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Oakland County DUI Attorney Paul J. Tafelski Discusses Michigan DUI Laws in Latest Article 12-04-2024 10:40 PM CET | Politics, Law & Society Press release from: ABNewswire Oakland County DUI attorney [ https://www.michigandefenselaw.com/mi-owi-dui-lawyer/ ] Paul J. Tafelski of Michigan Defense Law has published an insightful article examining Michigan's DUI laws, commonly referred to as OWI (Operating While Intoxicated). The article sheds light on the legal definitions, penalties, and potential defenses for individuals facing DUI charges in Michigan. The article by the Oakland County DUI attorney begins by outlining Michigan's strict drunk driving laws, including the legal blood alcohol content (BAC) limits. For drivers aged 21 and older, a BAC of .08% or higher can result in an OWI charge, while a BAC of .17% or higher triggers Michigan's "Super Drunk" law. For drivers under 21, the Zero Tolerance law prohibits operating a vehicle with a BAC of .02% or higher. Beyond these thresholds, factors such as age, BAC levels, and prior offenses significantly influence the severity of the penalties. "DUI charges in Oakland County, Michigan can be life-changing," warns Oakland County DUI attorney Paul J. Tafelski. "Even a first-time offense can lead to jail time, hefty fines, community service, and the loss of driving privileges. It's vital that individuals accused of drunk driving take these charges seriously and understand their legal options." Under Michigan law (MCL 257.625), operating a vehicle while intoxicated applies not only to alcohol impairment but also to drugs or a combination of both. The article provides an in-depth look at first-time DUI offenses in Michigan, emphasizing the potential consequences of even a single conviction. The penalties for a first-time DUI include up to 93 days in jail, fines ranging from $100 to $500, and up to 360 hours of community service. In some cases, courts may require the installation of an ignition interlock device or impose vehicle immobilization. For first-time offenses involving minors under the age of 16 as passengers or incidents resulting in injury or death, the penalties become significantly harsher. Tafelski stresses the importance of aggressively defending against a first offense to mitigate long-term consequences. One of the main points discussed in the article is the importance of probable cause in DUI arrests. Tafelski explains that law enforcement must have sufficient evidence to justify a traffic stop and subsequent arrest for suspected drunk driving. This evidence may include erratic driving behavior, the odor of alcohol, slurred speech, or poor performance on field sobriety tests. "Probable cause is a critical element in DUI cases," notes Tafelski. "If an officer did not have reasonable grounds to stop or arrest an individual, the evidence collected during the stop may be challenged in court. This could lead to the suppression of key evidence and, in some cases, the dismissal of charges." Drivers with a BAC of .17% or higher face enhanced penalties under Michigan's "Super Drunk" law. These penalties include longer jail sentences, higher fines, and mandatory participation in alcohol treatment programs. The article explains that such cases are particularly challenging but not insurmountable with the right legal strategy. Tafelski emphasizes that high-BAC cases require a thorough analysis of the evidence, including the accuracy of breath or blood tests. "Breathalyzer and blood test results are not always infallible," he says. "There are many factors that can affect their accuracy, from improper calibration of the equipment to procedural errors during the test. These are areas that are carefully investigated when building a defense." The article also addresses Michigan's Implied Consent Law, which requires drivers to submit to chemical tests after a lawful arrest. Refusing to take a post-arrest breath or blood test can result in automatic license suspension for up to one year for a first offense and two years for subsequent refusals. Additionally, six points are added to the driver's record. Tafelski explains that while individuals have the right to refuse preliminary breath tests (PBTs) administered before an arrest, refusing the more accurate post-arrest tests can lead to significant consequences. "Refusing a chemical test can complicate a case," he says. "It's important to understand the legal implications and consult with a knowledgeable attorney if a test has been refused." The article explores common defenses that can be employed in DUI cases, such as challenging the legality of the traffic stop, questioning the accuracy of chemical tests, or arguing procedural errors during the arrest. In some cases, defendants may be able to negotiate a plea to a lesser offense or even have their charges dismissed. The Oakland County DUI attorney underscores the potential long-term consequences of a DUI conviction, including probation, mandatory alcohol treatment, increased insurance premiums, and a permanent criminal record. Tafelski urges individuals facing DUI charges to seek legal representation as soon as possible to protect their rights and explore their options. About Michigan Defense Law: Michigan Defense Law is a leading criminal defense firm serving clients throughout Oakland County, Michigan. Led by Paul J. Tafelski, the firm provides aggressive legal representation for individuals facing DUI/OWI charges and other criminal matters. With a commitment to protecting clients' rights, Michigan Defense Law works to achieve favorable outcomes for those facing the challenges of the legal system. Embeds: Youtube Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q5thIDYfhWk GMB: https://www.google.com/maps?cid=7441820969606749572 Email and website Email: paul@michigandefenselaw.com Website: https://www.michigandefenselaw.com/ Media Contact Company Name: Michigan Defense Law Contact Person: Paul J. Tafelski Email:Send Email [ https://www.abnewswire.com/email_contact_us.php?pr=oakland-county-dui-attorney-paul-j-tafelski-discusses-michigan-dui-laws-in-latest-article ] Phone: (248) 451-2200 Address:2525 S Telegraph Rd suite 100 City: Bloomfield Hills State: Michigan 48302 Country: United States Website: https://www.michigandefenselaw.com/ This release was published on openPR.Omg! See what FUGUS student who graduated with first class said was his major challenges in school

