Desmond Milligan

俳優の鈴木亮平が8日、自身のインスタグラム（@ryoheisuzuki_cityhunter）を更新した。 【画像】鈴木亮平が公開した『TOKYO MER』チームの絆ショット 投稿では、『TOKYO MER』の劇中衣装を身にまとったキャスト陣が、作戦本部を思わせるセット内で笑顔をそろえる集合写真が公開されており、赤いユニフォームが印象的な現場の空気からは、撮影中ながらも和やかで団結力のある雰囲気が伝わってくる。 「南の海の最強のチーム」と記された一文が、その場に流れる信頼と誇りを象徴するものであり、役柄を越えて生まれたチームワークが画面越しにも感じられる投稿となっている。 臨場感と熱量の高さがにじむ一枚は、作品の裏側にある人間関係や制作の熱を物語っている。 【画像】鈴木亮平が「キングセイコーとバンコクへ」、初のタイで魅せた「静と品格のブラックスーツ」 この投稿をInstagramで見る Ryohei Suzuki 鈴木亮平(@ryoheisuzuki_cityhunter)がシェアした投稿 この投稿にフォロワーからは「大迫力で感動でした！！！」「2回目観ます」「最高だった！」といったコメントが寄せられている。 文：SPORTS BULL（スポーツブル）編集部 View the full article

　元ロンドンブーツ１号２号の田村亮が１２日放送のＴＢＳラジオ「パンサー向井の＃ふらっと」に出演。コンビ解散後、慣れないことを明かした。 　同コンビは６月２４日放送のテレビ朝日系「ロンドンハーツ」に生出演した際、相方・田村淳とともに解散を報告した。 　この日、亮はゲストとして登場した。ＭＣを務める「パンサー」向井慧は「本日のゲストは〝元〟ロンドンブーツ１号２号の田村亮さんです」と紹介すると「元、みたいな言い方になってしまいますけれども」と吐露。「ココリコ」田中直樹も「そうね。元が付く」とうなずいた。 　亮も「これ、パッて言っちゃいますよ。今日もＴＢＳの受付で、パッと言うてもうた。名前の確認をって言われて、『ロンドンブーツ…あっ』。ハッてなった」と告白。向井は「悲しいです。（３２年）使い続けた自己紹介ですもんね」と共感した。 View the full article

　俳優の時任勇気（３３）がイケメンな近影を見せた。 　勇気は１９日の日本テレビ系「踊る！さんま御殿！！」（火曜・午後８時）に初出演し、「実家暮らし」とテロップで表示された。「ニュージーランド生まれです」と明かし、司会の明石家さんまから「仕事の目的で？」と問われると「いや、子どもを産むのにいい国だと思ったらしくて」と説明。 　この日のテーマは「おひとり様のお金事情ＳＰ」。自炊事情についてのトークでは「僕、チャーシュー作るのが好きで。カナダにいたんで」と語り、「中国の移民の方がすごく多くて、中華料理がすごいおいしいんですよ。なので、そこのチャーシューを再現したくて何回も試行錯誤を繰り返して作ってるんですけど、中華の調味料を調達しないと再現できない。煮ないと使えないやつもあったりして…」とエピソードを披露した。 　自身のインスタグラムでもスタジオでのオフショットをアップ。１８６センチの長身で、集合写真では頭一つ抜けていた。 　勇気は俳優・時任三郎の息子。ニュージーランドで生まれ、幼少期を日本、カナダ、ニュージーランドで過ごし、高校時代に２年間カナダ留学を経験して英語が堪能という。ＳＮＳではドラマで衣装姿や私服をアップし、「カッコよすぎます」「イケメン」「そっくり」と反響を呼んでいる。 View the full article

　SNSなどで人気の歌い手であるluz（本名・帯刀光司）さんが19日、死去した。32歳だった。所属事務所が20日、luzさんの公式サイトで伝えられた。8月31日には、活動15周年記念ライブluz ANNIVERSARY LIVE『XV』が予定されていた中での訃報に、SNS上では悲しみの声が広がっている。 　公式サイトでは、所属事務所・ESPERANZAの代表取締役・市橋秀幸氏名義で「弊社所属のアーティスト luz（本名：帯刀光司）が、2025年8月19日、急逝いたしました」と報告。「あまりに突然の出来事に、関係者一同、深い悲しみに暮れております」と、突然の訃報に驚きを隠せない様子。 　続けて「生前に賜りましたご厚情に心より感謝申し上げますとともに、謹んでお知らせ申し上げます」とし、「なお、葬儀につきましてはご遺族の意向により近親者のみにて執り行われる予定です」と伝えた。 　また、「ご遺族のご意向を尊重し、詳細につきましては公表を差し控えさせていただきます」とし、最後に「何卒ご理解賜りますようお願い申し上げます」と呼びかけた。 　SNS上では「強い悲しみがあります」「突然のことで理解が追いつかない」などといった感想が寄せられている。 　Luzさんは、1993年7月23日生まれ。クリエイターユニット・Royal Scandalのメンバーとしても活動。2017年4月、新レーベル「XYZP（XYZ Production）」を設立。自身のXでは、8月6日の投稿が最新となっており「本当に全てに限界来てる いつこの呪いから解き放たれるんだろう 光なんてもうとっくにないんだよ」とつづっていた。 View the full article

《仕事の合間、一人で昼飯食いに外へ出掛けてたんだけど 不意に足元を見たらまさかの自己紹介サンダルで痺れた》 8月20日に更新したXで、こう呟いたのは人気アイドルグループ「SixTONES」の京本大我（30）。投稿には京本が自分で撮影したと思われる下半身の写真が添えられ、黒いTシャツの裾にベージュの短パン、「京本」のシールが貼られた黒いサンダルを履いた京本の足が写っていた。 ファンにとっては貴重な“プライベートショット”だが、思わぬ箇所が注目を集めることに。写真では右脚のくるぶしが少し見えていたのだが、なんとびっしりと生えた黒いすね毛で埋め尽くされていたのだ。またサンダルから覗いていた足の指からも、毛が生えているのが肉眼でわかるほど。 ありのままの姿をファンに向けて、“チラ見せ”した京本。テレビに出演した際などは衣装で隠れていることもあり、愛嬌のあるキュートなルックスからは想像できない体毛に反響が続出することに。投稿はわずか3時間で281.8件のインプレッションを集めるなど、京本の意外性に驚く声が広がっている。 《ビジュアルからは考えられないほどのすね毛でうけるWWWWWWWWW》 《まって原始人ぐらい生えててやばい》 《スネ毛だけじゃなく指毛もしっかり濃くて顔に似合わずしっかり男の足してるな……… 推しが脱毛していく中貴重なお毛毛でありがたい》 《自己紹介サンダル すね毛ジャングルすぎる》 《自慢のすね毛アングルでおもろい。狙ったなこれは笑笑》 「いまや女性だけでなく、男性も脱毛することは珍しくありません。’23年4月にはSnow Manの渡辺翔太さん（32）を広告起用した『SBC湘南美容クリニック』でも、男性向けに脱毛を訴求するCMが放映されていました。最近では美意識が高い男性アイドルも増え、“アイドルなら脱毛をしていてもおかしくない”と見る向きもあります。まして京本さんは女性向けの美容雑誌にも登場していましたから、ファンにとって彼の脚にすね毛が生えていたことは意外に映ったのでしょう」（WEBメディア記者） 思わぬ反響を受けて、約15分後に再びXを更新した京本。《ちょっと待って！ すね毛わざとじゃないって！！ 自慢の高級バッグさりげなく画角に入れる人みたいにすね毛入れ込んでないって！！！》とユーモラスに呼びかけていたが、思わぬギャップはファンを楽しませたようだ。 View the full article

