KTBB News, Weather, Talk – Page 3 – KTBB News, Weather, Talk

Russia to continue testing, start mass producing new ‘Oreshnik’ missile: Putin

State Emergency Service of Ukraine/AFP via Getty Images

(MOSCOW) -- Russia will continue testing and start mass producing the new "Oreshnik" missile, an intermediate-range ballistic missile that was used to target Dnipro, Ukraine, this week, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Friday.

"We will continue testing the latest system," Putin said at a meeting with the leadership of the Ministry of Defense and representatives of the military-industrial complex. "It is necessary to establish mass production. We will assume that the decision on the serial production of this system has been made. As a matter of fact, it is practically organized."

Putin said Russia will continue testing the new Oreshnik missile system, "including in combat conditions."

"The tests were successful, I congratulate you on this. As already mentioned, we will continue these tests, including in combat conditions, depending on the situation and the nature of the security threats that are being created for Russia," Putin said.

"In addition to the Oreshnik system, several systems of this kind are currently in operation in Russia for further testing," Putin added.

Russia warned the U.S. 30 minutes before the launch of its Oreshnik missile against targets in Dnipro on Thursday, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told Russian news outlet TASS.

The Ukrainian air force said it had tracked the launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile, or ICBM, along with six additional missiles, all targeting the Dnipro region. The U.S. would later specify the missile was not an ICBM, but instead a shorter-range IRBM.

The missiles were launched in about two hours, beginning at about 5 a.m. local time Thursday, and targeted businesses and critical infrastructure, but only the IRBM struck the city, Ukraine said. The six other missiles were shot down. There were no reports of casualties or significant damage, officials said.

The IRBM appeared to have been launched from the Astrakhan region, in Russia's southwest, Ukrainian military officials said. The distance from what Ukraine said was the launch point to the strike location in Dnipro is about 600 miles, a distance shorter than what an ICBM would be expected to travel.

The experimental Oreshnik missile was based on a Russian RS-26 Rubezh missile, deputy Pentagon press secretary Sabrina Singh confirmed Thursday during a briefing, without going into any other specific details. She also confirmed that the U.S. was notified "briefly" before the launch.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy addressed the Oreshnik missile launch Thursday during his evening address, saying a "new ballistic missile was used" and calling it "a clear and severe escalation in the scale and brutality of this war."

Putin, in remarks Thursday following the missile launch, said Russia has the right to use its weapons against the military facilities of countries employing their weapons against Russia.

The missile launch arrived amid concerns that the conflict between Russia and Ukraine could further escalate.

The Russian Defense Ministry said Tuesday that Ukraine for the first time launched U.S.-made ATACMS missiles toward targets within Russia. An ammunition depot in the Bryansk region of Russia was struck, a U.S. official said.

The incident occurred days after U.S. President Joe Biden approved Ukraine's use of the long-range American-made MGM-140 Army Tactical Missile System -- colloquially known as the ATACMS -- to hit targets in Russia's western Kursk region.

Zelenskyy would not confirm if Ukraine had used ATACMS to conduct a strike on an ammunition depot in the Bryansk region of Russia, but said Ukraine has ATACMS and "will use all of these" against Russia.

Hours after Russia said it had struck down several of the ATACMS, the Kremlin announced that Putin had updated the country's nuclear doctrine, a move that lowered the bar for Russia to respond with nuclear weapons. Russian ICBMs are capable of carrying nuclear warheads, but the IRBM fired on Thursday was not equipped with one.

Jussie Smollett’s attorney says actor was ‘harmed substantially’ by conviction

Chicago Tribune/Contributor via Getty Images

(NEW YORK) -- Jussie Smollett's attorney said the actor was "harmed substantially" after he was found guilty of lying about a 2019 hate crime in an interview with "GMA3" following the overturning of his conviction.

The Illinois Supreme Court threw out the former "Empire" actor's conviction in a decision on Thursday after concluding that the state's prosecution was unfair due to an agreement that initially dropped the charges.

Smollett was first indicted on 16 felony counts of disorderly conduct for filing a false police report, though Cook County State's Attorney Kim Foxx agreed to drop the charges if he paid $10,000 and did community service. A special prosecutor later charged him again, leading to his trial and conviction.

