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Texas launches new investigation into Houston's power utility following deadly outages after Beryl None - Texas has opened an investigation into a Houston area utility provider over allegations of fraud and misuse of taxpayer dollars during its botched response to Hurricane Beryl Texas launches new investigation into Houston's power utility following deadly outages after Beryl AUSTIN, Texas -- Texas' attorney general launched an investigation Monday into Houston's electric utility over allegations of fraud and waste following Hurricane Beryl, adding to the mounting scrutiny after widespread power outages left millions without electricity for days. The latest investigation of CenterPoint Energy comes after state regulators and Republican Gov. Greg Abbott have also demanded answers about storm preparations and the response to Beryl, a Category 1 hurricane that knocked out power to nearly 3 million people around the nation’s fourth-largest city. The storm was blamed for at least three dozen deaths, including those of some residents who died in homes that were left without air conditioning in sweltering heat after the storm's passage. “My office is aware of concerning allegations regarding CenterPoint and how its conduct affected readiness during Hurricane Beryl,” Ken Paxton, the state's Republican attorney general, said in a statement. “If the investigation uncovers unlawful activity, that activity will be met with the full force of the law.” The utility pledged its support of the investigation. “We look forward to cooperating with the Texas Attorney General or any other agency and have made clear our commitment to upholding the values of our company,” CenterPoint spokesperson John Sousa said. Paxton did not cite any specific allegations of waste or fraud in his announcement and his office did not respond to requests for comment. Abbott has demanded answers from CenterPoint for what he called its slow restoration efforts and poor communication with customers in the days leading up to the storm. The state's Public Utility Commission has launched its own investigation, and lawmakers grilled the company’s top executive over its failures at a hearing last month. CenterPoint has largely defended its storm preparedness and said that it deployed thousands of additional workers to help restore power. The utility provider has also begun a monthslong plan to replace hundreds of wooden utility poles and double its tree-trimming efforts after the governor pressed for swift action. Beryl damaged power lines and uprooted trees when it made its Texas landfall on July 8. It’s the latest natural disaster to hit Houston after a powerful storm ripped through the area in May, leaving nearly 1 million people without power. Many residents fear that chronic outages have become the norm after Texas’ power grid failed amid a deadly winter storm in 2021. CenterPoint has previously faced questions over the reliability of Houston's power grid. In 2008, Hurricane Ike, a Category 2 storm, knocked out power to more than 2 people million and it took 19 days to fully restore electricity. The city of Houston created a task force initiative to investigate the company's response and determined it needed to automate parts of its grid to minimize outages. CenterPoint received millions of dollars in federal funding to implement this technology years ago. However, according to executive vice president Jason Ryan, it's still a work in progress. Some utility experts and critics say the company hasn’t adapted its technology fast enough to meet the extreme weather conditions Texas will continue to face. ___ Lathan is a corps member for The Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues.
British energy giant reports violating toxic pollutant limits at Louisiana wood pellet facilities None - British energy firm Drax Global, already facing scrutiny for violating environmental regulations, disclosed this year that its Louisiana wood pellet production facilities emit hazardous air pollutants above permitted limits NEW ORLEANS -- British energy giant Drax Global, already under scrutiny for running afoul of environmental laws in multiple states, has disclosed to the state of Louisiana that its wood pellet production facilities emit hazardous air pollutants above their permitted limits. Drax is a key provider for British utilities and one of the renewable energy industry’s largest players, earning $1.53 billion in profits last year. It operates seven wood pellet production facilities across four states and paid out $2.5 million in fines for violating air emissions limits in Mississippi in 2020 and $3.2 million pollution-related settlements in Louisiana in 2022. Following pressure from lawsuits brought by environmental advocacy groups, the company agreed to install pollution controls in 2021 in its three production facilities across Mississippi and Louisiana. But it appears that the new controls did not bring the company within its permitted limits for more dangerous chemicals known as hazardous air pollutants at its Louisiana plants. The company conducted testing in August 2023 and about six months later informed the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality that both facilities should be considered a “major source” of hazardous air pollutant emissions. The tests revealed that Morehouse BioEnergy LLC and LaSalle BioEnergy LLC emitted high rates of probable carcinogens acetaldehyde and formaldehyde and a total of more than 38 tons per year of toxic or hazardous air pollutants emitted from each site, company documents said. The current permitted limit for each facility is 10 tons for a single pollutant or 25 tons for a combination of hazardous air pollutants. Michelli Martin, a spokesperson for the company, said in an emailed statement that Drax chose to test the Louisiana facilities based on new industry data, and was intended to “ensure full transparency” with authorities and “make necessary updates in 2024.” Drax said it was applying to update its permit to allow for the higher amounts of emissions. Drax had been able to avoid testing for these pollutants in Louisiana for years because the Clean Air Act contains a “loophole” for wood pellet production, allowing states to make these determinations on a case-by-case basis, said Patrick Anderson, an attorney with the Southern Environmental Law Center. By contrast, Drax subsidiary Amite BioEnergy LLC in Mississippi has been required to test for hazardous air pollutants since 2021. Last year, the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality notified Drax that its facility was in violation of permitted levels of hazardous air pollutants. The Drax facility in Mississippi is currently spending $200,000 on mitigation plans, which appears to be part of a penalty still under negotiation related to the site's hazardous air pollution violations, Anderson said. Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality Spokesperson Jan Schaefer said the agency was unable to comment on issues that “remain a matter of open enforcement.” The Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality did not respond to requests for comment. Spurred by the EU’s classification of biomass as renewable energy, the wood pellet industry has rapidly grown in southern states despite concerns over its impacts on neighboring communities and the environment. The predominantly Black community living near the Drax plant in Gloster, Mississippi, has been outspoken about the facility’s pollution in their community, saying it has increased asthma and led to unwanted exposure to air particles. But the two northern Louisiana communities, which share nearly identical plants to the one in Gloster, have lacked vocal opposition. That’s because Drax has been an economic boon, said Kay King, CEO of the nonprofit Morehouse Economic Development Corporation, which helped bring Drax to rural Morehouse Parish. King said the company was a lifeline for the region’s pine plantations and that it had “diligently” responded to pollution issues in the past. Martin, the Drax spokesperson, stated that “in the event there is a need to engage with the community on mitigation actions, Drax will take aggressive action as determined and in cooperation with" the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality.” ___ Jack Brook is a corps member for The Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues. Follow Brook on the social media platform X: @jack_brook96.
