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☆ Feinstein Battle Over Her Late Husband’s Fortune Heads to Mediation
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-11 | by ( Tim Arango | More About Tim Arango | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

A judge in San Francisco on Monday ordered the two factions of Senator Dianne Feinstein’s family fighting over the estate of her late husband, the wealthy financier Richard C. Blum, to try to settle the case through mediation. The order, which both sides agreed to, came as the lawyers in the case appeared in a courtroom for the first time after trading hostile accusations in legal filings over the summer. On one side is Senator Feinstein, who at 90 is in declining health and has faced questions about her ability to carry out the duties of her job, and her daughter, Katherine Feinstein, a former San Francisco judge. On the other side are the three daughters of Mr. Blum from a previous marriage, and his former business partners who are the trustees of his estate. In three separate lawsuits, Senator Feinstein, with her daughter serving as her legal representative, is fighting to sell a multimillion-dollar vacation home in Stinson Beach, north of San Francisco; seeking proceeds from the estate, including from Mr. Blum’s life insurance policy, to pay for her medical expenses; and asking the court to allow her to appoint Katherine Feinstein as a trustee of the estate.

Persons: Dianne Feinstein’s, Richard C, Blum, Feinstein, Katherine Feinstein, Mr Organizations: Monday Locations: San Francisco, Stinson Beach

TORONTO (AP) — Think of movies about the financial system and your mind is almost sure to go to Gordon Gekko and “Wall Street” or Leonardo DiCaprio’s gyrating Jordan Belfort in “The Wolf of Wall Street.”When Hollywood takes on Wall Street, it usually heads straight to the C-suite. In 2021, Gill’s enthusiastic endorsement of GameStop stock helped fuel a viral trading frenzy that rocked Wall Street and humbled the hedge funds that has shorted the brick-and-mortar video game company. Gillespie was able to follow the phenomenon thanks to his 24-year-old son, who had been involved with the subreddit Wall Street Bets. My son warned me: You got in too late.”Lauren Schuker Blum and Rebecca Angelo, two former Wall Street Journal reporters turned screenwriters, came on to write the script. They feel small, they feel powerless, they feel that the system is rigged,” says Angelo.

Persons: Gordon Gekko, Leonardo DiCaprio’s gyrating Jordan Belfort, Keith Gill, Paul Dano, ”, Pete Davidson, Seth Rogen, America Ferrara, Anthony Ramos, Shailene Woodley, Craig Gillespie, Tonya Harding, Tonya, Gillespie, Ben Mezrich, ” Mezrich, Mark Zuckerberg, David Fincher’s “, “, ” Lauren Schuker Blum, Rebecca Angelo, —, Blum, let’s, Ramos, Myha’la Herrold, Talia Ryder, Margot Robbie, Angelo, Megan Thee Stallion’s, ” Gill, Kitty, Gill, Jake Coyle Organizations: TORONTO, Hollywood, GameStop, Wall, Sony Pictures, Toronto, AMC Theaters, Ragtag, Amateur, Social, Wall Street Journal, Lawmakers, Twitter Locations: “ The, Brockton , Massachusetts, Belgian, Bath, Pittsburgh

☆ Business owners of color seeking SBA loans now have to write an essay proving their race is a 'social disadvantage' after a judge ruled it isn't enough
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-08 | by ( Ayelet Sheffey | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

In July, a federal judge ruled business owners cannot say their race is a disadvantage to receive funding. It challenged the SBA's 8(a) program, which awards money to socially disadvantaged businesses each year. Now, business owners have to write an essay proving why their identity has been the basis of discrimination. The judge's decision struck down a key provision of that program, saying that business owners could no longer say their race is the reason they have faced disadvantage in America. This ruling prompted the SBA to change the process for small business owners to receive funds though the 8(a) program.

