In her latest film she takes on the role of cult character Mary Poppins.

And Emily Blunt looked like a real Hollywood leading actress when she entered the world premiere of “Mary Poppins Returns” in LA on Thursday night.

The 35-year-old English actress looked absolutely stunning in a sheer white dress with puffy sleeves and a deep V-neck that perfectly showcased her delicate cleavage.

In love! Emily Blunt looked like a Hollywood leading lady when she appeared with husband John Krasinski at the world premiere of Mary Poppins Returns in LA on Thursday night

There, Emily was accompanied by her husband John Krasinski, who looked dapper in a burgundy suit, polygon-patterned shirt and contrasting herringbone tie as he held his loved one's hand down the red carpet.

Surrounded by fans and photographers, the couple only had eyes for each other at the celebration. They looked at each other lovingly on the carpet.

In her white dress by Russian fashion designer Yanina Couture, the Golden Globe winner was a style icon.

Wonder in white! Emily looked stunning in a ruched white dress with flowing sleeves and a plunging neckline at the world premiere of Mary Poppins Returns in LA on Thursday. Gorgeous: The dress epitomised pure elegance, with a ruched centre and floor-length skirt, as well as full peasant sleeves. Partners in everything! The happy couple work closely together and have two beautiful daughters, Hazel and Violet. Supporting role: By her side was husband John, who looked dapper in a burgundy suit while holding his ladylove's hand. A bit of glitter: Emily's look also included dazzling chandelier earrings with a collection of rings

The dress embodied pure elegance, with a gathered center and floor-length skirt as well as long peasant sleeves.

Emily tied her vanilla locks back into a low chignon for an adorable undone touch and kept her makeup looking natural.

Her look also included dazzling chandelier earrings and an assortment of rings.

Emily enjoyed posing at the event with her friend Lin Manuel-Miranda, who plays Jack, the lamplighter.

The look of love! Surrounded by fans and photographers, the two looked loved up on the red carpet Like a fine wine: The 'Office' star teamed her burgundy polygon-print shirt with a contrasting herringbone tie while holding her ladylove's hand on the red carpet You're glowing, girl! Emily tied her vanilla tresses back in a low chignon for an adorably undone touch and wore her makeup with a natural shine Loving that shimmer: The Hamilton creator was joined by his wife Vanessa Nadal, who glowed in a shimmering one-shoulder salmon-colored dress Broadway's favorite bride! Emily beamed as she struck a stunning pose with her boyfriend and co-star Lin-Manuel A Hollywood icon! The legendary Dick Van Dyke looked chipper at the premiere No stranger to romance! The comedian played narrator and trusty chimney sweep Bert in the original film No way! Dick seemed speechless about the news that lead actress Emily told the experienced film star

The Hamilton creator was accompanied by his wife Vanessa Nadal, who glowed in a shimmering one-shoulder salmon-colored dress.

He also became friends with the legendary 92-year-old Dick Van Dyke, who appeared in good spirits at the event.

The comedian, who played narrator and loyal chimney sweep Bert in the original film, looked dapper in a navy suit, jazzed up by an aquamarine tie.

Even though Dick carried a cane, he was still quite lively.

Sealed with a kiss: Van Dyke kissed his wife and lovely companion Arlene Silver, who is 46 years his junior, on the red carpet Delighted! Dick was happy to be able to spend time with the exquisite Emily at the event A secret to be revealed! Co-stars Dick and Lin-Manuel seemed to get on splendidly during the event They went the extra mile! Emily Mortimer opted for a dress full of embellishments that was covered in pearls and jewels for a luxurious effect Artistic! Emily's on-screen sibling Ben Whishaw was chic in a white suit that looked like it was covered in graphite doodles

He made the most of the premiere, romping around on the red carpet, getting close to leading lady Emily, and kissing his wife and lovely date Arlene Silver, who is 46 years his junior.

Emily Mortimer, who plays an adult version of the character Jane in the film, also wowed in white.

She opted for an embellished dress that was studded with pearls and jewels for a luxurious effect, and her red clutch added a colorful accent that matched her cherry red lips.

Emily's on-screen sibling Ben Whishaw wore a sleek white suit that looked like it was covered in graphite scribbles.

Dressed to match! Matt Damon and wife Luciana Barroso were perfectly matched for their date night at the premiere.Sexy! Luciana gave a sexy glimpse of her side in a black spaghetti strap dress with lace panels down the side.Gray lady! Karen Gillan, of Dr. Who fame, looked perfectly demure in a cropped gray argyle sweater that revealed just a hint of her midriff.A perfect pair! Equal parts classic and fashion-forward, a steel brocade skirt rounded out the entire ensemble.Dyed red or not! Karen complemented her porcelain skin with a swipe of red lipstick that matched the velvet bow that held her luscious auburn locks together, as well as a tiny, red crocodile leather handbag.That includes two: John Stamos and wife Caitlin McHugh also enjoyed a night on the town and looked loved up on the red carpet.

Karen Gillan, known from “Dr. Who”, looked absolutely demure in her short, grey argyle sweater that showed just a bit of belly.

A steel brocade skirt was both classic and fashionable and rounded off the entire ensemble.

To show off her sense of style, she complemented her outfit with pointed patent leather ankle strap shoes for a little flair.

Karen accentuated her porcelain skin with a touch of red lipstick that matched the velvet bow that held together her luscious auburn locks, as well as a tiny red crocodile leather handbag.

