March 03, 2022 at 02:17AM
https://www.fitchburgstar.com/news/business/big-dreams-bigger-appetites-nonprofit-little-john-s-continues-to-fundraise-for-new-space/article_5eff3806-9a5d-11ec-a618-9f670e7caea9.html
Big dreams, bigger appetites: Nonprofit Little John's continues to fundraise for new space - Fitchburg star
BOISE, Idaho — This year's legislative session has been quieter than previous ones, specifically last year's which ended up being the longest session in state history. Lawmakers said they hope this session will wrap up by the end of the month, but still, there's a lot of work to be done inside the statehouse.
Idaho press members joined Gov. Brad Little Wednesday for a virtual breakfast, where they talked about the current legislative session, COVID-19 and more.
So far this session 13 bills have been signed by Little — among those are the largest tax cut in Idaho state history, and the empowering parents grant.
Some of Little’s priorities he laid out during his State of the State Address included investing in education, infrastructure, and tax cuts.
“My three real big agenda items are all doing well and it's only the 2nd of March. So that's not bad,” Little said.
Little was asked by a reporter about his relationship with Idaho lawmakers this year, compared to last year and he said the system is built where there is always a "healthy" friction between the executive branch and the legislative branch.
Full-day kindergarten has also been a topic of discussion in this session. Little said there was a meeting Tuesday and lawmakers are getting "awful close" to a consensus. When asked what the proposal was, Little said, "it's a surprise."
One of the hottest topics of this session has been elections. Multiple election-related bills have been introduced targeting ballot harvesting, absentee drops off and audits.
“The legislature passes election laws on a very frequent basis. We should make it easier for people to vote and harder for people, for there to be fraud there,” Little said. “The most important thing to me is that the people of Idaho have confidence when they cast their ballot that it will Be accurately reflected in the results.”
Still, two months away from the primary elections, Little has not confirmed if he will be seeking reelection although he has campaign ads running. When asked this Wednesday morning about his campaign, this was his response.
“That’s a political question. I'm here to talk about official state business,” Little said.
Candidates have until March 11 to officially file.
March 03, 2022 at 05:42AM
https://www.kivitv.com/news/political/inside-the-statehouse/gov-brad-little-meets-with-idaho-media-virtually-to-talk-about-the-2022-legislative-session
Gov. Brad Little meets with Idaho media virtually to talk about the 2022 legislative session - Idaho News 6 Boise Twin Falls
Håkon Lunde Saxi is an Associate Professor at the Section for Military Strategy and Joint Operations at the Norwegian Defense University College. (Photo: NDUC)
“For now, I consider it highly unlikely that the conflict should expand to Norway’s High North. that is simply because I think Russia neither has the will nor the ability to expand the conflict”, stresses Associate Professor Håkon Lunde Saxi at the Norwegian Defense Command and Staff College (NDCSC) to High North news.
Saxi explains that although the Northern Fleet is on high alert, Russia has relocated large parts of the land forces that are usually stationed on the Kola Peninsula to protect its military bases there. These divisions are, like most of the best Russian army divisions, currently tied up to the conflict in Ukraine.
“They would not be if Russia envisioned an expansion of the conflict to involve a general conflict with the West, for instance in Norway’s High North.”
Clear signaling
Colonel and Chief of Operations Gjert Lage Dyndal at the Air Defense Operations Center at the Norwegian Joint Headquarters just outside Bodø, Norway is also clear that there is not direct military threat against Norway in the north now.
“Russia has made it clear both in its public communication as well as with its relocation and use of forces in and around Ukraine that it wants to limit the conflict to Ukraine. There appears to be no interest on the Russian side in this spilling over into other areas. And in a direct comparison, Russia would be inferior to NATO.”
Russia’s conducting an exercise with its strategic nuclear forces in the Barents Sea prior to the invasion is also relevant in this context, Operations Chief Dyndal says.
“Normally, these exercises take place later in the year, but this time, they were moved to just a few days prior to the invasion. I interpret that as a conscious choice to demonstrate that nuclear deterrence still applies and that Russia is a big power.”
Assistant Professor Saxi also points out that a key point in moving the exercise forward was to signal that the West should stay away from the war in Ukraine.
“Russia is trying to deter the West from intervening militarily on the Ukrainian side. This is further reason to believe that it does not want any expansion of the conflict at present. At the same time, U.S. President Biden and other western leaders have already been clear that they will not assist Ukraine militarily in case of an attach, but will conduct sanctions and other measures.
Raising nuclear preparedness
Russian President Vladimir Putin recently announced that the nuclear alertness level was to be raised and that the nuclear weapon forces are put in “battle mode”.
“This can be interpreted in two ways. Firstly, as another attempt to try and deter the West from engaging directly or indirectly in the conflict to support Ukraine. Russia is probably surprised at the strong unity and support of Ukraine demonstrated by the EU and NATO countries. Secondly, it can also be interpreted as a sign that the war is not going well for Russia, that it feels a need to escalate further as things have not developed the way they had hoped in the battlefield. Nevertheless, the West has interpreted this as positioning so far; alert levels for the western nuclear powers has not been raised so far”, Saxi comments.
