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Wednesday, September 6, 2023

9/6 WAKE-UP CALL: Proud Boy Sentenced To 22-Years

Enrique Tarrio, the former leader of the far-right group Proud Boys was sentenced to 22 years in prison Tuesday after being convicted of seditious conspiracy to disrupt the 2020 presidential election certification on Jan. 6, 2021.

Tarrio’s sentence is four years longer than the second-longest prison term received by any of the 1,100-plus people who have so far been charged in connection with the Capitol riot. The Department of Justice sought to put Tarrio behind bars for 33 years, saying he used his skills as a “naturally charismatic leader” and “savvy propagandist” to organize and execute the plan to forcibly stop the peaceful transfer of power from former President Donald Trump to President Joe Biden.

ࣸ➤RUSSIANS LAUNCH DRONE ATTACK ON KYIV: Russia launched a missile and drone attack on Ukraine's capital Kyiv and its Odesa region early Wednesday, killing one civilian and causing fires and destruction at the Danube River port of Izmail, Ukraine's military said. During a nearly three-hour drone attack on Odesa, several agricultural and port facilities were damaged and several fires were reported in Izmail, one of Ukraine's key grain exporting ports. Ukraine's air defense systems destroyed 23 out of the 33 air weapons Russia launched. They included 25 Iranian-made Shahed drones, seven cruise missiles and one Iskander ballistic missile, Ukraine's Air Force said.

➤PRIVATE MERCENARIES LOOKING TO FILL THE VOID: Russian private mercenary companies are working to take control of Wagner forces in Ukraine and Africa.  Founder Yevgeny Prigozhin was killed in a plane crash last month, leaving Kremlin-connected competitors to try to enlist and absorb thousands of Wagner soldiers. Separately, Cuba said it is dismantling a Russia-based trafficking network that was recruiting locals to fight as mercenaries in Ukraine, exposing a rare public rift between the two allies. And the first Russian Air Force pilot to defect since the Ukraine war began has urged others to follow his example. Moscow hasn’t commented on the defection; a Russian Air Force-connected Telegram channel said not to trust the story.

➤BIDEN WALKS OUT OF MEDAL OF HONOR CEREMONY: President Biden was accused of being disrespectful after he quickly exited the East Room of the White House before the conclusion of a Medal of Honor ceremony honoring a Vietnam War veteran on Tuesday.  Biden, 80, abruptly left the ceremony after fastening the nation’s highest military decoration around the neck of retired Army Capt. Larry Taylor, 81, before the closing benediction was read by Chaplain Brig. Gen. William Green Jr. Military veterans slammed Biden afterward, arguing that the commander in chief showed a startling lack of respect.  “Pardon my French…But what a f—ing idiot. The continuous lack of respect Biden has for anyone is appalling. Hawaii, Service members, active shooter victims, the list goes on,” former Navy SEAL and podcast host Shawn Ryan tweeted after Biden’s hasty exit. “At least he didn’t check his watch this time,” Rep. Wesley Hunt (R-Texas), an Army veteran, snarked on X, formerly known as Twitter. He was referencing when Biden appeared to glance at his timepiece during a solemn ceremony for the 13 US troops killed in an August 2021 terror attack near the Kabul airport in Afghanistan. 



➤61 INDICTED IN GEORGIA ON RACKETEERING CHARGES CONNECTED TO 'STOP COP CITY' MOVEMENT: Sixty-one people have been indicted in Georgia on racketeering charges following a long-running state investigation into protests against a planned police and firefighter training facility in the Atlanta area that critics call “Cop City.” In the sweeping indictment released Tuesday, Republican Attorney General Chris Carr alleged the defendants are “militant anarchists” who supported a violent movement that prosecutors trace to the widespread 2020 racial justice protests.

NARCAN NOW AVAILABLE OTC: The life-saving nasal spray Narcan is now available over the counter at pharmacies across the country. The Narcan medication, which is used as an emergency treatment for opioid overdose, is available for $45 a box with two doses in each one. It’s typically administered by first responders and was previously available by prescription only, however, the Food and Drug Administration approved the move earlier this year.

