IJR News

Court Rules Lake Illegally Fired VOA DirectorPolitics — 7hA federal appeals court unanimously ruled Kari Lake illegally fired Voice of America director Michael Abramowitz in 2025, affirming that only the Senate-confirmed International Broadcasting Advisory Board had authority to remove him. The ruling upheld an injunction blocking his removal and cited safeguards intended to protect VOA’s journalistic independence.

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Largest US Pharmacy Chain Splits In Two, Separates Selling Drugs And Insurance — 4dAmerica's leading healthcare company announced it is branching off into two independent, publicly traded companies, following a strategic review by the CVS Health Board of Directors.

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Tennessee man sentenced to nearly four years in Fresno wire fraudFinance — 1dA Tennessee man was sentenced to three years and 10 months in federal prison and ordered to pay nearly $1.2 million in restitution for helping divert more than $1.5 million in Fresno County payments. Prosecutors said he and accomplices took over a nonprofit finance director’s email account and redirected county payments to his bank account; the county said the sentence cannot fully compensate taxpayers for the fraud.

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Nicole Hardy Three years and ten months plus the restitution still leaves taxpayers short after that kind of theft.

Providence Mayor-Elect Morales Names First Two Staff Members — 1dProvidence Mayor-elect David Morales named Jennifer Wood, a longtime government lawyer and nonprofit leader, as chief of staff and promoted city deputy finance director Krystle Lindberg to chief financial officer. Wood brings extensive public-sector experience, while Lindberg’s appointment offers continuity as the incoming administration prepares its first budget.

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US AI safety center reportedly shifts reporting to White House officeTech — 2dThe U.S. government’s AI safety center has stopped publishing research, lacks a permanent director and has been asked to report informally to the White House, prompting concerns that political influence could undermine independent evaluations. Supporters say closer White House coordination could raise the center’s profile and funding.

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Jared Kim If the AI safety center is now reporting informally to the White House, independent evaluations could easily get sidelined by political priorities.

Most Influential Women in World HistoryYourlist — RankingFrom ancient queens who ruled empires to modern activists who changed laws, these women left indelible marks on politics, science, and culture. Vote for who you think shaped history most profoundly.

Sierra Bancorp Director Sells 8,010 SharesFinance — Nov 2, 2026Sierra Bancorp director Lynda Scearcy sold 8,010 shares after a separate sale days earlier, while the bank’s latest quarterly earnings and revenue exceeded analyst expectations. Analysts’ overall view is moderately positive, and the company’s CFO and COO is scheduled to meet investors at an upcoming conference.

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Oscar-Winning Chilean Director Sebastián Lelio Dies at 52Entertainment — 4dChilean filmmaker Sebastián Lelio, whose film A Fantastic Woman won Chile its first Academy Award in the international feature category, has died at 52. His family cited health reasons but did not disclose a specific cause; he had been working on an adaptation of Chilean Poet.

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Jay Barth named Arkansas library system directorPolitics — Oct 28, 2026Jay Barth will become executive director of the Central Arkansas Library System on Dec. 1, succeeding retiring leader Nate Coulter after a national search. Barth, a longtime educator and former Little Rock education chief and Clinton Presidential Library director, takes over a system that expanded its facilities, programs and community services under Coulter.

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ATF’s Top Lawyer Leaves Agency — Nov 2, 2026Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Director Robert Cekada announced Friday that ATF Chief Counsel Robert Leider was stepping down from the agency.

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Acton Projected Winner Over Ramaswamy For Ohio Governor — 6dDemocrat Amy Acton is projected to be the next governor of Ohio, besting Republican Vivek Ramaswamy. Current Gov. Mike DeWine (R) has reached his term limit. Acton, former director… — by Sandra Rhodes

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Ohio's First Female Governor Gets Bobblehead — 4dAmy Acton’s election as Ohio’s first woman governor is being celebrated as a landmark that could inspire girls, while the National Bobblehead Hall of Fame has released a limited-edition figure commemorating her victory. Acton, a former state health director known for leading Ohio’s early COVID-19 response, is scheduled to take office in January 2027.

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Toy Story vs ShrekYourlist — VS BattleThe toy box vs the swamp: two animation revolutions, one inevitable playground argument.

Nadal Accepts Real Madrid Board Invitation — 6dReal Madrid has invited Rafael Nadal to join its board of directors, with the appointment awaiting ratification by the club’s member assembly. The retired 22-time Grand Slam champion welcomed the invitation, and the club praised his sporting achievements and personal values.

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Tom Gallagher Nadal's tennis legacy and character make him a solid addition to the board, hope he helps guide the club wisely.

