# Cocoa grown illegally in a Nigerian rainforest heads to companies that supply major chocolate makers
By **TAIWO ADEBAYO**
December 20, 2023. 3:48 PM EST

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**OMO FOREST RESERVE, Nigeria (AP)** - Men in dusty workwear trudge through a thicket, making their way up a hill where sprawling plantations lay tucked in a Nigerian rainforest whose trees have been hacked away to make room for cocoa bound for places like Europe and the U.S.

Kehinde Kumayon and his assistant clear low bushes that compete for sunlight with their cocoa trees, which have replaced the lush and dense natural foliage. The farmers swing their machetes, careful to avoid the ripening yellow pods containing beans that will help create chocolate, the treat shoppers are snapping up for Christmas.

Over the course of two visits and several days, The Associated Press repeatedly documented farmers harvesting cocoa beans where that work is banned in conservation areas of Omo Forest Reserve, a protected tropical rainforest 135 kilometers (84 miles) northeast of the coastal city of Lagos in southwestern Nigeria.

Trees here rustle as dwindling herds of critically endangered African forest elephants rumble through. Threatened pangolins, known as armored anteaters, scramble along branches. White-throated monkeys, once thought to be extinct, leap from one tree to the next. Omo also is believed to have the highest concentration of butterflies in Africa and is one of the continent's largest and oldest UNESCO Biosphere Reserves.

Cocoa from the conservation zone is purchased by some of the world's largest cocoa traders, according to company and trade documents and AP interviews with more than 20 farmers, five licensed buying agents and two brokers all operating within the reserve.

They say those traders include Singapore-based food supplier Olam Group and Nigeria's Starlink Global and Ideal Limited, the latter of which acknowledged using cocoa supplies from the forest. A fewer number of those working in the forest also mentioned Tulip Cocoa Processing Ltd., a subsidiary of Dutch cocoa trader and producer Theobroma.

Those companies supply Nigerian cocoa to some of the world's largest chocolate manufacturers including Mars Inc. and Ferrero, but because the chocolate supply chain is so complex and opaque, it's not clear if cocoa from deforested parts of Omo Forest Reserve makes it into the sweets that they make, such as Snickers, M&Ms, Butterfinger and Nutella. Mars and Ferrero list farming sources on their websites that are close to or overlap with the forest but do not provide specific locations.

Government officials, rangers and the growers themselves say cocoa plantations are spreading illegally into protected areas of the reserve. Farmers say they move there because their cocoa trees in other parts of the West African country are aging and not producing as much.

"We know this is a forest reserve, but if you are hungry, you go to where there is food, and this is very fertile land," Kumayon told the AP, acknowledging that he's growing cocoa at an illegal plantation at the Eseke farming settlement, separated only by a muddy footpath from critical habitat for what UNESCO estimates is the remaining 100 elephants deep in the conservation zone.

Conservationists also point to the world's increasing demand for chocolate. The global cocoa and chocolate market is expected to grow from a value of $48 billion in 2022 to nearly $68 billion by 2029, according to analysts at Fortune Business Insights.

The chocolate supply chain has long been fraught with human rights abuses, exploitative labor and environmental damage, leading to lawsuits, U.S. trade complaints and court rulings. In response, the chocolate industry has made wide-ranging pledges and campaigns to ensure they are sourcing cocoa that is traceable, sustainable and free of abuse.

Companies say they have adopted supply chain tracing from primary sources using GPS mapping and satellite technology as well as partnered with outside organizations and third-party auditors that certify farms' compliance with sustainability standards.

But those working in the forest say checks that some companies rely on are not done, while one certifying agency, Rainforest Alliance, points to a lack of regulations and incomplete data and mapping in Nigeria.

AP followed a load of cocoa that farmers had harvested in the conservation zone to the warehouses of buying agents in the reserve and then delivered to an Olam facility outside the entrance of the forest.

Staffers at Olam's and Tulip's facilities just outside the reserve, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they're not authorized to discuss their companies' supplies, confirmed that they source cocoa from farmers in the conservation zone.

AP also photographed cocoa bags labeled with the names and logos of Olam and Tulip in farmers' warehouses inside the conservation zone.

## 'THEY BUY EVERYTHING'
The Omo reserve consists of a highly protected conservation zone ringed by a larger, partially protected outer region. Loggers, who are also a major source of deforestation, can get government licenses to chop down trees in the outer areas, but no licenses are given anywhere for cocoa farming. Agriculture is banned from the conservation area, except for defined areas where up to 10 indigenous communities can farm for their own food.

Nigeria is one of Africa's biggest oil suppliers and largest economy; after petroleum, one of its top exports is cocoa. It's the world's fourth-largest producer of cocoa, accounting for more than 5% of global supply, according to the International Cocoa Organization. Yet it's far behind the world's largest producers, Ivory Coast and Ghana, which together supply more than half of the world's demand and are often singled out in companies' sustainability programs.

According to World Bank trade data and Nigeria's export council, more than 60% of Nigeria's cocoa heads to Europe and about 8% to the United States and Canada.

It passes through many hands to get there: Farmers grow the cocoa beans, then brokers scout farms to buy them. Licensed buying agents purchase the cocoa from brokers and sell it to big commodity trading companies like Olam and Tulip, which export it to chocolate makers.

In October, AP followed a blue- and white-striped van loaded with bags of cocoa beans along a road pitted with deep mud holes within the conservation zone to an Olam warehouse just outside the entrance of the forest. At the warehouse, which Olam confirmed was theirs, AP photographed the cocoa being unloaded from the van, whose registration number matched the one filmed in the forest.

Farmer Rasaq Kolawole and licensed buying agent Muraina Nasir followed the van to sell the cocoa, and neither expressed misgivings about the deforestation.

"We are illegal occupants of the forest," said farmer Kolawole, a college graduate and former salesperson.

AP also visited four cocoa warehouses in the forest belonging to licensed buying agents: Kadet Agro Allied Investments Ltd., Bolnif Agro-allied Farms Nigeria Ltd., Almatem and Askmana. Managers or owners all told AP that they buy from farmers growing cocoa in protected areas of the forest and that they sell that cocoa to Olam. Three of the warehouse managers told AP that they also sell to Tulip and Starlink.

"They do not differentiate between cocoa from local - that is farms outside the forest - and the reserve," said Waheed Azeez, proprietor of Bolnif, describing how "big buyers like Olam, Tulip and Starlink" buy cocoa sourced from deforested lands. "They buy everything, and most of the cocoa is from the reserve."

Despite AP's findings, Olam insists that it "forbids" members of its "Ore Agbe Ijebu" farmer group from "sourcing from protected areas and important natural ecosystems like forests." That Ijebu farmer group is listed as a sustainable supplier on Olam's website and is said to be in Ijebu Ife, a community near the reserve.

"Any farmers found not complying with the code and illegally encroaching on forest boundaries are removed from our supply chain and expelled from the OAIJ farmer group," the company said in a statement emailed to AP.

However, Askmana manager Sunday Awoke said, "Olam does not know the farmers. We buy from the farmers and sell directly to Olam, and no assessment against deforestation takes place."

Speaking to AP as a convoy of motorcycles brought bags of cocoa from the conservation area to his warehouse within the reserve, Awoke said he used to be a conservation worker who fought deforestation by farmers.

"But I am on the other side now. I wish to go back, but survival first, and this pays more," he said.

Others agreed.

"The place is not meant for cocoa farming, but elephants," said Ewulola Bolarinwa, who is both a broker and a leader of those who farm at the Eseke settlement inside the conservation zone. "We have a lot of big buyers who supply the companies in the West, including Olam, Tulip and many more."

## COCOA TO CHOCOLATE
Ferrero, which makes Ferrero Rocher hazelnut balls, Nutella chocolate hazelnut spread and popular Baby Ruth, Butterfinger and Crunch candy bars, lists a farming group in a community near the forest as the source of its cocoa supplied by Olam, the Italian company says on its website.

McLean, Virginia-based Mars Inc., one of the world's largest end users of cocoa with brands from Snickers to M&Ms, Dove, Twix and Milky Way, uses Nigerian cocoa from both Olam and Tulip, according to online company documents.

Ferrero, Mars and Tulip say they're committed to their anti-deforestation policies, use GPS mapping of farms, and their suppliers are certified through independent standards.

Ferrero also says it relies on satellite monitoring to show that its "cocoa sourcing from Nigeria does not come from protected forest areas." Mars says its preliminary findings show that none of the farms it's mapped overlap with the reserve.

Tulip's managing director, Johan van der Merwe, said in an email that the company's cocoa bags, which AP photographed in farmers' warehouses inside the conservation zone, are reused and distributed widely so it's possible they're seen across Nigeria. He also said "field operatives" complete digital questionnaires about sourcing with all farmers and suppliers.

On the ground, however, farmers and licensed buying agents who said they supply Tulip told AP that they were not required to complete any questionnaire before their cocoa is purchased.

"Though we know they depend on our cocoa, we don't directly sell cocoa to the exporters like Olam and Tulip, middlemen do, and there are no questions about deforestation," said farmer Saheed Arisekola, 43, also a college graduate who said he turned to farming because he could not get a job.

As farmers, brokers and buying agents say cocoa from the conservation area flows into Olam's export supply, U.S. customs records show a slice of where it might be going.

Olam's American arm, Olam Americas Inc., received 18,790 bags of Nigerian cocoa shipped by its Nigerian subsidiary, Outspan Nigeria Limited, between March and April 2022, according to trade data from ImportGenius.

Olam and Tulip are both licensed to trade Nigerian cocoa certified by the Rainforest Alliance. However, Olam told AP that its license does not cover the Ijebu area, where it sources the cocoa it sends to Ferrero and is near Omo Forest Reserve. Ferrero says Olam's sustainability standard in the area is verified by a third-party body.

