Stephen Colbert: Stop Pretending Donald Trump Is Symptom Of Country’s Ills; He Is The Disease – Deadline

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Speaking for many, Late Night host Stephen Colbert opened his Thursday program confessing, I going to say something right now I did not think was possible any more: I am shocked by something Donald Trump said.

I thought by now, after five months of this, that my soul had calcified into a crouton. Not true, because today, the President of the United States tweeted:

Where to begin, Colbert sighed. Its a buffet of [expletive]: First of all, someone bleeding badly at your door and you say no? It sounds like your health care plan, Colbert joked. I mean, turning them away from your hotel during the middle of winter is literally the story of Christmas. Only there wasnt a wise man in sight. This is shocking and vicious. So: on brand! Colbert snarked. The reviews came in fast and furious, Colbert described, including: vulgar, crude, and a new low. No, its the same low, Colbert disagreed. Were at a cruising altitude of, like, the bottom of theMarianas Trench right now. There are giant squid looking down at America right now.

Of course this is shocking to everyone who is not employed by Donald Trump.

Republican Ben Sasse tweeted: Please just stop. This isnt normal.

Sen. Lindsey Graham tweeted: Mr. President, your tweet was beneath the office and represents what is wrong with American politics, not the greatness of America.

Hold it right there, Lindsey, Colbert ordered. This is NOT whats wrong with American politics. You dont see Paul Ryan throwing shade at Chuck Schumer over his eye job. This is whats wrong with the American president. Lets stop pretending that Trump is symptom of something. He is the disease.

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Stephen Colbert: Stop Pretending Donald Trump Is Symptom Of Country's Ills; He Is The Disease - Deadline

Donald Trump, Senate, George Pell: Your Evening Briefing – New York Times

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As her show Morning Joe was ending, Mr. Trump taunted Ms. Brzezinski as low I.Q. Crazy Mika who had been bleeding badly from a face-lift at Mar-a-Lago in December. Ms. Brzezinski responded by posting a photograph of a box of Cheerios with the words, Made For Little Hands.

In other White House news, the presidents national security adviser said Mr. Trump would meet with President Vladimir Putin of Russia on the sidelines of the G-20 meeting in Hamburg next week.

_____

3. Speaking of the G-20, the German chancellor, Angela Merkel, is predicting very tough climate and trade talks with the U.S. there.

A new study in the journal Science explores the economic harm that climate change could inflict on the U.S. in the coming century. The greatest impact: a projected increase in heat wave deaths that would hit parts of the Midwest and Southeast especially hard. Above, a scene from Phoenix this month.

_____

4. Republican leaders, in retreat from the bruising battle over the health care bill, said they were considering proposals to keep one of the Affordable Care Acts taxes on high-income people.

Also under discussion: more money to combat the opioid epidemic and new incentives for people to establish tax-free savings accounts for medical expenses. Above, Mitch McConnell, the Senate majority leader, and the majority whip, John Cornyn.

The late-night host Samantha Bee saw a parallel between Washington and Hollywood. It turns out, 13 rich white guys alone in a room isnt how good legislation happens, she quipped. Its how Suicide Squad happens.

_____

5. Twice in the past month, N.S.A. cyberweapons stolen from its arsenal have been turned against American allies. The agency has kept quiet, not acknowledging its role in developing the weapons, and prompting criticism that its hoarding knowledge that could stop the attacks.

Many are asking if the U.S. intelligence agencies rushed to create digital weapons that they cannot keep safe.

_____

6. Pope Francis granted a leave of absence to Cardinal George Pell, a top Vatican official who has been charged with sexual assault, so that he could return to Australia to defend himself.

The Australian police have yet to reveal the details of the charges or the ages of the complainants. Cardinal Pell, above, said he is innocent and denounced what he called a relentless character assassination.

_____

7. President Xi Jinping of China arrived in Hong Kong for ceremonies marking the anniversary of the former British colonys return to Chinese rule. Thousands of police officers were deployed to keep protesters at bay.

Our correspondent says that Hong Kong was seen as a rare blend of East and West that China might seek to emulate. But now its racked by problems, like a dire lack of affordable housing, amid fighting over its political future.

_____

8. This is our moment, fellas. Now make me proud.

That was our columnist, Tyler Kepner, noting the proliferation of major league baseball players who share his first name. He counted 30 in the last two seasons, and the Yankees now have four.

_____

9. Seeing a movie over what many people are treating as a holiday weekend?

Our critic calls Baby Driver, the new action movie from the director Edgar Wright, a pop pastiche par excellence.

The film follows a getaway driver named Baby, played by Ansel Elgort, as a heist goes wrong. Jamie Foxx, Jon Hamm and other notable names join him on screen.

_____

10. Finally, in the name of service journalism, we taste-tested 10 hot dogs for your summertime cookouts.

The winners were Wellshire Farms (smoky, herby) and good old Hebrew National (the peoples hot dog). The losers evoked adjectives like funky and flaccid.

Have a great night.

_____

Photographs may appear out of order for some readers. Viewing this version of the briefing should help.

Your Evening Briefing is posted at 6 p.m. Eastern.

And dont miss Your Morning Briefing, posted weekdays at 6 a.m. Eastern, and Your Weekend Briefing, posted at 6 a.m. Sundays.

Want to look back? Heres last nights briefing.

What did you like? What do you want to see here? Let us know at briefing@nytimes.com.

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Donald Trump, Senate, George Pell: Your Evening Briefing - New York Times

President Trump’s Scaled-Back Travel Ban Goes Into Effect – TIME

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(WASHINGTON) A scaled-back version of President Donald Trump's travel ban took effect Thursday evening, stripped of provisions that brought protests and chaos at airports worldwide in January yet still likely to generate a new round of court fights.

The new rules, the product of months of legal wrangling, aren't so much an outright ban as a tightening of already-tough visa policies affecting citizens from six Muslim-majority countries. Refugees are covered, too.

Administration officials promised that implementation this time, which started at 8 p.m. EDT, would be orderly. Customs and Border Protection spokesman Dan Hetlage said his agency expected "business as usual at our ports of entry," with all valid visa holders still being able to travel.

Still, immigration and refugee advocates are vowing challenge the new requirements and the administration has struggled to explain how they will make the United States safer.

Under the temporary rules, citizens of Syria, Sudan, Somalia, Libya, Iran and Yemen who already have visas will be allowed into the United States. But people from those countries who want new visas will now have to prove a close family relationship or an existing relationship with an entity like a school or business in the U.S.

It's unclear how significantly the new rules will affect travel. In most of the countries singled out, few people have the means for leisure travel. Those that do already face intensive screenings before being issued visas.

Nevertheless, human rights groups on Thursday girded for new legal battles. The American Civil Liberties Union, one of the groups challenging the ban, called the new criteria "extremely restrictive," ''arbitrary" in their exclusions and designed to "disparage and condemn Muslims."

The state of Hawaii filed an emergency motion Thursday asking a federal judge to clarify that the administration cannot enforce the ban against fiancs or relatives such as grandparents, aunts or uncles not included in the State Department's definition of "bona fide" personal relationships.

Much of the confusion in January, when Trump's first ban took effect, resulted from travelers with previously approved visas being kept off flights or barred entry on arrival in the United States. Immigration officials were instructed Thursday not to block anyone with valid travel documents and otherwise eligible to visit the United States.

Karen Tumlin, legal director of the National Immigration Law Center, said the rules "would slam the door shut on so many who have waited for months or years to be reunited with their families.

Trump, who made a tough approach to immigration a cornerstone of his election campaign, issued a ban on travelers from the six countries, plus Iraq, shortly after taking office in January. His order also blocked refugees from any country.

Trump said these were temporary measures needed to prevent terrorism until vetting procedures could be reviewed. Opponents noted that visa and refugee vetting were already strict and said there was no evidence that refugees or citizens of those six countries posed a threat. They saw the ban as part of Trump's campaign promise to bar Muslims from entering the United States.

Lower courts blocked the initial ban and a second, revised Trump order intended to overcome legal hurdles. The Supreme Court on Monday partially reinstated the revised ban but exempted travelers who could prove a "bona fide relationship" with a U.S. person or entity. The court offered only broad guidelines.

In guidance issued late Wednesday, the State Department said the personal relationships would include a parent, spouse, son, daughter, son-in-law, daughter-in-law or sibling already in the United States. It does not include other relationships such as grandparents, grandchildren, aunts and uncles.

Business or professional links must be "formal, documented and formed in the ordinary course rather than for the purpose of evading" the ban. Journalists, students, workers or lecturers who have valid invitations or employment contracts in the U.S. would be exempt from the ban. The exemption does not apply to those who seek a relationship with an American business or educational institution purely for the purpose of avoiding the rules.

