Fourteen years ago, Ken Jouppi, who had operated a charter airplane business in Alaska since the 1970s, agreed to fly a passenger from Fairbanks to Beaver, one of the state's dry jurisdictions. The passenger's luggage included 72 cans of Budweiser and Bud Light, which she planned to share with her husband on his birthday. Although most of the beer was boxed, a six-pack "was packed only in a grocery bag and would have been in plain view to Jouppi as he was loading the airplane," the Alaska Supreme Court noted last year.
State troopers discovered the beer before the plane took off, and Jouppi was convicted of a misdemeanor. The trial court, which concluded that Jouppi had been "willfully blind" to the six-pack, sentenced him to three days in jail and a $1,500 fine. But state law mandated another punishment that was 63 times as severe: forfeiture of Jouppi's $95,000 airplane. Although that penalty seemed grossly disproportionate, the Alaska Supreme Court ruled that it did not violate the Eighth Amendment's ban on excessive fines.
In July, responding to a petition filed by the Institute for Justice, the U.S. Supreme Court agreed to review that decision. It will hear oral argument in Jouppi v. Alaska on December 1. In a brief supporting Jouppi's appeal that it filed last week, the Cato Institute argues that the Alaska Supreme Court erred by failing to consider the gravity of his conduct and the financial consequences of the forfeiture. Both of those factors, Cato attorney Matthew Cavedon says, have been central to the common-law understanding of excessive fines for eight centuries.
"The Eighth Amendment was designed to prevent this kind of abuse by limiting excessive fines," Cavedon writes. "Long before the United States was founded, the common law protected people from extreme monetary penalties. But the Alaska Supreme Court's view is that challenges to excessive fines 'should rarely succeed.' This dismissive view led it to conclude that there is nothing excessive about the forfeiture of an airplane worth 'only 9.5 times the maximum fine'—and over 60 times the fine actually imposed. The decision below cannot be reconciled with this Court's precedent or the Excessive Fines Clause's original meaning."
In weighing the proportionality of the airplane forfeiture, the Alaska Supreme Court thought the relevant consideration was the harm caused by excessive drinking. "Alcohol abuse in rural Alaska leads to increased crime; disorders, such as alcoholism; conditions, such as fetal alcohol spectrum disorder; and death, imposing substantial costs on public health and the administration of justice," Justice Jude Pate wrote in the majority opinion. "Within this context, it is clear that the illegal importation of even a six-pack of beer causes grave societal harm."

#court #excessive #jouppi

Meghan Markle could rethink her fashion choices as she settles into life in Britain, according to a style expert. Her UK return may bring a wardrobe that blends California ease with more practical British dressing. The ***** ss of Sussex spent six years in California, where her style embraced relaxed silhouettes, linen pieces, white hats, and casual accessories.
Lauren Bulla believes Meghan Markle's fashion could shift again, especially if she continues living in the Cotswolds. "As Meghan has lived in California for six years, it's expected her style would shift towards a Montecito vibe," Bulla told "GB News". She noted that Meghan embraced "more relaxed fits" and casual pieces during her time in California.
However, Bulla expects Meghan to bring some British influences back into her wardrobe. "We can also expect Meghan to adhere to harking back to British societal expectations with higher necklines and structured garments while still keeping with casual elements – wearing a pair of jeans and trainers."
The countryside could influence her choices too. Bulla predicts that Meghan may reach for wellies, trainers, trench coats, crossbody bags, and muted neutral patterns if the Cotswolds become her main base.
Meanwhile, autumn weather could push Meghan toward heavier fabrics. Bulla expects her to swap lightweight linen for weather-appropriate materials while mixing casual staples with polished tailoring. "There's a lot of speculation about what her style will be like back in the UK," Bulla said. The expert added, "There will likely be some playful looks as well as formal ones."

