Aggregator

From Construction Dive:  Nonresidential spending totaled $898.4 billion in October on a seasonally adjusted annualized basis, a decrease of 0.3%, according to an Associated Builders and Contractors analysis. The drop in nonresidential spending follows ABC’s backlog report in October that also indicated weakness in the nonresidential construction sector. The analysis suggests slower nonresidential construction activity, […]

From Construction Dive:  Struck-by hazards kill. Transportation incidents were the second leading cause of death in construction and contact with objects or equipment the fourth from 2018 to 2020, according to the Center for Construction Research and Training. Those deaths happen despite the well-known dangers of struck-bys — which OSHA describes as an injury or death produced by […]

Would you like to take your mind off Twitter and our worries about how they're destroying free speech in America? Then read about India instead, and its last big independent television station: Some Indian observers say that the impending hostile takeover by Gautam Adani, the third richest man in the world, of what in 1998 ...continue reading "Free speech is all but dead . . . in India"

We’ve written many times about the many problems of the JCPA (the Journalism Competition and Preservation Act). As noted, the bill is a really sketchy bit of corruption: creating a link tax to force internet companies to funnel money to news organization owners for… sending them traffic. Everything about the JCPA is wrong and broken. […]

Purivitae Ventures, a Clayton-based investment firm focused on consumer health brands and products, is building out its portfolio through an acquisition of an e-commerce brand.

It All Began with Fruitcake The world is divided into those who secretly adore fruitcake and those who openly abhor it. It’s time for those of us who appreciate a good, hearty fruitcake to come out of the pantry and stand up for the confection, that’s gotten such a bum rap in recent years.  (See... 

Read More »

The post Best Fruitcake Cookies: An Heirloom Recipe appeared first on Good Food St. Louis.

Police are looking for a man accused in an armed carjacking Monday night at a south St. Louis County gas station.

Recreational marijuana sales are still weeks away, but some things will change starting Thursday.

O’FALLON, IL — HSHS St. Elizabeth’s Hospital, announces the addition of three new members to the hospital’s Board of Directors. This brings the number of board members for St. Elizabeth’s to eleven. Board members serve voluntarily and provide counsel and oversight on decisions that affect the organization’s sustainable future and advance the mission. St. Elizabeth’s is pleased to welcome Barbara Cempura, Brian Lemon and Kevin Meder to the Board of Directors. “As successful community leaders, I appreciate the experience, engagement and governance support that Barbara, Brian, and Kevin will bring to complement our already effective team of board members,” said President and CEO Chris Klay. Barbara Cempura was the founder and served as the President and CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southwestern Illinois from 1980 to 2015 and served as interim CEO in 2018 to 2019. Brian Lemon has served his entire career in

Continue Reading

The hosts discuss the rapid growth and collapse of the crypto lobbying industry.

by Debbie Cenziper, ProPublica, and Will Fitzgibbon, International Consortium of Investigative Journalists

ProPublica is a nonprofit newsroom that investigates abuses of power. Sign up to receive our biggest stories as soon as they’re published.

Authorities in four countries are pressing to correct breakdowns in a troubled system of global diplomacy that has elevated and protected accused terrorist financiers, violent criminals, sanctioned oligarchs and aides to some of the world’s most corrupt regimes.

The “Shadow Diplomats” investigation, published last month by ProPublica, the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists and more than 50 international media organizations, chronicled widespread exploitation by honorary consuls and the failure of governments to provide oversight.

Thousands of the volunteer diplomats are in place worldwide, working from their home countries to represent the interests of the foreign nations that appoint them. In exchange, under international treaty, consuls receive a coveted series of legal protections and privileges, which can include diplomatic credentials, special license plates and the ability to move consular bags across borders without inspection.

The investigation found at least 500 current and former consuls who have been accused of crimes or embroiled in controversy — the majority while they held their posts. That includes scores of consuls who reportedly tried to use their status to advance illicit activity or evade law enforcement. Others have spread pro-Kremlin sentiment around the world, supporting Russian President Vladimir Putin amid his most controversial military and political campaigns, including the invasion of Ukraine.

In recent weeks, government officials acknowledged not knowing the number of consuls they had appointed or whether any had been convicted of serious offenses either within their own borders or overseas.

In Finland, the protocol chief at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said he was unaware that some consuls had been convicted of tax fraud, bribery and environmental crimes. The ministry is planning to conduct a review this month.

“These crimes … must now be investigated in more detail,” Mika Koskinen told local journalists.

The ministry is also updating its internal review of consul candidates. “Finland does not accept corruption,” said Pekka Puustinen, the ministry’s undersecretary for internal and external services.

In Brazil, authorities have opened an investigation into crimes allegedly committed by honorary consuls following a request by Deputy Prosecutor General Lucas Furtado.

“It is clear that there may be damage — albeit indirect — to public coffers,” Furtado noted in response to media reports about troubled diplomats.

A top official in Paraguay said the government is planning to review its diplomatic laws and regulations. “This will allow us to give transparency to the functions performed by honorary consuls,” Foreign Minister Julio Cesar Arriola said.

