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Trump plays the victim. But these are the people actually hurt by his 2020 scheme. 2023-07-29 - The many victims of Trump's 'big lie' There’s been a lot of coverage devoted to the perpetrators behind Trump’s plot to reverse the 2020 election. But as another indictment looms, we should not lose sight of the victims of Trump’s scheming. And there are many. In conspiring to overturn the legitimate results of the election in several states, Trump effectively tried to revoke the votes of millions of Americans — depriving them of their most sacred right under the constitution. There were also countless election officials who were subjected to harassment campaigns and death threats before and after Election Day. Wandrea Shaye Moss, a Fulton County, Ga., elections worker, and her mother, Ruby Freeman, testified before the House Select Committee to investigate the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol, on June 21, 2022. Tom Williams / CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images President Joe Biden, despite the facts, will always be viewed by Trump’s MAGA base as illegitimate. More than two-thirds of Republicans still falsely believe that Biden won because of voter fraud. You could even argue that the Republican Party itself was a victim of Trump’s plotting, since some of the most evangelical “big lie” boosters lost big in 2022. The actual targets of the Jan. 6 insurrection, including every sitting member of Congress as well as Donald Trump’s own vice president, came far too close to a confrontation with the violent MAGA mob. Finally, there are the Capitol Police, the Metropolitan Police and other law enforcement officers who suffered the most direct and severe physical harm at the hands of the insurrectionists. Harry Dunn, Michael Fanone and more than 140 other officers risked their lives, and have the scars to prove it. Trump loves to play the victim card. But let’s never lose sight of the real victims of this ambitious, sustained attack. A story you should be following: This battle over state constitutional amendments For more than 100 years, Ohio voters have held the right to amend the state Constitution with a simple majority. But in a special election on Aug. 8, Ohioans will vote on what is being called Issue 1, a Republican measure that would make it more difficult for citizen groups to propose ballot initiatives by requiring 60% of voters to approve constitutional amendments rather than the current threshold of 50%. Opponents are saying the proposed law would make it harder for the voices of everyday Ohio citizens to be heard, including on issues like abortion. Earlier this week, voters submitted enough signatures to get reproductive rights on the ballot in November, but if Issue 1 passes, it could make it more difficult for the amendment to pass. The implications of this push are far-reaching, which is why it’s a story I’ll be watching closely. Someone you should know: NBC News chief justice reporter Jonathan Dienst As special counsel Jack Smith’s investigation into Trump seems to be wrapping up, I am following the diligent journalists working around the clock to uncover the latest details. One of those experts, Jonathan Dienst, joined me earlier this week to share new details about the “Hail Mary” memo that John Eastman’s lawyers sent to prosecutors. NBC News’ chief justice reporter also wrote that former senior Justice Department official Richard Donoghue was interviewed by the special counsel earlier this week, providing critical context to a busy week at the DOJ. You can follow him on Twitter at @jonathan4ny. Get smart fast:
Why Sinead O'Connor's pope photo moment was ahead of its time 2023-07-29 - From the moment in October 1992 that Sinead O’Connor tore to shreds a picture of Pope John Paul II on NBC’s “Saturday Night Live,” she faced strong opposition from a public that did not understand the reason for her protest or her ethics. Her amazing voice had drawn so many in, especially on her biggest hit, a cover of Prince’s “Nothing Compares 2 U,” but her disdain for fake piety and conventional stardom took her down a path in which her provocative, but often spot-on statements, put her at odds with many in the media, the recording industry and with fans. Her provocative, but often spot-on statements, put her at odds with many in the media, the recording industry and with fans. Her performing Bob Marley’s “War” on “SNL” and ripping up the pope's picture as she landed on the last word of the song — "evil" — created what we now would consider a viral moment. The pile-on from fellow celebrities and the media followed her for years to come. Even in some obituaries for O’Connor (who later in life was known as Shuhada Sadaqat) the vitriol remains. She spoke truth with clarity, and sometimes with epithets. But that’s what being an authentic person can demand. Tearing up the picture of John Paul II was a dual protest. According to O'Connor, the photo belonged to her late mother, a devout Catholic who had physically abused her, and the Catholic church in Ireland was well known to have inflicted so much sexual and physical abuse on children. John Paul II was the head of the church, and therefore, to O’Connor, the person who represented all that had gone wrong for Catholic children in Ireland. But for tearing up his picture, she was vilified, taunted and shut out. O’Connor’s untimely death this week at age 56 calls for a reconsideration not only of her enormous singing talent, but of her justice-oriented faith and her commitment to truth. A religious seeker, a prophet without the honor she was due, her life was filled with contradictions, but she always had a certainty about what was right — and what was wrong. Too many people did not understand, or even try to understand her, until it was too late to appreciate her struggles and her greatness. O’Connor was far ahead of the press, the church and the public in recognizing the abuse that could come from strict religious upbringings and did come from the church itself. But she was liberating herself and thousands of others who had good reasons not to trust any clergy, not even Pope John Paul II who, according to a recent report out of Poland, knew when he was an archbishop there in the 1970s that priests he oversaw were sexually abusing children. (According to The Associated Press, Polish church officials whose mission it is to protect minors say more research into the matter is needed.) Her life was filled with contradictions, but she always had a certainty about what was right — and what was wrong. More than nine years before The Boston Globe’s Spotlight team helped reveal the extent of sexual abuse by priests and the extent to which church leaders in this country had worked to keep that abuse from being known, she had already paved the way for the truth of sexual abuse in the church to be received by the world. That didn’t mean her life was without controversy. Like most prophets, O’Connor’s statements and behavior sometimes alienated those around her. But religion would remain a constant. In a hotel room in 1999, she was ordained by an independent Irish bishop, Michael Cox, and given the name Mother Bernadette Marie. “A person shouldn’t become a priest unless they take it dreadfully seriously,” she told RTÉ, Ireland's national broadcaster. “What I call my holy trinity is I am a mother, I am a singer, and I am a priest, these things are equally sacred to me.” Sinéad O’Connor performs on "Saturday Night Live" in 1992. NBC It might seem strange that O’Connor would become a priest in one of Catholicism’s most conservative breakaway churches, but, she said, “I became a priest because I believed in the church and I don’t want the church to die, and I believe in the power of prayer.” O’ Connor’s search for God, I believe, made her the person she was. She was committed to truth, wherever she thought she might find it. She was generous with her money, her possessions and her time. Apparently, becoming a priest wasn’t enough to get her through the next phase of her life. She converted to Islam in 2018 and tweeted that becoming a Muslim was “the natural conclusion of any intelligent theologian‘s journey. All scripture study leads to Islam. Which makes all other scriptures redundant.” As Shuhuda Sadaqat, she argued for Palestinian rights. An Irish woman leaving Catholicism for Islam may not be typical, but nothing about O’Connor’s life was typical. It’s not unusual for people to change religions over the course of their lifetime, but for an internationally known figure like O’Connor, it is noteworthy. A search for religion after abuse and neglect is often about making the world understandable as that suffering and grief are processed. An Irish woman leaving Catholicism for Islam may not be typical, but nothing about O’Connor's life was typical. After having endured so much, her son Shane’s suicide seemed to have brought her the most intense grief. Days before her own death, she posted on social media about him, saying that she had been living as an “undead night creature” since his passing. That was the kind of pain that she couldn’t call out with a protest. That was the kind of pain for which there was no identifiable villain. Shuhada Sadaquat, née Sinead O’Connor, is now gone from us: Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji’un. May she rest well. And may we have her courage to call out evil wherever we see it.
