Lawmakers come down to the wire on big bills

Lawmakers come down to the wire on big bills

Huge expenditures arrive down to wire in Maryland on eve of Sine Die

Sine Die, the conclusion of the legislative session in Maryland, will come at midnight Monday, and there keep on being many expenditures however on the desk that numerous people are looking at.The Maryland Senate labored into Friday evening while the House of Delegates gaveled in a Saturday session. Both of those chambers worked by way of higher-profile bills, like just one that would establish the program for recreational cannabis.”I needed to make certain that we just did not have these (hashish dispensaries) on just about every block,” explained Deputy Senate Bulk Whip Cory McCray, D-District 45. “I you should not head the leisure cannabis piece, but the focus was a major difficulty, and we were able to tackle that inside of the invoice.”Baltimore County Delegate Kathy Szeliga, R-District 7A, instructed 11 Information that the Residence finalized facts Saturday and the monthly bill is ready for remaining passage on Monday.A different best concern would carry adjustments to the beleaguered Maryland 529 Faculty Cost savings System.”Unfortunately, that program was just a disaster and there is legislation generating its way as a result of. We are going to complete that on Monday, turning the (administration of the) whole approach more than to the treasurer,” Szeliga explained.McCray, a member of the Senate Budget and Taxation Committee, told 11 News he’s fired up about finalizing the spending plan and what it will imply for his constituents.”We’re likely to be ready to allot a specific total of dollars to make sure we are in a position to open up up the first supermarket that we have witnessed in a pair decades inside of east Baltimore. I’m tremendous energized about that. It’ll be on Orleans Avenue, and it’s going to be announced within this year,” he stated.Szeliga instructed 11 News hopes to use the remaining working day of session to tackle a loophole in a dated Maryland legislation.”At the moment, the legislation has not caught up with technological innovation, and it is legal in this point out to stream boy or girl pornography. That invoice is in the Senate and we are going to do everything in our ability to get that bill passed. It is definitely, in my belief, up coming to the budget, the most crucial point that we need to have to be performing in Annapolis — to shield young children,” she explained.Lawmakers also voted to prolong the quantity of jail time for illegal gun possession. Other gun legislation is even now being worked on and is anticipated to be a large issue Monday.

Sine Die, the stop of the legislative session in Maryland, arrives at midnight Monday, and there remain quite a few costs however on the table that quite a few people are viewing.

The Maryland Senate labored into Friday evening though the Household of Delegates gaveled in a Saturday session. Each chambers labored through large-profile expenditures, including one that would establish the system for leisure marijuana.

“I desired to make confident that we just didn’t have these (cannabis dispensaries) on every single block,” claimed Deputy Senate The greater part Whip Cory McCray, D-District 45. “I you should not brain the leisure cannabis piece, but the concentration was a big problem, and we were being in a position to deal with that in the invoice.”

Baltimore County Delegate Kathy Szeliga, R-District 7A, explained to 11 Information that the Home finalized information Saturday and the monthly bill is ready for closing passage on Monday.

An additional best challenge would carry improvements to the beleaguered Maryland 529 School Personal savings Plan.

“Sad to say, that program was just a disaster and there is laws generating its way by means of. We’ll finish that on Monday, turning the (management of the) entire prepare more than to the treasurer,” Szeliga reported.

McCray, a member of the Senate Spending plan and Taxation Committee, instructed 11 News he is fired up about finalizing the spending budget and what it’ll mean for his constituents.

“We’re likely to be equipped to allot a specified amount of cash to make certain we’re ready to open up up the initially grocery store that we’ve viewed in a couple many years in east Baltimore. I’m tremendous energized about that. It’ll be on Orleans Avenue, and it will be announced within this calendar year,” he mentioned.

Szeliga instructed 11 Information hopes to use the last day of session to tackle a loophole in a dated Maryland law.

“At present, the law has not caught up with know-how, and it is legal in this point out to stream boy or girl pornography. That bill is in the Senate and we are heading to do anything in our electric power to get that monthly bill handed. It is genuinely, in my impression, upcoming to the price range, the most important matter that we need to have to be carrying out in Annapolis — to secure children,” she mentioned.

Lawmakers also voted to prolong the total of jail time for illegal gun possession. Other gun laws is continue to staying labored on and is envisioned to be a major issue Monday.

