The News

Thursday, May 30, 2024

Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck's clashes

May 30, 2024 0

 Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck's clashes over finances have 'exacerbated' marital issues as the actor is 'worn down' by singer's lifestyle: 'The honeymoon phase has worn off'



Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck's martial woes have been 'exacerbated' by rows over their finances, according to a new report about their 'rocky' relationship.

The couple, who married less than two years ago, are apparently taking time apart to work out whether their marriage is 'right for both of them', an insider told Us Weekly.

Their marriage has been under the spotlight in recent weeks, as sources claim they have hit a turbulent patch over their differing lifestyles, with reports stating that Ben has moved out of the couple's $60 million Los Angeles mansion and into a rented $100,000-a-month property in Brentwood

Insisting the 'the honeymoon phase has worn off', the source said their differing approaches to both finances and parenting have taken a toll on their relationship.

Jennifer, 54, who is worth an estimated $400million, is said to have 'started ramping up her work commitments and prepping for her tour', and is 'very focused on her work and overextends herself'.

Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck 's martial woes have been 'exacerbated' by rows over their finances, according to a new report about their 'rocky' relationship (seen together in February)

Their marriage has been under the spotlight in recent months, as sources claim they have hit a turbulent patch over their differing lifestyles (Jennifer seen on May 20)

Their marriage has been under the spotlight in recent months, as sources claim they have hit a turbulent patch over their differing lifestyles (Jennifer seen on May 20)

The couple, who married less than two years ago, are apparently taking time apart to work out whether their marriage is 'right for both of them' (Ben seen on May 24)

The couple, who married less than two years ago, are apparently taking time apart to work out whether their marriage is 'right for both of them' (Ben seen on May 24) 

JLo is preparing to embark on her This Is Me... Live tour next month in support of her ninth studio album, both of which have faced criticism over disappointing sales. 

The source went on to state that Ben 'doesn't agree with Jennifer's lifestyle' and now feels 'worn down' by their marriage.

Ben is said to have 'checked out' of their relationship and the insider added that he and Jennifer are on 'two completely different pages most of the time.'

Another source close to Jennifer suggested the couple's work commitments have also caused a rift, saying, 'both have demanding careers that often require them to be in different cities.'

With the pair forced to spend time apart in recent months as a result of their careers, the insider said the absence 'highlighted the emotional and physical distance between them.'

They said: 'Over time, Jennifer and Ben found it increasingly difficult to communicate effectively, and small misunderstandings grew into significant arguments.

'They have fundamentally different approaches to conflict', the insider added, explaining that Jennifer prefers to confront issues head-on, while Ben isn't as quick to open up.

Jennifer — who, along with being a musician and actress has a line of successful deals with major brands — is worth a reported $400million while Ben is said to be worth $150million.

Jennifer recently stunned fans by self-financing a three-part project documenting hers and Ben's love story for a whopping $20million. 

Meanwhile Ben has acquired much of his wealth through multi-million dollar film and production deals, but he recently earned $10million to appear in Dunkin' Donuts' Super Bowl ad.

Source

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Murdered Johnny Wactor's distressing final words are revealed by friend who cradled General Hospital star as he bled to death

May 30, 2024 0

 The woman who was with General Hospital star Johnny Wactor when he was tragically killed on Saturday night has recalled his heroic final moments in a heartbreaking series of Instagram posts. 



Anita Joy referred to Wactor, 37, as her friend of 'eight years' and described how he 'fought to stay alive' after being shot at close range as the pair were walking to their cars after finishing a bartending shift at Level 8 in downtown Los Angeles

When they approached their vehicles, they saw three men trying to steal Wactor's car's catalytic converter around 3am. 

'Everything happened in an instant. I've come to describe it as a glass of water that gets tipped over and you're scrambling to grab it and save it from spilling out completely but it just runs through your fingertips and is gone,' Joy wrote. 

'We cautiously approached the men, questioning what they were doing, at first thinking the car was being towed. We were no threat and Johnny kept his cool as he always did, simply stating that it was his car and for them to leave. Hands open to his sides in peace.'

Wactor portrayed Brando Corbin on the ABC soap opera from 2020 to 2022. He also appeared in a variety of films and TV series, including 'Station 19,' 'NCIS,' 'Westworld' and the video game 'Call of Duty: Vanguard.' 