Masterful monochrome: Beth Behrs paired a black and white bow blouse with textured blonde curls, pops of color, and block heels. Sleek! Arrow's Katherine McNamara looked chic in a fashionable little black velvet dress and pointed ankle boots. Elegant in ivory: Bellamy Young looked elegant in a crisp white pantsuit with matching heels and a shiny gold belt. Chic: Jordana Brewster looked chic in wide silk pants with a simple illustrated top. Sleek: She wore her hair straight and accessorized with pointed Mary Jane heels.

Matt Damon and his wife Luciana Barroso had a date at the event. They were perfectly coordinated for their evening: Matt was dressed all in black, while Luciana showed off a sexy side in a black dress with spaghetti straps and lace inserts on the side.

The 42-year-old Argentinian beauty wore a loose updo, applied fresh makeup and framed her face with gold hoop earrings.

John Stamos and his wife Caitlin McHugh also enjoyed a night on the town and looked rejuvenated on the red carpet. The Full House alumnus, 55, looked dapper in a pinstripe suit with a red pocket square, while Caitlyn wore an emerald green lace dress with a thigh-skimming hem.

Jordana Brewster wore wide-leg silk pants and a simple patterned top. The Furious 7 star wore her cinnamon-colored hair elegantly and pointed Mary Jane pumps.

Keep warm! Josh Gad, part of the Disney family through his roles in Frozen and the live-action Beauty and the Beast, bundled up in a black pea coat and plaid pants. Peek a boo! Lori Loughlin flashed a bit of skin in a striped blouse with sheer black ties. Lost! Set years after the original, Mary Poppins Returns features the magical nanny (Blunt) as she returns to the Banks siblings (Mortimer and Whishaw) to help raise their children. Tiny talent! Joel Dawson plays little Georgie Banks in the movie Little Star! Tiny Brit Pixie Davies plays the character Anabel Banks in the movie Cast! At the premiere, there were extras dressed as chimney sweeps and townspeople. Greetings from Russia: The Golden Globe winner's white dress by Russian fashion designer Yanina Couture was a model of style

The “Saved By The Bell” actress paired checkered navy pants with her little daughter’s beige and blue patterned blouse.

Beth Behrs paired a black and white pussy bow blouse with textured blonde curls, bold colors, and layered shoes.

Katherine McNamara from Arrow wore a stylish little black velvet dress and pointed ankle boots. Bellamy Young looked elegant in a crisp white pantsuit with matching heels and a shiny gold belt.

Lori Loughlin flashed some skin in a striped blouse with transparent black stripes. She combined the look with velvet leggings, over-the-knee boots, a Gucci belt and a matching chain bag.

Cute couple! Matthew Morrison and his wife Renee both chose a fashionable ensemble for the evening. Well suited! Lesley Ann Warren looked chic in a black suit with a double-breasted jacket tailored to her feminine figure. Old and new: Utkarsh Ambudkar from The Mindy Projects wore traditional Indian clothing for the occasion. Wright's stuff! Mark Wright from The Royals opted for a simple olive sports jacket with boots and slim trousers.

Lesley Ann Warren looked chic in a black suit with a double-breasted jacket tailored to her feminine figure.

Burgundy heels and curly chestnut locks completed the look, along with a red satin snap-button clutch.

Set years after the original film, Mary Poppins Returns follows the magical nanny (Blunt) as she returns to the Banks siblings (Mortimer and Whishaw) to help raise their children.

“Mary Poppins Returns” will be released in the US on December 19, 2018.

He makes her laugh: Billy Crystal wore a suit with sneakers while attending the event with his wife Janice, mama's daughter! Caroline Rhea looked great in red as she took her daughter Ava Rhea Economopoulos to the premiere She's got the blues: The little talent Ariana Greenblatt, who played the young Gamora in Avengers: Infinity War, looked adorable in powder blue

The post Emily Blunt seems radiant in white as she dances with hubby John Krasinski at Mary Poppins Returns appeared first on DAILY SAN FRANCISCO BAY NEWS.

Jeff Schmittinger, owner and founder of Wisconsin Chimney Technicians in Waukesha, Wisconsin, has been cleaning the White House chimneys for 19 years and three consecutive administrations and still hasn't been paid for it.

Frankly, he never charged a dime for it. Schmittinger first volunteered for the job in 1993 after hearing President Bill Clinton's speech to Congress about the dire state of the federal deficit. Wanting to do his part, he called the White House and offered to clean the 35 chimneys at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue for free. “I didn't think they would accept my offer,” he admits. “I was shocked.” The job got easier over the years; when he first showed up, the chimneys were caked with the soot of countless presidencies. He used two vacuum cleaners on that first clean, he says, “because we didn't want to leave the White House and not let it be a White House anymore.”

The post Odd Jobs: White Home Chimney Sweep appeared first on DAILY SAN FRANCISCO BAY NEWS.

Listen to the article
4 min

This audio is auto-generated. Please let us know if you have feedback.

Dive Brief:

• The Biden administration on Friday threw its support behind efforts to turn empty commercial buildings into housing, announcing new federal resources to support commercial-to-residential conversion projects.
• New financing, technical assistance and guidance for states, localities, transit agencies and developers are among the new resources. The U.S. General Services Administration will also expand efforts to sell empty federal buildings that could be repurposed into housing.
• U.S. office vacancies reached a 30-year high of 18.2% in the second quarter of 2023, taking a toll on local economies, according to the White House. It said that converting these buildings into residencies could ease the affordable housing crisis and, if done with the climate in mind, drive down greenhouse gas emissions.

