Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials on Monday announced the arrest of a Salvadoran migrant charged with raping a child on super-wealthy Nantucket Island in Massachusetts. He was set free on bail three days after his arrest before ICE could arrest him. The deep blue state won’t let police communicate with ICE. These abuses are […] The post Child Rapist Released in Massachusetts Nabbed by ICE appeared first on www.independentsentinel.com.

A school board president in Philadelphia has apologized after a public meeting earlier this week devolved into what many parents described as anti-Semitism. The Lower Merion school board meeting on Monday began a discussion about a small edit to the school district’s diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policy that resulted in a member claiming Jews “decided… to join the group of white people” and that they were not “historically marginalized.” The problem began while the committee was discussing an edit to its DEI policy to bring it in line with the U.S. Supreme Court decision last year that ended affirmative action, The Philadelphia Inquirer reported. Board member Abby Lerner Rubin said she felt the policy was exclusionary, and eventually admitted she was talking about Jews, as she is Jewish. Board members Kimberly Garrison, who is black, and Anna Shurak, who is Jewish, made the push against Rubin. Am I Racist? Is In Theaters NOW — Get Your Tickets Here! Rubin asked how the district would decide which identities were protected under the school district’s policies and noted that anti-Semitism had come back. She later objected to language that would allow the superintendent to develop policies that would meet “the needs of those historically marginalized individuals.” “I would like it to say ‘all,’” Rubin said, according to the Inquirer. “I understand why we need to acknowledge historic discriminations … the idea that it’s not for all is where I get a little bit uncomfortable.” Garrison said she “totally disagreed” with Rubin’s concerns, saying that “racism and antiblackness has always been in fashion.” “I know quite a bit about Jewish history,” Garrison added. “There was a time before Jewish people decided that they were going to join the group of white people …” Rubin asked Garrison to take the statement back, but Garrison refused, going on to point to studies showing that most American Jews identify as white. “According to the U.S. government, the U.S. Census, and countless scholars and academic institutions, Jewish people have been racially classified as white in this country. This is a fact,” Garrison said in a clip that has gone viral. “This is not – I am not finished speaking. I am not finished speaking, thank you,” she said when parents began protesting her comments. “This is not an anti-Semitic statement,” she continued. “Additionally, people of the Middle East, even those of North African descent, are usually counted as white by the U.S. government.” “But the problems affecting historically marginalized people remain as true today as they were when this policy was created in 1996,” she said. “There have been no significant changes in this respect. And to reiterate, as stated in full detail in the current equity policy, equity does not mean equality.” At a school board meeting in Pennsylvania, Jews are informed that they are white and not in any way “historically marginalized.” Good thing they aren’t in charge of educating anybody. Oh wait… pic.twitter.com/27ekFvVltk — Aviva Klompas (@AvivaKlompas) September 19, 2024 Shurak argued that her being Jewish has allowed her to experience white privilege and noted achievement gaps between students of color and white students. “[T]he point is, as a white person, no one can immediately discriminate against you for being Jewish,” she said, according to the Inquirer. A backlash ensued, and within days of the meeting, School Board president Kerry Sautner sent a follow-up letter to the Delaware Valley Journal describing how “the conversation took a turn, becoming unhealthy and damaging with anti-Semitic statements and racist implications.” She added: “[S]ince that meeting, on social media and in correspondence, we have seen continued insults and harmful behavior among neighbors. This ongoing pain underscores the need for us all to engage in conversations with greater humility, understanding and respect.”

While it is only September, is it truly ever too early to get into the holiday spirit? Hallmark doesn’t seem to think so! The Countdown to Christmas kicks off on Friday, October 18th. The first film on the list is Twas the Date Before Christmas with Amy Groening and Robert Buckley. However, that is not the only film making it onto the list. Forty-seven new Hallmark holiday movies will also be hitting your screens this year! New Hallmark Holiday Movies—We Can’t Wait! PEOPLE shared that “Hallmark announced on Thursday, September 19, that 47 new movies will be premiering across the Hallmark Channel, Hallmark Mystery, and Hallmark+.” The movies will be available beginning on October 18 in honor of the channel’s 15th anniversary of its Countdown to Christmas tradition. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Hallmark Channel (@hallmarkchannel) The news source explains that “New movies will premiere every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday at 8 p.m. on Hallmark Channel and every Thursday at 8 p.m on Hallmark Mystery, as well as Wednesday at 8 p.m. during Thanksgiving week.” That is a lot of Hallmark holiday movie magic! Among the lineup are two new, limited holiday scripted series, Mistletoe Murders and Holidazed. The first is based on the Audible audio series that follows a small-town shop owner with a hidden secret. The second is an eight-episode special that explores all the good, bad, and ugly that come with family holiday celebrations. More Than Just Movies The Hallmark Channel is busting out more than just incredible Hallmark holiday movies. They are also showcasing their first-ever reality competition. It is called Finding Mr. Christmas, and it “pits 10 Hallmark hunk hopefuls” against one another as they compete in various festive activities. The goal is to prove why they have the most heart, talent, and Christmas spirit to be the next Hallmark holiday movie superstar. Another reality series they are releasing is Ready, Set, Glow, which is where Hallmark star Wes Brown goes across the United States to see who has the best holiday light displays. As well as hear the stories and meet the people behind these astonishing displays. Between the incredible Hallmark holiday movies and the new holiday reality series, we cannot wait for October 18. Christmas is coming early this year! This story’s featured image is by FTiare via Getty. The post Hallmark Released Its Holiday Lineup & We Can’t Wait To Binge Watch By The Fire appeared first on InspireMore.

