Voices, The Peoples News
December 6, 2023
Published by Jedi Selman Since March 2000 to Inform and Educate
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
This daily Voices, The Peoples News is posted through the blog function of www.MPEN-Ohio.net
# Archaeology / Anthropology
Those unfamiliar with Gaza and its history are likely to always associate Gaza with destruction, rubble and Israeli genocide: The history of Gaza is also a history of great civilizations and a history of revival and rebirth. Shortly before the war, archaeologists in Gaza announced that four Roman-era tombs had been unearthed in Gaza City. They include “two lead coffins, one delicately carved with harvest motifs and the other with dolphins gliding through the water,” ARTNews reported. According to Palestinian and French archaeologists, these are Roman-era tombs dating back 2,000 years. The finding was preceded, two months earlier, in July, by something even more astonishing: a major archaeological discovery of at least 125 tombs, most with skeletons still largely intact, along with two extremely rare lead sarcophaguses.
https://www.mintpressnews.com/history-gaza-conquerors-resurgence-rebirth/286399/
# Corporations / Industry
Amid a nationwide housing crisis, Texas developers and city officials see an opportunity to convert vacant office spaces into affordable housing. Not every downtown high-rise is a good fit for an office-to-housing conversion, but some officials and developers see benefits in turning unused space into new residential units.
https://www.texastribune.org/2023/12/06/texas-office-space-housing-conversion/
The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department has decided to stop pursuing eminent domain to take back the land Fairfield Lake State Park sits on, effectively throwing in the towel on a monthslong battle to buy or seize the 5,000-acre property. The property was purchased in June by a Dallas-area developer who plans to turn it into a luxury subdivision.
https://www.texastribune.org/2023/12/05/texas-fairfield-lake-state-park-eminent-domain-developer/
# Economy / Finance / Trade / Banks
SCOTUS reviews couples’ income tax suit some say could nullify tax code: While the U.S. Supreme Court has yet to announce whether it will take up a case regarding whether or not a Washington state capital gains tax is an income tax, it is currently reviewing the legality of a federal tax that poses its own legal challenge. The lawsuit filed by a couple disputes whether they owe $15,000 under a one-time tax enacted in 2017 that applies to the earnings of U.S. residents who generated income from shares in foreign companies.
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/scotus-reviews-washington-couples-income-tax-suit-some-say-could-nullify-tax-code
# Education / School
Vance introduces bill to stop discrimination in higher ed: U.S. Sen. J.D. Vance wants to take funding from colleges and universities that discriminate on race and create a new federal department to investigate those allegations. “Universities should accept students based on merit and achievement, not the color of their skin. Race based admissions have divided our country further and we must pull the plug on this unjust social engineering once and for all.”
https://justthenews.com/politics-policy/gop-senators-introduce-legislation-end-racial-discrimination-college-admissions
The War Over a MAGA Rep’s ‘Secretive’ Hiring as College Prez: When the board of trustees at Youngstown State University selected an anti-abortion, election-denying, Trump-endorsing Republican congressman late last month as the school’s next president, faculty, students, and alumni immediately opposed the “secretive” move.
https://www.thedailybeast.com/the-war-over-maga-congressman-rep-bill-johnsons-secretive-hiring-as-ysu-president#:~:text=When%20the%20board%20of%20trustees,opposed%20the%20%E2%80%9Csecretive%E2%80%9D%20move
# Employment / Labor
Federal Agencies Can Disable Employer Debt TRAPs: Advocacy groups offer a road map for how agencies can use existing authority to ban contracts that force workers to pay employers if they leave their job.
https://prospect.org/labor/2023-12-06-federal-agencies-employer-debt-traps/
# Energy / Pipelines / Mining / Chemicals / Global
What Was COP28 President Thinking With His “No Science” Fossil Fuel Claim? The president of the COP28 climate summit, the UAE’s Sultan Al Jaber, made an absurd claim about fossil fuels.
