Desmond Milligan

A pair of top House Democrats are launching an investigation into Paramount’s $7 billion merger with fellow media conglomerate Skydance and the circumstances that led to the deal’s approval by the Trump administration, The Hill has learned. Energy and Commerce Committee ranking member Rep. Frank Pallone Jr. (D-N.J.) and Judiciary Committee ranking member Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) sent a letter to Paramount leadership on Wednesday demanding documents, communications and detailed answers regarding the merger’s approval process. In their letter, which was reviewed by The Hill, the lawmakers expressed concern about “troubling” statements from President Trump indicating that he expects to receive “$20 Million Dollars more from the new Owners, in Advertising, PSAs, or similar Programming, for a total of over $36 Million Dollars.” Paramount has denied any such agreement with Trump exists and insisted its settlement with the president only includes a $16 million payment to his foundation, which was announced as the deal was struck. As part of its bid to win Federal Communications Commission (FCC) approval of its deal, Paramount agreed to changes in its editorial practices, which the lawmakers wrote, “align with the Trump Administration’s political agenda,” in addition to ending its corporate diversity policies. “This offer was necessarily contingent on the FCC approving the deal and does not appear to present any legitimate value to the public, only to President Trump,” Pallone and Raskin wrote in their letter. “Therefore, this appears to be an offer of payment and benefits to a government official designed to achieve a specific outcome from the government — in other words, a bribe.” Paramount paid its settlement to Trump last month to get the president to drop a high-profile lawsuit he filed against CBS News over a “60 Minutes” interview it aired with former Vice President Kamala Harris last fall. CBS canceled “The Late Show” with host and Trump critic Stephen Colbert days later, while David Ellison, Paramount’s new chief executive, has spoken openly about ushering a new era catering to more “diverse” viewpoints at the network. FCC Chair Brendan Carr, before his agency cleared the merger, had blasted CBS News over its coverage of the Trump administration and suggested the Harris “60 Minutes” interview could be grounds for a news distortion complaint, a potential roadblock to the deal’s approval. David Ellison is the son of tech mogul Larry Ellison, an ally of Trump and one of the richest people in the world. In the upper chamber, several Democrats, including Sens. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) have raised alarms about the deal, calling it a major capitulation to Trump’s executive power and a potential violation of federal bribery law. “If Skydance offered a side deal of up to $20 million worth of or programming to President Trump in order to receive regulatory approval for the merger with Paramount, these actions would run afoul of federal and state anti-bribery statutes,” the lawmakers wrote to David Ellison. “Similarly, if Paramount forced out CBS’s longtime leaders, spent $16 million to settle a sham lawsuit with President Trump, or cancelled a highly popular comedy show that President Trump dislikes in order to curry favor with the Administration and to receive regulatory approval for the merger with Skydance, these actions would likely further embolden President Trump to use lawsuits and regulatory authority to attack media organizations that he finds objectionable in order to silence them,” they added. Paramount did not respond to a request for comment on the letter. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. View the full article

A police officer accused of rampant sexual harassment, another who faced charges of raping a teenage homeless girl and a third charged with possessing explicit images of children are among the latest crop of officers decertified by the Massachusetts law enforcement watchdog. Stripped of their state-issued policing licenses, the three officers — former Fitchburg Police Officer James McCall, former Lowell Police Officer Kevin Garneau and former Methuen Police Officer Matthew Bistany — will be barred from working for a police department or sheriff’s office in the Bay State. The state’s police oversight board, the Peace Officer Standards and Training Commission, revoked the officers’ certifications in closed-door votes last week, according to documents posted on its website. The board, known by the acronym POST, has decertified 60 officers since 2023, determining that they should be banned from carrying a badge and a gun in Massachusetts. James McCall — FitchburgIn its order decertifying McCall, the commission outlined allegations of years of on-the-job sexual misbehavior over his 19-year career. In one instance, McCall texted a photograph of his genitals to a female coworker. In another case, he made sexual advances on a teenager who would later be hired by the Fitchburg Police Department, according to the commission. The commission’s findings, based on internal investigations and testimony from Fitchburg Police officials, lay out a range of other workplace harassment, as well as two consensual sexual encounters with female civilians during work hours. The investigations also probed a February 2023 incident in which McCall was accused of making sexually suggestive remarks to a teenage high school student over Snapchat. The department investigated and ultimately fired McCall in August 2023, according to the commission. McCall challenged the decision with the state’s Civil Service Commission. In December 2023, after a Fitchburg Police investigation found he had sexually harassed several coworkers, he settled with the city and dropped the appeal of his termination. In return, the city rescinded the firing and allowed McCall to resign. The agreement did not include any admission of wrongdoing on McCall’s part, the POST Commission wrote in its notice of his decertification. In an email to MassLive, McCall said he plans to challenge the decertification. “I strongly disagree with the Commission’s decision, which I believe is both erroneous and unjustified,” he wrote. “I will be initiating a formal appeal through the appropriate legal channels to ensure the matter receives the thorough and impartial review it warrants.” Kevin Garneau — LowellGarneau was charged in 2019 with sexually assaulting a 16-year-old girl who was then living in a tent in Lowell. While on duty and working as part of an outreach group established to prevent drug overdoses, Garneau entered the girl’s tent and told her he had warrants for her arrest. If she provided sexual services, he said he would not arrest her, according to the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office. Garneau sexually assaulted the girl several other times in the months following, prosecutors said. However, the state dropped its two rape charges in 2023 as the case was set to go to trial. Garneau’s accuser declined to take the stand, and without her testimony, prosecutors felt they could not prove the case, the Lowell Sun reported at the time. Robert Normandin, an attorney for Garneau, told the paper his client disputed the girl’s account. He argued she had come forward because Garneau arrested her father, leading to his deportation. On behalf of Garneau, Normandin declined to comment when reached by MassLive on Wednesday. In its decertification order, the commission also cited Garneau for “a pattern of unprofessional police conduct,” including pointing his stun gun at colleagues, making offensive comments about a female colleague’s physical appearance, disclosing health conditions of people he worked with through the outreach group and behaving in a manner “that caused his colleagues to fear or distrust him, including having explosive outbursts of anger.” Like McCall, Garneau was fired by his department and appealed to the Civil Service Commission, but withdrew his petition in return for a settlement with the town that allowed him to retire. Matthew Bistany — MethuenMembers of the Massachusetts State Police arrested Bistany in 2023 at his home in Methuen, charging him with one count of possessing explicit images of children. The state police had begun an investigation after receiving a tip that the images had been uploaded to an IP address later linked to Bistany. The case concluded in May when Bistany agreed to plead guilty to the single charge in Essex Superior Court. He was sentenced to three years of probation with conditions that he register as a sex offender and receive ongoing treatment and counseling. The commission is required to decertify any officer convicted of a felony. An attorney for Bistany did not respond to a request for comment. Garneau and Bistany agreed to their decertifications with the POST Commission, akin to a plea deal a criminal defendant may take to avoid a lengthy legal process. The board is the product of state-level policing reforms established after the death of George Floyd at the hands of a Minneapolis police officer in 2020. Of the 60 police officers it has decertified since 2023, many — though not all — had been convicted on criminal charges. The cases ranged from financial crimes to child exploitation to drunk driving. The commission can also decertify officers for egregious but noncriminal misconduct. It has used that power to ban officers accused of repeatedly using excessive force, falsifying records and using drugs or alcohol on the job. The names of all decertified officers are also submitted to a national registry of decertified police, a move designed to alert faraway departments to the officers’ histories if they cross state lines in search of police work. Recent POST Commission storiesMass. police watchdog decertifies officer guilty of domestic assault Sandra Birchmore case: Former deputy chief’s decertification hearing resumes next week Mass. police watchdog decertifies officers from State Police, 3 WMass departments Read the original article on MassLive. View the full article

A bill to ban ranked choice voting in Michigan sailed 57-44 through the House on Wednesday, August 20. Rep. Rachelle Smit, R-Martin, chair of the House Election Integrity Committee and a former township clerk, introduced House Bill 4707, which drew vigorous debate in a committee hearing earlier this week. Smit argues that ranked choice voting is confusing for voters and would cause "additional burdens on our already-stressed election administrators." Ranked choice voting allows voters to rank candidates in order of preference, essentially marking backup options should their first choice be eliminated. Proponents of the voting method view it as a solution to plurality elections in which a candidate can win with less than 50% of the vote. Five cities in Michigan — Ann Arbor, East Lansing, Ferndale, Kalamazoo, and Royal Oak — have already passed proposals to adopt ranked choice voting in their elections. However, while ranked choice voting isn’t explicitly prohibited in Michigan, current state election law makes it impossible to implement. Nevertheless, at the Aug. 19 hearing, several members of the Stop RCV coalition testified in favor of banning ranked choice voting outright. The coalition, which includes several prominent conservative organizations, campaigns across the country to encourage states to outlaw the voting method in their state and local elections. Jason Snead, executive director of Honest Elections Project Action and Co-Chair of the Stop RCV coalition, argued ranked choice voting “makes voting needlessly time-consuming and burdensome” and stressed how complex and confusing ranking candidates will be for voters. Rank MI Vote Campaign Director Joe Spaulding, however, described ranked choice voting as a “very simple solution to voters getting punished when they get more choices in an election.” The group Spaulding leads is proposing an amendment to the Michigan Constitution which would require ranked choice voting for major federal and statewide elections and open the door for municipalities to adopt the voting method. To put the proposal up for a vote on the November 2026 ballot, Rank MI Vote organizers need at least 446,198 signatures from Michigan voters. More: Michigan campaign seeks to put ranked choice voting measure on November 2026 ballot After a question from Rep. Stephen Wooden, D-Grand Rapids, in committee, Smit acknowledged that the bill comes in response to the growing Rank MI Vote ballot campaign and agreed with Wooden that, should that amendment to the constitution pass, the bill would become unenforceable. “Why can’t we just respect what the Michigan voters want?” Representative Matt Kolezar, D-Plymouth, asked Trent England, the other Co-Chair of Stop RCV, after his committee testimony. England said he felt the bill is a way for legislators to offer their view on the subject, which “has a lot of value to voters because it’s a complicated issue.” On the House floor Wednesday, Aug. 20, Rep. Josh Schriver, R-Oxford, called ranked choice voting "confusion disguised as reform." Rep. Ann Bollin, R-Brighton, along with Smit, said the voting method goes against the principles of "one person, one vote." Rep. Penelope Tsernoglou, D-East Lansing, however, accused those supporting the bill of distrusting their constituents as Rank MI Vote gains signatures and jurisdictions like East Lansing approve the voting method. "The question isn't whether you like ranked choice voting or not. The question is whether you respect the right of Michigan communities to make their own decisions," said Tsernoglou. "Do we trust the voters, or don't we?" The bill, which passed along mostly partisan lines, heads next to the Democratic-controlled Senate for consideration. It would need to pass both chambers and be signed by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer to become law. Aurora Sousanis is a politics intern at the Detroit Free Press. She can be reached at [email protected]. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Ranked choice voting ban passes Michigan House View the full article