　体調不良で数日間仕事を見合わせていた、お笑いタレントのカンニング竹山が２０日、自身のインスタグラムで２１日放送のフジテレビ系「サン！シャイン」から仕事を再開することを報告した。 　竹山は「数日間体調不良でぶっ倒れておりました」と近況を伝え「医師と相談の上、明日から復帰して大丈夫との事、翌朝のフジテレビ　サンシャインから仕事再開いたします」と報告した。 「様々な世の中のニュースには、なるべく思った事はハッキリ意見をしてネットニュースになりまた叩かれるサイクルになると思うと厄介ではございますがそれも仕事なもんで仕事して家賃や様々な支払いをやっていきます」と宣言。 「余計な事が長くなりましたが、今回の件で仕事先のスタッフ、キャストの皆々様、関係者各位様、竹山ライブショー、竹山報道局のメンバーの皆々様には多大なご迷惑をおかけ致しまして大変申し訳ありませんでした」と謝罪した。 　最後に「また明日から汗かきながら自分なりに全力でやっていったりもしますし、力入れずに多少サボりながらやっていったりもしてしまうと思いますがご迷惑をおかけしないようにいたしますので今後とも末長く宜しくお願いいたします」と伝えた。 　竹山は１７日に出演を予定していたＴＢＳ系「アッコにおまかせ！」を体調不良により欠席していた。 View the full article

Are you still spending your time creating images for every possible variation of your products? Now there’s no need! With WooCommerce Product Configurator you can create image “layers” using transparent PNGs for each attribute of a variable product. This means instead of a single image for each final variation, you can create far less “layered” images, and have them configure themselves visually on the frontend as the customer selects their product options. Demo: https://iconicwp.com/products/woocommerce-product-configurator/ https://workupload.com/file/9KPzbR8GYBC https://userscloud.com/xpjk6fll8ii8 https://www.upload.ee/files/16079709/iconicwooproductconfig-1212.rar.html https://pixeldrain.com/u/srnWPqSQ https://nippyspace.com/v/306585 https://www.mirrored.to/files/16KYR7P6/iconicwooproductconfig-1212.rar_links https://mirrorace.org/m/3e97a https://krakenfiles.com/view/eyd76h5pzt/file.html https://hxfile.co/5ikarfetm8vf https://gofile.io/d/gep60w https://ddownload.com/oykxmwyywymx https://dbree.me/v/851886 https://1fichier.com/?59jhdum0i6oa7j6pfere View the full article

Image Flip & Hover Effects for Your Product Listings Encourage shoppers to purchase your products in fewer clicks with shop page image swap effects. Demo: https://iconicwp.com/products/image-swap-for-woocommerce/ https://workupload.com/file/q7EucLkdNKe https://userscloud.com/4qm1lvlzv64z https://www.upload.ee/files/16079707/iconicwooimageswap-283.rar.html https://pixeldrain.com/u/QLnXhPiz https://nippyspace.com/v/1886be https://www.mirrored.to/files/0JFHGNEY/iconicwooimageswap-283.rar_links https://mirrorace.org/m/3e979 https://krakenfiles.com/view/hhBeabgSn3/file.html https://hxfile.co/nb3cuq7dxnd1 https://gofile.io/d/XaRsLq https://ddownload.com/g6p98n9ht73e https://dbree.me/v/51886d https://1fichier.com/?ov2i5zz3jte61ik9cjxo View the full article

Tour Master is a premium WordPress plugin that comes with most complete tour & room booking management system. This plugin is especially designed for tour operator, tour package, travel agency, travel ticket seller, transportation ticket, hotel, resort and much more. The system is integrated with plenty of necessary features. Demo: https://codecanyon.net/item/tour-master-tour-booking-travel-wordpress-plugin/20539780 https://workupload.com/file/4ATLJGkh9cK https://www.upload.ee/files/15537128/tourmaster-522.rar.html https://pixeldrain.com/u/g89heq1n https://oneupload.to/0udz8hgw09q0 https://www.mirrored.to/files/0BTXSJAV/tourmaster-522.rar_links https://mirrorace.org/m/4ywis https://krakenfiles.com/view/izz8gBZjlG/file.html https://hxfile.co/f0bgxixvofif https://gofile.io/d/k77IQb https://drop.download/6er0plome4j5 https://desiupload.co/0nf9lvjbky1s https://ddownload.com/u06aik239j3c https://dbree.me/v/4cd0a8 https://bayfiles.com/Fb65tf66z1 https://anonfiles.com/G26ft46ez9 https://1fichier.com/?1twudxivncrpgs86su5e View the full article

Visual Composer Clipboard allows you to copy and paste single rows or stack of rows across pages together with content and settings without ever leaving Visual Composer interface! Demo: http://codecanyon.net/item/visual-composer-clipboard/8897711 https://www.upload.ee/files/15344259/vcclipboard-504.rar.html https://pixeldrain.com/u/DyQyhZvR https://www.mirrored.to/files/RSPTIDYR/vcclipboard-504.rar_links https://mirrorace.org/m/2w3TZ https://krakenfiles.com/view/KaxzTM0G6Y/file.html https://hxfile.co/g90pds53ifdr https://gofile.io/d/JITF3W https://drop.download/8lrg1cks21bi https://ddownload.com/bxsz8wiqb2kv https://dbree.me/v/59648c https://bayfiles.com/L410a3x4z4 https://anonfiles.com/N81ea4xdza https://1fichier.com/?c9o66v4twxq7kps6f0xq View the full article

