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US Avenger an ‘important boost’ for Ukrainian air defense, top commander says

May 18, 2023 by WDNY Radio

(NEW YORK) — U.S. Avenger air defense systems, which are mounted on Humvees and are highly mobile, are now being used to protect major Ukrainian cities and to protect Ukraine’s ground forces near the frontline, according to a senior Ukrainian official.

One of Ukraine’s most senior commanders also confirmed to ABC News that all 12 Avenger systems promised by the Biden administration are in Ukraine and operational. In November, four short-range Avenger air defense systems were announced as part of a $400 million defense package for Ukraine.

Lt. Gen. Serhiy Nayev, who is in charge of Ukrainian forces stationed along the border with Belarus and Russia, described the Avenger as “a very important boost” for Ukraine’s air defenses in an exclusive interview.

The Avenger has laser and infrared technology to identify and track targets and its dual launchers can carry a total of eight heat-seeking Stinger missiles.

ABC News was the first media organization to film an Avenger in a secret location in central Ukraine.

Nayev said the air defense system had already proved to be “very effective” because when deployed they are “constantly on the move” and “ready for the next strike.”

The Avenger can be used to intercept helicopters or low-flying aircraft.

However, Nayev said the technology was proving adept at intercepting cruise missiles and lethal attack drones at night, or in the day and in any type of weather.

“It’s good for the troops [operating the system,] as they feel confident they can hit the target,” he said.

Ukraine’s air defenses are again in sharp focus after a barrage of Russian ballistic and cruise missiles struck Kyiv on Monday night, including several hypersonic “Kinzhal” missiles.

Moscow previously claimed the Kinzhal, which means “dagger” in Russian, could not be shot down.

Ukrainian officials claimed all 25 missiles fired on Monday night were shot down.

However, one of the explosions did cause minor damage to a component of a highly sophisticated Patriot air defense battery, according to a Ukrainian military source and a U.S. official.

The U.S. official said the overall Patriot system was still operational and could be fixed “soon.”

Ukrainian officials said their ability to defend Kyiv against an “exceptional” barrage of Russian missiles showed how much their overall defenses had improved.

Nayev told ABC News that the efficiency of Ukraine’s air defenses had “increased by 100%” thanks to donated systems from Europe and the U.S.

As well as one highly sophisticated Patriot system and the 12 Avengers, the Biden administration has pledged to supply Ukraine with eight advanced Surface-to-Air NASAMS systems, a Hawk air defense system and other types of radar missiles and guns for air defense.

Ukraine’s European allies have also supplied an array of advanced air defense systems such as Germany’s sophisticated IRIS-T as well as the long-range Italian and French made SAMP/T.

For Vitaliy, a commander in Ukraine’s Air Force whose unit operates an Avenger system, the technology is a massive leap from old Soviet systems which Ukraine relied on in the past.

Vitaliy, who didn’t give his surname for security reasons, and his team recently completed training by American military personnel on the Avenger system in Germany.

With his family based in Kyiv, he thanked the United States for helping Ukraine to protect its skies and the people he loves.

“I only have my family, and I must protect them,” he said.

Tim Scott to join multi-candidate ‘Roast and Ride’ in Iowa, with 2024 kickoff days away

May 18, 2023 by WDNY Radio

(WASHINGTON) — In another sign that he’ll soon make his presidential bid official, South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott is slated to join other 2024 Republican hopefuls at Iowa Sen. Joni Ernst’s annual “Roast and Ride” in Des Moines on June 3.

Scott’s RSVP comes ahead of a “special announcement” on Monday — when he’s expected to formally launch his presidential campaign from Charleston Southern University, his alma mater.

He’s set to do so with $22 million on hand after his 2022 Senate reelection race, far outpacing the war chests of all competitors, including those who may be currently outpacing him in polling.

Iowa will host the first Republican presidential nominating contest of 2024.

