Twitter permanently suspends Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene’s personal account for spreading COVID-19 misinformation

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U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene’s personal Twitter account has been suspended for repeated violations of the platform’s policies regarding the COVID-19 pandemic.  Greene still has access to her official congressional account — @RepMTG — which was not found to have violated the company policies. A Twitter spokesperson said in a statement: “We permanently suspended the account you referenced(@mtgreenee) for repeated violations of our COVID-19 misinformation policy. We’ve been clear that, per our strike system for this policy, we will permanently suspend accounts for repeated violations of the policy.”  Greene had shared a tweet Saturday that included a misleading chart created from unverified data pulled from a government database.  The post falsely said that there have been “extremely high amounts of COVID vaccine deaths.”

Twitter introduced its strike system in March to “educate the public on our policies and further reduce the spread of potentially harmful and misleading information on Twitter.” The strike system features five levels, with an escalating series of locks on a user’s Twitter account, beginning with a 12-hour suspension after receiving a second strike.  The 47-year-old Greene had landed her fifth strike after Twitter issued her the fourth one in August, suspending her account for a week. In the past, Greene has been suspended for publishing false information about COVID-19 vaccinations and wearing face masks.

Editorial credit: Fabio Principe / Shutterstock.com

Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin tests positive for COVID-19

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Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin confirmed in a statement on Sunday evening that he has tested positive for COVID-19. Austin, who is fully vaccinated and boosted, said:  “I tested positive this morning for COVID-19. I requested the test today after exhibiting symptoms while at home on leave.”  He added that his symptoms are mild and he is following his physician’s directions, referring to the CDC’s recently-updated isolation guidelines: “In keeping with those directions, and in accordance with CDC guidelines, I will quarantine myself at home for the next five days.”

Austin said he will be attending virtual meetings if possible while in quarantine: “I have informed my leadership team of my positive test result, as well as the President. My staff has begun contact tracing and testing of all those with whom I have come into contact over the last week.” Austin said that his last meeting with President Biden was on Dec. 21, “more than a week before I began to experience symptoms. I tested negative that very morning. I have not been in the Pentagon since Thursday, where I met briefly – and only – with a few members of my staff. We were properly masked and socially distanced throughout.”

Editorial credit: BiksuTong / Shutterstock.com

100th Birthday documentary on the late Betty White will be released as planned

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The producers of the documentary film “Betty White: 100 Years Young” say a theatrical screening will proceed as scheduled on the comedy legend’s 100th birthday, despite her death on December 31st, just a few weeks shy of that milestone.

Producers/directors Steve Boettcher and Mike Trinklein said in a joint statement: “Our hearts mourn today with the passing of Betty White. During the many years we worked with her, we developed a great love and admiration for Betty as a person, and as an accomplished entertainer. We are thankful for the many decades of delight she brought to everyone. Betty always said she was the ‘luckiest broad on two feet’ to have had a career as long as she did. And honestly, we were the lucky ones to have had her for so long. We will go forward with our plans to show the film on January 17 in hopes our film will provide a way for all who loved her to celebrate her life—and experience what made her such a national treasure.”

The documentary will feature appearances by Ryan Reynolds, Tina Fey, Robert Redford, Morgan Freeman, Carol Burnett, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Clint Eastwood, Jay Leno, Jimmy Kimmel, and many more.   The film was expected to screen at 900 theaters across the U.S. on White’s birthday, Jan. 17, 2022. You can learn more about the documentary at Fathom Events’ website.

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Michael Keaton to reprise his role as Batman in HBO Max’s ‘Batgirl’

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Michael Keaton is set to reprise his role in the upcoming HBO Max movie, “Batgirl.” Keaton, who starred in Tim Burton’s 1989 “Batman” and the 1992 sequel “Batman Returns,” will return as Bruce Wayne alongside Leslie Grace, who will play Batgirl, in addition to J.K. Simmons, Brendan Fraser and Jacob Scipio.  “Batgirl” has no scheduled release date, but is set to debut in 2022;  the film centers on the heroine whose real identity is Barbara Gordon, the daughter of Gotham police commissioner Jim Gordon (Simmons).

Keaton will be seen as the Caped Crusader in the upcoming Warner Bros. adventure “The Flash” (in theaters Nov. 4), a multiverse-spanning story directed by Andy Muschietti (“It”).  The movie features Ezra Miller reprising his role as the title character, and will catch up with Keaton’s Batman 30 years after moviegoers last saw him in the role.  “The Flash” also will feature the return of Ben Affleck as the Batman from “Justice League.”

Editorial credit: Featureflash Photo Agency / Shutterstock.com

CROOKSTON HIGH SCHOOL COMMUNITY PROJECTS CLASS CREATES NEW PUB TABLES FOR CROOKSTON SPORTS CENTER

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The Crookston High School’s Community Projects class has been busy so far this school year, and a few of the students most recent project had to do with making new pub tables for the Crookston Sports Center. The tables will sit behind the Xcel Energy seats in the Blue Arena and serve as an area for people to stand by and lean on during hockey games.

Travis Oliver teaches the Community Projects class, and after talking with Crookston Parks & Recreation Director Jake Solberg, he chose a few students from his class to tackle the project. Solberg provided more detail on how the idea came to be. “Believe it or not, I was just sitting at home with my wife talking about ideas, and she came up with this great idea of having some tables that you could lean up against when you watch the games,” said Solberg. “I then talked with Travis Oliver because he and his classes do a lot of good work for the community, and I gave him the idea, and he ran with it. They look great, and it’ll be nice to have them be used.”

