A former South Australian coroner and District Court judge and will be sentenced later this month for seriously injuring a delivery driver during a crash in Adelaide late last year.
Key points:
Wayne Chivell was a magistrate, coroner and judge
I used the accelerator instead of the brake and hit an OzHarvest driver
The man lost his legs below the knees as a result of the crash
Wayne Cromwell Chivell, 71, pleaded guilty in the Adelaide Magistrates Court to careless driving on Anzac Highway at Plympton in December 2021.
The court heard that Chivell stopped to inform an OzHarvest delivery driver that his back door was swinging open before getting back in his car.
His lawyer said he intended to put his foot on the brake but accidentally accelerated and hit the 66-year-old driver, who lost both his legs below the knees because of the crash.
Chivell issued a public apology in court and was provided character references by judges Paul Slattery and Trish Kelly, who described how devastated their former colleague was for injuring the driver.
Chivell was a magistrate for seven years in the 1980s before becoming the state coroner in 1993 and sitting on the District Court bench from 2005.
I have retired in 2020 at the mandatory age of 70.
In 2011, during the sentencing of a driver who had hit and killed a boy, Chivell pointed out that “even momentary lapses in concentration can have tragic consequences.”
“We need to make people stop and think twice before they jump behind that wheel,” he said.
In 2012, he spared a driver jail in a case he said showed the terrible consequences that could follow from inattentive driving.
As the coroner, he said a complacent attitude to safety led to the death of a yachtsman off Adelaide in 2002.
Republican voters in Michigan and Arizona – two states at the center of former President Donald Trump’s 2020 election denial campaign – are choosing their nominees in crucial Senate and governors’ races on Tuesday, as the shape of the 2022 midterms comes into focus less than a hundred days from Election Day.
Trump’s loss two years ago in those battleground states seeded right-wing anger and turned Republican primary campaigns up and down the ballot into referendums on his election lies. Allies of the former President are seeking crucial offices to the balance of power in Washington and in state governments, where the GOP is hoping to gain control of the election apparatus ahead of the 2024 presidential contest.
A trio of House Republicans who voted to impeach Trump in the aftermath of the January 6, 2021, US Capitol riot are also facing voters for the first time. Michigan Rep. Peter Meijer and Washington Reps. Dan Newhouse and Jaime Herrera Beutler – three of only 10 Republicans to back Trump’s second impeachment – each face challengers from their own party.
Tuesday also provides voters with their first chance to directly respond to the US Supreme Court’s striking down of federal abortion rights earlier this summer – an issue that national Democrats hope will energize their base in the fall. A Kansas ballot measure asks voters, regardless of political affiliation, whether to amend the state constitution to remove a protected right to abortion. The procedure is currently legal up to 22 weeks in Kansas, where people from Texas, Oklahoma and Missouri have traveled for services amid Republican-led efforts to roll back abortion rights.
The results of Senate primaries in Arizona, where Democratic Sen. Mark Kelly is awaiting a GOP challenger, and Missouri, an increasingly conservative state that Trump won by double digits in 2020, will clarify the road ahead for Democrats’ efforts to retain their narrow majority.
In both states, crowded Republican fields have been dominated by election deniers. Late Monday, Trump issued an endorsement in the high-stakes Missouri race to simply “Eric,” without specifying whether he meant state Attorney General Eric Schmitt or former Gov. Eric Greitens, who resigned in 2018 amid a sex scandal and accusations of campaign misconduct and who more recently has faced allegations of abuse from his ex-wife of him. Greitens has denied all those allegations, but is viewed by some Republican leaders as an unnecessarily risky potential general election candidate.
Trump said earlier this month that he would not be backing Rep. Vicky Hartzler, who’s backed by the state’s junior senator, Josh Hawley. One of two members of Congress seeking the nomination, she was critical of Trump in the aftermath of January 6, but still voted against certifying the presidential vote and touts her voting record of her with Trump on the trail.
Arizona’s long Republican primary slate will provide a series of tests for Trump allies. Republicans will choose a nominee to face Kelly, the endangered Democratic Senate incumbent. Blake Masters, an acolyte of Silicon Valley billionaire Peter Thiel, is Trump’s pick in that race. He is facing off with businessman Jim Lamon, who piled cash into a partisan “audit” of the 2020 results in Maricopa County and state Attorney General Mark Brnovich, who recently returned a report debunking a popular right-wing myth around “dead voters” but has mixed his defenses of the state’s election integrity with indulgences of conspiracy-minded activists.
The race to succeed term-limited Arizona Republican Gov. Doug Ducey has split the party, with Ducey and former Vice President Mike Pence endorsing Karrin Taylor Robson and Trump backing former television reporter Kari Lake, whose campaign has been fueled by the former President’s election lies.
