(Reuters) - U.S. Spanish-language broadcaster Univision Communications Inc held early-stage talks with John Malone's Liberty Media Corp (FWONA.O), after he expressed interest in an acquisition or significant investment, a person familiar with the matter said on Wednesday.

An acquisition of Univision would expand Liberty Media's ever-growing media footprint, while giving the broadcaster's private equity owners a chance to cash out on their investment after they pushed back plans for an initial public offering.

There is no certainty that Malone will pursue the talks further, the source said. Without a deal, Univision may go public in the first half of next year, the source added.

The source requested anonymity because the discussions, which were first reported by the Wall Street Journal, are confidential. New York-based Univision declined to comment. Liberty Media did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Liberty Media has investments across the media industry, including telecommunications company Charter Communications Inc (CHTR.O), motorsports business Formula One Group (FWONA.O) and radio business Sirius XM Radio Inc.

It is also an investor in cable company Discovery Communications Inc (DISCA.O), which sources have said is engaged in merger talks with Scripps Networks Interactive Inc (SNI.O).

Univision was taken private by a group of buyout firms, including Madison Dearborn Partners, Saban Capital, Providence Equity Partners, TPG Capital and Thomas H. Lee Partners, for $12.3 billion in 2007.

Univision filed for an IPO in 2015, but investor appetite for large indebted companies such as Univision soured and those plans have been on hold.

During the delay, the company underwent a restructuring that led to the layoffs of more than 200 employees. It also acquired U.S. internet publisher Gawker Media LLC for $135 million.

Mexican media company Grupo Televisa (TLVACPO.MX) is a minority investor in Univision.

It holds three board seats and also collects hundreds of millions in licensing revenue and royalties every year from Univision, which airs a large chunk of its programming.

Univision, with total 2016 sales of $3 billion, owns television operations, cable networks, digital businesses such as mobile apps and radio stations.

This would not be the first time Univision has explored a sale. It has had conversations with CBS Corp (CBS.N) and Time Warner Inc (TWX.N), sources previously told Reuters.

Reporting by Greg Roumeliotis in New York; Editing by Richard Chang

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Liberty Media discusses potential deal with Univision: source - Reuters

Staff and wire reports

NEW YORK It was a 24 hours full of distractions for the Connecticut Sun.

Alyssa Thomas learned she was a reserve for the WNBA All-Star game Saturday in Seattle on Tuesday.

At the same time, Connecticut Sun coach Curt Miller learned he and his staff were going to replace Bill Laimbeer and his staff on the bench as coach of the Eastern Conference.

Jasmine Thomas learned she would be a competitor in the 3-point shooting contest at the All-Star game.

Oh, and the Sun had to play the Liberty in New York on Wednesday morning.

Connecticut fell to New York, 96-80, before 17,443 fans for Camp Day at Madison Square Garden.

The loss dropped the Sun into a tie with Washington, a 100-96 winner over Atlanta Wednesday, at 12-9 for best record in the Eastern Conference. New York is equal to both in the loss column at 10-9.

New York coach Bill Laimbeer was supposed to coach the Eastern Conference at the All-Star game but opted out.

Laimbeer's wife contracted a virus while in Africa on vacation and was hospitalized for a few days. Laimbeer decided to spend time with his wife while she recovers. New York hits the road for two weeks after the All-Star Game.

Because the Sun were leading the Eastern Conference at the time of Laimbeers decision on July 10, Miller was named the head coach. He will be joined in Seattle on Saturday by his assistant coaches, Steve Smith and Nicki Collen.

It is a substitution role, Miller said after the loss on Wednesday. Obviously were proud of where were positioned right now in the East this season. Were representing Bill (Laimbeer) and his staff. We take pride that we were asked to be the replacementThat New York staff deserves to be out there.

The Sun could have claimed the season series over the Liberty with a win and it was close in the first half.

The two teams were tied at 24 at the end of the first quarter, with the Liberty going up, 45-41, at the break.

The message at halftime was that we were doing a lot of things well, we just weren't necessarily making shots, said Connecticut center Jonquel Jones, who finished with her 11th double-double of the season (14 points, 10 rebounds). We were kind of taking a lot of shots that they didn't want us to take. I guess just trying to attack a little bit more and not settling for too many jump shots and trying to get to the basket.

The difficulty in making shots was even more pronounced in the third quarter.

New York led, 51-47, after Alyssa Thomas (10 points) scored with 6 minutes, 43 seconds left in the third quarter.

It would be the last basket for the Sun for the next 4 minutes as the Liberty scored 13 straight points. Tina Charles (28 points, 17 rebounds) started the New York run.

We didn't play defense like we usually do, Alyssa Thomas said. But we have this little break to regroup and come out strong for the second half because we have a tough Chicago team when we come back. It was a rough shooting day for us from the arc (and) not a good defensive game either, but we cant dwell on it.

Miller began substituting liberally in the fourth quarter.

We wanted to give our bench confidence that they could play against some of the best players in the league and we got that, they really competed in that fourth quarter, Miller said. We needed to get out of this game injury-free with whats happened around the league this week.

Miller was referring to injuries suffered by All-Stars Elena Delle Donne of Washington and Brittney Griner of Phoenix which will cause both to miss the All-Star game.

That caused some changes to the All-Star reserves and starters.

The Eastern Conference reserves announced Tuesday night included Layshia Clarendon (Atlanta), Stefanie Dolson (Chicago), Candice Dupree (Indiana), Allie Quigley (Chicago), Sugar Rodgers (New York) and Elizabeth Williams (Atlanta).

The reserves for the Western Conference are Seimone Augustus and Rebekkah Brunson from Minnesota, Breanna Stewart (Seattle), Chelsea Gray and Nneka Ogwumike (Los Angeles) and Skylar Diggins-Smith (Dallas).

The WNBA All-Star game will be played at 3:30 p.m. Saturday at Key Arena in Seattle.

