A multibillion-dollar plan to create “clean” hydrogen from Australian brown coal and ship it to Japan is on the brink of collapse. Japanese media has reported Kawasaki Heavy Industries has withdrawn from the trial, blaming procurement delays. The controversial plan was billed as a lifeline for the Latrobe Valley’s ageing brown coal industry. Under the plan, hydrogen would be extracted from coal, creating the world’s first liquefied hydrogen supply chain. Kawasaki Heavy Industries has reportedly withdrawn from plan to create “clean” hydrogen from brown coal sourced from the Latrobe Valley. Credit: Eamon Gallagher Proponents said the joint venture, led by Japan’s largest industrial conglomerates, would use commercially unproven CO2 capture and storage technology to sequester carbon in the Bass Strait. It was also to send the super-cooled hydrogen extracted from coal in purpose-built bulk carriers out of Hastings to Kawasaki in the Asian nation’s industrial heartland. The Hydrogen Energy Supply Chain project (HESC) was a partnership between international fossil energy companies, including Kawasaki Heavy Industries Ltd (KHI), Royal Dutch Shell and AGL. It was supported by a $2.35 billion investment from the Japanese government, and a $50 million in start-up investment from the Victorian government in 2018. Japanese outlet Nikkei reported that Kawasaki Heavy Industries had abandoned its bid to establish an international supply chain to procure hydrogen from Australia because it had become “difficult to procure hydrogen in Australia within the deadline”. “With the completion of the demonstration test by fiscal year 2030, as originally scheduled, being an absolute requirement for ensuring competitiveness, the company has changed hydrogen procurement to domestic,” Nikkei reported. “It has also downsized its hydrogen carriers and is now steering toward a more ‘realistic’ solution.” ‘This disastrous project has never stacked up ... Now the wheels are well and truly falling off’ Ellen Sandell, Victorian Greens leader Victorian Energy Minister Lily D’Ambrosio raised doubts about the project last year at an Australian Financial Review Energy and Climate Summit, saying it was not clear that the proponents would be able to adequately capture the carbon from the coal and safely sequester it. “That is a question that is yet to be answered,” she said. The AFR reported that Kawasaki Heavy Industries’ chairman Yoshinori Kanehana told a separate event last year that his business had been focused on winning “social license” from Victorian communities and hoped to avoid “ideological divides”. Friends of the Earth gas campaigner Freja Leonard said Kawasaki Heavy Industries’ decision to withdraw indicated the project wasn’t financially or practically feasible. “It’s just an absolute nonsense to use brown coal in a climate crisis to produce hydrogen,” she said. “Hydrogen is notoriously difficult to contain. It’s incredibly expensive to produce, and any project that expects to successfully ship hydrogen from one country to another without significant leakage is doomed to failure.” Loading A commercial-in-confidence report on the proposal compiled by the Department of Industry, Science and Resources in 2022 and released under freedom of information laws argued the plan was broadly supported in the Latrobe Valley. “There are a limited number of groups within the Latrobe Valley that do not support the use of fossil fuels and are against CCS [carbon capture and storage],” it stated. “However, the predominant sentiment in the Valley is one that supports the HESC [Hydrogen Energy Supply Chain].” Identifying challenges getting stakeholders like the local council on board, the report noted that the HESC had “revised [its] messaging”, “highlighting the carbon neutrality” the project could achieve by combining biomass with coal. This, it said, “softens the image of HESC as a coal-driven project”. Under the plan, the cooled hydrogen would have been piped more than 150 kilometres from Gippsland to the Port of Hastings and shipped to Japan. In January 2022, according to the confidential report, hydrogen was successfully generated under trial from brown coal and biomass. However, it reported cost overruns and lengthy delays to the trial. Victorian Greens leader Ellen Sandell said it was time for the project to be scrapped altogether. “This disastrous coal project has never stacked up environmentally or economically, and I cannot believe Labor ever gave it money and support. Now the wheels are well and truly falling off.” Comment has been sought from Energy Minister Chris Bowen’s office. Get to the heart of what’s happening with climate change and the environment. Sign up for our fortnightly Environment newsletter. Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. License this article Hydrogen Paris Agreement Climate policy Bianca Hall is The Age's environment and climate reporter, and has worked in a range of roles including as a senior writer, city editor, and in the federal politics bureau in Canberra. Connect via Twitter , Facebook or email . Most Viewed in Environment LoadingELDRED — Retired defense consultant Lois Lembo and retired congressional aide Leon Reed will speak at the Eldred World War II Museum at 1:30 p.m. Sunday in Mitchell Paige Hall. The event is free and open to the public. Lembo and Reed’s speech is titled “The View from the Foxhole: The GI View of the Defense and Liberation of Bastogne,” a title referring to the stories of Sergeant Frank Lembo of the 305th Engineers and 1st Lt. Walter Carr of the 318th Infantry Regiment, through their Battle of the Bulge experiences. Lois Lembo is a retired defense consultant. She specialized in the evaluation of naval war games, manufacturing and supply chain management, Soviet production capabilities, and producibility. She led the project team that produced the White House Critical Technology Report, the DOD Critical Industry Planning Report, and the B-2 bomber producibility study. She is the lead author of “A Combat Engineer with Patton’s Army: The Fight Across Europe with the 80th “Blue Ridge” Division in WWII.” Leon Reed is a retired congressional aide and history teacher. He was the senior U.S. Senate aide responsible for the Defense Production Act. He is the editor of the magazine of the Battle of the Bulge Association. He is the co-author of three WWII memoirs, including those of Frank Lembo and Walter Carr, principal subjects of Sunday’s talks.
