Daily Archives: April 22, 2022

OPINION: Beware ‘The Next Big Thing’ – Daily Journal

Posted: April 22, 2022 at 4:32 am

Leo Morris

Im so old that I remember when the Establishment set the rules and rebels tried to break them. Now, we seem to be embarked on a great experiment in which the former rebels are in charge and determined to get rid of all the rules.

Sometimes, I think the experiment is to see how outrageous the elimination of norms can get before the public stops going along and says, Enough!

It makes me wonder what the next big push will be for. A few come to mind:

Plural marriage. This is the easiest one to predict because were already so close. Loving vs. Virginia merely extended the traditional right of marriage to mixed-race couples. Obergefell vs. Hodges nullified the traditional definition of one man, one woman by extending the right to same-sex couples. Since that limitation was removed, there is nothing to prevent marriage from being expanded to cover almost any living arrangement. Using the logic and language of Obergefell, try to argue against, for example, the right of a bisexual to enter into a marriage with both a man and a woman. It cant be done.

The right to die. To avoid the perception that this is an attempt to clear the decks of aging baby boomers with their costly medical needs, we will be instructed not to use the terms euthanasia or physician-assisted suicide since they have acquired such negative connotations. Instead, we will be treated to essays on such topics as personal autonomy and the right to say goodbye with dignity.

So long to the First Amendment. This part of the Bill of Rights is clearly too problematic in a modern, pluralistic and diverse society. The so-called right to free speech fosters hateful and hurtful commentary, and the free exercise of religion clause is too often used to justify actions obviously designed to thwart the majoritys needs.

The end of federalism. Speaking of the majority, the limitations placed on the will of the people by the Constitutions misguided efforts to limit power have to be eliminated. Federalism must be replaced by a pure democracy in which a vote of 51 percent always carries the day. Also needed will be the removal of confusing edicts coming from different levels of government. One set of rules from the central authority will suffice.

Redefinition of crime. The reason this country has so many lawbreakers is that it has too many laws. First, we must scrap all victimless crimes, such as prostitution and the use of all drugs (not just marijuana). Then, any so-called property crimes must be examined for the root causes that might lead the victimized to strike back at the privileged. This movement might well be accompanied by a call for the:

Elimination of prisons. Incarceration is clearly an archaic practice that does not work just check out the recidivism rates. Once we have reduced the number of criminals to a manageable few, it should be possible to place them in halfway houses scattered throughout various suburban enclaves. The neighborhoods used for these rehabilitation units will be chosen by lottery.

The citizenship faade. It is finally time to examine this barrier to full participation in all that America has to offer. It is not enough to erase the artificial borders that surround America and lobby for giving voting rights to anyone residing in the country. A human being is a human being, and each one should have the same universal rights as any other. Once we set the example, the rest of the world will surely follow.

What is child abuse? The only reason children are traumatized by loving relationships with adults is that we treat it as something shameful instead of a learning experience on the way to adulthood. We should follow the wisdom of the ancient Greeks, whose open approach to this dynamic was so much more civilized than modern societys attempts to vilify it.

This is by no means an exhaustive list. In fact, the Next Big Thing might be something weve never even dreamed of. The only certainty is that, once it appears, it will almost overnight become the most important topic on the agenda and to oppose it would be to risk being shunned as a reactionary enemy of all that is good and decent.

And if you think this whole exercise is preposterous, overly cynical or a misguided attempt to be humorous, you have not been paying attention.

Leo Morris, columnist for The Indiana Policy Review, is winner of the Hoosier Press Associations award for Best Editorial Writer. Morris, as opinion editor of the Fort Wayne News-Sentinel, was named a finalist in editorial writing by the Pulitzer Prize committee. Send comments to [emailprotected].

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OPINION: Beware 'The Next Big Thing' - Daily Journal

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Oath Keepers and Proud Boys were in touch before US Capitol attack, texts reveal – The Guardian

Posted: at 4:31 am

Top leaders in the Oath Keepers militia group indicted on seditious conspiracy charges over the Capitol attack had contacts with the Proud Boys and a figure in the Stop the Steal movement and may also have been in touch with the Republican congressman Ronny Jackson, newly released text messages show.

The texts which indicate the apparent ease with which Oath Keepers messaged Proud Boys could strengthen a theory being explored by the House January 6 committee and the US justice department: that the Capitol attack included a coordinated assault.

Oath Keepers text messages released in a court filing on Monday night showed members of the group were in direct communication with the Proud Boys leader Enqrique Tarrio in the days before the Capitol attack.

In an exchange on 4 January 2021, the Oath Keepers Florida chapter leader, Kelly Meggs, indicates an attempt to call Tarrio after learning of his arrest.

I just called him no answer, Meggs texted a group chat. But he will [call if] hes out.

That close relationship is certain to be of interest to the House committee as it zeroes in on whether the Oath Keepers and the Proud Boys coordinated an attack on the Capitol in an attempt to stop certification of Joe Bidens election win over Donald Trump.

As the Guardian first reported, the committee has amassed deep evidence of connections between the far-right groups which could play a role in establishing whether Trump oversaw a criminal conspiracy as part of his attempt to hold on to power.

The newly released text messages also show a new link between the Oath Keepers and an unnamed figure from the Stop the Steal movement, which has ties to the pro-Trump operative Roger Stone and to Ali Alexander, a prominent Trump ally and activist.

On the evening of 1 January, Stewart Rhodes, the national leader of the Oath Keepers, texted to say he was adding an unidentified person affiliated with Stop the Steal to the group chat, to help them prepare for January 6.

