Port Allen, Louisiana. ‘Come out of there before I light you up,’ one of the officers, Nolan Dehon III, is heard telling Richardson. Help!’‘Stop screaming,’ Dehon tells Richardson. ‘Scream again, go ahead, scream,’ Dehon is heard telling Richardson in the video. Richardson initially went public with his complaints against Dehon last month before the body cam footage corroborated his claims.

AdvertisementThe lavish Beverly Hills mansion of late media mogul Sumner Redstone has hit the market for $27.9 million seven months after his death at age 97. The sprawling, gated estate in the Beverly Park area was listed on Friday by an LLC managed by an attorney acting as co-trustee for the Sumner M. Redstone 2003 Trust, public records show. Redstone, the billionaire who owned controlling shares of ViacomCBS, purchased the stunning Beverly Hills mansion from actor Sylvester Stallone for $14.5 million in 2002. The money is not included in his 2003 personal trust, which is thought to be upwards of $200 million. The papers state that Alexandra is a beneficiary of the 2003 Trust through two irrevocable trusts made in 2015 and 2016.

This was the first time in nine years that NASA astronauts launched in an American rocket to the ISS, as well as taking off from US soil. This crew capsule launched with SpaceX´s first crew last May, in what was dubbed 'Launch America.' It involves US astronauts Shane Kimbrough and Megan McArthur, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA)'s Akihiko Hoshide, and the European Space Agency (ESA)'s Thomas Pesquet, who is French. 'I could not be more proud of the NASA and SpaceX teams.' 'There's a lot of expectations when you send a Frenchman into space,' Pesquet said during a European Space Agency news conference last month.

The day after shooting Cofield, Gleason searched the terms 'best Nazi generals,' 'The Most Dangerous Game' and 'preliminary hearing' on his phone, Methvin testified. On the night of September 14 Gleason allegedly shot 49-year-old Smart as he was making his way to his overnight shift as a dishwasher. Gleason allegedly searched the terms 'Nazi propaganda' and 'white supremacist' during his four-day shooting spree where he killed two black men and shot at his neighbors home. When police searched Gleason's home after his arrest say they found a copy of an Adolph Hitler speech at his home. He added that this was the only time Gleason's phone was in that area in the previous 45 days.

She also pleaded guilty Monday to two state counts of attempted murder in the same December 9, 2019 attacks. Minutes later, Franklin ran down a 14-year-old Hispanic girl on a sidewalk, leaving her with more substantial injuries, which left her hospitalized for two days. On the state counts, Franklin faces up to 25 years on each attempted murder count. It's not clear if other state counts, including hate crimes, would be dropped as part as her guilty plea in state court. 'I didn't do anything, I'm just a girl walking to a basketball game,' she said.

A white North Carolina official has been kicked off a city Zoning Commission after he repeatedly ignored a black woman's request to be addressed by her doctoral title during a virtual public meeting. 'It's Dr. Rosario, thank you, sir,' she said in response. Hightower said Collins was exercising his 'white privilege' by not addressing Dr. Rosario by her proper title. Collins (TC)/Rosario (CR) exchange Collins started the exchange by addressing Rosario as 'Mrs. CR: 'I'm verbalizing my name is Dr. Carrie Rosario.

President Biden's climate envoy John Kerry blasted the Trump Administration for pulling out of the Paris climate deal he helped negotiate – then jolted even some environmentalists when he called to pull carbon dioxide 'out of the atmosphere.' Kerry spoke during the administration's virtual global climate summit, after the administration announced it would seek a 50 to 52 per cent reduction in U.S. carbon emissions by 2030. Special Presidential Envoy for Climate and former Secretary of State John Kerry blasted former President Trump's decision to pull the U.S. out of the Paris climate accord'Even if we get to net zero, we still need to get carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere,' Kerry said. Some environmentalists are wary of schemes to try to pull carbon out of the atmosphere, out of concern it will take the focus of requirements that producers reduce emissions. The cost of inaction is mounting,' the president said in his speech kicking off his Climate Summit.

Today is his third birthday – and he posed for this photo on his first day of nursery school. It was taken at the palace on Wednesday, shortly before Prince Louis left for his first day at the Willcocks Nursery School. The Willcocks Nursery School – whose ethos is 'high standards, excellence and good manners' – is rated outstanding by Ofsted. Louis is following in the footsteps of Princess Charlotte, who attended Willcocks, in Kensington, before she started at school. Last night Kensington Palace said the couple were 'delighted to share a new photograph ahead of Prince Louis' third birthday'.

A shocking video shows the moment a white woman verbally harasses four black soldiers and accuses them of stealing at an IHOP restaurant - just minutes after they say she offered to pay for their meal. In a video released by one of the soldiers, Joé Jeffers Jr., on TikTok, the woman is seen confronting the soldiers and calling them 's***bags.' He and the other three soldiers planned to use the money to help pay for their bill when the woman left. Jeffers says the woman came back into the building and demanded the money back, insisting she gave them $30. As the soldiers leave, the woman speaks to patrons at other tables, asking: 'Are you the thin blue line?

Senator Tim Scott of South Carolina will give the GOP response to President Joe Biden's address to the Joint Session of Congress next week, Republicans announced on Thursday. Senator Tim Scott of South Carolina will give the GOP response to President Joe Biden's address to the Joint Session of Congress next weekScott was a member of the House of Representatives when then-S.C. Gov. In addition to his political career, Scott owns an insurance agency, Tim Scott Allstate. The response to a presidential address is seen as a possible star-making role for a member of the opposing party. Only 200 tickets will be available for Biden's speech due to COVID protocols.

Authorities said a single shot was fired into the vehicle, striking Zakylen Greylen Harris in the neck. He was later pronounced deadA seven-year-old boy was fatally shot while riding in a car with his mother, authorities in North Carolina said. Authorities said a single shot was fired into the vehicle, striking Zakylen in the neck. In the video, the victim's vehicle is seen turning at an intersection. The suspect's car is then seen chasing down the vehicle the victim was riding in before the shooting.

Republican Rep. Glenn Grothman went after Cardi B on the House floor Thursday saying he's been receiving complaints to his office about the rapper's performance at the Grammy awards last month. Republican Rep. Glenn Grothman said Thursday on the House floor that constituents are calling him to complain about Cardi B's Grammy performance of 'WAP,' which he said was 'inconsistent with basic decency'Cardi B performed 'WAP' with Megan Thee Stallion at the Grammy Awards ceremony last month. In another tweet, Cardi B wrote, 'Mind you Nikkas can't give a word about Jacob Blake or give him proper Justice but this part of the reason why !!!!!' Cardi B, however, was a vocal supporter of another Democratic candidate, Sen. Bernie Sanders, filming videos and interviewing him throughout the course of the 2020 Democratic primary campaign. Cardi B's Grammy performance with Megan Thee Stallion featured her pole-dancing on the heel of a gigantic stiletto and gyrating on an oversized bed.

Natasha Helfer received a letter Wednesday from a regional church official explaining the reasons for her removal from the Salt Lake City-based church, The Salt Lake Tribune reported. Helfer was disciplined by church leaders in Kansas, where she lived before moving to Utah in 2019. Church spokesman Eric Hawkins said that, based on the letter, regional church leaders' decision was not related to her private practice as a therapist. While not a lifelong ban, the withdrawal of a person's membership by church leaders amounts to the harshest punishment available for a member of the faith. These ousters used to be called excommunication before the faith changed the terminology last year to 'withdrawal of church membership.'

In a letter obtained by DailyMail.com, George Davison claims his remarks were was taken out of context and doesn't actually believe the school is demonizing white students. He got into his talking points and out of context it sounds as if I support his contention that we demonize white students. 'And are some of our students white people?' Rossi claimed that the school's headmaster, George P. Davison, privately agreed the school is 'demonizing white people for being born'. Candace Owens said Sunday that parents need to start suing woke schools who want to cancel conservative thinking.

The Atlanta police officer who shot and killed Rayshard Brooks in June attempted on Thursday to be reinstated by the force, despite facing murder charges for the killing. Garrett Rolfe, a six-year veteran of the force, was fired on June 13, the day after Brooks' death. Brooks spoke to the officers for over half an hour and was cooperative, but failed a sobriety test. Rolfe then shot him dead. The Wendy's where Brooks was shot was set on fire amid violent protests.

But Morel, 78, was never charged with sexual misconduct, even after Polite received Justice Department approval to indict him on racketeering charges. 'The handling of the Harry Morel case was a joke.' The plea deal, Polite told reporters at the time, reflected 'significant evidentiary concerns,' including victims who 'would prove to be very difficult witnesses' if brought into court. He also acknowledged he 'solicited sex from other individuals who were defendants or who had family members' facing charges. The Morel case stands out because of the wide gulf between what prosecutors publicly alleged about the district attorney and the actual charge they brought in court.

President Joe Biden's nominee for Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy, Eric Lander, twice met with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein - which is now complicating his Senate confirmation. Lander briefly met Epstein in Spring 2012, at two events with multiple Harvard donors, faculty and others, and he correctly decided to have nothing to do with Epstein. Lander worked as a co-chair of the Presidential Council of Advisors on Science and Technology during President Barack Obama's presidency. Biden selected him to direct the Office of Science and Technology Policy and be the official Presidential Science Advisor. He also elevated the Office of Science and Technology Policy job to cabinet-level, which is why Lander needs a Senate confirmation vote.

Dozens of inmates at an Iowa state prison were given overdoses of coronavirus vaccines, according to the Iowa Department of Corrections (DOC). The inmates given the higher-than recommended doses have been notified and are being monitored by the prison's medical staff. 'The higher dose you get, the higher chance of getting local reactions and systemic events,' he told DailyMail.com. The Iowa DOC is currently not administering doses of the vaccine at the maximum-security prison while an investigation is conducted. Neither the Iowa DOC nor Pfizer returned DailyMail.com's request for comment in time for publication.

UNESCO declared Calakmul — located in the Calakmul biosphere reserve — a World Heritage Site in 2002. Discovered in 1931 by biologist Cyrus Lundell, calakmul is Mayan for “Two Adjacent Mounds,” referring to its two largest structures. Calakmul is thought to have been occupied from 550 B.C., peaked in development during A.D. 250–900 and abandoned around A.D. 1000. Researchers have determined that Calakmul was a pilgrimage site during A.D. 1000–1500 due to the offerings discovered inside buildings. North of the Great Plaza is a temple pyramid measuring around 24 meters in height, facing the Structure II pyramid.

US showjumper Andrew Kocher, seen here in 2017, has been banned 10 years by the International Equestrian Federation (FEI) for using electrical shock spursAdvertising Read moreLos Angeles (AFP)US showjumper Andrew Kocher was banned for 10 years by the International Equestrian Federation on Thursday for using electric spurs on horses, the US federation "unequivocally" supporting the punishment. The FEI had opened an investigation of Kocher last June after an allegation that he had used spurs that delivered an electric shock was reported to the independent Equestrian Community Integrity Unit (ECIU). "It was alleged that Mr Kocher had used electric spurs on a number of FEI registered and national horses in international and national events, and during training," the international federation said in a statement. During his suspension, Kocher is barred from participating in or attending, in any capacity, including as a spectator, any competition or event that is authorized or organized by the FEI or any national federation. Kocher, who has denied using electric shock devices on his horses, has 21 days to appeal the sanction.

Share this Story: Canada's aging critical infrastructure an increasing concern, say cybersecurity expertsCanada's aging critical infrastructure an increasing concern, say cybersecurity experts No new legislation and promised funds have yet to be deployed — and all the while the adversaries continue to gain Photo by Getty ImagesArticle content The $144.9 million earmarked in the 2019 budget for cybersecurity of Canada’s critical infrastructure still hasn’t been put to use after two years, despite warnings that systems such as energy grids and telecom networks could be targeted by hostile actors. There is no question that the blatant kind of attack on critical infrastructure would be much bigger than COVID,” predicted Keenan. Additionally, Canada’s critical infrastructure strategy, which has not been updated since 2009, needs to be updated with a focus on cyber security. The briefing binder prepared for Blair when he became public safety minister in 2019 noted that the “cybersecurity concerns identified for (critical infrastructure) remain unaddressed.” A 2021 report from BlackBerry looking at global cybersecurity flagged Canada’s “aging critical infrastructure strategy” as an area of “increasing concern and focus. Keenan said critical infrastructure is operated by both the public and private sectors, and what is considered critical keeps getting broader.

Share this Story: Ford government’s approval rating falls to just 35 per cent amid growing frustration: pollFord government’s approval rating falls to just 35 per cent amid growing frustration: poll More than 60 per cent of Ontarians disapprove of how the Ford government has responded to the COVID crisis, the poll also found Photo by Carlos Osorio/Reuters/FileArticle content A significant number of Ontarians have turned against their province’s leadership, a poll released on Thursday found. It revealed Premier Doug Ford’s approval rating has fallen 13 points since March, to 35 per cent. In June 2020, an MPO poll found Ford’s approval rating was over 60 per cent. Article content Ford could translate that 35 per cent approval into enough votes and win again However, the numbers still point out that it’s not over, Wright noted. If he can motivate his supporters, Ford could translate that 35 per cent approval into enough votes and win again.

Full Comment with Anthony Furey will go where other media outlets won't — podcast trailerArticle contentGet ready: Anthony Furey is coming to you soon with Full Comment, a brand new podcast from Postmedia. Try refreshing your browser, or Full Comment with Anthony Furey will go where other media outlets won't — podcast trailer Back to videoFull Comment is an interview, politics and opinion show that will go where other media outlets won’t. Full Comment is not afraid to push buttons, or worried about being politically correct. We’ll be bringing you interesting opinions and ideas that are compelling — even if they are controversial. Subscribe to Full Comment on your favourite podcast app.

India recorded the world’s highest daily tally of 314,835 COVID-19 infections on Thursday as a second wave of the pandemic raised new fears about the ability of crumbling health services to cope. “India weeps.”“We never thought a second wave would hit us so hard,” Kiran Mazumdar Shaw, executive chairman of the healthcare firm Biocon, wrote in the Economic Times. “Complacency led to unanticipated shortages of medicines, medical supplies and hospital beds.”Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain said the city needed about 5,000 more intensive care beds. “The second wave is a consequence of complacency and mixing and mass gatherings. You don’t need a variant to explain the second wave,” said Ramanan Laxminarayan of the Center for Disease Dynamics, Economics and Policy in New Delhi.

House Democrats on Thursday reintroduced their signature legislation to lower drug prices, known as H.R. The measure would allow the secretary of Health and Human Services to negotiate lower drug prices, a long-held Democratic goal. Psaki also sought to defend Biden's commitment to health care, pointing to the special sign-up period for ObamaCare that he opened. ADVERTISEMENT"He has made clear his commitment to expanding access to health care; it's why he opened a special enrollment period during this pandemic," she said. It is possible that House Democrats will add back in the drug pricing measure and other health provisions even if the White House leaves them out of the initial package.

Chinese President Xi Jinping took part in the climate summit on Thursday, a rare example of US-China cooperation.

Federal prosecutors said in court filings Thursday they expect to charge at least 100 more people in connection with the riot at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, Reuters reports. "Over 400 individuals have been charged in connection with the Capitol attack," federal prosecutors said in the court filing. Reuters notes the FBI has become increasingly focused on far-right extremist groups like the Proud Boys and the Oath Keepers as it continues to investigate the Capitol breach. Jon Ryan Schaffer, a founding member of the Oath Keepers, became the first defendant from the Capitol riots to plead guilty last week. He pled guilty to one count of obstruction of an official proceeding and one count of entering a restricted building with a weapon.

Hawley Is Lone Senator to Vote Against Hate Crimes BillOF COURSE HE ISThe bill, designed to address the increase of violence and discrimination against Asian Americans during the coronavirus pandemic, passed the Senate on Thursday.

U.S stocks reversed lower in a swift fashion on Thursday after reports that President Joe Biden is slated to propose much higher capital gains taxes for the rich. Bloomberg News reported Thursday afternoon that Biden is planning a capital gains tax hike to as high as 43.4% for wealthy Americans. The proposal would hike the capital gains rate to 39.6% for those earning $1 million or more, up from 20% currently, according to Bloomberg News, citing people familiar with the matter. "Biden's proposal effectively doubles the capital gains tax rate on $1 million income earners," said Jack Ablin, Cresset Capital Management's founding partner and CIO. Still, the fears on the capital gains tax increase could be overblown as Democrats hold only narrow majorities in both the Senate and House, which could make it hard to approve any aggressive proposal.

WASHINGTON — Senate Republicans on Thursday offered a $568 billion counterproposal to President Biden’s $2.3 trillion infrastructure plan, laying out a marker they hoped would kick-start bipartisan negotiations to vastly scale back the president’s plan and do away with the corporate tax increases he is eyeing to pay for it. But while the White House welcomed the outline as a positive step, there was little sign that Mr. Biden or Democrats in Congress would embrace anything close to a package that many of them dismissed as insufficient for the economy’s needs and an unfair burden on middle-class taxpayers. Republicans are working to avoid the fate that befell them with Mr. Biden’s first big economic initiative, a nearly $1.9 trillion pandemic relief bill that Democrats pushed through Congress over their vigorous objections, as polls showed it was wildly popular with the public. Eager to put their party’s stamp on that plan, a group of moderate Republicans trekked to the White House to offer an alternative one-third the size of Mr. Biden’s, and left optimistic that a bipartisan negotiation would follow. Instead, they found themselves quickly cast aside as Democrats used the fast-track budget reconciliation process to shield their own package from a filibuster and pass the plan solely with Democratic votes.

The new study was led by Prof Meredith Yeager, at the US National Cancer Institute (NCI), in Maryland. It focused on the children of workers who were enlisted to help clean up the highly-contaminated zone around the nuclear power plant, and the children of evacuees from the abandoned town of Pripyat, and other settlements within the 70km zone around it.

How close the alleged blueprints will be to any actual future products is not clear. Bloomberg reports that the leaked materials include the schematics for a future MacBook laptop. The Guardian reports that a new Apple Watch is also among them.

(Bloomberg) -- The freedom and security of the internet is at risk from the competing world views of China and Russia, and Western nations must adapt to face the threat, a U.K. spy chief will say on Friday. “In the natural world, during a period of rapid change, the only option is to adapt. And it’s the same for us.”The U.K. should develop sovereign technologies in key areas like quantum, developing cryptographic technologies to protect sensitive information, Fleming will say. The country should also work with allies to build cyber defenses, according to the remarks. The U.K. characterizes Russia and China as different types of threat.

Google and Amazon have won the bid to set up and operate Israel’s Project Nimbus - a massive state tender that will see Israel build its own local cloud storage server centers at an investment of roughly 4 billion shekel. “Amazon (AWS) and Google were selected as the providers awarded the government’s cloud services,” the Finance Ministry said on Wednesday, announcing the result of the tender for Project Nimbus, a multiyear project to migrate Israel's public information technology to the cloud. “The cloud services will be hosted by local cloud providers. “Project Nimbus is our flagship multi-year plan and the first of its kind. As Haaretz reported exclusively last week, Google is in advanced negotiations toward establishing a data center in Israel for its cloud computing services – a key condition of the Project Nimbus.

Photos have emerged of a tiny mouse deer which was recently born at Bristol Zoo Gardens during the third nationwide lockdown. Its mother Brienne joined Bristol Zoo Gardens in 2014 from Newquay Zoo to breed with its father Jorah, aged four. Paige Bwye, senior mammal keeper at Bristol Zoo, said: “Brienne is being a fantastic first-time mother and has been very attentive to her infant. The newborn with its mother Brienne in their enclosure. Mouse deer are distantly related to deer and feed on flowers and vegetable matter, roaming the forests in their native South East Asia.

The SOS Méditerranée’s ship, Ocean Viking, as well as merchant vessels, headed to the area and found no survivors, but at least 10 bodies. “Today, after hours of search, our worst fear has come true,’’ said Luisa Albera, search and rescue coordinator aboard Ocean Viking. “The crew of the Ocean Viking had to witness the devastating aftermath of the shipwreck of a rubber boat north-east of Tripoli. However, it said all the European authorities rejected responsibility to coordinate the search operation and instead pointed at the Libyan authorities as the “competent” authorities. “Things need to change.”On Wednesday, the Ocean Viking spent all day searching for another vessel carrying about 40 people with no success.

– In the five years following the beginning of the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement in 2014, census places that have had BLM protests experience a 15-20% decrease in police homicides – approximately 300 fewer deaths – according to new research by University of Massachusetts economist Travis Campbell. “The effects of Black Lives Matter protests have been debated often in public discourse,” Campbell says. “Many diverse and often polarizing opinions have been expressed about the impact of Black Lives Matter protests on policing and crime, but many such opinions are not supported by data. Fewer property crimes, but more murders, are reported to agencies with local protests, while the share of total property crimes cleared by arrests falls.”“Black Lives Matter protests were associated with a reduction in police officer-involved fatalities,” Campbell says. My research found that decreased police-related fatalities after Black Lives Matter protests can be attributed to three factors: 1) Improved policing practices; 2) Damaged community trust of the police; and 3) Decreased policing effort.

Associated PressNEW YORK – A transformed Penn Station would replace windowless concourses and dingy, cramped corridors with light-filled spaces and easier access to an improved streetscape, under plans revealed Wednesday by Democratic New York Gov. The station, underneath Madison Square Garden, is the nation’s busiest and operates – at full capacity during normal times – with roughly 600,000 passengers passing through daily on regional rail lines, Amtrak and the New York subway system. The two alternatives revealed Wednesday are the culmination of a yearlong process involving the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, Amtrak, New Jersey Transit, architectural firm FXCollaborative and engineering firm WSP. Wednesday’s announcement didn’t put a price tag on the project, but it is expected to cost billions and require federal funding. The plans didn’t mention the proposed expansion of Penn Station to the south to add new train tracks, another multibillion-dollar endeavor considered crucial to expanding capacity once a new rail tunnel is built between New York and New Jersey.

Though we love spending time relaxing on our famous Florida beaches, we’re even bigger fans of beachfront dining in the Sunshine State. Presented in alphabetical order, the list is culled from USA TODAY Network contributors in coastal communities across Florida, where restaurants hug the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico. More waterfront dining:10 best waterfront restaurants for outdoor dining around Anna Maria IslandBenny’s on the Beach10 S. Ocean Blvd., Lake Worth Beach, 561-582-9001, bennysonthebeach.comBenny’s on the Beach in central Palm Beach County takes beachfront dining over the top, literally. The company has grown into a fleet of commercial fishing boats, supplying Preston’s impressive empire of Frenchy’s restaurants with fresh grouper, snapper and other fish. – Suzy Fleming Leonard, FLORIDA TODAYThe Ocean Deck127 S. Ocean Ave., Daytona Beach, 386-253-5224, oceandeck.comThe Ocean Deck has been a popular place since the 1950s.

It shouldn't be anytime soon, flight attendants say. The union, which represents flight attendants at airlines including United, Alaska, Spirit and Frontier, recently began doling out stickers to vaccinated flight attendants. U.S. airlines have required passengers to wear masks for nearly a year and repeatedly asked for a federal mask mandate to help them enforce it on flights. He said the federal mask mandate will likely be extended but can't be extended forever. He asked Dr. Leonard Marcus, director of the Aviation Public Health Initiative at the Harvard T.H.

Welcome the newest trend in international travel: vaccination vacations. Optional for a fortunate few with money or connections, international travel for vaccines could be a double-edged sword, say public health and travel experts. More international travel is expected this summer. At the same time, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention wants everyone to delay any international travel. Khalili hopes his son and daughter-in-law will be in the United States by this summer to get a vaccine.

NORWEGIAN CRUISE LINETweet Facebook Email Email this story Share Share this story Frank Del Rio, CEO of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. Docked cruise ships are seen at PortMiami in Miami at sunset on April 14, 2021. Carnival Cruise Line's Carnival Horizon cruise ship sits docked behind them at PortMiami in Miami. Some cruise companies, including Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. and Virgin Voyages, have announced fleetwide vaccine requirements. "What we know is that cruisers love to cruise, and they will go where the cruise ships are," Craighead said.

Disney soon will be unveiling more information about its newest cruise ship, the Disney Wish. Those ships include: Disney Magic, which first sailed in July 1998; Disney Wonder (August 1999); Disney Dream (January 2011); and Disney Fantasy (March 2012). Aboard Disney Wish, it will be Rapunzel from Disney’s “Tangled.”And just recently Disney announced the magic of Captain Minnie Mouse will come to life for the first time through whimsical artwork on the bow of the Disney Wish, a hallmark of Disney Cruise Line vessels. A: On April 29 Disney will host "Once Upon a Disney Wish," which it describes as "a first-of-its-kind virtual media event revealing our newest Disney Cruise Line ship setting sail summer 2022." It will include an exclusive interview panel with the Disney Imagineers and Disney Cruise Line team behind the Disney Wish, world premiere sneak peeks and more.

Associated PressATHENS, Greece — Greece on Monday lifted quarantine restrictions for travelers from most European countries, as well as Israel and the United States as it prepares to reopen tourism services next month despite an ongoing emergency in pandemic-related hospital care. Air travelers from those countries will no longer be subject to a seven-day quarantine requirement if they hold a vaccination certificate or negative PCR test issued within the previous 72 hours, the Greek Civil Aviation Authority said. The countries made exempt are EU member states, the U.S., Britain, the United Arab Emirates, Serbia, Israel and non-EU members Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland that are part of a European travel pact. Airlines adding flights to countries relaxing COVID-19 restrictions for vaccinated visitorsSummer travel:How lockdowns, quarantines and COVID-19 testing will change summer travel in 2021Government spokeswoman Aristotelia Peloni described the new travel rules as a “pilot measure” as Greece reopens more of its economy, noting that tourists are also subject to domestic travel restrictions. Greece remains under partial lockdown after widespread restrictions were imposed in early November but has struggled to contain an urban spike in infections that have kept intensive care facilities close to capacity.

LAS VEGAS – Resorts World Las Vegas will open on June 24. Here's a look at what guests can expect when they visit the first hotel-casino to open on The Strip in a decade:Resorts World Las Vegas hotel roomsResorts World Las Vegas will offer three hotel collections from Hilton – each with its own entrance and lobby. Resorts World Las Vegas casinoThe casino floor includes 117,000 square feet of slots, table games, a dedicated poker room, high-limit areas and a sportsbook. DiningThere will be over 40 food and beverage options at Resorts World Las Vegas, ranging from fine dining to quick-service venues and exclusive concepts you won't find elsewhere on The Strip. Day club, night clubIn collaboration with Zouk Group, a leading lifestyle and entertainment company in Singapore, Resorts World Las Vegas plans to include Zouk Nightclub and AYU Dayclub.

LAS VEGAS — A top executive behind a high-speed rail project that would lay tracks between Las Vegas and Southern California contends construction is on schedule to start in the second quarter of this year. In January, Brightline West President Sarah Watterson said her company was preparing a revised financial plan that could see a second-quarter 2021 groundbreaking date. Meanwhile, Amtrak has teased plans to possibly install a new line between Las Vegas and Los Angeles. New service would be added to major cities that currently have no Amtrak service, including Las Vegas; Nashville; Columbus, Ohio; and Phoenix. At Brightline, Reininger welcomed the prospect of having two rail lines between Las Vegas and Los Angeles.

It’s a unique, almost cavern-like experience,” Valette-Wirth says. More information: bonneterremine.comHomestead CraterMidway, UtahDivers find year-round adventures in this mineral water naturally heated to 96? by a geothermal spring. It’s hidden in a beehive shape limestone rock with clear, super-warm water,” Valette-Wirth says. “It can be quite a beautiful experience,” Valette-Wirth says. More information: haighquarry.comBlack Rock PointMaui, HawaiiNo need to take a boat for an incredible scuba experience at the north end of Ka'anapali Beach.

United Airlines early Monday said it will offer new flights to Croatia, Greece and Iceland beginning in July. Washington Dulles-Athens: Daily flights begin July 1 and run through Oct. 1. United also plans to resume flights between Newark and Athens on June 3. Chicago-Reykjavik, Iceland: Daily flights begin July 1 and will run through Oct. 3. United will also resume daily flights between Newark and Reykjavik on June 3, with flights operating through Oct. 29.

Harriet BaskasSpecial to USA TODAYAs communities begin lifting COVID-19 restrictions, many museums around the country are finally able to reopen their doors. "Driven to Win: Racing in America" celebrates stock cars, sports cars, drag racing, land-speed racing and more, with plenty of interactive displays, historic race cars and racing simulators. Virtual museum experiences aren't going awayDuring the pandemic, virtual exhibitions and experiences were the only way many museums could connect with their audiences. Free museum admissionAlthough the pandemic made deep dents in nonprofit budgets, many museums reopen with free admission and discount programs intact. Plus, Smithsonian Magazine Museum Day, which was canceled in 2020, returns Sept. 18 with free admission passes to more than 600 participating museums, gardens, zoos and attractions.

Olga R. Rodriguez and Marcos Martinez ChaconAssociated PressMONTERREY, Mexico — They travel thousands of miles by plane from Latin America to the U.S., in some places taking a shuttle directly from the airport to COVID-19 vaccine sites. People of means from Latin America are chartering planes, booking commercial flights, buying bus tickets and renting cars to get the vaccine in the United States due to lack of supply at home. “It’s a matter of survival,” Gónzalez said of getting a COVID-19 vaccine in the United States. So vaccine seekers who can afford to travel are coming to the United States to avoid the long wait, including people from as far as Paraguay. He said he can spend up to 20 days in the United States to try to get a shot.

Mexico, a popular vacation spot with American vacationers this year, is considered a Level 4 by the CDC – meaning avoid all travel – but a Level 3 by the State Department – meaning "reconsider travel.'' The Bahamas was just raised to a Level 4 by the CDC and is a level 3 on the State Department scale. The State Department is about to clear up some of that confusion, and the news is not good for travelers pondering a trip abroad. The State Department on Monday said it was raising the alert level for a significant number of countries this week as it factors the CDC's COVID-19 data more heavily into its rating system. The State Department said the pandemic continues to pose "unprecedented risks'' to travelers: "In light of those risks, the Department of State strongly recommends U.S. citizens reconsider all travel abroad.''

Elation and relief marked the opening of a long-anticipated travel bubble between Australia and New Zealand at the Wellington Airport on Monday. The start of quarantine-free travel was a long time coming for families who have been separated by the coronavirus pandemic as well as to struggling tourist operators. The idea of a travel bubble between Australia and New Zealand had been talked about for months but faced setbacks because of several small virus outbreaks in both countries, which were eventually stamped out. To mark the occasion, Wellington Airport painted an enormous welcome sign near its main runway and Air New Zealand ordered some 24,000 bottles of sparkling wine, offering a complimentary glass to adult passengers. The start of the bubble comes ahead of the New Zealand ski season and is welcome news for many tourist towns, including the ski resort of Queenstown.

And once you make the decision to travel again, you should pay special attention to your COVID-19 travel insurance options. Travel insurance policies almost always combine TCI and TII. Travel insurance and COVID-19: What you need to knowAlmost all family travel insurance provides financial coverage only for unforeseen risks. COVID-19 travel insurance coverage: Read the fine printA basic problem with COVID-19 risks is that some insurance fine print hasn’t caught up with the coronavirus, so you can’t rely on an online comparison table to give you the answers. More from FamilyVacationist:FamilyVacationist.com covers family vacation ideas; family travel destinations; all-inclusive resorts; and must-have travel accessories for families of all shapes, sizes and orientations.

Are you brave enough to drive along this terrifyingly dangerous road? Tourists braved a road that locals dubbed "the road of death."

If you've been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and are planning trans-Pacific travel to Hawaii, it may be summer before you're exempt from pre-travel COVID-19 testing to skip the state's 10-day quarantine requirement. However, initially the exemption will apply only to travelers who were vaccinated in Hawaii and are traveling between islands. Ige said starting with Hawaii vaccinated travelers would allow the state to troubleshoot the program before implementing it more broadly. The state is able to validate those records for Hawaii vaccinated travelers through its database of vaccines administered. Josh Green said the state has welcomed 2.6 million travelers since the start of the Safe Travels testing program in October.

Some Caribbean destinations require proof of a negative coronavirus test to enter and have other restrictions, but Mexico does not. The new requirement, which comes amid a surge in coronavirus cases in the U.S., means international travelers face another layer of restrictions. What international travelers need to know about CDC's new COVID-19 test ruleQuestion: Does the testing requirement apply to U.S. citizens? The CDC says passengers without negative test results or proof they have recovered from COVID-19 will be denied boarding. A: So far, Delta Air Lines, American Airlines and United Airlines have issued specific travel waivers on this front.

USA TODAY Travel teamCanceled trips. Here are the places that staff and contributors across the USA TODAY Network, including travel site 10Best.com, want to travel in 2021 – or when it's safer to do so. – Jayme Deerwester, USA TODAY deputy travel editor (Twitter: @jaymedeerwester, Instagram: @byjaymedeerwester)15. – Larry Bleiberg, USA TODAY travel contributor; Society of American Travel Writers president (Twitter: @Lbleiberg, Instagram: @Lbleiberg)49. – Sarah Sekula, USA TODAY travel contributor and video host (Twitter: @wordzilla, Instagram: @sarahsomewhere)San Diego travel guide:Do's and don'ts89.

Former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin began his first full day in state prison Wednesday after he was found guilty of murdering George Floyd in a landmark trial. THANK YOU GOD THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU." He also pushed for the Senate's passage of the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act. The House passed the the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act – named in Floyd's honor – in March. What happened to the other officers involved in George Floyd's death?

On the day after Christmas, passengers on a United Airlines flight from Denver to Calgary, Alberta, were potentially exposed to COVID-19. Data from Canadian public health authorities show a near daily occurrence of flights where a passenger may have been infected while flying. Canada has been posting public COVID-19 exposure alerts online for flights, trains and cruise ships throughout the pandemic. The CDC has revealed little information on the scope of COVID-19 exposure on flights except to release, when requested, the number of affected flights. Canada's approach has two major public health benefits, according to Dr. Amesh Adalja, senior scholar at Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security.

Some states are discouraging interstate travel by requiring or recommending that visitors and residents returning from other states quarantine. A negative test and affidavit are required for anyone age 10 and up; parents must sign one for minor children. Josh Green, who oversees the state's travel policy, indicated that policy may change once enough people have received both doses. If travelers to the state test test negative, they should still quarantine for a full 7 days after travel. All travelers must continue to fill out the state travel form upon arrival.

Earth Day, which takes place each year on April 22, is the most widely observed secular holiday across the globe. John Oppermann, executive director of the Earth Day Initiative, said that “with each passing day, the urgency for climate action grows, and we are running out of time. "Most of our Earth Day events will be virtual with the exception of individual and small group cleanups through our 'Great Global Cleanup' program," said Olivia Altman of EarthDay.org, formerly the Earth Day Network. Despite the pandemic, "there's lots of excitement around this Earth Day," Rogers told USA TODAY. The global show begins at noon EDT on Thursday and will run parallel to the Biden administration’s global climate summit, also set for Earth Day.

WASHINGTON — Senate Republicans unveiled a $568 billion infrastructure plan Thursday limited to roads, bridges, broadband and other physical infrastructure, countering President Biden's American Jobs Plan with a framework around one-quarter the size of his sweeping $2.25 trillion package. Republicans proposed $299 billion for upgrades to roads and bridges, vastly more than the $115 billion proposed in Biden's plan, and $44 billion on airport renovations, more than the $25 billion outlined in Biden's plan. Republicans proposed $61 billion for public transit systems and $20 billion for rail, compared to Biden's proposal for $85 billion for transit and $80 billion for Amtrak improvements and expansion. Republicans want $65 billion for broadband infrastructure, significantly less than the $100 billion proposed by Biden. Ten Republicans met with Biden in the White House during talks on the rescue plan after they proposed a trimmed down $618 billion package.

Leaders and protesters in a grieving North Carolina community want to know what happened Wednesday morning when a deputy executing a search warrant shot and killed a Black man. An eyewitness said Brown was shot at multiple times as he drove away. "The people of Elizabeth City ... they desire a right to know what took place this morning," Councilman Darius J. Horton said at an emergency meeting of the Elizabeth City council on Wednesday evening. Outside the meeting, a crowd gathered, some holding signs proclaiming “Black Lives Matter.”"There is a moment of hurt in Elizabeth City," Horton said. I’m going to be transparent: I’m afraid as a Black man, walking around in this city, driving my car down the road," he said.

13 investigations into white supremacy, no court-martialsThe Navy records describe investigations into allegations of white supremacist assault, theft, verbal abuse, threats and gang crimes from 1997 to 2020. In another case, a female sailor started one of the earliest online white supremacist message boards. The 36% of respondents who reported seeing white supremacist or racist ideologies on display was up from 22% in 2018. Most white supremacist incidents are never formally investigatedThe investigations shared with USA TODAY represent just a sliver of the white supremacist activity in the Navy and Marine Corps, according to experts and current and former Navy personnel. Sailor who ran white supremacist forum didn't face court-martialUSA TODAY identified Gallagher because the Navy documents refer to One People's Project.

Spying, poisoning, attempted election meddling: Russia tensions escalate with the USNavalny's poisoning, attempted election interference and cyber espionage are just a few of the reasons tensions between the U.S. and Russia have heightened.

The National Guard Bureau in Washington, which referees appeals between state Guard units and troops, serves largely in an advisory role. For that, he received what a National Guard Bureau investigator called “the most humiliating punishment imaginable to use against an African American cadet." The Maryland National Guard defended its investigation and is appealing parts of the decision made by the National Guard Bureau, said Maj. Kurt Rauschenberg, a spokesman for the Maryland National Guard. A chain’s heavy symbolismCharacterizations of what happened in 2015 are still disputed by the Maryland National Guard and the National Guard Bureau and Weaver. Send us a tip on National Guard conduct We want to hear from you if you believe you’ve encountered misconduct by a member of the National Guard.

The property that became known as Bruce's Beach is along the shoreline in Manhattan Beach, now an upscale city along the southern end of Santa Monica Bay. One of the descendants, Anthony Bruce, called in to the virtual meeting to urge the supervisors to "make it a reality." They suffered racist harassment from white neighbors and in the 1920s the Manhattan Beach City Council took the land away through eminent domain under the ruse of needing it for a park. The city did nothing with the property, however, and it eventually was transferred to the state in 1948. The current Manhattan Beach City Council recently formally acknowledged and condemned their predecessors' efforts to displace the Bruces and several other Black families in the area, but stopped short of formally apologizing.

Why only a few full moons a year are considered "supermoons"The most spectacular times to view a supermoon is when it ascends from or approaches the horizon.

INDIANAPOLIS – Chase Smith's final words to Sadie, they were words to comfort her, to make sure she would be OK after he was gone. They were in their Bargersville, Indiana, home, where Chase wanted to be when he died. He knew, he told Chase, that Sadie was the love of his life. When he got home, Chase told Sadie he didn't have much time left. Before he could get the words out, Sadie told Chase she'd already been thinking the same thing.

Daunte Wright's funeral held in MinneapolisAl Sharptonc calls the late Daunte Wright a prince at the 20-year-old's funeral; Wright's mother say she never imagined she would be burying her son.

'Words can't explain how I feel': Daunte Wright's parents share grief at son's funeralDaunte Wright, the young Black man shot by police during a traffic stop, was remembered at his funeral amid a national reckoning on policing.

General fears Afghan military woes without US aidAfghanistan's military "will certainly collapse" without some continued American support once all U.S. troops are withdrawn, the top U.S. general for the Middle East told Congress Thursday.

