Politicians who now criticise the bailout forget there was no alternativeby George Magnus / October 2 , 2018 / Leave a comment Systemic banking crises are not pretty . They have dire economic , and often political , consequences . We have seen a few in the last 25 years , including in Japan ( 1990s ) Mexico ( 1994/95 ) , Asia and Russia ( 1997/98 ) , and Argentina ( 2001 ) , but none as systemically serious as the one that rumbled through the western world in 2007/08 . So why did aspiring prime minister Jeremy Corbyn use his keynote speech to the Labour Party conference last week to attack the UK political and economic establishment , which , he said , “ instead of making essential changes to the broken economic system , strained every sinew to bail out and prop up the system that lead to the crash in the first place ” ? This not-so-veiled attack on the last Labour government and others in positions of authority at the time is as perplexing as it is alarming . It ’ s perplexing because in 2008/09 , there was no space or time for long parliamentary inquiries , or commissions to “ make essential changes. ” It was a case of act or go under . The then-Chancellor , Alistair Darling , has recalled that the head of the Royal Bank of Scotland warned him at height of the crisis that the bank might run out of cash . Upon asking when , Darling was stunned to be told “ this afternoon. ” It was about firefighting , nothing more , nothing less . It ’ s alarming , because Corbyn gave the impression that he might either have let the banks fail , or introduced a siege economy behind capital and other controls . In any event , the time for essential changes was before or after the crisis , but not during it . As it unravelled , the Brown government took Northern Rock into public ownership in 2007 , stimulated the economy in late 2008 , and later nationalised the Royal Bank of Scotland and Lloyds Bank/HBOS . These actions , together with the recapitalisation of UK banks , and the implementation of Bank of England programmes to boost liquidity , guarantee bank debt and insure toxic assets had an upfront cost of over £500bn . At the time this was nearly a third of the UK ’ s GDP . On top of this , the Bank of England ’ s QE programme , having started at £200bn in November 2009 , peaked at £435bn in August 2016 . These are huge sums . It is no surprise that people take objection . But Corbyn ’ s judgment on the bailout is flawed for three principal reasons . First , the end-cost of financial rescues is often a lot lower than early estimates as , for example , some assets get sold , guarantees may not be utilised , and emergency loans are paid back . According to the National Audit Office , the level of outstanding support to the financial sector in March 2018 was £46bn , comprising £32bn of cash , and the rest of guarantees . A full account can be found in a recently published House of Commons briefing . The cash balance outstanding , largely in respect of RBS , was the equivalent of just 1.6 per cent of GDP . So , all things considered , the cost of the financial rescue , without knowing what the future proceeds from the sale of the government ’ s RBS stake might be one day , was small beer . Second , while there is a question mark hanging over the later escalation of QE , and the extent to which the government itself should have acted to support the economy , there is no doubt that the early QE initiatives were justified . The arteries through which credit flows through the economy had become sclerotic . Markets had failed , or weren ’ t functioning well . There were well-founded risks that payment systems for wages , and goods and services , could have frozen . Real time indicators of economic activity were plunging , and unemployment , normally a lagging indicator , started to rise quickly . It was imperative for the Bank to act . Third , if the Brown government had not stepped in as it did , the economic and social consequences would have been far , far worse . The counterfactual case is , inevitably , hard to define but you don ’ t have to be Einstein to figure it out . Imagine a banking system collapse in which cash and credit dried up , payments systems didn ’ t work , businesses failed and supermarkets ran out of food . This is what happens when confidence and trust drain suddenly out of the financial system . It had to be shored up immediately . Corbyn referred correctly to the things that the crisis spawned , such as economic stagnation , weak wages , cuts in public services , and the growth of racism and xenophobia . Now imagine , though , what letting the banks go or implementing a siege economy might have unleashed . Unemployment , for example , might have risen to 12-15 per cent or more instead of 8 per cent . The loss of output we suffered over a decade would have been still larger . The government could have been faced with a major currency crisis , social and economic dysfunction would have been much worse , and austerity even sharper . It was , of course , ideologically consistent for Corbyn to tell political activists and voters “ the elite ” was to blame for the bailout that rescued the banks that caused the crisis in the first place . Yet at the time , however unpalatable the bailout might have been there was no other option . Since the crisis , quite a lot of changes have occurred . Perhaps the change has not been extensive enough . Corbyn could have said a future Labour government would not permit regular private financial institutions to enjoy all the benefits of risk-taking , only to socialise the costs when those risks went sour . And that it would take a totally different approach to the structure of banking in the UK—going much further than the last government did in 2013 following the independent Vickers Commission report . The thing about systemic crises , is that once they start , it ’ s too late to do anything but draw the sting from them , and only then in due course , do the fixing . Unless , of course , you see political advantage in economic and social chaos .

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Former WVSU basketball player sentenced to two years in Federal prison for heroin trafficking CHARLESTON , W.Va. – A former West Virginia State University basketball player who sold heroin near a dormitory was sentenced today in federal court in Charleston , West Virginia , to two years in federal prison followed by six years of supervised release , United States Attorney Booth Goodwin announced . Kendrick Leon Ward , 25 , of Oak Park , Michigan , previously pleaded guilty in September of 2015 to distribution of heroin within 1,000 feet of school property . On November 8 and 11 , 2013 , Ward sold heroin to a confidential informant on West Virginia State University property near the Dawson Hall dormitory . On November 12 , 2013 , task force officers executed a search warrant at Ward ’ s dormitory room in Dawson Hall . Officers seized approximately 20 grams of heroin , 100 thirty mg oxycodone pills , 100 thirty mg tramadol pills , and $ 21,265 in cash , which included the bills used in the controlled heroin transactions with the confidential informant . This case was investigated by the Metropolitan Drug Enforcement Network Team . Assistant United States Attorney Joshua Hanks handled the prosecution . This case is part of an ongoing effort led by the United States Attorney ’ s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia to combat the illicit sale and misuse of prescription drugs and heroin . The U.S. Attorney ’ s Office , joined by federal , state and local law enforcement agencies , is committed to aggressively pursuing and shutting down illegal pill trafficking , eliminating open air drug markets , and curtailing the spread of pills and heroin in communities across the Southern District .

