U.S. Politics

[Rick Plant]

Police were warned about Eric Greitens — before he allegedly assaulted his wife



New information is coming out about the latest Eric Greitens scandal to rock Missouri's GOP primary for the U.S. Senate.

"Missouri state Sen. Jamilah Nasheed grew concerned enough about Gov. Eric Greitens’ potential for violence in April 2018 that she sent a letter asking the Department of Public Safety to investigate rumors of an incident involving 'troubling behavior' at Greitens’ private home," The Kansas City Star reported Thursday. "DPS Director Charles “Drew” Juden wrote back the next day. He had contacted the Missouri State Highway Patrol, Capitol Police and law enforcement in Warren County, where the Greitens lived in the wealthy, largely gated community of Innsbrook. None of the agencies had received any similar information, he said."

In 2018, Greitens resigned as governor in disgrace following s*x and campaign finance scandals.

"In an affidavit filed last month, Sheena Greitens said in late April 2018 Eric Greitens knocked her down and confiscated her cell phone, wallet and keys so she couldn’t call for help or leave the Innsbrook home," the newspaper reported. "The letters demonstrate that at least once during that tumultuous period, concerns about Gov. Greitens’ at-home conduct were shared with state and local authorities. The former first lady’s recent statements raise questions about whether officials missed a chance to intervene before the former governor’s alleged abuse."

Greitens is in a contested primary to succeed retiring Sen. Roy Blunt (R-MO). He is competing against Attorney General Eric Schmidt, GOP Reps. Vicky Hatzer, Billy Long, and gun activist Mark McClowsky for the nomination.

Helen Wade, an attorney for Sheena Greitens, said the letter was sent before Eric Greitens allegedly knocked her down and that her client was not contacted by any law enforcement at the time.

“It’s just probably by the grace of God she’s still alive. Because someone should have intervened,” Nasheed told the newspaper.

Helen Wade, an attorney for Sheena Greitens, said the letter was sent before Eric Greitens allegedly knocked her down and that her client was not contacted by any law enforcement at the time.

https://www.rawstory.com/eric-greitens-wife/

[Rick Plant]

US ends normal trade ties with Russia over Putin's Ukraine invasion

The US Congress voted Thursday to end normal trade relations with Moscow and codify the ban on Russian oil, as the White House ratchets up pressure on President Vladimir Putin over his invasion of Ukraine.

The legislation -- which also applies to Russia's ally Belarus -- enables President Joe Biden to inflict steep tariff hikes on imports from both countries.

Biden announced the steps in a speech last month arguing that Russia must "pay the price" for the bloodshed in its ex-Soviet neighbor, where it has denied accusations of committing atrocities.

"Putin must absolutely be held accountable for the detestable, despicable war crimes he is committing against Ukraine: the images we have seen coming out of that country... are just pure evil," said Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer.

"It reminds us of the worst moments in human history, caused by the evil man, Putin: hundreds of civilians murdered in cold blood."

A key principle of the World Trade Organization, the so-called most favored nation status known in the United States as permanent normal trade relations (PNTR), requires countries to guarantee one another equal tariff and regulatory treatment.

The latest trade sanction, which passed the House with support from every Democrat and just a handful of Republicans voting no, caps several rounds of measures intended primarily to sever Moscow's economic and financial ties with the rest of the world.

They have included banning Russian oil imports -- a measure Biden already implemented by executive decree -- seizing the assets of billionaires tied to Putin, and freezing the nation's stockpile of cash.

Unwavering support

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi hailed the latest action as a sign that the United States was "unwavering" in its commitment to support Ukraine and hold Russia to account.

"Putin's aggression and barbaric war crimes have horrified the world and demand a strong response," she said in a statement.

Together, the moves have already pushed Moscow to the brink of a debt default.

They have also caused prices for key commodities like gasoline and wheat to soar, harming US consumers already facing the highest inflation in four decades.

The United States imported just under $30 billion in goods from Russia last year, including $17.5 billion in crude oil.

The legislation includes a measure to reauthorize Magnitsky Act sanctions that target human rights violations and corruption with visa bans, asset freezes and other penalties.

The United States moved Wednesday to block foreign investment in Russia and state-owned enterprises and levied further sanctions on the country's banks and senior officials.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken told NBC News that global punishments had put the Russian economy into a "deep recession."