Persons: Edward Blum, Joe Biden's, Isabella Guzman, Harris Organizations: Service, SBA, Biden, Harris Administration Locations: Wall, Silicon, Tennessee, America

☆ What is Peptic Ulcer Disease?
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-07 | by ( Dani Blum | More About Dani Blum | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

What is peptic ulcer disease? Around 5 to 10 percent of the general global population will develop peptic ulcers at some point in their lives, but many patients are asymptomatic. What causes peptic ulcer disease? A bacteria called Helicobacter pylori is a major cause of peptic ulcer disease cases. Another common cause of peptic ulcers is medications known as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, like those that bring down a fever or relieve joint pain — think aspirin, naproxen and ibuprofen.

Persons: Scott Gabbard, Harold J, Boutte, Gabbard, It’s, Amy Oxentenko, Mark Pochapin Organizations: Cleveland Clinic, Northwestern Medicine, Mayo Clinic, gastroenterology, NYU Langone Health

The paid fellowships were designed in part to help support the recruitment of people of color, which major law firms have struggled for years to add to their partnership ranks. The fellowship consists of a paid summer-associate position, which in law firms often lead to full-time jobs that pay in the six figures after graduation, and a $50,000 stipend. Legal challenges against corporate diversity programs have increased in the wake of the Supreme Court's affirmative action ruling. The other law firm in Blum's crosshairs is Seattle-founded Perkins Coie, a more than 1,200-lawyer global law firm. It has a similar fellowship and has said it plans to defend itself, saying its commitment to diversity is "steadfast."

Persons: Edward Blum, Perkins, Morrison, Foerster, Blum, Keith Wetmore, Blum's, Perkins Coie, Nate Raymond, Alexia Garamfalvi, Richard Chang Organizations: U.S, Supreme, Harvard University, University of North, San, American Alliance for Equal Rights, Excellence, Harvard, Thomson Locations: University of North Carolina, Washington , U.S, San Francisco, Miami, Blum's crosshairs, Seattle, Boston

☆ Dianne Feinstein initially said she gave her daughter 'no permission to do anything' before calling a reporter back to clarify that she had given her daughter power of attorney
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-06 | by ( John L. Dorman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Feinstein affirmed statements about her daughter's power of attorney while speaking with a reporter. But earlier in the day, she told the reporter her daughter had "no permission to do anything." In August, it was reported that Sen. Dianne Feinstein had given power of attorney to her daughter, former San Francisco Superior Court judge Katherine Feinstein. Then, in a phone call the same day, she attempted to clarify her earlier statements about Katherine Feinstein's role in aiding her legal issues. It has nothing to do with the Senate or, frankly, anything else," the senator told The Chronicle.

Persons: Feinstein, Sen, Dianne Feinstein, Katherine Feinstein, Katherine Feinstein's, I've, Richard Blum Organizations: Service, California Democrat, Capitol, San Francisco Superior, San Francisco Chronicle, Chronicle, Senate Locations: Wall, Silicon, California, Washington

☆ Roy Lichtenstein and Irving Blum: They Go Way Back
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-04 | by ( Robin Pogrebin | More About Robin Pogrebin | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

“Irving made it possible for us to buy that work of art, pure and simple,” said Glenn D. Lowry, MoMA’s longtime director. Born Dec. 1, 1930, in New York, where his father owned furniture stores, Blum moved to Phoenix when he was 10. Blum met the collectors who came to visit galleries in the area. Blum came back with a painting by Josef Albers — a pioneer of color in abstract art — and he was on his way. Then in 1956 the gallerist David Herbert took Blum to meet Ellsworth Kelly.

