Monthly Archives: October 2022

Torsten Hoefler to Receive the IEEE Computer Society Sidney Fernbach Memorial Award 2022 – HPCwire

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LOS ALAMITOS, Calif., Oct. 6, 2022 The IEEE Computer Society has named ETH Zurich professor, Torsten Hoefler as the recipient of the 2022Sidney Fernbach Memorial Award for his pioneering contributions to large-scale parallel processing systems and supercomputers.

Established in 1992 in memory of high-performance computing pioneer Sidney Fernbach, the Sidney Fernbach Memorial Award recognizes outstanding contributions in the application of high-performance computers using innovative approaches.

The ideas and software professor Hoefler and his group developed are actively used by tens of thousands of scientists today to power large-scale scientific simulations and artificial intelligence systems. Hoefler has been cited for application-aware design of HPC algorithms, systems and architectures, and transformative impact on scientific computing and industry.

Heading up ETH Zurichs Scalable Parallel Computing Lab, Hoefler and his team have been instrumental in developing techniques to improve the efficiency of high-performance computing and large cloud data center systems. Many of the developed ideas form core components for constructing, running, and programming supercomputers such as the Alps system set to come online at the Swiss National Supercomputing Centre (CSCS) in spring 2023.

One key architectural feature that distinguishes standard computers and commodity clouds with modern supercomputers that consist of millions of tightly coupled processors is networking, and Prof. Hoefler has made numerous innovative, groundbreaking contributions to enable high performance and programmability in such machines, said Satoshi Matsuoka, director or Riken R-CCS and Professor at Tokyo Institute of Technology, the recipient of the 2014 Sidney Fernbach award, In fact his contributions have been comprehensive, from work on innovative and scalable network topologies, various network routing algorithms, performance modeling, to making key contributions to the MPI standard, on which practically every scalable parallel codes are programmed upon. As scalability becomes significant in nontraditional HPC areas such as deep learning, Prof. Hoeflers work will continue to be increasingly impactful for HPC and ultimately to the society.

Hoeflers work includes a focus on improving the performance of highly scalable parallel systems and developing numerous applications in the areas of weather and climate simulation, and machine learning. His contributions range from hardware and systems design for HPC to middleware, applications, as well as algorithms.

David Keyes, Director of the Extreme Computing Research Center at KAUST and 2007 Sidney Fernbach Award recipient, commented: Torstens contributions to the analysis of parallel algorithms in terms of I/O complexity and data movement influence the approach of many scientists and, hopefully, will lead to a new understanding of algorithm design techniques for the next generation. He works not only on theory, but also on practical implementations, both aspects being important for continued scaling progress. Torsten also sets the standard, not only in terms of the software itself, but also in how performance is measured and reported, and even in how rigorous reviews should be conducted. He is an interdisciplinary integrator. His influence across many forms of computation has been truly transformative.

Specifically, his contributions to the Message Passing Interface had a significant impact on computing.

Jack Dongarra, 2003 Sidney Fernbach awardee and winner of the 2021 Turing Award said: Torsten played a significant role in shaping the Message Passing Interface (MPI-3) specification, the de-facto standard for programming distributed memory clusters and supercomputers. As an author of both the Collective Communication as well as Process Topologies chapters, he introduced key concepts such as non-blocking collective communication operations. His ideas have been adopted far beyond MPI as non-blocking all-reduce operations and are used in tens of thousands of deep-learning workloads. His reference implementation found its way into most open-source and commercial MPI implementations. His code is used on essentially all clusters and supercomputers by tens of thousands of researchers and practitioners.

Hoefler has won numerous awards for his work, including being named as an IEEE Fellow and a member of Academia Europaea. He also received the Latsis Prize from ETH Zurich, the ACM Gordon Bell Prize, and two European Research Council (ERC) Grants.

His life work accelerates scientific research and applications of neural networks, making them more efficient and less costly. The impact of which will unlock new computational capabilities that enable breakthrough technologies in modern science.

I am genuinely grateful to my mentors and the scientific community for their support and encouragement. I hope to continue Sidney Fernbachs innovative path by combining computer architecture and applications, said Hoefler.

With an eye on the future Hoefler anticipates tremendous growth, but also some of the challenges society faces in developing efficient large-scale deep learning training and small-scale inference systems. He believes that learning methods will have a fundamental impact on traditional simulation sciences such as weather and climate predictions, topics in which he is deeply invested.

