DIRS.INFO The most relevant business & tech news

☆ Liberty University sued by former IT staffer fired after disclosing she’s a trans woman
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-31 | by ( The Associated Press | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +3 min

The bitter nationwide debate over transgender rights is playing out on a very personal level in a federal court lawsuit filed in Virginia by a former Liberty University employee. She was fired by the evangelical Christian school after disclosing her identity as a transgender woman. The lawsuit on behalf of Ellenor Zinski was filed in July by the American Civil Liberties Union of Virginia and the Richmond law firm of Butler Curwood. Earlier this month, the conservative legal organization Liberty Counsel filed a brief on behalf of the university asking the federal district court to dismiss the lawsuit. Wyatt Rolla, the ACLU of Virginia’s senior transgender rights attorney, rejected the claim of a set-up.

Persons: Ellenor Zinski, Butler Curwood, Phuong Tran, Jerry Falwell, Jerry Falwell Jr, Zinski, ”, Mat Staver, Wyatt Rolla, Virginia’s, “, ” Zinski, — Organizations: Liberty University, Christian, American Civil Liberties Union of Virginia, Technology, U.S . Civil, Liberty, Civil, Trinity Episcopal Church, AP Liberty University, Liberty Counsel’s, Associated Press Locations: Virginia, Richmond, Lynchburg, Phuong, Lynchburg , Virginia

☆ The cliffhanger House primary that reveals everything about Trump’s GOP
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-19 | by ( Stephen Collinson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Trump is angry at Good, the chair of the hard-line House Freedom Caucus, because he initially endorsed Florida Gov. But he authored his own demise by getting crosswise with two key forces in the riotous Republican House majority — the ex-president and McCarthy, whose still potent financial machine is on a revenge tour. While he was estranged from Trump, Good campaigned as though he and the former president were on the same side. This is a time to rally behind President Trump,” Good said. We’re all behind President Trump.

Persons: CNN —, Donald Trump’s, Bob Good –, Trump, Sen, John McGuire, Ron DeSantis, Kevin McCarthy, McGuire, “, ”, Good, he’d, McCarthy, James Madison, James Monroe –, he’s, Bob Good, Virginia, ” Trump, that’s, Mitch McConnell, “ Trump, –, Mark Meadows, CNN’s Manu Raju, DeSantis, Joe Biden, Trump’s GOP McGuire, ” McGuire, Trump’s, “ I’m, trifecta Organizations: CNN, Republican Party, GOP, Congressional, Caucus, Florida Gov, California Republican, Republican, Capitol, Senate, Freedom Caucus, Trump’s GOP, Trump, “ CNN, Navy Locations: Virginia’s, Virginia, California, New York, Washington, Lynchburg, Iowa, Trump’s, Lago

☆ The 10 books the rich will be reading this summer
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-26 | by ( Robert Frank | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +11 min

That's why J.P. Morgan Private Bank, every May, releases its summer reading list, often serving as a book club for billionaires. This year marks the 25th anniversary of the list, now called the J.P. Morgan Summer Reading List. The 10 books are carefully curated to match the tastes and preoccupations of J.P. Morgan's wealthy clients. It also helps with client events, since authors on the list often agree to do special dinners or speaking events for J.P. Morgan clients. Authors love being on the list as well since J.P. Morgan buys thousands of books to hand out and since clients often refer the books to others.

