Source: US National Guard (video statements)
In support of Helene response efforts, Minnesota National Guard Soldiers flying CH-47 Chinook helicopters transport food, water, and other supplies to communities in some of the hardest hit areas in Western North Carolina.
(Video by Sgt. 1st Class Jon Soucy, edited by Master Sgt. Amber Monio)
Source: The White House
On Leif Erikson Day, we celebrate the history and heritage of Nordic communities in the United States, whose contributions and cultures have helped shape our Nation.
Many believe that roughly a millennium ago, Leif Erikson — a Norse explorer — and his crew were the first Europeans to reach the shores of North America. His spirit of adventure, curiosity, and resilience would inspire generations of Danes, Finns, Icelanders, Norwegians, and Swedes to sail across an ocean and begin new lives in America. These immigrants built bustling homes and enriched their communities, supporting and realizing the American Dream. They fought for our freedoms in the military; built new churches, businesses, and schools; and spearheaded social movements. Today, Nordic communities continue to enrich the fabric of the Nation.
Nordic-American communities in the United States are foundational to our partnership and friendship with our Nordic Allies and their people. These nations share our vision for a world based on freedom, security, and opportunities for all. Together, we are working in lockstep to tackle the climate crisis and pioneer the next generation of technology that will power everyone’s economies. We are also standing with the brave people of Ukraine as they defend themselves against Russia’s brutal assault. I am proud that the United States supported the ratification process for Finland to join NATO, which was the fastest ratification in history. And I was honored to welcome Sweden as NATO’s 32nd Ally earlier this year. Together, I know that we will continue to stand for freedom and democracy for generations to come.
Today, may we celebrate the important contributions and vibrant cultures of Nordic Americans to our Nation. And may we continue the work that so many Nordic communities in this country began: ensuring every American has an opportunity to reach the American Dream.
To honor Leif Erikson, son of Iceland and grandson of Norway, and to celebrate Nordic-American heritage, the Congress, by joint resolution (Public Law 88-566) approved on September 2, 1964, has authorized the President of the United States to proclaim October 9 of each year as “Leif Erikson Day.”
NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim October 9, 2024, as Leif Erikson Day. I call upon all Americans to celebrate the contributions of Nordic Americans to our Nation with appropriate ceremonies, activities, and programs.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this eighth day of October, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-four, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-ninth.
JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR.
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jonny Williams, Climate Scientist, University of Reading
Climate change is usually discussed in terms of rising temperatures.
But scientists often use a different measure, known as “equilibrium climate sensitivity”. This is defined as the global mean warming caused by a doubling of pre-industrial carbon dioxide (CO₂) levels in the atmosphere.
We use this measure to describe the range of potential temperature increases on longer timescales, and to compare how well climate models reproduce observed warming.
But the predicted range of rising temperature has remained stubbornly wide, somewhere between 2°C and 5.5°C of warming, as assessed in several generations of reports issued by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. This is despite concerted efforts to narrow it down.
Measuring long-term climate sensitivity is central to future predictions, but we are already seeing the effects of warming across the world with extremes in weather, even at the low end of the range. We argue efforts to boil down Earth’s response to climate change to one number may be unhelpful.
The continued uncertainty could be seen as a failure of climate models to converge on the correct value. Using equilibrium climate sensitivity as a metric for “precisely” predicting the amount of warming expected from a given amount of greenhouse gases is, at best, ambiguous.
About a century before the first computational estimates of Earth’s climate sensitivity were published in 1967, the Swedish physicist and 1903 Nobel laureate Svante August Arrhenius was the first to estimate values at 4-6°C.
Since the early efforts to model Earth systems, computer simulations have steadily increased in complexity. The first models only simulated the atmosphere, but they have evolved to include vegetation, processes in the ocean and sea ice.
While undoubtedly beneficial to the understanding of fundamental science, each of these added processes has introduced uncertainties in the models’ warming response.
Indeed, given the level of complexity (which differs between models) and resolution of some current models, it is not surprising the estimates of climate sensitivity differ so much.
Climate feedbacks are central to our argument that equilibrium climate sensitivity is poorly defined. An example of this is the relationship between ice volume and reflectivity.
As highly reflective ice melts on land or sea, the underlying surface is exposed and less sunlight reflected back into space. This increases the amount of warming for a given amount of greenhouse gases. It’s what scientists refer to as a positive feedback loop.
Another such self-enforcing feedback concerns potentially large climate impacts from the release of methane from tropical wetlands and permafrost melt.
Atmosphere models can’t account for this alone, and when they are coupled with an ice-sheet or sea-ice model, the estimate of climate sensitivity changes.
It quickly became apparent when studying some recent climate model results that some simulations are producing equilibrium climate sensitivity ranges noticeably higher than before.
In some models, this has been linked to larger self-enhancing cloud feedbacks and how aerosols are represented.
There has been some hesitancy to trust the results produced by these models. They are considered “too hot”.
But we feel these high equilibrium simulations still have value. While we are not arguing they are correct, they force us to consider the what-if situation of very high climate sensitivity, where a doubling of CO₂ would result in warming of 5°C or higher. We know the impact on our environment would be devastating.
Some view high equilibrium climate sensitivity as more consistent with warmer climates in the past, but others have questioned this.
There are several reasons why past climate sensitivity may differ from modern conditions. We may be in a different phase of Earth’s orbital cycles or the balance between volcanism and weathering.
Of course, we should treat all scientific results with caution, but the potential insights gained for uncertain futures are of particular importance when climate change is already being felt across the globe.
We are continually improving our understanding of the climate – how it has changed in the past and how we think it may change in the future. Equilibrium climate sensitivity has consequently become the single solution we are seeking from climate models, even though the precise value will arguably never be known.
Equilibrium climate sensitivity is undoubtedly a convenient way of distilling future projections. However, it is important not to over-rely on an idealised quantity, because its utility as a useful comparative measure of climate models can give the false impression of a lack of progress in understanding.
There is similarity with the common misconception of a 50% probability of rainfall in a weather forecast, which is often misinterpreted as forecasters not knowing whether it will rain or not.
Communicating uncertainty in projections of future climate conditions is a “wicked” problem. But we risk losing perspective of Earth’s system response by focusing on the effort to make climate models agree on one measure. This is not the answer future generations need.
Jonny Williams receives funding from the Deep South National Science Challenge.
Georgia Rose Grant receives funding from MBIE Strategic Science Investment Fund.
– ref. Will the Earth warm by 2°C or 5.5°C? Either way it’s bad, and trying to narrow it down may be a distraction – https://theconversation.com/will-the-earth-warm-by-2-c-or-5-5-c-either-way-its-bad-and-trying-to-narrow-it-down-may-be-a-distraction-229497
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)
Community-driven Deeno game released on October 8th
KINGSTOWN, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Oct. 08, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Derivio, a trading-centric consumer blockchain backed by Binance Labs, officially launched its Telegram game on October 8, 2024. The game introduces Deeno, a character designed to drive user interaction through social media and community tasks.
Players start by claiming an egg that will eventually hatch into Deeno. To progress, players complete tasks such as sharing social media content and engaging with the Derivio community. These activities earn players the “Power of Faith,” which strengthens the egg and accelerates the hatching process. Once hatched, Deeno can be leveled up through additional quests, with users unlocking more rewards through mini-games, including a gold miner challenge.
Derivio’s Telegram game incorporates both gameplay and community interaction with the satisfaction of achieving rewards. By participating, players unlock resources and level up their character, with further opportunities for bonuses and exclusive rewards provided by Derivio and its partners.
Game Launch Details
Derivio’s Telegram game launched on Oct. 8. The game aims to foster interaction within the community through a blend of simple tasks and mini-games, encouraging continued engagement.
About Derivio
Derivio is a trading-centric blockchain focused on consumer-facing products, offering tools designed to enhance accessibility for everyday users. The platform’s products, including its Perpetual Exchange and Prediction Markets, aim to provide a secure, high-performance, and user-friendly experience. Derivio also uses cryptographic techniques like Fully Homomorphic Encryption to enhance security in its decentralized trading ecosystem.