“Russia may aim to take control over maritime areas and other domains in parts of the Barents Sea and the Northern Norwegian Sea, while attempting to deny control for the adversary further south, where Russia would be unlikely to establish control”, she commented.
Norwegian preparedness
“To Norway, the threat situation remains the same. People at home should feel safe. There is nothing to indicate that we are facing an increased threat in the North”, Defense Chief Eirik Kristoffersen has said in an interview with Norwegian broadcaster NRK.
Saxi at the NDCSC also points out that the Norwegian Armed Forces have not made any major changes following the incidents in Ukraine.
“The Defense Chief has stated that the Norwegian forces are where they should be in a situation like the current. Since 2014, we have reinforced the defense of Finnmark. More specifically, the Border Control Guard has been reinforced, a new battalion has been built up in Porsaner, Brigade North it strengthened to some extent and the number of days at sea have increased. Now, there is probably increased alertness; one is probably closely monitoring anything that may give any form of indication whatsoever that Russia were to have plans about deploying its bastion defense.”
Dyndal adds that one is likely to see more Russian military activity in the North in the coming time, in particular maritime forces and air forces. At this time of the year, it is nevertheless common for Russia to train and exercise in the North, he explains.
Early March will also see the commencement of the Norwegian-led NATO exercise Cold Response 2022.
“Russia will of course monitor the ongoing exercises. Thus, in the coming weeks, it might be hard to interpret what they mean and why they do what they do.”
LITTLE VILLAGE — A Little Village organization is surveying neighbors who applied for a job at the new Target warehouse and didn’t get the job or never heard back.
The Target warehouse opened last summer following more than a year of controversy since a botched explosion during demolition of the old Crawford coal plant in April 2020 covered Little Village in dust. The Little Village Environmental Justice Organization and other groups have vocally opposed the development.
Subscribe to Block Club Chicago, an independent, 501(c)(3), journalist-run newsroom. Every dime we make funds reporting from Chicago’s neighborhoods.
Thanks for subscribing to Block Club Chicago, an independent, 501(c)(3), journalist-run newsroom. Every dime we make funds reporting from Chicago’s neighborhoods. Click here to support Block Club with a tax-deductible donation.
Listen to “It’s All Good: A Block Club Chicago Podcast” here:
March 01, 2022 at 08:32PM
https://blockclubchicago.org/2022/03/01/did-you-apply-for-an-exchange-55-warehouse-job-little-village-organizers-are-surveying-residents-denied-jobs-at-the-target-facility/
Did You Apply For A Target Warehouse Job In Little Village? Organizers Are Surveying Residents Denied Work - Block Club Chicago
LITTLE CREEK — A 38-year-old woman has died due to injuries sustained in a Feb. 6 residential fire that also took the lives of two others, the state fire marshal’s office said.
The woman died Thursday at Crozer-Chester Medical Center, Upland, Pennsylvania, said spokesman Michael Chionchio.
Two other females, ages 9 and 42, were pronounced deceased at Bayhealth Hospital, Kent Campus, Dover, following transport from the blaze, he said.
The fire, in the 300 block of Main Street, also resulted in injuries for two other individuals, Mr. Chionchio said. They sustained smoke inhalation and burns but have been released, he added.
The investigation continues, and the fire’s origin and cause has yet to be determined, he said. Besides the fire marshal’s office, the Delaware State Police and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives are investigating.
The blaze was reported shortly after noon Feb. 6, Mr. Chionchio said. The Little Creek Volunteer Fire Co. arrived on the scene with flames shooting from the two-story home and several occupants trapped inside. Firefighters performed multiple rescues, he added.
Dover, Leipsic, Magnolia, Camden-Wyoming and Dover Air Force Base fire departments also responded to the incident. Around 70 firefighters battled the fire, which was under control by 1:20.
Kent County paramedics, St. Francis Healthcare Emergency Medical Services and the DSP Aviation Section were also at the scene.
LITTLE CREEK — A 38-year-old woman has died due to injuries sustained in a Feb. 6 residential fire that also took the lives of two others, the state fire marshal’s office said.
The woman died Thursday at Crozer-Chester Medical Center, Upland, Pennsylvania, said spokesman Michael Chionchio.
Two other females, ages 9 and 42, were pronounced deceased at Bayhealth Hospital, Kent Campus, Dover, following transport from the blaze, he said.
The fire, in the 300 block of Main Street, also resulted in injuries for two other individuals, Mr. Chionchio said. They sustained smoke inhalation and burns but have been released, he added.
The investigation continues, and the fire’s origin and cause has yet to be determined, he said. Besides the fire marshal’s office, the Delaware State Police and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives are investigating.
The blaze was reported shortly after noon Feb. 6, Mr. Chionchio said. The Little Creek Volunteer Fire Co. arrived on the scene with flames shooting from the two-story home and several occupants trapped inside. Firefighters performed multiple rescues, he added.
Dover, Leipsic, Magnolia, Camden-Wyoming and Dover Air Force Base fire departments also responded to the incident. Around 70 firefighters battled the fire, which was under control by 1:20.
Kent County paramedics, St. Francis Healthcare Emergency Medical Services and the DSP Aviation Section were also at the scene.
