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BREAKING NEWS - Victims ‘shocked’ after Biden grants clemency to ‘kids-for-cash’ judge

Victims of major public corruption cases in Pennsylvania are angry that President Joe Biden granted clemency this week to two convicted officials.

The commutations were announced Thursday as part of a historic clemency package for 1,500 convicted criminals who, the White House said, “deserve a second chance.”

The two convicted officials whose cases sparked outrage – a crooked Pennsylvania judge and a notorious Illinois fraudster – both had already been released from prison early and put on house arrest during the Covid-19 pandemic. Biden’s actions now end that punishment.

The president has already faced bipartisan criticism over his highly controversial pardon of his son Hunter Biden, who was convicted earlier this year of 12 tax and gun crimes.

‘Got it absolutely wrong’​

Former Pennsylvania Judge Michael Conahan was convicted in 2011 in what was infamously called the “kids-for-cash” scandal, where he took kickbacks from for-profit detention centers in exchange for wrongly sending juveniles to their facilities. The case was widely considered to be one of the worst judicial scandals in Pennsylvania history.
Like all of the other nearly 1,500 people who got commutations from Biden this week, Conahan was freed from prison due to Covid. His house arrest was set to end in 2026.

The misconduct of Conahan and another Luzerne County judge led the Pennsylvania Supreme Court to throw out 4,000 juvenile convictions, and the discredited state judges were ordered to pay $200 million to the victims, according to the Associated Press.

Sandy Fonzo – the mother of Edward Kenzakoski, who died by suicide after spending time behind bars as part of the kickback scheme – said she was “shocked… and hurt” after learning of Biden’s decision to commute the rest of Conahan’s punishment.

“Conahan‘s actions destroyed families, including mine, and my son‘s death is a tragic reminder of the consequences of his abuse of power,” Fonzo told the Citizens’ Voice, a local outlet. “This pardon feels like an injustice for all of us who still suffer. Right now I am processing and doing the best I can to cope with the pain that this has brought back.”

Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, a Democrat, also said Friday at an unrelated news conference in Biden’s hometown of Scranton that, “I do feel strongly that President Biden got it absolutely wrong and created a lot of pain here in northeastern Pennsylvania.”

Donald Trump's transition team wants to scrap a car crash requirement opposed by Elon Musk's Tesla

https://www.msn.com/en-us/autos/new...1&cvid=c6bc24ba8ba944eb86af7edd6e5bbf85&ei=45

Musk, the world's richest person, spent more than a quarter of a billion dollars helping Trump get elected president in November. Removing the crash-disclosure provision would particularly benefit Tesla, which has reported most of the crashes – more than 1,500 – to federal safety regulators under the program.

Mugshawty from Davenport . . . WITH A TWIST!

She's pled guilty to . . . muuuuuuuuuuuuurdeeeeeeeeerrrrrrrrrrr.

Would ya risk it?

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A Davenport woman has pleaded guilty to a federal charge that she tried to hire a hit man to kill the father of her children.

Autumn Jeanine Carianna Markley, 30, is scheduled to be sentenced March 13, in U.S. District Court, Davenport, after pleading guilty to one count of use of interstate commerce facilities in the commission of murder for hire.

Markley faces a prison sentence of up to 10 years and a maximum fine of $250,000. She also faces a term on supervised release of up to three years.


According to the criminal complaint filed Nov. 30, 2023, by Scott County Sheriff’s detective Greg Hill, a confidential informant contacted the Sheriff’s Department about a person who was looking for a hit man.

In her chats, Markley discussed issues she was having with the Iowa Department of Human Services, and violations of a no contact order, Hill said in his complaint. The informant knew Markley was having issues with the father of her children.


The informant had been talking to Markley over Snapchat when Markley asked if the informant knew of any “shady people.” Markley was in Fort Collins, Colorado, at the time.

According to the complaint, “Markley eventually said 'At this point I just need to make his [sic] disappear.'"
While in Hill’s presence, the informant sent Markley a message, "How sketchy of things are we talking, I might have someone." Markley responded, "Ideally murder." Markley went on to say "Or like set him up for a drug bust, so that he spent the rest of his life in prison. Or kidnapping. Or all of them."