#british

Meghan Markle could rethink her fashion choices as she settles into life in Britain, according to a style expert. Her UK return may bring a wardrobe that blends California ease with more practical British dressing. The ******* ss of Sussex spent six years in California, where her style embraced relaxed silhouettes, linen pieces, white hats, and casual accessories.
Lauren Bulla believes Meghan Markle's fashion could shift again, especially if she continues living in the Cotswolds. "As Meghan has lived in California for six years, it's expected her style would shift towards a Montecito vibe," Bulla told "GB News". She noted that Meghan embraced "more relaxed fits" and casual pieces during her time in California.
However, Bulla expects Meghan to bring some British influences back into her wardrobe. "We can also expect Meghan to adhere to harking back to British societal expectations with higher necklines and structured garments while still keeping with casual elements – wearing a pair of jeans and trainers."
The countryside could influence her choices too. Bulla predicts that Meghan may reach for wellies, trainers, trench coats, crossbody bags, and muted neutral patterns if the Cotswolds become her main base.
Meanwhile, autumn weather could push Meghan toward heavier fabrics. Bulla expects her to swap lightweight linen for weather-appropriate materials while mixing casual staples with polished tailoring. "There's a lot of speculation about what her style will be like back in the UK," Bulla said. The expert added, "There will likely be some playful looks as well as formal ones."

#fashion

Keke Palmer clarified past comments about being "asexual" during an appearance on the Tea Time podcast, explaining she doesn't feel as ******* ual as societal norms suggest
She shared that her attraction is primarily mental and tied to emotional or intellectual connections rather than physical ones
Palmer has sparked romance rumors TV host Sean Evans, and the pair were spotted on a dinner date in June
Keke Palmer isn't afraid to get candid about her ******* life.
The 33-year-old actress appeared on Raven-Symoné and wife Miranda Pearman-Maday's Tea Time podcast where the topic of ******* uality came up.

#sean

The WNBA has all of our attention, but now I just want to look away. The league of powerful women — Caitlin Clark exploring the boundaries of the game like an abstract painter, Olivia Miles personifying the rebirth of slick, Breanna Stewart pulling out new tricks from her offensive ****** nal, A'ja Wilson shapeshifting nightly into a GOAT — feels less like a sport and more like a societal powder keg.
It has spiraled into a rinse-and-repeat drama.
A Black player clotheslines a White player, and it's time to flinch. An ejection ensues, and the banished player, unfortunately, finds her phone and straightaway posts on Threads, and we cringe. Then the predictable rants trend on social media apps and morning shows.
The WNBA has proved it can hold our eyeballs ever since "the Caitlin Clark effect" introduced a new audience to the game and generated blockbuster ratings. However, with more and more moments like Saturday's meltdown between the Indiana Fever and Chicago Sky, it's becoming exasperating.
And what is "it"?

#WNBA #breanna

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — A suspended Catholic priest on a tiny Caribbean island is embracing calypso to make his voice heard on topics including Gaza and ***** ual abuse within the church.
Father Gerard Paul, who hails from Grenada, can no longer officiate masses, funerals, weddings or baptisms after repeatedly criticizing the church and clergy. But that hasn't stopped him from preaching via the lilting rhythms of calypso, an Afro-Caribbean music genre known for its witty lyrics and satirical social commentary.
"It's a kind of pulpit for me," Paul told The ***** ociated Press in a phone interview this week.
The 64-year-old priest made his debut this year at Spicemas, Grenada's biggest soca and calypso carnival. Like many annual carnivals across the Caribbean, it celebrates rebellion against enslavement. Paul sang his way into the finals and is scheduled to compete as "Father Paul" against 10 other singers this weekend, including "Killa B" and "Sour Serpent."
Paul joined the seminary 40 years ago and has been a priest for 32 years: "I was always concerned about the plight of the masses, so I saw the church as a vehicle for societal change."