Farmers who told AP that their cocoa heads to Olam and Tulip said they are not Rainforest Alliance certified. Tulip has only one farm with active certification in Nigeria, the nonprofit's database shows.

The Rainforest Alliance says it certifies that farms operate with methods that prohibit deforestation and other anti-sustainability practices. It says farmers must provide GPS coordinates and geographic boundaries for their plantations, which are checked against public forest maps and satellite data.

The Rainforest Alliance told AP that Nigeria has "unique forest regulation challenges," including incomplete or outdated data and maps that can "lead to discrepancies when comparing forest data with real on-ground conditions."

It said it is working to get updated data from Nigerian authorities and would decertify any farms found to be operating illegally in conservation areas following a review. The organization also says companies it licenses can buy cocoa certified by other agencies or that isn't certified at all.

Starlink Global and Ideal Limited - the Nigerian cocoa exporter that the farmers and buying agents said they sell to - doesn't have its own farmland in the reserve, "only suppliers from there," spokesman Sambo Abubakar told AP.

Starlink does not make sustainable sourcing claims on its website, but it supplies at least one company that does - New York-based General Cocoa Co., U.S. trade data shows.

Between March and April 2023, Starlink shipped 70 containers, each loading 4,000 bags of dried cocoa beans, to General Cocoa, according to ImportGenius trade data.

General Cocoa, which is owned by Paris-headquartered Sucden Group, supplies Mars, according to online company documents.

Jean-Baptiste Lescop, secretary general of Sucden Group, says the company manages risks to forest conservation by sourcing Rainforest Alliance cocoa, mapping farms and using satellite images but that it's a "continuous process" because most farmers in Nigeria don't have official land ownership documents.

Sucden investigates reports of problems and is working on a response to AP's findings about Starlink, Lescop said.

## WHERE'S THE ENFORCEMENT?
The conservation zone, which spans about 650 square kilometers (250 square miles), is the only remaining vital rainforest in Nigeria's southwest, conservation officials say. Such forests help absorb carbon from the atmosphere and are crucial for Nigeria to meet its pledges under the Paris climate agreement.

Besides helping fight climate change, the forest is designated an Important Bird and Biodiversity Area by BirdLife International, with significant populations of at least 75 bird species.

"There are now more than 100 illegal settlements of cocoa farmers, who came from other states because the land here is very fertile," said Emmanuel Olabode, a conservation manager who supervises the reserve's rangers in the protected areas. "But after some years, the land becomes unproductive."

The farmers know this.

"We'll then find another land somewhere else or go back to our original homes to start new businesses," said Kaseem Olaniyi, who acknowledges that he farms illegally in the conservation zone after moving in 2014 from a neighboring state.

The government in Ogun state, which owns the forest, said in a statement to AP that the "menace of cocoa farming" in the reserve dates back decades and that "all the illegal farmers were forcefully evicted" in 2007 before they found their way back.

"Arrangements are in the pipeline to engage the services of the Nigerian Police Force and the military to evict them from the Forest Reserve," the government statement said.

However, Omolola Odutola, spokeswoman for the federally controlled police, said they do not have records of such a plan.

The farmers have been ordered not to start new farms, and those who spoke with AP said they are complying. But forest guards said new farms are sprouting up in remote areas that are difficult to detect.

Rangers - who work for the government's conservation partner, the nonprofit Nigerian Conservation Foundation - and forest guards who are employed by the state government both told AP that lax government enforcement has made combating cocoa expansion a challenge.

They told AP that previous arrests have done little to stop the farmers from returning and that has led to a sense of futility when they encounter illegal farming.

The state government said it "has never compromised regulations" but acknowledged that farmers are in the forest despite its efforts. Homes and other buildings at farming settlements visited by AP have been marked for removal, including warehouses like that of licensed buying agent Kadet, one of the biggest there.

Farmers' homes lack running water and toilets, forcing women and children to collect water from narrow streams to use while the men work.

The removals have not taken place because officials make money from the cocoa business in the forest, according to farmers and buying agents, who lament the difficult living conditions, with mud roads filled with holes creating high transportation costs that eat away their already meager profits.

The state government declined to comment about making money from illegal cocoa farming in the forest.

The agents have formed a lobby group that has "rapport with government officials" to ensure farmers remain in the conservation zone despite threats to evict them, said Azeez, the owner of buying agent Bolnif who is also chairman of a committee that monitors risks against cocoa business in the forest.

The European Union, the largest destination of cocoa from West Africa, has enacted a new regulation on deforestation-free products that requires companies selling commodities like cocoa to prove they have not caused deforestation. Big companies must ensure they're following the rules by the end of 2024.

Experts at the Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria are launching a "Trace Project" in six southern states - though it doesn't include Ogun state where Omo Forest Reserve is located - to advance efforts against deforestation in cocoa production and ensure Nigeria's cocoa is not rejected in Europe.

"From the preliminary data collected, major exporters are implicated in deforestation, and it is their responsibility to ensure compliance with standards," said Rasheed Adedeji, who leads the institute's research outreach.

But farmers say they'll keep finding places to work.

"The world needs cocoa, and the government also gets taxes because the cocoa is exported," said Olaniyi, one of the farmers.


# In $25M settlement, North Carolina city `deeply remorseful' for man's wrongful conviction, prison
January 9, 2024. 6:20 PM EST

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**CONCORD, N.C. (AP)** - A man wrongfully convicted and imprisoned for 44 years has reached a $25 million combined settlement with a central North Carolina city and the state of North Carolina involving a lawsuit accusing authorities of misconduct, the man's lawyers said Tuesday.

The settlement, which will end a wrongful incarceration lawsuit filed by attorneys for Ronnie Wallace Long in 2021, also included a public written apology from the city of Concord for its role in his imprisonment. The city, located about 25 miles (40 kilometers) northeast of Charlotte, has agreed to pay $22 million of the settlement.

"We are deeply remorseful for the past wrongs that caused tremendous harm to Mr. Long, his family, friends, and our community," the city's statement read. "While there are no measures to fully restore to Mr. Long and his family all that was taken from them, through this agreement we are doing everything in our power to right the past wrongs and take responsibility."

Long, now 68, was a young Black man living in Concord when he was accused of raping a white woman. An all-white jury in Cabarrus County that Long's attorneys said was handpicked by local law enforcement leaders convicted Long of burglary and rape in 1976. At age 21, Long received two life sentences.

Long was helped for years in his criminal case appeal by a wrongful convictions clinic at Duke University's law school. Long's attorneys had said that more than 40 fingerprints collected from the scene were never shared and did not match Long's. Semen samples also were never disclosed to the defense. They later disappeared.

In August 2020, a federal appeals court ordered a new hearing for Long in his effort to obtain relief. Almost immediately, his conviction was vacated and Long was released from prison. Gov. Roy Cooper later that year granted him a full pardon of innocence.

A few months later, a state commission awarded Long $750,000 - by law the state's top compensation for victims of wrongful incarceration. He then sued in federal court in Raleigh, and in part accused Concord police officers of "extraordinary misconduct" that led to his wrongful conviction and imprisonment in violation of his civil rights.

As part of the settlement, Long also received $3 million from the State Bureau of Investigation "as a result of the SBI's role in hiding evidence from Mr. Long and his legal team that proved his innocence," a news release from his attorneys in the lawsuit said. An SBI spokesperson didn't immediately respond Tuesday to an email and text seeking comment.

The city of Concord also said Tuesday it "acknowledges and accepts responsibility for the significant errors in judgment and willful misconduct by previous city employees that led to Long's wrongful conviction and imprisonment."

While Long's attorneys described the monetary payments as one of the largest wrongful conviction settlements nationwide, they said the city's statement was extremely important to their client.

"This result speaks to the magnitude of injustice that occurred in Mr. Long's case," said Chris Olson, one of his lawyers in the lawsuit, adding the "apology goes a long way in helping Mr. Long heal."


# Meta to hide posts about suicide, eating disorders from teens' Instagram and Facebook feeds
By **BARBARA ORTUTAY**
January 9, 2024. 6:13 PM EST

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**SAN FRANCISCO (AP)** - Meta said Tuesday it will start hiding inappropriate content from teenagers' accounts on Instagram and Facebook, including posts about suicide, self-harm and eating disorders.

The social media giant based in Menlo Park, California, said in a blog post that while it already aims not to recommend such "age-inappropriate" material to teens, now it also won't show it in their feeds, even if it is shared by an account they follow.

"We want teens to have safe, age-appropriate experiences on our apps," Meta said.

Teen users - provided they did not lie about their age when they signed up for Instagram or Facebook - will also see their accounts placed on the most restrictive settings on the platforms, and they will be blocked from searching for terms that might be harmful.

"Take the example of someone posting about their ongoing struggle with thoughts of self-harm. This is an important story, and can help destigmatize these issues, but it's a complex topic and isn't necessarily suitable for all young people," Meta said. "Now, we'll start to remove this type of content from teens' experiences on Instagram and Facebook, as well as other types of age-inappropriate content."

Meta's announcement comes as the company faces lawsuits from dozens of U.S. states that accuse it of harming young people and contributing to the youth mental health crisis by knowingly and deliberately designing features on Instagram and Facebook that addict children to its platforms.

Critics said Meta's moves don't go far enough.

"Today's announcement by Meta is yet another desperate attempt to avoid regulation and an incredible slap in the face to parents who have lost their kids to online harms on Instagram," said Josh Golin, executive director of the children's online advocacy group Fairplay. "If the company is capable of hiding pro-suicide and eating disorder content, why have they waited until 2024 to announce these changes?"


# Armed man fatally shot by police in Baltimore suburb, officials say
January 9, 2024. 6:12 PM EST

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**PIKESVILLE, Md. (AP)** - Police in a Baltimore suburb shot and killed a man late Tuesday morning after responding to a 911 call about a domestic disturbance, officials said.