https://newrepublic.com/post/177292/climate-summit-head-cop28-outrage-no-science-fossil-fuel-claim
Cop28 president forced into defence of fossil fuel phase-out claims: Sultan Al Jaber, who is state oil CEO, had said phase-out of fossil fuels would take world ‘back into caves’
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/dec/04/cop28-president-says-no-science-for-fossil-fuel-phase-out-claim-was-misinterpreted
Al Jaber says comments claiming there is ‘no science’ behind demands for phase-out of fossil fuels were ‘misinterpreted,’ Cop28 as it happened: Cop28 president and oil chief says phase-down and phase-out of fossil fuels is essential and says his comments were misrepresented
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/live/2023/dec/04/cop28-backlash-after-president-claims-no-science-behind-fossil-fuel-phase-out
# Environment / Climate / Infrastructure
The Desert of Ghost Ships: Only 30 years ago, this was home to our planet’s 4th largest inland water mass; an ancient sea so vast, even Alexander the Great wrote of his struggles to cross it; where fishing commerce boomed and holidaymakers once flocked to its seaside spa town. Now, for the first time in 600 years, the Aral Sea is (almost) bone dry, and the fleet of giant, rusted ships left in its wake have become some of the only proof of the past. The Aral Sea is (or was) so large, it spreads over two Eurasian countries that now straddle its dusty remains: Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan
https://www.thetravel.com/aral-desert-dried-up-sea-ghost-ships-tour/
A Tree-Dwelling Shrimp Has Been Discovered In The Cyclops Mountains: In a groundbreaking expedition to the Cyclops Mountains in Papua, Indonesia, scientists stumbled upon not just one, but two astonishing discoveries that are rewriting the biological narrative. While the world marveled at the rediscovery of Attenborough’s long-beaked echidna, thought to be extinct since the 1960s, another, more obscure finding took place, a new genus of ground- and tree-dwelling shrimp.
https://hasanjasim.online/a-tree-dwelling-shrimp-has-been-discovered-in-the-cyclops-mountains/?fbclid=IwAR3A_KMNO0_2ll4Zpa55YIh0TPri_qMtMtAZXll9W-HSz88BoL5hHbORZao
# Food / Farming / GMOs / Chemicals
A bill aims to block ‘ethical pork’ from taking effect in California: California is considering Proposition 12 products already in the pipeline. After that, the state plans to close its market to pork products from locations that don’t comply with California animal housing standards. If passed, the bill would prevent state and local entities from regulating the production, raising or importation of livestock and livestock goods from other states. States would still be allowed to regulate imports in the event of an animal disease.
https://www.farmprogress.com/farm-policy/another-bill-takes-aim-at-california-prop-12–
# Food Recalls / Alerts
FDA steps up enforcement on imported cantaloupe, cheese and seafood: The Food and Drug Administration is continuing its use of import alerts to enforce U.S. food safety regulations for food from foreign countries. The agency updates and modifies the alerts as needed.
https://www.foodsafetynews.com/2023/10/fda-steps-up-enforcement-on-imports-of-cantaloupe-dates-cheese-and-seafood/
Food Safety and Imports An Analysis of FDA Food-Related Import Refusal Reports: This report examines U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) data on refusals of food offered for importation into the United States from 1998 to 2004. Although the data do not necessarily refl ect the distribution of risk in foods, the study found that import refusals highlight food safety problems that appear to recur in trade and where the FDA has focused its import alerts, examinations (e.g., sampling), and other monitoring efforts.
https://www.ers.usda.gov/webdocs/publications/44258/11766_eib39.pdf?v=0
# General News
Former President Donald Trump repeatedly declined to say that he wouldn’t abuse power should he be elected to another term next year during a town hall hosted by Fox News host Sean Hannity. Trump added he planned to act like a “dictator” only on “day one” of a new administration
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/trump-hannity-abuse-power-dictator_n_656fe51be4b01a04ad9106f4#:~:text=Former%20President%20Donald%20Trump%20repeatedly,one%E2%80%9D%20of%20a%20new%20administration
How will you feel if Donald Trump becomes president again? The United States is “sleepwalking into dictatorship,” warns Liz Cheney. Donald Trump has already apparently locked up the Republican nomination, and he’s leading Joe Biden in both national and battleground state polls—despite the fact that Trump has openly called for vengeance, violence, and a dangerous escalation of presidential power. As a recent Washington Post headline put it, “A Trump dictatorship is increasingly inevitable. We should stop pretending.”
https://newrepublic.com/article/177318/stop-trump-boycott-businesses?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=tnr_daily&utm_term=slate_trade&utm_content=
‘Apocalyptic’ Horror in Gaza Called ‘Total Failure of Our Shared Humanity’: “How is it that these atrocities are beamed across the world for all to witness, and yet so little is done to stop them?” “Each day we see more dead children and new depths of suffering for the innocent people enduring this hell,” he added, calling for an immediate cease-fire. “The situation in Gaza is a total failure of our shared humanity. The killing must stop.”
