Greene County Democrat

Category: Health

  • Newswire : TD Bank pleads guilty to Bank Secrecy Act violations and Money Laundering, agrees to $1.8 Billion penalty

    TD Bank headquarters

    By Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent

     

    TD Bank N.A. (TDBNA) and its parent company, TD Bank US Holding Company (TDBUSH), pleaded guilty to Bank Secrecy Act (BSA) violations and money laundering charges, agreeing to pay over $1.8 billion in penalties. The plea resolves a Justice Department investigation into the bank’s failure to comply with anti-money laundering (AML) requirements, including lapses in filing accurate Currency Transaction Reports (CTRs).

    TDBNA admitted to conspiring to neglect its AML program and launder money, while TDBUSH pleaded guilty to causing TDBNA’s BSA compliance failures. The bank’s penalties stem from a coordinated resolution with the Federal Reserve Board (FRB), the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), and the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN).

    “By making its services convenient for criminals, TD Bank became one,” Attorney General Merrick B. Garland remarked. He noted that TD Bank is now the largest US bank that has pleaded guilty to such charges and emphasized that the investigation remains active.
    “Today’s guilty plea…offers an unmistakable lesson: crime doesn’t pay—and neither does flouting compliance,” Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco said.

    The charges relate to long-term deficiencies in TD Bank’s AML program, spanning from January 2014 to October 2023. According to court documents, despite warnings, the bank failed to address significant risks and enforce necessary controls. Under a “flat cost
    paradigm,” the DOJ said the bank restricted compliance funding, leaving it vulnerable to money laundering activities involving trillions of dollars.

    “These failures allowed corrupt bank employees to facilitate a criminal network’s laundering of tens of millions of dollars,” Principal Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri emphasized.

    Additionally, US Attorney Philip R. Sellinger for the District of New Jersey described TD Bank’s actions as willful neglect. “The bank willfully failed to monitor trillions of dollars in transactions…allowing hundreds of millions of dollars from money laundering networks to flow through the bank,” Sellinger said.

    From 2018 to 2024, TD Bank failed to monitor approximately $18.3 trillion in transactions, including automated clearinghouse (ACH) transactions and high-risk activities. The oversight facilitated over $670 million in money laundering through TD Bank accounts. According to reports, the bank allowed transactions to proceed unreported, even when suspicious.

    The bank’s plea agreement includes a forfeiture of $452 million and a criminal fine exceeding $1.4 billion. As part of its AML program improvements, TD Bank will also retain an independent compliance monitor for three years. It reached additional agreements with the FRB, OCC, and FinCEN, with $123.5 million credited towards the FRB’s resolution.

    TD Bank’s partial cooperation with the investigation earned it a 20% penalty reduction, although it did not receive full credit due to delays in reporting AML concerns. The Justice Department noted that TD Bank’s non-disclosure contributed to imposing a substantial fine.
    The IRS Criminal Investigation Division, the FDIC Office of Inspector General, and the DEA investigated the case with support from several law enforcement agencies, including the Morristown Police Department and US Customs and Border Protection.

    The case was prosecuted by attorneys from the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and US Attorneys from New Jersey. The Bank Integrity Unit, established to address BSA and AML violations in financial institutions, led the investigation, which forms part of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) initiative to disrupt high-level criminal organizations in the US.

    “We have taken full responsibility for the failures of our U.S. [anti-money laundering] program and are making the investments, changes and enhancements required to deliver on our commitments,” said Bharat Masrani, group president and chief executive of TD Bank Group. “This is a difficult chapter in our Bank’s history. These failures took place on my watch as CEO and I apologize to all our stakeholders.”
     

  • Newswire : SPLC Action Fund endorses Shomari Figures for AL-CD2

    Shomari Figures

    By Jacob Holmes, Alabama Political Reporters

    The SPLC Action Fund has announced endorsements in two newly-drawn, majority-Black congressional districts in Alabama and Louisiana.

    “For far too long, Alabama and Louisiana have unlawfully diminished the political power of Black voters through gerrymandering,” said Madison Hollon, program manager of political campaigns for the SPLC Action Fund.

    “After years of advocacy and recent rulings affirming the right to fair representation in government, Black voters have the opportunity to show their political power and elect candidates who will best represent them in the halls of Congress. We are proud to endorse Shomari Figures in AL-02 and Cleo Fields in LA-06 to make history and usher in a new era of leadership in the Deep South.”

