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Hegseth meets with moderate Sen. Collins as he lobbies for key votes in the SenateStrong, Norway, Oakland schools among grant recipients
A construction executive involved in illegal contributions to New York City Mayor Eric Adams' campaign is poised to plead guilty, according to court documents revealed on Monday. As the Democrat prepares for a pivotal April trial amidst his re-election bid, the development could impact the legal proceedings significantly. Erden Arkan, under federal scrutiny for orchestrating 'straw' donations to Adams' 2021 campaign, has signaled his intent to admit conspiracy to commit wire fraud. This plea could strengthen the prosecution's case set to commence on April 21. Despite repeated requests, representatives for Adams and Arkan declined to comment. Earlier, Adams pleaded not guilty to charges linked to high-value gifts from Turkish officials, aimed at influencing city decisions. As former President-elect Donald Trump suggests a potential pardon post-inauguration, the political ramifications of this case continue to unfold. (With inputs from agencies.)WASHINGTON — The House passed a $895 billion measure Wednesday that authorizes a 1% increase in defense spending this fiscal year and would give a double-digit pay raise to about half of the enlisted service members in the military. The bill is traditionally strongly bipartisan, but some Democratic lawmakers opposed the inclusion of a ban on transgender medical treatments for children of military members if such treatment could result in sterilization. The bill passed by a vote of 281-140 and next moves to the Senate, where lawmakers sought a bigger boost in defense spending than the current measure allows. The Pentagon and the surrounding area is seen Jan. 26, 2020, from the air in Washington. Lawmakers are touting the bill's 14.5% pay raise for junior enlisted service members and a 4.5% increase for others as key to improving the quality of life for those serving in the U.S. military. Those serving as junior enlisted personnel are in pay grades that generally track with their first enlistment term. Lawmakers said service member pay failed to remain competitive with the private sector, forcing many military families to rely on food banks and government assistance programs to put food on the table. The bill also provides significant new resources for child care and housing. "No service member should have to live in squalid conditions and no military family should have to rely on food stamps to feed their children, but that's exactly what many of our service members are experiencing, especially the junior enlisted," said Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Ala., chairman of the House Armed Services Committee. "This bill goes a long way to fixing that." The bill sets key Pentagon policy that lawmakers will attempt to fund through a follow-up appropriations bill. The overall spending tracks the numbers established in a 2023 agreement that then-Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., reached with President Joe Biden to increase the nation's borrowing authority and avoid a federal default in exchange for spending restraints. Many senators wanted to increase defense spending about $25 billion above what was called for in that agreement, but those efforts failed. Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., who is expected to serve as the next chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said the overall spending level was a "tremendous loss for our national defense," though he agreed with many provisions in the bill. "We need to make a generational investment to deter the Axis of Aggressors. I will not cease work with my congressional colleagues, the Trump administration, and others until we achieve it," Wicker said. Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., speaks with reporters Nov. 21 on Capitol Hill in Washington. House Republicans don't want to go above the McCarthy-Biden agreement for defense spending and are looking to go way below it for many nondefense programs. They are also focused on cultural issues. The bill prohibits funding for teaching critical race theory in the military and prohibits TRICARE health plans from covering gender dysphoria treatment for children under 18 if that treatment could result in sterilization. Rep. Adam Smith of Washington state, the ranking Democratic member of the House Armed Services Committee, said minors dealing with gender dysphoria is a "very real problem." He said the treatments available, including puberty blockers and hormone therapy, proved effective at helping young people dealing with suicidal thoughts, anxiety and depression. "These treatments changed their lives and in many cases saved their lives," Smith said. "And in this bill, we decided we're going to bar service members' children from having access to that." Smith said the number of minors in service member families receiving transgender medical care extends into the thousands. He could have supported a study asking medical experts to determine whether such treatments are too often used, but a ban on health insurance coverage went too far. He said Speaker Mike Johnson's office insisted on the ban and said the provision "taints an otherwise excellent piece of legislation." Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, called the ban a step in the right direction, saying, "I think these questions need to be pulled out of the debate of defense, so we can get back to the business of defending the United States of America without having to deal with social engineering debates." Smith said he agrees with Roy that lawmakers should be focused on the military and not on cultural conflicts, "and yet, here it is in this bill." House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., responds to reporters Dec. 6 during his weekly news conference at the Capitol in Washington. Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, the House Democratic leader, said his team did not tell Democrats how to vote on the bill. "There's a lot of positive things in the National Defense Authorization Act that were negotiated in a bipartisan way, and there are some troubling provisions in a few areas as well," Jeffries said. The defense policy bill also looks to strengthen deterrence against China. It calls for investing $15.6 billion to build military capabilities in the Indo-Pacific region. The Biden administration requested about $10 billion. On Israel, the bill, among other things, includes an expansion of U.S. joint military exercises with Israel and a prohibition on the Pentagon citing casualty data from Hamas. The defense policy bill is one of the final measures that lawmakers view as a must-pass before making way for a new Congress in January. Rising threats from debt collectors against members of the U.S. armed forces are undermining national security, according to data from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), a federal watchdog that protects consumer rights. To manage the impact of financial stress on individual performance, the Defense Department dedicates precious resources to improving financial literacy, so service members know the dangers of notorious no-credit-check loans. “The financial well-being of service members and their families is one of the Department’s top priorities,” said Andrew Cohen, the director of financial readiness in the Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense at the Pentagon. But debt collectors are gaining ground. Last quarter, debt collection complaints by U.S. military service members increased 24% , and attempts to collect on “debts not owed” surged 40%. Complaints by service members against debt collectors for deceptive practices ballooned from 1,360 in the fourth quarter of 2023 to 1,833 in the first quarter of 2024. “There’s a connection between the financial readiness and the readiness of a service member to perform their duty,” said Jim Rice, Assistant Director, Office of Servicemember Affairs at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Laws exist to protect the mission readiness of U.S. troops from being compromised by threats and intimidation, but debt collectors appear to be violating them at an alarming pace. “If they’re threatening to call your commander or get your security clearance revoked, that’s illegal,” says Deborah Olvera, financial readiness manager at Wounded Warriors Project, and a military spouse who’s been harassed herself by a collection agency that tried to extort money from her for a debt she didn’t owe. But after she requested the name of the original creditor, she never heard from them again. “The financial well-being of service members and their families is one of the Department’s top priorities.” —Andrew Cohen, Director of Financial Readiness at the Pentagon Under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, it’s illegal for debt collectors to threaten to contact your boss or have you arrested because it violates your financial privacy. The FDCPA also prohibits debt collectors from making false, deceptive, or misleading representations in connection with the collection of a debt, even for borrowers with bad credit scores. But according to the data, debt collectors are increasingly ignoring those rules. “Debt collection continues to be one of the top consumer complaint categories,” said a spokesperson at the Federal Trade Commission. The commission released a report earlier this year revealing that consumers were scammed $10 billion in 2023, a new benchmark for fraud losses. In his book Debt: The First 5,000 Years, David Graeber argues that debt often creates a relationship that can feel more oppressive than systems of hierarchy, like slavery or caste systems because it starts by presuming equality between the debtor and the creditor. When the debtor falls into arrears, that equality is then destroyed. This sense of betrayal and the subsequent imbalance of power leads to widespread resentment toward lenders. Photo Credit: Olena Yakobchuk / Shutterstock The debt collector reportedly harassing military service members most was Resurgent Capital Services, a subsidiary of collection giant Sherman Financial Group. The company tacks on accrued interest and junk fees and tries to collect on debts purchased for pennies on the dollar from cable companies, hospitals, and credit card companies, among others. Sherman Financial Group is run by billionaire Benjamin Navarro, who has a reported net worth of $1.5 billion, according to Forbes. Sherman Financial also owns subprime lender Credit One Bank and LVNV Funding, which outsource collections to Resurgent Capital. According to CFPB data, the second worst offender is CL Holdings, the parent company of debt-buyer Jefferson Capital Systems. The company has also been named in numerous complaints to the Better Business Bureau for alleged violations of the FDCPA, such as failing to properly validate debts or update credit reports with accurate information. Under the leadership of CEO David Burton, Jefferson Capital Systems is a wholly-owned subsidiary of CompuCredit Corporation, which markets subprime credit cards under the names Aspire, Majestic, and others. The third most referenced debt collector is publicly traded Portfolio Recovery Associates [NASDAQ: PRAA], which was forced to pay $27 million in penalties for making false representations about debts, initiating lawsuits without proper documentation, and other violations. Portfolio Recovery Associates is run by CEO Vikram Atal. Fourth place for alleged worst offender goes to Encore Capital Group [NASDAQ ECPG], which was required to pay $42 million in consumer refunds and a $10 million penalty for violating the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. Encore collects under its subsidiary Midland Credit Management Group. These debt collectors all operate under a veritable shell game of company and brand names, almost none of which are disclosed on their websites, sending consumers on a wild goose chase to try and figure out how they’re related to each other. But despite their attempts to hide their tracks behind a smoke screen of subsidiaries, a leopard can’t change its spots, and the CFPB complaint database makes it harder for them to try. Photo Credit: Bumble Dee / Shutterstock Although widely considered a consumer-friendly state, complaints spiked most in California, which saw a 188% increase in complaints filed from the fourth quarter of 2023 to the first quarter of 2024. California is home to 157,367 military personnel, making it the most populous state for active-duty service members. The second-largest increase in debt collection complaints was in Texas, which saw a 66% jump from the fourth quarter of 2023 to the first quarter of 2024. The U.S. Department of Defense reports 111,005 service members stationed in the Lone Star State, which is the third-most populous state for active-duty military. The rising trends do not correlate to the number of military personnel by state. Complaints against debt collectors in