Game Access: @DerivioBot
Website: https://derivio.xyz/
X (formerly Twitter): https://x.com/derivio_xyz
Discord: https://discord.gg/xDVqEAXPwj
Contact:
Michel ho
m@derivio.xyz
Disclaimer: This content is provided by Derivio. The statements, views and opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the content provider. The information provided in this press release is not a solicitation for investment, nor is it intended as investment advice, financial advice, or trading advice. It is strongly recommended you practice due diligence, including consultation with a professional financial advisor, before investing in or trading cryptocurrency and securities. Please conduct your own research and invest at your own risk.
A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/61c28de8-2e4d-4b19-9578-f58bc676832b
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)
FREMONT, Calif., Oct. 08, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Jackery, the global leader in solar generators and portable energy solutions, is gearing up for Amazon Prime Day with an unbeatable offer on its latest innovation, the Jackery Explorer 2000v2, starting October 8. This compact, next-generation solar generator is now available for a special low price, with exclusive bundles and a free gift opportunity for early shoppers.
During Amazon’s Prime Day from October 8 to October 9, those in the market for reliable and green backup power can take advantage of the following exclusive deals on Jackery’s E2000v2 series:
With the winter season fast approaching, the E2000v2 solar generator is an ideal choice for anyone looking to safeguard against potential power outages. No installation is required, making it a hassle-free backup power solution that can be deployed instantly during emergencies.
The Jackery Explorer 2000v2 Highlights:
Don’t miss out on Jackery’s best deals of the year. For more details, visit Jackery.com and be on the lookout for additional deals on Jackery’s Amazon Storefront from October 8-9, 2024.
About Jackery
Founded in California in 2012, Jackery is the world’s leading provider of innovative solar generators and off-grid green energy solutions. As a global top-selling solar generator brand, Jackery is driven by its mission to “Bring Green Energy to All.” By integrating with Geneverse in 2024, Jackery has expanded its product offerings and is able to deliver a comprehensive range of energy solutions, from portable solar generators for outdoor use to whole-home backup systems, furthering its commitment to making green energy accessible for all. Jackery has consistently fulfilled its social responsibility on a global scale, maintaining long-term partnerships with global public welfare organizations such as WWF, NFF, and IRC. Through these collaborations, Jackery continues to contribute to global sustainable development and other public welfare initiatives, reinforcing its dedication to creating a greener, more sustainable future.
A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/0f058dae-9741-49d1-ba73-89e1bed05246
Source: Google
For more than 20 years, we’ve invested in machine learning and AI research, tools and infrastructure to build products that make everyday life better for more people. Teams across Google are working on ways to unlock AI’s benefits in fields as wide-ranging as healthcare, crisis response and education. To keep you posted on our progress, we’re kicking off a regular roundup of Google’s most recent AI news across products, research and more. To start, here’s a look back at just a few of our AI announcements from September.
Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime Alerts (b)
ABERDEEN – United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Charles B. Kornmann has sentenced a Wakpala, South Dakota, woman convicted of Child Abuse. The sentencing took place on September 30, 2024.
Sheyenne Cadotte, 28, was sentenced to three years in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. One of her conditions of supervised release prohibits Cadotte from living with children or contacting her own children unless approved in writing by her probation officer.
Cadotte was indicted for Child Abuse by a federal grand jury in June of 2022. She pleaded guilty on May 16, 2024.
In 2021, Cadotte lived with her four-year-old daughter in Kenel, South Dakota, which lies within the Standing Rock Sioux Indian Reservation. Cadotte’s daughter is a profoundly delayed non-verbal child who requires a feeding tube for sustenance. During the summer and fall of 2021, Cadotte starved her daughter, routinely skipping scheduled feedings and swapping whole milk for formula. Due to this neglect, the girl’s weight dropped from 34 pounds in May to 25 pounds in December, when she was removed from Cadotte’s care. The child is currently thriving in an institutional setting.
This matter was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office because the Major Crimes Act, a federal statute, mandates that certain serious crimes alleged to have occurred in Indian country be prosecuted in federal court as opposed to State court.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Indian Affairs- Office of Justice Services and the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Carl Thunem prosecuted the case.
Cadotte was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime Alerts (b)
ABERDEEN – United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Charles B. Kornmann has sentenced a McLaughlin, South Dakota, man convicted of Voluntary Manslaughter. The sentencing took place on September 30, 2024.
Johnathan Guggolz, 48, was sentenced to five years in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Guggolz was indicted by a federal grand jury in October of 2023. He pleaded guilty on July 8, 2024.
On the afternoon of August 29, 2023, in McLaughlin, South Dakota, within the Standing Rock Sioux Indian Reservation, a 62-year-old man pulled into the school driveway to pick his wife up from work. Guggolz pulled up next to the man and confronted him about his driving, mocking and belittling him. The man eventually exited his car, secured a pair of duct-taped homemade nunchucks to protect himself, and squared up with Guggolz, a former amateur boxer. After a few moments of posturing, the man thrust the nunchucks towards Guggolz’ hip. Guggolz then punched the man in the face, knocking him unconscious. The man fell backwards and struck his head on the concrete. Guggolz glanced down at the man, now lying helpless on the driveway, then returned to his pickup and drove away. The man subsequently died of a traumatic brain injury incurred in the assault.
This matter was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office because the Major Crimes Act, a federal statute, mandates that certain violent crimes alleged to have occurred in Indian country be prosecuted in federal court as opposed to State court.
This case was investigated by the FBI, the Bureau of Indian Affairs – Office of Justice Services, and the Mobridge Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Carl Thunem prosecuted the case.
Guggolz was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime Alerts (c)
Gregory J. Haanstad, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on October 4, 2024, Anthony Brown, Jr. (age: 50), a former resident of Keshena on the Menominee Indian Reservation, received an eight-year federal prison sentence following convictions for possession with intent to distribute cocaine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking. Brown will also face five years of supervised release once he completes his sentence. The sentence, imposed by Senior United States District Judge William C. Griesbach, was the result of a guilty plea entered by the defendant on June 14, 2024.
According to court records, during the early morning hours of January 1, 2024, investigators with the Menominee Tribal Police Department observed the defendant in his vehicle as he engaged in a hand-to-hand drug transaction in the parking lot of a business on the Menominee Indian Reservation. After a brief interaction, the defendant was arrested and searched. Law enforcement recovered over 15 grams of cocaine and approximately $4400 in U.S. currency from his person and recovered a loaded .380 caliber semiautomatic handgun from the vehicle. The firearm had the defendant’s DNA on it.
Also, according to court records, law enforcement had an additional contact with Brown on January 15, 2024. Brown was arrested after being found passed out at the wheel of a car stopped in Keshena. Brown had cocaine on his person. Officers applied for and obtained a search warrant for the defendant’s residence, which led to the discovery of 380 grams of cocaine, paraphernalia associated with drug use and packaging, ammunition, a ledger containing names, amounts, and prices, and a Glock 21 .45 caliber handgun.
Investigators seized numerous items which the defendant agreed were proceeds or facilities of illegal drug activity, including $7000 in cash, a 2016 Chevrolet Corvette, a 1999 Porsche Boxster, a 2019 Ford F250 pickup, a 2014 Jeep Wrangler, and a 2017 Kawasaki sport bike style motorcycle. Investigators also seized 216 pairs of luxury shoes. These items were ordered forfeited as part of his sentence.
During the sentencing hearing, Judge Griesbach noted the seriousness of the crime and the need to deter those who might consider similar actions to protect the community from the destructive effects of controlled substance abuse. Judge Griesbach also observed the need to incapacitate the defendant for a lengthy period, particularly considering Brown’s previous convictions for drug dealing.
