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The Illinois State Board of Education recently released school report cards. They show how Illinois, each school and each district in the state are doing based on a wide range of goals like attendance, graduation rate and test scores. Effingham Unit 40 is made up of a preschool, Early Learning Center (kindergarten), South Side Grade School (first and second grade), Central Grade School (second through fifth grade), a junior high and a high school with a total enrollment of 2,195. The preschool and kindergarten did not receive a designation, but the other four schools received a commendable designation this school year. Superintendent Andy Johnson has been in his current position for three years. He believes Unit 40 performed “very well” on the science assessments; they were 63% proficient. However, he’d like to see the district do better in math, where 26.3% of students are proficient, and believes they did “okay” in English-Language Arts (ELA), where 38.2% of students met or exceeded the benchmark. “I think we do a lot well. I’m extremely pleased with the sense of importance of a child’s life, meeting every aspect of their life. I think from a social-emotional standpoint, we really take the heart, the importance of making sure that every child feels valued and appreciated,” said Johnson. “I think that goes a long way leading into the academic side and athletic side and extracurricular side.” The schools are also currently working on offering more programs than they currently do, especially for those who haven’t found one they’re passionate about. One way the district is doing this is by sending out exploration surveys to local businesses in the community. “They can offer up some suggestions and things that maybe we, as a school district, should consider offering opportunities for our kiddos for them to grow in different areas that those businesses might need,” said Johnson. When asked about the current chronic absenteeism rate of 18.5%, Johnson explained how the high school is always looking for ways to emphasize the importance of coming to school. He mentioned how the number jumped during the Covid-19 pandemic, but since 2022, it’s been decreasing. In 2022, chronic absenteeism was at 22.9%. In 2023, it dropped to 18.9%. “Whatever we’re doing is trending back in the direction of lessening that chronic absenteeism,” said Johnson. “From my standpoint as a superintendent, the biggest thing that you can do to try to encourage kiddos to come to school is [to] create a... culturally inviting environment, [so] that they want to be here.” According to the Report Card, the four-year high school graduation rate sits at 85.1%. Johnson explained how High School Principal Kurt Roberts is working with the school counselors to implement additional programs and come up with a plan by analyzing the strengths and weaknesses of the different programs in the school. “I believe that we should be seeking ways to go from good to great in every aspect of what we’re involved in,” said Johnson.Brits will watch FIVE hours of telly a day over Christmas and ‘lie’ to loved ones to avoid socialising for a boxsetTrade Setup for November 25: Nifty to see a gap-up on Monday post Mahayuti win? - CNBCTV18
Russia says oil spill 'critical' as Crimea declares emergency
With 2024 nearly over, the Dow Jones Industrial Average will almost certainly underperform the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq Composite for the year. Over the last five years, the Dow has produced a respectable 68.2% total return, but that's quite a bit lower than the S&P 500's 102.8% or the Nasdaq's 132.7% total return during that period. Still, Dow stocks can be solid buys for folks looking for quality, blue chip companies that pay dividends. Many Dow stocks are industry leaders and have proven track records for growing earnings. Because these companies are more valued for what they are today rather than for what they could become in the future, they can be less volatile when investors are less willing to pay up for growth stocks. Folks looking to generate passive income from Dow stocks may want to take a closer look at dividend stocks McDonald's ( MCD -0.40% ) , The Home Depot ( HD -0.58% ) , and Chevron ( CVX 0.01% ) . Investing $3,500 into each Dow stock should help generate just over $325 in passive income in 2025 -- and likely even more dividend income in the future -- if all three companies continue to raise their payouts every year. Here's why all three companies are balanced buys now. The McDonald's rewards program can help the company kick into a new growth gear McDonald's has a unique business model where it owns and operates around just 5% of its stores and franchises the rest. McDonald's collects royalties and rent from its franchisees, and in turn, they get to participate in a global brand. The more franchises that buy into the system, the faster McDonald's can expand globally. But McDonald's has been in a bit of a sales funk lately. The company reported flat systemwide sales in the recent quarter, just a 2% increase in consolidated revenue on a constant currency basis, and a 1% decrease in diluted earnings per share. Systemwide sales refer to sales from all restaurants, which provides a good reading on how the company's over 40,000 locations are performing. McDonald's corporate doesn't collect systemwide sales, but instead books revenue from its owned and operated stores and franchise fees. McDonald's responded to inflationary pressures with price increases, which