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Government shutdown’s potential impact: The Morning Rundown, Sept. 29, 2023

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With just hours to go for Congress to act, we look at what could be affected if a government shutdown begins this weekend. And it’s the end of an era as Netflix ships out its final DVDs. These stories and more highlight The Morning Rundown for Friday, Sept. 29, 2023.

Congress has only hours to act before government shutdown begins

Congress has only hours left to come to an agreement to prevent a government shutdown from starting Sunday, Oct. 1 at 12:01 a.m. Both chambers are working on different methods to avert the first shutdown since 2018.

The Democratic-led Senate is looking to pass a bipartisan stopgap bill that would continue to fund the government until Nov. 17. The bill includes $6 billion in funding for Ukraine and another $6 billion for domestic disaster relief.  

House Republicans, who have already rejected the Senate’s measure, are focusing their attention on the dozen of annual spending bills — passing three which fund the Department of Defense, Department of Homeland Security and State Department.

Speaker Kevin McCarthy suggested on Thursday, Sept. 28, that a shutdown could be avoided if the Senate adds border provisions to their stopgap bill. McCarthy said the House would vote on its own version of a stopgap bill on Friday which would fund the government through October.

So what could happen if a government shutdown does in fact occur this weekend?   

  • All federal agencies except those deemed essential would stop working. This means Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security would continue. However, hundreds of thousands of other federal workers would be furloughed.
  • Those essential employees, including air traffic controllers, TSA screeners, and military personnel on active duty would work without pay until the shutdown ends then they’d receive back pay.
  • The shutdown would stop food safety inspections by the FDA, EPA inspections and FEMA disaster relief.
  • Programs like Head Start for preschoolers would lose funding and national parks and certain museums could close.
  • Officials say Americans who receive benefits from SNAP would still get assistance through October, but if the shutdown drags on that could change.
  • You would still be getting mail — as the U.S. Postal Service isn’t funded by taxpayer dollars.

House Republicans issue subpoena for Hunter Biden’s bank records

A House impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden got underway with a hearing on Thursday. During the six-hour hearing on Capitol Hill, House Republicans said they would be issuing subpoenas for additional person and business banking records from Hunter Biden and the president’s brother James Biden.

According to Fox News, the House Oversight Committee believes they have a trace of $24 million brought in by the Biden family by “selling Joe Biden as the brand.” The White House called the hearing a “baseless wild goose chase” and a distraction from the shutdown.

Elon Musk visits U.S.-Mexico border

X owner Elon Musk visited the U.S.-Mexico border on Thursday to livestream areas of Eagle Pass, Texas. The tech billionaire was seen talking with officials and using his camera to show what he was seeing at the border.

The month of September is on pace to surpass records of migrants crossing the border with more than 142,000 in the first half of the month. In a four-minute clip of his visit, Musk shared his take on the border crisis, which is an issue he has been vocal about on social media. 

“We should let anyone in the country who is hardworking and honest and who will be a contributor to the U.S.,” Musk said. “By the same token, we should not be allowing people in the country if they are breaking the law. The law is there for a reason.”

United to make changes for passengers in wheelchairs after investigation

United Airlines has made changes to its online booking to better accommodate passengers in wheelchairs. Now passengers will be able to add a filter to the booking tool that will allow them to find flights better equipped to fit a motorized wheelchair in the storage portion of the plane. Currently some cargo doors on planes are too small to easily get a wheelchair to fit among the other luggage and belongings being stored below.

United will also pay the fare difference for passengers who need to upgrade their flight in order to be better accommodated.

This change came about after a government-led investigation into the airline’s policies. The investigation found that all airlines cumulatively had mishandled more than 30,000 wheelchairs and scooters in a three-year span.

Cantaloupe recall due to potential salmonella contamination

Thousands of cantaloupes in 19 states could potentially be contaminated with salmonella, according to the FDA. Eagle Produce, based out of Scottsdale, Arizona, has issued a voluntary recall of more than 6,000 cases of whole cantaloupes.

The impacted melons have the brand name Kandy on them with the number code 4-0-5-0 printed on the bottom of the sticker. While there have been no reported illnesses, the FDA recommends customers not eat the fruit.

The FDA says the cantaloupes were distributed between Sept. 5 and Sept. 16 in California, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Washington D.C. 

Netflix ends DVD-by-mail service after 25 years

Netflix is shipping out its final DVDs on Friday as it closes out the part of its business that put the company on the map after 25 years. Netflix announced in April it would be shutting down its DVD-by-mail service citing the decrease in DVD releases in recent years as the company focuses on its streaming offerings.

In 2011, Netflix decided to separate video streaming from its DVD business which at the time had more than 16 million subscribers. Fast forward to today, there are now just under one million DVD subscribers. In comparison, Netflix’s streaming service boasts 238 million subscribers worldwide.

Netflix is telling its DVD devotees they can keep any discs they receive by mail. Netflix started shipping out DVDs in 1998 with the first one being the 1988 movie “Beetlejuice.”

Our business correspondent Simone Del Rosario has a Five for Friday looking back at the most rented DVDs in Netflix history.

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WITH JUST HOURS TO GO FOR CONGRESS TO ACT, WE LOOK AT WHAT COULD BE AFFECTED IF A GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN BEGINS THIS WEEKEND

AND — IT’S THE END OF AN ERA — AS NETFLIX SHIPS OUT ITS FINAL DVDS. 

THE MORNING RUNDOWN STARTS NOW.

KARAH NAME SUPER

THIS IS STRAIGHT-ARROW NEWS. 

BRINGING YOU UNBIASED, STRAIGHT FACTS.

TODAY IS FRIDAY — SEPTEMBER 29TH

THANKS FOR JOINING US.

I’M KARAH RUCKER.

CONGRESS HAS ONLY HOURS LEFT TO COME TO AN AGREEMENT IN ORDER TO PREVENT A GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN THIS WEEKEND.

RIGHT NOW BOTH CHAMBERS ARE WORKING ON DIFFERENT METHODS TO AVERT THE FIRST SHUTDOWN SINCE 2018.

THE DEMOCRATIC-LED US SENATE IS LOOKING TO PASS A BIPARTISAN STOPGAP BILL – THAT WOULD CONTINUE TO FUND THE GOVERNMENT UNTIL NOVEMBER 17TH.

THE BILL INCLUDES 6 BILLION DOLLARS IN FUNDING FOR UKRAINE AND ANOTHER 6 BILLION FOR DOMESTIC DISASTER RELIEF.

MEANWHILE – THE REPUBLICANS IN THE HOUSE – WHO HAVE ALREADY REJECTED THE SENATE’S MEASURE – ARE FOCUSING THEIR ATTENTION ON THE DOZEN OF ANNUAL SPENDING BILLS – PASSING THREE — FUNDING THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE, DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY AND STATE DEPARTMENT.

SPEAKER KEVIN MCCARTHY SUGGESTED ON THURSDAY THAT A SHUTDOWN COULD BE AVOIDED IF THE SENATE ADDS BORDER PROVISIONS INTO THEIR STOPGAP BILL.

MCCARTHY SAID THE HOUSE WOULD VOTE ON ITS OWN VERSION OF A STOPGAP BILL TODAY WHICH WOULD FUND THE GOVERNMENT THROUGH OCTOBER.

SO WHAT COULD HAPPEN IF A GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN DOES IN FACT OCCUR THIS WEEKEND?   

ALL FEDERAL AGENCIES EXCEPT THOSE DEEMED ESSENTIAL WOULD STOP WORKING – THIS MEANS MEDICARE, MEDICAID AND SOCIAL SECURITY WOULD CONTINUE – WHILE HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF OTHER FEDERAL WORKERS WOULD BE FURLOUGHED. THOSE ESSENTIAL EMPLOYEES – INCLUDING AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLERS, TSA SCREENERS, AND MILITARY PERSONNEL ON ACTIVE DUTY – WOULD WORK WITHOUT PAY UNTIL THE SHUTDOWN ENDS — THEN THEY’D RECEIVE BACK-PAY.

THE SHUTDOWN WOULD STOP FOOD SAFETY INSPECTIONS BY THE FDA — EPA INSPECTIONS – AND FEMA DISASTER RELIEF

PROGRAMS LIKE HEAD START FOR PRESCHOOLERS WOULD LOSE FUNDING – AND NATIONAL PARKS AND CERTAIN MUSEUMS COULD CLOSE. OFFICIALS SAY AMERICANS WHO RECEIVE BENEFITS FROM SNAP WOULD STILL GET ASSISTANCE THROUGH OCTOBER – BUT IF THE SHUTDOWN DRAGS ON THAT COULD CHANGE.

AND YOU WOULD STILL BE GETTING MAIL — AS THE US POSTAL SERVICE ISN’T FUNDED BY TAXPAYER DOLLARS.  

AS THE GOVERNMENT FACES A MAJOR DISRUPTION IN A LOOMING SHUTDOWN —

A HOUSE IMPEACHMENT INQUIRY INTO PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN GOT UNDERWAY WITH A HEARING ON THURSDAY.

DURING THE SIX HOUR HEARING ON CAPITOL HILL —

HOUSE REPUBLICANS SAID THEY WOULD BE ISSUING SUBPOENAS FOR **ADDITIONAL BANKING RECORDS FROM HUNTER BIDEN AND THE PRESIDENT’S BROTHER JAMES BIDEN

INCLUDING PERSONAL AND BUSINESS ACCOUNTS.

ACCORDING TO FOX NEWS DIGITAL — THE HOUSE OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE BELIEVES THEY HAVE A TRACE OF 24 MILLION DOLLARS BROUGHT IN BY THE BIDEN FAMILY BY QUOTE “SELLING JOE BIDEN AS THE BRAND.”

THE WHITE HOUSE CALLED THE HEARING A QUOTE “BASELESS WILD GOOSE CHASE” AND A DISTRACTION FROM THE SHUTDOWN.

“X” OWNER ELON MUSK HAD ON HIS “CITIZEN JOURNALIST HAT” — AND COWBOY HAT — AS HE VISITED THE U.S. MEXICO BORDER TO LIVESTREAM AREAS OF EAGLE PASS TEXAS ON THURSDAY.

THE TECH BILLIONAIRE WAS SEEN TALKING WITH OFFICIALS AND USING HIS CAMERA TO SHOW WHAT HE WAS SEEING AT THE BORDER.

THE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER IS ON PACE TO SURPASS RECORDS OF MIGRANTS CROSSING THE BORDER WITH MORE THAN 142 THOUSAND IN THE FIRST HALF OF THE MONTH.

IN THE 4-MINUTE CLIP — MUSK SHARED HIS TAKE ON THE BORDER CRISIS — AN ISSUE HE HAS BEEN VOCAL ABOUT ON SOCIAL MEDIA.

“we should let anyone in the country who is hardworking and honest and who will be a contributor to the u.s. — by the same token we should not be allowing people in the country if they are breaking the law. the law is there for a reason.”

UNITED AIRLINES HAS MADE CHANGES TO ITS ONLINE BOOKING TO BETTER ACCOMMODATE PASSENGERS IN WHEELCHAIRS.

NOW — PASSENGERS WILL BE ABLE TO  ADD A FILTER TO THE BOOKING TOOL THAT WILL ALLOW THEM TO FIND FLIGHTS BETTER EQUIPPED TO FIT A MOTORIZED WHEELCHAIR IN THE STORAGE PORTION OF THE PLANE.

RIGHT NOW — SOME CARGO DOORS ON PLANES ARE TOO SMALL TO EASILY GET A WHEELCHAIR TO FIT AMONG THE OTHER LUGGAGE AND BELONGINGS BEING STORED BELOW.

UNITED WILL ALSO PAY THE FARE DIFFERENCE FOR PASSENGERS WHO NEED TO UPGRADE THEIR FLIGHT IN ORDER TO BE BETTER ACCOMMODATED.

THIS CHANGE CAME ABOUT AFTER A GOVERNMENT-LED INVESTIGATION INTO THE AIRLINE’S POLICIES.

THE INVESTIGATION FOUND THAT **ALL AIRLINES CUMULATIVELY HAD MISHANDLED MORE THAN 30 THOUSAND WHEELCHAIRS AND SCOOTERS IN A THREE YEAR SPAN.

THERE’S A MAJOR FRUIT RECALL THIS MORNING.
THOUSANDS OF CANTALOUPES IN 19 STATES COULD POTENTIALLY BE CONTAMINATED WITH SALMONELLA.
ACCORDING TO THE FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION —
EAGLE PRODUCE – BASED OUT OF SCOTTSDALE ARIZONA – HAS ISSUED A **VOLUNTARY RECALL OF MORE THAN 6 THOUSAND **CASES OF WHOLE CANTALOUPES.
THE IMPACTED MELONS HAVE THE BRAND NAME KANDY ON THEM — WITH THE NUMBER CODE 4-0-5-0 PRINTED ON THE BOTTOM OF THE STICKER.
WHILE THERE HAVE BEEN NO REPORTED ILLNESSES — THE FDA RECOMMENDS CUSTOMERS NOT EAT THE FRUIT.

FINALLY THIS MORNING – AFTER 25 YEARS — NETFLIX IS SHIPPING OUT ITS FINAL DVDS TODAY AS IT CLOSES OUT THE PART OF ITS BUSINESS THAT PUT THE COMPANY ON THE MAP.

NETFLIX ANNOUNCED IN APRIL IT WOULD BE SHUTTING DOWN ITS DVD-BY-MAIL SERVICE CITING THE DECREASE IN DVD RELEASES IN RECENT YEARS — AS

IN 2011 – NETFLIX DECIDED TO SEPARATE VIDEO STREAMING FROM ITS DVD BUSINESS – WHICH AT THE TIME HAD MORE THAN 16 MILLION SUBSCRIBERS. FAST FORWARD TO TODAY – THERE ARE NOW JUST UNDER ONE MILLION DVD SUBSCRIBERS. IN COMPARISON – NETFLIX’S STREAMING SERVICE BOASTS 238 MILLION SUBSCRIBERS WORLDWIDE.

NETFLIX IS TELLING ITS DVD DEVOTEES THEY CAN KEEP ANY DISCS THEY RECEIVE BY MAIL – A LITTLE SOMETHING TO REMEMBER THIS FADING ERA.

NETFLIX STARTED SHIPPING OUT DVDS IN 1998 – AT FIRST IN WHITE ENVELOPES BEFORE SWITCHING TO ITS CLASSIC RED ONES. AND WHAT WAS THE FIRST DVD NETFLIX SENT OUT? THE 1988 MOVIE ‘BEETLEJUICE.’

OUR BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT SIMONE DEL ROSARIO HAS A FIVE FOR FRIDAY LOOKING BACK AT THE MOST RENTED DVDS IN NETFLIX HISTORY. YOU CAN FIND THAT REPORT NOW ON SAN.COM.

THESE ARE YOUR TOP STORIES FOR THIS FRIDAY.

BE SURE TO SUBSCRIBE TO OUR MORNING RUNDOWN PODCAST TO LISTEN TO OUR SHOW EACH WEEKDAY.

AND CHECK OUT MORE OF OUR WORK AT SAN.COM AND ON THE STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS APP.

UNBIASED. STRAIGHT FACTS. THAT’S STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS.

WE’LL SEE YOU BACK HERE ON MONDAY.

UNTIL THEN I’M KARAH RUCKER. HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND!

Politics

Candidates clash at 2nd GOP primary debate: The Morning Rundown, Sept. 28, 2023

Yesterday

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Seven presidential candidates looked to gain momentum during Wednesday night’s debate as the absent frontrunner loomed large. And drivers are being asked to park outside due to a major recall affecting millions of vehicles. These stories and more highlight The Morning Rundown for Sept. 28, 2023. 

Republican candidates spar on multiple issue during second debate

Seven presidential hopefuls took the stage Wednesday, Sept. 27, at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in California for the second Republican primary debate broadcast on the Fox News channel. The candidates tackled issues such as immigration, the war in Ukraine, China and the auto workers strike. While there was sparring between those on stage, the party’s frontrunner — former President Donald Trump, who chose not to attend the debate — became a target.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie were among those criticizing the former president for skipping the debate as he did with the first one last month.

“Where’s Joe Biden? He’s completely missing in action from leadership, and you know who else is missing in action? Donald Trump is missing in action. He should be on this stage tonight. He owes it to you to defend his record,” DeSantis said.

“Donald, I know you’re watching. you can’t help yourself. I know you’re watching, OK? And you’re not here tonight, not because of polls, and not because of your indictments. you’re not here tonight, because you’re afraid of being on the stage and defending your record,” Christie said.

Regarding immigration, Christie said he wants immigrants in this country to fill six million vacant jobs but only if they come to the U.S. legally, criticizing the Biden administration for not enforcing laws and former President Trump for not completing the border wall.

Entrepeneur Vivek Ramaswamy was targeted for his company’s connections to China and his recent arrival on the social media app TikTok.

“We need to win elections and part of how we win elections is reaching the next generation of young Americans where they are,” Ramaswamy said.

“This is infuriating because TikTok is one of the most dangerous social media apps that we could have and what you’ve got – I honestly, every time I hear you, I feel a little bit dumber for what you say,” former United Nations ambassador Nikki Haley said.

The candidates also voiced their opinions on the United States’ support for Ukraine as Congress debates additional funding. Governor DeSantis said it’s in America’s interest to end the war and South Carolina Senator Tim Scott arguing the focus should be in degrading the Russian military.

“By degrading the Russian military, we actually keep our homeland safer, we keep our troops at home and we all understand Article 5 of NATO,” Scott said.

The third Republican debate is set for Nov. 8 in Miami. Advisers to former President Trump say he will not be attending that one either.

Trump skips debate to speak at Michigan plant, criticizes Biden’s E-V plans

Former President Trump opted out of the debate and instead went to the battleground state of Michigan to tour an auto parts supplier and speak on the ongoing autoworkers strike.