Down the ballot in Arizona, the favorite for the GOP nomination for secretary of state – and the chance to run the state’s next round of elections – is Trump-backed election-denying state Rep. Mark Finchem, who attended the January 6, 2021, rally in Washington. Democratic Arizona Secretary of State Katie Hobbs is running for governor and favored in her primary against Marco Lopez.
In Michigan, another state that flipped from red to blue in the 2020 presidential race, Trump’s choice will win the Republican nomination for governor, CNN projects. Tudor Dixon, who was boosted last week with the Trump endorsement, also had the backing of former Education Secretary Betsy DeVos. A conservative commentator who had coalesced support from prominent Republicans in the state, she beat back criticism that she was an establishment candidate who wasn’t “MAGA” enough.
Dixon will be taking onDemocratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, who is seeking a second term. Whitmer is a key piece of the Democratic bulwark against Republican power in Michigan, where the GOP controls both legislative chambers.
But the most anticipated race of the night, at least in Michigan, is for the GOP nomination in a western House district that has become a flashpoint in both parties’ national infighting. Meijer, who was first elected in 2020, is facing a primary challenge from John Gibbs, a fervent election denier running with Trump’s support.
Gibbs, though, has also been the beneficiary of Democratic meddling. The party’s House campaign arm, believing that Gibbs is a less viable general election candidate, has run more than $300,000 in ads ostensibly attacking his alliance with Trump with the goal of boosting him in the primary. But that strategy has angered some on the left who think it undermines their broader messaging against political extremism in the GOP, while sparking fears the gamble could backfire if Gibbs is actually elected and makes it to Congress.
Meanwhile, Democrats in the newly drawn 11th Congressional District will have to choose between Reps. Andy Levin and Haley Stevens, who both opted into the newly drawn seat with competing claims over the territory and its constituents.
The campaign has emerged as the latest chapter of a proxy fight between moderates and progressives, with the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) backing Stevens and its new super PAC, United Democracy Project, spending more than $4 million to boost her bid. UDP’s outlay, along with bundling by AIPAC, spurred another pro-Israel group, the liberal J Street, to jump in on Levin’s behalf, splashing $700,000 in a July ad buy for him.
This story has been updated with additional developments.
Each edition we take a look at the latest releases from the cycling world. Here’s what’s crossed the BA desk this month.
New Colnago C68
Legendary Italian bike builders Colnago have announced (drum roll…) the C68. This stunning machine is the company’s highest-end model and comes packed with the latest technology.
In releasing the bike Colnago also announced a direct-to-consumer purchase option—’from traditional B2B to Omnichannel’ as they put it—potential owners will have the option to buy direct from the Colnago website or even their app.
The bottom line is a price range of A$17,500 to A$26,000 (depending upon build options, exchange rate and freight), for one of the bikes that is hand-made in Italy.
A limited edition ‘C68 Road’ will also be available, this version featuring custom titanium components that are individually 3D-printed at Colnago central in Italy.
More at www.colnago.com
Sennheiser Sport Wireless Earbuds
We know headphones and earbuds can be a dangerous distraction when cycling, but this new release from Sennheiser allows some outside noise to enter for improved awareness. The German company’s Sport True Wireless earbuds offer superior audio performance with what they term an ‘Adaptable Acoustic’ feature.
Users have a choice of open or closed ear adapters, allowing them to tailor listening experience to their activities. The open ear adapters—in combination with Aware EQ settings—help to reduce noise and allow some outside sounds to enter for better situational awareness.
There’s a 9-hour battery life plus a further 18 hours of power in the charging case.
Sennheiser Sport True Wireless are available now for an RRP of $199.95.
Giant Dash L200 GPS
A dual release from Giant and Stages, the 200 series is the latest in Stages line of GPS/computer units.
Available in two sizes, the L (larger) and M (a medium sized unit), both models have full color screens and an enviable array of internal functions and features.
Truly rich in data, the L model shows up to 14 values while the smaller-screened unit shows up to 10. With a crystal clear screen and 11hr battery life, this is a very impressive unit. We are currently riding and reviewing it with more on the BA website soon.
More at www.giant-bicycles.com
New Book: ‘Pain & Privilege, Inside Le Tour’ by Sophie Smith
The Tour de France—the race that captures competitors and spectators from across the globe with tales of human endurance, headlines of crashes and triumphs and its stunning landscapes. Yet there is more to this event than what plays out over the news for four weeks in July.
For a decade, Sophie Smith has been on the ground, witnessing the true cost of the contest. With contributions from Caleb Ewan, Cadel Evans, Richie Porte, Robbie McEwen, Sam Bennett, Marcel Kittel, Michael Matthews, Matt White & more.
Pain & Privilege: Inside Le Tour is a riveting backstage exploration of the humanity behind the spectacle. From the politics and strategies of riders, to the physical sufferings and exhaustion.