Bulgaria seizes heroin at a Black Sea port worth $38 million en route from Kyrgizstan None - Bulgarian authorities say they have seized some 436 kilograms — about 960 pounds — of heroin at the Black Sea port of Burgas By The Associated Press SOFIA, Bulgaria -- Bulgarian authorities have seized some 436 kilograms (960 pounds) of heroin at the Black Sea port of Burgas, the district prosecutor’s office said on Monday. The heroin was stashed in 434 packages hidden inside officially declared cargo in a trailer. The drug haul's value is estimated at 35 million euros (nearly $38 million). The trailer had arrived at the end of July on a land route from Kyrgyzstan to the Georgian Black Sea port of Batumi, from where it crossed to Burgas. From Bulgaria, it was supposed to continue to Alexandroupolis in Greece. The trailer, supposedly transporting cable-laying machines, raised suspicion due to its unusually long stay at the port, anti-drug unit chief Ivan Sokolov told reporters, adding that an X-ray inspection led to the discovery of the concealed heroin. “So far, there have been no arrests, and no persons found involved in this cross-border crime,” district prosecutor Georgi Chinev said. A conviction on drug trafficking carries up to 20 years in prison in Bulgaria. Bulgaria, which lies on a drug route from the Middle East to Western Europe, has taken massive steps in recent years to prevent drug trafficking.
Blink Fitness, an affordable gym operator, files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy None - NEW YORK -- Gym operator Blink Fitness has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. Blink, an Equinox-owned chain with more than 100 locations, said Monday that it was filing for bankruptcy to help facilitate a sale of the business. The New York-based company added that its gyms remain open — with Blink telling its members that it anticipates “limited impact on day-to-day operations” through the process. Also on Monday, Blink said it received a commitment for $21 million in new financing from existing lenders to help support its ongoing operations, pending court approval. Employees wages and vendor payments are expected to continue without interruption. Founded in 2011, Blink has long billed itself as an affordable gym “for every body.” Membership plans range from about $15 to $39 per month plus maintenance fees, competitive with rates from larger rivals like Planet Fitness and LA Fitness. Blink is a smaller chain that operates in seven U.S. states: New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, California, Illinois, Massachusetts and Texas. In its Chapter 11 petition, which was filed in Delaware bankruptcy court, Blink listed both assets and liabilities in the $100 million to $500 million range. Total debts for Blink and its affiliates filing for Chapter 11 amount more than $280 million, according to a court affidavit from Chief Restructuring Officer Steven Shenker Monday, which also suggests the debtors may reject leases of certain facilities that are no longer in operation as part of wider cost-cutting efforts. The company said Monday that it has seen “continuous improvement” in recent financial performance, with revenue increasing by 40% over the last two years. Blink also pointed to recently-announced efforts to boost member experiences in its most popular gyms. Monday's bankruptcy filing arrives just months after the company announced a multimillion-dollar investment that included upgrading 30 of its most-trafficked locations with more than 1,700 pieces of new equipment. In a statement, Blink Fitness President and CEO Guy Harkless said that the company's leadership determined that using a court-supervised process to facilitate a sale “is the best path forward for Blink and will help ensure Blink remains the destination for all people seeking an inclusive, community-focused gym." Blink did not immediately provide many details about the sale it's pursuing. The chain is currently owned by luxury fitness company Equinox Group — whose brands also include Soul Cycle, Pure Yoga and Equinox Fitness Clubs. The membership prices of those clubs are far more expensive than Blink's rates. Equinox is not listed as a debtor in Monday's Chapter 11 documents and is not expected to file its own bankruptcy petition, Shenker notes. Blink's bankruptcy filing arrives as much of the fitness industry works to bounce back pandemic-era losses. Gyms and workout studios from were among the hardest hit during the beginning days of COVID-19, as lockdowns shuttered or significantly limited many operations — including Blink, which was forced to temporarily close all of its gyms at the height of the pandemic, the company's bankruptcy documents note. But gyms that made it through the worst have seen some stability since. Visits to major fitness chains were up nearly every week between January and April of this year compared to 2023's numbers, according to recent data from Placer.ai, which tracks retail and foot traffic.
Judge Reed O'Connor recuses himself from Elon Musk's advertiser lawsuit None - When lawyers for Elon Musk’s “X Corp.” filed an antitrust lawsuit against advertisers in the Wichita Falls division of the Northern District of Texas, the case was destined for U.S. District Judge Reed O’Connor, who has several right-wing rulings to his resume. But the apparent judge-shopping was foiled Tuesday when O’Connor recused himself from the case. Why did he do so? His brief filing didn’t say. The recusal comes after NPR reporting on the judge’s investment in Tesla stock, which NPR noted “has fueled questions over O’Connor’s fairness as a judge, since the outcome of the suits filed by [Tesla CEO] Musk’s X could impact his business empire.” However, in the other suit to which NPR referred — against watchdog Media Matters — O’Connor has not recused. It would’ve been helpful if the judge had explained the reasoning for his recusal. Whatever the judge’s rationale or what comes of either suit (though Musk’s chances in one may now be dimmer without O’Connor), the episode highlights the absurdity of apparent judge shopping: As NPR pointed out, none of the parties in either case is based in Texas. The advertiser case was reassigned to another judge in the Northern District, Ed Kinkeade. The recusal occurred alongside another, unrelated legal development for Musk. The UAW said on Tuesday that it has filed federal labor charges against him and Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump, stemming from comments they made during a conservation on X on Monday night. The UAW characterized the rhetoric as “illegal attempts to threaten and intimidate workers who stand up for themselves by engaging in protected concerted activity, such as strikes.” Subscribe to the Deadline: Legal Newsletter for updates and expert analysis on the top legal stories. The newsletter will return to its regular weekly schedule when the Supreme Court’s next term kicks off in October.
