Pelican Press

9 countries offering ancestry-based citizenship to Americans 9 countries offering ancestry-based citizenship to Americans In the wake of the 2024 presidential election, many Americans, especially celebrities, have pledged to give up their citizenship and move elsewhere. For Americans exploring dual citizenship options or seeking a second passport, many countries offer pathways to citizenship based on ancestry. These countries often allow citizens of foreign nations to claim nationality through parents, grandparents or direct ancestors. Here is a list of nine countries offering citizenship by descent, arranged alphabetically. Most Popular Travel Destinations Seen On Google, Social Media: Report Under Ghana’s Citizenship Act of 2002, individuals with a Ghanaian parent can apply for citizenship. The country’s “Year of Return” initiative encourages ******** Americans and Afro Caribbeans to reconnect with their heritage. Ghana also offers the “Right of Abode” program, allowing those with ******** descent to live indefinitely in the country without needing a visa, provided they can document their lineage. Read On The Fox News App Germany provides citizenship by descent to individuals with a ******* parent, grandparent or great-grandparent. Special provisions exist for those whose ancestors lost citizenship under the ***** regime due to political, ******* or religious persecution. Children born before July 1, 1993, to a ******* father and a non-******* mother may claim citizenship if paternity was established by age 23. India’s iconic Taj Mahal in the city of Agra, Uttar Pradesh, is the final resting place for the Mughal King Shah Jahan and his wife, Mumtaz Mahal. Hungary allows individuals with Hungarian parents or grandparents to claim citizenship, regardless of the number of generations abroad. Knowledge of the Hungarian language is not a requirement. Citizenship through naturalization is also possible for those married to a Hungarian citizen for at least five years, or 10 years without children. India does not allow dual citizenship but offers Overseas Citizenship of India, or OCI, status. This designation includes a lifelong, multiple-entry visa and benefits akin to non-resident Indians (NRIs), like economic and educational privileges. To qualify, applicants must have an Indian parent or grandparent and cannot be of Pakistani or Bangladeshi origin. Californians Reportedly Preparing To Flee Country Pending Election Results: ‘I’m Very Scared’ Ireland automatically considers individuals citizens if they have a parent born in the country before Jan. 1, 2005. Those with Irish grandparents can apply for citizenship through the “Foreign Birth Registration” process, which is administered in Dublin. This pathway is also open to great-grandchildren, though additional documentation is typically required. Italy grants citizenship by descent if the applicant’s Italian ancestor did not naturalize abroad before the birth of their child in his or her direct line. For cases involving a female ancestor, her child must have been born after Jan. 1, 1948. Naturalization is also available for those married to an Italian citizen or those who have resided in Italy for at least 10 years. View of the Colosseum in Rome, Italy, on Oct. 19. Poland offers citizenship by descent to those who can trace their lineage to ancestors born in Poland or its former territories. Applicants must prove that their ancestors lived in Poland after 1920, and retain their citizenship. Original Polish-issued documents are required. Portugal extends citizenship to individuals with at least one grandparent who holds Portuguese citizenship. Applicants must provide birth certificates connecting them to their Portuguese ancestor and applications are processed exclusively in Portugal, requiring an in-person visit. Work continues on the tower of ****** ******* of the Sagrada Familia, which, when completed, will make the temple the tallest in the world at 172.5 meters high, surpassing the Ulmer Munster ******* in the ******* city of Ulm in Barcelona, Spain, on Oct. 25. Spain provides citizenship to individuals with a Spanish parent or grandparent. Adoptees under the age of 18 by Spanish nationals may also apply. To finalize citizenship, applicants must pass two exams: the DELE A2 for basic Spanish-language proficiency and the CCSE, which evaluates knowledge of Spanish culture and the constitution. It is unclear if any celebrities who have vowed to flee the U.S. will do so before President-elect Trump is sworn into office in January. Original article source: 9 countries offering ancestry-based citizenship to Americans Source link #countries #offering #ancestrybased #citizenship #Americans Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

‘Leave now’: Bushfire warning issued for Great Ocean Road ‘Leave now’: Bushfire warning issued for Great Ocean Road Residents near the famed Great Ocean Road are being told to flee as firefighters battle blazes threatening small communities. The “leave now” warning was issued on Sunday morning for those in Chapple Vale, Crowes, Gellibrand Lower, Johanna, Johanna Heights, Lavers Hill, Stalker, Wangerrip, Wattle Hill, Yuulong and Wattle Hill to the Great Ocean Walk. “The bushfire is travelling from Lavers Hill-Cobden Road, Chapple Vale in a southerly to south-westerly direction towards the Great Ocean Road,” Vic Emergency said. Vic Emergency Ocean Road tweet “A wind change is expected in the next few hours that may cause the ***** to move in an easterly direction.” “Don’t wait, leaving now is the safest option – conditions may change and get worse very quickly. Emergency services may not be able to help you if you decide to stay.” Camera IconThe ***** at the Otways near Gellibrand in Victoria on Saturday. Nine News Credit: Supplied “By choosing to stay, you and your family may be at risk of serious injury or ******.” Hikers on the Great Ocean Walk who are west of Cape Otway, have been told to find a place of shelter; such as a large open area like a ploughed paddock or football oval or a large body of water like a dam, lake, river or in-ground pool. The Great Ocean Road was closed for a time, but has been reopened. A “stay informed” notice applies for residents north of the Chapple Vale blaze, at Lavers Hill and Yuulong. There is another out-of-control ***** 200kms northwest at Chetwynd near the South *********** border. That ***** was sparked in hot and windy conditions on Saturday, just one of 45 fires across the state at one stage. The advice for Chetwynd, Connewirricoo and Kadnook residents is unchanged from late Saturday; it is not safe to return. That ***** engulfed a blue gum plantation and crossed the Glenelg River. Source link #Leave #Bushfire #warning #issued #Great #Ocean #Road Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Columbus police respond to reports of people dressed as Nazis marching through Short North Columbus police respond to reports of people dressed as Nazis marching through Short North (This story was updated to accurately reflect the most current information.) Columbus police are responding after reports of armed people dressed as Nazis marching on the city’s North Side. Several videos began popping up around 1:15 p.m. Saturday on social media of about a dozen people, one with a bullhorn, wearing all ****** with red facemasks and carrying ****** flags with red swastikas on them in the Short North. Police responded at 1:12 p.m. to a report from a caller who said that one of the people in the group sprayed pepper spray or mace at a passerby. Callers also reported the group was using ******* slurs toward people of ****** on the street, shouting about ******* people and white power and appeared to be armed, police dispatchers said. At 2:18 p.m., a Reddit user posted photos of what appeared to be Columbus police handcuffing a bearded person dressed in ****** behind a U-Haul van at the onramp to State Route 315 and West Goodale Street. Police dispatchers could not immediately confirm whether officers had arrested anyone. As of about 2:45 p.m., police dispatchers told The Dispatch that officers were still at the scene and monitoring the situation. As of about 3:15 p.m., the group was reported to have been in Franklinton. In a statement posted at 3:10 p.m. on X, formerly known as Twitter, City Attorney Zach Klein said: “To those involved in the neo-***** march in the Short North today, take your flags and the masks you hide behind and go home and never come back. Your hate isn’t welcome in our city.” As of 4 p.m. police dispatchers could not confirm whether officers had arrested anyone, and a Columbus police spokesperson had not responded to a Dispatch reporter’s call seeking more information. This story will be updated. This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Neo-Nazis