The name was redacted in the released texts but Rhodes described an event producer for Stop the Steal. He requested I add him here. He can sort out who is doing what in the creative chaos that will be Jan 5/6.

Hes a good egg.

It was not clear whether Rhodes misattributed an affiliation to Stop the Steal, given the January 6 rally at the Ellipse was a Save America event. Neither Alexander nor Stone appeared to message the group chat or were otherwise involved.

The Oath Keepers text messages also show a connection to Ronny Jackson that allowed one of its members to learn that the Texas congressman Trumps former White House doctor needed protection as the Capitol attack unfolded.

The potential connection between the Oath Keepers and a Republican member of Congress could mark a new investigatory direction for the committee and the justice department: whether Jackson or others might have had advance knowledge of the Oath Keepers plans.

In the exchange on January 6, an unidentified Oath Keeper texts the group chat that Ronnie Jackson (TX) office inside Capitol he needs OK help. Anyone inside?

The same Oath Keeper provides an update less than 10 minutes later: Dr Ronnie Jackson on the move. Needs protection. If anyone inside cover him. He has critical data to protect.

Rhodes quickly responds: Give him my cell.

In a statement to the Guardian, a spokesperson said Jackson is frequently talked about by people he does not know. He does not know nor has he ever spoken to the people in question.

Asked if Jackson was never in contact with the Oath Keepers, the spokesperson did not answer.

The House committee has not given any indication that Republican members of Congress were connected to a potential conspiracy overseen by Trump that would connect his plan to have then-vice president Mike Pence overturn the election with the Capitol attack.

The Oath Keepers texts were included in a motion for release from pre-trial detention by Ed Vallejo, one of 11 group members facing charges of seditious conspiracy. On January 6, prosecutors say, Vallejo was at a Comfort Inn in Virginia with a cache of weapons, meant to act as a quick reaction force.

The messages show the Oath Keepers discussed providing security for prominent Trump allies including Stone, Alexander, Alex Jones, Lin Wood and Mike Flynn, Trumps former national security adviser.

One week before January 6, Rhodes, the leader of the Oath Keepers, mentioned requests to provide security for Bianca Garcia, president of the group Latinos for Trump, for which Tarrio, the Proud Boys leader, was also chief of staff.

The next day, Meggs, the Florida Oath Keepers leader who would ultimately lead Stones security detail, boasted that he had spoken to Stone the night before. Jessica Watkins, another member of the Oath Keepers, said she was also in touch with Stone.

Roger Stone just asked for security, Watkins texted the group chat on 1 January, to which Meggs responded: Who reached out to you? I [spoke] to him Wednesday.

Meggs using the alias OK Gator 1 added: I just texted him.

Though the Oath Keepers discussed providing security for other Trump allies, the extent of their voluntary services remains unclear. Alexander said in a recent statement that the Oath Keepers did not perform security duties for him on January 6.

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Oath Keepers and Proud Boys were in touch before US Capitol attack, texts reveal - The Guardian

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SC inmate accused of threatening to assassinate Pres. Biden, VP Harris – WSAV-TV

Posted: at 4:31 am

COLUMBIA, S.C. (WSPA) A South Carolina inmate is accused of threatening to assassinate President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris.

Eric Anthony Rome Jr. is facing eight criminal charges that include threatening the United State President and Vice President as well as threatening federal officials and their families.

Based on the indictments, the first threat was made on July 13, 2020, and the last one on March 14, 2022.

Rome Jr. is currently being held at the Kirkland Correctional Institution for a 2019 bank robbery in Greenville County.

While an inmate at Lieber Correctional Institution, Rome Jr. made a threat to take the life of and inflict bodily harm upon the Vice President of the United States on June 28, 2021.

According to the indictment, Rome Jr. called the South Carolina Department of Corrections and left the following voicemail:

My name is Eric Rome. Im a member of the South Carolina Aryan Brotherhood. I dont have long in prison, but Ill be leaving early regardless. Ive got an escape plan and my intention is to escape and kill Kamala Harris the Vice President. Its unfortunate that I cant take her somewhere Yet, I mean shooting her will have to work. I intend to carry out a sniper attack against Kamala Harris. I will attempt to find her and kill her, and if I cant, my brothers in the Aryan Brotherhood will. Its very serious. White power.

On June 30, 2021, Rome Jr. made a threat to take the life of and inflict bodily harm upon the President of the United States, the indictment said.

He called the South Carolina Department of Corrections and left the following voicemail:

The South Carolina branch of the Aryan Brotherhood can no longer tolerate a globalist communist President such as Joe Biden. Well be trying to assassinate him forthwith. Ive an escape attempt planned to get out of this prison, which shouldnt be hard because its done in SCDC all the time, and carry out a sniper attack on Joe Biden and take his life. Im willing to die in the attempt. White power.

While an inmate at the Board River Correctional Institute, on November 19, 2021, Rome made a threat to take the life of and to inflict bodily harm upon the President of the United States and the Vice President of the United States.

According to the indictment, he called the South Carolina Department of Corrections and left the following voicemail:

This is a statement of intent by the Aryan Brotherhood of South Carolina and the Greenville, South Carolina, Proud Boys, our intent is war on the federal government and specifically the assassination of the feds, Marxist leader Joe Biden and Kamala Harris. The death of these two has been decided based on a number of factors, not least of which being the theft of the last presidential election, promoting critical race theory in our schools, the vax mandate and using Marxist media outlets, notably CNN, to brainwash our citizens. These assassinations are imminent, and I, Eric Rome, of the Aryan Brotherhood, will have direct involvement. Secondly, also, we require the dishonorable judge, Joseph Anderson, the federal courthouse in Richland, South Carolina, to vacate the bench immediately; otherwise, we will execute the old man and post videos of his death on as many web platforms as we can, which judge, Joseph Anderson, convicted me on behalf of President Barack Obama in 2015, so I personally hope he doesnt heed this advice so I can see him dead. My name is Eric Anderso. Make America Great Again.

