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Gretchen Whitmer was sentenced to 19 1/2 years in prison Wednesday, more than what was meted out to a co-defendant. “I do think of Mr. Croft as the more seriously culpable … more so than even Mr. Fox," Jonker said. “I think he was the person who gave Mr. Fox something to grab on to." Assistant U.S. Attorney Nils Kessler said Croft needs to go away for an extended period of time to protect the public. I say all of this to say that Mr. Croft needed some intervention."

☆ Another militia member in Michigan governor kidnapping plot faces sentencing
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-28 | by ( Kanishka Singh | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Dec 28 (Reuters) - Another right-wing militia member convicted in the plot to kidnap Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer faces several years in prison when he is sentenced on Wednesday in a U.S. District Court. Barry Croft Jr., 47, a member of the far-right Three Percenters militia group, was convicted in August by a federal court jury in Grand Rapids, Michigan, of plotting to abduct the Democratic governor. Croft and Fox were among 13 men arrested in October 2020 in the kidnapping conspiracy. Prosecutors had accused the two of conspiring to trigger "a second American Revolution" by kidnapping Whitmer. Whitmer, co-chairman of Joe Biden's presidential election campaign that year, had clashed publicly with then-President Donald Trump over her COVID-19 policies.

☆ Southwest flight upheaval a 'system failure,' U.S. says
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-28 | by ( Kanishka Singh | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

WASHINGTON, Dec 28 (Reuters) - U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said that large-scale flight schedule disruptions at Southwest Airlines (LUV.N) were no longer a weather-driven issue and represented a system failure within the company. The rest of the aviation system and other airlines seemed to be back from the weather disruptions, Buttigieg said. More than 2,500 Southwest Airlines flights were canceled as of Wednesday morning, according to the flight tracking website FlightAware. REUTERS/Michael A. McCoy 1 2 3Delta Air Lines (DAL.N) said in an email it had capped fares in all markets where Southwest operates, including domestic and international markets. Southwest told Reuters that it would reimburse customers for travel-related costs and that it had already processed thousands of requests by Tuesday.

☆ U.S. to examine Southwest Airlines cancellations, calls 'unacceptable'
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-27 | by ( David Shepardson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Dec 26 (Reuters) - The U.S. Transportation Department (USDOT) said late on Monday it would examine the large number of Southwest Airlines (LUV.N) cancelled and delayed flights in recent days to determine if they were in the airline's control, calling them "unacceptable." "USDOT is concerned by Southwest Airlines’ disproportionate and unacceptable rate of cancellations and delays as well as the failure to properly support customers experiencing a cancellation or delay," the department said. It said it would "closely examine whether cancellations were controllable and whether Southwest is complying with its customer service plan as well as all other pertinent DOT rules." Southwest delayed 48% of flights on Sunday and 16% on Monday. Other major U.S. airlines suffered significant cancellations in recent days but not nearly at as high rates as Southwest and they have now largely recovered.

☆ Convicted ringleader in Michigan governor kidnapping plot faces sentencing
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-27 | by ( Steve Gorman | Industry Insight | Saw Law Firms Move Past The Pandemic Into A More Client-Focused Service Environment | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Dec 27 (Reuters) - The convicted leader of a foiled plot by members of right-wing militia groups to kidnap Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer faces a possible life term in prison when he is sentenced on Tuesday in U.S. District Court. Co-defendant Barry Croft Jr., another member of the Three Percenters militia group, was convicted of the same charges at the same trial and was scheduled for sentencing on Wednesday. Fox and Croft were among 13 men arrested in October 2020 on state or federal crimes in the kidnapping conspiracy. The same jury failed to reach a verdict for Fox and Croft, resulting in a mistrial for them. Two other men who pleaded guilty to kidnapping conspiracy charges testified for the prosecution at the first federal trial and during the retrial of Fox and Croft about four months later.

☆ 'Bomb cyclone' forces DoorDash to pause food deliveries in multiple US cities. The company says more shutdowns are coming and New York City could be next.
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-23 | by ( Nancy Luna | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Winter Storm Elliot is intensifying into a "bomb cyclone," according to The Weather Channel. DoorDash said it is pausing food deliveries in Minnesota, Iowa, Michigan, and Indiana. 1 delivery operator, is suspending operations in multiple cities in Minnesota, Iowa, Michigan, and Indiana. "We have activated our Severe Weather Protocol in response to Winter Storm Elliot," the company said. According to The Weather Channel, Winter Storm Elliot is intensifying in the Plains, Midwest, and Great Lakes.