Allegations about Hunter Biden’s art sales could cause a new political stir 2023-07-29 - Another potential Hunter Biden scandal appears to be brewing. This time it’s about his foray into the world of fine art and a media report that he sold art with a high price tag to a Democratic donor. Biden’s attempt to break into the art world was always going to look bad. Now it could become yet another political headache for President Joe Biden as Republicans dog him for his son’s history of misconduct and impropriety. And it comes as Hunter Biden’s plea deal over federal tax charges unexpectedly unraveled Wednesday. Hunter Biden had no established reputation as an artist before his debut, but he immediately sold pieces at prices that were high for someone new to the commercial art market. The president’s son, who hasn’t been formally trained as an artist, debuted over two dozen art pieces in a gallery in Manhattan in 2021, many of them priced at tens of thousands of dollars, and some even higher. At the time, the White House said it had developed guidelines to help ensure that the identities of buyers would be kept secret from Hunter Biden and the Biden administration, and it left it to the gallery to veto unusual or unethical offers. Now that arrangement has come under question. Business Insider recently reported that Hunter Biden knew the identities of at least two people who purchased his art, and in an on-the-record statement to Business Insider, his attorney Abbe Lowell said his client learned about the identities after they bought pieces and claimed that they were his friends. According to Business Insider, one of those people is a high-dollar Democratic donor and activist. NBC News hasn’t corroborated this reporting, but Lowell’s confirmation, as reported by Business Insider, that Biden knew some of his buyers is, in and of itself, alarming. It raises the possibility that buyers could use his art as a way to buy political influence or favors through his connections to the president. Hunter Biden had no established reputation as an artist before his debut, but he immediately sold pieces at prices that were high for someone new to the commercial art market. It seems possible that the president’s son, who has faced numerous legal problems in recent years and has had a rocky personal life, was trading on the power of his surname to earn a quick buck. This was a foreseeable problem. As the gallery was opening, a New York Times reporter noted that its owner “declined to address what sort of criteria he or the White House had set to distinguish between lovers of art and lovers of influence.” Whatever criteria and guidelines were set, they apparently weren’t enough to keep the art purchases anonymous, making the entire forum vulnerable to potential conflicts of interest. If this were the first time the president’s son had appeared to open himself up to the possibility of trading on his name and creating a conflict of interest, one might be inclined to be a little more forgiving. But it’s not. Hunter Biden’s first job out of law school involved working for a Delaware-based bank that was a major contributor to his father’s political campaigns. Politico has reported on how he allegedly repeatedly tried to cash in on his political connections after he took over a hedge fund. He earned $50,000 a month for sitting on the board of the Ukrainian natural gas company Burisma despite having no substantive qualifications — except being the vice president’s son. On top of all this, Hunter Biden has also been charged with committing tax violations and breaking gun laws, and he was sued by a woman over the terms of his child support. Hunter Biden’s constant stream of scandals and his history of being a brazen nepo baby have made him a perfect political target for the GOP. He helps the GOP create a false symmetry between Joe Biden and the Trump clan’s systematic exploitation of political connections for personal gain. That asymmetry doesn’t make Hunter Biden’s poor conduct any more acceptable, but it undermines the Democratic Party’s superiority to the GOP in fighting corruption and the undue influence of moneyed interests. Hunter Biden is an adult who can’t be controlled by his father. But more robust norms for guarding against conflict of interest would’ve helped neutralize the threat he poses to the president’s reputation.
Trump charged for Iran doc he bragged about: DOJ vet weighs in 2023-07-29 - Special Counsel Jack Smith issues a superseding indictment in the Mar-a-Lago classified documents case and new charges against Trump, including for allegedly flaunting plans for an attack on Iraq. It comes as Smith reportedly gears up to indict Trump in the Jan. 6 probe. Former Mueller Prosecutor and FBI General Counsel Andrew Weissmann joins MSNBC’s Katie Phang to discuss.July 28, 2023
'Judeo-Christian' values aren’t going to keep military AI in check 2023-07-29 - The question of how countries around the world will incorporate artificial intelligence into their military technology and strategy is an ethical minefield. But a three-star Air Force general recently declared that the U.S. had a special advantage over its adversaries in navigating those dilemmas: It’s guided by the right holy books. As The Washington Post reported, Lt. Gen. Richard G. Moore Jr. made troubling remarks at the Hudson Institute last week while discussing the Defense Department’s views on autonomous warfare. “Regardless of what your beliefs are, our society is a Judeo-Christian society, and we have a moral compass. Not everybody does,” Moore said, per the Post. “And there are those that are willing to go for the ends regardless of what means have to be employed.” He added that the future of AI in warfare will be determined by “who plays by the rules of warfare and who doesn’t. There are societies that have a very different foundation than ours.” Moore’s comments express a clash-of-civilizations-style jingoism that was more common to hear during the so-called war on terror. Moore might feel comforted by this claim. I certainly don’t. Moore is entitled under military rules to describe his religious beliefs, but it is striking to hear a high-level officer in the military attribute the United States’ outlook on use of force to religious texts. The U.S. is supposed to be a secular state, and one would hope that an officer representing the state would view the country’s ideological outlook in nonreligious terms — such as adhering to international law. Instead, Moore’s comments express a clash-of-civilizations-style jingoism that was more common to hear during the so-called war on terror. His assertion that the United States’ opponents may lack moral compasses, due to a rejection of Judeo-Christian values, is a remarkable claim. What countries is he thinking of? Moore never spelled it out. But in an emailed statement to the Post elaborating on his comments at the Hudson Institute, he seemed to think none of the United States’ adversaries fit the bill for a country with a moral compass: “The foundation of my comments was to explain that the Air Force is not going to allow AI to take actions, nor are we going to take actions on information provided by AI unless we can ensure that the information is in accordance with our values,” Moore wrote. “While this may not be unique to our society, it is not anticipated to be the position of any potential adversary.” The first thing that pops to mind to contradict Moore’s claim is Russia, one of the United States’ top-tier adversaries in the global arena. Russian President Vladimir Putin is not only deeply devoted to the Russian Orthodox Church, but he has specifically cited his Christian beliefs to justify and whip up domestic support for his war of aggression in Ukraine. What does Moore make of Putin’s version of Christian values and how they affect that country’s policies? Then there’s another deadly invasion on false pretexts in the 21st century, one conducted by another deeply religious Christian leader: George W. Bush. Not only did Judeo-Christian beliefs not prevent the war in Iraq, but some analysts believe that Bush’s convictions in his aggressive foreign policy were underpinned by the belief that he was carrying out God’s will. If that’s the case, then adherence to his faith only intensified a morally abhorrent foreign policy that killed hundreds of thousands of innocents. Moore might’ve been thinking primarily about China, the only country in the world that’s likely to rival the United States’ military power in the coming years and eschews religion under the Chinese Communist Party. But I’d rate China’s competing geopolitical interests and its increasingly apparent appetite for projecting its power globally as far greater reasons for concern about the way it may approach warfare than its lack of religiosity. For powerful countries like the U.S. and China, the most relevant question is what values they assert and adhere to when it comes to competing for resources and influence on the global stage. While the spiritual and cultural history of a country can influence what those values look like, neither religion nor the absence of it guarantees that those values are virtuous or immoral. In general, great power conflicts are ugly — and religious values and tribalism of any kind can be used to rationalize or push back against the brutality these conflicts breed. Moore’s comments make me uneasy because militaries around the world have already developed the capacity to deploy lethal drones that can operate independently of human input once activated — including the ability to identify and kill their own targets. The introduction of such weapons should raise all kinds of questions about what safeguards exist to prevent civilian casualties, or if autonomous weapons should even be legal at all. We could be on the brink of a sea change in how wars are fought. What we need now from American military leadership is not self-assuredness about civilizational superiority, but humility in the face of extremely complex questions that nobody in the world has good answers to yet.