Persons: Robert Frank, Today's, Alicia Keys, Swizz Beatz, J.P, Morgan, Darin Oduyoye, Oduyoye, Gary White, Matt Damon, Charles Duhigg, Jonathan Haidt, Haidt, Kasseem Dean, —, Gordon Parks, Michel Basquiat, Lorna Simpson, Odili Donald Odita, Kennedy Yanko, Kimberli Gant, Salman Khan Salman Khan, Jack Daniel, Fawn Weaver, Daniel's, Daniels, Weaver, Joshua Robinson, Jonathan Clegg, Robinson, Clegg, Melinda Stevens, Issy von Simson, Tabitha Joyce, Fortunato, Adam Pearson, Fortunato Chocolate, Laura Mae Martin, Laura Mae Martin —, Martin, Jake Gyllenhaal, Greta Caruso, Tony, Damon Organizations: Morgan Private Bank, Morgan, Reading, Wealth Management, J.P, Giants, Art, Phaidon, Brooklyn Museum, Education, Khan Academy, Wall, Mercedes, Nacional, Google, Solutions, JPMorgan, Manhattan Company Locations: Water, Lynchburg , Tennessee, America, United States, Croatian

☆ Teachers are using AI to grade essays. Students are using AI to write them
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-06 | by ( Samantha Murphy Kelly | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

A report by strategy consultant firm Tyton Partners, sponsored by plagiarism detection platform Turnitin, found half of college students used AI tools in Fall 2023. The practice of using AI for writing feedback or grading assignments also raises ethical considerations. But teachers should then grade students’ work themselves when looking for novelty, creativity and depth of insight. “Using feedback that is not truly from me seems like it is shortchanging that relationship a little,” she said. She also sees uploading a student’s work to ChatGPT as a “huge ethical consideration” and potentially a breach of their intellectual property.

Persons: Diane Gayeski, “, ”, Gayeski, —, They’re, it’s, Dorothy Leidner, Leidner, Leslie Layne, Leslie Layne Leslie Layne, ChatGPT, OpenAI, Alan Reid, Layne, ” Nicolas Frank Organizations: CNN, Ithaca College, Tyton Partners, Microsoft, University of Virginia, University of Lynchburg, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, Center for Research, Reform, Education, Johns Hopkins University Locations: Virginia, foolproof

☆ Liberty University Fined $14 Million for Mishandling Sex Assaults and Other Crimes
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-05 | by ( Zach Montague | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Liberty University, the evangelical Christian university in Lynchburg, Va., agreed to pay a record $14 million fine for breaking federal campus safety laws, the Education Department announced on Tuesday, accusing the school of creating a “culture of silence” that discouraged the reporting of crimes and repeatedly mishandling sexual assaults. In a 108-page report, the department found particular problems with how the university handled sexual misconduct, including that it had punished several sexual assault victims for violating the student honor code, which prohibits premarital sex, while failing to punish their assailants. As a result, sexual assaults commonly went unreported, the department said. The report also said Liberty discouraged staff members from sending out emergency notifications, failing to notify students of dangerous events such as campus bomb threats and gas leaks. Mr. Falwell’s son, Jerry Falwell Jr., resigned as president in 2020 amid a sex scandal, and was sued by the university for $40 million in damages the next year for various breaches of contract.

Persons: Jerry Falwell, Falwell’s, Jerry Falwell Jr Organizations: Liberty University, Christian, Education Department, Liberty Locations: Lynchburg, Va, aggrandizing

Virginia is not the only state grappling with skill games, but the efforts there reflect points in a larger debate nationwide as they have exploded in popularity. It is also backed by skill games producer Pace-O-Matic, which has given hundreds of thousands of dollars in campaign donations to legislators in recent years. It would tax skill games revenue at 15% and would not explicitly limit the total number of machines that could exist. The skill games debate is a rare issue that doesn't split along partisan lines, and lawmakers have gone around and around on it for years. The General Assembly voted in 2020 to ban skill games, taking on the issue at the same time they were clearing the way for casinos for the first time.

