DIRS.INFO The most relevant business & tech news

☆ Justice Thomas Failed to Reveal More Private Flights, Senator Says
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-05 | by ( Abbie Vansickle | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: 1 min

Justice Clarence Thomas failed to publicly disclose additional private travel provided by the wealthy conservative donor Harlan Crow, a top Democratic senator said in a letter on Monday. Customs and Border Protection records revealed that the justice and his wife, Virginia Thomas, took a round trip between Hawaii and New Zealand in November 2010 on Mr. Crow’s private jet, according to the letter. Senator Ron Wyden, Democrat of Oregon, writing to Mr. Crow’s lawyer, demanded that he supply more information about the financial relationship between the two men. The letter, part of an inquiry that Mr. Wyden, the chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, has opened into Mr. Crow and the justice, comes as top Democrats have urged major changes to the Supreme Court, including an enforceable code of conduct.

Persons: Clarence Thomas, Harlan Crow, Virginia Thomas, Ron Wyden, Crow’s, Wyden, Crow Organizations: Democratic, . Customs, Border, New Zealand, Mr, Democrat, Senate Finance Locations: Hawaii, New, Oregon

☆ Behind McKenzie Long’s Olympic debut, a mother’s love and a profound grief
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-03 | by ( Marcus Thompson Ii | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +14 min

Then she was one of the darlings of the Olympic trials. It pushes me through.”Gabby Thomas and McKenzie Long embrace after the 200-meter at U.S. Olympic trials. Running for Ole Miss, McKenzie Long was 2024 NCAA outdoor champion in the 100- and 200-meter. I got us.”An open book like her mother, she’s talked of her bouts with anxiety, and how overwhelming the transition to professional has been. GO DEEPER Gabby Thomas, Olympic 200-meter favorite, is firmly in the spotlight — and ready for it(Top photo of McKenzie Long during U.S. Olympic trials: Charlie Neibergall / AP)

Persons: ” McKenzie Long, Long, Tara Elizabeth Jones, neé Murphy, Jones, “, ” Long, mascara, pouncing, it’s, she’d, Dang, Patrick Smith, could’ve, Sha’Carri Richardson, what’s, ”, Mom, “ You’re McKenzie Long, She’s, she’s, that’s, ” Gabby Thomas, McKenzie Long, Jake, Isaiah, McKenzie, Karmen — Jones, “ Tara, Lizzo, Jake Long, Kenzie, It’s, Ole, Morgan Engel, —, Bowerman, Michael, would’ve, Gabby Thomas, Jamaica’s Shericka Jackson, Saint Lucia’s Julien Alfred, Great, of Long, Charlie Neibergall Organizations: Adidas, U.S, Hayward, University of Oregon, Olympic, USA, Ole Miss, NCAA, Paris, Jones, West, North Carolina State’s, Carolina State’s, State, WSAZ News Locations: Hawaii, Eugene ,, Paris, Ironton , Ohio, West Virginia, Ironton, Columbus, North Carolina, N.C, State, N.C . State, America, Instagram

☆ With a fire burning just miles away, residents of a Washington town dig in
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-02 | by ( Evan Bush | Evan Bush Is A Science Reporter For Nbc News. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +5 min

“There’s a lot of mistrust going on there.”As fire behavior grows intense because of climate change and overgrown forests, doubts can fester in rural communities as fire managers operate more conservatively than in the past. “Now, we’re seeing fires act more radically, make their own weather and be more unpredictable.”This dynamic is playing out in rural communities elsewhere. Stasiewicz said that based on her own focus groups, surveys and interviews, sentiments like Courtney’s are becoming more common in rural communities. Evacuation often carries a stiff financial cost, she said, and some rural residents worry their properties won’t be prioritized. “We can sometimes see rural communities lose compared to more developed areas.

