Average long-term US mortgage rate climbs to 7.09% this week to highest level in more than 20 years
The average long-term U.S. mortgage rate jumped this week to its highest level in 20 years
2023-08-18 02:45
America's richest 10% are responsible for 40% of its planet-heating pollution, new report finds
America's wealthiest people are also some of the world's biggest polluters -- not only because of their massive homes and private jets, but because of the fossil fuels generated by the companies they invest their money in.
2023-08-18 02:24
Poland's lawmakers approve government plan for divisive referendum on election day
Poland’s lawmakers have confirmed that a controversial government-planned referendum on migration will be held alongside key parliamentary elections in October
2023-08-18 02:21
Ex-wife charged with murder of Microsoft executive Jared Bridegan
The ex-wife of slain Microsoft executive Jared Bridegan, who was fatally shot by a gunman as he drove home with his two-year-old daughter, has been arrested and charged with his murder. Shanna Gardner-Fernandez was arrested in Washington state on Thursday and will be extradited back to Duval County, Florida, where she has been indicted by a grand jury on a charge of first-degree murder and child abuse. “We promised at the outset of this investigation we would not relent until we uncovered the truth of Jared’s murder, the whole and entire truth,” State Attorney Melissa Nelson told reporters. Prosecutors say they will push for the death penalty for both Ms Gardner-Fernandez and her husband, Mario Fernandez. He and his former tenant, Henry Tenon, have both already been charged for their alleged roles in the February 2022 murder in a wealthy suburb of Jacksonville Beach. Bridegan, a father of four, was murdered after he had dropped off the twins he shares with his ex-wife and was headed back to the house he lived at with his second wife, Kristen Bridegan. Investigators say that he stopped his vehicle when he was a tire in the middle of the road, and when he got out to move it he was shot multiple times in front of his daughter Bexley. Court documents say that several bullets came within inches of hitting the youngster, who was strapped into her car seat. Bridegan and his ex-wife divorced in 2015 but had been involved in court battles over custody of their twins and finances. Ms Gardner-Fernandez hired a prominent criminal defence lawyer following the murder and then moved back to the Pacific Northwest and prevented the twin from having any contact with their half-sisters, reported Fox News. Mr Tenon, 62, was charged on 25 January with conspiracy to commit murder, second-degree murder with a weapon, accessory after the fact to a capital felony and child abuse. Authorities say that he was a former tenant of Mr Fernandez. He has a long criminal history and was already behind bars awaiting trial on unrelated charges. Police announced on 16 March that Mr Fernandez had been arrested in Orlando and he was charged with first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit murder, solicitation to commit a capital felony and child abuse. On the same day, it was announced that Mr Tenon had pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and agreed to testify against him and anyone else potentially involved in the killing. The state attorney said that Mr Tenon had admitted that he was the gunman and he faces up to 15 years in prison under the plea agreement. Mr Fernandez pleaded not guilty when he was arraigned in July and prosecutors say that he will not be offered a plea deal. According to the indictment, he wrote Tenon three checks and phone records show the men made more than 70 phone calls to each other before and after the killing. Read More An ambush on a quiet road, a fatal shooting and a year-long mystery: A breakthrough in Jared Bridegan’s murder case Husband of Microsoft executive’s ex-wife could face death penalty for roadside murder Husband of Microsoft executive’s ex-wife is charged with his murder on Florida roadside Arrest made in mysterious murder of Microsoft executive Jared Bridegan, police say more suspects likely Widow of Microsoft executive gunned down in front of 2-year-old daughter prays ‘evil and cowardly’ killers are brought to justice
2023-08-18 02:19
Hawaii wildfires: Here's what we know about the victims
Authorities have formally identified five wildfire victims so far. Here's what we know about them.
2023-08-18 02:18
Maui's warning sirens stayed silent as wildfires approached Lahaina. Here's what we know
Authorities face mounting questions about whether more could have been done to warn residents as wildfires devastated western Maui earlier this month, after Hawaii's siren warning system stayed silent while wildfires reduced the town of Lahaina to ashes.
2023-08-18 02:18
Feds raise concerns about long call center wait times as millions dropped from Medicaid
Federal officials are raising concerns that long call center wait times may be contributing to a surge in the number of people losing Medicaid health care coverage
2023-08-18 02:16
US escalates Mexico corn trade spat with dispute panel request
By David Lawder WASHINGTON The United States on Thursday escalated its objections to Mexico's curbs on genetically modified
2023-08-18 02:15
Pentagon review calls for reforms to reverse spike in sexual misconduct at military academies
A new report says the U.S. military academies must improve their leadership, stop toxic practices such as hazing, and shift behavior training into the classrooms in order to address an alarming spike in sexual assaults and misconduct
2023-08-18 01:57
California American Water Donates to Support a New Park for Mark West Area in Sonoma County
SACRAMENTO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug 17, 2023--
2023-08-18 01:57
Canadian woman sentenced to nearly 22 years for 2020 ricin letter sent to Trump in White House
A Canadian woman was sentenced to nearly 22 years in prison in Washington Thursday in the mailing of a threatening letter containing the poison ricin to then-President Donald Trump at the White House. Pascale Ferrier, 56, had pleaded guilty to violating biological weapons prohibitions in letters sent to Trump and to police officials in Texas, where she had been jailed in 2019 after refusing to leave a park area as it closed. Her defense attorney Eugene Ohm said Ferrier has no criminal record prior that and is an “inordinately intelligent” French immigrant who had earned a master’s degree in engineering and raised two children as a single parent. But in September 2020, prosecutors said Ferrier made the ricin, a potentially deadly poison derived from processing castor beans, then mailed it to Trump with a letter that referred to him as “The Ugly Tyrant Clown” and read in part: “If it doesn’t work, I’ll find better recipe for another poison, or I might use my gun when I’ll be able to come. Enjoy! FREE REBEL SPIRIT.” The letter from Pascale Ferrier, which also told Trump “give up and remove your application for this election,” was intercepted at a mail sorting facility in September 2020, before it could reach the White House. She was arrested trying to enter a border crossing in Buffalo, New York, carrying a gun, a knife and hundreds of rounds of ammunition, authorities said. Investigators also found eight similar letters to Texas officials. In a winding speech, Ferrier told the judge that she considers herself a “peaceful and genuinely kind person,” but gets angry about problems like unfairness, abuses of power and “stupid rules." She spoke about feeling like she had done little to support her values while raising her children, and considered herself to be an “activist” rather than a “terrorist.” “I want to find peaceful means to achieve my goals,” she said. U.S. District Judge Dabney L. Friedrich handed down the 262-month sentence outlined in a plea agreement with prosecutors, which also requires Ferrier to leave the country once she is released and be under supervised release for life if she ever returns to the U.S. The judge noted a “real disconnect" between the Canadian grandmother who has worked toward another degree while behind bars and the crimes Ferrier pleaded guilty to. “That isn't really activism, that's productive,” she said. Prosecutor Michael Freedman said the sentence was an “appropriately harsh punishment” that sends a clear message. “There is absolutely no place for politically motivated violence in the United States of America,” he said. Read More Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide
2023-08-18 01:52
Are Category 6 hurricanes real? 'Time-travelling' influencer claims one will hit Florida in September
The influencer has also claimed that around 10 to 20 people would be shown the afterlife and that there will be an alien attack
2023-08-18 01:52