The Sidney Fernbach award consists of a certificate and a $2,000 honorarium. The award will be presented to Hoefler at the SC22 Conference awards opening session in Dallas, Texas on Tuesday morning, November 15, 2022. He will also present an invited talk during the plenary session scheduled from 8:30 10:00am on Wednesday, November 16.

About the IEEE Computer Society

The IEEE Computer Society is the worlds home for computer science, engineering, and technology. A global leader in providing access to computer science research, analysis, and information, the IEEE Computer Society offers a comprehensive array of unmatched products, services, and opportunities for individuals at all stages of their professional careers. Known as the premier organization that empowers the people who drive technology, the IEEE Computer Society offers international conferences, peer-reviewed publications, a unique digital library, and training programs.

Source: IEEE Computer Society

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Torsten Hoefler to Receive the IEEE Computer Society Sidney Fernbach Memorial Award 2022 - HPCwire

Transformative fundraising initiative ‘makes way’ for top applicants – The Source – Washington University in St. Louis – Washington University in St….

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Washington University in St. Louis has announced a transformative fundraising initiative that aims not only to increase financial resources for students at every level of need, including middle-income students, but also to provide a best-in-class experience for all students to learn, develop and flourish while on campus and beyond.

Called Make Way: Our Student Initiative, it will build financial resources for undergraduate scholarships, graduate scholarships and fellowships, and the student experience, helping Washington University remove financial barriers for the most qualified students and offer every student the freedom to navigate an educational path.

With Make Way, we aim to be the most supportive university in the country for all of our students, including first-generation and lower-income students as well as those from middle-income families for whom a WashU education is a significant financial stretch, said Chancellor Andrew D. Martin.

And not only will we help them get here, but well also help them thrive here, so they will leave prepared to make their unique mark on the world, Martin added. It is imperative for us to remain competitive, increase our distinction and live up to our moral obligation as a university to open our doors as fully as possible.

Martin announced Make Way Oct. 6 during a celebratory event in Tisch Park heralded by WashU cheerleaders and the Bear Nation Varsity Band. Faculty, students, donors and friends attended individual school receptions before joining university administrators and Board of Trustees members at the east end of the Danforth Campus for the announcement.

The goal is to raise a minimum of $600 million in gifts and commitments. More than $315 million has been raised already for the initiative thanks to the generosity of alumni, parents and friends. Gifts from some donors encourage others to give. WashU Trustee Lee Fixel, BSBA 02, and his wife, Lauren, of New York, established the Catalyst Challenge, which provides matching funds for new endowed undergraduate scholarships of $200,000 or more. And Trustee Larry Thomas, BSBA 77, created the Step Up Challenge to inspire annual scholarship donors to increase their level of support.

Thomas, a retired general partner at Edward Jones in St. Louis, is also helping lead Make Way. He serves as co-chair of the initiative with alumni Carrie Johnson, BArch 89, a design strategist and social activist in Baltimore; Merry Mosbacher, MBA 82, a retired partner at Edward Jones in St. Louis; and Eric Upin, AB 83, parent of a current student, Washington University Investment Management Company board chair, and co-founder of Point Olema Capital Partners in the San Francisco area.

Make Way follows years of concerted efforts to increase access for bright and motivated students who want to study at WashU regardless of their financial situations. Under Martins leadership since 2019, the university has redoubled those efforts.

A major step forward was Gateway to Success, a $1 billion investment in financial aid and student support for undergraduate, graduate and professional students. That historic investment, announced last fall, allowed the university to achieve its longtime goal of adopting a need-blind undergraduate admissions policy. It was made possible largely through an extraordinary 65% return on WashUs endowment in fiscal year 2020-21.

The university hit a major milestone this fall in its quest to enroll more students with limited resources: 20% of the incoming Class of 2026 is Pell Grant-eligible, a 15 percentage-point increase from 10 years ago.

Martin acknowledged that there remains a significant gap between the universitys endowment resources for undergraduate scholarships and graduate student support and students demonstrated needs. By further growing endowment resources through Make Way, we can bring our scholarship and fellowship packages into alignment with our closest competitors.

Ronn Turner, vice provost for admissions and financial aid, said that because WashU falls behind other top-tier universities in the amount of scholarships and fellowships offered, Were missing out on educating and learning from some of the brightest students with the greatest potential to contribute to our community and our world.

