Paradise News

Tag: United States

  • The Multifaceted Career of Laerryblue – The US Times

    In the world of public relations, brand and talent management, one name stands out in Nigeria – Olanrewaju Alaka, better known as Laerryblue. As the founder of his own PR agency, Laerryblue has been a driving force behind successful campaigns, tackling the unique challenges that face the Nigerian PR industry.

    Laerryblue’s passion for creating solutions to communication problems has inspired him to build a thriving agency, which has been instrumental in executing PR campaigns for clients like Poshglowskincare and managing talents like James Brown. His experience has taught him the importance of communication, adaptability, and resilience in business, and he continues to prioritize building strong relationships with clients and staying up-to-date with industry trends.

    The Nigerian PR industry faces significant challenges, including the lack of a regulatory framework, the prevalence of fake news, and the need for more skilled PR professionals. To address these issues, Laerryblue advocates for the establishment of a regulatory body, stays vigilant against fake news, and invests in professional development for himself and his team. Building and maintaining strong relationships with clients and media outlets is also crucial in overcoming these challenges and elevating the industry as a whole.

    When it comes to negative publicity or crises affecting clients, Laerryblue’s approach involves assessing the situation, identifying key stakeholders, and developing a strategic plan to address the issue. This includes transparent communication, taking responsibility, and implementing proactive measures to prevent future incidents. Leveraging media relations and crisis management techniques helps him effectively manage reputation and mitigate potential damage.

    For businesses or individuals seeking to improve their public image or reputation, Laerryblue advises identifying key messages and target audiences and working with a PR agency or professionals to develop and execute a strategic communication plan. Establishing a strong relationship with PR agencies and experts, providing them with relevant information, and being open to feedback and suggestions are all vital aspects of this process. Consistent messaging and transparency are key to building and maintaining a positive reputation.

    Laerryblue advanced his education at renowned institutions, studying German at Obafemi Awolowo University and Germany’s Institut für Internationale Kommunikation in Berlin. He obtained a Master’s degree in Public Relations from Sheffield Hallam University in the United Kingdom.

    A multilingual professional fluent in German, French, Yoruba, and English, Laerryblue has significantly influenced the lives of talented individuals worldwide. Dedicated to mentoring others and fostering a collaborative business environment, his company, Laerryblue Media, has emerged as a comprehensive solution for clients, providing exceptional services that cater to their unique needs.
    The journey of Laerryblue in the Nigerian PR landscape is a testament to the power of passion, resilience, and a commitment to excellence. As the industry evolves, his innovative approach will undoubtedly continue to shape the future of public relations and brand management in Nigeria and beyond.



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  • Man accused of kidnapping and killing Texas nursing student in 1980 cold case

    AUSTIN, Texas (TCN) — Police recently identified a suspect they allege abducted and fatally shot a nursing student whose remains were found in an alley in 1980.

    According to the Austin Police Department, 25-year-old Susan Wolfe signed up to attend the University of Texas at Austin School of Nursing on Jan. 9, 1980, and was kidnapped a block away from her home later that evening. Wolfe’s residence was reportedly being sprayed for bugs, so she was walking to a friend’s house at the time.

    A witness told police he saw a driver stop and grab Wolfe in a “bear hug” before allegedly putting a coat over her head and forcing the victim into the vehicle. According to officers, the witness claimed he also saw the passenger door open, but he didn’t observe what the passenger did during the alleged kidnapping. The witness identified the car as a 1970 Dodge Polara.

    According to police, the following morning, an individual inspecting rental property discovered Wolfe’s body partially clothed in an alley. A pathologist determined she had been strangled with a ligature and the cause of death was a fatal gunshot wound to the head. The pathologist also discovered evidence of a sexual assault.

    Police produced 40 persons of interests during the first year of investigation and interviewed six possible suspects. In April 2023, detectives submitted evidence regarding the sexual assault, and on Feb. 12, the testing eliminated the six suspects. The following month, police said investigators identified a possible suspect, 78-year-old Deck Brewer Jr., who was in Massachusetts at the time.

    According to officers, Brewer is already in custody at the Massachusetts Department of Corrections for unrelated charges. In June, officials reportedly obtained a DNA sample from Brewer to do a direct comparison with evidence found during Wolfe’s autopsy. According to police, as a result, investigators determined Brewer was a probable match.