NTSB investigating dual plane crashes near Oshkosh, Wisconsin; recovery search for 2 people underway 2023-07-29 - A recovery search is underway near Oshkosh, Wisconsin, for two people aboard a small aircraft that crashed Saturday into Lake Winnebago officials said. The Winnebago County Sheriff’s Office began receiving multiple 911 calls just after 9 a.m. about the crash, a spokesperson for the Experimental Aircraft Association said. There was a total of two people on the plane, which the National Transportation Safety Board said was a North American T6 aircraft. The EAA said that "recovery efforts for the occupants and also the plane are ongoing." Multiple agencies including the Winnebago County Marine Units, the Calumet County Sheriff’s Office and U.S. Coast Guard, all responded to the scene to help with the rescue. The NTSB is investigating that crash as well as a separate mid-air collision that occurred near Oshkosh Saturday just before 12:30 p.m. between a Rotorway 162F aircraft and an ELA Eclipse 10 aircraft. The collision happened at the south end of the EAA AirVenture flight line at Wittman Regional Airport. This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
Eight dogs on way to K9 training facility die from heat-related illness after truck's AC unit fails 2023-07-29 - At least 8 dogs being transported to a K9 training facility in Michigan City, Indiana died after the AC unit in the cargo area of a truck failed on Thursday, according to authorities. A driver was transporting the German Shepherds from Chicago O’Hare International Airport when the AC unit keeping the dogs cool stopped working, according to the Lake Station Police Department. There was a total of 18 dogs in the truck, according to the Humane Society of Hobart, NBC Chicago reported. The driver wasn't aware of the AC unit's failure because the cargo area was separate. The vehicle was caught in a 2-hour traffic delay and the temperature began rising in the cargo area, causing some of the dogs to go into "heat related medical distress," the police department said. The driver stopped the vehicle at a Road Ranger on Ripley Street in Indiana after hearing some of the dogs barking. "Once inside the the cargo area, he observed the canines in distress and began to remove the canines who were crated," the police department said in a news release. The Lake Station Fire Department, police department and emergency medical services responded to the scene after 911 calls were made. The "overwhelming response" from the agencies prompted civilians to stop and help the suffering dogs. The police department described the scene as chaotic, adding that it "took an emotional toll on all that were involved in trying to save as many canines as possible." At least eight dogs died as a result of heat-related illnesses, according to NBC Chicago. Others were transported to local vet hospitals. The incident "was not an act of animal cruelty or neglect but a mechanical failure of the AC unit" in the cargo area, the Lake Station Police Department said. "Any loss of life is tragic and thoughts and prayers are with all those that were affect by this 'freak event,'" the police department said.
Ye's Twitter account is unsuspended months after it was banned over swastika post 2023-07-29 - Ye's account on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, was unsuspended Saturday, more than six months after it was banned over a post showing an image of a swastika inside a Star of David. Elon Musk has not yet publicly commented and the company did not immediately respond to a request for comment. "Twitter/X says Kanye West’s account is being 'turned back on.' It will be ineligible for a monetization and no ads will appear next to his posts, according to the company," New York Times technology reporter Ryan Mac tweeted. "This comes after he shared an image of a swastika a few months ago." Musk said in a December post that Ye was suspended "for incitement to violence." The tweet was blocked by the platform for violating its rules. That wasn't the first time Ye got in trouble over his posts. In October 2022, his account was restricted over antisemitic comments but he returned to the platform the following month. He also made troubling antisemitic remarks and statements targeting Jewish people that led to Adidas cutting ties with the rapper. Ye has not tweeted anything since his account was unsuspended. His last post is Dec. 1, 2022, and was seemingly a jab at his ex-wife Kim Kardashian. "Let’s break one last window before we get outa here. I caught this guy with Kim. Good night," he wrote, including a picture of Golden State Warriors basketball player Chris Paul. Ye and Kardashian, who have four children together, finalized their divorce in November 2022, days before his Twitter post.
Bronny James plays piano, dines out in video, photos emerging days after he suffers cardiac arrest 2023-07-29 - LOS ANGELES — Bronny James plays piano in a video posted by his father, LeBron James, on Saturday, four days after the teenager went into cardiac arrest during a basketball workout at the University of Southern California. The 18-year-old plays a brief melody in front of his family, smiles and gets up without speaking in the video posted on his father’s Instagram account. The video doesn’t indicate where or when it was shot. “A man of many talents,” the Los Angeles Lakers superstar can be heard saying in the background as Bronny finishes playing with his two younger siblings looking on. TMZ posted photos of Bronny out to dinner with his family, which it says were taken Friday night. They show the teenager with his father outside celebrity hot spot Giorgio Baldi in Santa Monica. Wearing black pants and a zip-up hoodie, Bronny carried his phone while standing outside the Italian restaurant. Bronny was released from the hospital on Thursday. He will continue to undergo tests to determine the cause of his cardiac arrest, which occurred Monday morning during a workout at USC’s Galen Center. Bronny, whose full name is LeBron James Jr., committed to USC in May after the 6-foot-3 guard became one of the nation’s top prospects out of Sierra Canyon School in nearby Chatsworth.
