Does FEMA have enough money to respond to Helene and Milton?
Hurricane Milton is expected to make landfall near Tampa Bay as a Category 3 storm Wednesday, Oct. 9. It’s forecast to bring over 6 feet of storm surge and more than 10 inches of rain. That wind and water could lead to billions of dollars in damages that federal government agencies may not have.
FEMA announced it has enough money for immediate response and recovery needs for Hurricane Helene, but Hurricane Milton will likely put another dent in the Disaster Relief Fund’s balance sheet.
As of Aug. 31, the Disaster Relief Fund had about $6.2 billion. President Biden said that’s not enough for long-term efforts.
“Without additional funding, FEMA would be required to forego longer-term recovery activities in favor of meeting urgent needs,” The president wrote in a letter to congressional leaders. “The Congress should provide FEMA additional resources to avoid forcing that kind of unnecessary trade-off and to give the communities we serve the certainty of knowing that help will be ongoing, both for the short- and long-term.”
House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., indicated Congress will not return until Nov. 12, after the election.
“Remember that before we left Washington, the day before Helene hit by the way, made landfall, Congress appropriated $20 billion additional dollars to FEMA so that they would have the immediate dollars they need to address the immediate needs,” Johnson said on Fox News Sunday, Oct. 6. “Then after that, Congress always takes its due approach of providing what is necessary.”
President Biden said the Small Business Administration’s disaster loan program will run out of funding in a matter of weeks, before Congress plans to reconvene.
“I warned the Congress of this potential shortfall even before Hurricane Helene landed on America’s shores,” President Biden wrote in the letter. “It is critical that Congress ensures that no critical disaster programs, such as the SBA disaster loan program, run out of funding during the Congressional Recess period.”
SBA loans help cover what FEMA and insurance do not. They’re available to homeowners, businesses, renters and nonprofit organizations within disaster areas. SBA makes clear the loans are for both personal and business use. They can even cover business expenses the owner would have been able to cover had the disaster not occurred.
If the SBA or FEMA run out of money, then storm victims could still apply for money they need to rebuild or repair, but they will not receive it.
Google threatens to cut New Zealand news links if compensation bill passes
Google has warned it may remove links to New Zealand news sites if the country’s proposed Fair Digital News Bargaining Bill is passed. The law aims to compensate publishers for their content, but Google claims it could harm both the company and local news organizations.
The tech giant’s New Zealand director labeled the proposed legislation as a “link tax,” stating Google would stop linking to news content on its platforms, including Google search and Google News, if it passes in its current form.
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This would also end existing agreements with New Zealand publishers. Google argues that similar laws in Australia and Canada led to platforms pulling away from news content, negatively impacting journalism instead of supporting it.
Critics of Google’s stance say removing links would hurt both local news outlets, especially smaller ones dependent on search traffic, and New Zealand audiences who rely on these sources for information.
Meanwhile, the country’s Media and Communications Minister Paul Goldsmith acknowledged Google’s concerns and confirmed that consultations are ongoing.
Government estimates suggest the bill could generate over $30 million for the country’s media industry.
New details in special counsel’s 2020 election case against Trump
We’re getting our most in-depth look so far at Special Counsel Jack Smith’s investigation into former President Donald Trump’s attempts to overturn the 2020 election. And there’s new skin in the game in the battle over who actually caught Shohei Ohtani’s 50th home run ball. These stories and more highlight your Unbiased Updates for Thursday, Oct. 3, 2024.
New details in special counsel’s 2020 election case against Trump
The new filing, revealed Wednesday, Oct. 2, also claims Trump was “fundamentally” acting as a private candidate and not the President of the United States when he sought to overturn his loss.
The latest court filing comes in response to the Supreme Court’s ruling this past summer that said Trump had immunity for official actions taken while still in office. The filing also alleges the former president knew his claims about the 2020 election being stolen were lies, but he spread them anyways as a ploy to stay in power.
It also includes evidence of Trump’s phone usage during the Capitol riot on Jan. 6, 2021 — when, it claims, the former president was scrolling Twitter. The filing also claims Trump pressured then-Vice President Mike Pence to reject Electoral College votes.
“This was a weaponization of government and that’s why it was released 30 days before the election,” he said. “And it’s nothing new in there, by the way, nothing new. They rigged the election. I didn’t rig the election. They rigged the election.”