carrying ********* flags march through Columbus Saturday Source link #Columbus #police #respond #reports #people #dressed #Nazis #marching #Short #North Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Art Garfunkel wants to work with Paul Simon again Art Garfunkel wants to work with Paul Simon again Art Garfunkel is “in the mood” to reunite with Paul Simon. The 83-year-old music star and Simon haven’t performed together in more than a decade, but Garfunkel has refused to rule out the possibility of a reunion. “We’ll see. I don’t know if he’s in the mood to work with me. I’m in the mood to work with him,” Garfunkel told The Independent. He subsequently cited Las Vegas as an ideal location for a possible reunion. “Vegas. You move into Vegas and you stay put for a while. They come to you. You remove the travelling part of singing; it’s a better formula … I don’t want to be on the road and do show after show,” the Mrs Robinson hitmaker said. Earlier in November, Garfunkel revealed he became emotional during a recent lunch with Simon. The award-winning duo, who had an infamously turbulent working relationship, discussed some of their previous disagreements during the lunch. “I actually had lunch with Paul a couple of weeks back. First time we’d been together in many years. I looked at Paul and said, ‘What happened? Why haven’t we seen each other?’ he told The Sunday Times newspaper. “Paul mentioned an old interview where I said some stuff. I cried when he told me how much I had hurt him. Looking back, I guess I wanted to shake up the nice guy image of Simon and Garfunkel. Y’know what? I was a fool!” Garfunkel went on to say he’s determined to “make amends before it’s too late”. “We’ve made plans to meet again. Will Paul bring his guitar? Who knows. For me, it was about wanting to make amends before it’s too late. “It felt like we were back in a wonderful place. As I think about it now, tears are rolling down my cheeks. I can still feel his hug.” Source link #Art #Garfunkel #work #Paul #Simon Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

IDF pounds Beirut suburbs with waves of airstrikes, hits Hezbollah headquarters IDF pounds Beirut suburbs with waves of airstrikes, hits Hezbollah headquarters Nov. 16 (UPI) — The ******** military continued an intense wave of airstrikes against Hezbollah targets in Beirut’s southern suburbs on Saturday, including an ******* on the militant group’s headquarters in the Dahiya area. The ******* Defense Forces said it unleashed eight separate waves of strikes against Hezbollah installations south of Beirut beginning Friday morning and continuing through late Saturday, targeting what it said were military sites that had been “deliberately placed by Hezbollah in the heart of the civilian population.” The waves of strikes came as Hezbollah is considering a U.S.-******** cease-***** proposal and diplomatic efforts to end the conflict have ramped up. In all, 20 Hezbollah sites were hit, the IDF said, including what it called the Iranian proxy militia’s headquarters in the Shiite ******* neighborhood of Dahiya. “Under the direction of the Intelligence Division, fighter jets of the Air Force recently completed another wave of attacks on military headquarters of the ********** organization Hezbollah in the Dahiya area in Beirut,” the IDF announced. Also targeted in the ******** wave were a weapons warehouse and “********** infrastructures.” Late Saturday, the ******** military issued fresh evacuation warnings for the areas of Hadath, Haret Hreik and Burj al-Barajneh in Beirut’s southern suburbs, according to Lebanon’s National News Agency. Saturday’s attacks came after more than 160 “********** targets” were struck from the air on Friday, encompassing attacks on both Hezbollah in Lebanon and ****** in Gaza. Among the targets were about 20 missile launchers, military buildings, weapons warehouses, “********** headquarters” and military infrastructure. Meanwhile in southern Lebanon near the ******** border, the IDF said its ground forces, including elite commando units, continued their advance against Hezbollah fighters in areas from which missiles were launched against ******** towns, destroying underground munitions warehouses and “eliminating terrorists with precision weaponry.” IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Col. Hertzi Halevi promised to keep up the pressure on Hezbollah in a statement released Saturday following a field tour of the conflict in the border area. “Hezbollah has paid a very high price, with a chain of command that has collapsed, many ***** operatives, destroyed infrastructure,” Halevi said. “This organization will continue to *******, we will continue to ******, we will continue to carry out plans, go further, ******* in depth, hurt Hezbollah.” The military chief also warned the IDF is keeping a close watch on Iran, Yemen, Iraq, domestic terrorism in ******* and in Gaza. Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, who is negotiating a cease-***** deal with the ******* States and ******* on behalf of Hezbollah, said Saturday he is reviewing the proposal. Berri told the pan-***** daily Asharq Al-Awsat a response to the proposal will come “very soon.” He also denied that the proposed deal would allow any freedom of movement by ******** forces inside Lebanon. Source link #IDF #pounds #Beirut #suburbs #waves #airstrikes #hits #Hezbollah #headquarters Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Charlie Albone: Many people overlook their garden’s edge, but defining the lines will make a real difference Charlie Albone: Many people overlook their garden’s edge, but defining the lines will make a real difference The smallest of items in a garden can have a big impact and one you may overlook is your garden’s edges. Source link #Charlie #Albone #people #overlook #gardens #edge #defining #lines #real #difference Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Oregon school board chair resigns, superintendent and principal on leave over **** ****** arrests Oregon school board chair resigns, superintendent and principal on leave over **** ****** arrests ST. HELENS, Ore. (AP) — A school district in northwest Oregon has put its superintendent and high school principal on leave, accepted the school board chair’s resignation and temporarily canceled classes in response to an uproar over the arrests of a teacher and former teacher on ******* ****** charges. The St. Helens Police Department said in a statement that officers this week arrested one current and one retired St. Helens High School teacher on allegations of ********* abusing students. Police said the arrests came after a two-month investigation. The district canceled classes and after-school events on Thursday and Friday following demonstrations at the school during which students called for St. Helens School District Superintendent Scot Stockwell, High School Principal Katy Wagner and all school board members to resign or be removed. Wagner has since been placed on paid leave and Board Chair Ryan Scholl resigned from his position, district officials said in a post on social media Friday. Stockwell was placed on paid leave during a school board meeting Friday afternoon, according to another district social media post. Protesting parents and students told Oregon Public Broadcasting that their anger stemmed from the appearance that school officials knew about and ******* to act on allegations against the teachers for years. Choir teacher Eric Stearns, 46, is facing seven counts of second-degree **** ****** and one count of third-degree **** ****** involving six students, according to police. Stearns pleaded not guilty to the charges in Columbia County Circuit Court on Wednesday, KATU-TV reported. Recently retired math teacher Mark Collins, 64, pleaded not guilty on Thursday to two counts of second-degree **** ****** and one count of attempted second-degree **** ******. The allegations against Collins involve three students, police said. Attempts by The Associated Press to find contact information for Stearns and Collins on Friday were unsuccessful, and no attorneys were listed for them in jail records. St. Helens Acting Police Chief Joseph Hogue told the media outlet Friday that his department subpoenaed the district in October and found historical reports made by students detailing allegations against the teachers. State law requires school districts to inform law enforcement or state officials about such reports, Hogue said. “There were multiple historical reports made to high school administration from 2019 to 2023 and this also corroborated the victim statements that (detectives) had previously received,” he said. Columbia County District Attorney Joshua Pond said Friday his office is investigating whether the district broke any laws by not forwarding the reports to law enforcement. On Friday evening, district officials said the high school would remain closed Monday while staff makes what officials called necessary arrangements for a safe return to school Tuesday. “Our goal is to ensure a safe and positive learning environment, with clear steps toward addressing the concerns of our students, families, and community members,” the district statement said. St. Helens is a small city located about 28 miles (45 kilometers) northwest of Portland, Oregon, along the Columbia River. Source link #Oregon #school #board #chair #resigns #superintendent #principal #leave #**** #****** #arrests Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Kate Emery: ******* taxi blue can’t be dismissed as a one-off Kate Emery: ******* taxi blue can’t be dismissed as a one-off It’s not that I think we all need to sit around saying ‘isn’t it terrible about the racism?’ like we’re first-year university students trying to get *****. Source link #Kate #Emery #******* #taxi #blue #dismissed #oneoff Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