The initial call came from a hotel, but responding officers found the suspect had fled on foot. They located him at a nearby gas station and convenience store soon thereafter, Baltimore County Police spokesperson Joy Stewart said at a news conference Tuesday evening.

When officers approached the suspect inside the store, he pointed a gun at them, Stewart said. The officers retreated outside, she said, but the suspect exited the store and "engaged our officers."

Three officers opened fire in response, Stewart said. She did not specify whether the suspect fired his gun.

The suspect was later pronounced dead at a local hospital. His identity has not been released.

Officials said all three officers were wearing body cameras that were switched on during the deadly encounter.

Per state law, the Maryland Attorney General's Office is investigating the shooting, which occurred in Pikesville, a suburb northwest of Baltimore.


# Alabama lead rusher Jase McClellan joins Tide's NFL draft exodus
January 9, 2024. 6:12 PM EST

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**TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (AP)** - Alabama running back Jase McClellan is entering the NFL draft, leaving the Crimson Tide without their two leading rushers going into next season.

McClellan announced his decision Tuesday on social media. No. 2 rusher Roydell Williams had already entered the transfer portal.

McClellan had the most productive of his four seasons with Alabama in 2023, rushing for a team-best 890 yards and eight touchdowns.

"The coaches, staff and teammates that I have met here are ones that I will cherish and remember forever," McClellan posted. "But, after some long talks with my family, I believe that the next chapter of my life is here now."

He joins a number of teammates in opting to declare for the draft, including linebackers Dallas Turner and Chris Braswell, cornerbacks Kool-Aid McKinstry and Terrion Arnold, wide receiver Jermaine Burton and offensive tackle JC Latham.

McClellan missed the SEC championship game win over Georgia with a foot injury but had a big game in the Rose Bowl.

He had 14 carries for 87 yards and two touchdowns in the loss to Michigan, which went on to win the national championship. He also had 15 catches for 137 yards.

McClellan finished his college career rushing for 1,981 yards and 18 touchdowns.

The top returning running backs are Jamarion Miller (215 yards) and Justice Haynes (160).


# Warriors forward Draymond Green committed to playing without 'antics' that have plagued him
By **JANIE McCAULEY**
January 9, 2024. 10:48 PM EST

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**SAN FRANCISCO (AP)** - Draymond Green is vowing a commitment to playing without the "antics" that have plagued him on the court throughout his career, working over the past month on ways to control his emotions and not let hostility take over.

Oh, yes, he still plans to compete on the edge and isn't promising he will be perfect during this process.

"Antics isn't something that got me here, and so when I look back on these situations it's like, 'Can you remove the antics?' I'm very confident I can remove the antics," Green said, "and I'm very confident that if I do remove the antics, no one's worried about how I play the game of basketball. Nobody's worried about how I carry myself in the game of basketball but it's the antics. So that's my focus."

Through therapy, Green said he has learned techniques to better deal with tense moments during games when he has previously lost his cool, embracing the idea of improving himself after being disciplined by the NBA with an indefinite suspension last month.

"As far as not crossing the line with a referee, yes, that's a big point of emphasis for me, and knowing and understanding where that line is," Green said, speaking for more than 35 minutes Tuesday following his first formal practice since being reinstated Saturday from a 12-game league suspension.

He added it's about "developing a practice, developing a routine" - and the NBA, Warriors and others supported him in how that might look.

Still, Green insists he has "cost my team enough" and feels a sense of urgency to get back on the court and help the Warriors. He doesn't have a return date: "Not yet but I'm pushing to make that as soon as possible."

"Accepting what the league handed down was the easy part from a personal standpoint," Green said.

He noted that a positive of the indefinite timeline was focusing on "being in a better space" without the stress of focusing on an immediate return to basketball. He even contemplated retirement and didn't touch a ball for "the first 10 days because it was the least important thing to me."

For now, Green will prepare for how he handles himself going forward.

"Going into anything, you can only best prepare yourself for what moments you may face and then you'll be put to the test," he said. "What is real is preparing yourself and doing a lot of self work so that when you are in these moments you know where you can turn to."

Coach Steve Kerr said he has spoken to Green about finishing this special run with the Warriors on a positive note. They also discussed the idea of "no more buts," such as giving an apology without explanation and then moving forward - a combination of humility with his bravado.

"Let's do it the right way, let's do it with dignity, let's do it with competitive desire, let's do it joyfully," Kerr shared of his message.

"He's obviously still a huge part of this thing."

Green rejoined the Warriors on Sunday for a walk-through and then sat on the bench for a loss to Toronto. It wasn't clear when he would return to game action - but Kerr said Green would need to do some scrimmaging to determine his status.

Green said he received applause from teammates as he reintegrated into a film session that was appreciated but not necessarily deserved.

He served his second suspension this season, this time for hitting Phoenix center Jusuf Nurkic in the face on Dec. 12.

The fiery Warriors forward also had previously served a five-game suspension in November for putting a chokehold on Minnesota big man Rudy Gobert.

"What makes Draymond great is his bravado, his emotions," Kerr said. "I don't expect Draymond to all of a sudden behave like Steph Curry or Tim Duncan. I want him to behave like himself. But there needs to be some humility in the wake of everything that's happened that goes along with that bravado. We still need that bravado, we still need that emotion. We need the humility that comes when you know you're wrong, when you've made serious mistakes, when you've put your team at peril. That balance is the key to all of this, and Draymond knows that."

Last season during training camp, Green took a leave of absence from the 2022 NBA champions in what Kerr called a "mutual decision" after he violently punched then-teammate Jordan Poole in the face.

The league announced Saturday the end of Green's indefinite suspension, saying he "demonstrated his commitment to conforming his conduct to standards expected of NBA players" during the penalty that began Dec. 14. Green has met with a counselor as well as having multiple joint meetings with representatives of the league, the Warriors and the National Basketball Players Association.

The 33-year-old Green, a key member of four Warriors championships, was ejected for the 18th time in his career - most among active NBA players - during that 119-116 loss at Phoenix.

Green noted he also wants his children to see him trying to be a better example and exhibiting growth from the mistakes he has made.

"If I can help one person grow, great," Green said. "My goal is that a lot of people can learn from it. My goal most importantly is to grow. ... I'll probably mess up along the way and that's all a part of growing."


# New Jersey's State of the State: Teen voting, more AI, lower medical debt among governor's pitches
By **MIKE CATALINI**
January 9, 2024. 5:50 PM EST

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**TRENTON, N.J. (AP)** - New Jersey Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy on Tuesday announced a series of new measures he wants the newly expanded Democrat-led Legislature to adopt, including allowing 16-year-olds to vote in school board elections, reducing medical debt, expanding affordable housing and launching an artificial intelligence "moonshot."

Murphy delivered his sixth state of the state address before a joint legislative session in the ornate Assembly chamber where Democrats picked up six seats in the November election. Murphy also reiterated calls he's made since his reelection in 2021 to further ease property taxes and expand free pre-K, among the measures that he says make the state "stronger and fairer."

"From day 1, the vision has been to grow New Jersey from the bottom up and the middle out," Murphy said.

The annual speech kicks off the legislative year and will be followed in a few weeks by the governor's budget address, where he'll specify how he wants lawmakers to allot the state's income for the year.

The two-term governor concentrated heavily on his and fellow Democrats' efforts to help rein in property taxes, among the highest in the country, all part of an effort that Murphy said makes the state "the best place anywhere to raise a family."

Republicans, who are in the minority in the Legislature, said they would work with the governor to make the state more affordable, but balked at many of his specific proposals. Taxes are still too high, they said, despite the governor's focus on affordability.

"Our tax burden is still the highest in the nation, and the tax hurdles we put in front of the businesses are still the highest in the nation," said Republican Sen. Declan O'Scanlon.

Murphy's newest proposals include a call for letting 16- and 17-year-olds vote in school board elections. A handful of towns and cities around the country, including California, Maryland and Vermont have similar allowances, according to the National Youth Rights Association.

"Encouraging our young neighbors to engage with democracy is really about encouraging them to become lifelong voters," he said.

In an emotional highpoint, Murphy's voice quavered as he said he would name a package of bills to reduce medical debt after Louisa Carman, a 25-year-old member of his staff who was killed in a car accident on New Year's Day.

"In the wealthiest nation in the world, nobody should have to worry about being able to afford critical health care services or a lifesaving medical procedure," he said.

The state has long struggled with how to enforce affordable housing requirements, currently being managed through the courts. He called on legislators to send him a bill to make it easier to build such housing, though it's unclear exactly what that measure would look like.

He also called on the state's "top minds" to pioneer artificial intelligence technology, and laid out a kind of welcome mat for firms working on AI.

"Our state government will be a catalyst for bringing together innovators and leaders to invest in research and development," he said.

A left-leaning former financial executive, Murphy came into office contrasting himself with his predecessor, Republican Chris Christie, who is in the midst of his second run for the GOP nomination for president.

Murphy has steered the state in a different direction: Where Christie clashed with labor leaders, Murphy on Tuesday hailed the state's expanded unionized workforce. Christie vetoed funding for abortion services, which Murphy has restored - and the list goes on.

Murphy has signed gun control bills into law, and touted them in his speech Tuesday, highlighting the state's record drop in gun deaths. He's signed into law tax hikes on the wealthy, overseen the establishment of a recreational marijuana industry, and signed a bill to enact a $15 an hour minimum wage, which took effect this year.

While Murphy delivered on a number of campaign promises, thanks in large part to Democrats who control the Legislature, a 2023 vow to rewrite the state's Prohibition-era liquor license system remains unfulfilled.

Murphy also did not mention the state's involvement in taking over the Paterson police department or give an update on a promise to close the state's women's prison, which the governor said last year was partially underway.


# Gov. Kristi Noem touts South Dakota's workforce recruitment effort
By **JACK DURA**
January 9, 2024. 5:42 PM EST

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**PIERRE, S.D. (AP)** - South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem touted her state's economic success and employment opportunities Tuesday, highlighting her workforce recruitment campaign to lawmakers who are beginning their legislative session.