The Menomonee Tribal Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigations investigated the case as part of the Safe Trails Task Force (STTF) and the Native American Drug and Gang Initiative (NADGI). NADGI and STTF partner federal, tribal, state, and local law enforcement to combat drug trafficking and violent crime on the Menominee Indian Reservation. STTF members are deputized federal officers who identify and target for prosecution individuals who are involved in distribution of dangerous drugs on the Menominee Indian Reservation. Coordination of state resources through NADGI permits efficient communication and evidence processing, which are essential to swift and fair prosecution of offenders. Assistant United States Attorney Andrew J. Maier prosecuted the case.
# # #
Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime Alerts (b)
RAPID CITY – United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Camela C. Theeler has sentenced a Rapid City, South Dakota, man convicted of Involuntary Manslaughter. The sentencing took place on October 2, 2024.
Lionel Morrison, age 53, was sentenced to three years of probation and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Morrison was indicted for the charge by a federal grand jury in July of 2023. He pleaded guilty on June 7, 2024.
In May of 2023, Morrison, who was intoxicated, was driving a vehicle just north of Pine Ridge when he lost control of the vehicle. After losing control of the vehicle, Morrison overcorrected the path of the vehicle causing it to roll three times causing the front passenger to be ejected from the vehicle. The victim ultimately succumbed to his injuries on the way to the hospital.
This matter was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office because the Major Crimes Act, a federal statute, mandates that certain violent crimes alleged to have occurred in Indian country be prosecuted in Federal court as opposed to State court.
This case was investigated by the Oglala Sioux Tribe – Department of Public Safety and the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Megan Poppen prosecuted the case.
Source: United States Attorneys General 9
The Justice Department today sued Fitness International LLC, also called LA Fitness, for discriminating against people with disabilities at its gym and fitness clubs. LA Fitness is the largest chain of owner-operated gym and fitness clubs in the United States, with nearly 700 locations across the country.
The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, alleges LA Fitness violated the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), which prohibits public accommodations, including gym and fitness clubs, from discriminating against people with disabilities. The ADA requires LA Fitness to give people with disabilities equal access to LA Fitness’ services and facilities, remove architectural barriers to make its facilities accessible to people with disabilities and maintain accessible features. The ADA also prohibits LA Fitness from charging extra fees to people with disabilities.
Yet, as the department’s lawsuit alleges, LA Fitness gym and fitness clubs have many barriers that prevent LA Fitness members with disabilities from accessing the clubs or using the clubs’ pools and fitness equipment. Common barriers include broken pool lifts and broken elevators. Sometimes, these issues left people with mobility disabilities unable to get into clubs or pools at all. Other times, people with disabilities have gotten stuck dangling over the water on broken pool lifts, have had to call LA Fitness staff to help them get in and out of pools or have had to crawl out of pools. Even after members with disabilities complained about these issues, LA Fitness did not fix them for long periods of time.
“Access to physical fitness activity is crucial for promoting the health and well-being of all Americans, including those with disabilities,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “For over 30 years, the ADA has prohibited gyms and fitness clubs like LA Fitness from denying patrons with disabilities the opportunity to use and enjoy facilities enjoyed by patrons without disabilities. Through this lawsuit, the Justice Department seeks to eliminate LA Fitness’s discriminatory barriers and ensure that people with disabilities have equal access to fully participate at their local LA Fitness gym and fitness clubs.”
“Ensuring accessibility is key to safeguarding civil rights for all Americans,” said U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada for the Central District of California. “Our office is committed to ensuring that people with disabilities have access to public accommodations by enforcing the protections afforded by the Americans with Disabilities Act. When we support those with disabilities, our entire community benefits.”
Through the lawsuit, the department asks the court to stop LA Fitness from discriminating against people with disabilities, including by requiring LA Fitness to make its facilities and equipment accessible. The department also seeks monetary damages for people harmed by LA Fitness’ discrimination. This includes people who were directly harmed by LA Fitness’ barriers to access and broken equipment, as well people who need help to use LA Fitness’ clubs and were charged extra fees to have a friend, nurse or personal assistant help them use LA Fitness facilities.
If you or someone you know had trouble accessing an LA Fitness gym or fitness club because of a disability, including due to a broken pool lift or elevator, or if you were charged an extra fee to have someone help you access LA Fitness’ equipment, please call 1-888-392-5417 (toll-free), or email Claims.LAFitness@usdoj.gov. For more information on the ADA, please call the department’s toll-free ADA Information Line at 1-800-514-0301 (TDD 800-514-0383) or visit http://www.ada.gov. For more information on the Civil Rights Division, please visit http://www.justice.gov/crt.
Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime Alerts (c)
The United States continues to be in a heightened threat environment, and the FBI is fully engaged to detect and stop any potential threats to the American people. As we mark one year since the October 7, 2023, attack by Hamas, the ongoing conflict in the Middle East calls for vigilance by the FBI, our law enforcement partners, and members of the public.
Conspiracy to Commit Fraud and Related Activity in Connection with Computers; Intentional Damage to a Protected Computer; Transmitting a Demand in Relation to Damaging a Protected Computer; Conspiracy to Commit Money Laundering
The FBI is seeking to identify individuals involved in the violent activities that occurred at the U.S. Capitol and surrounding areas on January 6, 2021. View photos and related information here. If you have any information to provide, visit tips.fbi.gov or call 1-800-CALL-FBI.
Source: United States Department of Justice (Human Trafficking)
HOUSTON – A Mexican national illegally residing in Houston and a relative have been sentenced following their convictions of several sex trafficking crimes, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.
Maria Botello-Morales, 57, and her son Edgar Adrian Botello, 31, Houston, pleaded guilty in 2023.
U.S. District Judge Andrew S. Hanen has now imposed a 280-month-term of imprisonment for Botello-Morales, while Botello received a total of 180 months. Restitution will be determined at a later date. Not a U.S. citizen, Botello-Morales is expected to face removal proceedings following her imprisonment, while Botello will serve 15 years on supervised release following completion of his prison term. During that time, he will have to comply with numerous requirements designed to restrict his access to children and the internet. Both will also be ordered to register as sex offenders.
“Cantina cases shine a light on a unique form of trafficking where mostly undocumented women are sexually exploited for the financial benefit of the traffickers,” said Hamdani. “These individuals stole the American dream from the victims. This form of trafficking takes advantage of the fear these victims live in and we are grateful for the hard work of the Texas Alcohol and Beverage Commission (TABC) and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in bringing them justice.”
“TABC is proud to work with the Office of the U.S. Attorney and our other partners in the effort to end human trafficking in Texas,” said TABC Chairman Kevin J. Lilly. “We join our fellow Texans in denouncing this heinous crime and reaffirming our pledge to help free the victims of human trafficking.”
At the time of the pleas, Botello-Morales admitted to sex trafficking with force, fraud or coercion and conspiracy to do so as well as sex trafficking of a minor. Botello pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit sex trafficking with force, fraud or coercion, two counts of sex trafficking of adults as well as possession of child pornography.
In 2007, Botello-Morales recruited a minor female from Mexico. She caused the minor to engage in commercial sex and took payment directly from the commercial sex buyers.
Botello-Morales ran Puerto Algre with Botello and others from 2015 to 2020. Puerto Algre was a cantina where numerous females were forced to engage in commercial sex in backrooms built specifically for that purpose. Botello-Morales, Botello and others threatened and intimidated these victims with violence to manipulate them into engaging in commercial sex for their own financial benefits.
The victims reported they started at the bar as waitresses. However, Botello-Morales soon told them they had to engage in commercial sex. If they refused, she threatened them with violence.
Some witnessed violence and weapons at the bar and in the back area where the sex acts occurred. Each described how they had to take customers to the backrooms through a door and hidden from view of the bar. They were given a condom wrapped in a paper towel, were to spend no more than 15 minutes in the room and charge approximately $70. On the way out, they had to turn the money over to whoever was guarding the room.
During the investigation, one victim also explained when she refused to come to work, Botello-Morales sent someone to physically assault her.
The victims explained that Botello, who regularly carried a weapon, was the enforcer. He would also pass out the condoms and collect the money. During the execution of a search warrant at the home Botello-Morales and Botello shared, law enforcement found several loaded firearms in his room along with a computer containing child pornography.