Trump’s speech largely consisted of criticizing President Joe Biden’s electric vehicle overhaul and the costs associated with it. Tump told the autoworkers that a strike mattered little when the entire industry is on the line. He said the full-throttle shift to E-V will kill jobs.

Biden was in Michigan on Tuesday, Sept. 26, with autoworkers as they are about two weeks into their strike.

While both the Republican frontrunner and the current president made their cases for the autoworkers, the UAW has yet to endorse a candidate for the 2024 presidential election. 

House Republican holding first Biden impeachment inquiry hearing

The impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden will begin Thursday. House Republicans will hold the first public hearing where they say the focus will be presenting the findings “from months of investigations.”

Chairman James Comer says House Republicans have uncovered a trove of evidence showing President Biden has abused his power in public office. Critics including the White House claim there is no evidence.

Meanwhile, the House Ways and Means Committee released a 700-page report on their investigation into the president’s son, Hunter Biden, on Wednesday, Sept. 27.

X makes cuts to disinformation team

Straight Arrow News reported last month that X was hiring for its safety and elections team to better protect the platform from fake accounts and threats heading into a presidential election year.

But as first reported by the tech-focused outlet The Information, X is laying positions on its Election Integrity Team. The website said four positions were let go.

“Oh you mean the “Election Integrity” Team that was undermining election integrity? Yeah, they’re gone,” X owner Elom Musk posted to the social media site.

The cuts come at a time when Musk is being heavily scrutinized. A top European Union official said this week that the platform is the largest promoter of disinformation and fake news. Musk has said X does not promote hate speech but is a free speech platform.

Kia, Hyundai recall more than 3.3 million vehicles over

Kia and Hyundai are issuing a massive recall involving more than 3.3 million vehicles. The automakers are telling owners to park outside because the cars could catch fire.

According to the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the anti-lock brake control module can leak fluid and cause an electrical short which could cause a fire while vehicles are being driven or parked.

Hyundai is recalling 13 different models from 2010-2015. Kia is recalling a dozen models from 2010-2019. Kia and Hyundai say they will send affected vehicle owners notification letters starting in mid-November. Dealers will replace the anti-lock brake fuse free of charge.

1858 photo of Abraham Lincoln donated to his museum in Illinois

A photo of Abraham Lincoln from 165 years ago with quite a backstory is being donated to his museum in Illinois. The 1858 image was taken during Lincoln’s campaign for the senate.

As the story goes, the future president presented a copy of the photo to Charles Lame after the man was severely injured while testing a cannon for Lincoln’s campaign rally. The photo remained with Lame’s descendants until last year when they decided to donate it.

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SEVEN PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES LOOKED TO GAIN MOMENTUM DURING LAST NIGHT’S DEBATE AS THE ABSENT FRONTRUNNER LOOMED LARGE

AND —

DRIVERS ARE BEING ASKED TO PARK OUTSIDE DUE TO A MAJOR RECALL AFFECTING MILLIONS OF VEHICLES

THE MORNING RUNDOWN STARTS NOW.

 

THIS IS STRAIGHT-ARROW NEWS.

BRINGING YOU UNBIASED, STRAIGHT FACTS.

TODAY IS THURSDAY — SEPTEMBER 28TH

THANKS FOR JOINING US.

I’M KARAH RUCKER.

SEVEN PRESIDENTIAL HOPEFULS TOOK THE STAGE WEDNESDAY NIGHT AT THE RONALD REAGAN PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY IN CALIFORNIA FOR THE SECOND REPUBLICAN PRIMARY DEBATE BROADCAST ON THE FOX NEWS CHANNEL. THE CANDIDATES TACKLED ISSUES SUCH AS IMMIGRATION, THE WAR IN UKRAINE, CHINA AND THE AUTO WORKERS STRIKE. AND WHILE THERE WAS SPARRING BETWEEN THOSE ON STAGE –THE PARTY’S FRONTRUNNER — FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP WHO CHOSE NOT TO ATTEND THE DEBATE — BECAME A TARGET.

FLORIDA GOVERNOR RON DESANTIS AND FORMER NEW JERSEY GOVERNOR CHRIS CHRISTIE WERE AMONG THOSE CRITICIZING THE FORMER PRESIDENT FOR SKIPPING THE DEBATE AS HE DID WITH THE FIRST ONE LAST MONTH.

“Where’s Joe Biden? He’s completely missing in action from leadership, and you know who else is missing in action? Donald Trump is missing in action. He should be on this stage tonight. He owes it to you to defend his record.”

“Donald, I know you’re watching. You can’t help yourself. I know you’re watching, okay? ‘And you’re not here tonight, not because of polls, and not because of your indictments. You’re not here tonight, because you’re afraid of being on the stage and defending your record.” 

REGARDING IMMIGRATION, CHRISTIE SAID HE WANTS IMMIGRANTS IN THIS COUNTRY TO FILL SIX MILLION VACANT JOBS BUT ONLY IF THEY COME TO THE U.S. LEGALLY – CRITICIZING THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION FOR NOT ENFORCING LAWS AND FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP FOR NOT COMPLETING THE BORDER WALL.

ENTREPENEUR VIVEK RAMASWAMY WAS TARGETED FOR HIS COMPANY’S CONNECTIONS TO CHINA AND HIS RECENT ARRIVAL ON THE SOCIAL MEDIA APP TIKTOK.

“We need to win elections. And part of how we win elections is reaching the next generation of young Americans where they are.”

“This is infuriating because TikTok is one of the most dangerous social media apps that we could have and what you’ve got – I honestly., everytime I hear you, I feel a little bit dumber for what you say.”

THE CANDIDATES ALSO VOICED THEIR OPINIONS ON THE UNITED STATES’ SUPPORT FOR UKRAINE AS CONGRESS DEBATES ADDITIONAL FUNDING.

GOVERNOR DESANTIS SAYING IT’S IN AMERICA’S INTEREST TO END THE WAR – AND SOUTH CAROLINA SENATOR TIM SCOTT ARGUING THE FOCUS SHOULD BE IN DEGRADING THE RUSSIAN MILITARY.

“By degrading the Russian military, we actually keep our homeland safer, we keep our troops at home and we all understand Article Five of NATO.”

THE THIRD REPUBLICAN DEBATE IS SET FOR NOVEMBER 8TH IN MIAMI. ADVISERS TO FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP SAY HE WILL NOT BE ATTENDING THAT ONE EITHER.

FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP OPTED OUT OF WEDNESDAY NIGHT’S DEBATE AND INSTEAD WENT TO THE BATTLEGROUND STATE OF MICHIGAN TO TOUR AN AUTO PARTS SUPPLIER AND SPEAK ON THE ONGOING AUTOWORKERS STRIKE.

HE DID BRIEFLY MENTION THE DEBATE DURING HIS SPEECH —

“It’s all over television this speech, you know, we’re competing with the job candidates, they’re all running for a job. No, they’re all job candidates, they want to be in the.. (Trump’s Cabinet). They’ll do anything, secretary of something. They even say V.P., I don’t know. Does anybody see any V.P. in the group? I don’t think so. No”

TRUMP’S SPEECH LARGELY CONSISTED OF CRITICIZING PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN’S ELECTRIC VEHICLE OVERHAUL AND THE COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH IT.

TRUMP TOLD THE AUTOWORKERS THAT A STRIKE MATTERED LITTLE WHEN THE ENTIRE INDUSTRY IS ON THE LINE.

HE SAID THE FULL THROTTLE SHIFT TO E-V WILL KILL JOBS.

BIDEN WAS IN MICHIGAN ON TUESDAY WITH AUTOWORKERS AS THEY ARE ABOUT TWO WEEKS INTO THEIR STRIKE.

<2:49-2:58 you’re negotiating a contract, you’re all on picket lines and everything, but it doesn’t make a damn bit of difference what you get, because in two years you’re all going to be out of business. You’re not getting anything. 

<3:19-3:29> “I will not allow, under any circumstances, the American automobile industry to die. I want it to thrive and to thrive like never before.”

WHILE BOTH THE REPUBLICAN FRONT-RUNNER AND THE CURRENT PRESIDENT MADE THEIR CASES FOR THE AUTOWORKERS, THE UAW HAS YET TO ENDORSE A CANDIDATE FOR THE 2024 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION. 

THE IMPEACHMENT INQUIRY INTO PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN WILL BEGIN TODAY —

HOUSE REPUBLICANS WILL HOLD THE FIRST PUBLIC HEARING THIS MORNING —

WHERE HOUSE LEADERS SAY THE FOCUS WILL BE PRESENTING THE FINDINGS “FROM MONTHS OF INVESTIGATIONS”.

CHAIRMAN JAMES COMER SAYS HOUSE REPUBLICANS HAVE UNCOVERED A TROVE OF EVIDENCE SHOWING PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN HAS ABUSED HIS POWER IN PUBLIC OFFICE.

CRITICS INCLUDING THE WHITE HOUSE CLAIM THERE IS NO EVIDENCE.

ON THE EVE OF PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN’S IMPEACHMENT INQUIRY HEARING —

THE HOUSE WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE RELEASED A 700-PAGE REPORT ON THEIR INVESTIGATION INTO THE PRESIDENT’S SON — HUNTER BIDEN.

IT DETAILS WHISTLEBLOWER ALLEGATIONS — INCLUDING “PROSECUTORS IGNORING REQUESTS TO REVIEW EVIDENCE” AGAINST HUNTER IN A BRIBERY CASE — THAT ACCORDING TO THE WHISTLEBLOWERS — INVOLVED THE PRESIDENT.

EARLIER THIS MONTH WE REPORTED “X” WAS HIRING FOR ITS “TRUST AND SAFETY TEAM” AND ITS “ELECTIONS TEAMS” TO BETTER PROTECT THE PLATFORM FROM FAKE ACCOUNTS AND THREATS HEADING INTO A PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION YEAR.

BUT X’S “ELECTION INTEGRITY TEAM” HAS NOW JUST LAID OFF FOUR POSITIONS — AS FIRST REPORTED BY THE TECH-FOCUSED OUTLET — THE INFORMATION.

IT’S UNCLEAR HOW MANY EMPLOYEES ARE LEFT ON THE TEAM.

THE CUTS COME AT A TIME ELON MUSK IS BEING HEAVILY SCRUTINIZED —

A TOP EUROPEAN UNION OFFICIAL SAID THIS WEEK HIS PLATFORM “X” IS THE LARGEST PROMOTER OF DISINFORMATION AND FAKE NEWS.

ELON MUSK HAS DOUBLED DOWN AGAINST SIMILAR CLAIMS —

SAYING X DOES NOT PROMOTE HATE SPEECH —

BUT IT IS A FREE SPEECH PLATFORM.

KIA AND HYUNDAI ARE ISSUING A MASSIVE RECALL INVOLVING MORE THAN 3 POINT 3 MILLION VEHICLES.

THE AUTOMAKERS ARE TELLING OWNERS TO PARK OUTSIDE BECAUSE THE CARS COULD CATCH FIRE.

HYUNDAI IS RECALLING 13 DIFFERENT MODELS FROM 2010-THRU-2015 BECAUSE A BRAKE FLUID LEAK COULD SPARK A FIRE.

KIA IS RECALLING A DOZEN MODELS FROM 2010-THRU-2019 – DUE TO A POSSIBLE ELECTRICAL SHORT THAT CAN ALSO IGNITE.

KIA AND HYUNDAI SAY THEY WILL SEND OWNERS NOTIFICATION LETTERS STARTING IN MID NOVEMBER.

DEALERS WILL REPLACE A FUSE FREE OF CHARGE.

THE COMPANIES BELIEVE THAT WILL FIX THE PROBLEM.

FINALLY THIS MORNING –  A PHOTO OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN FROM 165 YEARS AGO – WITH QUITE A BACKSTORY – IS BEING DONATED TO HIS MUSEUM IN ILLINOIS.

THE 1858 IMAGE WAS TAKEN DURING LINCOLN’S CAMPAIGN FOR THE SENATE.

AS THE STORY GOES – THE FUTURE PRESIDENT PRESENTED A COPY OF THIS PHOTO TO CHARLES LAME, AFTER THE MAN WAS SEVERELY INJURED WHILE TESTING A CANNON FOR LINCOLN’S CAMPAIGN RALLY.

THE PHOTO REMAINED WITH LAME’S DESCENDANTS UNTIL LAST YEAR WHEN THEY DECIDED TO DONATE IT.

THE MUSEUM SAYS ORIGINAL IMAGES OF LINCOLN ARE EXTRAORDINARILY RARE AND THEY ARE THANKFUL FOR THE DONATION.

THESE ARE YOUR TOP STORIES FOR THIS THURSDAY.

BE SURE TO SUBSCRIBE TO OUR MORNING RUNDOWN PODCAST TO LISTEN TO OUR SHOW EACH WEEKDAY.

AND CHECK OUT MORE OF OUR WORK AT SAN.COM AND ON THE STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS APP.

UNBIASED. STRAIGHT FACTS. THAT’S STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS.

WE’LL SEE YOU BACK HERE TOMORROW.

UNTIL THEN I’M KARAH RUCKER. HAVE A GREAT DAY!

Business

House, Senate vote on bills as government shutdown looms: The Morning Rundown, Sept. 27, 2023

Wednesday

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Both chambers of Congress are making moves as a possible government shutdown is just days away.  And we take a closer look at the potential impact offshore wind turbines are having on marine life. These stories and more highlight The Morning Rundown for Wednesday, Sept. 27, 2023.

House, Senate vote on bills to avoid government shutdown

It was a busy day on Capitol Hill on Tuesday, Sept. 26, as House Republicans voted to advance four conservative spending bills and the Senate introduced a short-term funding bill as a potential government shutdown looms. The House GOP’s bills include federal spending cuts but would fund Departments of Defense, Homeland Security, State and Agriculture, but the Democrat-led Senate is likely to turn them down.

The Senate is looking to pass a stop-gap bill which would keep the government open through Nov. 17, and includes $6 billion in funding for Ukraine which is something House Republicans have been against. Speaker Kevin McCarthy said the House would consider its own stop-gap bill that would include a border security provision.

Judge rules Trump committed fraud, lied about value of properties 

A New York judge ruled on Tuesday former President Donald Trump repeatedly violated state fraud law, misrepresenting his wealth to banks by as much as $3.6 billion. New York Attorney General Letitia James had requested a decision on this claim before her $250 million civil lawsuit against Trump heads to trial on Oct. 2.  

The attorney general sued Trump and the Trump Organization a year ago accusing them of inflating values of their assets like golf courses and the Mar-a-lago estate. The judge said Trump and his organization repeatedly lied on business records and financial statements leading to favorable loan terms and lower insurance costs. The judge has ordered some of Trump’s business licenses be rescinded.  

The former president responded to the judge’s ruling on his Truth Social site, saying his company did a “magnificent job” for the state, calling the decision “un-American,” and saying it was “a very sad day for the New York state system of justice!” Trump’s lawyers say they will appeal the judge’s ruling.

At least 100 people killed in Iraq wedding hall fire

At least 100 people were killed and 150 more injured after a fire broke out during a wedding in Northern Iraq on Tuesday. According to the Iraqi Civil Defense, fireworks, candles and other materials used during the celebration set off the blaze inside the wedding hall located 200 miles from the capital of Baghdad.

Officials say the building was covered with highly flammable panels. Video from the scene showed charred metal and debris where the hall collapsed from the heat. 

A wedding guest told local media that the bride and groom made it out safely. The Iraqi government has declared a three-day national mourning period following the fatal fire.

FTC, 17 states sue Amazon in antitrust case

The Federal Trade Commission and 17 states have filed an antitrust lawsuit against Amazon in a landmark monopoly case. The FTC and 17 attorneys general allege Amazon unfairly promotes its own platform and services at the expense of third-party sellers using their site to distribute their products.

The lawsuit alleges Amazon wields monopoly power to maintain higher prices on its website harming customers and weakening competition. The lawsuit also claims the online retailer buries discount sellers far down in its search results so that they  become “effectively invisible.”  

In a statement, Amazon called the case “wrong on the facts and the law.”

Target closing stores in major cities due to retail crime

Target says it will be closing nine stores in major cities next month because of “theft and organized retail crime.” The company says the wave of shoplifting is threatening the safety of its workers and shoppers. 

Stores are closing in New York City, Seattle, San Francisco’s Bay Area and Portland, Oregon.

Target CEO Brian Cornell has been outspoken on retail crime and its negative impact on the industry. He says the company’s full-year profitability will reduce by half a billion dollars compared to the year prior due to smash-and-grabs and shoplifting.

Target is not alone as other stores are also dealing with a rise in looting. More than a dozen people were arrested in Philadelphia on Tuesday night after police say several businesses including Apple and Lululemon stores were broken into and ransacked.

Investigation: Offshore wind turbines and marine life

Earlier this week, Straight Arrow News released a two-part series “Against the Wind,” diving into offshore wind turbines and the potential impacts it’s having on marine life. We sat down with investigative reporter Shannon Longworth to discuss her special report after the issue was propelled into the spotlight by former President Trump at a rally on Monday, Sept. 25. See our interview in today’s Morning Rundown. Click here to view the two-part series.

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BOTH CHAMBERS OF CONGRESS ARE MAKING MOVES AS A POSSIBLE GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN IS JUST DAYS AWAY

AND —

WE TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT THE POTENTIAL IMPACT OFFSHORE WIND TURBINES ARE HAVING ON MARINE LIFE.

THE MORNING RUNDOWN STARTS NOW.

THIS IS STRAIGHT-ARROW NEWS. 

BRINGING YOU UNBIASED, STRAIGHT FACTS.

TODAY IS WEDNESDAY — SEPTEMBER 27TH

THANKS FOR JOINING US.

I’M KARAH RUCKER.