Dive Insight:

The high commercial real estate vacancy rate is a lingering symptom of the COVID-19 pandemic, which “forced Americans to change how they live and work, with ripple effects felt across the economy,” according to the U.S. Council of Economic Advisers. U.S. workers now go into the office 30% less than they did pre-pandemic, about 3.5 days a week.

This trend has taken a toll on the businesses the workers in those offices used to support, from restaurants and convenience stores to dry cleaners and hair salons. Many cities, such as Seattle and San Francisco, have devised strategies of their own to revive wilting downtowns. And the number of adaptive reuse projects in the U.S. multifamily pipeline has reached an all-time high, with office-to-multifamily conversion making up the majority of multifamily units under construction.

Turning offices into housing is more complex, however, than switching out desks for beds. Office building design doesn’t always lend itself to logical apartment layouts with adequate natural light. The plumbing and HVAC systems are often not set up to serve multiple residential units. Some commercial developers have also complained that conversion projects face governmental hurdles, including zoning and environmental regulations.

The new federal effort to support commercial-to-residential conversion includes a guidebook on available federal resources, including low-interest loans, loan guarantees, grants and tax incentives. The White House plans to hold training workshops this fall for local and state governments, along with private sector players, to learn how to use the federal programs the guidebook outlines. The White House is encouraging state, local, tribal and territorial governments to identify public tools and land disposition opportunities to support conversion projects. 

Multiple federal agencies released subject-specific guidance on adaptive reuse as part of the announcement. The Energy Department launched a toolkit on creating zero-emissions housing from commercial buildings, while the Transportation Department released guidance on how states, localities and developers can finance conversation projects near transit with two existing federal programs: the Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act and the Railroad Rehabilitation & Improvement Financing programs.

The Housing and Urban Development Department will increase outreach efforts to municipalities and developers looking to use HUD tools to finance conversions. The White House highlighted several HUD grant programs that can be used for conversions, including Community Development Block Grants, the Pathways to Removing Obstacles to Housing program and a research-related grant available to develop case studies that can help other localities better plan conversion projects. 

The White House noted in its Friday announcement that the American Planning Association is expanding its work with the planning directors of the nation’s 30 largest cities to include new programs on commercial-to-residential conversions. Plus, the National Association of Counties is working with counties pursuing commercial-to-residential conversion projects to develop a policy paper for county officials interested in pursuing similar efforts.

The post White Home advances office-to-residential conversions with new sources appeared first on DAILY SAN FRANCISCO BAY NEWS.

SAN FRANCISCO >> A U.S. official said Tuesday the government believes the driver who crashed into the Chinese Consulate in San Francisco the day before did so “with malign intent,” but police haven’t shared details about the driver’s identity or motive for what the Chinese government has branded a “violent attack.”

A witness waiting his turn to submit his visa documents at the consulate Monday described seeing the car barrel through the main doors at full speed before striking a wall. The driver was bleeding from his head as he exited the vehicle yelling about the C.C.P., an abbreviation for the Chinese Communist Party, Sergii Molchanov said.

San Francisco police arrived on scene and shot the driver, who died later in a hospital.

“We condemn this incident and all violence perpetrated against foreign diplomatic staff working in the United States,” White House National Security Council spokeswoman Adrienne Watson said.

U.S. government officials have been in contact with Chinese foreign ministry officials in the aftermath of the incident Monday, according to a White House official who was not authorized to comment and spoke on the condition of anonymity. The official added that investigators believe the driver was “acting with malign intent.”

San Francisco police said Monday they didn’t know why the unidentified driver smashed through the front of the consulate, located in a residential neighborhood and next to a major street. The San Francisco Police Department said in a statement Tuesday it had no other information and that it would hold a town hall meeting within 10 days to discuss the fatal shooting.

Molchanov was in line waiting for his turn to submit his visa documents when the car, a blue Honda sedan, barreled in through the main doors at full speed, barely missing him.

Molchanov told The Associated Press that the car struck a wall, and he saw the driver, who was bleeding from his head, exit the car.

Molchanov took out his phone and recorded security guards approaching the man and several people running out of the building.

“Two security guards from the entrance tried to confront him and calm him down,” Molchanov said. “But I couldn’t see what he held in his hands.”

When it appeared that the man was attempting to grab something from his car, Molchanov said he rushed outside.

Shortly after that, police arrived on the scene. Molchanov said he heard two gunshots.

San Francisco police haven’t said how many officers fired or if the driver had a weapon.

Another witness said the driver was bleeding and holding knives when he exited the car and then began arguing with security guards.

Tony Xin told KTVU-TV he saw a security guard trying to detain the driver before he ran out of the building through the damaged doorway.

Xin said less than a minute after the driver got out of the car, five police officers arrived, initially with their guns drawn, and rushed into the building. He said they were later joined by more officers.

“I heard a really loud bang. I thought it was gunshots. I looked to the left and there was smoke,” Xin said. “I turned back and saw the guy take out a crossbow.”

The police department said it is working and coordinating with investigators from the U.S. State Department and the Chinese Consulate. The incident comes as San Francisco is preparing to host next month’s Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit, a gathering of world leaders from Pacific Rim nations. President Joe Biden plans to attend but it’s not clear if Chinese President Xi Jinping will come.

