ATLANTA (AP) — Deliberations are underway in Atlanta after a year of testimony in the gang and racketeering trial that originally included the rapper Young Thug. Jurors are considering whether to convict Shannon Stillwell and Deamonte Kendrick, who raps as Yak Gotti, on gang, murder, drug and gun charges. The original indictment charged 28 people with conspiring to violate Georgia’s Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act. Opening statements in the trial for six of those defendants happened a year ago . Four of them, including Young Thug, pleaded guilty last month. The rapper was freed on probation. Stillwell and Kendrick rejected plea deals after more than a week of negotiations, and their lawyers chose not to present evidence or witnesses. Both seemed to be in good spirits Tuesday morning after closings wrapped the previous night. Kendrick was chatting and laughing with Stillwell and his lawyers before the jury arrived for instructions. The jury started deliberating Tuesday afternoon and was dismissed at 5 p.m. Jurors are expected to resume deliberations Wednesday morning. If they don’t reach a verdict by 3 p.m. Wednesday, the judge will send them home for the Thanksgiving weekend and they will return Monday morning. RELATED COVERAGE Shoplifting ring stole $2M in cosmetics and clothes then resold them abroad, prosecutors say A fugitive wanted in the US for a pair of bombings is arrested in the UK after 20 years on the run Man found guilty of holding down teen while he was raped at a youth center in 1998 Kendrick and Stillwell were charged in the 2015 killing of Donovan Thomas Jr., also known as “Big Nut,” in an Atlanta barbershop. Prosecutors painted Stillwell and Kendrick as members of a violent street gang called Young Slime Life, or YSL, co-founded in 2012 by Young Thug, whose real name is Jeffery Williams. During closings on Monday, they pointed to tattoos, song lyrics and social media posts they said proved members, including Stillwell, admitted to killing people in rival gangs. Prosecutors say Thomas was in a rival gang. Stillwell was also charged in the 2022 killing of Shymel Drinks, which prosecutors said was in retaliation for the killing of two YSL associates days earlier. Defense attorneys Doug Weinstein and Max Schardt said the state presented unreliable witnesses, weak evidence and cherry-picked lyrics and social media posts to push a false narrative about Stillwell, Kendrick and the members of YSL. Schardt, Stillwell’s attorney, reminded the jury that alleged YSL affiliates said during the trial that they had lied to police. Law enforcement played a “sick game” by promising they would escape long prison sentences if they said what police wanted them to say, Schardt said. He theorized that one of those witnesses could have killed Thomas. The truth is that their clients were just trying to escape poverty through music, Schardt said. “As a whole, we know the struggles that these communities have had,” Schardt said. “A sad, tacit acceptance that it’s either rap, prison or death.” Young Thug’s record label is also known as YSL, an acronym of Young Stoner Life. Kendrick was featured on two popular songs from the label’s compilation album Slime Language 2, “Take It to Trial” and “Slatty,” which prosecutors presented as evidence in the trial. Weinstein, Kendrick’s defense attorney, said during closings it was wrong for prosecutors to target the defendants for their music and lyrics. Prosecutor Simone Hylton disagreed, and said surveillance footage and phone evidence supported her case. “They have the audacity to think they can just brag about killing somebody and nobody’s gonna hold them accountable,” Hylton said. The trial had more than its fair share of delays. Jury selection took nearly 10 months , and Stillwell was stabbed last year at the Fulton County jail, which paused trial proceedings. Judge Paige Reese Whitaker took over after Fulton County Superior Court Chief Judge Ural Glanville was removed from the case in July because he had a meeting with prosecutors and a state witness without defense attorneys present. Whitaker often lost patience with prosecutors over moves such as not sharing evidence with defense attorneys, once accusing them of “poor lawyering.” But the trial sped up under her watch. In October, four defendants, including Young Thug , pleaded guilty, with the rapper entering a non-negotiated or “blind” plea, meaning he didn’t have a deal worked out with prosecutors. Nine people charged in the indictment, including rapper Gunna , accepted plea deals before the trial began. Charges against 12 others are pending. Prosecutors dropped charges against one defendant after he was convicted of murder in an unrelated case. ___ Kramon is a corps member for The Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues. Follow Kramon on X: @charlottekramon
ClassNK has granted its Innovation Endorsement for Products & Solutions to ROV training simulator ‘FF Virtual’ developed by FINDi Co., Ltd. In order to promote the spread and development of innovative technologies, ClassNK has offered Innovation Endorsement for Products & Solutions. ClassNK supports the deployment of products and services through third-party certification for equipment and software technology with innovative functions. The detailed information is available on the following page of ClassNK website: Product name: FF Virtual Product description: 1. Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) training simulator for professionals who practice underwater infrastructure inspection. 2. Simulates not only basic piloting but also actual field challenges such as relying on an acoustic imaging sonar map in turbid water conditions or entanglement of the tether cable. 3. Training is available in several fields including docked ship hull, water storage facilities, and pipelines. Source: ClassNKThe construction of the new expressway is a testament to Jiangxi's commitment to sustainable development and modernization. By investing in infrastructure projects such as this, the province demonstrates its dedication to fostering growth, innovation, and prosperity for its residents. The new expressway will not only improve transportation efficiency but also contribute to environmental conservation efforts through the implementation of sustainable construction practices and technologies.