    The SPLC Action Fund said it is backing Figures because he has dedicated his career to advocate for the people of Alabama through public service in all three branches of the federal government and is committed to expanding Medicaid, investing in education, growing Alabama’s workforce and economy and ending the gun violence epidemic.

    The Action Fund recently released a poll showing growing enthusiasm for the Democratic ticket, including a double-digit lead for Figures in the race. However, the poll also showed that Figures still needs to win over undecided voters.

    Figures has picked up endorsements from Alabama House Minority Leader Anthony Daniels, D-Huntsville, who challenged Figures in a runoff for the nomination, and Montgomery Mayor Steven Reed. 

    His opponent, Republican nominee Caroleene Dobson, has garnered endorsements from Gov. Kay Ivey and U.S. Sen. Katie Britt, R-Alabama. 

    The general election is now less than a month away with polls opening on Tuesday, Nov. 5.

  • Newsire : VP Kamala Harris unveils extensive agenda for Black Men, promises wealth-building and opportunity as election nears

    By Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent


    Vice President Kamala Harris has unveiled an extensive agenda designed to dismantle systemic barriers and foster new opportunities for Black men across America. The agenda, announced on October 14, spotlights wealth-building, health equity, criminal justice reform, and expanded education and job training access. Her plan follows recent controversial remarks by former President Barack Obama, who addressed concerns about voter turnout among Black men and stressed the importance of participating in the election.

    Obama’s comments in Pittsburgh were roundly criticized as scapegoating Black men, though he emphasized the high stakes of the 2024 election, noting that some African American males might hesitate to vote. He suggested that part of the reluctance could stem from discomfort with the idea of a woman president. Harris’s plan aims to address the specific needs of Black men, with initiatives focused on financial empowerment, healthcare, and education.

    Forgivable Loans and Wealth Creation

    Harris’s economic plan centers on wealth-building and supporting Black entrepreneurship. Her administration would provide one million forgivable loans, each up to $20,000, to help Black men and others who have faced significant barriers to starting a business. By partnering with community banks and mission-driven lenders, Harris aims to make capital accessible to Black entrepreneurs looking to launch or expand businesses in fields ranging from technology to landscaping and beyond.

    Additionally, Harris has proposed a significant expansion of the Small Business Startup Tax Deduction, increasing it from $5,000 to $50,000, which would allow Black entrepreneurs to offset startup costs. She also plans to boost access to venture capital, low-interest loans, and incubators specifically for Black-owned businesses. Recognizing that Black entrepreneurs are frequently denied credit, Harris’s plan includes reforms to expand affordable banking services and crack down on hidden fees that inhibit wealth accumulation in Black communities.

    Pathways to High-Demand Jobs and Expanded Education Access

    Harris’s agenda promotes education, training, and mentorship programs to equip Black men with the skills needed to succeed in high-demand fields. Her plan emphasizes registered apprenticeships and credentialing programs, which would provide hands-on training for jobs in sectors like cybersecurity, renewable energy, and healthcare. She also seeks to eliminate unnecessary college degree requirements for 500,000 federal jobs, making these roles more accessible to Black men who may not have pursued higher education.

    To increase the representation of Black male teachers—a crucial role model for young Black students—Harris said she plans to invest in teacher training programs through the Department of Education. By collaborating with HBCUs and MSIs, the Democratic presidential nominee hopes to build a pipeline for Black male educators, addressing the severe underrepresentation in this profession, where only 1% of teachers are Black men.
    Research has shown that Black students benefit academically and socially when they have Black male teachers, yet structural barriers have prevented many from entering the field. Harris also supports the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program to attract and retain Black male teachers, ensuring they have a pathway to long-term careers in education.

    Financial Protections in the Digital Economy

    Harris’s plan includes protections for Black men who invest in cryptocurrency and other digital assets, acknowledging that over 20% of Black Americans have owned these assets. Among her goals is establishing a regulatory framework to safeguard digital investments, ensuring that Black men are protected as they participate in the burgeoning digital economy. The framework would set standards to protect investors from fraud and provide educational resources on digital asset management.