Episode Description Today’s positive news: Arielle talks about how the shipping industry is going old-school in the name of sustainability by bringing back good old-fashioned wind-powered cargo ships. Then, Karissa enlightens us with the significance of Hispanic Heritage Month which is celebrated in the United States every year from September 15th to October 15th. The Optimist Daily is a project of The World Business Academy. Donate link: https://www.optimistdaily.com/donate-to-support-the-optimist-daily/?gift=Y%20http:// Transcript  Theme music  Karissa  Hello and welcome to the Optimist Daily’s Weekly Round-up. I’m Karissa.  Arielle  And I’m Arielle. And we are working hard to put solutions in view and optimism in movement.  Karissa  Howdy, everyone! We’re back again with another episode of the pod to share the solutions from the Optimist Daily this week. How are you doing, Arielle?  Arielle  I am doing really well. Last weekend, I hosted girls’ night…  Karissa  Oooh! Very fun!  Arielle  …and that was really fun. I feel like I’ve just been on this positive wave ever since.   Karissa  Mm-hmm.  Arielle  So yeah, it was… It was really cute. It was a bit of a blast from the past because we watched The Lizzie McGuire Movie. (laughs) Karissa  Oh! (Laughs)  Arielle  Just a bunch of ladies in their late 20s and early 30s watching Lizzie McGuire.  Karissa  That’s awesome.  Arielle  So yeah! It’s been a good week since then. Uh, how about you, Karissa?  Karissa  I love it. Yeah. I kind of had similar experiences to that because I just returned from a trip to Idaho this past week.   Arielle  Oh yeah, that’s right.  Karissa   And I saw my friends and family. And I was spending time with my best friends since first grade. And we also watched some old movies. One of my favorites, A Cinderella Story.  Arielle  Ouu!  Karissa  Also with Hillary Duff.  Arielle  Yeah!   Both  (Laugh)  Karissa  Yeah. So, we watched that one and you know, tapped into our creative side, made some clay magnets and such. So.  Arielle  Ah, that sounds so wholesome.  Karissa  Yeah! Looked at some old photos from when we were younger. So very nostalgic. And I’m also on this positive wave!  Arielle  Well, taking a walk down memory lane kind of links up to my article.   Karissa  Oh really?  Arielle  Yeah, it kind of links up to the solution just. Because what I chose takes us back to like, a bygone era.  Karissa  Ohh!  Arielle  But it simultaneously shoots us into the future in terms of sustainability.   Karissa  Interesting!   Arielle  Yeah. And these two, like opposite feelings, working together really caught my attention. And I hope it will fascinate our listeners as well. So, I hope you don’t mind if I just jump into my article.  Karissa  Yeah, please do.  Arielle  Okay, so the title is: The world’s largest wind-powered cargo ship makes her maiden transatlantic voyage. Yeah. And I know it sounds kind of like just another sustainability, uh, story…  Karissa  (Laughs)  Arielle  But if you think about it, it’s a cargo ship that’s powered almost entirely by wind, like the pirates who once sailed the seven seas!   Karissa  (Laughs)   Arielle  This wind-powered cargo ship just crossed the Atlantic. And it’s not a tiny sailboat. It’s like a legit high-tech cargo ship carrying loads of champagne, wine, and cognac, and it’s the first of its kind in over a century.  Karissa  Ohh huge cargo ship powered by wind? Not engines but actual wind?  Arielle  Yes, exactly. It’s the brainchild of this French startup called. TOWT, which stands for a trans-oceanic wind transport. So it’s T-O-W-T, TOWT. And their ship Anemos recently made its maiden voyage from France to New York, using mostly wind power. So, it’s like they’re bringing sailing back. But with a modern twist.  Karissa  Ah, I love this, going old-school theme.   Arielle  Mm-hmm.   Karissa   We were kind of talking about that last week on the pod with the weather-proofing housing materials from ancient civilizations.   Arielle  Yeah, exactly.   Karissa  But okay, so here, how can this going back to the old-school ways help with our modern-day expectations? How can wind keep up with engines?  Arielle  Yeah, that’s a good question. Anemos is actually far from an old-school sailing ship. It’s actually inspired by racing sailboats. So, as I said, it’s super high-tech. And the masts are made of carbon fiber, which makes them a lot lighter and taller than the old wooden ones.  And that means they can hold bigger sails and catch more wind. And another huge advantage is the whole sail system is controlled by a remote.  Karissa  Oh, a remote. So, there’s no sailors climbing up on ropes and all that?  Arielle  Precisely! So the ship’s seven sails are handled with one remote, making it way easier to manage. And even though she’s huge, the Anemos only needs a crew of seven people. Plus, they’ve got some pretty cool software that helps them catch the wind as efficiently as possible. And they do have backup diesel-electric engines. But for 95% of the trip, it is all wind baby!  