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UT Austin assistant professor joins AI expert panel

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 11:56:19 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- An assistant professor at the University of Texas Austin will join a panel of experts poised to "explore the future of artificial intelligence on society," according to a UT release Wednesday.Samantha Shorey, a communication studies assistant professor with UT's Moody College of Communications, was appointed to the AI100 study panel. The panel brings together AI experts from around the globe with specialties in computer science, sociology, ethics and economics, among other areas.The panel is administered by the Stanford Institute for Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence, per the release. It is tasked with creating a report every five years and "exploring the state of artificial intelligence and its influences on society," the release added.“This is an incredible honor to be working alongside so many scholars who I have read and looked to their research for so long,” Shorey said in the release. “The folks that are on the committee are the kinds of people I would be...

Bayport man gets federal prison sentence for punching St. Paul mail carrier

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 11:56:19 GMT

A Bayport man has been sentenced to more than 5½ years in federal prison for assaulting a mail carrier in St. Paul in 2018.Kevin Demetri Blocker, 27, pleaded guilty in May to one count of assaulting a federal employee. He was sentenced Monday in U.S. District Court in St. Paul to 68 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release.According to court documents, Blocker became upset that he had to stop his car quickly for a U.S. Postal Service mail carrier who was crossing the street at an intersection. After the carrier shouted to Blocker that he was required to yield, Blocker parked and confronted the carrier. He punched him in the face, which knocked him to the ground, where his head hit the concrete. He was taken to the hospital with a head wound that required 12 stitches.Blocker tried to hide his involvement in the assault by reporting that his car had been stolen and then selling it, court documents say.Related ArticlesCrime & Public Safety | Escape...

Review: The must-see restoration of ‘Stop Making Sense’ captures Talking Heads at the height of their powers

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 11:56:19 GMT

In 1983, New York art rock band Talking Heads returned to action after a brief hiatus when the four members pursued side projects.The group’s first four records, issued one each year from 1977 to 1980, saw Talking Heads add funk and Afrobeat rhythms to their insular post-punk sound to the thrill of critics and ever-increasing interest from listeners. Their singles “Psycho Killer” and “Take Me to the River” had found some success. Thanks to MTV, less conventional acts with strong visuals were developing into superstars.It was Talking Heads’ time. Their fifth album, “Speaking in Tongues,” went platinum and its fiery lead single “Burning Down the House” hit No. 9. When it came time to tour, lead singer David Byrne crafted a wildly inventive, tightly choreographed and theatrically experimental stage show quite unlike any rock concert before it. The band members cobbled together enough money to hire Jonathan Demme, whose 1980 film “Melvin and Howard” established him as a dire...

What to stream this week: ‘Barbie,’ Dan & Shay, ‘The Morning Show’ and ‘Welcome to Wrexham’

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 11:56:19 GMT

Tunes from Dan & Shay and Vic Mensa plus a genre-blending Hulu series “The Other Black Girl” set inside the world of publishing are some of the new television, movies, music and games headed to a device near youAmong the offerings worth your time as selected by The Associated Press’ entertainment journalists are a joyous season two of “Welcome to Wrexham,” “Barbie” can be bought for $30 and Jennifer Aniston and Reese Witherspoon return for season three of “The Morning Show.”— “Barbie” is finally coming to the small screen, giving audiences everywhere the freedom to belt out “I’m Just Ken” along with Ryan Gosling without shame. It’ll come at a cost, though, at least for a little while. Greta Gerwig’s billion-dollar blockbuster will be available to buy on video-on-demand for a cool $29.99 starting Tuesday. The film took on a life of its own after a wild marketing blitz and “Oppenheimer” proximity, inspiring moviegoers to don their pinkest, most sparkly ensembles for group trips to...

Kevin McCarthy impeachment inquiry into Biden appears to win over reluctant Republicans

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 11:56:19 GMT

WASHINGTON — House Speaker Kevin McCarthy’s sudden decision to launch an impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden has won over even the most reluctant Republicans, with some GOP lawmakers pushing for swift action while others expect it to drag into the 2024 election year.McCarthy opened and closed a private meeting Wednesday of House Republicans justifying his reasoning for the inquiry sought by former President Donald Trump, the party’s frontrunner to challenge Biden next year.The White House mobilized to fight what it called the “unprecedented, unfounded claims” against the president regarding his son, Hunter, and family finances.Biden did not respond to shouted questions about impeachment during an event on cancer research at the White House.“They have turned up no evidence,” said White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre. “This is a political stunt.”The moment is a politically pivotal one for embattled Republican speaker McCarthy whose job is targeted by Trump’s right-f...