When it became known that two-time former Ohio State President E. Gordon Gee was returning this fall, the question arose as to what brought him back to Columbus. Ohio State President Ted Carter made it clear — he wanted Gee on campus. Carter discussed Gee's return, political headwinds and more with Dispatch higher education reporter Sheridan Hendrix at a Columbus Metropolitan Club forum on Aug. 20 at the National Veterans Memorial and Museum in downtown Columbus. "He's gonna be something of an adjunct professor, but also, as Gordon and I agreed to, he's gonna be Ted Carter's wingman," Carter said to laughter from the crowd. "So, we're looking forward to having him." Columbus Metropolitan Club President and CEO Sophia Fifner (left) welcomes moderator Sheridan Hendrix, higher education reporter with The Columbus Dispatch, and Ohio State University President Ted Carter at a panel discussion the club hosted Aug 20, 2025, at the National Veterans Memorial and Museum in Columbus.Ohio State announced on Aug. 19 that Gee would be making his return in a one-year consulting role, mainly working with the leaders of the new Salmon P. Chase Center, the John Glenn College of Public Affairs and Moritz College of Law. Per his contract, Gee will work directly with Chase Center Director Lee Strang to hire faculty and spread awareness about the "intellectual diversity center" across campus and beyond. During the forum, Carter shared that he's known Gee since his time in the U.S. Naval Academy, and the former Ohio State president served as a mentor to Carter throughout his tenure at the University of Nebraska during the COVID-19 pandemic. Carter said he had seen similarities between his and Gee's work as university leaders, and when he heard Gee was retiring, Carter picked up the phone. He clarified that Gee will serve in an adjunct professor-like role, adding that Gee was recruited by many other institutions, including "that school up north." "As I knew he was getting retired and seeing some of the legacy that he left here as a two-time president, I saw a lot of what I was trying to do in developing these standards of excellence here at Ohio State," Carter said. "He's 81 years old, and he's still got it." A "turbulent" time in higher education, and what Ohio State is doing to remain stableCarter said that while most Big Ten universities have stopped hiring and frozen budgets, Ohio State couldn't be more different. While acknowledging that Ohio State has lost tens of millions of dollars in research grants and is in a legal fight to earn some of that money back, Carter said the university received $1.6 billion in research funding for fiscal year 2024 and is already on track to exceed that amount this year. Carter added that the university is preparing to make investments in multiple academic programs, already having done so in nursing and veterinary medicine. He said Ohio State will increase the number of spots in its veterinary medicine program from 165 to 200 and attempt to double the number of graduates produced through its nursing program. It is in this spirit that Carter said while other universities are playing defense instead of offense, Ohio State is playing both. For Carter, it was clear that there was work to do regarding the higher education landscape even before the series of state and federal policy changes that went into effect following the election of President Donald Trump. He recalled a 2015 Gallup poll that showed only 57% of Americans surveyed had a high level of confidence in higher education. Then, in 2023, another Gallup poll was released and that 57% had dropped to 36%. This summer, the poll was conducted again, revealing what Carter said was an 11% increase in the American public's confidence in higher education. According to Gallup, the poll actually showed a 6% increase from 2023. Either way, Carter wasn't afraid to teasingly chalk it up to the Buckeyes. "Who's going to take credit for that?" he said. "I know the answer: Ohio State." How the passage of state Senate Bill 1 may change Ohio StateWhen asked what on-campus changes students should expect this academic year as a result of Ohio Senate Bill 1's passing, Carter mentioned one specific program: Buckeye Commons. Through collaboration with faculty and student leadership, Carter said the university will launch Buckeye Commons as a replacement for the Center for Belonging and Social Change, which was shut down in February. The office will be a space for students to gather and seek help with various issues — namely mental health resources or finding an internship — much like the center originally did, Carter said. "Everything that could be associated with helping our students be successful is now what we built out of Buckeye Commons," Carter said. "That's the approach we're taking to make sure that we not only can attract and retain the best that we have, but that every single student who comes on our campus now has the opportunity to be successful." Reporter Emma Wozniak can be reached at [email protected] or @emma_wozniak_ on X, formerly known as Twitter. This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Ohio State President Ted Carter talks Gee, SB 1 at CMC public forum View the full article

ガソリン暫定税率廃止に関する与野党実務者協議に臨む自民党の宮沢洋一税調会長（中央右）、立憲民主党の重徳和彦政調会長（同左）ら＝衆院第2議員会館で2025年8月21日午後2時、平田明浩撮影 　自民党と立憲民主党など与野党6党は21日、ガソリン税の暫定税率廃止を巡る実務者協議を国会内で開き、税収減に伴う財源確保策について議論した。野党側が他の税収の上振れ分の活用などで対応する考えを示したが、与党側は増税などによる恒久的な財源が必要と主張。与野党の溝が鮮明となったが、協議は継続し、28日に次回会合を開く。 　ガソリンの暫定税率を廃止すると、年1兆円規模の財源が失われる。野党4党はこの日、各党共通の見解として「暫定税率の廃止が物価高騰対策である以上、新たな負担増を国民に求めるのは受け入れがたい」と強調。税収の上振れ分や外国為替資金特別会計の活用、歳出削減などで賄うべきだとした。 Advertisement 　個別の意見として、企業などに向けた減税措置である「租税特別措置」の見直しを挙げた党もあった。 　これに対し与党は「しっかりとした税財源を充てなければならない」（自民の宮沢洋一税調会長）として、税収の上振れ分の活用などを恒久財源とするのは難しいとの従来姿勢を維持した。ただ、具体的な財源確保案について、宮沢氏は「具体的な税を言った途端に独り歩きするので、示し方が難しい」と話すにとどめた。【井口彩、鈴木悟、富美月】 View the full article

Les cascadeurs côtoient les plus grands acteurs pour échanger des coups ou des chutes ensemble, mais le coordinateur des combats, lui, a pour travail d'échanger en direct avec eux. Parmi eux, Olivier Schneider, récemment rencontré par Legend, a travaillé avec de grandes stars hollywoodiennes et a raconté une anecdote étonnante sur Denzel Washington. Les deux hommes se sont croisés sur le tournage de Sécurité rapprochée, un thriller d'action avec également Ryan Reynolds et Robert Patrick et réalisé par Daniel Espinosa. Il raconte l'histoire d'un agent de la CIA contraint de fuir avec le fugitif qu'il était chargé de protéger. Au micro de Legend, Schneider se souvient d'une exigence toute particulière de Denzel Washington : "Il ne me touche pas une fois de plus""Le premier jour où je le rencontre, je dois lui présenter les prévisualisations que j'avais tournées, c'est-à-dire les scènes de combat que j'avais tourné avec les cascadeurs et sa doublure, pour lui montrer à quoi allaient ressembler ces combats et ce que lui allait faire. Avant, il me teste, me pose des petites questions (...) pour voir si j'ai lu le scénario... (...) si j'ai fait mes devoirs, en gros." PUBLICITÉ"Il [regarde] une puis deux bagarres, il est content, puis il me dit 'Attends, remets un petit peu'. Je lui remets la bagarre et il me fait : 'Non, là il m'a touché six fois, je l'ai touché cinq fois, c'est moi la star du film, il ne me touche pas une fois de plus". Voir cette publication sur Instagram Une publication partagée par LEGEND (@legendmedia) Schneider tique un peu et lui explique : "'Cet adversaire-là, c'est ton antagoniste, tu as une autre bagarre avec lui à la fin' (...). Donc quel est l'intérêt d'avoir une autre bagarre à la fin si déjà tu le bats la première fois ?'". Washington se range à l'argument, mais ajoute : "Alors il va me toucher cinq fois et je vais le toucher cinq fois !" Une star reste une star ! Article original publié sur AlloCiné View the full article