By KRISTEN WOOD Chilly weather and early nights make the holiday season the best time of year for cuddling up with your favorite games. From enjoying a quiet afternoon alone to gathering with family, these board, video and card games will bring cozy vibes to your holiday gaming. The holidays are prime time for coziness. Cold weather, hot drinks and days off work or school are perfect for snuggling up under a blanket. With many games designed to be cozy, relaxed and lighthearted, accompanying your cozy afternoons with a game might be your new holiday tradition. Many holidays bring together friends and family as well. While some families may look forward to feuding over the Risk board or resources in Settlers of Catan, more low-key games can be an opportunity to bond with loved ones. Cooperative games or games with a bit of friendly competition let you focus on who you’re playing with. Since these cozy games often have easier instructions, everyone can get involved. A busy holiday season also benefits from rest. Take a break from shopping, cooking, traveling and other holiday tasks with some games. Stress-busting games let you enjoy a couple of hours of quiet gameplay or raucous laughter, both sure to provide some relaxation. Relaxing board games are great for a lazy afternoon with friends or after dinner at a holiday party. These games often feature cooperative play or minimal competition, beautiful artwork and straightforward gameplay ideal for all ages. For the holidays, these games provide a whimsical escape from seasonal chaos. Patchwork Patchwork is a chill two-player puzzle game where you and your opponent compete to create the best quilt. The tactile experience and cozy results are relaxing on a chilly day. If you have more than two players, try Calico instead where you’ll create quilts for cats. Carcassonne In Carcassonne, players compete to build Medieval cities and fields by laying tiles. The game takes a bit of strategy and luck, and it will generate some friendly competition among children and adults alike. The charming artwork of parks, featuring America’s national parks, will also transport you on a road trip from the comfort of your home. Everdell and Flamecraft For those looking for longer gameplay, Everdell will have you playing as cute forest creatures building new cities during a game that averages a little over an hour. Flamecraft is another delightfully whimsical game where players try to attract dragons to improve the reputation of their shops. Each of these games is simple to pick up and, with every playthrough offering something new, they’ll get you through the entire holiday season. Parks, Everdell and Flamecraft can also be single-player games if you need a break from socialization. Snuggling up on the couch with a video game is inherently relaxing. Whether you enjoy mobile, computer, handheld or console games, the cozy game genre provides dozens of options. This season, try games ranging from relaxing to enchanting. If having everything in its place provides calm in the chaos of the holiday season, you’ll love Unpacking. This puzzle game, available on Switch, PC and Xbox, has you unpacking boxes and putting items away. Playing games like Unpacking can be a meditative experience. Other puzzle games like A Little to the Left and Spiritfarer blend stories into the gameplay. For spooky autumn vibes, try Strange Horticulture and play as the owner of a plant shop and potion maker. Maintaining a virtual farm or building a make-believe castle from your sofa can be a great stress reliever. Stardew Valley is a quintessential farming game surrounded by charming townspeople. With the highly anticipated November update, you can now play on console, mobile and PC. Palia , a massively multiplayer online game, features farming, quests and community building with other players. It’s also free. For those with a Nintendo Switch, the Animal Crossing series has you interacting with other animal players in a peaceful village. With multiplayer modes, these games are great options for playing with friends and family from afar during the holidays. For a single-player escape, try the recently-released Tiny Glade on PC where you’ll build castles. This cozy game’s detailed artistry and conflict-free gameplay will bring hours of relaxation. Or build a world from tiles in Dorfromantik. The game can be entirely chill or provide a bit of strategy if you want to go for a high score. A pack of cards is reliable entertainment at any gathering. From classics to innovative new card games, having a few in your game collection can be worthwhile. Card games can range from simple to complex, a few minutes to a few hours and single-player to dozens of players. If you have a standard deck of playing cards, Blitz is a great option for any number of players. Also known as Thirty One, this game gives every player three cards and lets them trade out a card on each turn, trying to get a value of thirty-one. President is another simple social card game where players race to get rid of their cards in ascending order. If you are imbibing this holiday season, some people play it as a drinking game. For a two-player card game, try The Fox in the Forest. This trick-taking card game features cozy graphics, and its fast, simple gameplay is perfect for a winter date night. For two to four players, Arboretum has darling tree graphics on its cards. Players lay cards down with the goal of creating a beautiful garden. This holiday season, be sure to take time to connect with loved ones and catch a few moments to yourself. Cozy games are a lighthearted escape. As the genre grows, there are options for everyone this season, from mindless games to those that require a touch of strategy – perfect for any mood or moment. Kristen Wood is a writer, photographer, avid cozy gamer and creator of The Cozy Gaming Nook , your source for everything cozy games. Her work has been featured in various online and print publications, including Elle, NBC, Forbes, Chicago Sun-Times, Martha Stewart, Seattle Times and more.The world stands at the dawn of a “third nuclear age” in which Britain is threatened by multiple dilemmas, the head of the armed forces has warned. But alongside his stark warning of the threats facing Britain and its allies, Admiral Sir Tony Radakin said there would be only a “remote chance” Russia would directly attack or invade the UK if the two countries were at war. The Chief of the Defence Staff laid out the landscape of British defence in a wide-ranging speech, after a minister warned the Army would be wiped out in as little as six months if forced to fight a war on the scale of the Ukraine conflict. The admiral cast doubt on the possibility as he gave a speech at the Royal United Services Institute (Rusi) defence think tank in London. He told the