received customer pushback in recent quarters. It also faced an E. coli outbreak in October , which damaged sales. The outbreak's effect will be reflected in McDonald's upcoming quarterly results. Despite the challenges, McDonald's remains a compelling investment opportunity for patient investors. The company has raised its dividend for 48 consecutive years and yields 2.4%. The price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio is at 25.8 -- slightly below the five-year median P/E of 26.5 -- indicating that McDonald's is a decent value. McDonald's growth has been fairly lackluster in recent years, but there are encouraging signs that its loyalty program is gaining momentum. McDonald's is growing its loyal customer base through mobile ordering and pickup and a sophisticated rewards program. When location services are turned on, the app automatically defaults to the closest store, making it easy to order on the go. Given the massive growth in the loyalty program in recent years, McDonald's is guiding for 250 million active users by the end of 2027. Loyalty customers tend to visit McDonald's more frequently and order more per visit. Growing the loyalty program allows McDonald's to boost engagement without relying so much on price increases. Add it all up, and McDonald's stands out as a solid dividend stock to buy in 2025. Home Depot will recover from its recent slowdown Like McDonald's, Home Depot has been in a slowdown. Home Depot benefits when there is a high volume of home sales, and when folks spend money on home improvement projects. Higher interest rates have inflated borrowing costs, which has led to higher mortgage interest rates and a lower volume of home sales. U.S. Existing Home Sales data by YCharts. EPS = earnings per share. As you can see in the chart, Home Depot's earnings have been going practically straight up for most of the last 15 years, but they've taken a noticeable dip over the last couple of years. Part of the dip is from the macro factors discussed. A surge in purchases and low interest rates during the pandemic's height pulled forward sales at Home Depot -- amplifying the slowdown in 2023 and 2024. 2025 could mark a turning point for the company, but don't expect a massive rebound in Home Depot's performance right away. The Federal Reserve may slow the pace of rate cuts , which could pressure the housing market for longer. Higher interest rates for longer could lead to lower consumer spending. Despite the near-term uncertainty, Home Depot is a solid business at a good value with a growing dividend. Home Depot sports a reasonable P/E of 26.8. It has increased its dividend by around five-fold over the last decade as the business has experienced rapid growth. With a yield of 2.3% and a track record of market-beating returns, Home Depot is a balanced Dow blue chip dividend stock to buy now. Chevron can support its dividend, even at much lower oil prices Despite a modest gain in the S&P 500 over the last month, Chevron and the broader energy sector have nose-dived by over 11%. West Texas Intermediate crude oil prices, the U.S. benchmark, are hovering around their lowest levels in a year. The possibility of the Federal Reserve holding interest rates higher for longer could slow economic growth -- affecting oil and gas demand. Despite these challenges, Chevron is a compelling dividend stock to buy now. Chevron has a sizable yield of 4.6% and 37 consecutive years of dividend raises. Most importantly, Chevron has the margin of error needed to cover its dividend and capital spending plans even if oil prices fall. The company has gradually lowered its cost of production through technological advancements and by investing in high-margin regions like the Permian Basin. One area of uncertainty is Chevron's deal with Hess . On Oct. 23, 2023, Chevron announced a deal to acquire Hess in an all-stock transaction valued at $53 billion. But the deal has been delayed due to a dispute over contractual language with ExxonMobil and regulatory pressures. On Sept. 30, the Federal Trade Commission completed its antitrust review of the deal and cleared Chevron to move forward under the condition that Hess CEO John Hess would not be appointed to Chevron's board. If the Hess deal goes through, it should help boost Chevron's free cash flow and diversify its asset base -- giving it critical exposure to low-cost offshore reserves in Guyana. However, many exploration and production companies are currently hovering around 52-week lows, so in hindsight, Chevron may have gotten a better deal if it had waited to make an acquisition. Still, the deal looks like a long-term winner for Chevron. With a rock-solid balance sheet and a dirt cheap valuation , Chevron stands out as an excellent high-yield dividend stock to buy now.The ethics of AI
UN publishes new death toll for massacre of older people and Vodou religious leaders in Haiti