Nebraska State Patrol Superintendent Bryan Waugh, at podium, joins Nebraska Adj. Gen. Craig Strong at left and Nebraska Department of Correctional Services Director Rob Jeffreys as the state announces a new ICE facility. Aug 19. 2025. (Juan Salinas II/Nebraska Examiner) LINCOLN — State lawmakers are “learning on the go” about Nebraska’s plan to transform its McCook-based Work Ethic Camp from a rehabilitative center to a migrant detention facility over the next couple of months. Among major still-unanswered questions: What will the immediate impacts be of shoehorning more inmates from the McCook center into other placements in an already overcrowded prison system? Confirmed information from Nebraska Department of Correctional Services Rob Jeffreys includes comments Tuesday to reporters that his department would continue to ensure safety and provide care to anyone housed in state facilities. The repurposed Work Ethic Camp would still be state-owned and operated — “because homeland security starts at home.” “We’re in the business of corrections, so it’s just another population for us to manage,” Jeffreys said. “We provide the services. We provide adequate, humane care.” The McCook Work Ethic Camp in McCook, Nebraska. (Courtesy of Nebraska Department of Correctional Services)Jeffreys has indicated that the 186 Nebraskans currently housed at the McCook facility will be moved over roughly the next 45 to 60 days to other prisons. The specifics have not been ironed out. The federal government would fully reimburse Nebraska to house federal low-to-medium-risk detainees at the revamped Work Ethic Camp with plans to grow to accommodate up to 300 detainees at a facility designed to hold about 200, which would mean repurposing existing spaces used for meetings and other programming. A ‘Midwest hub’ for ICE?The Work Ethic Camp, legislatively approved 41-1 at the request of McCook native and then-Gov. Ben Nelson in April 1997 and opened four years later, seeks to reduce prison crowding through rehabilitative programming to low-risk offenders, making space for more violent offenders elsewhere. The facility has served adult men convicted of felonies who need substance use treatment or cognitive restructuring, according to budget documents from September 2024. It had an annual state budget of $9.5 million during the most recent fiscal year, 56% of which was for security. The facility has about 85 staff. Nebraska’s ICE facility ‘symbolic’ of state’s support for immigration enforcement push The Examiner contacted Correctional Services, the Office of Gov. Jim Pillen, all eight members of the Legislature’s Judiciary Committee and other officials to learn more about next steps after officials announced multiple state-federal partnerships to ramp up immigration enforcement. Perspectives among responding officials differed largely along ideological lines, including in the officially nonpartisan Legislature, the only statehouse where lawmakers are not formally elected by or organized around party affiliation. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security is rebranding the repurposed Work Ethic Camp facility as the “Cornhusker Clink,” according to Pillen and U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem. Jeffreys said he wants it to be the “Midwest hub” for immigration enforcement. ‘Humanitarian viewpoint’State Sen. Victor Rountree of Bellevue, one of two Democratic lawmakers representing legislative districts that President Donald Trump won in 2024, said his immediate concerns were about managing the state’s existing prison population. That includes how Correctional Services is retooling after an August windstorm tore the roof off two Nebraska State Penitentiary housing units in Lincoln. State Sen. Victor Rountree of Bellevue, center, talks with State Sens. Danielle Conrad and George Dungan, both of Lincoln. April 10, 2025. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)A total of 387 inmates were displaced to temporary housing, with 137 sent to other facilities in Omaha or Tecumseh. Some have since been moved back into normal housing. Inmates are expected to be able to safely return to State Pen housing by the end of September. Rountree said the moniker “Nebraska, the Good Life” is now paired with immigration enforcement efforts that he said differ from Trump’s promises to go after criminals. He said other migrants with no criminal backgrounds have been swept up, causing “a disruption to the people of our community.” The freshman lawmaker said he approaches his purple district from a “humanitarian viewpoint” and as a 30-year military veteran who understands the impact of law. “There’s a place for the rule of law to exist along with humanitarian effort,” Rountree said. State Sen. Terrell McKinney of Omaha, center, greets Gov. Jim Pillen ahead of the governor’s annual State of the State Address to the Legislature. Jan. 15, 2025. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)State Sen. Terrell McKinney of North Omaha, who has served on the Judiciary Committee for five years, said he strongly opposes the repurposed McCook facility. “Our prisons are already poorly managed, overcrowded and plagued by substandard living conditions,” McKinney said Tuesday in a Facebook post. “No one should be subjected to such inhumane treatment.” State Sen. Danielle Conrad of Lincoln, a former director of the ACLU of Nebraska, a Democrat and a former Appropriations Committee member, questioned Pillen’s legal authority to create the new ICE facility under the Nebraska Constitution’s Article IV, Section 19. Since 1875, the Nebraska Constitution has given the Legislature exclusive authority in the “general management, control and government of all state charitable, mental, reformatory and penal institutions.” ‘Well thought out’State Sens. Tanya Storer of Whitman and Bob Hallstrom of Syracuse, Republican freshman members of the Judiciary Committee, said they were more confident in the federal direction. “I think if Nebraska is in a position to help be part of that effort in a positive way, that’s a good thing,” Storer said. State Sen. Tanya Storer of Whitman, center, meets with state and local officials for an update on the disaster response to a major fire in her north-central legislative district. April 23, 2025. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)Storer said she had a briefing on the plan to repurpose the Work Ethic Camp about an hour before it was made public. She said she learned the project could bring additional federal dollars to Nebraska without any additional state taxes. State Sen. Rob Clements of Elmwood, chair of the Legislature’s budget-writing Appropriations Committee, said he was told reimbursements would lead to cost savings, the extent of which is not yet clear. Hallstrom said he is still “learning on the go” but highlighted Pillen’s pledge that safety and protection of citizens would be a “primary goal and objective.” Storer said she doesn’t think the repurposing would hinder legislative or department efforts to reduce recidivism, address overcrowding or boost the chances for successful societal reentry for inmates. “We were assured that there is space available within our system to individuals without creating any hiccups,” Storer said. “It appears that this has been well thought out.” State Sen. Bob Hallstrom of Syracuse, center. June 2, 2025. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)Hallstrom said he also raised questions about space initially but is so far satisfied. He said he hopes the rehabilitative objective from McCook stays, such as Jeffreys engaging business leaders to do so. He added he hopes any ICE detainees will be treated humanely. “I certainly trust and hope that that will be the case with whatever’s rolled out here over the next however long it takes to get things put together,” Hallstrom said. State Sen. Carolyn Bosn of Lincoln, a former prosecutor and chair of the Judiciary Committee, told the Examiner: “I’m still learning about the WEC situation, so it’s premature for me to comment on the plan.” What comes nextThe contract between Nebraska and the federal government is still ongoing, with Jeffreys saying Tuesday it could be an initial one-year commitment or longer, possibly three years. He said he didn’t “want to get baked into a timeline with them before we take care of our own house,” acknowledging that the August windstorm put the department behind. Jeffreys said “the timeline got ahead of us” for announcing the state-federal partnership, with Correctional Services staff finding out as the public did of the transition. He pledged to remain transparent with his team moving forward. As the McCook offenders move into other facilities, Jeffreys said Nebraska inmates are involved in programming “like it’s never been done before,” so he’s not worried about violence. He said the prison system remains committed to ensuring fair treatment, programming and that Nebraskans are ready to reenter society. If the ICE facility remains under Correctional Services’ control, it would likely be subject to legislative oversight, including complaints through the Ombudsman’s Office or the Office of Inspector General for Corrections. ‘Press pause’Conrad, the longest-serving current member of the Legislature, said lawmakers share a Pillen-Trump goal of addressing public safety and a “broken” immigration system. But she said the “political stunt” Pillen is doing to “curry favor” with an “autocratic” president isn’t the way. “We know that the way to solve those problems is through sensible, comprehensive immigration reform, where we respect human rights and we meet our country’s economic needs, and we don’t conflate those who are seeking a better life for them and their families or are fleeing persecution with true threats to public safety or national security,” Conrad said Wednesday. Gov. Jim Pillen, right, shakes hands with State Sen. Wendy DeBoer of Omaha as State Sen. Danielle Conrad of Lincoln smiles at the pair. First Lady Suzanne Pillen looks from the right. Jan. 15, 2025. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)Conrad said it remains to be seen if there will be any savings to Nebraska or if rehabilitation and second chances will still be afforded to rehoused Work Ethic Camp inmates, if they are moved into facilities “bulging at the seams.” A corrections spokesperson told the Examiner “a robust offering of rehabilitative opportunities” is available at all NDCS facilities. She also noted the department will add 96 beds to its Reception and Treatment Center in Lincoln this fall. Pillen has said he is stepping up to answer Trump’s call for governors and states to do their part to enforce immigration laws and fulfill the “highest calling” of government: public safety. A Pillen spokesperson said the alternative is “failed Biden-era open border policies.” Conrad encouraged Pillen to “pray deeply” on his decision and visit with faith, business and ag leaders and embrace a past willingness to change course when met with new perspectives. “It’s never too late to press pause,” Conrad said, “and to come forward with a more serious, thoughtful proposal that’s grounded in the law and our Nebraska values.” How the McCook Work Ethic Camp will become what ICE calls the ‘Cornhusker Clink’State senators approved the Work Ethic Camp by 41-1 at the request of former Gov. Ben Nelson in April 1997. It opened four years later in April 2001. The Nebraska-federal “mutual agreement” to repurpose the McCook Work Ethic Camp came partially because of its proximity to other states. State officials hope it can be a “Midwest hub” for ICE. It is right next to the McCook Ben Nelson Regional Airport. The current southwest Nebraska prison serves adult men serving felony convictions with rehabilitative opportunities, including local work in a dormitory-style setting, as a means to free up housing for more violent offenders at higher-security state facilities. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security is rebranding the revamped facility the “Cornhusker Clink,” following “Alligator Alcatraz” in Florida and the “Speedway Slammer” in Indiana. Low-to-medium-risk detainees would be housed and provided services between deportation or other legal proceedings at the repurposed Work Ethic Camp in McCook. It’s unclear if the facility would remain all male or whether women, children or families would be detained there. Gov. Jim Pillen at a Tuesday news conference in McCook said, “I’ll be honest, I’m not a politician. I’ve not thought about that. I’ve not asked that question.” There are 11 lawyers with active licenses in Red Willow County (McCook is the county seat), according to the Nebraska State Bar Association. State officials estimate that they will move the current McCook inmates to other state facilities over the next 45-60 days. Housing placements have not yet been decided. Parole board hearings and reviews will continue as normal for state inmates at McCook. Whether corrections employees offering job and other counseling programs would remain in McCook, or be transferred to other state facilities, will depend on contract negotiations. Pillen has said many would remain. The federal government would reimburse Nebraska for the use of the McCook facility, which would remain state-owned and operated. The contract is still in progress but would be for at least one year. An early August windstorm tore the roof off of two housing units at the Nebraska State Penitentiary in Lincoln, displacing 387 inmates. Of those, 137 were sent to temporary housing at agency facilities in Omaha and Tecumseh. Some have returned to normal housing. The damaged housing units are expected to be usable by late September. State officials say they are not concerned with overcrowding, noting nearly 100 new beds will open up at the Reception and Treatment Center in Lincoln this fall. — Cindy Gonzalez, Zach Wendling and Juan Salinas II SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX View the full article

The Regional University System of Oklahoma will be looking for another leader, as its executive director, Brandon Tatum, has announced his departure. Tatum said he will begin working as the executive vice president at America Achieves, a New York-based nonprofit that has launched the Good Jobs Economy initiative, an effort designed to help local communities integrate and advance strategies for marrying economic growth and economic mobility. Tatum said he will continue living in Oklahoma. Tatum began serving in the RUSO role in August 2024. RUSO is the state’s largest four-year university system, serving more than 40,000 students through six institutions: East Central University in Ada, Northeastern State University in Tahlequah, Northwestern Oklahoma State University in Alva, Southeastern Oklahoma State University in Durant, Southwestern Oklahoma State University in Weatherford and the University of Central Oklahoma in Edmond. The executive director serves as the chief executive officer of the RUSO Board of Regents and as a liaison between the regents and the university presidents. Brandon Tatum, left, is leaving the executive director position he held with the Regional University System of Oklahoma, while regent Jane McDermott, right, will help lead the search for Tatum's successor.“The RUSO system plays such a key workforce role in the state of Oklahoma,” Tatum said. “As a system, we serve the most undergraduate students in the state and produce the most nurses and teachers in Oklahoma,” Tatum said. “It has been a privilege to work with the RUSO Regents and all six of our university presidents to expand opportunity and impact.” Before starting with RUSO, Tatum served as Gov. Kevin Stitt’s chief of staff, starting in November 2022. He has held previous roles in both K-12 and higher education, including serving for a time as executive vice president for Oklahoma Christian University in Oklahoma City. While with RUSO, Tatum championed an “Affordability and Transparency Framework” for the system, which required each of RUSO’s universities to develop a three-year strategic plan, detailing how they will address both rising tuition costs and ensuring affordable access to higher education for Oklahomans. “Dr. Tatum has made a significant impact on RUSO during his time with us,” said Jane McDermott, the chair of the RUSO regents’ board. “We have made significant strides as a system under his leadership and wish him the very best as he takes on this exciting national role.” McDermott said RUSO will accept applications for its executive director’s role through Sept. 19. This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Executive director of Oklahoma's regional university system is leaving View the full article

Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita speaks at an environmental deregulation event at an Indianapolis truck dealership on Tuesday, July 29, 2025. (Leslie Bonilla Muñiz/Indiana Capital Chronicle) In a new filing, Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita rejected a second disciplinary complaint against him and denied that he contradicted sworn statements to the state supreme court. The dispute centers around a news release issued by Rokita in November 2023 following an earlier professional conduct investigation that stemmed from comments he made during a 2022 interview with Fox News commentator Jesse Watters. After Indiana’s high court justices found that he had violated two of the Rules of Professional Conduct for lawyers — and issued a public reprimand — Rokita called the dispute a “failed attempt to derail our work.” He said he had “evidence and explanation” for what he said on air, but chose not to fight the complaint any further to save “taxpayer money and distraction.” The Indiana Supreme Court Disciplinary Commission filed a new round of charges against him earlier this year, alleging he wasn’t being truthful when he told the court he was accepting responsibility for his actions. Story continues below. Rokita answer-to-complaint 0815 In a 24-page response filed Aug. 15 with the Indiana Supreme Court, Rokita’s attorneys wrote that his November 2023 press release about the prior reprimand “was consistent with the conditional agreement and affidavit he signed to resolve the prior disciplinary matter” and that his statements “did not contradict the conditional agreement or affidavit.” Rokita additionally argued that the complaint itself oversteps legal bounds. His lawyers added that he “vehemently disputes” the disciplinary commission’s charges against him. “… the disciplinary commission’s Complaint infringes on Attorney General Rokita’s First Amendment free speech rights, violates Indiana’s separation of powers principles, and violates Indiana’s anti-SLAPP statutes,” Rokita’s legal team wrote. Ongoing disciplinary disputeThe ongoing complaint stems from Rokita’s nationally televised comments in June 2022 about Indianapolis OB-GYN Dr. Caitlin Bernard, who oversaw a medication abortion for a 10-year-old rape victim from Ohio that summer. In an interview with Fox News commentator Jesse Watters, Rokita called Bernard an “activist acting as a doctor” and suggested that she violated patient privacy and state reporting laws. He said his office was investigating her conduct and would be “looking at her licensure.” The Indiana Medical Licensing Board ultimately found that Bernard had violated patient privacy laws — resulting in a reprimand and a fine — but she was cleared of failing to report the abortion. Indiana taxpayers pay nearly $500K for Attorney General Todd Rokita’s disciplinary defense Rokita’s office settled an initial complaint about his comments in November 2023. In a sworn affidavit, Rokita admitted to violating two professional conduct rules in exchange for a public reprimand. A third count was dismissed. Although he agreed not to contest the charges, the commission found that Rokita recanted almost immediately, suggesting in a public press release — issued just hours after the reprimand — that he had done nothing wrong. The commission said Rokita acted with “a deliberate or reckless disregard for the truth” and has since opposed his request to dismiss the new charges. But the attorney general has consistently maintained the professional conduct proceedings are the result of a politically charged and unaccountable disciplinary process. Public records show taxpayers have already spent nearly $500,000 on Rokita’s legal defense in the matter. Rokita flatly denied each allegation in his latest response and claimed the commission created “widespread confusion in the media” by pursuing charges it had already agreed to dismiss. His lawyers also cast the complaints against him as partisan attacks, maintaining that, “Democrat activists filed complaints against him for politically motivated reasons” and insisted that Rokita “denies ethical misconduct or that he was dishonest with the Court”. What comes nextRokita’s attorneys asked the Indiana Supreme Court to dismiss the case and order the disciplinary commission to pay his costs. The case could move forward to a hearing, or the sides could attempt to resolve it through a negotiated settlement. Any sanction would ultimately be decided by the Indiana Supreme Court. The court has not yet scheduled arguments or issued a timeline for resolving the complaint. Rokita earlier sought to throw out the complaint, arguing it was unlawful. In his motion, he called the commission’s action “an impermissible attempt to restrain an elected official and candidate’s political speech” and said it was retaliation for reforms he proposed to the disciplinary process. Justices unanimously rejected the dismissal request once but granted Rokita’s petition to have a three-judge panel — rather than the usual single hearing officer — oversee the case if it advances. The court also urged the parties to meet and explore a possible settlement, the same way the first complaint against Rokita was resolved. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX View the full article

Attorney General Gentner Drummond gives a speech on improving Oklahoma public education for his gubernatorial campaign at the Edmond History Museum on Tuesday in Edmond. (Photo by Nuria Martinez-Keel/Oklahoma Voice) OKLAHOMA CITY — While other leading GOP candidates for Oklahoma governor pledged to continue a campaign against the “radical left” in public schools, Attorney General and gubernatorial hopeful Gentner Drummond called for state leaders to change their tone toward teachers. In a speech Tuesday at the Edmond History Museum, Drummond urged state officials to “stop tearing down our teachers” and elevate the profession instead. He pointed his remarks at state Superintendent Ryan Walters, whose fiery brand of politics has been built on attacking perceived “left-wing indoctrination” in schools, and at Gov. Kevin Stitt, who initially endorsed Walters’ rise to statewide office. An anti-left message similar to Walters’ is prevalent in the platforms of former House Speaker Charles McCall and former state Sen. Mike Mazzei, Drummond’s highest-fundraising Republican opponents. Both McCall and Mazzei have focused much of their campaign messaging on defeating alleged liberal influence in schools and elsewhere in deep-red Oklahoma. Walters, himself, has been suggested in statewide polling as a potential candidate to succeed Stitt, who is term limited as governor. Walters hasn’t yet announced a campaign for higher office nor for reelection as superintendent. State Superintendent Ryan Walters speaks at a news conference at the state Capitol in Oklahoma City on May 16. (Photo by Nuria Martinez-Keel/Oklahoma Voice)Drummond, a native of Hominy, said he hopes to see Walters join the gubernatorial race. “That’s one way of term-limiting him,” Drummond told reporters after his speech. “So, we can get a new opportunity for new leadership in (the state Department of Education) to where the next superintendent works with educators, not against them.” Like his GOP colleagues, Drummond voiced support for empowering parents’ role in their children’s schooling and improving Oklahoma’s poor academic outcomes, particularly in early elementary reading. Only 23% of fourth graders and 20% of eighth graders in Oklahoma performed at a proficient level in reading last year on the National Assessment of Educational Progress, a test administered every two years in all 50 states. Drummond, like many Oklahomans in recent weeks, also referenced a survey by the website WalletHub that ranked Oklahoma 50th in the nation for education. “I’ve met with scores and scores of teachers throughout the state of Oklahoma that simply want leadership from Oklahoma City that acknowledges their worth, their devotion and dedication to our young people,” he said. “And then, together let’s encircle that profession, lift it up, empowering our parents to be engaged and providing a path forward for our young people to be successful.” Attorney General Gentner Drummond gives a speech on improving Oklahoma public education for his gubernatorial campaign at the Edmond History Museum on Tuesday in Edmond. (Photo by Nuria Martinez-Keel/Oklahoma Voice)It’s unclear whether Drummond’s emphasis on elevating educators would include a teacher pay raise. He said the answer to Oklahoma’s teacher shortage isn’t “just throwing money at it,” but he included “competitive pay” in his plan for recruiting and retaining educators, as well as teacher mentorship and streamlining certification. Mazzei, of Tulsa, said he would put $200 million into reading education, a plan that includes paying tutors to help struggling students catch up to their grade level. “School principals and superintendents need to have direct oversight of these kids and be held responsible for the lack of significant improvement,” he wrote in his campaign platform. Mazzei said Oklahoma should reframe the standards and criteria to become a superintendent “to weed out those who adhere to the woke tenets of liberalism which has undermined and destroyed public education in this state.” He pledged to move school board elections to November and to get personally involved in school board races to help elect conservative candidates. McCall, of Atoka, hasn’t released a formal education platform, but when announcing his run for governor, he pointed to “the left and outside forces” that he said are “waging war” on Oklahomans’ way of life, including by radicalizing schools. He highlighted school policies the Legislature passed during his tenure as House speaker, a time when Republicans “beat the radical left every step of the way.” That included new laws requiring individuals to use school bathrooms that align with their biological sex, banning transgender girls from participating in women’s sports and offering tax credits to families with children in private schools. The Legislature also poured hundreds of millions of dollars into increasing public-school funding and teacher salaries. McCall voiced support for President Donald Trump’s plan to close the U.S. Department of Education and give more control of public schools to the states. U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon and former Oklahoma House Speaker Charles McCall, center left, visit Dove Science Academy in Warr Acres on Tuesday. (Photo by Nuria Martinez-Keel/Oklahoma Voice)He joined Trump’s secretary of education, Linda McMahon, and Stitt on Tuesday for a charter school tour in Warr Acres. He later posted on social media that Oklahoma’s education rating is “unacceptable” and he looks forward to working with McMahon to “strengthen opportunity and better education for every Oklahoma student.” Former state Sen. Jake Merrick, of Tuttle, said Oklahoma should redirect school funds from “bloated administration” to classrooms. Leisa Mitchell Haynes, a Republican candidate from Choctaw, would prioritize prayer in schools, teacher support and leadership programs for high school seniors, according to her website. House Minority Leader Cyndi Munson, D-Oklahoma City, is the only non-Republican in the race for governor. Munson said she would push to raise education funding over the regional average, increase salaries of teachers and school staff, and eliminate tax credits that benefit private schools. House Minority Leader Cyndi Munson, D-Oklahoma City, announces her campaign for Oklahoma governor on April 15 outside the state Capitol. (Photo by Emma Murphy/Oklahoma Voice)Oklahoma is behind all six of its bordering states in per-pupil spending, a key metric in determining school funding, according to the Oklahoma State School Boards Association. Recent teacher pay raises have bumped Oklahoma up to fourth in the seven-state region for average teacher compensation. “You hear the governor continue to say, ‘We can be a top 10 state in X,Y,Z category,” Munson said while speaking with reporters on May 16 during the legislative session. “He has said that for seven years. Education (in Oklahoma) is still last in the nation. We are still behind when it comes to teacher pay and per-pupil spending.” SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX View the full article