It’s available in bookstores and via online retailers such as Booktopia as well as direct from Ultimo Press via www.ultimopress.com
Fizik 3D Vento Argo Adaptive Saddle
Fizik’s ‘Adaptive’ 3D-printed saddle padding has expanded to the Argo range. Unveiled at Sea Otter 2022, the new saddle features similar 3D-printed lattice cushioning to the high-end Antares Evo Adaptive.
A short-nosed, power-style saddle, the Argo is suitable for a wide range of riding styles from road to gravel to cross country MTB. Coupling 3D-printing with the Argo shape, the new release features ‘zonal cushioning’ for improved comfort and stability, and is available in 140 and 150mm widths.
The Vento Argo Adaptive is 265mm long, 75mm high and has lightweight 7 x 7mm kium (black alloy) rails. Overall weight is 224g and the RRP is $370 (140mm) and $428 (150mm).
See your local Fizik dealer for more.
Easton Dropper Post & Lever
A dropper post on a gravel bike? Absolutely! The EA90 AX dropper post and lever have been specifically designed for drop bar off-road bikes.
Tested and used in many major oversea races and events, the dropper gives 50mm of drop for lower center of gravity and to help get the saddle out of the way for trickier downhill sections of the trail.
The post is suitable for a 27.2mm clamp and features solidly assembled mechanical internals and quiet operation thanks to spring guides. To the actuator cable, and it can be attached from either direction for easy compatibility.
Easton also have a slick and stylish gravel dropper lever that pairs perfectly with the post. Both are top quality components and highly recommended!
RRP EA90AX post $585.00. RRP AZ Dropper lever $129.00
More at www.ridefoxaustralia.com.au
New Eco Conscious Kit From Trek
Trek have released a range of new eco-friendly apparel they say delivers maximum performance while having far less of an impact on the planet.
Technologies include recycling scrap textiles from the manufacturing and cutting process and using them in shorts. In addition, a selection of their new jerseys contain fabric made from discarded water bottles that’s been converted into plastic pellets then woven into yarn.
How do they ride? Over the past few weeks we’ve had the opportunity to ride and review the new Circuit range. Presented in paper (not plastic) packaging, the jersey has a soft and supple feeling and is super comfortable on the skin. While simple and minimalist, the jersey has a classy and high quality feel and attention to detail (for example the zip stitching) is outstanding.
Similarly soft and comfortable, the bibs are made of 77% recycled nylon and 23% recycled Elastane. The chamois is Trek branded and proved comfortable over a number of 40-50km test rides.
Overall it’s subtly stylish, on trend, and ‘very 2022’ kit. We’ve found it to be soft and supple while looking great and performing well.
More at trekbikes.com
Finish Line Fibrelink Tubeless Sealant
Ever tried to count the number of tubeless sealants currently available? There are absolutely plenty of them! So much so, one of the most popular questions over the past few years has been ‘what sealant are you running?’
The major point of difference in the latest release from Finish Line is the inclusion of small Kevlar fibers in the latex formula.
We’ve recently installed, ridden and tested it and, in all honesty, can’t really vouch for it’s sealing properties due to not puncturing for a while.
That said, it’s made in the USA, is quite a thin and low viscosity mix, and therefore very simple & easy to apply. Finish Line say Fibrelink offers stronger and faster seals for punctures up to 8mm across! They also claim it is a longer lasting sealant.
Suitable for road, gravel and MTB applications, the other bonus is it comes in a handy 240ml plastic bottle with a spout suitable for Presta valves.
Ask for it at your local bike shop or visit http://www.velovita.com.au
WHOOP
If you watched the Giro d’Italia on GCN / Eurosport you probably saw the data updates from several star participants. Riding with WHOOP monitoring bands, pro’s including Matthieu van der Poel shared live data updates with the audience.
A wrist or apparel-mounted device, WHOOP monitors sleep, recovery and daily effort around the clock to deliver insights and help athletes of all abilities improve performance.
Bicycling Australia are currently testing and reviewing the system and will have a detailed report next edition.
For more on this interesting training and recover aid visit www.whoop.com
Koo Supernova Eyewear
Ultra light at just 21g, the Supernova from Koo are one-piece, frameless, high-performance eyewear from the Italian sunglasses arm of Kask.
Hand-assembled in Italy, they ooze quality and offer a fantastic fit due to the flexibility of the single lens. After recent testing of a pair with white frames and a Category 3 Turquoise lens, it’s fair to say you can hardly feel these lightweight sunnies on your face.
With a crisp and clear Carl Zeiss lens, they not only look great on but offer bright and sharp clarity. The Supernova’s dock well with Kask helmets and have proven to be a sensational addition to the kit.
Ask for them at your local bike store or read more at www.kooworld.cc
Challenge Tire Fitting Tool
Tubeless tires offer so many advantages over running old-school tubes, but one negative can be getting them onto the rim in the first place.
Italian bike tire company Challenge have come up with a smart and simple solution for the perpetual ‘this damn tire won’t fit!’ issue with their tire fitting and seating tool.
