Fossella slams lack of U.S. drone response as U.K. holds secret emergency security meetingsAUSTIN, Texas, Dec. 04, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- FTC Solar, Inc. (Nasdaq: FTCI), a leading provider of solar tracker systems, today announced that it has closed a previously announced private placement of senior secured promissory notes (the “Notes”) in an aggregate principal amount of fifteen million dollars ($15,000,000) and warrants (the “Warrants”). The offering closed on December 4, 2024. The Notes bear interest at a rate of 11% per annum if payable in cash or, at the Company’s option, 13% per annum if paid-in-kind and will mature on December 4, 2029. The Warrants are exercisable for five (5) years to purchase an aggregate of 1,750,000 shares of Common Stock at an exercise price of $0.10, subject to adjustment under certain circumstances described in the Warrants. The Company is utilizing the proceeds of the offering for balance sheet support, growth acceleration and general corporate purposes. About FTC Solar Inc. Founded in 2017 by a group of renewable energy industry veterans, FTC Solar is a leading provider of solar tracker systems, technology, software, and engineering services. Solar trackers significantly increase energy production at solar power installations by dynamically optimizing solar panel orientation to the sun. FTC Solar’s innovative tracker designs provide compelling performance and reliability, with an industry-leading installation cost-per-watt advantage. FTC Solar Contact: Bill Michalek Vice President, Investor Relations FTC Solar T: (737) 241-8618 E: IR@FTCSolar.com Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains forward looking statements. These statements are not historical facts but rather are based on our current expectations and projections regarding our business, operations and other factors relating thereto. Words such as “may,” “will,” “could,” “would,” “should,” “anticipate,” “predict,” “potential,” “continue,” “expects,” “intends,” “plans,” “projects,” “believes,” “estimates” and similar expressions are used to identify these forward-looking statements. These statements are only predictions and as such are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict. In addition, this press release contains statements about third parties and their commercial activity. We have not independently verified or confirmed such statements and have instead relied on the veracity of information as provided to us by such third parties related to such statements. You should not rely on our forward-looking statements or statements related to third parties or their commercial activities as predictions of future events, as actual results may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements or statements related to third parties or their commercial activities because of several factors, including those described in more detail above and in our filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including the section entitled “Risk Factors” contained therein. FTC Solar undertakes no duty or obligation to update any forward-looking statements or statements related to third parties or their commercial activities contained in this release as a result of new information, future events or changes in its expectations, except as required by law.234win 222 。

To win elections, every party goes a-hunting for new supporters. No prey is too small or insignificant - Shani devotees, dog parents, left-handed jugglers, they're all fair game. With Delhi assembly polls looming, AAP has taken this strategy to heart. ET Year-end Special Reads What kept India's stock market investors on toes in 2024? India's car race: How far EVs went in 2024 Investing in 2025: Six wealth management trends to watch out for After wooing women voters with cash transfers like every other swayamvar party, it's now flexing its way into the trendy world of health and fitness. Last week, wrestlers and bodybuilders joined the party, with Arvind Kejriwal announcing that more grapplers are likely to sign up. So, when it comes to politics, strength in numbers also means a good number of strong men. The AAP convenor proclaimed that this akhada association will 'not only strengthen the outfit but also align it with health and fitness issues'. Watch out for future rallies featuring squats and push-ups as campaign moves. Is a protein shake subsidy scheme in the works? This is hardly the first time politicians have ventured into the wrestling ring. Mulayam Singh Yadav was first spotted by a Praja Socialist Party leader in 1962 at a wrestling bout and was roped into the rough and tumble of politics. Mufflerman is unlikely to follow the former UP CM's footsteps into the akhada ring. But Kejriwal is gearing up to wrestle his way to another term for AAP. Just don't expect him to trade his sweater for a singlet anytime soon.