The statement from the Chinese Consulate demanded more details about what happened and asked that it be “dealt with seriously in accordance with the law.”

“Our embassy severely condemns this violent attack,” the statement said.

Consulates typically have some type of security, such as locally hired guards. Neither the consulate nor San Francisco police immediately responded to questions about what security was in place at the facility.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin again called for an investigation at a daily briefing Tuesday without giving any details about damage to the consulate or injuries to staff and visitors.

“We strongly urge the U.S. to launch a swift investigation and take effective measures to ensure the safety of Chinese diplomatic missions and personnel there in accordance with the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations,” Wang said, referring to the 1961 agreement governing relations between countries.

The San Francisco consulate has been targeted a number of times before. Among the most serious was a fire set by a Chinese man on New Year’s Day 2014 at the main entrance. It charred a section of the outside of the building.

The man, who was living in the San Francisco Bay Area, told authorities he was driven by voices he was hearing. He was sentenced to nearly three years in prison.

Madhani reported from Washington. Associated Press writer Beatrice Dupuy in New York contributed to this report.

The post White Home condemns crash at San Francisco’s Chinese language Consulate appeared first on DAILY SAN FRANCISCO BAY NEWS.

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — A U.S. official said Tuesday the government believes the driver who crashed into the Chinese Consulate in San Francisco the day before did so “with malign intent,” but police haven’t shared details about the driver’s identity or motive for what the Chinese government has branded a “violent attack.”

A witness waiting his turn to submit his visa documents at the consulate Monday described seeing the car barrel through the main doors at full speed before striking a wall. The driver was bleeding from his head as he exited the vehicle yelling about the C.C.P., an abbreviation for the Chinese Communist Party, Sergii Molchanov said.

San Francisco police arrived on scene and shot the driver, who died later in a hospital.

Get more from the Citrus County Chronicle

“We condemn this incident and all violence perpetrated against foreign diplomatic staff working in the United States,” White House National Security Council spokeswoman Adrienne Watson said.

U.S. government officials have been in contact with Chinese foreign ministry officials in the aftermath of the incident Monday, according to a White House official who was not authorized to comment and spoke on the condition of anonymity. The official added that investigators believe the driver was “acting with malign intent.”

San Francisco police said Monday they didn’t know why the unidentified driver smashed through the front of the consulate, located in a residential neighborhood and next to a major street. The San Francisco Police Department said in a statement Tuesday it had no other information and that it would hold a town hall meeting within 10 days to discuss the fatal shooting.

Molchanov was in line waiting for his turn to submit his visa documents when the car, a blue Honda sedan, barreled in through the main doors at full speed, barely missing him.

Molchanov told The Associated Press that the car struck a wall, and he saw the driver, who was bleeding from his head, exit the car.

Molchanov took out his phone and recorded security guards approaching the man and several people running out of the building.

“Two security guards from the entrance tried to confront him and calm him down,” Molchanov said. “But I couldn’t see what he held in his hands.”

When it appeared that the man was attempting to grab something from his car, Molchanov said he rushed outside.

Shortly after that, police arrived on the scene. Molchanov said he heard two gunshots.

San Francisco police haven’t said how many officers fired or if the driver had a weapon.

Another witness said the driver was bleeding and holding knives when he exited the car and then began arguing with security guards.

Tony Xin told KTVU-TV he saw a security guard trying to detain the driver before he ran out of the building through the damaged doorway.

Xin said less than a minute after the driver got out of the car, five police officers arrived, initially with their guns drawn, and rushed into the building. He said they were later joined by more officers.

“I heard a really loud bang. I thought it was gunshots. I looked to the left and there was smoke,” Xin said. “I turned back and saw the guy take out a crossbow.”

The police department said it is working and coordinating with investigators from the U.S. State Department and the Chinese Consulate. The incident comes as San Francisco is preparing to host next month’s Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit, a gathering of world leaders from Pacific Rim nations. President Joe Biden plans to attend but it’s not clear if Chinese President Xi Jinping will come.

The statement from the Chinese Consulate demanded more details about what happened and asked that it be “dealt with seriously in accordance with the law.”

“Our embassy severely condemns this violent attack,” the statement said.

Consulates typically have some type of security, such as locally hired guards. Neither the consulate nor San Francisco police immediately responded to questions about what security was in place at the facility.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin again called for an investigation at a daily briefing Tuesday without giving any details about damage to the consulate or injuries to staff and visitors.

“We strongly urge the U.S. to launch a swift investigation and take effective measures to ensure the safety of Chinese diplomatic missions and personnel there in accordance with the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations,” Wang said, referring to the 1961 agreement governing relations between countries.

The San Francisco consulate has been targeted a number of times before. Among the most serious was a fire set by a Chinese man on New Year’s Day 2014 at the main entrance. It charred a section of the outside of the building.

The man, who was living in the San Francisco Bay Area, told authorities he was driven by voices he was hearing. He was sentenced to nearly three years in prison.

Madhani reported from Washington. Associated Press writer Beatrice Dupuy in New York contributed to this report.

Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.

The post White Home condemns a violent crash on the Chinese language Consulate in San Francisco | Nationwide appeared first on DAILY SAN FRANCISCO BAY NEWS.

FARGO — Doug Burgum is about to enter a crowded field of candidates vying for the Republican presidential nomination as an unknown figure on the national political stage.

