Disney has donated $1 million to a fund established by the mayor of Orlando, Fla., to aid those affected by the mass shooting in the city.
The entertainment conglomerate announced the cash donation the OneOrlando Fund Tuesday and said it would match additional donations from Disney employees, dollar for dollar. Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer created the fund.
"We are heartbroken by this tragedy and hope our commitment will help those in the community affected by this senseless act," said Bob Chapek, chairman of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts. "With 74,000 cast members who call Orlando home, we mourn the loss of the victims and offer our condolences to their families, friends and loved ones."
The shooter who killed 49 people and injured more than 50 others in the Pulse nightclub reportedly had made prior visits to both the night spot and to an entertainment and shopping complex, Disney Springs, earlier this month.
Disney said it has been working with public agencies in Central Florida to provide support to those impacted by the shooting. The company set up five locations around its resorts for employees to donate blood to victims. The company is also providing rooms to families and friends of those caught up in the massacre.
A statement from Thomas Smith, editorial content director for Disney parks, concluded: "Our hearts are with everyone impacted by this horrific event."
Source: Republished with permission from the Tennessee Valley Authority
The Tennessee Valley Authority's (TVA) Watts Bar Unit 2 was connected to the power grid on June 3, becoming the first nuclear power plant to come online since 1996, when Watts Bar Unit 1 started operations. Watts Bar Unit 2 is undergoing final testing, producing electricity at incremental levels of power, as TVA prepares to start commercial operation later this summer. The new reactor is designed to add 1,150 megawatts (MW) of electricity generating capacity to southeastern Tennessee.
Watts Bar Unit 2 is the first nuclear plant in the United States to meet new regulations from the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) that were established after the 2011 earthquake and tsunami that damaged the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Plant in Japan. After the NRC issued an operating license for the unit in October 2015, 193 new fuel assemblies were loaded into the reactor vessel the following month. TVA announced at the end of May that the reactor achieved its first sustained nuclear fission reaction.
Construction on Watts Bar Unit 2 originally began in 1973, but construction was halted in 1985 after the NRC identified weaknesses in TVA's nuclear program. In August 2007, the TVA board of directors authorized the completion of Watts Bar Unit 2, and construction started in October 2007. At that time, a study found Unit 2 to be effectively 60% complete with $1.7 billion invested. The study said the plant could be finished in five years at an additional cost of $2.5 billion. However, both the timeline and cost estimate developed in 2007 proved to be overly optimistic, as construction was not completed until 2015, and costs ultimately totaled $4.7 billion.
Although Watts Bar 2 is the first new U.S. nuclear generator to come online in 20 years, four other reactors are currently under construction and are expected to join the nuclear fleet within the next four years. Vogtle Electric Generating Plant Units 3 and 4 in Georgia and Virgil C. Summer Nuclear Generating Station Units 2 and 3 in South Carolina are scheduled to become operational in 2019–20, adding 4,540 MW of generation capacity.
Principal contributors: Sara Hoff, Marta Gospodarczyk
http://ift.tt/1sFgAIc First new U.S. nuclear reactor in almost two decades set to begin operating in Tennessee via top scoring links : news http://ift.tt/1ZNVO3K
The US broadband industry has lost its lawsuit attempting to overturn the Federal Communications Commission's net neutrality rules and the related reclassification of Internet service providers as common carriers.
ISPs' First Amendment claims (among others) were rejected. "Because a broadband provider does not—and is not understood by users to—'speak' when providing neutral access to Internet content as common carriage, the First Amendment poses no bar to the open Internet rules," judges wrote in a decision released today by the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit (full text).
The net neutrality order, passed over a year ago, is FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler's signature move during a whirlwind time as head of the commission.
"Today's ruling is a victory for consumers and innovators who deserve unfettered access to the entire Web, and it ensures the Internet remains a platform for unparalleled innovation, free expression and economic growth," Wheeler said in a statement issued shortly after the ruling. "After a decade of debate and legal battles, today's ruling affirms the Commission's ability to enforce the strongest possible internet protections—both on fixed and mobile networks—that will ensure the internet remains open, now and in the future."