audience Britain needed to be “clear-eyed in our assessment” of the threats it faces, adding: “That includes recognising that there is only a remote chance of a significant direct attack or invasion by Russia on the United Kingdom, and that’s the same for the whole of Nato.” Moscow “knows the response will be overwhelming”, he added, but warned the nuclear deterrent needed to be “kept strong and strengthened”. Sir Tony added: “We are at the dawn of a third nuclear age, which is altogether more complex. It is defined by multiple and concurrent dilemmas, proliferating nuclear and disruptive technologies and the almost total absence of the security architectures that went before.” The first nuclear age was the Cold War, while the second was “governed by disarmament efforts and counter proliferation”, the armed forces chief said. He listed the “wild threats of tactical nuclear use” by Russia, China building up its weapon stocks, Iran’s failure to co-operate with a nuclear deal, and North Korea’s “erratic behaviour” among the threats faced by the West. But Sir Tony said the UK’s nuclear arsenal is “the one part of our inventory of which Russia is most aware and has more impact on (President Vladimir) Putin than anything else”. Successive British governments had invested “substantial sums of money” in renewing nuclear submarines and warheads because of this, he added. The admiral described the deployment of thousands of North Korean soldiers on Ukraine’s border alongside Russian forces as the year’s “most extraordinary development”. He also signalled further deployments were possible, speaking of “tens of thousands more to follow as part of a new security pact with Russia”. Defence minister Alistair Carns earlier said a rate of casualties similar to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine would lead to the army being “expended” within six to 12 months. He said it illustrated the need to “generate depth and mass rapidly in the event of a crisis”. In comments reported by Sky News, Mr Carns, a former Royal Marines colonel, said Russia was suffering losses of around 1,500 soldiers killed or injured a day. “In a war of scale – not a limited intervention, but one similar to Ukraine – our Army for example, on the current casualty rates, would be expended – as part of a broader multinational coalition – in six months to a year,” Mr Carns said in a speech at Rusi. He added: “That doesn’t mean we need a bigger Army, but it does mean you need to generate depth and mass rapidly in the event of a crisis.” Official figures show the Army had 109,245 personnel on October 1, including 25,814 volunteer reservists. Mr Carns, the minister for veterans and people, said the UK needed to “catch up with Nato allies” to place greater emphasis on the reserves. The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said Defence Secretary John Healey had previously spoken about “the state of the armed forces that were inherited from the previous government”. The spokesman said: “It’s why the Budget invested billions of pounds into defence, it’s why we’re undertaking a strategic defence review to ensure that we have the capabilities and the investment needed to defend this country.”

Ana Navarro Mocked For Citing Fictional Pardon To Defend Joe BidenBlues supporters also sang the name of head coach Maresca during the closing stages of an emphatic success sealed by goals from Axel Disasi, Christopher Nkunku, Noni Madueke, Cole Palmer and substitute Jadon Sancho. Bottom club Southampton briefly levelled through Joe Aribo but were a man down from the 39th minute after captain Jack Stephens was sent off for pulling the hair of Marc Cucurella. Chelsea, who have endured an underwhelming period since Todd Boehly’s consortium bought the club in 2022, climbed above Arsenal and into second place on goal difference, seven points behind leaders Liverpool. “It was a very good feeling, especially because you can see that they are happy, that is our target,” Maresca said of the atmosphere in the away end. “We work every day to keep them happy and tonight was a very good feeling, especially the one that they can see that Chelsea’s back. This is an important thing.” Maresca rotated his squad in Hampshire, making seven changes following Sunday’s impressive 3-0 win over Aston Villa. Following a sloppy start, his side, who stretched their unbeaten run to six top-flight games, could easily have won by more as they hit the woodwork three times, in addition to squandering a host of chances. “I’m very happy with the five we scored,” said the Italian. “I’m not happy with the first 15, 20 minutes, where we struggled. The reason why we struggled is because we prepared the game to press them man to man and the first 15, 20 minutes we were not pressing them man to man. “After 15, 20 minutes we adjust that and the game was much better. For sure we could score more but five goals they are enough.” Southampton manager Russell Martin rued a costly “moment of madness” from skipper Stephens. The defender’s ridiculous red card was the headline mistake of a catalogue of errors from the beleaguered south-coast club as they slipped seven points from safety following an 11th defeat of a dismal season. “I don’t think anyone will be as disappointed as Jack,” Martin said of Stephens, who was sent off for the second time this term after tugging the curls of Cucurella as Saints prepared to take a corner. “I haven’t got to sit down and talk with him about that at all. He will be hurt more than anyone and it’s changed the game for us tonight, which is disappointing. “I think they have to describe it as violent conduct; it’s not violent really but there’s no other explanation for that really. It’s a moment of madness that’s really cost us and Jack.” Southampton repeatedly invited pressure with their risky attempts to play out from defence, with goalkeeper Joe Lumley gifting Chelsea their second goal, scored by Nkunku. While Saints were booed off at full-time, Martin, who was missing a host of key players due to injuries and suspensions, praised the effort of his depleted team. “When they see such a big scoreline and a couple of the goals we concede, I understand it (the jeers),” he said. “It’s football, it’s emotive, people feel so much about it, it’s why it’s such a special sport in this country and so big. “I understand it but I feel really proud of the players tonight, some of the football we played at 11 v 11 was amazing. “For an hour with 10 men we’ve dug in so deep, there were some big performances. I’m proud of them for that and I’m grateful for that because that’s not easy in that circumstance.”