In two of the indictments, Rome Jr. sent letters to the U.S. Supreme Court and a Mark O. Hatfield United States Courthouse in Portland, Oregon, claiming to contain anthrax.

This letter contains weapons grade anthrax. You [sic] as good as dead having opened this, part of the letter said.

In two other indictments, Rome Jr. threatened to injure the person whose letter was addressed, which included his supervising probation officer and the Senior United States District Judge.

On November 19, 2021, Rome Jr. threatened to assault and murder a United States Official, Judge Joseph Anderson by voicemail, according to the indictment.

We will execute the old man and post videos of his death on as many web platforms as we can, part of the voicemail said.

In his voicemail, Rome Jr. said that Judge Anderson convicted him in 2015 on behalf of President Barack Obama.

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SC inmate accused of threatening to assassinate Pres. Biden, VP Harris - WSAV-TV

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Former Proud Boys member extradited to U.S. pleads to misdemeanor after assaulting Palestinian man – CBC.ca

Posted: at 4:31 am

An Ottawa man who was a member of the now disbanded Proud Boys Canada organization has pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor in the U.S. It comes after he wasextradited from Canada to face a chargethat he assaulteda Palestinian man at a protest in Washington, D.C., five years ago, and that the attackwas motivated by hate.

The assault occurred on March 26, 2017, when the American Israel Public Affairs Committee which advocates for a strong relationship between the U.S. and Israel was holding its annual policy conference at a convention centrein downtown Washington.

Rival demonstrations by left-wing Jewish anti-establishment groups and the far-rightJewish Defense League(labelled a terrorist group by the FBI) and its supporters were taking place outside the centre at the time.

Amongthe Jewish Defense League'ssupporters was Brandon Vaughan, then a 22-year-old from Ottawa.

At the time hewas alsoa self-proclaimed member of the Proud Boysa far-right men's organizationlaterlabelled a terrorist entity inCanadaand was active on social mediabefore Proud Boys content was banned from many sites.

Some of the evidence police in Washington collected wasincluded in a2021 factumfiled in Ottawa Superior Court on a motion to have Vaughan placed into custody pending extradition.The factum statesthe victim from Charlotte, N.C.,and his spouse were visiting their daughter, who was studying in Washington, and were dropping her off near the convention centre as demonstrations were ongoing.

The victim heard a woman say Palestine doesn't exist, and in response the victim pointed to himself and said "words to the effect of, 'This is Palestine,'" according to the factum.

Immediately afterward,the man waspushed to the ground and was punched and kicked repeatedly by several peopleas he lay theretryingto protect himself, the factum states. His injuries included a wound near his eye requiring 18 stitches, abrasions, and bruising on his ribs and back.

The victim later identified Vaughan, who was wearing a Jewish Defense League shirt, as one of his attackers, according to the factum.

In April 2018, Vaughan was charged withafelony for his alleged role assault causingsignificant bodily injury while armed and was accused of being motivated by racial hate.

The felony assault charge carriesa statutory maximum of 30 years in prison, and aconvictiononthe hate-crime enhancement would have increasedthe maximum penalty to 1.5 times that amount, or 45 years.

The indictment filed by the grand jury in Washington allegedthe assault demonstrated Vaughan'sprejudice "based on the actual or perceived race, colour, or national origin" of the victim.

AMetropolitan Police Department public incident report filed after the attack listed the assaultas a suspected hate crime, andthe bias as "anti-Arab."

Vaughan, now 27, waived his right to an extradition hearing in Superior Court in Ottawa last monthand was conveyed to the U.S. days later on March 17, according to Canada's Department of Justice.

He had been wanted on a Washington, D.C., Superior Court bench warrant for nearly four years prior to hisextradition, afterfailingto appear in court in 2018 when the charges were laid.

After signing aplea agreement, Vaughan pleaded guilty March 28 to thelesser charge of simple assaulta misdemeanor that carries a statutory maximum of 180 days in jail and a fine of up to $1,000.

In signing the agreement, Vaughanadmitted he acted voluntarily, on purpose and not by mistake or accident when he pushed to the ground and assaulted the victim after hehad identified himself as Palestinian.

Vaughan was sentenced by Judge Sean C. Staples to time already served,according toBill Miller, a spokesperson for the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia. Vaughanhad been in custody in Canada for about two months prior to his extradition.

Three others, including a Toronto man, earlier pleaded guilty to simple assault for their roles in the attack:Jesse Vorona, Yosef Steynovitzof Toronto,andRami Lubranicki.

Vorona, like Vaughan, was sentenced to time served. Steynovitz and Lubranicki were placed on probation, Miller wrote in an email.

The extradition and plea cameafter Vaughan pleaded guilty in the Ontario Court of Justice to possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose and received a conditional discharge in May 2021. The charge stemmed from an unrelated incident in July 2020.

Chargesof assault and failing to appear to be fingerprintedwerewithdrawn.

Vaughan was sentenced to 12 months of probation and was fined a victim surcharge of $100.

He was also ordered to complete anger management classes,not contact or be anywhere near the alleged victim of the withdrawn assault charge, and not possess any weapons.

In 2014, charges of mischief under $5,000 and failing to appear in court on the mischief countwerewithdrawn.

Attempts to reach Vaughan for comment were unsuccessful.