Another co-conspirator, Esteban Toribio, 65, Houston, pleaded guilty June 17 and held the liquor license for the bar. Toribio reported the conduct to authorities in an attempt to help him gain control of the cantina. Also convicted in relation to the conspiracy was Arian Botello, 26, the nephew of Botello-Morales.
Both will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
TABC and HSI conducted the investigation with the assistance of the Houston Police Department (HPD) as part of the Human Trafficking Rescue Alliance (HTRA). Assistant U.S. Attorney Sherri L. Zack prosecuted the case.
HTRA law enforcement includes members of the HPD; FBI; HSI; Texas Attorney General’s Office; IRS-Criminal Investigation; Department of Labor (DOL); DOL – Wage and Hour Division; Department of State; Federal Air Marshals; TABC; Texas Department of Public Safety; Texas Rangers; Texas Parks and Wildlife; Social Security Administration – OIG; Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation; Texas Department of Family and Protective Services as well as police departments in Houston Independent School District (ISD), Conroe ISD and Missouri City; Harris County constables offices – Precincts one and four; sheriff’s offices in Harris, Montgomery, Fort Bend, Brazoria and Waller counties in coordination with District Attorney’s offices in Harris, Montgomery, Fort Bend and Galveston counties. They work in coordination with victim service providers such as YMCA, United Against Human Trafficking and Texas Forensic Nurse Examiners.
Established in 2004, the United States Attorney’s office in Houston formed HTRA to combine resources with federal, state and local enforcement agencies and prosecutors, as well as non-governmental service organizations to target human traffickers while providing necessary services to those that the traffickers victimized. Since its inception, HTRA has been recognized as both a national and international model in identifying and assisting victims of human trafficking and prosecuting those engaged in trafficking offenses.
Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation FBI Crime News (b)
ALBUQUERQUE – An Arizona woman has been charged by indictment on multiple counts of abandonment and abuse of a child for allegedly placing three girls in a dangerous situation earlier this year.
Avedale Johnson, 40, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, appeared before a federal judge last week and was placed on conditions of release pending trial.
According to the indictment, on May 4, 2024, Johnson is accused of putting Jane Doe 1, Jane Doe 2, and Jane Doe 3—three children under the age of 18—at significant risk of harm by placing them in a situation that could have endangered their lives and health.
If convicted, Johnson faces up to three years in prison.
U.S. Attorney Alexander M.M. Uballez and Raul Bujanda, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today.
The Farmington Resident Agency of the FBI’s Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Navajo Police Department and Department of Criminal Investigations. Assistant United States Attorney Caitlin L. Dillon is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation FBI Crime News (b)
The United States continues to be in a heightened threat environment, and the FBI is fully engaged to detect and stop any potential threats to the American people. As we mark one year since the October 7, 2023, attack by Hamas, the ongoing conflict in the Middle East calls for vigilance by the FBI, our law enforcement partners, and members of the public.
Conspiracy to Commit Fraud and Related Activity in Connection with Computers; Intentional Damage to a Protected Computer; Transmitting a Demand in Relation to Damaging a Protected Computer; Conspiracy to Commit Money Laundering
The FBI is seeking to identify individuals involved in the violent activities that occurred at the U.S. Capitol and surrounding areas on January 6, 2021. View photos and related information here. If you have any information to provide, visit tips.fbi.gov or call 1-800-CALL-FBI.
Source: United Kingdom – Prime Minister’s Office 10 Downing Street
The King has been pleased to approve the following appointments.
The King has been pleased to approve the following appointments:
Seema Malhotra MP as a Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Minister for Equalities) in the Department for Education, in addition to her current role as a Parliamentary Under Secretary of State in the Home Office.
Dame Nia Griffith DBE MP as a Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Minister for Equalities) in the Department for Education, in addition to her current role as a Parliamentary Under Secretary of State in the Wales Office.
Lord Cryer as a Lord in Waiting (Government Whip).
In addition, the Prime Minister has appointed the following as Government spokespersons in the House of Lords:
The Rt Hon the Baroness Smith of Malvern as a Government spokesperson for Equalities, in addition to her current role as a Minister of State (Minister for Skills) in the Department for Education.
Lord Collins of Highbury as a Government spokesperson for Equalities, in addition to his current role as a Parliamentary Under Secretary of State in the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, Deputy Leader of the House of Lords and Lord in Waiting (Government Whip).
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Angie Craig (MN-02)
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S. Representative Angie Craig announced $8.9 million in federal funding to hire 23 additional firefighters in the Lakeville and South Metro Fire Departments.
The funding comes from the Federal Emergency Management Association’s Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grant program.
“Ensuring Minnesota’s first responders have everything they need to keep our communities safe and healthy is my top priority,” said Rep. Craig. “These federal dollars will ensure our local fire departments have the necessary staff to build and grow and safely respond to emergency situations. I’ll keep working across the aisle in Congress to help provide our local emergency response agencies with the resources and support they need.”
The Lakeville Fire Department will receive $5,561,853 to help hire 15 full-time firefighters.
The South Metro Fire Department, which serves South St. Paul, West St. Paul and the surrounding area, will receive $3,361,761 to hire eight additional firefighters.
###
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
The King has been pleased to approve the following appointments.
The King has been pleased to approve the following appointments:
Seema Malhotra MP as a Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Minister for Equalities) in the Department for Education, in addition to her current role as a Parliamentary Under Secretary of State in the Home Office.
Dame Nia Griffith DBE MP as a Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Minister for Equalities) in the Department for Education, in addition to her current role as a Parliamentary Under Secretary of State in the Wales Office.
Lord Cryer as a Lord in Waiting (Government Whip).
In addition, the Prime Minister has appointed the following as Government spokespersons in the House of Lords:
The Rt Hon the Baroness Smith of Malvern as a Government spokesperson for Equalities, in addition to her current role as a Minister of State (Minister for Skills) in the Department for Education.
Lord Collins of Highbury as a Government spokesperson for Equalities, in addition to his current role as a Parliamentary Under Secretary of State in the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, Deputy Leader of the House of Lords and Lord in Waiting (Government Whip).
Source: United States Department of Justice 2
Bob Dean Jr. and several companies that he owned and operated have agreed to an $8.2 million consent judgment to resolve allegations that they violated the National Housing Act of 1934 (NHA), by misappropriating and misusing the assets and income of four nursing homes in Louisiana before and after Hurricane Ida’s landfall in August 2021. The four nursing homes, all of which were owned and operated by Dean and his companies, and had loans insured by the Federal Housing Administration (FHA), are Maison De’Ville Nursing Home in Houma; Maison De’Ville Nursing Home in Harvey; Maison Orleans Healthcare in New Orleans; and West Jefferson Health Care Center in Harvey.
The FHA, part of the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), provides mortgage insurance on loans that cover residential care facilities, such as nursing homes, pursuant to the NHA. To encourage lenders to make loans to such facilities, FHA mortgage insurance provides lenders with protection against losses that result from borrowers defaulting on their mortgage loans. To obtain such FHA-insured loans, loan recipients must enter into regulatory agreements with the FHA that provide, among other requirements, that the assets and income of an FHA-insured nursing home may only be spent on goods and services that are reasonable and necessary to the operation of the nursing home. The NHA permits the United States to recover twice the amount of any assets and income of FHA-insured nursing homes that were improperly distributed or misspent.
In 2023, the government filed a complaint against Dean and his corporate entities alleging that they misspent the nursing homes’ assets and income. The United States alleged that in the five years leading up to Hurricane Ida, Dean funneled money that should have been used to prepare an evacuation site for nursing home residents to his personal bank accounts, leaving his nursing homes — and, more importantly, the nursing homes’ residents — unprepared for a hurricane. As a result, when Hurricane Ida made landfall in August 2021, the residents of Dean’s nursing homes had to ride out the storm in an overcrowded and ill-prepared industrial warehouse Dean owned through a corporate entity. The United States alleged that at Dean’s evacuation center, his nursing homes’ residents languished in squalor and did not receive adequate care, leading to the Louisiana Department of Health evacuating the nursing home residents from Dean’s warehouse and revoking Dean’s nursing homes’ licenses. The United States further alleged that, following the hurricane, Dean did not use the homes’ income and assets solely to operate or maintain the nursing homes, but instead to purchase personal goods and services, including antiques, firearms and cars.
