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Battenfeld: Rachael Rollins downfall exposes dark underbelly of politics, media

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 15:31:03 GMT

The blockbuster ethics probes leading to the downfall of U.S. Attorney Rachael Rollins exposed the dark underbelly of the intersection of politics and media and the danger of using anonymous sources with a personal vendetta.The reports from the Office of Special Counsel and Department of Justice Inspector General showcased the sleazy side of relations between power players — who ruthlessly use each other to advance their self interests.“No mercy. Finish him,” Rollins demanded to Boston City Councilor Ricardo Arroyo in one of their text exchanges about Suffolk County District Attorney Kevin Hayden, whose campaign they were trying to torpedo.While such attitudes may be more common than many think, the public should rightly be horrified by the abuse of power shown by Arroyo and Rollins, and the deep involvement of the media.The two conspired – with the Boston Globe as willing accomplice – to tilt the Democratic D.A. primary in Arroyo’s favor by trying to smear Hayden to show he was som...

Lucas: Free-wheeling and off the rails

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 15:31:03 GMT

Rachael Rollins’ forced resignation as U.S. Attorney is a stinging embarrassment for both Elizabeth Warren and Eddie Markey.The state’s two U.S. senators were Rollins’ biggest supporters when President Biden nominated then Suffolk County District Attorney Rollins for the position, despite clear signs that Rollins lacked the temperament for the job.The Boston Globe described Rollins as a “trailblazer.” In fact, she was a train wreck waiting to happen.And it happened.And to rub salt into the wound, it was U.S Sen. Tom Cotton, a Republican from Arkansas, who set it in motion.Cotton, a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, who opposed Rollins’ nomination, followed up on a Boston Herald story that Rollins had violated the Hatch Act by attending a Democrat Party fundraiser in Andover at which First Lady Jill Biden starred.The Hatch Act prohibits Senate-confirmed appointees in the Department of Justice from engaging in partisan political activity.She was also accused of sabotage in lea...

G7 ‘outreach’ an effort to build consensus on global issues like Ukraine, China, climate change

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 15:31:03 GMT

HIROSHIMA, Japan (AP) — Leaders of the Group of Seven wealthy democracies are joining their counterparts from other countries during their summit in Japan in an effort to expand the G7’s sway and to include voices from the so-called Global South.From South America to South Asia, Ukraine to the South Pacific, the guests represent a carefully considered choice of countries including big emerging economies like Australia, Brazil, Indonesia and India and smaller ones like the Comoros and Cook Islands. Critics accuse the G7 of being an “elite club” of countries whose relevance as global leaders is being eclipsed by up-and-coming powers. By including leaders of big but less wealthy democracies like India and Brazil, Japan and the other G7 countries aim to amplify their consensus on vital issues like the war in Ukraine, China’s growing assertiveness, debt and development issues and climate change. It’s something of an odd assortment, but there’s a method to the mixture. S...

G7 nations plan to wean their dependence off China, Zelenskyy arrives in Hiroshima

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 15:31:03 GMT

HIROSHIMA, Japan — The G7 nations have declared their intentions to decrease their dependencies on China, but their leaders say they don’t plan to part ways with the world’s second largest economy.The G7 leaders meeting in Hiroshima for their annual summit released their communiqué on Saturday.“Our policy approaches are not designed to harm China nor do we seek to thwart China’s economic progress and development. A growing China that plays by international rules would be of global interest,” the document says. “At the same time, we recognize that economic resilience requires de-risking and diversifying. We will take steps, individually and collectively, to invest in our own economic vibrancy. We will reduce excessive dependencies in our critical supply chains.”The document was released ahead of schedule to accommodate an appearance by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who arrived in Hiroshima Saturday afternoon.  The G7 leaders’ meeti...

‘Listen to us’: LGBTQ activists seek help, prudence in raising human rights abroad

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 15:31:03 GMT

OTTAWA — LGBTQ activists say Canada should ramp up its help in the fight against an organized movement to clamp down on sexual and gender minorities in Africa, while being cautious about when to raise issues in public.“We are being bullied into silence,” said Alex Kofi Donkor, the founder of LGBT+ Rights Ghana, on a visit to Ottawa.“We always have a strategy and I hope you always listen to us.”Ghana has outlawed homosexual acts since British rule, including under an existing criminal offence of “unnatural carnal knowledge.” Human Rights Watch says LGBTQ people in the country face a climate of fear and violence.Donkor, 33, has tried to change that reality by starting a blog years ago to document human rights issues.Eventually, the medical researcher launched an organization to inform media, preachers and politicians about LGBTQ issues. The group opened a physical office in January 2021, which police raided a month later and ordered closed.By August...