Gov. Chris Sununu swears in House lawmakers for the 2025 to 2026 legislative biennium on Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024. (Ethan DeWitt | New Hampshire Bulletin) Two Londonderry Republicans will lead the New Hampshire House and Senate for the next two years, after being formally voted in by their peers Wednesday. Sherman Packard was reelected House speaker, beginning his third term in the job with a much more comfortable legislative majority than the last term. And Sen. Sharon Carson was chosen to be Senate president, overseeing a 16-8 Republican-controlled chamber and succeeding longtime Sen. Jeb Bradley, who is retiring this year. The elections were part of Organization Day, when newly elected senators and representatives are sworn into office, and the House and Senate choose the secretary of state and state treasurer. Here’s what you need to know. Introducing Packard before voting began, Rep. Lisa Mazur, a Goffstown Republican, praised Packard’s legislative priorities. “With his extensive experience, he has championed legislation that supports parental rights, strengthens our economy, safeguards personal freedoms, and ensures that every tax dollar is spent wisely,” she said. Rep. Ted Gorski, a Bedford Republican, drew attention to what he said were Packard’s evenhanded temperament and skills at conflict resolution. “Recently, Sherm and I had a difference of opinion on an issue, and after the issue played out, we were emailing back and forth, and I decided to call Sherm, but Sherm beat me to the punch,” he said. “He actually called me, and we had a great conversation. As the call ended, it was evident to me that Sherm would not harbor any bad feelings, but his goal was to maintain the relationship.” In his own speech, Packard called for civility between members of both parties. “We’ve got two tough years ahead of us,” he said. “Philosophically, in many cases, we are going to have different opinions on subject matter. ... But by God, that doesn’t mean we can’t be civil and friendly and cooperate with each other when we are on the same page.” Packard urged special caution around social media practices, saying he wished Facebook and Twitter – now called X – didn’t exist. And, he said, “my door is open.” Democrats nominated Rep. Alexis Simpson, of Exeter, as speaker. She lost that bid but will be the House Democratic leader, succeeding Rep. Matt Wilhelm, of Manchester, who is continuing to serve as a representative. “Whatever it is, whatever bill you want to pass and send to the governor’s desk, you cannot do it alone,” Simpson said in her own election speech. “None of us can. We need to work together in this body to make the changes that we envision.” Following House rules, the speaker was elected via a secret ballot. With 388 representatives casting votes, 202 votes went to Packard, 162 went to Simpson, 17 were scattered votes for other candidates, and 7 ballots were left blank. Carson, who won by unanimous vote in the Senate, promised to work to “preserve and expand the New Hampshire advantage, ensuring that our state remains a place where families thrive, businesses grow, and communities flourish.” “I am energized by the work ahead together. We have an opportunity to build on the traditions of civility and collaboration that makes this chamber truly unique,” she said. Sen. Rebecca Perkins-Kwoka, a Portsmouth Democrat and the Senate minority leader, seconded the motion to elect Carson. “I hope there will be things we can work together on this session,” she said. “Such as: We all know our residents need housing. We all know our businesses need workforce. And we all know our families need child care.” More from this section The House and Senate reelected Dave Scanlan as secretary of state and Monica Mezzapelle as state treasurer. Neither were contested. Accepting his election, Scanlan said the past two years had been “busy.” “We have had a lot of successes, but the largest one is in preserving the first-in-the-nation presidential primary, which is something that everybody in this room gets behind,” Scanlan said. “We faced the largest challenge to the primary in the primary’s history, and I think the aftermath is still as relevant as it ever has been.” In a nomination speech for Mezzapelle, Sen. Cindy Rosenwald, a Nashua Democrat, praised her “sound professional judgement on borrowing,” which she said had contributed to New Hampshire’s S&P Global Ratings increase from AA to AA+ in March, “which will save the state millions.” “She’s been incredibly successful here with interest coming in $85 million ahead of plan for last fiscal year and $46 million ahead of plan for the current year today,” Rosenwald added. Mezzapelle, who has served in the role since 2020, said the pandemic had provided economic challenges and opportunities for the state. “One of the key takeaways for me is the importance of being prepared,” Mezzapelle said. “The need to assess risks and develop policies and plans that can guide us during good and also not-so-good times.” The 2025 session has not yet begun, but there is already a special election needed. Rep. Dawn Evans, a Democrat from Somersworth, has resigned her seat because she has moved out of her district. Her resignation letter was read by House Clerk Paul Smith Wednesday. The resignation changes the balance of the House to 221 Republicans, 177 Democrats, and one independent; Somersworth officials will need to schedule a special election to fill the seat soon. As the housing shortage continues unabated, the New Hampshire House now has a permanent committee dedicated to housing bills. That came about as part of a rule change, and is a response to what Deputy Speaker Steven Smith called a growing need. “I think both sides want this,” he said. “I know the public wants us to do it.” The House also moved to divide a longstanding committee – the Education Committee – into two separate committees. Those will be the Committee on Education Policy and Administration and the Committee on Education Funding. Smith argued the change was needed because there are so many education-related bills that lawmakers on the Education Committee are being inundated. And the Senate has created a new permanent committee, too: the Committee on Children and Family Law. The body did not detail the reasons for the