Tim and Joan Pieper enjoyed their first Christmas at the house they purchased 21⁄2 years ago for $5. It took 21⁄2 years to restore this Dutch colonial house, which had been scheduled to be demolished. It was about to be demolished when they bought the Dutch colonial and had it carted about a mile to a 3-acre section of a farm they own near Mitchell. “We moved it and restored it to save it,” Joan said. With Brad Shaul of Shaul Construction as the main contractor, the house was gutted to the studs and then plumbing, electrical, HVAC, windows and new floors were added. “Everything is new but the entry, the staircase and the pocket doors from the living room and dining room,” Joan said. “We put in a new basement.” Landscaping will be done this spring. Rob Bullock of Furniture Medic by Cowboy Wood Doctors in Cheyenne, Wyoming, did a phenomenal job restoring the doors and some of the woodwork, Joan said. She and Tim visited antique stores in places like Crofton and Newman Grove to replace missing hardware for the doors. Joan cooked them in a crockpot and scrubbed them up the next day. It wasn’t a cheap project, but it was fun, Joan says. Omaha World-Herald The dining room of the Piepers’ renovated house. “It’s not like HGTV when they do it for $100,000,” Joan said. “Once you are into it, you can’t stop.” They’re not sure what they’ll do with the house. They live across the border in Torrington, Wyoming. They’ve watched a few Nebraska football and volleyball games there with friends, and three of their four children and their families will be there for Christmas. Joan said it’s surreal that the renovation is finished. “I love it,” she said. “It really turned out wonderful.” The house was scheduled to be torched when the Piepers bought it for just $5. They’ve since spent more than $70,000 to prep it for moving, build a basement at its new home and to purchase new windows. We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter.

Megyn Kelly unleashed an attack against Caitlin Clark after the WNBA star talked about ways white privilege seeps into women’s basketball during an interview published in Time magazine this week. The former Fox News personality took to X, formerly Twitter, to spew inflammatory remarks about Clark’s comments. In the interview, Clark said that she recognized her privilege as a white person in the league and that it’s important to elevate Black players. The publication had named the Indiana Fever player its 2024 Athlete of the Year on Tuesday. “Look at this. She’s on the knee all but apologizing for being white and getting attention,” Kelly wrote on X . “The self-flagellation. The ‘oh pls pay attention to the black players who are REALY the ones you want to celebrate.’ Condescending. Fake. Transparent. Sad.” But Clark never apologized for being white. She acknowledged that Black WNBA players — who make up the majority of players in the league — haven’t received the same level of mainstream attention, opportunities or coverage that she has. When reports emerged in the spring that Clark was nearing a reported eight-figure Nike deal, many questioned why the league’s most valuable player, A’ja Wilson, who is Black, hadn’t gotten a signature shoe deal . (Wilson announced a shoe deal with Nike the following month.) People have also called attention to Clark’s growing list of endorsement deals and the rookie’s perceived marketability in a league that’s predominantly Black. But the Fever star doesn’t seem to be bothered by Kelly’s criticism. She told sportscaster Maria Taylor in an interview on Wednesday that she blocks out the “noise” and that she’s “comfortable in my own skin” when asked to address Kelly’s remarks. Here’s what Kelly’s missing with her social media comments. In the Time interview, Clark celebrated her own talents, accomplishments and influence in women’s basketball, as well as the accolades and opportunities that have followed. But she also recognized that two things can be true: She is an outstanding basketball player, and talented Black players who have built the league should get more recognition than they do. “I want to say I’ve earned every single thing, but as a white person, there is privilege,” Clark said. “A lot of those players in the league that have been really good have been Black players. This league has kind of been built on them.” “The more we can appreciate that, highlight that, talk about that, and then continue to have brands and companies invest in those players that have made this league incredible, I think it’s very important,” she added. “I have to continue to try to change that.” “The more we can elevate Black women, that’s going to be a beautiful thing,” Clark said in the interview. Clark has undeniably had an immense effect on women’s basketball. She became the all-time leading scorer in NCAA Division 1 basketball during her time playing college basketball with the Iowa Hawkeyes. And when South Carolina’s women’s basketball team defeated Iowa in the NCAA women’s championship game in April, South Carolina coach Dawn Staley credited Clark for “lifting up” women’s basketball. Clark, who was the No. 1 pick in the 2024 WNBA draft, is also often credited for playing a significant role in the WNBA’s recent record-breaking