In her State of the State address, the second-term Republican governor urged the GOP-controlled Legislature to ban foreign adversaries from owning farm land, define antisemitism, boost teacher pay and offer "second chance" occupational licensing for people with criminal histories.

Noem lauded her Freedom Works Here advertising campaign to attract people to move to the state, which has 20,000 open jobs. She said the videos, which feature her as a plumber, welder and in other high-demand jobs, have already drawn thousands of new residents and hundreds of millions of views.

"I'm not going to slow down. We can't afford it, not when people are flocking here by the thousands to be like us, not when we are the few beacons of hope left in this country," she said.

South Dakota, which has about 900,000 residents, had a 2% unemployment rate in November, just behind North Dakota's 1.9% rate and Maryland's 1.8% rate. Nationally, the rate was 3.7% for that month, the most recent data available from the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Noem said South Dakota's workforce has grown by more than 10,000 people in the last year. In a news release, she noted "huge increases of out-of-state applicants seeking licenses in South Dakota - including a 78% increase in plumbers, a 44% increase in electricians, and a 43% increase in accountants," reported from state licensing boards.

Republican Senate Majority Leader Casey Crabtree said he welcomed Noem's economic message.

"When we've got a strong economy, we've got a better quality of life. It means better education. It means better health care. It means a better all-around life for the people of South Dakota, and so continuing to focus on that is smart," Crabtree said.

Democratic state Rep. Linda Duba said she wants to see "hard data" and the return on investment from the Freedom Works Here campaign, which has drawn scrutiny from a top legislative panel. The campaign's first phase cost $5 million. The budget for its second phase is about $1.5 million.

Duba also said that while she supports some of the governor's goals, she would like to see earlier help for criminal offenders on their addictions and a focus on support for families through such things as child care and food assistance.

Noem touted South Dakota's parenting and pregnancy resources, including a nursing services program for first-time mothers, care coordination for pregnant women enrolled in Medicaid, and safe sleep recommendations for new parents.

The governor also announced plans to hang the flags of the Standing Rock and Rosebud Sioux tribes in the state Capitol rotunda on Wednesday. The two tribes will be the first of the nine tribal nations within South Dakota's boundaries to have their flags displayed. Noem called the tribes "part of who we are as South Dakotans."

In December, Noem presented her budget plan to lawmakers, including 4% increases for the state's "big three" priorities of K-12 education, health care providers and state employees. She pitched a nearly $7.3 billion budget for fiscal year 2025.

Once seen a 2024 presidential candidate, Noem last year endorsed former President Donald Trump in his bid.


# Three-strikes proposal part of sweeping anti-crime bill unveiled by House Republicans in Kentucky
By **BRUCE SCHREINER**
January 9, 2024. 7:57 PM EST

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**FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP)** - Republican lawmakers in the Kentucky House unveiled a three-strikes measure on Tuesday that would keep people locked up after being convicted of a third violent felony.

The proposal is part of a much broader anti-crime bill designated as a priority for Republicans in the 60-day session. The measure surfaced during the second week of the session after lawmakers spent months meeting with stakeholders and tinkering with many of the provisions.

Dozens of House members quickly signed on as cosponsors, with more expected to follow.

"This bill is about putting people who are going to continue to commit crime, getting them off our streets," said Republican Rep. Jason Nemes, among the bill's supporters.

The proposal would result in life in prison without the possibility of parole for those who commit three violent felonies in Kentucky, GOP Rep. Jared Bauman, the bill's lead sponsor, told reporters.

Crime was a central issue in last year's gubernatorial campaign, won by Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear. Beshear and GOP challenger Daniel Cameron offered competing public safety plans.

Lawmakers will ultimately set the policy direction for any anti-crime bill reaching the governor's desk.

The legislation unveiled Tuesday also seeks to crack down on the prevalence of fentanyl - a powerful synthetic opioid blamed as a key factor for the state's high death toll from drug overdoses. The bill would toughen penalties for knowingly selling fentanyl or a fentanyl derivative that results in a fatal overdose.

The measure would create a standalone carjacking law and increase penalties for several crimes, ranging from attempted murder to fleeing or evading police. Other provisions aim to crack down on drive-by shootings and would offer both workers and business owners civil and criminal immunity in cases where they tried to prevent theft or protect themselves and their stores. It also would limit bail payments by charitable bail organizations to less than $5,000.

The American Civil Liberties Union of Kentucky criticized several elements including the three-strikes measure, with Kungu Njuguna, a policy analyst for the group, saying that "criminalization penalties don't make us safe."

Njuguna pointed to already-high incarceration rates in Kentucky and said a better strategy for improving public safety is to invest more in mental health and substance use treatment, affordable housing, transportation and education.

"We need to get at the root causes of what get people into the criminal legal system and prevent them from getting into the system," Njuguna told reporters.

The three-strikes proposal reflects the overarching goal of combating violent crime, bill supporters said.

"We cannot just stand by as our state's most violent offenders circulate between the courts, the correction system and back on our streets committing crimes," Bauman said. "Let's shut the revolving door."

Nemes added: "If you've committed two violent acts against somebody, you should go to prison for a long time, perhaps the rest of your life. Three's certainly enough. What about the fourth victim? We're trying to reduce victims."

The state has significantly increased the number of drug treatment beds, trying to tackle an underlying cause for crime, and more efforts will be forthcoming to overcome drug addiction, Nemes said.

"But this bill is about better identifying those who are going to commit violence against us, finding them and putting them in jail for a long time," Nemes said.


# City council committee recommends replacing Memphis police chief, 1 year after Tyre Nichols death
By **ADRIAN SAINZ**
January 9, 2024. 5:29 PM EST

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**MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP)** - A Memphis City Council committee voted Tuesday to replace police chief Cerelyn "CJ" Davis a year after the fatal beating of Tyre Nichols by five officers generated intense criticism of her department and led to a federal investigation into how it fights crime.

The council's executive committee, which includes all of the council's 13 members, recommended by a 7 -6 vote to reject the reappointment of Davis. The council will vote later on a binding vote on the fate of Davis, who was hired by the city in 2021.

The new mayor - Paul Young, who took office Jan. 1 after he was elected in November - had sought the reappointment of Davis, saying he firmly believed she was the right person for the job but that he would make a change if she did not produce the results the city needs. Davis was appointed by previous Mayor Jim Strickland, who left office due to term limits.

Davis was in charge of the department when Nichols, who was Black, was hit with a stun gun, pepper sprayed, punched and kicked by officers after a traffic stop. The officers were part of a crime-suppression team called the Scorpion unit, which was established in 2021, after Davis took over as Memphis Police Director.

Nichols died on Jan. 10, 2023 - three days after the beating - and camera footage of it was released publicly. The beating was part of a series of cases of police brutality against Black people that sparked protests and renewed debate the need for police reform in the U.S.

In all, seven officers were fired for violating department policies, resulting in Nichols' death, while an eighth was allowed to retire before he could be fired.

Five of the fired officers - Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley, Emmitt Martin, Desmond Mills Jr. and Justin Smith - were charged with second-degree murder and other offenses in state court, and with civil rights violations in federal court. The five officers are Black.

Mills pleaded guilty in November to federal charges of excessive force and obstruction of justice. The plea is part of a larger deal in which prosecutors said he had also agreed to plead guilty later to state charges. The four other officers have pleaded not guilty to the state and federal charges.

The officers said they pulled Nichols over because he was driving recklessly, but Davis, the police director, has said no evidence was found to support that allegation.

Davis disbanded the Scorpion unit after the beating, and was initially praised for quickly firing the officers. But Nichols' death shined a bright light on the department and Davis, and calls for her ouster increased among activists and citizens frustrated with an increase in overall crime - which includes a city-record 398 homicides and a jump in auto burglaries to more than 14,000 last year.

The U.S. Department of Justice announced an investigation in July into how Memphis police officers use force and conduct arrests, one of several "patterns and practices" investigations it has undertaken in other cities. The probe is looking at how officers use force and conduct arrests, and answers long-standing calls for such an investigation from critics of the way police treat minorities in majority-Black Memphis.

In March, the Justice Department said it was conducting a separate review concerning use of force, de-escalation strategies and specialized units in the police department.

Davis, the city and the former officers are also being sued by Nichols' mother in federal court. Filed in April, the $550 million lawsuit blames them for his death and accuses Davis of allowing the Scorpion unit's aggressive tactics to go unchecked despite warning signs.

The committee meeting was contentious at times, with council members questioning Davis about her record and whether her officers support her. A group of uniformed police officers sat in the audience in support of their boss. Some audience members held signs saying "We support chief Davis," while others had signs saying "No on chief Davis."

Davis made a presentation that detailed accomplishments during her tenure, including hiring more than 400 officers and expanding community-oriented policing. Young also spoke in support of her and the other people he recommended for appointment to city jobs.

But council chair JB Smiley Jr., who voted against Davis' reappointment, said Memphis "deserves better."

"Chief Davis had two and a half years," Smiley said. "That's ample time to get it right."


# Former UK opposition leader Corbyn to join South Africa's delegation accusing Israel of genocide
By **GERALD IMRAY**
January 10, 2024. 9:24 AM EST

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**CAPE TOWN, South Africa (AP)** - Former U.K. opposition leader Jeremy Corbyn will join a South African delegation for this week's hearings at the International Court of Justice, where the country accuses Israel of committing genocide against Palestinians in the war in Gaza, the South African government said Tuesday.

South Africa brought the case against Israel last month, accusing it of intending "to destroy Palestinians in Gaza," and asked the U.N.'s top court to order Israel to halt its attacks. Israel rejected South Africa's allegations of genocide "with disgust" and said it will defend itself at the court.