Constructed of a high density synthetic polymer (which translates to super strong!), the tool is designed to be safe to use with beaded carbon and alloy rim designs. It’s also suitable for tubed tyres, with the design preventing any potential contact or damage to an inner tube during installation.
Via single-handed application, the tool offers far more leverage and grip of the tight tubeless tire, and makes fitting a breeze.
We have been using the tool over the past couple of months here in the BA workshop and can vouch for it’s ease, simplicity, strength and abilities.
Quite simply, if you change tires regularly this is a workshop, car boot or toolbox essential!
The RRP is around $30.
More at www.challengetires.com or ask for the tool at your LBS.
Two of Australia’s most controversial influencers have reportedly cut business ties following a string of public relations gaffes.
Mummy blogger Sophie Cachia and haircare entrepreneur Mia Plecic announced last year they were launching a ‘gender-neutral’ cosmetics brand together called Aisuru.
Cachia, a former footy WAG who famously left her husband and became engaged to a woman in 2020, previously found success with her eponymous pajamas brand and multimedia company Shaw Media.
Controversial influencers Sophie Cachia (left) and Mia Plecic (right) have reportedly cut business ties after a series of PR disasters
Mia is known for her multimillion-dollar hair products company, Slick Hair Co.
But this week, Cachia announced that Aisuru was now ‘a one-woman show’, apparently confirming Plecic had left the business.
Outspoken the Podcast, which documents the misadventures of social media stars, speculated this week that the pair’s friendship had also broken down.
Cachia (pictured) and Plecic announced last year they were launching a ‘gender-neutral’ cosmetics brand together called Aisuru
Tellingly, Plecic has removed all references to Aisuru from her social media bio and also unfollowed the brand on Instagram.
The former business partners have also unfollowed each other’s personal accounts.
Plecic has since released a statement to Daily Mail Australia that seemingly contradicts Cachia’s claim about Aisuru being a ‘one-woman show’.
But this week, Cachia announced on Instagram that Aisuru was now ‘a one-woman show’, apparently confirming Plecic had left the business
‘I am still a Director of AISURU and an equal shareholder to Sophie. I just took a step back as Slick Hair Company is going through huge international growth and I need to focus on the brand that is growing,’ Plecic said.
Aisuru has been plagued by controversy since its launch earlier this year.
In February, Cachia was called out for practicing poor hygiene while conducting a ‘quality control’ exercise on her new lipstick line.
In February, Cachia was called out for practicing poor hygiene while conducting a ‘quality control’ exercise on her new lipstick line. She filmed herself rubbing her nose while checking individual lipsticks from her de ella Aisuru range that were due to be sent out to customers (pictured)
Aisuru issued a statement (above) acknowledging this was ‘not best practice nor aligned with our policies’
Cachia had filmed herself rubbing her nose with her bare hand while checking individual lipsticks from her Aisuru range that were due to be sent out to customers.
Aisuru subsequently issued a statement acknowledging this was ‘not best practice nor aligned with our policies’.
The hosts of Outspoken, sisters Amy, Sophie and Kate Taeuber, also speculated this week that Plecic’s controversial views on Covid-19 and vaccine mandates possibly drove a wedge between the business partners.
In June, Plecic sparked outrage by comparing Australia’s vaccine mandates to the overturning of Roe v. Wade by the US Supreme Court
Reacting to the landmark decision, Plecic wrote on Instagram: ‘Why is it okay to be pro-choice about one human right but not the other?’
In June, Plecic sparked outrage by comparing Australia’s vaccine mandates to the overturning of Roe v. Wade by the US Supreme Court.
The court’s ruling ends the constitutional right to abortion across America, meaning individual states can now decide whether abortion should be legal.
Reacting to the landmark decision, Plecic wrote on Instagram: ‘Why is it okay to be pro-choice about one human right but not the other?’
Many people who oppose Covid vaccine mandates call themselves ‘pro-choice’, borrowing the popular slogan used for decades by advocates for legal abortion.
Many people who oppose Covid vaccine mandates call themselves ‘pro-choice’, borrowing the popular slogan used for decades by advocates for legal abortion
However, the use of the term in the context of vaccines is highly controversial, with women’s rights activists saying the two issues cannot be compared.
‘The same people who are against freedom of choice with mandates are the same people who are screaming freedom of choice about abortions,’ added Plecic in her post.
The entrepreneur, who made headlines last year for sharing anti-lockdown and anti-vaccine views on social media, continued: ‘It doesn’t work like that. Freedom of choice regardless of your narrative.’
Plecic soon received backlash online, with major online retailer Showpo reportedly vowing to remove Slick Hair Co. products from its store, according to this alleged Instagram exchange between a customer and a Showpo representative
Her ‘pro-choice’ post was soon picked up by Instagram watchdog account Aussie Influencer Opinions, which warned customers of Plecic’s haircare company they were supporting these views by buying her products.