    Health Equity and Addressing Medical Debt

    Health equity remains a cornerstone of Harris’s agenda. She has introduced a National Health Equity Initiative focused on Black men, which would address high rates of chronic diseases like diabetes, prostate cancer, and sickle cell disease. Harris proposes capping insulin costs at $35 per month and limiting out-of-pocket expenses on prescription drugs to $2,000 annually. Additionally, she said she would expand funding for sickle cell research and build a national database to improve prevention and treatment.

    To tackle the burden of medical debt, which disproportionately affects Black men, Harris proposes removing medical debt from credit reports and working with states to relieve outstanding medical debt. The effort would help Black men access better credit, opening doors for homeownership and business financing.

    Criminal Justice Reform and Economic Opportunities in Legal Cannabis

    The vice president also has committed to legalizing recreational marijuana at the federal level, which she argues will reduce incarceration rates for Black men and create economic opportunities in the emerging cannabis industry. By working with Congress to ensure the safe cultivation, distribution, and possession of marijuana, Harris would remove longstanding barriers that have disproportionately impacted Black men. Her plan would establish pathways for Black men to access licenses and jobs in the legal cannabis sector, providing a chance to build wealth in a market that has historically excluded them.

    Affordable Housing, Homeownership, and Financial Literacy

    Harris further proposes building three million affordable housing units during her first term to address the housing crisis. She would offer up to $25,000 in down payment assistance for first-time homebuyers, aiming to triple the number of new Black homeowners annually by the end of her term. The initiative would specifically target those who have been unable to buy homes due to a lack of generational wealth, which disproportionately affects Black families.

    Still, another facet of her plan would tackle racial bias in home appraisals, a pervasive issue that often results in undervalued properties in majority-Black neighborhoods. Her proposal would mandate training and accountability measures for appraisers to ensure that Black homeowners receive fair property valuations, helping to close the racial wealth gap.

    Community Events and Outreach

    As part of her outreach to Black men, the Harris-Walz campaign is launching several community-centered events. The “Black Men Huddle Up” initiative will feature NFL and NCAA watch parties in battleground states, where Black men can discuss the upcoming election and its implications for their communities.

    In addition, the campaign will host a series of Economic Freedom Talks, with notable Black entrepreneurs discussing strategies for business growth and financial independence. Harris’s team is ramping up its Shop Talk series, Brother to Brother canvass events, and launching new testimonial ads to reach Black voters in states like Pennsylvania, Georgia, and Michigan.

    In Stark Contrast to Trump’s Agenda

    Harris’s proposals directly counter Donald Trump’s Project 2025, which she argues would dismantle progress for Black communities. Trump’s plan includes:
    Reinstating stop-and-frisk practices.
    Cutting funding for urban education.
    Eliminating critical programs like Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security, which many Black families rely on.

    Harris’s agenda seeks to offer Black men a comprehensive path to economic stability and success, positioning her as the candidate dedicated to addressing their unique challenges.
    Harris’s detailed plan appears to offer Black men a vision of leadership, opportunity, and economic empowerment, which she argues is essential for the future of Black communities. She believes investing in education, health, and wealth-building would help address systemic inequities and build a path to prosperity for Black men nationwide.

    “Donald Trump could care less about equipping hardworking Americans with the tools needed to get ahead,” campaign co-chair Cedric Richmond stated. “While Vice President Harris is promising to equip Black men with the tools needed to pursue our dreams and aspirations, Donald Trump is promising Black men in America a national nightmare.”

  • Newswire: 11th Circuit rejects stay in key Alabama absentee voting law, protects vulnerable voters

    By Bill Britt, Alabama Political Reporters

    The 11th Circuit Court’s Friday decision to block a key section of Alabama’s restrictive absentee voting law throws into sharp relief the deepening conflict between state governments pushing for tighter election laws and advocacy groups fighting to protect access to the ballot.

    Senate Bill 1, passed earlier this year, is one of several efforts across Republican-led states to impose more stringent absentee voting rules, under the guise of preventing election fraud. But once again, those hit hardest by these so-called “fraud prevention” measures are the very people who need the most help navigating the voting process. The decision in Alabama NAACP v. Attorney General of Alabama denied Alabama’s request to put on hold an earlier court order.

    The contested section of Alabama’s law, now temporarily blocked, made it a felony for individuals assisting with absentee ballot applications to receive any form of compensation—even food or gas money—or to distribute or submit prefilled
    applications. The provision would have disproportionately affected disabled, blind, or illiterate voters, many of whom rely on help to exercise their most fundamental right.