Laura Kelly vetoed legislation Thursday that would have banned transgender athletes from competing in girls' and women's sports, calling the bill "a devastating message" to families and a threat to the state's economic standing. The legislation arrived at Kelly's desk after a tense debate in the Kansas Legislature. Critics have pointed to Kansas State High School Activities Association data suggesting relatively few transgender individuals have attempted to compete in girls' sports in Kansas. The ACLU of Kansas has already vowed a similar lawsuit if lawmakers were to implement the ban in Kansas. Doug Burgum rejected that state's bill Wednesday, following in the footsteps of South Dakota Gov.

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Suzette HackneyObama: 'True justice is about much more than a single verdict'Subscribe to USA TODAY's new newsletter on race and identityChauvin is guilty. Black teens still fighting for justice.

"To my understanding, there is body camera footage to this incident, and it has not been released. "The people of Elizabeth City ... they desire a right to know what took place this morning," City Councilman Darius J. Horton said Wednesday. The protests continued into the night, with about 200 people marching downtown asking for police to release body camera footage, the TV station reported. Protests wrapped up before 10 p.m., but protesters vowed to be back at the sheriff's office Thursday at 5 p.m. if body camera footage isn't released. "The release of the body camera footage as soon as possible is a must to build the transparency that is needed in our community."

Prosecutors may have secured a conviction against Derek Chauvin, but legal experts say the case against the three other former Minneapolis police officers charged in George Floyd's death is the harder one to prove. In Chauvin's trial, prosecutors implicated the officersProsecutors in Chauvin's trial were not shy about implicating the three officers in Floyd's death. "The difference here again is because he is a senior officer, and he is the one who is most closely" restraining Floyd, Lee said. Experts also expect that, unlike in Chauvin's trial, character witnesses will be called. In this case, Lee said, you have both.

– Frank Kaminski, Cheswick, PennsylvaniaThere is not an “average” time for airplanes between heavy maintenance due to the vastly different usage of airplanes. My friends in maintenance tell me that they expect to see an airplane in heavy maintenance around every two years. There are heavy maintenance facilities in Mexico and I have seen several U.S. airplanes in Hong Kong. There are a few heavy maintenance facilities in the U.S., such as in Tampa, Florida. A few airlines have their own heavy maintenance facilities such as San Francisco or Tulsa, Oklahoma, but the number has decreased over the years.

Where were you when you heard Derek Chauvin was found guilty on all three counts of murder and manslaughter for killing George Floyd? Here are some lessons I learned while covering the Chauvin trial. 'This is our Selma moment': Racial justice activists hope Derek Chauvin verdict spurs larger systemic changeRacial justice activists hope Derek Chauvin verdict spurs larger systemic change Report card: Would this year’s Oscar best picture nominees meet 2024 inclusion standards? Facebook was made safer for the Chauvin verdict: 'If Facebook can be safer for Black people, why isn’t that the default setting?' I learned it's important to take a break and eat some pizza with your peeps every now and then.

USA TODAYHas justice been for all in this country? After the conviction of officer Derek Chauvin in George Floyd's murder, Lady Justice herself weighs in. USA TODAY cartoonist Mike Thompson was on the ground in Minneapolis, sketching from George Floyd Plaza. There's even a gallery of Thompson's animated cartoons as well as cartoons from the Cagle syndicate. Follow Mike Thompson's cartoons and commentary on Facebook by clicking here and on Twitter by clicking here.

Any chef knows that All-Clad cookware is some of the best you'll find—and that it can cost you a pretty penny. But that was before the brand’s VIP Factory Seconds Sale returned with discounts of up to 60% (!) on some of the most impressive pots and pans we’ve tested in our day, ranging from copper-core frying pans to bakeware. Ahead, discover even more incredible price cuts available at this All-Clad sale. The best All-Clad cookware to shop from the VIP Factory Seconds SalePansPotsBakeware and toolsNeed help finding products?

But the Washington, D.C. The 2020 passage in the House marked the first time a D.C. statehood bill passed in either chamber of Congress. More:What would statehood for Washington, DC mean — and could it finally happen? Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., speaking from the Senate floor Thursday, said arguments against Washington statehood are rooted in bigotry. “The debate over D.C. statehood has taken a rather dark turn," he said.

This winter saw the highest numbers of cases reported thus far, with deaths surging as well. New deaths and confirmed cases of COVID-19 by dayEarly in 2020, New York had the largest number of cumulative cases. How the US coronavirus case trajectory compares to other nationsView novel coronavirus data by stateYou can search the latest totals for all states below. Finally, local governments and other organizations count and update case data differently, meaning different sources of information may show different numbers of cases. At least 12-18 monthsWhat to know about coronavirus: COVID-19, explained

With Mother's Day 2021 fast approaching (it's May 9, FYI), you've got a limited amount of time to shop for the perfect gift for mom to brighten up her day. The popular e-tailer just discounted a wide variety of Mother’s Day gifts to make your shopping experience easier. Another pick you might consider buying is this scented candle gift set, already reduced from $29.99 to $15.99, that's further marked down to $14.53 when you click the coupon code beneath the price. That’s not all you'll find within this sale—keep on scrolling for the best Mother’s Day 2021 deals this site has to offer right down below. The best Amazon Mother's Day 2021 deals availableNeed help finding products?

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Officials urged calm Wednesday as more details were released in the fatal shooting of a Black teenager by a Columbus police officer – an incident that fueled renewed outrage over police-involved deaths. Officials identified the officer who fired the shots that killed Ma'Khia Bryant, 16, as Nicholas Reardon, who has been with the department since 2019. Less than six hours after the incident Tuesday afternoon, Columbus police released body camera footage, in which the teen apparently has a knife. Ma'Khia was transported in critical condition to a nearby hospital, where she was pronounced dead at 5:21 p.m., police said. Reactions:Activists say Ma’Khia Bryant's shooting proves that Chauvin guilty verdict just the startKiara Yakita, founder of the Black Liberation Movement Central Ohio, said she was not surprised by another police shooting.

That's good news as evidence builds that COVID-19 infections in fully vaccinated people are rare. ?Arkansas on Thursday marked 1 million coronavirus vaccine shots administered in the state so far, though the governor acknowledged more needs to be done to increase demand. Nearly 278 million vaccine doses have been distributed in the U.S. and almost 216 million have been administered, according to the CDC. “No working American should lose a single dollar from their paycheck because they chose to fulfill their patriotic duty and getting vaccinated,’’ Biden said. 77 inmates at Iowa prison given incorrect overdoses of Pfizer vaccineStaff from the Iowa Department of Corrections incorrectly gave 77 inmates overdoses of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine, the department confirmed.

WASHINGTON – The Senate passed with overwhelming bipartisan support a hate crimes bill to address a drastic increase in violence and discrimination directed at Asian Americans during the COVID-19 pandemic. The COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act cleared the chamber in a 94-1 vote Thursday. It would expedite the Justice Department's review of hate crimes andwould designate an official at the department to oversee the effort. Republicans had raised concerns that the first text was too narrow in defining the types of hate crimes. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., and Jerry Moran, R-Kan., would establish grants to aid local and state governments to encourage more training on hate crimes for law enforcement, establish hate crime hotlines and allow for a "rehabilitation" effort for perpetrators of hate crimes.

MINNEAPOLIS – Family and friends of Daunte Wright exalted the 20-year-old Black father fatally shot during a traffic stop by a veteran Minnesota police officer at a funeral service in Minneapolis on Thursday. “I said, ‘Well, we came to bury the prince of Brooklyn Center,’” Sharpton said to applause from the audience. Wright's death brought on anger, sadness and frustration in a community already on edge amid Chauvin's trial. Potter, a Brooklyn Center officer for 26 years, resigned in the days after Wright's death and is charged with second-degree manslaughter. "We ... intend to prove that Officer Potter abrogated her responsibility to protect the public when she used her firearm rather than her taser.

She died of liver cancer on June 10, at the age of 65. I have been fighting terminal liver cancer since it was discovered in May 2018. I found that long-term exposure to arsenic is one of the risk factors for developing liver cancer. The Tacoma smelter closed in 1985, but the stack just sat there, looming for years over a polluted superfund site. She retired from Harder in 2019, when her liver cancer reached a point where she could no longer work.

StaffUSA TODAY NETWORK PRESSROOMUSA TODAY, part of Gannett Co., Inc. (NYSE: GCI), has launched the 32nd Ad Meter program, the dominant gauge for public opinion around Super Bowl advertisements. This year’s competition is presented by Kia, a previous Ad Meter winner in 2017 and sponsor of the 30th Anniversary of Ad Meter competitions in 2018. Each participant must rate every advertisement that airs during the Super Bowl for their participation to be counted. All commercials that are ranked in USA TODAY’s 32nd Ad Meter will also be curated into a proprietary USA TODAY Ad Meter Playlist on AdBlitz, a YouTube exclusive. “USA TODAY’s Ad Meter continues to play a pivotal role in gauging the public’s opinion about the top Super Bowl advertisements, as voted on by consumers,” said Chris Pirrone, General Manager, USA TODAY Sports Media Group.

StaffUSA TODAY NETWORK PRESSROOMTo commemorate the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment, USA TODAY NETWORK launched the multiplatform “Women of the Century” project, which will recognize and celebrate women from across America for their inspiring accomplishments in the 100 years since the ratification of women’s right to vote. USA TODAY NETWORK will work with historians, scholars and other experts to review the nominations and select 10 American women from each state and the District of Columbia to highlight as “Women of the Century.” Nominations can be made through Jan. 31, 2020. In addition to honoring 10 women in each state, in August, USA TODAY will announce 19 iconic American women as national “Women of the Century” and 10 women who represent the best of “Womankind.” These inspiring women will subsequently be honored at a special ceremony. USA TODAY NETWORK will leverage the combined power of its more than 260 newsrooms across the United States to explore this transformational constitutional change for women – what it has accomplished and what’s left to be done. “USA TODAY NETWORK is honored to tell the stories of so many women who continue to impact and improve our lives in significant ways.”For “Women of the Century” nominations and content, visit: usatoday.com/womenofthecentury/

StaffUSA TODAY NETWORK PRESSROOMUSA TODAY is launching a new series “Hecho en USA,” or “made in America,” that will tell the stories of the Latino community in the United States. The stories in the series will address issues of national importance and will run in both Spanish and English. The first three stories in the series published today focus on the topics of bilingual education, college education, and Latinos in politics. New “Hecho en USA” content will publish monthly over the next several months and will explore how Latino families live, work and learn in their hometowns. “With ‘Hecho en USA,” we hope to bolster the national conversation about the U.S. Latino community – a growing economic and cultural force, many of whom are increasingly born in the United States,” said Cristina Silva, USA TODAY national enterprise editor.

Here are some reasons why:A one-dose vaccine: The FDA authorized the Johnson & Johnson vaccine on Feb. 27. Unlike the Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines, the Johnson & Johnson vaccine requires only one dose and can be stored at the temperature of a normal refrigerator for up to three months. The pause may briefly slow the pace of vaccine administration, but the U.S. is still on track to meet Biden's goals. Increased supply: Pfizer and Moderna are delivering 100 million doses a month earlier than expected, in May instead of June. At the current pace of vaccine administration, it will take a couple more months to reach that range.

Gannon said Monday he believed Officer Kim Potter, 48, unintentionally grabbed her firearm instead of her Taser when she shot Wright on Sunday. Body-camera footage of the incident, released by police, has Potter shouting "Taser!" More: Experts say Taser confusion errors like Daunte Wright shooting are rare but avoidable. "How the taser is built, where it's carried and color configuration are all meant to help officers not be confused with their firearms," Higgins says. A design change in Tasers may help, Kliem says.

StaffUSA TODAY NETWORK PRESSROOMGannett today announced the launch of Support Local, a platform to help communities support and access small businesses all across the nation that are facing significant economic challenges due to the spreading coronavirus pandemic. In the United States, small businesses with less than 20 employees make up almost 90% of all U.S. business enterprises in the country, according to the U.S. Small Business Administration. Gannett created Support Local to provide communities with an easy way to discover opportunities to help their favorite local businesses and access special services they may be providing during these times. “We believe local businesses are the heartbeat of America,” said Kevin Gentzel, Chief Revenue Officer, Gannett. Support Local will give our readers and local communities the opportunity to ensure sustainability for their favorite businesses as we all strive to make it through COVID-19 together.”To find or add a local business in your community to the new Support Local site, please visit supportlocal.usatoday.com.

StaffUSA TODAY NETWORK PRESSROOMUSA TODAY announced today it is launching a special daily section focused on COVID-19 news and information. The new section, Nation’s Health, will be a standing section inside the USA TODAY print and e-edition newspapers and will appear on digital platforms as well. The nation is turning to USA TODAY for clear, up to date information on the outbreak. In the past 30 days, USA TODAY has had more than 100 million views of its coronavirus stories, videos, graphics and photo galleries. In addition, USA TODAY has:Launched a coronavirus newsletter, its readership growing to more than 90,000 subscribers in the past two weeks.

StaffUSA TODAY NETWORK PRESSROOMUSA TODAY announced today that it is joining Facebook’s Third-Party Fact-Checking Program. USA TODAY has also previously published instant fact-checks with information livestreamed at usatoday.com in real time. Kristen DelGuzzi, USA TODAY Managing Editor for Politics and World, will lead USA TODAY’s latest fact-checking initiative in partnership with Facebook. “Continuing to expand our fact-checking program is an important part of our work to fight misinformation,” said Keren Goldshlager of Facebook Integrity Partnerships. “We welcome USA TODAY to the program and value their cross-country coverage and perspective on misinformation spreading at the state level.”

StaffUSA TODAY NETWORK PRESSROOMFlavored Nation, part of Gannett Co., Inc., has launched Flavored Nation State Dish Showdown, a national survey to discover the iconic dish for every state. The Flavored Nation event will celebrate each iconic state dish and gives attendees the opportunity to sample them all in one place. “Flavored Nation is a one-of-a-kind event that allows attendees the chance to eat their way across the country in just one day. Voters in the Flavored Nation State Dish Showdown are automatically entered for a chance to win two tickets to a Flavored Nation 2020 event, plus airfare, hotel accommodations and $2,500. Learn more about Flavored Nation at FlavoredNation.com and follow on social media @FlavoredNation.

StaffUSA TODAY NETWORK PRESSROOMTo capture a comprehensive picture of the American electorate, USA TODAY is launching a new project with Democracy Fund's Voter Study Group and UCLA based on data from Nationscape, one of the largest election focused public opinion surveys ever conducted. The Nationscape survey will interview people in nearly every county, congressional district, and mid-sized U.S. city in the leadup to the 2020 election. The weekly survey was designed and is managed by UCLA political scientists Lynn Vavreck and Chris Tausanovitch. Among likely Democratic primary voters, the two issues where there is most disagreement are abolishing private health insurance and Medicare for All. “Nationscape’s unique ability to help us understand the perspectives of Americans at the local, regional, and national level is unprecedented.”

StaffUSA TODAY NETWORK PRESSROOMCoverage of elite level college golf returns to Golfweek.com this month with the launch of College Golf Live’s 2020 Spring Series. Final round coverage kicks off live on February 19 with The Prestige by Charles Schwab, making its return to the world famous PGA WEST resort in La Quinta, California. PGA Champion, 3-time NCAA Champion, and veteran golf commentator Steve Elkington will call the action alongside ESPN and Skratch personality Ben Lyons, with analyst Will Haskett delivering onsite coverage. Last year’s champion was current PGA Tour member Viktor Hovland, and past participants include Jon Rahm, Xander Schauffele, Anthony Kim, and Gary Woodland. On March 10, the Series will visit Oregon’s dramatic coastline at world famous golf destination Bandon Dunes, host of the 2020 U.S.

StaffUSA TODAY NETWORK PRESSROOMUSA TODAY announced that Jeep’s “Groundhog Day” was voted the winning commercial of USA TODAY’s 32nd Super Bowl Ad Meter, the industry-leading tool used to track public opinion surrounding Super Bowl ads. The commercial received the highest average rating in this year’s competition, which is presented by Kia – a previous Ad Meter winner in 2017 and sponsor of the 30th Anniversary of Ad Meter in 2018. This is the first time that Jeep has finished first USA TODAY’s Ad Meter. All commercials ranked in USA TODAY’s 32nd Ad Meter are also curated into a proprietary USA TODAY Ad Meter Playlist on AdBlitz, a YouTube exclusive. Ad Meter has become such a strong tradition that gives fans the chance to crown the Super Bowl commercial champion,” said Maribel Perez Wadsworth, president of USA TODAY NETWORK and publisher of USA TODAY.

StaffUSA TODAY NETWORK PRESSROOMTwo groups within Gannett were honored by the Telly Awards this week for their work in video storytelling and production. The Telly Awards recognize and celebrate creativity across video and television, and include documentaries and branded content. GET Creative, Gannett and USA TODAY NETWORK’s full-service storytelling agency received ten recognitions including two Gold, five Silver and three Bronze awards for their campaigns for Amway, Philips, Rocket Mortgage, and Discover. “I think I speak for the entire GET Creative team when I say we are honored and humbled to receive these awards,” said Christopher Sweigart, Creative Director, GET Creative. The team was honored with three silver and one bronze awards for their work with on a documentary with Brookfield Residential, Room Key and Zach Theatre and CAP10K.

StaffUSA TODAY NETWORK PRESSROOMThe "Best of Gannett" awards show the incredible power of our network — from watchdogs in small communities to storytelling that spanned continents. In the words of Walter Lippmann, there can be no higher law in journalism than to shame the devil. The judges found the series to be “powerful storytelling, layered in details and in data, original to this reporting. This approach has increased loyalty, driven revenue and engaged our best customers more deeply — all in pursuit of our mission. In 2019, The Republic was conscious and deliberate in uplifting journalism and storytelling by valuing diversity in the newsroom.

StaffUSA TODAY NETWORK PRESSROOMUSA TODAY NETWORK today launched a series about America’s food chain to tell the stories of the people who are working to keep America fed during the COVID-19 pandemic. Over 40 Gannett journalists from more than 10 newsrooms across the country are contributing to this series led by USA TODAY consumer editor Michelle Maltais and Des Moines Register politics editor Rachel Stassen-Berger. New stories in the series will continue to roll out over the coming weeks. “Food workers have faced great risks to keep America fed, and we wanted to focus a spotlight on some of the people in the food chain,’’ said Jeff Taylor, USA TODAY’s executive editor for news. “The collaboration for this series represents the strength and reach of our national news network.’’

StaffUSA TODAY NETWORK PRESSROOMToday, the Louisville Courier Journal received the 2020 Pulitzer Prize for Breaking News Reporting for its coverage of the flurry of pardons and commutations given by Kentucky Gov. On December 22, 2018, the Courier Journal published their findings online and in an eight-page special print section. On January 2, 2020 the Courier Journal reported that the Kentucky Attorney General had asked the FBI to investigate Bevin’s pardons. This is for the taxpayers of Kentucky who demand accountability and public trust from their elected officials and expect the Courier Journal to ensure that happens,” said Rick Green, Editor of the Courier Journal in Louisville. This marks the fourth Pulitzer Prize awarded to Gannett journalists in the last three years.

StaffUSA TODAY NETWORK PRESSROOMUSA TODAY NETWORK today announced it is launching a new livestream show “Just the FAQs LIVE: Conversations about Coronavirus” on Facebook to answer people’s most pressing questions about COVID-19. “Just the FAQs LIVE: Conversations about Coronavirus” is hosted by Megan Finnerty, founder and director of the Storytellers Project and Storytellers Brand Studio at Gannett. The show will be livestreamed on the USA TODAY Facebook page, as well as many of Gannett’s local media pages. USA TODAY NETWORK is launching two additional shows in partnership with Facebook that will focus on COVID-19 news and information. “Just the FAQs: Coronavirus Recap,” will feature clips of the most salient points made by guests of the livestream show.

StaffUSA TODAY NETWORK PRESSROOMUSA TODAY’s emerging tech team released an augmented reality (AR) interactive, Flatten the Curve: A week in social distancing, with the purpose of educating audiences on what active social distancing looks like. The educational interactive, which takes place in an exaggerated animated city block, guides users through five activities where they must choose the best course of action to demonstrate proper social distancing. These activities include grocery shopping, checking in on a friend, going for a walk, getting a delivery, and a social gathering. Users can read more articles and best practices on social distancing from USA TODAY’s journalists and share their results on social media. “We hope users will use this interactive as a method to understand how their actions can impact the spread of the virus.”Users can test their skills in the Augmented Reality section of the USA TODAY app.

The investigation revealed that USA Gymnastics had for years adhered to a policy of not routinely alerting authorities to allegations of sexual abuse. Their work helped prompt more than 500 women to come forward to accuse Nassar of sexual abuse under the guise of medical care. The groundbreaking investigation had far-reaching and lasting impact. “The ‘Out of Balance’ investigation’s far-reaching impact is a testament to the importance and power of local journalism. “Athlete A” by California-based filmmakers Bonni Cohen and Jon Shenk is now available for streaming on Netflix.

StaffUSA TODAY NETWORK PRESSROOMUSA TODAY Sports launched a new podcast series, "Changing the Game," focused on how women have revolutionized sports and the ripple effects it has had on society. Brought to you by Artistry Studio exclusively from Amway, the new series is hosted by USA TODAY's award-winning sports journalist Nancy Armour who interviews icons, Olympians, and trailblazers in eight interviews. Each one-on-one conversation focuses on the female’s life and career, sharing interesting insights into how women have fought to shape the world of sports, and what they feel still needs to be done. When there is a fundamental change in sports, like Jackie Robinson breaking the color barrier in baseball, it makes it tangible in every other facet of life,” said USA TODAY Sports columnist Nancy Armour. By what they’ve done and what they’ve said and who they are, they are changing society’s perception of women.

StaffUSA TODAY NETWORK PRESSROOMThe annual USA TODAY High School Sports Awards series, the largest high school athlete recognition program in the U.S., will be hosting its community events online this year with star-studded award shows that will broadcast on Thursday, June 18th. The USA TODAY High School Sports Awards shows, which were originally planned throughout April, May and June, in 59 cities and towns across 28 states will now be streamed online, enabling each community to maintain their annual tradition of honoring student athletes for their hard work and dedication over the past academic year. This year, professional and Olympic athletes have joined the program set to honor over 28,000 student athletes and will be presenting awards during the broadcast for each sport. “This year’s celebration is very different from the previous events but is one student athletes will never forget. The broadcast shows premiere at 6 PM local times on June 18th.

StaffUSA TODAY NETWORK PRESSROOMUSA TODAY’s Brett Murphy yesterday was announced the 2020 Livingston Award Winner for international reporting for his work on the USA TODAY NETWORK “Show of Force” investigation published in 2019. The Livingston Awards for Young Journalists were established in 1981 to honor professional journalists under the age of 35 and are presented annually in recognition of outstanding local, national and international reporting. In addition, Brett traveled to western Afghanistan to interview government officials, investigators, first responders, witnesses and the villagers who survived. Of course, they wanted it to be kept secret, but Brett uncovered it and did an extraordinary job. “We're really proud of Brett Murphy's work, and we're thrilled that it has been recognized with a Livingston Award.

StaffUSA TODAY NETWORK PRESSROOMGannett this week launched “Rebuilding America,” an unprecedented national examination of how America’s economy is rebooting after nearly three months as states reopen for business. The project is a sweeping effort by the USA TODAY NETWORK, Gannett’s newsrooms across America, to empower its audience of more than 150 million readers. As a public service to readers, the “Rebuilding America” content will be free on the USA TODAY NETWORK’s collection of digital sites. In March, the company launched Support Local, a digital platform to provide communities with ways to support local businesses, from take-out restaurants to small merchants. “At a time of great tragedy and uncertainty, readers are relying on the USA TODAY Network for breaking news, public service journalism and health-related watchdog reporting.

StaffUSA TODAY NETWORK PRESSROOMThe American Influencer Awards, which honors the greatest beauty contributors and premiere talent on social media, today announced the nominees for its 3rd awards show that will celebrate influencers across 23 categories. The American Influencers Awards is part of Gannett Ventures, powered by the USA TODAY NETWORK, and is coordinated with the American Influencer Association. The nominees, which were selected by public submission and an advisory board, include this year’s top social media influencers across multiple platforms. "2020 has been a year of incredible growth in the social media and influencer industry where new personalities and fans have emerged,” said Christopher Crellin, President of the American Influencer Association. For more details, follow @aiaawards on social media.

StaffUSA TODAY NETWORK PRESSROOMUSA TODAY announced today that a team of expert reporters will provide comprehensive on-screen fact checking for the 2020 presidential and vice-presidential debates. The on-screen fact checking will provide USA TODAY livestream viewers with immediate context from topical experts to help hold each candidate accountable for their claims during the debates. The fact checks will appear live on screen as concise, declarative statements of facts, similar to the USA TODAY Coronavirus Task Force fact checking unit. USA TODAY will be livestreaming the debates on all USA TODAY owned and operated channels, including usatoday.com. We're building upon a workflow we pioneered with our real-time, on-screen fact check of the Coronavirus Task Force briefings.

StaffUSA TODAY NETWORK PRESSROOMGannett Co., Inc. announced today that Mayur Gupta will join the company as its new Chief Marketing and Strategy Officer. In this new role, Mr. Gupta will be responsible for driving the vision and strategy as the company transforms to a subscription-led content business. Prior to Freshly, Mr. Gupta was the Global VP for Growth & Marketing at Spotify. He was the first-ever Chief Marketing Technologist at Kimberly Clark, responsible for the vision, strategy, and development of all digital and eCommerce capabilities across KC's global iconic brands. Mayur Gupta joined the Company’s Board of Directors in October 2019.

StaffUSA TODAY NETWORK PRESSROOMThe Gannett Foundation yesterday launched its 2020 A Community Thrives program to support projects which contribute to community building with a preference for those impacting historically under-served individuals and groups. The more than $2 million A Community Thrives initiative is sponsored by the USA TODAY Network's parent company, Gannett Co., Inc. "The Gannett Foundation grants will support our readers' top community-building ideas to help address local needs and ensure a vibrant, healthy community. We are committed to work in partnership to help our communities connect, act and thrive," said Maribel Perez Wadsworth, Gannett Media President of News and Gannett Foundation Vice President in a written statement. Organizations may submit applications through Sept. 11 on A Community Thrives' website: acommunitythrives.mightycause.com.

StaffUSA TODAY NETWORK PRESSROOMUSA TODAY names “100 Women of the Century” as part of its ongoing “Women of the Century” project to recognize the accomplishments of American women in commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment. USA TODAY selected 100 influential women for its national list, and USA TODAY NETWORK properties across the country recognized more than 500 notable women across every state, the District of Columbia and the inhabited U.S. territories. “This project began last year when we were brainstorming ways to recognize the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment,” said USA TODAY editor-in-chief Nicole Carroll. Additionally, USA TODAY NETWORK’s “Humankind” has launched a news video series “Womankind” highlighting the strong, courageous individuals who have made positive change in their communities. To access USA TODAY NETWORK’s full “Women of the Century” content, including in-depth, exclusive reporting on the 19th Amendment and women’s suffrage, visit www.usatoday.com/womenofthecentury.

StaffUSA TODAY NETWORK PRESSROOMUSA TODAY NETWORK is partnering with The 19th to distribute content from the nonpartisan, nonprofit newsroom’s newly-launched website dedicated to original reporting at the intersection of gender, politics and policy. Starting this week, USA TODAY and more than 260 local media brands across the USA TODAY NETWORK will begin sharing stories from The 19th with the aim of informing, engaging and empowering women. USA TODAY NETWORK will play a key role in bringing these important stories to readers by featuring The 19th's content across its wide national platform with deep roots in local communities across the United States. USA TODAY NETWORK’s partnership with The 19th will bolster and broaden its ongoing journalistic commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the ratification of the 19th amendment. "We are thrilled to partner with The 19th, publishing their stories across the USA TODAY Network.

StaffUSA TODAY NETWORK PRESSROOMUSA TODAY NETWORK and the Smithsonian are collaborating to bring a summer activity guide, featuring puzzles, games and at-home activities, to K–8 learners. The “Summer Road Trip” at-home activity guide, which includes bilingual Spanish/English language content, offers learners opportunities to explore topics in STEM, history and the arts. An e-edition of the guide is available across the USA TODAY NETWORK today. “As a kid, I would check out as many books as I could from my local library during the summer,” said Nicole Carroll, editor in chief of USA TODAY. "Summer Road Trip" is specifically designed to provide activities that can be done without access to the internet or a computer.

StaffUSA TODAY NETWORK PRESSROOMGannett developed and built an internal app, Bytecast, that allows our reporters to seamlessly capture and publish audio content. The tool is intended for use internally by journalists across the USA TODAY NETWORK. The app, developed by Gannett’s content innovation group, is part of an effort to build a more expansive collection of audio content for USA TODAY NETWORK, and is a key step in advancing the organization’s audio strategy to deliver a larger catalog of audio content to its audience of over 140 million in the U.S. and U.K. Journalists can capture audio content directly through the Bytecast app and upload to the company’s audio networks, allowing the content to be easily embedded within stories, shared on smart speakers, voice assistants, across social media platforms, and our CMS. The app is currently being tested by journalists at the Detroit Free Press, The Columbus Dispatch, and Northwest Florida Daily News.

StaffUSA TODAY NETWORK PRESSROOMUSA TODAY NETWORK and the Gannett Foundation today announced 16 non-profit organizations that will receive national grants from the company’s A Community Thrives program. A total of $5.6 million will be distributed to these non-profits from the Gannett Foundation and the program’s fundraising efforts combined. Congratulations and best wishes to these outstanding grant recipients and their amazing projects,” said Gannett Chairman and CEO Mike Reed. The Gannett Foundation selected the 2020 national grants recipients based on the proposed projects’ viability, sustainability, community need and community building properties and service to historically marginalized and/or under-resourced groups. CREIGHTON COMMUNITY FOUNDATION, Phoenix, AZ -- $50,000Creighton Community Foundation will build vibrant food and culinary communities in east central Phoenix to increase access to nutritious food.

StaffUSA TODAY NETWORK PRESSROOMFor this year's elections, Gannett’s consumer product team has built a new system that is being deployed across the USA TODAY NETWORK to support results from more than 10,000 races. Aimed at supporting and solving the needs of newsrooms across the nation, both small and large, the product team created an internal results tool that will provide unified results for USA TODAY and Gannett’s more than 250 local newsrooms. The team created the system to publish results that would allow USA TODAY and local sites to embed live results within news stories for any Associated Press-covered race across desktop, mobile web, and mobile apps. The in-house platform brings a unique level of local and national elections results in a truly modern way that only Gannett could provide given the number of local communities within the USA TODAY NETWORK. By creating an easy and modern election results tool, newsrooms will be able to focus on stories within their communities as election results will be published through the platform, rather than focusing on reporting their communities' election results in addition to covering the top stories.

StaffUSA TODAY NETWORK PRESSROOMIn an unprecedented partnership, nine newsrooms across the USA TODAY Network, including the Des Moines Register, and Lee Enterprises in Iowa joined forces to publish a collaborative project called “Iowa Mourns,” which identifies and tells the stories of Iowans who died from COVID-19. In addition to pinpointing more than 200 Iowans who passed due to the pandemic, “Iowa Mourns” includes about 60 feature stories about friends, colleagues and neighbors ranging in age from 29 to 108. By profiling the lost, the project sought to ensure they would live on through the memories of those left behind. This level of collaboration between our companies ensures these important stories will be told and told well,” Humenik said. The “Iowa Mourns” 24-page full-color special section is available in print Oct. 11 and through the Des Moines Register e-edition.

StaffUSA TODAY NETWORK PRESSROOMUSA TODAY is partnering with Google to launch Web Story experience in Google Discover. Google today announced a dedicated Web Story carousel with Discover, and USA TODAY is working with Google as one of the premier publishers to feature the new product. USA TODAY recently used the format for a news story on why mail-in voting is so controversial and for one on systemic racism. In total, USA TODAY and other Gannett brands such as 10Best, Reviewed, and Golfweek have published nearly 600 Web Stories. USA TODAY is known for high-quality visuals, so this platform allows us to highlight the strong of our photos, video, and graphics teams in the newsroom,” said Alexandra Ptachick, Audience Editor of Emerging Platforms at USA TODAY.

StaffUSA TODAY NETWORK PRESSROOMTo mark NASA’s Mars Rover landing, USA TODAY is bringing its latest augmented reality project, “Perseverance: Explore as one,” to more local audiences and is now available in USA TODAY and 13 local news apps. This is the most significant distribution of augmented reality content across the USA TODAY NETWORK to date and part of the mission to bring more innovative and digital content experiences to local audiences. “We’re excited to leverage the reach of our NETWORK to deliver premium augmented reality content to more people like never before", said Ray Soto, Director of Emerging Technology. USA TODAY and local news apps users can engage with the content via the Top Stories front. The experience, running roughly three minutes in length, was built in partnership with the Smithsonian Channel.

StaffUSA TODAY NETWORK PRESSROOMGannett and McClatchy, two of the most iconic and acclaimed local media companies, with deep roots in over 300 local communities, have announced a new offering that will give national brands the ability to connect seamlessly and more meaningfully with local audiences across a vast multi-channel network. Gannett’s USA TODAY national sales team, which has been increasingly helping national brands reach communities’ audiences, will be the go-to-market team offering the combined reach of the local media companies to national brands and media agencies. “We are excited to expand our local audience reach for National brands and agencies in this partnership with McClatchy,” said Kevin Gentzel, Chief Revenue Officer, Gannett | USA TODAY NETWORK. “We are excited to join the USA TODAY NETWORK and collaborate with Gannett to provide this powerful multi-channel solution for advertisers.”The Gannett and McClatchy solution comes at a critical time for brands. USA TODAY NETWORK and the credible, brand-safe nature of trusted local media brands provides marketers with a solution to connect with consumers.

This marks the first time Rocket Mortgage has finished first in Ad Meter. Voting took place on the Ad Meter platform at admeter.usatoday.com starting on Wednesday, Feb. 3, and remained open until Monday, Feb. 8 at 1 a.m. The top five ads, as rated by the 2021 Ad Meter panelists, are:1. Rocket Mortgage, “Certain Is Better – Tracy Morgan, Dave Bautista & Liza Koshy,” 7.382. Visit admeter.usatoday.com to see the full 2021 Ad Meter results and to view previous Ad Meter winners and ratings.

StaffUSA TODAY NETWORK PRESSROOMGannett has received a score of 100 on the Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s 2021 Corporate Equality Index, the nation’s foremost benchmarking survey and report measuring corporate policies and practices related to LGBTQ workplace equality. Gannett joins the ranks of 767 major U.S. businesses that also earned top marks this year. This is Gannett’s fourth year on the Corporate Equality Index. Gannett’s efforts in satisfying all of the CEI’s criteria earned a 100 percent ranking and the designation as one of the Best Places to Work for LGBTQ Equality. Apply now: There’s never been a better time to work at Gannett | USA TODAY NETWORK

StaffUSA TODAY NETWORK PRESSROOMUSA TODAY and Adweek will be co-hosting a virtual event, The Big Game Summit, that will feature industry thought leaders for a conversation on this year’s Super Bowl ads, the creativity, and the trends ahead of the game. USA TODAY’s annual Ad Meter program has provided insights around consumer sentiment towards the commercials since 1989. In a release, Adweek’s Chief Content Officer Lisa Granatstein shared, “Together, the editors of Adweek and USA TODAY will be quite a force to reckon with in terms of Super Bowl ad ratings and analysis. Gannett | USA TODAY NETWORK’s Chief Marketing and Strategy Officer Mayur Gupta added “Each year, there’s always a thrill surrounding the creativity of the Super Bowl commercials, which is why USA TODAY’s Ad Meter has been a long-standing program to measure consumer sentiment. We’re excited to partner with Adweek to bring the creative community together and discuss the brands and talent that engage us every year.”To register and join us for The Big Game Summit, click here.

StaffUSA TODAY NETWORK PRESSROOMUSA TODAY kicks off its 33rd Ad Meter program, the premiere gauge for public evaluation and opinion about Super Bowl advertisements. All commercials that are ranked in USA TODAY’s Ad Meter will also be curated into a proprietary USA TODAY Ad Meter Playlist on YouTube AdBlitz. Beginning today, fans can leverage a unique augmented-reality filter on USA TODAY and USA TODAY Sports Instagram pages that allows fans to share their excitement about this year’s Ad Meter competition with their social network. The winner of the 2021 Super Bowl Ad Meter will be announced on Monday, Feb. 8 at 8:30 a.m. Following the announcement of the results, USA TODAY will be hosting “Ad Meter Live” at noon ET.

StaffUSA TODAY NETWORK PRESSROOMSpencer Mandell is joining Gannett as its first creative director. Mandell is an award-winning Global Creative Director with over two decades of experience in the media industry. Following Senior Creative agency roles at LAFORCE and Havas's The 88, Spencer joined Facebook's Creative Shop as Creative Director. At both Facebook and Instagram, Spencer created award-winning work for clients such as Vogue, Bud Light, Bentley, DiGiorno, Hershey, and more. “I am deeply impressed with Spencer’s work, creative thinking, and passion for building cultural brands,” said Mayur Gupta.

StaffUSA TODAY NETWORK PRESSROOMThe Louisville Courier Journal is commemorating Breonna Taylor’s life and what has happened one year after her death with unique, impactful local coverage from reporters rooted in the community who have been covering the fatal police shooting of Taylor from the beginning. The 26-year-old Black woman's death has since sparked international outrage and demand for criminal justice reforms, but even before the case gained attention beyond Louisville, Courier Journal reporters were providing crucial on-the-ground information about her death to the local community they serve. The Courier Journal also scheduled three Facebook lives this month for panelists, including local politicians, community members, professors and government officials, to discuss how systemic racism continues to create wide disparities in Louisville. “At a time when Breonna Taylor’s family and the Louisville community were demanding answers, The Courier Journal’s reporting has helped uncover the truth. Our commitment to this story continues as Louisville looks to tear down racist systems and create a more equitable city,” said Veda W. Morgan, senior director for engagement, diversity and opinion at the Courier Journal.

StaffUSA TODAY NETWORK PRESSROOMToday, USA TODAY Sports Media Group, which reaches more than 53 million sports fans each month, is launching its annual Brackets competition, which for the first time will include playable brackets for both the men's and women's tournament and includes an augmented reality experience. The Brackets competition is presented by Snapper, a leading commercial and industrial turf care equipment provider and part of the Briggs & Stratton family of brands. Registrations for the brackets begins today, March 8th, at brackets.usatoday.com. USA TODAY's Emerging Tech team created their first web-based augmented reality web experience for this year's competition, "Couchketball Hoops challenge." To join the competition, fans can create a bracket at brackets.usatoday.com.

StaffUSA TODAY NETWORK PRESSROOMA jury in Polk County, Iowa, today acquitted Des Moines Register reporter Andrea Sahouri on two misdemeanor charges stemming from her arrest while covering protests in the city last May. “I’d like to thank my family and friends, my Des Moines Register and Gannett colleagues and people around Des Moines, nationally and globally who have supported me for nearly a year after I was unjustly assaulted and arrested. If reporters are arrested and hauled away from protests, that denies people the right to know what’s going on in their community,” said Carol Hunter, executive editor of the Des Moines Register. Gannett funded Sahouri’s defense and will always stand behind its journalists when they are arrested for simply performing their jobs. Read full coverage on the Des Moines Register.