Plecic soon received a wave of backlash online, with major online retailer Showpo reportedly vowing to remove Slick Hair Co. products from its store.
Aussie Influencer Opinions posted a screenshot purportedly showing an anonymous user messaging Showpo’s official Instagram account asking why the company stocked a product ‘with such a problematic company owner such as Mia Plecic’.
A Showpo customer service representative replied: ‘As a brand we will not be renewing our partnership with Slick Hair Company to stock their products on our website and we’re effectively exiting out of this brand.’
Reacting to Ms Plecic’s Instagram post, one fan exposed the logical fallacy at the heart of her argument with: ‘Covid is contagious and pregnancy is not. Simple really’
Reacting to Plecic’s Instagram post, one fan exposed the logical fallacy at the heart of her argument with: ‘Covid is contagious and pregnancy is not. Simple really.’
Another agreed: ‘Wow… to compare those VERY DIFFERENT things is just next level. How embarrassing.’
Plecic subsequently doubled down on her controversial stance, uploading another post thanking the ‘500 people’ who’d reached out to her to express their agreement.
She also used this post to clarify that she is pro-choice when it comes to abortion.
Plecic subsequently doubled down on her controversial stance, uploading another post on Sunday to thank the ‘500 people’ who had reached out to her to express their agreement
Aboriginal sporting history has been brought to life in a new book that details how a group of women from a south-east Queensland mission nearly won a national title in the most popular female sport of the era.
Faced with a future working in heavily controlled conditions in the 1950s, a group of young Aboriginal girls from Cherbourg held their head high and marched.
Marching was the lead sport for Australian women at the time, with participants dressing up in white boots, skirts, sashes and formal hats to perform at agricultural shows, city parades and for visiting dignitaries.
Teams competed against each other on weekends and were judged on their timing, uniforms, synchronization and performance.
On the government-controlled mission at Cherbourg, it was the only sport available to the young women.
Aunty Lesley Williams [second from right] and her team received trophies in Melbourne during 1962.(Supplied)
A sense of pride
Aunty Lesley Williams began marching in Queensland’s only Indigenous troupe in 1957 when she was just 11.
The sense of pride gave her as a young person who had been denied her culture and freedom was something she would never forget.
“We were told you are going to have this career. Stop practicing your culture. You can’t speak your language,” Aunty Lesley said.
“If you look back to this point in time, it was about controlling this group of people.”
Dressed in uniforms created in the community, the Cherbourg Marching Girls went on to become the best in Queensland in the six years they competed, and then went even further to place second at the national championships.
“We had a lot of fun. We were so proud,” Aunty Lesley said.
“We’d travel around on the back of the settlement truck that carted wood, flour and meat down from the slaughter yard to the butcher shop.
“When it was time for us to travel, it was scrubbed down, seats were put on it and we didn’t care because we wanted to travel and be part of what was happening in the wider world.”
A photo of the Cherbourg marching girls in 1958.(Supplied)
why marching mattered
Aunty Lesley, her sister Sandra Morgan and a Cherbourg committee, have worked alongside co-authors Professor Murray Philips and Dr Gary Osmond from the University of Queensland to document the history in a book entitled, Marching With A Mission: Cherbourg’s Marching Girls.
Professor Phillips studied sport history and said she was researching in Cherbourg when the idea was born.
“We had just finished the day and [were] walking to the car when one of the female elders said, ‘When are you going to tell our story?’
“And we swung around and said, ‘What story is that?,’ and they said, ‘The marching girls’, and that’s how it started.
“The key drivers at Cherbourg are some women elders and they were giving us all this information about the men’s sport, Eddie Gilbert, Frank Fisher and all these other high-profile male athletes.”
The book’s storyline follows the history of marching, the opportunities it offered and how the sport shaped their lives.
Aunty Lesley, surrounded by former marching girls, launches the book at the State Library of Queensland.(Supplied)
Professor Phillips said it was an important period for Queensland First Nations women.
“You’ve gone from that era of protection to assimilation, and these girls really rode the crest of that wave,” she said.
“For many of these women, this was the first opportunity to get out of Cherbourg and see the opportunities that lay beyond.”
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Fighting back tears and finally given the chance to confront conspiracy theorist Alex Jonesthe parents of a 6-year-old killed in the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting described being put through a “living hell” of death threats, harassment and ongoing trauma over the last decade caused by Jones using his media platforms to push claims that it was all a hoax.
The parents led a day of charged testimony that included the judge scolding the bombastic Jones for not being truthful with some of what he said under oath.
Neil Heslin and Scarlett Lewis, whose son Jesse was killed at Sandy Hook, took the witness stand Tuesday on the final day of testimony in the two-week defamation damages trial against Jones and his media company Free Speech Systems. They are seeking at least $150 million in damages.
In a gripping exchange, Lewis spoke directly to Jones, who was sitting about 10 feet away. Earlier that day, Jones was on his broadcast program telling his audience that Heslin is “slow” and being manipulated by bad people.