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Sun enter All-Star break with loss to Liberty - Norwich Bulletin

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Greenville pole vaulter Sandi Morris. Photo by Taylor Wilder via Team USA

On Wednesday evening, some of the best athletes in the world will be gathered near Falls Park in downtown Greenville, demonstrating the skills that have made many of them champions.

The first-ever Liberty Bridge Jump Off, a gathering of eight female pole vaulters and eight male long jumpers, will kick off at 5:30 p.m. on Main Street in front of Falls Park. Admission is free.

The Jump Off, presented by the American Track League (ATL) in conjunction with the Greenville Track Club and Fleet Feet Sports on Augusta Street, will be followed by a street party featuring a DJ, food trucks, and beer vendors. The event will also feature lessons in the fundamentals of pole vaulting for young children and a fun run at 4:30 p.m. sponsored by Fleet Feet.

Perhaps the most exciting of the many names on the list of participating athletes is champion pole vaulter Sandi Morris, a Greenville native who, in addition to holding the American outdoor pole vaulting record, won a silver medal at the Rio Olympics last August.

Its really awesome to get an opportunity to bring track and field home, Morris said at a Tuesday evening press conference at Fleet Feet. I have so many fans here in Greenville who scour the internet for the live feed of when Im jumping overseas in Europe, so its going to be really cool to show my Greenville fans what professional pole vaulting and long jumping are like in person. It gives me a chance to give back to the community that made me who I am and inspire the next generation of vaulters.

The Liberty Bridge Jump Off is part of the American Track Leagues mission, which is to bring more awareness to American track-and-field sports by making each meet a true event.

I had this vision of what a track league could be, and weve infused entertainment into track and field, ATL president Paul Doyle said. Live music, food trucks, beer, a live DJ. Our goal is make every event a lifelong memory, and thats what we hope to achieve with the Jump Off.

Morris, who hasnt done any competitive pole vaulting in Greenville in over a decade, is excited that the Jump Off will allow the public to get closer than they typically do during a standard track-and-field event.

Theres going to be lots of adrenaline and positivity, she said. At meets like this, youve got your coach right there. You can high five the fans. And you can feed on that positivity of the crowd having a good time. It rubs off on the athletes for sure.

The two other athletes at Tuesdays press conference had their own reasons for looking forward to the event.

2014 USA Indoor Vaulting champion Mary Saxer is encouraged by the rising profile of her sport. Its so awesome to see more and more women rise to the occasion over the years, said Saxer, who has been competing for eight years. We really have quite a group of women jumping well, and Im so proud to be among them.

For long jumper Jarvis Scott, the results of the Jump Off are even more important, as this is Scotts last chance to make it to the World Games, a crucial step toward the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo.

It would mean a lot, especially since I missed the Olympic trials, said Scott, who has only been competing for two years. It would be a great accomplishment so early in my career.

Must do events this week.

Greenville native and Olympic silver medalist pole vaulter Sandi Morris will be grand marshal for

509 Beckonridge Trail, Sapphire, NC 28774

The Greenville pole vaulter is preparing to launch into the Olympics, and a possible world

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Sandi Morris returns home for Liberty Bridge Jump Off - Greenville ... - Greenville Journal

Dean Narciso The Columbus Dispatch @DeanNarciso

A day after twoOlentangyLiberty High School seniors died in a car crash, the Powell community was rallying around their families.

Byearly Wednesday, a GoFundMe campaign had raised more than $35,000to help the family of one of the victims. A new goal of $50,000 was set as hundreds of donations were recorded within hours.

Hunter McClelland was the passenger in a Toyota Camry driven by her boyfriend, Gavin Schlotterbeck, wholost control of the car Monday morning, went off the berm, overcorrected and crashed into an oncoming southbound car along Africa Road near Alum Creek State Park. Both were killed instantly, according to the State Highway Patrol.

Two people in the Jeep Wrangler that theCamry hit Emily R. Bensi, 19, of Westerville, and her passenger, Geneva Day, 12, of Columbus, whom she was babysittingwere hospitalized with injuries thatauthorities say arenot life-threatening.

The fundraising campaign began late Monday "to bring relatives from western Canada here (Powell) in time for Hunter's service," according to the website. Funds beyond what are needed will go toward a school scholarship fund, the site says.

McClellandandSchlotterbeckwere both 17 and entering their senior year atOlentangy Liberty. Both shared an interest in ice hockey.

McClelland was the daughter of former Columbus Chill player Darwin McClelland, who played for the Chillfrom 1993 to 1995.

Schlotterbeckplayed on the Liberty hockey team.

Hundreds of students converged on the school grounds Monday night to hold a memorial service, painting the initials of each victim on a large spirit rock beside the school along Home Road.

McClelland was known as a kind, hard worker who served kids at her church. She had a "snarky" sense of humor, a family spokeswoman said, loved photography and wanted to go into graphic design.

"She had a light that caused others to be drawn to her," said Dean Fulks, pastor of Lifepoint Church in Lewis Center. For the past two years, Fulks said, McClelland volunteered with young children during Sunday school thereand "put others' needs ahead of hers."

Bill Warfield, Olentangy Liberty principal, recalled Schlotterbeck as "just a nice kid, always laughing and telling jokes."

He said the outpouring from around the area has been impressive.

"It just shows what kind of community we have," Warfield said.

James Meacham, a chaplain for the Delaware County sheriff's office, notified Schlotterbeck's family of Gavin's death Monday.

"I don't take religion into the scene," he said of the conversation with them. "I take a comforting heart."

The message he left: "Memories are sweet, and a gift from God that death can't take away."

Visitation for McClelland will be 9 to 11 a.m. Fridayat Lifepoint Church, 7719 Graphics Way in Lewis Center, with the funeral to follow there that morning.

Funeral arrangements for Schlotterbeck were not immediately available.

To donate to the fundraising campaign, visitwww.gofundme.com/support-for-mcclelland-family.

dnarciso@dispatch.com

@DeanNarciso

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Powell rallies around families of Olentangy Liberty teens killed in crash - The Columbus Dispatch

Cable giant Liberty Global has moved into production and distribution with the launch of Platform One Media, a new entity backed by private equity firm TPG and helmed by former Gaumont Television and DreamWorks executive Katie OConnell Marsh.