IT WAS BUSY TUESDAY ON CAPITOL HILL…AS HOUSE REPUBLICANS VOTED TO ADVANCE FOUR CONSERVATIVE SPENDING BILLS —

AND THE SENATE INTRODUCED A SHORT-TERM FUNDING BILL AS A POTENTIAL GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN LOOMS.

THE HOUSE GOP’S BILLS INCLUDE FEDERAL SPENDING CUTS BUT WOULD FUND THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE, HOMELAND SECURITY, STATE AND AGRICULTURE DEPARTMENTS —

BUT THE DEMOCRAT-LED SENATE IS LIKELY TO TURN THEM DOWN.

A GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN IS DAYS AWAY IF THE TWO CHAMBERS OF CONGRESS CAN’T COME TO AN AGREEMENT TO KEEP THE GOVERNMENT FUNDED.

RIGHT NOW — THE HOUSE AND SENATE ARE ON A COLLISION COURSE.

THE HOUSE PASSING SPENDING BILLS —

THE SENATE LOOKING TO PASS A STOP-GAP BILL — KEEPING THE GOVERNMENT OPEN THROUGH NOVEMBER 17TH — THAT INCLUDES 6 BILLION DOLLARS IN FUNDING FOR UKRAINE —

SOMETHING HOUSE REPUBLICANS ARE LIKELY TO BE AGAINST.

HOUSE SPEAKER KEVIN MCCARTHY SAID THE HOUSE WOULD CONSIDER ITS OWN STOP-GAP BILL — THAT ONE WOULD INCLUDE A BORDER SECURITY PROVISION.

WITH TWO SEPARATE AGENDAS —

THE HOUSE AND SENATE ARE FAILING TO FIND COMMON GROUND.

THEY HAVE A FEW MORE DAYS TO DO SO IN ORDER TO AVOID A SHUTDOWN THIS WEEKEND.

IN A RULING TUESDAY — A NEW YORK JUDGE SAID FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP REPEATEDLY VIOLATED STATE FRAUD LAW– MISREPRESENTING HIS WEALTH TO BANKS BY AS MUCH AS THREE POINT SIX BILLION DOLLARS.

THE ATTORNEY GENERAL SUED TRUMP AND THE TRUMP ORGANIZATION A YEAR AGO –

ACCUSING THEM OF INFLATING VALUES OF THEIR ASSETS LIKE GOLF COURSES AND THE MAR-A-LAGO ESTATE.

THE JUDGE SAID TRUMP AND HIS ORGANIZATION REPEATEDLY LIED ON BUSINESS RECORDS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS LEADING TO FAVORABLE LOAN TERMS AND LOWER INSURANCE COSTS.

TRUMP RESPONDED ON SOCIAL MEDIA — CALLING IT A VERY SAD DAY FOR THE NEW YORK STATE SYSTEM OF JUSTICE. HIS LAWYERS SAY THEY WILL APPEAL THE JUDGE’S RULING.

AT LEAST 100 PEOPLE WERE KILLED AND 150 MORE INJURED AFTER A FIRE BROKE OUT DURING A WEDDING IN NORTHERN IRAQ.
ACCORDING TO THE IRAQI CIVIL DEFENSE – FIREWORKS, CANDLES AND OTHER MATERIALS USED DURING THE CELEBRATION SET OFF THE BLAZE INSIDE THE WEDDING HALL – LOCATED 200 MILES FROM THE CAPITAL OF BAGHDAD.
OFFICIALS SAY THE BUILDING WAS COVERED WITH HIGHLY FLAMMABLE PANELS. VIDEO FROM THE SCENE SHOWED CHARRED METAL AND DEBRIS WHERE THE HALL COLLAPSED FROM THE HEAT.
A WEDDING GUEST TOLD LOCAL MEDIA THAT THE BRIDE AND GROOM MADE IT OUT SAFELY.
THE IRAQI GOVERNMENT HAS DECLARED A THREE-DAY NATIONAL MOURNING PERIOD FOLLOWING THE FATAL FIRE.

THE FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION AND 17 STATES HAVE FILED AN ANTITRUST LAWSUIT AGAINST AMAZON —

IN A LANDMARK MONOPOLY CASE.

THE FTC AND 17 ATTORNEYS GENERAL ALLEGE AMAZON UNFAIRLY PROMOTES ITS OWN PLATFORM AND SERVICES AT THE EXPENSE OF THIRD-PARTY SELLERS USING THEIR SITE TO DISTRIBUTE THEIR PRODUCTS.

THE LAWSUIT ALLEGES AMAZON WIELDS MONOPOLY POWER TO MAINTAIN HIGHER PRICES ON ITS WEBSITE —

HARMING CUSTOMERS AND WEAKENING COMPETITION.

THE LAWSUIT ALSO CLAIMS THE ONLINE RETAILER BURIES DISCOUNT SELLERS FAR DOWN IN ITS SEARCH RESULTS SO THAT THEY “BECOME EFFECTIVELY INVISIBLE.”

IN A STATEMENT, AMAZON CALLED THE CASE — QUOTE —  “WRONG ON THE FACTS AND THE LAW.”

TARGET SAYS IT WILL BE CLOSING NINE STORES IN MAJOR CITIES NEXT MONTH BECAUSE OF “THEFT AND ORGANIZED RETAIL CRIME.”

THE COMPANY SAYS THE WAVE OF SHOPLIFTING IS THREATENING THE SAFETY OF ITS WORKERS AND SHOPPERS.

STORES ARE CLOSING IN NEW YORK CITY, SEATTLE, SAN FRANCISCO’S BAY AREA AND PORTLAND, OREGON.

TARGET’S CEO BRIAN CORNELL HAS BEEN OUTSPOKEN ON RETAIL CRIME — AND ITS NEGATIVE IMPACT ON THE INDUSTRY.

SAYING TARGET’S FULL-YEAR PROFITABILITY WILL REDUCE BY HALF A **BILLION DOLLARS COMPARED TO THE YEAR PRIOR DUE TO SMASH AND GRABS AND SHOPLIFTING.

TARGET IS NOT ALONE – OTHER STORES ARE ALSO DEALING WITH A RISE IN LOOTING. ON TUESDAY NIGHT – MORE THAN A DOZEN PEOPLE WERE ARRESTED IN PHILADELPHIA AFTER POLICE SAY SEVERAL BUSINESSES INCLUDING APPLE AND LULULEMON STORES WERE BROKEN INTO AND RANSACKED.

FINALLY THIS MORNING –

EARLIER THIS WEEK STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS RELEASED A TWO PART SERIES “AGAINST THE WIND” –

DIVING INTO OFFSHORE WIND TURBINES AND THE POTENTIAL IMPACTS ITS HAVING ON MARINE LIFE.

WE SAT DOWN WITH INVESTIGATIVE REPORTER SHANNON LONGWORTH THIS WEEK TO DISCUSS HER SPECIAL REPORT AFTER THE ISSUE WAS PROPELLED INTO THE SPOTLIGHT BY FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP AT A RALLY ON MONDAY.

TAKE A LOOK.

COMMENTS MADE BY FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP AT A RALLY IN SOUTH CAROLINA HAVE SET OFF A FIRESTORM OF REACTION.

TRUMP CRITICIZED PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN’S WIND ENERGY PROJECTS AND ITS IMPACT ON MARINE LIFE –

THEN C-N-N WAS QUICK TO CRITICIZE **HIM.

HERE IS A CLIP FROM WHAT CNN CALLED A “FACT CHECK” SEGMENT TO DEBUNK THE PRESIDENT’S CLAIMS.

TAKE A LISTEN AND THEN WE WILL FACT CHECK THEIR FACT CHECK WITH INVESTIGATIVE REPORTER SHANNON LONGWORTH.

HERE IT IS.

SHANNON – FOR MONTHS YOU HAVE BEEN RESEARCHING THIS EXACT TOPIC –

OFFSHORE WIND AND THE POLITICIZATION OF IT..

WHAT IS YOUR TAKE ON THE PRESIDENT’S REMARKS? ARE THEY ACCURATE?

YOU’RE SAYING THAT THE FORMER PRESIDENT IS BRINGING UP A CREDIBLE CONCERN.

WHY DO WE HAVE MAJOR NEWS OUTLETS THEN MOCKING THE PRESIDENT FOR TALKING ABOUT IT?

YOU JUST PUT OUT A TWO PART SERIES CALLED “AGAINST THE WIND”.. BOTH OF WHICH ARE OUT NOW.

SO FROM WHAT YOU’VE LEARNED – IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE YOU WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW ABOUT OFFSHORE WIND?

THAT’S GOING TO DO IT FOR THIS EDITION OF THE MORNING RUNDOWN.

BE SURE TO CHECK OUT MORE OF OUR WORK AT STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS DOT COM.

AND YOU CAN ALSO FIND THE LATEST RUNDOWN EPISODES AVAILABLE AS A PODCAST.

WE’LL SEE YOU BACK HERE TOMORROW.UNTIL THEN I’M KARAH RUCKER. HAVE A GREAT DAY!

 

Business

2nd Republican primary debate field set: The Morning Rundown, Sept. 26, 2023

Tuesday

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The second Republican primary debate nears as the field of eligible candidates grows smaller. And some residents in Hawaii are returning home more than a month after the deadly wildfires. These stories and more highlight The Morning Rundown for Tuesday, Sept. 26, 2023.

7 presidential hopefuls set to take stage for 2nd GOP primary debate

The field is set for the second GOP presidential primary debate as seven candidates are expected to take the stage, down one from the first debate. The debate is hosted by Fox Business Network and Univision and will take place tomorrow night at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, California.

Former Arkansas governor Asa Hutchinson did not reach the polling threshold required to qualify.

Here is who has qualified:

  • Doug Burgum, North Dakota governor
  • Chris Christie, former New Jersey governor
  • Ron DeSantis, Florida governor
  • Nikki Haley, former South Carolina governor/former UN ambassador
  • Mike Pence, former Vice President
  • Vivek Ramaswamy, tech entrepreneur
  • Tim Scott, South Carolina senator

While former President Donald Trump is still the party’s leading nominee, he will once again skip out on debate night, holding another counterprogramming event. This time he plans on speaking with current and former union workers in Detroit as the United Auto Workers strike nears the two-week mark. 

The debate begins at 9 p.m. ET.

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THE SECOND REPUBLICAN PRIMARY DEBATE NEARS AS THE FIELD OF ELIGIBLE CANDIDATES GROWS SMALLER —

AND —

SOME RESIDENTS IN HAWAII ARE RETURNING HOME MORE THAN A MONTH AFTER THE DEADLY WILDFIRES

THE MORNING RUNDOWN STARTS NOW.

THIS IS STRAIGHT-ARROW NEWS. 

BRINGING YOU UNBIASED, STRAIGHT FACTS.

TODAY IS TUESDAY — SEPTEMBER 26TH

THANKS FOR JOINING US.

I’M KARAH RUCKER.

THE FIELD IS SET FOR THE SECOND GOP PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE —

SEVEN CANDIDATES ARE EXPECTED TO TAKE THE STAGE — DOWN ONE FROM THE FIRST DEBATE —

THE DEBATE —  HOSTED BY FOX BUSINESS NETWORK AND UNIVISION — WILL TAKE PLACE TOMORROW NIGHT AT THE “RONALD REAGAN PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY IN SIMI VALLEY, CALIFORNIA.

ALL BUT ONE PRESIDENTIAL HOPEFUL FROM THE FIRST DEBATE WILL BE RETURNING FOR ROUND TWO  —

FORMER ARKANSAS GOVERNOR ASA HUTCHINSON DID NOT REACH THE POLLING THRESHOLD REQUIRED TO QUALIFY.

WHILE FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP IS STILL THE PARTY’S LEADING NOMINEE —

DOMINATING IN NATIONAL AND EARLY STATE POLLING.

HE WILL ONCE AGAIN SKIP OUT ON DEBATE NIGHT – HOLDING ANOTHER COUNTERPROGAMMING EVENT.

THIS TIME HE PLANS ON SPEAKING WITH CURRENT AND FORMER UNION WORKERS IN DETROIT AS THE UNITED AUTO WORKERS STRIKE NEARS THE TWO-WEEK MARK.

THE DEBATE BEGINS AT 9 P-M EASTERN.

PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN WILL BE IN MICHIGAN TODAY TO STAND WITH STRIKING AUTOWORKERS.

AS THE UAW BEGINS ITS SECOND WEEK OF A WORKER’S STRIKE AGAINST FORD, GENERAL MOTORS AND STELLANTIS.

FORD IS ANNOUNCING A PAUSE ON CONSTRUCTION OF A NEW THREE POINT FIVE BILLION DOLLAR ($3.5 BILLION) ELECTRIC VEHICLE BATTERY PLANT IN MARSHALL, MICHIGAN UNTIL IT IS CONFIDENT THE FACTORY CAN BE RUN COMPETITIVELY.

THE NEW FACILITY WAS FIRST ANNOUNCED IN FEBRUARY —

AND IS EXPECTED TO EMPLOY AN EXTRA 25 HUNDRED WORKERS.

THE U-A-W UNION PRESIDENT SAID FORD’S ANNOUNCED PAUSE ON CONSTRUCTION IS A THREAT BY THE COMPANY TO CUT JOBS.

AMONG THE ISSUES BETWEEN THE TWO SIDES — WORKERS ARE ASKING FOR A 36 PERCENT RAISE OVER FOUR YEARS.

SOME RESIDENTS IN MAUI ARE ABLE TO FINALLY RETURN TO THEIR PROPERTIES IN LAHAINA AFTER THE TOWN WAS DESTROYED IN THE DEADLY WILDFIRES LAST MONTH.

AUTHORITIES OPENED PART OF THE AREA ON MONDAY — NEARLY SEVEN WEEKS SINCE HAWAIIAN RESIDENTS HAD TO EVACUATE AS THE FAST-MOVING FLAMES TORE THROUGH THEIR COMMUNITIES.

WITH THE UNKNOWN REALITY OF THE CONDITION OF THEIR HOMES SINKING IN

DARRYL OLIVEIRA THE INTERIM ADMINISTRATOR FOR THE MAUI EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY SAYS HE WANTED TO MAKE SURE RESIDENTS HAD SPACE AND PRIVACY TO REFLECT

“I think initially, you know, people are who haven’t been in here since the fire are taken aback by the amount and extent of the destruction. You know, talking to one property owner, he’s like ‘ Darryl, there’s no wood. Nothing is here from our home.’ 

AT LEAST 97 PEOPLE DIED IN THE WILDFIRES — AND MORE THAN 2 THOUSAND HOMES WERE DESTROYED.

OFFICIALS PREDICT IT WILL TAKE AT LEAST A DECADE TO REBUILD.

OVER THE WEEKEND —

A MAN ALLEGEDLY THREW MOLOTOV COCKTAILS AT CUBA’S EMBASSY IN WASHINGTON.

BOTH CUBA’S FOREIGN MINISTER AND PRESIDENT HAVE DENOUNCED THE ATTACK AS TERRORISM.

U.S. OFFICIALS HAVE **NOT ANNOUNCED A MOTIVE —

BUT DID CONDEMN THE ATTACK.

AT LAST WEEK’S “UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY” IN NEW YORK —

CUBA’S PRESIDENT WAS IN ATTENDANCE.

AND CUBANS HELD PROTESTS OUTSIDE THE BUILDING OVER HIS PRESENCE IN THE U.S.

ACCORDING TO A LAW ENFORCEMENT SOURCE WHO SPOKE WITH CBS NEWS —

THE TWO DEVICES THROWN AT THE EMBASSY LIKELY DID NOT EXPLODE AT ALL.

SEVEN PASSENGERS AND ONE CREW MEMBER ABOARD A JETBLUE FLIGHT HAD TO BE TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL AFTER THE PLANE EXPERIENCED WHAT THE AIRLINE CALLED SUDDEN SEVERE TURBULENCE.

THE FLIGHT FROM ECUADOR TO FORT LAUDERDALE BECAME ROCKY AS IT NEARED FLORIDA.

AFTER LANDING SAFELY, THE EIGHT PEOPLE WERE TAKEN TO A HOSPITAL TO BE TREATED AND EVALUATED –

THE SEVERITY OF THEIR INJURIES AND THEIR CONDITIONS HAVE NOT BEEN RELEASED.

THE NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION SAFETY BOARD SAYS IT HAS OPENED AN INVESTIGATION.

THE AIRLINE HAS TAKEN THE PLANE OUT OF SERVICE FOR INSPECTION.

THIS INCIDENT FOLLOWS SEVERAL OTHERS THIS YEAR WHERE PASSENGERS WERE INJURED DURING TURBULENT FLIGHTS – THE LATEST OCCURRED LAST MONTH WHEN ELEVEN PEOPLE ON A DELTA FLIGHT WERE TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL.

FINALLY THIS MORNING – GRAPHIC DESIGNER BURKEY BELSER DIED ON MONDAY AT THE AGE OF 76.

WHILE YOU MAY NOT BE FAMILIAR WITH HIS NAME –YOU SEE HIS WORK EVERY DAY IN YOUR GROCERY STORE, PANTRIES, AND REFRIGERATORS.

NUTRITION LABEL VO

BELSER WAS THE CREATOR OF THE NUTRITION FACTS LABEL SEEN ON THE PACKAGING OF NEARLY EVERY FOOD WE PURCHASE.

THE LABEL WAS CREATED IN 1994 AFTER THE PASSAGE OF THE “NUTRITION LABELING AND EDUCATION ACT” – WHEN THE FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION REACHED OUT TO BELSER AFTER SEEING HIS OTHER FAMOUS WORK – THE BLACK AND YELLOW “ENERGY GUIDE LABEL” FOUND ON APPLIANCES.

BELSER WAS ONCE CALLED BY THE WASHING POST “THE STEVE JOBS OF INFORMATION DESIGN.”