In its decision on Thursday, the court found that the state could not bring a second prosecution against Smollett after the initial charges were dismissed, and that reneging on the agreement "would be arbitrary, unreasonable, fundamentally unfair, and a violation of the defendant's due process rights."

Tina Glandian, Smollett's attorney, told "GMA3" on Friday that they have been fighting the second prosecution from the start as "completely illegal."

"It violates numerous constitutional provisions," she said. "We've raised this numerous, numerous times before, various courts. And finally yesterday, the Supreme Court of Illinois agreed with us and said the second prosecution was barred because there was an agreement in place and the state is bound to honor its word."

The case began after the openly gay actor told police he was attacked by two men while walking on a street near his Chicago apartment early on Jan. 29, 2019. The attackers allegedly shouted racist and homophobic slurs before hitting him, pouring "an unknown chemical substance" on him and wrapping a rope around his neck.

Chicago police said Smollett's story of being the victim of an attack began to unravel when investigators tracked down two men, brothers Abimbola and Olabinjo Osundairo, who they said were seen in a security video near where Smollett claimed he was assaulted and around the same time it supposedly occurred. The Osundairo brothers told police the actor paid them $3,500 to help him orchestrate and stage the crime.

A jury convicted Smollett in December 2021 on five of six felony counts of disorderly conduct stemming from filing a false police report and lying to police, who spent more than $130,000 investigating his allegations.

Dan Webb, who was appointed by a Cook County judge to continue looking into the case after the Cook County State's Attorney's Office initially dropped all charges against the actor, said he was "disappointed" in the court's decision and noted that the ruling "has nothing to do with Mr. Smollett's innocence."

"The Illinois Supreme Court did not find any error with the overwhelming evidence presented at trial that Mr. Smollett orchestrated a fake hate crime and reported it to the Chicago Police Department as a real hate crime, or the jury's unanimous verdict that Mr. Smollett was guilty of five counts of felony disorderly conduct," he said in a statement.

Glandian said Smollett continues to maintain his innocence and has "vehemently denied" any participation in a hoax.

"We do believe he didn't get a fair trial, that the jury didn't hear all the evidence that should have [been] heard, that things were improperly excluded, that the jury panel was not properly put together," she said. "The Supreme Court yesterday didn't get to that issue. They said legally this was invalid. It violated his due process and they, based on that, threw out the conviction. But we still maintain that he didn't receive a fair trial."

In the wake of the case, she said Smollett has been releasing music and "continued to do what he does best."

"I think hopefully, obviously this can only help matters because he was harmed substantially after everything that happened, and of course, the convictions and the sentence that was imposed," she said.

Webb said that despite the Illinois Supreme Court's decision, the city of Chicago is still able to pursue its pending civil lawsuit against Smollett in order to recoup the investigation costs.

Glandian said she hopes the city "does the right thing" and dismisses that case.

"He's incurred substantial legal fees. He spent six days in jail, all of which now has been said by the highest court in Illinois was completely unconstitutional," Glandian said. "So for the city now to further proceed, we'll see what they do. But hopefully they dismiss that case immediately."

‘Karate Kid’ star Ralph Macchio steps out with wife Phyllis, kids at Hollywood Walk of Fame ceremony

Phyllis Fierro, Macchio, and children Daniel Macchio and Julia Macchio - Etienne Laurent/AFP via Getty Images

The Karate Kid star Ralph Macchio was supported by his family at his recent Hollywood Walk of Fame star ceremony.

The actor received the honor on Wednesday and gave shout-outs to his wife, Phyllis, and their children, Julia and Daniel, during his heartfelt speech.

"My beautiful wife, my best friend, Phyllis, who simultaneously grounds and elevates me, I love you so much," Macchio said. "Our partnership in life is everything. None of this is happening without you. Thank you for choosing me ... life is all the richer to walk in lockstep with you. I am not here without you."

He called his children "my two heroes," adding, "I'm so proud of you guys. You make me way better than I am."

Macchio's star was placed adjacent to the one honoring his late Karate Kid co-star Pat Morita, who played Mr. Miyagi, the mentor to Macchio's character Daniel LaRusso in the 1984 film and its two sequels. Morita also returned for the fourth film, starring Hilary Swank.

