Extra, Extra
Infiltrated: “Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei warned Hezbollah leader Syyed Hassan Nasrallah to flee Lebanon days before he was killed in an Israeli strike and is now deeply worried about Israeli infiltration of senior government ranks in Tehran.” (I would say that’s a pretty valid concern). Meanwhile, as the fighting becomes more fierce in southern Lebanon, the world waits to see how Israel will respond to Iran’s missile attack. Here’s the latest from CNN.
+ Getting Your Docks Off: “The dozens of sites affected from Maine to Texas handle shipments of car parts, machinery, pharmaceuticals and food, among other goods. Some goods will be stuck while the ports remain closed. Members of the union, who work to load and unload ships and maintain equipment, are on strike to fight for higher wages and restrictions on automation at the ports.” WaPo (Gift Article) with a detailed and interesting look at how the port strike will snarl shipments of bananas, beer, cars and more.
+ Jack Preacher: “Cycle after cycle, their relentless maneuvering has pushed the statehouse so far to the right that consultants like to joke that Karl Rove couldn’t win a local race these days. Brandon Darby, the editor of Breitbart Texas, is one of several conservatives who has compared Dunn and Wilks to Russian oligarchs. ‘They go into other communities and unseat people unwilling to do their bidding,’ he says. ‘You kiss the ring or you’re out.'” A Pair of Billionaire Preachers Built the Most Powerful Political Machine in Texas. That’s Just the Start.
+ Reading Room for Improvement: “She received her diploma this spring after improving her grades in high school — with help from the speech-to-text function — and getting on the honor roll. She began her studies at the University of Connecticut this summer.” But here’s the twist. This Hartford Public High School grad can’t read. Here’s how it happened.
+ Not So Fast: California’s $20 Fast Food Minimum Wage Sees No Job Loss, Slight Price Hikes.
+ Going Global: “Mutombo built a tuition-free school in the DRC to honor his father, a career educator. In memory of his mother—who died in 1998 of a stroke, but really of poor access to health care—he built a hospital. Countless professional athletes dabble in philanthropy, lending their name and celebrity to whatever cause moves them. But Mutombo was always a dedicated son of the DRC who just happened to be one of the best basketball players of his era. Everything became a means to give back. The game, the finger wags, the commercials—all of it raised Mutombo’s profile and helped fund his next project. He was, and is, a giant. In 2009, the NBA named Mutombo its first global ambassador, though he hardly needed the title; Dikembe had already been doing the job for years.” The House That Dikembe Mutombo Built. “Mutombo, who died Monday at age 58, became an NBA Hall of Famer by keeping opponents out of the paint. He became so much more through his efforts to open basketball’s doors to everyone.”