BEFORE WE LEAVE YOU TODAY, WE WANTED TO ISSUE A CORRECTION FROM MONDAY’S SHOW. WE REPORTED FORMER PRESIDENT JIMMY CARTER AND HIS WIFE ROSALYNN  ARE THE NATION’S LONGEST-MARRIED COUPLE – THEY ARE IN FACT THE LONGEST MARRIED PRESIDENTIAL COUPLE — AT 77 YEARS.  

THANKS FOR JOINING US ON THE MORNING RUNDOWN FOR THIS TUESDAY.

BE SURE TO CHECK OUT MORE OF OUR WORK AT STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS DOT COM.

AND YOU CAN ALSO FIND THE LATEST RUNDOWN EPISODES AVAILABLE AS A PODCAST.

WE’LL SEE YOU BACK HERE TOMORROW.

UNTIL THEN I’M KARAH RUCKER. HAVE A GREAT DAY!

 

 

U.S.

Hollywood writers and studios reach tentative deal to end strike: The Morning Rundown, Sept. 25, 2023

Monday

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A tentative agreement has been reached between Hollywood studios and the currently striking Writers Guild of America, signaling a potential end to the work stoppage. And samples collected from an asteroid which took seven years to obtain have arrived on Earth, holding possible clues about the origins of our solar system. These stories and more highlight The Morning Rundown for Sept. 25, 2023.

Hollywood writers’ strike nears end, autoworkers strike continues

The Writers Guild of America (WGA), representing thousands of Hollywood writers, announced it has reached a tentative agreement with major Hollywood studios, signaling the potential end to a strike that has disrupted the entertainment industry for more than five months. This development offers a glimmer of hope for the resumption of scripted content production in Hollywood, which had been at a standstill since May.

“We can say, with great pride, that this deal is exceptional – with meaningful gains and protections for writers in every sector of the membership,” the WGA said in a message to its members. “To be clear, no one is to return to work until specifically authorized to by the Guild. We are still on strike until then. But we are, as of today, suspending WGA picketing.”

The strike, which commenced 146 days ago, has had a significant impact on the entertainment landscape. Late-night talk shows were put on hold, TV shows and movies faced production delays, and the ripple effects extended throughout the industry. Warner Brothers estimated that the strike likely cost them approximately $500 million in earnings.

Meanwhile, in a separate labor dispute, an ongoing strike among autoworkers has raised concerns in the automotive industry. The United Autoworkers Union, which represents workers at several assembly plants, appears prepared to remain on strike for an extended period.

Internal emails obtained by CNN indicate that the union’s communication director expressed the belief that a months-long strike could “damage reputations” of the automakers and lead to “production line chaos.” The strike originally affected just three assembly plants, but on Friday the union moved to expand the work stoppage to 38 parts and distribution centers across 20 states amid ongoing negotiations.

Calls for Sen. Menendez’s resignation grow amid bribery charges

Sen. Bob Menendez, D-N.J., has found himself under increasing pressure to resign following his recent indictment on bribery charges, announced last Friday. The calls for his resignation are coming from within his own party, reflecting the serious nature of the allegations against him.

Prominent Democrats, including Pennsylvania Sen. John Fetterman and New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, have publicly called on Menendez to step down from his position in the wake of the indictment. Furthermore, fellow party members in his home state of New Jersey, including Gov. Phil Murphy, have also urged him to resign. In response to the indictment, Menendez took the step of resigning from his role as the chair of the Foreign Relations Committee.

“Those who believe in justice believe in innocence until proven guilty,” Menendez said in a statement Friday. “I intend to continue to fight for the people of New Jersey with the same success I’ve had for the past five decades. This is the same record of success these very same leaders have lauded all along.”

While some influential Democrats have not gone as far as explicitly demanding Menendez’s resignation, they have acknowledged the gravity of the charges against him. The indictment alleges that the senator and his wife accepted bribes that ultimately benefited the Egyptian government. The charges include conspiracy to commit bribery and conspiracy to commit extortion, and they stem from the discovery of nearly half a million dollars in cash inside the senator’s home.

Deadly SUV-train collision sparks concerns over railroad safety

A collision between an SUV and a train near Tampa, Florida, resulting in the loss of six lives, has reignited concerns over the safety of railroad crossings without adequate signals. The incident, which occurred on Sunday, has raised questions about the need for enhanced safety measures at such intersections.

The crash unfolded when an SUV carrying seven people, including three children, attempted to cross the railroad tracks in front of an oncoming train. The force of the collision was so severe that it caused the SUV to flip multiple times, resulting in what authorities described as a “violent impact.”

“For unknown and undetermined reasons, the driver slowly crossed the tracks directly in the train’s path,” the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s office said in a statement on Sunday. “Five rear passengers were ejected from the [SUV] as it rotated and rolled to final rest.”

Eyewitnesses reported that the train conductor had sounded the horn and activated flashing lights in an attempt to alert the SUV’s driver. Additionally, footage from cameras on the train indicated that the SUV had proceeded through a stop sign at the crossing. Despite the train’s efforts to brake, it was still traveling at a speed of 55 miles per hour at the time of impact.

Recent poll finds Trump holds 10 percentage point lead over Biden

According to a recent Washington Post-ABC News poll released on Sunday poll, former President Donald Trump currently holds a 10 percentage point lead over President Joe Biden in a hypothetical matchup. However, the poll’s authors have cautioned against drawing significant conclusions from this data, emphasizing that other surveys have shown the two candidates in a much tighter race.

The Washington Post has said that this particular poll may be an “outlier,” noting that other recent polls have depicted a much more competitive race between Biden and Trump. This includes a CBS News poll conducted earlier this month which showed the two presidential hopefuls separated by just one percentage point.

In addition to exploring potential election scenarios, the poll also assessed the two candidates approval ratings. According to the findings, Biden’s approval rating currently stands at 37 percent, a five-point drop from February, while 56 percent of respondents expressed their disapproval of his performance.

Comparatively, when asked to retrospectively evaluate Trump’s presidency, the poll revealed that 48 percent of respondents approved of his presidency, with 49 percent expressing disapproval. That 48 percent approval rating represents a ten-point increase from when Trump left office in 2021 and is higher than his approval ratings during much of his White House tenure.

Former President Jimmy Carter makes surprise public appearance

Former President Jimmy Carter and his wife, Rosalynn Carter, made a surprise visit to their hometown in Georgia, appearing before the crowd at the annual Plains Peanut Festival. This comes seven months after the former president entered hospice care at home and amid his wife’s recent dementia diagnosis.

During the visit, the couple greeted and waved to the gathered crowd as they drove through their hometown. The Carters, who have been married for 77 years, hold the distinction of being the nation’s longest-married presidential couple. Meanwhile, the nation’s 39th president is set to celebrate his 99th birthday next week.

NASA project may uncover clues about solar system origins

NASA completed a historic mission on Sunday when a return capsule safely landed on Earth, carrying with it newly collected asteroid samples that have the potential to unlock secrets about the formation of our solar system. The mission, which spanned seven years and covered a remarkable distance of 4 billion miles in space.

“Congratulations to the OSIRIS-REx team on a picture-perfect mission – the first American asteroid sample return in history – which will deepen our understanding of the origin of our solar system and its formation. Not to mention, Bennu is a potentially hazardous asteroid, and what we learn from the sample will help us better understand the types of asteroids that could come our way,” said NASA Administrator Bill Nelson.

The capsule’s cargo of asteroid samples originates from the celestial body known as Bennu, and scientists estimate that these samples are approximately 4.5 billion years old.

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COMING UP —

A TENTATIVE AGREEMENT IS REACHED BETWEEN WRITERS AND HOLLYWOODS STUDIOS.

AND —

A JOURNEY SEVEN YEARS IN THE MAKING.

SAMPLES COLLECTED FROM AN ASTEROID MAKE A GRAND ENTRANCE ONTO EARTH.

THE MORNING RUNDOWN STARTS NOW.

THIS IS STRAIGHT-ARROW NEWS. BRINGING YOU UNBIASED, STRAIGHT FACTS.

THANKS FOR JOINING US.I’M KARAH RUCKER.

UNIONS REPRESENTING THOUSANDS OF HOLLYWOOD WRITERS HAVE REACHED A TENTATIVE DEAL WITH MAJOR HOLLYWOOD STUDIOS — THE AGREEMENT IS EXPECTED TO END A STRIKE THAT HAS LASTED MORE THAN  FIVE MONTHS

VIRTUALLY ALL HOLLYWOOD PRODUCTION OF **SCRIPTED CONTENT HAS BEEN ON HOLD AS WRITERS AND STUDIOS WERE AT A STANDSTILL OVER WORKERS CONTRACTS.THE STRIKE BEGAN IN MAY —

146 DAYS AGO.LATE-NIGHT TALK SHOWS WERE PUT ON PAUSE.TV SHOWS AND MOVIES EXPERIENCED PRODUCTION DELAYS.WARNER BROTHERS SAID THE STRIKE LIKELY COST THEM 500 MILLION DOLLARS IN EARNINGS

MEANWHILE —

A STRIKE AMONG AUTOWORKERS IS ONGOING.AND THE “UNITED AUTOWORKERS UNION” IS REPORTEDLY READY TO STAY ON STRIKE FOR **MONTHS.ACCORDING TO INTERNAL EMAILS OBTAINED BY CNN —

THE UNION’S COMMUNICATION DIRECTOR SAID A MONTHS LONG STRIKE WOULD “DAMAGE REPUTATIONS” OF THE AUTO MAKERS AND CREATE “PRODUCTION LINE CHAOS”. THE STRIKE ORIGINALLY AFFECTED JUST THREE ASSEMBLY PLANTS, BUT ON FRIDAY THE UNION MOVED TO EXPAND IT TO THIRTY EIGHT PARTS AND DISTRIBUTION CENTERS ACROSS 20 STATES AMID ONGOING NEGOTIATIONS.

 

DEMOCRATIC SENATOR BOB MENENDEZ OF NEW JERSEY IS FACING A GROWING NUMBER OF CALLS TO RESIGN FOLLOWING HIS INDICTMENT ON BRIBERY CHARGES ANNOUNCED FRIDAY.

DEMOCRATIC SENATOR JOHN FETTERMAN AND REPRESENTATIVE ALEXANDRIA OCASIOCORTEZWANT THEIR COLLEAGUE TO STEP DOWN.

AND DEMOCRATS IN THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY HAVE ALSO CALLED FOR HIS RESIGNATION — INCLUDING GOVERNOR PHIL MURPHY.

OTHER PROMINENT DEMOCRATS ARENT GOING SO FAR IN THEIR CRITICISM OF THE SENATOR —

BUT ARE CALLING THE CHARGES ALLEGED AGAINST HIM SERIOUS.HE AND HIS WIFE FACE CHARGES THAT INCLUDE CONSPIRACY TO COMMIT BRIBERY AND CONSPIRACY TO COMMIT EXTORTION AFTER NEARLY HALF A MILLION DOLLARS IN CASH WAS FOUND INSIDE HIS HOME.

ACCORDING TO THE INDICTMENT —THE SENATOR AND HIS WIFE ACCEPTED BRIBES THAT BENEFITED THE EGYPTIAN GOVERNMENT.

SENATOR MENENDEZ DID RESIGN FROM HIS ROLE AS CHAIR OF THE “FOREIGN RELATIONS COMMITTEE” AFTER NEWS OF THE INDICTMENT CAME OUT FRIDAY.

 

A DEADLY AND DEVASTATING COLLISION BETWEEN AN SUV AND TRAIN IS RAISING RENEWED CONCERNS OVER RAILROAD TRACKS LACKING SIGNALS.

SIX PEOPLE INCLUDING THREE CHILDREN DIED AFTER THE SUV CROSSED IN FRONT OF A BARRELING TRAIN.

THE CRASH OCCURRED JUST OUTSIDE OF TAMPA FLORIDA ON SUNDAY.

7 PEOPLE WERE INSIDE THE SUV WHEN IT WAS T BONED BY A TRAIN —-

FLIPPING THE VEHICLE MULTIPLE TIMES IN WHAT POLICE CALLED A “VIOLENT IMPACT.”

THERE WERE NO TRAIN SIGNALS AT THE INTERSECTION.

THE TRAIN CONDUCTOR WAS HONKING AND FLASHING LIGHTS AT THE SUV’S DRIVER…ANDACCORDING TO CAMERAS ON THE TRAIN…

THE CAR ROLLED THROUGH A STOP SIGN AT THE TRACKS.

THE TRAIN TRIED TO BRAKE — BUT WAS STILL TRAVELING AT 55 MILES PER HOUR ON CONTACT.

 

A WASHINGTON POST-ABC NEWS POLL RELEASED SUNDAY FOUND THAT PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN TRAILS FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP BY TEN PERCENTAGE POINTS AS THE TWO CANDIDATES ARE READYING FOR THE 2024 ELECTION.

HOWEVER, THE POST ALSO SAID THIS POLL WAS LIKELY A QUOTE “OUTLIER,” CITING OTHER POLLS THAT SHOW BIDEN AND TRUMP IN A DEAD HEAT.

THAT INCLUDES A CBS NEWS POLL FROM EARLIER THIS MONTH THAT HAD THE PAIR SEPARATED BY JUST ONE POINT.

MEANWHILE, THIS LATEST POLL BY THE POST AND ABC ALSO FOUND BIDEN’S APPROVAL RATING CURRENTLY SITS AT THIRTY SEVEN PERCENT, FIVE POINTS DOWN FROM WHERE IT WAS IN FEBRUARY. FIFTY SIX PERCENT OF AMERICANS RESPONDED THAT THEY DISAPPROVE OF THE CURRENT PRESIDENT.

IN COMPARISON, WHEN ASKED TO LOOK BACK AT TRUMP’S PRESIDENCY, THE RESULT WAS FORTY EIGHT PERCENT OF RESPONDENTS SAYING THEY APPROVED OF THE PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATION, WHILE FORTY NINE PERCENT SAID THEY DISAPPROVED.

THAT FORTY EIGHT PERCENT APPROVAL RATING IS UP TEN POINTS FROM WHEN TRUMP LEFT OFFICE IN 2021, AND HIGHER THAN IT WAS THROUGHOUT ALMOST THE ENTIRETY OF HIS PRESIDENCY.

 

SEVEN MONTHS SINCE FORMER PRESIDENT JIMMY CARTER ENTERED HOSPICE CARE —HE AND HIS WIFE MADE A SURPRISE VISIT TO THEIR HOMETOWN IN GEORGIA FOR AN APPEARANCE AT THE PEANUT FESTIVAL.

THE TWO WAVED TO THE CROWD AS THEY DROVE THROUGH.THE FORMER PRESIDENT HAS BEEN IN HOME HOSPICE CARE SINCE FEBRUARY.HIS WIFE — RECENTLY DIAGNOSED WITH DEMENTIA.

THE TWO ARE THE NATION’S LONGEST-MARRIED COUPLE — AT 77 YEARS. CARTER WILL TURN 99 YEARS OLD NEXT WEEK.

 

AND FINALLY THIS MORNING —

NEWLY COLLECTED ASTEROID SAMPLES COULD PROVIDE CLUES ABOUT THE BIRTH OF OUR SOLAR SYSTEM.

THERE WAS MUCH EXCITEMENT FROM NASA ON SUNDAY WHEN THIS CAPSULE MADE A SAFE LANDING BACK TO EARTH AFTER A SEVEN YEAR JOURNEY.

THE CAPSULE HAS TRAVELED FAR AND WIDE ON ITS SEARCH FOR ANSWERS —

A TOTAL OF 4 BILLION MILES IN SPACE.THE COLLECTED SAMPLE COMES OFF OF THE ASTEROID “BENNU”.

SCIENTISTS BELIEVE THE RAW MATERIAL COLLECTED IS 4.5 BILLION YEARS OLD…

AND IS THE SAME MATERIAL THAT ** MADE EARTH.

NASA WILL NOW HAND THE SAMPLES OVER TO SCIENTISTS.

HOPING TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE ORIGINS OF OUR UNIQUE EARTH.

THESE ARE YOUR TOP STORIES.

BE SURE TO SUBSCRIBE TO OUR MORNING RUNDOWN PODCAST TO LISTEN TO OUR SHOW EACH WEEKDAY MORNING.

AND CHECK OUT MORE OF OUR WORK AT SAN.COM AND ON THE STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS APP.

UNBIASED. STRAIGHT FACTS. THAT’S STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS.

WE’LL SEE YOU BACK HERE TOMORROW.

UNTIL THEN I’M KARAH RUCKER. HAVE A GREAT DAY!

Politics

Biden to announce Office of Gun Violence Prevention: The Morning Rundown, Sept. 22, 2023

Sep 22

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The White House is set to announce a new office dedicated to gun violence prevention. And could there be a Hollywood ending? Talks continue between writers and studios as the strike approaches five months. Hear about these stories and more in The Morning Rundown for Friday, Sept. 22, 2023.

Biden to announce creation of Office of Gun Violence Prevention

President Joe Biden will announce Friday the creation of the first-ever federal Office of Gun Violence Prevention.

The White House says the office will be overseen by Vice President Kamala Harris and will aid states dealing with rising gun violence and help with the implementation of bipartisan gun legislation that was signed into law last year.

The vice president released this statement ahead of the announcement: “The new Office of Gun Violence Prevention will play a critical role in implementing President Biden’s and my efforts to reduce violence to the fullest extent under the law, while also engaging and encouraging Congressional leaders, state and local leaders, and advocates to come together to build upon the meaningful progress that we have made to save lives. Our promise to the American people is this: we will not stop working to end the epidemic of gun violence in every community, because we do not have a moment, nor a life to spare.”

Biden called on Congress to act in 2022 after deadly attacks at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas and a supermarket in Buffalo, New York.

Congress then passed the first gun legislation in nearly three decades that included expanding background checks on young gun buyers, keeping firearms from more domestic violence offenders and providing millions of dollars for mental health services and school security initiatives.

Still, according to the Gun Violence Archive, this year there have been more than 500 mass shootings in the U.S. — where four or more people were either killed or injured.