    By upholding the block, the court reaffirmed what voting rights advocates have been saying all along: these provisions aren’t about election integrity—they’re about making it harder for certain voters to cast their ballots.

    Chief U.S. District Judge David Proctor, who initially issued the injunction in September, argued that the law placed “undue burdens on voters already at a disadvantage.” The 11th Circuit agreed, affirming that the blocked provisions went beyond election security and actively restricted voter access, particularly for those with disabilities.

    Advocacy groups such as the ACLU of Alabama, Legal Defense Fund, and the Alabama Disabilities Advocacy Program hailed the decision as a victory for voting rights. For these groups, the ruling is more than a procedural win—it’s a lifeline for voters who would have been disenfranchised by a law they believe violated the Voting Rights Act. Many blind and disabled voters, in particular, depend on assistance from family, friends, or voter outreach volunteers. Without such help, their voices could be silenced.

    But Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall, supported by attorneys general from Mississippi, Arkansas, and Texas, has been resolute in defending the law. According to Marshall, the restrictions are essential for preventing fraudulent practices like “ballot harvesting.” The court, however, was not swayed, concluding that the law overreached and instead restricted legitimate forms of voter assistance.

    The battle over Senate Bill 1 is just one skirmish in a much larger war over voting rights. Across the nation, similar laws are facing legal challenges, illustrating a deep national divide over how best to secure elections while protecting voter access. Civil rights groups argue that laws like Alabama’s will inevitably lead to voter suppression, particularly among marginalized and vulnerable populations.

    While the court’s ruling provides temporary relief for voters in Alabama, the legal fight is far from over. Marshall may appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court, seeking to overturn the lower court’s injunction and fully implement the law. Should the high court take up the case, the decision could have far-reaching consequences, potentially affecting absentee voting laws across the country.

    The 11th Circuit did, however, uphold several key provisions of SB1, including the law’s ban on curbside voting, witness requirements for absentee ballots, and strict voter ID provisions.

    For now, the injunction remains in effect, and advocacy groups can continue assisting disabled and blind voters without fear of prosecution. But the broader implications of this case loom large. The ruling could serve as a precedent for how courts across the country interpret the balance between election security and voter accessibility. As Alabama heads toward future elections, all eyes will be on this legal battle to see how it shapes the national conversation on voting rights.

  • GCHS students register to vote

    Diamond White, Kaden Roberts, Brianna Jackson, Kayla Nickson and La’Dasia Hutton are among the seniors who registered to vote at GCHS.

    Greene County High School students who will be 18 in time for the 2024 election are registering to vote in Mr. Burnette’s American Government class, or in the library with the assistance of Ms. Drenda Morton. Nine seniors have registered at the school, in addition to two others who registered elsewhere.

    Seniors who are now registered voters: Brianna Jackson, Diamond White, Kaden Roberts, Kayla Nickson, La’Daisa Hutton, Sanaa Braxton, Destiny Bryant, Zo’Torria Petty, Terrianna Benison, Devin Woods and  Aniya McMillian
    Seniors are also preparing for the Alabama Civics Test, required for graduation, which will be given at GCHS on October 10-11.

  • Newswire : Longshoremen strike suspended, ports to reopen

    Port of Mobile facilities for moving shipping containers

    By Alex Jobin, Alabama Political Reporters

     

    According to the Associated Press, the International Longshoremen’s Association has agreed to suspend their strike just days after dockworkers across the East and Gulf Coasts began their work stoppage. ILA members will return to work immediately, with the union extending the timeframe for contract negotiations with the United States Maritime Alliance (USMX) employer group.

    Now, the two parties have until Jan. 15 to finalize a new 6-year contract. Per AP’s reporting, the ILA and USMX have already tentatively agreed on wage increases, which had been a major sticking point for the union. However, it is unclear whether or not the parties have made any progress on concerns over automation.

    In June, workers in Mobile, AL and other ports accused the employer of automating tasks intended to be performed by ILA members. The ILA has been vocal about its desire to secure guarantees against such automation going forward.

