Generative artificial intelligence is reviving the horrific legacy of fanatics including former German dictator Adolf Hitler, while TikTok users are using the app’s AI tools to revive xenophobic speeches from long-dead leaders.

The phenomenon was recently documented in two different reports, one by the nonprofit watchdog group Media Matters for America and another in an investigation by the Institute for Strategic Dialogue and the SITE Intelligence Group, published by the Washington Post. Both opened a small network of accounts that created and distributed translated, AI-synchronized versions of Hitler’s speeches.

According to a study by Media Matters, AI-generated audios have amassed millions of views, including videos that mock the leader or those that turned the audio into a meme. Other accounts appeared to be seriously dedicated to creating and sharing these audios, sometimes with outright anti-Semitic messages. Popular videos using this sound, often stylized with slowed and “reverberating” sound, date back to April 2024, with some of them being mistranslated. After the report was published, TikTok removed a well-known uploader’s account and began redirecting related searches to a “facts about the Holocaust” page that documents Hitler’s murder of millions of civilian Jews, disabled people, political prisoners, LGBTQ+ people, etc with Roma origins.

The Washington Post reported that prominent fascist groups have praised the use of AI to spread bigoted propaganda, citing an increase in “red pill” young people engaging in hate speech and right-wing communities online. Experts told the publication that they fear platform moderation tools, including those on Meta Sites and X, will not be able to keep up with AI-powered distribution.

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In both reports, a range of positive sentiments were noted in the comments sections of the videos. Some users outright praised the historical figure and his policies, pointing out that many of these videos did not display blatant white supremacist dog whistles, raising fears among users that they were unwittingly being radicalized by the content .

Similar attempts to rewrite the legacies of historical figures made their way onto TikTok last year, spurred by AI. In June, a mistakenly leaked internal version of the app’s new digital AI avatar tool — which allowed its users to create advertisements featuring creators’ likenesses — led to the distribution of several AI-generated videos featuring avatars expressing various white supremacist rhetoric recited, including excerpts from My fight and Osama Bin Laden’s “Letter to America.” In 2023, TikTok videos reciting the same bin Laden statement, which has sometimes been linked to white supremacist sentiment, sparked panic across apps as users criticized the speech in light of the siege of Palestinians in Gaza and of Gaza by Israel as an anti-imperial treatise recontextualized the nation’s support for the United States.

In general, watchdog groups have repeatedly documented instances of both domestic and foreign actors using generative AI tools to spread disinformation through the app, including synthetic digital fakes (or “deepfakes”) of political leaders. White supremacist and pro-Nazi accounts have also proliferated on the platform, working with networks on sites like Telegram to boost their content within social media algorithms.

According to a July report from the Institute for Strategic Dialogue, TikTok hosts “hundreds” of pro-Nazi accounts that have millions of combined views. The organization says the company did not act quickly enough to stop the spread.

The next-generation platform combines military security with AI and reshapes global communications

NANNING, China, September 30, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — AITran, an AI-powered translation platform, made a splash in cross-cultural communication at the 21st China-ASEAN Expo. The platform, which features military-grade encryption and cutting-edge AI, is poised to revolutionize the way people communicate across language barriers.

Developed as a spin-off of the enterprise-focused LINKDOOD system, AITran stands out in the crowded translation app market for its unparalleled speed and security features. “We have essentially brought enterprise-grade security to the consumer space,” AITran co-founder Jackie Lin told reporters.

The platform’s key selling points include near-instant translation times, multi-user capabilities, and advanced noise cancellation technology for accurate translations even in chaotic environments. However, it’s the security features that are causing a stir in the tech community.

AITrans’ debut comes at a pivotal time for the global tourism industry. Ctrip, China’s leading online travel agency, reports a 50% year-on-year increase in overseas travel bookings for the upcoming National Day. This increase in international travel highlights the growing need for reliable and secure translation services.

The platform has already gained traction in key Asian markets including Japan, South Korea and Singapore. Now it has its sights set on Europe and North America, with the app available for download on both Google Play and Apple’s App Store.

Industry giants are taking notice. Amazon Web Services (AWS) provides cloud infrastructure support for AITran. Kelvin Lou, managing director at Onecompliance, a Singapore-based consultancy, sees AITran as a potential game-changer. “It’s not just about translating anymore,” explains Lou. “It’s about creating a seamless, secure global communications experience.”

As AITran expands its reach, it faces stiff competition from established players in the translation space. However, its unique blend of speed, accuracy and military-grade security could give it an edge in an increasingly privacy-conscious world.

The real test for AITran will come during China’s upcoming Golden Week, when millions of Chinese tourists travel abroad. If successful, AITran could usher in a new era in global communications, breaking down language barriers while maintaining the highest data protection and security standards.

The story continues

For more information, download the app from major app stores.

Email: [email protected]

A photo accompanying this announcement can be found at

Some Verizon customers in Kentucky cannot hear you at this time.

There appears to be a widespread outage of Verizon’s wireless service, according to DownDetector, an online site that monitors website and service outages.

What you need to know:

Where is Verizon down nationwide in the US?

According to the website, nearly 105,000 outages were reported over a 90-minute period Monday morning.