The new filing was unsealed just 33 days before the election coming up on Nov. 5.
Trump has pleaded not guilty to four criminal charges, accusing him of a conspiracy to obstruct the congressional certification of the election, attempting to defraud the U.S. out of accurate results and interfering with Americans’ voting rights.
At least 6 killed in Israeli strike on central Beirut
It comes after Israeli forces suffered their deadliest day on the Lebanese front since clashes with the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah started almost a year ago. At least seven Israeli soldiers died in Israel’s recent offensive.
Lebanese health officials say in addition to those killed, at least seven more people were wounded in what Israel says was a precise strike on Lebanon’s capitol, which happened not far from the Lebanese prime minister’s office.
Meanwhile, the Israeli army says it downed at least two drones and more than two dozen rockets fired from Lebanon Thursday.
FEMA warns of funding shortages for Hurricane Helene relief efforts
The death toll from Hurricane Helene has risen to at least 191 across six states, making it the second-deadliest U.S. Hurricane in the past 50 years, behind Hurricane Katrina in 2005. The storm hit Florida last week before sweeping through the southeast, causing widespread flooding and devastation, especially in North Carolina, where at least 95 people have died.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency is providing critical supplies like meals, water, and generators, but Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas has warned FEMA lacks sufficient funding to sustain relief efforts throughout the entire hurricane season. He stressed the need for additional funding, noting FEMA is meeting immediate needs but might not have the resources to continue if another storm hits.
Hurricane season runs from June through November, with most storms occurring in September and October.
Congress recently replenished $20 billion for FEMA’s disaster relief fund, but lawmakers may need to reconvene before the election to approve more money if necessary.
Since Helene hit, more than 150,000 households have registered for FEMA assistance and that number is expected to grow as damage assessments continue.
Prosecutors ask for indefinite delay in would-be Trump assassin’s trial
Federal prosecutors have asked for an indefinite delay in scheduling the trial for the man charged in an apparent assassination attempt on former President Trump. They say they’ve collected a “massive” amount of evidence since the Secret Service, with the help of local police in Florida, arrested Ryan Routh last month after authorities say an agent spotted him with a gun outside the Mar-a-Lago golf course where the former president was playing.
Prosecutors have asked the judge in the case to officially designate the case as “complex,” saying they’ve interviewed hundreds of witnesses across various states and have thousands of videos to review from electronic devices they’ve seized. They also say more than 100 outstanding subpoena returns are still pending.
According to the filing, Routh’s defense attorneys did not oppose the prosecutors’ request to delay the trial date. Routh’s lawyers have entered a not guilty plea on his behalf, on the attempted assassination charges.
ATF says broken power line caused deadly Maui wildfire
We now know what caused the massive and deadly wildfire in Maui, Hawaii that claimed 102 lives and caused more than $5 billion in damage. The U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Firearms, Tobacco and Explosives has classified the fire as accidental, saying it started when a re-energized broken power line sparked, igniting the fire in an unmaintained vegetation area.
ATF also ruled out the possibility there had been two separate fires saying definitively, “This, in fact, was one fire.”
More than 100 people died and flames destroyed much of the historic city of Lahaina. The fire also sparked other investigations centered on police response and the response from state and Maui county agencies.
Second fan files lawsuit over Ohtani’s historic home run ball
The battle over Shohei Ohtani’s 50th home run ball has intensified. A second fan filed a lawsuit claiming ownership of the valuable souvenir.
The ball, hit during Ohtani’s historic Sept. 19 game for the L.A. Dodgers against the Miami Marlins, has reached about $1.5 million in auction bids.
Joseph Davidov, who filed the latest lawsuit in Florida, claims he had possession of the ball before another fan jumped on him, causing it to roll into the hands of Chris Belanski, who later auctioned it. Davidov is seeking more than $50,000 in damages.
This follows 18-year-old Max Matus’ earlier lawsuit, alleging Belanski forcibly took the ball from him during a scramble in the stands. Both fans are pursuing rightful ownership of the ball, which celebrates Ohtani’s achievement as the first player to hit 50 home runs and steal 50 bases in a single season.
The ongoing legal disputes have delayed the auction, with a court hearing scheduled for Oct. 10. The ball’s rising value has garnered widespread attention, rivaling the $1.5 million sale of Aaron Judge’s American League record-breaking 62nd home run ball in 2022.