Refugees from any country will face similar requirements. But the U.S. has almost filled its quota of 50,000 refugees for the budget year ending in September and the new rules won't apply to the few remaining slots. With the Supreme Court set to consider the overall ban in October, the rules could change again.

The travel ban may have the largest impact on Iranians. In 2015, the most recently available data, nearly 26,000 Iranians were allowed into the United States on visitor or tourist visas. Iranians made up the lion's share of the roughly 65,000 foreigners from the six countries who visited with temporary, or non-immigrant visas that year.

American journalist Paul Gottinger, said he and his Iranian fiancee applied for a visa nearly a year ago but are still waiting on a decision. Gottinger says they were to wed at a Japanese garden in his parents' home state of Minnesota this month but postponed the ceremony until August because they had not yet received the visa.

Now, he expects they will have to delay again.

"Every twist and turn of the courts, we're holding our hearts and our stomachs are falling to the floor," he said by phone from Turkey.

The new regulations are also affecting the wedding plans of Rama Issa-Ibrahim, executive director of the Arab American Association of New York.

She is Syrian-American and had planned to get married this fall. While her father in Syria may be able to get a visa, her aunts and uncles may well be blocked.

"I would love for them to be at this wedding, and unfortunately, they aren't going to be able to be here," she said, adding that the ceremony would be postponed.

___

Associated Press Writer Amy Taxin in Los Angeles and Michael Noble in New York contributed to this report.

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President Trump's Scaled-Back Travel Ban Goes Into Effect - TIME

What to Expect From Trump’s High-Stakes Meeting With Putin at the G20 Summit – Fortune

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Meeting face-to-face with Russian President Vladimir Putin, President Donald Trump's "America First" policy will be put to the test if he opts to confront Russia over intelligence that Moscow meddled in the 2016 presidential election .

National security adviser H.R. McMaster said Thursday that Trump will meet with Putin along the sidelines of the annual Group of 20 meeting in Hamburg, Germany, part of an itinerary that will include meetings with several world leaders.

Trump will face the challenge of working with Russia toward common goals in Syria and Ukraine, while also potentially broaching allegations about Moscow's interferences in the U.S. elections and accusations that some of his associates may have had contact with Russian officials during the 2016 campaign and the transition.

All 17 U.S. intelligence agencies have agreed that Russia was behind last year's hack of the Democratic Party's email systems and tried to influence the 2016 election to benefit Trump.

Trump will be under pressure to side with the U.S. intelligence agencies and press Putin on the issue of election meddling, something he has thus far been reluctant to do. Trump's promise of closer cooperation with Russia has prompted concerns that the U.S. will have diminished leverage over global issues and he could be more sympathetic to Russia.

Trump has staunchly denied that he had any contacts with Russia during his campaign. Russian officials have denied any meddling in the 2016 election.

"Putin is all about optics and symbolism," said Julianne Smith, a National Security Council and Defense Department official under President Barack Obama. "He wants the meeting and the photo more than the discussion."

Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov told Russian news agencies after the White House's announcement that Putin is expecting to meet with Trump in Hamburg. They "will meet at the summit in one way or another. We have said it before," he told state-owned RIA Novosti news agency.

McMaster and White House economic adviser Gary Cohn would not say whether the president intends to address accusations that Russia interfered in the 2016 presidential election, saying the agenda is "not finalized" for this or any other meeting.

"Our relationship with Russia is not different from that with any other country in terms of us communicating to them really what our concerns are, where we see problems with the relationship but also opportunities," McMaster said.

Many administration officials believe the U.S. needs to maintain its distance from Russia at such a sensitive timeand interact only with great caution.

Some advisers have recommended that the president instead do either a quick, informal "pull-aside" on the sidelines of the summit, or that the U.S. and Russian delegations hold "strategic stability talks," which typically don't involve the presidents, according to current and former administration officials.

The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they weren't authorized to discuss private policy matters by name.

The U.S.-Russian relationship deteriorated during Obama's eight years in office when the Obama administration slapped sanctions on Moscow over its annexation of Crimea from Ukraine. Trump frequently said that he was hopeful of improving American ties with Russia.

But major disagreements remain over Ukraine and Syria, and Trump said in April that U.S-Russian relations "may be at an all-time low."

Russia has sought to put itself on an equal footing with the U.S. since the collapse of the Soviet Union, extending its territory where it can, countering U.S. military action and positioning itself as a rival to the world's biggest economy.

McMaster said Secretary of State Rex Tillerson is taking the lead on the discussions and "has been engaged in a broad, wide-range discussion about irritants, problems in the relationship but also to explore opportunities, where we can work together, areas of common interest. So it won't be different from our discussions with any other country."

Trump will kick off his second foreign trip in Warsaw, Poland, where he plans to deliver a major speech at Krasinski Square, the site of the memorial to the 1944 Warsaw Uprising against the Germans during World War II.

In Warsaw, Trump will meet with Polish President Andrzej Duda and attend a summit with a dozen European and Baltic leaders devoted to the Three Seas Initiative. The initiative is an effort to expand and modernize energy and infrastructure links in a region of Central Europe from the Baltic Sea in the north to the Adriatic and Black seas in the south.

In addition to Putin, Trump planned to meet with the leaders of several other countries during the G20, including the United Kingdom, Germany, China, South Korea, Mexico, Indonesia and Singapore, White House officials said.

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What to Expect From Trump's High-Stakes Meeting With Putin at the G20 Summit - Fortune

A Brief Recap of Donald Trump’s Own Alleged Plastic Surgery – Vanity Fair

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By Joe Raedle/Getty Images.

On Thursday morning, the president of the United States, the commander in chief of the armed forces, the guy who signs executive orders, got mad at a news anchor. In retaliation, he claimed she got plastic surgery:

Trump was lashing out at Mika Brzezinski, host of Morning Joe and a person with whom he was once friendly. Though Trump says he doesnt watch the program anymore, the tweets came after Brzezinski said on the show, Nothing makes a man feel better than making a fake cover of a mag about himself, lying every day and destroying the country (shes referring to the fake Time magazine cover that hangs in several of his golf clubs). Its a crude statement thats earned outrage even from members of the party Trump theoretically leads, but also a typical response from a public figure who has a rocky history of handling embarrassment.

While the unprecedented attack on a news figure by the president of the United States brought up all manner of reasons to slap ones forehead, let us take this chance to focus in on a particular: this plastic surgery thing. Plastic surgery is a fairly normalized practice, especially in Los Angeles and New York, especially among the moneyed elite of those cities. And Donald Trump is a moneyed elite from such a coastal province, one whos demonstrated a fascination with the more superficial qualities throughout his life. Is it possible that he himself has gone under the knife, making his Thursday tweets both indefensible and hypocritical? Ivana Trumps divorce deposition, which was recounted in The Many Lives of Donald J. Trump by author Harry Hurt III may have some answers.

In 1990, Ivana Trump said under oath that her husband flew into a fit of rage due to the pain and displeasure with a scalp reduction surgery, performed in 1989. Also known as alopecia reduction, the surgery is intended to correct balding, and involves cutting the bald spot out and sewing the remaining skin back together. The tightened scalp can cause headaches and swelling. The man who allegedly performed the surgery was Ivanas own doctor, Dr. Steven Hoefflin. Hes most famous for extending his services to Michael Jackson, Elizabeth Taylor, and Joan Rivers, among other stars. Hoefflin also performed liposuction on the chin and waist of our now president, according to Ivanas deposition. (She rescinded part of the deposition, which included rape allegations, in a 2015 statement).

So not only did Trump himself possibly once have plastic surgery, but his Trump Taj Mahal once offered $25,000 worth of plastic surgery to a casino winner. At this point its not odd that Trump would act hypocritically on any subject, especially appearance, especially womens appearance (see his comments on Carly Fiorina, Megyn Kelly, Arianna Huffington, Rosie ODonnell, Heidi Klum, Alicia Machado, and Ted Cruzs wife). But you do have to wonder why he would offer up a reason to drudge up this unsavory association, one that he and his lawyers have gone to great lengths to strike down. In the Lost Tycoon, Trump denied both the incident and the plastic surgery, going out of his way to swipe at Hunt in the process. Its obviously false, Trump also said in 1993, according the Daily Beast, and originally reported by Newsday. Its incorrect and done by a guy without much talent [Hunt] is a guy that is an unattractive guy who is a vindictive and jealous person.

Interesting word choice there.

Losing to wind next to his helicopter in Scotland.

Losing to wind at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland.

Losing to wind as he heads to Indiana.

Losing to wind while hes in Scotland to discuss bankrolling an anti-wind-farm campaign in order to fight an off-shore development near his luxury golf resort.

Losing to wind in the presence of Tom Brady.

Losing to wind while waving.

Putting up a good fight but ultimately losing to wind in Scotland.