M62 closed near Huddersfield after ‘serious collision’ M62 closed near Huddersfield after ‘serious collision’ The westbound carriageway of the M62 in West Yorkshire remained closed on Saturday evening after a serious ******, National Highways said. Both carriageways of the motorway were closed after the collision at about 15:20 GMT between junction 24 for Huddersfield and junction 25 at Brighouse. The agency reported hour-long delays and there was congestion on diversion routes. The eastbound carriageway reopened at about 20:20, but the westbound side remained closed while an investigation was carried out. Source link #M62 #closed #Huddersfield #collision Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Guinea close on ******* Cup of Nations berth Guinea close on ******* Cup of Nations berth Guinea are one point away from a place in the ******* Cup of Nations finals after beating Democratic Republic of Congo 1-0 in qualifying. Source link #Guinea #close #******* #Cup #Nations #berth Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Mayor Brandon Johnson to skip slain officer’s ******** after all Mayor Brandon Johnson to skip slain officer’s ******** after all Mayor Brandon Johnson reversed course Saturday and announced he will not attend a slain cop’s ******** after the officer’s family told him to stay away. Johnson’s office had said Friday he would go to the ******** for Officer Enrique Martinez, despite protests from the police union president who said he would not be welcome. Martinez was shot and ******* Monday during a traffic stop in Chatham. “I heard from the family and am honoring their request and will no longer plan to attend the honors ******** services,” Johnson said in a Saturday statement. “This has been an emotional two weeks for the loved ones of Officer Martinez, the Chicago Police Department, and the city of Chicago. We all want to do right by Officer Martinez and give his family and the CPD family space to grieve. The focus must remain on Officer Martinez, his loved ones, and the CPD as our city continues to honor his ultimate sacrifice and legacy of service.” Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 7 President John Catanzara and a Southwest Side state representative have been blasting the mayor, saying his presence at the service would be disrespectful. On Friday, Johnson spokesperson Erin Connelly said Johnson attends all honors funerals for first responders ******* in the line of duty, saying “our prayers and deepest sympathy are with the Martinez family and Officer Martinez’s beloved fiancé.” “Mayor Johnson will attend honors ******** services and celebration of life for Chicago Police Officer Enrique Martinez,” Connelly wrote Friday. “These official honor services are solemn moments to honor the sacrifice of our officers and first responders. It is the Mayor’s honor to support the officers of the entire Chicago Police Department, especially in moments of grief.” The controversy reflects the polarized political environment in Chicago in which the progressive mayor has faced criticism over law enforcement issues and frequently butted heads with Catanzara. In a YouTube video posted Monday, Catanzara said Johnson was not welcome and would be a “piece of garbage” if he attended. “Mayor Johnson and Gov. Pritzker were both informed that the family’s wishes were they did not attend those services,” Catanzara said. “Governor Pritzker rightly immediately acknowledged that and said he would not attend and honor those family’s wishes. Mayor Johnson did not.” George Barzydlo, a friend of the family who lived nearby, said those sentiments were true. The 65-year-old spoke on behalf of Martinez’ family and fiancee at a Friday night press conference outside the Chicago Lawn Police District headquarters, asking Johnson not to attend the ********. “They definitely do not want the mayor at any of the functions for anything,” he said, adding that his attendance would be a distraction. Barzydlo said he and Martinez had a joking relationship. Barzydlo would walk his elderly mother around the block, and he’d run into Martinez and his fiancee. “We’d circle back around the alley, and Enrique would say to my mother, ‘hey, are you okay with that guy?,’” Barzydlo said. “And I would say to his fiancee, ‘Hey, are you OK with that guy?’” Martinez would help his father with what Barzydlo described as a taco party business on his days off – grunt work and cleanup, he recalled. State Rep. Angelica Guerrero-Cuellar said the Martinez family had asked her to tell Pritzker and Johnson that they were not wanted at the ********. While Pritzker’s chief of staff agreed to the request “without hesitation,” Guerrero-Guellar said Johnson’s chief of staff, Christina Pacione-Zayas, “disrespectfully and rudely did not understand the message I was trying to deliver.” She called Johnson and left him a text message but had not heard back as of Friday night, she said. “This is not about the mayor,” she said. “This is about the family’s wishes. The mayor, in my opinion, is making it about himself.” Earlier this year, Johnson was also warned to stay away from another slain CPD officer’s ******** and ultimately did not attend, according to Illinois Comptroller Susana Mendoza. Source link #Mayor #Brandon #Johnson #skip #slain #officers #******** Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

‘Everything is almost perfect’ – Chelsea send message as they beat Man City ‘Everything is almost perfect’ – Chelsea send message as they beat Man City It was by no means a complete performance by Chelsea, though. Both sides had spells of pressure, with neither taking control. Manchester City striker Khadija Shaw was gifted a chance to make it 1-0 in the first half when Sandy Baltimore’s wayward back pass played her in, but the WSL’s top-scorer did not take the opportunity. The second half continued to be riddled with errors but Chelsea eventually took advantage and were able to wrap up victory when not at their best. Bompastor said on Friday they “had a plan to deal” with Manchester City’s domination of possession and it worked, despite their visitors having 63% of the ball. “It was a different type of performance,” said Chelsea midfielder Erin Cuthbert. “We have dominated a lot of games possession-wise but tonight we were happy to sit behind the ball, be compact. “It was more of a traditional performance – but Sonia is a winner and will do whatever it takes to win. We got the tactics spot on.” With key players still set to return – strikers Sam Kerr and Mia Fishel are recovering from anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries, while England forward Lauren James and defender Niamh Charles have also been missing – Chelsea are only likely to get better. And perhaps the scariest thing is that they still remain far from their best. “Maybe one of my strengths – and the staff’s – is that we know exactly how we have to perform. We have a clear vision on what we have to do to achieve our goals,” said Bompastor. “At the moment we are performing, getting good results, but there is still lots of room for improvement. We have players injured who can come into the squad. “Sometimes people think because you have the good results, that’s enough. For me, that is not enough. I know exactly what we have to do to get even better.” Source link #perfect #Chelsea #send #message #beat #Man #City Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Ben Harvey: Police Minister needs to hold the line on Firearms Act reforms Ben Harvey: Police Minister needs to hold the line on Firearms Act reforms For a bloke who is widely despised by about 100,000 **** owners, Paul Papalia has pretty good blood pressure. Source