These Republican candidates may put North Carolina in play for Democrats None - This is an adapted excerpt from the Aug. 12 episode of "The Rachel Maddow Show." The last time a Democratic presidential candidate won North Carolina was Barack Obama in 2008. But since Vice President Kamala Harris moved to the top of the Democratic ticket three weeks ago, Democrats are feeling like North Carolina may be in reach for them again. Part of what may be lifting Democrats in North Carolina is that the Republican candidate for governor there is — and I believe this is the technical term — cuckoo for Cocoa Puffs. A new poll released by YouGov on Sunday shows Donald Trump and Harris currently tied in North Carolina at 46% each. Some of that is absolutely the relative appeal of the two candidates and their campaigns, but part of what may be lifting Democrats in North Carolina is that the Republican candidate for governor there is — and I believe this is the technical term — cuckoo for Cocoa Puffs.Republican Mark Robinson calls gay people “filth.” He says schoolteachers are “wicked people.” He has mocked and attacked school shooting survivors. He has warned ominously that the music industry is run by the Illuminati. He said the film “Black Panther” was created by Jews and “satanic Marxists.” And he has — perhaps you won’t find this surprising — engaged in Holocaust denial. This man is the Republican nominee for governor in a totally normal state, a real place called North Carolina. That same YouGov poll that found Trump and Harris tied in the presidential race in North Carolina found Robinson losing the governor’s race to Democrat Josh Stein by a whopping 10 points. Now there’s new reporting highlighting another statewide Republican candidate in North Carolina who is right up there with Robinson on the crazy meter. In a since-deleted Facebook livestream unearthed by CNN, Michele Morrow, the Republican nominee to run North Carolina public schools, can reportedly be seen in a Washington, D.C.-area hotel the night of Jan. 6, 2021, advocating for a military coup to keep Trump in power. Now there’s new reporting highlighting another statewide Republican candidate in North Carolina who is right up there with Robinson on the crazy meter. Previously Morrow called for the killing of Joe Biden and other prominent Democrats, including the public execution of former President Barack Obama.Again, this is now the Republican nominee for superintendent of all public K-12 education in North Carolina. Notably, Morrow calls public schools “socialism centers” and “indoctrination centers.” She is endorsed by Robinson, who said at a recent event with her, “We’re gonna make sure we do everything to get you in office.” With folks like that leading the statewide Republican ticket in North Carolina, Democrats think their presidential ticket has a real shot. The Democratic National Committee has now put up 15 new billboards across North Carolina as part of its first swing state paid advertising blitz since Harris chose Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as her running mate. So with the election rapidly approaching, keep an eye on North Carolina and watch this space. Join Rachel Maddow and many others on Saturday, Sept. 7, in Brooklyn, New York, for “MSNBC Live: Democracy 2024,” a first-of-its-kind live event. You’ll get to see your favorite hosts in person and hear thought-provoking conversations about what matters most in the final weeks of an unprecedented election cycle. Buy tickets here.
Kamala Harris flips the script on Donald Trump's immigration attacks None - This is an adapted excerpt from the Aug. 13 episode of "Morning Joe." Vice President Kamala Harris is going on the offense, and touting what she sees as her tough immigration record in a new campaign ad. Since she entered the race, Republicans have attacked Harris over the issue, falsely labeling her as the administration’s “border czar.” This ad is exactly what the vice president should be doing: You go in on the issue that your opponent thinks is your weakness and make it your strength. It’s something Harris has done effectively on the campaign trail already. And it’s something that I suspect she’ll do effectively at the debate next month. It’s very simple and the facts speak for themselves here. In July, border crossings were lower than during Donald Trump’s last month in the White House. There’s also the border bill backed by Republican Sen. James Lankford of Oklahoma — the most conservative immigration bill in decades. While Harris supported that deal, Trump stopped it — ordering House Republicans and Speaker Mike Johnson to kill the bill. He did so because the bill would not only be good for those on the border who are concerned about illegal immigration, but also because it would be good news politically for President Joe Biden. The ad was an effective way for Harris’ campaign to hit back against Trump and Republicans’ misinformation on her immigration record. We’ll see how it plays with voters in the coming weeks.
JD Vance uses his wife to whitewash Trump’s white supremacist problem None - Sen. JD Vance tried to paper over former President Donald Trump’s connection with white nationalist influencer Nick Fuentes during an interview over the weekend. Speaking with ABC News’ Jon Karl, Vance was asked about Trump’s widely criticized dinner with Fuentes and the Hitler-loving rapper, Ye in 2022, as well as Fuentes’ recent comments that Trump shouldn't have picked Vance as a running mate in part because Vance’s wife, Usha, is Indian American. Trump’s VP pick agreed with Karl’s summation of Fuentes’ attacks on his wife as “racist garbage.” But after Karl noted “this is also a guy that dined with Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago during this campaign,” Vance chimed in with some spin. He said: Well -- and that Donald Trump doesn’t know anything about, and frankly, doesn’t care for. But yeah, look, my attitude to these people attacking my wife is, she’s beautiful, she’s smart. What kind of man marries Usha? A very smart man and a very lucky man, importantly. And my view is, look, if these guys want to attack me or attack my views, my policy views, my personality, come after me. But don’t attack my wife. She’s out of your league. After Vance falsely claimed Trump condemned his own dinner with Fuentes amid the backlash, Karl corrected him and noted that Trump has never condemned Fuentes or his views. And that’s when Vance claimed his wife’s personal interactions with Trump assured him. He said: The one thing I like about Donald Trump, Jon, is that he actually will talk to anybody. But just because you talk to somebody doesn’t mean you endorse their views. And look, I mean, Donald Trump’s spent a lot of quality time with my wife. Every time he sees her, he gives her a hug, tells us she’s beautiful, and jokes around with her a little bit. I’m not at all worried about Donald Trump. I’m worried sometimes about these ridiculous attacks. But again, this is what you sign up for when you come into politics. I wish people would keep it focused on me, but whatever. They’re going to say what they’re going to say. My wife’s tough enough to handle it, and that’s a good thing. Evidently, Vance wants us to believe Trump’s willingness to dine with an avowed white supremacist and a Nazi-loving rapper is merely a sign of his welcoming nature. And Vance doesn't appear to have any qualms about using his Indian American wife, or her purportedly amiable interactions with Trump, to downplay the questions about the candidate’s ties to white supremacy and antisemitic hate. Usha Vance previously sat for an interview and attempted to downplay her husband’s misogynistic "childless cat ladies" comment. Now, her husband is using her ethnicity and gender to downplay Trump’s deference to bigots. Republicans have spent the better part of the past two weeks ridiculously accusing Democrats of antisemitism after Vice President Kamala Harris selected Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as her running mate over Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, who is Jewish. Meanwhile, Trump and the GOP’s open association with antisemitic figures, including Fuentes and Ye, go unmentioned. Republicans haven’t devised a cogent explanation for this hypocrisy. And if Vance’s remarks are any sign, they won’t anytime soon.