Effort to map Great Lakes gains support due to environmental, safety benefits
An initiative to map the entire bottom of the Great Lakes is gaining traction due to its potential benefits for fishing, shipping, and environmental management. Led by the Great Lakes Observing System, the project seeks to chart the lakebed, of which only 15% is currently mapped. This effort aims to uncover critical information about underwater topography, shipwrecks and infrastructure.
The Great Lakes’ diverse ecosystems are home to various species, and a comprehensive mapping could provide insights into the impacts of climate change, invasive species and pollution.
Using advanced sonar and robotic technology, scientists will scan the depths of the five lakes, which span over 94,000 square miles — an area nearly the size of Oregon — and hold 21% of the world’s freshwater.
A federal bill has allocated $200 million toward completing the mapping by 2030. Advocates of the project argue that it will not only help protect the lakes’ ecosystems but also enhance navigation safety.
“While continuing resolution’s never ideal — none of us like them, it’s not a way to run a railroad — it allows Congress to continue serving the American people through the election,” Johnson said. “This is not the House’s fault. It’s the Senate’s fault. They passed not a single appropriations bill, so there was nothing for the two chambers to negotiate in the end, and there was no agreement on the top line spending number. So, we had, we had no choice.”
Over in the Senate, the bill passed by a 78-18 margin. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said, “Americans can breathe easy, because both sides have chosen bipartisanship. Congress is getting the job done.”
The bill now heads to President Joe Biden’s desk for his signature.
House passes continuing resolution as Congress works to fund government
The House overwhelmingly approved (341-82) a continuing resolution to temporarily fund the government through Dec. 20. The extraordinary bipartisanship was both political and necessary. Neither party’s leadership wanted a shutdown a month before the election, and because it was considered under suspension of the normal rules, it needed a two-thirds majority to pass, not a simple majority.
This bill will fund the government at its current levels and provide an extra $231 million to the Secret Service for protecting presidential candidates.
Democrats took credit for the plan.
“House Democrats have now avoided a reckless Republican government shutdown on five different occasions to make sure that we meet the needs of the American people and keep the government open,” Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., said.
This is Chuck Schumer’s fault,” Johnson told reporters. “We did our work, we passed 12 appropriations bills through the committee process in record time, we put them on the floor, almost 73% of federal funding has been passed through the House. We sent it all over to the Senate and they’ve done nothing.”
Republicans originally wanted a continuing resolution that funded the government through March of next year and included a measure requiring Americans to provide proof of citizenship when registering to vote. That failed, so they had no choice but to put the clean CR on the floor.
“We loathe CRs as much as anyone but this is the situation that Senate Democrat leadership put us in,” Johnson said. “It would be political malpractice to shut the government down.”
But if Johnson lost this round, he’s putting his foot down for the Dec. 20 deadline.
“There won’t be a Christmas omnibus,” Johnson said.
An omnibus is a massive bill that funds the entirety of the federal government. They can be thousands of pages, the omnibus proposed in 2022 was more than 4,000. They are used when Congress can’t fund the government through standard procedure. Congress is supposed to pass 12 appropriations bills per year, each of which fund a specific function within the government.
Straight Arrow News asked Rep. Mark Molinaro, R-N.Y. to explain why Republicans oppose an omnibus.
“The average American wants us to be clear that we’re not creating these massive bills that have so many disparate parts,” Molinaro explained. “Christmas trees, right, with ornaments attached to them. Instead of being able to consider a single focus appropriation bill, we’re forced into voting for this big, massive thing that has plenty of ugly parts that folks don’t want us to have to endorse.”
Now the House CR is off to the Senate. The chamber will have to approve it exactly as is because the House is leaving Washington for the entire month of October, and if the Senate makes any changes the House will have to reapprove it.
Tropical Storm Helene is fast approaching Florida with the potential to form into the biggest hurricane to hit the U.S. in over a year. And Donald Trump’s campaign says he’s been briefed by U.S. intelligence officials on threats from Iran to assassinate him. These stories and more highlight your Unbiased Updates for Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2024.
The National Hurricane Center’s latest updates have Helene on track to make landfall in the Sunshine State late Thursday, Sept. 26, as a Category 3 hurricane.
This system is expected to impact the near Big Bend area. Everyone is discussing how Ian had the same cone, turning last second and catching many off guard. As this storm strengthens, the track can shift. It’s normal during rapid intensification. Pay attention!#PTC9#Helenepic.twitter.com/5Dk7hriyB1
The last Category 3 hurricane to make landfall in the U.S. was Idalia last year, which also made landfall in Florida’s Big Bend region and brought record-breaking storm surge to most of the state’s western coast.