link #Ben #Harvey #Police #Minister #hold #line #Firearms #Act #reforms Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Why Fast Food Has Become So Expensive Why Fast Food Has Become So Expensive Whether you’re tracking how fast food prices have changed in the last 50 years or in the last six months, the truth ******** that fast food is more expensive than ever. It may seem simple to tie the rise in fast food prices to whichever phenomenon leads the headlines of the day. The truth is that there is on single reason for the rise; wage increases, rising costs of produce and eggs, added energy expenses for restaurant owners, and more end up being factored into the price you pay at the drive-thru window. And when the prices jump up unexpectedly, it can be a brain-buster trying to figure out which element is at play. All you know is that the burger and fries are a dollar more than they were yesterday, with no clear explanation offered. The dynamics that determine fast food pricing are a matrix of forces that play against one another; an unexpected shift from any one of them can directly upset the balance. And as with other financial structures, the results of those shifts end up on the consumer’s tray in one form or another. To give you an idea of how many different reasons there can be for why fast food prices are more expensive, here’s a rundown of the major costs incumbent upon your favorite restaurants, each of which has a chance of blowing up your dining budget at any given moment. You know all too well the pain of paying more for the food you buy at the grocery store, so it only follows that fast food outlets are paying higher food costs for ingredients, too. The market for elements like lettuce, beef, and eggs have fluctuated wildly in the past several years, creating a whipsaw effect that puts a burden on chains and their franchise owners. In addition to basic cost increases, the possibility of shortages similar to the 2022 lettuce shortage can cause surprising price jumps from suppliers to restaurants, which of course will result in a menu with jacked-up prices to dumbfound unsuspecting diners. These are the moments when consumers switch their standard orders and opt for the cheapest fast food items they can find instead. Such developments can lead to unethical price-hiking practices in the fast food industry. Some fast food companies continued charging customers higher prices even after their costs eased from an inflationary peak of 9.1% in June 2022. The good news is that customers voted with their dollars by opting out of their usual outlets and places like McDonald’s noticed, prompting a resurgence of affordable food. But knowing the company you depend on for your easy going grub is willing to take advantage of you to get a few extra dollars in the register is tough to chew and even tougher to ********. Customer in car taking fast food from worker – kckate16/Shutterstock One of the most heated debates regarding fast food finances in recent memory is the hourly wage increase for the workers behind the counter. With the legislated minimum wage for fast food employees reaching upwards of $20 an hour in some states, the optics of rising prices assume an easy scapegoat. How can headline after headline announce that fast food outlets now have to pay so much more for labor without drawing the connection to rising menu prices reaching $15 for combo meals that cost half that not so long ago? It’s logical to think wage jumps equaling more than $13 an hour in some instances would result in higher food prices, but where and when they impact the menu can be tricky to pin down. Of course, there will be increases based on the amount a restaurant has to pay out to the people who work there. It can even lead companies to swap out higher quality elements for cheaper processed ingredients to absorb the costs. But if the real reason fast food prices are going up is that the industry has been drastically underpaying its employees for far too long, maybe the public is ready to pay a little more to help the folks cooking and serving their meals see a larger paycheck. Knowing that McDonald’s in Denmark is able to pay its workers $22 an hour as a starting wage without drastically increasing its prices makes the claim of labor costs as a reason even more suspect. Fast food grill with person flipping burgers – Smirart/Getty Images Energy expenses are non-negotiable for a sector of the economy that depends on a constant stream of electricity to stay in operation, and around the clock in some instances. Depending on location, the capricious nature of electric companies and their pricing structures can cause sticker shock for proprietors. The costs restaurants pay for food are calculated in part by the use of electricity in the production, which cause increases in the background that roll forward to the prices on the menu. It’s a hidden cost that may not initially occur to the customer, but it’s a factor that can throw the basic fast food pricing structure out of whack should the supplier raise its costs to cover increased electrical expenses. What about the restaurants themselves? According to some estimates, the average restaurant pays between $2,000 and $6,000 for electricity per month, a cost that varies by region and location and can be much higher. Add to that the fact that natural gas prices went up by more than double in the last six months of 2022 alone and you have a wobbly, upward-trending cost structure that has to be relieved somewhere. The valve that keeps your favorite restaurants from closing down due to elevated energy costs is — you guessed it — the prices you pay at the counter. The restaurant has to cook your food and process your payment somehow, and you end up chipping in for the cost with your burger funds. Exterior of Wendy’s restaurant – refrina/Shutterstock Not all fast food franchisees own the property their restaurants exist on; many pay rent for the lot and the building, an expense that can fluctuate drastically thanks to an up-and-down real estate market. And the direction rent has been going just about forever is up-up-up, which includes rent for fast food proprietors. With rent prices averaging between $3,000 and $10,000 per month, restaurants have a hefty bill to cover. Any increases to that amount means an influx of cash is needed to stay in business. Sure, it’s not your direct issue that rent is going up. But almost nothing you pay for aside from the food is a direct cost to you in the fast food exchange. That doesn’t mean you won’t pay for it somewhere in the price. Some estimates note that a restaurant’s rent should be no higher than 10% of sales. Imagine a nearby fast food restaurant experiences a $500-per-month rent increase. Calculations for monthly expenses have always worked out based on the stability of their rent, but now they have to come up with extra income. It may not seem like much overall, but the source of all their income is you, and the mechanism that delivers more of your money to cover the rent increase is the price of what you buy. So, when your Mega Meal jumps by 50 cents, you’re actually helping defray the costs of keeping the restaurant operating. You deserve at least a few extra fries for your contribution. Semi truck on highway – 5m3photos/Getty Images The pandemic introduced the world to the complexities of supply chain mechanics and revealed how tenuous getting fast food ingredients from distributor to kitchen can be. The invisible expenses in this aspect of the fast food game include packaging, transport, processing, and storage, all of which are necessary and any of which can change on short notice. When complications arise in arranging this unending flow of product, new expenses can be added on top of existing charges, which are likely to increase as well. Think about Burger King running out of burger buns thanks to recall from its usual distributor; to keep things flowing smoothly, alternate resources are required, which may involve more expensive product and expedited shipping at a higher cost. Even when everything is working smoothly, factors such as gas prices, vehicle upkeep, transitioning to more fuel-efficient models, and driver salaries are all tied into the overall expense for shipping necessities to your favorite fast food kitchen. The interconnection of the supply chain is now a paid-for presence you can calculate into what the menu items show in the price column, even if you don’t know how it breaks down. It all becomes the reasons why your favorite fast food restaurant can’t keep up with inflation, shipping edition. It’s something to remember when you pay more at the pump before heading to the drive-thru and paying more there, too. Taco Bell food on table – The Image Party/Shutterstock There’s a cost to owners of fast