日本內閣府8月20日公布的一項調查顯示，如果氣象廳發布「南海海槽地震臨時情報」中迫切程度最高級的「巨大地震警戒」，日本各地逾52萬人須要提早1週進行避難，以防備海嘯來襲。 日本共同網及《日本時報》（The Japan Times）20日報道，當南海海槽發生大地震時，海嘯預計將在地震幾分鐘內到達日本部份地區。因此各地方政府被要求指定無法及時進行海嘯疏散的地區，而相關地區的居民接到警報後將須要提前1週疏散。 日本內閣府2025年8月20日公布的一項調查顯示，如果氣象廳發布「南海海槽地震臨時情報」中迫切程度最高級的「巨大地震警戒」，日本各地逾52萬人須要提早1週進行避難，以防備海嘯來襲。（內閣府網站）內閣府的調查於6月至8月期間進行，涵蓋了29個都道府縣中的707個市町村，其中包含東京都在內的16個地區共130個市町村，被列為必須事前避難的區域。 被要求提前疏散的地區再細分為兩類，一種是以全體居民為對象，另一種是僅以長者和殘障人士等需要照顧的群體為對象。前者屆時須提前疏散約24.5萬人，後者屆時則須提前疏散約27.4萬人，共計超過52萬人。 從各都道府縣來看，高知縣須提前疏散的人數最多達9.21萬人；其次是宮崎縣的7.09萬人人；靜岡縣則以7.02萬人位列第三高。 報道指，這次是日本政府首次對整體避難人數展開調查，而地方政府指定無法及時疏散地區的工作則尚在進行中。 日本南海海槽地震觀測系統故障　緊急警報或延誤最多12秒南海海槽巨大地震專家：現階段未見異常　鹿兒島近日頻震未增風險日媒：南海海槽地震或致140棟高層公寓嚴重受損　80%在這地區南海海槽大地震｜日本政府未來10年減災目標：冀遇難人數減少8成 View the full article

隨著韓國濟州島遊客數量的不斷增長，濟州島警方首次發布了相關指南，提醒外國遊客文明禮貌，否則將面臨罰款。英國廣播公司（BBC）報道，濟州警方所以發布指南，是因為當地居民對外國人的投訴增多，包括亂丟垃圾和讓孩子在街上便溺。 圖為韓國濟州島南部海岸的玄武岩。（Getty Images)）當地警方表示，這份指南提供中文、英文和韓文版本，是韓國首份同類指南，發佈時間正值夏季旅遊旺季。濟州警察廳長 Kim Su-young表示，該指南旨在「避免因語言和文化差異造成的誤解，並增進外國人對韓國文化和法律的理解」。他表示，首批8,000份指南將立即印製並分發。 BBC 報道，該指南列出了一些可處以罰款的「輕微違法行為」，包括在禁煙區吸煙、亂扔垃圾、亂穿馬路、醉酒擾亂秩序、食霸王餐、在公共場所隨地大小便、使用假身份證，以及非法闖入空置建築物。初犯者僅會受到警告，但重犯者可能被處以最高20萬韓圜（約1,117港元）的罰款。 近年濟州島政府積極吸引遊客，當中大部份中國遊客。（GettyImages）報道指出，韓國旅遊業在新冠疫情後強勁反彈。根據當地媒體報道，光是濟州島今年迄今就已接待了700萬遊客。而去年到訪濟州島的外國遊客，近70%遊客來自中國。 濟州島中國遊客偷骨灰罈亂丟垃圾　韓國人大感憤怒、當局承諾嚴懲中國遊客犯罪比例達67%　韓國濟州島警方專案應對繼讓孩子隨地大便後　中國遊客再被轟把韓國濟州島便利店當垃圾崗【完全0距離】專劏中國客？　濟州島餐廳炒年糕中韓文標價差5倍 View the full article

A California resident has tested positive for plague after likely being bitten by an infected flea, health officials said on Tuesday, Aug. 19. The person was camping in the South Lake Tahoe area, located in the Sierra Nevada mountains in eastern California, the El Dorado County Public Health Division (EDCPHD) said in a statement. This is the first such infection reported in the county since 2020, when a case of human plague was also traced back to the South Lake Tahoe area, the public health division added. The resident is recovering at home under the supervision of a medical professional. What to know: Arizona resident dies of confirmed plague infection. Plague is caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis and is most often transmitted to humans and other mammals via flea bites or handling infected animals. Rodent fleas spread the bacteria to people, dogs and cats after becoming infected by squirrels, chipmunks and other wild rodents. An average of seven people are diagnosed with a confirmed case of the plague each year in the United States, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, predominantly in the western part of the country. Typically, cases occur in northern New Mexico, northern Arizona, southern Colorado, California, southern Oregon, and far western Nevada. Over 80% of U.S. plague cases have been the bubonic form, also known as the "black plague," said the CDC. While the bubonic plague is famous for killing huge swathes of the European population during the Middle Ages, it is now treatable with antibiotics. “Plague is naturally present in many parts of California, including higher elevation areas of El Dorado County," Kyle Fliflet, El Dorado County’s acting director of public health, said in a statement. “It’s important that individuals take precautions for themselves and their pets when outdoors, especially while walking, hiking and or camping in areas where wild rodents are present." Health officials are investigating the situation, said EDCPHD. Symptoms of plague and how to protect yourselfThe three different types of plague — bubonic, septicemic and pneumonic — have some differing symptoms, though many of the fundamental signs are the same. According to the CDC and EDCPHD, symptoms of the most common form of plague in the United States, bubonic, appear within two weeks of exposure and include: Fever Headache Chills Nausea Weakness Swollen lymph nodes Fleas are the most transmitters of plague to humans and pets alike.To protect yourself from the small − yet real − chance of contracting plague, the agencies suggest: Do not feed squirrels, chipmunks or other wild rodents. Reduce rodent habitat around your home, workplace, and recreational areas by removing brush, rock piles, junk, cluttered firewood and possible rodent food supplies. Never touch sick, injured or dead rodents. Wear gloves if you are handling or skinning potentially infected animals. Do not allow your pets to play with or pick up sick, injured or dead rodents. Use flea control products to protect them from bites. Do not camp, sleep or rest near animal burrows or areas where dead rodents are observed. Wear long pants tucked into boot tops and spray insect repellent containing DEET (a chemical compound common in commercial insect repellents) on socks and pant cuffs to reduce exposure to fleas. Pet cats are highly susceptible to plague and can pose a direct threat to humans. Keep cats away from rodents. Consult a veterinarian if your cat becomes sick after being in contact with rodents. If you get sick after being in an area where plague is known to occur, consult a physician and tell them you may have been exposed to plague. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: California resident tests positive for plague after camping trip View the full article