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Former Proud Boys member extradited to U.S. pleads to misdemeanor after assaulting Palestinian man - CBC.ca

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Elon Musk boldly says join Teslas $12K FSD to find out how it is doing when asked to share data about progress – Electrek

Posted: at 4:30 am

During Teslas Q1 2022 earnings call, Elon Musk was asked to share data that show progress with Teslas Full Self-Driving (FSD) Beta program. Instead of sharing this data, however, the CEO suggested that people wanting to assess the progress of Tesla FSD should just join the Beta, which requires buying the controversial $12,000 package.

A growing number of people have been calling for Tesla to start releasing data that help track the progress of the Full Self-Driving Beta program as the automaker keeps missing timelines for delivering on its long promise that all its vehicles built since 2016 will be able to achieve self-driving capability through software updates.

They are just asking for Tesla to share similar data as other companies developing self-driving technology, like the number of interventions or disengagement per mile, which could help track progress with the system.

Without the data, everyone has to rely on anecdotal evidence of how the system performs based on individual experiences from people in the FSD Beta.

During the conference call following the release ofTeslas Q1 2022 financial results,Musk was directly asked to release more data about Tesla FSD:

Elon has historically provided FSD timelines with not optimal accuracy. We love the optimism for 2022 release, but is there any data Tesla can share with investors to help them make their own conclusions on progress being made, interventions per mile driven or any other data?

The CEO declined to share anything specific and instead suggested that people just try FSD Beta:

The best way to reach your own assessment is to join the Tesla Full Self-Driving beta program where we have over 100,000 people right now enrolled in that program and we expect to broaden that significantly this year. So thats my recommendation, join the Full Self-Driving beta program and experience it for yourself and take note of the rate of improvement with every release. And we put out a new release roughly every two weeks. So and youll see a little bit of two steps forward one step back, but overall the rate of improvement is incredibly quick. So, thats my recommendation for reaching your own assessment is literally try it.

Thats a surprising response considering the difficulties to get into the program. You need to buy the Tesla FSD, which costs $12,000 or $200 per month, and then you need to score high enough on Teslas driver safety score for Tesla to push you the FSD Beta update, and even then, not every owner is getting it.

As someone who has been calling for Tesla to release data about the FSD program for a long time, I was happy to see investors pushing the question and pleasantly surprised that Tesla took the question.

However, I was stunned by Musks response.

Not only did he not show any willingness to share data, but he also had the audacity to say join the program and plot the progress yourself instead.

It is as if he cant even comprehend that people would have doubts about the program to the point that they wouldnt be willing to pay $12,000 to try it without seeing some concrete data showing progress.

At this point, its almost comical. Tesla could very simply share data from its millions of miles of FSD Beta and show how the disengagement or driver intervention per mile is doing. It would be an easy metric to track over time and in no way comparable to anecdotal evidence and even your own personal experience with the FSD Beta.

Teslas insistence on not sharing this information is starting to look suspiciously bad.

In the meantime, Musk is perfectly willing to make bold statements about Tesla achieving self-driving on unbelievably short timelines, which Tesla uses to sell more cars.

Musk needs to get off Twitter where his legions of superfans are fawning over the FSD Beta and join reality where people have serious and reasonable doubts about Teslas progress toward achieving a real self-driving system.

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Elon Musk boldly says join Teslas $12K FSD to find out how it is doing when asked to share data about progress - Electrek

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Kohl’s Publishes 2021 ESG Report, Highlighting Progress in Key Areas of Environmental Sustainability, Diversity and Inclusion, Workplace, and…

Posted: at 4:30 am

Published 20 hours ago

Issued by Kohl's

Report aims to share information with Kohl's partners, shareholders, customers and associates regarding our ESG progress.

Today, Kohls (NYSE: KSS) announced the release of the companys 2021 Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) report, providing comprehensive updates on achievements and progress in key areas, including environmental sustainability, diversity and inclusion, philanthropy, workplace, supply chain, and business continuity. ESG stewardship is a key component of Kohls strategy and vision to be the most trusted retailer of choice for the active and casual lifestyle. Kohl's cares for people and the planet by taking meaningful steps to ensure the company leaves a smaller environmental footprint, while also making a positive difference in the lives of families nationwide.

Kohl's has a long-standing commitment to being a responsible corporate citizen, and I am proud of the progress Kohls has made this past year. As a purpose-led organization, ESG stewardship is an integral piece of Kohls culture and an important component of the companys vision and long-term strategy, said Michelle Gass, Kohls chief executive officer. I am appreciative and impressed with how our associates and our company have continued to manage our business through this ongoing pandemic to support our customers, our business and one another.

Key highlights from Kohls 2021 ESG Report are below.

Implementing Sustainable Solutions to Minimize Kohls Environmental ImpactKohl's believes that incorporating sustainable solutions in the way we do business will help build better futures for families. The companys sustainability strategy is guided by leveraging business practices and decisions that enhance the objectives of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG).

In the last year, the company has made measureable progress against its 2025 goals, which focus on climate action, waste and recycling, and sustainable sourcing, including:

Diversity & Inclusion at Kohls At Kohls, we believe that understanding and embracing our differences is fundamental in creating an inclusive environment for all. In 2021, we appointed Michelle A. Banks, Kohls Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer, to spearhead our commitment and drive progress against our 2025 D&I goals, focused on Our People, Our Customers and Our Community.