☆ The Year in Pictures 2022
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-19 | by ( The New York Times | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +57 min

Every year, starting in early fall, photo editors at The New York Times begin sifting through the year’s work in an effort to pick out the most startling, most moving, most memorable pictures. But 2022 undoubtedly belongs to the war in Ukraine, a conflict now settling into a worryingly predictable rhythm. Erin Schaff/The New York Times “When you’re standing on the ground, you can’t visualize the scope of the destruction. Jim Huylebroek for The New York Times Kyiv, Ukraine, Feb. 25. We see the same images over and over, and it’s really hard to make anything different.” Kyiv, Ukraine, Feb 26.

☆ Three of the men involved in the plot to kidnap Michigan governor sentenced to prison
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-15 | by ( The Associated Press | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +4 min

Musico was sentenced to a minimum of 12 years in prison, followed by his son-in-law Morrison at 10 years and Bellar at seven. Judge Thomas Wilson presided over the first batch of convictions in state court, following the high-profile conspiracy convictions of four others in federal court. Bellar is clueless about any plot to kidnap the governor,” attorney Andrew Kirkpatrick said again in a court filing last week. Separately, in federal court in Grand Rapids, Fox and Croft face possible life sentences in two weeks. Two men who pleaded guilty received substantial breaks: Ty Garbin is free after a 2 1/2-year prison term while Kaleb Franks was given a four-year sentence.

For years, in fact, Paula clownishly put all those larger cousins on notice, warning them that he’d one day beat them up. From the Bloomfield Tahi familyComing to the plate during the kickball game, Paula was chirping at an older cousin playing first base, who’d recently torn his A.C.L. From the Bloomfield Tahi familyPaula was a voraciously social teenager, a cannonball of comic, kinetic energy. From the Bloomfield Tahi familyTo lessen his boredom, the family treated Paula to a road trip to see a favorite uncle in California. He’d try to run off.”On Jan. 13, Paula Tupou Bloomfield Tahi was shot during an altercation with other teenagers near his school in West Valley City, Utah.

☆ JetBlue and American announced 11 all-new routes as the pair beefs up its controversial Northeast Alliance — see the full list
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-09 | by ( Taylor Rains | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

JetBlue Airways and American Airlines announced 11 new routes as part of their Northeast Alliance. Walter Bibikow/Getty ImagesJetBlue will start once-daily flights between New York and Hyannis near Cape Code in the spring of 2023. Just dance/ShutterstockJetBlue will start once-daily flights between New York and Bermuda in the spring of 2023. Aleenah AnsariJetBlue will start once-daily flights between Boston and Vancouver in the spring of 2023. American will start once-daily flights between New York and Knoxville on May 5.

☆ Patrick Lyoya’s Family Sues Grand Rapids, Policeman Who Fatally Shot Him
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-08 | by ( Joseph De Avila | Jennifer Calfas | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

The family of Patrick Lyoya , a Black man who was killed during a traffic stop this spring, is suing the city of Grand Rapids, Mich., and the former police officer who shot him in the back of the head. The civil lawsuit, filed Wednesday in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Michigan, alleges former Grand Rapids police officer Christopher Schurr violated federal law and Mr. Lyoya’s constitutional rights through use of excessive force.

[1/2] Demonstrators protest the killing of Patrick Lyoya, an unarmed Black man who was shot and killed by a Grand Rapids Police officer during a traffic stop on April 4, in Grand Rapids, Michigan, U.S., April 16, 2022. REUTERS/David 'Dee' Delgado/File PhotoDec 7 (Reuters) - The family of an African refugee who was shot and killed during a traffic stop in Grand Rapids, Michigan, has filed a civil lawsuit against the city and a former police officer charged with murdering him. The suit was filed on Wednesday in the U.S. District Court in Western Michigan, according to online records, on behalf of the family of Patrick Lyoya, a 26-year-old immigrant from the Democratic Republic of Congo. The attorneys will detail the lawsuit against Schurr and Grand Rapids, a city of less than 200,000 residents in western Michigan, at a news conference later on Wednesday. The attempted arrest unfolded after the officer stopped Lyoya over suspicions involving his license plate.