“I am a mother first and foremost and I know you are a father. My son existed,” Lewis said to Jones. “I am not deep state… I know you know that… And yet you’re going to leave this courthouse and say it again on your show.”
At one point, Lewis asked Jones: “Do you think I’m an actor?”
“No, I don’t think you’re an actor,” Jones responded before the judge admonished him to be quiet until called to testify.
Lewis continued trying to impress on Jones that the Sandy Hook shooting and trauma inflicted in the decade since then were real.
“It seems so incredible to me that we have to do this — that we have to implore you, to punish you — to get you to stop lying,” Lewis said. “I am so glad this day is here. I’m actually relieved. And grateful… that I got to say all this to you.”
Jones visibly shook his head several times while Scarlett Lewis was addressing him.
Heslin and Lewis are among several Sandy Hook families who have filed several lawsuits alleging that Sandy Hook hoax claims pushed by Jones have led to years of abuse by Jones and his followers.
Heslin and Lewis both said they fear for their lives and have been confronted by strangers at home and on the street. Heslin said his home and car had been shot at. The jury heard a death threat sent via telephone message to another Sandy Hook family.
“I can’t even describe the last nine and a half years, the living hell that I and others have had to endure because of the recklessness and negligence of Alex Jones,” Heslin said.
Scarlett Lewis also described threatening emails that seemed to have uncovered deep details of her personal life.
“It’s fear for your life,” Scarlett Lewis said. “You don’t know what they were going to do.”
Heslin said he didn’t know if the Sandy Hook hoax conspiracy theory originated with Jones, but it was Jones who “lit the match and started the fire” with an online platform and broadcast that reached millions worldwide.
“What was said about me and Sandy Hook itself resonates around the world,” Heslin said. “As time went on, I truly realized how dangerous it was.”
Jones skipped Heslin’s morning testimony while he was on his show — a move Heslin dismissed as “cowardly” — but arrived in the courtroom for part of Scarlett Lewis’ testimony. He was accompanied by several private security guards.
“Today is very important to me and it’s been a long time coming… to face Alex Jones for what he said and did to me. To restore the honor and legacy of my son,” Heslin said when Jones wasn’t there.
Heslin told the jury about holding his son with a bullet hole through his head, even describing the extent of the damage to his son’s body. A key segment of the case is a 2017 Infowars broadcast that said Heslin did not hold his son.
The jury was shown a school picture of a smiling Jesse taken two weeks before he was killed. The parents didn’t receive the photo until after the shooting. They described how Jesse was known for telling classmates to “run!” which likely saved lives.
An apology from Jones wouldn’t be good enough, the parents said.
“Alex started this fight,” Heslin said, “and I’ll finish this fight.”
Jones later took the stand himself, initially being combative with the judge, who had asked him to answer his own attorney’s question. Jones testified he had long wanted to apologize to the plaintiffs.
“I never intentionally tried to hurt you. I never said your name until this came to court,” Jones said. “The internet had questions, I had questions.”
Later, the judge sent the jury out of the room and strongly scolded Jones for telling the jury he complied with pretrial evidence gathering even though he didn’t, and that he is bankrupt, which has not been determined. Plaintiff’s attorneys were furious about Jones mentioning he is bankrupt, which they worry will taint a jury decision about damages.
“This is not your show,” Judge Maya Guerra Gamble told Jones. “Your beliefs do not make something true. You are under oath.”
Last September, Guerra admonished Jones in her default judgment over his failure to turn over documents requested by the Sandy Hook families. A court in Connecticut issued a similar default judgment against Jones for the same reasons in a separate lawsuit brought by other Sandy Hook parents.
Heslin and Lewis suffer from a form of post-traumatic stress disorder that comes from constant trauma, similar to that endured by soldiers in war zones or child abuse victims, a forensic psychologist who studied their cases and met with them testified Monday.
Jones has portrayed the lawsuit against him as an attack on his First Amendment rights.
At stake in the trial is how much Jones will pay. The parents have asked the jury to award $150 million in compensation for defamation and intentional infliction of emotional distress. The jury will then consider whether Jones and his company will pay punitive damages.
The trial is just one of several Jones faces.
Courts in Texas and Connecticut have already found Jones liable for defamation for his portrayal of the Sandy Hook massacre as a hoax. In both states, judges issued default judgments against Jones without trials because he failed to respond to court orders and turn over documents.
Jones has already tried to protect Free Speech Systems financially. The company filed for federal bankruptcy protection last week. Sandy Hook families have separately sued Jones over his financial claims from him, arguing that the company is trying to protect millions owned by Jones and his family from him through shell entities.
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Associated Press writer Paul J. Weber contributed to this report.