And in Germany, politicians from across the political spectrum are calling for change, citing national security concerns.

“It would therefore be necessary to reform the system, which invites abuse,” said German Parliament member Roderich Kiesewetter. “Regular training, security clearance must also be enforced.”

Sebastian Fiedler, another member of Parliament, said, “A security check … for all honorary consuls accredited for Germany is the least that can be done.”

Germany and Austria have already dismissed an honorary consul in Brazil who had been criticized by a judge in 2015 for misusing her consular status in a controversial land deal. The consul and her family denied wrongdoing.

In Switzerland, the honorary consul for Mongolia announced his resignation in October, one day after reporters asked government officials about his prior conviction for tax evasion. The consul declined to respond to a request for comment.

The threat of shadow diplomacy has also alarmed experts in the United States. ProPublica and ICIJ identified nine current and former honorary consuls who have been linked to terrorist groups by law enforcement and governments.

Most were tied to Hezbollah, the political party, social services provider and militant group in Lebanon designated by the United States and other countries as a terrorist organization.

“This is not just a question of making sure that honorary consuls are not using connections for personal gain,” said Matthew Levitt, a Hezbollah expert and former deputy assistant secretary for intelligence and analysis at the Treasury Department. “This is a serious security and public safety issue related to extremist activity.”

Suzanne Hayden, a former federal prosecutor focused on national and international security, said honorary consuls have used diplomatic cover to cross borders without scrutiny and to obtain illicit contraband.

“It’s the one guaranteed area where the rule of law doesn’t matter — the law has no teeth,” Hayden said. “There is not even an opportunity to test the law because all you have to do is say, ‘I have diplomatic immunity,’ and when confronted, the local cops simply put their hands up and walk away. It’s just the perfect scenario for crime.”

Reporting was contributed by Mabel Rehnfeldt, of ABC Color, Guilherme Amado of Metropoles, Bernhard Odehnal, of Tamedia, Johanna Mattinen, of YLE, and Frederik Obermaier and Jorg Diehl, of Der Spiegel.

The new location serves as a production as well as retail space for Bijoux’s handcrafted and specialty chocolates

Gloomy weather will continue the rest of the week and into the weekend.

O’FALLON, IL – HSHS St. Elizabeth’s Hospital presented the quarterly Being Extraordinary Everyday (BEE) Award to Market Coffee baristas Kim Forman and Tyler Rodriguez. They were nominated by a St. Elizabeth’s volunteer who witnessed their proactive actions in assisting an outpatient entering the facility. Forman and Rodriguez noticed the patient through a window as he was making his way to the hospital’s front entrance from his vehicle. He was using a walker and it was an especially hot summer day. The baristas quickly got some cold water and went out to meet the gentleman before he even got in the door. They assisted him to a seat in the lobby, gave him the water and ensured the patient was cooled off. The patient was very grateful for the gesture of kindness the two colleagues gave him. In addition to Forman and Rodriguez, eight other St. Elizabeth’s colleagues received nominations this quarter. The BEE Award was established to recognize

Continue Reading

CHICAGO - Attorney General Kwame Raoul and District of Columbia Attorney General Karl A. Racine, both Haitian-Americans, today urged the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to redesignate Haiti for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) and protect U.S. residents from being forced to return to dangerous, potentially life-threatening conditions. “As the proud son of Haitian immigrants, one of whom was a community doctor, I can attest to the importance of the contributions Haitian immigrants make to our communities,” said Raoul. “Conditions in Haiti have deteriorated due to governmental instability, public health concerns and violence. I am proud to join my friend and colleague Karl Racine to urge the Department of Homeland Security to redesignate Haiti for Temporary Protected Status. Haitian immigrants have risked their lives to escape those dangers, and I will continue to advocate on their behalf so they are not forced to return to life-threatening conditions.” Feder

Continue Reading

GRANITE CITY - Juniors Julian Hartin and Emily Sykes of Granite City High School were selected as Granite City Rotary Club Students of the Month for November. Students were nominated by teachers, and were chosen on the basis of academics, as well as scholastic, extracurricular and civic honors and awards, and organization membership and leadership. Each honoree will receive a framed certificate and a gift card, and will be recognized at a future Granite City Rotary Club Meeting. JULIAN HARTIN Member of Boys Volleyball Team .. Secondary Honors ... Teachers Choice Award ... Most Valuable Builder and Rookie Award (Robotics) ... Science Office worker and MW Volunteer ... Conducted Marching Warriors at Illinois Band Championships ... Member of Robotics Club and Varsity Club ... Son of Matthew Hartin. EMILY SYKES Five-sport student-athlete: Volleyball, Basketball, Swimming, Softball and Track ... Placed third in shot put at 2022 IHSA Class 3A Indoor Meet and seventh in Class 3

Continue Reading

The tavern will feature a full-service bar and numerous TVs will flank the walls, allowing guests to watch any soccer or sporting event they want.