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BlueWaveNeverEnd
BlueWaveNeverEnd's Journal
BlueWaveNeverEnd's Journal
May 20, 2024
6 dead, 10 injured in Idaho car collision involving large passenger van
Police are investigating a car accident involving a large passenger van traveling through Idaho Falls, Idaho, that resulted in six deaths.
Idaho State Police are investigating a fatal car accident involving an eastbound Ram pickup and a westbound Chevrolet passenger van that blocked both lanes on U.S. 20 for more than five hours, according to a news release from police.
What happened in the Idaho Falls car accident?
The collision occurred Saturday morning at 5:29 a.m. at Milepost 308 in Bonneville County when the driver of the pickup drove left of center and crashed into the van, the release says.
According to police, the van's driver and five other passengers were pronounced dead at the scene, and nine other passengers were transported to a local hospital in ambulances.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/6-dead-10-injured-in-idaho-car-collision-involving-large-passenger-van/ar-BB1mFUrG
May 20, 2024
The South Carolina senator is getting help from Kellyanne Conway.
South Carolina Senator Tim Scott is well on his way to winning Donald Trump’s veepstakes, but the power behind that drive has come from an unexpected ally: Kellyanne Conway.
Scott has reportedly been tending to a budding friendship between himself and the former top Trump White House aide, several sources connected to Conway told The Daily Beast. The pair have been seen grabbing dinner together around Washington, D.C., and Conway is also scheduled to speak at a fundraiser in June led by the southern lawmaker. Getting closer to Conway has also meant getting closer to Trump, who reportedly still values the former counselor’s opinion very highly.
“Tim and Kellyanne have gotten close because, as she puts it, she is de facto head of Trump world—like Trump’s security blanket,” a source close to Scott told the Beast. “People underestimate how much the president relies on her counsel and they doubt her influence at their own peril.”
Trump, meanwhile, made a mysterious allusion to his VP choice on Friday, posting that the first presidential debate of the election season would take place at an HBCU “on behalf of the future Vice President of the United States.” (In reality, the Commission on Presidential Debates had picked that location in November, despite Trump’s attempts to take credit for it.)
But although he’s one of the top contenders, Scott isn’t the only candidate Conway is considering for Trump’s number two spot. Also at the top of the list is Florida Senator Marco Rubio, according to sources that spoke with the Beast. The political consultant is even weighing other options on a separate level of viability. Those candidates include North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum and Tennessee Senator Bill Hagerty.
https://newrepublic.com/post/181724/tim-scott-worst-person-kellyanne-conway-trump-vp
Tim Scott Picks Worst Person You Know to Help Him Become Trump's VP
Tim Scott Picks Worst Person You Know to Help Him Become Trump’s VPThe South Carolina senator is getting help from Kellyanne Conway.
South Carolina Senator Tim Scott is well on his way to winning Donald Trump’s veepstakes, but the power behind that drive has come from an unexpected ally: Kellyanne Conway.
Scott has reportedly been tending to a budding friendship between himself and the former top Trump White House aide, several sources connected to Conway told The Daily Beast. The pair have been seen grabbing dinner together around Washington, D.C., and Conway is also scheduled to speak at a fundraiser in June led by the southern lawmaker. Getting closer to Conway has also meant getting closer to Trump, who reportedly still values the former counselor’s opinion very highly.
“Tim and Kellyanne have gotten close because, as she puts it, she is de facto head of Trump world—like Trump’s security blanket,” a source close to Scott told the Beast. “People underestimate how much the president relies on her counsel and they doubt her influence at their own peril.”
Trump, meanwhile, made a mysterious allusion to his VP choice on Friday, posting that the first presidential debate of the election season would take place at an HBCU “on behalf of the future Vice President of the United States.” (In reality, the Commission on Presidential Debates had picked that location in November, despite Trump’s attempts to take credit for it.)
