Latest news with #ThomasMitchell
Business Wire
28-07-2025
- Automotive
- Business Wire
U-Haul Brings 60 Jobs to San Bernardino with New Repair Shop
SAN BERNARDINO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--U-Haul ® opened its newest repair shop today at 1235 E. Baseline St., a sprawling one-story facility that will create 60 jobs in San Bernardino. U-Haul® opened its newest repair shop today at 1235 E. Baseline St., a sprawling one-story facility that will create 60 jobs in San Bernardino. Share San Bernardino Repair is on a 4.5-acre lot and is strategically located to better service the Company's rental fleet of do-it-yourself moving equipment across San Bernardino and Riverside Counties. 'We are excited about this location,' said Thomas Mitchell, U-Haul Company of San Bernardino president. 'This new space allows us to offer a clean, safe location for future Team Members to work while we continue to provide our neighbors with well-maintained rental trucks and trailers.' U-Haul will look to hire locally to promote job growth within the San Bernardino community. Find U-Haul careers at The new facility will service equipment previously handled by the U-Haul repair shop at 891 S. Arrowhead Ave. in San Bernardino, which closed in June after 54 years. About U-HAUL Celebrating our 80th anniversary in 2025, U-Haul is the No. 1 choice of do-it-yourself movers with more than 24,000 rental locations across all 50 states and 10 Canadian provinces. The U-Haul app makes it easy for customers to use U-Haul Truck Share 24/7 to access trucks anytime through the self-dispatch and -return options on their smartphones with our patented Live Verify technology. Our customers' patronage has enabled the U-Haul fleet to grow to 193,900 trucks, 138,200 trailers and 40,300 towing devices. U-Haul is the third largest self-storage operator in North America and offers 1,060,000 rentable storage units and 92.0 million square feet of self-storage space at owned and managed facilities. U-Haul is the top retailer of propane in the U.S. and the largest installer of permanent trailer hitches in the automotive aftermarket industry. Get the U-Haul app from the App Store or Google Play.
Daily Mail
19-07-2025
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Army sergeant investigated for forcing soldiers to do pushups under MAGA banner
An army drill sergeant is under investigation after a video appeared to show him forcing soldiers to do pushups under a MAGA flag. Staff Sgt. Thomas Mitchell is accused of breaking rules about political neutrality in the army. Mitchell allegedly posted a now-deleted video which featured a group of training soldiers doing pushups and burpees under a MAGA banner while on a base in Georgia. The flag read, 'This is Ultra MAGA Country,' in the video uploaded on Friday before it was removed. A second video was then reportedly re-uploaded with the caption, 'Cry about it.' The video uploaded to @11chuckduece on TikTok, a now-deleted account, launched an investigation into the sergeant. The demonstration violates 'multiple military regulations' regarding political activity in uniform on federal property,' wrote. 'The US Army is an apolitical organization,' Jennifer Gunn, a service spokesperson, said in a statement. 'Displaying partisan political materials in government facilities, including training areas, is prohibited under Army regulation. 'We will investigate this matter and address it in accordance with established policies to ensure compliance with standards of conduct and to maintain an environment free from political influence.' Mitchell serves as an infantry drill sergeant with B Company, 2-19th Infantry Battalion, 198th Infantry Training Brigade, at Fort Benning, Georgia. His current status remains unclear. Garrison Public Affairs Director Joe Cole told Law & Crime that the investigation into the video would 'take some time.' The display of political flags or memorabilia inside federal buildings is prohibited according to Defense Department regulations which are 'designed to preserve the military's role as a nonpartisan institution.' Rules also dictate that troops in positions of authority may not use their position of authority or power to politically influence subordinates. Daily Mail reached out to the US Army and Sgt. Mitchell for comment. The incident comes a month after Trump made a speech during the celebration of the Army's 250th birthday. Troops in the crowd behind the president at Fort Bragg were reportedly carefully selected for the televised event based on their political views and physical appearance. Internal 82nd Airborne Division communications obtained by showed the soldiers were sent messages including 'No fat soldiers.' Another memo said that 'if soldiers have political views that are in opposition to the current administration and they don't want to be in the audience, then they need to speak with their leadership and get swapped out.' The end result was a predominantly white, male crowd who booed as Trump hit out at California Gov. Gavin Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass for the fiery protests against Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations as he vowed to 'liberate' the city. They were also seen booing former President Joe Biden and the press - and roared with laughter at Trump's remarks berating his successor. Such actions appear to also be in violation of longstanding Department of Defense protocol, with even the Army's recently-published field manual touting the importance of a politically neutral force. 