creation of its committee. On Wednesday, the House and the Senate both adopted a set of ethics rules proposed by the Legislative Ethics Committee that will require lawmakers to recuse themselves from far more votes than before. Spurred by a law passed by the Legislature in 2024, House Bill 1388 , the new ethics rules prevent lawmakers from voting on bills if they have a personal conflict of interest or if they or a family member could expect to benefit – or suffer – financially if the bill were to pass or fail. A lawmaker who requires recusal is “someone who founded the company or organization,” is “a substantial contributor,” is paid based on the revenues of the organization, has control over the organization’s expenses or budget, or who owns a controlling interest in that organization. While the Senate passed the new rules easily, the House had some hiccups. Some Republican lawmakers requested that the vote be postponed by a month – or tabled – because they said they had not had enough time to read and review the final ethics changes. But those lawmakers failed to achieve the votes necessary to do so and the ethics rules moved ahead.MADRID (AP) — Real Valladolid beat Valencia 1-0 and rose off the bottom of La Liga on Friday. Moroccan forward Anuar scored with a solo effort after 19 minutes. “It's a sense of relief because we needed the three points,” Anuar said on broadcaster DAZN. “It was like a final, and fortunately, we managed to come out on top.” Valladolid's Juanmi Latasa was sent off 12 minutes from time after a video review showed he used an elbow, but the home side managed to hold on for the win against a toothless rival. It was a welcome three points for caretaker coach Álvaro Rubio and his first since replacing Paulo Pezzolano, who was fired at the start of December. Valencia replaced Valladolid on the bottom of the table. Valencia has only two wins in 15 league games, but two games in hand. AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

UCLA football team’s Senior Day hints at some Bruins’ futures

Right-Winger at SCOTUS Rally Vows to ‘Erase’ Trans Ideology ‘From This Earth’ - Rolling Stone

AUSTIN, Texas — On Wednesday, the U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments for and against a ban on gender-affirming care for children. The law at the center of that case is from Tennessee. However, 25 other states, including Texas, have similar restrictions. Experts are calling this a landmark case, as it’s the first time the nation’s highest court has considered a state law targeting transgender people. ACLU lawyer Chase Strangio also became the first transgender attorney to argue before the U.S. Supreme Court. Their ruling could determine access to health care for hundreds of thousands of teens and children, which could include kids in Texas. On Wednesday, Supreme Court justices heard oral arguments in a case brought by the Biden administration and three families with transgender teenagers. That includes a 16-year-old who goes by L.W. The teen spoke to ABC News. "It's not very comfortable being trapped in, you know, 'cause it doesn't really feel like you,” said L.W. After months of therapy and doctors visits, L.W. and her parents decided to start puberty blockers and, later, hormone therapy. However, in 2023, state lawmakers in Tennessee banned those treatments. "In Tennessee, we think this is a risky procedure,” said Tennessee Senate Majority Leader Jack Johnson. Those challenging Tennessee’s law argue it’s a form of sex discrimination. "This case is about access to medications that have been safely prescribed for decades to treat many conditions including gender dysphoria,” said Elizabeth Prelogar, U.S. solicitor general, during the hearing. Major American medical associations have endorsed the treatments for more than a decade. The law’s defenders insist they’re trying to protect children. “Just as using morphine to manage pain differs from using it to assist suicide, using hormones and puberty blockers to address a physical condition is far different from using it to address psychological distress associated with one’s body,” said Matthew Rice, Tennessee solicitor general, during the hearing. During the hearing, the conservative majority court appeared to lean toward upholding Tennessee’s law. Texas Values, a nonprofit with a stated mission “to preserve and advance a culture of family values in the state of Texas,” filed a brief supporting that law. “It could impact the state of Texas,” said Jonathan Saenz, president of Texas Values, of the Supreme Court’s decision. Saenz was in Washington, D.C., for Wednesday’s hearing. He spoke with KVUE about what could happen if justices strike down the Tennessee law. “Now in Texas, this issue’s already been taken up in our state laws, but you could see people refile these issues in federal court and possibly in state court and ask our judges in Texas to take another look at it,” said Saenz. The Texas Legislature passed similar restrictions under Senate Bill 14 in 2023. That law has also faced opposition in court. “We’ve seen firsthand in Texas how damaging it is when something like that happens,” said Brad Pritchett, interim CEO of Equality Texas, a statewide advocacy group for LGBTQ+ rights. “A lot of families had to pack up and leave the state in order to get their families lifesaving health care.” Pritchett said families that have worked with Equality Texas were at Wednesday’s hearing. He said the impact of the Supreme Court’s ruling on Texas will depend on how narrow or broad it is. That decision is expected in June.Ireland midfielder Jessie Stapleton says Eileen Gleeson’s tenure shouldn’t be defined by their Euro 2025 play-off defeat and hopes she remains the national boss. Gleeson’s contract expired following Tuesday’s home defeat to Wales as Ireland missed out on qualifying for a first European Championships. The 52-year-old refused to be drawn on her future in the wake of their heartbreak at Lansdowne Road, but Stapleton expressed her desire to see Gleeson remain on. “She’s got us to where we are. I think she’s been incredible,” said Stapleton (right) following the 3-2 aggregate defeat. “She has put a lot of trust in me and I feel like I’ve developed a lot under her. I’d love to see her stay in the role and I don’t think one result should define