    In an interview, Brewer reportedly admitted he had been in Austin and San Antonio around the time of Wolfe’s death. Authorities issued an arrest warrant on Aug. 14, charging Brewer with murder.

    MORE:

    • APD Detectives Identify a Suspect in Connection to a 1980 Homicide Cold Case – Austin Police Department
    • Victim: Susan Leigh Wolfe – Austin Police Department

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  • Fact Check: Hovde misses mark on claim that Baldwin ‘has done absolutely nothing’ on fentanyl

    As both U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin, a Democrat, and Eric Hovde, a Republican, advance to the fall election in November, the two aren’t pulling punches when it comes to criticisms. 

    After voting in the fall primary on Aug. 13, Hovde criticized Baldwin for not visiting Wisconsin enough to talk with voters and for not doing enough to address the state’s growing fentanyl crisis. 

    “I have never seen such a disingenuous campaign, making up lies, not only about me, taking things completely out of context, but also embellishing her record and what she’s done, like talking about fentanyl and how she’s done something about the fentanyl crisis,” Hovde said outside his polling place in Shorewood Hills, just outside of Madison. “She has done absolutely nothing.” 

    Hovde went on to say that Baldwin was merely one in a long list of co-sponsors on a recent fentanyl bill that was introduced by a Republican lawmaker. 

    So, has Tammy Baldwin “done absolutely nothing” on fentanyl (a pretty low bar to counter)? And, if not, what kind of work has she done?

    Baldwin has been involved in the opioid issue for years

    Fentanyl is a powerful synthetic opioid that is used as a pain medication with a doctor’s prescription. But it is also made illegally, and can easily cause overdoses with a very small amount of the drug.z

    Starting with the 2018 campaign, Baldwin has shared her experience growing up with a mother addicted to prescription drugs, according to a May 1, 2018, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel report.

    Since then, Baldwin has been involved in several pieces of legislation regarding fentanyl.

    In 2019, she introduced a bill that would have required the U.S. Postal Service to enter into an agreement with U.S. Customs and Border Control to train employees on how to identify illicit packages. The bill did not make it out of the Senate in the 2019-20 session.

    Earlier this year, she supported the FEND Off Fentanyl Act, which aims to stop the flow of the drugs into the country by choking off the income source of those who traffic it, according to an April 24 news release. That bill did make it to the president’s desk and was signed into law the same month. 

    Asked about its claim, Hovde’s campaign noted Baldwin was not a writer of the bill, but instead was one of many co-sponsors.

    “In reality, she did nothing,” said Ben Voelkel, a Hovde campaign spokesperson, in an email. “She was the 28th co-sponsor out of 68, and not on the committee that advanced the bill and offered 0 amendments.”

    Baldwin also introduced in September 2023 the Safe Response Act, to ensure first responders can get trained on how to use life-saving overdose reversal drugs. 

    In May, she voted yes, according to Senate records, though the bill failed to pass.

    Voelkel also said Baldwin has voted against border control to stop the flow of drugs from entering the U.S. 

    But Baldwin voted for a bipartisan border security deal that “would have authorized billions in funding for border security, including tools to help detect and stop the flow of fentanyl into the United States,” according to a document outlining the senator’s work on fentanyl from her campaign press secretary, Jackie Rosa. Baldwin did vote yes on May 23 for the bipartisan deal, Senate records show, though the bill ultimately failed. 

    Our ruling 

    Hovde claimed Baldwin “has done absolutely nothing” to address the fentanyl crisis in Wisconsin. 

    Of course, “nothing,” is a pretty stark claim — and it does not take much to have done, well, “not nothing.”

    For years, Baldwin has been outspoken about her work to address the growing number of issues with opioids in the state, including fentanyl. In particular, Baldwin has signed on to, championed or even introduced bills aimed at tackling the issue not just in Wisconsin, but across the country. 

    Hovde’s campaign argued that on the bill that passed, Baldwin was not a major factor. Nevertheless, she did endorse the bill and ultimately supported it.  

    We rate this claim False. 

     

     

     



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  • Opp woman found guilty of murder in first trial related to 2020 slaying of Micah Coon

    Opp woman found guilty of murder in first trial related to 2020 slaying of Micah Coon

    Published 5:30 pm Thursday, August 22, 2024

    Micah Spencer Coon was killed at his Andalusia home in 2020.