South Africa's Justice Ministry said Corbyn was one of a number of "senior political figures from progressive political parties and movements across the globe" who will join the South African delegation at the Hague in the Netherlands for two days of preliminary hearings which begin on Thursday.

Corbyn was the only one of those foreign political figures in its delegation named by the South African government.

Corbyn's leadership of the left-of-center Labour Party in Britain was stained by allegations of antisemitism. He is a longtime supporter of the Palestinian cause and a fierce critic of Israel. He was suspended from the Labour group in Parliament in 2020, and later barred from running for the party after Britain's equalities watchdog found party officials had committed acts of "harassment and discrimination" against Jews and said anti-Jewish prejudice had been allowed to spread within Labour under his leadership.

Corbyn expressed support for South Africa's case against Israel on Monday and criticized the British government in a message posted on X, formerly Twitter.

"Every day, another unspeakable atrocity is committed in Gaza," he wrote. "Millions of people around the world support South Africa's efforts to hold Israel to account. Why can't our government?"

U.K. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has said that Britain stands by Israel as it wages war on Hamas in response to the group's surprise Oct. 7 attack on southern Israel, when Palestinian militants killed around 1,200 people, mainly civilians.

Earlier Tuesday, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken dismissed the case filed by South Africa against Israel, calling the allegations "meritless" and saying they distract from efforts to improve the humanitarian situation in Gaza.

Israel's assault in Gaza has killed more than 23,200 Palestinians, roughly 1% of the territory's population, according to the Health Ministry in Hamas-run Gaza. About two-thirds of the dead are women and children. The death toll does not distinguish between combatants and civilians.

South Africa's delegation to the Hague will be led by Minister of Justice Ronald Lamola and will also include senior figures from the office of President Cyril Ramaphosa and the Ministry of Justice, the Justice Ministry said in a statement.

"We are determined to see the end of the genocide that is currently taking place in Gaza," Lamola said.

Justice Ministry spokesperson Chrispin Phiri delivered a separate statement on video naming the South African delegation while wearing a red and white checkered Palestinian keffiyeh scarf around his neck.

South Africa is not a global diplomatic heavyweight but its decision to open a case against Israel is a reflection of its historic support for the Palestinians that dates back to the days of the late anti-apartheid leader Nelson Mandela.

Mandela compared the plight of Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank with that of Black South Africans under the apartheid system of forced racial segregation in his own country, which ended in 1994. South Africa has for years referred to Israel as an "apartheid state."

South Africa's ruling African National Congress party remains a strong supporter of the Palestinians. Last month, Mandela's grandson, Mandla Mandela, an ANC lawmaker, hosted Hamas officials at a conference in South Africa and invited them to a ceremony marking the 10th anniversary of his grandfather's death.

The South African Jewish Board of Deputies said it was "disgusted" by the presence of Hamas in South Africa.


# An Oregon judge enters the final order striking down a voter-approved gun control law
January 9, 2024. 7:14 PM EST

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**PORTLAND, Ore. (AP)** - An Oregon judge has entered the final order striking down a gun control law that was narrowly approved by voters in 2022.

Harney County Circuit Court Judge Robert Raschio signed the general judgment on Monday. The judgment finalizes the opinion Raschio issued in November finding the law violated the right to bear arms under the Oregon Constitution.

The law, one of the toughest in the nation, was among the first gun restrictions to be passed after a major U.S. Supreme Court ruling last year changed the guidance judges are expected to follow when considering Second Amendment cases.

The law requires people to undergo a criminal background check and complete a gun safety training course to obtain a permit to buy a firearm. It also bans high-capacity magazines.

Measure 114 has been tied up in state and federal court since it was approved by voters in November 2022.

The state trial stemmed from a lawsuit filed by gun owners claiming the law violated the right to bear arms under the state constitution. Oregon Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum, one of the defendants in the case, vowed to appeal the ruling.


# Chelsea wasteful as second-tier Middlesbrough gains 1-0 first-leg advantage in League Cup semifinal
January 9, 2024. 6:46 PM EST

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**MIDDLESBROUGH, England (AP)** - Cole Palmer missed from close range and Chelsea lost 1-0 to second-tier Middlesbrough in the first leg of their League Cup semifinal on Tuesday.

Hayden Hackney scored in the 37th minute and Middlesbrough held on at Riverside Stadium against its Premier League opponent.

Mauricio Pochettino's expensively assembled team has been eyeing cup trophies to make up for a disappointing Premier League campaign. They'll have work to do in the second leg at Stamford Bridge on Jan. 23.

"We had too many chances to score where we didn't score. That is football," Pochettino told Sky Sports. "We have another 90 minutes at Stamford Bridge, and I think we need to be positive."

Middlesbrough hasn't been this far in the League Cup since winning the competition in 2004.

Hackney scored after sprinting past midfielder Moises Caicedo - a big-money signing last summer - inside the box and poking Isaiah Jones' low cross past goalkeeper Djordje Petrovic into the net.

"It was amazing. Great ball. I just got on the end of it," the 21-year-old Hackney said. "We said before the game - try to keep it tight and catch them on the counter."

Palmer, who shot wide earlier in the first half, just needed a tap in to equalize after Middlesbrough goalkeeper Tom Glover misplayed Enzo Fernandez's shot in the fourth minute of first-half stoppage time.

In what should have been a simple catch, the ball instead bounced off Glover's chest directly to Palmer, who tried to volley it in from about 5 yards out. He got under it, however, and his left-footed effort sailed over the crossbar.

The 21-year-old Palmer, who joined Chelsea from Manchester City for around $52 million in the offseason, is Chelsea's co-leading scorer this season with eight goals.

Middlesbrough is 12th in the Championship and lost to Aston Villa 1-0 on Saturday in the FA Cup third round.

"To beat a team of the quality of Chelsea, in any circumstances for us, is unbelievable," said Middlesbrough manager Michael Carrick, the former Manchester United star. "The lads were just exceptional. It was an incredible night."

Liverpool hosts Fulham on Wednesday in the other League Cup semifinal first leg.


# County official Richardson says she'll challenge US Rep. McBath in Democratic primary in Georgia
January 9, 2024. 7:04 PM EST

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**ATLANTA (AP)** - Jerica Richardson, a county commissioner in suburban Atlanta, announced Tuesday that she will challenge U.S. Rep. Lucy McBath in the Democratic primary in May in a new congressional district on the west side of Atlanta.

Richardson, a Cobb County commissioner, had previously said she would run for Congress, but her decision had been uncertain after Georgia state lawmakers radically reconfigured McBath's current district. McBath jumped to a new 6th Congressional District in Fulton, Cobb, Douglas and Fayette counties in which Richardson will also run.

The new district is majority Black, and Richardson and McBath are both Black. No other candidates have announced they're running.

Richardson said in a statement Tuesday that she decided to run against McBath after a Georgia judge ruled Monday that Cobb County commissioners could not override lawmakers and redraw their own districts.

The Republican-majority Legislature passed maps that drew Richardson out of her commission district. Commissioners asserted in 2022 that they had home-rule authority to draw their own districts, but a judge rejected that claim. The county has said it will appeal the judge's ruling to the state Supreme Court.

But in the meantime, Richardson said, she's running for Congress.

"Too many voters feel they are being ignored," Richardson said. "I decided to run to remind people just how powerful they really are, to restore hope, and help spread information that empowered members of my community."

Running against McBath could be an uphill climb. The incumbent said last week that she's already raised more than $1 million for her 2024 race.

"I refuse to let the GOP bully me out of Congress," McBath said Friday. "The stakes are too high."

Richardson, though, said that there's no incumbent in the district and that most of the constituents will be voting for a different representative than they have now. Most of the district has been represented by U.S. Reps. David Scott or Nikema Williams, both Atlanta Democrats.

It will be the second election in a row that McBath has run in a new district. After the district she originally won was redrawn to favor Republicans, she jumped to her current 7th District, which includes parts of Gwinnett and Fulton counties. But in a December special session ordered by a federal judge, Republican lawmakers dissolved that district and created a new 7th District stretching north into the Georgia mountains. Republican U.S. Rep. Rich McCormick is running for that seat.


# Walmart experiments with AI to enhance customers' shopping experiences
By **WYATTE GRANTHAM-PHILIPS** and **ANNE D'INNOCENZIO**
January 9, 2024. 9:25 PM EST

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**LAS VEGAS (AP)** - Walmart has unveiled plans to dive further into the world of artificial intelligence - and drones - to improve its customers' shopping experiences.

In a Tuesday keynote at the CES trade show in Las Vegas, the nation's largest retailer announced it will be expanding its drone delivery to 1.8 million additional households in the Dallas-Fort Worth metropolitan area later this year. Drones aren't new to Walmart - which has already completed 20,000 drone deliveries across seven states to date - but company leaders say that this expansion is a sign of growing demand and efficiency.

Walmart executives said no other rival has gotten this close to this type of drone concentration of households in a big metro market.

Among AI advances, Walmart announced a generative AI-powered search tool for iOS users that suggests relevant products for consumer queries, ranging from football watch parties to bridal showers.

The company also provided a glimpse into "InHome Replenishment," which aims to use AI to learn consumers' shopping habits and keep them stocked on their favorite groceries, as well as a beta platform that allows customers to create outfits virtually and get feedback from their friends.

Meanwhile Sam's Club, which Walmart owns, has a new twist on checking out - whether it's with the "scan and go" technology, self-checkout or just using a traditional staffed register. Instead of stopping at a cashier to show the receipt, cameras at the stores' exits take a picture of what's in shoppers' carts to confirm purchases.

This camera technology is available in 10 clubs so far, according to Sam's Club CEO Chris Nicholas, and is being rolled out further later this year.


# Missouri lawmaker expelled from Democratic caucus announces run for governor
By **SUMMER BALLENTINE**
January 9, 2024. 5:07 PM EST

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**COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP)** - A Missouri lawmaker is running for governor after she was kicked out of the state House Democratic caucus for her ties to a man cited by the Anti-Defamation League as a Holocaust denier.

