Rams vs. Saints Mic'd Up for a Controversial Ending (NFC Championship)
Listen in to the Los Angeles Rams vs. New Orleans Saints NFC Championship game mic'd up.
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Kristaps Porzingis trade: Mavericks, Knicks reach deal involving All-Star big man and Dennis Smith Jr.
Dallas will pair Porzingis with Luka Doncic and reportedly take on the contracts of Tim Hardaway Jr. and Courtney Lee
Story by CBS Sports
Written by James Herbert
The New York Knicks have agreed to trade Kristaps Porzingis to the Dallas Mavericks, according to the New York Times' Marc Stein. New York will bring back Dennis Smith Jr. and clear a bunch of salary in the reported deal, receiving the expiring contracts of DeAndre Jordan and Wesley Matthews and sending Tim Hardaway Jr. and Courtney Lee to the Mavericks. The Knicks will also get a future first-round pick, according to the Times.
For the Mavs, this is about giving Luka Doncic a co-star to build around for, ideally, the next decade-plus. For the Knicks, this is about creating the cap room to chase two maximum-salary free agents this summer, and severing ties with a player who has reportedly been dissatisfied with the direction of the organization. Dallas will be praised for being bold, just as it was when it acquired Doncic on draft night, and it will be impossible to judge New York's decision without seeing if the front office can actually convince superstars to come play at Madison Square Garden.
Super Question: Can the U.S.A. Pro Football Los Angeles Rams, get pressure on the New England Patriots Quarterback Tom Brady?
Today's Los Angeles Rams Defensive Front - Donald, Suh, and Brockers
Story by "The Los Angeles Rams of Inglewood"
Commentary Written by Kirk Tanter
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Link: https://m.facebook.com/groups/721170351317634?view=permalink&id=1703220349779291&fs=2&focus_composer=0&ref=m_notif¬if_t=feedback_reaction_generic
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The above question is one to ask the Los Angeles Rams defensive front to answer...IF THEY FEEL LIKE IT!!!
The world-renowned "pathetically inconsistent front" have NO earned nickname this year - as deservant by the 1960's\70's Los Angeles Rams' "FEARSOME FOURSOME!"
Los Angeles Rams "FEARSOME FOURSOME" (l to R) Lamar Lindy, Merlin Olsen, Rosey Grier, and Deacon "Kill the Quarterback" Jones.
These "Guys on Rams defensive front" Today, can't afford to wait until the fourth quarter to "bust-a-grape" against thee "Tom Brady/Bill Bellichek Offensive Line"! If the Rams "defensive guys" predictably wait to play defense in the 4th quarter, this game will be another Super Bowl blow-out in the first quarter for the Patriots! No "bad call" can save the Rams against this AFC legacy team! No overtime here! Just another historic loss, if the Rams "folks on defensive line" screw around for three quarters, as normal!!
Yes, the big game rest on the defensive front playing at a high level for 4 quarters, and not when they 'FEEL LIKE IT'!!
Frankly, and HONESTLY...we don't know (aside from A.D.) if "the frontal view" are "IN SHAPE ENOUGH" to play hard for four quarters! Are They? Huh?
"Defense Wins Championships" - for four quarters - especially against one of the "Best Of The Best" Football Programs in NFL History!
With Pandora Merger Imminent, SiriusXM Plans Next Move.
Story by Inside Radio - The Most Trusted News in Radio -
SiriusXM reported its highest-ever fourth-quarter and full-year 2018 revenue growth Wednesday morning, but without a doubt, the company’s purchase of Pandora Media—approved by Pandora stockholders Tuesday—was the focus of the satellite radio company’s investor call. Said CEO Jim Meyer: “Put simply, we want more engagement everywhere. Our combination with Pandora completely changes the game and gives us vastly more scale outside of the car in a way we think is completely complementary to our existing efforts at SiriusXM.”
But first, the company reviewed fourth quarter and the year gone by—and made several significant announcements. Meyer noted, “We exceeded all 2018 guidance metrics. This year we have set a goal of continuing to grow revenue, subscribers, adjusted EBITA and free cash flow, all while managing our planned integration of Pandora.” He added that the overall automotive market in 2018 was “significantly stronger than many expected going into the year,” and that while meeting with OEMs at CES 2019, “they remain as committed as ever about offering SiriusXM in their vehicles.”
In fact, during the investor call Wednesday, Meyer announced that beginning with the 2020 model year, SiriusXM will be standard in all Toyota models, with an agreement through 2028. “This is a big deal,” he stressed. “Our penetration will start to climb this fall, with a remarkable long-term endorsement from one of largest and most influential automakers.” In addition, he said that GM is adding the satellite company’s 360L two-way receivers to several models by year-end, as the company continues to expand its connected vehicle business.
SiriusXM also continues to expand beyond the vehicle—including streaming, its app and smart speakers. “OEM presence remains key, we have also made real progress in the quarter outside the car,” Meyer said. “We’re very committed to better apps with more features and content including video. And we continue to see smart speakers as a great way to [reach listeners]. Stay tuned for more content and more functionality on Amazon’s platform.”
Another significant announcement: SiriusXM will be adding 100 new channels to its streaming-only platform, within the next four to six weeks, the CEO said—adding that those that “perform very well will find their way in our satellite lineup.”
And finally, Meyer promised that its expansion into video will continue this year, including “showcasing what we do best at SiriusXM, with the amazing guests that come in our building every day, to performances and town halls and shows our subscribers love.” During its third-quarter call, president and chief content officer Scott Greenstein said the satellite broadcaster was outfitting a number of studios, along with other spaces, for what he called “live complementary video,” after being encouraged by the reaction to streaming video content from Howard Stern. On Wednesday, Meyer stressed that even as video content expands, “our focus on content and distribution and out of car engagement isn’t changing.”
For Pandora, A ‘Powerful Promotional Platform’
And then there was the discussion Wednesday about SiriusXM’s purchase of Pandora, certainly the focal topic of the fourth-quarter call. The satellite company’s stockholders voted in favor of the transaction at a special meeting held Tuesday, Jan. 29. Meyer told investors during the call that the merger will close Friday Feb. 1. By the numbers, he shared that the combined company will reach 100 million listeners in North America, with nearly 40 million SiriusXM self-paying subscribers and 75 million Pandora listeners.
“The North American audio market is the most influential in the world,” Meyer added. “What we bring to content creators and advertisers is a powerful promotional platform. The Pandora team's continuing efforts to improve ad tech, add new content and features and to improve usability for both listeners and advertisers provides a solid foundation for Pandora's future.” And for SiriusXM’s core business: “Needless to say, our combination with Pandora completely changes the game and gives us vastly more scale outside of the car in a way that we think is completely complementary to our existing efforts at SiriusXM.”
As of Friday, the CEO said he intends to hit the ground running, by consolidating general and administrative functions, with business units report directly to Meyer. “My goal is to streamline decision-making, increase the speed of integration and manage the businesses holistically from day 1.”