Soucheray: A state bias registry? Who goes on that list? And then what?

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 15:31:03 GMT

The DFL trifecta has had quite a whirlwind legislative session. It might not be over as this is written, but how much more damage they can bring about at this point is probably minimal. They blew through an almost $18 billion surplus — you’ll be getting back some crumbs — raised taxes and fees, are considering a gas tax increase, pushed billions more good money after bad at education and will create another new government bureaucracy of 400 people or so to administer the family leave and medical act.Other than that, there is a ban on wearing checkered shirts on Tuesdays, a fine if you don’t own a bicycle and a requirement that all bread past its sell-by date must be delivered in a recyclable bag to the site of a new bird sanctuary at Theodore Wirth Park.Curiously, or maybe not, given the excitement of socialist proclivity, tucked into a 500-page-plus public safety bill is the very real calling for a bias registry, so I best be careful. As near as can be determined, the r...

Nathan, Rogers: Pressing for opportunity — a new report and a book reflect what it takes

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 15:31:03 GMT

Education administrators’ lawbreaking and stifling opportunity, along with Minnesota Department of Education acquiescence, are discussed in two recent publications. Both raise questions and offer solutions that we hope legislators and educators will consider adopting.‘Information Gap’The first is a report by a student-led group, People for PSEO. It shows that the vast majority of Minnesota’s public-school districts are not following Minnesota’s Post-Secondary Enrollment Options (PSEO) law. This law requires that school districts and charters provide specific information to students and families on their websites as well as via direct distribution. An “Information Gap” report issued last month reviewed and rated all 390 district/charter websites.Researchers found that 62% of district and 38% of charter public school websites did NOT provide all the information that the Minnesota Department of Education says state law requires. Critical information was missing from many we...

In her debut play, ‘Muyehpen,’ the state’s only Karen theater artist explores one of her culture’s most important folktales

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 15:31:03 GMT

Ehkhudah Zar is the only professional theater artist in the state from the Karen ethnic group — perhaps even the world — and her debut play based on a cultural folktale is premiering this month in St. Paul.The Karen people are a minority in their native Myanmar and have long faced persecution and violence from Burmese authorities, so many — Zar included — became refugees. With a Karen population in the ballpark of 10,000, St. Paul is one of the most important cities in the U.S. Karen diaspora.Zar’s play tells the legend of Muyehpen, an ethereally beautiful Karen woman who, long ago, was captured by a Thai king and sacrificed. In Karen history, Muyehpen (pronounced “mou-yeh-peh”) is a powerful symbol of resilience.Exposed Brick Theater is presenting Zar’s adaptation of “Muyehpen” from May 19 to 27 at the Historic Mounds Theater (1029 Hudson Rd.).  Tickets are pay-what-you-can, from $7 to $22, and a select number of free tickets are available for each show as well. Some showtimes are ...

Ask Amy: A guest waffles on potlucks and raffles

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 15:31:03 GMT

Dear Amy: My girlfriend hosts birthday parties for her grandchildren every year, and on the invitation she asks that we bring a dish in exchange for a raffle ticket.She has a raffle at the end of the party for something that is not of great value.So, along with bringing a birthday present for her grandchild, I also bring a dish.One time I did not bring food. She asked me where it was, and I said that I didn’t have time to prepare something. She told me I wouldn’t get a raffle ticket.When she was pulling the raffle ticket for the winner of her door prize … she looked at me and said in front of everyone that I was not to be included in the raffle because I did not bring food.I feel that if you are having a party, the guest should not have to bring a dish. She is now having a graduation party for her oldest grandchild and once again on the invitation she is telling guests to “bring a dish.”Am I wrong to assume that when you host a party you should also provide the foo...

Bridge: May 20, 2023

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 15:31:03 GMT

“Simple Saturday” columns focus on basic technique and logical thinking.Beginners are taught to “return partner’s lead.” Indeed, not doing so is a near-felony. A shift is perilous: If you return partner’s lead and it doesn’t work well, unlucky; but if you switch and that’s wrong, he may want to stake you to an anthill.Today’s West led the queen of spades against 3NT, and East correctly overtook with the king to get out of his partner’s way. South played low. Since East wanted to avoid recriminations, he returned his last spade.NINE TRICKSSouth won, lost a club finesse to East’s king, won a diamond shift and lost a heart finesse. He won the next diamond and had nine tricks.East should see that returning West’s lead is futile. West can’t have an entry to his spades; the deck doesn’t have enough points. But if East shifts to a diamond at Trick Two (hoping West has the jack), careful defense beats the co...