RAIDER 1 Citizen News for Wednesday, Mar. 1, 2023
Lori Lightfoot Ousted as Chicago Mayor, Post Office Buys Electric Vehicles, Newsom Ends COVID Emergency, College Cheaters, and more!
Lightfoot Out!
Mayor Lori Lightfoot finished third in Tuesday’s election with 16.4% of the vote, behind former Chicago Public Schools CEO Paul Vallas at 35.02% and Cook County Commissioner Brandon Johnson with 20.25%. The Associated Press declared Johnson the second-place candidate minutes after Lightfoot’s concession.
Post Office Jumps on EV Bandwagon
The U.S. Postal Service is buying 9,250 Ford Motor Co. electric vans and 14,000 charging stations as part of a move to switch its fleet to electric vehicles. The service also is buying another 9,250 internal combustion vans from Fiat Chrysler in North America, now part of Amsterdam-based Stellantis. The Fiat Chrysler and Ford vehicles together will cost just over $1 billion.
Mississippi Restricts Transgender Healthcare for Teens
Mississippi on Tuesday became the seventh state to enact a restriction on certain transition-related health care for minors. Gov. Tate Reeves, a Republican, said he signed the bill, which bars puberty blockers, hormone therapy and surgery for minors, because “there is a dangerous movement spreading across America today.”
Newsom Ends COVID in California
Governor Gavin Newsom today issued a proclamation terminating the state’s COVID-19 State of Emergency, as previously announced in October. The state’s SMARTER Plan will maintain California’s operational preparedness to address the next phase of the COVID-19 pandemic and will continue to guide the state’s work to support communities across the state. Additionally, COVID-19 vaccines, testing, and treatment continue to be available at sites within local communities across the state.
Cheating Now the Norm in College
Covid struck and all bets were off. With college kids doing college from their bedrooms and smartphones, and with the explosion of new technology, cheating became not just easy but practically unavoidable. “Cheating is rampant,” a Princeton senior told me. “Since Covid there’s been an increasing trend toward grade inflation, cheating, and ultimately, academic mediocrity.”
You Know Things Are Bad When the Undocumented Start Returning Home of Their Own Volition
Mexicans, who represent the largest and most transformative migration to the United States in modern history, started a gradual return more than a decade ago, with improvements in the Mexican economy and shrinking job opportunities in the United States during the last recession.
60% of Americans Live Paycheck to Paycheck
As of January, 60% of all U.S. adults, including 45% of high-income earners, were living paycheck to paycheck, according to a new LendingClub report. That’s down from 64% a year earlier, suggesting that last year’s spending cutbacks have improved some consumers’ financial situations.
Eli Lilly Caps Insulin at $35
Eli Lilly will cap the out-of-pocket cost of its insulin at $35 a month, the drugmaker said Wednesday. The move, experts say, could prompt other insulin makers in the U.S. to follow suit. The change, which Eli Lilly said takes effect immediately, puts the drugmaker in line with a provision in the Inflation Reduction Act, which last month imposed a $35 monthly cap on the out-of-pocket cost of insulin for seniors enrolled in Medicare.
Twitter Cracks Down on “Violent Speech”
Twitter announced on Tuesday that it is rolling out a new policy to mitigate violent speech on the platform, which the company said will include zero tolerance for “severe cases.” The platform’s new “Violent Speech Policy” states that users may not “threaten, incite, glorify or express desire for violence or harm” while using the app. This includes encouraging others to conduct harm and celebrating acts of violence.
Harry and Meghan Evicted
King Charles began the process of chucking Harry and Meghan out of Frogmore Cottage days after his son’s controversial memoir Spare was released. The move, which follows damning allegations from Harry and Meghan about the royals, throws into doubt their chances of a coronation invite in May. Disgraced Andrew was offered the keys to the five-bed Windsor home last week.
Nissan Recalls 700,000 SUVs for Shutting Down While Driving
Nissan is recalling more than 700,000 Rogue and Rogue Sport compact SUVs because they can be shut off accidentally while driving. Some model year 2016 through 2020 Nissan Rogue and 2017 through 2022 Rogue Sports, have jackknife-style keys – the type in which the metal blade of the key flips out from within a plastic key fob. An internal joint in the key can weaken over time, allowing the key to accidentally fold while in use. If this happens while the key is in the ignition, then the vehicle can be accidentally turned off if they is key is touched or bumped.
Finland Working 200-Kilometer Fence on Russian Border
Finland has begun constructing its planned 200-kilometre fence on the Russian border, amid fears within Helsinki that Moscow could use migrant flows at the frontier for political purposes. Terrain work began on Tuesday "with forest clearance and will proceed in such a way that road construction and fence installation can be started in March", the Finnish Border Guard said in a statement.
Murdaugh Trial Update
The jury visited the Moselle hunting property where the murders occurred this morning. By Noon, we were hearing Closing Arguments from the Prosecution.
Murdaugh faces 30 years in prison for the murder of his wife and son on June 7, 2021. The motive is said to be mounting financial issues from many unsavory deals and Paul Murdaugh’s upcoming trial from a boat crash in which he was believed to be drinking.
Many blatant lies from Murdaugh have been uncovered during his 6-week trial. However, the lack of the Prosecution’s ability to produce the murder weapon or clothing the Defendant was wearing that night coupled with local investigators mishandling the crime scene, has made moving beyond a reasonable doubt difficult.
The cell phone data in this case was Earth-shattering. Maggie Murdaugh’s iPhone was found flung out of a car window on the side of the road about a mile from the scene. A video with voices from Paul, Maggie, and Alex placed him at the scene minutes before the murders.
The State has taken the day to close their case.
Late Breaking
Shootings in McKeesport, PA
Two shootings left two people dead and two others injured in McKeesport on Wednesday, Allegheny County police said. While the shootings happened within about an hour of one another and were close by, police said they're not connected.
4-Alarm Blaze in Buffalo with One Firefighter Unaccounted For
A firefighter was missing inside a building in downtown Buffalo, New York, on Wednesday and was believed to have been trapped by falling debris from a blaze that led to an explosion that sent flames and smoke billowing into the street.
Massive Cleveland Warehouse Fire
Crews responded to a large fire at a warehouse on Cleveland’s west side Wednesday morning. It’s not clear what caused the fire, located at A.J. Rose Manufacturing on W. 38th Street, but smoke and flames could be seen shooting from the building at about 9:30 a.m. on Wednesday. Just after 10 a.m., the fire department reported the fire was under control.
From the Conspiracy Archives
Operation Paperclip Grants Nazis Immunity and Brings Them to the U.S. After WWII
Operation Paperclip was a secret United States intelligence program in which more than 1,600 German scientists, engineers, and technicians were taken from the former Nazi Germany to the U.S. for government employment after the end of World War II in Europe, between 1945 and 1959.
One of our main interests was securing rocket scientists because we were struggling to succeed in that area. After immigrating people like Werner Von Braun, our space program dominated the world.
In return for their knowledge and expertise, we granted active members of the Nazi party who were culpable in war crimes immunity and residence in the United States.
The consequences still reverberate through out nation.
The Good News
3D Printed Batteries?
It seems like a new Silicon Valley startup could change the face of the battery industry forever by utilizing 3D printers to print solid-state batteries. Solid-state batteries have advantages over lithium-ion because they aren’t flammable, they’re more easily recycled, work in extreme cold, and have greater energy density.