“This settlement demonstrates the department’s continuing commitment to holding accountable those who put their own financial gain over the needs of our nation’s seniors,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “We will continue to take action to protect the integrity of federal programs designed to ensure that nursing home residents, who are among our most vulnerable citizens, receive appropriate care.”
“As the residents of Louisiana well know, hurricanes and natural disasters can devastate people’s lives,” said U.S. Attorney Ronald C. Gathe Jr for the Middle District of Louisiana. “Nursing home operators like Mr. Dean have an obligation to protect their residents during such events, particularly if they are going to rely on federal programs to support or sustain their businesses. This settlement will ensure that those individuals charged with caring for our community’s most vulnerable residents take seriously their duty to have proper safeguards and plans in place to avoid tragedies like the one we saw in Independence, Louisiana, after Hurricane Ida.”
“Nursing home providers have obligations to protect the health, safety, and welfare of residents entrusted to their care,” said HUD General Counsel Damon Smith. “Owners of FHA-insured nursing homes should be on notice that we will hold them accountable when we learn of allegations that they have failed to meet those obligations.”
“By the time Hurricane Ida bore down on the vulnerable nursing home residents at properties operated by Mr. Dean, he illegally skimmed funding from those facilities and failed to maintain sanitation and adequately equip the warehouse he designated as the evacuation site,” said HUD Inspector General Rae Oliver Davis. “He unfairly enriched himself while residents under his charge endured horrid conditions including insufficient food and medical care. HUD OIG will continue to work with our law enforcement and prosecutorial partners to hold accountable those who misappropriate funds at the expense of vulnerable populations.”
The Civil Division’s Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Louisiana handled the case, with substantial assistance from HUD and HUD’s Office of Inspector General. Trial Attorneys Christopher Reimer and Samuel Robins of the Civil Division’s Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Davis Rhorer Jr. and Chase Zachary for the Middle District of Louisiana handled the matter.
The United States’ complaint stemmed from an investigation that the Justice Department initiated as part of its Elder Justice Initiative, which supports the efforts of state and local prosecutors, law enforcement and other elder justice professionals to combat elder abuse, neglect and financial exploitation, with the development of training, resources and information. Learn more about the Justice Department’s Elder Justice Initiative at http://www.justice.gov/elderjustice.
The claims settled by this agreement are allegations only. There has been no determination of liability.
US Senate News:
Source: United States Senator for North Dakota John Hoeven
10.08.24
Senator Worked to Advance New Capability Supporting North Dakota as Most Advanced UAS Ecosystem in The Nation, Strengthens NAS Integration & Counter-UAS Development
GRAND FORKS, N.D. – At the Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) Summit today, Senator John Hoeven announced that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and Northern Plains UAS Test Site have reached agreement to share the FAA’s unfiltered radar data feed to support UAS integration efforts. North Dakota’s test site will be the first in the nation to receive this capability, which will:
Maintain the state’s position as the most advanced UAS ecosystem in the nation.
Strengthen the test site’s detect-and-avoid capabilities, which allows unmanned aircraft operating under the test site to safely fly where other state’s test sites could not.
Empower the test site to detect malicious or unlawful UAS traffic, helping make North Dakota the premiere location for counter-UAS technology development.
Countering threats from the misuse of unmanned aircraft is a critical Department of Defense (DoD) priority.
This issue was at the heart of Hoeven’s recent discussions with Air Combat Command (ACC) Commander Gen. Kenneth Wilsbach and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Charles Q. Brown.
Accordingly, Hoeven is advancing Project ULTRA as the funding vehicle to support counter-UAS development. Hoeven worked to establish the initial contract valued at up to $18.25 million for efforts like this, and the project is eligible for additional funding in subsequent years.
Hoeven is working with additional federal agencies, including the DoD and the Department of Justice (DOJ), to secure their approval of the agreement as soon as possible.
Currently, FAA radars collect more data than can be shared outside of federal government agencies, due to technical challenges and security concerns. By working to unlock this capability for North Dakota, the state will be positioned to continue leading the future of unmanned aviation research, development and operations. Hoeven’s two guests at the UAS Summit are leading these important priorities:
FAA Deputy Administrator Katie Thomson, a key figure in FAA’s efforts to safely integrate UAS into the national airspace (NAS).
Gen. David Stewart, Director of the Joint Counter-Small UAS Office (JCO), who is leading the DoD’s efforts to protect against the misuse of drone technology.
“This agreement between the FAA and the Northern Plains UAS Test Site to share unfiltered radar data adds a new tool to our vast toolkit in North Dakota, ensuring we remain the most advanced UAS ecosystem in the country,” said Hoeven. “We’ve worked for nearly two decades to build up our state’s talent, infrastructure and legal authorizations to make North Dakota the premiere location for all aspects of the UAS industry. As a result, our test site has more firsts and more partnerships than any other test site. Between this new capability and Project ULTRA, which will help fund many of the upcoming efforts, including counter-UAS development, we are positioned to continue leading the pack.”
Advancing Project ULTRA
Hoeven worked to establish and fund Project ULTRA to advance the development of practical UAS applications like supply delivery, base inspections and installation security, benefitting Grand Forks Air Force Base and military installations across the country. The senator recently announced that the DoD has tasked Project ULTRA with conducting demonstration flights using unmanned aircraft to move cargo between Grand Forks Air Force Base and Cavalier Space Force Station.
Enhancing Counter-UAS Capabilities
Hoeven stressed how initiatives like Project ULTRA can be utilized to strengthen the nation’s counter-UAS capabilities. Currently, threats such as drone swarm attacks against Israel and Ukraine, as well as UAS incursions into airspace near U.S. military bases, require significantly more expensive counter measures from the U.S. and its allies. This comes in addition to legislation Hoeven helped introduce and pass to support the development of counter-UAS technology and protect important facilities from potential misuse of unmanned aircraft. Hoeven is now sponsoring a bill to renew and expand upon the authorities created under this law.
Strengthening ND’s Missions
Following the fireside chat, Hoeven introduced a video from Dr. William LaPlante, Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment, who the senator has invited to the state to see its UAS ecosystem firsthand. Hoeven, who serves as a member of the Senate Defense Appropriations Committee, has been working with LaPlante to advance the range of missions in North Dakota, from nuclear missions in Minot to the unmanned missions in the Red River Valley. LaPlante’s remarks reinforced the discussion between Hoeven, Thomson and Stewart, further driving home the importance of UAS and counter-UAS to future DoD operations.
US Senate News:
Source: United States Senator for New York Kirsten Gillibrand
With critical subsidies that help over 20 million Americans afford health insurance set to expire, U.S. Senator Gillibrand held a press conference in NYC to announce the Health Care Affordability Act, legislation to extend these subsidies and ensure New Yorkers don’t lose access to affordable health care. Without an extension, these 20 million Americans will see a sudden increase in their health insurance costs and an estimated 3 million Americans could lose their insurance. Gillibrand’s legislation would permanently extend the enhanced Premium Tax Credits offered in individual marketplaces under the Affordable Care Act and keep health care costs lowered for all Americans.
“Access to affordable, high-quality health care should be a basic human right,” said Senator Gillibrand. “No one should have to forgo treatment because they can’t afford the cost of health insurance. Allowing these tax credits to expire would needlessly jeopardize our public health and shoulder hard-working New York families with a financial burden many can’t afford. I am determined to get this bill passed and keep health care costs lowered for all Americans.”
Premium tax credits (PTC) were established as part of the Affordable Care Act, which became law in 2010. PCTs are refundable credits that help eligible individuals and families – those with incomes between 100 percent and 400 percent of the Federal Poverty Line – cover the premiums for their health insurance purchased through the Health Insurance Marketplace.