“I’m grateful to Joni for inviting me back to her annual Roast and Ride,” Scott said in a statement released by Ernst’s office. “I know from my frequent visits to the Hawkeye State that Iowans are committed to defending the conservative values that make our nation exceptional.”

Ernst, who has served with Scott in the Senate for the last eight years, said in her own statement that she’s eager to welcome her “friend and colleague” back to the event he also spoke at in 2017.

The “Roast and Ride” at the Iowa State Fairgrounds features a rally and a motorcycle ride and roasting of two kinds — of meats and, this year, of leading Democrats like Joe Biden.

In addition to reminding voters how Democrats stripped Iowa caucuses of their traditional first-in-the-nation status — with many in the party saying Iowa no longer best represented Democratic voters — Ernst has pitched her event to Republican candidates as a necessary stop to engage directly with Iowans from across the state ahead of next year’s primary race.

“Iowans are fired up to hear from Tim and many more conservative leaders,” she said.

So far, former Vice President Mike Pence, South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy and talk radio host Larry Elder have also RSVP’d to the event, which is shaping up to be a major gathering of most of the GOP 2024 candidates speaking in the same place.

The setting should offer a preview of the policy ideas and personalities that will soon take center stage on the campaign trail.

Ernst invited all major 2024 Republican candidates — both those declared, like former President Donald Trump, and those who have yet to make their bid official, such as Scott and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who recently made his own high-profile appearances in Iowa.

“The Iowa Caucus has always been about providing a level playing field for presidential candidates to come out here and be able to, regardless of resources or polling, make their pitch directly to Iowans,” Republican Party of Iowa Chairman Jeff Kaufmann said in a statement to ABC News. “Joni providing another platform for Iowans to hear more from 2024 hopefuls at ‘Roast and Ride’ this year is well within the spirit of the Iowa Caucus.”

The annual “Roast and Ride” began in 2015 and in its first year featured speeches from seven GOP presidential hopefuls. Trump headlined in August 2016 after winning the Republican nomination.

The proceeds benefit a different veteran’s charity each year, as an homage to Ernst’s service as a combat veteran, according to her office. This year, The Freedom Foundation based in Cedar Rapids was chosen.

Seven inmates hospitalized after incident at Washington state jail

May 18, 2023 by WDNY Radio

(EVERETT, Wash.) — An incident at a Washington jail Wednesday prompted a significant emergency response and sent seven inmates to the hospital after a potential fentanyl exposure.

The incident resulted in seven inmates being transported to a local hospital, with no fatalities reported, according to the Everett Fire Department. Twenty-three emergency response units responded to the incident, officials said.

Exposure to fentanyl, a deadly synthetic opioid, likely resulted in multiple overdoses, ABC affiliate KOMO-TV reported. A spokesperson for the Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office said each inmate received multiple doses Narcan, a medicine used to reverse opioid overdoses, which officials credited with saving the inmates’ lives.

Four inmates would soon be released from the hospital, the sheriff’s office told KOMO.

“Due to the number of patients, the incident was upgraded to a Multiple Casualty Incident (MCI), which brought in mutual aid assistance,” Everett Fire wrote online.

The Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office did not immediately respond to an inquiry on the incident.

According to the facility’s website, the jail houses roughly 875 inmates across a “general housing module” and specialized housing. The module where the overdoses took place was placed under lockdown, according to KOMO.

The rate of fentanyl overdose deaths has spiked by 279 percent since 2016, according to the National Center for Health Statistics’ National Vital Statistics System. A string of overdoses in nearby Portland, Oregon, left eight dead last weekend, with at least six overdoses likely related to fentanyl.

Eight-year-old girl dies in US Border Patrol custody in Texas

May 18, 2023 by WDNY Radio

(NEW YORK) — An 8-year-old girl died while under U.S. Border Patrol custody in Texas on Wednesday, authorities said.

The child and her family were in custody at the Border Patrol station in Harlingen, near the border with Mexico, where she had “a medical emergency,” according to a statement from U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), the Border Patrol’s parent agency.

The girl was rushed to a nearby hospital where she was pronounced dead, CBP said.