StaffUSA TODAY NETWORK PRESSROOMToday, Gannett and Snap Inc. announce a new partnership to bring Snapchat’s advertising platform to small and local businesses throughout the U.S. and Canada. Gannett has a long history of working with small businesses across the country to help them grow their businesses by connecting them with consumers in their local communities. In the past several years, Gannett’s marketing solutions business has expanded with the acquisitions of ReachLocal and WordStream, and the launch of LOCALiQ, combining all of Gannett’s digital marketing solutions. Gannett’s scale and breadth of offerings enable it to leverage proprietary data insights to drive personalized best-in-class performance for local businesses. “We are proud to partner with Snap to bring industry-leading digital ad products and marketing solutions to local businesses across the country,” said Kevin Gentzel, Chief Revenue Officer & President of Marketing Solutions, Gannett.

StaffUSA TODAY NETWORK PRESSROOMWhen the unprecedented winter storm devastated Texas, journalists at the Austin American-Statesman provided critical information to their local communities, despite also personally enduring effects from the inclement freezing weather. As Texas continues to deal with aftermath of the storm, Gannett is mobilizing to offer support and aid to Texas employees. Design Center and Digital Optimization Team teams stepped in on their off days to package indispensable information for Gannett newspapers. Beyond the newsroom, Gannett is working to provide aid and relief to Texas employees as well. The Austin American-Statesman office became a refuge (following COVID safety protocols) for employees seeking power, water, heat and supplies.

Virtual Run Series spanning the DC Batman™ Virtual Run, Elf Run Virtual 10K/5K, Christmas Story Virtual Run, DC Wonder Woman™ Virtual Run, and the Scooby-Doo™ Family and Pet Virtual Run/Walk. “Endurance athletes united with a powerful purpose last year to foster a strong community of kindness and giving, especially for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital,” said Richard C. Shadyac Jr., President and CEO of ALSAC, the fundraising and awareness organization for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. "We are grateful for our St. Jude Heroes®, runners, walkers and fitness enthusiasts who continue to support St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, whether they participated on the treadmill, sidewalk, bike, trail or other endeavor. St. Jude continues to uphold its promise that families will never receive a bill from St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing or food – because all a family should worry about is helping their child live. To learn more about how to support St. Jude or to register as a St. Jude Hero® in an upcoming event in 2021, visit stjude.org/heroes.

A vaccine developed by Janssen Pharmaceuticals, a Johnson & Johnson company, was authorized in late February. More: How mRNA vaccines workThe Johnson & Johnson vaccine takes the more traditional approach. Moderna, Pfizer, Johnson & Johnson and Novavax are all US-based companies. All the vaccines except the one from Johnson & Johnson require two shots to train the immune system well enough to fight the coronavirus. In its large-scale trial, the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine was shown to prevent 95% of symptomatic COVID-19, just 1 percentage point more than Moderna's.

Three vaccines – one made by ????Pfizer-BioNTech, one from Moderna and another from Johnson & Johnson – have been authorized for emergency use and are part of the widespread distribution process. The Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines require two doses, and the Johnson & Johnson vaccine requires only one for the recipient to be fully vaccinated. The share of distributed doses used in each state or territory is calculated by dividing the number of doses administered in that state or territory by the number of doses distributed to that state or territory. The percent of people vaccinated in each state, territory or county is calculated by dividing the number of residents of that state, territory or county who have been vaccinated by the population of that state, territory or county. From Feb. 22 to 25, a footnote incorrectly described the measure used to calculate the percent of people vaccinated in each state or territory.

StaffUSA TODAY NETWORK PRESSROOMUSA TODAY today launched USA TODAY’s “Women of the Year” franchise that will recognize women of distinction in all 50 states and nationally each year, beginning with an interview featuring Vice President Kamala Harris as the first honoree. USA TODAY’s “Women of the Year” follows last year’s successful Women of the Century project, which highlighted achievements of trailblazing women in the 100 years since they achieved the right to vote. USA TODAY, with the help of a diverse panel of judges, will recognize 10 women nationally who will be interviewed and profiled by USA TODAY national columnist Suzette Hackney, and USA TODAY NETWORK newsrooms across the country will honor a woman from every state, Washington D.C., and the U.S. territories. “We are excited to build off ‘Women of the Century’ with an annual project to honor women for their achievements. Find out more information about USA TODAY’s “Women of the Year” here.

Leading up to today’s release, USA TODAY published two exclusive excerpts from “Madam Speaker” by Page: How Donald Trump upended Pelosi's plans, then she unraveled his and How Ted Kennedy and Pelosi pushed Barack Obama to go big on health care. And especially very few women are, especially of her generation," Page told USA TODAY Editor-in-Chief Nicole Carroll during an interview about her book for “The Backstory” newsletter last week. Page’s book on Pelosi is her latest biography since her 2019 book on the life and impact of First Lady Barbara Bush. Speaking to her decision to make Pelosi the subject of her next biography after “The Matriarch,” Page told Carroll, "She had the two things I wanted. More information about “Madam Speaker,” published by Twelve Books, can be found here.

StaffUSA TODAY NETWORK PRESSROOMUSA TODAY reported in November that Louisiana State University had a culture of covering up sexual misconduct allegations. The university refused to release that report when USA TODAY first requested it in December, prompting USA TODAY reporters to sue the school. Ultimately, Miles withdrew his legal objections backed down, and the university gave USA TODAY the report on March 4. "We can't stop now," said USA TODAY sports investigative editor Peter Barzilai to USA TODAY Editor-in-Chief Nicole Carroll last week for “The Backstory” newsletter. We will continue digging until we know all the answers,” said USA TODAY investigations editor Emily Le Coz.

In the months since, our journalists have leveraged the local-to-national footprint of the USA TODAY NETWORK to keep their local communities informed with critical COVID-19 news, including recent updates about where to find the COVID-19 vaccine. To help calm communities, USA TODAY NETWORK newsrooms showcased voices of people who emerged on the other side of the virus. USA TODAY NETWORK journalists worked to answer questions and tamp down rumors. USA TODAY NETWORK newsrooms covered local businesses and restaurant plights as they learned to live under new rules. USA TODAY NETWORK newsrooms went beyond headlines to explain key issues and add context for readers.

Every 17 years, portions of the central, eastern and southern U.S. see a massive emergence of "periodical" cicadas. The largest of the many generations of cicadas, Brood X, will surface in May, creating a monstrous cacophony. Anatomy of a periodical cicadaUnlike greenish, annual cicadas, periodical cicadas are known for their black bodies, clear wings and bold red eyes. It depends on the weather and latitude in the U.S. Brood X cicadas usually emerge in late April and early May. The next time the Brood X cicadas will emerge will be in 2038.

The convenience store chain has teamed up with comedian Joel McHale to promote a new menu item – cheesy breadsticks – and they're telling some, uh, Gouda jokes along the way. “I’m thrilled to be working with Casey’s and their cheesy breadsticks because I love cheese and I love cheese,” McHale said in a news release. The new breadsticks come in an 8-stick order with marinara or cheese dipping sauce. From now through May 31, get the breadsticks for a promotional price of $3.99. Casey's Reward members who order cheesy breadsticks twice in April with the loyalty program will earn 300 bonus points.

From their courtship to their royal wedding and their almost 74-year marriage, Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip's love story spanned decades and garnered public interest. Prince Philip's funeral:When is it? More pressing questions, answeredMore:Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, husband of Queen Elizabeth II, dies at 99How Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip metThe couple's foundation had humble beginnings as a young budding romance when they met when the queen was 13. Their children are Prince Charles, the Prince of Wales; Prince Andrew, the Duke of York; Princess Anne and Prince Edward Earl of Wessex. Seasons 1 and 2 depict the personal struggles of Prince Philip as the queen rose to the duties of her crown.

But how does someone, especially someone who's white, start (or continue) a conversation with family and friends about racism and privilege? Do your research:Before jumping into discussions about racism and privilege, it's important to educate yourself on these topics. Arnold clarifies that this approach doesn't pardon anyone who's been out of line, citing Amy Cooper and Christian Cooper, a recent example of a white person unnecessarily calling the police on a Black person. ), and ask, "How hard would it be for a white person to try and get ahead?" Going beyond the conversation:100 ways you can take action against racism right nowLooking for books about racism?

New Paul McCartney, Eric Church, Greta Van Fleet albums highlight New Music FridayPaul McCartney's new "McCartney III Imagined" plus albums from Eric Church, Greta Van Fleet and The Offspring highlight New Music Friday releases.

Madeleine Albright Photo: Robert Deutsch, USA TODAY, Illustration: USA TODAY NetworkThese Black women fought for voting rights These Black women fought for voting rights Black women played a major role in obtaining the right to vote, even though many of them would not truly enjoy the right themselves to the same extent until decades later. Simone Biles USA TODAY Network illustrationUSA TODAY 100 USA TODAY 100 Women of the Century didn’t succeed despite adversity, but often because of it. Gloria Estefan Photo: Robert Deutsch, USA TODAY, Illustration: USA TODAY NetworkStatues bring suffrage history to you Statues bring suffrage history to you Women’s suffrage is commemorated in many landmarks around the country. Explore these statues in our augmented reality experience, available on your phone and within the Augmented Reality section of the USA TODAY app. Explore these statues in our augmented reality experience, available on your phone and within the Augmented Reality section of the USA TODAY app.

IHOP has a new way to meet your cravings, and it's more than a side of new, thicker bacon. IHOP introduces a new “Bacon Obsession” menu Tuesday with a steakhouse premium bacon with a maple glaze and limited menu items like Steakhouse Premium Bacon Burger, Candied Bacon Pancakes and a Maple Bacon Milkshake, the company shared exclusively with USA TODAY. Sign up hereAlong with the bacon, the special menu is available through June 13 and also features the Steakhouse Premium Bacon "BreakFEAST" combo ($10.99), Steakhouse BLT ($10), Oreo ‘N Bacon Waffle Sundae ($4.99) and the Bacon Lovers Combo ($5 to $6), available only on weekdays. In 2012, Jack in the Box had a limited Bacon Shake, and a year earlier, Denny’s had a Maple Bacon Sundae as part of its Baconalia festival. Prices vary by location, but a short stack costs an average of $6.45.

McDonald’s is closing hundreds of restaurants located in Walmart stores, and approximately 150 restaurants are expected to remain after another wave of planned closures, the Wall Street Journal reported Friday. But Walmart officials told USA TODAY the spaces aren't sitting empty. We have been and continue to fill them," Walmart spokesperson Molly Blakeman said in a statement to USA TODAY. At the peak of the McDonald's-Walmart partnership, which began in the mid-90s, there were roughly 1,000 restaurants in Walmart stores, the Journal reported. BJ's Wholesale Club leadership:CEO Lee Delaney died unexpectedly; Bob Eddy named interim CEOFollow USA TODAY reporter Kelly Tyko on Twitter: @KellyTyko

Raised to say 'yes'Experts in gender say women are socialized to serve and acquiesce. Collins said women need to think about saying "no" as a right, rather than as a privilege. "We think that 'no' is a dirty word, and 'yes' is clean ... even though when we are saying 'yes,' much of the time we are saying it fearfully, we're saying it resentfully, we're saying it disingenuously," Lue said. Your feelings when you're saying yes, she said, can offer major clues about where to set limits. "If you're saying yes because you're afraid ... that's the wrong reason to say yes.

The 28-year-old Los Angeles resident will join four other Americans on April 20, sharing true, personal stories about growing up as part of the USA TODAY Network’s Storytellers Project show. Register in advance to receive a reminder at https://www.storytellersproject.com/all-events and watch on the Storytellers Project’s Facebook page, YouTube channel or website. Need to knowWhat: “Growing Up”“Growing Up” Where: The Storytellers Project’s Facebook Page, YouTube channel and website. The Storytellers Project’s Facebook Page, YouTube channel and website. ET More: Watch past virtual shows on YouTube and recorded in-person shows on the Storytellers Project's website.

ACM Awards: From the hosts to the location, here's how the event looked different in 2021The 56th Academy of Country Music Awards were in Nashville for a second straight year and in a number of ways, broke ground with its participants.

While lying in a hospital bed last year, Chrissy Teigen shared near-constant updates to her Instagram account. Now, she wants others to join her in speaking more openly about infertility and the toll it takes. If that's going to make other women feel that they can do it too, then I will be that person and I'm happy to do it." Teigen says women often suffer in silence when they are dealing with infertility issues, which prompted her to be frank about her own experiences. Teigen says she's endured the "isolating" feelings of struggling to get pregnant, from embarrassment to feeling "like a failure."

Here's what they told us about marijuana and CBD in its various forms ahead of 4/20, an unofficial day that celebrates cannabis culture. Willie Nelson, Gwyneth Paltrow and most recently "Crazy Rich Asians" actor Jimmy O. Yang have lent their names to cannabis products. Other states include:AlaskaArizonaCaliforniaColoradoIllinoisMaineMassachusettsMichiganMontanaNevadaNew JerseyOregonVermontWashingtonAre there wellness benefits to CBD, THC? Frye says both CBD and THC can help with sleep, anxiety, metabolism, stress and appetite. More:Why is CBD on the rise for wellness products?

I hope you can find some time and space for self care this weekend: sleep in a little bit, go for a walk, watch your favorite movie. I've been thinking about self care a lot this week. I took advantage of a wellness day my company has offered and took the day off to recover. We can't take a wellness day every week, but it was a good reminder to listen to my mind and body. "You have to sit the other person down and say, 'OK, we're not seeing eye to eye on this.

The New Jersey resident will join four others, sharing true, personal stories on May 4, marking upcoming Mother’s Day. “Growing up, no one would discuss my mother's death with me or tell me anything about my father. After researching her mother's death, Brunson discovered how much her mother had loved her. This virtual storytelling night is part of the Storytellers Project’s 2021 storytelling season, which includes 43 national and regional shows. WATCH: Episodes from the Storytellers ProjectLearn more about the Storytellers Project and apply to tell a story at https://www.storytellersproject.com/.

L.A.’s Union Station, home of this year’s Oscars, has appeared in plenty of filmsUSA TODAY's Bryan Alexander explains why Union Station in Los Angeles is far from an unlikely home for this year's Academy Awards.

Cher on her next album, 'Mamma Mia' sequel and why she wanted to save an elephantWe recap the highlights of Cher's interview with USA TODAY's Patrick Ryan. Her new documentary, "Cher and the Loneliest Elephant" comes out March 22.

Celebrate Earth Day on ThursdayOur planet's very own holiday is coming later this week. Despite the pandemic, "there's lots of excitement around this Earth Day," Rogers told USA TODAY. Overall, more than 1 billion people in 192 countries participate in each Earth Day "to build environmental democracy and advocate for sustainability," according to EarthDay.org. You can read more about Earth Day, and how you can pitch in, here. Carrot our pet guinea pig has been a wonderful comfort friend," says Judy Tanner.

If your RMD is high enough, it could push you over the limit where your Social Security benefits become taxable at the federal level. Whether Social Security gets taxed depends on your provisional income, which is 50% of your annual benefit plus your non-Social Security income. That way, you'll keep more of your senior income away from the IRS -- including the Social Security benefits you've earned. But a handful of little-known "Social Security secrets" could help ensure a boost in your retirement income. Once you learn how to maximize your Social Security benefits, we think you could retire confidently with the peace of mind we're all after.

If you're looking to lessen some of the potential side effects, however, here's how to treat some common symptoms:How to treat COVID-19 vaccine injection-site painOne area that may react to the vaccine is the arm where you received the shot. How to treat general COVID-19 vaccine symptomsYou may also experience symptoms including fever, chills, tiredness, headaches and nausea. Drink fluids: The CDC recommends this as a way to "reduce discomfort from fever." When should I see a doctor for my vaccine symptoms? "Usually, if you can make it through that without any severe symptoms, the chances of having any severe symptoms hours or days after that are very unlikely," he assured.

Experts say poor physical health can often signal poor mental health. "A lot of times our body is trying to communicate to us when we're not in a good spot," said Vaile Wright, senior director of health care innovation at the American Psychological Association. Inflammation, brain changes: What stress does to a bodyWhen someone experiences an increased level of stress, the body releases stress hormones – cortisol and adrenaline are among the most well-known. Prolonged release of stress hormones increases the overall level of inflammation in the body and can lead to longer term health effects. She also notes that one of the things that can be most healing to a body is connection to another person.

Stop AAPI Hate, a group that tracks acts of discrimination and xenophobia against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, found nearly 3,800 incidents of hate, discrimination or attacks on Asian Americans from March 2020 through February 2021. "Just now, we're starting to see more Asian Americans in TV shows, in movies, but on a very peripheral basis," she said. Ask the targeted person to leave with you if whatever is going on escalates. Ask the targeted person to leave with you if whatever is going on escalates. Find out how the targeted person is feeling and help them determine what to do next.

Welcome to Staying Apart, Together, a twice-weekly newsletter from USA TODAY. Staying Apart, Together is a newsletter about coping with the pandemic and its effect on your life. Our USA TODAY team will share with you whatever tips, tricks, insights and moments of joy we can. Sign up here to get Staying Apart, Together twice a week in your inboxes. If you are interested in more newsletters, USA TODAY has you covered:

We saw it on social media after George Floyd's death last summer, after Derek Chauvin's guilty verdict this week and during the many Black deaths in between: "Check in on your Black friends." Breonna Taylor has been gone a year:Why we need to talk more about the racial trauma of Black deathOn social media, some Black people said they appreciate when white friends and colleagues check in. "There's no one-size-fits-all response to racial trauma," said Brandon J. Johnson, creator of The Black Mental Wellness Lounge YouTube page. 'When you see, 'check in on your Black friends,' you're like, 'well, every Black person I know is my Black friend. Johnson said he had many conversations about the Chauvin verdict and next steps with Black friends and family.

Falling mortgage rates (currently 3.04%) throughout 2020 and early this year also have also boosted sales of luxury homes, Yun says. By comparison, sales of affordable homes (those in 5th-35th percentile) increased 7%, while sales of mid-priced homes climbed just 5.9%. That compares with 26 fewer days for expensive homes, 18 fewer days for mid-priced homes and 14 fewer days for affordable homes. "Instead, builders have focused on luxury homes because of higher margins," he says. The U.S. housing market shortage increased to 3.8 million units by the end of 2020, according to new data from mortgage giant Freddie Mac.

If you see expenses you either don't recognize or you know are fraudulent, you have the right to dispute those credit card charges. You generally have 60 days to dispute a chargeIf you see an erroneous charge on your credit card, it's best to act quickly because you only have a limited window of time to dispute a credit card charge. You don't have to pay for a charge that's under disputeIt can take some time for a credit card company to resolve a disputed charge. To avoid credit card fraud you may also want to have the merchant flag your account in case the person who stole your credit card number tries to make another purchase. As a consumer, you have certain rights, including the right to not have to pay for credit card charges you didn't make.

Rhonda AbramsSpecial to USA TODAYIf you own a small business, sooner or later you have to make sales. Here are a few keys to successful sales:ListenNo sales skill is more important than the ability to listen. Don't just tell the customer what you think they'll be interested in or stick to your standard sales patter. Customers don't want to know the ins and outs of your business; they want to know how you meet their needs. How to structure your sales pitch in a conversationBy listening to customers, you find the issues important to them.

Dogecoin lacks substantive differentiation, relative to other digital currencies, and it has extremely limited utility. But here's a number to keep in mind: There are more than 32 million businesses in the U.S. alone. This trio of stocks make for much smarter investments than DogecoinRather than throwing your hard-earned money at a pump-and-dump asset like Dogecoin, consider putting your money to work in the following three much smarter buys. PinterestA third stock that's a considerably smarter buy than Dogecoin is social media up-and-comer Pinterest (NYSE: PINS). After all, the newsletter they have run for over a decade, Motley Fool Stock Advisor, has tripled the market.

"Right now I'm thinking of George Floyd, his family and those who knew him. But real justice would be for George Floyd to be alive and in the arms of his family,'' she wrote. George Floyd was denied justice the moment Chauvin's knee took his last breath." Chauvin found guilty and nation reacts:Derek Chauvin guilty verdict sparks reactions across the nationWhat were the charges? Here's what the jury is considering for the death of George Floyd.

But when it comes to retirement planning, being married can add a level of complexity to the mix, especially when it comes to Social Security. In fact, things could become even more challenging on the Social Security front if there's a substantial age difference between you and your spouse. Of course, in delaying your filing, you may get less out of Social Security in your own lifetime. But a handful of little-known "Social Security secrets" could help ensure a boost in your retirement income. Once you learn how to maximize your Social Security benefits, we think you could retire confidently with the peace of mind we're all after.

Health care is probably going to cost way more than you thinkMany future retirees have a very optimistic picture of their likely health care spending, according to a recent study conducted by Fidelity. It showed that 37% of non-retired adult financial decision-makers estimated health care spending for a senior couple in retirement would total $50,000 to $100,000. In reality, Fidelity's estimate for out-of-pocket medical expenses was actually $295,000 for the average 65-year-old couple who retired last year. And health care costs only go up year over year, so future retirees are likely to spend even more. Start preparing for health care spending ASAPIf you're not yet retired, it's crucial to develop a realistic plan now for affording your care as a senior.

Forty-two percent of small businesses surveyed in March said they had job openings they couldn't fill, a record high, according to the National Federation of Independent Business. Before the pandemic, companies sometimes plucked job candidates from competitors, either on their own or through agencies. But McCoy estimates about half of all professional job openings were filled by job seekers responding to ads or sending out cold applications. Also, restaurant and retail positions are coming back as states ease business restrictions, adding to the swell of job openings. The upshot: Businesses are scrambling to fill an abundance of similar job openings from a limited pool of candidates.

A popular vitamin brand recalled some of its gummy products because they could contain metal. In a recall notice posted on the Food and Drug Administration website Tuesday, New Jersey-based Church & Dwight said it "initiated a voluntary recall of select vitafusion gummy products after the Company’s investigation of two consumer reports identified the possible presence of a metallic mesh material." However, it said, in "some severe cases, ingesting a metallic material could lead to damage of the digestive tract." Recall alert: List of affected vitaminsThe recalled gummy vitamin products are listed below with the Universal Product Code (UPC), lot code and expiration date. The company said no other products are included in this recall.

If your income fell last year and you made significantly less money than what was reported on your 2019 income tax return, you may be eligible for another check. If you received your stimulus payment via direct deposit, that’s likely how you will get the “plus-up” money. If you are head of household and not married, how does your stimulus payment change? All dependents are now eligible for stimulus payments in the third round. And some don’t levy state income taxes at all, including Texas, Florida, Alaska, Nevada, Washington, Wyoming and South Dakota.

“Generally, insurance premiums are not qualified medical expenses,” said Stenken. An HSA can be used to address any qualified health expenses incurred while the account is open, at any time, according to Bruggeman. And let’s say you’ve paid $20,000 out of pocket in qualified health care expenses over the past 10 years. One caveat: You can only use the money in the HSA to pay for qualified health care expenses incurred after the HSA was established. Using the HSA to pay for qualified health care expenses incurred prior to the HSA being created isn’t allowed.

Krispy Kreme is providing a sweet incentive to encourage more people to roll up their sleeves for the COVID-19 vaccine: Free doughnuts through the end of 2021. The freebie is valid at all 369 Krispy Kreme shops located in 41 states and available “anytime, any day, every day for the rest of the year,” Dave Skena, Krispy Kreme chief marketing officer, told USA TODAY. Krispy Kreme is also offering up to four hours of paid time off for each COVID-19 vaccination for its employees. :Comedian believes his box of General Mills cereal contained shrimp tailsWhile many companies are giving employees motivation, Krispy Kreme appears to be the first national chain to provide consumers with a treat. Krispy Kreme wants people to have a chance to take advantage of it – after all, not everyone is eligible for a vaccine yet.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is warning owners of the Peloton Tread+ with small children or pets to stop using the treadmill after the fitness company reported a child's death last month linked to the product. Tread+ owners with children are urged to stop using the treadmill immediately, the agency said. "There is no reason to stop using the Tread+, as long as all warnings and safety instructions are followed," the company said. On Friday, The Washington Post reported Peloton was fighting a request from the CPSC to recall the treadmill. In its statement Saturday, Peloton said it had invited CPSC to make a joint statement warning about the dangers of not following safety instructions when using Tread+.

Because of the nature of the two sports, the parallels between college football and soccer aren’t identical. The Super League teams still intend to play their domestic league schedules, and in European soccer, clubs can compete for multiple championships or trophies within a season. So in a weird way, a College Football Super League of 30 or so teams might actually make the sport more competitive. If anything, the lack of competitive equity has been a huge part of the financial model that has sustained college football for decades. Much like in Europe currently, the backlash to any kind of College Football Super League would be severe.

Corbin Burnes continued to do things no other pitcher has done Tuesday night. Burnes became the first starting pitcher in modern history (since 1893) to record as many as 40 strikeouts without issuing a walk to begin a season. Since allowing his lone run of the season on a home run by Minnesota’s Byron Buxton in his first start, Burnes has pitched 18 scoreless innings. When Burnes struck out all three batters he faced in the bottom of the third inning, he made baseball history. "You know, I've heard it from everyone in the clubhouse, so it's kind of hard to escape it right now.

It just smells like you’re going to win,” Laureano said Wednesday after the Oakland Athletics extended their winning streak to 11 with a 10th-inning rally fueled by two errors for a 13-12 victory over the Minnesota Twins. Laureano hit a one-hopper to Arraez for what again should have been the final out. Arraez, who had moved to third from second base for the 10th, sailed his throw over first baseman Willians Astudillo as the tying and winning runs scored. “I wish we could be talking about game-saving plays,” Twins manager Rocco Baldelli said. The Twins' .320 winning percentage is their second-lowest to any team during that span (they are .304 against the New York Yankees).

Chris Grier and the Miami Dolphins weren’t about to stay at No. Speaking to reporters at his annual pre-draft news conference Wednesday, Grier laid out how the Dolphins consummated their back-to-back trades out of their original No. MORE:10 boom-or-bust prospects in 2021 NFL draftNFL MOCK DRAFT:What might happen in first round if Cowboys, Broncos trade up? Wednesday was the first time Grier addressed reporters since the release of linebacker Kyle Van Noy after one season in Miami. Grier cited the “jumps” made by Van Ginkel and tight end Mike Gesicki following their rookie seasons.

Michelle R. MartinelliFor The WinSeason 3 of The Sneak, a serialized true crime podcast from For The Win and USA TODAY, premiered today on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or anywhere else you get your podcasts. This season, we will dive into the life and disappearance of Mario Rossi, a brilliant NASCAR crew chief and engineer who mysteriously vanished just after New Year's in 1983. The Rossi family was told Mario died in a plane crash in the Bahamas with details fed to family members through a series of strange phone calls. Or you can binge the entire season right now, ad free, on the Wondery Plus app. Listen to the first episode of the new season in the player below:

Faced with one of the most consequential decisions of his life, Charlie Kolar flipped a coin. Not so much to render a verdict, though, as to give him some insight into his own thinking about the prospect of staying for a fifth season with the Iowa State football team or leaving for the NFL. “My parents taught me this technique — when you can’t make a decision, flip a coin and you say you’re going to make a decision based on the coin flip,” the All-America tight end said. “The way you feel afterward gives you a pretty good idea of what you actually feel (about a decision).”So, Kolar flipped a coin after the 2020 season. “He’s light years ahead of where he was going into last season and we’re only in April right now,” Iowa State tight ends coach Taylor Mouser said.

Vegas Golden Knights goaltender Robin Lehner blasted the NHL over its handling of its COVID-19 vaccination policy, saying the league went back on promises made about easing restrictions and calling it "totally unacceptable." The NHL pushed back on Lehner's characterization of the matter. Those leagues have all teams currently playing in the U.S., where everyone 16 and older can get a vaccine. And now we are, we are vaccinated and we’re still going to be trapped in a prison." Lehner said, however, that when he spoke to members of the NHL and the NHL Players' Association on Tuesday, he was told that restrictions would not be changing.

One day after Derek Chauvin was found guilty on all counts in the murder of George Floyd, Pro Football Hall of Famer Brett Favre said he did not think the former Minneapolis police officer meant to kill Floyd. "I find it hard to believe, and I'm not defending Derek Chauvin in any way, I find it hard to believe, first of all, that he intentionally meant to kill George Floyd," Favre said. Second-degree manslaughter is culpable negligence where a person creates an unreasonable risk and consciously takes the chance of causing death or great bodily harm to someone else. Numerous athletes, coaches and sports leagues voiced support of Chauvin's conviction Tuesday evening, including the NFL, which said, "Today's outcome in the Derek Chauvin trial in Minneapolis does not undo the loss of life. Mr. George Floyd should be here with us today,"Our hearts remain with the Floyd Family, and we understand the pain, anger and frustration does not go away even when justice is delivered."

APWASHINGTON — Wizards rookie Deni Avdija suffered a serious-looking injury to his right ankle and was taken from the court in a wheelchair during Washington’s 118-114 victory over Golden State on Wednesday night. Avdija landed awkwardly after missing a layup late in the second quarter. Wizards employees carefully helped Avdija into the wheelchair, and he was taken off the court while rubbing his head with a towel. Washington selected the 20-year-old Avdija out of his native Israel with the ninth pick in last year’s draft. Coach Scott Brooks said he wasn’t sure whether Avdija would be able to return this season.

The two also talked about Johnson recently taking the COVID-19 vaccine, and how that could do more than just protect himself from the virus. Lakers controlling governor Jeanie Buss and Lakers forward Montrezl Harrell posted recently on their respective social media accounts that they received the COVID-19 vaccine. So when Johnson talked last week with Buss, Pelinka and Linda Rambis (the Lakers’ executive director of community relations & special projects), he learned some encouraging news about the players’ comfort level with the COVID-19 vaccine. But it’s all about getting the information.”The NBA and the National Basketball Players Association have not required players to take the COVID-19 vaccine. It’s not just impact on the players of today, but also in the Black community,” Johnson said.

Curry, who came in having overtaken Beal for the NBA scoring lead, had 18 points on 7-of-25 shooting, including 2-of-14 on 3s. It was something that hadn’t been done before, and it was going to end at some point," Curry said. Beal scored 29 points as the glamorous matchup with Curry mostly fizzled until Washington rallied from 11 points down in the fourth quarter. The Wizards did not provide any detail on the injury after the game, but Brooks would not rule out Avdija returning this season. UP NEXT: The Warriors play nine of their final 13 games at home, starting Friday night against Denver.

Philonise Floyd, the brother of George Floyd, responded Wednesday to the backlash the Las Vegas Raiders received after tweeting, “I can breathe 4-20-21,” in response to the guilty verdicts of former Minneapolis police office Derek Chauvin for the murder of George Floyd. "On behalf of our family, I would like to extend our deepest gratitude to the Las Vegas Raiders organization and its leadership for their support of our family and for our nation's ongoing pursuit of justice and equality for all," Floyd said in a statement shared by the law firm representing George Floyd's family. When Chauvin's trial came to an end Tuesday evening, an outpouring of condolences to the family of George Floyd began. Raiders Owner Mark Davis took responsibility for the wording choice, saying that it was inspired by Philonise Floyd's reaction to Chauvin's guilty verdicts. "Today, we are able to breathe again," Philonise Floyd said Tuesday.

Los Angeles Chargers14. Los Angeles Chargers48. Los Angeles Rams58. Los Angeles Chargers242. Los Angeles Rams253.

At least one prominent NFL player really dislikes the NFL's rule change on jersey numbers. Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady, in his Instagram story posted Thursday, criticized the rule that eases restrictions on approved jersey numbers for positions that was passed Wednesday. That caption was superimposed on a table that showed the acceptable ranges of jersey numbers with the adopted rule. Quarterbacks, punters and kickers are now eligible to wear Nos. Just have colored jerseys...why not wear the same number?...DUMB" below before tagging the NFL and NFL Players Association's verified accounts.

That’s where WW (formerly Weight Watchers) and Noom come in. What are WW (formerly Weight Watchers) and Noom? In addition to the daily food logging, the Noom app provides motivation with about eight daily “tasks” you’re asked to complete. With WW, you’re given weekly points, or “weeklies” on top of your daily points. Which program is right for you: WW (formerly Weight Watchers) or Noom?

"Animal Crossing: New Horizons" (Nintendo, 2020) was released for Nintendo Switch a year ago at the start of the coronavirus pandemic. More:First look: 'Splatoon 3' and 'Star Wars: Hunters' among new video games headed to Nintendo SwitchAs we approach the first anniversary of "New Horizons," here are nine other cozy Nintendo Switch games you might want to check out. Stardew ValleyMany Animal Crossing fans are likely familiar with the role-playing game "Stardew Valley," (ConcernedApe, 2017) and its pixelated style. My Time at PortiaIn "My Time at Portia" (Pathea Games, 2019), you're starting a new life, of course. While the gameplay is not as polished as "Animal Crossing" or similar games, "Portia" can still be a fun escape.

Should you buy Bitcoin or Dogecoin? More businesses and investors are likely to buy Bitcoin in the coming year, which could help to drive the cryptocurrency's price sharply higher. The sharp rise in the value of Bitcoin and Dogecoin has led to analysts' worries of a potential bubble in the cryptocurrency market. How do you buy cryptocurrency? Customers will get to choose between four types of cryptocurrency: Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin and Bitcoin Cash.

The Associated PressWASHINGTON – The Justice Department is taking new aim at ransomware after a year that officials say was the costliest on record for the crippling cyberattacks. Ransomware attacks have impeded hospital operations, led to the temporary closure of school classes and caused other chaos. The Justice Department has brought indictments related to ransomware attacks, including a 2018 case against two Iranian nationals whose many victims included the cities of Atlanta and Newark, New Jersey, and resulted in losses of $30 million. The task force will include representatives from the Justice Department's criminal and national security divisions, among others. The Wall Street Journal was the first to report the creation of the task force.

In anticipation of a verdict, Facebook pledged to remove posts from Facebook and Instagram that urged people to take up arms and any content that praised, celebrated or mocked Floyd’s death. After the Chauvin verdict, activists questioned why Facebook does not deploy them all the time. “If Facebook can be safer for Black people, why isn’t that the default setting?” said Rashad Robinson, president of Color Of Change, a nonprofit civil rights advocacy organization. One of the problems, say civil rights activists, is the dearth of underrepresented minorities at Facebook, particularly in positions of influence. On Tuesday, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg wrote about the Chauvin verdict on his Facebook page.

Given that, let's give it some credence – for now – and bake it into this latest first-round projection of the 2021 draft:1. Jacksonville Jaguars – Trevor Lawrence, QB, Clemson: Legitimate case to be made this is the least-suspenseful selection in NFL draft history. 2 overall selection in NFL draft history now that the Jets have dispatched QB Sam Darnold to Carolina just three years after tabbing him No. Denver Broncos [PROJECTED TRADE from Philadelphia Eagles via Miami Dolphins] – Mac Jones, QB, Alabama: If new GM George Paton wants to get into the quarterback arena, he probably can't afford to stick and pick at No. Smith, last year's record-setting Heisman Trophy winner, could thrive in an offense given opponents can hardly afford to double cover him given the running threat posed by Hurts.

All of this raises an intriguing question: How can tech help us reengage to office life? "Tech will be at the heart of the once office-centric workplace and good communication will be key as companies make this transition," Goulding said. This month, Barco let its employees back on a hybrid work schedule up to a 40% office capacity. Banks thinks another tech that could help foster socialization in the office is having upgraded ventilation systems and UV lighting that can "kill pathogens to the air that's circulating is cleansed." ServiceNow's Safe Workplace Mobile nine-app platform and dashboard can help companies reopening offices with employee contact tracing, vaccination statuses and social distance floorplans.

A new feature coming to Venmo is making it easier for users to claim a stake in cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin. On Tuesday, the digital payments app owned by PayPal announced a crypto option, which would allow its users to buy, sell and hold cryptocurrency. Customers will get to choose between four types of cryptocurrency: Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin and Bitcoin Cash. Venmo users can hold a stake in cryptocurrency starting with as little as $1. Digital coins such as Bitcoin have boosted its legitimacy in recent weeks, as large companies allow its use for purchases.

Working with colleagues across the USA TODAY Network, the Emerging Technologies team created experiences reflecting news of the day and important events in history. By creating this interactive specifically for Instagram, USA TODAY extended its audience for its AR work. Telling local storiesThe USA TODAY Network used AR to explore topics that are important to local audiences. This year, the network surfaced AR experiences on apps in five local markets, plus USA TODAY. Also as part of coverage around women’s suffrage, USA TODAY used photogrammetry to bring real objects into AR users’ space.

ADVERTISEMENTHow much is the Schwinn IC4 Indoor Cycling Bike? For example, I pay a monthly subscription fee of $12.99 to use the Peloton app for workouts on my Schwinn IC4 bike. What’s it like to set up the Schwinn IC4 Indoor Cycling Bike? What’s it like to work out on the Schwinn IC4 Indoor Cycling Bike? I can also view stats about my Peloton workouts in the Peloton app, but there’s no compatible Schwinn app that keeps tabs on your workouts.

Apple unveils new iMac powered by its own chips at 'Spring Loaded' eventApple made a new product announcement at its April 20 presentation.

Musk says autopilot not on during deadly Tesla crash in HoustonThe NTSB will investigate the deadly crash of a Tesla Model S car over the weekend. Elon Musk says autopilot was not turned on.

The video-streaming service added 4 million more worldwide subscribers from January through March, its smallest gain during that three-month period in four years. It marked a huge comedown from the same time last year when Netflix added nearly 16 million subscribers. That came just as governments around the world imposed lockdowns that created a huge captive audience for the leading video-streaming service. The inevitable slowdown in subscriber growth had been widely telegraphed by Netflix’s management in repeated reminders that its gains were a pandemic-driven anomaly. The last time Netflix started a year with a lower gain – 5.3 million subscribers in the first quarter of 2017 – the service ended up with an annual increase of 21.6 million subscribers.

New iPad Pro models are on the way, too. Starting prices remain the same as the previous generation of iPad Pro devices: The 11-inch model starts at $799, and the 12.9-inch iPad Pro starts at $1,099. Note: The iPad Pro storage capabilities wrongly rubbed some of those eyeing the new iMac computer, which tops out at 512GB of storage. New products:Apple unveils multi-color iMacs, new iPad Pro, purple iPhone 12, AirTags at 'Spring Loaded' eventIt's DogeDay420:So that's a thing? Xbox Cloud games require a compatible Bluetooth or USB-connected controller, but more than 50 games, including "Minecraft Dungeons," can be played with touch controls.

Google is paying tribute to legendary singer Luther Vandross on what would have been his 70th birthday. On Tuesday, Google released its latest doodle: an animated video honoring Vandross set to one of his most popular songs, "Never Too Much." Vandross was born on April 20, 1951, in New York City, according to a biography posted by Google. In 1981, Vandross released his first studio album, "Never Too Much," one of 14 albums that went platinum or multi-platinum. "Luther Vandross brought happiness and joy into so many people's lives through his music," said Sam Bass, an Atlanta-based artist who collaborated with Google on the doodle, in a statement.

With the price of Bitcoin slumping over the weekend, fans of the popular spoof cryptocurrency Dogecoin are hoping to make April 20 "Doge Day." As of Monday morning, the price of Dogecoin was at 37 cents, up 24%, according to the digital currency exchange Coinbase. The topic #DogeDay is trending on Twitter, with several posts urging support for Dogecoin. Your crypto questions answered:How do you buy Dogecoin, bitcoin? There is a surge in new job openings, but why isn't there a surge in job candidates?

It’s a website that tracks and catalogs high- and low-profile data breaches. HaveIBeenPwned is an excellent tool if you want to dive into past data breaches to see if your information is floating around out there. It's easy to search the site's database to find past hacks and leaks that might include your personal info. Believe it or not, Google just added its own password scanner right into the most popular web browser on the planet. Google Chrome can alert you if it finds that your passwords were likely included in a breach or hack.