Persons: we’ve, ”, Amanda Stasiewicz, “, ” Stasiewicz, they’d, Brad Bramlett, ’ ” Courtney, Courtney, Johnston, Magnussen, Stehekin, Stasiewicz Organizations: University of Oregon, “, San Francisco Chronicle, National Interagency Fire Center, National Weather Service, ”, Tourists Locations: West, Northern California, Pacific, Oregon , Washington and Idaho, Lake Chelan, North, Stehekin, U.S

☆ Senate Rejects Bipartisan Tax Deal
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-01 | by ( Andrew Duehren | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

The Senate rejected a bill on Thursday that would have restored lapsed tax breaks for businesses and expanded the child tax credit, as many Republicans in the chamber lined up against the bipartisan deal in hopes of gaining an advantage in bigger tax legislation expected next year. It soared through the House earlier this year with broad bipartisan support, a rare feat. Business groups loved it and hoped Congress would again allow companies to immediately deduct the full cost of capital investments and research expenses from their tax bills. Republicans senators worried that the bill’s expansion of the child tax credit veered into creating a new welfare program, stalling the legislation. Mr. Schumer also ultimately voted against the bill, a decision that allows him to potentially bring it back up for another vote.

Persons: Jason Smith, Ron Wyden, —, Chuck Schumer, Joe Manchin III, West, Bernie Sanders, Vermont —, Schumer Organizations: Republican, Democrat, Finance, Senate, New York Democrat, Republicans, Democrats Locations: Missouri, Oregon, West Virginia, Vermont

☆ Automakers Sold Driver Data for Pennies, Senators Say
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-26 | by ( Kashmir Hill | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

If you drive a car made by General Motors and it has an internet connection, your car’s movements and exact location are being collected and shared anonymously with a data broker. This practice, disclosed in a letter sent by Senators Ron Wyden of Oregon and Edward J. Markey of Massachusetts to the Federal Trade Commission on Friday, is yet another way in which automakers are tracking drivers, often without their knowledge. Previous reporting in The New York Times, which the letter cited, revealed how automakers including G.M., Honda and Hyundai collected information about drivers’ behavior, such as how often they slammed on the brakes, accelerated rapidly and exceeded the speed limit. It was then sold to the insurance industry, which used it to help gauge individual drivers’ riskiness. The two Democratic senators, both known for privacy advocacy, zeroed in on G.M., Honda and Hyundai because all three had made deals, The Times reported, with Verisk, an analytics company that sold the data to insurers.

Persons: Ron Wyden, Edward J, Markey Organizations: General Motors, Oregon, Massachusetts, Federal Trade Commission, The New York Times, Honda, Hyundai, Democratic, The Times Locations: G.M

☆ Toxic ‘forever chemicals’ found in pesticides used on food, in homes and on pets, study finds
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-24 | by ( Sandee Lamotte | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

“These pesticides are applied to tens of millions of farm fields across the United States in quite high quantities, and they are contributing to PFAS contamination,” Andrews said. “The study provides empirical evidence of the extent of PFAS in pesticides,” said DeWitt, who was not involved in the research. PFAS helps pesticides last longerThe study authors submitted Freedom of Information requests to various state and federal government agencies in the US, including the EPA. The analysis found eight EPA-approved inert ingredients were PFAS, including the nonstick chemical Teflon. In February, the EPA proposed the removal of Teflon in pesticide products.

Persons: ”, Alexis Temkin, David Andrews, ” Andrews, Jamie DeWitt, DeWitt, Stephanie Eick, “, Tom Flanagin, Andrews, Rainer Lohmann, Temkin, Sirisak, ” DeWitt Organizations: CNN, National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, US Environmental Protection Agency, Environmental, EWG, Center for Biological Diversity, Public Employees, Oregon State University’s Pacific Northwest Center, Health Research, Emory University, Agency, EPA, American Chemistry Council, ACC, ”, University of Rhode Island’s, School of Oceanography Locations: Washington , DC, United States, Tucson , Arizona, Spring , Maryland, Atlanta

☆ The Senate has a new plan to ban congressional stock trading. Here's what's in it.
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-24 | by ( Bryan Metzger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Read previewOn Wednesday, a key Senate panel approved a bill that would ban lawmakers from trading stocks. The Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee approved the legislation — known as the Ending Trading and Holdings in Congressional Stocks (ETHICS) Act — by an 8-4 vote. AdvertisementPolling has shown for years that the idea of banning lawmakers from trading stocks in broadly popular among members of both parties. This is the most significant progress on a stock trading ban in yearsThe last time either chamber got close to passing a stock trading ban was in September 2022, when House Democrats proposed a sweeping bill that included a major loophole and had little time to be vetted by members. Many saw the effort as a sham designed to appease those who had been pushing for a stock trading ban.