The CBP’s Office of Professional Responsibility, charged with upholding the agency’s ethical standards, is conducting an investigation into the incident, as is protocol. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Inspector General and the Harlingen Police Department were also notified.

CBP did not disclose the girl’s nationality or provide further information about her death.

The incident occurred amid concerns of a looming surge at the U.S.-Mexico border now that so-called Title 42 restrictions have expired. The pandemic-related immigration policy allowed the United States to swiftly turn back asylum seekers at its border with Mexico for the last three years in the name of protecting public health.

Last week, a 17-year-old Honduran boy traveling alone died while under U.S. Health and Human Services Department custody in Safety Harbor, Florida.

On eve of hearing, FBI says it revoked security clearances of three agents over Jan. 6 attack

May 18, 2023 by WDNY Radio

(WASHINGTON) — The FBI has revoked the security clearances of three agents for issues related to the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol, according to a letter from the bureau to congressional investigators obtained by ABC News.

One of the agents was among the pro-Trump mob at the U.S. Capitol, according to the FBI, and the two others are alleged to have hindered investigative efforts.

At least two of the agents — Steve Friend and Marcus Allen — are expected to testify Thursday before the Republican-led House select subcommittee on Weaponization of the Federal Government as part of its probe into the federal government’s purported wrongdoings against conservatives.

The letter could lead to a contentious hearing, providing what could be fresh ammunition to Democrats as they attempt to undercut the credibility of the committee’s witnesses and bolster their claims that Republicans are seeking to whitewash the seriousness of the assault on the Capitol.

Russell Dye, a spokesperson for committee Chairman Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, said the letter was an act of desperation by the FBI.

“This is a last minute Hail Mary from the FBI in a desperate attempt to salvage their reputation … before brave whistleblowers testify about the agency’s politicized behavior and retaliation against anyone who dares speak out,” Dye told ABC News.

According to the letter, agent Brett Gloss knowingly entered a restricted zone around the U.S. Capitol during the Jan. 6 attack, in violation of the law.

“The FBI reviewed communications in which Mr. Gloss expressed support for the protestors’ unauthorized entry into the Capitol building and support for their criminal acts against the U.S,” said the letter, which was sent Wednesday.

The letter also said Gloss provided false or misleading information during an interview about what he observed at the Capitol on Jan. 6, and whether he entered the restricted zone.

The agents’ security clearances were revoked earlier this month, the letter said.

“Specifically, the Security Division found Mr. Allen espoused alternative theories to coworkers verbally and in emails and instant messages sent on the FBI systems, in apparent attempts to hinder investigative activity,” the letter to investigators said, alleging that Allen failed to provide relevant information about criminal activity at the Capitol on Jan. 6.

The bureau also says that Friend refused to participate in a court-authorized search and arrest of a criminal suspect and also espoused an alternate narrative of Jan. 6.

In addition to these concerns, the FBI also said in their letter that Friend would post sensitive FBI information on his social media accounts and did an interview with a Russian news agency without approval from the FBI’s office of public affairs.

‘Heartbreaking’: 17-year-old killed at DC high school in third shooting of child this week

May 18, 2023 by WDNY Radio

(WASHINGTON) — Washington, D.C., Mayor Muriel Bowser on Wednesday said officials must “act urgently” to combat crime in the nation’s capital after a 17-year-old was fatally shot in a high school parking lot while class was still in session, according to police — the third shooting involving a child in the District since Sunday.

The teenager, who has not been publicly identified, died following a confrontation at Roosevelt High School that resulted in gunshots, D.C. Metropolitan Police said. He was found with one gunshot wound and was pronounced dead at the hospital.

Law enforcement has begun a preliminary investigation and is asking for the public’s help in finding the shooter. They said the teen had been in school at Roosevelt earlier Wednesday and authorities are investigating what time he left.

Assistant Chief of Police Morgan Kane told reporters later Wednesday that police do not believe students inside the school faced any danger.