Tight on time? This story is for you. It's an abbreviated, text view of what's happening with Hurricane Erin. Click here for more details and to see the latest spaghetti models. Sign up to get weather alerts via text based on your interests or location. Is there another hurricane coming toward Florida?Hurricane Erin missed Florida, staying well offshore as it passed by Wednesday, Aug. 20. Indirect impacts of rough surf and dangerous rip currents continue to be felt Thursday. Farther east in the Atlantic are two disturbances that could become tropical depressions. It's too early to tell whether they pose any risk to Florida or the U.S. ➤ Hurricane forecast: Erin brings thunderous surf, likely quiet spell till mid-September Where is Hurricane Erin right now?Erin is located 205 miles east-southeast of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, or 619 miles east of Jacksonville. ➤ Spaghetti models for Hurricane Erin How strong is Hurricane Erin?At 5 a.m., maximum sustained winds were at 105 mph, making Erin a Category 2 storm. How big is Hurricane Erin?Erin is a large and growing hurricane. Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 105 miles from the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 320 miles. Watches, warnings issued for Florida, USNo watches or warnings are in effect for Florida. A storm surge warning is in effect for: Cape Lookout to Duck, North Carolina A tropical storm warning is in effect for: Beaufort Inlet, North Carolina to Chincoteague, Virginia, including Pamlico and Albemarle Sounds What impacts is Hurricane Erin having on Florida?Erin continues to bring frequent and life-threatening rip currents to Northeast Florida beaches. Breakers could be 5 to 8 feet. Along east central Florida beaches, life-threatening rip currents continue Thursday, along with 5-7 foot breakers. What should you do if you live in Florida?Officials continue to urge people to stay out of the ocean to avoid the dangerous surf and life-threatening rip currents. Remember, the busiest period of hurricane season will last through mid-October. Now is the time to: Update and check your hurricane supplies. Check your home insurance. Make sure your home is ready for a storm. See what your evacuation zone is. Determine if you live in a flood-prone area. Keep an eye on weather updates. and make sure you monitor the latest conditions. What's next?We will continue to update our tropical weather coverage daily. Download your local USA TODAY Network newspaper site's app to ensure you're always connected to the news. And look for our special subscription offers here. This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Hurricane Erin, quick answers to questions, Florida impact View the full article

Bill Belichick and Jordon Hudson have urged his ex, Linda Holliday, to move on with her life after two tense encounters between her and the former cheerleader within the past year. Last December, Holliday clashed verbally with Hudson at a Christmas party, and the two most recently appeared at another Nantucket event, though they kept their distance. Jordon Hudson expects she may still run into Bill Belichick's ex-partner at other gatherings in Nantucket, but, according to a report, the model is not looking to make a scene during such occasions. Bill Belichick And Jordon Hudson Want Linda Holliday To Move OnZUMAPRESS.com / MEGAAn insider close to Belichick and his girlfriend, Hudson, claims the couple wants Linda Holliday to "get over" her failed relationship with the legendary NFL coach, who now serves as head coach of the University of North Carolina football team. Holliday dated Belichick from 2007 until 2023, before he moved on to Hudson, whose age-gap relationship with the coach has stirred controversy. Since Belichick and Hudson began dating, the former cheerleader and Holliday have had at least one verbal clash at a public event, exchanged subtle jabs on social media, and there have been speculations that Holliday's friends have tried to sabotage Hudson's efforts to break into the Nantucket social scene. Now, the insider has claimed that Belichick and Hudson "would love nothing more than" for Holliday to move on with her life. "Linda is Bill's ex for a reason; he's moved on, he's looking forward to the upcoming UNC season, and he is madly in love with Jordon," the source told the Daily Mail. "They are having an incredible time together. That is what Bill's thoughts are directed toward." Jordon Hudson 'Isn't Looking To Make A Scene' When She Crosses Paths With Linda HollidayInstagram | Jordon HudsonMost recently, Holliday and Hudson were both spotted at the annual Boston Pops on Nantucket concert to benefit Nantucket Cottage Hospital on Saturday, August. 9. The two kept their distance, unlike their contentious meeting at a Christmas party in December, where Hudson was ultimately forced to leave. The absence of confrontation this time was seemingly explained by the source, who claimed that Hudson has no interest in causing a scene when she crosses paths with Holliday. "If Jordon happens to be in the same spots as Linda, that's just life. Jordon isn't looking to make a scene or have an incident happen," the source shared with the news outlet. They added, "She is aware she isn't well-liked in the public conversation when it comes to her relationship with Bill, but she isn't looking to add to the drama with hearing it from Linda… The quicker Linda moves on, the better, in Bill and Jordon's eyes." Bill Belichick's Ex Was Left Furious After A Local Paper Published Photos Of Her With Jordon Hudson At An EventInstagram | Jordon HudsonDespite the lack of confrontation between Holliday and Hudson at the recent Nantucket event, reports emerged that Holliday was left "furious" days later, per People Magazine. "The event itself was peaceful, fun, and everyone minded their own business," a source told the publication. "The drama began the day after, when Jordon and Melissa were featured as the first slide on Nantucket Inquirer & Mirror's post about the event," the insider continued. The local outlet had not only posted pictures of Hudson and Holliday on their social media page, but also published them alongside photos of other celebrity attendees at the event. This allegedly upset Holliday, as she had wanted Hudson to be "excluded" from the coverage. Bill Belichick Is Focused On His College Football Coaching DebutInstagram | Jordon HudsonOver the last few months, Belichick and Hudson have been in the news, first for their controversial CBS interview in April, and later for the former cheerleader's alleged involvement in his coaching career. But with the football season fast approaching, and beginning with the Tar Heels' opener against the TCU Horned Frogs, Belichick's attention is now firmly on delivering in his debut as a college football head coach. "Bill is in football mode, and he isn't hearing the noise that Jordon might be dealing with," the insider shared Jordon Hudson 'Appreciates' The Legendary Coach's SupportInstagram | Jordon HudsonAlthough his attention is on football, the legendary coach has been reassuring Hudson that everything will be fine, despite the continued negative attention they have faced in the media. According to the source, the former cheerleader deeply appreciates his support, and the two are said to be "bonded by both being hated." "Bill has dealt with drama forever in the press, and he has always addressed what he has had to deal with to Jordon. She appreciates that, and that makes their relationship much stronger," the insider further remarked. View the full article

Volkswagen Group has expanded its relationship with Chinese EV specialist Xpeng by agreeing to adopt the company’s electronic architecture for VW brand’s future combustion-engine cars developed for China. VW has leaned on Xpeng for a wide range of electric-focused technology since buying a 5 percent stake in the Tesla rival in 2023. This is the first time, however, that VW will integrate Xpeng’s tech in its core combustion-engine range, which accounts for a majority of the group’s sales in China. Having an advanced, easily updatable electronic architecture is seen as essential for the software-defined cars that tech-savvy Chinese customers increasingly demand. VW announced in 2024 that it would switch to the China Electronic Architecture developed by Xpeng along with the Volkswagen Group China Technology Company (VCTC) and its software arm, Cariad, for all VW brand electric cars developed in China, with the first due in 2026. Sign up for the Automotive News Europe Segment Analysis newsletter, a monthly in-depth look at a segment of the car market, including sales and market share data The architecture is based around three powerful “zonal” computers that each control a group of electronic functions. VW said this switch away from individual controllers would reduce the number of control units by 30 percent and reduce costs and system complexity. VW said it enables faster software improvements and over-the-air updates, as well as significantly shortening vehicle development times. Under the new agreement with Xpeng, VW Group will roll out the architecture to future VW brand models developed in China for sale in the country. “That is a major expansion of our scope of the collaboration with our partner,” Charles Zhang, head of Xpeng’s corporate finance and investments, said on the company’s second-quarter earnings call August 19. “I believe that Volkswagen is probably the only global auto company…that has one E/E [electronic/electric] architecture platform across all powertrains.” No date was given for the launch of the first combustion-engine model with the new architecture. Move to new electronic architecture will lower VW’s cost base in ChinaVW Group China CEO Ralf Brandstätter said in a statement that by adopting the China Electronic Architecture to the combustion-engine fleet, the company was “strengthening our technological leadership in the conventional powertrain sector.” The move would also improve the VW Group’s cost base in China, Brandstätter, said. VW has moved to overhaul its business structure in China, including shutting a plant in Nanjing, as homegrown rivals continue to increase market share at the expense of global players, while a continuing price war is hurting profitability. The vast majority of the VW Group’s 1.3 million sales through June in China were combustion-engine cars, with battery-electric vehicles accounting for just 4.5 percent of the total after sales fell 35 percent to 59,351, company figures show. The combustion-engine VW Sagitar and VW Passat were the two biggest sellers. Next year, VW brand will launch the first vehicle built on the CMP (China/Compact Main Platform) architecture derived from Xpeng’s Edward platform used by the company’s G9 electric SUV. The first car was previewed at the Shanghai auto show by the ID Aura, which also incorporated the China Electronic Architecture. Xpeng and the VW Group forged a partnership in 2023, when VW bought 4.99 percent of Xpeng for about $700 million. As well as the vehicle and electronic platforms, the two announced in January that they had agreed to expand their partnership to cooperate on ultra-fast electric-vehicle charging networks in China . View the full article