Virginia, the second most populous state with 126,145 active duty personnel, decreased by 29% in the same quarter-over-quarter period. And complaints filed quarter-over-quarter in North Carolina, the fifth most populous state with 91,077 military personnel, decreased by 3% in the same period. The third largest percentage increase in debt collection complaints was from service members stationed in Maryland, where alleged harassment reports jumped 112% from the fourth quarter of 2023 to the first quarter of 2024. Maryland ranks number 12 with just 28,059 active duty service members. Fourth place goes to Ohio – the 28th most populous active-duty state – where complaints doubled, followed by Arizona – the 15th most populous military state – where complaints were up 70% in the same quarter-over-quarter period. Photo Credit: PeopleImages.com - Yuri A / Shutterstock In 2007, Congress passed the Military Lending Act to cap the cost of credit to a 36% annual percentage rate, inclusive of junk fees and late charges, for active duty military service members. That rate is still considerably higher than average credit card rates, which range from 8% for borrowers with excellent credit scores to as high as 36% for borrowers with bad credit. But lenders still get hauled into court for violating the MLA. Don Hankey, the billionaire subprime auto lender who funded Donald Trump’s $175 million appeal bond , is among those violators. His company, Westlake Financial, which markets high-interest car loans for bad credit, has been sued twice by the Department of Justice for harassing military service members. In 2017, the DoJ alleged Hankey’s Westlake Financial illegally repossessed at least 70 vehicles owned by military service members. Westlake Financial paid $700,000 to settle the charges. In 2022, Westlake Financial paid $250,000 for allegedly cheating U.S. troops out of interest rates they were legally entitled to. Westlake Financial continues to receive complaints from military service members alleging abusive debt collection practices on its no-credit-check loans. A steady year-over-year increase in the number of complaints filed against Westlake Financial continued from 2020 to 2023. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau data shows a 13% increase in the number of complaints against the company from 2020 to 2021, a 28% increase from 2021 to 2022, and a torrential 119% surge from 2022 to 2023. The numbers suggest systemic complaint-handling processes and inadequate customer service resources. Photo Credit: Cynthia Shirk / Shutterstock On May 16, 2024, a deceptively named predatory lending industry front group dubbed the Community Financial Services Association of America (CFSA) lost a legal attempt to defund the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. In an effort to deprive Americans of essential consumer protections, the lobby group argued that the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s funding structure was unconstitutional. But the Supreme Court denied its claim. In a 7-2 ruling, the Court held that the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s funding structure is indeed constitutional. That means the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau cannot be defunded, but it does not mean the agency cannot be defanged. The New York Times suggested that Hankey’s incentive to finance Trump’s $175 million bond could have been a reciprocity pledge to neuter the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau if Trump wins the upcoming U.S. presidential election. If Trump wins a second term, he could replace Consumer Financial Protection Bureau director Rohit Chopra, an American consumer advocate, with a predatory lending advocate. In 2020, the Trump Administration secured a Supreme Court ruling that made it easier for the president to fire the head of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. The ruling struck down previous restrictions on when a president can fire the bureau’s director. Like other federal agencies, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has also been confronted for overstepping its bounds, pushing too far, and acting unfairly against entities it regulates. Photo Credit: Lux Blue / Shutterstock Seasonality and rising interest rates do not explain the increase in debt collection complaints from service members. The surge in complaints is not tied to predictable seasonal fluctuations or changes in interest rates. The increase in debt collection complaints by service members may point to underlying systemic issues, such as aggressive and predatory debt collection practices that exploit the unique financial vulnerabilities of service members, who face frequent relocations and deployments. Debt Complaints by Service Members The 24% spike in debt collection complaints exhibits no correlation to fluctuations in interest rates. 30-Year Fixed Mortgage Rates Pandemic stimulus checks were also not a factor. COVID-19 relief benefit checks went through three major rounds during the pandemic. The final round of Economic Impact Payments went out in March 2021 . To better understand the rising trend of debt collection complaints, we calculated the increase in the total number of complaints and the percentage increase quarter-over-quarter. For example, New Jersey has the second largest percentage increase in complaints quarter-over-quarter, but the total number of complaints increased by just 16. The data for this study was sourced from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) complaint database. The dataset specifically targeted complaints filed by U.S. military service members, identified using the tag “Servicemember” within Q4 2023 and Q1 2024. Readers can find the detailed research methodology underlying this news story in the accompanying section here . For complete results, see U.S. Troops Face Mounting Threats from Predatory Debt Collectors on BadCredit.org . Homelessness reached record levels in 2023, as rents and home prices continued to rise in most of the U.S. One group was particularly impacted: people who have served in the U.S. military. "This time last year, we knew the nation was facing a deadly public health crisis," Jeff Olivet, executive director of the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness, said in a statement about the 2023 numbers. He said the latest homelessness estimates from the Department of Housing and Urban Development "confirms the depth of the crisis." At least 35,000 veterans were experiencing homelessness in 2023, according