her. We’ve come on a lot as a team under Eileen, I’d back her as a manager.” Stapleton feels her side deserved to go through but can use the pain to go back to the well. “It’s heartbreaking, we’re absolutely gutted,” admitted the West Ham player, who is on loan at Sunderland this season. “I don’t think we deserved that. I don’t think the referee and officials helped us in any way, but we just have to bounce back from this. It will hurt for a while, but we’ll be better. We were the better team on the night, in my opinion. We just have to dust ourselves off and go again. “It will [be tough to watch next summer], but I’m still young, hopefully, I can help the team in many ways going forward and use this experience to help the team get to a major tournament. “I was so proud when I heard I was starting, probably one of the proudest moments of my career, but obviously, it doesn’t feel like that right now because we didn’t win.” The 19-year-old says one result should also not define her team, as she pointed to the progress she feels Ireland have made under Gleeson during this Nations League campaign. “Over the past couple of months, we’ve shown how much we’ve come on from the first game in the campaign to now,” she added. “We’re a better team, more ball-playing, more physical, winning our battles. Tuesday wasn’t our night and we’ll be sore for a few days, but we’ll dust ourselves down and make sure we get to the next tournament. Hopefully, in a couple of years, I can look back when I’m at a major tournament and say I’ve learnt from this experience.” Having won her 11th cap against the Welsh, the Dubliner is still in the early stages of her international career, but the spotlight will soon turn towards her teammates at the other end of that spectrum, some of whom may be deciding on their international futures over the winter. “It’s their decision, I think they’re all capable of keeping going,” added Stapleton. “Some of them are fitter than some of us coming in! It’s up to them. They’re all amazing players, the experience they have is class. Myself and all the younger girls are learning off them every camp we come in, so I hope they stick around.”Daktronics to Present at The Benchmark Company’s Upcoming Discovery One-on-One Investor Conference

Trump names billionaire private astronaut as next NASA chiefBOULDER — Cam’Ron Silmon-Craig needed a few moments to soak it all in. After No. 23 Colorado’s 52-0 win over Oklahoma State to close the regular season, the Buffaloes’ senior safety sat down in between the 35- and 40-yard lines on the south side of Folsom Field. His final home game at CU was over — and he just needed a minute to take in the scene one last time . “I was there giving thanks, giving thanks to God for putting me in this position,” Silmon-Craig said. “I've been able to thrive when I got a chance to make my dreams a reality. So that was the thing I was thinking about. I was just spending my last few moments inside my favorite playground on Folsom Field. Nothing like it in the world. I wouldn't rather be anywhere else." For two years, Silmon-Craig poured everything he had into the Buffs’ program. He came to CU after two years playing for Deion Sanders at Jackson State — also playing his final two years of high school football for Coach Prime at Trinity Christian in Cedar Hill, Texas. But Silmon-Craig is originally from Alabama and grew up watching the early days of Nick Saban’s Crimson Tide dynasty. He knew he was never going to accomplish something like that in his college career, but he wanted to set the stones for something like that to happen in Boulder. “I remember the 2009 Alabama team that struck the match for the run that Alabama went on,” Silmon-Craig said. “So coming in this year, I always wanted to be the standard. I wanted to come in here and set a standard for us to live for years and years on hand. So for guys like (sophomore cornerback) DJ (McKinney), when they come back next year, they know the standard.” That standard didn’t exist when Silmon-Craig first transferred to CU. The Buffs hit rock bottom during the 1-11 season in 2022 and Coach Prime turned over both the coaching staff and the roster when he took over nearly two years ago. As Sanders often says, 2023 was about restoring hope and this season, 2024, was about restoring expectations. Mission accomplished — and it’s because of the group of seniors that played their final home game on Friday. “They're the ones who changed the game for us,” Coach Prime said. “They're the ones that impacted this wonderful learning institution. They're the ones that are responsible for the recruits that you're seeing commit. They're the ones that are responsible for the way that game was played, the way it panned out. They're the ones who put us on the map.” Coach Prime was always going to participate in the Senior Day festivities and he and his sons, quarterback Shedeur and safety Shilo, got to share their moment pregame and receive plenty of applause from the Folsom Field crowd for the final time as a trio. Colorado coach Deion Sanders, center, walks onto the field alongside sons Shilo Sanders, left, and Shedeur Sanders,during pregame Senior Day festivities at Folsom Field on Friday, Nov. 29, 2024 (Stephen Swofford, Denver Gazette) But Sanders also walked to midfield with another senior, wide receiver Jimmy Horn Jr., who didn’t have his dad in attendance due to his current incarceration in Florida. Horn turned to Sanders right before he was about to have his name called and asked Sanders if we would walk with him. “You don’t have to ask me twice,” Sanders recalled telling Horn. “Just speaking pleasantries along the way, it (was) unbelievable. “Jimmy is like my kid. I love him that much. We've talked about some personal things throughout his couple of seasons (here). I want to go with him Sunday to see his father as well.” After the Buffs were done blowing out the Cowboys to cap a 9-3 regular season, Coach Prime made sure to bring up the seniors on the elevated platform in the middle of the CU locker room and acknowledge the impact they’ve had on the program and the legacy they’re leaving behind. “I don't just coach these young men, I love these young men like they’re family, and I just want them to soar, not just from the football aspect, but as young men in life,” Sanders said.