Persons: —, Republican Sens, Rand Paul of Kentucky, Ron Johnson of, Mitt Romney, James Lankford, Democratic Sen, Jeff Merkley, they've, There's, Merkley, Jon Ossoff, Josh Hawley, Missouri —, Gary Peters of, Wednesday's, Chuck Schumer Organizations: Service, Senate Homeland Security, Government, Committee, Holdings, Congressional, Republican, Business, Democratic, Treasury, House Democrats, Gary Peters of Michigan Locations: Ron Johnson of Wisconsin, Utah, Oklahoma, Oregon, Georgia, Missouri

☆ Many Americans think they’re insulated from climate change. Their finances indicate otherwise
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-16 | by ( Greg Iacurci | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Joseph Lamberti/Bloomberg via Getty ImagesMany Americans think they're insulated from the effects of global warming. But climate change is already having negative and broad impacts on household finances, according to experts. "There are a bazillion pathways" to adverse financial impact, he added. However, when it comes to financial impact, "I think you could argue the correct answer for [people] is, 'It's already hurting me,'" Krosnick said. How global warming and inflation intersectClimate change also exacerbates inflation, research shows — a dynamic dubbed "climate-flation."

Persons: Joseph Lamberti, Gernot Wagner, Jon Krosnick, Krosnick, Angela Weiss, Wagner, Mario Tama Organizations: Bloomberg, Getty Images, ICF, Columbia Business School, Finance, Stanford University, Resources, Research, Afp, Getty, Columbia Business, University of Illinois, University of Oregon, New York City, Workers, European Central Bank, Potsdam Institute, Climate Locations: Philadelphia, U.S, American, Miami, Bronx, New York, Urbana, Champaign, Canada, Baker , California, California, Phoenix

☆ Clarence Thomas accepted a free yacht trip to Russia and got flown out on a complimentary helicopter ride to Putin's hometown, 2 Democratic senators say
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-11 | by ( Aditi Bharade | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

Democratic senators have accused Justice Clarence Thomas of accepting undisclosed gifts and trips. He allegedly accepted gifts like a yacht trip and a chopper ride to St. Petersburg, Putin's hometown. Senators seek investigation into potential tax fraud and financial ties between Thomas and Crow. AdvertisementTwo Democratic senators have accused Associate Justice Clarence Thomas of accepting free trips to Russian President Vladimir Putin's hometown. The letter highlighted the "serious possibility of tax fraud" and accused Thomas of having "secretly accepted gifts and income potentially worth millions of dollars."

Persons: Clarence Thomas, Putin's, Thomas, —, Vladimir Putin's, Sen, Sheldon Whitehouse, Ron Wyden, General Merrick Garland, SCOTUS Organizations: Service, Oregon, Business Locations: St . Petersburg, Rhode Island

☆ Is women’s track the next sport ready to boom? Alexis Ohanian is betting on it
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-11 | by ( Marcus Thompson Ii | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +9 min

Alexis Ohanian, at his first-ever track and field event, found himself transported. So he didn’t need to experience track to spark his motivation to invest in track. Gabby Thomas and Alexis Ohanian speak at the Athlos announcement in April. AdvertisementKipyegon is one of those gems of women’s track. Winning an Athlos event will pay $60,000.