NEW YORK, Nov. 26, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Gross Law Firm issues the following notice to shareholders of Edwards Lifesciences Corporation EW . Shareholders who purchased shares of EW during the class period listed are encouraged to contact the firm regarding possible lead plaintiff appointment. Appointment as lead plaintiff is not required to partake in any recovery. CONTACT US HERE: https://securitiesclasslaw.com/securities/edwards-lifesciences-loss-submission-form/?id=113425&from=3 CLASS PERIOD: February 6, 2024 to July 24, 2024 ALLEGATIONS: According to the complaint, defendants provided investors with material information concerning Edwards' expected revenue for the fiscal year 2024, particularly as it related to the growth of the Company's core product, Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement ("TAVR"). Defendants' statements included, among other things, strong commitment to the TAVR platform, confidence in the Company's ability to capitalize on a subset of untreated patients through scaling of its various patient activation activities, and continued claims of significant demand in allegedly lower-penetrated markets. On July 24, 2024, Edwards unveiled below-expectation financial results for the second quarter of fiscal 2024 and, in particular, slashed its revenue guidance for the TAVR platform for the full fiscal year 2024. The Company attributed the TAVR setback on the "continued growth and expansion of structural heart therapies ... [which] put pressure on hospital workflows." Investors understood this to mean that developments in new procedures, including defendant's own Transcatheter Mitral and Tricuspid Therapies ("TMTT"), put significant strain on hospital structural heart teams such that they were underutilizing TAVR, despite the Company's continued claim of a significantly undertreated patient population. Moreover, the Company announced three acquisitions during the second quarter designed to embolden their treatments alternative to TAVR, suggesting further that the company was aware of the potential for the TAVR platform's decelerated growth. Investors and analysts reacted immediately to Edwards' revelations. The price of Edwards' common stock declined dramatically. From a closing market price of $86.95 per share on July 24, 2024, Edwards' stock price fell to $59.70 per share on July 25, 2024, a decline of about 31.34% in the span of just a single day. DEADLINE: December 13, 2024 Shareholders should not delay in registering for this class action. Register your information here: https://securitiesclasslaw.com/securities/edwards-lifesciences-loss-submission-form/?id=113425&from=3 NEXT STEPS FOR SHAREHOLDERS: Once you register as a shareholder who purchased shares of EW during the timeframe listed above, you will be enrolled in a portfolio monitoring software to provide you with status updates throughout the lifecycle of the case. The deadline to seek to be a lead plaintiff is December 13, 2024. There is no cost or obligation to you to participate in this case. WHY GROSS LAW FIRM? The Gross Law Firm is a nationally recognized class action law firm, and our mission is to protect the rights of all investors who have suffered as a result of deceit, fraud, and illegal business practices. The Gross Law Firm is committed to ensuring that companies adhere to responsible business practices and engage in good corporate citizenship. The firm seeks recovery on behalf of investors who incurred losses when false and/or misleading statements or the omission of material information by a company lead to artificial inflation of the company's stock. Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes. CONTACT: The Gross Law Firm 15 West 38th Street, 12th floor New York, NY, 10018 Email: dg@securitiesclasslaw.com Phone: (646) 453-8903 © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
Furthermore, the zoo explained that the rumors were baseless and likely originated from malicious intent or a misunderstanding. They urged the public to refrain from spreading false information and to verify the credibility of sources before sharing news online. This incident serves as a reminder of the potential harm that misinformation can cause, and the importance of responsible journalism and social media usage.Tweet Facebook Mail A new blood test developed by scientists in Melbourne could detect melanomas before they're even visible to the naked eye. About 2000 Australians are killed by skin cancer each year but a new research breakthrough could save countless lives from the deadly disease. The blood tests measure the biomarker of cancer and can identify melanoma before symptoms are shown on the skin. READ MORE: Man, 31, charged with double murder of married Sydney couple The blood test could be available to patients by 2025. (9News) The researchers say