Everyone wants to get into original content to further engage consumers and scale their businesses, Marsh told Variety. It is good timing for Platform One as the [drama] market is robust, and there is a great opportunity in original content.

The new studio will service Liberty Globals platforms, including Virgin Media in the U.K. and Unitymedia in Germany, as well as third parties. We will have the international footprint of a studio, but with a curated, boutique approach, and thats a combination thats rare, OConnell Marsh said. Were not limited by the needs of Liberty Global. Not everything will make sense for them, but that does give us a lever to pull.

OConnell Marsh has put together a seasoned team that includes her former Gaumont colleague Erik Pack, who will run Platform Ones distribution business from London, and Courtney Conte, a former BBC Worldwide Productions exec who will be COO. Elisa Ellis, formerly of DreamWorks, will be chief creative officer. Neil Strum is head of business affairs, and former ABC Studios exec Julia Franz will be a consultant. Conte and Strum have both worked at L.A.-based production company Slingshot Global Media, which was backed by TPG, and along with its development projects, is being absorbed by Platform One.

Liberty Global already has stakes in, or partnerships with, numerous content businesses, such as Discovery, Lionsgate, and Starz. It also backs producer and distributor All3Media.

But Platform One will have its own production and sales operations. The cable giant said last year it was moving into original production, and at least some of these projects are likely to go through Platform One. The first of these originals is expected to be unveiled within weeks.

Bruce Mann, chief programming officer at Liberty Global, said Platform One hands the cable company a well-capitalized, strategic asset. It also gives us the opportunity to work with world-class talent creating high-quality scripted programming, which could potentially feature on Liberty Globals pay-TV platforms in Europe, he said.

OConnell Marsh noted that the Platform One team is familiar with the international market, meaning it has the ability to look beyond the U.S. as a production base. The market is global and Liberty Global has an international footprint, so we have the opportunity to seed projects where they make the most sense, she said.

OConnell Marsh boss will continue as an executive producer on Narcos, the series she placed with Netflix while working at Gaumont.

TPG will fund its investment through Evolution Media, an investment partnership with CAA and Participant Media.TPG Growth has a history of identifying and building companies, such as STX Entertainment, that can redefine their categories, said Bill McGlashan, founder and managing partner of TPG Growth and co-founder and CEO of The Rise Fund.

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Liberty Global Launches Platform One Media, Katie O'Connell to ... - Variety

BY: Jack Heretik July 18, 2017 2:29 pm

Democratic Rep.Jos Serrano (N.Y.) on Tuesday spoke out against President Donald Trump's proposed wall on the U.S.-Mexico border, arguing that a Statue of Liberty should be built there instead.

Serrano made the comment at a Homeland Security markup hearing, where he spoke out against the border wall,NTK Network reports.

"This country should never build a wall to keep people out," Serrano said. "Should it deal with an immigration issue? Yes, but never, ever, ever build a wall."

"On the contrary, build another Statue of Liberty on the southern border," Serrano said. "That's our message to the world, that statute, not the wall."

The Statue of Liberty in New York Harbor in New York City served as a symbol for immigrants, primarily from Europe, coming to the United States; it was one of the first images of America they would see as ships sailed in.

Serrano also spoke against the cost of the proposed wall and said that it would lead to divisions in the U.S.

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Dem Congressman Wants a Statue of Liberty Built on Southern Border - Washington Free Beacon

An Elroy man was arrested July 17 after he allegedly crashed a pickup truck into Liberty Flag in Reedsburg.

Korey J. Hoppman, 21, was arrested for driving under the influence and possession of marijuana, according to the Reedsburg Police Department.

He tried to make a right turn from Vine Street onto South Webb Avenue around 10 p.m. when he fell out of the vehicle and it struck the building, according to the police report. Hoppman, the lone occupant, was not injured.

Hoppman also faces charges of possession of drug paraphernalia, operating without insurance, failure to maintain control of his vehicle and failure to fasten his seatbelt.

He was cited and released pending an appearance in Reedsburg Municipal Court, according to police.

Liberty Flag owner Joshua Gonzalez said he was notified of the incident at around 10:15 p.m. He said he didnt see the vehicle, just the broken window and bowed-in wall where it had struck. Gonzalez and his brother, along with help from passersby, boarded up the window.

He said he carries insurance, but will have to pay a deductible before the damage can be repaired. The extent and cost of damage has not yet been determined.

Gonzalez said he has sought to keep the store open during regular hours. For him, the weather means he won't have to worry about snow or ice getting in through the opening.

Thats actually a perk, he said. The weathers not that bad.

Follow Heather Stanek on Twitter @HStanek1 or reach her at 608-697-6353.

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Elroy man arrested after crashing pickup into Liberty Flag building in Reedsbug - Reedsburg Times Press

Joe Boyles: Guest Columnist

Our country was founded on the principles of religious liberty. In the early 17th Century, Europeans who feared religious repression in their homeland looked across the Atlantic for a new opportunity to found a nation where they could worship God in their own choosing rather than how the state or their king demanded. The new land they founded on the eastern seaboard was dedicated to that liberty.

My own family is an example. Between 1636 and 1642, one-third of the village of Hingham in Norfolk, England fled the old world and braved an ocean voyage aboard leaky sailing ships and the uncertain future of a harsh new land to escape religious repression and the resulting English Civil War. In 1638, the good ship Diligent carried one hundred people making this exodus, among them the five members of the Henry Chamberlin family.

After two months at sea, the Diligent arrived in the waters off the coast of Massachusetts and off-loaded their human cargo and supplies. The voyagers formed a town in the new world they named Hingham after their home in the old world. The Chamberlin family was among them. My maternal grandmother, June Chamberlin Holdren, was a direct descendent of Henry Chamberlin. Another Hingham voyager was the great-great grandfather of Abraham Lincoln. From humble beginnings, great things can happen.

