Former Director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffesaid he expects special counsel John Durham’s team to indict more suspects in connection to the origins of the Trump-Russia probe and the discredited Steele dossier.
Last week, a grand jury empaneled by Durham indicted Russia analyst Igor Danchenko, who previously worked for the left-leaning Brookings Institution, for allegedly lying to the FBI. Danchenko had been the main source for the dossier created by former UK spy Christopher Steele that was, in turn, used by the FBI during its inquiry into whether the 2016 campaign of Donald Trump colluded with Russia.
“When I became the director of national intelligence, I said, ‘Listen, I want to see all of the intelligence about this supposed Russian collusion,’ Ratcliffe said during a Fox Business interview on Sunday. “What I found was, and as you’re finding out, is there was, of course, no Russian collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia, but what I did see in your intelligence documents, some of which I’ve now declassified, that there was collusion involving the Clinton campaign and Russians to create a dossier.”
Numerous documents that Ratcliffe said he had provided to Durham are being used in the special counsel’s investigation, he said.
Numerous claims pushed in the dossier turned out to be false, triggering congressional, inspector general, and criminal investigations as to why it was used as the basis of a FISA court order to conduct surveillance of a then-Trump campaign aide.
Those who were involved in the construction of the dossier, as well as individuals who promoted it “falsely, would be in jeopardy,” Ratcliffe claimed. “I know that that’s what John Durham is looking at, and as I talked about, this goes to the highest levels of our government and government agencies involved,” he added.
“I continue to think there will be many indictments based on the intelligence that I gave to John Durham and that I have seen,” he continued.
Durham’s team also indicted former Perkins Coie lawyer Michael Sussmann, alleging he lied when he told former FBI General Counsel James Baker in September 2016 that he was not representing a client when he provided Baker with a now-debunked claim that the Trump Organization was communicating electronically with a Russian bank.
Following his arrest on Nov. 4, a lawyer representing Danchenko attempted to enter a plea of not guilty but a judge said it was premature, according to reports. Danchenko’s lawyers haven’t responded to a request for comment and have not issued any public statements regarding their client.
Home security is a booming business, with set-ups that go into thousands of dollars. If you’re not ready to dive in, you can get a taste of it with a device you already have: your Echo Show.
A new feature lets you keep an eye on things in a simpler way, via the camera on your device. It’s not as advanced as a dedicated security camera, but it’s a great feature for people who want to use it occasionally.
Setup needs to be done on the device itself, not via the app. Here’s how it works.
Go to the Echo Show and say, “Alexa, go to Settings,” or swipe down from top of screen to access the Settings screen. Tap the Settings cog on the top right.
Scroll down to Camera and tap.
The first option should be Home Monitoring. Tap the toggle to blue to enable.
You’ll get a screen explaining the feature; hit continue. Next, verify your account by inputting your Amazon password.
Then you’re set! You can customize by enabling a video delay, and enabling an audio alert when your camera begins streaming.
Now that you’re set up, you have a couple of ways to use the feature.
For Echo Show devices or Fire devices, just say “Alexa, show me [device name].” She’ll turn on the camera and whatever it can view will show up on your screen, in real time.
In the Alexa app, tap Devices on the bottom, tap Camera, and then select the enabled Show and it will show you the camera feed.
Pro Tip: So why not just use Drop In? Some people use Drop In as a security feature, but that is an interactive two-way call where the “dropped in on” can see you too. If you want something more discreet, this is a good option. And no, this is NOT a spy camera. When you activate it, the other end, a pop up notice will appear saying “A household member is viewing your camera.” When you clock off, the notice will change, saying a household member is no longer viewing your camera.
1. No Tenure / No Pension. A Congressman / woman collects a salary while in office and receives no pay when they’re out of office.
2. Congress (past, present, & future) participates in Social Security.
All funds in the Congressional retirement fund move to the Social Security system immediately. All future funds flow into the Social Security system, and Congress participates with the American people. It may not be used for any other purpose.
3. Congress can purchase their own retirement plan, just as all Americans do.
4. Congress will no longer vote themselves a pay raise. Congressional pay will rise by the lower of CPI or 3%.
5. Congress loses their current health care system and participates in the same health care system as the American people.
6. Congress must equally abide by all laws they impose on the American people.
7. All contracts with past and present Congressmen/women are void effective 3/1/22. The American people did not make this contract with Congressmen/women.
