Month: June 2023

When Alexei Navalny turns 47 on Sunday, he will wake up in a bare concrete cell with almost no natural light. He will not be able to see or speak to any of his loved ones. Phone calls and visits are prohibited for those in “punishment isolation” cells, a 2-by-3-meter (6 1/2-by-10-foot) space. Guards often sing him patriotic songs and speeches by President Vladimir Putin. “Guess who is the champion of listening to Putin’s speeches? Who listens to them for hours and falls asleep? Navalny recently said in a typically sardonic social media post through his lawyers at Penal Colony…

CHARLOTTE, NC (WBTV) – Former Food Lion CEO Tom Smith has died, according to Smith’s friends. Smith worked for the grocery chain, which was started in Salisbury, NC in 1957, for decades. Ronnie Smith, son of Food Lion co-founder Wilson Smith, confirms that Tom Smith (no relation) died on Friday after a brief illness. “We are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of our former CEO and leader Tom Smith, who was instrumental in the growth and success of Food Lion,” a Food Lion spokesperson told WBTV. “During his 29 years of service, he made significant contributions to the…

CNN — Federal prosecutors have obtained an audio recording of a summer 2021 meeting in which former President Donald Trump acknowledges he kept a classified Pentagon document about a possible attack on Iran, multiple sources told CNN, undercutting his argument that he declassified everything. The recording indicates Trump understood he withheld classified material after leaving the White House, according to multiple sources familiar with the investigation. In the recording, Trump’s comments suggest he would like to share the information but is aware of the limitations on his post-presidency ability to declassify the records, two of the sources said. CNN has…

the panel Chauncey Alcorn, @CLamonstLives, state and local politics reporter, Capital B Atlanta Kevin Riley, @ajceditor, managing editor, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Margaret Coker, @mideastmargaret, publisher, The Current Dr. Tammy Greer, political scientist the breakdown 1. The US House sent a debt ceiling bill to the Senate. In a bipartisan vote, the House passed a crucial debt ceiling bill in the Senate, five days before the deadline suggested by the Treasury. Three-quarters of House Democrats and two-thirds of House Republicans supported the bill, which passed 314-117. From the delegation of the Chamber of Georgia, three Republicans and one Democrat voted against…

The deal to raise the nation’s debt ceiling places new work requirements for many of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program beneficiaries. The Republican-controlled House of Representatives gave the go-ahead to the deal on Wednesday; The measure is expected to be taken up by the Democrat-led US Senate in the coming days and sent to President Joe Biden to avoid a default. For Republicans, the change is part of a broader effort to curb spending at the national level in the coming years while encouraging more people to return to work. But anti-hunger advocates are concerned about the effect the change…

meIn recent days, Imran Khan has cut an increasingly isolated figure. Since Pakistan’s former prime minister was released from prison following a brief but explosive attempt to arrest him last month, his return has been marked by a mass exodus of his party’s top leadership, to a scale that has surprised even its critics. On Thursday night, Pervez Khattak, the former chief minister and defense minister, became the latest high-profile resignation from Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party. He followed in the footsteps of Khan’s former finance minister, his former human rights minister, his former information minister and his former shipping…

When it comes to vehicles crashing into low bridges, one state lawmaker wants to take the road. A proposal passed this week in the state Assembly would require New York transportation officials to report the locations of bridge crashes, repairs made after the crashes and provide recommendations on how to prevent future incidents. The move is intended to address a scourge of bridge vehicle accidents, which often involve large trucks crashing into older, suspension bridges. “All too often, we’re seeing large trucks crash into low bridges in cities like Rotterdam and Glenville, causing significant damage,” said Rep. Angelo Santabarbara. “Here…

Twenty-four New York land banks will receive nearly $26 million in funding to address blight and expand housing in the state, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced Friday. The money, part of the broader $229 billion state budget, is intended to address a limited supply of housing in New York, as well as current concerns about affordability. “The New York Land Bank Initiative has already allowed us to preserve, restore and revitalize blighted properties across the state, and we are excited to expand the opportunity this year,” Hochul said. “This program will empower local nonprofits, the people who know their communities best,…