In 2021, the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) temporarily expanded eligibility for the PTC to additional individuals and households. It also lowered premiums for those who were already eligible. This enhanced PTC reduced net premium costs by an average of 44%.
In 2022, the Inflation Reduction Act extended these enhanced Premium Tax Credits for three years. In that time, ACA enrollment has nearly doubled, helping more low-income households receive coverage and care.
If Congress does not act to again extend the enhanced Premium Tax Credit, they will expire at the end of 2025 and millions of Americans in New York and across the country are in danger of no longer being able to afford their premiums.
Gillibrand was joined by Sonia Sekhar, Deputy Director at New York State of Health; Mark Hannay, Executive Director of Metro New York Health Care for All; Veronica Smith, Senior Director of Health Policy and Government Affairs at Public Health Solutions; and Elisabeth Benjamin, Vice President of Health Initiative at Community Service Society.
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)
21Shares AG, the issuer of ETPs listed on various trading venues, has published its interim financial statements for the six months ending 30 June 2024. The financial statements are available at: https://21shares.com/ir/financials
Contact:
Email: press@21.co
Phone: +41 44 260 86 60
About 21Shares AG:
21Shares AG, Pelikanstrasse 37, 8001 Zurich, is a Swiss corporation registered in the commercial register of Zurich under the number CHE-347.562.100. It was incorporated on 27 July 2018 and its purpose is the issuance of Exchange Traded Products (ETPs) in Switzerland and worldwide.
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Prudence Flowers, Senior Lecturer in US History, College of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences, Flinders University
It might seem surprising today in the era of Donald Trump, but Republicans in the United States once championed immigration and supported pathways to citizenship for undocumented Americans.
In January 1989, Ronald Reagan’s final speech as president was an impassioned ode to the immigrants who made America “a nation forever young, forever bursting with energy and new ideas”.
Contrast this with Trump, who has normalised dehumanising rhetoric and policies against immigrants. In this year’s presidential campaign, for instance, he has referred to undocumented immigrants as “animals” who are “poisoning the blood of our country”.
Both Trump and his vice presidential running mate, JD Vance, also repeated a false story about Haitian “illegal aliens” eating pets in Springfield, Ohio.
Perhaps most troubling, Trump has pledged to launch “the largest deportation operation in the history of our country”, if he’s elected.
Nativism, or anti-immigrant sentiment, has a long history in American politics.
In 1924, a highly restrictive immigration quota system based on racial and national origins was introduced. This law envisaged America as a white, Anglo-Saxon, Protestant nation.
However, there was no restriction on immigrants from the Western Hemisphere. The agricultural and railroad sectors relied heavily on workers from Mexico.
In 1965, the quota system was replaced by visa preference categories for family and employment-based migrants, along with refugee and asylum slots.
Then, as violence and economic instability spread across Central America in the 1970s, there was a surge in undocumented immigration to the US.
Scholar Leo Chavez argues that in the late 1980s and early 1990s, an alarmist “Latino threat narrative” became the dominant motif in media discussions of immigration.
This narrative was frequently driven by Republican politicians in states on the US-Mexico border, who derived electoral advantage from amplifying voter anxieties.
The growing popularity of this negative discourse coincided with a significant increase in income inequality – a byproduct of neo-liberal policies championed by Reagan and other Republicans.
In the early-to-mid 20th century, Democrats were often the party that supported restrictive immigration and border policies.
However, most Republicans at the national level – strongly supported by business – tended to endorse policies that encouraged the easy flow of workers across the border and increased levels of legal immigration.
Prominent conservative Republicans also rejected vilifying rhetoric towards undocumented Americans. They presented all immigrants as pursuing opportunities for their families, a framing that emphasised a shared vision of the American dream. In this telling, their labour contributed to the economy and America’s growth and prosperity.
Reagan, the most influential conservative of the late 20th century, opposed erecting a border wall and supported amnesty over deportation.
Reagan also strongly supported bipartisan immigration reform. In 1986, Congress passed an immigration act that increased border security funding, but also ensured 2.7 million undocumented immigrants, primarily of Latino background, were able to gain legal status.
Twenty years later, President George W. Bush and Republican Senator John McCain lobbied for a bipartisan bill that would have tightened border enforcement while simultaneously “legalising” an estimated 12 million undocumented immigrants. It was narrowly defeated.
This vocal support for immigrants by leading Republicans was striking because for much of the period between the late 1980s and the early 2000s, a majority of Americans actually wanted immigration levels reduced.
Then, around 2009, a dramatic shift in political rhetoric took place. The Tea Party movement brought border security and “racial resentment” towards immigrants centre stage, challenging conservative Republicans from the populist right.
As a result, more and more Republicans began to voice restrictionist and xenophobic rhetoric and support legislation aimed at cracking down on illegal immigration.
What’s surprising, though, is the number of undocumented immigrants in the US was actually declining at this time, from 12.2 million in 2007 to 10.7 million in 2016.
In this worsening anti-immigrant climate, Trump descended a golden escalator in mid-2015 to launch his presidential campaign.
In his speech that day, immigration was front and centre. Trump vowed to “build a great wall” and accused Mexico of sending “rapists” and “criminals” to America.
His speeches during the presidential campaign were marked by frequent anti-Mexican assertions and calls for Islamophobic visa policies. This hostile stance on immigration was central to his victory in both the Republican primaries and the general election against Hillary Clinton.
Once in office, Trump then adopted a “zero tolerance” stance towards undocumented immigration. His administration pursued a heartrending family separation policy that split children and their undocumented parents at the border. This approach was celebrated on conservative media outlets such as Fox News.
During his presidency, he also reduced legal immigration by almost half, drastically cut America’s refugee intake, and introduced bans on people from Muslim-majority countries.
Policy expert David Bier concluded the goal of Republican lawmakers had shifted:
It really looks like the entire debate about illegality is not the main issue anymore for Republicans in both chambers of Congress. The main goal seems to be to reduce the number of foreigners in the United States to the greatest extent possible.
Indeed, Trump’s vision of the nation had overtly racial overtones.
In one 2018 meeting, he asked why America should accept immigrants from “shithole countries” like Haiti, El Salvador or the African continent. His preference was for Norwegian migrants.
From 2021–2023, undocumented US-Mexico border crossings surged due to natural disasters, economic downturns and violence in many Latin American and Caribbean nations. Many of the recent arrivals are asylum seekers.
Though the numbers have fallen sharply in 2024, immigration and the border are still one of the top issues for voters across the political spectrum. The issue is particularly important in the key swing state of Arizona.
In 2024, Trump’s central immigration promise was encapsulated by the beaming delegates waving signs calling for “Mass Deportations Now” at the Republican National Convention.
The Trump-Vance ticket has blamed undocumented immigrants for almost every economic and social problem imaginable. The two candidates present them as a dangerous and subversive “other” that cannot be assimilated into mainstream American culture.
Yet Trump, as both president and candidate, has worked to prevent the passage of border security legislation. Turmoil on the border benefits him.
And his nativism now encompasses all forms of immigration – he has pledged to curb legal channels for people to enter the country, as well.
All of this rhetoric has had a dramatic impact on public opinion. Between 2016 and 2024, the number of people supporting the deportation of undocumented immigrants jumped from 32% to 47%.
In July 2024, 55% of Americans also said they wanted to see immigration levels decrease, a 14-point increase in one year.
Many Americans do not perceive immigration as a source of vitality and renewal as they had in the past. Instead, reflecting Trump’s language, they are viewing immigrants as an existential threat to the country’s future.