CDC Deputy Director Shuford Reportedly Leaving After Six Months — Oct 27, 2026CDC Deputy Director Jennifer Shuford is expected to leave after next week's midterms, six months after joining; she cited family time while sources also noted policy disagreement.

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Jared Kim Spending more time with family after such a short stint makes sense, especially with all the pressure around these roles.

HomeTrust appoints Bowman, former BofA president, director — Oct 28, 2026HomeTrust Bancshares appointed Charles F. Bowman, a former Bank of America North Carolina president with extensive banking, legal and regulatory experience, to its board effective October 26, 2026. Bowman has served as an advisory director since July, and the company said his background will support its strategic priorities.

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Former CVB CEO Joins Five Star BoardFinance — 6dFive Star Bancorp appointed banking veteran Christopher D. Myers, former CEO of CVB Financial, to its and Five Star Bank’s boards as the bank expands in Southern California. Myers also received a 248-share equity award, bringing his directly held shares to 1,248; the award is scheduled to vest at year-end if he remains a director.

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How charismatic are you, really?Quizie — QuizNot a score out of ten — the AI identifies your specific brand of charm and where it's most dangerous.

Organizations Name Leaders Across Trades, Energy, SustainabilityBusiness — Oct 28, 2026The PHCC Educational Foundation named longtime staff member John Zink executive director, Nicole Urizzo director of Academy Services and Steve Rivers chairman as it pursues expanded apprenticeship and technical training for plumbing and HVAC workers. Its programs are also drawing adult career-changers, underscoring the foundation’s focus on widening access to the trades.

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El-Sayed Quits Health Director Post After Long-Haul Pledge for Senate Run2 sources — Oct 26, 2026

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Maya Lindstrom If he can do more good in the Senate then quitting to run full time makes sense.

Hoffman Recalls 27 Slap Takes on The Graduate — Nov 2, 2026Dustin Hoffman says making The Graduate was a deeply stressful experience: he felt miscast and feared director Mike Nichols regretted hiring him. Hoffman also recalls Nichols insisting Katharine Ross slap him 27 times for a scene that was cut, leaving him with a punctured eardrum.

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Chervon Names Three Sales Directors — Oct 19, 2026Chervon appointed Devin Murray as Northern Division sales director, Terry Lucero as director of national accounts for industrial sales, and Krystle Adams as director of sales recruiting. The hires bring experience in professional-tool sales, industrial accounts, and recruiting as the company pursues growth in its sales organization and pro-tool business.

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Chervon Names Clary and Jones to Field Sales Leadership PostsBusiness — Oct 26, 2026Chervon appointed Parker Wesley Clary director of field sales for its Southern Division, where he will lead regional sales and retail merchandising efforts. The company also named Maggie Jones director of national field sales operations, tasking her with building the sales network’s support systems, technology and performance processes.

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Hedgehog Painted Blue to Resemble Sonic Dies From BurnsWorld — Oct 30, 2026Castleford rescue director Beth Campsill said a blue-painted hedgehog effectively screamed himself to death after chemical burns found behind a West Yorkshire police station.

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Mariners Name 36-Year-Old Jason Kanzler Manager — Nov 2, 2026The Seattle Mariners named 36-year-old Jason Kanzler, a former Chicago Cubs player-development director with Houston Astros coaching experience, as their new manager, replacing Dan Wilson. Kanzler has never managed at any level, making his youth and inexperience potential concerns even as his player-development background and ability to connect with players are cited as strengths.

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Intelligence Sharing Slows Amid CIA-ODNI Tensions in Trump Term — Nov 3, 2026Intelligence sharing with Congress and across the federal government has slowed during President Donald Trump’s second term amid tensions between the CIA and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence; the CIA has stopped co-authoring some assessments, and lawmakers temporarily went without reports at key moments. Former officials warn the gaps could leave policymakers with an incomplete view of threats, while the CIA says it continues to participate fully in intelligence assessments.

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Priya Raman This slowdown in sharing leaves Congress and agencies with gaps that could weaken responses to real threats.

Pomerantz Investigates Investor Claims at Five FirmsBusiness — Nov 3, 2026Pomerantz LLP announced securities-fraud investigations into HCA Healthcare, State Street, EyePoint, Pasqal and Johnson & Johnson after company announcements were followed by sharp share-price declines. The reported triggers included lowered profit guidance, weaker financial results, failed clinical-trial outcomes, withdrawal from a quantum-computing program and talc-related charges and MedTech headwinds; the investigations concern potential misconduct by the companies and their executives or directors.

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Sam Okafor Law firms chasing every stock drop like this feels routine, but the guidance misses at HCA deserve a look.