Karissa  Oh! So how did the trip go?  Arielle  Yeah. Okay… so, full disclosure, there were a few bumps at the start. They had some delays and had to use the engines a bit when leaving France. But for the last 10 days of the journey, it was all sails and wind.   And when the ship’s going fast enough, the propellers can actually spin backward and generate energy from the ship’s wake to power everything on board. So the ship’s basically creating its own electricity while sailing.  Karissa  Oh, that’s so cool. And I’m guessing the ship isn’t hauling massive amounts of cargo like the huge container ships we’re used to seeing.  Arielle  Yeah, you’re right. It’s not about size… at least not yet. Anemos can carry around 1000 tons of cargo on pallets, which is way smaller than the 20,000-container capacity of modern container ships.   But the real selling point here is sustainability. Brands are choosing this method because they want to lower their carbon footprint. Plus, TOWT offers long-term contracts with stable prices, which is great for companies trying to avoid the unpredictable costs of fuel.  Karissa  Yeah, that’s so true and makes a lot of sense because I bet companies love the idea of being able to say their products crossed the Atlantic on a wind-powered ship.  Arielle  Yeah, exactly. It’s great for green marketing. And TOWT even gives companies the option to add a QR code to their products that links to data showing how much CO2 was saved on the journey. So, basically, it’s transparency and sustainability in one package. None of that greenwashing stuff.  Karissa  So, I know there’s a lot of new green fuels that are developed and we’re hearing a lot about them. So why should we stick with wind over going to these new fuels?  Arielle  Le Grand, the co-founder of TOWT, says that wind is best for the moment because wind is here and it’s reliable. So, he’s a bit skeptical of other so-called green fuels like liquefied natural gas, which can cause methane leaks. Plus, he points out that while the shipping industry talks a big game about decarbonizing, they’re mostly waiting for some magic fuel to arrive or to be, like, fully developed. And that’s still in the process.   Karissa  Yeah.   Arielle  Wind, on the other hand, is free and abundant right now.  Karissa  Yeah, totally a solution we can use at the moment and it’s hard to argue with that. Yeah, I guess what’s next for TOWT?  Arielle  Hmm. Well, they are just getting started. They’ve already built a second ship and are planning to start monthly transatlantic trips. And after dropping off wine and spirits in the US, the ships will head to South America to pick up coffee and bring that back to Europe. And they’ve got six more ships on order for 2026 and have a long-term goal of building a whole fleet of wind-powered vessels.  Karissa  Oh, wow, that’s super ambitious. But I guess if they’re already pulling it off, why not go big?  Arielle  And they’re not just expanding the fleet. They’re also thinking about the future of the shipping industry as a whole. They’re working on formal training for a new kind of sailing cargo captain because right now that doesn’t really exist.  Karissa  Yeah, exactly. That’s really cool. And with these new… well, just new jobs in general or new green jobs, we need to prepare for the future careers that are out there.   Arielle  Mm-hmm.   Karissa  Yeah, it sounds like TOWT is basically trying to change the way we think about shipping altogether.  Arielle  Yeah, pretty much. And with the maritime industry under pressure to cut emissions. TOWT… I was saying TOWT (pronounced ‘tote’), but I think TOWT (pronounced ‘tout’) sounds better, so I’m gonna… I’m gonna adopt your version of it.   Both  (Laugh)  Arielle  So, TOWT’s wind-powered ships offer a real alternative, and they’re already proving that it works. So, with more ships in the pipeline, we could be seeing a lot more of these wind-powered voyages in the future.  Karissa  Yeah, totally. It’s really genius and a solution we can use at the moment because using something that’s free and that’s been around forever is just a smarter way.  Arielle  Yeah, it’s a nod to the past, but with all the modern tech to make it efficient, and I suppose just controllable. So, I apologize for the pun, but the winds of change…  Karissa  (Laughs)  Arielle  …quite literally, are here!  Karissa  Totally! Well, that’s awesome. That makes seem pretty optimistic for the future of cargo shipping, so.  Arielle  Yeah, it’s a big problem right now and it is difficult to find a solution to lowering these carbon emissions, especially now everyone is much more into online shopping. So, we’re shipping a lot just personally these days as well.  Karissa  Well, very cool.  Arielle  Yeah. I did mention that the ships are heading to South America to pick up coffee, and I know that your solution kind of has something to do with that part of the world in a way?  