It’s unlikely Donald Trump will be able to realize his campaign promise that all remaining Bitcoin will be made in the U.S., according to observers who know the industry. “It is a Trump-like comment but it is definitely not in reality,” Ethan Vera, chief operating officer at Seattle-based Luxor Technology, which provides software and service to cryptocurrency miners, told Bloomberg News. Bitcoin is made through a process known as mining , in which operations use high-powered, fuel hungry computers to solve complicated math problems used to validate transactions in the network and post them to a public ledger, known as the blockchain. Crypto mining companies who solve these problems first are rewarded with payment, including in Bitcoin itself, a currency whose overall supply is currently capped at 21 million coins , not all of which have been issued. Considerable roadblocks stand in Trump’s way to make good on his vow. Bitcoin mining is distributed across the world, particularly in places with cheap access to abundant energy needed to fuel the data centers needed to mine crypto. The U.S. is currently home to less than half of all crypto mining, according to the government Energy Information Administration . There’s not much Trump could do to change the distribution aside from encouraging favorable regulation and energy prices to get operators within the decentralized currency to come to the U.S. But it’s not clear how successful that would be, or how long it might take. Moreover, a trade war with China like Trump is proposing, would further hike costs in the U.S., since most miners use Chinese-made computers. Nonetheless, the Trump campaign courted the crypto industry throughout his 2024 campaign, promising to make the U.S. a “Bitcoin superpower,” with the government buying a strategic reserve of cryptocurrency, even though Trump once dismissed crypto as “based on thin air.” Trump also promised to remove Securities and Exchange Commission Chair Gary Gensler, who is viewed as an opponent within the industry. Trump even unveiled a crypto venture of his own in September. The industry, in turn, has handsomely rewarded the Trump campaign. It contributed over $200 million to Trump and his allies, with donations from firms involved in crypto including Ripple, Coinbase, and venture capital powerhouse Andreessen Horowiz. In December, Bitcoin hit a record high price, in part because of optimism over the incoming administration. Crypto exchanges Coinbase and Kraken have also donated $1 million to the Trump inaugural committee. They join inauguration donors, including Amazon and Meta , as the tech industry seeks to build close relationships with the new White House. As The Independent has reported , the 2024 marked a sea change in tech politics, in which many top figures in the industry, including Elon Musk, left behind their traditional Democratic allies and supported Republicans.