Biden announces $325M military aid package during Zelenskyy visit

During Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s visit to the White House on Thursday, Sept. 21, President Biden made the announcement that the U.S. will provide $325 million in aid to his country as Ukraine remains embroiled in the war with Russia.

Biden said the package focuses on bolstering Ukraine’s air defense capabilities and includes more artillery, ammunition and anti-tank weapons. The president is still asking Congress to approve an additional $24 billion in funding for Ukraine.

Prior to the meeting with Biden, Zelenskyy spoke to a bipartisan group from the House and Senate, as Republican members of Congress are skeptical about providing more aid. On the same day as Zelenskyy’s visit, 29 Republicans expressed their opposition to the U.S. providing the additional funding in a letter to the Biden administration.

2 dead in NY bus crash involving high school marching band

The investigation continues into a deadly crash in New York State on Thursday involving a charter bus carrying members of a high school marching band that drove off the highway and down a ravine.

There were 44 people on board. Two adults died and several others were critically injured in the crash in Orange County, according to state police.

As for a cause, Governor Kathy Hochul says it appeared a faulty front tire contributed to the accident. Hochul spoke at a press conference about the students’ resolve. 

“They were strong. And within 45 minutes, because of the efforts of an incredible amount of teamwork, these young people and the adults were brought to safety, many of them within a short time of the accident,” Hochul said.

The students and faculty from Farmington High School on Long Island were on a trip to a music camp in Pennsylvania.

Talks continue for third day between writers, studios

The Writers Guild of America and the Alliance of Motion Pictures and Television Producers which represents Hollywood’s major studios will meet for a third day of negotiations on Friday as the writers strike inches towards five months. The WGA walked out on May 2, with issues of pay, sizing of writing staff and the use of artificial intelligence in writing scripts keeping the two sides apart.

Talks resumed on Sept. 20 after nearly a month of silence. Top entertainment CEOs have joined the bargaining conversation including Disney’s Bob Iger and Netflix’s Ted Sarandos.

According to a new Associated Press poll, a majority of adults in America, 55%, sympathize with the striking writers as well as the actors who also remain on the picket lines. Only 3% support the studios.

Half of Americans approve of writers and actors striking. Though most surveyed said they would not consider boycotting TV shows or canceling their streaming services.

Microsoft, Activision deal moves closer to approval

Microsoft has cleared another hurdle as it looks to buy the video game company Activision Blizzard. Officials with Britain’s Competition and Markets Authority signaled it will move towards approving the deal after Microsoft made some changes to address the group’s concerns, namely agreeing not to purchase Activision’s cloud gaming division. Those rights would now be sold to Ubisoft.

The U.K. regulator said the restructuring “opens the door to the deal being cleared.” Its final decision, the last needed to make Microsoft’s acquisition official, is expected in mid-October.

The deal was first announced in January 2022, but has faced pushback by antitrust advocates around the world. In July, a U.S. federal judge ruled against the Federal Trade Commission’s opposition to the deal. The European Union also agreed to the deal in May.

Poll: Highest number of young adults living with parents since 1940s

There are fewer empty nesters these days as the number of young adults living with their parents is as high as it was just after the Great Depression. A Harris Poll for Bloomberg News shows 45% of Americans between the ages of 18 and 29 are living with family — the highest figure since the 1940s.

The top reason given by today’s young adults was money, with 41% of respondents saying they’re living in their current environments to save up. Thirty percent said they just can’t afford to live on their own.

Another common response, 30% of people said they live at home to take care of family members. Other reasons included contributing to family finances, concerns regarding COVID-19, setting money aside for down payments and paying off debt.

While quite a few people are living with family, even more agree there shouldn’t be any judgment for it. Ninety percent of the more than 4,000 respondents said folks shouldn’t face judgment for moving back home.

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L3: BIDEN TO ANNOUNCE OFFICE OF GUN VIOLENCE PREVENTION

 

THE WHITE HOUSE IS SET TO ANNOUNCE A NEW OFFICE – DEDICATED TO GUN VIOLENCE PREVENTION

AND —

COULD THERE BE A HOLLYWOOD ENDING? TALKS CONTINUE BETWEEN WRITERS AND STUDIOS AS THE STRIKE APPROACHES FIVE MONTHS

THE MORNING RUNDOWN STARTS NOW.

THIS IS STRAIGHT-ARROW NEWS. 

BRINGING YOU UNBIASED, STRAIGHT FACTS.

TODAY IS FRIDAY — SEPTEMBER 22ND

THANKS FOR JOINING US.

I’M SHANNON LONGWORTH.

PRESIDENT BIDEN WILL ANNOUNCE TODAY THE CREATION OF THE FIRST-EVER FEDERAL OFFICE OF GUN VIOLENCE PREVENTION.

THE WHITE HOUSE SAYS THE OFFICE WILL BE OVERSEEN BY VICE PRESIDENT KAMALA HARRIS – AND WILL AID STATES DEALING WITH RISING GUN VIOLENCE AND HELP WITH THE IMPLEMENTATION OF BIPARTISAN GUN LEGISLATION THAT WAS SIGNED INTO LAW LAST YEAR.

THE VICE PRESIDENT RELEASED THIS STATEMENT AHEAD OF THE ANNOUNCEMENT.

SAYING QUOTE – “The new Office of Gun Violence Prevention will play a critical role in implementing President Biden’s and my efforts to reduce violence to the fullest extent under the law, while also engaging and encouraging Congressional leaders, state and local leaders, and advocates…”

…to come together to build upon the meaningful progress that we have made to save lives. Our promise to the American people is this: we will not stop working to end the epidemic of gun violence in every community, because we do not have a moment, nor a life to spare.”

PRESIDENT BIDEN CALLED ON CONGRESS TO ACT IN TWENTY TWENTY TWO (2022) AFTER DEADLY ATTACKS AT AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IN UVALDE, TEXAS AND A SUPERMARKET IN BUFFALO, NEW YORK.

CONGRESS THEN PASSED THE FIRST GUN LEGISLATION IN NEARLY THREE DECADES THAT INCLUDED EXPANDING BACKGROUND CHECKS ON YOUNG GUN BUYERS, KEEPING FIREARMS FROM MORE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE OFFENDERS AND PROVIDING MILLIONS OF DOLLARS FOR MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES AND SCHOOL SECURITY INITIATIVES.

STILL – ACCORDING TO THE GUN VIOLENCE ARCHIVE – THIS YEAR THERE HAVE BEEN MORE THAN 500 MASS SHOOTINGS IN THE US – WHERE FOUR OR MORE PEOPLE WERE EITHER KILLED OR INJURED.

DURING UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT VOLODYMRY ZELENSKYY’S VISIT TO THE WHITE HOUSE ON THURSDAY – PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN MADE THE ANNOUNCEMENT THAT THE U.S. WILL PROVIDE AN ADDITIONAL THREE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-FIVE MILLION DOLLARS ($325) IN AID TO HIS COUNTRY – AS UKRAINE REMAINS EMBROILED IN THE WAR WITH RUSSIA.

BIDEN SAID THE PACKAGE FOCUSES ON BOLSTERING UKRAINE’S AIR DEFENSE CAPABILITIES AND INCLUDES MORE ARTILLERY, AMMUNITION AND ANTI-TANK WEAPONS.

THE PRESIDENT IS STILL ASKING CONGRESS TO APPROVE AN ADDITIONAL $24 BILLION IN AID FOR UKRAINE.

PRIOR TO THE MEETING WITH BIDEN, ZELENSKYY SPOKE TO A BIPARTISAN GROUP FROM THE HOUSE AND SENATE – AS REPUBLICAN MEMBERS OF CONGRESS ARE SKEPTICAL ABOUT PROVIDING MORE AID.

ON THE SAME DAY AS ZELENSYY’S VISIT — TWENTY NINE REPUBLICANS EXPRESSED THEIR OPPOSITION TO THE US PROVIDING THE ADDITIONAL FUNDING IN A LETTER TO THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION.

THE INVESTIGATION CONTINUES THIS MORNING INTO A DEADLY CRASH IN NEW YORK STATE INVOLVING A CHARTER BUS CARRYING MEMBERS OF A HIGH SCHOOL MARCHING BAND THAT DROVE OFF THE HIGHWAY AND DOWN A RAVINE.

THERE WERE 44 PEOPLE ON BOARD, TWO ADULTS DIED AND SEVERAL OTHERS WERE CRITICALLY INJURED IN THE CRASH IN ORANGE COUNTY, ACCORDING TO STATE POLICE.

AS FOR A CAUSE, GOVERNOR KATHY HOCHUL SAYS IT APPEARED AS THOUGH A FAULTY FRONT TIRE CONTRIBUTED TO THE ACCIDENT. HOCHUL SPOKE AT A PRESS CONFERENCE ABOUT THE STUDENTS’ RESOLVE.

“THEY WERE STRONG. AND WITHIN 45 MINUTES, BECAUSE OF THE EFFORTS OF AN INCREDIBLE AMOUNT OF TEAMWORK, THESE YOUNG PEOPLE AND THE ADULTS WERE BROUGHT TO SAFETY, MANY OF THEM WITHIN A SHORT TIME OF THE ACCIDENT.”

THE STUDENTS AND FACULTY FROM FARMINGTON HIGH SCHOOL ON LONG ISLAND WERE ON A TRIP TO A MUSIC CAMP IN PENNSYLVANIA.

IN WHAT IS BEING CONSIDERED A POSITIVE SIGN — THE WRITERS GUILD OF AMERICA AND THE ALLIANCE OF MOTION PICTURES AND TELEVISION PRODUCERS WHICH REPRESENTS HOLLYWOOD’S MAJOR STUDIOS WILL MEET FOR A THIRD DAY OF NEGOTIATIONS TODAY AS THE WRITERS STRIKE INCHES TOWARDS FIVE MONTHS.

THE WGA WALKED OUT ON MAY 2ND. WITH ISSUES OF PAY, SIZING OF WRITING STAFF AND THE USE OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IN WRITING SCRIPTS – KEEPING THE TWO SIDES APART.

TALKS RESUMED ON SEPTEMBER 20TH – AFTER NEARLY A MONTH OF SILENCE. TOP ENTERTAINMENT CEOS HAVE JOINED THE BARGAINING CONVERSATION – INCLUDING DISNEY’S BOB IGER AND NETFLIX’S TED SARANDOS.

ACCORDING TO A NEW ASSOCIATED PRESS POLL – A MAJORITY OF ADULTS IN AMERICA – FIFTY FIVE PERCENT (55%) SYMPATHIZE WITH THE STRIKING WRITERS – AS WELL AS THE ACTORS WHO ALSO REMAIN ON THE PICKET LINES. ONLY THREE PERCENT (3%) SUPPORT THE STUDIOS.

HALF OF AMERICANS APPROVE OF WRITERS AND ACTORS STRIKING. THOUGH MOST SURVEYED SAID THEY WOULD NOT CONSIDER BOYCOTTING TV SHOWS OR CANCELING THEIR STREAMING SERVICES.

MICROSOFT HAS CLEARED ANOTHER HURDLE AS IT LOOKS TO BUY THE VIDEO GAME COMPANY ACTIVISION BLIZZARD.

THIS MORNING – OFFICIALS WITH BRITAIN’S COMPETITION AND MARKETS AUTHORITY SIGNALED IT WILL MOVE TOWARDS APPROVING THE DEAL AFTER MICROSOFT MADE SOME CHANGES TO ADDRESS THE GROUP’S CONCERNS – NAMELY AGREEING NOT TO PURCHASE ACTIVISION’S CLOUD GAMING DIVISION. THOSE RIGHTS WOULD NOW BE SOLD TO UBISOFT.

THE UK REGULATOR SAID THE RESTRUCTURING QUOTE “OPENS THE DOOR TO THE DEAL BEING CLEARED.”

ITS FINAL DECISION – THE LAST NEEDED TO MAKE MICROSOFT’S ACQUISITION OFFICIAL – IS EXPECTED IN MID-OCTOBER.

THE DEAL WAS FIRST ANNOUNCED IN JANUARY 2022 – BUT HAS FACED PUSHBACK BY ANTITRUST ADVOCATES AROUND THE WORLD. IN JULY – A US FEDERAL JUDGE RULED AGAINST THE FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION’S OPPOSITION TO THE DEAL. THE EUROPEAN UNION ALSO AGREED TO THE DEAL IN MAY.

FINALLY THIS MORNING – THERE ARE FEWER EMPTY NESTERS THESE DAYS AS THE NUMBER OF YOUNG ADULTS LIVING WITH THEIR PARENTS IS AS HIGH AS IT WAS JUST AFTER THE GREAT DEPRESSION.

A HARRIS POLL FOR BLOOMBERG NEWS SHOWS 45% OF AMERICANS BETWEEN THE AGES OF 18 AND 29 ARE LIVING WITH FAMILY – THE HIGHEST FIGURE SINCE THE 1940S.

THE TOP REASON GIVEN BY TODAY’S YOUNG ADULTS WAS MONEY. 41% OF RESPONDENTS SAID THEY’RE LIVING IN THEIR CURRENT ENVIRONMENTS TO SAVE UP.

30% SAID THEY JUST CAN’T AFFORD TO LIVE ON THEIR OWN.

ANOTHER COMMON RESPONSE–30% OF PEOPLE SAID THEY LIVE AT HOME TO TAKE CARE OF FAMILY MEMBERS.

OTHER REASONS INCLUDED CONTRIBUTING TO FAMILY FINANCES, CONCERNS REGARDING COVID, SETTING MONEY ASIDE FOR DOWN PAYMENTS, AND PAYING OFF DEBT.

WHILE QUITE A FEW PEOPLE ARE LIVING WITH FAMILY–EVEN MORE AGREE THERE SHOULDN’T BE ANY JUDGMENT FOR IT. 90% OF THE MORE THAN 4,000 RESPONDENTS SAID FOLKS SHOULDN’T FACE JUDGMENT FOR MOVING HOME.

THESE ARE YOUR TOP STORIES FOR THIS FRIDAY.

THANKS FOR JOINING US.

BE SURE TO SUBSCRIBE TO OUR MORNING RUNDOWN PODCAST AND READ ABOUT THESE STORIES AT OUR WEBSITE SAN.COM.

WE’LL SEE YOU BACK HERE ON MONDAY. HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND!

 

Politics

US granting Venezuelan migrants temporary legal status: The Morning Rundown, Sept. 21, 2023

Sep 21

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The Biden administration is granting temporary legal status to hundreds of thousands of Venezuelan migrants. And Volodymyr Zelenskyy will visit Washington D.C. as Congress debates more funding for Ukraine. These stories and more highlight The Morning Rundown for Sept. 21, 2023.

White House granting temporary legal status to nearly 500,000 Venezuelan migrants

The Biden administration is offering deportation protections for Venezuelans already in the U.S., whether they are here legally or not. The announcement offers a new layer of security for roughly half a million Venezuelan migrants.

The migrants will receive work permits and protections from deportation just as a surge of migrants at the southern border largely consists of thousands of Venezuelans entering the U.S. daily.

Under Biden’s new order, Venezuela will receive Temporary Protected Status, meaning an estimated 472,000 Venezuelans who arrived in the country as of July 31, 2023, will not be forced to leave and can legally work for at least the next 18 months.

These protections do not apply to Venezuelans who have reached the U.S. after the end of July. 

Cities like New York have been asking the government to grant migrants legal status as they struggle to find space for tens of thousands of migrants, many from Venezuela.

At the U.S.-Mexico border, a railway company shut down operations Wednesday, Sept. 20, after migrants were hopping trains to expedite their trip into the U.S.

Senate confirms Joints Chiefs chairman after monthslong standoff

The Senate has confirmed General Charles Q. Brown, known as CQ Brown, of the Air Force to be the next chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. A vote was held on Wednesday, Sept. 20, and the confirmation passed with an overwhelming 83 to 11 vote. 

While the military promotion was a bipartisan agreement. there’s been a partisan standoff between one Republican senator and Democrats that has prevented the promotions of hundreds of military members.

Senator Tommy Tuberville of Alabama said he would withhold the promotions as long as the military upholds a policy to reimburse out-of-state travel for members seeking abortions.

Though Tuberville could expedite confirmations, the Senate still has the power to hold individual votes to promote military members. More votes are expected Thursday to confirm other high-ranking officers.

Zelenskyy in D.C. to meet with President Biden, Congress

Ukrainian President Volodymir Zelenskyy will meet with President Joe Biden at the White House on Thursday, a day after speaking to the U.N. Security Council. He is also expected to meet with lawmakers at Congress and at the Pentagon.

This will be Zelenskyy’s third time visiting the White House as he looks to shore up more support for Ukraine from the U.S. as the war with Russia goes on. Since the war began, no other country has provided more funding to Ukraine than the U.S. – more than $112 billion

Republicans in Congress are expected to question Zelenskyy on how the money is being used. Biden is currently asking Congress to approve another $24 billion aid package for Ukraine.

Manhunt underway after murder suspect ‘mistakenly released’

Authorities say a murder suspect in Indiana was “mistakenly released” from a detention center nearly one week ago and is still on the run. The Marion County Sheriff’s office says a “clerical error” is to blame.

Law enforcement said the decision to keep it under wraps for nearly a week was part of a “tactical advantage,” saying they wanted to capitalize on the “quietness of the situation.” Two jail record clerks have been fired after the error went unnoticed for several hours.

Authorities say Mason, 28, called his girlfriend for a ride and walked freely on Sept. 13, just two days after being booked into jail. The girlfriend has been arrested and is being questioned by police.

The US Marshals Service, which was involved in the recent manhunt for a convicted murderer who escaped a Pennsylvania prison, is now helping in the search for Mason. 

White House to provide free at-home COVID tests again

As we head into the fall and winter seasons, the Biden administration is once again offering free at-home COVID-19 tests, up to four per household. The kits can be ordered on covidtest.gov starting Sept. 25.