Camera maker Polaroid is back with a new device they claim is the world's smallest analog camera. The company revealed the Polaroid Go, a tiny version of its instant camera that measures at 4.1 inches long, 3.3 inches wide, and 2.4 inches deep. Compare that to an iPhone 12, which measures 5.8 inches long, 2.5 inches wide and about .30 inch deep. The Go, which costs $99.99, also comes equipped with a mini version of its square-format Polaroid film. The mini version of the Polaroid camera features an updated selfie mirror, a self-timer, dynamic flash, double exposure and travel-friendly accessories, says the company.

“If Facebook can be safer for Black people, why isn’t that the default setting?” said Rashad Robinson, president of Color Of Change. On Tuesday, a Minneapolis jury found Chauvin guilty of second-degree murder, third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter for the killing of GeorgeFloyd. Facebook took similar steps to curb flow of misinformation and calls to violence in the aftermath of the 2020 presidential election. Emerson Brooking, resident fellow at the Atlantic Council's Digital Forensic Research Lab, says Facebook's handling of the Chauvin verdict is a case study "in just how far we’ve come in the past year." But Robinson and other activists say Facebook has not done enough to protect Black users from hate and abuse.

My virtual doppelgänger is ready to embark on digital adventures, be inserted into a video game, a movie, or virtual reality. Since then, Epic Games raised an additional $1 billion in funding including $200 million from Sony. The virtual reality platform High Fidelity also lets you invite up to 20 people for free and mingle around the environment. High FidelityAnother stop: High Fidelity, a new virtual reality platform co-founded by Second Life founder Philip Rosedale in 2013. Show caption Hide caption Within the Sensorium Galaxy virtual world is Prism, a space which is devoted to music.

Apple unveiled several new devices during its "Spring Loaded" event on Tuesday, including an updated iPad Pro, iMacs and a set of Tile-like devices called AirTags. The next iPad Pro confirmedApple formally confirms the new iPad Pro, which will use the same M1 processing chip as the new iMacs. The new iPad Pro will also support controllers from the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X for playing iPad games. New model of Apple TV 4K revealedApple introduced a new version of the company's Apple TV 4K streaming media player. "We expect modest price increases on the iPad Pro models with consistent pricing on the iPad mini and next version of the low-cost iPad."

New iMacs, iPads, purple iPhones and more highlight Apple's latest eventApple unveiled many new devices during its "Spring Loaded" event, including an updated iPad Pro, iMacs and a set of Tile-like devices called AirTags.

The perception that self-driving cars can really operate themselves without driver involvement is worrying automotive watchdogs, who say that some Americans have grown dangerously confident in the capabilities of semi-autonomous vehicles. Their comments come as electric vehicle maker Tesla's so-called Autopilot system is under scrutiny once again following a crash that killed two passengers in the Houston area late Saturday. "I would start by saying there are no self-driving cars despite what you may read about or what you’ve seen advertised," said Jake Fisher, senior director of auto testing for Consumer Reports. Tesla is among many tech companies and automakers that are developing their own self-driving cars, including Waymo, General Motors, Volkswagen and Ford. But self-driving cars currently under development are being tested in limited scenarios, such as fully mapped roads in Phoenix, San Francisco and Detroit.

Facebook is rolling out “I got my COVID-19 vaccine” profile frames. You can add them to your Facebook profile starting Thursday. “Research shows that social norms can have a major impact on people’s attitudes and behaviors when it comes to their health,” Facebook said in a blog post. Facebook said it has removed millions of pieces of misinformation and labeled more than 167 million pieces of content about COVID-19 and vaccines on Facebook and Instagram. Here’s how to add a COVID-19 vaccine frame to your profile:

Facebook took down a video interview with Donald Trump conducted by his daughter-in-law Lara Trump for her show "The Right View." !”Lara Trump, who is married to Eric Trump, received an email from Facebook that content with the voice of former President Trump “is not currently allowed on our platforms (including new posts with President Trump speaking)." Facebook suspended Trump following the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol, citing the potential that he would incite violence. On Wednesday, Fox News reported that plans for a Trump social network are moving forward. "President Trump will have his voice back one way or another," a source told the network.

"It was a huge shock," the 27-year-old Goffinet told USA TODAY on Monday. Goffinet realized others may also need help, and he put out a call on his hometown's Facebook page to raise funds, his CPA, Dawn Brolin, told USA TODAY. Goffinet hopes Brolin and her accounting team can help him point out how the money was used to benefit his community. He said it's been uncomfortable asking his Facebook friends again for money – this time to help pay his tax bill during a pandemic. "I’m going to do everything I can to put him in the right position," said Brolin, noting the tax bill is due May 17.

An illustrated guide:What to expect before and after getting a COVID-19 vaccineWhen can children get COVID-19 vaccine? Apple MapsApple announced Tuesday that it would display on its Apple Maps places where users can go to get a COVID-19 vaccine. WalgreensThe Walgreens COVID-19 vaccine locator tool helps residents in New Mexico and New Hampshire find a Walgreens providing vaccination against the coronavirus. Residents seeking the vaccine can visit Costco's COVID-19 vaccine page and select their state and county, and book an appointment. WalmartWalmart designed an interactive map to show which locations are offering COVID-19 vaccinations.

Megan Thee Stallion is "recharging" by taking a break from social media. We asked experts to weigh in on what signs to look for and how to form healthier habits with social media. If your real-life interactions are sufferingModir says this could come in the form of "decreased social interaction with friends and family in favor of social media engagement" or people in your life have "complained about your social media usage interfering with social interaction." Choose a time"A way to create boundaries can be as simple as only checking in on social media for a particular amount of time at a specific time of day (and) using the built in social media apps to monitor time spent," she says. Get outsideOstach says movement is a core attribute to leading a healthy life, which isn't achieved through social media usage.

Whole Foods shoppers in Seattle will soon have a new way to pay for groceries: their palm. Amazon announced Wednesday plans to expand Amazon One, its contactless payment service, to a Whole Foods store in Seattle and will add the feature to seven more stores there in the coming months. Customers can also link their Amazon One information to their main Amazon account to get Prime discounts at Whole Foods. "At Whole Foods Market, we’re always looking for new and innovative ways to improve the shopping experience for our customers," said Arun Rajan, senior vice president of technology and chief technology officer at Whole Foods Market, in a statement. Cyberspace:The metaverse is its final frontierApple's 'Spring Loaded' event:New multicolor iMacs, new iPad Pro, purple iPhone 12, AirTags, and moreThe technology is currently available in Seattle-area stores such as Amazon Go, Amazon Go Grocery, Amazon Books, Amazon 4-star and Amazon Pop Up.

If your mom loves new plants, you can’t go wrong with a customized pot and vibrant plant from The Sill. For the yogi mom: Lululemon Reversible MatIf mom loves her daily yoga routine, get her the best yoga mat on the market—the Lululemon Reversible Mat. For the mom who has everything: Mini cupcakesWant an amazing gift mom didn't even know she needed? If mom loves picking up kitchen knick knacks, search Etsy for the perfect present to adorn her kitchen. If mom loves making blanket forts, snuggling with the family, or just generally lounging around in blankets, this is a must-have.

USA TODAYThe Talking Tech podcast is available for you every day with a quick hit on the latest tech news, gadget reviews, opinion on tech trends and interviews with insiders. Apple Podcasts (Apple devices and Amazon Echo speakers.) —Just say, "Play Talking Tech on Apple Podcasts," to your Echo speaker and the show will begin. You can also:—iPhone/iPad: Say "Hey Siri, play Talking Tech," and the show will directly come up via voice command. —Google Home connected speaker: Just say "Hey Google, play Talking Tech."

Major broadcast networks are weighing the fates of 25 endangered sitcoms and dramas, hovering "on the bubble" between renewal and cancellation. Last year's winner: NBC's "Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist," the musical drama that is once again "on the bubble" due to modest ratings and high costs. Here's a status update for every current series, based on conversations with top executives at each of the major networks. TOP: "Big Sky" MIDDLE: "For Life" ABOVE: "The Rookie" TOP: "Big Sky" MIDDLE: "For Life" ABOVE: "The Rookie" "Big Sky," "For Life" and "The Rookie." VIRGINIA SHERWOOD, Sergei Bachlakov, Casey Durkin, NBCRenewed, or almost The BlacklistBrooklyn Nine-NineChicago FireChicago MedChicago PDLaw & Order: SVUMr. MayorNew AmsterdamThis Is UsOn the bubble Good GirlsKenanLaw & Order: Organized CrimeManifestYoung RockZoey's Extraordinary PlaylistCanceled, or nearly dead DebrisNursesSuperstore

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To report corrections & clarifications, contact:Phone , 1-800-872-7073, 1-800-872-7073 Email, accuracy@usatoday.comPlease indicate whether you're responding to content online or in the newspaper. https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2021/04/15/fedex-shooting-indianapolis-international-airport-police/7249620002/Sports: A previous version of this story mischaracterized new revenue generated since Deion Sanders arrived at Jackson State. https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/columnist/bell/2021/04/17/deion-sanders-star-power-paying-off-jackson-state-football/7266362002/Social media: An earlier version of this social card contained an error based on information provided by the Indianapolis police. https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2021/04/15/adam-toledo-video-derek-chauvin-russian-sanctions-kim-potter-court-its-thursdays-news/7237902002/News: An earlier version of this story misreported the placement of Derek Chauvin's hands as he kneeled on George Floyd. https://www.facebook.com/usatodayMore:Corrections & Clarifications 2016More:Corrections & Clarifications 2017More:Corrections & Clarifications 2018More:Corrections & Clarifications 2019More:Corrections & Clarifications 2020

On Earth Day and beyond, celebrities are using their platforms to call attention to environmental issues that aren't usually brought to the forefront. This year, Earth Day comes as a deadly pandemic took center stage and and climate change sparked a cascade of calamities from raging wildfires to a ferocious hurricane season. More:After a critical year for COVID-19 and climate, Earth Day 2021 is ThursdayBill Nye stars in 'Earth Day! Facebook Watch presents "Earth Day! "I’ve been whining and complaining about climate change for 40 years, and we’ve hardly done anything about it, but now we have an opportunity."

The best picture race heading into the 93rd Academy Awards has kept the focus on writer-director Chloe Zhao's "Nomadland," which has plundered the best picture prize in almost every preceding awards show. – Kim WillisRanked: The 25 greatest Oscar best picture winners (from 'Parasite' to 'The Godfather')Sir Anthony Hopkins in The Father. – Jenna RyuReport card: Would this year’s Oscar best picture nominees meet 2024 inclusion standards? Sorkin's all-star SAG-winning cast is game for it all, and there's no better acting ensemble in this crop of best picture nominees. – TruittOscar flashback: 15 films that didn't deserve the best picture Oscar – and the ones that should have won insteadThe Trial of the Chicago Seven Associated Press

Donations help support the group's goal to "establish facts, expose failures and examine solutions for a criminal justice system in crisis." Donations help support the coalition’s work to “make sure that our communities have the resources they need to thrive.”19. Black Table ArtsThis organization helps "Black communities through the arts, towards better Black futures," according to its website. The National Black Justice CoalitionThis civil rights organization is “dedicated to empowering Black lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people.”25. More resources for kidsThe D.C. Area Educators for Social Justice website also has resources for kids and teens.

We've compiled 100 suggestions to help make your time quarantined as interesting – and perhaps even as productive – as possible. Sure, it can be about the coronavirus, but it could also be about a specific interest from chess to cheese. Finally read “Infinite Jest,” “Les Miserables” or even “The Stand.” Go all in and read “Ulysses.” You got this. 100 little things that bring us joy during the coronavirus pandemic23. Two words: Coronavirus beard!

“Sesame Street” didn’t start with Big Bird, Bert and Ernie. I was really hopeful to tell the adult story of 'Sesame Street,' the struggles and the dreams of these people who came together. “The origin is the most groundbreaking, the most experimental period of ‘Sesame Street.’ By reducing the vastness of it, we were able to make it stronger.”Making the movie opened “Sesame Street” in new ways for the filmmakers. “Jon’s like, ‘We’re going to put them together,’ and it was such a huge step.”Agrelo didn’t really know that at the very beginning, “Sesame Street” was directly aimed at Black inner-city children ages 3 to 5. We still have to open up our minds and our hearts, and this program is still very much a part of that.”

"Together Together" is everything you could want in a romantic comedy – minus the romance. We've come to expect the traditional kind of romantic comedy from the likes of Nora Ephron and Nancy Meyers classics, and newer hits like "Set It Up" and "Long Shot." In a typical romantic comedy they'd realize they're in love, raise the child together and live happily ever after. A relationship not continuing on over the horizon is seen as a failed relationship, Beckwith adds – a notion "Together Together" chips away at. The platonic rom-com formula can be more commonly found in movies where female friendships are tested amid growing pains like "Life Partners," "Frances Ha" and "Bridesmaids."

In 1950, box-office star William Holden and "Sunset Boulevard"Oscar nominee Nancy Olson starred in, literally, "Union Station" the movie. Preston (Ethan Embry) kissed Amanda (Jennifer Love Hewitt) at Union Station rather than get on a Boston-bound trainin the romanticconclusion of 1998's "Can't Hardly Wait." Catch these Union Station cameos if you canBut the station is far from a one-note actor. Even through the Oscar lead-up, the train station has remained fully functional for commuters. The Academy has kept the Ticketing Hall, the Grand Waiting Room along with the north and south patios under wraps.

USA TODAY's 24th annual Save Our Shows poll asks you to pick your favorites among 25 endangered sitcoms and dramas fighting for survival on the major broadcast networks. (But not for CBS' "MacGyver" remake, canceled after the poll was published; the drama will end its five-season run on April 30.) Save Our Shows 2021: Vote now to save 'Young Rock,' 'Call Me Kat,' 'For Life,' more USA TODAY TV Editor Gary Levin explains this year's Save Our Shows poll. Plus, Nicholas Pinnock explains why ABC's "For Life" should get your vote. Entertain This!, USA TODAY

Thankfully, TV shows are here to offer a distraction (and a reason to stay inside) amid chilly temps. May 14“High School Musical: The Musical: The Series” Season 2 (Disney+)"Pride" (FX, Fridays at 8): The six-part docuseries, airing on two consecutive Fridays, traces the fight for LGBTQ+ rights, beginning in 1950s. "Cake" (FXX, Thursdays at 10)March 15"America's Most Wanted" (Fox, Mondays at 9): Elizabeth Vargas hosts a revival of this criminal-catching series. April 8"Rebel" (ABC, Thursdays at 10): Katey Sagal stars as Annie “Rebel” Bello, in this series inspired by the life of environmental activist Erin Brockovich. April 10"Iyanla: Fix My Life” (OWN, Saturdays at 9): The eighth and final season this series, which ran for 150 episodes.

There's one problem with having a legit martial arts actor like Joe Taslim play the uber-villain Sub-Zero in the new "Mortal Kombat" movie: He was too fast for the mask. Legions of "Mortal Kombat" video game fans would demand their cold-harnessing, frozen-hearted assassin wear his signature mask in the film adaptation (in theaters Friday and streaming on HBO Max Friday) just like the 1995 "Mortal Kombat" film. The thoughtful Taslim answered our questions and explained his notorious alter-ego:Why Sub-Zero needs that rad maskThe origin story behind the assassin's face apparel is not explained in "Mortal Kombat." Taslim has pondered this brutal killing for Sub-Zero motivation and has a mask theory (Hint: It's not about looking rad). Not the pain Sub-Zero delivers to his foes, but his character's inner pain after he and his brother were abducted as children and trained to be assassins.

For film fans, choosing from the history of Oscar best picture winners offers a cornucopia of delicacies. So take the gun, leave the cannoli and strap in for the best 25 best picture winners, ranked. '12 Years a Slave' (2013)Steve McQueen's pre-Civil War drama is not an easy watch at all but still an important one. It still holds up, too, as both an exceptional romantic tale and a gripping drama about an improbable success story who doesn't throw away his shot. 'The Silence of the Lambs' (1991)“The Exorcist,” “Jaws” and “Get Out” didn’t wintheir respective best picture races, so “Lambs” is still the freakiest best picture ever, with an unnerving Anthony Hopkins as cannibalistic serial killer Hannibal Lecter and a tremendous Jodie Foster as FBI rookie Clarice Starling.

But Ledger's unforgettable role as the disturbed Joker earned a best supporting actor nod on the one-year anniversary of the actor's tragic death at age 28. Jodie Foster, as the film's rookie FBI agent tapping into the expertise of imprisoned, cannibalistic serial killer Hannibal Lecter, earned a best actress Oscar. The hit movie scored with audiences and Academy voters as Hawke earned a best supporting actor nomination, and Washington won best actor, his second Oscar. Bardem was awarded best supporting actor at the 2008 Oscars for the dark performance. But even Jones was honored to win best supporting actor, or, as he called it in his acceptance speech, "the finest award that any actor can receive."

While you’re cleaning things up, tell your digital assistants – looking at you, Siri and Alexa – to butt out. Tap or click to stop smart speakers, social media sites and even your computer from listening to your every word. When you download the app, you can focus on a specific browser you would like to clean up. You can use these apps to clean out junk files, clean your cache, delete cookies, wipe out temporary files. Kim takes calls and dispenses advice on today's digital lifestyle, from smartphones and tablets to online privacy and data hacks.

Inmates in our county jail are among the latest to enroll in a new culture called IGNITE — Inmate Growth Naturally and Intentionally Through Education. Five days a week, for two hours each day, nearly the entire incarcerated population at Genesee County Jail goes to school. Our goal is to make better people, not better inmates. That is the commitment of my office, inside the walls of the Genesee County Jail. Chris Swanson is sheriff of Genesee County (Flint), Michigan.

Kevin Stitt has signed a controversial bill that would grant civil and criminal immunity to drivers who unintentionally injure or kill protesters while driving away from a riot. The bill is just one of a handful of Republican-backed proposals introduced in the Oklahoma Legislature this year aimed at cracking down on protests. HB 1674 protects drivers who fear for their safety while "fleeing from a riot" and also updates state law to classify as a misdemeanor the unlawful obstruction of a road or highway. Adriana Laws, founder of the Collegiate Freedom and Justice Coalition, said the Oklahoma Legislature has launched an assault on taxpaying Oklahomans. At least two protesters were escorted out of the building by members of the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, who guard the Capitol.

Like everything else this past year, awards season was turned upside down by the COVID-19 pandemic: Screenings were virtual, acceptance speeches became Zoom calls and red carpets went the way of the dinosaurs. Best actress is still up for grabsTrying to read the tea leaves of the best actress race is harder than ever. But neither Davis, Day nor Mulligan were up for best actress at last Sunday’s BAFTAs, where the best actress winner has coincided with Oscar for the last seven years. McDormand could potentially ride a "Nomadland" Oscar sweep to her third acting win. We're guessing the Academy will choose to spread the love by anointing Day or Davis best actress, instead giving McDormand a best picture statue as a producer of "Nomadland."

The United States pledged to cut emissions in half from 2005 levels by the end of the decade, a plan that would lead to big changes. At an Earth Day summit, President Biden declared America “has resolved to take action” on climate change. Here’s how the U.S. plan stacks up globally. Canada and Japan also made new commitments to cut emissions. China — currently the world’s biggest greenhouse gas polluter — promised to strictly limit coal consumption and renewed its pledge to cut carbon emissions to net zero by 2060.

Black holes, after all, are nothing but hungry. But what do you call a collection of black holes? The question has taken on an urgency among astronomers inspired by the recent news of dozens of black holes buzzing around the center of a nearby cluster of stars. In the last few years, instruments like the LIGO and Virgo gravitational-wave detectors have recorded space-time vibrations from the collisions of black holes, making it clear beyond doubt that these monstrous concentrations of nothingness not only exist but are ubiquitous. What term would do justice to the special nature of black holes?

Have I done all the things I have to do to make me safe?” Dr. Perl said. Then think about the tough things you’ve done before and how you pushed through them. Train your nervous system to recognize that you are not in danger by doing the very activities that might make you a little anxious. It’s not only reasonable but prudent if you take public transportation regularly or live in a place with high population density. Don’t compare yourself to what other people are doing or look to others for the right answer.

On occasion, foreign and American film styles clashed with amusing results. “I’m talking cinema and you’re talking meteorology,” he lectured the two Americans before bidding them adieu. The option was picked up by Warren Beatty, whose career, post-“Splendor in the Grass,” had hit the skids. Menand takes a more sympathetic view, seeing the shift as a welcome, if belated, response to an unfolding disaster. American culture was confident and diverse, while the government’s reputation was in tatters.

We hope Prince Louis has a royal good time today on his third birthday! Prince William and Duchess Kate celebrated Louis' birthday, their third and youngest child, by releasing a never-before-seen photo of the fifth-in-line to the throne. "The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are delighted to share a new photograph ahead of Prince Louis’ third birthday tomorrow," Kensington Palace said in a statement released Thursday. Prince Louis was born April 23, 2018. According to the caption, the picture was taken by Duchess Kate in 2018 at Balmoral Castle in Scotland.

John KatsilometesAssociated PressLAS VEGAS (AP) — Tempest Storm, the legendary burlesque star who blazed a trail for strip-tease artists for more than a half-century, has died. Storm died Tuesday at her Las Vegas apartment, her longtime friend, confidant and business partner Harvey Robbins, told the Las Vegas Review-Journal. Offered a choice between Sunny Day and Tempest Storm, the entertainment icon said, "Well, I said, I guess it might as well be Tempest Storm." Storm first performed in Las Vegas in 1951, at the Embassy Club in North Las Vegas. Storm moved to Las Vegas in 2005, about a year before her friend and fellow burlesque legend Dixie Evans moved the Burlesque Hall of Fame collection from her ranch in Helendale, California, to Las Vegas.

Earth Day was almost dead in the water before it started, thanks to the laughably bad name organizers originally had in mind for the annual event. The proposed name for the inaugural April 22 event was “The Environmental Teach-In.”Luckily, the campaign drew the attention of prominent ad writer Julien Koenig, who reportedly reached out to an organizer and volunteered his services. April 22 happened to be Koenig’s birthday, and he liked how “Earth Day” rhymed with birthday, according to the report. Colombian environmentalist Francisco Vera, left, and founder of the “Guardians of Life” environmental group, plants a tree with a fellow activist to mark Earth Day, in Villeta, Colombia on April 21, 2021. REUTERSIn 1969, Senator Gaylord Nelson and Congressman Pete McCloskey began efforts to start “teach-ins” at US colleges, and hired Harvard grad student Denis Hayes to organize the first Earth Day, the website said.

A homeless man has been charged with a hate crime for attacking an elderly Asian couple at a California park — and is also being investigated for allegedly threatening a Japanese-American Olympian, prosecutors and police said. In Sunday’s attack, prosecutors said Vivona ran up to the couple as they took their nightly walk and slugged the elderly man in the face. Phil McMullin told the Orange County Register that “people knew about” Vivona from the earlier incident involving Kokumai. He’s now facing two felony counts of elder abuse, two felony counts of hate crime battery and two felony hate crime enhancements. Go home, stupid b—h,” a man police say was Vivano told Kokumai.

“After reviewing additional information, including statements from Shaun and Michael Donovan, the Board voted to approve a public funds payment to the New Yorkers for Donovan campaign today. The Donovan campaign applauded the release of the funds. This decision upholds New York City’s unique, progressive campaign finance system as a model for the nation,” said Donovan campaign manager Brendan McPhillips. The matching funds for those donations is 8 to 1. The CFB has already released a record-shattering $74 million in matching funds, more than double the amount spent in any prior election.

New York City plans to reserve hundreds of spots across the city for car-sharing vehicles like Zipcar, officials said Thursday — expanding on its 285-spot pilot launched in 2018. Customer surveys found 7 percent of participants sold their cars or opted not to purchase a car because of car-share, DOT said. The DOT will add hundreds of spots to the current total of 285. Christopher SadowskiUC Berkeley researchers working in collaboration with the city, meanwhile, found every one car-share vehicle in the city replaced four other cars. DOT is working on official rules to govern the program’s expansion, the agency said.

Maybe it is about demoting Chris Kreider, maybe it is about elevating Alexis Lafreniere, maybe it is about shaking up a lineup that has been a model of stability for weeks, other than for a tweak or two. But the Rangers broke up both the Kreider-Mika Zibanejad-Pavel Buchnevich first line and the Lafreniere-Filip Chytil-Kaapo Kakko Kid Line for Thursday’s Garden match against the Flyers by flipping left wings. The KZB Line had been intact for 19 straight games, beginning with the March 17, 9-0 immolation of the Flyers in which Zibanejad recorded three goals and six points. The first-overall pick, who has eight goals and 14 points for the season, has scored three goals in the last nine contests. That’s the combined Boston points gained and New York points lost that will end Rangers’ hopes.

Six women walked into a courtroom Thursday accompanied by the legal team that has filed civil suit against Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson for sexual misconduct on the behalf of 22 plaintiffs. Watson was accused of backtracking to unsend Instagram messages to his accusers and some of the plaintiffs were accused of making alterations, multiple reports indicated. Six Deshaun Watson accusers appeared in court on Thursday. “There was nothing of substance done,” Hardin said before denying that Watson has destroyed evidence. I’ve never, ever experienced where six weeks after a lawsuit we still don’t know who all of [the accusers] are.

In a new report, a UK-based internet watchdog has declared young girls more vulnerable that ever to online sex predators. The Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) released its annual report on Wednesday that shows a worrying trend of sexual grooming among children, particularly young girls. In a public statement, Hargreaves added, “We don’t want to frighten people, but we do want to build resilience to the threat of self-generated sexual abuse of children.”“We want to help teenage girls to recognize the actions that constitute self-generated sexual abuse as abuse,” she continued. Getty Images/iStockphotoIn October of last year, the Department of Justice warned families of “increased access to children” online by sexual predators. The NCMEC and the IWF encourage internet users to report instances of online child abuse through their tips lines and refer to their websites for more guidance on keeping kids safe online.

Since making his multiplatinum debut with 2010’s “Doo-Wops & Hooligans,” Bruno Mars has been a one-man hitmaking machine. Here are just some of the acts — from Adele to Alicia Keys — who have been touched by Mars’ magic. 1 single “Nothin’ on You,” the sweetest of soul-pop serenades that Bruno also co-wrote and co-produced. Alicia Keys got a songwriting assist from Bruno Mars on “Tears Always Win.” WireImageAlicia KeysOn her 2012 LP “Girl on Fire,” the piano woman got a doo-wop assist from co-writer Mars on “Tears Always Win,” bringing the street-corner soulfulness. Flo RidaRiffing on Dead or Alive’s ’80s classic “You Spin Me Round (Like a Record),” Mars co-wrote the rapper’s 2009 No.

And you thought the New York City subway was wild…Bizarre new video shows pigs, goats and sheep strolling the aisles of a train in China — coexisting peacefully with regular riders. The footage shows the livestock being shepherded through the train cars as some human commuters barely seem to notice. Goats and pigs wander the aisles of a Chinese train in Sichuan Province. The low-speed train-trip takes nine hours to traverse Sichuan Province, allowing rural farmers to load their livestock to be sold both on the train and at destinations in the city, according to the South China Morning Post. A ride on the railroad costs as little as 2 yuan, or 30 cents in US dollars.

Andrew Cuomo made himself king of the news briefing, answering reporters’ questions face-to-socially-distanced-face all the day long about COVID-19 and his “leadership” during a pandemic. Now he insists on virtual-only press conferences, and his staff cuts the feed mid-question of any reporter who dares challenge him — then lies about it. On Wednesday, Ryan Tarinelli of the New York Law Journal asked: “If the attorney general’s report concludes that under state law you did sexually harass employees in violation of state law, will you resign? But the head of the LGA at that time, New York Now reporter Dan Clark, says there was no such deal. With Cuomo & Co. these days, it’s just lies upon lies.

A little more than a week ago, federal officials called for a pause in the use of Johnson & Johnson’s COVID-19 vaccine. Just before the pause, 52 percent of respondents thought the J&J vaccine was safe, according to an Economist/YouGov poll on vaccine-safety perceptions. After the pause, confidence in the J&J vaccine’s safety plummeted to 37 percent, and worries that it is unsafe rose to 39 percent. In the wake of the J&J vaccine pause, no one should be surprised to see the percentage rise in the April survey, as yet unreleased. The J&J vaccine only needs regular refrigeration and a single shot, making it much easier to use for these hard-to-reach populations.

Stocks tumbled Thursday on a report that President Biden is mulling a plan to nearly double what wealthy people pay on their investment gains. The S&P 500 index ended the day down 0.9 to 4,134.98, while the Nasdaq Composite slid 0.9 percent to 13,818.41. The current top capital gains rate is 20 percent. “Biden’s proposal effectively doubles the capital gains tax rate on $1 million income earners,” Jack Ablin, Cresset Capital Management’s founding partner and CIO told CNBC. Thursday’s capital gains news comes as investors waded through another batch of positive earnings reports.

For the past 30 years, the global approach to climate policy has been making grand promises and later mostly failing to live up to them. At his World Leaders Climate Summit, President Biden promised to cut about twice as much carbon as what Obama promised, which was hailed as decisive and bold climate action. The President’s own price sticker is $2 trillion on climate policy over his first term. These countries matter, because they will make up three-quarters of this century’s emissions, and they cannot spare trillions for climate policy. To Biden’s credit, this is one of his many climate promises, but it needs to be front and center of a successful climate agenda.

It is hard to imagine a time when we needed this more, frankly, this flabbergasting, dumbfounding, out-of-the-(orange-and)-blue surprise of a Knicks season. They share the Knicks’ colors, after all, and when they beat the Panthers, Capitals and Flyers in the NHL’s bubble, playoffs they reminded a faction of New York of the possibilities of hope. Immanuel Quickley and the Knicks are giving New York sports fans a reason to smile. It’s funny, too: By the time this basketball season ends, there is every chance the Knicks might be the No. The Knicks have a long way to go to match that gospel of implausibility.

For the past six months, Bowie has been talking with Guild representatives at other Tribune papers papers also represented by the union. The New York Daily News, owned by Tribune, would be one of the newspapers impacted by Tribune’s sale. But it’s getting increasingly tougher as even local investors interested in buying up specific Tribune papers express doubt about Bainum’s chances. “If Bainum wins it, I’ll support him, but I won’t do anything to jeopardize my chances,” said one investor scouting one of Tribune’s local papers. The South Florida Sun Sentinel is one of the few papers under the Tribune umbrella not represented by the News Guild.

Spies said Harry and Annenberg had lunch at super-exclusive Hollywood club San Vicente Bungalows. The royal family and the Annenberg family have a rich history together: Wallis’ father, Walter Annenberg, was the US ambassador to the UK under Richard Nixon from 1969 to 1974. She is also on the boards of USC, the LA County Museum of Art, and LA’s Museum of Contemporary Art. The club, by Sunset Tower guru Jeff Klein has a strict policy against cellphones, photos and leaks — punishable by permanent expulsion. But our source told us of the Harry sighting, “it’s just too juicy — I had to divulge,” despite the possible penalties for any member who admitted them.

Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window)Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)Lourdes Leon is stepping out of her mom’s shadow. Madonna’s 24-year-old daughter opened up about her career ambitions in a new interview — where she also dished about her high school romance with Timothée Chalamet. The trained dancer and model confirmed to Vanity Fair that Chalamet, 25, was her “first boyfriend,” back when the two were classmates at LaGuardia HS of Music & Art and Performing Arts on the Upper West Side. “She doesn’t even smoke weed.”Growing up the daughter of an international superstar, Leon — whose dad is former celebrity trainer Carlos Leon — said she was pushed hard. She started ballet classes at three years old, telling Vanity Fair, “My mom really went hard for that once she saw there was potential.”Lourdes Leon confirmed to Vanity Fair that Timothée Chalamet was her “first boyfriend,” in high school.

Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window)Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)Brooke Shields is stripping down to honor Mother Nature. The veteran model, 55, took to Instagram Thursday to share a nude photo to celebrate Earth Day 2021. “This Earth Day, I’m joining @NatGeo in sharing one of the places on the planet that matters most to me,” the beauty captioned the scenic beach shot. “Celebrate your love for the planet with us by sharing a spot you care about. I’m learning from them and they always say you’re better off with something that shows your body rather than a muumuu.”

“Bachelor” spoiler king Reality Steve claims he’s sorry for making unwanted sexual advances toward a former contestant. The 45-year-old TV gossiper issued the mea culpa to Demi Burnett, 26, Wednesday, shortly after she accused him on Twitter of telling her about a creepy sex dream he had in a clumsy attempt at a come-on. “I am apologizing now knowing how uncomfortable I made you feel,” Steve, whose last name is Carbone, tweeted in response. Then you proceeded to tell me about a graphic sex dream you had of me,” she alleged. When a fan told Steve it seemed as if his apology was putting some of the blame on Burnett, he added, “I’m not blaming her at all.

Last week, Hayley Hasselhoff made history as the first plus-size model to cover a European edition of Playboy — but judging by her experience behind the scenes, the magazine still has work to do on the inclusivity front. “You know there’s still a long way to go when it comes to availability for fashion,” Hasselhoff said. “When it came down to actually fitting my figure in this lingerie, it’s all me. It came from my wardrobe.”Continued the curve model, “At the end of the day, I’m so used to it. “I am overcome with emotion around what this cover signifies for inclusivity and its greater purpose towards female empowerment,” she wrote in a lengthy Instagram post sharing her Playboy cover last week.

The woman charged with murdering her former girlfriend of nearly two decades on a Park Slope street snapped and felt “enough was enough” following a contentious relationship between the pair, the alleged shooter’s sister claimed Thursday. Paul MartinkaProsecutors say that Bell ran up to 51-year-old victim Nichelle Thomas from behind and blasted Thomas one time in the back of the head at point-blank range before fleeing. “I’m sorry that both of them had to go through with this.”A woman places flowers where Nichelle Thomas was shot and killed in Park Slope. Surveillance video shows the moment Latisha Bell allegedly shot and killed her ex-girlfriend Nichelle Thomas. “When she was here alone — peaceful, peaceful.

Two California cops stepped in to stop a third officer from roughing up a handcuffed female suspect in an incident caught on video. In the clip, which was obtained by TMZ, the police were detaining a handcuffed woman on the side of an Orange County road Wednesday, when she fell to the ground. One of the officers landed two right hooks to the woman’s face before his partners pushed him off the suspect and deescalated the situation. Three Minneapolis officers face charges of aiding and abetting second-degree murder as well as second-degree manslaughter, for not stopping Derek Chauvin from killing George Floyd. Chauvin faces up to 40 years in prison when he is sentenced for his Tuesday murder conviction.

A moment of peril, but also a moment of extraordinary possibilities,” President Biden said at the start. AdvertisementStory continues below advertisementThroughout the morning, other world leaders announced their own new promises. Like Biden and other leaders, he spoke of tackling climate change not just as an environmental necessity but as an unprecedented economic opportunity. This week, though, part of the answer seemed to rely on big corporations, which world political leaders tried to rally to the climate cause. “President Biden is unilaterally committing America to a drastic and damaging emissions pledge,” Sen. John Barrasso (R-Wyo.

Among white evangelical Protestants who are vaccine hesitant, nearly half (47%) who regularly attend services say faith-based approaches would make them more likely to get vaccinated. Approximately one-third of Black Protestants (36%) and Hispanic Americans (33%) who are vaccine hesitant say one or more faith-based approaches would make them more likely to get vaccinated. 26% of Republicans and 24% of rural Americans who are vaccine hesitant say faith-based approaches would improve their likelihood of getting vaccinated.

An archaeological bonanzaWorkers lift a team member out of a Saqqara shaft using a pulley and basket. (Sima Diab for The Washington Post)Ancient history is being revealed in many parts of Egypt these days. A king becomes a godAfter I emerged from the burial shaft, Hawass explained how the discoveries were reshaping the understanding of Pharaonic times. (Sima Diab for The Washington Post)TOP: Sarcophagi of ancient Egyptians found by Hawass's team at Saqqara. Many of his followers wanted to be buried around his pyramid, often visiting coffin and mummification workshops in Saqqara, Hawass said.

“There are going to be people who, for a while, feel uncomfortable being outside without a mask,” Sax says. “If it’s okay do it indoors, then it’s certainly okay to do it outdoors,” Marr says. While brief unmasked interactions with servers are likely low risk, experts say you should still put your mask on when they approach your table to be considerate. “I think that it’s something that we should just do to respect them.”Do I have to wear my mask while walking or running? The decision to wear a mask while playing sports outside will depend on the amount of contact you’ll have with other players.

Tradepoint Atlantic is donating the land at 1900 Wharf Road for Sparrows Point Park to the county. Story continues below advertisement“The county supported us through redevelopment,” said Aaron Tomarchio, senior vice president of corporate affairs at Tradepoint Atlantic. Outside, Sparrows Point Park would have a full-size LED-lit synthetic turf athletic field, a 10,000-square-foot playground and a fishing pier and kayak launch on Jones Creek. Olszewski’s administration revised an infrastructure agreement between the county and Tradepoint Atlantic to include the donation of land for public recreational use. Peter Haid, environmental director at Tradepoint Atlantic, said he’s heard from yacht club members who say “the clarity in Jones Creek has changed remarkably now.”

The NCAA playing rules oversight panel on Thursday approved a proposal made last month by the playing rules committee to tweak the overtime format. National coordinator of officials Steve Shaw said in March overtime games add an average of 16.4 plays to a contest. The new rule will have teams run alternating 2-point plays in the third overtime instead of starting another drive at the opponent’s 25-yard line. The playing rules panel also approved recommendations to permanently extend the sideline team area to the 20-yard lines from the 25-yard lines. The playing rules panel also said in 2021 officials will be told to emphasize rules against players taunting an opponent, flagrant uniform violations, and coaches coming onto the field to argue officiating decisions.

Prosecutors say Cox obtained nude photos of a woman while pretending to be a modeling recruiter. He then created a social media account in the woman’s name to contact a man in Rochester. Cox reportedly exchanged the woman’s explicit photos with the Rochester man, then threatened to release those photos unless the man gave Cox his social media login information. Cox found thousands of nude pictures of women and girls on the Rochester man’s social media account. The FBI analyzed Cox’s work computer, the fake social media accounts, and his cellphone to eventually name him as the suspect behind the sextortion scheme.

Pettis instead became the latest former MMA champion to sign with Professional Fighters League, which competes in a seasonlong format that includes playoffs and championship fights. "I’m in the sport to be a champion and I have the opportunity to be a champion by the end of the year. It’s also a restart for PFL after the league went on hiautus in 2020 because of the pandemic. It largely stayed out of the MMA spotlight while UFC and Bellator pressed on, running cards in bubbles or overseas without fans. The promotion was known as the World Series of Fighting from 2012 to 2017, when it was bought and rebranded.

In the age of COVID-19, more than 1,200 words in German have been created. "I can think of many other examples of a huge cultural shift that changed the German vocabulary. The list of new words was compiled by the Leibniz Institute for the German Language. "When new things happen in the world [we] look for a name," said Dr. Christine Möhrs, who works at the institute and collects the words. "We see again and again how important it is to formulate precisely and to be very careful about which words we choose.

