Author: Hugh Evan Harper

Records were toppled, new chapters of history were written, but it was not all birdies and good times for players the first two rounds of the 2023 U.S. Open at Los Angeles Country Club. A number of big names failed to secure themselves a weekend tee time including Jordan Spieth, Justin Thomas and Phil Mickelson. Los Angeles native Max Homa was also sent packing early as the firmness of LACC bit back late Friday afternoon and claimed him as its victim. Both Spieth and Mickelson battled early Friday to make their way inside the eventual 2-over cutline. The former major…

As Wagner Group troops evacuate Bakhmut, Ukrainian forces may have a chance to retake the war-torn city — but it’s unclear if that will be Kyiv’s priority as a long-awaited counteroffensive looms. Russia claimed victory over Bakhmut earlier this month after a long and costly battle for both sides of the war. Shortly after, Wagner Group boss Yevgeny Prigozhin announced he would be withdrawing his mercenaries from the city on June 1 after Russia claimed full control of the city. Regular Russian troops will replace Wagner’s forces, Prigozhin said. That transition — coupled with notably low tempo and movement from Russian forces in…

WASHINGTON, May 30 (Reuters) – The U.S. government is closely scrutinizing exports to China and last year denied or took no action on a quarter of requests in order to stop sales that would advance Beijing’s militarization, a senior official said in testimony released on Tuesday. In 2022, 5,064 export and re-export license applications were reviewed and about 26% were denied or returned without action, Commerce Department assistant secretary Thea Rozman Kendler said in written testimony for a Senate Banking Committee hearing on Wednesday. “We identify sensitive U.S. technologies that would give our adversaries an advantage, develop policies and strategies…

After a four-year halt on new charter schools in New York City, state lawmakers have reached a deal to open 14 “zombie” charters. The deal, struck Wednesday night between Gov. Kathy Hochul and Democratic leaders, would allow charter school operators to open 14 zombies — schools that closed or were never opened. Additionally, the state would cover rent for these schools, relieving New York City of the cost, said state Sen. John Liu, who is the chair of the state senate’s New York City education committee. Since the city is required to pay rent for charter schools, this deal would…

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Every day, locomotives pull rail cars filled with food, lumber, oil and other products through railyards near neighborhoods in Oakland, Commerce, San Bernadino and other California cities. They run on diesel, a more powerful fuel than gasoline, and burning all that diesel produces pollution that is harmful for people who live nearby, as well as greenhouse gases. California’s Air Resources Board is trying to change that. The agency votes Thursday on a rule that would ban the use of locomotive engines more than 23 years old by 2030 and increase the use of zero-emissions technology to…

Suella Braverman has described the Government’s Illegal Migration Bill as “humanitarian at core” as it receives its final reading in the Commons today. The Bill will give the Government new powers to detain and remove people who arrive in small boats, but the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) has warned the bill risks exposing people to serious harm. The ECHR said it was particularly concerned about pregnant women and children being detained if they arrive in the UK illegally. Speaking to TalkTV’s Julia Hartley-Brewer, the Home Secretary said the legislation is something the British people “overwhelmingly want.” Suella: “Our Parliament…

Economic co-operation with Beijing will be harder than recent speeches by Janet Yellen and Ursula von der Leyen suggest The relationship between the US and China is likely to determine humanity’s fate in the 21st century. It will determine whether there will be peace, prosperity and protection of the planetary environment, or the opposites. Should it be the latter, future historians (if any such actually exist) will surely marvel at the inability of the human species to protect itself against its own stupidity. Yet today, happily, we can still act to prevent disaster. That is true in many domains. Among…

The World Health Organization warned Tuesday of a “huge biological risk” after Sudanese fighters seized the National Public Health Laboratory in the capital Khartoum, as foreign nations raced to mount rapid evacuation efforts from the country and violence punctured a fragile US-brokered ceasefire. Gunfire and the roar of fighter jets was heard by CNN journalists in Khartoum on Tuesday, half a day after the announcement of a 72-hour truce raised hopes of opening up escape routes for civilians desperate to flee. Heavy clashes erupted between the Sudanese military and the Rapid Support Forces, the paramilitary group battling the army for…

HOLDEN – Laura Simpson has devoted her life to animal rescue. A few years ago, she founded Harmony Fund an international rescue charity based in Holden. It’s devoted to helping underdog animal rescuers all over the world. For the past year the non-profit has been making a huge impact Ukraine. “It’s hard to comprehend the scale of an entire country of people who had pets and animals they loved and large percentage of them left or sadly were killed,” Simpson said. For the past year they’ve been providing truckloads of food for rescue centers and for volunteers feeding homeless animals on the…

The Chicago mayoral race is emerging as a key test for Democrats on how they handle the hot-button issues of crime and public safety. Two starkly different candidates in the Windy City’s April 4 runoff have offered contrasting approaches over an issue that has been blamed for costing the party control of the House last year in New York. Former Chicago Public Schools (CPS) CEO Paul Vallas has staked out a tough-on-crime approach. Meanwhile, Cook County Commissioner Brandon Johnson has leaned into addressing the root causes around crime and incorporating mental health professionals in certain situations. Whoever wins the race…