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/12/6/un-warns-of-horror-and-atrocities-as-israel-steps-up-gaza-assault
# Gov / Politics / Global
Israel – USA ‘How many kids did you kill today?’ They are, in your name, savagely slaughtering doctors and nurses, teachers and students, whole families, workers, clergymen, worshippers.
https://informationclearinghouse.blog/2023/12/06/israel-usa-how-many-kids-did-you-kill-today/
China’s Agenda Is to ‘Destroy’ the US Is Gaining Momentum: Governor Kristi Noem expressed concern about China’s increasing land purchases near U.S. Strategic Air Force bases, stating that their agenda is to “destroy” the United States and become the world’s dominant power. She urged aggressive action to address the issue, supporting a bill to evaluate and potentially halt land purchases near national security sites.
https://www.analyzingamerica.org/2023/12/718362/
# Gov / Politics
This Senator Has A New Idea To Curb Mass Shootings, And Gun Reformers Are Actually Optimistic: A new bill introduced by Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) aims to limit easy access to high-powered rifles that can fire dozens of rounds with blazing speed. The legislation reflects a more sophisticated understanding of how guns work and has spread optimism among gun reformers that it could garner bipartisan support
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/gosafe-act-mass-shootings-gun-reform_n_656f7990e4b0f3e5f44b2095#:~:text=Sen.%20Martin%20Heinrich%20(D%2DN.M.)%20introduced%20a,on%20their%20internal%20firing%20mechanisms
Republicans’ Dangerous New Bill Would Try to Muzzle All Criticism of Israel. The resolution would equate anti-Zionism with antisemitism: The four-page resolution “clearly and firmly” cements the false conflation that “anti-Zionism is antisemitism.” That would plaster any Jewish anti-Zionist as an antisemite, and would likely warrant character attacks on any lawmaker who objects to the current iteration of the bill.
https://newrepublic.com/post/177308/republicans-dangerous-new-bill-try-muzzle-criticism-israel
Mike Johnson Did Legal Work for the Leader of the “Largest Militant Antiabortion Group” in America: Disturbing revelations about the House Speaker just keep coming. The Daily Beast reports that before he got into politics, the man who is two heartbeats away from the presidency did legal work for clients “affiliated with some of the nation’s most extreme antiabortion and anti-LGBTQ groups in the country—including agitators connected to militant movements with a penchant for violence
https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2023/12/mike-johnson-clients-anti-abortion#:~:text=The%20Daily%20Beast%20reports%20that,with%20a%20penchant%20for%20violent
Mike Johnson Says He Has to “Blur” Some of the Faces of People Who Appear in January 6 Footage So the DOJ Can’t Charge Them With Crimes: So much for those “legitimate political discourse” claims. This was obviously an incredibly damning moment, as evidenced by the fact that Johnson’s office immediately sought to clarify his comments
https://www.rawstory.com/mike-johnson-capitol-riots/
Johnson Insists on Sweeping Border Changes in Exchange for Ukraine Aid: Republican and Democratic lawmakers appear to be moving further apart on a $111 billion supplemental spending package that includes billions in aid for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, as well as changes in immigration and border policy. Senate Democrats released a version of the package late Tuesday after negotiations on a bipartisan deal stalled.
https://ny1.com/nyc/all-boroughs/news/2023/12/05/johnson-republicans-border-ukraine-aid-biden
McHenry, who led U.S. House in October, will not seek reelection: North Carolina’s first 24 hours of filing for the 2024 election cycle is becoming more known for who is not than is, according to published reports. For three weeks in October following the ouster of Speaker Kevin McCarthy, McHenry led the chamber in the interim. During that time, he said he was focused on getting the next speaker and did not want the position himself.
https://apnews.com/article/north-carolina-congress-election-retirement-2024-dd24d2b7bd772ec4dacd5e76a32a8d4d
Classified Senate Briefing Devolves Into Shouting Match: Some Republicans even stormed out of the meeting early. A classified briefing on Ukraine devolved into a shouting match about border security as senators described a tense meeting that did little to break the Senate’s stalemate over whether to include tighter immigration policies in the aid package.
https://www.cnn.com/2023/12/05/politics/senate-classified-briefing-devolves/index.html
Sanders challenges US aid to Israel, citing Gaza conflict and domestic needs: Senator Bernie Sanders stands against the $10 billion military aid to Israel’s Netanyahu government amidst Gaza’s humanitarian crisis, urging focus on U.S. domestic challenges.
https://www.nationofchange.org/2023/12/06/sanders-challenges-us-aid-to-israel-citing-gaza-conflict-and-domestic-needs/
Kevin McCarthy Says He Will Retire From Congress This Month: The California Republican and former House Speaker announced Wednesday that not only is he retiring, he’s stepping down next month instead of finishing the second half of his term.