Car dealer, automaker tensions rise over state bills

Car dealer, automaker tensions rise over state bills

The group’s CEO, John Bozzella, mentioned in a assertion furnished to Automotive News that he is “in no way witnessed this many bad state expenditures” prior to. He cited efforts by leaders of point out and regional seller associations to drive a flurry of laws that he claimed would “incorporate a large amount of added expenditures to the method and, in some cases, ban the innovations that would make improvements to a customer’s getting and possession working experience.”

“Which is not a recipe for a potent franchise method in the extended phrase,” Bozzella stated in the statement. “OEMs and dealers depend on just one a further to deliver and company fantastic autos and trucks across the region. We should to be in the same boat rowing alongside one another to update the program, but that’s evidently not a look at shared by all.”
Tensions about the future of the franchise system have been constructing for several years, in aspect prompted by the rise of Tesla and its immediate-to-purchaser gross sales product that has been emulated by other startup electric motor vehicle suppliers, these types of as Rivian.

Dealers’ worries have been affected by the pandemic’s acceleration of on-line profits and the development in reservations and automobile orders resulting from a shortage of semiconductors that curtailed new-automobile output. At the identical time, conventional automakers have rolled out extra EVs and — in some situations — new profits designs to accompany them.

But the advantages franchised dealerships have gleaned in the course of the offer shortage have more recent opponents wary of the legislative endeavours.

“In modern decades, franchised new vehicle sellers have benefited from supply chain disruptions that have slowed motor vehicle generation. Sellers have described document profits although potential buyers are generally paying out earlier mentioned sticker selling prices,” Rivian reported in a statement. “State legislators should be conscious of these current market disorders and resist force to pass regulations that even more entrench vendor protections that block competitiveness and in the end hurt individuals.”
Dealer association leaders in numerous states say their goal is to protect against automakers from competing straight with franchised retailers, so preserving dealers’ function in the revenue design — no matter what type it usually takes.

“The model is normally transforming. It is really been changing for 100 decades,” said Brian Maas, president of the California New Vehicle Sellers Affiliation and 2023 chairman of the Automotive Trade Association Executives.

“Dealers never provide cars the exact way they marketed them 25 yrs ago ahead of the Online. They are not heading to market them the exact way they provide them now 25 a long time from now,” Maas stated. “What we want to make certain is that sellers continue being central as component of the retail working experience for buyers mainly because the franchise product is the ideal retail model.”

That can be completed by passing new legislation and implementing present rules, several supplier advocates reported.

In Florida, for occasion, pending laws would give a motor vehicle vendor association standing to ask for that the state Office of Highway Safety and Motor Cars evaluation an automaker’s tactics to decide regardless of whether they violate franchise law. Now, only particular person sellers are permitted to make these requests.

“Dealers are quite unwilling to challenge any unique practice of the OEM for the apparent motives — it really is their business enterprise spouse. It is really the entity that materials their motor vehicles and handles so much of their day-to-day lifetime,” claimed Ted Smith, president of the Florida Car Sellers Affiliation, which advocated for the transform in coordination with some dealership teams in the condition.

With some previous fears, Smith stated he observed no vendor keen to set his or her name on a obstacle, even right after contacting dozens of vendors.

“That’s a incredibly telling need becoming exhibited for possessing the association to be equipped to deliver some thing,” he reported.

National wave of curriculum bills fails both students and American history

National wave of curriculum bills fails both students and American history

Utah is the most up-to-date point out hit by the national wave of bills targeting community instruction. A new general public college curriculum bill introduced in the Utah Legislature, HB 427, would “prohibit the use of tutorial components and classroom instruction inconsistent with the principle of inalienable legal rights, equal prospect, and unique merit.”

Vacuous as this description could appear to be, the monthly bill is rarely empty of this means. HB 427 functions to curtail curricular liberty and nuance, insisting that all instructional materials in Utah general public educational institutions reveal precise basic principle beliefs, which includes that “an personal, by virtue of the individual’s race or sex, does not bear responsibility for actions that other associates of the exact race or intercourse committed in the past and that an person really should not be manufactured to sense pain, guilt, anguish, or any other form of psychological distress on account of the individual’s race.” 