PreviousNext

Losing to wind next to his helicopter in Scotland.

By Michael McGurk/Alamy.

Losing to wind at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland.

By Nicholas Kamm/AFP/Getty Images.

Losing to wind as he heads to Indiana.

By Timothy A. Clary/AFP/Getty Images.

Losing to wind while hes in Scotland to discuss bankrolling an anti-wind-farm campaign in order to fight an off-shore development near his luxury golf resort.

By Danny Lawson/PA/A.P.

Losing to wind while he talks to Patriots owner Robert Kraft before a game.

From Splash News.

Losing to wind at the house on the Isle of Lewis, Scotland, where his mother was born before she immigrated to the United States in 1929.

From PA/Alamy.

Losing to wind while boarding the Marine One helicopter at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland.

By Jonathan Ernst/Reuters.

Losing to wind while leaving One World Trade in New York.

By Timothy A. Clary/AFP/Getty Images.

Losing to wind in the presence of Tom Brady.

From Boston Herald/Splash News.

Losing to wind while waving.

By Rob Carr/Getty Images.

Putting up a good fight but ultimately losing to wind in Scotland.

By Michael McGurk/Rex/Shutterstock.

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A Brief Recap of Donald Trump's Own Alleged Plastic Surgery - Vanity Fair

South Korea’s Moon Jae-in Is Meeting with Donald Trump. Here Are 5 Things to Know – TIME

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US President Donald Trump (R) shakes hands with South Korean President Moon Jae-in as Moon's wife Kim Jeong-suk and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin watch, in the State Dinning Room at the White House June 29, 2017 in Washington, D.C. Photo by Kevin Dietsch/PoolGetty Images

South Korean President Moon Jae-in is making his first visit to the U.S. as president this week , and is due to sit down with President Donald Trump on Friday. While the visit wont be as palpably awkward as Angela Merkels , things will be tense and not just because of Trump. Moon brings plenty of his own baggage to the proceedings. Heres what you need to know:

Moon assumed office a little over a month ago, and represents the progressive wing of South Korean politics. His election victory was a repudiation of conservative President Park Geun-hye, who ended her tenure with a four percent approval rating and was impeached over allegations she abused her authority and allowed a close friend to extort money from Koreas business conglomerates, the chaebols. South Korean business and political elites run in the same circles, and patronage is baked into the political system. Each of the last four presidents or their close relativeshave been engulfed in corruption scandals. People want that to change, and much of Moons appeal flows from the perception that he is a clean politician. Thats partially reflected in his popularity, currently hovering around 80 percent .

Moon also brings change to his countrys foreign policy. South Korea has been governed by a string of pro-U.S. presidents, most of whom have shared Washingtons hardline attitude toward Pyongyang. Moon seeks to change tack, even as the rhetoric between Washington and Pyongyang heats up.

How? By sticking to the basics of South Koreas sunshine policy, Seouls on-again, off-again plan since the 1980s to thaw relations with North Korea via constructive engagement. This is no progressive, elitist policy proposal, either; nearly 77 percent of South Koreans believe Seoul should restore dialogue with Pyongyang to help resolve North Koreas nuclear program. Moon has gone further, floating the prospect of economic cooperation with Pyongyang as a way of raising living standards for North Koreans and defraying the costs of potential reunification down the road. In a 2013 paper, RAND estimated that reunification between north and south could cost about $2 trillion$500 billion for military operations, another $500 billion for damages, and $1 trillion for building the Norths economy. Just think: Germanys reunification in 1990 cost West Germany approximately $1.9 trillionand East Germany was lightyears ahead of where North Korea is right now.

The world's two great geopolitical powers are at odds with how to deal with North Korea. The U.S. is unsurprisingly concerned that an openly hostile regime is developing the capacity to strike the U.S. mainland with a nuclear weapon. Short of that, the U.S. has multiple defense treaties that require it to come to its allies defense.

Beijing, meanwhile, is more worried about a North Korean regime implosion. China is responsible for more than 90 percent of North Koreas trade and most of its food and energy supplies. But a collapse of the Kim Jong-un regime would flood China with distressed North Korean refugees. The International Rescue Committee believes between 30,000 to 60,000 North Korean refugees already live in China; if North Korea goes under (population 25 million), China would face millions more.

Moon knows that all these points give the U.S. and China a compelling interest in his approach to the North. Not to mention it's in a tough neighborhood; 11 of the 15 largest militaries in the world are in or adjacent to Asia. China, India, Pakistan, Russia, and North Korea all have nuclear weapons.

Adding pressure to Moons relationship with Trump is the current row over installation in South Korea of the U.S. Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) missile system, which is designed to shoot down short-, medium- and long-range missiles. The THAAD deal was originally negotiated by the Park administration, and two of the six missile launch platforms that normally comprise each THAAD battery have already been installed. The other four are being delayed until an environmental study is done, however, and Moon has been ambiguous on the programs future. The THAAD deployment provides the U.S. additional force projection and security for its 28,500 troops stationed in the country. At the moment, 55 percent of South Koreans say they support the THAAD installations.

China opposes THAAD, because it fears that Washington will use it to reduce Chinas military leverage by working with South Korea and Japan to build out what might become a broader and more comprehensive missile defense system. Its also worried that the radar system employed by THAAD could theoretically be used to track Chinese missile launches (though the U.S. stresses that THAAD is not designed or even necessarily capable of serving that purpose), which is a serious security concern for Beijing.

China has responded by imposing economic restrictions on South Korean firms that have forced some to shutter operations in China; Hyundai for example is expecting a 65 percent drop in its China sales for the month of May. China is also restricting tourism to South Korea; more than half of all tourists to South Korea are from China. If China maintains the travel ban, as much as 20 percent of South Koreas GDP could be knocked off according to Credit Suisse.

South Korea is in a uniquely difficult position. It cant afford to keep China, its largest trading partner, at arms length. The value of its exports to China are more than double those headed to the US. For a country where exports account for 46 percent of GDP, thats not something you take lightly. China has threatened more economic repercussions if THAAD installations continue.

Neither can it risk relations with the U.S. More than anyone else, South Korea is existentially threatened by Pyongyang; North Korea has conventional artillery trained on Seoul with enough firepower to seriously damage the city (just 35 miles away) in mere hours. While THAAD doesnt help guard against this type of shelling, Moon knows the presence of the U.S. military in his country is a major deterrent that goes beyond the number of troops stationed there or artillery deployed.

Each ally tries to thread the needle with Trump as best it can. It's just much harder for South Korea than for anyone else.

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South Korea's Moon Jae-in Is Meeting with Donald Trump. Here Are 5 Things to Know - TIME

Houston bankruptcy attorney

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Vicky Fealy has years of experience in advising clients on the road to financial recovery. Don't allow your financial problems to threaten your business, health, marriage, retirement savings or employment stability. Timing is often critical and you really need to seek advice early - before you have no options.

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Houston bankruptcy attorney

The 10 Best Bankruptcy Attorneys in Houston, TX 2017

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We provide services on family law and bankruptcy. You may call us toll free. Busby & Associates is a law firm that offers professional legal services in the following areas of law: debt consolidation, consumer bankruptcy and family law. We are a debt-relief agency. We help people file for bankruptcy under the Bankruptcy Code. If you need a bankruptcy lawyer in Houston, we are the firm to call. Busby & Associates will respond quickly, providing answers to your questions regarding a Texas bankruptcy, divorce or other family law matters. Our law firm offers discounted attorney's fees. We offer individual attention and high quality professional legal services. Contact us today! Services include but not limited to Chapter 13 bankruptcy, chapter 7 bankruptcy, divorce, foreclosure, auto repossession, credit card lawsuits, temporary restraining orders, waiver divorce, uncontested divorce, agreed divorce, consumerlaw We provide services on family law and bankruptcy. You may call us toll free. Busby & Associates is a law firm that offers professional legal services in the following areas of law: debt consolidation, consumer bankruptcy and family law. We are a debt-relief agency. We help people file for bankruptcy under the Bankruptcy Code. If you need a bankruptcy lawyer in Houston, we are the firm to call. Busby & Associates will respond quickly, providing answers to your questions regarding a Texas bankruptcy, divorce or other family law matters. Our law firm offers discounted attorney's fees. We offer individual attention and high quality professional legal services. Contact us today! Services include but not limited to Chapter 13 bankruptcy, chapter 7 bankruptcy, divorce, foreclosure, auto repossession, credit card lawsuits, temporary restraining orders, waiver divorce, uncontested divorce, agreed divorce, consumerlaw

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The 10 Best Bankruptcy Attorneys in Houston, TX 2017

Clinton Portis Talks Urge to Commit Murder, Bankruptcy in SI … – Bleacher Report

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Carlos Osorio/Associated Press

In an interview with Brian Burnsed ofSports Illustratedon Wednesday, former NFL running back Clinton Portis recounted considering murder as a means of revenge for going bankrupt.