'Being nonpartisan means not favoring any specific political party or group,' it says, according to NBC News. 'Nonpartisanship assures the public that our Army will always serve the Constitution and our people loyally and responsively.' It goes on to note that troops can participate in political functions - so long as they are not in uniform. 'As a private citizen, you are encouraged to participate in our democratic process, but as a soldier you must be mindful of how your actions may affect the reputation and perceived trustworthiness of our Army as an institution,' the field guide says. At least one 82nd Airborne noncommissioned officer now says he does not see how the troops' reactions on Tuesday could be seen as anything other than 'expressing a political view while in uniform.' He even suggested that none of the soldiers who were booing Newsom and Bass 'even knew the mayor's name or could identify them in a lineup.' Department of Defense officials, though, have denied that the soldiers were in violation of its rules. 'Believe me, no one needs to be encouraged to boo the media,' Sean Parnell, a Pentagon spokesman replied to 'Look no further than this query, which is nothing more than a disgraceful attempt to ruin the lives of young soldiers.' Even if the soldiers did violate Defense Department rules, multiple Army officials told they likely would not be held accountable because they were goaded by the commander-in-chief.
Scotsman
07-07-2025
- Scotsman
Value of life depends upon side of the Border
Thomas Mitchell on the huge difference between fatal accident damages in Scotland and England Sign up to our Scotsman Money newsletter, covering all you need to know to help manage your money. Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Even after the Act of Union in 1707, Scotland and England maintained separate and distinct legal traditions. Over the centuries that have passed since, Scots Law and English Law have evolved differently. The mixed legal system of Scotland combines elements of civil law while taking influence from the Roman Empire and Common Law elements. English Law, on the other hand, was historically a Common Law system, developed through years of judicial decisions rather than Statutes. In the modern era, both systems now find the most authoritative law in the form of Statutory Legislation, comprising Acts of the respective Parliaments north and south of the Border. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad These stark differences are highly prevalent when it comes to the assessment of damages in fatal accidents awards. In Scotland, under the Damages (Scotland) Act 2011, there are two types of awards; loss of support, based on financial dependency and loss of society, which compensates for the grief and loss of a relationship. A wide group of relatives can claim in Scotland; spouses, siblings, parents, grandparents, civil partners, etc. Focus is very much on the deceased's immediate family and closeness of the relationship to the deceased. There are calls for English law to line up with Scots law when it comes to bereavement damages, says Thomas Mitchell In England, dependency claims take the place of loss of support claims and bereavement damages take the place of loss of society claims. There is a more restricted class of relative who can claim. For example, siblings under English Law cannot bring a bereavement claim. So, what is the value of a life? While no amount of compensation can even hope to properly qualify the loss of a close familial relationship, the sum entitled relatives can claim in England, according to the Fatal Accidents Act 1976, is fixed at £15,120. In Scotland, there is no fixed amount and judicial or jury discretion is the barometer. Awards for parents trend towards the £100,000+ mark, children £80,000+, siblings £20,000+ and grandparents £10,000+. But there is no upper or lower limit, and the focus is very much on the relationship that existed with the deceased. In Scotland, an assessment of damages is done on a case-by-case basis and the approach is tailored to individual circumstances. In England, a rigid, out-of-date statutory regime is applied and the bereavement award is not tailored to individual circumstances. The problem with these polar opposite approaches is that it creates an opportunity for exploitation. An attraction exists for insurance companies and others faced with defending such claims, and the lawyers who represent them to find a way to have English Law applied to fatal accidents which occur in Scotland. An insurer can save thousands on the cost of fatal claims if such an argument succeeds. For the grieving family, it means protracted litigation and uncertainty at a time when they are bereaved and should be supported. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad There have been calls for urgent reform. The Association of Personal Injury Lawyers continues to campaign against 'token' bereavement damages in England and Wales, calling for the Scottish Law approach to be mirrored throughout the UK. There surely cannot be any valid reason why a UK bereaved family member is treated so differently depending on locus or residency. This issue is unlikely to go away anytime soon, but with modern family life being more diverse than ever before, perhaps it's time for England to 'get with the times' when it comes to bereavement awards.