Cincinnati, Ohio, is among the cities with the most commonly reported problems. Others include Chicago; Columbus, Ohio; Denver, Colorado; Indianapolis, Indiana; Minneapolis, Minn.; Omaha, Neb.; Phoenix, Arizona; and Seattle, Washington.

Look back Our live updates from the game played at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.

The Arizona Cardinals fell to 1-3 this season with a 42-14 loss to the Washington Commanders.

The Cardinals scored on their first possession but struggled the rest of the way.

Quarterback Kyler Murray finished the game 16-for-22 for 142 yards and a touchdown. He was sacked four times, resulting in a loss of 27 yards.

Fellow Commanders Jayden Daniels went 26 of 30 for 233 yards with one touchdown and one interception. He also had eight carries for 47 yards and another TD.

James Conner led Arizona with 18 carries for 104 yards and a touchdown. Marvin Harrision Jr. had five catches for 45 yards and a touchdown.

The Cardinals are scheduled to face the San Francisco 49ers on the road in NFL Week 5 on October 6th.

Kevin Durant celebrates his birthday at the Cardinals-Commanders game

Phoenix Suns star Kevin Durant wore a Commanders jersey while celebrating his birthday at State Farm Stadium on Sunday.

With KD at the game were Magic Johnson, Josh Harris, Mark Ein, Mitchell Rales, Eric Holoman, Kevin Durant, Vernon Dixon and Rich Kleiman.

Driving along California’s Highway 1 through Big Sur offers unparalleled ocean views from a road carved through several coastal cliffs – a precarious geography that has made it difficult to keep the entire stretch of the scenic highway open.

Since January 2023, there have been closures along sections of the highway due to several rock falls and landslides. And despite efforts by transportation officials, it won’t be possible to fully navigate the roughly 100-mile road between Carmel and Cambria until sometime in 2025.

According to the California Department of Transportation, repairs to a section of Highway 1 near the community of Lucia have been delayed due to new landslide movements, pushing back plans that would have allowed uninterrupted travel on Highway 1.

The 6.8-mile section — which begins south of the Esalen Institute and ends north of Lucia — remains closed around the remains of Regent’s Slide, which spilled an estimated 300,000 cubic yards of earth, rocks and other debris across the roadway on Feb. 9 hurled during one of the most intense atmospheric river storms of the year.

Caltrans officials emphasized that much of Big Sur’s coastline outside of this challenging stretch is “accessible and open,” a news release said. Views of Big Sur, restaurants and amenities are accessible from either the north or south, and no businesses or communities were completely cut off by Regent’s slide, said Kevin Drabinski, a spokesman for Caltrans.

In mid-August, crews working on Regent’s slide discovered new cracks in the slope where excavation and construction were underway and halted repairs, an August update from Caltrans said.

“In the weeks since this update, persistent land movement and slope cracking have been observed during intensive project monitoring and investigation,” Caltrans officials said recently. To resume repair work, Caltrans crews plan to continue monitoring the area until “crews and equipment can be positioned on stable ground.”

Drabinski said in August that repairs to Regent’s slide were expected to be completed by late fall. However, Caltrans’ most recent update said the repairs would no longer be completed this year and that the agency would provide a new estimate and updates “periodically.”

Regent’s slide originated approximately 450 feet above the roadway, with debris burying the roadway and extending to the ocean. Caltrans crews have been working to clear and stabilize the area for months, but Drabinski said it was particularly challenging because of the height and steepness of the slope.

When the slide is finally repaired, Highway 1 will be open for direct travel between Cambria and Carmel – something that hasn’t been possible in nearly two years.

Most of the scenic highway has been reopened after damage from back-to-back years of extremely heavy rain, including two more landslides around Regent’s Slide and a rockslide near Rocky Creek Bridge.

The Miami Dolphins will look to bounce back from their back-to-back losses when they face the Tennessee Titans on Monday night at Hard Rock Stadium.

Nashville Post reporter John Glennon joined the All Dolphins Podcast last week. to break down everything related to the Titans and the match.

Here are excerpts from that interview. The full interview can be found below.

How big a surprise is it that the Titans started the season 0-3?

Glennon: I would say starting with the fact that they probably could and should have won their first two games against the Bears and the Jets. They had the lead in both games, especially against the Bears. In the opening game the game seemed to be almost stalled until they made a few catastrophic errors. A silly pick-six return for a touchdown, a punt block for a touchdown, suddenly the Bears are back in the game and continuing to win. Jets, again they were superior to the Jets and again mistakes made the difference. Against Green Bay, I think they got beat for the most part. They had some mistakes again, but Green Bay was certainly the better team. I think there were high hopes for this team. This team spent over $300 million on free agents, brought in a new head coach, a pass-friendly head coach and good wide receivers, better offensive linemen that there are hopes that this team will do better, at least in Nashville. So, yes, there is certainly a shock at the moment.

What went wrong with QB Will Levis, who showed promise as a rookie in 2023 but led the NFL in turnovers for three weeks?