Morita died in 2005 at age 73.

"To have this star placed right next to my acting partner from that film, the great Pat Morita, is so meaningful to me, so powerful to me," Macchio said Wednesday. "Our partnership is something I always described as a soulful magic."

PUC requires registration of cryptocurrency mining

AUSTIN – KXAN reports that virtual currency mining facilities within the state’s power grid region have to register with the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT). The facilities must provide information to the PUCT annually about the facility’s location, ownership, and demand for electricity. The rule was passed by the 88th Texas Legislature and signed into law by Gov. Greg Abbott in 2023. It is aimed at giving the PUCT and the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) a better awareness of the virtual currency miners operating around the state.

“It’s an important first step to get their hands around the potential issues,” said Dr. David Tuttle, a research associate and lecturer at the University of Texas Austin’s Energy Institute. Tuttle said these facilities can use a lot of energy. He noted how they can also quickly adjust their power consumption based on the wholesale price of electricity. “What they could do is radically reduce their load at the right times, and then their measurement for their peak load would be very low, and they would get a very low allocation of cost,” Tuttle said. “But the infrastructure cost would be still there to meet their peak load, and who would pay for it? Every other customer in ERCOT.”

Texas lost key immigration cases

HOUSTON – The Houston Chronicle reports that Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton failed in every one of his attempts to convince the U.S. Supreme Court to halt President Joe Biden’s immigration policies. But the Texas Republican’s repeated losses might have actually helped clear the way for President-elect Donald Trump to roll out an immigration crackdown that includes mass deportations, detention of migrant families and more. The Texas losses underscore how little appetite the high court has for challenges to presidential authority on immigration matters. Some immigration law experts say the rulings against Texas during Biden’s term could make it more difficult for blue states to try and stop Trump’s crackdown in the courts. The Texas losses “dramatically softened the ground that President Trump has to work with,” said Leon Fresco, an immigration attorney based in D.C.

That is not to say that Democratic-led states and advocacy groups will not turn to the courts to challenge Trump’s immigration policies, as they did repeatedly during his first term, hampering his efforts to institute a travel ban, restrict asylum and force migrants to wait in Mexico while their cases were considered in the U.S. “I wouldn’t be surprised if litigation ends up being a smaller part of immigration advocacy in this administration,” Cabot said. “They’ve been signaling pretty strongly on these issues.” Paxton’s office did not respond to a request for comment. States could now have a harder time showing they have standing to sue in some cases after Texas’ unsuccessful bid to block Biden’s immigration enforcement priorities. When the Democrat took office, he limited U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement deportation targets to just those seen as threats to national security, public safety or border security. Texas and Louisiana sued, arguing in part that the narrower scope would drive up their costs for law enforcement, education and health care, because the federal government was not deporting more immigrants.

Texas education board approves Bible-infused curriculum

AUSTIN (AP) — Texas’ education board voted Friday to allow Bible-infused teachings in elementary schools, joining other Republican-led states that pushed this year to give religion a larger presence in public classrooms.

The curriculum adopted by the Texas State Board of Education, which is controlled by elected Republicans, is optional for schools to adopt, but they will receive additional funding if they do so. The materials could appear in classroom as early as next school year.

Republican Gov. Greg Abbott has voiced support for the lesson plans, which were provided by the state’s education agency that oversees the more than 5 million students in Texas public schools.

Parents and teachers who opposed the curriculum said the lessons will alienate students of other faith backgrounds.

Supporters argued the Bible is a core feature of American history and that teaching it will enrich students’ learning.

The new Texas curriculum follows Republican-led efforts in neighboring states to give religion more of a presence in public schools. In Oklahoma, the state’s education chief has ordered a copy of the Bible in every classroom, while Louisiana wants to make all of the state’s public school classrooms post the Ten Commandments beginning next year.

With the new curriculum, Texas would be the first state to introduce Bible lessons in schools in this manner, according to Matthew Patrick Shaw, an assistant professor of public policy and education at Vanderbilt University.