    An Opp woman was found guilty this week for her involvement in the 2020 murder of Micah Spencer Coon of Andalusia.

    According to the Covington County District Attorney’s Office, a jury of of eight men and four women found Brittany Erin Nicole Head, 25, of Opp guilty of felony murder for the November 2020 slaying of Coon. The jury also found Head guilty of first degree burglary. Circuit Court Judge Lex Short presided over the case and District Attorney Walt Merrell led the prosecution. During a four-day trial, Assistant District Attorney Nikki Stephens and Erin Wilson, a long-time employee of the DA’s Office and a third-year law student conditionally admitted to practice, also contributed to the team effort. 

    “It was a hard week for our office,” Merrell said. “Chief ADA Grace Jeter was in another courtroom with Judge Bowden securing a conviction in a multi-day child pornography case. Truth be told, our office was stretched as thin as we could be stretched, but these are some of the hardest working folks I know, and they put in the long hours and did what it took to make sure justice was served. From ensuring things ran smoothly with witnesses in both courtrooms, to arranging lunch and offering words of encouragement to keep us going, I am proud of them and can’t thank them enough.”

    During Head’s trial, Merrell offered testimony from employees of Froggy’s Corner Store, located at the intersection of West Watson Street and Three Notch Street in Andalusia, who testified that, on the night of Micah’s murder, there was a physical altercation in the parking lot between Micah, Brittany Head, and her husband. 

    “According to Head, the fight started when Head’s husband referred to Micah in a derogatory manner,” Merrell told the jury. “Every bit of the interaction was captured on video. Micah can be heard telling Head that he would not fight a woman, frustrating Head as she continued to be aggressive with him. And, because Micah easily won the parking lot fight against Head’s husband, Head’s pride left her enraged.”

    The State also presented video surveillance from two nearby churches. The prosecutor said the footage provided a clear, chronological timeline of the events that detailed each step of the defendants’ travel, to within a block or so of Micah’s home.

    Merrell then called Andalusia Investigator Zak Wallace, who testified that, “From the time of the fight until Micah called 911, less than 13 minutes had elapsed.” Wallace also testified that — not only had the department gathered a significant amount of video evidence — but they also collected DNA from the scene that was a match to one of the co-defendants.

    In Micah’s graphic 911 phone call, listeners in the courtroom heard Micah try to stop the home invasion by telling the defendants, “My kids are in here!” Elizabeth Sunday, the now-retired 911 operator who took the call, testified that soon after she heard Micah talking of his children, she heard what she believed to be a gunshot and Micah screaming in pain.

    Stephens called an eyewitness whose testimony placed Head and her accomplices at Micah’s home committing the crime. Next, Wilson called Dr. Edward Reedy from the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences, who testified that Micah was killed with a rifled projectile that entered his pelvis and fragmented throughout his abdomen. Reedy also testified that Micah’s front teeth had been knocked out and that his eye was blacked, all due to blunt force trauma.

    “Micah Coon was a father to three young children. He worked two jobs trying to provide for his family and he had gone to the store on his way home from work,” Merrell said. “There, he was verbally accosted by Head and her husband and it ultimately cost him his life just minutes later. Embarrassed from the fight, Head and her husband went and recruited three other family members and then the group of five broke into Micah’s home and killed him while his wife and children hid in the next room.”

    Short set Head’s sentence hearing for October 8, 2024. 

    “The sentencing range for her conviction is a minimum of 20 years up to life in prison. We will certainly ask for life,” Merrell said.

    Merrell noted the work done by the APD, which helped lead to the conviction.

    “The Andalusia Police Department worked exceptionally hard on this case and did an excellent job,” he said. “I appreciate Zak’s dedication and hard work on this case and his seeing it through to Head’s conviction. I also appreciate APD’s leadership and investigative team for working so hard during the investigation and throughout the trial process. They did a great job and made a great case.” 

    Merrell also expressed appreciation to the State Bureau of Investigations and the United States Marshals Service, who assisted in the investigation.

    Other defendants involved in the case are also due to go to trial.

    “One of Head’s four co-defendants has already pled guilty. As for the rest of them … their day is coming,” Merrell said.

    Source

  • Founder of Transformation GEMS Women’s Biz Empowerment – The US Times

    Today we’d like to introduce you to Dr. Carmen Thomas:

    It’s an honor to speak with you today. Why don’t you give us some details about you and your story. How did you get to where you are today?