Congress made all these contracts for themselves. Serving in Congress is an honor, not a career. The Founding Fathers envisioned citizen legislators, so ours should serve their term(s), then go home and go back to work.
Alexa Together helps you take care of your loved ones
Independence is a top priority for most aging seniors, and for their families as well. A new program from Amazon for Alexa addresses this directly.
Alexa’s Care Hub is a trusted option in the Alexa app that allows family members to stay informed on their older loved one’s activity (with prior permission from the loved one, of course!)—including getting an alert if the loved one has called out for help.
The augmented Alexa Together service expands on those free features with new ones.
Allowing multiple people to join in the support system—ideal when multiple people are involved in care giving. The feature allows for siblings, friends, even involved neighbors to be added to the support system. This latter feature is especially nice if family members don’t live nearby.
Creating reminders on loved ones’ devices—ideal for things like taking medicines and doctors’ appointments, but also reminders for social events, family zoom calls, you name it.
Allowing participants to remotely add contacts to the family member’s Alexa account, so they can call anyone hands-free, with ease.
Giving access to a hands-free 24-7 emergency hotline. If the family member has an emergency at home, like a fall, they can ask Alexa to call for help. The people connected to the account will get an alert as well, so they can jump in to help. (This is why having a trusted neighbor is great!)
Amazon is offering Alexa Together for free for six months, and then charges $19.99 per month to continue the service. It’ll be available later this year (US only), and you can learn more about it here and sign up to get notified when it’s released.
City Commission votes to raise electric rates by 7%
June 13, 2021
BY JENNIFER CABRERA
At the June 7 Gainesville City Commission Special Meeting, Gainesville Regional Utilities (GRU) requested a 7% electric rate increase, saying it was the equivalent of 3% for last year (the City Commission decided not to increase rates last year during the pandemic), 3% for this year, and “1% for the Deerhaven 2 conversion.” GRU also requested a 5% increase in wastewater rates and asked the commission to approve a resolution to reduce the General Fund Transfer (GFT – the amount of money transferred from GRU to the City’s General Government budget) by $2 million a year through 2027. In addition, GRU requested 3% electricity and 5% wastewater rate increases through 2027 and a 3% water increase for FY22.
The General Government (GG) budget presentation followed the GRU budget presentation, starting with the caveat that the GG budget didn’t take into account the future reductions in GFT or the increases in the City’s utility bills. The City’s budget presentation recommended a $12/year increase per unit in the Fire Assessment Fee, from $133 to $145.
At current property tax levels, the increment requests for the GG budget (not including increments from City Commissioners) lead to a projected deficit of $3.7 million in FY 2022 and a $5.2 million deficit in FY 2023. The electric and wastewater rate increases will add to those deficits because General Government has to pay those rates as a customer. The projected budget also doesn’t include increased revenue from a utility tax increase, which would reduce the deficits. The presentation estimated that a 0.5 mill increase in property taxes (about a 9.4% increase on top of increases caused by higher property values) would be required to make up a deficit of $3.86 million.
Mayor Lauren Poe said that some of the budget items and expenses “could potentially be addressed through the American Rescue Plan (ARP), depending on what the commission decides to do with that money.”
Commissioner increment requests are due this Monday to the Office of Equity and Inclusion. The office will do an analysis and send the results back to the City Commission after their break, but the Commission is required to set the tentative millage (which can be reduced but not increased after it is set) at their first meeting back, on July 15. City Manager Lee Feldman said that made his “head hurt” because the requests go first to the Office of Equity and Inclusion, and he doesn’t even know when his office will get a chance to look at them to see how they affect the budget.
Utility bill assistance: How to “address the challenges with our low-income neighbors and their utility bills”
Given that the electric rate increase will be at least 7%, the Commission then turned to discussing ways they could “address the challenges with our low-income neighbors and their utility bills.” The Policy Research Team presented a report on various options for utility bill assistance.
GRU already has several programs, including an automatic 7-day grace period plus an additional automatic 7-day extension. GRU also has Project Share, in which voluntary donations from GRU customers and employees can be used to help the elderly and disabled in paying their utility bills. Those funds are distributed by community outreach agencies. GRU also works with customers to make arrangements to pay their balance after a disconnection and referral to collections (active accounts are not referred to collections). GRU currently has 561 active arrangements for repayment of about $326,000 in prior debt. GRU also has a low-income energy efficiency program that helps low-income customers with home improvements that reduce their energy use. GRU offers energy audits, and they offer personal hardship extensions. A number of community organizations also offer utility payment assistance, and there are also federal and state programs that assist with utility bill payments.