Persons: ”, Sen, Aaron Rouse, Louise Lucas, Pace, Rouse, Chris Cylke, Ahmed Makhani, —, ” Cylke, Mark Peake, “, ” Peake, Democratic Sen, Jeremy McPike, Prince William County, McPike, Matt Hortenstine, Hortenstine, Lucas, Glenn Youngkin's, Christian Martinez, Ralph Northam Organizations: Senate Finance Committee, ABC, American Gaming Association, Republican, Democratic, Virginia Lottery Board, J Ventures, Accel Entertainment, Republican Gov, General, Virginia Supreme Locations: RICHMOND, Va, Virginia, Virginia Beach, Commonwealth, Lynchburg, Georgia, Illinois

☆ American Airlines flight attendant faces child porn charge after allegedly filming minors in airplane bathrooms, DOJ says
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-18 | by ( Sarah Dewberry | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

After the incident, Thompson was “immediately withheld from service” and hasn’t worked for American Airlines since, the company said in a statement. Estes Carter Thompson Lynchburg Adult Detention Center“We take these allegations very seriously,” American Airlines said in its statement. “It is alleged that, beneath the red stickers, Thompson had concealed his iPhone to record a video,” the release said. The girl took a picture of the concealed phone and returned to her seat to show her parents, it said. The parents notified other flight attendants, who then told the plane’s captain, who in turn alerted law enforcement on the ground, prosecutors said.

Persons: Estes Carter Thompson III, Thompson, ”, Jodi Cohen, “, hasn’t, Estes Carter Organizations: CNN, An American Airlines, US, American Airlines, Lynchburg Adult Detention, Airlines, Logan International Airport, of Locations: Lynchburg , Virginia, Massachusetts, Boston, Charlotte , North Carolina, Lynchburg, North Carolina, Western, of Virginia

☆ American Airlines Flight Attendant Filmed Minors Using Lavatory, U.S. Says
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-18 | by ( Jesus Jiménez | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

An American Airlines flight attendant was arrested on Thursday, accused of using his cellphone in an attempt to secretly record a 14-year-old girl as she used the lavatory on a domestic flight in September, federal prosecutors said. The flight attendant, Estes Carter Thompson III, 37, of Charlotte, N.C., was arrested in Lynchburg, Va., and charged with attempted sexual exploitation of children and possession of child pornography after investigators found evidence that he had surreptitiously recorded video footage of four other girls as they used the lavatory on American Airlines flights last year, the U.S. attorney’s office for the District of Massachusetts said. “The deeply disturbing conduct alleged here is something no parent or child should ever have to worry about when they travel,” Joshua S. Levy, the acting U.S. attorney for the district of Massachusetts, said in a statement. Thompson allegedly used his position to prey on and surreptitiously record innocent children, including unaccompanied minors, while in a vulnerable state aboard flights he was working.”According to a criminal complaint, Mr. Thompson was working as a flight attendant on an American Airlines flight to Boston from Charlotte on Sept. 2. About halfway through the flight, the 14-year-old girl got up to use a lavatory in the main cabin, the document says.

Persons: Estes Carter Thompson III, “, Joshua S, Levy, “ Mr, Thompson Organizations: American Airlines, District Locations: Charlotte, N.C, Lynchburg, Va, U.S, Massachusetts, Boston

And it lived up to it.”Dickinson lived up to the hype, too, finishing with 21 points, eight boards and five assists. “We have 10 new guys who really, none of them have really played Division I basketball," longtime NC Central coach LeVelle Moton said. Dickinson had 17 points, seven boards and four assists by halftime; the Eagles had 18 points, eight rebounds and two assists. “He's going to be a problem, and he's not just going to be a problem for North Carolina Central. BIG PICTURENC Central will find life much easier in the MEAC, where the Eagles were picked to finish third this season.