attendance and TV ratings — dubbed the “Caitlin Clark effect.” But Black players have largely built and grown the league since the first WNBA game was played in 1997, with many groundbreaking moments since. In 2002, Lisa Leslie became the first WNBA player to dunk in a game . In 2008, Candace Parker was the first player to get MVP and Rookie of the Year in the same season. In 2017, Rebekkah Brunson set a WNBA record winning five titles. WNBA players have also been leaders in championing LBGTQ rights and bringing racial injustice protests to professional sports. In 2014, the WNBA became the first professional sports league to launch an official Pride campaign . Ajhanai “AJ” Keaton , an assistant professor at the University of Massachusetts Amherst who studies race and gender marginalization, told the New Pittsburgh Courier in September that she believes the heightened coverage surrounding Clark has to do with race and gender politics. “I believe that race is a guiding politic,” she said. “But I think it’s also gender, and I think we can’t ignore the way race and gender politics play into this. Caitlin Clark being a white woman, right? Being a white woman from the Midwest, being heterosexual, representing something to white America, right?” People have also called out the fact that masculine-presenting WNBA players have been excluded from certain sponsorship opportunities. Victoria Jackson , a sports historian and clinical associate professor at Arizona State University, explained to The Associated Press in May that it’s important to dissect why Clark has been labeled a “generational talent.” “Whenever we’re making those cases, I immediately think, well, who are the other generational talents we’ve had? And I think too often the athletes that could be placed in that category who have been Black women have not had that sort of gushing attention,” Jackson said. “And especially the kind of general public, crossover saturation that Caitlin Clark has had.” “There are overlapping, intersecting reasons for why that is. But I think we can’t not think about it if the goal here is to have equitable treatment of the athletes in the sport,” Jackson said. Clark herself has recognized the impact Black WNBA players have made in the league. During her appearance on “Saturday Night Live” in April, she took a moment to honor five Black WNBA greats: Sheryl Swoopes, Cynthia Cooper, Lisa Leslie, Dawn Staley and Maya Moore, whom she called her “basketball hero.” And in recent years, Black WNBA players, such as Wilson, Chicago Sky player Angel Reese and Phoenix Mercury player Brittney Griner, have also notably helped popularize the sport. Black players say they’ve been receiving more racist abuse online — and it needs attention In September, Connecticut Sun player Alyssa Thomas and coach Stephanie White called out the unprecedented number of racist and homophobic comments they said players have faced since WNBA viewership increased this past season. Thomas, who is Black, said that the attacks had mostly come from the Fever fan base. “I think that in my 11-year career, I never experienced the racial comments like from the Indiana Fever fan base,” she said, adding “basketball is headed in a great direction, but we don’t want fans that are going to degrade us and call us racial things.” Reese, who has often been pitted against Clark and villainized in narratives about their sports rivalry , has similarly called out the racist vitriol over the past few years. She wrote in a post on X in September that she’s been told to “save the tears” and “stop playing victim” anytime she’s spoken out about the attacks. The WNBA released a statement at the time saying the league “will not tolerate racist, derogatory, or threatening comments.” Clark has also previously condemned racist comments from WNBA fans. During a news conference in September, she called the situation “definitely upsetting.” Other news outlets have retreated behind paywalls. At HuffPost, we believe journalism should be free for everyone. Would you help us provide essential information to our readers during this critical time? We can't do it without you. Can't afford to contribute? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read. You've supported HuffPost before, and we'll be honest — we could use your help again . We view our mission to provide free, fair news as critically important in this crucial moment, and we can't do it without you. Whether you give once or many more times, we appreciate your contribution to keeping our journalism free for all. You've supported HuffPost before, and we'll be honest — we could use your help again . We view our mission to provide free, fair news as critically important in this crucial moment, and we can't do it without you. Whether you give just one more time or sign up again to contribute regularly, we appreciate you playing a part in keeping our journalism free for all. Already contributed? Log in to hide these messages. “Those aren’t fans; those are trolls,” she said. Related From Our PartnerThe US State and Treasury departments said they hit Georgian Dream party founder and honorary chairman Bidzina Ivanishvili with penalties “for undermining the democratic and Euro-Atlantic future of Georgia