    Analysts had initially projected that the stoppage could cost the American economy as much as $5 billion a day. French shipping group CMA CGM, the world’s third-largest container shipper, had also announced that it would consider charging additional shipping fees for vessels that might have been delayed by the strike. However, it appears that the economic consequences of the strike will ultimately be minimal with the 36 ports closed by the strike on Tuesday now already set to reopen.

    The Biden administration will also be relieved of some political pressure by the suspension. Some companies and political leaders had been calling on the President to help put an end to the strike, but the union-friendly administration was reluctant to intervene. Now, it appears that no such intervention will be necessary. 

    The news is also sure to please manufacturers across the Southeast. In Alabama, auto and airplane manufacturers like Honda, Hyundai, Mercedes-Benz, and Airbus heavily rely on Alabama’s Port of Mobile. The port has become a major thoroughfare for auto parts as the industry has boomed in Alabama in recent years. The port’s recent $60 million terminal addition includes a vehicle processing center, and last year, Alabama shipped more than $11 billion in passenger vehicles, ranking it highest of any state in car exports.

    A key Airbus facility in Mobile is also responsible for the manufacture of A320, A321, and A220 airplanes, with the plant receiving parts through the city’s port.
    The port’s 170 workers are now set to return to work alongside the 45,000 other ILA members who had been on strike as of Tuesday, and any major disruptions which a prolonged closure may have posed to manufacturers’ supply chains will be largely avoided.

     

     

     

  • Newswire : No property seizures or diverted funds: White House counters misinformation amid Helene recovery efforts

    President Joe Biden meets with a family a surveys the damage of their home after Hurricane Helene, Thursday, October 3, 2024, in the Keaton Beach neighborhood in Perry, Florida.(Official White House Photo by Cameron Smith)

     

    By Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent

    As the Biden-Harris Administration mobilizes an all-encompassing federal response to Hurricane Helene, it’s also tackling a growing wave of misinformation being spread by political adversaries, including former President Donald Trump and MAGA Republicans. The White House has labeled this misinformation as “dangerous,” and it poses a threat to mislead hurricane survivors about their access to essential resources and federal assistance.

    President Biden recently reaffirmed the administration’s commitment to those suffering from Hurricane Helene. “Days before this storm hit, I directed my administration to pre-position federal personnel, critical supplies, and more near the storm’s path,” he said. “We’re moving heaven and Earth to make sure that everyone affected by this storm gets what they need. To all those affected, my administration and the nation have your back—and we will continue to have your back for as long as it takes.”

    Under Biden and Vice President Harris’s direction, over 6,400 federal personnel are on the ground, delivering more than $110 million in federal assistance, with additional aid forthcoming. The large-scale operation, outlined in a White House Fact Sheet, reflects a “whole-of-government” approach, which began with extensive pre-landfall preparations and continues with immediate deployment of resources for recovery and rebuilding.

    However, disinformation is hampering the efforts. Among the falsehoods spreading online is the claim that disaster relief funds are being used to support undocumented immigrants. The administration was quick to debunk this. “No money is being diverted from disaster response needs. None,” clarified a White House official. FEMA’s Disaster Relief Fund, which finances the agency’s response efforts, is strictly allocated for disaster-related expenses and remains untouched by other initiatives.

    Another widely circulated falsehood alleges that FEMA is confiscating the property of hurricane survivors whose land is deemed unlivable. The administration rebuffed this as categorically false, emphasizing that “FEMA cannot seize your property or land.” They added that applying for disaster assistance does not grant the federal government any claim or control over personal property.

    A further claim—that FEMA will provide only $750 in recovery assistance—was also exposed as misleading. FEMA officials clarified that $750 is an initial Serious Needs Assistance payment to cover essentials like food, water, and emergency supplies. It is one of many available support forms, including significant additional funds to repair storm damage, secure temporary housing, and replace lost agricultural assets.

    In another attempt to stoke fear and confusion, misinformation has circulated claiming that FEMA and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) are restricting airspace in North Carolina, thereby preventing private relief efforts. White House officials refuted this, noting that North Carolina has no airspace restrictions. Pilots need only to coordinate with local airports in Asheville or Rutherford for landing permissions, ensuring safe access for all parties involved in relief efforts.

    The White House said it’s actively working to counter these lies through official digital channels, emphasizing X, a platform owned by Elon Musk, an avowed Trump and MAGA supporter. The administration has partnered with online publishers and influencers to spread factual information about the federal response. For example, MeidasTouch recently collaborated with FEMA to produce a video debunking the misinformation, which received substantial engagement across social media and traditional media platforms.