    My journey began living in the projects for the first 10 years of my life, and then to building a brand new home on the same street as my grandparents with a divorced mom, and being the oldest daughter and granddaughter to my grandparents who were pillars in the community. My grandmother owner a beauty shop in the 60’s and my grandfather was a union steward who had side a hustle selling cars. I grew up watching my grandmother design fashion with her friends, custom design her furniture, and most of all give love and encouragement to every beautiful woman who sat in her chair. I was privileged to listen to the women share their stories filled with so much laughter. I knew I was going to do something really great with women in my life because I saw how engaging their conversations were and how important it was for women to be encouraged and made to believe in themselves. That was what my grandmother did for everyone she encountered even for her family and community. She was the gift that God gave to us and I still see her smiling and reminding me how important it is to follow your heart. You can accomplish whatever you put your mind to and I have carried that with me forever.

    I’m sure your success has not come easily. What challenges have you had to overcome along the way?

    I had to learn early in life to believe that I can do anything. Nothing was impossible for me, even when I made bad decisions. Which I’ve made quite a few of in my past. Learning to move forward after loss was tough. At the age of 12 my father died and so did my best friend, but I chose to move forward to live and hold on to great memories. I was divorced in my late 20’s without being able to hire an attorney, I found resources to do it myself and became a single mom to two beautiful daughters, I chose to move forward to live; my daughters and I had to face the struggle of low income, single parent with no place to live, but I chose to live and we did.
    I owned a Real Estate Company and then the recession hit and I was left with almost a million dollars of debt and a 5000 square feet custom built home to unload, and it wasn’t easy but I survived with thoughts of telling myself, the situation does not define me.

    I’ve worked with all white leaders where I had a seat at the table, but not valued for my voice, I survived and thrived to learn how to navigate several positions of being the only Black Woman in the room.

    Each challenge I overcame has prepared me for the next challenge and believe that I’m Unstoppable. My advice: No one can stop you, but you!

    Let’s talk about the work you do. What do you specialize in and why should someone work with you over the competition?

    I show women how to design their lives by learning how to apply emotional intelligence daily. I assist them with believing they have everything they need to live their best life. I teach them to maximize every God given gift they have to create systems, legacies and become recession proof.

    I have an executive career in the daytime, a non-profit for women, a women empowerment membership group, investment biz, coaching, and real estate and economic development business.

    You should work with me because I teach what I’ve mastered and love what I do. I only work with people who are serious. I succeed when you succeed and if you are not ready to create your wealthy life plan and invest in your future and family, then I’m not the person for you, because you must believe, and prepare and train your mind to be great with being great.

    What’s your best piece of advice for readers who desire to find success in their life?

    Believe in yourself, take risk and always compete against yourself daily and reward yourself. Remind yourself that failure is not failure unless you quit and quitting is not included in your legacy.

    Always remember to give yourself permission to be great! You are Unstoppable!

    Speaking of success, what does the word mean to you?

    Success is more than the word defined in the dictionary!

    Success is loving yourself and others, dreaming and believing you can accomplish your dreams, and always finding joy in the little things in life.

    What’s next for you?

    Empower 1000 successful women entrepreneurs, partner with funders to give over $100,000.00 to women of color in the next 5 years.

    Open more Transformation GEMS for Women to start and accelerate their businesses in more communities with community partners.

    Continue Women Conferences that engage women to launch into their business and maximize their gifts to live a wealthy life, being wealthy living a recession-proof lifestyle.

    Write leadership books, create leadership talks, platforms and build more tables for women to have a seat and dine with more authentic sisters.

    Finally, how can people connect with you if they want to learn more?

    Transformationgems.com
    Unstoppablewomensempire.com
    Carmen@transformationbycarmen.com
    1-805-994-0822
    Facebook Groups: TransformationGEMS Global Sisters Empire
    Facebook Groups: Unstoppable Women’s Empire
    Instagram: Transformationbycarmen
    LinkedIn: Carmen Thomas Lansing

     



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  • 11-year-old sentenced for pushing 8-year-old into pit, holding his head underwater until he drowned

    JESUP, Ga. (TCN) — An 11-year-old boy was reportedly ordered to spend two years in a juvenile detention facility after he pleaded guilty to drowning an 8-year-old boy who was found dead in a borrow pit hours after he was reported missing.

