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SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — Illinois Gov. The state’s 25-year-old Gift Ban Act prohibits public employees such as Pritzker from accepting presents, with broad exceptions. Therefore, the high-priced hooch delivered compliments of the Japanese embassy and three bottles of tequila valued at $450 have remained untapped. Together, they comprise 4 1/2 years of gratuities totaling 561 gifts valued at $16,890.14, according to a log provided to The Associated Press in response to a public records request. Jim Edgar, the Gift Ban Act was the first major ethics reform in Illinois since post-Watergate campaign-finance disclosure laws.

Persons: J.B . Pritzker, Pritzker, hooch, ” Pritzker, “, Jordan Abudayyeh, John Bel Edwards, Sen, Paul Simon, Barack Obama, Jim Edgar, “ It’s, ”, David Melton, Tiffany Kuhl, Shimon Peres, Sidney Blumenthal, Bill Clinton, Abraham Lincoln, Ralph Nader, Mark Green, Donald Trump’s, Jody Coss, ” Coss, Mike’s, Jennifer Farrar Organizations: Ill, —, Democratic, Associated Press, Louisiana Gov, Hotel, Forbes, Republican Gov, Illinois, National Bobblehead Hall of Fame, Museum, Loyola University, Stephenson County Democratic Party, Associated Locations: SPRINGFIELD, — Illinois, Springfield, Chicago, Louisiana, Mardi Gras, U.S, Illinois, Swiss, Milwaukee, Victoria ”, Freeport, Stephenson County, Rockford, New York

CNN —Rep. Steve Scalise announced he was dropping out of the speaker’s race Thursday after House Republicans failed to coalesce behind him in the aftermath of Kevin McCarthy’s historic ouster. And Republicans scheduled a second members-only conference meeting for Thursday evening. But the opposition to Scalise as the next speaker only grew Thursday, with roughly 20 Republicans publicly opposing him. Scalise needs a majority of the House to be elected speaker, meaning he can only afford to lose four votes. The deadlock is leading to intensifying frustration as the House GOP looks no closer to coalescing around a speaker candidate.

Persons: Steve Scalise, Kevin McCarthy’s, “, ”, there’s, Scalise, I’m, Nicole Malliotakis, Jim Jordan of, Jordan, “ I’m, Andy Ogles, Kevin McCarthy, “ He’s, ” McCarthy, didn’t, Thursday’s, ” Scalise, It’s, Hakeem Jeffries, Paul Ryan, Thomas Massie, Dan Crenshaw, ” Jordan, Jordan didn’t, Steve, Donald Trump, ” Trump, that’s, –, Mark Green, Scalise can’t, Patrick McHenry of, Steve Womack, McHenry, Tom Cole of Oklahoma, can’t, Anna Paulina Luna, Joe Biden, Luna, don’t, Mario Diaz, Erin Houchin, Indiana Organizations: CNN —, Republicans, Louisiana Republican, GOP, New York Republican, Scalise, Fox, Republican, Kentucky Republican, CNN, Ohio Republican, Fox News Radio, Israel, Wednesday, Democrats, Republicans Democrats, Florida Republican, ”, ” Republican Locations: ”, Louisiana, Jim Jordan of Ohio, Tennessee, New York, Kentucky, Dan Crenshaw of Texas, Scalise, Israel, Patrick McHenry of North Carolina, Arkansas, “, Florida

☆ Ad verification company DoubleVerify to acquire AI firm Scibids in $125 million deal
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-31 | by ( Lara O'Reilly | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Ad verification company DoubleVerify plans to acquire adtech firm Scibids for around $125 million. It intends to use Scibids' AI expertise to help advertisers better target and optimize ad campaigns. DoubleVerify, the publicly-listed ad verification company, has entered into an agreement to acquire AI-powered adtech firm Scibids in a cash and stock deal valued at $125 million. The product matches DoubleVerify's media quality and ad performance data with Scibids' AI algorithms to let advertisers improve the performance of their campaigns. Around $66 million of the Scibids purchase price will be paid in cash with the remainder in DoubleVerify common stock.

