News of the day

By ALAN FRAM and LISA MASCARO

WASHINGTON (AP) — Democrats pushed their election-year economic package to Senate passage Sunday, a hard-fought compromise less ambitious than President Joe Biden’s original domestic vision but one that still meets deep-rooted party goals of slowing global warming, moderating pharmaceutical costs and taxing immense corporations.

The estimated $740 billion package heads next to the House, where lawmakers are poised to deliver on Biden’s priorities, a stunning turnaround of what had seemed a lost and doomed effort that suddenly roared back to political life. Cheers broke out as Senate Democrats held united, 51-50, with Vice President Kamala Harris casting the tie-breaking vote after an all-night session.

“Today, Senate Democrats sided with American families over special interests,” President Joe Biden said in a statement from Rehoboth Beach, Delaware. “I ran for President promising to make government work for working families again, and that is what this bill does — period.”

Biden, who had his share of long nights during his three decades as a senator, called into the Senate cloakroom during the vote on speakerphone to personally thank the staff for their hard work.

The president urged the House to pass the bill as soon as possible. Speaker Nancy Pelosi said her chamber would “move swiftly to send this bill to the president’s desk.” House votes are expected Friday.

“It’s been a long, tough and winding road, but at last, at last we have arrived,” said Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., ahead of final votes.

“The Senate is making history. I am confident the Inflation Reduction Act will endure as one of the defining legislative feats of the 21st century,” he said.

Senators engaged in a round-the-clock marathon of voting that began Saturday and stretched late into Sunday afternoon. Democrats swatted down some three dozen Republican amendments designed to torpedo the legislation. Confronting unanimous GOP opposition, Democratic unity in the 50-50 chamber held, keeping the party on track for a morale-boosting victory three months from elections when congressional control is at stake.

The bill ran into trouble midday over objections to the new 15% corporate minimum tax that private equity firms and other industries disliked, forcing last-minute changes.

Despite the momentary setback, the “Inflation Reduction Act” gives Democrats a campaign-season showcase for action on coveted goals. It includes the largest-ever federal effort on climate change — close to $400 billion — caps out-of-pocket drug costs for seniors on Medicare to $2,000 a year and extends expiring …read more

Source:: The Denver Post – News

OAKLAND — The A’s passed out six more green jackets Sunday at the Coliseum and the newest members of the team’s Hall of Fame are curious to see where the franchise is headed at the latest fork in the road.

Six new members of the Athletics Hall of Fame were honored in a pregame ceremony before the Bay Bridge Series finale against the Giants: outfielder Joe Rudi, third baseman Eric Chavez, third baseman Sal Bando, catcher Ray Fosse, player development executive Keith Lieppman and longtime clubhouse manager Steve Vucinich.

Among those who served as presenters included Reggie Jackson, Vida Blue, Rickey Henderson and Dave Stewart. All are among the 28 members of the franchise Hall of Fame that was started in 2018.

The new class encompasses a history of A’s baseball in Oakland. Three World Series championships in 1972-73-74. A rebirth under the Walter Haas Jr. ownership and G.M. Sandy Alderson that included another championship in 1989 and a run of success under Billy Beane and manager Bob Melvin that included three American League West titles and six playoff berths.

Don’t like what you’re seeing from the A’s in a given time period? Just wait a few years and it will likely be something completely different.

“We’re taking on that challenge right now,” A’s president Dave Kaval said.

Vucinich, who in his acceptance speech speculated he might be the first clubhouse attendant to be so honored, started as a 15-year-old ball boy when the franchise moved to Oakland from Kansas City in 1968 and has been through it all.

“When you think about the championship teams and the threats of moving to Denver in the late ’70s, reinvented is a good word,” Vucinich said. “It’s not always just selling off players for a rebuild, although that went on even when Connie Mack did in Philadelphia.”

The Athletics were a lone tenant after the Raiders moved to Los Angeles, only to see the ballpark undergo major changes with the return of the franchise in 1995. There were years of big attendance at the Coliseum when the Giants were down and playing in substandard Candlestick Park.

“That’s why seeing such a big crowd yesterday (40,065) and having another good crowd today (31,605) is special,” Vucinich said.

Lieppman, like Vucinich, is a lifer who grew up in the 1960s going to Athletics games in Kansas City. He played for nine seasons in the minors for the organization from 1971-79, managed from 1980-87 and …read more

Source:: The Mercury News

“Teen Mom 2” alum Jade Cline mourned the death of her grandmother on August 5. Cline wrote a tribute to her grandmother on Instagram and shared a serious of her grandmother holding her daughter, 4-year-old Kloie, when she was a baby.

“Losing you has put me in shambles,” Cline wrote. “Growing up my mamaw was like a second mother to me. She helped raise me and taught me so much.”

“She was there for me as a teen when I was suffering from a lot of depression,” Cline continued. “She helped mold the women I am today. I would do anything to get one last hug from you. I love you. Can’t wait to see you again one day.”

Cline received support from some of her MTV cast members, including Cory Wharton and Tyler Baltierra, who wrote, “Aww Jade I’m so sorry 😢.”

Cline Met Her Boyfriend, Sean Austin, Through Mawmaw

A post shared by Jade Cline (@jadecline_)

Cline and her boyfriend, Sean Austin, have known each other since they were teens.

During a Q&A on Instagram in April 2022, Cline revealed that her Mawmaw was the link between them.

“How did you and Sean meet?” a fan asked.

“We met back when I was in 8th grade,” Cline answered, per a screenshot obtained by Monsters & Critics. “I used to visit my mamaw often in Monrovia IN, and actually lived with her a few years.”

“Sean had just moved there from Cali, and lived around the corner. One day when I was at her house making her a pie lol,” Cline explained. “She pulled up from the store and he was helping her carry in her groceries and she introduced us in her kitchen.”

“He was so sweet and I appreciated him helping her,” Cline added. “I invited him to stay for dinner and pie lol.”

Cline said she and Austin had “instantly clicked.”

“I really appreciated him helping my mamaw,” she said. “He had always been a kind person.”

Austin Has Been Working on His Sobriety Since Leaving Rehab

A post shared by Jade Cline (@jadecline_)

Austin spent three months in a Texas rehab in the fall of 2021. Since then, he has been working on maintaining his sobriety.

One of the things he had to do was shuffle around some of …read more

Source:: Heavy.com