There are countless other examples of people fleeing religious persecution and beginning a new life in the new world. In the latter part of the 18th Century, our founding fathers had religious liberty foremost on their mind as they sought to create a new nation. In 1787, our namesake James Madison called a Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia. The original Constitution only mentions religion in one place, Article VI where it states, No religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office or public trust under the United States.

At the urging of his mentor Thomas Jefferson (at this time, Jefferson was in France serving as our ambassador), Madison crafted a Bill of Rights to protect individual citizens from the heavy hand of an overbearing government. These became the first ten amendments to the Constitution and were ratified by the states two years later.

The First Amendment begins this way: Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof. The first clause is referred to as the Establishment Clause while the second is the Free Exercise Clause. The intent of our founders was that we would not have a state religion; and secondly, every citizen would be permitted the right to follow his or her own religious instincts.

Several centuries later it seems, we have lost that perspective. The religious freedom that our ancestors fought so desperately to preserve is under attack in the 21st Century. The Establishment Clause is now interpreted as no public pronouncement of religion is permitted in the public square. By deferring to the first interpretation, the second clause is ignored and all too frequently, violated.

There is a popular notion that the Constitution says that church and state must be separated. The document says no such thing. Those words come from a letter from President Thomas Jefferson to the Danbury (Connecticut) Baptists. A century and a half later, the Supreme Court codified the concept in their 1962 Engel vs. Vitale decision which said that New York could not have a state approved prayer to be read in every public school.

For more than a half century, the secularists working through the courts and bureaucracies have expanded that ruling to the point where the law and popular culture ridicules and restricts those of us who practice our religion. Yet, the Great Commission at the end of the Gospel of Matthew exhorts Christians to go into the world spreading the message of Jesus Christ. Here is a case where church and state are in conflict, pulling in opposite directions.

The recent Trinity Lutheran decision by the current court is landmark in that it reverses the trend of absolute and expanding separation. Trinity Lutheran Church in Columbia, Missouri applied for a grant to improve the surface of their playground and prevent injuries to children. Their application was denied because the government agency felt that by providing the funds to improve the playground that would be tantamount to endorsing Lutheranism and a violation of the First Amendment. In a 7-2 decision, the Supreme Court reversed the ruling and allowed the grant application to proceed. It is a reasonable decision; and ultimately, the children of all faiths who enjoy that playground will benefit.

Link:

National Security: Religious Liberty - Madison County Carrier

Indiana State Police

Police in Indiana have released a sketch of the man they say killed two teen girls, Abigail Williams and Liberty German, in Delphi. He is seen at right in a photo taken from the cell phone of one of the victims.

Indiana State Police have released a composite sketch of the man believed to have killed two teen girls who disappeared in Delphi five months ago.

The person depicted in the composite sketch is described as a white male between 56 to 510, weighing 180 to 220 pounds, with reddish brown hair, eye color unknown. This sketch depicts a hat that may not be accurate. We ask that you focus on the persons facial features, Indiana State Police said on Monday, July 17.

The composite drawing is the result of information received during the course of this ongoing investigation, police said. Anyone with information about the murders or the person depicted in the composite sketch should call the established tip line at 844-459-5786 and can remain anonymous. Tips may also be emailed to abbyandlibbytip@cacoshrf.com.

Police have been searching for the suspect in the deaths of Abigail Williams, 14, and Liberty German, 13, since they vanished while walking on an abandoned railroad bridge. A reward of more than $230,000 is being offered for information that leads to the suspects arrest. Police previously released a photo of the suspect recovered from Libertys cell phone.

Indiana State PoliceThese photos show the suspect in the killings, police say.

Libby German and Abby Williams were reported missing by their family on February 13. Hundreds of people, including police, firefighters, family, friends and residents of the surrounding community, searched for the girls into the night Monday and again Tuesday morning. Their bodies were found about 12:15 p.m. a day later.

We feel this is very important because it actually gives a better view of the person in the picture that you see down below, Sergeant Kim Riley said at a press conference, Fox 59 reports. It shows a little more facial features it gives you a little more information on what were looking at, who the suspect might be, and thats why we feel that its very important that this picture is out there at this time.

Riley said its important for people to look at the facial features.

Weve got the information out there, the pictures out there, now weve got this composite that we feel it is the same person and we just want to make sure that people realize this picture is this person , Riley said.

Abigail Abby Williams, left, and Liberty Libby German. (Facebook)

Police also previously released audio recorded on Libertys phone in hopes of identifying the man they believe killed the girls.

The man can be heard in the brief audio clip saying what police believe to be down the hill. You can listen to the audio released by police, a six-second loop of that phrase, below:

Liberty had the presence of mind to turn on her cell phone before she was killed, according to police.

This young lady is a hero, Indiana State Police Sergeant Tony Slocum said at a press conference. We are actively looking for this person. This person is our suspect.

Investigators have recovered other video from the phone, but said they are not ready to release it.

Read More From Heavy

Benjamin Roden: 5 Fast Facts You Need toKnow

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Sketch of Liberty German & Abigail Williams Killer Released by Indiana Police - Heavy.com

The Liberty Trailer Project is at the Ionia Free Fair all week and is meant to honor, educate and inspire in its tribute to the soldiers who made sacrifices to protect Americans' freedoms.

IONIA It stands proudly, as it should, in front of the Floral Building on the grounds of the Ionia Free Fair. The Liberty Trailer Project pays tribute to those who dedicated and risked and many who lost - their lives for America's freedom. The 30-foot trailer is wrapped in photos from history. The back corner photo on the driver's side honors the United States Constitution and as the photos progress up and then around the trailer, they follow the history of the United States and the struggle for liberty for all, on home soil and abroad. The final photo in this incredible march through history is of the Twin Towers in flames after the attack on September 11, 2001. On one side the words are emblazoned In Honor of Our Fallen Heroes, and on the other is a stark reminder that, Freedom Is Not Free.

The project is the brainchild of Ron Miller, of Ionia. He points to the photos and describes the scenes, he cites statistics and shares facts about the events. He has an obvious passion for honoring America's veterans. His vision for the outside mural on the trailer was exact. He drew up his vision and then contacted a graphic designer for help.