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49ers coach Kyle Shanahan expresses confidence in struggling kicker Jake MoodyNew Delhi: Former prime minister Manmohan Singh stands as a towering figure in modern India’s history. Known for his profound contributions as an economist, a policy reformer, and a statesman, Singh’s life reflects a relentless pursuit of excellence and service to the nation. Singh was the first prime minister since Jawaharlal Nehru to be re-elected after serving a full first term. He held the top office from May 2004 to May 2014. To a generation of Indians, Singh remains the architect of India’s economic reforms. It was Singh and former prime minister P. V. Narasimha Rao who guided the country when foreign exchange reserves were not sufficient to cover even two weeks of imports. Singh’s academic journey began with a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in economics from the Panjab University in 1952 and 1954. He then went on to complete a First Class Honours degree in Economics in 1957 from the University of Cambridge in 1957. Singh then earned a D.Phil in Economics from Oxford University in 1962. His career in academia as a teacher took him to Panjab University and the Delhi School of Economics from 1966 to 1971. Singh transitioned into public service in 1971, joining the Government of India as an Economic Advisor in the Ministry of Commerce. Over the next decades, he held pivotal positions, including Chief Economic Advisor (1972), Governor of the Reserve Bank of India (1982–1985), and Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission (1985–1987). From 1987 to 1990, Singh served as Secretary-General of the South Commission in Geneva. In 1987, Singh was awarded India’s second-highest civilian honour, Padma Vibhushan. Other awards and honours bestowed on him include the Jawaharlal Nehru Birth Centenary Award of the Indian Science Congress (1995); the Asia Money Award for Finance Minister of the Year (1993 and 1994); the Euro Money Award for Finance Minister of the Year (1993), the Adam Smith Prize of the University of Cambridge (1956); and the Wright’s Prize for Distinguished Performance at St. John’s College in Cambridge (1955). The turning point in Singh’s career came in 1991, when he became Finance Minister under then prime minister P.V. Narasimha Rao. As India faced a severe economic crisis, Singh spearheaded landmark liberalisation reforms, including deregulation, reduction of import tariffs, and privatization of state-owned enterprises. These measures fundamentally transformed India’s economy, paving the way for sustained growth and integration into the global market. On 22 May 2004, Singh was sworn in as India’s 14th Prime Minister, marking a historic moment as the first Sikh to hold the office. His first term witnessed India achieving an average economic growth rate of 7.7 percent. Singh’s administration focused on inclusive growth, enacting transformative laws such as the Right to Information (RTI) Act and the Right to Education (RTE) Act. Following the Congress party-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) victory in the 2009 general elections, Singh was re-elected for a second term. During his decade-long tenure, India emerged as one of the world’s fastest-growing economies, nearly doubling its GDP to two trillion dollars by 2014. Despite his achievements, Singh’s tenure as Prime Minister was marred by controversies. Corruption scandals, including the Commonwealth Games scam, tainted his government’s image. Additionally, economic challenges like inflation and a slowdown towards the end of his second term drew criticism. His administration was often perceived as indecisive in addressing these crises. After over three decades in the Rajya Sabha and a career marked by transformative policies and leadership, Singh retired from active politics in 2024. The former prime minister was seen in a wheelchair inside the Rajya Sabha when the Delhi Services Bill was discussed in the House in August 2023. Singh had voted against the bill. Vartika Singh is an intern with ThePrint (Edited by Tony Rai) Also Read: ‘BJP never believed in reform’—what ex-PM Manmohan Singh said in 2004 var ytflag = 0;var myListener = function() {document.removeEventListener('mousemove', myListener, false);lazyloadmyframes();};document.addEventListener('mousemove', myListener, false);window.addEventListener('scroll', function() {if (ytflag == 0) {lazyloadmyframes();ytflag = 1;}});function lazyloadmyframes() {var ytv = document.getElementsByClassName("klazyiframe");for (var i = 0; i < ytv.length; i++) {ytv[i].src = ytv[i].getAttribute('data-src');}} Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Δ document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() );