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By ADRIANA GOMEZ LICON FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump promised on Tuesday to “vigorously pursue” capital punishment after President Joe Biden commuted the sentences of most people on federal death row partly to stop Trump from pushing forward their executions. Related Articles National Politics | Elon Musk’s preschool is the next step in his anti-woke education dreams National Politics | Trump’s picks for top health jobs not just team of rivals but ‘team of opponents’ National Politics | Biden will decide on US Steel acquisition after influential panel fails to reach consensus National Politics | Biden vetoes once-bipartisan effort to add 66 federal judgeships, citing ‘hurried’ House action National Politics | A history of the Panama Canal — and why Trump can’t take it back on his own Trump criticized Biden’s decision on Monday to change the sentences of 37 of the 40 condemned people to life in prison without parole, arguing that it was senseless and insulted the families of their victims. Biden said converting their punishments to life imprisonment was consistent with the moratorium imposed on federal executions in cases other than terrorism and hate-motivated mass murder. “Joe Biden just commuted the Death Sentence on 37 of the worst killers in our Country,” he wrote on his social media site. “When you hear the acts of each, you won’t believe that he did this. Makes no sense. Relatives and friends are further devastated. They can’t believe this is happening!” Presidents historically have no involvement in dictating or recommending the punishments that federal prosecutors seek for defendants in criminal cases, though Trump has long sought more direct control over the Justice Department’s operations. The president-elect wrote that he would direct the department to pursue the death penalty “as soon as I am inaugurated,” but was vague on what specific actions he may take and said they would be in cases of “violent rapists, murderers, and monsters.” He highlighted the cases of two men who were on federal death row for slaying a woman and a girl, had admitted to killing more and had their sentences commuted by Biden. On the campaign trail, Trump often called for expanding the federal death penalty — including for those who kill police officers, those convicted of drug and human trafficking, and migrants who kill U.S. citizens. “Trump has been fairly consistent in wanting to sort of say that he thinks the death penalty is an important tool and he wants to use it,” said Douglas Berman, an expert on sentencing at Ohio State University’s law school. “But whether practically any of that can happen, either under existing law or other laws, is a heavy lift.” Berman said Trump’s statement at this point seems to be just a response to Biden’s commutation. “I’m inclined to think it’s still in sort of more the rhetoric phase. Just, ‘don’t worry. The new sheriff is coming. I like the death penalty,’” he said. Most Americans have historically supported the death penalty for people convicted of murder, according to decades of annual polling by Gallup, but support has declined over the past few decades. About half of Americans were in favor in an October poll, while roughly 7 in 10 Americans backed capital punishment for murderers in 2007. Before Biden’s commutation, there were 40 federal death row inmates compared with more than 2,000 who have been sentenced to death by states. “The reality is all of these crimes are typically handled by the states,” Berman said. A question is whether the Trump administration would try to take over some state murder cases, such as those related to drug trafficking or smuggling. He could also attempt to take cases from states that have abolished the death penalty. Berman said Trump’s statement, along with some recent actions by states, may present an effort to get the Supreme Court to reconsider a precedent that considers the death penalty disproportionate punishment for rape. “That would literally take decades to unfold. It’s not something that is going to happen overnight,” Berman said. Before one of Trump’s rallies on Aug. 20, his prepared remarks released to the media said he would announce he would ask for the death penalty for child rapists and child traffickers. But Trump never delivered the line. One of the men Trump highlighted on Tuesday was ex-Marine Jorge Avila Torrez, who was sentenced to death for killing a sailor in Virginia and later pleaded guilty to the fatal stabbing of an 8-year-old and a 9-year-old girl in a suburban Chicago park several years before. The other man, Thomas Steven Sanders, was sentenced to death for the kidnapping and slaying of a 12-year-old girl in Louisiana, days after shooting the girl’s mother in a wildlife park in Arizona. Court records show he admitted to both killings. Some families of victims expressed anger with Biden’s decision, but the president had faced pressure from advocacy groups urging him to make it more difficult for Trump to increase the use of capital punishment for federal inmates. The ACLU and the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops were some of the groups that applauded the decision. Biden left three federal inmates to face execution. They are Dylann Roof, who carried out the 2015 racist slayings of nine Black members of Mother Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, South Carolina; 2013 Boston Marathon bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev ; and Robert Bowers, who fatally shot 11 congregants at Pittsburgh’s Tree of Life Synagogue in 2018 , the deadliest antisemitic attack in U.S history. Associated Press writers Jill Colvin, Michelle L. Price and Eric Tucker contributed to this report.Red Sox acquire reliever Jovani Morán from Twins for utility player Mickey Gasper