I think I drove him nuts, said Miller with a wry smile. I knew how I wanted it so we went back and forth with changes to the original designs, and we went back and forth a lot. But, when it was finally done, I was thrilled with it.

Just like his design, Miller's goals are precise. He wants to honor, educate and inspire.

HONOR

The inside is a continuation of the honor shown on the outside. There are photos and stories paying tribute to local veterans. The project came to fruition in May of 2016. At that time, Miller's idea was to work with veterans and area VFW Posts. On Monday, May 17 of that year, the trailer made its maiden voyage to a McDonalds in Ionia. It was where several veterans often meet over coffee. Several walked away with tears in their eyes...what an honor to thank them and let them know how much we appreciate their sacrifice, marked the event on the project's Facebook page. Since that first day the trailer has stopped at many events, parades and VFW Posts, from Ionia all the way north to Mackinaw City. This fulfills his mission of Honor our Veterans.

EDUCATE

On his travels, Miller noted a desperate need for education especially for Michigan's youth. What I learned while engaging many teens at various events was shocking, Miller said. Many of our youth have no clue what the freedom we enjoy, and often take for granted, costs. That is where the mission of the Liberty Trailer changed. Miller approached the Ionia Public School system and offered to educate the students. He has now shared his knowledge with approximately 1,700 Ionia students in second through eighth grades. He has approached the Lowell School System for the 2017-18 school year. Check off Educate our Youth.

INSPIRE

Miller's goal is to inspire as many Americans as he possibly can with his Liberty Trailer Project. He points to the very few patriots in the 1770s who wanted to split from the tyranny of England's George III. They were just three percent of the population, but just look at what they accomplished. They built the greatest country in the world. Now, if that doesn't Inspire Patriotism nothing will.

According to Miller, The Liberty Trailer Project is funded through the donations of fellow patriots who believe in preserving the liberties and freedom we, as Americans, have enjoyed for 240 years. He is grateful for all who have supported his mission and vision. For more information, or for directions on how to donate, contact Miller at libertytrailer1@gmail.com.

The Liberty Trailer will be in front of the Floral Building in Antique Village this week during the Ionia Free Fair.

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Liberty Trailer Project succeeds in its mission - Sentinel-Standard

TPG Growth, whose parent TPG owns a majority stake in CAA, and John Malones Liberty Global have teamed to launch a global television production and distribution studio dubbed Platform One Media. The studio will be majority owned by Evolution Media, TPG Growths investment partnership with CAA and Participant Media, with Liberty Global taking a minority equity stake via Liberty Global Group in its first major foray into TV production and distribution.

Platform One, which has tapped former Gaumont Television CEO Katie OConnell Marsh as CEO, will absorb TPG GrowthsSlingshot Global Media, including its portfolio and development projects.Courtney Conte, who was appointed as new President of Slingshot Global Media in January, will be Chief Operating Officer and President of Platform One. Also coming over from Slingshot is head of Business Affairs Neil Strum. Launched in 2014, Slingshot put a slew of high-profile series in development though none has gone into production.

OConnell Marsh in 2015 was tapped by DreamWorks Animation to run a new live-action TV unit, though the companys plans in the area changed when it was subsequently acquired by NBCUniversal. OConnell Marsh is bringing with her to Platform One Elisa Ellis, who served as the Head of Creative at DreamWorks live-action division and also worked for OConnell Marsh at Gaumont, as well as another Gaumont alum, Erik Pack. Additionally, producer Julia Franz, former head of creative at ABC Studios, has joined the company as a consultant.

TPG Growth has a history of identifying and building companies, such as STX Entertainment, that can redefine their categories, said Bill McGlashan, founder and managing partner of TPG Growth and co-founder and CEO of The Rise Fund. Working with our partners at Evolution Media, we look forward to leveraging our collective experiences and networks in the entertainment space to build this business with Katie and her team.

Added Bruce Mann, Chief Programming Officer at Liberty Global,Platform One Media has the key ingredients Liberty Global values in a strategic asset: great leadership, a clear vision and aligned, well capitalized partners. It also gives us the opportunity to work with world-class talent creating high-quality scripted programming which could potentially feature on Liberty Globals pay-TV platforms in Europe.

The indie TV production companies landscape has been very challenging in the last few years as U.S. TV networks have upped their push for ownership, with Gaumont under OConnell Marsh as one of few success stories.

OConnell Marsh spent five years as CEOatGaumont Television, where she launched and built up the indie studio operation with such series as NBCsHannibal, NetflixsNarcos,Hemlock GroveandF Is For Family. Before that, she served as head of drama for NBC and was a development executive at Imagine TV.

The explosion of original content globally is creating an opportunity fornew, innovative, and diverse ways to engage audiences beyond the series itself, said OConnell Marsh. WithPlatform One Media, and our partners TPG Growth and Liberty Global, we are perfectly positioned to develop and distribute compellingnarratives that are artistic, meaningful and addictive by working closelywith innovative, inspiring talent to bring to life their creative visions.

Here is more info on the other appointments to the Platform One Media executive team:

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TPG Growth & Liberty Global Launch Indie TV Studio Run By Katie O'Connell Marsh, Will Absorb Slingshot - Deadline

NEW YORK After seeing his team struggle to score lately, Liberty coach Bill Laimbeer wanted to try and get a more uptempo offense.

So he inserted Bria Hartley back into the starting lineup for Sugar Rodgers. The move worked.

Hartley scored 15 points to help New York beat the short-handed Washington Mystics 85-55 on Sunday.

Weve been kicking it around for the last two games, Laimbeer said about the lineup switch. We felt we needed to get more easy baskets because we were struggling offensively. ... Positive reinforcement is a great thing. It worked.

Rodgers added 14 points coming off the bench for the Liberty (9-9), who jumped out to a 16-point lead at the end of the first quarter. The Mystics, who were missing star Elena Delle Donne because of right ankle injury, couldnt get into a flow offensively.