By building a more diverse student body that reflects the racial, socioeconomic and geographic diversity of our region, country and world, we will be enriching the educational experience for all of our students.

By building a more diverse student body that reflects the racial, socioeconomic and geographic diversity of our region, country and world, we will be enriching the educational experience for all of our students, Turner added.

We need to ensure that the strength of our scholarship and fellowship support is equal to the exceptional quality of a WashU education and that we can expand access and opportunity for students at every income level.

Beverly Wendland, provost and executive vice chancellor for academic affairs, said that Make Way will make it possible for more financial aid resources to come from the endowment instead of schools operating budgets.

Freeing up their operating funds will allow schools to reinvest in their academic programs, advancing excellence in academics, research and innovation and capitalizing on new opportunities for growth and excellence, Wendland said. Stronger schools and departments will attract stronger students and faculty.

Make Way also will provide resources to recruit, train and support the most highly qualified graduate students.

To attract the best graduate students, it is critical that we offer competitive stipends and fellowships, as well as provide top-notch professional development and career guidance, Wendland said. This includes providing our graduate students with opportunities to attend academic conferences, learn about various career pathways, and receive faculty mentoring and well-being services.

Another key goal of Make Way is to provide students with comprehensive support or as Anna Gonzalez, vice chancellor for student affairs, affectionately calls it, a big hug of wraparound support.

Providing increased support for the experiences that contribute to educating and caring for the whole student at WashU is essential, Gonzalez said.

We need to level the playing field for all students so that each graduate leaves equally equipped to connect, contribute and succeed, she said.

The need is great, and all WashU students would benefit from better connections to internships, research opportunities, study abroad and other meaningful experiences to ensure they are fully engaged and thriving at Washington University.

Comprehensive student support, such as student health and well-being resources, career advising, leadership training and programming that fosters diversity and inclusion, will help students become changemakers in their families, their professions and their communities, Gonzalez said.

In addition, programs that focus on student success such as student and family orientation; funds for necessities such as computers, textbooks and emergencies; winter and spring break career and leadership opportunities; and life skills seminars will be transformational and change the trajectory not only for thousands of students, but also for their families and communities for generations, Gonzalez said.

Make Way is how well remove the obstacles that stand in their way.

Tuition could have been a roadblock between senior Emma D. McMillian and a WashU education. But thanks to the Stefanie Hill and John Pickett Scholarship, McMillian, of Chevy Chase, Md., is working toward a bachelors degree in computer science and mathematics and a masters degree in computer science at the McKelvey School of Engineering.

The daughter of older parents on the cusp of retirement when she was looking at colleges, McMillian said she doesnt know what she would have done without scholarship support.

I would have had a lot of student debt. Scholarships allowed me to not worry about paying off loans after graduation. I am so grateful for this big gift in my life.

Being awarded this scholarship gave me a lot of confidence, added McMillian, who is in NASAs Pathways Engineering Internship program and is passionate about using computer science and artificial intelligence to make the world better.

First-year students can feel very out of place or alone. But coming to WashU, meeting others with scholarships and feeling supported by faculty, staff and administrators made me feel like Im supposed to be here. I do belong here. Im not just a number.

For Washington University to live up to its full potential both in terms of educational programs and research, and for us to serve the community and the world, its absolutely crucial that our doors are open to students with incredible talent, regardless of their opportunity.

Make Way will help support key aspects of the universitys 10-year strategic plan, Here and Next, which Wendland unveiled Oct. 3. Of the strategic plans five guiding principles, two of them academic distinction and equity, diversity and inclusion are at the heart of Make Way.

Make Way also addresses four of the strategic plans nine topic areas that represent the universitys highest priorities campus wellness, graduate and professional education, personal and professional growth, and undergraduate education.

For Washington University to live up to its full potential both in terms of educational programs and research, and for us to serve the community and the world, its absolutely crucial that our doors are open to students with incredible talent, regardless of their opportunity, Martin said. And we need to have the resources to ensure that every one of our students can thrive.

To learn more about Make Way and how to support the initiative, visit the Make Way website.

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Transformative fundraising initiative 'makes way' for top applicants - The Source - Washington University in St. Louis - Washington University in St....

Matter Has Officially Launched, But Does It Matter For You? – The Mac Observer

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After what seems like a lifetime, the Connectivity Standards Alliance has launched the Matter 1.0 smart home accessory standard. This brings in a new chapter in the smart home story, but how might it affect you? Lets look at what Matter does, who the key players are, and what it might mean for you.