Mosquitoes that carry West Nile are becoming resistant to insecticides, CDC says 2023-07-29 - John VanDenBerg suspects he was gardening when a mosquito got him. It was September 2018, and VanDenBerg, then 67, had been feeling a little "off" for a few days, he said, like maybe he had the flu. But one morning, as he was walking out of his Colorado home, he collapsed. "I just went down," VanDenBerg said. "That's the last I remember for quite some time." VanDenBerg had a severe form of West Nile virus, caused by a single mosquito bite. John VanDenBerg lies in bed paralyzed, with his dog, Joe, in September 2018. Courtesy John VanDenBerg He developed inflammation in his brain. He lost his ability to read and write. His arms and legs stiffened with paralysis. "I didn't know whether my mobility would ever come back," he said. "It was a pretty scary time." The rise of West Nile While this summer saw the first locally acquired cases of another illness linked to mosquitoes, malaria, in two decades, it's West Nile virus — and the mosquitoes that spread it — that most worries federal health officials. Those bugs, a species of mosquitoes called Culex, are the CDC's "primary concern in the continental U.S. right now," said Roxanne Connelly, a medical entomologist with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Roxanne Connelly of the CDC studies mosquitoes that can carry West Nile virus. Lauren Dunn / NBC News The combination of an unusually wet season from rainfall and melting snow packs and intense heat waves this year appears to be dramatically increasing the mosquito populations. And, CDC scientists say, those mosquitoes have become increasingly resistant to the insecticides that communities use in mass sprays to try to kill the bugs and their eggs. "It's not a good sign," Connelly said. "We're losing some of our tools that we normally rely on to control infected mosquitoes." At CDC's insect lab located in Fort Collins, Colorado — home to tens of thousands of mosquitoes — Connelly's team has found that Culex mosquitoes are living longer when they're exposed to insecticides. "You want a product that's gonna be able to knock them down, not do this," Connelly said, pointing to a bottle of mosquitoes exposed to the chemicals. Many were still flying. Experiments at the lab have not shown any resistance to bug sprays people typically use to repel mosquitoes during hikes and other outdoor activities. They continue to work well, Connelly said. But as the bugs grow stronger than insecticides, they're also increasing in dramatic numbers in certain pockets of the country. CDC worker Juan De Rivera looks to see whether mosquitoes exposed to insecticide have died. Lauren Dunn / NBC News So far in 2023, there have been 69 human cases of West Nile in the U.S., according to the CDC. It's nowhere near a record; there were 9,862 cases in 2003. But more mosquitoes now two decades later means more chances that people will be bitten and get sick. West Nile cases usually peak in August and September. "This is just the beginning of when we see West Nile start to take off in the United States," said Dr. Erin Staples, a medical epidemiologist at the CDC's Fort Collins lab. "We expect a steady increase of disease cases to occur over the next several weeks." In Maricopa County, Arizona, for example, 149 mosquito traps have tested positive for West Nile so far this year, compared with eight in 2022. Heavy rains that have created pockets of standing water, coupled with extreme heat, appear to be playing a role, said John Townsend, manager of Maricopa County's Vector Control Division of Environmental Services. "The water that is sitting there is just ripe for mosquitoes to lay eggs in it," Townsend said. Mosquitoes hatch more quickly in warmer water — within three or four days, he said, — compared with up to two weeks when they're in cooler water. An unusually rainy June in Larimer County, Colorado — where the Fort Collins lab is based — has also led to an "unprecedented abundance" of mosquitoes that can spread West Nile, said Tom Gonzales, the county's public health director. County data show five times the number of mosquitoes that can spread West Nile this year, compared with last year. The increases in certain areas of the country are "very concerning," said Connelly. "This is something different than what we've been seeing for the past few years." What are symptoms of West Nile virus? Since West Nile was first detected in the United States in 1999, it's become the most common mosquito-borne illness in the country. Each year, several thousands of people are infected, Staples said. West Nile does not spread from person to person through casual contact. Only Culex mosquitoes spread the virus. The bugs become infected when they bite sick birds, then spread the virus to people through another bite. There is no treatment or vaccine. The majority of people never feel a thing. One in five experience a fever, headache, body aches, vomiting and diarrhea according to the CDC. Symptoms typically appear between three and 14 days after being bitten. One in 150 people with West Nile virus have serious complications, including death. Anyone can become severely ill, but Staples said that people over the age of 60 and those with underlying medical problems are at higher risk. Five years after his West Nile diagnosis, VanDenBerg has regained many of his abilities, thanks to intense physical therapy. His feet remain numb, however, prompting him to rely on a cane. "I think I'm functioning really well mentally," he said, "but I have kind of a clunky walk." While the severity of VanDenBerg's illness is rare, it coincided with another tragic case. John VanDenBerg on his Colorado farm in May 2019. Courtesy John VanDenBerg When VanDenBerg collapsed on that September morning in 2018, he'd been on his way to a funeral for a friend who had died from complications of West Nile virus. The illness, he said, "can be very, very serious, and people need to know that. It can change your life." Protecting against West Nile While resistance to insecticides may be on the rise, Connelly's team finds that common repellents people use while outdoors still work well. Bug spray with ingredients like DEET and picaridin are best, according to the CDC. Other strategies to steer clear of mosquitoes: Dress in loose-fitting clothes that cover arms and legs. Use air conditioning when possible, or make certain that open windows and doors have screens. Regularly empty standing water from common backyard items, such as bird baths, flower pots and toys, where mosquitoes can lay their eggs. Follow NBC HEALTH on Twitter & Facebook.
Florida woman arrested after biting ear off another woman during fight over vape pens and alcohol 2023-07-29 - A Florida woman was arrested after biting the top of another woman's ear off during a fight over vape pens and alcohol on July 4th, according to the Bay County Sheriff’s Office. Deputies responded to an assault and battery call at a home in Callaway, a suburb of Panama City, just after midnight. An investigation revealed the incident had occurred at a house party next door at 6526 Olokee Street that was thrown by unsupervised minors. When a fight kicked off between several men at the house party, 23-year-old Macy Regan attempted to leave and walk to her home next door, the sheriff's office said in a news release. It was then that Dixie Stiles, 18, confronted Regan and accused her of stealing vape pens and alcohol. Regan allegedly pulled out a 9 millimeter gun from her waistband, which Stiles shoved out of the way. A physical altercation ensued where Regan bit the top of Stiles' ear off, the sheriff’s office said in the release. The women received multiple bruises and lacerations in the fight and Stiles' ear was unable to be re-attached, the sheriff's office said. Both women were arrested. Stiles was charged with battery while Regan was charged with felony battery causing bodily harm. This investigation into the incident is ongoing.