🌃5 ASTEROIDS, INCLUDING 2 THE SIZE OF AN AIRPLANE, ARE ZOOMING CLOSE TO EARTH THIS WEEK: Five asteroids, one as large as a house and two each the size of an airplane, will fly past Earth between Sept. 6 and Sept. 12, according to NASA's Asteroid Watch dashboard. The house-sized asteroid, called JA5, will be the first to approach, passing by the planet on Sept. 6. It will pass within 3.17 million miles of Earth, and was first observed in 2021. According to NASA, the asteroid is about 59 feet in size, hence its comparison to a house. The Asteroid Watch dashboard tracks asteroids and comets that will make "relatively close approaches to Earth," according to NASA.

➤OPRAH, ROCK GETTING BACKLASH: Oprah Winfrey and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson faced backlash on Tuesday after asking fans to donate money to help those affected by the Maui wildfires — despite having a combined net worth of more than $2.8 billion. The Hollywood duo collectively kicked in $10 million to kickstart the People’s Fund of Maui, but then jointly asked their fans on Instagram and TikTok to donate the rest.

However, many fans complained they were already living “paycheck-to-paycheck,” and that the uber-rich celebrities should dole out more of their own money toward relief efforts. “I would but I’m broke…you two got this though!” fan, Carolina Moreno, wrote in the comment section on TikTok under the August 31 video. “Billionaire asking for money from the poor, what a joke,” one fan, Cary Jacobs, commented on Oprah’s follow-up video on Instagram. “You have billions. You could donate $100 million and still be as wealthy as before donating. YOU give the money,” Maribel Rubio criticized Winfrey, who is estimated to be worth $2.5 billion, according to Forbes.

➤AOC PLANS BORDER VISIT, SHE SAYS: Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) — who embarked on multiple border visits during the Trump administration — was evasive when pressed on why she hasn’t visited the border during President Biden’s time in office. The left-wing rep said that she is focused on the ongoing migrant crisis in the city and plans to make the trek in the future when asked by the New York Times why she hasn’t gone to the border under Biden. “This is something that we’re actively planning on. What I have done is tours of our New York-area facilities. Right now, this crisis is in our own backyard,” she told the Times. The news outlet repeatedly grilled her about not making the trek, prompting her to insist that it was in the works. “This crisis is right here in our own backyard, I have absolutely prioritized having that visitation presence,” she replied.

BOB BARKER’S CAUSE OF DEATH IS REVEALED: Bob Barker’s cause of death has been revealed. The beloved host of The Price is Right died from Alzheimer’s Disease. He passed away on Saturday (August 26th) at the age of 99. "Up until several months before his passing, Bob Barker routinely participated in conversation and bedside exercises," his longtime partner, Nancy Burnet, told Entertainment Tonight.

⛽PUMP PAIN: Gas prices are now at their highest seasonal level in more than a decade - following a surprise rally toward the end of the summer driving season. The national average for a gallon of gasoline stands at $3.811 as of September 5, data from the American Automobile Association shows - topping fuel costs from this time last year by a full three cents. The price has not been higher at this time of year since September 2012 when filling up at the pump hit $3.84 per gallon amid concerns about supply disruptions from the Middle East.

🏈FIRST COACHES POLL RELEASED: The first regular-season US LBM Coaches Poll is out, with a few changes from the preseason poll. Those changes were mainly the product of three high-profile results from the initial weekend of the season. The top four teams stay put as Georgia easily retains the No. 1 spot. The Bulldogs received 63 of 66 first-place votes, followed by Michigan and Alabama. The Wolverines claim a single first-place nod, with the remaining two going to the Crimson Tide. Ohio State holds at No. 4. The changes begin at No. 5, where Florida State leapfrogs into the top five on the heels of its convincing victory against then-No. 5 LSU. 