AT&T promised to appeal, saying, "We have always expected this issue to be decided by the Supreme Court, and we look forward to participating in that appeal."
Judges David Tatel and Sri Srinivasan wrote today's decision, while Judge Stephen Williams wrote an opinion concurring in part and dissenting in part. The lawsuit against the FCC was filed by a mix of broadband industry lobby groups and Internet providers, including USTelecom, CTIA—The Wireless Association, the National Cable & Telecommunications Association (NCTA), the American Cable Association, AT&T, CenturyLink, and Alamo Broadband.
In addition to enforcing net neutrality rules against blocking, throttling, and paid prioritization, the decision allows the FCC to continue regulating fixed and mobile broadband providers under the common carrier provisions in Title II of the Communications Act.
"Three separate groups of petitioners, consisting primarily of broadband providers and their associations, challenge the Order, arguing that the Commission lacks statutory authority to reclassify broadband as a telecommunications service, that even if the Commission has such authority its decision was arbitrary and capricious, that the Commission impermissibly classified mobile broadband as a commercial mobile service, that the Commission impermissibly forbore from certain provisions of Title II, and that some of the rules violate the First Amendment," judges wrote. "For the reasons set forth in this opinion, we deny the petitions for review."
Judges were not persuaded by industry arguments that Internet service is unambiguously an "information service" rather than a "telecommunications service" subject to stricter regulation. The industry argument ignores that the statutory definition of information service says that "such services are provided 'via telecommunications,'" the judges wrote.
ISPs to Congress: Please change the rules
Besides planning to appeal the decision, broadband providers are also urging Congress to change the FCC's rules.
"We are reviewing today's split decision by the DC circuit panel, and will carefully review the majority and dissenting opinions before determining next steps," the NCTA said. "Though disappointed in today's result, we are particularly gratified by Judge Williams' recognition of the 'watery thin and self-contradictory' nature of the FCC arguments used to justify the imposition of common carriage laws on Internet networks. While this is unlikely the last step in this decade-long debate over Internet regulation, we urge bipartisan leaders in Congress to renew their efforts to craft meaningful legislation that can end ongoing uncertainty, promote network investment, and protect consumers."
The CTIA said it "will pursue judicial and congressional options to ensure a regulatory framework that provides certainty for consumers, investors and innovators." In the meantime, the wireless lobby group urged the FCC to allow "zero-rating," a practice in which carriers exempt certain types of online services from data caps, sometimes in exchange for payment. The FCC is reviewing zero-rating implementations to determine whether they should be allowed under net neutrality rules.
Industry "misread" judges' previous decision
The court also upheld the FCC's decision to regulate interconnection agreements, deals that let content providers and other network operators connect directly to ISPs' networks. The FCC did not bar ISPs from charging for interconnection, but reserved the right to review agreements to determine whether they harm competitors or customers.
"In the Order, the Commission found that regulation of interconnection arrangements was necessary to ensure broadband providers do not 'use terms of interconnection to disadvantage edge providers' or 'prevent[] consumers from reaching the services and applications of their choosing,'" judges wrote. Industry lawyers argued that the FCC cannot regulate interconnection arrangements under Title II without first classifying interconnection as an offering of telecommunications distinct from the telecommunications offering to home Internet users. To make this argument, industry lawyers pointed to the Verizon v. FCCdecision that said the FCC couldn't impose common carrier rules without classifying broadband as a common carrier service.
"USTelecom misreads Verizon," judges wrote. "Although Verizon does recognize that broadband providers' delivery of broadband to end users also provides a service to edge providers, it does not hold that the Commission must classify broadband as a telecommunications service in both directions before it can regulate the interconnection arrangements under Title II. The problem in Verizon was not that the Commission had misclassified the service between carriers and edge providers but that the Commission had failed to classify broadband service as a Title II service at all. The Commission overcame this problem in the Order by reclassifying broadband service—and the interconnection arrangements necessary to provide it—as a telecommunications service."