Persons: Alexis Ohanian, Serena Williams, Gabby Thomas, He’d, Thomas ’, Spencer McManes, ” Ohanian, Reddit, Ohanian, Athlos, Sha’Carri Richardson, Sydney McLaughlin, Levrone, Shelly, Ann Fraser, Pryce, Athing Mu, Alica Schmidt, Elsa, Getty, Athlos ’, Thomas, “, Alexis Holmes, Kipyegon, Let’s, ”, Noah Lyles, Richardson, Jakob Ingebrigtsen, Michael Johnson, it’s, “ I’ve, Andy Lyons Organizations: Paris Games, Wimbledon, Hayward Field, University of Oregon, U.S, Angel City Football Club, Angel City FC, —, Harvard, Olympics, Diamond League, sport’s, Athletics, Netflix, de France —, Getty Locations: New York City, Germany, New York, United States, America, Paris, Athlos, Norwegian

☆ Senators ask DOJ to investigate 'serious possibility of additional tax fraud' by Clarence Thomas
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-09 | by ( Katherine Tangalakis-Lippert | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Read previewTwo Democratic senators have called on Attorney General Merrick Garland to open a special counsel investigation into Clarence Thomas. This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers. Presented with opportunities to resolve questions about his conduct, Justice Thomas has maintained a suspicious silence." AdvertisementA spokesperson for the Justice Department declined to comment on the letter when reached by Business Insider. Thomas has previously denied any wrongdoing, arguing gifts from Crow and others fall under a "personal hospitality exemption," meaning they don't require disclosure.

Persons: —, General Merrick Garland, Clarence Thomas, Sheldon Whitehouse, Ron Wyden, Thomas, Harlan Crow, Mark Martin, Whitehouse, Thomas's, he'd, Crow Organizations: Service, Oregon, Supreme, Business, Judicial Conference, Wyden, Finance, Justice Department, Business Insider Locations: Sens, Rhode Island, Crow

☆ Democrats Seek Criminal Investigation of Justice Thomas Over Travel and Gifts
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-09 | by ( Maya C. Miller | More About Maya C. Miller | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Two top Democratic senators have asked the Justice Department to open a criminal investigation of Justice Clarence Thomas for possible violations of federal ethics and tax laws. Senators Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island and Ron Wyden of Oregon sent a letter to Attorney General Merrick B. Garland last week asking that he appoint a special counsel to investigate Justice Thomas’s failure to disclose lavish gifts, luxury travel, a loan for a recreational vehicle and other perks given to him by wealthy friends. The request further intensified efforts by Senate Democrats to scrutinize Justice Thomas’s conduct at a time when they are trying to force Supreme Court justices to comply with stricter ethics and financial disclosure rules. “We do not make this request lightly,” the senators wrote in a joint statement. “Supreme Court justices are properly expected to obey laws designed to prevent conflicts of interest and the appearance of impropriety and to comply with the federal tax code.”

Persons: Clarence Thomas, Sheldon Whitehouse, Ron Wyden, General Merrick B, Garland, Thomas’s Organizations: Democratic, Justice Department, Oregon Locations: Rhode Island

☆ Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone sets 400-meter hurdle world record at U.S. Olympic trials
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-30 | by ( Marcus Thompson Ii | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Eugene, Ore. — Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, as always it seems, was chasing herself Sunday at the University of Oregon’s Hayward Field. McLaughlin-Levrone broke her own world record, running the 400-meter hurdles in 50.65 seconds — three-hundredths of a second better than her previous mark. It’s her ninth time breaking the world record in the event. A NEW WORLD RECORD FOR SYDNEY MCLAUGHLIN-LEVRONE 👏 #TrackFieldTrials24 pic.twitter.com/j57bj8qIgY — NBC Sports (@NBCSports) July 1, 2024The race was in hand by the final turn. I just wanted to put myself in there.”McLaughlin-Levrone still won the race by two seconds.

Persons: — Sydney McLaughlin, McLaughlin, Levrone, SYDNEY MCLAUGHLIN, LEVRONE, eason Organizations: University of Oregon’s, ust, oday) Locations: Eugene

☆ Factors that can impact whether someone tells a lies, according to deception researchers
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-25 | by ( Christian B. Miller | Wake Forest University | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

Differences like these lead researchers like me to wonder what factors influence the telling of lies. Figuring out the frequency of liesMost research on lying asks participants to self-report their lying behavior, say during the past day or week. This result became the benchmark finding in the field of honesty research and helped lead to an assumption among many researchers that lying is commonplace. It could be that each person in the group tells one or two lies per day. Many lies occur in the heat of the moment, so it makes sense that when there’s a delay in communication, as with email, lying would decrease.