Our People: We strive to be purposeful in attracting, growing and engaging more diverse talent while giving associates equitable opportunities for career growth. Our 2021 progress includes:

Our Customers: We strive to celebrate our differences and help more customers see themselves reflected in our brands. Along this journey, were working to offer culturally-relevant products, designs and storytelling that is meaningful to diverse customers. Key areas of progress against our goals include:

Our Community: We strive to drive economic empowerment in the communities we serve through conversations, programs and partnerships that improve quality of life in underserved communities. Our 2021 progress includes:

Kohls Commitment to AssociatesWe foster a workplace that champions inclusion, belonging, appreciation, everyday development, and transparency. We seek out talent that shares our values and we strive to support our associates at work, at home and within our communities. Our efforts to attract and retain a diverse pool of talented associates include:

Healthy Communities Help Support Healthy FamiliesKohls believes healthy communities help support healthy families, so we give back to our communities with grants, resources, talent and time. In 2021, we worked to strengthen our long-standing philanthropic commitment to family health and wellness in the communities we serve.

Ethics and Governance Responsible corporate citizenship is an important part of our companys values and we are committed to incorporating socially-responsible principles into our daily business activities. Our governance practices form the foundation for how we manage risk, ensure accountability and provide transparency to our stakeholders.

Awards and Recognitions Kohls is proud to have received several awards and acknowledgements in 2021 for our ESG initiatives, including the following:

About Kohl'sKohls (NYSE: KSS) is a leading omnichannel retailer. With more than 1,100 stores in 49 states and the online convenience of Kohls.com and the Kohl's App, Kohl's offers amazing national and exclusive brands at incredible savings for families nationwide. Kohls is uniquely positioned to deliver against its strategy and its vision to be the most trusted retailer of choice for the active and casual lifestyle. Kohls is committed to progress in its diversity and inclusion pledges, and the company's environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG) stewardship. For a list of store locations or to shop online, visit Kohls.com. For more information about Kohls impact in the community or how to join our winning team, visit Corporate.Kohls.com or follow @KohlsNews on Twitter.

Media ContactJared Ellerson, 262.709.2911Maggie Lund, 608.332.3634

Kohl's Publishes 2021 ESG Report, Highlighting Progress in Key Areas of Environmental Sustainability, Diversity and Inclusion, Workplace, and...

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Unity and progress are themes in State of the County Address – Westfair Online

Posted: at 4:30 am

The people of Westchester County are united, the county is in solid financial shape, projects are underway to preserve and enhance landmarks and infrastructure and Covid is no longer the threat it once was, according to Westchester County Executive George Latimer.

Latimer delivered his 2022 State of the County address in the Board of Legislators chamber at the County Office Building in White Plains on the evening of April 21. It was the fifth such address Latimer has given since taking office and the first during his second four-year term.

A war of aggression rages just across the ocean, bringing fear and death.We pray for Ukraine, Latimer said. And here, locally on our streets, where our children play, where we close deals and inquire about new opportunities, where we take our parents for care and stop for coffee, in each of these corners of our small patch of land, we must continue to stop division.

Latimer thanked the people of Westchester for putting their faith in him to manage the county on their behalf and reaffirmed his strong belief in governing through democracy.

Latimer decried autocrats whether in Albany, Washington or in the Kremlin with the power to execute millions of lives at whim. We are stronger and better when we find ways to work together. United, even in our disagreements.

Latimer said that an example of Americans caring about each other was found in the way nearly 90% of Westchester County residents got vaccinated against Covid-19, to protect their families and each other.

He reported that the County Health Department vaccinated 77,125 people at county clinics, has done 416,593 case investigations for Covid and tested 274,167 students, faculty and staff in the schools. Since March 2020, the Westchester County Department of Emergency Services has distributed 339 gallons of disinfectants and cleaners, 49,951 packages of disinfecting wipes, 1,013,023 face shields, 1,527,050 pairs of gloves, more than 2.4 million face masks and 719,140 Covid rapid test kits.

Latimer reported that the 2020 census puts the countys population at1,004,457, 5.8% growth since the 2010 census.

He said the county closed out 2021 with a $64 million operating surplus and that the 2022 budget of $2.2 billion allows for another property tax cut, the third consecutive one during his administration. He said its the largest in a decade, totaling $7 million. He said that he hopes to be able to continue the tax-cutting trend. He pointed out that Westchester Countys bond ratings now stand as stable by all three major rating agencies.

Latimer recapped the countys efforts to attract business and new jobs, including funding the Westchester County Associations Healthcare Talent Pipeline Program that will recruit, train, support and place up to 100 job seekers with health care employers over a 12-month period.

He pointed to the countys Launch1000 program that has already helped almost 300 start-up businesses and recently added programs in Spanish.

Latimer said that crime is down in the county and 34 of 38 recommendations of a task force on policing in the county have been already put into place. These include steps enhancing community outreach, providing body cameras to all county police officers, installing dash-cams in all county police vehicles and increasing and diversifying recruitment efforts for county police.

Latimer said he kept his promise to strengthen and revitalize the Westchester County Human Rights Commission and signed into law the Anti-Discriminatory Harassment Bill that expands the type of harassment that can be prosecuted under the law.

On the issue of affordable housing, Latimer said, After 12 long years, Westchester County is finally able to close the book on the Affordable Housing Settlement (with the federal government). We recently received notification from the court that Westchester County was in substantial compliance with the Consent Decree, and a federal housing monitor was no longer needed.

Latimer said that than 4,400 units of affordable housing are in the pipeline in Westchester.

We have allocated millions of dollars in the budget each year to develop and rehabilitate affordable housing units.A combined total of $50 million dollars that was allocated in the 2022 Capital Budget represents the largest single-year commitment to affordable housing in the countys history, $90 million dollars over the last three years.