Suburban St. Louis state Rep. Sarah Unsicker announced her bid to replace outgoing Republican Gov. Mike Parson on Monday in Washington, D.C. Parson is prohibited by term limits from running for another term.

In Missouri, where no Democrats hold statewide elected office, the GOP is favored to hold onto the governorship.

Support from Unsicker's Democratic colleagues floundered last year after she posted photos on social media showing her at a restaurant with the man who the Anti-Defamation League cites as having denied the Holocaust.

House Democrats voted to kick her out of their caucus in December.

In a copy of her campaign speech posted to her website, Unsicker, first elected in 2016, said government "forms the foundation upon which the structure of society is built."

"In Missouri, the cracks in that foundation have gotten so bad that the society built on top is no longer stable," she said. "Keeping our house in order by protecting our democracy is a sacred obligation. And I have been punished by my own party for pointing out the cracks in that foundation."

House Democratic Minority Leader Crystal Quade, who launched her own campaign for governor in July, last month praised Unsicker's past work in the Missouri Legislature as "a strong advocate for society's vulnerable, especially children."

"Recently, however, she has chosen to use social media to promote individuals who espouse baseless conspiracies and racist and anti-Semitic ideologies that are antithetical to the values of inclusiveness, tolerance and respect House Democrats are dedicated to upholding," Quade said in a statement.

A spokesman for Quade's gubernatorial campaign declined to comment Tuesday on Unsicker's entrance into the race.

Unsicker was previously running as a Democrat for attorney general. She dropped out of that race last month.

It is unclear whether Unsicker plans to run for governor as a Democrat.

In Missouri, political parties have the option to deny candidates from running under their banner. The state Democratic Party's spokeswoman did not immediately respond to an emailed request for comment.

Official candidate filing in Missouri begins Feb. 27.

Other gubernatorial candidates include Springfield businessman Mike Hamra, a Democrat, and Republicans Lt. Gov. Mike Kehoe, Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft and state Sen. Bill Eigel.


# Migrant families begin leaving NYC hotels as first eviction notices kick in
By **PHILIP MARCELO**
January 9, 2024. 5:03 PM EST

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**NEW YORK (AP)** - Migrant families were moved out of a midtown Manhattan hotel on Tuesday as part of Mayor Eric Adams' plan to ease the pressure on New York City's strained shelter system by imposing a 60-day limit on shelter stays.

The roughly 40 families that left Row NYC, in the heart of the city's Theater District, are the first of scores of families that are expected to leave city shelters in the coming weeks. Some of those leaving on Tuesday immediately reapplied for beds, while others said they had managed to find more permanent accommodations outside of the system.

Adams, a Democrat, imposed the limit in October for homeless migrant families, saying the move was necessary to relieve a shelter system overwhelmed by asylum-seekers crossing the southern U.S. border.

Maria Quero, a 26-year-old from Venezuela who is nearly nine months pregnant, was among those standing outside the Row hotel Tuesday morning with her luggage and other personal effects in tow.

She said her plan was to head across town to the Roosevelt Hotel, another midtown accommodation that's been repurposed as an intake center for arriving migrants. There, city officials say, migrant families could reapply for another 60-day stay in the shelter system.

"We have no idea what is going to happen there," Quero said in Spanish as her husband, David Dominguez, gathered their belongings for the roughly 20-minute walk. "It's very stressful. It gives me a lot of anxiety."

The two, who arrived in the country six months ago and had been at the Row for five months, said they don't have friends or family they can stay with if they can't secure another city bed.

"Let's hope we have a suitable place. We know people who have been to the tents while they are pregnant," added Dominguez, referring to the temporary shelters the city has erected in Brooklyn to house the newest arrivals. "A woman cannot be in a tent when she's pregnant."

The Adams administration has warned for weeks that no one seeking a new placement is guaranteed another bed.

But Adams and other city officials said Monday that they would prioritize families and try to place them near their children's schools in order to minimize any disruption to their education.

"This is not going to be a city where we're going to place children and families on the street and have them sleep on the street," Adams said ahead of Tuesday's move-outs. "That is not going to happen."

Immigrant advocates have held rallies in recent days saying the new policy could lead to families waiting in long lines in the bitter cold to secure a new shelter placement - the situation single migrant adults have faced since the fall, when they were limited to 30 days in city shelters.

The time limits could also disrupt the schooling of migrant children who might have to change schools if their families are moved elsewhere, advocates say.

City Comptroller Brad Lander said Tuesday that he's launching an investigation into the Adams' administration's implementation of the 60-day policy, including whether it was properly explained to families and its ultimate costs.

"What information is actually being provided to people? Are there protocols for the 60-day evictions?" he said outside the Row hotel as families checked out.

Some 4,800 eviction notices have been sent to migrant families in shelters.

Mayra Martinez, a 40-year-old mother from Colombia, said her three children have mixed feelings about leaving the Row.

The family had been living at the hotel for more than a year and have saved up enough to rent a three-bedroom apartment in nearby Newark, New Jersey.

"They like it here, but you can't cook in the hotel and they miss home-cooked food," Martinez said in Spanish as she and her husband loaded their belongings into a waiting rideshare. "They're also a little sad because of their school. They'll have to change and get used to a new school."

The hotel evictions occurred as city officials also temporarily evacuated nearly 2,000 migrants housed at Floyd Bennett Field, the former airport in Brooklyn, ahead of a potentially damaging storm. Adams' administration had erected the temporary shelter at the airfield in response to the waves of new immigrants arriving in the city.

"To be clear, this relocation is a proactive measure being taken out of an abundance of caution to ensure the safety and well-being of individuals working and living at the center," Kayla Mamelak, an Adams spokesperson, said in a statement. "The relocation will continue until any weather conditions that may arise have stabilized and the facility is once again fit for living."

The residents, many of them families with children, were sent to nearby James Madison High School, also in Brooklyn.


# The family of an Arizona professor killed on campus reaches multimillion-dollar deal with the school
January 9, 2024. 5:03 PM EST

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**TUCSON, Ariz. (AP)** - The family of a University of Arizona professor who was fatally shot on campus in the fall of 2022 has reached a multimillion-dollar agreement with the school, attorneys for the man's wife and sons said Tuesday.

A statement by the law firm representing Kathleen Meixner, wife of professor Thomas Meixner, and their two sons, said that the family agreed not to sue the university as part of the agreement. The family in March filed a claim against the university as a precursor to a lawsuit, seeking $9 million.

In addition to an unspecified amount of money, the agreement includes "non-monetary commitments that affirm the university's continuing support for the well-being of those most affected by these events," the university and the Arizona Board of Regents said in a statement. It added that the family would continue to have a voice in the planning and implementation of safety measures on campus.

Thomas Meixner was shot on Oct. 5, 2022, inside the building where he headed the school's Department of Hydrology and Atmospheric Sciences. House later, police arrested Murad Dervish, a 46-year-old former graduate student later charged in Meixner's killing.

An independent review released last March showed there were multiple missed opportunities to investigate and possibly arrest Dervish. The company contracted to conduct the review interviewed nearly 140 people.

Dervish faces a first-degree murder charge when he goes on trial later this year. He had been expelled from the school and barred from campus after being accused of sending threatening text messages and emails to Meixner and other professors.

Kathleen Meixner said the family welcomed the increased security measures instituted on campus after the report came out.

"We must look to the future, and with urgency, ensuring that tragedies like ours do not happen to others," she said in her statement.


# Dolphins sign pass rushers Justin Houston and Bruce Irvin, adding depth to injured linebacker group
January 9, 2024. 4:46 PM EST

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**MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP)** - The Miami Dolphins signed veteran linebackers Justin Houston and Bruce Irvin on Tuesday and placed three more players on injured reserve.

Houston and Irvin are expected to add depth to a linebacker group that has been decimated by injuries, as Jerome Baker, Cameron Goode and Andrew Van Ginkel have all gone down in the past week.

Miami is preparing for its wild-card game at Kansas City on Saturday night.

Houston is quite familiar with the Chiefs, who selected him in the third round of the 2011 draft. He spent the first eight seasons of his career there before stints with Indianapolis (2019-20), Baltimore (2021-22) and Carolina (2023).

Houston, who turns 35 on Jan. 21, has been selected to four Pro Bowls and was an All-Pro with the Chiefs in 2014. His 112 sacks are third most among active players. He was released by the Panthers last month after signing a one-year deal with the team in August.

Irvin, 36, was a first-round pick by Seattle in 2012 and most recently played for the Detroit Lions. He has 56 1/2 sacks, three interceptions, 13 passes defensed, 16 forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries.

Irvin was released from Detroit's practice squad last week after one sack in two appearances this season.

Miami ended the regular season without its top two edge rushers in Jaelan Phillips (Achilles tendon) and Bradley Chubb (ACL). Baker (wrist), Goode (knee) and Van Ginkel (foot) all suffered injuries in the Dolphins' regular-season finale against Buffalo that will sideline them for the playoffs.


# Small-town Minnesota hotel shooting kills clerk and 2 possible guests, including suspect, police say
By **TRISHA AHMED**
January 9, 2024. 4:41 PM EST

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**MINNEAPOLIS (AP)** - A shooting at a small-town Minnesota hotel killed an employee and two possible guests, including the suspect, authorities said Tuesday, one day after an active shooter alert was issued.

An employee at the Super 8 in Cloquet, Minnesota, called police shortly after 6:30 p.m. Monday to say they had found another employee who looked like she had been attacked, Cloquet police Chief Derek Randall said at a news conference Tuesday.

Police arrived within three minutes and found a 22-year-old clerk with a gunshot wound inside the hotel. She was transported to a hospital but later died, Randall said.