Though the tests are free to receive, federal officials say it will cost $600 million to roll out another year of the program.

COVID-19 cases have gradually increased in recent weeks, although significantly less than prior fall seasons. COVID-related deaths remain near all-time lows, according to the latest CDC data. 

Bob Ross painting selling for nearly $10 million

A Bob Ross painting from the very first episode of his long-running PBS show “The Joy of Painting” is going on sale for $9.85 million at a Minneapolis gallery. Ross painted the work, titled “A Walk in the Woods,” in under 30 minutes during the 1983 premiere of his show, which would go on to run for 31 seasons.

The work was originally auctioned off to raise money for the PBS station in Virginia where the show was filmed. A volunteer at the station bought the painting for an undisclosed price, but the Minneapolis art dealer believes she paid around $100.

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THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION GRANTS TEMPORARY LEGAL STATUS TO HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF VENEZUELAN MIGRANTS

AND —

VOLODYMYR ZELENKSYY WILL VISIT WASHINGTON D.C. AS CONGRESS DEBATES MORE FUNDING FOR UKRAINE

THE MORNING RUNDOWN STARTS NOW.

THIS IS STRAIGHT-ARROW NEWS. 

BRINGING YOU UNBIASED, STRAIGHT FACTS.

TODAY IS THURSDAY — SEPTEMBER 21ST

THANKS FOR JOINING US.

I’M KARAH RUCKER.

THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION IS OFFERING DEPORTATION PROTECTIONS FOR VENEZUELANS ALREADY IN THE U.S. —

WHETHER THEY ARE HERE LEGALLY OR ILLEGALLY.

THE ANNOUNCEMENT OFFERS A NEW LAYER OF SECURITY FOR ROUGHLY HALF A MILLION VENEZUELAN MIGRANTS.

THE MIGRANTS WILL RECEIVE WORK PERMITS AND PROTECTIONS FROM DEPORTATION —

JUST AS A SURGE OF MIGRANTS AT THE SOUTHERN BORDER LARGELY CONSISTS OF THOUSANDS OF VENEZUELANS ENTERING THE U.S. DAILY.

UNDER BIDEN’S NEW ORDER —

VENEZUELA WILL RECEIVE “TEMPORARY PROTECTED STATUS” —

MEANING MIGRANTS WHO HAVE BEEN INSIDE THE U.S. SINCE JULY OF THIS YEAR —

WILL NOT BE FORCED TO LEAVE AND CAN LEGALLY WORK FOR AT LEAST THE NEXT 18 MONTHS.

THESE PROTECTIONS DO **NOT APPLY TO VENEZUELANS WHO HAVE REACHED THE U.S. AFTER THE END OF JULY.

CITIES LIKE NEW YORK HAVE BEEN ASKING THE GOVERNMENT TO GRANT MIGRANTS LEGAL STATUS AS THEY STRUGGLE TO FIND SPACE FOR TENS OF THOUSANDS OF MIGRANTS – MANY FROM VENEZUELA.

AT THE U.S.-MEXICO BORDER — A RAILWAY COMPANY SHUT DOWN OPERATIONS WEDNESDAY AFTER MIGRANTS WERE HOPPING TRAINS TO EXPEDITE THEIR TRIP INTO THE U.S..

YOU CAN FIND THAT REPORT AT S-A-N DOT COM.

THE SENATE HAS CONFIRMED GENERAL “C-Q BROWN” OF THE AIR FORCE TO BE THE NEXT CHAIRMAN OF THE “JOINT CHIEFS OF STAFF.”

A VOTE WAS HELD ON WEDNESDAY — AND THE CONFIRMATION PASSED WITH AN OVERWHELMING 83 TO 11 VOTE.

WHILE THE MILITARY PROMOTION WAS A BIPARTISAN AGREEMENT —

THERE’S BEEN A PARTISAN STANDOFF BETWEEN ONE REPUBLICAN SENATOR AND DEMOCRATS THAT HAS PREVENTED THE PROMOTIONS OF HUNDREDS OF MILITARY MEMBERS.

SENATOR TOMMY TUBERVILLE (TUBBER-VILLE) SAID HE WOULD WITHHOLD THE PROMOTIONS AS LONG AS THE MILITARY IS PAYING FOR OUT OF STATE ABORTIONS.

THOUGH TUBERVILLE COULD EXPEDITE SENATE CONFIRMATIONS —

THE SENATE STILL HAS THE POWER TO HOLD INDIVIDUAL VOTES TO PROMOTE MILITARY MEMBERS.

MORE VOTES ARE EXPECTED TODAY TO CONFIRM OTHER HIGH RANKING OFFICERS.

UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT VOLODYMIR ZELENSKYY WILL MEET WITH PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN AT THE WHITE HOUSE TODAY AFTER SPEAKING TO THE UN SECURITY COUNCIL YESTERDAY.

ALSO ON THE DOCKET–

A MEETING WITH LAWMAKERS AT CONGRESS AND AT THE PENTAGON.

IT’S ZELENSKYY’S THIRD TIME TO VISIT THE WHITE HOUSE —

AND EACH TRIP — HAS HELD THE SAME SENTIMENT — SHORE UP MORE SUPPORT FOR UKRAINE FROM THE U.S. —

SINCE THE WAR BEGAN — NO OTHER COUNTRY HAS PROVIDED MORE FUNDING TO UKRAINE THAN THE U.S. – MORE THAN ONE HUNDRED TWELVE BILLION DOLLARS.

REPUBLICANS IN CONGRESS ARE EXPECTED TO QUESTION ZELENSKYY ON HOW THE MONEY IS BEING USED.

BIDEN IS CURRENTLY ASKING CONGRESS TO APPROVE ANOTHER 24 BILLION DOLLAR AID PACKAGE FOR UKRAINE.

AUTHORITIES SAY A MURDER SUSPECT IN INDIANA WAS “MISTAKENLY RELEASED FROM JAIL” NEARLY ONE WEEK AGO —

AND IS STILL ON THE RUN.

THE MARION COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE SAYS — A “CLERICAL ERROR” IS TO BLAME —

MURDER SUSPECT RELEASED VO

LAW ENFORCEMENT SAID THE DECISION TO KEEP IT UNDER WRAPS FOR NEARLY A WEEK WAS PART OF A “TACTICAL ADVANTAGE”.– SAYING THEY WANTED TO CAPITALIZE ON THE “QUIETNESS OF THE SITUATION.”

TWO JAIL RECORD CLERKS HAVE BEEN FIRED AFTER THE ERROR WENT UNNOTICED FOR SEVERAL HOURS.

AUTHORITIE SAY 28 YEAR OLD KEVIN MASON CALLED HIS GIRLFRIEND FOR A RIDE AND WALKED FREELY ON SEPTEMBER 13TH —

JUST **TWO DAYS AFTER BEING BOOKED INTO JAIL.

THAT GIRLFRIEND HAS BEEN ARRESTED AND IS BEING QUESTIONED BY POLICE.

THE US MARSHALS SERVICE — WHICH WAS INVOLVED IN THE RECENT MANHUNT FOR A CONVICTED MURDERER WHO ESCAPED A PENNSYLVANIA PRISON — IS NOW HELPING IN THE SEARCH FOR MASON.

AS WE HEAD INTO THE FALL AND WINTER SEASONS —

THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION IS ONCE AGAIN OFFERING FREE AT-HOME COVID TESTS – UP TO FOUR PER HOUSEHOLD.

THE KITS CAN BE ORDERED ON “COVID TESTS DOT GOV” STARTING SEPTEMBER 25TH.

THOUGH THE TESTS ARE FREE TO RECEIVE —

FEDERAL OFFICIALS SAY IT WILL COST 600-MILLION DOLLARS TO ROLL OUT ANOTHER YEAR OF THE AT HOME TESTS.

COVID CASES HAVE GRADUALLY INCREASED OVER THE PAST NINE WEEKS — ALTHOUGH SIGNIFICANTLY LESS THAN PRIOR FALL SEASONS.

COVID-RELATED DEATHS REMAIN NEAR ALL TIME LOWS ACCORDING TO THE LATEST CDC DATA.

FINALLY THIS MORNING – A VERY SPECIAL PAINTING BY THE LATE ARTIST BOB ROSS IS UP FOR SALE – WITH A PRICE OF NEARLY TEN MILLION DOLLARS.

THE PAINTING IS FROM THE VERY FIRST EPISODE OF ROSS’ LONG-RUNNING PBS SHOW “THE JOY OF PAINTING.”

TITLED “A WALK IN THE WOODS” — THE PAINTING IS LISTED AT NINE POINT EIGHT FIVE MILLION DOLLARS. ($9.85 MILLION) AT A MINNEAPOLIS GALLERY.

ROSS PAINTED THE WORK IN UNDER 30 MINUTES DURING THE 1983 PREMIERE OF HIS SHOW WHICH WOULD GO ON TO RUN FOR 31 SEASONS.

THE WORK WAS ORIGINALLY AUCTIONED OFF TO RAISE MONEY FOR THE PBS STATION IN VIRGINIA WHERE THE SHOW WAS FILMED. A VOLUNTEER AT THE STATION BOUGHT THE PAINTING FOR AN UNDISCLOSED PRICE – BUT THE ART DEALER BELIEVES SHE PAID AROUND $100.

THESE ARE YOUR TOP STORIES FOR THIS THURSDAY.

THANKS FOR JOINING US.

BE SURE TO SUBSCRIBE TO OUR MORNING RUNDOWN PODCAST TO LISTEN TO OUR SHOW EACH WEEKDAY.

AND CHECK OUT MORE OF OUR WORK AT SAN.COM AND ON THE STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS APP.

UNBIASED. STRAIGHT FACTS. THAT’S STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS.

WE’LL SEE YOU BACK HERE TOMORROW.

UNTIL THEN I’M KARAH RUCKER. HAVE A GREAT DAY!

 

Politics

Hunter Biden expected to plead not guilty on gun charges: The Morning Rundown, Sept. 20, 2023

Sep 20

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Lawyers for Hunter Biden have revealed his plans following an indictment on federal gun charges. And, in what is being called a surprise move, the FDA rejects the first nasal spray alternative to EpiPens. These stories and more highlight The Morning Rundown for Wednesday, Sept. 20, 2023.

Hunter Biden to plead not guilty on federal gun charges

Hunter Biden is expected to plead not guilty to three federal gun charges, according to his lawyers. This is the latest development in the indictment that came down last week on charges that the president’s son lied about his drug use while purchasing a gun in 2018 and then illegally possessing it. 

Hunter Biden is also requesting the court to allow him to appear by videoconference for his first hearing in the case. An arraignment date has not been set.

The indictment comes after a special counsel was assigned to the case following the collapse of a plea deal in court in July. If convicted, Hunter Biden faces up to 25 years in prison and $750,000 in fines. Although first-time offenders rarely receive prison time for these charges.

Federal prosecutors have not filed charges concerning an investigation into Hunter Biden’s tax returns as of yet.

Biden, Zelenskyy speak at UN as Ukraine-Russia war continues

The United Nations General Assembly will continue on Wednesday, Sept. 20, after President Joe Biden and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy spoke Tuesday in favor of the U.S. continuing its financial backing of Ukraine in its fight against Russia. But several G-7 countries in attendance predict the war in Ukraine could go on for another six to eight years.

Back in Washington, House Republicans are questioning the current ask out of Congress. Biden is seeking another $24 billion aid package approved for Ukraine.

“If you allow Ukraine to be carved up, is the independence of any nation secure? I’d respectfully suggest the answer is no. We have to stand up to this naked aggression today and deter other would-be aggressors tomorrow,” Biden said during his United Nations address.

The U.S. has so far approved more than $100 billion of aid to Ukraine. President Zelenskyy is expected to face Congress on Thursday, Sept. 21, where House Republicans say they are prepared with questions.

“Is Zelenskyy elected to Congress? Is he our president? I don’t think I have to commit anything. I have questions for him. Where is the accountability on the money we already spent? What is the plan for victory?  I think that is what the American public wants to know,” House Speaker Kevin McCarthy told reporters on Capitol Hill.

Straight Arrow News reporter Ryan Robertson takes a deeper dive into the aid that has so far been spent by Ukraine.

As for the war itself, Russian drones destroyed Ukrainian humanitarian aid stored in warehouses in the city of Lviv, killing nine people on Tuesday.

Ray Epps charged in connection with Jan. 6

Ray Epps, the former Marine who became the center of a conspiracy theory, has been charged in connection with the Jan. 6 riot in Washington. Epps was captured on video telling supporters of then-President Donald Trump in the crowd to go into the U.S. Capitol.

It’s because of those video clips that former Fox News host Tucker Carlson largely blasted Epps as a potential government agent or a bad actor in the crowd. Epps has sued Fox News for defamation after Carlson’s claims were never substantiated.

Epps is scheduled for a plea agreement on Wednesday as he faces one charge of disorderly conduct. He’s expected to plead guilty according to his attorneys.

FDA denies approval of needle-free EpiPen alternative

The first needle-free EpiPen alternative to treat severe allergic reactions will not be coming to the market just yet. The FDA has ruled more study trials are needed to prove the nasal spray is safe to use after repeated doses.

This decision came despite the agency’s advisory committee recommending approval for the spray in May. Drugmaker ARS was expecting FDA approval of its product called Neffy.

The CEO said they are “very surprised by this action.” ARS says it will complete the asks of the FDA and hopes to help millions with life-threatening allergies as soon as possible.

Temple University president dies after falling ill at memorial

Temple University is mourning the loss of its acting president who passed away suddenly after falling ill during a memorial service in Philadelphia on Tuesday. JoAnne Epps was appointed acting president of the university in April.

The memorial service she was attending was being livestreamed on Temple’s website, but the feed cut out when it appeared Epps was in distress while in her chair.

Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro reacted to the news with a post on X, saying “JoAnne Epps was a powerful force and constant ambassador for Temple University for nearly four decades. Losing her is heartbreaking for Philadelphia.”

Before becoming a member of Temple’s faculty, JoAnne Epps was an assistant attorney in Philadelphia and a deputy city attorney in Los Angeles.

A cause of death has not been released. JoAnne Epps was 72 years old.  

NASA: Asteroid could hit Earth in the future

NASA says an asteroid that passes Earth every six years could be on a collision course with our planet.  According to a new report, the asteroid named Bennu could drift into our planet’s orbit and hit Earth by September of 2182.

NASA says there is a .037% chance of it happening — or a 1 in 2,700 chance. Bennu has had a few close encounters with Earth in the past with the latest being in 2011.

A NASA spacecraft briefly touched the surface of Bennu in 2020 collecting a sample of the asteroid. That sample is expected to be dropped off to Earth on Sunday.  

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LAWYERS FOR HUNTER BIDEN HAVE REVEALED HIS PLANS FOLLOWING AN INDICTMENT ON FEDERAL GUN CHARGES

AND —

IN WHAT IS BEING CALLED A SURPRISE MOVE — THE FDA  REJECTS THE FIRST NASAL SPRAY ALTERNATIVE TO EPIPENS

THE MORNING RUNDOWN STARTS NOW.

THIS IS STRAIGHT-ARROW NEWS. 

BRINGING YOU UNBIASED, STRAIGHT FACTS.

TODAY IS WEDNESDAY — SEPTEMBER 20TH

THANKS FOR JOINING US.

I’M KARAH RUCKER.

HUNTER BIDEN IS EXPECTED TO PLEAD **NOT GUILTY TO THREE FEDERAL GUN CHARGES — ACCORDING TO HIS LAWYERS.

THIS IS THE LATEST DEVELOPMENT IN THE INDICTMENT THAT CAME DOWN LAST WEEK ON CHARGES THAT THE PRESIDENT’S SON LIED ABOUT HIS DRUG USE WHILE PURCHASING A GUN IN 2018 AND THEN ILLEGALLY POSSESSING IT.

HUNTER BIDEN IS  ALSO REQUESTING THE COURT TO ALLOW HIM TO APPEAR BY VIDEO CONFERENCE FOR HIS FIRST HEARING IN THE CASE –WHICH AN ARRAIGNMENT DATE HAS NOT BEEN SET.

THE INDICTMENT COMES AFTER A SPECIAL COUNSEL WAS ASSIGNED TO THE CASE.

FOLLOWING THE COLLAPSE OF A PLEA DEAL IN COURT IN JULY.

IF CONVICTED — HUNTER FACES UP TO 25 YEARS IN PRISON AND 750 THOUSAND DOLLARS IN FINES —

ALTHOUGH FIRST TIME OFFENDERS RARELY RECEIVE PRISON TIME FOR THESE CHARGES.

FEDERAL PROSECUTORS DID NOT FILE CHARGES LAST WEEK CONCERNING AN INVESTIGATION INTO HUNTER BIDEN’S TAX RETURNS — BUT COULD STILL DO SO.

THE UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY WILL CONTINUE TODAY —

AFTER PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN AND UKRAINE’S PRESIDENT VOLODYMIR ZELENSKYY SPOKE YESTERDAY — IN FAVOR OF THE U.S. CONTINUING ITS FINANCIAL BACKING OF UKRAINE IN THEIR FIGHT AGAINST RUSSIA.

BUT SEVERAL G-7 COUNTRIES IN ATTENDANCE — PREDICT THE WAR IN UKRAINE COULD GO ON FOR ANOTHER SIX TO EIGHT YEARS.

WHICH HAS HOUSE REPUBLICANS QUESTIONING THE CURRENT ASK OUT OF CONGRESS —

BIDEN WANTS ANOTHER 24 BILLION DOLLAR AID PACKAGE APPROVED FOR UKRAINE.

“If you allow Ukraine to be carved up, is the independence of any nation secure? I’d respectfully suggest the answer is no. We have to stand up to this naked aggression today and deter other would-be aggressors tomorrow.”

