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Clarence Thomas’ huge RV loan was forgiven by wealthy businessman, Senate investigation finds

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 13:11:50 GMT

Brian Niemietz | New York Daily NewsSupreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas was essentially given a luxury motorhome worth more than a quarter of a million dollars by a wealthy businessman, according to the U.S. Senate Committee on Finance.The committee released a report Wednesday claiming Anthony Welters lent $267,230 to Thomas for a luxury Prevost Marathon motor coach in 1999 at a 7.5% interest rate, then called it even in 2008 with the loan’s principal still intact. The Senate committee found Thomas paid interest on the loan for a short time, but “never repaid a substantial portion of the loan.”A handwritten note from Thomas to Welters — written on Supreme Court stationery and dated Dec. 6, 1999 — referenced the agreement between the pair, the committee said.“Regular Americans don’t get wealthy friends to forgive huge amounts of debt so they can buy a second home,” the committee wrote in its findings. “Justice Thomas should inform the committee exactly how much debt was forgiven an...

Trump responds with disbelief to reporting of Mark Meadows flip

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 13:11:50 GMT

Former President Donald Trump was quick to doubt and deny reporting his former chief of staff told him plainly that he lost the 2020 election.The 45th president was in a New York court Tuesday when news broke that Mark Meadows, the former North Carolina representative who served as Trump’s last chief of staff, had apparently met with Special Counsel Jack Smith’s legal team several times in connection with Trump’s election denial.According to ABC, citing “sources familiar with the matter,” Meadows met with government lawyers three times, once in the presence of a grand jury. Citing the same sources, the news organization claims that Meadows was offered limited immunity in order to reveal potentially incriminating information about Trump’s efforts to see the presidential election overturned.Meadows apparently told Smith’s team he rebuffed his bosses’ claims of election fraud, and that the former president’s assertion he won the 2020 election was “dishonest.”Trump responded...

Biden bails on New Hampshire primary, citing DNC decision on South Carolina

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 13:11:50 GMT

President Biden will not participate in the first-in-the-nation New Hampshire Democratic Primary.In a letter to the Granite State’s liberal party leaders, Julie Chavez Rodriguez, the 46th president’s campaign manager, said that “while the president wishes to participate in the primary, he is obligated to comply” with the wishes of the national party, which has decided to allow South Carolina to hold the first nominating contest.“The president looks forward to having his name on New Hampshire’s general election ballot as the nominee of the Democratic Party after officially securing the nomination at the 2024 Democratic National Convention, where he will tirelessly campaign to earn every single vote in the Granite State next November,” Rodriguez wrote to NHDP Chairman Ray Buckley.Biden’s decision comes as no surprise to party insiders, who knew for months that a state law requiring New Hampshire to hold the first primaries would stand in the way of the Democratic National Commit...

UAW expected to announce contract deal with Ford as early as Wednesday evening that could end strike

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 13:11:50 GMT

By TOM KRISHER (AP Auto Writer)DETROIT (AP) — The United Auto Workers union is expected to announce a tentative contract agreement with Ford Wednesday night that could be a breakthrough toward ending the nearly 6-week-old strikes against Detroit automakers.Two people with knowledge of the bargaining said the company and union are working on the final details of the contract and could announce it Wednesday evening in a video appearance with UAW President Shawn Fain. The people asked not to be identified because they’re not authorized to speak publicly about the bargaining.Terms of the deal weren’t immediately available, but both sides have been discussing a four-year contract. It would have to be approved by 57,000 union members at Ford.The Ford deal could set the pattern for agreements with the other two automakers.The people said the union made a counter-offer to Ford that proposes a 25% general wage increase over the life of a new contract and said that negotiations on Tuesday ext...

Al Jazeera Gaza correspondent loses 4 family members in an Israeli airstrike

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 13:11:50 GMT

CAIRO (AP) — Al Jazeera’s chief correspondent in the Gaza Strip, Wael Dahdouh, was helping broadcast live images of the besieged territory’s night sky when he received the devastating news: His wife, son, and daughter had all been killed in an Israeli airstrike on Wednesday.Moments later, the Qatari-based satellite channel switched to footage of Dahdouh entering al-Aqsa Hospital in Gaza before giving way to grief as he peered over the body of his dead son.“They take revenge on us in our children?” he said, kneeling over his son’s bloodied body, still wearing his protective press vest from that day’s work.Dahdouh’s grandson also was declared dead two hours later, the network reported.The video was sure to reverberate across the Arab world, where the 53-year-old journalist is well-known as the face of Palestinians during many wars. He is revered in his native Gaza for telling people’s stories of suffering and hardship to the outside world.According to Al Jazeera, Dah...