"And what we're seeing is a likely contraction of the Russian economy by about 15 percent," he said.

"That is dramatic... We've seen an exodus from Russia of virtually every major company in the world. And Putin, in the space of a matter of weeks, has basically shut down Russia to the world."

© Agence France-Presse

[Rick Plant]

Jobless claims fall to 166K, lowest level since 1968

New weekly claims for unemployment insurance fell to the lowest level since 1968 at the end of March, according to data released Thursday by the Labor Department.

In the week ending April 2, the seasonally adjusted total of new claims for jobless benefits fell to 166,000, a decline of 5,000 from the previous week. Seasonally adjusted weekly jobless claims have fallen to the lowest level since the week ending Nov. 30, 1968, when 162,000 Americans filed to start a new cycle of unemployment insurance.

The Labor Department also revised the previous week’s seasonally adjusted total of jobless claims down by 31,000 to 171,000 from an initially reported level of 202,000. The size of the revision may be due in part to new seasonal adjustments used by the Labor Department this week to better account for the effects of the pandemic.

Without seasonal adjustments, weekly jobless claims fell 3,674 to a total of 193,137, a decline of 1.9 percent from the previous week.

After briefly rising in mid-January during the peak of the omicron wave, jobless claims have fallen steadily through 2022 as businesses seek to hire and retain as many workers as possible amid historic demand for labor.

Companies have avoided laying off workers, even those initially hired for seasonal roles, as job openings outnumber jobseekers nearly 2 to 1. While firms are still hiring from a smaller pool of workers than before the pandemic, the U.S. added almost 1.8 million jobs in the first three months of March and pushed the unemployment rate to 3.6 percent, 0.1 percentage points higher than in February 2020.

AFP

[Rick Plant]

The Biden-Harris Administration Announces $500 Million Program for Better School Infrastructure

APRIL 4, 2022

DOE Seeks Public Input on Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Funding Program for Energy Upgrades to America’s 100,000 Public School Facilities

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, as part the new Biden-Harris Action Plan for Building Better School Infrastructure, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) released a Request for Information (RFI) for a $500 million grant program from President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law for K-12 public school energy upgrades. The program will help deliver cleaner and healthier classrooms, libraries, cafeterias, playgrounds, and gyms where over three million teachers teach and 50 million students learn, eat, and build friendships every day. Energy upgrades to America’s public schools, including leveraging renewable power sources and electric school buses, will bring the nation closer to President Biden’s goal to build a net-zero economy by 2050.

“Children should be able to learn and grow in environments that are not plagued with poor insulation and ventilation, leaky roofs, or poor heating and cooling,” said U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm. “President Biden fought for these funds to give schools and their communities the resources they need to improve student and teacher health and cut energy costs, allowing districts to focus more resources on student learning.”

Many of America’s public schools are in desperate need of energy improvements. The American Society of Civil Engineers gave the nation’s 100,000 public K-12 schools a D+ in their 2021 Report Card for America’s Infrastructure report. Dilapidated school facilities can negatively affect student learning and health as indoor air quality problems can aggravate respiratory illnesses, reduce student and teacher attendance and performance, and increase risk of transmission of respiratory infections like COVID-19.

Energy consumption is the second-highest operational expense schools face with a significant portion of this energy lost through leaky school walls, windows, and other inefficient equipment and systems. Districts that serve rural, high poverty, or Hispanic/Latino, African American, and Native American communities experience the greatest burden of failing or antiquated school facilities.

Public school facilities will be eligible for energy improvements that result in a direct reduction in school energy costs, including improvements to the air conditioning and heating, ventilation, hot water heating, and lighting systems. In addition, funding would support any improvement, repair, renovation to, or installation in a school that leads to an improvement in teacher and student health. 

President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law’s grant funding will also support additional improvements, repairs, or renovations such as the installation of renewable energy technologies, the installation of alternative fueled vehicle infrastructure on school grounds such as school buses or the purchase or lease of alternative fueled vehicles to be used by a school.

DOE encourages Local Education Agencies, school staff, states, local governments, energy service companies, unions, service providers, and utilities to respond to the RFI.

https://www.energy.gov/articles/biden-harris-administration-announces-500-million-program-better-school-infrastructure

[Rick Plant]

Just a reminder that every single Republican voted against President Biden's American Rescue Plan that rescued our economy, created 8 million jobs, and got this pandemic under control. Small businesses were saved under this law.