Up until now, the key players in smart home technology had their own proprietary standards and communications protocols. Apple has HomeKit, Google uses its own system, and so does Amazon. Lets not forget Samsungs Smart Things ecosystem, either.

While smart home accessories exist that support all of the above, theyre not as common as we might like. Thats where Matter comes in, offering a communications standard for all to use. A large number of tech giants are behind it, too, including the aforementioned Apple, Google, Amazon and Samsung.

Furthermore, some of the top smart home accessory makers are adopting Matter. These include Eve, Nanoleaf, Wemo and more.

With the rollout of Matter, many smart home accessories that arent specifically noted as being HomeKit compatible can now be added to your Apple Home app anyways.

While the supporting companies have been working on integrating Matter for months, the standard hadnt officially launched. That meant these companies could say they would support Matter, but couldnt fully roll it out.

The day has finally come when the standard is live, and integration can begin. Authorized test labs are now available to certify products as Matter-compatible and the open-source programming kit is complete.

Apple has already begun laying the groundwork for this, with the iOS 16.1 beta.

In its first version, Matter already supports a wide variety of smart home products. These include lighting, HVAC controls, window coverings, smart door locks, and safety and security sensors. Theres also support for media devices, controllers and bridges.

Matter operates over both Wi-Fi and Thread. This means devices can communicate with the cloud, but the inclusion of Thread also allows for an energy-efficient and reliable mesh network of smart home devices throughout your home.

If all of your smart home accessories are HomeKit devices, Matters launch doesnt affect you yet. If you dont plan on adding any non-HomeKit devices to your home, the new standard still doesnt affect you. However, its there if you need it.

If a device is Matter-compatible, that means its effectively compatible with HomeKit, too, once iOS 16.1 launches. If you find a smart home accessory you want to incorporate into your setup, it wont matter if the manufacturer has included HomeKit support. As long as the accessory supports Matter, adding it into the Home app should be simple and painless.

As TechRadars Jeremy Kaplan recently said, Todays smart gadgets kinda suck. Kaplans more optimistic now that Matter is live, saying that shaky smart home could soon become something really livable.

From our perspective, simply knowing that a smart home accessory will work with Apples HomeKit without having to jump through a bunch of ever-changing hoops is a net positive.

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Matter Has Officially Launched, But Does It Matter For You? - The Mac Observer

Where To Find Pumpkin Patches, Halloween Fun Near Banning, Beaumont – Patch

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INLAND EMPIRE, CA Grab your calendars, and get ready for fall festivities!

Halloween and autumn events abound throughout the Inland Empire. Peruse Patch's annual guide to find haunted houses, Dia de los Muertos extravaganzas, trick-or-treating, costume parties, corn mazes, pumpkin patches and more near you.

Enjoy the season and Happy Halloween from Patch!

OCT. 29: Halloween Spooktacular Trunk-Or-Treat: Community Center. "Come by and fill your bags with treats! "

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OCT. 15: Monster Mash Halloween Party & Costume Contest. Featuring free games, candy, reptile exhibit, bouncers, rock climbing & costume contest.

OCT. 31: Halloween Trunk-Or-Treat: Sports Park. Don't forget your costumes!

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OCT. 30: Halloween Spooktacular & Trick-or-Treating. Costume contest, too!

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OCT. 1-31: 'Pumpkin Factory' Pumpkin Patch, Rides & Petting Zoo. With amusement rides for little ones.

OCT. 7-30: Coffin Creek Haunted Village. "Five haunted attractions & Dark Shadow Market Place at one terrifying location."

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OCT. 22: A Very Bizzy Halloween Family Fest & Costume Ball: Bizzyland Gardens. Family-friendly by day & for 21+ by night.-----------

OCT. 1-30: 'Dimensions of Insanity: Torture' - Immersive Haunt Experience. "A nightmarish experience you wish were just a dream."

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OCT. 28-30: Halloween 'Boo At The Bowl': Ramona Bowl Amphitheatre. Get pre-sale or at-the-door tickets for this annual event.

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OCT. 29: Bat Walk Night Adventure in La Quinta Cove. "The best superhero bat costume gets a prize!"-----------

OCT. 15: Bracken Fern Manor & Tudor House Lockdown: Paranormal Investigation. For the super brave, there's a blindfolded, solitary challenge, too.