But one early job on Burgum’s resume could help the dark-horse candidate stand out: chimney sweep.

While attending North Dakota State University, Burgum hired himself out as a chimney sweep. The unusual occupation was featured in the student newspaper, with a photo of Burgum, in top hat and tuxedo on a snowy roof, and was picked up by a wire service.

The admissions office at Stanford University saw the article — and Burgum was admitted to its master’s of business administration program.

There, he met Steve Ballmer, who would go on to become CEO of Microsoft and an influential business adviser for Burgum.

After a stint as a consultant at McKinsey & Co., Burgum mortgaged a quarter section of farmland homesteaded by his grandfather to invest $250,000 in a fledgling business software firm called Great Plains Software in 1983.

Burgum, having bet a good part of his inheritance, was unnerved to learn that the business software industry then in its infancy was crowded with competitors, but was able to distinguish his firm with top-notch customer service, a lesson learned from his family’s grain elevator business in Arthur.

The willingness to take a big risk — moderated by working assiduously to improve his odds of success — would prove to be an attribute that would help define Burgum’s rise in business and his later career as a politician.

“Betting the farm,” as Burgum later would describe his source of startup capital, would prove to be a good wager. When Great Plains broke ground at its south Fargo campus, Burgum harnessed a horse-drawn plow to mark the occasion.

Doug Burgum, center, is pictured in 1992 at Great Plains Software.

Dave Wallis/The Forum

In 2001, less than two decades after Burgum tied his future to Great Plains, with Ballmer at its helm, Microsoft bought Great Plains for $1.1 billion. Burgum stayed on as a Microsoft senior vice president until 2007, then turned his focus to serving as an investor and director on the corporate boards of early-stage software companies.

Freed of the responsibilities of running a company, Burgum also took his business chops in a new direction, real-estate development, which would allow him to indulge his interest in architecture.

He had formed a company, Kilbourne Group, named after his mother’s maiden surname. When Burgum was a boy, his mother took him on walks through downtown Fargo, pointing to notable buildings and telling him their background — a history lesson that helped to inspire what would become a major private downtown renewal project.

Kilbourne Group bought and renovated many distinctive downtown landmarks, including the Black Building, and built the 23-story RDO tower.

It became Fargo’s tallest building, although deliberately shorter than the skyscraping state Capitol, striking a note that was audacious and restrained at the same time.

Doug Burgum talks in 2013 about the restoration process of the Loretta Building overlooking downtown Fargo.

David Samson / The Forum

One of the buildings Kilbourne Group acquired and renovated, the former St. Mark’s Lutheran Church, became the Sanctuary Event Center, where on Wednesday, June 7, Burgum will take the stage to announce his candidacy for the Republican nomination for president.

As a real estate developer, Burgum preached the virtues of dense, downtown development as a way to enliven communities, prevent urban sprawl and save money by avoiding the need to extend expensive public infrastructure and services to the city’s fringe.

Later, as governor, he would promote the same themes through his Main Street initiative, saying that communities must offer attractive amenities to attract workers.

Burgum has made philanthropic contributions, including his family’s support of the Plains Art Museum and his donation of the former Northern School Supply building to his alma mater, NDSU, which became Renaissance Hall, which houses the university’s visual arts department and much of its architecture department.

Although a campaign contributor, Burgum was never visibly active in politics until he entered the 2016 governor’s race after Jack Dalrymple announced that he wouldn’t seek a second term, leaving an open seat.

Fargo entrepreneur and philanthropist Doug Burgum, third from right, meets with the press following his announcement for North Dakota’s gubernatorial race on Jan. 14, 2016, in Fargo.

Michael Vosburg / Forum Photo Editor

But a major obstacle stood in his way: Wayne Stenehjem, who had served more than 20 years as attorney general and was the presumptive Republican nominee.

Burgum entered the race trailing by almost 50 points. He sought the endorsement at the party convention, not expecting to win, he said, and finished third.

During the convention, Burgum played up to his outsider image by lecturing the delegates, many of them state legislators, whom he criticized for allowing state government spending to balloon unsustainably on their watch.

His strategy all along was to win the GOP primary, and he made a point of visiting every community in the state with at least 1,000 people, often talking to very small gatherings, especially at first, and filling notebooks with ideas from his encounters with voters.

North Dakota Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem, left, and Fargo businessman Doug Burgum shake hands at a gubernatorial debate in 2016.

Rick Abbott / The Forum

Burgum roared back from his drubbing at the convention with a convincing victory over Stenehjem, taking 60% of the vote in the primary — and cruising on to beat his Democratic rival by capturing more than 76% in the general election.

Some of Burgum’s famous friends from his time at Microsoft were among his prominent financial supporters during his first campaign for governor. Microsoft founder Bill Gates contributed $107,000 and Satya Nadella, who succeeded Ballmer as Microsoft CEO and who had worked under Burgum at Microsoft’s Fargo campus for 5½ years, donated $10,000.

During the campaign, Burgum ran as an entrepreneur and businessman, with a pitch that he was the right person to apply his tech savvy to reinvent state government through greater efficiency, and to help diversify the economy, too reliant on energy and farm commodities subject to whipsawing price swings.

Once in office, Burgum sometimes clashed with the Republican-dominated Legislature. Although he pledged party unity after winning the divisive primary contest with Stenehjem, Burgum didn’t shy away from tangling with those in his own party.