to HUD. While that's about half of what it was in 2009—when the organization began collecting data—things have plateaued in recent years despite active efforts to get that number to zero. Although they make up just 6.6% of the total homeless population, veterans are more likely to be at risk of homelessness than Americans overall. Of every 10,000 Americans, 20 were experiencing homelessness. Of veterans living in the United States, that number jumps to 22, HUD data shows. Complicated by bureaucracy, family dynamics, and prejudice, the path from serving in the military to homelessness is a long one. According to a 2022 study by Yale School of Medicine researchers, homelessness typically occurs within four years of leaving the military, as veterans must contend with the harsh reality of finding a job in a world where employers struggle to see how skills on the battlefield transfer to a corporate environment. These days, veterans also deal with historically high rent and home prices, which causes many to rely on family generosity while figuring out a game plan. Stacker examined academic studies, analyzed government data, and spoke with members of the Biden administration, experts, and former members of the armed forces to see the struggles members of the military face when leaving the armed forces. The Department of Veterans Affairs offers transition assistance to the roughly 250,000 service members who leave each year. However, those programs can be burdensome and complex to navigate, especially for those who don't have a plan for post-military life. Only a small portion of veterans have jobs lined up when they leave, according to 2019 Pew Research. Many also choose to live with relatives until they get on their feet, which can be longer than anticipated. Some former service members are unsure what kind of career they'd like to pursue and may have to get further education or training, Carl Castro, director of the Military and Veteran Programs at the Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work at the University of Southern California, told Stacker. "It takes years for that kind of transition," Castro said. Many have trouble finding a job after leaving the service, even if they are qualified. Some employers carry misconceptions about those who have served. A 2020 analysis from the journal Human Resource Management Review found that some veterans face hiring discrimination due to negative stereotypes that lead hiring managers to write them off as a poor culture fit. Underemployment, or working low-wage jobs below their skill level, is also an issue. While the unemployment rate for veterans was 3% in March 2024, a study released by Penn State at the end of 2023 found three years after leaving the service, 61% of veterans said they were underemployed because of perceived skill mismatches . This phenomenon can have long-term economic effects, and eventually, that frustration can boil over, strain relationships, and potentially lead to housing instability. Working, especially a low-wage job, is not protection against homelessness. A 2021 study from the University of Chicago found half of people living in homeless shelters and 2 in 5 unsheltered people were employed, full or part-time. For veterans, housing costs certainly play a role, but those who leave the military also face systemic barriers. "It's worrying there are people that continue to fall through the cracks," said Jeanette Yih Harvie, a research associate at Syracuse University's D'Aniello Institute for Veterans and Military Families. Just under a quarter of adults experiencing homelessness have a severe mental illness , according to 2022 HUD survey data. They are also likely to have chronic illnesses but are unable to maintain preventative care, which only exacerbates these problems. Veterans facing homelessness are more likely to have experienced trauma , either before or after joining the military, according to Yale researchers who analyzed the 2019-2020 National Health and Resilience in Veterans Study. Childhood trauma was among the most significant commonalities among vets who become homeless. Substance use disorder is also widespread and can indicate an undiagnosed mental illness . Racial and ethnic disparities are at play, too. A 2023 study in the Journal of Psychiatric Research showed that Hispanic and Black veterans were more likely to screen positive for PTSD, and Hispanic veterans were more likely to report having suicidal ideation. Overall, access to mental health care has improved in the last decade or so. In December 2023, the VA announced it would open nine additional counseling centers. However, the stigma of getting help remains, especially after years of being conditioned to be self-reliant and pull oneself up by their bootstraps. That help, in the form of public policy, is slowly working to catch up to the need. In 2023, the Biden administration invested millions into research programs and studies on suicide prevention by the VA office in addition to a proposed $16 billion to improve quality and lower-cost mental health care services for veterans. And, in February of this year, HUD and the VA announced they would give up to $14 million in vouchers to public housing agencies for veterans experiencing homelessness. The program would also offer case management and other services. Still, with a culture that pushes people to keep going, it can be challenging for servicemembers to take advantage of these opportunities, Harvie said. "When you've been doing that for the last 15 or 20 years, it's difficult to stop and say, 'I'm the person that needs help.'" Story editing by Kelly Glass. Copy editing by Kristen Wegrzyn. Get Government & Politics updates in your inbox! Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter.