If passed into regulation, this invoice would correctly shelter students from the previous, spoon-feeding them versions of the entire world that make no a person truly feel unpleasant about nearly anything, least of all true information. It’s not only a paternalistic mind-set, but one that would stultify the classroom.

A teacher mentioning the notion of unconscious bias may possibly run afoul of the approved principle “that no unique is inherently racist, sexist, or oppressive, whether or not consciously or unconsciously.” An AP Governing administration dialogue on how redlining has contributed to the wealth hole in The united states could problem, at the very least in section, the basic principle “that meritocracy or character characteristics, together with challenging function ethic, are not racist but fundamental to the correct to pursue happiness and to be rewarded for sector.”

In states like Utah, where neighborhood politics skew really hard in a person way, such curriculum payments boost a myopic vision of America at very best. Picture: a near single-occasion government would like to dictate what can be talked over in the classroom.  

When has that at any time gone improper?

The authorized overreaches of HB 427 may perhaps appear like a Utah issue, but it is element of a rising national trend. Since 2020, anti-Critical Race Principle (CRT) expenses have been handed by the state legislatures of Ga, Florida, Mississippi, Kentucky, Idaho, Texas, Idaho, Iowa, New Hampshire, Oklahoma, South Carolina, North Dakota and Tennessee, developing a gag get on educators and a chilling outcome in classrooms throughout the country. In various other states, the exact outcome has been accomplished by means of govt orders and action by point out boards of instruction.

Emboldened by these victories, conservative dad or mum teams and state legislators have turned their awareness to school libraries, stoking fear about “pornography” in libraries by cherry-choosing sentences, paragraphs or solitary visuals from publications to vilify the entire work.

PEN The usa has reported that, concerning July 2021 and June 2022, at minimum 2,532 person textbooks had been banned throughout the country, facilitated by compact, very mobilized regional groups that have created an outsized political effect. Sadly, point out governments are responding.

Make no mistake: this Utah invoice isn’t unique but rather part of a movement of exclusive-interest teams that acquire edge of confused parents’ hectic household and do the job schedules. These types of charges never reflect the voters’ basic will or curiosity, but rather chip away at our independence to browse and accessibility information itself.

Guide bans, anti-CRT legislation and curriculum monitoring are the outcome of a increasing, zero-sum mentality about American society: If we give time and awareness to histories that have been ignored — even suppressed — somehow this will take away from the tales we’ve presently metabolized … and if we examine books by and about people of color, this must come at the psychological expenditure of white people.

Instead than see inclusion as a loss, why can not we take care of the broader variety of resources as an expansion of American tradition itself?

We can not worth fear extra than we benefit information.

No a single is demanding that our children feel responsible we are asking, only, that they learn to method the broad, assorted, contradictory and, certainly, awkward prosperity of info that contains history.

We can hardly ever be “exceptional” if we accept only one particular tale to be advised. 

Paisley Rekdal is the co-chair of PEN America’s Utah Chapter, a previous Utah Poet Laureate and a Presidential Societal Impact Scholar and professor of English at the College of Utah.

Peter Bromberg is the affiliate director of EveryLibrary, a nonprofit that offers professional bono consulting and schooling to libraries nationwide.

Rebekah Cummings is the co-chair of the Utah Library Affiliation Advocacy Committee and an associate librarian at the University of Utah.

Tennessee GOP introduces bills that would shake up Nashville

Tennessee GOP introduces bills that would shake up Nashville

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — For yrs, Nashville leaders have watched Tennessee’s GOP-dominated Legislature continuously kneecap the liberal-leaning city’s potential to set its very own least wage, regulate plastic bag use and place increased scrutiny on police officers.

Nevertheless that simmering rigidity has only escalated this yr as Republican lawmakers have introduced a string of proposals that neighborhood officers warn would considerably upend New music Metropolis.

It is a widespread scenario felt in towns throughout the United States as statehouses flex their authority about municipalities, frequently though disregarding concerns raised by community associates in search of to keep nearby handle.

In Mississippi, Black lawmakers are denouncing a program by the state’s the vast majority-white and Republican-led Legislature to take around ability from the capital town of Jackson. Around in Missouri, lawmakers are pursuing laws to strip energy from St. Louis’ prosecutor — a prepare supporters say will handle violent criminal offense but is criticized by Black leaders. Whilst the disputes in Mississippi and Missouri replicate racial tensions, the issue in Tennessee also consists of conflicts in political ideology.