'Johnny was between me and the man who shot him — as I heard the shot ring into the night, he forcefully tumbled back into my arms and as I grabbed for him, I shouted, "Hunny, you ok?!"

'And he only responded, "Nope! Shot!" We toppled onto the street, where I pushed my legs under him and tried to hold his body up while screaming for help and screaming at him to stay with me.'

Joy went on to say that a bouncer from the bar where they worked ran over and performed but the damage was done.

'It was too close range, too extreme of a wound for him to survive it. But my God, he fought to stay.'

Joy added that she finds solace in the fact that she was with him and that Wactor did not die alone but added that remains 'heartbroken and so very angry.'

'My only other peace will be seeing these awful men brought to justice.'

In her posts, Joy showed other pictures of Wactor with the staff of Level 8, calling him 'beautiful, goofy as hell, full of work ethic and values.'

'Johnny had this incredible ability that was truly just his genuine nature — to make anyone and everyone feel so special in his eyes. No matter how well you knew him, he treated everyone like he truly cared about you,' she continued. 

Joy said that the actor's nickname for her was 'Anita Bonita.' 

'I hope the stamp of his voice saying that every time I saw him never leaves my memory. Just one look into his big blue eyes, followed by a big goofy grin, Johnny made you love him instantly. Absolutely one of the best men I've ever known.'

The bartender went on to call on her employers to supplying parking spaces for their late night staff for safety purposes.

Earlier this week, Scarlett Wactor, the GH star's mother, told US Weekly that she had spoken with Joy. 

'[She] was very gracious in speaking with me so I could ask questions. She felt detectives were being very thorough and that made me feel comforted. I'm glad he was not alone,' the grieving mom added. 

 Scarlett went on to say that she's seeking justice for her son and that she does not want his death to become a 'cold case.'

There are still no arrests in the murder.  

Wactor's agent, David Shaul, said the actor was 'a real moral example to everyone who knew him.'

'In the highs and lows of a challenging profession he always kept his chin up and kept striving for the best he could be,' Shaul said in a statement Sunday. 

'Our time with Johnny was a privilege we would wish on everyone. He would literally give you the shirt off his back. After over a decade together, he will leave a hole in our hearts forever.' 

Wactor's murder comes just weeks after California was ranked among the top 10 most dangerous states in America.

Violent crime in Los Angeles has been on the rise, with the LAPD recording a 2.9 per cent increase at the end of March 2024, compared to the same time last year.

The LAPD reported Friday that, as of the end of April, the city's rise in the number of murders in 2024 continued to decline and, as of April 27, was only 4.2 per cent above the number of murders reported at this time in 2023, NBC Los Angeles reported.

The last time the force updated robbery statistics, at the end of March 2024, thefts were up 9.5 per cent, according to ABC 7.

Around 600,000 catalytic converters are stolen each year. Most cars are equipped with one converter but those with a dual exhaust system require two. Larger vehicles such as SUVs and trucks may have more than two.

According to the New York Times, stolen catalytic converters are passed through 'middlemen, smelters and refineries in the United States and overseas.' They can be stolen in under a minute and cost around $1,000 to replace.

 SOURCE 

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Tuesday, May 28, 2024

Shannen Doherty credits late co-star Michael Landon for igniting acting passion

May 28, 2024 0

 

Shannen Doherty recently revealed that her time on the beloved television series ‘Little House on the Prairie’ not only shaped her career but also ignited her lifelong passion for acting. 

Doherty, who appeared on the show's final season at the age of 11, discussed this pivotal experience with her mother on her podcast, ‘Let's Be Clear with Shannen Doherty.’

‘Little House’ wasn't just any acting job for the future star. “That show shaped me in so many ways and it still is the best experience of my entire career,” Doherty shared. 

She went on to express her deep respect and appreciation for her co-star, Michael Landon, who played Charles Ingalls. “I adored him,” she said. “He was a mentor. He taught me so much.”

Doherty's positive experience with Landon had a lasting impact. “It's kind of amazing because, when I think about the long span of my career… it was really the experience on Little House that spurred that passion on for being an actor,” she explained. 

She emphasized the importance of Landon's guidance, particularly during challenging moments in her career. “Having a mentor like Michael Landon… he was just unbelievable.”

Doherty's kind words painted a picture of Landon as a talented and caring individual.  “He was so, so, so talented, so kind, so considerate, and it really helped shape me,” she said. “And he was incredibly caring for my entire family.”

