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Goldberg: Backlash to anti-Israel protests threatens free speech

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:16:25 GMT

If you want to understand the wrenching generational rift over Israel among many left-leaning American Jews, the documentary “Israelism,” which came out this year, is a good place to start.Much of it centers on the political evolution of Simone Zimmerman, who was raised to be a staunch Zionist, began questioning her beliefs even as she defended Israel at the UC Berkeley, and was transformed by her encounter with the harrowing reality of the Palestinian occupation. Zimmerman went on to co-found IfNotNow, an anti-occupation Jewish group that has been at the forefront of many protests against Israel’s war in the Gaza Strip. The filmmakers, Erin Axelman and Sam Eilertsen, are part of the same generation as Zimmerman, and Axelman told me, “We’re telling Simone’s story as a way of partly telling our story.”But in November, when progressive Jewish students at the University of Pennsylvania tried to screen the film, the university denied them permission, reportedly citing fear of a “potenti...

Cottle: Stop whining, Mr. Santos. You got a fair shake.

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:16:25 GMT

Before we wallow in the downfall of George Santos, allow me a toast of appreciation to the freshly defrocked lawmaker and his fellow lawmakers. It takes a lot to get booted from the House by one’s colleagues, but the New York Republican really applied himself. And while his 11 very weird months in office were a stain on American democracy, here’s hoping his departure serves to reassure a politically disillusioned nation that there is a level of deception, corruption and lunacy too extra even for Congress. It is a nice reminder that, on special occasions, most lawmakers still know how to do the right thing.Now to the wallowing! It was frustrating for many Americans, including some prominent Republicans, that it took so long to rid the House of this egregious fraudster, fabulist and — if that sizzling report from the House Ethics Committee is any indication — future felon. The Ethics Committee opened its investigation in March. In May, the congressman was indicted on 13 fe...

California man among 8 who died in U.S. Air Force Osprey crash near Japan

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:16:25 GMT

A Riverside resident was among the eight members of the U.S. Air Force crew that perished in last week’s crash of a CV-22B Osprey during a training mission off of the coast of Japan, the Department of Defense announced on Tuesday, Dec. 5.Also see: US Air Force Osprey crashes off Japan during trainingMaj. Luke A. Unrath, 34, was a CV-22 pilot and flight commander assigned to the 21st Special Operations Squadron, 353rd Special Operations Wing, Yokota Air Base, Japan, the DOD said in a news release.No further biographical information was immediately provided for him. His family plans to publicly talk about Unrath at a later date, a DOD spokeswoman said.The others who died in the Nov. 29 collision:• Staff Sgt. Jake Galliher, 24, of Pittsfield, Massachusetts• Maj. Jeffrey T. Hoernemann, 32, of Andover, Minnesota• Maj. Eric V. Spendlove, 36, of St. George, Utah• Capt. Terrell K. Brayman, 32, of Pittsford, New York• Tech. Sgt. Zachary E. Lavoy, 33, of Oviedo, Florida• Staff Sgt. Jake M. Tu...

$3 billion federal grant OK’d for Las Vegas-to-California high-speed rail

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:16:25 GMT

The federal government is backing a high-speed rail system connecting Southern California to Las Vegas with a $3 billion investment, officials announced Tuesday, Dec. 5.The announcement comes after Nevada Sens. Jacky Rosen and Catherine Cortez Masto led a bipartisan group that included four House members from California that urged President Joe Biden in April to commit up to $3.75 billion in federal infrastructure funds toward what they call a public-private partnership with Brightline West.The fully electric high-speed rail system is planned to stretch 218 miles along the 15 Freeway between Las Vegas and Rancho Cucamonga. The $12 billion project is expected to take 3 million cars off the freeway and reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 400,000 tons annually, developers say. Rancho Cucamonga expects to see more than 11 million passengers come through its Cucamonga Station each year.“We are thrilled to witness the realization of this transformative project that connects our dynamic reg...

Disneyland increases security at parking structures after third suicide

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:16:25 GMT

Disneyland has increased security and preventative measures at its parking structures after the third death by suicide in less than a year at the garage complex where thousands of visitors enter and exit the Anaheim theme park every day.“In an effort to deter this type of tragedy, we have long had multi-layered security protocols in place at our parking structures, which we have substantially enhanced over time,” according to Disneyland officials. “However, as with all of our security and safety measures, we don’t discuss specifics so as not to compromise our efforts.”Disneyland security has increased patrols in marked vehicles and on bicycles in the Mickey and Friends and Pixar Pals parking structures along with uniformed officers posted at the perimeter of the upper levels of the garages, according to MousePlanet.Related ArticlesBusiness | Will Disney or Universal own the future of entertainment? Business | Disneyland ticket prices quadruple since 2000, ...