"I remember reading a book once called, 'Sacred Cows Make the Best Burgers,'" Poirier said at the company's investor day. Calgary, Alberta-based TC is widely known for its Keystone oil pipeline, a critical artery for moving Canadian oil to U.S. refiners that dominated headlines over the past decade for an expansion that ultimately failed. Keystone could fetch TC C$12.8 billion, said CIBC analyst Robert Catellier in a note. He added that reducing TC's oil exposure would help it reach its emissions-reduction goals. TC's stake in the Millennium natural gas pipeline in New York state is another logical sale candidate and could fetch $1 billion, said Scotiabank analyst Robert Hope.

☆ Real estate investing 'created this life of freedom': Michigan couple brings in $11,000 a month for only 2 hours of work
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-30 | by ( Megan Sauer | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Those real estate ventures aren't their only income streams. But the real estate business is particularly important to them, both financially and symbolically, they say. Of their multiple income streams, the real estate investments give them the most bang for their buck. High costs, high rewardsAfter realizing they had a knack for flipping housing, the couple started venturing into real estate during the winters, when Michigan weddings were sparse. Jamie and Sarah spend an additional 40% of those earnings on services like trash collection, ground maintenance and pest control.

In the early 2010s, Mr. Mellow set out for still more distant shores, traveling to many famous surf breaks in the South Pacific. Mr. Abdul-Rashed and Mr. Danian traveled to Hawaii to connect with Mr. Mellow, their spiritual guide and Pacific expedition leader. Mr. Mellow posted an ad on Facebook and Craigslist offering $10,000 for passage to the South Pacific. Mr. Schmidt was in sync with the young seekers when it came to fear of Big Brother and vaccines, but dreading port officials brandishing nasal swabs struck even Mr. Schmidt as a little unhinged. When asked if he was at all responsible for what had happened to Mr. Danian and Mr. Abdul-Rashed, Mr. Mellow looked genuinely confused.

A historic lake effect snow event will blanket swathes of the country in white into the weekend, with up to five feet of snow possible in Buffalo, New York. Kathy Hochul declared a state of emergency for 11 counties Thursday, saying the state and Buffalo area are "prepared" for the brunt of the major "life-threatening" storm. Lake effect snow occurs when arctic air races across the relatively milder water of the Great Lakes every fall. Rather by the late 21st century it is forecast that there will be a shortened lake effect snow season, and rather than peaking in fall and early winter, it'll be pushed back later to January through March. The lake effect snow will continue for areas downwind of the lakes into Sunday.

☆ These mutual funds are planning to hit investors with capital gains distributions. How to decide the right move for you
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-11 | by ( Michelle Fox | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

There may be some pain ahead for mutual fund investors in the form of capital gains taxes. "That means funds that have suffered steep falls this year could still distribute capital gains to investors," Welch said. John Hancock will pay double-digit capital gains distributions on several of its funds. Almost a dozen Nuveen funds will make 5% to 10% capital gains distributions, while twice that number of T. Rowe price funds will pay out between 4% and 21%. Passively managed funds may have distributions but they tend to be smaller than actively managed funds, Benz pointed out.

How First National Bank of America bank accounts compare First National Bank of America Statement Savings AccountFirst National Bank of America Personal Checking AccountFirst National Bank of America Certificate of DepositFirst National Bank of America HomeTowne Checking Money Market Account Chevron icon It indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options. How First National Bank of America worksFirst National Bank of America has branches in Lansing, Grand Rapids, and Traverse City, Michigan. First National Bank of America vs. Huntington BankIf you're looking for a competitive interest rate on a CD, First National Bank of America is likely a better fit. First National Bank of America pays higher interest rates on CDs than Huntington Bank. First National Bank of America vs. ChaseIf you're looking for a competitive interest rate on a CD, First National Bank of America is likely more suitable than Chase.

☆ Results: Democrat Hillary Scholten defeated Trump-backed John Gibbs, who ousted a pro-impeachment Republican, in Michigan's 3rd Congressional District election
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-09 | by ( Brent D. Griffiths | Katie Balevic | Nov | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Democrat Hillary Scholten faced off against Republican John Gibbs in Michigan's 3rd District. Gibbs ousted incumbent Rep. Peter Meijer in a primary that hinged on Meijer's vote to impeach Trump. Democrat Hillary Scholten defeated Republican John Gibbs in a race overshadowed by former President Donald Trump and the remnants of a contentious GOP primary in Michigan's 3rd Congressional District. Scholten, a former Department of Justice attorney, has portrayed herself as a consensus-seeking Democrat who would rein in her party's spending plans. A state commission grappled with the loss of a seat by forcing the 3rd District to absorb much of an old seat, per FiveThirtyEight.