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Justice Department Honors Law Enforcement Officers And Deputies In Second Annual Attorney General 's Award For Distinguished Service In Policing Nevada Recipients Include Deputy Ned Nemeth of the Washoe County Sheriff ’ s Office and Officers Jeremiah Beason , Patrick Burke , Monty Fetherston , and Steve Morris , Jr. , of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department LAS VEGAS , Nev. – United States Attorney Dayle Elieson joined Attorney General Jeff Sessions and Justice Department leadership today in announcing the recipients of the Second Annual Attorney General ’ s Award for Distinguished Service in Policing , recognizing the exceptional work of 25 law enforcement officers and deputies from 12 jurisdictions across the country . “ The Trump Administration supports law enforcement at all levels—and we always will , ” said Attorney General Sessions . “ Today ’ s awards honor the incredible work that is being done across this country every day . This Department of Justice takes pride in announcing today ’ s winners of the Attorney General ’ s Award for Distinguished Service in Policing. ” The Justice Department has been committed to supporting law enforcement and continues to back the “ women and men in blue , ” as directed by President Trump ’ s February 2017 Executive Order . The Department has recently awarded grants to assist law enforcement and first responders who supported mass shootings in Las Vegas , Nevada , Parkland , Florida , and Santa Fe , Texas . In addition , the Department has helped police departments across America to hire hundreds more police officers through the COPS grant program . The Attorney General ’ s Award recognizes individual state , local , and tribal sworn rank-and-file police officers and deputies for exceptional efforts in policing . The awarded officers and deputies have demonstrated active engagement with the community in one of three areas : criminal investigations , field operations or innovations in community policing . The Department received 207 nominations for 469 individuals ranging from state police departments , to local police , to campus public safety agencies . This award highlights the work that officers and deputies do to prevent , intervene in , and respond to crime and public safety issues . The individuals recognized by the Attorney General today include : Deputy Ned Nemeth of the Washoe County Sheriff ’ s Office : Deputy Nemeth has demonstrated active exceptional performance in field operations . As a full time K-9 handler , he works highway interdiction and has successfully reduced illegal operations in the past year along the I-80 corridor , including seizing 206 pounds of illegal marijuana , 359.42 grams of methamphetamine , and 43 contraband prescription opioid pain pills . Deputy Nemeth is known for providing high quality information about his interstate contacts to other agencies across the country . His efforts as a part of the HIDTA task force in northern Nevada not only have positive effects on his own community but also make meaningful contributions to other jurisdictions working to disrupt and dismantle organized drug trafficking operations nationwide . Officers Jeremiah Beason , Patrick Burke , Monty Fetherston , and Steve Morris , Jr. , of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department : On October 2017 , at approximately 10:05 p.m. , a lone gunman fired into a crowd of 22,000 concertgoers attending a country music festival in Las Vegas , killing 58 innocent people and injuring more than 850 . Las Vegas Metropolitan Officers Beason , Burke , Fetherston , and Morris were the first four first responders to react during this active shooter situation . These four officers rescued injured civilians , cleared the surrounding rooms near the shooter , and secured the perimeter . By running towards the danger , they saved countless lives . # # #

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Post when : Oct 22 2019 18:43:22 on : Phuket Xtra 1,225 Views PHUKET XTRA - October 22 || brought to you by PVCPhuket.com 'Flight from hell ' sees 3 arrests | : | Murder of hotel security guard | : | Convention centre , sports complex in Phuket ? | : | Supreme Court chief to relax bail | : | German man arrested after dumping body Hosted by : JP Mestanza || # Phuket PHUKET XTRA - December 30 || brought to you by PVCPhuket.com 2nd Tham Luang hero dies | : | Should Thailand castrate rapists ? | : | Day 3 of 7 Days of Danger | : | Phuket hits high note for drug cases | : | Over 39Mn tourist arrivals ! Hosted by : JP Mestanza || # Phuket 1- Phuket hits high note for number of drug cases , arrests in the country 2- UPDATE : 7 Days of Danger Phuket 3- Somsak backs calls to castrate rapists 4- Tourist arrivals hit record 39mn 5- Another Tham Luang hero dies PHUKET XTRA - December 27 || brought to you by PVCPhuket.com 15 years since Asia Tsunami | : | Mother arrested for pimping mentally ill daughter | : | B1.5bn Phuket cable car coming | : | Jail time in Shin case | : | Missing couple NOT hiding , search continues Hosted by : JP Mestanza || # Phuket 1- Hundreds turn out for 'Light Up Phuket ' Patong tsunami memorial service 2- B1.5 bn Phuket cable car project given the go-ahead 3- Report of missing kayak couple found living in Rawai confirmed a false alarm 4- Mother arrested for pimping mentally ill daughter 5- Supreme Court jails all defendants in Shin shares case PHUKET XTRA - December 26 || brought to you by PVCPhuket.com Wife-killing tourist gets life | : | Locals : Missing couple alive , hiding out | : | Senior cop faces attempted murder | : | Hacked CCTV of Thai prison leaked | : | Abbot charged with sexually abusing minors Hosted by : JP Mestanza || # Phuket 1- Chinese tourist sentenced to life for killing wife at Phuket resort 2- Rawai Mayor clarifies response to claims that missing kayak couple hiding in Phuket 3- Senior cop faces attempted murder charge 4- Hacked security footage from cramped Thai prison posted on Youtube 5- Abbot charged with sexual abuse of young novices PHUKET XTRA - December 25 || brought to you by PVCPhuket.com Mayor sentenced to death ! | : | Songkran considered by UNESCO | : | Go'vt readies street-food festivals ! | : | Phuket readies for 5-day New Year holiday | : | Plastic microbeads banned Hosted by : JP Mestanza || # Phuket 1- Phuket readies for five-day New Year holiday 2- Public Health Ministry bans plastic microbeads in cosmetics 3- Mayor sentenced to death for murder of municipal director 4- Gov't readies street-food fiestas 5- Songkran set to make splash PHUKET XTRA - December 24 || brought to you by PVCPhuket.com Elephant Santa 's deliver gifts to students | : | Army talks dual nationals on border | : | Partial solar eclipse coming | : | Body of foreigners found in separate locations | : | Hero stops suicidal bid Hosted by : JP Mestanza || # Phuket 1- Body of British man and French tourist , found on Phuket west coast MORE : Body of French tourist found 2- Partial solar eclipse across Thailand on Boxing Day 3- Army tots up dual nationals on border 4- Rescue worker 's quick-thinking stops suicidal bid 5- Elephant Santas deliver Christmas presents at Ayutthaya school PHUKET XTRA - December 23 || brought to you by PVCPhuket.com Missing tour boat crewman found | : | Ex-park chief charged with premeditated murder | : | Families of slain men paid out | : | Jailbroken phones slapped with ban | : |15th anniversary tsunami memorial events this Thursday Hosted by : JP Mestanza || # Phuket 1- Body of missing tour boat crewman found 2- Jailbroken phones slapped with ban 3- Former park chief charged on 6 counts in 'Billy ' murder case 4- Relatives of slain men get payouts 5- Patong candle-lit ceremony returns for 15th anniversary tsunami memorial events We have a new story every day on the front page of thephuketnews.com . Also like us on our Facebook page ( facebook.com/thephuketnews ) and be the first to watch all the new stories . Finally you can watch any segment , any time by going to thephuketnews.com/tv where all the stories are listed for you to enjoy . All our programs can be enjoyed in High Definition when watching on the internet . In-Room VDO