food locations that may not be considered as part of the formula by the average customer: franchise fees, the membership money paid by the restaurant to be part of the greater operation. Franchise fees can range from $10,000 for a Chick-fil-A location to $50,000 for a Burger King or Wendy’s restaurant. Enterprising proprietors who own a small chain of locations pay that fee for each restaurant, which ups their overall costs. Though the fee is a one-time cost, increases to the amount can add up quickly for an entrepreneur looking to expand. A more ongoing concern for franchisees who own even a single location is royalty fees, the percentage of sales each franchise location is required to pay to the chain throughout the year. These amounts can range from 4% to 12% and up, depending on the company — a considerable amount even on the lower end of the scale. Even companies with long-time fee freezes like McDonald’s have increased their royalty amounts for the first time in three decades. The pressure is on for locations to perform to expectation, and every bit helps. So, when you see basic burgers suddenly costing as much as deluxe burgers used to, you may be helping your preferred location keep its franchise fully functional. Person’s hands holding burger with fries – D3sign/Getty Images One of the most unethical reasons for fast food price increases is the tendency for some chains to engage in price gouging. This results in unreasonable price increases that take advantage of a precarious situation — a beef shortage, for example — that chains can use as a reason for hiking their prices without warning. Companies that recognize the high demand for its product may be tempted to price gouge to maximize profits, and though the practice seems like a clear legal issue, laws vary from state to state. Even when laws are in place, it can be disappointing for customers to learn that enforcement isn’t always enacted, which may leave customers paying more without recourse. And if demand is high enough, consumers may be willing to pay the extra, which feeds the vicious price gouging cycle. Sometimes, it takes public outcry to get officials to act on fast food price gouging. When profits are made visible for companies like McDonald’s and the executives crow about making record numbers while prices continue to soar, there’s bound to be a hint of price gouging mentioned in the conversation. With so many customers thinking fast food is overpriced, the quickest way to put a restaurant in check is to take your business elsewhere; often the moment when a draw-down in sales is felt by the higher-ups is the moment when announcements of price drops magically appear to restore customer confidence. KFC fried chicken meal – SIN1980/Shutterstock It’s always fun and exciting to hear that your favorite fast food outlet is dropping a special lower-priced combo meal. But the truth behind this may be that the company is also raising prices across the board on other items and is using this generous offering as a ruse to distract customers from realizing the truth. The offset for dropping a combo meal to $5 after charging more than twice that has to come from somewhere, even if it’s a nickel-and-dime upcharge on the entire suite of products on the menu. After all, you’ve been paying attention to the prices going up, so why wouldn’t you be thrilled to hear they’re dropping a little? Because you’re smarter than that — that’s why. After too many complaints about rising prices circulated among grumbling customers in recent months, a new value meal war ensued in an attempt to win back diner dollars. The return of the McDonald’s Value Meal and Taco Bell’s Cravings Value Menu as a generous gift to help make eating out affordable again wouldn’t be such a big deal if the price increases on fast food items hadn’t gotten so out of hand in the first place. It may seem cynical to think that sometimes restaurants increase prices intentionally in order to seem heroic when they throw the public a $5 bone, but it’s a savvy sensibility that even the most ****-hard fast food eaters are hip to. Whether it changes their dining habits is a different story. McDonalds meal on tray – SrideeStudio/Shutterstock CEO salaries in the corporate world never seem to stop growing to breathtaking levels, climbing even during the corporate gear-grinding performance during the 2020 pandemic. As part of the cash grab, fast food companies are shelling out enormous dollars for so-called qualified leaders to keep their stock high and the profits soaring. But the numbers associated with fast food CEO pay are staggering in comparison to worker salaries, and that money has to come from somewhere. No company worth its salt is going to compromise its profit to pay its CEO, which means customers will, in the form of higher prices on the menu board. For example, McDonald’s CEO Chris Kempczinski’s salary in 2023 totaled $19.2 million, a combination of cash, bonuses, and stock — and an 8% increase from his 2022 salary. That increase isn’t coming out of Ronald McDonald’s big yellow pantsuit pocket; it’s coming out of your presumably more stylish pocket, and all the other customers who pony up ever-increasing for their McRibs and ****** Happy Meals. Sure, these figureheads have a lot to handle, trying to keep an entire company profitable without angering shareholders or customers. But when you see how much they take home for their work, it’s much easier to solve the mystery of why upward-creeping fast food prices feels unending. Person using food delivery app – D3sign/Getty Images The introduction of delivery apps into the food world sounded like a sweet solution for customers. Now you can have your favorite fast food delivered to your door, your desk, your picnic table — wherever you happen to be when the hunger for a Big Mac strikes. Though there are plentiful fees involved in the delivery itself, there are also price increases at fast food restaurants that absorb the extra labor involved in having to cover both in-restaurant and delivery food prep, as well as commissions paid by the restaurants. True that the delivery fees themselves have compounded to include tip and service fees, which just makes the food delivery app costs go even higher. But when the food prices become elevated to compensate for the various companies trying to get a slice of the pie, the customer ends up paying for the luxury. Another devious way you may see increased fast food prices where apps are involved is the idea of flex pricing, which allows restaurants to feature higher prices through app ordering than in-restaurant ordering. There’s also the phenomenon of menu prices differing by location, which is always dicey but becomes more slippery with delivery app pricing in the mix. It isn’t too wild to think that user tracking may someday lead to pricing structures that allows users to see different prices, depending on their loyalty and purchase behaviors. It just goes to prove that as pricey as fast food is, it can always get pricier. Read the original article on Mashed. Source link #Fast #Food #Expensive Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Biden, Xi hold final meeting in Peru as Trump era looms Biden, Xi hold final meeting in Peru as Trump era looms Joe Biden has met Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the APEC forum in Peru in his last meeting with the ******** leader as US president. Source link #Biden #hold #final #meeting #Peru #Trump #era #looms Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Trump picks Karoline Leavitt to be youngest ever White House press secretary Trump picks Karoline Leavitt to be youngest ever White House press secretary President-elect Trump on Friday named Karoline Leavitt, his campaign press secretary, to serve as his White House press secretary. Leavitt, 27, currently a spokesperson for Trump’s transition, would be the youngest White House press secretary in history. Previously that distinction went to Ronald Ziegler, who was 29 when he took the position in 1969 in Richard Nixon’s administration. “Karoline Leavitt did a phenomenal job as the National Press Secretary on my Historic Campaign, and I am pleased to announce she will serve as White House Press Secretary,” Trump said in a statement. “Karoline is smart, tough, and has proven to be a highly effective communicator. I have the utmost confidence she will excel at the podium, and help deliver our message to the ********* People as we Make America Great Again.” Leavitt replied in a post on X, formerly Twitter: “Thank you, President Trump, for believing in me. I am humbled and honored. Let’s MAGA,” the acronym for “Make America Great Again.” The White House press secretary typically serves as the public face of the administration and historically has held daily briefings