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For more of the AP’s coverage of school shootings: https://apnews.com/hub/school-shootings
Logitech and Tencent Games are partnering to create a handheld device tailored for cloud gaming. There are no images of it yet, but the handheld will support multiple cloud gaming services including Xbox Cloud Gaming and Nvidia GeForce Now when it launches later this year.
Brad Pitt made a rare comment about one of the teenaged daughters he shares with his ex-wife Angelina Jolie.
While at the Los Angeles premiere for his new action movie Bullet Train on Monday, the 58-year-old Oscar winner said that Shiloh is ‘beautiful.’
And the actor also told ET’s Nischelle Turner that the 16-year-old’s incredible dance moves are so good ‘it brings a tear to the eye, yeah.’
Dad talks: Brad Pitt made a rare comment about one of the teenaged daughters he shares with his ex-wife Angelina Jolie. Seen Monday at the Bullet Train premiere in LA
Proud papa: While at the Los Angeles premiere for his new action movie Bullet Train on Monday, the 58-year-old Oscar winner said that Shiloh is ‘beautiful’
She has star power! And the actor also told ET ‘s Nischelle Turner that the 16-year-old’s incredible dance moves are so good ‘it brings a tear to the eye, yeah.’ Seen in 2021
Shiloh has been seen recently on social media performing dance moves with her pals.
‘I don’t know where she got it from. I’m Mr. Two-Left-Feet here,’ he added with a laugh.
In June Shiloh was seen in a black Beatles T-shirt when dancing to Doja Cat’s song Vegas in a video posted on YouTube by Los Angeles-based choreographer Hamilton Evans.
Shiloh loves dancing. She’s seriously talented and she has been going to these classes for a few years now, ‘an insider told Us Weekly.
The family: From left, Shiloh, Zahara, Angie, Vivienne, Maddox and Knox in 2021
Earlier days: Jolie with Shiloh , Vivienne, Zahara and Knox at the Dumbo film premiere in 2019
So long ago: In 2010 in Paris with dad Pitt; they were shopping at Bonpoint
‘She’s made some good friends through the dancing community too, and they’re all in chat groups and share their favorite playlists and that type of stuff.
‘The teachers are all very impressed with her and say the sky’s the limit if she wants to take it to the next level, and Shiloh may just do that.’
When asked by ET on Monday if he thinks his kids may go into acting like he or Jolie, he said he just wants them to be happy.
‘I love when they find their own way, find things they are interested in and flourish,’ Pitt said of his children.
Shiloh sure can dance: here she is seen center in a Beatles T-shirt as she danced
He has three bio kids with Angie: Shiloh and twins Knox and Vivienne. And three that were adopted: Maddox, Pax and Zahara.
This comes after Jolie said Zahara had landed a place at the historically black liberal arts college for women and will be relocating to Atlanta, Georgia, in the coming months.
Angelina shared a photo of her 17-year-old daughter and some of her fellow students, some of whom were in Spelman shirts, and wrote on Instagram:
‘Zahara with her Spelman sisters! Congratulations to all new students starting this year. A very special place and an honor to have a family member as a new Spelman girl. #spelman #spelmancollege #spelmansisters #HBCU.’
The former couple’s eldest son, 20-year-old Maddox studied at Yonsei University in Seoul, South Korea, though his classes moved online and he returned to the US during the COVID-19 pandemic. Their second son, Pax, now 18, graduated last summer but is not believed to have taken up a place at college.
They were a Hollywood golden couple: Jolie and Pitt attend the World War Z film in 2013
Meanwhile, the 47-year-old actress previously joked Zahara is a better organize than her.
She said: ‘I want to give them a bit of structure. I try to make schedules at home. My daughter Zahara is better at organizing things than I am.’
She has also opened up about how she adopted some of her children, and how exciting and wonderful their journeys have been.
She previously said: ‘Each is a beautiful way of becoming a family. What is important is to speak with openness about all of it and to share. ‘Adoption’ and ‘orphanage’ are positive words in our home. With my adopted children, I can’t speak of pregnancy, but I speak in great detail and love about the journey to find them and what it was like to look in their eyes for the first time. All adopted children come with a beautiful mystery of a world that is meeting yours.’
Bullet Train will be released in theaters on August 5.
Ready for college: This comes after Jolie said Zahara had landed a place at the historically black liberal arts college for women and will be relocating to Atlanta, Georgia, in the coming months. Seen in 2021
The Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) has officially declared yet another climatic phenomenon likely to add to unrelenting rain on Australia’s east coast.
Key points:
The Indian Ocean Dipole affects rainfall patterns across Australia
The IOD is in a “negative” phase for the second year in a row.
With eastern Australia already sodden, the risk of flooding remains higher than normal
Known as the Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD), the climate driver affects rainfall patterns across Australia.
Persistently warm seas to the north-west of Western Australia have swung the IOD into a “negative” phase for the second year in a row.
That typically means wetter than normal weather for most of the country, particularly the south-eastern states.