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SC Public Radio News - A Serbian-born movie director found the story of a Greek Orthodox saint helped doors open in Greece where they had been closed in Hollywood . - Following violent storms blamed for killing at least three people , Southerners cleared fallen trees from roadways and began cleaning up debris from homes and buildings smashed by suspected tornadoes as forecasters warned more violent weather was likely on the way . The National Weather Service says another round of tornadoes was possible Wednesday , with heightened risk across a three-state area . - South Carolina Democrats lined up more than 1,000 amendments in a symbolic attempt to delay a vote on a bill that would ban transgender students from playing girls ' or women 's sports in public schools and colleges . Between the four boxes of amendments and a tornado warning that evacuated the chamber , they stretched Tuesday 's debate for nearly seven hours . But the Republican majority won , passing the bill on an 82-28 vote about 9:15 p.m . The legislation would require athletes to compete with the gender listed on their birth certificates . About a dozen states have already passed similar legislation . The bill needs one more routine approval before heading to the state Senate . - Weather forecasters planned to survey damage from several possible tornadoes in Georgia and South Carolina , but said that effort could be interrupted by the potential for more storms Wednesday . Tuesday 's storms killed at least two people — one in Texas and another in Georgia — and left thousands of people without power across the South . According to the website PowerOutage.us , more than 7,000 customers in Texas and more than 5,000 in Georgia remained without power early Wednesday . The national Storm Prediction Center says several tornadoes are expected across a large part of the South on Wednesday . Open Space Institute works in concert with others to protect South Carolina 's scenic , natural , and historic landscapes The Open Space Institute ’ s mission is to protect scenic , natural , and historic landscapes to provide public enjoyment , conserve habitat and working lands , and sustain communities . Over the past 40 years , the institute has saved 2,285,092 acres of land through direct acquisition , grants , and loans . Having begun by focusing on land in New York State , they have in recent years saved significant , complex , and large-scale tracts in South Carolina , Florida , and New Jersey through direct acquisitions . In December 2022 , the Open Space Institute ( OSI ) and The Nature Conservancy ( TNC ) announced the purchase of three properties along the Santee River in South Carolina , expanding the largest contiguous block of protected coastal lands in the state . OSI ’ s Vice-President and Director of the Southeast , Maria Whitehead , joins Walter Edgar to talk about the acquisition and about the Institute ’ s plans for land protection in the state . In December 2022 , the Open Space Institute ( OSI ) and The Nature Conservancy ( TNC ) announced the purchase of three properties along the Santee River in South Carolina , expanding the largest contiguous block of protected coastal lands in the state . OSI ’ s Vice-President and Director of the Southeast , Maria Whitehead , joins Walter Edgar to talk about the acquisition and about the Institute ’ s plans for land protection in the state . Latest SC Lede Episodes - April 19 , 2022 — A look at what 's happening at the statehouse this week as the legislative session begins to wind down ; an update on first quarter fundraising numbers for some of the state 's top races ; new inflation data ; and more . - SC Lede : Spring Break Special — A Conversation with United Nations World Food Programme Director David BeasleyApril 12 , 2022 — Host Gavin Jackson talks with David Beasley , former South Carolina governor , current United Nations World Food Programme Director and Nobel Prize recipient , about his humanitarian work in Ukraine . The Latest Episodes of the SC Business Review - If you are a technology entrepreneur or thinking about becoming one , there are events coming to our state ’ s coast that you may want to know about . Mike Switzer interviews Jess O ’ Brien , executive director of the Beaufort Digital Corridor in Beaufort , SC , the organization bringing TechStars Startup Weekend to their city April 29-May 1 . The Myrtle Beach Techstars Startup Weekend is May 6-8 . - Quality of life is always an essential part of the equation when economic developers talk to industry . Our next guest ’ s organization is one of many across our state working to improve that common denominator . Mike Switzer interviews Stuart White , executive director of the Congaree Land Trust in Columbia , SC . 'diSConnected ' : an occasional series from South Carolina Public Radio - diSConnected : Is Ayn Rand or Mother Teresa better for protecting South Carolinians with disabilities ? People with disabilities are done appealing to selflessness in order to save them . Save yourself on purpose , though , and you might save a few others by accident . - School is supposed to teach kids a thing or two . Pandemic-era schooling 's mix of in-class and in-home learning , however , taught them something people do n't usually figure out until a lot later – who they really are . Part of South Carolina Public Radio 's occasional series 'diSConnected . ' More Stories - President Biden has announced an unprecedented draw on emergency oil stocks to try to put a cap on soaring oil prices . - The women 's division 1 college basketball tournament soon comes to a close in Minneapolis . Many wonder whether changes in the event have put it on more a equal footing with the men 's tournament . - Melitopol Mayor Ivan Fedorov was held by Russian forces for five days . They told him they wanted to free his town from Nazis . `` I told them in my 30 years in this town I 've never seen a single Nazi . '' - Attorney and father Chris Gegwich died from COVID-19 in 2020 . He is remembered by his wife , Michele Gegwich , for his brilliance , love of ska music and keen interest in dinosaurs . - The pentagon says Russian forces had done some repositioning away from Kyiv to the north . But according to NATO intelligence , Russia is maintaining pressure on the city . - The United Nations is seeking $ 4.4 billion — a record amount — to help Afghanistan . The appeal comes as countries around the world try to deal with skyrocketing prices due to the war in Ukraine . - It 's a system similar to Amber Alerts and silver alerts , which are used respectively for missing children and vulnerable adults in many states . - This recipe for kimchi is from Eric Kim 's debut cookbook , Korean American : Food That Tastes Like Home . He wrote it , and perfected it , with his mother , Jean . - An Australian journalist goes on trial Thursday in Beijing . She 's been accused of espionage and is one of several journalists detained as relations with China sour . - A new study shows a massive increase in police seizures of fentanyl pills , confirming its dramatic takeover of illicit drug consumption in the U.S . The fake pills look safe but are often deadly . Rapp on Jazz highlights the Palmetto State 's connection to the history of jazz music and the current jazz scene . Join Mark Rapp , executive director of the ColaJazz Foundation and host of SC Public Radio ’ s ColaJazz Presents , for these 60-second segments covering everything from famous South Carolinians like Dizzy Gillespie and Eartha Kitt to the “ Big Apple ” dance craze of the 1930s to the best clubs to experience jazz in the state . South Carolina Public Radio News Updates Walter Edgar 's Journal delves into the arts , culture , history of South Carolina and the American South . News and Music Stations : Fridays at 12 pm ; Saturdays at 7 am News & Talk Stations : Fridays at 12 pm ; Sundays at 4 pm News and Music Stations : Fridays at 12 pm ; Saturdays at 7 am News & Talk Stations : Fridays at 12 pm ; Sundays at 4 pm Get weekly program highlights via e-mail . News from South Carolina 's business community with interviews of many small business owners , business leaders from around the state , and South Carolina 's nonprofits . Mon - Fri 7:51 a.m. Mon - Fri 7:51 a.m .

