The Supreme Court is beginning its new term, welcoming the public back to the courtroom and hearing arguments for the first time since issuing a landmark ruling stripping away women's constitutional protections for abortion. Monday's session also is the first time new Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, the court's first Black female justice, will participate in arguments. And the public is back for the first time since the court closed in March 2020 because of the coronavirus pandemic. The court's overturning of the nearly 50-year-old Roe v. Wade abortion decision is still reverberating in legal fights over state abortion bans and other restrictions. But a new stack of high-profile cases awaits the justices. Also hanging over the justices is some unf...
The UK and continental Europe have been hit by an “unprecedented” number of cases of avian flu this summer, with 47.7m birds having been culled since last autumn, according to new figures. Poultry producers from as far north as Norway’s Svalbard islands to southern Portugal have together reported almost 2,500 outbreaks of the disease since last year. There have also been thousands of outbreaks recorded in wild birds, according to the latest update from the EU’s European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, European Food Safety Authority and the EU reference laboratory. The virus reached breeding colonies of sea birds on the north Atlantic coast, killing huge numbers. In past years, outbreaks of avian flu declined with warmer weather and ...
Baltimore, MD – Oct.  2022 - Every Shabbos table offers every Jewish family an incredible opportunity by which they can share their joy for Shabbos, for Yiddishkeit and for HaShem with their children. Unfortunately, our schedules are hectic and many people don’t have the time to prepare themselves to utilize the Shabbos table to its fullest. Therefore, we at ACHIM created TableTalk as a pre-packaged talking points pamphlet which is attractive, fun and has something for everyone. Limited copies are distributed to many shuls on a weekly basis but they are snatched up very quickly. Get yours ASAP or click on the graphic below and print your own.What’s in it and what’s all the excitement about?TableTalk features:•    Weekly halachic dilemma crea...
Days after landfall, dangers persist, even worsening in some places The confirmed death toll from Hurricane Ian, which slammed the southeast United States last week, rose to at least 81 in Florida alone, officials said on Monday. There were several fatalities in Cuba and North Carolina as well, though no official toll was available. Ian, one of the most powerful storms to hit the United States, flattened entire neighborhoods and knocked out power lines and bridges as it made landfall on Florida's southwestern coast last Wednesday. Days after it carved a path of destruction from Florida to the Carolinas, the dangers persisted, and even worsened in some places. It was clear, as President Joe Biden pointed out earlier, that the road to recovery from this monster storm wil...
United Airlines is temporarily halting service at New York’s JFK Airport, saying its schedule there is too small to remain competitive. In a note shared with CNN Business, the airline said the start of the winter season, when more airlines resume flying to and from JFK, contributed to its “difficult decision.” “The significance of JFK to our operation hasn’t changed — we think New York customers deserve more choices, and robust United service to JFK is good for our customers, our employees and our airline,” United said in the letter. “As a result, we will continue our pursuit of a bigger and more desirable schedule for our customers and be ready to seize those opportunities if and when they surface.” United has been negotiating with ...
After Michaeli vowed that Tel Aviv's light rail will operate on the Sabath Israel's Shin Bet agency will boost the security detail of Transportation Minister Merav Michaeli following a wave of threats against the official on social media and elsewhere. The Labor party, led by Michaeli, said in a statement Monday that the minister's security detail was beefed up "in light of increased threats." Michaeli drew ire from Israel's ultra-Orthodox sector last week by saying that Tel Aviv's light rail — currently in advanced stages of construction — will operate on Shabbat, the Jewish day of rest. Last week lawmaker Bezalel Smotrich, a far-right traditionalist, said that “instead of dealing with the transportation catastrophe that all Israeli ci...
The hidden coin hoard provides evidence for a dramatic moment in the history of the country – the Muslim conquest of the Byzantine Empire and the establishment of the Umayyad Caliphate. Israel Antiquities Authority archaeologist, Dr. Yoav Lerer: “The person who hid the coins between the stones of the wall, probably fled, hoping to later retrieve his property, but he failed to return.” A treasure of 44 pure gold coins was recently discovered in archaeological excavations carried out by the Israel Antiquities Authority at the site of Paneas (later known as Banias), within the Hermon River Nature Reserve. The excavations, funded by the Israel Electric Corporation, were carried out prior to connecting the adjacent Druze holy site Maqam Nabi Khadr to the national electricity ...
President Biden on Monday will visit Puerto Rico and announce more than $60 million in funding to help the island guard against future storms after it was pummeled last month by Hurricane Fiona. Biden and the first lady will travel to Ponce, Puerto Rico, to meet with families and community leaders affected by the storm, a White House official said. The Bidens will help pack bags with foods and other essential items while there, the official said. Biden is scheduled to receive a briefing on recovery efforts on the island and deliver remarks before returning to Washington, D.C. As part of his remarks, Biden will outline more than $60 million in funding through the $1.2 trillion bipartisan infrastructure law signed last year that will be used to improve levees on the island, stre...
A homeless encampment prevented some vendors at the Baltimore Farmers Market from setting up their stalls Sunday. The weekly market is held under the Jones Falls Expressway and features almost 100 vendors. Monica Lewis, a spokeswoman for Mayor Brandon Scott, said the city wasn't aware that the encampment was there until after the market. She said the city's Office of Homeless Services was working with the homeless people "to see how we can all best move forward together." Mitchell Salland, of Migae's Magnificent Mini Donuts, said when he arrived Sunday morning for the market a group of homeless people was occupying an area that he usually uses to access electricity for his stall. He said the homeless people refused to let him near the outlets and instead insisted on plug...