Consumer advocacy group Public Knowledge, which supported the FCC's position in court filings, hailed the decision and urged broadband providers to give up the fight. "This decision should lay to rest what has become a needlessly contentious issue," Public Knowledge CEO Gene Kimmelman said. "Now consumers will be assured the right to full access to the internet without interference from gatekeepers. We hope that rather than refight old battles, Congress and the industry will turn toward the problem of ensuring that all Americans have access to broadband that is 'fast, fair and open.'"
The Orland gay club gunman's father has well-known anti-American views and is an ideological supporter of the Afghan Taliban. A new message posted by the father on Facebook early Monday morning also makes it clear he could have passed anti-homosexual views onto his son.
Seddique Mir Mateen, father of Orlando gunman Omar Mateen, who died in a shootout with police after killing at least 49 people early Sunday morning, regularly attended Friday prayers at a Florida mosque with his son.
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CBSN
Details on suspected Orlando gunman Omar Mateen
Officials are trying to find more information about the gunman, Omar Mateen, who killed 50 and injured 53 in a mass shooting at a gay nightclub i...
In the video posted early Monday, Seddique Mateen says his son was well-educated and respectful to his parents, and that he was "not aware what motivated him to go into a gay club and kill 50 people."
The elder Mateen says he was saddened by his son's actions during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.
He then adds: "God will punish those involved in homosexuality," saying it's, "not an issue that humans should deal with."
(Editor's Note: Mateen asked for an interview with CBS News to clarify any confusion that his comments mentioned in this article caused. You can find the interview here.)
The statement, and previous videos by Seddique Mateen, lend some insight into the environment in which his U.S.-born son was raised.
Seddique Mateen hosts a program on a California-based satellite Afghan TV station, aimed at the Afghan diaspora in the in the U.S., called the "Durand Jirga Show."
A senior Afghan intelligence source tells CBS News correspondent Lara Logan that the show is watched by some in people in Afghanistan but the primary audience is ethnic Pashtun Afghans living in the U.S. and Europe.
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Orlando police officers seen outside of Pulse nightclub after a fatal shooting and hostage situation on June 12, 2016 in Orlando, Florida.
Gerardo Mora/Getty Images
The Taliban Islamic extremist movement is comprised almost entirely of Pashtuns, and Mateen's show takes a decidedly Pashtun nationalistic, pro-Taliban slant; full of anti-U.S. rhetoric and inflammatory language aimed at non-Pashtuns and at Pakistan, the source told Logan.
The name of the show references the Durand line, the disputed border between Afghanistan and Pakistan that was established in the 19th century by Britain. It has long been at the heart of deep-seated mistrust between Afghans and Pakistanis.
Seddique Mateen once campaigned in the United States for current Afghan President Ashraf Ghani -- seen as a moderate leader -- who appeared on his program in 2014. But since then Seddique has turned against Ghani in both his broadcasts and numerous videos posted to a Facebook account.
In his Facebook videos, the alleged gunman's father has often appeared wearing a military uniform and declaring himself the leader of a "transitional revolutionary government" of Afghanistan. He claims to have his own intelligence agency and close ties to the U.S. Congress -- assets he says he will use to subvert Pakistani influence and take control of Afghanistan.
After watching his videos -- none of which were recorded in English -- CBS News' Ahmad Mukhtar said it seemed possible that Seddique Mateen is delusional. "He thinks he runs a government in exile and will soon take the power in Kabul in a revolution," notes Mukhtar.
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Suspected gunman's ex-wife speaks to reporters
Speaking from her home in Boulder, Colorado, the ex-wife of Omar Mateen, the suspected gunman in the deadly Orlando mass shooting, said that Mate...