But although he’s one of the top contenders, Scott isn’t the only candidate Conway is considering for Trump’s number two spot. Also at the top of the list is Florida Senator Marco Rubio, according to sources that spoke with the Beast. The political consultant is even weighing other options on a separate level of viability. Those candidates include North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum and Tennessee Senator Bill Hagerty.
https://newrepublic.com/post/181724/tim-scott-worst-person-kellyanne-conway-trump-vp
May 20, 2024
Louisiana is poised to become the first state requiring display of the Ten Commandments at all schools that receive public funding, including colleges and universities.
The Louisiana bill, HB71, was authored by Rep. Dodie Horton (R-Bossier), whose 2023 bill requiring the words "In God We Trust" be posted in every classroom also became law.
The new bill requires the text of the Ten Commandments be printed on a poster no smaller than 11 inches by 14 inches and that the words be "the central focus" of the document.
Friction point: Sen. Royce Duplessis, D-New Orleans, was the only lawmaker to speak against the bill Thursday, according to NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune.
"I didn't have to learn the Ten Commandments in school. We went to Sunday school," he said. "You want your kids to learn about the Ten Commandments, take them to church."
--------------
A group of civil rights organizations, including the ACLU, Americans United for Separation of Church and State, and the Southern Poverty Law Center issued a joint statement opposing the legislation.
Louisiana to become 1st state requiring 10 Commandments be posted in all schools/colleges that receive public funding
https://www.axios.com/local/new-orleans/2024/05/17/louisiana-10-commandments-classroomsLouisiana is poised to become the first state requiring display of the Ten Commandments at all schools that receive public funding, including colleges and universities.
The Louisiana bill, HB71, was authored by Rep. Dodie Horton (R-Bossier), whose 2023 bill requiring the words "In God We Trust" be posted in every classroom also became law.
The new bill requires the text of the Ten Commandments be printed on a poster no smaller than 11 inches by 14 inches and that the words be "the central focus" of the document.
Friction point: Sen. Royce Duplessis, D-New Orleans, was the only lawmaker to speak against the bill Thursday, according to NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune.
"I didn't have to learn the Ten Commandments in school. We went to Sunday school," he said. "You want your kids to learn about the Ten Commandments, take them to church."
--------------
A group of civil rights organizations, including the ACLU, Americans United for Separation of Church and State, and the Southern Poverty Law Center issued a joint statement opposing the legislation.
May 20, 2024
?
https://www.sfgate.com/california-parks/article/driver-toppled-death-valley-tower-19466776.php
Person who toppled historic Death Valley tower comes forward
A driver who toppled over a 113-year-old salt tram tower in Death Valley National Park after attaching a winch to it in an attempt to pull their car out of a deep patch of mud has turned themselves in, park officials said in a Thursday statement.
The incident occurred sometime in April, when rangers discovered tire tracks running from the paved road into the lake bed and the concrete footings of the tower yanked out of the ground. Listed in the National Register of Historic Places, the tower was part of a 13-mile aerial tram constructed by the Saline Valley Salt Company to carry salt from Saline Valley to Owens Valley in 1911.
“I have hiked along sections of this tramway, and am amazed by the tenacity it took to build,” Superintendent Mike Reynolds said in an earlier press release. “I hope the person responsible for this damage will contact us so we can discuss restitution.”
After issuing that initial statement and receiving an “overwhelming response on social media,” park officials said that’s just what the driver did.
“The individual responsible for pulling over the salt tram called the tip line provided in an earlier press release, stating that this was done during a time of desperation while being deeply stuck in mud, and that it wasn’t their intent to cause harm to the historic structure,” the press release said.
Person who toppled historic Death Valley tower comes forward
?
https://www.sfgate.com/california-parks/article/driver-toppled-death-valley-tower-19466776.php
Person who toppled historic Death Valley tower comes forward
A driver who toppled over a 113-year-old salt tram tower in Death Valley National Park after attaching a winch to it in an attempt to pull their car out of a deep patch of mud has turned themselves in, park officials said in a Thursday statement.