Following her memorable role on ‘Little House on the Prairie,’ Shannen Doherty went on to star in numerous television shows and films, solidifying her place in Hollywood.  Some of her most notable projects include ‘Our House,’ ‘Beverly Hills, 90210,’ ‘Charmed,’ and ‘Heathers.’

 SOURCE 

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Dad, 14-year-old son dead following tragic drowning incident at Virginia lake

May 28, 2024 0

 

A man and his 14-year-old son were both pronounced dead Sunday following a tragic drowning incident at Lake Anna in Louisa County. 

According to the Sheriff’s Office, around 1:10 p.m. on Saturday, May 25, deputies and other emergency crews were called to the lake in the area of Carrs Bridge Road for a report of a child drowning.

While on the way, deputies were informed that the child’s father had jumped into the water attempting to rescue his son. Soon after, witnesses saw the 42-year-old dad struggling in the water before losing sight of him shortly after the 14-year-old victim went under. 

Several people went into the water hoping to locate the victims but were unsuccessful. 

LCSO Marine Units, Mineral Vol Fire, Lake Anna Vol Rescue, Department of Wildlife Resources, and Spotsylvania County Fire and EMS Dive Team divers helped to recover the bodies of the father and son, who were pronounced dead on the scene. 

Both are being transported to the Office of the Medical Examiner in Richmond for examination.

The victims in this tragedy were from out of state, and their names are being withheld, pending notification of next of kin. 

 SOURCE 

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ASML and TSMC Can Disable Chip Machines If China Invades Taiwan

May 28, 2024 0
TSMC is the world's largest chipmaker, and it produces a massive percentage of the world's advanced computer chips—by some estimates over the past few years, even around 90%. What happens if something were to happen in that part of the world to disturb this chipmaking ability? It'd be catastrophic, of course, but TSMC and its main machine supplier, Dutch company ASML, say the machines wouldn't fall into hostile hands.



Citing people close to the matter, Bloomberg reports both TSMC and ASML have ways to disable the lithographic machines located in Taiwan. This kill switch would be able to be remotely activated, should such a drastic action ever be required.

Officials from the US government have reportedly spoken to both companies about what might happen in the event of an invasion, with ASML reassuring officials it was able to stop the machines from falling into the wrong hands
The switch applies to the latest EUV machines out of ASML. These are also some of the most complicated, expensive, and sizable chip-making machines around today. The machines themselves have taken years to develop, and even longer to actually implement, though are now responsible for producing the most intricate and powerful computer chips today.
EUV machines demand highly trained specialists, components, resources and more in order to function properly. It's extremely unlikely these machines could function anywhere near as effectively as they do today when disconnected from large parts of the world's economy, if that were to be the case. Yet this is all planning for hypothetical situations, nothing is certain.

Intel's first High NA EUV tool set up.



This is an Intel-owned ASML High NA EUV machine. It's different to those run by TSMC for the most part—it's still yet to jump on High NA—but good for an idea of what these machines actually look like. (Image credit: Intel)
Concerns over Taiwan's national security are what have ultimately led to increased spending in chip-making facilities in the US and Europe. The CHIPS Act in the US has agreed to pay huge sums to today's largest chip-making companies, including TSMC, Intel, and Samsung, in order to attract fab facilities to be built, maintained, and expanded on US soil. It seems to be working, too. 

Though even by today's optimistic outlooks, a very high percentage of processors will still be manufactured in Taiwan for the foreseeable future.


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Sunday, May 26, 2024

Janhvi Kapoor reveals that she checks her boyfriend's phone

May 26, 2024 0

 Janhvi Kapoor who has been busy promoting her upcoming film Mr and Mrs Mahi has been in the news for a while now because she is absolutely acing the method dressing trend. In a recent interview, Janhvi made an interesting revelation about her personal life.

Janhvi Kapoor

The actress admitted to checking her boyfriend, Shikhar Pahariya’s phone. She did go on to call herself a red flag but also admitted that she cannot help it. During the same interview, when someone in the audience asked Janhvi, “Should boyfriends be allowed to check their girlfriends’ phone?” The actress replied, “No! Don’t you trust us?”


Janhvi Kapoor recently confirmed dating Shikhar Pahariya. The duo, who had broken up earlier but reconciled around Diwali 2022. The Bawaal actress is not shy to show her love for Shikhar and is often spotted donning her famous Shiku necklace.