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SEPT. 24-OCT. 31: ABC Pumpkin Patch - Bounce House, Rides & Giant Slide. Choose a pumpkin & stay for the fun.

SEPT. 30-OCT. 30: 'Undead Circus' Haunted Maze & Carnival, Launch Pointe. The carnival portion is family-friendly with games, pumpkins & bounce houses.

OCT.: Field Of Screams The Haunted Stadium: Canceled for 2022.

OCT. 15: Mariachi Fest & Fireworks: Diamond Stadium. Award-wining performances followed by fireworks finale.

OCT. 28: Halloween Costume Party. With two DJs, food & costume contest. 18+ to party, & 21+ to drink.

OCT. 28-30: Storm Halloween Fest, Carnival Rides & Marketplace. Midway features Ferris wheel, wave slide, kiddie rides & more.

OCT. 29: Dia De Los Muertos Celebration: Main Street. Featuring music & dance, artists, vendors, crafts for kids, food & altars.

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OCT. 5, 12, 19, 26 & 31: 'Hitchcocktober' Halloween Movie Fest: Reading Cinemas Cal Oaks. It's the perfect season to enjoy films of Alfred Hitchcock, the master of suspense.

OCT. 29: Trunk-Or-Treat & 'Ghostbusters' Movie. Free for all at Town Square Park.----------

SEPT. 23-OCT. 29: 'Legend Of Sleepy Hollow': Riley's Farm Theatre Co. Book soon if interested. This beloved, annual event sells fast.------------

SEPT. 30 - OCT. 31: Miss Hazel's Parkwil Manor Haunted House: Shops At Palm Desert. The "deadicated" cast takes scary seriously. At former Westfield Palm Desert.

OCT. 29: The Amazing World of Bats. RSVP as space is limited.

OCT. 29-30: Howl-O-Ween & Trick-or-Treating: Living Desert Zoo. With animal fun & magician, too.

OCT. 30: 'Masquerade' Golf Cart Parade & Halloween Fun. NFL legend & recent Pro Football Hall of Fame Inductee, Tom Flores, is Grand Marshal, and this years theme is "Masquerade."-----------

OCT. 28, 29 & 31: 'BITE' Vampire Circus Dining Adventure: PS Underground. With "free-flowing blood-curdling cocktails, beer, wine, hand-passed appetizers & diabolical four-course dinner."OCT. 30: Boys & Girls Club 'Be A Hero For Kids Halloween Bash': Hilton Palm Springs. All proceeds support the organization.

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OCT. 29: 'The Bride Of Pinacate' Haunted Train Ride: SoCal Railway Museum. A young, widowed bride has haunted the tracks for 135 years. All aboard to discover her secrets!

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SEPT. 16-OCT. 31: Live Oak Canyon Pumpkin Patch, Corn Maze & Petting Zoo. Extravaganza includes hay rides, weekend entertainment, rope courses, zip line, duck races & more.

OCT. 22: 'Hollywood Halloween' Trick-Or-Treat Event: Citrus Plaza. With costume parade, petting zoo, face painting & Famous Dave's BBQ lunch.

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SEPT. 23-OCT. 30: 'Castle Dark' Halloween Haunts: Castle Park. Fright-filled mazes are what happens when your neighborhood mini-golf, amusement park lets ghouls visit on weekends.

SEPT. 24-OCT. 30: Dia De Los Muertos & Trick-Or-Treating: Castle Park. Weekend fun with Mexican & Latin American traditions, decorations, music, marionettes and treats.

OCT. 21-22: 'CarnEVIL' - California Riverside Ballet Ghost Walk & Festival. Experience ends at kids carnival, food & vendor court & Tavern of Terror beer garden.-----------

NOV. 5: Annual 'Autumn Elegance' Wine & Food Fundraiser: Soboba Casino. Annual fall event to benefit Hemet-San Jacinto Exchange Club & Friends of Valley-Wide Foundation.-----------

SEPT. 24-OCT. 31: Peltzer Pumpkin Patch & Petting Farm. A community tradition in its 26th season!

SEPT. 30-OCT. 31: 'Mansion Of Lost Souls' Halloween Haunt: Promenade Mall. "We cannot promise that you all will make it through, but we will pray for your survival.:

OCT.: 'Temecula Terror' Halloween Haunt. Canceled for 2022.