In stating his vision for the combined companies, he pointed to creating new consumer audio packages that “combine SiriusXM's in-vehicle position with Pandora's strong position out of the vehicle. There are strong prospects for cross-promotion across our combined North American audience. Quite simply, I'd like to monetize at some level every single one of the close to 23 million SiriusXM trials we are running annually.” He added that over the next decade, most Americans “will have experienced one of these trials, and I am thrilled to now have a complete stack of compelling offerings to offer consumers, from paid to free.”
Pandora also offers listener data that SiriusXM has not previously been privy to. For example, Meyer explained, “Based upon our preliminary research, half the owners of the SiriusXM-enabled vehicle fleet have used Pandora in the past 2 years. This is incredibly powerful.” He believes that data from Pandora can “significantly improve our understanding of these users' preferences and behaviors,” helping “refine our marketing efforts for retention, conversions, win back as well as our streaming experience for SiriusXM subscribers over time.”
Next month, the ball gets rolling with a targeted promotion in which select Pandora listeners will receive an offer to obtain a unique $5 a month SiriusXM music or news/talk package in their satellite-equipped vehicle. SiriusXM subscribers will receive an extended 14-day trial to Pandora Premium. And by midyear, a new Pandora-powered channel will launch for SiriusXM app users based upon their favorite artists; as well as a new radio channel, driven by Pandora listener preferences. “This is just the beginning,” Meyer stressed. “We expect over time to create new, unique audio packages that will bring together the best of both services, creating a powerful platform for artists to reach their fans and to create new audiences.”
That doesn’t mean that Pandora doesn’t come with challenges. As has been well tread, its active users have dramatically diminished in the past two years, as have listener hours. Meyer is well aware: “This is going to be a focus for my management team in 2019 and beyond. The biggest opportunity for change here is through improved content and marketing.” In addition, his company will work to amp Pandora's position in-vehicle. “Trust me on one thing: We understand the many new challenges that arise at Pandora,” he said. “One flashing light that you’ve got to worry about is the decline in listening hours. And we are very focused on that. We believe that metric is fixable.”
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Read more: https://radioink.com/2019/01/31/what-are-pandoras-challenges/
In fact, Meyer believes that SiriusXM’s own track record will lead Pandora toward greater success. “We focus on having the right strategy and business plan and then executing that. Growing Pandora and, more importantly, generating sustained and growing cash flow there will not be easy. But with the combination of SiriusXM and Pandora, we have tremendous opportunities.”
U.S. House Majority Whip Congressman James E. Clyburn (S.C.) Reintroduces H.B.C.U. Historic Preservation Reauthorization Bill
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 30, 2019
CONTACT: Hope Derrick, Hope.Derrick@mail.house.gov, 202-226-3210
Ryan Daniels, Ryan.Daniels@mail.house.gov
Clyburn Reintroduces HBCU Historic Preservation Reauthorization Bill
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. House Majority Whip James E. Clyburn today reintroduced his legislation to reauthorize the Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) Historic Preservation program, an initiative he has championed his entire career in Congress.
In 1998, at the request of the CBC, the Government Accountability Office conducted a survey of preservation needs at HBCUs that found 712 structures on 103 HBCU campuses in need of historic preservation. The projected cost to preserve and restore those buildings was $755 million. To date, more than 60 buildings on HBCU campuses in 20 states have been renovated through the HBCU Historic Preservation program managed by the National Parks Service.
H.R. 870, introduced today, seeks to reauthorize the program at $10 million annually for seven years.
“We have made significant progress towards the restoration and preservation of historic buildings and sites on the campuses of HBCUs, but there is still much more that needs to be done,” Congressman Clyburn said. “I am proud of the continued bi-partisan support of this effort. Senators Kamala Harris and Lindsey Graham reintroduced their companion bill today in the Senate, and I will continue to work with them to restore and preserve these critical pieces of American history.”
Many buildings at HBCUs in South Carolina have been restored by this program, including Chappelle Auditorium and Arnett Hall at Allen University, Ministers and Tingley Halls at Claflin University, and Massachusetts Hall at Voorhees College.
Last year, the National Park Service awarded $8.6 million in HBCU historic preservation grants. Three South Carolina HBCUs each received $500,000 awards for the renovation of Wilkinson Hall at South Carolina State University, Booker T. Washington Hall at Voorhees College, and Morgan Hall at Benedict College. The NPS grants in 2018 were the first awards since 2009 for HBCU historic preservation projects.
“These federal investments have transformational impacts on the communities that surround our HBCU campuses, and bring new life to historic buildings, many of which were built more than a century ago by student labor and designed by unsung Black architects,” Congressman Clyburn continued. “By continuing these efforts, we are extending a tremendous legacy.”
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Broadcasters Spent $20M Lobbying Washington In 2018.
Story by Inside Radio
From music licensing and royalties to how many stations a company can own, there’s a growing list of fundamental issues under consideration in Washington that will set the course for broadcasters in the coming years. It’s why the dollars continue to flow, as radio and television advocates continue to be one of the most powerful lobbying forces at work inside the Beltway.
The National Association of Broadcasters continued to lead the charge in 2018, spending $14.16 million on lobbying efforts last year, according to an Inside Radio review of disclosure filings. That represented an 8% decline compared to what the NAB allocated to lobbying in 2017. The reports also show the NAB reduced its lobbying spending by 23% from 2016 to 2018.
“NAB’s overall spending on advocacy fluctuates year to year, depending on needs, issues and priorities,” executive VP Dennis Wharton explains. “We allocate these resources strategically and efficiently in an effort to succeed in Washington while delivering the best value to our members.”
The NAB spent $3.29 million during the fourth quarter on a litany of issues that impact radio and television stations, spanning from Congress to the Federal Communications Commission and other federal agencies. They included not only the threatened performance royalty and other music copyright issues that remain high on radio’s watch list of Washington threats, but also issues related to broadcast ownership rules, pirate radio, tower regulations, the future use of C-band spectrum, and several proposals targeting political advertising.
Big Tech, Big Dollars
Even as the NAB remains one of the largest spenders on lobbying, in recent years the tech industry has eclipsed broadcasters. Google alone spent $21 million on Washington arm-twisting last year, a 17% increase from a year earlier. Facebook allocated $12.6 million, Apple spent $6.6 million, and Twitter shelled out $1.1 million. The extra scrutiny tech companies now face is expected to increase those figures in 2019.
Yet the NAB isn’t working alone. Operating alongside the trade group are lobbyists deployed by some of radio’s largest group owners. Filings show several broadcasters, including iHeartMedia, Hubbard Radio, Urban One, and Salem spent more than $5.3 million combined advocating on behalf of the industry in Washington.
It’s not just private companies knocking on doors either. National Public Radio was among the largest spenders in radio. Disclosure filings indicate NPR spent $869,000 last year on selling policymakers on public radio’s viewpoints – many of which overlap with commercial operators.
Meantime the National Religious Broadcasters increased its lobbying expenses 40% last year although its budget was a still-modest $29,351. The NRB traditionally puts much of its lobbying efforts into free speech and religious freedom issues, but it also expanded that last year to include such things as advocating on behalf of Brett Kavanaugh’s nomination to the U.S. Supreme Court.