The Texas Education Agency, which oversees public education for more than 5 million students statewide, created its own instruction materials after a law passed in 2023 by the GOP-controlled Legislature required the agency to do so. The lesson plans were publicly released this spring.

The material draws on lessons from Christianity more than any other religion in the proposed reading and language arts modules for kindergarten through fifth grade, which critics say would alienate students from different faith backgrounds and potentially violate the First Amendment.

“This curriculum is not age-appropriate or subject matter appropriate in the way that it presents these Bible stories,” said Amanda Tyler, executive director of the Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty.

Children who would read the material, she said, “are simply too young to tell the difference between what is a faith claim and what is a matter of fact.”

More than 100 people testified at a board meeting this week that rung with emotion from parents, teachers and advocates. Supporters of the curriculum argued that the Bible is a core feature of American history and teaching it will enrich students’ learning.

“It is said that there are close to 300 common-day phrases that actually come from the Bible,” said Mary Castle, director of government relations for Texas Values, a right-leaning advocacy group. “So students will benefit from being able to understand a lot of these references that are in literature and have a way to be able to comprehend them.”
A narrow early vote

The 15-member board consists of 11 Republicans and four Democrats. It signaled support for the materials in a 8-7 preliminary vote on Wednesday.

One of the board members is a Republican who was appointed to the board just weeks ago by Republican Gov. Greg Abbott to temporarily fill a vacant seat. Days after that appointment, a Democrat who ran unopposed was elected to fill that same board seat starting next year.

Abbott has publicly supported the instruction materials.

Whether the lesson plans will be considered constitutional is up in the air if the curriculum passes, Shaw said.

“The question is how is Texas going to frame what is done here to avoid the establishment question or tackle it head-on,” he said.
Bringing religion into schools

Texas’ plans to implement Biblical teachings in public school lesson plans is the latest effort by Republican-controlled states to bring religion into the classroom.

In Louisiana, a law to place the Ten Commandments in all public classrooms was blocked by a federal judge earlier this month. Republican Gov. Jeff Landry signed the bill into law in June, prompting a group of Louisiana public school parents of different faiths to sue.

In Oklahoma, the state’s top education official has tried to incorporate the Bible into lesson plans for children in fifth through 12th grades. A group of teachers and parents recently filed a lawsuit to stop the Republican state superintendent’s plan and his efforts to spend $3 million to purchase Bibles for public schools.

Weekend Watchlist: What’s new on streaming

Ready, set, binge! Here's a look at some of the new movies and TV shows streaming this weekend:

Netflix
A Man on the Inside: From the creator of Parks & Rec and The Good Place comes this brand-new comedy.

The Piano Lesson: A family clashes over a family heirloom in this new movie based on the August Wilson play.

Spellbound: A princess embarks on a quest to save her parents in the new animated movie.

Prime Video
Cruel Intentions: A cult classic gets revamped in the new series.

Max
The Sex Lives of College Girls: It’s time for sophomore year at Essex College. See the season 3 premiere of the comedy series.

Starz
Outlander: It’s not about where Jamie and Claire belong, but when. You can start part 2 of season 7 of the drama series.

That’s all for this week’s Weekend Watchlist – happy streaming!

‘Wicked’ and ‘Gladiator II’ sneaks could predict new ‘Barbenheimer’ weekend

Two very different, very anticipated movies are headed into theaters Friday, and some prognosticators say it could lead to a new "Barbenheimer" box office bonanza.

Wicked and Gladiator II are Friday's big openers, and with both films getting strong reviews — and both with impressive sneak preview numbers — it's reminiscent of when Barbie and Oppenheimer's very different double bill led to a $235.5 million worldwide opening weekend in July 2023.

The Hollywood Reporter says Wicked made $11 million from showings on Thursday, but other special showings throughout the week bumped that take to $19.2 million in the U.S. before Friday's official opening day.

Gladiator II, Ridley Scott's follow-up to his 2000 Oscar winner, made $6.5 million in the U.S. ahead of Friday's opening day. Unlike Wicked, however, it opened up overseas first, and its global take already stands at nearly $99 million, according to BoxOfficeMojo.

