Jose Garcia
Jose Garcia's JournalSupreme Court won't take case about Michigan inmate suing because he got COVID
Source: USA Today
WASHINGTON – The Supreme Court on Monday declined to take up a case looking at whether a Michigan prisoner can sue prison officials for not doing enough during the COVID-19 pandemic to prevent infection.
The court rejected an appeal from correction officials who argued the prisoner’s lawsuit should be dismissed because the Muskegon Correctional Facility faced an impossible situation in keeping at bay a novel communicable disease in a group setting where there are significant security issues.
Allowing the suit to proceed, the correction officials told the Supreme Court, would hold them and other prison officials to an “unreasonable and impossible standard.”
Attorneys for the prisoner, Jimmie Leon Gordon, said officials displayed “deliberate indifference” to the risks posed by COVID-19. Officials ignored procedures developed by the Michigan Department of Corrections requiring them to segregate prisoners who either tested positive or had been in close contact with those who had, Gordon alleges.
Read more: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2025/01/13/supreme-court-prison-covid-michigan/76967279007/
Denmark sent Trump team private messages on Greenland, Axios reports
Source: Reuters
Jan 11 (Reuters) - Denmark sent private messages to U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's team expressing willingness to discuss boosting security in Greenland or increasing the U.S. military presence there without claiming the island, Axios reported on Saturday, citing two sources.
Trump, who takes office on Jan. 20, has described U.S. control of Greenland, a semi-autonomous Danish territory, as an "absolute necessity". He did not dismiss the potential use of military or economic means, including tariffs against Denmark.
Axios said that the Danish government wanted to convince Trump that his security concerns could be addressed without claiming Greenland.
A spokesperson for the Trump transition team did not respond to a request for comment on the Axios report.
Read more: https://www.reuters.com/world/denmark-sent-trump-team-private-messages-greenland-axios-reports-2025-01-11/?utm_campaign=trueanthem:+Trending+Content&utm_medium=trueAnthem&utm_source=threads
Newsom calls for investigation into empty fire hydrants amid LA fires, invites Trump to California
Source: KTXL-TV Sacramento
California Governor Gavin Newsom is calling for an investigation into reports of fire hydrants being without water as crews battle to put out the devastating wildfires raging in Southern California.
On Tuesday, hurricane-force winds at nearly 100 miles per hour in Los Angeles fueled the Palisades Fire and several other wildfires. The fires devoured residential and commercial areas, burning through over 5,000 buildings and killing at least 11 people. So far, none of the fires have been fully contained and several reports attribute it to a lack of water and other obstacles.
“The ongoing reports of the loss of water pressure to some local fire hydrants during the fires and reported unavailability of water supplies from the Santa Ynez Reservoir are deeply troubling to the community,” Newsom said on Friday. “We need answers to how that happened. Therefore, I have directed state water and fire-fighting officials to prepare an independent after-incident report examining the causes of lost water supply and water pressure in municipal water systems during the fire events.
The request comes amid public confusion about the lack of preparedness from California leaders and a slew of finger-pointing at who is to blame for the catastrophe. On Friday, Los Angeles Fire Chief Kristin Crowley told FOX11 that recent budget cuts hindered the department’s response to the fires. She criticized the City of Los Angeles’ December 2024 decision to cut more than $17 million in funding from LA Fire.
Read more: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/newsom-calls-for-investigation-into-empty-fire-hydrants-amid-la-fires-invites-trump-to-california/ar-BB1rfPOB?ocid=TobArticle
American Airlines' focus on ESG in 401(k) plan is illegal, US judge rules
Source: Reuters
Jan 10 (Reuters) - A federal judge in Texas on Friday said American Airlines (AAL.O), opens new tab violated federal law by basing investment decisions for its employee retirement plan on environmental, social and other non-financial factors.
The ruling by U.S. District Judge Reed O'Connor appeared to be the first of its kind amid growing backlash by conservatives to an uptick in socially-conscious investing.
O'Connor said American had breached its legal duty to make investment decisions based solely on the financial interests of 401(k) plan beneficiaries by allowing BlackRock (BLK.N), opens new tab, its asset manager and a major shareholder, to focus on environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG) factors.
"The evidence made clear that [American’s] incestuous relationship with BlackRock and its own corporate goals disloyally influenced administration of the Plan," wrote O'Connor, an appointee of
Read more: https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/american-airlines-focus-esg-401k-plan-is-illegal-us-judge-rules-2025-01-10/
US Announces $25M Reward for Arrest of Venezuela's Maduro
Source: Newsweek
The United States has announced a $25 million reward for information leading to the arrest or conviction of Nicolás Maduro, coinciding with the day he was sworn in as president of Venezuela, the BBC has reported.