for the benefit of the Russian Federation”, according to a statement. The designation of Mr Ivanishvili is the latest in a series of sanctions the US has placed on Georgian politicians and others this year. Those sanctions include freezes on assets and properties those targeted may have in US jurisdictions or that might enter US jurisdictions as well as travel bans on the targets and members of their families. “We strongly condemn Georgian Dream’s actions under Ivanishvili’s leadership, including its ongoing and violent repression of Georgian citizens, protesters, members of the media, human rights activists, and opposition figures,” the State Department said in a statement. “The United States is committed to promoting accountability for those undermining democracy and human rights in Georgia.” Mr Ivanishvili is a billionaire who made his fortune in Russia and served briefly as Georgia’s prime minister. In 2012, he founded Georgian Dream, Georgia’s longtime ruling party. Critics have accused Georgian Dream of becoming increasingly authoritarian and tilted towards Moscow. The party recently pushed through laws similar to those used by the Kremlin to crack down on freedom of speech and LGBT+ rights, prompting the European Union to suspend Georgia’s membership application process indefinitely. In October, Georgian Dream won another term in a divisive parliamentary election that has led to more mass protests. Last month, the country’s prime minister, Irakli Kobakhidze, announced a four-year suspension of talks on Georgia’s bid to join the European Union, fuelling further public outrage.

Takeaways from Biden's Africa trip: Pardon of son Hunter overshadows official businessNEW YORK (AP) — Brian Thompson led one of the biggest health insurers in the U.S. but was unknown to millions of people his decisions affected. Then Wednesday's targeted fatal shooting of the UnitedHealthcare CEO on a midtown Manhattan sidewalk thrust the executive and his business into the national spotlight. Thompson, who was 50, had worked at the giant UnitedHealth Group Inc for 20 years and run the insurance arm since 2021 after running its Medicare and retirement business. As CEO, Thompson led a firm that provides health coverage to more than 49 million Americans — more than the population of Spain. United is the largest provider of Medicare Advantage plans, the privately run versions of the U.S. government’s Medicare program for people age 65 and older. The company also sells individual insurance and administers health-insurance coverage for thousands of employers and state-and federally funded Medicaid programs. The business run by Thompson brought in $281 billion in revenue last year, making it the largest subsidiary of the Minnetonka, Minnesota-based UnitedHealth Group. His $10.2 million annual pay package, including salary, bonus and stock options awards, made him one of the company's highest-paid executives. The University of Iowa graduate began his career as a certified public accountant at PwC and had little name recognition beyond the health care industry. Even to investors who own its stock, the parent company's face belonged to CEO Andrew Witty, a knighted British triathlete who has testified before Congress. When Thompson did occasionally draw attention, it was because of his role in shaping the way Americans get health care. At an investor meeting last year, he outlined his company's shift to “value-based care,” paying doctors and other caregivers to keep patients healthy rather than focusing on treating them once sick. “Health care should be easier for people,” Thompson said at the time. “We are cognizant of the challenges. But navigating a future through value-based care unlocks a situation where the ... family doesn’t have to make the decisions on their own.” Thompson also drew attention in 2021 when the insurer, like its competitors, was widely criticized for a plan to start denying payment for what it deemed non-critical visits to hospital emergency rooms. “Patients are not medical experts and should not be expected to self-diagnose during what they believe is a medical emergency,” the chief executive of the American Hospital Association wrote in an open letter addressed to Thompson. “Threatening patients with a financial penalty for making the wrong decision could have a chilling effect on seeking emergency care.” United Healthcare responded by delaying rollout of the change. Thompson, who lived in a Minneapolis suburb and was the married father of two sons in high school, was set to speak at an investor meeting in a midtown New York hotel. He was on his own and about to enter the building when he was shot in the back by a masked assailant who fled on foot before pedaling an e-bike into Central Park a few blocks away, the New York Police Department said. Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny said investigators were looking at Thompson's social media accounts and interviewing employees and family members. “Didn’t seem like he had any issues at all,” Kenny said. "He did not have a security detail.” AP reporters Michael R. Sisak and Steve Karnowski contributed to this report. Murphy reported from Indianapolis. Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email.