The incident occurred sometime in April, when rangers discovered tire tracks running from the paved road into the lake bed and the concrete footings of the tower yanked out of the ground. Listed in the National Register of Historic Places, the tower was part of a 13-mile aerial tram constructed by the Saline Valley Salt Company to carry salt from Saline Valley to Owens Valley in 1911.
“I have hiked along sections of this tramway, and am amazed by the tenacity it took to build,” Superintendent Mike Reynolds said in an earlier press release. “I hope the person responsible for this damage will contact us so we can discuss restitution.”
After issuing that initial statement and receiving an “overwhelming response on social media,” park officials said that’s just what the driver did.
“The individual responsible for pulling over the salt tram called the tip line provided in an earlier press release, stating that this was done during a time of desperation while being deeply stuck in mud, and that it wasn’t their intent to cause harm to the historic structure,” the press release said.
May 20, 2024
Florida Governor DeSantis Signs Bill Removing 'Climate' from State Statutes and Boosting Natural Gas
Florida Governor DeSantis Signs Bill Removing 'Climate' from State Statutes and Boosting Natural Gas
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed a bill making climate change a lesser state priority in Florida. The bill removes the word "climate" from nine places in state statutes and moves Florida's energy goals away from reducing greenhouse gas emissions and promoting efficiency.
Opponents say the bill ignores Florida's threats from climate change like rising seas, extreme heat, flooding, and more intense storms. Supporters say the bill takes a "common-sense" approach and rejects a "radical green" agenda. It takes effect on July 1st and boosts the expansion of natural gas in Florida while reducing regulations and increasing protections for gas.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/weather/topstories/florida-governor-desantis-signs-bill-removing-climate-from-state-statutes-and-boosting-natural-gas/vi-BB1mwDdo
May 19, 2024
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/school-apologizes-after-seizing-lakota-student-s-feathered-graduation-cap/ar-BB1mDV3X
Farmington Municipal Schools wrote in a statement to families Thursday that staff returned Genesis White Bull’s cap and feather to her family after the ceremony. District protocol forbids students from altering their cap and gown, the district added.
But administrators the next day followed up with an apology.
“The intent, always, is to create a ceremony that is inclusive of all graduates and honors all of our students,” the district wrote in another statement. “It is clear that what occurred detracted from that and had the opposite effect. We are confident that our staff intended no disrespect or to violate anyone’s cultural beliefs or practices.”
The expression of remorse came amid a flurry of criticism as video of the incident spread. The council of the Navajo Nation, which borders Farmington, called the school’s actions “demeaning” and said it stood in solidarity with tribal members’ right to honor their culture by wearing traditional attire at graduations.
--------------
Jasmine Blackwater-Nygren, the Navajo Nation’s first lady, said the beaded cap and a plume symbolize achievement for Native students and “the culmination of prayers and ceremonies done for them.”
School apologizes after seizing Lakota student's feathered graduation cap
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/school-apologizes-after-seizing-lakota-student-s-feathered-graduation-cap/ar-BB1mDV3X
Farmington Municipal Schools wrote in a statement to families Thursday that staff returned Genesis White Bull’s cap and feather to her family after the ceremony. District protocol forbids students from altering their cap and gown, the district added.
But administrators the next day followed up with an apology.
“The intent, always, is to create a ceremony that is inclusive of all graduates and honors all of our students,” the district wrote in another statement. “It is clear that what occurred detracted from that and had the opposite effect. We are confident that our staff intended no disrespect or to violate anyone’s cultural beliefs or practices.”
The expression of remorse came amid a flurry of criticism as video of the incident spread. The council of the Navajo Nation, which borders Farmington, called the school’s actions “demeaning” and said it stood in solidarity with tribal members’ right to honor their culture by wearing traditional attire at graduations.