Prudence Flowers does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
– ref. Republicans once championed immigration in the US. Now, under Trump, an ugly nativism has been normalised – https://theconversation.com/republicans-once-championed-immigration-in-the-us-now-under-trump-an-ugly-nativism-has-been-normalised-239836
Source: US State of California
Bob Dean Jr. and several companies that he owned and operated have agreed to an $8.2 million consent judgment to resolve allegations that they violated the National Housing Act of 1934 (NHA), by misappropriating and misusing the assets and income of four nursing homes in Louisiana before and after Hurricane Ida’s landfall in August 2021. The four nursing homes, all of which were owned and operated by Dean and his companies, and had loans insured by the Federal Housing Administration (FHA), are Maison De’Ville Nursing Home in Houma; Maison De’Ville Nursing Home in Harvey; Maison Orleans Healthcare in New Orleans; and West Jefferson Health Care Center in Harvey.
The FHA, part of the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), provides mortgage insurance on loans that cover residential care facilities, such as nursing homes, pursuant to the NHA. To encourage lenders to make loans to such facilities, FHA mortgage insurance provides lenders with protection against losses that result from borrowers defaulting on their mortgage loans. To obtain such FHA-insured loans, loan recipients must enter into regulatory agreements with the FHA that provide, among other requirements, that the assets and income of an FHA-insured nursing home may only be spent on goods and services that are reasonable and necessary to the operation of the nursing home. The NHA permits the United States to recover twice the amount of any assets and income of FHA-insured nursing homes that were improperly distributed or misspent.
In 2023, the government filed a complaint against Dean and his corporate entities alleging that they misspent the nursing homes’ assets and income. The United States alleged that in the five years leading up to Hurricane Ida, Dean funneled money that should have been used to prepare an evacuation site for nursing home residents to his personal bank accounts, leaving his nursing homes — and, more importantly, the nursing homes’ residents — unprepared for a hurricane. As a result, when Hurricane Ida made landfall in August 2021, the residents of Dean’s nursing homes had to ride out the storm in an overcrowded and ill-prepared industrial warehouse Dean owned through a corporate entity. The United States alleged that at Dean’s evacuation center, his nursing homes’ residents languished in squalor and did not receive adequate care, leading to the Louisiana Department of Health evacuating the nursing home residents from Dean’s warehouse and revoking Dean’s nursing homes’ licenses. The United States further alleged that, following the hurricane, Dean did not use the homes’ income and assets solely to operate or maintain the nursing homes, but instead to purchase personal goods and services, including antiques, firearms and cars.
“This settlement demonstrates the department’s continuing commitment to holding accountable those who put their own financial gain over the needs of our nation’s seniors,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “We will continue to take action to protect the integrity of federal programs designed to ensure that nursing home residents, who are among our most vulnerable citizens, receive appropriate care.”
“As the residents of Louisiana well know, hurricanes and natural disasters can devastate people’s lives,” said U.S. Attorney Ronald C. Gathe Jr for the Middle District of Louisiana. “Nursing home operators like Mr. Dean have an obligation to protect their residents during such events, particularly if they are going to rely on federal programs to support or sustain their businesses. This settlement will ensure that those individuals charged with caring for our community’s most vulnerable residents take seriously their duty to have proper safeguards and plans in place to avoid tragedies like the one we saw in Independence, Louisiana, after Hurricane Ida.”
“Nursing home providers have obligations to protect the health, safety, and welfare of residents entrusted to their care,” said HUD General Counsel Damon Smith. “Owners of FHA-insured nursing homes should be on notice that we will hold them accountable when we learn of allegations that they have failed to meet those obligations.”
“By the time Hurricane Ida bore down on the vulnerable nursing home residents at properties operated by Mr. Dean, he illegally skimmed funding from those facilities and failed to maintain sanitation and adequately equip the warehouse he designated as the evacuation site,” said HUD Inspector General Rae Oliver Davis. “He unfairly enriched himself while residents under his charge endured horrid conditions including insufficient food and medical care. HUD OIG will continue to work with our law enforcement and prosecutorial partners to hold accountable those who misappropriate funds at the expense of vulnerable populations.”
The Civil Division’s Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Louisiana handled the case, with substantial assistance from HUD and HUD’s Office of Inspector General. Trial Attorneys Christopher Reimer and Samuel Robins of the Civil Division’s Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Davis Rhorer Jr. and Chase Zachary for the Middle District of Louisiana handled the matter.
The United States’ complaint stemmed from an investigation that the Justice Department initiated as part of its Elder Justice Initiative, which supports the efforts of state and local prosecutors, law enforcement and other elder justice professionals to combat elder abuse, neglect and financial exploitation, with the development of training, resources and information. Learn more about the Justice Department’s Elder Justice Initiative at http://www.justice.gov/elderjustice.
The claims settled by this agreement are allegations only. There has been no determination of liability.
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)
New York, NY, Oct. 08, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Spartan Capital Securities, LLC is pleased to announce the release of its Q3 2024 Performance Overview and Technical Outlook. Prepared by market strategist Gianpaolo Raffo, this comprehensive report provides an in-depth analysis of market trends, sector performances, and projections for the next quarter.
Published on October 2nd, 2024, the review explores the behavior of major indices and market sectors, incorporating key statistics and visualizations to encapsulate the third quarter’s activities. Through this report, Spartan Capital aims to provide valuable insights into market dynamics and sentiment, assisting clients in navigating the complexities of the investment landscape.
During Q3, Spartan Capital reported growth across multiple sectors, with a particular emphasis on the S&P 500, Nasdaq, and significant market movements. “Our Q3 analysis provides essential context for understanding the current market environment and making future investment decisions,” remarked Gianpaolo Raffo. “We remain committed to delivering precise and actionable insights to our clients.”
Spartan Capital’s dedication to excellence in financial analysis and client service is evident in the careful preparation of this report. As markets evolve, Spartan Capital continues to lead with guidance grounded in rigorous research and market expertise.
To read the full Q3 2024 Performance Overview, including comprehensive analyses and insights, please visit our website at https://spartancapital.com/quarterly-overview-q3-2024/.
About Spartan Capital Securities, LLC:
Spartan Capital Securities, LLC is a premier full-service financial firm, offering expert investment advice to high-net-worth individuals and institutional clients. Known for its extensive market knowledge, strategic risk management, and personalized service, Spartan Capital and CEO John Lowry exemplify integrity and professionalism in the financial services industry.
Contact:
Kim Monchik
45 Broadway, 19th Floor
New York, NY 10006
Info@spartancapital.com
Source: US National Republican Congressional Committee
The following text contains opinion that is not, or not necessarily, that of MIL-OSI –
October 8, 2024
The Wall Street Journal Editorial Board fact-checked Democrats, including Jones, calling their abortion ads “fiction.”
“This is embarrassing for Mondaire Jones and his D.C. Democrat friends. The only thing they can do is lie, but their lies aren’t sticking because New Yorkers know Congressman Lawler is a commonsense advocate for NY-17.”— NRCC Spokeswoman Savannah Viar
Source: US State of West Virginia
CHARLESTON, WV — Gov. Jim Justice has activated approximately 40 members of the West Virginia National Guard to support response and recovery efforts for Hurricane Milton, which is projected to make landfall in Florida on October 9, 2024.
Approximately 10-12 Airmen from the 130th Airlift Wing headquartered in Charleston, West Virginia, will deploy to assist the State of Florida with potential search and recovery operations.
Additionally, approximately 30 engineers from the 821st Engineer Construction Company headquartered in Summersville, along with support equipment such as skid steers and front loaders from the 601st Engineer Support Company headquartered in Buckhannon, will also deploy to assist with debris removal and management Operations.
Both groups will initially stage in northern Florida under the command of the Florida National Guard and will deploy to impacted communities as determined by state and local officials. They are expected to spend approximately 12 days on the ground in a State Active Duty status.
“When our neighbors put out the call for help, time and time again, we answer,” Gov. Justice said. “We supported our friends in Kentucky last year, and now we’re running to the fire in Florida. That’s what we do in West Virginia–we pull the rope together and help our neighbors. So, I’m proud we can join forces with the Florida National Guard in their response efforts. My thoughts and prayers are with our amazing men and women traveling south, all the first responders in the area, and everyone dealing with this challenging hurricane season. Let’s continue to take care of each other.”