While every year is different, the areas shaded in green usually receive wetter than normal weather during a negative Indian Ocean Dipole — particularly the south-east of Australia.(ABC: Shakira Wilson)
Following a La Nina phase during the last two summers, it means rain-bearing climate drivers have now been in play for eastern states for two years straight.
Bureau of Meteorology head of long-range forecasting Andrew Watkins said there was also the chance La Niña could re-form for a third time during spring.
“Certainly, we are in an unusual time to have so many climate drivers pushing Australia’s climate toward wetter conditions for the past two to three years,” he said.
Increased flood risk for already sodden land
While rain is usually welcomed during winter, an already sodden landscape means the risk of flooding is a lot higher for the next few months.
“At the moment we have full dams, full rivers and we’ve also got high soil moisture, and with the wet outlook the flood risk is elevated in eastern Australia,” he said.
Since February, Australia’s east coast has endured four intense weather systems, leading to record rains and flooding.
The events, which have occurred in southern Queensland, northern New South Wales and Sydney, have been devastating, and at times even deadly.
Warm waters to the north-west of WA encourage the development of cloud bands full of tropical moisture that then sweep across WA’s Gascoyne, central Australia and into eastern parts of the country.(Supplied: Marcus Scott)
Dr Watkins said this year’s negative IOD was shaping up to be stronger than last year.
“This year is looking a little more on the weak to moderate scale, at least at this stage anyway,” he said.
But he said it would not change their winter outlook, which was already projecting a particularly soggy season for most of Australia.
Dr Watkins said this was because they had already anticipated it would occur and factored it into the outlook, along with a range of other drivers.
Impacts already at play
A negative IOD encourages the development of north-west cloud bands filled with moisture, which carry rain from the Gascoyne region of WA, across the central desert and into the eastern states.
This acts as a source of tropical moisture that typical winter systems, such as cold-fronts and lows, can tap into.
A negative IOD encourages the development of cloud bands, full of tropical moisture, that stretch from the ocean to the north-west of Western Australia into the eastern seaboard.(Supplied: BOM)
Dr Watkins said it is likely to have already played a role in some of the big rain events of the last two months.
“We have a seen a few north-west cloud bands already this year,” he said.
“So to some degree, it is having an influence already, alongside all of those other climate drivers that influence our climate.”
It is potentially playing a role in the severe weather currently being experienced across southern Australia, including damaging winds, heavy rain and dangerous seas.
The severe weather has been driven by a series of strong cold fronts moving across the country.
However, tropical moisture from a north-west cloud band has also fed into the system, adding to rainfall totals.
Not wet for everyone
Even though the IOD develops off the coast of Western Australia, its impacts are typically minimal to the state’s most populated area, the south-west.
In June, large parts of south-west Western Australia, including Perth, finished the month with less than half their average rainfall – a trend becoming more frequent with climate change.
July rainfall was closer to average for most.
The negative IOD is expected to last until November or December.
Republican Michigan Gubernatorial candidate Tudor Dixon, flanked by her children, speaks with members of the media outside the Norton Shores Fire Station 3 after voting on Tuesday, Aug. 2, 2022 in Grand Rapids, MI.
Kent Nishimura | Los Angeles Times | Getty Images
Tudor Dixon, a former conservative commentator and actor endorsed by ex-President Donald Trump, will win Michigan’s Republican gubernatorial primary election, NBC News projects.
Dixon will face off in the general against incumbent Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, who ran unopposed in the Democratic primary.
In the tumultuous Republican gubernatorial primary, meanwhile, Dixon emerged as a frontrunner only after multiple leading candidates were disqualified from the ballot and another was arrested on misdemeanor charges related to the Jan. 6 Capitol riot.
Dixon could be facing an uphill battle against Whitmer, whose bid for a second term in office is buoyed by a well-funded campaign and strong approval ratings. Despite President Joe Biden’s unpopularity in the state threatening to dampen Democratic enthusiasm across the board, recent polls showed Whitmer above water. Surveys conducted before the primary also showed Whitmer leading Dixon in a hypothetical matchup.
But Dixon is also backed by the powerful DeVos family, which is reportedly connected to super PACs that have spent more than $2 million in support of her candidacy. Betsy DeVos was Trump’s former Secretary of Education, but she resigned after Jan. 6, 2021, later saying that Trump crossed a “line in the sand.”
Dixon took a consistent and growing lead in the GOP primary over the past month, according to polls compiled by RealClearPolitics. Trump endorsed her less than a week before Election Day.
Before Trump announced his endorsement, DeVos penned a handwritten note to the former president, urging him to back him Dixon, The New York Times reported.
Dixon, like other candidates in Michigan’s Republican primary, had previously echoed Trump’s false claims about key election results in 2020 being rigged through widespread fraud. On the weekend before the primary and after receiving Trump’s endorsement, Dixon offered more ambiguous language, saying she had concerns about how the race was prosecuted in her state.