Persons: DoubleVerify, Mark Zagorski, Zagorski, Scibids, Brian Andersen, Dick Filippini, Mark Greenbaum Organizations: Diageo, Dell, Fortune, Microsoft, Allianz, Spotify, LUMA Partners Locations: Paris, France, DoubleVerify, adtech

"The numbers we have experienced in the past two days are markedly down over what they were prior to the end of Title 42," Mayorkas said on CNN's "State of the Union" program. He said there were 6,300 border encounters on Friday and 4,200 on Saturday, but cautioned it was still early in the new regime. Mayorkas credited the criminal penalties for migrants who illegally enter the country, which resumed under existing law after Title 42's expiration, for the decrease in crossings. Officials from communities along the border agreed they had not seen the large numbers of migrants that many had feared would further strain U.S. border facilities and towns. Just before Title 42 expired on Thursday, House Republicans approved legislation that would require asylum seekers to apply for U.S. protection outside the country, resume construction of a border wall and expand federal law enforcement efforts.

☆ Terence Kawaja's adtech-focused investment bank Luma Partners may lose 3 of its partners amid a disagreement over its future direction
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-05 | by ( Lara O'Reilly | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Luma Partners' three partners are currently planning to exit the company, Insider has learned. It followed a disagreement with Luma Founder and CEO Terence Kawaja about the future vision for the firm. Luma Partners, the adtech-focused investment bank may lose all three of its partners following a disagreement with the company's founder, Terence Kawaja, about the future direction of the firm, Insider has learned. Kawaja's court jester style is in sharp contrast to that of Andersen, Greenbaum, and Filippini who tend to keep a lower profile. For the moment, they remain partners with Luma, which is currently working on a live M&A deal, Andersen said.

Greene told CNN on Thursday she was “surprised and angered” over the incident and said she already spoke to McCarthy. “He agreed with me,” Greene said, indicating the speaker believed she shouldn’t have silenced. Greene told CNN later Thursday that she and Chairman Green had a chance to talk but that they disagreed about what happened at Wednesday’s committee meeting. Identifying or calling someone a liar is unacceptable in this committee and I make the ruling that we strike those words,” said Green, a Tennessee Republican. But the sooner we can get back to kind of civility amongst colleagues, the better for everybody,” he told CNN.

☆ Congress Seeks Details on Spying Risks From Chinese Cargo Cranes
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-03 | by ( Gordon Lubold | Aruna Viswanatha | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

A Chinese company makes software used by many U.S. port cranes. Cranes in Baltimore. WASHINGTON—Top lawmakers who oversee the Department of Homeland Security want to hold hearings and obtain access to classified and unclassified government documents that expose potential security vulnerabilities posed by dozens of Chinese-made cranes at American ports across the country. It is “extremely worrisome” that about 80% of American port cranes use Chinese software that is manufactured by a Chinese company, said House Committee on Homeland Security Chairman Mark Green (R., Tenn.) in a statement. “On behalf of the American people, this Committee is demanding answers on the risks these cranes pose to U.S. cybersecurity and the resilience of our critical infrastructure, which is a core aspect of the homeland security mission.”

☆ Paramount Turned Down $3 Billion-Plus Offer for Showtime From Former Executive
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-28 | by ( Jessica Toonkel | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Former Paramount Global executive David Nevins offered to buy Showtime for more than $3 billion in recent weeks but was turned down by Paramount executives, according to people familiar with the situation. Mr. Nevins’s approach, which was backed by private-equity firm General Atlantic, was the latest in a number of offers Paramount has received over the past few years for Showtime, people familiar with the matter said. Other suitors included Mark Greenberg, another former Showtime executive who most recently ran the premium network Epix, and Lions Gate Entertainment Corp., some of the people said.

☆ Republicans are mostly ignoring a $9.4 million sexual assault lawsuit against the Trump-aligned head of CPAC
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-30 | by ( Bryan Metzger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +11 min

A GOP staffer accused CPAC head Matt Schlapp of sexually assaulting him, filing a $9.4 million lawsuit. A screenshot of the staffer's texts with Matt Schlapp on the morning after the assault on October 20, 2022. "I had a private life before Matt Schlapp, and I want to have that life post-Matt Schlapp," he said. "Those are simply allegations, and I'm not going to comment on them," said Republican Sen. Bill Hagerty of Tennessee. "All matters pertaining to CPAC, I leave to CPAC internally," he said when asked if Matt Schlapp should remain atop the organization.