A source familiar with the situation told ABC News that that D.C. Public Schools planned to deploy immediate mental health and social workers to assist with crisis support for students and staff at Roosevelt.

“I can’t overstate how heartbreaking it is, how heartbroken I am right now, for our kids with what we see happening as a police agency in the city,” Kane said. “But what I will tell you is that it just makes us more deliberate and intentional in our resolve to put our hands around what is happening with our kids.”

On Sunday, 10-year-old Arianna Davis was shot in the upper body while driving home with family following Mother’s Day celebrations, police have said. Metropolitan Police said she was “accidentally hit in a barrage of gunfire.”

On Wednesday, authorities said Davis had died.

Separately, before dawn on Monday, a 12-year-old girl was shot after a bullet went through the window of her home and struck her in the leg as she was sleeping, according to authorities. She was transported to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Mayor Bowser said: “We don’t want to see any gun violence in our city, certainly not among our children. We regard our schools as the safest place for our children.”

Bowser told reporters that she felt there “needs to be a fundamental shift” with “how we talk about consequences and how we’re working with young people that we know are in trouble.”

Asked to elaborate, Bowser said: “I think it needs to be on how to get young people who are using guns and make sure that they can’t hurt other people.”

She pointed to new legislative efforts aimed at increasing public safety, unveiled on Monday, which she said she hopes the city council “urgently” takes up before the end of the summer. The proposal would increase penalties for some violent crime and illegal gun possession.

“We can’t think of our juvenile rehabilitation system as punishment that courts and judges don’t regard as a way to help keep young people out of trouble,” she said, adding that her administration is supporting the “idea of respite or shelter care before a young person gets himself in trouble or hurt somebody or ends up being a victim of crime.”

South Carolina autism clinic director indicted by federal jury for allegedly defrauding Medicaid out of thousands

May 18, 2023 by WDNY Radio

(GREENVILLE, S.C.) — A South Carolina woman who ran an autism clinic is facing federal charges of health care fraud, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of South Carolina.

Stamatina “Nina” Bourret, 41, from Greenville — 200 miles northwest of Charleston — was indicted by a federal grand jury Tuesday on 21 charges including fraud, and aiding and abetting for defrauding Medicaid.

According to the indictment, viewed by ABC News, Bourret ran Agapi Behavior Consultants, which allegedly provides clinic, in-school and at-home services for children with autism and other related disorders.

The clinic’s website says its programs are for those between ages 18 months to 21 years, and treatment consists of behavioral support, emotional training, family training, social skill training and generalizing skills.

The indictment states that from about July 2020 to April 2022, Bourret billed Medicaid for services that she and other workers either only provided partially or did not provide at all.

For example, the indictment alleges that Bourret submitted claims that services were provided on the weekends, despite the fact that Agapi was closed on weekends, and that she also submitted “false and fictitious claims for services beyond what was actually performed on the beneficiaries.”

She also submitted claims using the provider numbers of employees who did not work in the area of South Carolina where patients lived, and claims of employees who never treated these patients, the indictment says.

The claims ranged from about $58 to $436, according to the indictment.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of South Carolina did not immediately reply to ABC News’ request for comment.

Bourret was arrested Tuesday and was released on a $25,000 bond on the condition she surrender her passport.

She faces a maximum of up to 10 years in prison for each charge. Bourret is also required to forfeit all process “obtained, directly or indirectly, from the offenses charged in this Indictment, that is, a minimum of approximately $1,109,430.00.”

Attempts to reach Bourret were unsuccessful, and a number listed for Agapi was not in service. Her next court appearance is scheduled for May 26 at the federal court in Greenville.

Her attorney, Andrew Moorman, told ABC News he could not comment on the case.