House approves $895B defense bill with military pay raise, ban on transgender care for minors( MENAFN - Daily News Egypt) Ali El-Ghamrawy, Chairperson of the Egyptian Drug Authority, hosted Saudi Minister of industry and Mineral Resources Bandar Ibrahim Alkhorayef and his delegation at the Authority's headquarters in Mansouria to discuss enhancing bilateral collaboration in the Pharmaceutical industry. The meeting focused on expanding cooperation in pharmaceutical production and the localization of active pharmaceutical raw materials, with the goal of achieving mutual benefits for both nations. The discussion highlighted opportunities to further integrate the economies of Egypt and Saudi Arabia, contributing to their shared strategic objectives. El-Ghamrawy emphasized Egypt's long-standing history in pharmaceutical manufacturing and its robust infrastructure, positioning the country as a regional leader in the sector. He noted Egypt's achievement of 91.3% self-sufficiency in medicines, with an ambitious target to achieve full self-sufficiency in plasma by 2025. Additionally, he pointed out the country's 170+ pharmaceutical factories, known for their advanced technological capabilities, which supply both local and international markets. The Egyptian Drug Authority's chairperson also expressed eagerness to strengthen ties with the Saudi Food and Drug Authority in areas of mutual interest. In turn, Minister Alkhorayef reiterated Saudi Arabia's commitment to deepening cooperation with Egypt in pharmaceutical manufacturing and raw material localization. He emphasized the importance of this partnership in ensuring safe, reliable medicines for both nations. Alkhorayef also discussed the potential for expanding into the African market, which is rapidly growing and increasingly focused on localizing pharmaceutical production. Highlighting Saudi Arabia's ambitions in the pharmaceutical, biological, and chemical industries, Alkhorayef noted the value of Egypt's expertise in these areas. He underscored the potential for increased investments, trade, and strengthened relations between the two countries, with a focus on boosting the pharmaceutical sector. He welcomed the ongoing collaboration between the Egyptian and Saudi drug authorities to facilitate the exchange of pharmaceutical products and promote industry growth. MENAFN17122024000153011029ID1109005062 Legal Disclaimer: MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.
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COLUMBUS, Ohio – Lawmakers could soon send Gov. Mike DeWine legislation to dramatically limit the circumstances in which courts can suspend Ohioans’ driver’s licenses for drug offenses or legal debts. Senate Bill 37 would stop judges from suspending driver’s licenses as a punishment for truancy from school; drug crimes that don’t involve a vehicle; failure to pay court costs; and in some cases, failure to pay child support. The bill reflects thinking from backers across the ideological spectrum that restricting a person’s mobility for offenses that have nothing to do with driving only make it harder for people to get to work, and don’t support any criminal justice interest. The suspensions are especially problematic in Ohio’s rural areas, where good jobs are often a drive away and public transportation is lacking. Supporters of the bill include the free marketeers of Americans for Prosperity; the American Civil Liberties Union; the Ohio Poverty Law Center; the Legal Aid Society of Cleveland; the Cuyahoga County Public Defender and others. The Ohio Prosecuting Attorneys Association were the only group to explicitly identify themselves as opponents. But others, including judges and county child support agencies, said they want to keep license suspensions in some instances as a tool to force debtors to pay up. The legislation passed unanimously in the Senate in May and 84-4 in the House on Wednesday. The House, however, facing the nearing end of the legislative session, stuffed the bill with unrelated amendments running the gamut between a specialty license plate program and another requiring distribution of feminine hygiene products in women’s prisons. The two chambers must agree on a final version before it goes to the governor for his signature or veto. All legislation must pass by year’s to reach DeWine’s desk before it must restart the legislative process next year. Lawmakers will hold their final scheduled legislative sessions next week. More than 1 million Ohioans had a driver’s license suspended between 2016 and 2020, according to a report from the Legal Aid Society of Cleveland . For 60% of them, it’s over debts, cumulatively worth about $920 million in any given year. The debt-related suspensions trap the poorest drivers in a feedback loop: a minor traffic stop incurs fees, unpaid fees turn into a suspension, and reinstatement costs money that has become harder to earn without a license. SB37 removes the general authorization for courts to suspend a license for drug offenses. Judges can still do so if the offender was driving under the influence or using a vehicle in the commission of the offense. The bill eliminates the option of offenders submitting their license as a form of bail, which requires them to repay all fines before they get it back. It gives more latitude for drivers who owe child support money to keep their licenses. And it eases, in favor of drivers, the calculation and penalties behind serial convictions for failure to provide proof of insurance. The bill’s bipartisan sponsors from Cincinnati – Sen. Lou Blessing, a Republican, and Sen. Catherine Ingram, a Democrat – emphasized two aspects of the bill while presenting it to lawmakers. For one, it removes the possibility that an offense like simple drug possession becomes the basis for a suspended license. For two, it sets restrictions on reinstatement fees for a failure to provide proof of insurance, which can include a $600 penalty and two-year suspension. At $15 an hour, they noted, the $600 is two week’s pay. “The goal of Senate Bill 37 is not to eliminate consequences for people’s actions, but our current system of penalties often sets people up for failure without a chance to make better choices for themselves,” they said. “If passed, SB37 could help people restore and reform their lives instead of entangling them in a lifetime of fees and excessive penalties.” As of 2020, nearly 259,000 Ohio drivers had suspended drivers’ licenses, according to the Legal Aid Society. Sondra Bryson, an attorney for the organization, said she regularly assists clients filing for bankruptcy to reinstate their suspended licenses. Bankruptcy, however, can’t reinstate a license suspended over failure to pay court fines. “I often see clients who are in active substance use recovery, trying to get back to work as part of their rehabilitation, but can’t due to debt related suspensions,” she said. “These are folks who are working hard to get jobs, obtain housing, and maintain their sobriety. I end up turning away those who only have license forfeitures because bankruptcy isn’t going to do much to help them get their license back.” But Lou Tobin of the Ohio Prosecuting Attorneys Association said that a suspended license can be part of the “totality of the circumstances” that an officer uses to gauge