Roger Stone says his email accounts were how the hackers got into the Trump campaign None - Happy Tuesday. Here's your Tuesday Tech Drop, the past week's top stories from the intersection of politics and the all-inclusive world of technology. 'But [his] emails!' Roger Stone, a longtime adviser to Donald Trump who helped to push the fake electors scheme, told the Washington Post that one of his email accounts was reportedly compromised by a cyberattack that was targeting the Trump campaign. The news surrounding this hack has been moving quickly, so let's review the sequence of events so far. Aug. 10: Politico reports it received internal Trump campaign documents from someone calling themselves “Robert,” describing some of their contents but not sharing them. Aug. 10: Team Trump says it has been hacked and accuses Iran of perpetrating the hack without offering proof. Meanwhile, the campaign tries to shame news outlets not to publish anything resulting from the hack — the polar opposite of Trump’s stance on hacks that targeted Hillary Clinton’s campaign in 2016. Aug. 12: NBC News confirms the Washington Post reports that the FBI is probing the hack, alongside similar attempts made on the Biden-Harris campaign. Officials from what is now the Harris-Walz campaign said there is no evidence that any hacking attempt on it has been successful. The Post also interviews Stone, who says multiple email accounts of his were hit with cyberattacks. The Post’s sources allege Stone’s email was used to send Trump campaign officials a bogus link that could compromise the recipient's emails, too. The juicy story here is that one of the most mischievous and aggressively outspoken figures in Trump’s orbit was the one whose private communications appears to have compromised — and possibly compromised others in the Trump campaign, as well. But a notable subplot is the media’s markedly different response to hacked campaign documents when they come into their hands directly, as compared to the 2016 feeding frenzy over private communications stolen from the Clinton campaign and made public by Wikileaks. The Associated Press is out with a story on the media outlets that have thus far chosen not to publish documents they've received as a result of the hack. Remember when Trump literally called on Russia to "find" missing Clinton emails and declared his love for WikiLeaks? Now Trump is benefitting from a restraint that neither he nor the media have afforded other politicians in a similar situation. Joy Reid called out this double standard on Monday’s episode of The ReidOut. Seniors learning about A.I. Across the country, seniors are getting some training about the budding age of artificial intelligence — learning how the technology can benefit them and how it can be used to deceive and manipulate them. Class is in session. Read more from in the Associated Press. Musk was warned Elon Musk received a warning from the European Union ahead of the digital debacle he hosted for Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump on his social media platform X on Monday. The E.U. warned Musk not to run afoul of its rules around the spread of illegal content and disinformation on large social media platforms — a fitting warning, given his role in spreading the disinformation that recently fueled far-right riots in the U.K. Read my colleague Anthony Fisher’s take on the Trump-Musk conversation here on MSNBC.com. Team Trump tries to take TikTok by storm The Trump campaign wants to make its candidate into a TikTok star as part of an effort to rehabilitate his public image — but Vice President Kamala Harris’ popularity with young people on the app is throwing a wrench in their plans. Read more at The Washington Post. Nadler pushes for X probe New York Rep. Jerrold Nadler has called on Republican House Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan to probe allegations of political censorship on social media platform X. Elon Musk, who has endorsed Trump, has allowed the platform to spread misinformation about Harris, while liberal accounts supporting her have been suspended and labeled as spam in what some believe is an effort to help Trump. Read more at The Verge. OpenAI warning OpenAI, the creators of popular artificial intelligence-enabled chatbot ChatGPT, issued a warning about people becoming emotionally dependent on its voice mode. It’s an eerie warning, and we should all be cautious of the ways we can grow attached to our devices. But there’s reason to question this sort of Big Tech fatalism: A.I. experts have warned that this kind of apocalyptic, future-oriented focus can mystify the conversation around real harms artificial intelligence can — and does — pose in the present. Read more at The Hill. Khanna’s crypto outreach Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., has been acting as a sort of liaison between crypto enthusiasts and the White House, seeking to thread the needle between promoting regulation and assuaging concerns from the largely wealthy, regulation-resistant power brokers in the crypto community. Read more at CryptoSlate. Trump’s A.I. lie Trump’s latest lie about Harris — that her campaign used A.I. to generate images of her crowds — is an attempt to convince his followers to reject reality and lay the groundwork to question the election results should he lose this November. Read my latest blog post on it here.
I’m a Republican strategist. Here’s how Trump is tanking his own campaign. None - Donald Trump and the Trump campaign seem to be at odds lately. Earlier in the 2024 election cycle, the campaign seemed a little more professional than the last two times, while the candidate himself seemed more disciplined. The speakers at the Republican National Convention stayed on message, and things seemed to be running smoothly. Then, President Joe Biden dropped out and Trump suddenly faced Vice President Kamala Harris, a very different opponent. This was much more than a pivot for the Trump campaign; it was a slam on the brakes, spin around, throw away the playbook and find a new strategy ASAP moment. Seasoned campaign staffers know how to adjust quickly and refocus their attention on the challenge. After all, look at how quickly staffers hired by Biden adjusted their messaging and strategy when Harris took over. The Trump campaign has the smarts to adapt. Its members are all experienced professionals who have shown their ability to adapt. Their problem is the candidate. Trump has again shown that he has zero self-control and little understanding of strategy. He's taken to social media in the middle of the night to post bizarre attacks and fantasize about Biden rejoining the race. Trump has again shown that he has zero self-control and little understanding of strategy. Campaign operatives focus on one thing: winning. When the unexpected happens, they change tactics, adjust and push the team in a new direction. However, if the principal doesn’t get on board, it is all for nothing. Trump is flailing about. He is talking about the same old grievances, asking crowds about nicknames for Biden, going off on tangents. In short, he is doing everything but focusing on beating Harris. The campaign team should not be blamed for Trump's inadequacies, but their job is to figure out how to house-train him. One way might be to remind him why he is running in the first place, not to lead the nation but to avoid federal prosecution and the possibility of prison time. If that’s not a motivator, nothing will be. Sign up for MSNBC’s new How to Win 2024 newsletter and get election insights like this delivered to your inbox weekly.
