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☆ Defenses Carved Into the Earth
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-14 | by ( Marco Hernandez | Josh Holder | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +16 min

This satellite image shows newly built Russian fortifications near one of the deadliest frontlines of the war in Ukraine. This satellite image shows newly built Russian fortifications near one of the deadliest frontlines of the war in Ukraine. An illustration of the main defensive structures built by Russians in Ukraine: an anti-vehicle trench, dragon’s teeth and pillboxes. Russian defensive fortifications built in November Fedorivka Russia has built multiple defensive lines behind the frontline on the outskirts of Popasna. A map showing defensive structures built by the Russians in Kherson Oblast.

A former U.S. Customs and Border Protection agent accused of kidnapping and repeatedly sexually assaulting a 15-year-old girl in Arizona was caught on police video saying what appears to be a threat against his accuser. “I cannot believe this s---,” Mitchell, who worked for CBP for 10 months and who is the son of two retired Florida police officers, could be heard saying, according to federal court papers. Mitchell worked for the CBP at a border post in Douglas, Arizona, according to the court papers. He tossed her backpack into a dumpster, the court papers state. Although Mitchell denied assaulting the teenager, “DNA recovered from the girl’s genitalia was consistent with Mitchell’s DNA,” the papers state.

☆ Yes, the viral ‘Cocaine Bear’ movie is based on a true story (kinda)
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-03 | by ( Zoe Sottile | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —If you’ve seen the astonishing trailer for “Cocaine Bear” making the rounds on Twitter, you might have questions about the film’s claim that it is “inspired by true events.” But the story is indeed based on the true story of a bear who overdosed on cocaine in the 1980s. In the film, the bear goes on a cocaine-fueled killing spree after its drug binge. The black bear was found dead near a duffel bag and 40 packages of cocaine, ripped open and scattered over the hillside. It’s unclear from the AP report exactly how much cocaine the bear consumed – but the duffel bag would have originally contained around 88 pounds of the powerful drug. The Kentucky for Kentucky Fun Mall in Lexington claims to have the stuffed remains of the "Cocaine Bear" on display.

The ex-Florida tax collector whose arrest led to a federal investigation into U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz, a former friend, was sentenced Thursday to 11 years in prison for sex trafficking of a minor and other offenses. Prosecutors said Greenberg paid at least one minor to have sex with him and other men. Joel Greenberg, then the Seminole County tax collector, during an interview at his office in Lake Mary, Fla., in 2019. His cooperation with federal officials could play a role in an investigation into whether Gaetz allegedly sex-trafficked a 17-year-old girl. Greenberg’s scandal-plagued term as Seminole County tax collector started in 2017, around the time he and Gaetz became friends.

☆ After a slow start, the 2022 hurricane season roared in with memorable and destructive storms
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-30 | by ( Jennifer Gray | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

CNN —As the hurricane season closes, a handful of blockbuster storms made history after an eerily quiet first half of the season gave false hope. In fact, we didn’t have any named storms from July 3 to August 31, the first time that’s occurred since 1941. One of those storms was Hurricane Ian, which hit land in late September and will go down as the most memorable storm of the 2022 season. “Tropical storms have formed in every month outside of hurricane season, and there have been a few hurricanes, too,” NOAA said. Historically, we’ve seen at least 15 named storms form in the month of December, even all the way up to December 30.

☆ Judge accepts insanity plea deal for Florida man in face-biting case
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-28 | by ( The Associated Press | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +4 min

Austin Harrouff, 25, pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to two counts of first-degree murder and other charges for the 2016 slayings of John Stevens, 59, and his wife, Michelle Mishcon Stevens, 53. Harrouff, who attended Florida State University before the attack, will be committed to a secure mental health facility until doctors and a judge agree that he is no longer dangerous. Mourners exit a memorial service for John Stevens and Michelle Mishcon Stevens in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. on Aug. 19, 2016. The judge said Harrouff will remain in the Martin County Jail until he is taken to a secure mental health facility monitored by the Florida Department of Children and Families. His parents had set up an appointment for him to be evaluated, but the attack occurred first.

☆ Top tips for saving money at Disney parks while traveling with a family on a budget
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-27 | by ( Gabrielle Reeder | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

For non-Florida residents who want to visit Disney World, purchasing a vacation package is cost-effective, travel agent Shannon Devine told Insider. For non-Florida residents, purchasing a Disney World vacation package is cost-effective, Shannon Devine, an independent travel agent with Academy Travel who specializes in planning Disney family vacations told Insider. A view of Disney's Grand Floridian Resort main entrance at Walt Disney World. Disney Tsum Tsums or smaller stuffed animals are at Walmart or Target for a fraction of Disney parks' costs. For an estimate of Disney trip costs, visit the Disney World Coast Calculator.

☆ Dozens of times drought, ice melt, and storm surge unearthed unusual and unsettling discoveries this year
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-26 | by ( Paola Rosa-Aquino | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Among the unearthed finds are old sites, ancient artifacts, rare fossils, and even human remains. This summer, low water levels created an eerie boat graveyard of previously sunken ships and beached boats, the Associated Press reported. The manmade reservoir's plummeting water levels also revealed human remains on at least six occasions since May, The Guardian reported. In Spain's Vilanova de Sau in the Catalonia region, plummeting water levels in a reservoir exposed a 11th century Romanesque church, the Associated Press reported. Switzerland's melting glaciers revealed the remains of a 1968 plane in August.

☆ Which to Choose: Medicare or Medicare Advantage?
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-20 | by ( Paula Span | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +13 min

Which to Choose: Medicare or Medicare Advantage? Medicare Advantage plans, like traditional Medicare, are funded by the federal government, but they are offered though private insurance companies, which receive a set payment for each enrollee. The proportion of eligible Medicare beneficiaries enrolled in Medicare Advantage plans has hit 48 percent. Which is better: Medicare or Medicare Advantage? Credit... Kenny Holston for The New York Times Unlike most Medicare Advantage plans, traditional Medicare does not include drug coverage.

[1/2] Darrell Brooks, charged with killing five people and injuring nearly 50 after plowing through a Christmas parade with his sport utility vehicle on November 21, appears in Waukesha County Court in Waukesha, Wisconsin, U.S. November 23, 2021. Mark Hoffman/Pool via REUTERS/File PhotoNov 15 (Reuters) - Grieving relatives of those injured and killed when a man drove through a Christmas parade near Milwaukee last year will have a chance to confront the driver during a two-day sentencing hearing beginning on Tuesday. The driver, Darrell Brooks, 40, faces life in prison after a circuit court jury in Waukesha, Wisconsin, found him guilty on Oct. 26 of 76 criminal charges, including six counts of intentional homicide. On numerous occasions during the proceedings, Dorow admonished Brooks for failing to follow court rules and arguing with her. She removed Brooks from the courtroom several times, sending him to another room where he watched the proceedings.

☆ Ukraine is scrambling to shoot down Russian missiles and drones. Here are the weapons other countries are sending in to help.
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-14 | by ( Michael Peck | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Here are some of the air-defense systems that countries are sending Ukraine to take on that threat. The US, Britain, and several other countries are sending Ukraine a variety of air-defense systems. Here are some that are being supplied to Ukraine:NASAMSThe National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System. Norwegian Ministry of DefenseParticularly significant is that rather than custom-designed surface-to-air missiles, NASAMS fires existing air-to-air missiles that are modified to be launched from the ground. Shan Yuqi/Xinhua via Getty ImagesUkraine has already received the first of four German IRIS-T short-range anti-aircraft missile systems.

☆ Shooting at Florida high school football game leaves 1 dead
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-13 | by ( The Associated Press | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: 1 min

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — A shooting outside a Florida high school football game left one person dead and sent players and spectators scrambling to safety. Orlando’s Jones High School was finishing a Saturday night playoff victory over Wekiva High when a gunman fired several shots in the parking lot during an altercation between two groups, said Eric Smith, the city’s police chief. The Orlando Sentinel reported that after the shots, players and spectators fled to the opposite side of the stadium. Officers ran to the parking lot and found one adult dead and another wounded, Smith said. No charges were immediately filed and no names have been released.

[1/2] A street sign lies on the ground following the passage of Hurricane Nicole in Merritt Island, Florida, U.S. November 10, 2022. “The structural damage along our coastline is unprecedented,” Volusia County Manager George Recktenwald said in a statement. Nicole's storm surge also caused the collapse of parts of the scenic A1A highway, which runs along the Atlantic coast in Volusia County, sheriff's officials said. Hurricane Kate came ashore near Mexico Beach, Florida, on Nov. 21, 1985, said Philip Klotzbach, a hurricane expert at Colorado State University, on Twitter. The Atlantic hurricane season officially runs from June 1 to Nov. 30.