Officers also found a 35-year-old man from Deer River, Minnesota, with multiple gunshot wounds dead inside a vehicle in the hotel parking lot.

And, they found a 32-year-old man from Ramsey, Minnesota, dead outside on the hotel's property with evidence suggesting he died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, and a handgun was next to him, Randall said. Authorities used hotel surveillance video to confirm he was the shooter.

According to the video, the shooting lasted about 10 minutes before officers arrived, Randall said.

Authorities did not immediately release the names of the three people. Randall said they did not have information yet about a motive or connection between the three, though they believe both the men were hotel guests.

The investigation is ongoing. Police said there are no further threats to the public.

Officials had issued an alert at about 7 p.m. Monday about an active shooter at the hotel and warned people in the surrounding area of Big Lake Road and Highway 33 to shelter in place.

"Based on what the officers found, we believed that there was an active shooter situation," Randall said Tuesday. "We took a cautious approach and issued an alert until more information about the suspects whereabouts were known."

A hockey game was finishing up at the town's arena a couple of blocks away when the alert was issued, Randall said. Officers escorted people at the arena to their vehicles and out of the area.

The order was lifted about 90 minutes later after police reported finding the suspected shooter dead and announced there wasn't any active threat.

About 12,000 people live in Cloquet, which is about 20 miles (32 kilometers) west of Duluth.

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz mentioned the shooting at a separate news conference Tuesday,

"In a community like this, the chances that someone knows someone involved is very high, and that makes it very much more personalized. ... We've got to continue to reduce gun violence," he said. "We cannot live in a world where we just accept that this is a normal occurrence. It is not."


# Bueckers says teammates returning from injuries may help her decide to play another year at UConn
By **PAT EATON-ROBB**
January 9, 2024. 4:38 PM EST

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**STORRS, Conn. (AP)** - UConn star Paige Bueckers suggested Tuesday that she may return for another season if it means getting to play again with now-injured teammates, including Azzi Fudd and Aubrey Griffin.

Bueckers, the national player of the year as a freshman who missed much of the past two seasons with her own knee injuries, is expected to be a top pick in the WNBA draft should she choose not to return to school.

"It's not about teams in the draft, who's got what pick," Bueckers said. "It's all about me loving playing here, me loving my teammates and wanting to get more experiences and more time with them and more time in the program."

Bueckers was responding to a question from The Associated Press about whether the ability to accomplish something with Fudd and Griffin could be a factor in her decision to stay in school or enter the draft.

"That's, I think, the deciding factor," she said. "Me just wanting to be here longer."

Fudd, who suffered a season-ending knee injury in November, already has said she will be back next season. Griffin, a graduate student who suffered a knee injury in a win over Creighton last week, also has another year of eligibility remaining, should she wish to use it, coach Geno Auriemma confirmed Tuesday.

Griffin was undergoing more tests on her left knee, but Auriemma said he is not expecting good news.

UConn also lost expected starter Jana El Alfy to a preseason Achilles tendon injury, post player Ayanna Patterson to knee surgery last month and guard Caroline Ducharme to a concussion and neck issues. It's not clear when or if Ducharme will return.

Auriemma said that because of those injuries, Bueckers has had to adjust her role and become a more vocal leader for the young Huskies, who are starting two freshmen.

"She's probably one more college year away from really, really getting it," he joked, pausing to give the television cameras a huge smile.

Bueckers has two more seasons of eligibility remaining after this one because of the coronavirus pandemic and the medical redshirt she took last season after suffering her second knee injury at UConn.

The No. 13 Huskies (12-3) host Providence (8-8) on Wednesday in Hartford.


# Broncos' brass indicates a divorce with QB Russell Wilson isn't inevitable following his benching
By **ARNIE MELENDREZ STAPLETON**
January 9, 2024. 6:07 PM EST

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**ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP)** - Maybe Russell Wilson and the Denver Broncos aren't headed for a costly divorce, after all.

The possibility of working things out with their benched $242.6 million quarterback was the main message that emerged from the Broncos' season-ending news conference Wednesday.

Coach Sean Payton said no decision has been made at QB but everyone will have clarity soon: "I spent a half hour with Russ yesterday and I told him I don't think it's going to be a long, drawn-out process. But it hasn't been decided relative to what our plans are and that as soon as we know something that certainly he would be the first to know."

Payton said there was indeed a scenario in which Wilson returns as his starting quarterback next season despite being benched after throwing for 28 touchdowns through 15 games.

"Yeah, otherwise it would have been like, 'Hey, good-bye,'" Payton said. "So, we'll look at all the scenarios and try to do what's best for the Denver Broncos."

General manager George Paton said the "door is open" to a reconciliation that would keep Wilson in Denver, adding, "I've talked to Russ. He's open to returning."

Wilson's agent, Mark Rodgers, didn't immediately return messages from The Associated Press afterward.

The Broncos are on the hook for Wilson's $39 million salary in 2024 and they'd also have $85 million in dead cap charges over the next two years if they let him go.

"This would be extreme," Paton said.

It would also be an NFL record, more than doubling the $40-plus million the Atlanta Falcons incurred in dead cap charges following QB Matt Ryan's departure.

But CEO Greg Penner, who is the league's richest owner, said the substantial financial fallout from a split with Wilson wouldn't be the deciding factor in the team's quarterback decision.

"Obviously, the financial part of it is a significant component in terms of how this works out in the future, but that's not what will drive this decision," Penner said. "The decision will be driven on what's in the best interests of this football team winning games."

The Broncos (8-9) posted a losing record for a seventh straight season and extended their playoff drought to eight years in Payton's first year as coach. He benched Wilson for the final two games and Jarrett Stidham went 1-1 with a pair of middling performances in his place.

After Wilson was benched, he said in an interview at his locker on Dec. 29 that the team approached him during the bye week following Denver's biggest win in years, a 24-9 dispatch of the Chiefs in Week 8 that snapped a 16-game losing skid to Kansas City, and threatened to bench him if he didn't adjust his $37 million injury guarantee in 2024.

He declined to change anything in the contract and remained the starter until he was benched following a loss to the Patriots on Christmas Eve in what the Broncos insist was a football move, not a financial one.

The Broncos didn't respond publicly to Wilson's comments about being threatened with his starting job until Wednesday's news conference.

The owner, GM and head coach all declined to characterize Paton's interaction with Wilson's agent as a threat to bench the quarterback if he didn't adjust his contract.

"During the bye week I did reach out to Russ's agent in a good faith and a creative attempt to adjust his contract," Paton said. "We couldn't get a deal done and we moved on with our season. It didn't come up again. Fast forward, Week 17 Sean makes a change in the quarterback position. This was a football decision made by Sean in what he thought was in the best interest of the team. This was completely independent of any conversations I had with the agent."

The head coach has said all along he wasn't privy to the talks between management and Wilson's agent.

Penner indicated he'll let Payton and Paton figure out who will be under center for Denver in 2024, whether that's Wilson, Stidham, a 2024 draft pick or another team's castoff.

"As CEO, I definitely want to be briefed to know what's going on. That being said, I entrust people to do their jobs and I don't coach the football team, I don't call the agents and have negotiations on player contracts," Penner said. "Again, I believe the approach to Russell's agent was done in a constructive way. And it just didn't lead to an agreement."


# A judge has found Ohio's new election law constitutional, including a strict photo ID requirement
By **JULIE CARR SMYTH**
January 9, 2024. 4:05 PM EST

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COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) - A federal judge has upheld as constitutional provisions of the sweeping election law that Ohio put in place last year, rejecting a Democratic law firm's challenge to strict new photo ID requirements, drop box restrictions and tightened deadlines related to absentee and provisional ballots.

In a ruling issued Monday, U.S. District Court Judge Donald Nugent determined that the state's new photo ID requirement "imposes no more than a minimal burden, if any, for the vast majority of voters."

Nugent also rejected the other claims asserted by the Elias Law Group, whose suit filed last year on behalf of groups representing military veterans, teachers, retirees and the homeless argued the law imposed "needless and discriminatory burdens" on the right to vote.

The suit was filed the same day Republican Gov. Mike DeWine signed the legislation over the objections of voting rights, labor, environmental and civil rights groups that had been pleading for a veto.

The judge wrote that voters have no constitutional right to a mail-in voting option - or, for that matter, early voting - at all. He added that Ohio's new schedule for obtaining and returning absentee ballots remains more generous than 30 other states.

He said the claim that limiting ballot drop boxes to a single location harmed voters was misplaced, because the 2023 law was the state's first to even allow them.

While that was true, Republican lawmakers' decision to codify a single-drop box limit per county followed a yearslong battle over the issue.

In the run-up to the 2020 election, three courts scolded Republican Secretary of State Frank LaRose for issuing an order setting the single-box limit, calling it unreasonable and arbitrary. Democrats and voting rights groups had sought for drop boxes to be set up at multiple locations, particularly in populous counties, to ease voting during the coronavirus pandemic.

In a 2020 lawsuit filed by Democrats, a state appellate court ultimately ruled that LaRose had the power to expand the number of drop boxes without further legislative authorization, but that he didn't have to. In codifying his single-box limit, the 2023 law addressed the issue for the first time.

But Nugent said opponents of the law failed to make a persuasive case.

"Put simply, Plaintiffs did not provide evidence that the drop-box rules of HB 458 imposed any burden on Ohio voters, much less an 'undue' one," he wrote.

Derek Lyons, president and CEO of Restoring Integrity and Trust in Elections, a group co-founded by Republican strategist Karl Rove, praised the ruling in a statement.

"RITE is very proud to have helped defend Ohio's important and commonsense election law," he said. "With Ohio courts affirming the new law, voters can have confidence Ohio's elections are an accurate measure of their will."


# South Carolina no longer has the least number of women in its Senate after latest swearing-in
By **JEFFREY COLLINS**
January 9, 2024. 4:01 PM EST

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**COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP)** - Tameika Isaac Devine didn't break a glass ceiling when she took her oath of office Tuesday to be South Carolina's newest senator, but she did pull her state up from having the least number of women in its upper chamber.