5th Circuit says 'geofence' warrants violate the Fourth Amendment None - The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has broken new ground again — but perhaps not in the way you might think. While that court has issued extreme rulings aligned with Republican Party preferences that have gone too far even for the Supreme Court, this latest decision deals with the Fourth Amendment, an area of the law where opinions can cut across party lines. And now this issue could be headed for the justices, too. This time, a 5th Circuit panel held that so-called geofence warrants are unconstitutional. Such warrants seek location information within a certain area and time frame as a means to identify suspects; in the case of United States v. Smith, it was used to find robbers. In reaching its conclusion, the appeals court has split with the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, which said recently in United States v. Chatrie that it didn’t count as a Fourth Amendment “search” when the government got two hours’ worth of location information from Google that had been voluntarily exposed by the defendant. Such “circuit splits,” as they’re called, generally increase the chances of Supreme Court review, because the justices can resolve them to ensure uniformity across the country. But this issue might not be settled by the high court soon, for a couple of reasons. First, the rulings aren’t necessarily the last word within the circuits, because both cases were three-judge panel decisions, and the full appeals courts in both circuits could weigh in and reach different conclusions. If that happens, then the decisions of those full courts could determine the next moves. The 5th Circuit covers Texas, Louisiana and Mississippi, while the 4th Circuit covers Maryland, the Virginias and the Carolinas. Moreover, the Supreme Court hasn’t been eager to take Fourth Amendment cases lately. Its biggest such case in recent years was Carpenter v. United States, decided in 2018. But both of these geofence warrant rulings cite Carpenter to reach different conclusions, showing that the justices have open questions to settle in this area of the law. Subscribe to the Deadline: Legal Newsletter for updates and expert analysis on the top legal stories. The newsletter will return to its regular weekly schedule when the Supreme Court’s next term kicks off in October.
Maine regulators reject utility proposal to report suspected marijuana grow operations to police None - Maine utility regulators have unanimously rejected an electric utility’s proposal to proactively report high consumption that signals an illicit marijuana growing operation to law enforcement officials Maine utility regulators unanimously rejected on Tuesday an electric utility's proposal to proactively report high consumption that signals a marijuana growing operation to law enforcement officials in an attempt to aid police crackdown on illicit operations. The three-member Public Utilities Commission cited concerns about customers who use large amounts of electricity for legitimate reasons being targeted because of the reports. Commissioners opted to stick with the status quo in which utilities provide consumer data only when presented with a law enforcement subpoena that was vetted by a judge. Versant Power floated the idea because it says it has a high success rate of identifying marijuana grow houses but no ability to communicate that to police. Somerset County Sheriff Dale Lancaster called it a "good first step.” Other supporters included Republican U.S. Sen. Susan Collins, who has aggressively pressed the FBI about the illegal marijuana operations. Versant spokesperson Judy Long said Tuesday the utility promoted the discussion “strictly in the interest of public and worker safety.” “After the discussion and today’s ruling in that docket, we have clear direction from the commission, and we will remain vigilant in protecting customers’ private information while continuing to work as mandated with law enforcement," she said. The proposal was part of a wide-ranging docket taken up by commissioners on Tuesday. It came as law enforcement officials target marijuana grow operations in which rural homes in Maine are purchased, gutted and transformed into sophisticated, high-yield indoor farms. Twenty states that legalized marijuana have seen a spike in illegal marijuana grow operations, and law enforcement officials have busted dozens of them in Maine. The FBI and Drug Enforcement Administration are investigating any ties these operations might have to criminal syndicates including Chinese-organized crime.
Auto workers union seeks NLRB investigation of Trump and Musk comments about firing striking workers None - DETROIT -- The United Auto Workers union has filed unfair labor practice charges against Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump and Tesla CEO Elon Musk after the two discussed on social media about Musk supposedly firing striking workers. In documents filed Tuesday with the National Labor Relations Board, the union alleges that both men interfered with workers who may want to exercise their right to join a union. The NLRB said it would look into the charges, which are a request for the agency to investigate. UAW President Shawn Fain, whose union has endorsed Democrat Kamala Harris, said in a statement that Trump is anti-labor. “Both Trump and Musk want working class people to sit down and shut up, and they laugh about it openly,” Fain said. Brian Hughes, a senior advisor with the Trump campaign, called the allegations “frivolous” and a “shameless political stunt” designed to erode Trump's strong support among American workers. The NLRB said it would investigate the complaints, one filed against the Trump campaign and the other naming Tesla Inc., the electric vehicle, battery and solar panel manufacturer based in Austin, Texas, and led by Musk. The charges stem from statements made by Trump Monday night during a conversation between the two men on X, the social media platform Musk now owns. The former president spent much of the discussion that lasted more than two hours focused on his recent assassination attempt, illegal immigration and plans to cut government regulations. But during a discussion about government spending, Trump praised Musk for firing workers who went on strike. The UAW contends this could intimidate workers for the Trump campaign or at Tesla who might want to join a union. “You're the greatest cutter,” Trump told Musk. “I look at what you do. You walk in and say, 'You want to quit?' I won't mention the name of the company but they go on strike and you say, ’That’s OK. You're all gone.'" Musk said, “Yeah,” and laughed while Trump was talking. It wasn't clear what employees Trump was referring to. In June, eight former workers at SpaceX, Musk's rocket company, sued the company and Musk, alleging he ordered them fired after they challenged what they called rampant sexual harassment and a hostile “Animal House”-style work environment at the company. In addition, the NLRB determined that a 2018 Twitter post by Musk unlawfully threatened Tesla employees with the loss of stock options if they decided to be represented by a union. Three judges on the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans upheld that decision, as well as a related NLRB order that Tesla rehire a fired employee, with back pay. But the full 5th Circuit later threw out that decision and voted to hear the matter again. Sanjukta Paul, a law professor at the University of Michigan, said the UAW charges have real substance because the comments from Trump and Musk could “chill” efforts by workers to act collectively, including union organizing, or just getting together to improve working conditions. “You're approvingly describing, you're wholeheartedly commending the blatant violation of our main federal labor statute,” she said. “It would constitute interference with protected rights.” Marick Masters, a business professor emeritus at Wayne State University who follows labor issues, said the UAW's move "puts the spotlight on Trump and attempts to put him on the defensive in terms of his attitude and demeanor toward unions.” He added that the union is watching Musk's comments because it has targeted Tesla's U.S. factories for organizing drives.