Will Taylor Swift be at Chiefs vs Steelers to cheer on Travis Kelce on Christmas Day?Roselyn Baker is not a firefighter anymore. That part of her life came to a screeching halt when she reported a complaint to her boss, the Monroe Rural Protection Fire District's chief, and was fired the same day, two hours later. Following her termination, nearly half of Monroe’s firefighters resigned . It’s been almost a year, and in that time, the district has racked up more than $8,000 in legal fees and paid Baker a $125,000 settlement after she filed a tort claim, alleging retaliation, wrongful termination and other misdeeds. The Fire District conducted an investigation , but the results were not released, with officials citing attorney-client privilege. The decision to close the investigation to the public was one made by the district's board of directors, according to Chief Chris Barnes. In the aftermath of the controversy, the district has updated its employee handbook and incorporated “relevant training” to prevent future incidents, Barnes said, adding staffing levels have returned normal. But for Baker, the actions signal a lack of accountability. “They sacrificed the integrity of the department to keep the people at the top,” she said. Earlier this year, several volunteer firefighters resigned from the Monroe Rural Fire Protection District following the termination of a staff firefighter after she had issued a complaint to Chief Barnes. The genesis of the complaint traces back to the January winter storm that blanketed the mid-Willamette Valley with a layer of ice . Barnes and Baker, who was an acting-in-capacity lieutenant, responded to a call at a Benton County home, according to a letter she wrote to Barnes. During the Jan. 16 incident, Baker put her portable radio on the back of her pants, attached to her duty belt and bent down to evaluate a patient. Wanting to call more medics to the scene, Barnes approached Baker from behind and grabbed her radio, yanking it several times before freeing it from her belt, the letter, dated Jan. 22, said. “The action of approaching me from behind and removing the radio from my belt made me feel extremely uncomfortable. I am more than capable of removing the portable radio from my belt in a timely manner if you are unable to find yours,” the letter says. Baker specifically asked Barnes not to touch her or her belt unless her life is under immediate threat or if she has given explicit permission. Within two hours of delivering her written complaint to Barnes, she was fired, according to the tort claim, filed two weeks later on Jan. 30. Tort claims against governmental agencies are often precursors to lawsuits. Copies of both the dated letter Baker brought to Barnes and her last check are included in the tort claim. After learning of the termination — one of only three paid positions at the district — five volunteer firefighters resigned and signed a letter sent to the board of directors, indicating they had no confidence in Chief Barnes' leadership. Resigned volunteer firefighters indicated they would return if an investigation were launched and Barnes were placed on administrative leave. They got half of what they wanted: An investigation was conducted, but Barnes was not placed on administrative leave. Shortly after the board's vote to conduct an investigation, the only remaining paid staff firefighter also resigned because of Baker’s termination. With the changes in staffing, some resigned firefighters expressed concerns about the district's ability to get to calls fast enough. However, Barnes maintained in an email that no call times were affected. Today, staffing is normal. Four paid positions, two part-time and two full-time, are filled, he said. Volunteers total 16, with two recruits finishing up at the academy, he added. The tort claim filed with the district describes battery, sexual harassment, gender discrimination, whistleblowing retaliation and wrongful termination at the hands of the fire chief. In response, Monroe Rural Fire Protection District has paid over $8,300 in attorney fees from January to July, according to invoices from Local Government Law Group obtained in a public records request. The first charge appears Jan. 23, a day after Baker’s termination. Barnes declined to comment about the settlement Baker received, but Baker said she accepted a $125,000 settlement in August. Before that, she was asked to come back to her position. Mid-Valley Media obtained the letter that was addressed to her lawyer. “After careful consideration, the district is willing to allow Ms. Baker to return to work immediately, in her same position without any loss of pay or benefits,” the Feb. 15 letter penned by Spencer Rockwell of Special Districts Insurance Services reads. “I have been asked by the district to assist them in this matter,” the letter says. At the time, the investigation was not yet complete looking into the allegations Baker made, the letter acknowledges. In February, the board of directors voted to investigate the allegations against Barnes. Mid-Valley Media attempted to obtain the records from Monroe Rural Protection Fire District, but the request was denied, based on an Oregon state law that exempts documents produced under attorney-client privilege. “The investigation was completed by a third-party and at the control and direction of the District’s legal counsel. The investigator issued a report to legal counsel. The report is an attorney-client privileged document, unconditionally exempt from disclosure, and not subject to an analysis of the public interest,” Mark Wolf of Local Government Law Group wrote in a letter to the Benton County District Attorney, to whom Mid-Valley Media appealed after its public records request was denied. When asked why the records were not released, Barnes said the decision to conduct the investigation the way it did was made by the board of directors. He couldn't speak to