Glennon: When they brought in Brian Callahan, a guy who had worked pretty closely with Joe Burrow over the last five years, Brian Callahan became head coach. A lot of people said, OK, now he has an offensive-minded head coach, a guy who really knows quarterbacks, unlike Mike Vrabel in the past, he should move forward. Now he has the wide receivers. He’s got Calvin Ridley, he’s got DeAndre Hopkins, he’s got Tyler Boyd, he should be better there. They’re drafting a number 7 left tackle (JC Latham), they’re adding a great free agent center Lloyd Cushenberry, so they’re also improving the offensive line and everyone has been waiting for Will Levis to take the next step. Well, the next step is unfortunately a step backwards. It didn’t help that he also had terrible protection. He was sacked 15 times in three games, including eight times Sunday against Green Bay. But even when the pressure wasn’t there, Will Levis made too many bad decisions. He was talking, in fact he used the phrase “rewiring my brain,” not to make decisions like that. But the rewiring has not yet had its full effect.

Is it actually possible that some Tennessee fans are currently missing their former QB Ryan Tannehill?

Glennon: Oh, I’m sure, I’m sure. You know, Ryan Tannehill wasn’t a particularly popular player. By his senior year, the numbers had declined. There were some important interceptions. And certainly Ryan Tannehill wasn’t as good in some playoff games as he was in the regular season. But I think there are a lot of Titans fans who would welcome him back with open arms now, and perhaps even shockingly, that they would be ready to bring Malik Willis back with open arms, and again, he certainly wasn’t Favorite. But after how he looked against the Titans, Tennessee fans might reconsider this move.

Was Tenessee’s win on Monday night in Miami last year the highlight of the 2023 season for Will Levis and the Titans?

Glennon: I think we can probably all remember the side shots of Will Levis just like a pumped up, excited maniac over there, you know, chest-thumping Mike Vrabel five feet back, and and uh… you know already, just a wild man and that I I think when the Titans fans really started to believe that we could have something here, he not only has that spirit, that emotion, that fire, but when you throw for 327 yards and can lead a comeback like that in the fourth quarter, maybe we really have something. Unfortunately for the Titans, Will Levis was the starter. Since then, he has posted a 0-5 record as a starter. Last year it wasn’t so bad, but of course this year we talked about his problems. At this point, one certainly has to be concerned about Will Levis’ confidence. There was some thought that he might start to hesitate, maybe be a little shy about throwing the ball. Maybe a trip south, back to the nice and warm conditions of Miami, football on Monday nights again, maybe that will bring the good things back.

How surprising was the firing of head coach Mike Vrabel after last season to you, considering he was arguably a top-five coach?

Glennon: I agree with you. I was surprised myself. I’m not saying Mike Vrabel was my favorite guy in the world. Not that that matters. He might be a bit difficult to deal with at times. But I thought he did a lot, even though he didn’t have much in the squad. For me, the biggest problem over the last two years, when the Titans went 7-10 and 6-11, was the personnel on the roster and the incredible number of injuries. In fact, the Titans have had to finish either first or second in the number of games lost over the last three years. I think that was a big part of the problem, and I really think when you look at Mike Vrabel’s entire work with the Titans, I think that’s something you have to take into account when you’re the owner, when you’re Amy Adams-Stronk and say, look what he’s done in the first four years or so, give him a chance, maybe with a healthier team, maybe with better personnel, to try to turn things around. So I was surprised. And I think one of the reasons wasn’t necessarily the way he was as a coach, but you hear things from innuendos, banter, back-alley channels and so on that he wasn’t necessarily the best employee, which isn’t hard to say introduce.

How is it that the offensive line is struggling so much after the hiring of Bill Callahan, the son of new head coach Brian Callahan and considered one of the best assistant coaches in the NFL?

Glennon: JC Latham is the left tackle, he was the No. 7 overall pick, he’s probably been the best and most consistent lineman so far, and I guess if you don’t overlook that, you’re saying that’s great for the future that you have a franchise left tackle. On the other hand, he is better than all the experienced guys who are at the game next to him. They have a No. 1 pick at left guard, Peter Skoronski, who was up and down and didn’t have a good day against the Packers. They brought in Lloyd Cushenberry at center, a big contract and a lot is expected from him. He was inconsistent. A second-round pick at right guard, Dillon Radunz, again, up and down, a lot of pressure. And then probably the real weakest link of the group at right tackle, Nicholas Petit-Frere, who was a third-round pick a few years ago and only played three games last year due to an injury and a game-related suspension. There was hope that he would return for his rookie season and solidify his right tackle spot. Not the case so far. In that game against the Jets, he allowed 11 pressures. Another thing I’ve also heard from a few players is that the offensive line is pretty interesting. You mentioned that Bill Callahan certainly has a great reputation as an offensive coach, but I think he differs from all the other offensive coaches in the amount of detail and the amount of different techniques that he teaches and I think that it’s in There’s a little bit of catching up to do in that regard, or that there’s just some catching up to do, maybe that’s part of the problem with the offensive line so far.

Have some fans already checked out after this 0-3 start?