OCT. 1-30: Big Horse Corn Maze. Canceled.

OCT. 8: Trick Or Treat at the Aloha Market. Enjoy Hawaiian BBQ, poke & iced coffee, too.

OCT. 8: Autumn Sunset Supper. Supports Sale Ranch Animal Sanctuary.

OCT. 8-30: 'Headless Horseman' Haunted Horse-Drawn Wagon Ride. With "moderate" scare level, so geared to families.

OCT. 20: Adults Harry Potter Trivia Night. For ages 18+ & registration required.

OCT. 24: Teen Movie Night. Get in the spirit with Halloween movie & candy!

OCT. 28: Annual Halloween Carnival: Town Square & Sam Hicks Park. Simultaneous events at two parks.

OCT. 28-29: CarnEvil Ball: Europa Village Wineries & Resort. A "spirited" good time with costume contest.

OCT. 29: Halloween Home Bike Tour. Go for a group spin & check out all the spooktacular decorations.

OCT. 29: Halloween Party at Batch Mead. Tickets on sale.

OCT. 29: HalloWine Party & Costume Contest: Peltzer Winery. Live music, food & costume contest.

NOV. 2: Da de los Muertos D.I.Y. Crafternoon. For ages 3-12. Sign up in advance, as in-person registration only.------------

OCT. 15: Rooted In Nature Craft Brew Festival: Marna O'Brien Park. Annual fall event with beer garden, live music, wildlife park & food trucks.

OCT. 22: Fall Family Fun Fair. With live music, puppeteer, free pony rides, bounce houses, rock- climbing wall, food trucks & more.

OCT. 29: Halloween Trunk-Or-Treat: Marna OBrien Park. "A family fun and safe Halloween event."

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Where To Find Pumpkin Patches, Halloween Fun Near Banning, Beaumont - Patch

Pritzker, Bailey square off in first of two debates, each accusing the other of lying – Northern Public Radio (WNIJ)

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NORMAL In the first of two official debates in the governors race this month, Gov. JB Pritzker on Thursday night finally faced the candidate whose victory in the Republican primary election this summer was helped along by $30 million in spending by the billionaire Democrat whom hes also spent months labeling too extreme for Illinois.

State Sen. Darren Bailey (R-Xenia) used the opportunity to call Pritzker dangerous and an arrogant liar to the governors face. Pritzker accused Bailey of telling more lies as the Republican repeated his well-worn criticisms of Democrats sweeping criminal justice law passed last year, which is centered on abolishing cash bail in Illinois.

Despite consistent polls showing Illinois voters ranking crime below other issues like the economy and reproductive rights, Bailey and other Republicans running for state office have made their opposition to the SAFE-T Act the centerpiece of their campaigns, with the GOP nominee repeatedly claiming Illinois will experience The Purge when the law is fully implemented on Jan. 1.

While some provisions of the law have already gone into effect including tightening standards for police use-of-force and expands the scenarios in which a law enforcement or corrections officer can be decertified, and thus deemed ineligible for hire in Illinois the states elimination of cash bail doesnt begin until 2023. Instead of allowing arrestees to post bond in order to get released from jail, the new system instructs judges to consider whether to detain alleged criminals based on the severity of their offense, the risk of an arrestee not appearing for court and the danger he or she poses to an individual or community if they were to be released. Thats not unlike the federal court system, which eliminated cash bail in the 1980s.

But in the nearly two years since Democrats pushed the law through the legislature in the waning hours of the General Assemblys Lame Duck session in January 2021, Republicans have amped up their criticism of the SAFE-T Act, claiming it will have the opposite of its intended effect, in part due to the phrasing within the 700-page law. While Democrats have recently become more public in their acknowledgement of the need for clarification within the law, theyre reticent to identify specific changes theyd make before January.

Well, I think that there are clarifications, Pritzker said in response to a debate question about what hed alter in the law.

But he stopped short of answering the question, instead turning his ire on the GOP.

As you know, the Republicans have put out a lot of disinformation a whole list of things that they say are non-detainable offenses. There's no such thing under the SAFE-T Act as non-detainable offenses. And again, the goal of [the law] is to keep murderers, rapists, domestic abusers and violent criminals in jail, and a poor young mother who shoplifts diapers and formula would be kept in for months if she doesnt have the $500 for bail.