Sydney Morning Herald
17-05-2025
- Automotive
- Sydney Morning Herald
Albanese must play hardball with gambling industry
Victoria Devine shows a true heart and social awareness in appealing to the new federal government to minimise gambling advertising (' PM must stick to gambling vow ', May 11). When times are harder, people tend to take risks, and studies have shown those most at risk are targeted. The PM and his government must step up to ensure the gambling industry's advertising is curtailed and attempt to ensure the future of many families remains free from the harm of intrusive advertising and abusive gambling practices, especially through technology. Janice Creenaune, Austinmer Highway to hell I wholly empathise with Thomas Mitchell's opinion piece (' In a jam, don't tell me which lane is faster ', May 11). I feel his anguish, especially when motoring along a freeway when a 'roadworks ahead' sign appears, providing a clear indication that things are about to slow down. Invariably, the back seat driver occupying the front passenger seat pipes up 'they're moving over to the right, darling'. Knowing it was meant helpfully, I indicate and merge to the right. Fury soon sets in, for as sure as tradies drive utes, several of those oversized pick-up trucks go whizzing by in the left lane, intent on barging into the queue ahead. With thoughts of 'I just knew I shouldn't have listened to him', the steam billowing from my ears promptly fogs up the windscreen. Mary Carde, Parrearra (Qld) Thomas Mitchell wrote another fun article in Sunday's paper (' In a jam, don't tell me which lane is faster ', May 11). He mentioned the 'Baby on Board' sticker. His comments about it reflect the erroneous view of most motorists. It is not a sticker to proclaim that others should drive more carefully around you because you may have a precious person inside. It was conceived as an alert to emergency workers that in the event of an accident they will always look to save a baby first. Susan Haylock, Mosman Maley, Huntley hit the mark What a delight it was to read two excellent articles analysing the election results. Jacqueline Maley's article details the key points from the post-election reviews conducted by the Liberal Party in 2016, 2019 and 2022 (' The Liberals still refusing to learn from their history with women,' May 11). She concludes very accurately that they have never been comfortable with feminism, and that this is a critical component in addressing equality and improving productivity. Rebecca Huntley's article includes the startling statistic that 'Australia added more renewable capacity to the energy system than the entirety of the Coalition's nuclear plan' (' Toxic fallout assured if Coalition sticks to nuclear ', May11). It was simply astounding that the Liberals depended on a consultancy to work on a completely new direction for Australia's energy needs – for free. No wonder they declined to do more work on it to give us an idea of how much energy would actually cost. The downer was Parnell Palme McGuinness' article (' Libs' failure needs a paternity test ', May 11). A paternity test points the party backwards to Howard or even Menzies. This misses the points of progress needed as described in the first two articles. To conclude that 'Albanese was the lesser of two evils' denies the focused and cohesive policies put forward by Labor to progress Australia. Bill Johnstone, Blackheath Rebecca Huntley's research underscores the federal election result. Intuitively, renewable energy feels the right fit for our vast continent, where the sun shines and the wind blows across millions of square kilometres. It would be right for Australia even without alarm over climate change. The long view of history will look back on fossil fuels as only ever an interim source of energy – eventually superseded, like horse power and steam engines. The transition to renewables may not always go smoothly, but home-based energy security and sustainability have immense appeal in a world where uncertainty prevails. Margaret Johnston, Paddington What an interesting article from Rebecca Huntley about nuclear power and its effect on the election result. She also discussed the relative popularity of renewable energy in Australia. Hidden at the bottom of the article was an interesting assertion that last year Australia added more renewable capacity to the energy system than the entirety of the Coalition's nuclear plan. If true, I have to ask first, why on earth did the Coalition put forward such a costly, problematic, taxpayer-funded scheme? Was it a death wish? Second, why did Labor not provide this information as part of their election campaign? Power supply is such an important part of the economy that Australians should know more about it. Can I suggest a new 'Power Supply' section in the Herald? A Daily Power Dashboard could be useful showing yesterday's power usage and which power source it came from, including the working life of power stations. With some actual data, maybe we could take some of the politics out of this important topic. Dick Barker, Epping Jacqueline Maley's opinion piece rightly draws attention to the Liberal Party's own analysis of its 'woman problem'. It's not like they haven't figured it out, it's just that they are apparently unable to change. In my view, people have a tendency to overrate their uniqueness. Everyone who ends up with a ministerial portfolio is faced with a steep learning curve. If they are willing and able to knuckle down and learn, they can master it. Gender is irrelevant. As for feminism, I always thought the power at the core of that idea was its potential to liberate everyone, not just biological women. If it had worked as the ultimate force for change in the human world, we would all be liberated from restrictive ideas about gender differences. Garry Feeney, Kingsgrove
Indianapolis Star
10-05-2025
- Science
- Indianapolis Star
Scientists are growing T. rex leather in a lab. It could be used to make purses.