Glennon: Well, there is certainly some of it. I think we all know that the stats for teams that start 0-3 aren’t great. So normally you know how this goes and you see the fans out there already talking about who we’re going to pick at quarterback if we pick No. 1 and so on. And there are certainly many fans who are already demanding that Mason Rudolph be given a chance there. Mason Rudolph is certainly not a guy who has achieved miracles in his career, but he did well in Pittsburgh last year. He won three games in a row and helped the Steelers get into the playoffs. And you know, fans are just very disappointed and, as we said before, “shocked” by Will Levis’ performance. So the disappointment is great because there was once again so much optimism. If you spend $300 million, over $300 million, in free agency, that’s going to generate some stuff. You bring in Calvin Ridley and L’Jarius Sneed and center Lloyd Cushenberry, one by one, and you’ll get people’s hopes up. It’s not necessarily a great recipe. Over the years, switching things up and acquiring lots of free agents hasn’t proven to be a good recipe, but it’s certainly generated a lot of interest.

Is the key to the game for Tennessee is Levis avoiding turnovers?

Glennon: Yes, I think so. At some point, Will Levis has to stop the bleeding from these turnovers. So maybe the Titans will be a little more run-heavy this week. I haven’t necessarily seen how well the Dolphins play against the run, but I wouldn’t be surprised if the Titans at least tried. They only ran, I think, 11 times against the Packers, trailed most of the game and started throwing, throwing, throwing. So I think they would try to run the ball a little bit more, you know, and limit the turnover opportunities for Will Levis. I think it will be interesting defensively. We’ve talked about L’Jarius Sneed and certainly he and Tyreek Hill had some interesting moments in the last playoff game. And if I remember correctly, I think L’Jarius Sneed has had pretty good success against Tyreek Hill in the last few matchups. So that will be interesting to watch too.

How confident are you that Tennessee can come to Miami and pick up a second straight win against the Dolphins on Monday night?

Glennon: It’s much better without Tua. I will say that. I did my podcast last night and we always do a prediction at the end, so I guess I’ve published it before so I’ll stick with it, I feel cautiously okay with the Titans in large part because of the Tua situation. I don’t think it will be a real shootout. No. I think it will be around 17-9, I think, which is what I predicted for the Titans to win. I think their defense looked pretty good up until the Green Bay game when they were immediately overrun, but again, I don’t necessarily think that’s the strength of a strong Dolphins running game, so maybe that’s okay in this situation . And again, L’Jarius Sneed seems to be having pretty good success with Tyreek Hill, etc. So if Will Levis, maybe when we set the over-under ratio, for example, 2.5 (turnovers) for Will Levis and he goes down this week, then maybe the Titans have a chance. If it goes over that, if it’s three or more, it’s probably a Dolphins W.

As the weather changes and cold and flu season ramps up again, there is still a risk of contracting COVID – especially here a supposedly more contagious strain is making its way in the USA

If you have unused COVID tests lying around at home, you may still be able to use them.

Here’s what you should know:

Why are COVID tests expiring?

Yes, it’s true – that COVID test sitting in your cupboard won’t last forever. In fact, it will only take a few months.

Says the Cleveland Clinic At-home COVID tests are designed to look for an antigen on the virus using an antibody in the kit, but the antibodies in the kits break down over time. This can result in older test kits no longer being able to detect viruses as accurately.

Can I use an expired COVID test?

The short answer: It depends.

The expiration dates of many COVID-19 tests have been extended, so you may still be able to use your COVID-19 test after the expiration date printed on the packaging. You can check if your test has an extended expiration date on the FDA website here.

If your test has expired, use is not recommended as it could produce inaccurate results.

RELATED: Americans Can Order Free COVID-19 Tests: What You Should Know

False positive on expired COVID test

If a home COVID antigen test has expired, it may produce an inaccurate result.

The most likely scenario is that the test gives a “false negative,” meaning you think you are safe from the virus even though you may have the virus.

“Scientifically, it makes no sense to get a false positive result with an expired test,” says microbiologist and pathologist Daniel Rhoads, MD, said the Cleveland Clinic. “If the antibodies also no longer work, the test may not detect the virus as well as when it was originally manufactured.”

RELATED: The supposedly more contagious COVID-XEC variant is beginning to spread

Updated COVID testing expiration dates

The FDA has extended expiration dates for dozens of brands of at-home COVID-19 tests.

To view the FDA’s list and search for your own, Click here.

Free COVID testing

Americans can again order free COVID-19 tests from the US government.

The website is available from September 23rd COVIDTests.gov open for orders.

U.S. households are eligible for four free tests. All you need to do is provide your name, address and email address if you would like to receive shipping notifications.

SEYMOUR, Ind. (THE TRIBUNE) — Citizens of Indiana House District 69 were presented with two visions of Indiana’s future Wednesday night in a debate showdown between incumbent Jim Lucas, R-Seymour, and Democrat candidate Trish Whitcomb at Seymour High School.

With Election Day less than 38 days away, voters aren’t just tuning-in to the unprecedented presidential race between Democrat Vice President Kamala Harris and former Republican President Donald Trump, but local elections as well.

The District 69 candidates shared their positions on various topics such as education, healthcare, agriculture, leadership, housing and immigration.

Dan Robison, executive director of the Jackson County Chamber, and Arann Banks, executive director of the Jackson County Visitors Center, served as moderators for the debate.