California poultry processor fined $3.8 million for hiring, endangering children

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:16:25 GMT

A Southern California poultry supplier that employed children as young as 14 to operate power-driven lifts and debone chickens with sharp knives has agreed to pay nearly $3.8 million in back wages, damages and penalties.Investigators with the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division found The Exclusive Poultry Inc. and related companies with poultry processing plants in La Puente and the city of Industry “endangered young workers recklessly.”Exclusive Poultry processes and supplies meat to a host of supermarkets and food distributors, including Ralphs, Aldi, Grocery Outlet and SYSCO Corp.Labor investigators said Exclusive Poultry was established by owner Tony Bran, who set up several “front” companies — including Meza Poultry LLC, Valtierra Poultry LLC, Sullon Poultry Inc. and Nollus’s Poultry LLC — to employ workers at the two plants.The judgment affects 437 employees who were either underpaid or working in violation of child labor laws.Children employed by the company oft...

Ollie’s Bargain Outlet: Fiscal Q3 Earnings Snapshot

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:16:25 GMT

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Ollie’s Bargain Outlet Holdings Inc. (OLLI) on Wednesday reported fiscal third-quarter profit of $31.8 million.The Harrisburg, Pennsylvania-based company said it had net income of 51 cents per share.The results topped Wall Street expectations. The average estimate of eight analysts surveyed by Zacks Investment Research was for earnings of 45 cents per share.The retailer posted revenue of $480.1 million in the period, also beating Street forecasts. Seven analysts surveyed by Zacks expected $470.9 million.Ollie’s Bargain Outlet expects full-year earnings in the range of $2.77 to $2.83 per share, with revenue expected to be $2.1 billion._____This story was generated by Automated Insights (http://automatedinsights.com/ap) using data from Zacks Investment Research. Access a Zacks stock report on OLLI at https://www.zacks.com/ap/OLLISource

AstroNova: Fiscal Q3 Earnings Snapshot

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:16:25 GMT

WEST WARWICK, R.I. (AP) — WEST WARWICK, R.I. (AP) — AstroNova Inc. (ALOT) on Wednesday reported fiscal third-quarter net income of $2.8 million.The West Warwick, Rhode Island-based company said it had net income of 37 cents per share.The printer and electronic instrument maker posted revenue of $37.5 million in the period.AstroNova shares have increased 9% since the beginning of the year. The stock has increased 22% in the last 12 months._____This story was generated by Automated Insights (http://automatedinsights.com/ap) using data from Zacks Investment Research. Access a Zacks stock report on ALOT at https://www.zacks.com/ap/ALOTSource

Nicolás Maduro propone crear el estado de la Guayana Esequiba como resultado del referéndum consultivo del domingo

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:16:25 GMT

(CNN Español) — Hablando este martes ante la Asamblea General del Consejo Federal de Gobierno de Venezuela, el presidente Nicolás Maduro ordenó la creación del estado Guayana Esequiba y anunció que otorgará la nacionalidad venezolana a todos los ciudadanos que viven en ese territorio.Durante su comparecencia, Maduro dictó una serie de medidas, tras el referendo consultivo realizado el domingo, en torno al diferendo territorial que sostiene Venezuela con Guyana desde mediados del siglo XIX. El mandatario mostró un “nuevo mapa de la República Bolivariana de Venezuela”, que incluye como parte de su territorio la disputada zona de la Guayana Esequiba.“El pueblo ha tomado la decisión de crear el estado de la Guayana Esequiba y de nacionalizar a todos los ciudadanos que están en ese territorio con su cédula de identidad venezolana, reconocerlos como hermanos de nuestra patria”, afirmó el presidente Maduro, al dirigirse a la nación este martes durante la Asamb...

Bank of England will review the risks that AI poses to UK financial stability

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:16:25 GMT

LONDON (AP) — The Bank of England, which oversees financial stability in the U.K., said Wednesday that it will make an assessment next year about the risks posed by artificial intelligence and machine learning.In its half-yearly Financial Stability Review, the bank said it was getting advice about the potential implications stemming from the adoption of AI and machine learning in the financial services sector, which accounts for around 8% of the British economy and has deep-rooted global connections.The bank’s Financial Policy Committee, which identifies and monitors risks, said it and other authorities would seek to ensure that the U.K. financial system is resilient to risks that may arise from widespread use of AI and machine learning.“We obviously have to go into AI with our eyes open,” bank Gov. Andrew Bailey said at a press briefing. “It is something that I think we have to embrace, it is very important and has potentially profound implications for economic growth, ...