⚾MLB ASTROS 14 RANGERS 1: Jose Altuve homered in each of the first three innings as the Houston Astros rolled to a 14-1 win over the Texas Rangers on Tuesday in Arlington, Texas. With the first three-homer game of his career, Altuve joined Carl Reynolds (1930 Chicago White Sox) and Manny Machado (2016 Baltimore Orioles) as the only players ever to go deep in each of the first three innings of a game, per MLB.com. Altuve, who increased his season total to 15 long balls, has five in the past two days. He went deep twice as the Astros took the series opener against the Rangers 13-6 on Monday, then added three solo shots on Tuesday.

⚾MLB RAYS  8 RED SOX 6: Brandon Lowe smashed a walk-off, three-run homer as the Tampa Bay Rays evened their home series with Boston in 11 innings, rallying past the Red Sox 8-6 on Tuesday night in St. Petersburg, Fla.BWith Christian Bethancourt placed on second base and Yandy Diaz drawing a leadoff walk, Lowe roped a 2-2 pitch from Kenley Jansen (3-6) around the right field foul pole for his 18th home run. Jansen blew his fourth save in 33 opportunities.

⚾MLB YANKEES 5 TIGERS 1:   Giancarlo Stanton became the 58th player in major league history to reach 400 career homers by hitting a tiebreaking two-run shot with two outs in the sixth inning as the host New York Yankees beat the Detroit Tigers 5-1 on Tuesday night. With the victory, New York (69-69) returned to the .500 mark for the first time since Aug. 15. Stanton reached the milestone in his 1,520th career game, becoming the fourth-fastest player to accomplish the feat. Only Alex Rodriguez (1,489 games), Babe Ruth (1,475) and Mark McGwire (1,412) were faster.

Bryce Harper's new look
MLB SCORES

  • Padres 8 Phillies 0
  • Twins 8 Guardians 3
  • Brewers 7 Pirates 3
  • Reds 7 Mariners 6
  • Marlins 6 Dodgers 3
  • Mets 11 Nationals 5
  • Cardinals 10 Braves 6
  • Royals 7 White Sox 6
  • Cubs 11 Giants 8
  • Orioles 5 Angels 4
  • Blue Jays 7 Athletics 1
  • Rockies 3 D-Backs 2
🎾FAN EJECTED FROM U-S OPEN:  U.S. Open organiZers said they ejected a fan from Arthur Ashe Stadium early on Tuesday after German 12th seed Alexander Zverev complained the man had used "the most famous Hitler phrase there is" during his fourth-round match. Zverev, who beat sixth seed Jannik Sinner 6-4 3-6 6-2 4-6 6-3 in a match lasting almost five hours, was serving in the fourth set when he stopped to draw chair umpire James Keothavong's attention to the spectator.


🏈PATRIOTS' JACK JONES HAS GUN CHARGES DROPPED: New England Patriots cornerback Jack Jones had gun charges against him dropped Tuesday in exchange for agreeing to one year of pre-trial probation and 48 hours of community service, according to court documents. Jones had been arrested June 16 after authorities at Boston's Logan Airport said they found a Glock box with two guns and ammunition inside a bag with Jones' name on it.

TROPICAL STORM EXPECTED TO GAIN STRENGTH: A newly formed tropical storm is expected to evolve into an “extremely dangerous” hurricane as it barrels toward the Caribbean — potentially impacting cruise lines headed toward the islands. Tropical Storm Lee formed in the Atlantic Ocean Tuesday, but is predicted to strengthen into a major hurricane by the end of the weekend. “It will be a very strong storm very quickly,” Fox Weather meteorologist Cody Braud stated. As of late Tuesday, the storm was located some 1,315 miles east of the Lesser Antilles. It had maximum sustained winds of 45 mph and was moving west-northwest at 16 mph. The National Hurricane Center issued a stark warning that Lee is “expected to rapidly intensify into an extremely dangerous hurricane by the weekend.” Though Lee is not expected to make landfall, forecasters are putting residents of the Leeward Islands on alert as the storm moves toward the area.






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