B-ORG I-ORG I-ORG O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B-LOC O O O O O O B-LOC O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B-ORG I-ORG I-ORG I-ORG O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B-ORG I-ORG I-ORG I-ORG O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B-ORG I-ORG I-ORG O O O O O O O O O O O O B-LOC I-LOC B-LOC I-LOC I-LOC O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B-LOC I-LOC O O O B-LOC I-LOC O O O O O O O O O B-LOC I-LOC O O O O O O O O O O O B-LOC I-LOC O O O B-LOC I-LOC I-LOC O O O O O O O B-ORG I-ORG I-ORG I-ORG I-ORG O O O O O O O B-LOC I-LOC I-LOC O O B-ORG I-ORG I-ORG I-ORG O O O O O O O B-LOC I-LOC I-LOC O O O O O O O O B-ORG I-ORG I-ORG O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B-LOC I-LOC I-LOC O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B-LOC I-LOC I-LOC I-LOC I-LOC B-LOC B-LOC I-LOC O O O O O O O O O B-ORG I-ORG I-ORG I-ORG I-ORG B-ORG I-ORG I-ORG I-ORG I-ORG I-ORG O O O O O O O O O O B-LOC I-LOC I-LOC B-LOC I-LOC I-LOC O O O O O O O O O O O B-ORG I-ORG B-PER I-PER I-PER I-PER I-PER I-PER I-PER I-PER I-PER I-PER I-PER I-PER B-PER I-PER I-PER O O O O O O O B-ORG I-ORG O O O O O O O O O O O O B-ORG I-ORG I-ORG I-ORG I-ORG B-ORG I-ORG I-ORG I-ORG I-ORG I-ORG I-ORG I-ORG O O O O O O O O O B-LOC I-LOC I-LOC I-LOC B-LOC I-LOC O O O O O O O O O O O O O B-ORG B-PER I-PER I-PER I-PER I-PER I-PER I-PER I-PER I-PER I-PER I-PER O O B-PER I-PER O O O O O O B-ORG I-ORG I-ORG O O O O O O O O B-ORG I-ORG O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B-ORG I-ORG O O O O O O O O O B-PER I-PER I-PER I-PER I-PER I-PER I-PER I-PER I-PER I-PER I-PER I-PER I-PER I-PER O O O B-PER I-PER O O B-PER I-PER B-ORG I-ORG O O O O O B-ORG I-ORG I-ORG O O O O O O O O O O O O O B-LOC I-LOC O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B-PER I-PER I-PER O O B-PER I-PER I-PER O O O O O O B-ORG I-ORG I-ORG I-ORG I-ORG I-ORG I-ORG B-LOC I-LOC O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B-LOC I-LOC I-LOC I-LOC I-LOC O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B-PER I-PER I-PER I-PER O B-PER I-PER I-PER O O O O O B-ORG I-ORG I-ORG B-LOC I-LOC I-LOC O O O O O B-ORG I-ORG I-ORG I-ORG I-ORG O O O B-PER I-PER I-PER O B-PER O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B-ORG I-ORG I-ORG I-ORG I-ORG I-ORG O O O O O O O O O B-PER I-PER I-PER I-PER O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B-LOC I-LOC I-LOC I-LOC O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B-PER I-PER I-PER I-PER I-PER O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B-PER I-PER I-PER I-PER O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B-PER I-PER I-PER I-PER I-PER O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B-LOC O O O O O O B-ORG O O B-ORG O O O O O O O O B-ORG I-ORG I-ORG O O O O O O O O O B-ORG I-ORG I-ORG O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B-LOC I-LOC O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B-PER I-PER O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B-PER O O O O O O O O O O B-LOC I-LOC O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B-ORG I-ORG I-ORG O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B-LOC O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B-LOC I-LOC I-LOC I-LOC O O O O O O O O O O O O B-PER I-PER O O O O O B-ORG I-ORG I-ORG I-ORG I-ORG I-ORG B-ORG I-ORG I-ORG O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B-PER I-PER I-PER I-PER B-PER I-PER O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B-ORG I-ORG I-ORG I-ORG I-ORG O B-PER I-PER O O O O O O O O O O O B-LOC I-LOC I-LOC I-LOC O O B-LOC I-LOC I-LOC O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B-LOC I-LOC I-LOC I-LOC I-LOC O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B-LOC I-LOC I-LOC I-LOC O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O