Wife of suspect in Gilgo Beach killings asks for 'normalcy' in wake of 'indescribable catastrophe' 2023-07-29 - The family of a Manhattan architect charged in the Gilgo Beach serial killings is "enduring a profound and indescribable catastrophe," an attorney for his estranged wife said as she begged for privacy and "normalcy." Macedonio & Duncan, the law firm representing Asa Ellerup in her divorce from Rex Heuermann, issued the statement in a news release on Friday. It also included a direct statement from Ellerup. "On behalf of my family and especially my elderly neighbors, who have also had their lives turned upside down by the enormous police presence, in addition to the spectators, and news crews. They deserve to live peacefully; they should be able to walk their dogs and go to the grocery stores without cameras shoved in their faces," she said. "I am pleading with you all to give us space so that we may regain some normalcy in our neighborhood." Ellerup filed for divorce on July 19, days after Heuermann was charged with three counts of first-degree murder and three counts of second-degree murder in the deaths of Melissa Barthelemy, 24; Megan Waterman, 22; and Amber Lynn Costello 27. The women were believed to be sex workers who advertised online, according to police. Their remains were discovered in December 2010 in Gilgo Beach on Long Island’s South Shore. Heuermann, 59, is also suspected in the disappearance and death of a fourth woman, Maureen Brainard-Barnes, 25, whose remains were also found near Gilgo Beach. That investigation continues, according to a bail application. Ellerup was out of state at the time of the killings and isn’t considered a suspect, authorities have said. The remains of the four women, known as the “Gilgo Four,” were discovered during the search for missing Shannan Gilbert, 23, who was reportedly last seen running through the gated community of Oak Beach after leaving a client’s home, according to a police case timeline. Heuermann pleaded not guilty and has denied involvement in the killings. Michael J. Brown, an attorney for Heuermann, told reporters that the allegations are “extremely circumstantial in nature.” “The only thing he did say, as he was in tears, was ‘I didn’t do this,’” Brown said. “He’s distraught. He’s clearly distraught about the charges here.”
More Trader Joe's recalls? This soup may contain bugs and falafel may have rocks, grocer says 2023-07-29 - FILE - In this Aug. 13, 2019, file photo, Trader Joe's logo hangs on a mural at it's market in Cambridge, Mass. Trader Joe's is recalling a broccoli cheddar soup that may contain insects and cooked falafel over possible rocks, about one week after the grocery chain recalled two cookie products over similar concerns. The soup recall impacts Trader Joe’s Unexpected Broccoli Cheddar Soup with “Use By” dates ranging from July 18 to September 15 of this year, according to a Thursday, July 27, 2023 announcement from the company. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa) FILE - In this Aug. 13, 2019, file photo, Trader Joe's logo hangs on a mural at it's market in Cambridge, Mass. Trader Joe's is recalling a broccoli cheddar soup that may contain insects and cooked falafel over possible rocks, about one week after the grocery chain recalled two cookie products over similar concerns. The soup recall impacts Trader Joe’s Unexpected Broccoli Cheddar Soup with “Use By” dates ranging from July 18 to September 15 of this year, according to a Thursday, July 27, 2023 announcement from the company. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa) FILE - In this Aug. 13, 2019, file photo, Trader Joe's logo hangs on a mural at it's market in Cambridge, Mass. Trader Joe's is recalling a broccoli cheddar soup that may contain insects and cooked falafel over possible rocks, about one week after the grocery chain recalled two cookie products over similar concerns. The soup recall impacts Trader Joe’s Unexpected Broccoli Cheddar Soup with “Use By” dates ranging from July 18 to September 15 of this year, according to a Thursday, July 27, 2023 announcement from the company. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa) FILE - In this Aug. 13, 2019, file photo, Trader Joe's logo hangs on a mural at it's market in Cambridge, Mass. Trader Joe's is recalling a broccoli cheddar soup that may contain insects and cooked falafel over possible rocks, about one week after the grocery chain recalled two cookie products over similar concerns. The soup recall impacts Trader Joe’s Unexpected Broccoli Cheddar Soup with “Use By” dates ranging from July 18 to September 15 of this year, according to a Thursday, July 27, 2023 announcement from the company. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa) Trader Joe’s is recalling a broccoli cheddar soup that may contain insects and cooked falafel that may contain rocks, about one week after the grocery chain recalled two cookie products over similar concerns NEW YORK -- Trader Joe's is recalling a broccoli cheddar soup that may contain insects and cooked falafel that may contain rocks, about one week after the grocery chain recalled two cookie products over similar concerns. The soup recall impacts Trader Joe’s Unexpected Broccoli Cheddar Soup with “Use By” dates ranging from July 18 to Sept. 15, according to a Thursday announcement from the company. On Friday, the grocer announced that Trader Joe’s Fully Cooked Falafel sold in 35 states and Washington, D.C., was also under recall. On July 21, Trader Joe's announced that it was recalling Trader Joe’s Almond Windmill Cookies and Trader Joe’s Dark Chocolate Chunk and Almond Cookies with “sell by” dates ranging from Oct. 17 to Oct. 21. Like the falafel, the cookies may also contain rocks, the company said. When asked for further information about how the insects and rocks may have gotten into these products, a Trader Joe's spokesperson said that “there was an issue in the manufacturing processes in the facilities." Suppliers alerted Trader Joe's of the possible foreign material for each recall, the company said. "We pulled the product from our shelves as soon as we were made aware of the issue. Once we understood the issue we notified our customers,” the spokesperson said in a statement sent to The Associated Press Saturday. All of the recalled cookies, soup and falafel have been removed from sale or destroyed, Trader Joe's said in its announcements. But the Monrovia, California-based company is still urging consumers to check their kitchens for the products. Trader Joe's says customers who have the recalled products should throw them away or return them to any store for a full refund. Lot codes and further details about the products under recall, as well as customer service contact information, can be found on the company's website. Trader Joe's did not specify how many products were impacted with each recall or identify suppliers. But one Food and Drug Administration notice cited by NBC News says that the Unexpected Broccoli Cheddar Soup recall impacts around 10,889 cases sold in seven states. Winter Gardens Quality Foods, Inc. is identified as the recalling firm, per the notice. No formal releases about the three recalls were published on the FDA's Recalls, Market Withdrawals, & Safety Alerts page as of Saturday. The Associated Press reached out to the FDA and Winter Gardens Quality Foods for information on Saturday. “We have a close relationship with our vendors and they alerted us of these issues. We don’t hesitate or wait for regulatory agencies to tell us what to do," the Trader Joe's spokesperson said. "We will never leave to chance the safety of the products we offer.”