for the press corps. NEW YORK, NY – APRIL 25: Karoline Leavitt is seen leaving Trump Tower on April 25, 2024 in New York, New York. (Photo by MEGA/GC Images) MEGA Trump disrupted those norms in his first term, preferring to serve as his own chief spokesperson. While he was president from 2017 to 2021, Trump had four press secretaries but frequently preferred to engage directly with the public, from his rallies, social media posts and his own briefings. At a news conference this past August, Trump was asked if he’d have regular press briefings in his new administration. He told reporters, “I will give you total access and you’ll have a lot of press briefings and you’ll have, uh, from me.” When it came to a press secretary, he said: “Probably they’ll do something. If it’s not daily, it’s going to be a lot. You’ll have more than you want.” Leavitt, a New Hampshire native, is seen as a staunch and camera-ready advocate for Trump who is quick on her feet and delivers aggressive defenses of the *********** in television interviews. She worked as a spokesperson for MAGA Inc., a super PAC supporting Trump, before joining his 2024 campaign. In 2022, she ran for Congress in New Hampshire, winning a 10-way *********** primary before losing to incumbent Democratic Rep. Chris Pappas. During Trump’s first term in office, Leavitt worked in the White House press office. She then became communications director for New York *********** Rep. Elise Stefanik, whom Trump has tapped to serve as his U.S. ambassador to the ******* Nations. Trump’s first press secretaries, Sean Spicer and Sarah Huckabee Sanders, were known for quarreling with reporters. Another, Stephanie Grisham, never held a briefing. Her successor, Kayleigh McEnany, often lectured the news media during her appearances in the White House press briefing room. Source link #Trump #picks #Karoline #Leavitt #youngest #White #House #press #secretary Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

6 Indiana bands move on to semifinals at BOA Grand Nationals in Indianapolis 6 Indiana bands move on to semifinals at BOA Grand Nationals in Indianapolis High school marching bands from throughout the country have spent the last two days performing in the Bands of America Grand National Championships prelims at Lucas Oil Stadium. Six Indiana bands have advanced to the semifinals Saturday, each vying for a spot in the evening’s finals. Which Indiana bands are in the semifinals at BOA Grand Nationals? Avon High School Brownsburg High School Carmel High School Castle High School Fishers High School Homestead High School What other marching bands made BOA Grand Nationals semifinals? ********* Fork High School, Utah Archbishop Alter High School, Ohio Argyle High School, Texas Bartlett High School, Tennessee Bourbon County High School, Kentucky Bridgeland High School, Texas Broken Arrow High School, Oklahoma Cass High School, Georgia Catawba Ridge High School, South Carolina Cedar Park High School, Texas Deer Creek High School, Oklahoma Dobyns-Bennett High School, Tennessee Franklin High School, Tennessee Friendswood High School, Texas Jenison High School, Michigan Jenks High School, Oklahoma Leander High School, Texas Lincoln-Way Community High School, Illinois Marian ********* High School, Illinois Murray High School, Kentucky Norwin High School, Pennsylvania O’Fallon Township High School, Illinois Prosper High School, Texas Rockford High School, Michigan Rosemount High School, Minnesota Tarpon Springs High School, Florida Union High School, Oklahoma Walled Lake High School, Michigan William Mason High School, Ohio When is 2024 Bands of America Grand Nationals semifinals? Semifinals take place Saturday starting at 7 a.m. Find out when your group performs on the organization’s website. When is 2024 Bands of America Grand Nationals finals? Finals are Saturday evening beginning at 7 p.m. Gates open at 6:30 p.m. How to buy tickets to BOA Grand Nationals Tickets may be purchased on-site at the Southeast Ticket Office of Lucas Oil Stadium. The ticket booth is cashless. Tickets are also available for purchase through Ticketmaster at the links below: Is Lucas Oil Stadium cashless? Yes. Lucas Oil Stadium is a cashless venue, so if you want to purchase anything at concessions or buy your tickets at the gate, you will need to have a credit or debit card. What type of bags are allowed at Lucas Oil Stadium? Per Lucas Oil Stadium policy, only clear bags sized no larger than 12″ x 6″ x 12″ are permitted. Small clutch bags no larger than 4.5″ x 6.5″ are also permitted. No regular purses, backpacks or other bags are permitted. To view the Clear Bag Policy at Lucas Oil Stadium visit its website. Where to park near Lucas Oil Stadium A limited amount of spectator parking is available in Lot A north of the stadium and the South Lot of Lucas Oil Stadium. The cost for each of these lots is $20 per vehicle with no in/out privileges, according to the event website. According to the event website, accessible parking spaces are in the South Lot of the stadium via the Missouri Street Gate 3 parking lot entrance. The cost for this lot is also $20 per vehicle with no in/out privileges. Parking spaces are available on a first-come, first-served basis. A drop-off/pick-up location is available along Capitol Avenue outside of the Colts Team Store. BOA recommends arriving early to allow for time to park, purchase tickets and enter the stadium ahead of the performances. You can also visit downtownindy.org/explore/parking to view parking that is available downtown based on date, time, location and price. You can also pre-purchase parking ahead of the competition. 2024 BOA Grand Nationals full schedule Here’s the full schedule for Thursday through Saturday. Click here to find performance times for all bands. Note that start times for Saturday events are subject to change, with times determined Friday evening after semifinals awards. Thursday, Nov. 14: Prelims 2023 BOA Grand Nationals results: Avon wins Friday, Nov. 15: Prelims 6 a.m.: Ticket office opens 6:30 a.m.: East gate opens; expo opens 8:45 p.m. Preliminary competition concludes; exhibition performance by Missouri State University Pride Marching Band 9 p.m.: Special presentations and prelims awards Saturday, Nov. 16: Semi-finals & Finals 6:30 a.m.: Ticket office opens 7 a.m.: Semi-finals performances begin 3 p.m.: Exhibition performance by The Ohio State University Marching Band 4:30 p.m.: Semi-finals competition ends; Exhibition performance by University of Michigan Marching Band 4:45 p.m.: Semi-finals awards ceremony; announcement of finalist bands 6:30 p.m.: North and East gates open 7 p.m.: Finals opening ceremony 8 p.m.: First finals performance 11:30 p.m.: Grand finale and awards Can I livestream Bands of America Grand Nationals? Music for All/Bands of America offers a livestream through Box5TV, with pricing options for all events or individual shows. This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: BOA Grand Nationals 2024: Which Indiana bands made semifinals? Source link #Indiana #bands #move #semifinals #BOA #Grand #Nationals #Indianapolis Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

A majority of Senate Republicans doubt Matt Gaetz will be confirmed as attorney general, sources say A majority of Senate Republicans doubt Matt Gaetz will be confirmed as attorney general, sources say More than half of Senate Republicans, including some in senior leadership positions, privately say they don’t see a path for former Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., to be confirmed as attorney general and would not support him to lead the Department of Justice, according to multiple people who spoke to NBC News on condition of anonymity. While Gaetz’s ability to be confirmed appears on the rocks among Senate Republicans, President-elect Donald Trump’s team ******** confident he will eventually be confirmed, even if it’s after an ugly battle. NBC News spoke to more than 15 additional *********** sources who agreed that there are not enough votes in the Senate to confirm Gaetz, and some estimated that closer to 30 Republicans consider him unqualified. Gaetz and Trump attorney Todd Blanche are moving full speed ahead on trying to fill out the Justice Department, according to sources familiar with the planning. If confirmed, Blanche would serve in the powerful No. 2 position at the Justice Department, overseeing all U.S. attorney’s offices throughout the country. “President Trump and his team are focused on and confident in the confirmation of AG-designee Gaetz,” a person familiar with Trump’s thinking told NBC News. Vice President-elect JD Vance and his aides have also been working the phones over the last two days to get a read on where senators stand on Gaetz. Trump announced he was choosing Gaetz for the