According to Burnsed, nearly all of the money Portis handed over to a group of men to manage and make safe investments with in 2013 disappeared, which resulted in his contemplating murder.

"It wasn't no beat up," Portis said."It waskill."

Portis discussed sitting in his car outside aWashington, D.C., office building with a pistol in his possession in hopes of confronting one of the investors who squandered his money.

A trio of financial advisersJeff Rubin,Jinesh Brahmbhatt andFuad Ahmedallegedly steered Portis toward faulty investments that resulted in millions lost for the former running back.

In his 2015 bankruptcy filings, Portis made potential claims of $11 million against them, but he believes it is unlikely he will recover anything close to that number.

Along with investment issues, Burnsed wrote in detail about Portis' lavish spending on cars, houses, clothing and trips, all of which contributed to his eventual bankruptcy.

Despite the losses, Portis told Burnsed he believes he can earn much of it back through a broadcasting career and appearance fees.

Portis also told Burnsed that he sustained more than 10 concussions during his career and is eligible to receive compensation as part of theNFL's $1 billion concussion settlement if he displays the requisite symptoms.

Rather than attempting to collect, however, Portis said he'd rather not know if there's anything seriously wrong with him:"F--k that concussion money. I'm scared. I'm really scared of the results."

The 35-year-old Portis played nine NFL seasons with the Denver Broncos and Washington Redskins and was named to two Pro Bowls.

He topped 1,000 rushing yards in a season on six occasions, including three campaigns of 1,500 or more yards in his first four NFL seasons.

Portis last played during the 2010 season and retired having earned$43.1 million, per Burnsed.

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Clinton Portis Talks Urge to Commit Murder, Bankruptcy in SI ... - Bleacher Report

Operator of Texas toll road with 85 mph speed limit emerges from … – Texas Tribune

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*Clarification appended.

The firm that oversees a stretch of highway withthe country's fastest speed limit saysit is on better financial footing and under new ownership.

The SH 130 Concession Company, which operates a 41-mile stretch of the State Highway 130 toll road from Mustang Ridge to Seguin, announced Wednesday that it has exited bankruptcy a year afterfiling forit, while removingover a billion dollars in debt and attracting $260 million in new financing.

SH 130 Concession Company has emerged from the Chapter 11 process as a muchstronger company, Andy Bailey, the company's new CEO, said in a release.

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SH 130, which runs a total of 91 miles from north of Austin to Seguin, was initially touted as a way to alleviate gridlock on Interstate 35 through the capital city. The southern section is operated by the Concession Company and has an 85 mph speed limit. The rest is run by the Texas Department of Transportation.

Before the highly publicized opening of the southern portion of the highway in 2012, the SH 130 Concession Company signed a then-unprecedented 50-year deal with the state in which the company agreed to split toll revenues with Texas while assuming building and operation costs. Almost instantly, traffic revenues failed to live up to expectations. In 2014, the SH 130 Concession Company nearly defaulted on its debt. The company filed for Chapter 11 last year.

The bankruptcy filing quickly prompted concerns among critics of the project that the state might end up having to put tax dollars to cover the road's debts. But officials with the Texas Department of Transportation insisted the deal had been originally arranged to ensure the state could not end up responsible for road's debt.

"We knew that 130 was tough, and somebody else said, Well take that risk,' said Ted Houghton, then a Texas Transportation Commissioner, in 2013.

Brian Cassidy, an Austin-based lawyer for Locke Lord, one of many firms that helped SH 130 navigate its bankruptcy, noted that the company kept the highway open while it restructured its debt.The $260 million in new financing comes in the form of a loan, which represents the restructured company's only current direct debt, according to company spokeswoman Kate Miller Morton.

"One of the criticisms that you hear periodically about public-private partnerships is that they somehow put the public at risk of having to cover private sector obligations," Cassidy said. "The fact is, if the agreements are structured correctly and this is an example of one that was then that risk to the public sector doesn't really exist."

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The SH 130 Concession Company was originally a joint venture of Cintra, a Spanish company that oversees several other Texas toll roads,and San Antonio-based Zachry American Infrastructure. But as part of the bankruptcy process,Strategic Value Partners, an international investment firm that focuses on distressed debt, led a group of investment funds that assumed control of the company, Morton said. Cintrano longer owns any stake in SH 130, she said.

TxDOT spokesman Bob Kaufman said that the agency "conducted a careful review of the new operator" as part of the restructuring process.

"SH 130 continues to be a viable alternative for drivers who want to bypass Austin and avoid congestion on I-35," Kaufman said. "No state money was used for this portion of SH 130. Most importantly, there is no impact to Texas taxpayers or to the state."

Bailey said the company will use its new funding to improve infrastructure as well as its marketing efforts.

Cassidy noted that, because of the joint revenue agreement, a brighter future for the SH 130 Concession Company benefits the Texas taxpayer.

The better the road does, the better the state does, he said.

During this year's legislative session, a bill that would have allowed for some communities to move forward with toll roads structured as public-private partnerships, similarly to SH 130,failed to pass.

Disclosure: Cintra US has been a financial supporter of The Texas Tribune. A complete list of Tribune donors and sponsors can be viewedhere.

Clarification: This story has been updated to better describe the location of the portion of State Highway 130 that is operated by the SH 130 Concession Company.

Read related Tribune coverage:

The Texas House shot down House Bill 2861, a measure that wouldve allowed the Texas Department of Transportation to use tolls to fund the construction, renovation or widening of several highways. [link]

After spending years as a target of Dallas activists, I-345 is now among a list of U.S. highways that a national group thinks should be torn down. But a lot may have to happen before city leaders decide the freeway's fate. [link]

Paying off most of the debt Texas has racked up building toll roads would cost about $36.7 billion,the Texas Department of Transportation revealed in September. [link]

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Operator of Texas toll road with 85 mph speed limit emerges from ... - Texas Tribune

Recent Increase in Therapeutic Clinical Trials for Mesothelioma – Mesothelioma.com

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Jillian Duff covers pressing news for the Mesothelioma Cancer Alliance. Bio

June 29, 2017

Houston, TX - Within the past year, there has been a significant increase in the number of therapeutic clinical trials for mesothelioma cancer. Many of these trials have focused on developing or improving immunotherapy treatments that enhance the bodys natural cancer-fighting capabilities through the immune system.

For example, several immunotherapy basket trials focusing on PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors have produced response rates between 9% and 28%, with disease control rates resulted anywhere from 50% to 77% in mesothelioma patients. These trials have also shown checkpoint inhibitors to be more active in PD-L1 IHC positive patients.

Clinical trials test new mesothelioma treatments, as well as new ways to use existing treatments. For patients who do not respond well to conventional therapies, these trials offer the best opportunity for long-term survival. The use of experimental drugs begins with in-depth studies that can significantly improve life expectancy and quality of life.

Some recent successes with immunotherapy drugs include Keytruda (pembrolizumab) and Avastin (bevacizumab), but other experimental treatments like gene therapy, photodynamic therapy, and multimodality therapy are also being studied.

Most clinical trial expenses are covered by the sponsoring entity. This might include a government agency, hospital, university hospital, or a pharmaceutical company. They are typically conducted at a cancer clinic or a specialized area of a hospital that treats cancer patients. Patients may still need to pay for transportation, trips to the doctor, and various tests.

Before a treatment receives approval from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), it must undergo at least three separate phases of clinical trials, with a possible fourth phase following approval. These phases occur after a treatment has been tested in laboratory and animal studies. The trials intend to show a drug is both effective and safe for human use.

Researchers like Dr. Anne Tsao agree we still need to explore the biology and develop combination therapies. Dr. Tsao is the director of the mesothelioma program at the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center at the University of Texas in Houston, one of the nations foremost authorities on malignant mesothelioma.

Other clinical trials are testing immunotherapy in combination with surgery as a more effective way to treat mesothelioma. The Baylor College of Medicine Mesothelioma Treatment Center began running the trial this year. Up until now, either immunotherapy has always been administered as a standalone treatment or, more often, after surgery takes place.

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Recent Increase in Therapeutic Clinical Trials for Mesothelioma - Mesothelioma.com

Mesothelioma Cancer: Symptoms, Causes, Treatment and …

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The fibers become lodged in the lining of the lungs, abdomen or heart and can lay dormant for decades before symptoms start to show. Mesothelioma can accurately be described as a deadly and aggressive form of cancer.

Mesothelioma is a rare type of cancer primarily caused by inhaling or swallowing certain carcinogens at home or on the job. With 3,000 cases diagnosed each year, mesothelioma affects men and women of all ages. The long latency period means you could be exposed to carcinogenic fibers as a teenager and be unaware you have mesothelioma until much later in life.