FOLLOW ON Advertisement While the percentage of available units in Canada ’ s primary rental market remained virtually the same in 2021 compared to the year before , there are still concerns that vacancy rates in key markets across the country could see a decline come next year . According to Thomas Davidoff , a housing economist and associate professor at the University of British Columbia ’ s Sauder School of Business , a decrease in vacancy rates means “ bad news ” for renters . “ Usually , vacancy [ rates ] and rents move in opposite directions , ” he told CTVNews.ca on March 3 in a phone interview . “ When there 's more landlords looking for tenants , they tend to need to lower rents , and when there 's more tenants chasing after a small number of apartments , then rents tend to rise. ” According to a report recently released by the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation ( CMHC ) , Canada ’ s purpose-built rental market had a vacancy rate of 3.1 per cent in 2021 , a slight drop compared to the overall vacancy rate in 2020 of 3.2 per cent . The average rent for a two-bedroom apartment unit in Canada was $ 1,167 in 2021 , representing an increase of three per cent compared to the year before . Some of the pressures that have already begun to increase the demand for these rental units – such as higher levels of immigration and rebounds in provincial job markets – could drive down availability even further , said Bob Dugan , the CMHC ’ s chief economist . Without adequate supply , the result could be a greater drop in vacancy rates , and a rise in rent prices , said Dugan . “ My concern is , if we ca n't get the supply problems fixed and moving a little bit more quickly , it ’ s going to lead to an erosion of affordability with lower vacancy rates and higher rent increases , ” Dugan told CTVNews.ca in a phone interview on March 3 . “ There 's a chance it can get harder before it gets easier. ” Demand is a key factor in determining the vacancy rate within purpose-built rental markets , said Dugan . These are otherwise known as primary rental markets , which refers to buildings constructed for the sole purpose of renting out units . In 2021 , the country saw a rise in the demand for these rental units compared to the year before , said Dugan , partially due to a recovery in international migration levels as a result of relaxed travel restrictions . Based on data from Immigration , Refugee and Citizenship Canada , the country welcomed 184,500 new permanent residents in 2020 , while 401,000 new immigrants were admitted in 2021 . The lifting of pandemic-related restrictions on a regional level also contributed to economic recovery through increased employment of young Canadians , said Dugan . According to Statistics Canada , students between 15 and 24 years of age saw a 15.6 per cent increase in employment from August 2020 to August 2021 , for example . In the previous year , employment within the same age group dropped 11.8 per cent . “ When you think about new household formation , both new immigrants and young households tend to first rent , and as they save up money , they move into homeownership , ” said Dugan . “ When you see the employment rate for young people improve , you can really see that that has an impact on rental demand. ” As the world progresses through the pandemic , Dugan said he anticipates there will continue to be increases in both employment rates among young adults , as well as immigration to Canada , which puts rental demand at risk of further increase going forward . “ If that 's the case , that will put downward pressure on vacancy rates and might lead to further deterioration of affordability , ” said Dugan . DECLINE IN VACANCY RATES ‘ BAD NEWS ’ FOR RENTERS Of the 37 census metropolitan areas surveyed in CMHC ’ s report , 21 of them saw a decrease in 2021 vacancy rates compared to the year before . One of these areas is Vancouver . In October 2020 , the vacancy rate for purpose-built rental apartments was 2.6 per cent . That number shrunk to 1.2 per cent by October 2021 . Since 2014 , the city has seen persistently low vacancy rates and rising prices among rental apartment units . Prior to the pandemic , rental apartments in the city ’ s more urban areas were seeing greater demand than single family homes purchased in suburban and rural markets , Davidoff said , a trend that reversed with the emergence of COVID-19 . But data collected by the CMHC shows that in 2021 , tenants began to return to central areas within the city with higher rent prices . As more pandemic-related restrictions are lifted in British Columbia , Davidoff said he anticipates this latest trend will continue in Vancouver , with more tenants seeking to rent apartments located in the city ’ s downtown core . Demand for these units will create additional pressure within the city ’ s purpose-built rental market , he said . “ I suspect [ rent growth ] is going to get worse given the very low vacancy rates we 're seeing…and again , the return to apartment and downtown life , ” said Davidoff . In 2021 , the average price of rent grew by 2.4 per cent in Vancouver , compared to just 1.5 per cent in 2020 . Increasing vacancy rates within the city will help limit this growth over time , said Davidoff , and make rent more affordable for residents . Echoing Dugan , Davidoff said the solution is a continued increase in rental supply to better meet demand . “ You want more bargaining power for tenants , essentially , ” he said . “ When you have 30 people looking for one apartment…that ’ s a disaster for rent growth . “ Generally , we just have too many people looking for too few homes. ” COVID-19 ’ S VARYING IMPACT ON TORONTO ’ S RENTAL MARKET While the COVID-19 pandemic has no doubt had an impact on residents of Toronto as well , certain segments of the population seem to have taken longer to bounce back from pandemic measures financially , according to the CMHC report . Economic recovery from the pandemic took place at a generally faster pace among those who could easily transition from the bricks-and-mortar office to the home office , said Jason Mercer , chief market analyst for the Toronto Regional Real Estate Board . These people are also usually employed in sectors of the labour market that are associated with average to above average earnings , he said , and contribute to a strong demand for homeownership in the city . But for others , particularly those working in accommodation and food services , these industries were slower to recover economically , and are likely still recovering today due to the various pandemic-related restrictions that have limited business , said Mercer . “ Many of those sectors are associated with average to below average earnings , and so you see more rental households within some of those sectors of the economy , ” he told CTVNews.ca in a phone interview on March 3 . “ Sectors that traditionally underpin the rental market demand have n't recovered as quickly as others. ” This , along with greater rental stock among condominium apartments , has resulted in an increased vacancy rate among purpose-built units in the city seen today , said Mercer . According to the CMHC , the Greater Toronto Area saw seven times more condominium apartments enter its long-term rental market in 2021 compared to purpose-built apartments . Those looking for newer builds with modern amenities and finishes , for example , might have been more likely to opt for a condominium , freeing up vacancy rates among purpose-built rental properties , he said . In 2021 , Toronto ’ s purpose-built rental market recorded a vacancy rate of 4.4 per cent , compared to 3.4 per cent the year before . Still , Mercer said the city will likely see continued growth in the rental market among both purpose-built and condominium apartments . Greater demand will lead to lower vacancy rates , which will ultimately drive up rent prices , he said . “ We 'll see average rent surpass pre-pandemic levels because the population continues to grow in the Greater Toronto Area , ” said Mercer . “ We 're seeing record levels of immigration and that supports demand both for rental housing and ownership housing. ” GROWTH IN RENT PRICES SLOWING DOWN In addition to analyzing demand , it ’ s also important to consider supply , said Dugan . In 2021 , Canada saw a rise in the supply of purpose-build rental apartment units throughout the year that matched demand overall . Approximately 40,000 units entered the rental market between October 2020 and October 2021 . Within the same timeframe , occupied apartments also grew by about 41,000 units . While rental demand in most provinces followed a similar trend , supply appeared to outpace demand in both Ontario and Manitoba . In cities such as Toronto and Winnipeg , supply exceeded demand by about 4,000 and 1,000 units , respectively . Michael Froese , managing broker of Royal LePage Prime Real Estate based in Winnipeg , said he has been seeing this growth in supply first hand , with a new apartment complex being built near his home . Other high-rise apartment buildings are being developed in the city ’ s downtown core and suburban Winnipeg as well , he said . “ [ Developers ] see a hole in the market so they build , ” he told CTVNews.ca on March 7 in a phone interview . “ Now , there 's more to choose from so that gives tenants more options and it decreases that pressure on the upward swing [ of rent prices ] . ” Similar to Toronto , Winnipeg saw its vacancy rate for purpose-built rental apartments increase , going from 3.8 per cent in 2020 to five per cent in 2021 . Both cities also noted increases in average rent prices for these units . In Toronto , this was due to more competition among landlords , according to the CMHC . In Winnipeg , higher average rent prices were a result of more newly constructed purpose-built rental units entering the market , Froese said . “ It does kind of defy the conventional economics of supply and demand , ” he said . “ But what ’ s out there is new , and new is nicer and new generally fetches more [ money ] than old. ” Despite these increases in rent prices , both cities saw growth rates slow down compared to previous years . In Toronto , when comparing rents for similar units between October 2020 and October 2021 , average apartment rents increased by 1.3 per cent in 2021 . This is significantly lower than the increase recorded in 2020 of 4.7 per cent . In Winnipeg , same-sample apartment rents increased by 2.6 per cent in 2021 , but this figure has been decreasing steadily since 2018 . While Froese said he does foresee a continued increase in the average price of purpose-built rental apartment units , these increases will be moderate . “ I do expect rents to pick up , ” he said . “ Expenses are going up every year [ and ] inflation is driving everything so prices will continue to go up. ” SUPPLY-BASED SOLUTIONS Data in the CMHC ’ s report also highlights challenges many Canadians face when it comes to rental affordability , Dugan said . The report features a breakdown of the number of hours residents of various cities must work per month to adequately afford rent on a two-bedroom purpose-built rental apartment . Using average local hourly wages , the report shows that in several major cities , including Vancouver , Toronto and Winnipeg , residents needed to work more than the 150 hours typically logged each month if working full time , in order to afford their rent . Nearly all areas surveyed saw an increase in this metric in 2021 compared to the year before . “ People had to work more hours than the previous year to bring that rent down to 30 per cent of their income , ” said Dugan . “ In those centres , you actually need a second person to supplement the income to make affordability work. ” In order to make rental housing more affordable across the country , there must be an increase in supply within the rental market , Dugan said . This is likely to prevent rent prices from increasing as much or as quickly as they would otherwise . “ When you have the number of hours of work [ needed ] to make rental housing affordable increasing the way we show in the report , it means that we 're moving further away from that goal [ of affordability ] , ” he said . “ We need supply in order to keep housing prices and rents stable , and move towards a more affordable housing market for everybody. ” This can be achieved through different levels of government partnering with private sector developers and builders , Dugan said . Another strategy to consider involves revising municipal zoning laws to allow more neighbourhoods to convert single-family properties into multi-unit residential ones , such as a duplex , triplex , or townhome , he said . Expediting the process of approving building permits can also help smooth the pathway towards more affordable housing , said Dugan . “ More supply is crucial to getting affordability under control in the long run , ” said Dugan .