Karissa  Yeah, because this month in the United States is Hispanic Heritage Month. So, I’m diving into part one of our two-part series that we shared on the Optimist Daily this week. And in this part, we’re understanding the significance of Hispanic Heritage Month.   Arielle  Nice.   Karissa  I chose this solution because I myself have Hispanic heritage, so it’s very important for me. And education is always an important solution. So, I think it’s great for all of us to take a look at.   Arielle  Mm-hmm.  Karissa  Especially in the United States, we all come from different backgrounds.   And it’s very fascinating to understand, for me, my own background. And you know, everyone else’s as well.   Every year from September 15th to October 15th, Hispanic Heritage Month encourages people around the United States to honor the Hispanic and Latino population’s rich history, culture, and contributions. President Ronald Reagan extended the weeklong commemoration that began in 1968 under President Lyndon B Johnson to a full month in 1988.   So today it’s time to recognize the amazing contributions Hispanic Americans have made in shaping the United States. Latinas and Latinos have made a lot of contributions in business, science, public service, the arts, and more. And according to the US Census Bureau, Hispanics are the country’s largest ethnic or racial minority group with a population of more than 60 million. In other words, 18.9% of the total population. And their influence has been integral to U.S. history since the colonial era, and their continued contributions in modern times helped fuel the economy and shape the cultural landscape.  Arielle Okay. Before we go any further, I know that Hispanic and Latino are often terms that we see used interchangeably, but is there an actual difference?  Karissa  Yeah. So, there is a little bit of a difference here. And as you said, they are used interchangeably, but they have distinct meanings.   So Hispanic traditionally refers to those having ancestors in Spanish-speaking countries, but Latino is a broader term that embraces people from Latin America as well. So, it includes non-Spanish-speaking countries such as Brazil. According to the National Museum of the American Latino, the term Latino encompasses a wide range of racial heritages, including Black, Indigenous, Asian, and European ancestry, allowing for a more inclusive view of Latin American identity. Understanding these distinctions is critical for honoring the community’s diversity this month. It’s something that a lot of people get confused about, but here is the clarification.  Arielle  Yeah. Nice. I do have another question though. So, I think this is the only heritage month that begins in the middle of a month and goes to a middle of another month. So, is there a reason why it starts mid-September?  Karissa  Yeah, you’re right. So, this is a unique feature of the month starting in the middle. But it’s no coincidence because September 15th is the Independence Day of five Central American countries. And that’s Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua. And Mexico’s Independence Day falls on September 16th, while Chile’s is on September 18th. So, it’s all been in this past week! These dates are rooted in the spirit of independence and strength, and they nicely complement the month’s themes of pride and resilience.  Arielle  This is definitely a month to be proud of. Can you share more about the importance behind celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month?  Karissa  Yeah. Well, as I kind of touched on, Latinos and Latinas have made huge contributions to the United States and they’ve taken key roles in everything from the Revolutionary War to the civil rights movement. Hispanic Heritage Month is important not only because it honors the past, but because it also gives voices to the Hispanic community in the present. You know, representation is critical, especially because one in every four children in the United States is of Hispanic or Latino origin.  Arielle  Okay. Yeah, that’s a really interesting statistic. With such a large Hispanic and Latino population in the States, of course, it’s important to celebrate this month.  Karissa  Yeah, but despite the large and expanding population, Latino history is often missing from high school texts and curricula. So, the omission underscores the importance of Hispanic Heritage Month as more than just a celebration, but an opportunity for education, representation, and recognition of the community’s tremendous effect on American history and culture.   And one interesting fact is that Latino’s economic production ranks 5th in the world when considered an autonomous economy.   Arielle  Wow.   