On the work front, Janhvi’s film Mr and Mrs Mahi will be released in cinemas on May 31. The film also stars Rajkummar Rao. Other than that, she also has a lineup of highly anticipated films like Ulajh, Sunny Sanskari Ki Tulsi Kumari and Devara: Part 1.
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Cate Blanchett’s Cannes red carpet look has a special message

May 26, 2024 0

Cate Blanchett
 

Australian actress and film producer, Cate Blanchett recently made a stunning appearance at the Cannes Film Festival red carpet. She made heads turns at the international platform not only because of her outfit but also for how it presumably consolidated her pre-established political stance on a pressing humanitarian issue.


The Oscar-winning star wore an elegant black and white off-shoulder dress with green lining. Looking at the colour-blocking of the dress, people on the internet instantly pointed out that she is making a political fashion statement. She paired the dress with a chain of pearls that she wore below the neckline, around her chest.


Cate Blanchette


Although speculation about whether the back of her dress was white or a light shade of pink still continues, many couldn't ignore how her dress' colours when seen against the red carpet's backdrop match the colours of the Palestinian flag. This indicated the UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador's solidarity with that of the sovereign state which is currently under war due to conflict between Israel and the militant group Hamas.

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First Alert Forecast - Rain and thunderstorms could impact weekend plans

May 26, 2024 0

 

Sunday is a First Alert Weather Day for the dual risk of high winds and high water. Right now, there is a possibility of multiple lines of storms coming through in the PM hours into the late evening. There is a chance of severe thunderstorms, damaging straight-line winds, flooding, and a spin up tornado as we go through the afternoon and evening hours. Stay tuned for updates as we get closer to time, because the question remains how many lines of storms we will receive, or if they will break apart and become scattered.



Memorial Day will start off rainy due to leftover showers/thunderstorms from Sunday, but rain chances begin to die down as we enter the afternoon hours. For Monday, highs will be into the low 80s.

Tuesday we will see mostly sunny skies and temperatures into the high 70s. Mostly sunny conditions stick with us through the rest of the week after that, a few isolated showers in the afternoon hours of each day are possible for this time of the year, but the main story for the middle-end of next week is the decreasing temperatures. By next Friday, we are expected to be back into the low 70s.

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Erdoğan Calls for Intl Aid for Afghan Flood Victims at Festival in Ankara

May 26, 2024 0



The Turkish president said at the event that recent floods in some provinces of Afghanistan have brought about a humanitarian disaster.

Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said: "Following the floods, more than 400 of our brothers and sisters in Afghanistan lost their lives, and a major humanitarian disaster has occurred in the north of the country. We invite world countries to help the flood victims in Afghanistan. Turkey continues to send humanitarian aid to Afghanistan after the floods."

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) also emphasized the need for continued humanitarian aid to the people of Afghanistan.

Edem Wosornu, director of OCHA's Operations and Advocacy Division, said: "The humanitarian situation in Afghanistan is fragile, 23 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance this year, this is 5 times the number in 2019. The majority of people in need are women and girls, children in Afghanistan (there are) 1.4 million girls who are directly affected by the ban on female schooling after grade six, this is a huge concern to say the least.”

"As I previously emphasized, 23 million people in Afghanistan rely on humanitarian aid; this is five times more than in 2019. The second point is sustainable solutions, including livelihood and agricultural support, and finally, we must hear their voices [the people of Afghanistan], they want us to listen to them," said Wosornu.

Shah Wali, a resident of Karkar town in Pul-e-Khumri, said that in addition to the loss of lives, significant financial losses have been inflicted on the people due to the deadly floods; however, no government or private organization has yet helped the affected people in this area.

"No one from the government or any officials came to help us or to ask about our condition, to see how the flood came and what it destroyed," Shah Wali told TOLOnews.

Some domestic charitable organizations, various departments of the Islamic Emirate, civil organizations in Turkey, and some businessmen inside and outside the country have also provided humanitarian aid to the recent flood victims. Countries such as Turkey, Iran, Qatar, Russia, Japan, and Uzbekistan have also provided initial aid to the flood victims.

Recently, the spokesperson of the Ministry of Interior delivered over two million afghani to the flood victims in Baghlan.

Based on statistics from the Ministry of Disaster Management, devastating and deadly floods have hit the provinces of Baghlan, Faryab, Ghor, Sar-e-Pul, Badakhshan, Takhar, Samangan, Herat, Badghis, Laghman, Bamyan, Farah, Nuristan, and Kapisa in the past two weeks.