The younger Mateen, suspected of the killings in Orlando, was said by his ex-wife to have suffered from mental illness. She said she left him just months after they were married as he appeared to suffer from a mood disorder and would become violently abusive and controlling.
Speaking later Monday to the Associated Press Television News, Seddique Mateen stressed that he did not in any way support his son's actions, say he "would have arrested him myself" had he known of plans to commit mass murder.
He told APTN it was a "painful" time for him as a father. He did not make any remarks regarding his or his son's stance on homosexuality.
ISIS has claimed responsibility for the attack in Orlando, lauding "brother Omar Mateen, one of the soldiers of the Caliphate in America," for the killings.
Thus far, however, there has been no indication that Mateen had any tangible connection to the terrorist group prior to the shooting spree.
http://ift.tt/1UO0Ewd The Orland gay club gunman's father has well-known anti-American views and is an ideological supporter of the Afghan Taliban via top scoring links : news http://ift.tt/1PpcQzn
A law enforcement official told ABC News that she may have known something about the incident in advance but claims she tried to talk him out of the assault.
#BREAKING- my law enforcement source told me Noor Salman provided a written statement, saying she knew about Mateen's plans, didn't stop him
Channel 2's sister station in Orlando, WFTV, is reporting that they expect an arrest in connection to the Orlando nightclub shooting that left 50 dead, including the shooter.
A top law enforcement source told WFTV an arrest, elsewhere in Florida, is expected of an alleged accomplice.
Sunday's attack on the Pulse nightclub, in which 49 people were killed and gunman Omar Mateen died in a gun battle with police, prompted an outpouring of reminiscence and reflection on the vital roles that such clubs have played for many lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgender people across the U.S.
UPDATE- a top law enforcement source says an arrest, elsewhere in the state, is expected after #PulseShooting. #WFTV
ABC News confirmed Monday night that President Barack Obama will fly to Orlando Thursday to pay 'respects to victims' families, and to stand in solidarity with the community.
Like many other young American men, Omar Mateen worked a series of unremarkable jobs during and after high school — a Publix grocery store, Circuit City, Chick-Fil-A and Walgreens.
He graduated in 2003 and jumped through a series of jobs related to nutrition and health, working at Nutrition World, Gold's Gym and a GNC store.
An early marriage faltered. But eventually he found some form of stability with a job as a security guard in South Florida, where he was still working when he stormed a gay nightclub early Sunday in Orlando, resulting in the deaths of 49 people and the wounding of 53 more. He died in a gunfight with police.
It remained unclear exactly why Mateen targeted the club. However, one patron told The Orlando Sentinel he saw Mateen drinking at the bar several times before the shooting. Ty Smith said he saw Mateen inside at least a dozen times.
Arrest coming according to @KRayWFTV - police looking at someone who may have helped the shooter @WFTV
"Sometimes he would go over in the corner and sit and drink by himself, and other times he would get so drunk he was loud and belligerent," Smith said.
Mateen, 29, spent most of his childhood on Florida's Atlantic coast and lived there as an adult, not far from his parents. Born in the New York City borough of Queens in 1986, he moved with his family to the Long Island town of Westbury two years later and then in 1991 to Port Saint Lucie, Florida, about 125 miles southeast of Orlando.
Imam Syed Shafeeq Rahman of the city's Islamic Center said he knew Mateen and his family since the shooter was a boy and never saw any signs of violence in him. The Orlando attack, he said, "was totally unexpected."
But one colleague at the security contractor G4S, his most recent employer, remembered the son of Afghan immigrants as an angry, profane co-worker who used slurs and threatened violence.
Daniel Gilroy said Mateen started badgering him and sending dozens of text messages to him daily, and that he reported Mateen's behavior to his bosses.
"I kind of feel a little guilty that I didn't fight harder," Gilroy said. "If I didn't walk away and I fought, then maybe 50 people would still be alive today."
Gilroy told multiple news outlets that Mateen routinely used slurs for gay people, blacks, Jews and women.