Bailey claimed the elimination of cashless bail will be tantamount to revolving doors to every jail in the state of Illinois.

This SAFE-T Act must be repealed because it will let violent criminals and murderers out of jail before trial, Bailey said. Now, Governor Pritzker could have proposed a bail reform for nonviolent criminals. I would have supported that. But he didntAnd friends, we're going to have the exact same problem across the state that Chicago is experiencing after Jan. 1.

In reliably blue Illinois, Democrats have tried to wedge Republicans into a corner on the issue of abortion access, using the U.S. Supreme Courts June repeal of Roe v. Wade to energize both their base and independent voters activated by reproductive rights. GOP candidates, especially in areas where abortion access is a key political driver, have largely tried to avoid the subject another factor in centering campaign messaging around crime and the SAFE-T Act.

But Bailey has not been shy about his position on abortion as a much more conservative Republican than the brand of GOP politicians whove traditionally enjoyed political success in Illinois. Thursday nights debate featured clips of both candidates played in surround sound for the approximately 1,200 audience members in ISUs Braden Auditorium. One of those clips featured then-legislative candidate Bailey in a 2017 Facebook live video unearthed this summer, in which the Republican compared abortion to the Holocaust.

Bailey has previously accused Democrats and the media of exaggerating his statement that the attempted extermination of the Jews of WWII doesnt even compare on a shadow of the life that has been lost with abortion since its legalization. But he also defended his statement in August, claiming that Jewish leaders told him he was right. Asked on Thursday to identify those leaders, Bailey refused.

He also acknowledged the limited power he would have as governor to enact policies severely limiting abortions, especially with a Democratically led legislature.

Illinois has the most permissive abortion laws in the nation, Bailey said. Nothings going to change when Im governor. I couldnt change them.

Pritzker seized the opportunity to label Bailey as an extremist on abortion, saying the Republican wants to take away womens reproductive rights even in the case of rape and incest.

Youre so divisive, Bailey scolded.

Providing more legal protections to out-of-state women who seek abortions in Illinois, as well as healthcare providers who cross state lines to perform abortions was supposed to be one area the General Assembly addressed in a special session this summer, but momentum for that session never came to fruition.

Another policy area that Pritzker and Democratic lawmakers said theyd address in that special session was the states gun laws after a mass shooting at the Highland Park Independence Day Parade left seven dead and three dozen wounded. The governor and Bailey sparred over the need to enact more restrictive gun laws, with Bailey claiming the number of shootings in Illinois proved the states existing laws arent working.

A majority of Illinoisans and Americans favor banning assault-style weapons, as Congress did for a 10-year period between 1994 and 2004. Pritzker re-upped his call for that ban on Thursday night, but when asked why Democrats didnt take up the issue this summer, the governor punted responsibility to the legislature. Bailey, too, demurred to the General Assembly on that question, pivoting instead to talking about mental health, and at one point blaming the influx of migrants at the nations southern border.

The debate moved through a series of rapid-fire questions on a variety of topics, but Bailey tried to find moments to attack Pritzker on Illinois high property taxes and the states reputation as a poorly run government with an unattractive business climate. The governor touted the six credit upgrades Illinois has received from New York bond houses since last year, though the state still has the worst credit rating in the nation.

Pritzker claimed that if Democrats keep improving Illinois previously dismal financial picture, eventually the state could see lower taxes, but declined to answer how many years he thought that might take in a post-debate media availability.

Bailey, on the other hand, claimed he could save the state billions of dollars by implementing zero-based budgeting, wherein continuing appropriations are nixed and each line item in Illinois now $40-billion budget would have to be justified. But the Republican declined to elaborate on what he thought hed turn up in wasteful spending.

After the hour-long debate, Pritzker took a handful of questions from reporters who tried to pin him down on more specifics left unanswered in the back-and-forth between him and Bailey.

Bailey, however, did not choose to meet the press, instead sending a campaign staffer who briefly addressed reporters left waiting in the so-called spin room.

It is clear the senator won the debate tonight, Bailey spokesman Joe DeBose said before saying his boss wouldnt be answering questions.

Im just here to tell you that we won and winners dont need spin, he said, donning a black cowboy hat as he left the room.