In Tennessee, the most current statehouse backlash stems back again to previous summer months when Nashville’s metro council spiked a approach to convey the 2024 Republican Countrywide Convention to the metropolis. Progressive leaders argued that hosting the substantial Republican gathering would go from the city’s values. Others expressed hesitation towards tying up so numerous metropolis means — specifically for an party that residents mostly would not attend.

For GOP leaders, who had spent months lobbying and wooing celebration officers on why Tunes Town should really host the conference, Nashville experienced crossed but a further line. Warnings started trickling in that effects have been imminent.

Nashville continued to entice political ire immediately after council users started speaking about irrespective of whether to cover bills for employees who cross point out strains to get an abortion. That is for the reason that Tennessee’s abortion ban — which was enacted after the U.S. Supreme Courtroom overturned Roe v. Wade — at this time has no express exemptions.

Lawmakers have been swift in submitting costs that give retribution. Legislation has been launched that would slash Nashville’s 40-member town council in 50 percent. A independent bill would give the state handle of the governing board for the city’s airport, stadiums and other landmarks, when an additional proposal would eliminate Nashville’s means to cost the tax that funds its convention heart. Republicans then released a bill that would block towns from utilizing community money for reimbursing employees who travel to get an abortion.

Advocates have elevated alarm at decreased-profile bills, like the proposal to reduce all police oversight boards in Tennessee. Nashville has just one, and lawmakers now limited it beneath a 2019 law. Some Republicans have proposed a monthly bill that would rename a part of Nashville Rep. John Lewis Way to Trump Boulevard.

Particularly, the effort to lower Nashville’s abnormally big metropolis council has sparked some of the fiercest concerns, as advocates warn that carrying out so will undo illustration of minority communities and erode council members’ ability to deal with constituent requires.

“When individuals get to out to us about trash pickup, about deaths in their household, about needing items and sources, these are men and women that we are in local community with,” stated Delishia Porterfield, who has served on Nashville’s council since 2019. “And when you raise the range of constituents that we as council associates provide, not only do you make our employment more difficult, but you make us more from the folks that elected us to serve.

Nashville has a put together city-county governing administration has operated under a 40-member council — considerably bigger compared to even extra populous towns like New York, Chicago and San Francisco — since 1963, when leaders had been wrestling with consolidating the city with the encompassing county, and other people have been doing the job to assure Black leaders taken care of a potent illustration inside of the southern metropolis.

“When the metropolis was consolidated, and the size amplified to 40, there was a assure that we would have more Black illustration,” claimed Democratic Rep. Harold Love Jr., whose father was among the the very first Black members to be elected to the newly expanded city council in 1963.

“So for me, there are some deep historical ties to the sizing of metro council when it comes to Black and minority representation that I hope my colleagues would have an understanding of,” he mentioned.

To date, a quarter of the council’s seats are held by Black users, half are held by gals and 5 discover as LGBTQ.

Republican lawmakers, however, thrust back again that they’re explicitly punishing Nashville. Home Greater part Chief William Lamberth has stated that lessening Nashville’s city council would aid make it additional efficient.

“There’s a purpose why juries are just 12 people, not 50. When you have a group of men and women striving to make a decision, very frankly, it’s just fewer efficient the a lot more persons that you have,” Lamberth claimed through a Tuesday hearing. “A more compact far more cohesive team of men and women that pretty stand for the varied communities just operate better.”

Household Speaker Cameron Sexton downplayed that the Legislature was “bigfooting” towns that dare to defy Republican procedures and rather argued that lawmakers have an obligation to oversee local governments.

“We want to make positive we never get progressiveness in these cities that will limit enterprises from coming into the state,” he claimed.

Over the several years, Tennessee Republicans have minimal Nashville and other cities’ capacity to ban quick-phrase rentals, including Airbnb. Lawmakers have barred metropolitan areas from decriminalizing possession of smaller quantities of marijuana, which Nashville and Memphis experienced moved to do. And when Nashville’s district legal professional said he would no more time deliver all those scenarios or prosecute selected GOP social concern legislation, lawmakers passed a requirement that puts a exclusive prosecutor in location when a district attorney has pledged not to demand anyone under a law as a total.