"He talked about killing people all the time," Gilroy told The New York Times. Of the massacre, Gilroy said, "I saw it coming."
G4S denied Gilroy's claims, saying in a statement Monday that it had no record of Gilroy ever making such a complaint to his superiors. Furthermore, the company said, Mateen told officials shortly after leaving in June 2015: "The work and job assignments were respectful and co-workers were good men and women that put in an honest day's work and genuinely like to work as a team and contribute."
A woman who said she was once a neighbor of Mateen's said the security company assigned him to guard the back entrance of PGA Village, a golf resort in Port St. Lucie. Tricia Adorno said her children would sometimes play ball with Mateen's young son.
A spokesman for the St. Lucie County clerk of court said Mateen had once been assigned to the clerk's building and was issued a credential. Joseph Abreu said Mateen last used the credential to access the building in May 2013.
In a statement, the company said he had been subject to a detailed screening when he was recruited in 2007 and was re-screened in 2013 "with no adverse findings."
Mateen graduated with a degree in criminal-justice technology from Indian River Community College in 2006, the same year he changed his name from Omar Mir Seddique to Omar Mir Seddique Mateen, according to civil court records in St. Lucie County. The papers listed no reason for the name change.
His ex-wife, Sitora Yusufiy, said her former husband wanted to be a police officer and had applied to the police academy. He eventually joined G4S, a global security firm that has 610,000 employees in about 100 countries.
Yusufiy told reporters in Boulder, Colorado, that she believed Mateen suffered from mental illness.
Although records show the couple didn't divorce for two years after their 2009 marriage, Yusiufiy said she was actually with Mateen for only four months because he was abusive. She said he would not let her speak to her family and that family members had to come literally pull her out of his arms.
Divorce papers reveal that Mateen made $1,600 a month working for G4S and that she earned $3,000 a month as a real estate agent.
It's unclear when Mateen married his second wife, Noor Salman, but an Aug. 30, 2013, property deed in Saint Lucie County identified them as a married couple.
Family members said the pair had a young son about 3 years old.
On Monday, the FBI said Mateen appeared to be a "homegrown extremist" who espoused support for a jumble of often-conflicting Islamic radical groups. During the attack, he called 911 to profess allegiance to the Islamic State group.
FBI Director James Comey said Mateen was clearly "radicalized," at least in part via the internet.
The FBI became aware of him in 2013 when co-workers reported that he claimed to have family connections to al-Qaida and to be a member of Hezbollah, too, Comey said.
The agency launched a 10-month preliminary investigation, following Mateen, reviewing his communications and questioning him, the FBI chief said. Mateen claimed he made the remarks in anger because co-workers were teasing him and discriminating against him as a Muslim. The FBI eventually closed the case, Comey said.
His name surfaced again as part of another investigation into a suicide bomber from the Syrian rebel group Nusra Front. The FBI found Mateen and the man had attended the same mosque and knew each other casually, but the investigation turned up "no ties of any consequence," Comey said.
Mateen purchased at least two firearms legally within the last week or so, according to Trevor Velinor of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms.
He attended evening prayer services at Port St. Lucie's Islamic Center three to four times a week, most recently with his son, Rahman said. The imam said he last saw Mateen on Friday.
"When he finished prayer, he would just leave," Rahman told The Associated Press. "He would not socialize with anybody. He would be quiet. He would be very peaceful."
On Monday, the shooter's father, Seddique Mir Mateen, said what his son did "was the act of a terrorist."
"I apologize for what my son did. I am as sad and mad as you guys are," he told reporters outside his home. He did not go into details about his son's religious or political views, insisting he did not know.
Asked whether he missed his son, the father said: "I don't miss anything about him. What he did was against humanity."
http://ift.tt/eA8V8J REPORT: Orlando shooter was a regular at the gay nightclub he attacked, used multiple gay dating apps via top scoring links : news http://ift.tt/21jbIn3
Photo: WFTV ORLANDO, Fl. — 