The streaming radio and music services have also continued to make their voices heard. Federal disclosure filings show Pandora spent $990,000 last year, a 32% jump from the prior year. Similar to broadcast radio, Pandora’s top lobbying issues were related to copyright reform and music licensing issues. Spotify also advocated on behalf of streaming music services, spending $960,000, a 9% year-to-year drop.
The lone satellite radio player once again spent far less than its digital rivals. Federal disclosures show SiriusXM Radio spent $220,000 during 2019 on outside lobbying firms. The satcaster’s controlling shareholder, Liberty Media, spent an additional $160,000 on topics including pre-1972 royalty payments and telemarketing laws that directly impact SiriusXM’s operations.
Music Industry Spent Big In 2018
While broadcasters tempered their lobbying spending somewhat last year, the music industry’s efforts to secure passage of sweeping copyright reform legislation led to some of the biggest totals seen in years. The music biz spent more than $17 million combined to advocate on behalf of the Music Modernization Act. The bill, which President Trump signed into law in October, will also give broadcasters a way to ensure the consent decrees that govern ASCAP and BMI music licensing aren’t summarily dissolved without a new structure being put into place.
Leading the list was the Recording Industry Association of America, which boosted its lobbying spending by 14% compared to a year earlier. Disclosure filings show the RIAA spent more than $5.6 million last year fighting not just for the passage of the Music Modernization Act but also continuing to pressure lawmakers to force AM/FM station owners to pay royalties for over-the-air music use.
The RIAA also had several record company allies working alongside it, some of which boosted their lobbying investment. That included recording conglomerates Universal Music Group, which spent $3.16 million, and Sony Music Entertainment, which spent $1.65 million.
Several other music industry groups were also busy in Washington last year. The National Music Publishers Association spent a record $4.38 million, while The Recording Academy —the organizer of the Grammy awards—spent $758,000. The list also includes pro-radio royalty forces at SoundExchange, which spent $1.25 million. SoundExchange’s spending is likely a sore spot for many radio broadcasters since some of those dollars were raised from radio stations which pay royalties to the digital collections agent for their station webcasts.
Gearing Up For The Next Fight
With the Dept. of Justice considering changes to the consent decrees governing how music is licensed, filings show the big performance rights organizations were also active: BMI spent $470,000, ASCAP invested $440,000, SESAC spent $120,000 and Global Music Rights threw down $80,000. The PROs would like to see the DOJ make revisions to the consent decrees that were last overhauled in the mid-1960s. The radio industry has agreed that some modernization may be needed, but it has joined forces with other music users like retailers, restaurants and bars to argue the agreements are still needed to ensure they have access to music.
The coming year is likely to see new battles over a performance royalty for AM/FM airplay and jockeying with the DOJ over what role the ASCAP and BMI consent decrees will play in radio’s future. Broadcasters have already secured the reintroduction of a bill that would hike pirate radio fines to as much as $2 million.
Washington Redskins Starting Quarterback Alex Smith Expected To Miss The 2019-2020 Season With Leg Injury
Washington Redskins quarterback Alex Smith (11) calls a play during a NFL pre-season game between the Washington Redskins and the New York Jets, on August 16, 2018, at Fedex Field, in Landover, Maryland. The Redskins defeated the Jets 15-13. (Photo by Tony Quinn/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Last year the Washington Redskins made the choice of going with Alex Smith as their Starting Quarterback and signed him to a four-year extension. Now a year later they are reportedly preparing to play the 2019 season without Smith at the helm.
NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported that the Redskins believe Smith will miss the entire 2019 season after a gruesome broken leg prematurely ended his first season in Washington in mid-November. After undergoing surgery and reported complications and infection the team is not shire if he’s going to play in the future. The team finds itself in an interesting position. At 34, Smith carries a $20.4 million cap hit in 2019 and a $21.4 million cap hit in 2020. They do have backup Colt McCoy but while it’s not as serious as Smith’s, he is dealing with a leg injury of his own.
Do the Skins look at free agency to find an inexpensive option or look to use their first-round pick on a signal caller? A QB like Duke’s Daniel Jones or West Virginia’s Will Grier may be available.
One storyline to follow for 2019: The #Redskins are planning as if they won’t have QB Alex Smith next season, sources say. They believe he’ll miss the entire season with his broken leg issues and are acting accordingly. If he’s ready, they will be pleasantly surprised.
Memorable comeback or great collapse? A closer look at Serena Williams' loss Down Under at the Australian Open
Serena Williams lost the final six games of her quarterfinal match at the Australian Open. WILLIAM WEST/AFP/Getty Images
Story by ESPN
Written by Alyssa Roenigk
MELBOURNE, Australia -- Serena Williams was one point from victory, one serve from setting up a semifinal rematch against 2018 US Open champion Naomi Osaka. The crowd inside Rod Laver Arena was beginning to thin, as Williams came back from a set and a break down against No. 7 Karolina Pliskova to take a seemingly insurmountable 5-1 lead in the third set. One point and the match was over.
Except it wasn't.
Serving for the match, Williams was called for a foot fault. On her second serve, she ended a seven-shot rally by rolling her ankle and hitting a forehand into the net, pushing the game to deuce. She double-faulted on her next serve and then lost the game on a backhand unforced error. After suffering tough losses in the finals at Wimbledon and the US Open, it seemed improbable Williams would squander another opportunity to capture a record-tying 24th Grand Slam title. Surely, she would settle.
But for the rest of the match, Williams seemed stunned, out of step and unable to recalibrate her game. Once Pliskova realized she had Williams on her heels, she pounced. "I was pushing her. I was more aggressive," Pliskova said after her 6-4, 4-6, 7-5 win. "This is not happening often, maybe once in life. I went for it. I got a chance and I pushed her in the end."
Unbelievably, Williams lost her last 11 points on serve, while Pliskova, a former world No. 1, saved three more match points and won the next five games and the match to earn a spot in the Australian Open semifinals for the first time in her career.
Depending on the angle from which it's viewed, this match will be remembered as either one of the greatest comebacks in Aussie Open history or one of the biggest collapses of Williams' career. In reality, it was both.
"I think it's the best comeback so far in my life," Pliskova said, making a case for the former. "The biggest win against [Serena] is that I believed I could win. That was the victory for me today."
But let's back up for a moment. To the foot fault. On match point. As the words left the line judge's mouth, the crowd gasped, readying for Williams' reaction. In that moment, was Williams thinking about the infamous US Open incident of 2009, when she was called for a foot fault on her second serve, giving Kim Clijsters double match point? Or her loss against Pliskova in the 2016 US Open semis, when Williams double-faulted on match point? Or maybe she was drawing on a more recent memory, recalling last year's US Open final against Naomi Osaka, when Williams was called for a coaching violation, the first penalty in a string of violations that cost her a point, a game and, arguably, the championship.
Not one to let the public in to her innermost thoughts, it's unlikely Williams will ever discuss what was going through her mind after Wednesday's foot-fault call. It's hard to imagine she wasn't thinking about the improbability of it all. But then again, maybe she remembered she was serving at 5-1 and in possession of the most lethal serve in the game and simply dropped her guard.
Whatever was happening internally, Williams, 37, did not react or question the call. She simply motioned for another ball and continued the match. Outwardly, she kept her cool. But inwardly, she began to unravel.