At Mesowatch, we will meet at your convenience to help you document your claim, initiate the process, file lawsuits and go after the parties potentially liable for negligently exposing you to the hazardous carcinogens that caused the mesothelioma to develop. In addition, we help you get started on filing trust fund claims so you recover the compensation youre entitled to receive for your mesothelioma diagnosis and asbestos exposure injuries. If you or a loved one have been diagnosed with mesothelioma, or have symptoms related to mesothelioma, contact Mesowatch today.

Mesothelioma is a rare type of cancer primarily caused by inhaling or swallowing asbestos fibers. Mesothelioma develops from the fibers building up inside the thin membrane lining of vital organs, causing inflammation and scarring. The membrane layer that carcinogenic fibers accumulate inside of is known as the mesothelium.

The mesothelium membrane around your lungs, abdomen, heart and testicles provides a lubricating fluid that allows the organs to expand, contract and move against each other with ease. Over time, the chronic inflammation from the asbestos fibers inside the internal organ tissues forms into cancerous mesothelial cells. The cellular damage to DNA from carcinogens can alter how cell growth functions and cause a tumor to develop.

Mesothelioma tumors can contain up to three different cellular variations that will affect the cancer patients prognosis and treatment options. Determining the cell type, epithelioid, sarcomatoid, or biphasic, is one of the primary steps in confirming a diagnose. Often times, the cell type is determined by collecting a tissue sample for a biopsy.

Epithelioid cells account for three out of four of all mesothelioma diagnoses. The cells have an elongated, uniform shade and are often associated with lung cancer. These cell types typically have the best response to treatment.

Sarcomatoid cells account for approximately 10 percent of all mesothelioma cases. These spindle-shaped cells typically grow, in a haphazard arrangement, from supportive structures like bones and muscles. Sarcomatoid cell types are often the most difficult to diagnoses and their prognosis is often the most fatal.

Biphasic cells account for around 40 percent of all mesothelioma cases. Biphasic cells are made from a mixture of sarcomatoid and epithelial cell types, but the two often stay differentiated. The prognosis for biphasic is often better than sarcomatoid cells, but worse than epithelioid cells.

The leading cause of pleural mesothelioma, the most common form, is inhaling the asbestos fibers used to construct many of the buildings we live and sleep in. The microscopic fibers are inhaled, penetrating the lung until they are caught in the protective lining of the pleura. The fibers could remain lodged in lung tissue undetected for 10 to 50 years before any mesothelioma symptoms start to show.

Direct exposure from the local environment, like working with products containing asbestos or inside a workspace where airborne asbestos can be inhaled or swallowed, is the most common way people develop this disease. Secondary exposure, like family members being exposed to an asbestos workers clothing and equipment, or other compounding factors, like family history, is also relevant to whether or not mesothelioma develops. If the asbestos fibers are swallowed, mesothelioma in the testes or abdomen is more likely. However, not everyone exposed to asbestos will develop mesothelioma in the future.

Asbestos Timeline

The latency for mesothelioma typically lasts from 10 to 50 years from the date of exposure. This means that the scarring and inflammation of the mesothelium can go on for decades before any symptoms are detected by the victim. The average latency period for patients with malignant mesothelioma is 35 to 40 years.

The latency period for Mesothelioma begins once the microscopic fibers have begun to biologically damage the body. The widespread use of asbestos has declined recently, but the number of mesothelioma patients continues to steadily increase due to the extremely long latency period. For anyone with a history of extensive exposure to asbestos, the latency period may be shorter.

If you are diagnosed at a younger age, you have a better chance of surviving longer. The long latency period makes providing an accurate prognosis difficult for many physicians. Many times, mesothelioma has already developed into the advanced stages by the time its actually detected. The five-year survival rate for people diagnosed with mesothelioma ranges between 5 and 10 percent.

For people diagnosed with stage I, the median survival rate is 21 months. If youve received a diagnosis of stage II of mesothelioma, the median survival rate is 19 months. Generally speaking, patients with mesothelioma cancer too far spread to remove have a lower survival rate than those who can still be operated on. For later stages of a mesothelioma diagnosis, the median survival rate is 12 to 16 months, respectively.

Mesothelioma affects people of all ages exposed to asbestos and other carcinogens, including children and senior citizens. However, children only account for up to 4 percent of all mesothelioma cases.The average age of patients diagnosed with pleural mesothelioma is 69, and most patients are at least 40-years-old. Overall, males seem to be more affected by mesothelioma than females.

According to the CDC, there were nearly 2,600 deaths attributed to malignant mesothelioma during 2015. Most cases involved patients between 75 and 84, who were most likely exposed before 1980 when asbestos was still widely used in hundreds of consumer products and construction materials. However, nearly 700 of the cases involved patients ages 24 to 44, who born after most asbestos-related materials and products were banned by the EPA.

Historically, the rate of mesothelioma has also been higher for people who identify as white or Hispanic, than those identifying as Asian American or African American. People with a family history of mesothelioma may also be at greater risk. However, up to 80 percent of all mesothelioma cases are attributed to asbestos exposure that occurred on the job. Some of the common places to be exposed to asbestos include:

Anyone employed in industries involving asbestos exposure, along with their family members, may face a high risk of developing mesothelioma later in life. This is largely due to the fact that thousands of companies were involved in the chain of exposure that led to asbestos being used in over 3,000 different types of products. Workers handling the asbestos materials during this time period were unwittingly suffered an unhealthy amount of asbestos exposure. This is the main reason why most mesothelioma patients today are around 70 years old now.

The main types of mesothelioma are pleural, peritoneal and pericardial and testicular mesothelioma. The pericardial and testicular varieties are extremely rare and only account for approximately 1 percent of all mesothelioma cases.

Pleural mesothelioma is the most prominent variety and accounts for around 75 percent of all cases. With this type of mesothelioma, the carcinogenic fibers and disease are found in the pleura lining of the lungs. A number of clinical studies are currently underway to help develop better treatment options available and improve survival rates.

Peritoneal mesothelioma accounts for up to 20 percent of all diagnosed cases. With this type of mesothelioma, the scarring and inflammation from inhaling or swallowing asbestos fibers are forming cancerous mutations in the perineum that lines the abdominal cavity. Peritoneal mesothelioma is best treated with a combination of heated chemotherapy and surgery.

Pericardial mesothelioma is one the rarest varieties a patient can receive a diagnosis for. With pericardial mesothelioma, the protective tissue that sustains the scarring and inflammation serves as the lining of the heart. This is especially hard to treat due to the sensitivity of the area that needs to be treated.

Testicular mesothelioma accounts for less than 2 percent of all mesothelioma cases. Many physicians believe the mesothelioma forms in the lining of the testes as a result of ingesting asbestos. This variety typically responds better to treatment than pleural mesothelioma.

Mesothelioma symptoms can be difficult to diagnose because they are easily mistaken as being related or caused by another condition. Anyone with symptoms and an employment history related to a high-risk occupation should not hesitate to see a physician to receive a physical assessment for any illnesses related to asbestos exposure. Its better to try and catch mesothelioma symptoms early, rather than suffer the consequences of discovering them too late. Some of the most common mesothelioma symptoms to be aware of include:

If you or a loved one are suspicious of potential mesothelioma symptoms, contact a medical professional right away.

Mesothelioma is often difficult for physicians to diagnose, and they use a combination of methods to confirm their findings:

Biopsy: A number of different nonsurgical and surgical biopsy procedures may be required to confirm the diagnosis and outline the appropriate treatment options.

Imaging and Scanning: MRIs, X-rays, CT scans and PET scans are typically involved in the first steps of the diagnostic process. In order to properly diagnosis and treat the condition, physicians use these tools to learn how far the mesothelioma has developed and where the tumor is located.

Blood Tests and Biomarkers: In order to confirm the diagnosis or a physicians suspicions, blood tests like CA125, Fibulen-3 or Mesomark can be used to measure biomarkers and confirm if the patient has mesothelioma.

Aside from the long latency period, mesothelioma has a high rate of misdiagnosis because the symptoms often resemble common conditions like pneumonia, cold and flu. If you think you have the symptoms and asbestos exposure in your past, contact Mesowatch today and well direct you to a reputable mesothelioma cancer treatment facility to receive specialized care from the proper specialists.

Mesothelioma has no known cure, but there are treatment options to help alleviate the symptoms and improve survival rates. In addition, cancer specialists have been looking for alternative therapies and innovative options for treatment. The options for treatment are dictated by the stage the patients mesothelioma is in. Patients receiving later stage diagnoses have limited options. If you think you were exposed to asbestos in the past, see a physician regularly to catch the disease in the early stages of development.