Persons: “ Irving, ”, Glenn D, Lowry, MoMA’s, Warhol, ” Blum, Ellsworth Kelly’s, Frank Stella’s “, Blum, Hans Knoll, Betty Parsons, Sidney Janis, Eleanor Ward, Martha Jackson —, “, Sam Kootz, Florence Knoll, Josef Albers —, David Herbert, Ellsworth Kelly Organizations: Museum of Contemporary Art, Air Force Locations: Frank Stella’s “ Ctesiphon, Los Angeles, New York, Phoenix, Tucson, German, Knoll, Midtown Manhattan, Connecticut

☆ Paranormal Festivity: A Small Town Celebrates U.F.O. Lore
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-01 | by ( Chris Kornelis | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: 1 min

Local legend has it that Elmwood is a favorite visiting place of extraterrestrials and U.F.O.s, a reputation that inspired the name of the annual festival. The stories go back many decades. One of Elmwood’s most infamous stories is the one about the police officer George Wheeler, whose squad car is said to have been hit with some kind of blue light from a U.F.O. one night in 1976. Six months later, Wheeler was dead, as reported in Howard Blum’s 1990 book, “Out There: The Government’s Secret Quest for Extraterrestrials.”

Persons: George Wheeler, Wheeler, Howard Blum’s, ” Locations: Elmwood

☆ Is It Time to Wear a Mask Again?
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-29 | by ( Dani Blum | More About Dani Blum | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

As new Covid variants gain traction, reinfections become more common and cases climb in certain areas, a few schools and businesses are reinstating mask requirements. Here’s a refresher on where, when and how to mask. When should you wear a mask inside? Everyone’s risk tolerance varies, Dr. William Schaffner, an infectious disease specialist at the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, said. “Certainly every time you add another person to the room, particularly people who are within three to five feet of you, that increases your chance of getting infected, exponentially,” Dr. Pekosz added.

Persons: reinfections, ”, Andrew Pekosz, William Schaffner, Pekosz Organizations: Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine

☆ Wait, Is That Rapid Test Really Expired?
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-29 | by ( Dani Blum | More About Dani Blum | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

If a test is delivered to you on a sweltering day, for example, the agency recommends bringing the package inside and waiting at least two hours before opening it. And always make sure the control line — which typically appears next to the “C” — shows up when you use a rapid test; otherwise, the test may be damaged or faulty. If you have Covid symptoms and someone you had been spending time with is now positive, test immediately. says to wait at least five days before testing because swabbing too early can give you a false negative. “Especially people who have been recently boosted,” he said, “if they get infected, they might become symptomatic 24 hours post-exposure, 48 hours post-exposure — really fast.”

Persons: Peter Chin, Sala, . Chin, Hong, Michael Mina, Harvard epidemiologist, ” Organizations: University of California, Harvard Locations: San Francisco

The American Alliance for Equal Rights sued Perkins Coie in Dallas and Morrison & Foerster in Miami two months after the Supreme Court sided with another group founded by activist Edward Blum and rejected affirmative action policies used by many colleges to increase enrollment of racial minorities. The federal lawsuits accused both law firms of unlawfully discriminating against white candidates by limiting which law students could be considered for paid fellowships designed in part to help support the recruitment of people of color. "Excluding students from these esteemed fellowships because they are the wrong race is unfair, polarizing and illegal," Blum, who is white, said in a statement. Perkins Coie, founded in Seattle, offers "diversity fellowships" that provide stipends of $15,000 to $25,000 and paid positions as summer associates, a position that at major law firms can lead to full-time jobs with six-figure salaries. Reporting by Nate Raymond in Boston; Editing by Will Dunham, Alexia Garamfalvi and Alistair BellOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Edward Blum, Perkins Coie, Morrison, Foerster, " Blum, Perkins, Nate Raymond, Will Dunham, Alexia Garamfalvi, Alistair Bell Organizations: U.S, Supreme, Harvard University, University of North, Activision, American Alliance for Equal Rights, Activision Blizzard, Kellogg, Gannett, Civil, American, American Alliance for Equal, Atlanta, Thomson Locations: University of North Carolina, Washington , U.S, Dallas, Miami, Seattle, United States, Asia, San Francisco, Blum's Texas, Boston

☆ Conservative activist sues major law firms for providing diversity fellowships
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-23 | by ( Bryan Mena | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

Washington, DC CNN —The conservative activist behind the Supreme Court case that struck down affirmative action in college admissions this year is suing two international law firms for providing diversity fellowships. Corporate diversity programs have come under fire lately from conservative politicians and activists. The group has also sued Target for allegedly destroying shareholder value through its Pride-themed clothing, and it has sued Kellogg for diversity programs. Yet studies have shown that DEI programs and initiatives have demonstrated cultural and economic benefits. Affirmative action and diversity program advocates fear that conservative action against those programs could block career opportunities for people of color.