whether a driver is engaged in other criminal activity. “We are still opposed to the changes regarding license suspensions for drug offenses,” he said. “These are entirely discretionary suspensions and the law allows judges to grant driving privileges for work, school, treatment, or any other reason the judge feels is appropriate. These suspensions are rarely imposed when a vehicle is not involved in the offense and when a suspension is imposed it almost always comes with driving privileges.” Paul Pfieifer, a retired Ohio Supreme Court justice and current lobbyist for an association of state judges, offered limited criticism of the bill, asking lawmakers to allow suspensions for failing to pay court costs. While rare, he said they are “important tools to maintain as a last resort to ensure that people pay the fees.” And Amy Roehrenbeck, executive director of an organization representing county child support enforcement agencies, said keeping license suspensions on the table is required by federal rules. And child support, she said, is a duty and not just a debt. “Child support license suspension is an effective tool to bring in money for families in cases that otherwise would not receive support,” she said. Stories by Jake Zuckerman Ohio Lawmakers vote to ban use of AirTags for secret tracking, send bill to DeWine Bill forcing hospitals to administer ivermectin, other requested treatments nears finish line Lawmakers pass new guardrails against abusive defamation suits Jake Zuckerman covers state politics and policy for Cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer.PM Modi binding world in thread of peace, harmony through message of Lord Buddha: Adityanath
Walmart Begins Program That Has Employees Wear Bodycams For SafetyWhat's New Texas has announced a lawsuit this week against the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) seeking to prohibit transgender athletes from competing in women's sports. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton argues that allowing such participation misleads and deceives fans. Why It Matters Filed in a state district court in Lubbock, the lawsuit announced Sunday alleges that the NCAA's policies permitting transgender athletes in women's sports violate the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act. The law is intended to protect consumers from false advertising or deceptive practices, which the suit claims applies to the promotion of women's sports that may include transgender participants. The Texas lawsuit marks the latest effort by conservative lawmakers to challenge the participation of transgender athletes and pressure the NCAA to implement a ban. President-elect Donald Trump has expressed support for such measures, stating his intent to bar transgender athletes from competing. The lawsuit calls for an injunction to bar the NCAA from permitting transgender athletes to compete in women's sports within Texas or in events involving Texas programs. Alternatively, it asks the court to mandate that the NCAA cease labeling such events as "women's" sports if transgender athletes are allowed to participate. What To Know Paxton, in a statement, appeared to allude to the recent controversy surrounding San Jose State women's volleyball. This season, several teams forfeited matches against the Spartans, citing the presence of a transgender player on the roster. Last month, a federal court declined to bar the school from participating in the Mountain West Conference championship. The Associated Press has chosen not to name the player, as she has not publicly addressed her gender identity and declined an interview request through school representatives. The NCAA does not collect specific data on transgender athletes among its 544,000 competitors across 19,000 teams nationwide. Earlier this month, NCAA President Charlie Baker testified before Congress , stating that he was aware of fewer than 10 active NCAA athletes identifying as transgender. Since 2010, the NCAA has required transgender athletes assigned male at birth to undergo at least one year of testosterone suppression therapy before becoming eligible to compete on women's teams. Transgender athletes assigned female at birth who transitioned to male are permitted to compete on men's teams. However, those who undergo testosterone treatment are barred from competing on women's teams. Athletes must adhere to their sport's specific requirements for documented testosterone levels with compliance monitored at various points throughout the season. In 2022, the NCAA updated its policy to align with national sports governing bodies. Under the revised framework, if a sport's governing body lacks a transgender athlete policy, the rules default to those set by the sport's international federation. In the absence of an international policy, previously established Olympic criteria are applied. What People Are Saying "When people watch a women's volleyball game, for example, they expect to see women playing against other women, not biological males pretending to be something they are not," Paxton said in a statement . "Radical 'gender theory' has no place in college sports." Paxton accused the NCAA of "intentionally and knowingly jeopardizing the safety and wellbeing of women" by effectively transforming women's sports into "co-ed competitions." In a statement on Monday, the NCAA said : "College sports are the premier stage for women's sports in America, and while the NCAA does not comment on pending litigation, the Association and its members will continue to promote Title IX, make unprecedented investments in women's sports and ensure fair competition in all NCAA championships." Brooke Slusser , co-captain of the San Jose State volleyball team and one of the players who sued the Mountain West Conference over her teammate's participation, expressed support for the Texas lawsuit. "Hey NCAA, just in case you haven't realized yet this fight will just keep getting harder for you until you make a change!," Slusser wrote in a post on social media . What's Next It's currently unclear how the NCAA will respond to the lawsuit specifically. This article includes reporting from T he Associated Press.