attorney general role on Wednesday, writing in a post on Truth Social, “Few issues in America are more important than ending the partisan Weaponization of our Justice System. Matt will end Weaponized Government, protect our Borders, dismantle ********* Organizations, and restore Americans’ badly shattered ****** and Confidence in the Justice Department.” When the president-elect initially publicized his pick, many Republicans — except for House Speaker Mike Johnson, who got a heads-up from Trump — were in complete shock. In his few terms in the House, Gaetz has often been embroiled in controversy. He was investigated by the Justice Department in a case involving the alleged **** trafficking of a 17-year-old girl, though the former congressman, who resigned his post shortly after he was picked for attorney general, has always denied the allegations and has never been criminally charged. On Thursday, though, a lawyer for the 17-year-old girl wrote in a post on X, saying, “She was a high school student and there were witnesses” when the alleged incident occurred. The attorney, John Clune, also called for the release of a House Ethics Committee report detailing the committee’s investigation into Gaetz, which has been ongoing for several years. “If they want to send [the report] that’d be fine,” Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., a staunch Trump ally, told reporters at the Capitol this week, though he added in a statement from his office that he planned to vote to confirm each of the president-elect’s judicial nominees. On Friday, Johnson said he would “strongly request” that the report not be released publicly, though several *********** senators have said they would like to view the report as part of their deliberation process ahead of a confirmation vote. “I don’t want there to be any limitation at all on what the Senate can consider,” Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, told reporters at the Capitol this week when asked whether the Senate Judiciary Committee should be privy to the report. “We need to have a complete vetting of the nominees, not only so we know that the nominee is qualified, but also to protect the president,” he added. “I think when you’re at this point, particularly given his abrupt departure from Congress just prior to that report coming out, considering the job that he is being appointed to, considering that the FBI is going to do a background check anyway, I can’t imagine that the committee is not going to want to see it,” said Sen. Kevin Cramer, R-N.D. “So, at the very least, those of us that will have a vote at some point, starting with the Judiciary Committee, should see that. And I can’t imagine they won’t.” The House Ethics Committee was expected to meet on Friday to decide whether to release its report on Gaetz, whom it has been investigating on and off since 2021, according to a source with direct knowledge. The panel abruptly canceled the meeting, which House Ethics Committee Chair Michael Guest, R-Miss., insisted was only postponed. Later on Friday, an attorney for another woman interviewed by the House Ethics Committee said that his client “testified to the House Ethics Committee that she witnessed Rep. Gaetz having **** with a minor at a house party in Orlando in 2017.” Several Republicans shared that Gaetz, who was investigated by the very agency he could now oversee, has a “steep hill” to climb toward confirmation in the Senate. “I would guess if we had a vote today on the Senate floor, it might be more than that,” Cramer said Thursday when pressed whether 10 Senate Republicans could vote to oppose Gaetz — as Democratic Sen. Richard Blumenthal suggested to NBC News earlier that day. “I have concerns that he can’t get across the finish line, and we’re gonna spend a lot of political capital … on something that even if they got it done, you’d have to wonder if it was worth it.” NBC News spoke to additional sources who put the unofficial tally closer to 30. Republicans who oppose Gaetz now could still ultimately vote to confirm him when the time comes, especially if pressure from Trump mounts. If Republicans wind up with 53 seats in the upper chamber after the recount in Pennsylvania’s Senate race is concluded, Gaetz will not be confirmed if more than three GOP Senators vote against him (Vance could break a tie as the president of the Senate). Republicans like Cramer have also cautioned Trump not to jam someone like Gaetz through in a recess appointment, which would bypass the Senate confirmation process. Shortly after he was projected to win the presidential election, Trump wrote a post on Truth Social urging Republicans running to be the next Senate majority leader to allow him to use recess appointments to confirm a Cabinet quickly. This style of nomination would bypass the normal appointment process, leaving the Senate entirely out of the equation, by allowing Trump to appoint members of his Cabinet while both chambers of Congress are in periods of recess that last days or weeks. The House and Senate currently gavel in for pro forma sessions while in recess to prevent the president from taking such steps to appoint Cabinet members. Since the Truth Social post, Trump has not asked for any specific Cabinet pick, including Gaetz, to be confirmed via recess appointment. “If the obstructionists are the other party, and you have the votes to confirm somebody, then I think you could make an ethical decision to provide that opportunity, that constitutional opportunity,” Cramer said. “On the other hand, if the opposition is preventing you from doing it with your own party, I think it runs a couple of risks. You could do it, but you’d have a very weak Cabinet secretary.” Source link #majority #Senate #Republicans #doubt #Matt #Gaetz #confirmed #attorney #general #sources Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

The 10 cheapest new V8-powered cars in Australia The 10 cheapest new V8-powered cars in Australia Carmakers are rapidly abandoning eight cylinder powertrains in the name of efficiency, and the few remaining V8s aren’t cheap. Source link #cheapest #V8powered #cars #Australia Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

An environmental group files intent to sue a salmon farmer for pollution off Maine’s coast An environmental group files intent to sue a salmon farmer for pollution off Maine’s coast PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — An environmental organization has served a notice of intent to sue one of the world’s largest aquaculture companies for violations of the Clean Water Act in Maine — allegations the fish farmer ardently denies. Conservation Law Foundation contends Cooke Aquaculture’s salmon farming sites off the Maine coast pollute the state’s bays, where lobster fishing is a key industry. The farms consist of pens in the ocean where Atlantic salmon are grown for use as food. The Boston-based law foundation stated in its Thursday notice that it was suing Cooke in a Maine federal court to bring the company into compliance. It states that the company discharges pollutants such as fish ******, ***** fish and trash into Maine’s coastal waters. “These enormous salmon cages are like sewage pipes to the marine environment,” said Heather Govern, vice president for the foundation’s clean air and water program. “Their solid waste smothers plants and ocean life while ******** outbreaks and sea lice threaten nearby endangered wild salmon.” Cooke swiftly denied the allegations, and company representatives said the firm fully complies with the laws. The company, based in New Brunswick, Canada, issued a statement that said the farms are “routinely inspected by state regulators and subject to regular monitoring reports” to ensure compliance. “Finfish aquaculture has coexisted with heritage fisheries, such as lobstering, in Maine waters for more than 40 years. Lobster landings are not negatively affected by Atlantic salmon farms,” the company said in a statement. Cooke is a global giant in aquaculture and describes itself as the world’s largest private family-owned seafood company. It states on its website that it operates in 14 countries. Some environmental groups, including the Sierra Club, have targeted Cooke over the years with concerns about the sustainability of its operations in Maine and elsewhere. Sebastian Belle, executive director of the Maine Aquaculture Association, said Saturday that the Conservation Law Foundation has worked with salmon farmers to develop environmental standards, and the notice of intent to sue was a surprise. “Given the fact that CLF and the other groups associated with the proposed suit have not expressed any of their concerns to the farmers and that all of them stand to financially benefit, one has to wonder why farmers would ever work cooperatively