We missed a lot of open looks, Mystics coach Mike Thibault said. We just couldnt knock them down today for whatever reason.

Hartley, who had just 13 points combined the previous five games, hit six of her 10 shots against her former team. The Mystics traded Hartley and Kia Vaughn to the Liberty before the season started.

Everyone says when you playy our old team you have to play really well or show out a little bit, Hartley said with a smile.

Wings 112, Sky 106

ARLINGTON, Texas Skylar Diggins-Smith had 26 points, Kaela Davis added a career-high 23 and the Dallas Wings overcame an 11-point deficit to beat the Chicago Sky in double overtime. Karima Christmas-Kelly scored 17 points, Glory Johnson had 12 points and nine rebounds, and Kayla Thornton added 11 points all in the fourth quarter and overtime for Dallas (10-11).

SUN 89, STARS 75

UNCASVILLE, Conn. Courtney Williams scored 15 points to lead a balanced Connecticut offense and the Sun beat San Antonio.

Jasmine Thomas, Jonquel Jones and Alyssa Thomas added 13 points apiece, Alyssa Thomas had nine rebounds for the Sun (12-8). They have won 11 of their last 14 after losing five of six to open the season.

Lynx 81, Mercury 66

ST. PAUL, Minn. Sylvia Fowles scored 18 points and the Minnesota Lynx used an 18-0 run in the third quarter to beat the Phoenix Mercury.

Minnesota (15-2), off to the best start in franchise history, beat the Mercury 88-71 in Phoenix on Friday night.

Jia Perkins scored a season-high 13 points, Rebekkah Brunson added 11 and Plenette Pierson and Renee Montgomery had 10 points apiece for the Lynx.

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Hartley, Rodgers lead Liberty to 85-55 win over Mystics - Glens Falls Post-Star

DELPHI, Ind. More than five months after the disappearance of 14-year-old Liberty German and 13-year-old Abigail Williams, Indiana State Police released a composite sketch of the suspect in the Delphi murder investigation.

Police say they hope the sketchwill help clarify some of the pictures that were previously released regarding the investigation and the man on the bridge. Police say the sketch of the suspect is based off witness tips, including one woman who told police she saw this man near the Delphi Historic Trails the day Abby Williams and Libby German were murdered.

We feel this is very important because it actually gives a better view of the person in the picture that you see down below, Sgt. Kim Riley said at a press conference on Monday morning. It shows a little more facial features it gives you a little more information on what were looking at, who the suspect might be, and thats why we feel that its very important that this picture is out there at this time. Police say its very important for the public to focus on the facial features.

(Left) Sketch of Delphi suspect; (Right) Picture of suspect

Police say the person depicted in the composite sketch is described as a white male between 56 to 510, weighing 180 to 220 pounds, with reddish brown hair. The eye color is unknown, but according to one witness, his eyes are not blue. Additionally, this sketch depicts a hat that may not be accurate.

Weve got the information out there, the pictures out there, now weve got this composite that we feel it is the same person and we just want to make sure that people realize this picture is this person , Riley said.

According to police, there are no arrests at this time, and Riley could not comment as to whether they are close to making an arrest. But he assured everyone this is not a cold case, and theyre still getting around five to 10 tips every day. Weve always felt that were going to solve this case, Riley said.

The investigation into the murder of German and Williams began February 13 when family members reported them missing. Their bodies were found near the Delphi Historic Trails on February 14.

Police later released a photo of a man walking on the bridge and a recording of a suspect saying down the hill.

Just last weekend, a softball tournament was held in Battle Ground, Indiana in memory of the girls. Proceeds from the tournament are going toward a new sports complex in their honor.

If you have any information regarding the investigation, police are encouraging you to call the tip line at 844-459-5786. Callers can remain anonymous.

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Police release sketch of man accused of murdering Delphi teens Liberty German and Abigail Williams - Fox 59

There is a crack in the Liberty Bell. What good is a cracked bell? Can it toll the hour, sound an alarm, mourn the dead, or sing in celebration? No, such a bell cannot do the work for which bells are made.

The bell did function as bells should when it hung in the tower of the old Philadelphia statehouse. It rang faithfully to call people together to hear the first reading of the Declaration of Independence. But a previous crack came back to haunt the bell when it rang in mourning for the late Chief Justice John Marshall. A new, larger crack was now to silence the bell.

The statehouse where the bell hung became known as Independence Hall. In this hall our Declaration was adopted and the U.S. Constitution came into being. These documents express the high ideals of the nations founders. They proclaim that all people are created equal with rights such as life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness and that we should enter into a more perfect union to secure and maintain these rights.

Today we enjoy many rights and liberties; however, there is still injustice. Because of race, color, gender, language, economic status, religion or other characteristics, not all of us enjoy the promises of the Declaration and the Constitution. There is a crack in the reality of our ideals.

Perhaps the Liberty Bell is a symbol of our ideals and our imperfection. As we view its crack, we are reminded of the cracks in ourselves and in our society. Yet, despite the crack, the bell calls us to renewed dedication. The inscription encircling its top calls us as it did the ancient Hebrews to proclaim liberty throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof (Leviticus 25:10).

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The Liberty Bell: Metaphor for America - LancasterOnline

Control of glyphosate-resistant common waterhemp with Valor XLT applied PRE followed by Liberty in Liberty Link soybean (Photos by Amit Jhala/UNL Cropwatch)

Liberty (glufosinate ammonium: 24.5%) is a contact, broad-spectrum, non-selective herbicide for weed control in Liberty Link corn and soybean and a corn hybrid stack with glyphosate and Liberty tolerance. A recent update in the Liberty label will provide an opportunity to apply Liberty at higher rates in Liberty Link corn and Liberty Link soybean.

Six weeds in Nebraska are resistant to glyphosate. Liberty Link corn/soybean is an additional tool for control of such glyphosate-resistant weeds. Using diverse weed management tools is important to the control of herbicide-resistant weeds and to avoiding the further evolution of herbicide-resistant weeds.

