Quick Quotes

“You should always push yourself.”

Gymnast Simon Biles made history this weekend at the U.S. Gymnastics Championships as the first woman to land a double-double dismount on balance beam and a triple-double on floor routine. On Friday, Biles said she felt like "scratching" the meet because of a disappointing performance. She didn't and on Sunday, she won a sixth all-around title - the first woman to do so in nearly 70 yrs.
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“The room lights up when everyone knows we’ve got new items that are coming.”

Dir. of Child Nutrition Scott Clements who works for Mississippi's Education Dept., one of many school districts receiving free food from the U.S. gov't this year because of the trade war with China. The Dept. of Agriculture is buying $1.2B in extra crops & food products from farmers hurting from the trade dispute, and giving the "extras" to school districts as well as food banks.
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“Our job is to enforce the law.”

Acting Dir. of U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement Matt Albence to the Washington Post on a recent flight returning deportees to Guatemala - one of nine weekly flights currently organized by the U.S. gov't. This comes after ICE organized the largest workplace "sting" in more than a decade Wednesday at seven Mississippi food processing plants. The operation resulted in 680 arrests.
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“There is nothing for me here. The only choice I have is to go back.”

28-yr-old Luis de Leon who was deported on an ICE flight to Guatemala after being arrested in a Kentucky traffic stop. He has lived in America for seven years & has two U.S.-born children. Last month, more than 82,000+ people were apprehended for illegally crossing the U.S. southern border - a 20,000 drop since June, but double the number compared to last year at the same time.
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“The urgency of this is not lost on any of us.”

Sen. Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) on the Senate's focus on gun laws upon returning from summer recess in Sept. after the two mass shootings in El Paso, TX & Dayton, OH. Sen. McConnell says aides from both parties are working to find common ground for legislation that could get bipartisan support. The Senate's highest ranking democrat, Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) appealed to Sen. McConnell to call lawmakers back to D.C. early.
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Quote of the Day

“Your strength of mind and determination can help you to achieve whatever it is that you truly want from your life. Most of all, never give up!”

Dana Glowacka

Quote of the Day

Glowacka set a Guinness World Record for holding an abdominal plank 4 hrs 19 mins 55 secs, breaking the previous women's record by more than 45 mins. She was inspired by her son Ralph, who read about the record and told her she could break it.

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Worth-It-To-See

HOMECOMING

 

 

An American pilot finally returns home to his final resting place…on a plane flown by his son to the exact same airport where the two said their “goodbyes” 52 years ago.

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Worth-It-To-See

“I really didn’t think it would ever happen. Wow, you know, he’s really coming home. We’re going to be able to bring him back, and we’re going to have a place where we can honor him.”

Southwest Airlines pilot Bryan Knight who last saw his father at Dallas Love Field Airport more than 50 years ago. He was 5-years-old when his dad, also a pilot, deployed to Vietnam. This week, Knight flew his father's remains back to the same airport.
Worth-It-To-See

“Airports rarely see moments of quiet — but for a few brief minutes, Dallas Love Field fell absolutely silent. There were no garbled announcements, no clickity-clack of rolling suitcases over the tile floor, no shouting over cellphones. People stood quietly at the window, wiping away tears, taking in a moment few rarely get to see. It was peaceful, it was beautiful and it was a privilege to watch.”

Jackson Proskow, Global News
Worth-It-To-See

By The Numbers

  • The remains of Maj. Roy A. Knight, Jr. were found near his crash site in Laos more than 50 years after his plane was shot down.
  • U.S gov’t investigative teams continue research & site excavation in Laos, Vietnam and Cambodia to find and identify the approx. 1,500 soldiers who remain “missing in action” from the Vietnam War.
Worth-It-To-See

In total, 82,000 American remain missing in action from the post WWII conflicts.

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Now You Know

“Mass Shooting”

An all-too-familiar term fueling debate and discussion after two murder sprees in America within 24 hours.

Here’s what you need to know …

Now You Know

“Mass” Killing vs. Shooting

No single accepted definition.