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Nicki Minaj released after apparent arrest in the Netherlands

May 26, 2024 0



Nicki Minaj was released from custody Saturday hours after she was apparently arrested by police in the Netherlands on suspicion of exporting soft drugs, authorities said.

The rapper was fined and allowed to “continue her journey,” police said in a translated post on X just before 4 p.m. ET.

Minaj, 41, was traveling to Manchester, England, from Amsterdam for a concert on her “Pink Friday 2 World Tour” when she was apparently arrested. Minaj, whose real name is Onika Tanya Maraj-Petty, was scheduled to perform at the Co-op Live arena in Manchester on Saturday night but it was postponed, Live Nation UK said in an update.

“Despite Nicki’s best efforts to explore every possible avenue to make tonight’s show happen, the events of today have made it impossible,” the company said. “We are deeply disappointed by the inconvenience this has caused.”

Tickets will remain valid for the rescheduled concert, the company said.

Police have not identified the name of the person arrested, but when asked if it was Minaj, a spokesperson said officers had “arrested a 41-year-old American woman at Schiphol Airport because of possession of soft drugs.”

In a social media post early Sunday local time, Minaj said she arrived at her hotel in Manchester a little more than an hour ago. "After sitting in a jail cell for 5-6 hours, my plane still didn’t take off for another 20 mins once I boarded" the 50 minute flight from Amsterdam, she wrote.

"Please please please accept my deepest & most sincere apologies," Minaj wrote. "They sure did know exactly how to hurt me today but this too, shall pass."

The rapper said she hopes to be able to share the rescheduled date for Saturday's show on Sunday, and that she and her team are considering one option in June and another in July.

She confirmed she'd still be performing the second show in Manchester on Thursday, and that she will still go on in Birmingham on Sunday.

"I’ll find a way to not only make up the date with the performance but I’m going to create an added bonus for everyone that had a tkt for this show. Promise," Minaj said.

Earlier on Saturday, Minaj had shared numerous posts on social media detailing the incident.

In one video she shared on X, the rapper is seen being told that her luggage needs to be searched.

“I’m so sorry to say that,” a man at the airport tells her.

“But isn’t that what you planned on doing from the get-go? Why didn’t you guys search it before it went on the plane,” she responds.

The man says they did a “random quick check” but need to open the luggage.

In subsequent posts, Minaj said she believed people were trying to “stop this tour” and were lying to her.

“They took my luggage & when I asked where it is they said it’s on the plane. It couldn’t have been, I just pulled up,” she said. “I never gave them my bags. They’re refusing to let me see my own bags.”

In another post, she wrote: “They’re being paid big money to try to sabotage my tour b/c soooooo many ppl are mad that it’s this successful & they can’t eat off me. They got caught stealing money from my travel/jets. Got fired. Got mad. Etc.”

“This is how they plant things in your luggage,” another read.

Minaj said in the Sunday social media post she has video evidence of the encounter and she’ll “have the lawyers & GOD take it from here tho.”

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Saturday, May 25, 2024

China shows off its robot ‘dogs of war’ in Cambodia

May 25, 2024 0

China’s military yesterday showed off its machine-gun equipped robot battle “dogs” at the start of its biggest ever drills with Cambodian forces.

More than 2,000 troops, including 760 Chinese military personnel, are taking part in the drills at a remote training center in central Kampong Chhnang Province and at sea off Preah Sihanouk Province.

The 15-day exercise, dubbed Golden Dragon, also involves 14 warships — three from China — two helicopters and 69 armored vehicles and tanks, and includes live-fire, anti-terrorism and humanitarian rescue drills.

A Chinese soldier tests a robot dog at the Golden Dragon military exercise in Cambodia’s Kampong Chhnang Province yesterday.

Photo: AP

The hardware on show included the so-called “robodogs” — remote-controlled four-legged robots with automatic rifles mounted on their backs.

Handlers kept the dogs of war on the leash, demonstrating only their walking capabilities to watching journalists and top brass — not their shooting skills.

Opening the exercises, Cambodian armed forces commander-in-chief Vong Pisen said that they would “enhance the capabilities” of the two armies in the fight against terrorism.

Vong Pisen said that Cambodia would never allow a foreign military base on its territory, echoing previous assertions by Cambodian leaders.

After Cambodia dismantled facilities at Ream naval base near the Cambodian port city of Sihanoukville, built partly with US funding and having played host to US military exercises, China began funding its renovation.