https://nypost.com/2023/12/06/news/former-house-speaker-kevin-mccarthy-announces-he-will-retire-at-the-end-of-2023/
# Legal / DOJ
Pence Added to Witness List in Trump’s Georgia Case: It means the former vice president could be called to testify in the trial. Prosecutors in the Georgia election subversion case against former President Donald Trump have officially listed former Vice President Mike Pence as one of the witnesses who could be called to testify at trial, according to multiple sources familiar with court documents that remain under seal.
https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-news/mike-pence-georgia-witness-list-1234917896/
# Media
Washington Post strike: More than 700 Washington Post employees plan to walk off the job Thursday for a 24-hour strike after Post Guild expressed frustration over its ongoing contract negotiations with Post management. The Guild also released a statement asking readers to refrain from interacting with Post journalism in any form over the strike’s duration.
https://www.washingtonian.com/2023/12/05/washington-post-staffers-will-go-on-strike-thursday/
# Medical / Health
Texas woman asks judge to let her terminate pregnancy after lethal fetal diagnosis: The Texas Supreme Court is currently considering that case, which asks whether the state’s abortion bans apply to women carrying non-viable pregnancies like Cox’s. A Travis County judge previously ruled that the laws should not apply to patients with medical complications that could become life-threatening or those who have received lethal fetal diagnoses.
https://www.texastribune.org/2023/12/05/texas-abortion-lawsuit/
Republicans in New Hampshire introduced a 15-day abortion ban, one of the most extreme anti-choice bills in the country: With a Republican trifecta in the Senate, House and governor’s mansion, the bill has a real chance of becoming law next month. The bill includes a felony penalty and a $100,000 fine for any provider who performs or induces an abortion after 15 days’ gestation. The ban will go into effect on Jan. 1, 2025, if it successfully passes through the state legislature and the governor signs it into law.
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/new-hampshire-15-day-abortion-ban_n_656f66dee4b0f3e5f44b124c#:~:text=The%20bill%20includes%20a%20felony,governor%20signs%20it%20into%20law
# Pharmaceuticals / Drugs
CVS Says It Will Overhaul How It Prices Prescription Drugs: Drugstore giant CVS Health announced it is dramatically changing the way its pharmacies are reimbursed for prescription medications, shifting to a model that it says is simpler and more transparent. Under the new model, branded CVS CostVantage, the company’s thousands of pharmacies will get paid based on what CVS paid for the drug plus a set markup and a flat fee to cover its services.
https://www.axios.com/2023/12/06/cvs-drug-pricing-overhaul
Medicare is overpaying for generic drugs: The researchers found evidence that the private insurers that sponsor Medicare Part D are artificially inflating the costs of certain generic drugs by overpaying pharmacies. The findings published December 5, 2023 in the Journal of the American Medical Association. The concern: that patients are ultimately impacted by these reimbursement practices because of how out-of-pocket costs, such as copayments and deductibles, are calculated. “For instance, if a patient pays 30% as a copayment for a drug, that 30% would be applied to the inflated price, which could mean higher out-of-pocket costs for seniors.”
https://today.ucsd.edu/story/medicare-is-overpaying-for-generic-drugs#:~:text=The%20researchers%20found%20evidence%20that,of%20the%20American%20Medical%20Association
# Security
‘Disgraceful’: Sen. Mike Lee blasts FBI monitoring of U.S. citizens without a warrant: Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, blasted FBI Director Christopher Wray during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing Tuesday over the agency’s spying on Americans without a warrant
https://www.offthepress.com/disgraceful-sen-mike-lee-blasts-fbi-monitoring-of-citizens-without-a-warrant/
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Attention Readers:
Due to the nature of independent content, Voices, The Peoples News cannot guarantee content validity.
NOTE: Material appearing here is distributed without profit or monitory gain to those who have expressed an interest in receiving the material for research and educational purposes. At any point, you can select the link in every email to subscribe, unsubscribe, or send news items: j.selman.1234@livingston.net
All content is owned by author exclusively. Expressed opinions are not necessarily the views of Voices, The Peoples News, other authors, affiliates, advertisers, sponsors, partners or technicians. Some content may be satirical in nature. All images within are full responsibility of author and not Voices, The Peoples News. Articles are reprinted under Fair Use Doctrine of International Copyright Law. http://www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.html
This email cannot be considered spam as long as we include: Contact information & a Remove Link. Reprinted under the Fair Use Law: Doctrine of international copyright law. http://www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.html