Persons: LAWRENCE, Kan, — Hunter Dickinson, Allen Fieldhouse, “, I’m, Dickinson, ”, I've, ” Dickinson, Nic Timberlake, KJ Adams, Dajuan Harris, Ja'Darius Harris, LeVelle Moton, McCullar, Parker Braun, Bill Self, ” Moton, “ He's, he's, ” Timberlake, Johnny Furphy, Jamari McDowell, ___ Organizations: Kansas, Jayhawks, Carolina Central, Eagles, NC Central, North Carolina Central, Illinois, Fort, Central, AP Locations: Michigan, Allen, Kansas, Fort Hays State, Virginia, Lynchburg, Manhattan

Garrett kept a low profile for the next four years until he announced last November that he would run for the Virginia House of Delegates. Garrett, who denies the accusations, is among four candidates for state legislative seats in Virginia this year who have been accused of physical violence against women — two during divorce proceedings, one in a pending criminal case and one in criminal cases decades ago that ended with charges being dismissed. Political Cartoons View All 1233 Images“Domestic and sexual violence is not blue, and it's not red," she said. Chuck Felmlee, Fariss' attorney, said that Fariss did not intend to hit the woman but that she bumped into the SUV and fell down. The House Republican caucus is supporting GOP nominee Eric Zehr in the deep red district.

Persons: Tom Garrett, Garrett, Flanna Sheridan Garrett, —, Lisa Sales, “, Stephen Farnsworth, University of Mary Washington, Trump, Farnsworth, Clinton Jenkins, Emily Brewer, Jenkins, Brewer, “ Emily Brewer's, ”, Republican Del, Matt Fariss, Fariss, Chuck Felmlee, Felmlee, he’s, Eric Zehr, Sen, Joe Morrissey, Morrissey, Challenger Lashrecse Aird, ” Jason Seiden, Flanna, Tom Garrett’s, ” Garrett, Christopher Smith Organizations: — Republican U.S . Rep, Virginia, Senate, National Organization for Women, Democrats, Republicans, University of Mary, GOP, Republican, Democratic, News, Politico Locations: RICHMOND, Va, Virginia, Tuesday's, Hampton Roads, Southside Virginia, ”, Lynchburg

☆ Kingston Campbell was killed when several shooters fired into his home. He was 6 years old
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-19 | by ( Dakin Andone | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

But they could not protect him the night of May 1, when Lynchburg, Virginia, police say several shooters fired multiple guns into the family’s home, killing Kingston. “I really, really miss him.”The baby of the familyIf you met Kingston, the first thing you might notice were his green eyes. “Everybody always commented on his eyes … All the ladies loved that.”Kingston Campbell poses with his very protective big sisters. “If Kingston couldn’t play, they wouldn’t play either. “Everybody just loved Kingston,” she said.

Persons: Kingston Campbell, Shay Fowler, Kingston, “, ”, ” Fowler, she’d, ” Kingston Campbell, Shanytra Fowler, I’m, who’ve, Fowler, Kingston’s, won’t, He’ll, ” “ Organizations: CNN, Kingston, Pittsburgh Steelers Locations: Lynchburg , Virginia, Kingston, United States, ”

LYNCHBURG, Va. (AP) — Liberty University failed to warn its Virginia campus community about safety threats, including from individuals accused of sexual violence, and systematically underreported crime statistics, according to a Washington Post report on the preliminary findings of a long-running federal investigation. Political Cartoons View All 1196 ImagesLiberty repeatedly violated a law known as the Clery Act, according to the preliminary report. The federal law requires colleges and universities that receive federal funding to disseminate an annual security report to employees and students. The litigation was filed under under Title IX, the federal law that protects against sex discrimination in education and often overlaps with Clery. The women alleged that Liberty’s strict honor code made it “difficult or impossible” for students to report sexual violence.

Persons: Larry Nassar, Dondi Costin, Jerry Falwell, Liberty, Jerry Falwell Jr, Falwell Organizations: — Liberty University, Washington Post, Christian, U.S . Education, Liberty, Department of Education, Associated Press, Michigan State, Education Department, “ Liberty University, Clery Locations: LYNCHBURG, Va, Virginia, USA, Michigan, Lynchburg

And then, without much ceremony, several of the girls were rounded up and taken to a stockade in Leesburg, Georgia, 23 miles outside of town. Teenage girls, including Shirley Reese who is holding onto the window bars, are held inside a stockade in Leesburg, Georgia, in 1963. “(Adults) didn’t participate a lot because they had to work and take care of families,” said Carol Barner Seay, one of the Leesburg Stockade Girls, as they became known. But the story of the Leesburg Stockade Girls was soon eclipsed by the relentless drumbeat of racist violence in the American South. CNNFor years, many of the Leesburg Stockade Girls refused to speak about their harrowing experience.