    The administration is also leveraging SMS messaging, a resilient communication tool, to reach individuals in affected areas where internet connectivity remains unreliable. The opt-in service delivers essential updates directly to residents, ensuring access to accurate information during the ongoing recovery process.

    “Unfortunately, as our response and recovery efforts continue, we have seen a large increase in false information circulating online,” a senior White House official stated. “Scam artists and bad-faith actors are promoting disinformation about the recovery effort, which is wrong and dangerous and must stop immediately.”

    The Biden-Harris Administration vowed to keep its commitment to providing accurate information to the public and will continue to combat harmful narratives that jeopardize recovery efforts. “We will be there every step of the way,” Biden pledged.

  • Newswire : 45 Months after January 6, DOJ charges over 1,500 with focus on Trump

    Mob attacks U. S. Capitol on January 6. 2001

    By Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent

    This week marks 45 months since the devastating January 6 attack, where over 140 police officers were assaulted as rioters stormed the U.S. Capitol, delaying the certification of the 2020 presidential election results.

    Officials said the attack caused over $2.8 million in damages to the Capitol in a report by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia while outlining the nearly four-year aftermath of the insurrection. Since then, the Department of Justice said it has launched one of the most extensive investigations in US history. Approximately 1,532 individuals have been charged in federal court for their roles in the attack.

    The charges are extensive and include 571 counts of assaulting, resisting, or impeding law enforcement officers. Of these, 164 individuals allegedly wielded deadly or dangerous weapons, including firearms, chemical sprays, tasers, and makeshift weapons fashioned from objects like flagpoles and office furniture. Additionally, 171 defendants are accused of entering restricted areas with deadly weapons, while 87 face charges for destruction of government property.

    Among the most severe charges, 18 defendants face accusations of seditious conspiracy, with prosecutors alleging an organized attempt to overthrow the government by force. Charges related to the theft of government property have been brought against 66 individuals. Nearly all defendants face some form of trespassing or disorderly conduct charges, as the DOJ said it continues to seek comprehensive accountability.

    The expansive prosecution effort has led to approximately 943 guilty pleas, with 304 felony admissions. Of these, 161 pleaded guilty to assaulting law enforcement, 122 admitted to obstructing law enforcement during civil disorder, and 67 admitted to assault with a deadly weapon. Nearly 1,000 cases have reached sentencing, with over 600 individuals receiving prison terms and 141 allowed to serve their sentences in home detention.

    The DOJ’s pursuit of justice has been impacted in 259 cases by the U.S. Supreme Court’s recent decision in Fischer v. United States about the proper use of the felony charge of obstructing an official proceeding. So far, prosecutors have dismissed these charges in 73 cases, while evaluating others. Despite the ruling, the DOJ said it remains firm, with all affected defendants still facing other charges related to their involvement in the Capitol attack that eventually led to the deaths of several police officers. The man who carried out a pepper-spray attack on a U.S. Capitol Police officer who died the day after the riot received an 80-month sentence.

    Julian Khater, 32, who admitted in a guilty plea he had used the pepper spray against Officer Brian Sicknick and at least two other officers, told U.S. District Judge Thomas Hogan the rash actions he took that day were not in his nature. He said he wished he could take them back. Sicknick, 42, died of a stroke a day later.

    In a 165-page court filing released earlier this month, Special Counsel Jack Smith outlined new allegations against the twice-impeached and 34 times convicted former President Donald Trump, accusing him of engaging in “increasingly desperate” actions to cling to power after his election loss. The filing detailed Trump’s alleged strategy to incite his supporters, pushing them toward violence on January 6. “When the defendant lost the 2020 presidential election, he resorted to crimes to try to stay in office,” the filing states.

    The filing also described Trump’s public statements as calculated moves to provoke anger among his supporters, even as his advisers discredited his claims of voter fraud. According to prosecutors, Trump privately dismissed his lawyer Sidney Powell’s fraud claims as “crazy,” while continuing to use similar rhetoric in public. Prosecutors allege that Trump “laid the groundwork for his crimes well before” Election Day, including by promoting doubt in the electoral process and planning to declare victory immediately.