it. When asked what he thinks the public should know about the investigation, he gave the following reply by email: “That the board of directors fulfilled their obligation as elected officials, by investigating the matter and based on the findings of those results, made decisions that best suited the district and the public,” he said. When asked if any new trainings or changes were put in place to prevent future incidents, Barnes replied: “The board has adopted a revised and current employee handbook in collaboration with HR Answers, a Special District Association of Oregon affiliate. MRFPD has instituted additional training in relevant topics.” Inside a Corvallis coffee shop, Baker’s hands clasped over a to-go paper cup. She doesn't socialize much in Monroe anymore, she said. She doesn’t eat out at restaurants or even do much shopping there because she doesn’t want to run into anyone from the fire department. Monroe, a town of 763 according to the 2023 U.S. Census, is a place where people don’t ask very many questions, she said. She thought residents might come to the public meetings to see why firefighters were resigning. But they didn’t. On social media, some residents shared that they thought Baker was complaining because she got fired, she said. No one seemed to ask questions there either. “Some people had their minds set. People in Monroe don’t ask questions unless it benefits them or their agenda,” she said. Some of her interactions in the small town felt outright hostile. A former member of the Fire District called a local TV news station to show up to Baker's doorstep, without any warning. She knows who it was because she asked the newscaster who sent her the news tip, she said. “It felt like a direct attempt to humiliate me by invading my privacy,” she said. It’s been almost a year since the day Baker was terminated, but the details are still fresh in her mind. Baker purposely went to deliver her complaint with two other firefighters, who stood in earshot, she said. The chief had a track record of being defensive, and she didn’t want to be alone when she brought in the note. She remembers joking with her coworkers that she was going to get fired for raising a complaint, she said. Then she was. “I just wanted to keep my head down and do my job and maybe ask someone not to touch me, you know, that's it. That's it. I wasn’t even asking for him to get written up,” she said. When five volunteer firefighters resigned, saying they would return if Barnes was put on administrative leave, Baker thought that the board might grant their request. But they didn’t. Being a firefighter is a difficult job; you have to put faith and trust in your team, she said. You are being asked to put in time and effort and may even be risking fellow firefighters' lives at times. Instead, she felt like firefighters, including herself, were treated like they were disposable. “If you want people to actually care about the job they're doing and put in that time and effort, you take pride in it. You have to treat them right. You have to protect your employees,” she said. Watching it all unfold, Baker is now left with a feeling that is difficult to describe. “I feel like I got betrayed,” she said. It almost sounds too dramatic, she said, but it’s the only word that can really describe the heavy emotion, she said. Before events unfolded, she looks back at her time at Monroe Fire as rewarding. She wouldn’t go back and change that just because of what happened in the end, Baker said. At the same time, if she had a daughter, she wouldn’t want her to be a firefighter directly because of her experience, she said. Looking for a fresh start, Baker enrolled in dental hygienist school. She hasn’t tried to apply to any firefighting jobs since. It feels like something she has in her “back pocket,” but for now the feelings are too fresh, and frankly she has become disillusioned. “There was no integrity, no accountability, she said, “ I lost faith in the system, and I didn’t want to risk it again.” Shayla Escudero graduated University of Southern California with a Master of Science in Journalism. She covers Albany city hall and Linn County. She is passionate about telling people forward stories and shining a light on injustices. She can be reached at Shayla.Escudero@lee.net Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter. Reporter {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items.
Los Angeles Kings (11-7-3, in the Pacific Division) vs. San Jose Sharks (6-12-5, in the Pacific Division) Read this article for free: Already have an account? To continue reading, please subscribe: * Los Angeles Kings (11-7-3, in the Pacific Division) vs. San Jose Sharks (6-12-5, in the Pacific Division) Read unlimited articles for free today: Already have an account? Los Angeles Kings (11-7-3, in the Pacific Division) vs. San Jose Sharks (6-12-5, in the Pacific Division) San Jose, California; Monday, 10:30 p.m. EST BOTTOM LINE: The San Jose Sharks take on the Los Angeles Kings as losers of three games in a row. San Jose has a 6-12-5 record overall and a 1-5-0 record in Pacific Division games. The Sharks have a 2-6-1 record when they serve more penalty minutes than their opponent. Los Angeles is 4-4-0 against the Pacific Division and 11-7-3 overall. The Kings serve 9.9 penalty minutes per game to rank eighth in league play. The matchup Monday is the third meeting between these teams this season. The Sharks won 4-2 in the last matchup. TOP PERFORMERS: Mikael Granlund has nine goals and 15 assists for the Sharks. Macklin Celebrini has over the last 10 games. Alex Laferriere has scored nine goals with six assists for the Kings. Kyle Burroughs has over the last 10 games. LAST 10 GAMES: Sharks: 3-4-3, averaging 2.4 goals, 4.6 assists, three penalties and 6.6 penalty minutes while giving up 2.6 goals per game. Kings: 5-4-1, averaging 2.7 goals, 5.3 assists, 3.6 penalties and nine penalty minutes while giving up 1.7 goals per game. INJURIES: Sharks: None listed. Kings: None listed. ___ The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar. Advertisement