The Business Journal previously reported that the county airport master plan update would begin in May and during the address Latimer announced that onMay 24 at 6 p.m. a session would take place at Pace Law School, with subsequent public input sessions planned for June.

Latimer reported that the countys parks have been undergoing upgrades and noted that the county has pledged $10 million toward building a waterfront park in the Ludlow section of Yonkers. He also pointed to the $125 million in construction and rehabilitation that is underway at Playland Amusement Park.

Latimer honored World War II veterans and noted that the county opened a new office near the County Center in White Plains to serve veterans.

The county legislators and invited guests each received a small bag of soil that was created at the countys compacting center along with something attached to the bag.

Attached you will find a small pack of sunflower seeds, the official flower of Ukraine, Latimer said. Please do me a favor; use this soil and plant those seeds and think of the men and women overseas when you do.

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Unity and progress are themes in State of the County Address - Westfair Online

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Hes doing more every day: Robert Williams makes progress to 3-on-3 work – Boston.com

Posted: at 4:30 am

CelticsCeltics Robert Williams slams home two first quarter points against the Timberwolves. Jim Davis/Globe Staff

Celtics big man Robert Williams continues to progress toward a return, although the team still doesnt plan to have him against the Nets in their first-round series.

Williams who underwent surgery to trim a torn meniscus last month is back on the court doing some workouts, according to Ime Udoka.

[Hes] getting some three-on-three up a little bit, Udoka said on Wednesday prior to Game 2. Hes doing more every day. Its a comfort level thing with him. The risk is injury, swelling or something like that coming off of surgery. Little bit of pain tolerance and how well his body reacts to the up level physically. Doing a little more, getting out there on the court and looking good at times. We ease it up the next day if he has a heavy session.

Were still planning on playing without him, but happy with his progress.

Williams return after surgery was expected to be 4-to-6 weeks, and he underwent his procedure on March 30. Last week, Brad Stevens told 98.5 The Sports Hubs Toucher & Rich the Celtics are comfortable with his projected timeline, making Wednesdays game three weeks out from his surgery. A potential Game 5 would fall on the precise four-week mark.

Nets forward Ben Simmons, meanwhile, is reportedly expected back for Game 4.

Myself, coaching him in the past and a lot of guys in general a lot of them played against him recently in a series, two years ago in the bubble, and Al played with him, Udoka said. So a lot of us know him well enough. When its time to talk about what he does, I dont think its a problem for our guys. We have a group thats seen him quite a bit.

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Podcast: Convention on Biological Diversity: progress, hope and hard work ahead – Mongabay.com

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Today were looking at the upcoming conference of the parties to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity, or COP15, where delegates will meet to finalize a global strategy for safeguarding nature and securing a future for all life on planet Earth.

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After multiple delays due to the Covid pandemic, parties to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) are expected to meet later this year to hammer out the final post-2020 global biodiversity framework.

A round of negotiations just wrapped up in Geneva, Switzerland, last month, setting the stage for COP15, which will be held in Kunming, China later this year though the Chinese government has yet to release details about when the meeting will take place.

A lot is riding on the outcome of COP15, all the more because none of the 20 Aichi Biodiversity Targets agreed to by parties to the CBD in 2010 have been fully achieved at the global level, and biodiversity has continued to decline apace over the past decade.

There are hopes that a robust post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework will be agreed to in Kunming. A global 3030 goal is expected to be included in the final framework, but it remains to be seen how other important issues will be addressed, such as promoting more sustainable forms of agriculture, which is currently threatening 86% of species at risk of extinction, and securing Indigenous land tenure and rights, which are increasingly coming to be seen as crucial to any effort to halt the destruction of nature.

To help us unpack all of this, we speak today with Elizabeth Mrema, an Assistant Secretary General of the United Nations and the Executive Secretary of the Convention on Biological Diversity. She tells us about the outcomes of the Geneva talks, why the world failed to meet the Aichi Biodiversity Targets, and how COP15 can provide a roadmap to actually halting biodiversity loss and safeguarding nature.

We also speak with Jennifer Tauli Corpuz, a senior global policy and advocacy lead for an organization called Nia Tero who also participates in the Convention on Biological Diversity talks as a member of the Indigenous Caucus. She gives us the Indigenous perspective on whats currently in the draft biodiversity framework, what changes are needed, and the overall importance of Indigenous leadership in preserving Earths biodiversity.

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Podcast: Crucial to conservation, Indigenous communities environmental leadership endures (24 March 2022)

Price of Progress: Grain Belt Express Pits Public Benefit and Private Property Rights in Race Against Climate Change – Flatland

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Published April 21st, 2022 at 6:00 AM

Loren Sprouse drove through his hometown of Braymer, Missouri, and noted the height of each structure he passed. The water tower loomed 100 feet high. The grain elevator was a little taller.

All were shorter than the proposed 130- to 160-foot electrical transmission towers that would cut through his property as part of the 800-mile Grain Belt Express transmission line.

The project, which has been in the works for over 10 years, would sit on only 18 acres of Sprouses farm. But hed be able to see it for miles.

No one who owns land cant feel a special place for that land Thats why you want to maintain it, Sprouse said. This line is not going to do that. Its going to create a big, obvious scar completely across the state. And itll be the single biggest, ugliest thing in northern Missouri and with it set a precedent for more to be built just like it.

Scar or not, the line promises to connect three of the countrys regional electrical grids Southwest Power Pool (SPP), Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO) and PJM Interconnection and would bring wind energy harnessed in southwest Kansas to other parts of the country.