That's when it all fell apart.
"I did everything I could on those match points," Williams said. "I can't say that I choked. [Pliskova] literally played her best tennis ever on those shots. I've never seen anything like it. Next time I'm up 5-1 against anybody, I need to make sure I play lights out. It's a good learning experience."
But it's not a lesson Williams has studied often. Only twice previously had she squandered a Grand Slam match after being up match point. In fact, the only time Williams had ever lost after being up four match points, as she did Wednesday, came in a 2001 quarterfinal loss to Monica Seles at the Estyle.com tournament in Los Angeles. At this stage of a Slam and against a player like Williams, the chances of a comeback like the one Pliskova orchestrated are so small that the 23-time Grand Slam winner still seemed stunned by the outcome more than an hour after the match ended.
"There's nothing I did wrong on those match points," Williams said. "I don't think it had anything to do with my ankle. I stayed aggressive. She literally hit the lines on some of them. At that point, I'm just trying to think, 'OK, win some points, win this game.' Then I had a couple more match points on her serve. Naturally I thought, all right, here we go, you're going to win one of these. That clearly didn't happen."
Since returning to tennis from a 15-month maternity leave last March, Williams has made it clear she goes to work every day with one goal in mind: to add to her Slam total and break the all-time record. "She's ready to win all four this year," her coach, Patrick Mouratoglou, told ESPN.com following her fourth-round win here in Melbourne. But after coming achingly close in three of her four attempts in the past 10 months and after experiencing a gut-wrenching loss against Pliskova, one must wonder whether Williams still believes that goal is within her reach.
"The big picture for me is always winning. I'm not going to sit here and lie about that," Williams said. "It hasn't happened yet, but I feel like it's going to happen." When asked where she feels she has the best shot at winning No. 24, Williams said, "Roland Garros. Because it's the next Slam."
Williams lacked that confidence at the start of her quarterfinal match. Instead, Pliskova began the day playing fearlessly and with an aggressive game plan against the seven-time Australian Open champ. But after being broken in the second set, Pliskova dropped her intensity and began to make errors. Williams, on the other hand, started to dictate the pace of the match midway through the second set, playing more aggressively (she was 8-for-10 at the net in the second set) and stealing Pliskova's confidence with each winner (Williams hit 21 winners in the second set to Pliskova's nine). Williams took the second set 6-4 and continued to roll, winning seven of eight games before being broken at 5-1. Serving at 5-2 in the third, Pliskova saw an opening.
"I just felt a chance," Pliskova said of that moment. "For sure it was in her head. I saw a chance and I just took it."
Against Osaka in Thursday's semifinal, Pliskova knows she must do precisely the same.
"I've played few hitters here in the last matches, so I think I'm well-prepared for Naomi," she said. "Obviously, she's trying to make her game from the forehand side. I will just try to do anything possible to maybe put one extra ball back, but on the other hand still be aggressive. Take my chances. I'm sure I'm going to get some. I think anything is possible."
As she learned against Williams on Wednesday, belief is a powerful weapon.
Words To The Wise: Be Careful About Super Bowl References.
Story by Inside Radio
It’s that time again. With contenders for next month’s Super Bowl all lined up (just in case: The Los Angeles Rams face the New England Patriots Sunday, Feb. 3 in Atlanta), the attorneys at DC communications law firm Fletcher, Heald & Hildreth are issuing a reminder for broadcasters in a blog post “Remember to Exercise Super Judgment When Discussing the Big Game.”
The goal, according to Kevin Goldberg on the firm’s CommLawBlog: “Covering the fact and the fiction surrounding proper use of the term ‘Super Bowl,’ the names of the participating teams and other NFL trademarks.”
The big picture, he writes: “The legal line is more or less drawn on whether your use of the trademarked term is commercial in nature or not. You should not be using a trademarked term in any promotions, events, contests or other commercial endeavors which might create a likelihood of confusion [between] your company, organization, promotion, event or client and the NFL, its teams, its game or other events.”
Further is the issue of “fair use.” In this case, he says, “We’re talking about ‘nominative fair use,’ which is what gives you the right to use ‘Super Bowl,’ team names, and other NFL trademarks in a legitimate news context.” Specifically, this involves: using the actual trademarked term to identify what you’re talking or writing about; only using that term as necessary for identification purposes (and not engaging in gratuitous use of the term); and not using the term to suggest any sort of sponsorship or endorsement connection with the NFL or its teams.
“As I’ve said in prior posts, and consistent with the other big theme of this post, the NFL tends to ‘game’ the system when it comes to enforcing its trademark,” Goldberg adds. “You need to go no further than stories I wrote about an attempt to register ‘Bong Bowl’ and about an attempt to register ‘Harbowl’ for evidence that the NFL will police its marks to a degree that many might consider excessive under the ‘likelihood of confusion’ test.” He adds, “That’s what you can do when you’re a heavyweight taking on a little guy who’s unlikely to muster the resources to fight back, regardless of what a truly neutral arbiter might decide.”
Goldberg concludes, “Keep all of this–the legal standards and the practical implications–in mind as you ramp up your promotions between now and Feb. 3.”
With Court OK, IHeart To ‘Completely’ Emerge From Chap 11 In 1st Half.
Story by Inside Radio
In a crucial milestone toward exiting bankruptcy, iHeartMedia on Tuesday (Jan. 22) received the greenlight from United States Bankruptcy Court for its comprehensive financial reorganization plan. With court approval now in hand, iHeart says it expects the Chapter 11 process “to be completely finished within the first half of 2019,” subject to completing steps that will separate it from sister company Clear Channel Outdoor Holdings (CCOH) and satisfying FCC registration and other customary conditions.
“We are delighted to reach this significant milestone in our restructuring process, which will give us a new capital structure that matches the strong operating performance of our business,” CEO Bob Pittman said in a press release. “iHeartMedia’s unique place in the advertising world perfectly positions us to take advantage of the renaissance underway in audio.”
The company filed for Chapter 11 on March 14, 2018, after reaching an agreement in principle with the majority of its creditors and financial sponsors. “Our ability to advance through the restructuring process this smoothly is a testament to both the strength of our operating business and the strong support of our stakeholders, including our debtholders who will become our owners, our advertising partners and our operating team,” Pittman said in a press release.
Under the terms of the plan, iHeart will reduce its debt from $16.1 billion to $5.75 billion and will separate CCOH from iHeartMedia, creating two independent public companies.
Winter storm to hit U.S. northeast with up to two feet of snow
A jogger makes her way through snow at the Washington Monument following a winter storm, Jan. 14, 2019. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque/File Photo
Story by Reuters
Written by Alex Dobuzinskis
A winter storm that has blanketed the U.S. Midwest with snow advanced on the U.S. Northeast on Saturday, forcing the cancellation of flights and train service during a holiday weekend when many Americans were traveling.
The Weather Service has issued winter storm warnings or advisories for a swath of the eastern United States that is home to 100 million people, said meteorologist Rich Otto of the U.S. Weather Prediction Center.