--------------
Jasmine Blackwater-Nygren, the Navajo Nation’s first lady, said the beaded cap and a plume symbolize achievement for Native students and “the culmination of prayers and ceremonies done for them.”
May 18, 2024
cops see baby doll through window, assume its dead baby and break in without a warrant
2 cops come to wrong address.
rifle through mail, peer through window
see baby doll on couch, discuss that it's either a doll or a dead baby.
call in back up and about 6 cops break in
after they realize it's a baby doll, the continue to search through house.
Homeowner is suing all of them.
May 18, 2024
“The sisters do not believe that Harrison Butker’s comments represent the Catholic, Benedictine, liberal arts college that our founders envisioned," the statement read
In a lengthy statement posted to Facebook, the nuns from Benedictine College publicly called out Butker’s speech, which was delivered during the college’s 2024 commencement ceremony.
“The sisters of Mount St. Scholastica do not believe that Harrison Butker’s comments in his 2024 Benedictine College commencement address represent the Catholic, Benedictine, liberal arts college that our founders envisioned and in which we have been so invested.” the statement read.
The nuns added that Butker’s words were divisive and the assertion that women should only be homemakers is false.
“Instead of promoting unity in our church, our nation, and the world, his comments seem to have fostered division. One of our concerns was the assertion that being a homemaker is the highest calling for a woman…Our community has taught young women and men not just how to be 'homemakers' in a limited sense, but rather how to make a Gospel-centered, compassionate home within themselves,” the statement said.
--------
“We want to be known as an inclusive, welcoming community, embracing Benedictine values that have endured for more than 1,500 years and have spread through every continent and nation. We believe those values are the core of Benedictine College,” the statement read.
Nuns of Benedictine College Condemn Harrison Butker and Say His Graduation Speech 'Fostered Division'
https://www.msn.com/en-us/movies/celebrity/nuns-of-benedictine-college-condemn-harrison-butker-and-say-his-graduation-speech-fostered-division/ar-BB1mAaI0“The sisters do not believe that Harrison Butker’s comments represent the Catholic, Benedictine, liberal arts college that our founders envisioned," the statement read
In a lengthy statement posted to Facebook, the nuns from Benedictine College publicly called out Butker’s speech, which was delivered during the college’s 2024 commencement ceremony.
“The sisters of Mount St. Scholastica do not believe that Harrison Butker’s comments in his 2024 Benedictine College commencement address represent the Catholic, Benedictine, liberal arts college that our founders envisioned and in which we have been so invested.” the statement read.
The nuns added that Butker’s words were divisive and the assertion that women should only be homemakers is false.
“Instead of promoting unity in our church, our nation, and the world, his comments seem to have fostered division. One of our concerns was the assertion that being a homemaker is the highest calling for a woman…Our community has taught young women and men not just how to be 'homemakers' in a limited sense, but rather how to make a Gospel-centered, compassionate home within themselves,” the statement said.
--------
“We want to be known as an inclusive, welcoming community, embracing Benedictine values that have endured for more than 1,500 years and have spread through every continent and nation. We believe those values are the core of Benedictine College,” the statement read.
May 18, 2024
Barbara Furlow-Smiles pleaded guilty to a wire fraud charge in December, admitting to defrauding Facebook between January 2017 and September 2021.
According to prosecutors, Furlow-Smiles orchestrated a long-running and lucrative scheme to funnel money from Facebook corporate credit cards to friends, relatives and others. After receiving the funds, the recipients would then kick much of the money back to Furlow-Smiles.
Facebook eventually fired Furlow-Smiles after she stole more than $4.9 million, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia said, but her fraud continued when she worked for Nike from November 2021 to February 2023. There she stole $120,000 more, prosecutors said.
-------
Along with a five-year, three-month prison sentence, Furlow-Smiles has been ordered to pay almost $5 million in restitution to Facebook, now Meta, and $121,000 to Nike. Prosecutors got the amount of restitution they’d sought from the judge, but shy of their suggested 6.5 years of prison time.