SBA Says American Rescue Plan Has Given $450 Billion to Small Business

In a statement on the first anniversary of the American Rescue Plan (ARP), President Biden’s plan to contain COVID-19 and rescue the economy, the Small Business Association (SBA), said the plan has given $450 billion to small business.

To mark the one-year anniversary, SBA Administrator Isabella Casillas Guzman, issued a statement on how the ARP has been critical for small business survival.

“The SBA was transformational for small businesses, providing over $450 billion in critical recovery funding to more than 6 million entrepreneurs, helping them survive, reopen, and once again thrive even in the face of deep challenges.”

Helping Small Businesses Navigate Challenging Times

The SBA Administrator went on to note how the different programs of the American Rescue Plan have helped small businesses and entrepreneurs navigate these challenging times.

The different programs, some of which are aimed at specific industries, include the Restaurant Revitalization Fund, the Paycheck Protection Program, COVID Economic Injury Disaster Loans, and Shuttered Venue Operators Grants. Casillas Guzman notes how many small businesses credit the different programs as saving their business.

The SBA Administrator stated how because of the ARP, the people of American have been able to return to work at an “unprecedentedly fast pace.”

Record Rates of New Business

With entrepreneurs applying to start new businesses at a record rate, which is now 30% higher than before the pandemic, Casillas Guzman said the recovery efforts have sparked a surge in entrepreneurship.

The SBA stated that despite the efforts, gains and successes, there is more to be done and the Biden-Harris Administration is “working to strengthen supply chains and open more doors of opportunity so small businesses can continue to serve their customers and keep creating good-paying jobs.”

More Opportunities on the Horizon

In the one-year statement of the ARP’s anniversary, Casillas Guzman informed that there are more opportunities for small businesses on the horizon, with the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, Made in American priorities, alongside the SBA and its local partners continuing to work to ensure the smallest businesses in the US benefit from such prospects.

For small businesses and entrepreneurs in the US, it is important they remain informed and up-to-date with the opportunities available to them through the SBA, so they are best equipped for growth and success.

https://smallbiztrends.com/2022/04/sba-says-american-rescue-plan-has-given-450-billion-dollars-small-business.html

[Rick Plant]

Republicans who are holding up Pentagon nominations are threatening our national security.

WATCH: Dem senator brings receipts of Josh Hawley's record in epic floor speech



Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO) was blasted on the floor of the United States Senate on Thursday.

The spectacle occurred as Hawley held up Pentagon nominations, which received harsh criticism from Sen. Brian Schatz (D-HI).

"He is damaging the Department of Defense," he said. "And this comes from a guy who raised his fist in solidarity with the insurrectionists."


Senator Hawley criticized for acknowledging Capitol insurrectionists with a fist pump

"And this comes from a guy who, before the Russian invasion, suggested that maybe it would be wise for Zelensky to make a few concessions about Ukraine and their willingness to join NATO. This comes from a guy who just about a month ago voted against Ukraine aid! He’s saying it’s going too slow? He voted 'no' — he voted 'no' on Ukraine aid and now he has the gall to say it’s going too slow!"

And he kept going.

"And coming from a person who exonerated Donald Trump for extorting Zelensky for withholding lethal aid? They withheld lethal aid until, unless Zelensky would release false smears against Joe Biden’s son. And then he voted to exonerate President Trump for this. And so spare me the new solidarity with the Ukrainians and with the free world because this man’s record is exactly the opposite," Schatz said.

Watch:

[Rick Plant]

President Biden
@POTUS

"Last week, I announced the largest ever release from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve.
 
Today, the rest of the world is joining us — releasing 240M barrels of oil in total.
 
This will expand supply for oil and gas companies. Now it's on them to lower prices for consumers.

Over the last four weeks, fewer Americans filed initial claims for unemployment insurance than at any time in our nation’s recorded history.
 
America is back to work."

https://twitter.com/POTUS/status/1512122979228000256

[Rick Plant]

President Biden
@POTUS

Judge Jackson’s confirmation was a historic moment for our nation. We’ve taken another step toward making our highest court reflect the diversity of America. She will be an incredible Justice, and I was honored to share this moment with her.



For those who are asking: