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☆ A viral TikTok is igniting a debate over data centers taking over Virginia's countryside
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-25 | by ( Alex Bitter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

But a viral TikTok shows that some people aren't happy about what the giant structures are replacing in Northern Virginia. Related storiesOthers pointed out the irony of posting about the issue on a social media platform powered by data centers. Data centers are popping up thanks to billions of dollars of investment and the AI boom. In Loudon County, roughly a 45-minute drive from DC, some residents say they can hear a constant hum from all the data centers in the area. AdvertisementDo you live or work in Northern Virginia or another part of the US where data centers have altered life?

Persons: —, @claireecowles, suara, commenter, they're Organizations: Service, Business, Northern, Northern Virginia Technology Locations: Northern Virginia, Shenandoah, Washington, Virginia, NoVa, Loudon County

☆ I tried Sonic's 3 new barbecue-themed menu items, and they're proof that more national chains need to offer Southern-inspired flavors
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-01 | by ( Erin Mcdowell | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

During that time, I fell in love with North Carolina-style barbecue, mostly from local restaurants, but I'd also often order it from regional fast-food chains. Now, Sonic Drive-In, which is headquartered in Oklahoma City but has locations in 47 states, is stepping up to the plate with its trio of barbecue-inspired menu items: its pulled-pork BBQ cheeseburger, pulled-pork BBQ "totchos," and pulled-pork BBQ sandwich. "These new items are a harmony of BBQ's best flavors, proving BBQ really does make everything better," Gibson added. While the signature meat in Texas-style barbecue is usually beef and Kansas-style is a mixture of both beef and pork, North Carolina-style and Memphis-style barbecue particularly focuses on pulled pork and pork ribs. I tried all three new items on Sonic's menu to see how they stacked up to the chain's regular offerings, and to determine if more national chains should follow its lead and bring home the barbecue.

Persons: —, I'd, Sonic, Mackenzie Gibson, Gibson, Cook, McDonald's, Burger Organizations: Service, Business, Smithsonian Magazine Locations: North Carolina, Oklahoma City, Southern, Virginia, Texas , Kansas City, Carolina, Memphis, Texas, Kansas

☆ Two South Koreans accused of running US ‘high-end’ brothel ring to appear in court Monday
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-13 | by ( Holmes Lybrand | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

He is accused of running part of the financial side of the brothels – renting out apartments in his or fake identities and operating numerous businesses to allegedly launder money through. The website advertised “models” – pictured on the sites in underwear in provocative poses – for photographers to hire, the affidavit says. Junmyung, investigators say, was born in Korea and is in the US on a student visa, which started in 2018. The confidential source, working with investigators, contacted James to set up a brothel in Connecticut, the affidavit says. He also mentioned during the call that he worked with a “Hana in Boston,” according to the affidavit.

Persons: Han Lee, Junmyung Lee, James Lee, Zachary Mitlitsky, Han, Junmyung, James, –, James laundered, Massachusetts Joshua Levy, ” Levy Organizations: CNN, Homeland Security, TSA, Hana Locations: Boston, Washington, Worchester , Massachusetts, California, Las Vegas and Virginia, Eastern Virginia, Virginia, Cambridge , Massachusetts, Korea, Tysons , Virginia, Connecticut, Massachusetts

☆ Feds busted a 'high-end' brothel network serving politicians and pharma execs. Apparent clients are wondering if they'll be next.
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-09 | by ( Sonam Sheth | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

The feds busted a "sophisticated" brothel network that serviced politicians, pharma executives, and other high-profile clientele. Clients worried that they would be arrested, while others urged people to "shut the fuck up and lawyer up." AdvertisementAdvertisementThe Justice Department announced charges Wednesday against three defendants accused of operating a "sophisticated" brothel network in the Boston area and in eastern Virginia. "I'm glad I never participated," the user wrote in the forum after laying out the requirements. A Justice Department spokesperson declined to comment when asked if prosecutors are planning on charging others connected to the brothel network.