    WTOC-TV reports the 11-year-old entered the plea for charges of simple battery, concealing the death of another, involuntary manslaughter, and criminal trespass in connection with the death of Noah Bush. His sentence is reportedly a state maximum, but Bush’s mother said it “isn’t justice.”

    Bush’s mother, Demetrice Bush, said after the sentence, “My baby was 8 years old with a full life ahead of him, and two years is what the state of Georgia calls justice for an entire life that’s lost.”

    According to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, a 10-year-old boy also received a sentence of two years for his role in Bush’s death.

    Bush was reported missing to the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office on May 15 at 9:10 p.m. Over the course of the next several hours, deputies and other law enforcement officials began searching the area for Bush. On May 16 at 12:07 a.m., dispatch got a call from someone who said they “hear a child calling ‘Mama.’” Deputies went to the location but did not find anyone. At 12:30 a.m., a K-9 found a pair of children’s shoes near a body of water. The shoes were later confirmed to be Bush’s.

    Officials had road crews open a gate to access clay pits, and while there, they reportedly discovered footprints close to the water. Search and rescue teams went into the water and discovered Bush’s body at around 8 a.m.

    An autopsy later determined Bush’s cause of death was drowning.

    The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports the sheriff’s office first said Bush drowned after he walked into the pit, but his family argued that could not be the case because he had a fear of deep water and would not go in of his own volition. Later, investigators reportedly learned Bush was pushed into the water and held down until he died. Natalie Hardison, a mother of one of the juveniles, was arrested for giving false statements to police.

    WTOC shared a video of a press conference after the sentencing. An attorney for Bush’s family, Francys Johnson, said, “The story they were told was that their son had accidentally drowned. They knew that was not true then, and today the same was confirmed in court as the 11-year-old juvenile confessed to this horrific homicide.”

    Johnson continued, “Just because something is legal does not make it just. In this case, a two-year confinement is not right or just.”

    He said it was a “day to tell the truth” and that the “racial animus in the heart of the 11-year-old is what stirred this up in the first place. We all have a responsibility to push back against that racial animus and hatred that would lead 11-year-olds and 10-year-olds to want to fight and take the life of another person. That what’s this case was about at its core.”

    Bush was Black and the two juveniles are white.

    Johnson argued the “joy of Noah offended the 11-year-old. The peace, happiness of Noah offended this 11-year-old. He wanted to do something about it.”

    Demetrice Bush said, “There is no peace. There is no comfort. There is no closure for me. I will live with this for the rest of my life.”

    MORE:

    • Second juvenile sentenced in relation to Noah Bush’s death – WTOC
    • 11-year-old sentenced in second grader’s construction pit drowning – Atlanta Journal-Constitution
    • 2 juveniles, ages 10 and 11, charged after missing 8-year-old boy is found dead in pit, 7/12/2024 – TCN
    • Timeline of events, 5/17/2024 – Wayne County Sheriff’s Office

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  • U.S. Fails to Monitor Hundreds of Thousands of Illegal Alien Minors Risking Forced Labor, Trafficking

    A year after a mainstream newspaper reported that the Biden administration lost track of 85,000 illegal immigrant minors welcomed into the United States upon crossing the Mexican border, a federal audit reveals that tens of thousands have subsequently vanished from the government’s radar and hundreds of thousands go unmonitored. It marks the latest in a multitude of scandals involving the nearly half a million Unaccompanied Alien Children (UAC)—rebranded Unaccompanied Children (UC) by the Biden administration to be more politically correct—admitted into the country in the last few years. The Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR), which operates under Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), is responsible for caring for UAC, which are overwhelmingly males over the age of 14, according to government figures. They come from Guatemala (42%), Honduras (28%), El Salvador (9%), Mexico (8%) and “other” (13%).

    Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the “premier” Homeland Security law enforcement agency created after 9/11 to safeguard the nation and preserve national security, is responsible for monitoring the location and status of all UAC inside the U.S. This is important because many of the minors have been victims of abuse and exploitation but also because some have committed violent crimes after being released into American communities. This includes a teen from El Salvador who raped and murdered a Maryland woman, two teens—one from El Salvador and other from Guatemala—charged with raping a 14-year-old girl at a public high school, and a pair of 17-year-old Central Americans who executed a Massachusetts man by shooting him in the head shortly after crossing the southwest border. Both had ties to the famously violent gang known as Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13), renowned for drug distribution, murder, rape, robbery, home invasions, kidnappings, vandalism, and other brutal crimes.