Persons: Joe Biden’s, Hunter Biden, George Santos, Cardi, ”, Bella DePaulo, it’s, Kim Serota, they’d, Madeline Smith, David Markowitz, Markowitz, Recordability, DePaulo, “, Deborah Kashy, you’re, B, Miller, John Templeton Organizations: CNN, Republican, University of Virginia, Michigan State University, Northwestern University, University of Oregon, John, John Templeton Foundation

☆ Justices uphold Trump tax on overseas investments in win for Biden
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-20 | by ( John Fritze | Tami Luhby | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —The Supreme Court on Thursday upheld a Trump-era tax on overseas investments, rejecting an argument from a Washington state couple in a case that could have jeopardized existing tax provisions and torpedoed Democratic talk of a wealth tax. Justice Brett Kavanaugh wrote the majority opinion and Justice Clarence Thomas wrote a dissent. In reading his opinion from the bench, Kavanaugh repeatedly stressed that the opinion was “narrow” and did not implicate the raging debate over a wealth tax. “Those are potential issues for another day, and we do not address or resolve any of those issues here,” Kavanaugh wrote in Thursday’s opinion. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts and Ron Wyden of Oregon and Independent Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont have also unveiled tax proposals that would hit the wealthiest Americans.

Persons: Brett Kavanaugh, Clarence Thomas, Kavanaugh, Charles, Kathleen Moore, Moores, Donald Trump, Joe Biden, ” Kavanaugh, “, ” Biden, Biden, Democratic Sens, Elizabeth Warren of, Ron Wyden, Independent Sen, Bernie Sanders, Paul Ryan, Moore, Samuel Alito, Alito, Charles Moore Organizations: CNN, Trump, Democratic, Government, Oregon, Independent, Capitol, Moores Locations: Washington, India, trillions, Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, Vermont

☆ Goats work as caddies at this Oregon ranch
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-11 | by ( Jack Bantock | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

A three-month evaluation process sees potential caddies as young as six months old scouted on their friendliness and physical aptitude. David ZaitzProtecting the rich diversity of flora and fauna across the 140,000-acre ranch is at “the heart of everything” at Silvies, Campbell says. “We figured when we built it that we had the lowest carbon footprint of any modern course,” Campbell added. Not all courses situated within flourishing natural settings are so fortunate – one Arizona club’s run-in with a squadron of pig-like creatures last year cost it upwards of $200,000 in damages. The habitats of such animals are preserved by the Oregon Natural Desert Association, a nonprofit supported by tips from golfers to Silvies’ very-own goat caddies.

Persons: it’s, Dr, Scott Campbell, ” Campbell, “, –, Seamus Golf –, Chunky, Mulligan, Harry, Charlie, Jack –, Bruce LeGoat, Bruce, Mike LeChevon, ”, Egan, “ It’s, Campbell, David Zaitz, Dan Hixson, Silvies Organizations: CNN, Venture, Desert Association Locations: Eastern Oregon, Oregon, Silvies, St . Andrews, Scotland, Arizona

☆ CNN executive Rachel Smolkin named CEO of Oregon Public Broadcasting
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-06 | by ( David Goldman | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Rachel Smolkin, a veteran media executive who leads CNN’s global digital news, is departing the network to become the next president and CEO of Oregon Public Broadcasting. OPB called Smolkin a forward-thinking journalist and a strong business strategist who can help lead the 100-year-old public media organization through a difficult environment for the journalism industry – and public media, in particular. “Rachel will advance our work with deep experience in journalism, wide professional networks and adaptive leadership skills.”Smolkin joined CNN in 2014 to lead politics coverage for CNN Digital. Over the past several years, Smolkin’s purview grew to include national, international, business and live news for CNN Digital. Before joining CNN, Smolkin worked at Politico, USA Today and the American Journalism Review.