THE U.S. HAS — SO FAR — APPROVED MORE THAN 100 BILLION DOLLARS OF AID TO UKRAINE.

PRESIDENT ZELENSKYY IS EXPECTED TO FACE CONGRESS TOMORROW.

WHERE HOUSE REPUBLICANS SAY THEY ARE PREPARED WITH QUESTIONS.

MCCARTHY ON UKRAINE SOTVO

<:08-:23> Will you commit to another round of funding for ukraine?  Is Zelenskyy elected to Congress? Is he our president? I don’t think I have to commit anything. i have questions for him. Where is the accountability on the money we already spent? What is the plan for victory?  I think that is what the American public wants to know.

MEANWHILE THE WAR ITSELF — CONTINUES ON —

AS U.S. LEADERS DEBATE ITS ROLE OF SUPPORT.

RUSSIAN DRONES DESTROYED UKRAINIAN HUMANITARIAN AID STORED IN WAREHOUSES IN L-VIV.

DRONE STRIKES KILLED NINE PEOPLE ON TUESDAY.

OUR REPORTER RYAN ROBERTSON DESIGNATED TO THE UKRAINE WAR TOOK A DEEPER DIVE INTO THE AID THAT HAS SO FAR BEEN SPENT BY UKRAINE.

WHILE THE U.S. HAS SUPPLIED THE COUNTRY WITH MORE THAN 100 BILLION DOLLARS IN AID —

THEY HAVE RECEIVED HUNDREDS OF BILLIONS MORE FROM **OTHER COUNTRIES SINCE THE WAR BEGAN.

FIND HIS REPORT AT SAN DOT COM.

RAY EPPS – THE FORMER MARINE WHO BECAME THE CENTER OF A CONSPIRACY THEORY — HAS BEEN CHARGED IN CONNECTION WITH THE JANUARY SIXTH RIOT.

EPPS WAS CAPTURED ON VIDEO TELLING TRUMP SUPPORTERS IN THE CROWD TO GO INTO THE CAPITOL BUILDING.

IT’S BECAUSE OF THOSE VIDEO CLIPS THAT FORMER FOX NEWS HOST TUCKER CARLSON LARGELY BLASTED EPPS AS A POTENTIAL GOVERNMENT AGENT OR A BAD ACTOR IN THE CROWD.

EPPS HAS SUED FOX NEWS FOR DEFAMATION AFTER CARLSON’S CLAIMS WERE NEVER SUBSTANTIATED.

EPPS IS SCHEDULED FOR A PLEA AGREEMENT TODAY — FACING ONE CHARGE OF “DISORDERLY CONDUCT.”

HE’S EXPECTED TO PLEAD GUILTY ACCORDING TO HIS ATTORNEYS.

THE FIRST NEEDLE-FREE EPI-PEN TO TREAT SEVERE ALLERGIC REACTIONS WILL **NOT BE COMING TO THE MARKET JUST YET —

AFTER THE F-D-A RULED MORE STUDY TRIALS ARE NEEDED TO PROVE THE NASAL SPRAY IS SAFE TO USE AFTER REPEATED DOSES

— THIS DESPITE THE AGENCY’S ADVISORY COMMITTEE RECOMMENDING APPROVAL FOR THE SPRAY IN MAY.

DRUGMAKER “A-R-S” WAS EXPECTING FDA APPROVAL OF ITS PRODUCT “NEFFY” — THE CEO SAYING THEY ARE “VERY SURPRISED BY THIS ACTION”

A-R-S SAYS IT WILL COMPLETE THE ASKS OF THE FDA AND HOPES TO HELP MILLIONS WITH LIFE-THREATENING ALLERGIES AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

TEMPLE UNIVERSITY IS MOURNING THE LOSS OF ITS ACTING PRESIDENT THIS MORNING – WHO PASSED AWAY SUDDENLY AFTER FALLING ILL DURING A MEMORIAL SERVICE IN PHILADELPHIA ON TUESDAY.

JOANNE EPPS WAS APPOINTED ACTING PRESIDENT OF THE UNIVERSITY IN APRIL.

THE MEMORIAL SERVICE SHE WAS ATTENDING WAS BEING LIVE-STREAMED ON TEMPLE’S WEBSITE – BUT THE FEED CUT OUT WHEN IT APPEARED EPPS WAS IN DISTRESS WHILE IN HER CHAIR.

PENNSYLVANIA GOVERNOR JOSH SHAPIRO REACTED TO THE NEWS WITH A POST ON X – SAYING “JoAnne Epps was a powerful force and constant ambassador for Temple University for nearly four decades. Losing her is heartbreaking for Philadelphia.”

BEFORE BECOMING A MEMBER OF TEMPLE’S FACULTY, JOANNE EPPS WAS AN ASSISTANT ATTORNEY IN PHILADELPHIA AND A DEPUTY CITY ATTORNEY IN LOS ANGELES.

A CAUSE OF DEATH HAS NOT BEEN RELEASED. JOANNE EPPS WAS SEVENTY-TWO (72) YEARS OLD.

FINALLY THIS MORNING – A WARNING FROM NASA. AN ASTEROID THAT PASSES EARTH EVERY SIX YEARS COULD BE ON A COLLISION COURSE WITH OUR PLANET.

ACCORDING TO A NEW REPORT — THE ASTEROID – NAMED BEN-NU (BEN-NEW) – COULD DRIFT INTO OUR PLANET’S ORBIT AND HIT EARTH BY SEPTEMBER – OF THE YEAR TWENTY ONE EIGHTY TWO (2182).

NASA SAYS THERE IS A POINT ZERO THREE SEVEN PERCENT (.037) CHANCE OF IT HAPPENING – OR 1 IN TWO THOUSAND SEVEN HUNDRED (2,700).

BENNU HAS HAD A FEW CLOSE ENCOUNTERS WITH EARTH IN THE PAST – THE LATEST BEING IN 2011.

A NASA SPACECRAFT BRIEFLY TOUCHED THE SURFACE OF BENNU IN 2020 – COLLECTING A SAMPLE OF THE ASTEROID.

THAT SAMPLE IS EXPECTED TO BE DROPPED OFF TO EARTH ON SUNDAY.

 

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Americans freed from Iran return to US: The Morning Rundown, Sept. 19, 2023

Sep 19

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Five Americans detained in Iran are back home as part of a prisoner exchange. And a cyberattack could mean a tougher time finding Clorox products in your corner store. These stories and more highlight The Morning Rundown for Tuesday, Sept. 19, 2023.

5 Americans return to the U.S. as part of prison swap with Iran

Five Americans designated by the United States government as wrongfully detained are back home as part of a prisoner exchange between the U.S. and Iran that happened on Monday, Sept. 19. The five Americans were being imprisoned on what U.S. officials called “unsubstantiated charges of spying.”

Officials say two family members who were not jailed but were prevented from leaving Iran were also on the plane that landed Tuesday morning in the U.S.

“Their freedom, the freedom of these Americans for so long, unjustly imprisoned and detained in Iran means some pretty basic things. It means that husbands and wives, fathers and children, grandparents can hug each other again, can see each other again, can be with each other again,” Secretary of State Antony Blinken said.

All of the freed Americans identified had been serving 10-year prison sentences in Iran, with one already serving eight years. Officials say three of the five Iranians released from U.S. custody as part of the deal have decided to stay in America and did not want to return to Iran.

The $6 billion in Iranian assets unfrozen as part of the agreement were successfully transferred ahead of the prisoner exchange.

Biden, Zelenskyy to speak at U.N. General Assembly

President Joe Biden is set to address the United Nations General Assembly Tuesday morning, as leaders of four other major countries skip the gathering. According to the White House, Biden will speak to the leaders of 145 countries laying out his vision of American leadership that involves working with other countries to “solve the world’s most pressing problems.”

The White House says a substantial section of Biden’s speech will focus on the war in Ukraine – speaking against Russia’s invasion and calling for support of Ukraine. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will also speak at the U.N. summit in-person for the first time since the war began last year.

France President Emmanuel Macron and U.K. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak are missing from the general assembly due to King Charles visiting France while Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin rarely attend in person.

While Biden and Zelenskyy look to put the focus of the general assembly on the war with Russia, tensions between two other nations are growing Tuesday morning: Canada and India. Canada has accused India of possibly being involved in the assassination of a Sikh activist on Canadian soil, with both countries expelling senior diplomats. 

F-35 fighter jet debris found after ‘mishap’ causes crash

Military officials have been able to locate the debris field for the missing F-35 fighter jet that disappeared Sunday, Sept. 17, after a reported “mishap” that forced the pilot to eject mid-flight and parachute to safety. With no one on board, the military lost sight of where the fighter jet landed.

Now we know the aircraft crashed in a field in Williamsburg County, South Carolina — about two hours away from a Marine Corps base. As the investigation continues, the Marine Corps announced a two-day pause in operations to discuss aviation safety citing three “aviation mishaps” over the past six weeks.

Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu meets with Elon Musk

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with billionaire businessman Elon Musk in California on Monday, Sept. 18. The two discussed an array of topics during a livestream on Musk’s social media site X: from antisemitism on the platform, the controversial judicial overhaul in Israel, how to advance artificial intelligence for the good of the people and the future plans of X potentially becoming a monthly subscription service.

But the moment making headlines was the prime minister’s ask of Musk to find a balance between protecting free speech and fighting hate speech and antisemitic posts on X.

It comes as Musk is being blamed of “tolerating antisemitism” by the Anti-Defamation League. Musk calls those accusations false and damning to the platform’s advertising revenue.

Musk told the prime minister that X will not promote posts containing hate speech. Netanyahu will be at the U.N. General Assembly to address the U.S. and other world leaders at a time of growing unrest in the country.

Clorox cyberattack slows production, impacts supply

Clorox is reporting a cyberattack in August has impacted its supply chain. The company known for its sanitizing wipes and brands like Pine Sol and FreshStep cat litter says wide-scale disruptions continue to negatively impact its operations.

Certain products are in short supply, though they have not specified which ones. Operations have crawled since the cyberattack with employees fulfilling and processing orders manually since August.

Clorox believes the cyberattack has been contained and the company will eventually get back to full production. It’s just unsure of a timetable for when that will happen.

Black bear spotted in Disney World forces closures

A wild black bear found its way inside Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom near Orlando on Monday, climbing a tree and delaying the opening of multiple sections of the theme park. Members of the Florida Fish and Wild Conservation Commission were called in to secure the female black bear.

The bear was eventually captured by the afternoon and was relocated to a national forest. Officials say the bear was most likely in search of food ahead of winter hibernation.

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FIVE AMERICANS DETAINED IN IRAN ARE BACK HOME AS PART OF A PRISONER EXCHANGE

AND —

AND A CYBERATTACK COULD MEAN A TOUGHER TIME FINDING CLOROX PRODUCTS IN YOUR CORNER STORE

THE MORNING RUNDOWN STARTS NOW.

THIS IS STRAIGHT-ARROW NEWS. 

BRINGING YOU UNBIASED, STRAIGHT FACTS.

TODAY IS TUESDAY — SEPTEMBER 19TH

THANKS FOR JOINING US.

I’M KARAH RUCKER.

FIVE AMERICANS — DESIGNATED BY THE U.S. GOVERNMENT AS WRONGFULLY DETAINED — ARE BACK HOME AS PART OF A PRISONER EXCHANGE BETWEEN THE U.S. AND IRAN ON MONDAY.

THE FIVE AMERICANS WERE BEING IMPRISONED ON WHAT U.S. OFFICIALS CALLED “UNSUBSTANTIATED CHARGES OF SPYING.”

OFFICIALS SAY TWO FAMILY MEMBERS WHO WERE NOT JAILED BUT WERE PREVENTED FROM LEAVING IRAN WERE ALSO ON THE PLANE THAT LANDED THIS MORNING IN THE U.S.

SECRETARY OF STATE ANTONY BLINKED DESCRIBED THE SIGNIFICANCE OF REUNITING THE FIVE AMERICANS WITH THEIR FAMILIES — ON U.S. SOIL.

CLOROX IS REPORTING THE IMPACT A CYBER ATTACK LAST MONTH HAS HAD — AND CONTINUES TO HAVE — ON ITS COMPANY.

THE COMPANY KNOWN FOR ITS SANITIZING WIPES AND BRANDS LIKE PINE SOL AND FRESHSTEP CAT LITTER SAYS WIDE-SCALE DISRUPTIONS CONTINUE TO NEGATIVELY IMPACT ITS OPERATIONS.

CERTAIN PRODUCTS ARE IN SHORT SUPPLY.

AND OPERATIONS HAVE CRAWLED SINCE THE CYBER ATTACK — WITH EMPLOYEES FULFILLING AND PROCESSING ORDERS **MANUALLY SINCE AUGUST.

CLOROX BELIEVES THE CYBER ATTACK HAS BEEN CONTAINED AND THE COMPANY WILL EVENTUALLY GET BACK TO FULL PRODUCTION.

THEY’RE JUST UNSURE OF A TIMETABLE ON WHEN THAT WILL HAPPEN.

“their freedom, the freedom of these Americans for so long, unjustly imprisoned and detained in Iran, means some pretty basic things. It means that husbands and wives, fathers and children, grandparents can hug each other again, can see each other again, can be with each other again”

ALL OF THE FREED AMERICANS IDENTIFIED HAD BEEN SERVING 10-YEAR PRISON SENTENCES IN IRAN.

WITH ONE ALREADY SERVING 8 YEARS.

OUT OF THE FIVE IRANIANS RELEASED FROM U.S. CUSTODY AS PART OF THE DEAL —

THREE STAYED IN THE U.S. AND DID NOT WANT TO RETURN TO IRAN.

SIX BILLION DOLLARS IN IRANIAN ASSETS WERE UNFROZEN AS PART OF THE AGREEMENT AND SUCCESSFULLY TRANSFERRED AHEAD OF THE PRISONER EXCHANGE.

PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN IS SET TO ADDRESS THE UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY THIS MORNING – AS LEADERS OF FOUR OTHER MAJOR COUNTRIES SKIP THE GATHERING.

ACCORDING TO THE WHITE HOUSE – BIDEN WILL SPEAK TO THE LEADERS OF 145 COUNTRIES – LAYING OUT HIS VISION OF AMERICAN LEADERSHIP THAT INVOLVES WORKING WITH OTHER COUNTRIES TO “SOLVE THE WORLD’S MOST PRESSING PROBLEMS.”

THE WHITE HOUSE SAYS A SUBSTANTIAL SECTION OF BIDEN’S SPEECH WILL FOCUS ON THE WAR IN UKRAINE – SPEAKING AGAINST RUSSIA’S INVASION AND CALLING FOR SUPPORT OF UKRAINE.

UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY WILL ALSO SPEAK AT THE U.N. SUMMIT — IN-PERSON FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE THE WAR BEGAN LAST YEAR.

FRANCE PRESIDENT EMMANUEL MACRON AND U.K. PRIME MINISTER RISHI SUNAK (RIH SHEE SUE-NACK) ARE MISSING THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY DUE TO KING CHARLES VISITING FRANCE– WHILE CHINA’S PRESIDENT XI JINPING AND RUSSIAN PRESIDENT VLADIMIR PUTIN RARELY ATTEND IN PERSON.

WHILE BIDEN AND ZELENSKYY LOOK TO PUT THE FOCUS OF THE U.N. GENERAL ASSEMBLY ON THE WAR WITH RUSSIA – TENSIONS BETWEEN TWO OTHER NATIONS ARE GROWING THIS MORNING — CANADA AND INDIA.  CANADA HAS ACCUSED INDIA OF POSSIBLY BEING INVOLVED IN THE ASSASSINATION OF A SIKH ACTIVIST ON CANADIAN SOIL – WITH BOTH COUNTRIES EXPELLING SENIOR DIPLOMATS. 

MILITARY OFFICIALS HAVE BEEN ABLE TO LOCATE THE DEBRIS FIELD FOR THE MISSING F-35 FIGHTER JET THAT DISAPPEARED AFTER A REPORTED “MISHAP” — THAT FORCED THE PILOT TO EJECT MID-FLIGHT AND PARACHUTE TO SAFETY.
WITH NO ONE ON BOARD — THE MILITARY LOST SIGHT OF WHERE THE FIGHTER JET LANDED.
NOW WE KNOW THE AIRCRAFT CRASHED IN A FIELD IN WILLIAMSBURG COUNTY SOUTH CAROLINA —
ABOUT TWO HOURS AWAY FROM A MARINE CORP BASE.
AS THE INVESTIGATION CONTINUES — THE MARINE CORP ANNOUNCED A TWO-DAY PAUSE IN OPERATIONS TO DISCUSS AVIATION SAFETY —
CITING **THREE “MISHAPS” OVER THE PAST SIX WEEKS.

ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU MET WITH BILLIONAIRE BUSINESSMAN ELON MUSK IN CALIFORNIA ON MONDAY.

THE TWO DISCUSSED AN ARRAY OF TOPICS DURING A  LIVESTREAM ON MUSK’S SOCIAL MEDIA SITE X —

FROM ANTISEMITISM’S PLACE ON THE PLATFORM.

TO THE CONTROVERSIAL JUDICIAL OVERHAUL IN ISRAEL.

HOW TO ADVANCE ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE FOR THE GOOD OF THE PEOPLE —

AND THE FUTURE PLANS OF X POTENTIALLY BECOMING A MONTHLY SUBSCRIPTION SERVICE.

BUT THE MOMENT MAKING HEADLINES —

WAS THE PRIME MINISTER’S ASK OF MUSK — TO FIND A BALANCE BETWEEN PROTECTING FREE SPEECH AND FIGHTING HATE SPEECH AND ANTISEMITIC POSTS ON X.

IT COMES AS MUSK IS BEING BLAMED OF “TOLERATING ANTISEMITISM” BY THE ANTI-DEFAMATION LEAGUE.

AN ACCUSATION MUSK CALLS FALSE AND DAMNING TO THE PLATFORM’S ADVERTISING REVENUE.