  • Justice Dept. defines “mass killing” as 3 or more people killed in one incident in a public place.
  • “Mass shooting” is not a legal term defined by gov’t so news sources may differ on the definition. Often references 4 or more shot (injured or killed) not counting the shooter.
Now You Know

Limitations

  • Data for “mass shooting” statistics *often* date back to a shooting at the University of Texas in 1966. Hence, it’s inaccurate to say “deadliest in history” because the data is limited.
  • Some news sources may/may not include gang shootings or robberies in “mass shooting” statistics making data difficult to compare.
Now You Know

BIG PICTURE

In 2019, there’s been more than one mass shooting a day in America: 253 in 216 days (vs. 207 in 2018).

However…

Mass shootings significantly trail many other crime categories involving firearms: home invasions (1,039), unintentional shootings (943) & defensive shootings (889).

Now You Know

20 people died, 26 injured in El Paso, Texas Saturday in one of the deadliest mass shootings in the modern era. 9 people died, at least two dozen injured in Dayton, Ohio early Sunday.

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Quick Quotes

“It really does taste like beef.”

Burger King North America President Chris Finazzo on the company's plant-based Impossible Whopper, available at more than 7,000 U.S. locations this week as it follows competitors like Carl's Jr. that already added plant-based burgers to their menu. This year, sales of plant-based burgers at fast-food chains have increased 10% nationwide.
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“It will take the kind of leadership that currently doesn’t exist in Washington to fix.”

Maya MacGuineas, president of the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, on the budget deal signed into law Friday, which allocates $1.3B in gov't spending & suspends the debt ceiling until July 2021, pushing off any major budget debates until after the 2020 election. Critics like MacGuineas say it fails to address our $22 trillion+ debt. 
Quick Quotes

“It’s not the beginning of a long series of rate cuts… You would do that if you saw real economic weakness.”

Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell on the first cut (a quarter of a % point) to the federal funds rate since the 2008 financial crisis. The Fed is an independent gov't agency that sets the rate that determines borrowing costs for many loans. The Fed noted recent "solid" job gains and "soft" business growth.
Quick Quotes

“We look forward to continuing our positive dialogue with China on a comprehensive Trade Deal, and feel that the future between our two countries will be a very bright one!”

Pres. Trump threatening a new 10% tariff on $300B of Chinese-made goods on Sept. 1 amid ongoing trade talks. In 2018, the administration set a 25% tariff on $250B in Chinese imports.
Quick Quotes

“Target has forever changed the retail landscape by doing what once was considered impossible – offering great design at an incredible price.”

Target executive vice president Mark Tritton on a limited-edition collection of nearly 300 products featuring 20 of its previous designer collaborations with names like Lilly Pulitzer and Isaac Mizrahi to celebrate the 20th anniversary of its designer partnerships on Sept. 14.
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Quote of the Day

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us.”

Marianne Williamson

Quote of the Day

Democrat presidential candidate & author Marianne Williamson was the most searched candidate on Google during the first Democrat debate this week. She wrote this popular quote in her 1992 book "A Return To Love" though its often mis-attributed to Nelson Mandela.

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SmartHER News

Baby News

SmartHER News

Every 8 seconds in America, a baby is born. Here's the first baby of the SmartHER Era!

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SmartHER News

SPECIAL REPORT

3 Things to Know About Maternity Leave in America ~ Plus, what’s next at SmartHER News!

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Quick Quotes

“I feel as if an angel must be looking after me.”

Writer Lee Hall, who is collaborating with Paul McCartney on a stage-version of "It's A Wonderful Life." The former Beatle will write the songs for the production, expected to debut next year. This is the first stage musical for McCartney.
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“The heat is forecast to be oppressive and dangerous everywhere, with possibly some of the hottest conditions since 2012.”

Chicago's Weather Service Office. Over the next 7 days, more than half the United States is expected to experience temperatures of 95 degrees or higher. Heat kills more Americans on average than any other form of extreme weather.
Quick Quotes

“I wish that all of you would ask me about prescription drugs.”

Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-MI) responding to reporters Wed. as the House voted not to impeach the Pres. after voting to censure him for controversial remarks. The House also voted Wed. to hold the Attorney Gen. & Commerce Sec. in contempt for not complying with an investigation. Some Democrats have voiced concerns about the perception that they are hyper-focused on the administration & not on other legislation.
Quick Quotes

“We know that Trump isn’t a sweetheart sometimes. But we’re not going for that.”

North Carolina resident Esther Jimenez who attended a rally for Pres. Trump with her husband. Both come from immigrant families and support the President’s border wall proposal. At one point the crowd chanted to “send her back” - a reference to an immigrant congresswoman who has criticized the President. This is the President's 6th visit to the state he narrowly won in 2016.
Quick Quotes

“Quite honestly, once our officers got there they found it quite ingenious.”

Lt. Tony Ferderber describing the reaction as local police in Brigham City, Utah responded to a call about a young man holding up a sign that said, "ICE COLD BEER" - only to realize he was selling ROOT beer. Setting up drink stands (for lemonade or root beer) without city permits is only allowed in 14 states - Utah is one of them.
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Now You Know

WHY CENSURE?

It’s not a constitutional power granted explicitly by name to Congress, but lawmakers have slapped a censure on four sitting Presidents.

Pres. Trump makes history as #5.

Why It Matters

Now You Know

What Happened:

  • The Democrat-led House of Representatives voted to censure Pres. Trump for a tweet he wrote about Democrat lawmakers.
  • Critics called the tweet racist; the President denies it.
  • We placed the entire tweet on the source page for you to read in full.
  • The resolution to censure Pres. Trump passed along party lines: 240-187.
Now You Know

What Happens Now?

Practically: Not much. It’s a public reprimand with no other actionable or legal punishment.

Politically: Democrats can rally together, showing a united front against a Republican president ahead of an election year. President Trump can also use this to rally his base.

Now You Know

Interesting To Note:

  • Congress can punish lawmakers three ways: expulsion, censure and reprimand.
  • Expulsion is the only punishment mentioned by name in the constitution. 
  • Censure evolved as a punishment starting in 1800s.
  • Other Presidents censured: Presidents Jackson, Lincoln, Taft & Buchanan.
Now You Know

The first time censure was considered in Congress? In 1798, when one state lawmaker spat on another; ultimately there was no censure vote. Mostly censure has been used for bad behavior: "defamatory or insulting statements."

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Quick Quotes

“…the earliest, sharpest, and most accurate surviving video images of man’s first steps on the moon.”

Sotheby's on 3 NASA film reels to be auctioned Saturday, the 50th anniversary of the first moon walk. A former NASA intern (now 65 years old) bought them in the 1970s. The original recordings of the moon walk likely have been destroyed or erased during a NASA film shortage.
Quick Quotes

“I am leaving because the new board chairs and I have philosophical differences over the direction and future of Planned Parenthood.”

Dr. Leana Wen was forced out of her role leading Planned Parenthood on Tuesday after 8 months. A former ER doctor, Wen was the first physician to lead the largest "reproductive rights" organization in decades. Wen indicated she wanted to address abortion as a healthcare issue, rather than a political one.
Quick Quotes

“The Rule is a part of an unlawful effort to significantly undermine, if not virtually repeal, the U.S. asylum system at the southern border, and cruelly closes our doors to refugees fleeing persecution, forcing them to return to harm.”

Lawsuit filed Tuesday by civil rights groups in response to a new rule announced Monday requiring asylum seekers traveling to the U.S. southern border to apply in another country first before applying in America.
Quick Quotes

“With the U.S. unilaterally reneging on its commitments, we are gradually losing our justifications to follow through on the commitments we made with the U.S. as well.”

North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency Tuesday, threatening to resume nuclear tests if the U.S. and South Korea don't delay their military drills planned for next month. This only weeks after Pres. Trump made an unplanned visit to North Korea's border as a show of commitment to diplomacy.
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