Congress set to pass stopgap government funding bill
The U.S. House and Senate are both on track to pass a stopgap funding bill Wednesday, Sept. 25, that will avert a government shutdown early next week. The measure would keep federal agencies funded at their current levels through Dec. 20.
It also sets aside an additional $231 million to bolster the budget for the Secret Service. That comes as concerns over the agency’s efficacy continue to mount in the wake of two assassination attempts against former President Donald Trump.
While the stopgap bill is the brainchild of Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson, many in his party still say they will not vote in favor of it, forcing House GOP leadership to rely on Democratic votes for it to pass.
Trump campaign says former president briefed on Iranian assassination threats
In a statement Tuesday, Sept. 23, a Trump campaign spokesperson said, “President Trump was briefed earlier today by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence regarding real and specific threats from Iran to assassinate him in an effort to destabilize and sow chaos in the United States.”
Trump later posted on Truth Social that there have been “big threats” on his life by Iran — saying while they didn’t work out, Iran will try again.
Iran’s permanent mission to the United Nations in New York has not responded to media requests for a statement.
This news comes after two assassination attempts on the former president, one in Butler, Pennsylvania and another at his Florida golf course. There has been no indication of Iranian involvement in either case.
Congress passes bill to boost presidential candidate security
The bill would require an equal standard of protection be applied to presidents and all major party candidates.
The bill is not expected to make a difference in the level of protection former President Trump receives, as the Secret Service says he was already under the highest level of protection at the time of both assassination attempts.
Caroline Ellison sentenced to two years over cryptocurrency fraud
The judge and prosecutors agreed to give Ellison a lighter sentence after she pleaded guilty and testified against FTX founder and her former boyfriend Sam Bankman-Fried during his trial last November. He was found guilty and sentenced to 25 years in prison.
Coca-Cola pulling new flavor off the shelves after 7 months
Soda drinkers may be having flashbacks to the New Coke miss of the 1980s as Coca-Cola is pulling another version of its signature beverage off store shelves just seven months after its debut. Coca-Cola Spiced went on sale in February as the newest entry in Coke’s permanent line-up.
A Coca-Cola spokesperson said in a statement Tuesday, “We’re always looking at what our customers like and adjusting our range of products. As part of this strategy, we’re planning to phase out Coca-Cola Spiced to introduce an exciting new flavor in 2025.”
The company said earlier this year the spiced soda was part of its strategy to innovate and respond to industry trends. It added the flavor was developed in just seven weeks — as opposed to the 12 months plus it typically takes the company to develop a new product.
Swing states receive major boost from clean energy funding
Nearly half of the clean energy funds from the Biden administration’s Inflation Reduction Act have been directed to seven key swing states. The move is expected to generate tens of thousands of manufacturing jobs ahead of the 2024 election.
According to a new analysis, more than $150 billion has been allocated to electric vehicle plants, renewable energy projects and battery manufacturing. Of that, over $63 billion — almost half of the total funding — will go to seven states critical to the upcoming presidential race: Georgia, North Carolina, Michigan, Nevada, Arizona, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin.
Georgia is set to receive the largest share at nearly $19.9 billion, followed by North Carolina with $16.4 billion and Michigan with $13.3 billion. Over $6 billion will go to both Nevada and Arizona, while Pennsylvania and Wisconsin will receive $678 million.
The Inflation Reduction Act, passed in 2022, is credited with creating more than 50,000 jobs across these states, which have historically played a crucial role in determining the outcome of U.S. elections.
The Biden administration has touted the law as a landmark climate and economic initiative, but public awareness remains low.
Polls show only 4 in 10 Americans are familiar with the bill, despite its significant impact on clean energy and job creation. With the 2024 election approaching, experts say this could pose a challenge for Democrats seeking to turn the economic benefits into political gains.
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Vice President Kamala Harris, who cast the tie-breaking vote to pass the legislation, faces former President Donald Trump in what is expected to be a closely contested race.
While the clean energy funds have brought new investment and jobs to these swing states, it remains unclear whether these developments will sway voters in November.