Karissa  And their impact is growing, making the history and stories even more significant than ever. An example of this are in sports. That’s an area that the Latino community is making such a huge impact in. So, for example, Latinos have had a revolutionary impact on Major League Baseball, with roughly 30% of the league’s players identifying as Hispanic or Latino as of 2023.  And legends such as Roberto Clemente, a trailblazer on and off the field, and current players such as Francisco Lindor and Javier Baez have built a name for themselves not only through athletics but also through advocacy and philanthropic work.   And Latinas have also torn down barriers in the field of sports over the years. For example, Linda Alvarado bought the Colorado Rockies in the 1990s, making her the first Hispanic woman to own a Major League Baseball team. I did not know that. So that’s a very cool fact indeed.   So yeah, overall, Hispanic Heritage Month is a powerful reminder of the immeasurable contributions that Latinas and Latinos have made to the fabric of the United States. From shaping the nation’s history to transforming industries like sports, business, and the arts, their influence has been and continues to be, undeniable.  Arielle  Yeah, this is really a great time to use education, celebration, and reflection to appreciate the diverse voices and cultures that make up… um, well. I was going to say our country, but I’m actually Canadian.   Karissa  (Laughs)  Arielle  The great country of the United States (laughs).  Karissa  Yeah, exactly. And even though this is a United States celebration, I mean, Latinos are all over the world.  Arielle  Yeah.  Karissa  So it’s great no matter where you are. And if you’re, you know, a reader/ listener of the Optimist Daily, I’d definitely highly encourage you to take a look at this article and also Part 2 of the Hispanic Heritage Month series, which we published this week. Where we go over more key figures of Hispanic history and heritage, so definitely worth the read, but you can go check that out on our website optimistdaily.com.  Arielle  We wish everyone a really happy Hispanic Heritage Month. Actually, I should say it in Spanish.   Both  (Laugh)  Karissa  Yeah!  Arielle   Yeah. Les deseamos un feliz Hispanic Heritage Month! I actually don’t know how to say heritage in Spanish, but yeah, okay, that was my best shot! (Laughs)  Karissa  Yes. Well, thank you for the attempt, Arielle. That was great.  Arielle  Well, that was a great roundup of solutions. We have some other great solutions from this week you can find on our website optimistdaily.com including:  Karissa  So, we have: How the nation’s largest electric school bus fleet will also power the grid. More sustainable transportation this week for you. Five key questions to ask yourself before dating after heartbreak. Getting ready for autumn: five ways to celebrate the autumnal equinox, which was this past… Or no, it’s coming up.   Arielle  Mm-hm, yes, it’s coming up (laughs).  Karissa  (Laughs). So get ready for fall! And Steam-powered seed treatment gains popularity as a chemical-free alternative in agriculture.  Arielle  We also have: Learning how to identify and defend against medical gaslighting. Of course, we have the second part of the Hispanic Heritage Month: honoring key figures of Hispanic heritage and history. Superior squats: challenge both mind and muscles with wobbly squats. And Savoring: the happiness hack you didn’t know you needed.  Karissa  And if you want to start your day off right, make sure to subscribe to our free daily newsletter to get our solutions straight to your inbox.  Arielle  We also have a lot more on our social channels. You can find us @OptimistDaily on all of our platforms, including threads and Pinterest. The only different one is on X. On there we are @OdeToOptimism.  Karissa  And we’re a small team of optimists working hard to bring you positive news. If we want to support our mission of putting optimism into the world, click on the link in the show notes to find out how.  Arielle  And support doesn’t always have to be financial. You could just recommend our podcast to a friend, leave a positive review on Apple or Spotify, forward a link to a loved one, or share a solution on your socials, anything like that would be a big help for us.  Karissa  Well, as always, Arielle, it was so great to share these solutions from the Optimist Daily this week and I’m looking forward to next week and sharing some more.  Arielle  Yes, I feel exactly the same. Until next week. We wish you a very happy weekend.   Both  Bye!   The post Podcast Transcript September 20, 2024: Bringing Back Wind-Powered Cargo Ships and Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month first appeared on The Optimist Daily: Making Solutions the News.

'Court of public opinion'

"What is correct is that starting Monday, 16 September 2024, checks at all of Germany’s land borders will be temporarily reintroduced," a spokesperson for the German Embassy Washington, D.C. told Check Your Fact via email