Solberg also mentioned he is incredibly proud and pleased with the work done on the tables. “I appreciate all the work and time the kids put into the tables,” said Solberg. “I appreciate their willingness to help the community and put together a project like this.”

The students selected for the project were all seniors and have worked on many projects through classes they’ve taken with Oliver. The students were Mason Owens, Erik Coauette, Evan Christensen, Joseph Brule, and Jacob Hesby.

Erik Coauette said the project was like one he did in the past, and he had a fun time making the tables. “The first project I ever did was last year with the fire tables that we made,” said Coauette. “This was very similar to that. This one was a little more fun because we did more wood tops, and I enjoyed that.”

Joseph Brule also helped with the tables and explained their process in making them. “We started by getting the dimensions to the old fire tables, and then we cut the square iron and angle iron to the desired pieces we needed,” said Brule. “We welded that all together, and the rest from there was just finishing the wood top.”

The students did all the work, and it spanned over 40 separate class periods. The wood tops are made of Cherry, and the boys were able to utilize the skills they had learned in their welding and woodworking classes to help create the tables. Oliver said he is very pleased with the result and work of his students, and he hopes members of the community are as well. The hope is that when people visit the Crookston Sports Center, they have a great experience, and Oliver believes these tables will add to that. Oliver says these projects are exactly what his Community Projects class is about.

In the photo down below (L-R), Evan Christensen, Erik Coauette, Mason Owens, Joseph Brule.

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UMC WOMEN’S BASKETBALL HOPES TO TURN THINGS AROUND IN 2022 STARTING AT BEMIDJI

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The University of Minnesota Crookston Golden Eagles Women’s Basketball team hopes that a Christmas break plus a number of practices enable the Golden Eagles to turn things around yet this season. They start the ‘second half’ of the season this afternoon at Bemidji State, a team that they lost to back on December 7 in a close one in Crookston 86-80. The Golden Eagles will try to stop an eight game losing streak that has their record at 0-7 in the conference and 1-12 overall. Bemidji State on the other hand had a pretty good first half of the season going 6-5 overall and 4-3 in the conference and currently in third place in the Northern Division. Game time at BSU Gym is 4:00 PM and will be on KROX RADIO immediately following the Men’s game and on the internet by going to the LISTEN LIVE link at the top of this page.

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Minnesota Crookston
Bemidji State

 

For UMC Points Rebounds Assists/Steals

 

Abi Fraaza shooting a free throw

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UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA CROOKSTON MEN’S BASKETBALL TEAM LOOKS TO START HOT IN 2022

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The University of Minnesota Crookston Golden Eagles Men’s Basketball team lost their last six games before the Christmas break and are now 1-6 in the Northern Sun Conference and 4-9 overall. They are in last place in the Northern Division of the conference, but only two games from being in fourth place!! This afternoon would be a good start for the Golden Eagles who did start the first half in November 2021 with a 67-57 win over the Beavers at home. Now Bemidji State sits a game ahead in the conference with a 2-5 record and 5-6 overall. Game time at the BSU Gym is about 4:00 PM or 30 minutes after the completion of the women’s game. This game will also be on KROX RADIO and the internet by going to the LISTEN LIVE link at the top of this page.

  1st  2nd  Final
Minnesota Crookston
Bemidji State

 

For UMC Points Rebounds Assists/Steals

 

Ethan Channel shoots through traffic

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WIND CHILL WARNING ISSUED FOR KROX LISTENING AREA UNTIL JANUARY 2 AT 10AM

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The National Weather Service in Grand Forks, North Dakota has issued a Wind Chill Warning until Sunday, January 2 at 10:00 a.m. for northwest, west-central, and central Minnesota and eastern North Dakota.  

Including the Minnesota cities of Crookston, East Grand Forks, Ada, Twin Valley, Halstad, Moorhead, Hallock, Karlstad, Lancaster, Roseau, Warroad, Greenbush, Baudette, Warren, Stephen, Argyle, Newfolden, Middle River, Grygla, Red Lake, Redby, Ponemah, Thief River Falls, Red Lake Falls, Fosston, Fertile, McIntosh, Erskine, Bagley, Clearbrook, Bemidji, Mahnomen, Naytahwaush, Waubun, Alida, Ebro, Lake Itasca, Long Lost Lake, Lower Rice Lake, Roy Lake, Upper Rice Lake, Park Rapids, Detroit Lakes, Wolf Lake, Breckenridge, Fergus Falls, Perham, New York Mills, Parkers Prairie, Henning, Battle Lake, Wadena, Menahga, Elbow Lake, Hoffman, Ashby, Herman, Barrett. It also includes the North Dakota cities of Cando, Langdon, Cavalier, Walhalla, Drayton, Pembina, Neche, St. Thomas, Fort Totten, Maddock, Leeds, Minnewaukan, Devils Lake, Grafton, Park River, New Rockford, Lakota, Mcville, Aneta, Tolna, Grand Forks, Cooperstown, Finley, Hope, Mayville, Hillsboro, Hatton, Portland, Valley City, Fargo, Lisbon, Enderlin, Gwinner, Milnor, Forman, Rutland, Wahpeton, Edinburg, Adams, and Lankin.

…WIND CHILL WARNING NOW IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 AM CST SUNDAY…
* WHAT…Dangerously cold wind chills. Wind chills as low as 40 to 55 below zero.
* WHERE…Portions of central, north-central, northwest and west-central Minnesota, and northeast and southeast North Dakota.
* WHEN…Until 10 AM CST Sunday.
* IMPACTS…The dangerously cold wind chills could cause frostbite on exposed skin in as little as 5 minutes.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…
Avoid outside activities if possible. If outside, make sure you wear appropriate winter clothing.

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