Persons: Perkins Coie, Morrison, Foerster, Perkins, ”, “, ” Morrison, White, Edward Blum, Blum, Trump, Stephen Miller, Kellogg, Ron DeSantis Organizations: DC CNN, American Alliance for Equal Rights, CNN, Apple, Google, Starbucks, Procter, Gamble, American Medical Association, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Census, Harvard College, University of North, Legal, National Center for Public, Research, Conservative, America, Legal Foundation, Amazon, Florida Gov Locations: Washington, Dallas, Miami, University of North Carolina, Spokane , Washington, Texas, Florida

☆ Edward Blum Lawsuits Target Affirmative Action at Global Law Firms
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-22 | by ( Douglas Belkin | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

This copy is for your personal, non-commercial use only. Distribution and use of this material are governed by our Subscriber Agreement and by copyright law. For non-personal use or to order multiple copies, please contact Dow Jones Reprints at 1-800-843-0008 or visit www.djreprints.com. https://www.wsj.com/us-news/education/edward-blum-lawsuits-affirmativeaction-law-firms-b8871ab1

Persons: Dow Jones, edward, blum

☆ Activist Behind Supreme Court Affirmative Action Cases Is Now Suing Law Firms
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-22 | by ( Douglas Belkin | Erin Mulvaney | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

This copy is for your personal, non-commercial use only. Distribution and use of this material are governed by our Subscriber Agreement and by copyright law. For non-personal use or to order multiple copies, please contact Dow Jones Reprints at 1-800-843-0008 or visit www.djreprints.com. https://www.wsj.com/us-news/edward-blum-lawsuits-affirmativeaction-law-firms-b8871ab1

Persons: Dow Jones, edward, blum

☆ Activist Behind Supreme Court Affirmative Action Cases is Now Suing Law Firms
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-22 | by ( Douglas Belkin | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

This copy is for your personal, non-commercial use only. Distribution and use of this material are governed by our Subscriber Agreement and by copyright law. For non-personal use or to order multiple copies, please contact Dow Jones Reprints at 1-800-843-0008 or visit www.djreprints.com. https://www.wsj.com/us-news/edward-blum-lawsuits-affirmativeaction-law-firms-b8871ab1

Persons: Dow Jones, edward, blum

☆ How Bad Is a Second (or Third or Fourth) Case of Covid?
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-17 | by ( Dani Blum | More About Dani Blum | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

Reinfection and long CovidThe chances you will get long Covid from a reinfection are fairly unpredictable — several experts interviewed for this story used the metaphor of Russian roulette. The milder your symptoms, the less likely you are to get long Covid, said Dr. Peter Chin-Hong, an infectious disease specialist at the University of California, San Francisco. But every time you get infected, no matter the severity, there is always a chance that you can develop longer-term symptoms. Dr. Sala said he frequently sees patients who were more or less fine after their first couple of infections wind up with long Covid in the wake of a third or fourth infection. Still, it’s not a foregone conclusion that reinfection definitively raises the risk of long Covid, said Fikadu Tafesse, a virologist at Oregon Health & Science University.