    Despite the documented threats presented by some UAC and media reports exposing how many are victimized, ICE fails to keep proper track of the young migrants once released into the country by HHS and the agency does not initiate removal proceedings for those who should be deported. Investigators from the Department of Homeland Security Inspector General (DHS IG) found that the agency transferred more than 448,000 illegal immigrant minors to HHS between 2019 and 2023 but was not able to account for the location of more than 32,000 UAC and failed to serve more than 291,000 illegal immigrant minors “who warranted placement in removal proceedings under 8 U.S. Code Section 1229(a)” a Notice to Appear (NTA) in court. “Additionally, even though HHS is responsible for the care and custody of UCs, ICE did not always inform HHS’ Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) when UCs failed to appear in immigration court after release from HHS’ custody,” the DHS IG report states, adding that ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) officers at only one of the 10 field offices probed by investigators attempted to locate UACs who did not appear in immigration court.

    The DHS watchdog also points out that the underage migrants may be at high risk for trafficking, exploitation or forced labor and ICE must take immediate action to ensure the safety of those residing in the United States. By not issuing NTAs to hundreds of thousands of UAC who were not placed in removal proceedings, the report says the agency limits its chances of having contact with the illegal aliens when they are released from HHS custody, which reduces opportunities to verify their safety. “Without an ability to monitor the location and status of UCs, ICE has no assurance UCs are safe from trafficking, exploitation, or forced labor,” auditors write.

    The government’s UAC program has for years been rocked by many other problems that have put young migrants at risk, including physical and sexual abuse at U.S.-funded shelters. In 2021 Judicial Watch obtained records from HHS documenting 33 incidents of physical and sexual abuse during a one-month period at shelters where the government houses UAC until they are relocated with a sponsor. That year a federal audit blasted the agency for failing to protect UAC from sexual misconduct at the facilities. During a six-month period alone, investigators from the HHS Inspector General’s office uncovered more than 750 incidents involving sexual misconduct at dozens of shelters housing minor detainees. Last year the HHS IG slammed the agency for failing to properly vet employees and contractors who care for the illegal immigrant minors. Just weeks ago, the U.S. sued a nonprofit it has paid billions to house migrant youths for sexually abusing them for years.

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  • Fact Check: How a political convention speech inspired PolitiFact

    We’re celebrating PolitiFact’s 17th birthday while covering the Democratic National Convention in Chicago this year.

    And so I can’t help but think back to how the Truth-O-Meter all started.

    The year: 2004.

    The place: New York.

    That year founding PolitiFact editor Bill Adair was covering the Republican National Convention for the then-St. Petersburg Times when he heard a speech that sparked the idea for PolitiFact.

    Sen. Zell Miller, a Georgia Democrat who made the rare decision to endorse a Republican presidential nominee, George W. Bush, used his convention moment to attack Democratic nominee John Kerry’s military credentials, accusing Kerry of opposing military aircraft and weapons systems used in the Iraq war. 

    Adair knew Miller was exaggerating, but a Florida political reporter wasn’t going to write about a Georgia politician. 

    The next day, Adair saw the coverage and it left him upset. Miller made his claims. Kerry’s campaign said it was all wrong. Miller and the GOP dug in. Who was right?

    Well …. no one would say.

    And with that, the idea for PolitiFact started to grow. Our website launched on Aug. 22, 2007. The team’s fact-checking of the 2008 election earned the newspaper the 2009 Pulitzer Prize for National Reporting. 

    Today, PolitiFact employs 22 journalists dedicated to the mission of helping voters sort out fact from fiction. 

    On our 17th birthday, it’s fitting that we are pulling together to cover the closing night of another convention. Our reporters work tirelessly to produce journalism that you can count on, all year long, in whichever format you prefer to receive it.

    This is essential work, and it wouldn’t be possible without the support of generous readers.

    Support PolitiFact. Donate $17 for our 17th birthday!