Persons: —, — Han Lee, James Lee, Junmyung Lee —, Han Lee, Junmyung Lee, BTT, I'm Organizations: pharma, Service, Boston, Department, feds, Justice Locations: Virginia, Boston, Btt, Georgia, Massachusetts

☆ High-end brothels serviced elected officials, tech and pharma execs, military brass: Feds
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-08 | by ( Dan Mangan | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

A network of "sophisticated" high-end brothels in greater Boston and eastern Virginia provided sex for pay to "elected officials, high tech and pharmaceutical executives, doctors, military officers, government contractors that possess security clearances, professors," and others, federal prosecutors said Wednesday. Three people were arrested in connection with operating the pricey sex shops, which required "interested sex buyers" to provide employer information and references before booking sessions with prostitutes, authorities said. "The investigation into the involvement of sex buyers is active and ongoing," the office said. In addition to politicians and military brass, business executives and government contractors, customers included "lawyers, scientists and accountants." About 20 "sex buyers" were interviewed by the investigators as part of a multi-year probe of the network, according to a criminal complaint.

Organizations: Attorney's, Massachusetts, Washington , D.C, Department of Homeland Security Locations: Boston, Virginia, Cambridge, Watertown , Massachusetts, Fairfax, Tysons , Virginia, The Virginia, Washington ,, U.S

Videos from social media showed riverfront communities in North Carolina such as New Bern, Belhaven and Washington experiencing significant flooding. Tens of thousands of North Carolina homes and businesses remained without electricity across several eastern counties as of Saturday afternoon, according to poweroutage.us, which tracks utility reports. A Duke Energy map showed scattered power outages across much of eastern North Carolina, as winds toppled tree limbs and snagged power lines. Brian Haines, a spokesperson for the North Carolina Division of Emergency Management, said there were reports of downed trees but no major road closings. The governors of North Carolina, Virginia and Maryland each declared a state of emergency on Friday.

Persons: Ophelia, Philippe Papin, Papin, Jeff Brooks, WTVD, Brian Haines, Carl Cannon Jr, Cannon Jr, ”, Michael Brennan, “, ” Brennan, Lee, Aaron Montgomery, ___ Mattise, Jackie Quinn, Ron Todt, Sudhin, Christopher Weber Organizations: U.S, National Hurricane Center, Coast Guard, Duke Energy, North Carolina Division, Emergency Management, Beaufort Pirate, AP Radio Locations: ANNAPOLIS, Md, North Carolina, Virginia, Richmond , Virginia, Charlottesville , Virginia, Delmarva, New Jersey, Jersey, Sea Isle City, New York, New England, East Coast, Emerald Isle , North Carolina, New Bern, Belhaven, Washington, Lookout Bight, Cape Lookout , North Carolina, North, Banks, Beaufort, “, Maryland, Boston , New York City, Williamsburg , Virginia, Virginia Beach, Nashville , Tennessee, Philadelphia, Atlanta, Los Angeles

(AP) — Tropical Storm Ophelia was expected to make landfall on the North Carolina coast early Saturday morning with the potential for damaging winds and dangerous surges of water, the U.S. National Hurricane Center said. Ophelia was about 70 miles (115 kilometers) south of Cape Lookout, North Carolina, and heading north-northwest at 12 mph (19 kph) late Friday after spinning into tropical storm during the afternoon. A tropical storm warning was issued from Cape Fear, North Carolina, to Fenwick Island, Delaware. The governors of North Carolina, Virginia and Maryland declared a state of emergency Friday as some schools closed early and several weekend events were canceled. The North Carolina Ferry System on Friday suspended service on all routes until conditions improve, officials said.

Persons: Ophelia, Roy Cooper, ” Cooper, Glenn Youngkin’s, ” Youngkin, Wes Moore, Scott Bierman, ” Bierman, Michael Brennan, “, ” Brennan, Lee, Nancy Shoemaker, Bob, “ We’re, ” Nancy Shoemaker, ___ Brumfield, Jackie Quinn, Lisa Baumann Organizations: U.S, National Hurricane Center, North Carolina Gov, North Carolina Ferry, Virginia Gov, Maryland Gov, Nationals, AP Radio Locations: ANNAPOLIS, Md, North Carolina, Virginia, Cape Lookout , North Carolina, Sunday, Bogue Inlet , North Carolina, Chincoteague , Virginia, Fear , North Carolina, Fenwick Island , Delaware, Surf City, Ocracoke, Maryland, Annapolis, Washington, Boston , New York, , Maryland

