U.S. ESTA Travel Pass News

With the 2024 general election taking place on November 5, the Maryland Board of Elections has announced three voting options and deadlines. Maryland voters can exercise their right to vote early, by mail, or in person on Election Day. Of course, voter registration is required.

Voter registration must be completed by Tuesday, October 15, whether by mail or online. Early voting will be held from Thursday, March 24 to Thursday, March 31, from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. at a total of 97 early voting locations across the state. The same hours will be held on Saturdays and Sundays. Early voting locations are set up in 14 Montgomery locations, 5 Howard County locations, 10 Anne Arundel County locations, 11 Baltimore County locations, 8 Baltimore City locations, 3 Carroll County locations, 4 Harford County locations, and 4 Frederick County locations.

Any registered voter can vote by mail, but you must apply in advance to vote by mail. The registration deadline is Tuesday, October 29. To vote by mail, voters must return their marked ballots by mail by 8 p.m. on Tuesday, November 5, or drop them off at drop boxes located throughout the state. They can also visit an early voting location or a polling place on Election Day to deliver their ballots.

On Election Day, November 5, in-person voting is available at each polling place from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. There are a total of 286 polling places set up across the state.

One of the concerns that has grown during the COVID-19 pandemic is that autism may increase. However, a study of babies exposed to COVID-19 in the womb during the pandemic found that the risk of autism was not higher than that of children before the pandemic.

Professor Danny Dumitriu’s team at Columbia University’s Sargelos School of Medicine announced on the 24th in the American Medical Association’s Journal of JAMA Network Open the results of a study of more than 2,000 children born between January 2018 and September 2021.

“Pediatricians, researchers, and developmental scientists have also been concerned about the possibility of an increase in the incidence of autism due to the COVID-19 pandemic,” Professor Dumitriu said. “But fortunately, this study found no signs of such an increase.”

During the pandemic, rumors that vaccines can cause autism and other conditions spread, and experts said that stress due to lockdowns can have a negative impact on pregnant women and fetuses, raising concerns that autism in children may increase. The study involved 2,499 children born at New York-Presbyterian Morgan Stanley Children’s Hospital and Allen Hospital from January 2018 to September 2021.

Of the 516 children born before the pandemic and 1,533 born during the pandemic, 1,198 were not exposed to COVID-19 in the womb, 231 were exposed, and 104 had unknown exposure. The research team calculated the risk of autism by assessing the behavior of their children at 16 to 30 months of age using a neurodevelopmental screening questionnaire for parents. The scores were compared between children born before and during the pandemic, and between children exposed to COVID-19 in the womb and those not exposed. The analysis results showed that there was no significant difference in the positive rate of autism tests between children born before the pandemic and children born during the pandemic. In particular, the study showed that children exposed to COVID-19 in the womb had a lower positive rate of autism tests than children who were not exposed.

Professor Demetriou said, “This study is not a diagnosis of autism, but a survey on the risk of autism through a questionnaire for parents, so it is still too early to provide a definitive diagnosis figure,” but added, “This is comforting news for pregnant women who are worried about autism in their children due to the still prevalent COVID-19.” He continued, “This is a very reassuring study result because autism is known to be affected by the fetal environment,” adding, “However, since disabilities can develop later, we will continue to track the children who participated in the study to see if they develop diseases such as autism.”

The New York City Council is pushing forward with a plan to open restrooms in New York City government buildings to the public. The ordinance, recently introduced by New York City Councilwoman Rita Joseph, is aimed at making restrooms in city government buildings accessible to the public as part of efforts to expand public restroom accessibility.

According to the ordinance, New York City government buildings must post instructions on the location and hours of restrooms in the building so that they are available for use by the public during business hours, as well as instructions on how to access the restrooms for people with disabilities.

In addition, the status of restroom operation must be reported to the City Council every quarter. “Currently, there is only one restroom for every 7,800 people in New York City, which is very poor,” said Councilwoman Rita Joseph. “With the implementation of the ordinance, the goal is to increase this to one restroom for every 2,000 people by 2035.”