The next time you go shopping for a new purse, your choices could go beyond traditional materials such as leather, nylon, cotton and polyester to include … Tyrannosaurus rex skin? Yes, the remnants of the prehistoric predator are being used to create synthetic T. rex leather, which can be turned into accessories including purses. That's the plan for a trio of companies – The Organoid Company, Lab-Grown Leather Ltd., and VML – working on "a high-quality alternative to traditional leather that's cruelty-free and eco-friendly," said the collaborators in an April 25 news release. The goal of a "luxury fashion item," hitting later this year, would be the first example of leather developed from an extinct species, the companies said. "With T-Rex leather we're harnessing the biology of the past to create the luxury materials of the future," said Bas Korsten, global chief creative officer, Innovation & CCO EMEA at VML, the agency behind the 2024 Super Bowl "Mayo Cat" campaign and 2023's Mammoth Meatball, made of lab-grown meat. Cosmos 482: Here's when the Soviet-era spacecraft may return to Earth The team at The Organoid Company, a Netherlands-based biotech, will use fragments of T-Rex collagen protein recovered from fossils to recreate the prehistoric protein and engineer the new DNA into specialized cells for leather production. Another biotech company, the U.K.-based Lab-Grown Leather Ltd., will then use those specialized cells to produce skin, made with the T-Rex collagen protein, which is then tanned to form T-Rex leather. "This project is a remarkable example of how we can harness cutting-edge genome and protein engineering to create entirely new materials," said The Organoid Company CEO Thomas Mitchell. T. Rex leather could serve as a more environmentally friendly option to traditional leather and also eliminate "animal cruelty concerns," the companies said. But some detractors consider the project misleading. University of Maryland vertebrate paleontologist Thomas Holtz, Jr. pointed out to Live Science, a science news site, how the lab-created skin won't be authentic because there's no actual T. rex skin or DNA to serve as a basis. "What this company is doing seems to be fantasy," he said. Calling the announcement a "gimmick," Tom Ellis, professor of synthetic genome engineering at Imperial College London, told NBC News, 'I doubt that our knowledge of dinosaur evolution is good enough to be able to design a collagen gene specifically from T. rex." But researchers have found collagen in an 80-million-year-old Tyrannosaurus rex fossil and that can be used as a template, they say. The Organoid Company is creating a T-Rex protein by using fragments of the T-Rex collagen protein from fossils, the companies said in a statement to USA TODAY. "An important distinction is that (the companies) are starting with the language of proteins, amino acids, rather than the DNA itself," according to the statement. "This encodes what the 3D structure looks like and from this they can then recreate or 'molecularly resurrect' the DNA which is put into special cell lines for leather production." The result of this reconstruction of ancient protein sequences is T. Rex leather, which is structurally identical to T. rex skin. "A biomaterial inspired by prehistoric biology," Mitchell said. Eventually, T. rex leather could be used beyond handbags and clutches to cover chairs and vehicle seats. "The production of T-Rex leather demonstrates VML's commitment to pioneering new grounds and shaping the future of our industry," Korsten said. Mike Snider is a reporter on USA TODAY's Trending team. You can follow him on Threads, Bluesky, X and email him at mikegsnider & @ & @mikesnider & msnider@