The storm system, which was moving from west to east and was strengthened by arctic air from Canada, hit many parts of the Midwest on Friday, according to the National Weather Service.
In Chicago, where some neighborhoods received 8 inches (20 cm) of snow, one third of flights were canceled at the city's two main airports, said Mark Duell, vice president of operations for tracking firm FlightAware.
The storm was expected to dump up to 2 feet (60 cm) of snow on the Northeast starting on Saturday evening, with snowfall likely to last until Monday in upstate New York and Maine, Otto said.
New York City was expected to receive up to 2 inches (5 cm) of snow.
Gusty winds will bring the coldest air parts of the U.S. East Coast have seen all winter, according to the National Weather Service. For instance, the temperature in Boston could drop to 6 degrees Fahrenheit (-14 degrees Celsius) on Sunday.
The governors of New Jersey and Pennsylvania declared emergencies for their states ahead of the storm, warning of high snow accumulation and even potential flooding in some areas.
The storm was sweeping across the eastern United States ahead of the Martin Luther King Jr. Day on Monday, a holiday honoring the late civil rights leader.
The U.S. Transportation Security Administration had said it expected the long weekend to be a busy one for travel.
The storm has interrupted some travelers' plans.
From Friday through Sunday, the severe weather was expected to trigger the cancellation of more than 3,000 flights in the United States, Duell said.
Meanwhile, in some parts of the Northeast, the Weather Service warned snow-covered roads could leave some people stranded on Saturday night and Sunday.
"If you don't have to be on the roads, we recommend staying in and staying safe," Automobile Association of America spokeswoman Jeanette Casselano said in a phone interview.
Amtrak canceled train service from Chicago to Boston, Washington, D.C., and New York on Saturday and canceled and modified several routes that originate and end on the East Coast on Sunday.
Majority Whip Congressman James E. Clyburn Statement on the President's Border Wall Proposal
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 19, 2019
CONTACT: Rachel Stein, 803-799-1100 Rachel.Stein@mail.house.gov
CLYBURN STATEMENT ON THE PRESIDENT'S
BORDER WALL PROPOSAL
COLUMBIA, S.C. – . – U.S. House Majority James E. Clyburn made this statement today in response to President Trump’s address:
“Until the President releases his hostages – federal workers and the American people – there will be no negotiation. End the shutdown now, and we can consider how a compromise giving lasting protections for Dreamers and TPS recipients may lead to a deal on border security. Democrats have voted nine times to reopen the government and these bills are awaiting action by Senate Leader McConnell. Enact one of these measures, which have previously received bipartisan support, and open the government immediately. Then we can discuss a solution that provides Dreamers and TPS recipients long-term protections and supports border security through improved infrastructure and manpower at ports of entry and smart technology like drones, radars and sensors.”
Speaker of the House Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi just pulled a major power move on Donald Trump's State of the Union Chris Cillizza
Story by CNN
Written by Chris Cillizza
Sometimes the best power moves in politics are conveyed in the most mundane language.
"Sadly, given the security concerns and unless government re-opens this week, I suggest we work together to determine another suitable date after government has re-opened for this address or for you to consider delivering your State of the Union address in writing to the Congress on January 29," wrote Speaker Nancy Pelosi to President Donald Trump on Wednesday.
Make no mistake: Pelosi's decision to disinvite Trump from delivering his "State of the Union" address to Congress is a total power play designed to remind Trump that a) Congress is a co-equal branch of government and b) his willingness to keep the government shuttered until he gets money for a border wall is going to have impacts on him, too.
Just in case you missed that message, Pelosi delivered it again in an interview with CNN's Ashley Killough. "This is a housekeeping matter in the Congress of the United States, so we can honor the responsibility of the invitation we extended to the President," said Pelosi. "He can make it from the Oval Office if he wants."
"He can make it from the Oval Office if he wants(!)"
What Pelosi is saying there is, essentially, this: Look, Trump can give a speech if he wants. But we are not giving him the platform of a bipartisan session of Congress to do it unless and until he reopens the government. (House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer of Maryland went a step further in an interview with CNN's Kate Bolduan Wednesday afternoon, declaring that "the State of the Union is off.")
And from a logistical standpoint, Pelosi is well within her rights to rescind the invitation. As CNN's Phil Mattingly and Ted Barrett explain:
"It's the House speaker's prerogative to invite the President to give the State of the Union. While there's no precedent for it (that we're aware of), if Pelosi decides the President shouldn't go to the Capitol to speak on January 29, the President will not go on January 29.
"Keep in mind, in order to green light the State of the Union, both the House and the Senate have to pass resolutions. Neither have done so yet — and Pelosi controls whether the House passes one at all."
It's in keeping with her repeated and pointed emphasis -- in public and private -- that the new Democratic majority in the House stands on equal footing with Trump, and will remind him of that fact whenever she/they deem it necessary.
In her initial letter inviting Trump to deliver the "State of the Union" on January 29, Pelosi made sure to note: "The Constitution established the legislative, executive and judicial branches as co-equal branches of government, to be a check and balance on each other." And, when asked by The New York Times earlier this month whether she considered herself to be Trump's equal, Pelosi responded: "The Constitution does."
Pelosi's latest effort to assert the power of the House -- and her party -- over Trump will play extremely well with her base who wants maximum confrontation with and embarrassment of Trump.
There's an argument to be made, however, that it could backfire on Pelosi -- and in the process hand Trump a much-needed foothold in a debate he is very much losing at the moment.
Donald Trump Jr., in an interview with the conservative Daily Caller website, gave a preview of what the argument coming out of the White House might sound like when he said this Wednesday:
"Speaker Pelosi is clearly attempting to block my father from giving his State of the Union speech, not because 20% of the government is shut down, but because she is terrified of him having another opportunity to speak directly to the American people about her party's obstruction, unfiltered and without her friends in the media running interference for her."
Pelosi -- and Democrats -- will, of course, scoff at that logic. They will note that Kirstjen Nielsen, the secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, was the one who designated the SOTU speech as a special security event. And that it is Trump who continues to demand $5 billion for his border wall -- keeping the government closed until he gets it. And that Pelosi is doing what she feels is the best course to keep everyone safe under the current circumstances.
But the question is whether voters who may not like Trump but who just want the government to reopen and politicians to get back to working for the people who voted them into office will see Pelosi's move to effectively cancel the State of the Union as an unnecessary provocation. And whether Trump, who is desperately in search of a life preserver in this whole mess, can seize on Pelosi's decision as evidence that the left is trying to silence him.
My guess is he's going to try like hell to make that case.
• Cox Media Group Atlanta has named veteran programmer Terri Avery as the new Program Director of Urban AC WALR (Kiss 104.1), effective Jan. 22. The position has been vacant since Tony Kidd left last October.
“Terri is well-regarded in the radio industry. She is smart, engaging, a champion in talent coaching and an expert in Urban AC,” said Chris Eagan, Director of Operations for CMG Atlanta. “Her years of diverse experience make her a great addition to the Kiss 104.1 team.”