Two Chinese warships docked at Ream in December last year for the first time after work began to expand the base.

Washington says that Ream could give Beijing a key strategic position on Gulf of Thailand near the disputed South China Sea.

Earlier this week, Cambodian army spokesman Thong Solimo told reporters that the exercises were biggest ever of their kind and China would cover the cost.

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HISD unveils plan to slash $500M from budge

May 25, 2024 0

 

The multibillion-dollar question of how Houston ISD intends to balance its budget went largely unanswered Thursday night, with district administrators revealing few specifics about job or program cuts as they unveiled a long-awaited spending plan for 2024-25.

HISD Superintendent Mike Miles said the district will move forward with slashing over $500 million, equivalent to about 20 percent of the district’s spending in the 2023-24 school year, due to an upcoming budget squeeze, but he only gave broad outlines of which departments would see the reductions. HISD likely will need to eliminate a significant number of jobs and scale back initiatives to trim $500 million next school year.

“We cut a lot of positions in central office and that’s very painful,” Miles said. “Anytime you cut, they’re real people, real jobs.”

HISD released its budget plan to the media Thursday afternoon at the start of the first and only scheduled board meeting about the budget, which trustees expect to vote on next month. However, destructive winds and power outages at HISD’s central office forced board members to cancel the workshop before Chief Financial Officer Jim Terry could present the budget to trustees. Miles spoke to the media prior to the meeting and release of the budget plan Thursday afternoon.

HISD is already behind its typical schedule for detailing its spending plans for the upcoming year. By mid-May last year, HISD had held four public budget workshops to explain plans to the board and gauge community members’ feedback, district records show. District officials plan to reschedule Thursday’s canceled meeting for May 23.

The delay in releasing detailed information to the public concerns elected trustee Sue Deigaard, especially with drastic cuts planned.  Deigaard and the rest of HISD’s elected school board technically remain in place, though all of their power has been temporarily transferred to a state-appointed board of managers as part of sanctions against the district.

“It’s easier for the distrust to grow if enough people don’t understand why this is happening,” Deigaard said.

Miles argues the deep cuts are necessary because the district is headed toward a “fiscal cliff” created by years of enrollment declines and HISD’s recent use of pandemic stimulus funds to prop up its budget. HISD is using roughly $325 million in federal stimulus dollars this fiscal year, the documents HISD released Thursday evening show. Those funds are set to expire in the fall.

Miles’ plan to balance the budget comes primarily from cuts to HISD’s central office, which includes non-academic operations, technology and curriculum, among numerous other departments.

School budgets, which largely cover teacher and campus administrator salaries, would stay relatively flat under Miles’ plan. 

The 130 campuses participating in Miles’ “New Education System” next year will receive funding increases to cover higher teacher salaries, bringing their average budget to $5.6 million. Many of the roughly 140 campuses not included in the program will see budget cuts, bringing their average total to $4.8 million, with roughly two dozen campuses required to shave 12 percent of spending due to enrollment declines.

HISD plans to offset next year’s deficit, in part, by selling $80 million in property and dipping into $130 million of its “rainy day” fund. That would leave $800 million in reserves, which Miles said is a healthy level to maintain the district’s strong bond rating.

The key unanswered question, however, is how many positions the district plans to eliminate to save hundreds of millions of dollars. In early May, HISD terminated over a hundred wraparound specialists who serve students living in poverty, but those cuts likely will only save the district around $10 million. 

While he didn’t detail layoff totals, Miles outlined the level of planned cuts to central office departments, including some that will see the biggest hits. Staff salaries make up most of the spending in the departments.

  • The operations office would lose roughly $101 million, equivalent to 45 percent of its 2023-24 budget. Several thousand people work in the department, including custodians, bus drivers and numerous other non-teaching staff work.
  • The human resources office would lose roughly $97 million, equivalent to 88 percent of its 2023-24 budget.
  • The academics office would lose about $69 million, equivalent to 37 percent of its 2023-24 budget. The office includes employees who develop curriculum, support teachers and engage with parents.
  • The information technology office would see roughly $68 million in cuts, equivalent to 58 percent of its 2023-24 budget.
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How Kyrie Irving’s antisemitism scandal vanished

May 25, 2024 0

 

How many of you remember when one of the NBA’s most famous players shared a documentary claiming that Jews had fooled the world into believing that they were God’s chosen people, including by fabricating the Holocaust?