“With the devastation of Hurricane Helene still present, Florida is now under threat of a storm with even deadlier potential,” Maj. Gen. Bill Crane, Adjutant General of the West Virginia National Guard, said. “Our Soldiers and Airmen will be there to help support response and relief efforts as needed, support first responders and officials, help citizens survive, and help stabilize communities in the aftermath of Milton. One of the most important missions of our National Guard is neighbors helping neighbors. With the strong support of Gov. Jim Justice, we are ready to provide any and all assistance we can render.”
West Virginia National Guard assistance was formally requested through the Emergency Management Assistance Compact, or EMAC process. EMAC is a mutual aid agreement among states and territories of the United States that enables states to request resources during naturaland man-made disasters, complementing the national disaster response system. The requesting state is responsible for covering the costs of the provided aid.
Hurricane Milton is expected to make landfall in the Tampa Bay region of Florida late Wednesday evening as a Category 3 storm. Milton is forecast to bring potentially catastrophic storm surges along the western coast of Florida, torrential rains and flash flooding, damaging hurricane-force winds, tornadoes, and massive power outages as it makes its way across the state before reemerging as a Category 1 hurricane in the Atlantic Ocean. Currently wavering between a Category 4 and Category 5 storm as it churns in the Gulf of Mexico, Milton is forecast to bring ashore rainfall in excess of 15 inches and coastal surges of more than 10-15 feet.
Milton will impact Florida communities still reeling from the impacts of Hurricane Helene, which battered the southeastern United States, killing at least 225 people. Fifty-one of 67 counties in Florida are now under emergency warnings as Milton approaches, and massive mandatory evacuations are underway.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Ruben Gallego (AZ-07)
PHOENIX – Today, Rep. Ruben Gallego (AZ-03) sent a letter to President Biden urging him to take immediate action to address a growing IV and dialysis solutions shortage. IV solutions – critical for providing care at health facilities – are in short supply after Hurricane Helene forced one of the country’s largest manufacturing facilities to close. The shortage could grow worse as another major facility is in the potential path of Hurricane Milton.
“IV and dialysis solutions are critical to providing care at health facilities across the country, including hospitals and health systems,” Rep. Gallego wrote. “Unfortunately, due to the damage at the Baxter facility, I am hearing from hospitals in my state that they are being informed of supply issues and have been put on strict ordering restrictions. A prolonged shortage of IV solutions would be disastrous for the health and safety of Arizonans and would make it more difficult for medical professionals to provide care.”
In the letter, Rep. Gallego urges the President to consider the following actions to help Arizona’s hospitals and health care providers keep Arizonans safe:
Appoint a member of his Administration to address IV and dialysis solutions supply issues and serve as a point of contact for hospitals and health systems.
Declare a national emergency and public health emergency.
Declare an official shortage of IV solutions.
Provide additional flexibility to hospitals and health systems to allow them to prepare IV solutions internally.
Consider extending the expiration dates of IV solutions wherever possible.
“In addition to the above actions to aid providers, additional actions will likely be needed to alleviate the supply issues moving forward,” he concludes. “This may include invoking the Defense Production Act to improve domestic supply chains, as well as connecting international suppliers with health systems across the country.”
Full text of the letter can be found HERE.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Barbara Lee 13th District of California
“One year ago today, Israel suffered a horrific terrorist attack by Hamas. We continue to mourn the lives lost on that tragic day. I was devastated by the immense suffering then, and remain devasted by the suffering across the region that has happened since. As we remember the lives lost on October 7 and in the past year, we must continue to push for diplomatic solutions to achieve peace and security in the region.
As I have maintained from the very beginning of this war, a ceasefire and hostage deal is the key to resolving this conflict.
Today, I am thinking of all the hostages that have not returned home. I am thinking of all the innocent lives that have been lost in this horrific humanitarian crisis. I am thinking of the millions of civilians – in Israel, in Gaza, in Lebanon, and across the region – that remain at risk of hunger, death, and displacement. We must continue to do everything we can to prevent any further escalation of violence.
It is the obligation of the United States and our international allies to use all available leverage and tools of diplomacy to help prevent the outbreak of a regional war, to help end this conflict, and to help achieve peace and security in the region.”
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Barbara Lee 13th District of California
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA-12) along with co-chairs of the U.S. House Get the Lead Out Caucus Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE-AL), Rashida Tlaib (D-MI-12) and Debbie Dingell (D-MI-06), and Co-founders of the U.S. Senate Lead Task Force Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Cory Booker (D-NJ) today lauded the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) decision to finalize the Biden Administration’s proposed Lead and Copper Rule Improvements (LCRI), which would lower the lead action level to better protect human health and require water systems to replace old and deteriorating lead pipes within a decade. In addition to the LCRI, the EPA also announced $2.6 billion in newly available drinking water infrastructure funding through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) to support lead-related activities, including lead pipe replacement projects. The finalized rule comes ahead of the October 16th finalization deadline to not only help ensure these important improvements are implemented as quickly as possible, but also prevent water systems from being forced to temporarily comply with the prior rule proposed by the Trump Administration—also known as the Lead and Copper Rule Revisions (LCRR)—which would put public health at risk.
“Today, EPA estimates that nearly 9 million homes are served through lead pipes across the country – and disproportionally, many of these homes are located in low-income communities and communities of color,” said Rep. Barbara Lee. “Clean and safe drinking water is a human right, and we must treat it that way. I am proud of the work of my colleagues and I in Congress to achieve our goal of removing every lead pipe in the United States over the next ten years and thank the Biden-Harris Administration for their work in fighting to ensure that communities across our country have access to lead-free water.”
“Today’s announcement from the Biden-Harris Administration is a win-win for our communities because it delivers on our shared commitment to replace all lead pipes across the country within 10 years and protect public health,” said Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester, co-lead of the congressional Get the Lead Out Caucus. “I am proud to have helped push for the swift finalization of the Lead and Copper Rule Improvements with my colleagues in Congress. Thanks to our advocacy, and with the leadership of President Biden and Vice President Harris, we are closer than ever to actualizing a 100% lead-free future.”
“As the founder of the Get the Lead Out Caucus, I know that clean drinking water is a human right,” said Rep. Tlaib. “We must move urgently to replace all lead pipes in our country within the next 10 years, and I’m glad to see the EPA announce the final Lead and Copper Rule Improvements to continue the critical work toward this objective. Congress must continue to work to appropriate the funding necessary to help all of our communities identify, remove, and replace every lead pipe over this next decade.”
“Clean and safe drinking water is a basic human right, and the science is clear – no amount of lead is safe. There are millions of people across the country who don’t even know if they are drinking lead, and I’ve had parents come up to me with tears in their eyes, worried for the wellbeing of their children because of lead in the water at school,” Rep. Dingell said. “I thank the Biden-Harris Administration for their continued commitment to replacing every lead service line in our country to guarantee access to safe water for every community and finally give peace of mind to families.”
” Every American, no matter their zip-code, deserves access to safe drinking water,” said Senator Duckworth, “We’ve been working hard in Congressto achieve our goal of removing every elad pip in America over the next decade, and this historic rule from the Biden Administration and billions in new funding will help us make it a reality whilve preventing Trump-era policies that would harm human health from going into effect, This is a win-win for all Americans.”
“The EPA’s bold leadership in finalizing this critical rule will help us eliminate lead pipes within a decade and put a stop to lead exposure that continues to threaten the health of far too many families and children in our nation today,” said Senator Booker. “Every American deserves access to clean and safe drinking water, and by modernizing our aging water infrastructure we are investing in a future where every family can turn on the tap and know their water is clean. I am proud to have helped lead the call in Congress for a strong final rule, and I thank the Biden-Harris administration for their commitment to environmental justice and public health.”
The finalized rule also improves communication within communities so that families are better informed about the risk of lead in drinking water, the location of lead pipes and plans for replacing them. Exposure to lead is harmful to health, especially for young children. In children, low levels of exposure have been linked to damage to the nervous system, learning disabilities, shorter stature, impaired hearing and impaired formation and function of blood cells.