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  • Southland Football Power Rankings for Week 0

    Southland Football Power Rankings for Week 0

    Published 8:18 pm Wednesday, August 21, 2024

    With Week 0 of the college football season upon us, which teams are the leading contenders at the top of the Southland, and which teams are in the cellar? To get you caught up on where every team stands, check our power rankings below.

    Watch college football all season long on Fubo, ESPN+ and Paramount+.

    Southland Power Rankings

    Projected records reflect games against only FCS opponents.

    No. 1: Incarnate Word

    • Current Record: 0-0 | Projected 2024 Record: 10-2
    • Strength of Schedule Ranking (FCS): 95th

    Next Game

    No. 2: Nicholls State

    • Current Record: 0-0 | Projected 2024 Record: 8-2
    • Strength of Schedule Ranking (FCS): 80th

    Next Game

    No. 3: Lamar

    • Current Record: 0-0 | Projected 2024 Record: 7-4
    • Strength of Schedule Ranking (FCS): 87th

    Catch college football action all year long on ESPN+.

    Next Game

    No. 4: Stephen F. Austin

    • Current Record: 0-0 | Projected 2024 Record: 5-5
    • Strength of Schedule Ranking (FCS): 59th

    Next Game

    No. 5: Southeastern Louisiana

    • Current Record: 0-0 | Projected 2024 Record: 4-6
    • Strength of Schedule Ranking (FCS): 89th

    Next Game

    No. 6: Houston Christian

    • Current Record: 0-0 | Projected 2024 Record: 3-6
    • Strength of Schedule Ranking (FCS): 90th

    Bet on this or any college football matchup at BetMGM.

    Next Game

    No. 7: Texas A&M-Commerce

    • Current Record: 0-0 | Projected 2024 Record: 0-11
    • Strength of Schedule Ranking (FCS): 68th

    Next Game

    No. 8: McNeese

    • Current Record: 0-0 | Projected 2024 Record: 1-10
    • Strength of Schedule Ranking (FCS): 79th

    Next Game

    • Week 0 Opponent: @ Tarleton State
    • Game Time: 3:30 PM ET on Saturday, August 24
    • TV Channel: ESPN (Watch on Fubo – Regional restrictions may apply)

    No. 9: Northwestern State

    • Current Record: 0-0 | Projected 2024 Record: 2-8
    • Strength of Schedule Ranking (FCS): 77th

    Next Game

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  • Jade Simmons: Transformational Speaker, Musical Force of Nature and Equal-Opportunity Disrupter!

    Today we’d like to introduce you to Jade Simmons.

    It’s an honor to speak with you today. Why don’t you give us some details about you and your story. How did you get to where you are today?

    Mine is the story of an accidental maverick turned intentional disruptor. My original dream was simply to be a classical concert pianist, which was not an easy feat, but I made it onto some incredible stages. Over time, I began introducing storytelling into my concert experiences before storytelling was trendy and it changed the trajectory of my career. I also started adding in different genres, electronics, and interactivity which garnered me the nickname “Classical Music’s #1 Maverick”. Speaking became a trademark of my concert experience but also broke me out of the music world and onto corporate stages where my artistic background made me an instant authority on creativity and innovation. Today, I’m a sought-after keynote speaker who creates keynote concert adventures for some of the world’s superlative brands and organizations. As a Yamaha artist, a piano comes with me wherever I go!

    I go into every engagement, whether it’s a keynote, a concert, a sermon, a book, or a coaching session, with the intention of disrupting the way my audiences think, believe, and move. It’s a type of disruption that moves us out of stale ways of thinking or familiar habits that block breakthrough. My aim is to cause us to understand possibilities anew and to go for more than we previously thought capable.

    I’m sure your success has not come easily. What challenges have you had to overcome along the way?

    In the beginning, when I was trying to solely become a classical concert pianist and I was doing it just like every other classical music graduate, that is when things were difficult. It was comparing apples to apples and the ones with the least blemishes won out. I wasn’t a great competitive player because I didn’t play perfectly. I’d started playing piano later than my counterparts and didn’t have the same resume or connections. But, I could play an engaging concert. Nevertheless, as a musician, it’s ingrained in us that our career cannot start until we find “representation”, meaning a manager, an agent, or get a record deal, so we wait around to be discovered.