☆ Exclusive: Deputy Treasury chief Adeyemo says US well-prepared to weather China headwinds
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-24 | by ( David Lawder | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Adeyemo told Reuters during a visit to the Chickahominy Tribe in southeastern Virginia that the Treasury is closely monitoring economic developments in China, where growth is faltering amid a worsening property slump, weak consumer spending and tumbling credit growth. "You're seeing the Chinese economy demonstrate weakness that has global implications. Because of the decisions we've made, we're probably best prepared to deal with the headwinds that this has created," Adeyemo said, referring to the United States. These investments will help the U.S. economy overcome the headwinds created by slower growth and demand in China, the world's second-largest economy, he said. "We're going to continue to monitor what's happening there, but our goal really is to make sure that we take the steps here to make sure the American economy can grow despite the headwinds," Adeyemo said.

Persons: Wally Adeyemo, Adeyemo, we've, we're, David Lawder, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: ., Reuters, Treasury, COVID, U.S, Thomson Locations: PROVIDENCE FORGE , Virginia, U.S, Chickahominy, Virginia, China, United States, Asia, Beijing

☆ Medical Group Says B.M.I. Alone Is Not Enough to Assess Health and Weight
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-15 | by ( Dani Blum | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

The American Medical Association voted to adopt a new policy on Tuesday encouraging doctors not to rely only on body mass index, a long-used but potentially misleading metric, when assessing weight and health. The policy officially recognizes the “historical harm” of B.M.I. is influential in the medical community, the new recommendation is just a suggestion to doctors, not a strict rule they must comply with. The association, one of the largest medical groups in the country, will now recommend that doctors not use B.M.I. alone to assess whether a patient is at a healthy weight.

Persons: ”, Cynthia Romero, Brock, Scott Hagan, “ Organizations: American Medical Association, Brock Institute for Community, Global Health, Eastern Virginia Medical School, University of Washington

☆ Man charged in baseball bat attack on two U.S. congressional staffers
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-17 | by ( Dan Whitcomb | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Xuan-Kha Tran Pham, 49, was taken into custody by Fairfax police following the attack in the offices of Representative Gerry Connolly on Monday. Attorneys Office in eastern Virginia, which filed the charges, have not said what they believe motivated the attack but said in a written statement that the suspect was demanding to speak to Connolly. Connolly, a Democrat from Northern Virginia, said on Twitter that the two staff members had been released from hospital. Prosecutors say Pham entered Connolly's office in Fairfax carrying the baseball bat, then struck a female in the head and hit an intern in the ribs. He then returned to the first victim, striking her a total of eight times, according to prosecutors.

☆ Tornado Damages Homes and Uproots Trees in Virginia Beach
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-30 | by ( April Rubin | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: 1 min

A storm that passed over Virginia Beach on Sunday evening brought one confirmed tornado and caused damage to multiple homes close to the coast, the authorities said. The tornado went through the Fort Story area in northeastern Virginia Beach just before 6 p.m., said Mike Montefusco, a forecaster with the National Weather Service in Wakefield, Va. The tornado’s exact path will be confirmed through a survey on Monday. Damage was reported to at least 12 homes as of early Sunday evening, said Tiffany Russell, a spokeswoman for the city of Virginia Beach. Residents also reported gas leaks.

☆ A brother and sister had to stop 6 times in 1 day to charge their rented Tesla in cold weather because the battery drained so quickly
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-01 | by ( Sam Tabahriti | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

A brother and sister rented a Tesla and found they had to stop six times in one day to charge it. However, it got to the point that the "battery would drain faster than it would charge," Xavier told Insider. When they set off they could drive for at least two and a half hours before needing to charge the Tesla. A spokesperson for Hertz told Insider: "We have not experienced a significant increase in communication from customers about the battery of their EV rentals. Xaviar said Hertz told him to go to the closest branch to get a new car.

☆ A Tesla owner says his car wouldn't charge in freezing temperatures, leaving him stranded on Christmas Eve
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-25 | by ( Sam Tabahriti | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

A Tesla owner said he was left stranded on Christmas Eve after his car wouldn't charge in the cold. Domenick Nati, 44, said it was 19 degrees when he plugged his Tesla into a supercharger. On the afternoon of Christmas Eve, he decided to drive to another Tesla supercharger. He posted a video on TikTok about the problem that he said left him stranded on Christmas Eve. He also expected the Tesla trouble would stop him joining his son on Christmas morning to see him open his presents.

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