Prince Philip played a critical part in molding his grandson, Prince William, for future service one day as king. "Philip was crucial in helping coach William as a future King," royal historian Robert Lacey and author of the biography "Battle of Brothers," told People magazine in the publication’s latest cover issue. When the time came for the Queen to talk business with William, Philip would quietly excuse himself because he didn't feel that the constitutional side of the Queen's job was something he wanted to interfere in," Lacey added. "He will be remembered as the longest reigning consort to the Monarch, a decorated serviceman, a Prince and a Duke. PRINCE WILLIAM PAYS TRIBUTE TO GRANDFATHER PRINCE PHILIP AFTER HIS DEATHAll eyes were on Harry’s reunion with his older brother, Prince William, after the duo’s relationship was reportedly strained as a result of Harry’s decision to leave the U.K. as well as his participation in an explosive tell-all interview with Oprah Winfrey.

Kate Middleton made sure a part of Queen Elizabeth II was with her during a surprise outing on Wednesday. The Duchess of Cambridge, 39, paid a subtle tribute to the Queen on her 95th birthday by donning a pair of diamond and pearl earrings she borrowed from the monarch as she and Prince William, 38, visited 282 (East Ham) Squadron, Air Training Corps in East London. The Queen first wore the heirloom earrings in 1977 when she celebrated her silver jubilee and has loaned them to Middleton on various occasions. Still bereaving Prince Philip’s death on April 9 -- and days after the family laid him to rest at St. George's Chapel in Windsor Castle on Saturday --Middleton and William both wore black to carry on in remembrance of the Queen’s late husband of 73 years. KATE MIDDLETON HONORS QUEEN ELIZABETH II, PRINCESS DIANA AT PRINCE PHILIP’S FUNERAL WITH SENTIMENTAL JEWELRYPRINCE HARRY, PRINCE WILLIAM HAD A ‘GOOD START’ IN HEALING, BUT THERE IS NO ‘QUICK FIX,' PAL SAYSThe mother of three also wore the Queen's Bahrain Pearl Earrings, made from pearls gifted to Elizabeth II on the event of her wedding to Philip in 1947.

Former Vice President Mike Pence on Wednesday hit President Biden and Democrats for the escalating crisis at the southern border, while touting the Trump administration’s reduction of illegal immigration -- saying Biden inherited "the most secure southern border in American history." "And yet, in just three short months, the Biden administration and Democrats in Congress have unleashed the worst border crisis in the history of our country." The Biden administration has called the situation a "challenge" and has focused on "root causes" in Central America, while blaming the Trump administration for ending asylum pathways. The op-ed marks a relatively rare intervention by the former vice president. Former President Donald Trump has been vocal in his criticism of Biden’s border policies and has regularly released statements criticized the 46th president.

The NFL announced on Wednesday that it will relax its jersey number rule by allowing a wider range of numbers at each position. CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COMSome players appear to love the rule change, but one notable player does not. Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady ripped the new rule on his Instagram story on Thursday. Going to make for a lot of bad football," Brady wrote. 12 for all of his career, won’t be affected by the rule change, but he says that it will make a difference in assigning blockers pre-snap, which will ultimately lead to "bad football."

CNN's viewership is suffering three weeks into the experiment of giving former White House correspondent Jim Acosta weekend anchor duties. The Acosta-anchored Saturday programs have averaged 796,000 viewers since the former White House correspondent took over on April 3. CNN averaged 1.247 million viewers on Saturdays between 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. That's a staggering 41% drop from the network’s average of 1.196 million viewers in the timeslot over the first three months of 2021. CNN averaged 1.149 million viewers on Sundays between 4 p.m. and 6 p.m.

Mark Kantrowitz higher education expertDemocrats are pushing a number of legislative priorities this year, from infrastructure to climate change to voting rights. "They've got the infrastructure bill, they have student loan forgiveness bill, they have this bill," he says. Many Democratic lawmakers are continuing to push Biden for more aggressive action on student loan debt. Betsy Mayotte president, The Institute of Student Loan AdvisorsIt's likely that Biden will "stick to his proposal" of eliminating $10,000 of student debt, Kantrowitz says. Scaling back on student loan forgiveness, he says, might allow lawmakers more room to reduce the cost of higher education.

The IRS is expected to start sending out advance payments of the enhanced Child Tax Credit to parents in July. To calculate your advance payments for the Child Tax Credit, the IRS will look at your 2020 income tax returns. The maximum Child Tax Credit amounts to $3,600 per child under the age of 6, and $3,000 per child ages 6 to 17. Waiting to receive the Child Tax Credit could help you avoid a surprise tax billOne of the reasons you might want to wait to claim your Child Tax Credit until next spring is because your tax situation has changed or could change this year. How to opt out of Child Tax Credit advance payments

‘Kudlow’ host Larry Kudlow slammed Biden's climate change and tax policies Thursday, saying if the administration raises the capital gains tax, there will be less investment, productivity, wages, family income, and growth. LARRY KUDLOW: I’m all for the earth, but I am not for these climate change policies that are coming out. We also learned that President Biden intends to double the capital gains tax, essentially taking it up from 20% to 40%. So, that taxes investment income as ordinary income. It means lower productivity, lower real wages, lower family income, lower GDP.

Greta Thunberg, the 18-year-old Swedish climate activist, called fossil fuel subsidies a "disgrace" before a House committee hearing on Thursday. "The year is 2021, the fact that we are even having this discussion and even more that we are still subsidizing fossil fuels directly or indirectly using taxpayer money is a disgrace. It is clear proof we have not understood the climate emergency at all," Thunberg said before the House Oversight Environment Subcommittee’s Earth day hearing on fossil fuel subsidies. "We need to completely divest from fossil fuels, keep carbon in the ground … The U.S. is the biggest emitter in history, that is not my opinion, it is what the science clearly shows," Thunberg said. That plan promises to eliminate "special preferences" such as "subsidies, loopholes, and special foreign tax credits for the fossil fuel industry," but some Democrats do not think it goes far enough.

Rep. Andy Biggs, R-Ariz., is calling for answers from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) after reports that hundreds of migrants are being housed in hotels in states like Arizona. "I am appalled that illegal aliens are being housed in American hotels. Illegal aliens should be held in [ICE] detention facilities, not hotels," Biggs said in a letter to ICE Acting Director Tae Johnson. Biggs blamed Democrats in Congress for the situation at the border, which has seen migrant families released into the interior and packed migrant facilities amid a dramatic spike in numbers. He also asks if they are being COVID-tested, if they are being released, and how long they are staying in the hotels.

Postal Service — but eight months later, there's no sign of the program. POSTAL SERVICE 'ELITE POLICE FORCE' MONITORS SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS FOR POTENTIAL THREATSShe said she would "do all the work of connecting you to somebody else," come up with "conversation prompts," and possibly a postcard format. Postal Inspection Service monitors Americans’ social media accounts to identify potential threats. Postal Inspection Service occasionally reviews publicly available information in order to assess potential safety or security threats to Postal Service employees, facilities, operations and infrastructure," a spokesperson for the agency said in a statement to FOX Business. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APPIt added that the service includes both federal law enforcement officers and Postal Inspectors to help identify potential threats to the Postal Service, its employees, its customers and its delivery network.

Admitting Washington D.C. to the Union as the 51st state is "not realistic" unless Senate Democrats are able to make "the filibuster go by the wayside," Fox News chief political anchor Bret Baier told "The Story" Thursday. "The argument for D.C. to be a state has been around for a long time. It was voted through in the House last June ... but fell short in the Senate," Baier explained. HOUSE PASSES BILL TO MAKE WASHINGTON DC THE 51ST STATEHost Martha MacCallum noted the push was a consequence of Donald Trump losing the 2020 presidential election: "At that point [prior to November] all of those things seemed far away and radical, frankly. "I don't think it's going to happen, but I think that's the strategy."

As 200 million Americans have received at least one coronavirus vaccine, press secretary Jen Psaki punted a question on whether the White House would extend its call for Americans to mask up beyond 100 days. "Is President Biden going to extend his call for Americans to wear masks beyond 100 days?" BIDEN'S GOAL OF 200M COVID-19 VACCINES ADMINISTERED TO BE REACHED THURSDAYPresident Biden when he first assumed office instituted a 100-day mask challenge to contain the spread of coronavirus. Biden should "light a torch to it and burn his mask and say, ‘I’ve had the vaccine. It also said that vaccinated people can travel safely within the country but should still wear a mask and social distance.

Authorities in Albany, N.Y., and protesters set up in a tent encampment outside a police station for nearly a week violently clashed Thursday when police tried clearing the area. In a series of tweets, Police Chief Eric Hawkins said protesters had occupied a roadway in front of the Albany Police Department's South Station in what he described as an "unlawful occupation." "We have also heard the concerns from members of that neighborhood as well as officers & non-sworn staff who serve from the South Station. Protesters began occupying the area last week after violent confrontations with police during an April 14 protest in front of the South Station. As a precaution, barriers were placed between a curb and the police station entrance this week.

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailCNBC Markets Now: April 22, 2021CNBC Markets Now provides a look at the day's market moves with commentary and analysis from Michael Santoli, CNBC Senior Markets Commentator.

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailOnline ticket marketplace Vivid Seats set to go public via SPAC with Horizon Acquisition Corp.Online ticket marketplace Vivid Seats is set to go public via SPAC with Horizon Acquisition Corp. Stan Chia, Vivid Seats CEO and Todd Boehly, Horizon Acquisition Corp. CEO, join 'Closing Bell' to discuss.

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailThe man who moves markets says the reopening rally is getting a revivalMarko Kolanovic, J.P. Morgan chief global markets strategist, says the best days of the reopening trade are still ahead. With CNBC's Melissa Lee and the Fast Money traders, Guy Adami, Tim Seymour, Karen Finerman and Bonawyn Eison.

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailIntel drops after reporting earningsCNBC's Josh Lipton on Intel earnings after the bell. With CNBC's Melissa Lee and the Fast Money traders, Guy Adami, Tim Seymour, Karen Finerman and Bonawyn Eison.

In the spirit of the eco-focused occasion, CNBC's "Trading Nation" asked its traders to share their favorite green investments. ESG assets — those focused on environmental, social and governance issues — have an edge this year. The MSCI ESG ETF (SUSA), which tracks ESG companies, is up 11% in 2021. Rather than picking an individual stock, O'Hara says it makes sense to get exposure to a broad swath of environmentally focused companies. O'Hara says it has solid support at $21 and the near-term outlook sets it up for a push above $27.

Several watchdog and activist groups are pressuring President Joe Biden to publicly release ethics agreements signed by political appointees in his administration who are not subject to Senate confirmation. In a letter sent to Biden on Thursday that was shared exclusively with CNBC, over a dozen organizations demanded that the administration publicize the agreements made by his political advisors and others. The groups sent the letter a day after CNBC reported that Jeff Ricchetti, the brother of Biden White House counselor Steve Ricchetti, has lobbied the White House on behalf of health-care companies this year. These political appointees are not required to publicly disclose their ethics agreements, which could include notices of recusal from certain policy matters that may involve prior clients or business dealings. "You have the means to address this lack of transparency right away by requiring that every employee of the White House, in addition to other senior-level political appointees throughout the executive branch, agree to have their ethics documents made publicly available.

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailCrypto fund CEO on where to put your money beyond bitcoin and ethereumDan Morehead, Pantera Capital CEO, on the hottest altcoin play. With CNBC's Melissa Lee and the Fast Money traders, Guy Adami, Tim Seymour, Karen Finerman and Bonawyn Eison.

Futures contracts tied to the major U.S. stock indexes ticked higher at the start of the overnight session as investors prepared to end a down week for equities amid concerns the White House could seek a hike to the capital gains tax. Bloomberg News reported that Biden is planning a capital gains tax hike to as high as 43.4% for wealthy Americans. Though the capital gains tax headlines appeared to weigh on sentiment Thursday afternoon, selling was tempered by the tough battle such a proposal would face in a split Senate. Week to date, the S&P 500, Dow and Nasdaq are down 1.2%, 1.1% and 1.6%, respectively. Both chipmaker Intel and social media platform Snap reported earnings for the first calendar quarter Thursday after the closing bell.

Nestle is maintaining growth despite committing billions of dollars towards improving the company's environmental footprint, CEO Mark Schneider told CNBC Thursday. "I think there's a good business case emerging and that's what we're pursuing," said Schneider, whose interview landed on Earth Day. As laid out in its sustainability strategy, Nestle plans to reduce emissions within its business and supply chains, snuffing out its carbon footprint by 2050. Meanwhile, Nestle is advocating for regenerative agriculture practices and campaigning to plant 20 million trees each year this decade, according to its website. Nestle, which is based in Switzerland, reported organic growth of 7.7% from the same quarter last year, more than double the expected growth rate of 3.3%.

(CNN) Welcome to the Oscars edition of Pop Life Chronicles. Women in directing: There have been many a year when not a single woman has been nominated for best director. Steven Yeun, a South Korean-born American actor, is the first man of Asian descent to secure a best actor nom for his work in " Minari " -- which, in a welcome trend, is also up for best picture. Yeun's costar Yuh-jung Youn is the first Korean woman nominated for best supporting actress. For your weekendThree things to watch:In the lead-up to Sunday's Oscars ceremony, why limit yourself?

(CNN) The mRNA Covid-19 vaccines made by Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna do not appear to pose any serious risk during pregnancy, according to new data published Wednesday in the New England Journal of Medicine. The study, along with existing research showing mRNA vaccines are effective in pregnant and lactating women, suggests that the benefits of the vaccines outweigh the risks. The researchers followed a group within the V-safe system to gather more data on pregnancy outcomes and complications. This registry included 3,958 pregnant participants (out of the 35,691) who had received an mRNA vaccine. They found 827 completed pregnancies, and 115 (13.9%) experienced a pregnancy loss, while 712 (86.1%) resulted in a live birth.

In a new interview with Katherine Schwarzenegger, TODAY's Dylan Dreyer opened up about infertility, miscarriage and her journey to motherhood. Dylan Dreyer opened up about her road to motherhood on Katherine Schwarzenegger's Instagram series. "As my doctor told me, a miscarriage is not your body doing something wrong — it's actually your body doing something right," Dylan said. While dealing with a pregnancy loss and secondary infertility struggles, Dylan said her friends didn't know how to act around her. "So many women are going through their own fertility issues," Dylan wrote in a 2019 essay for TODAY Parents.

(CNN) "I'm vaccinated and I'm outside. Do I really still need to wear a mask?" Do I need a mask?" As the warmer weather months arrive and the percentage of vaccinated Americans gradually ticks upwards, these are some of the questions a growing number of Americans are asking. If you're vaccinated, "I'd say for the most part, you don't need to wear a mask outdoors," Dr. Sanjay Gupta said Thursday on CNN's New Day.

Over the course of a single shift last week, critical care physician Laveena Munshi saw her intensive care unit (ICU) at Toronto’s Mount Sinai Hospital fill with pregnant and post-partum COVID-19 patients. Hospital staff say they are seeing whole families infected due to transmission at front-line workplaces that have remained open through lockdowns and stay-at-home orders. It has seconded non-ICU nurses to help deliver critical care to the most seriously ill patients as it braces for the worst. Raman Rai, manager of the ICU at Toronto's Humber River Hospital, said she has never seen such a volume of critical care patients. She is also seeing younger patients, pregnant patients and whole families with COVID-19.

But there is hope that the old white way of non-Natives telling our tales is coming to an end. Native talent is no longer being relegated to the supporting cast or some background characters. Native talent is no longer being relegated to the supporting cast or some background characters. We are on the precipice of a new age of real Natives telling our stories that will resonate with viewers — whether they’re Native or not. We are on the precipice of a new age of real Natives telling our stories that will resonate with viewers — whether they’re Native or not.

The son of Chad's late president Idriss Deby, Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno (also known as Mahamat Kaka) and Chadian army officers gather in the northeastern town of Kidal, Mali, February 7, 2013. REUTERS/Cheick Diouara/File PhotoForeign leaders arrived in Chad on Thursday for the funeral of slain president Idriss Deby as France backed the new military leaders in the face of rebel threats to resume an offensive on the capital N’Djamena. French President Emmanuel Macron, Guinean President Alpha Conde and several other African heads of state arrived in N'Djamena despite warnings from the rebels that foreign leaders should not attend Friday's funeral for security reasons. "Kaka (Mahamat Deby) only has partial support of the army. He is young and, unlike his father, has never been a rebel," said Jerome Tubiana, an analyst specialising on Chad.

Scott, a rising star within his party, will give his response on Wednesday after Biden makes his first speech to Congress since becoming president on Jan. 20. The White House has said the Democratic president will talk about the importance of putting policing reform measures in place. The South Carolina lawmaker introduced a policing bill last summer during worldwide protests sparked by Floyd's death. His bill failed in the Senate after Democrats said it relied too much on incentives rather than mandating changes. Scott is one of three Black U.S. senators, along with Cory Booker of New Jersey and Raphael Warnock of Georgia.

‘I think he got what he deserved’: Derek Chauvin isn’t getting much sympathy from people who have had run-ins with him … Hollywood loves a reboot. We’ll see how well it can reboot the Oscars in pandemic times …There's a new discovery in the Milky Way galaxy

| Jae C. Hong/AP Photo California public universities plan to require Covid-19 vaccinesSACRAMENTO — California's two public university systems announced Thursday they will require nearly 800,000 students to receive the Covid-19 vaccine as soon as this fall in the nation's most sweeping higher education testing requirement. California State University and University of California proposed the requirement for students, faculty and staff for the fall 2021 semester — contingent on full FDA approval. Students and staff would be able to seek a medical or religious exemption under the new policy, CSU officials said Thursday. "The state of California has been a leader in the administration of Covid-19 vaccines, and Californians receiving a vaccine has led to significantly reducing the transmission of Covid-19 in our state," CSU Chancellor Joseph Castro said in a statement. A growing number of private universities have begun announcing fall vaccine requirements for students without the FDA contingency.

I had to do a Skype call & I turned off my front facing camera when I saw how hot they all were (very) and they were like “come on, put your pretty face on the screen” and I did and saw side by side how much hotter they were than I (very)I should be entitled to a cash settlement

At least one key Republican senator, Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania, has expressed openness to working with Biden on a gun bill. While gun control is now unlikely to lose existing supporters, it is also unlikely to win many new ones. Law enforcement at the federal, state, and local levels need to prepare better than they have in the past for non-violent enforcement. But the increased magnitude of those very risks are exactly why we need to recast gun control as a national security challenge. If the president wants to follow through on his desire to rebuild American democracy, a push to curb gun violence offers an invaluable opportunity and a potentially persuasive argument.

Asylum-seekers turned away at the United States’ southern border over the last four months have reported nearly 500 cases of attacks or kidnappings in Mexico, according to a new joint report from three human rights and immigration organizations. Human Rights First, Al Otro Lado and Haitian Bridge Alliance documented 492 reports of violent attacks since Biden took office, including rape, kidnapping and assault. The Biden administration has been criticized for continuing the use of Title 42. Since March 2020, U.S. Customs and Border Protection has expelled more than 642,700 people under the order, including over 100,000 people in March 2021 alone. Earlier this month, a 10-year-old Nicaraguan boy and his mother were kidnapped just hours after they were refused entry and sent to Mexico under Title 42.

The Walt Disney Company on Thursday marked Earth Day by unveiling a revamped list of renewable energy efforts aimed at reducing the carbon footprint of its theme parks and resorts around the world. Collectively, the facilities will reportedly produce renewable energy equivalent to about 40% of the total power consumption across its four theme parks, resort hotels and water parks. Disney A massive solar array in the shape of Mickey Mouse is one of four facilities that will provide renewable energy to the Walt Disney World resort in Florida. Catch a short video about Disney’s renewable energy plans below. The plans follow a challenging time for Disney’s theme parks, which are on a slow rebound after being devastated by the COVID-19 crisis.

The House of Representatives on Thursday approved legislation that would turn Washington, D.C., into a state , but some people are protesting the move with potentially dubious claims. Case in point: Ohio state Rep. Mike Loychik (R) took to Twitter on Thursday to assert that the founding fathers never wanted D.C. to be a state. It’s true that Washington was made into a separate district rather than a state, but many Twitter users weren’t impressed with Loychik’s argument. They pointed out a whole bunch of things that are an accepted part of American culture that the founders also never intended (and vice versa). Take a look:

10'000 Hours via Getty Images Phone screen interviews aren't when job offers are made, but they do weed out candidates, so you want to get them right. Screener interviews can be scheduled, or they can happen randomly after a recruiter finds a job seeker’s contact information. “I’ve had a phone interview with someone who was in the bathtub, I heard water splashing, the soap dropped,” Watkins said. Recruiters will typically ask job seekers, “What are your salary expectations?” during this initial phone screener interview. In a phone interview, hiring managers and recruiters can only evaluate a voice, so remember to express enthusiasm while you are talking.

As one of country music’s only Black female stars, Mickey Guyton is determined to sing out against racial and gender inequality. “I had been trying to pursue a country career for like eight years, and constantly we were told — not only as a Black woman but as a woman — why we would fail in this industry,” Guyton said. And then I wrote ‘Black Like Me.’”Released in June 2020, “Black Like Me” is a reflection on the racism and biases Guyton had experienced throughout her life. “If you think we live in the land of the free, you should try to be Black like me.”Kevin Winter via Getty Images Mickey Guyton performs at the 2021 Grammy Awards in Los Angeles. Last November, the song nabbed a Grammy nomination for Best Country Solo Performance, making Guyton the first Black woman to be nominated in that category.

Congressman Ted Lieu (D-CA) reacts to the Senate passing the anti-Asian hate crimes bill and discusses why he has hope for more progress under the Biden administration

Lisa Christensen had no say in the final outcome of the trial for former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin that ended Tuesday with his conviction on all three counts. On Thursday, Christensen spoke to reporters about her view from the bench, saying that she was happy with how the trial turned out. “I felt he was guilty,” she told “CBS This Morning.”She said it felt as if Chauvin “wasn’t taking the warnings” that Floyd’s life was at risk seriously. She told KARE 11 that her “heart broke a little bit” when Judge Peter Cahill told her she was actually an alternate juror. In her view the jurors took their responsibilities seriously and did not socialize much with one another between proceedings in the trial.

Following the funeral of Daunte Wright, president of the National Action Network Revered Al Sharpton discusses how Daunte Wright’s family and the families of many other African Americans killed by police want to turn their pain into real change

In one “crucial first step” for life on Mars, NASA says an experimental device on its Perseverance rover has made oxygen by using the red planet’s carbon dioxide-rich atmosphere. “Liquid oxygen propellant is something we could make there and not have to bring with us. NASA/JPL-Caltech Technicians at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in La Cañada Flintridge, California, lower the Mars Oxygen In-Situ Resource Utilization Experiment (MOXIE) instrument into the belly of the Perseverance rover. NASA via Getty Images A concept illustration provided by NASA shows the Perseverance rover using its drill to core a rock sample from Mars. MOXIE’s monumental feat comes a little more than three months after the car-sized rover Perseverance, which is touted as NASA’s most advanced rover yet, landed on Mars.

But the alleged incident was never prosecuted. The woman said she blacked out at a bar in Redondo Beach and later woke up naked and disoriented in a stranger’s bed. The 2007 Redondo Beach incident was never prosecuted. The district attorney’s office declined to comment beyond what’s written in the report. A spokesman for the Redondo Beach Police Department said he was unable to comment on the investigation.

An alternate juror in the Derek Chauvin trial, Lisa Christensen, told NBC News’ Gabe Gutierrez she thought the former Minneapolis police officer would have incriminated himself if he testified. Christensen spoke about her disappointment being dismissed from the jury and how she would have voted.

A measure that would restore the voting rights of people on parole was delivered Thursday to the desk of New York Gov. The legislation essentially codifies an executive order signed by Cuomo in 2018 that grants conditional pardons to every parolee in the state — an estimated 35,000 — and restores their voting rights. In most states, felons lose their voting rights during their incarceration and for some time afterward. Last year, Californians voted to restore voting rights to more than 50,000 people on parole with the passage of Proposition 17. Jay Inslee, a Democrat, signed a bill that automatically restores voting rights to people who have been released from prison after committing felonies.

The family of Ma'Khia Bryant, who was fatally shot by police responding to a 911 call, remembered the teen as a "beautiful" and "sweet" girl, and questioned why a Columbus officer shot her. He immediately called the teen's mother, Paula Bryant. "Ma'Khia was a sweet little girl," Paula Bryant added. Ma'Khia Bryant. Hazel Bryant reacts after her niece, 15-year-old Ma'Khia Bryant, was fatally shot by a police officer in Columbus, Ohio, on April 20, 2021.

Hannah Daspit is the surviving spouse of Dylan Daspit, who is presumed dead after the commercial lift vessel the Seacor Power capsized on April 13 as it traveled through stormy seas from Port Fourchon, Louisiana to an offshore oil platform. Of the 19 original crew members, six were rescued alive and 13 were initially unaccounted for. Dylan Daspit. The lawsuit, which seeks damages "in excess of" $25 million, alleges violations of the Federal Jones Act, which governs maritime law; and negligence, gross negligence and unseaworthiness. "The Cajun Navy continues to look for these guys," Spagnoletti told NBC News, describing a good Samaritan effort that continues to scour the area.

MONTPELIER, Vt. (AP) — Citing a 2020 U.S. Supreme Court decision that says states can’t cut religious schools out of programs that send public money to private education, the Vermont State Board of Education has decided that the school districts of three students must pay the tuition for them to attend religious schools as part of a state tuition benefit that they were denied. The three families had appealed their school boards’ denial to the state board, which issued its decision on Wednesday. In Espinoza v. Montana Department of Revenue, the Supreme court ruled 5-4 that states must give religious schools the same access to public funding that other private schools receive, preserving a Montana scholarship program that had largely benefited students at religious institutions. The school districts are Rutland Town, Mount Ascutney and Hartland. A fourth district had denied the tuition benefit for another student to attend Mount St. Joseph but later changed its decision.

In New York City, police can wait up to 30 days to release body camera footage when deadly force is used, but that deadline is not always met. The state attorney general, who recently assumed responsibility for deciding whether to prosecute deaths caused by police, has pledged to release body camera videos quickly in cases it investigates. In Portland, Oregon, there is no body camera footage to see. The department in the Hawaii capital has said it will not release footage of the 16-year-old’s killing because juveniles were involved. In Rochester, New York, police commanders delayed the release of body camera video of a police encounter that led to the death of Daniel Prude in March 2020.

FILE - In this Feb. 13, 2021, file photo, Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., departs Capitol Hill in Washington. Scott will deliver Republicans’ rebuttal to President Joe Biden’s joint address to Congress. (Stefani Reynolds/Pool via AP, File)FILE - In this Feb. 13, 2021, file photo, Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., departs Capitol Hill in Washington. Scott will deliver Republicans’ rebuttal to President Joe Biden’s joint address to Congress. (Stefani Reynolds/Pool via AP, File)WASHINGTON (AP) — Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina will deliver Republicans’ rebuttal to President Joe Biden’s joint address to Congress next week.

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — A man charged in connection with the fatal shooting of an Indianapolis pastor’s pregnant wife in 2015 has been sentenced to 29 years in prison under a plea deal in which he agreed to testify against two co-defendants. Jalen E. Watson, 27, pleaded guilty to one count of robbery and two counts of burglary stemming from the killing of Amanda Blackburn, court records show. Investigators have said the suspects saw Davey Blackburn, the woman’s husband, leave his house and began a burglary of the home. A neighbor reported hearing shots about 35 minutes after Davey Blackburn left. Amanda Blackburn died two days later.

Israeli riot police detain a Palestinian man during clashes near Damascus Gate just outside Jerusalem's Old City, Thursday, April. (AP Photo/Mahmoud Illean)Israeli riot police detain a Palestinian man during clashes near Damascus Gate just outside Jerusalem's Old City, Thursday, April. Meanwhile, a far-right Jewish group known as Lahava led a march of hundreds of protesters chanting “Arabs get out!” toward Damascus Gate. Israel captured east Jerusalem, where the Old City is located, in the 1967 war and annexed it in a move not recognized internationally. The Palestinians want east Jerusalem to be the capital of their future state.

Kentucky ‘working every angle’ to get shots in more armsFRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — Hoping to reverse a slowdown in COVID-19 vaccination rates in Kentucky, Gov. Andy Beshear said Thursday that officials are “working every angle” to increase the number of people getting the shots. About 85,000 Kentuckians were vaccinated in the prior week, less than half the number receiving the shots during a peak period in March. “We are working every angle that we can think of” to increase vaccination rates, the governor said. “We’re really going to have to get to the point where if there’s going to be a festival, there’s a tent where you can get vaccinated,” he said.

Police video shows Dehon using a stun gun on a handcuffed 67-year-old man sitting on a patrol car's back seat and then saying, “Scream again." He faces a May 5, 2021, termination hearing before the Port Allen City Council, news outlets have reported. (West Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff’s Office via AP) This undated photo provided by the West Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff’s Office, in Louisiana, shows Officer Nolan Dehon III. Police video shows Dehon using a stun gun on a handcuffed 67-year-old man sitting on a patrol car's back seat and then saying, “Scream again." She don’t run nothing,” the video shows him telling officers while they cuff his hands behind his back.

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Two of the nation’s largest university systems say they intend to require COVID-19 vaccinations for all students, faculty and staff on University of California and California State University campuses this fall. Several U.S. colleges and universities also have said they plan to require the vaccination. But Thursday’s joint announcement from the 10-campus University of California and the 23-campus California State University is the largest of its kind in American higher education. The CSU system in the nation’s biggest four-year college system, with about 485,000 students and tens of thousands of staff, while the UC system has more than 280,000 students. Students who have an approved exemption for medical or religious reasons will be required to undergo regular COVID-19 testing.

Pittsburgh Pirates' Colin Morand connects for a run scoring single during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the Detroit Tigers, Thursday, April 22, 2021, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)Pittsburgh Pirates' Colin Morand connects for a run scoring single during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the Detroit Tigers, Thursday, April 22, 2021, in Detroit. “Maybe the play of the game,” Pittsburgh manager Derek Shelton said. Adam Frazier had three hits for the Pirates, including a one-out single off José Cisnero (0-1) in the eighth. Richard Rodríguez pitched a perfect ninth for his third save, sending the Tigers to their sixth loss in seven games.

Conservationists say the rare order issued Wednesday, April 21, 2021, in Las Vegas underscores the critical condition of the Tiehm's buckwheat they say is on the brink of extinction. The agency was supposed to decide last October whether or not to propose protection under the Endangered Species Act. “We are confident that the science strongly supports the co-existence of our vital lithium operation and Tiehm’s buckwheat,” he said. ADVERTISEMENTThe Fish and Wildlife Service didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment on Thursday. “Usually when we bring these `deadline’ suits, the Fish and Wildlife Service offers us a date and we agree and there’s a settlement.

FILE - In this May 22, 2019, file photo, Republican Rep. Regina Cobb, chair of the Arizona House Appropriations Committee, listens during a committee hearing in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Bob Christie, File)FILE - In this May 22, 2019, file photo, Republican Rep. Regina Cobb, chair of the Arizona House Appropriations Committee, listens during a committee hearing in Phoenix. “Aborting a child because there’s a genetic abnormality is not health care. You are euthanizing a child that has a genetic abnormality. Monday’s amendment to the Arizona bill also added a legislative intent clause that included much of the reasoning the appeals court used in the Ohio decision.

LOS ANGELES (AP) _ OP Bancorp (OPBK) on Thursday reported first-quarter earnings of $5.1 million. The Los Angeles-based bank said it had earnings of 33 cents per share. OP Bancorp shares have increased 29% since the beginning of the year. In the final minutes of trading on Thursday, shares hit $9.95, a climb of 38% in the last 12 months. _____This story was generated by Automated Insights (http://automatedinsights.com/ap) using data from Zacks Investment Research.

The lawsuit was filed in state court by the ACLU of Iowa and the national ACLU LGBTQ & HIV Project on behalf of Aiden Vasquez. That case was dismissed by the Iowa Court of Appeals in August 2020 because the plaintiffs had not first sought and been denied coverage by the Iowa Department of Human Services. ADVERTISEMENTThe ACLU lawyers will argue that denying the surgery to transgender Iowans violates equal protection rights guaranteed in the Iowa Constitution and is intentionally discriminatory against people because they are transgender, said Rita Bettis Austen, ACLU of Iowa legal director. When the ACLU first filed a lawsuit to challenge Iowa Medicaid denial of transgender surgery in 2017, a state court judge found the policy violated the Iowa Civil Rights Act and the Iowa Supreme Court in 2019 upheld that decision. Bettis said many states have since eliminated their bans on Medicaid coverage for the health care transgender people need.

WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP, N.J. (AP) _ Parke Bancorp Inc. (PKBK) on Thursday reported first-quarter net income of $9.4 million. The bank, based in Washington Township, New Jersey, said it had earnings of 78 cents per share. The holding company for Parke Bank posted revenue of $22.8 million in the period. Its revenue net of interest expense was $19 million, which topped Street forecasts. Parke Bancorp shares have increased 20% since the beginning of the year.

Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson speaks at a news conference at the state Capitol in Little Rock, Arkansas on Thursday, April 22, 2021 with House Speaker Matthew Shepherd, left, and Senate President Jimmy Hickey, right. (AP) — Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson announced plans Thursday to call a special session this fall for lawmakers to consider new income tax cut proposals. The Republican governor said he planned to call the special session when lawmakers return to the Capitol this fall anyway to take up congressional redistricting.

A delay in census data is scrambling plans in some states to redraw districts for the U.S. House and state legislatures. A delay in census data is scrambling plans in some states to redraw districts for the U.S. House and state legislatures. In response to Biden’s order in January, the Census Bureau discontinued efforts to create citizenship tabulations at the city-block level using 2020 census data in combination with administrative records. The Census Bureau missed a Dec. 31 deadline for turning in the apportionment numbers, and it kept pushing back the dates for releasing the numbers after not-unexpected irregularities were found in the data. As government attorneys negotiated toward a settlement with the coalition, the Census Bureau agreed to release the apportionment numbers sometime between mid-April and the end of the month.

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Legislation that would provide several hundred million dollars in North Carolina state income tax breaks for businesses and the unemployed received final House approval on Thursday. In both provisions, North Carolina tax law would become aligned with what federal tax rules now allow on IRS returns while providing financial assistance during the COVID-19 pandemic. The individual income tax deadline is May 17. It’s unclear whether federal coronavirus relief money earmarked for North Carolina could cover that cost. Rep. Julia Howard, the former co-chair of the committee, was the only House member who voted against the bill Thursday.

Carson Kelly followed Peralta with a two-run homer as the Diamondbacks opened a 14-8 lead. I’m real proud of the guys.”The Reds lost their fourth straight, finishing a 2-4 homestand. All of the Reds’ home run came from among the top four spots in the batting order. He hit a two-run homer in the fifth inning, had three singles and finished a double short of the cycle. Reds starter Jeff Hoffman allowed two runs — one earned — and four hits in five innings with four strikeouts and a walk.

(AP) — The Montana Senate voted Thursday to advance a measure banning the use of vaccine passports and prohibiting workplaces from requiring vaccinations as a condition for employment. Greg Gianforte banned the use of vaccine passports in the state to prove COVID-19 vaccination status by executive order. Vaccine passports are documents that can be used to verify coronavirus immunization status and allow inoculated people to more freely travel, shop and dine. The Senate amended the bill Thursday to clarify that the change does not apply to vaccine requirement for public school students. The Senate must vote on the bill for a final time before it returns to the House for approval.

NEW YORK (AP) _ Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance (ARI) on Thursday reported first-quarter net income of $58.3 million, after reporting a loss in the same period a year earlier. Earnings, adjusted for one-time gains and costs, came to 39 cents per share. The real estate investment trust posted revenue of $71.2 million in the period. Apollo Commerical Finance shares have risen 33% since the beginning of the year. _____This story was generated by Automated Insights (http://automatedinsights.com/ap) using data from Zacks Investment Research.

Barcelona president Joan Laporta maintained his support for the Super League on Thursday April 22, 2021, despite the quick exit of 10 of the 12 founding clubs in the breakaway competition. Barcelona president Joan Laporta maintained his support for the Super League on Thursday April 22, 2021, despite the quick exit of 10 of the 12 founding clubs in the breakaway competition. Both Juventus and AC Milan also left open the possibility of joining a Super League at a later date. “If they say that the Super League will save soccer, they are lying or they are mistaken,” Tebas said. Barcelona played its first match since the Super League announcement on Thursday against Getafe, winning 5-2 with a pair of goals by Messi.

The governors of North Dakota and Kansas vetoed similar measures this week. The governors of North Dakota and Kansas vetoed similar measures this week. (AP) — The Montana Legislature voted Thursday to advance a bill that would ban transgender athletes from participating in school and university sports according to the gender with which they identify. The governors of North Dakota and Kansas vetoed similar measures this week. Doug Burgum vetoed similar legislation Wednesday, saying that fairness in girls’ sports is not in danger.

(AP) — Arkansas on Thursday marked 1 million coronavirus vaccine shots administered in the state so far, though the governor acknowledged more needs to be done to increase demand. “I want vaccines in arms so we can turn the chapter in Arkansas history to move on from this pandemic,” Hutchinson told reporters. Hutchinson told reporters he’s still reviewing the bill, but the delayed effective date makes it more favorable to him. Hutchinson last month lifted the state’s mask mandate, but allowed cities to impose their own requirements. The cities of Fayetteville and Little Rock have local mask mandates in place.

(AP) — A proposal to cap Nebraska property tax increases at 3% appeared to stumble Thursday amid fierce opposition from allies of local governments, who cast it as an attack on local control. The measure would apply to school districts, counties, community colleges and other local governments that collect property taxes. Property taxes are a perennial issue in the Legislature even though they’re levied by local governments and not the state. Sen. Tom Briese, the new bill’s sponsor, said Nebraska faces a “property tax crisis” that will come to a boil if lawmakers don’t act. One lawmaker, Sen. Steve Erdman, of Bayard, is pushing to replace all property taxes with a “consumption tax,” similar to a sales-and-use tax.

A worker readies syringes with the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine Monday, March 29, 2021, at "Vaccine Fest," a 24-hour COVID-19 mass vaccination event in Metairie, La., just outside New Orleans, hosted by Ochsner Health System and the Jefferson Parish Government. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)A worker readies syringes with the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine Monday, March 29, 2021, at "Vaccine Fest," a 24-hour COVID-19 mass vaccination event in Metairie, La., just outside New Orleans, hosted by Ochsner Health System and the Jefferson Parish Government. (AP) — Fewer than two weeks after officials hailed the opening of a federal mass vaccination site in Louisiana’s capital city, Gov. John Bel Edwards said Thursday that the location isn’t seeing enough traffic from people seeking the thousands of coronavirus vaccine doses available. ADVERTISEMENTMore than 1.4 million people in Louisiana — 32% of the state’s total population — have received at least one dose of the vaccine, according to state health department data.

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — The South Carolina House is sending a bill preventing people with COVID-19 from suing businesses and other groups to the governor’s desk. The proposal protects businesses as long as they follow guidelines to protect people from the virus. Dozens of other states have passed similar measures. But the South Carolina Chamber of Commerce, the South Carolina Manufacturers Alliance and other business groups said the bill protects companies and others as they try to bounce back from the economic downturn caused by the pandemic. Henry McMaster is expected to sign the bill.

XWhile the negative reversal is never good to see, the Dow Jones, S&P 500 and Nasdaq didn't suffer too much damage from the Biden capital gains tax hike plan. Stock Market Rally ThursdayThe stock market rally was enjoying solid gains when the Biden capital gains tax hike news came out. The Biden capital gains tax hike plan wouldn't affect holdings in pension funds, retirement accounts and anyone who isn't a millionaire. In the near term, a sharp capital gains tax hike could spur heavy selling by wealth holders of long-term holdings. Market Rally AnalysisThe Biden capital gains tax hike plan rained on what was looking to be a solid session.