Persons: Rachel Smolkin, OPB, ”, Rukaiyah Adams, “ Rachel, ” Smolkin, Rachel, Virginia Moseley, CNN’s, “ She’s, Smolkin, Mark Thompson, “, Steve Bass, Sam Feist Organizations: CNN, Oregon Public Broadcasting, CNN Digital, University of Virginia’s Darden School of Business, Politico, USA, American, SPAN Locations: Oregon, Pacific Northwest, ”, Washington

What Ukraine Has Lost A drone photograph shows numerous severely damaged buildings with labels highlighting residential buildings, a football field and a high school. This is the first comprehensive picture of where the Ukraine war has been fought and the totality of the destruction. More buildings have been destroyed in Ukraine than if every building in Manhattan were to be leveled four times over. In mid-May, the Russians bombed some towns in northeastern Ukraine so ferociously that one resident said they were erasing streets. “No matter how unpatriotic it may sound, there’s not much future for her in Ukraine,” Ms. Hrushkovska said.

Persons: it’s, Corey Scher, Den, Finbarr, Jamon, Diego Ibarra Sánchez, Marinka, ”, Iryna Hrushkovksa, “, Hrushkovska’s, Hanna Horban, ” Ms, Hrushkovska, ” Marinka, Celestino Arce, Tyler Hicks, Laura Boushnak, Finbarr O’Reilly, Horban, Horban’s, Vova, Svitlana Moskalevska, Olha Herus, “ Fish, Jan, Serhii Nuzhnenko, Gleb Garanich, Leonid Ragozin, Varvara, Herus’s, Tetiana, Ms, Herus, Reni, Izmail, Vavara, Varvara Hrushkovska, Hanna Kovalenko, “ It's, ” Artem Hoch, Danylo Organizations: New York Times, City University of New York Graduate Center, Den Hoek of Oregon State University, The New York Times, Copernicus Sentinel, Maxar Technologies, Google, Russia’s Defense Ministry, Ukraine ., Museum of Local, People’s Museum, Getty, Ukrainian Army, Reuters, SHEVCHENKA, SHCHORSA, New York, Kyiv Kharkiv, Ukrainian, Chernihiv Kyiv Kharkiv UKRAINE Dnipro, Kherson Mariupol, Kyiv Kharkiv UKRAINE Mariupol, Microsoft Bing, Institute for, American, The New York Locations: Ukraine, Russia, Marinka, Kyiv, Mariupol, Rubizhne, Kherson, Kharkiv, Manhattan, Dresden, London, Gaza, Den Hoek of, Geneva, Donetsk, Izium, Den Hoek, Crimea, Russian, Donetsk City, Vilkhivka, Huliaipole, “, Ukrainian, Berlin, Pavlograd, Soviet Union, NurPhoto, Kolos, Marinka — Donetsk, Donetsk People’s Republic, іі, Marinka’s, Irpin, Ukraine’s, Bakhmut, Ukrainians, Zaporizhzhia, Orikhiv, Dnipro, Nova, Oleshky, Donbas, Chernihiv Kyiv Kharkiv UKRAINE, CRIMEA, Kyiv Kharkiv UKRAINE

☆ 22,000-year-old artifacts could rewrite ancient human history in North America
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-29 | by ( Jenny Mcgrath | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

"It really changed everything about what we understood about when and how people arrived to the Americas," Braje said of the Chile site. Dating ancient artifacts like this is tricky and is often the source of contention around these sites that question our understanding and timeline of ancient human history. That's why only a handful of Lowery's artifacts could be tested. If these artifacts are as old as the lab analysis suggests, then Lowery's discovery could rewrite our understanding of ancient American human history. For Braje, Lowery's research is reminiscent of past debates when new discoveries pushed back the timeline for the first American arrivals.