When the talk turned to politics at the OK Corral bar in this historic stagecoach town on Tuesday night, retired nurse Ovie Hays, 77, spoke for most of the room when she summed up her view of Gov. Gavin Newsom’s redistricting plan. “I don’t want Democrats around,” she said. “They have gone too far in controlling us. We won’t have a say in anything.” Nearby, a man in hard-won cowboy boots agreed with Hays — using much more colorful language. He works as a ranch hand and said he'd just come from fixing a goat pen. “The morons in charge, and the morons that put [those] morons in charge need to understand where their food comes from,” he said. He declined to see his name printed, like a lot of folks in this part of Shasta County and neighboring counties. In its current form, California’s 1st Congressional District, which sweeps south from the Oregon border almost to Sacramento, is larger than Massachusetts or Maryland or eight other states. This is farm and forest country. From the glittering peaks and dense forests of Mt. Shasta and the Sierra Nevada, rivers course down to the valley floor, to vast fields of rice, endless orchards of peaches and golden, rolling grassland full of more cows than people. Voters here are concerned with policies that affect their water supply and forests, given that the timber industry limps along here and fires have ravaged the area in recent years. This is also Republican country. For the last 12 years, this district has been represented by Congressman Doug LaMalfa, a rice farmer from Oroville who is a staunch supporter of Donald Trump. But if voters approve the redistricting plan in November, the deep-red bastion that is LaMalfa's district will be cleaved into three pieces, each of them diluted with enough Democratic votes that they could all turn blue. The northern half of the district would be joined to a coastal district that would stretch all the way down to the Golden Gate Bridge, while the southern half would be jigsawed into two districts that would draw in voters from the Bay Area and wine country. Northern California finds itself in this situation because of power plays unleashed by President Trump, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, Newsom and others. To ensure GOP control of the House of Representatives, Trump pressured Abbott to redraw Texas' congressional maps so Republicans could take more seats. Newsom responded by threatening to redraw California's maps to favor Democrats, while saying he'd holster this pistol if Texas did the same. The California Legislature is expected to approve a plan Thursday that would put new maps on the November ballot, along with a a constitutional amendment that would override the state's voter-approved, independent redistricting commission. If voters approve the new maps, they would go into effect only if another state performs mid-decade redistricting. Under the proposal, Democrats could pick up five seats currently held by Republicans, while also bolstering some vulnerable Democratic incumbents in purple districts. Now, voters in Northern California and other parts of the state find themselves at the center of a showdown. The Silver Dollar Saloon in Marysville, a part of Northern California where a number of voters say that urban California doesn't understand the needs of rural California. (Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times)And from Marysville to Redding this week, many — including those who call themselves Democrats — said they were outraged at what they saw as another example of urban California imposing its will on rural California, areas that city people generally ignore and don’t understand. “Their needs and their wants are completely different than what we need here,” said Pamela Davis, 40, who was loading bags of chicken feed into the back of her SUV in Yuba City. Her children scrambled into their car seats, chatting happily about the cows and ducks they have at home on their farm. Davis, who said she voted for LaMalfa, said voters in California’s cities have no understanding of water regulations or other policies vitally important to agriculture, even though what happens in farming areas is crucial to the state overall. “We’re out here growing food for everybody,” she said. “Water is an issue all the time. That kind of stuff needs to be at the top of everybody’s mind.” For years, folks in the so-called north state have chafed at life under the rule of California’s liberal politicians. This region is whiter, more rural, more conservative and poorer than the rest of the state. They have long bemoaned that their property rights, grazing rights and water rights are under siege. They complain that the state’s high taxes and cost of living are crushing people's dreams. The grievances run so deep that in recent years many residents have embraced a decades-old idea of seceding from California and forming a “State of Jefferson.” At the Riviera Mobile Estates community in Anderson, Calif., a "State of Jefferson" flag flies alongside the Stars and Stripes. (Los Angeles Times)Some residents, including LaMalfa, said if redistricting were to go through, it could further fuel those sentiments. And even some voters who said they abhorred Trump and LaMalfa and planned to vote in favor of the redistricting plan said they worried about the precedent of diluting the rural vote. Gail Mandaville, 76, was sitting with her book group in Chico and said she was in favor of the plan. “I just am really, really afraid of the way the country is going,” the retired teacher said. “I admire Newsom for standing up and doing something.” Across the table, Kim Heuckel, 58, said she agreed but also wondered whether a member of Congress from a more urban area could properly represent the needs of her district. “I’m sorry, but they don’t know the farmlands,” she said. “We need our farmers.” We do, chimed in Rebecca Willi, 74, a retired hospice worker, but “all the things we stand for are going down the drain,” and if the redistricting in Texas goes forward, “we have to offset it because there is too much at stake.” In an interview, LaMalfa predicted that California's voters would reject the redistricting plan. "We're not going anywhere without a fight," he said. But should it pass, he predicted that his constituents would suffer. "We don't have Sausalito values in this district," he said, adding that politicians in the newly redrawn districts would be "playing to Bay Area voters; they won't be playing towards us at all." One of the biggest issues in his district recently, he noted, has been concern over wolves, who have been roaming ranch lands, killing cattle and enraging ranchers and other property owners. With redistricting, he said, "if it doesn't go to the dogs, it will go to the wolves." Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. View the full article

Meta is building a $10 billion data center in north Louisiana. Entergy Louisiana plans to spend $3.2 billion on a power plant to run the center, plus additional money on a related gas plant in south Louisiana and transmission lines. (Meta) PLAQUEMINE – State utility regulators approved a plan Wednesday to install three natural-gas fueled power plants for the tech company Meta, which needs the electricity for a massive data center it’s building in Northeast Louisiana. The Louisiana Public Service Commission voted 4-1 to approve the unprecedented project from Entergy Louisiana to supply a massive amount of power for a single customer. Commissioner Davante Lewis, D-Baton Rouge, cast the lone dissenting vote, saying an agreement Meta and Entergy struck with other stakeholders before the vote felt rushed with too many questions still left unanswered. “There’s a lot of things I just can’t verify at the moment,” said Lewis, who has previously voiced support for the Meta data center. The Public Service Commission originally expected to vote on Entergy’s plan in October, coinciding with a deadline it set for its administrative law judge to settle any disputes involving businesses and groups opposed to the power generation project. The judge would then issue a recommendation to the commissioners about whether Entergy could move forward. Instead, Entergy, Meta and parties previously against the project told regulators last month they had reached an agreement with Entergy ahead of the deadline, and a vote could take place to allow the power plant to advance. Entergy then filed a request to immediately place the matter on this month’s Public Service Commission meeting, held at the Carl F. Grant Civic Center in Plaquemine, rather than wait on the judge’s recommendation. This shortcut around the normal project approval process drew concerns from the public and ratepayer advocacy groups, who spoke for hours in opposition to Entergy’s plan. The three turbines dedicated to the Meta facility will have the capacity to generate 2,200 megawatts of electricity. They will increase Entergy’s statewide generation capacity roughly 20%, as the data center’s power needs are over twice the amount the entire city of New Orleans uses on a hot summer day, according to the Alliance for Affordable Energy. The ratepayer advocacy group wanted the Public Service Commission to delay its vote until October. Meta has 20 other data centers around the world, and its Richland Parish facility would be the largest. While Entergy’s power complex is being built specifically for the data center, it will be connected to the larger electric grid and could supply power to other customers. Entergy’s proposal has the full support of the commission’s consultants, who studied it for 10 months. One of the consultants, Lane Sisung, said Meta is covering 100% of the cost of all three turbines. This is a developing story. Check back for updates. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE View the full article