    US District Judge Tanya Chutkan, who has overseen the case, recently addressed Trump’s defense team’s claims of partisan bias. “Defendant’s opposition brief repeatedly accuses the government of bad-faith partisan bias,” Chutkan wrote. “These accusations, for which Defendant provides no support, continue a pattern of defense filings focusing on political rhetoric rather than addressing the legal issues at hand.”

    Meanwhile, the DOJ has vowed to continue prosecuting fugitives, and the FBI recently released videos of suspects involved in assaults on law enforcement, seeking public assistance in identifying individuals who remain at large. The Bureau is also pursuing fugitives like Evan Neumann, Adam Villarreal, and Paul Belosic and is encouraging anyone with information to contact them at 1-800-CALL-FBI or visit tips.fbi.gov.

  • Newswire : Helene “close to a worst-case scenario”for western North Carolina

     

    A view of the damaged area at Asheville along with the western part of North-Carolina is devastated by the heavy rains and flooding after Hurricane Helene in Asheville on September 30, 2024 / Credit: Peter Zay/Anadolu via Getty Images

    By: Li Cohen, CBS News

    Hurricane Helene has proved to be disastrous for Appalachia, as massive amounts of precipitation from the storm caused rampant flooding that has devastated several towns and killed dozens of people. On Monday, the North Carolina State Climate Office provided a picture of how the “monster storm” was nearly a “worst-case scenario for western North Carolina.”

    “Torrential rainfall from the remnants of Hurricane Helene capped off three days of extreme, unrelenting precipitation, which left catastrophic flooding and unimaginable damage in our Mountains and southern Foothills,” a post from the office says. “… the full extent of this event will take years to document – not to mention, to recover from.”

    A historic and deadly storm

    CBS News has confirmed that at least 131 people across several states were killed by Helene. Buncombe County alone has reported at least 40 deaths, including a 7-year-old who was swept away by floodwaters with his grandparents.

    While hundreds of people were able to be rescued, there have been even more requests for welfare checks. And given the severity of the damage, the climate office said that suggests “the death toll is likely to climb as hard-hit areas are finally accessed in the coming days.”

    “Sadly, our state’s long-running benchmark for deaths during a tropical event – approximately 80 during the mountain region’s July 1916 flood – could be in jeopardy from this storm that has already broken plenty of other records,” the climate office said, adding that the 1916 event was the area’s flood of record for more than a century — a title that “now belongs to Helene instead.”

    Several rivers surpassed their highest-ever crests by several feet, including the Swannanoa River, which saw “the worst flood along the river since North Carolina became a state,” the office said.

    Here’s how the climatologists said it happened.

    North Carolina was saturated with rain before Helene hit

    As Helene became a Category 1 hurricane in the Gulf of Mexico — more than 500 miles and 30 hours away from where it would eventually make landfall in Florida — western North Carolina was already seeing rain. The climate office says that Helene’s outskirts were feeding tropical moisture to slow-moving storms that had formed along a stalled cold front.

    By midnight on Thursday — roughly an hour after Helene’s landfall 10 miles north of Steinhatchee, Florida — Asheville Airport in North Carolina had already seen more than 4 inches of rain. That downpour continued before Helene’s outer bands even moved in. By Thursday night, Yancey County, which sits just south of Erwin, Tennessee, where floodwaters became so bad that people were trapped on the roof of a hospital, had seen more than 9 inches of rain.

    Water was already beginning to inundate cities, “all while the heaviest rain from Helene was just beginning to fall,” the climate office said. The more than 300 miles of tropical storm-force winds Helene produced only amplified the situation, pushing more moisture up mountains.
    “The storm’s impacts were especially long-lasting because of its massive size. It developed in a high-humidity environment over the warm Gulf of Mexico, which let it grow and strengthen unimpeded,” the office said. “…From the start of the precursor frontal showers on Wednesday evening to the heart of Helene moving through on Friday morning, it was one of the most incredible and impactful weather events our state has ever seen.”
    Record rain brings reports of “biblical devastation”

    From Wednesday to Friday, the office said that there were more than 8 inches of rain across the western North Carolina mountains, with some areas seeing a foot or more. The highest rainfall total was in Busick, with a three-day total of 31.33 inches — more than 2.5 feet.