☆ Musk says Twitter usage is 'at an all-time high,' but a report shows that more than 1 million accounts have been deactivated or suspended since his takeover
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-08 | by ( Huileng Tan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Twitter usage has hit an all-time high, Elon Musk tweeted on Monday. On Monday, Musk tweeted that usage of Twitter is "at an all-time high lol," adding that he hopes the servers do not melt. In the second quarter of 2022, Twitter reported 237.8 million monetizable daily users — a 16.6% on-year growth. Among the suspended and terminated accounts are actors and celebrities who changed their name to "Elon Musk" on Twitter. On Monday, Musk said that "any Twitter handles engaging in impersonation without clearly specifying 'parody' will be permanently suspended."

☆ A man armed with a knife was arrested at a Wisconsin polling place after he demanded election workers 'stop the voting,' local police said
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-08 | by ( Jake Epstein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

A man armed with a knife demanded election workers in Wisconsin "stop the voting," police said. Workers at a polling station in West Bend called police, who said arrested a 38-year-old man. No one was hurt and there isn't any other threat against the polling place, police added. The library is a polling location for West Bend, a city of over 30,000 people north of Milwaukee in the southeast part of the state. "All library staff, election officials, and citizens are safe and the polling site is re-opened," West Bend police said, adding that they "would like to thank the library staff for taking quick action and voters who waited patiently to vote."

☆ Elon Musk could be what makes diehard Twitter users finally rethink their habit
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-06 | by ( Travis Clark | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

It also still remains to be seen whether Musk will lead to a meaningful surge in Twitter exits, or if his changes could attract more users. Even before Musk announced planned changes to the platform, some people threatened to quit Twitter over his ownership. "After some introspection, I've made the decision to focus my time and energy elsewhere and move on from Twitter," Nibel tweeted. Producer Shonda Rhimes, who joined Twitter in 2008, tweeted on Saturday, two days after Musk's acquisition was final, "Not hanging around for whatever Elon has planned. Critics have said they're worried, however, about a potential rise in misinformation on Twitter under Musk.

☆ More than a million Twitter accounts have been deactivated or suspended in the week since Elon Musk's takeover, report says
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-04 | by ( Pete Syme | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Almost 900,000 users have deactivated their Twitter accounts since Elon Musk took over. That's according to analysis by Bot Sentinel, first reported by the MIT Technology Review. A further 497,000 accounts have been suspended in the days since Musk's takeover was finalized. Bot Sentinel's analysis suggests that around 877,000 accounts were deactivated, and 497,000 more were suspended, between the October 27 takeover and November 1. Bouzy told MIT Technology Review that he believes Twitter was "taking action on accounts purposely violating Twitter's rules to see if they can push the limits."

☆ Casey DeSantis, Florida's 'co-governor': Rivals, friends, and former colleagues say she's the secret behind husband Ron DeSantis' meteoric rise
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-04 | by ( Lyz Lenz | Kimberly Leonard | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +29 min

Florida's first lady, Casey DeSantis, is a close confidant to her powerful husband, several people told Insider. He added, "We would not see Ron DeSantis outside of press conferences if he did not have a wife and kids." Ron DeSantis began clawing his way into the national spotlight in 2017 as a member of the US House of Representatives. She smiled wryly and said: "Everyone knows my husband, Ron DeSantis, is endorsed by President Trump, but he's also an amazing dad. "Ron DeSantis would be a very good candidate for the St. Johns county commission if he did not have Casey DeSantis in his life," Schorsch said.

☆ Parkland school shooter expected to get life in prison without parole after emotional victims’ statements
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-02 | by ( Antonio Planas | Antonio Planas Is A Breaking News Reporter For Nbc News Digital. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +3 min

Following dramatic statements from victims and victims' families, a Florida judge is expected to formally sentence Parkland school shooter Nikolas Cruz to life in prison without parole Wednesday for the 2018 campus massacre that killed 14 students and three staff members. Amy Beth Bennett / Pool/South Florida Sun-Sentinel via AP fileProsecutors had sought the death penalty, while the defense had asked for life in prison. The jury’s decision on Oct. 13 shook family members of victims who were visibly distraught by the verdict. On Tuesday, survivors of the shooting and victims’ loved ones had the chance to deliver impact statements before the sentence was formally announced. “Whatever pain you experience in prison will unfortunately be a fraction of what Ben endured,” his father, Eric Wikander, said.