the method has a 97 per cent accuracy rate when determining between benign and different stages of melanoma. If the blood test is given the green light by the regulator, it could be available to use within the next six months. It is expected to be available at some point next year. But it will not come cheap; 9News understands that it is not covered by the government, meaning it could cost patients between $1200 and $1500 per test. READ MORE: Tobacco shop destroyed in suspicious blaze Melanoma is the third most common cancer in Australia. (9News) The technology was developed alongside inventor Genesq Biosciences and pathology provider Australian Clinical Labs (ACL). Melanoma is the third most common cancer in Australia and is the most common for Australians aged between 20 and 39. About 90 per cent of melanomas can be cured by surgery if caught early. DOWNLOAD THE 9NEWS APP : Stay across all the latest in breaking news, sport, politics and the weather via our news app and get notifications sent straight to your smartphone. Available on the Apple App Store and Google Play .
In response to the student complaints and media attention, the university administration issued a statement expressing concern over the incident and promising to investigate the matter thoroughly. They emphasized the university's commitment to providing a fair and transparent business environment on campus and assured students that appropriate measures would be taken to address the issue.
It was a stark contrast to her glamorous past, when she graced screens with her beauty and charisma. Known for her role in the controversial film "Grandfather's Love," where she played the granddaughter in a forbidden romance, Lín Jìng'ēn was once the darling of the silver screen. But fame was fleeting, and her star lost its sparkle as scandals and poor career choices led her down a path of obscurity.As Vander embarked on his road to recovery, he underwent intensive medical treatment and therapy to regain his strength and cognitive abilities. The process was long and arduous, filled with moments of frustration and setbacks. Despite his initial shock and disbelief at the turn of events, Vander gradually came to terms with the reality of his situation and the need to prioritize his health and well-being moving forward.
ATLANTA (AP) — President Joe Biden's administration announced Tuesday that the U.S. Department of Energy will make a $6.6 billion loan to Rivian Automotive to build a factory in Georgia that had stalled as the startup electric vehicle maker struggled to become profitable. It's unclear whether the administration can complete the loan before Donald Trump becomes president again in less than two months, or whether the Trump administration might try to claw the money back. Trump previously vowed to end federal electric vehicle tax credits , which are worth up to $7,500 for new zero-emission vehicles and $4,000 for used ones. Rivian made a splash when it went public and began producing large electric R1 SUVs, pickup trucks and delivery vans at a former Mitsubishi factory in Normal, Illinois, in 2021. Months later, the California-based company announced it would build a second, larger, $5 billion plant about 40 miles (64 kilometers) east of Atlanta, near the town of Social Circle. The R1 vehicles cost $70,000 or more. The company plans to produce R2 vehicles, a smaller SUV, in Georgia with lower price tags aimed at a mass market. The first phase of Rivian’s Georgia factory is projected to make 200,000 vehicles a year, with a second phase capable of another 200,000 a year. Eventually, the plant is projected to employ 7,500 workers. But Rivian was unable to meet production and sales targets and rapidly burned through cash. In March, the company said it would pause construction of the Georgia plant. The company said it would begin assembling its R2 SUV in Illinois instead. CEO RJ Scaringe said the move would allow Rivian to start selling the R2 sooner and save $2.25 billion in capital spending. Since then, German automaker Volkswagen AG said in June it would invest $5 billion in Rivian in a joint venture in which Rivian would share software and electrical technology with Volkswagen. The money eased Rivian's cash crunch. Tuesday's announcement throws a lifeline to Rivian's grander plans. The company said its plans to make the R2 and the smaller R3 in Georgia are back on and that production will begin in 2028. “This loan would enable Rivian to more aggressively scale our U.S. manufacturing footprint for our competitively priced R2 and R3 vehicles that emphasize both capability and affordability,” Scaringe said in a statement. The Energy Department said the loan would substantially boost electric vehicles made in the United States and support Biden’s goal of having zero-emission vehicles make up half of all new U.S. sales by 2030. “As