Burgum showed himself willing to dip into his personal fortune to fund a political group that worked to defeat fellow Republicans who had resisted his initiatives, most prominently former Rep. Jeff Delzer, R-Underwood, who had been the powerful chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, who was at odds with some of Burgum’s spending priorities.

During the 2022 election cycle, records showed Burgum gave at least $935,000 to the Dakota Leadership PAC, which ran an advertising blitz against Delzer, who lost the GOP primary endorsement. Burgum spent much more in 2020, bankrolling the group’s ad campaign with contributions of more than $3.2 million.

Burgum’s internecine quarrels rankled some of his fellow Republicans, some of whom were legislators who were in a position to make their displeasure known, but Burgum didn’t alter course.

As governor, Burgum has championed energy policy. Unusual for a Republican, he set a goal of using innovation and incentives to achieve carbon neutrality in North Dakota by 2030, exploiting North Dakota’s policy and geological advantages in storing carbon dioxide deep underground.

North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum delivers his annual State of the State address on Jan. 3, 2023.

Jeremy Turley / Forum News Service

He boasted that as of 2021 companies had responded by pouring $25 billion of investments into energy initiatives in the state.

In contrast to many of his fellow Republican governors, Burgum’s response to the public health threat posed by the COVID-19 pandemic included support for vaccination and, in the early days of the pandemic, targeted business shutdowns and a mask mandate as measures to prevent hospitals from being overrun with cases.

Chafing at the state interventions, the Republican-dominated Legislature responded in 2021 by passing a law allowing legislators to call a special session, with the power to “terminate, extend, or modify” a state of disaster or emergency declared by a governor.

North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum receives a first dose of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine at the Bismarck Event Center on March 9, 2021.

Jeremy Turley / Forum News Service

Burgum’s drive for efficiencies in state government draws upon his background in technology and business.

He sounds like the McKinsey consultant he once was when he makes the case for better cash management of state funds, and he sounds like a former software executive when he rhapsodizes about the need for information technology upgrades that are more consumer friendly.

Burgum has never emphasized socially conservative positions and has generally refrained from joining the “culture war” debates that animate many in a party dominated by Donald Trump. In 2020, Burgum said the state Republican Party’s position on LGBTQ issues was “divisive and divisional.”

Still, in the recently completed legislative session, Burgum signed a near-total abortion ban bill as well as several laws restricting transgender rights. Earlier, in 2021, he signed a law banning the teaching of critical race theory in North Dakota public schools.

North Dakota leaders shouldn’t forget that the state is in constant competition for capital and for talent — skilled workers — and be seen as welcoming both, he has said.

Burgum has twice been endorsed by Trump, and has endorsed the former president he now is challenging for the nomination. He has said he would vote for Trump if he is the Republican nominee in 2024, a choice he regards as preferable to President Joe Biden, the likely Democratic nominee.

Gov. Doug Burgum talks about his vision for North Dakota on April 19, 2018, while meeting with The Forum’s Editorial Board.

David Samson / The Forum

In seeking the nomination, Burgum is betting that what he has called a “silent majority” of voters who shun the ideological fringes would welcome a pragmatist over a divisive ideologue. He knows that he will have to overcome his underdog status as a governor of a small, rural state who is unknown in national politics.

“There’s a value to being underestimated all the time,” Burgum said, recalling that he had no endorsements in his first race. “That’s a competitive advantage.”

The post Doug Burgum ‘guess the farm’ on a software program agency. Now he is betting his enterprise savvy results in the White Home. – InForum appeared first on DAILY SAN FRANCISCO BAY NEWS.

WHITE MARSH – On Friday, the AVENUE at White Marsh announced the addition of World Market to the mall’s retail mix.

World Market plans to open a 18,500 square meter location next to Nike in spring 2024. The Market is a retail outlet offering a diverse selection of furniture, home accessories, gifts and specialties from around the world.

In 1959, World Market opened its first location on the waterfront of San Francisco’s famous Fisherman’s Wharf. The goal was to provide customers with a place to shop for unique decorations and groceries that cannot be found in traditional retail stores.

“Our stores offer customers inspiration and solutions for decorating, hospitality and gifting throughout the year, as well as an unparalleled Christmas market with traditional international sweets and unique ornaments and decorations,” says a press release from World Market.

Gordon Miller, anchor leasing associate for Federal Realty, said the store expansion reinforces The AVENUE’s vision of providing a community destination where shoppers can find almost anything they need.

“We believe that World Market, a leader in the housewares industry, will be an excellent addition to our existing retailers at THE AVENUE at White Marsh,” said Miller. “Combined with our recent announcement that Silver Diner will open at the center and a newly renovated Barnes & Noble will reopen this summer, this reinforces our vision of providing the community with a diverse destination.”

The post World Market Coming To The AVENUE At White Marsh appeared first on DAILY SAN FRANCISCO BAY NEWS.

Are you a docker? Tell us what you think about the vet. All submissions will be kept anonymous.

Container ship NYK Themis in the Port of Los Angeles. [Photo by Downtowngal / CC BY-SA 4.0]

Workers are furious at the last-minute announcement this month of a tentative agreement between the International Longshore Workers Union (ILWU) and the Pacific Maritime Association (PMA) for over 22,000 West Coast dockers. The deal was announced after union bureaucracy forced dockers to remain on the job for nearly a year with an expired contract.