Avery most recently served as Station Manager of WCSB (89.3 The Storm) and an instructor at the Carolina School of Broadcasting in Charlotte, but she’s best known for her 14-year run as OM/PD of Beasley Urban WPEG (Power 98) and Urban AC WBAV (V101.9)/Charlotte until February 2015. Her career also includes programming stops in Baltimore, Dallas and Houston.
“I’m so excited to join the Cox Media Group Atlanta team and serve as the program director of WALR,” Avery said. “I look forward to working alongside Chris Eagan, Steve Smith, Donna Hall, Tim Clarkeand the Kiss 104.1 team. Look out ATL — here I come.”
Top Democrats - Representatives Elijah Cummings, Adam Schiff and Jerrold Nadler - warn Trump against obstruction ahead of Michael Cohen's public testimony
Story by USA TODAY
Written by Steve Kiggins
Don’t obstruct. That was the message from three top Democrats to President Donald Trump on Sunday.
In a joint statement, Reps. Elijah Cummings - Chairman of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, Adam Schiff, and Jerrold Nadler, warned Trump against efforts to “discourage, intimidate or otherwise pressure” his former personal attorney, Michael Cohen, who has agreed to publicly testify Feb. 7 before the House Oversight Committee.
“The integrity of our process to serve as an independent check on the Executive Branch must be respected by everyone, including the President. Our nation’s laws prohibit efforts to discourage, intimidate, or otherwise pressure a witness not to provide testimony to Congress,” the statement read. “The President should make no statement or take any action to obstruct Congress’ independent oversight and investigative efforts, including by seeking to discourage any witness from testifying in response to a duly authorized request from Congress.”
The statement came in response to Trump’s appearance on Saturday night on Fox News, when he told Jeanine Pirro that Cohen “should give information maybe on his father-in-law, because that’s the one that people want to look at.”
Trump added: “Because where does that money – that’s the money in the family. And I guess he didn’t want to talk about his father – he’s trying to get his sentence reduced. So, it’s pretty sad."
When Pirro asked for Cohen’s father-in-law’s name, Trump answered, “I don’t know, but you’ll find out, and you’ll look into it because nobody knows what’s going on over there.”
Cummings, Schiff and Nadler are prominent Democratic chairmen, of the House Committees on Oversight and Reform, Intelligence and Judiciary, respectively.
In December, Cohen was sentenced to three years in prison for what U.S. District Court Judge William Pauley called a “veritable smorgasbord of fraudulent conduct.” He took the blame in court, citing his “blind loyalty to the man that caused me to choose the path of darkness.”
Known as Trump’s longtime fixer, Cohen has acknowledged arranging hush money payments before the 2016 election to two women, adult film star Stormy Daniel and former Playboy model Karen McDougal, who claimed affairs with Trump. He has implicated Trump in the payments, saying he made them at his direction.
In a statement after agreeing to testify, Cohen said, “I look forward to having the privilege of being afforded a platform with which to give a full and credible account of the events which have transpired.”
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Read more: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2019/01/10/michael-cohen-trumps-former-lawyer-testify-before-congress/2539820002/
Former President Barack Obama speaks on Immigration 5 years ago
In an address to the nation, President Obama lays out the executive action he's taking to fix our nation's broken immigration system, November 20, 2014.
Senator Chuck Schumer discusses meeting with the President today on Immigration and Government Shutdown
Sen. Chuck Schumer says President Donald J. Trump "slammed the table" and walked out of White House meeting on border shutdown. "This was really, really unfortunate, and in my judgment, somewhat unbecoming of a presidency." https://abcn.ws/2CZdVBh (Source: ABC News)
Congressional Black Caucus 2019 Swearing-In Ceremony
On behalf of the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, Inc. (CBCF), we want to express our sincere appreciation to the generous supporters of the 2019 ceremonial swearing-in of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) members of the 116th Congress.
This historic event on January 3, 2019, honored the rich legacy of the CBC and welcomed nine additional CBC members whose personal stories are woven in the fabric of America. The occasion was filled with special memories as the members were sworn in before their families, supporters, constituents, and friends from near and far.
Known as the “Conscience of the Congress,” the Congressional Black Caucus stands strong at a record 55 members! CBC members hail from every region of the country and represent 82 million people, including more than 17 million African Americans in 28 states and U.S. territories.
Nearly 35 companies and organizations joined CBCF in honoring the largest class of CBC members. Their generosity helps uplift the CBCF’s mission of advancing policy initiatives to shape tomorrow’s solutions and empower the next generation of African American leaders.
A new year brings promise and opportunities to honor and advance our legacy and our mission. We look forward to continuing our work together in 2019!
Immigration Speech by President Donald J. Trump. And Fact Checking Trump's Immigration Speech
Story by CNN
Video by the White House
Written by Priscilla Alvarez, Katie Lobosco, Jeremy Diamond, Maegan Vazquez, Clare Foran, Marshall Cohen, Geneva Sands, Lydia DePillis and Bob Ortega
_______________________________________________________
Washington - In his first formal address to the nation from the Oval Office, President Donald Trump painted a picture of a national threat and humanitarian crisis occurring along the US-Mexico border, saying his signature border wall would provide a solution.
Here's a partial rundown of the President's statements and the context:
Trump: "The wall will also be paid for indirectly by the great new trade deal we have made with Mexico."
The President has made this false claim before.
Trump long ago abandoned his 2016 campaign promise that Mexico would pay to build a wall. Instead, he now makes the case that Mexico will "indirectly" pay for the barrier, thanks to the potential increase in tax revenue generated by his replacement for the North America Free Trade Agreement.
But the new deal hasn't yet been ratified by Congress, where Democrats have expressed opposition. And even if the new United States Mexico Canada Agreement ends up raising tax revenue, there's nothing earmarking that money for a wall. Income and corporate taxes are general revenue that would have to be appropriated by Congress.
Another way trade could bring money into the Treasury is through tariffs -- which are paid by American importers when they buy foreign goods. But like the original NAFTA, the new deal aims to keep trade between the three countries largely tariff-free.
-- Katie Lobosco
Trump: "Every day, Customs and Border Patrol agents encounter thousands of illegal immigrants trying to enter our country."
This is overstated. Available Customs and Border Protection data shows a total of 396,579 people were apprehended by the US Border Patrol for fiscal year 2018 at the southwest border, which would mean an average of 1,087 each day -- hardly the "thousands" that Trump purports. The numbers differ each month. The highest number of apprehensions was in September, with a daily average of nearly 1,400.
Apprehensions are still well below historic highs. In the early 2000s, for example, annual apprehensions routinely topped 1 million. After hitting an historic low in 2017 of around 300,000, apprehensions increased in fiscal year 2018 to nearly 400,000.
The President also expressed concern about what he called "a growing humanitarian crisis." There's been an uptick in unaccompanied minors and families approaching the US-Mexico border, many of whom are seeking asylum. Deteriorating conditions in the Northern Triangle (Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras) are among the reasons that some have decided to make the journey.
In 2016, nearly half of the people apprehended at the US-Mexico border came from these three countries, compared with roughly 10% in 2010, according to Homeland Security Department data.
-- Priscilla Alvarez
Trump: "All Americans are hurt by uncontrolled illegal migration."
It's very difficult to know exactly how much or little undocumented immigrants cost the United States. Many experts contest the notion that undocumented immigrants are a strain on the economy. A 2017 analysis noted that undocumented immigrants "make considerable tax contributions," for example.
Similarly, a 2018 study by the libertarian Cato Institute, which reviewed criminal conviction data from the Texas Department of Public Safety, found that immigrants -- legal or illegal -- are less likely than native-born Americans to be convicted of crimes. Throughout the country, there is also generally a decrease in the number of violent crimes, according to the FBI.
-- Priscilla Alvarez
Trump: "At the request of Democrats, it will be a steel barrier rather than a concrete wall."
Democrats have long strenuously opposed Trump's campaign promise that he would build a concrete wall on the US-Mexico border. But they did not propose a steel barrier as an alternative. Rather, Democrats have continued to oppose the construction of any new steel or concrete barrier on the southern border. They have only kept the door open to funding a border barrier as part of a broader immigration deal.
-- Jeremy Diamond
Trump: "Sen. Chuck Schumer has repeatedly supported a physical barrier in the past."
This is correct but context is key. Schumer previously supported legislation to build physical barriers on the US-Mexico border. Most notably, Schumer and other Democrats supported the 2006 Secure Fence Act that authorized the construction of several hundred miles of fencing along the border, but not a wall. However as long as the government remains shut down, Senate Minority Leader Schumer and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi have refused to offer any funding for a border barrier.
Democratic leaders have offered funding for roughly $1.3 billion for border security in the current shutdown fight, but not the $5 billion the President has sought for a wall.
Last week, House Democrats voted to approve a stop-gap funding bill for the Department of Homeland Security that would not allocate new wall funding, but would maintain the current $1.3 billion in border security money. Last year, the Senate Appropriations Committee advanced a DHS funding bill for fiscal year 2019 on a bipartisan basis that would allocate $1.6 billion for roughly 65 miles of fencing in the Rio Grande Valley, but the full Senate has not yet approved that measure.
-- Jeremy Diamond, Marshall Cohen and Clare Foran
Trump: "More Americans will die from drugs this year than were killed in the entire Vietnam War."
Some 58,220 Americans died as a result of the Vietnam War. In 2017, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said the number of total drug overdose deaths was 70,327.
However, the President's assertion is misleading, conflating the drugs coming across the US-Mexico border with total drug deaths in the US. In addition, it's not currently known whether overdose deaths will increase or decrease when the CDC releases 2018 data later this year.
Trump's figures also do not distinguish between deaths caused by drugs smuggled into the country versus those prescribed by US doctors.
The majority of hard narcotics seized by Customs and Border Protection come through ports of entry either in packages, cargo or with people who attempt to enter the US legally. The only drug that is smuggled in higher numbers between legal entry points is marijuana, according to information from CBP and the Drug Enforcement Administration.
China has been one of the leading sources of illegal synthetic opioids. However, China's role with the importation of fentanyl may soon shift, since President Xi Jinping agreed to make fentanyl a controlled substance late last year.
-- Maegan Vazquez
Trump: "1 in 3 women are sexually assaulted on the dangerous trek up through Mexico."
Trump acknowledged the violence migrants face in transit to the US, saying: "1 in 3 women are sexually assaulted on the dangerous trek up through Mexico. Women and children are the biggest victims by far of our broken system. This is the tragic reality of illegal immigration on our southern border."
Indeed, the trek to the US-Mexico border has been reported to be violent. According to data from Doctors Without Borders, 68.3% of migrants and refugees "entering Mexico reported being victims of violence during their transit toward the United States," and nearly one-third of women said they'd been sexually abused. But this very violence is also why women have chosen to travel in caravans.
-- Priscilla Alvarez
Trump: "Every week, 300 of our citizens are killed by heroin alone, 90% of which floods across from our southern border."
While Trump's statistics on heroin deaths are true, it's unclear what a border wall would do to reduce the amount of heroin coming across the border.
The CDC reported that in 2017 more than 15,482 people died from drug overdoses involving heroin in the US. That averages out to about 297 individuals each week. In addition, DEA's Heroin Signature Program, which analyzes heroin samples to determine where they were manufactured, determined that heroin from Mexico made up 86% of the samples analyzed in 2016.
However, the majority of heroin that comes across the southern border is smuggled in privately-owned vehicles and tractor-trailers at legal ports of entry, where the drug is co-mingled with legal goods, according to the DEA's 2018 annual drug threat assessment.
-- Maegan Vazquez
Trump: "All Americans are hurt by uncontrolled illegal migration. It strains public resources and drives down jobs and wages. Among those hardest hit are African Americans and Hispanic Americans."
There is some evidence that a small slice of the native-born workforce may see wage decreases because of undocumented immigrants competing for similar jobs, dragging wages down. Research shows that the negative effects are concentrated among workers without college degrees, who are disproportionately African-American, but also includes earlier generations of immigrants.
But in general, economists have determined that immigrants -- undocumented or not -- tend to help American workers by serving in low-skilled jobs that create more opportunities for the native born to move into managerial and knowledge-based roles. For example, a 2009 study by University of California-Davis economist Giovanni Peri found that a 1% increase in a state's employment due to immigration produced on average 0.5% higher wages for each worker in that state.
-- Lydia DePillis
Trump: "In the last two years, ICE officers made 266,000 arrests of aliens with criminal records, including those charged or convicted of 100,000 assaults, 30,000 sex crimes and 4,000 violent killings."
Trump is using these statistics to paint the picture of dangerous criminals coming across the border. On balance the stats he cites are largely accurate, yet the fact is more than half of those crimes are non-violent in nature.
Over the past two years, roughly two-thirds of the undocumented immigrants arrested by ICE had prior criminal convictions -- most of those either immigration violations or nonviolent crimes. In all, of the 302,051 arrests made by ICE enforcement and removal officers, 210,876 had prior criminal convictions. If you include those with pending criminal charges, you get just more than 266,000.
His numbers for assaults and homicides reflect what ICE reported: 99,207 people charged or convicted of assaults and 3,914 charged or convicted of homicides. However, the number of sex-related crimes ICE reported appears a bit lower, at more than 27,000 sex-related crimes.
Criminal traffic offenses accounted for the largest single category of criminal offenses, with just over 161,000 charges or convictions, according to ICE.
The President is including people who have been charged but not convicted of crimes. So for assaults, for example, if you only look at convictions, the number is much lower -- 61,906 convictions for assault over the past two years.
Congress Must Do More to Address The Border Crisis
IMMIGRATION
Issued on: January 8, 2019
QUOTE
"I campaigned on Border Security, which you cannot have without a strong and powerful Wall. Our Southern Border has long been an “Open Wound,” where drugs, criminals (including human traffickers) and illegals would pour into our Country."
Donald J. Trump
President of the United States
______________________________
CRISIS AT THE BORDER: President Trump continues to stress the need to pass legislation that will address the security and humanitarian crises on our Southern Border.
The United States Southern Border is overwhelmed with illegal immigration, gang violence, crime, drugs, and human
trafficking.
President Trump has requested a modest amount of funding to address these issues while Democrats continue to resist in the name of politics.