one of a few American EV startups with light duty vehicles already on the road, Rivian’s Georgia facility will allow the company to reach production volumes that make its products more cost competitive and accelerate access to international markets,” the department said in a statement. The loan includes $6 billion, plus $600 million in interest that will be rolled into the principal. The money would come from the Advanced Technology Vehicles Manufacturing Loan Program, which provides low-interest loans to make fuel-efficient vehicles and components. The program has focused mostly on loans to new battery factories for electric vehicles under Biden, but earlier helped finance initial production of the Tesla Model S and Nissan Leaf, two pioneering electric vehicles. The loan program, created in 2007, requires a "reasonable prospect of repayment" of the loan. Under Biden, the program has announced deals totaling $33.3 billion, including $9.2 billion for massive battery plants in Tennessee and Kentucky for Ford’s electric vehicles. Democratic U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff , who has been a vocal supporter of electric vehicle and solar manufacturing in Georgia, hailed Tuesday's announcement as “yet another historic federal investment in Georgia electric vehicle manufacturing.” Ossoff had asked Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm to support the loan in July. “Our federal manufacturing incentives are driving economic development across the state of Georgia,” Ossoff said in a statement. Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp says his goal is to make Georgia a center of the electric vehicle industry. But the Republican has had a strained relationship with the Biden administration over its industrial policy, even as some studies have found Georgia has netted more electric vehicle investment than any other state. Kemp has long claimed that manufacturers were picking Georgia before Biden's signature climate law, the Inflation Reduction Act, was passed. Efforts to bring Rivian to Georgia predated the Biden administration and "our shared vision to bring opportunity to Georgia will remain no matter who resides in the White House or what party controls Congress,” Kemp spokesperson Garrison Douglas said Tuesday. The loan to Rivian could rescue one of the Kemp administration's signature economic development projects even as Biden leaves office. That could put Rivian and Kemp in the position of defending the loan if Trump tries to quash it. State and local governments offered Rivian an incentive package worth an estimated $1.5 billion in 2022. Neighbors opposed to development of the Georgia site mounted legal challenges. State and local governments spent around $125 million to buy and prepare the nearly 2,000-acre (810-hectare) site. The state also has completed most of $50 million in roadwork that it pledged. The pause at Rivian contrasts with rapid construction at Hyundai Motor Group’s $7.6 billion electric vehicle and battery complex near Savannah. The Korean automaker said in October that it had begun production in Ellabell, where it plans to eventually employ 8,500. Associated Press writer Matthew Daly in Washington contributed to this story.While the "lying flat" movement initially gained popularity as a response to societal pressures and economic uncertainties, recent reports suggest a shift in perspective. The media has been quick to point out the drawbacks of excessive saving, emphasizing the importance of striking a balance between financial security and enjoying life's pleasures.
Jury are deliberating in the long-running YSL gang and racketeering trialThe departure of the fallen superstar will undoubtedly send shockwaves through the footballing world, with fans and pundits alike speculating on the reasons behind the decision. Some will argue that the player was never given a fair chance to truly prove himself, while others will point to his own failings and shortcomings as the primary reasons for his downfall. Regardless of the opinions expressed, one thing is certain: the decision to part ways with a player of such talent and potential is a painful one for all involved.
In conclusion, Tang Shangjun's plan to build a new house for his mother is a testament to the enduring bond between a mother and her child. It is a story of love, gratitude, and the power of fulfilling a long-held wish. Tang's gesture serves as a reminder that no matter where life takes us, family always comes first. And in the end, it is the small acts of kindness and appreciation that truly make a difference in the world.
A Member of the Fantastic Four Becomes a Wanted Man (But Will They Be One in the MCU?)The Gross Law Firm Reminds Edwards Lifesciences Corporation Investors of the Pending Class Action Lawsuit with a Lead Plaintiff Deadline of December 13, 2024 – EW