Turkish presidential election goes to runoff as ‘no party could actually win in the first round’

May 18, 2023 by WDNY Radio

(ISTANBUL) — Voters in Turkey will return to the polls soon as no candidate was able to receive 50% of voting in the first round of the critical presidential election.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who has ruled the country for 20 years and has won the majority of the elections, got 49.2% of the May 14 vote, while his Social Democrat rival Kemal Kilicdaroglu who was nominated by the opposition as a joint candidate, received at 44.5%. Independent Nationalist candidate Sinan Ogan got over 5% of the vote and also positioned himself in a strong position by almost holding the key to determine the winner in the second round.

The two candidates with the most votes will enter the second round. However, Erdogan and Kilicdaroglu have both claimed victory and claim their rival lost. They also both insist they will win in the second round of the election which will be held on May 28.

“Erdogan will not win,” Kilicdaroglu, the joint candidate of the Turkish opposition, told ABC News, responding to a question if he expects an economic crisis if Erdogan wins.

Kilicdaroglu appeared to be very confident during the interview in Düzce a few days before the elections. He posted a video the day of election on his social media accounts saying “I am here it I will struggle till the end” and slapped the table when it was officially clear that he finished in second place.

“I am so saddened and despair. If I have a chance, I would leave the country [as] these election result [are] unacceptable. Unfortunately, our people is not questioning before they vote. They cast their vote like football club fan,” Oya, who asked that her last name not be used, told ABC News while in tears walking in Besiktas which is the stronghold neighborhood of opposition.

Erdogan, who was a few points behind in almost all the polls until then, spoke for hundreds of thousands at the old airport a few days later, accusing the opposition of taking instructions from terrorist organizations and the West. He spoke at the Istanbul rally, accusing the opposition of “terrorism” and uttering the words “We will not let Kilicdaroglu divide the homeland.”

“Erdogan’s votes are near four points higher than Kilicdaroglu’s so we can say Erdogan concluded the first round with a net advantage. On the other hand, no party could actually win in the first round. Further, Erdogan’s votes declined from near 52% in 2018 to 49% in 2023, with his party’s votes declining from 42% in 2018 to 35% in 2023. In contrast, CHP’s votes increased from 22% to 25% between 2018 and 2023. In sum, the opposition managed to increase its support and weaken the incumbents but it was not enough to remove the latter from office yet,” said Seda Demiralp, a political Scientist at Isik University.

A young woman, Feyza Özdeş, showed up to celebrate in front of Erdogan’s AK party Istanbul HQ on election night.

“This one is no exception, no surprise here. Erdoğan already won. I see the second round as a formality at this point. Sinan Oğan himself may support Kilicdaroglu in the process, but a considerable part of his voters are AKP origin,” Özdeş said.

Özdes is not the only one in Turkey that believed Nationalists fueled Erdogan votes. Erdogan has referenced the nationalist campaign in this election.

“Nationalist campaign that aimed at moving the public agenda away from the economic crisis worked. We saw a rise in nationalist sentiments over the past couple of weeks. Most voters bought the incumbent campaign that associated the opposition with a weak position visavis terrorism. As a result, not only opposition votes remained limited, despite the economic crisis, but nationalist parties and leaders’ votes increased,” said Demiralp.

The runoff election will allow Turkish voters to decide whether they will be ruled for another five years by Erdogan or make a change after 20 years by giving Kilicdaroglu a chance. Some strongly think Erdogan will be starting a couple of steps ahead for the next race.

“In the runoff, it is almost certain that Erdogan will win. His ruling alliance has won a clear majority in the parliament and he will run his campaign based on stability and continuity of the government under his presidency for another term,” said Hakan Akbaş, managing director of Strategic Advisory Services. “He is also very charismatic, gifted campaigner in the old fashioned way, thrives on culture wars and divisive polarized fear-based campaigns that always heled him consolidate his voter base.”

TikTokers share best money-saving tips and tricks

May 18, 2023 by WDNY Radio

(NEW YORK) — With high inflation over the past year and many people looking for ways to keep budgets in check, some are turning to social media as a forum to share and find ideas to save some cash.