Matt Gaetz says he’s not returning to Congress after dropping bid to be attorney general

Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images

(WASHINGTON) -- Matt Gaetz said Friday he will not return to Congress after withdrawing his name from consideration to be President-elect Donald Trump's attorney general.

In an interview with conservative commentator Charlie Kirk on "Real America's Voice," Gaetz said he is "still going to be in the fight but it's going to be from a new perch."

"I do not intend to join the 119th Congress," he said. "There are a number of fantastic Floridians who've stepped up to run for my seat, people who have inspired with their heroism, with their public service. And I'm actually excited to see northwest Florida go to new heights and have great representation."

Questions swirled about Gaetz's future after he dropped his confirmation bid on Thursday amid sexual misconduct allegations. While he'd resigned from the 118th Congress just hours after being tapped by Trump to serve in the administration, he won reelection to serve in the 119th Congress beginning in January.

This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.

David Rancken’s App of the Day 11/22/24 – Earth.fm!

How would you like sounds of nature, without leaving your home? Check out David Rancken’s App Of The Day. It’s called Earth.fm. You can get Earth.fm in the app stores below.

Jason Kelce to host limited late-night show for ESPN

While Jason Kelce can already be seen on ESPN as the host of Monday Night Countdown, the now-retired former Philadelphia Eagles All-Pro center will be testing out his game as a late-night host.

They Call It Late Night With Jason Kelce will kick off a five-episode run on Jan. 4 at 1 a.m. ET on ESPN, with the fifth episode, on Feb. 1, beginning at 1:30 a.m.

The sports network teases "an immersive experience ... showcasing the Super Bowl champion's oversized personality and infectious humor mixed with celebrity guests from the football world and beyond, in front of a live audience of NFL fans."

"The show's format will position Kelce and his guests to dissect NFL topics and storylines, mainly focused on that weekend's games" and will include "active participation from the fans in attendance."

The show will be available on ESPN+, ESPN YouTube and the Jason Kelce channel on YouTube presented by ESPN following its initial ESPN airing.

Jason and his younger brother, Travis Kelce, have been making their mark off the field for some time: Travis can be seen in the FX series Grotesquerie and also hosts the Prime Video series Are You Smarter Than A Celebrity?

Jason has appeared in numerous commercials, in addition to hosting the sibling NFL stars' podcast New Heights, and making a headline-grabbing entry in the ring in the most recent WrestleMania.

Jonathan Majors’ ex-girlfriend drops defamation and assault lawsuit

Actor Jonathan Majors and his ex-girlfriend Grace Jabbari have agreed to resolve her civil claims that followed his misdemeanor assault conviction in New York, according to a court filing.

Majors and Jabbari stipulated to a dismissal of her lawsuit for defamation and assault that she brought against him in March, the filing said. A reason was not given.

Jabbari sued Majors about the same time he was sentenced to domestic violence intervention classes in April. She alleged he physically abused her and then defamed her by denying the assault in an interview with ABC News.

Majors was found guilty of one count of misdemeanor third-degree assault and one count of second-degree harassment, but was acquitted of two other counts of assault and aggravated harassment in a split verdict.

Since the verdict, Majors has been dropped from his management and PR firms. In addition, he was cut from future Marvel films and his role as Kang in Avengers: Kang Dynasty.

As part of his sentencing, Majors was ordered to complete a 52-week in-person batterers intervention program in Los Angeles, continue mental health counseling and stay away from Jabbari.

Texas board to vote on Bible curriculum in public schools

(NEW YORK) -- The Texas Board of Education will vote Friday on whether to implement its new K-12 curriculum that calls for expanding Bible teachings in classrooms, after signaling its passage in a preliminary vote.

The curriculum includes Biblical and Christian lessons about Moses, the story of the Good Samaritan, the Golden Rule, readings from The Book of Genesis, and more. The accuracy of the materials has come under scrutiny. For example, the curriculum claims "Abraham Lincoln and other leading abolitionists relied on a deep Christian faith," though Lincoln's religion has historically been debated.

The instructional materials, called Bluebonnet Learning, are developed by the state, according to the Texas Education Agency. The lessons would be optional, but districts can receive at least $40 per student for using state-approved materials, according to local legislation.