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Glenda Brown Thomas displays a photo of her nephew, Andrew Brown Jr., on her cell phone at her home in Elizabeth City, N.C., on Thursday, April 22, 2021. Brown was shot and killed Wednesday by a sheriff's deputy, who was attempting to execute a warrant. Brown was shot and killed Wednesday by a sheriff's deputy, who was attempting to execute a warrant. The 42-year-old Elizabeth City, North Carolina, man was shot to death Wednesday by a deputy sheriff trying to serve a search warrant. Pasquotank County Sheriff Tommy Wooten II has said a deputy from his department shot Brown, but that a Dare County law enforcement officer was also present.

FILE - In this Oct. 7, 2020, file photo the Supreme Court in Washington. After more than a decade in which the Supreme Court moved gradually toward more leniency for minors convicted of murder, the justices have moved the other way. Scott Applewhite, File)FILE - In this Oct. 7, 2020, file photo the Supreme Court in Washington. After more than a decade in which the Supreme Court moved gradually toward more leniency for minors convicted of murder, the justices have moved the other way. The ruling followed more than a decade in which the court moved gradually toward more leniency for minors convicted of murder.

(AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)It may be hard to believe that there are still many “firsts” left to check off after 93 years of the Academy Awards, and yet this year there were a handful for Asian actors and filmmakers. Steven Yeun (“Minari”) became the first Asian American actor to be nominated for best actor. Riz Ahmed (“Sound of Metal”) is the first Muslim to be nominated for best actor. It’s the first time that there are two best actor candidates of Asian heritage. They are fully complex human beings.”That hasn’t always been the case for Asian actors who have broken through to the Oscars.

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A historic red-brick home that sits on land leased from the Royal Family has come to the market in the leafy and upmarket London suburb of Richmond with a guide price of £2 million (US$2.7 million). The eight-bedroom home is a leasehold property, meaning the proprietor owns the building—but not the land it’s on—for a set number of years. Unsurprising for a property more than 300 years old, there are period features galore, including elegant staircases, sash windows and window seats, according to the listing. The home is being sold by informal tender with best and final offers to be submitted no later than midday on May 12. Suburban locales globally have seen their popularity soar as buyers seek greener pastures during the coronavirus pandemic, and prices have responded accordingly.

Shane Smith, the co-founder of Vice Media, sold his Mediterranean-style Los Angeles home this week for $48.7 million, a record high for Santa Monica and the surrounding community. Mr. Smith, 51, along with interior designer Kerry Joyce, completely renovated the 14,000-square-foot home, Mansion Global reported in February, when the property was first listed for $50 million. The hacienda has a library with a secret onyx-walled bar, which is entered through a secret bookshelf, Mansion Global reported. Mr. Smith, who remains the executive chairman of Vice, purchased the estate in 2015 for $23 million, according to PropertyShark records. He called the home “a one-of-a-kind escape...an oasis for us and our family,” Mansion Global previously reported.

Shares of Skyworks Solutions Inc. SWKS, -1.71% and Silicon Laboratories Inc. SLAB, -2.23% rose in the extended session Thursday after Skyworks announced it has agreed to buy Silicon Labs' infrastructure and automotive business in an all-cash deal valued at $2.75 billion. The deal "will accelerate Skyworks' expansion into the industry's most important growth segments," including electric and hybrid vehicles, 5G wireless infrastructure, smart-home applications and other areas, a combined market opportunity "approaching $20 billion" a year, Skyworks said. The deal is expected to close in the third quarter, and it has has been approved by the boards of directors of both companies, Skyworks said. Funding will likely come from a combination of cash on hand and debt financing arranged by J.P. Morgan, it said.

Intel’s data-center group saw revenue fall more than 20% to $5.56 billion, while analysts surveyed by FactSet expected $5.89 billion. Analysts had estimated adjusted earnings of $1.15 a share on revenue of $17.79 billion, while Intel had forecast adjusted earnings of $1.10 a share on revenue of about $17.5 billion. Intel predicted Thursday annual revenue of approximately $77 billion, or $72.5 billion without the memory business, and adjusted earnings of $4.60 a share. For the second quarter, Intel forecast revenue of $18.9 billion, or $17.8 billion when removing the memory business, and GAAP and non-GAAP earnings of $1.05 a share. Analysts on average expected adjusted second-quarter earnings of $1.09 a share on revenue of $17.55 billion.

The pass to Evans went for an 8-yard gain, and because the Rams declined the penalty for an illegal forward pass, the 8-yard completion stood. NFL owners voted to pass the Rams’ proposal to add a loss of down for a second forward pass behind the line of scrimmage. This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Now with this rule change, it would’ve put the Bucs in fourth-and-15 if the Rams accepted the penalty. This content is not available due to your privacy preferences.

SAN FRANCISCO — Two of the nation’s largest university systems say they intend to require COVID-19 vaccinations for all students, faculty and staff on University of California and California State University campuses this fall once the Food and Drug Administration gives formal approval. Several U.S. colleges and universities have said they plan to require the vaccination on campuses this fall. But Thursday’s joint announcement from the 10-campus University of California and the 23-campus California State University is the largest of its kind in American higher education. The CSU system in the nation’s biggest, with about 485,000 students and tens of thousands of staff, while the UC system has around 280,000 students.

Snap shares were trading higher late Thursday after the social-networking service posted better-than-forecast results for the March quarter. The strong results triggered gains for stocks across the social-media sector. Shares of Snap (ticker: SNAP) jumped 6.3%, to $60.63. Pinterest shares were up 3% and Twitter shares were up 2%.

There are likely weeks and months of thorny negotiations still ahead for the U.S., Iran and other parties, but a revival of the 2015 nuclear deal — and the easing of sanctions — could see Tehran ramp up oil production very quickly. “Once Iran returns to nuclear compliance — assumed to be two months after a return to the deal is agreed — it will try to export as much oil as it can as fast as it can. Rome estimated new exports would likely top out at around 2.2 million to 2.4 million barrels a day. Total exports, including sales out of the country’s significant volumes of floating storage, could run as high as 2.7 million barrels a day over the next year, he said. “Outside OPEC, a full return of Iranian oil to markets will make it more difficult for producers to attract investment into maintaining and expanding production.”

Twenty-four artists have donated their works to raise funds for the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art (MASS MoCA), which is holding a sale online at Artsy from now until April 30 instead of its annual in-person benefit gala. The 19 works and five limited-edition multiples are expected to raise approximately US$400,000, which will help establish the Joe Thompson “Yes” Fund to support artists and art-making in all forms. Most of the 24 works donated for this auction have direct links to the museum, being created, exhibited, or workshopped at the museum. Fernández had her exhibition “As Above So Below” at MASS MoCA in 2014. Artsy is a New York-based online art brokerage, hosting websites for galleries as well as selling art for them.

Why one QB authority ranks Mond ahead of Fields and Lance originally appeared on NBC Sports WashingtonMany Washington fans are resorting to whatever rituals they have in their repertoire as they continue to hope that Justin Fields or Trey Lance will somehow fall into the Burgundy and Gold's range in the 2021 NFL Draft. "I am a big believer in Kellen Mond," Simms told the BMitch & Finlay show in a Wednesday interview on 106.7 The Fan. "Those are easy fixes as compared to some of the issues that I look at with Justin Fields and Trey Lance." "I just look at Kellen Mond and I go, 'His film is every bit as good or better than [2019 6th overall pick] Daniel Jones,'" Simms said. "It's not even close between [2020 26th overall pick Jordan Love] and Kellen Mond."

Mattel Inc. stock rallied late Thursday after the toy maker reported a narrower-than-expected quarterly loss and said its sales surged nearly 50%. Mattel MAT, +0.14% said it lost $115 million, or 33 cents a share, in the first quarter, compared with a loss of $211 million, or 61 cents a share, in the year-ago quarter.

Skyworks stock (ticker: SWKS) climbed 4.1%, to $191.01, in the extended session Thursday, as Silicon Labs (SLAB) shares surged 12.4%, to $162.51. Skyworks said the acquisition includes Silicon Labs’ power isolation, timing, and broadcast products and technology. As part of the deal, Skyworks will hire Mark Thompson, currently a Silicon Labs vice president and general manager of the infrastructure and automotive unit. About 350 other Silicon Labs employees are expected to join Skyworks. Silicon Labs stock closed the regular session down 2.2%, at $144.65.

In a 1,361-word email dated April 9, he told investors their money is essentially gone, and that he is solely responsible for wrongdoings that include the doctoring of records and using investors’ capital to cover operational expenses. It started with a fund involving a single investor, after which four other funds were launched between 2017 and 2018. However, while going out and trying to raise capital for 2019, he said he neglected the marketing side of the business, which was how deal flow was generated previously. That led to overpaying for assets and making deals that were less than arms-length, leading to deteriorating fund performance. To hide the business troubles from investors, Bentley said he hid information from stakeholders and in 2020 tried to raise $100 million through his eighth and final fund.

It had more to do with Truly Hard Seltzer than Samuel Adams. The brewer (ticker: SAM) reported earnings of $5.26 a share, more than double Wall Street’s consensus estimate of $2.61 a share, according to FactSet. CEO Dave Burwick said in the earnings release that such growth was driven by the Truly Hard Seltzer and Twisted Tea brands. “The recently launched Truly Iced Tea Hard Seltzer has accelerated Truly brand growth, which has more than doubled since last year,” Burwick said. The company hopes to keep the brand’s momentum going in the second quarter, when it expects to launch Truly Punch Hard Seltzer.

"Just having one is really important," says Jodan Ledford, CEO of Smart USA, a global recordkeeper that offers pooled retirement plan solutions. Both accounts come with 401(k) tax benefits, and which you choose will depend on your personal circumstances. Employers shouldn't let these requirements discourage them from offering a 401(k) plan though. Using a pooled plan provider may also simplify the process of setting up and administering a retirement plan. A 401(k) plan comes with valuable tax benefits for employees as well as employers, but that isn't the only reason to love these accounts.

Biden will propose raising the marginal income tax rate to 39.6% from 37% and nearly double capital gains taxes to 39.6% for people earning more than $1 million, sources told Reuters. During the session, the S&P 500 healthcare sector hit a fresh record high while industrials were the biggest gainers. All 11 S&P 500 sectors closed lower as Microsoft, Apple Inc, Amazon.com Inc and Tesla Inc weighted the most on the downdraft. Biogen shares fell 4.0%. The S&P 500 posted 84 new 52-week highs and no new lows; the Nasdaq Composite recorded 86 new highs and 20 new lows.

Navalny has also been on a weekslong hunger strike to protest the government’s refusal to let outside doctors treat him in prison. The nationwide demonstrations united disparate opposition groups into one movement that is challenging President Vladimir Putin’s 20-year rule. If Navalny dies, it will even further energize the opposition against Putin. He jailed opposition leaders and barred rival candidates from running. In addition to employing targeted and national sanctions, democratic countries have other ways to reproach states that violate international law.

U.S. economic growth for this year is "peaking," Goldman Sachs strategists led by Ben Snider warned in a new note on Thursday. Snider said Goldman's economists predict 10.5% GDP growth for the second quarter, the strongest quarterly growth rate since 1978. Economic growth is peaking, warns Goldman Sachs. Since 1980, the S&P 500 has averaged a monthly return of 0.6% when economic growth was positive but decelerating. "Decelerating economic growth is also typically accompanied by sector rotations within the equity market,' Snider added.

Brian Kilmeade discussed the fatal shooting of Daunte Wright and Ma’Khia Bryant on Thursday on Fox & Friends (Fox news)A host on Fox News has suggested that those protesting against police violence towards Black Americans should never be allowed to call 911 again. The comments came as Fox & Friends discussed the fatal shootings of Daunte Wright and Ma’Khia Bryant on Thursday, as the presenters made reference to ongoing unrest over the killings. You should be barred from — anyone who says that, you are no longer allowed to use 911,” Brian Kilmeade responded. On the day the Chauvin verdict was announced, 16-year-old Ma’Khia Bryant was shot by police when officers were called to a disturbance in Columbus, Ohio, after reports of an attempted stabbing. Following the shooting, hundreds of protesters marched in the city on Tuesday night outside of the Columbus police headquarters.

Wesley Hitt/Getty; Noam Galai/Getty George W. Bush (left), Condoleezza RiceDays after George W. Bush called Trump-era Republicans "isolationist" and "protectionist" and not "my vision" of the party, the former president walked back some of that criticism in an interview with PEOPLE for next week's issue. • For more on George W. Bush's new project and his life now, subscribe now to PEOPLE or pick up next week's issue. The portraits are also on view in an exhibition at the George W. Bush Presidential Center in Dallas. And he's a contributing member of our society, he's engineer and he's smart and he's capable." RELATED: George W. Bush Admits He's Thought About Commenting on His Successors as He Presides Over Citizenship CeremonyDuring his presidency, Bush unsuccessfully pushed Congress to pass major immigration reforms.

Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz explains why the county will be requiring vaccines for both Buffalo Bills and Sabres fans this fall and how it could lead to full capacity venues.

(AFP via Getty Images)John Kerry denounced former President Donald Trump for withdrawing the US from the landmark Paris treaty, which the former Secretary of State signed in 2015. “The younger generation is today appropriately pretty upset at the adults, the alleged adults, who are not getting their act together” to address the climate crisis, he said. Mr Biden announced the US’s non-binding emissions target as part of a two-day White House climate summit with world leaders. “No politician in the future is going to undo this, because all over the world, trillions of dollars, trillions of yen, trillions of euros are going to be heading into this new marketplace,” he said. Story continues“The world as a whole is moving in this direction, because these companies have made this critical long term strategic marketing judgment,” he said.

(Getty Images)As lawmakers in the House of Representatives prepared to vote for a second time to make Washington DC the nation’s 51st state, Democratic congressman Mondaire Jones fired back at Republicans who have criticised the effort. “I have had enough of my colleagues racist insinuations that somehow the people of Washington DC are incapable or unworthy of our Democracy,” the New York lawmaker told the House of Representatives on Thursday. Mr Jones objected to remarks from Republican Senator Tom Cotton who said statehood would prevent the nation’s capital from being a “well-rounded working class state”. “I had no idea there were so many syllables in the word ‘white’,” said Mr Jones, who is Black. “Democrats’ partisan push for DC statehood is irresponsible and represents exactly what the Founding Fathers sought to guard against when establishing the seat of the federal government,” he wrote.

The former secretary of state then lamented Donald Trump’s decision to exit the Paris accord, which Kerry himself had signed. President Biden signed an executive action to rejoin the agreement on his first day in office. It was, as Kerry noted, the first in a series of steps the administration is taking to try to repair global alliances and slow climate change. On Thursday, Biden hosted an international climate summit with world leaders at which he pledged to cut U.S. carbon emissions by at least 50 percent by 2030 over 2005 levels. President Biden and climate envoy John Kerry taking part Thursday in the virtual Leaders Summit on Climate.

The announcement comes after President Joe Biden reversed predecessor Donald Trump's decision to withdraw the US from the Paris Agreement. What is the Paris Agreement? The Paris Agreement is a legally binding international treaty on climate change. And scientists say the rollout of the agreement must be stepped up to have any chance of curbing dangerous climate change. Under President Biden, the US has rejoined the Paris AgreementBut President Biden pledged to return the US to the Paris Agreement and make the fight against climate change a top priority of his administration.

“She found the good in everybody,” said Cindy Phillips, who befriended Call in high school and remained close friends with her for years. “She was just a genuine person.”Call, 57, died Saturday in a skydiving accident near Lodi, California, according to San Joaquin County officials. Call grew up in Boise and had recently moved to Watsonville, California, with her husband, Mark “Shoobie” Knutson. Call graduated from Borah High School in 1981 and moved to California in her 20s. The two met their sophomore year at Borah High and quickly became close.

Prosecutors say they won’t charge the Tennessee officer who fatally shot a 17-year-old student last week during a violent confrontation inside a high school bathroom. Knox County District Attorney General Charme Allen said Knoxville officers were justified in the April 12 shooting that killed Anthony J. Thompson Jr. at Austin-East Magnet High School. Knoxville policeman Jonathon Clabough fired in self-defense, Allen said, after thinking Thompson had shot and wounded an officer. In the video, Knoxville officers and a school resource officer, Adam Willson, enter the bathroom to try to remove the teen from the stall. That’s when officer Clabough fired two shots, one of which hit Thompson in the chest, Allen said.

Stocks are falling after Bloomberg reported President Biden will propose a capital gains tax as high as 43.4% for the wealthy. JARED BLIKRE: That's right. So for New Yorkers, the combined state and federal capital gains rate could be high as 52%. Now we already saw a lot of these stocks in the red, not necessarily before this move having anything to do with it. We've been seeing some of the more defensive sectors like staples and also healthcare and utilities and real estate.

Stocks erased earlier gains to trade sharply lower after Bloomberg reported Thursday afternoon that President Joe Biden would propose increasing the capital gains tax rate on wealthy individuals. Biden's plan would involve increasing the capital gains tax rate on the wealthy to 39.6%, according to the report from Bloomberg citing people familiar with the matter. The current base capital gains tax rate is 20%. ET: Stocks end a volatile session lower after Biden reportedly seeks capital gains tax increase on the wealthy; Dow drops 322 points, or 0.9%Here were the main moves in markets as of 4:04 p.m. ET Wednesday: Stock futures edge lowerHere's where markets were trading as the overnight session began.

Andrea Albury, left, and daughter Ella Albury, 15, take a selfie outside the Supreme Court on Jan. 29 during the antiabortion March for Life. "What's happening this year is a continuation" of the flurry of strict abortion bills in 2019, said Kristin Ford, national communications director for NARAL Pro-Choice America. "I don't read minds and I don't place bets on Supreme Court cases," said Katie Glenn, government affairs counsel at Americans United for Life. Arizona's Barto is among the state lawmakers who have introduced legislation to chip away at abortion access. The decision conflicts with decisions in other federal districts, teeing up an opportunity for the Supreme Court to weigh in.

Now, many are wondering whether they can safely ditch the mask when they step outdoors this spring. The CDC recommends people wear masks outside, but on Thursday, the agency’s director told Today it’s considering lifting its recommendation. So is it safe to step outdoors without face masks now that vaccinations have picked up steam? “If you’re outdoors, you either need to be distanced or masked,” Marr told the Times. If you’re outside with other members of your household, masking isn’t necessary, Perry N. Halkitis, dean of the Rutgers School of Public Health, told Yahoo.

Lisa Christensen had no say in the final outcome of the trial for former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin that ended Tuesday with his conviction on all three counts. Chauvin is now awaiting sentencing for the murder of George Floyd, the Black man whom he restrained by pinning to the pavement for nearly 10 minutes last spring. On Thursday, Christensen spoke to reporters about her view from the bench, saying that she was happy with how the trial turned out. “I felt he was guilty,” she told “CBS This Morning.”She said it felt as if Chauvin “wasn’t taking the warnings” that Floyd’s life was at risk seriously. Story continuesChauvin had pleaded not guilty to all three charges: second-degree murder, third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter.

President Biden is expected to announce a proposal to nearly double the capital gains tax rate in order to help fund a forthcoming spending package, according to multiple reports. The proposal would set the capital gains tax rate for individuals earning over $1 million at 39.6 percent, two people familiar with the plan told Bloomberg. When combined with an existing federal surtax on investment income, investors could pay federal taxes at a rate of as high as 43.4 percent. New Yorkers making over $1 million would see combined federal and state capital gains tax rates of as high as 52.22 percent, while California residents in the same income bracket could see a 56.7 percent combined federal and state capital gains rate. Stocks fell sharply following news of the potential tax increase on Thursday, with the Dow Jones dropping 400 points.

I didn’t know I was experiencing menopause symptoms, I didn’t know what was happening to me. I have had times when I’ve felt low over the years but I don’t claim to have suffered from depression. Therapy is also encouraged as a safe and effective way to treat depression, anxiety, and any other mental-health problems. Remember there are 34 menopause symptoms and we all experience menopause differently. Depression, anxiety and anger aren’t something that can be stopped overnight.

CAIRO (AP) — The United Nations voiced concern Thursday over the recent halt of oil production at a Libyan eastern terminal and more imminent shutdowns of oil facilities prompted by a budget dispute. On Monday, Libya's National Oil Corporation said it had interrupted crude oil production and exportation from Marsa Al Hariga port, citing the Central Bank of Libya’s refusal to pay out money set aside for the oil sector for several months. “The uninterrupted production of oil as well as maintaining the independence and impartiality of the NOC remains a vital cornerstone to the economic, social and political stability of Libya,” said the U.N. support mission in the country. The NOC warned that the daily losses may exceed $ 26 million (118 million Libyan Dinars ). The NOC warned that other national oil companies may have to shut down production soon for the same reasons.

Even though he was found guilty of three counts, under Minnesota statutes he'll only be sentenced on the most serious one — second-degree murder. Likewise, if Chauvin's second-degree murder count is ultimately dismissed, he would be brought back to court for resentencing on the top remaining charge. If Judge Peter Cahill were to sentence Chauvin to anything above that, he risks having his decision reversed on appeal. If he decides aggravating factors exist, he has to keep them in proportion to the crime. Both sides are writing legal briefs on aggravating factors, which Cahill will review before determining whether they exist.

Intel Corp. ’s new chief executive said a global chip-supply shortage could stretch two more years as the U.S. semiconductor giant posted weaker quarterly earnings. Excluding the pending sale of its memory business and other items, Intel said revenue was $18.6 billion and net income was $5.7 billion. Nvidia Corp. —which last year overtook Intel as American’s most valuable chip company—and Advanced Micro Devices Inc. have taken market share. Nvidia this month also said it would start selling central-processing units for data-centers, a market Intel has long dominated. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE ON FOX BUSINESSMr. Gelsinger has said Intel is planning additional chip investments.

Snap Inc.’s revenue surged in the latest quarter as the company gained more Snapchat users, continuing its streak as social-media use remains high during the coronavirus pandemic. Snapchat ended the quarter with 280 million daily average users, compared with 265 million in the prior quarter and 229 million a year earlier. Meanwhile, its daily-active-user base is expanding faster beyond the U.S. and Europe, in the latest quarter growing 57% year-over-year to 111 million users. Ticker Security Last Change Change % SNAP SNAP, INC. 57.05 -1.25 -2.14%Snap saw high engagement with Snap Maps and early momentum with Spotlight, a Tik-Tok-like feature that allows users to spread videos from around the Snapchat community. In the first quarter, Snap narrowed its losses to $286.9 million from $305.9 million in the same period last year.

Peirce, who was appointed by former President Donald Trump, also noted the U.S. is falling behind competitively, as countries such as Canada move ahead with crypto products. COINBASE FUELS BITCOIN ETF RACE LED BY WISDOMTREE, VANECKThere are just two applications for bitcoin ETFs sitting with the SEC for review and potential approval. Experts note a bitcoin ETF would make investing in the asset more transparent and easier for Main Street investors. VENMO JUMPS INTO CRYPTOSTicker Security Last Change Change % PYPL PAYPAL HOLDINGS, INC. 262.27 -2.62 -0.99%Earlier this week, Venmo joined Paypal in offering buy, sell and hold, offerings for cryptos. Ticker Security Last Change Change % COIN COINBASE GLOBAL 293.45 -18.47 -5.92%

The Department of Housing and Urban Development is withdrawing a Trump-era policy that would have allowed taxpayer-funded homeless shelters to deny access to transgender people. “Access to safe, stable housing — and shelter — is a basic necessity,” said new HUD Secretary Marcia Fudge. “Unfortunately, transgender and gender-nonconforming people report more instances of housing instability and homelessness than cisgender people. But under Trump and his housing secretary, Ben Carson, HUD proposed a modification to the rule that would have allowed single-sex homeless shelters to deny transgender people access. “Housing saves lives, especially for the trans community who face disproportionate rates of violence and homelessness.

LAFC is the first team in MLS history to start a season with back-to-back Golden Boot winners on its roster. And that number is unlikely to change Saturday afternoon when LAFC faces the Seattle Sounders at Banc of California Stadium. Defender Kim Moon-hwan, who also missed the opener with Austin because of a knee injury, could see limited time Saturday in what would be his MLS debut. But we’ve got to have others ready when the moments come.”Despite the fact LAFC is beginning just its fourth season in MLS, the team already has some significant history with Seattle. LAFC played — and won — its first-ever game in Seattle 1-0, then beat the Sounders by the same score in the first game at Banc of California Stadium.

That, plus a hair-metal musical and an “ER” cast reunion lead our weekend list of music, theater, art and other cultural offerings for your viewing consideration. “Trouble in Tahiti”Pacific Opera Project stages four outdoor performances of Leonard Bernstein’s one-act musical drama about an unhappily married couple in post-World War II suburbia. 7 p.m. Thursday; available on demand afterward. 10 a.m. Friday; on demand afterward. 7 p.m. Sunday; available on demand afterward.

Biden could announce a proposal on the capital gains tax next week, Bloomberg reported, with the goal of using the tax to fund part of his infrastructure program. But that gives only a hint of why the wealthy love the capital gains tax. As it was described by the late Edward Kleinbard, who reigned for years as the resident tax expert at USC, the capital gains tax is our only truly “voluntary” tax. These figures explain much of the politicking that has gone on over the capital gains tax and other taxes enjoyed mostly by the wealthy. Whether Biden will follow through on what appears to be a strategically leaked policy draft and raise the capital gains tax is anybody’s bet.

New SEC fillings show over 300 Morgan Stanley clients had invested in the bitcoin funds at the start of this month. News about Morgan Stanley being the first big bank to give its clients bitcoin exposure through three new funds was originally reported by CNBC last month. Due to the volatility of bitcoin prices, the bank put some restrictions on which Morgan Stanley clients will have access to the funds. Two of the three new funds, Galaxy Bitcoin Fund LP and FS NYDIG Select Bitcoin Fund, have $25,000 minimums. Note: An earlier version of this story incorrectly said that Morgan Stanley clients had invested $145 million in three bitcoin funds.

For a few years in the late 1960s, the performance artist Herbert Khaury — known professionally as Tiny Tim — was ubiquitous on television, appearing on just about every variety show and talk show. Treated by many as a joke — or a freak — Tiny Tim was essentially a cult act who accidentally became a sensation. Johan von Sydow’s documentary “Tiny Tim: King for a Day” zips through Khaury’s story in just over an hour, leaving out too much to be called comprehensive. The rocket ride to stardom began in early 1968 on the hip sketch show “Laugh-In,” where Tiny Tim sang “Tiptoe Through the Tulips” while strumming a ukulele. Seeing Tiny Tim for a few seconds in a “Laugh-In” or “Tonight Show” retrospective makes him look like an inexplicable oddity.

A report that President Biden will propose a hefty tax increase on the gains wealthy individuals reap from investments triggered a stock market sell-off Thursday afternoon that left indexes broadly lower. A separate surtax on investment income could boost the overall federal tax rate for wealthy investors as high as 43.3%, the report said, citing unnamed people familiar with the proposal. The selling was widespread, with every sector in the S&P 500 closing lower. AdvertisementThe S&P 500 lost 38.44 points to 4,134.98. The S&P 500, which set a record high Friday, started the week with a two-day slide before closing higher Wednesday.

The USC Song Girls stir up school spirit during a rally in the heart of campus on Oct. 9, 2013, as the football team prepared to take on the Arizona Wildcats in their first game under the Trojans’ interim coach Ed Orgeron. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)

AdvertisementProsecutors said Ledford raked in $5,200 per month over the course of several years from an alleged “no-show job” with Complex Culture Change Consulting. Miller, 68, and Kimberly Anne Shaw, 61, who also helped run the AERO Institute, were charged with conspiracy, embezzlement and misappropriation of public funds. Prosecutors alleged the AERO Institute funneled payments to Ledford through Miller’s consulting firm. Ledford was also accused of failing to disclose income he made from the AERO Institute, which was receiving more than $2 million in annual funding from NASA. Prosecutors said the government agency has received $1.8 million in restitution, drawn from funds seized from the AERO Institute as part of the investigation.

Derek Chauvin’s killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis was a shocking and disturbing experience for so many people. On video, Chauvin kneeled on Floyd’s neck for more than nine minutes as he took his last breaths. I know that because I have been an activist participating in the civil rights movement and I have dealt with the issue of police abuse for many decades. To target me and say that I was violent or encouraging violence is a blatant distortion of the truth. Maxine Waters, a Democrat, represents California’s 43rd Congressional District.

Congress requested the investigation into the delays to recovery aid for Puerto Rico after Hurricanes Irma and Maria in 2017 left residents of the US territory without power and clean water for months. WASHINGTON — The Trump administration put up bureaucratic obstacles that stalled approximately $20 billion in hurricane relief for Puerto Rico and then obstructed an investigation into the holdup, according to an inspector general report obtained by The Washington Post. Several former senior administration officials in the Office of Management and Budget refused to provide requested information about decision-making related to the Puerto Rico relief funds. The 46-page report presents an incomplete picture of the political influence of the Trump White House on delaying disaster relief for the struggling island. While investigators interviewed 20 current and former HUD officials and two Puerto Rico housing officials, they had no access to Carson.

No one ever seemed to know how to explain its dynamics; Jonathan Fitzgerald has done it in this article. Michael T. Lembke, retired chaplain (colonel), United States ArmyAdvertisementWarwick, Rhode IslandPersonal TimeI really connected with “A Big Predicament” (Miss Conduct, March 14). She is realistic and pragmatic but also tells us we are in this “flotsam-filled sea,” and sometimes alone in it. We need to work on being comfortable with being alone, perhaps more than we were pre-pandemic. Stephen KromSwampscottWrite to magazine@globe.com or The Boston Globe Magazine/Comments, 1 Exchange Place, Suite 201, Boston, MA 02109-2132.

Registration required at mos.org. Hosted by Boston Lyric Opera, this month’s Tonic Hour production is The Mob Widow (loosely based on The Merry Widow). Knowledge of opera is not required for this free Zoom event, but registration at eventbrite.com is. BeWords: Lyrics, Legacy & Love is a free virtual event produced by Boston Art & Music Soul Fest as part of Artdacity. The virtual event runs all day.

The “argument that the sentencer must make a finding of permanent incorrigibility is inconsistent with the court’s precedents,” Kavanaugh wrote. The court upheld the life without parole sentence a Mississippi court imposed on a 15-year-old who stabbed his grandfather to death in a dispute over the boy’s girlfriend. Former president Donald Trump’s three Supreme Court nominees were key to the 6-3 ruling, which was written by one of them, Justice Brett Kavanaugh. “Such an abrupt break from precedent demands ‘special justification,’ ” wrote Sotomayor, quoting a Kavanaugh opinion from last term. a good-faith disagreement” over “how to interpret relevant precedents.”“The dissent thinks that we are unduly narrowing Miller and Montgomery,” Kavanaugh wrote.

The crime heightened the pressure on Congress to respond to the rise in attacks against the Asian American community. “This Congress, with Democrats controlling the House, the Senate, and the White House, D.C. statehood is within reach for the first time in history,” she said. But the political odds remain formidable, with the Senate filibuster requiring the support of 60 senators to advance legislation. Not even all Senate Democrats have backed the bill as the clock ticks toward the 2022 midterm election. That plan focused largely on physical infrastructure spending, like repairing bridges and water pipes and building electric vehicle charging stations, and was funded by tax increases on corporations.

A rug with Eastern flavor from Dover Rug & Home provides subtle color and a pattern that echoes the homeowners’ international sensibilities. After taking the room down to the studs and simplifying the shell, the pair created a tranquil sitting room with an inconspicuous backdrop of built-in bookshelves and a focal point-worthy fireplace. “Now the room looks like it’s supposed to, like it’s always been this way,” Kim says. Cohen refaced the stone veneer chimney with 11-inch-wide white oak boards divided by skinny strips of ipe set within aluminum channels. The curved design of the burnished, hand-forged steel Switchback pendant by Hubbardton Forge was inspired by Vermont ski trails.

From the front porch, enter through a mudroom with bench seat into a sun-soaked living room with a decorative mantel. At right, the updated kitchen has soapstone counters, white Shaker cabinets, and stainless appliances; an open dining room is across the breakfast bar. Beyond the dining room at left, the remodeled kitchen has two-toned cabinetry, granite counters, stainless appliances, and a nearby half bath. A family room open to the kitchen offers access to the deck and large backyard with swing set. Upstairs, three bedrooms with big closets—one is a walk-through, another has steps to the attic—share an updated bath.

Brown was shot about 8:30 a.m. as a deputy was executing a search warrant, Tommy Wooten II, the Pasquotank County sheriff, said. A sheriff’s deputy shot and killed a Black man on Wednesday morning in Elizabeth City, N.C., while executing a search warrant, authorities said. “What we are looking for at this time will be accurate answers and not fast answers,” Womble said at the news conference. At the meeting, several Black members of the City Council expressed pain and anguish about the shooting and said residents were hurting. As a Black man, “I feel like we are targeted,” said Councilman Gabriel Adkins, who was wearing a “Black Lives Matter” shirt.

He placed 10th in the Heisman Trophy voting, making him the first tight end to finish in the top 10 in 43 years. The top tight ends available in the NFL draft, with name, college, height, weight, 40 time, and projected round. Like former Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski, though, Freiermuth boasts great size and isn’t afraid to fight for a tough catch. Hunter Long, Boston College, 6-5, 254, 4.71, 3-4Long is a complete tight end, able to block and contribute in the passing game. Tommy Tremble, Notre Dame, 6-3, 241, 4.65, 3-4Tremble developed as a physical, blocking tight end who also got some reps in a fullback role.

The huge buildup on the Ukrainian border was in place while he spoke. AdvertisementA Russian ban on civilian air traffic near the Ukrainian border until Saturday also remained in effect Thursday. The tensions have been elevated since 2014, when Russia seized Ukraine’s Crimea Peninsula and backed separatists in eastern Ukraine. In Ukraine, many had feared that the buildup — which officials in Kyiv said included some 110,000 Russian troops — could be the prelude to a Russian annexation of separatist-controlled eastern Ukraine or an outright invasion. But Ukrainian officials said they continued to be prepared for an escalation of the conflict.

In addition, 133,000 new claims were filed for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance, a federal program that covers freelancers, part-timers, and others who do not qualify for state benefits. New claims for unemployment benefits fell last week to the lowest level of the pandemic, the US government reported Thursday, offering fresh evidence of the labor market’s recovery. In Massachusetts, about 12,900 individuals filed new claims for unemployment benefits, down roughly 1,550 from the week prior, at the lowest level since the onset of the pandemic. Another 2,100 individuals filed claims under the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program, roughly the same number as the week prior. AdvertisementAbout 96,340 people in Massachusetts continued to collect regular unemployment benefits for the week ending April 10, down 7,990 from the previous week and the seventh consecutive week of decline.

In Taiwan, one of the few places in the world to offer marriage leave to couples heading to the altar, a bank employee wed his partner on April 6, 2020. AdvertisementThe bank refused to approve the man’s application for paid time off beyond the mandated eight days for his first marriage. In China, the duration of leave varies by region: Most offer at least three days, but Shanxi province allows 30 days. The Taiwanese marriage leave does not impose quotas on those who claim it, nor does it restrict how frequently employees could take the leave. (In comparison to the marriage leave, workers get five days of parental leave.)

The Alameda County Board of Supervisors approved the 350-acre, 300,000-panel project in the unincorporated area north of Livermore in March. Measure D aims to prevent development from sprawling to eastern Alameda County by restricting development and protecting agriculture, open space and wildlife. Chris O’Brien, chairman of the Save North Livermore Valley, called Measure D the “greatest environmental achievement in our county’s history.”“The Board of Supervisors is now attempting to overturn Measure D by authorizing the industrial development of North Livermore Valley. Other groups, such as the Friends of Livermore, Save North Livermore Valley and Friends of Open Space and Vineyards, also filed separate appeals. Related Articles Alameda County approves largest solar farm in Bay AreaEast Bay solar farm proposal loses parcel; can project move forward?

So, when a reader told me to check out the Buy Nothing Project, I was primed. Her friend Rebecca Rockefeller and her kids went, too. Then came requests from others looking to form groups in their cities, and the project went viral. Today, the volunteer-run Buy Nothing Project has nearly 4 million participants in 44 nations, 12,000 volunteers and printed materials in 16 languages, Clark says. Join me next week to hear some of the oddest items given and requested, and to find out what’s next for the Buy Nothing Project.

Rockland, meanwhile, is offering an all stock deal at the East Boston Savings board’s request, which provides some tax advantages to the holders of shares in the bank being sold. Each shareholder in Meridian Bancorp, the holding company of Peabody-based East Boston Savings, will get 0.275 of a share of Independent Bank Corp., Rockland’s holding company. East Boston Savings, with its $6.5 billion in assets, will bring Rockland up to $20 billion in assets once the deal is completed toward the end of this year. Rockland’s branch network, consisting of about 100 locations, is roughly double the size of East Boston Savings Bank’s 40-plus. Rockland, now headquartered in Hanover, employs about 1,400 people, while East Boston Savings employs around 500.

And another show is NOT “The Handmaid’s Tale,” which returns to Hulu for its fourth season on Wednesday. She’s not just Wonder Woman; at times she’s Wile E. Coyote, walking out from under an anvil or a metal safe once again. AdvertisementWatching the new batch of episodes, I began to think of “The Handmaid’s Tale” as a genre series, and not in a good way. Rather than a nefariously ingenious nightmare world, one that frighteningly reflects off of the real world, the Gilead of “The Handmaid’s Tale” is now starting to seem more like Gotham City. Early on, the torture of “The Handmaid’s Tale” felt as though it was in service of the vision of a country driven to objectify and hurt women.

Coach Bruce Cassidy returned with the same 12 forwards who suited up here for Tuesday night’s 2-0 blanking of the Sabres, and only swapped in Steve Kampfer on defense. BUFFALO — The Bruins returned to action here Thursday night, working with the equity that a five-game winning streak affords: very little in the way of roster moves. Advertisement“It was an optional,” explained Cassidy, who took a rare day off ice himself on Wednesday, leaving his four assistant coaches in charge of the workout. If not Rask, Cassidy could opt to start Jaro Halak, the veteran backup, who last played on April 3, prior to beginning an extended stay on the NHL’s “unavailable” list linked to covid protocols. It’s quite possible he won’t play again in the regular season and might also be a postseason scratch.

According to university archives, it will be the first time local Indigenous leaders have delivered RWU’s commencement address. Sagamore William Guy, chief of the Pokanoket Nation, and Lorén Spears, executive director of the Tomaquag Indigenous Museum, will together deliver the keynote address to the Class of 2020 and Class of 2021 prior to being presented with honorary degrees. BRISTOL, R.I.— Two local Indigenous leaders will co-deliver the commencement address to both this year’s and last year’s graduates at Roger Williams University for a scaled-down in-person celebration this May. She’s written curriculum, poetry, and narratives for publications such as From Slaves to Soldiers: The 1st Rhode Island Regiment in the American Revolution. Ceremonies on May 22 and May 23 will feature a livestream grad walk, where students will be honored individually.

Nearly 30 community centers in Massachusetts, including 18 in Boston, have been equipped with free Comcast Wi-Fi coverage as part of the company’s effort to connect low-income families to the Internet so that they can access after-school learning opportunities. These Wi-Fi-connected areas, dubbed “Lift Zones,” are expected to help hundreds of students get online so they can do their school work, the company said. Some of the locations include local branches of the Boston Center for Youth & Families and the Boys & Girls Club. “The pandemic has put many low-income families at risk of being left behind, and we’re proud to work with community partners to support them with Internet adoption and digital equity programs like this one,” said Trevor Arp, senior vice president of Comcast’s Greater Boston Region, in a statement. “We hope these Lift Zones help families stay connected to vital resources.”