Bills announce Damar Hamlin showing ‘remarkable improvement,’ appears to be ‘neurologically intact’

Bills announce Damar Hamlin showing ‘remarkable improvement,’ appears to be ‘neurologically intact’

The Buffalo Costs have been via a large amount considering that Monday when their teammate Damar Hamlin collapsed on the area, but Thursday was complete of favourable information about his health and fitness and development.

Hamlin’s doctors at the College of Cincinnati Health care Middle have introduced that there has been “sizeable enhancement in his ailment around the past 24 hrs.” His “neurological problem and operate is intact” and he’s “commencing to awaken.” He is opened his eyes and has been relocating his fingers and toes.

Hamlin continues to be critically unwell and will continue being in intense treatment for the time currently being, but it was very clear the medical doctors were being inspired by how he’s been responding. They have been designed guaranteed to point out that he “nonetheless has considerable development he requirements to make,” but his development over the final 24 hours “marks a definitely good turning issue in his ongoing care.”

The physicians also explained that Hamlin has been responsive to inquiries and instructions, and has even been inquiring inquiries of his possess. He’s however intubated and on a ventilator, so he hasn’t been capable to communicate, but he’s been composing thoughts with a pen and paper. One of the initially items Hamlin desired to know? Who gained Monday night’s video game.

A number of instances all through the news conference, the physicians manufactured a place to say that the lightning-speedy reaction from the Payments and Bengals medical practitioners and health-related staff on the area saved Hamlin’s existence and preserved his neurological functionality. They were at his aspect a lot less than 1 moment following he collapsed, gave him CPR instantly, shocked his heart, and continued to execute CPR on him, all of which was very important to keeping his coronary heart likely until eventually he could be set on a ventilator.

The Expenditures shared a much less-thorough version of the physicians’ report on Thursday morning, revealing that Hamlin experienced sown “impressive enhancement.” One of his teammates also tweeted that he was awake and displaying much more indications of advancement.

Payments to observe Thursday right after contact from Hamlin’s father

The information about Hamlin’s development will unquestionably give the entire staff a increase ahead of they reportedly practice Thursday for the first time given that Hamlin collapsed on the industry and went into cardiac arrest. That’s a huge phase for them to take looking at what they expert Monday night, but even before the beneficial news about Hamlin was announced, the Payments acquired a call from a extremely exclusive human being.

In accordance to a number of stories, Mario Hamlin, Damar’s father, spoke to the Charges via Zoom on Wednesday. He informed the gamers that Damar, who remains in significant condition in the ICU at the College of Cincinnati Health-related Heart, has been “earning development.”

Listening to from Mario was reportedly “psychological,” but it helped “tranquil” anyone down and was anything the staff “desired.”

Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin is showing signs of improvement after suffering cardiac arrest Monday. (AP Photo/John McCoy)

Buffalo Expenses security Damar Hamlin is demonstrating signs of advancement right after struggling cardiac arrest Monday. (AP Photo/John McCoy)

Hamlin was wounded throughout the first quarter of the Monday night time recreation towards the Cincinnati Bengals. Right after taking a hit directly to the chest even though tackling extensive receiver Tee Higgins, Hamlin at initial bought up, but he just about promptly collapsed again down to the floor.

The Costs afterwards mentioned that Hamlin went into cardiac arrest on the field. The paramedics who rushed more than had to restart his stopped coronary heart and then administer CPR for practically 10 minutes prior to he could be loaded into an ambulance, which had driven ideal onto the industry, and taken to the healthcare facility.

The 15 minutes that elapsed concerning Hamlin’s injury and the ambulance driving away were chaotic and emotional. Expenditures gamers experienced occur onto the area to guidance their teammate, and lots of were being brazenly crying as they watched Hamlin acquire daily life-preserving CPR. At the time the recreation was postponed, Costs head mentor Sean McDermott and many players went to the healthcare facility to be with Hamlin.

The crew reportedly did not get back to Buffalo until eventually 2:30 a.m. ET on Tuesday, and no formal pursuits had been held that day. The Bills came again alongside one another Wednesday for meetings and a walkthrough, as they even now have a recreation to perform towards the New England Patriots on Sunday.

Just after likely via this kind of an emotionally fraught couple of days, listening to from Mario Hamlin and acquiring a favourable update about Damar will only assistance the Costs as they get back to company.