Persons: Peter Chin, Ziyad Al, Aly, Sala, that’s, ”, it’s, reinfection, Fikadu Tafesse, “ Organizations: University of California, Nature Medicine, U.S . Department of Veterans Affairs, Louis Healthcare, Oregon Health & Science University Locations: San Francisco, St

☆ Sen. Dianne Feinstein says she's being cut out of millions from her husband's estate in an act of 'financial elder abuse'
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-16 | by ( Brent D. Griffiths | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Dianne Feinstein alleges that the trustees for her husband's estate have engaged in "financial elder abuse." Katherine Feinstein, who filed the suit on behalf of her mother, alleges that Feinstein is being cut out of millions. Katherine Feinstein, a former San Francisco judge, filed the suit on behalf of her mother. In a previous suit, Katherine Feinstein alleged that the trust was not moving quickly enough to sell the Stinson Beach house. Katherine Feinstein concedes that the trust has never denied one of Feinstein's requests, but characterizes this claim as "misleading."

Persons: Dianne Feinstein, Katherine Feinstein, Feinstein, Richard Blum's, Sen, Dianne Feinstein's, Feinstein's, Blum, Michael Klein, Marc Scholvinck, Verett Mims, Klein, Scholvinck, Steven P, Braccini Organizations: Service, San Francisco Chronicle, California Democrat, San Francisco, D.C, Stinson, Claremont Locations: Wall, Silicon, California, San Francisco, Washington, Kauai, Berkeley , California, Feinstein's

Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) attends a Senate Judiciary Committee executive business meeting to vote on legislation and pending nominations before the committee, on Capitol Hill in Washington, U.S., May 11, 2023. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsWASHINGTON, Aug 15 (Reuters) - U.S. Democratic Senator Dianne Feinstein has filed a lawsuit alleging financial elder abuse and breach of trust by the trustees of her late husband's estate, with the legal filing seeking their removal over the alleged wrongdoing. The lawsuit alleges that the trustees committed "financial abuse" of Feinstein by "wrongfully withholding distributions to which (her late husband's) trust entitles her in bad faith and diverting assets that they should have used to fund" the senator's trust. The attorney added: "The trustees have always respected Senator Feinstein and always will. First elected to the Senate in 1992, Feinstein has said she will not seek re-election in 2024.

Persons: Dianne Feinstein, Kevin Lamarque, Katherine Feinstein, Feinstein, Richard Blum, Steven Braccini, Michael Klein, Marc Scholvinck, Kanishka Singh, Sandra Maler Organizations: Capitol, REUTERS, Rights, Democratic, California Superior Court, Democrats, Senate, San Francisco Chronicle, Committee, Thomson Locations: Washington , U.S, California, County, San Francisco, Washington

☆ Window-washing robots are working on Manhattan skyscrapers
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-14 | by ( Molly Kaiser | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Skyline Robotics is disrupting the century-old practice of window washing with new technology that the startup hopes will redefine a risky industry. A robotic arm with a brush attached to the end cleans the window following instructions from a LiDAR camera, which uses laser technology to map 3D environments. "That person, other than regulation, doesn't actually have to be there for our sake," Blum said. "We don't need a separate squeegee and a separate brush to get a perfectly clean window," he said. The current cost of the Ozmo is approximately $500,000, which has a three-to-five-year payback for building owners, according to Skyline Robotics board member and Platinum CEO James Halpin.

Persons: Blum, Ross Blum, James Halpin Organizations: Robotics, Yards, Trade Center, Organization, Skyline Robotics Locations: Tel Aviv and New York, Manhattan, Madison

☆ A backlash is brewing against DEI in corporate America — and a venture-capital fund facing a racial-bias lawsuit is caught in the middle
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-11 | by ( Vishal Persaud | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

VC firm Fearless Fund is being sued by the group behind the Supreme Court affirmative action case. The conservative group claims a grant program run by Fearless Fund is racially discriminatory. It also led some companies like Bank of America, Mastercard , PayPal and others to earmark millions of dollars to fund and address the racial funding gap. A small, Atlanta-based, Black women-led venture firm called Fearless Fund was one of them. "Their motive is clear: they want to disrupt the vital work of Fearless Fund and similar institutions and organizations whose primary mission is to provide underrepresented communities with an economic engine to build, sustain and scale their businesses," said Fearless Fund in a press release.