We cannot keep our country safe without adequate funding for Border security, including a physical barrier and increased funding for law enforcement.
BORDER SECURITY AND HUMANITARIAN PRIORITIES: Any government funding bill must address the security and humanitarian crises on our Southern Border. The Administration has requested additional funds—relative to the FY2019 Homeland Security funding bill that passed the Senate Appropriations Committee (Committee)—to address these priorities.
$5.7 billion for construction of a steel barrier on the Southern Border to fund 234 miles of new physical barrier—an increase of $4.1 billion over the Committee bill.
$675 million to deter and detect narcotics, weapons, and other materials that pose a threat to the United States—an increase of $631 million over the Committee bill.
Will provide Non-Intrusive Inspection technology for all incoming vehicle lanes of traffic at U.S. Southwest Border Land Ports of Entry, as well as necessary canine and other support.
$211 million to hire 750 additional Border Patrol agents in order to keep our borders safe and secure—an increase of $100 million over the Committee bill.
$800 million to fund enhanced medical support, transportation, consumable supplies, and additional temporary facilities necessary to ensure the well-being of those taken into custody.
IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT: Congress must fund additional immigration detention beds and law enforcement personnel.
$571 million for 2,000 additional Immigration and Customs Enforcement personnel to enforce immigration laws, combat gang violence, catch drug smugglers and stop human traffickers.
$4.2 billion to support 52,000 detention beds, personnel, alternatives to detention, and transportation to address the recent surge in illegal immigration across the Southern Border—an increase of $798 million over the Committee bill.
At least $563 million for 75 additional Immigration judges and support staff to reduce the backlog of pending immigration cases.
President Trump will work with Congress to facilitate expanded in-country processing of refugee claims.
American Professional Football's Los Angeles Rams open as 7-point favorites over Dallas Cowboys in playoffs
Story by USA Today
Written by Cameron DaSilva
The Los Angeles Rams seem to have caught a major break in the NFL playoff bracket thanks to the defending Super Bowl champions. The Philadelphia Eagles upset the Chicago Bears on Sunday at Soldier Field thanks to Cody Parkey’s last-second field goal clanking off the left upright, sealing a one-point win by Nick Foles’ squad.
As a result, the Rams will host the Dallas Cowboys instead of the Chicago Bears, who had already beaten Los Angeles in Week 14. That’s not to say the Cowboys are an easy opponent, but Chicago had the Rams’ number and a better defense.
With the divisional round set, so are the point spreads for all four games. The Rams opened as seven-point favorites over the Cowboys, according to the Westgate Superbook and USA TODAY odds.
Surprisingly, that’s not the largest spread of the weekend. The Saints are nine-point favorites over the Eagles at the Superdome with an over/under of 51.5 points.
On the AFC side, the Chiefs are 5.5-point favorites over the Colts, while the Patriots are favored by 4.5 points over the visiting Chargers.
New House of Representatives' Majority Whip Congressman James E. Clyburn urges the U.S. Senate vote on "Reopening the Government"
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 6, 2019
CONTACT: Hope Derrick, 202-226-3210
CLYBURN URGES SENATE VOTE ON REOPENING THE GOVERNMENT
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. House Majority Whip James E. Clyburn issued the following statement today on plans for the House to vote this week on individual appropriations bills to reopen vital government services and getting federal employees back to work: “It is unconscionable that Senate Leader McConnell would block votes on these bills to reopen the government that received overwhelming bipartisan Senate support just a few months ago. Not only are 800,000 federal employees’ livelihood in the balance, millions of Americans are suffering the consequences of this Trump Shutdown. Loans for small businesses and farmers are already impacted, food stamps and income tax refunds will be next unless the Senate, a co-equal branch of government elected by the people to serve the people, steps up and does its job.
“The American people ought not be the President’s hostages over his ill-advised and ill-defined border wall. He is demonstrating with every day that passes that he is ill-equipped to negotiate his way out of this self-imposed crisis, and the American people are 'paying the price' over his inability to govern. It is time for the Senate to do its part to reopen the government and tell this President that enough is enough.”
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**Please send all media requests to Hope Derrick at Hope.Derrick@mail.house.gov.**
New Way To Measure In-Car Listening Receives U.S. Patent.
Story by Inside Radio
In a positive development toward a new way of measuring in-car listening, Drive Time Metrics has received a patent for technology which collects, measures and analyzes in-vehicle media usage via software installed in the head unit. The Rhode Island-based company was awarded U.S patent No. 10165070 for its system that provides “anonymous, holistic, multi-source, in-vehicle media consumption measurement and analytics.”
Chief product officer Rob Favre tells Inside Radio the patent applies to the passive collection and analysis of in-vehicle media consumption at scale. That includes AM/FM/HD/DAB radio, satellite radio, stored media such as MP3 and CD/DVD, streaming media, internet radio, audio books, podcasts, audio/video ads, and other forms of audio/video content. It captures content from the vehicle’s native infotainment system or a connected smartphone, as well as apps like Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
With more listening done in the car than anywhere else, the vehicle is an ideal location to provide an alternative way to track listening to broadcast radio—and other audio sources like internet radio, satellite radio, CDs and stored music.
Getting data from the vehicles requires the car to have an embedded cellular modem. Right now that’s available in around 12 million vehicles but the number is expected to grow to 95% of all vehicles sold, or roughly 17 million, by 2020.
The information that can be gathered has implications for both programming and sales. “Broadcast radio no longer has to rely on ridiculously small sample sizes or custom one-off reports to estimate audience size or ad attribution,” says Favre, the former GM and chief compliance officer for measurement at Triton Digital. “Agencies can A/B test copy to determine the efficacy of their ads. Labels can examine tune in/outs to new releases, while programmers can determine what the real audience is interested in versus a handful of meter carriers. This technology allows radio to directly compete in the digital world with metrics and analysis that have simply been impossible to reliably and accurately produce.”
The data collection begins once a driver starts the vehicle and continues every 60 seconds until the engine is turned off. Listening data is time-stamped and uses GPS to identify the location of the vehicle, which opens up all sorts of possibilities for audio companies to provide attribution to advertisers. Entercom is a strategic partner with DTM and recently worked with the company and an automaker on a case study involving 30,000 vehicles in a top three market.
"We believe that the large data set derived from vehicles will have a tremendous impact on the quality of audio measurement and ad attribution services, allowing audio to prove its effectiveness,” DTM co-founder and CFO Bob Maccini said in a news release.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today U.S. House Majority Whip James E. Clyburn announced longtime Communications Director Patrick J. Devlin, Sr. plans to retire in the New Year after three decades of Congressional service to explore new opportunities.
“I appreciate Patrick’s contributions to this office and to the country,” Whip Clyburn said. “He has been an important member of my staff, and I wish him well in his new endeavors.”
Hope Derrick, who served as Mr. Clyburn’s Communications Director in the district for 18 years, will be taking on the duties of Communications Director in the Majority Whip’s office in the 116th Congress. She can be reached at Hope.Derrick@mail.house.gov or 202-226-3210.
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** This is an unattended mailbox. Please send all media requests to
Hope Derrick at Hope.Derrick@mail.house.gov. **