India's exports to Australia surge 14% since ECTA, trade momentum strong

Chimezie's late layup lifts Boston University past Maine 59-56

Syrian Kurds Prepare Delegation to HTS Jihadis as Turkish Proxy Assault ContinuesPowell: Fed's independence from politics is vital to its interest rate decisions WASHINGTON (AP) — Chair Jerome Powell said the Federal Reserve’s ability to set interest rates free of political interference is necessary for it to make decisions to serve “all Americans” rather than a political party or political outcome. Speaking at the New York Times’ DealBook summit, Powell addressed a question about President-elect Donald Trump’s numerous public criticisms of the Fed and of Powell himself. During the election campaign, Trump had insisted that as president, he should have a “say” in the Fed’s interest rate policies. Despite Trump’s comments, the Fed chair said he was confident of widespread support in Congress for maintaining the central bank’s independence. UnitedHealthcare CEO kept a low public profile. Then he was shot to death in New York NEW YORK (AP) — Brian Thompson led one of the biggest health insurers in the US but was unknown to millions of people his decisions affected. The fatal shooting of UnitedHealthcare's chief executive on a midtown Manhattan sidewalk Wednesday became a mystery that riveted the nation. Police say it was a targeted killing. Thompson was 50. He had worked at the company for 20 years and had run health care giant UnitedHealth Group Inc.'s insurance business since 2021. It provides health coverage for more than 49 million Americans and brought in $281 billion in revenue last year. Thompson's $10.2 million annual compensation made him one of the company’s highest-paid executives. Trump nominates cryptocurrency advocate Paul Atkins as SEC chair President-elect Donald Trump says he intends to nominate cryptocurrency advocate Paul Atkins to chair the Securities and Exchange Commission. Atkins is the CEO of Patomak Partners and a former SEC commissioner. Trump calls Atkins a “proven leader for common sense regulations.” In the years since leaving the SEC, Atkins has made the case against too much market regulation. The SEC oversees U.S. securities markets and investments. If confirmed next year by the new Republican-led Senate, Atkins would replace Gary Gensler, who's been leading the U.S. government’s crackdown on the crypto industry. Atkins was widely considered the most conservative SEC member during his tenure and known to have a strong free-market bent. Australia is banning social media for people under 16. Could this work elsewhere — or even there? It is an ambitious social experiment of our moment in history. Experts say it could accomplish something that parents, schools and other governments have attempted with varying degrees of success — keeping kids off social media until they turn 16. Australia’s new law was approved by its Parliament last week. It's an attempt to swim against many tides of modern life — formidable forces like technology, marketing, globalization and, of course, the iron will of a teenager. The ban won’t go into effect for another year. But how will Australia be able to enforce it? That’s not clear, nor will it be easy. White House says at least 8 US telecom firms, dozens of nations impacted by China hacking campaign WASHINGTON (AP) — A top White House official says at least eight U.S. telecom firms and dozens of nations have been impacted by a Chinese hacking campaign. Deputy national security adviser Anne Neuberger offered the new details Wednesday about the breadth of the sprawling Chinese hacking campaign that gave officials in Beijing access to private texts and phone conversations of an unknown number of Americans. Neuberger divulged the scope of the hack a day after the FBI and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency issued guidance intended to help root out the hackers and prevent similar cyberespionage in the future. White House officials cautioned that a number of telecommunication firms and countries impacted could still grow. Pete Hegseth's mother says The New York Times made 'threats' by asking her to comment on a story A basic tenet of journalism — calling someone for comment on a story — was seen as a threat by defense secretary nominee Pete Hegseth's mother. Penelope Hegseth appeared on Fox News Channel to talk about her son, whose nomination by President-elect Trump to lead the Pentagon is threatened by a series of stories about his past behavior. One came this past weekend, when The New York Times wrote about a private email Penelope Hegseth sent to her son about his treatment of women. She said on Fox News that she felt threatened when the Times called her about the email, which she had quickly regretted sending. The Times said they were engaging in routine journalism. District of Columbia says Amazon secretly stopped fast deliveries to 2 predominantly Black ZIP codes The District of Columbia is alleging in a lawsuit that Amazon secretly stopped providing its fastest delivery service to residents of two predominantly Black