Persons: George Floyd, Edward Blum, Arian Simone, Ayana Parsons, George Floyd's, Eghosa Omoigui, Yasmin Cruz Ferrine, Ferrine, VCs Organizations: Fearless, Morning, Bank of America, Mastercard, PayPal, American Alliance for Equal Rights, Civil, Costco, MasterCard, Street Journal, Netflix, Disney, Warner Bros, Wall Street Journal, Pew Research Center, Microsoft, Walmart, TechCrunch, Warner Bros . Locations: Minneapolis, Atlanta, America

☆ There's a brewing backlash against DEI in corporate America — and a venture capital fund getting sued for racial bias is now caught in the middle
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-11 | by ( Vishal Persaud | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

☆ Even 4,000 Steps a Day Can Have Big Health Benefits.
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-09 | by ( Dani Blum | More About Dani Blum | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

The study could not definitively prove whether the steps themselves decreased the risk of developing diseases and dying, or if people who tend to be healthier anyway also get more steps in throughout the day. “I wouldn’t want people to look at that as a magical number, that you must be above that exact step count,” Dr. Martin said. But the new research emphasizes that fitness is not “all or nothing,” she said: Every little bit of exercise helps. The small snippets of movement built into our day — trailing from the bedroom to the bathroom, darting out to get coffee — add up and make a difference, she said. Taking an extra loop around the block, or stepping out for a 10-minute walk break, can have a big impact.

Persons: Jennifer Heisz, ”, ” Dr, Martin, “, Min Lee, Heisz, Lee Organizations: McMaster University, Harvard Medical School

☆ The Legal Assault on Corporate Diversity Efforts Has Begun
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-08 | by ( Theo Francis | Lauren Weber | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

This copy is for your personal, non-commercial use only. Distribution and use of this material are governed by our Subscriber Agreement and by copyright law. For non-personal use or to order multiple copies, please contact Dow Jones Reprints at 1-800-843-0008 or visit www.djreprints.com. https://www.wsj.com/articles/diversity-equity-dei-companies-blum-2040b173

Persons: Dow Jones, blum, 2040b173

☆ 5 Wellness Trends to Watch
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-07 | by ( Dani Blum | More About Dani Blum | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

The internet metabolizes wellness trends the way it churns through celebrity divorce announcements or song snippets on TikTok. Health hacks like slurping down olive oil or chugging bone broth burble up, break through, then slink into obscurity. All these frenetic fads make the concept of “wellness” squishy — wait, we’re drinking lettuce water? Now that summer has slouched into August, here’s a roundup of the health and wellness trends that keep popping up in 2023. There’s Ozempic itself, an injectable diabetes medication that has become increasingly popular as people use it as an off-label tool to lose weight.

Persons: Emily Moquin, here’s, Ozempic ”, Ozempic, There’s

☆ Sen. Dianne Feinstein's daughter has power of attorney over her
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-03 | by ( Brent D. Griffiths | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Sen. Dianne Feinstein's daughter has power of attorney over her the lawmaker. It is not clear the extent to which her daughter holds power of attorney. As The Los Angeles Times previously reported, a limited power of attorney agreement can be granted in matters of convenience. Sen. Dianne Feinstein's daughter, Katherine Feinstein, signed for her mother on a lawsuit, indicating the existence of some kind of power of attorney agreement. Braccini also raised doubts about the existence of a power of attorney agreement.

Persons: Sen, Dianne Feinstein's, Katherine Feinstein, Democratic Sen, Katherine, Richard Blum, Feinstein, Power, Katherine Feinstein's, Blum's, Steven P, Mark R, Klein, Marc Scholvinck, Braccini, Mitch McConnell's, Gray Organizations: The New York Times, Service, Privacy, Democratic, San Francisco Fire, Los Angeles Times, American Bar Association, Superior, of, New York Times, United, Associated Press Locations: San Francisco, Wall, Silicon, of California, Washington

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