OpenAI whistleblower found dead in San Francisco apartmentCampaigners called for voters to be given a say over who replaces Senedd politicians booted out of office for bad behaviour under a proposed system of recall. Jessica Blair, director of the Electoral Reform Society (ERS) Cymru, supported calls for a recall system to allow voters to remove misbehaving politicians between elections. But Ms Blair said voters should have a say over the replacement, warning an element of personal accountability will be lost with the Senedd’s new “closed-list” electoral system. From 2026, people will vote for parties rather than individuals as Wales ditches first past the post in favour of a full form of proportional representation, with no by-elections being held. Ms Blair said: “This idea of replacing someone with the next person on the list, it could be ... from the voters’ perspective ... seen as a party being rewarded for bad behaviour.” Giving evidence to the Senedd’s standards committee, she added: “This shouldn’t be necessarily about parties keeping control, it should be about voters having their say.” Labour’s Mick Antoniw pointed out it is the person, not the party, that has transgressed. But Ms Blair said: “That could also reflect badly on the party or the way a party’s handled it, so I don't think it's necessarily as clear cut, as this is one person’s actions.” She told the committee that three of the four UK Parliament by-elections triggered by recall petitions since 2019 were won by a different party. She said: “Parties can be punished for an individual’s bad behaviour or it could be a reflection of changing political support post election. There doesn’t seem to be a real case for retaining that party’s seat, especially three years after an election, for example.” The standards committee will make recommendations on how a recall mechanism should work in Wales as part of its inquiry on Senedd members’ accountability. Hannah Blythyn, who chairs the committee, asked witnesses whether the circumstances for recalling a Senedd member should be the same as Westminster. Ms Blair suggested the triggers – a custodial sentence of less than 12 months, a suspension of at least ten sitting days, or an expenses offence conviction – make a good starting point.

But alongside his stark warning of the threats facing Britain and its allies, Admiral Sir Tony Radakin said there would be only a “remote chance” Russia would directly attack or invade the UK if the two countries were at war. The Chief of the Defence Staff laid out the landscape of British defence in a wide-ranging speech, after a minister warned the Army would be wiped out in as little as six months if forced to fight a war on the scale of the Ukraine conflict. The admiral cast doubt on the possibility as he gave a speech at the Royal United Services Institute (Rusi) defence think tank in London. He told the audience Britain needed to be “clear-eyed in our assessment” of the threats it faces, adding: “That includes recognising that there is only a remote chance of a significant direct attack or invasion by Russia on the United Kingdom, and that’s the same for the whole of Nato.” Moscow “knows the response will be overwhelming”, he added, but warned the nuclear deterrent needed to be “kept strong and strengthened”. Sir Tony added: “We are at the dawn of a third nuclear age, which is altogether more complex. It is defined by multiple and concurrent dilemmas, proliferating nuclear and disruptive technologies and the almost total absence of the security architectures that went before.” The first nuclear age was the Cold War, while the second was “governed by disarmament efforts and counter proliferation”, the armed forces chief said. He listed the “wild threats of tactical nuclear use” by Russia, China building up its weapon stocks, Iran’s failure to co-operate with a nuclear deal, and North Korea’s “erratic behaviour” among the threats faced by the West. But Sir Tony said the UK’s nuclear arsenal is “the one part of our inventory of which Russia is most aware and has more impact on (President Vladimir) Putin than anything else”. Successive British governments had invested “substantial sums of money” in renewing nuclear submarines and warheads because of this, he added. The admiral described the deployment of thousands of North Korean soldiers on Ukraine’s border alongside Russian forces as the year’s “most extraordinary development”. He also signalled further deployments were possible, speaking of “tens of thousands more to follow as part of a new security pact with Russia”. Defence minister Alistair Carns earlier said a rate of casualties similar to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine would lead to the army being “expended” within six to 12 months. He said it illustrated the need to “generate depth and mass rapidly in the event of a crisis”. In comments reported by Sky News, Mr Carns, a former Royal Marines colonel, said Russia was suffering losses of around 1,500 soldiers killed or injured a day. “In a war of scale – not a limited intervention, but one similar to Ukraine – our Army for example, on the current casualty rates, would be expended – as part of a broader multinational coalition – in six months to a year,” Mr Carns said in a speech at Rusi. He added: “That doesn’t mean we need a bigger Army, but it does mean you need to generate depth and mass rapidly in the event of a crisis.” Official figures show the Army had 109,245 personnel on October 1, including 25,814 volunteer reservists. Mr Carns, the minister for veterans and people, said the UK needed to “catch up with Nato allies” to place greater emphasis on the reserves. The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said Defence Secretary John Healey had previously spoken about “the state of the armed forces that were inherited from the previous government”. The spokesman said: “It’s why the Budget invested billions of pounds into defence, it’s why we’re undertaking a strategic defence review to ensure that we have the capabilities and the investment needed to defend this country.”Company illegally hired minors to sanitize ‘kill floor’ equipment at Iowa meat processing plant, US Dept. of Labor finds