A Texas federal judge on Wednesday temporarily blocked from taking full effect a new state law requiring public schools to display donated posters of the Ten Commandments in classrooms. The ruling only applies to the nearly a dozen Texas school districts named in the lawsuit, though attorneys who brought forth the case expressed hope in court that other districts would not implement a law that a federal judge has now found unconstitutional. In his decision, U.S. District Judge Fred Biery concluded that the law favors Christianity over other faiths, is not neutral with respect to religion and is likely to interfere with families' “exercise of their sincere religious or nonreligious beliefs in substantial ways.” “There are ways in which students could be taught any relevant history of the Ten Commandments without the state selecting an official version of scripture, approving it in state law, and then displaying it in every classroom on a permanent basis,” Biery wrote in his opinion, adding that the law “crosses the line from exposure to coercion.” Texas is expected to appeal the ruling. Once that happens, the case will go to the same federal appeals court where a three-judge panel recently blocked Louisiana's Ten Commandments law from taking effect. Louisiana's attorney general has said she would seek further relief from the full appeals court and possibly the U.S. Supreme Court. Oral arguments in the Texas case, Rabbi Nathan v. Alamo Heights Independent School District, concluded on Monday, several weeks after 16 parents of various religious backgrounds, represented by the American Civil Liberties Union of Texas and other religious freedom organizations, sued the state over what their lawyers called "catastrophically unconstitutional” legislation. In court, they argued with a lawyer from the state attorney general's office over the role Founding Fathers like Thomas Jefferson and James Madison played in developing the Bill of Rights and the First Amendment, which protects the freedom of religion. Both parties also debated the influence of the Ten Commandments on the country's legal and educational systems, and whether the version of the Ten Commandments required to go up in schools belongs to a particular religious group. Another group of parents filed a similar lawsuit in Dallas earlier this summer. These suits challenge one of the latest measures passed by the Republican-controlled Legislature earlier this year. Critics say the law injects religion into the state’s public schools, attended by roughly 5.5 million children. The backgroundSenate Bill 10, by Republican Sen. Phil King of Weatherford, would require the Ten Commandments be displayed on a donated poster sized at least 16 by 20 inches come September, when most new state laws go into effect. Gov. Greg Abbott signed it in late June, the day after the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals found a similar law in Louisiana was “plainly unconstitutional.” The court ruled that requiring schools to post the Ten Commandments would cause an “irreparable deprivation” of First Amendment rights. An Arkansas judge ruled similarly in a separate case. Supporters argue that the Ten Commandments and teachings of Christianity broadly are vital to understanding U.S. history, a controversial message that has resurged in recent years as part of a broader national movement to undermine the long-held interpretation of church-state separation. Texas GOP lawmakers have passed a number of laws in recent years to further codify their conservative religious views, a trend encouraged and celebrated by Christian leaders. “This issue is likely to get to the United States Supreme Court,” Biery, the judge, told a San Antonio courtroom prior to opening arguments in the Texas case. What are the plaintiffs saying“Posting the Ten Commandments in public schools is un-American and un-Baptist,” Griff Martin, a pastor, parent and plaintiff in the ACLU lawsuit, said in a statement. “S.B. 10 undermines the separation of church and state as a bedrock principle of my family’s Baptist heritage. Baptists have long held that the government has no role in religion — so that our faith may remain free and authentic.” In the lawsuit brought by the North Texas parents, the plaintiffs, who identify as Christian, said the law was unconstitutional and violated their right to direct their children’s upbringing. One of them, a Christian minister, said the displays will offer a message of religious intolerance, “implying that anyone who does not believe in the state’s official religious scripture is an outsider and not fully part of the community.” That message, the minister argued, conflicts with the religious, social justice and civil rights beliefs he seeks to teach his kids. Another North Texas plaintiff, a mother of two, is worried she will be “forced” to have sensitive and perhaps premature conversations about topics like adultery with her young children — and also “does not desire that her minor children to be instructed by their school about the biblical conception of adultery,” the suit states. The plaintiffs in the ACLU suit come from diverse religious backgrounds, including families who are nonreligious. Allison Fitzpatrick said in a statement that she fears her children will think they are violating school rules because they don’t adhere to commandments like honoring the Sabbath. “The state of Texas has no right to dictate to children how many gods to worship, which gods to worship, or whether to worship any gods at all,” sad Annie Laurie Gaylor, co-president of the Freedom From Religion Foundation, which brought the lawsuit alongside the ACLU. The attorneys called the version of the Ten Commandments in SB 10 a "state-sponsored Protestant version," which was corroborated by their witness, constitutional law professor and religious history expert Steven Green. They argued against the notion that the Ten Commandments were central to the development of the country's legal and educational systems, which Green agreed lacks historical support. The court also found Green's testimony more persuasive than the state's. Although the ACLU lawsuit only applies to 11 school districts, attorneys for the religious freedom organizations hope that a ruling in their favor will signal to districts throughout the rest of the state that they should not comply with the law before the dispute gets resolved by the courts. What the state is sayingThe attorney general's office argued in the August hearing that the Ten Commandments are part of the nation's history and heritage, and that previous rulings from federal courts and the U.S. Supreme Court blocking the commandments from going up in classrooms did not examine that historical significance. Attorneys for the state noted that the Supreme Court recently shot down the test that courts previously relied on to determine when a government had unconstitutionally endorsed or established a religion. And, attorneys pointed out a decades-old ruling in a Nebraska case, regarding a Ten Commandments monument on city property, where an appeals court decided in favor of the monument that displayed the same version of the commandments Texas wants to show in public schools. They relied on that ruling to make the case that SB 10 does not favor a particular religious group. Their viewpoint was supported in court by Mark David Hall, a professor and author who studies religious liberty and church-state relations. Hall, the state's expert witness, recently wrote a book that considers how "Christian Nationalism Is Not an Existential Threat to America or the Church." Attorney William Farrell from the attorney general's office described SB 10's requirement as a "passive display on the wall" that does not rise to the level of coercion. The Ten Commandments posters must only go up if they are donated to the school, he further argued, and the law does not specify what would happen if districts choose not to comply. The state views that as evidence that it poses no threat or harm to families. "SB 10 doesn't restrict anything," Farrell said. "It doesn't exclude anything or specifically require any ... participation by students." What are the schools sayingThe latest ruling applies to the following school districts: Alamo Heights ISD, North East ISD, Lackland ISD, Northside ISD, Austin ISD, Lake Travis ISD, Dripping Springs ISD, Houston ISD, Fort Bend ISD, Cypress-Fairbanks ISD and Plano ISD. Attorneys from Austin ISD, a defendant in the ACLU lawsuit, said during the August hearing that the district has not adopted any policy in response to SB 10, that there is no evidence that the district is doing anything to infringe on families' rights and that the district should not be held responsible for a law passed by the Legislature. They are asking the court to dismiss the Austin school district from the case. Meanwhile, spokespersons for the Texas Education Agency, a defendant in the North Texas suit, did not respond to requests for comment. The TEA was not included as a defendant in the ACLU's more recent filing. A Lancaster ISD spokesperson said that the district was aware of the suit and monitoring it but did not have further comment. A Dallas ISD spokesperson said the district does not comment on pending litigation. DeSoto ISD administrators said in a statement that the school system, which teaches roughly 6,000 kids, operates in alignment with state and federal laws and also remains committed to creating an inclusive learning environment “for all students and families, regardless of religious background or personal beliefs.” “DeSoto ISD recognizes the diverse cultural and religious identities represented in its school community and will continue to prioritize the safety, dignity, and educational well-being of every student,” district officials said. “The district respects the role of parents and guardians in guiding their children’s personal and religious development and will strive to remain sensitive to the varying perspectives within its schools.” Big news: 20 more speakers join the TribFest lineup! New additions include Margaret Spellings, former U.S. secretary of education and CEO of the Bipartisan Policy Center; Michael Curry, former presiding bishop and primate of The Episcopal Church; Beto O’Rourke, former U.S. Representative, D-El Paso; Joe Lonsdale, entrepreneur, founder and managing partner at 8VC; and Katie Phang, journalist and trial lawyer. Get tickets. TribFest 2025 is presented by JPMorganChase. View the full article