With one eye on China, Japan backs Sri Lanka as a partner in the Indo-Pacific 2023-07-29 - Japanese foreign minister Yoshimasa Hayashi, left, shakes hands with his Sri Lankan counterpart Ali Sabry after their meeting in Colombo, Sri Lanka on Saturday, July 29, 2023. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena) Japanese foreign minister Yoshimasa Hayashi, left, shakes hands with his Sri Lankan counterpart Ali Sabry after their meeting in Colombo, Sri Lanka on Saturday, July 29, 2023. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena) Japanese foreign minister Yoshimasa Hayashi, left, shakes hands with his Sri Lankan counterpart Ali Sabry after their meeting in Colombo, Sri Lanka on Saturday, July 29, 2023. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena) Japanese foreign minister Yoshimasa Hayashi, left, shakes hands with his Sri Lankan counterpart Ali Sabry after their meeting in Colombo, Sri Lanka on Saturday, July 29, 2023. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena) Japan’s Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi says that Sri Lanka's strategic location in the Indian Ocean makes it a key partner in realizing a free and open Indo-Pacific COLOMBO, Sri Lanka -- Japan's Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi said Saturday that Sri Lanka is a key partner in a Tokyo-led initiative aimed at building security and economic cooperation around the Indo-Pacific but also at countering an increasingly assertive China. Sri Lanka, strategically located in the Indian Ocean, is integral to realizing a free and open Indo-Pacific, Hayashi said. He was speaking after a meeting with his Sri Lankan counterpart, Ali Sabry, in the capital, Colombo. The initiative, announced by Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida in March includes Japan’s assistance to emerging economies, support for maritime security, a provision of coast guard patrol boats and equipment and other infrastructure cooperation. Last year Sri Lanka, which owed $51 billion in foreign debt, became the first Asia-Pacific country since the late 1990s to default, sparking an economic crisis. While Japan is Sri Lanka's largest creditor, about 10% of its debt is held by China, which lent Colombo billions to build sea ports, airports and power plants as part of its Belt and Road Initiative. In March, China agreed to offer Sri Lanka a two-year moratorium on loan repayments. Hayashi said that he conveyed expectations for further progress in Sri Lanka's debt restructuring process. He welcomed Sri Lanka’s efforts under an agreement with the International Monetary Fund, which includes anti-corruption measures and transparency in the policy-making process. Sri Lanka's Foreign Minister Sabry said that he, along with Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe, invited Japan to resume investment projects already in the pipeline and to consider fresh investments in sectors such as power generation, ports and highways, and dedicated investment zones, as well as in the green and digital economy. Over many decades, Japan became one of Sri Lanka's key donors, carrying out key projects under concessionary terms. However, relations between the two countries came under strain after Wickremesinghe's predecessor Gotabaya Rajapaksa unilaterally scrapped a Japan-funded light railway project following his election in 2019. Sri Lanka's Cabinet has already approved a proposal to restart the railway project. Rajapaksa was forced to resign in July 2022 amid angry public protects over the country's worst economic crisis.
French President Macron visits his counterpart in Sri Lanka 2023-07-29 - In this Handout photo released by Sri Lanka President's office shows, Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickermesinghe shakes hand with his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron during a meeting in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Friday, July 28, 2023. French President Emmanuel Macron held discussions with his Sri Lankan counterpart on an open and inclusive Indo-Pacific region and other areas such as politics, maritime activities and climate change in a first-ever visit by a French leader to the Indian Ocean island nation. (Sri Lanka President's office via AP) In this Handout photo released by Sri Lanka President's office shows, Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickermesinghe shakes hand with his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron during a meeting in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Friday, July 28, 2023. French President Emmanuel Macron held discussions with his Sri Lankan counterpart on an open and inclusive Indo-Pacific region and other areas such as politics, maritime activities and climate change in a first-ever visit by a French leader to the Indian Ocean island nation. (Sri Lanka President's office via AP) In this Handout photo released by Sri Lanka President's office shows, Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickermesinghe shakes hand with his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron during a meeting in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Friday, July 28, 2023. French President Emmanuel Macron held discussions with his Sri Lankan counterpart on an open and inclusive Indo-Pacific region and other areas such as politics, maritime activities and climate change in a first-ever visit by a French leader to the Indian Ocean island nation. (Sri Lanka President's office via AP) In this Handout photo released by Sri Lanka President's office shows, Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickermesinghe shakes hand with his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron during a meeting in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Friday, July 28, 2023. French President Emmanuel Macron held discussions with his Sri Lankan counterpart on an open and inclusive Indo-Pacific region and other areas such as politics, maritime activities and climate change in a first-ever visit by a French leader to the Indian Ocean island nation. (Sri Lanka President's office via AP) French President Emmanuel Macron is visiting his Sri Lankan counterpart in the first visit by a French leader to the Indian Ocean island nation COLOMBO, Sri Lanka -- French President Emmanuel Macron held discussions with his Sri Lankan counterpart Saturday on an open and inclusive Indo-Pacific region in the first-ever visit by a French leader to the Indian Ocean island nation. As the fourth-largest creditor to Sri Lanka, France had pledged cooperation in debt restructuring to help the island nation recover from its economic crisis. Macron arrived in Sri Lanka Friday night, following his trip to the South Pacific region, to mark the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two nations, Sri Lanka's president's office said. Sri Lanka President Ranil Wickremesinghe praised France’s significant role in global affairs, particularly in areas such as climate mitigation, global debt restructuring, and matters related to the Indo-Pacific region, the statement said. “Sri Lanka and France are two Indian Ocean nations that share the same goal: an open, inclusive and prosperous Indo-Pacific. In Colombo we confirmed it: strengthened by 75 years of diplomatic relations, we can open a new era of our partnership,” Macron said in a message after the meeting.