The announcement that a tentative deal had been reached followed months of slowdowns in West Coast ports initiated by ordinary workers. Worker industrial action increased earlier in the month after workers found out the PMA originally proposed a meager $1.62 wage increase.

While workers in America took industrial action, over 7,000 longshoremen in Canada voted in favor of the strike by a majority of 99 percent. Fearing a joint struggle with Canadian dockers who are also ILWU members, Wall Street called on the Biden administration to step in and push through a deal.

The White House dispatched Acting Secretary of Labor Julie Su after the strike authorization vote. A tentative settlement was reportedly reached between the PMA and the ILWU within three days of Su’s arrival in San Francisco. In statements announcing the agreement, both the ILWU and PMA noted Su’s leadership role in enforcing the agreement.

Su was deputy labor secretary last year when the self-proclaimed “most pro-union” president in history dictatorially imposed a collective bargaining agreement on railroad workers. In a repeat of this attack on workers’ democratic rights, the Biden administration is also trying to force a deal on dockers that falls far short of what they are demanding.

Since the agreement was announced, both the PMA and ILWU have remained silent, giving members few details while demanding that workers “focus” and get back to work.

In a video released last Friday, ILWU President Willie Adams claimed that the tentative agreement will be reviewed next month by a faction of 29 bureaucrats. These talks are kept secret from the base. After this faction reaches an agreement, the TA is taken to each location for some members to review. However, even among the dockers, it is unclear who is actually allowed to view and vote on the contract in the individual bars.

“I am so outraged by the alleged tentative agreement,” a docker from Tacoma, Washington, wrote to the WSWS. “The corporations see all the huge profits and give us a pay cut basically equal to the cost of living!” What a joke the Biden administration was because they were supposed to be helping us. You have betrayed us.”

Another Tacoma worker wrote, “I think this agreement is a joke and I will be voting NO!!! This is an insult to all of us who worked so hard while our brothers and sisters were dying of this pandemic just to line the pockets of these companies under the pretense of helping the American people and the US economy. This is a slap in the face to all union members who have sacrificed so much.”

Referring to a one-time “hero bonus” included in the deal, the docker said, “The one-time $70 million “hero bonus” comes from the federal government, not the shipping companies. Inflation is over 10 percent and wage increases are only 5 percent. We are literally moving backwards. We’ll be broke and we’ll rely on these companies even more than we did before the contract. This is not good business. That’s not what we deserve. If our total cost to our employer is less than 2 percent of their total cost of ownership, then there is a problem.”

“Most members are not happy with the pension offer, so next month’s meeting will see it largely rejected,” added another West Coast docker. “Every place has different rules for the ratification process. In Los Angeles, I don’t even know if casual workers are allowed to be there or not.”

Daniel, a part-time docker from Northern California, told the WSWS that depending on the location, many workers are unable to attend the union meetings that will discuss July election decisions.

“They do that in every negotiation,” Daniel explained. “The body doesn’t really know all the details. If they have a caucus, they’ll tear the contract apart. If you’re not in the caucus, you can’t see what’s in the contract. Only A-men in some places [the highest seniority workers] Join the conversation. In our hall, the B-men can talk. In some halls the casuals [the lowest tier, with no contractual rights] can’t even come to the meeting.”

“The A-men [most senior workers] are dissatisfied because they increased the pension,” he added. “If you have 20 years, multiply that by $215 a year, that’s about $4,000 a month. They say it should be $300 to $350 per month per year.”

“She [management] “I don’t want to hire new employees because they don’t want to pay a pension or health insurance,” he continued, “but they made $300 billion last year.” It’s the same with UPS.

Donate to the WSWS 25 Year Fund

Watch the video as workers internationally explain why you should donate to the WSWS.

“Even though they say we have a vet, I don’t think we have a vet,” he said. “I think that’s just something they said to get the media to cave in. Many shippers say they will not bring the cargo back until we have a signed agreement.”

“The problem is that the government shouldn’t even be involved. This woman [Su], she is terrible. The pension didn’t increase, the 401(k) amount didn’t even increase. Casuals didn’t get promoted, so what did she do? Absolutely nothing.

“If they sign this agreement, by 2028 we will be in such a deep crisis that we will never be able to pick ourselves up again,” he concluded. “We should be making $60 an hour a year, and every year we should get a $5 an hour raise, so $90 at the end of the contract.” Plumbers at the airport make $100 an hour. There are only about 22,000 dockers. A raise wouldn’t cost them much.”

Workers around the world want to fight for what they earn, be it Canadian longshoremen or American UPS workers, both of whom voted overwhelmingly to go on strike last month. There is an ingrained hatred not only for the corporations that have reaped huge profits off the blood and sweat of workers, but also for the union apparatus that has aided them in their attacks on workers.

West Coast dockers need to learn from the experiences of the Rail Workers Rank and File Committee, set up to oppose a conspiracy between the union bureaucracy, company and government to enforce last year’s collective bargaining agreement. They must organize independent action committees to break the information blackout, organize democratic discussions outside the reach of pro-business homing pigeons in the union bureaucracy, and plan joint action.

Make your voice heard! Tell us what your working conditions are like and what you are fighting for. We protect your anonymity.

The post West Coast dockworkers communicate out in opposition to White Home-backed tentative settlement appeared first on DAILY SAN FRANCISCO BAY NEWS.

Executives at both ends of Pennsylvania Avenue appear poised to take action to regulate artificial intelligence in the coming weeks as officials warn of the technology’s dangers.