Persons: CNN —, Shirley Reese, Reese, ” Reese, Danny Lyon, CNN’s Randi Kaye, ”, “, Carol Barner Seay, Seay, Seay gestured, Leesburg, “ I’d, ” Seay, ‘, ’ ” Reese, ” Shirley Reese, Lyon, Harrison A, Williams, “ We’d, haven’t Organizations: CNN, Civil Rights Movement, Martin Theater, White, CNN ‘, Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, Leesburg Stockade Girls, SNCC, “, Jet Magazine, Congressional, Klux Klan Locations: Americus , Georgia, Leesburg , Georgia, Georgia, Americus, Leesburg, Dawson , Georgia, ”, Lynchburg, Black, Lyon, New Jersey, American, Birmingham , Alabama

☆ Spirit Airlines adds new university partner to beef up pilot training pipeline as shortage persists
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-14 | by ( Drew Richardson | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Spirit Airlines on Thursday said it will partner with Liberty University, the 10th school that it's working with, to help beef up a pilot training pipeline as the industry continues to face a shortfall of aviators. The program will allow students pursuing aviation degrees at the university's School of Aeronautics in Lynchburg, Virginia, to apply to the company's pipeline program after completing their sophomore year. They must then complete airline pilot training programs, joining as first officers. JetBlue announced last month that its Gateway Rotor Transition Program will teach U.S.-military trained helicopter pilots to transition to airline pilots. Exceptions exist for some, such as U.S. military-trained pilots and those who attend two- and four-year programs that include flight training.

Persons: Ryan Rodosta Organizations: Airlines, Liberty University, university's School of Aeronautics, Spirit, Program, JetBlue, U.S, United Airlines Locations: Lynchburg , Virginia

☆ Jack Daniel's maker Brown-Forman misses profit estimate as costs pinch
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-30 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

A Whiskey tasting station is seen at the Jack Daniel's distillery in Lynchburg, Tennessee May 10, 2011. Excluding items, Brown-Forman earned 48 cents per share, compared with a profit estimate of 53 cents per share, as per Refinitiv data. A 90-basis-point expansion in gross margin in the quarter was driven by a 250-basis-point benefit from higher pricing as well as a let up in supply-chain costs, Brown-Forman said on a post-earnings call. Its quarterly net sales rose 3%, to $1.04 billion, compared with analysts' average estimate of $1.05 billion. Still, Brown-Forman reaffirmed its annual target of organic net sales growth between 5% and 7% and said it expects demand trends to normalize after two years of strong growth.

Persons: Jack Daniel's, Martinne Geller, Brown, Forman, BFb.N, Jack, Juveria Tabassum, Pooja Desai Organizations: REUTERS, Reserve, U.S, Thomson Locations: Lynchburg , Tennessee, United States, U.S

WASHINGTON, March 22 (Reuters) - The U.S. Supreme Court on Wednesday is set to hear a trademark clash between Jack Daniel's and a dog accessory company behind a parody chew toy resembling the distiller's widely recognized black-label whiskey bottle. The dispute pits the whiskey brand's trademark rights against legal protections for creative expression - in this case a send-up by Phoenix-based VIP Products LLC of Jack Daniel's Old No. A 2,300-strong group of authors took the opposite view, saying a win for Jack Daniel's could lead to a "catastrophic chilling effect" over worries that creative expression might spark litigation. The 9th Circuit said the Bad Spaniels toy was an "expressive work" and thus potentially shielded under the First Amendment from Jack Daniel's trademark infringement claim. President Joe Biden's administration supports Jack Daniel's appeal.