West Texas A&M University's drag show ban has finally been blocked by an appeals court after a two years-long legal battle. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit overturned a district court ruling on Monday, finding that university president Walter Wendler's unilateral cancellation of a campus drag show hosted by LGBTQ+ student organization Spectrum WT to raise money for suicide prevention was unconstitutional. “Because theatrical performances plainly involve expressive conduct within the protection of the First Amendment, we find the plaintiffs’ drag show is protected expression, discrimination among such shows must pass strict scrutiny," the court wrote in its opinion. "President Wendler did not argue, either before the district court or on appeal, that restricting the intended drag show would survive strict scrutiny. Based on the record before us, the district court erred in concluding that the plaintiffs were not substantially likely to succeed on the merits of their First Amendment claim." Wendler single-handedly made the decision to cancel the event, which was originally scheduled at an on-campus facility on March 22, 2023, announcing in an email to students and staff that “West Texas A&M University will not host a drag show on campus.” In the message, which contained the subject line “A Harmless Drag Show? No Such Thing," Wendler stated that humans are “created in the image of God" and that drag shows supposedly do not “preserve a single thread of human dignity." “As a performance exaggerating aspects of womanhood (sexuality, femininity, gender), drag shows stereotype women in cartoon-like extremes for the amusement of others and discriminate against womanhood," he wrote. The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE) filed a lawsuit on behalf of Spectrum WT against Wendler and the university, accusing them of violating their freedom of speech. The case escalated to the U.S. Supreme Court, which opted not to intervene in March of last year, leaving in place the district court's ruling that effectively upheld the ban. The appeals court ruling overturns this, allowing for future events to take place. “FIRE is pleased that the Fifth Circuit has halted President Wendler’s unconstitutional censorship and restored the First Amendment at West Texas A&M,” FIRE Supervising Senior Attorney, JT Morris, said in a statement. “This is a victory not just for Spectrum WT, but for any public university students at risk of being silenced by campus censors.” This article originally appeared on Advocate: West Texas A&M University's drag show ban blocked by appeals court RELATEDTexas legislature passes 'Don't Say Gay' law that bans LGBTQ+ student clubs A Texas university president banned drag and compared it to blackface. Students are taking the case to the Supreme Court Republican lawmaker gloats after Texas university kills LGBTQ+ studies program View the full article

A bipartisan congressional committee is investigating whether California’s High-Speed Rail Authority knowingly misrepresented ridership projections and financial outlooks, as alleged by the Trump administration, to secure federal funding. In a letter sent to Department of Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy on Tuesday, House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform chair James Comer (R-KY) requested a staff briefing and all communications and records about federal funding for the high-speed rail project and any analysis over the train’s viability. “The Authority’s apparent repeated use of misleading ridership projections, despite longstanding warnings from experts, raises serious questions about whether funds were allocated under false pretenses,” Comer wrote. Comer’s letter copied Congressman Robert Garcia, the top Democrat on the committee who has also voiced skepticism about the project. Garcia, whose districts represent communities in Southern California, was not immediately available for comment. An authority spokesperson called the House committee’s investigation “another baseless attempt to manufacture controversy around America’s largest and most complex infrastructure project,” and added that the project's chief executive Ian Choudri previously addressed the claims and called them “cherrypicked and out-of-date, and therefore misleading.” Read more: How a generation of permitting requirements slows down California's transit projects Last month, the Trump administration pulled $4 billion in federal funding from the project meant for construction in the Central Valley. After a months-long review, prompted by calls from Republican lawmakers, the administration found “no viable path” forward for the fast train, which is billions of dollars over budget and years behind schedule. The administration also questioned whether the authority’s projected ridership counts were intentionally misrepresented. California leaders called the move “illegal” and sued the Trump administration for declaratory and injunctive relief. Gov. Gavin Newsom said it was “a political stunt” and a “heartless attack on the Central Valley.” The bullet train was proposed decades ago as a way to connect Los Angeles and San Francisco in less than three hours by 2020. While the entire line has cleared environmental reviews, no stretch of the route has been completed. Construction has been limited to the Central Valley, where authority leaders have said a segment between Merced and Bakersfield will open by 2033. The project is also about $100 billion over its original budget of $33 billion. Even before the White House pulled federal funding, authority leaders and advisers repeatedly raised concerns over the project's long-term financial sustainability. Roughly $13 billion has been spent so far — the bulk of which was supplied by the state, which has proposed $1 billion per year towards the project. But Choudri, who started at the authority last year, has said the project needs to find new sources of funding and has turned focus toward establishing public-private partnerships to supplement costs. Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. View the full article

LAS VEGAS — Intense heat will blanket much of the West this week, with temperatures in some states expected to soar to record-breaking highs, elevating the risk of dangerous wildfires and heat-related illness and death. Highs on Wednesday could reach into the triple digits in Southern California, while temperatures in parts of Arizona and Nevada will climb over 110 degrees Fahrenheit, according to the National Weather Service (NWS). High temperatures are not uncommon in the summer, but climate change is making heat waves more frequent, more intense and longer lasting. The situation in the West is yet another example of how extreme heat compounds other threats, like adverse health effects. This week’s heat wave will worsen already-hot conditions in the desert Southwest and expand across most of California, exacerbating ongoing wildfires and increasing the risk of new ones taking hold. Red flag warnings are in effect Wednesday through Saturday evening for Southern California because the “unseasonably hot” conditions, low humidity and breezy winds are “capable of producing extreme fire behavior,” according to the National Weather Service. Thunderstorms at the tail end of the week, from Friday to Sunday, are also possible in the region, which could trigger lightning strikes that can ignite new fires. California Gov. Gavin Newsom moved fire engines, crews and other firefighting resources into the region to prepare for the high-risk conditions. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said Tuesday that this week’s heat wave could bring “potentially some of the hottest temperatures of the summer.” Temperatures in Los Angeles could reach 94 degrees F on Thursday and Friday. The sweltering conditions across the western U.S. will increase the risk of heat-related illness or death. Anyone is susceptible when temperatures spike, but lingering heat waves are particularly dangerous for children, people with pre-existing health conditions, older adults and individuals who work outdoors. The health impacts of extreme heat are a significant concern of climate-fueled heat waves. During prolonged heat waves, weather service officials said people should stay in air conditioning, when possible, and avoid strenuous activities. Other heat safety tips include staying hydrated, wearing light clothing and checking in on family members and neighbors. In the Southwest, blisteringly hot conditions will persist over the next several days, possibly challenging some daily temperature records. Willow Thatcher, 3, plays at a splash pad during a heat wave on Aug. 7 in Tempe, Ariz. (Megan Mendoza / The Republic / USA TODAY Network via Imagn file)“Extreme Heat Warning in effect today with afternoon highs within a few degrees of record territory,” the local office of the National Weather Service in Phoenix wrote on X. Phoenix is expected to reach 111 degrees on Wednesday and 112 degrees both Thursday and Friday. Death Valley National Park’s Furnace Creek Visitor’s Center could top 120 degrees on Friday, according to the weather service, while other spots in the Mojave Desert, including Bishop and Barstow, will see temperatures well into the triple digits. In neighboring Nevada, temperatures will similarly remain elevated in the coming days. Las Vegas could hover around 109 degrees for the remainder of the week, while cities such as Laughlin and Needles could hit 115 degrees and 117 degrees, respectively. Meanwhile, a separate heat wave will bake portions of the northern Plains and southern Florida. Parts of Montana could reach up to 104 degrees, while heat advisories across in North Dakota are forecasting heat index values (a measure of what conditions "feel like" when humidity and air temperatures are combined) in the triple digits. In southeastern Florida, heat index values could reach up to 110 degrees, according to the National Weather Service. The muggy conditions come as tens of thousands of acres are ablaze in the Florida Everglades, triggering air quality alerts for Broward County. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com View the full article