Councilman Joseph added, “Last year in New York City, 4,000 summonses were issued for public urination. In order to reduce this waste of administrative power, it is urgent to expand access to public restrooms.”

The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported on the 17th that JP Morgan Chase, the largest bank in the U.S., is in talks to issue an Apple credit card. The source said that JP Morgan began discussions with Apple to issue a credit card early this year, and that the deal has recently progressed. However, the source added that it could still take several months to conclude the contract, and that the deal may not be concluded because important details such as the price are still being negotiated.

The discussions follow Apple’s decision last year to end its partnership with Goldman Sachs, the issuer of the Apple Card, which includes a credit card and savings account. Apple launched the Apple Credit Card in 2019 in partnership with Goldman Sachs, and launched a savings account this year. However, in November last year, the two companies agreed to end the partnership within the next 12 to 15 months, and Apple has been looking for a new card issuer.

Apple has also reportedly been in contact with credit card issuers Synchrony Financial and Capital One. The WSJ assessed that if the deal between JPMorgan and Apple goes through, it will further solidify the union between the largest bank in the U.S. and the largest tech company in the world.

JPMorgan currently offers discounts to Chase card customers when they buy Apple products, and Apple earns revenue by receiving a certain amount of commission from JPMorgan every time a Chase card customer uses Apple Pay to make a purchase. It is reported that there are 12 million Apple credit card users in the U.S. Meanwhile, Apple has been partnering with Goldman Sachs on credit card business since 2019, but it is known that it has not been smooth from the start.

Apple irritated Goldman Sachs by advertising that the card was not issued by a bank, and by requiring cardholders to receive bills at the beginning of each month, dissatisfaction among Goldman Sachs customer service staff, whose work is concentrated during this period, grew.

Seven weeks after Victoria Lee, a Korean American woman suffering from a mental health crisis, was shot and killed by police in Fort Lee, New Jersey, the New Jersey State Attorney’s Office has yet to release any results of its investigation, leaving her family worried. Some are even concerned that, based on past similar incidents, it could take more than two years for the State Attorney’s Office to release the results of its investigation into Lee.

According to our investigation, there have been no cases in which a resident suffering from mental health issues was shot and killed by police in New Jersey over the past two years, from 2023 to the present, in which the State Attorney’s Office has released any results of its investigation. A representative example is the March 2023 death of Najee Seabrooks in Paterson. Paterson police officers responded to the apartment where Seabrooks was suffering from a mental health crisis and shot and killed her after a four-hour standoff. A total of five officers subdued Seabrooks at the time, two of whom fired the shots. However, the state attorney’s office’s investigation into these five officers is still ongoing, a year and six months after the incident. When

New Jersey Spotlight asked the state attorney’s office in March, the first anniversary of the incident, whether the five officers were still working, the office simply stated, “We cannot answer that question because it is under investigation.” It is also unclear when the grand jury will convene to decide whether to indict these five officers. According to New Jersey Spotlight, as of March, all five officers were still working as police officers after the shooting. Last August,

52-year-old Andrew Washington, who had a mental illness, was shot and killed by police officers who responded to the scene in Jersey City. In that case as well, the state attorney’s office’s investigation into the officer who fired the shot is still pending, and all officers involved in the incident are still working. According to a civil lawsuit filed by Washington’s family last month, the family called a mental health hotline operated by a medical institution instead of 911 at the time of the incident last year, but the police arrived at the scene, and although Washington was alone in the house, the police forcibly broke down the door and shot and killed him.

After the incident, Jersey City Mayor Steve Plupp defended the police response at the scene, saying there was no problem, and the family eventually filed a civil lawsuit against the Jersey City government, police, and emergency personnel. Considering this precedent, the state prosecutor’s investigation into Victoria Lee’s death is also expected to be prolonged by one to two years.

Regarding this, Lee’s family said, “Unlike in the past, there is a lot of evidence to determine the truth through police body camera footage, etc., but it is difficult to understand why the state prosecutor’s investigation is taking more than one to two years,” and “What the family wants is the investigation results to come out quickly.”