You can see all the plans are here.The Harford road bridge is back open to traffic after a four-year construction project. The new bridge has one lane of traffic in each direction and dedicated bike and bus lanes. The department of transportation says it has to finish landscaping for the project. Officials say there will be a public ceremony to celebrate sometime this fall.
A Court of Appeals will hear arguments from both gubernatorial candidate Dan Cox and the Maryland State Board of Elections on the counting of mail-in ballots issue next Friday, October 7th at 10am. This comes a week after a circuit court judge ruled in favor of the SBE's petition requesting the mail-in ballots to be counted earlier and just one day after a Court of Special Appeals judge denied Cox's request for a stay. Chief Judge Matthew Fader has ordered that both sides file their briefs by next Tuesday, October 4 and any reply briefs be filed by next Thursday, October 6 at noon.
As you read here on BJL, social media posts are showing teens how to easily steal vehicles. After a summer of "Gone in 60 Seconds" type car thefts, there is good news for owners of tens of thousands of cars that can be easily stolen, thanks to a viral social media challenge. A repair kit now showing up at dealerships may end a rash of car thefts nationwide. Rebecca Perry is among hundreds of Kia and Hyundai owners whose cars have been stolen this year. "They took away something that I called mine," Perry said. Her beloved 2019 Kia Soul was stolen from a parking lot outside her home, then taken for a joy ride and wrecked. Police blame a social media trend on TikTok showing teens how easy it can be, she says, "to start a car and be gone within 20 seconds."  
We don't need to tell you that inflation is continuing; you feel it every time you go shopping. Unfortunately, some economists predict inflation won't be where it usually is until 2024. But that doesn't mean help isn't on the way for some Americans. COST-OF-LIVING RAISES It may sound dry, but if you are an older American on social security, you are well aware of cost-of-living adjustments. Cost-of-living adjustments are the increase in pay Americans on social security get each year. Cost-of-living adjustments are based on the consumer price index, which measures inflation and has been at 40-year highs for most of the year. Right now, the expectation is the adjustment in 2023 will be 8.7%. How much is that? If you get a $1,000 check every month, that's $87 m...
Baltimore, MD – Oct. 2, 2022 - BJL wishes a hearty Mazel Tov Aryeh Hexter and Chaya Shurin on their engagement.Mazel Tov parents Rabbi & Mrs. Doniel Hexter and Mr. & Mrs. Moshe Dov Shurin and grandparetns Rabbi & Mrs. Naftali Hexter and Rabbi & Mrs. Ezra Siff.   יה"ר שיזכו לבנות בית נאמן בישראל. אמן!
A new poll by the Washington Post and the University of Maryland found that Democrat Wes Moore is leading the Maryland governor's race by 32 points. Moore, a best-selling author and nonprofit executive, is facing Republican Del. Dan Cox, who has been endorsed by former President Donald Trump, in the General Election. The poll found that Moore had 86% percent support among fellow Democrats while he also garnered 22% of the Republican vote and 38% of the independent vote. Maryland is an overwhelmingly Democratic state, but voters are willing to elect moderate Republicans like Gov. Larry Hogan and former Gov. Robert Erhlich Jr. However, Cox is extremely conservative -- opposing abortion rights and COVID restrictions --- limiting his crossover appeal. The poll had a margin of...
Israeli opposition leader Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday slammed Israel’s emerging maritime border agreement with Lebanon, accusing Prime Minister Yair Lapid of caving in to Hezbollah, according to local media reports. “Yair Lapid shamefully surrendered to [Hezbollah chief Hassan] Nasrallah’s threats,” Netanyahu reportedly stated, adding: “He is giving Hezbollah sovereign territory of the State of Israel with a huge gas reservoir that belongs to you, the citizens of Israel.” Netanyahu argued that Lapid was attempting to “pull a fast one” on the Israeli public by forging ahead with the accord without a public referendum, as is required by Israeli law before the government can cede sovereign territory. In the event, Netanyahu said that he woul...
When the brocha is made on the lulav we do not add on the tefillah asking for the Bais Hamikdash to be rebuilt. We do say a yehi ratzon with this request when we do Sefiras Ha’Omer. Shaking the lulav for seven days is a reminder of the Bais Hamikdash as the mishna teaches us that Bnei Yisroel would only shake the lulav on the first day. During the times of the Bais Hamikdash, those who were in the Bais Hamikdash itself shook for seven days; however, once the Bais Hamikdash was destroyed Reb Yochanan ben Zakkai established that we shake the lulav for seven days everywhere as a zecher for the Bais Hamikdash. Why don&r...
National security adviser Jake Sullivan told a top Ukrainian official on Sunday that any individual or entity who supports Russia’s annexation of regions in eastern and southern Ukraine will face “severe” consequences.  Sullivan met Andriy Yermak, head of the office of Ukraine’s president, in Istanbul on Sunday, according to a statement from the White House, two days after Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the annexation of four regions in eastern and southern Ukraine. “Mr. Sullivan underscored the United States’ steadfast support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. He conveyed that the United States and its allies and partners will not be deterred by Russia’s flagrant v...
Lyman, a key supply hub in eastern Ukraine, has been “fully cleared” of Russian forces, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Sunday, as Western countries cast the troops’ withdrawal as a strategic victory that could undermine Russia’s effort to control the Donetsk region. Donetsk is one of four Ukrainian regions that Russia claimed it annexed after staged referendums, in violation of international law and despite widespread global criticism. Russia, meanwhile, is looking ahead to next steps after Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the annexations. The United Nations’ nuclear watchdog called for Russian forces to release the director of the Zaporizhzhia power plant, Europe’s largest nuclear facility. Russia’s pullout from Lyman &ldq...
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