連合の芳野友子会長 　連合の芳野友子会長は21日の記者会見で、全都道府県で最低賃金が1000円を超える見通しになったことについて、「石破茂首相が賃上げに向けて、日本全体の旗振り役としてさまざまなところでご発信いただいたのは非常に大きい。評価に値する」と述べた。 　国の審議会は、最低賃金の額の目安について、時給を全国加重平均で63円引き上げて1118円とする答申をまとめている。各都道府県の審議会が答申通りに改定すれば全国で1000円を超える。 Advertisement 　首相は最低賃金について「2020年代に1500円」との目標を掲げている。岸田政権に続いて地方版政労使会議を開き、16年ぶりの政労会見も実施した。芳野氏は「賃上げに向けての波及効果という点で非常に大きかった。労働組合のない（職場の）皆さんにも良い影響を与えた」と評価した。 　一方、自民党内では首相の退陣を求める声が高まっていることについてはコメントを避けたが、「政府の会議にも労働者代表として連合に枠をいただいている。対話できる関係性があることは、組合員にとっては良いことだ」と話した。【安部志帆子】 View the full article

Italian police have arrested a Ukrainian man suspected of coordinating the attacks on the Nord Stream pipelines, German prosecutors say. The explosions nearly three years ago left gas billowing from Nord Stream 1 and 2 – two major conduits that transported Russian gas to Europe – and prompted a huge operation to find who was responsible. The origin of the explosions has been a subject of intense speculation and further stoked political tensions in Europe following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Neither of the pipelines were actively transporting gas to Europe at the time of the leaks, though they still held gas under pressure. The suspect, named only as Serhii K under German privacy laws, “was part of a group of people who planted the explosive devices in Nord Stream 1 + 2 near Bornholm in Sept 2022,” prosecutors added. He will be brought before a German judge after being transferred. This story has been updated. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com View the full article

日本麥當勞與CHIIKAWA（吉伊卡哇）、寶可夢（Pokémon）合作推出的開心樂園餐活動，在全國掀起搶購熱潮，同時也引爆食物棄遍地、黃牛轉賣等亂象。日本麥當勞8月20日在網站上宣布，原定8月29日起開始販售的開心樂園餐「《海賊王（ONE PIECE）卡牌遊戲》」活動將取消，已購買套餐的顧客將獲得以往活動中派發的玩具作為贈品。 《日刊體育》（日刊スポーツ）報道，麥當勞在公告中稱，「作為開心樂園餐相關活動檢討的一部份，我們將取消原訂於8月29日開始的開心樂園餐促銷活動。活動期間內，凡購買開心樂園餐的顧客，我們將提供過去活動中發放的玩具作為贈品。」 麥當勞亦在公告中表示，「雖然部份媒體原本預定刊登與本次活動相關的預告內容，但我們懇請您不要向版權持有方、製造商或媒體單位詢問相關事宜。」 日本麥當勞本月推出附贈「寶可夢卡牌」及「吉伊卡哇」周邊的套餐，吸引大量消費者搶購，甚至出現超量購買、轉賣，以及食物遭棄置浪費等問題。 對此，麥當勞8月11日發表致歉聲明，並表示「我們將持續檢討並改善售賣方式與相關對策，傾聽顧客以及在門市工作的員工的意見。」 日本麥當勞開心樂園餐推Pokémon卡掀搶購潮　食物棄遍地亂象再現日本麥當勞CHIIKAWA之亂：黃牛黨搶玩具食品棄遍地　日人憤怒未受大地震傳言影響　日本7月遊客數創同期新高　港韓遊客減日本再傳惡搞！知名連鎖拉麵店噁心男對公用水壺「這樣做」捱轟 View the full article

Amnesty International accuse les autorités américaines d'enfreindre les droits humains en utilisant des outils d'intelligence artificielle (IA) pour surveiller les migrants et les manifestants étrangers propalestiniens, dans un contexte de mobilisation contre les bombardements israéliens dans la bande de Gaza. "Il est très préoccupant que le gouvernement américain déploie des technologies intrusives assistées par IA dans le cadre d'un programme d'expulsions massives et de répression de l'expression en faveur de la Palestine", a déclaré Erika Guevara-Rosas, directrice générale de la recherche à Amnesty International, citée dans un communiqué de l'ONG publié dans la nuit du mercredi 20 au jeudi 21 août. Le recours à ces technologies "débouche sur une multitude de violations des droits humains", a-t-elle asséné. L'association pointe notamment les outils informatiques dopés à l'IA des entreprises Babel Street et Palantir, spécialisées dans l'analyse de données à grande échelle et en temps réel, qui ont de nombreux contrats avec le gouvernement américain, notamment dans les secteurs de la défense et du renseignement. PUBLICITÉLeurs logiciels – Babel X et Immigration OS, respectivement – "ont des capacités automatisées qui permettent un suivi, une surveillance et une évaluation de masse constants", souligne Amnesty. Et selon l'ONG, ces technologies sont utilisées pour cibler les étudiants étrangers, réfugiés et demandeurs d'asile "à une ampleur sans précédent". "Cela se traduit par des détentions illégales et des expulsions massives, créant un climat de peur et exacerbant 'l'effet paralysant' sur les migrants et les étudiants internationaux dans les écoles et sur les campus universitaires", a insisté Erika Guevara-Rosas. À lire aussiL'ICE : les dessous technologiques de la politique anti-immigration de Donald Trump "Des technologies probabilistes discriminatoires et biaisées"Depuis son retour à la Maison Blanche en janvier, Donald Trump s'est lancé dans une vaste campagne contre des universités, les accusant notamment de laisser prospérer sur leurs campus des mouvements de soutien aux Palestiniens face à l'offensive israélienne dans la bande de Gaza, qu'il assimile à des manifestations d'antisémitisme. PUBLICITÉSon administration a coupé des subventions de recherche à différents établissements, arrêté et menacé d'expulsion des manifestants propalestiniens, demandé l'interdiction à la prestigieuse université Harvard de recevoir des étudiants étrangers et ordonné la suspension du traitement de leurs visas pour passer au crible leurs réseaux sociaux. À lire aussiHarvard : la "bataille culturelle" de Trump s'inscrit dans un "anti-intellectualisme très ancien" Des étudiants étrangers ont expliqué à l'AFP hésiter à venir étudier aux États-Unis ou craindre d'approuver des publications pro-Palestine ou anti-Trump sur les plateformes. "Babel X permettrait de parcourir rapidement grâce à l'IA les réseaux sociaux à la recherche de contenus liés au 'terrorisme'", note Amnesty. Mais "les technologies probabilistes employées pour tirer des déductions sur les intentions des individus présentent d'importantes marges d'erreur et s'avèrent souvent discriminatoires et biaisées ; elles peuvent conduire à présenter à tort des contenus propalestiniens comme antisémites". Les arrestations se multiplient partout aux États-Unis : le nombre de personnes détenues par la police de l'immigration (ICE) a atteint un sommet en juin, avec plus de 60 000 immigrés en situation irrégulière incarcérés. PUBLICITÉPour repérer les migrants, les autorités utilisent notamment des outils conçus par Palantir, une société connue pour ses outils informatiques d'aide à la décision, et pour certains de ses clients, comme l'armée israélienne et l'ICE. D'après Amnesty International, son logiciel Immigration OS "automatise un processus déjà très faillible et opaque, qui a des antécédents en matière de non-respect des procédures régulières et des droits humains". Avec AFP View the full article

If you’re in good health and plan to get a Covid shot this fall, you might end up with an unwelcome surprise: a bill. The Food and Drug Administration is expected to approve the next round of Covid shots soon, but only for a smaller, high-risk group — adults 65 and older and people with underlying health conditions. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is likely to follow suit, limiting its recommendation on who should get the shots to the same groups. (The CDC currently recommends Covid vaccination for everyone 6 months and older.) The change, experts say, could affect what insurers are willing to cover for everyone else who doesn’t fall under a high-risk group. By law, most health insurance plans are required to fully cover vaccines recommended by the CDC and its outside advisory committee, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). For those who don’t fall under the CDC’s new recommendations, experts say coverage would depend entirely on their insurance — with some deciding to fully cover the shot, others requiring a copay and some not covering it at all. Without insurance, a Covid shot can cost up to $140, according to the CDC’s vaccine price list. “It could very well get confusing,” said Dr. William Schaffner, an infectious disease expert at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, Tennessee, and an adviser to ACIP. Whether you’re able to get a free shot “may greatly depend on which company with which you have your insurance.” Who can get a Covid vaccine?Under the expected recommendations from the CDC, healthy children and adults won’t be barred from getting the Covid vaccine, said Dorit Reiss, a vaccine policy expert at UC Law San Francisco. “It’s legal to give a vaccine off-label,” Reiss said, referring to when a doctor prescribes a drug for something different than what the FDA approved it for, “and insurance companies can choose to cover them.” A spokesperson for AHIP, a health insurance industry trade group, said that every individual insurer will come up with its own policy following the CDC’s final guidance. The CDC’s list of conditions that put a person at high risk for severe illness from Covid is extensive, and includes cancer, heart disease and lung conditions as well as physical inactivity and depression. Insurers also take into account clinical recommendations from outside medical organizations, like the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the American Academy of Pediatrics, the spokesperson said. On Tuesday, the AAP, which has expressed its disapproval for Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s vaccine decisions, released its own recommendations supporting Covid vaccinations for children. Most people are also unlikely to notice changes to their insurance coverage overnight — if there are any, according to the AHIP spokesperson. For private plans — including Obamacare plans — any changes stemming from ACIP meetings could likely only be implemented in the next benefit year, typically Jan. 1, the spokesperson said. That means it’s possible that people who get a shot before then might be covered. Medicare and Medicaid plans are required to follow ACIP recommendations immediately upon the CDC director’s signature. Covid vaccines have also already been factored into insurers’ plans for this year. In an emailed statement, a spokesperson for Blue Cross and Blue Shield said that “each independent Blue Cross and Blue Shield plan will make their own coverage decisions.” Covid and flu shotsThe changes could affect people planning to get their Covid and flu vaccines at the same time. Schaffner, of Vanderbilt, said some people choose to get their Covid and flu shots at the same time, but there are concerns that some could be turned away due to the anticpated change in recommendations. He added that misinformation about who is able to get the Covid shots may also discourage people from getting either vaccine. “I think we have to reassure people, particularly those at high risk, that the vaccine will be available to them,” he said. Rick Gates, Walgreens’ chief pharmacy officer, said its pharmacists usually determine whether a patient has coverage before a vaccine is administered. Because of this, it’s unlikely anyone would be hit with a surprise bill due to new CDC recommendations, he said, adding that the patient would first be told whether the vaccine is fully covered, a copay is required or the patient must pay entirely out of pocket. Gates said that people are already coming in for their flu shot, but many seem to be holding off on the Covid shot until the updated version is available. During last year’s respiratory virus season peak, he said, more than 50% of patients got both shots at once — a number that has grown over the past two to three years. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com View the full article