The rules were simple, each candidate had two minutes to answer questions and one minute for rebuttals. No questions were shared with the candidates and with a win in a coin toss, Whitcomb elected to speak second about the first topic.

Also, each candidate had the opportunity to ask one question of the other and were given two minutes for an introduction and closing statement.

Lucas, who was first elected to the Indiana House in 2012, started the night off introducing himself and the importance the position places on the Constitution.

“We are all required to swear an oath to the Constitution,” he said. “It doesn’t care if you are Democrat or Republican, Black or white, rich or poor, gay or straight. It doesn’t differentiate because we are all the same.”

Whitcomb shared her experience working many years with the Indiana Department of Education and the experience she could bring to the position.

“I’ve learned the importance of hard work, integrity and standing up for what is right,” she said. “This community shaped me and that is why I am running now. I believe we need a leader who leads with compassion and delivers real results.”

Education

The night kicked off with the topic of education with the question, who should determine what public school teachers should and should not be teaching in the classroom?

Lucas said he prefers a “hands-off approach” allowing parents to have role in how and what their child is being taught. Lucas continued saying teachers can decide on material to a degree contingent upon whether the material is harmful or sexually explicit and is being taught outside of a certain age group.

“We did not ban books,” he said. “We took books that were not appropriate for the age of the material that was being taught.”

Indiana HB 1447 passed the General Assembly in the final days of the 2023 session banning “harmful materials” to minors from school libraries. Librarians who violate the law could be charged with a Level 6 felony and face up to two and a half years of jail time.

The law defines obscene material as appealing to prurient interest in sex, depicting or describing sexual conduct in an offensive way, or lacking serious literary, artistic, political or scientific value. Librarians cannot use the book’s education value as a defense.

The American Library Association documented more than 4,200 unique book titles targeted for censorship in 2023. Of the 10 most challenged books in 2023, some were challenged for themes of race and racism, seven were challenged because they contained LGBTQ+ content and all were claimed to contain sexually explicit content.

Whitcomb took a different approach calling out the “watered down” licensing in Indiana and how it has impacted the classroom.

“When you have a situation where your educators are not well prepared it can have an impact in the classroom,” she said. “The input for parents is very important, but I think that input needs to be focused on their child and their progress.”

Whitcomb added she opposes standardized testing, saying it causes added stress on the educators and does not adequately inform school corporations on student’s learning progress.

To address teacher shortages, the legislature introduced a bill that would allow school districts to request emergency permits in a content area where they are experiencing difficulty staffing with a proper licensed educator.

The applicant must possess the minimum of a bachelor’s degree from an accredited university to be eligible and the permit is valid for one school year and can be renewed.

According to the Department of Education, the state employed more than 6,200 emergency licensed teachers in 2022-up about 1,700 from the year before. It’s now nearly 10% of licensed teachers in the state.

Candidates then addressed the challenges public school systems face as a population of students, which English is not their first language, has recently surged. Moderators asked to keep solutions Indiana lawmakers can support to the state and local level without bringing up immigration law and border security.

“We want everyone to speak English in our country and in our state,” Whitcomb said. “When we have dual-immersion where kids could learn two languages that’s a strong benefit to the community. The extra costs that may involve educating these kids it’s an investment we need to make.”

Whitcomb added the county needs immigrants and to not make fun of kids who can’t speak English.

“Let’s put in the effort of making everyone a productive and engaging member of society,” she said.

Lucas said at the state and local level lawmaker’s hands are tied due to federal policies that have been in place for the past few years, mentioning open borders.

After an audience interruption, Lucas said the total school enrollment at Seymour Community Schools is 5,400, 1,900 of those being English-learner students.

Superintendent Brandon Harpe later told The Tribune that the enrollment numbers are pretty close, but stated the school did not grow from last year and the English-Learner enrollment has been stable.

“It’s not just dual language we have multiple languages,” Lucas said. “Explain to me how one teacher can teach multiple different languages in an elementary school setting.”

A dual-immersion program was considered at Cortland Elementary School in March of this year where kindergarteners would have received bilingual education and learn content in the Spanish language. This program would have offset declining student enrollment at Cortland and provide opportunities for students to become bilingual. Due to parent concerns, the proposal was dropped by the school board in April.

“I support the parent’s right to choose their child’s education,” Lucas said in his rebuttal.

School safety

The conversation then moved to meaningful and actionable measures the candidates support to increase school safety across the state.

Lucas stated every school shooting in America has happened in a gun-free zone.

“A gun-free zone is nothing more than a place where people who obey gun laws are made easy victims for people who don’t,” he said.

This claim, however, is missing context. According to the Associated Press, a common claim that more than 90% of all mass shootings have happened in “gun-free zones” comes from a study by a gun rights advocacy group. The study draws from federal data on “active shooter” incidents, which is not the same as a mass shooting.

Lucas did mention House Enrolled Act 1177, passed in 2013, that allows Indiana schools to apply for state funding to train teachers and staff in firearm safety.

“We simply gave them the ability to defend themselves,” he said. “We have to have people there trained, armed and ready to mitigate.”

Whitcomb responded legislators have had ample opportunity to pass sensible gun safety laws including requirements for storage in households. Whitcomb recalled the recent incident that occurred at Crothersville High School where a student was arrested for making bomb threats.