President Barack Obama says the United States doesn't know how or when chemical weapons were used in Syria or who used them. President Barack Obama says the United States doesn't know how or when chemical weapons were used in Syria or who used them.

Now, with the NFL Draft just a week away, it’s North Dakota State’s Trey Lance. Nonetheless, one anonymous NFL quarterback coach told The Athletic’s Bruce Feldman that Jones is “the most advanced” quarterback in this year’s class. I’m just telling you — if it’s not Mac Jones, it’s Trey Lance.”The conflicting 49ers draft reports certainly haven’t helped the oddsmakers do their jobs. A week after installing Fields as the -125 favorite over Jones (+120) and Lance (+350), DraftKings Sportsbook reversed course and listed Jones as the new favorite this week. Jones at -110 now leads Fields (+110) and Lance (+400).

Sixty-one years after a plane crashed into her home on Minnehaha Pkwy, Diane Doughty Madsen recalls her experience that night in the spring of 1950. Sixty-one years after a plane crashed into her home on Minnehaha Pkwy, Diane Doughty Madsen recalls her experience that night in the spring of 1950.

At the time of her disappearance, both Smart and Paul Flores were 19-year-old students living in residence halls at California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo. San Luis Obispo1 / On the night of May 24, 1996 — the Friday of Memorial Day weekend — Kristin Smart attended a party off campus, at 135 Crandall Way. 2 / One of the students with Smart left the group when they reached Perimeter Road, on the campus. 3 / Smart shared a room in Muir Hall with a roommate, who had gone out of town for the holiday weekend. That roommate later said she found no sign that Smart had been in the room after the party.

The Giants will be without one of their best hitters for at least the next 10 days. The club announced Thursday that second baseman Donovan Solano will be placed on the 10-day injured list after straining his right calf while running the bases in Philadelphia on Wednesday. Manager Gabe Kapler said Solano’s injury weakens the Giants’ bench because he’s often the best available hitter when he’s not starting games. Solano has often finished games he didn’t start at second base as he’ll enter as a pinch-hitter and stay in the game as a defensive replacement. With Solano out, the Giants anticipate Tommy La Stella, Wilmer Flores and Mauricio Dubón will handle the playing time at second base.

Health care giant Kaiser Permanente has agreed to pay $11.5 million to settle claims going back 15 years that it illegally discriminated against thousands of Black employees — half of them in the Bay Area — by denying them equal pay and promotions. The 111-page settlement, which requires court approval, would resolve a class-action lawsuit claiming Kaiser’s alleged bias affected 2,225 Black workers in administrative support and consulting services in California. The deal announced Thursday by the plaintiffs’ law firm noted that Oakland-based Kaiser, a non-profit consortium with about 217,000 employees, denies wrongdoing. A White, female executive demoted Stewart while promoting an executive assistant to senior manager, the suit alleged. If the expert finds Black workers are underpaid, Kaiser would adjust compensation and pay back employees accordingly.

The company noted that it had previously removed videos from Crowder’s channel, and that in June 2019 it suspended his channel from running ads for a year. That sanction followed complaints from another media host that Crowder had targeted him for racist and homophobic abuse. Crowder was allowed to resume monetizing his videos via ads after he showed a record of complying with YouTube policies, the company said Tuesday. Louder with Crowder did not immediately respond to questions about the racist content on Tuesday’s show or the removal of the broadcast. Google banned Trump from YouTube indefinitely after the insurrection by his supporters.

The nation’s largest Asian grocery chain — 99 Ranch Market — will soon join Macy’s, Target and Century Theatres as an anchor tenant at South San Jose’s Westfield Oakridge Mall. This 99 Ranch will be the chain’s first location inside a mall and its first new-concept store in California. Even before the pandemic, Oakridge had announced plans to broaden its offerings with non-traditional mall tenants. The South San Jose grocery will be the 54th U.S. store in the Taiwanese-American chain. CEO Roger H. Chen founded 99 Ranch in Orange County in 1984, and the headquarters office remains there.

It’s been a strange year for everyone, and that includes Grace and H2 — the peregrine falcons who nest atop the 18-story tower at San Jose City Hall. But she and her mate, H2, tried again this month with better results: As of Thursday, she was keeping two eggs warm in the nest box. And the family drama has been better to watch than ever, thanks to a pair of new cameras installed in December by the City of San Jose, the Santa Cruz Predatory Bird Research Group and the Northern California-based Institute for Wildlife Studies. BIRTHDAY FOR THE BARD: Silicon Valley Shakespeare will mark William Shakespeare’s birthday — often celebrated April 23 — with “The ‘Dear Will’ Letters,” an online update of the show it premiered in 2008. San Jose filmmaker Christian Pizzirani recorded some of the scenes at Sanborn Park, a location familiar to Silicon Valley Shakespeare fans, while others will be performed live.

Many were long-standing Kaiser members and, aside from the vaccine rollout, had mostly positive opinions of the health system. And some longtime Kaiser members were disappointed by the lag. He then started checking Kaiser’s vaccine page every day for updates, but said none came for several days. This story was produced by KHN, which publishes California Healthline, an editorially independent service of the California Health Care Foundation. Kaiser Health News (KHN) is a national health policy news service.

Aquí hay 20 opciones sobre lugares dónde donar ropa y artículos usados en el área metropolitana de Phoenix:André HouseAndré House es un ministerio católico en Phoenix que brinda servicios individualizados a los necesitados. Acepta todo tipo de ropa: ?Disponible los fines de semana: ?Recolección disponible: ? (Solo para grandes donaciones). Se puede donar ropa y artículos para el hogar en la tienda de segunda mano de Assistance League en Chandler, que proporciona fondos para sus programas. El IRC acepta donaciones de ropa y otros artículos en sus oficinas en Glendale para abastecer su Tienda de Reasentamiento, donde las familias del IRC pueden “comprar” artículos gratis. Acepta todo tipo de ropa: ?Disponible los fines de semana: ?Recogida disponible: ?Traducción Alfredo García

The COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act cleared the chamber in a 94-1 vote Thursday. It would expedite the Justice Department's review of hate crimes and would designate an official at DOJ to oversee the effort. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., and Jerry Moran, R-Kan., would establish grants to aid local and state governments to encourage more training on hate crimes for law enforcement, establish hate crime hotlines and allow for a "rehabilitation" effort for perpetrators of hate crimes. For more than a year, reports of hate incidents against Asian Americans have climbed. Stop AAPI Hate, an advocacy group tracking hate incidents, said it had received nearly 3,800 reports of hate incidents across the country since March 2020, compared with roughly 100 incidents annually in previous years.

SportsbookWire StaffSportsbook WireSaturday's UFC 261 card is headlined by the welterweight title bout between Kamaru Usman and Jorge Masvidal. Below, we look at BetMGM's odds for the full UFC 261 Usman - Masvidal 2 fight card. UFC 261 odds: Main cardAll odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports' betting odds for a full list. Special UFC 261 betting promotion:Bet $1 on Kamaru Usman to win and WIN $100 (in free bets) if Usman defeats Jorge Masvidal during UFC 261. UFC 261 odds: PrelimsAlex Oliveira (+130) vs. Randy Brown (-150)Brown (12-4) is being given the edge over Oliveira (22-9-1, 2 NC) in a welterweight bout.

Typically, the NFL draft is a crapshoot in and of itself. The 2021 NFL draft, which begins next Thursday night, could be as risky as shooting dice over the phone. “You've got incomplete medical information on these guys, and nothing scares a general manager more than not having the medical to the point where you're scrambling.”More:Arizona Cardinals' NFL draft odds: Cornerback in first round of 2021 NFL draft? More:7-round NFL mock draft: Arizona Cardinals take quarterbackTo a lesser extent, it could also involve a consideration of trading up to draft a cornerback to ultimately replace eight-time Pro Bowl selection Patrick Peterson. “There’s no doubt that the number of players certainly affects this draft,” Keim said.

A new indoor COVID-19 vaccination site launched at Scottsdale's WestWorld exhibition center Thursday morning, getting Arizonans out of the summer heat as the widespread rollout continues. The Arizona Department of Health Services, Cigna and Scottsdale are among those partnering to operate the site. Location draws criticismArizona Department of Health Services Director Dr. Cara Christ said Thursday also marked the milestone of 2 million fully vaccinated Arizonans. "The vaccines are safe, they're effective, they're available and they're free, so we would recommend that all Arizonans go get vaccinated as soon as possible," she said. Doug Ducey said it was an ideal location given "freeway access, proximity to tribal communities, and extensive indoor facilities."

Even after hitting for Nick Ahmed twice in as many days, manager Torey Lovullo indicated that his struggling shortstop is not at risk of losing starts given the way his season has started. Just as he was on Wednesday night, Ahmed again was removed for a pinch-hitter late in the game. Still, Lovullo did not sound like he was ready to consider alternatives to Ahmed, even as his longtime shortstop sorts out his issues at the plate. Lovullo said the ball hit Crichton “square” on the palm of his hand. “I don’t have any information right now, but I do know that I made the decision to remove him from the game,” Lovullo said.

Arizona hung on in the bottom half to complete a three-game sweep that extended its winning streak to four. All of the Reds’ home run came from among the top four spots in the batting order. He hit a two-run homer in the fifth inning, had three singles and finished a double short of the cycle. Lucas Sims (0-1) struck out pinch-hitter Asdrùbal Cabrera to strand the potential go-ahead run on second base in the ninth. Reds: RHP Sonny Gray (0-0) takes the mound Friday at St. Louis.

The Mavericks plan for Luka Doncic and Kristaps Porzingis to be the star duo to lead the franchise’s next generation of championship contention. In a segment during the K&C Masterpiece Thursday on 105.3 The Fan [KRLD-FM], Cuban discussed Doncic and Porzingis’ relationship and their apparently restrained dynamic when playing together. Instead, he compared the roots of Doncic’s and Porzingis’ friendship to that of Dirk Nowitzki and Jason Terry. “If you remember, when we first got Jet, Dirk was not a fan,” Cuban said. “It took forever before Dirk and Jet did anything off the court together, a long time,” Cuban said on The Fan.

The 2021 NFL draft kicks off Thursday, April 29, with the first round in primetime. Whom will the Dallas Cowboys draft with the No. Now is your chance to play general manager for America’s Team and to win a set of game tickets for the 2021 season in the process. Enter The Dallas Morning News’ Cowboys NFL Draft Challenge below and correctly predict Dallas’ first-round selection to be entered into a raffle for two Cowboys game tickets. Find more Cowboys coverage from The Dallas Morning News here.

Six British actors are up for Oscars in 2021 for playing American characters. Riz Ahmed (“Sound of Metal”), Vanessa Kirby (“Pieces of a Woman”), Carey Mulligan (“Promising Young Woman”) and Gary Oldman (“Mank”) are nominated in the lead categories. Dominic West’s American accent was so iffy on Showtime’s “The Affair” that it seemed to vanish at random. Meanwhile, Americans have done bang-up accents playing British prime ministers on Netflix’s “The Crown.” John Lithgow was superb as Winston Churchill and Gillian Anderson just killed it as Margaret Thatcher. If the nominations were based on accents, perhaps only half this year’s British-as-American Oscar nominees would have made the cut.

It may be hard to believe that there are still many “firsts” left to check off after 93 years of the Academy Awards, and yet this year there were a handful for Asian actors and filmmakers. Steven Yeun (“Minari”) became the first Asian American actor to be nominated for best actor. It’s the first time that there are two best actor candidates of Asian heritage. They are fully complex human beings.”That hasn’t always been the case for Asian actors who have broken through to the Oscars. “I think Asian Americans and Asians in the Western diaspora tend to be seen as invisible and background.

The city of Southlake is once again helping residents dispose of sensitive documents. Through April 30, residents can bring paper that needs to be shredded to the Southlake Police Department as part of what the agency calls a “Super Shredder” event. If you have multiple boxes of stuff, we can unlock it and make the dumping easier (just email Valerie at Vvsnyder@cityofsouthlake.com to set that up),” according to the post. The event will last until April 30 or “the bins are full.” The city asked that no businesses participate. Residents who have multiple boxes of documents to shred can email vsnyder@cityofsouthlake.com to open the disposal box to make it easier to drop off the documents.

AUSTIN -- The Texas Senate passed a game-changer of a bill Thursday that would allow college athletes to benefit financially from their name, image and likeness (NIL) for the first time ever starting Sept. 1. The NCAA, college athletics’ governing body, has long prevented college athletes from earning compensation for their NIL all while cashing in on the multi-billion dollar industry for decades along with its member institutions, coaches and conferences alike. Now, Texas is striving to keep up with states including Florida, California and most recently Alabama that have already passed NIL bills. Additionally, it would prevent institutions from directly paying college athletes, but also prohibit athletes from entering contracts that conflict with any partners of the university. “(I am) Thrilled to hear Sen. Creighton’s bill passed the Senate with wide bi-partisan support,” Krause told The News.

The Dallas City Council elections are May 1; early voting has begun. For the second straight election cycle, the publisher of a small newspaper is challenging incumbent Adam McGough in the Dallas City Council District 10 race. Sirrano Keith Baldeo, publisher of Dallas Pulse News, says McGough doesn’t represent the majority of the district. Spring 2021 Election Candidates for Dallas City Council - District 10 Compare the candidates’ answers to our questions in our Voter Guide. McGough voted against a $7 million reduction in the police overtime budget, a controversial decision that has split the City Council.

DeSoto police arrested a man Wednesday evening during a racial justice march after police said he continuously shouted profanities at the police chief and protesters. The march followed the decision by a Minnesota jury to convict then-Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin of killing George Floyd. The march was organized by One DeSoto, a civic partnership between DeSoto’s public and private entities including the city, school district, DeSoto’s faith community and police and fire. Organizers said they hoped the DeSoto march would help bring the city together. Police arrested 36-year-old Charles Dominguez he repeatedly disrupted the event and shouted at Chief Joe Costa and others, Cpl.

The Colorado Judicial Department will pay $350,000 for a comprehensive investigation into sweeping allegations of a hostile work environment and misconduct at the highest levels levied by its former chief of staff. The Post has also reported on allegations the department fosters a hostile workplace toward women. The contract pays $250,000 for the workplace environment inquiry and $100,000 for the investigation into the Masias contract. The inquiry stems from 2019 Denver Post articles that revealed Masias was given the contract though she faced termination over financial irregularities. A separate fraud investigation by Auditor Dianne Ray began in February when Boatright made the memo public following The Post’s stories.

A Colorado mother who is accused of murdering her 7-year-old daughter by pretending the girl was terminally ill now faces new charges of violating a protection order, according to court records. A protection order on the case prohibits such contact. Turner is being held in jail while she awaits trial on a first-degree murder charge in the 2017 death of her daughter, Olivia Gant. Turner convinced numerous doctors to treat Olivia, and the girl died in hospice care after Turner had her feeding tube removed. When questioned, Turner said she’d been writing a weekly letter and talking to the girl twice a week for a year, despite the protection order.

A conservation easement is a set of restrictions voluntarily placed on a property by a landowner to protect conservation values. He is now the conservation easement contractor for the QF. If a landowner wants to clear an area, Sittig will come and check the trees. “With this contribution, the Land Conservation Trust of Southern Illinois has fulfilled its purpose,” stated John Rhine, the Trust’s attorney. Those familiar with Mazonia State Fish and Wildlife Area in Will County have an idea what some of the landscape looks like.

Shots were fired during a chase involving Chicago police on the Eisenhower Expressway during the Thursday evening rush. Few details were released about the shooting, which happened about 4:15 p.m. during a police chase near Mannheim Road, according to Illinois State Police Trooper Kyle Barrett. It was unclear if police fired shots or if anyone was hit, he said. Chicago police spokesman Tom Ahern also could not provide details, beyond confirming there was police activity in the area. Illinois State Police said they shut down all eastbound lanes of I-290 at Mannheim Road about 4:35 p.m. for the investigation.

Cedarburg's Strawberry Festival has been canceled for the second straight year. Members of the Festivals of Cedarburg Board cited Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines and coronavirus trends as reasons for the cancellation, according to a Festivals of Cedarburg Facebook post. The board discussed postponing the event "but decided that was not feasible." "We are now focusing our efforts on Wine & Harvest Festival, September 18-19 at this point," said the Festivals of Cedarburg in a post to Facebook. The popular event, which draws thousands to downtown Cedarburg, is the latest festival to fall victim to the pandemic for the second straight year.

Arresting them and locking them up was — and still is — a huge waste of resources and human potential. Law enforcement consistently over-prioritizes arresting people for drug possession at the expense of other police work, to the point where many serious crimes go unsolved. One of the best ways to ensure that law enforcement agencies stay focused on the most serious priorities is to change low-level drug possession laws. That is why I support Illinois House Bill 3447, which would reduce many drug possession offenses from a Class 4 felony to a misdemeanor. Those convicted of misdemeanor drug possession won’t face counterproductive barriers to voting, finding a job, attending college and more.

A Midwest summertime staple, Six Flags Great America, is planning to open for the 2021 season on April 24. The reservation system helps the park "meet social distancing guidelines," ensure the health and safety of guests and control the flow of people at the front gate, according to Six Flags Great America's website. COVID-19 safety measuresAccording to the Six Flags 2021 Health & Safety Policy, attendees will undergo a "non-invasive" temperature check prior to entering the park. Six Flags cannot guarantee that guests will not be exposed to the coronavirus during their visit, the policy said. Six Flags members and Great America season passholders will still get free admission to Hurricane Harbor Chicago, Six Flags Great America, Hurricane Harbor Rockford and more, the news release said.

A formal letter of support is available for downloading. Pfleger, the longtime pastor at St. Sabina known for his activism against gun violence, was accused in January of sexually abusing two brothers over 40 years ago. “But there are ways to support someone like Father Pfleger that don’t intimidate witnesses and victims into silence. “They’re trying to show vocal support for a man.,” he added. “We’ve always showed vocal support for their communities.

The 42-year-old Elizabeth City, North Carolina, man was shot to death Wednesday by a deputy sheriff trying to serve a search warrant. The deputy, who has not been identified, has been put on leave pending a state investigation. And he had good dimples,” Thomas said in an interview Thursday, a day after her nephew was killed. With his own troubles with drugs and the law, Brown had trouble keeping a job, Thomas said. While the deputy was wearing an active body camera, it has yet to be released.

Crews battle a house fire Thursday, April 22, 2021, on the 2000 block of Las Verdes Street in Las Vegas. (Las Vegas Review-Journal)Crews battle a house fire Thursday, April 22, 2021, on the 2000 block of Las Verdes Street in Las Vegas. (Las Vegas Review-Journal)Crews battle a house fire Thursday, April 22, 2021, on the 2000 block of Las Verdes Street in Las Vegas. (Las Vegas Review-Journal)Crews battle a house fire Thursday, April 22, 2021, on the 2000 block of Las Verdes Street in Las Vegas. (Las Vegas Review-Journal)Six people were displaced after a house fire Thursday afternoon in central Las Vegas.

LONDON — British lawmakers on Thursday approved a parliamentary motion declaring that China’s policies against its Uyghur minority population in the far western Xinjiang region amounted to genocide and crimes against humanity. But it is another move signaling the growing outcry among U.K. politicians over alleged human rights abuses in China. The motion was moved by Conservative lawmaker Nus Ghani, one of five British lawmakers recently sanctioned by China for criticizing its treatment of the Uyghurs. Prime Minister Boris Johnson has faced increasing pressure from within his own Conservative government to take a tougher stance against Beijing over human rights abuses. British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said the measures were part of “intensive diplomacy” to force action amid mounting evidence about serious rights abuses against the Uyghur Muslim people.

A separate surtax on investment income could boost the overall federal tax rate for wealthy investors as high as 43.3%, the report said, citing unnamed people familiar with the proposal. The S&P 500 fell 0.9%, wiping out an early gain. The selling was widespread, with every sector in the S&P 500 closing lower. The S&P 500, which set a record high on Friday, started the week with a two-day slide before closing higher Wednesday. Washington aside, investors are focusing on earnings as the bulk of companies in the S&P 500 spend the next few weeks reporting their financial results.

— Consumer Reports said Thursday it was able to easily trick a Tesla into driving in the car’s Autopilot mode with no one at the wheel. Its test came just days after a Tesla crashed in Texas, killing the two men in the car. Authorities say neither of the men were in the driver’s seat at the time of the crash. Consumer Reports said that during several trips on its closed tracks with an empty driver’s seat, its Tesla Model Y automatically steered along painted lane lines without acknowledging that nobody was at the controls. In the Consumer Reports test, Fisher said he engaged Autopilot while the car was in motion on the track, then set the speed dial to zero to stop it.

Speed and impairment were not believed to be a factor, police said. Henderson Police Department (Las Vegas Review-Journal)One person was injured after a two-vehicle crash Thursday afternoon in Henderson. The crash occurred just before 1:20 p.m. near Whitney Mesa Drive and Mountain Vista Street, according to a release from the Henderson Police Department. The injured person was taken to a local hospital. The Henderson Fire Department also responded.

In a 9-0 ruling Thursday, the nation’s high court sided with AMG Capital Management, a high-interest, short-term loan company, in its case against the FTC. The federal agency had successfully sued AMG for deceptive practices and won $1.27 billion in restitution for consumers. AMG filed suit, arguing that the 1973 law governing the FTC didn’t explicitly spell out that the agency has the authority to mandate refunds. That was even though the FTC has, for decades, used the courts to force companies that defraud consumers to pay them back. The AMG case was similar to an Illinois case involving Credit Bureau Center.

A Southwest plane takes off from McCarran International Airport on Tuesday, March 31, 2020, in Las Vegas. McCarran’s projections are for 1.5 million seats in June, 1.7 million seats in July and 1.8 million seats in August. The company is in the midst of adding 17 new airport destinations, including Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport, Sarasota Bradenton International Airport in Florida, Colorado Springs Municipal Airport, Savannah-Hilton Head International Airport in South Carolina, Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport, Bellingham, Washington International Airport, Eugene Airport in Oregon and Santa Barbara Airport in California. Among the new destinations coming up are Fresno Yosemite International Airport in California beginning Monday, Myrtle Beach International Airport on May 23 and Jackson-Medgar Wiley Evers International Airport in Mississippi and Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport in Montana starting June 6. But, because many companies have re-examined business travel in the COVID-19 era and others have substituted technology and communicating online to in-person meetings, Kelly fears there could be a decline in business travel.

“It’s just, unfortunately for us, we’ve just had a number of injuries throughout this season, and going down the stretch with 12, 13 games remaining, we need bodies,” Hawks coach Nate McMillan said. “We’re really limited with the bodies that we have. I think these guys are giving us all that they have. You’re playing a very tight schedule where games are every other day. But a lot of other teams are having to deal with this.

The shooting took place in the eastbound lanes near Mannheim Road about 4:15 p.m., Illinois State Police Trooper Kyle Barrett said. It was not clear if anyone was shot.

A typographical error in a betting line on a Cleveland Browns-Kansas City Chiefs game in January led to a $10,500 windfall for nine eagle-eyed bettors. It involved the Jan. 17 game, specifically a so-called proposition or “player prop” bet on the game performance of the two quarterbacks, Cleveland's Baker Mayfield and Kansas City's Patrick Mahomes. Five customers of BetMGM pounced on it, as did four on Borgata Online before the odds were corrected. FanDuel initially sought to void the bets, but then changed course and agreed to pay them, according to state documents. New Jersey regulators also ordered FanDuel last August to honor 11 soccer bets that were based on erroneous betting lines.

The NCAA playing rules oversight panel on Thursday approved a proposal made last month by the playing rules committee to tweak the overtime format. National coordinator of officials Steve Shaw said in March overtime games add an average of 16.4 plays to a contest. The new rule will have teams run alternating 2-point plays in the third overtime instead of starting another drive at the opponent's 25-yard line. The playing rules panel also approved recommendations to permanently extend the sideline team area to the 20-yard lines from the 25-yard lines. The playing rules panel also said in 2021 officials will be told to emphasize rules against players taunting an opponent, flagrant uniform violations, and coaches coming onto the field to argue officiating decisions.

A look at the latest from the construction site of the Islanders' future home, UBS Arena at Belmont Park. Tim Leiweke, partner of the UBS Arena, is shown at the construction site of the UBS Arena April 22, 2021. Construction of the UBS Arena, currently under construction, on the grounds of Belmont Park, in Elmont, Friday, Feb. 5, 2021. An aerial view of construction of UBS Arena, the Islanders' new home arena at Belmont Park, in November 2021. An aerial view of construction of UBS Arena, the Islanders' new home arena at Belmont Park.

Newsday transportation reporter Alfonso Castillo talks about how bus travel has been affected by the pandemic — and it's better than most Long Islanders would have thought. Credit: Barry Sloan

“It’s not lost on me that this does look fishy, it’s not lost on me that this has shaken confidence, it is something I personally am concerned about, have been concerned about from the beginning, and we want to make sure that we are public with what happened here and how we make sure this doesn’t happen again,” she said.

Job hunters can improve the odds of getting their resumes on top of the pile by using bullet points and injecting the "wow factor," panelists said in a Newsday Live program. "The how factor is the wow factor," she said. Themistocleous-Frey also suggested that candidates highlight their core competencies as bullet points below the opening summary on their resume. Themistocleous-Frey said that skilled job candidates may land a job even if they lack certifications or specialized degrees specified in a posting. "Resume writing is not a solitary event," said Arnold, who suggested finding someone to provide feedback on the document.

“All of those laws … have never once impacted a puppy mill,” Ald. Raymond Lopez, 15th, said at a hearing this month. “What we (need to) do is have an aggressive pet sourcing policy that will work for everyone who brings an animal into this city, whether it is to be adopted out (from a rescue) or sold in a store. That is what we have oversight over.”

In a first-of-its-kind partnership in New York State, the Suffolk County Water Authority will begin providing data identifying the source of contaminants in the water supply to the Suffolk District Attorney's Office for potential investigations and prosecution, officials announced Thursday. The water authority would also map and model Suffolk's flow of groundwater to identify any sources of pollution, officials said. "We have a sole-source aquifer here in Suffolk County," Suffolk District Attorney Timothy Sini said at a news conference in Hauppauge. What to know The Suffolk County Water Authority will provide groundwater data to help the district's attorney's office investigate environmental crimes. "The Suffolk County Water Authority is now part of our environmental crimes team," Sini said.

CLEVELAND – Focusing on Gleyber Torres not running out a check-swing chopper to the mound with the way the Yankees’ offense is performing is like focusing on the deck chair arrangement on the Titanic after it hit an iceberg. "I didn’t see the ball really well and I feel like I started running late. But I feel like I can put a little more effort in running to first base." Subscribe to Newsday’s sports newsletter Receive stories, photos and videos about your favorite New York teams plus national sports news and events. The Yankees are also last in the AL in batting average (.205) and OPS (.630).

Amid recent Catholic school closures, the Diocese of Rockville Centre is planning to offer a new school on two campuses for dual-language immersion and look, in part, to attract Hispanic families. Cyril and Methodius School building in Deer Park, which will become known as Our Lady of Guadalupe West. The other school, Our Lady of Providence Regional School in Central Islip, will become Our Lady of Guadalupe East. The middle school will go into effect this September, with the Central Islip school students in grades five through eight transferring over. The school will have new leadership, new governance and serve "a pilot for a new approach to Catholic elementary school education."

Vikings running back Dalvin Cook is looking into switching his jersey No. 4 he once wore at Miami Central High School and at Florida State, a source said Thursday. A new NFL rule, which passed Wednesday, allows for more players, including running backs, to now wear single-digit numbers. Two notable Vikings players wrote on Twitter that they won’t go back to wearing a single-digit number after they had done so in college. 3 he wore at Mississippi State, wrote Thursday that he will stick with No.

The GOP’s slimmer infrastructure plan received a positive reception from the White House, with press secretary Jen Psaki characterizing it as a legitimate starting point for negotiations. Republican lawmakers have been quick to criticize the infrastructure proposal from Biden. The senators delivered their blueprint to the White House about 30 minutes prior to holding a press conference on it. “Any infrastructure proposal has to be green and cannot be paid for on the backs of working people,” Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y. said. White House officials declined to confirm the precise numbers, but they emphasized that taxes would not increase for anyone making under $400,000.

The entire world faces “a moment of peril” but also “a moment of opportunity,” Biden declared, speaking from a TV-style chrome-blue set for the virtual summit of 40 world leaders. The cost of inaction keeps mounting.”Biden’s new U.S. commitment, timed to the summit, would cut America’s fossil fuel emissions as much as 52% by 2030. But the summit also marshaled an impressive display of the world’s most powerful leaders speaking on the single issue of climate change. The pandemic made gathering world leaders for the climate summit too risky. The format meant a cavalcade of short speeches by world leaders, some scripted, some not.

More than 5,500 homes in Babylon, Brookhaven and Islip Towns would be connected to sewers after escalating costs jeopardized the future of the Carlls River and Forge River sewer projects, said deputy Suffolk County Executive and water czar Peter Scully. Those projects were expected to cost $388 million, and the county had secured that funding largely through federal grants, Scully said. But estimates rose to an expected $405 million after the county received bid proposals, which threatened the projects' future, he said. The county is expected to fill the funding gap after Congress passed the $1.9-trillion American Rescue Plan, which allocated $283 million in federal funding to Suffolk, officials said. County officials said they are lobbying for more federal funding to complete planned sewer projects in Patchogue and Oakdale.

Without the comments in writing, they were not included in the public record. “Those concerns could have real, on-the-ground impact for downstream communities from this mining project.”The EPA’s Office of Inspector General began its audit into the issue in June 2019 after receiving a hotline complaint. It’s one of three inquiries into the handling of the comments on the permit. In a statement, the Fond du Lac Band said it was “pleased” with the release of the report and its findings. “The band believes that the NPDES permit violates the Clean Water Act and the report confirms that EPA did not follow its normal process during review of PolyMet’s NPDES permit and many of EPA’s concerns remained unresolved at the time of permit issuance,” the band said.

As part of that response, state officials introduced a new program to make it easier for students to get tested every two weeks, including being tested in school. HOSPITALS SEE INCREASES, YOUNGER PATIENTSThe number of COVID-19 patients in hospitals has increased to 683, including 196 requiring intensive care. And it’s now making up more than 60 percent of Minnesota cases. in such cases, officials emphasized, parental consent is needed. In related news, health officials on Friday announced that players on the field during outdoor sports no longer need to wear masks.

Even though he was found guilty of three counts, under Minnesota statutes he’ll only be sentenced on the most serious one — second-degree murder. Likewise, if Chauvin’s second-degree murder count is ultimately dismissed, he would be brought back to court for resentencing on the top remaining charge. If Judge Peter Cahill were to sentence Chauvin to anything above that, he risks having his decision reversed on appeal. No matter what sentence Chauvin gets, in Minnesota it’s presumed that a defendant with good behavior will serve two-thirds of the penalty in prison and the rest on supervised release or parole. Both sides are writing legal briefs on aggravating factors, which Cahill will review before determining whether they exist.

The judiciary committee advanced a bill earlier this month to legalize recreational marijuana. It calls for 55% of marijuana revenue to go to communities that have been most impacted by the war on drugs and about 15% of the money to go toward substance abuse prevention and recovery efforts.

Oregon reported nearly 1,000 new coronavirus cases for a second day in a row Thursday, with average daily case counts at their highest levels since January. Oregon is now averaging about 750 daily cases over the past week while the number of people hospitalized with confirmed COVID-19 is approaching 300. Modeling released Thursday by Oregon Health & Science University projects cases will peak May 4, with a daily average of 1,326 for that week. Vaccines: Oregon reported 48,387 newly administered doses, which includes 28,535 Wednesday and the remainder from previous days. Hospitalizations: 283 people with confirmed cases of COVID-19 are hospitalized, up 11 from Wednesday.

Violinist-looper and vocalist Joe Kye blends indie-rock, jazz, classical, pop, and world folk to create a unique sound. You can watch the show on YouTube or FacebookLive. Born in Korea and raised in Seattle, Kye has drawn rave reviews since launching his music career in 2013. With his innovative use of digital effects and looping, Kye weaves together diverse textures, catchy melodies, and rich, sweet vocals to create songs that groove, uplift, and empower listeners. Kye is also making children’s music as part of Mike Bennett’s “A, B, Sea” project.

BANDON — Multiple have died in a vehicle crash on U.S. Highway 101 on the Oregon coast, authorities said. At 8 a.m. Thursday, people started calling 911 to report someone driving dangerously in a red Mitsubishi eclipse with a California license plate, the Coos County Sheriff’s Office said. The car was involved in a crash at about 8:17 a.m. on the highway that resulted in multiple fatalities, according to the sheriff’s office. No further information about the crash was immediately released. Anyone with information that may help authorities piece together what happened before the crash is asked to call the Coos County Sheriff’s Office.

EUGENE — Anthony Brown opened spring practice ahead of Oregon’s three freshmen quarterbacks and entering the second spring scrimmage he remains there. The freshmen continue to split time with the second-team offense with Brown working with the starters. “They’re still getting their even reps and I think their performances merit that,” Cristobal said. “He’s a guy who’s extremely intelligent and has a lot of ability as a thrower and as a runner. That whole offense, we respect (Brown) enough knowing that he’s going to lead us in the right direction.

Ben Golliver of the Washington Post joined me on Thursday for an in-depth discussion about the NBA — and a book he’s written about the most unusual season in league history. Golliver’s new book — Bubbleball — focuses on life inside the NBA’s successful bubble last season. He talked about the food, the stringent security protocols and seeing players and NBA as he’s never seen them before. His book is a fun and fascinating read. Listen to the full interview with Golliver here:

EUGENE — Oregon’s defense has emphasized turnovers during spring practice and on Thursday they materialized. “Hats off to the defense — they brought it today,” Oregon coach Mario Cristobal said after the team’s tenth spring practice. Creating more turnovers is among the major agenda items for new defensive coordinator Tim DeRuyter, and not only because it always is on defense. Today was a day where it really, really popped. Today they were extremely active in terms of communication, getting around the football and getting multiple hats to the ball.

Because of their strong battlefield position and the imminent U.S. troop withdrawal, the Taliban have maintained the upper hand in talks with the Afghan government, which began in September in Doha, Qatar, but have since stalled. The Pentagon has said the militants have not honored pledges to reduce violence or cut ties with terrorist groups.

An Oregon woman in her 50s has become the first known person in the state to have died after receiving Johnson & Johnson’s one-dose COVID-19 vaccine and suffering blood clots, the Oregon Health Authority reported Thursday. The woman died after having been vaccinated at some point before federal officials called for a nationwide pause April 13 to give medical experts time to study half a dozen cases of other Johnson & Johnson vaccine recipients who experienced life-threatening blood clots. The health authority is investigating whether her death was directly caused by the vaccine or there is no link. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention learned Sunday of the woman’s death and officials at the Oregon Health Authority were notified Tuesday, according to state officials. The Oregon Health Authority will hold a news conference at 4 p.m. to share more details about the Oregon woman’s case.

In February, the civilian review board was searching to fill various vacant positions, including a new chair and additional members and alternates. Hartford planned to have a permanent inspector by the time new reforms to the board took effect at the end of March, after the position was initially proposed over the summer in light of the Black Lives Matter protests over the deaths of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor at the hands of police.

“It’s been really different from other years. We were in, then we were out. You couldn’t really get in a groove and make connections. ... It’s not like you’re seeing all the kids you’ve seen all the other years of your life,” he explained. “It’s really cool to see that they’re doing this now, and they’re trying to make sure when we go full-time with everyone, there’s a safer environment.”

As of Thursday, Lamont said, 60% of all Connecticut residents 16 and older had received at least one vaccine dose, leaving the state in the top five nationally in that category. Lamont said he hopes at least 70% of the state will be vaccinated “in the near term,” giving Connecticut a chance at herd immunity this summer.

A Butler County grand jury has indicted three teens on murder charges in relation to a fatal shooting of a Middletown woman in January. Timathy Mychael Rhodus, 17, is charged with one count of murder, four counts of felonious assault, and one count of improperly discharging a firearm at or into a habitation. Karlos Chase Philpot, 18, has been indicted for murder, two counts of aggravated robbery, four counts of felonious assault and improperly discharging a firearm into a habitation. Rhodus and Shepherd II are set to appear in court on Tuesday. Rhodus is being held on a $2 million bond and Shepherd II had his bond set at $1,250,000.

The man who consoled a young Cincinnati Reds fan at Great American Ball Park after losing his nachos and failing to come up with Eugenio Suárez's sixth-inning home run ball Thursday afternoon was embraced by many Twitter users who watched the video, and one of them - the wife of Reds relief pitcher Lucas Sims - offered him a ball for his valiant though likely painful effort. From Dani Sims via Twitter (retweeted by the Reds' official account):From @Cut4:Several media outlets poked fun at the so-called "nacho man" in sharing the video. But with any luck, something better than the Reds' 14-11 loss in 10 innings will come from the man's pursuit of the ball and attempt to make the young fan's day. LOVE SPORTS? [ Subscribe now for unlimited access to Cincinnati.com ]

Washington — The Bryce Harlow Foundation honored Michigan U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow at its annual awards ceremony, which was virtual due to the pandemic. Stabenow, who has served in the Senate since 2000 and chairs the Senate Agriculture Committee, received the Bryce Harlow Award, which the foundation said honors an elected official "whose career is built on championing principles of integrity, dedication and professionalism." In a tribute video, General Motors Chairwoman Mary Barra said Stabenow embodies what it means to be a public servant. Republican Sen. Roy Blunt of Missouri, who has partnered with Stabenow on healthcare legislation, called her "relentless." The Bryce Harlow Foundation promotes the lobbying and government advocacy industry.

Meadow Brook Hall debuts new guided tourJust in time for spring, Meadow Brook Hall in Rochester is launching a new guided tour. The tour will join two others -- a self-guided tour and a Behind-the-Scenes Guided Tour, which returns Saturday. Meadow Brook's two playhouses, Knole Cottage and Danny's Cabin, will also be open on Saturday. Now she has a new dinner collection with Williams Sonoma. Made of embossed stoneware, the Gwendolyn Dinnerware Collection includes salad plates, dinner plates, chargers and bowls.

A typographical error in a betting line on a Cleveland Browns-Kansas City Chiefs game in January led to a $10,500 windfall for nine eagle-eyed bettors. It involved the Jan. 17 game, specifically a so-called proposition or “player prop” bet on the game performance of the two quarterbacks, Cleveland's Baker Mayfield and Kansas City's Patrick Mahomes. Five customers of BetMGM pounced on it, as did four on Borgata Online before the odds were corrected. FanDuel initially sought to void the bets, but then changed course and agreed to pay them, according to state documents. New Jersey regulators also ordered FanDuel last August to honor 11 soccer bets that were based on erroneous betting lines.

Graham DunbarAssociated PressGeneva — Athletes who make political or social justice protests at the Tokyo Olympics were promised legal support Thursday by a global union and an activist group in Germany. The Olympic body’s legal commission should clarify what kind of punishment before this year's games, which open on July 23. The IOC’s athletes’ commission cited support to uphold Rule 50 of the Olympic Charter from more than two-thirds of about 3,500 replies from consulting athlete groups. In a statement, another athlete group, Global Athlete, encouraged athletes to “not allow outdated ‘sports rules’ to supersede your basic human rights.” It said the survey's methods were flawed. And the USOPC's athletes' group also put out a statement saying it was disappointed to see no “meaningful or impactful change to” Rule 50.