Commissioner Harvey Ward pointed out that ARP funds from the City can only go to City customers, so he wants to “strongly encourage [the County] to use their ARP to do the same thing for GRU customers outside the city limits.”
“GRU was asked to bring back a lot of non-discretionary and discretionary cuts. And a large portion of the General Government budget were increments, increases.” – Commissioner David Arreola
Commissioner David Arreola pointed out that there was a “stark difference” in the discussions of the GRU and GG budgets. “GRU was asked to bring back a lot of non-discretionary and discretionary cuts. And a large portion of the General Government budget were increments, increases.”
Poe said his recommendations for spending ARP money would focus on “the sort of permanent fix, getting into people’s homes and apartments, and fixing those, you know, let’s call them big leaks… And I really am going to be challenging our staff as well as our community, all those folks that have talked to us about apprenticeship programs and using local labor, to work together, to find a plan to identify, analyze, come up with solutions, and then implement solutions over a 24-month period. It’s going to be a huge lift, but go out and get as many done as we can and create a permanent solution. That’s one big pot of money.”
Poe also said he wanted to build into the General Government budget a recurring source of funds, probably from the utility tax, to provide assistance to customers that “every month are having trouble paying their bills… Of course… who is going to be adversely affected by this, it’s sort of everyone, because it lowers GRU revenue, but I’d rather have that problem than continuing… with this… recurring problem of homes… that just are going to be high-utility homes until they get fixed.”
Commissioner Adrian Hayes-Santos proposed several ways to increase GG revenue, including doubling neighborhood parking fees, “looking at free parking downtown,” and removing neighborhood parking spaces and adding metered parking spaces. On the expense side, he talked about adding additional employees in finance and community engagement, plus a greenway study and a lighting study.
Commissioner Gail John moved for staff to come back at the July 15 meeting with data for eligibility requirements for recurring assistance, a source of potential funds for recurring assistance, and as much data as possible about the efficacy of existing programs. That motion died for lack of a second.
Arreola moved that they accept GRU’s recommendations (increase electric rates by 7% for FY22, increase wastewater rates by 5% per year for FY22, bring back a resolution to reduce the GFT by $2 million per year through 2027, bring back a rate ordinance for FY23-FY27 that would include a 3% increase in electric rates and 5% increase in wastewater rates per year) and include the data request from Johnson. Johnson seconded the motion. Then, at Poe’s request, Johnson added a request that staff bring back information on a framework for a program to help people lower their utility bills by improving the homes of high energy users.
Feldman told the Commission that “a sustained $2 million [GFT] reduction every year until 2027 is going to be unsustainable for the General Government side and will have some negative consequences, as well, both in the services that you want to provide and/or fiscal stability.”
In public comment on the motion, Nathan Skop asked the Commission to consider the solution he has offered – cut their spending, reduce the GFT, don’t increase electric rates, ask GRU to defer Advanced Metering Infrastructure, and increase property taxes to make up the difference. He pointed out that subsidizing utility bills for some customers increases the costs to other customers, whose bills are increased to pay for the subsidies.
“Cut your bloated budget and get to the place where you stop raising GRU bills.” – Debbie Martinez
Debbie Martinez said the Commission should “cut your bloated budget and get to the place where you stop raising GRU bills. Sky-high GRU bills are not due to leaky homes. It is a result of the City Commission getting a grossly overpriced utility contract for power we do not need…. You killed the GRU goose that laid the golden egg, and now you want to blame leaky buildings, rather than looking into the mirror and remembering members of this City Commission are to blame.”
Armando Grundy-Gomes reiterated that the GG side didn’t bring back budget decrements as requested in a previous meeting. “You… said no, we’re going to come back with increases and 17 new full-time positions… Another point that seems to be missing is that crime is up. Fires are not up. But 17 new positions for firefighters. For what? If anything, that needs to translate to GPD.”