“Stronger enforceable gun safety regulations regarding storage and responsibility of parents is the first thing I would do for school safety,” she said.

Lucas countered her statement saying additional laws will not stop crimes from being committed.

“I am not advocating for no gun safety laws, but I am pointing out that laws do not stop bad behavior,” he said. “If it did we wouldn’t have all of these crimes that are still being committed.”

Whitcomb added additional mental health assistance in schools is needed now more than ever.

Healthcare

The debate moved to the topic of healthcare and candidates were asked about creative approaches to health outcomes of a growing population of aging Hoosiers and affordable medication.

Lucas said Medicaid in Indiana is the largest growing line-item budget currently. Indiana spends about 11% of its budget on Medicaid, lower than the national average of 17%, according to a story from the Indiana Capital Chronicle.

“We are seeing growth that we can’t control,” he said. “We need to start getting people involved in their healthcare decisions such as eating healthier, exercising more and stop smoking.”

Whitcomb said more needs to be done about the lack of transparency of healthcare insurance regulations, saying that is why Indiana is ranked fifth in the nation for healthcare costs. According to a study conducted by the nonprofit policy think tank, RAND Corp. commercial hospital prices in Indiana rank eighth highest in the country.

Lucas said the state is limited to what it can do without violating federal codes, but offered a solution for the state to look at the purchasing power and corporations. He added drug prices have skyrocketed since companies have been able to advertise directly to consumers.

Whitcomb then brought up Senate Bill 8, which requires pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) to pass on rebates they receive from drug manufacturers to patients or insurance companies, a bill Lucas voted against at the time.

“For somebody who thinks individual choices in their healthcare is important to keep costs down that you would want to limit information consumers get about prescription drugs,” she said.

Agriculture

In regards to solar farms and warehouses being constructed on productive farm ground, Hoosier farmers have been utilizing new technology to increase yields. Candidates gave their opinions on the topic.

“If you want to sustain and protect farmland, we need to give farmers a predictable and certain amount of increase over time on property tax,” Whitcomb said. “So, they can keep their farmlands in production.”

“We worked hard to keep property taxes down, but we see them spike like we have in the last few years it poses a challenge,” Lucas said.

Leadership

The conversation moved to allegations of whether both candidates truly reside in District 69. Indiana Code states that a candidate for the office of representatives in the general assembly must “have lived” in the state for at least two years and “have lived” in the house district for at least one year.

Both candidates affirmed to the audience they legally reside within the boundaries of District 69.

In a follow-up question, Whitcomb said its important for the representative to live in the district so, they are involved in the community. She added, however, that she travels frequently to meetings in Indianapolis where her husband lives in a home they purchased.

“I live here and the reason I live here is because I want to help this community,” she said. “I didn’t move down here to run for State Rep., but I did decide to run in May of 2023.”

Lucas said he was born and raised in Seymour and that it’s important to live in the district they represent to know the needs of the community.

“They should be there for them and listen to what they have to say,” Lucas said. “Simple question to me.”

Housing

Tackling the topic of homelessness and affordable housing, candidates provided their opinions on how to address the issues.

“Minimum wage earners are the minority of our population,” Whitcomb said. “If that wage is raised, everyone else will get a raise. It will not kill jobs and we need to make sure all work is honored and paid adequately so, people can afford things.”

Lucas said “throwing money” at the problem will not help.

“Homelessness is a horrible issue, but we have to help people that want to help themselves,” he said. “Mental health is a big factor of this as well.”

Lucas said with the influx of people entering Seymour from outside of the state and country, multigenerational living is on the rise and driving up housing costs.

According to Pew Research Center, multigenerational living is a growing trend for a number of factors that include financial issues, lack of affordable housing and caregiving.

Multigenerational living is growing in part because groups that account for most recent overall population growth in the U.S., including foreign-born, Asian, Black and Hispanic Americans, are more likely to live with multiple generations under one roof. Multigenerational living, however, also is rising among non-Hispanic white Americans, who accounted for a share of the multigenerational household’s population growth from 2000 to 2021, 28%, than of total population growth, 9%.

There is no evidence to suggest multigenerational living is driving up housing costs, but actually can help families afford to buy or rent homes in expensive markets and reduce poverty.

Immigration

Moving on to the hot-button issue of legal and illegal immigration, candidates provided their opinions on how to support first responders and the path of driving certificates in response to the rapid influx.

“No problem has been solved pointing the finger,” Whitcomb said. “It takes a community to come together to pull resources and solve these problems. If we need more cops and EMTS that is a local matter for the city to decide.”

Lucas said police are funded by local property tax and there are two officers for every 1,000 residents.

“We don’t know how many people are living in Seymour,” he said. “The closest guess I can come up with is 34,000, basing off school population, which is more than what the Census says.”

As of 2022, the current population in Jackson County is 46,200 people, 95% of the population are citizens and 5.96% of the population are foreign-born residents, according to Census data. There is not much information of the current population of undocumented people in the county.

“Until we can get control over how many people actually live here and start taxing accordingly we are going to continue chasing our tail,” Lucas said.