By ADRIANA GOMEZ LICON FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump promised on Tuesday to “vigorously pursue” capital punishment after President Joe Biden commuted the sentences of most people on federal death row partly to stop Trump from pushing forward their executions. Related Articles National Politics | Elon Musk’s preschool is the next step in his anti-woke education dreams National Politics | Trump’s picks for top health jobs not just team of rivals but ‘team of opponents’ National Politics | Biden will decide on US Steel acquisition after influential panel fails to reach consensus National Politics | Biden vetoes once-bipartisan effort to add 66 federal judgeships, citing ‘hurried’ House action National Politics | A history of the Panama Canal — and why Trump can’t take it back on his own Trump criticized Biden’s decision on Monday to change the sentences of 37 of the 40 condemned people to life in prison without parole, arguing that it was senseless and insulted the families of their victims. Biden said converting their punishments to life imprisonment was consistent with the moratorium imposed on federal executions in cases other than terrorism and hate-motivated mass murder. “Joe Biden just commuted the Death Sentence on 37 of the worst killers in our Country,” he wrote on his social media site. “When you hear the acts of each, you won’t believe that he did this. Makes no sense. Relatives and friends are further devastated. They can’t believe this is happening!” Presidents historically have no involvement in dictating or recommending the punishments that federal prosecutors seek for defendants in criminal cases, though Trump has long sought more direct control over the Justice Department’s operations. The president-elect wrote that he would direct the department to pursue the death penalty “as soon as I am inaugurated,” but was vague on what specific actions he may take and said they would be in cases of “violent rapists, murderers, and monsters.” He highlighted the cases of two men who were on federal death row for slaying a woman and a girl, had admitted to killing more and had their sentences commuted by Biden. On the campaign trail, Trump often called for expanding the federal death penalty — including for those who kill police officers, those convicted of drug and human trafficking, and migrants who kill U.S. citizens. “Trump has been fairly consistent in wanting to sort of say that he thinks the death penalty is an important tool and he wants to use it,” said Douglas Berman, an expert on sentencing at Ohio State University’s law school. “But whether practically any of that can happen, either under existing law or other laws, is a heavy lift.” Berman said Trump’s statement at this point seems to be just a response to Biden’s commutation. “I’m inclined to think it’s still in sort of more the rhetoric phase. Just, ‘don’t worry. The new sheriff is coming. I like the death penalty,’” he said. Most Americans have historically supported the death penalty for people convicted of murder, according to decades of annual polling by Gallup, but support has declined over the past few decades. About half of Americans were in favor in an October poll, while roughly 7 in 10 Americans backed capital punishment for murderers in 2007. Before Biden’s commutation, there were 40 federal death row inmates compared with more than 2,000 who have been sentenced to death by states. “The reality is all of these crimes are typically handled by the states,” Berman said. A question is whether the Trump administration would try to take over some state murder cases, such as those related to drug trafficking or smuggling. He could also attempt to take cases from states that have abolished the death penalty. Berman said Trump’s statement, along with some recent actions by states, may present an effort to get the Supreme Court to reconsider a precedent that considers the death penalty disproportionate punishment for rape. “That would literally take decades to unfold. It’s not something that is going to happen overnight,” Berman said. Before one of Trump’s rallies on Aug. 20, his prepared remarks released to the media said he would announce he would ask for the death penalty for child rapists and child traffickers. But Trump never delivered the line. One of the men Trump highlighted on Tuesday was ex-Marine Jorge Avila Torrez, who was sentenced to death for killing a sailor in Virginia and later pleaded guilty to the fatal stabbing of an 8-year-old and a 9-year-old girl in a suburban Chicago park several years before. The other man, Thomas Steven Sanders, was sentenced to death for the kidnapping and slaying of a 12-year-old girl in Louisiana, days after shooting the girl’s mother in a wildlife park in Arizona. Court records show he admitted to both killings. Some families of victims expressed anger with Biden’s decision, but the president had faced pressure from advocacy groups urging him to make it more difficult for Trump to increase the use of capital punishment for