☆ Stampede During Seoul Halloween Festivities Results in Nearly 150 Deaths
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-29 | by ( ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Watch: Darrell Brooks Found Guilty of Homicide in Christmas Parade AttackA jury convicted Darrell Brooks on six counts of first degree intentional homicide after he drove an SUV through a Christmas parade in Waukesha, Wis., last year. He was also convicted of dozens of other charges including reckless endangerment. Photo: Mike De Sisti/Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel/Associated Press

☆ Some felons who are allowed to vote are staying away from the polls because they're afraid of being arrested, Florida lawmaker says
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-29 | by ( Taiyler Simone Mitchell | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

In 2018, Florida granted formerly incarcerated individuals the right to vote, with some exceptions. Some individuals who said they thought they were allowed to vote were arrested in August. The data aligns with a New York Times report that said people who are poor and Black are more likely to be jailed for voter fraud than retirees. Republicans frequently sound the alarm over concerns of voter fraud, including in Florida, where former President Donald Trump won and where three seniors in a pro-Trump elderly community were also charged with voter fraud last year. But in stark contrast to Trump's claims that the 2020 election was stolen, The Associated Press identified less than 500 instances of voter fraud during the 2020 election cycle.

☆ Summer heat and 'flash drought' dried up the Mississippi River, choking a crucial shipping corridor. It could devastate America's agricultural exports.
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-29 | by ( Morgan Mcfall-Johnsen | Ayelet Sheffey | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Drought has driven the Mississippi River to historic low levels, choking US agricultural exports. The Mississippi River basin produces about 92% of US agricultural exports, including 60% of US grain exports, which travel down the river to the Gulf to ship across the world. Coal is in high demand right now, Calhoun said, and the low water levels present a challenge to ship it out of the country. He said higher food prices at the grocery store are just the first way consumers will start feeling the impact of low water levels. A barge tow passes under the Mississippi River bridges in Vicksburg, Mississippi, on October 11, 2022.

☆ Wisconsin man found guilty of killing 6 people after plowing SUV into Christmas parade
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-26 | by ( Minyvonne Burke | The Associated Press | Minyvonne Burke Is A Senior Breaking News Reporter For Nbc News. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +3 min

A Wisconsin man was convicted of killing six people after he plowed his SUV through a Christmas parade, ending an erratic weekslong trial during which he shouted at the judge, stripped off his shirt and was often removed from the courtroom over outbursts. As the verdict was read, Brooks held his head down and remained silent. One man was removed from the gallery after he yelled out, "Burn in hell, you piece of s---." Darrell Brooks looks to the prosecuting attorneys during his trial in Waukesha County Circuit Court in Waukesha, Wis., on Oct. 18, 2022. Mike De Sisti / Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel via AP, PoolAfter the verdict was read, Waukesha County Judge Jennifer Dorow said there would be a hearing Monday to discuss setting a sentencing date.

☆ Jury deliberations begin in trial of man accused in Wisconsin Christmas parade deaths
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-26 | by ( The Associated Press | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +4 min

MADISON, Wis. — A Wisconsin man accused of killing six people and injuring many others by driving an SUV into a Christmas parade last year clearly intended to kill people, prosecutors told jurors Tuesday. Waukesha County District Attorney Susan Opper focused on Brooks’ intent during her closing arguments as Brooks’ monthlong trial wound down. His failure to stop after hitting the first person in the parade shows he intended to kill people, she said. A murderer is not one of them.”“You need to look in the mirror, Mr. Brooks,” Opper said during her rebuttal. Opper told the jury that she doesn’t know why Brooks entered the parade other than he was enraged.

☆ Before-and-after photos show how the Mississippi River has dropped dramatically, choking a crucial shipping corridor
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-26 | by ( Morgan Mcfall-Johnsen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

The Mississippi River is at a historic low, exposing new land that used to be covered by water. Satellite images, and other pictures from before and after this drop in water levels, show how dramatic the difference is. Satellite images from October 2021, left, and October 2022, right, show how low the Mississippi River is this year, with more bare earth exposed. Tower Rock, in the Mississippi River, when the water levels are normal. That's because 92% of US agricultural exports are produced in the Mississippi River basin, to be exported through the Gulf of Mexico.

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