with these groups to address their concerns,” Belle said. Source link #environmental #group #files #intent #sue #salmon #farmer #pollution #Maines #coast Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Teen ***** after car ends up in swamp on the Gold Coast Teen ***** after car ends up in swamp on the Gold Coast A 15-year-old girl has ***** after the car she was driving crashed into a swamp. Source link #Teen #***** #car #ends #swamp #Gold #Coast Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Diddy accused of ‘relentless efforts to contact potential witnesses’ from behind bars Diddy accused of ‘relentless efforts to contact potential witnesses’ from behind bars Sean “Diddy” Combs is accused of “repeatedly” breaking rules while behind bars in a bid to impact the outcome of his ****-trafficking trial, according to prosecutors urging a judge to deny the hip-hop mogul’s latest bail request. Those “relentless efforts” allegedly include attempting to reach out to prospective witnesses or potential victims, and asking his kids to carry out “carefully curated” social media campaigns to influence public opinion. Prosecutors claim in their latest court filing they uncovered Combs’ attempts after reviewing recorded phone calls from jail. Combs, who was arrested on Sept. 16 on **** trafficking and racketeering charges, has been spending his days at Brooklyn’s Metropolitan Detention Center as he awaits the start of his trial on May 5. He has pleaded not guilty and denies any wrongdoing. Earlier this month, Combs’ attorneys proposed new conditions for his immediate release, after two previous unsuccessful attempts. The proposal includes a $50 million bond agreement, round-the-clock home detention and strict limitations on his ability to contact anyone outside his legal team. Citing “new evidence” and “changed circumstances,” attorneys for Combs argued that keeping him detained leaves him “unconstitutionally handicapped” in participating in his defense and preparing for trial. But in documents filed in Manhattan federal court late Friday night, prosecutors claim the 55-year-old Grammy winner began breaking jail rules almost as soon as he arrived at the detention center. “The defendant has shown repeatedly — even while in custody — that he will flagrantly and repeatedly flout rules in order to improperly impact the outcome of his case,” prosecutors wrote in their filing. “The defendant has shown, in other words, that he cannot be trusted to abide by rules or conditions.” According to the recorded calls, the former pop culture powerhouse has also been clear about his intentions to anonymously share information he believes would ultimately help in his defense, prosecutors allege. “The defendant’s efforts to obstruct the integrity of this proceeding also includes relentless efforts to contact potential witnesses, including victims of his ****** who could provide powerful testimony against him,” they wrote. Prosecutors say they can infer from his behavior that Combs intends to blackmail victims and witnesses into silence, telling the judge he should remain locked up. They also claim he’s a flight risk because of his endless resources and a danger to the public due to his alleged history of *********. Combs’ legal team did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Saturday. A bail hearing is scheduled for late next week. With News Wire Services Source link #Diddy #accused #relentless #efforts #contact #potential #witnesses #bars Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

New dad Rafael Campos shares PGA Tour lead in Bermuda New dad Rafael Campos shares PGA Tour lead in Bermuda Five days after the birth of his first child, Rafael Campos is in position for another big moment as he shares the lead going into the final round of the PGA Tour’s Butterfield Bermuda Championship. The 36-year-old from Puerto Rico shot a personal best with a nine-under 62 on Saturday to share the lead with Andrew Novak on a day when the wind became ferocious toward the end of the round at Port Royal. Justin Lower, who began the blustery day with a 62, drove into the water on the par-5 18th and scrambled for a bogey for a 68 to finish one shot behind. Campos and Novak were at 16-under 197, both searching for their first victory. The timing couldn’t be better in so many ways for Campos. He is No 147 in the FedEx Cup with one tournament remaining to try to get into the top 125 and keep full status for next year. And then his wife gave birth to their daughter Paola Isabel on Monday. There was no discussion about Campos playing. His job was at stake, which led them to induce labour. And he said it eased some of the stress he has been feeling after missing four straight cuts as his ranking kept falling. “My wife is extremely understanding on where I’m standing on the FedEx, first of all,” he said, struggling to keep his emotions in check. “The whole process of trying to induce labour on Monday was for me to try to get to the tournament, so we were always looking to try to see if I can make it here.” They got home from the hospital at about 5pm on Wednesday. “I held my daughter. I thought in like 20 minutes I had to go to the airport,” he said. “I do want to provide for them as much as I can, so we’re here and fortunate everything went well. It’s a bonus that I’m doing well this week. “I had a daughter on Monday and it doesn’t matter if I play bad, they don’t care. If I end up losing my job, I lost my job and I’ve got a beautiful daughter and beautiful wife back home just waiting for me to hopefully give ’em a hug. Hopefully I have a good day tomorrow and we’ll see how we end up.”” It went great on Saturday in the strong wind, which Campos enjoys. He chipped in for birdie on the 15th, holed a 10-foot birdie putt on the scary par-3 16th, got up-and-down with another tester of a birdie putt on the 17th and held on for par on the closing *****. Lower is coming off a runner-up finish last week in Mexico. He also is going for his first PGA Tour win, which feels even more critical with the PGA Tour likely to reduce exempt status to the top 100 players starting in 2026. Source link #dad #Rafael #Campos #shares #PGA #Tour #lead #Bermuda Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Malcolm X’s daughters sue CIA, FBI, NYPD over his ************** Malcolm X’s daughters sue CIA, FBI, NYPD over his ************** Nearly 60 years after civil rights leader Malcolm X was assassinated, three of his daughters filed a $100 million lawsuit against the CIA, FBI and New York Police Department claiming the agencies were aware of and were involved in the ************** plot. Source link #Malcolm #daughters #sue #CIA #FBI #NYPD #************** Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

US reports first case of Clade I mpox in California US reports first case of Clade I mpox in California California has reported the first US case of mpox – formerly known as monkeypox – that is part of a new outbreak. The state’s department of health, the CDPH, said the new case was from the Clade I strain – different from the Clade II strain that has been in circulation in the US since 2022. The person in question, who is now isolating at home, had recently travelled to ******* and the CDPH said their case was “related to the ongoing outbreak of Clade I mpox in Central and Eastern *******”. Mpox was declared a global health emergency by the World Health Organization earlier this year. The CDPH said that while Clade I cases had tended to cause more severe illness than Clade II in the past, “recent infections from Clade I mpox may not be as clinically severe as in previous outbreaks”. Mpox is caused by a virus in the same family as smallpox but is usually much less harmful. It was originally transmitted from animals to humans but now also passes between humans. Initial symptoms include fever, headaches, swellings, back pain and aching muscles. A rash can then develop, which can be extremely itchy or painful. The infection can clear up on its own and lasts between 14 and 21 days, but in some cases has been fatal, particularly for vulnerable groups including small children. Mpox is most common in remote villages in the tropical rainforests of West and Central *******, in countries such as the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo), where it has been seen for many years. Hundreds of people ***** during an initial outbreak in DR Congo earlier this year, and the ******** has since spread to areas of Central and East *******. Outbreaks can be controlled by preventing infections with vaccines, though these are usually only available for people at risk or those who have been in close contact with an infected person. Source link #reports #case #Clade #mpox #California Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]