    At least a dozen weather stations recorded their wettest three-day periods on record, the office said. Asheville Regional Airport lost communications on Friday morning after Helene’s landfall, but had already reported just under 14 inches of rain. That amount, the office said, was “nearly three months’ worth of precipitation … in less than three days.”

    All of that rain caused rivers to flood, landslides and mudslides, leading to rescues across several counties.

    In Buncombe County, home to Asheville, Emergency Services Assistant Director Ryan Cole told the Citizen-Times that “catastrophic devastation” didn’t accurately describe the impact the deluge had.

    “It would go a little bit further and say we have biblical devastation through the county,” Cole said. “We’ve had biblical flooding here and it has been extremely significant.”
    The newspaper quoted county manager Avril Pinder as saying, “this is looking to be Buncombe County’s own Hurricane Katrina.”

    .The winds, which surpassed hurricane speeds in some places, contributed to widespread power outages. Millions were left without power across several states because of Helene, and as of Tuesday morning, hundreds of thousands remain without electricity in North Carolina alone.

    “The rapid intensification of Helene over the Gulf, the amount of moisture available in its surrounding environment, and its manifestation as locally heavy – and in some cases, historically unheard of – rainfall amounts are all known side effects of a warmer atmosphere,” the office said.

    Last year was already the warmest humans had ever recorded and 2024 has seen countless heat records. The continued use of fossil fuels releases greenhouse gases that are trapping heat within the atmosphere, increasing average temperatures that fuel extreme weather events like Helene.

  • Newswire : Breaking barriers: Ovarian Cancer Study expanded to Africa

    Nurse working on cancer study

    By Stacy M. Brown
    NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent

    Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center researchers Dr. Sophia George and Dr. Matthew Schlumbrecht are leading an ambitious study focused on ovarian cancer treatment for women of African descent. Their work, based at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, aims to address a critical gap in cancer research: the underrepresentation of Black women in clinical trials, specifically for the drug niraparib.

    George, a molecular geneticist, and Schlumbrecht, a gynecologic oncologist, have expanded their research beyond the U.S. and the Caribbean to Africa. In July, they launched the study in Nigeria, giving them access to data from a population often overlooked in cancer research. According to the University of Miami, their goal is to understand how women of African ancestry metabolize drugs like niraparib, a PARP inhibitor that has transformed treatment for certain ovarian cancer patients.

    While niraparib has proven effective, Black women made up only 1.6% of participants in the drug’s pivotal PRIMA study. George and Schlumbrecht’s new study is specifically designed to address this gap by enrolling women of African descent.
    “We know from other drugs that how women of African ancestry metabolize drugs can differ from those of European ancestry,” Dr. Schlumbrecht explained in a news release. “The data we gain will allow us to confirm appropriate dosing, counsel patients on side effects, lobby for government coverage, and ultimately expand access to this life-saving treatment.”

    The study’s significance has already drawn national attention. The White House highlighted it as part of President Biden’s Cancer Moonshot initiative, which seeks to cut the cancer death rate by at least 50% over the next 25 years.

    “This recognition underscores the importance of our work,” said George. “We are increasing our ability to successfully identify and treat women of all backgrounds with ovarian cancer.”

    George and Schlumbrecht said they plan to enroll patients from the U.S., the Caribbean, and Nigeria over the next three years, tracking their progress through ancillary studies on tumor DNA biomarkers and patient quality of life. The researchers will also explore homologous recombination deficiency profiles to assess whether the drug works as expected at the molecular level.

    A key part of the study involves understanding the variability among Black women. “Not all Black women are the same,” Schlumbrecht noted. “By including participants from the U.S., Nigeria, and the Bahamas, we are gaining insights that will inform clinical practice globally.”

    Their work in Nigeria is rooted in a long-standing collaboration with Nigerian medical professionals. Schlumbrecht has made five trips to the country, mentoring local researchers, teaching surgical techniques, and co-leading tumor boards with Nigerian oncologists. These partnerships have been instrumental in establishing the study at the Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital in Zaria.

    “The clinical trial is truly a team effort,” said Schlumbrecht. “This is an example of how we can eliminate ovarian cancer disparities when we work together across borders.”
    As the study progresses, the researchers said they hope to provide critical data on drug safety and effectiveness and advance global efforts to reduce health inequities and improve outcomes for women of African descent.