#calypso #including #year

As crews battle fast-moving wildfires that have destroyed hundreds of structures and forced thousands to evacuate in the Spokane area, one wildfire survivor is urging Americans to prepare before disaster strikes.
Former Los Angeles mayoral candidate and reality personality Spencer Pratt, whose Pacific Palisades home was destroyed in the 2025 Palisades Fire, said the devastation unfolding in Spokane is a warning for communities across the country.
"My deepest sympathies to the folks in Spokane who just lost everything in an instant," Pratt wrote in a lengthy social media post Sunday. "Nothing can really prepare you for this devastation."
Pratt, who has been outspoken about the emotional and financial toll of losing his own home, warned that communities across the country should not ****** ume they are immune from similar disasters.
Palisades Fire Suspect Allegedly Driven By 'Societal Revenge,' Behavioral ****** yst Testifies In Court

#palisades #destroyed #devastation

Felicia, the flagship brand of Andriani Societa Benefit, announces a multi-year partnership with Juventus Football Club, becoming the Club's Official Healthy Food Partner. The agreement brings together two organisations that share values, including innovation, the pursuit of excellence and a strong focus on quality of life.
Felicia and Juventus aim to promote increasingly conscious consumption habits, highlighting the role of a balanced diet as an integral part of an active lifestyle.
Felicia will be present throughout the Juventus ecosystem through a structured program that includes brand visibility, digital content and dedicated experiences for supporters and the Bianconeri community. The agreement includes a presence at Allianz Stadium during Serie A and Italian Cup matches, activities at the Juventus Training Center and the production of exclusive content developed in collaboration with Juventus Creator Lab, providing direct access to Juventus' extensive global social media audience of more than 190 million followers.
The project will also directly involve the Club's sporting operations. Felicia products will become part of the Men's First Team's nutritional plan, confirming the shared focus on quality, innovation and wellbeing. The decision is consistent with the brand's commitment to promoting a healthy lifestyle inspired by the Mediterranean diet and biodiversity at the table, through products that are naturally gluten-free, rich in plant-based protein and whole grains and also suitable for athletes.
"This partnership marks an important milestone in Felicia's journey to strengthen its presence in the world of sport through the promotion of a positive and responsible approach to nutrition," said Marco Lentini, Marketing Director of Andriani Societa Benefit. "Working with an organisation such as Juventus means helping to raise awareness of issues related to wellbeing, taste, and the value of food biodiversity. It is the meeting of shared values and a common ability to create authentic connections between people, generations and communities.

#societa

A federal appeals court on Thursday upheld an Illinois ban on semiautomatic weapons, keeping in place a law passed largely in response to a deadly Independence Day parade shooting.
The ruling by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit overturns a lower court decision that found the ban unconstitutional. The 2-1 appellate decision found that the Illinois law does not violate the Second Amendment, and its restrictions are "consistent with the principles that underpin our Nation's tradition of firearm regulation."
"Whether to adopt them is thus a decision reposed in our elected representatives, and we reverse," the appeals court said.
The majority opinion also pushes back on claims made by the plaintiffs that semiautomatic weapons are not at fault for mass shootings.
"The undisputed record evidence undercuts that claim, showing that the presence of ******* ault weapons and large-capacity magazines is strongly correlated with the severity of the societal problem," the opinion states.

Ozempic 2.0 is on the way: The latest on the next wave of weight loss drugs

Ozempic, and the class of weight loss drugs it has come to embody, has left its imprint seemingly everywhere: On the lives of millions of patients who’ve lost unprecedented amounts of weight. On grocery store shelves with new offerings explicitly catering to those taking the drugs. Even in the calculations of insurance companies studying the drugs’ effects on mortality. (Yes, there are Ozempic guides to Thanksgiving.)
For all the societal changes ushered in by GLP-1 drugs, their lofty price tags limit who can affor

The Maya civilization, known for its intricate calendar systems, monumental pyramids, and advanced writing, represents a high point of human achievement in the ancient Americas. Yet, around 900 CE, many of its great southern lowland cities were abandoned.
The once-bustling metropolises fell silent, leaving behind mysteries that have puzzled historians and archaeologists for centuries. Why would a society so sophisticated seemingly vanish? There isn't one simple answer. Instead, a combination of factors likely contributed to this complex societal shift.
Here are five leading theories that att

Threads of Being: An Anthological Journey Through the Human Canvas

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an evocative exploration of the human psyche, identity, and societal constructs

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Sandra Bullock is the mother of two Black children, son Louis and daughter Laila, adopted in 2010 and 2015. She has openly discussed the joys and challenges of raising her children. She has also spoken about the societal scrutiny she faces.