neighborhoods in the city. The district says the online retailer still charged residents of two ZIP codes millions of dollars for a service that provides speedy deliveries. The complaint filed on Wednesday in District of Columbia Superior Court revolves around Amazon’s Prime membership service. The lawsuit alleges Amazon in mid-2022 imposed what it called a delivery “exclusion” on the two low-income ZIP codes. An Amazon spokesperson says the company made the change based on concerns about driver safety. The spokesperson says claims that Amazon's business practices are discriminatory are “categorically false.” Biden says 'Africa is the future' as he pledges millions more on the last day of Angola visit LOBITO, Angola (AP) — President Joe Biden has pledged another $600 million for an ambitious multi-country rail project in Africa as one of the final foreign policy moves of his administration. He told African leaders Wednesday that the resource-rich continent of more than 1.4 billion people had been “left behind for much too long. But not anymore. Africa is the future.” Biden used the third and final day of his visit to Angola to showcase the Lobito Corridor railway. The U.S. and allies are investing heavily to refurbish train lines in Zambia, Congo and Angola in a region rich in critical minerals to counter China's influence. The end of an Eras tour approaches, marking a bittersweet moment for Taylor Swift fans NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — The global phenomenon that is Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour is coming to an end after the popstar performed more than 150 shows across five continents over nearly two years. Since launching the tour in 2023, Swift has shattered sales and attendance records. It's even created such an economic boom that the Federal Reserve took note. But for many who attended the concerts, and the millions more who eagerly watched on their screens, the tour also became a beacon of joy. It's become a chance not only to appreciate Swift’s expansive music career, but also celebrate the yearslong journey fans have taken with her. US senators grill officials from 5 airlines over fees for seats and checked bags A U.S. Senate subcommittee is taking aim at airlines and their growing use of fees for things like early boarding and better seats. Members of the Senate Permanent on Investigations say airlines have raised billions of dollars by imposing fees that are getting hard to understand and even harder to avoid paying. The senators and the Biden administration call them “junk fees,” and they say the extra charges are making travel less affordable. Some senators expressed frustration during a hearing on Wednesday hearing when airline executives couldn't explain how they set various fees. Airlines say fees let consumers pay for things they want, like more legroom, and avoid paying for things they don't want.

Mr Carter, a former peanut farmer, served one term in the White House between 1977 and 1981, taking over in the wake of the Watergate scandal and the end of the Vietnam War. After his defeat by Ronald Reagan, he spent his post-presidency years as a global humanitarian, winning the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002. His death on Sunday was announced by his family and came more than a year after he decided to enter hospice care. He was the longest-lived US president. His son, Chip Carter, said: “My father was a hero, not only to me but to everyone who believes in peace, human rights and unselfish love. “My brothers, sister and I shared him with the rest of the world through these common beliefs. “The world is our family because of the way he brought people together, and we thank you for honouring his memory by continuing to live these shared beliefs.” Mr Carter is expected to receive a state funeral featuring public observances in Atlanta and Washington DC before being buried in his home town of Plains, Georgia. A moderate democrat born in Plains in October 1924, Mr Carter’s political career took him from the Georgia state senate to the state governorship and finally the White House, where he took office as the 39th president. His presidency saw economic disruption amid volatile oil prices, along with social tensions at home and challenges abroad including the Iranian revolution that sparked a 444-day hostage crisis at the US embassy in Tehran. But he also brokered the Camp David Accords between Egypt and Israel, which led to a peace treaty between the two countries in 1979. After his defeat in the 1980 presidential election, he worked for more than four decades leading the Carter Centre, which he and his late wife Rosalynn co-founded in 1982 to “wage peace, fight disease, and build hope”. Mrs Carter, who died last year aged 96, had played a more active role in her husband’s presidency than previous first ladies, with Mr Carter saying she had been “my equal partner in everything I ever accomplished”. Earlier this year, on his 100th birthday, Mr Carter received a private congratulatory message from the King, expressing admiration for his life of public service.