Father of 8 steps into brand new smart home in Wimberley designed with his needs in mindEvery mouse is a little different—some accelerate faster than others, for example—and that can get annoying (and even disorienting) if you use one mouse at home and another at work. The Mac's mouse panel in System Settings lets you adjust things like tracking speed, sure, but changing the setting for one mouse changes it for all of them, meaning you can't really get the two devices to meet in the middle. LinearMouse is a free app that lets you choose different settings for every mouse and touchpad you connect to. This can help you solve the acceleration problem I just mentioned and also lets you do things like use natural scrolling on one device and not others. It can also customize all the buttons on your mouse. To get started, you need to download the application and launch it. You will be asked to grant Accessibility permission, which is necessary in order for the application to function. After that you can start configuring your devices. By default, the application will configure whichever device you've used most recently—you can configure a specific device instead by clicking the name of your current device in the top toolbar and unchecking the "Auto switch to the active device" option. Do that and you can choose which of your currently connected devices you want to configure. The app allow you to configure scrolling, pointer movement, and all the buttons on your mouse. The scrolling section has a modifier keys section that I particularly like, which allows you to do things like hold the Command key while scrolling to zoom in. The buttons section, meanwhile, can re-map the back and forward buttons your mouse may have so that it emulates the swiping motion on a trackpad. You might find that this allows you to use the buttons in more applications. There's also the ability to customize any button on your device to a wide variety of actions, from Mission Control to media playback. You can even trigger a Terminal command, if you want to get fancy. There's one more level of customization here. You can choose settings for any mouse that are specific to a particular application. So if you want to map the buttons on your mouse to do certain things while you're using a particular application, or playing a particular game, you can do that. You can also have your mouse behave differently on different displays. You might, for example, want your mouse to move faster on your giant widescreen without speeding it up on the smaller ones you sometimes use. That's possible. Basically, this is an application you can tweak endlessly to get exactly the experience you want. It's also completely free. Check it out if you wish your mouse worked differently.SEGA is bringing back one of the famed arcade-style fighting games that while it may not be mainstream, still has a massive cult following that is now excited for the recently announced "Virtua Fighter 5 REVO." This specific version is a remaster of the same game, "Virtua Fighter 5" that was first released in 2006, and this time, it will be available exclusively to PCs via Steam. That being said, this revival marks the first time after almost three decades since the game last released to the computer platform, particularly for Windows, but SEGA wants to bring the franchise back to life with this attempt. 'Virtua Fighter 5 REVO' Brings Remaster Game to PCs Japan's SEGA is back with another remaster of its famed gaming franchise with its announcement of the arrival of "Virtua Fighter 5 REVO" that will bring the renowned fighting game to PCs for the first time. The game is expected to arrive this Winter 2024 as per the recent announcement, but SEGA is yet to reveal the game's exact drop via Valve's Steam. This specific game is only a remaster of the... Isaiah RichardJACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Greg McGarity had reason to be concerned. The Gator Bowl president kept a watchful eye on College Football Playoff scenarios all season and understood the fallout might affect his postseason matchup in Jacksonville. What if the Southeastern Conference got five teams into the expanded CFP? What if the Atlantic Coast Conference landed three spots? It was a math problem that was impossible to truly answer, even into late November. Four first-round playoff games, which will end with four good teams going home without a bowl game, had the potential to shake up the system. The good news for McGarity and other bowl organizers: Adding quality teams to power leagues — Oregon to the Big Ten, Texas to the SEC and SMU to the ACC — managed to ease much of the handwringing. McGarity and the Gator Bowl ended up with their highest-ranked team, No. 16 Ole Miss, in nearly two decades. People are also reading... Nebraska transportation director: Expressway system won't be done until 2042 At the courthouse, Dec. 7, 2024 Camper total loss after fire north of Beatrice Spreading kindness one butterfly at a time 27-year-old Beatrice man sentenced for May assault Stabler scores 22 in Lady O's season opening win BPS receives a "good" classification Holiday lights travel through downtown Beatrice for annual parade Orangemen open season with win over Nebraska City P.E.O. sponsors Holiday Tour of Homes Missouri man sentenced for attempted sexual assault At the courthouse, Nov. 30, 2024 Community Players open holiday play Amie Just: This recruiting class marks the beginning of a new era — one without walk-ons Lonnie Meyer "It really didn't lessen our pool much at all," McGarity said. "The SEC bowl pool strengthened with the addition of Texas and Oklahoma. You knew they were going to push traditional SEC teams up or down. Texas ended up pushing just about everyone down." The long waiting game was the latest twist for non-CFP bowls that have become adept at dealing with change. Efforts to match the top teams came and went in the 1990s and first decade of this century before the CFP became the first actual tournament in major college football. It was a four-team invitational — until this year, when the 12-team expanded format meant that four quality teams would not be in the mix for bowl games after they lose next week in the first round. "There's been a lot of things that we've kind of had to roll with," said Scott Ramsey, president of the Music City Bowl in Nashville, Tennessee. "I don't think the extra games changed our selection model to much degree. We used to look at the New York's Six before this, and that was 12 teams out of the bowl mix. The 12-team playoff is pretty much the same." Ramsey ended up with No. 23 Missouri against Iowa in his Dec. 30 bowl. A lot of so-called lesser bowl games do have high-profile teams — the ReliaQuest Bowl has No. 11 Alabama vs. Michigan (a rematch of last year's CFP semifinal), Texas A&M and USC will play in the Las Vegas Bowl while No. 14 South Carolina and No. 15 Miami, two CFP bubble