Persons: —, Todd Braje, Darrin Lowery, he's, Lowery, hasn't, Braje, Lowery doesn't Organizations: Service, University of Oregon Museum of Natural, Business, Parsons, NOAA, Washington Post Locations: South America, Americas, Island , Maryland, North America, Maryland, Chesapeake, Canada, Asia, Siberia, Alaska, Chile, Monte Verde, Coast, Parsons

☆ I.R.S. Failed to Police Puerto Rico Tax Break, Whistle-Blower Says
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-28 | by ( Jesse Drucker | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

For the past decade, thousands of wealthy Americans have been flocking to Puerto Rico to take advantage of a tax break that can cut their tax bills to zero. For nearly as long, there have been allegations that the benefit enables multimillionaires to avoid paying what they owe when they reap big investment profits. Now, an Internal Revenue Service insider has accused the agency of failing to police the tax break. Senate officials have begun an investigation into the whistle-blower’s allegations about the Puerto Rican tax benefit. announced its enforcement campaign on this issue,” said Senator Ron Wyden, Democrat of Oregon and chairman of the Senate Finance Committee.

Persons: I.R.S, “ It’s, ”, Ron Wyden Organizations: Internal Revenue Service, The New York Times, Puerto, Democrat, Senate Finance Locations: Puerto Rico, Puerto Rican, Oregon

☆ This high schooler won $10,000 because he saw a mysterious outbreak killing sea turtles in his Hawaii hometown and decided to do something about it
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-24 | by ( Morgan Mcfall-Johnsen | Ellyn Lapointe | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

He kept seeing green sea turtles with cauliflower-like tumors. And it would just encapsulate the green sea turtles," he said. A green sea turtle afflicted with fibropapillomatosis at the Turtle Hospital in Marathon, Florida in the Florida Keys. Green sea turtles are crucial for the health of reefs worldwide, as they eat algae that would otherwise suffocate the coral. He donned his diving gear and set up motion-sensing underwater cameras to snap photos of green sea turtles.

Persons: —, Maddux Alexander Springer, Springer, fibropapillomatosis, Pablo Cozzaglio, Peggy Scripps, It's, Hugh Gentry, they're, salicornia, Narrissa, Mitchell Pettigrew, that's, he'll Organizations: Service, Business, Turtle Hospital, Getty, National Oceanic, Atmospheric Administration, Google, Springer, Communication, Regeneron, Science, Engineering, Reuters, Hawaii Division, Nature, Hawaii's Department of Health, Honolulu Civil, University of Oregon, Oregon State University Locations: Kāneʻohe, Marathon , Florida, Florida, AFP, Oahu, Hawaii, Kāneʻohe Bay, Kāneʻohe Bay . State, Cavan, Hawaii's, cesspools, Honolulu

☆ Senate Democrats launch investigation into alleged Trump ‘quid pro quo’ with oil executives
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-23 | by ( Kaanita Iyer | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Senate Democrats have launched an inquiry into recent reports that Donald Trump offered oil executives the reversal of some of President Joe Biden’s climate policies upon the former president’s reelection in exchange for campaign contributions. The committees are seeking “descriptions of policy proposals discussed” and “materials distributed to any attendees” at the event. “Time and time again, both Mr. Trump and the U.S. oil and gas industry have proved they are willing to sell out Americans to pad their own pockets,” Sens. In his first term, Trump overturned more than 100 environmental rules and actions put in place by the Obama administration. Trump has vowed that if he’s reelected he will reverse those actions and boost fossil fuels, and oil and gas drilling.

Persons: Donald Trump, Joe Biden’s, Trump, Sens, Ron Wyden, Sheldon Whitehouse, Biden, ”, ” Trump, Karoline Leavitt, Obama, he’s, CNN’s Morgan Rimmer, Kate Sullivan, Ella Nilsen, Jeremy Herb Organizations: CNN, Democrats, Senate Finance, ExxonMobile, Chevron, Oregon, Big, The Washington Post, Trump Locations: U.S, Rhode, The, Lago

☆ Senate Inquiry Finds BMW Imported Cars Tied to Forced Labor in China
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-20 | by ( Ana Swanson | Jack Ewing | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