Citing ominous warnings about the dangers of climate change, national and local plans call for net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. But to achieve those goals, some renewable energy will have to be moved from where its easily harnessed to areas that need it. In the case of the Grain Belt Express, that means moving wind energy from the gusty plains of Kansas to more densely populated areas.

Landowners like Sprouse say they arent opposed to clean energy projects. But theyre dead set against a private company using eminent domain to complete its project.

Grain Belt Express, which would cost an estimated $2 billion, would stretch from just outside Dodge City, Kansas, across northern Missouri, south central Illinois and into Indiana. The high voltage direct current (HVDC) line would transport 4,000 megawatts of electricity both west to east and east to west in emergency situations.

Thats the power equivalent of 15 million barrels of oil, or enough to power 1.6 million homes annually. For the 39 municipalities in Missouri signed up to buy power off the line, its an estimated $12.8 million in annual savings.

Patrick Whitty, a senior vice president at Grain Belt Express developer Invenergy, said the direct current (DC) transmission line is the most efficient way to transport power from where its generated to where its needed, and with the smallest footprint.

DC, as compared to alternating current (AC), allows a greater transmission of power that can go both directions on one line. Theres also a reduced loss of power from friction on a DC line.

One of the major reliability benefits for Grain Belt will be the ability to also move power under emergency conditions from east to west, Whitty said. Had Grain Belt been in place during (the winter storm power outages of February 2021), we know that some of those outage events could have been minimized or even avoided altogether.

In both Kansas and Missouri, Grain Belt has been able to prove its necessity to regulatory agencies and gain public utility status and thus, the power to access private property via eminent domain.

The company said it would only use the power of condemnation as a last resort, preferring instead to negotiate with landowners and establish a fair price for easements.

So far, the company has secured voluntary agreements with 1,200 of the 1,700 parcels it will cross. To date, Grain Belt has filed about 10 condemnation notices.

When Invenergy bought the project from Clean Line in 2018, Whitty said it sent out letters to landowners in Kansas and Missouri along the proposed route and informed them of the new ownership and compensation plan.

The company would pay landowners 110% of the fair market value of their land, plus an additional $18,000 for each tower placed on their property. Owners of century farms that have remained in the same family for more than 100 years would be paid an additional premium.

There is no transmission line that is without impacts, but the best we can do is to make sure that landowners are fairly compensated, Whitty said. In our case, we are going well above and beyond what would be typical for a transmission project.

He said the company is aware of the rising price of property, as well as matters specific to one persons property that could make it more valuable than the county averages.

We value the dialogue with landowners when it comes to both matters of compensation, as well as facility design, Whitty said. Anytime a landowner can document (comparables) of higher land values, we will consider that and very often we will revise land values upwards.

Landowners can choose to have an upfront payment for their easement and tower, or choose to have the payments spread out over the lifetime of the project. According to Whitty, Invenergy has already promised $77 million in compensation agreements and has paid out $10 million of that.

Sprouse has a pretty good idea of where the line will go through his property, because he knows it will follow the already cleared path of the three pipelines he hosts. Other landowners, like Marilyn OBannon in Monroe County, have less of an idea and feel shut out from the development process.

Whitty said this is because the line has to be looked at as a whole. Until all of the easements are agreed on, the placement of the line through a particular parcel has to be somewhat fluid.

Any one structure placement may have effects on adjacent structure placement, so theres a whole lot of design and engineering that has to go into that on the front end, Whitty said. Were still in that design and engineering phase.

Tower placement also is dependent on conversations with the landowner and their knowledge of the land.

Were getting input on areas within a landowner parcel or property that they either want to make sure we avoid, or sometimes there are areas where they would prefer to see a structure We want to understand as thoroughly as possible how we can best go about, through the design and engineering phase, minimizing impacts to the land, Whitty said.

Eight years ago, OBannon didnt know anything about the Grain Belt Express. Now, its her life.

I cant describe what its like to wake up every morning and have this on your mind and go to bed with that being the last thing on your mind for eight years, OBannon said.

After learning from a friend that the line would cross through about five miles of her property, she started digging to learn more about the project.

She found neighbors and other landowners along the route who also felt theyd been left in the dark, and those who knew about the project werent asking enough questions. Is it safe? How will the county get money from it? Where will it go?

Through her work, which has led her to an elected seat on the county commission, shes consistently felt out of the loop and disrespected by the company.

Other landowners, like Wayne Wilcox of Randolph County, have been involved in the project since before the route was proposed.

The thing that I first looked at with them was, Were they honest?, Wilcox said. Would they accept comments from us? Would they work at making changes? And they did.

Hes been attending meetings since the beginning and has had an easy time negotiating with the Grain Belt developer on his easement compensation, and the placement of the line on his property.

Sprouse is waiting to hear back on his submitted counter offer, and while more compensation would be great, what he really wants is to not have to see the line.

He hopes it could be buried like the 350-mile SOO Green HDVC Link in Iowa that is following existing railroad easements. As an alternative, he would proffer the Grain Belt Express follow highway right of ways in Missouri.

But Whitty said those alternatives werent viable.

Invenergy has experience with underground technology, but existing buried lines arent as long, nor do they carry as much power as Grain Belt would.

That introduces a level of engineering and design considerations that simply make that infeasible, Whitty said. With 95% of transmissions developed overhead, thats really just the most affordable way to build these projects.

Following the highway closest to the current route, U.S. 36, would face the constraint of nearby state conservation sites, as noted in Clean Lines original route selection study.

So, the route was proposed by the original developer of the Grain Belt Express. It mostly follows existing easements for pipelines or other power lines since the physical path is mostly cleared.

That is where it will go on Sprouses property.