Lucas added he is against providing driver certificates to residents who are undocumented.

“I do not want to reward people that come into our country illegally,” he said. “Just because they get a certificate does not mean they will get insurance.”

According to an article from The Daily Reporter in Greenfield, auto insurance rates have been consistently rising in double digits year-over-year since Sept. 2022. In July 2023, the most recent month for which data is available the increase from July was 18.6%.

Whitcomb said she is for giving people who are in the country legally a way to drive, access driver training courses, understands laws of the road and be insured.

Whitcomb added that whether immigrants are here to seek asylum, which are allowed to legally work in the U.S. after six months, or on an H-2A Agricultural Visa can work in the U.S.

“They all pay sales tax for everything they buy and pay into Social Security that they will never access,” she said. “It’s a benefit to have a group of employed newcomers in your district.”

According to the Associated Press, recent estimates put the figure of immigrants in the U.S. without authorization at about 11 million, though the figure could be slightly higher today given recent border crossings.

The Social Security Administration estimated in 2010, that such immigrants contribute $12 billion per year more to the Social Security system than they take out.

While immigrants in the country without authorization do not have Social Security numbers, they can file taxes using an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number, or ITIN.

Questions

Reaching the end of the debate, candidates were able to ask a question of the other.

Whitcomb brought up House Speaker Todd Huston’s decision to not appoint Lucas to any interim study committees that convened in 2023 after he plead guilty to DUI crash misdemeanors. She asked Lucas how he would deliver to the community in a leadership position that he is severely compromised in.

“The media loves me I know and yes, I made the headlines,” he said going into various controversial social media posts he made in the past. “I did screw up last year and I accept 100% responsibility for it. The lesson I learned from that has made me a better person and leader for the rest of my life.”

Lucas asked Whitcomb if she thinks the path Indiana’s economy is on currently is sustainable and if taxpayers should pay more for extra programs she wants to establish.

“I am a fiscal conservative and want to follow in my dad’s footsteps,” she said. “He kept administrative costs down, cut the budget and did not raise taxes.”

After the debate, The Tribune spoke with each candidate, and both said it went well.

“People got to see two obvious choices of who they want to represent them,” Lucas said. “I am very confident because the principles that I stand for and upholding my oath to the Constitution will hold the government accountable to the taxpayer.”

“We are fortunate to have had the opportunity to speak to voters directly as not many legislators do,” Whitcomb said. “The voters have a very clear choice now after hearing myself and my opponent. I feel this may be a chance for a change in representation and our district wants and deserves that.”

Behold the chaos unleashed.

On Monday, the Atlanta Braves and New York Mets will play a doubleheader to determine not only their own playoff fate, but the fate of the Arizona Diamondbacks as well. Rain from Hurricane Helene wiped out two games between Atlanta and New York last week in what should have been a monumental three-game showdown. Instead, the last two games were blowouts, leaving the entire National League wild card picture hanging in the balance.

There was a scenario that would have rendered such makeup games statistically invalid, which would likely have led to their cancellation. Instead, there was a loss in Atlanta, combined with wins by New York and Arizona in the finals planned The matchday on Sunday meant that all three teams were practically level in the table. And so the strangest of scenarios – a season-deciding twin bill between Game 162 on Sunday and Game 1 of the Wild Card Round on Tuesday – has become a reality.

Let’s put an end to the madness and preview what’s sure to be an unforgettable day of baseball.

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How did we get here?

Mother Nature is the easy answer. The rain in Georgia last week made Truist Park unplayable. The league could have forced the Braves and Mets to play at a neutral site, but chose not to. Certainly the league was hoping that the results of the final weekend of play would make Monday’s doubleheader game unnecessary. Had the Diamondbacks not stormed back for 11 runs on Sunday after losing early to the Padres, MLB’s wish would have come true. Arizona would have been eliminated with a loss, sending New York and Atlanta into the October tournament.

A Braves win on Sunday would have created perhaps the most unsavory scenario in which Atlanta would have secured a wild card spot but would still have had to play New York twice on Monday because the Mets would have had to win both games to clinch and eliminate the D-Backs.

Luckily it didn’t turn out that way. Nevertheless, we are left with plenty of chaos.

What scenarios are playing out?

There are three possible outcomes: The Mets could sweep, the Braves could sweep, or the two clubs could split the doubleheader.

If a team wins both games on Monday, that club will be in the playoff field alongside Arizona, and the loser of the doubleheader will travel home for the winter. A split between New York and Atlanta would send both teams into the playoffs and route the Diamondbacks, even though all three teams had identical records. That’s because both the Mets and Braves have a tiebreaker over the Diamondbacks.

If the Mets and Braves split the doubleheader, Atlanta would be the No. 5 seed and New York would be the No. 6 seed, based on Atlanta’s win in the season series between the two. The Braves would then travel to San Diego to face the Padres, while the Mets would return to Milwaukee to play the Brewers.

If a team goes 2-0 on Monday, that club, be it New York or Atlanta, would travel to San Diego as a No. 5 seed, while Arizona would play Milwaukee as a No. 6 seed in a rematch of the Wild from last year’s card round .

In other words:

• Atlanta comes in with a win. The Braves can only be the No. 5 seed.