Police fatally shoot sledgehammer-wielding man in Round Lake Beach

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 13:11:50 GMT

ROUND LAKE BEACH, Ill. — Police in Round Lake Beach fatally shot a man allegedly armed with a sledgehammer amid a domestic violence attack.Around 3:15 p.m. Wednesday, officers were called to the 2000 block of Redwood Drive for a domestic battery in progress with a deadly weapon. According to Chris Covelli, a spokesperson for the Lake County Major Crimes Task Force, the armed suspect was allegedly battering people inside a home. No criminal charges in sandwich shop car crash that killed 14-year-old in Hinsdale Amid their response, Covelli said the armed man came 'aggressively' towards officers. Covelli said one officer discharged their service weapon, striking the offender. The sledgehammer-wielding suspect was then taken to a nearby hospital where he later died.Two women from inside the home suffered substantial head wounds, Covelli added. Both were rushed to a nearby hospital for medical attention. The address is known to police, Covelli said, as officers have responded to prior...

Man in custody after Illinois State Trooper shot allegedly killed ex-girlfriend in Chicago, family says

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 13:11:50 GMT

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — A man arrested in Springfield after authorities say he shot an Illinois State Police trooper may be linked to a deadly shooting in Chicago.ISP said the suspect, 37-year-old Cristobal Santana, was believed to be wanted in connection with a recent homicide in the city. The family of Adriana Lopez believes Santana is responsible for her death. "I still can't accept it," said Michelle Martinez, the niece of Lopez. "I'm in denial. She was a very happy soul. She always found a solution to everything. She was like a mom to me. She was my best friend."  Police fatally shoot sledgehammer-wielding man in Round Lake Beach In a phone interview with WGN News, Martinez said her aunt took pride in being a teacher. Lopez spent the last three years teaching special education at Nathan Davis Elementary School in Brighton Park.She aspired to be a principal."An amazing educator," said Nathan Davis Elementary School principal Francisco Oliva Gonzalez. "The parents and the students ...

Dusty Baker tells newspaper he is retiring as manager of the Houston Astros

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 13:11:50 GMT

HOUSTON (AP) — Dusty Baker has retired as manager of the Houston Astros, ending an illustrious 26-year career as a big league skipper highlighted by a World Series win last season.Baker broke the news in an interview with USA Today.“I’m very grateful and thankful to (owner) Jim Crane and the Houston Astros for giving me this opportunity, and to win a championship,’’ Baker told the newspaper. “I felt like they’ve been good for me, and I’ve been good for them.“What I really appreciate is that Jim has been totally honest and transparent with me on all things.’’ A Chicago native will play in the 2023 World Series for the Diamondbacks Baker told the newspaper that he’d like to move into an advisory role in baseball, either with the Astros or a team closer to his Northern California home.“I’ve still got a lot to offer; baseball has been my life,’’ said Baker. “I have a lifetime of knowledge, much more than those who have never played the game.’’Messages were left by the AP seeking comme...

Man pleads not guilty in crash that killed 4 California college students

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 13:11:50 GMT

(KTLA) — A Malibu man has pleaded not guilty to four counts of murder in connection with a high-speed crash that killed four Pepperdine University students last week. Fraser Michael Bohm, 22, also faces four counts of vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence, Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón said Tuesday. Bohm was allegedly going 104 mph in a 45 mph zone on the Pacific Coast Highway on the night of Oct. 17 when he lost control and crashed into four sorority sisters who were walking along the road a few miles from campus. Bohm reportedly sideswiped at least three parked cars before crashing into the four college seniors, as well as two other people. The four women — identified as Niamh Rolston of Los Angeles; Peyton Stewart of Westwood, New Jersey; Asha Weir, who grew up in Skippack, Pennsylvania; and Deslyn Williams of Atlanta by Pepperdine University — died at the scene. The two other victims were taken to the hospital. WATCH: Deer charges through crowded W...

'Who is going to pay?': Lawmakers work toward national paid family leave policy

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 13:11:50 GMT

WASHINGTON (Nexstar) – On Capitol Hill, lawmakers say they're working toward a national paid family leave policy, but there's disagreement about how to accomplish that in a way that would benefit workers without negatively impacting employers.About 3/4 of workers in the U.S. have access to paid leave, but only about a third of low-wage workers receive the same benefit.“Somehow the United States is the only developed nation in the world without a national paid leave program,” Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Oregon) said.Senators from both parties say guaranteeing paid family leave would improve the entire economy because more people, especially women, would be able to work.“We've talked about it for years but never seem to do what actually needs to be done.” Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-Michigan) said.But Republican Sen. Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) said the government must tread carefully.“Imposing a one-size-fits-all paid leave program could actually limit employers' ability to offer paid leave policies,” Cr...