Port workers in Canada's British Columbia reject contract offer leaving ports hamstrung by dispute 2023-07-29 - FILE - Gantry cranes sit idle as a container ship is docked at port during a work stoppage, in Vancouver, British Columbia, Wednesday, July 19, 2023. Port workers in British Columbia have rejected a mediated contract offer meant to end a labor dispute that stopped goods from moving in and out of harbors, including at Canada’s busiest port in Vancouver.(Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP) FILE - Gantry cranes sit idle as a container ship is docked at port during a work stoppage, in Vancouver, British Columbia, Wednesday, July 19, 2023. Port workers in British Columbia have rejected a mediated contract offer meant to end a labor dispute that stopped goods from moving in and out of harbors, including at Canada’s busiest port in Vancouver.(Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP) FILE - Gantry cranes sit idle as a container ship is docked at port during a work stoppage, in Vancouver, British Columbia, Wednesday, July 19, 2023. Port workers in British Columbia have rejected a mediated contract offer meant to end a labor dispute that stopped goods from moving in and out of harbors, including at Canada’s busiest port in Vancouver.(Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP) FILE - Gantry cranes sit idle as a container ship is docked at port during a work stoppage, in Vancouver, British Columbia, Wednesday, July 19, 2023. Port workers in British Columbia have rejected a mediated contract offer meant to end a labor dispute that stopped goods from moving in and out of harbors, including at Canada’s busiest port in Vancouver.(Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP) Port workers in the province of British Columbia have voted to reject a mediated contract offer meant to end a labor dispute that stopped goods moving in and out of harbors, including at Canada’s busiest port in Vancouver VANCOUVER, British Columbia -- Port workers in British Columbia have rejected a mediated contract offer meant to end a labor dispute that stopped goods from moving in and out of harbors, including at Canada’s busiest port in Vancouver. In a letter posted on the union’s website late Friday, International Longshore and Warehouse Union Canada President Rob Ashton said workers in the province are now calling on their employers to “come to the table” and negotiate directly, instead of doing so through the BC Maritime Employers Association. The vote to reject the contract raises the prospect of back-to-work legislation to end the uncertainty at more than 30 port terminals and other sites. The four-year agreement between the union and maritime employers went to a vote of about 7,400 workers on Thursday and Friday, after union leaders presented the deal to local chapters on Tuesday. The deal worked out with federal mediators had put a temporary halt to a 13-day strike that had commenced July 1, but its fate see-sawed wildly as the union leadership then rejected it and tried to go back to picket lines. When that was deemed illegal by the Canada Industrial Relations Board, the union submitted a new 72-hour strike notice, only to withdraw it hours later. On July 20, the union announced it was recommending the deal and would put it to a full membership vote. Its failure will give impetus to calls for the federal government to bring in back-to-work legislation, that came earlier from industry groups and politicians, including Alberta Premier Danielle Smith. The earlier job action was serious enough that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau convened the government’s incident response group to discuss the matter, an occurrence typically reserved for moments of national crisis.
A large explosion at a fireworks warehouse in Thailand kills at least 10 people and wounds scores 2023-07-29 - A fireman sprays water after an explosion occured at a firework warehouse in Narathiwat province southern Thailand, Saturday, July 29, 2023. A large explosion at a fireworks warehouse in southern Thailand on Saturday killed at least nine people and wounded scores, officials said. (AP Photo/Kriya Tehtani) A fireman sprays water after an explosion occured at a firework warehouse in Narathiwat province southern Thailand, Saturday, July 29, 2023. A large explosion at a fireworks warehouse in southern Thailand on Saturday killed at least nine people and wounded scores, officials said. (AP Photo/Kriya Tehtani) A fireman sprays water after an explosion occured at a firework warehouse in Narathiwat province southern Thailand, Saturday, July 29, 2023. A large explosion at a fireworks warehouse in southern Thailand on Saturday killed at least nine people and wounded scores, officials said. (AP Photo/Kriya Tehtani) A fireman sprays water after an explosion occured at a firework warehouse in Narathiwat province southern Thailand, Saturday, July 29, 2023. A large explosion at a fireworks warehouse in southern Thailand on Saturday killed at least nine people and wounded scores, officials said. (AP Photo/Kriya Tehtani) A large explosion at a fireworks warehouse in southern Thailand has killed at least 10 people and wounded scores BANGKOK -- A large explosion at a fireworks warehouse in southern Thailand on Saturday killed at least ten people and wounded scores, officials said. The Narathiwat province's Public Relations Department also said that also at least 118 people were hurt, and that residents of more than 200 households were affected. It said that officials believe there are still a number of people trapped under the debris waiting to be rescued. Videos posted on social media from the site show a huge plume of smoke over the area and many damaged structures, cars and motorbikes, as well as streets covered with debris. Many of the houses and other buildings have collapsed roofs and walls. The local public relations agency reported that the explosion cased damages in a radius of about 500 meters (1,640 feet). About 100 residences in the area were damaged, according to the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation. Sanan Pongaksorn, the provincial governor, told public broadcaster Thai PBS that the blast was likely ignited by construction work that was taking place in the warehouse, with sparks from metal welding causing the fireworks stored inside to catch fire and explode.
Newell Brands, Intel rise; Ford, Sweetgreen fall: Friday, 7/28/2023 2023-07-29 - The Associated Press By The Associated Press Stocks that traded heavily or had substantial price changes on Friday: Newell Brands, Intel rise; Ford, Sweetgreen fall NEW YORK -- Stocks that traded heavily or had substantial price changes on Friday: Intel Corp., up $2.28 to $36.83. The chipmaker gave investors a strong profit and revenue forecast for the current quarter. KLA Corp., up $28.66 to $511.01. The maker of equipment for manufacturing semiconductors reported strong fiscal fourth-quarter financial results. T. Rowe Price Group Inc., up $9.68 to $126.79. The financial services firm beat analysts' second-quarter earnings and revenue forecasts. Procter & Gamble Co., up $4.30 to $156.41. The maker of Charmin toilet paper and other consumer products reported strong fiscal fourth-quarter financial results. Ford Motor Co., down 47 cents to $13.26. The automaker is recalling more than 870,000 F-150 pickup trucks in the U.S. to fix the electric parking brake. Newell Brands Inc., up 79 cents to $11.04. The maker of Rubbermaid products beat analysts' second-quarter earnings and revenue forecasts. Avantor Inc., down $1.55 to $21.28 The laboratory equipment and materials company reported weak second-quarter earnings and revenue. Sweetgreen Inc., down $1.35 to $14.10. The restaurant chain reported disappointing second-quarter earnings and revenue.