Sacramento region gained people but flubbed economic opportunities over 50 years | Dan WaltersFive bear cubs believed to be orphans have been released back into the wild after spending the summer at a Colorado Parks and Wildlife Department's rehabilitation center. The cubs, which were found in separate incidents, were released on Nov. 20 at separate locations near Pagosa Springs, about 250 miles southwest of Colorado Springs, near the border of New Mexico, the agency's Durango office said in a post on Facebook . One set of three cubs was rescued by wildlife officers over the summer after their mother was euthanized because she entered a home in the Durango area, ABC News reported . Under the agency's directives , bears that come into contact with humans need to be euthanized to avoid further conflicts endangering human lives. Since the cubs did not enter the home, they were captured by wildlife officers, who assessed their health and determined that the best course of action would be to rehabilitate them, agency spokesperson John Livingston told ABC News. Another cub, meanwhile, was spotted wandering alone on the property of a concerned resident in southern Jefferson County in June, the wildlife agency said . Since it was it was still too early for a cub to be on their own, wildlife officers determined the cub was orphaned. The cubs were taken to the Frisco Creek Wildlife Rehabilitation Center in Del Norte, where they joined other cubs to “grow and socialize." Rehabilitating the bears As the cubs recouped at the wildlife agency's facility, extreme measure were taken to ensure the bears did not associate with humans. "There’s no talking allowed near bear pens, and the bears never see a person feeding them," the agency said. "They get a feed diet as well as natural foods such as berries and dead fish from a hatchery." Agency spokesperson Kara Van Hoose told USA TODAY on Monday that the cubs were placed in pens "with the slides covered so they do not see humans." The cubs are fed without any interaction and as they grow, "they are moved into larger pens with more rehabbed bears." As the weather changes, steps are taken to prepare the bears for denning and their diet is switched to high sugar and no protein. "We decrease the feeding as the year goes on to mimic the conditions in the wild and encourage their bodies to go into hibernation," Van Hoose said. "When they are ready to hibernate, we release them into the wild, so they are able to build their own dens." Once they "instinctively try to den at the rehab" by diggings dens in the aspen grove pen or using "sticks and hay bales to get cozy in den boxes," and weigh over 60 to 70 pounds, "they are good to release to go find their own natural dens ahead of winter," the agency said. Releasing the bears into the wild The bears are taken to location where the wildlife agency has previously observed "great success in not seeing the bears turn back up as conflict bears or roadkill." Video footage shared by the agency shows the bears bolting and running away from the trucks towards the trees. "In both releases Wednesday, the cubs do exactly what we want: they bolt away and show their natural fear of humans," they said. Of the 25 cubs rehabilitated at Frisco Creek this year, eight were released Wednesday following three earlier last week. Eight more are expected will go out this week, the agency said, adding the remaining cubs “aren’t fat enough yet." Releasing the bears right now "maximizes their time in rehab, while also giving them time in the wild to prepare for hibernation (torpor) and building a den," the agency said. "The cubs that remain at Frisco Creek will continue to eat before going into artificial den boxes to be released later in January or February," the agency said. "We like to get cubs over 80 pounds for release to give them an extra head start on getting through winter and the early spring months." Saman Shafiq is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at sshafiq@gannett.com and follow her on X and Instagram @saman_shafiq7.
In keeping with a long-standing Thanksgiving tradition, President Joe Biden recently pardoned a pair of turkeys . During a ceremony at the White House, the birds — named Peach and Blossom — were spared from the dinner table and given a new lease on life. While it was an act of pure political pageantry, it highlights the president’s expansive pardon powers — which could be used liberally during his final two months in office. Historically, presidents have issued numerous pardons during their lame duck periods, including quite a few that have raised eyebrows. Here is what to know about presidential pardons. Article II of the Constitution enables the president to grant clemency for any federal crime, according to a Congressional Research Service (CRS) report. This authority is rooted in an old English law that permits monarchs to bestow mercy on criminals. “The president’s power to pardon is astronomical,” Taylor Stoermer, a historian at Johns Hopkins University, told McClatchy News. “The Constitution doesn’t even require an explanation. The only real limits are that it doesn’t apply to state crimes or impeachment cases.” “So the president can grant full pardons, commute sentences, or even offer amnesty, on an individual basis or for an entire class of people,” Stoermer said. Most presidents have issued numerous acts of clemency throughout their terms in office, according to historians. For example, Donald Trump, during his first term, granted 143 pardons and 94 commutations, according to the Pew Research Center. During Barack Obama’s eight years in office, he issued 212 pardons and 1,715 commutations. Among the commutations granted by both men were multiple that concerned low-level drug offenses , such as possession of marijuana. However, these acts of clemency have not typically been distributed evenly throughout a president’s tenure. Since 1945, every president — with the exception of Lyndon Johnson — granted clemency at a higher rate during the last four months of their terms, according to CRS. For example, Obama granted an average of 296 acts of clemency per month during his final four months in office, compared with