Turkish Airlines to Begin Operations at The New Terminal One at JFK and Unveil World-Class LoungeEJ Farmer scores 16 as Youngstown State defeats Detroit Mercy 73-64

Harvey paid $3,750 to settle a lawsuit alleging the city violated the Freedom of Information Act by denying a Harvey man’s request for body-worn camera footage related to his arrest, according to the settlement agreement. City Council members approved the payment to Brandon Collymore at a council meeting Sept. 9, which was set to be paid within 45 days. Part of the agreement also called for the city to give Collymore a copy of the body-worn camera footage. The Daily Southtown requested a copy of the settlement through FOIA after the meeting but did not receive it for more than two months. In Illinois, government agencies must respond to a FOIA request within five business days of filing. Agencies can extend the response time by up to five additional business days, but must notify the requester in writing if more time is needed. “Every person in Illinois has a right to know what the government is doing in their name, and the Freedom of Information Act is the tool to do that, the tool that helps hold police accountable,” said Daniel Massoglia, director of the Civil Rights Clinic at First Defense Legal Aid, which provides free legal representation for victims of police abuse and represented Collymore in the case. “We filed a lawsuit alleging that the city had violated the law and we’re pleased with the results.” Collymore filed a FOIA request with the city in May 2023 seeking police reports, narratives, body-worn and in-car camera footage, tactical response reports and other records related to his arrest in July 2022, according to the lawsuit. The lawsuit claims that within five business days of the city’s acknowledgment of Collymore’s request, the city did not seek an extension, prompting Collymore to contact the clerk’s office for an update. The lawsuit states both parties agreed to an extension deadline of June 15. During a conversation with the city’s FOIA officer, Liliana Gonzalez, the lawsuit states that she expressed uncertainty about whether the city had purchased or could afford the technology required to blur faces. Harvey Mayor Christopher Clark is the FOIA officer for Calumet City. On June 16, Collymore followed up with Gonzalez, but both his emails and phone calls went unanswered, according to the lawsuit. Almost two weeks after the agreed upon deadline, the city partially denied the request for the in-car and body-worn camera footage, claiming they lacked the means to blur faces and protect the identities of third parties and individuals providing information to law enforcement, the lawsuit states. “Defendant’s (Harvey) actions, whether the product of individual subjective malfeasance or structural bad faith through underfunding and mismanagement, constitute willful and intentional violations of the Act,” according to the lawsuit. The city’s spokesperson, Glenn Harston, did not provide comment on the lawsuit or whether the city obtained the necessary technology to blur faces in police footage. The lawsuit says other municipalities, such as Chicago, routinely blur faces when third parties are present on in-car or body-worn camera footage requested under FOIA. The lawsuit states several body-worn camera providers and technology companies offer video redaction software at affordable rates, listing Axon’s “redaction studio” in the Pro Tier license package for $26 more per month than the basic plan, Redaction by Reduct’s manual redaction software for $24 annually and Caseguard’s comprehensive redaction services ranging from $99 to $329 per month. “Technology is not that expensive to blur somebody’s face,” Massoglia said. Massoglia, who took on Collymore’s case after the initial lawyer left the legal aid firm, said he is unsure whether attempts were made to appeal the city’s decision before filing the lawsuit, which is often a last resort to compel municipalities to turn over public records. “I suspect there was because we typically don’t just jump to sue municipalities when there’s a way to work it out informally, because it’s just easier for everybody if there can just be an agreement,” he said. Filers can appeal by submitting a request for review to the attorney general’s office public access counselor if a request is denied, or if no reply is received within the mandatory five-day response time. The process is free and requires sending a letter, a copy of the original FOIA request and any communication with the public body. Although, filers have said it often takes a long time to hear back on these requests for help. smoilanen@chicagotribune.com