【日大三－関東一】空席が目立つアルプススタンド＝阪神甲子園球場で2025年8月19日、西夏生撮影 　阪神甲子園球場で開かれている全国高校野球選手権大会は大詰めを迎えている。大会日程が進むにつれ、当日券の販売がなくなる「完売」状態が続き、人気の高さは相変わらずと感じさせる一方、スタンドを見渡すと空席も目立っている。原因を探ると近年ならではの事情が見えてきた。 　「もう少し（人が）来ると思ったのですが、この時期は難しくて……」 　19日の準々決勝第2試合で日大三（西東京）と対戦した関東一（東東京）の学校関係者は肩を落とした。15年ぶりに甲子園で実現した「東京対決」として注目されたが、両校のアルプス席は空席が見られた。 Advertisement 　アルプス席のチケットは学校側が大会本部を通じて購入する。関東一は1800枚を購入したが、実際に来場したのは3分の2程度だった。 　関係者によると、学校への問い合わせなどからチケットの枚数を決めたが、他の部活動の合宿が重なったり、盆を過ぎたりして来られなくなった生徒やOBらが続出。「応援したい気持ちはもちろんあるんですけども……」とつらそうな表情だった。 【日大三－関東一】空席が目立つアルプススタンド＝阪神甲子園球場で2025年8月19日、玉城達郎撮影 　いわゆる「一般席」にもぽつぽつと空席が見られる。そこにはチケット販売方法の変化が要因としてありそうだ。 　2018年に主催者側は外野席（自由席）を有料化するとともに、中央特別自由席を全席前売りの指定席にした。また、新型コロナウイルス禍を経て、22年に一般客の観戦が再開された際には全席指定・前売りとし、観客の入れ替えは実施しないこととした。 　いずれも安全対策と混雑緩和が理由だ。 　高校野球人気の高まりにより、それまでは徹夜で球場前に並んだり、開門と同時に席を確保しようと走ったりする人が問題となっていた。 　全席指定席となることで、前売りでチケットを購入すれば座席確保は必要なくなる。 　目当ての試合があれば、その試合時間に合わせて球場に行けばいいため、直前まで近隣の商業施設などで過ごす人も見受けられる。猛烈な暑さもあり、球場の通路で休む人も多い。 　チケット購入に間に合わなかった観戦希望者は、テレビ中継などで見える空席に歯がゆい思いをするかもしれない。 　大会序盤の「2部制」の場合は「午前の部」「夕方の部」と分けてチケットを販売していたが、大会中盤の11日以降は「1日券」として販売し、試合ごとの販売は現状、実施していない。 　さらに社会問題となっているのがチケットの「高額転売」だ。実際、インターネット上の民間サイトで大量のチケットが高額で購入できる状態となっている。 　日本高校野球連盟では「商業利用や営利目的の転売行為は固く禁止します」とホームページ上などで呼びかけているが、後を絶たない。過去には詐欺行為も発生しており、注意が必要だ。 　近年はテレビ中継のほかにスマートフォンなどから試合の様子を見られるネット配信も充実しており、観戦スタイルは多様化している。時代は変わっても、球児の見せる熱戦の価値は変わらない。【生野貴紀】 View the full article

Tout s'est joué en une visioconférence. Comme le rappelle Le Canard enchaîné, les dirigeants européens et Donald Trump s'étaient réunis le dimanche 17 août, sans Volodymyr Zelensky. Emmanuel Macron, depuis le fort de Brégançon, le lieu de villégiature historique des présidents de la République français, avait alors pu assister à la fanfaronnade du président américain. « J'ai été très bon pour arrêter les guerres », se félicitait ce dernier, citant la paix entre l'Arménie et l'Azerbaïdjan, entre le Cambodge et la Thaïlande, le Rwanda et le Congo, entre autres supposés faits d'armes. Dans le même temps, et dans un inattendu accès de modestie, il a tout de même avoué que la guerre en Ukraine « est difficile à arrêter ». Tout en récoltant les lauriers de la venue de Vladimir Poutine en Alaska : « C'était très difficile pour lui. » À LIRE AUSSI Comment a réagi Emmanuel Macron au sommet de Washington pour l'UkraineÀ cette autosatisfaction succéda, selon l'hebdomadaire, la flagornerie de ses interlocuteurs, notamment du secrétaire général de l'Otan, Mark Rutte : « Vous étiez le seul à être capable d'obtenir une réunion comme celle-ci », lui a-t-il ainsi lancé. Emmanuel Macron a été parmi les derniers à s'exprimer lors de cette réunion et n'a pas manqué de reprendre le président américain. « Inviter Poutine, c'était le sortir de son isolement »« Poutine a été exclu du G8, il n'a pas pu se rendre aux sommets du G20. La meilleure invitation qu'il ait reçue ces dernière [...] Lire la suite View the full article