President Biden focused on the issue Tuesday when he called a meeting in San Francisco that gathered voices calling for a much more forceful response to the potential impact of AI in areas from the workplace to raising children in the years to come push for civil rights.

“We have to manage the risks,” Biden said in brief comments on Tuesday. Today’s event, a White House official said, will be “followed by a process in the coming days to quickly develop decisive actions that we can take in the coming weeks.”

President Joe Biden, seated next to California Gov. Gavin Newsom, addresses a meeting on addressing the risks of artificial intelligence June 20 in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

On Capitol Hill, there could be additional industry excitement later this week when Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (DN.Y.) reveals new details of his own AI-related plans.

A White House stance on AI that began with “educate us.”

Back in May, the Biden administration brought the CEOs of Alphabet (GOOG), Microsoft (MSFT) and others to the White House for what it called a conversation about AI, while emphasizing its “expectation that companies like yours will have to make it happen .” Your products are safe before they are released to the public.”

President Biden came to the meeting and warned of the “enormous danger” the technology could pose in a short video released by the White House. But he was concerned overall – going so far as to say he wanted the assembled CEOs to “educate” us about the technology.

So far, White House action on this issue has been largely limited to things like investment in AI research and an AI Charter of Fundamental Rights. But this week’s meeting came with a promise that even stronger action would be taken.

“Social media has already shown us the damage powerful technology without the right safeguards can do,” Biden said Tuesday. He compared the AI ​​issue to another part of the tech sector — social media, for example — which has fueled significant tensions between political and business leaders for years.

The story goes on

After his remarks, the President then turned to the number of the harshest critics of large technology groups to get ideas for further action.

Tristan Harris, a longtime social media critic, was one of the key figures at the table with the president. Harris, a former design ethicist at Google, is now exploring how tech companies, he said, “have a dangerous hold on our ability to make sense of the world.” He was also featured in the 2020 Netflix documentary The Social Dilemma and serves as the co-founder and executive director of the Center for Humane Technology.

Jim Steyer, CEO of Common Sense Media, was also scheduled to attend the meeting. He was notable for urging Washington to take a tougher stance on AI. (Steyer previously led a wide-ranging campaign urging advertisers to boycott Facebook owner Meta.)

Others who took part in the discussion: Fei-Fei Li of Stanford’s Human-Centered AI Institute will discuss the possible benefits of AI in fields like medicine, while Sal Khan, founder of Khan Academy, will likely discuss how AI could change education. Li, previously chief scientist for AI and machine learning at Google Cloud, has also been vocal about the need to improve diversity in AI. Additionally, Stanford’s Rob Reich, who calls for an established code of conduct among AI developers, is expected to attend the meeting, as will UC Berkeley’s Jennifer Doudna, an expert on gene editing and its ethical parallels with AI.

Joy Buolamwin of the Algorithmic Justice League, an expert on algorithmic bias and its real-world implications, and Oren Etzioni, founding CEO of the Allen Institute for Artificial Intelligence, were also scheduled to meet with President Biden.

During this trip, Biden also encountered other key AI players, most notably Microsoft CTO Kevin Scott, who has been vocal about AI and its possibilities. The CEO and his wife held a fundraiser for the president’s re-election campaign on Monday afternoon.

“Shannon and Kev, thank you so much,” Biden said Monday night at the event at the couple’s home in Los Gatos, California, before beginning his short speech. The fundraiser was co-hosted by LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman. Microsoft acquired LinkedIn for $26.2 billion in 2016.

Supporters wave to President Joe Biden’s motorcade as they drive past en route to a fundraiser in Los Gatos, California. (Nhat V. Meyer/MediaNews Group/The Mercury News via Getty Images)

A bunch of ideas from across Washington

Of course, it remains to be seen what specific actions the White House will take — and whether those will impact the fast-growing sector. But there is movement and apparently also urgency.

Last year, the Biden administration convened a national artificial intelligence advisory committee, headed by the Commerce Department, to make recommendations on the issue. A May report from the group presented 24 action ideas from Washington. Examples include the adoption of national standards for AI risk management, the retraining of laid-off workers, and diplomatic efforts against possible malicious AI from countries like China.

Trade Secretary Gina Raimondo said in a recent interview that her goal is to reflect on “possibly the most complicated technology policy discussion we’ve ever had,” adding that many of the threats posed by AI may not even be understood today become.

Elsewhere in Washington, a parallel trial is underway on Capitol Hill, led by Senator Schumer. The Senate Majority Leader will deliver a speech on Wednesday to unveil a plan that he hopes will frame a comprehensive and bipartisan approach to solving the problem.

Schumer also recently announced three senator-only briefings in the coming months to educate lawmakers on the issues surrounding artificial intelligence. After the initial briefing, Schumer described the mood on Capitol Hill as “a mixture of urgency and humility; Urgency because AI is evolving so damn fast, and humility because AI is incredibly complex.”

Schumer himself has signaled that his primary focus will be the technology’s impact on national security, and he is presenting his plan at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.

–

Ben Vershkul is the Washington correspondent for Yahoo Finance. Allie Garfinkle is a Senior Tech Reporter at Yahoo Finance.

Click here for political news on business and money

Read the latest financial and business news from Yahoo Finance

The post How the White Home is shifting into the motion part of its effort to manage AI appeared first on DAILY SAN FRANCISCO BAY NEWS.