Kyrie Irving’s promotion of “Hebrews to Negroes” came around the same time as antisemitic outbursts by Ye, the rapper formerly known as Kanye West, and caused only a relatively brief outcry.

Irving alternately played coy — saying that sharing the link didn’t constitute promoting it — and inflamed tensions, denying that he could be antisemitic by hinting that, as the movie suggested, Africans were the real Jews.

He was suspended, donated to the Anti-Defamation League, made more inflammatory comments, saw his donation get rejected, eventually apologized and returned to the court and then months later deleted the social media post containing his apology after being traded from the Brooklyn Nets to Dallas.

Now he’s leading the Mavericks on a playoff run and concerns about his alleged antisemitism have all but disappeared.

“It doesn’t come up unless Kyrie Irving does something good,” explained my colleague Louis Keene, who covered the original controversy. When that happens, Irving’s legions of young fans will bemoan the past efforts to cancel him.

Louis just published a piece about his conversations with Jewish Mavericks fans who, whether they like him personally or not, are rooting for Irving to succeed. “I’ve forgotten about the antisemitism,” said Ben Calmenson, a 28-year-old who grimaced when Iriving wore a keffiyeh to a recent press conference but quickly excused it.

I still cringe when I watch Irving win, as he’s been doing throughout the playoffs and did again against the Minnesota Timberwolves Wednesday night. But I’m not saying he should have been kicked out of the league for sharing a film that concludes Jews are to blame for Black suffering. He mostly seems like a weird guy who doesn’t believe in vaccines and isn’t sure whether the earth is flat or round.

“There’s a lot of young fans who see Kyrie Irving as an iconoclastic figure whose vulnerability to conspiracy theories is just part of that,” Louis explained to me. “He’s very charitable — even by the standards of professional athletes — and he’s very outspoken on social issues, so they just see him as a genuinely and deeply good person who is a little bit unusual.”

The Kyrie Irving saga shows how selective the organized Jewish world can be when it comes to calling out antisemitism. The American Jewish Committee and other leading groups quickly aborted a campaign to convince Amazon, which still sells the antisemitic film on its Prime Video service, to remove the movie after Andy Jassy, the company’s chief executive, refused.

Right now, the concern is about what’s happening with left-wing students on elite college campuses. But if Irving was playing basketball thirty years ago, when Jewish groups were focused on how so-called “Black antisemitism” threatened American Jews, it is possible reporters wouldn’t have so quickly stopped asking him about “Hebrews to Negroes” and his social media post referring to Israelis as “murderous oppressors” would have received more attention.

There’s also the fact that Irving is playing for a basketball team that Mark Cuban, who Louis described as a “Jewish community legend,” is in the process of selling to Miriam Adelson, wife of the late Jewish casino mogul and philanthropist Sheldon Adelson.

And Irving is a celebrity. Jewish leaders have a fair amount of sway on campus and even in Congress. But it’s really, really hard to sanction superstars for what fundamentally amounts to intemperate comments. “They recognized their power is kind of limited,” Louis said.

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Thursday, May 23, 2024

Attorney: Mosby strategy to seek pardon could backfire

May 23, 2024 0



While federal sentencing guidelines sometimes factor in acceptance of responsibility, legal experts told 11 News that Marilyn Mosby's brazen push for a presidential pardon may backfire. Her sentencing is scheduled for Thursday, at which time, she could face up to 40 years in federal prison. Defense attorneys have pushed for Mosby to serve no prison time. The federal government has asked for a 20-month prison sentence.

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Nikki Haley says she will vote for Donald Trump

May 23, 2024 0

 Nikki Haley said Wednesday that she will be voting for Donald Trump in the general election, a notable show of support given their intense and often personal rivalry during the Republican primary calendar.



But Haley also made it clear that she feels Trump has work to do to win over voters who supported her during the course of the primary campaign and continue to cast votes for her in ongoing primary contests.

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Painting of Kate Middleton, Princess of Wales, Graces Tatler Magazine Cover

Nvidia Stock: AI Chip Giant Does It Again, Smashes Quarterly Targets

May 23, 2024 0

 Artificial intelligence technology leader Nvidia (NVDA) late Wednesday beat Wall Street's targets for its fiscal first quarter and guided higher than views for the current period. It also announced a 10-for-1 stock split. Nvidia stock rose in extended trading.



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