PASSAIC, N.J. — With an empanada in one hand, Republican Jack Ciattarelli spent part of last Saturday afternoon at El Primito restaurant here, making his case to be New Jersey's next governor instead of Democratic Rep. Mikie Sherrill. “My opponent is a continuation of Phil Murphy’s policy,” Ciattarelli told customers at the restaurant, referring to the state's Democratic governor. It’s no accident that Ciattarelli took his case against Sherrill to this this city and this restaurant, where a mural of the Dominican Republic’s countryside stretches across a wall and the country’s flags hang over a doorway. Trump won Passaic County, which includes the city by the same name, by 3 percentage points last year. A former Democratic stronghold, Passaic saw the largest swing toward Trump of any county in the Garden State in 2024 compared to the 2020 election. And it’s home to the largest share of Latino residents of any New Jersey county. Trump’s gains in Passaic and other New Jersey counties with sizable Latino populations reflected his broader gains among Latino voters across the country in 2024. Now, this year’s race for governor in New Jersey, one of two governor's races in the country in 2025, is an early testing ground for both parties as they try to grapple with that shift. Republicans are looking to sustain Trump’s gains among Latino voters without the president on the ballot, while Democrats are trying to win back voters who used to be in their corner. “It’s going to be the decisive factor,” Patricia Campos-Medina, a Sherill campaign vice chair, said of the Latino vote. Mike Madrid, a Republican strategist who has studied Latino voters, said the New Jersey race is “a perfect petri dish to ask this question as to whether or not Latinos are an ethnic voting bloc or an economic pocketbook, blue-collar voting bloc.” “We are both,” Madrid later added. “And both parties try to make it either-or, which is why neither one of them has a hold on the fastest growing segment of the electorate.” Economic focusThe economy, and Trump’s own brand of “economic populism,” was the main driver of Latino voters’ shift to the right as they struggled with the high costs of living, political strategists and officials in both parties say. “The conversation that Donald Trump had, it was the conversation that they want to hear,” Jose Arango, the GOP chair in Hudson County, said of Latino voters in his community. Trump also improved on his 2020 margin there last year. “Homeland security, law and order, school choice, pro-business, lower taxes, equality, taking all the woke policies out of the schools,” Arango added. Campos-Medina said Democrats “got lazy” when it came to outreach to Latino voters in New Jersey and across the country last year. “We care about the same issues that white suburban voters, Black urban voters care about. And No. 1 ... is the economy,” Campos-Medina said, later adding that Democrats’ main message to Latino voters boiled down to: “Trump is bad. Trump doesn’t like immigrants.” Campos-Medina noted the sizable swath of Latino voters in New Jersey — incorporating significant numbers who are Puerto Rican, Dominican, Central American, Cuban and Mexican — include many small-business owners who “felt disconnected from the” Democratic Party. But she is confident that Sherrill’s focus on driving down costs will appeal to Latino voters who may be disenchanted with Democrats. “Her message has always been about, ‘How am I going to improve the economy? How am I going to help the small-business owners? How am I going to lower the cost of groceries in New Jersey?’” Campos-Medina said. “And I think that is appealing to folks because they’re listening to everyday concerns.” Campos-Medina said the Sherrill campaign has been prioritizing outreach to the Latino community, convening meetings with business leaders and attending local events. Rep. Mikie Sherrill, D-N.J., at an Independence Day celebration in Kearny. (Ronald Smits / SOPA Images / Sipa USA via AP file)A few hours after Ciattarelli greeted customers at El Primito on Saturday, Sherrill, 53, a former prosecutor and Navy pilot, attended the annual Puerto Rican Day Parade & Festival in Jersey City. Afterward, she said, in a statement in Spanish, that it was a “true honor” to recognize “the pride, traditions, and valuable contributions that the Puerto Rican community brings to the Garden State.” Some Democrats also believe Latino voters who rejected Democrats last year will ultimately blame Trump for their current economic woes and, in turn, oppose Ciattarelli, amid concerns that Trump’s tariff policy could drive up prices and his sweeping tax cut and spending law could slash social safety nets like Medicaid. “Ciattarelli, in my opinion, is going to have to own everything this administration has done, because he’s showing no willingness to act independently of it,” said Rep. Rob Menendez, D-N.J. But Ciattarelli, 63, a former state lawmaker and small businessman, is betting that voters who are concerned about the state’s high cost of living will ultimately place the blame on Murphy and his fellow Democrats. Asked if Trump bears any responsibility for voters’ persistent economic concerns, Ciattarelli said: “The economy did better in his first term than it did in Joe Biden’s term. And we’ve just received news the unemployment rate is down and that consumer price index is down significantly. So there is greater confidence in President Trump’s economic policies." "But let’s be clear, what’s going on with our state economy has everything to do with the current administration,” Ciattarelli said, referring to Murphy. Angel Castillo, who owns El Primito restaurant in Passaic, said that’s why he’s backing Ciattarelli again this year, after voting for him in 2021 when he lost a close race to Murphy. “Right now, the cost of living throughout the whole state is ridiculous. Especially a little business like this, we’re barely making it,” Castillo said. “And I can show you my electric bill. My electric bill, since Murphy took office, almost doubled.” ‘Buyer’s remorse’?While the economy remains a top issue for Latino voters, Trump’s efforts to crack down on illegal immigration and ramp up deportations are also raising concerns among Latino voters across the country and in New Jersey, where nearly 1 in 4 residents are foreign-born. A national survey of Latino voters conducted in late July by Equis Research, a Democratic firm, found 26% of Latino voters who cast ballots for Trump last year said they are disappointed in him or regret voting for him, citing Trump’s focus on mass deportations and inaction on the economy. In New Jersey, a majority of likely voters, including Hispanics, say the Trump administration is doing “too much” on deportations, according to a July Fairleigh Dickinson University survey. Nearly 30% of voters overall, and half of Hispanic voters, say they are worried a family member or close friend could be deported. “Every Puerto Rican and Dominican that I’ve talked to in New Jersey who supported Donald Trump has all said the same thing in focus groups, which is: ‘I wanted him to bring prices down. I thought Joe Biden was old and weak, but I did not vote for him to start locking up folks who just came here seeking a better life, who’ve broken no laws other than trying to flee to this country for safety,’” said Democratic strategist Chuck Rocha, who has conducted focus groups with Latino nonprofits throughout the Northeast. Menendez, the congressman, said Ciattarelli will also have to own Trump’s immigration actions, noting: “There’s already buyer's remorse, not just in the Latino community, but in a lot of different pockets of this state and this country. And that’s absolutely going to be on the ballot come November.” Campos-Medina said the deportations have stoked fear and uncertainty among Latino communities in New Jersey, which could hurt Hispanic-owned businesses if their customers are wary of going out. While Campos-Medina said Democrats’ message should be focused on the economy, she added, “That doesn’t mean that we don’t acknowledge the damage that Donald Trump is doing to our communities, in the harassment, in the terrorization of our immigrant neighbors.” Ciattarelli said he did not disagree with Trump’s approach to deportations, noting that Trump’s victory in Passaic County last year “strongly suggests that Latinos that are here legally support the president’s efforts in securing the border and deporting people that came here illegally who have a history of criminality in their country of origin and/or have committed a crime since arriving illegally.” “As I go around the state, I find Latino Americans support that policy,” Ciattarelli said. “As do I.” That includes Castillo, the Passaic restaurant owner, who dismissed any concerns about deportations. “If you’re here and you’re here doing the right thing, why should you be worried about it?” he said. Even as Ciattarelli makes his case, early polling suggests that Sherrill could have an edge among Latino voters this fall. A Fairleigh Dickinson University poll and a StimSight Research Survey from July both found Sherrill with leads in the low double-digits among Latino voters, although both surveys had small sample sizes, meaning there is larger room for error. Both surveys also found sizable chunks of Latino voters remain undecided in the race. Those undecided voters include a woman named Jess, who declined to share her last name while discussing politics. She chatted briefly with Ciattarelli as he visited Parrillada Costambar, a Dominican restaurant in Paterson, later on Saturday afternoon. A Democrat who voted for Vice President Kamala Harris last year, Jess said she is has not yet decided if she'll back Sherrill or Ciattarelli for governor, noting that combating drugs and improving education are among her top issues. “I have to sit down and see their proposals to see what they are going to do for us,” she said. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com View the full article

Erik and Lyle Menendez are taking another step on what could be their path to freedom. The brothers, who have served more than three decades in prison for the 1989 murders of their parents, will appear before California parole officials Thursday and Friday in a bid to convince the panel that they are suitable for release. A Los Angeles judge found three months ago that the men do not pose an “unreasonable risk” and resentenced them to 50 years to life — a decision that effectively canceled their previous prison terms of life without the possibility of parole and made them eligible for "suitability" hearings immediately. Erik, 54, will appear before the board Thursday. Lyle, 57, will appear Friday. Commissioners will weigh possible testimony from victims’ relatives and prosecutors, and they will consider a range of factors, including the brothers’ criminal histories, their behavior while they were incarcerated and their release plans. If they are found suitable for parole, a review process that can take nearly a half-year follows. The decision to release the brothers will ultimately land with California Gov. Gavin Newsom, who has 30 days to affirm, reverse or modify the decision or refer it back to the parole board. Newsom, whose office oversaw a separate and still-pending clemency application from the brothers, has declined to comment on what he would do if the board recommends parole. The brothers were convicted of first-degree murder in 1996 after two trials that spanned three years. They claimed they killed their parents, José and Kitty Menendez, in self-defense after years of abuse at their father’s hands. Prosecutors have disputed those claims and pointed to the grim specifics of the killings — Lyle reloaded his shotgun before he shot his mother in the face, for example — and they described the killings as ruthless and financially motivated. Speaking at the resentencing hearing, Erik described his crimes as “cruel and vicious” and said he was “directly responsible for it all.” More on the Menendez brothersWhen is someone convicted of murder considered rehabilitated? Menendez supporters say brothers should go free — but prosecutors who tried them believe they got what they deserved Their case was catapulted back into the spotlight after a pair of streaming series and advocacy from some high-profile figures and relatives. The effort to secure their release has highlighted the sometimes complicated debate over rehabilitation versus incarceration. Many family members have been outspoken advocates for the brothers’ freedom. After their resentencing hearing in May, a cousin, Anamaria Baralt, attributed the judge’s decision to the brothers’ growth behind bars and the “purpose of service” that she said they exhibited. Among other things, the brothers have attended college, established a “beautification” project at the San Diego prison where they are incarcerated and helped inmates with severe disabilities, court filings show. Baralt said she expected the parole process to be difficult on the brothers’ family but added: “We will eagerly step through those doors if that means getting them home.” The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office has had different views on the brothers’ push for freedom. Weeks before his ouster last year, the county’s former top prosecutor, George Gascón, said the siblings had been “exceptional” inmates and recommended that they be resentenced. His successor, Nathan Hochman, tried — and failed — to withdraw that recommendation. He said the siblings had not taken responsibility for more than a dozen lies he said they told about the murders, including the claim that they killed their parents in self-defense. “The Menendez brothers have never fully accepted responsibility for the horrific murders of their parents, instead continuing to promote a false narrative of self-defense that was rejected by the jury decades ago," Hochman said in a statement ahead of the hearings. "We have consistently opposed their release at this time because they have not demonstrated full insight into their crimes or shown that they have been fully rehabilitated, and therefore continue to pose a risk to society," he said. Representatives from his office will attend the hearing, he has said, and their level of participation will be determined by the parole board. If their parole is denied, the brothers still have their clemency application with the governor's office. And they have sought to have their convictions overturned through a separate process that continues. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com View the full article