an average of eight per month before that. Similarly, Trump issued an average of 50 per month during the last four months compared with an average of one per month before that. “Trump certainly kept to that pattern, and I would not be surprised if Biden does as well,” Thomas Balcerski, a presidential historian at Eastern Connecticut State University, told McClatchy News. Additionally, these 11th hour acts of mercy tend to be the most controversial ones. “Most save the big, bold pardons for the end of their terms,” Stoermer said. “And because exactly why you’d think: No voters to answer to.” Throughout history, presidents have issued a fair number of pardons, commutations and acts of amnesty that have received widespread scrutiny. “The most famous, of course, is Gerald Ford’s pardoning of Richard Nixon,” Vernon Burton, an emeritus history professor at Clemson University, told McClatchy News. In September 1974, following the Watergate scandal and Nixon’s resignation, Ford issued a full pardon for any crimes Nixon “committed or may have committed” against the United States. Jimmy Carter also took flak for pardoning “all of the Vietnam War draft dodgers,” Burton said. “That was huge.” This pardon, issued on Carter’s first day in office in 1977, applied to roughly 100,000 military-age men who avoided going to war , according to Politico. “Then there’s George H.W. Bush pardoning key players in Iran-Contra,” Stoermer said. With less than one month until he left office, Bush pardoned six people , including a former secretary of defense, wrapped up in the illegal arms scandal. More recently, Obama reduced the sentence of Oscar Lopez Rivera, a Puerto Rican activist whose political organization was responsible for dozens of robberies and bombings in the U.S. And Trump preemptively pardoned adviser Steven Bannon, who was charged with bilking donors out of money they gave toward the construction of a border wall. “These kinds of moves show how the pardon power can get tangled up in political strategy or personal connections—and that’s what makes it fascinating (or infuriating) to watch,” Stoermer said. Given that Biden’s son Hunter Biden has been convicted of felony offenses , some have wondered whether he will issue a pardon before he leaves office. “Would he pardon Hunter Biden? That’d be quite something,” Balcerski said. “There is some precedent.” On his last day in office, President Bill Clinton issued a pardon for his half-brother Roger Clinton, who had pleaded guilty to a cocaine distribution charge. “That was slightly less impactful because Roger Clinton had already served the time,” Stoermer said. “So that was mostly about clearing his record than dodging accountability.” Joe Biden, though, has said he has no plans to grant clemency to his son. Trump could break with long-standing tradition of issuing controversial pardons at the end of his term, historians said. The president-elect has vowed to pardon some of the people convicted of participating in the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot on his first day in office. “I am inclined to pardon many of them ,” he wrote on social media in March, according to ABC News. Throughout the country, about 1,500 people have been charged in connection with the riot, including about 547 who were charged with “assaulting, resisting, or impeding officers or employees.” “It wouldn’t be surprising to see an unprecedented wave of pardons right out of the gate, particularly for January 6 rioters,” Stoermer said. “That would take the use of the pardon power into completely uncharted territory.” “Of course, there is a precedent: Carter’s first-day pardon of draft evaders of the Vietnam era,” Stoermer said. “That applied to hundreds of thousands of people. But that’s not quite the same as a coup.”
DC Surge Protection Devices: Safeguarding Electrical SystemsFriday, December 27, 2024 In a significant development for trans-Atlantic travel, German carrier Condor Airlines has announced the cancellation of multiple routes between Frankfurt and North America for 2025. The decision follows a ruling by the German Federal Court of Justice, which overturned a longstanding arrangement requiring Lufthansa to provide feeder flights to Condor’s network. The ruling has disrupted connectivity for travelers across several U.S. and Canadian cities, including San Antonio’s only trans-Atlantic flight. The German Federal Court’s decision has reverberated through the travel industry, effectively severing an operational link that allowed Condor passengers to seamlessly connect to Lufthansa flights. Under the previous arrangement, passengers from North American cities could fly on Condor to Frankfurt and continue on Lufthansa flights with a single ticket and baggage checked through to their final destination. This operational synergy has been crucial for Condor’s ability to serve North American markets. Condor’s revised schedule for 2025 includes the discontinuation of service from Frankfurt to several North American destinations: United States: Canada: The cancellation of these routes marks a significant loss of connectivity for travelers and communities in these regions. For San Antonio, this is particularly impactful as the city’s first-ever nonstop trans-Atlantic service to Europe has been a milestone achievement. Jens Boyd, Condor’s commercial director, expressed regret over the decision, emphasizing the airline’s strong ties with the affected communities. “This is not a decision we take