Yacouba Sawadogo, African Farmer Who Held Back the Desert, Dies at 77 - The New York Times (www.nytimes.com)
He took barren and dry lands and turned them into incredible forests. People thought he was insane as they fled dying villiages. They burned his forests. He replanted his forests and tripled his crop yields, becoming a hero to farmers all over.
Prices finally fell last month after 3.5 years of increases (www.nbcnews.com)
New government data showed prices notching a monthly decline for the first time since April 2020, adding to an improving picture on inflation as the new year looms....
Mexico's president is willing to help with border migrant crush but wants US to open talks with Cuba (apnews.com)
Mexico’s president said Friday that he is willing to help out with a surge of migrants that led to the closure of border crossings with the United States, but he wants the U.S. government to open talks with Cuba and send more development aid to migrants’ home countries....
California town, Huntington Beach, proposes ban on Pride, Black and women’s history celebrations (www.theguardian.com)
How the anti-vaccine movement is gaining power in statehouses (www.washingtonpost.com)
A wave of lawmakers who oppose vaccine requirements are winning elections for state legislatures amid a national drop in childhood vaccination rates and a resurfacing of preventable deadly diseases....
Paramedics Found Guilty in Last Trial in Elijah McClain Death (www.nytimes.com)
Two Colorado paramedics were convicted of criminally negligent homicide in the 2019 death of Elijah McClain, a young unarmed Black man whose case drew national attention and forced public safety reforms in the city where he lived and died....
Pornhub’s parent company admits it profited from sex trafficking | CNN Business (www.cnn.com)
Israel's military campaign in Gaza seen as among the most destructive in recent history, experts say (apnews.com)
After 11 weeks of war in Gaza, the Israeli military campaign against Hamas now sits among the deadliest and most destructive in history, experts say.
California town proposes ban on Pride, Black and women’s history celebrations (www.theguardian.com)
Far-right council members in Huntington Beach introduce agenda item to switch focus to US wars and America’s independence...
Flu and COVID infections are rising and could get worse over the holidays, CDC says (apnews.com)
Look for flu and COVID-19 infections to ramp up in the coming weeks, U.S. health officials say, with increases fueled by holiday gatherings, too many unvaccinated people and a new version of the coronavirus that may be spreading more easily....
Police fatally shoot Black woman who called 911 for domestic violence (www.theguardian.com)
A Los Angeles county sheriff’s deputy shot and killed a 27-year-old woman who had called 911 to report that she was under attack by a former boyfriend, police officials and lawyers for the victim’s family said on Thursday. Records show the deputy had killed another person in similar circumstances three years ago....
Supreme Court rejects Jack Smith’s request for justices to quickly hear Trump immunity dispute (www.cnn.com)
The Supreme Court on Friday rejected a request by special counsel Jack Smith to fast-track arguments on whether Donald Trump has any immunity from federal prosecution for alleged crimes he committed while in office – a move that will likely delay his trial....
Supreme Court won’t fast-track ruling on Trump’s claim of immunity
The Supreme Court on Friday said it will not fast-track consideration of Donald Trump’s claim that he has immunity from prosecution for actions he took as president, a question crucial to whether he can be put on trial for plotting to overturn the results of the 2020 election....
Manuel Ellis: US jury clears police officers in death of unarmed black man (www.bbc.com)
Prosecutors accused the officers of using deadly force on Manuel Ellis during his arrest in Washington state....
‘Zombie deer disease’ epidemic spreads in Yellowstone as scientists raise fears it may jump to humans (www.theguardian.com)
Pornhub owner agrees to pay $1.8M and independent monitor to resolve sex trafficking-related charge (www.nbcnews.com)
Massachusetts cop with body-cam searches middle school for LGBTQ-themed book: report (www.rawstory.com)
A cop’s decision to sport a body camera and search a Massachusetts middle school for a book has raised serious concerns among civil liberties experts, a new report shows....
Anti-democracy playbook has new threats in store for the US in 2024 (www.theguardian.com)
A Proclamation on Granting Pardon for the Offense of Simple Possession of Marijuana, Attempted Simple Possession of Marijuana, or Use of Marijuana | The White House (www.whitehouse.gov)
I, Joseph R. Biden Jr., do hereby grant a full, complete, and unconditional pardon to all current United States citizens and lawful permanent residents who, on or before the date of this proclamation, committed or were convicted of the offense of simple possession of marijuana, attempted simple possession of marijuana, or use of...
Judge suggests change to nitrogen execution to let inmate pray and say final words without gas mask (apnews.com)
A federal judge who is weighing whether to allow the nation’s first execution by nitrogen hypoxia to go forward next month, urged Alabama on Thursday to change procedures so the inmate can pray and say his final words before the gas mask is placed on his face....
Weed farmer outraged over cops throwing pizza party after raid (www.newsweek.com)
A weed farmer in California recently filed a lawsuit against the a local sheriff’s office alleging that they conducted an illegal raid of his farm and then threw a pizza party to celebrate....
FDA says it’s seized ‘thousands of units’ of counterfeit Ozempic (www.cnn.com)
The US Food and Drug Administration warned Thursday that it’s seized “thousands of units” of counterfeit versions of the type 2 diabetes drug Ozempic from the US drug supply chain, and it’s urging suppliers, pharmacies and patients to use caution. Five people have gotten sick in connection with the products, but none of...
Family shares 5 photos showing how daughter escaped sex trafficking (www.cbsnews.com)
Israeli Evidence of Hamas Command Center in al-Shifa Hospital Falls Short: Report (www.rollingstone.com)
A Washington Post investigation found no proof of a Hamas command center under al-Shifa Hospital following Israel’s attack on the medical complex.