South Carolina now has six women in its Senate. They are still a small enough group that they sometimes band together across party lines as the "Sister Senators," such as when they fought stricter abortion regulations last year or worked to expand child care options.

South Carolina had no women in its Senate until the election of Republican Katrina Shealy in 2012.

"You break the ceiling and they come from everywhere," said a smiling Shealy, who fought misunderstandings and endured a few sexist comments when she first joined the chamber.

It's been a busy year for the Sister Senators. They were awarded the John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Award for their work to block a state ban on abortions after cardiac activity is detected - usually around six weeks of pregnancy. They argued that women need at least a few more weeks to even realize they are pregnant and to make what is a momentous decision. The bill ultimately passed despite their efforts.

Devine won a special election for a Columbia area seat that opened up when Sen. John Scott died in 2023. She campaigned in part on a platform of bringing more women into office.

Devine's election means women now make up 13% of the South Carolina Senate, up from a previous lowest-in-the-nation rank of 10%. Alabama has the least, with 11%; West Virginia, the second-least, at 11.8%; and Louisiana the third-least, at 12.8%, according to the Center for American Women and Politics.

The women who do hold office in South Carolina are trying to recruit others across the political spectrum. Democratic Rep. Spencer Wetmore introduced a bill allowing candidates to use donations to pay for child care while they are campaigning.

In a speech after she was sworn in, Devine hinted at the difficult juggling act female candidates have to manage, as she thanked her college-age daughter and her elementary and middle school-age sons.

"Sometimes it's not easy when I miss story time or maybe something at school, but they know I am here to work for the citizens of South Carolina and that gives them pride," said Devine, who spent 20 years as a Columbia City Councilwoman before being knocked out of politics for a bit after she lost a run for mayor in 2021.

Shealy and the other women in the Senate welcomed Devine with open arms. But they said they are still Republicans and Democrats.

"Yes, we're like sisters. So we fight sometimes. We don't agree on everything, but we agree this state needs to take a good look at women's issues," Shealy said.

Also sworn in Tuesday was Sen. Deon Tedder, who at 33 is now the youngest South Carolina senator by six years. The Charleston Democrat won a special election for a seat left open when Marlon Kimpson left for a job in President Joe Biden's administration.


# Lawyers may face discipline for criticizing a judge's ruling in discrimination case
By **MIKE SCHNEIDER**
January 9, 2024. 9:10 PM EST

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**ORLANDO, Fla. (AP)** - A father-daughter pair of lawyers in Florida may face disciplinary action for speaking out against a judge's ruling that overturned a jury decision awarding $2.7 million to a Black doctor who alleged he was subjected to racial discrimination.

Civil rights attorney Jerry Girley represented the doctor after he was fired from AdventHealth in Orlando in 2021. A jury sided with Girley's client, but the judge presiding over the case reversed that decision because he said the plaintiff failed to prove unlawful racial discrimination had taken place.

Girley and his daughter, Brooke Girley - who was not involved in the case - publicly criticized the judge's decision, according to The Florida Bar. The organization of licensed lawyers in Florida says Jerry Girley gave an interview in which he said the decision was improper and that the court system doesn't provide equal justice to all. The Florida Bar said Brooke Girley wrote on social media that "Even when we win, it only takes one white judge to reverse our victory."

The state judge in the case, Kevin Weiss, said in court papers that the Girleys' allegations "spread across the internet" and led to death threats requiring police protection at his home.

The Florida Bar says the criticism leveled at Weiss amounted to the Girleys violating an oath they took promising to respect the courts and judicial officers.

The Girleys and their attorney, David Winker, argue that disciplining them could chill free speech for Florida lawyers.

In a series of hearings this week, The Florida Bar asked Circuit Judge Lisa Herndon to find that the Girleys had violated their oaths and recommend disciplinary action. Punishment could go as far as disbarment or suspension of the Girleys' law licenses.

On Tuesday, Herndon said Jerry Girley had indeed violated his oath, according to Winker. The judge is scheduled to rule in Brooke Girley's case on Wednesday and hear disciplinary recommendations Thursday. Ultimately, the Florida Supreme Court will make any final decision.

Jerry Girley, who is Black, said the entire affair should be considered in the context of Florida's political environment, where Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis has removed two Democratic prosecutors, public colleges have been blocked from using taxpayer money on diversity programs and standards for teaching Black history say teachers should instruct middle-school students that enslaved people "developed skills which, in some instances, could be applied for their personal benefit."

"What is disturbing to me, as a Black man living in Florida, is I find I have to be careful about what I say, what I think about race, not just in courts, but in schools, in corporate settings," Girley said. "It's a weight."


# Guam police say a man who fatally shot a South Korean tourist has been found dead
January 9, 2024. 4:14 PM EST

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**HAGATNA, Guam (AP)** - A man suspected of fatally shooting a South Korean tourist during a robbery last week in Guam was found dead with a self-inflicted gunshot wound, and his alleged getaway driver was in custody, police in the U.S. territory said Tuesday.

Police said the first suspect was found dead inside a parked car Tuesday night, KUAM-TV reported. Police won't release his name until his family has been notified.

A second man believed to have been the driver of the SUV allegedly used in the deadly Jan. 4 robbery was found in a game room and taken into custody, police said.

Guam heavily relies on tourism and U.S. government spending to power its economy. South Korea sends more tourists to Guam than any other country.

Shortly after the shooting, the Guam Visitors Bureau offered a $50,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible. Guam's governor vowed the U.S. territory would do everything to keep its people and visitors safe.

Detectives said a they got a break in the case six days into the investigation when a citizen gave them a tip.

Police also reviewed surveillance footage from about 20 businesses in the Tumon tourist district where the shooting took place. The victim was staying at a hotel in Tumon with his wife during a trip to celebrate his retirement.

The surveillance video allegedly captured the suspect's silver Toyota 4-Runner taking off from the area on the day of the shooting.

Investigators are looking into whether the gun found on the suspect had been used in the fatal shooting.

"We are not sure yet, but there may be information that it may be," Guam Police Chief Stephen Ignacio said during a news conference at police headquarters. "There's other scientific examinations that need to be conducted to see if there is direct correlation between the two."

The suspect was found dead in a car in the village of Yona, which is about a 30-minute drive from Tumon. He has a criminal record for illegal drug possession, and there was also an active warrant out for his arrest.

The alleged driver of the SUV was found in a Yona game room. He has an arrest record for assault and disorderly conduct.

Guam is an island of about 170,000 people approximately 3,900 miles (6,300 kilometers) west of Hawaii.


# Starting his final year in office, Washington Gov. Jay Inslee stresses he isn't finished yet
By **HALLIE GOLDEN**
January 9, 2024. 7:22 PM EST

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**OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP)** - Addressing the Legislature at the start of his final year in office, Democratic Gov. Jay Inslee returned to one of his top priorities and the issue that defined his brief presidential bid: climate change.

"We know that climate change is hurting us now, today. But climate collapse does not have to be our inevitable future," he said in his 11th State of the State address. "This Legislature put us on a clear - and necessary - path to slash greenhouse gases by 95% by 2050."

Inslee touted the state's 1-year-old Climate Commitment Act, a landmark policy that works to cap and reduce pollution while creating revenue for climate investments. It raised $1.8 billion in 2023 through quarterly auctions in which emission allowances are sold to businesses covered under the act. He said the money is going to electric school buses, free transit rides for young people and public electric vehicle chargers.

But that major part of his climate legacy is in question. A conservative-backed initiative that is expected to end up on the November ballot aims to reverse the policy.

In a seeming nod to that challenge and the path ahead for his climate policy, he said: "Any delay would be a betrayal of our children's future. We are now on the razor's edge between promise and peril."

Inslee, who is the longest-serving governor in office in the U.S., stressed he wasn't making a goodbye speech. There is plenty more he wants to see accomplished in the 60-day session, which started Monday.

He urged lawmakers to pass legislation that would increase transparency surrounding oil prices in the face of what he described as "the roller coaster of gas prices." He also discussed helping families add energy-efficient heat pumps designed to reduce emissions and slash energy bills.

Outside of climate change, the governor asked lawmakers for about $64 million more to treat and prevent opioid use. He also pushed for more funding for drug trafficking investigations and referenced the need for more police officers.

Inslee also brought up homelessness. The state has the fourth most unsheltered people in the U.S., according to the Department of Housing and Urban Development.

"Some think we can just wave a wand and those living in homelessness will simply disappear," he said. "But this is the real world, and we have an honest solution: Build more housing, connect people to the right services, and they'll have a chance to succeed."

Inslee neared the end of his remarks by describing what he sees as two grave threats in the state and the nation - threats to democracy and to abortion rights.

Following the U.S. Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade in 2022, he urged lawmakers to join states like Ohio, which approved a constitutional amendment that ensures access to abortion and other forms of reproductive health care.

"Fundamentally, this is an issue of freedom - freedom of choice when facing one of the most intimate and personal decisions in life," he said.

Despite these challenges, overall he stressed that the "state of our state is stronger than ever."

Republican leadership had a much more negative view of the progress the state has made.

"By any metric you want to pick, there is a growing catalog of crises facing the state," House Republican Leader Rep. Drew Stokesbary told reporters following the speech. "The vast majority of which have gotten significantly worse during the last 12 years, when Jay Inslee was governor."

Democrats have a majority in both the House and Senate.

Sen. John Braun, Republican leader, tore into the very notion of the Climate Commitment Act, calling it "essentially a large gas tax."

"Here we are in the state of Washington. We might be thinking we're innovative, we have fabulous companies that are innovative. And yet our solution is not innovative at all," he said.

Inslee was first elected in 2012. He announced in May that he would not seek a fourth term.