A pair of construction companies overlooked safety concerns, causing a “completely preventable” outbreak of Legionnaires’ disease in New York City that's killed at least five people and sickened dozens more, according to lawsuits filed Wednesday. The Harlem outbreak has been traced back to July 26 with clusters in Upper Manhattan ZIP codes 10027, 10030, 10035, 10037 and 10039, officials said. "This medical tragedy that led to the deaths of five citizens from Harlem, that we know about, was a completely preventable outbreak," the plaintiffs' attorney, Ben Crump, told reporters. "It was completely preventable. And so when corporations cut corners, tragedies like this happen, preventable tragedies, unnecessary tragedies, people being hospitalized for days and weeks, having issues that cause them permanent damage." Construction worker Duane Headley filed a complaint against Rising Sun Construction, claiming he was sickened while working at a construction site at 506 Lenox Ave., near Harlem Hospital. Rising Sun allegedly "created and permitted a defective, dangerous and/or hazardous condition" where Headley was working, the lawsuit said. Headley survived but remains hospitalized, lawyers said. Nunzio Quinto claims he was exposed to the Legionella bacteria while working at the New York City Public Health Laboratory Building, near Harlem Hospital, at 40 W. 137th St. Quinto, who is suing Skanska USA Building, said the defendant "breached its duty" to "timely remediate the Legionella colonization of the water distribution and/or cooling systems," according to his lawsuit. "I had no energy and unable to do anything," Quinto told reporters. "I'm finally starting to get up and walk around a little bit now and can do basic things." While the plaintiffs are seeking financial compensation for their medical costs, lost wages, pain and suffering, Quinto said he hopes these civil actions unearth reasons behind the outbreak. "But my thing is, I want answers to what's going on," said Quinto, alongside civil rights activists Crump and the Rev. Al Sharpton. "I can't have a safe place to work? This is New York City." “While we can’t comment on pending litigation, Skanska has fully cooperated with the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) to facilitate the inspection and disinfection of the cooling tower at the building currently under construction at 40 West 137th Street — which will be the future home of the Public Health Lab," according to a statement by the defendant, Skanska. "We will continue to implement all necessary mitigation and communication procedures to ensure the safety of our workers and the surrounding public.” This article was originally published on NBCNews.com View the full article

Well, here’s something you don’t see every day. President Trump’s foreign policy is getting high marks from an unusual grader — Hillary Clinton. Indeed, the former first lady, secretary of State and Democratic presidential candidate is typically no fan of The Donald; she’s called him an illegitimate president, a threat to our democracy, a Russian stooge, and every other smear in the book. But even Clinton admits Trump is doing a pretty good job strengthening the U.S. relationship with European allies while getting more out of them in terms of NATO defense and their financial contributions. Watch Clinton speaking with liberal Fox News commentator Jessica Tarlov: “I actually was encouraged by the events of the last several months,” said the former secretary of State. “The NATO commitment by individual member states to increase their defense spending, it’s something that prior administrations have certainly sought, and I think it’s great that we’re seeing these commitment they now have to follow through on.” Clinton continues: “There is beginning to be a better understanding, both by the president and the people around him, as well as by the leaders of our European allies, that there can be common ground amongst us. The kind of dismissiveness of that we saw in the first Trump administration has been replaced by a much more obvious working relationship, to the good of European security, transatlantic security, and hopefully Ukrainian security.” That’s high praise from a Democratic political figure who previously accused Trump of being totally beholden to Vladmir Putin and Russia, and of working to subvert the NATO alliance, and of being an isolationist — all notions that are explicitly disproven by Trump’s diplomatic efforts to engage the West in the project of mediating peace between Russia and Ukraine. And, actually, it’s not just Russia and Ukraine. Trump is working to achieve peace all over the globe — something that has attracted the notice of moderate liberal commentator Bill Maher. Let’s watch: “If you’re the kind of person who can find some good in anybody, this would be the good in Donald Trump. He really does not like war. Thailand and Cambodia were firing at each other, Rwanda and the Congo — most people don’t even know about these — India and Pakistan, Armenia and Azerbaijan, he got involved in all of them.” All we are saying is give peace a chance! That’s what I believe in, it’s what Donald Trump seems to believe in, and it’s what America First really means. War should be a last resort. Diplomacy can accomplish more than sanctions or airstrikes or, god forbid, boots on the grounds. Letting countries trade with each other and benefit from each other’s resources is a surer way to get our allies and our enemies to serve our interests than twisting their arms with force. We don’t need to ask the American people to send their hard-earned tax dollars overseas in some naive hope that it will make foreign peoples friendlier to us, nor should we bomb them into somehow loving America. Neither of those strategies — liberal interventionism and neoconservatism — work for us. What does work is libertarianism, or you can call it military noninterventionism, or foreign policy populism, or just call it America First. It’s what the people want, and it’s what they’re currently getting, and even Hillary Clinton has to admit, it’s sort of working. Robby Soave is co-host of The Hill’s commentary show “Rising” and a senior editor for Reason Magazine. This column is an edited transcription of his daily commentary. 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

Democratic National Committee (DNC) Chair Ken Martin said Tuesday that the Trump administration is trying to “march” the U.S. “toward full-on fascism.” “What we’re seeing right now is just a full-on attempt by this authoritarian regime to march us toward full-on fascism, and we have to stand up right now in this moment as Democrats,” Martin said on MSNBC’s “The Weeknight.” “My job is to call it like it is, and what we’re seeing right now out of this administration is a cover-up at every step of the way. Donald Trump’s trying to avoid any accountability as it relates to Epstein, of course,” Martin continued. In recent months, Trump has faced backlash from Democrats over multiple controversies, including his administration’s handling of files related to Jeffrey Epstein, a convicted sex offender, as well as the president’s use of federal force in Washington, D.C., and Los Angeles, and his firing of the head of the Bureau of Labor Statistics. “He’s done everything he could over the years to create this conspiracy theory that there’s a deep state that’s hiding things from the American public, well, guess what? Donald Trump is the deep state,” Martin said Tuesday evening. Democrats have struggled to come back from their losses in last November’s election, with different factions of the party arguing over how to rebuild. The party has also received negative feedback from Americans. According to new polling from The Wall Street Journal, the Democratic Party was viewed negatively by 63 percent of American voters. In a polling average from Decision Desk HQ, the party currently has a 51.5 percent unfavorability rating. “There is a fascist in the White House—and we have to throw out our old playbook,” Martin said in a Tuesday post on the social platform X. “Democrats cannot be the only party that’s playing by the rules anymore.” The Hill has reached out to the White House for comment. 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

Democratic lawmakers are pressing the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for more information about how the Trump administration teamed up with the state of Florida to create a controversial detention facility for migrants in the middle of the Everglades. “Brushing aside concerns from human rights watchdogs, environmentalist groups, and Tribal nations, [DHS] has greenlit the construction of this expansive detention facility that may violate detained individuals’ human rights, jeopardize public and environmental health and violate federal law,” House and Senate Democrats wrote in a letter to DHS Secretary Kristi Noem dated Wednesday. The detention facility, dubbed “Alligator Alcatraz,” opened in early July to house arrested migrants awaiting deportation. It was created through a state and federal partnership, with Florida officials leading oversight and construction, with DHS footing the bill. President Trump toured the facility when it opened, along with Noem. A federal judge last week temporarily halted expansion of the site after tribal and environmental groups filed a lawsuit over potential damage to wetlands. Located just south of Miami, Alligator Alcatraz quickly raised alarms about conditions for detainees in the hot, humid climate. Some whistleblowers have described worm-infested food, plumbing problems and other issues since its opening. “The Everglades site was selected precisely because of its remote location and harsh surroundings, which Florida officials reportedly view as ‘an ideal location to house and transport migrants,'” the Democrats wrote in their letter Wednesday. “We ask that DHS promptly provide critical information for the American public to better understand this detention plan.” The letter was signed by more than five dozen members of Congress, led by Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) and Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Fla.). It requested that DHS respond to several questions by September 3. 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