lightly,” Boyd stated. “We deeply regret the loss of connectivity and service this will cause. However, we remain committed to exploring all avenues for fair competition.” Despite these assurances, the legal processes required to address the ruling are expected to take time. The cancellation of Condor’s San Antonio route comes as a setback for the city’s burgeoning trans-Atlantic travel ambitions. Introduced in 2024, the service marked the region’s first direct flight to Europe, connecting San Antonio with Frankfurt and beyond. The route served an estimated 450 passengers daily in each direction, contributing to a 30% increase in passenger flights between San Antonio and Europe during the summer season. Local leaders and airport officials have expressed disappointment while reaffirming their commitment to restoring trans-Atlantic service. “This summer, the San Antonio region demonstrated its strong support for trans-Atlantic travel,” said Jenna Saucedo-Herrera, CEO of the greater:SATX regional economic partnership. “We remain deeply grateful for Condor’s investment and will continue working to connect SAT to the world.” Jesus Saenz, Jr., director of airports for the city of San Antonio, highlighted ongoing efforts to expand nonstop service. “Ties between our region and Europe continue to grow, and reconnecting SAT and Europe will remain a top priority,” Saenz stated. Community partners and airport officials are exploring alternative avenues to re-establish trans-Atlantic connectivity, underscoring the sustained demand for such services. The loss of Condor’s routes has implications beyond San Antonio. Cities like Baltimore, Phoenix, and Minneapolis-St. Paul have also lost vital connections to Europe, affecting tourism and business travel. In Canada, Edmonton and Halifax are similarly impacted, with local officials expressing concerns over reduced international travel options. Despite these setbacks, data suggests robust demand for trans-Atlantic travel from North American cities. San Antonio’s record-breaking summer numbers highlight a market capable of sustaining nonstop service. However, industry experts caution that airlines must navigate complex regulatory and operational challenges to meet this demand. While the current cancellations are a blow to Condor’s North American operations, the airline remains committed to its long-term growth strategy. Jens Boyd reiterated Condor’s focus on fair competition and exploring legal remedies to the challenges posed by the German court ruling. Meanwhile, the airline continues to operate other routes across its network, maintaining its presence in key markets. The cancellation of Condor’s routes to North America underscores the interconnected nature of the global aviation industry and the far-reaching impact of regulatory decisions. For affected cities like San Antonio, the loss of trans-Atlantic service is a setback, but local leaders remain optimistic about restoring connectivity. As the industry adapts to new challenges, collaboration between airlines, regulators, and communities will be essential to ensuring the continued growth and accessibility of global travel. Discover everything and anything about travel , tourism , trade shows at the Travel And Tour World , including breaking travel news and weekly travel updates for travel trade , airlines , cruise , railways , technology , travel association , DMCs, and video interviews and promotional videos .
Real Madrid star Endrick’s ‘brother-in-law’ is shot dead in Christmas Day bar massacreIn keeping with a long-standing Thanksgiving tradition, President Joe Biden recently pardoned a pair of turkeys . During a ceremony at the White House, the birds — named Peach and Blossom — were spared from the dinner table and given a new lease on life. While it was an act of pure political pageantry, it highlights the president’s expansive pardon powers — which could be used liberally during his final two months in office. Historically, presidents have issued numerous pardons during their lame duck periods, including quite a few that have raised eyebrows. Here is what to know about presidential pardons. Presidential pardon power Article II of the Constitution enables the president to grant clemency for any federal crime, according to a Congressional Research Service (CRS) report. This authority is rooted in an old English law that permits monarchs to bestow mercy on criminals. “The president’s power to pardon is astronomical,” Taylor Stoermer, a historian at Johns Hopkins University, told McClatchy News. “The Constitution doesn’t even require an explanation. The only real limits are that it doesn’t apply to state crimes or impeachment cases.” “So the president can grant full pardons, commute sentences, or even offer amnesty, on an individual basis or for an entire class of people,” Stoermer said. How often do presidents grant clemency? Most presidents have issued numerous acts of clemency throughout their terms in office, according to historians. For example, Donald Trump, during his first term, granted 143 pardons and 94 commutations, according to the Pew Research Center. During Barack Obama’s eight years in office, he issued 212 pardons and 1,715 commutations. Among the commutations granted by both men were multiple that concerned low-level drug offenses , such as possession of marijuana. However, these acts of clemency have not typically been distributed evenly throughout a president’s tenure. Since 1945, every president — with