teams, ended up in separate bowls in Orlando. "The stress of it is just the fact that the CFP takes that opening weekend," Las Vegas Bowl executive director John Saccenti said. "It kind of condenses the calendar a little bit." Bowl season opens Saturday with the Cricket Celebration Bowl. The first round of the CFP runs Dec. 20-21. It remains to be seen whether non-CFP bowls will see an impact from the new dynamic. They will know more by 2026, with a planned bowl reset looming. It could include CFP expansion from 12 to 14 teams and significant tweaks to the bowl system. More on-campus matchups? More diversity among cities selected to host semifinal and championship games? And would there be a trickle-down effect for everyone else? Demand for non-playoff bowls remains high, according to ESPN, despite increased focus on the expanded CFP and more players choosing to skip season finales to either enter the NCAA transfer portal or begin preparations for the NFL draft. "There's a natural appetite around the holidays for football and bowl games," Kurt Dargis, ESPN's senior director of programming and acquisitions, said at Sports Business Journal's Intercollegiate Athletics Forum last week in Las Vegas. "People still want to watch bowl games, regardless of what's going on with the playoff. ... It's obviously an unknown now with the expanded playoff, but we really feel like it's going to continue." The current bowl format runs through 2025. What lies ahead is anyone's guess. Could sponsors start paying athletes to play in bowl games? Could schools include hefty name, image and likeness incentives for players participating in bowls? Would conferences be willing to dump bowl tie-ins to provide a wider range of potential matchups? Are bowls ready to lean into more edginess like Pop-Tarts has done with its edible mascot? The path forward will be determined primarily by revenue, title sponsors, TV demand and ticket sales. "The one thing I have learned is we're going to serve our partners," Saccenti said. "We're going to be a part of the system that's there, and we're going to try to remain flexible and make sure that we're adjusting to what's going on in the world of postseason college football." Get local news delivered to your inbox!
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This press release was issued on behalf of the news source (Tenorshare Co. Ltd.) who is solely responsibile for its accuracy, by Send2Press® Newswire . Information is believed accurate but not guaranteed. Story ID: S2P122917 APDF15TBLLI To view the original version, visit: https://www.send2press.com/wire/4ddig-christmas-sale-2024-enjoy-up-to-80-off-on-top-software-products/ © 2024 Send2Press® Newswire, a press release distribution service, Calif., USA. Disclaimer: This press release content was not created by nor issued by the Associated Press (AP). Content below is unrelated to this news story.By Scott DiSavino NEW YORK (Reuters) -Oil prices climbed about 2% on Friday to settle at a three-week high, on expectations that additional sanctions on Russia and Iran could tighten supplies and that lower interest rates in Europe and the U.S. could boost fuel demand. Brent futures rose $1.08, or 1.5%, to settle at $74.49 a barrel. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude rose $1.27, or 1.8%, to settle at $71.29. That was Brent’s highest close since Nov. 22 and put the contract up 5% for the week. WTI posted a 6% gain for the week and closed at its highest since Nov. 7. “This strength is being driven by ... expectations of tighter sanctions against Russia and Iran, more supportive Chinese economic guidance, Mideast political havoc and prospects for a Fed (U.S. Federal Reserve) rate cut next week,” analysts at energy advisory firm Ritterbusch and Associates said in a note. European Union ambassadors agreed to impose a 15th package of sanctions on Russia this week over its war against Ukraine, targeting its shadow tanker fleet. The U.S. is considering similar moves. Britain, France and Germany told the United Nations Security Council they were ready if necessary to trigger a so-called “snap back” of all international sanctions on Iran to prevent the country from acquiring nuclear weapons. Chinese data this week showed crude imports in the world’s top importer grew annually in November for the first time in seven months. They are set to stay elevated into early 2025 as refiners opt to lift more supply from top exporter Saudi Arabia, drawn by lower prices, while independent refiners rush to use their quota. The International Energy Agency (IEA) increased its forecast for 2025 global oil demand growth to 1.1 million barrels per day (bpd) from 990,000 bpd last month, citing China’s stimulus measures. New bank lending in China rose by far less than expected in November, highlighting weak credit demand in the world’s second-largest economy as policymakers pledge to roll out more stimulus measures. OIL SUPPLY AND DEMAND The IEA forecast an oil surplus for next year, when non-OPEC+ nations are set to boost supply by about 1.5 million bpd, driven by Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Guyana and the U.S. OPEC+ includes the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and allies like Russia. The United Arab Emirates, an OPEC member, plans to reduce oil shipments early next year as OPEC+ seeks tighter discipline, according to Bloomberg. The price of crude sold to China from Iran, another OPEC member, rose to the highest in years as U.S. sanctions have tightened shipping capacity and boosted logistics costs. U.S. President-elect Donald Trump’s incoming administration is expected to ramp up pressure on Iran. Investors are also betting the Fed will cut U.S. rates next week, with further reductions next year, after data showed weekly claims for unemployment insurance unexpectedly rose. U.S. import prices barely rose in November as rising food and fuel costs were largely offset by decreases elsewhere, thanks to a strong dollar. Four European Central Bank policymakers backed further interest rate cuts provided inflation settles at the bank’s 2%-goal as expected. Lower interest rates can boost economic growth and demand for oil. (Reporting by Scott DiSavino in New York and Ahmad Ghaddar in Londonl; additional reporting by Florence Tan and Siyi Liu in Singapore; Editing by Clarence Fernandez, Frances Kerry, Alexander Smith, Louise Heavens and David Gregorio) Disclaimer: This report is auto generated from the Reuters news service. 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