Treating the mesothelioma is difficult, and doctors are still studying the effectiveness of radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and surgery. People diagnosed with stage IV mesothelioma or early on in stage IV may qualify for chemical pleurodesis, a treatment that helps prevent the symptoms from recurring.Other therapies include photodynamic therapy, targeted drugs, gene therapies and immunotherapies and virus therapies.

Surgery: Procedures to remove the tumors, but patients must qualify based on a number of factors. Approximately 20 percent of pleural mesothelioma patients have the surgery.

Chemotherapy: Administered through oral or IV-based medications that target cells to help limit cancer cell growth. Prognosis and survival rate improves for some patients.

Radiation: Conventional therapy for cancer cells used to shrink and kill tumors. The effectiveness and precision of the therapy are improved by using intensity-modulated radiotherapy, IMRT.

You or a loved one may be entitled to financial compensation if youve been diagnosed with mesothelioma. Mesowatch is here to assist mesothelioma patients and asbestos exposure victims obtain justice for their injuries.

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Mesothelioma Survivors Unite to Celebrate Remission – Asbestos.com (blog)

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Every year, peritoneal mesothelioma survivor Trina West-Clark takes a trip to the casino to have a few cocktails with friends and celebrate another year of living cancer-free.

To celebrate 16 years of mesothelioma remission, she will travel to Canada and meet fellow peritoneal mesothelioma survivor Raeleen Minchuk and Cheryl Ewoldt, who lost her husband, Barry, to the aggressive cancer.

Weve never met before, but we decided to meet up there and celebrate together, West-Clark told Asbestos.com. Im so excited to do that.

West-Clark and Minchuk were diagnosed on the same day, but 13 years apart. Minchuk found solace in West-Clarks survivor story and plans to commemorate her own three-year survival mark with her inspiration.

They are still ironing out details of the trip, but West-Clark hopes to plan it around their shared cancer anniversary on September 11.

Were throwing around dates, but Im trying to talk Raeleen into doing the 9th to the 12th so I can be with her on the 11th, she said.

Its been more than a year since West-Clarks last CT scan. She periodically experiences some pain and stomach issues but says life is good.

I cant believe its been 16 years. I honestly cant, she said. Im just loving life. No complaints whatsoever.

And as fun as having cocktails with friends at a casino can be, West-Clark knows her 16th anniversary will be special because it will be spent with others affected by peritoneal mesothelioma a rare cancer diagnosed in approximately 500 people in the U.S. each year.

They are the only people that can actually relate to where you have been, she said. Its pretty emotional Im not going to lie because [Minchuk] looks up to me so much. Its very emotional to know that Im finally going to meet her.

West-Clark admitted it will be tough meeting Ewoldt, the third member of the trip.

Peritoneal mesothelioma took the life of Ewoldts husband at age 55. Cheryl was his caregiver until he entered hospice care.

I have the upmost respect for any caregiver, West-Clark said. My caregiver saved my life.

West-Clarks caregiver was Victor Elia. They dated for 18 years and have two children together.

He is the one that actually pushed me through it all, she said. When I was standing in the shower and started losing all my hair, he was the one that picked it up off the shower floor and said, Its okay. He told me I was sexy, and I told him Youre crazy. You have to have a caregiver thats actually going to push you to survive in a situation such as that. Otherwise, youre just going to lie there and die.

Trina West-Clark with former caregiver Victor Elia.

Recently, West-Clark has seen several friends lose their battle with mesothelioma. Too often, survivors give up hope.

The role of a caregiver can be overwhelming, but its essential to a patients quality of life. Caregivers with a personal connection to patients can be even more overwhelming, but, like Elia, these people can make an invaluable difference in a mesothelioma survivors cancer journey.

I thank him every single time I talk to him and see him, West-Clark said. I actually think he had a lot to do with all of it.

Those around West-Clark tell her she is the strongest person theyve ever met. No matter what happens, she finds a way to bring up others.

You will work your way through what you have to deal with and get that next person where you are. Thats what they say to me that I am so strong, she said. What I say to that is that Im as strong as cement, but some days, that cement is about to crumble.

However, she always seems to find a way to push through and put the needs of others ahead of her own.

My son tells me theres a purpose that was left for me that has allowed me to survive as long as I have, and that purpose is to be the caregiver and take care of everyone else, she said.

She saved a friend who suffered a heart attack in front of her and cared for him during his recovery. She later nursed another friend back to health after he underwent open-heart surgery.

In December, West-Clark found out her sister needed a heart transplant. She dropped everything and went to Florida to care for her.

West-Clark recently looked after two grandkids as her daughter recovered from surgery.

Trina West-Clark enjoys spending time with her three grandchildren.

Taking care of loved ones helps keep her mind off her own struggles. She still thinks of herself as a cancer survivor and occasionally fears a recurrence, but not as much as she used to.

In the first five years, youre so fearful, she said. After that, you have to stay positive. You have to tell yourself that youre not going to go backwards after the good Lord let you go this far. I want to go forward. Life is good.

Its a message she hopes instills in Minchuk, who is still in the early stages of fearing the unknown.

West-Clark lives by the philosophy of body in motion. She still tours the country in her fiances 18-wheeler during the winter months.

Summers are spent in Gladwin, Michigan, on Secord Lake. She bought a new pontoon boat and spends as much time on the water with family and friends.

Trina West-Clark (back, left) with family and friends aboard her pontoon boat.

She recently celebrated her third grandchild her sons first child. West-Clarks daughter lives nearby and serves as her support system when she needs a helping hand or a listening ear.

When shes not helping others, West-Clark is likely on the lake, building jigsaw puzzles or landscaping her yard.

Life has become all about my grandkids, she said. Traveling and family is my thing. I dont dwell on [the cancer], I just live every moment.

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Mesothelioma Survivors Unite to Celebrate Remission - Asbestos.com (blog)

Mesothelioma Growth Could be Linked to Density of Cancer Cells – MesotheliomaHelp.org (blog)

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As MesotheliomaHelp has reported time and again, the spread of cancer cells, or metastasis, is the biggest challenge for researchers when searching for effective treatments. It is this migration of the cancer cells, according to the National Cancer Society, that is the cause of 90 percent of all cancer deaths. Stopping this spread is critical for improving survival in mesothelioma patients. Now, researchers report they have found the reason cancer cells split off from the primary site, and more importantly, they may also know how to stop the process.

In a May 26 press release from Johns Hopkins, lead researcher Hasini Jayatilaka, a postdoctoral fellow at Johns Hopkins Physical Sciences-Oncology Center, found that it is not the overall size of a tumor that leads to metastasis, rather how tightly those cells are jammed together that has them break away. Jayatilaka likened the process to waiting for a table in an overcrowded restaurant but then deciding to go elsewhere or moving to the suburbs from the crowded city.

Cancer cells metastasize because they can reproduce quickly and they can get into the bloodstream where they then spread to other organs. When looking deeper into those processes, the team found that when the tumors became more crowded the cells secreted proteins that encouraged migration. The proteins, Interleukin 6 (IL-6) and Interleukin 8 (IL-8), sent signals basically telling the cancer cells to leave the primary tumor site.

We found that it was not the overall size of a primary tumor that caused cancer cells to spread, but how tightly those cells are jammed together when they break away from the tumor, said Jayatilaka. At a fundamental level, we found that cell density is very important in triggering metastasis.

When the researchers used two existing drugs at the tumor site, one approved for treating arthritis and the other being tested for breast cancer treatment, the receptors were blocked from receiving those signals, effectively halting the metastasis. Although the growth at the primary tumor site did not stop, the spread of the cancer cells was limited. This helped confirm that by blocking the signaling pathway, they could slow metastasis.

Dr. Denis Wirtz, Johns Hopkins

In our eight-week experiment, when we used these two drugs together, the growth of the primary tumor itself was not stopped, but the spread of the cancer cells was significantly decreased, Jayatilaka said. We discovered a new signaling pathway that, when blocked, could potentially curb cancers ability to metastasize.

Once mesothelioma cells spread to distant regions of the body, the cancer, caused by past asbestos exposure, becomes virtually impossible to eradicate. Getting a handle on the spread of cancer is critical for increasing survival.

The pharmaceutical companies view metastasis as a by-product of tumor growth, said Denis Wirtz, Johns Hopkins Universitys vice provost for research and director of its Physical Sciences-Oncology Center, and one of the studys senior authors. Our study looked more closely at the steps that actually initiate metastasis. By doing this, we were able to develop a unique therapeutic that directly targets metastasis, not the growth of the primary tumor.

This drug cocktail was tested on mice in the lab, but has not yet been tested on humans. Wirtz said the feedback they have gotten from other researchers has been positive and others see real potential for this approach.