Video Popular beer company plans layoffs 2023-07-29 - 2020’s DNC and RNC are different than any before
MarketBeat Week in Review – 7/24 - 7/28 2023-07-29 - Key Points Markets moved higher to end the week as investors prioritized moderating inflation over rising interest rates. The Federal Reserve raised interest rates to their highest level in 22 years, but also indicated that the rate cycle may be near the end. The latest PCE reading shows that inflation pressures continue to moderate. Next week investors will hear from Amazon and Apple; the jobs report on Friday may also be a market mover. Here are some of the most popular articles from this week. 5 stocks we like better than Exscientia Markets rallied to end the week after the latest reading on the Personal Consumption Expenditure (PCE) Index showed that prices were rising at the slowest pace in nearly two years. However, the Federal Reserve made it clear that this is no time to declare a victory over inflation. The Fed raised its benchmark rate by 25 basis points. The move was largely expected, however, and that is allowing investors to look for opportunities as earnings are coming in, so far, better than expected. Next week will bring key earnings reports from Apple and Amazon. Investors will also get the latest employment information when the jobs report is released on August 4. It’s setting up to be another noisy week at a time of year when markets are usually much quieter. But as you get some R&R, the MarketBeat team will continue to help you stay on top of the news that’s moving the market. Here are some of our most popular stories from this week. Articles by Jea Yu This week, Jea Yu was asking an important question: are we starting to experience AI fatigue? In June, ChatGPT usage declined for the first time. Before you dismiss that as due to students being out of school, Yu also writes that generative AI appears to be getting less intelligent over time. However, artificial intelligence isn’t going away, and one example of that is in the biotechnology sector. Yu writes about the small-cap AI-driven pharmatech company, Exscientia NASDAQ: EXAI. As more attention is shining on the potential for AI to speed drug discoveries, investors are noting that Exscientia is the first company to bring AI-designed drugs to the human clinical trial stage. And partnerships with major biopharmaceutical companies are a good indicator that the company may be successful in bringing a drug to market. Yu was also looking at the improving outlook for Polestar Automotive Holding UK PLC NASDAQ: PSNY. The Swedish EV startup is benefiting from record quarterly deliveries in the second quarter, which is moving the company closer to profitability. Articles by Thomas Hughes Thomas Hughes was also alerting investors to the idea that the markets may be reaching peak AI. Hughes writes that the results from Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ; MSFT) show that the market may have priced in this quarter’s earnings and is waiting to hear the forward guidance before taking AI stocks higher. Hughes sees a similar situation emerging with Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. NYSE: CMG. The company had a solid earnings report. But at a time when solid is expected, a slight miss on revenue was all it took to send shares tumbling. However, as Hughes explains, the CMG stock chart shows this could present investors with an opportunistic entry point. Turning his attention to an undervalued stock, Hughes was looking at the cybersecurity firm, Check Point Software Technologies NASDAQ: CHKP. The company is lagging behind the big names in this sector, but as Hughes writes, the company’s revenue and margins are increasing, which is making CHPT stock a deep value for investors. Articles by Sam Quirke Tesla, Inc. NASDAQ: TSLA is a favorite stock for many MarketBeat subscribers. It’s one of our team’s favorites too. And this week, Sam Quirke explains why investors should view the recent downgrade of TSLA stock as a buying opportunity. And if you enjoy learning about, and investing in, real pick and shovel companies, Quirke points you to Cadence Design Systems Inc. NASDAQ: CDNS. The company makes software and hardware that are essential to the manufacturing of semiconductor chips. Chips are the backbone of many technologies, such as AI, so Cadence has a long runway for growth. However, in what is becoming a familiar theme for tech stocks, the company delivered a good, but not great, earnings report and shares are down. With that in mind, Quirke explains why a pullback in CDNS stock may be a buying opportunity. Articles by Chris Markoch The Federal Reserve’s interest rate hike was expected. But as Chris Markoch explains, the existence of higher-for-longer interest rates will undoubtedly have lingering effects on the housing market. With that in mind, Markoch gave readers three housing stocks to move out of until market conditions improve. While the housing sector may be one to avoid, Markoch was more bullish on the autonomous vehicle sector. This is a sector that will benefit from the exploding demand for AI. Elon Musk is making a $1 billion investment in Tesla’s Project Dojo, and Markoch gave investors three autonomous vehicle stocks that are also making strides in this technology. And while the health of the banking sector is still a primary concern for investors, Markoch was looking at the financial technology (fintech) sector which continues to disrupt the industry. Specifically, Markoch shared his thoughts on two fintech stocks for investors to consider buying and one they should avoid. Articles by Kate Stalter One of the biggest stories of the week came from United Parcel Service Inc. NYSE: UPS which averted a strike when company management and the Teamsters union agreed to terms on a new contract. However, as Kate Stalter notes, the stock hasn’t moved much since the announcement, which means that investors are more concerned about the company's fundamentals, which continue to show declining shipments and revenue, which will eat into profits. Stalter was also looking at the growing market for weight loss treatments. Specifically, she was writing about the recent news that is driving shares of Eli Lilly & Co. NYSE: LLY higher. The company is buying Vesantis, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company that focuses on new weight-loss treatments. This is happening as the company is seeking FDA approval for its own drug, Mounjaro, as a weight-loss drug. And as some of the big oil companies begin to report this week, Stalter explains why investors may want to be cautious about investing in the energy sector, specifically oil stocks as analysts expect demand to decline between now and 2025 due to the effect of higher interest rates. Articles by Ryan Hasson While Jea Yu and Thomas Hughes wrote about potential AI fatigue, Ryan Hasson wrote about a different story in the sector. Specifically, Hasson explained why C3.ai, Inc. NYSE: AI) may present investors with a short-squeeze opportunity. Speaking of short-squeeze candidates, Hasson was also looking at the recent surge in the stock of Rivian Automotive, Inc. NASDAQ: RIVN. While the EV manufacturer did beat on production and delivery numbers, it was high short interest which led to some short covering that has pushed the stock up over 100% in the last three months. Hasson gives you the bullish and bearish case so you can decide. And as the market rally has started to broaden out, small-cap stocks are starting to catch a bid. With that in mind, Hasson explains the recent news around two small-cap stocks so you can decide if they belong in your portfolio. Articles by Gabriel Osorio-Mazilli This week, investors got the latest data on the housing market. The takeaway is that supply of existing homes remains tight. And as Gabriel Osorio-Mazilli explains, that is likely to be an opportunity for home builders in general, and Osorio-Mazilli focused on PulteGroup, Inc. NYSE: PHM, which may be on the verge of a breakout after its recent earnings report. Osorio-Mazilli was also writing about Southwest Airlines NYSE: LUV which is down sharply after posting lower-than-expected earnings in its most recent quarter. However, the long-term outlook for the industry suggests that this may be an overreaction, and patient investors may have a buy-the-dip opportunity. The Boeing Company NYSE: BA is moving in the opposite direction after earnings. Osorio-Mazilli explains why investors are bullish and why technical indicators point to the possibility of a monster rally in BA stock. Articles by MarketBeat Staff We can’t be sure, but it sounds like some of the MarketBeat staff might have taken part in the “Barbenheimer” phenomenon. The staff wrote about how the strong opening weekend for the two blockbuster movies may lay the groundwork for a short squeeze in AMC Entertainment Holdings, Inc. NYSE: AMC. The MarketBeat staff also looked at the recent earnings report for Mattel Inc. NASDAQ: MAT. The company stands to benefit from increased sales of its Barbie-related merchandise. However, that’s not showing up in the company’s stock price after a solid earnings report. That suggests that investors don’t like what they see in the company’s fundamentals. And as China’s economy continues to gain strength, the staff was looking at Alibaba Group Holding Limited NYSE: BABA and giving investors five reasons that it may be time for skeptical investors to buy BABA stock while it’s still below $100 a share. Before you consider Exscientia, you'll want to hear this. MarketBeat keeps track of Wall Street's top-rated and best performing research analysts and the stocks they recommend to their clients on a daily basis. MarketBeat has identified the five stocks that top analysts are quietly whispering to their clients to buy now before the broader market catches on... and Exscientia wasn't on the list. While Exscientia currently has a "Moderate Buy" rating among analysts, top-rated analysts believe these five stocks are better buys. View The Five Stocks Here