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASECIV MONDAY , AUGUST 14 , 2000 ( 202 ) 514-2007 WWW.USDOJ.GOVTDD ( 202 ) 514-1888 EYE SURGERY CENTER PAYS U.S. AND WEST VIRGINIA FOR FILING FALSE FEDERAL HEALTH CARE CLAIMS WASHINGTON , D.C. - Anwar Eye Center , Inc. , an ambulatory surgical center specializing in cataract removal surgery and lens implants , has agreed to pay $ 240,000 to the United States and the State of West Virginia to settle allegations that the center submitted false claims to Medicare , Medicaid and the Department of Defense TRICARE Program , the Department of Justice announced today . The government alleged that from 1993 to 1996 the Moundsville , West Virginia center allowed an individual who lacked proper certification to administer anesthesia prior to cataract surgery . It was also alleged that employees were directed to falsify records to indicate that a person with proper credentials had performed the procedure . `` This settlement represents our continued efforts to ensure that beneficiaries of federal health benefit programs receive care that complies with federal and state standards , '' said David W. Ogden , Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Division . Today 's settlement resolves a civil suit that originally was filed by Margaret Kaufman , a private individual who filed the case in federal district court under the provisions of the False Claims Act 's qui tam or whistleblower provisions . Ms. Kaufman will receive a share of the settlement . In addition to the monetary settlement , Anwar Eye Center entered into a three-year corporate integrity agreement with the Department of Health and Human Services , Office of the Inspector General , to settle administrative claims . The settlement concludes an investigation undertaken by the Federal Bureau of Investigation 's Clarksville , West Virginia field office , the U.S. Department of Defense , Defense Criminal Investigative Service 's Pittsburgh Resident Agency Office , the State of West Virginia Medicaid Fraud Control Unit , and the United States Department of Justice in Washington , D.C. # # # 00-476

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UPDATE APRIL 30 : The teacher accused of leaving a threatening voicemail at a Catholic school in Las Vegas is out of work . Todd Pomeroy 's latest job was at Coral Academy of Science Las Vegas and parents have been notified he 's no longer there . A parent told 13 Action News he was a PE instructor and track coach at the school . Coral Academy sent emails to parents explaining Pomeroy ’ s verbal threat was made to its campus but the focus was directed at a different school . The Clark County District Attorney 's office said Pomeroy had no previous criminal convictions in the Las Vegas court system . However , 13 Action News looked into his past and found he had several arrests dating back until 1993 . Las Vegas Metropolitan police arrest records also showed Pomeroy had a history stretching back 26 years . In 1993 , he was arrested for battery and domestic violence but was not convicted . A justice court search showed Pomeroy faced a misdemeanor charge in 2005 for making threatening phone calls - a year later that charge was dropped . In 2017 , the 56-year-old was charged with misdemeanor battery . A year later , it was also was dropped after he completed community service and received counseling . Tuesday , an inmate in-custody report showed Pomeroy was being held at the Clark County Detention Center . Monday , he allegedly made a threat to St. Viator Catholic School and classes were canceled that day . Now , Pomeroy faces three criminal counts related to this latest threat . ORIGINAL STORY LAS VEGAS ( KTNV ) -- Police have a person in custody related to threats made towards a Catholic school in Las Vegas . Monday , detectives arrested 56-year-old Todd Pomeroy after an investigation into voicemail threats directed at St. Viator Catholic School , located at 4246 South Eastern Avenue , near Flamingo Road . RELATED : Las Vegas Breaking News April 29 The Diocese of Las Vegas reported it received a voice message from a former employee , who has not worked at the school for several years and that the message was threatening in nature specific to the school . The Diocese also released the following statement : `` Our Director of Security immediately contacted law enforcement . In these instances , we always err to the side of caution , so he directed the school to cancel classes for the safety of our students and staff . As this is now an active investigation , we can not comment any further and would refer questions to law enforcement . Classes will resume Tuesday , April 30 , 2019 , as scheduled . '' RELATED : Serious incidents involving Las Vegas schools in 2018-19 Police later identified Pomeroy as the suspect in this incident and transported him to the Clark County Detention Center . The 56-year-old is facing three counts of threatening to cause bodily harm or death to a pupil or school employee employing verbal , written or electronic communication , according to the Las Vegas police . Authorities also said no additional threats were found and no further suspects were under investigation .

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WATTS , Okla. -- An Oklahoma man was shot and killed after he threatened officers with a metal pipe Wednesday night , according to the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation . An Adair County Sheriff 's Office deputy and a Watts Police officer were sent to domestic abuse call on East 610 Road about 7:30 p.m. , according to a bureau news release . Stoney McJunkin , 40 , came out of the home with a metal pipe in his hands when officers arrived , according to the release . `` He reportedly raised the pipe in an aggressive manner and refused officers ' commands to put down the pipe , '' according to the release . `` The Adair County deputy fired his handgun at McJunkin . '' McJunkin was pronounced dead at the scene by emergency personnel . His body was taken to the medical examiner 's office in Tulsa , Okla. , for an autopsy . The Sheriff 's Office referred all questions to Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation . Jessica Brown , a bureau spokeswoman , said the Sheriff 's Office requested help with the investigation . Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation special agents collected evidence from the scene and the investigation is ongoing . The names of the officers involved were n't released . Watts Police Chief Matt Stilwell confirmed Adair County requested a Watts officer help arrest a person in connection with domestic violence . McJunkin was on parole for charges of distribution of a controlled substance and possession with the intent to deliver , according to the Oklahoma Department of Corrections . Once the investigation is complete , a full report will be delivered to the district attorney 's office , according to the release . NW News on 01/20/2017