Washington — The Census Bureau is expected to soon confirm what has been forecast for years — that Michigan is poised to lose another seat in Congress due to population decline, going from 14 to 13 seats in the U.S. House. The loss of a House seat for Michigan would also mean one less Electoral College vote for the state in presidential elections, going from 16 to 15 votes. That projection is based on the July 2020 population estimate from the Census Bureau for Michigan at 9.9 million, which was released in December. "It doesn’t look like Michigan is close to potentially keeping the seat," said Kimball Brace, president of the Election Data Services firm in Virginia, which analyzes the Census data. It's unclear which Michigan district will be dissolved but after each of the 2000 and 2010 censuses, the House seats lost were in Southeast Michigan, forcing political battles each time in a new consolidated district.

A 21-year-old Detroit has been charged in connection with the fatal shooting of a Warren woman, the Wayne County Prosecutor's Office said Thursday. He is the fourth person to be charged in the Feb. 22 slaying of the 17-year-old victim. The others are Jarvis Nathaniel ?Fisher II, 18; Patrick White, 17, and Jayshun White, 18, all of Detroit. Fisher was charged March 1 with felony murder, two counts of assault with intent to murder, assault with intent to rob while armed, carrying a concealed weapon and four counts of felony firearm. Patrick White and Jayshun White were charged March 4 with two counts of felony murder, two counts of assault with intent to murder, assault with intent to commit armed robbery and four counts of felony firearm.

A Detroit gas station clerk has been charged with fondling a 13-year-old girl who came into the business with her young brother to buy some snacks. The 38-year-old clerk is accused of groping her while asking the child to dance about 7 p.m. Sunday at the gas station on East Seven Mile and Hayes. Police arrested the clerk after the girl and her brother reported the alleged groping to her mother. The family of the girl has retained Southfield-based attorney Johnny Hawkins to possibly pursue a civil suit. Hawkins said there is video footage from inside the gas station of the alleged incident.

A Stellantis NV employee died this week while on the job at the Sterling Stamping Plant in Sterling Heights, the transatlantic automaker confirmed Thursday. In a Facebook post, Local 1264 identified the individual as a third-shift crane operator. "Stellantis confirms that there was a workplace accident at the Sterling Stamping Plant on April 21, resulting in the death of one of our employees," spokeswoman Jodi Tinson said in a statement. On behalf of all UAW members and UAW Stellantis members, our hearts go out to the family of our deceased Brother.”The incident comes ahead of Workers Memorial Day on Wednesday. "Everyday our UAW members kiss their families goodbye and head to work proud of their craft and with hopes for their future.

But the Tigers didn’t do much to create their own misfortune, squandering another strong, seven-inning performance from starter Jose Urena, a much-needed productive day from center fielder JaCoby Jones and good chance to win a home series. And it looked like he was going to put the Tigers ahead with a single in the bottom of the seventh. He should have scored easily on Jones’ single to center, but he got a bad read on the ball and pulled in to third. Jose Cisnero sandwiched a Frazier single around two outs and Hinch went to lefty Gregory Soto to face the Nos. More: Works in progress: First full season a 'learning process' for Tigers' Mize, Skubal“It’s baseball,” Hinch said.

Opponents of a plan to move the Royal Oak Veterans Memorial inside a burgeoning downtown park believe they have gathered enough signatures to stop the relocation, but a city attorney said Thursday their petitions are under review. Citizens, including veterans who circulated petitions, calculated they needed 665 verified signatures to put the proposal before the city commission for a vote. Through an assistant, city clerk Melanie Halas referred questions from The Detroit News to the city attorney. “The city clerk has 45 days to review the petition signatures and also any question of whether there is sufficiency under state election laws.”McLaughlin declined to elaborate on what problems might exist with the petitions, submitted to the city clerk on April 6. Critics also want the city to refund $180,000 raised by citizens to move the memorial to its current site in 2007.

More than 526,000 coronavirus vaccine doses were given across Massachusetts during the past week, down a bit from the previous week’s record as close to 100,000 shots were administered in the most recent day of data. Nearly 5.4 million total doses of vaccine have been administered since the start of the state’s rollout, and 2,180,197 people are fully vaccinated, according to the daily vaccine report Thursday. The state’s weekly vaccine report showed that 526,662 total doses have been administered since last week — a dip of 46,707 doses from the prior week’s record high mark of 573,369 shots. The previous daily vaccinations were 93,385 shots, 79,162 shots, 50,856 shots, 69,990 shots, 88,032 shots, 86,934 shots and 95,048 shots. Statewide hospitalizations have also been dropping amid the state’s vaccine rollout but have fluctuated recently.

'Minari' wins another award en route to Sunday's OscarsOne of the behind-the-scenes stars of Oklahoma's burgeoning film industry has won an award for his work on Oscar contender "Minari." "Minari," which filmed in Tulsa in 2019, received the Artios Award for best casting on a low-budget comedy or drama. El Reno launches film and TV commissionWith Oklahoma's film and television industry growing, the number of productions coming to El Reno has been steadily increasing in the last few years. So, the City of El Reno has decided to create the El Reno TV & Film Commission to help El Reno move to the next level of TV and Film production. The ultimate goal of El Reno TV & Film Commission for the community is an increased retention of local production per project to maximize local economic impact, according to a news release.

Spain’s National Court investigated Ghali in 2008 and then again in 2016 for possible genocide and other crimes as a result of allegations brought against him by a dissident Sahrawi group. But that probe was closed and Spain has no pending cases against Ghali, a police spokesman who was not authorized to be quoted by name told The Associated Press. In one of Ghali’s last public appearances, at the end of February, he visited a refugee camp in the southwest of Algeria that is home to Polisario fighters and Sahrawis to mark the 45th anniversary of the declaration of the Sahrawi republic. In a speech, Ghali called on the new U.S. administration of Joe Biden to find an “urgent democratic solution to the Moroccan-Saharan conflict” to allow people from the Western Sahara “to enjoy their inalienable right of freedom and independence.”Former U.S. President Donald Trump's administration announced last year that it would open a consulate in Western Sahara following the decision to recognize Morocco’s sovereignty over the region. The disputed territory was central to a deal announced by Trump before leaving office to establish diplomatic ties between Morocco and Israel.

Video: Aaliyaha Tucker, friend of Ma'Khia Bryant speaks out about her personalityVideo: Aaliyaha Tucker, friend of Ma'Khia Bryant speaks out about her personality. Bryant was killed Tuesday by a Columbus Police Officer

COLUMBUS – Proposed changes to Ohio election law would eliminate voting on the day before Election Day, limit drop boxes and allow voters to request absentee ballots online. "It's something that Ohio voters want.”The proposal includes two priorities from LaRose, including creating a way to request absentee ballots online. Allowing the Ohio secretary of state to pay for postage to mail absentee ballot request forms to all registered voters. Requiring absentee ballot voters to use drivers' licenses and state identification cards as forms of identification first. That version would have required more forms of identification for in-person early voting and limited drop boxes to statewide emergencies.

Asa Hutchinson announced plans Thursday to call a special session this fall for lawmakers to consider new income tax cut proposals. The Republican governor said he planned to call the special session when lawmakers return to the Capitol this fall anyway to take up congressional redistricting. Hutchinson made the announcement as lawmakers near the end of this year's session, with final votes in the coming days on the state's proposed $5.8 billion budget. Legislative leaders plan to recess the session on Tuesday but return in the fall once the U.S. Census Bureau releases redistricting data. Hutchinson did not propose a specific reduction and said he would work with lawmakers in the coming months on a proposal.

"Aborting a child because there’s a genetic abnormality is not health care. You are euthanizing a child that has a genetic abnormality. It’s euthanasia, it’s not health care.”Republican Sen. Paul Boyer of Glendale made a blunt but similar argument. Democrats call that “personhood” provision a backdoor way to allow criminal charges against a woman who has an abortion. That GOP-backed amendment also clarified that the “personhood" provision does not ban in-vitro fertilization.

John Bel Edwards indicated Thursday that he will use his veto pen to strike down a bill that would remove the requirement that gun owners have a permit to carry concealed firearms, if the proposal reaches his desk. The Democratic governor defended the current permitting process as appropriate to require several hours of training on safety and marksmanship and to provide gun owners with information about how they should interact with police if they carry a concealed weapon. And I feel very strongly about that. I also feel very strongly that a considerable majority of the people in Louisiana support the system we currently have,” Edwards said when asked about the proposal. Sen. Jay Morris, a Monroe Republican, wants to allow anyone 21 years or older in Louisiana — if the person isn’t barred from having a firearm because of a violent crime conviction or some other legal prohibition — to carry a concealed handgun.

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Two of the nation's largest university systems say they intend to require COVID-19 vaccinations for all students, faculty and staff on University of California and California State University campuses this fall. Several U.S. colleges and universities also have said they plan to require the vaccination. But Thursday’s joint announcement from the 10-campus University of California and the 23-campus California State University is the largest of its kind in American higher education. The CSU system in the nation's biggest four-year college system, with about 485,000 students and tens of thousands of staff, while the UC system has more than 280,000 students. Stanford University also announced a mandate Thursday requiring all of its 19,000 students to be vaccinated when classes start in the fall.

“I think we need to be honest with ourselves,” said Sen. Kelly Townsend, a Mesa Republican. "Aborting a child because there’s a genetic abnormality is not health care. You are euthanizing a child that has a genetic abnormality. It’s euthanasia, it’s not health care.”Republican Sen. Paul Boyer of Glendale made a blunt but similar argument. Democrats call that “personhood” provision a backdoor way to allow criminal charges against a woman who has an abortion.

With virtually no predators, the islands are a haven for many species of seabirds, and Midway Atoll is home to the largest colony of albatross in the world. There, the land is littered with carcasses of birds that have ingested plastics and died. The cleanup was organized by the nonprofit Papahanaumokuakea Marine Debris Project, which partners with the state of Hawaii and federal agencies, including the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the U.S. Kevin O’Brien, president of the new organization and a former NOAA employee, said the work is expensive but important. “Talking to some of these folks that are up there for the monk seal camps every summer, they’ll talk about specific nets that have been there for several years,” O’Brien said.

PHOENIX (AP) — Two death-row prisoners have asked the Arizona Supreme Court to hold off on scheduling litigation over warrants that would trigger the state’s first executions in almost seven years. In court filings Tuesday, lawyers for Clarence Dixon and Frank Atwood said the pandemic has made it hard for them to prepare defenses for their clients due to a ban on visits inside state prisons over the last year. Dixon’s attorneys asked that the legal briefings on death warrants be postponed until at least September. Atwood’s lawyers, who didn’t specify a postponement date, asked the court to reject the litigation schedule proposed by Attorney General Mark Brnovich’s office, arguing the plan made by prosecutors would bar the “presentation of evidence of Mr. Atwood’s innocence.”“In the absence of visitation with his legal team or necessary experts, Mr. Dixon cannot prepare for, or meaningfully access, the clemency proceedings the state affords him,” wrote Cary Sandman, one of Dixon’s attorneys. Earlier this month, Brnovich’s office told the state’s highest court that it intended on soon seeking execution warrants for Dixon and Atwood.

More than 100 new Boeing 737 Max jetliners remain grounded by problems with an electrical issue in some components, and airlines are waiting for Boeing to come up with a plan for repairing the planes. The electrical issue affects certain planes that were delivered recently to airlines. Boeing discovered the problem on its assembly line and reported it to the FAA on April 7. The FAA said the issue affects 106 planes worldwide, including 71 registered in the United States. It is the latest problem with the 737 Max, which was grounded worldwide for nearly two years following two crashes that killed 346 people.

After the tasting, each person could buy up to six bottles of wine. “Many consumers will worry about making the wrong choice so we’ve learned over time that those satellite tasting rooms and that consumer experience and building brand engagement with consumers is really essential to building your business," Donoho said. But the tasting rooms are where the state's liquor laws enter the debate. Liquor stores in the state can't buy their product directly, but must instead go through wholesalers. There are 1,000 liquor stores in the state, but any one person or corporation can't own more than six and in many cases are limited to just three different locations.

The state approved the recreational use of marijuana in 2020, and lawmakers have since tried to determine what the legal growing and selling of cannabis will look like by 2022. White Clay, who took office a month later, said the Crow Tribe is generally accepting of the legalization of marijuana. Plans for the tribe to launch its own dispensaries are in beginning stages, and the ordinance could change, White Clay said. Thor Hoyte, legal counsel for the Crow Tribe, said both White Clay and other tribal leaders have been in conversation with the state to avoid any confusion regarding marijuana’s legal status. He said the tribe will run parallel to the state, despite having sovereignty and not needing state permission.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — The Florida Supreme Court on Thursday dealt a potentially fatal blow to supporters of a proposed constitutional amendment aimed at legalizing recreational marijuana under certain circumstances. The justices ruled that the initiative's ballot summary is “misleading” in part because it does not spell out that recreational marijuana possession and distribution remains a federal crime. The ruling came after Attorney General Ashley Moody requested an advisory opinion on whether the marijuana initiative was valid. A group called Make It Legal Florida had been gathering petition signatures in hopes of placing the initiative on the 2022 ballot. The group would need more than 891,000 signatures to get the marijuana measure on the 2022 ballot

Because of this, replacing outdated or boring window treatments with stylish, contemporary ones can elevate even the smallest rooms in your home in an instant. When it’s time to upgrade your window treatments, be sure to keep these tips in mind:Consider the needs of the space. It’s important to define the space’s style and particular needs before selecting its new paint color. If you don’t know where to begin in terms of revamping your home’s decor on a budget, try creating a gallery wall. Incorporate New AccessoriesSometimes making a space in your home feel completely different is as simple as bringing in a few new accessories.

“If we can talk to you, if we can keep you up, that's going to change the whole visual, especially when people have their iPhones recording," Verdugo said. "This is a matter of keeping you up on your feet and not grinding you into the ground.”Lee says the public would be alarmed at how little training the average police department provides to officers for street confrontations. And because so many more interactions are now caught on video, police are being scrutinized in ways previously impossible. “It's not the officers' fault that they don't have the training," said Lee, an officer with the Los Angeles Police Department who also teaches judo for the youth-based Police Athletic League, a sponsor of the training program. Another workshop for other cities is being planned for next month.

Schur (“Parks and Recreation”) and Helms worked together on “The Office” and know what makes for appealing TV. But when they began to develop the concept of “Rutherford Falls,” they saw what was missing: Teller Ornelas. She was finishing a three-year contract as a “Superstore” writer and producer and planned to develop a Native American anthology series when the invitation came to join with Schur and Helms. “It’s very rare that you get the call in the beginning of the process where they say, ‘Hey, we have half an idea. Would you like to develop it with us?’” Teller Ornelas said.

Two doctors in the Legislature, however, said the measure would create problems. Rep. Randy Friese, D-Tucson, said there needs to be trust and communication between a doctor and a patient. "This bill will diminish both things,'' Friese said. Shah asked colleagues about having to make such a judgment call with the risk of a prison term. Sen. Kirsten Engel, D-Tucson, openly worried about the language declaring that a fetus has the same rights as "other persons, citizens and residents of this state.''

PHOENIX — The Republican-controlled Legislature voted along party lines Thursday to impose a new restriction on a woman's right to terminate a pregnancy by making it a crime to abort a fetus because of a genetic abnormality. The Republican governor has not said whether he will sign or veto the measure. The measure would also:• Allow the husband of a woman who seeks such an abortion, or the woman's parents if she is younger than 18, to sue on behalf of the unborn fetus. • Outlaw the ability of women to get otherwise-legal drugs to perform an abortion through the mail or other delivery service. • Declare that the laws of Arizona must be interpreted to give an unborn fetus the same rights, privileges and immunities available to anyone else.

.......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... ..........AUSTIN, Texas — A year after a Fort Hood soldier was slain by a fellow member of the Army, Texas lawmakers are poised to help lead the nation in the fight against sexual harassment and assault in the military. There is no opposition to it,” said state Sen. Cesar Blanco, D-El Paso, who authored the Texas bill. Guillen’s family says they believe Robinson also sexually harassed her, but the Army says they have no evidence of harassment from Robinson. ADVERTISEMENTSkip................................................................Guillen’s case became a rallying cry for military sexual assault survivors to denounce their experiences, and that movement has prompted calls for cultural change within the military from Texas to Washington. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues.

.......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... ..........COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — Police in Colorado Springs shot a man accused of accosting a customer at a gas station while armed with a military-style rifle. The Gazette reports police had been following the man Thursday morning after they spotted a license plate that is believed to have been stolen. Police say the suspect, whose name has not been released, ignored commands to drop the rifle and was initially shot with a stun gun before an officer opened fire and wounded him. Lt. Jim Sokolik, a spokesman for the police department, says the stun gun was ineffective. A Fountain police officer and a Colorado State Patrol trooper fired shots after a chase down Interstate 25 on Monday night, killing 38-year-old Robert Paul Garcia.

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.......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... ..........PHOENIX — Two death-row prisoners have asked the Arizona Supreme Court to hold off on scheduling litigation over warrants that would trigger the state’s first executions in almost seven years. Dixon’s attorneys asked that the legal briefings on death warrants be postponed until at least September. Earlier this month, Brnovich’s office told the state’s highest court that it intended on soon seeking execution warrants for Dixon and Atwood. Dixon was convicted and sentenced to death for the 1978 killing of Deana Bowdoin, a 21-year-old Arizona State University student. Atwood was convicted in Pima County and sentenced to death for killing 8-year-old Vicki Lynn Hoskinson in 1984.

ADVERTISEMENTSkip................................................................Bernalillo County recorded 23 unhealthy ozone days from 2017 to 2019. The air pollution is concerning in a state with high rates of respiratory illnesses, said JoAnna Strother, ALA’s senior advocacy director. The New Mexico Environment Department is developing rules to target ozone pollution in the oil and gas industry. NMED Secretary James Kenny told the Journal Wednesday that human-caused pollution, not natural sources, is driving the unhealthy ozone levels. Despite high ozone levels, Albuquerque ranks as one of the cleanest cities for short-term particulate pollution spikes in the ALA report.

.......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... ..........New Mexico tallied 238 additional cases of COVID-19 and three deaths from the virus — including a Bernalillo County man in his 30s — in an update Thursday afternoon. Meanwhile, the Metropolitan Detention Center offered vaccines to inmates and the state aimed to do the same for students. “Vaccinating against this virus protects students’ health and the health of the school community,” Public Education Secretary Ryan Stewart said in a release. The majority of new cases of COVID-19 recorded Thursday were from Bernalillo, San Juan and Doña Ana counties with 83, 33 and 19, respectively. So far, 177,428 COVID-19 cases have been designated as having recovered by the New Mexico Department of Health.

Doctors who perform an abortion solely because the child has a survivable genetic issue can face felony charges. “The ban proposed in this bill is part of a larger campaign to stigmatize abortion and to pass as many laws as possible to restrict access to abortion care. The measure also requires fetal remains to be buried or cremated, and it forbids state universities from providing abortion care. A majority of the appeals court said the law doesn’t impede a woman’s right to an abortion. Monday’s amendment to the Arizona bill also added a legislative intent clause that included much of the reasoning the appeals court used in the Ohio decision.

Every year from January to mid-April, we experience a "meteor drought," without a single shower for months. That all ends this year on Thursday, Earth Day, with the first show of the season: the annual Lyrid meteor shower. "These dazzling meteors are fast and bright, with a striking golden trail of dust streaking behind them," CNN meteorologist Judson Jones said. You might even spot a fireball flying across the sky or the glowing dust trail the meteors frequently leave behind them as they streak through Earth's atmosphere. As with all meteor showers, the darker the sky, the more visible the Lyrids will be.

“I’ve never worked so hard in my life,” he says. But the couple, who met in 2004 at a round-the-clock Mexican restaurant favored by hospital workers getting off nightshifts, were matter of fact about his odds of getting the virus. When the tickling cough started in the second week of July, Rodney thought it was allergies until the COVID test came back positive. I just feel awful,” she texted her sister, Kelly Garcia, from a room at Ascension St. Vincent. Days later, though, with oxygen levels in her blood dropping, doctors moved her on to a ventilator.

ABINGDON, Va. (AP) — A southwest Virginia man pleaded guilty Thursday to a federal offense in connection with the burning of a cross last summer on the front lawn of a Black teenager who had recently organized a civil rights protest. James Brown, 41, of Marion will remain free on bond until his sentencing in August on one count of criminal interference with federally protected housing rights based upon the victim’s race, according to court records. Federal prosecutors said Brown admitted to burning the cross to two witnesses and also was known to use racial epithets when referring to the African-American family, who court documents describe as his neighbors. “Acts of hatred, intimidation and the threat of force, carried out by the racially motivated cross burning in this case, illegally interfered with their federally protected housing rights,” Daniel Bubar, acting U.S. attorney for the western district of Virginia, said in a statement. “This illegal, divisive behavior destroys communities and will not be tolerated."

As Hollywood prepares to celebrate the Oscars, movie theaters are trying to lure back audiences that have been streaming films at home for ove…

Richmond police said Thursday that a 26-year-old man has been charged with homicide after an assault left his mother dead in South Side. Police said Thursday that Paige's son, John Chillum, was arrested at the scene and has been charged with homicide. Anyone with information is asked to call Detective P. Mansfield at (804) 646-6996 or Crime Stoppers at (804) 780-1000. You can also submit tips by going to www.p3tips.com or using the P3 Tips app for smartphones. All Crime Stoppers methods are anonymous.

ABINGDON, Va. (AP) — A Massachusetts man pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity on Thursday in the death of an Appalachian Trail hiker and attacking another hiker with a hunting knife two years ago, authorities said. James Jordan of West Yarmouth, Massachusetts, was accused of the fatal stabbing of Ronald Sanchez Jr., 43, of Oklahoma City, and wounding a female hiker in Virginia in May 2019, WDBJ reported. Jordan waived his right to trial by jury and an additional evaluation. Jordan has a history of mental illness and was originally found incompetent to stand trial until a judge reversed that ruling. He regrets that his lifelong battle with mental illness ultimately resulted in this trauma and loss for innocent hikers and their families.”

The attorney handling Neal’s trial and appeals refused to let the California investigators interview him but informed them they did not have to look any further for a suspect in the Ludlow killings, the department said. The department said he told them he picked up the couple while they were hitchhiking, took them to his home and shot the male victim during an argument over Neal’s physical advances toward the woman. “Investigators believe Neal sexually assaulted her then killed her,” the department statement said. In the interview, Neal said he believed the woman may have been from Arkansas and left a daughter behind to hitchhike across the country. He did not remember anything about the man other than that he looked like a “hippie.”In 2018, a Virginia resident and adoptee, Christine Marie Salley, hired a private investigator to find her biological parents.

COVID-19 hospitalizations among older Americans have plunged more than 70% since the start of the year, and deaths among them appear to have tumbled as well, dramatic evidence the vaccination campaign is working. Now the trick is to get more of the nation's younger people to roll up their sleeves. The drop-off in severe cases among Americans 65 and older is especially encouraging because senior citizens have accounted for about 8 out of 10 deaths from the virus since it hit the U.S., where the toll stands at about 570,000COVID-19 deaths among people of all ages in the U.S. have plummeted to about 700 per day on average, compared with a peak of over 3,400 in mid-January. “What you’re seeing there is exactly what we hoped and wanted to see: As really high rates of vaccinations happen, hospitalizations and death rates come down," said Jodie Guest, a public health researcher at Emory University. In other developments:

Focus on mental health of shooting perpetratorEditor, Times-Dispatch:I awoke a few days ago to the news of yet another mass shooting, this time in Indiana. I’m not sure the gun debate in our country ever will be resolved. That said, a troubling similarity to so many of the mass shootings over the past 10 years has been the mental health of the perpetrator. If we can’t come to some consensus about guns, perhaps we at least can get more serious about mental health. About 20 to 25 years ago, governors and legislatures throughout the country decimated state mental health services, ostensibly passing responsibility for these services on to already strapped local governments.

WASHINGTON – The Senate passed with overwhelming bipartisan support a hate crimes bill to address a drastic increase in violence and discrimination directed at Asian Americans during the COVID-19 pandemic. The COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act cleared the chamber in a 94-1 vote Thursday. It would expedite the Justice Department's review of hate crimes and would designate an official at the Justice Department to oversee the effort. Republicans had raised concerns that the first text was too narrow in defining the types of hate crimes. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., and Jerry Moran, R-Kan., would establish grants to aid local and state governments to encourage more training on hate crimes for law enforcement, establish hate crime hotlines and allow for a "rehabilitation" effort for perpetrators of hate crimes.

Happy Earth Day 2021! From an Earth Week-themed savings event at Best Buy to markdowns on sustainable skincare at cocokind, there are tons of amazing events o shop today. The best Earth Day 2021 sales to shop right now1-800-Flowers: From now until tomorrow, April 23, you can enter promo code FLOWERS to save 15% on select arrangements and gifts. Baggu: Shop the Baggu Earth Day Sale to save on reusable bags galore using coupon code EARTHDAY. Kiehl's: Choose an eco-friendly gift with your purchase of $75 or more with promo code EARTH through the end of today, April 22.

WATCH: How the historic disqualification of a Kentucky Derby winner happenedThe disqualification of Maximum Security in the 2019 Kentucky Derby was unthinkable. Here's how it went down.

This year, you can do your part to celebrate Mother Earth by investing in environmentally-friendly products, such as sustainable mattresses made from organic materials and recycled knit sneakers. The best eco-friendly products to buy on saleRegardless of whether you’re in the market for a new pair of spring shoes (check out No. Ahead, scroll through to discover 10 awesome eco-friendly products you can get on sale right now. As part of Best Buy's 4-day Earth Week sale, live through the end of today, April 22, you can nab the Vitamix FoodCycler FC-50 composter. Get the Google Nest Thermostat at Amazon for $90 (Save $30)Need help finding products?

People requesting Kentucky unemployment insurance benefits will soon be required to actively search for a job and report their efforts to the state. Starting May 9, people seeking benefits will need to make at least one job contact each week and report those details when requesting their bi-weekly benefits. Kentucky's Office of Unemployment Insurance suspended work search requirements last year when COVID-19 drove jobless claims to historic levels. But as the nation's economy rebounds and an increasing number of Americans get vaccinated against coronavirus, states are beginning to reinstate job search requirements, which are typically a normal part of unemployment insurance programs. South Carolina, Nevada and Idaho all recently announced they're resuming the work search requirements, joining other states that have already made the move.

HONOLULU, Hawaii (HawaiiNewsNow) - Another pandemic ripple effect is the high cost of rental cars. As the state reopens and many tourists come back — there are not enough rental cars to meet the demand.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — In the latest chapter of the Odd Fellows Building demolition saga, a local historical society announced Thursday that it is filing a legal appeal of the Louisville Metro Council's decision to remove the building's landmark designation. Omni representatives said in 2019 that they hoped to build an entertainment center on the land where the Odd Fellows Building stands. Steve Wiser, the president of the Louisville Historical League, did not immediately respond to a phone call seeking comment. Arthur, who represents downtown, previously argued that the Odd Fellows Building doesn't meet all the standards required for local landmark status. "And if no one can answer that question, I really have no energy for anything that (the Louisville Historical League) is doing right now."

Luther Brown Jr. was often seen around the Louisville community on tennis courts, at banquets, city council meetings and churches, with one goal in mind — minimizing gun violence. Brown founded two organizations dedicated to gun safety and education — Board4Change and Little Hands, Little Feet. Hamilton remembers him coming to District 5 meetings to show PowerPoints on gun safety. You'll probably never hear, even people his age, refer to him as just Luther Brown. I think that's what Mr. Brown would want."

Disney Advertising Sales said Thursday it's sold out of ad inventory for the 93rd Oscars telecast on ABC this Sunday. Despite stagnating ratings and production that caters to pandemic safety, advertisers are still turning to the Oscars. Ratings for awards shows had been slipping even before the pandemic. The Golden Globe Awards ceremony in late February, for instance, was rife with technical hiccups. Kantar said despite dwindling viewership and the pandemic's impact on the economy, ABC hasn't made major changes to ad pricing.

It’s a very on-brand look for a Cambridge birthday portrait. Just look at the birthday portraits of Prince George, which pay homage to pictures of his father as a child. She couldn’t resist a nod to the statement collar trend in Princess Charlotte’s fifth birthday pictures though - I’m not sure I could have done either. When they interviewed Sir David Attenborough, George and Charlotte wore their school uniform, while Louis wore a John Lewis jumper. Could I see George, Charlotte or Louis turning up to a park meet-up wearing goggles, as my friend’s little boy did recently?

Prince Louis, the Cambridges' youngest son, turns three on Friday – St George’s Day – and you can already begin to see his character emerging. It's the royal tradition to release a picture on a child's third birthday – part of the unwritten deal that, in return for official photographs, the paparazzi will leave the Royal family alone. The sort you only get from a little boy looking at his beloved mother, pleased as punch that he's mastered the crucial little boy's art of turning his bike handlebars – racing style. Aside, perhaps, from the preppy shirt collar poking out, Louis could be any kid in the park, with his sporty Adidas trainers (seldom seen in Royal photo shoots), practical rucksack and bike – perfectly fitted to his size. There are no signs of royal life, none of the grandeur that would go with a shoot at Kensington Palace or Anmer Hall, the Cambridges' country place at Sandringham.

Dominic Cummings was on Thursday night named by Downing Street sources as the person suspected of leaking text messages sent by the Prime Minister. The former chief adviser to Boris Johnson is the prime suspect in the leaking of messages which implicated the Prime Minister in two separate lobbying scandals. Number 10 sources believe Mr Cummings, 49, is “bitter” that the Government has been “making great progress” since he departed in acrimonious circumstances last November. The Prime Minister and his fiancée Carrie Symonds have faced a wave of hostile leaks and briefings in the past six months. The former adviser is understood to have had access to the text messages during his time working in government.

Federal prosecutors expect “at least” 100 more people will face charges for the deadly insurrection at the US Capitol on 6 January, after more than 400 people have been charged in connection with the attack. Prosecutors are seeking a delay in his case, arguing the complexities of navigating a sprawling number of connected cases and evidence. More than 400 people face charges, and “the government expects that at least [100] additional individuals will be charged”, they said. “As the Capitol attack investigation is still on-going, the number of defendants charged and the volume of potentially discoverable materials will only continue to grow,” they argued in filings. Federal law enforcement has charged roughly 40 alleged members of far-right groups including the Proud Boys and Oath Keepers militia with conspiracy.

Anti-mask protesters have been captured on video targeting children outside an elementary school in Beverly Hills, in Los Angeles, California. In a series of videos, Beverly Hills Courier journalist, Samuel Braslow, showed the group repeatedly confronting children, before Dr Michael Bregy, superintendent of schools for Beverly Hills Unified School District, came out to ask why they weren’t outside the Department for Public Health instead of a school for children aged five to 11. And a mask is a medical device.”Hawthorne Elementary School Principal Sarah Kaber sent an email to parents telling them that the school anticipated the protest and had extra security on-hand. as well as members of Beverly Hills Police Department, as reported by MSN. To ensure this afternoon remains peaceful we have support here from district leadership and Beverly Hills Police Department.

BIOGRAPHYTHE LETTERS OF THOM GUNNEdited by Michael Nott, August Kleinzahler and Clive Wilmer (Faber £40, 800 pp)Revered by trendy English teachers, the poet Thom Gunn was always cool. These letters certainly provide an eye-opening insight into the intoxicatingly (literally) liberal gay world of San Francisco in the years before, during and after the Aids epidemic. The pair would live together in San Francisco for the rest of Gunn’s life. What paradise life could be for a young, successful gay poet in San Francisco in those pre-Aids years! Gunn immortalised the terror of it all in his 1992 book of poems The Man With Night Sweats.

US military leaders believe Russia is behind a series of suspected “directed energy” attacks causing illness in US troops and diplomats, unnamed officials have told Politico . Employees of the US embassy there reported having headaches, ringing in their ears, and loss of hearing, memory, and balance. The source of the mysterious illness, known as the “ Havana syndrome ,” was hard to pin down. According to Politico , the Pentagon has now told top members of Congress that it suspects a Russian-directed energy attack was responsible. “I think that’s a question that has to have answers,” Senator Marco Rubio told Politico regarding the suspected attacks on US troops.

Jamie Vardy ended his two-month goal drought as Leicester tightened their grip on a Champions League spot by breezing past West Brom. Leicester survived and took charge with two quick strikes as Vardy ended his long wait for a goal after 23 minutes. It came seconds after Pereira’s corner hit the top of Leicester‘s bar but there was no way back for West Brom. Vardy, though, almost embarrassed Phillips with 19 minutes left when the winger left Evans’ clearance to roll out. The ball stayed in and Vardy tried to catch out Johnstone from 40 yards but his strike trickled wide.

The yellow-eyed penguin, called hoiho (noise shouter) in Maori, is the largest of the penguin species that live and breed on New Zealand's mainland. "If Penguin Place wasn't here, I could almost guarantee that the population would be functionally extinct," said Jason van Zanten, conservation manager at Penguin Place. Like the endangered species it cares for, however, the fate of Penguin Place teeters on the brink. The facility is entirely funded by the guided tours it gives to visitors, so the pandemic has hit Penguin Place particularly hard. Determined, bitten and flipper bashed, they care for these endangered animals, one bird at a time.

Experts may disagree, but distinguished Harvard professor of history, Serhii Plokhy, is pretty certain: too damn close. The crisis came during a tense 13-day stand-off after the U.S. discovered the Soviet Union had installed nuclear missiles in Cuba, uncomfortably close to America. Serhii Plokhy who is a Harvard professor of history, has penned an account of how America and the Soviet Union came close to nuclear war in October 1962. Had the hatch been bigger, there would have been nuclear war. After the crisis, Kennedy and Khrushchev signed a partial test-ban treaty.

Happy Earth Day! Sharing her snap to Instagram, she penned: 'Happy Earth day. Launched in 1970, Earth Day is an annual event which demonstrates support for environmental protection. 'It amazes me everyday the magic the earth does and does for us, no Mother Earth no us. Thankyou so much Mother Earth for the beauty #happyearthday #earthday #happyearthday.'

Ahead of the big day, Chris and Tatiana sat down to video chat with Brittany, where they surprised her by asking her to be Tatiana's maid of honor. 'We both agreed that there would be no wedding, though, unless Brittany could be there,' he went on. Because of her Down syndrome, Brittany has immune system abnormalities that could put her at great risk if she contracts COVID. You're significant other needs to understand that although you are marrying them, you're a package deal,' Chris said. Then, when they ask her to be Tatiana's made of honor, Brittany grows overwhelmed, crying and cheering as she happily accepts.

Jana Kramer's estranged husband, Mike Caussin, is 'out of the house' they shared in Nashville, Tennessee, just one day after revealing she filed for divorce. Although the reasons behind the couple's second split were not explicitly revealed at the time, Jana later confirmed rumors of infidelity in a statement to People. 'The very first time I found out Mike cheated on me was through a DM,' she said. Kramer later took to Instagram noting that he continues to receive treatment for his past sex addiction. Prior to Mike, Jana was married to Mike Gambino in 2004, and actor Johnathon Schaech from 2010-2011.

'Shanna's moved on from Travis, but it's been hurtful that everything he's doing for Kourtney he did before for her, like the plane flying overhead, the flowers. 'This is hurtful to her': Travis Barker's ex-wife Shanna Moakler is not happy with his PDAs for new love Kourtney Kardashian (pictured in 2014)The model shares too children with Travis, Alabama, 15, and Landon, 17, and is now currently dating fellow model Matthew Rondeau. As well as their flirty exchanges on social media, Travis has also been spoiling Kourtney with a trip to Laguna Beach along with paying for a sky banner that read 'Happy Birthday Kourtney.' 'His kids love Travis, which is also hard for Scott. Disick, who is now dating 19-year-old Amelia Hamlin after splitting with Sofia Richie, 22, last summer, has 'many regrets' about his relationship with Kourtney.

Salma Hayek transformed into jailed clairvoyant Pina Auriemma as she debuted her bright red hair for the first time while on set of House Of Gucci in Rome. Salma bore a striking resemblance to the clairvoyant, who was sentenced to 25 years in prison after Maurizio Gucci's murder trial in 1998. Salma Hayek transformed into jailed clairvoyant Pina Auriemma as she debuted her bright red hair for the first time while on set of House Of Gucci in RomeIn keeping with her character, Salma had dyed her usually-brunette tresses a fiery red and styled her hair in loose waves. She was convicted after her clairvoyant and confidante Pina (Salma) turned informer and told police about the plot. Maurizio Gucci, Guccio's grandson and Aldo's nephew, took control of the company from the board of directors after Aldo, who was sent to prison for tax evasion in 1986 aged 81.

A New York City man orchestrated an entire fake 'emergency' — complete with a firetruck, firefighters, and a woman seemingly going into labor — to create an unforgettable proposal for his bride-to-be. Setting the scene: That day, he showed Amy a fake screenshot from the Citizen app showing that a woman in labor was a block awayShe's on it! 'One of the FDNY firemen's mother was a nurse for 30 years so he had a sort of sweet spot for it.' The NYPD and FDNY both agreed to be there, barring a real emergency that would take priority. It showed that a woman was in labor just a block away, so Amy and Mike walked over to check it out and see if Amy could offer assistance.

Every day is Earth day in my world.. but you all know that! Happy Earth Day!! Lucy Hale said, 'Happy Earth Day to all of you from me,' as she looked stunning in a portrait. Meghan King said she loved Mother Earth so 'freaking' much as she posed in a desertTeddi Mellencamp posted: 'Happy Earth Day. Happy Earth Day!'

A Texas Subway employee has revealed what some of the chain's meat looks like before it makes it to the sandwich — and it's putting a few social media users off their lunch. 'Just to let y’all know how subway steak looks. TikTok users are undoubtedly interested in the candid look at Subway food, though the reactions to it have been mixed. After the success of the video, Travis uploaded a sequel that shows how Subway's tuna gets made. Once again, commenters seemed mostly unperturbed by how the food is prepared — but more upset about Travis' incorrect mask wearing.

A transgender man has opened up about his gender transition while sharing eye-opening photos that document how he went from a shy child to a ripped and chiseled personal trainer. The gender struggle and his increasingly feminine body led Matt to suffer with depression throughout puberty and his school years. I always wanted to transition, I just didn't know it was actually possible or even a thing.' Helping hand: Before he began taking testosterone, Matt started working with a therapist who helped him to address his gender dysphoria and come to terms with his true identityTaking steps: In 2013, Matt began his gender transition. Now, Matt will continue to take testosterone for life or until his doctor says he no longer can do so.

A 'Karen' who called the police on bikini-clad TikTok stars claiming they were filming on 'private property' did not get the response she had wished for when the responding officer revealed his son was a fan and asked to pose for pictures with the influencers. The group appears to be doing a photoshoot with several women sporting bikinis and balaclavas and posing with a duck. The woman, known only as 'Karen', is apparently making a 911 call and a cop later arrives on the scene - only to take photos with the TikTok stars. The woman is heard telling the group they are on 'private property' and then mockingly urges them to keep filming because she wants to go 'viral.' The TikTok then features a photo showing the deputy fistbumping @tooturnttony in front of the Lamborghini and standing next to one of the women.

AdvertisementA salt mining canal filled with crystal blue water has become Utah's hottest new tourist attraction - but agencies are ordering people to stay away. Since then, thousands of tourists have been flocking to 'the blue canal' in a bid to capture their own snaps of the stunning site. But, despite initial fears that the canal contained toxins, the process of mining potash (salts) does not involve unearthing dangerous chemicals. Despite initial fears that the canal contained toxins, the process of mining potash (salts) does not involve the unearthing of dangerous chemicals. The process of mining potash (or salt) does not involve the unearthing of chemicals.

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