Markley was told by the informant there was someone in mind and told her they are going to want to know what they can get out of it. Markley responded that she was willing to pay and that she is “to the point where [she’ll] do anything.”

On Nov. 22, 2023, Hill added Markley as a friend of Snapchat and posed as a potential hit man. Hill initiated a conversation with Markley over Snapchat telling her he heard she needed some help with something. Markley responded, "Yeah I really do I'm desperate."

On Nov. 22, 2023, Hill contacted Markley on the Signal application using a phone number she had provided.

Hill informed Markley that he could do the job for a price. When he asked who it was, Markley said, “How much info do you need? And it would be best if it looked like an accident like an overdose or something. We have kids and I don't want them involved.”

Later in November, 2023, Hill made a video call to Markley through the Signal application, and he was able to see her face, which matched photos she had sent and her driver’s license. Hill asked Markley who it was she wanted taken care of, and she gave the name of the father of her children.

Markley provided an address in Scott County, and she agreed to send $200 up front through Western Union.

On Nov. 28, Hill received the Western Union code from Markley for the money transfer via the Signal application. Hill then went to a local store with another officer and collected the $200 Markley had sent.

According to the complaint, on Nov. 29, 2023, Hill received a Signal message from Markley asking, "Is it possible to just make sure he goes to prison or like something bad enough that he can lose custody cause that's the end goal."

Talking to Hill over Signal, Markley said she was driving through Nebraska. After some initial conversation, Hill asked Markley what was going on and whether she did not want him to do it anymore. She responded that she did not know, she was just trying to think of a way to do it without permanently scarring her kids.

Hill asked whether Markley still wanted him to keep working on it to get it done, and Markley responded, “Ya.”

Hill told her he did not know exactly when he would be able to get it done, but that he would let her know, and she thanked him.

A federal grand jury indicted Markley on the single charge of use of interstate commerce facilities in the commission of murder for hire. She was arrested Jan. 3, 2024. She pleaded guilty to the charge on Nov. 19 during a hearing in U.S. District Court, Davenport.

Markley is currently free on bond with conditions pending sentencing.

Moral victories count at 3

Moral victories against Utah State, Michigan and Iowa State. Am I missing any? I'm sure this team will earn something for all these moral victories. I don't know how these apologists can be excited about this team. Who have they beaten? You need to beat resume builders to get in the tournament. Maybe that's Washington State, maybe Northwestern. Maybe's aren't going to get it done.

How does this keep happening in AD 2024?

Jordan Battle of the Bengals today became the latest dumbass to have a touchdown nullified by dropping the ball just before crossing the goal line. He picked up a Titans fumble and ran 61 yards for what should have been a TD. Except that for some reason at about the 5 yard line he decided to switch the ball from one hand to the other, but instead bobbled it and lost it out the back of the end zone for a touchback.

It wasn’t quite as egregious as most instances because it didn’t appear he was blatantly showboating, but the end result was an unforced error that wiped out a score and gave the ball back to the opponent.

I know these guys have seen this happen many times, either on television or in person. And at the time they had to be thinking “I don’t ever want to be that guy.”

But then they inexplicably become that guy.
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Reactions: seminoleed

Hawks crown 3 champs at North Central Open







It is great to be an Iowa Wrestling fan.

Go Hawks!

SIAPepsi - Been awhile since we've had an ice storm warning 'round these parts

In case you're living under a rock...the "good" thing is we are supposed to warm up above freezing later in the day and be above freezing Saturday night.

I've got a bus trip early tomorrow - quite surprised it hasn't been cancelled yet. Hell, damn near every school in Iowa probably has some sort of event scheduled tomorrow morning.