Furthermore, even if the state prosecutor’s investigation is concluded after several years of waiting and a grand jury is held, there is no guarantee that an indictment will be made. According to research by Philip Matthew Stinson, a criminal justice expert at Bowling Green University, only 1-2% of police officers were charged with murder or manslaughter in on-duty shootings that killed people between 2005 and 2020.

Korean A has been raising her voice with her husband every night due to her high school son’s drug problem. Unlike A, who wants to actively treat A’s drug addiction, her husband is trying to hide it because he is embarrassed.

Eventually, she admitted her son to a rehabilitation center in town, but her husband was not pleased with it until the end. One day, while she was in the rehabilitation center, A’s son came home after escaping from the center. A’s husband happened to be the only one at home. A’s husband gave his son money and told him to hurry up and go back to the rehabilitation center.

On the way back to the rehabilitation center, A’s son could not resist the temptation and bought drugs with the money his father gave him. A, who lost control for a moment, was eventually found dead from an overdose. As the problem of drug and drug abuse, including the spread of fentanyl, becomes increasingly serious, the number of Koreans dying from it is also increasing.

The number of Koreans dying from drugs has exceeded 100 for the second consecutive year since 2022 and has increased by more than 130% compared to six years ago. Experts emphasized that more active prevention and treatment efforts are needed, pointing out that Koreans, who are ignorant about drugs and value their unique appearance, often miss the active treatment period and suffer.

According to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 102 Koreans died unintentionally, not by suicide, from drug and drug addiction or overdose across the United States in 2023. This is a 132% increase compared to 2018, six years ago, and has recorded more than 100 for two consecutive years since 2022, when there were 105.

The number of Korean American drug-related deaths increased from 44 in 2018 to 72 in 2019, 97 in 2020, 98 in 2021, and exceeded 100 in 2022. A total of 518 people died from drug addiction and overdose between 2018 and 2023. Pastor Han Young-ho of Nanum Mission, who has been running a Christian faith-based treatment and rehabilitation program for drug-abusing youth for 28 years, emphasized, “In the case of youth drug problems, immigrant parents often lack information about drugs and only realize the severity of the problem after their children have become addicted.” He emphasized, “Now is the time to move beyond prevention and quickly move toward treatment and rehabilitation.”

Pastor Han also pointed out the Korean American culture of respect. “It is important to actively deal with drug problems rather than hide them,” he added. “Many people come to me only when they have reached a point where they can no longer do anything because of their respect.”

Pastor Han continued, “Drug addiction is a difficult disease to cure,” but “it is a disease that can be cured,” and urged, “If you see signs that your child is using drugs, never hide it, but seek professional help to solve the problem early.”

According to the New York City Economic Development Corporation, a single ride on the NYC Ferry will go up from $4 to $4.50 starting on the 9th. A 10-ride ticket will also go up from $27.50 to $29.

However, the half-price discount program currently in place for seniors, people with disabilities, and low-income passengers will continue to operate. In addition, a discount program for New York City public high school students who use the ferry to and from school has also been in place since the 1st.

Students who wish to apply can apply through the NYC Student Account Portal. The New York City Economic Development Corporation said, “The ferry fare increase was an inevitable decision to ensure the smooth operation of NYC Ferry,” and added, “We will strive to provide a satisfactory operation for passengers, such as providing free Wi-Fi on the ferry and expanding the languages supported by the dedicated app.”

Meanwhile, this increase was made for the first time in two years since September 2022.

New York City 669 Cases Over 60% of All Asian Hate Crimes Fourth Highest Hate crime rate in New York State has reached an all-time high.

According to the ‘New York State Hate Crimes Status’ report released by the New York State Comptroller on the 28th, 1,089 hate crime incidents occurred in New York State last year. This is the highest number since the related statistics began to be published in 2000 following the implementation of the hate crime law. By region, there were 669 hate crimes in New York City and 420 hate crimes outside New York City, with more than 60% concentrated in New York City.