Speaker Johnson unveils stopgap funding bill to avoid government shutdown
With just days to spare until a government shutdown, congressional leaders have agreed on a short-term funding bill. And the manhunt continues for suspects in a weekend shooting in Birmingham, Alabama that left four killed and more than a dozen injured. These stories and more highlight your Unbiased Updates for Monday, Sept. 23, 2024.
Speaker Johnson unveils stopgap government spending bill to avoid shutdown
With just about a week to spare, Congress has reached a deal to avoid a government shutdown. House Speaker Mike Johnson said Sunday, Sept. 22, the House will vote this week on a three-month stopgap funding bill that would keep the federal government open until Dec. 20.
In a letter to house members, Johnson said the bill is “bare bones” and only includes “the extensions that are absolutely necessary.” Unlike a previous version, this bill does not include legislation concerning proof of citizenship to register to vote, but it does include an additional $230 million for Secret Service funding.
The Rules Committee is set to review the spending bill Monday afternoon, Sept. 23. House GOP leaders say lawmakers will likely vote on it on Wednesday, Sept. 25.
If this bill does not pass, government funding is slated to run out next Monday, Sept. 30.
Race tightens with 43 days to go until Election Day
With 43 days to go until Election Day, a new poll is showing just how close the race is between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump. A CBS News poll released Sunday, Sept. 22, found Harris leading Trump 52% to 48% among likely voters.
This comes as former President Trump says this run for the presidency will be his last. He revealed that information Sunday during an interview on “Full Measure with Sharyl Attkinson.”
Also over the weekend, the vice president said she has agreed to another debate with the former president. Harris said she would debate Trump on CNN on Oct. 23. In response, Trump told supporters at a North Carolina rally it’s too late for another debate as early voting has already begun in some states.
Looking ahead, Trump will be campaigning in Indiana Monday while Harris is expected to release more on her economic plan this week.
No suspects in custody after 4 killed, 17 hurt in Alabama shooting
They believe it was a paid “hit” on one specific person, with everyone else caught in the crossfire. Witnesses say multiple suspects pulled up in a car, got out and fired dozens of gunshots, then quickly took off.
Birmingham’s mayor said this is not the first time this year the city has seen gun violence like this. During a news conference Sunday, he called it a “solvable problem.”
“We don’t have any interest in this whole debate about second amendment rights,” said Mayor Randall Woodfin. “We don’t have any interest in people who want to protect their homes, militia or whatever else you want to say. There’s a certain element in this city, there’s a certain element in this community who are too comfortable running around with semi-automatic weapons, automatic weapons, conversion switches and everything else, whose only intent, hell bent intent, is to harm people, shoot people, kill people.”
Investigators say they do believe the person who was targeted is among the people who died.
Israel warns residents to leave areas in Lebanon near Hezbollah targets
The Lebanese health ministry said one person was killed and six injured in the latest attacks across the southern and eastern portions of the country. These latest strikes come after last week’s explosions targeting walkie-talkies and pagers, and Friday’s, Sept. 20, attack on Beirut which killed 45 people, including a senior Hezbollah commander.
When asked if the latest assaults indicate an imminent ground invasion, an IDF spokesperson said right now, Israel is focused on its aerial campaign.
Embattled Secret Service faces big test at U.N. General Assembly
The agency is already facing heavy criticism after two separate assassination attempts on former President Trump. Now it’s tasked with protecting more than 140 world leaders, including those from Israel, Palestine, and Ukraine.
The U.S. General Assembly is considered the biggest event that the Secret Service is charged with protecting each year — bigger than the Super Bowl, which is also considered a major national security event.
The agency is working with multiple others, from the NYPD to the Coast Guard, to keep everyone safe, and maintains it is confident they will do just that.
Chicago White Sox lose 120th game to tie modern-day MLB record
Since 1900, only the 1962 New York Mets have lost so many games in a season. The White Sox already surpassed the 2003 Detroit Tigers for the most losses by an American League team.
With six games to go in the regular season, it’s looking like Chicago is going to set another record. The White Sox’s next game is Tuesday, Sept. 24, against the Los Angeles Angels in Chicago.
Iranian hackers sent stolen Trump campaign info to Biden campaign staffers: FBI
Both parties are responding after the FBI said Iranian hackers sent stolen information from the Trump campaign to members of President Biden’s campaign. And a second round of explosions in Lebanon — this time involving walkie-talkies — leaves at least 20 dead. These stories and more highlight your Unbiased Updates for Thursday, Sept. 19, 2024.