Mesothelioma, an asbestos-caused cancer is diagnosed in close to 3,000 Americans each year. There is no cure for the asbestos-caused cancer.

See the full study in the May 26 online issue of Nature Communications.

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Mesothelioma Compensation Center Now Urges a Chemical Plant Worker with Mesothelioma to Call About Why They … – PR Newswire (press release)

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NEW YORK, June 28, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --The Mesothelioma Compensation Center says, "Because a chemical plant worker with mesothelioma could get financial compensation that might exceed one million dollars, we are urging a person like this or their family to call us anytime at 800-714-0303 to ensure they are talking directly to the nation's most skilled and capable mesothelioma attorneys.

"Please do not make the mistake of hiring a local car accident attorney for something as complicated as a mesothelioma compensation claim involving a chemical plant. Because these types of compensation claims can be quite complicated, you will only want a full-time mesothelioma attorney who has experiences with financial claims involving asbestos exposure at a chemical plant." http://MesotheliomaCompensationCenter.Com

States with the most chemical plants/U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics:

For more information about chemical plants in the United States please refer to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics website: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes518091.htm

The Mesothelioma Compensation Center is also urging people with mesothelioma to ignore Internet ads that suggest 'no lawsuit needed', and/or similar nonsense. The mesothelioma attorneys they suggest typically do not advertise because they don't have to. Frequently, Internet ads about mesothelioma or mesothelioma attorneys are sponsored by law firms that market to victims of mesothelioma with the goal to sell the case to another firm to do the actual work.

As the group would like to discuss anytime at 800-714-0303, "You need to be dealing directly with the nation's top mesothelioma attorneys if you want to get the best possible financial compensation for this rare asbestos exposure cancer; you do not need a middleman law firm to assist." http://MesotheliomaCompensationCenter.Com

The Mesothelioma Compensation Center specializes in assisting US Navy Veterans, power plant workers, shipyard workers,oil refinery workers, public utility workers, hydro-electric workers, chemical plant workers, nuclear power plant workers, manufacturing workers, oil and gas field production workers, plumbers, electricians, millwrights, pipefitters and welders who have been diagnosed with mesothelioma. In most instances, these people were exposed to asbestos during the 1950's, 1960's, 1970's, or 1980's.

US Navy Veterans accountfor-a significant portion-of all diagnosed victims of mesothelioma each year. The average age for a diagnosed victim of mesothelioma is about 70 years old. Each year between 2500, and 3000 US citizens will be diagnosed with mesothelioma. Mesothelioma is attributable to exposure to asbestos.

According to the CDC the states indicated with the highest incidence of mesotheliomainclude Maine, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Maryland,New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Ohio, West Virginia, Virginia,Michigan, Illinois, Minnesota, Louisiana, Washington, and Oregon. However, a chemical plant worker with mesothelioma could live in any state including California, New York, Florida,Texas,Illinois, Ohio, Missouri, North Carolina,Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgia, Mississippi,Alabama, Kansas, Nebraska, New Mexico, Utah, Arizona, Nevada,Idaho, or Alaska.

The Mesothelioma Compensation Center says, "If you call us at 800-714-0303, we will see to it that you have on the spot access to the nation's most skilled, and experienced mesothelioma attorneys, becausethese incredibly skilled legal experts consistently get the best financial compensation results for their clients on a nationwide basis." http://MesotheliomaCompensationCenter.Com

For more information about mesothelioma please refer to the National Institutes of Health's web site related to this rare form of cancer: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/mesothelioma.html

Media contact: Michael Thomas 163150@email4pr.com 800-714-0303

To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/mesothelioma-compensation-center-now-urges-a-chemical-plant-worker-with-mesothelioma-to-call-about-why-they-need-very-skilled-attorneys-to-assist-them-with-their-compensation-claim-300480991.html

SOURCE Mesothelioma Compensation Center

http://MesotheliomaCompensationCenter.Com

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Seattle Cancer Center Opens Latest Mesothelioma Clinical Trial – Asbestos.com

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The Seattle Cancer Care Alliance has opened a phase II clinical trial involving durvalumab, the promising immunotherapy drug, in combination with chemotherapy for the first-line treatment of unresectable pleural mesothelioma.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) already granted accelerated approval to durvalumab in May for the treatment of bladder cancer. Researchers have also lauded the drug for its effectiveness in earlier lung cancer clinical trials.

We have every reason to believe it will be effective with mesothelioma, too, Dr. Bernardo Goulart, chief trial investigator and medical oncologist at the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance (SCCA) told Asbestos.com. There is great logic behind it. We think this trial offers real hope for these patients.

Durvalumab activates a patients immune system to exert a cytotoxic response against tumor cells that overexpress the PD-L1 protein, which is common in several cancers, including mesothelioma.

The PD-L1 protein typically allows tumor cells to avoid a patients immune system.

This is the first time researchers test durvalumab in combination with chemotherapy in a first-line setting for mesothelioma. To qualify for this multicenter trial, patients must not have begun any other type of treatment.

Immunotherapy is going to play a big role in improving outcomes for these patients, Goulart said. After decades of no reasonable options, the future is looking brighter. Immunotherapy is one reason for that. This trial will help us help more patients.

U.S. News and World Report ranked SCCA among the top 10 Best Hospitals for Cancer Care in America in 2016. The hospital has made the list for more than a decade.

SCCA, which includes the University of Washington Medical Center and the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, has accelerated its role as a mesothelioma specialty center in recent years.

We want people to know that we are a center dedicated to treatment of this disease, Goulart said. We can offer options that other places just cant. I think we see this disease in a different way than others do.

The trial also is being held at other highly regarded cancer centers such as:

The primary purpose of the study is to determine whether adding durvalumab to pemetrexed and cisplatin or carboplatin will increase survival time. It also will measure response rate and progression-free survival.

Patients will be given the drug combination for six, three-week cycles. After completion, patients with stable or responding disease will then receive durvalumab alone every three weeks as maintenance until there is disease progression.

Other researchers are conducting two smaller studies on durvalumab to test its effectiveness with mesothelioma.

The Lung Institute at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, which is headed by well-known mesothelioma specialist Dr. David Sugarbaker, is studying its effectiveness with surgery as a single agent and alongside tremelimumab, another type of immunotherapy drug.

The Dana Farber Cancer Institute in Boston is evaluating the effectiveness of the durvalumab/tremelimumab combination in second-line treatment for those with unresectable disease.

The multinational biopharmaceutical company AstraZenaca, based in Cambridge, England, markets durvalumab under the brand name Imfinzi.

The study of durvalumab, and other more well-known immunotherapy drugs such as pembrolizumab (Keytruda) and nivolumab (Opdivo), is critical to advancing treatment for mesothelioma. The FDA still has not approved any second-line treatment for the disease.

The first-line standard of care for mesothelioma remains a combination of surgery, chemotherapy and radiation, which hasnt changed in more than a decade.

An estimated 3,000 people annually in the United States are diagnosed with mesothelioma, which is typically traced to long-before occupational exposure to asbestos.

Some patients who come to us with mesothelioma already have been told by their doctor they have only 6-12 months to live, and there is nothing they can do, Goulart said. But there are options here. This trial is just one of those options.

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Seattle Cancer Center Opens Latest Mesothelioma Clinical Trial - Asbestos.com

Navy Veteran’s Mesothelioma Case Allowed to Proceed, Despite Asbestos Companies’ Objections – Mesothelioma.net Blog (blog)

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The family of a deceasedveteranwho served four years in the Navy and who died of malignant mesotheliomawill be able to proceed with their mesothelioma lawsuit against multiple asbestos companies, despite those companies trying desperately to argue against his claim. The companies had attempted to bar testimony hed given as hearsay and his identification of their products onboard his Navy ship as inappropriately documented, but the Superior Court of Rhode Island refused to provide them with the summary judgment that they sought.

Despite the fact that it has been well established that asbestos causes malignant mesothelioma, asbestos companies continue to fight tooth and nail against having to provide compensation to those who their products harmed. The case of Paul F. McCarthy is a telling example of this. Mr. McCarthy served in the Navy from June of 1951 through June of 1955. After his period of basic training he was assigned to the U.S.S. Glennon. While onboard the Glennon he served as a member of the deck force, then moved on to the position of quartermaster. His responsibilities included a number of assignments that exposed him to asbestos. In May of 2013 he was diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma and he provided a sworn statement to his attorney, with a court reporter present, on July 1, 2013 regarding his time onboard the ship, testifying to the fact that when the ships guns fired asbestos dust would fall, and as to what products he worked with. His mesothelioma lawsuit was filed on July 17th and he died on November 13th of that year.