Changes to state gun laws impacting background checks

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 11:56:19 GMT

GREEN ISLAND, N.Y. (NEWS10) – Another part of a state gun law goes into effect Wednesday and changes the agency that processes background checks and what you’ll now need a background check for. It’s all tied to gun reform legislation signed by Governor Kathy Hochul after the Tops supermarket mass shooting in Buffalo.The New York State Police now processes background checks. Gun dealers will no longer submit requests directly to the FBI. Under New York Executive Law 228, on national instant criminal background checks, the state police are authorized as a “point of contact state” and will contact the FBI to initiate those background checks starting Wednesday. And the state is now requiring background checks for ammunition purchases.  Get the latest news, weather, and sports delivered right to your inbox! The new process left many people at local gun shops frustrated, including Lee Bormann the director of training at the American Firearms Training Academy in Green Island. “...

Man admits to eight charges, some linked to death of De Smet football coach

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 11:56:19 GMT

ST. LOUIS - A St. Louis man admitted to eight criminal charges, some in connection with the death of a De Smet Jesuit High School football coach in 2017. Kurt Wallace, 30, pleaded guilty to several felonies Wednesday in federal court, including,Four counts of carjackingTwo counts of discharging a firearm in furtherance of carjackingOne count of discharging a firearm in furtherance of carjacking resulting in deathOne count of jail escapeWallace was convicted in multiple carjackings, including one that led to the death of De Smet football coach Jaz Granderson. Investigators say he shot in the early morning hours of Oct. 16, 2017, near the intersection of Minnesota Avenue and Hill Street. Father of teen killed in crash wants more transparency from police Wallace was also convicted in armed carjackings from Sept. 16 and Oct. 15, 2017. Two of those ended up with the driver being shot in the shoulder or the leg. He was indicted by a federal grand jury in November that year. In July 2019...

State lawmakers fail to override Parson's vetoes, concede pared-back state budget

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 11:56:19 GMT

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — Missouri lawmakers on Wednesday failed to override any of the governor's budget vetoes, conceding to a pared-back budget that is $555 million slimmer than they passed.The GOP-led Legislature did not attempt to override Republican Gov. Mike Parson on most of his budget cuts during its abbreviated annual September session focused on vetoes.But House lawmakers made several fruitless efforts to spare extra funding for law enforcement, seniors and mental health services. Senators gaveled in briefly Wednesday and made no effort to override Parson, upending the House's work.On Tuesday, Parson said lawmakers put “quite a few things in the budget — more than normal” — and that he made numerous line-item vetoes to try to focus the spending on things that would have statewide impacts.“But I have to look at things beyond one House district or one Senate district,” Parson said. “At some point, everything can’t be a priority, and we have to make a decision.” ...

Stock market today: Wall Street churns to a mixed finish after highly anticipated inflation data

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 11:56:19 GMT

By STAN CHOE (AP Business Writer)NEW YORK (AP) — Wall Street churned to a mixed finish on Wednesday after a highly anticipated report showed inflation accelerated across the country last month, but not by much more than expected.The S&P 500 edged up by 5.54 points, or 0.1%, to 4,467.44 after flipping between small gains and losses a few times through the day. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 70.46 points, or 0.2%, to 34,575.53, and the Nasdaq composite rose 39.97, or 0.3%, to 13,813.59.The modest moves followed a shaky immediate reaction to the inflation report across financial markets, where bond yields and stock prices swung back and forth several times. The report said U.S. consumers paid prices last month that were 3.7% higher than a year earlier, up from July’s inflation rate of 3.2%.That’s discouraging for shoppers paying higher prices, but much of the acceleration was because of higher fuel costs, which can swing very sharply and quickly. Ignori...

Burbank mayor addresses backlash over drag queen spanking video

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 11:56:19 GMT

Burbank Mayor Konstantine Anthony is facing criticism from largely conservative circles after he was recorded on video being spanked by a drag queen over the weekend, but he's defending his actions and arguing that some of those critics are responding out of anti-LGBTQ+ bigotry.In the video, Anthony can be seen getting spanked, a moment the clip shows synced to the Village People's "Macho Man."Comments on the video, which was posted by the Armenian-American podcast WiseNuts, largely disparaged Anthony and his decision to participate. For its part, the WiseNuts account added the hashtags "#beaman," "#clownshow" and "#embarrassing.""This is an excellent example of the humiliation a man will subject himself to in order to pander to the degenerate alphabet cult crowd. He debases the honor of elected office every time he appears in public," wrote James Clarke, a candidate for state Assembly."I'm so proud of our Mayor in Burbank. He achieved the maximum level of stupidity," added Alex Bad...