FBI: Iranian hackers sent stolen Trump campaign info to Biden campaign staffers
Iranian hackers stole information from former President Donald Trump’s campaign over the summer and sent it to people affiliated with then-Democratic candidate President Joe Biden’s campaign. That’s according to the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, FBI, and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency.
The statement said there is no indication Biden’s campaign ever replied to the emails.
A spokesperson for Vice President Kamala Harris’ campaign said a few individuals were targeted on their personal emails but were not aware of any material being sent directly to the campaign. Her campaign also said it condemns any effort by foreign actors to interfere in U.S. elections.
During a rally in Uniondale, New York Wednesday night, Sept. 18, former President Trump addressed the hack.
“Iran hacked into my campaign,” he told his supporters. “I don’t know what the hell they found. I’d like to find out, couldn’t have been too exciting, but they gave it to the Biden campaign. I can’t believe it. Oh yes, I can. But this is really foreign election interference. This is real election interference.”
U.S. officials said this was just one of several attempts by Iran to “undermine the confidence of our electoral process.” Earlier this year, it was reported that Iranian-backed hackers stole Trump campaign documents and shared them with news agencies including Politico, The New York Times, and the Washington Post.
The Iranian government has denied the allegations of meddling in the U.S. elections.
It’s not only Iran as Microsoft said this week that Russia has targeted Vice President Harris’ campaign by spreading conspiracy theories online.
Executives from tech companies including Meta, Microsoft, and Alphabet testified in a Senate Intelligence Committee hearing on Wednesday on foreign threats to U.S. elections.
Microsoft President Brad Smith said while the presidential race is between Trump and Harris, it has become an election of “Iran versus Trump and Russia versus Harris.”
Second wave of explosions hit Lebanon; Israel declares ‘new era’ of war
Like the pager explosions on Tuesday, Sept. 17, that left a dozen people dead and thousands hurt, the walkie-talkie explosions are believed to have been orchestrated by Israel, according to the United States and other countries briefed on the incident.
Israel has not commented but the country’s military leader did say a “new era” of war is beginning and said its “center of gravity is moving north,” potentially a reference to Israel’s border with Lebanon.
The attacks, which are believed to have been targeting Hezbollah, have left dozens of fighters and civilians dead.
Israel, a key ally to the U.S., did warn Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on Tuesday it was going to carry out an operation in Lebanon, but multiple sources familiar with the matter said details were not given.
Teamsters union not endorsing a 2024 presidential candidate
The Teamsters have opted not to endorse former President Trump or Vice President Harris in the 2024 presidential election. It’s the first time in decades the union has chosen not to endorse any candidate.
The decision came just two days after union leaders met with Harris and months after meeting with Trump.
While opting not to endorse anyone, the Teamsters did release data from internal surveys showing most of its members support Trump (59%) over Harris (34%).
House GOP fails to pass Johnson’s stopgap funding bill
Three Democrats crossed the aisle to vote in favor of the stopgap bill, but 14 Republicans voted against it, ultimately causing it to fail. Johnson said afterward he’d draft a new bill to keep the government funded past Oct. 1.
Body found during search for Kentucky highway shooter
Authorities had been searching for 32-year-old Joseph Couch since Sept. 7, when police say Couch shot and injured five people on Interstate 75.
On Wednesday afternoon, the remains were found by two state troopers alongside two civilians who said they were trying to help find the suspect. The troopers were drawn to the site after noticing vultures circling above and a strong odor in the search area.
Authorities said a weapon was discovered alongside the body believed to be Couch. The remains have been sent to the coroner’s office for positive identification.
Lionsgate announces deal with AI company Runway to ‘augment’ films
Artificial intelligence is coming to a theater near you. Lionsgate — the studio behind film franchises like “John Wick” and “The Hunger Games” has announced a deal with AI research company Runway, whose backers include Google and chipmaker NVIDIA.
The deal involves Runway’s creation and training of a new AI model that Lionsgate’s filmmakers can use to “augment their work.” Lionsgate said it expects to save “millions and millions of dollars” using Runway’s technology.
Lionsgate Vice Chair Michael Burns said AI is seen as a great tool for “enhancing and supplementing” the studio’s current operations. Burns told The Wall Street Journal, “We do a lot of action movies, so we blow a lot of things up and that is one of the things Runway does.”