MUSK TOLD THE PRIME MINISTER THAT X WILL NOT PROMOTE POSTS CONTAINING HATE SPEECH.

NETANYAHU WILL BE AT THE UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY TO ADDRESS THE U.S. AND OTHER WORLD LEADERS AT A TIME OF GROWING UNREST IN THE COUNTRY.

CLOROX IS REPORTING THE IMPACT A CYBER ATTACK LAST MONTH HAS HAD — AND CONTINUES TO HAVE — ON ITS COMPANY.

THE COMPANY KNOWN FOR ITS SANITIZING WIPES AND BRANDS LIKE PINE SOL AND FRESHSTEP CAT LITTER SAYS WIDE-SCALE DISRUPTIONS CONTINUE TO NEGATIVELY IMPACT ITS OPERATIONS.

CERTAIN PRODUCTS ARE IN SHORT SUPPLY.

AND OPERATIONS HAVE CRAWLED SINCE THE CYBER ATTACK — WITH EMPLOYEES FULFILLING AND PROCESSING ORDERS **MANUALLY SINCE AUGUST.

CLOROX BELIEVES THE CYBER ATTACK HAS BEEN CONTAINED AND THE COMPANY WILL EVENTUALLY GET BACK TO FULL PRODUCTION.

THEY’RE JUST UNSURE OF A TIMETABLE ON WHEN THAT WILL HAPPEN.

FINALLY THIS MORNING – VISITORS AT WALT DISNEY WORLD ARE USED TO SEEING WINNIE THE POOH STROLLING AROUND THE THEME PARK — BUT ON MONDAY – A DIFFERENT KIND OF BEAR BECAME THE ATTRACTION.

A WILD BLACK BEAR FOUND ITS WAY INSIDE DISNEY WORLD’S MAGIC KINGDOM NEAR ORLANDO – CLIMBING A TREE AND DELAYING THE OPENING OF MULTIPLE SECTIONS OF THE PARK.

MEMBERS OF THE FLORIDA FISH AND WILD CONSERVATION COMMISSION WERE CALLED IN TO SECURE THE FEMALE BLACK BEAR – WHO WAS EVENTUALLY CAPTURED BY THE AFTERNOON — AND WAS BEING RELOCATED TO A NATIONAL FOREST.

OFFICIALS SAY THE BEAR WAS MOST LIKELY IN SEARCH OF FOOD AHEAD OF WINTER HIBERNATION.

THESE ARE YOUR TOP STORIES FOR THIS TUESDAY.

THANKS FOR JOINING US.

BE SURE TO SUBSCRIBE TO OUR MORNING RUNDOWN PODCAST TO LISTEN TO OUR SHOW EACH WEEKDAY.

AND CHECK OUT MORE OF OUR WORK AT SAN.COM AND ON THE STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS APP.

UNBIASED. STRAIGHT FACTS. THAT’S STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS.

WE’LL SEE YOU BACK HERE TOMORROW.

UNTIL THEN I’M KARAH RUCKER. HAVE A GREAT DAY!

 

 

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US, Iran prisoner swap taking place: The Morning Rundown, Sept. 18, 2023

Sep 18

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A prisoner swap between the United States and Iran is set to take place. And the search is on once again in Pennsylvania for escaped inmates. These stories and more highlight The Morning Rundown for Monday, Sept. 18, 2023.

U.S. citizens freed as part of prisoner swap with Iran

Update: Five Americans detained in Iran for years were freed on Monday morning, just hours after the Morning Rundown broadcast. U.S. officials say the Americans will be flown back to America later in the day.

Below is our previous report:

The prisoner exchange between the United States and Iran that will see five detained Americans be freed is expected to happen on Monday, Sept. 18. The $6 billion in frozen Iranian assets that became controversial criteria to make a deal happen has been successfully transferred ahead of the prisoner swap, according to the Iranian Foreign Ministry and others with knowledge of the deal. 

Sanctions on the funds were lifted and the $6 billion has been transferred to a bank in Qatar, the country helping to mediate the deal between the U.S. and Iran several months in the making.

The U.S. has not made a public comment as of this report. 

With the transfer to Qatar, Iran will now have access to the money. According to the U.S. National Security Council, the White House will be able to oversee those funds and make sure they are spent by Iran on humanitarian needs. While Iran’s president last week made contrasting statements saying the country will use the money as the Iranian government sees fit.

In the prisoner swap, five U.S. citizens considered wrongfully detained in Iran will be released back to America, while five Iranian prisoners in the U.S. will also be released.

House GOP releases short-term funding bill as shutdown looms

The U.S. government is on track to partially shut down by the end of this month if Congress fails to intervene. Over the weekend, House Republicans reached an agreement for a short-term funding deal that would keep the government running through Oct. 31, giving lawmakers more time to hash out the 2024 fiscal year federal budget.

But the criteria attached to the GOP’s short-term fix could get rejected by the Democrat-controlled Senate. Government agencies would have their budgets slashed by 8 percent until the end of October. Only the Defense Department and the Department of Veterans Affairs would not receive funding cuts.

House Republicans have also attached a border security bill to the proposal – but without a policy on verifying workers’ immigration status. Additional funding for Ukraine was not attached, but it’s something President Biden has asked Congress to include. Democratic and Republican Senate leaders say they would add Ukraine funding.

Military searching for missing F-35 jet after ‘mishap’

Military officials are asking for the public’s help in locating a missing F-35 fighter jet after they say a “mishap” off the South Carolina coast on Sunday, Sept. 17 caused a Marine Corps pilot to eject from the aircraft before it crashed.

Officials say the jet’s transponder was not working and its location remains a mystery. The F-35 was being used as part of a Marine training exercise.

Based on the aircraft’s last known location, officials believe the jet crashed into nearby waters. Helicopter crews are searching two lakes near Joint Base Charleston where the fighter jet was supposed to arrive before the mishap took place.

Authorities are investigating what caused the accident. The pilot is said to be OK.

Juvenile inmates escape from Pennsylvania detention center

Just days after a two-week manhunt concluded for a fugitive who fled from a Pennsylvania prison, authorities in the state were searching for more inmates who escaped from another facility — this time though they were juveniles.

State police say nine young males escaped from Abraxas Academy, a juvenile detention facility, following a riot Sunday night. Though state and local law enforcement were able to regain control of the detention center, police say the nine inmates were able to get away by somehow obtaining staff keys.

On Monday morning, police say four of the nine were caught. About an hour later, the other five were captured.

The search was taking place in Berks County, Pennsylvania which borders Chester County where convicted murderer Danelo Cavalcante was on the run for 14 days before being captured last week.

Salary transparency law goes into effect in New York

Employers in New York will now have to disclose salary ranges for job listings posted online as the state’s salary transparency law went into effect over the weekend. The law requires employers with at least four employees to include how much a position pays on any job listing.

This also includes any remote positions that aren’t in New York if the company or supervisor is based in the state. A pay transparency law has been in effect in New York City since last year.

New York is just the latest state to make a stance on salary transparency. Colorado, Washington, Rhode Island and California have enacted similar laws.

Senate’s informal dress code policy changes

Senators will be able to dress more casually now that its informal dress code is being changed. According to reports, first seen on Axios, Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has notified the Senate Sergeant-at-Arms of the change which his expected to take effect Monday that would allow senators to wear whatever they want while on the Senate floor.

This would allow Pennsylvania Senator John Fetterman to sport his hoodie and gym shorts he often wears. Fetterman has been seen in his casual look since returning to the Senate following his treatment for clinical depression earlier this year.  

The Senate has been operating under an unofficial dress code policy requiring men and women to dress in business attire. Though senators will be able to switch up their wardrobe with this change, their staff and anyone else on the Senate floor are expected to follow the previous dress code guidelines.

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A PRISONER SWAP BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND IRAN IS REPORTEDLY TAKING PLACE TODAY

AND —

THE SEARCH IS ON ONCE AGAIN IN PENNSYLVANIA FOR ESCAPED INMATES.

THE MORNING RUNDOWN STARTS NOW.

THIS IS STRAIGHT-ARROW NEWS. 

BRINGING YOU UNBIASED, STRAIGHT FACTS.

TODAY IS MONDAY — SEPTEMBER 18TH

THANKS FOR JOINING US.

I’M KARAH RUCKER.

[L3: PRISONER SWAP BETWEEN U.S., IRAN EXPECTED TODAY, $6 BILLION TRANSFERRED]

THE PRISONER EXCHANGE BETWEEN THE U.S. AND IRAN THAT WILL SEE FIVE DETAINED AMERICANS BE FREED IS EXPECTED TO HAPPEN TODAY.

THE SIX BILLION DOLLARS IN FROZEN IRANIAN ASSETS THAT BECAME CONTROVERSIAL CRITERIA TO MAKE A DEAL HAPPEN —

HAS BEEN SUCCESSFULLY TRANSFERRED AHEAD OF THE PRISONER SWAP — ACCORDING TO THE IRANIAN FOREIGN MINISTRY AND OTHERS WITH KNOWLEDGE OF THE DEAL.

SANCTIONS ON THE FUNDS WERE LIFTED — AND THE SIX BILLION HAS BEEN TRANSFERRED TO A BANK IN QATAR —

THE COUNTRY HELPING TO MEDIATE THE DEAL BETWEEN THE U.S. AND IRAN — SEVERAL MONTHS IN THE MAKING.

THE U.S. HAS NOT MADE A PUBLIC COMMENT AS OF THIS REPORT.

WITH THE TRANSFER TO QATAR —

IRAN WILL NOW HAVE ACCESS TO  THE MONEY-

ACCORDING TO THE U.S. SECURITY COUNCIL — THE WHITE HOUSE WILL BE ABLE TO OVERSEE THOSE FUNDS AND MAKING SURE THEY ARE SPENT BY IRAN ON HUMANITARIAN NEEDS.

WHILE IRAN’S PRESIDENT LAST WEEK MADE CONTRASTING STATEMENTS — SAYING THE COUNTRY WILL USE THE MONEY AS THE IRANIAN GOVERNMENT SEES FIT.

THE OTHER SIDE TO THIS — THE PRISONER SWAP ITSELF —

IS REPORTED TO HAPPEN TODAY ACCORDING TO IRAN’S FOREIGN MINISTRY.

5 U.S. CITIZENS CONSIDERED “WRONGFULLY DETAINED” IN IRAN WILL BE RELEASED BACK TO THE U.S. —

WHILE 5 IRANIAN PRISONERS IN THE U.S. WILL BE RELEASED.

THE U.S. GOVERNMENT IS ON TRACK TO PARTIALLY SHUT DOWN BY THE END OF THIS MONTH IF CONGRESS FAILS TO INTERVENE.

OVER THE WEEKEND —

HOUSE REPUBLICANS REACHED AN AGREEMENT FOR A SHORT-TERM FUNDING DEAL THAT WOULD KEEP THE GOVERNMENT RUNNING THROUGH OCTOBER 31ST —

GIVING LAWMAKERS MORE TIME TO HASH OUT THE 2024 FISCAL YEAR FEDERAL BUDGET.

BUT THE CRITERIA ATTACHED TO THE GOP’S SHORT-TERM FIX COULD GET REJECTED BY THE DEMOCRAT-CONTROLLED SENATE.

GOVERNMENT AGENCIES WOULD HAVE THEIR BUDGETS SLASHED BY 8 PERCENT UNTIL THE END OF OCTOBER.

ONLY THE DEFENSE DEPARTMENT AND DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS WOULD NOT RECEIVE FUNDING CUTS FOR THE MONTH.

HOUSE REPUBLICANS HAVE ALSO ATTACHED A BORDER SECURITY BILL TO THE PROPOSAL – BUT WITHOUT A POLICY ON VERIFYING WORKERS’ IMMIGRATION STATUS. 

NOT ATTACHED — IS FUNDING FOR UKRAINE — SOMETHING PRESIDENT BIDEN HAS ASKED CONGRESS TO INCLUDE — 

AND SENATE LEADERSHIP WANTS TO ADD IN — BUT THE HOUSE LEFT OFF.

THE SIDES HAVE LESS THAN TWO WEEKS TO FIND COMMON GROUND.

MILITARY OFFICIALS ARE ASKING FOR THE PUBLIC’S HELP IN LOCATING A MISSING F-35 FIGHTER JET AFTER THEY SAY A “MISHAP” OFF THE SOUTH CAROLINA COAST ON SUNDAY CAUSED A MARINE CORPS PILOT TO EJECT FROM THE AIRCRAFT BEFORE IT CRASHED.

OFFICIALS SAY THE JET’S TRANSPONDER WAS NOT WORKING AND ITS LOCATION REMAINS A MYSTERY.

THE F-35 WAS BEING USED AS PART OF A MARINE TRAINING EXERCISE.

BASED ON THE AIRCRAFT’S LAST KNOWN LOCATION —

OFFICIALS BELIEVE THE JET CRASHED INTO NEARBY WATER —

AS HELICOPTER CREWS ARE SEARCHING TWO LAKES NEAR “JOINT BASE CHARLESTON” IN SOUTH CAROLINA.

THAT’S WHERE THE JET WAS SUPPOSED TO ARRIVE BEFORE THE MISHAP TOOK PLACE.

AUTHORITIES DIDN’T SAY WHAT CAUSED THE ACCIDENT —

THE PILOT IS SAID TO BE OKAY.

JUST DAYS AFTER A TWO-WEEK MANHUNT CONCLUDED FOR A FUGITIVE WHO FLED FROM A PENNSYLVANIA PRISON — AUTHORITIES IN THE STATE ARE NOW SEARCHING FOR MORE INMATES WHO HAVE ESCAPED FROM ANOTHER FACILITY – THIS TIME THOUGH THEY ARE JUVENILES.

STATE POLICE SAY NINE YOUNG MALES ESCAPED FROM ABRAXAS (A-BRACKS-US) ACADEMY — A JUVENILE DETENTION FACILITY — FOLLOWING A RIOT SUNDAY NIGHT.

THOUGH STATE AND LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT WERE ABLE TO REGAIN CONTROL OF THE DETENTION CENTER —  POLICE SAY THE NINE INMATES WERE ABLE TO GET AWAY BY SOMEHOW OBTAINING STAFF KEYS.

THIS MORNING, POLICE SAY FOUR OF THE NINE HAVE BEEN CAUGHT.

THE ESCAPEES ARE SAID TO BE WEARING SHIRTS AND SHORTS – NOT THEIR UNIFORMS.

POLICE ARE ADVISING THOSE IN THE AREA OF THE DETENTION CENTER TO STAY VIGILANT — AND A LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICT HAS CANCELED CLASSES.

THE SEARCH IS TAKING PLACE IN BERKS COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA — WHICH BORDERS CHESTER COUNTY — WHERE CONVICTED MURDERER DANELO CAVALCANTE WAS ON THE RUN FOR 14 DAYS BEFORE BEING CAPTURED LAST WEEK.

EMPLOYERS IN NEW YORK WILL NOW HAVE TO DISCLOSE SALARY RANGES FOR JOB LISTINGS POSTED ONLINE.

THE STATE’S “SALARY TRANSPARENCY LAW” WENT INTO EFFECT OVER THE WEEKEND.

THE LAW REQUIRES EMPLOYERS WITH AT LEAST 4 EMPLOYEES TO INCLUDE HOW MUCH A POSITION PAYS ON ANY JOB LISTING.

THAT INCLUDES ANY REMOTE POSITIONS THAT AREN’T BASED IN NEW YORK — IF THE COMPANY OR SUPERVISOR IS IN NEW YORK.

NEW YORK IS JUST THE LATEST STATE TO MAKE A STANCE ON “SALARY TRANSPARENCY.”

WASHINGTON, RHODE ISLAND, AND CALIFORNIA ENACTED SIMILAR LAWS THIS YEAR.

FINALLY THIS MORNING – SENATORS WILL BE ABLE TO DRESS MORE CASUALLY NOW THAT ITS INFORMAL DRESS CODE IS BEING CHANGED.

ACCORDING TO REPORTS, MAJORITY LEADER CHUCK SCHUMER HAS NOTIFIED THE SENATE SERGEANT-AT-ARMS OF THE CHANGE — EXPECTED TO TAKE EFFECT TODAY — THAT WOULD ALLOW SENATORS TO WEAR WHATEVER THEY WANT WHILE ON THE SENATE FLOOR.

THIS WOULD ALLOW PENNSYLVANIA SENATOR JOHN FETTERMAN TO SPORT HIS HOODIE AND GYM SHORTS – HE OFTEN WEARS.

FETTERMAN HAS BEEN SEEN IN HIS CASUAL LOOK SINCE RETURNING TO THE SENATE FOLLOWING HIS TREATMENT OF CLINICAL DEPRESSION EARLIER THIS YEAR.

THE SENATE HAS BEEN OPERATING UNDER AN UNOFFICIAL DRESS CODE POLICY REQUIRING MEN AND WOMEN TO DRESS IN BUSINESS ATTIRE.

THOUGH SENATORS WILL BE ABLE TO SWITCH UP THEIR WARDROBE WITH THIS CHANGE — THEIR STAFF AND ANYONE ELSE ON THE SENATE FLOOR ARE EXPECTED TO FOLLOW THE PREVIOUS DRESS CODE GUIDELINES.

THESE ARE YOUR TOP STORIES FOR THIS MONDAY.

THANKS FOR JOINING US.

BE SURE TO SUBSCRIBE TO OUR MORNING RUNDOWN PODCAST TO LISTEN TO OUR SHOW EACH WEEKDAY.

AND CHECK OUT MORE OF OUR WORK AT SAN.COM AND ON THE STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS APP.

UNBIASED. STRAIGHT FACTS. THAT’S STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS.

WE’LL SEE YOU BACK HERE TOMORROW.

UNTIL THEN I’M KARAH RUCKER. HAVE A GREAT DAY!

 

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