Hate crimes have surged particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, with hate crimes in New York State increasing by 69% last year compared to 2019. Specifically, there was a 59.3% increase in New York City and an 87.5% increase outside New York City during the pandemic, with the increase being more pronounced outside New York City. The most common type of hate crime was anti-Jewish hate crimes, with 477 cases (44%). This was followed by anti-Black hate crimes (183 cases), anti-Gay hate crimes (130 cases), anti-Asian hate crimes (130 cases), anti-Muslim hate crimes, and anti-transgender hate crimes. In New York City alone, 65% of hate crimes last year were anti-Jewish hate crimes.

Of the 669 hate crimes in New York City last year, 72 were ‘felony assaults’ resulting in serious injuries, with nearly half of the victims being Jewish and gay. State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli said, “The nature of hate crimes has changed. Since 2018, both in-person and object hate crimes have increased, but in-person hate crimes have begun to outpace object hate crimes since 2021.”

He pointed out that “New York State must focus on establishing countermeasures to prevent the various biases and prejudices that cause hate crimes from taking root.” He added that “hate allegations are not often judged as actual hate crimes.” He added that “To combat hate and prejudice, we must communicate, respect, and accept our neighbors. We must condemn all hate, invest in prevention and protection efforts, and expand education that upholds the value of diversity.”

Meanwhile, according to the report, less than half of hate crime incidents in the state lead to actual arrests, indicating that more stringent arrests are needed.

The Bergen County Sheriff’s Office is warning of an ongoing scam in which people are impersonating law enforcement agencies, including the Sheriff’s Office, to steal money, with losses reaching $52,000.

Bergen County Sheriff Anthony Curitton said, “Dozens of people have recently fallen victim to scam phone calls impersonating law enforcement agencies, including the Sheriff’s Office. The losses they’ve suffered amount to $52,000.” According to Sheriff Curryton, there has been an increase in scams in which people impersonate law enforcement and call people to threaten arrest if they don’t pay money.

The scammers claim that they have a warrant out for a person who has missed jury duty or has unpaid fines, and they threaten arrest if they don’t pay. They then try to get people to send money using a method that is difficult to trace, such as a prepaid card or cryptocurrency.

Furthermore, the scammers are using sophisticated methods, such as using phone numbers that appear to be law enforcement numbers or sending fake court documents and warrants via email.

“The scammers are easily fooled because they are impersonating current and retired police officers,” Sheriff Curryton said. “The scammers are targeting both older and younger people.” Sheriff Curryton said, “Law enforcement does not ask for money over the phone. They never call and threaten to arrest you,” he said. “If you receive a scam call like this, do not give out your personal or financial information and hang up immediately.”

The Guardian, a British daily, reported on the 25th that California, which has been suffering from heatwaves and wildfires this summer, has seen snow in August for the first time in 20 years.

According to this, Madera County Deputy Sheriff Larry Rich said in a statement released the previous day that he did not expect to see snow at Minera Vista, a Sierra Nevada Mountain lookout southeast of Yosemite National Park, in August, conveying the unusual snow news.

Deputy Sheriff Rich said that it is unusual to spend a birthday surrounded by a winter wonderland in the middle of summer, and that it was a very special moment to work here.

The Madera County Sheriff’s Office posted on Facebook about the unusual summer snowfall and urged visitors to be safe.

The National Weather Service said that there has been no snow in Yosemite National Park in August for at least the past 20 years.

Officials at Mammoth Mountain and Palisades Tahoe ski resorts in the Sierra Nevada Mountains also posted photos of snow on social media the day before, as snow fell on the mountains in the cold morning.

Local weather officials said that snow also fell at Lassen Volcanic National Park in northeastern California, but temperatures rose during the day, preventing snow accumulation.

The weather service then said that an unusual summer snowstorm brought record-breaking rainfall to Redding, Stockton, and Red Bluff in northern California.

Despite the heavy rain, the weather service warned that strong winds were blowing as a cold front passed by, increasing the risk of fires.

At the same time, weather officials issued a flood watch for areas where wildfires broke out in northern California late last month.

The northern wildfires, which began on March 24, swept across more than 1,700 square kilometers in four counties, making them the largest wildfire of the year and the fourth largest on record in California.