How major US stock indexes fared Tuesday, 8/13/2024 None - U.S. stocks rose to one of their best days of the year as Wall Street relaxed after the first of several highly anticipated reports on the economy this week came in better than expected How major US stock indexes fared Tuesday, 8/13/2024 The Associated Press By The Associated Press U.S. stocks rose to one of their best days of the year as Wall Street relaxed after the first of several highly anticipated reports on the economy this week came in better than expected. The S & P 500 rallied 1.7% Tuesday after the government reported inflation at the wholesale level slowed last month by more than anticipated. The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 1%, and the Nasdaq composite climbed 2.4%. Starbucks soared after naming Brian Niccol, the head of Chipotle, as its new CEO. Treasury yields eased ahead of more reports this week on inflation and retail sales. On Tuesday: The S & P 500 rose 90.04 points, or 1.7%, to 5,434.43. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 408.63 points, or 1%, to 39,765.64. The Nasdaq composite rose 407 points, or 2.4%, to 17,187.61. The Russell 2000 index of smaller companies rose 33.11 points, or 1.6%, to 2,095.19. For the week: The S & P 500 is up 90.27 points, or 1.7%. The Dow is up 268.10 points, or 0.7%. The Nasdaq is up 442.30 points, or 2.6%. The Russell 2000 is up 14.28 points, or 0.7%. For the year: The S & P 500 is up 664.60 points, or 13.9%. The Dow is up 2,076.10 points, or 5.5%. The Nasdaq is up 2,176.26 points, or 14.5%. The Russell 2000 is up 68.12 points, or 3.4%.
Federal board urges stricter safety rules for loading and dispatching charter flights like air tours None - A federal agency says it has recommendations for improving the safety of commercial aviation including air tours and air ambulances WASHINGTON -- A federal safety agency is recommending that air tours and other commercial aircraft operators be required to have certificated dispatchers to help pilots plan their flights. The National Transportation Safety Board said Tuesday that and other recommendations are based on a study of more than 500 accidents, some of them fatal. The NTSB said it began the study after seeing a “cluster of safety issues” from investigations of crashes between 2010 and 2022. The recommendations would not apply to major airlines, which operate under the most stringent U.S. rules. The NTSB noted that historically airlines have had lower accident rates than charter operations. The board said the Federal Aviation Administration should require air tours, commuter services, air ambulances and business jet charters to employ certificated flight dispatchers. The board said it found 12 accidents with a total of 45 deaths where flight dispatch was “deficient” because current regulations don’t require people performing the work to meet particular standards. The NTSB said it found four accidents and 11 deaths involving small planes that were not loaded in a safe manner. It recommended expanding a current rule on weight and balance documentation to single-engine planes. The board also repeated a previous recommendation that planes used in non-scheduled commercial operation be outfitted to collect data that indicates when pilots fail to follow proper procedures. The FAA said it takes NTSB recommendations seriously and will respond “within an appropriate timeframe.”
Google rolls out Pixel 9 phones earlier than usual as AI race with Apple heats up None - MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. -- Google on Tuesday unveiled its next generation of Pixel phones, providing the maker of Android software a head start on the next iPhone in the race to bring more artificial-intelligence services to devices that have become people’s constant companions. The showcase held near Google’s Mountain View, California, headquarters took place two months earlier than when the company typically rolls out the next models in its Pixel phone line-up, which made its debut eight years ago. Although Pixel phones still represent a sliver of worldwide smartphone sales, they are still closely watched because they serve as Google’s platform for demonstrating the latest advances in the Android operating system that powers virtually every phone not made by Apple. And Google left little doubt that the Pixel 9 phones are meant to be a vessel for the AI technology that is expected to reshape the way people live and work, just as smartphones in general have done over the past 15 years. “We are obsessed with the idea that AI can make life easier and more productive for people,” Rick Osterloh, a Google senior vice president who oversees the Pixel phones, said Tuesday. That's similar to the theme Apple is accentuating as it prepares to make AI a centerpiece of the iPhone. That moment is expect to arrive shortly after Labor Day when Apple traditionally takes the wraps off its next iPhone. The next model, the iPhone 16, is expected to be a big attraction because it will be equipped with the special chip needed to run a suite of AI features. Those features are designed to make Apple's virtual assistant Siri smarter and perform a wide variety of other tasks that the company is promising will bring more joy to people's lives, while still protecting their privacy. But Apple's plans for AI remain hazier than Google's vision, and Google is also rolling it out more broadly, including on Samsung phones powered by Android, said Emarketer analyst Grace Harmon. That may increase the pressure on Apple next month when it unveils the next iPhone. Not surprisingly, the Pixel 9 lineup is also packed with AI technology, a shift that the Google began last October when it released that year’s model. This generation of phones will be the first centered around the Gemini technology that’s become the focal point of its push into AI. Just as Apple is aiming to do with Siri, Google has designed its Gemini assistant to be more conversational, providing it with a range of 10 different human-like voices. It's able to handle even more tasks, especially if users are willing to give it access to email and other documents. In another move mirroring Apple, Google is equipping the Pixel 9 lineup with a special chip enabling many AI-powered services to be handled on the device instead of remote data centers, with the aim of boosting personal privacy and security. In on-stage demonstrations Tuesday, the Gemini assistant speaking in a voice called “Ursa” was able to come up with helpful ideas for a fun way to use invisible ink when asked to come up with creative ideas. But the Gemini assistant also stumbled when shown a picture of a poster for singer Sabrina Carpenter, and when asked to let the questioner know when she was performing a concert in the area. After coming up blank on the first two requests, the Gemini assistant provided the requested information. The Pixel 9 phones also will feature “Magic Editor,” AI technology capable of completely transforming pictures by quickly and seamlessly adding a person who wasn’t in the original photo, or by altering the photo's landscape or background. The more advanced Gemini Assistant will require a $20 monthly subscription that will be free for one year for all buyers of the next Pixel 9 phones, which will begin shipping Aug. 22 before becoming more widely available next month. The $240 benefit that Google is offering with a free one-year subscription to its Gemini Advanced service makes it more likely Apple won't be able to charge for its suite of AI services, Emarketer's Harmon said. The standard Pixel 9 will sell for $800, a $100 increase from last year, while the Pixel 9 Pro will sell for $1,000 or $1,100, depending on the size. The next generation of a foldable Pixel phone that Google introduced last year will sell for $1,800. The event also signaled that Google intends to conduct business as usual even as its internet empire is being threatened by a judge’s recent decision declaring its dominant search engine to be an illegal monopoly. The landmark ruling will trigger another round of court hearings to determine the measures that Google must take to create a more competitive market – a process that could result in Google being banned from engaging in some deals or, in the drastic scenario, being ordered to spin off its Android software or relinquish other key pillars bolstering the nearly $2 trillion market value of its corporate parent, Alphabet Inc. Besides its latest phones, Google also took aim at several other popular Apple products with its next Pixel Watch and wireless earbuds.