Some companies have expressed concern that a ruling against Jack Daniel's would weaken their control over their brands and reputations. The toy mimics Lynchburg, Tennessee-based Jack Daniel's famous whiskey bottles with humorous dog-themed alterations - replacing "Old No. "Jack Daniel's loves dogs and appreciates a good joke as much as anyone," the company told the justices in a brief. "But Jack Daniel's likes its customers even more, and doesn't want them confused or associating its fine whiskey with dog poop." VIP Products has said a ruling favoring Jack Daniel's would make it easier for trademark owners to stifle free speech.

☆ Bed Bath & Beyond just missed another debt payment. See the full list of stores it will close, including Harmon and Buybuy Baby locations.
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-02 | by ( Avery Hartmans | Dominick Reuter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +20 min

In addition to 87 more Bed Bath & Beyond stores, the company now says it will close all of its remaining Harmon health and beauty stores, and five Buybuy Baby stores. San Leandro: 15555 East 14th St., Suite 24015555 East 14th St., Suite 240 Burbank: 201 East Magnolia Blvd. Marina: 117 General Stilwell Drive117 General Stilwell Drive Vallejo: 105 Plaza Drive, Suite 107105 Plaza Drive, Suite 107 * Palm Desert: 72459 Highway 11172459 Highway 111 * Visalia: 3125 South Mooney Blvd. Arterial * Coralville: 2515 Corridor Way Suite 5Kansas:Lawrence: 3106 S. Iowa St., Suite 2153106 S. Iowa St., Suite 215 Manhattan: 425 3rd Place425 3rd Place * Olathe: 15335 W. 119th St.Kentucky:Elizabethtown: 1998 N. Dixie Ave.1998 N. Dixie Ave. New Hartford: 4805 Commercial Drive4805 Commercial Drive Kingston: 1187 Ulster Ave.1187 Ulster Ave. Plattsburgh: 73 Centre Drive, Suite 10073 Centre Drive, Suite 100 Farmingdale: 251 Airport Plaza Blvd.

☆ Teachers are adapting to concerns about a powerful new AI tool
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-19 | by ( Samantha Murphy Kelly | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

Some teachers said they’ve also heard of students being required to film short videos that elaborate on their thought process. Public schools in New York City and Seattle, meanwhile, have already banned students and teachers from using ChatGPT on the district’s networks and devices. Reid, the professor at Coastal Carolina University, believes teachers should work with ChatGPT and teach best practices in the classroom. Reid said teachers could encourage students to plug an assignment question into the tool and have them compare that result to what they personally wrote. “Like with other new technologies, this could be a tool instructors use to help students express their ideas,” she said.

☆ Bed Bath & Beyond is closing dozens of stores in 2023 — see the full list
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-10 | by ( Avery Hartmans | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +10 min

Bed Bath & Beyond released an updated list of store closures set to take place by March. San Leandro: 15555 East 14th St., Suite 24015555 East 14th St., Suite 240 Burbank: 201 East Magnolia Blvd. ArterialKansas:Lawrence: 3106 S. Iowa St., Suite 2153106 S. Iowa St., Suite 215 Manhattan: 425 3rd PlaceKentucky:Elizabethtown: 1998 N. Dixie Ave.1998 N. Dixie Ave. New Hartford: 4805 Commercial Drive4805 Commercial Drive Kingston: 1187 Ulster Ave.1187 Ulster Ave. Plattsburgh: 73 Centre Drive, Suite 10073 Centre Drive, Suite 100 Farmingdale: 251 Airport Plaza Blvd. Wisconsin:Mequon: 11110 N. Port Washington RoadPuerto Rico:Bayamon: Plaza Del Sol, 725 West Main Ave.Do you work for Bed Bath & Beyond?

☆ 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.

Search resuls for: "LYNCHBURG"

22 mentions found