Liberty can be applied from emergence up to V6 growth stage in Liberty Link corn and from emergence to R1 growth stage in Liberty Link soybean.

The Bottom Line:

For more information, view theupdated Liberty label.

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Liberty Label Revision Allows Rate Increase - KTIC

UNION GAP, Wash. -- Liberty Bottleworks will be featured in a Made in America showcase organized by President Donald J. Trump this afternoon.

The showcase kicks off the Trump administration's week-long effort to highlight its commitment to increase manufacturing in the U.S. and the jobs that come with it.

The event will showcase products from all 50 U.S. states. Union Gap-based Liberty Bottleworks, which manufactures bottles made with 100 percent recycled aluminum, will represent Washington state.

The company has manufactured bottles for the Trump administration in the past and is currently manufacturing a bottle with the Presidential Seal, said marketing director Kayla Dexter.

The event will be live streamed on YouTube starting at 3 p.m. Eastern time, noon local time. The video is embedded above.

This story will be updated.

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Trump administration "Made in America' showcase to feature Union Gap's Liberty Bottleworks. Watch live stream here ... - Yakima Herald-Republic

(Resonance) US: 26 May 2017 UK: 26 May 2017

For a good reason, Jaco Pastorius is almost exclusively thought of as a bassist. Without a doubt one of, if not the most influential electric bass players of all time, Pastorius was quick to make a name for himself with his lightning quick lines, impeccable melodicism and timing and flashy personality. But what often gets left out of the equationand unfairly sowas his skills as a composer of harmonically complex, progressive arrangements and original compositions. By the time the live performance that makes up Truth, Liberty & Soul was recorded, Pastorius had shifted his focus from virtuosity on the bass to stunningly complex works like Liberty City, Invitation, 3 Views of a Secret and, most strikingly, Crisis. The latter in particular set the tone for Pastorius new, post-Weather Report direction.

A brilliant work of composed chaos, Crisis is about as uncompromisingly challenging as Pastorius ever got. That he would choose to open his Word of Mouth (1981) album not with a retread of the virtuosity he displayed on his self-titled debuts blazing Donna Lee speaks to where he was at as a musician after having studied under and butted heads with Joe Zawinul. Assembling a whos who of top flight musicians including former Weather Report bandmate Peter Erskine, Randy Brecker, Don Alias, Toots Thielemans, Bob Mintzer and Othello Molineaux, post-Word of Mouth Pastorius strove to bring his creative vision from the record to the stage.

Arguably, the early 1980s (this performance having been captured in June of 1982) saw Pastorius at his best; just past his initial burst of fame and right before his tragic downfall and untimely death, he was a personal and creative peak. It was during this time that he was pushing his art to new and exciting levels of creative brilliance, allowing his compositional skills to rise to the level of his bass playing. Indeed, his bass complements the arrangements far better than many of the live Weather Report recordings captured in the years leading up to his taking charge of his own band. Here it is his writing and arranging for a progressive big band that is just as impressivenot to mention importantas his bass playing. Sadly, this would prove all too short of an artistic pinnacle.

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Originally captured for an NPR program, Jazz Alive!, Truth, Liberty & Soul offers an unedited, warts-and-all complete program featuring Pastorius and the mighty Word of Mouth Big Band. Featuring much of the same materialand personnelas both The Birthday Concert and Invitation, Truth, Liberty & Soul expands on each of these, allowing greater space for other solo features for the rest of the band rather than Pastorius alone. Pastorius, too, seems aware of this, stepping back somewhat to allow for greater visibility for his band.

Yet where the two previously-released albums feature a pared-down, tightly sequenced program of choice cuts, Truth, Liberty & Soul presents the full program, including some decidedly patience-testing moments. The programs first half is a virtual carbon copy of the performances on The Birthday Concert and Invitation, albeit with slightly more instrumental flair from the expanded band. Opening with Invitation, Pastorius ably leads the Word of Mouth Big Band through the songs knotty instrumental interplay, pushing the tempo with his bubbling lines, wending in and out of the soaring harmonized horn parts. Similarly, Donna Lee finds the entire band playing the unison head at a frantic pace before exploding the tune into something far more spacious and less frenetic than the songs bebop roots. Its a fine showing of each players instrumental prowess, while also affording the chance to break the standard down to its base elements, tear it down and build it back into something truly awesome.

A live staple in the latter half of his career and a clear homage to his formative years in the trenches of Florida R&B groups, Soul Intro/The Chicken finds Pastorius and company in fine, funky territory, ripping through Pee Wee Ellis standard with aplomb, his bass improbably filling the rhythmic cracks with stunning timing and control. Similarly, Fannie Mae explores similar territory with Pastorius taking a vocal lead. Much looser than the version on Invitation, here it sounds like the work of a band letting its hair down, Pastorius vocals nowhere near as precise as on Invitation, but still organic, raw and live.

As alluded to above, there are moments of Truth, Liberty & Soul that are flat-out dull. The tentative bass and steel drum rendition of Bob Marleys I Shot the Sheriff that opens the second disc is met with an appropriately tepid response, Pastorius sounding uncharacteristically unsure of himself as he navigates the melody using a series of false harmonics. That its immediately followed by the percussion-centric Okonkol y Trompa doesnt help matters. Stretching past the 15-minute mark its the longest track on the album and arguably filler that wouldve found itself on the cutting room floor had this been intended for wider commercial release. And while the combination of Alias and Erskine is particularly fiery, Okonkol y Trompa lacks the requisite structure and brevity to hold the listeners attention during the full run time.

Thankfully, the latter half of the collection picks back up with a blazing rendition of Reza/Giant Steps that again shows off Pastorius inimitable horn charts, the intricately harmonized lines delivered at jaw dropping speed with equally impressive accuracy and control. Twins, a track intended for the studio follow up to Word of Mouth, pushes Pastorius compositional complexity into high gear. At just under three minutes, its an intense blast of progressive big band jazz virtually without equal elsewhere on the program. Given the overabundance of live recordings from around the same era and later, all of questionable fidelity, its a thrill to be able to hear the band firing on all cylinders so clearly. Had he not gone off the rails due to the severity of his undiagnosed mental illness, Pastorius and the Word of Mouth Big Band wouldve been a formidable force in the world of contemporary jazz.