Furlow-Smiles’ lawyers had argued for no prison time and home confinement in their sentencing memo — they cited “collateral punishment,” including “a professional death and an emotional assault upon her and her family” from news stories about her conduct, as well as an “excommunication from the DEI community.” She wrote in her own letter to the judge that she “blew it big time” and that she “became the poster child of being a fraud in a space I dedicated 15+ years of my life building.”
https://www.sfgate.com/tech/article/facebook-exec-steals-millions-prison-19464029.php
‘I blew it big time.’ Former Facebook DEI head gets 5 years in prison for stealing millions
“I blew it big time,” Furlow-Smiles admitted in a letter to the judge in her case.
Furlow-Smiles said she had a lifetime commitment to being a voice for disenfranchised people, but acknowledged that her actions “added fuel to the fire of disengagement and attack of DEI efforts.”
Exploiting her access to company credit cards at Facebook, which is now called Meta, Furlow-Smiles would pay people for services they did not do for the company, then have those people kick back the money to her.
She brought dozens of people into her scheme, prosecutors said, including “relatives, former interns from a prior job, nannies, a hair stylist, and her university tutor.”
Sometimes, Furlow-Smiles had Facebook directly pay third parties for personal goods or services, including $10,000 for specialty portraits and $18,000 for her child’s preschool tuition. She would then submit false reports about the work the people had done for the company.
https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2024-05-17/former-facebook-dei-head-gets-5-years-in-prison-for-fraud
Ex-Facebook Diversity, Equity, Inclusion exec who used company cards to steal millions gets prison time
Barbara Furlow-Smiles pleaded guilty to a wire fraud charge in December, admitting to defrauding Facebook between January 2017 and September 2021.
According to prosecutors, Furlow-Smiles orchestrated a long-running and lucrative scheme to funnel money from Facebook corporate credit cards to friends, relatives and others. After receiving the funds, the recipients would then kick much of the money back to Furlow-Smiles.
Facebook eventually fired Furlow-Smiles after she stole more than $4.9 million, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia said, but her fraud continued when she worked for Nike from November 2021 to February 2023. There she stole $120,000 more, prosecutors said.
-------
Along with a five-year, three-month prison sentence, Furlow-Smiles has been ordered to pay almost $5 million in restitution to Facebook, now Meta, and $121,000 to Nike. Prosecutors got the amount of restitution they’d sought from the judge, but shy of their suggested 6.5 years of prison time.
Furlow-Smiles’ lawyers had argued for no prison time and home confinement in their sentencing memo — they cited “collateral punishment,” including “a professional death and an emotional assault upon her and her family” from news stories about her conduct, as well as an “excommunication from the DEI community.” She wrote in her own letter to the judge that she “blew it big time” and that she “became the poster child of being a fraud in a space I dedicated 15+ years of my life building.”
https://www.sfgate.com/tech/article/facebook-exec-steals-millions-prison-19464029.php
‘I blew it big time.’ Former Facebook DEI head gets 5 years in prison for stealing millions
“I blew it big time,” Furlow-Smiles admitted in a letter to the judge in her case.
Furlow-Smiles said she had a lifetime commitment to being a voice for disenfranchised people, but acknowledged that her actions “added fuel to the fire of disengagement and attack of DEI efforts.”
Exploiting her access to company credit cards at Facebook, which is now called Meta, Furlow-Smiles would pay people for services they did not do for the company, then have those people kick back the money to her.
She brought dozens of people into her scheme, prosecutors said, including “relatives, former interns from a prior job, nannies, a hair stylist, and her university tutor.”
Sometimes, Furlow-Smiles had Facebook directly pay third parties for personal goods or services, including $10,000 for specialty portraits and $18,000 for her child’s preschool tuition. She would then submit false reports about the work the people had done for the company.
https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2024-05-17/former-facebook-dei-head-gets-5-years-in-prison-for-fraud
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