The asbestos companies named in the lawsuit asked that the case be dismissed, arguing that his testimony was hearsay and that the accuracy of his identification of their products as the cause of his illness was insufficient for the court to proceed. On consideration of both arguments, the court disagreed, indicating that his testimony was provided in good faith and falling under the category of a Statement Under Belief of Impending Death, and that it was up to a jury to determine whether there was sufficient evidence of an asbestos-contaminated products role in his death. His surviving family will be able to continue with their claim, seeking compensation for his medical expenses and the losses that they suffered as a result of his death.

Being diagnosed with mesothelioma is an emotional and financial challenge. Understanding your rights and the resources available to you is essential to being able to get through the ordeal, and thats what the Patient Advocates at Mesothelioma.net can provide. Contact us today at 1-800-692-8608to learn more about how we can help.

Terri Oppenheimer is an independent writer, editor, and proofreader. She graduated from the College of William and Mary with a degree in English. Her dreams of a writing career were diverted by a need to pay her bills. She spent a few years providing the copy for a major retailer, then landed a lucrative career in advertising sales. With college bills for all three of her kids paid, she left corporate America for a return to her original goal of writing. She specializes in providing content for websites and finds tremendous enjoyment in the things she learns while doing her research. Her specific areas of interest include health and fitness, medical research, and the law.

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Navy Veteran's Mesothelioma Case Allowed to Proceed, Despite Asbestos Companies' Objections - Mesothelioma.net Blog (blog)

Mesothelioma Nurse Remembers Doug Larkin, Co-Founder of Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization – MesotheliomaHelp.org (blog)

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There are few people that are passionate leaders for change. These leaders see something that needs to be changed or a situation that needs to be exposed and they take their zeal and passion and make it happen. The mesothelioma community lost one of those leaders this month: Doug Larkin.

In 2004, he and Linda Reinstein co-founded the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization. Based on a personal loss of his father-in-law, he took his grief and turned it into positive advocacy. He hoped to prevent asbestos exposure and to someday eliminate all asbestos-caused diseases. ADAO was personal to Doug.

I had the pleasure of meeting Doug at an ADAO conference a couple of years ago. We were impressed with his passion and his eloquence. He was a force, and I remember being impressed with his dedication to banning asbestos. He has made a difference, and left this world a better place for being in it.

Unparalleled champion for truth, justice, and an asbestos ban; Bold brilliant and courageous are the words being used to describe Doug on the ADAO web site.

In addition to fighting to ban asbestos so that the dying from asbestos related diseases would stop, Doug had a personal battle with ALS, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. Rest in peace, job well done.

Photo Credit: ADAO

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Mesothelioma Nurse Remembers Doug Larkin, Co-Founder of Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization - MesotheliomaHelp.org (blog)

New Mesothelioma Study Highlights Benefits of Compound in Cruciferous Vegetables, According to Surviving … – Benzinga

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Korean researchers say sulforaphane may enhance the cancer-killing power of cisplatin.

Raleigh, NC (PRWEB) June 29, 2017

Scientists say the organosulfur compound sulforaphane found in vegetables like broccoli, cabbage, and cauliflower may have a role to play in the chemotherapeutic treatment of mesothelioma. Surviving Mesothelioma has the full story on the new research. Click here to read it now.

When doctors at Soonchunhyang University combined sulforaphane and cisplatin and applied the mixture to human pleural mesothelioma cells in the lab, the results were encouraging.

"Combination treatment with the two compounds exhibited synergistic growthinhibiting and apoptosispromoting [cell death] activities, as demonstrated by a series of proapoptotic events," write researchers Yoon-Jin and Sang-Han Lee.

Their study, published in the journal Molecular Medicine Reports, found that the combination of sulforaphane and cisplatin was even more effective when another compound was used first to inhibit the cell component recycling process known as autophagy.

"This is a complex study with a simple message: Sulforaphane clearly has anti-cancer properties," says Alex Strauss, Managing Editor for Surviving Mesothelioma. "The challenge going forward will be to determine how best to use these properties to expand treatment options for the 2,500 Americans diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma each year."

There is more information about the Korean study on sulforaphane in Compound in Broccoli May Enhance Mesothelioma Treatment with Cisplatin, now available on the Surviving Mesothelioma website.

Lee, YJ and Lee, SH, "Pro-oxidant activity of sulforaphane and cisplatin potentiates apoptosis and simultaneously promotes autophagy in malignant mesothelioma cells", June 15, 2017, Molecular Medicine Reports, Epub ahead of print, https://www.spandidos-publications.com/10.3892/mmr.2017.6789

For more than a decade, Surviving Mesothelioma has brought readers the most important and ground-breaking news on the causes, diagnosis and treatment of mesothelioma. All Surviving Mesothelioma news is gathered and reported directly from the peer-reviewed medical literature. Written for patients and their loved ones, Surviving Mesothelioma news helps families make more informed decisions.

For the original version on PRWeb visit: http://www.prweb.com/releases/2017/06/prweb14470048.htm

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New Mesothelioma Study Highlights Benefits of Compound in Cruciferous Vegetables, According to Surviving ... - Benzinga

Empowering Women in Developing Economies – HuffPost

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Co-authored by Mathilde Mukantabana, Ambassadorof the Republic of Rwanda to the United States of America.

Economic opportunity is vital to strengthening peace and stability, especially in fragile states and post conflict societies.Developing sustainable employment entails a strong partnership between the private and public sectors, as well as multilateral organizations. Kate Space & Companys social enterprise investment in Rwandawhich enables women to be part of its supply chainis an innovative example of that partnership.

Rwanda suffered one of the worst genocides in history in 1994. The Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda claimed more than one million lives and left in its wake a near total collapse of political and socio-economic institutions. The leadership of Rwanda and its people embarked on an arduous journey to mend the fabric of their society, and out of the ashes of destruction rose a new and prosperous nation.

Today, Rwanda is one of the fastest growing economies in Africa. There are several reasons for Rwandas economic and social progress. A growing body of research demonstrates that womens economic participation is essential for economic progressand for post conflict reconstruction and recovery. Women entrepreneurs drive GDP and create jobs, and the way women spend their income has a multiplier effect, as they invest it in education, nutrition, and other needs; this in turn improves the well-being of families and grows the standard of living. Rwandas leadership in gender equality has fostered a positive environment for womens political participation and entrepreneurship. Women comprise over 60% of the Parliamentthe highest in the world. Inheritance and land rights have been advanced, and there have been significant improvements on a range of indicators from education and literacy to health care.

We have observed the impact that the private sector can have on womens economic empowerment in Masoro, a village of twenty thousand people roughly twelve kilometers away from Rwandas capital, Kigali. Like many rural communities, Masoro suffered from higher unemployment and lower earnings than the national average. On the positive, local artisans were skilled in embroidery and sewing.

Officials from Kate Spade & Company decided to make a social enterprise investment in this small community to test if this investment could produce economic and social returns. The company recruited 150 of the villages most talented and committed female artisans in 2013, and helped them set up their own worker-owned, for-profit social enterprise: Abahizi Dushyigikirane, Ltd. or ADC. Kate Spade & Company has worked to build the capacity of the workers and has been using them as a supplier for its related brands. In that way, the women and their families can prosper and Kate Spade & Company can have a dependable supplier.

According to a recently released study by Georgetowns McDonough School of Business, in partnership with the Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace & Security, Kate Spade & Companys initiative has already contributed to the empowerment of the women in Masoro. They are flourishing economically and socially. The women have improved their spending on necessities and are investing in the future. They are earning a decent and steady wage and receiving opportunities for training and development from ADC. The average woman working on the initiative has also reported higher levels of decision-making within her family related to personal finances.

This is evidenced by Appolinaire, a team leader in ADCs beading department. Appolinaire first applied to be a temporary worker at ADC in order to supplement her households income. To her surprise, she positively adjusted to the position right away, and especially enjoyed the camaraderie with other women. ADC offered Appolinaire an opportunity to take the sewing test required for a permanent position, which she passed.

With her new income from the factory, Appolinaire and her husband have been able to invest in a new kitchen, and they are gradually replacing their mud brick walls and dirt floor with bricks. Appolinarie says her voice is heard on all of the important household decisions. She no longer tends the land or cares for the cows. As she progressed at ADC and her salary increased, a young man was hired to do those chores. Clearly, she is becoming economically empowered.

On the business investment, the Georgetown study found that Kate Spade & Company has created a financially viable business model in Rwanda. The Masoro supplier will become more competitive as production increases. The increases are set to occur over the course of 2017 with the acquisition of another client. Kate Spade & Company is actively assisting in the search for a second client and potential investors to support their growth trajectory.

This innovative social enterprise investment offers a model approach for creating economic opportunity that is sustainable in marginalized communities. Other companies can also contribute to their bottom line and help to transform fragile and war-torn societies. Its a win-win approach: one that is good for business and good for society.

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Empowering Women in Developing Economies - HuffPost