Some supporters of instituting religion in the curriculum say that these religious texts are important for the historical context of U.S. history and can instill moral values in the classroom. While some critics said, this violates the First Amendment right to freedom of religion for students and teachers, forcing classrooms to engage in Christian instruction.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has spoken out in support of the Texas Education Agency's curriculum after singing legislation directing the Texas Education Agency to purchase and develop instructional materials.

"The materials will also allow our students to better understand the connection of history, art, community, literature, and religion on pivotal events like the signing of the U.S. Constitution, the Civil Rights Movement, and the American Revolution," Abbott said in a May statement. "I thank the TEA for their work to ensure our students receive a robust educational foundation to succeed so that we can build a brighter Texas for generations to come."

The Freedom From Religion Foundation, an advocacy organization centering on the separation of state and church, has criticized the curriculum, claiming leaders are determined to "turn the state's public schools into Christian training grounds."

"The curriculum targets the youngest, most impressionable elementary students, starting by introducing kindergartners to Jesus," FFRF Co-President Annie Laurie Gaylor said in an online statement ahead of the vote. "Religious instruction is the purview of parents, not proselytizing school boards. This is a shameful ruse by Christian nationalists in Texas who see the schools as a mission field."

States like Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana and others have been behind the push to enforce Christian-based school requirements, including the implementation of Bibles, the Ten Commandments and other religious doctrines in schools.

Judge delays Trump’s Nov. 26 sentencing date in his hush money case

(NEW YORK) -- New York Judge Juan Merchan has delayed President-elect Donald Trump's Nov. 26 sentencing date in his criminal hush money case, according to a brief order issued Friday.

The judge is allowing the defense to file a motion to dismiss the case, which he said is due by Dec. 2.

The judge provided no new sentencing date after adjourning the original Nov. 26 date.

Trump was scheduled to be sentenced next week after he was found guilty in May on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records related to a hush money payment made to adult film actress Stormy Daniels in order to boost his electoral prospects in the 2016 presidential election.

Judge Merchan's order also puts off any decision about whether the Supreme Court's recent presidential immunity decision applies to the case.

While the $130,000 payment to Daniels preceded Trump's ascension to the presidency, Trump has claimed that prosecutors filled "glaring holes in their case" with evidence that related to official acts he subsequently performed in office -- which the Supreme Court ruled are off limits in its July ruling on presidential immunity.

Prosecutors have argued that the case centers on "entirely personal" conduct with "no relationship whatsoever to any official duty of the presidency."

Trump has asked that the verdict be overturned or the case be thrown out entirely. If Judge Merchan tosses the conviction, he could order a new trial -- which would be delayed for at least four years until Trump leaves office -- or dismiss the indictment altogether.

Trump's conviction carries a penalty of up to four years in prison, though first-time offenders normally receive lesser sentences.

Jonathan Majors’ ex-girlfriend drops defamation and assault lawsuit

(NEW YORK) -- Actor Jonathan Majors and his ex-girlfriend Grace Jabbari have agreed to resolve her civil claims that followed his misdemeanor assault conviction in New York, according to a court filing.

Majors and Jabbari stipulated to a dismissal of her lawsuit for defamation and assault that she brought against him in March, the filing said.

Jabbari's lawyer said the pair settled out of court.

"We are happy to announce that the lawsuit Grace filed against Jonathan Majors was successfully settled," attorney Brad Edwards said in a statement to ABC News. "It took tremendous courage for Grace to pursue this case. We are happy to have helped her close this chapter favorably so that she can move forward and begin to finally heal."

Jabbari sued the Marvel and "Creed III" star about the same time he was sentenced to domestic violence intervention classes in April. She alleged he physically abused her and then defamed her by denying the assault in an interview with ABC News.

Majors was found guilty of one count of misdemeanor third-degree assault and one count of second-degree harassment, but acquitted of two other counts of assault and aggravated harassment in a split verdict.

Since the verdict, Majors has been dropped from his management and PR firms. In addition, he was cut from future Marvel films, including his role as Kang in "Avengers: Kang Dynasty."

As part of his sentencing, Majors was ordered to complete 52-week in-person batterers intervention program in Los Angeles, continue mental health counseling and stay away from Jabbari.