the exception of Lyndon Johnson — granted clemency at a higher rate during the last four months of their terms, according to CRS. For example, Obama granted an average of 296 acts of clemency per month during his final four months in office, compared with an average of eight per month before that. Similarly, Trump issued an average of 50 per month during the last four months compared with an average of one per month before that. “Trump certainly kept to that pattern, and I would not be surprised if Biden does as well,” Thomas Balcerski, a presidential historian at Eastern Connecticut State University, told McClatchy News. Additionally, these 11th hour acts of mercy tend to be the most controversial ones. “Most save the big, bold pardons for the end of their terms,” Stoermer said. “And because exactly why you’d think: No voters to answer to.” Controversial acts of clemency Throughout history, presidents have issued a fair number of pardons, commutations and acts of amnesty that have received widespread scrutiny. “The most famous, of course, is Gerald Ford’s pardoning of Richard Nixon,” Vernon Burton, an emeritus history professor at Clemson University, told McClatchy News. In September 1974, following the Watergate scandal and Nixon’s resignation, Ford issued a full pardon for any crimes Nixon “committed or may have committed” against the United States. Jimmy Carter also took flak for pardoning “all of the Vietnam War draft dodgers,” Burton said. “That was huge.” This pardon, issued on Carter’s first day in office in 1977, applied to roughly 100,000 military-age men who avoided going to war , according to Politico. “Then there’s George H.W. Bush pardoning key players in Iran-Contra,” Stoermer said. With less than one month until he left office, Bush pardoned six people , including a former secretary of defense, wrapped up in the illegal arms scandal. More recently, Obama reduced the sentence of Oscar Lopez Rivera, a Puerto Rican activist whose political organization was responsible for dozens of robberies and bombings in the U.S. And Trump preemptively pardoned adviser Steven Bannon, who was charged with bilking donors out of money they gave toward the construction of a border wall. “These kinds of moves show how the pardon power can get tangled up in political strategy or personal connections—and that’s what makes it fascinating (or infuriating) to watch,” Stoermer said. Have presidents pardoned family members? Given that Biden’s son Hunter Biden has been convicted of felony offenses , some have wondered whether he will issue a pardon before he leaves office. “Would he pardon Hunter Biden? That’d be quite something,” Balcerski said. “There is some precedent.” On his last day in office, President Bill Clinton issued a pardon for his half-brother Roger Clinton, who had pleaded guilty to a cocaine distribution charge. “That was slightly less impactful because Roger Clinton had already served the time,” Stoermer said. “So that was mostly about clearing his record than dodging accountability.” Joe Biden, though, has said he has no plans to grant clemency to his son. Could Trump break the mold? Trump could break with long-standing tradition of issuing controversial pardons at the end of his term, historians said. The president-elect has vowed to pardon some of the people convicted of participating in the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot on his first day in office. “I am inclined to pardon many of them ,” he wrote on social media in March, according to ABC News. Throughout the country, about 1,500 people have been charged in connection with the riot, including about 547 who were charged with “assaulting, resisting, or impeding officers or employees.” “It wouldn’t be surprising to see an unprecedented wave of pardons right out of the gate, particularly for January 6 rioters,” Stoermer said. “That would take the use of the pardon power into completely uncharted territory.” “Of course, there is a precedent: Carter’s first-day pardon of draft evaders of the Vietnam era,” Stoermer said. “That applied to hundreds of thousands of people. But that’s not quite the same as a coup.” Do Ukrainians still support the war against Russia? New poll finds ‘decisive shift’ Trump could impose tariffs without Congress, experts say. Here’s how it could work How are vacancies in Congress filled? What to know as Trump picks members for Cabinet
The Tampa Bay Rays have had six of their 2025 regular-season games shifted to the early season due to weather issues from playing outside, Major League Baseball announced Monday. The Rays' usual home, domed Tropicana Field, was damaged by Hurricane Milton last month with almost all of its roof shredded and no possibility of playing there next year. As a result, the Rays moved their 2025 home games from St. Petersburg to the New York Yankees training complex at nearby Tampa, which has an 11,000-seat outdoor stadium. An April series scheduled against the Los Angeles Angels that had been set for California will instead be played April 8-10 in Florida. A series between the two which had been set for August in Florida will now be hosted by the Angels on August 4-6. A Rays series against the Minnesota Twins planned in Minneapolis from May 26-28 will instead be played on the same dates in Tampa while a series that had been set for Tampa on July 4-6 will now be played in Minnesota. Florida summers can bring extreme heat and rain. js/bspLongtime Jamestown legislator Dave Nething dies