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Pritzker, Bailey square off in first of two debates, each accusing the other of lying - Northern Public Radio (WNIJ)

Is the End of the Nancy Pelosi Era Near? The Jockeying to Succeed Her Is in Full Force – Vanity Fair

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Nobody can say for sure, but theres an expectation among aides on Capitol Hill that if Democrats lose control of the Houseas is the most likely scenario, per one Democratic aideNancy Pelosi will step down. There are the all-important caveats (Anyone who tells you that they know what Speaker Pelosi is going to dounless it is Speaker Pelosiis lying to you, another aide tells me), but as the November midterms inch closer, and the prospect of being in the minority grows, the jockeying to succeed one of the most storied Democratic leadership teams has begun in full force.

The drama isnt only around Pelosis next steps, however. Between the 82-year-old Speaker, House majority leader Steny Hoyer, 83, and House majority whip Jim Clyburn, 82Pelosis number two and threeDemocrats top leadership team combined has more than a century of experience in the House. Democratic lawmakers arent just eyeing who would replace their top leader; theres an appetite for a completely new generation to lead the party that could rankle some of Democrats most senior members.

It is always good to have a deep bench of people who are going to continue to lead the party in a way that resonates with people, Washington congresswoman Pramila Jayapal said. I think that there is a real sense that there is a real opportunity for some generational change in leadership, whether or not we hold the House. I think what we dont know is what that looks like, and who in the current leadership feels that way or doesnt feel that way.

In 2018, Pelosi agreed to a term limit for her speakership. But her office has routinely and repeatedly dismissed questions about her plans or possible succession; Pelosis office has said the Speaker is too focused on the midterms to be concerned about her title. The Speaker is not on a shift. Shes on a mission, Pelosi spokesperson Drew Hammill told Vanity Fair. Notably, Clyburn and Hoyer havent publicly stated their plans. Hoyer is proud to have the support of his colleagues and the American people and looks forward to building on this strong record by strengthening our majority and furthering efforts to ensure workers and families have the tools they need to Make It in America, Margaret Mulkerrin, Hoyers communications director, said when contacted for this article. (Clyburns office did not respond to a request for comment). If Hoyer or Clyburn make a play for the top job, or even if they make a bid to stay in their current roles, things could get messy quickly. For now, the mystery has led to a monthslong quiet race among some of the partys budding starsbased entirely on hypotheticals.

Conversations with congressional aides and lawmakers have painted the following picture of this shadow contest. New York congressman Hakeem Jeffries, currently the House Democratic Caucus chair, emerged as an early front-runner to take over for Pelosi. Jeffriess office declined to comment, but termed-out of his current position as caucus chair, Jeffries is fully expected to run for a higher rung in leadership. California congressman Adam Schiff is also seen as in the mix. While he hasnt announced any plans to make a bid for Speaker, he has had conversations with other members about the possibility. Schiffs prolific fundraising capabilitieshe touts a staggering nearly $20 million in his war chestwhich, as Puck recently laid out, could serve as an argument in his favor for a more prominent role within the caucus. Asked about the speakership, Schiff spokesperson Cate Hurley said, Chairman Schiff is doing everything possible to support vulnerable Democratic colleagues and promising challengers so that we can retain the House Democratic majority in November. That is where his time and energy are focused.

Any replacement would face the arduous task of propping up Democrats big tent. Despite her long tenure, Pelosis grip on the Democratic caucus has not gone unchallenged since she first became the leader in 2003. Particularly in recent leadership races, she has had to cut deals and make promises with factions of her party to hang on to the helm (like her pledge to step aside by the end of 2022). The partys historic premium on seniority has long been a source of tension; there is a sense among some members that they will never have a shot at leadership positions. Some feel the partys old guard is standing in the way of progress and change. These gripes again bubbled to the surface this month after House leadership unveiled a bill aimed at banning lawmakers from owning stocks that was disparaged by ethics experts. Virginia congresswoman Abigail Spanberger said it was designed to fail. This moment marks a failure of House leadershipand its yet another example of why I believe that the Democratic Party needs new leaders in the halls of Capitol Hill, as I have long made known, Spanberger said in a statement.

Im waiting and watching, Pennsylvania congresswoman Madeleine Dean said when asked about a changing of the guard within the party. Im certain there will be, at some point, a lot of change. You see already in the pipeline tremendous talent from folks who are leading us now at different levels, she said, in reference to the Democrats bench and the possibility of a new generation of leadership at the table.

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Is the End of the Nancy Pelosi Era Near? The Jockeying to Succeed Her Is in Full Force - Vanity Fair