☆ Fans hail Trump-backed Michigan gubernatorial candidate for her 'common sense' attitude but say they're glad her experienced running mate will be around if she wins
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-08 | by ( Warren Rojas | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Michigan GOP gubernatorial hopeful Tudor Dixon is running to unseat incumbent Gov. Dixon's running mate, Shane Hernandez, is a former Michigan state representative. Jazmine Early, a Macomb County resident who said she's been involved in local politics for more than a decade, called the first-time candidate vying to unseat incumbent Democratic Gov. Warren Rojas/InsiderKatrina Whetsel, a Macomb County resident and local GOP official, agreed wholeheartedly with Early. Laura Davidson, a Kent County resident, said she was sure Dixon was in good company.

☆ Live Results: Democrat Hillary Scholten takes on Trump-backed John Gibbs, who ousted a pro-impeachment Republican, in Michigan's 3rd Congressional District election
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-08 | by ( Brent D. Griffiths | Katie Balevic | Nov | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Democrat Hillary Scholten is facing off against Republican John Gibbs in Michigan's 3rd District. Gibbs ousted incumbent Rep. Peter Meijer in a primary that hinged on Meijer's vote to impeach Trump. Democrat Hillary Scholten takes on Republican John Gibbs in a race overshadowed by former President Donald Trump and the remnants of a contentious GOP primary in Michigan's 3rd Congressional District. A state commission grappled with the loss of a seat by forcing the 3rd District to absorb much of an old seat, per FiveThirtyEight. The money raceAccording to OpenSecrets, Scholten has raised $2.9 million, spent $2 million, and has $959,333 on hand, as of September 30.

☆ DOJ plans to monitor elections in these 46 cities and counties to ensure voters aren't harassed
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-07 | by ( Chelsey Cox | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

The Justice Department plans to monitor polls in two dozen states across the country to ensure no one intimidates voters or otherwise meddles with Tuesday's midterm elections. The department's Civil Rights Division selected 64 jurisdictions in 24 states, including Alaska, Florida, Georgia and Nevada, for oversight in both the general election and early voting. The division routinely monitors elections in the field, starting in 1965 when Congress passed the Voting Rights Act. DOJ monitored polls in 18 states and 44 cities and counties in 2020, by comparison. Attorneys' Offices and the Office of Personnel Management will assist the DOJ Civil Rights Division in monitoring efforts and maintaining contact with state and local election officials.

☆ The Canva craze has helped these 4 people quit their jobs and turn their graphic-design side hustles into full-time gigs
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-01 | by ( Aaron Mok | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Canva's popularity is exploding, bringing with it a boom in creators selling digital products. Her online business, Digital Empires, sells digital-marketing courses for entrepreneurs made on Canva, a popular graphic-design platform known for being easy to use. The digital products creators sell include Instagram and Pinterest post templates, custom YouTube profile banners, wedding invitations, and printable daily planners. But it supports the "huge range of ways people are using Canva to start and scale businesses," Rob Kawalsky, the head of product at Canva, told Insider. Sales of digital products fluctuate, and not every Canva creator has seen financial gainsThe market for Canva products has become flooded with products.

The former Michigan police officer who fatally shot Patrick Lyoya during a traffic stop in Grand Rapids in April will stand trial for the killing, a judge ruled Monday. Judge Nicholas Ayoub said enough evidence was presented in a preliminary hearing to require a jury to decide whether Christopher Schurr was justified in shooting Lyoya. These are questions of fact that the jury must decide based on the totality of the circumstances as presented by the evidence at trial,” Ayoub said in court order. The officer ended up restraining Lyoya with his knee to his back and ultimately shot him as he was facedown on the ground. Patrick Lyoya, 26, was shot and killed on April 4, after what police said was a traffic stop.

☆ Meta is losing billions, but people are making real-life money in the metaverse: 'It's been an incredibly positive experience'
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-29 | by ( Tom Huddleston Jr. | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

A year ago on Friday, Mark Zuckerberg made a huge bet on the metaverse, announcing his company's name change from Facebook to Meta. The billionaire's vision of virtual worlds, along with the $10 billion he's spent on metaverse development over the past year, "really struck me," Sorrels says. Alexis Dimas, a 37-year-old metaverse creator based in Santa Ana, California, says he joined Horizon Worlds in beta nearly two years ago. "As far as Horizon Worlds losing users, I haven't witnessed that or seen that. Zuckerberg: 'I appreciate the patience'On Wednesday's Meta earnings call, Zuckerberg told investors that Meta could weather its problems and that its investments in the metaverse will eventually be fruitful.

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