SAN FRANCISCO — A former OpenAI researcher known for whistleblowing the blockbuster artificial intelligence company facing a swell of lawsuits over its business model has died, authorities confirmed this week. Suchir Balaji, 26, was found dead inside his Buchanan Street apartment on Nov. 26, San Francisco police and the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner said. Police had been called to the Lower Haight residence at about 1 p.m. that day, after receiving a call asking officers to check on his well-being, a police spokesperson said. The medical examiner’s office determined the manner of death to be suicide and police officials this week said there is “currently, no evidence of foul play.” Information he held was expected to play a key part in lawsuits against the San Francisco-based company. Balaji’s death comes three months after he publicly accused OpenAI of violating U.S. copyright law while developing ChatGPT, a generative artificial intelligence program that has become a moneymaking sensation used by hundreds of millions of people across the world. Its public release in late 2022 spurred a torrent of lawsuits against OpenAI from authors, computer programmers and journalists, who say the company illegally stole their copyrighted material to train its program and elevate its value past $150 billion. The Mercury News and seven sister news outlets are among several newspapers, including the New York Times, to sue OpenAI in the past year. In an interview with the New York Times published Oct. 23, Balaji argued OpenAI was harming businesses and entrepreneurs whose data were used to train ChatGPT. “If you believe what I believe, you have to just leave the company,” he told the outlet, adding that “this is not a sustainable model for the internet ecosystem as a whole.” Balaji grew up in Cupertino before attending UC Berkeley to study computer science. It was then he became a believer in the potential benefits that artificial intelligence could offer society, including its ability to cure diseases and stop aging, the Times reported. “I thought we could invent some kind of scientist that could help solve them,” he told the newspaper. But his outlook began to sour in 2022, two years after joining OpenAI as a researcher. He grew particularly concerned about his assignment of gathering data from the internet for the company’s GPT-4 program, which analyzed text from nearly the entire internet to train its artificial intelligence program, the news outlet reported. The practice, he told the Times, ran afoul of the country’s “fair use” laws governing how people can use previously published work. In late October, he posted an analysis on his personal website arguing that point. No known factors “seem to weigh in favor of ChatGPT being a fair use of its training data,” Balaji wrote. “That being said, none of the arguments here are fundamentally specific to ChatGPT either, and similar arguments could be made for many generative AI products in a wide variety of domains.” Reached by this news agency, Balaji’s mother requested privacy while grieving the death of her son. In a Nov. 18 letter filed in federal court, attorneys for The New York Times named Balaji as someone who had “unique and relevant documents” that would support their case against OpenAI. He was among at least 12 people — many of them past or present OpenAI employees — the newspaper had named in court filings as having material helpful to their case, ahead of depositions. Generative artificial intelligence programs work by analyzing an immense amount of data from the internet and using it to answer prompts submitted by users, or to create text, images or videos. When OpenAI released its ChatGPT program in late 2022, it turbocharged an industry of companies seeking to write essays, make art and create computer code. Many of the most valuable companies in the world now work in the field of artificial intelligence, or manufacture the computer chips needed to run those programs. OpenAI’s own value nearly doubled in the past year. News outlets have argued that OpenAI and Microsoft — which is in business with OpenAI and also has been sued by The Mercury News — have plagiarized and stole its articles, undermining their business models. “Microsoft and OpenAI simply take the work product of reporters, journalists, editorial writers, editors and others who contribute to the work of local newspapers — all without any regard for the efforts, much less the legal rights, of those who create and publish the news on which local communities rely,” the newspapers’ lawsuit said. OpenAI has staunchly refuted those claims, stressing that all of its work remains legal under “fair use” laws. “We see immense potential for AI tools like ChatGPT to deepen publishers’ relationships with readers and enhance the news experience,” the company said when the lawsuit was filed. If you or someone you know is struggling with feelings of depression or suicidal thoughts, the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline offers free, round-the-clock support, information and resources for help. Call or text the lifeline at 988, or see the 988lifeline.org website, where chat is available. Jakob Rodgers is a senior breaking news reporter. Call, text or send him an encrypted message via Signal at 510-390-2351, or email him at jrodgers@bayareanewsgroup.com.