    Everything changed when I started discovering myself instead. I went from working to play Mozart like all the Greats that had come before me to designing a concert experience built just for me and the special type of audience who would want to take the journey I was offering. The bolder I got in my choices (be it in the music, the themes, or even my wardrobe), the more diverse my audiences became and the more acclaim I received. I now understand the importance and the freedom in what I call organic differentiation and it’s something I teach to creatives and those in more traditional workspaces.

    Let’s talk about the work you do. What do you specialize in and why should someone work with you over the competition?

    At Jade Media Global, we offer transformative live experiences and uncommon inspirational content. We change lives from our live encounters, to our books, to our social media because we are transformation-obsessed. The speaking industry is oversaturated with thought-leaders, authors, influencers, leadership experts, and celebrities, so we have had to work hard to make sure that “Jade Simmons” is synonymous with the following:

    Wow Factor, energy, inspiration, entertainment, uniqueness, transformation and our key ingredient Over-the-top Customization.

    When I started speaking, I brought the same work ethic as a 12-hour a day practicing concert pianist who paid excruciating attention to detail. I learned the ins and outs of every industry I was speaking to, had calls with their leadership to find out about pain points, absorbed their messaging, set Google alerts to know my clients were in the news and then I’d weave that info into my presentation. Here’s the kicker! I thought all speakers were doing that and boy, was I wrong! So many were dialing it in, barely acknowledging that each audience was different even if it was the same industry. In a very short time, this customization piece distinguished me and shot me to the top of many rosters. And this work ethic was when I was only making $15k per keynote. In less than a decade, we’ve been able to raise my fee to 6 figures per keynote because of the factors mentioned above. We now can say we offer transformation on the spot and that is priceless.

    What’s your best piece of advice for readers who desire to find success in their life?

    Pursue true purpose instead. Operating in the dead center of your purpose provides fulfillment even before all the goals are reached. Joy, happiness, confidence, and confirmation are on repeat when you know the unique outbreak you’re designed to have on the world around you. Watching that effect you have yield big results in life, family, and business is success.

    Speaking of success, what does the word mean to you?

    Ultimately, success for me is knowing that I’m walking in God’s will for my life. I also understand now that success looks different in different seasons, which also means I can set a new desire for each season. Depending on what’s going on with my family, success may look like keeping the peace through growing pains, it may look like keeping my promise to be truly present when I’m home with family and not traveling. Success this year has looked like holding my team together through the biggest breakthrough season we have ever been in. I teach that breakthrough and breakdown (and sometimes, break-off) all go together and that was the case for us as a company in Q1 of 2023. Success was seeing them thrive in the challenging stuff, keeping morale up when some of their team members couldn’t keep up with the speed of the breakthrough train. Success is knowing that the awesome profit we have been bringing in is directly tied, not only to our tremendous hard work but to our tremendous impact on others. We rejoice when testimonials from perfect strangers come in, when we see lives forever changed because of the words we’re speaking, printing, and posting. Success is going to bed knowing that you have left the world better than it was when you woke up that morning. There’s no feeling like that.

    What’s next for you?

    That’s always a loaded question for me that I used to be able to shoot off an instant answer to. These days, I’ve figured out that the answer is “I don’t really know”. I have some inklings and I’m constantly on the lookout for confirmation that let’s me know whether or not my current ideas are NOW ideas. When I have that confirmation, I move in that direction even if I don’t have the whole plan laid out. The question I now ask myself is which type of impact is needed by us right now and then we lean hard in that direction. I do know that Jade Media Global will begin to have events of our own so that we can curate our audience’s experience from start to finish and offer the transformation we want to spark. My new book, Purpose The Remix, has been birthed to see more than a billion people uncover their true purpose so they can be about the business of offering the solutions they are uniquely designed to offer. And, I also want to do my part in igniting a more purposeful nation, one that lives up to its original purpose. Time will tell what that looks like. For now, I’m living as best I can in the NOW.

    Finally, how can people connect with you if they want to learn more?

    PurposeThe Remix.com is where you’ll find all things Purpose including the book, ebook, audiobook, and exercises to help you get closer to understanding the power of your purpose. Learn more about my speaking activities and the possibilities we offer you and your organization at JadeSimmons.com. Visionary women of faith looking to walk in the center of purpose and finally realize the big, bold dreams on your heart, learn about our revolutionary communiverse called Designer Growth Club at Jadesimmons.com and in the Jade Simmons App.

    I hang out frequently on instagram @officialjadesimmons.

    Jade simmons



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