Damar Hamlin injury: NFL cardiologist offers insight into what may have happened to Bills safety, what’s next

Damar Hamlin injury: NFL cardiologist offers insight into what may have happened to Bills safety, what’s next

Bills safety Damar Hamlin suffered cardiac arrest after a tackle in Monday night’s game against the Bengals, prompting the NFL to indefinitely suspend and postpone the matchup. The 24-year-old Pittsburgh product was administered CPR and had his heartbeat restored before being transported to the University of Cincinnati Medical Center. He has been sedated and stabilized in the hospital’s intensive care unit since late Monday, the Bills announced, while listed in critical condition.

For more insight on Hamlin’s injury, potential recovery and other factors related to Monday’s traumatic incident, CBS Sports spoke with Dr. Aaron Baggish, of Mass General Brigham. A team cardiologist for the Patriots, Harvard University Athletics, U.S. Soccer and other organizations, Baggish is the director of the cardiovascular performance program at Massachusetts General Hospital Heart Center, and also serves as medical director for the Boston Marathon.

The following interview has been edited for content and clarity.

What was your initial reaction and assessment when watching the play that left Damar Hamlin injured Monday?

Dr. Baggish: When I saw what had happened, the type of collapse he had, where his body went completely limp, is the type of collapse that has a very, very high likelihood of the heart stopping. That’s a really concerning thing. The real good-news story is how promptly the medical team on the sideline was at his side performing resuscitation. That is not always the case.

How much did the quick response by the medical teams affect Hamlin’s diagnosis?

Dr. Baggish: Well, the diagnosis, which refers to the reason the cardiac arrest happened, is still unclear. But when something like this happens, the heart stops pumping blood, and one of the 100-percent certainties, if resuscitation isn’t done, is automatic death. So it was imperative they responded so quickly.

From your perspective, what are the possible causes of Hamlin’s cardiac arrest?

Dr. Baggish: There’s a long list: there are genetic and congenital abnormalities which could be at play, I know there’s been speculation about the blunt force from the tackle, but I would say that it’s really premature to make any speculation. In fact, to jump to a conclusion would be a mistake. The diagnosis of commotio cordis, for example [which refers to a fatal disruption of the heart rhythm from a blow to the chest], is what we call a diagnosis of exclusion, meaning other things have been eliminated. We would never conclude that unless other factors have been ruled out.

Are there potential causes that you deem more likely in this case?

Dr. Baggish: It would be irresponsible to attach any kind of diagnosis until we’re sure. The majority of cardiac arrests that occur in young athletes occur because of some genetic heart condition. That is independent of getting a blow to the chest. This is why, to come up with a short list is really not possible.

Generally how long does it take to diagnose the actual cause?

Dr. Baggish: The usual sequence would be to first get him stable, and I can’t comment on the timeframe without being at his bedside. But the diagnostic part of this is usually second in line.

From the outside, then, what happens next?

Dr. Baggish: I think one of the things that can start now is to watch how the resuscitation effort was conducted and to learn from that. It was an exceptionally effective resuscitation effort. And it speaks to the planning that goes into it. They rehearse for emergencies like this. They have to be ready. … With each day, the athlete’s status will be updated, and the recovery trajectory will probably depend a lot on the next 48-72 hours.

If the blow to the chest is, in fact, ruled the cause, how common is such an occurrence?

Dr. Baggish: If this ends up being commotio cordis, this is not the first time it’s happened, though it’s not been a (common) style of sudden death in football compared with ball sports like lacrosse and baseball, or hockey, a puck sport. This would not be the first time it’s happened in sports, certainly. But I want to be clear that I’m not saying that is the diagnosis at this point.

Aside from your medical profession, as a fan, what are your hopes and expectations moving forward?

Dr. Baggish: The only thing I can say I hope this does is reinforce medical teams that they need to be ready for unexpected catastrophe. I don’t anticipate and wouldn’t be the right person to suggest any policy change or additional changes in the way the sport is played. But I hope it’s not a knee-jerk reaction if that’s the case, because oftentimes it’s worse to change policies in knee-jerk fashion based on one problem. … First and foremost, of course, my hope is the young man recovers fully. And as a fan who also happens to be a doctor, I’m cognizant of the risk these athletes assume when they decide to play these sports, and I support their decisions to do so, but it’s always sad when something like this occurs.