And as no live performance would be complete without the requisite bass solo showcase, Truth, Liberty & Soul finds Pastorius treading familiar ground, all of which he executed more compellingly with Slang off of Weather Reports 8:30. Seemingly having run out of ideas, Pastorius again does his rendition of America (more often than not credited as Amerika), teases Purple Haze, Portrait of Tracy and, in a somewhat leftfield twist, River People. In other words, it seems that nearly every recorded solo performance from Pastorius post-8:30 is essentially a retread of all thats come before. But given the level of Pastorius playing within the context of a song, this is a minor quibble. Over all, Truth, Liberty & Soul is not necessarily an essential, but no less welcome addition to the Pastorius canon.

Rating:

John is a Michigan-based musician and writer. He currently writes for PopMatters, Spectrum Culture, Freeform Noise and Cover Me, among others. Follow him at @john_r_paul

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Truth, Liberty & Soul - PopMatters

Just four days ago, a Carmelo Anthony trade to the Houston Rockets was at the two-yard line. But trade talks stalled towards the end of last week, leaving Anthony on the Knicks roster for the time being. New general manager Steve Mills was reportedly hoping to convince Anthony to stay, but the 10-time All-Star is expecting trade discussions to resume shortly. From ESPNs Adrian Wojnarowski:

Whatever stance a post-Phil Jackson front office is taking now, Anthony expects the Knicks to resume trade talks soon and honor the franchise's long-standing goal to rebuild without him, league sources said.

Anthony, 33, has been willing to waive his no-trade clause for Houston and Cleveland, but in recent weeks, he has begun to prioritize a trade to the Rockets to join Chris Paul and James Harden over one to the Cavaliers and LeBron James, league sources said.

Im probably in the minority of people who would rather see Anthony go to the Cavaliers instead of the Rockets, as unlikely as it may be. Good luck getting a player who has spent the last several years of his career shooting elbow jumpers almost exclusively to buy into launching threes at a rapid rate. Also, he played under DAntoni in New York from 2010-12, and that didnt necessarily go too well. Hes not going to put Houston over the top.

CJ McCollum Wants Carmelo to join the Trail Blazers

I dont think a team that was 11th in offensive efficiency and 21st in defensive efficiency should think that Carmelo Anthony is the answer to their problems, but to each his own.

Someone is selling a life-sized Joel Embiid balloon on Craigslist - Liberty Ballers, Kyle Neubeck

If youve got some nice power tools, it could be yours!

Luc Mbah a Moute agrees to sign 1-year deal with Rockets

Mbah a Moute played in 80 games with the Los Angeles Clippers last year, averaging 6.1 points and 2.1 rebounds in 22.3 minutes per game. The former Sixers deal is reportedly for the veterans minimum. Hell add some solid defense to a team that will desperately need it.

NBA Summer League: The Most Intriguing List - Sports Illustrated

When the quickest player on the floor at Summer League chooses to play at a moderate pace, that warrants some attention. [Dallas Mavericks rookie Dennis] Smith is a dizzying athletethe sort that can blow by the vast majority of his Vegas competition. Yet rather than seek out those openings whenever he could, Smith has showed a surprising willingness to rear back and reset the offense. Quick bursts have given his moves the edge they need without sacrificing control. Rarely are rookie speedsters so discerning, particularly when let loose on the first stage of their professional career.

Kendrick Perkins hopes to get training camp invite from a team - ESPN

"I've been keeping my weight down, making sure I'm getting all the cardio I need, staying in great shape," he told the newspaper. "I'm just going to do what I can. I feel good. I've been on top of my basketball work and I'm just waiting for my opportunity, [if it] happens. I've just changed my diet, working on my quickness, and just trying to get better. It's 30 teams out there and I'm just looking for one opportunity. It will come. I'm just trying to leave it in God's hands."

Big Perk, aka Swamp Thang, last played for the New Orleans Pelicans in 2015-16. Were all rooting for you, Perk. The NBAs a little tougher when youre in it.

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Liberty Links: Carmelo Anthony still expecting a trade to Houston Rockets - Liberty Ballers

By Vanesa Brashier, vbrashier@hcnonline.com

Liberty County commissioner involved in accidental shooting

A Liberty County official is recovering from an injury he received July 6 when his firearm accidentally discharged.

Pct. 2 Commissioner Greg Arthur, former sheriff of Liberty County, was on a brief holiday with his wife and family at Garner State Park in Uvalde County when the accident occurred.

"We were at the pavilion and I was wearing my concealed handgun. It was shifting around a little bit so I stepped out into the parking lot to readjust," Arthur said.

While making adjustments, Arthur says he accidentally hit the trigger, causing the gun to fire downward toward the ground. The bullet grazed Arthur's leg, entering the skin and creating a gash before it exited and hit the ground. As it hit the ground, fragments of concrete and the bullet reportedly scattered, hitting two other nearby people including a 6-year-old boy.

"The boy was hit by either a piece of concrete or a fragment. It hit him in the foot. He was taken to a hospital for treatment. The other guy was treated on the scene. He also was hit in the foot," Arthur said.

In his 40 years of law enforcement as sheriff and a sergeant for the Texas Department of Public Safety, Arthur said he never accidentally discharged his handgun before now or had to shoot at anyone. He says he is extremely remorseful for any injuries his actions caused.

"The worse thing is that little boy was injured. That bothers me more than anything," he said. "It was just an accident."

The incident is the second time a firearm owned by Arthur has accidentally discharged. Several years ago, a Liberty business owner and a friend of Arthur's accidentally shot himself with Arthur's handgun. The business owner sustained non-life threatening injuries.

"He was in his car by himself when that happened," Arthur said. "I was outside of the car talking to someone else."

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Liberty County commissioner involved in accidental shooting - Chron.com