Hes not against easements. He already has three pipelines and several rural water lines. But hes against easements that, he feels, dont benefit Missourians.

Sprouse remembers his father negotiating a piece of their family property for implementation of the AT&T transcontinental cable. Today his property still has an abandoned hut from the project, a piece of the historical line which connected telephones across the country.

Landowners were compliant and excited for that line.

This was built for the reason that eminent domain should exist. This wasfor government security, Sprouse said, gesturing towards the hut. They should have the right to eminent domain at the federal level, because they were providing a service, they were doing something the government needed.

For someone whos a private individual whos just doing it to reap the benefits of that, and in using the cheapest cost plan to do it, that doesnt justify the power of eminent domain, he said.

For the past several years, opponents of the project have introduced bills in the Missouri General Assembly designed to kill the project.

If passed, House Bill 2005 would retroactively strip the Grain Belt Express of its public utility status. It would increase easement payments to 150% of fair market value and require the line to deliver 50% of its transmission capability in Missouri.

Earlier this month it was reported do pass in the Missouri House. Opponents to the line are hopeful this years bill will pass.

Whitty admitted that a lot of the resentment towards the line goes back to the very beginnings of the project, before Invenergy was in the picture.

If I understand correctly, there was no plan to deliver power into Missouri in the early iterations of this project, and I think a lot of the perspectives may still be based around that, he said.

Since then, Invenergy has come to agreements with the 39 municipalities to receive power off of the line, and is looking to increase the number of Missourians who can benefit from the line.

We are actively evaluating the opportunity, not only to make sure were following through on delivering on the agreement with the 39 communities across Missouri but also looking at how we can increase, significantly, the energy of delivery to Missouri, Whitty said.

The 39 municipalities in Missouri were essential to Grain Belts public utility status.

Missouri Public Utility Alliance (MPUA) is constantly conducting studies on the power pools it buys and sells wholesale electricity for in the state.

John Twitty, president of MPUA, said as Grain Belt was being developed, studies found the pool serving these 39 Missouri municipalities would need an additional source of power in order to meet its future demands.

The reason that were interested in (Grain Belt) is that were bringing low cost wind energy to our customers, and obviously if youre in a utility business, you want to try to get really reliable electricity, and you want to get it as inexpensively as possible, Twitty said.

Because Grain Belt Express is a merchant transmission line, those signed to receive power off of the line will, in effect, help pay for the construction of the project.

The cost will be spread out over the 20-year contract the Missouri Joint Municipal Electric Utility Commission (a business unit of MPUA) has with Invenergy. Twitty said the project makes sense to join because once the upfront costs are gone, the energy is cheap.

Once youve spent that money, theres no fuel cost, the wind is free, Twitty said. Even though there are new upfront costs, those can be defrayed over lots of energy that flows across the system.

The 500 megawatts of power from the line are contractually obligated to these power pools, meaning even if theres higher demand in a bigger city, these Missouri municipalities will keep their lights on.

Down the road, Twitty foresees more Missouri cities and entities receiving the same low-cost power.

Sprouse and OBannon fear a future where their land is home to many transmission lines of this type. They fear the Grain Belt Express will set a precedent for crossing the Midwest via eminent domain.

When they joined the family business of farming and ranching, neither of them thought a big infrastructure project would be part of their legacy.

I dont think thats the legacy that I would want to see, and I guess thats the question, Sprouse said. Is that the legacy Invenergy wants to see? Or do they just want to make a lot of money and go on?

If the line goes in, OBannon said her parents plan to move.

Her grandfather and father were born in the house that could soon have Grain Belt towers in the backyard. She has neighbors who she knows will move too. Its more than just a 150-foot wide easement that will be affected.

It is not that we are against progress or renewables, were against the way this business has conducted itself and the plan that they have to go through the middle of our farms, OBannon said. Its just unbelievable how that feels, when you know in the end, theyve got the eminent domain as their card to play.

There is no perfect project.

Billy Davies, conservation program coordinator with the Missouri Chapter of the Sierra Club, said there always needs to be an evaluation of the people involved and the people benefiting from sustainability efforts.

We need to be able to evaluate the good things and the bad things of every project including Grain Belt Express, Davies said. If there are folks who are feeling left out and feeling like these solutions are not for them, how are we working to support all in our community of Missouri?

To Davies, the property owners who support the Grain Belt Express by allowing the transmission line on their land are kind of heroes. Rather than think narrowly about the consequences of the towers on their land, Davies urges opponents to think of the consequences for a nation that doesnt make big moves toward a sustainable future.

Thats the approach Wilcox takes.

Hell be able to see the tower from his house, and will pass under it each day as he drives to town. Rather than look at the line as an eyesore, Wilcox said he thinks of the benefits it will have on his community.

No municipalities in Randolph County are currently contracted to receive power off of the line, but the tax revenue from a big infrastructure project will positively impact the public schools and libraries.

Wilcox reckons theres no sense in avoiding the opportunities this line brings to Missouri. Ultimately, he thinks the project will do more good than harm.

I believe the project will go through, and I believe that anybody that hasnt negotiated with them, needs to step up to the plate, Wilcox said. I think they will find people that are reasonable to talk to, and can work things out.

Cami Koons covers rural affairs for Kansas City PBS in cooperation withReport for America. The work of our Report for America corps members is made possible, in part, through the generous support of theEwing Marion Kauffman Foundation. Cody Boston is a video producer for Kansas City PBS.

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Price of Progress: Grain Belt Express Pits Public Benefit and Private Property Rights in Race Against Climate Change - Flatland

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Daily Archives: April 22, 2022

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