Steward Health Care reaches deal to sell its nationwide physicians network None - Steward Health Care said it has reached an agreement to sell its nationwide physicians network to a private equity firm BOSTON -- Steward Health Care said it has reached an agreement to sell its nationwide physicians network to a private equity firm. The deal comes as Steward is scheduled to go before a bankruptcy court judge Friday on its plan to sell six hospitals in Massachusetts. The Dallas-based company announced its bankruptcy May 6. In a statement released Monday, Steward said it has entered into a “definitive agreement” to sell its Stewardship Health business — which includes about 5,000 physicians in Massachusetts and nine other states treating about 400,000 patients — to Rural Healthcare Group, an affiliate of Kinderhook Industries LLC, a private equity firm. Steward said the deal, which is subject to regulators' review, will result in strong patient and physician outcomes. “Stewardship Health will continue to serve its loyal patient following in the commonwealth of Massachusetts under new ownership,” the company said in a statement Monday. Mark Rich, president of Steward Health Care, said Kinderhook has "over 20 years of experience investing in mid-sized health care businesses that serve the nation’s most vulnerable populations." Steward had previously announced a deal to sell its physicians network. Steward announced in March that it had signed a letter of intent to sell Stewardship to the Optum unit of health insurer UnitedHealth. That deal was never finalized. Steward and its CEO Ralph de la Torre have come under intense criticism for a series of decisions that critics — including Gov. Maura Healey — say led to the bankruptcy. Healey said she has focused on trying to save the remaining Steward hospitals, which have found qualified bidders. “I have spoken repeatedly about my disgust of Ralph de la Torre, disgust of Steward management," the former attorney general said Monday. “I hope the feds go hard after him and he ends up in jail.” Steward announced its bankruptcy May 6 and two days later said it planned to sell off the 30 hospitals it operates nationwide A bankruptcy judge last month allowed Steward’s decision to close two Massachusetts hospitals. Steward announced July 26 its plan to close the hospitals — Carney Hospital in Boston and Nashoba Valley Medical Center in Ayer — on or around Aug. 31 because it had received no qualified bids for either facility. Steward owes lease payments after selling their hospitals’ physical properties — including land and buildings — to another company. Both Steward and the state have argued that requiring potential buyers to assume those payments instead of negotiating their own leases — or buying the hospitals properties outright — was making it hard to transfer ownership of the hospitals. Judge Christopher Lopez of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Houston last month approved a motion by Steward on Wednesday to toss out the master lease binding the Massachusetts hospitals.. Massachusetts has also agreed to provide about $30 million to help support the operations of six hospitals that Steward Health Care is trying to turn over to new owners. The payments are advances on Medicaid funds that the state owes Steward. A U.S. Senate committee voted last month to authorize an investigation into Steward’s bankruptcy and to subpoena de la Torre. Steward currently operates more than 30 hospitals across Arizona, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Arkansas, Florida, Louisiana, Texas and Massachusetts.
Plan approved by North Carolina panel to meet prisoner reentry goals None - A panel has laid out specifics designed to bring numerous North Carolina state government agencies together to improve outcomes for prisoners when they are released, leading to reduced recidivism RALEIGH, N.C. -- A new state panel has laid out specifics designed to bring numerous North Carolina state government agencies together to work on improving outcomes for prisoners when they are released, leading to reduced recidivism. The Joint Reentry Council created by Gov. Roy Cooper's executive order in January approved last week a plan to meet more than two dozen objectives by using over 130 different strategies. The order directed a “whole-of-government” approach, in which Cabinet departments and other state agencies collaborate toward meeting goals and take action. More than 18,000 people are released annually from the dozens of North Carolina adult correctional facilities and face challenges brought by their criminal record to employment, education, health care and housing. The council's plan “lays out our roadmap to help transform the lives of people leaving prison and reentering society while making our communities safe,” Cooper said in a news release Tuesday. Cooper's order also aligned with the goals of Reentry 2030, a national effort being developed by the Council of State Governments and other groups to promote successful offender integration. The council said North Carolina was the third state to officially join Reentry 2030. The plan sets what officials called challenging goals when unveiled in January. It also seeks to increase the number of high school degrees or skills credentials earned by eligible incarcerated juveniles and adults by 75% by 2030 and to reduce the number of formerly incarcerated people who are homeless by 10% annually. Several initiatives already have started. The Department of Adult Correction, the lead agency on the reentry effort, has begun a program with a driving school to help train prisoners to obtain commercial driver’s licenses. The Department of Health and Human Services also has provided $5.5 million toward a program helping recently released offenders with serious mental illnesses, Cooper's release said. The governor said in January there was already funding in place to cover many of the efforts, including new access to federal grants for prisoners to pursue post-secondary education designed to land jobs once released.