TikTokers like Daniela Martinez and Ana Marcks are among the many online video creators to jump on the latest financial trend and share the breakdown of their payday routine, including breaking down their paychecks, accounting for their bills, daily expenses and even a leisurely day out.

Marcks, known to her followers on TikTok as The Budget Asian, gives users an intimate look at her personal cost of living — down to the pennies.

“I spent $10.79 on two donuts and a coffee … [A baseball game] ticket was $18 and I spent $20.36 on these chicken fingers,” Marcks shared in a recent video, laying out her day.

For beginner budgeters, Marcks suggested sticking to the 50-30-20 method to best prioritize your needs, wants and savings.

“Half of your take-home income would be for needs, 30% for wants and then 20% for savings,” she explained.

Michael Liersch, the head of advice and planning at Wells Fargo Wealth and Investment Management, told ABC News’ Good Morning America that the online trend provides important transparency into the reality of saving money.

“[The trend] really creates this sense of not only social accountability, but it also teaches everyone else about what is actually working and what is actually not working when it comes to people’s financial lives,” he said.

According to a March 2023 survey, roughly 60% of consumers reported that they live paycheck-to-paycheck, with 66% of those consumers being Gen Zers.

Marcks said budgeting has brought her a newfound sense of independence.

“I used to spend my money on things I didn’t need, and honestly, I wasn’t very happy about it,” she said. “I feel more in control of not just money, but overall, like who I am. I feel like I have more autonomy.”

She added that personal budgeting is often contagious and can benefit more than just one individual.

“Even with my friends, they might want to go to a dinner and I might say, ‘It’s 50% cheaper to go to a happy hour, can we do that?'” she said. “It’s benefited everyone in my life and forced us to become a little bit more creative.”

Why the USDA might ban chocolate milk from school cafeterias

May 18, 2023 by WDNY Radio

(NEW YORK) — A new proposal from the U.S. Department of Agriculture could eliminate flavored milk from school cafeterias.

The agency opened a comment request in February for feedback on its proposal to revise long-term school nutrition standards, which includes less added sugars in school lunch and breakfast programs to “reduce children’s risk of chronic disease.”

The proposal states, “This approach would reduce exposure to added sugars and would promote the more nutrient-dense choice of unflavored milk for young children when their tastes are being formed.”

More specifically, the USDA suggests limiting the amount of strawberry and chocolate milk in high schools and banning it altogether in elementary and middle schools.

As of time of publication, the USDA had received more than 92,000 comments on the proposal, with opinions from both sides of the debate.

Some commenters applauded the effort and voiced support to strengthen nutrition standards at schools, while others condemned the plan and said it should be left up to parents and families individually to make those dietary decisions.

The USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service Administrator Cindy Long told the Wall Street Journal Monday that “flavored milk is a challenging issue to figure out exactly the best path forward.”

“We really do want to encourage children to consume milk and we also recognize the need to reduce added-sugar consumption,” she said.

Dairy industry, milk processors commit to reduction of added sugars

Last month, the International Dairy Foods Association announced a “Healthy School Milk Commitment” on behalf of U.S. milk processors, pledging to provide milk with less added sugar for public schools.

In it, the association wrote that dairy companies would “deliver milk’s 13 essential nutrients to America’s students while reducing calories and added sugars in flavored milk.”

The commitment by 37 school milk processors, which represent over 90% of the school milk volume in the country, will go into effect for the 2025-2026 school year.

The milk options would have “no more than 10 grams of added sugar per 8 fluid ounce serving, fully consistent with the latest federal Dietary Guidelines for Americans and ahead of current school meal nutrition guidelines established by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).”

“Flavored milk products such as chocolate milk offered in schools today contain an average of just 8.2 grams of added sugar per serving. The Healthy School Milk Commitment combines dairy’s passion for product innovation with a long-standing promise to provide healthy, nutritious dairy options to schoolkids everywhere,” the group said in a statement.

What happens next?

Public comments which were extended from April to May 10, 2023 are now closed.

The USDA said it expects to issue a final rule in time for schools to plan for school year 2024-25.

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