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Tracking every case of COVID-19 in Canada Coronavirus vaccination tracker : How many people in Canada have received shots ? COVID-19 protection from the flu shot ? Experts wary about new study Health Canada issues advisory for face masks containing graphene Getting the COVID-19 shot wo n't result in denied claims , insurers say Canadians in COVID-19 hot spots face more restrictions as cases keep rising B.C . churches to appeal court decision that upheld COVID-19 restrictions Fully vaccinated Americans can travel safely again , CDC says What 's in a name ? Experts confused by terms like lockdown , shutdown , circuit breakers U.K. bans travel from 4 more nations over virus ; 39 in all High vaccination rates decreasing COVID-19 cases in Indigenous communities Health Canada greenlights U.S. batch of AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine Is hormonal birth control a factor in developing AstraZeneca-linked blood clots ? Experts say it 's unlikely Canadian family living in New Zealand receives COVID-19 benefit cheque addressed to dead daughter What does the AstraZeneca pause mean for young Canadians who already got one dose ? Tracking variants of the novel coronavirus in Canada Full coverage at CTVNews.ca/Coronavirus

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O O O O B-ORG I-ORG I-ORG O O O O O O O O O O O B-PER I-PER O O O O O O O O O O B-ORG O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B-PER I-PER B-PER I-PER O O O O O O O B-PER I-PER I-PER O O O O O O O O O O O B-LOC I-LOC O O O O O O O O O B-ORG I-ORG O O O O O O O O O O O O O B-LOC I-LOC I-LOC O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B-PER I-PER I-PER I-PER I-PER O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B-PER I-PER I-PER I-PER I-PER O O O O O O O O O O O O O B-PER I-PER I-PER I-PER O B-PER I-PER I-PER I-PER O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B-ORG O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B-LOC I-LOC I-LOC O O B-ORG I-ORG O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B-ORG I-ORG I-ORG O O O O O O O B-PER I-PER O O B-PER I-PER I-PER O O O O O B-ORG I-ORG O O O O B-ORG I-ORG B-ORG I-ORG O O O O O B-ORG I-ORG I-ORG O B-PER I-PER I-PER B-PER I-PER I-PER B-ORG O O O O O O O B-PER I-PER I-PER I-PER O O B-ORG O O O B-ORG I-ORG O O O O O B-PER I-PER I-PER I-PER I-PER O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B-ORG I-ORG O O O O O O O O B-PER O O O O O O O B-ORG I-ORG I-ORG O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B-PER I-PER I-PER O O B-PER I-PER I-PER O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B-PER I-PER O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B-ORG I-ORG I-ORG O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B-PER I-PER O O O O O O O O O O B-PER I-PER I-PER I-PER O O O O O O B-PER I-PER O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B-ORG I-ORG I-ORG O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B-ORG O O O O O O O O B-LOC I-LOC I-LOC I-LOC I-LOC I-LOC O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B-LOC O O O O O O O O O O B-LOC I-LOC I-LOC I-LOC I-LOC O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B-ORG I-ORG O O O O O O O B-PER I-PER O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B-LOC I-LOC I-LOC O O O O O O O O O O O B-LOC I-LOC I-LOC O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O


Sam Edelman felt like a girl for as long as he could remember , his dad said . As Sam ’ s 18th birthday approached , and after years of researching hormone treatments , the high school senior scheduled an appointment with a doctor who treats transgender people . It was a big step for Sam , a musician , a runner , a snowboarder and a taekwondo black belt who still identified as a boy at that point and had shared his secret only with his family and closest confidants . The doctor said Sam was too young and thought it unlikely that any doctor would treat the Bozeman teen for the same reason . Ten months later , on Feb. 20 , 2016 , Sam died by suicide . “ Sam was devastated , ” said Adam Edelman , Sam ’ s father , recalling that visit with the doctor . “ He lost hope. ” As legislatures meet across the U.S. to write new laws , at least 16 states are considering measures that would affect transgender athletes or those seeking treatment for gender dysphoria — the persistent and distressing feeling that one ’ s gender is different from the sex noted on the person ’ s birth certificate . People are also reading… This wave of state legislation follows 79 anti-transgender measures introduced in statehouses last year . Nearly all were defeated . Adam Edelman was motivated to tell Sam ’ s story as Montana lawmakers considered two proposals : criminalizing doctors who treat transgender minors and banning transgender student-athletes from competing under their self-identified sex . One Montana bill would have fined doctors who provided treatment with medicines like puberty blockers to anyone under age 18 up to $ 5,000 ; even a referral to another medical expert could threaten a doctor ’ s medical license . That bill was narrowly defeated in the Montana House of Representatives in January , 51-49 . The House passed a separate measure that would ban transgender athletes from competing on teams that don ’ t align with their sex at birth . The state Senate is considering the proposed ban , though opponents of the measure say there are no existing conflicts or disputes in schools that would make a ban necessary . At least 10 states besides Montana are considering similar bills restricting transgender student-athletes this session : Connecticut , Hawaii , Iowa , Kentucky , Mississippi , New Hampshire , North Dakota , Oklahoma , Tennessee and Texas . Montana ’ s bill to criminalize doctors for medically treating transgender children — which can still be revived with enough votes — is similar to bills being considered in at least 10 other states this year : Alabama , Iowa , Indiana , Mississippi , Missouri , Oklahoma , South Carolina , Tennessee , Texas and Utah . This push across the U.S. is happening despite a decision by President Joe Biden shortly after his inauguration to lift LGBTQ restrictions in the military by executive order . It also comes after North Carolina lost an estimated $ 3.76 billion to boycotts following a 2016 law requiring people to use the bathroom that matches their birth gender . That law has since been repealed . Laura Haynes , a retired faith-based clinical psychologist , is a major advocate of bills to ban medical intervention for transgender youth . Traveling from her home in California to testify before a Montana House committee hearing , she argued that social influences and media glamorization have led to a huge increase in youth identifying as transgender . Most would eventually embrace their birth sex if adults just “ watched and waited , ” said Haynes , who also supports the discredited practice of conversion therapy for gays and lesbians . She and proponents of the measures raise the specter of children undergoing dangerous and irreversible treatment . “ Experimental treatment affirming gender identity leads to puberty blockers , toxic wrong-sex hormones , organs devoid of function or pleasure , and potential mutilation of sex organs , ” said Haynes . But the treatments are not experimental , and surgeries are not approved for youths under age 18 , said Dr. Colleen Wood , one of four pediatric endocrinologists in Montana . Medical association protocols call for no medical intervention before puberty . If youths persist in feeling distressed about their bodies once puberty begins , an arduous process commences . If both parents consent and a mental health professional agrees , a teen might be approved for a puberty blocker prescription . Blockers have been used for 40 years to treat children with early onset of puberty and are reversible , said Dr. Lauren Wilson , vice president of Montana ’ s chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics . Blockers are typically taken for five years before hormone therapy is considered . After teens have lived as the gender they embrace and undergone a comprehensive mental health assessment , they might be prescribed estrogen or testosterone . If the hormones are stopped , the results are largely reversible , although some breast tissue may remain from estrogen , and a deepening of the voice and clitoris enlargement might be permanent from testosterone , said Wood . Infertility is a possible outcome . A Cornell University review of 55 peer-reviewed studies found that 93 % showed gender transition improved the overall well-being of transgender people , while 7 % found mixed results or no differences . Of the bills involving transgender people that were considered last year in states — including medical treatment bans , sports bans and hurdles to changing sex designations on documents like driver ’ s licenses — all failed except a sports ban in Idaho . A federal district court later ruled the Idaho law unconstitutional and issued an injunction . The case is now before the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals . The sports bans run counter to NCAA rules , which state that transgender females who were born male may compete on female teams if they have been taking hormones for one year . Laws that don ’ t follow NCAA rules could result in those states being banned from hosting championship games . Montana Republican Rep. Braxton Mitchell , a 20-year-old freshman lawmaker and supporter of the Montana measure , was dismissive of potential consequences . “ My House district is nearly 1,800 miles and a 27-hour drive from the NCAA ” headquarters in Indianapolis , he said . “ We will hold our own. ” Without legislative action , Mitchell said , he worried that women ’ s sports in the state will be ruined . “ Someone can wake up one morning and say , ‘ I ’ m a man today , ’ or ‘ I ’ m a woman today , ’ as a tactic to win in sports , ” Mitchell said . That ’ s not how it works , said Jaime Gabrielli , the mother of a child born female who identified as a boy as a toddler . When taken to the store to choose “ big kid pants ” during potty training , he ran to the boys ’ section and chose SpongeBob SquarePants briefs . At age 4 , he begged for a boy ’ s haircut and instead was given a pageboy with bangs . He “ fixed ” it by cutting off his own hair . Presenting himself to the world as a boy transformed his life , said Gabrielli . For the first time , he didn ’ t dread school , didn ’ t avoid going to movies and social events , and didn ’ t experience as much extreme anxiety . If the bills pass , civil rights groups have vowed to challenge them on constitutional grounds and as a violation of other legal protections . In addition to the equality issues these bills raise , civil liberty advocates questioned their practicality . “ It is unclear what would happen in Montana if someone disputes whether a person is in the ‘ correct ’ category , ” said Alex Rate , legal director of the Montana ACLU . Then there are the changing attitudes about children who question their gender . A father from rural Montana said in an anonymous letter to the Montana legislature that five years ago he would have supported both bills . Those were the years he had tried to prevent his child , born a boy , from expressing identity as a girl . “ After I found my 12-year-old sitting in the dark with a handgun one night , I realized I need to learn from my daughter who she was , instead of me trying to tell her who I thought she was , ” the man wrote . Treatment , he added , saved her life . And he no longer supports bills like the ones before the Montana Legislature . KHN ( Kaiser Health News ) is a nonprofit news service covering health issues . It is an editorially independent program of KFF ( Kaiser Family Foundation ) that is not affiliated with Kaiser Permanente .