federal inmates. The ACLU and the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops were some of the groups that applauded the decision. Biden left three federal inmates to face execution. They are Dylann Roof, who carried out the 2015 racist slayings of nine Black members of Mother Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, South Carolina; 2013 Boston Marathon bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev ; and Robert Bowers, who fatally shot 11 congregants at Pittsburgh’s Tree of Life Synagogue in 2018 , the deadliest antisemitic attack in U.S history. Associated Press writers Jill Colvin, Michelle L. Price and Eric Tucker contributed to this report.CHANGSHA, China , Dec. 28, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Modern China's rural revitalization strategy is crafting a remarkable narrative of transformation across the countryside, while progressive opening-up policies encourage foreign visitors to delve deeper into the nation's heartland. On December 26th , VOC.com.cn premiered the second season of its acclaimed series, I Am in Rural China. The show follows Teona Kvartskhava, an international guest, as she explores the villages of Hunan Province , offering viewers a firsthand look at the dynamic implementation of comprehensive rural revitalization. This captivating series invites a global audience to witness the dawn of a new era in China's rural landscapes, showcasing the country's evolving countryside to viewers worldwide. Rice field came as the first surprise. Hunan is the largest rice grower and producer in China . Hunan provides the high-quality and tasty rice. Teona Kvartskhava, a foreigner hardly feeding on rice, was tempted to have plenty of it. In Qunle Village, Lixian County, Changde, she also experienced "Double Rush", which is a time-honored agricultural event in China . An event that used to call for the joint efforts of all family members, has now become much easier thanks to technology. Departing from Lixian County for the moment, Teona Kvartskhava embarked on an exciting trip of tastes in Rucheng, Chenzhou , Southern Hunan . Hunan people are keen and expert on peppery food and spicy taste dominates the Hunan cuisine. Hunan is also rich in varieties of peppers. Jingpo town, a well-known town where spicy food prevails. It is a producer of red cluster pepper, officially one of the hottest peppers in China . From the crowded market, to the red and yellow pepper planting base, and then to the modern processing pepper workshop, the small cluster pepper strung up all corners of the town, so that the original ordinary mountain town has become extraordinarily lively and affluent. Of course, the "star" of the countryside here is not only agriculture, but also culture, which has also blossomed in this ancient land. As the birthplace of papermaking, China has preserved a unique handmade papermaking technique, which is used to make some "special" papers. In Shanghong Village, Liuyang, Teona Kvartskhava was lucky to meet two Chinese masters, who showed her hands-on experiences of "Gushan Tribute Paper" and "Floral Paper". As the process progresses, the paper took shape in her hands, as if history and culture were meeting in front of her eyes, and became the "first paper" in Teona Kvartskhava's life. So,What's rural China like? It's about hospitable peasants, about various agricultural produce, about profound history and culture, about colorful intangible cultural heritage. It's like a book telling numerous absorbing stories. Hopefully Teona Kvartskhava'll be luckier to visit more villages for their unique interest and charm. View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/my-date-with-rural-chinavoccomcn-unveils-season-two-of-i-am-in-rural-china-302339884.html SOURCE voc.com.cnKendrick Lamar surprises with new album 'GNX' LOS ANGELES (AP) — Kendrick Lamar gave music listeners an early holiday present with a new album. The Grammy winner released his sixth studio album “GNX” on Friday. The 12-track project is the rapper’s first release since 2022’s “Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers.” Lamar’s new album comes just months after his rap battle with Drake. The rap megastar will headline February's Apple Music Super Bowl Halftime Show in New Orleans. The 37-year-old has experienced massive success since his debut album “good kid, m.A.A.d city” in 2012. Since then, he’s accumulated 17 Grammy wins and became the first non-classical, non-jazz musician to win a Pulitzer Prize. Ancient meets modern as a new subway in Greece showcases archaeological treasures THESSALONIKI, Greece (AP) — Thessaloniki, Greece’s second-largest city, is opening a new subway system, blending ancient archaeological treasures with modern transit technology like driverless trains and platform screen doors. The project, which began in 2003, uncovered over 300,000 artifacts, including a Roman-era thoroughfare and Byzantine relics, many of which are now displayed in its 13 stations. Despite delays caused by preserving these findings, the inaugural line has been completed, with a second line set to open next year. Conor McGregor must pay woman $250K in sexual assault case, civil jury rules LONDON (AP) — A civil jury in Ireland has found that mixed martial arts fighter Conor McGregor sexually assaulted a woman in a hotel penthouse after a night of heavy partying. The Dublin jury awarded the woman more than $250,000 for her lawsuit that claimed McGregor “brutally raped and battered” her on Dec. 9, 2018. The lawsuit says the assault left her heavily