Commissioners split off the 7% electric rate increase into a separate motion and voted on the rest of Arreola’s motion, which passed 5-1, with Hayes-Santos in dissent and Commissioner Desmon Duncan-Walker absent. The vote for the 7% electric rate increase was also 5-1, with Johnson in dissent.
State Attorney General Ashley Moodyannounced on Wednesday that she is launching a new initiative recognizing the work of frontline law enforcement officers.
Moody created the “Thin Line Tribute” to recognize and thank frontline law enforcement officers for their service to the citizens of Florida.
“I am excited to launch Thin Line Tribute, a new initiative through my office designed to recognize the hard work and dedication of our brave frontline law enforcement officers. As the wife of a law enforcement officer, I know personally the amount of care and commitment that goes into this profession. As the dangers surrounding this job seem to increase by the day, I believe it is imperative that we show our law enforcement community just how thankful we are for their service,” Moody said.
In December, Moody issued a report that showed that officers killed in the line of duty nationwide more than doubled in 2020, compared to the previous year—totaling more than 360 officers lost at year’s end. While line-of-duty deaths are still on the rise in 2021, COVID-19 is no longer the main culprit. An increasing number of officer deaths in Florida are at the hands of violent attacks. Additionally, Florida is currently the deadliest state in the nation for felonious attacks against law enforcement officers this year.
Tim Tebow looks to be getting his chance at an NFL comeback, after all.
The Jacksonville Jaguars plan to sign the former quarterback as a tight end, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero reported Monday, after Tebow worked out for the team in April.
A deal between the two sides was not complete and is not imminent, a person with knowledge of the situation told USA TODAY Sports’ Mike Jones. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because talks remained ongoing.
The signing serves as reunion between Tebow and Jaguars coach Urban Meyer, under whom the former star signal-caller won a Heisman Trophy in 2007 at Florida and led the Gators to a national championship in 2008. He also won a title with the Gators in 2006 as a backup.
Governor Ron DeSantis Honors Florida’s Police Force During National Police Week
Tallahassee, Fla. – Beginning Sunday, May 9, 2021 – Saturday, May 15, 2021, Governor Ron DeSantis will honor the men and women of Florida’s police force by lighting the Florida Historic Capitol blue during National Police Week. National Police Week recognizes those who protect our nation and the State of Florida, and those who have made the supreme sacrifice with their lives to protect the freedom of others and preserve law and order.
“In Florida, we stand behind our police officers who protect our freedoms and defend our society – putting themselves in harm’s way to keep our people safe and our businesses secure,” said Governor Ron DeSantis. “This week we honor them for always responding to those in need.”
Governor DeSantis’ administration continues to prioritize important legislation and initiatives to support Florida’s law enforcement that risk their lives daily to protect Florida communities across the state. Most recently, Governor DeSantis led the effort to provide $1,000 bonuses for first responders for their dedicated response during the COVID-19 public health emergency and signed the Combating Public Disorder Act to strengthen state laws, safeguard communities, and protect law enforcement officers.
“Thank you, Governor DeSantis, for consistently supporting our law enforcement officers through initiatives and laws,” said Amy Mercer, Executive Director of the Florida Police Chiefs Association. “Lighting the Historic Capitol shows all visitors and residents that the Governor and the State of Florida honors our fallen officers – we greatly appreciate the support.”
Today Governor Ron DeSantis signed two executive orders. Order 21-102 takes effect immediately and suspends all local COVID-19 restrictions and mandates on individuals and businesses. It then “eliminates and supersedes any existing emergency order issued by a county or municipality that imposes restrictions or mandates upon businesses or individuals” and goes on to state that “no county or municipality may renew or enact an emergency order or ordinance… that imposes restrictions or mandates upon businesses or individuals due to the COVID-19 emergency.”
Executive Order 21-101 takes effect on July 1 and invalidates any local order “which restricts the rights or liberties of individuals or their businesses.”