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Justice News Justice News November 8 , 2018 Press Release United States Sues UBS to Recover Civil Penalties for Fraud in the Sale of Residential Mortgage-Backed Securities August 1 , 2018 Press Release Wells Fargo Agrees to Pay $ 2.09 Billion Penalty for Allegedly Misrepresenting Quality of Loans Used in Residential Mortgage-Backed Securities July 16 , 2018 March 29 , 2018 Press Release Barclays Agrees to Pay $ 2 Billion in Civil Penalties to Resolve Claims for Fraud in the Sale of Residential Mortgage-Backed Securities July 12 , 2017 Press Release Two California Men Sentenced to Prison for Their Roles in Fake Law Firms that Promised to Help Struggling Homeowners May 16 , 2017 Press Release Financial Freedom Settles Alleged Liability for Servicing of Federally Insured Reverse Mortgage Loans for $ 89 Million January 18 , 2017 Press Release Credit Suisse Agrees to Pay $ 5.28 Billion in Connection with its Sale of Residential Mortgage-Backed Securities January 17 , 2017 Press Release Deutsche Bank Agrees to Pay $ 7.2 Billion for Misleading Investors in its Sale of Residential Mortgage-Backed Securities January 13 , 2017 Press Release Justice Department and State Partners Secure Nearly $ 864 Million Settlement With Moody ’ s Arising From Conduct in the Lead up to the Financial Crisis December 28 , 2016 Press Release United Shore Financial Services LLC Agrees to Pay $ 48 Million to Resolve Alleged False Claims Act Liability Arising from FHA-Insured Mortgage Lending December 22 , 2016 Press Release United States Sues Barclays Bank to Recover Civil Penalties for Fraud in the Sale of Residential Mortgage-Backed Securities December 14 , 2016 Press Release

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editors picks racq airflight A MAN in his 70s has been airlifted from the scene of a car crash in the South Burnett . editors picks racq airflight south burnett crash 13th Feb. 2017 5:02 PM

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North Carolina Gov . Roy Cooper granted a pardon of innocence Friday to a man imprisoned for two decades before his two murder convictions were vacated more than four years ago by a trial judge . The pardon means Darryl Anthony Howard , who is now 58 , can apply to the North Carolina Industrial Commission for compensation of up to $ 750,000 for his wrongful convictions . “ It is important to continue our efforts to reform the justice system and to acknowledge wrongful convictions , ” Cooper said in a news release . The governor 's office said this pardon of innocence was Cooper 's sixth since taking office in early 2017 . Howard was convicted in Durham County court in 1995 for the 1991 deaths of 29-year-old Doris Washington and her 13-year-old daughter , Nishonda . He was serving an 80-year prison sentence for convictions on two counts of second-degree murder and one count of first-degree arson . The mother and daughter also appeared to have been sexually assaulted . Years after the conviction , Howard 's attorneys tested rape kits related to the case and uncovered new evidence , according to Cooper 's pardon . In 2014 , Judge Orlando Hudson threw out Howard ’ s sentence , saying the prosecutor had failed to share with defense attorneys a police memo and other evidence that pointed to suspects other than Howard . But Howard remained in prison , and in August 2016 Hudson freed him after ruling DNA evidence showed he didn ’ t participate in the rapes or the murders . Hudson ordered a new trial , but the Durham district attorney 's office soon after dismissed the case , which was based heavily on the testimony of witnesses at the Durham public housing project where the killings occurred . U.S. & World ____ This story has been corrected in the last paragraph to show that it was Hudson who ordered the new trial .

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FORT LAUDERDALE , Fla. — The trial of Florida school shooting defendant Nikolas Cruz is set to begin in January . A judge issued an order Thursday to begin jury selection on Jan. 27 in a trial involving the 2018 mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School that killed 17 people and wounded 17 others . The 21-year-old Cruz faces the death penalty if convicted . His lawyers have said he will plead guilty in exchange for a life prison sentence , but prosecutors have not accepted that offer . Cruz is accused of assaulting a building at his former high school with an AR-15 rifle , methodically shooting people as he moved through the floors . A Broward Sheriff ’ s Office school officer on site , Scot Peterson , remained outside and is now being prosecuted for failing to confront the gunman .

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