Inflation milestone: Consumer Price Index slows below 3% for first time since March 2021 None - CNN — Price hikes slowed more than expected in July, and, for the first time in more than three years, the Consumer Price Index has landed below 3%. That paves the way for the Federal Reserve to cut rates next month after a yearslong battle with inflation that sent rates spiking to a 23-year high. America’s economy is showing signs of stress, and now that inflation appears under control, the Fed can reduce borrowing costs to try to get job growth booming again. Consumer prices rose 2.9% for the 12 months ended in July, slowing from June’s 3% annual gain, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ latest CPI report released Wednesday. On a monthly basis, prices rose 0.2% after posting a 0.1% decline the month before. Economists were expecting a 0.2% monthly increase and an annual rise of 3%, according to Fact Set consensus estimates. “Breaking the 3% barrier is a key psychological positive,” Sung Won Sohn, professor of finance and economics at Loyola Marymount University and chief economist of SS Economics, told CNN in an interview. “It shows that inflation is not only trending down, but disinflation is on track.” Excluding gas and food, categories that tend to be quite volatile, core CPI rose 0.2% from June and saw its annual rate slow to 3.2% from 3.3%. Core CPI inflation is now running at its slowest pace since April 2021. The cost of owning and renting a home rose 0.4%. That so-called shelter index accounted for nearly 90% of the monthly increase, BLS said in the report. The S&P 500 closed 0.4% higher on Wednesday as investors parsed the latest inflation report. The Dow rose 242 points, or 0.6%, and the Nasdaq Composite added 0.03%. Outsized influence of home prices Shelter, which accounts for more than one-third of the overall CPI, has been the biggest impediment to inflation’s descent. However, economists say, it’s only a matter of time before that hurdle gives. That’s because the BLS’ measurement of housing-related prices is a very lagged and amorphous process (including estimating the rental value of owner-occupied homes). But in recent months, the shelter index is starting to better reflect the slower, if not flat or falling, rent hikes seen in real life. Housing costs increased dramatically during the pandemic and the economic rebound that followed driven by heightened demand for remote work that put additional strain on already low inventory. The Fed’s drastic interest rate-hiking campaign further exacerbated the issue by making borrowing costs expensive for renters, buyers and builders alike, Brian Bethune, a Boston College economics professor, told CNN. “What you’re doing is crossing your fingers that [with the rate hikes] somehow the effect on demand will be larger than the effect on supply for the immediate future,” he said. “Because if the situation persists, then the chronic shortage of housing will just get worse.” On an annual basis, the shelter index is up 5.1% through July. It has been on a steady decline since peaking at 8.2% in March 2023, BLS data shows. “If you look at the future, it’s pretty clear that the inflation picture will continue to improve,” Sohn said. Excluding shelter, the CPI was up 1.7% for the 12 months ended in July, according to BLS data. Energy prices (notably gasoline), which had served as a drag on the May and June CPI, were flat for July. Food prices continued to rise only modestly, with grocery prices up 0.1% for the month and restaurant prices up just 0.2%. On an annual basis, grocery and restaurant prices are up 1.1% and 4.1%, respectively. The goods category saw its long stretch of disinflation (prices rising more slowly) and outright deflation (prices falling) continue during July. Services ticked up 0.3%. The indexes for used cars and trucks, medical care, airline fares and apparel were among those that decreased from June, the BLS noted in Wednesday’s report. An ‘unequivocally’ good report that tees up rate cuts The CPI, which measures the average change in prices for a commonly purchased “basket” of goods and services, has cooled down noticeably since briefly flaring up to start the year. Wednesday’s report builds on a June report that was solidly positive (the overall index fell for the first time since April 2020) and helped assure the Federal Reserve and markets that inflation is indeed moderating. The July CPI “was, unequivocally, a good report,” Boston College’s Bethune said. “If you look at the reported monthly gains — 0.2% overall, 0.2% on the core — that is considered to be perfectly acceptable,” he said. “But if you take a look under the hood, it’s actually even better than that.” Unrounded, the overall CPI increased just 0.155% from June and core increased 0.165%, BLS data shows. The central bank has wanted to see more sustained progress in slowing inflation before loosening monetary policy; however, that calculus changed in recent months as the labor market slowed, and unemployment rose more sharply than expected. A weaker-than-expected jobs report for July, with an estimated 114,000 jobs added and a jump in unemployment to 4.3%, sent markets into a tailspin last week as recession fears picked up steam. “Any Fed official waiting for a little more data to make the decision on whether to cut interest rates got it in spades this morning as while inflation isn’t dead, there is deflation in commodity prices which balances out the moderate inflation seen in some services prices, which is mainly generated from the higher costs of housing,” Christopher Rupkey, chief economist for FwdBonds LLC, wrote in commentary issued Wednesday. Also, while the CPI is the most widely used barometer of inflation, the Fed’s preferred gauge for its 2% target is the Personal Consumption Expenditures price index, which slowed to 2.5% in June. And that PCE picture should be looking even more positive when it’s released at the end of the month, said Robert Triest, an economics professor at Northeastern University. Not only are components of the CPI and Tuesday’s better-than-expected Producer Price Index baked into the PCE gauge, but also shelter carries less of a weight in that index. “I would expect the PCE numbers to come in even more favorably than the CPI did,” Triest said in an interview. “And that will provide further comfort and further support for the Fed to begin cutting the federal funds rate.” The Fed is widely expected to cut its benchmark interest rate by at least a quarter-point at its meeting next month, although some projections for a half-point cut grew after the weak jobs report. As of Wednesday morning, the CME FedWatch tool had a 56.5% probability for a quarter-point cut and a 43.5% probability for a half-point cut. Jared Bernstein, the chair of the White House Council of Economic Advisers, on Wednesday touted the latest CPI data but also pledged “no victory laps.” “Our work is not done, because even as we get inflation back down to pre-pandemic levels, we still have to be mindful that too many families are facing too many high costs,” he told reporters during Wednesday’s White House press briefing. This story has been updated with additional developments and context. As stocks settle after the trading day, levels might change slightly.
Here's how the CBS News price tracker helps you save on everything from gas to groceries None - Here's how the CBS News price tracker helps you save on everything from gas to groceries The CBS News price tracker, a new online tool, uses government and private data to give you real-time updates about the cost of everyday items.