☆ Marjorie Taylor Greene will serve on an important House committee that oversees national security. Here's what to expect.
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-17 | by ( Bryan Metzger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene is expected to serve on the House Homeland Security Committee. A spokesman for Greene confirmed to Insider that the House GOP Steering Committee voted unanimously on Tuesday to recommend that she serve on the committee. The entire House Republican conference votes to ratify committee recommendations, which they are expected to do. The Homeland Security Committee, set to be chaired by Republican Rep. Mark Greene of Tennessee, deals with national security issues including border security, counterterrorism, election security, and cybersecurity. As Insider reported last week, Mayorkas is a major target by House Republicans.

It was totally avoidable.”Now, Bolsonaro is in Orlando, where he has supporters among the state's growing number of Brazilian Americans. After Bolsonaro's loss, unfounded claims of election fraud, reminiscent of those in the U.S., began to surface in Brazil. Bannon had said prior to the Brazilian election that Bolsonaro would lose only if “the machines” steal the election. Leading to the presidential elections in Brazil, Trump allies exported many of the former president's campaign strategies to the Latin American country. After Bolsonaro's October loss, tens of thousands of supporters began camping outside military facilities throughout Brazil to protest his loss.

"There can be no effective climate policy without the peace," he said, highlighting the impact of Russia's invasion of Ukraine on global energy supplies, food prices and Ukraine's forests. Ukraine is hosting an exhibition space this year for the first time at a U.N. climate conference in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt. He criticised world leaders for paying lip service to climate change without delivering real change. "There are still many for whom climate change is just rhetoric or marketing ... but not real action," he said. A GREENER FUTUREMembers of Ukraine's delegation to COP27 said they hoped their presence drew global attention to the climate and environmental consequences of Russia's February invasion.

Brian Kemp to become the state’s first Black governor — she’d also be the first Black woman in the country’s history to hold a governor seat. In Maryland, Rep. Anthony Brown could be the state’s first Black attorney general if he defeats Republican Michael Peroutka. Smaller historic races include Rep. Karen Bass’ bid to become Los Angeles’ first Black woman mayor. Flowers would be the first Black woman to hold the office in Alabama, and she’s already made history as the first Black woman from either major party to win the nomination for governor. If successful, she would be the first Black woman elected to the chamber in the state’s history.

☆ Rep. Marie Newman and her husband are packing their stock portfolio with COVID-19 vaccine makers and other pandemic-sensitive companies
▼ + stars: | 2021-04-21 | by ( Kimberly Leonard | Warren Rojas | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +11 min

Democratic Rep. Marie Newman's husband has an active stock portfolio. Jim Newman, chief operating officer at Figo Pet Insurance, bought and sold stock in companies that either soared or sputtered during the pandemic, including Pfizer and Moderna, the companies behind the nation's two leading COVID-19 vaccines. Financial disclosures show Jim Newman sold up to $65,000 in Moderna stock on January 2. By February, he turned his interest to Pfizer, twice trading as much as $15,000 worth in the company's stock shares that month. For instance, Newman sold as much as $250,000 in Netflix stock in January, as much as $50,000 in Apple stock in February, and as much as $50,000 in Salesforce stock in January.

☆ Seth Moulton bankrolls ring maker, Mark Green goes crypto, Mark Warner sells a 7-figure window-and-door investment
▼ + stars: | 2021-04-19 | by ( Dave Levinthal | Kimberly Leonard | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +10 min

Democratic Rep. Seth Moulton has made a major investment in a Finnish wearable tech firm. Sen. Mark Warner, a Democrat, sold a major investment in a high-end window company. Elon Musk would be proudRep. Mark Green, a Republican from Tennessee, purchased between $1,001 and $15,000 worth of cryptocurrency Dogecoin — the same day virtual currency platform Coinbase went public. According to Barron's, he paid $1.95 million to acquire 15,000 shares for $130 each, and paid $1.4 million for 10,000 shares for $140 each. He also bought between $1,000 and $15,000 worth of stock in Amazon.

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