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Never thought this would happen

I am 76 years old, grew up in CR and a life long Hawk fan. Have been to over 100 football games home and away, same with mens basketball. Live in NE Iowa and still make the trip to IC for sporting events. Coached boy's basketball for 27 years and taught for 41. Never thought it would be possible for me to enjoy watching the women play more that the men, but that is what has happened. Hate to admit it but I can't name everyone on the men's roster but can the womens. Can't believe this is what has happened.

Kamala Harris

I’m starting to see articles about whether she should run for CA governor, which is fine. However, they’re also saying it’s a big decision because that would effectively close the door on a 2028 presidential run.

Ummm, huh? I view that door as shut, sealed, nailed, and plastered over. Is this just face-saving political gossip or are serious people really entertaining this possibility?

  • Poll
Which Current/Former Hawkeye QB Will Have the Best 2024 Season?

Which QB Will Have the Best Statistical Year?

  • Cade McNamara

    Votes: 19 21.1%
  • Spencer Petras

    Votes: 35 38.9%
  • Deacon Hill

    Votes: 3 3.3%
  • Joey Labas

    Votes: 17 18.9%
  • Brendan Sullivan

    Votes: 13 14.4%
  • Other

    Votes: 3 3.3%

With the transfer portal in effect, the Hawkeye roster has seen a revolving door of quarterbacks. Some guys left for greener pastures (or better QB coaching) while others arrived in Iowa City for an opportunity to play. It will be interesting to watch the season play out to see which QB who spent time at Iowa will have the best statistical year. In other words, who will end up with the most passing yards / highest passer rating?

1. Cade McNamara: the guy looked AWFUL at last week's open practice, completing about 33% of his 24 passes for just 20 yards. He's the incumbent starter, and with Ferentz, that means he's going to get a LOT of playing time unless he gets hurt. Given that he's thrown for 3,700 yards in his college career with a 61% completion percentage, and is raking in major NIL money to be at Iowa, Cade is the odds on favorite to have the best year.

2. Spencer Petras: Petras may be the most mocked QB in Hawkeye history. Entering his 6th year of college football, Petras transferred to Utah State and won the starting QB role. Utah State is below average team (they went 6-7 last year), but they play against below average competition (i.e. Wyoming, Fresno State, etc.). Petras has 5,200 career passing yards and completes 57% of his passes. With new/better coaching at the QB position, will Petras have the best year?

3. Deacon Hill: Hill single handedly made Iowa football a national laughing stock and may have had a permanent impact on the Ferentz legacy. The guy should have never been playing D1 football, but was thrust into the starting lineup on a Top 25 team. Hill has 1,150 career passing yards but completed just 48% of his passes. Hill is a dark horse favorite to put up the best numbers because he was relegated to transferring to mighty Utah Tech, which finished a whopping 2-9 last year against the likes of Abeline Christian and North Alabama. Assuming he wins the starting QB role, it is possible that Hill eats up (pun) the lesser competition and puts up the best numbers.

4. Joey Labas: Many feel like Labas got a raw deal playing under an ultra stubborn Ferentz regime that refused to pull a starting QB no matter how poorly he performed. Joey realized that if there was nothing he could do to be given a chance to play ahead of the nation's worst QB, he had to take his talents to Central Michigan. Not only did Labas win the starting position, but he raised eyebrows with his play. Wouldn't it be ironic if the guy who was buried on the depth chart behind some of the worst QBs in Iowa history turns out to be the best QB to come out of Iowa since Beathard?

5. Brendan Sullivan: Sullivan might be the best QB on Iowa's current roster. Does that mean he will see a single snap this year? Afraid not. But if Cade gets hurt, which is likely, does Sullivan have what it takes to have the best season of any Hawk? Yep! Sullivan has 1,300 passing yards in the Big 10 with a 69% completion percentage. More importantly, he's the only QB on the list who can outrun a 3rd grade girl.

6. Other: Believe it or not, there are several other Hawkeye QBs out there fighting for playing time. Alex Padilla is at SMU. Carson May is at Wyoming. Deuce Hogan is at New Mexico State. Marco Lainez was tutored by Petras' QB coach, Rassioppi and is back at Iowa for another year.
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