bruised and suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. McGregor testified he never forced her to do anything and that the woman had fabricated her allegations after the two had consensual sex. The jury found for the woman on Friday. At least 15 people are sick in Minnesota from ground beef tied to E. coli recall U.S. health officials say at least 15 people in Minnesota have been sickened by E. coli poisoning tied to a national recall of more than 160,000 pounds of potentially tainted ground beef. Detroit-based Wolverine Packing Co. recalled the meat this week after Minnesota state agriculture officials reported multiple illnesses and found that a sample of the product tested positive for E. coli O157:H7, which can cause life-threatening infections. Symptoms of E. coli poisoning include fever, vomiting, diarrhea and signs of dehydration. Actor Jonathan Majors’ ex-girlfriend drops assault and defamation lawsuit against once-rising star NEW YORK (AP) — Jonathan Majors’ ex-girlfriend has dropped her assault and defamation lawsuit against the once-rising Hollywood star after reaching a settlement. Lawyers for Majors and Grace Jabbari agreed to dismiss the case with prejudice Thursday. Jabbari is a British dancer who had accused Majors of subjecting her to escalating incidents of physical and verbal abuse during their relationship. Representatives for Majors didn’t respond to emails seeking comment Friday. Jabbari’s lawyer said the suit was “favorably settled” and her client is moving on with “her head held high.” Majors was convicted of misdemeanor assault and harassment last December and sentenced to a yearlong counseling program. Hyundai, Kia recall over 208,000 electric vehicles to fix problem that can cause loss of power DETROIT (AP) — Hyundai and Kia are recalling over 208,000 electric vehicles to fix a pesky problem that can cause loss of drive power, increasing the risk of a crash. The recalls cover more than 145,000 Hyundai and Genesis vehicles including the 2022 through 2024 Ioniq 5, the 2023 through 2025 Ioniq 6, GV60 and GV70, and the 2023 and 2024 G80. Also included are nearly 63,000 Kia EV 6 vehicles from 2022 through 2024. The affiliated Korean automakers say in government documents that a transistor in a charging control unit can be damaged and stop charging the 12-volt battery. Dealers will inspect and replace the control unit and a fuse if needed. They also will update software. Christmas TV movies are in their Taylor Swift era, with two Swift-inspired films airing this year Two of the new holiday movies coming to TV this season have a Taylor Swift connection that her fans would have no problem decoding. “Christmas in the Spotlight” debuts Saturday on Lifetime. It stars Jessica Lord as the world’s biggest pop star and Laith Wallschleger, playing a pro football player, who meet and fall in love, not unlike Swift and her boyfriend, Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce. On Nov. 30, Hallmark will air “Holiday Touchdown: A Chiefs Love Story.” Instead of a nod to Swift, it’s an ode to family traditions and bonding, like rooting for a sports team. Hallmark’s headquarters is also in Kansas City. Top football recruit Bryce Underwood changes commitment to Michigan instead of LSU, AP source says ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) — Top football recruit Bryce Underwood has flipped to Michigan after pledging to play at LSU. That's according to a person familiar with the situation who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to share the recruit’s plans to join the Wolverines. Underwood pinned a post on his Instagram account, showing a post in which On3.com reported that he has committed to Michigan. The 6-foot-3 quarterback played at Belleville High School about 15 miles east of Michigan's campus, and told LSU nearly a year ago he intended to enroll there. Emperor penguin released at sea 20 days after waddling onto Australian beach MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — The only emperor penguin known to have swum from Antarctica to Australia has been released at sea 20 days after he waddled ashore on a popular tourist beach. The adult male was found on Nov. 1 on sand dunes in temperate southwest Australia about 2,200 miles north of the Antarctic coast. He was released Wednesday from a boat that traveled several hours from Western Australia state's most southerly city of Albany. His caregiver Carol Biddulph wasn't sure at first if the penguin would live. She said a mirror was important to his rehabilitation because they provide a sense of company. Biddulph said: “They’re social birds and he stands next to the mirror most of the time.” Shohei Ohtani wins third MVP award, first in NL. Aaron Judge earns second AL honor in 3 seasons NEW YORK (AP) — Shohei Ohtani won his third Most Valuable Player Award and first in the National League, and Aaron Judge earned his second American League honor on Thursday. Ohtani was a unanimous MVP for the third time, receiving all 30 first-place votes and 420 points in voting by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America. New York Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor was second with 263 points and Arizona second baseman Ketel Marte third with 229. Judge was a unanimous pick for the first time. Kansas City shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. got all 30 second-place votes for 270 points, and Yankees outfielder Juan Soto was third with 21 third-place votes and 229 points.
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