【旭川志峯－広陵】広陵の中井哲之監督＝阪神甲子園球場で2025年8月7日、前田梨里子撮影 　広陵高校（広島市）は21日、硬式野球部の中井哲之監督（63）の退任と野球部コーチ、松本健吾氏（34）の新監督就任を発表した。部長も中井氏の長男惇一氏から、同校のバスケットボール部顧問、滝口貴夫氏に交代する。 　広陵は部内での暴力事案を巡り、開催中の全国高校野球選手権大会で1回戦を勝利した後に出場を辞退していた。同校は「暴力事案について第三者委員会の結論が出ていないことなどから現在の指導体制を継続するのは困難だと判断した」としている。 Advertisement 　中井氏は1990年に就任。91年春と2003年春のセンバツ大会で全国制覇に導くなど監督として歴代7位の春夏通算41勝を挙げ、多数のプロ野球選手を育てた。21日、毎日新聞の取材に「監督として責任を感じている」と話した。 　広陵は今月5日、今年1月に下級生の硬式野球部員が部で禁止された行為を寮でしていたとして複数の上級生部員が暴力を振るい、3月に日本高校野球連盟から厳重注意を受けたと明らかにした。その後、別の事案について交流サイト（SNS）に投稿されていることが確認された。この事案について広陵は、第三者委員会の調査に事実確認を委ねているとしている。 　一方、広島県高校野球連盟は21日、23日に始まる秋季県大会地区予選への広陵の出場を了承したと発表した。県高野連によると、広陵から指導体制の見直しと、部員へのアンケートで現1年生と2年生による暴力やいじめなどがないことを確認したとの報告を受けたという。 　県高野連は一連の問題について、「学校側の保護者への説明が不十分だったとみている」と指摘。広陵への指導として、新事実が判明した場合はただちに報告することや、被害者側に丁寧な対応をすることなどを求めた。県高野連は、暴力・ハラスメントの根絶や不祥事発生時の対応徹底を、9月16日に開く責任教師への研修会などで全加盟校に対して求めるという。【安徳祐、西山夏奈】 View the full article

厚生労働省が入る中央合同庁舎第5号館＝東京・霞が関で、竹内紀臣撮影 　厚生労働省の技術審査部会は21日、神戸市立神戸アイセンター病院が申請していた、人工多能性幹細胞（iPS細胞）から作った網膜細胞を目の難病患者に移植する臨床研究について、一部に公的な医療保険が適用される「先進医療」とするのは不適合と判断した。主な理由として、症状の改善効果が評価しにくいことや、高額な患者負担が妥当なのかを判断できないことを挙げた。認められていれば、iPS細胞を使う治療として初めてのケースだった。 　申請資料によると、対象は網膜色素上皮（RPE）が萎縮するRPE不全症のうち、加齢黄斑変性と遺伝性網膜ジストロフィーの患者。光を感知する機能の維持に関係するRPE細胞をiPS細胞から作製。髪の毛くらいの太さで長さ2センチのひも状にし、最大4本を患者の目に移植する。 Advertisement 　2033年1月まで15人の患者へ移植し、効果が確認されれば、公的な医療保険の適用を目指す計画だった。 　部会では、視力や視野の維持が主要な評価項目でなく、「臨床的な有効性」を示す根拠が薄弱と指摘。1人当たり1000万～2000万円と高額な治療費が妥当かを判断する資料がないことも問題視した。 　その上で、治療として実施する場合には患者の生活の質（QOL）の改善が見込まれることが重要で、これらを客観的に評価することが困難なことが見込まれるため、先進医療にすることは不適とした。 　一方、当初の計画では、RPE不全症全体の患者を対象にしていたが、部会の指摘で対象を二つの病気に絞った経緯もあり、「（手順を踏んで、新たな）研究計画を提出されることを期待する」とした。 　先進医療は最新の治療や検査などの医療技術について、患者の負担を軽減しながら実施例を増やし、公的な医療保険の適用を目指す制度。通常の治療と共通する入院や検査費用など一部に公的保険を適用する。【渡辺諒、中村園子】 View the full article

台風 　気象庁は21日、九州の西の海上で台風12号が発生し、同日午後5時すぎに鹿児島県日置市付近に上陸したと発表した。ゆっくりとした速度で東へ進んでおり、鹿児島県では22日夕方にかけて線状降水帯が発生し大雨となる恐れがある。気象庁は土砂災害や低地の浸水、強風などへの警戒を呼びかけている。 　21日午後5時時点の中心気圧は998ヘクトパスカル、最大風速は20メートル。22日午後にかけて九州南部を横断し、熱帯低気圧に変わる見通し。 Advertisement 　21日は鹿児島県内で猛烈な雨が降り、いちき串木野市では午後2時半までの1時間に約120ミリを観測。大雨の影響で九州新幹線は熊本―鹿児島中央間で一時運転を見合わせた。 　22日午後6時までの24時間に予想される降水量は、いずれも多い所で、鹿児島県300ミリ、宮崎県180ミリ。8日の大雨で被災した鹿児島県霧島市や姶良市では土壌が緩んでおり、土砂災害への厳重な警戒が必要としている。台風の速度が遅いため、長時間にわたり同じ場所で大雨となる可能性もある。 21日18時現在 　台風は赤道付近の海上で多く発生するが、台風12号は鹿児島県薩摩川内市の西約90キロの海上で発生した珍しいケース。気象庁によると、記録が残る1951年以降、北緯30度以北の九州の西海上で台風が発生したのは60年の19号▽66年の17号▽67年の15号――の3事例のみ。【宗岡敬介、山崎あずさ】 View the full article

LONDON (Reuters) -More than 32,000 asylum seekers were housed in hotels in Britain at the end of June 2025 with asylum claims hitting a record, official data showed on Thursday, as the housing issue becomes a major headache for Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Starmer's government is facing increasing pressure over housing asylum seekers in hotels after a council won a temporary court injunction earlier this week meaning all the migrants living in one hotel had to be removed. Figures released by the government showed there had been an 8% increase in the number of migrants being housed in hotels in the year ending June 30. However, the total figure of just over 32,000 was 43% lower than the peak of 56,042 recorded in September 2023, and slightly down compared to the previous quarterly figures in March. Starmer has vowed to end the use of hotels to house thousands of asylum seekers before the next election in 2029. A regular tracker of voters' concerns showed immigration has overtaken the economy as the biggest issue. Thursday's data also showed 111,000 people claimed asylum in the year to June 2025, up 14% from the previous year and surpassing the previous peak of 103,000 recorded in 2002. Starmer has pledged to stop thousands of migrants arriving in Britain via small boats. More than 27,000 have arrived by that means so far this year. (Reporting by Sam Tabahriti and Catarina Demony;Editing by Helen Popper) View the full article

BERLIN (AP) — A Ukrainian citizen man suspected to be one of the coordinators of the undersea explosions in 2022 that damaged the Nord Stream gas pipelines between Russia and Germany has been arrested, German prosecutors said Thursday. The suspect, identified only as Serhii K. in line with German privacy rules, was arrested overnight by officers from a police station in Misano Adriatrico, near the Italian city of Rimini, federal prosecutors said. Explosions on Sept. 26, 2022, damaged the pipelines, which were built to carry Russian natural gas to Germany under the Baltic Sea. The damage added to tensions over the war in Ukraine as European countries moved to wean themselves off Russian energy sources, following the Kremlin’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Investigators have been largely tightlipped on their investigation, but said two years ago they found traces of undersea explosives in samples taken from a yacht that was searched as part of the probe. In a statement Thursday, prosecutors said Serhii K. was one of a group of people who placed explosives on the pipelines and is believed to have been one of the coordinators. They said he is suspected of causing explosions, anti-constitutional sabotage and the destruction of structures. He was arrested on a European arrest warrant that was issued on Monday. The suspect and others used a yacht that set off from the German port of Rostock, which had been hired from a German company using forged IDs and with the help of intermediaries, prosecutors said. They didn't give any information on the other people aboard the yacht or say anything about who else might have been involved in coordinating the suspected sabotage, or about a possible motive. German Justice Minister Stefanie Hubig praised what she called “a very impressive investigative success.” She said in a statement that the explosions must be cleared up, “so it is good that we are making progress.” The explosions ruptured the Nord Stream 1 pipeline, which was Russia’s main natural gas supply route to Germany until Moscow cut off supplies at the end of August 2022. They also damaged the Nord Stream 2 pipeline, which never entered service because Germany suspended its certification process shortly before Russia invaded Ukraine in February of that year. Russia has accused the U.S. of staging the explosions, a charge Washington has denied. The pipelines were long a target of criticism by the U.S. and some of its allies, who warned that they posed a risk to Europe’s energy security by increasing dependence on Russian gas. In 2023, German media reported that a pro-Ukraine group was involved in the sabotage. Ukraine rejected suggestions it might have ordered the attack and German officials voiced caution over the accusation. German prosecutors didn't say when they expect Serhii K. to be handed over to German authorities. Swedish and Danish authorities closed their investigations in February 2024, leaving the German prosecutors’ case as the sole probe. View the full article