STATE OF FLORIDA
OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR
EXECUTIVE ORDER NUMBER 21-102
(Suspending All Remaining Local Government Mandates and Restrictions Based on the COVID-19 State o f Emergency)
WHEREAS, on March 9, 2020, I issued Executive Order 20-52, declaring a state of emergency for the entire State ofFlorida as a result ofCOVID-19; and
WHEREAS, on September 25, 2020, I issued Executive Order 20-244, suspending the collection of local fines and penalties associated with COVID-19 regulations upon individuals, and on March 10, 2021, I issued Executive Order 21-65, categorically remitting all fines upon individuals and businesses alike related to local government COVID-19 restrictions; and
WHEREAS, on March 29, 2021, the Legislature presented, and I signed into law, SB 72 – Civil Liability for Damages Relating to COVID-19, enacted as Chapter 2021-1, Laws of Florida, which provides crucial liability protection to individuals, businesses, educational institutions, religious organizations, and health care providers for liability claims related to COVID-19; and
WHEREAS, on April 27, 2021, I extended the state of emergency initiated by Executive Order 20-52 as necessary to ensure Florida schools remain open for the remainder of the school year, to protect Floridians from being required to produce a so-called vaccine passport as a condition of participating in everyday life, and to implement budgetary response efforts to help Floridians to the greatest extent possible; and
WHEREAS, on April 29, 2021 , Surgeon General Dr. Scott Rivkees issued a Public Health Advisory (I) stating that continuing COVID-19 restrictions on individuals, including long-term use of face coverings and withdrawal from social and recreational gatherings, pose a risk of adverse and unintended consequences, (2) further expanding vaccine eligibility, and (3) advising government offices to resume in-person operations and services; and
WHEREAS, the State of Florida led the national effort to distribute the vaccine to elderly and vulnerable populations and has provided vaccines to nearly 9 million people; and
WHEREAS, every eligible Floridian is now legally permitted to obtain a vaccine, and Florida maintains a sufficient supply for every eligible Floridian who desires a vaccine to be vaccinated; and
WHEREAS, scientific studies show that vaccines protect individuals from COVID-19 and reduce hospitalizations and deaths caused by COVID-19; and
WHEREAS, the State and the majority of local governments have declined to issue mask mandates; and
WHEREAS, a select number of local governments continue to impose mandates and business restrictions, without proper consideration of improving conditions and with no end in sight; and
WHEREAS, due to the tremendous steps the State has taken to protect Florida’s most vulnerable populations and rapidly offer vaccines to every eligible Floridian who desires one, local communities lack justification in continuing to impose COVID-19 mandates or restrictions upon their citizens; and
WHEREAS, with my encouragement, the Florida Legislature passed and I signed SB 2006, a measure designed to curb restrictions and closures of businesses during an extended emergency, to add significant accountability and difficulty for the continuation of any local limitation on the rights or liberties ofindividuals or businesses, and to declare in no uncertain terms that the policy of the State of Florida will favor a presumption of commercial operation and individual liberty with no toleration for unending and unjustified impediments to that liberty; and
WHEREAS, in light of these recently enacted reforms, the widespread vaccination of Florida residents, and the sufficient supply of vaccines for all eligible Florida residents, I find that it is necessary for the State of Florida to enhance its rapid and orderly restoration and recovery from the COVID-19 emergency by preempting and suspending all remaining local emergency restrictions on individuals and businesses and to return day-to-day life back to normal everywhere in the State.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, RON DESANTIS, as Governor of Florida, by virtue of the authority vested in me by Article IV, Section I(a) ofthe Florida Constitution and by the Florida Emergency Management Act, as amended, and all other applicable laws, promulgate the following Executive Order:
Section 1. In order to mitigate the adverse and unintended consequences of the COVID- 19 emergency and to accelerate the State’s recovery, all local COVID-19 restrictions and mandates on individuals and businesses are hereby suspended.
Section2. This order eliminates and supersedes any existing emergency order or
ordinance issued by a county or municipality that imposes restrictions or mandates upon businesses or individuals due to the COVID-19 emergency.
Section 3. For the remaining duration of the state of emergency initiated by Executive Order 20-52, no county or municipality may renew or enact an emergency order or ordinance, using a local state of emergency or using emergency enactment procedures under Chapters 125, 252, or 166, Florida Statutes, that imposes restrictions or mandates upon businesses or individualsdue to the COVID-19 emergency.
Section 4. Nothing herein prohibits a political subdivision of the State from enacting
ordinances pursuant to regular enactment procedures to protect the health, safety, and welfare of its population. Only orders and ordinances within the scope of Section 1 based on a local state ofemergency or on emergency enactment procedures due to the COVID-19 emergency are hereby eliminated and preempted.
Section 5. This order supersedes Sections 2 and 3 of Executive Order 20-244. Section 6. This order is effective immediately.