A congressional investigation found that BMW, Jaguar Land Rover and Volkswagen purchased parts that originated from a Chinese supplier flagged by the United States for participating in forced labor programs in Xinjiang, a far western region of China where the local population is subject to mass surveillance and detentions. BMW shipped to the United States at least 8,000 MINI vehicles containing the part after the Chinese supplier was added in December to a U.S. government list of companies participating in forced labor. Volkswagen took steps to correct the issue. The investigation, which began in 2022 by the chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, Ron Wyden of Oregon, a Democrat, highlights the risk for major automakers as the United States tries to enforce a two-year-old law aimed at blocking goods from Xinjiang. The Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act bars goods made in whole or in part in Xinjiang from being imported to the United States, unless the importer can prove that they were not made with forced labor.

Persons: Ron Wyden Organizations: BMW, Jaguar, Rover, Volkswagen, Senate Finance, United States, Labor Locations: United States, Xinjiang, China, U.S, Oregon, United

Maps Show Scarce Shelter and Medical Care as Rafah Operation Is UnderwayHundreds of thousands of Gazans have fled the southern region of Rafah over the past week, after Israel has expanded its evacuation orders amid continued bombardment and fierce fighting there. Satellite imagery taken after the May 6 incursion shows extensive new damage to eastern parts of Rafah. Additional damaged buildings were identified in satellite imagery collected from May 5 to May 7. As of Tuesday, new high resolution satellite imagery of the evacuation area in Rafah was not available after May 7. ISRAEL Rafah crossing N EGYPT Kerem Shalom crossing 1 mile Source: World Health Organization; International Committee of the Red Cross press releases Note: Data is as of May 14.

Persons: Younis, Copernicus, Israel, Corey Scher, Den, Abu Yousef al, EGYPT Al Helal, Helal, EGYPT Kerem Organizations: Planet Labs, The New York Times, Health, United Nations, The United Nations, New York Times, Copernicus Sentinel, CUNY, Center, Den Hoek of Oregon State University, Labs, Najjar, Maternity, Health Organization, International Committee, Red Cross Locations: Rafah, Israel, Gaza, Rafah Egypt Israel Rafah, Kerem Shalom, Israel Egypt Rafah, Egypt, GAZA, Rafah ISRAEL EGYPT Rafah, Rafah ISRAEL EGYPT, Shalom, Den Hoek of, Kuwait, EGYPT, EGYPT Al Helal Al, ISRAEL Rafah, Helal Al, EGYPT Kerem Shalom, Jabaliya, Gaza City

☆ Nicholas Kristof says press ‘shouldn’t be neutral’ with coverage of Trump’s threats to democracy
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-14 | by ( Oliver Darcy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +14 min

The American press, he writes in clear-eyed terms, “shouldn’t be neutral about upholding democracy” and must not “dispassionately observe our way to authoritarianism.”We spoke with Kristof over email for a Q&A about this and more. This is strange for a pundit to admit, but I think there’s too much punditry in journalism today and not enough reporting. … We journalists shouldn’t dispassionately observe our way to authoritarianism; we shouldn’t be neutral about upholding democracy.” Do you believe your colleagues in the press are as clear-eyed about this as you are? I believe that journalism — along with law and the civil service — restrained the Trump presidency and is a force for civilization and democracy. He believed it and I believe it, and that is why I say that journalism is an act of hope.

Persons: Nicholas Kristof, “, Kristof, Gray Lady, Donald Trump, ”, James Bond, scoff, I’ve, That’s, It’s, I’m, we’re, aren’t, it’s, William Safire, shouldn’t, Joe McCarthy, Edward R, Murrow, McCarthy, Martin Luther King Jr, George Wallace, Jim Crow, Trump, Joe Kahn, — that’s, Will, Let’s, — Organizations: New York CNN, New York Times, The New York Times, Times, Trump, Endowment, Arts, CNN, State Security, State, “ Locations: New York, Congo, Iraq, Syria, Aleppo, America, Washington, China, —, Oregon, U.S, Gaza, Russia

Search resuls for: "of Oregon"

25 mentions found