• new York comes in with a win. If the Mets win on a Monday, they are a No. 6 seed. If they win both, they are a No. 5 seed.

• Arizona comes in if either Atlanta or New York sweep the doubleheader. The D-Backs can only be the No. 6 seed.

Doesn’t that create bizarre incentives?

Yes. The winner of Game 1 on Monday secures a spot in the playoffs with this win, making Game 2 irrelevant for this team. Conversely, the team that loses Game 1 will face a win-or-go-home situation in Game 2.

This means that the task of the winner of Game 1 would be to (1) lose Game 2 as quickly as possible and (2) in doing so bet on the least important group of available players. And that’s understandable, considering all of this involves an incredible amount of travel and zero days off between this doubleheader and the start of the playoffs on Tuesday.

For example, if the Mets win Game 1, it would make no sense for them to use flame-throwing closer Edwin Díaz in Game 2. This would put more pressure on him for a playoff game on Tuesday. And much like what can happen on a road trip during the regular season, there’s a chance that the Game 1 winner’s hitters will sub out early and often to throw Game 2 into a tailspin.

Who will pitch?

The Braves have repeatedly said that likely NL Cy Young winner Chris Sale will only start in one elimination game. Therefore, Atlanta plans to use Spencer Wechselbach in the opening game and only use Sale in Game 2 if they lose Game 1. Of course, the Braves would love to eliminate their division rivals – and vice versa – but spite is less motivating or important than, you know, ejecting Chris Sale in Game 1 of a playoff series.

The Mets will likely employ a similar strategy, with backend starter Tylor Megill likely to start Game 1 and frontline hurler Luis Severino waiting in the wings for Game 2 if needed. That makes a showdown between Sale and Severino extremely unlikely.

Unfortunately, all of these factors represent a huge disadvantage for the Diamondbacks, who will spend Monday sitting in front of the TV waiting and hoping.

For the rest of us, it means a bonus day of high-stakes baseball, one with some of the most bizarre possible outcomes in recent memory.

Editor’s Note: The details of this story are graphic and may be disturbing to some readers.

A Philadelphia man was sentenced to life in prison for shooting another man and burning his body beyond recognition because he didn’t want people to know about their romantic relationship.

During a news conference Monday, Assistant District Attorney Cydney Pope said 23-year-old Kylen Pratt was motivated by hate when he shot and killed 20-year-old Naasire Johnson in February 2022.

“This is a person who was killed because he was gay and because the man who killed him didn’t want anyone to know he was in a relationship with him or had sex with other men,” Pope said. “Plain and simple. It is absolutely one of the most heinous crimes I have ever prosecuted.”

On February 17, 2022, Johnson, 20, left his West Philadelphia home and went to an apartment in the 2900 block of W. Oxford Street, where he met with Pratt, with whom he was romantically involved. Pratt then pulled out a gun and shot Johnson in the neck, killing him.

Pratt then took Johnson’s body, traveled to a remote area in Fairmount Park in Philadelphia, wrapped Johnson’s body in cloth, plastic and duct tape and set it on fire.

On February 20, 2022, around noon, two people walking their dog found Johnson’s remains in the area of ​​Brewery Hill Drive and Kelly Drive. Investigators said the body was so badly burned that it was initially impossible to tell it was human. It took investigators a week to identify the remains, and Johnson’s death was ruled a homicide.

After receiving an anonymous tip, police obtained a search warrant for the home in the 2900 block of W. Oxford Street. They found a large stain of bleach and other cleaning products, as well as blood on the ceiling and the back of a door. They then found more blood under a rug on the floor. Investigators later confirmed the blood belonged to Johnson and recovered a gun that matched the bullet they found in Johnson’s neck.

Investigators also obtained cell phone records showing that Pratt and Johnson were at home together on February 17, 2022 and that Pratt was at the crime scene in Fairmount Park on both February 19 and 20.

Investigators also discovered that Pratt searched his cell phone for messages about the discovery of Johnson’s body, as well as terms such as “murder in cold blood,” “sex with corpses” and “characteristics of a psychopath.”

On June 15, 2022, Pratt was arrested and charged with murder, possession of a weapon, abuse of a corpse and tampering with evidence.

On Friday, September 27, Pratt was sentenced to life in prison and several years in prison due to the heinous nature of the crime. ADA Pope was with Johnson’s family members late Monday morning when she made the announcement.

“I only presented the jury with six photos from the crime scene and only once because they are so shocking. No one should have to see them once,” Pope said. “What this man did to Naasire Johnson is that he deprived the family of the opportunity to ever see him again. And there can be no forgiveness for that.”

Johnson’s grandmother said her grandson was killed just before he was scheduled to attend community college.

“He always worked and kept his job. Good heart. He was a lovely person. Everyone liked him. Nobody could say nothing bad about him. Nothing,” she said through tears. “Sometimes I just force myself to go to sleep. My heart is so torn in so many places. Sometimes I just wish I could say, “What are you doing in your room, Naasire?” I couldn’t even see him when they laid him to rest. I couldn’t even see him.”

If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline by calling 1-800-799-SAFE (7233), visiting www.thehotline.org or texting LOVEIS Send 22522.