Maduro, chosen by the late socialist icon Hugo Chávez to succeed him in 2013, has overseen Venezuela's decline into economic chaos. Accused of corruption, human rights violations, and drug trafficking, he continues to cling to power while suppressing dissent.
The U.S. reward highlights a renewed push to destabilize Maduro's presidency and bolster the opposition's bid to restore democracy.
Only a handful of nations, including Russia, have recognized Maduro as the winner of Venezuela's July election. In contrast, the United States and the European Parliament have declared Edmundo González the "president-elect," further challenging Maduro's authority.
Read more: https://www.newsweek.com/us-announces-25m-reward-arrest-venezuelas-maduro-2013170
Man arrested trying to enter U.S. Capitol with machete as Carter lies in state
Source: CNBC
U.S. Capitol Police said they arrested a man trying to enter the Capitol complex with a machete and three knives Wednesday as former President Jimmy Carter lay in state.
This is breaking news. Please refresh for updates.
Read more: https://www.cnbc.com/2025/01/08/man-arrested-trying-to-enter-us-capitol-with-machete-as-carter-lies-in-state.html
Meta is ending its fact-checking program in favor of a 'community notes' system similar to X
Source: MSN
Meta is scrapping its fact-checking program with trusted partners and replacing it with a community-driven system similar to X’s Community Notes, CEO Mark Zuckerberg said Tuesday.
The change will affect Facebook and Instagram, two of the largest social media platforms in the world, each boasting billions of users, as well as Threads.
"We're gonna get back to our roots and focus on reducing mistakes, simplifying our policies and restoring free expression on our platforms," Zuckerberg said in a video. "More specifically, here's what we're going to do. First, we're going to get rid of fact checkers and replace them with community notes similar to X, starting in the U.S."
Zuckerberg pointed to the election as a major influence on the company's decision, and criticized "governments and legacy media" for allegedly pushing "to censor more and more."
Read more: https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.nbcnews.com/news/amp/rcna186468
Part of Warren Buffett's empire just got sued by the US government
Source: CNN
The US government has sued a unit of Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway, accusing it of pushing borrowers into unaffordable loans—so customers would buy homes from the company’s manufactured housing business.
The U.S. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau filed the lawsuit Monday against Berkshire’s Clayton Homes manufactured housing division. The complaint alleges that Vanderbilt Mortgage and Finance, a unit of Clayton, ignored “clear and obvious red flags” that borrowers could not afford their loans.
Many borrowers incurred late fees and penalties when they fell behind on payments, and had their homes repossessed or filed for bankruptcy after their loans went into default, the CFPB said.
Vanderbilt unreasonably underestimated borrowers’ ability to pay other debts and keep food on the table, the agency alleged. In one instance, Vanderbilt allegedly approved a home loan for a couple with three children that left them with $57.78 a month for discretionary spending after paying expenses—and the couple eventually defaulted, says the complaint.
Read more: https://www.cnn.com/2025/01/06/business/part-of-warren-buffetts-empire-just-got-sued-by-the-us-government/index.html
Canada PM Trudeau to announce resignation as early as Monday, Globe and Mail reports
Source: Reuters
Jan 5 (Reuters) - Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is expected to announce as early as Monday that he will resign as Liberal Party Leader, The Globe and Mail reported on Sunday, citing three sources.
The sources told the Globe and Mail that they don't know definitely when Trudeau will announce his plans to leave but said they expect it will happen before a key national caucus meeting on Wednesday.
The Canadian prime minister's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment outside regular business hours.
It remains unclear whether Trudeau will leave immediately or stay on as prime minister until a new leader is selected, the report added.
Read more: https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/canada-pm-trudeau-announce-resignation-early-monday-globe-mail-reports-2025-01-06/
New Orleans attack suspect named, accused of killing at least 10, injuring dozens
Source: Nola.com
The suspect accused of plowing a truck through a crowd on Bourbon Street early Wednesday morning has been identified by a law enforcement source as 42-year-old Shamsud Din Jabbar.
Police fatally shot him after the attack, which killed 10 people and injured 35.
The source said Jabbar was carrying an ISIS flag in the truck, and authorities have said he was dressed in military gear.
Law enforcement said they are investigating the possibility that the attack involved multiple suspects. They are looking into whether a different suspect rented the truck used in the attack.
Read more: https://www.nola.com/news/crime_police/new-orleans-suspect-bourbon-street-attack/article_d90e3452-c85f-11ef-a68f-f30b3ad49828.html
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